After another ten minutes of talking, Chase realized how right Douglas had been. Apparently, they liked the same food and music. Plus, they had the same way of relaxing after a stressful day.

"Won't you get into trouble with Donnie if he finds out you were here with me?", Douglas suddenly asked. Chase shook his head: "He'll never find out."
"You're gonna lie to him?", Douglas asked surprised "I thought you were the good guy here?"
Chase smiled: "I don't have to lie, he won't ask me where I've been anyway. As long as I'm home before midnight, nobody really cares where I was or with who."
Douglas looked at Chase: "Must be nice to have that much freedom."
Chase kept his eyes on the water: "Yeah, I guess…"
Douglas thought about his own childhood, where his parents never really paid attention to where he went. 'Poor kid', he thought.

Chase continued: "But sometimes it would be nice if they wanted to know what I was up to. Sometimes, I think I could just disappear for two days and come back and they wouldn't have noticed that I was gone."
Douglas sighed with a sad look on his face and turned his gaze back at the water. 'Come on, Donnie! Really? You're doing this again? Didn't you learn anything from the past?'

Suddenly, Chase shook his head and seemed to get out of his sad state: "Sorry, I don't know where that came from."
"I do", Douglas replied. Chase showed a small smile on his face for one second, before it disappeared again. But Douglas had seen it.
Chase sighed: "I shouldn't be bothering you with this."
"Yes, you should!", Douglas exclaimed "Technically, I'm still your father, although I know I never acted like one. But you could see me as the fun loving uncle that won't judge you, no matter how much you're nagging."
Chase looked at his father/uncle with big eyes and a smile: "When did you become such a softie?"
"Hey, I'm not a softie!", Douglas said, a little offended "I just... tend to let my emotions get the better of me from time to time..."
Chase nodded: "Okay, I get it. So, you're not a softie, just overemotional."
Douglas gave him a deadpan face, which sent Chase straight into a laughter attack.
Douglas tried to hold onto his deadpan face, but soon gave up and started laughing along.

After five minutes, they got a grip on themselves and stopped laughing.
"Nothing to help you forget a tough day like a laughter attack, together with your old nemesis", Chase smiled as he wiped the tears from his eyes.
Douglas nodded and looked back at the water.
After a short silence, Douglas spoke up: "Why did you save me?"
Chase looked at Douglas with a confused look on his face: "Why not?"
"Why not?!", Douglas almost yelled "I hurt your family! I kidnapped your father! I almost killed Leo! I blew up your lab! Should I go on?"
"No, you can stop right there.", Chase answered calmly.

"So?", Douglas continued "Why did you save me, even after all that I've done to you and your family?"
"You saved me twice.", Chase answered matter-of-factly "It was the least I could do."
Douglas frowned: "Twice?"
"Don't you remember the avalanche?", Chase asked "'Cause I do. If you hadn't been there, I wouldn't be sitting here. And you saved us today as well. Mr. Davenport might not believe that, but I certainly do."
Douglas smiled a little shy, but didn't say anything.
"Plus", Chase continued his explanation "you're still our biological father"
Douglas looked at his youngest son with big eyes, too surprised to respond.

Chase turned around so he could look Douglas into the eyes: "And everybody deserves a second chance... Even you."
Douglas at first didn't do anything. Then, all he could do was smile and try not to tear up.
Chase saw how happy Douglas was and how bad he was trying not to start crying. Chase himself started smiling as well.

Suddenly, Chase lunged forward and hugged Douglas: "Thank you for saving us today."
Douglas stiffened, surprised from his first hug in years, but quickly recovered and hugged back. "Thank you for giving me another chance.", Douglas whispered back.

At that moment, Chase's phone started ringing. Chase took it out of his pocket and looked at the caller-ID: "It's mister Davenport?" He looked at Douglas, who nodded as a sign to answer the call.
"Hello", Chase said. "Chase!", mr. Davenport yelled through the phone "Thank goodness you're okay! We were so worried! You've been gone for hours and you didn't say where you went. And with Douglas and Krane still around… I thought something bad had happened!"
"I'm fine, mister Davenport", Chase answered "I'll be home in ten to fifteen minutes".
"Okay then", mister Davenport answered "See you then. And be careful!"
"I will", Chase replied "Bye!". As he put his phone back into his pocket, he looked at Douglas, who had heard the entire conversation.

"It seems that he cares more about me than I thought.", Chase murmured.
"Are you really that surprised about that?", Douglas asked. When Chase didn't answer, he continued: "Donnie is a good guy, Chase. He wants the best for you kids. He always did and he always will. You shouldn't judge him for being overprotective."

Chase smiled: "When did you become so wise?"
"Well, I am a genius!", Douglas bragged.
Chase chuckled in reply: "Yep, definitely the brother of mister Davenport."
Douglas glared at him: "Was that an insult?"
"Maybe…", Chase answered with an innocent look on his face.
Douglas smirked and thought to himself: 'yep, that's definitely my son'

Chase stood up: "I should go home before mister Davenport gets here and sees us together."
"Chase?", Douglas yelled after him.
Chase turned around: "Yes?"
"Could you do me a favor?", Douglas asked as he stood up as well.
"Depends on the favor", Chase answered hesitantly.
Douglas didn't react to the comment and continued: "As soon as you get home, go to your siblings and tell them that even though you fight, you honestly care about them."
"Why?", Chase asked confused.
Douglas had a sad smile on his face as he looked at Chase: "Don't become too much like me, Chase."
Chase responded with a smile and a small nod: "Okay, I will."
Douglas nodded: "Thank you".

Chase turned around and left the park. When he reached the street, he turned around to have a final glance at Douglas.
Just as he had expected, he was still standing there looking at him. Douglas smiled one last time, to which Chase nodded and then turned left to go home.

Once Chase was gone, Douglas sat down again and looked at his reflection in the water.
"He's just like me when I was his age…", he said to himself out loud "... I just hope he goes right where I went wrong..."

Author's note: Hi! Long chapter, I know, but it didn't feel right to cut this conversation off in the middle. So, here it is: Chase and Douglas having the heart-to-heart some of you wanted ;)!

Next chapter: Chase gets home. :)

Thanks for reading! R&R!