Kept!verse: Past Intrusion
This is the twelfth story in my Kept!verse, in which Jeff's a billionaire, Jensen's a princess and Jared's the long suffering bodyguard. It follows A Matter of Timing
Title: Past Intrusion
Author: tabbyshhh
Wordcount: 3,741
Rating: R
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: Jeff’s indiscretions and Jensen’s insecurities are not a good combination.
Notes: Thanks to everyone who commented on the previous stories in this verse.
“I want to leave.” Jared starts a little at Jensen’s announcement.
“Now?” He asks stupidly. “We’ve only been here for an hour.”
He knows Jensen doesn’t like events like these, ones where Jeff gets to spend hardly any time with him, monopolised as he is by various sycophants trying to find their way to the top in his company. The annual Summer Ball Jeff holds for the employees who have performed well is usually at least tolerable, because many of the invited employees are from lower down the corporate ladder, invited to show Jeff’s appreciation of their hard work. Jensen usually insists on staying until Jeff wants to leave, even if he usually ends up hiding out somewhere with his security personnel. Jared remembers the particularly competitive round of tic-tac-toe he and Jensen had busied themselves with last year.
“I don’t care.” Jensen frowns. He’s looking at something over Jared’s shoulder. “I want to leave.” Jared turns to see what Jensen’s looking at and sees Jeff, shadowed by Sterling as always, talking to a woman. “Now, Jared!” Jensen looks like he’s either about to start crying or yelling. Jared puts his glass of orange juice down and shrugs.
“You’re the boss.” He acquiesces.
“Hey.” Chris appears by their side suddenly. “Why don’t we get some fresh air?” He attempts to herd Jensen towards the doors so they can step out onto the balcony.
“I’m going home.” Jensen replies.
“Jensen…” Chris sighs, but he stops trying to push them backwards. Jared wishes he knew what was happening here. Jensen folds his arms and glares at Chris who holds his hands up in defeat. “Fine. Just let me tell Jeff we’re leaving.”
“He doesn’t care.” Jensen retorts. Jared raises an eyebrow at Chris who just shakes his head.
“Just wait here. Jared…don’t let him leave.” Chris instructs. Jared frowns but nods mutely, if Jensen wants to leave there’s not much Jared can do about it other than insisting on going with him. Jensen glares at him mutinously.
“I want to leave, Jared.” Jensen growls.
“We need to wait for the car to be brought round.” Jared offers weakly. Jensen taps his foot restlessly, turning to look out of the window. Jared watches curiously as he sees Chris tell Sterling that they’re leaving. Sterling steps forward and interrupts Jeff’s conversation with the woman he was speaking to. Even from this distance Jared can see Jeff frown before looking over at them in disbelief. He guesses from where Jeff’s standing all he’d be able to see is the tense line of Jensen’s shoulders and the bemused look on Jared’s face. He shrugs, to let Jeff know he doesn’t understand why Jensen wants to leave either. Jared sees Chris mutter something that looks a little heated and watches as Jeff’s head whips around to face him before turning to look at Jensen again with a look of realisation on his face.
He doesn’t expect Jeff to walk towards them, not bothering to excuse himself from the woman’s company. He takes hold of Jensen’s elbow and leads him towards the balcony. Jared nods at Sterling and manages to get there first, ignoring the way Jeff glares at him he steps onto the balcony. It’s large and empty, sheltered from the park below by several large trees. It’s as safe as being out in the open ever is for these two so Jared nods and steps back to the doors, closing them but staying out on the balcony.
“What’s going on?” Jeff asks Jensen, keeping his voice low. Jared tries not to listen but it’s impossible.
“I want to leave.” Jensen’s shaken loose of Jeff’s hold and is standing with his arms folded across his chest, looking resolutely at his shoes.
“Why?” Jeff asks, looking bewildered.
“Because I’ve had enough.”
“We’ve only been here for an hour! What can you possibly have had enough of?”
“You!” Jensen retorts. “I’ve had enough of you. Ignoring me to talk to other people all the time.”
“Jensen…” Jared can see Jeff struggling to keep his temper in check. “These people work for me. They deserve to be made to feel appreciated.”
“So you stay and appreciate them.” Jensen snaps. “I’m going home.”
“You can’t leave yet.”
“You can’t force me to stay.”
“I’m asking you to stay, Jen.” Jeff sighs, stepping closer to Jensen.
“No.” Jensen steps back until his back is against the balustrade. Jared starts a little but Jeff’s arm reaches out to grab Jensen, not that there was any real chance of him falling. “Let go of me.” Jensen says quietly.
Jeff drops his hand but steps closer anyway. It’s rare for Jensen to refuse Jeff’s tactile advances.
“What’s wrong?” Jeff asks gently. “I know you’re not just bored, Jensen. You always find ways to entertain yourself at these kinds of things and you’ve got Jared and Chris to keep you company.”
“Yeah, ‘cause they’re so much fun. Do you have any idea how jumpy the two of them are at these kinds of events after what happened at the Gala?” Jensen reminds Jeff of when he got shot, almost a year previously. Jared frowns a little, it’s probably true that he and Chris are even more vigilant than they used to be, especially at events where there are a lot of unknown people.
“You could have brought Tom.” Jeff reminds him gently.
“He has to go through enough of these things with his father, I’m not going to subject him to more.” Jensen sighs, looking away.
“Please stay a little longer, baby.” Jeff cajoles. “I don’t want people to think something’s wrong.” Jensen frowns and shakes his head.
“If I go back in there I’m going to lose my temper and people will know something is wrong.”
“Why are you going to lose your temper?” Jeff asks carefully.
“Because she’s there!” Jensen hisses.
“Who?” Jeff looks concerned.
“You know who I mean. You were talking to her for long enough while you ignored me!” Jensen points out.
“Mary Louise?” Jeff asks, sounding surprised. Jared guesses that was the woman Jeff was speaking to when Jensen decided to leave. “Jensen…”
“Don’t tell me I’m being stupid.” Jensen storms
“I wasn’t going to.” Jeff assures him.
“Or unreasonable.” Jensen glares. “You were engaged to her.”
“But I married you.” Jeff points out.
“You cheated on me with her.” Jensen spits. Jared can’t help the shocked noise he makes.
“Jensen.” Jeff sighs. “We’ve been over this. I didn’t cheat on you.”
“But you thought about it.” Jensen sounds defeated and Jared kind of wants to throw Jeff over the balcony.
“I know.” Jeff admits. “I’m sorry. We were having problems and she was there. Nothing happened though, baby. I chose you. I’ll always choose you.”
“Then why is she here?”
“Because she heads up her own team in New York and they’ve performed really well.”
“You should have told me she was coming.”
“I didn’t think.” Jeff replies. “It was all such a long time ago…”
“Maybe to you.” Jensen disagrees. “But if I did that to you, how would you feel? If I thought about sleeping with Jared, and told you about it, would you like it if I still spoke to him?” Jared starts a little, hearing his name being brought into it.
“It’s not the same thing, baby. She works for me. I can’t ignore her. I certainly can’t fire her.”
“You should be able to.” Jensen frowns. “Why would she even do that? Why would she try and sleep with you when she knew you were taken? I never did anything to her. You’d been broken up for ages when we started dating.”
“I don’t know.” Jeff shakes his head sadly. “Maybe she was lonely.”
“I’ve been lonely.” Jensen says slowly. “When you left me to go on business trips, when I was too scared to leave the house on my own. When Steve was away and my family wouldn’t talk to me. But I would never do that to someone. And I would never even dream of doing it to you.” Jared can tell that Jensen’s close to tears now and he wants to step in, sock Jeff one for ever hurting Jensen, and take him home.
“I know.” Jeff agrees. “You’re a better person that I am, Jensen. I love you. You’re my husband and I am not going to cheat on you. Ever.”
“I’ll stay for another hour.” Jensen replies, clearly having had enough of the conversation. “But then I want to go home.”
“Ok.” Jeff agrees. “Can I have a kiss before we go back inside though?” Jensen nods and Jared turns his head to let them have some privacy. He opens the doors when they both turn to head back inside. Jeff pats him on the shoulder and Jared nods, promising with his eyes that he’ll take care of Jensen.
He snags a glass of champagne for Jensen and hands it over, watching his friend slip a mask onto his face and smile widely when Weatherly brings over a group of employees from the Dallas branch of the company to meet him. Jared gets dragged into the conversation, since Jensen introduces him as being from Texas, and the time flies by.
He’s actually a little surprised when Jensen tugs his sleeve and nods towards the door, indicating that he wants to leave. They find Jeff, this time sequestered on a different balcony with Gerard and Weatherly, smoking a cigar.
“I’m going home.” Jensen announces to the group. He’s smiling though, and if Jared didn’t already know he was upset he might just think he’d had a little too much champagne.
“Since when are you such a lightweight, Ackles?” Weatherly teases.
“Ackles-Morgan.” Jeff murmurs.
“Yeah, yeah.” Weatherly waves a hand dismissively. “He’s been yours for years, Jeff. You didn’t need to tack your name on to remind us all.” Jensen just laughs and shakes Michael’s hand and then Gerard’s.
“I’ll be home soon.” Jeff promises.
“I’m going to church early in the morning.” Jensen replies. “So try not to wake me up.” Jeff’s mouth tightens but he nods and kisses Jensen goodbye.
“Are you going to tell me what that was all about?” Jared asks when they’re seated in the car.
“You were on the balcony.” Chris supplies when Jensen just shrugs. “You can figure it out.”
“Yeah, but if you let me figure it out on my own there’s a good chance I’ll lay Jeff out when he gets home, so it’d be easier for you to explain it.” Jared points out. Jensen rolls his eyes but can’t help smiling a little.
“I can take care of myself, Jay.” He says, but there’s warmth in his voice.
“I know.” Jared shrugs. “Doesn’t stop me wanting to do it.”
“You two are as bad as each other.” Jensen sighs. Chris and Jared share a look at that. “It was a long time ago.”
“How long?”
“About 7 years.” Jensen shrugs.
“Around the time you got attacked?” Jared asks, aghast that Jeff could be so insensitive.
“Yeah.” Jensen sighs. “Things weren’t good. I was…”
“Depressed.” Chris intervenes.
“Yeah.” Jensen agrees. “I didn’t want to go out or do anything. JDM were expanding and Jeff had to spend more time away from home. I couldn’t go with him because I couldn’t cope. Things with my family were getting even worse and…” He pauses and scrubs a tired hand over his face. “Jeff went to New York for an important meeting. Mary Louise had transferred there a year or two before. They ended up getting drunk together and he went back to her room.”
“But nothing happened?” Jared asked.
“She kissed him.” Jensen replies tightly. “But he realised what he was doing and made her stop.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he told me.”
“You believe him?” Jared asks.
“Yes.” Jensen says resolutely.
“Why did he even tell you?” Jared asks. Chris snorts from his position in the driving seat.
“Because he’s Jeff.” Jensen smiles softly. “Because he can’t lie to save his life and the guilt would have eaten away at him. It made me realise, made us both realise I guess, just how bad things had gotten. I agreed to go to therapy and Jeff gave Chris a job as my personal security.” Jensen shrugs. “Things got better.”
“So why did you freak out tonight?” Jared asks.
“Because I absolutely hate that bitch.” Jensen replies honestly.
“I can see why,” Jared sighs, slumping down in his seat. “Jeff can be kind of a jerk.”
“Yeah,” Jensen laughs. “But he never means to be. And he’s my jerk, so watch it.” He punches Jared in the arm playfully.
“Do you really have to go to church early tomorrow?” Chris asks. Jared watches curiously as Jensen rolls his eyes.
“Yeah. I’ve got a meeting with the committee about our next fundraiser.” Jensen explains, unbuckling his seatbelt as they pull up to the house. “Are you sticking around?” He asks Jared.
“I might call Tom.” Jared glances at his watch. It’s only 11.15. “If you don’t mind me cutting out early.”
“Nope.” Jensen shrugs. “Chris will be here and Justin’s on house duty.”
“And you’re having an early night.” Chris reminds him.
“Yeah, that too.” Jensen grins. “Get out of here, tell him I said hi.”
Jared does as he’s told, after glancing at Chris who nods, letting Jared know Jensen will be fine.
*
“Hey.” Jeff runs his finger across the fine hairs at the nape of Jensen’s neck, smiling when he shivers. “I know you’re not sleeping, Jen.”
“I’m trying to sleep.” Jensen complains.
“I want to talk to you.”
“Fine.” Jensen sits up and scrubs at his eyes before grabbing for his glasses by habit before remembering he doesn’t need them now. The Lasik had hurt like a bitch but it had been worth it. “What do you want to talk about?”
“Tonight.” Jeff responds, not moving from his seat on Jensen’s side of the bed.
“Everyone seemed to have a good time.” Jensen shrugs.
“Except you.” Jeff reminds him.
“I’ve had worse nights.” Jensen looks away and Jeff has to restrain a sigh. The fact that his husband is wearing a t-shirt is worrying as well, he can’t remember the last time Jensen wore clothes to bed. The fact that it’s one of Jeff’s old college t-shirts makes him relax a little, but not much.
“I’m sorry.” Jeff says.
“You don’t need to be.”
“Well, I am. I should have known that me speaking to her would upset you.” Jeff touches his fingers to Jensen’s chin and gets him to look up. “But, honestly, Jen, I don’t think of her that way anymore. I haven’t for a long time. She’s one of my employees and she deserves the same courtesy as they all do, but I should have warned you she was going to be there and maybe spent less time talking to her.”
“You were engaged to her.”
“But I married you.” Jeff reminds him, taking hold of Jensen’s hand and running his finger over the band on his wedding finger.
“She can give you everything you want.”
“No she can’t.” Jeff frowns. “Because I want you.”
“She could give you children.” Jensen sighs, turning his face away from Jeff again.
“We can have children.” Jeff replies. “Not in the same way, but we can still have them.” He frowns at the tight set of Jensen’s jaw. “What’s brought this on, baby?”
“My mom.” Jensen offers quietly.
“What did she say?” Jeff asks, trying desperately to reign in his desire to call Jensen’s mother and curse her out.
“Nothing.” Jensen replies incredulously. “Nothing that should upset me anyway. She was just asking if we were thinking of adopting in the future. She said it’d be the Christian thing to do because there are so many kids out there that we could give a good home to. She was actually trying to be supportive.”
“We’ve talked about adopting before.” Jeff agrees carefully. “So what’s the problem?”
“When I saw you talking to her tonight it made me realise.” Jensen sounds so defeated that Jeff just wants to gather him in his arms and end the conversation, but he knows they need to get to the bottom of this, for Jensen’s peace of mind.
“Realise what?”
“That I can’t give you your own children.” Jensen sighs.
“Hey.” Jeff catches his mouth in a kiss. “I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I don’t have any problem with the fact that you’re a man.” Jeff smiles. “It’s not like it’s a surprise or a disappointment.”
Jensen looks away and doesn’t speak for a moment.
“I’m gay.” Is what he eventually says.
“I know.” Jeff agrees cautiously.
“You’re not.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re bi. You could have married Mary Louise and given your mom scores of Grandchildren.” Jensen sighs.
“Jensen, my mother can’t stand Mary Louise. Even if my mother’s happiness was how I planned my life I know she’s much happier seeing me with you than she ever would have been if I’d married Mary Louise. Maybe she would have had grandchildren but she would hardly see them because the two of them couldn’t stand each other.” Jeff explains honestly. “And as for being bi, I haven’t looked at a woman in years. I haven’t looked at anyone other than you, baby.” Jensen shrugs. “Jesus, you have no idea how beautiful you are do you?” Jeff asks, laughing exasperatedly. He pulls Jensen to him by the waist, relieved when his husband doesn’t fight him.
“Jeff…” Jensen sighs.
“You’re beautiful, Jensen. I don’t want anyone else. When I was talking to her, I was telling her about our honeymoon. She’s never been to France and I was telling her about the chateau. I spent the whole time talking about you.”
“I don’t like her.” Jensen pouts a little. “She makes me feel….she makes me feel small.”
“She shouldn’t. You’re so much more important to me than she ever was. I love you more than I ever thought was possible, Jen. And when the time’s right we will have kids. We can adopt, like your mom said, we have so much to offer a child. Children.” Jeff pulls Jensen close for a kiss. “I have no regrets about my sexuality, Jensen, and I will never ever regret choosing you. Marrying you. I love you.”
“Ok.” Jensen offers softly.
“Ok?” Jeff asks. “That’s it?”
“I love you too.” Jensen replies with a smile, nuzzling against Jeff’s neck.
“Why are you dressed?” Jeff asks after a moments quiet, spent listening to his husband breathe.
“Because I was sulking.” Jensen admits, letting Jeff strip the t-shirt off him.
“Finished sulking now?” Jeff asks, pulling back the covers while Jensen tugs at his tie, finally getting it unknotted and starting on Jeff’s top button.
“I could be convinced to.” Jensen grins, laughing when Jeff stands up to tug his pants down. “Little eager?” He asks, smile widening when Jeff pushes his hands up above his head.
“You’re hot when you’re angry.” Jeff replies, nipping at his neck. “I’ve wanted you since we were out on the balcony.” He rids Jensen of his shorts, pressing their bodies together fully. “God, you’re beautiful, Jensen. Don’t know how you think I could cheat on you. How can anyone be better than this?” He slides a hand down Jensen’s side and then reaches for the lube.
It’s messy and too hot, their sweat slicked bodies gliding against each other, Jensen’s hands still pinned above his head by Jeff’s strong grasp, his legs wrapped around Jeff’s waist to keep him as close as possible. Jeff keeps up a constant litany of adoration: Jensen’s beauty, his body, his perfect, perfect, mouth. Jensen comes first, dragging Jeff along after him and they lie in a sated, sweat soaked heap for a while. Jeff finally lifts his head and strokes a thumb along Jensen’s lower lip.
“God.” Jensen laughs, cracking open one eye. “You’re obsessed. I’m not blowing you now.”
“Tomorrow?” Jeff asks hopefully.
“Tomorrow.” Jensen promises. Jeff grins happily and pulls out, going through the usual routine of cleaning the both of them up so they can sleep. “God, I’m going to be so useless tomorrow morning.” He sighs, snuggling up against Jeff.
“We’re newlyweds.” Jeff reminds him. “They’ll understand.”
“They’re a church fundraising group.” Jensen laughs. “I’m hoping they’ll believe me when I say we were out late at the ball last night.”
“Hmmm,” Jeff rubs at a point on Jensen’s neck thoughtfully. “I don’t think they’ll believe you.”
“Jeff!” Jensen pushes him weakly but doesn’t move away. If that damage is already done it can wait until morning. “You just can’t help yourself can you?”
“No.” Jeff admits. “You bring out the possessive bastard in me.”
“Speaking of possessive….” Jensen starts slowly. “You might want to steer clear of Jared for the next few days. He’s not all that happy with you.”
“You told him?”
“He was on the balcony with us and he would have gotten it out of Chris anyway. You know he can never just let things be.”
“Yeah. I thought Chris was going to sucker punch me when he came over.”
“He might have if Sterling wasn’t with you.” Jensen laughs, settling closer to Jeff.
“Chris isn’t afraid of Sterling.” Jeff scoffs. “He just knows you’d be upset with him if he hit me.”
“Damn right.” Jensen agrees. “But like I said, maybe avoid Jared a little. Until he remembers that you’re not actually a dick.”
“I think I might talk to Singer and make sure Chris and Jared are always on separate shifts. The two of them together is a dangerous combination.”
“They’re just trying to protect me. It’s their job.” Jensen pinches Jeff playfully.
“To protect you from outside threats, not from me!” Jeff replies indignantly.
“That’s what they get paid for.” Jensen agrees. “I meant it’s their job as my friends. They’ll get over it. Tom will remind Jared that you’re wrapped around my little finger and Steve will remind Chris that you treat me like a Prince.”
“Princess.” Jeff argues with a grin. Jensen bites his shoulder but lets it go after that. He really needs to sleep and feeling safe and sated in Jeff’s arms is making his eyes droop.
It takes Jeff a little longer to drift off, disturbed as always by Jensen’s seemingly insurmountable insecurities.