A/n: slight lull before Therapy begins again. we have actually had more than 15 minutes of non snow, non rain and above freezing temps. the Robins have been showing up as well. is it possible that the end of winter is Nigh?! at least until Game of Thrones starts up again...

Chapter Ten

Joe pulled into his driveway and shook his head with a smile when he observed his father mowing the front lawn. Rolling down the window, he stuck his head out. "I asked my brother to mow the lawn. Since when does he pawn his work off on you?"

"A break came in the Mitchell case and he and Joanna are getting ready for a stakeout. So I volunteered to step in." Fenton replied as he switched off the mower and helped his son out of the van.

"Uh huh. And the fact that your generosity of spirit is most likely going to be rewarded with Key Lime pie has nothing whatsoever to do with it, right?" the younger son snarked.

"Well, the season for Key Limes is almost over. I would be remiss if I didn't avail myself of every opportunity I could." was the innocent reply.

"And the house being overrun with knitting needles and piles of yarn played no part either, right, Dad?" Halloran teased from the front door as she held it open to allow the men to enter. Fenton ruefully laughed and admitted that might have been a factor. Dinner was already cooking and Joe's mouth started to salivate at the aromas of fresh rolls, cider baked pork chops and if he was very lucky, his wife's homemade applesauce.

Dinner was a lively affair, with Joe and Halloran teaming up to gently tease Fenton about his unease with knitting needles. "You know Dad, for a guy who spent his adult life carrying a gun, you sure are a wuss about some things." Joe mocked.

"You wouldn't be laughing if you innocently sat on the couch and was stabbed in very sensitive spots with a set of very sharp needles!" his father defended himself with vigor. "That may very well be the reason you do not have a younger sibling." he continued with a laugh.

"Nahh, that's because you couldn't do any better once you had me." At that, Halloran flicked her napkin at her husband in rebuke before standing up.

"Out, both of you!. I have work to do!" she demanded. Fenton stood up and headed to the living room, but turned and paused when he realized Joe wasn't following . Cocking his head, he silently asked what was going on.

Joe equally silently asked his father to sit back down. Confused, Fenton did so and was slightly surprised when his son rather tightly gripped his forearm. The confusion continued as Joe began speaking in a light tone that totally belied his pale and slightly sweaty complexion. With her back turned to the men, Halloran saw none of this as she delightedly carried on the conversation, oblivious to her husband's distress.

It took about twenty minutes for her to finish the dishes and by the time she turned around Joe had composed himself enough that he was able to give her a smile that was neither forced nor strained. Declaring she was tired, she said she was going upstairs to take a nice long bubble bath and to entertain themselves. She paused only long enough to give each man a quick peck on the cheek before going upstairs.

"Care to tell me what that was all about?!" Fenton asked as he pointedly rubbed his arm to get rid of the indentations. He was sure there would be a bruise there tomorrow.

Joe flushed and he dipped his head as he mumbled an apology. "Sorry. Don't know my own strength some days."

"Joseph." Not quite a command, almost a question. He placed his own hand over his son's arm, although much less forcefully. "What's going on, son?"

"Nothing." he tried to push away from the table but was stopped by the tightening of his father's grip on his arm.

"Bullshit." Fenton responded evenly.

Joe sighed deeply and looked into his father's eyes. Fenton was shocked to see the haunted look in his son's sapphire blue ones. "It's no big deal, and I am handling it, I just needed a little moral support is all."

"Joseph, you will always have that, and more, but I'd like to know for what reason. I am still your father and I worry."

"Yeah, I know. Sorry. Just didn't want Halloran to worry any more than she already is."

"About what?" Fenton gently persisted.

Joe sighed again but this time spoke clearly, if a bit hesitantly. "I got waterboarded." he looked a little surprised at himself; it was the first time he had said the word out loud. Ignoring Fenton's gasp of surprise, he continued on. "I need to get over my sudden aquaphobia. Dr.S gave me some exercises to do. One of which was forcing myself to stay in the same room as a running faucet without running away screaming. I used you as an anchor. It helped. A lot. I probably would not have been able to do it otherwise." he paused, fiddling with his shirt sleeve. "Yes, Hall knows. But not quite all of it and I really don't want her changing anything just to accommodate me. And she would if she knew how rough a time I am having. I don't want, or need, hovering or walking on egg shells. I just need everything else around me to be as normal as possible so I can be as normal as I ever get faster. So keep this between you and Frank, okay? He knows too." Joe pleaded.

"Anything you need, son. All you have to do is ask. Although you could warn me next time so that I can add some padding under my shirt." he joked, eliciting a startled but heartfelt laugh.

"Deal." Joe followed his father into the living room where they sat and chatted for maybe another half an hour before Fenton decided he was tired too and headed home. Before going upstairs, though, Joe went back into the kitchen and stared at the faucet for a long time. He tried reaching it but was too low to the ground and wasn't up to trying to stand up, even for a moment. Eventually he gave up and made his way upstairs, wishing that the chair lift had any speed other than 'snail's pace'. He imagined Tim Taylor getting a hold of it and laughed out loud as he reached the top( finally).

"What's so funny, Dear?" Halloran asked from the bed where she was sitting up reading.

"Nothing, just fantasizing is all." he replied as he entered their shared bedroom and he began getting ready for bed.

"Really, Joseph Aaron Hardy is that all you ever think about?!" she exclaimed exasperatedly but with a tinge of laughter.

"Hey now!" he protested. "Not that at all!" hastily tried to defend himself before one of his infamous evil grins spread over his face. "But obviously you had it on the brain so who am I to deny my beautiful wife her fantasy?!" somehow he managed to leap from the chair to the bed in one swift movement where he promptly cause his wife to lose her place. And her dignity. The nightgown didn't survive either. His boxers never stood a chance. Don't even ask about the comforter or the pillows. The alarm clock got knocked onto the floor and under the bed, where it lay all night and was sufficiently muffled the next morning when it went off that neither occupant heard it when it went off.

A/n: funny how Joe Hardy, the kid who never did homework while he was in high school, is okay with doing it now. He must be growing up, he isn't fighting tooth and nail any more.