(no subject)
Eight Months later:
Jared sat out on the porch watching the Texas Sun go down. It was early evening but it was Christmas eve and it was cold but dry. Jim had taken his Mother and Lisa into town a few hours ago to pick up some last minute must haves for tomorrow’s dinner. He smiled at the thought of poor Jim Beaver, the man had been so used to running this ranch alone and without anyone looking over his shoulder. Then Four months ago he and Jensen had descended upon the ranch and it had been so much fun watching the gruff one word answer man melt slowly under Jareds natural charm and it had become a house full of jokes and laughter as Jim helped Jensen heal Jared just as much as Jared had melted the gruff mans heart.
Now Jared was starting to look at Jim like he would a surrogate father, his dry wit and sense of humour earning him two adoring fans in Jensen and Jared. But he wasn’t sure if Jim was gonna forgive them in a hurry for bringing these two women down on him. He chuckled as he thought of how the two women had taken Jim in hand, deciding he needed some looking after and a woman’s influence. The resulting banter between the three was a source of endless laughter for himself and Jensen.
Jensen. Jared smiled at the thought of the man who had become his very life, and literally his very reason for living. He was sure he wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the love of that man. His thoughts ran back eight months and the battle that Jensen had instilled in him and the fight he had put up to live after he had opened his eyes that night and seen Jensen sitting in that chair, and the words he had spoken.
Jared had fought like a man possessed after that, and he had put down four long months of therapy after leaving the hospital that time. He had needed intense speech therapy after the surgery, his speech being the most affected of all his functions. But he had done it and he was in no doubt that he wouldn’t have if it weren’t for Jensen.
He had been true to his word and had never left Jareds side after that, and Jensen had sobbed outright when Jareds first words to him were “I’m sorry and I love you...”
They had talked at length about what had gone down and why Jared done what he had, and he had told Jensen how much he had loved him and how scared he had been when he had been faced with the reality of a possibly fatal illness. He had been trying to spare Jensen the pain of having to watch Jared die like that and had been cruel. It had taken Jensen a long time to get Jared to forgive himself for the words he had spoken to him that day. Jared was a naturally loving, kind man and it had broken his heart to see the pain on Jensens face that day. It still did, but now he caught himself before he could sink into the pit of self hate he still carried for that and let it all go in a deep breath.
The wool hat dropping into his lap signalled the presence of the man of his thoughts and he turned around and grinned at the disapproving look on Jensen’s face.
“Jay, we don’t want you getting ill again ok? Don’t make me kick your ass man, wear the hat.”
He planted a kiss to Jareds lips as Jared grinned and pulled the hat down over his head. His hair wasn’t quite at the length it was before the surgery but it was getting there and he loved the look on Jensens face everytime Jensen ran his hands through it. He caught Jensen by the wrist then and tugged until he was half sitting half sprawled across his lap and wrapped his arms around the older mand and buried his cold face in Jensens warm neck, causing him to shiver.
Jareds voice was muffled as he spoke from the confines of Jensens neck but Jensen heard what he was saying,
“Have I told you I love you today Jen?”
Jensen smiled softly,
“Yes dude, you did, twice this morning, three times this afternoon and I think that might be the fifth time this evening you’ve told me.”
“Sorry, am I annoying you with my words of undying devotion?”
“No, I aint never gonna get tired of hearing those particular words babe.”
“Good, cause I’m never gonna get tired of saying them, when is Chris coming down?”
“He will be down on the twenty seventh, spending new years with us.”
“Day before Chad and Sophia arrive, it’s gonna be fun Jen, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again, especially Chris, I love the way he winds Chad Up.”
Jared had met and had struck up an instant friendship with the man when he had finally been left out of I.C.U all those months ago. Chris Kane was a funny, smart individual with an incredible loyalty to Jensen, and he had even helped them move when they had decided four months ago to come out to Jensens ranch.
Jareds recovery had been long and exhausting for every one concerned, but mostly on Jensen and Jared themselves and the decision to move had been the best one they had made and the fresh start they had both needed. They both adored the vast ranch, and the little town that was situated four miles away. Jared would be taking up a teaching post in the school there in the New Year. He felt ready to take that step back to work now and Jensen fully supported him.
Jensen had reluctantly gone back into the studio and had done some gigs, with the urging of Jared and a plea from him not to let him be the cause of his career going dead. Jared had shamelessly used a pleading face to his full advantage, he loved Jensen and he didn’t want to see Jensen give everything up completely for him and Jensen had known Jared to be right. So while he wasn’t on the punishing schedule that he had been on for years, he was working from home now and basing himself completely here in Texas. Jared loved to sit in the recording studio Jensen had built onto the house and watch and listen as Jensen recorded.
“I wonder how poor Jim is getting on with your Mom and Lisa?” Jensen was chuckling at the thought of the tormented face Jim would wear around the two women, and they both knew it was a complete front, going by the looks shooting between Lisa and Jim. The couple were a match, even if they didn’t know it yet.
“I can’t wait to see the look on Lisa’s face when you give her the deeds Jen, what you have done, its way more than you should have...”
“Ssssshhhh... we have talked about this Jay, your mom and Lisa love it here, and I couldn’t get her diner back for her so I bought her the one in town here, those two women are gonna love creating a home out of the apartment above it and the folk in town are gonna love those two women.”
Jared raised his head and smiled at Jensen then, his eyes shining and so full of life that Jensen once again found himself thanking god for giving this man back to him.
“Thank you Jensen, god I love you so much.”
Jensen leaned in for a deep kiss and whispered,
“No thank you Jay, you have no idea of how you changed my life, how you make it so full of fun and love and life...and I love you so much.”
As the sun finally went down in the cold Texas sky, two men sat on a porch and held each other and thanked god for the love they had found and the changes that love had brought to their lives. They faced Christmas with a deep joy and happiness only a true love could bring and looked forward to a new year full of health and happiness and love.
May everyone who reads this have a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful new year, I love you all, God bless you.