That night, Dan decided that he wasn't even going to attempt sleeping in his bed so he laid down on the couch thinking about how ironic it was that he used to despise sleeping on the couch when he and Roseanne were fighting and now that he'll never get kicked out of his own bed again he can't sleep in his own bed. He did fall asleep and slept the whole night.
In the morning DJ brought Jerry down stairs, while holding Jerry DJ shook Dan awake.
"Dad, dad, DAD!" Dan sat up quickly, forgetting where he was for a minute.
"Can you feed Jerry for me?" Dan asked, and then made his way to his room.
DJ placed Jerry in the high chair and fed him. Dan came out five minutes later dressed in overalls, a plaid shirt and boots. Except for the lumberjack look he looked just like DJ remembered.
Dan took over for DJ and DJ left.
Once, he was done feeding Jerry, he carried him back to the nursery and made a diaper bag. Then the father and son left, and Dan dropped Jerry off at Jackie's and went to work.
At the prison construction site, Dan could see that the building was behind on schedule. He found a place to park, and headed to the booth where the men (and two brave women) were supposed to clock in. The worker in the little booth asked Dan for ID. When Dan handed it to him he became scrutinizing.
"Why don't you look familiar?" The man asked, in a gruff macho voice.
Dan rubbed his chin. "My chin?"
"No. That aint it." The man looked at the paper work on his desk. "You haven't been to work since March."
"Yeah I know. My wife died in a car accident."
Whether it was sympathy or just a case of whatever, the man let Dan clock in but first he had to get a hard hat. Dan went back to his truck and found it underneath his seat.
He put it on and went through the gate. He found Chuck.
"DAN? You finally get home and you don't call?" Chuck was happy; he turned around and walked to Dan.
Dan smiled. "Well Chuck, I decided I was going to come home and surprise everyone, instead of the other way around."
Chuck nodded in understanding. He pulled Dan off the concrete path that was formed and talked low so there conversation was private.
"I heard rumors you were in County hospital…"
Dan smiled again, wanting to make this conversation easy on both of them. "I was. I quit drinking."
Chuck looked at Dan quizzically. "You quit drinking?"
"Amazing ain't it?" Dan kept smiling and walked away. It wasn't until Chuck realized he was being serious that Chuck suddenly wondered if 714 Delaware Street was a dry state.
Doing the job that he hated made Dan forget about everything and enjoy not thinking about non job related stuff. The time flew by before the lunch bell rang. Dan wasn't hungry and so he didn't even eat.
Dan pulled down his tailgate and sat on it. Mark came to talk to him.
"Dan…" Mark sat on the tailgate next to Dan.
Mark pulled a sandwich out of his brown paper bag.
"Hey Mark I'd like you to keep this a secret from Becky."
Mark shook his head. "Okay, Dan. Um how do you feel?" Dan studied Mark. He had grown to think of both Mark and David as his son so he appreciated Marks concern.
"Good, I guess." Dan said sitting still and happy.
When five o'clock rolled around Dan clocked out and raced to Jackie's. He was glad to find Jackie and not Bev.
Jerry was happy to see his dad.
Jackie stood there as Dan picked up Jerry and pulled the diaper bag over his shoulder.
"Hey Dan, he's growing like a weed. I think we should go get the boys new clothes."
Dan looked at Jerry and thought about it for a second. He knew for sure that Jerry needed new shoes.
"Okay, um how about we go tomorrow? I'll meet you at Rodbell's when I get off of work." Jackie agreed and Dan took Jerry home, to find an extremely clean house and DJ vacuuming the living room.
Dan smiled devilishly and watched his son. He just knew that his son was up to something….
Jerry started to feel heavy in Dan's arms so he put Jerry in the playpen.
DJ stopped vacuuming and saw his dad.
"What'd you do, DJ?"
DJ knew his dad would be suspicious. It was a Conner family tradition for kids to clean the house with being asked for two reasons, one to get out of trouble, and two get something in return.
"I didn't do anything…"
Dan looked at his oldest son, "But?"
"But there's this Steven Spielberg tribute in Chicago on a weekend and the AV club is going…"
"Chicago?" Dan asked for clarification.
"Yeah, but dad Darlene and David live in Chicago and the school is paying for it so I don't money."
Dan waved his hand for DJ to stop.
"I'll think about it."
DJ smiled and then rolled up the vacuums cord and put it away.
That night Dan made grilled cheese and macaroni (there was left over chili but DJ took the defensive on that).
