Liars and Deceivers, NC-17, Jared/Jensen
Title: Liars and Deceivers
Pairing: Jared/Jensen (AU) Jensen 22, Jared 18
Rating: NC-17
Word count: 8130
Disclaimer: Unfortunately neither Jared nor Jensen belong to me. All original characters do. This is not meant to offend, nor is it for profit. It is for fun only.
Warning: suicide attempt, memories of previous rape and previous abuse.
Summary: Jared's a vulnerable young man, just getting his life back together after escaping an abusive relationship. When he lands a new job in accounts and falls in love with his boss, Jensen Ackles, he thinks his luck has changed for the better. But trouble lurks in the shadows, just waiting for the chance to strike.
Authors Notes: Many thanks to blueeyedliz and devon99 for the beta work.
Liars and Deceivers
He hadn’t lied as such, just refused to fill in the section about mental illness. Application forms were way too personal in Jared’s view. So what if he suffered from depression? So what if he was still on anti-depressants? That was his business alone, and no one had the automatic right to know about it, least of all a potential employer.
It clearly didn’t matter to the boss, however. Jensen Ackles had knocked Jared’s socks off when he first met him, beautiful emerald eyes shining with kindness and mirth. Scoffing at the idea of being called Mr Ackles, he’d held out his hand in a friendly introduction, demanded he called him Jensen, and the moment their skin connected, Jared was almost blown away by the crackling electricity between them.
It scared him.
He’d never felt that way before, even with Donovan, though it was hard to imagine Jared’s former partner being able to generate anything other than pain on touch. Usually, Donovan’s touch involved hard fucks and flying fists, sometimes all at once. And Jared had the scars to prove it.
“Well, I’m a little concerned at your lack of experience in this field…”
Jared forced himself to concentrate on what the gorgeous man was saying, and felt his heart sink down to his toes when he did.
Jensen glanced back up from Jared’s application form, with a genuine smile that dazzled and lit up Jared’s dark world in a way that had also never happened before.
“…but these are some great references. I’ve known Jeffrey Dean Morgan a long time, and if he says you’re worth a shot, then that’s good enough for me.” Jensen slapped a file down on his desk with an air of finality. “Job’s yours.”
Jared blinked in surprise.
“Y-you know Mr Morgan?”
That smile again, and Jared felt a warming sensation in his belly.
“You kidding me? I love that guy’s house special! I order in every weekend.”
Jeffrey Dean Morgan owned a pizza parlour on the far side of the city, and his house special was famous throughout the state. Jared worked for the guy three years before deciding a fresh start was for the best, and handed in his notice two weeks ago. The fresh start was as much for his sanity as well as his physical well being. JDM understood what he was going through, and made every effort to help him break free from Donovan. Not an easy feat. Donovan had been Jared’s first and only real home in all his young life, having been passed from foster home to foster home practically since birth. Of course, the usual shit happened to Jared, as often happens to kids like him. Beaten senseless, raped on a regular basis, either by the foster father, or a foster brother, used, humiliated, and Jared would soon be tossed aside.
He found just one family he actually got on with, but the head of the household fell seriously ill and, partly due to finance, partly because a foster kid was too much to take on under the circumstances, they were forced to give him up.
Jared ended up on the streets, and though he hadn’t fallen prey to drugs and prostitution, he’d still become victim to a very different kind of predator.
“Jared? You ok there?”
Jared blinked back tears at the kindness in his new employer’s voice.
“Uh… yeah. I’m fine. Thanks.” Jared answered, a very real smile gracing his features, completely unaware of how captivating he looked. “Just a little tired. Moving to a new neighbourhood and all…” he shrugged. It wasn’t a lie. He was genuinely wiped out.
Jensen stared at the kid.
Pretty blue green eyes, filled with a hurt and vulnerability that tugged at the heart strings, were offset by the long, soft chestnut hair framing his young face. Jared was stunning and clearly didn’t realise it.
The kid got the job based on JDM’s reference, nothing more. Jensen wasn’t that kind of a boss. Highly principled and empathic to his employees, he treated everyone with the respect they deserved. But, he had to admit, Jared sure was easy on the eyes.
There was just something about him that pushed all of Jensen’s protective buttons, and he knew from the moment he met the boy, he’d be taking Jared under his wing.
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2
Life moved onwards.
Jared settled into the job smoothly, though a little nervous at first. His heart pounded in his chest whenever he made a mistake, even a tiny one, but Jensen was such a calming influence, so gentle and patient that Jared’s confidence quickly grew.
JDM called him several times a week to make sure he was doing ok, sometimes turning up on Jared’s doorstep with fresh hot pizza. Jeffrey Dean made sure Jared remained safe, and hadn’t told a single soul about his departure to the other side of the city. He’d even suggested Jared move out of the state, just to be sure, but Jared wasn’t emotionally ready to go live in the outside world.
“You sure?” the older guy had asked, worriedly. “’Cos I gotta quiet place up in the mountains a few states over. You could rest properly, regroup, work out what you wanna do with your life.”
Jared thought it through, and though it was tempting to heal in the peace and quiet of Jeff’s cabin, he already knew what he wanted.
Or, rather who.
Besides, Jared had made new friends within the other departments, and no one called him stupid or made fun of his height. Ok, the friendships were based on work rather than trust, but it was a good start. He was still too afraid to let anyone get real close, though a certain pair of kindly green eyes often tempted him.
After only a few months, Jared had managed to put a good deal of his past behind him. He would never forget Donovan, or the fear the guy invoked in him, but his nightmares became few and far between.
Jeffrey Dean just smiled, pulled the kid into a big hug, and muttered “I’m so proud of you, boy. Not many people could have the strength to do this.”
“Nah.” Jared hugged him back, like the father he never had. “Couldn’t have done it without you. Would have been too scared.
“That’s crap in a pizza box, and you know it!” Jeff retorted, making the kid chuckle.
“Now, pass me a beer…”
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2
It was in the sixth month Jensen asked him to come watch a baseball game after work.
“You don’t have to bring anything,” Jensen noticed the worry flitting across the younger guy’s face.
Jared was a solitary soul, in spite of all his new friends, and he kept himself to himself. “I’ve got beer, nachos, and a fifty inch plasma screen. Just us and the game.” He added with an adorable lopsided grin.
Jared bit his bottom lip.
He rarely ventured out in the evenings and the one time he did had ended in disaster. Jared had been persuaded, against his better judgment, to go to a club in honour of a colleague’s birthday. He’d started out okay, but after 10pm the club began to fill up at an alarming rate, and Jared had freaked out. Hemmed in on all sides by heaving, sweaty bodies, unable to escape, he’d hyperventilated and passed out.
Waking up in the club owner’s office with a seven foot tall, eight foot wide bouncer right in his face, honestly hadn’t helped matters. Jared began to freak out once again, but Jensen appeared from nowhere, rubbing his back and talking him down.
Tonight would be different, because he’d be alone with Jensen, in Jensen’s home, drinking Jensen’s beer, maybe snuggling up on Jensen’s sofa…
He really, really wanted to accept.
So he did.
“O-ok. That’d be great,” he answered in a small voice, but the shy smile revealed the sweetest dimples Jensen had ever seen on a guy.
“Excellent!” Jensen tried hard not to stare, and just clapped him gently on the back instead. “Meet me in my office at six. I’ll take you home with me.”
Both men paused.
Both men blushed!
Such an intimate statement, no matter how innocently put, gave birth to some pretty steamy images in Jensen’s head. And judging by the heat in Jared’s eyes, the kid was on the same page.
Take you home with me? Jensen could feel a swelling below the belt, and almost groaned out loud.
Oh boy!
He couldn’t take advantage of the poor kid. It wouldn’t be fair. It wouldn’t be right! Aside from the fact Jensen was his boss; the younger guy had issues and needed a close friend. Not a pervert for a boss out to seduce him.
Quelling a sigh, Jensen made up his mind. Jared needed someone to show him some respect, to show him that not everyone was out to hurt him. And that, unfortunately, didn’t include sleeping with the guy.
S’gonna be a long night.
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2
It turned out to be a pleasant and relaxing evening.
True to his word, Jensen offered nachos and beer, but when he also produced fresh, homemade burgers from the fridge, Jared was practically licking his lips.
Jensen turned out to be quite the chef, expertly flipping burgers on the barbeque.
“Where did you learn to do that?” Jared asked, a little nervous at first, wondering if the question was too personal. He wasn’t sure of the boundaries, what with this guy being his boss and all.
But Jensen just grinned.
“I worked in a butcher’s part time when I was studying,” he explained. “Had to make ends meet somehow. I guess some of it stuck with me.”
“Thank god!” Jared stated, then closed his eyes, sniffing appreciatively. The scent of spices and cooking burger meat was teasing him, making his stomach growl.
Jensen studied him intently. In fact, he would have been quite content to watch Jared all day.
The kid truly was a beauty. Tall, athletic, that long soft hair, pretty smile…
Jensen blinked and shook his head to clear away the self-directed porn video developing inside it.
Get a grip, Jensen!
Yeah, get a grip on pretty boy’s cock! Answered another distant, and disturbing inner voice. Disturbing, because that was exactly what Jensen wanted to do to the guy, and knew for absolute certain that was the last thing he should do.
But the image of Jared, head thrown back and screaming out his pleasure, whilst Jensen sucked him down…
And that was pretty much why Jared opened his eyes again, just in time, to see Jensen grabbing him, hands twisting into Jared’s hair, holding his head in place. Jensen’s mouth pressed tightly up against his own, tongue seeking, no, demanding entry which Jared willingly gave up with a soft moan.
Oh God! He tastes so sweet… Jensen couldn’t believe it. He’d never experienced anything like this before. Need to calm it down or I’m not gonna last. Just gonna end up forcing myself on the kid and scaring him silly.
But trying to pull away was proving difficult, because Jared seemed to be enjoying himself just as much.
The burgers sizzling loudly on the barbeque, as the juices dripped down into the flames, finally brought the two men out of their little make-out session. And Jensen was relieved to see the big happy smile on Jared’s face.
“Wow!” Jensen shook his head, grinning. “That was… uh… just wow!”
When Jared’s smile turned adorably shy, Jensen just wanted to hold him close and never let go.
“You, uh, were pretty amazing yourself,” Jared uttered softly, head ducked down, but those pretty eyes were peaking out at the older guy through chestnut bangs.
Once again, Jensen found himself mesmerized, and it took a flying, hissing droplet of fat landing on his arm to bring him out of it.
“OW! Sonofa…” he broke off when he saw Jared flinch at his outburst. “Sorry, dude. I didn’t mean to scare you…”
“It’s ok, seriously,” Jared was quick to reassure, though his hands were shaking a little. He wondered how much JDM might have told Jensen about Jared’s past, ‘cause the guy seemed to understand. Jared frowned, not sure how he felt about that. “You should put that under the cold tap, help take the heat out of it and stop a blister forming.”
Jensen gave him a sheepish grin. “Sounds like you know from experience, huh? You been a bit accident prone with the stove in the kitchen, Jay?”
Jared looked away, eyes filling with tears.
No. But Donovan got a little accident prone with lit cigarettes in the bedroom.
“Jay?”
He felt a hand on his shoulder, gripping gently, but Jared couldn’t bring himself to look Jensen in the eye.
“Jay? Are you crying?” Jensen sounded worried now, and that made Jared feel even worse.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “M’such a loser, crying over something so stupid.”
And he had absolutely no idea why he did it, or what on earth switched off his brain but, suddenly, Jared was rolling up his sleeves…
“Jesus!” Jensen gently grabbed his wrists, eyes wide with fear, and turned them over. They both remained silent during the examination, but Jared could feel the tension building. The dam burst when Jensen touched a hand to his jaw, and hissed quietly “Who the hell did this to you, Jay? You tell me right now!”
Jared shook his head slightly, suddenly feeling tired beyond belief.
“It’s ok, Jen. He’s not here and he doesn’t know where I am.”
Jensen’s jaw unclenched but that furious glint in his eyes remained.
“You mean he’s in jail, right?”
Jared paused, nibbling on his bottom lip, then stared Jensen right in the eye.
“No. He got immunity from prosecution, ‘cause he helped the cops in a drugs raid,” Jared saw the flash of anger on the other man’s face. “But I got away from him, and I’ve been safe since I came here.”
Jensen’s eyes roved Jared’s face. “You sure?” he asked, worriedly. “There’s no way he could trace you?”
“We’re pretty sure,” Jared added, quickly when Jensen raised an eyebrow. “Jeffrey Dean helped me get out, find a place to stay, and a job.” He smiled, sadly. “If it hadn’t been for him, I think Donovan, that’s my ex, would have killed me eventually.”
Jensen tensed up, hearing that.
He leaned in and gently pulled Jared’s head down, laying a soft kiss on those gorgeous lips.
“Let’s eat, Jay,” solemn green eyes beckoned the younger man, “and then I want you to talk to me, ok?”
But Jared’s breathing sped up, eyes widening with panic. He wasn’t sure he was ready to talk, and was already beginning to regret revealing the burn marks on his arms.
“Hey! Baby, it’s ok,” Jensen’s face filled with concern, voice soft and gentle, as though coaching him down from a window ledge. “You don’t have to be afraid, I’m not going to hurt you.”
“I-I know,” Jared panted out, trying to calm himself. “B-but I’m not… I don’t…”
“Ssshhhh. We’ll take it slow,” Jensen whispered. “You don’t have to tell me everything right away, but let me make this clear to you.” He brushed his lips over Jared’s. “I’ve wanted you since the moment we first met. And this spark between us? Ain’t no accident. You came into my life for a reason and I don’t intend to waste a second. You and I… we have something special, Jay, and I wanna see where it takes us. Please, tell me you feel it too?”
Jared released a shaky breath. “Yeah, I feel it too, have since the day I walked into your office. But this… this is just so fast… I-I’m scared Jen.”
Jensen laughed softly, relieved he hadn’t been imagining it all.
“Me too, baby boy. Me too,” Jensen replied. “But no one’s ever gonna hurt you again, I promise.”
The game forgotten, the two of them stayed on the terrace of Jensen’s home, glad for the warmth of the barbeque as the evening grew dark and chilly. They talked about everything, occasionally touching on the subject of Donovan. Jensen didn’t like what he heard, but wisely kept his opinions to himself.
The mention of broken limbs and a stab wound to the shoulder had Jensen curling his hands into fists, and taking slow, deep breaths to fight the rising tide of anger.
Little did they know, someone else was feeling rather angry.
And he was sitting in the car parked just across the seat, binoculars trained on the house.
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J
He watched as the older guy ushered Jared into his house via the front door, bristling at the possessive hand on the kid’s lower back.
Get your filthy hands off my boy!
Absolutely, no one touched Jared.
No one.
The owner of a local strip club learned that the hard way, and now had a permanent limp. Jared, who’d been eighteen at the time, hadn’t gotten off lightly either.
He’d caught the little slut pinned up against the alley wall out back of the club, the other guy’s hand down his pants.
Jared fucking Padalecki, and his oh so innocent, frightened doe eyes, wrists trapped above his head while the meaty club owner rutted up against him…
“N-no, p-please... don’t…”
Donovan snorted without humour.
Yeah, right.
The sight of him, and the sound of his pleas and whimpers sure was a turn on, and once Donovan had beaten the other guy unconscious, he’d taken what Jared had to offer.
Right then, right there.
Man, just remembering that night gets me hard as a rock.
He’d spun Jared round, smashed him face first into the wall, and raped him. Hard, fast, without mercy. The he’d dragged him home, tied him to the bed and raped him again, followed by a sound beating that kept the kid bedridden for weeks. Which was just fine by Donovan.
That was pretty much the life back then.
Until that fucker Jeffrey Dean Morgan began to interfere, offering the kid a job, taking him aside for pep talks and generally being a pain in Donovan’s ass.
Probably gave the little shit a damn sight more than that!
And then out of the blue, Jared upped and disappeared without a trace. Not for the first time, admittedly, but Donovan usually caught up with him and forced him to come home. This time, however, was different. Jared had been missing for months and no one had a clue where to look.
It stood to reason JDM would visit the kid, so Donovan tried intimidation tactics which was like water off a duck’s back. He had to give the guy his due, JDM was a tough bastard.
Plan B. Donovan had him followed. It took a while, ‘cause the guy was clearly being cautious and not contacting the kid all that often. But one day earlier that week, he struck gold.
It came as a shock to find out that Jared had a whole new set up, a job with prospects, a future and friends...
And now he’s fucking the boss.
Nice.
Donovan narrowed his eyes with determination.
He was getting Jared back. One way or the other.
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2
“Hey there Jared!” Mike Rosenbaum slapped Jared on the back in passing. “Catch the game last night?” he shook his head in dismay. “Man it sucked balls.”
Jared smiled, mysteriously. “Nah. Missed it. I was a little busy last night.”
His PC was taking an age to boot up, but finally the damn thing winked into life and Jared typed in his network password.
Mike raised an eyebrow, watching the kid’s fingers intently. “Oh yeah? Do tell!” his sharp gaze flickered over to Jensen’s office, noting the boss was staring at Jared with the same mysterious smile as he talked on the phone. As soon as he realised he was being watched, Jensen swivelled his chair so his back was to the audience.
“Hmm. The boss, huh Jay?” Mike smirked unbecomingly. “Gunning for a promotion?”
Jared’s mouth fell open in shock. “Wh-what?” he stammered out. “No! It’s nothing like that, I swear!” his haunted gaze swept the office, “is that what people are saying about us?”
“Relax, Jared.” Mike, realising he’d overstepped the mark and wanting to smooth ruffled feathers, tried to calm him down. “Frankly, it’s nobody else’s business, and if you two are happy? Then that’s fine by me.”
Jared blew out a breath. “Yeah, uh, thanks for that Mike. I appreciate it.”
“No problem.”
Mike watched Jared head towards the copy room, then his gaze slipped down to the kid’s desk. Nobody noticed something small disappear into Mike’s pocket.
He smiled and nodded casually to a passing colleague, then strolled towards his own desk.
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2
“Jensen? Could I have a word, please?” Chris Kane poked his head round the office door. He wasn’t smiling. Just the opposite in fact and that was enough to warn Jensen something was wrong.
“Sure,” he gestured to the leather chair on the other side of his desk. “Take a seat. What’s the problem?”
Chris sighed, a worried frown twisting his handsome features, and began without preamble.
“I think we’ve got a thief on the team.”
Jensen’s eyebrows shot to the top of his head. “Someone been stealing from the stationary cupboard again?”
“Jensen, please. This is serious.”
“Ok, go ahead.”
“Some of the Benson accounts have been tampered with, and I estimate around three thousand dollars have been taken,” he leaned forward and tossed something onto the desk. “Whoever it is has been pretty clever, only taking small amounts here and there, but not quite clever enough to cover their tracks.”
Jensen’s gaze swivelled from the small flash pen to his second in command, trepidation building with a tight unpleasant feeling in the pit of his stomach.
“You know who it is, right?”
Chris nodded, clearly not happy with what he was about to say.
“That flash pen belongs to Jared Padalecki, and judging from the password audit I carried out this afternoon, he was the last person to access the Benson accounts. The entire file was copied on to this flash pen.”
Jensen was outraged and leapt up from his seat.
“What?! That’s impossible! Jared wouldn’t even know how to do that! He’s not been trained…”
“May be he knows more than he’s letting on, Jen,” Chris responded, sadly. He turned Jensen’s PC monitor towards him and fixed the flash pen. A few clicks of the mouse later, and Jensen was staring at some pretty damning evidence.
“No… it wouldn’t… I know him…” Jensen was on the verge of tears, tugging shaking hands through his hair and pacing up and down. But he glanced at the screen on each pass, head gradually winning the argument against his heart, and eventually anger filtered through.
I just don’t believe it… how could he do that to me? I trusted him!
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2
Jared was a little surprised to be called to the boss’s office that time of day, but even more so because Jensen had never sounded so cold and calculating.
Entering the room, Jared felt quite afraid seeing Jensen’s blank face, his eyes glowing with rage. Chris Kane stood by, along with several security guards, which only added to Jared’s distress.
Oh God!
“J-Jen? Have I done something wrong?”
Jensen had to steel himself against what he’d come to call Jared’s lost little boy routine, successfully blocking out the scared, pleading eyes and small voice.
“Chris? Would you mind?” Jensen’s eyes never left Jared’s face, his mouth curling up into a cold snarl that made the younger man flinch.
Chris Kane stood, and trotted out the accusations.
Jared’s mouth fell open in shock, then gulped when he heard how much he was supposed to have stolen. That was more money than he’d ever had in his entire life.
Technical jargon and terminology was banded about, and Jared had no clue what any of it meant.
But when Chris indicated the flash pen fixed up to Jensen’s desktop PC, his eyes widened even further.
“Where did you find that? I lost it days ago and I’ve been looking for it ever since.”
Chris nodded. “I found it lying on the floor near Mike’s desk. I meant to give it back, but when I realised there was a problem with the accounts, I checked system password history. Your name came up several times. So I took a look at your flash pen.”
Jared felt tears welling up, and silently cursed them. It would only make them even more convinced of his guilt. His only option was to come out fighting, try to point out his ignorance and, in turn, innocence.
However, that was easier said than done, because the panic he was feeling on the inside was starting to bleed through to the outside.
“There m-must be s-some mistake. M-maybe I p-pressed the wrong buttons or s-something, but I n-never dealt with the Benson files,” Jared tried to explain, but the incredulous look of rage and betrayal on Jenson’s face was unnerving him.
“Cut the crap, Jay!” Jensen suddenly roared, not caring that he was frightening the kid. “It’s all there, on that screen!”
“I told you, I lost…” Jared tried, unable to stop the tears by now.
“Yeah, I heard you the first time. You lost the flash pen,” Jensen sneered. “How convenient!”
Chris cleared his throat. “This is getting us nowhere,” he murmured, subtly asking for Jensen to calm down and adopt an air of professionalism.
The hint was taken, and Jensen nodded, turning his back on Jared to gaze out the office window.
“In light of the relatively small amount that was taken…”
Jared blinked at that, because three thousand dollars sounded like a small fortune to him,
“We won’t be pressing charges,” Chris continued, “so long as the money is returned. You will be escorted from the premises and given twenty four hours to transfer the funds back into the appropriate accounts. If you make any attempt to run, you will be arrested and charged immediately.”
He left out the part that he was unable to trace where the money since it had been transferred to an offshore account. It didn’t seem relevant now.
Jared had shut down by that point, eyes wet and blank.
Chris eyed the kid with concern, as he was led from the room by security. He’d actually liked Jared and hoped liked hell the kid wasn’t responsible, but all the evidence, the audit, the use of Jared’s passwords… there was no one else.
Jared looked shocked and pale, clearing his desk, hands shaking badly; occasionally glancing up to stare at Jensen through the office window.
Chris shook his head. He just hoped like hell the kid transferred the funds with little fuss, then perhaps Jensen could put this all behind him and move on. God knew the last thing anyone wanted was a long and drawn out court case.
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2
Jared sat in his tiny living room, just staring at the blank and silent TV screen. He was desperately trying to figure out what he done so badly wrong in a previous life that he deserved this.
There was no way he could transfer the stolen money, ‘cause he just plain didn’t have it. He never did.
Jared hadn’t even heard of the Benson accounts until he was dragged into Jensen’s office and accused of theft.
“Oh God…” Jared tried to stifle the sob but it burst out anyhow, and that was the final straw. He cried and cried until his eyes were almost swollen shut, ignored the phone ringing off the hook, the pounding at his door.
Jared didn’t want to talk or see anyone.
His life had once again gone to pot. In the past when it had happened, Jared just plodded along, believing that life could only get better so long as he didn’t give up.
And it had for a while. He had Jensen. But the love of his life… his soul mate… had turned his back on him, wouldn’t return his calls…
Jared didn’t want to start again. He just didn’t have it in him; the hope that once kept him afloat now dwindled away to nothing. And even if he wanted to, there was the issue of the missing money…
Feeling trapped, with no way out, heart broken into tiny pieces, Jared stared at the bottle of Jack on the scratched and worn coffee table. Next to it laid his prescription antidepressants.
After carefully unscrewing the lids of both, he sat back and systematically set about swallowing every single pill, taking a long pull of whisky with each one.
He rarely drank, not really fond of losing the one and only real sense of control he had over his life.
But today, he welcomed the loss.
It seemed fitting, somehow.
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2
Continued here.....
Pairing: Jared/Jensen (AU) Jensen 22, Jared 18
Rating: NC-17
Word count: 8130
Disclaimer: Unfortunately neither Jared nor Jensen belong to me. All original characters do. This is not meant to offend, nor is it for profit. It is for fun only.
Warning: suicide attempt, memories of previous rape and previous abuse.
Summary: Jared's a vulnerable young man, just getting his life back together after escaping an abusive relationship. When he lands a new job in accounts and falls in love with his boss, Jensen Ackles, he thinks his luck has changed for the better. But trouble lurks in the shadows, just waiting for the chance to strike.
Authors Notes: Many thanks to blueeyedliz and devon99 for the beta work.
Liars and Deceivers
He hadn’t lied as such, just refused to fill in the section about mental illness. Application forms were way too personal in Jared’s view. So what if he suffered from depression? So what if he was still on anti-depressants? That was his business alone, and no one had the automatic right to know about it, least of all a potential employer.
It clearly didn’t matter to the boss, however. Jensen Ackles had knocked Jared’s socks off when he first met him, beautiful emerald eyes shining with kindness and mirth. Scoffing at the idea of being called Mr Ackles, he’d held out his hand in a friendly introduction, demanded he called him Jensen, and the moment their skin connected, Jared was almost blown away by the crackling electricity between them.
It scared him.
He’d never felt that way before, even with Donovan, though it was hard to imagine Jared’s former partner being able to generate anything other than pain on touch. Usually, Donovan’s touch involved hard fucks and flying fists, sometimes all at once. And Jared had the scars to prove it.
“Well, I’m a little concerned at your lack of experience in this field…”
Jared forced himself to concentrate on what the gorgeous man was saying, and felt his heart sink down to his toes when he did.
Jensen glanced back up from Jared’s application form, with a genuine smile that dazzled and lit up Jared’s dark world in a way that had also never happened before.
“…but these are some great references. I’ve known Jeffrey Dean Morgan a long time, and if he says you’re worth a shot, then that’s good enough for me.” Jensen slapped a file down on his desk with an air of finality. “Job’s yours.”
Jared blinked in surprise.
“Y-you know Mr Morgan?”
That smile again, and Jared felt a warming sensation in his belly.
“You kidding me? I love that guy’s house special! I order in every weekend.”
Jeffrey Dean Morgan owned a pizza parlour on the far side of the city, and his house special was famous throughout the state. Jared worked for the guy three years before deciding a fresh start was for the best, and handed in his notice two weeks ago. The fresh start was as much for his sanity as well as his physical well being. JDM understood what he was going through, and made every effort to help him break free from Donovan. Not an easy feat. Donovan had been Jared’s first and only real home in all his young life, having been passed from foster home to foster home practically since birth. Of course, the usual shit happened to Jared, as often happens to kids like him. Beaten senseless, raped on a regular basis, either by the foster father, or a foster brother, used, humiliated, and Jared would soon be tossed aside.
He found just one family he actually got on with, but the head of the household fell seriously ill and, partly due to finance, partly because a foster kid was too much to take on under the circumstances, they were forced to give him up.
Jared ended up on the streets, and though he hadn’t fallen prey to drugs and prostitution, he’d still become victim to a very different kind of predator.
“Jared? You ok there?”
Jared blinked back tears at the kindness in his new employer’s voice.
“Uh… yeah. I’m fine. Thanks.” Jared answered, a very real smile gracing his features, completely unaware of how captivating he looked. “Just a little tired. Moving to a new neighbourhood and all…” he shrugged. It wasn’t a lie. He was genuinely wiped out.
Jensen stared at the kid.
Pretty blue green eyes, filled with a hurt and vulnerability that tugged at the heart strings, were offset by the long, soft chestnut hair framing his young face. Jared was stunning and clearly didn’t realise it.
The kid got the job based on JDM’s reference, nothing more. Jensen wasn’t that kind of a boss. Highly principled and empathic to his employees, he treated everyone with the respect they deserved. But, he had to admit, Jared sure was easy on the eyes.
There was just something about him that pushed all of Jensen’s protective buttons, and he knew from the moment he met the boy, he’d be taking Jared under his wing.
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2
Life moved onwards.
Jared settled into the job smoothly, though a little nervous at first. His heart pounded in his chest whenever he made a mistake, even a tiny one, but Jensen was such a calming influence, so gentle and patient that Jared’s confidence quickly grew.
JDM called him several times a week to make sure he was doing ok, sometimes turning up on Jared’s doorstep with fresh hot pizza. Jeffrey Dean made sure Jared remained safe, and hadn’t told a single soul about his departure to the other side of the city. He’d even suggested Jared move out of the state, just to be sure, but Jared wasn’t emotionally ready to go live in the outside world.
“You sure?” the older guy had asked, worriedly. “’Cos I gotta quiet place up in the mountains a few states over. You could rest properly, regroup, work out what you wanna do with your life.”
Jared thought it through, and though it was tempting to heal in the peace and quiet of Jeff’s cabin, he already knew what he wanted.
Or, rather who.
Besides, Jared had made new friends within the other departments, and no one called him stupid or made fun of his height. Ok, the friendships were based on work rather than trust, but it was a good start. He was still too afraid to let anyone get real close, though a certain pair of kindly green eyes often tempted him.
After only a few months, Jared had managed to put a good deal of his past behind him. He would never forget Donovan, or the fear the guy invoked in him, but his nightmares became few and far between.
Jeffrey Dean just smiled, pulled the kid into a big hug, and muttered “I’m so proud of you, boy. Not many people could have the strength to do this.”
“Nah.” Jared hugged him back, like the father he never had. “Couldn’t have done it without you. Would have been too scared.
“That’s crap in a pizza box, and you know it!” Jeff retorted, making the kid chuckle.
“Now, pass me a beer…”
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2
It was in the sixth month Jensen asked him to come watch a baseball game after work.
“You don’t have to bring anything,” Jensen noticed the worry flitting across the younger guy’s face.
Jared was a solitary soul, in spite of all his new friends, and he kept himself to himself. “I’ve got beer, nachos, and a fifty inch plasma screen. Just us and the game.” He added with an adorable lopsided grin.
Jared bit his bottom lip.
He rarely ventured out in the evenings and the one time he did had ended in disaster. Jared had been persuaded, against his better judgment, to go to a club in honour of a colleague’s birthday. He’d started out okay, but after 10pm the club began to fill up at an alarming rate, and Jared had freaked out. Hemmed in on all sides by heaving, sweaty bodies, unable to escape, he’d hyperventilated and passed out.
Waking up in the club owner’s office with a seven foot tall, eight foot wide bouncer right in his face, honestly hadn’t helped matters. Jared began to freak out once again, but Jensen appeared from nowhere, rubbing his back and talking him down.
Tonight would be different, because he’d be alone with Jensen, in Jensen’s home, drinking Jensen’s beer, maybe snuggling up on Jensen’s sofa…
He really, really wanted to accept.
So he did.
“O-ok. That’d be great,” he answered in a small voice, but the shy smile revealed the sweetest dimples Jensen had ever seen on a guy.
“Excellent!” Jensen tried hard not to stare, and just clapped him gently on the back instead. “Meet me in my office at six. I’ll take you home with me.”
Both men paused.
Both men blushed!
Such an intimate statement, no matter how innocently put, gave birth to some pretty steamy images in Jensen’s head. And judging by the heat in Jared’s eyes, the kid was on the same page.
Take you home with me? Jensen could feel a swelling below the belt, and almost groaned out loud.
Oh boy!
He couldn’t take advantage of the poor kid. It wouldn’t be fair. It wouldn’t be right! Aside from the fact Jensen was his boss; the younger guy had issues and needed a close friend. Not a pervert for a boss out to seduce him.
Quelling a sigh, Jensen made up his mind. Jared needed someone to show him some respect, to show him that not everyone was out to hurt him. And that, unfortunately, didn’t include sleeping with the guy.
S’gonna be a long night.
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2
It turned out to be a pleasant and relaxing evening.
True to his word, Jensen offered nachos and beer, but when he also produced fresh, homemade burgers from the fridge, Jared was practically licking his lips.
Jensen turned out to be quite the chef, expertly flipping burgers on the barbeque.
“Where did you learn to do that?” Jared asked, a little nervous at first, wondering if the question was too personal. He wasn’t sure of the boundaries, what with this guy being his boss and all.
But Jensen just grinned.
“I worked in a butcher’s part time when I was studying,” he explained. “Had to make ends meet somehow. I guess some of it stuck with me.”
“Thank god!” Jared stated, then closed his eyes, sniffing appreciatively. The scent of spices and cooking burger meat was teasing him, making his stomach growl.
Jensen studied him intently. In fact, he would have been quite content to watch Jared all day.
The kid truly was a beauty. Tall, athletic, that long soft hair, pretty smile…
Jensen blinked and shook his head to clear away the self-directed porn video developing inside it.
Get a grip, Jensen!
Yeah, get a grip on pretty boy’s cock! Answered another distant, and disturbing inner voice. Disturbing, because that was exactly what Jensen wanted to do to the guy, and knew for absolute certain that was the last thing he should do.
But the image of Jared, head thrown back and screaming out his pleasure, whilst Jensen sucked him down…
And that was pretty much why Jared opened his eyes again, just in time, to see Jensen grabbing him, hands twisting into Jared’s hair, holding his head in place. Jensen’s mouth pressed tightly up against his own, tongue seeking, no, demanding entry which Jared willingly gave up with a soft moan.
Oh God! He tastes so sweet… Jensen couldn’t believe it. He’d never experienced anything like this before. Need to calm it down or I’m not gonna last. Just gonna end up forcing myself on the kid and scaring him silly.
But trying to pull away was proving difficult, because Jared seemed to be enjoying himself just as much.
The burgers sizzling loudly on the barbeque, as the juices dripped down into the flames, finally brought the two men out of their little make-out session. And Jensen was relieved to see the big happy smile on Jared’s face.
“Wow!” Jensen shook his head, grinning. “That was… uh… just wow!”
When Jared’s smile turned adorably shy, Jensen just wanted to hold him close and never let go.
“You, uh, were pretty amazing yourself,” Jared uttered softly, head ducked down, but those pretty eyes were peaking out at the older guy through chestnut bangs.
Once again, Jensen found himself mesmerized, and it took a flying, hissing droplet of fat landing on his arm to bring him out of it.
“OW! Sonofa…” he broke off when he saw Jared flinch at his outburst. “Sorry, dude. I didn’t mean to scare you…”
“It’s ok, seriously,” Jared was quick to reassure, though his hands were shaking a little. He wondered how much JDM might have told Jensen about Jared’s past, ‘cause the guy seemed to understand. Jared frowned, not sure how he felt about that. “You should put that under the cold tap, help take the heat out of it and stop a blister forming.”
Jensen gave him a sheepish grin. “Sounds like you know from experience, huh? You been a bit accident prone with the stove in the kitchen, Jay?”
Jared looked away, eyes filling with tears.
No. But Donovan got a little accident prone with lit cigarettes in the bedroom.
“Jay?”
He felt a hand on his shoulder, gripping gently, but Jared couldn’t bring himself to look Jensen in the eye.
“Jay? Are you crying?” Jensen sounded worried now, and that made Jared feel even worse.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “M’such a loser, crying over something so stupid.”
And he had absolutely no idea why he did it, or what on earth switched off his brain but, suddenly, Jared was rolling up his sleeves…
“Jesus!” Jensen gently grabbed his wrists, eyes wide with fear, and turned them over. They both remained silent during the examination, but Jared could feel the tension building. The dam burst when Jensen touched a hand to his jaw, and hissed quietly “Who the hell did this to you, Jay? You tell me right now!”
Jared shook his head slightly, suddenly feeling tired beyond belief.
“It’s ok, Jen. He’s not here and he doesn’t know where I am.”
Jensen’s jaw unclenched but that furious glint in his eyes remained.
“You mean he’s in jail, right?”
Jared paused, nibbling on his bottom lip, then stared Jensen right in the eye.
“No. He got immunity from prosecution, ‘cause he helped the cops in a drugs raid,” Jared saw the flash of anger on the other man’s face. “But I got away from him, and I’ve been safe since I came here.”
Jensen’s eyes roved Jared’s face. “You sure?” he asked, worriedly. “There’s no way he could trace you?”
“We’re pretty sure,” Jared added, quickly when Jensen raised an eyebrow. “Jeffrey Dean helped me get out, find a place to stay, and a job.” He smiled, sadly. “If it hadn’t been for him, I think Donovan, that’s my ex, would have killed me eventually.”
Jensen tensed up, hearing that.
He leaned in and gently pulled Jared’s head down, laying a soft kiss on those gorgeous lips.
“Let’s eat, Jay,” solemn green eyes beckoned the younger man, “and then I want you to talk to me, ok?”
But Jared’s breathing sped up, eyes widening with panic. He wasn’t sure he was ready to talk, and was already beginning to regret revealing the burn marks on his arms.
“Hey! Baby, it’s ok,” Jensen’s face filled with concern, voice soft and gentle, as though coaching him down from a window ledge. “You don’t have to be afraid, I’m not going to hurt you.”
“I-I know,” Jared panted out, trying to calm himself. “B-but I’m not… I don’t…”
“Ssshhhh. We’ll take it slow,” Jensen whispered. “You don’t have to tell me everything right away, but let me make this clear to you.” He brushed his lips over Jared’s. “I’ve wanted you since the moment we first met. And this spark between us? Ain’t no accident. You came into my life for a reason and I don’t intend to waste a second. You and I… we have something special, Jay, and I wanna see where it takes us. Please, tell me you feel it too?”
Jared released a shaky breath. “Yeah, I feel it too, have since the day I walked into your office. But this… this is just so fast… I-I’m scared Jen.”
Jensen laughed softly, relieved he hadn’t been imagining it all.
“Me too, baby boy. Me too,” Jensen replied. “But no one’s ever gonna hurt you again, I promise.”
The game forgotten, the two of them stayed on the terrace of Jensen’s home, glad for the warmth of the barbeque as the evening grew dark and chilly. They talked about everything, occasionally touching on the subject of Donovan. Jensen didn’t like what he heard, but wisely kept his opinions to himself.
The mention of broken limbs and a stab wound to the shoulder had Jensen curling his hands into fists, and taking slow, deep breaths to fight the rising tide of anger.
Little did they know, someone else was feeling rather angry.
And he was sitting in the car parked just across the seat, binoculars trained on the house.
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J
He watched as the older guy ushered Jared into his house via the front door, bristling at the possessive hand on the kid’s lower back.
Get your filthy hands off my boy!
Absolutely, no one touched Jared.
No one.
The owner of a local strip club learned that the hard way, and now had a permanent limp. Jared, who’d been eighteen at the time, hadn’t gotten off lightly either.
He’d caught the little slut pinned up against the alley wall out back of the club, the other guy’s hand down his pants.
Jared fucking Padalecki, and his oh so innocent, frightened doe eyes, wrists trapped above his head while the meaty club owner rutted up against him…
“N-no, p-please... don’t…”
Donovan snorted without humour.
Yeah, right.
The sight of him, and the sound of his pleas and whimpers sure was a turn on, and once Donovan had beaten the other guy unconscious, he’d taken what Jared had to offer.
Right then, right there.
Man, just remembering that night gets me hard as a rock.
He’d spun Jared round, smashed him face first into the wall, and raped him. Hard, fast, without mercy. The he’d dragged him home, tied him to the bed and raped him again, followed by a sound beating that kept the kid bedridden for weeks. Which was just fine by Donovan.
That was pretty much the life back then.
Until that fucker Jeffrey Dean Morgan began to interfere, offering the kid a job, taking him aside for pep talks and generally being a pain in Donovan’s ass.
Probably gave the little shit a damn sight more than that!
And then out of the blue, Jared upped and disappeared without a trace. Not for the first time, admittedly, but Donovan usually caught up with him and forced him to come home. This time, however, was different. Jared had been missing for months and no one had a clue where to look.
It stood to reason JDM would visit the kid, so Donovan tried intimidation tactics which was like water off a duck’s back. He had to give the guy his due, JDM was a tough bastard.
Plan B. Donovan had him followed. It took a while, ‘cause the guy was clearly being cautious and not contacting the kid all that often. But one day earlier that week, he struck gold.
It came as a shock to find out that Jared had a whole new set up, a job with prospects, a future and friends...
And now he’s fucking the boss.
Nice.
Donovan narrowed his eyes with determination.
He was getting Jared back. One way or the other.
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2
“Hey there Jared!” Mike Rosenbaum slapped Jared on the back in passing. “Catch the game last night?” he shook his head in dismay. “Man it sucked balls.”
Jared smiled, mysteriously. “Nah. Missed it. I was a little busy last night.”
His PC was taking an age to boot up, but finally the damn thing winked into life and Jared typed in his network password.
Mike raised an eyebrow, watching the kid’s fingers intently. “Oh yeah? Do tell!” his sharp gaze flickered over to Jensen’s office, noting the boss was staring at Jared with the same mysterious smile as he talked on the phone. As soon as he realised he was being watched, Jensen swivelled his chair so his back was to the audience.
“Hmm. The boss, huh Jay?” Mike smirked unbecomingly. “Gunning for a promotion?”
Jared’s mouth fell open in shock. “Wh-what?” he stammered out. “No! It’s nothing like that, I swear!” his haunted gaze swept the office, “is that what people are saying about us?”
“Relax, Jared.” Mike, realising he’d overstepped the mark and wanting to smooth ruffled feathers, tried to calm him down. “Frankly, it’s nobody else’s business, and if you two are happy? Then that’s fine by me.”
Jared blew out a breath. “Yeah, uh, thanks for that Mike. I appreciate it.”
“No problem.”
Mike watched Jared head towards the copy room, then his gaze slipped down to the kid’s desk. Nobody noticed something small disappear into Mike’s pocket.
He smiled and nodded casually to a passing colleague, then strolled towards his own desk.
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2
“Jensen? Could I have a word, please?” Chris Kane poked his head round the office door. He wasn’t smiling. Just the opposite in fact and that was enough to warn Jensen something was wrong.
“Sure,” he gestured to the leather chair on the other side of his desk. “Take a seat. What’s the problem?”
Chris sighed, a worried frown twisting his handsome features, and began without preamble.
“I think we’ve got a thief on the team.”
Jensen’s eyebrows shot to the top of his head. “Someone been stealing from the stationary cupboard again?”
“Jensen, please. This is serious.”
“Ok, go ahead.”
“Some of the Benson accounts have been tampered with, and I estimate around three thousand dollars have been taken,” he leaned forward and tossed something onto the desk. “Whoever it is has been pretty clever, only taking small amounts here and there, but not quite clever enough to cover their tracks.”
Jensen’s gaze swivelled from the small flash pen to his second in command, trepidation building with a tight unpleasant feeling in the pit of his stomach.
“You know who it is, right?”
Chris nodded, clearly not happy with what he was about to say.
“That flash pen belongs to Jared Padalecki, and judging from the password audit I carried out this afternoon, he was the last person to access the Benson accounts. The entire file was copied on to this flash pen.”
Jensen was outraged and leapt up from his seat.
“What?! That’s impossible! Jared wouldn’t even know how to do that! He’s not been trained…”
“May be he knows more than he’s letting on, Jen,” Chris responded, sadly. He turned Jensen’s PC monitor towards him and fixed the flash pen. A few clicks of the mouse later, and Jensen was staring at some pretty damning evidence.
“No… it wouldn’t… I know him…” Jensen was on the verge of tears, tugging shaking hands through his hair and pacing up and down. But he glanced at the screen on each pass, head gradually winning the argument against his heart, and eventually anger filtered through.
I just don’t believe it… how could he do that to me? I trusted him!
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2
Jared was a little surprised to be called to the boss’s office that time of day, but even more so because Jensen had never sounded so cold and calculating.
Entering the room, Jared felt quite afraid seeing Jensen’s blank face, his eyes glowing with rage. Chris Kane stood by, along with several security guards, which only added to Jared’s distress.
Oh God!
“J-Jen? Have I done something wrong?”
Jensen had to steel himself against what he’d come to call Jared’s lost little boy routine, successfully blocking out the scared, pleading eyes and small voice.
“Chris? Would you mind?” Jensen’s eyes never left Jared’s face, his mouth curling up into a cold snarl that made the younger man flinch.
Chris Kane stood, and trotted out the accusations.
Jared’s mouth fell open in shock, then gulped when he heard how much he was supposed to have stolen. That was more money than he’d ever had in his entire life.
Technical jargon and terminology was banded about, and Jared had no clue what any of it meant.
But when Chris indicated the flash pen fixed up to Jensen’s desktop PC, his eyes widened even further.
“Where did you find that? I lost it days ago and I’ve been looking for it ever since.”
Chris nodded. “I found it lying on the floor near Mike’s desk. I meant to give it back, but when I realised there was a problem with the accounts, I checked system password history. Your name came up several times. So I took a look at your flash pen.”
Jared felt tears welling up, and silently cursed them. It would only make them even more convinced of his guilt. His only option was to come out fighting, try to point out his ignorance and, in turn, innocence.
However, that was easier said than done, because the panic he was feeling on the inside was starting to bleed through to the outside.
“There m-must be s-some mistake. M-maybe I p-pressed the wrong buttons or s-something, but I n-never dealt with the Benson files,” Jared tried to explain, but the incredulous look of rage and betrayal on Jenson’s face was unnerving him.
“Cut the crap, Jay!” Jensen suddenly roared, not caring that he was frightening the kid. “It’s all there, on that screen!”
“I told you, I lost…” Jared tried, unable to stop the tears by now.
“Yeah, I heard you the first time. You lost the flash pen,” Jensen sneered. “How convenient!”
Chris cleared his throat. “This is getting us nowhere,” he murmured, subtly asking for Jensen to calm down and adopt an air of professionalism.
The hint was taken, and Jensen nodded, turning his back on Jared to gaze out the office window.
“In light of the relatively small amount that was taken…”
Jared blinked at that, because three thousand dollars sounded like a small fortune to him,
“We won’t be pressing charges,” Chris continued, “so long as the money is returned. You will be escorted from the premises and given twenty four hours to transfer the funds back into the appropriate accounts. If you make any attempt to run, you will be arrested and charged immediately.”
He left out the part that he was unable to trace where the money since it had been transferred to an offshore account. It didn’t seem relevant now.
Jared had shut down by that point, eyes wet and blank.
Chris eyed the kid with concern, as he was led from the room by security. He’d actually liked Jared and hoped liked hell the kid wasn’t responsible, but all the evidence, the audit, the use of Jared’s passwords… there was no one else.
Jared looked shocked and pale, clearing his desk, hands shaking badly; occasionally glancing up to stare at Jensen through the office window.
Chris shook his head. He just hoped like hell the kid transferred the funds with little fuss, then perhaps Jensen could put this all behind him and move on. God knew the last thing anyone wanted was a long and drawn out court case.
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2
Jared sat in his tiny living room, just staring at the blank and silent TV screen. He was desperately trying to figure out what he done so badly wrong in a previous life that he deserved this.
There was no way he could transfer the stolen money, ‘cause he just plain didn’t have it. He never did.
Jared hadn’t even heard of the Benson accounts until he was dragged into Jensen’s office and accused of theft.
“Oh God…” Jared tried to stifle the sob but it burst out anyhow, and that was the final straw. He cried and cried until his eyes were almost swollen shut, ignored the phone ringing off the hook, the pounding at his door.
Jared didn’t want to talk or see anyone.
His life had once again gone to pot. In the past when it had happened, Jared just plodded along, believing that life could only get better so long as he didn’t give up.
And it had for a while. He had Jensen. But the love of his life… his soul mate… had turned his back on him, wouldn’t return his calls…
Jared didn’t want to start again. He just didn’t have it in him; the hope that once kept him afloat now dwindled away to nothing. And even if he wanted to, there was the issue of the missing money…
Feeling trapped, with no way out, heart broken into tiny pieces, Jared stared at the bottle of Jack on the scratched and worn coffee table. Next to it laid his prescription antidepressants.
After carefully unscrewing the lids of both, he sat back and systematically set about swallowing every single pill, taking a long pull of whisky with each one.
He rarely drank, not really fond of losing the one and only real sense of control he had over his life.
But today, he welcomed the loss.
It seemed fitting, somehow.
J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2
Continued here.....