Dallas, Texas

"…he hasn't taken much, as far as Teresa can tell just enough for a week or so, but I'd like to know where he is", half listening to his father talking on the other end of the line, JR flipped through a stack of papers on his desk. Bobby's sudden disappearance from Southfork was understandable and he sympathised with the position he was in, but he couldn't help but be annoyed at his little brother for choosing a Monday morning to make his absence known.

"I'm sorry daddy, I haven't seen him or heard from him", telling the truth, he had a few questions of his own, but he knew now was not the time to ask them. Being the vice president of Ewing Oil he had the authority to make his own deals and sign paperwork without his daddy's approval, however, as he knew well, his daddy appreciated knowing what was happening before it happened, which was difficult to do when he wasn't in the office to consult.

"He's a grown man, he can do what he wants, but considering the circumstances I'd hope you can understand why I'd like to know his whereabouts", offering an explanation he hadn't actually asked for, his daddy's words weren't without a strong indication of how he should feel if he didn't already feel that way.

His own son was only small, he had very little independence, but even in his short lifetime he'd taught him a lot about what it meant to be a father. In that sense, he understood where his daddy was coming from, he had a paternal attachment to Bobby and he wanted to know he was safe and well, especially since things had taken a turn for the worse in his life recently. He however did find it interesting that his daddy so easily acknowledged Bobby was an adult who was capable of making his own choices, when in his own experience, he didn't so quickly give him that same allowance.

"I do", agreeing with his daddy's point, he lacked any desire to enter a discussion about how angry he'd be if he just upped and left town without arranging care for his responsibilities to work or family first. Bobby was grieving the loss of his wife and son, that was a genuine reason why he might not be thinking straight, and the reality was, being Jock Ewing's favourite son he was able to get away with more to begin with.

"Well, I'll call Jack, see if he's seen or heard anything", speaking more to himself than anything, his daddy's suggestion was a reasonable one. He didn't personally think Bobby had told anyone where he was going, he might not even know himself, but if he had told someone it could've been Jack.

Thinking about it a little more, he wondered whether perhaps his talk with Jenna had had an impact too, and flipping through his rolodex he suggested, "if Jack hasn't heard from him, perhaps Jenna might have. She's living in Tyler; I can give you her contact information".

"It's worth a try", receptive to his idea, his daddy paused for a few seconds before asking him for the number, writing it down and then muttering, "Jenna Wade…"

"They used to be close", making an excuse for why Bobby might've been in contact with Jenna, he didn't let on at all that he'd had any hand in the relationship, he couldn't be sure his daddy would approve.

"You don't have to tell me that, he almost married the girl", summarising what they both knew well, his daddy's tone was difficult to read. He'd seemed to be fine with having Jenna around at the various family barbecues and other events she'd attended since coming back into their lives, but there was a possibility he was still holding Jenna's abandonment of Bobby against her, even when Bobby wasn't.

"Jenna made a mistake there, she knows it, Bobby does too", not prepared to detail Jenna's return to Dallas, he did make it know that there was no animosity held towards her anymore and that was part of the reason why Bobby and Jenna had potentially spoken since he'd left Southfork.

"Pam made Bobby a good wife", changing the subject slightly, his daddy's comments made him glad they weren't in the same room together, because he was sure his face would've betrayed what he thought of his statement. His daddy hadn't been all that fond of Pam at first and the only reason he'd warmed to her at all was because she was carrying his next grandchild. Grandchildren mattered to Jock Ewing, where they came from was less important, he knew that even from his own marriage. His parents had liked Sue Ellen from the moment they'd met her, but before they'd known about her they'd strongly encouraged him to settle down with a suitable lady, any suitable lady, and face his responsibilities. Both Gary and Bobby had avoided the conversation he'd been forced to have, but they'd also made mistakes in choosing the mothers of their children, those mistakes had been dealt with though, Lucy now lived at Southfork where she belonged, and while Pam had been around, she'd been tolerated for the sake of the newest Ewing.

"Mm", acknowledging he'd heard his daddy, he couldn't bring himself to agree. The rest of his family had grown used to calling Pamela Barnes family, but he hadn't, and he wasn't about to start singing her praises now that she was gone. It was terrible that her exit from the Ewing family had happened the way it had, even he'd never wished that to happen, but it was no reason to retroactively change history.

Probably able to tell just how uninterested he was in talking about Pam, his daddy waited a few seconds before changing the subject, finally telling him something he actually wanted to hear, "I'll be in later".

"See you then", satisfied with the plan, he murmured a final goodbye and ended the call.

A few blocks from Ewing Oil, Cliff Barnes sat at the desk in his office, mulling over how to deal with his own father. He was trying, he was trying hard, but it was very difficult; Pam's loss had been the catalyst for his daddy's latest spiral and his own grieving process was taking a back seat to making sure his daddy didn't end up meeting Pam again prematurely.

Shaking, he picked up the phone, dialling the number on the card in his hand. His daddy would probably hate him for seeking help, but he couldn't be with him every hour of the day, nor could Maggie and neither of them wished to see him cause himself any more harm while he was in their line of sight or out of it, so it was time to make the call. Losing his sister and tiny nephew was bad enough, he couldn't lose his daddy too, and by seeking professional help he hoped he wouldn't have to.

To be continued…