Kept!verse: Sound the alarm
This is the fourth story in my Kept!verse, in which Jeff's a billionaire, Jensen's a princess and Jared's the long suffering bodyguard. It follows Make me a match
Title: Sound the alarm
Author:
tabbyshhh
Wordcount: 5281
Rating: NC-17
Characters/Pairings: Jeffrey Dean Morgan/Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki/Tom Welling
Warnings: RPS, AU
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: None of this is real. As far as I Know Jeff isn’t a billionaire, Jensen isn’t a princess and Jared isn’t a bodyguard.
Summary: The shooter’s still on the loose. Also, Jensen’s a tease, Jeff’s a target and Jared doesn’t get paid enough for this.
Notes: Thanks to everyone who commented on the previous stories in this verse.
“God you’re gorgeous.” Jeff can’t help but sink his teeth into the pulse point of Jensen’s neck, not caring if he marks him. Jensen’s been teasing him all day. They’d attended a charity function for the evening and seeing Jensen strutting around in that suit, knowing exactly how crazy he was driving Jeff, means Jeff is less than inclined to be gentle, not that Jensen seems to mind.
He slides his hands up Jensen’s sides and pushes his arms up, pinning his hands above his head. Jensen throws his head back and grinds up against Jeff, panting his name. Jeff reminds himself to go to the gym more often, he always forgets just how much Jensen likes being manhandled in bed. “You’re a goddamn tease.” Jeff growls, using one hand to keep Jensen’s armed pinned against the bed, and flicking open the cap of the lube with the other. He squirts the lube directly onto Jensen’s hole, not wanting to release him. “Walking around smiling at me. Eating those fucking canapés and licking your fingers. Your lips. Tease.” He repeats.
“Not.” Jensen pants. “Not showing you anything you can’t have.”
“Mine.” Jeff agrees, slicking his cock one handed and thrusting so he’s suddenly buried balls deep in Jensen. Jensen could probably have used some more prep, but the way he’s keening Jeff’s name and wrapping his legs around Jeff’s waist to pull him closer suggests he’s not too upset. Besides, Jeff doesn’t get rough with Jensen often, and he knows the younger man loves it. “Tell me.” Jeff insists.
“Yours.” Jensen pants, his voice sounding rough and broken. “You know I’m yours. Never been anyone else. Never will be.” Jeff knows but he stills likes Jensen to say it.
“Damn right.” Jeff agrees. He keeps Jensen’s hands pinned where they are and increases the force of his thrusts, knowing Jensen will be feeling this tomorrow. Jeff will too, he’s not as young as he used to be. He licks a line up Jensen’s chest, catching his nipple between his teeth and pulling it gently, before moving up to kiss that gorgeous mouth that Jensen’s been taunting him with all night. He thrusts once, twice…and then Jensen’s coming between them, no touch to his cock necessary, his body arching more than should be possible with Jeff’s weight holding him to the bed. Jeff follows, the rhythm of his thrusts stuttering as he looses it inside Jensen, panting into each other’s mouths.
Jeff allows himself a few moments to recover before he rolls off Jensen, pulling out carefully and reaching for the pack of wet wipes they learned to keep next to the bed. He can’t help but pause for a moment when he turns back and sees Jensen, spread out on the bed, thighs fallen apart lewdly putting him on display, and his arms still thrown above his head, blissed out smile on his face. He can’t help the way his cock gives an interested twitch, even though there’s no way he’ll be getting it up again any time soon after an orgasm that good.
“I’m going to tease you more often if that’s the reaction I get.” Jensen cracks one eye, shivering a little when Jeff gently runs the wet wipe over his him, cleaning up the worst of the mess and checking Jensen isn’t actually hurt.
“You won’t be able to walk tomorrow.” Jeff retorts.
“It’s Saturday, I don’t have anywhere to be.” Jensen stretches like a cat and then curls towards Jeff. “Totally worth it.” Jeff kisses him and watches him drift off to sleep, feeling the tug himself.
The screeching of the alarm jerks him from his almost sleep, ripping Jensen awake with a start.
“Shit.” Jensen curses, looking around wildly. It’s the perimeter alarm and they both know one of the security staff will be banging on their door any time now to take them to the panic room.
“If this is Jared again I’m going to kill him.” Jeff promises, opening a drawer in the bedside table and pulling out the sweats and t-shirts stashed there for this kind of thing. He passes some to Jensen who starts to dress immediately.
“It’s not.” Jensen replies. “He’s with Tom.”
“Guys.” Chris is banging on the door a moment later and the alarm is still going off.
“We’re coming.” Jeff’s out of bed and pulling Jensen along as soon as they’re both dressed.
“Not a false alarm?” He asks Chris as soon as he opens the door to let him in.
“No.” Chris replies shortly, following them to Jensen’s closet where the door to the panic room is hidden behind one of his many racks of clothing. “Dogs starts going crazy before the alarm went off.” He keys in a few numbers and then practically shoves Jensen through the door. Jeff follows quickly, not that he has much choice when Jensen won’t release his hand. “Just sit tight. We’ll get you out of here as soon as we know it’s clear. It’s fully stocked.” Jeff nods, stepping back so Chris can close the door.
Jensen’s already sitting on the small double bed that’s in the room. His eyes are open wide and he looks terrified.
“What if it’s him?” Jensen asks. “What if he’s come to shoot you again?”
“He won’t get the chance, baby.” Jeff promises. “Nothing can get us in here.”
He manages to convince Jensen to lay with him on the bed, curled closely together, although he knows neither of them will sleep. At least they’re together while they wait it out.
Jared flinches as the pager attached to his belt buzzes. He grimaces apologetically at Tom and unhooks it.
“Shit.” He curses softly, already slipping his arms into his jacket. “I’m really sorry, Tom, I have to go.”
“Is everything ok?” Tom sets his beer down and looks immediately concerned.
“There’s been a perimeter breach at the house.”
“I didn’t realise you were on call 24/7.” Tom frowns.
“I’m not usually.” Jared replies. “But Sterling and Justin both came down with flu so they’re short staffed and with the shooter still out there…”
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” Tom reassures him, walking him to the door.
“I hope so.” Jared swallows. “I don’t think Jensen will cope well if something happens there. God, I’m sorry…”
“Hey, don’t worry about it.” Tom smiles and kisses him and Jared sends up thanks to whoever decided he was good enough for a guy like Tom. “Just let me know you and Jensen are safe as soon as you can, ok?”
“Yeah.” Jared promises, leaning in for another kiss before running down the stairs.
He makes it to Jeff and Jensen’s house in record time, cursing every time a stop light slows his progress. He usually enjoys the drive to Jeff and Jensen’s home, often taking the longer coastal route but now is not the time for that. He’s met at the security entrance by Charles.
“Got a weapon?”
“No.” Jared replies. He hadn’t taken his gun to Tom’s apartment, expecting a quiet night in, not this. Charles hands him his spare weapon and Jared suddenly appreciates why Kripke insists they all use standard issue glocks, despite some of the security team complaining that they preferred their own weapons, it makes sense for them to use standard so in situations like this they’re all on the same page. Guns are all similar but they have their individual quirks too. Charles updates him on the situation and they finish the perimeter sweep on the Eastern side of the property, for once Jared barely notices the spectacular views of the bridge that usually take his breath away.
They can hear the dogs going crazy at the other side of the property so they head over there, meeting Singer and Jim who looks after the dogs.
“They alright?” Jared asks. He loves Harley and Sadie, the guard dogs for the property. They’re absolute softies once they get to know you but they’re pretty big dogs and he guesses they could be intimidating, barking the way they are now. Jensen had refused to have standard guard dogs like Rottweilers or Dobermans, concerned that they might harm Jeff’s precious Bisou.
“Yeah.” Jim nods. “Something’s got ‘em spooked.”
“Not a false alarm then?” Charles asks.
“No.” Singer shakes his head. “Someone was here. Kripke’s talking to the police now and we’ll have to check the security footage. You find anything?”
“No.” Jared shakes his head and walks into the house with Charles, knowing Jim and Singer will finish up with the dogs outside. “What’s going to happen now?”
“When we’re definitely sure it’s all clear we’ll get Jeff and Jensen out of the panic room. Kripke and Singer need to decide whether to move them to the safe house or keep them here.” Charles shrugs. Jared sighs, Jensen isn’t going to like this at all.
Kripke comes in after a while, thanks Jared, Jim and Singer, all of whom had been off duty, for their quick response and debriefs them about what the police said.
“I need to talk to Jeff about what happens next.” He adds, sending Jared to tell Chris it’s all clear and get Jeff and Jensen out of the panic room.
“Hey.” Jared says through the mike next to the door. “You guys can come out now.”
“Password.” Jeff demands gruffly.
“Dallas.” Jared answers. The panic room can only be opened from the inside and Jared smiles, imagining Jeff looking at him and Chris through the camera, trying to decide whether they’re being forced to get them to open the door. He vaguely hears Jensen snapping something in the background and the door opens pretty quickly after that.
Jensen regards Jared with wide eyes. “You’re supposed to be with Tom.” He accuses.
“I was, but we’re short staffed.” Jared shrugs. “He was cool with it.” Jensen rubs his arms as though he’s cold, even though it’s pretty warm where they are, all crowded in Jensen’s closet. Jeff wraps an arm around him and Jared snags him a sweater from a drawer, handing it over. Jensen doesn’t put it on, seemingly unwilling to stray out of Jeff’s grasp, but he lets Jeff wrap it round his shoulders.
“I need a shower.” Jensen sighs.
“It’s the middle of the night.” Chris interrupts. “You should get some sleep.”
“I’m not going to be able to sleep now.” Jensen snaps.
“Ok.” Jeff interrupts. “Jen, you get a shower. I’ll go down and talk to Kripke, and make some coffee.” Jensen looks uncertain. “Jared will stay up here with you.” Jensen nods reluctantly after considering it for a moment and Jared feels immediately sympathetic. His heart had about jumped into his mouth when he got the page, and it must have been even worse for Jensen, lying in bed when the alarms started going off and then being forced into a small room with no idea what was going on around him. If he hadn’t already known before Jeff got shot, that the older man was Jensen’s everything, he knows now after listening to Jensen talk about him, and he knows how afraid Jensen is that Jeff will get hurt again.
He goes into the bathroom with Jensen, but it’s a huge room so it’s easy to stay out of eyeshot and give Jensen some kind of privacy. It doesn’t take long for Jensen to shower and dress in sweatpants and a t-shirt, the sweater clutched in his hands as though he doesn’t know what to do with it.
“Sorry.” Jensen apologises quietly as they make their way downstairs.
“For what?” Jared asks.
“Interrupting your night.”
“Unless you climbed over the wall and set the perimeter alarm off, it’s not your fault.” Jared nudges his shoulder gently. “You ok?”
“Yeah.” Jensen nods, sounding tired. “I just…I hate this, you know? I shouldn’t feel unsafe in my own home.”
“No, you shouldn’t.” Jared says firmly. “Because nothing’s going to happen to you here.” Jensen smiles a little and nods. Chris hands Jensen and Jared cups of coffee as soon as they set foot into the kitchen.
“Woah.” Jensen says, his eyes watering a little. “There’s more whisky in this than coffee.” He says to Chris, one eyebrow raised.
“Won’t do you any harm.” Chris replies gruffly. Jensen shakes his head with a smile and begins to drink his coffee, taking smaller sips than usual. Jared’s pleased to note there’s no whisky in his mug. Jensen moves to stand next to Jeff, who’s leaning against the counter and slips an arm around Jensen immediately, pressing a kiss to his temple.
Jared takes a seat, Jensen’s in good hands and won’t take kindly to him hovering.
“What happens now?” Jensen asks, when no one speaks for a moment.
“Jeff says you want to stay here.” Singer sighs, obviously wishing they’d made another decision. Jared knows it would be easier to protect them at the safe house, or their apartment in the city, or even a hotel, but he also knows Jensen likes familiar surroundings and Jeff will want to keep him happy if at all possible. Jensen nods. “We’ve already been working on improving your security force after the shooting. The new team members should be here to start work on Monday. They’ve all been working for KSS for a number of years.” He adds when Chris looks ready to protest. Chris dislikes newbies and it had taken him a while to warm up to Jared, only really seeming to do so when Jensen took a liking to him. “We’ll put some plans in place over night and sit down with you guys tomorrow to discuss them. Sterling and Justin should be well enough to attend the meeting at least.”
“You may as well spend the night.” Jensen says to Jared, looking a little hopeful.
“I brought your car in.” Chris adds. “While you were upstairs.”
“Thanks.” Jared nods. He walks upstairs with Chris, who’s still on duty, letting Jensen and Jeff go ahead of them. He can hear Jeff speaking soothingly to Jensen as they pass their door.
“Things are gonna be crazy tomorrow.” Chris rubs a hand tiredly over his face. “I better go see what I can find on the CCTV.”
“Night, man.” Jared practically falls into bed, after firing off a text to Tom to let him know everyone is fine and he’ll hopefully see him soon. He falls asleep with the gun stashed on the bedside table.
Jensen doesn’t look impressed about being shut out of the security meeting. Jared keeps him company while he slams around the kitchen, making enough lunch to feed everyone, even Kripke who he seems to blame for him not being allowed to be involved in the meeting. Chris and Justin are watching from a safe distance, Justin occasionally sniffling a little and looking sorry for himself.
Jared doesn’t really mind being shut out of the meeting. He knows it’s nothing personal, if anything they probably want him to try and keep Jensen calm, not that he’s really succeeding. This is his job and he just has to do whatever he’s told, but he can see why Jensen’s upset. It’s his life that they’re discussing in there.
Chris winces as Jensen slices viciously through a watermelon and Jared sighs.
“You sure you don’t need any help?” He asks.
“No, I’m fine.” Jensen replies, continuing to slice up the melon. Jared’s kind of mesmerised by the way he handles the knife. “Chris, can you go tell them lunch is ready?” Jensen requests, his voice sounds calm but they all know it’s deceptive. Chris nods and moves quickly, not wanting Jensen to turn on him. Jared glances through the door as Chris heads for the dining room where the meeting is taking place. The door opens before he reaches it and Jared can see his shoulders relax, glad that he doesn’t have to convince Kripke to break the meeting early because Jensen will not be happy if they don’t all come and eat immediately.
They all file into the kitchen, there’s a lot of them but it’s a big room and eventually everyone has found some space to stand or sit comfortably. They all murmur their thanks to Jensen as they grab the sandwiches he’s made. Jensen’s a great cook and it’s obvious he’s still put the effort in, even though he’s in a bad mood.
Jared shakes his head as Jeff tries to stand next to Jensen, only to be brushed off. Jensen comes to stand by him instead, dumping an extra sandwich on his plate. Jared grins up at him gratefully. He watches Jensen produce hot chicken noodle soup from somewhere and dish it out to Justin and Sterling, who are sitting off to one corner, obviously trying not to spread their germs. Even Sterling looks grateful and tucks in hungrily. Jensen eventually settles on a chair next to Jared and Jeff comes and sits next to him, refusing to be so easily dissuaded. Jared guesses he’s had years to get used to Jensen’s mood swings so it’s probably like water off a duck’s back, even when the bad mood is justified.
They all get through their sandwiches, watermelon and the chocolate muffins Jensen had set out pretty quickly, but the atmosphere in the kitchen is tense and Jared is pretty sure he knows why.
After they’re done Kripke takes Jeff, Jensen, Jared and Sterling into the dining room, while Singer stays with the rest of the staff, to brief them. Kripke doesn’t look nervous and Jared guesses it’s because, unlike Singer and the rest of the security team, he really doesn’t know Jensen. Probably thinks they’re exaggerating about his temper.
“Ok.” Kripke nods, when they’re all settled. “Obviously after last night there are some changes that need to be made.” Jared watches Jensen’s lips thin, as though he’s stopping himself from saying something. “The home security system seems to be working, and those people on call responded faster than expected.” Kripke spares a nod in Jared’s direction. “We’re going to increase the number of security staff here over night as soon as the new team members are up to speed.” Jeff nods, already knowing this. Jensen doesn’t seem too perturbed by it. “Your personal security will obviously have to be increased.” That was directed at Jensen and everyone around the table tenses.
“Mine?” Jensen asks quietly.
“Yes.” Kripke nods.
“Why mine? They’re not trying to shoot me!” He hasn’t really raised the tone of his voice but he’s obviously displeased and Kripke frowns a little.
“There’s always the chance that someone might use you to get to Jeff.” Kripke replies. “Jeff’s personal security will obviously also be increased, especially at the office. The only real difference for you, Jensen, is that Jared will go into your classes with you instead of waiting outside for you, and Sterling will drive your vehicle.”
“What?” Now Jensen’s clearly upset. Jared sits up a little, having heard the change in his duties. It won’t make much difference to his day to day life, but Jensen had been adamant that he didn’t want to take security into his classes with him. “You promised I didn’t need to take security to my classes, Jeff.”
“That was before.”
“Before what? It was after you got shot! You thought the guy that did it was just going to go away?” Jensen asks. “You promised.” He says, his voice low and accusing. Jared remembers the arguments about Jensen taking any security with him to college at all, and only his hatred for driving and the fact that he and Jared were friends had appeased him in the end. “And why does Sterling have to drive? If Jared’s got to be with me anyway, why can’t he do it?”
Jared glances at Sterling and it’s pretty obvious he’s already asked that question. Jared can guess the answer.
“Because Jared doesn’t have the kind of advanced driving qualifications Sterling has.” Kripke explains patiently, even though the question was directed at Jeff.
“What does he need them for? You think we’re going to be involved in some kind of high speed chase or something?” Jensen’s voice is rising and Jeff puts a hand on his arm to calm him down, only to be shrugged off immediately. Jared feels a little sorry for Jeff, but really he should have discussed this with Jensen in private. He would have been able to convince him that it was for the best and only a short term measure.
“I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t consider every possibility.” Kripke returns.
“If you were doing your job you would have caught the bastard by now.” Jensen throws out through gritted teeth.
“Jensen.” Jeff interrupts softly. Jared winces, Jeff should really know better than to interrupt Jensen when he’s like this.
“No.” Jensen replies. “You promised me I wouldn’t have to take security to college and then you made me take Jared. But you promised me again that I could go to classes on my own so people wouldn’t be constantly reminded that I’m a billionaire’s kept boy.” Jensen spits out. “So I don’t know why I expected you to keep your promise, but at least it’s Jared, he knows all my friends already. But having Sterling drive me around? He’s one of the most experienced members of the security team, he should be protecting you not being a glorified chauffer for me. We’ll end up killing each other.” Sterling winces a little and Jared wishes he had some painkillers to give him, he still looks pretty ill.
“Jensen.” Jeff’s voice is firm this time and Jensen stops whatever he was about to say to look at him. “I know you’re upset, but we’re not here to discuss this.”
“Excuse me?” Jensen asks, voice dangerously low.
“We’re not here to discuss this.” Jeff repeats and Jared winces. “This is happening, whether you like it or not, we’re just updating you and Jared on the situation.”
“Jeff…”
“No.” Jeff interrupts. “If you want to go to classes Sterling will drive you and Jared will go in with you. It’s not up for debate. If you want to go anywhere else Sterling will drive and Jared will go with you.”
“It doesn’t make sense.” Jensen replies. “They can’t be with me 24/7.”
“We’re talking Monday to Friday at the moment.” Kripke confirms hesitantly. “Any trips at weekend will have to be approved in advance.”
“Approved?” Jensen asks incredulously. “I have to ask your permission to leave the house now?” He turns to Jeff. “I’m a grown man.”
“Then maybe you should act like it.” Jeff spits out. Jared turns to him in shock and even Sterling stiffens beside him. Jensen freezes, staring at Jeff, but before long he stands up, pushing the chair out behind him until it scrapes on the floor making them all wince and leaving, slamming the door behind him.
Jared stands up to follow him.
“Jared.” He stops at the door hearing Kripke say his name. “We’re not done here.”
“I think we are.” Jared disagrees, leaving the room.
“Let him go.” He hears Sterling say hoarsely as he walks towards the stairs.
He enters Jensen’s studio cautiously, knowing Jensen will be in there but not sure how welcome he’ll be.
“Hey.” Jensen’s sitting in a chair by the window, his head hanging a little.
“Hey.” Jensen doesn’t look up at all.
“Look, I know it sucks but…”
“But I don’t have any choice?” Jensen asks, he laughs but there’s no humour there. Jared sees the holdall at Jensen’s feet. “What am I meant to do if I disagree? It’s not like I have anywhere I can go. Steve’s not back in town for a few weeks. I guess I could go to his parent’s but…”
“Jen.” Jared sighs. “It’s not that bad.”
“He doesn’t listen to me, Jared. He just…He decides what’s best for me and then that’s it. I don’t have any say in the matter.”
“He just wants you safe.” Jared says soothingly.
“Giving me Sterling as a driver isn’t the smartest move then is it?” Jensen sneers. “He’ll kill me within a week.”
“Sterling takes his job seriously.” Jared corrects. “You guys will just have to get along.” Jensen looks at him incredulously and Jared can’t help but smile. “And you know, if you really feel like you need to get away for a few days you can come to my place. Sterling can drive and I’ll be with you, that’s following the rules.”
“Yeah, and ruin things with you and Tom more than I already have.” Jensen sighs.
“You haven’t ruined anything between us.” Jared replies, smiling at Jensen’s dramatics. “He wasn’t upset and it definitely wasn’t your fault. He’s your friend too Jensen, he won’t mind you being there.” Jared knows it’s all academic. Jensen’s upset but he won’t actually want to leave Jeff, even for a night or two.
“I’d have to ask for permission anyway.” Jensen reminds him.
“I don’t think it would be exactly like that. It’s not much different to now.” Jared decides. “It’s not about asking permission, it’s just about checking that there’s someone available to go with you.”
“What about when I go to church?” Jensen asks. “I go there on my own at the moment, it’s not that far away, I usually walk if it’s nice weather and if not someone drives me. I don’t want to take armed security personnel to church.” He sighs, Jared can understand his point.
“Maybe we can negotiate on the armed bit.” Jared proposes. “Chris and Charles are both highly trained in hand to hand.”
“Charles already goes to church with his family, it’s not fair to ask him to give that up and come to my church instead.” Jensen argues.
“Justin then.” Jared replies. “There’ll be a way around it. No one expects you to stop going to church, or to stop doing anything. You just need to raise your concerns with Jeff. Talk to him like you’re talking to me.”
“He doesn’t listen.” Jensen shakes his head.
“He might if you spoke to him rationally. When you yell people don’t hear what you’re saying, they just hear your voice and they get upset too.” Jared explains. “I know it’s tough because he doesn’t always treat you like an adult so you don’t act like one, but it’s a catch 22, Jen. If you don’t act like an adult he’s never going to treat you like one. You have to start somewhere.” Jared sighs, hoping he’s getting through. Jensen can be ridiculously stubborn.
“You’re too young to be this diplomatic.” Jensen accuses and Jared laughs.
“Conflict resolution, learnt more than how to fire a gun and look pretty in khaki in the army you know.” He admits. “So…” Jared stands up. “Why don’t I go get Jeff up here so you two can talk like reasonable adults and I can get back to my own reasonable adult?”
“You know, a good friend would help me hide the body?” Jensen grins.
“Yeah, but I know you’re not actually going to kill him and I don’t want to listen to you guys making up.” Jared grins right back, heading out of the room before Jensen can change his mind. He finds Jeff, predictably, loitering at the bottom of the stairs with Sterling watching warily.
“Sterling, man…” Jared sighs. “Go home, you look like death warmed over, and you’re going to need all your energy and tolerance next week.” Sterling nods and leaves, glancing once more over his shoulder.
“He calmed down?” Jeff asks gruffly.
“Some.” Jared nods. “Just…Look, I know you’ve known him way longer than I have, and you know him better, but just try and hear him out. I know you just want to keep him safe but you can’t just spring these things on him. You have to at least let him think he has some input into his own life.” It doesn’t really feel right to Jared to be lecturing Jeff, the man’s almost old enough to be his father, but he has to try for Jensen’s sake. “If you’d let him come into the planning meeting he probably would have taken the news better.”
“I know.” Jeff sighs. “I just don’t like him to know how serious this is.”
“If you don’t tell him it’s serious then you can expect him to treat it that way.” Jared shakes his head, for two adults who had lived together for so long they really communicate badly a lot of the time.
“Yeah.” Jeff sighs. “Thanks, Jared." Jared nods and leaves, looking forward to seeing Tom to pick up where they left off the night before.
“Hey.” Jeff steps into Jensen’s studio slowly. Jensen doesn’t throw things often but when he does it’s a painful reminder that he was the star pitcher on his school’s baseball team.
“Hey.” Jensen turns from the window in time to see Jeff glancing at the holdall at his feet. Jensen shakes his head. “I’m just tired.”
“You’re angry.” Jeff corrects.
“I shouldn’t be. I know you just want to keep me safe.”
“I think I need to give Jared a raise.” Jeff releases a breath, some of the tension seeping from his shoulders when Jensen smiles slightly. “I’m sorry I kept you out of the meeting this morning. You have a right to know what decisions are being made.”
“I just…” Jensen pauses and sighs. “I don’t like having to ask permission to go places and do things. It’s like, I lived at home with my parents and had to ask their permission, then I had a few months on my own but I didn’t have any money, or many friends and I was so scared all the time…Now I have friends, and I have money and I’m still scared. I’m scared every time you leave the house, Jeff.” Jeff can hear the tears that Jensen’s trying to choke back so he steps and wraps him in his arms immediately. “I’m scared you won’t come back.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me, baby.” Jeff promises firmly, pressing his lips to Jensen’s temple.
“It already has.” Jensen disagrees. “And it could again. And now you’ve got Sterling driving me around when he should be helping to keep you safe.”
“We’ve got some new staff coming in.” Jeff reminds him. “Some of them are pretty tough according to their resumes.”
“So you keep Sterling and make one of them drive me around.” Jensen replies, clearly trying not to whine.
“I can’t.” Jeff shakes his head. “I can’t trust your safety to somebody I don’t know, baby. I just can’t do it.” He feels tired suddenly, so tired. He realises neither of them slept well, Jensen’s never been good at hearing no, especially when he’s tired. “Why don’t we go lay down, ok? Things won’t seem so bad when you’ve slept a little.”
“Ok.” Jensen lets him lead him out of the studio and into their bedroom, curling up in the bed. The maids must have been in at some point, Jeff doesn’t remember noticing them but he’s been pretty preoccupied this morning and their housekeeper runs a pretty tight ship.
“Everything’s going to be ok.” Jeff promises, pressing his lips to Jensen's and then tugging him closer, so they’re pressed together wherever possible. “I won’t let anything hurt you.”
“Losing you would hurt more than anything else.” Jensen points out quietly.
“I know.” Jeff squeezes his arms tighter around Jensen. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise.” Jeff just hopes that’s a promise he can keep.