If You Die Before I Wake (or How Do You Howl "I Love You"?) 7/?
Title: If You Die Before I Wake (or How Do You Howl "I Love You"?) 7/?
Sequel to I Will Love You 'til My Muzzle Turns Grey Master Post
Author: spnkinkfan
Pairing: J2
Word Count: 1728
Rating: NC-17 eventually
Warnings: None (None? Really?)
Disclaimer: I own neither of the boys, nor am I making money from this.
A/N: If I even started to tell the tale of what's gone on so far this year, you'd all probably think you were reading another work of fiction. Of course, after so long, “you all” probably only consists of a handful of people. Honestly, if even one of you is still with me, I don't even have words for how grateful I am. Everlasting thanks to my patient and hard-working beta, TMATEOTB - I don't know what I would do without you!
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Jeff turned back toward the cabin. Christian was stalking his way. The younger man's fists were curled so tight his knuckles were white.
“You let him leave? What the fuck? You coward!” Strong emotion made his pale blue eyes flash luminescent.
Jeff flinched. He knew the words came from fear, not anger. Christian was worried for his friend, but the accusation was too close to what Jeff was feeling himself.
He caught Christian as he tried to charge past, into the woods. “You can't go after him! He wants you to look after Jared!” Christian froze, and Jeff felt the breath leave Christian's body like he'd been hit. He held onto the smaller man for a moment, more comfort than restraint. He knew the same thought occurred to Christian, just as it had for him: Jensen doesn't expect to make it back.
In a gentler tone, Jeff explained. “We can't go after him and compromise Jared's safety. If this is a ruse and Xander circles back to kill Jared, we will need to protect him. Jensen specifically said he wants you and Chad to take care of Jared, so you have to stay here.”
Christian turned to face Jeff, and he could see the shock and fear in those wide blue eyes. Christian tried to speak, but no words would come.
Jeff stayed close, knowing what he said next would be even more of a shock. “Jensen infected Jared.”
Christian paled. “Oh my God, Jeff. What are we going to do?”
“You and Chad will watch over Jared while he is in the hospital. You both will need to help Misha keep him alive however you can.”
“What about the pack?”
Jeff grimaced. “Jensen seems to think I can take over for him.”
Christian stared at him, stunned. “I didn't realize you had an interest in the Alpha position,” he finally said, his voice carefully empty of emotion.
“I don't!” Jeff growled. “I never have. And I don't intend for this to be permanent.”
“Never?” Christian asked, still clearly working to keep his tone neutral.
Jeff stared at him hard for a moment, trying to determine whether he should be offended or not. “If we had an alpha who was harming the pack somehow, or who was not worthy of leading, then yes. If we did not have the best alpha for our pack, yes, I would challenge and hope I could do a better job of it. Maybe I'm biased, but I believe we have the best leader any pack could ever hope for, and I don't plan on losing him now.”
Christian cocked his head with a glint in his eyes. “You have a plan.” He made it a statement.
Jeff took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “I have an idea. I'm not sure if it's worthy of being called a plan, but - “ Jeff stopped short, shaking his head. “Let me think on it a little more before I run it by you. In the meantime, I don't think anyone should know about Jared being infected besides you, Chad and Misha. Not yet.”
“And Samantha,” Christian smirked.
Jeff chuckled. “Yes, and her. I have no secrets from my mate.”
“You're so whipped.”
“Oh, yeah, and you aren't.”
Christian snorted, knowing they were both voluntarily, and quite happily, “whipped”. He opened his mouth to make a snappy comeback anyway, but fell silent as they caught the sound of a vehicle in the distance. It should be Misha, but...
Jeff looked to the porch. Shorty was missing, presumably back at Jared's side. Jeff had not given a thought to sending anyone down but that was not out of any lack of concern. He knew it would be done. Like Jensen, Jeff trusted these men with more than his life.
He trusted them with his happiness.
If anything were to happen to him, he knew without a doubt they would look after Sam and keep her safe. Not that his fiery mate needed protection, but they would be there with whatever she needed for as long as she lived.
Chris and Aldis, still in their war forms, turned their huge heads toward Jeff simultaneously. In answer to their unvoiced question, Jeff gave a small nod. The two immediately launched themselves into the woods toward the approaching vehicle, moving in total silence despite their size and speed.
If it was Misha, he would have guards at his side as he passed through the difficult terrain. If it was not him, then may the gods have mercy on the intruders, because the guards would not.
Jeff and Christian shared an uneasy glance as they moved toward the cabin. Most of the guards had already changed forms multiple times that day. Changing took a lot of energy, and none of them had had a bite to eat since very early that morning. Now that the desperate flight through the forest was over and they were down to picking up the pieces, everyone would be feeling the strain.
He really hoped that was the doc trying to make his way down what was never really a path for motorized vehicles. If it wasn't, neither of them would think twice about shifting yet again to defend Jared.
When Jeff and Christian were just a few feet from the porch, a sudden movement in the trees snapped their gazes skyward.
Oscar had done what he did best - taken to the high ground. You can take the rifle out of the sniper's hands, but you can never fully turn off the instincts. Having accomplished his goal - letting them know he was up there - he was motionless once more. Once they looked away, even knowing he was there, it would be difficult to spot him again.
A soft call from the direction the other two had moved off in finally put everyone at ease. Or, as at ease as they were going to get given the current situation. Once the men had given the “all clear” signal, a sense of relief touched them all.
Misha was coming. Jeff knew they were all sending up a silent prayer to Mother Moon that he wasn't too late.
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Jeff sometimes forgot just how old Misha was. Occasionally, the blue-eyed man would do something that jarred discordantly with the modern age.
Like clambering out of the Range Rover toting a battered black doctor's bag most people only saw in the movies.
The black bag wasn't nearly as startling as who slid out of the passenger door when Misha rolled to a stop, though. Chad took in the situation with a wary expression.
Christian recovered first, striding toward his mate. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard Jared was hurt. I came to help.”
“It's not safe here.”
Chad's spine stiffened, defiance flashing through his blue eyes. “If it's safe enough for you, it's safe enough for me.”
“Chad - “ Christian realized his mistake and tried to soothe his mate, but Chad was having none of it.
“I am going to help Jared. I owe him that much.”
Christian flinched, and Jeff decided it was time to give them some privacy. He motioned Misha toward the cabin and followed him down the stairs, leaving the others to stand guard. He wanted to tell the doc it was bad. Real Bad, with capital letters, but he could not find the words. So he held his tongue and let Misha discover for himself.
Misha's face gave nothing away as he pulled the blanket back and started checking Jared's vital signs. His uncharacteristic silence as he checked the multitude of wounds told them everything they needed to know.
“Shorty,” he finally said, “could you give us a moment please?”
Shorty looked to Jeff for approval, his eyes filled with fear for their Alpha's mate. Jeff gave him a nod, but stayed silent until he heard the front door close.
Then, in a low voice, he said, “Jensen infected him before he left.”
Misha nodded. “As I would have done.”
“Hell, as any of us probably would have done. But you know Jensen.”
“We need to get him to our hospital.” Misha turned to face Jeff. The look in his eyes was so intense Jeff almost wanted to take a step back from it. “They used a silver blade on him.”
Jeff scrubbed a hand roughly over his face. Of course he knew that, but he had been hoping...
“Are you saying even though he was injured with the silver before he was turned, it won't make a difference?”
Misha could see the desperation in Jeff's eyes, he almost wanted to lie to Jeff. But that wouldn't do anyone any good. He did the best he could do. “There's a chance, but honestly there would probably be more of a chance if there hadn't been so many wounds. If Jared wasn't so weakened already before getting the alpha's blood, it may have been enough to help him heal some. It obviously wouldn't heal the wounds from the silver, which is why they did it, but it may have helped counter some of the effects of the blood loss.”
Jeff nodded for what felt like the thousandth time already that day. He was beginning to feel like a bobble-head. “Chad and Christian are going to help you take care of him. We are the only ones who know what Jensen did. I'd like to keep it that way, at least for now.”
Misha considered for a moment, then asked, “What about Jared?”
“You mean do we tell him when he wakes?” If he wakes Jeff reluctantly added in his head. Misha nodded, and Jeff thought it over while he carefully lifted Jared, cocooning him in the blanket. Once Jared's ungainly height was balanced gently in his arms, he answered with the only solution that made sense to him in that moment. “You're the doctor, I guess that will be up to you.”
Without another word, they headed up the stairs. The Rover had been the best bet for getting the doc and Chad safely through the forest to the cabin, but it sure as hell was not going to be a fun ride with their precious cargo on the way out.