New Light Through Old Windows by capecodgirl
Title: New Light Through Old Windows
By: capecodgirl
Rated: All
Challenge: "New"
Character: Jackson
Spoilers: "Heartland"
Disclaimer: not mine, no money, just pushy muses who demand attention at any hour of the day.
not beta'd - mistakes are mine
Summary: Jackson rethinks his relationship with his son during and after the events of "Heartland".
Jackson watched his son screech down the center of Main Street in that yellow muscle car, a smile plastered from ear to ear. He couldn't recall the last time he had seen such a look of pure joy on Leroy's face. It had been far too long.
He'd seen his son and the agents pull into Main Street. Hell the whole town had done so. And he'd watched with pride as Leroy had calmly faced down and dismissed the sheriff, refusing to be intimidated or delayed. Never one to back down from a fight, Leroy looked like he was ready to take up with the sheriff exactly where they'd left off fighting all those years ago when Leroy enlisted in the Marines. It was quite the entrance and a way to curse them all and say, "I'm back".
It wasn't until Jackson had jokingly questioned his son's status as someone's boss and he'd seen the look that Leroy had given him, that Jackson realized he'd crossed a line. Leroy was deadly serious and determined to solve the murder and beatings of those marines.
Leroy was in his element and doing the job he was born to do. He was good at it too. He must be someone important in that agency where he worked, having the other agents and specialists at his beck and call.
Jackson had to admit that he'd secretly gotten a great deal of satisfaction and pride out of watching his son and his team solve the crime, although he was also saddened that the death of that marine was part of it as well.
But mostly Jackson realized just how much Leroy had outgrown his roots and his past. That hadn't been hard, given that Leroy had run away from everything that reminded him of Shannon and Kelly. Jackson knew that this visit was uncomfortable for Leroy on so many levels, having to confront his ghosts, his father, and those who'd stayed behind in the town.
Leroy had been trying to find a way to talk to his father since he'd arrived in town, even helping to stock shelves in the store in an attempt to find some common ground, but there had been too much baggage and unspoken recriminations between the two of them. Every time Jackson tried to bring up stories of the past his son would bring up some unpleasantness and the moment would be ruined. He even hated being called "Leroy" and used his middle name. That was one of the hardest things for Jackson to accept, given that Leroy had been named after Jackson's best friend and business partner, and one of the best men Jackson had ever known.
Jackson realized that he had to meet his son more than halfway if he ever wanted to salvage any kind of relationship. He knew with a certainty that this would be his last opportunity to do so if he messed it up.
As Jackson watched Leroy, no Jethro, drive the car out of town, he knew that his son would be back. Jackson was glad that he'd saved the car and kept it waiting against hope that Leroy would return, and that he'd been able to use it as a bridge to reconciliation.
The rest of Jethro's team also seemed more than willing to be a part of Jackson's efforts to reconnect with his son. They were quite a varied and interesting group, and Jackson was awed by the loyalty and respect his son inspired in them.
They were obviously a part of his son's life now, and he couldn't wait to meet with them and hear stories about his boy. Together Jackson knew they would find a way to bridge the old and the new, and make it into something better and greater than its two separate parts.
By: capecodgirl
Rated: All
Challenge: "New"
Character: Jackson
Spoilers: "Heartland"
Disclaimer: not mine, no money, just pushy muses who demand attention at any hour of the day.
not beta'd - mistakes are mine
Summary: Jackson rethinks his relationship with his son during and after the events of "Heartland".
Jackson watched his son screech down the center of Main Street in that yellow muscle car, a smile plastered from ear to ear. He couldn't recall the last time he had seen such a look of pure joy on Leroy's face. It had been far too long.
He'd seen his son and the agents pull into Main Street. Hell the whole town had done so. And he'd watched with pride as Leroy had calmly faced down and dismissed the sheriff, refusing to be intimidated or delayed. Never one to back down from a fight, Leroy looked like he was ready to take up with the sheriff exactly where they'd left off fighting all those years ago when Leroy enlisted in the Marines. It was quite the entrance and a way to curse them all and say, "I'm back".
It wasn't until Jackson had jokingly questioned his son's status as someone's boss and he'd seen the look that Leroy had given him, that Jackson realized he'd crossed a line. Leroy was deadly serious and determined to solve the murder and beatings of those marines.
Leroy was in his element and doing the job he was born to do. He was good at it too. He must be someone important in that agency where he worked, having the other agents and specialists at his beck and call.
Jackson had to admit that he'd secretly gotten a great deal of satisfaction and pride out of watching his son and his team solve the crime, although he was also saddened that the death of that marine was part of it as well.
But mostly Jackson realized just how much Leroy had outgrown his roots and his past. That hadn't been hard, given that Leroy had run away from everything that reminded him of Shannon and Kelly. Jackson knew that this visit was uncomfortable for Leroy on so many levels, having to confront his ghosts, his father, and those who'd stayed behind in the town.
Leroy had been trying to find a way to talk to his father since he'd arrived in town, even helping to stock shelves in the store in an attempt to find some common ground, but there had been too much baggage and unspoken recriminations between the two of them. Every time Jackson tried to bring up stories of the past his son would bring up some unpleasantness and the moment would be ruined. He even hated being called "Leroy" and used his middle name. That was one of the hardest things for Jackson to accept, given that Leroy had been named after Jackson's best friend and business partner, and one of the best men Jackson had ever known.
Jackson realized that he had to meet his son more than halfway if he ever wanted to salvage any kind of relationship. He knew with a certainty that this would be his last opportunity to do so if he messed it up.
As Jackson watched Leroy, no Jethro, drive the car out of town, he knew that his son would be back. Jackson was glad that he'd saved the car and kept it waiting against hope that Leroy would return, and that he'd been able to use it as a bridge to reconciliation.
The rest of Jethro's team also seemed more than willing to be a part of Jackson's efforts to reconnect with his son. They were quite a varied and interesting group, and Jackson was awed by the loyalty and respect his son inspired in them.
They were obviously a part of his son's life now, and he couldn't wait to meet with them and hear stories about his boy. Together Jackson knew they would find a way to bridge the old and the new, and make it into something better and greater than its two separate parts.