A Little Laughter Left In Me... (Laughing Jack x Reader)

~A Helping Hand and another Phone Call~

The drive was much slower due to there still being an unstable tire, and after a while you finally managed to fall back asleep. You felt bad doing it, though, your father must've been exhausted at this point. It was at that time you wished you'd gotten your license so that you could be more helpful, but there was nothing you could do.

When you woke up you were still moving, but you could see a building off in the distance.

"Almost there..." He mumbled. You could see the tired look in his eyes as he stared at the road, and when you looked around you noticed the sun had nearly set.

"If anything, maybe he'll find it in his heart to let dad get some rest..." You thought while frowning sympathetically.

"Do you want me to try steering for a bit?" You offered, and your father gave you an appreciative half smile, glancing at you briefly.

"I'll be all right, honey, it's just a little further." He declined politely. You still felt bad for him but you nodded and sat up in your seat. The setting sun graced the sky with a bright orange glow, giving the gloomy clouds above a bit more color.

"Do you still like sunsets?" Your father asked after a minute, and you nodded.

"It's like the sun is painting the sky in its own unique way, every single day." You smiled.

He chuckled, seeming intrigued by your answer. "When'd you get so poetic?" 

You shrugged, giving him an unsure smile.

"It just felt like the right way to put it."

After forty more minutes your father finally reached the parking lot and stopped the van as soon as he was in a space, not wanting to cause any extra damage.

"I'll get the bags, you head on in where it's warm, okay?" He opened his door, then you remembered the bags were also in the back with Liu.

"A-Actually, I'll get them, dad. You need to rest and, besides, Arthur probably won't be too happy to see me..." You tried not to make it seem like you were just making up an excuse, even though you partially were.

Your father looked like he wanted to protest, but you proceeded to get out of your seat, open the back, and snatch the luggage anyway, trying your best to resist the freezing cold wind when it blew against you.

He let out a sigh, then nodded in defeat but appreciation before turning and somewhat stumbling his way to the doors of the motel. You felt awful that you'd have to leave Liu in the van if you didn't want to risk having him be discovered, but he gave you a hug and whispered that it was okay, then urged you to go on ahead. "I've dealt with worse conditions. Trust me, I'll be fine." Was what he said.

You let out a sigh before practically dragging your feet as you rolled the luggage over to the doors, and your father opened one to let you in before you heard Arthur's voice.

"I thought I told you to leave me alone." He stated irritably, walking towards you both as your father let the door close behind him.

Your father put on a smile and was about to reply, but then he groaned and stumbled forward, looking like he was about to fall. You gasped and rushed back beside him to catch him in your arms, but he wasn't standing on his own so you struggled. You looked over pleadingly at Arthur and the lividness that was once in his gaze vanished when he realized what was happening, and to your shock but gratefulness he rushed over, holding your father's arm around his shoulders and holding his back for support.

"What's happened?" He asked you in confusion and concern, leading your father over to the lounge and sitting him down in one of the chairs.

"We were driving for hours upon hours and earlier today the front tires to our van got punctured, we only had one spare so we had to drive the rest of the way here even slower, which took up a lot more time. He hasn't slept for so long..." You informed him worriedly, and Arthur was shocked. He didn't say anything as he walked away, but he returned with two mugs full of hot cocoa and assisted your father in getting a grip tight enough to take a sip, then handed you yours.