Always You
PREVIOUS
Jared had noticed that Jensen was being quieter than normal, and had tilted his head back to look up at his best buddy. “Jen, what’s wrong?”
Jensen looked down into those innocent caring eyes, and forced a smile, “Nothing’s wrong, Jared.”
That was a mistake: Jared knew when he was faking a smile. Jared turned around completely, and put his elbows on the edge of the couch resting his chin in his hands as he frowned.
“Don’t lie to me, don’t ever lie to me,” he said softly.
Jensen swallowed. Those lips were way too close.
“…I…you…. You know you’re my best friend right?” Jensen started dumbly.
Jared nodded smiling as he heard that for the second time. He replied without hesitation, “And you know you’re mine.”
The innocent way in which he had said it nearly broke Jensen’s heart. He sighed, “I just don’t want you getting hurt.”
Jared huffed, “And look who’s talking Mr Ackles. Do you think for one moment that I wanted this to happen to you? Do you think I would even hesitate to swap places with you? Because if you do then you’re, you’re… you're dumb,” he finished off lamely trying to think of the right word. But he thought Jensen got the picture.
“Do you have any idea how worried I was? I saw you lying in that truck and I didn’t even know if you were alive.” Jared said brushing a hand across Jensen’s face.
“You were covered in blood, and all I could do was pick you up and carry you inside. Do you know how scared I was? I didn’t know what to do, I’m such an idiot, I could have screwed it all up, I could have lost you…”
Jared voice broke, and he buried his face in Jensen’s side, burrowing into the warmth, he gently wrapped his arm around Jensen and hugged him, as though if he let go, Jensen would be gone.
*********
Jensen was stunned. He had no idea Jared had felt that scared. Jared always seemed so sure of himself. He also didn’t know how to respond to this body contact, so all he could do was put an arm over Jared’s shoulders, and hold him tightly, breathing in Jared’s scent deeply.
They stayed like that for a while, before Jared pulled away. “I’m sorry, I…” he hung his head.
“Shh, it’s okay Jared,” Jensen said as he allowed himself to tousle Jared’s hair.
After they had all calmed down, Jared made them some sandwiches for lunch. Jared wanted them to go down to the lake, so Jared slung an arm behind Jensen, stooping slightly.
They walked (limped) that way, down to the water, where Jared had set down a blanket.
He carefully helped Jensen sit down. He opened the cooler and grabbed two beers, handing one to Jensen and popping open the other. They sat like that gazing at the water munching the sandwiches.
Jensen didn’t miss the look on Jared’s face, as he gazed longingly at the water. Jensen laughed giving his friend a shove, “Go on already, one of us has to try the water.”
Jared hesitated, “You sure? I mean, I don’t mind waiting until your better.”
In response, Jensen just gave his friend another shove. Grinning, Jared jumped up running towards the water, ripping off clothes as he went, until he only had his boxers on.
Oh my god, Jensen thought as he was given a full view of his friend. He laughed as he heard Jared whooping in excitement (or it could be the cold) as he plunged in.
Jared came up laughing, sopping wet, water running down his muscled body, his hair was sopping, and he shook his head like a dog.
Flipping his hair back, he looked around at his friend grinning broadly. Oh god, why are you doing this to me? Jensen asked, as his eyes raked over Jared’s body, drinking in the sight.
All his previous questions about Jared’s tan were answered. His friend was perfectly tanned everywhere. He blushed furiously, and hated himself for thinking about his friend like that. Why was this happening? What had he done to deserve this?
He tried to distract himself by looking at the trees, the mountains, anything else but this masterpiece in front of him. This was really hard to do, as his friend was now heading back to the blanket.
Jared’s face was alight, cheeks flushed and he was still breathless from the cold water. He had no idea what he was doing to Jensen. He panted when he was in hearing distance, “It’s freezing”.
Jensen did all he could to say, “I’ll bet” in an as normal as possible voice, as Jared flopped down next to him, stretching out, and lying in the sunlight.
Jensen now had a close up of the godly body, and the hazel skin covering well-defined muscle was too much for him.
“…I…” he squeaked.
Jared opened an eye, “You okay?”
Jensen had to get away, all he could think of was, “Have to pee.”
That was a mistake, he had forgotten he couldn’t walk without assistance, and having a nearly naked Jared (not to mention still wet) sling his arm around your back was really hard to deal with.
He gasped, Jared instantly said “Shit, sorry man, I’ll be more gentle.”
Not trusting himself to speak, Jensen allowed himself to be helped up the slope. Once inside, he managed to limp into the bathroom unaided.
He gritted his teeth as he calmed himself down. He washed his hands and splashed water in his face trying to get himself to think clearly.
A knock came on the door, “Jen, you okay?” Jared’s caring voice asked.
Jensen steeled himself, as he limped over and unlocked the door. “Yeah, I’m fine, just a little tired. Why don’t you go back and swim? I’ll just go have a nap.”
Jared shook his head, “Nah, I’ll just go get the stuff and then come back up, I’ll watch TV or something.”
Jensen just nodded as he collapsed on the bed
Jared was worried. Something was seriously not right with Jensen. He hated himself for not being able to resist swimming, thinking that maybe that had made Jensen depressed?
He felt furious. Those men had hurt his friend, his best friend. He felt like killing them. Who were they to hurt Jensen? Who did they think they were?
In a right fit, he decided he was going to buy more groceries. Leaving a note to Jensen, he got in the car and drove to the shop.
He pulled up, and furiously barged into the place, looking around. Seeing the shop assistant who had dropped Jensen off, he went over and demanded to know where the bikers were.
The poor guy was terrified, and just pointed to the bar. Jared was fuming now. He barged in, shouting, “Everyone out, everyone except you,” pointing at the bikers.
The bar quickly emptied, leaving the bikers looking a little nervous.
“Are you the fuckers who messed with my friend?” he asked furiously.
It was a stupid question, Jared could see a number of them had black eyes, and bruises, making him feel mighty proud of Jensen.
A bold one stood up and said defiantly, “You mean your little boyfriend the other day? Oh, we had some fun with him. You know he must really love you; he got pissed when I commented on your ass, jealous little guy. Oh, we took care of him alright, and now look who has come and joined the fight.”
Now, Jared wasn’t a bad guy, he hated fighting, and he would never have used his size against someone smaller than him, he was really just a giant teddy bear. Or at least he was until someone threatened or hurt his friends.
And Jared thought he had every right to lose it. The minute the first guy tried to clock him one, he changed from teddy to grizzly in an instant, roaring, he seized the guy, shoving him over a few chairs.
The next guy was coming, and Jared swung his fist and heard a crunch as the guy’s nose broke. The third guy came from behind, and tried to choke Jared. Jared slammed his back against the wall, effectively getting the guy off his back.
The guy tried to stand up again, but a well aimed roundhouse kick sent him spiralling. Of the three remaining bikers, one tried to hit him over the head with a bottle, Jared had blocked it with his left arm, as he swung a right hook, catching the guy on the cheek sending him and the bottle crashing down.
The next one tried and failed to kick Jared in the chest; Jared caught the leg with both hands, and shoved the guy backwards into the table.
There was only one biker left standing, and Jared approached him menacingly, “Please, please, don’t hurt me.”
Jared could never hurt a defenceless person so he said, “If any of you ever come near me or my friend again, I will kill you. Do you hear me?”
The guy nodded meekly, and Jared turned to go. He heard a crunch of glass behind him, and turned, just missing the knife that would have been stabbed in his back.
He grabbed the arm with which the guy had tried to stab him, and slammed on the elbow, breaking the arm. The guy cried out in pain, and Jared dropped him down on the floor.
Satisfied that they were all knocked out, Jared walked back to the shop. He smiled at the assistant, and said, “Sorry about all that, I’ll pay for all the damages.”
The shop assistant just stared at him. Jared wandered around the store getting odds and ends while the other guy studied him.
“You must really love each other, you and your boyfriend.”
Jared laughed, “Oh, we’re not boyfriends, just friends, but yes, I do love him,” Jared paused before adding, “I’d do anything for him.”
Jared finished his shopping, and came up to the till.
“I’m Jared by the way, my friend’s Jensen.”
He shook hands with the guy who replied, “Matt…so how is your…uh…Jensen?”
Jared smiled, “He’s looking a lot better now. I never got to thank you properly for bringing him back to me.”
The guy shrugged, “Not a problem. Thank you for finally teaching those bikers a lesson.”
Jared sighed, “Well I hope they learned it. Listen, if they give you any trouble, just give me a call,” he said writing his number on the back of his slip.
“Thanks, so I’ll see you guys around.”
Jensen woke up, and looked around. He couldn’t find Jared anywhere.
A hollow feeling filled his stomach, and he started panicking. When he found the note saying where Jared had gone, it didn’t help matters. He just started panicking even more.
He began thinking, What if those bikers had hurt Jared? What if they had laid a finger on him? What if they had killed him? Without a car, and not being able to walk properly, he felt completely useless.
He was so worried, that when he heard a car pull up, he thought it would be the shop assistant with his truck and Jared lying unconscious or dead in the back. Only now did he fully realise what Jared had gone through.
***********
Jared unlocked the door, and walked in. He was hit by a human hurricane as Jensen launched himself into Jared’s arms, burrowing his head in Jared’s neck.
*********
Jensen was so relieved to see Jared that he spent the next ten minutes just breathing in Jared’s scent, clinging to him so tightly there was no air between their chests.
Every time Jared tried to pull back to see what was the matter, Jensen just held on tighter, and snuffled deeper into Jared’s neck.
*******
Jared had no idea why Jensen was hugging him like there was no tomorrow, so all he could do was put his arms comfortingly around Jensen and hold him back tightly.
“Hey Jen, what’s the matter? Come on, talk to me.”
A muffled reply came from his neck, “thort yuwere urt.”
Jared tightened his hold, “I’m fine see, I’m right here. Come on, let’s get some supper cooking hey?”
Reluctantly Jared tried to pull away from his friend’s grip. Jensen just as reluctantly let his arms drop to his sides. Jared slid slowly out away from Jensen. He was in shock; he hadn’t wanted to worry Jensen like this.
But he hadn’t thought that Jensen would be that worried, I mean sure he knew he would have been if their positions were reversed, but no one had ever actually worried about him since he was a small kid. It felt nice, having someone who cared what happened to him.
He felt warm inside. He smiled softly at Jensen who was staring at his feet, embarrassed about what he had displayed.
He cupped Jensen’s face so he had to look at Jared, and said, “Thank you.”
Jensen mumbled, “For what?”
Jared looked him straight in the eyes and said simply, “For caring.”
That brought Jensen out of his haze, “Of course I care you stupid nitwit. You’re not the only one who’s allowed to worry you big dummy. How could I not worry about you when you go rushing off like you’re superman or something? Well you’re not, you hear me? You’re not.”
Jared smiled, “Yeah that’s Tom’s job, right?”
Jensen tried hard not to fall for his stupid innocent puppy dog eyes, but eventually his lips twitched at the ends, and he sighed, “Just please don’t do it again, okay?”
Jared gave him a quick hug, knowing he had been forgiven, and said, “Yes mommy.”
And with that, Jared went about making them dinner. Spaghetti bolognaise with cheese sauce. Jensen went and collapsed on the couch, exhausted from the events.
Then he sat up as he remembered, “What happened? Did you see them?”
Jared stopped his cooking, and sat on the armrest by Jensen’s head. He looked down into his friend’s eyes, “Yeah, I found them.”
He didn’t add anything, so Jensen prompted, “And?”
Jared sighed, “We had a fight and they shouldn’t bother us again.”
Jensen sat up, “You fought them alone? Are you crazy? How many of them were there?”
Jared smiled, “Yes, yes, and there were six of them.”
Jensen instantly began searching Jared for any injuries, “And you never got hurt?” he asked incredulously.
“No, but that’s ’cause I caught them while they were having a drink, not like when they came after you…” Jared shuddered as he thought of Jensen surrounded.
They smelt burning and Jared flew back to the kitchen with a stream of curses. He managed to salvage most of the mince, and the cheese sauce didn’t taste too strange.
Jared put them in layers, and placed the dish in the oven. After about half an hour they ate, and it didn't taste too bad.
Jensen was having trouble concentrating on the TV, he was too busy thinking about what could have happened.
Jared saw his brow furrowed, and immediately wanted to hold him, make his frowns go away, but he didn’t, instead he said, “Roll over.”
Jensen's eyes went wide, and he looked at Jared like he was crazy, “Huh?”
“Roll over, I’m going to give you a massage. My sister always used to give me one when I was stressed, and dude, you look stressed.”
Not accepting no as an answer, he rolled Jensen over, and gently pulled off his shirt.
He went and got some of his own favourite skin lotion that smelt of freshly mown grass. He popped the cap, and poured a small amount in his hands.
Kneeling in front of the couch, he realised it wasn’t going to work. So he dragged Jensen to the bedroom, and made him lie down once again on his stomach.
Before Jensen knew what was happening, Jared was suddenly straddling him, knees on either side, supporting his weight. Jared was careful not to put pressure on Jensen's back, mindful of his injuries.
Jensen was freaking out. His best friend, who he had recently started checking out, was basically sitting on him. He tensed as the cold lotion came in contact with his back.
Jared gently started massaging Jensen, kneading the muscles, and rubbing in circular motions. He knew his friend was muscular, but seriously, wow, this guy was tense. Every toned muscle was tight.
Jared leaned forward and whispered in Jensen’s ear, “Just try and relax.”
After a while Jensen gradually began to. He started to welcome the touch of his friend’s fingers as they roamed his back, he also enjoyed the smell of the lotion (mmmm freshly mown grass) it was cool and refreshing.
Jared smiled when he finally felt Jensen relax, and continued until he felt Jensen had gone all sleepy and soft beneath him. He slowed his movements, but continued to massage softly.
He finally felt sleepy himself, and rolled off Jensen onto the bed next to him.
*********
Jensen woke to the smell of freshly mown grass. He breathed in deeply. He felt warm and relaxed, He felt someone warm against his chest, he realised he was curled around Jared’s back, his arm was around Jared’s waist, and was against Jared’s six pack (or twelve pack more likely).
Jensen’s nose was pressed against the nape of Jared’s neck. He thought vaguely that he should feel uncomfortable about being draped around his best friend, but he was too relaxed to care.
He drifted off back to sleep.
**********
When Jared woke up, he felt an arm over his waist. The strange thing was that the first thing he thought wasn’t that it was weird; the first thing was that it felt nice.
He frowned, that was strange. Shrugging it off, he put it all down to being half asleep.
Needing to pee, he tried to roll out from under his friend’s arm. The arm just held him tighter, he tried again, and again, each time the arm just held on.
He found this really funny, because he knew by Jensen’s breathing that he was asleep, so that meant he was doing it automatically.
After about the 7th time he tried to pull away, Jensen murmured, “No”, and wrapped his fist in Jared’s shirt.
Jared was really laughing now, which was a problem, because he really needed to pee. Deciding he would have to wake Jensen, he rolled backwards.
This only pressed him closer to Jensen’s chest. Sighing at the warmth, he turned his head so that he could see Jensen.
He was amazed; he had never been so close to his friend before. He could see all the cute little freckles on Jensen’s face.
Wow, his friend was beautiful. He chuckled wondering what Jensen would say to that, but it was true.
Now really in an emergency pee situation, he shook Jensen.
*********
CONTINUED