Fuller House: The Arrow Chapter 1 (Original Version)

 This is my original version of FH: The Arrow Chapter 1.  I liked this but decided to take Jackson's return in a different direction.  However I kept this version, just because.  I am posting it here for my dedicated fans.  It will not be posted anywhere else.  

I also have an alternate version of Chapter 2 that I will be posting tomorrow.

~May 28, 2036~

The rain was falling hard, our clothes were soaked to the bone and the air was so cold we could all see our breaths. As the thunder and lightning cracked and flashed illuminating the roof tops. Five figures were on the roof of Trask Conglomerate, two of those figures were in a standoff. Unfortunately the standoff was a standoff in name only. The archer stood with my family, legs planted strongly, bowstring pulled back and his specialized black polymer arrows with Teflon arrowhead ready to fly into Rocki's carotid artery and my biggest worry was that the archer would loose his grip on his shaft because of the rain and it was end up in her neck killing her almost instantly.

The archer yells, “You have failed your family!”

“NOOOO!” I yell as his fingers loosen their hold on the fletching.

Chapter 1: Resurrection

~August 14, 2035~

The island has been relatively silent for the last year so when I heard the sound of an engine echoing through the hills I quickly make my way through the foliage. Branches snap and leaves fall as I dart as quickly as my legs carry me. Upon reaching my perch I can see it, a boat, a fishing boat has entered the waters of this isle. Commercial fishing boats rarely, if ever make their way this close to my island. It is the only boat in almost three years to get this close. As I am a long distance from the beach and would not be able to make it before they more than likely leave the area I grab the bow that I have acquired and the special arrow I have made for just this occasion. I strike it against a large rock and it sparks. The arrow is aflame and I drawback the bowstring and let the wooden shaft fly. It arcs up in the air and then falls down upon a stack of logs and combustible material.

I watch as my improvised signal flare explodes up into the air for anyone withing miles of me to see and hear. The boom alerts the two deck hands and the boat begins to putter towards my location. Grabbing the travel chest with the items I've accumulated during my five years that I've been stranded here I make my way to the shore. The Chinese fishermen take in my shambled appearance and ask me if I'm ok and how long I've been here. I reply that I've been lost at sea for five years. The fishermen agree to take me to land and help me get to the US Embassy. Besides my watch and my ragged clothes the only other I items I have from my old life are my wallet and my passport. The fishermen have a Sat phone that they use for emergencies and allow me to place one, short phone call.

~*~

The house phone rings at the home of Donna Jo (DJ) Hale. The fifty-eight year old mother/grandmother was in her family's home, the very home she had grown up in, visiting her daughter-in-law's family. The poor girl was a single mother, just as she had been for a time, struggling to make ends meet. Much like her father had done for her, DJ had Rocki Fuller move into the Tanner/Fuller family home to raise her children.

Rocki Fuller had not had an easy life for the past five years since her husband's passing. She had several legal fights with the insurance company and her late husband's employers over who was at fault/liable and the Fuller's had suffered financially over that. DJ insisted that Rocki, who at the time Jackson was declared dead, was five months pregnant. The tragic loss of Jackson was detrimental to her health but with the help of her wonderfully loving extended family, she managed to complete her pregnancy cycle and deliver (to everyone's) surprise, twins. It was a shock to say the least as the doctor never saw the second “miracle” baby.

DJ walked over to the house phone and checked the caller id, it said operator. Clicking talk she answered and heard an operator informing her she had an international call in process and the user wanted to make sure she didn't not answer the call.

“Go ahead sir.” The female operator announced as she completed the connection and left the line.

“Mom.” A grainy almost horse voice announced over the phone.

“Max... Tommy which ever one of you is doing this... where are you that the call is international?”

“No mom... its... its Jackson.” The oldest Fuller son announced. His throat was very dry and he was having a hard time speaking but he had to let his family know that he was in fact not dead.

“I don't know who this is but its a sick joke. My son died five years ago. Don't call here again!”

“Build me up Buttercup.” Jackson screamed into the phone.

“What...” DJ Hale asked, not quite sure she heard the other person correctly.

“Build me up Buttercup, your mom's favorite song. We all sang it that night at the diner just before the big triple wedding.”Jackson reminded his mother.

“Jack... Jackson... oh mylanta... my Jackson... my son...” DJ said almost crying hysterically into the phone. “What... where are you? Are you ok...”

“I... I'm not sure where I am exactly. I'm on a fishing boat heading to land. They're taking me to a US Embassy. “I'm... I'm coming home mom.” Jackson stated very emotionally.

DJ fell to her knees crying tears of joy for the first time in a long time. Her son was alive, breathing and he was coming home to his family. “Rocki...” DJ Hale said at first to herself and her son. “ROOOCKIIII!!!” DJ's yell filled the house. Rocki lived in the attic loft originally inhabited by her Uncle Jessie and Aunt Becky all those years ago. It had been vacant for some time prior to Rocki Fuller moving in but the young woman made the space her own once she was in it.

“Mom... are you ok?” Rocki Fuller asked rushing down a flight of stairs until she was at the front stairwell looking at her mother-in-law crouched on the phone, disheveled, tears in her eyes. She had not seen her like this since the day she had to inform her that Jackson was reported lost at sea on his company's ship. DJ was holding the phone up for her and Rocki's heart was pounding with each step she took slowly down the stairs. Rocki Fuller was strong, like her nickname implied she was hard as a rock, but she didn't know if she could handle more bad news. When she was within arms reach of the phone DJ clicked the speakerphone button.

“Hello...” Rocki said hesitantly into the phone.

“Rocki...” A voice called out to her. Her heart froze, it couldn't be. “Rocki, it's Jackson.”

“No... this is some sick joke.” Rocki Fuller announced loudly.

“Rocki the tickle monster, I called you that when you were feeding Tommy a cooking and tickling his tummy the morning after you slept at my house the first time. You looked so cute in Ramona's pink pajamas.” Jackson stated. Jackson heard a thud and a long pause.

“She's ok Jackson... her legs just gave out.” DJ Informed her son as she held her daughter-in-law in her arms.

“I don't have much time left on this call... I just had to tell you two first that I was alive, I didn't want you to find out second hand from anyone. I'll call again as soon as I'm on land and know how I'll be getting home.” Jackson told the two weeping women.

“Someone will be waiting by this phone Jackson... we promise.” DJ tells her son as Rocki can't find the words.

“I love you both... so much... tell the family, I'm coming home to you.” Jackson Fuller announced as he ended the phone call.

On the other side of the world, Donna Jo Hale and Roxanne Fuller held on to one another crying tears of joy. Rocki had cried many a night wishing to have her husband back, now, by an act of god, she had him back.

“He's coming home to us.” DJ told her favorite daughter-in-law. “We have to tell everyone...”

“I'll call my mom and dad.” Rocki announced. “Oh my god... the kids... how will I explain this to them?” Rocki asked DJ.

“We'll break it to them gently... after we tell everyone else. It will hopefully make it easier for them to acclimate to suddenly having a father.” DJ said, not really buying what she was selling.

To Be Continued