Fic: How Jared Met Jensen: A Love Story in the Key of D (For Dog) - 5/7
Title: How Jared Met Jensen: A Love Story in the Key of D (For Dog)
Authors:
thrdstrike and
burnfor
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 14,200+
Summary: It's been three years since Jared and Sandy got divorced, and Jared's sister and brother think that it's time he meets someone new. Nobody said that it would be easy.
Master Post | Part Four
The next day at work, Jared has to stifle a small groan when he sees Sophia pick up her son.
"Hi, Jared," she says with a smile.
"Hey." Jared glances up from where he's zipping up a jacket. "How are you?"
"Good. Great! Um," Sophia's cheeks turn pink and Jared watches as the tip of her ears turn red as well. It's kind of adorable. "Would you like to go out for dinner sometime this week?" She blurts out.
Jared stares at her for a few seconds before absorbing what she'd asked. "Yeah, sure! What were you thinking?"
Sophia flashes him a blinding grin and it makes Jared feel somewhat guilty. It wasn't that Jared didn't like her because really, he did. A lot, actually. It was just that he didn't like her.
"How about Italian on Queen? I know this nice cozy little place down by the harbour."
Jared's attention is caught by the happiness she positively radiates. "How about Friday, at seven?" Jared offers, and Sophia nods, her grin more subdued to a shy smile now.
"It's a date," she says quietly, zipping Simon's jacket up and then standing. "See you Friday, Jared."
***
When Jared gets home, there are four messages on his answering machine. The first is from Megan, just calling to check in and would he please call her back. The second is from Samantha, inviting him over for tea. The third is from his mom - haven't heard from you in a while, sweetie. It'd be nice to hear your voice.
The last message is from Jensen.
Jared's finger pauses over the answering machine as it plays. "Hi Jared. Um. It's Jensen." There's an awkward cough. "I was hoping that we'd be able to see each other again. Maybe Friday night or something? No pressure. Uh. Shit. Okay. Let me know."
Jared stares at the answering machine, a knot forming in his stomach. He likes Jensen. Really, really likes Jensen. He considers for a minute if he could get away with going out with Sophia and Jensen in the same night, and then feels like an asshole for even considering it.
He picks up the phone and calls Samantha. "Hi sweetie," she answers warmly when she picks up. "Come right on over and we can talk," she tells him when he asks awkwardly what he should do. Even though he's just gotten in the door, he grabs his keys and phone and heads right back out.
***
"Now, what seems to be the problem?" Samantha asks once she has Jared settled in with a cup of tea. She sits down across from him, ready to listen.
"Well," Jared starts. "I've sort of been seeing this guy, Jensen, who I met through a dating site, obviously. And I like him. I really like him, Samantha."
Samantha frowns. "Then what exactly is the problem here?"
"The problem is, there's this woman - Sophia - who is the parent of one of my students. And she's beautiful and witty and I like her, too. And she's asked me out for dinner, and I accepted, but I feel guilty about it. Why do I feel guilty? And then Jensen called to ask if we could do something on Friday, but I've already made plans with Sophia, and I even went so far as to consider," he lets out a heavy, exasperated sigh, "if I could see them both on Friday."
Samantha doesn't say anything for a few minutes, quietly sipping her tea. "I see," she says finally. "I think you just need to take a good long look at the situation, Jared. What about going out with Sophia makes you uncomfortable?"
Just then, there's a ding indicating a message from Samantha's computer. "Oh, excuse me," she says and goes over to check it. Jared can see a small smile pulling at her mouth. "It's Zac," she explains, looking at Jared over her shoulder. "He's this sweet little seventeen year old. Thinks I'm his age, but I just don't have the heart to dissuade him of the notion."
Jared smiles, feeling a bit awkward. "Are you on a lot of dating sites?" he asks. He isn't sure if he's asked an appropriate question, but it's out there, and it's too late to take it back.
"Oh, you know. Just a few. I like to keep my options open."
By a few, Samantha actually means ten or more, a different personality for every site. She encourages Jared to put himself out there like that, but he isn't really sure he wants to. After all, he's already conflicted over Jensen and Sophia.
***
When Jared leaves Samantha's an hour or so later, he stops dead in his tracks as he catches sight of a strangely familiar blond lurking by his car. She's rocking back and forth on her heels, trying to look nonchalant, but it just isn't working.
"Nicki?" Jared calls, and swears inwardly when she turns and grins.
"Jared?" Her voice is all false surprise and ridiculously saccharine. "What are you doing here?"
"I could say the same for you," Jared shoots back.
Nicki pouts and swings her arms. "You don't sound very happy to see me."
Jared folds his arms over his chest and frowns. "What are you doing here?"
Giving and over dramatic sigh, Nicki leans back against Jared's car. "I just, I saw you come this way, and thought I'd say hi." She pauses to give Jared a chance to respond, and when he doesn't she caves. "Fine. I followed you, okay? Is that a crime?"
"No. It's creepy." Unlocking his door, Jared gives Nicki a pointed look. "Can you get off my car? And uh, please don't follow me around."
***
Wednesday night, Jared is in the grocery store when he runs into Milo. He sees him first, and makes an attempt to avoid him by heading down the junk food aisle (which is actually where he would have ended up anyway), except that's where Milo seems to be heading as well.
"Jared?"
Shit, Jared thinks. He looks up and smiles as politely as he can. "Milo. Hi."
There's a somewhat watery smile on Milo's face, and Jared can only hope that the man doesn't break down and cry in the middle of the grocery store. "How've you been?" Jared prompts and immediately regrets it after Milo's lip begins to quiver.
"Oh, you know," Milo answers, and there's a definite waver in his voice. "Still lonely, but dealing. No other dates since ours, but that's okay. My therapist thinks that I'm doing much better."
Jared doesn't really agree with the therapist's assessment of Milo's emotional stability, but doesn't say so. Instead he shifts awkwardly on his feet and scratches at the back of his neck. "Well, it was nice seeing you," Jared says and begins to inch his cart down the aisle.
Milo doesn't seem to notice shrugging his shoulders and heaving out a breath. "Yeah. You too." The smile Milo gives Jared is a bit stronger, a bit more real. "Maybe we'll run into each other again?" There's a hopeful note in Milo's voice and Jared smiles wide.
"You never know."
***
Thursday night finds Jared sitting at home, beer in hand, telephone sitting on the coffee table in front of him and Harley curled at his feet, snuffling around a chew toy. Jared bites his lip and taps his fingers on his thigh. He should call Jensen. He should call Jensen and tell him that he can't see him tonight.
No. He should call Sophia and cancel. And then call Jensen and say yes to seeing him tomorrow night.
Shit. Jared thinks that this might be some kind of serious moral dilemma.
Just as Jared is about to reach for the phone, unsure of which decision he's chosen to make, the phone rings and Jared drops the phone as if he's been burnt. It rings a few more times before going to the machine. It's Sophia, calling to confirm the time that they'll be meeting at the restaurant, and Jared thinks he should just pick up and tell her that maybe it would be better if they didn't go out; conflict of interest to date your student's parent.
When Sophia hangs up, Jared lets out a long breath, flexing his fingers and taking a deep pull from his beer, then promptly chokes when the phone starts to ring again a moment later. He puts his bottle down and scrambles to answer this time, because he doesn't want to make the wrong decision - even if he doesn't know what the wrong decision is.
"Jared?" Jensen asks when Jared answers, voice all raspy and coughing a bit. "Are you okay?"
"Fine," Jared splutters, taking a deep gulp of air. "Just went down the wrong tube. I'll live."
"Good to know," Jensen answers with wry amusement. "Did you get my message?"
Jared stops. Just stops. He isn't sure what to say. "Yeah. I was just about to call you," he replies and hates that it sounds like a line, because it is. Because he was about to call someone and it may or may not have been Jensen.
Jared's tone must convey what he's thinking because when Jensen replies, he doesn't sound like he believes him. "Uh huh." There's an awkward moment where neither man says anything. "So, what do you say? Dinner and a movie? Or maybe just a movie? Or we could stay in. I'm not picky."
"I'm really sorry, Jensen," Jared says and he feels like kicking himself in the balls. "I already have plans for tomorrow night. I'd cancel, but - "
"No. No, it's okay," Jensen replies, but it's clipped. "I wouldn't want you to change your social calendar for me or anything. Rain check?"
***
Sophia is already waiting when Jared arrives at the restaurant. She smiles and stands as Jared heads towards the table, and Jared awkwardly tries to swallow past the lump in his throat. "Hi Jared!" Sophia greets eagerly. The stand by the edge of the table, before Jared coughs and Sophia sits again. "I went ahead and ordered a bottle of wine. I hope that's okay?"
Jared nods his assent and pours some into his glass, swallowing it down quickly without actually tasting. "Have you had a chance to look over the menu?" he asks, opening his and scanning, generally already sure of what he'd like.
"Briefly." Sophia is making flirty eyes at Jared, all hooded and dark.
Jared flushes and looks back down at the menu. He's more nervous than he's ever been around a woman before, and he can't quite figure out why. Luckily, the arrival of their waiter saves him having to make any further conversation.
What conversation they do have is generally centered around work and Simon, Jared asking questions and trying to avoid Sophia's questing feet underneath the table. "Jared," she says finally, voice stern. "Why are we dancing around what's going on here? Talking about Simon and our jobs. I want to talk about you."
Jared briefly thinks that Sophia sounds like a psychologist, and it makes him feel ten times more uncomfortable. "W-what would you like to know?" Jared asks hesitantly and Sophia's eyes flash, heated and dark when she leans across the table, a quirk to her lips, and her voice a dirty low whisper when she tells him "what you look like while you're coming."
Sophia is draped over Jared's arm as they leave the restaurant, her hands questing up his arms and over his chest, and Jared, more focused on keeping her upright, can't do much to stop her.
"Jared?" a male voice calls, and when Jared turns to see who is it, he almost drops Sophia altogether.
"Jensen!" Jared says surprised, and the guilt from earlier in the evening - and the night previously - comes rushing back. "Uh. Hi."
Sophia has found her feet and stumbles into Jared as she does so. "Hi," she greets a bit drunkenly, and Jensen's eyes harden as he looks at Jared's face. "I'm Sophia." She sticks out her hand for Jensen to shake, which he does rather magnanimously.
Jared wishes that the ground could open up and swallow him so that he could avoid the hurt look that Jensen is wearing on his face. It takes him a moment to notice the stack of DVDs in his arms, realizing that while Jensen very well could have found his own date for a Friday night, he didn't. And Jared just can't stop feeling like a jerk tonight, can he?
Jensen doesn't introduce himself. Just releases Sophia's hand and makes to continue heading in his original trajectory. "It was nice to see you, Jared. Nice to meet you, Sophia."
Part Six
Authors:
thrdstrike and
burnfor
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 14,200+
Summary: It's been three years since Jared and Sandy got divorced, and Jared's sister and brother think that it's time he meets someone new. Nobody said that it would be easy.
Master Post | Part Four
The next day at work, Jared has to stifle a small groan when he sees Sophia pick up her son.
"Hi, Jared," she says with a smile.
"Hey." Jared glances up from where he's zipping up a jacket. "How are you?"
"Good. Great! Um," Sophia's cheeks turn pink and Jared watches as the tip of her ears turn red as well. It's kind of adorable. "Would you like to go out for dinner sometime this week?" She blurts out.
Jared stares at her for a few seconds before absorbing what she'd asked. "Yeah, sure! What were you thinking?"
Sophia flashes him a blinding grin and it makes Jared feel somewhat guilty. It wasn't that Jared didn't like her because really, he did. A lot, actually. It was just that he didn't like her.
"How about Italian on Queen? I know this nice cozy little place down by the harbour."
Jared's attention is caught by the happiness she positively radiates. "How about Friday, at seven?" Jared offers, and Sophia nods, her grin more subdued to a shy smile now.
"It's a date," she says quietly, zipping Simon's jacket up and then standing. "See you Friday, Jared."
***
When Jared gets home, there are four messages on his answering machine. The first is from Megan, just calling to check in and would he please call her back. The second is from Samantha, inviting him over for tea. The third is from his mom - haven't heard from you in a while, sweetie. It'd be nice to hear your voice.
The last message is from Jensen.
Jared's finger pauses over the answering machine as it plays. "Hi Jared. Um. It's Jensen." There's an awkward cough. "I was hoping that we'd be able to see each other again. Maybe Friday night or something? No pressure. Uh. Shit. Okay. Let me know."
Jared stares at the answering machine, a knot forming in his stomach. He likes Jensen. Really, really likes Jensen. He considers for a minute if he could get away with going out with Sophia and Jensen in the same night, and then feels like an asshole for even considering it.
He picks up the phone and calls Samantha. "Hi sweetie," she answers warmly when she picks up. "Come right on over and we can talk," she tells him when he asks awkwardly what he should do. Even though he's just gotten in the door, he grabs his keys and phone and heads right back out.
***
"Now, what seems to be the problem?" Samantha asks once she has Jared settled in with a cup of tea. She sits down across from him, ready to listen.
"Well," Jared starts. "I've sort of been seeing this guy, Jensen, who I met through a dating site, obviously. And I like him. I really like him, Samantha."
Samantha frowns. "Then what exactly is the problem here?"
"The problem is, there's this woman - Sophia - who is the parent of one of my students. And she's beautiful and witty and I like her, too. And she's asked me out for dinner, and I accepted, but I feel guilty about it. Why do I feel guilty? And then Jensen called to ask if we could do something on Friday, but I've already made plans with Sophia, and I even went so far as to consider," he lets out a heavy, exasperated sigh, "if I could see them both on Friday."
Samantha doesn't say anything for a few minutes, quietly sipping her tea. "I see," she says finally. "I think you just need to take a good long look at the situation, Jared. What about going out with Sophia makes you uncomfortable?"
Just then, there's a ding indicating a message from Samantha's computer. "Oh, excuse me," she says and goes over to check it. Jared can see a small smile pulling at her mouth. "It's Zac," she explains, looking at Jared over her shoulder. "He's this sweet little seventeen year old. Thinks I'm his age, but I just don't have the heart to dissuade him of the notion."
Jared smiles, feeling a bit awkward. "Are you on a lot of dating sites?" he asks. He isn't sure if he's asked an appropriate question, but it's out there, and it's too late to take it back.
"Oh, you know. Just a few. I like to keep my options open."
By a few, Samantha actually means ten or more, a different personality for every site. She encourages Jared to put himself out there like that, but he isn't really sure he wants to. After all, he's already conflicted over Jensen and Sophia.
***
When Jared leaves Samantha's an hour or so later, he stops dead in his tracks as he catches sight of a strangely familiar blond lurking by his car. She's rocking back and forth on her heels, trying to look nonchalant, but it just isn't working.
"Nicki?" Jared calls, and swears inwardly when she turns and grins.
"Jared?" Her voice is all false surprise and ridiculously saccharine. "What are you doing here?"
"I could say the same for you," Jared shoots back.
Nicki pouts and swings her arms. "You don't sound very happy to see me."
Jared folds his arms over his chest and frowns. "What are you doing here?"
Giving and over dramatic sigh, Nicki leans back against Jared's car. "I just, I saw you come this way, and thought I'd say hi." She pauses to give Jared a chance to respond, and when he doesn't she caves. "Fine. I followed you, okay? Is that a crime?"
"No. It's creepy." Unlocking his door, Jared gives Nicki a pointed look. "Can you get off my car? And uh, please don't follow me around."
***
Wednesday night, Jared is in the grocery store when he runs into Milo. He sees him first, and makes an attempt to avoid him by heading down the junk food aisle (which is actually where he would have ended up anyway), except that's where Milo seems to be heading as well.
"Jared?"
Shit, Jared thinks. He looks up and smiles as politely as he can. "Milo. Hi."
There's a somewhat watery smile on Milo's face, and Jared can only hope that the man doesn't break down and cry in the middle of the grocery store. "How've you been?" Jared prompts and immediately regrets it after Milo's lip begins to quiver.
"Oh, you know," Milo answers, and there's a definite waver in his voice. "Still lonely, but dealing. No other dates since ours, but that's okay. My therapist thinks that I'm doing much better."
Jared doesn't really agree with the therapist's assessment of Milo's emotional stability, but doesn't say so. Instead he shifts awkwardly on his feet and scratches at the back of his neck. "Well, it was nice seeing you," Jared says and begins to inch his cart down the aisle.
Milo doesn't seem to notice shrugging his shoulders and heaving out a breath. "Yeah. You too." The smile Milo gives Jared is a bit stronger, a bit more real. "Maybe we'll run into each other again?" There's a hopeful note in Milo's voice and Jared smiles wide.
"You never know."
***
Thursday night finds Jared sitting at home, beer in hand, telephone sitting on the coffee table in front of him and Harley curled at his feet, snuffling around a chew toy. Jared bites his lip and taps his fingers on his thigh. He should call Jensen. He should call Jensen and tell him that he can't see him tonight.
No. He should call Sophia and cancel. And then call Jensen and say yes to seeing him tomorrow night.
Shit. Jared thinks that this might be some kind of serious moral dilemma.
Just as Jared is about to reach for the phone, unsure of which decision he's chosen to make, the phone rings and Jared drops the phone as if he's been burnt. It rings a few more times before going to the machine. It's Sophia, calling to confirm the time that they'll be meeting at the restaurant, and Jared thinks he should just pick up and tell her that maybe it would be better if they didn't go out; conflict of interest to date your student's parent.
When Sophia hangs up, Jared lets out a long breath, flexing his fingers and taking a deep pull from his beer, then promptly chokes when the phone starts to ring again a moment later. He puts his bottle down and scrambles to answer this time, because he doesn't want to make the wrong decision - even if he doesn't know what the wrong decision is.
"Jared?" Jensen asks when Jared answers, voice all raspy and coughing a bit. "Are you okay?"
"Fine," Jared splutters, taking a deep gulp of air. "Just went down the wrong tube. I'll live."
"Good to know," Jensen answers with wry amusement. "Did you get my message?"
Jared stops. Just stops. He isn't sure what to say. "Yeah. I was just about to call you," he replies and hates that it sounds like a line, because it is. Because he was about to call someone and it may or may not have been Jensen.
Jared's tone must convey what he's thinking because when Jensen replies, he doesn't sound like he believes him. "Uh huh." There's an awkward moment where neither man says anything. "So, what do you say? Dinner and a movie? Or maybe just a movie? Or we could stay in. I'm not picky."
"I'm really sorry, Jensen," Jared says and he feels like kicking himself in the balls. "I already have plans for tomorrow night. I'd cancel, but - "
"No. No, it's okay," Jensen replies, but it's clipped. "I wouldn't want you to change your social calendar for me or anything. Rain check?"
***
Sophia is already waiting when Jared arrives at the restaurant. She smiles and stands as Jared heads towards the table, and Jared awkwardly tries to swallow past the lump in his throat. "Hi Jared!" Sophia greets eagerly. The stand by the edge of the table, before Jared coughs and Sophia sits again. "I went ahead and ordered a bottle of wine. I hope that's okay?"
Jared nods his assent and pours some into his glass, swallowing it down quickly without actually tasting. "Have you had a chance to look over the menu?" he asks, opening his and scanning, generally already sure of what he'd like.
"Briefly." Sophia is making flirty eyes at Jared, all hooded and dark.
Jared flushes and looks back down at the menu. He's more nervous than he's ever been around a woman before, and he can't quite figure out why. Luckily, the arrival of their waiter saves him having to make any further conversation.
What conversation they do have is generally centered around work and Simon, Jared asking questions and trying to avoid Sophia's questing feet underneath the table. "Jared," she says finally, voice stern. "Why are we dancing around what's going on here? Talking about Simon and our jobs. I want to talk about you."
Jared briefly thinks that Sophia sounds like a psychologist, and it makes him feel ten times more uncomfortable. "W-what would you like to know?" Jared asks hesitantly and Sophia's eyes flash, heated and dark when she leans across the table, a quirk to her lips, and her voice a dirty low whisper when she tells him "what you look like while you're coming."
Sophia is draped over Jared's arm as they leave the restaurant, her hands questing up his arms and over his chest, and Jared, more focused on keeping her upright, can't do much to stop her.
"Jared?" a male voice calls, and when Jared turns to see who is it, he almost drops Sophia altogether.
"Jensen!" Jared says surprised, and the guilt from earlier in the evening - and the night previously - comes rushing back. "Uh. Hi."
Sophia has found her feet and stumbles into Jared as she does so. "Hi," she greets a bit drunkenly, and Jensen's eyes harden as he looks at Jared's face. "I'm Sophia." She sticks out her hand for Jensen to shake, which he does rather magnanimously.
Jared wishes that the ground could open up and swallow him so that he could avoid the hurt look that Jensen is wearing on his face. It takes him a moment to notice the stack of DVDs in his arms, realizing that while Jensen very well could have found his own date for a Friday night, he didn't. And Jared just can't stop feeling like a jerk tonight, can he?
Jensen doesn't introduce himself. Just releases Sophia's hand and makes to continue heading in his original trajectory. "It was nice to see you, Jared. Nice to meet you, Sophia."
Part Six