Chapter ten

"Mom, dad, Brad, can we talk?" Jack rocked back and forth on his feet in front of his parents who were sitting on the couch.

"Let rip Jack," John leaned back into the couch.

Jack sighed, "Things are going to be tough for me and Jake for the next little while. Sam was captured on a mission; she won't be coming home for a while."

Julie stood and took Jack in her arms. "Jack darling, we're here for you, whatever it is you need…"

"Thanks mom, the thing is that's where it gets weird." Jack cleared his voice, "Jake loves you and dad."

Brad sat up. "And what about me?"

Jack shrugged, "Jake and I don't like you, sorry."

Julie tightened as Brad walked out the front door yelling about divorce papers. John rolled his eyes, "Way to make me look good."

"John," Julie hit him hard in the shoulder. She turned back to Jack, "Will you mind if we stay?"

Jack smiled, "Nah, it'll be good for Jake."

Jake sat at the table working on homework. John sat next to him. "Grandpa John,"

He raised an eyebrow. "What,"

"Can you play baseball with me?"

John shrugged. "Alright, go grab your gear."

John met Jake out front with a glove in his hand. It was battered and beaten and Jake looked at it curiously. "Is that your glove?"

"Yup,"

Jake nodded and threw the ball to John incorrectly. John put his hands on his hips and sighed. "Who taught you how to throw?"

Jake shrugged, "Nobody. Usually the guys and I play hockey."

John nodded, "This is how you throw." He went through the motions of throwing a ball then tossed the ball back to Jake. "Now you try."

Jake threw the ball as John had showed him. "Is that right?"

John smiled, "Oh yeah, that was perfect."

They continued playing catch until Julie came onto the porch. "Boys," she yelled. "Dinner,"

John and Jake threw down the gear and raced inside. "Thank you for cooking," Jake yelled as he sat down at the table.

Julie handed him his plate and smiled. "Oh I love cooking, doesn't your mother cook?"

Jake shook his head, "No she's a really bad cook."

Julie smiled. After they filled their plates, Julie and John joined Jake. "So Jake," he said between bites. "Where's your dad, its late I'd think he'd be home."

"Dad's at work."

Julie's eyes widened, "But he's been gone all day."

Jake shrugged, "He always works late."

John finished up the dishes and joined Jake and Julie in the living room. He snorted when he saw what movie was playing: Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

"Who lets you watch this movie?" John stared in horror at the screen.

Jake looked at him, "Its dad's favorite."

The doorbell rang. Jake leaped off the couch and opened the door. He opened the door, "Uncle Danny!"

Daniel walked into the entryway, "Hey Jake, how are you doing?"

"I'm good, we're watching Monty Python."

Daniel grinned, "I guess I'm staying then."

Jake jumped up and down. "Yes,"

Jake grabbed Daniel's hand and led him into the living room. "Grandma Julie, Grandpa John, look who's here."

John smirked, "You're the geek right?"

Daniel half nodded, "You could say that. Oh by the way, Jack wanted you to know that he had to fly to D.C. last minute. He sent me to relieve you two of 'Jake' duty."

Julie burst out laughing, "We don't need to be relieved. Jake's actually low maintenance compared to Jake."

Jake crossed his arms over his chest. "Can Uncle Danny still stay, please?"

Daniel shrugged, "Ok but I'm not watching that movie."

Jake was sleeping in his room and Daniel in one of the guest rooms. The movie ended and Julie turned to John, "Thank you for being here."

"I've always tried to be there, I know after the war I shouldn't have started drinking and I'm sorry."

"No John, please stop it. I knew you were having problems and did nothing, I'm sorry."

John ran a hand through his hair. "Is this us making up?"

Julie shrugged her shoulders, "I'm going to bed, and you're welcome to join me."

John stood and pulled Julie up off the couch. He led her up to the other guest bedroom and shut the door behind them.