Hi Everyone another update!

Again this is a short one and I'm sorry

This is the last Jack and Danny one for a while I think so I will leave it at that.

I might take some time to update as I am pushed to the bone-when I started this story I knew it was a long story and after the little break I took I told myself that I would need to take gaps to this story. I will revisit it and there will be massive updates nearing Christmas but for the next three weeks I will focus on my work. I came to this decision after realising that if I took breaks then I could revisit this story and put more energy into it. It's one of the perks with a long running story I'm afraid-however don't fear as I will be returning to this story very soon.

Disclaimer-I own nothing

I am also not an expert on combat so if anything is wrong in this chapter I sincerely apologise.

Let me know what you thought-

I will be back with regular updates soon so stay on hold and as always prompts for missing moments are open.

Chapter 37-

Jack comes home from basic training and it's Danny that realises that his son is hiding something.

Jack had been back only a matter of hours before Danny realised something was wrong. His son was an open book at the best of times and even now at nineteen he was still the same.

Maybe it was the detective inside Danny or the Marine or the father that made him want to handcuff his son to the drainpipe until he would tell him what was wrong.

But then again that might just be him.

When Jack came home after basic training Danny watched him from the corner of his eye. Jack had that same look that Danny had-training if you could hack it was the fun part-it was when they sent you overseas that in Danny's opinion you found out what the hell you had signed up with.

Anyway when he had come home, Jack had spent nearly the three days moving Theresa and baby Joey (or JJ-for Joe Junior as Katy called him) into a small apartment in Bushwick-Danny had voiced his disapproval but he realised that it was a lot closer to whichever Marine base Jack would be posted to.

Then there had been something wrong. Sometimes Theresa would stare at Jack her face blank and Jack would smile back his eyes tired and drawn.

The tipping point came on the last Sunday Jack had at home, they had been getting alone greatly until much to Henry and Frank's horror and Sean's amusement, Jack pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one leaning back and taking a puff of the smoke letting it curl into the upholstery.

"Do you mind?" Frank said when he realised nobody else would and Jack muttered something about 'being around Shifty' for so long. He stood up casting a dark look at the rest of the table.

"Anyway" he snapped "I won't be here much longer"

Theresa gave a long sigh and Danny knew just knew that the only reason why Jack was here was that his son was going overseas.

"Give us a sec" he muttered standing up and flashing Theresa a rather apologetic look.

Jack was outside the cigarette through his fingers. His hair was a mess and his face was pale.

"You're going overseas aren't you?" Danny asked and Jack's lips quirked upwards into a smirk that was without humour and full of sarcasm. "Yep" he said popping the p. Danny nodded.

He leaned back against the wall. "Where" he asked and Jack shrugged "Routine patrolling with the SEALS near the Korean border I think" he confessed and Danny cringed.

"Dad" he drawled looking Danny dead in the eye "If something happens" but before he could finish Danny cut across him "It won't" he said through slightly gritted teeth and Jack rolled his eyes "Yeah sure" he said irritably and Danny wanted to smack his son around the face and shout 'No nothing will happen to you' but he couldn't seem to move past the anguish lodged in his throat.

"Just look after em ok" Jack said jerking his head to the room "It's been keeping me up all night-she…" he struggled before taking another drag of smoke "I'm not fair to her I know that" he confessed finally and the conflict showed on his face "I've ruined her life" he said flatly "She can deny it all she wants but we both know a lot of what's happened to her is my fault"

He paused "Just look after her won't you" Danny smiled patting him on his arm "Don't even ask" was all he said and Jack grinned "Well I suppose that's all a bloke can ask from his old man" he said bitterly and Danny flinched slightly "Come home" he whispered and Jack smirked that same emotionless smirk "I will try" he muttered before throwing the cigarette on the floor and turning on his heel.

Danny paused before the burning question forced his way through his windpipe "When do you leave?" Jack didn't turn to face him but his voice was suspiciously bland.

"Two days" he said and Danny nodded "Well then" he said placing his shaking hands into his pocket "We may as well make the most of it then"

And that was exactly what they did.

Next Chapter-As prompted by Gryffindor 20-Jamie realises what it is like to lose your child even for a few seconds and Katy asks 'Santa' a confusing question.