Gone Away Awhile 10/11
Title: Gone Away Awhile 10/11
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Word Count: ~9300
Rating/Warnings: NC-17 for sexual situations, MPREG, and medical/health problems
A/N: This story is based off a prompt by the amazing imogen_lily . Thank you so much for the gorgeous banner and for letting me play with this idea! I appreciate all the help and nudging sweetie!!! You are an amazing person to work with!
Summary: Jensen has it all…great job, lots of money, the love of his life…and NO kids, just the way he wants it. Everything seems perfect, until one night following a big fight Jensen comes home to find Jared has left, turning his world upside down. Four years down the line, he might finally find the answers to all his questions…in the form of two little boys who look a lot like him and Jared…
The hospital was busy with various accidents and injuries brought on by the storm. It was hectic and hard to navigate through the crowds. Jensen managed it nonetheless. He was determined to get up to Jared’s room and check in on everything. Nothing was going to stand in his way if he could help it.
He waved to some of the nurses on the floor. They had all been very kind and patient with Jensen and his impatient worrying. They had indulged him and didn’t let him upset them if he became more vocal about his concerns. They knew he was going through a lot and never let it bother them.
“Flowers…nice touch, sugar,” Jared’s nurse, Loretta Devine commented as Jensen walked past the desk.
“Was hoping,” Jensen said softly as he paused for a moment. “How’s he doing?”
“Ok…he’s worrying himself sick over that baby girl of yours though. Don’t think he’s gotten a wink of sleep today. Poor boy could use it too.”
“I know…he promised me he’d try to get some sleep while I went to see the twins.” Jensen rubbed a hand at the back of his neck. “I don’t know what to do. He slept last night…”
“Boy, last night he was still feeling the anesthesia. Now, he’s a little more clear-headed and all he can think about is his daughter. I’ve seen it a hundred times with these types of situations.”
“Yeah, but he can’t go see her yet…not until he’s a little more rested.”
“Yeah, his blood pressure is still too low from all the blood loss and he’s hurting more than he’s let on.”
“I know,” Jensen sighed again. “I’ll see what I can do…”
“So will I,” Loretta added. “I’ll call Dr. Tal. She left her number with me in case something happened while she’s out. She ran home to catch a few hours of sleep. I swear I don’t think that girl has left your daughter or husband’s sides much at all since they came in yesterday afternoon!”
“Yeah, she’s a good friend,” Jensen said with a smile.
“Hopefully she can come in soon and get Jared down to NICU. I’m sure she can swing it.”
“Thanks…it would mean the world to him.”
Loretta winked and shoved Jensen towards Jared’s private room. He slowly pushed open the door, inwardly groaning at the fact that Jared was still awake.
“Hey,” Jared rasped out as he saw his husband. He looked pretty rough. His skin was pale, almost to the point that it looked as if his blood had been drained instead of replenished. He had dark smudges under his eyes. He still had a nasal cannula feeding oxygen into his nose as a precaution. IVs snaked around his body. He shifter slightly every few seconds as if in pain.
“Hey, Jare,” Jensen replied. “Brought you these.” He held up the white roses encased in a pink vase with the words “It’s a Girl” displayed on the front.
Jared smiled a little. “Thank you.” He watched Jensen set it down beside him on the nightstand. “Have you seen her today?”
“Yeah, I swung by there this morning. They said she’s doing well, babe. They’re giving her food through the tube for right now so she can gain weight. She’s breathing on her own, which they didn’t expect. She’s still having trouble regulating her temp. But she’ll get there.”
“I know,” Jared sighed. “The boys were born around this point too. I just…”
“You want to see her. I know it babe.” Jensen sat down next to Jared on the bed, trying to be careful not to jostle him too much.
“Hate this. Hated it with the twins.” Jensen squeezed his hand. “It’s kinda sad…I’ve had surgeries with both pregnancies after going through labor. And neither one was your normal C-section.”
“Hey…always did say you weren’t one to go with the norm.”
Jared sent him a glare, but Jensen could tell he was actually trying not to laugh.
“But seriously I know it has to suck to go through that back to back. I hated seeing you like that in the house.”
“Never knew labor could be like that.” Jared shivered a little at the memory of the intensity of yesterday.
“Come here,” Jensen said, gently tugging on Jared until he was leaning against him in the bed. “How ya feeling today? You look tired.”
“I am…can’t sleep though. Keep thinking about Paige.”
“They could give you something for it you know.”
“Is foggy enough with the pain meds. I’m good. Wish I wasn’t on them right now…”
“Jay, you’ve gotta have them. I know you’re hurting. Could tell as soon as I walked in.”
“I…I didn’t want to be all doped up when I saw Paige,” Jared admitted softly.
“Baby,” Jensen started softly. “You can’t let yourself go right now just because you want to see Paige. That isn’t going to do anyone any good, especially her. Al said she’s going to be here for a little while before she can go home but that she’s confident that Paige will be going home to us. But you gotta take care of yourself in the meantime, babe.” Jensen leaned down and gave him a kiss on the forehead.
“How are the boys?”
“Jared, don’t try to change the subject.”
“I’m not…I just want to ask about them before I call the nurse for stronger meds. Once I get them in me, I’ll be shit for conversation.”
Jensen smiled sadly at him. He knew Jared never liked strong painkillers and that he tended to pass out as soon as they were given to him. “The twins are good…worried about you but that was to be expected. They’re excited to see the baby though.” Jensen’s smile fell. “I…I didn’t really know how to explain why she came earlier and all though. Not with what happened…”
“I can help with that when I get home,” Jared assured. “They don’t need all the details.”
“They want to see you though.”
“Not yet…not while I still look like this. Look like hell…don’t wanna scare them.”
“Some sleep will help with that, Jay. You mainly just look exhausted.”
“Look like a ghost with as pale as I am…”
Jensen couldn’t help but agree with that. “But that will go away soon.” He carded his fingers through Jared’s hair. “What did Alona say this morning after I left?”
“That I’m doing ok,” he sighed. “She wishes my BP would go back up. I swear it’s gone from sky high to rock bottom in less than twenty four hours.”
“Ouch…”
“Yeah,” Jared huffed. “Um…other than that…she’s watching for infections. As of right now, my stitches are clean. I didn’t tear or anything when Paige was born. Not sure how I managed not to…but if I had I’d say I would have an infection with my luck.”
“Not just that…we weren’t exactly prepared for home birth.”
“No kidding,” Jared scoffed. He bit his lip and turned quiet for a few beats. “Has…has the police found out anything about my parents yet?”
Jensen had known the question would come up at some point, but it didn’t make things any easier. “Josh took them to the house yesterday after he left here. They dusted for prints and found a bunch. Obviously ours and the kids…but they also found your parents’. Guess they weren’t too careful, thankfully. But where both have records the prints were in the database. The police just need to take your statement and then track down those pieces of shit.”
“Jen…”
“No! I’m not going to apologize for calling them that! Not after what they did to you. I just…I can’t…”
“Jensen,” Jared continued. “Wasn’t asking you to. Wanted to tell you to ask if the police can come by today. I want to get it over with. I want my da-Gerry to pay for this. I know I’ve made excuses and forgiven him in the past, but…” Jared had to close his eyes as tears stung at the back of them. “He…he could have killed our daughter. That’s…that’s not something I can forgive.”
“It’s not something you should have to either.” Jensen pressed another kiss to his forehead. “You did nothing wrong.”
“I should have just given the money. Then maybe Paige wouldn’t have been born so early and I’d know where Jeff is and-“
“Jay, do you honestly think they knew where Jeff was this whole time? I mean…”
“I don’t know what to think to be honest,” Jared sighed. “I just wish I knew where he was.”
“You really miss him, huh?”
“God, yes.” Jared leaned a little harder against Jensen. “He was my best friend growing up. He…I don’t know. He sacrificed so much for me. I just didn’t know it until I got older. I didn’t realize how much he shielded me from. He was protective, kinda like how Josh always has been of you and Mack. Just more so with Jeff…”
“So…he was basically just a slightly less obnoxious Josh?”
Jared couldn’t help but laugh at that. However the movement sent sharp pain across his surgical site. “Ahh…let’s not make me laugh…please,” he said a little breathlessly.
Jensen reached across the bed and hit the call button. “How about we get you that painkiller and you sleep?”
“Jen I-“
“This is RN Devine…what can I do for you?”
“Hey Loretta…this is Jensen. Do you think you could go ahead and bring the stronger medicine for Jared? He’s in a lot of pain.”
“Be right there.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” Jared said after Loretta discounted the intercom. “I’m alright.”
“Jared, you don’t have to suck it up like you’re doing right now. You’re exhausted and I know you’re hurting. It is ok to admit it. You can you know. You don’t have to fight it. Why would you want to?”
“I just…after my surgery on my spleen…I didn’t like taking a lot of meds and all. Alona wasn’t specialized at the time to be able to help with preemies like that. So I had all these random doctors coming in trying to tell me things I needed to know about the twins’ situation and healthcare. I couldn’t remember half of it because of the morphine they gave me. It was awful…I felt like the worse dad. I couldn’t even concentrate on my own kids’ health.”
“Jay, you were sick and hurting. It wasn’t your fault. They shouldn’t have tried to talk to you about that stuff when you were that medicated. You’d had a pretty major surgery, just like now, and they should have known what meds you were on. Morphine screws with you. That’s something that happens. Doesn’t mean you are a bad dad. Not then…and not now. And you know what? There are other painkillers than morphine you could request. You just have to ask, Loretta.”
“Ask me what, sweetheart?” Loretta questioned as she came inside the room.
Jared bit his lip for a second before talking. “Um…is there any way…can I have something other than morphine please? I had a bad experience with it when I had surgery after the twins were born. I don’t like being that gone…especially when I have a newborn that I have to be updated about. I’m sorry.”
Loretta sent him a small smile. “No need to apologize, boy. It’s your body and you know it better than anyone. I just don’t want you to be in pain. I’ll go find something else for you and get you fixed up for now.”
“Thank you,” Jared sighed in relief.
A moment later Loretta returned with another vile of a different type of medicine out for him. “Now, this should still take the edge off for you and let you sleep for awhile. But it tends to not make you feel as foggy when you wake up later.”
“Thank you again,” Jared said. He watched as she left the room, slowly sinking farther into Jensen’s side and the bed. The pain began to lessen and he felt his eyelids slide shut. The last thing he felt before the medicine pulled him under was Jensen’s fingers running through his hair. Jensen stayed by his side on the small hospital bed, even though he was practically hanging off the edge of the mattress.
Jared had only been asleep a few minutes when there was a soft knock at the door. He looked up to see Josh walking inside. His big brother shot a look at Jared’s sleeping form before turning his attention to Jensen. “Is this a bad time? I don’t want to wake him up.”
“Should be fine,” Jensen replied, keeping his voice down. “They gave him some meds so he should be out for awhile. Just don’t raise your voice too much just in case. I don’t want to wake him up. He hasn’t slept all day.”
Josh frowned at that. “He ok?”
“Yeah…he apparently had a bad trip off painkillers when he had his spleen removed after the twins were born. Made him feel like a shitty father because he couldn’t keep up with what the doctors were telling him about the boys. So this time around he thought it would be better if he just didn’t have any at all…”
“Damn,” Josh gasped.
“Pretty much. Loretta gave him something that shouldn’t do that to him. They had him on morphine back then. She said this should help with the pain but not make him feel as high when he wakes back up.”
“That’s good. I mean…that wasn’t exactly minor surgery he went through.”
“Not at all. And he’s sore from labor on top of that.”
“Poor guy,” Josh said sadly. “Well…I have some news that might cheer you both up some. You already know my buddy found Gerry and Sherry’s prints in the house and that they were in the system. Gerry is wanted in a couple states on some other smaller assault charges and some white-collar crimes. Sherry’s wanted for some drug and check fraud.”
“Why am I not surprised…”
“Well they put out some feelers and ended up finding Gerry’s car. Surprisingly, the bastard actually had it in his name so it was easy to find. And…it gets better…a traffic light snapped a photo of the car, with Gerry driving it, as it ran a red light. Michael tracked it down using the picture and found it on the side of the road. Apparently they tried to drive through that shitty storm yesterday. Tree branch fell on their car during it.”
“It kill them?”
“Don’t get excited, Jen,” Josh huffed. “They were both fine…just sitting in the thing.”
“Damn…”
“But Michael arrested them. He contacted the authorities in the other states and is working on all the charges. Here at least, Gerry is going to be charged with two counts of assault with malicious intent.”
“Two accounts?”
“Jared and Paige…they’re counting her in there too.”
“Didn’t know they could do that,” Jensen replied in awe.
“Yeah…there has been precedent. And with the way he assaulted Jared in his stomach…”
“So they are just sitting in lock up?” Jensen asked, trying not to focus too much on the details of Jared’s assault. He’d already pictured it enough times on his own.
“For now. Michael wants to come by to talk to Jared when he feel up to it.”
“He wants to get it over with today if possible. He mentioned it to me earlier.”
“I’ll let Mike know.” Josh ran his hand through his hair. “Sherry actually sold Gerry out.”
“You’re shitting me?!?” Jensen exclaimed louder than expected. Jared stirred beside him, but didn’t wake. “What’d she do?” Jensen continued much more quietly.
“Mike and his team found some drugs in her purse…some prescription pills that obviously weren’t prescribed to her if you catch my drift. When they went in to interrogate her, they told her with the way the system was cracking down on prescription drugs and the fact that she would be considered an accomplish on the all assault charges…she’d be lucky if she saw the light of day before she died.”
“So she sold Gerry out?”
“She made a deal. She’s still going to be in jail for a very long time and Jared can file a restraining order against her. But she completely screwed the bastard over. No way he’s getting out of the charges. Not with the evidence and her testimony.”
Jensen looked down at Jared’s sleeping form. The sheets covered up the bruises and scratches Gerry had inflicted on him. In sleep, Jensen couldn’t see the worry and panic the attack had brought on either.
“I want to see them.”
“Jensen…”
“I just…there was something Jared said. I need to see about it.”
“Michael won’t let you in to see Gerry. Not with all the verbal threats you made against him yesterday.”
“What threats?” Jensen tried to ask innocently.
“Don’t be cute,” Josh warned. “Fine…I’ll see if he’ll let you talk to Sherry. Come on.”
Jensen leaned down and kissed Jared’s forehead before he left the room. He swung by the nurses’ desk to let Loretta her know he was stepping out and to call if Jared needed him. Josh drove them to the station, which wasn’t too far from the hospital really. It only took a few minutes to get there, but Josh was being overly cautious, trying to keep his brother’s temper in check. Once outside the station, Josh grabbed Jensen’s arm, stopping him from entering.
“What?”
“Keep your cool. You lose it in there, and you could put everything in jeopardy. Got it?”
Jensen nodded and shrugged out of Josh’s hold before stepping inside the station
“Josh!”
“Hey Mike,” Josh replied. “Jensen, this is Detective Michael Weatherly. Mike, this is my kid brother, Jensen.”
Jensen offers his hand. “Nice to meet you Detective.” Michael shook it. “I appreciate all the work you’ve done on this case.”
“Of course. Been friends with Josh a long time. I know how much he cares about you and your husband. Besides…I’ll be happy to put the Padaleckis in lock up. They’ve definitely racked up the charges…”
“Not surprised,” Jensen sighed.
“Jen was wondering if he could speak with Sherry for a moment,” Josh interrupted.
“I don’t know…”
“I’m not going to do anything. I have a question for her.” Jensen rubbed at the back of his neck. “Jared said they were trying to blackmail him into giving him money; they said they knew where his big brother was. He’s been trying to find Jeff for as long as I can remember.”
“Jensen…”
“I don’t want to do anything to her.” Josh raised his eyebrow. “I’d love to rip Gerry apart, don’t get me wrong, and I hate this bitch too. But I want to see if she’ll give me info about Jeff. Jared told me he thought he made a mistake by standing up to them yesterday. He thought if he had just given in the baby wouldn’t have been born so early and he’d have his big brother back.”
“Shit,” Josh gasped.
“Fine,” Michael replied a moment later. “But I’m staying in there with you just in case. No complaints.”
“Yes, Detective.”
“Good…let’s go.” With that, Michael guided Jensen to the cells. Along the way, Jensen spotted Gerry curled up on one of the tiny benches asleep. It took all his strength not to lash out. But he walked by silently, clenching and unclenching his hands into fists the entire time. A few seconds later, he was taken into a small interrogation room. “I’ll go get her.”
“Thanks,” Jensen sighed. He couldn’t sit still, and he ended up pacing around the small space while he waited. It didn’t take long for Michael to bring her in, sit her down at the table, and cuff her to it. “Sherry,” Jensen exhaled.
She didn’t say anything to him. She kept her eyes glued to the table. Her face was pinched and sweaty.
“Withdrawal’s a bitch, huh?”
She sent Jensen a glare. “Don’t patronize me.”
“I think I have the right to say whatever I want to you.”
She bit her lip but continued to look at him. “How’s Jared?”
Jensen scoffed. “Don’t pull the mom act now. Not after you let your husband hurt him like that when he was pregnant.”
“Was?”
“Yes…was. Gerry’s stunt sent him into labor.”
“Oh God…”
“Don’t act like you care,” Jensen snapped.
“I do!” She sat up and leaned over the table. “He’s my son and I will always care!”
“The hell you do. If you cared you wouldn’t have let Gerry do this to him…not now and not in the past. You wouldn’t have sat back and popped another pill while he beat the shit out of Jeff and Jared. You wouldn’t have…”
“I’m not perfect.”
“No shit,” Jensen huffed. “Last I checked good moms don’t try to blackmail one son with the other.” She flinched at his words. “Do you even know where Jeff is?”
“I…he…he used to write letters to Jared.”
“Jared never-“
“Gerry kept them from Jared. We didn’t want Jared to run off to him. We needed him at home.”
“Gerry needed a new punching bag and you wanted a new bank,” Jensen scoffed. “So where is Jeff?!?”
Sherry stayed silent, not giving up the information.
“You know…I hear the women’s prison in Texas is rougher than the men’s,” Michael said, speaking for the first time since entering. “Women are cruel you know. Men…they just beat the shit out of each other and go on. Women…nah…they pull all that psychological shit on you…screw with you before they beat you. Always heard the one here in Texas was the worst.”
Sherry’s eyes flicked up to him and she paled.
“You tell Jensen the truth…tell him where your other son is…I’ll see about getting you extradited to another state.”
Sherry continued to look down at the table. But after a few beats of silence, she spoke. “He was out in California last I had heard. We haven’t spoken in a year. I don’t know if he’s still there. But he was in Monterey this time last year. Gerry…we tried to blackmail him into money then too. Told him we’d give him Jared’s address and number if he would.”
“So…you don’t even know if Jeff is still there?!?” Jensen was furious.
“No,” she replied quietly.
Jensen was never one to hit a woman, but he wanted to more than anything else right now. Michael’s hand on his shoulder was about the only thing keeping him from doing it too. He shrugged out of it and stormed out of the room, not wanting to spend another minute there with her.
“Jen?” Josh said softly. “Take a breath. What happened?”
“After all that…she…they don’t even know where Jeff is for sure! They haven’t talked to him in a year…they…”
“Come here.” Josh grabbed Jensen and pulled him into a hug before he punched something or someone.
“She said she hasn’t talked to Jeff in a year…that he was living in Monterey, California. But she doesn’t think he’s still there. After all that…they didn’t even know where Jeff was…”
“I’ve been there before…isn’t too huge. We could probably get in touch with people there…maybe find his old address and see if he’s there or left a forwarding one. Doesn’t Chris have an old military buddy who is a private investigator?”
Jensen smiled. “You are a genius!” He dug out his phone and walked outside of the station.
“Hello?”
“Chris!”
“Jen? What’s going? How’s Jay? The baby? Is-“
“Paige is doing ok. Jared’s sleeping.”
“Good…”
“Need a favor though.”
“Shoot.”
“You still have that buddy from the military? The PI?”
“You mean Steve? Sure…he’s got an office in Dallas.”
“Think he could try to find someone for me?”
“Probably. Who you lookin’ for?”
“Jeff Padalecki.”
“Jared’s brother?”
“Was in Monterey, California a year ago. Not sure if he still is…but…”
“It’s a start. I’ll get things rolling.”
“Thanks man!” Jensen hung up and climbed back into Josh’s car so he could head to the hospital again. Josh dropped him off at the door, and Jensen rushed back up to Jared. He would have continued to run to Jared’s room if Loretta hadn’t grabbed him arm.
“Jared’s not in there sweetheart.”
“What?” Jensen asked, suddenly nervous.
“He’s fine, Jensen. Alona let him go see the baby. He’s down in the NICU.”
“Thanks,” Jensen sighed with relief before leaving to go into the NICU. He scrubbed his hands and threw the proper gown on over his clothes before heading into the main area. He could see Alona standing off to the side, jotting some notes down on a chart. She looked up from her work and smiled at him.
Then he saw Jared…
His husband looked content for the first time in over twenty-four hours as he sat in the padded chair. His hospital gown was pulled down in the front but a blanket was wrapped around him to keep him warm. Paige was nestled against his bare chest while the tubes and wires hung down around Jared. He didn’t seem to be phased by them. He was too busy trying to take in all the details of his daughter.
“Hey,” Jensen whispered once he was close by. He gave Jared a kiss on the forehead before running a finger over Paige’s cheek.
“Hey,” Jared replied softly. He glanced up to Jensen for a moment before looking back down at Paige.
“How are you two doin’?” Jensen pulled up a chair and sat down beside them.
“Be honest!” Alona said, barely looking up from her work.
Jared rolled his eyes at her. “Ok…sore as hell but ok.” He shifted Paige a little. “Better now that I can finally see her.”
“How’d you talk them into this?”
“Loretta called me,” Alona interrupted. “Told me how Jared was having trouble resting not being able to see his baby girl.” She moved a strand of hair out of her eyes. “Let’s just say the two of us are scarier than any doctor in this wing who wants to follow protocol just for the hell of it.”
“Nice,” Jensen laughed.
“Definitely,” Jared sighed, sniffling a little. “She’s so little though…”
“She’ll grow,” both Jensen and Alona said in unison. He’d already said the same thing to her the previous day.
“I know…it’s just hard to see. I hate that I couldn’t protect her and-“
“You did the best you could,” Jensen said, stern yet gentle. “It wasn’t your fault.” Jensen ran his hand up and down the back of Jared’s neck. “You did what you could and you managed to bring her to us even though you felt like shit. Think you protected her.”
Jared blushed but didn’t say anything. He just continued to look down at his new daughter.
“I mean it,” Jensen emphasized. He kissed Jared on the forehead. He just hoped that Jared would believe him soon.
***********
Jensen drove down the street carefully, avoiding any bumps in the country roads. Beside him, Jared was sitting with his head leaning against the window. The sun was streaming in through it, lighting up his face. He still had dark circles under his eyes, but his skin no longer had the sickly pale look to it, which Jensen was very thankful for.
“You doing ok over there?” Jensen asked.
“Yeah, Jen.” Jared turned towards him and smiled. “Happy to be out of the hospital.” He shifted around a little, trying to not pull on his stitches. He was stuck with them until they dissolved in a few weeks. “Hate we had to leave Paige, but I know it’s the best thing.”
“Yeah…won’t be much longer though. And it will give you time to heal up before she gets home.”
“I’ll be happy about that. It’s just hard leaving her. You’d think I would be used to it all with the boys but…”
Jensen reached for Jared’s hand. “You had her with you for seven months, Jay. I think you’re allowed to be a little anxious about it all.”
“I guess.” Jared gripped his husband’s hand and looked back out the window.
It didn’t take too much longer for them to pull into the driveway of the ranch house. Jared breathed a sigh of relief as the place came into view. As much as he did hate to leave Paige at the hospital, he was thrilled to be out of the place himself. He was still sore and his abdominal muscles burned when he moved the wrong way. But he was feeling better nonetheless.
Before Jared could climb out of the car on his own, Jensen was at his side opening the door and bracing him. Jared huffed out a laugh at him. “You know I’m not an invalid, right?”
“You have bruised ribs, just pushed a kid out of yourself, and had surgery…”
“Yes…but it has been a few weeks now Jen. I could have come home last week.”
“But you got dizzy and Alona wouldn’t let you.”
“I got dizzy that day because the nurse gave me some painkiller while I was sleeping and it wasn’t the one I was supposed to have…”
“Still…let me help you.”
Jared rolled his eyes but smiled nonetheless. He allowed Jensen to help pull him out of the car. He breathed through the burning muscles and stood up straight. “See, I’m good.”
“Indulge me,” Jensen sighed. He grabbed Jared’s duffle bag and guided Jared inside the house. The main hall was dark, and Jared was surprised the twins weren’t breaking free from their grandparents and running to the door.
“Wh-“
“Happy Birthday!”
Lights suddenly came on in the living room and lit up the small crowd standing around there. The boys were squirming in Donna and Alan’s arms. Beside them, Sam and JD stood with goofy grins on their faces. Misha was off to the side, all but bouncy with energy. Sandy and Gen weren’t doing much better. Josh and Mack were on the other side with their spouses. Alli was squirming almost as much as her cousins. Alona was standing beside them with her back leaning against Chris’s chest.
“Oh my God,” Jared gasped while a smile started to light up his face.
Jensen kissed him on the cheek. “Didn’t think we would forget your Birthday would we?”
“I…honestly forgot it myself.”
“Daddy,” the twins whined, drawing Jared’s attention back.
“Hey you two,” he said. He broke out of Jensen’s grip and walked over to the twins. Donna and Alan stood up with the boys so that Jared wouldn’t have to lean down and wouldn’t attempt to pick them up either. He wasn’t allowed to lift up on anything just yet, including his sons. He wrapped his arms around them and pulled them close while their grandparents held onto them. “Missed you guys.”
“Can you stay now?” Remy asked softly.
“Do you have to go back to the hosp…hospi…”
“Hospital, Dimitri,” Jared supplied. “And not like that baby. We have to go in to check on Paige until she’s strong enough to come home. But I’m home for good, you two.” It felt good being able to say that to his sons.
“Will Paige be home soon?” Remy asked next.
“In a few weeks buddy. She was born a little too early.”
“But she’ll be ok?” Dimi continued.
Jared smiled softly at the boys. He had been worried that the baby being born would make them jealous, especially with all the time Jensen had had to spend at the hospital with both Jared and Paige. But instead, the twins had been anything but jealous. In fact, Jensen had told him their sons were about to go crazy waiting to see the little girl. NICU rules were strict, and did not permit children of the twins’ age. “You two were born that little too. And look at you! You’re daddy’s big boys now aren’t you?” His voice became a little raspy and husky with emotions as he spoke.
The twins didn’t pick up on it. They both just nodded vigorously and began babbling on about how big they were and what all they were going to do when Paige was big like them. Jared wanted nothing more than to continue to stand there and listen to it all, but his stomach was starting to hurt again from standing for so long.
“How about you two come sit with me on the couch?” he suggested, knowing it would allow the boys to still talk to him but would also give his healing body a reprieve. They of course wanted nothing more than to be near him, so they each nodded and agreed to the couch. Jensen helped him over to it, much to Jared’s protesting. The twins climbed up after him and snuggled into his side.
“Be careful for your Daddy’s tummy,” Jensen warned.
“They’re fine, Jen,” Jared replied. He pulled his babies in closer to him.
“You’re not fat anymore,” Remy exclaimed, gently pressing around the top part of Jared’s abdomen.
“No,” Jared laughed. “Your baby sister was making my tummy so big. But Alona helped get her out and now my belly’s getting back to normal.”
“I still can’t get over how much you’ve lost already,” Jensen added.
“Most of his weight was the baby and all,” Alona explained. “Then he wasn’t exactly eating a whole lot the first couple days out of surgery.”
“What exactly happened to make you need surgery?” Sandy asked, running her fingers through the fine hairs that spread down Jared’s neck.
He thought for a moment, not wanting to explain it in a way that would upset the twins. “Um…the cord and…everything,” he said instead of placenta, “couldn’t come out on it’s own. I went through labor too quickly. My muscles wouldn’t contract to expel it or stop the bleeding. And Al couldn’t get it on her own. They had to do surgery once I got to the hospital.”
“God,” JD gasped. “I still can’t believe all of it…with your…well…”
“Yeah,” Jared said absently as he focused on the boys again. He hadn’t really talked much about his parents’ involvement in everything since Michael had stopped by and taken his statement. There wasn’t much to say really. He was hurt by it all, but it wasn’t as if he had never experienced the harsh side of his parents. He had just never expected them to ever do something to someone while with child…
“So…we brought presents,” Sam said, changing the subject for him.
“You guys didn’t ha-“
“Don’t even,” Misha huffed. “One…it’s your Birthday and I can tell you didn’t even remember it was. Two…you just had a new kid…a girl at that. Of course we’re giving you gifts, dork.”
Jared rolled his eyes and smiled. He had truly missed his friends.
“For you my dear,” Sandy said exaggeratedly while setting down a couple of gifts carefully on his lap.
“Sandy…”
“They’re from me and my mom. Just open them up, Jay.”
Jared sent her a smile and tore into the gifts like she wanted. The first box contained a handmade quilt courtesy of her mom for Paige. Another contained some dresses and onesies, some of which were also handmade. The last gift was just an envelope. When Jared opened it, it contained a slip of paper with the words “Free Daycare” written across it. “What…I’m not sure I know what this is for, San.”
“It’s for this great new place.” She handed him a business card. It had bright lettering and pictures all over it. It also said McCoy Daycare Center across the top and a local address across the bottom.
“You’re joking?” Jared said in shock.
“Mom and I decided we wanted to come back here. Mom misses my sister…who just got a divorce. She wants to be close to her. I want to be close to her too, and you guys. So, this is what we came up with. Mom and I decided to go back to the daycare business, but this time for ourselves. We will be up and running by fall.”
“That’s incredible…I…God I’m so happy you’ll be back! I just…”
Sandy leaned down and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Me too sweetie. Me too.”
“More gifts!” Misha said, breaking the moment before Jared could get too emotional. “Open mine up!” Misha sounded more like a hyperactive five year old than the twins usually did, which said a lot about how excited the man was.
“Sure thing, man.” Just like Sandy, Misha had a couple of boxes and an envelope as well. The first box contained a sock monkey styled knit hat, just like Misha owned, for all of the kids as well as for Jared and Jensen.
Jensen rolled his eyes, but had to smile at the how excited the boys were. They grabbed them all and tugged them onto their own head before putting the bigger ones on their fathers. Jared picked up Paige’s tiny one. Jensen had to admit; the thing was pretty damn cute.
Jared ripped open the envelope. I held a goofy card that Jared quickly read. Inside, was another gift credit like slip of paper. This time it had the name of some new restaurant on it. “What’s this place, Mish?”
“It’s this great new place…isn’t it Jensen?”
Jared scrunched his brow and looked at Jensen, who just had a small smile on his face. “Just tell him already…”
“Well…thanks to your husband, who is not as big of a douche as I had first thought.” Jensen sent him a glare. “Sorry but I did.” Jared tried not to laugh. “Anyway…thanks to Jensen and his connections. I will be leaving the atrocity that is Denver without you and my favorite five year olds.”
“You too?” Sandy said in awe.
“Great minds think a like.” Misha pointed to his head and back to hers, making her giggle. “If I spend another day there…working with Jake as my assistant…yes…Matt made the kid my assistant…I’m going to go postal! So, I’m opening my own place here, in the town on the other side of the ranch.”
“That’s amazing!” Jared said with a huge smile on his face. “You’ve been wanting to do that forever now! Congrats! How’d you find the money though? Not to be a downer but…”
“I can explain that,” Sam interrupted. “I’m pretty sick of my job too. So I agreed to go into business with Misha. I know the financials of running a restaurant and all the non-cooking parts of it.”
“But, JD has the school and-“
“And the principal at the twins’ new school is retiring. They found me more than qualified enough for the position.”
Jared just looked at all his friends in complete shock. “You’re all moving to Texas? You’ll all be here?” He looked close to tears and he was internally cursing his emotions and hormones.
“And now this is starting to sound like a Lifetime movie,” Jensen huffed, prompting Gen to punch him in the arm. “Son of a…” He saw the twins looking up at him. “I mean…ouch.”
The others rolled their eyes and the rest of the party continued onwards. Jared opened various gifts, most of which were for the baby. There were some items in there for himself as well. Sam had bought him some new sweaters for when he lost his baby weight and Misha had found some old movies he’d been wanting. Gen had found a bunch of books for him.
Jensen however saved his gift for later in the night, when the guests had all gone to their cabins on the property or their homes elsewhere. The twins were fast asleep in their beds, despite their protests that they could stay up all night to be with their daddy. It was just Jared and Jensen lying side by side on their massive bed.
Jensen ran his hand through Jared’s long hair. “Have a good Birthday, babe?”
“Yeah…thank you for everything.” Jared leaned into Jensen’s touch, relaxing more than he had in weeks.
“I haven’t even given you your gift yet.”
“Jensen-“
“Shh…I’m allowed to spoil you. You gave me two pretty cool boys, and you worked so damn hard to give me our pretty little girl. You deserve it.” He reached over to the nightstand and grabbed a small box from the drawer. He set it down next to Jared on the bed so he wouldn’t have to move around much. He was more tired than he was letting on and sore as he could be.
Jared pulled the bow off and stuck it to Jensen’s forehead. Jensen rolled his eyes but left it, not wanting to spoil Jared’s fun. The younger man may be exhausted and starting to hurt more, but he was having more fun than he had thought possible given the circumstances.
Jared tore the blue and silver wrapping paper off, revealing a small black box. He popped the top off stared at the contents a little mesmerized.
“You like it?” Jensen nuzzled at Jared’s forehead.
“I…wow, Jen.” Jared’s fingers shook a little as he picked up the gift from the box. It was a white gold chain with a white gold guitar pick pendant hanging from it. Along the top, Paige’s name was engraved. Remy and Dimitri were on each side. In between each name was a small sapphire.
Jensen’s fingers glided over the jewelry. “Pick itself represents me. I remember how much you always have loved me playing the guitar for you. How it used to comfort you when we first dated.” Jared nodded, remembering how Jensen would play his guitar and sing softly when he’d come over from a rough day from school or an argument with his parents. “The kids names…I’d say that’s self explanatory. And the sapphire is the birthstone for someone in September. Which is-”
“When we were married.”
“And it was kinda the birth of our lives…of this life.” Jensen started to blush. “It’s cheesy as hell and-MMPH!” Jared cut him off with a crushing kiss.
“I love it…thank you so much.” Jared kissed him again. “Love you so much.”
Jensen smiled sheepishly, still blushing. He took the necklace from Jared’s fingers and put it around his husband’s neck. He then pulled Jared close to his side, kissing him again. As far as Jared was concerned, even with stitches in his abdomen and the feeling like he could sleep for a month, this had turned out to be one of the best Birthdays. Now all he needed was his baby girl to be by his side…
***********
“You know you can drive more than ten miles per hour, Jen,” Jared huffed good-naturedly from the backseat.
“No way…not happening!” He stopped at a stop sign and turned around. “Not while she is in the car.”
Jared looked down next to him. In her car seat, their little angel Paige was sleeping peacefully. The rumble of the Impala had put her to sleep as soon as they’d started driving towards the ranch house. Jensen had smiled, proudly proclaiming how that was his girl.
“You are turning into such a cliché right now.”
“You can’t tell me you didn’t do this with the twins when you brought them home.”
“Maybe…but I was driving downtown Denver…not middle of nowhere Texas where we haven’t passed a car for the last fifteen minutes.” His fingers toyed with Paige’s tiny hands absently. “With the way you’re going the twins are going to start to think they aren’t seeing their sister tonight.”
“Fine…I’ll go a little faster.” He pressed harder on the accelerator, making the car go a whole whopping twenty-five miles an hour in a fifty zone. Jared decided not to comment. He was enjoying Jensen’s first time with a baby. Jensen was shaping up to be every bit the father Jensen had expected him to be with Paige. He was as loving towards her as he was the twins, yet he was gently and soft with the baby while he would rough house with the boys. Jared loved it.
It took longer to get home, due to Jensen’s slow pace. The boys were standing at the door looking out. They quickly threw it open and ran to greet their new sister. Jared was proud of them when they remembered to stay back away from the car until Jensen opened the door. Jared opened his as well and then started to unbuckle the car seat while Jensen kept the boys preoccupied.
Paige had been in the hospital a month longer than Jared had been, putting her stay at a grand total of six weeks. Jared had hated every moment that she was stuck in there while he was out and at home. But the time had given his body the proper rest and healing it needed before she was brought home. It meant he could pick her up and carry her around without worrying about hurting himself.
“Baby?” Remy asked, peeking around the side of the car to see Jared. “Is that the baby?”
“Yes it is kiddo,” Jensen answered, picking up him and his brother. “You got her Jay?”
“Yep,” Jared replied, standing with the car seat in one hand and their supplies in the other. “Let’s go inside so you can see her, boys.”
Jensen carried the twins through the front door. Donna had been watching the twins while Jared and Jensen had gone to pick up Paige. She held it open for them all to enter into the house.
Once inside, Jared sat the carrier on top of the coffee table while Jensen set the twins back on the ground. They ran towards Jared and stood on the tips of their toes, trying to see Paige while Jared went about unhooking her. “Why don’t you two sit up on the couch for Daddy? I’ll get Paige out and you guys can hold her. Let Nana help you wash your hands and then sit on the couch, ok?”
Dimi and Remy took off towards the bathroom, leaving Donna to trail behind. Jared got Paige settled in his own lap on the couch while they were gone. Upon returning to the room, they climbed up onto the couch, one sitting on either side of him. Jensen sat down on the edge of the sturdy coffee table to watch how all of this went. Donna stood behind the couch. The boys hadn’t been able to see much of Paige where they were too young for the NICU visiting rules.
“Ok…I’m going to hand her over to you Remy and show you how to hold her right. Then Dimi will have his turn. No arguing you two. And make sure you’re gentle with her. You remember when Sandy’s cat had her kittens and you visited them last year? How they were so small and you had to be real careful?” He waited until they nodded. “You’ve gotta do that here too sweethearts.”
The boys nodded. They looked eager yet nervous. Donna reached out and ruffled Remy’s hair before Jared set Paige down in his arms. Remy’s arm stiffened around her. “You can relax, buddy,” Jared instructed softly. “You’re holding her just fine. Just make sure you support her head and neck…just like you’re doing baby.”
Paige had woken up a little more, hearing everyone else around her talk and moving around. She yawned widely and blinked up at Remy. Her face scrunched up for a moment, and Jared was worried yes would cry on her big brother. Instead, she just continued to stare up at him, only squirming a little to get used to the new person holding her.
“She opened her eyes for you, munchkin,” Jensen said proudly.
“Is that good?” Remy asked.
“Means she wanted to meet her big brothers.”
“Were we ever that little?” Dimi asked, peeking over from Jared’s other side.
Jared put his arm around the boy. “Actually…you guys were smaller when you were first born.”
“Really?” Remy gasped.
“Wow,” Dimitri added.
“Yep,” Jared continued. “You know how my stomach had to stretch and I got so big to make room for Paige?” They nodded. “Well, it had to do the same for you. But I had both of you in my belly at the same time. So you guys came out really little.”
“Wow…we’ve grown a lot,” Remy said.
“Yeah…you really have.” Jared hugged Dimi closer to his side and gave Remy a kiss on the forehead. They stayed that way for a few more minutes until it was time for Dimi to hold his sister. Just like she had with Remy, she squirmed a little and settled into staring up at Dimi within seconds. The new big brother was just as mesmerized with Paige as she was with him.
After a few minutes though, she started fussing and cried out just a tiny bit. Jared checked his watch and saw it was about time for her feeding. “Sorry, Dimi…she’s just getting hungry. That’s why she’s acting that way.”
“She can have some of my animal crackers,” he replied, making Jared smile. The snack was Dimitri’s favorite.
“Afraid she’s still too little for those, kiddo. But I’m sure she’ll take you up on that offer in the future.” Jared kissed Dimitri’s forehead and carefully took the baby from his arms. Jensen stood up and prepared the bottle for him as Alona had showed him how to do.
The twins stayed by Jared’s side as he went about taking care of the baby. In fact, they spent most of the day doing that. They wanted to learn about everything did to the baby so they could help. They giggled at how she squirmed and looked so surprised when Jared poured water over her during her bath. Then they made faces of their own during diaper changes. Somehow Jared figured they wouldn’t be too keen on helping out with that part of Paige’s needs much in the future.
As much as Jared enjoyed seeing the twin help out with her and want to be around her, he was currently enjoying the quiet of just being alone with his baby. He was stretched out across the bed with her lying beside him. He was running his fingers through her soft curls that were starting to fan out over her forehead. Her eyes, which were as green as the twins’, were slowly blinking up at Jared as she was starting to fall asleep.
“She still awake?” Jensen asked quietly as he approached the bed. He laid down behind Jared and pulled him closer, slotting their bodies against one another. He then leaned over and gave Paige a kiss on her chubby cheek.
“Barely…she’s crashing now.”
“That’s good.” Jensen ran his hand up and down Jared’s abdomen. “Can’t believe how flat your stomach already is.”
“Me neither…it still has no tone though. Just waiting on Al to say I can start exercising more. Stitches are all gone…just need her to green light it.”
Jensen nuzzled Jared’s neck and pressed some kisses along his jaw. “She needs to green light some other things too.” Jensen rubbed at Jared’s hipbone and continued to kiss him.
“Mmmm…soon, Jen. Will be soon, babe.”
“I can wait,” Jensen sighed. “It’s worth it though.” He moved his hand away from Jared’s hips and settled it back on his daughter.
“Yeah it is,” Jared agreed happily.
***********
The twins were busy running around the back yard with the dogs. Jensen was in his office trying to work on some paperwork and contracts he had gotten behind on. He’d been too busy with the baby and everything to keep up with it. Jared was giving him some time to do it while he gave Paige a bath.
The past couple of weeks with her at home had been going better than expected. Paige wasn’t a crier. Alona kept trying to tell him it was where she was so little and her lungs just hadn’t developed enough yet for it. She was convinced Paige would be every bit as loud as her big brothers had been. Jared didn’t believe that for a minute. Paige was just mellower than the twins had been. He could already tell which squirms and grunts warranted what need. She just didn’t cry that much, and Jared loved it.
However, she wasn’t a big fan of baths yet. She still didn’t cry but she would kick and squirm until Jared was absolutely soaked himself. He was pretty sure he had soapsuds stuck to his long hair and his t-shirt was clinging to his chest.
Jared was about to pick her up and dry her off when the front doorbell rang. “Shit…Jen! Can you get that please?”
Jensen didn’t answer and he couldn’t tell if his husband had moved to get the door or not. It rang again. With a sigh, Jared managed to get Paige to stop squirming long enough to wrap the fuzzy towel around her. “Jen! Did you get…” He trailed off as he turned around. The visitor was already standing on the other side of the counter and he couldn’t believe his eyes. He blinked a few times. “Jeff…”
Jensen came in and stood behind Jared’s big brother. Jeff was just staring, looking Jared up and down. Jensen smiled sheepishly at Jared. “Um…was working on this for your Birthday. But it just didn’t come in as early as I had wanted. But…surprise.” Jensen rubbed at the back of his neck.
Jared shook himself from his shock. “How…I don’t…how?”
“Your mom…she gave me the city where Jeff lived a year ago. I had Chris get a hold of his old friend Steve…he’s a PI now. He tracked Jeff from there for me.”
Jared’s mouth was still agape with shock. Jeff broke the silence. “God…look at you. You’re so tall.”
Jared couldn’t help but laugh. “I almost caught up to you…always said I would.”
“That you did.”
Jensen slipped out to allow the brothers to have their time together. Jeff stepped towards his baby brother, who he hadn’t laid eyes on since the kid was twelve years old. He looked down and saw the baby nestled against Jared’s chest, her head just barely peeking out from the towels.
“You’re all grown up,” Jeff choked out, trying to keep his emotions in check. “You…you’ve got a husband and a kid…”
“Three to be exact,” Jared interrupted with a smile.
Jeff closed his eyes, allowing a tear to slip down his cheeks. “And I missed it. I shouldn’t have…I just-“
“You did what you had to do. I don’t blame you, bub.”
Another tear slid out at the old nickname. “I tried, Jare. I did, kid. I wrote letters and tried to call. I wanted mom and dad to let you just move in with me. I-“
“They never showed me any of it. I never knew…”
“Because of them I missed out on all of this.”
Jared bit his lip. “Well…you’re here now. Doesn’t look like you’ve changed all that much. Still as goofy looking as I remember.” Jeff huffed out a laugh. “And…there’s nothing we can do about the past. I’ve realized we’ve let Gerry and Sherry govern and ruin enough for us. Time we don’t let it happen anymore.”
“I’d like that,” Jeff replied softly.
“Then we start from here.” Jared shifted Paige a little. “Jeff, I want you to meet my youngest…your niece.” He handed the baby, still wrapped in the towel, over to his big brother. Jeff looked shell shocked at the motion, but he brought his arms up and cradled her like she was the most fragile thing he’d ever held. “This is Paige.”
Next Chapter -->
Masterpost
A/N: Sorry for the wait! Had a lot real life stuff come up this past week. But only one more chapter to go!