Characters: Jackson Gibbs, Jethro Gibbs
Setting: The day before the final Stillwater scene in Episode 8.01, Spider and the Fly
Summary: Jackson and Jethro have time together after the return to Stillwater.
Reference: "When this is over, why don't you come back to Stillwater with me, help me fix up the store? It's all boarded up. I could use an extra hand." Jackson Gibbs, Spider and the Fly (8.01)
The Storm Cellar
The yellow Challenger slowed to a stop in front of the boarded-up Stillwater General Store. Gibbs and his dad sat a moment and simply looked at the building. Then Jackson unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the car door, saying, "Store's not going to clean itself. Might as well get moving."
"Dad, we just got in. Don't you want to sit down, get a glass of water or something?" his son asked.
"I've been sitting, Jethro. Getting the blood circulating will do me some good. Getting the store open again will do the town some good."
Gibbs tilted his head in acknowledgement of this logic. His dad had never been one to procrastinate when there was work to be done. By the time Gibbs got to the door of the building, Jackson had already unlocked it, turned the store lights on, and headed for the broom he kept leaning against the wall behind the counter. Gibbs stopped just inside the door, seeing for the first time the destruction Paloma's men had unleashed. He hadn't given much thought as to what the store might look like. "Dad. This, this, you-" Gibbs couldn't say any more.
Jackson leaned on the broom handle. "Son, I had my Winchester and the storm cellar. You warned me and I was ready for her. I'm fine and the rest of this is just stuff. Stuff can be replaced."
"Yeah, but," Gibbs started. Then he stopped, shook his head, went behind the counter to get the box of trash bags and went on more quietly, "Lucky you had that storm cellar."
"That wasn't luck. We put in that storm cellar specifically so our family could weather any storm."
Father and son started putting things right. They worked for several hours, clearing out what was beyond repair and figuring what supplies they would need to fix the things that were salvageable. When Jackson decided they'd done enough for a day's work, he sent Jethro to get the cooler out of the car and they made sandwiches for an easy supper. Afterward, they settled in Jackson's living room, the television with the ball game on low volume in the background.
Jethro broke their quiet contemplation, saying, "Dad, remind me about the storm cellar."
"Eh, what about it?"
"Well, why's it there? Why'd you and Mom decide we needed one?"
"Oh, let's see." Jackson thought for a moment then continued, "I guess there were a couple reasons. First, we had one out on the farm, so I was used to having one. You remember that? Your grandfather's storm cellar?"
"Mm-hm. He used it mostly for storing his hooch as I recall," Jethro said.
"You recall better than I thought you would. He thought he was hiding it from my mom that way."
"Grandma let him think that." Jethro laughed.
"Jackson joined in the laughter, adding, "She was nobody's fool, your grandma. Your mom was like her in a lot of ways."
"Yeah," Jethro said quietly.
Jackson continued explaining about the storm cellar. "And that was the other reason, your mom. She thought we should have one. There had been bad storms before, farther west in the state. Many years before, but the storms were real bad. Your mom knew some people from that area. In the spring they'd get nervous whenever a thunderstorm rolled in."
"She never talked to me about that."
"You thought storms were a big adventure. I guess she didn't want you to lose that sense of wonder."
Jethro nodded, "Sounds like Mom."
The two men were quiet for a few minutes. Then Jackson spoke, "You know your mom's favorite movie? The Wizard of Oz. We'd watch it every year when they'd show it on television. She'd plan for it."
"I remember. It was a big event for her."
"You remember there's a storm cellar at the beginning of the movie? Dorothy can't get in it during the storm?"
"Yeah. That's right."
"I think that movie is another reason your mom wanted us to have a storm cellar. She loved that story so much. Our having a storm cellar was a connection to it for her."
Jethro didn't respond immediately, but after a minute he turned from the television to look at his dad. "Well, whatever reason, I'm glad you had it," he told Jackson.
"Me too, Son, me too." Jackson pulled the lever that raised the footrest on his recliner, leaned back, and tapped his heels together, grinning. "There's no place like home," he recited.
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me about these stories. I appreciate it.