Shadow Brook
Title: Shadow Brook - Part 6
Authors: deansdarkdream &
micamonroe
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Warnings: slash, possession, illness, abusive behavior, angst, hurt
Disclaimer: We don't own Jared, Jensen, Misha, Christian, Jake or anyone else.
Summary: Jared Padalecki brought his partner, Jensen Ackles to his ancestral estate, Shadow Brook as the time grew near to claim it. Jared was rightful heir to the horse breeding and training business that had been in his family for generations. They weren't at Shadow Brook long when Jared started to change. He seemed to become possessed by the spirit of his ancestor, Tristan Padalecki. Jensen must unravel the mystery of Shadow Brook before he loses Jared to the past forever.
A/N: Jensen and Jared discover one of the secrets of Shadow Brook.
Shadow Brook
Part Six
“This spirit is incredibly strong. He walks between worlds with no aid from a medium. He is on a quest and will not rest until he has his prize!” Madam Beazely stated.
A booming voice filled the room making everyone at the table gasp. “Shadow Brook is mine! I will destroy everyone who tries to claim it!”
The circle was broken as the small group pulled back and looked around for the source of the voice.
“Don't break the circle!” Madman Beazely yelled but to no avail.
Jared stood up so quickly that his chair toppled over. “I'm going to find the man who is threatening me!” He declared and ran out of the dark room.
Ti chased Jared out of the room determined not to be left behind. Jensen and Misha clung to each other. They both felt shaken by the séance.
“I feel like I should go after him.” Jensen said softly.
“Jen, you haven't recovered from your fall. Jared is a strong man. He can deal with the intruder.” Misha assured his friend as they looked at the doorway.
Ken turned the lights on and Madam Beazely blew out the four wick candle.
“This was all in very poor taste, Edna. I would have thought a woman your age would have more sense. I wouldn't blame Jared if he banned you from Shadow Brook for the rest of your days. You deserve it.” Samantha said as she stood up and walked over to Jensen and Misha. “I'm sorry we met under these circumstances. I do hope you'll invite me back someday.” Samantha said to Jensen kindly.
“Thank you, Samantha. You're welcome at Shadow Brook anytime.” Jensen said with a brave smile.
Samantha squeezed his shoulder, bid him and Misha good night and bustled the rest of the guests out the door with her.
Ken stopped for a moment. “I'm very sorry, Jensen. I didn't know that mother had this planned. I hope you'll forgive me. I want to be a friend to you. I think you and Jared will make a huge success of Shadow Brook.”
“There's nothing to forgive, Ken. Jared and I appreciate your support. I'm looking forward to us all going riding together once I've had a few more lessons.” Jensen replied with a smile.
Ken nodded and said his goodbyes. Jensen and Misha followed to made sure all the guests made it out to their cars and left. Misha decided to stay in the kitchen and drink some tea to relax while Jensen went in search of Jared. Jensen didn't find Jared anywhere on the first floor so he moved up to the second. He heard Ti yowling and ran down to the guest bedroom farthest from the stairwell. The room was empty but Ti was pawing at a built in book shelf in the wall. When Ti heard Jensen enter the room, he cried more frantically and pawed at the book shelf.
“Is that where Jared went? Is he behind that shelf?” Jensen asked as he examined the books in the shelf.
“Row!” Ti answered forcefully.
Jensen began to move books on the shelves and on the second shelf down found a lever. He pressed it and the bookshelf opened revealing a passageway behind the wall. Jensen's eyes flew wide as Ti ran into the inky blackness beyond. He was afraid to go into that darkness, but if Jared was in there, he might need help. Jensen took a deep breath and walked into the blackness following Ti who was meowing encouragement in front of him. Jensen couldn't see so he put his left hand against the wall and his right hand out in front of him. He followed Ti's meows as they moved slowly through the darkness. After a moment, Jensen heard Ti meow urgently just ahead of him. He walked forward carefully and his foot connected with something. He leaned down and felt the object. It was a boot! Jensen moved forward and came into contact with a broad chest, then thick hair. There was something sticky and wet in the hair. Jensen brought his fingers close to his nose and smelled the coppery scent of blood. Jensen had just found Jared and he was injured.
“We've got to get Jared out of here, Ti. He's hurt!” Jensen said feeling panicked in the oppressive darkness of the passage.
Suddenly, the air was freezing and a breeze moved past Jensen where he crouched at Jared's side. Ti moved to Jensen's side as all the hair stood up over his body. They watched in awe as the wall four feet away moved and there was a rectangle of light revealed.
“I'm going to check it out.” Jensen said to Ti and petted him before standing and moving away. Jensen went to the rectangle of light and pushed at the object blocking the opening. He soon discovered it was the life size portrait of Tristan Padalecki that hung in Jared's bedroom. “It's Jared's room!” Jensen called back to Ti before he moved the huge painting to one side and returned to drag Jared out of the passageway. Jensen managed to get the larger man into his room and propped up against his bed. He went to the bathroom and got a cool cloth and some medical supplies to clean Jared's head wound. It was a small wound, but it had bled a lot.
Jared moaned and his eyes opened. “Jensen, did you see him?”
“See who?” Jensen asked as he looked at Jared with concerned eyes.
“Tristan Padalecki. He was here! I followed him into the passageway, but he turned on me in the darkness and knocked me cold.” Jared exclaimed as he pushed himself to his feet and moved over to his night stand.
“Are you sure, Jay? It was awfully dark in that passageway and you did get hit on the head pretty hard.” Jensen replied as he tried to figure out what Jared was doing.
Jared pulled a notebook and pen out of the bedside table. “Sit with me, Jensen. My head is spinning.” Jared said as he sat on the bed and Jensen sat beside him.
Jared wrote in the notebook. 'I think someone may be listening. The man who hit me was taller than me.'
'There's no one taller than you at Shadow Brook!' Jensen wrote back feeling creeped out that someone might be listening in on their conversation.
'Maybe Edna has an accomplice to go along with Madam Beazely.' Jared suggested.
'That's possible. I'm beginning to suspect everyone here is against us.' Jensen wrote and looked up at Jared with tears in his huge green eyes.
Jared pulled Jensen to him and hugged him tight. He was beginning to suspect everyone too. They stayed that way for awhile drawing strength from each other. Finally, Jensen pulled away.
“I'm going to go down and make us some tea to help us relax. Why don't you get ready for bed and I'll be back before you know it.” Jensen said with sweet smile.
“Love you, Jen. Hurry back.” Jared said and gave Jensen a quick kiss.
Jensen went down to the kitchen expecting to find Misha, but he wasn't there. Jensen put the tea kettle on and got out the sleepy time tea bags. While he waited for the kettle to whistle, he got the gold ring out of his pocket and stared at it. Jared hadn't mentioned the ring and Jensen wasn't sure who had put it in his hand and why. The voice had told him to keep fighting for his love and happiness that he belonged here. Jensen hoped that was true cause right now, he wasn't so sure. The kettle whistled and Jensen poured the boiling water into the antique porcelain tea cups. He picked up the silver serving tray and headed upstairs to rejoin Jared.
As Jensen was passing Misha's room, he heard raised voices and stopped.
“You must tell the truth, Chris.” Misha's voice was sharp.
“I fully intend to, but everyone, including you, is telling me to wait.” Chris stated.
“So much has been happening here at Shadow Brook. I'm really upset that Jensen was injured and Ti was poisoned.” Misha declared.
“I believe there's something real between us, but I can't help feeling that Jensen is always going to come first with you.” Chris said.
“Jensen is my best friend. He will always be important to me. I care about you Chris, but I'm worried about how all this is going to affect Jensen and Jared.” Misha replied.
“Jared has no idea that I'm his half brother. Hell, I didn't even know until a few months ago when Carla and Jackson told me. Jared's dad doesn't have the faintest idea I even exist. I've never even met my mother. She dumped me off with Carla and Jackson when I was just a baby. It's all fucked up, Misha!” Chris declared.
“I know and I'm so sorry.” Misha said softly.
Jensen hurried back to Jared's room with his mind whirling. Was Chris really Jared's half brother? Did he have a legitimate claim to half of Shadow Brook? When had Misha and Chris become close and why hadn't Misha told him? Jensen stopped outside Jared's door and took a few deep calming breaths. He needed to put all that out of his head for now and concentrate on Jared. He needed to get Jared calmed down so he could get some much needed rest. Within the hour, Jared was sleeping soundly spooning Jensen. For Jensen, sleep was a long time coming.
~*~
The next morning, after he and Jared had showered and dressed, Jensen suggested they go for a walk to the back garden. Jared agreed and followed Jensen outside. Ti followed them closely. He was reluctant to let them out of his sight in light of recent events. They stopped at a stone bench overlooking the pond and sat down. Jensen took Jared's large hand in his and looked up at him.
“Last night, when you were proclaiming you had seen the ghost of Tristan Padalecki, you were just throwing whoever is behind this off the scent right? You want them to believe we're chasing a ghost instead of the flesh and blood people who are orchestrating all this.” Jensen said.
“Yes. I don't know who to trust and I think there are eyes and ears all over Shadow Brook reporting what we do and say. I want to explore those passages further and find out if you can enter them from outside the house. Maybe I can find a clue to the identity of the man who attacked me.” Jared stated.
“Jared, there's something I have to tell you. I overheard Chris talking to Jackson and Misha. He's claiming to be your half brother. Do you think that could be a valid claim?” Jensen asked as he took Jared's hand in his.
“My mother complained bitterly of father's affairs over the years. I wouldn't be surprised to find that Chris is my brother. If it's true, I will share Shadow Brook with him. He does incredible work here.” Jared said as he looked into Jensen's large green eyes.
“You are an amazing man, Jared Padalecki. Whatever happens, I will be right by your side.” Jensen said and kissed Jared lovingly.
“Excuse me, Jared, but Kerr Smith is on the phone in your office. He's ready to negotiate a deal.” Adam said breaking up Jensen and Jared's kiss.
Jared looked down at Jensen, “I'm sorry, but I need to take that call. We'll continue this later.”
“Of course, good luck with the deal.” Jensen said and watched the two tall men walk away together.
Jensen looked at the house, but he wasn't ready to face Misha just yet. He stood up and headed to the barn. Maybe it was time for him to get back up on his horse, Ebonne, and go for a ride. Jensen certainly had a few choice words he'd like to say to Katie and Edna.
Shadow Brook Part 7