four/four
“What can I do for you two fellas?” Chris asks Jared and Chad. “And before you start, you should know that I charge by the minute.”
“We want to take on the Un-American Activities Committee,” says Jared.
“You don’t say?” Chris leans forward in his chair. “On what grounds?”
“Oh, there are no grounds,” he explains. “We just need you to be there to sound official and all lawyer-like.”
Chris rubs his forehead with a grimace. “You do know I only deal with legitimate matters of legal concern, don’t you?”
“But this is legitimate,” Chad speaks up.
“It’s for Jensen,” Jared adds.
Chris drops his formal demeanor like it’s a hot potato[#]. “Jensen? Ackles?”
Jared nods eagerly.
“Why didn’t you say so, boy?”
“I just did,” he points out.
“I’d do anything for that sonofabitch,” Chris continues. “And now he’s gone and gotten himself into a nice steaming pile of shit.” He shakes his head. “So what’s the plan?”
Jared and Chad exchange glances. “Well…”
Once they’ve finished explaining, Chris stares at them. “That’s the craziest plan I’ve ever heard.”
“We know. So you’ll help us?” Jared asks.
Chris lean back, considers for a few moments. “Oh, what the heck,” he throws his arms up in the air. “A snowball’s chance in hell is still a chance, after all,” he says, smiling at Jared.
Jared grins back, but Chad scratches his head. “Is that a yes or a no?”
Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burn'd
As home his footsteps he hath turn'd,
From wandering on a foreign strand?
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no minstrel raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim,--
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonour'd, and unsung.
--Walter Scott
First came the “friendly” witnesses, the ones who were willing to bend over and be metaphorically fucked dry by the committee in an attempt to cover their own ass. They named supposed communists among their Hollywood peers, and the people they named coincidentally happened to be people they didn’t like.
CHAIRMAN J. PARNELL THOMAS: The record will show that Mr. McDowell, Mr. Vail,
Mr. Nixon, and Mr. Thomas are present. A subcommittee is sitting. Staff members present: Mr. Robert E. Stripling, chief investigator; Messrs. Louis J. Russell, H.A. Smith, and Robert B. Gaston, investigators; and Mr. Benjamin Mandel, director of research.
STRIPLING: As a member of the board of directors, as president of the Screen Actors Guild, and as an active member, have you at any time observed or noted within the organization a clique of either communists or fascists who were attempting to exert influence or pressure on the guild?
REAGAN: There has been a small group within the Screen Actors Guild, which has consistently opposed the policy of the guild board and officers of the guild, as evidenced by the vote on various issues. That small clique referred to has been suspected of more or less following the tactics that we associate with the Communist Party.
CHAIRMAN: This committee was created by the House of Representatives to acquaint the American people with the facts. Once the American people are acquainted with the facts there is no question but what the American people will do the kind of job that they want done: that is, to make America just as pure as we can possibly make it. We want to thank you very much for coming here today.
REAGAN: Sir, I detest, I abhor their philosophy, but I detest more than that their tactics, which are those of the fifth column, and are dishonest. [#]
Then came the unfriendly witnesses, the ones who weren’t willing to trade in their principles for their safety, the ones who weren’t going down without a fight. The ones like Jensen.
“Mr. Ackles, you are here today to be questioned about your suspected involvement with the Communist Party.” Chairman Thomas speaks loudly, as if someone in the room hadn’t known that.
“I request permission to read a small opening statement in my own defense before the slander continues,” Jensen says one hand on his hips, waving the statement idly in his other hand.
“Nice try, Ackles,” Thomas scowls. “You aren’t reading anything until I have approved it.” Thomas motions for the nearest officer to bring forth the statement.
Jensen pauses before handing over the statement for screening. “That’s very kind of you to read my statement for me, sir, but you see, my statement has polysyllabic words in it- that means words that have more than one syllable…” Jensen holds up a single finger to indicate how many ‘one’ is.
Thomas snarls and demands testily, “Give me the statement.”
The officer snatches the statement from Jensen’s hands and places it on the Chairman’s desk. “You’re welcome,” Jensen grumbles.
Thomas clears his throat before beginning, “’For a week, this Committee has conducted an illegal and indecent trial of American citizens…’” Thomas blinks and continues slowly, “’whom the Committee has selected to be publicly pi… pilloried and smeared’- ACKLES! What is this nonsense?”
“That would be my opening statement, sir,” Jensen answers slowly, as if speaking to a child.
“Permission denied,” Thomas snaps. “You can read your statement after you testify and confess.” He sneers at Jensen like one would turn up one’s nose at soiled milk.
“Well, before my character and values are assassinated, someone should at least prepare a eulogy,” Jensen says reasonably.
“Oh, I’ve got your eulogy. I’ll do the reading from now on, Ackles,” Thomas says sharply. He shuffles through his papers. “You began your career as an actor, but switched to directing after being unhappy with your roles, such as Boy Scout #2 and Johnny Appleseed. That was only the beginning of a long and corruptive career in the cinema...”
Jensen bites his tongue, hating having to listen to this ridiculousness without being able to respond. He never was very good at silence.
Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?
-Joseph Welch, in response to Senator McCarthy, HUAC[#&#]
“Now, Mister Ackles, I will ask you: Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Communist party of the United States?”
"The question of Communism,” Jensen begins, “is in no way related to the inquiry, which is an attempt to get control of the screen and to invade the basic rights of American citizens in all fields,” he declares loudly, over the many protests from the board members.
Thomas grits his teeth. “Yes or no, Ackles. Answer the question. Lack of cooperation will not be tolerated.”
Jensen’s face is blank and his jaw is set firmly. He’s not a Communist. He could say so, and be released, but it’s the principle of the matter. And say what you like about Jensen, but no one can deny that he’s a man of principles. His principles are just a little… different from everyone else’s.
“Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Communist party?” Thomas repeats, his patience having run out 10 minutes ago.
“Next you are going to ask me what religious group I belong to.”
“No, no; we are not,” Thomas insists. Everyone knows that communists are filthy atheists, after all.
“And any such question as that-“
“I know,” he interrupts.
“- Is an obvious attempt to invade my rights under the Constitution.”
“Do you object to answering whether or not you are a member of the Communist party?”
“ I have not objected to answering that question,” Jensen asserts. “On the contrary, I point out that next you are going to ask me whether or not I am a member of a certain religious group and suggest that I be blacklisted from an industry because I might be member of a group you don’t like.”
The chairman pounds his gavel again. “Mr. Ackles, do you decline to answer the question?”
“I certainly do not decline to answer the question. I have answered the question.”
Thomas’ face is growing flustered as his frustration increases. “I repeat, are you a member of the communist party?”
“And I repeat my answer, sir, that any such question is an obvious attempt to invade my list of organizations as an American citizen and I would be a shabby American if I didn’t answer as I have.”
“Mr. Ackles,” he says through clenched teeth, “are you a member of the Communist Party?”
Jensen scoffs. “Next you are going to ask what my religious beliefs are…”
“That is not answering the question.”
“And you are going to insist before various members of the industry that since you do not like my religious beliefs I should not work in such industry. Any such question is quite irrelevant.”
“I repeat the question,” Thomas says loudly. “Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?
“I have answered the question, Mr. Thomas. I am sorry if my answer is not satisfactory. I want you to know-
“Excuse the witness. No more questions. Typical Communist line….”[#]
"J. Parnell Thomas is engaged in a personally conducted smear campaign of the motion picture industry. He is aided and abetted in this effort by a group of super-patriots who call themselves the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals. For myself, I want no part of their ideals or those of Mr. Thomas."
-Katharine Hepburn[#]
The committee rips Jensen apart. He isn’t allowed to object to their blatant lies, and his sorry excuse for a lawyer doesn’t even try, just sits with a grim look on his face like he wants to go home already.
“I would again like to ask for the right to invoke the fifth amendment, which protects against self incrimination, and the first amendment which grants free speech.”
“The people working to destroy America don’t deserve her protection,” Thomas snaps. “The rights you have are the rights given you by this Committee. We will determine what rights you have and what rights you have not got.”[#]
This whole hearing is a joke, but Jensen’s not laughing. It’s beyond ridiculous, and part of him can’t believe it’s actually happening, that someone could be so stubbornly closed-minded.
“And do you have any witnesses, Mr. Ackles?” The reporters in the courtroom chuckle, since Thomas had already denied him any witness testimony.
Jensen bristles. “I don’t need any, I have God as my witness.”
“How dare you invoke the name of the Lord! You, a godless communist!” he yells over the chatter of the crowd. “And since He doesn’t seem to be here, I suppose you have no witnesses at all.” He smiles viciously.
“I beg to differ,” a familiar voice comes from the back of the courtroom. Voices of the audience begin to murmur in a rising crescendo and Jensen turns his head to look at what the fuss is about.
“I apologize for our tardiness,” Chris says, dressed in a suit, tie and cowboy boots, carrying a briefcase and not looking remotely apologetic. Jared and Chad follow closely behind him, looking similarly dressed up. Jared catches Jensen’s eye and smiles reassuringly before schooling his face and posture into a formal demeanor.
“What is this?” Thomas demands, gesturing to Chris, Jared and Chad with one hand and banging his gavel angrily with the other.
“This?” Chris asks, gesturing to himself. “Since you ask, it’s a designer suit."
As Chris opens his briefcase and shuffles papers into piles on the desk, Jensen whispers harshly to Jared, “What do you all think you’re doing?”
Jared and Chad exchange mischievous glances quickly, which does nothing to calm Jensen’s nerves. “Just play along,” Jared whispers back.
“I have graciously brought two witnesses to come to Mr. Ackles’ defense. They have some… interesting testimony to offer that I think would interest all of us,” Chris says, turning to include the media reporters, who are an ever constant presence in the room. “May I introduce Mr. Jared Wesson and Mr. Chad Michael Murray.”
“No you may not,” Thomas interrupts.
“Regrettably, Mr. Chairman, I just did so. You must have missed it.”
“Mr. Ackles is not permitted any witnesses to his defense!”
“Then why did you offer?”
Thomas sputters. “Out of courtesy! It’s, merely traditional to offer, as a gesture of… fairness…”
“Oh, a gesture,” Chris repeats. “Very kind of you, sir, thank you for offering. I think your friends, however, would like to hear some testimony from the defense. Simply as a gesture of the fairness of the American justice system.” Cameras flash in agreement. “Surely you cannot deny us that small concession?”
Thomas clenches his jaw and tightens his fist around his gavel as the people courtroom whisper and murmur amongst themselves. “Have it your way, Mister…”
“Christian Kane’s the name.”
Chad smothers a snort at the rhyme and Jensen rolls his eyes. “He loves saying that,” he murmurs to Jared. “He thinks its catchy.”
“It is catchy, though,” Jared whispers back. “And it’s not like I can do it with my name. Definitely not Padalecki… maybe ‘Jared Wesson’s gonna teach you a lesson?’” he suggests absently.
Jensen heaves a sigh. I’m doomed, he concludes. Childish rhymes don’t win court cases.
“I am here,” Chris continues, “to show the grave mistake that has been made in accusing Mr. Jensen Ackles of subversive beliefs; specifically, communism.” He speaks with his back to Thomas and addresses the reporters as though they are a jury. “In fact, he is just the opposite- he is a hero, a champion of American beliefs, a defender of democracy.”
Jensen bites his tongue to keep a straight face. He doesn’t think that bursting out laughing at this point would help his case. To be fair though, it probably wouldn’t hurt at this rate.
Thomas sits back in a relaxed pose. “This ought to be good.”
“Mr. Wesson, please take the stand,” Chris addresses Jared formally.
Taking a moment - just a moment, he doesn’t need an erection in court - to appreciate the way Jared’s muscles shift under the thin fabric of the suit jacket and the way the material stretches across his perky ass, he notices the set of Jared’s jaw, the unfamiliar way he walks with purposeful steps and realizes that Jared is acting. Here in the courtroom, there are hundreds of cameras; the only difference is that they aren’t on set. He is somewhat comforted by the knowledge that Jared is under control and is remaining in character; Chris and Chad, however, aren’t actors, and are a whole other story entirely.
“Mr. Wesson, do you swear the tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”
“I do,” Jared swears. Jensen wonders if Jared’s about to commit perjury for his sake, because nothing about this trial is based on truth.
“How did you first meet Mr. Ackles’ acquaintance?” Chris asks Jared.
“We worked together on the film, Crimes of Passion, which has since been shut down due to accusations against the director and creator, which was Mr. Ackles.”
“Did Mr. Ackles ever approach you about communism?”
“Yes,” Jared answers firmly, and Jensen’s heart sinks. This is how they’re defending him? Thomas lets out a triumphant ”Hah!”, but Christ continues unperturbed.
“What was the nature of this conversation?”
“It was precautionary,” Jared says. “He told me to look out for any communists in the industry, since I was new to the business and didn’t know any better. He took me under his wing, one could say.” One could also say Jensen fucked Jared’s mouth with his cock, but it’s simply a matter of interpretation.
“Did he ever attempt to convert you to communism, or try to instill subversive beliefs?”
“No, never.” At least that much is true.
“And what, to the best of your knowledge, is the cause of Mr. Ackless’ ambiguous public persona in regards to politics which is being used to question his patriotism?”
“He’s an undercover civilian spy,” Jared says seriously. That one is definitely a lie, but Jensen supposes that it says a lot about Jared’s acting skills that he makes such a preposterous notion sound almost believable. But by the sounds of excitement coming from the crowd, they aren’t only believing it, they’re eating it up and drooling for more.
“Well, he was undercover,” Jared amends.
“Mr. Wesson, what do you mean by that?”
“Well, he’s not undercover anymore, is he now? Not thanks to the Committee.” Jared gives Thomas a furtive dirty glare.
Cameras are going off left and right now, and Jensen does his best not to look as surprised as everyone else does at Jared’s revelation.
Thomas pounds his gavel, bringing the attention back to him.
“Why didn’t Ackles say any of this during his questioning?”
“Would you have believed him?”
“No, and I don’t believe you either. I was not aware of Mr. Ackles’ alleged undercover status,” he says stiffly.
“Of course you weren’t,” Jared says consolingly. “This is top secret- way above your pay grade, pal.”
Thomas looks offended and angered by Jared’s words. “And how did you become privy to this top secret information, pray tell?” He looks at the audience, hoping they’ll laugh at Jared or at least murmur in suspicion, but they are all holding their breath, waiting to hear exactly how Jared did find out.
“After production was shut down, I confronted Mr. Ackles about his position on communism, which had been questioned because of the Committee’s accusations. Because if he really was a communist, I would have turned him in immediately. After having my way with him, of course.” Jared glances slyly at Jensen, knowing that while everyone else is thinking that by having his way with him Jared means beating him up, they know that Jared’s way with Jensen is of an entirely different nature. “That’s when he told me about his undercover status, and how it required a certain attitude of ambiguity.”
“So Mr. Ackles told you this? And we’re supposed to believe this? Where’s the documentation? Where’s the proof?” he demands.
“Mr. Chairman,” Jared laughs, “everyone knows that when it comes to undercover government work, there can be no paper trail! Everything is strictly anonymous and untraceable.”
“So all we have is your word?” Thomas presses. “No proof?”
Jared shrugs. "You don't have any proof otherwise. Just a bunch of lies. Doesn't the prosecution have the burden of proof?"
“You are out of line, Mr. Wesson,” Thomas fumes.
“Oh, I do apologize, then,” he says mildly.
Thomas opens his mouth to begin a heated rant, but Chris smoothly intervenes. “I believe that is enough. Thank you Mr. Wesson. You may step down. Mr. Murray, please take the stand.”
Jared passes Chad on their way to switch places, and Chad discreetly gives him a thumbs up before reaching the witness stand and swearing to be truthful.
“Mr. Murray, I understand you are a journalist?”
“You bet your balls I am,” Chad says.
Jensen resists the urge to slap his own forehead, and the even stronger urge to punch Chad in the face.
“How did you come to be aware of Mr. Ackles’ undercover position?”
“Well, as a first-rate reporter,” he begins, “I have many contacts in government institutions. One of my top contacts is an anonymous FBI correspondent who confirms Mr. Ackles’ position as an undercover civilian spy. He describes Mr. Ackles’ role as to look for communist infiltration in the region, and to do so, he must get close to them. He has to act like them, or at least not speak out publicly against them like you are requiring him to- honey catches more flies, and all[#]. It’s the perfect disguise.”
“Hogwash[#],” Thomas declares disdainfully, but the reporters and cameramen seem to disagree. Their mouths are practically salivating with thoughts of the juicy headlines they’ll print on the front page the next day.
Jensen realizes that they aren’t even trying to sway Parnell Thomas at all. They’re trying to sway the public. The Committee has had free reign over the Communism witch hunts because public fear allowed it; take away the terror, and suddenly the Committee doesn’t have the public support it needs to convict at will.
It strikes him that he’s been fighting the wrong enemy this whole time. Thomas doesn’t have any real power, not on his own merit. The people have the power, and they’re going straight to the source.
I am not on trial here, Mr. Chairman. This committee is on trial here before the American people. Let us get that straight.
-John Howard Lawson, directed at Committee Chairman, J. Parnell Thomas, October 27, 1947[#]
“You stupid bastard,” Jensen gasps into Jared’s mouth. “I can’t believe that stunt you pulled, you son of a bitch.”
“I can’t believe it worked,” Jared laughs breathlessly.
“I was so scared they’d put you on trial too,” Jensen says. “God, you crazy idiot.”
“It was worth the risk,” Jared tells him. “You were worth it.” He rubs his crotch against Jensen’s wantonly as Jensen pulls his body closer with his hands on Jared’s ass.
“You lied under oath,” he says, moaning in the middle when Jared grinds against him harder. “That’s perjury.”
“I don’t care,” Jared says plainly, skipping Jensen’s shirt and going straight for his pants, tugging them down and pulling his cock out of his underwear. He drops to his knees unashamedly, and kisses the tip of Jensen’s cock adoringly. “I don’t care,” he repeats.
Jared scoops the drops of precome gathering in the slit with his tongue and spreads it along the length, clicking the way for his hand to pump up and down, gripping tightly and twisting his wrist on the upstroke.
While his hand works Jensen’s cock, he ducks his head down to lick at Jensen’s balls, rolling them one at a time in his mouth and releasing them with an obscene smack of his lips, running his tongue over the thin sac.
“That feels good,” Jensen says lowly, lowering a hand to pet Jared’s hair encouragingly. “So good, Jared.”
Jared brings his mouth up again and laps at the tip of Jensen’s cock enthusiastically and moves his hand down to grip Jensen’s cock at the base firmly. He slides his tightly sealed lips up and down Jensen’s slick cock until the entirety is dripping with a mixture of his saliva and
Jensen’s precome. His own cock is hard between his legs and Jared pauses to adjust himself in his pants.
Every now and then, Jensen’s cock spills a burst of precome, and Jared either swallows it or lathers Jensen’s cock with it and then swallows it.
The taste is bitter and salty, and slightly sour, and Jared inevitably gags a few times when he takes more than he can handle, but every time he reluctantly comes up for air, he dives back down like he can’t get enough. Jared doesn’t have a lot of experience, but enthusiasm counts for a lot. Suddenly, Jensen feels a distinct lack of warm suction and he eloquently protests, “Nrrrrgh.”
Jared’s sitting on his heels to unbutton his shirt, and Jensen watches lustfully and the tan skin peeks through following each undone button. Jared lays himself back down on the bed beside Jensen, who runs his hands greedily over Jared’s exposed skin and pushes his shirt off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor and finally baring Jared’s chest.
He caresses Jared’s sides and slides his finders down to the front edge of Jared’s underwear, just above his constrained cock. Jared wriggles his hips impatiently, urging Jensen to hurry up. Taking matters into his own hands, Jared pushes down his own underwear, letting his hard cock bob vertically and tilt toward his stomach. He draws his knees up and apart invitingly.
“Fuck me,” Jared says.
Jensen pauses. “This is your first time; if we’re doing this, we’re doing it right.”
Jared whines, but Jensen insistently drags him to the bathroom and into the shower. After adjusting the water temperature, he pushes Jared under the spray and grabs a bar of soap. He carefully cleans Jared’s backside, from his shoulders to his legs to his ass, inside and out, everywhere he can reach.
Jared dries off with a towel and his hair is hanging limply and dripping water. Jared shakes his head like a dog and sends droplets of water flying in all directions, making Jensen laugh and throw another towel at his head.
Jensen pulls some oil out of the bathroom cabinet and dips his fingers in it while Jared looks curiously.
“Well? What are you waiting for?” Jensen says amusedly. “Get on the bed, ass up.”
Jared rests his head on his flat forearms and arches his back. Jensen slides his index finger inside gently, coating the inside walls generously. He removes the finger and slicks up his two thumbs before sliding one in, then the other, and then carefully pushing them apart, stretching Jared’s hole.
The inner muscles tense around Jensen’s fingers, but slowly relax under his cautious touch. Jensen’s blunt fingernails rub against some sensitive nerves that have Jared arching his back in unfamiliar pleasure.
He makes sure his cock is slick and then teases Jared's hole with the tip before pressing the very tip of it in.
"Just relax for me," Jensen soothes him, filthy words spilling mindlessly off his tongue. "Gonna open you up real good, spread you real wide to take my cock, fill you right up."
"Talk's cheap," Jared grunts impatiently, shifting his hips as if to say what's taking you so long?
"Now, now," Jensen chides. "Haven't you ever heard that good things come to those who wait?" He presses forward, sliding the tip in the tight hole and giving Jared time to adjust, and pushes in further, inch by inch. Jared helps, pushing himself back on Jensen's cock slowly so that Jensen's finally balls deep in his ass.
Running his hands down Jared's smooth, strong back, Jensen leans in to whisper in Jared's ear, "You're so tight, so hot, you have no idea."
"Jensen," Jared moans. "Fucking move already."
"So bossy," Jensen comments, but happily complies. He pulls out a few inches, then pushes back in, and then a bit further out again. His pace quickens and the intensity of the thrusts increase each time. The hot friction and tightness drives Jensen crazy and he continues to murmur nonsense into Jared's ear.
"Love how you feel around my cock, so tight and hot, fucking made for this, can't believe how good you feel, look so gorgeous with your ass filled with dick," he pants into Jared's ear. Jared doesn't hear half the words Jensen says and is hardly paying enough attention to them to comprehend what he's saying, but the mere voice makes his body flush and sweat all over.
It's over faster than they'd like; Jared comes with his fist wrapped around his own cock and his ass full of Jensen's dick, and Jensen follows soon after and pulls out just in time to come all over Jared's ass, getting spurts on his back and inner thighs.
"Gnugh," Jared says into the pillow.
"Me too," Jensen agrees. "I'll get you cleaned up, one second." With great effort, he gets up and gets a wet washcloth from the bathroom to wipe his and Jared's come off their skin and tosses it lazily to the floor when he's done. "I'll finish later," he tells himself more than Jared.
For now, he throws a leg over Jared's body and they drift blissfully in and out of dreams, loosely curled together on top of the sheets.
UNAMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CONGRESS
Chad Michael Murray’s Exclusive
The recent investigations and accusations of communism that have been flung around like mud in Washington D.C have long been in violation of the Constitution, and their activities have only recently been called into question in light of director Jensen Ackles’ controversial hearing. While the charges against Ackles and many others were dropped, it was not enough to save what is now referred to as the ‘Un-American Committee’. The embarrassing lack of evidence and unprecedented corrupt court proceedings surrounding chairman J. Parnell Thomas has angered many Americans, who are unhappy at having been manipulated by threats and fear tactics by their own government. “I want to punch them in the nose,” says Jared Padalecki. “Those no-good liars.”(continued on D4)
Jared is positive that he had not declared his desire to punch them in the nose. At least not while sober. He supposes he should be grateful that Chad didn’t make him out to be a homicidal maniac.
J. Edgar Hoover, J. Bracken Lee, J. Parnell Thomas, J. Paul Getty - you can always tell a shithead by that initial initial.
- Edward Abbey[#]
Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.
Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince[#]
Left: Cary Grant and Randolph Scott
Right: Jensen Ackles and Jared Wesson
They’re sitting at the kitchen table, eating breakfast quietly. Jared is buttering his toast and Jensen is reading the morning paper, starting with the crossword puzzle and the advertisements as always. Today has gems like Paul Douglas Sings- it's the greatest discovery since bubble gum! and Leo Gorcey and the Bowery Boys: "Angels in Disguise".
They’ve officially moved in together and become another Cary Grant and Randolph Scott case of manly platonic love with hidden homoerotic undertones[#]. They're careful, but not afraid.
Jensen flips over the newspaper and chuckles under his breath all of a sudden. “Well, I’ll be damned.”
“What is it?” Jared asks through a mouthful of toast.
“You remember our dear friend, J. Parnell Thomas?”
“Of course. How could I forget?"
“He’s in jail.”
Jared’s jaw drops. “For what? Assholery?"
“Apparently he was padding his payroll and taking kickbacks. He has some jail time now-ooh, and a hefty fine to boot, ouch.”
Jared picks the crumbs of bread off his plate with his finger. “It’s nice to know that there’s some justice in the world. I’m glad everything has worked itself out in the end.”
“And listen,” Jensen adds, still reading the paper, “he plead the fifth to his charges. Just like I did.” Jensen shakes his head disbelievingly. “Although the proceedings were entirely legal, rednecked Parnell Thomas cried: ‘Vicious smear technique . . . cheap Pendergast politics’,” Jensen reads from the newspaper[#]. “And that’s a direct quote. Can you believe that bastard?”
“With the muckrakers nowadays, I might not believe it, actually. Besides, maybe he’s a double double agent for the FBI.”
Jensen raises his eyebrows.
“What?” Jared asks innocently. “Sometimes truth and justice don’t mix as well as they should.”
“Are you implying that the ends justify the means? How very Machiavellian[#] of you."
“Didn’t I tell you that I’m an Italian Renaissance political scientist in my spare time?” Jared teases. “He said that fear and love could not coexist. What do you think?”
He huffs. “Couldn’t be further from the truth. To love is to be afraid-to fall in love is to fall from a great and gruesome height[#].”
“Sounds painful.”
“It can be,” Jensen acknowledges. “Intense emotions can often result in great bodily harm.”
“It’s astounding anyone is brave enough to love at all, if it has such risks.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Jensen murmurs, looking at Jared from under his eyelashes knowingly. “It’s worth it.”
And that’s a wrap.
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