That night Dan slept on the couch again, but woke up to Jerry crying. He took care of that and realized it was 6 AM so he put Jerry back in his crib for another hour of sleep and took a shower. By now his cuts were barely noticeable, but when Dan looked in the mirror he saw an older man with a beard and a cut above the eye. He really needed to shave, but decided not to.
After he got dressed in his work clothes he started to make instant oatmeal by following the directions on the box. DJ came down carrying Jerry, and the three guys ate.
DJ left for school, Dan packed a diaper bag and left to take Jerry to Jackie's.
When he got to the job site, he went all day without anything particular on his mind.
He was headed to Jackie's after work and remembered he was supposed to meet her at Rodbell's. When he got to the mall, he found Jackie and the boys at the food court.
He sat down at the table with Jackie, who had the kids in a two seated stroller.
"Hi Jackie, how were things at the diner?" Dan put his hand on his cheek and stole a fry from Jackie's tray.
"Good, we were kind of slow." Jackie blocked Dan from taking another fry.
"That sucks, we're behind on the job site so they're saying we'll be there longer." Dan managed to take another fry from Jackie.
"Oh well I guess that's good. Hey Dan I was wondering if you could help me with something…" Dan stared at Jackie, with a curious expression.
"Awe here it is. What do you want?" Dan's voice was lighthearted. He used a tone that he often used when talking to Jackie especially when he knew she wanted him to do something.
"I was hoping you could help me with potty-training Andy."
Dan went quiet for a minute and Jackie sat there anxious to hear his response.
"You want me to help potty train Andy…?" Dan continued. "Okay, but you get to remind me about all those shots Jerry will need and I'll never remember..."
Jackie held out her hand and they shook on it.
Dan got himself food, and ate, while he and Jackie exchanged conversation and talked to their boys.
In the shoe store, Jackie and Dan wandered the aisles, taking turns pushing the stroller.
Dan saw a pair of baby Nike's and picked them up. "What do you think about these?"
Dan was asking Jackie for her opinion because he figured she would know all that mom stuff that he still needed to know.
"I think those are good." Jackie pointed at them enthusiastically. Dan nodded and then untied Jerry's shoes to see what size his shoes were. He looked at the shoes, and then put them back on Jerry's feet. He grabbed a size bigger and found Jackie, looking at socks.
Jackie looked at Dan, "Hey Dan you mind watching the boys? I'm going to grab something real quick."
Dan nodded and Jackie walked out of the store quickly. Dan sat on a bench and played quietly with the boys.
"'Kol Dan!" Andy yelled. Dan smiled.
"Yep, Andy I'm Uncle Dan." Dan said in his baby voice, feeling weird about calling himself an Uncle.
He waited there for only fifteen minutes before Jackie came back with a bag in her hand.
"Andy called me Uncle Dan." He proclaimed excited as he stood up.
Jackie used this as an opportunity to get even for the two mean practical jokes. "Damn and I wanted him to call you Aunt Danielle…" Jackie smiled and locked eyes with Dan.
Dan smiled, "And I want Jerry to call you Uncle Jack." They looked at each other and walked to the checkout line and bought their sons shoes.
In the Clothing store Dan bout Jerry two pairs of baby blue jeans, a baby Chicago Bulls hoodie and three t shirts. Jackie bought Andy, a jacket and new T shirts and they were on their way.
When they got to their cars (Dan parked next to Jackie), Jackie handed Dan a book.
DADS COOKBOOK: 100 GUY FRIENDLY RECIPE'S FOR SINGLE DADS.
Dan smiled, and took the thick hardcover book and quickly looked through it. "DJ will be so thrilled." Dan said, thinking about his son's attitude to his chili.
Dan put Jerry in his car seat and he and Jackie went on their separate ways.
When Dan got home, he found DJ and a group of three guys and two girls sitting around the kitchen table.
Dan looked at DJ. DJ stood up nervous. "This is my dad and brother Jerry."
Dan shook his head and waved with the hand he was using to hold Jerry.
"DJ who are these kids?" Dan asked smiling, but talking only to DJ.
"My AV club. We're going to make a movie." DJ went to his dad.
"It won't cost me any money will it?"
DJ shook his head. "No."
"Good." Dan turned to go to his room but stopped when one of the girls spoke up.
"Excuse, me but I never know what to call my friends parents." Dan cocked his head, at the red headed girl.
"Mr. Conner works for me. What are your guy's names?" Dan tried to be nice to his kids friends.
"I'm Sarah, that's Alex, Tim, Rory, and Xander." The redhead pointed to each kid as she introduced them.
The kid she introduced as Xander spoke up too. "Excuse me, but what is like you're first name?" The kid's voice sounded to like the same voice from the Buy N Bag to Dan.
Dan searched the kid's eyes. "Dan…"
Xander looked at DJ. "Oh I get it you're name stands for Dan Junior, man."
DJ shook his head as Dan stifled a laugh and went to his room with Jerry.
"No my name stands for David Jacob." DJ said matter of factly.
Meanwhile in Chicago, David got home from work to find Darlene cooking something that smelled good.
"Hi Darlene, are you actually cooking something?"
"No, David I lit a chicken smelling candle." David nodded knowing he walked right into that.
"I'm sorry it's just different for you to use the stove."
David sat on a stool at the island (their apartment was modern, but small). Darlene could sense something was wrong with David. She walked around the island and hugged David. "What's wrong David?"
"I'm just worried about…everything."
Darlene rubbed her head on David's back. "So am I David. I just want to wait for my dad to get home before we get into any wedding stuff."
"I know, I do too, but I'm just worried about the baby. I mean what if it gets sick or something and we don't have enough money for the medicine or something?"
"David, the baby will be covered on your insurance remember? Besides my dad will never let anything like that happen."
David felt better and when the oven beeped, the two ate.
Also meanwhile, Mark and Becky stood out of their trailer screaming at each other.
"YOUR SO SELFISH, MARK. I CANT BELIEVE I MARRIED YOU!" Becky had her hands crossed at her chest, in a stance she had often seen her mother take.
"I'M SELFISH? YOU'RE THE ONE WHO JUST SITS THERE DECIDING WHEN AND WHAT WE DO. I HAVE FRIENDS, BECK; I'D LIKE TO GO SEE THEM ONCE IN A WHILE."
"I KNOW, SO YOU CAN GET DRUNK AND PASS OUT ON A COUCH."
"HEY, I DON'T PASS OUT. I DON'T DRINK AS MUCH AS I USED TO…"
The fight continued until, Beck went inside and slammed the door. Mark cussed profusely and hopped in his truck and drove off breaking the speed limit.
