Chap. 4

Thanks for the continued interest in this little story. I'm trying to wrap it up now. Just a few more chapters.

Jack watched as his two boys tied the scarf around the snowman all three of them had working on just minutes earlier. Seeing that the creation was well on its way, Jack excused himself to the kitchen, where there was hot coffee and warm pastries. Stepping out onto the porch, He sat the tray down on the little wooden table beside his rocking chair and waved Tony and Leroy over. Breakfast was already a few hours in the past and given that all of them had been out in the snow building what had to be the town's most immaculate snowman, it was time for a snack to refuel. The little fruit tarts and the coffee would help with that.

Tony sat in the rocker just adjacent to Jack and gently scooped up one of the delicate little pastries. If he stayed in Stillwater too much longer, he'd have to start working out twice a day just to work off all the extra calories he consumed. Jack kept saying he was too thin, kept trying to feed him. He didn't carry excess weight, but he was in great shape. And no, Probie McMuffin top, round was not a shape he wanted to consider. Still a guy could get used to this. Not just the delicious little treats Jack whipped up, but the care and affection in them. This was family, and he liked it.

Jethro watched Tony as his son smiled. What was going on in that head of his? With Tony it was best sometimes if no one knew. Still, though, seeing the relaxed posture and the glowing, happy eyes made the older agent wonder if he should consider bringing Tony home more often. He was already making plans to come back at least once a month, maybe he should reconsider and make it twice a month. Maybe have Jack come to D.C. a few times a year. Seeing Tony this content was worth the extra time off. Besides, he wasn't getting any younger, he could do with the time off as well. Maybe consider options for retirement. Not that he was planning on doing that anytime soon.

"Hey, Tony, people are taking pictures of your snowman, kid."

Tony looked toward the yard and smiled. Kids were ohhing and ahhing while parents snapped photos of the massive snowman. At more than six feet tall, the creation, shaped perfectly was quite a sight.

"I'm glad the kids like it. Dressing him up as an agent was a great idea Dad."

Jethro sipped his coffee and grinned. He had never imagined Tony and Jack would have so much fun with "Agent Blizzard of Snow Patrol".

"We should go in for a few minutes, we've been out for a while. Let's get warm, then we'll come back out."

Since the plague, Jethro worried constantly about Tony getting sick. Logically, he knew the cold wouldn't give the boy a cold, but the cold temperatures might lower his body's ability to fight one off.

Grabbing the tray, Jack ushered Tony inside. Today might be the day to start on that reading list. Tony would certainly enjoy that. Leroy would as well. Or they could head down to the store, see how things were going there. Either way, Tony and Leroy would find a way to keep busy. They always did. Tony's mind was so active he couldn't just do nothing for long.

Tony stood at the door watching all the towns people stroll by and take pictures of "Agent Blizzard". Some were even calling Jackson to inquire about the work of art in his front yard. Many of the children were ringing the doorbell asking for pictures with the snowman and its makers. Making a morning of the festivities, Tony, Jack, and Leroy finally made it to the store just after lunch, relieving Danielle and Edward for the day.

"Grandpa, what's going to happen to this place when you finally do decide to retire?"

Jack closed the register and sighed. He had been thinking about retirement lately. He just wasn't ready to give it all up.

"I guess Danielle will take it over. She's a marketing major and has expressed interest in running the place several times. The customers love her and she seems to have a passion for Stillwater like I do. She'll treat this place right."

Tony thought that Danielle would be great at running the place. She loved it just as much as Jack. At least Jack didn't have to worry about the store. With Danielle and Edward, things would be taken care of if he decided to take some time off.

"When you retire, what do you plan on doing?"

Jack chuckled.

"Well, I plan on visiting you and Leroy more often. Catch up with some old friends. Maybe take a trip or two. Other than that, I plan to rest and relax in my golden years."

Jethro smiled at the conversation. Jack wasn't the type to retire completely just like Tony wasn't the type to slow down or take it easy. He supposed he wasn't either, but the thought of his father or Tony taking time off was almost comical. Hearing the doorbell jingle, Jethro glanced up to see Mr. Frohill ambling in with one of his handmade canes. Knowing that Tony and Ethan Frohill would be lost in conversation over the new cane, Gibbs grabbed the stock cart and made his way to the cereal aisle. The people in Stillwater had welcomed Tony with open arms, and in return, he tried to be as gracious and helpful as possible any time he was here. Engaging Mr. Frohill in conversation was just one he did that.

"Hey Tony, why don't you get Mr. Frohill seated at the table and drag out the checkers set while I gather the items on his list?"

"I've already got the checkers ready to go. He's going to have to tell me about how he came up with the design for the new cane. This one is amazing."

Jethro was always proud of his boy, but when Tony did the little things for people it always made his heart a little lighter. He doubted Tony even realized how much the small things mattered to some of the towns folk. Tony was friendly by nature, and the older residents seemed to sense that about him. They gravitated toward him. The men saw him as a willing ear for all their old stories and the ladies saw a son or grandson they could dote upon. The arrangement worked for all parties involved.

Taking a cup of coffee over to Mr. Frohill, Jethro saw Jack hand Tony a bottled water. The two would be busy for several minutes with the checkers game, giving Gibbs time to finish the stock. Tony could use the break anyway. Besides, he could already hear Mr. Frohill asking about the snowman. Tony had quite the tale in that snowman.