(no subject)
Title: The Good Old Days, The Honest Man
Author: chash
Fandom: Supernatural RPS/Friday Night Lights season one (crossover, not fusion)
Pairing: Jared Padalecki/Jensen Ackles
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3200.
Summary: It starts when the star quarterback gets hospitalized and the assistant coach comes to visit him and finds Jensen Ackles.
Notes: ic4000 and I have been mainlining FNL season one, and during this time I've also been doing this. Whatever, my life is spectacular. Title and cut from The Killers.
FURTHER NOTE: ic4000 is judging me.
Disclaimer: Lies and untruths.
Jensen isn't working when Jason Street gets brought in; like the rest of the immediate universe he's at the game.
He's not a Dillon native; he came to Midland after he finished up his physical therapy degree, got a cheap place in Dillon. He learned quickly it was impossible to live in Dillon without watching the football, especially as a single man his age. Jensen doesn't want to hide his orientation, but he knows it's not a liberal town. He knows better. So he goes to the games, and he plays along with the town obsession. It's easier.
Even if he had been working, he wouldn't have seen the kid. But he knows, with a certainty he wishes he didn't have, where the breaks were. He's sure, from seeing it, how bad it is.
Jensen knows he's going to see Jason Street again.
He just hopes he can make the kid okay.
*
Midland isn't Dillon, and the hospital doesn't stop for Street. Jensen has to go in and request his files. He doesn't visit the kid; it feels too weird. The town feels alive with love for him, and Jensen can't help feeling it too. But he's never met him, never talked to anyone in his family.
He checks over the charts in the lobby, leaning against the nurse's table, so he must look like he really belongs here, not in PT.
That's why he hears someone hear, "Hey, excuse me, can you help me out?"
The guy he sees when he looks up is wearing the blue polo he's seen on all the Dillon coaches. He's tall--taller than Jensen, which is saying a lot--with a serious, nervous expression and bangs in his eyes. He looks all of sixteen, although Jensen knows he must be older.
"Um--what did you need?" asks Jensen.
"I'm looking for a patient. Jason Street? They told me what room he's in, but--" the guy laughs nervously, runs a hand through his hair. "I'm not great with directions, you know?"
"Uh. I--yeah," says Jensen. "I can probably help you find it. This isn't actually my department--"
"Oh!" the guy flushes. "Sorry, I can--"
"Nah, don't worry about it. I'm--I was at the game, actually."
"Really?" He looks surprised.
"Yeah, I live in Dillon." Jensen laughs a little. "The game's the place to be on a Friday night."
"Yeah, it's kind of a football town."
Jensen thinks that's pretty far past an understatement, but this guy is a coach. He probably doesn't want Jensen's thoughts on redneck football culture. "What's the room?" he asks instead.
"112," says the guy. "You really don't have to."
Jensen waves his hand. "I was looking at his file anyway, to be honest. I'm in physical therapy, I'll probably have him in a few weeks."
"It's so--weird seems inadequate, you know? It is. I just got hired this year, took over for Coach Taylor once he got promoted. Our first game, and--Jesus." He laughs again, the same nervous laugh. "You don't need to hear this, man. I'm sorry."
Jensen waves his hand. "Don't worry. I actually get it, kind of. I moved to Dillon a few weeks ago and there's--I've never even met the kid and I feel like I'm in mourning."
The guy flashes him a smile, small but sincere. He's got dimples the dig into his cheeks. "Thanks. I'm Jared, by the way. Jared Padalecki. I'm one of the assistant coaches."
"Jensen Ackles," he says, taking Jared's offered hand and shaking. "Nice to meet you."
"You think I should have brought flowers?" asks Jared, slanting him a look.
Jensen cracks a smile. "I dunno, man, is this your first date?"
He thinks it sounds weird once he says it. He wants to clarify, say with Street, I mean or something, but that would just make it worse.
Jared just smiles wider, keeps eyes still on Jensen, and Jensen has to look away first.
*
Jensen doesn't have a lot of friends in Dillon. He's one of the few people in his age group around here, which he hadn't realized. When he goes out, he goes to Midland, drinking with his coworkers, but when he goes home? It's him and TV dinners and whatever's on his crappy TV.
It's a Wednesday when he gets fed up with his own lameness and hits Applebee's, wondering privately if that is actually any better than his usual routine.
It's always crowded in the restaurant, from what he can tell--there's a lack of other options. He recognizes some of the folks from town, the woman from the post office, some of the boosters, the Taylors. A pretty girl who's almost as tall as he is seats him, a flirty grin he's sure isn't appropriate on her face when she tells him to holler when he needs her.
He's browsing, nursing a Corona, when someone clears their throat, and he looks up to see Jared Padalecki.
He's wearing his own clothes now, a pink-and-white-striped button down and jeans, and Jensen has to swallow down his attraction.
"Hey," he says. "Jared, right?"
"Yeah. Wanted to thank you for showin' me around the other day," he drawls, and Jensen has no doubt Jared's Texas through and through, even if he hasn't been in Dillon that long.
"Wasn't anything," Jensen shrugs. "What brings you out here?"
"Man's gotta eat," says Jared. "Who're you here with?"
"Me, myself, and I," says Jensen.
Jared smiles, angles his head somehow so he's looking at Jensen through his bangs. "Want some company?"
"Sure," Jensen finds himself saying. Jared seems--nice, he guesses. Cool. He's probably around Jensen's age, and Jensen, in all honesty, could use a friend.
Jared slides in across from him. The waitress materializes to give him a menu, and Jared gives her a wide grin, dimples and white teeth. "Evenin', Tyra."
She cocks her hip and grins back at him. "Friend of yours, Coach Padalecki? Haven't seen him around here before."
"This here's Jensen. He's a doctor, so he's way our of your league. And your age range."
"Don't know what you're talking about, Coach Padalecki." Tyra turns back to Jensen. "What can I do you for, Dr. Jensen?"
"Need another minute," says Jensen. "Might as well wait on him."
"Y'all just tell me when you're set," says Tyra. "Beer for you too, Coach?"
"Please and thank you," says Jared.
"Friend of yours?" asks Jensen, raising his eyebrows at Jensen.
"She's at the school," says Jared. "Dated a few of my players. I know most everybody in town."
"Comes with the territory, I guess. So maybe you can tell me what you do for fun out here?"
"Having trouble finding the fun?" asks Jared, grinning like that's hilarious.
"The whole town lives for Friday night, man," says Jensen. "I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing when there's no football."
"My life in a nutshell." Jared scratches behind his ear, looks bashful. "God's truth? You're the first guy my age I've met around here who isn't an old player still stuck in his glory days."
"That a type in Dillon?"
Jared smiles, a little sadly. "That's everyone in Dillon."
"Oh," says Jensen.
There's an awkward pause, and Tyra comes before it can go on too long, sliding Jared a Corona and taking their order.
"Anyway," Jared says once she's gone, snagging his beer and taking a long swig, "that's why I'm so glad I met you."
"Why?" asks Jensen, possibly distracted by the way Jared's neck moves when he swallows. Jesus, this is the worst idea he's ever had, dinner with a straight boy--with a fucking high school coach, in Texas, of all places.
"Cuz I needed a friend, dumbass."
"So we're friends now?" asks Jensen, cocking his head at Jared.
"Duh," says Jared. "Tell me about you."
"What'd you wanna know?"
"Where you're from, where you're going, your whole life story."
Jensen laughs. "I'm from Richardson, and I don't know where I'm going."
"You're not planning on settling down here, right?"
"Nah," says Jensen. "Just passin' through."
For some reason, that seems to make Jared really happy, because he ducks his head and grins, and says, "Cool."
Jensen doesn't get it, but he doesn't mind.
*
"Herc, you don't shut up it's gonna be my foot up your ass," says Jensen. "Through the wheelchair."
"Always knew you was a kinky sunnuvabitch, Ackles," says Herc. "Glad you finally came out of the closet."
Jensen rolls his eyes. "You're getting a roommate tomorrow."
"A roommate, huh? To what do I owe the honor?"
"To the way Jason Street needs a roommate."
"Jason Street? Dillon Panthers QB One Jason Street? You're giving me royalty, Ackles!"
"Don't say I never did nothing for you," says Jensen.
"Always knew I was your favorite!" calls Herc as Jensen heads out to finish his rounds.
"Jensen!" he hears, and there's Jared, just bounding over.
Since their night at Applebee's, when Jared programmed his number into Jensen's phone and then called himself on it, they've been chatting. If there's a game on, Jared will call him up, and they'll chat through it. Friday night, after the loss, Jensen found Jared, just sat next to him, the two of them swinging their legs back and forth and drinking colas.
Jensen is falling hard, and falling fast, and it's so fucking stupid.
"Hey, Jared. What's up?"
"When do you get off?"
"As soon as I finish my rounds. Why?"
"Wanted to catch a movie," says Jared. "Figured it'd be pretty lame to do it alone."
"Guess it'd depend. What're you seeing?"
"Texas Chainsaw Massacre," says Jared. "When in Rome, y'know?"
Jensen snorts. "So now we have to watch crappy horror movies just because we're in Texas?"
"I can't go alone, man!" says Jared, following Jensen as he heads back to his rounds. "C'mon! I get real scared, and I don't wanna scream and hide in some stranger's neck."
"You need a big, strong man to take care of you?" asks Jensen.
"Exactly!" says Jared "I'm a fucking damsel, dude."
"Yeah, I've noticed." He sighs. "You're not gonna shut up til I say yes, are you?"
"Nope," says Jared remorselessly. "I'll even buy you popcorn."
"Should have said," says Jensen, rolling his eyes.
*
He's at the store, grabbing some steaks because he thinks Jared might show up, when Polly Thompson who lives next door approaches him.
"Well, hello there, stranger!"
"Afternoon, Mrs. Thompson," says Jensen, voice as full up of Texas charm as he can manage. "How're you doing today?"
"Fine, fine. We missed you at the neighborhood barbecue last week," says Mrs. Thompson. "You should've brought Coach Padalecki. You two are spending an awful lot of time together."
"Well, ma'am, it's nice to have another boy my age around," says Jensen. "We're real good friends."
"You know, Susie Perkins, she's crazy about you. I'm sure she has a friend for Coach Padalecki. I don't like to see two nice boys like you all alone."
Jensen ducks his head. "I appreciate it, ma'am. I sure will tell him that."
"And you make sure you come to our next barbecue, you hear? We want to see your pretty face!"
*
"How do you deal with the meddling?" asks Jensen.
Jared grabs a couple beers from the fridge and hands one to Jensen. "What do you mean?"
"I mean Mrs. Thompson told me at the store today she wanted to set us up on double dates," says Jensen.
Jared snorts. "Should have just told her you were gay."
Jensen chokes on his beer. "What?"
"I'll tell her I'm gay first, if you want. Then she'll probably just guess."
"You--you're--what?"
"Your gaydar's for shit, man," says Jared. "But I'm pretty sure mine isn't."
"No," says Jensen thickly. "It's not."
"Yeah?" Jared grins sunnily. "Good."
*
Street's a sucky patient, which doesn't surprise Jensen. He's a kid, a kid who's supposed to have an awesome future. No matter how good he is, how well he does, he always wants more.
"Swear to god," says Jensen, "I'm gonna strangle that kid."
Jared smiles. "Give him a break, man. He's got a lot on his plate."
Jensen groans. "Yeah, he doesn't need anymore. But he keeps piling it on."
"Yeah, kick his ass. He could use it."
"How's the team doing?"
"The loss hurt, but the win helped. Town's like a yo-yo, man."
"Yeah," says Jensen.
It's been--interesting. Jensen feels like everything is different now, but nothing has actually changed. He likes men, Jared likes men, he likes Jared, and there have been indications that Jared likes him.
"You think he's ever gonna walk again?" asks Jared. His voice is small, a little scared.
"Honestly?" says Jensen. He sighs. "No, he probably--I don't think so. With those kinds of injuries, he's going to do well to get his hands back."
"Jesus," says Jared, leaning back. "You were at that game, right?"
"Yeah."
"Did you know then?"
"Yeah," Jensen admits. "I knew."
"You like your job?" asks Jared. "I mean--it just. Isn't it hard?"
"It's hard, yeah," Jensen admits. "But--it's kind of cool, you know? It's kind of--before there were people like me? Before modern technology? People like Jason Street, they'd be--man, he'd be dead. It's like winning one. And maybe it's not everything for him, but it's so much more than he'd have."
Jared's staring at him, smiling softly, and Jensen blushes and ducks his head.
"It's just--cool, you know."
Jared's expression doesn't change, and it's almost too much for Jensen to handle. "It is cool," he says quietly, and Jensen looks away.
*
Jensen's with Street and Herc, playing catch, when Coach Taylor comes in.
"Hey, Coach," says Jensen. "Just give us another five minutes and he's all yours."
"Actually," says Coach Taylor, expression serious, "I wanted a word with you, Dr. Ackles."
"Oh," says Jensen, rubbing the back of his neck. "You two think you can toss a ball without anyone getting maimed?"
"We're already maimed," says Herc.
"More maimed."
"Go ahead, Dr. Ackles," says Street. "We'll be all right."
Jensen follows the coach into the hall. He's never spoken to Coach Taylor before--the man's a kind of celebrity, one whose popularity is entirely determined by Friday night. Jensen's honestly a little scared of him.
"What can I do for you, Coach?" he asks.
"Listen, Dr. Ackles. You seem like a nice guy, and, well, Coach Padalecki? He thinks you hung the moon."
Jensen stares. "Wait, Jared? You're here about Jared?"
"This isn't the best place for two single men to be very good friends," says Coach Taylor. "Me, I don't have anything against it, but people are talking. People are always talking in this town, and, you know, if we start losing, things go bad. I don't want anyone to have something else to use against him."
"Are you telling me to stay away from your assistant coach?" asks Jensen.
"No sir, I would not do that. And Jared, he's mighty fond of you. I just think you should be careful. Because once the football season ends? These folks don't have a lot to talk about."
"I'm--we're not--"
"I'm not telling you how to live your life, Dr. Ackles. I'm just telling you, this town's already made up its mind what you're doing it. And it's your decision what you do with that."
"Well, thanks for your concern, Coach."
"If you do anything to screw up my team? It's not gonna be me that's stringing you up. But I'm not going to stop them."
"I'll keep that in mind."
*
Jensen calls Jared up with his palms sweating. Because--he's not going to pretend to be something he's not. He's never been that guy. And if everyone is ready to run him out of town for dating Jared, he thinks he might as well actually be dating Jared.
If Jared wants to, anyway.
Jared shows up with a six pack, wearing a tight t-shirt and low jeans. "Evenin', Dr. Ackles," he drawls.
"Your boss gave me a come to Jesus talk," says Jensen.
Jared raises his eyebrows. "Coach Taylor?"
"Came to the hospital and everything."
Jared lets out a laugh. "Christ."
"He says people are talking about us."
"We knew people were talking about us," Jared says. "We're two eligible bachelors who--"
"Jared," says Jensen, cutting him off.
"Yeah?"
"Can we skip this?"
Jared cocks his head. "Skip what, exactly?"
"Look, I love shooting the shit with you, but we gotta talk about this."
Jared smiles, slow and easy. "Talk about what?"
"Everybody's talking about us but us."
"Okay," says Jared. "Talk."
Jensen sighs. "I like you. I mean--in the least twelve-year-old way possible. I just. I want us to be something, and if you want us to be something, then it's pretty stupid that we never make out when we're watching movies."
Jared laughs. "Man, you're a romantic."
"Well, we've pretty much been dating, so--"
"I like you too," says Jared. "Dumbass."
"Oh," says Jensen. He's suddenly nervous again, hands sweating, because--he knows this is where he should so something. Where he should kiss Jared like he's been thinking about for weeks. This is the moment. "So, should I--"
Jared just leans down and kisses Jensen instead, and Jensen gasps into it. Jared pulls back after a second, grins down at Jensen so bright that it's almost scary.
"Wanted to do that from the second I saw you. Thought you were the hottest male nurse in the world."
Jensen groans. "You thought I was a male nurse? Jesus. Maybe I can't date you."
"Yeah, you can," says Jared, leaning down and kissing him again. And Jensen kisses him back, because, yeah, he can.
*
Jared likes to cuddle, and he likes to kiss Jensen, and he's really not subtle.
"If we ever leave this house we are going to be out of the closet," says Jensen.
"Mmm," says Jared, wrapping his arms around Jensen's waist and leaning his head on Jensen's shoulder. "What are you cooking?"
"Grilled cheese. You want fancy, you cook."
"You hear me objecting?"
"Trying to have a serious conversation, you know."
"We're barely in the closet."
"Gossip isn't--"
"Go out with me after the game this Friday. If we win." He smiles crookedly. "If we lose, I might get run out of town."
"You askin' me on a date, Coach Padalecki?"
"Reckon I am," says Jared.
"Guess I could fit you in," says Jensen.
Jared makes a show of checking out Jensen's ass. "Yeah, I think I'd just fit. Nice and snug."
Jensen pushes him away. "I'm cooking, jerkoff."
*
"What can I get the two of you?" asks Tyra, flashing a smile. "Milkshake with two straws?"
"That sounds--" Jared starts with a grin.
"I'm not sharing a milkshake with you, man."
Tyra laughs. "You gonna stick around after the season ends, coach?"
"Guess it depends," says Jared. "If we win. If I get run out of town. If my boyfriend stays."
Jensen flushes and looks down at the table.
"We'll see," says Jensen, and when Jared laces their fingers together, he squeezes back.
"If y'all win state," says Tyra, "no one'll care who you're dating. You just better not break his heart, or it's gonna be your fault if we lose."
Jensen laughs, and when he looks up, Jared's laughing too, bright and happy. He looks all of sixteen, and Jensen is falling harder every day.
"I think I can handle that," says Jensen, and yeah. That, at least, he can do.
Author: chash
Fandom: Supernatural RPS/Friday Night Lights season one (crossover, not fusion)
Pairing: Jared Padalecki/Jensen Ackles
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3200.
Summary: It starts when the star quarterback gets hospitalized and the assistant coach comes to visit him and finds Jensen Ackles.
Notes: ic4000 and I have been mainlining FNL season one, and during this time I've also been doing this. Whatever, my life is spectacular. Title and cut from The Killers.
FURTHER NOTE: ic4000 is judging me.
Disclaimer: Lies and untruths.
Jensen isn't working when Jason Street gets brought in; like the rest of the immediate universe he's at the game.
He's not a Dillon native; he came to Midland after he finished up his physical therapy degree, got a cheap place in Dillon. He learned quickly it was impossible to live in Dillon without watching the football, especially as a single man his age. Jensen doesn't want to hide his orientation, but he knows it's not a liberal town. He knows better. So he goes to the games, and he plays along with the town obsession. It's easier.
Even if he had been working, he wouldn't have seen the kid. But he knows, with a certainty he wishes he didn't have, where the breaks were. He's sure, from seeing it, how bad it is.
Jensen knows he's going to see Jason Street again.
He just hopes he can make the kid okay.
*
Midland isn't Dillon, and the hospital doesn't stop for Street. Jensen has to go in and request his files. He doesn't visit the kid; it feels too weird. The town feels alive with love for him, and Jensen can't help feeling it too. But he's never met him, never talked to anyone in his family.
He checks over the charts in the lobby, leaning against the nurse's table, so he must look like he really belongs here, not in PT.
That's why he hears someone hear, "Hey, excuse me, can you help me out?"
The guy he sees when he looks up is wearing the blue polo he's seen on all the Dillon coaches. He's tall--taller than Jensen, which is saying a lot--with a serious, nervous expression and bangs in his eyes. He looks all of sixteen, although Jensen knows he must be older.
"Um--what did you need?" asks Jensen.
"I'm looking for a patient. Jason Street? They told me what room he's in, but--" the guy laughs nervously, runs a hand through his hair. "I'm not great with directions, you know?"
"Uh. I--yeah," says Jensen. "I can probably help you find it. This isn't actually my department--"
"Oh!" the guy flushes. "Sorry, I can--"
"Nah, don't worry about it. I'm--I was at the game, actually."
"Really?" He looks surprised.
"Yeah, I live in Dillon." Jensen laughs a little. "The game's the place to be on a Friday night."
"Yeah, it's kind of a football town."
Jensen thinks that's pretty far past an understatement, but this guy is a coach. He probably doesn't want Jensen's thoughts on redneck football culture. "What's the room?" he asks instead.
"112," says the guy. "You really don't have to."
Jensen waves his hand. "I was looking at his file anyway, to be honest. I'm in physical therapy, I'll probably have him in a few weeks."
"It's so--weird seems inadequate, you know? It is. I just got hired this year, took over for Coach Taylor once he got promoted. Our first game, and--Jesus." He laughs again, the same nervous laugh. "You don't need to hear this, man. I'm sorry."
Jensen waves his hand. "Don't worry. I actually get it, kind of. I moved to Dillon a few weeks ago and there's--I've never even met the kid and I feel like I'm in mourning."
The guy flashes him a smile, small but sincere. He's got dimples the dig into his cheeks. "Thanks. I'm Jared, by the way. Jared Padalecki. I'm one of the assistant coaches."
"Jensen Ackles," he says, taking Jared's offered hand and shaking. "Nice to meet you."
"You think I should have brought flowers?" asks Jared, slanting him a look.
Jensen cracks a smile. "I dunno, man, is this your first date?"
He thinks it sounds weird once he says it. He wants to clarify, say with Street, I mean or something, but that would just make it worse.
Jared just smiles wider, keeps eyes still on Jensen, and Jensen has to look away first.
*
Jensen doesn't have a lot of friends in Dillon. He's one of the few people in his age group around here, which he hadn't realized. When he goes out, he goes to Midland, drinking with his coworkers, but when he goes home? It's him and TV dinners and whatever's on his crappy TV.
It's a Wednesday when he gets fed up with his own lameness and hits Applebee's, wondering privately if that is actually any better than his usual routine.
It's always crowded in the restaurant, from what he can tell--there's a lack of other options. He recognizes some of the folks from town, the woman from the post office, some of the boosters, the Taylors. A pretty girl who's almost as tall as he is seats him, a flirty grin he's sure isn't appropriate on her face when she tells him to holler when he needs her.
He's browsing, nursing a Corona, when someone clears their throat, and he looks up to see Jared Padalecki.
He's wearing his own clothes now, a pink-and-white-striped button down and jeans, and Jensen has to swallow down his attraction.
"Hey," he says. "Jared, right?"
"Yeah. Wanted to thank you for showin' me around the other day," he drawls, and Jensen has no doubt Jared's Texas through and through, even if he hasn't been in Dillon that long.
"Wasn't anything," Jensen shrugs. "What brings you out here?"
"Man's gotta eat," says Jared. "Who're you here with?"
"Me, myself, and I," says Jensen.
Jared smiles, angles his head somehow so he's looking at Jensen through his bangs. "Want some company?"
"Sure," Jensen finds himself saying. Jared seems--nice, he guesses. Cool. He's probably around Jensen's age, and Jensen, in all honesty, could use a friend.
Jared slides in across from him. The waitress materializes to give him a menu, and Jared gives her a wide grin, dimples and white teeth. "Evenin', Tyra."
She cocks her hip and grins back at him. "Friend of yours, Coach Padalecki? Haven't seen him around here before."
"This here's Jensen. He's a doctor, so he's way our of your league. And your age range."
"Don't know what you're talking about, Coach Padalecki." Tyra turns back to Jensen. "What can I do you for, Dr. Jensen?"
"Need another minute," says Jensen. "Might as well wait on him."
"Y'all just tell me when you're set," says Tyra. "Beer for you too, Coach?"
"Please and thank you," says Jared.
"Friend of yours?" asks Jensen, raising his eyebrows at Jensen.
"She's at the school," says Jared. "Dated a few of my players. I know most everybody in town."
"Comes with the territory, I guess. So maybe you can tell me what you do for fun out here?"
"Having trouble finding the fun?" asks Jared, grinning like that's hilarious.
"The whole town lives for Friday night, man," says Jensen. "I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing when there's no football."
"My life in a nutshell." Jared scratches behind his ear, looks bashful. "God's truth? You're the first guy my age I've met around here who isn't an old player still stuck in his glory days."
"That a type in Dillon?"
Jared smiles, a little sadly. "That's everyone in Dillon."
"Oh," says Jensen.
There's an awkward pause, and Tyra comes before it can go on too long, sliding Jared a Corona and taking their order.
"Anyway," Jared says once she's gone, snagging his beer and taking a long swig, "that's why I'm so glad I met you."
"Why?" asks Jensen, possibly distracted by the way Jared's neck moves when he swallows. Jesus, this is the worst idea he's ever had, dinner with a straight boy--with a fucking high school coach, in Texas, of all places.
"Cuz I needed a friend, dumbass."
"So we're friends now?" asks Jensen, cocking his head at Jared.
"Duh," says Jared. "Tell me about you."
"What'd you wanna know?"
"Where you're from, where you're going, your whole life story."
Jensen laughs. "I'm from Richardson, and I don't know where I'm going."
"You're not planning on settling down here, right?"
"Nah," says Jensen. "Just passin' through."
For some reason, that seems to make Jared really happy, because he ducks his head and grins, and says, "Cool."
Jensen doesn't get it, but he doesn't mind.
*
"Herc, you don't shut up it's gonna be my foot up your ass," says Jensen. "Through the wheelchair."
"Always knew you was a kinky sunnuvabitch, Ackles," says Herc. "Glad you finally came out of the closet."
Jensen rolls his eyes. "You're getting a roommate tomorrow."
"A roommate, huh? To what do I owe the honor?"
"To the way Jason Street needs a roommate."
"Jason Street? Dillon Panthers QB One Jason Street? You're giving me royalty, Ackles!"
"Don't say I never did nothing for you," says Jensen.
"Always knew I was your favorite!" calls Herc as Jensen heads out to finish his rounds.
"Jensen!" he hears, and there's Jared, just bounding over.
Since their night at Applebee's, when Jared programmed his number into Jensen's phone and then called himself on it, they've been chatting. If there's a game on, Jared will call him up, and they'll chat through it. Friday night, after the loss, Jensen found Jared, just sat next to him, the two of them swinging their legs back and forth and drinking colas.
Jensen is falling hard, and falling fast, and it's so fucking stupid.
"Hey, Jared. What's up?"
"When do you get off?"
"As soon as I finish my rounds. Why?"
"Wanted to catch a movie," says Jared. "Figured it'd be pretty lame to do it alone."
"Guess it'd depend. What're you seeing?"
"Texas Chainsaw Massacre," says Jared. "When in Rome, y'know?"
Jensen snorts. "So now we have to watch crappy horror movies just because we're in Texas?"
"I can't go alone, man!" says Jared, following Jensen as he heads back to his rounds. "C'mon! I get real scared, and I don't wanna scream and hide in some stranger's neck."
"You need a big, strong man to take care of you?" asks Jensen.
"Exactly!" says Jared "I'm a fucking damsel, dude."
"Yeah, I've noticed." He sighs. "You're not gonna shut up til I say yes, are you?"
"Nope," says Jared remorselessly. "I'll even buy you popcorn."
"Should have said," says Jensen, rolling his eyes.
*
He's at the store, grabbing some steaks because he thinks Jared might show up, when Polly Thompson who lives next door approaches him.
"Well, hello there, stranger!"
"Afternoon, Mrs. Thompson," says Jensen, voice as full up of Texas charm as he can manage. "How're you doing today?"
"Fine, fine. We missed you at the neighborhood barbecue last week," says Mrs. Thompson. "You should've brought Coach Padalecki. You two are spending an awful lot of time together."
"Well, ma'am, it's nice to have another boy my age around," says Jensen. "We're real good friends."
"You know, Susie Perkins, she's crazy about you. I'm sure she has a friend for Coach Padalecki. I don't like to see two nice boys like you all alone."
Jensen ducks his head. "I appreciate it, ma'am. I sure will tell him that."
"And you make sure you come to our next barbecue, you hear? We want to see your pretty face!"
*
"How do you deal with the meddling?" asks Jensen.
Jared grabs a couple beers from the fridge and hands one to Jensen. "What do you mean?"
"I mean Mrs. Thompson told me at the store today she wanted to set us up on double dates," says Jensen.
Jared snorts. "Should have just told her you were gay."
Jensen chokes on his beer. "What?"
"I'll tell her I'm gay first, if you want. Then she'll probably just guess."
"You--you're--what?"
"Your gaydar's for shit, man," says Jared. "But I'm pretty sure mine isn't."
"No," says Jensen thickly. "It's not."
"Yeah?" Jared grins sunnily. "Good."
*
Street's a sucky patient, which doesn't surprise Jensen. He's a kid, a kid who's supposed to have an awesome future. No matter how good he is, how well he does, he always wants more.
"Swear to god," says Jensen, "I'm gonna strangle that kid."
Jared smiles. "Give him a break, man. He's got a lot on his plate."
Jensen groans. "Yeah, he doesn't need anymore. But he keeps piling it on."
"Yeah, kick his ass. He could use it."
"How's the team doing?"
"The loss hurt, but the win helped. Town's like a yo-yo, man."
"Yeah," says Jensen.
It's been--interesting. Jensen feels like everything is different now, but nothing has actually changed. He likes men, Jared likes men, he likes Jared, and there have been indications that Jared likes him.
"You think he's ever gonna walk again?" asks Jared. His voice is small, a little scared.
"Honestly?" says Jensen. He sighs. "No, he probably--I don't think so. With those kinds of injuries, he's going to do well to get his hands back."
"Jesus," says Jared, leaning back. "You were at that game, right?"
"Yeah."
"Did you know then?"
"Yeah," Jensen admits. "I knew."
"You like your job?" asks Jared. "I mean--it just. Isn't it hard?"
"It's hard, yeah," Jensen admits. "But--it's kind of cool, you know? It's kind of--before there were people like me? Before modern technology? People like Jason Street, they'd be--man, he'd be dead. It's like winning one. And maybe it's not everything for him, but it's so much more than he'd have."
Jared's staring at him, smiling softly, and Jensen blushes and ducks his head.
"It's just--cool, you know."
Jared's expression doesn't change, and it's almost too much for Jensen to handle. "It is cool," he says quietly, and Jensen looks away.
*
Jensen's with Street and Herc, playing catch, when Coach Taylor comes in.
"Hey, Coach," says Jensen. "Just give us another five minutes and he's all yours."
"Actually," says Coach Taylor, expression serious, "I wanted a word with you, Dr. Ackles."
"Oh," says Jensen, rubbing the back of his neck. "You two think you can toss a ball without anyone getting maimed?"
"We're already maimed," says Herc.
"More maimed."
"Go ahead, Dr. Ackles," says Street. "We'll be all right."
Jensen follows the coach into the hall. He's never spoken to Coach Taylor before--the man's a kind of celebrity, one whose popularity is entirely determined by Friday night. Jensen's honestly a little scared of him.
"What can I do for you, Coach?" he asks.
"Listen, Dr. Ackles. You seem like a nice guy, and, well, Coach Padalecki? He thinks you hung the moon."
Jensen stares. "Wait, Jared? You're here about Jared?"
"This isn't the best place for two single men to be very good friends," says Coach Taylor. "Me, I don't have anything against it, but people are talking. People are always talking in this town, and, you know, if we start losing, things go bad. I don't want anyone to have something else to use against him."
"Are you telling me to stay away from your assistant coach?" asks Jensen.
"No sir, I would not do that. And Jared, he's mighty fond of you. I just think you should be careful. Because once the football season ends? These folks don't have a lot to talk about."
"I'm--we're not--"
"I'm not telling you how to live your life, Dr. Ackles. I'm just telling you, this town's already made up its mind what you're doing it. And it's your decision what you do with that."
"Well, thanks for your concern, Coach."
"If you do anything to screw up my team? It's not gonna be me that's stringing you up. But I'm not going to stop them."
"I'll keep that in mind."
*
Jensen calls Jared up with his palms sweating. Because--he's not going to pretend to be something he's not. He's never been that guy. And if everyone is ready to run him out of town for dating Jared, he thinks he might as well actually be dating Jared.
If Jared wants to, anyway.
Jared shows up with a six pack, wearing a tight t-shirt and low jeans. "Evenin', Dr. Ackles," he drawls.
"Your boss gave me a come to Jesus talk," says Jensen.
Jared raises his eyebrows. "Coach Taylor?"
"Came to the hospital and everything."
Jared lets out a laugh. "Christ."
"He says people are talking about us."
"We knew people were talking about us," Jared says. "We're two eligible bachelors who--"
"Jared," says Jensen, cutting him off.
"Yeah?"
"Can we skip this?"
Jared cocks his head. "Skip what, exactly?"
"Look, I love shooting the shit with you, but we gotta talk about this."
Jared smiles, slow and easy. "Talk about what?"
"Everybody's talking about us but us."
"Okay," says Jared. "Talk."
Jensen sighs. "I like you. I mean--in the least twelve-year-old way possible. I just. I want us to be something, and if you want us to be something, then it's pretty stupid that we never make out when we're watching movies."
Jared laughs. "Man, you're a romantic."
"Well, we've pretty much been dating, so--"
"I like you too," says Jared. "Dumbass."
"Oh," says Jensen. He's suddenly nervous again, hands sweating, because--he knows this is where he should so something. Where he should kiss Jared like he's been thinking about for weeks. This is the moment. "So, should I--"
Jared just leans down and kisses Jensen instead, and Jensen gasps into it. Jared pulls back after a second, grins down at Jensen so bright that it's almost scary.
"Wanted to do that from the second I saw you. Thought you were the hottest male nurse in the world."
Jensen groans. "You thought I was a male nurse? Jesus. Maybe I can't date you."
"Yeah, you can," says Jared, leaning down and kissing him again. And Jensen kisses him back, because, yeah, he can.
*
Jared likes to cuddle, and he likes to kiss Jensen, and he's really not subtle.
"If we ever leave this house we are going to be out of the closet," says Jensen.
"Mmm," says Jared, wrapping his arms around Jensen's waist and leaning his head on Jensen's shoulder. "What are you cooking?"
"Grilled cheese. You want fancy, you cook."
"You hear me objecting?"
"Trying to have a serious conversation, you know."
"We're barely in the closet."
"Gossip isn't--"
"Go out with me after the game this Friday. If we win." He smiles crookedly. "If we lose, I might get run out of town."
"You askin' me on a date, Coach Padalecki?"
"Reckon I am," says Jared.
"Guess I could fit you in," says Jensen.
Jared makes a show of checking out Jensen's ass. "Yeah, I think I'd just fit. Nice and snug."
Jensen pushes him away. "I'm cooking, jerkoff."
*
"What can I get the two of you?" asks Tyra, flashing a smile. "Milkshake with two straws?"
"That sounds--" Jared starts with a grin.
"I'm not sharing a milkshake with you, man."
Tyra laughs. "You gonna stick around after the season ends, coach?"
"Guess it depends," says Jared. "If we win. If I get run out of town. If my boyfriend stays."
Jensen flushes and looks down at the table.
"We'll see," says Jensen, and when Jared laces their fingers together, he squeezes back.
"If y'all win state," says Tyra, "no one'll care who you're dating. You just better not break his heart, or it's gonna be your fault if we lose."
Jensen laughs, and when he looks up, Jared's laughing too, bright and happy. He looks all of sixteen, and Jensen is falling harder every day.
"I think I can handle that," says Jensen, and yeah. That, at least, he can do.