Another couple of weeks passed by and it was beginning to become summer again when Wash woke up from yet another mission.

This one was a rather violent one. He had some ugly scratches across his back and he felt pretty beaten since a demon had tried to possess him. Thanks to some training from a demonologist and Tucker's help, the demon hadn't succeeded.

But it had left a nervous twitch in Wash's stomach nonetheless. It had showed him that he clearly wasn't as well protected as he thought he should be.

On the other hand, he couldn't wear the token of protection that the demonologist had given him since it would drive Tucker away too. It would cause Tucker to keep his distance since the token of protection also had an effect on ghosts, and he didn't want Tucker to keep his distance… even if it meant that he would have to sacrifice his safety for it.

He rolled out of bed as Epsilon again woke him by sitting on his fucking face.

Wash walked down into the living room, only to find it empty.

Huh? Where's Tucker?

Pushing that thought aside for the moment, he went into the kitchen and got himself a cup of coffee to start his day.

When he came home after his lunch run that day and found out that Tucker was still missing, he started to worry. He didn't know where Tucker was and he was afraid that the ghost had either gone away, couldn't enter the house because of the token of protection that was hidden away in the basement, or that he had gone into the light without saying goodbye to Wash — probably because he had gotten fed up with Wash's neurotic behavior.

When Tucker casually walked through the main entrance door awhile later, Wash was in full pacing mode. He was completely and utterly riled up emotionally.

"Where have you been!?" Wash snapped the moment the ghost entered the living room, causing the ghost to stop dead in his tracks.

"Uh, I was out for a while? Looking into how Junior was doing?" Tucker replied with a raised eyebrow, trying to process what had gotten Wash so riled up.

"You could have said something!" Wash snapped back, causing Tucker to huff and cross his arms.

"I didn't know that I needed to fill in an absence request whenever I wanted to leave the house." He replied with a scowl on his face.

"You could have said something at least. I thought you went over the bridge or found another house and person that you wanted to haunt!" Wash snapped back, realizing a moment too late what he had said.

His mouth snapped shut with an audible click and his face turned beet red.

"Aww, were you worried about me?" Tucker cooed with a shit-eating grin, "Don't worry, I am a big ghost: I can take care of myself."

Wash only scowled at him for that, glad that Tucker hadn't gotten the hint about him not wanting the ghost to leave.

"Of course, I am worried. How could I not be when we have been living together for months now? With you being a ghost, there are a ton more possibilities that could have happened to you than if you were a living being even." Wash replied, trying to stay on that track of thought in order to keep Tucker's mind busy enough to forget about his slipup.

"Uh, I am a ghost, dude. I don't think I can get killed again." Tucker replied, looking honestly confused.

"But you could have been exorcised if the wrong person noticed that you were around." Wash replied, still a bit panicking.

Tucker sighed at that, coming closer to Wash and resting both of his hands on Wash's shoulders, "But I am still here, you see? I am not going anywhere and I haven't been exorcised."

"Not yet." Wash replied lowly, unable to meet Tucker's eyes and staring down at the ground, relishing in the feeling of Tucker's hands on his shoulders although the touch was a bit cold.

"Dude, I'm still here. See?" He asked, making Wash lift his head and nod silently, "And I am not going to leave until I have screwed at least one living being, bow-chicka-bow-wow!"

Wash snorted and broke out in a loud laugh, feeling oddly relieved from hearing that catchphrase alone since that meant that Tucker really was here, that he hadn't gone somewhere and been replaced with someone else that looked like him but wasn't him.

When he had calmed down, an amicable silence settled between the ghost and the man for some minutes until Wash decided to ask a question that had been on his mind for a while now.

"Tucker…" The ghost looked at him, tilting his head slightly to his right side to silently prompt him to continue.

The ex-Navy Seal took a deep breath before continuing, "I would like to get to know Junior. Would that be okay with you?"

Tucker looked at him with large, round eyes. His eyes were so big that Wash almost feared they would fall out of their sockets.

It took only a moment for the ghost to get himself back in check and answer, "Dude, I am not his guardian anymore. You don't have to ask me."

Taking his hands away, Tucker looked at him with an almost sad expression on his face.

"I know." Wash hurried to explain, "But you're still his dad, no matter if you're alive or not."

His words caused a fond expression to appear on Tucker's face. There was an appreciation growing in his eyes that made Wash reply to the fond smile that had just appeared on his lips with one of his own.

"I want to get to know the boy that I saved. Especially since his dad is living under the same roof as me." He explained with an awkward smile, his hand rubbing over the scars on his neck.

Tucker then sighed suddenly, "I can't tell you if it's okay or not. He went into an orphanage somewhere across the city and, knowing him, I doubt he's there more than is absolutely necessary." Tucker explained with a sad expression once more crossing over his features, "He's like me. I wouldn't want to stay in such a place either."

"I can relate to that." Wash replied, "I lived in an orphanage when I lost my parents in a car crash when I was sixteen. I left the day I turned eighteen and joined the army after finishing school."

The glance Tucker threw him was full of sympathy and Wash thought that Tucker could understand him better now. He even seemed to feel more at ease hearing that Wash had a similar fate.

"However, when I'm outside we have to reduce our interactions to a minimum if I don't want to come across as bonkers." Wash continued and Tucker nodded at that.

"Sure." He muttered absentmindedly, which caused Wash to get a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all…

"I mean, we can still cancel it if you don't want me to go through with it. I don't necessarily need to meet Junior."

"No! No!" Tucker interjected, looking a bit panicked at the idea, "I just… It's the first time after my death that someone cares for him the way you do. I feel a bit..." Tucker trailed off, biting his lower lip and looking out of the window— obviously searching for the right words.

"Overwhelmed?" Wash supplied and Tucker only nodded in response.

"I don't even know if I should come with you." Tucker said suddenly, causing Wash to blink.

"Why is that?" He asked, completely baffled over what Tucker had just said.

"I'm a ghost." He exclaimed suddenly, which made Wash look at him even more baffled, "I am fucking dead! If I touch him and he notices it, he will freak out. I am pretty sure he has already forgotten me. He came to terms with my death a while ago and moved on with his life, not thinking about me anymore." He muttered, now looking down at the ground.

Wash couldn't stop himself when he took a step towards the ghost and mimicked Tucker's earlier actions by placing both of his hands on Tucker's shoulders.

Luckily, he could see and so he relied on his visual senses when he laid his hands on Tucker's shoulders. It felt strange and although he knew that Tucker had no physical body anymore, he felt something akin to a slight resistance in his fingertips. That was probably because Tucker consisted of energy. So, the resistance he felt was coming from the energy field he was consisting of now.

"Tucker," Wash started, searching for the ghost's eyes until he replied to the glance directly, "Junior will never forget you because you're his dad. He will always think about you." He said with such confidence that he almost surprised himself.

It took a moment, but then Tucker started smiling slightly, "Thanks, Wash. That…" he started, gulping before continuing, "That means a lot to me."

"You're welcome." Patting Tucker's shoulder slightly, he then let go of his shoulders and looked at the clock, "What do you think about going out and looking for him tomorrow? I think going to the orphanage and asking them directly holds the most chances of meeting your son?"

"That sounds great." The ghost replied with a relieved and yet happy smile, "Let's get you something to eat."

It was in the middle of the night and Wash woke up from his sleep, feeling that something was off. Wash didn't know what it was, but he felt oddly alone.

Getting up, he walked downstairs only to find it empty.

Tucker usually would stay in the living room during the night so that Wash could sleep as much as he could before he would join him on the couch in the morning.

But this time Tucker wasn't around. It was like this morning, but this time Wash knew that something was off.

That was until he heard a horrible scream from downstairs.

Running down, he could see that Tucker was standing close to the token of protection from Mrs. Jensen, the demonologist. He was screaming in agony and thrashing around.

"Tucker!" Wash exclaimed, running over and reaching out for him, but his hand went right through him.

"Wash! Help me!" Tucker screamed in horror, and, with the same panic flooding through him, Washington realized that the ghost had been drawn towards the white light. He was being cleaned and drawn into the white light to enter the next life.

"Tucker!" Wash exclaimed, turning around and running towards the token, "Stop it!" He screamed and tried to get to the token, but he recoiled as if running into a massive brick wall.

He fell to the ground paralyzed, and had to watch in horror as Tucker was drawn into the light and disappeared— always screaming Wash's name and trying to escape his own exorcism.

When Tucker and the light disappeared, Wash felt the ban fall from his shoulders and he could move again.

He was up on his feet immediately and running over to the place where Tucker had disappeared.

"Tucker! Tucker!" he shouted, frantically searching the place, but finding nothing.

That was when the scenery faded and a voice became audible.

"—sh! Wash! Come on, dude, wake up! Wash!"

With a gasp, the blond man shot up in his bed.

It took him a moment to realize that he was in his bedroom, sheets tangled around his feet and his body soaking wet. His pulse and breathing were racing and he needed a moment to realize that Tucker had tried to shake him awake. He didn't want to fathom how much energy that had cost him.

"You okay?" He heard the ghost ask and Wash only nodded. He couldn't speak, his throat dry and the lump in his throat too big.

Reaching down beside the bed, he grasped the bottle of water that was there and took some swigs from it before he didn't feel like breaking down when talking.

"I— yes. I am okay, Tucker." He rasped, putting the bottle back down.

"I hope that was a good dream. You were screaming my name all the time. Bow-chicka-bow-wow." Although joking, Wash could hear the anxiety in the ghost's voice. He was just trying to lighten the mood.

Wash shot him a thankful smile at that, before turning stern again.

"I saw you getting exorcised by that fucking token downstairs." He grumbled, getting out of bed and walking downstairs at a brisk pace with Tucker hot on his heels.

"What?" he asked, baffled.

"I said I saw you getting exorcised. Now, if you'll excuse me and stay upstairs… I am going to get rid of that horrible thing!" Wash stopped short before he went down the first flight of stairs.

"But," Tucker replied, "It's your token of protection to keep demons away!" he protested, but Wash looked at him pained.

"It also keeps ghosts away. It keeps you away." He clarified, "I don't want you to have to stay away just so that I can be safe."

Wash's pained expression then obviously stopped Tucker from saying anything else. He let the human walk down the stairs and get rid of the token.

Since Wash had just dreamt about Tucker being exorcised by that thing, the ghost supposed it was better to wait in the bedroom until Wash was done.

About half an hour later, the man came back to the bedroom. He looked tired.

"It's gone."

The tone Tucker heard then was definitely a relieved one. He shot Wash a smile.

"Thanks for doing that." The ghost said after a while, watching the man sit down on the bed.

This caused the ex-soldier to look at him in confusion.

"I mean, not everyone would sacrifice their safety to keep a ghost around." He further clarified.

Wash smiled at that, "I like having you around. I don't want you to leave if you don't want to." He said slowly.

"I'm glad." Tucker got up and stretched his limbs.

"What do you think?" He asked after he was done stretching, "Do you want to go back to sleep? You look like you could use it."

Wash contemplated his words and nodded in the end, "I guess I will try." He said at length before lying back down, huddling up in his blanket. He had a huge bed, but mostly only used one side of it.

He blinked a bit in surprise when Tucker flopped down on the other side of the bed and rested a hand on Wash's that was lying beside the pillow.

"Uh— What are you doing?" he asked, voice already a bit rough from sleep.

Tucker turned on his side so that he was facing Wash, "I am staying here, duh." He said as if that was the most obvious explanation in the world, "I am making sure you sleep and that you sleep well."

A smile crept over Wash's face and he squeezed Tucker's hand gently, "Thanks, Tucker."

Something unreadable flashed across Tucker's face then and Wash couldn't quite place the expression, but he decided against asking after it and ruining the moment.

"Sleep now, Wash. Good night." Tucker said after a while.

"Good night, Tucker." Wash replied, closing his eyes and enjoying for some moments the feeling of having someone lying beside him before he fell asleep.

He never slept so well as he did in this night with Tucker close by.

That was how it came to be that Wash was standing in the hallway of the orphanage and waiting for Junior's guardian to arrive.

It turned out be a woman who was a bit older than him. She looked way too cheerful for his liking.

"Oh, you must be David Washington! It's a pleasure to meet you! I already heard from Junior how you saved him when he walked out onto the street without looking. It seems as though you got away without any outstanding issues too. I am glad!" She immediately started.

Wash ignored the snort he heard from Tucker who was standing further away than usual. He looked uncomfortable.

Wash focused back on the woman standing there and chatting away happily.

When she stopped for a moment, the ex-Navy Seal decided to interject, "Yes, exactly. However, I am sorry… I don't think I caught your name."

"Oh, my dear! Where are my manners? My name is Emily Grey. I am the head of this orphanage."

"Ah, I see." Wash replied, "So is Junior here?" He immediately threw another question out, just to keep Emily Grey from letting lose another torrent of words.

"Of course, I will see where he is and call him over!" she said happily, but Wash grabbed her arm when she was just was about to leave.

"You don't have to do that. Just tell me where he is, I would like to meet him on his own ground where he feels safe." Wash knew what it meant to be called to the front desk where strange people were standing and regarding you like you're a high valued painting. He had hated it and didn't want the kid to suffer the same.

An almost fond smile appeared on her face as though she realized what he was thinking just then before she gave him the directions to a place in the yard where no other child would be save Junior.

There was a bush and if he went through it, there was a shady little clearing that Junior had claimed as his own.

Walking towards the bush, he could see that Junior was sitting behind it in the shade.

"Look at him, how big he's become." He heard Tucker say from beside him, sounding like the proud parent he was although he was still a ghost, "He's thirteen now, and he's so big and handsome… just like his dad."

Okay, now Tucker was getting arrogant, but Wash decided not to answer in favor of not coming across like a crazy old guy in his first impression from his ghostly crush's son.

"Junior, are you there?" He asked instead, hearing nothing coming from there, but he could see the boy's reaction to him by looking over the top of the bush.

"I am David Washington. The guy that saved you. Do you mind if I come in?" he continued, hearing the boy making a sound he knew from Tucker. He knew that this sound was an affirmative one.

Ducking underneath the bush, he entered the clearing. He could see the boy sitting on a grassy patch in his teal hoodie, although it looked old and worn.

"How are you doing?" Wash asked when he sat down on the patch across from him.

"Like shit." Junior replied.

Wash could see that he had inherited a lot of his dad. The same piercing blue eyes, the same facial features, almost the same voice. He was the spitting image of his dad and he could see a younger version of Tucker in him.

An uncomfortable silence settled over the two, and Wash didn't really know what to tell Junior.

"Dude, tell him about your past." Tucker whispered lowly into his ear.

That gave him an idea.

"You know," Wash started, Junior still looking down at his phone, "I was in an orphanage too when I was younger. My parents died in a car crash."

This got Junior's attention and he looked up to regard the man sitting opposite of him.

Wash nodded, "I always had a list of the days I spent there and the days I still had ahead of me until I could leave in my left shoe." He explained and felt the surprised glance of the ghost accompanying him boring a hole through his skull.

Wash was smart enough to not ask about where Junior had his. This was a private thing and no kid from an orphanage would ask another one about their list.

It was rather surprising when Junior reached into his hoodie and pulled out a medallion. When he opened it, he could see a picture of his dad and his mom, as well as a neatly folded piece of paper.

Closing and putting the medallion away again, Wash felt an odd sense of sympathy.

"You carry yours with your parents?"

Junior only nodded at that.

"I am sorry about your loss. Would you mind telling me what happened?" Wash asked carefully, and it seemed that was all that was needed to get Junior to talk.

Wash suspected that nobody ever had asked him that out of personal interest to get to know him better.

And, as if a dam broke, Junior started telling him about his life with his dad. How awesome it had been and how he was sorry that the last thing he had said to him was that he hated him because he had forbidden him to go to a party shortly before he died.

That he regretted that up to today but still remembered the days when they had been living together, that he was missing him even more than he did his mom since he had never gotten to know her. That he wanted those days back instead of living in this place and that he hated living here since it was not with his dad.

He was just a number here in a huge house where people came in all day to adopt kids, but since he was "too old" for most of the people coming and dark-skinned on top of that, he never stood a chance of getting adopted. It was only mostly the white and much younger kids who got adopted.

It was only after Mrs. Emily Grey called Junior and Wash for the third time that Wash called it a day and promised that he would come again to visit him.

In addition, he gave Junior his phone number and told him to call him whenever he needed someone to talk to.

Driving home, he noticed Tucker being oddly silent but decided to let him be.

He had met his son for the first time in almost two years after his death, after all. He probably needed some time to process what had just happened during the last few hours together with Junior.

When they arrived home, Wash let Tucker and himself into the house and got a cup of coffee.

He sat down beside the ghost on the couch and took a sip before speaking up.

"He didn't forget you. And he still loves you." Wash stated, which made Tucker nod numbly.

"Yeah, I— I don't know what I should say to that." He muttered, staring out of the window.

"I think it's best to say nothing if you don't know what to say. Just feel happy that he didn't forget you and still loves you." Wash said calmly, standing up to get himself some water after having emptied the cup of coffee.

While standing in the kitchen, he could feel Tucker coming into the place as well.

Turning around, he could see that the man was looking at the ground. He was pretty sure that he still was struggling with everything that had just happened.

"Do you think I was a good dad? I mean… he's talking as if I am the greatest thing in the world, but maybe he just thinks that he shouldn't talk ill about me. I feel like a failure because I died before he grew up to be independent. I feel like I failed at being a good parent to him. I often thought that it would be better if his mom survived instead and I had died. She was always much better with kids than I was."

Wash didn't know how to reply to that.

He walked over and laid a hand on Tucker's shoulder instead, "Tucker, you did what was possible to make sure that Junior was growing up without worries and problems. He's a good boy and that's only because you did all you could to raise him well." Washington explained calmly, looking at the ghost who was still looking down at the floor.

Wash froze shortly when he felt Tucker step in and lean against him. It was strange, but it didn't feel much different from a normal person doing so aside from the touch being a tad colder than usual.

He didn't know if it helped Tucker or if it looked completely idiotic, but he carefully lifted his arms and started wrapping them around the ghost until he felt the resistance of the energy field from Tucker.

"You were a great dad, Tucker. Otherwise, your son wouldn't talk so highly about you. So, stop doubting yourself. You couldn't choose your fate and I am sure Junior isn't holding that against you. He might be angry, yes, but he's angry at whatever deity it was that took you away from him so early. He isn't angry at you for leaving so early since you couldn't have done anything about it." Wash explained, hearing Tucker drawing a shuddering breath.

When he felt Tucker's energy field press against his arms, he opened his embrace and let Tucker step away.

He wiped his eyes before he looked up to the man and smiled, "Thanks, Wash."

"You're welcome." He replied, taking the glass of water and going into the living room with the ghost to watch some movies.

There was a mecha movie airing today. Battle Ship. He would watch that with Tucker and give him some hours to forget about things.

When Wash went to bed that night, he didn't need to have another nightmare for Tucker to appear in his bedroom. And neither would he have to for the next several nights, as Tucker would join him in bed every night from here on out.

He would just lie beside him and hold his hand.

Surprisingly for Wash, his nightmares started to lose their scare and eventually faded into nothingness whenever Tucker was around to hold his hand.