Category: Gen
Setting: Pre-series
Characters/Pairings: Jake (8), Eric (5)
Rating/Warnings: K+
Summary: Long before the bombs, the fallout shelter was a portal to a galaxy far far away.
Note: Inspired by season 1, episode 2 "Fallout" in which Eric says that he and Jake used to play in the Town Hall fallout shelter as kids. Also, for the ages, after asking around it appeared that Jake is three/four years older than Eric, so that is why there is a three year age gap between them.
Disclaimer: Neither Jericho nor the characters belong to me.
A Galaxy Far Far Away
"Jake?" Eric stayed near the door, hesitantly looking around the dark room. "I don't think we're s'posed to be here."
"Don't worry, Eric. It's fine." Jake smiled at his little brother. "I won't let anything bad happen."
Eric frowned. He trusted his brother, but the door had been shut for a reason. He didn't move. Jake sighed, moving back to stand in front of the five year old. He held out his hand, flashlight pointing at the floor.
"Come on." He encouraged. "Trust me."
Eric only hesitated a moment before reaching out and taking his brother's hand. Jake smiled and led his little brother into the fallout shelter. The single flashlight, a gift from his grandfather, barely lit the room, but for the two boys that made the adventure even better. Within minutes, Eric had let go of his brother's hand and was raising around the room, pointing out everything he could see.
"What's this Jake?" he pointed to an old ventilation system.
Jake hesitated, having no idea what it actually was. He looked down at Eric who was looking up at him with wide eyes, completely trusting anything his brother said. He looked back at the ventilation system, chewing on the inside of his cheek for a moment before responding.
"It's obvious isn't it?" he questioned, eying his brother. "What does it look like?
Eric tilted his head, looking from his brother to the object he had never seen in his life. He mimicked his brother and chewed on the inside of his cheeks a moment before hesitantly guessing.
"A portal?"
Jake stared at his brother, not expecting that answer. But, the more he looked at the odd system and the more he shined the flashlight over it, the more it did look like a portal from those movies his Mom watched. He smiled and ruffled Eric's hair.
"You guessed it!" He walked around, studying the old thing, before turning back to his brother. "And guess where it goes."
"Where?" Eric asked excitedly, grabbing at the flashlight.
"A galaxy far far away!" With that, Jake started flashing the light around and starting singing the Star Wars theme.
Eric jumped around, joining in as best as he could, and started running around. Jake laughed and put his hand over his mouth, mimicking the heavy breathing of Darth Vader. Eric immediately mimicked the sound of the lightsaber and threw his hands up, prepared to fight the menace.
The sound of laughter echoed through the Town Hall basement. Johnston Green smiled as he walked down the stairs and peered through the open shelter door. He'd been looking for his boys for quite some time now. He should have known to check the locked doors. Jake never did know the meaning of "do not enter." Leaning against the open door, he watched his sons running around the old ventilation system, fighting with two wooden rods they had found. He chuckled and they spun, noticing him for the first time. Jake got a grin on his face and Johnston watched his oldest son carefully.
"It's the Emperor! Attack!"
With that, he dropped the rod and ran full speed for Johnston, his brother right on his heels giving a battle cry. Johnston laughed as Jake ran up and pretended to stab him. Eric was next, slicing at his legs.
"Oh, I'm dead!" he cried out, falling dramatically.
"No, Dad." Eric laughed, jumping on Johnston. "The Em'per's not dead yet!"
"Well in that case!" Johnston quit feigning death and reached out, grabbing both the boys and pulling them close, laughing with them as they fought to get away.
By the time Jake managed to squirm free, Eric was tired out so Johnston picked him up and reached for Jake's hand. Smiling, he shut the door behind him and started up the stairs. Eric was already mostly asleep on his shoulder, and Jake was obviously tired.
"Dad?"
"Yes, Jake?"
"What is that room?" Jake looked up at him.
"It's a Fallout Shelter." Johnston replied, hesitating slightly, wondering if seven was too young to have to explain nuclear war.
"Like our tornado shelter?" Jake asked after a moment.
Johnston grinned. He had a smart boy.
"That's exactly what it is."
Jake seemed satisfied with that. They walked into the lobby of Town Hall and Jake spoke up one more time.
"Daddy, can we go see Star Wars again?"
Johnston could only laugh.
"We'll see, son. We'll see."