Coming Home (Part Five)
Title: Coming Home
Author: hunters_retreat
Fandom(s): CW RPS
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 20K+
Summary: Jensen Ackles may be the smartest man in the universe, but it took empath Jared Padalecki to help Jensen figure out what was important in life. It’s not easy though and when Jared gets as assignment that will take him away from the space station they call home, Jensen doesn’t take it well. When unexpected circumstances put the shuttle in danger, Jensen has to pull himself together because it will take more than his intelligence to get Jared back.
Warnings/Spoilers: graphic sex
Artist:
deadflowers5
The video stopped on a picture of Jared, eyes red from crying but smiling back at them. Alona felt her heart breaking but it was nothing compared to what Jensen had to be feeling. His body was completely still though and she tugged at his hand. “Jensen,” she said with a cracked voice.
Aldis voiced his name again but there was still nothing.
Misha started to move closer, but then Jensen straightened up, pulling away from them both. “No.”
He looked at her, eyes begging but his mouth set in a firm line. “No. No, there’s another way.”
“Jensen,” Misha touched his arm and Jensen pulled away again, this time moving far enough away that they couldn’t reach him.
“I won’t accept this. You said he’d come home. He said he’d come home and I will be damned if he doesn’t!”
Alona’s bottom lip trembled again as she tried to stop her tears from starting again. “Jensen, there is nothing else we can do. There are no other shuttles that could get to him.”
He looked at her, something wild in his eyes then. “Then I’ll go get him.”
“What?”
“I’ll get him. I’ll teleport myself to him.”
“Jensen,” she couldn’t hold back the tears then, but she continued through them. “No one can port that far. It takes hours to get communications with them and we’re using advanced relays for that.”
Jensen’s mouth gaped open at her words and he stared at her for a minute before he ran back to his bank of computers. Alona ran after him, knowing that Misha and Aldis were following, as was every eye in the lab.
“Jensen, what are you doing?”
“A relay. I don’t have to port to him at once. I can piggy back off other ships and stations,” Jensen said, his eyes whirling green with an intensity and speed that she’d never seen before.
“Jensen?”
“I just need to figure out who to jump to and I can move to the next one.”
“Jensen, you can’t,” Misha said softly.
The administrator looked old beyond his years but Jensen seemed not to notice in his sudden rage. Jensen snarled at Misha, pinning him to the bank of computers behind him. “You sent him out there! Don’t you fucking tell me I can’t fix this!”
“You can’t port fast enough to get to him Jensen. You don’t have the energy to do it without draining yourself. You won’t make it half way there before you have to rest.”
“The generators,” Aldis said from behind them. Jensen instantly let go of Misha and turned to Aldis. “You can use the generators, Jensen.”
Jensen smiled then and he was in the computers again.
“Aldis?” Misha asked. Alona wanted to hear what he had to say too, but she moved closer to Jensen again, just dropping her hand on his to let him know she was there.
“When I was doing research on Jensen’s sleep patterns, I realized that Jensen doesn’t sleep like us because his body takes energy directly from the computer banks. When he gets tired, he just plugs in and fills his batteries. He should be able to do the same thing with the generators on the ships. He’ll have to limit his jumps to ships with a backup generator, but he should be able to do it.”
Alona closed her eyes and looked up at Jensen, but her question was for Aldis. “And if he’s too tired and can’t port right? We’ll lose him.”
“Alona,” Aldis’s voice sounded devastated and she looked up to see his eyes on Jensen. “We’ve already lost him. The only way to get him back is by saving Jared.”
She looked at Misha and saw the same knowledge in his eyes. She sniffed, trying to hold back more tears. “Alright. Alright,” she said again more clearly. “What do you need Jensen?”
“List of ships and outposts at your station. You need to contact them and let them know what I’m going to do.”
She didn’t want to leave Jensen but as she debated sending someone else to get it from her station, she felt the pull that was her husband walking into the room. He looked as crushed as the rest of them and she realized that Jensen must have put Jared’s last message up on every monitor in the station. She ran to Jeff, wrapping him in her arms for a quick moment. “He’s going after him. Help him.”
Jeff gaped at her but then she was running to her station, hoping this worked and knowing her husband would do everything he could to see her friend through the next hour.
Jensen’s mind wouldn’t stop working and he had never been more grateful for his unique abilities and the determined way Jared had made him practice his porting. His heart was ripped to shreds but Jensen refused to give up on Jared. He’d screwed up before, but he was going to fix this. He was going to get Jared or die trying. It was a choice he was willing to make and if he failed, at least he would never have to know what life without Jared was like.
Alona had contacted the list of ships and they were all aware of what he was trying. They’d agreed - or Alona and Misha had begged, bribed, and threatened until they agreed - and Jensen was ready. He just had one more thing to do.
The video opened up and Jensen straightened himself up. He had washed his face to make sure he was presentable, in case it was the last time Jared saw his face.
He smiled then and began recording.
“Jared, I’m coming.”
Captain Weatherly was about as open minded as you could get and he’d had dealings with Misha Collins over at the Vortex space station for years. He considered it a privilege to dock there and he had a long friendship with that man that was based entirely on old movies.
When he was contacted about the current emergency he’d been intrigued. His scientists all talked about Jensen Ackles with a mixture of awe and fear and Michael had met with Jared Padalecki before. If there was anything he could do to aid in a rescue he was certainly willing to do it.
He was more than a little surprised at the request though, even more so when Jensen Ackles landed in the middle of the helm out of nowhere. He stumbled and Michael was there to catch him before he could fall.
“Thanks. You have the generators up?” the man asked.
Michael was surprised at the look of raw need in Ackles’ eyes and he nodded. The scientist closed his eyes and suddenly the lights dimmed on the ship. For a few minutes they flickered off and on before the backup generator finally kicked on. When it did, Jensen looked up at him.
“You needed the exact coordinates of the ship, Seattle?” Michael asked.
Jensen nodded and Michael was yelling for his first officer. “Alba! You have it?”
“Sir,” she handed him the print out with the exact coordinates, accurate to the second she printed it.
“Good luck, Ackles.”
“Thank you.”
And then he was just gone.
“Sir, what the hell was that?”
“We’ve either just watched history in the making or a suicidal rescue attempt.”
“Michael?”
She sounded uneasy and Michael wasn’t feeling any better. He knew the look in Jensen’s eyes would haunt him for a long while. “Contact Vortex and let them know he’s on his way.”
Jared stared at the screen, frozen by the look in his lover’s eyes. Jensen was good at closing himself off from people but in the message he’d left himself open for Jared to see. He’d never seen so much desperation in his lover before and he was terrified of what he was going to do. Jared sent a message back immediately, demanding to know what was happening, but he wasn’t sure he’d be around long enough to get an answer. He just had to hope that Misha, Alona, and Jeff were able to keep Jensen from doing anything stupid.
Jensen looked beautiful though, and Jared traced his finger over the image of his lover’s lips, wishing he’d at least had a chance to kiss them goodbye.
Jensen staggered to his knees, unable to stop himself as he vomited over the floor of the outpost. It was his seventh jump and his first to an outpost. He had landed in a mining station and dirt clung to the metal in ways that Jensen remembered all too well. He’s spent time on the outpost when he’d first wanted to understand the problems the mining community was having. He’d been part of a multi-disciplinary team sent in to improve the facility and there was no way to keep the grime out.
“Jensen Ackles,” the voice wasn’t happy to hear him and Jensen wasn’t entirely happy to be there either. He and Kerr Smith had a long history of one-up-manship but he was where Jensen needed to be so he bucked up and looked at the administrator of the mining outpost.
“Smith.”
Jensen tried to get to his feet but it took longer than he liked. A bottle of hydrating fluid was placed in his hand and Jamie was there at his side. “Dr. Hodge said you would need this about now.”
He tried to smile at her but he didn’t have any strength to give her. He tried to tip it back to drink but vertigo almost knocked him over and it was Kerr who steadied him.
“Stars, Jensen, what the hell are you doing?”
“I can’t,” Jensen said, shaking his head. He took a drink and realized he was thirsty. He drank steadily until it was gone and then it was replaced with another.
He looked at Kerr again and took a deep breath. “I can’t lose him. I need your generators.”
He didn’t know what was in his eyes, but Kerr stared for a moment in surprise, and then called out. “Generators up.”
Jensen nodded as he stood up again and braced himself on the computer. For the first time in his life, the movements of the computers in his head made him feel nauseous but he ignored it. He was almost there. One more ship and then he’d be back in Jared’s arms.
Jared was pacing. He’d called the shuttle and talked to Mitch but the captain didn’t know anything about what Jensen was doing either. Not that Jared had expected him to but it was good to be able to say a proper good bye to the captain. Mitch was still pissed at Jared, but he took it better than Jared had expected.
Now, Jared just had to wait it out and that was the hardest part. He wanted to know what Jensen was doing and if his lover would survive Jared’s death but there was no way for Jared to predict that. He knew Alona and Jeff would do their best, but it would be up to Jensen and his lover was stubborn. If he decided to live or die with Jared, he would.
There was a large bang back in the tunnel and Jared turned in surprise. He still had time before the asteroid’s impact but that didn’t mean nothing else could hit the outpost.
He stopped as he rounded the corner, unable to process what he was seeing.
“Jared?”
“Jensen?” Tears filled his eyes and he was falling to his knees to grab Jensen who was lying on the floor, clutching his head.
“Jared? Jared? I made it?”
“Jensen, what are you doing here? How did you-”
His words were cut off as Jensen righted himself and crushed their lips together. The kiss was hard and dirty and flavored with salt tears that they both ignored.
“You can’t be here,” Jared whispered against Jensen’s lips. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Gonna take you home,” Jensen said with a shaky voice.
“How Jen?” He didn’t think there was any hope of getting out of there, but Jensen was there and if anyone could figure it out, it was Jensen.
“Pull the generators up.”
“What?”
“Jared, please, help me to my feet and get me to the generators. If I don’t do this now, I’m afraid I won’t be able to. Please, just trust me.”
As much as he wanted to ask, he didn’t. Jensen was barely able to keep his feet as Jared pulled him up, but they made their way awkwardly to the main room where Jared kept an arm under Jensen’s shoulder and around his waist to keep him upright.
The generators pulled up and Jensen licked his lips, moistening them. “Can you get the shuttle coordinates?”
Jared didn’t answer but pulled up the information that Jensen asked for, then showed him.
“Jared, keep a tight hold on me, alright? I can’t hold on tight enough anymore so you’ve got to be my arms, okay?”
“Jensen?”
“Jared, this is it! This is the most important fucking thing I will ever ask you to do. Just fucking hold onto me and don’t you let go, no matter what.”
“Alright, Jensen, I will.”
Jared felt the exhaustion in his lover, felt the sheer desperation in him in ways that his eyes hadn’t been able to translate. He bit back tears and buried his forehead in Jensen’s neck, breathing in his scent. “I love you,” he whispered.
He felt Jensen sob in his arms and then the deep breath that was Jensen regaining his composure. “Love you too Jared. Never gonna make it without you so you better stay with me, alright?”
“Always,” Jared whispered.
The generators started humming around them then and he felt a jolt in Jensen’s body. It was like a rush of adrenaline but it was stronger, something Jared had no way of describing. When the lights went out overhead, Jensen wrapped both arms around Jared’s waist and Jared held him close.
Without warning, the world seemed to spin around him. Vertigo took his senses and nothing was where it was supposed to be. The pitch black turned into too bright lights. The hushed silence he’d grown accustomed to at the outpost was suddenly filled with loud voices. He held onto Jensen, unable to put together what had happened, until he felt the press of Jensen’s lips against his own.
He lost himself in that for a minute before Jensen pulled back and looked up at him.
“Told them I could do it,” Jensen said, then his eyes rolled back into his head and he was unconscious.
“Jensen?”
“Jared!” Hands were pulling him away from Jensen but Jared was too disoriented to understand until he was pushed back against the wall. Someone tried to hold him there and he pushed out with arms and mind, sending them across the room.
An arm was against his throat then and his eyes narrowed on the new person trying to keep him from Jensen.
“Jared! Damn it, we’re trying to help him!”
He stopped, eyes finally making sense of what he was seeing. Mitch Pileggi was standing in front of him. He was back on the shuttle and Jensen was lying unconscious on the floor with Able trying to check him over.
“Mitch, what happened?”
Mitch smiled then. “The son of a bitch did it!” The captain looked over at Able then. “Able?”
“His vitals are weak but steady. Let’s get him back to Jared’s quarters. I can take care of him there and I’m sure we’ll all be happier not to witness another scene.”
“Mitch?” Jared asked again because his brain wasn’t catching up yet.
“Follow Jake and I’ll fill you in.” Jared did but Mitch stopped and clapped Jim Beaver on the back. “You wanna send the good news on home?”
“Absolutely. Good to have you back Jared,” Jim said softly then he was walking back towards the cock pit.
Jared followed Jake after that, Kelly trailing behind to make sure that Jared made it. Able took a few minutes to look Jensen over again and whispered a few words to Kelly. The other man ran from the room and returned a few minutes later with supplies that Able had wanted and then he left them alone.
Mitch came in a second later, bottle of alcohol in hand. He took a seat on the bench in Jared’s room and Jared followed him. When Able was done he smiled at them.
“He’s exhausted himself and he’s dehydrated. We’ll see if we can hydrate him enough when he wakes up. If not, I’ll start an IV but I think he’ll be fine with a lot of rest and a little bit of care.”
“Thank you Jake,” Pileggi said, and then Jake left.
Mitch got up and found two glasses then returned to the bench and poured two tall drinks. He clinked his glass with Jared and then they were drinking.
“We got a message on the emergency relays a few hours ago saying that Jensen was trying to save you. Apparently, he uses the power from the generators to boost his strength. He’s hopped from ship to outpost to shuttle until he made his way to you. Three hours of porting from one place to the next with only a long enough stop to power up. That’s one hell of a boy you got there, Jared.”
Jared looked at his lover and closed his eyes, thinking about all the ways that could have gone wrong. It didn’t though, the stubborn son of a bitch. “Yeah, he really is.”
Mitch finished his glass and stood up. “Can’t wait to meet him. You let Able know when he wakes up, and then you let us know when he’s ready to meet the crew. They’re dying to meet the man who ported himself clear across the known universe to save you.”
Jared nodded, unable to say anything. When the captain was gone, Jared went to the bed and stripped Jensen’s clothes off and then got rid of his own before crawling into bed beside his lover.
He took a deep breath of the scent that was uniquely Jensen and he barely closed his eyes before he was asleep.
Jensen slept for three days and Jared didn’t move from his side except when they needed to get to Jensen for medical reasons. Able hooked him up to an IV the next morning and continued monitoring him but his life signs were good, if still a little weak, and Able told Jared that he needed to give Jensen time to rest. Gen had calculated the amount of energy Jensen had used to get to Jared and it still boggled Jared’s mind.
Lying beside him, Jared couldn’t help but be concerned, no matter how much they reassured him that Jensen would be fine. When Jared tried to reach Jensen’s emotions there was nothing there. Even people in a coma gave off emotional responses to things that happened around them even if they never reacted in another way. There wasn’t even the dizzying motion of Jensen’s ever-working brain. It was like being alone and Jared hated that feeling.
“Come on, Jen,” he whispered into Jensen’s ear. “I need you to wake up. You got me here, you gotta wake up so I can introduce you to the crew. They’re ready to celebrate any time you show up and I can’t let you miss a party like this. These guys know how to do it right.”
His words were no different than any others since he’d woken up and found Jensen still asleep. There was no sign of recognition or wakefulness from Jensen. Jared leaned in and kissed Jensen softly before settling his head back on his lover’s shoulder. “It’s alright Jensen. You do what you have to inside your head and then you come back to me. You might need a bigger house in there. I think the entire shuttle crew is ready to pack up and marry you after you charged in and saved me.”
Jared sighed, feeling a suddenly heaviness in his eyelids even though he’d only just woken a few hours before. “Never gonna win an argument ever again. Can’t complain about not taking out the trash or missing a date. You’ll just say ‘hey Jared, remember that time you were stupid and went on a mission and I ported across the whole galaxy to save you?’ and I’ll be putty in your hands.”
As he fell asleep, he thought he felt a slight bit of smugness from Jensen, but he was too far gone to realize it was real and not just his own wishful imaginings.
The next time Jared woke, it was to green eyes staring down at him. Before Jared could speak, Jensen was lying on top of him, lips sweetly pressed to Jared’s. He wanted to yell or scream or cry but he was engulfed in Jensen’s emotions. There was nothing but love and affection and the deep seeded need to be with Jared. Jared was more than happy to oblige because he wasn’t letting Jensen out of his sight.
He pressed up until he could push Jensen onto his back and stared down at him. “What were you thinking?” Jared asked softly. He’d heard from the others over the last few days about the danger Jensen had put himself in. He could have been too tired and missed the location. He could have miscalculated - not likely Gen had added with a smile - and landed in space instead. He could have just lost himself in the generators or taken on too much power. Or he could have been too late, landing just in time to die with Jared. Jared couldn’t live with the idea of it but when he looked in Jensen’s eyes he knew his lover was thinking the exact same thing. What’s more was that he realized Jensen had been thinking it since Jared had announced the mission.
“You promised to come home,” Jensen’s voice was just as soft as Jared’s, almost a whisper and there was the slightest feel of accusation behind it but Jared just leaned over and kissed him again.
“I’m home now,” he said as Jensen’s hand came up his neck and held him there, foreheads pressed together.
“I can’t think without you Jared.”
Jared felt it again, the press of Jensen’s love and the overwhelming emotions that were emanating from him. There were times when Jared wanted to push it all away for fear of losing himself in the feelings of others, but now even the motion of Jensen’s brain was comforting and he allowed himself to be consumed by it.
“Don’t have to think now,” Jared replied before he pulled their lips back together. It couldn’t be what he wanted - what they both really needed - not with Jensen still recovering but he let his weight rest against Jensen as if he could ground them both together.
When Jared felt Jensen’s strength starting to give way, he pulled back and called for Able. He had a lover to nurse back to health and he wasn’t going to let Jensen talk him out of it, no matter how dirty his promises got.
Jensen was on bed rest for another two days and Jared was on the verge of asking if Jake would sedate him. The second in command had come by twice already to ask if Jensen would stop making changes to the on board computers because it was hampering their ability to work with the programming that the others used. Jensen offered to rewrite that also, but he was still supposed to be resting so Able vetoed it before he could be taken up on it. Jared had no doubt that by the time they got back to the station the ship, as well as its software, would be upgraded to Jensen’s standards of performance.
Jensen had seemed suspicious of Mark until he confirmed that he wasn’t the captain and then he’d relaxed. Jensen got along well with Mark and after he left, Jared had talked to him about the people he’d gotten to know while they were travelling. Jensen talked about the station and about the experiment with Doc Hodge that helped Jensen realize he could siphon his power from the computers.
Still, on the evening of the third day when Able gave Jensen the okay to leave his room, Jared was happy enough to help him out. He was still physically weak so Jared kept close to him, ready to help him if another wave of vertigo hit or if his legs gave out.
When they entered the mess hall, Jared was surprised to find the crew of the shuttle and the outpost all waiting for them. The hall was decorated in streamers and Able and Kelly were grinning like idiots as Jared and Jensen walked in.
“Do you always celebrate dinner this way?” Jensen had asked into the silence. The room erupted into laughter and movement as Jensen and Jared were led to a table. It looked like whatever contraband hadn’t been used during Kelly’s impromptu engagement party had been brought out for them. The food was good and drinks were passed around except for those who were still currently on duty. Jensen mostly ate and listened to the others tease back and forth. It wasn’t until they’d finished the food off that the captain came in and the room went quiet when he did.
“Mr. Ackles, it’s an honor to have you aboard,” Mitch said as he offered Jensen his hand.
Jensen stood and moved around the table but there was something off about Jensen’s emotions. There was the steady, blinding presence that was Jensen’s love for him, but something was creeping up under that and it was hard to read.
“Jensen?”
He barely had his name out before Jensen pulled his fist back and hit the captain. Mitch took the hit and everyone moved into action, getting between them but Jensen wasn’t trying to get back at him again and the captain wasn’t trying to get away.
“Stand down!” Mark yelled to Kelly and Able who had Jensen by the arm. Lehne and Beaver were watching the captain but he was nodding at Jensen and Jared had no idea what he was feeling from Jensen.
Silence filled the room again and Jensen let out a deep breath when Jared was able to get behind him and place a hand on his lower back. “Jensen?”
“You said you’d keep him safe.”
Mitch nodded again. “I’m sorry. I tried. He’s a bit shady for a psychologist. Pretty damn sneaky too.”
Jared let out a deep breath as he felt the smug acceptance from Jensen. “Yeah, he is.” Jensen offered his hand to the captain then and to Jared’s surprise Mitch took it with a smile.
“I’m damn glad you found a way to get him back.”
Jensen stared over his shoulder at Jared and his smile was breathtaking. “Not much of a choice. I wasn’t going to let him go without me. It was come home safe, or be lost together. It’s the only way the world makes sense.”
Jared pulled him close, ignoring the others around them, and kissed Jensen deeply. He ignored the awes of the younger crowd and the amusement of the older members of the crew and allowed himself to focus on Jensen. He didn’t know how long he stayed that way, but in the end Able was the one that pushed them out of the mess hall and towards their room.
“Get out of here before we have another scene on our hands!”
Jared was more than happy to have Jensen to himself now, even if he was still weak. As much as the last few days had been hard, now that Jensen had a clear bill of health he had plenty of ideas on how to spend the time. He barely had the door to his quarters closed before he had Jensen pushed back against it.
“Jensen,” he whispered against the warm skin at the base of his neck. “Missed you,” he confessed as he let his hand slide down from Jensen’s neck to his waist. His fingers played at the hem of Jensen’s shirt and he could feel the way Jensen’s heart beat sped up where their chests were pressed together.
Jensen’s hand came up to pull Jared’s face towards his until they were kissing again. Jared was lost in the feel of Jensen but his lover’s hands were pulling at Jared’s clothes, slowly pulling him out of his shirt. Jared needed to feel Jensen underneath him then and he slid his fingers under Jensen’s shirt, pulling it up as he went.
It was all the encouragement Jensen needed and they were soon stripping each other out of their clothes. The bed wasn’t as comfortable as the one they shared back home on Vortex, but when Jared pushed Jensen back onto the mattress, it felt like heaven.
Jared took his time as he worked his way down Jensen’s body, letting his hands roam his lover’s skin before he followed with his lips. He paid extra attention to the sensitive spots Jensen had just above his hip bone and then moved lower to take his cock into his mouth. Jensen moaned under him and Jared worked his way down and back up until his lover was thrusting up into him. Jared knew they wouldn’t last long, not with Jensen’s physical strength depleted and their desperate need for one another. Jared had released any walls he had between himself and Jensen and his lover’s emotions were wrapping around Jared until he felt everything as his own.
He opened Jensen up on his fingers then, as quick as he could without pushing Jensen too hard. When he was finally pressing inside his lover, he let out a shaky breath that was followed quickly by Jensen’s. “Missed you,” Jensen whispered into Jared’s neck and Jared turned his head to keep him from saying anything else. They were together again and that was all that mattered.
He wrapped his fingers around Jensen’s cock and began stroking him but it didn’t take long before they were both too worked up to hold off any longer. Jared couldn’t remember why he would want to with Jensen’s love pouring across their bond and when Jensen’s orgasm hit, he let it pull them both over.
“By the heavens, Jensen,” he whispered as he slowly pulled away from Jensen’s body. As much as he wanted to stay inside his lover forever, he didn’t want to hurt Jensen and he knew he’d need to sleep again. “Love you so much.”
Jensen pushed Jared onto his back before settling against his chest. He pressed a kiss to the underside of Jared’s jaw before he set his head down and closed his eyes. “Never leaving the station without me, right?”
Jared smiled. “Goes both ways. You gave me a heart attack showing up the way you did and then not waking up after.”
Jensen hummed like it was all okay and Jared couldn’t help but think that now they were together, it actually was.
The shuttle stopped at the closest outpost to make the repairs that they’d been unable to on the way to outpost 72. It had taken the shuttle three weeks to get there while Jensen told them all smugly that he’d been able to travel much faster on his own.
Although Jensen was supposed to be taking it easy, he spent a good deal of his time with his head in the computer or talking to the other scientists on board the shuttle. Jared spent the entire time at his side and Jensen made a point of keep Jared’s hand in his. In fact, whenever Jared so much as scooted away, Jensen scowled at him until they were sitting so close Jared was practically in Jensen’s lap. And on occasion, when they were in the mess late at night, Jensen would land right in Jared’s lap and stay there while he was holding court there in the mess hall.
Jensen’s intelligence and dry sense of humor won the shuttle and outpost crews over almost as fast as his outrageous rescue of Jared had. Word of Jensen’s success had been sent ahead to the others, but from the outpost they would be able to send a message home. They had already received messages from Alona and Jeff, Misha, and Dr. Hodge, congratulating Jensen and wishing them a safe trip home.
It was their turn now and Jensen and Jared stood in front of the computer display. Jared had wanted to send a long message, but in the end Jensen had his way. The message Jensen wanted to send was short and simple and said everything they needed to. When Jensen turned the relay on, Jared smiled at their friends.
“We made it safely everyone. Thank you.”
He was standing behind Jensen, with one arm wrapped over his shoulder and Jensen looked up at him, reaching over to put his hand on Jared’s heart for a moment. It wasn’t what they’d talked about and Jared lost himself in the brilliance of Jensen’s smile for a moment before Jensen looked back to the relay.
“Vortex.” It sounded official when Jensen said it, but then he was smiling at the relay with the same smile he’d just given Jared. “Friends, we’re coming home.”
Author: hunters_retreat
Fandom(s): CW RPS
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 20K+
Summary: Jensen Ackles may be the smartest man in the universe, but it took empath Jared Padalecki to help Jensen figure out what was important in life. It’s not easy though and when Jared gets as assignment that will take him away from the space station they call home, Jensen doesn’t take it well. When unexpected circumstances put the shuttle in danger, Jensen has to pull himself together because it will take more than his intelligence to get Jared back.
Warnings/Spoilers: graphic sex
Artist:
deadflowers5
The video stopped on a picture of Jared, eyes red from crying but smiling back at them. Alona felt her heart breaking but it was nothing compared to what Jensen had to be feeling. His body was completely still though and she tugged at his hand. “Jensen,” she said with a cracked voice.
Aldis voiced his name again but there was still nothing.
Misha started to move closer, but then Jensen straightened up, pulling away from them both. “No.”
He looked at her, eyes begging but his mouth set in a firm line. “No. No, there’s another way.”
“Jensen,” Misha touched his arm and Jensen pulled away again, this time moving far enough away that they couldn’t reach him.
“I won’t accept this. You said he’d come home. He said he’d come home and I will be damned if he doesn’t!”
Alona’s bottom lip trembled again as she tried to stop her tears from starting again. “Jensen, there is nothing else we can do. There are no other shuttles that could get to him.”
He looked at her, something wild in his eyes then. “Then I’ll go get him.”
“What?”
“I’ll get him. I’ll teleport myself to him.”
“Jensen,” she couldn’t hold back the tears then, but she continued through them. “No one can port that far. It takes hours to get communications with them and we’re using advanced relays for that.”
Jensen’s mouth gaped open at her words and he stared at her for a minute before he ran back to his bank of computers. Alona ran after him, knowing that Misha and Aldis were following, as was every eye in the lab.
“Jensen, what are you doing?”
“A relay. I don’t have to port to him at once. I can piggy back off other ships and stations,” Jensen said, his eyes whirling green with an intensity and speed that she’d never seen before.
“Jensen?”
“I just need to figure out who to jump to and I can move to the next one.”
“Jensen, you can’t,” Misha said softly.
The administrator looked old beyond his years but Jensen seemed not to notice in his sudden rage. Jensen snarled at Misha, pinning him to the bank of computers behind him. “You sent him out there! Don’t you fucking tell me I can’t fix this!”
“You can’t port fast enough to get to him Jensen. You don’t have the energy to do it without draining yourself. You won’t make it half way there before you have to rest.”
“The generators,” Aldis said from behind them. Jensen instantly let go of Misha and turned to Aldis. “You can use the generators, Jensen.”
Jensen smiled then and he was in the computers again.
“Aldis?” Misha asked. Alona wanted to hear what he had to say too, but she moved closer to Jensen again, just dropping her hand on his to let him know she was there.
“When I was doing research on Jensen’s sleep patterns, I realized that Jensen doesn’t sleep like us because his body takes energy directly from the computer banks. When he gets tired, he just plugs in and fills his batteries. He should be able to do the same thing with the generators on the ships. He’ll have to limit his jumps to ships with a backup generator, but he should be able to do it.”
Alona closed her eyes and looked up at Jensen, but her question was for Aldis. “And if he’s too tired and can’t port right? We’ll lose him.”
“Alona,” Aldis’s voice sounded devastated and she looked up to see his eyes on Jensen. “We’ve already lost him. The only way to get him back is by saving Jared.”
She looked at Misha and saw the same knowledge in his eyes. She sniffed, trying to hold back more tears. “Alright. Alright,” she said again more clearly. “What do you need Jensen?”
“List of ships and outposts at your station. You need to contact them and let them know what I’m going to do.”
She didn’t want to leave Jensen but as she debated sending someone else to get it from her station, she felt the pull that was her husband walking into the room. He looked as crushed as the rest of them and she realized that Jensen must have put Jared’s last message up on every monitor in the station. She ran to Jeff, wrapping him in her arms for a quick moment. “He’s going after him. Help him.”
Jeff gaped at her but then she was running to her station, hoping this worked and knowing her husband would do everything he could to see her friend through the next hour.
Jensen’s mind wouldn’t stop working and he had never been more grateful for his unique abilities and the determined way Jared had made him practice his porting. His heart was ripped to shreds but Jensen refused to give up on Jared. He’d screwed up before, but he was going to fix this. He was going to get Jared or die trying. It was a choice he was willing to make and if he failed, at least he would never have to know what life without Jared was like.
Alona had contacted the list of ships and they were all aware of what he was trying. They’d agreed - or Alona and Misha had begged, bribed, and threatened until they agreed - and Jensen was ready. He just had one more thing to do.
The video opened up and Jensen straightened himself up. He had washed his face to make sure he was presentable, in case it was the last time Jared saw his face.
He smiled then and began recording.
“Jared, I’m coming.”
Captain Weatherly was about as open minded as you could get and he’d had dealings with Misha Collins over at the Vortex space station for years. He considered it a privilege to dock there and he had a long friendship with that man that was based entirely on old movies.
When he was contacted about the current emergency he’d been intrigued. His scientists all talked about Jensen Ackles with a mixture of awe and fear and Michael had met with Jared Padalecki before. If there was anything he could do to aid in a rescue he was certainly willing to do it.
He was more than a little surprised at the request though, even more so when Jensen Ackles landed in the middle of the helm out of nowhere. He stumbled and Michael was there to catch him before he could fall.
“Thanks. You have the generators up?” the man asked.
Michael was surprised at the look of raw need in Ackles’ eyes and he nodded. The scientist closed his eyes and suddenly the lights dimmed on the ship. For a few minutes they flickered off and on before the backup generator finally kicked on. When it did, Jensen looked up at him.
“You needed the exact coordinates of the ship, Seattle?” Michael asked.
Jensen nodded and Michael was yelling for his first officer. “Alba! You have it?”
“Sir,” she handed him the print out with the exact coordinates, accurate to the second she printed it.
“Good luck, Ackles.”
“Thank you.”
And then he was just gone.
“Sir, what the hell was that?”
“We’ve either just watched history in the making or a suicidal rescue attempt.”
“Michael?”
She sounded uneasy and Michael wasn’t feeling any better. He knew the look in Jensen’s eyes would haunt him for a long while. “Contact Vortex and let them know he’s on his way.”
Jared stared at the screen, frozen by the look in his lover’s eyes. Jensen was good at closing himself off from people but in the message he’d left himself open for Jared to see. He’d never seen so much desperation in his lover before and he was terrified of what he was going to do. Jared sent a message back immediately, demanding to know what was happening, but he wasn’t sure he’d be around long enough to get an answer. He just had to hope that Misha, Alona, and Jeff were able to keep Jensen from doing anything stupid.
Jensen looked beautiful though, and Jared traced his finger over the image of his lover’s lips, wishing he’d at least had a chance to kiss them goodbye.
Jensen staggered to his knees, unable to stop himself as he vomited over the floor of the outpost. It was his seventh jump and his first to an outpost. He had landed in a mining station and dirt clung to the metal in ways that Jensen remembered all too well. He’s spent time on the outpost when he’d first wanted to understand the problems the mining community was having. He’d been part of a multi-disciplinary team sent in to improve the facility and there was no way to keep the grime out.
“Jensen Ackles,” the voice wasn’t happy to hear him and Jensen wasn’t entirely happy to be there either. He and Kerr Smith had a long history of one-up-manship but he was where Jensen needed to be so he bucked up and looked at the administrator of the mining outpost.
“Smith.”
Jensen tried to get to his feet but it took longer than he liked. A bottle of hydrating fluid was placed in his hand and Jamie was there at his side. “Dr. Hodge said you would need this about now.”
He tried to smile at her but he didn’t have any strength to give her. He tried to tip it back to drink but vertigo almost knocked him over and it was Kerr who steadied him.
“Stars, Jensen, what the hell are you doing?”
“I can’t,” Jensen said, shaking his head. He took a drink and realized he was thirsty. He drank steadily until it was gone and then it was replaced with another.
He looked at Kerr again and took a deep breath. “I can’t lose him. I need your generators.”
He didn’t know what was in his eyes, but Kerr stared for a moment in surprise, and then called out. “Generators up.”
Jensen nodded as he stood up again and braced himself on the computer. For the first time in his life, the movements of the computers in his head made him feel nauseous but he ignored it. He was almost there. One more ship and then he’d be back in Jared’s arms.
Jared was pacing. He’d called the shuttle and talked to Mitch but the captain didn’t know anything about what Jensen was doing either. Not that Jared had expected him to but it was good to be able to say a proper good bye to the captain. Mitch was still pissed at Jared, but he took it better than Jared had expected.
Now, Jared just had to wait it out and that was the hardest part. He wanted to know what Jensen was doing and if his lover would survive Jared’s death but there was no way for Jared to predict that. He knew Alona and Jeff would do their best, but it would be up to Jensen and his lover was stubborn. If he decided to live or die with Jared, he would.
There was a large bang back in the tunnel and Jared turned in surprise. He still had time before the asteroid’s impact but that didn’t mean nothing else could hit the outpost.
He stopped as he rounded the corner, unable to process what he was seeing.
“Jared?”
“Jensen?” Tears filled his eyes and he was falling to his knees to grab Jensen who was lying on the floor, clutching his head.
“Jared? Jared? I made it?”
“Jensen, what are you doing here? How did you-”
His words were cut off as Jensen righted himself and crushed their lips together. The kiss was hard and dirty and flavored with salt tears that they both ignored.
“You can’t be here,” Jared whispered against Jensen’s lips. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Gonna take you home,” Jensen said with a shaky voice.
“How Jen?” He didn’t think there was any hope of getting out of there, but Jensen was there and if anyone could figure it out, it was Jensen.
“Pull the generators up.”
“What?”
“Jared, please, help me to my feet and get me to the generators. If I don’t do this now, I’m afraid I won’t be able to. Please, just trust me.”
As much as he wanted to ask, he didn’t. Jensen was barely able to keep his feet as Jared pulled him up, but they made their way awkwardly to the main room where Jared kept an arm under Jensen’s shoulder and around his waist to keep him upright.
The generators pulled up and Jensen licked his lips, moistening them. “Can you get the shuttle coordinates?”
Jared didn’t answer but pulled up the information that Jensen asked for, then showed him.
“Jared, keep a tight hold on me, alright? I can’t hold on tight enough anymore so you’ve got to be my arms, okay?”
“Jensen?”
“Jared, this is it! This is the most important fucking thing I will ever ask you to do. Just fucking hold onto me and don’t you let go, no matter what.”
“Alright, Jensen, I will.”
Jared felt the exhaustion in his lover, felt the sheer desperation in him in ways that his eyes hadn’t been able to translate. He bit back tears and buried his forehead in Jensen’s neck, breathing in his scent. “I love you,” he whispered.
He felt Jensen sob in his arms and then the deep breath that was Jensen regaining his composure. “Love you too Jared. Never gonna make it without you so you better stay with me, alright?”
“Always,” Jared whispered.
The generators started humming around them then and he felt a jolt in Jensen’s body. It was like a rush of adrenaline but it was stronger, something Jared had no way of describing. When the lights went out overhead, Jensen wrapped both arms around Jared’s waist and Jared held him close.
Without warning, the world seemed to spin around him. Vertigo took his senses and nothing was where it was supposed to be. The pitch black turned into too bright lights. The hushed silence he’d grown accustomed to at the outpost was suddenly filled with loud voices. He held onto Jensen, unable to put together what had happened, until he felt the press of Jensen’s lips against his own.
He lost himself in that for a minute before Jensen pulled back and looked up at him.
“Told them I could do it,” Jensen said, then his eyes rolled back into his head and he was unconscious.
“Jensen?”
“Jared!” Hands were pulling him away from Jensen but Jared was too disoriented to understand until he was pushed back against the wall. Someone tried to hold him there and he pushed out with arms and mind, sending them across the room.
An arm was against his throat then and his eyes narrowed on the new person trying to keep him from Jensen.
“Jared! Damn it, we’re trying to help him!”
He stopped, eyes finally making sense of what he was seeing. Mitch Pileggi was standing in front of him. He was back on the shuttle and Jensen was lying unconscious on the floor with Able trying to check him over.
“Mitch, what happened?”
Mitch smiled then. “The son of a bitch did it!” The captain looked over at Able then. “Able?”
“His vitals are weak but steady. Let’s get him back to Jared’s quarters. I can take care of him there and I’m sure we’ll all be happier not to witness another scene.”
“Mitch?” Jared asked again because his brain wasn’t catching up yet.
“Follow Jake and I’ll fill you in.” Jared did but Mitch stopped and clapped Jim Beaver on the back. “You wanna send the good news on home?”
“Absolutely. Good to have you back Jared,” Jim said softly then he was walking back towards the cock pit.
Jared followed Jake after that, Kelly trailing behind to make sure that Jared made it. Able took a few minutes to look Jensen over again and whispered a few words to Kelly. The other man ran from the room and returned a few minutes later with supplies that Able had wanted and then he left them alone.
Mitch came in a second later, bottle of alcohol in hand. He took a seat on the bench in Jared’s room and Jared followed him. When Able was done he smiled at them.
“He’s exhausted himself and he’s dehydrated. We’ll see if we can hydrate him enough when he wakes up. If not, I’ll start an IV but I think he’ll be fine with a lot of rest and a little bit of care.”
“Thank you Jake,” Pileggi said, and then Jake left.
Mitch got up and found two glasses then returned to the bench and poured two tall drinks. He clinked his glass with Jared and then they were drinking.
“We got a message on the emergency relays a few hours ago saying that Jensen was trying to save you. Apparently, he uses the power from the generators to boost his strength. He’s hopped from ship to outpost to shuttle until he made his way to you. Three hours of porting from one place to the next with only a long enough stop to power up. That’s one hell of a boy you got there, Jared.”
Jared looked at his lover and closed his eyes, thinking about all the ways that could have gone wrong. It didn’t though, the stubborn son of a bitch. “Yeah, he really is.”
Mitch finished his glass and stood up. “Can’t wait to meet him. You let Able know when he wakes up, and then you let us know when he’s ready to meet the crew. They’re dying to meet the man who ported himself clear across the known universe to save you.”
Jared nodded, unable to say anything. When the captain was gone, Jared went to the bed and stripped Jensen’s clothes off and then got rid of his own before crawling into bed beside his lover.
He took a deep breath of the scent that was uniquely Jensen and he barely closed his eyes before he was asleep.
Jensen slept for three days and Jared didn’t move from his side except when they needed to get to Jensen for medical reasons. Able hooked him up to an IV the next morning and continued monitoring him but his life signs were good, if still a little weak, and Able told Jared that he needed to give Jensen time to rest. Gen had calculated the amount of energy Jensen had used to get to Jared and it still boggled Jared’s mind.
Lying beside him, Jared couldn’t help but be concerned, no matter how much they reassured him that Jensen would be fine. When Jared tried to reach Jensen’s emotions there was nothing there. Even people in a coma gave off emotional responses to things that happened around them even if they never reacted in another way. There wasn’t even the dizzying motion of Jensen’s ever-working brain. It was like being alone and Jared hated that feeling.
“Come on, Jen,” he whispered into Jensen’s ear. “I need you to wake up. You got me here, you gotta wake up so I can introduce you to the crew. They’re ready to celebrate any time you show up and I can’t let you miss a party like this. These guys know how to do it right.”
His words were no different than any others since he’d woken up and found Jensen still asleep. There was no sign of recognition or wakefulness from Jensen. Jared leaned in and kissed Jensen softly before settling his head back on his lover’s shoulder. “It’s alright Jensen. You do what you have to inside your head and then you come back to me. You might need a bigger house in there. I think the entire shuttle crew is ready to pack up and marry you after you charged in and saved me.”
Jared sighed, feeling a suddenly heaviness in his eyelids even though he’d only just woken a few hours before. “Never gonna win an argument ever again. Can’t complain about not taking out the trash or missing a date. You’ll just say ‘hey Jared, remember that time you were stupid and went on a mission and I ported across the whole galaxy to save you?’ and I’ll be putty in your hands.”
As he fell asleep, he thought he felt a slight bit of smugness from Jensen, but he was too far gone to realize it was real and not just his own wishful imaginings.
The next time Jared woke, it was to green eyes staring down at him. Before Jared could speak, Jensen was lying on top of him, lips sweetly pressed to Jared’s. He wanted to yell or scream or cry but he was engulfed in Jensen’s emotions. There was nothing but love and affection and the deep seeded need to be with Jared. Jared was more than happy to oblige because he wasn’t letting Jensen out of his sight.
He pressed up until he could push Jensen onto his back and stared down at him. “What were you thinking?” Jared asked softly. He’d heard from the others over the last few days about the danger Jensen had put himself in. He could have been too tired and missed the location. He could have miscalculated - not likely Gen had added with a smile - and landed in space instead. He could have just lost himself in the generators or taken on too much power. Or he could have been too late, landing just in time to die with Jared. Jared couldn’t live with the idea of it but when he looked in Jensen’s eyes he knew his lover was thinking the exact same thing. What’s more was that he realized Jensen had been thinking it since Jared had announced the mission.
“You promised to come home,” Jensen’s voice was just as soft as Jared’s, almost a whisper and there was the slightest feel of accusation behind it but Jared just leaned over and kissed him again.
“I’m home now,” he said as Jensen’s hand came up his neck and held him there, foreheads pressed together.
“I can’t think without you Jared.”
Jared felt it again, the press of Jensen’s love and the overwhelming emotions that were emanating from him. There were times when Jared wanted to push it all away for fear of losing himself in the feelings of others, but now even the motion of Jensen’s brain was comforting and he allowed himself to be consumed by it.
“Don’t have to think now,” Jared replied before he pulled their lips back together. It couldn’t be what he wanted - what they both really needed - not with Jensen still recovering but he let his weight rest against Jensen as if he could ground them both together.
When Jared felt Jensen’s strength starting to give way, he pulled back and called for Able. He had a lover to nurse back to health and he wasn’t going to let Jensen talk him out of it, no matter how dirty his promises got.
Jensen was on bed rest for another two days and Jared was on the verge of asking if Jake would sedate him. The second in command had come by twice already to ask if Jensen would stop making changes to the on board computers because it was hampering their ability to work with the programming that the others used. Jensen offered to rewrite that also, but he was still supposed to be resting so Able vetoed it before he could be taken up on it. Jared had no doubt that by the time they got back to the station the ship, as well as its software, would be upgraded to Jensen’s standards of performance.
Jensen had seemed suspicious of Mark until he confirmed that he wasn’t the captain and then he’d relaxed. Jensen got along well with Mark and after he left, Jared had talked to him about the people he’d gotten to know while they were travelling. Jensen talked about the station and about the experiment with Doc Hodge that helped Jensen realize he could siphon his power from the computers.
Still, on the evening of the third day when Able gave Jensen the okay to leave his room, Jared was happy enough to help him out. He was still physically weak so Jared kept close to him, ready to help him if another wave of vertigo hit or if his legs gave out.
When they entered the mess hall, Jared was surprised to find the crew of the shuttle and the outpost all waiting for them. The hall was decorated in streamers and Able and Kelly were grinning like idiots as Jared and Jensen walked in.
“Do you always celebrate dinner this way?” Jensen had asked into the silence. The room erupted into laughter and movement as Jensen and Jared were led to a table. It looked like whatever contraband hadn’t been used during Kelly’s impromptu engagement party had been brought out for them. The food was good and drinks were passed around except for those who were still currently on duty. Jensen mostly ate and listened to the others tease back and forth. It wasn’t until they’d finished the food off that the captain came in and the room went quiet when he did.
“Mr. Ackles, it’s an honor to have you aboard,” Mitch said as he offered Jensen his hand.
Jensen stood and moved around the table but there was something off about Jensen’s emotions. There was the steady, blinding presence that was Jensen’s love for him, but something was creeping up under that and it was hard to read.
“Jensen?”
He barely had his name out before Jensen pulled his fist back and hit the captain. Mitch took the hit and everyone moved into action, getting between them but Jensen wasn’t trying to get back at him again and the captain wasn’t trying to get away.
“Stand down!” Mark yelled to Kelly and Able who had Jensen by the arm. Lehne and Beaver were watching the captain but he was nodding at Jensen and Jared had no idea what he was feeling from Jensen.
Silence filled the room again and Jensen let out a deep breath when Jared was able to get behind him and place a hand on his lower back. “Jensen?”
“You said you’d keep him safe.”
Mitch nodded again. “I’m sorry. I tried. He’s a bit shady for a psychologist. Pretty damn sneaky too.”
Jared let out a deep breath as he felt the smug acceptance from Jensen. “Yeah, he is.” Jensen offered his hand to the captain then and to Jared’s surprise Mitch took it with a smile.
“I’m damn glad you found a way to get him back.”
Jensen stared over his shoulder at Jared and his smile was breathtaking. “Not much of a choice. I wasn’t going to let him go without me. It was come home safe, or be lost together. It’s the only way the world makes sense.”
Jared pulled him close, ignoring the others around them, and kissed Jensen deeply. He ignored the awes of the younger crowd and the amusement of the older members of the crew and allowed himself to focus on Jensen. He didn’t know how long he stayed that way, but in the end Able was the one that pushed them out of the mess hall and towards their room.
“Get out of here before we have another scene on our hands!”
Jared was more than happy to have Jensen to himself now, even if he was still weak. As much as the last few days had been hard, now that Jensen had a clear bill of health he had plenty of ideas on how to spend the time. He barely had the door to his quarters closed before he had Jensen pushed back against it.
“Jensen,” he whispered against the warm skin at the base of his neck. “Missed you,” he confessed as he let his hand slide down from Jensen’s neck to his waist. His fingers played at the hem of Jensen’s shirt and he could feel the way Jensen’s heart beat sped up where their chests were pressed together.
Jensen’s hand came up to pull Jared’s face towards his until they were kissing again. Jared was lost in the feel of Jensen but his lover’s hands were pulling at Jared’s clothes, slowly pulling him out of his shirt. Jared needed to feel Jensen underneath him then and he slid his fingers under Jensen’s shirt, pulling it up as he went.
It was all the encouragement Jensen needed and they were soon stripping each other out of their clothes. The bed wasn’t as comfortable as the one they shared back home on Vortex, but when Jared pushed Jensen back onto the mattress, it felt like heaven.
Jared took his time as he worked his way down Jensen’s body, letting his hands roam his lover’s skin before he followed with his lips. He paid extra attention to the sensitive spots Jensen had just above his hip bone and then moved lower to take his cock into his mouth. Jensen moaned under him and Jared worked his way down and back up until his lover was thrusting up into him. Jared knew they wouldn’t last long, not with Jensen’s physical strength depleted and their desperate need for one another. Jared had released any walls he had between himself and Jensen and his lover’s emotions were wrapping around Jared until he felt everything as his own.
He opened Jensen up on his fingers then, as quick as he could without pushing Jensen too hard. When he was finally pressing inside his lover, he let out a shaky breath that was followed quickly by Jensen’s. “Missed you,” Jensen whispered into Jared’s neck and Jared turned his head to keep him from saying anything else. They were together again and that was all that mattered.
He wrapped his fingers around Jensen’s cock and began stroking him but it didn’t take long before they were both too worked up to hold off any longer. Jared couldn’t remember why he would want to with Jensen’s love pouring across their bond and when Jensen’s orgasm hit, he let it pull them both over.
“By the heavens, Jensen,” he whispered as he slowly pulled away from Jensen’s body. As much as he wanted to stay inside his lover forever, he didn’t want to hurt Jensen and he knew he’d need to sleep again. “Love you so much.”
Jensen pushed Jared onto his back before settling against his chest. He pressed a kiss to the underside of Jared’s jaw before he set his head down and closed his eyes. “Never leaving the station without me, right?”
Jared smiled. “Goes both ways. You gave me a heart attack showing up the way you did and then not waking up after.”
Jensen hummed like it was all okay and Jared couldn’t help but think that now they were together, it actually was.
The shuttle stopped at the closest outpost to make the repairs that they’d been unable to on the way to outpost 72. It had taken the shuttle three weeks to get there while Jensen told them all smugly that he’d been able to travel much faster on his own.
Although Jensen was supposed to be taking it easy, he spent a good deal of his time with his head in the computer or talking to the other scientists on board the shuttle. Jared spent the entire time at his side and Jensen made a point of keep Jared’s hand in his. In fact, whenever Jared so much as scooted away, Jensen scowled at him until they were sitting so close Jared was practically in Jensen’s lap. And on occasion, when they were in the mess late at night, Jensen would land right in Jared’s lap and stay there while he was holding court there in the mess hall.
Jensen’s intelligence and dry sense of humor won the shuttle and outpost crews over almost as fast as his outrageous rescue of Jared had. Word of Jensen’s success had been sent ahead to the others, but from the outpost they would be able to send a message home. They had already received messages from Alona and Jeff, Misha, and Dr. Hodge, congratulating Jensen and wishing them a safe trip home.
It was their turn now and Jensen and Jared stood in front of the computer display. Jared had wanted to send a long message, but in the end Jensen had his way. The message Jensen wanted to send was short and simple and said everything they needed to. When Jensen turned the relay on, Jared smiled at their friends.
“We made it safely everyone. Thank you.”
He was standing behind Jensen, with one arm wrapped over his shoulder and Jensen looked up at him, reaching over to put his hand on Jared’s heart for a moment. It wasn’t what they’d talked about and Jared lost himself in the brilliance of Jensen’s smile for a moment before Jensen looked back to the relay.
“Vortex.” It sounded official when Jensen said it, but then he was smiling at the relay with the same smile he’d just given Jared. “Friends, we’re coming home.”