J2 - An Unexpected Love - Chapter 12A/16 - Mpreg
Title : An Unexpected Love 12A/16
Rating : NC17 for sex
Word Count : 9684
Disclaimer : Really if they belonged to me do you think I'd have time to be posting.
Warnings : Talk of past abuse, Mpreg
Author : angels3 aka Angela
Beta : munibunny
Art and Soundtrack : ldyghst
Additional Art : wincest_drarry
Characters : Jensen/Jared, Steve/Chris, there may be more pairings along the way I'm not sure at the moment.Mike, Tom, Chad, Sandy, Sophia and Joshua Jackson will all be in this fic. There may be others as I find myself needing more characters.
Summary : Grief stricken over the death of his brother, cynical movie maverick Jared Padalecki did the unthinkable - he sought comfort in the arms of his brother's fiancee. The morning after, they both realized their mistake and left for their separate lives. Only Jared can't forget Jensen's soft lips and beautiful eyes. Even as Jared was beginning to think he had to see him again, Jensen came to him.
Jensen was pregnant with his child. His - not his brother's. Jared knew he wanted Jensen more than he'd ever wanted any other woman or man.
First he had to marry him.
Then he had to make Jensen love him.
Author Notes : I am basing this story off a book I read fourteen years ago. I do actually have the book but I will not be using it to write this story. I will be going from my memory of what happened in it, there will be some things that run the way the book did and lots that will not as this is a J2 and mpreg on top of that. The only thing that will be word for word, and then not really, will be the summary since I couldn't do it justice any other way.
Based on the book Scandals by JoAnn Ross
Harlequin Temptation Sept.1994 #506
Chapters 1 2 3 4A 4B 5A 5B 5C 6A 6B 7A 7B 8A 8B 9A 9B 10 11A 11B 12A 12B 13A 13B 14 15A 15B 16
Art and Soundtrack
Additonal Art
Chad was released the next afternoon with strict instructions he was to rest for 72 hours. While he had no permanent damage, his throat was still sore and the doctor had warned that any strenuous activity would put strain on his recovering lungs. Chad quickly discovered hacking up said lungs was no fun when he'd ignored Jensen’s and Jared's attempts to get him to stop cleaning his living room.
"I told you to sit your ass down, didn't I?" Jared growled when Chad's coughing had finally eased.
Jensen stood quietly in front of Chad, waiting for their friend to catch his breath. When Chad finally looked up, Jensen handed him the glass of water he'd gone and gotten when the coughing had started.
"You know, we really don't care if you can eat off the floor right?" Jensen asked, amused at the flush it brought to their friend's cheeks.
"Yeah, but it's the first time you've come over, and it's a mess," Chad complained.
Jensen took a minute to look around. He didn't see any real mess. Obviously, Chad had been working on paperwork since it was scattered on the low table in front of the couch, but other than that the only thing out of place was a bottle of water left sitting on the side table.
"If you think this is a mess, you're never allowed to go in my studio. You'd think I was a teenager with an allergy to cleanliness."
"Oh good grief!" Jared exclaimed.
"Your house is not a mess," he paused, "and your studio isn't either. The paint tubes all over the table don’t count," he said, stalling Jensen's rebuttal. "The paper on the floor protects it when you get particularly aggressive slinging of the paint brush," Jared finished, shaking his head in exasperation.
Jensen and Chad stared at him a little shocked, until Chad leaned over and whispered in Jensen's ear. "He's a little grumpy."
"He didn't have his normal five cups of coffee yet," Jensen whispered back.
"You do know I can hear you both right?" Jared glowered at him.
They both swung back around to face him with their best wide eyed look of innocence.
Jared rolled his eyes, "Give it up both of you, it's not going to work." He said, trying to stop his lips from twitching up into a grin.
Chad shrugged and leaned into the couch cushions, Jensen just smiled as he grabbed the cup and took it back to the kitchen. He stopped in the doorway when he heard Jared ask Chad the question he'd been wanting to ask.
"Why in the world is your house being clean so important. I've been here before and it's always tidy, which by the way just freaks me out because I so remember what your dorm room looked like. Why was it so important when you've just gotten out of the hospital and the doctor told you to take it easy?" Jared's confusion was evident.
Jensen watched as Chad ducked his head, rubbing at the back of his neck, he could see the blush crawling up Chad's neck and into his cheeks from where he was standing.
"You know that was my roommate not me," Chad responded disgruntled, stalling for time.
"Chad."
"I wanted to get the chance to baby sit, and I didn't think you'd let me if the house was a mess."
Jared was so shocked by that answer, he couldn't do anything but stare at his friend with his mouth hanging open.
"Jared close your mouth, it's not an attractive look for you, and Chad, we'd be more than happy for you to baby sit once she's been born," Jensen announced, walking back into the living room.
Jared gave him a relieved smile for the rescue and the trust he'd just offered his best friend.
Chad beamed at them pleased before a look of excitement crossed his face. "You said she. Did you find out it was a girl?"
"No, he's not cooperating with us," Jared scowled. "He's definitely Jensen's kid."
"Hey!" Jensen exclaimed.
"What do you mean the baby's not cooperating?" Chad asked confused.
"The first sonogram the baby was too young, but the second one she kept her legs crossed the entire time and this last one she kept her back to us and refused to budge. The tech couldn't get a clean enough shot, even though she's pretty sure of the baby's sex we didn't want to know unless she was positive." Jensen explained.
"Yeah, and if it is a girl, she better keep her legs crossed." Jared muttered under his breath, yelping when Jensen smacked him in the back of the head.
"Did they take pictures? I read they can do that." Chad questioned hesitantly.
"Yep, we have a few, " Jared told him. "I'll bring them over the next time we get together. We were waiting until we could get them copied and blown up some so the baby was easier to see."
He'd almost said he'd bring them to the office, but he remembered just in time. Obviously, Chad still knew what he'd been about to say, because the next thing out of his mouth cemented the gravity of the last couple of days.
"What are we going to do about the office, and the movie?"
"We're not going to do anything right now. You're going to rest like the doctor ordered," Jared stated resolutely. "I'll have to wait until the investigation is over before we can do anything about the office anyway. I've got a meeting with the insurance company tomorrow for some basic information, as for the movie it'll go on as scheduled. We'll have to work out of my house when we need to be in the same place if that's all right?" Jared asked Chad, cutting his eyes to the side to look at Jensen.
Luckily his husband, while listening, was also taking in the eclectic taste that Chad possessed and didn't notice, but Chad understood immediately Jared's unwillingness to leave his husband alone now.
"No problem, I can get most of our files in place by Monday. Eric has a copy of just about everything, and we have backup servers for emergencies, so we shouldn't have too many holes," Chad assured.
Jensen cut in before Jared could, "You don't need to be talking any more than you have to for the next few days. Your voice is even worse now than it was yesterday and don't think I haven't seen you wincing when you swallow," Jensen fussed.
Chad's mouth dropped open in surprise. He looked over at Jared for help but all he received was a huge grin and shrugged shoulders. His eyes darted back to where Jensen was waiting for his surrender.
"Okay," he mumbled.
"Jared, why don't you make sure he makes it up the stairs, and I'll bring up some soup and water before we let you get some sleep."
Jared wasn't about to argue. He waited for Chad to stand up and make his way to his bedroom before following behind. It didn't take long for Chad to be nodding off over his finished bowl of soup. Jared woke him up long enough to take his dishes and show him where they were leaving his pills. Jensen made him promise to call when he woke up, and then they left him to sleep.
"When are you going by the office?" Jensen asked quietly.
"I thought I'd go by tomorrow."
"Why not today? We're not that far from there."
Jared glanced over at his husband. He wanted to see how bad the damage was, even though he was sure it was going to be a total write off. He just didn't want Jensen to see the results of Joshua's handiwork because he didn't want this to be one more way that Jensen was hurt. Jared knew if he tried to keep him away it would just be a matter of time before Jensen went there on his own and Jared never wanted him to have to face anything painful alone again.
"We can, I guess," he finally answered.
"If you don't want to, it’s fine, I just thought it'd be better not to do it alone." Jensen offered, echoing Jared's thoughts, even if they were in the reverse.
"No. it's fine. I just don't want you to get upset, it's not good for you or the baby," Jared explained.
"Jared," Jensen reached over and placed a hand on the arm closest to him. "I'm not likely to get more upset than I was when I thought something had happened to you. I know it's not going to be easy and I'm not looking forward to seeing what he's done, but I need to know. Sometimes, I have nightmares and the not knowing is worse because my mind can make up terrible, awful things from past experience." Jensen said softly.
Jared dropped his hand off the steering wheel, letting Jensen’s fingers slide down his arm until he could grip it with his own. He entwined their hands bringing the back of Jensen's up to place a kiss on it.
"Okay, we'll get this done, and then we can relax for the rest of the night at home." Jared found himself agreeing.
He found himself hesitating again as he turned onto the road leading to the office and could smell wood, and insulation. There was a metallic tang in the air that clung to the back of his throat, and he heard a small gasp escape Jensen as the burned out husk of the office came into view. Jared squeezed his hand, offering silent support, refusing to release the connection even to put the vehicle in park. He reluctantly relinquished his grip when they had to exit the vehicle, rounding the car quickly to reestablish it in the form of an arm around Jensen's waist.
Jensen took in the scorched wood, metal twisted and tortured. The ground was covered with ash and littered with shattered glass glinting in the afternoon sun. The yellow crime scene tape shuddered in the breeze, reminding anyone that thought otherwise that this had not been an accident. A shiver racked Jensen's body as his eyes traced the line of the roof to the gaping hole where it had collapsed in on itself too compromised to remain standing under the weight of fire and heat.
Jared pulled him closer, trying to shield his body from the light breeze and from the damage that Joshua was still able to inflict, his presence an all consuming weight not only on both their shoulder but their minds as well.
"I'm so sorry," Jensen whispered.
"It's not your fault."
"Really? Because I'm pretty sure that you didn't have homicidal maniacs torching your office before me," Jensen replied, bitterness seeping into his voice.
Jared turned Jensen in his arms, taking his face in his hands so he would be assured of his husband's attention not only on his words but his expression.
"It is not your fault that Joshua is the way he is. Yes, he's focused on you, and there aren't words to describe how much I wish that weren't true, but if it wasn't you, it would be someone else. Would you think that it was that other person’s fault?"
"It's not the same," Jensen dropped his eyes.
"So it's Gabriel's fault his dad would beat him?" Jared asked, trying to get through his stubbornness.
"NO!" Jensen exclaimed, his head coming up and his body jerking back.
Jared reeled him back in and ducked his head to catch Jensen's eye. "Then if it's not Gabriel fault, how can you be blamed for something someone else does?"
"Gabriel didn't choose who his dad was, I chose who I dated," Jensen answered, refusing to pardon himself so easily.
"Jensen," Jared said softly, catching his husband’s chin and lifting until he could look him in the eye. "You didn't know he was a psychopath. It's not like he walked around with a neon sign on his chest, and even if you had done a background check on him, and I know you wouldn't, there wasn't anything for you to find because his parents always bought his way out of trouble."
Jensen still looked unconvinced and Jared knew it would take time and Joshua out of their lives for Jensen to even begin to believe what he was being told. Jared loosened his hold as Jensen turned back around to look at the smoldering ruins.
"Do you think he was trying to kill you, or just scare you?" Jensen asked the question that had been haunting him.
"I'm not sure. My SUV was here, and the lights were on because Chad had dropped off some work and then ran to the store to get some things for the kitchen. Detective Lloyd thinks he was aiming to hurt if not kill since it appeared I was here," Jared answered truthfully, not wanting to keep secrets from his husband, but wishing like hell he could.
They stood quietly surveying the damage for a few more minutes before Jared pulled Jensen back to the car and tucked him safely away.
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The days slipped by and before they knew it, June was gone and Jensen was in his sixth month. The doctor was keeping an eye on Jensen's blood pressure and the baby was still refusing to give them a clue what it was going to be, but there had been no other contact from Joshua.
Jared couldn't decide if that was good news or not. If Joshua was causing trouble then they at least knew where he was to some extent, but with him being so quiet they had no clue where or when he was going to strike. He'd made certain Jensen was never alone, not even when he went to the center. If Jared hadn't been able to take him then Chad and even Sophia had driven him, waiting until his classes were over and bringing him home. He could tell Jensen was chafing under the constant companionship, but he'd yet to say anything and Jared knew it was because he'd do whatever it took to keep their baby safe.
Chad crashed through the side door, juggling plans, bags of food and trying to talk on his phone at the same time. Jared rescued the plans and Jensen grabbed the food before Chad lost everything to the floor.
They'd both become quite adept at catching things before they could be dropped. Chad ended his call, dropping into a chair with a huge sigh.
"Holy shit!"
"Something you'd like to tell us?" Jared asked, as he pulled the orange juice out of the refrigerator.
"I'm going to strangle Tom 'I'm So Awesome' Cruise if he whines about one more thing."
Jensen hid his grin behind the bag he was opening. He'd almost choked to death the first time he'd heard Chad suggest to Jessica's manager that she do some self loving before she came to set so she wouldn't be such a bitch. He'd have paid good money to know what the manager would have said if Chad hadn't already hung up, mumbling under his breath about vibrators and ball gags.
"What's he want now?" Jensen couldn't help asking, ignoring Jared vigorously shaking his head in the background.
"What does he NOT want? First it was bottled water at just the right temperature, then Rome apples with no blemishes. The best one though has got to be the chair in his dressing room was too blue and it was messing with his concentration so it just had to be replaced. This one is just the run of the mill ‘I need more lube’, so I can fuck myself." Chad finished his rant.
"Seriously?" Jensen asked, gaping.
"No, not seriously," Chad said rolling his eyes, "but it might as well have been."
Jensen threw the wax paper that had been covering his bagel at Chad's head. "You're such an ass."
"You love my ass," Chad shot back, throwing the paper behind him and hitting Jared. "Sit down. I know you're back there making faces you big oaf."
"Why am I always getting abused?" Jared pouted, taking a seat beside Jensen.
"It's your fault I have to deal with idiots."
"He's got you there," Jensen snickered.
"I don't do the casting," Jared whined.
"The hell you don't. You have final say, don't you?" Chad griped.
"Well, yeah, but I can't say I don't want someone because Chad doesn't like them. I'd never make another movie since you don't like anybody."
"I like Jensen," Chad said, grinning.
"Oh no you don't. This is between you and him," Jensen pointed his finger at Chad and Jared. "My names Emmitt and I'm not in it!"
"Jeesh, what are you five?" Chad asked, diving for the last bagel as Jared reached for it.
Jensen just pushed his chair back to get out of the way of the food struggle. "Maybe, but I got the last bagel," he giggled as they both looked at the empty plate, they'd both been scrabbling for and then back up at Jensen who was holding the prized bagel between his teeth.
"That's so not fair." Chad grumped.
"Welcome to my world," Jared answered morosely.
Jensen fairly bounced out of the room and up the stairs to get ready for his day.
He pulled out the clothes he was planning to wear and laid them on the bed. Jensen stepped into the shower, washing his hair quickly so he could just stand with his hands against the wall and let the hot water beat down across his shoulders and lower back. He marveled at how different things were from just a few months ago, hell, from just a few weeks ago. Ever since they'd shared a bed after Jared's office had been burned, Jensen had longed to have that feeling again. He just didn't know how to ask for it.
They're had been plenty of snuggling on the couch and Jared had finally stopped asking if he could feel the baby after Jensen had told him a million times he didn't have to ask. They had both become so relaxed around each other that the only time Jensen was reminded that it wasn't the normal marriage was when they headed to bed. He'd had the best night’s sleep he'd had since Jeff's death when they had shared a bed, and he wanted that again.
Jensen shifted around in the shower so the jets would hit an especially sore spot and sighed in frustration. He let his mind drift back to the problem. Hell, if he was honest he wanted a lot more than just that.
He realized that he didn't feel the jolt of guilt that was usually present when he thought of Jared in more than an abstract way. Jensen wasn't really sure what to make of that, but he had always been curious so he poked at his feelings, dragging up different scenarios that would typically make him feel like he was cheating and was shocked to feel only a vague sense of unease but not the sharp pain that came with just thinking of being with another person.
He stepped out of the shower, drying his hair and his body quickly, knowing that Sophia would be there soon to pick him up. Jensen's eye caught his reflection in the mirror over the dresser, and he stepped closer to it, taking in the changes to his body first his eyes finally resting on Jeff's ring around his neck. He ran his fingers along the chain until he came to the ring. When Jensen touched the gold band, he felt a small ache buried in his heart that he knew would never go away.
"I miss you so much," Jensen whispered, "but I think you'd be happy for me and for Jared. We're going to have your niece or your nephew.... and I know you'll keep your eye out for them. I wish things had been different and I'll always love you, but I think I'm ready to really try with Jared." His fingers traced back up the necklace until he came to the catch, fumbling for a few seconds trying to unhook it. There was a feeling of lightness that washed over him, and when he settled the top back on the memory box he'd placed the ring in for safe keeping, he couldn't help feeling that Jeff was giving his approval.
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Jared made his way up the stairs to let Jensen know that Sophia was waiting for him. Chad had gone to the insurance company to pick up more forms that needed filling out, leaving the house quiet. He'd heard when the water shut off and expected Jensen to come down shortly after but Sophia had shown up and Jensen still hadn't come down.
The door to Jensen's room was cracked, and as he went to push it open and announce himself, he heard Jensen speaking. He was standing in front of the mirror, and it seemed as if he was talking to someone but the words were too soft to reach him across the room. Jared realized he must have been talking to Jeff when Jensen reached up to undo the clasp on his necklace. He didn't think it odd since he'd been doing a whole lot of that himself recently, what he did find odd was that Jensen was taking his necklace off. To his knowledge, Jeff's ring hadn't left his neck since he'd put it on those many months ago.
Jared felt he was intruding on something very private, but he couldn't move away from the door, not when Jensen took the ring off, or when he swiped the tears off his cheeks, or when he closed the memory box he'd reverently set Jeff's ring in. He moved away only when Jensen turned to put his clothes on, a small smile touching his lips.
He backed his way towards the steps and down two before moving up them again, making sure to hit the landing a little louder than usual to give Jensen some warning that he was there. Jensen met him at the doorway, the smile still on his face.
"Sophia's here," Jared offered, not sure what else to say until he'd had time to think about what he'd witnessed.
"Then I better get moving, huh. Don't want to keep her waiting, she won't give me my hot chocolate," Jensen said, grinning. He leaned over and placed a light kiss on Jared's cheek before disappearing down the steps.
"Don't forget that Tom's going to drive you home today because I have that meeting," Jared shouted down the stairs.
"Yeah, yeah I hear you mom," Jensen's reply floated back up to him as the door closed behind his husband.
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Jensen's classes had been going well, and he thought there might even be a few aspiring artists. He'd had some ideas but he wanted to talk them over with Jared. They were going to have to wait until after the baby came but he was pretty excited about them. Steve and Chris had stopped by to let him know that they were heading to the store for supplies, and if he needed anything Mike was in the office and Tom had one more class to go.
"Don't even think about leaving until Tom gets done," Chris stated firmly.
"I'm not going anywhere, I promise. Jared would skin me alive, and I like it where it is thank you very much."
"We shouldn't be too long, but in case we don't see you before you leave, we wanted to tell you that the kids love the art classes. Of course, I think they wear more out than they get on the board, but they like it." Steve agreed grinning.
"Painting is a very interactive undertaking. Only true artists wear as much as they use on their canvas, not board, you Philistine," Jensen corrected.
Steve shrugged, "Not all of us played in Paris."
"Oh good grief! How many times are you going to use that as an excuse?"
"As many times as I want to," Steve answered smugly.
"Fine, I won't let you see the new sonogram pictures," Jensen said, sticking his tongue out.
"Did you get new ones?" Chris asked already holding out his hand.
"No, but we will next week when we go. Maybe the little squirt will cooperate this time."
Chris snorted, "Don't bet on it."
"I know," Jensen agreed mournfully.
Jensen finished cleaning up his classroom and set things out for the next day he'd be there, since he sometimes had a hard time moving in the morning. He talked with Mike for a few minutes and made a loop through the kitchen to snag a snack. He'd just walked into the main hallway when a man came bursting through the door.
"Where's Gabriel? I want to know where that lying shit is?" The man yelled.
Jensen started to back up, trying to remain unseen but the man turned around, pinning him to the spot with his wild eyes and the huge gun he was holding in his hand. Jensen was scared to even breath, afraid the wrong move would send the man into a shooting frenzy. They both turned to look at the stairs as someone made their way down them. Jensen's heart stopped beating when Gabriel came into view. He also caught sight of Mike with the phone in his hand on the other side of the staircase and Tom frantically trying to get Gabriel to come back up.
When Gabriel hit the bottom step, the man grabbed him and flung him towards Jensen. Gabriel grabbed the table to keep himself upright, but when he moved to step in front of Jensen, the man with the gun drew back the hammer and pointed at them both.
"I want to know why you lied?" The man yelled again, spit flying from his mouth.
"I didn't lie. You killed her, I watched you do it." Gabriel spat back.
Jensen almost passed out when he realized that this was Gabriel's dad, the man that had beat his mother to death in front of his young son and who'd gotten a ridiculously light sentence for murder. He could see the tremors racking the young boy's body in front of him and was racking his brain for a way to fix this.
"You didn't tell them she made me do it. You didn't tell them how she never did anything right. It was her fault!" He screamed, his face turning bright red and his hand waving the gun around.
"That's because it wasn't her fault. It was yours, it was always yours. You'd come home drunk and it didn't matter what we did, it was never right. You were always mad and you always took it out on us," Gabriel yelled back, tears pouring down his face.
"You lying shit! You're just like her!" The man continued to rant. "But I'm going to take care of you just like I took care of her."
Jensen didn't even have time to move before the first shot fired, followed quickly by a second and third.
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Jared had been in a meeting for the last five hours. All he wanted to do was go home and fall onto the couch with Jensen and watch a movie until they fell asleep. He flicked on the radio, expecting to hear the soothing sounds of Bach or Beethoven but what he got instead was a newscast reporting another shooting. Jared was reaching to turn the station when his hand froze in mid air, the announcer having just given the name of the center.
Dread spilled down Jared's spine as he struggled to get his cell out of his pocket and place a call to Jensen's phone. When the ringing stopped and it went to voicemail his breath caught in his lungs and refused to be exhaled. Jared turned the volume up on the radio trying to get more details only to hear that two men had been taken to the hospital with no updates on their condition. He wasn't even aware of car horns blaring or the screeching of tires as he made a U-turn and headed towards the hospital they had taken the unidentified men.
His phone started ringing a mile before he got to his destination, and he picked up, praying it was Jensen, but the ID flashed Chad.
"Jared, what the hell is going on? I heard the news and I can't get hold of Jensen. Tell me you were just talking to him."
"I can't get up with him either but I'm at the turn off to the hospital right now. Can you call the center and see if you can get up with anybody? I'll let you know what I can after I get in here," Jared said in a rush, staying on the line long enough to hear Chad's agreement.
Jared threw his car into park outside of the emergency room, ignoring the yells from reporters that were almost hit because they didn't move fast enough. Once they got a good look at him, though, they quickly moved out of his way until he was standing at the second set of doors, a burly guard blocking his path.
"I know you're doing your job, but if you don't get the fuck out of my way you'll have to press charges when you wake up," Jared growled.
"Look man, I don't want any trouble, but you need to calm down, and then I can see what we can do to help you," the guard stated firmly.
"I'll calm down when I find my husband. He was at the center, and I can't get up with him."
"What's his name?" the guard asked as he led Jared to the information desk past all the curious eyes waiting to be seen.
"Jensen Ackles-Padalecki. He's six months pregnant." Jared answered around the lump in his throat.
"All right let's see what Joyce here can tell us, okay?" the guard motioned to the woman behind the desk.
"This gentleman here is looking for his husband. Might have been brought in with that center shooting. His name is Jensen Ackles-Padalecki, and he's six months pregnant." The guard looked back at Jared to make sure he'd gotten it right.
Jared nodded, waiting for the woman with his world at the end of her fingertips to type in the information she'd been given.
"He is here and the doctor has just finished looking him over. If you'll give me just a minute, I'll ring a nurse to take you back."
"How about I take him back Joyce," the guard offered. "I know how busy they are right now and Chuck's got the door so it's covered."
Joyce looked at Jared and then back at the guard before nodding her head and buzzing them through.
Jared followed behind the guard, feeling like he was moving through quicksand. The faster they moved, the longer it seemed until they were standing outside a room. Jared turned to thank the guard but he just smiled and motioned for him to go in before turning and heading back to his post.
Jared took a deep breath before opening the door. Realistically, he knew that Jensen had to be marginally okay, or he wouldn't be in just the regular section of the emergency room. However, having his husband anywhere in the hospital ahead of the birthing schedule was unacceptable. He squared his shoulders and pushed the door open, his breath leaving him in a noisy woosh.
Jensen was sitting on the examining table with a thick towel pressed to his forehead, the nurse was bustling around getting packages out of drawers and setting up a tray full of, Jared had no idea what. There was blood all over the front of Jensen's shirt, down his pants and he could see the dried flaking remnants still clinging to his husband's hands. He wasn't sure he could make his legs work in order to get across the room, but when Jensen looked up and saw him, Jared was cradling his husband’s face in his hands before he'd even realized he'd moved.
Jensen opened his mouth to speak but a small sob broke free instead. He'd kept it together through the ride to the hospital, the questions, the examination, but just seeing Jared, it was like permission to let go because it was safe.
"He shot Gabriel," Jensen whispered between gasping breaths. "He shot Gabriel and I don't even know if.. if..."
"I'll find out okay, but first I need to know what happened to you. What's hurt on you baby?" Jared asked, running his hands up and down Jensen's arms.
"I cut my head. I'm not sure how." Jensen frowned, trying to remember what happened.
The nurse stepped up to the bed, trying not to get in the way of the reunion, which Jared appreciated.
"Jensen, I need you to lay down for me so I can get you prepped for the stitches," she requested.
"He needs stitches?"
"Just a few. I've got to get the glass out and then numb it and then the doctors going to come back and do the stitches," she explained to Jensen but included Jared in the conversation.
"Glass?" Jensen asked, still frowning.
"Do you remember where the glass came from? You didn't hit your head did you?" Jared asked, concerned that Jensen couldn't remember, glancing at the nurse for help.
"No, I didn't hit my head.... Oh! There was a mirror, though. I think it shattered. Maybe that's where it came from," Jensen answered hesitantly.
"Sometimes events can be very vivid or extremely fuzzy after a trauma such as your husband has suffered. It usually gets a little clearer once the shock has worn off."
"He's six months pregnant is the shock going to hurt the baby?" Jared asked.
"Dr. Agnit is on his way in right now. After we get the stitches taken care of, we're going to monitor the baby's heartbeat and how it's handling the stress. His blood pressure was a little high, but I hear it's been running that way for awhile." The nurse continued to work on Jensen's head while she filled Jared in on everything that was being done.
Jensen was lying back with his eyes closed, one hand cradling his stomach and the other griped in Jared's. He'd relaxed enough that Jared wasn't sure if they'd given him something, or if it was him running his fingers through the matted hair on Jensen's uninjured side. The gash wasn't very large, but it was deep and it sent a shudder through Jared's body at just how close it had come to him losing them both.
Jared watched as the nurse finished cleaning the glass out of the wound and set about numbing the area so the doctor could finish with the stitches. The door swished open and Dr. Agnit walked in, bringing with him a sense of complete relief. Jared nodded at the doctor, not willing to take his hands off of his husband. He waited as patiently as he could while the doctor looked over Jensen's chart, and spoke quietly with the nurse. When he was satisfied that he had all the information he needed, he made his way over to where they were waiting, Jensen still dozing in and out.
"I hear there was some excitement today," Dr. Agnit stated.
Jared had to give it to the man, nothing ever seemed to ruffle him, and it just made him relax even more that the doctor was so calm.
"I'm not sure exactly how much. Jensen has been a little confused, and I've not talked to anyone else."
Dr. Agnit leaned closer to take a look at the gash on his head, shaking his head and peering over at the readout on the pressure cuff. "Well, he didn't knock his head so that's good. His blood pressure is a little high not that I'd really expect anything else the way his afternoon has gone. Once he's had time to do something other than react then he'll find things will start making sense again, especially when some of his worries are addressed, yours too I'm sure.
The nurse pulled a chair in from another room and pushed it up behind Jared, so he could sit down since he'd started wavering from the adrenaline crash that had suddenly hit him.
"Jensen," the doctor reached out gently nudging his shoulder. "Are you with us?"
"Hmmm."
"It's Dr. Agnit, Jensen, we need to get you hooked up to the monitors and check on the peanut."
Jensen opened his eyes slowly, blinking in the bright lights moving his head carefully to look to the side. "Okay," he mumbled, trying to keep his eyes open.
"You can go back to sleep son. I just wanted you to know what was going on before I started pushing and prodding and hooking you up to things." The doctor patted his hand.
Jared moved to get out of the way but the doctor shooed him back into his seat.
"Everything's on wheels. I can set it right here, and it won't be in the way of him getting his stitches. He needs you more than he needs anything else right now."
It didn't take long and everything was ready. The doctor watched the readings for a few minutes and double checked the blood pressure read out again.
"The baby looks fine Jared, and his blood pressure has evened out some. I want to leave him hooked up for a little longer just to make sure, but I don't think they suffered any ill effects that a lot of TLC won't make right as rain. Is there anything else you need right now before I go get the ER doctor?"
"Could you check on the kid they brought in with Jensen? His name is Gabriel. Jensen said he was shot, and I know as soon as he's lucid again he's going to ask."
"I'll see what I can find out, but if he was shot there's probably not going to be that much to tell." Dr. Agnit warned before he went to find the other doctor.
Jared leaned over, placing a kiss on Jensen's cheek when he shifted and moaned. "Shhhh, it's okay."
The ER doctor arrived shortly and made quick work of the stitches while Jensen slipped in and out of sleep. Jared was starting to worry about the way Jensen kept phasing in and out but Dr. Agnit reassured him not only was it the body's way of dealing with stress, but that he would have been worried if someone that was pregnant weren't reacting that way.
"You know how many naps he's had to take the longer the pregnancy goes, add to that the adrenaline crash you're feeling now and to him, it's like being hit with the good drugs. Once his body has had time to cope, he'll straighten out and then you'll be trying to get him to sleep," the doctor promised.
"Did you find out about Gabriel?" Jared asked cautiously. He didn't know how he was going to tell Jensen if Gabriel hadn't made it.
"He's in surgery right now. He was hit in the side and the chest, both of them are pretty serious, but as you can imagine the chest is the one they’re most concerned with. He's going to be in surgery for awhile so it's going to be hours before you know what's happening, unfortunately."
"Thanks for checking for us," Jared sighed.
"Not a problem. I hope everything works out. I'm going to unhook him now and when he wakes up, you can go. The nurse should be here in just a few minutes with his discharge papers."
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It was another thirty minutes before Jensen was conscious enough to sit up and look around, wincing at the pull on his stitches.
"Did I sleep through everything?" He asked, still looking around confused.
"Pretty much. They came in and stitched you up, Dr. Agnit came in and hooked you up, checked you out and left." Jared answered, smiling at the look of disbelief on Jensen's face.
"Is the baby okay?" Jensen asked, his hand immediately seeking out and offering soothing strokes to their child.
"The baby's fine. Your blood pressure was a little high, but it evened out once you relaxed," Jared reassured.
"Gabriel," Jensen gasped. "How's Gabriel?" He asked, clutching at Jared's hand.
"We don't know yet. Dr. Agnit checked just a little while ago, and he was in surgery. They told him he'd been in there awhile."
"Jared, he's just a kid. He's got his whole life in front of him."
Jared sighed. There wasn't he could say to that, not that he thought Jensen was actually waiting for an answer.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Jared asked.
"Yeah, but can you get me some water?"
"Are you hungry? I could go grab you something out of the machine?"
"No, I don't think I'll be able to eat right now." He said softly, reaching a hand up to touch his head.
"Do you have a headache? Want me to get the nurse and see if they can give you something?"
"No, it's not that bad, considering. I just need some water, my throat is dry." He smiled his thanks as he took the cup from Jared.
Continued Here