So once The Bloody Hundredth becomes permanent crew at the Abbotts, in the fall they organize a free theatre course for high school students with one of the actors as instructor and a small play to perform at the end of the year. Of course John volunteers to teach and Gale, as the professor who coordinates the course, is always there to watch him.
And he knows John's a good actor, and he figured he's also a good teacher since he never gave up on him, but seeing him in action is a whole other thing. John is gentle and fun, never too harsh on his reprimands except when kids don't listen to him or laugh at another's improv or something. He doesn't raise his voice unless to make himself heard above the chaos of a whole class of teenagers, he shows interest to whatever they come to tell him about during breaks whether it's school stuff or their latest crush.
He commands the troop with a firm hand and a soft heart and it makes Gale melt. And one night when they're in bed after a rehearsal that lasted til late, tired and comfortable in John's arms Gale tells him, “You'd be a great dad, John.”