Waking Up Married chapter 6
“Pick up, pick up, pick up,” Jared mutters, pacing the hotel room. He had gone back to the room to sulk, but after finding the signed divorce papers, Jared knew why Jensen left so suddenly. Another ring. “Please. Come on. Pick up.”
“Jared.”
“Those weren't my papers,” Jared blurts like it's all one word. When Jensen doesn't respond, Jared repeats it slower. “Those weren't my papers. Those were Jeff's. He thought he was helping. He thought that if you forgot yours or something,” his voice trails off. “I don't want your money, Jensen.”
Jensen sighs on the other end of the line. “You signed them, Jared, and we do need to get divorced.”
“I signed all of them, yours and Jeff's,” Jared says quickly. “I didn't have time to figure out which forms were yours, so I signed all of them.”
Jensen's quiet for a long moment which ratchets up Jared's nerves and he feels horrible. Jensen had been wonderful toward him and now Jensen thinks only thing Jared liked Jensen about him was his money. As he looks at the items Jensen left in the room, the cake, the candy, the condoms, Jared realizes he does want something from Jensen.
“Jared,” Jensen interrupts his thoughts, “I can't do the three hundred in a lump sum, but I can help. Let me help.”
“I didn't marry you for your money, Jensen,” Jared snaps at him, regretting it instantly.
Jensen chuckles. “I know that. But drunk and horny aren't great reasons either.” Jared huffs a small laugh. “I'll call my lawyer and he'll draw up an alimony agreement, okay?”
“I tore up the papers.”
There's another exasperated sigh from Jensen. “Why did you do that? I told you I could make it work.”
“And I told you I don't want your money. Have your lawyer send another copy of his paperwork and when you come back to town next week, we'll have dinner and get divorced. Until then, I guess we're still married.”
There's a burst of noise over the line and Jensen groans, “Dammit.”
“Sorry. It's just another few days. If you have a hot date waiting for you in Dallas you can --”
“Shut up,” Jensen says sounding amused. “My flight's boarding. We can talk more later.” Jared can hear him gathering his bags.
“Hey, before you go, thanks.”
“For what?”
“For being my date, putting up with my family, and the cake, beer and the uh, party favors.” Jared opens one of the beers and sits on the bed.
“I had a different idea of where this night was headed a couple of hours ago,” Jensen says quietly.
Jared did, too. “From the looks of things, I would have enjoyed it.”
Jensen doesn't say anything for a while, but Jared knows he's still there because he can hear the sounds of the airport. Finally, Jensen says, “I gotta go,” and disconnects.
On Sunday morning, Jensen holds his nephew while the pastor and congregation bless the baby and pray for him. He hasn't gotten over his awe at being asked to be Levi's godfather. He's barely over how much the baby has grown in the months since he was born. He's so pleased and honored that he doesn't give the baby back to his brother until it's time to leave the church.
As the Ackles family gathers for Sunday brunch following the service, Jensen realizes just how much he misses his family. And, even though he's trying his best to hide it, his mom notices his melancholy attitude.
“Is something wrong, Jensen? You seem sort of down.” Donna Ackles asks when she had Jensen away from the others.
“Just miss you all more than I thought,” he replies as he helps his mother with the dishes. “I mean Levi has grown so much and Mack's talking about getting engaged. When did that happen?”
“We miss you too, dear. And don't let your father hear you talk of Mack getting engaged, he can't stand that boy.” She hands him the roasting pan and points to cupboard she can't reach on her own. “But speaking of boys, how's your new boyfriend? When will we get to meet him?” Jensen's expression falls and his mother's heart sinks. “What happened?”
Jensen blinks away his defeated look and smiles. “Nothing, Mom. Everything's fine.”
His mom gives him her 'don't bullshit me' look so Jensen grabs more dishes to put away. Donna gently puts a hand on his arm. “I'm sorry. You don't have to tell me what happened. I just want you to be happy.”
Jensen sighs and smiles tightly. “He lives near San Antonio. I live in L.A. it's never going to work.”
Donna gives him a sad smile. “You really liked him, didn't you?”
“Doesn't matter.” He shrugs. “It is what it is.”
She hugs him for a while and kisses his cheek. “I love you, Jensen. I wish you would visit more often.”
“Okay Mom. Love you, too.”
Jensen's poring over maps and zoning laws and code requirements and Morgan Manufacturing memos and actively ignoring Jared's text and email when his phone rings with the Emperor's theme. The last thing he needs is Malcolm McDowell being a douche this morning. He takes a breath and smiles before answering, “Good morning, Mr. McDowell. What can I do for you today?”
“Have you found Morgan his land?” McDowell demands without offering a greeting.
“No, sir, not yet. Although I do have a call scheduled with him in fifteen minutes to narrow his specifics.”
“You made him this promise, Ackles. If he pulls his account because you can't deliver, your little department will pay for it.”
Jensen swallows his angry retorts and forces another smile. “I know I'll find exactly what Morgan's looking for, sir.”
“You will or you'll be looking for work.”
Jensen miraculously resists the urge to hurl his phone across the room as his boss hangs up.
“Tell me your minimum land requirements and your maximum price,” Jensen pleads to Jeff Morgan only a few minutes later.
“Have you found something?” the man asks eagerly, he's been looking for more than six months and he's getting desperate.
Jensen moves anther map aside. “No. But I need different parameters. I need something your people and my staff have over looked.” He pulls up a satellite view of the area. “Jeff, it's right here, in front of me. I feel it.”
Jeff Morgan sighs heavily over the line. “Jensen, I can give you until the end of the week. Then we're pulling out of Texas.”
Jensen curses under his breath. “Where else would you consider building?”
“If I have to, I'll start looking at the rust belt.”
Jensen doesn't like it, he thinks he'll sound weak, but he's going to do it anyway. “Misha and Danneel can start a search in Michigan and Ohio immediately.”
Jensen spends Tuesday in the car, driving for hours searching for land that doesn't exist. He's stressed and exhausted and not in the mood to deal with calls from work, even though he knows he should check in. But, he knows if he hears one more demand he's going to snap and he doesn't want to do that to his staff.
He stops at a decent looking diner and checks his email on his phone while he waits. Thankfully, Danneel has found a tract of land in northern Wisconsin and Misha found something that might be suitable in the Detroit area. Jensen doesn't want to think about traveling to Detroit.
Alona sent him memos about three other clients and Jensen welcomes the distraction from the Morgan fiasco. He solves their issues by the time he's done with his meal and when the check comes, so does an email from Jared.
Jensen stares at his inbox and curses. In dealing with his work demands, he's forgotten to call Jim Beaver and get new paperwork for their divorce. Jared must be wondering what's taking him so long. He notices there's an attachment which must mean that Jared drafted new papers. Perfect, he'll print them out at the hotel and drop them off at Jared's tomorrow.
He skips the email and opens the attachment. A smile brightens his face immediately. Instead of divorce papers, he finds wedding pictures. There are two of him and Jared and one of him dancing with Grandma Padalecki.
The waitress returns to pick up the check folder and says, “Well, that must be some good news. That's the first smile I've seen on you since you sat down.” Her words remind Jensen of how happy he'd been at the wedding.
Back at the hotel, he calls Jared. “Hey, man, thanks for those pictures, they made my day. Sorry I didn't get back to you yesterday.”
“Don't worry about it. I know how busy you are. Any luck finding the land?”
“No, and if I don't, Morgan could pull his contract and I'll be out of a job,” he replies sounding bitter and frustrated.
“Shit, Jensen, I'm sorry.”
“You know, I developed that whole department. I hand picked the personnel, I landed the clients, I doubled McDowell's profits over five years. And now one lousy piece of land could fuck it all up.” he tosses a pen across the room in frustration.
“Jensen, I--”
“It's bullshit. McDowell seems to have forgotten about all the other clients I brought to the firm. Aw, fuck, maybe he's realized that I've trained Danneel and Misha so well that he doesn't need me anymore. If he cuts me loose, he opens up a nice chunk of money. God dammit. Morgan isn't even demanding that much, but if it's not zoning codes it's land use restrictions.” He pauses and sighs heavily. “Shit, sorry. You don't want to hear my bullshit problems.” He clears his throat and continues, “I've kinda been too busy to get the new set of papers out to you. I can drop them off tomorrow.”
“Don't worry about it, okay?” Jared says in a soothing voice. “I can come get them from you if that makes it easier. Whenever you want, I've got softball tomorrow night, but we can meet before that or even after if you want. Or heck, we can wait until Thursday if that helps.”
Jensen sighs at how accommodating Jared is being. Divorces are supposed to be messy and difficult. Spending millions on land should be easy. The only thing difficult about divorcing Jared is that Jensen wishes he didn't have to.
“Yeah,” he says absently, “I'll call you when I get the papers so we can work out when to meet. Wait, no scratch that. I can drop them off anytime. You'll just need to sign them and mail them back. You don't have to be home. I'll do that. I'll slip them in your door or mailbox or whatever and you mail them. Thanks.” Jensen hangs up before Jared can reply.
Jared's suddenly unsure of his plan. It's late and Jensen already sounded so worn out, but Jared has already driven all the way into San Antonio. He's got to knock on the door.
“Jared.” Jensen blinks at him like if he does it enough Jared will disappear. “I thought I told you I didn't have the papers” He walks back into the room expecting Jared to follow.
“I'm not here for the papers,” Jared holds up the six packs he's carrying to help him explain. “You sounded pretty stressed and I thought you could use a beer. And I've been told I'm a great listener, so go ahead and vent. I'll listen and drink beer.” Jensen's hair is damp from a shower and he's wearing a Captain America t-shirt and pajama pants, which makes Jared sigh. “You were going to bed. I'm sorry. I, well, you sounded like you... you know what, keep the beer, I'll go and let you get some sleep.”
Jensen drags a hand over his face as Jared puts one of the six packs on the small dresser. “Wait, Jared. I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be an asshole.”
“I didn't think you were.” Jared figures that if he gets Jensen off the subject of his job, the guy might relax. “Hey, how was the baptism?”
Jensen smiles at him, sad and wistful. “Josh made me godfather.”
“Hey, congrats, that's great. Just don't let yourself get all fat and start speaking Sicilian.”
Jensen can't help but chuckle at the lame joke. “Thanks, I'll do my best not to.” He opens a beer and hands it to Jared before taking one for himself. “I hope he's not trying to make me feel more guilty.”
“Guilty?”
“For living in L.A.,” he explains. “I miss out on a lot of family stuff. I try to make it back to Dallas as often as I can. We skype and email, but it's not the same, ya know. And it's only been a couple months but the baby grew so much.”
“I'm sure your brother meant it as a way to remind you of how important you are to them.”
“Yeah, that's it.” Jensen snorts. “My mom asked about you.” Jared smiles at that, happy Jensen's family knows about him. “Got to see her all disappointed in me when I told we're breaking up. So that was great.”
Jared knows his mother's reaction will be just as bad given that Jensen met and impressed the whole family. “Did you give her a reason?” He doesn't want to hear it, but since he's going to need one for his family he asks.
Jensen stares at him a beat, then looks more defeated than before. He doesn't look at Jared as he answers, “You're not my type. Back when I had time to date, I dated arrogant, self-absorbed assholes. Guys like you,” he glances at Jared before continuing, “gorgeous, intelligent, and considerate, don't exist in L.A.”
Jared quirks his brow in disbelief and deadpans, “Yeah, I've heard there was a shortage of good looking people in Hollywood.”
There's a moment when Jensen wants to be annoyed, he was being honest after all, but Jared has diffused some of the tension. “It's a tragedy of epic proportions. The only decent guys are hiding in small Texas towns.”
“Why do you live there if it makes you unhappy?” Jared asks, hoping it doesn't sound demanding or accusatory.
“My job.”
Jared huffs in irritation. “Good thing you're getting fired then. You can move back here.”
“And we'll live happily ever after.” He smiles sardonically. “Sure, I'll be unemployed and we'll be broke, but there will be awesome sex, so yeah, I'm liking your plan.”
Jared sees the sadness underneath Jensen's mocking tone and it makes him regret being sarcastic. “You could find a different job--”
“I created my job,” Jensen says tersely. “I don't expect you to understand, no one understands, but I took an idea and turned it into an entire division that employs over two dozen people and makes McDowell Group millions a year. I,” he stops himself as he hears his voice rising. “It's not just a job.” He finishes his beer and sets the empty bottle on the small table. He doesn't expect Jared to understand, how could a middle school teacher understand his world?
“Jensen,” Jared waits for him to make eye contact before he goes on, “what you've done for McDowell is a huge accomplishment. It's a Fortune Five Hundred company and it sounds like that's partly due to you. You have every right to be proud of it. But it's a shame that it keeps you away from your family, because that seems to make you very unhappy. Sacrificing your personal life for your professional life is a bad trade off.”
For a long moment, Jensen stares at him in disbelief. Then his brow furrows and he asks, “Why am I divorcing you?”
Jared has to grin at that, but when he sees the affectionate smile Jensen is giving him, Jared's insides turn to jelly.
“Thank you for coming down to see me and for listening to me bitch about my job,” Jensen says quietly and he holds Jared's gaze as he makes his way across the room.
Jared shifts where he's seated on the bed, widening his legs, making room for Jensen to stand between them if he wants. Jensen's eyes haven't left his and they hold an intensity Jared hasn't seen in them before.
“Anytime. Anything you need,” Jared says in a near whisper looking up Jensen standing right there, between his legs.
Jensen's hands cup Jared's jaw to tilt his head back. His mouth opens like he's about to speak, but he doesn't. Instead, his thumb slowly rubs along Jared's jaw before he leans down to press his lips to Jared's.
Jared runs his hands up the back of Jensen's legs to grip his butt in a firm squeeze. Jensen makes an approving sound into the kiss and gently tugs on Jared's hair. The angle is awkward and Jared is about to pull away to find a better position when his brain regains function. He kneads Jensen's ass again and realizes there is only a layer of thin pajama pants between him and Jensen's ass.
A quick tug on the drawstring, and Jared is sliding the pants down. Jensen can't even react before Jared breaks their kiss in favor of getting a hand on Jensen's dick and sucking on the tip.
“Jare,” Jensen manages to gasp as Jared releases his dick, stands, and peels off Jensen's shirt. Jared turns them and the momentum forces Jensen back on the bed, eyes wide with shock. Jared pulls his shirt over his head as he sinks to his knees in front of Jensen.
He takes Jensen's cock in one hand and strokes, mouth watering as he watches it harden for him.
“Jared,” Jensen repeats, slight sound of begging in his voice.
Jared looks up at him. “Relax, I got you.” He sucks him down, sloppily, as far as he can, letting his hand work what he can't swallow. He continues his ministrations until Jensen is panting and canting his hips up to thrust into Jared's mouth. Then, because Jared had been really hopeful when he made his plan, he pulls a packet of lube and a condom from his pocket.
He pulls off Jensen's cock to suck and lick at his balls. He grabs Jensen's legs and gently bends them up and out of his way. He spills some lube onto his fingers and licks across Jensen's hole, making the man jerk and curse, but that only encourages Jared to do it again before he eases a finger inside.
“Fuck yes!” Jensen gasps, slapping the bed and pawing at the covers when Jared works that finger in further and crooks it just right.
As Jared continues to prep Jensen and suck his cock, Jensen begins to make louder, more needy sounds. It's nearly enough to get Jared off just hearing him, but he's achingly hard and damn needy himself, so he forces himself to stop.
He's still half dressed and has a tiny power trip over seeing Jensen before him, naked and spread and so desperate. Jensen's eyes are dark and he's panting as he watches Jared shove his jeans down just enough to free his cock. In a breath, Jared has rolled on the condom and is sliding in.
Jensen's face scrunches in discomfort as Jared buries himself to the hilt. Jared bends down to kiss Jensen's mouth and jaw and neck until he feels the man begin to relax. Then Jared begins to slowly pull out. He wants to drag this out, make it last as long as possible, so Jared pushes in as slowly as he can making sure Jensen feels every inch of him. He wants to make Jensen fall apart over and over again. But, a panting, moaning Jensen is the hottest thing Jared has ever seen and when Jensen wraps a hand around his own cock and comes, Jared is close to losing his mind. He doesn't last much longer.
He leaves Jensen sweating and panting on the bed, while he disposes of the condom and gets a warm wet cloth to clean up. Noticing that Jared has already zipped up, Jensen says, “You didn't even get undressed.”
Jared hands him the wash cloth. “Amazing sex doesn't always require nudity,” he replies with a smirk.
“But you're staying, right?”
Jensen's soft voice tugs at Jared. “Yeah, of course," he answers and begins to remove his jeans. "You know I'm a snuggler after sex.”
When Jared wakes in the morning, it's to the smell of coffee and the sound of Jensen tapping on his keyboard. “Morning,” he says on a yawn as he stretches.
Jensen smiles brightly at him. “Morning. I made coffee.” He points to the room's tiny coffee maker. “And the hotel has a complimentary breakfast if you want some.”
Jared pulls on his jeans and says, “Thanks, but I've got to go. I've got to get to work.” He notes Jensen's confused expression and adds, “I paint houses in the summer. It sucks, but it helps pay the bills.”
Jensen nods. “Grab some food on your way. Growing boy like you should always have breakfast.” He gets up from the small work space and pours a cup of coffee for Jared who accepts it thankful smile.
After taking a sip Jared says, “Check out of here and come stay with me for the rest of your trip.”
Jensen shakes his head, a fond smile on his face. “Jared.”
“Shut up, you know you want to. I'll leave a key under the mat in case you get there before I'm finished for the day.” He's pleased with the grin he put on Jensen's face and joins him by the desk to kiss him goodbye when he catches a glimpse of the screen. Satellite photos of the area near his town are on display. “Hey, is that...?”
“Yeah,” Jensen answers. “I'm looking for this address.” He holds up a post it note for Jared.
Jared makes a face as he reads it. “You're missing a number. That address doesn't exist.” Jensen groans, but Jared leans over the laptop and scrolls down the screen. “But that,” he says pointing to several green rectangles plotted out on the screen, “is my grandma's farm.”
Jensen rolls his eyes at him in a show of mock annoyance, but Jared kisses a smile onto his face. “I'm serious Jensen, stay with me until you leave for L.A..”
Jensen hates the way regret churns in his stomach as he watches Jared walk out the door.
After a brief phone call, Jim Beaver sends Jensen a pdf of the divorce documents which he prints at the hotel. He can't bring himself to sign them, though. Signing them feels like a permanent good bye to Jared and Jensen does not want that. Maybe dragging this out is stupid, he thinks, but giving up Jared completely is stupid, too.
Especially after being struck with inspiration that morning.
Jensen spends the rest of the morning researching and visiting city hall. He gets answers to all his questions and calls Danneel and Misha to tell them about his plan of attack.
It stuns them into silence.
“Guys? What do you think?” he asks when he can't take the quiet any longer.
“I think it's a huge risk,” Misha replies. “I wouldn't do it. But that being said, you are braver than me and quite possibly the only person who could pull this off.”
“Yeah,” Danneel agrees. “It sounds perfect. I really hope this doesn't blow up on you.”
“Not exactly the vote of confidence I was hoping for, guys,” Jensen says, feeling tension building in his chest.
It's early afternoon, the sun is high in the sky and it's hot enough to fry eggs on the asphalt.
He the appreciates the breeze that's cooling the porch while he waits for his knock to be answered. He's enjoying the view and the quiet when the door opens. “Why hello, Jensen. What a pleasant surprise! What brings you here today?”
Jensen gives Jared's grandmother his best smile and says, “Ma'am, I'd like to buy your farm.”
chapter 7