Fic - Jensen/Jared - The Past Never Stays There - chapter 7/14
Title : The Past Never Stays There - Chapter 7/14
Author : angels3 aka Angela
Beta : munimula - who is the best beta ever and any mistakes left are so mine, and there will probably be a plenty as I had to rework some things after she sent it back to me. I hope I got all the mistakes as I had to do this twice. Don't ask you don't want to know
Word Count : 7294
Pairing : Jensen/Jared
Supporting Characters : Eric, Kim, Sera, Mike, Tom, Chris, Steve, Chad, Kylan (who is a figmant of my imagination
Disclaimers : They don't belong to me because if they did.............................
Warnings : RPS M/M sex , not this chapter though.
Summary : This is the sequel to When Things Come Crashing Down. It starts immediately where that story left off.
You know that person that Chris never had the name for? Well he may soon get it. Jensen and Jared have to deal with someone from Jensen's past.
Chapters - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12a 12b 13a 13b 14
Kylan
PDF for The Past Never Stays There
Over the next day and a half, there was always someone with Jensen. Jared rarely left the hospital room, much less the hospital. He only went home for a quick shower and to visit the dogs, only staying gone a couple of hours at a time. Chris and Steve were in and out, while Mike and Tom stopped by the night before he was to be released. Dr. Patterson gave Jared several prescriptions to have filled and strict instructions on the care and feeding of one Jensen Ackles.
Jensen sat in the wheelchair glaring at the two men as they ignored him. Dr. Patterson finally turned, addressing Jensen.
"I gave Jared instructions about your meds because you’re on bed rest for the next week. The only places you are to go is from the bed to the couch or to the bathroom understand?"
.
Jensen nodded, trying hard not to cross his arms over his chest. He already felt like a five year old, he didn't want to look like one as well.
"If your temperature starts to climb, you experience chills or the coughing isn't being controlled by the Tussin, call me. I don't want to hear the ocean in your lungs at your checkup. Call my office and set that up for the beginning of the week." Dr. Patterson patted Jensen on the shoulder, shook Jared's hand and was out the door.
Jared leaned down and kissed the top of Jensen's head, before crouching down in front of him, trying to angle his head, so he could look Jensen in the face. He finally put a finger under Jensen's chin, lifting it until Jensen had to look at him.
"You know I just don't want you to be sick like that again."
"Yeah, but I'm not a kid," Jensen pouted.
"No you're not, but when you don't take care of yourself like you're supposed to, it's hard not to treat you like one," Jared said, laughing when Jensen stuck his tongue out.
"Do you have any idea how scared I was when you passed out? You wouldn't wake up, your fever was through the roof, and I couldn't do anything, but sit and wait for someone to tell me what was wrong."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you Jay. I honestly didn't know it was that bad." Jensen said softly, squeezing Jared's hand.
"Well you're just going to have to get used to me being all in your personal space, because I don't intend for that to ever happen again," Jared said, dimples flashing.
Jensen snorted, "Since when have you not been in my personal space?"
"True, but now I have a free pass to nag the shit out of you when you don't take care of yourself," Jared informed him.
Jensen just rolled his eyes, since there really wasn't much he could say to that.
Jared leaned forward and kissed Jensen's forehead as he stood up.
"Hey! What kind of kiss was that?" Jensen grumbled.
"The only kind you deserve right now," Jared answered, pushing the wheelchair to the door and into the hallway.
He leaned down next to Jensen's ear and whispered, "If I give you the kind of kiss, I want to, we won't be leaving anytime soon, and I don't think the whole 3rd floor needs to hear just how many curse words you can string together when I'm fucking you."
Jared straightened back up and headed for the elevators. Jensen groaned and shifted his overnight bag from his knees to his lap to hide the obvious effects Jared's words had on his body. Jared just grinned even bigger and started whistling out of tune while they waited for the elevator to stop.
Steve and Chris had the truck so Jared had called to tell them what time to be at the back entrance when Jensen was released. If anyone had found out about Jensen's hospital stay, Jared wanted to keep the coverage to a bare minimum. Especially, since it had been all they could do to keep Jensen's parents from flying out again.
They exited the doors to late afternoon gloom and Chad leaning against Mike's car, arms crossed, and a scowl on his face.
"Uh oh," Jensen whispered.
"What are you doing here?" Jared asked confused.
"I came to pick you up," Chad responded, pushing his body off the car and taking Jensen's overnight bag out of his lap.
"No, I mean what are you doing here, here."
"What Jared is so eloquently trying to ask is why are you in Vancouver?" Jensen translated, even though he already knew the answer.
"Oh. Is that what you wanted to know Jared?" Chad asked, scowling again.
"Well yeah?" Jared responded, nervously running his hand through his hair and pushing his bangs out of his face.
He leaned down and locked the brakes on the wheelchair and Chad moved the foot rests out of the way so Jensen could stand up.
"Well you see, I got this call the other night. Seems a couple of my friends were having some problems, and since they hadn't seen fit to call and tell me themselves Mike, being the 'good' friend he is, called and let me in on the secret," Chad said, helping Jensen stand while Jared held the wheelchair still.
"You guys do realize I can stand up on my own right?" Jensen asked, whining just a little.
"Oh yeah, that went so well before, jello legs," Jared said exasperated, referring to Jensen's failed attempt to make it to the bathroom solo the night before.
Jared had dozed off and Jensen decided not to wake him up, slipping out of the bed and making it just far enough into the middle of the room where there was nothing to hold onto before his legs started shaking, and refusing to function. It had been either wake Jared up or have him find an undignified heap of boyfriend on the floor, possibly in a puddle. Jared had not been pleased and Jensen cringed at the thought of hearing that particular lecture again.
"Fine," Jensen growled, glaring.
Jared just ignored him and pushed the chair back into the lobby while Chad helped Jensen into the car and shut the door. He settled into the driver's seat glancing back at Jensen through the rearview mirror. Jensen's head was resting on the back of the seat, and he was paler than Casper. Chad shook his head and frowned, waiting for Jared to climb in the passenger seat. He turned on a light jazz station to muffle the conversation he was going to have with Jared.
Chad planned on ripping his friend a new one for keeping him in the dark.
He knew it was Jared's decision not to call. They were all friends, but to avoid confusion, Jared and Jensen had a system for alerting them to plans, or emergencies. Jensen always called Tom, Steve and Chris. Jared always called him and Mike, except apparently this time Mike had to call him, and he was not happy about it at all. Jared slid into the seat, turning around to make sure Jensen was comfortable. He straightened back around and put his seat belt on when it appeared Jensen had dozed off.
"Now do you want to tell me why you didn't call?" Chad asked, pulling into traffic.
"You were filming, I didn't want you to get fired. You missed almost two weeks a couple of months back. I know you think you own the show, but you do have a contract."
"What do you mean I think I own the show? I do own the show," Chad declared.
"Whatever dip wad," Jared sighed, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.
He hoped Chad would drop it, but that thought was quickly shot down with Chad's next remark.
"I could have done some background shit. Mike says Jensen met this guy in Carolina, I do live down there nine months out of the year." Chad grumbled.
Jared rolled his head in Chad's direction and opened his eyes to stare at his friend. Chad glanced over and then back at the road.
"What? I do know how to read!"
"Yes, and when you finished reading you'd have hoped the first plane out."
"Still not seeing the problem," Chad persisted.
Jared sighed and closed his eyes again. Chad could be purposely oblivious when he wanted to be and Jared was too damn tired to keep arguing.
"He didn't want you to get hurt," came the quiet reply from the back seat, making both Jared and Chad jump.
"Damn it Jensen! You trying to make me wreck Mike's car?" Chad squawked, looking into the mirror at Jensen.
"I don't have to help for you to do that," Jensen replied, eyes still closed. "You looking at me instead of the road will get you there just as quick."
Chad looked back at the road, "I hate it when he does that Jedi shit."
Jared just grinned and looked back at Jensen who was still relaxing back into the seat.
"How do you live with him? He's just creepy!" Chad whined.
"You're just jealous," Jared said, laughing at Chad's incredulous look.
"Well, not because I want him. But just think of all the chicks I could bang using that parlor trick."
"I'm sure your girlfriend would love to hear that," Jared snarked.
"Girlfriend? What girlfriend?"
"You've gotten rid of her already?" Jared asked.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Chad denied, pulling into Jared's driveway.
"I'm sure you don't," Jared acknowledged, rolling his eyes and opening the door, so he could help Jensen out.
Steve and Chris met them at the door, taking Jensen's bag and greeting Chad.
"Did you give him hell?" Chris asked.
"Yes, but not as much as he would have gotten if I'd have missed the ass whooping part," Chad said, getting louder at the end to make sure Jared could hear him.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," floated back down the hallway, where Jared had disappeared with Jensen to get him settled.
Jensen wanted to lie on the couch but Jared had vetoed that idea in favor of the bed. He told Jensen once he had a nap and recovered from the afternoon exertions he could play with his friends. Jensen had given him the evil eye, making Jared really thankful that looks couldn't kill. Once he had Jensen settled under thick fluffy blankets, Jared stripped down, switched off the light and slid in beside him.
"If you'd have told me you were going to take a nap with me, I wouldn't have complained," Jensen scolded.
"Yes you would have, you'd have said you were being a terrible host, and that you shouldn't be sleeping while our friends were here. Then you would have told me to go entertain them, which last time I checked, they were all adults and could entertain themselves."
Jensen arched his eyebrow and waited.
"Okay fine, everyone but Chad and Mike are adults and can entertain themselves. I figure they can entertain each other, especially since that's where Chad is staying. We'll be lucky if we aren't bailing them out for blowing up something."
Jensen really hated that Jared knew him so well, because that's exactly what he would have said.
"You still don't have to lay down with me. You can go hang out with them if you want. I know you didn't get to see much of Chad before he had to fly out last time."
"I'm right where I want to be," Jared said, pulling Jensen's back even closer to his chest and wrapping his body around him.
"Besides, half of them are ready to disembowel me right now," Jared whispered.
Jensen snorted softly, words forming but never passing his lips as sleep snuck up on him and everything floated away.
Jared drifted off to the feel of warm skin pressed to his, Jensen's chest rising and falling under his hand and soft snores filling his ears.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jared stumbled into the living room a couple of hours later, shocked by how quiet it was. He finally found Steve sitting in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee.
"Where is everybody?" Jared asked, pouring himself a cup and sitting down.
"Chris and Chad went to get some food. I personally think they went cruising around to see if they can spot Kylan."
"Why didn't you stop them?" Jared asked alarmed.
"Jared. What are the chances of them actually seeing him walking down the side of the road? They just needed to do something, so why not let them. If I thought they'd actually find him, you can bet your ass I'd be there too."
Jared wasn't entirely convinced it was such a great idea, but he let it go since Jensen wanted to tell everybody about the latest information at the same time. Steve was probably right, Kylan wasn't going to be just strolling along making himself easy pickings.
"I called Mike. He and Tom are going to come by around six, and I told Chris to get everything for a steak dinner. Figured we could grill ' em in the garage, keep from freezing."
"There's a couple of space heaters out there too. Jensen swore there were icicles hanging off the rafters the last time we did that. Of course, man's prone to exaggeration when he whines." Jared said, shaking his head, and taking another swallow of coffee.
"I'm going to tell him you said that," Steve said.
Jared shrugged his shoulders. If he was lucky Jensen would punish him when he felt better.
Steve narrowed his eyes, watching Jared's face. "Never mind, you look like that would make you happy."
Jared just grinned and went back to drinking his coffee.
"Freaks," Steve mumbled under his breath.
"Oh please. You can't tell me you and Chris aren't?"
"You and me aren't what?" Chris asked stumbling in the door with his arms full of bags, Chad right behind him carrying more.
"Jesus! Did you leave anything on the shelves?" Jared asked, standing up to help.
"I got 'em. Go get the rest out of the car," Chris grunted, hefting the bags onto the counter.
When Jared got back to the kitchen, Steve was unloading the groceries, while Chris and Chad were guzzling caffeine.
"So what is it that me and Steve aren't?" Chris asked, setting his cup down reluctantly.
"Freaks," Jared replied, rooting through the bags.
"We're not?" Chris asked, arching an eyebrow and looking at Steve.
"We are so not discussing this with those two listening in," Steve answered.
"Oh thank God!" Chad exclaimed.
"Shut up, Chad!" they all three exclaimed.
"Jared if you'd take the stuff out instead of just rifling through them you could actually see what they got," Steve said, slapping Jared's hand away as he reached for another bag.
"What's the fun in that? Then I'll have to put things up," Jared complained.
Steve just rolled his eyes and pushed Jared out of his way, so he could get things put up.
"Go check on Jenny. Isn't it about time for him to have some medicine?" Chris asked.
Jared looked at his watch, and shook his head, "No, he's got about another hour before he needs his antibiotic and another two before he can take his cough medicine."
"What about that breathing treatment?" Chad piped in.
"Same time as the antibiotic, unless he's wheezing. I swear man, I'd rather have my toenails ripped out than tell him it's time for that treatment." Jared said cringing.
"Why it doesn't take but a couple of inhales? It's not like it's something he has to sit down and breathe for thirty minutes." Steve said.
"It's the side effects. It makes him jittery. The last time he did one, he complained about feeling like he was going to jump out of his skin. To make things worse, they want his intake of caffeine cut back until he's doing better," Jared explained.
"Shit, I'm glad I 'm staying with Mike," Chad said.
"You're all heart Chad," Steve snarked.
"Hell, I was thinking we were damn lucky to be staying at his old apartment." Chris confessed sheepishly, dodging the punch to the shoulder Steve aimed his way.
"You all suck you know that right?" Jared asked, flopping down in the chair and pouting.
"Oh, come on Jay, you lived with him almost a week without coffee, we figured you could do it again." Chris reasoned.
"We had instant, so we didn't have to go cold turkey, and we were otherwise occupied so it wasn't so bad," Jared whined.
"Oh jeez," Chad moaned, covering his ears with his hands.
"Chad we know you're jealous, so just shut up," Steve said, tossing a pot holder at Chad's head.
"Man, ya'll whine if I start talking about the last girl I was with. Why can't I whine about my friends getting it on," Chad complained.
"Because that's what good friends do. They listen to all the get laid stories," Jared said, grinning.
"Yeah, so why don't you want to listen to mine?"
"There is a line to listening to you talk about your sex life and being given a play by play of every little thing that took place with some chick you met at a bar," Jensen said, shuffling into the kitchen.
"Damn it! Would you PLEASE stop doing that!" Chad said, trying to mop up the coffee he'd just spilt down the front of his shirt.
Jared couldn't take his eyes off Jensen as he made his way around the table. Jensen's hair was sticking up all over his head where he'd run his fingers through it, his eyes were soft with sleep, and he had put his glasses on, not bothering with his contacts. His lips were chapped from the fever and red and swollen from his attempts to chew off the dead skin. He was still paler than Jared wanted to ever see him but it made his freckles more visible and Jared caught himself watching every breath Jensen took just to see them dance across his skin.
Jensen completely ignored Chad, stopping when he was standing beside Jared's chair. Jared reached up and pulled Jensen down into his lap, kissing the top of his head. Jensen grabbed the cup, drinking down the last few swallows of coffee.
"Hey, I didn't think you were supposed to have any coffee!" Chad exclaimed.
"I'm supposed to cut back not quit," Jensen corrected, glaring at him.
Chad held up his hands in a sign of surrender. "See Mike's place good, very good."
"Ass," Jared mumbled.
"If you're nice," Jensen whispered.
"See? Freaks," Steve asserted.
"I was talking to Chad," Jared said.
"You'd rather have Chad's, instead of mine?" Jensen asked, bottom lip poking out.
"Hey! Leave my ass out of this." Chad whined.
"Gladly," Jared said laughing.
Chris snickered into his coffee and Steve rolled his eyes.
"Mike and Tom should be over in an hour. The guys went grocery shopping and Chris is going to grill some steaks. Why don't we go ahead and get you settled in the living room, and I'll put in that new movie you wanted to watch?" Jared asked.
"What time is it?" Jensen asked, looking down at his arm, forgetting he'd left his watch in the bedroom.
"It's almost six. Why?" Jared answered, wrapping his arms around Jensen's waist and holding on just a little tighter.
"Wasn't Detective Patterson supposed to call or stop by around seven or eight? Plus I don't want to start watching something and have to stop in the middle of it. We can watch it another time."
"Oh joy," Jared groaned.
"Hey, just because you're a movie snob doesn't mean I have to be. Some of the best movies are low budget class B flicks," Jensen defended.
"I guess I should just be happy it's not foreign with dubbed English, then I'd really have to find me a new boyfriend," Jared teased.
"Yeah, you try that. See how they like you being a eunuch," Jensen huffed.
The simultaneous groans heard around the table were funny enough but Chad using the cookie plate as extra protection was even funnier, especially since he'd forgotten there were cookies still on it. Jared was giving him extremely dirty looks.
"Come on before you cause any more chaos," Jared said, lifting Jensen off his lap, and steadying him until he found his balance.
"The fireplace is lit. I'll get you that soft blanket you like, then I'll get you your medicine."
"Which medicine?" Jensen asked suspiciously.
"Your antibiotic and the breathing treatment," Jared answered, preparing himself for a fight, and Jensen didn't disappoint.
"I don't want the breathing thing," Jensen whined.
"I don't care if you want it, the doctor told you it would help you breath and break up the congestion in your chest," Jared stated firmly as he pulled Jensen into the living room.
"I'll take the antibiotics Jay, but you know I hate that Albuterol shit."
Chris was standing in the doorway, his shoulder propped against the jam, "Jensen, you're going to take exactly what the doctor told you to take, and I guarantee, if we have to, there's enough of us here to hold you down and make you."
Jared was actually relieved at the support, but he also knew backing Jensen into a corner was not a good plan. He could already see the stiffening in Jensen's posture and the rigid set to his jaw. Things were going to get out of hand pretty damn quick if he didn't do something.
"Hey Chris. Can you go get me that blue fuzzy blanket that's on the end of our bed?" Jared asked, waiting for Jensen to take a seat on the sofa.
"Sure, I'll be right back," Chris agreed. He seemed to realize that he might have pushed a little too hard this time.
"Jen, don't."
"Don't what? Give him a black eye, or don't give him a fat lip?" Jensen growled.
"He just wants to make sure you get better, and so do I. This may make you feel like shit right now but in the long run it'll be worth it, I swear," Jared pleaded.
Jensen finally relented and sat down on the couch, curling up in the corner and closing his eyes. He took a couple of deep breaths and tried to get his temper back under control.
"Yeah, I know. I just don't like feeling that way. It's like bugs are crawling all over me," Jensen sighed.
"I'm sorry. I can call Dr. Patterson and see if they can reduce the dosage we put in the thing, or if he can give you something else," Jared offered.
"He can't I already asked."
"Mike just called. He and Tom are on their way over, so I'm going to go start the grill. Here's that blanket," Chris said, handing it to Jared.
"Okay. Do you need any help?" Jared asked as he tucked the blanket around Jensen's legs, only to have him spread them out to give it some slack.
"No, I'll get Steve or Chad to be my indentured servant. You can stay here with Jenny."
"I swear, if you don't stop calling me that I'm going to cut all the strings on your guitar," Jensen threatened.
"Shit, you're fucking mean tonight," Chris pouted, heading to the kitchen before Jensen got around to cutting other things off.
Jensen gave him the finger as he walked by and then snuggled into the blanket. It was going to be a long night. Between informing the guys on the latest Kylan shit, and getting a new update from the detective, it was going to be a fun filled evening.
"I'll go get your medicine," Jared said, leaning down and kissing Jensen on the forehead.
"Oh fun," Jensen snarked.
--------------------------------------------------------
Eric called right before they ate. He told Jared he was sending a load of get well wishes, presents and, as Eric put it, all kinds of shit over. He figured if Jensen was on strict bed rest then he would enjoy having something to do. Mike and Tom had come bearing beer and such huge appetites, Jared was beginning to feel like his crown was in danger of being usurped. They finished super, and Tom and Steve cleaned up the kitchen, while Chris finished with the grill. Chad and Mike were bickering over the candy that had arrived with boxes and boxes of fan love.
Jared was calling out the names attached to the flowers and plants while Jensen was slowly making his way through the mound of cards in his lap. Chris was still in a state of shock when he went back into the garage, mumbling about how actors were way too easily bought, to which Steve reminded him, he still had a SAG card. Jensen laughed so hard it caused a long coughing fit. Steve was the only one in the house that could call them on the actor bullshit, since he was the only one that hadn't took that little cart for a spin.
Once everyone was settled in the living room Jensen and Jared told them everything that they and Detective Patterson had talked about. Steve's face was starting to turn an unhealthy shade of red and Jensen was positive he could hear Chris grinding his teeth before they had even gotten to the part about the woman in Australia. Jensen had already filled everyone in on how he met Kylan, the fight and the subsequent stalking. Jared picked up the story when Jensen started coughing.
Tom disappeared into the kitchen, coming back with Jensen's cough syrup and a bottle of water, which Jensen took gratefully. Jared wasn't too sure how much longer Jensen would be awake once he took his medicine so he wanted to wrap up pretty soon. He might be bigger than Jensen but the man was six feet of muscle, and dead weight was virtually impossible to get off the couch.
"So anyway Jensen's not the first or the last that things got physical with, but he's the only one Kylan's put in the hospital, or at least that we know so far." Jared paused glancing over at Jensen, who was making a sour face. He wasn't sure if it was from the topic of conversation or the taste of the syrup.
"I feel a ‘but’ coming," Tom observed sitting back in his chair.
"There was a girl in Australia, her name was Alisha. No one's heard from her in three years," Jared said, voice pitched low at the gravity of the situation.
"What do you mean no one's heard anything from her?" Mike asked.
"He means this woman had the unfortunate luck to meet Kylan and start dating him. She disappeared when they were supposed to be on a weekend getaway. Kylan told the police he was called away on a job, which was substantiated by the production crew, and that he thought she was going to stay home and maybe hang out with some friends. Her job called her parents when she didn't show up from work the next week," Jensen explained.
"So what do they think happened?" Chris growled.
"The police are of the opinion that something went wrong between the two. Maybe a fight got carried away, and he killed her. They haven't found her body, and they went over her apartment and her car, but didn't find anything. So without a crime scene, they don't even have a place to start other than Kylan. There wasn't any evidence that would allow them to hold him much less charge him, but they have his passport flagged so they know if he enters the country," Jared answered, heaving a sigh.
"Fuck," Steve breathed.
"Detective Patterson is supposed to either come by later or call. Jensen still has to sign his statement and the detective is going to let us know if they've figured out where Kylan is staying," Jared explained.
"Which means that Jensen is not to be left on his own until Kylan is gone or, better yet, dead," Chris snarled.
"Hey, isn't your doctor's name Patterson?" Chad asked.
"You just heard them tell us Kylan is probably a murderer and your worried about who Jensen's doctor is?" Mike asked, incredulously.
"What? I'm confused and it's not like I can go beat the shit out of the dude. Nobody knows where he is," Chad justified.
Jared just shook his head and laughed. Chad would always be Chad.
"Yes, the detective is his brother, actually his identical twin. Confused the shit out of us too," Jensen explained.
"Well, there's not much we can do tonight. I think we all need to get some sleep and come up with a game plan tomorrow. Jared you want one of us to stay here tonight?" Steve asked.
"Nah, I think we'll be fine, the house came with a security system, so I'll set it. I just have to go find the damn code."
"All right. Well, if you need anything, give one of us a call. We can go get it, that way Jensen won't be alone," Chris ordered.
Jensen just rolled his eyes at his friend’s over protectiveness. He really was thankful to have them, but he knew before all was said and done he was going to be ready to strangle at least one if not every last man. A yawn caught him by surprise as Jared was seeing everyone out. It had been a long day even with the nap, and they still had to wait for the detective. He went back to opening the letters and cards the office had sent over, smiling at the get well wishes and the pictures that some of the younger fans had drawn.
He lifted up a particularly colorful envelope, figuring it would have another picture inside. He sliced it open and pulled out a typical get well card. Smiling at the picture of a turtle with a thermometer in it's mouth, he flipped it open only to discover several pictures and a carefully scripted list of all the things Kylan was planning on doing to him once they were reunited. Jensen hadn't even looked at the pictures, his mind still caught on the fact that Kylan had managed to invade his personal space again, even if it wasn't in person.
Jared walked back into the living room, a suggestion of watching the game in their bedroom, dying on his lips as he caught sight of Jensen's pale face and his trembling body.
"Jensen?" he asked, rushing to the couch, worry exploding through him when Jensen neither acknowledged him nor moved his eyes from the card he was holding.
"Jen, what's wrong?" Jared tried again, slowly dropping to his knees beside the sofa. He didn't want to startle Jensen. The man looked like he'd bolt at the first sudden move.
Jared looked down at the card Jensen was holding, but it was the pictures that had slid into his lap that caught Jared's attention. There were pictures of them leaving the hospital, of them arriving at the house and there were even a few showing Jared closing the blinds to their bedroom. However, the one that terrified the hell out of Jared was the picture of a young woman, tied naked to a bed, her eyes staring into the camera. Jared wasn't positive, since he'd never seen someone dead that wasn't in a casket, but he didn't think she was alive. The angle the picture had been taken was as if someone was standing over her.
Jared grabbed a tissue and quickly scooped them up, laying them on the table and covering them with the tissue. He didn't want Jensen even looking at them. The card he was holding must have been bad enough if he hadn't even noticed the pictures. Jared carefully removed the card from Jensen's hand, laying it on the table as well. He'd read it later, after he dealt with his catatonic boyfriend.
"Jensen. Baby. Come on you have to snap out of it. Hey look, at me," Jared begged, raising Jensen's chin, waiting for the other man to focus on his face.
"Jensen, talk to me damn it!" Jared's worry overriding his patience.
Jensen finally blinked, the vacant look leaving his eyes, followed swiftly by fear. He grabbed Jared's face dragging him forward and kissing him hard on the mouth. Before Jared could even react, he'd been pulled into a hug so tight he could hear his bones creaking.
Jensen wasn't stupid. He was scared, but he was scared for Jared, because the only way Kylan would be able to carry out his list was to go through Jared. He knew he was squeezing to hard, but he couldn't pull back. If he was touching Jared, then he was safe.
"Jensen we need to call the detective, and if I don't call Chris, there's going to be hell to pay," Jared gasped.
"I know, just give me a minute," Jensen said, still not letting go.
He was finally able to release his death grip several minutes later, after talking himself and his muscles into letting go. Jared was on the phone with the detective before he had even settled back on the couch. Jensen picked up the envelope like it might bite him and placed it on the table with the card, noticing for the first time the pictures that he subconsciously registered sliding into his lap but hadn't looked at. He picked up the tissue, using it to spread the photos out so he could see them all.
Jared had just hung up and was about to call Chris when he saw Jensen bolt for the bathroom, the sound of retching quickly following. He glanced over at the table and saw the pictures had been spread out.
"Shit!"
He made his way to the bathroom, grabbing a washcloth from the closet. Jensen was still curled around the toilet, supper making a reappearance in a very unpleasant way. He waited until the worst seemed to have passed, handing Jensen a cup of water to rinse his mouth out.
"She was dead wasn't she?"
"I don't know, we'll give them to Detective Patterson and see what he thinks. Come on, brush your teeth, and I'll go grab you some sweats, and don't even argue. You’re shivering and the police aren't going to give a shit what you're wearing."
Jensen gave him a half hearted glare, standing so he could get to the sink. He finished up just as Jared returned with his clothes.
"Why don't you lay down until they get here, and I'll go call Chris right quick," Jared said, helping Jensen into his shirt.
"Can't we wait until tomorrow to call Chris?" Jensen begged, following Jared down the hall.
"I don't think I'd get off without a broken jaw if I did that this time."
"Fine," Jensen sighed, crawling into the bed and letting Jared pull the covers up over him.
Once he had Jensen tucked in, he called Chris, letting him know about the pictures, and the police being on their way to the house. Chris said they'd be there in ten minutes and hung up. Jared walked back into the living room to sit down on the couch. He left the pictures where they were, not wanting to disturb them anymore than they already had. His eyes fell on the card. He hadn't even thought about what must have been in it to have affected Jensen the way it had.
He used the tissue and flipped it open reading quickly through the nauseating professions of love and ownership until he came to the same list Jensen had read. It was bullet points encompassing all the ways in which Kylan intended to reclaim Jensen. Jared wasn't sure if he was angry or horrified. He finally settled on a combination of both.
Chris and Steve made it back to the house right before Detective Patterson showed up. They both made a bee line for the table, as soon as they walked in the door because they knew once the police bagged everything as evidence, they wouldn't be able to look at it. They kept their hands in their pockets, which was probably a good thing since Jared was pretty sure they both wanted to strangle someone.
The detective showed up followed closely by a gentleman from the crime unit, both arriving in unmarked cars, making Jared breathe a sigh of relief that everything might remain out of the news a little longer. Steve slipped back into the room, from checking on Jensen, just as Jared was introducing the detective. Detective Patterson shook their hands and reminded Jared to call him Garrett
"Jensen's asleep," Steve said.
"I thought he might be, between the cough medicine and the shock of this. He even emptied his stomach, put all that together, and he's probably out for the rest of the night, unless he has a nightmare," Jared acknowledged.
"Well, we're going to take these and have them analyzed, see if we can get any prints off them. How many of you have touched them?" Garrett asked.
"Just Jensen. He was opening his mail and when I came back in the room he was almost catatonic. Took me forever to get him to focus, and he hadn't even seen the pictures at that point. I used the tissue to move everything."
"Okay, I'll come back over tomorrow and get statements from you both," Garrett said.
It didn't take long for the tech to collect and bag everything and then the house was silent again. Chris and Steve left after some prompting and promises to set the alarm, telling Jared they'd be back first thing in the morning. He looked in on Jensen, who hadn't moved since he'd crawled in the bed, then he quickly found the code and set it before jumping in the shower. Jared brushed his teeth and shed his towel, padding nude into the bedroom and sliding into the bed.
He pulled Jensen into his body, taking comfort from the solid presence he was wrapped around. It didn't take long for sleep to claim him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris and Steve had obviously called the reinforcements. Jared opened the door to Tom at seven in the morning, and he knew they were serious when. at 7:30, Mike and Chad beat on the door. Those two didn't get out of bed until noon if they weren't filming. Chris and Steve made it over around eight and with breakfast, bless their souls. Jensen was still sleeping, and Jared was able to go over everything that had happened after they left without having to upset him.
Jared would never ever consider Jensen a hothouse flower that needed to be coddled, but he wanted to shield him from as much as possible. Jared knew he was over protective of people he loved, but honestly he wouldn't change, even if he could.
"So does this guy think that girl was dead?" Chad asked.
"He said she had that waxy parlor and milky color to her eyes that dead people get, plus he noticed markings around her neck. He was going to have them blow it up and see what else they could get off it," Jared answered, quickly losing his appetite.
"Well, at least they know for sure she's not wandering around with amnesia somewhere, even though that would be a hell of a lot better than dead," Chris mumbled.
"Yeah, but her family will know for sure. It would be nice if they had her remains though," Tom added.
"This just sucks! Seriously, this guy is just fucked up!" Mike exclaimed.
"I called a friend that does documentaries, see if I could find out anymore about this dick. She's supposed to get back to me later today," Chad said, pushing his plate away from him.
"Friend?" Jensen scoffed, walking up behind Chad, causing him to knock over his juice.
"SON OF A BITCH!" Chad yelled, grabbing napkins.
Jensen snickered as he walked past on his way to the fridge. Jared was laughing so hard he was crying, and Steve was beating on Chris' back where he'd almost inhaled a piece of bacon. Tom had lapsed into giggles, which had Mike grabbing his sides trying to breath.
"You know, one of these days I'm going to be armed when you do that!" Chad grumbled.
"Yes, but we all know you shoot blanks," Jensen said, batting his eyelashes at him.
"Condom dude, not blanks," Chad corrected.
"Oh God no, don't even get him started," Jared begged, wiping his eyes.
"I was just wondering what sort of friend?" Jensen asked innocently.
"The kind that's 5'10" of tight, toned ass and DD tits," Chad said, making motions with his hands to explain.
"That's what I thought," Jensen said, rolling his eyes.
"Hey, just cause she's pretty doesn't mean she doesn't have a brain," Chad defended. "I mean look at you."
Jared snorted his coffee through his nose. He wasn't sure, but coffee straight to the brain might kill you. Of course, the look Jensen was shooting Chad might do it too. Everyone else, though, was laughing too hard to care that Chad might not make it back to North Carolina in one piece.
When everyone had calmed down and the kitchen had been cleaned up, they set about making plans to keep Kylan the fuck away from them. Jensen wasn't pleased with everyone putting themselves at risk, but he was outnumbered so there wasn't much he could do about it. Jared felt they had a pretty good game plan between them, and on top of that, Garrett was going to make sure that they would have an unmarked car outside, plus increased patrols through the area.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It had been five days since the card and photos had set everyone on edge and Jensen was sure if he didn't kill somebody today, he deserved a freaking award. He hadn't had a minute to himself, unless he was sleeping, and it was starting to wear on his nerves. There had been no more mail, no visits or phone calls, and no one could seem to find just where Kylan was. For all they knew, he could have been three countries away. They knew he wasn't though, because his passport hadn't been used, and that just pissed Jensen off even more.
Everyone had been taking turns staying at the house, and Garrett had come by several times, checking on the patrol stationed outside as well as taking their statements and keeping them informed. Eric had called and asked Jared to come in for a few of hours to do some interviews and Steve had decided to stay put, sending Chris with Jared to put Jensen's mind at ease. Ever since the card, Jensen refused to let him go anywhere alone.
Jensen had just gotten in the shower when the doorbell rang. Steve knew it wasn't one of the guys because they always used the side door and the bell was ringing at the front. He never noticed the small puddle of water he stepped in when he looked through the peak hole. There was a delivery man standing on the steps looking down at a clipboard he had in one hand. The other carried a large basket of what looked like assorted fruits.
Steve rolled his eyes, muttering about actors and their goodie bags as he turned off the alarm and reached for the doorknob, intending to sign for the item. He felt a white hot pain shoot through his body and then nothing.
Author : angels3 aka Angela
Beta : munimula - who is the best beta ever and any mistakes left are so mine, and there will probably be a plenty as I had to rework some things after she sent it back to me. I hope I got all the mistakes as I had to do this twice. Don't ask you don't want to know
Word Count : 7294
Pairing : Jensen/Jared
Supporting Characters : Eric, Kim, Sera, Mike, Tom, Chris, Steve, Chad, Kylan (who is a figmant of my imagination
Disclaimers : They don't belong to me because if they did.............................
Warnings : RPS M/M sex , not this chapter though.
Summary : This is the sequel to When Things Come Crashing Down. It starts immediately where that story left off.
You know that person that Chris never had the name for? Well he may soon get it. Jensen and Jared have to deal with someone from Jensen's past.
Chapters - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12a 12b 13a 13b 14
Kylan
PDF for The Past Never Stays There
Over the next day and a half, there was always someone with Jensen. Jared rarely left the hospital room, much less the hospital. He only went home for a quick shower and to visit the dogs, only staying gone a couple of hours at a time. Chris and Steve were in and out, while Mike and Tom stopped by the night before he was to be released. Dr. Patterson gave Jared several prescriptions to have filled and strict instructions on the care and feeding of one Jensen Ackles.
Jensen sat in the wheelchair glaring at the two men as they ignored him. Dr. Patterson finally turned, addressing Jensen.
"I gave Jared instructions about your meds because you’re on bed rest for the next week. The only places you are to go is from the bed to the couch or to the bathroom understand?"
.
Jensen nodded, trying hard not to cross his arms over his chest. He already felt like a five year old, he didn't want to look like one as well.
"If your temperature starts to climb, you experience chills or the coughing isn't being controlled by the Tussin, call me. I don't want to hear the ocean in your lungs at your checkup. Call my office and set that up for the beginning of the week." Dr. Patterson patted Jensen on the shoulder, shook Jared's hand and was out the door.
Jared leaned down and kissed the top of Jensen's head, before crouching down in front of him, trying to angle his head, so he could look Jensen in the face. He finally put a finger under Jensen's chin, lifting it until Jensen had to look at him.
"You know I just don't want you to be sick like that again."
"Yeah, but I'm not a kid," Jensen pouted.
"No you're not, but when you don't take care of yourself like you're supposed to, it's hard not to treat you like one," Jared said, laughing when Jensen stuck his tongue out.
"Do you have any idea how scared I was when you passed out? You wouldn't wake up, your fever was through the roof, and I couldn't do anything, but sit and wait for someone to tell me what was wrong."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you Jay. I honestly didn't know it was that bad." Jensen said softly, squeezing Jared's hand.
"Well you're just going to have to get used to me being all in your personal space, because I don't intend for that to ever happen again," Jared said, dimples flashing.
Jensen snorted, "Since when have you not been in my personal space?"
"True, but now I have a free pass to nag the shit out of you when you don't take care of yourself," Jared informed him.
Jensen just rolled his eyes, since there really wasn't much he could say to that.
Jared leaned forward and kissed Jensen's forehead as he stood up.
"Hey! What kind of kiss was that?" Jensen grumbled.
"The only kind you deserve right now," Jared answered, pushing the wheelchair to the door and into the hallway.
He leaned down next to Jensen's ear and whispered, "If I give you the kind of kiss, I want to, we won't be leaving anytime soon, and I don't think the whole 3rd floor needs to hear just how many curse words you can string together when I'm fucking you."
Jared straightened back up and headed for the elevators. Jensen groaned and shifted his overnight bag from his knees to his lap to hide the obvious effects Jared's words had on his body. Jared just grinned even bigger and started whistling out of tune while they waited for the elevator to stop.
Steve and Chris had the truck so Jared had called to tell them what time to be at the back entrance when Jensen was released. If anyone had found out about Jensen's hospital stay, Jared wanted to keep the coverage to a bare minimum. Especially, since it had been all they could do to keep Jensen's parents from flying out again.
They exited the doors to late afternoon gloom and Chad leaning against Mike's car, arms crossed, and a scowl on his face.
"Uh oh," Jensen whispered.
"What are you doing here?" Jared asked confused.
"I came to pick you up," Chad responded, pushing his body off the car and taking Jensen's overnight bag out of his lap.
"No, I mean what are you doing here, here."
"What Jared is so eloquently trying to ask is why are you in Vancouver?" Jensen translated, even though he already knew the answer.
"Oh. Is that what you wanted to know Jared?" Chad asked, scowling again.
"Well yeah?" Jared responded, nervously running his hand through his hair and pushing his bangs out of his face.
He leaned down and locked the brakes on the wheelchair and Chad moved the foot rests out of the way so Jensen could stand up.
"Well you see, I got this call the other night. Seems a couple of my friends were having some problems, and since they hadn't seen fit to call and tell me themselves Mike, being the 'good' friend he is, called and let me in on the secret," Chad said, helping Jensen stand while Jared held the wheelchair still.
"You guys do realize I can stand up on my own right?" Jensen asked, whining just a little.
"Oh yeah, that went so well before, jello legs," Jared said exasperated, referring to Jensen's failed attempt to make it to the bathroom solo the night before.
Jared had dozed off and Jensen decided not to wake him up, slipping out of the bed and making it just far enough into the middle of the room where there was nothing to hold onto before his legs started shaking, and refusing to function. It had been either wake Jared up or have him find an undignified heap of boyfriend on the floor, possibly in a puddle. Jared had not been pleased and Jensen cringed at the thought of hearing that particular lecture again.
"Fine," Jensen growled, glaring.
Jared just ignored him and pushed the chair back into the lobby while Chad helped Jensen into the car and shut the door. He settled into the driver's seat glancing back at Jensen through the rearview mirror. Jensen's head was resting on the back of the seat, and he was paler than Casper. Chad shook his head and frowned, waiting for Jared to climb in the passenger seat. He turned on a light jazz station to muffle the conversation he was going to have with Jared.
Chad planned on ripping his friend a new one for keeping him in the dark.
He knew it was Jared's decision not to call. They were all friends, but to avoid confusion, Jared and Jensen had a system for alerting them to plans, or emergencies. Jensen always called Tom, Steve and Chris. Jared always called him and Mike, except apparently this time Mike had to call him, and he was not happy about it at all. Jared slid into the seat, turning around to make sure Jensen was comfortable. He straightened back around and put his seat belt on when it appeared Jensen had dozed off.
"Now do you want to tell me why you didn't call?" Chad asked, pulling into traffic.
"You were filming, I didn't want you to get fired. You missed almost two weeks a couple of months back. I know you think you own the show, but you do have a contract."
"What do you mean I think I own the show? I do own the show," Chad declared.
"Whatever dip wad," Jared sighed, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.
He hoped Chad would drop it, but that thought was quickly shot down with Chad's next remark.
"I could have done some background shit. Mike says Jensen met this guy in Carolina, I do live down there nine months out of the year." Chad grumbled.
Jared rolled his head in Chad's direction and opened his eyes to stare at his friend. Chad glanced over and then back at the road.
"What? I do know how to read!"
"Yes, and when you finished reading you'd have hoped the first plane out."
"Still not seeing the problem," Chad persisted.
Jared sighed and closed his eyes again. Chad could be purposely oblivious when he wanted to be and Jared was too damn tired to keep arguing.
"He didn't want you to get hurt," came the quiet reply from the back seat, making both Jared and Chad jump.
"Damn it Jensen! You trying to make me wreck Mike's car?" Chad squawked, looking into the mirror at Jensen.
"I don't have to help for you to do that," Jensen replied, eyes still closed. "You looking at me instead of the road will get you there just as quick."
Chad looked back at the road, "I hate it when he does that Jedi shit."
Jared just grinned and looked back at Jensen who was still relaxing back into the seat.
"How do you live with him? He's just creepy!" Chad whined.
"You're just jealous," Jared said, laughing at Chad's incredulous look.
"Well, not because I want him. But just think of all the chicks I could bang using that parlor trick."
"I'm sure your girlfriend would love to hear that," Jared snarked.
"Girlfriend? What girlfriend?"
"You've gotten rid of her already?" Jared asked.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Chad denied, pulling into Jared's driveway.
"I'm sure you don't," Jared acknowledged, rolling his eyes and opening the door, so he could help Jensen out.
Steve and Chris met them at the door, taking Jensen's bag and greeting Chad.
"Did you give him hell?" Chris asked.
"Yes, but not as much as he would have gotten if I'd have missed the ass whooping part," Chad said, getting louder at the end to make sure Jared could hear him.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," floated back down the hallway, where Jared had disappeared with Jensen to get him settled.
Jensen wanted to lie on the couch but Jared had vetoed that idea in favor of the bed. He told Jensen once he had a nap and recovered from the afternoon exertions he could play with his friends. Jensen had given him the evil eye, making Jared really thankful that looks couldn't kill. Once he had Jensen settled under thick fluffy blankets, Jared stripped down, switched off the light and slid in beside him.
"If you'd have told me you were going to take a nap with me, I wouldn't have complained," Jensen scolded.
"Yes you would have, you'd have said you were being a terrible host, and that you shouldn't be sleeping while our friends were here. Then you would have told me to go entertain them, which last time I checked, they were all adults and could entertain themselves."
Jensen arched his eyebrow and waited.
"Okay fine, everyone but Chad and Mike are adults and can entertain themselves. I figure they can entertain each other, especially since that's where Chad is staying. We'll be lucky if we aren't bailing them out for blowing up something."
Jensen really hated that Jared knew him so well, because that's exactly what he would have said.
"You still don't have to lay down with me. You can go hang out with them if you want. I know you didn't get to see much of Chad before he had to fly out last time."
"I'm right where I want to be," Jared said, pulling Jensen's back even closer to his chest and wrapping his body around him.
"Besides, half of them are ready to disembowel me right now," Jared whispered.
Jensen snorted softly, words forming but never passing his lips as sleep snuck up on him and everything floated away.
Jared drifted off to the feel of warm skin pressed to his, Jensen's chest rising and falling under his hand and soft snores filling his ears.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jared stumbled into the living room a couple of hours later, shocked by how quiet it was. He finally found Steve sitting in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee.
"Where is everybody?" Jared asked, pouring himself a cup and sitting down.
"Chris and Chad went to get some food. I personally think they went cruising around to see if they can spot Kylan."
"Why didn't you stop them?" Jared asked alarmed.
"Jared. What are the chances of them actually seeing him walking down the side of the road? They just needed to do something, so why not let them. If I thought they'd actually find him, you can bet your ass I'd be there too."
Jared wasn't entirely convinced it was such a great idea, but he let it go since Jensen wanted to tell everybody about the latest information at the same time. Steve was probably right, Kylan wasn't going to be just strolling along making himself easy pickings.
"I called Mike. He and Tom are going to come by around six, and I told Chris to get everything for a steak dinner. Figured we could grill ' em in the garage, keep from freezing."
"There's a couple of space heaters out there too. Jensen swore there were icicles hanging off the rafters the last time we did that. Of course, man's prone to exaggeration when he whines." Jared said, shaking his head, and taking another swallow of coffee.
"I'm going to tell him you said that," Steve said.
Jared shrugged his shoulders. If he was lucky Jensen would punish him when he felt better.
Steve narrowed his eyes, watching Jared's face. "Never mind, you look like that would make you happy."
Jared just grinned and went back to drinking his coffee.
"Freaks," Steve mumbled under his breath.
"Oh please. You can't tell me you and Chris aren't?"
"You and me aren't what?" Chris asked stumbling in the door with his arms full of bags, Chad right behind him carrying more.
"Jesus! Did you leave anything on the shelves?" Jared asked, standing up to help.
"I got 'em. Go get the rest out of the car," Chris grunted, hefting the bags onto the counter.
When Jared got back to the kitchen, Steve was unloading the groceries, while Chris and Chad were guzzling caffeine.
"So what is it that me and Steve aren't?" Chris asked, setting his cup down reluctantly.
"Freaks," Jared replied, rooting through the bags.
"We're not?" Chris asked, arching an eyebrow and looking at Steve.
"We are so not discussing this with those two listening in," Steve answered.
"Oh thank God!" Chad exclaimed.
"Shut up, Chad!" they all three exclaimed.
"Jared if you'd take the stuff out instead of just rifling through them you could actually see what they got," Steve said, slapping Jared's hand away as he reached for another bag.
"What's the fun in that? Then I'll have to put things up," Jared complained.
Steve just rolled his eyes and pushed Jared out of his way, so he could get things put up.
"Go check on Jenny. Isn't it about time for him to have some medicine?" Chris asked.
Jared looked at his watch, and shook his head, "No, he's got about another hour before he needs his antibiotic and another two before he can take his cough medicine."
"What about that breathing treatment?" Chad piped in.
"Same time as the antibiotic, unless he's wheezing. I swear man, I'd rather have my toenails ripped out than tell him it's time for that treatment." Jared said cringing.
"Why it doesn't take but a couple of inhales? It's not like it's something he has to sit down and breathe for thirty minutes." Steve said.
"It's the side effects. It makes him jittery. The last time he did one, he complained about feeling like he was going to jump out of his skin. To make things worse, they want his intake of caffeine cut back until he's doing better," Jared explained.
"Shit, I'm glad I 'm staying with Mike," Chad said.
"You're all heart Chad," Steve snarked.
"Hell, I was thinking we were damn lucky to be staying at his old apartment." Chris confessed sheepishly, dodging the punch to the shoulder Steve aimed his way.
"You all suck you know that right?" Jared asked, flopping down in the chair and pouting.
"Oh, come on Jay, you lived with him almost a week without coffee, we figured you could do it again." Chris reasoned.
"We had instant, so we didn't have to go cold turkey, and we were otherwise occupied so it wasn't so bad," Jared whined.
"Oh jeez," Chad moaned, covering his ears with his hands.
"Chad we know you're jealous, so just shut up," Steve said, tossing a pot holder at Chad's head.
"Man, ya'll whine if I start talking about the last girl I was with. Why can't I whine about my friends getting it on," Chad complained.
"Because that's what good friends do. They listen to all the get laid stories," Jared said, grinning.
"Yeah, so why don't you want to listen to mine?"
"There is a line to listening to you talk about your sex life and being given a play by play of every little thing that took place with some chick you met at a bar," Jensen said, shuffling into the kitchen.
"Damn it! Would you PLEASE stop doing that!" Chad said, trying to mop up the coffee he'd just spilt down the front of his shirt.
Jared couldn't take his eyes off Jensen as he made his way around the table. Jensen's hair was sticking up all over his head where he'd run his fingers through it, his eyes were soft with sleep, and he had put his glasses on, not bothering with his contacts. His lips were chapped from the fever and red and swollen from his attempts to chew off the dead skin. He was still paler than Jared wanted to ever see him but it made his freckles more visible and Jared caught himself watching every breath Jensen took just to see them dance across his skin.
Jensen completely ignored Chad, stopping when he was standing beside Jared's chair. Jared reached up and pulled Jensen down into his lap, kissing the top of his head. Jensen grabbed the cup, drinking down the last few swallows of coffee.
"Hey, I didn't think you were supposed to have any coffee!" Chad exclaimed.
"I'm supposed to cut back not quit," Jensen corrected, glaring at him.
Chad held up his hands in a sign of surrender. "See Mike's place good, very good."
"Ass," Jared mumbled.
"If you're nice," Jensen whispered.
"See? Freaks," Steve asserted.
"I was talking to Chad," Jared said.
"You'd rather have Chad's, instead of mine?" Jensen asked, bottom lip poking out.
"Hey! Leave my ass out of this." Chad whined.
"Gladly," Jared said laughing.
Chris snickered into his coffee and Steve rolled his eyes.
"Mike and Tom should be over in an hour. The guys went grocery shopping and Chris is going to grill some steaks. Why don't we go ahead and get you settled in the living room, and I'll put in that new movie you wanted to watch?" Jared asked.
"What time is it?" Jensen asked, looking down at his arm, forgetting he'd left his watch in the bedroom.
"It's almost six. Why?" Jared answered, wrapping his arms around Jensen's waist and holding on just a little tighter.
"Wasn't Detective Patterson supposed to call or stop by around seven or eight? Plus I don't want to start watching something and have to stop in the middle of it. We can watch it another time."
"Oh joy," Jared groaned.
"Hey, just because you're a movie snob doesn't mean I have to be. Some of the best movies are low budget class B flicks," Jensen defended.
"I guess I should just be happy it's not foreign with dubbed English, then I'd really have to find me a new boyfriend," Jared teased.
"Yeah, you try that. See how they like you being a eunuch," Jensen huffed.
The simultaneous groans heard around the table were funny enough but Chad using the cookie plate as extra protection was even funnier, especially since he'd forgotten there were cookies still on it. Jared was giving him extremely dirty looks.
"Come on before you cause any more chaos," Jared said, lifting Jensen off his lap, and steadying him until he found his balance.
"The fireplace is lit. I'll get you that soft blanket you like, then I'll get you your medicine."
"Which medicine?" Jensen asked suspiciously.
"Your antibiotic and the breathing treatment," Jared answered, preparing himself for a fight, and Jensen didn't disappoint.
"I don't want the breathing thing," Jensen whined.
"I don't care if you want it, the doctor told you it would help you breath and break up the congestion in your chest," Jared stated firmly as he pulled Jensen into the living room.
"I'll take the antibiotics Jay, but you know I hate that Albuterol shit."
Chris was standing in the doorway, his shoulder propped against the jam, "Jensen, you're going to take exactly what the doctor told you to take, and I guarantee, if we have to, there's enough of us here to hold you down and make you."
Jared was actually relieved at the support, but he also knew backing Jensen into a corner was not a good plan. He could already see the stiffening in Jensen's posture and the rigid set to his jaw. Things were going to get out of hand pretty damn quick if he didn't do something.
"Hey Chris. Can you go get me that blue fuzzy blanket that's on the end of our bed?" Jared asked, waiting for Jensen to take a seat on the sofa.
"Sure, I'll be right back," Chris agreed. He seemed to realize that he might have pushed a little too hard this time.
"Jen, don't."
"Don't what? Give him a black eye, or don't give him a fat lip?" Jensen growled.
"He just wants to make sure you get better, and so do I. This may make you feel like shit right now but in the long run it'll be worth it, I swear," Jared pleaded.
Jensen finally relented and sat down on the couch, curling up in the corner and closing his eyes. He took a couple of deep breaths and tried to get his temper back under control.
"Yeah, I know. I just don't like feeling that way. It's like bugs are crawling all over me," Jensen sighed.
"I'm sorry. I can call Dr. Patterson and see if they can reduce the dosage we put in the thing, or if he can give you something else," Jared offered.
"He can't I already asked."
"Mike just called. He and Tom are on their way over, so I'm going to go start the grill. Here's that blanket," Chris said, handing it to Jared.
"Okay. Do you need any help?" Jared asked as he tucked the blanket around Jensen's legs, only to have him spread them out to give it some slack.
"No, I'll get Steve or Chad to be my indentured servant. You can stay here with Jenny."
"I swear, if you don't stop calling me that I'm going to cut all the strings on your guitar," Jensen threatened.
"Shit, you're fucking mean tonight," Chris pouted, heading to the kitchen before Jensen got around to cutting other things off.
Jensen gave him the finger as he walked by and then snuggled into the blanket. It was going to be a long night. Between informing the guys on the latest Kylan shit, and getting a new update from the detective, it was going to be a fun filled evening.
"I'll go get your medicine," Jared said, leaning down and kissing Jensen on the forehead.
"Oh fun," Jensen snarked.
--------------------------------------------------------
Eric called right before they ate. He told Jared he was sending a load of get well wishes, presents and, as Eric put it, all kinds of shit over. He figured if Jensen was on strict bed rest then he would enjoy having something to do. Mike and Tom had come bearing beer and such huge appetites, Jared was beginning to feel like his crown was in danger of being usurped. They finished super, and Tom and Steve cleaned up the kitchen, while Chris finished with the grill. Chad and Mike were bickering over the candy that had arrived with boxes and boxes of fan love.
Jared was calling out the names attached to the flowers and plants while Jensen was slowly making his way through the mound of cards in his lap. Chris was still in a state of shock when he went back into the garage, mumbling about how actors were way too easily bought, to which Steve reminded him, he still had a SAG card. Jensen laughed so hard it caused a long coughing fit. Steve was the only one in the house that could call them on the actor bullshit, since he was the only one that hadn't took that little cart for a spin.
Once everyone was settled in the living room Jensen and Jared told them everything that they and Detective Patterson had talked about. Steve's face was starting to turn an unhealthy shade of red and Jensen was positive he could hear Chris grinding his teeth before they had even gotten to the part about the woman in Australia. Jensen had already filled everyone in on how he met Kylan, the fight and the subsequent stalking. Jared picked up the story when Jensen started coughing.
Tom disappeared into the kitchen, coming back with Jensen's cough syrup and a bottle of water, which Jensen took gratefully. Jared wasn't too sure how much longer Jensen would be awake once he took his medicine so he wanted to wrap up pretty soon. He might be bigger than Jensen but the man was six feet of muscle, and dead weight was virtually impossible to get off the couch.
"So anyway Jensen's not the first or the last that things got physical with, but he's the only one Kylan's put in the hospital, or at least that we know so far." Jared paused glancing over at Jensen, who was making a sour face. He wasn't sure if it was from the topic of conversation or the taste of the syrup.
"I feel a ‘but’ coming," Tom observed sitting back in his chair.
"There was a girl in Australia, her name was Alisha. No one's heard from her in three years," Jared said, voice pitched low at the gravity of the situation.
"What do you mean no one's heard anything from her?" Mike asked.
"He means this woman had the unfortunate luck to meet Kylan and start dating him. She disappeared when they were supposed to be on a weekend getaway. Kylan told the police he was called away on a job, which was substantiated by the production crew, and that he thought she was going to stay home and maybe hang out with some friends. Her job called her parents when she didn't show up from work the next week," Jensen explained.
"So what do they think happened?" Chris growled.
"The police are of the opinion that something went wrong between the two. Maybe a fight got carried away, and he killed her. They haven't found her body, and they went over her apartment and her car, but didn't find anything. So without a crime scene, they don't even have a place to start other than Kylan. There wasn't any evidence that would allow them to hold him much less charge him, but they have his passport flagged so they know if he enters the country," Jared answered, heaving a sigh.
"Fuck," Steve breathed.
"Detective Patterson is supposed to either come by later or call. Jensen still has to sign his statement and the detective is going to let us know if they've figured out where Kylan is staying," Jared explained.
"Which means that Jensen is not to be left on his own until Kylan is gone or, better yet, dead," Chris snarled.
"Hey, isn't your doctor's name Patterson?" Chad asked.
"You just heard them tell us Kylan is probably a murderer and your worried about who Jensen's doctor is?" Mike asked, incredulously.
"What? I'm confused and it's not like I can go beat the shit out of the dude. Nobody knows where he is," Chad justified.
Jared just shook his head and laughed. Chad would always be Chad.
"Yes, the detective is his brother, actually his identical twin. Confused the shit out of us too," Jensen explained.
"Well, there's not much we can do tonight. I think we all need to get some sleep and come up with a game plan tomorrow. Jared you want one of us to stay here tonight?" Steve asked.
"Nah, I think we'll be fine, the house came with a security system, so I'll set it. I just have to go find the damn code."
"All right. Well, if you need anything, give one of us a call. We can go get it, that way Jensen won't be alone," Chris ordered.
Jensen just rolled his eyes at his friend’s over protectiveness. He really was thankful to have them, but he knew before all was said and done he was going to be ready to strangle at least one if not every last man. A yawn caught him by surprise as Jared was seeing everyone out. It had been a long day even with the nap, and they still had to wait for the detective. He went back to opening the letters and cards the office had sent over, smiling at the get well wishes and the pictures that some of the younger fans had drawn.
He lifted up a particularly colorful envelope, figuring it would have another picture inside. He sliced it open and pulled out a typical get well card. Smiling at the picture of a turtle with a thermometer in it's mouth, he flipped it open only to discover several pictures and a carefully scripted list of all the things Kylan was planning on doing to him once they were reunited. Jensen hadn't even looked at the pictures, his mind still caught on the fact that Kylan had managed to invade his personal space again, even if it wasn't in person.
Jared walked back into the living room, a suggestion of watching the game in their bedroom, dying on his lips as he caught sight of Jensen's pale face and his trembling body.
"Jensen?" he asked, rushing to the couch, worry exploding through him when Jensen neither acknowledged him nor moved his eyes from the card he was holding.
"Jen, what's wrong?" Jared tried again, slowly dropping to his knees beside the sofa. He didn't want to startle Jensen. The man looked like he'd bolt at the first sudden move.
Jared looked down at the card Jensen was holding, but it was the pictures that had slid into his lap that caught Jared's attention. There were pictures of them leaving the hospital, of them arriving at the house and there were even a few showing Jared closing the blinds to their bedroom. However, the one that terrified the hell out of Jared was the picture of a young woman, tied naked to a bed, her eyes staring into the camera. Jared wasn't positive, since he'd never seen someone dead that wasn't in a casket, but he didn't think she was alive. The angle the picture had been taken was as if someone was standing over her.
Jared grabbed a tissue and quickly scooped them up, laying them on the table and covering them with the tissue. He didn't want Jensen even looking at them. The card he was holding must have been bad enough if he hadn't even noticed the pictures. Jared carefully removed the card from Jensen's hand, laying it on the table as well. He'd read it later, after he dealt with his catatonic boyfriend.
"Jensen. Baby. Come on you have to snap out of it. Hey look, at me," Jared begged, raising Jensen's chin, waiting for the other man to focus on his face.
"Jensen, talk to me damn it!" Jared's worry overriding his patience.
Jensen finally blinked, the vacant look leaving his eyes, followed swiftly by fear. He grabbed Jared's face dragging him forward and kissing him hard on the mouth. Before Jared could even react, he'd been pulled into a hug so tight he could hear his bones creaking.
Jensen wasn't stupid. He was scared, but he was scared for Jared, because the only way Kylan would be able to carry out his list was to go through Jared. He knew he was squeezing to hard, but he couldn't pull back. If he was touching Jared, then he was safe.
"Jensen we need to call the detective, and if I don't call Chris, there's going to be hell to pay," Jared gasped.
"I know, just give me a minute," Jensen said, still not letting go.
He was finally able to release his death grip several minutes later, after talking himself and his muscles into letting go. Jared was on the phone with the detective before he had even settled back on the couch. Jensen picked up the envelope like it might bite him and placed it on the table with the card, noticing for the first time the pictures that he subconsciously registered sliding into his lap but hadn't looked at. He picked up the tissue, using it to spread the photos out so he could see them all.
Jared had just hung up and was about to call Chris when he saw Jensen bolt for the bathroom, the sound of retching quickly following. He glanced over at the table and saw the pictures had been spread out.
"Shit!"
He made his way to the bathroom, grabbing a washcloth from the closet. Jensen was still curled around the toilet, supper making a reappearance in a very unpleasant way. He waited until the worst seemed to have passed, handing Jensen a cup of water to rinse his mouth out.
"She was dead wasn't she?"
"I don't know, we'll give them to Detective Patterson and see what he thinks. Come on, brush your teeth, and I'll go grab you some sweats, and don't even argue. You’re shivering and the police aren't going to give a shit what you're wearing."
Jensen gave him a half hearted glare, standing so he could get to the sink. He finished up just as Jared returned with his clothes.
"Why don't you lay down until they get here, and I'll go call Chris right quick," Jared said, helping Jensen into his shirt.
"Can't we wait until tomorrow to call Chris?" Jensen begged, following Jared down the hall.
"I don't think I'd get off without a broken jaw if I did that this time."
"Fine," Jensen sighed, crawling into the bed and letting Jared pull the covers up over him.
Once he had Jensen tucked in, he called Chris, letting him know about the pictures, and the police being on their way to the house. Chris said they'd be there in ten minutes and hung up. Jared walked back into the living room to sit down on the couch. He left the pictures where they were, not wanting to disturb them anymore than they already had. His eyes fell on the card. He hadn't even thought about what must have been in it to have affected Jensen the way it had.
He used the tissue and flipped it open reading quickly through the nauseating professions of love and ownership until he came to the same list Jensen had read. It was bullet points encompassing all the ways in which Kylan intended to reclaim Jensen. Jared wasn't sure if he was angry or horrified. He finally settled on a combination of both.
Chris and Steve made it back to the house right before Detective Patterson showed up. They both made a bee line for the table, as soon as they walked in the door because they knew once the police bagged everything as evidence, they wouldn't be able to look at it. They kept their hands in their pockets, which was probably a good thing since Jared was pretty sure they both wanted to strangle someone.
The detective showed up followed closely by a gentleman from the crime unit, both arriving in unmarked cars, making Jared breathe a sigh of relief that everything might remain out of the news a little longer. Steve slipped back into the room, from checking on Jensen, just as Jared was introducing the detective. Detective Patterson shook their hands and reminded Jared to call him Garrett
"Jensen's asleep," Steve said.
"I thought he might be, between the cough medicine and the shock of this. He even emptied his stomach, put all that together, and he's probably out for the rest of the night, unless he has a nightmare," Jared acknowledged.
"Well, we're going to take these and have them analyzed, see if we can get any prints off them. How many of you have touched them?" Garrett asked.
"Just Jensen. He was opening his mail and when I came back in the room he was almost catatonic. Took me forever to get him to focus, and he hadn't even seen the pictures at that point. I used the tissue to move everything."
"Okay, I'll come back over tomorrow and get statements from you both," Garrett said.
It didn't take long for the tech to collect and bag everything and then the house was silent again. Chris and Steve left after some prompting and promises to set the alarm, telling Jared they'd be back first thing in the morning. He looked in on Jensen, who hadn't moved since he'd crawled in the bed, then he quickly found the code and set it before jumping in the shower. Jared brushed his teeth and shed his towel, padding nude into the bedroom and sliding into the bed.
He pulled Jensen into his body, taking comfort from the solid presence he was wrapped around. It didn't take long for sleep to claim him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris and Steve had obviously called the reinforcements. Jared opened the door to Tom at seven in the morning, and he knew they were serious when. at 7:30, Mike and Chad beat on the door. Those two didn't get out of bed until noon if they weren't filming. Chris and Steve made it over around eight and with breakfast, bless their souls. Jensen was still sleeping, and Jared was able to go over everything that had happened after they left without having to upset him.
Jared would never ever consider Jensen a hothouse flower that needed to be coddled, but he wanted to shield him from as much as possible. Jared knew he was over protective of people he loved, but honestly he wouldn't change, even if he could.
"So does this guy think that girl was dead?" Chad asked.
"He said she had that waxy parlor and milky color to her eyes that dead people get, plus he noticed markings around her neck. He was going to have them blow it up and see what else they could get off it," Jared answered, quickly losing his appetite.
"Well, at least they know for sure she's not wandering around with amnesia somewhere, even though that would be a hell of a lot better than dead," Chris mumbled.
"Yeah, but her family will know for sure. It would be nice if they had her remains though," Tom added.
"This just sucks! Seriously, this guy is just fucked up!" Mike exclaimed.
"I called a friend that does documentaries, see if I could find out anymore about this dick. She's supposed to get back to me later today," Chad said, pushing his plate away from him.
"Friend?" Jensen scoffed, walking up behind Chad, causing him to knock over his juice.
"SON OF A BITCH!" Chad yelled, grabbing napkins.
Jensen snickered as he walked past on his way to the fridge. Jared was laughing so hard he was crying, and Steve was beating on Chris' back where he'd almost inhaled a piece of bacon. Tom had lapsed into giggles, which had Mike grabbing his sides trying to breath.
"You know, one of these days I'm going to be armed when you do that!" Chad grumbled.
"Yes, but we all know you shoot blanks," Jensen said, batting his eyelashes at him.
"Condom dude, not blanks," Chad corrected.
"Oh God no, don't even get him started," Jared begged, wiping his eyes.
"I was just wondering what sort of friend?" Jensen asked innocently.
"The kind that's 5'10" of tight, toned ass and DD tits," Chad said, making motions with his hands to explain.
"That's what I thought," Jensen said, rolling his eyes.
"Hey, just cause she's pretty doesn't mean she doesn't have a brain," Chad defended. "I mean look at you."
Jared snorted his coffee through his nose. He wasn't sure, but coffee straight to the brain might kill you. Of course, the look Jensen was shooting Chad might do it too. Everyone else, though, was laughing too hard to care that Chad might not make it back to North Carolina in one piece.
When everyone had calmed down and the kitchen had been cleaned up, they set about making plans to keep Kylan the fuck away from them. Jensen wasn't pleased with everyone putting themselves at risk, but he was outnumbered so there wasn't much he could do about it. Jared felt they had a pretty good game plan between them, and on top of that, Garrett was going to make sure that they would have an unmarked car outside, plus increased patrols through the area.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It had been five days since the card and photos had set everyone on edge and Jensen was sure if he didn't kill somebody today, he deserved a freaking award. He hadn't had a minute to himself, unless he was sleeping, and it was starting to wear on his nerves. There had been no more mail, no visits or phone calls, and no one could seem to find just where Kylan was. For all they knew, he could have been three countries away. They knew he wasn't though, because his passport hadn't been used, and that just pissed Jensen off even more.
Everyone had been taking turns staying at the house, and Garrett had come by several times, checking on the patrol stationed outside as well as taking their statements and keeping them informed. Eric had called and asked Jared to come in for a few of hours to do some interviews and Steve had decided to stay put, sending Chris with Jared to put Jensen's mind at ease. Ever since the card, Jensen refused to let him go anywhere alone.
Jensen had just gotten in the shower when the doorbell rang. Steve knew it wasn't one of the guys because they always used the side door and the bell was ringing at the front. He never noticed the small puddle of water he stepped in when he looked through the peak hole. There was a delivery man standing on the steps looking down at a clipboard he had in one hand. The other carried a large basket of what looked like assorted fruits.
Steve rolled his eyes, muttering about actors and their goodie bags as he turned off the alarm and reached for the doorknob, intending to sign for the item. He felt a white hot pain shoot through his body and then nothing.