Where You Lead

Chapter 2 - I'll Be There

A/N: OK a lot of you guys probably won't know this song, but have fun reading the totally unrelated chapter of this fic! Keep R & R-ing!

Disclaimer: Thanks ASP and Rebecca Lavelle!

It all takes some time

To find your heart and come back home

You go on for miles

Cross every river

To find you're not alone

'Cause I'll be there

I'll be there

Fronting up to Jimmy's was easy. He didn't expect an explanation. He wasn't big on the talking. He didn't ask too many questions, especially ones Jess didn't want to answer. He didn't question every move Jess made. He didn't pretend to be the dad Jess never had. He didn't try too hard. For all extensive purposes he was a strange guy letting a strange kid crash at his place for free. And this worked for Jess. No one to answer to, therefore no one to disappoint. Maybe this really was the life he'd been looking for. No rules, no restrictions, just freedom and lots of it.

It wasn't until Jess decided to really push the limits, he found out how far Jimmy was willing to be pushed. After a three day party, Jess rolled up to Jimmy's expecting to find everyone going about their business as usual. However freedom, he was discovering, came at a price. Jimmy, was sitting in an arm chair facing the front door. He looked as if he hadn't slept for a couple of days and hadn't eaten longer than that.

"What time is it Jess?" Jimmy asked patiently.

"Well, when the big hand reaches the one, that means that it's one 'o' clock. So, now you look at the little hand and it tells you how many minutes past one 'o' clock it is. So if you see now, it's about twenty-five past one." Jess answered just as patiently.

"Okay, so you can tell time. So tell me, what day is it Jess?"

"You can't tell time and now you've forgotten the days of the week? It's Monday. The day is Monday." Jess's condescending tone was getting on Jimmy's nerves.

"Care to tell me where you've been for the last three days?" He was determined not to lose his cool, to his kid. Especially when he was trying so hard to get along with him.

"No." Was the only reply he received.

"You leave on Friday night. No note. No "I'll see ya later." For all I know you disappeared off the face of the earth for the last three days."

"Please. Don't pull the protective father act on me now, it's a little late for that don't you think?"

"Don't patronise me Jess. My willingness to comply with your terms is dwindling significantly! I let you live in my house, rent free. I never asked for an explanation as to why you turned up my doorstep unannounced. And what do I get for it?" Jimmy demanded. "And nothing. No smart remark. Nothing to say to me? Do you even have a good reason? Or are you trying to get your ass kicked outta here?" Jimmy had had enough of being Mr Nice-dad-trying-to-make-his-kid-like-him.

"If I wanted to leave I would. I wouldn't need your permission. I was at a party, with some friends. Are we done?" Jess wanted out of there, fast.

"No Jess, we're not done. We haven't even started yet. I want answers and I want them now. What are you doing here? Am I just a free ride? Or are you actually interested in having a relationship with your father?" Again, no response. "Jess, I tried hard to get along with you. I took you in and let you do whatever you wanted…" Jess suddenly got inspiration and interrupted.

"You took me in! Oh great! Eighteen years of nothing and all of a sudden you expect me to be grateful coz you "took me in!" I didn't come here to be fathered. I came here for a new start and because I needed a place to crash. No big. If you don't want me here I'll leave, all you had to do was say so! I'll be gone in an hour."

"Don't play that card with me Jess! The guilt thing may have worked for your mother and all those freaks in Starry Hole, but I've had time to get used to it! Your more screwed up than you think. You're nothing but a lost little boy, who can't find his way!"

"Yeah, well like father like son right?" Jess retorted smartly and stormed into his room, slamming the door behind him.

"Dammit Jess! Get back in here. If you think I'm just gonna let you walk outta here, you're sorely mistaken!" Just then the phone started ringing.

"WHAT!"

"Uh, Jimmy?" Came the gruff voice at the other end of the line.

"What?"

"It's Luke. I just wanted to say, that Jess has done another runner and he may turn up in California. Just giving you the heads up."

"Well, it's about three weeks too late. Jess is already here and now he's leaving." Jimmy informed him.

"What? He's there? Can I talk to him?"

Jimmy pulled the phone away from his ear and called out. "JESS! There's someone on the phone for you!" Putting the phone back to his ear, he told Luke, that Jess was coming.

"You couldn't tell him that's it's me? You can't even say my name?" Luke asked gruffly.

"Do you really think he'd take the phone knowing it's you? If I'm not mistaken, he came here to get away from you."

"Just get Jess."

Jess re-entered the room and snatched the phone from Jimmy's hand and took it back into his room away from prying ears.

"Yeah?"

"What are you doing in California Jess?"

"Ah man! I get the third degree from him and now you're calling to what? Gimme the second degree?"

"Actually I called to see if you were there. You know because, you were "missing." You told no one where you were going. You said good bye to no one. You broke Rory Gilmore's heart. She doesn't even come in the diner anymore. You just up and left without even letting me know where you were going. It's a common courtesy Jess! Or do you not care?"

"So you're mad with me right?" Jess asked, changing the subject completely.

"No. I'm not mad Jess. To be mad, would require me to care."

"So, you don't care?"

"No."

"So, why are you calling?"

"Fine. You know what?… Fine. I will be here if you want to come back. I will be here if you don't. I hope you find whatever it is you're looking for. Let me know when you find it. I'll be sure to throw a party in your honour. Goodbye."

For the second time that month, the dial tone blared in his ear. Phone conversations to Stars Hollow did not seem to go well.

He chucked the phone on his bed and started stuffing his duffel bag with stuff. The good thing about living on the go, was that he could fit his life into a bag and carry it with him to wherever he wanted to go. Re-entering the living room for the last time, Jimmy was still sitting in the same arm chair.

"Later." Was all he said as walked out the front door, never once looking back.