That Sunday afternoon started out pretty normal. On a regular Sunday, Shawn would probably go over to Cory's for the day, but since he was still grounded, he did homework instead.

When Jon walked out to see the teen sitting there, TV off, studying, he did a double take.

"Did you get body swapped over night? I've heard of that type of thing happening."

Shawn rolled his eyes, but he smiled.

"My English teacher said I need to apply myself more."

"You actually hear the words that guy says?"

Shawn shrugged, playing along. "Sometimes. Depends if it's interesting or not. Most the time it's not."

Jon grinned and went to playfully smack the back of Shawn's head. The teen laughed and easily dodged the blow.

There was a knock at the door and Jon went to answer it. He had been expecting Eli to come by and brag about the exciting Saturday night he'd had while Jon was stuck at home with a grounded teenager. Who he wasn't expecting to find at his door was Chet Hunter.

"Dad!" Shawn exclaimed, jumping up and practically running to the door. "What are you doing here?"

Chet laughed in his deep, throaty way. "Can't a Dad rock up unannounced to see his boy?"

Shawn grinned then. "Of course."

Neither Shawn or his dad made a move to embrace, but Chet did put a hand on Shawn's shoulder and give it a quick squeeze.

"Fancy a burger with your old man?" Chet asked.

Shawn looked embarrassed and turned to Jon. Jon didn't say anything, but Shawn turned back to his dad.

"I can't"

Chet frowned deeply. "Why not?"

Shawn bit his lip, hard. "Uh. Because I'm grounded."

Chet's frown deepened then. "You grounding my boy?" he said to Jon, his tone accusing.

Before Jon could answer, Shawn jumped in. "It's okay dad. I—I deserved it, I was late for the curfew Jon gave me."

Shawn had learnt how to placate his dad, he'd done it many, many times before.

Chet scoffed, but he didn't seem as mad now. "Boy never needed a curfew when he lived at home, came and went as he pleased, just like I did in my day."

Jon was not about to tell him that was part of the problem. Instead, he plastered a smile on. "Go, have dinner with your dad."

Shawn looked at him, a bit uncertain. "Jon, are you sure?"

But before Jon could reply, Chet boomed at the both of them. "Of course he's sure. You're my kid aren't you? Come on, I'll bring you back when we're finished."

Jon was smiling at him, so Shawn gave him am awkward wave and followed his dad out the door.

Ten minutes later they were sitting at Chubbies, a burger and fries in front of both of them.

"So, son... how have you been? Teach not giving you too hard'a time?"

Shawn shook his head. "Jon's been great to me dad."

Chet screwed up his face a little. "Has too many rules, I think."

Shawn tugged at his bottom lip with his teeth. He didn't want to defend Jon too much, because his dad would definitely get funny about that, but he also didn't want to sit there and talk badly about the man who had taken him in and gave him a home after his own father had abandoned him. He definitely couldn't say that to his dad though.

So, instead he changed the subject.

"Why are you back in town? Did you find mom?"

"No. She's a slippery sucker your mom. If she doesn't wanna be found, she won't be."

Shawn nodded slowly.

"Nah, I've come to get you."

Shawn swallowed hard. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're coming with me to find your mom. Father and son, on the road. Doesn't that sound great?"

Yeah it would have, a year and a half ago. But now Shawn wasn't sure.

His dad seemed to notice his hesitation. "Come on Shawnie, it will be fun. Just the two of us."

"What about school?"

Shawn paused for a second, did those words just come of out of his mouth?

"So, you'll miss some school, it's not like you wanted to go to college anyway."

Shawn didn't want to tell his dad that the more time he spent around Jon, the more college didn't seem that unachievable.

"But my friends.. Cory is here."

Chet waved that off.

"You'll make new friends." he said.

Shawn didn't want to make new friends. He wanted to stay here, where his best friend was. But before he could say as much, his dad started talking animatedly about all the adventures they would go on and what they would do. Shawn nodded along, a grin on his face, but inside he felt sick to the stomach.

He must have gave something away on his face though because his dad stopped talking.

"Do you not want to come with me?" he asked. Shawn could hear the hurt in his tone.

"It's not that I don't want to dad. But my life is here."

Shawn watched as his dad considered him closely. He really didn't want to let him down, but he really didn't want to leave either. This was the most stable he had felt in a long time.

Shawn noticed Jon walk in to Chubbies, he must have ordered something for himself. Shawn turned to his dad and smiled.

"I'm going to grab some ketchup."

Standing up, Shawn hurried over to Jon.

"Hey, kid. I didn't know you guys were here." Jon greeted, but Shawn didn't have time for small talk.

"My dad wants me to go on the road with him." he blurted out.

Jon digested that information slowly. He couldn't say he was expecting it. Chet hadn't always been the most reliable person.

"Is that something that you want?" Jon asked carefully, not letting any emotion into his voice. This wasn't about what he thought about the situation, Shawn had came to him for support.

"I don't know." Shawn answered honestly.

Jon put his hand on Shawn's shoulder.

"Whatever you choose, I'll support you, you know that." He gave Shawn's shoulder a quick squeeze and let go.

Shawn nodded, then his face got serious. "I'm sorry about before, I know I'm not meant to be out right now."

Jon shook his head and frowned. "No need for apologies buddy. I was going to let you go anyway. It's not every day your dad comes into town. Plus, as he said, you're his kid. His word overrides mine."

"Oh."

Shawn hadn't thought of it like that. But of course it did. This day was confusing him, he could barely think straight.

Seeing that the kid was struggling, Jon reached out and rubbed his back. "Hey. Everything's okay, whatever ends up happening, you will be okay."

Shawn took a deep breath in and gave Jon a grateful smile. "Thanks Jon."

He actually felt a bit better. Telling the older man that he'd check in later, Shawn went back to the table.

"Where's the ketchup?" his dad asked as he sat back down.

"Huh?" Shawn asked, before remembering.

"Oh, I'll get it now." he said, walking to the front of the restaurant, grabbing the ketchup and returning to his seat.

He handed the ketchup over to his dad with a smile and tucked into his fries.

"Shawnie boy?"

He looked up, halfway through a fry.

"Yeah?"

"I saw you over there with Teach."

Shawn felt his stomach drop.

"Dad, I—"

"He's what you need right now."

That was the last thing Shawn was expecting his dad to say.

"What do you mean?"

"I saw you with him just then, he cares about you. He's been sending me your report cards, did you know that?"

Shawn didn't.

"You're doing a lot better at school."

Shawn shrugged. "That seems to be what happens when you live with your English teacher."

His dad smiled. "Still. He's good for you, I can see that. It would be destructive to take you away from that right now."

Shawn looked at his dad closely. "Are you sure?" he asked, voice low.

Chet nodded decisively. "It would probably be the nicest thing I've ever done for you."

"You tried your best, dad"

"Yeah. But Teach seems to have things together, he will put you on the right track. Even if I still think he has too many rules."

Shawn smiled. "I'll miss you." he said quietly.

Chet smiled back. "One day I'll come back with your mom and we will live as a family again."

"Yeah." Shawn replied, but he didn't believe it as much as he used to.

Chet left not long after that, giving Shawn an affectionate slap on the shoulder before driving off.

Shawn watched him leave, a mixed feeling of sadness and contentment filling his body.

Jon jumped up when he heard the keys in the door.

A very tired looking Shawn walked in the door and closed it behind him.

"Where's your dad?"

Shawn sunk into the couch, taking a minute. "He's gone."

Jon let out a breath and sat down.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Shawn nodded. "I think so."

"What happened?"

Shawn wasn't sure what to say. He wasn't even too sure himself.

"Uh, he saw us talking—he said that for now, I'm better off with you."

Jon nodded slowly, surprised. When he had talked to Shawn earlier it sounded like Chet had already made his mind up.

There was so many questions that Jon wanted to ask. Why had Chet said that? How long until he changed his mind again? When was he going to come back and visit? But looking at the kid, who had leant over so that his head was resting on Jon's shoulder, he could tell Shawn didn't want to talk about it anymore.

So, instead, he slung an arm around the teen's shoulders and pulled him into a side hug. They sat like that for while until Jon heard steady breathing and realised Shawn had fallen asleep. He thought about easing his arm out and heading off to bed, but he didn't want to risk waking the kid, he looked too peaceful and it had been a big day for him. So, instead, he popped his feet up on the coffee table and covered both of them with the throw off the back of the couch.

He dropped a kiss on the top of the sleeping teen's head and started to drift off himself. He would call Feeny early and get a substitute for tomorrow, right now, his kid needed him more.