Summary: Parker and his granddaughter go to a hardware store pick up some training supplies.

Notes: This story might be a little bit confusing if you haven't read Words that were never read... or aren't familiar with my OC's...

Hammerbarn

2075

Ten-year-old Scout Tracy looked up at her grandfather and asked, "What is this place?"

Parker looked down at his granddaughter in confusion, "Haven't your parents ever taken you to a hardware store?" He asked.

Scout shook her head, "When I am lucky enough to go on supply runs, most things are already packed up and ready for pickup," she said. "If we go to a store, it's usually because Mom wants to get me or Shay some new clothes, or Dad takes us to a toy store or somewhere fun."

Parker nodded in understanding, for security reasons the grandchildren of Jeff Tracy rarely left the island and were home schooled by their parents, even though that was set to change in a couple of years, Parker wasn't even sure if the greater press even knew how many grandchildren Jeff had, because when came to public family announcements Jeff was very sneaky with them, usually hiding them in busy news cycles, where a bigger more important event was happening where all the attention directed elsewhere, a trip to a hardware store would be very low priority for them when the kids were off the island, "A hardware store, is a place where most people go if they are looking for items and tools to improve and maintain their home's," he explained. "Hammers, nails, wood, shelving like what you see 'ere," he pointed at the boxes of products at the front of the store. "We are here to pickup up some items from their comedy aisle."

"Comedy aisle?" Scout asked.

"You'll see," Parker said, ruffling Scout's hair as he lead her into the store.

0o0o0

Scout stared at the items on the shelves of the part of the store that her grandfather had dubbed the 'Comedy aisle,' "These are padlocks, Granddad," she told him, trying and failing to keep the disappointment out of her voice. "I don't see how they can be funny."

Parker straightened up and looked up and down the aisle, satisfied that no one was watching them, he picked up one of the locks that had packaging that clearly claimed that the lock was unpick-able, and held the lock up in front his granddaughter's face while pulling a wire from his belt, "Watch closely, Scout," he told her, quietly. "This is why it's called the Comedy aisle," and he unpicked the lock in seconds in front of her startled eyes.

"Granddad!" Scout called out startled. "That lock was meant to be unpick-able, but you picked it, why would the company that sells the lock lie?"

Parker smiled softly as he started to put various locks into the trolley that he had brought with them, "Truth be told, most of these locks can be easily picked or even smashed off of what they are meant to be protecting, if you know what you are doing," he explained. "To people like me they are a joke, but to most ordinary people they can act as a sufficient deterrent to stop people from taking things or going where you don't want people to go."

"Oh," Scout replied thoughtfully. "But if they can be easily picked, why are you getting so many?"

"Haven't you figured it out yet?" Parker replied, with a grin.

Scout thought about it for a second, "Wait!" She exclaimed. "Are you going to teach me how to pick locks?" She gave her grandfather and uncertain look. "Won't you get into trouble?"

Parker laughed and ruffled Scout's hair, "No I won't sweetie," he replied. "Your Grandpa Jeff asked me to teach all you nippers how to pick locks, part of the reason for this trip was to get enough supplies for all of you to learn with."

"Grandpa asked you to teach us to pick locks?" Scout questioned.

"That he did," Parker confirmed. "You will find that your parents, uncles and most of your aunts, I'm not sure about your Aunty Will, already know how to pick most locks as part of their training for International Rescue."

"They do!?!" Scout exclaimed.

Parker nodded, "Sometimes it is quicker and safer to pick or smash the lock, when you come across a locked door, be it on a rescue or trying to get away from capture," he frowned, and then pulled a few more locks from the shelf and put them into the trolley. "I better get a few more, because your father and uncle's are bound to destroy a few, showing off."

Scout giggled, "Are you going to teach us how to crack safes, too?" She asked.

Parker snorted as he picked up some door locks and deadbolts and added them to the trolley, "Maybe eventually?" He replied thoughtfully. "It would be a useful skill to have for any of you kids that want to follow in your Aunt Kayo's or her Ladyship's paths…" he looked at a couple of the small safes that the hardware store sold. "Might pay us to get a couple don't you think?"

Scout nodded enthusiastically, as Parker moved to pick up a couple of them an added to the trolley.

0o0o0

If the person at the checkout thought anything odd about the number of locks that had been brought he didn't say anything about it, and after buying a heap of sausages and onions from the charity BBQ to share with the family when they got back, Parker and Scout loaded up FAB 1 and headed back home to Tracy Island.

Notes: "The comedy aisle of Home Depot," is the term I've heard lock pickers on some YouTube channels refer to the aisle that displays the locks that are 'meant' to keep you and your belongings 'safe.'

Scout and Shane are Parker's actual grandchildren, but Parker also sees Sophia and Simon in the same light (he's actually more of a grandfather to them than Hugh, but that's a different story), because Penelope is just as much as daughter to him, as Piper is.