Things were finally moving forward. Just not in the ways that Jethro would like. Joey would be released from the hospital, in just a few days. Insurance would not cover the say any longer and even if they did. The hospital had done all they could do for him. The next step was out patient rehab but they said it could be years before noticeable progress was made. If it was ever made. Jethro's heart broke knowing his son did not have much hope for his future.
The other step forward was somehow, even more disheartening. Jethro had put Jack's house on the market the week before and to his surprise it had already sold. As desperately as he needed the money. He had hoped it would take longer. He would give anything for just a little more time with his father's home. He wanted to make one last visit. He would get that last visit. Just now in the way he had hoped. He would be driving up to Stillwater to pack the rest of his father's belongings and turn the key over to the new owner. He would not have time for a long visit. Joey was coming home in a couple days and Jethro needed to be home for his son.
The Ingram's and the DiNozzo's would be taking turns staying with Joey while Jethro was gone. Jethro would likely only be gone for a day and maybe a night but Joey did better with company. Jethro made sure that everybody at the hospital knew where he was and how to reach him. Tony had bought him a travel charger from the gift shop and taught him how to work the device. The drive went better than Jethro had anticipated. He made good time and only had to make a couple of stops. He arrived just after one in the afternoon and treated himself to one last lunch at his childhood diner. Everybody seemed more distant than he remembered. He figured they had only heard he was selling Jack's place and resented him for it. After his meal he drove to the house. His stomach dropped when he saw LJ and a few other long time residents and former friends. They had gathered on the lawn and Jethro prepared himself for a confrontation.
"Look guys we can talk later but I have to meet the new owner of my dad's place now. I really didn't want to sell but stuff happened and I had no real choice." Jethro explained.
"We know Jethro. Jason told me everything before the house went up on the market." LJ explained.
"I am glad you guys understand but I would really rather do this alone." Jethro replied.
"The owner isn't coming Jethro." LJ replied.
"What do you mean? They said they would meet me at three today. I left my son in the hospital after a rough night. Why didn't they tell me?" Jethro asked.
"Jethro this is your house. Now and always." LJ replied.
"What do you mean? I sold it. I had no choice." Jethro reminded.
"Jack was always helping us out. He'd find work at the store when one of us fell on hard times. He always seemed to accidentally make too much food or come into money when stuff got really hard. The only thing he ever asked in return was that we look after his boy." James explained.
"This house was sixty thousand eight, hundred, ninety nine dollars. That is way too much." Jethro argued.
"We all went in and it was practically nothing." James' wife Norma explained.
"It's still too much." Jethro insisted.
"Everything Jack did for us was too much but he did it with a smile on his face. We always promised we would return the favor. We never got the chance. Until now." James explained.
Jethro was in shock. He knew that his dad was beloved in Stillwater but he never imagined the town would do anything like this. At least not for him. Maybe if Jack were still alive and had put the house on the market to help his son out. Jethro had left that town when he was eighteen and never looked back. Until he had to. If that case had not brought him home, he probably would have never returned. Maybe to settle Jack's estate when the time came but even that would have likely been turned over to the town lawyer.
"You really didn't have to do this." Jethro told LJ as they stood in Jack's kitchen.
"We made it clear that we were doing what Jack would have wanted." LJ explained.
"Still this is an expensive house and Stillwater isn't exactly a wealthy town. Actually it's pretty economically depressed since the mine shut down." Jethro explained.
"Some gave ten dollars and others gave a few hundred. I actually kicked in half the cost." LJ explained.
"How did you swing that?" Jethro asked.
"I had some money saved. I was going to go to Europe for my final days but Stillwater has it's own sights and Jack was always there for me. Helping me out when most of Stillwater ran from me and my skin." LJ explained.
"I get wanting to help Jack but what did I do to deserve this. I destroyed this town when I was a teenager and then again when I was an adult. My rep is pretty bad." Jethro explained.
"All of us have our mistakes Jethro but it's kind of hard to hate a man who gave up his life to help two boys he didn't even know. One of whom wasn't even his own son." LJ explained.
"Joey's a great kid. I just wish he didn't have to go through this. It's not even that he's disabled. It's just." Jethro explained.
"A kid that age does not deserve to suffer in the way he has." LJ finished.
"I got a few scumbags I busted who sure do." Jethro explained.
"Unfortunately it always seems to be the best of us who suffer. Joey's got a good daddy though and because of you he will have the best life possible. Even if it isn't good in the traditional sense. He has love. That's all that matters." LJ explained.
A/N: Kind of over the top sappy but Jethro deserved some good. New chapter will be up soon. Thanks for reading and please review.