Changes
The following morning Jared insisted on going to see the doctor on his own, Jensen tried to insist on accompanying him, but Jared put his foot down and said he was not a child and could handle a doctors visit alone. After all he said, he could tell him what was gonna happen, he would end up in Seattle getting his head checked.... Jensen did not see the funny side to that argument even though Jared cackled loudly at his own joke. He promised to call him if he was sent straight in there which he thought was likely, he knew his doctor to be a bit of a panic merchant and he turned out to be right.
So Jensen was left at a bit of a loose end for the day after Jared had called, grumbling loudly about wasting a day in a damn hospital and how he was so earning some mind blowing sex when he got home. Jensen could only chuckle at the ‘punishment’ Jared was looking for....he was actually looking forward to paying up! But it still left him at a loose end so he decided to go see Sharon and Lisa at the diner, he hadn’t seen them in a day or so and he kinda missed their banter.
He had been in the diner a good half hour, enjoying the easy flow of conversation between himself and the two women who were having a ball fussing over Jensen now that they had him on his own. A couple of customers were scattered around the diner and no one was in a hurry anywhere and Jensen was constantly amazed at the feeling of home you got just sitting in here. The door opened and shut again as a customer entered the diner, and Jensen sitting with his back to the door at the counter paid no attention to who had entered, knowing it was probably just Mr Martinez who owned the local hardware store; he usually came in around this time he had discovered.
He glanced up as Sharon wandered over to where he was sitting and placed a fresh mug of coffee in front of him, eyes narrowed as she watched whoever it was that still stood inside the door. The look on her face was enough to tell him it was a stranger but before he could turn around a shadow crossed over his coffee and a familiar voice sounded behind him,
“Well it’s about damn time I found you Jensen!”
Bill.
Jensen dropped his head and closed his eyes in resignation, he should have known Bill would come looking for him, bastard was sneaky enough to have his credit card traced to find him. Bill was a good guy and normally he wouldn’t come looking for him unless it was important, and he wondered what was so urgent that he couldn’t have relayed to Kerry, he still called her once a week to check in. He turned in the stool and stood up and Bill pulled him in for a hard hug and a clap on the shoulder, smiling huge in his round face, blue eyes twinkling under the overly large cowboy hat he was wearing and Jensen rolled his eyes at the sight. Bill had dressed to impress then, that meant business.
Sharon was still regarding Bill with something akin to open hostility which was surprising for someone of her nature and Jensen quickly introduced his manager which only earned a tight smile and a mug of coffee placed carelessly in front of the man before she stalked off. Jensen frowned at the uncharacteristic reaction of this normally friendly woman but Bill was already talking a mile a minute not noticing anything untoward at all and his words had Jensen stopping in his tracks mouth agape,
“What?”
Bill smiled in triumph, knowing he had Jensens attention now,
“I said, you have five nominations in the grammys!”
“No way....No!”
Jensen was hearing things...he had to be...five? He had heard whisperings his last album would be nominated but five???Holy shit...
“So...you ready to come back now? We got a lot of work to do in the next few months Jen, we need to get ready for the big win”
Jensen knew Bills voice had carried over the quiet diner and a quick look in Sharons direction confirmed it, and suddenly he understood her reaction, she had known the second she had set eyes on Bill he was somehow connected to Jensens music and she was scared, scared for Jared, she was afraid he was going to up and leave Jared now that his final goal was in sight. Win enough Grammy’s to be top country billing, to be the best, the most talked about, the most trophies.
His excitement died in his chest as he stared from Sharon to Bill and back, Jareds eyes looking back at him from the face of his Mother. He turned to Bill finally, and shook his head;
“No, I’m not going back Bill, the Grammys will go on whether I’m there or not, if I’m to win I will win, you don’t need me there, I’m staying here. There is some one here Bill and I’m staying, I’m happy here.”
He glanced quickly up at Sharon whose face had melted into a teary smile and he gave her a half smile back, he knew this was the right thing for him. He didn’t want to go back, he wanted to stay here with Jared, what they had was new and he knew it could be great and forever and it would take sacrifice and he wasn’t going to think twice about this one. He was staying with Jared.
“What? Are you out of your mind?! Jensen! This is it man! This is what we have worked for, just one Grammy Jensen, all it will take is one more Grammy and it’s your name in the books, no one elses! Jesus Jensen don’t throw it away just for some piece of ass!”
Jensen was up and on the other man like a shot, and despite Bills large size, Jensen was angry, really angry and clutching the mans collar in both hands he growled,
“Don’t you ever, ever refer to Jared like that again, not ever Bill. I love you man, you have been good to me and I will be forever grateful, but Jared means a hell of a lot more to me than some award, and if you ever speak about him like that again, then we are done.”
Bill raised his hands in a harmless gesture and Jensen slowely released him and stepped back.
“I’m sorry Jensen, hell I’m real sorry man. I didn’t know he meant that much, I...”
“It’s ok, forget it Bill, but I’m not going back.”
“Come on Jen, I’m not asking you to go back full time, just for a few months man, just till it’s over, then you can take a break a long one, come on, for me?”
“No Bill, I’m not going back, you don’t need me back there not at the moment, maybe in a month or two Jared and I can come up, maybe I can talk him into going to the ceremony with me, but at this point in time I’m staying here, please understand Bill?”
Bill nodded and sighed and rising of his seat he pulled Jensen in for a fast hug,
“I hope he is worth what you’re sacrificing Jensen, I hope he knows what you’re throwing away for him.”
A vision of Jared swam in his mind for a moment, and Jensen smiled, a peaceful smile, he was doing the right thing, he knew that and he nodded.
“Bill, he is more than worth it, believe me, I will bring him up to Nashville and introduce him, I’m sorry he isn’t here today.”
He walked Bill to his hired car outside and five minutes later entered the diner again and sat down with a sigh. He almost came off the stool in fright when a pair of arms went around his neck and Sophia threw herself into his lap hugging him tightly,
“Jesus Soph, thats quite a habit you have there of throwing yourself at gay men!” he said with amusement in his voice, “What have I done to deserve this then?”
Sophia raised bright eyes to his face and replied in a husky voice,
“I heard what you said to that guy, you didn’t see me come in and I heard what you said and Jensen, thats the most romantic thing I have ever heard!”
Jensen chuckled as Sophia stood up and placed herself in the seat next to his and she spoke now in excitement,
“God wait until Jared Hears about this! He is gonna be so blown away, and Jensen if he gets upset with you don’t you take any notice of him ya hear? Jared hates to think that someone might think he is worth something to them, I knew you were perfect for him from the get go and I’m so glad you’re here!”
”I uh...I was kinda hoping Jared wouldn’t have to find out about that you know? He doesn’t need to beating himself up needlessly Soph, it was my decision no one elses.”
Sophia laughed delightedly,
“Oh Jensen, you really are not used to small town life are you? Listen sweetie, not only are you the most well known celebrity ever to pass through this town, you are now shacking up with the town sweetheart, and in an hour the whole place is gonna know what went down here, and if you don’t tell Jared, they will.”
“Crap”
“Uh huh...Crap is right...”
“I’m gonna have to tell him huh?”
“Yes. Yes you are...So, when is he getting back?”
Jensen looked at his watch and realised how late it had gotten,
“Jeez it’s late.... he should have been back by now... have you heard from Chad? He went with him, maybe they stopped along the way or something.”
Sophia’s reply was lost as the door burst open and Chad and Jared entered, Chad headed straight for Sophia and pulled her off the stool and into his arms and held her tight, burying his face in the warmth of her neck and Sophia frowned,
“Hey, You were only gone a day Hun, you miss me that much?”
Chad straightened up and cleared his throat and looked quickly in Jensens direction and smiled and nodded and pulled on Sophia’s hand,
“Soph, I gotto get out of here, I got a job to take care of, keep me company?”
“Sure, see ya Jensen! Let me know how it goes here won’t you?”
She gave Jared a quick kiss and left leaving Jared to throw himself thow himself into the empty stool after kissing his Mom and his aunt hello. He turned to Jensen and grinned wide.
“So....Ackles.....”
Jensen smothered a smile and just raised an eyebrow in his boyfriends direction waiting for him to start...
“Ackles? Feeling cocky huh?”
Jareds grin widened at Jensens choice of words and waggled his eyebrows and whispered,
“Oh you have no idea babe....I’m here to claim my reward or your punishment, whichever you want to give me first.”
Jensen failed to hide the smile in time and Jared stopped just short of punching the air in triumph, but it was written all over his face and he leaned over and claimed a slow kiss and moaned appreciatively, not opening his eyes straight away when Jensen pulled back,
“So...Padalecki...” and Jared grinned at Jensens comeback... “Proof before the reward man, how did you get on? What did the doctors say?”
Jared sighed dramatically, “Well, besides the fact that they think I’m a fine human being and totally healthy?”
“Jared...seriously man, tell me, what did they say?”
Jared sighed and became serious and pulled out a paper bag with a filled out prescription of medication.”
“They gave me these....it’s just migraines man, I promise.... now... seeing as I was right... I want my reward for being a good boyfriend and doing what you asked... and you’re gonna relax about the whole thing now right?”
“What about the test results? When are you gonna get them?”
“They told me that even from a quick look at them that everything is clear, they will send the full results out to Doc Morgan in a few days but they don’t expect anything to show up, now...can we go please?”
Jensen looked into Jareds face and saw nothing but honesty and a lot of lust and he relaxed and smiled,
“Ok, ok Jay... lets go claim your reward then”
And they left the diner hands clutching and giggling like a pair of teenagers, all thoughts of doctors and grammy’s forgotten for now.
chapter 7
So Jensen was left at a bit of a loose end for the day after Jared had called, grumbling loudly about wasting a day in a damn hospital and how he was so earning some mind blowing sex when he got home. Jensen could only chuckle at the ‘punishment’ Jared was looking for....he was actually looking forward to paying up! But it still left him at a loose end so he decided to go see Sharon and Lisa at the diner, he hadn’t seen them in a day or so and he kinda missed their banter.
He had been in the diner a good half hour, enjoying the easy flow of conversation between himself and the two women who were having a ball fussing over Jensen now that they had him on his own. A couple of customers were scattered around the diner and no one was in a hurry anywhere and Jensen was constantly amazed at the feeling of home you got just sitting in here. The door opened and shut again as a customer entered the diner, and Jensen sitting with his back to the door at the counter paid no attention to who had entered, knowing it was probably just Mr Martinez who owned the local hardware store; he usually came in around this time he had discovered.
He glanced up as Sharon wandered over to where he was sitting and placed a fresh mug of coffee in front of him, eyes narrowed as she watched whoever it was that still stood inside the door. The look on her face was enough to tell him it was a stranger but before he could turn around a shadow crossed over his coffee and a familiar voice sounded behind him,
“Well it’s about damn time I found you Jensen!”
Bill.
Jensen dropped his head and closed his eyes in resignation, he should have known Bill would come looking for him, bastard was sneaky enough to have his credit card traced to find him. Bill was a good guy and normally he wouldn’t come looking for him unless it was important, and he wondered what was so urgent that he couldn’t have relayed to Kerry, he still called her once a week to check in. He turned in the stool and stood up and Bill pulled him in for a hard hug and a clap on the shoulder, smiling huge in his round face, blue eyes twinkling under the overly large cowboy hat he was wearing and Jensen rolled his eyes at the sight. Bill had dressed to impress then, that meant business.
Sharon was still regarding Bill with something akin to open hostility which was surprising for someone of her nature and Jensen quickly introduced his manager which only earned a tight smile and a mug of coffee placed carelessly in front of the man before she stalked off. Jensen frowned at the uncharacteristic reaction of this normally friendly woman but Bill was already talking a mile a minute not noticing anything untoward at all and his words had Jensen stopping in his tracks mouth agape,
“What?”
Bill smiled in triumph, knowing he had Jensens attention now,
“I said, you have five nominations in the grammys!”
“No way....No!”
Jensen was hearing things...he had to be...five? He had heard whisperings his last album would be nominated but five???Holy shit...
“So...you ready to come back now? We got a lot of work to do in the next few months Jen, we need to get ready for the big win”
Jensen knew Bills voice had carried over the quiet diner and a quick look in Sharons direction confirmed it, and suddenly he understood her reaction, she had known the second she had set eyes on Bill he was somehow connected to Jensens music and she was scared, scared for Jared, she was afraid he was going to up and leave Jared now that his final goal was in sight. Win enough Grammy’s to be top country billing, to be the best, the most talked about, the most trophies.
His excitement died in his chest as he stared from Sharon to Bill and back, Jareds eyes looking back at him from the face of his Mother. He turned to Bill finally, and shook his head;
“No, I’m not going back Bill, the Grammys will go on whether I’m there or not, if I’m to win I will win, you don’t need me there, I’m staying here. There is some one here Bill and I’m staying, I’m happy here.”
He glanced quickly up at Sharon whose face had melted into a teary smile and he gave her a half smile back, he knew this was the right thing for him. He didn’t want to go back, he wanted to stay here with Jared, what they had was new and he knew it could be great and forever and it would take sacrifice and he wasn’t going to think twice about this one. He was staying with Jared.
“What? Are you out of your mind?! Jensen! This is it man! This is what we have worked for, just one Grammy Jensen, all it will take is one more Grammy and it’s your name in the books, no one elses! Jesus Jensen don’t throw it away just for some piece of ass!”
Jensen was up and on the other man like a shot, and despite Bills large size, Jensen was angry, really angry and clutching the mans collar in both hands he growled,
“Don’t you ever, ever refer to Jared like that again, not ever Bill. I love you man, you have been good to me and I will be forever grateful, but Jared means a hell of a lot more to me than some award, and if you ever speak about him like that again, then we are done.”
Bill raised his hands in a harmless gesture and Jensen slowely released him and stepped back.
“I’m sorry Jensen, hell I’m real sorry man. I didn’t know he meant that much, I...”
“It’s ok, forget it Bill, but I’m not going back.”
“Come on Jen, I’m not asking you to go back full time, just for a few months man, just till it’s over, then you can take a break a long one, come on, for me?”
“No Bill, I’m not going back, you don’t need me back there not at the moment, maybe in a month or two Jared and I can come up, maybe I can talk him into going to the ceremony with me, but at this point in time I’m staying here, please understand Bill?”
Bill nodded and sighed and rising of his seat he pulled Jensen in for a fast hug,
“I hope he is worth what you’re sacrificing Jensen, I hope he knows what you’re throwing away for him.”
A vision of Jared swam in his mind for a moment, and Jensen smiled, a peaceful smile, he was doing the right thing, he knew that and he nodded.
“Bill, he is more than worth it, believe me, I will bring him up to Nashville and introduce him, I’m sorry he isn’t here today.”
He walked Bill to his hired car outside and five minutes later entered the diner again and sat down with a sigh. He almost came off the stool in fright when a pair of arms went around his neck and Sophia threw herself into his lap hugging him tightly,
“Jesus Soph, thats quite a habit you have there of throwing yourself at gay men!” he said with amusement in his voice, “What have I done to deserve this then?”
Sophia raised bright eyes to his face and replied in a husky voice,
“I heard what you said to that guy, you didn’t see me come in and I heard what you said and Jensen, thats the most romantic thing I have ever heard!”
Jensen chuckled as Sophia stood up and placed herself in the seat next to his and she spoke now in excitement,
“God wait until Jared Hears about this! He is gonna be so blown away, and Jensen if he gets upset with you don’t you take any notice of him ya hear? Jared hates to think that someone might think he is worth something to them, I knew you were perfect for him from the get go and I’m so glad you’re here!”
”I uh...I was kinda hoping Jared wouldn’t have to find out about that you know? He doesn’t need to beating himself up needlessly Soph, it was my decision no one elses.”
Sophia laughed delightedly,
“Oh Jensen, you really are not used to small town life are you? Listen sweetie, not only are you the most well known celebrity ever to pass through this town, you are now shacking up with the town sweetheart, and in an hour the whole place is gonna know what went down here, and if you don’t tell Jared, they will.”
“Crap”
“Uh huh...Crap is right...”
“I’m gonna have to tell him huh?”
“Yes. Yes you are...So, when is he getting back?”
Jensen looked at his watch and realised how late it had gotten,
“Jeez it’s late.... he should have been back by now... have you heard from Chad? He went with him, maybe they stopped along the way or something.”
Sophia’s reply was lost as the door burst open and Chad and Jared entered, Chad headed straight for Sophia and pulled her off the stool and into his arms and held her tight, burying his face in the warmth of her neck and Sophia frowned,
“Hey, You were only gone a day Hun, you miss me that much?”
Chad straightened up and cleared his throat and looked quickly in Jensens direction and smiled and nodded and pulled on Sophia’s hand,
“Soph, I gotto get out of here, I got a job to take care of, keep me company?”
“Sure, see ya Jensen! Let me know how it goes here won’t you?”
She gave Jared a quick kiss and left leaving Jared to throw himself thow himself into the empty stool after kissing his Mom and his aunt hello. He turned to Jensen and grinned wide.
“So....Ackles.....”
Jensen smothered a smile and just raised an eyebrow in his boyfriends direction waiting for him to start...
“Ackles? Feeling cocky huh?”
Jareds grin widened at Jensens choice of words and waggled his eyebrows and whispered,
“Oh you have no idea babe....I’m here to claim my reward or your punishment, whichever you want to give me first.”
Jensen failed to hide the smile in time and Jared stopped just short of punching the air in triumph, but it was written all over his face and he leaned over and claimed a slow kiss and moaned appreciatively, not opening his eyes straight away when Jensen pulled back,
“So...Padalecki...” and Jared grinned at Jensens comeback... “Proof before the reward man, how did you get on? What did the doctors say?”
Jared sighed dramatically, “Well, besides the fact that they think I’m a fine human being and totally healthy?”
“Jared...seriously man, tell me, what did they say?”
Jared sighed and became serious and pulled out a paper bag with a filled out prescription of medication.”
“They gave me these....it’s just migraines man, I promise.... now... seeing as I was right... I want my reward for being a good boyfriend and doing what you asked... and you’re gonna relax about the whole thing now right?”
“What about the test results? When are you gonna get them?”
“They told me that even from a quick look at them that everything is clear, they will send the full results out to Doc Morgan in a few days but they don’t expect anything to show up, now...can we go please?”
Jensen looked into Jareds face and saw nothing but honesty and a lot of lust and he relaxed and smiled,
“Ok, ok Jay... lets go claim your reward then”
And they left the diner hands clutching and giggling like a pair of teenagers, all thoughts of doctors and grammy’s forgotten for now.
chapter 7