The Fortress house, September 2012

Jonah, Michael, and Staci are discussing the new addition and new students

"Dad, I can't wait for you to see all the changes at the school," Michael said, excitedly.

"Yes, dear," Staci said to Jonah. "I think even you'd be impressed."

"Yes?" Jonah asks.

"Yea, they finished with the last classroom on the 2nd floor - the Chemistry lab, and should be finished with the gym for basketball season!" Michael excitedly says.

"Impressive," replies Jonah.

"All these years of renting a gym, I can't wait to play in our own gym and have our own locker-room!" says Michael.

Jonah, trying to sound cool, says, "That'll be 'cool beans' eh?"

Michael shakes his head at his Dad and replies, "No, don't do that."

Jonah chuckles then turns to Staci and asks, "So, I hear Mrs. Gordon retired?"

"Yes, she and Bernard are off to Haiti to run an orphanage there," Staci replies.

Jonah smiles and says, "Good for them! So, who's the new principal?"

"Lynda Grant," Staci answers.

"Ah, yes! Hailey's mom. Good choice," approves Jonah.

"She's going to coach both the girl's teams...," Staci says.

"...And I hear she wants to turn her fencing club into a full sport team," Michael adds.

Jonah, again tries to sound cool, replies, "Coolio."

Michael frowns at Jonah and replies, "No, don't say that."

Jonah asks Michael, "So, are you going to do anything new this year? Maybe run for student government? Class president? Join the fencing team?"

Michael, in a flat tone, replies, "Naa..."

"Why not, it's your last year and...," Jonah starts to say.

"Because I don't want to!" Michael yells and stomps out of the room.

Jonah starts to go after him, but Staci looks him off with a glance. "Give him a few minutes, dear, before you go after him," she says. Jonah hugs his wife from behind as she stands at the sink, and kisses her neck.

"You're such a great wife and mom - how did I ever find you?" he asks.

Jonah finds Michael sitting on the steps of the house's side entrance and sits down next to him. "So, what's going on" he asks.

"It... It's just that you're never here anymore," Michael explains. "You missed most of my soccer and basketball games last year."

"I saw those two goals you scored...," Jonah starts to say.

"But, I scored fifteen goals and was the team's second leading scorer!" Michael bursts out. "We made it to the championship game, which you also missed!"

"I... I'm sorry," Jonah says quietly.

"It's just not fair!" Michael responds.

"I can't just leave a mission any time I want...," Jonah replies calmly.

"I know and I feel bad for complaining," Michael says, "but I look around the field and the court and I see everyone else's dad and I wonder where's mine?"

"I'm sorry, most of my missions are 'life or death' situations," Jonah tries to explain.

Michael sighs, "I know, and as much as I'd like to have you see me win a game or score a goal I know you're stopping a church from being burned to the ground in Africa."

"...or stopping a bus in the Philippines from being blown up," interrupts Jonah. "But what about me? When are you here for me?" Michael asks.

Jonah puts his hand on Michael's shoulder and says, "Michael, I'm protecting you every single day. If a demon gets past me, then you are the first people that it'll come after. I can't let up or relax for one single moment when I'm on the battlefield or I'll be putting you, your mom and your brother in "harms's way'. That's one of the reasons the reasons I can't run back here any time I want. We have to cover our tracks, so they don't..."

"Find the 'bat cave'?" Michael says, with a slight smile.

"Exactly," Jonah answers, smiling.

"The other thing that bugs me," Michael begins but hesitates.

"Yes?" Jonah inquires.

"Even when you do come home you always make time for Kate," Michael tells his Dad.

"That's a different circumstance," Jonah replies.

Michael jumps up and raises his voice as he asks, "Why? What's different about it, about her? She still takes you away from us."

"But...," Jonah begins.

"She's not your daughter." Michael says, anger rising in his voice. "She still has a family. You didn't..."

Jonah interrupts, almost yelling, "I made a promise!!"

"A promise? To who? To Kate?" Michael asks.

Jonah shakes his head and replies, "No, to her father."

"How did...," Michael begins to ask.

"It happened about one year after we first met the Remingtons. I helped Bob get a position within BKO&G as a truck driver, and he wanted to pay me back for the favor, so he brought some venison over to the house one night," Jonah begins to tell the story.

Flashback, December 2001

"That's a pretty big box of deer meat, Bob," Jonah says.

Bob Remington replies, "Well, this is a pretty big opportunity for me. I was pretty much stuck in a no-where job. If it wasn't for you I'd never have gotten in this position."

"No problem, just helping a friend out," Jonah answers.

"I have heard though, that, you know, that driving these kinds of trucks can be very dangerous," Bob says.

"Sure, they can be. You're hauling some items that are extremely flammable for long distances usually over very dangerous condition," says Jonah.

"That's what I thought," muttered Bob.

"But, it's nothing to get too...," Jonah says.

"Jonah, you like Kate, right?" Bob interrupts. "I know she likes you... She looks up to you..."

Jonah, confused, answers, "Um, sure, I do, what's this all about?"

"If anything ever happens to me I want you to take care of Kate, ok?" Bob asks seriously.

"Okay, sure," Jonah answers.

"No, promise me, Jonah," Bob pleads, "promise me you'll take care of Kate and my family."

"Okay, okay, I will," Jonah replies assuredly. "I promise I will take care of her."

End flashback

Jonah, looking down at the ground, says, "So there you have it."

"You know, most of the time I wish we were an ordinary family," Michael replies.

"I know," Jonah sighs, "but we're not. 'To him who has been given much - much will be required of him' and you have..."

Michael responds, "I know, I've been given gifts and talents - you guys have said that for years."

"It's more than that. You have, or will have certain powers," Jonah states.

Michael gets a quizzical look and asks, "Powers? Really? Like what?"

"God will reveal them in the right time and in the right place. It's not my place to say," Jonah told him.

"Aww...," Michael replied.

"So be patient," Jonah advised him.

"So, what about my games?" Michael asked.

"I will try my best to come to as many as I can," Jonah told him.

"Ohh okay," Michael says, with slight disappointment in his voice.

Jonah gives Michael a playful punch in the arm and says, "Okay, now let's get ready for dinner."