Higher Math by Sylvia (PG)

[versaphile.livejournal.com]

Fandom: THE DEAD ZONE
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: http://www.sivib.com/
Why this must be read:

While the series did eventually deal with JJ being told the truth about his parentage, Higher Math is a different take on the revelation, one that gives JJ the chance to find out for himself. The result is a touching piece, with JJ giving something back to the father that lost so much of his son.

Life was like walking through a field of land mines. His hands never strayed any more. One in his pocket, the other on his cane. No shaking hands, no casual touches. Johnny knew so much from casual touches that it made him dizzy sometimes. He hated knowing what was coming up, or being dragged into death or despair by brushing against a stranger.

Only yesterday, he’d learned far more than he wanted to know about the checkout girl’s home life. Her father was molesting her, and her mother was a drunk. The girl was working to earn enough money to get out of town and go to New York. It was all Johnny could do to keep a straight face, to not let on what he knew, and she still looked uncomfortable when their skin touched. She had known, somehow, that he knew something. The people of Cleaves Mills knew Johnny now and went out of their way to avoid touching him, and he was glad of it. The checkout girl had smiled awkwardly, apologized, and handed him his change, laced with a smattering of visions from the former owners of the coins. It was tiring.

None of which explained why he was sitting in his kitchen, books strewn over the breakfast table, helping his son, Walt’s son, with his math homework. ‘I’m out of my mind,’ he thought, trying hard to keep from brushing against the boy. The last thing either of them needed in their tentative relationship was the added baggage of vision-obtained knowledge. JJ was fourteen, now, and looking more like Smith every day. It was hard, sitting there next to his son, and knowing that the boy would be going to another home this evening. Still, it was something Johnny had learned to accept a long time ago. He’d had to.

Higher Math

Comments

[rhi]

I meant to say something sooner -- thank you for all your recs this month. I've been enjoying them immensely and I haven't even see the show, just read the novel. Anyway. Thank you.

[versaphile.livejournal.com]

My pleasure! I do have a DZ-novel rec coming up as well, which you should enjoy.

[rhi]

::grins, settles in to wait for it...::