SPN RPS: Faint Stars and Bright Satellite Skies (1/7) // NC-17 // Jared/Jensen
Faint Stars and Bright Satellite Skies
Jared/Jensen, NC-17
See the index for a full header.
"I heard he's dating Lindsay Lohan."
"Are you on drugs? He wouldn't touch that skank. I heard he's been hanging around Scarlett Johansson."
"Yeah, whatever. She's with Justin now, remember?"
"You both have it totally wrong. Dude's a friend of Dorothy."
"What?"
"He's gay!"
"Now I know you've lost your mind. Jensen Ackles is totally straight, you whore."
"Denial's not just a river in Egypt, dear."
"Whatever."
"Seriously, guys! Jensen and Lindsay Lohan! I heard it on Entertainment Tonight. Or maybe it was the National Enquirer- it doesn't matter. All I know is that he..."
~~~~
Jared Padalecki shook his head and laughed to himself in disbelief as he made his way through the crowded bar, catching snippets of conversations left and right from gossip-hounds and regular patrons alike. Generally he paid no attention to what the local gossips were harping on, but lately it was hard to hear about anything else but Jensen Ackles. The famous actor was in Jared's small Texas hometown filming his latest soon-to-be blockbuster and it seemed that it was all anyone could talk about lately. Not even the damn bar was safe from it.
A lot of that had to do with the fact that Jensen just happened to be sitting across the room from the bar lined with stools, getting decidedly drunk. Jared fought his way through the crowd that was bigger than usual to reach the front, placing the blame totally on the actor for Jared having to work that night. Fuck him for showing up tonight - Jared's first night off in two weeks - and forcing the small watering hole to call in extra staff. He liked a good movie as much as the next person, but in his mind no one deserved this much attention for any reason.
"Goddamn, Jerry. It took me five minutes just to get here from the damn door," Jared drawled as he took a seat at the bar, throwing his baseball cap on the counter and glancing around at how busy things were. The bartenders were going full-tilt, mixing drinks and popping tops on beer bottles as fast as they could to keep up with the orders being shouted at them. Jared had a feeling the money exchanging hands over the bar tonight would rival any summer fight-night or homecoming celebration in recent memory.
"It's somethin' ain't it?" Jerry drawled, pulling on a beer. They both looked over at the actor who was regaling people (mostly women, mind you) at his table in the middle of the room with tales of this movie and that shoot and actor so-and-so who did do what everyone thought he did at that awards show, wink wink. Jared reached over the bar and grabbed a beer for himself and kept one eye on the table as he opened it, wondering what it was about a half-drunk pretty boy who just happened to get a lucky break into acting that made women flock to him. And a few men, too, Jared noted as he caught a few appraising but furtive glances shot in Jensen's direction.
"It's the mystery," Jerry said randomly. "Well, the money too, but mostly mystery."
"Hmm?" Jared asked, turning back to his friend and boss while taking a drink. The bar was stupidly hot tonight from all the people packed inside and he could feel sweat start to trickle down his back under his t-shirt and short-sleeved plaid button-up. His dark shaggy hair was already sticking to his forehead and he could feel his cheeks getting warmer by the second.
"It's one thing to know someone from what they present to the cameras, you know? But to be offered the chance to get to know them when they finally go home at night and the cameras shut off? That's the allure. Unfortunately that's all it is, just a big smoke screen."
"Dude, if I didn't know better-"
"I read a lot of People magazine," Jerry cut him off dryly. "And I have two eyes. I look over there and see a kid who's tired and looking to blow off some steam, likely because he puts in long hours at his job and his- what's the word? Entourage? His entourage keeps him on a tight leash so he doesn't get to have fun very often. He's just a small-town boy who made it big overnight, after all."
Jared arched an eyebrow questioningly and wondered when the gruff, no-bullshit bar owner had gone off the deep end. Jerry rolled his eyes, reached under the bar and slapped the most recent issue of In Touch with Jensen's face grinning up at him on the bar in front of Jared.
"That's cheating," Jared laughed.
"No, that's bathroom material," Jerry replied, tossing the magazine into the garbage can behind him. "Figured I should know something about him if he's going to be turning my bar into a mob scene on a Tuesday night."
"Sure you don't want to keep that?" Jared asked, pointing to the magazine in the trash. "I could go get it autographed for you. 'To Jerry, my biggest fan'," Jared teased. Jared took another drink of his beer as Jerry twapped him in the head with his dishcloth, watching the ever-growing crowd at Jensen's table. On a normal night things were far from quiet at the small bar so tonight Jared just hoped people would stay calm and not cause too much trouble, although in the pit of is stomach he knew that would be far from the case.
~~~~
"It's not about who... who you know in this bus- business. It's about who you blow," Jensen said, winking at one of the girls at his table who was hanging off his every word.
"Oooh! That sounds so dirty!" another girl squealed, leaning into Jensen so her boobs pressed against his arm. Jared did a double take from his seat at the end of the bar as he recognized her from his eleventh grade English class- Mindy or Mandy or Nancy something. Jensen, to his credit, kept his eyes above her chin and smiled drunkenly, seeming to enjoy being the center of attention.
Jared had been catching bits of their conversation all night as he moved around the bar, making sure things were going alright and saying hello to people he recognized. It was getting harder to get around Jensen's table as more and more people crowded around to listen to what he had to say and to ask questions or generally fawn all over him. Jensen didn't seem to mind though, as he kept ordering more drinks and springing for a couple rounds for the table. Jared rolled his eyes more than once on his way to and from the bar as Jensen flashed one blindingly bright smile after another and the girls seemed to collectively sigh at him, batting their lashes and trying to hold his attention for more than three seconds. Jared settled back on his stool, glancing at his watch and noting that he only had a couple more hours to go before he could finally go home and crawl into bed.
Unfortunately, that was plenty of time for complications to arise.
"Yeah, you'd know a lot about blowing, wouldn't you, Mr. Movie Star?"
The voice had come from the crowd of people around the table and Jared watched Jensen's jaw clench as he registered those words and looked around carefully. He turned around slowly to look at the rather large, and obviously drunk, meat head standing a few feet from Jensen's table, surrounded by three or four of his buddies, all trying to look intimidating.
"Yeah, that's right. Your movies suck, man. You blow!"
Jensen appeared to relax and let out a little laugh. "Hey, thanks guys. I always love getting feedback."
"You deaf, Hollywood? I said you blow," the guy repeated, getting angry with Jensen's apparent lack of reaction. Jensen just shrugged and turned back to his admiring crowd at the table. The guy got red and started to take off his coat, throwing it on the floor by his feet while his buddies tried to look threatening behind him, glaring at Jensen who seemed oblivious or was just doing a very good job of acting it.
"Oh, Ben," Mindy, Mandy or Nancy spoke up, addressing the angry guy. "Why don't you go back to your table and have another drink? You're making a fool of yourself."
Ben didn't seem to take too kindly to this suggestion because he flushed and flexed his hands into fists. He puffed up his chest and stepped up closer to Jensen's table, crooking a finger at the actor at which Jensen seemed very unimpressed. "Bring it on tough guy! You and me, right now! Show me some of your fancy fighting moves they teach you out there in fag-land!"
From across the room, Jerry and Jared watched with interest, along with everyone else in the bar who were hushed and warily keeping one eye on the table while trying to make it look like they weren't staring. Jerry threw his dishtowel on the counter and sighed, ducking under the bar and motioning for Jared to follow him.
"Come on, hotshot. That's our cue."
"Cue for what? Nothing's happened yet." Jared finished the last of his beer and caught up to him anyway.
"As much as I hate to say it, we can't let the pretty boy over there get his face all messed up on Ben's fist. I'm not all that excited at the thought of twenty camera crews hanging all over this place come morning if there's a brawl in my bar over him." Jerry jerked his thumb in Jensen's direction.
"Fair enough." Jared shrugged. They pushed through the growing crowd around Jensen's table and made it to him just in time to watch Ben step closer to Jensen while calling him out. Jensen just stared at him with open amusement, as if he didn't believe he was actually going to get totally thrashed by one of the local hotheads. Mindy, Mandy or Nancy was yelling at Ben while everyone around the table began laughing and shouting, either telling Ben to go sit down or for Jensen to be a man and show them his fancy moves from all his action movies. Jensen hadn't actually moved, and worry and fear started to creep into his face that he was trying, and failing, to mask with a drunk, stupid grin. Jerry and Jared pushed their way past people who were yelling louder and starting to shove inward to get a better view of what was happening. Jared moved around the table to Jensen's side and Jerry headed straight for Ben.
"Ben, don't you dare," Jerry yelled out as Jared glanced around, noticing a couple more bouncers trying to get the rowdy crowd to back up and stopping other skirmishes before they started. Jerry was trying to hold Ben and his buddies back as Jared grabbed Jensen by the shoulders and hauled him out of his chair from behind, inwardly groaning at the thought of the giant brawl that'd start at any moment if they didn't get out of there.
"Hey, what the hell!" Jensen shouted and tried to resist as Jared clamped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him backwards away from the table and the growing crowd.
"Just shut up. I'm getting you out of here so stop being a dick," Jared grumbled into Jensen's ear, avoiding a kick to his shins. Jensen continued to struggle half-heartedly until Jared pulled him back far enough to set him right and push him toward the emergency exit. He could still hear Ben yelling behind them.
"Just keep moving," Jared said when Jensen glanced back. Jensen glared at him and walked more or less steadily out the door. Once the door closed behind them Jensen took a moment and leaned against the wall, taking a few deep breaths.
"If you're gonna hurl, do it out here and not in my truck," Jared told him, fishing his keys out of his pocket and brushing past Jensen, who just stared at him.
"Not gettin' in your truck," he mumbled.
"You expect to get back to your hotel another way?" Jared asked.
"Call m' driver," Jensen replied.
"How long would that take, anyway? Longer than it's going to take for Ben to get kicked out of the bar and come looking for you?"
Jensen glanced at the emergency exit door for a second before pushing off the wall and following Jared. "Lead the way, Jeeves."
Jared unlocked his truck and pushed the door open from the inside for Jensen to climb in, watching carefully as he buckled himself in, not trusting Jensen to do it on his own. Jensen leaned his head back against the seat tiredly and was silent as Jared started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot. The first few minutes were so quiet Jared thought Jensen had passed out beside him.
"Are you goin' to tell the papers about this?" Jensen asked suddenly, slurring slightly. Jared frowned at him.
"Is that what you want someone to do?"
"No!" Jensen replied quickly and emphatically. "'Course not. I'm not some- some teeny bopper, coked-up publicity whore! But you know, can never be too sure anymore about ev'ryone else. I'm not usually like this. Really."
"Whatever you say," Jared replied, chuckling to himself. Jensen made a face at him. "What?"
"Stop treating me like I'm drunk."
"You are drunk," Jared told him, hiding a grin.
"Yeah, but stop treating me like it. M'a nice guy."
"Whatever you say, Mr. Ackles," Jared repeated.
"Jens'n," Jensen muttered beside him. Jared cast a sidelong glance at him but ignored him - this was not how he wanted to spend his night, babysitting a drunk movie star because he pissed off the local hot-heads.
"You're staying over at the country club hotel on the north side of town, right?"
"You know where I'm staying?" Jensen asked dumbly.
"Everyone knows where you're staying, dude. You can't hide here as easy as you can in Los Angeles," Jared replied matter-of-factly. Jensen mumbled to himself and slumped down in the seat.
"What was that guy's deal, anyway?" Jensen asked, staring out the window.
"Ben? Well, that girl that was hanging off you was his girlfriend. Sort of."
"Sort of?"
"He's cheating on his actual girlfriend with her. She's a nice girl but she's trouble in the long run. You probably don't care to hear this but stay away from her if you don't want to get in more trouble," Jared told him, feeling like he was overstepping his boundaries.
"Not a problem," Jensen muttered, more to himself than anyone else. Jared raised an eyebrow but let it go; it wasn't his place to counsel Jensen Ackles on his love life and the mechanics of small minds in small towns.
"So, filming a movie. That must be interesting," Jared said to try and fill the silence. Jensen mumbled something that Jared missed and figured it meant Mr. Ackles was in no condition to and had no intention of making small talk with him so Jared flipped the radio on to the local country station instead. He glanced over at Jensen, glancing over a couple times on the ride to see if he would be more receptive to conversation, but Jensen just stared out the window, avoiding him. Jared could appreciate a companionable silence but this felt awkward and weird. He wasn't sure what kind of protocol one was supposed to follow when driving a drunk celebrity around, and frankly didn't care, but it wasn't in Jared's nature to sit quietly and ignore someone or be ignored. When he pulled up as close to the front of the hotel as he could and parked the truck Jensen jerked back to attention and tried to open the door before he realized he was still held in by the seat belt.
"Do you need..." Jared trailed off as he watched Jensen struggle with the buckle, fingers fumbling over the button to release it. He sighed and hopped out of the truck, walking around to open Jensen's door and help him with his belt. Jensen jerked away as Jared tried to lend a hand to help him out of the truck and slid out of the cab to his feet on his own without stumbling too much. Jensen's hair was mussed up and his hazel eyes were dull and bloodshot- not at all like the good looking, photo-ready man Jared was used to seeing plastered across the tabloids and magazines.
"I can take it from here," Jensen said slowly, focusing on the words. Jared held up his hands and backed away as Jensen began walking unsteadily back towards the hotel.
"Don't say thanks or anything," Jared mumbled to himself. Jensen wheeled around at Jared's deep rumble and stared at him drunkenly.
"Whasat?"
Jared took a deep breath and waved. "Night! Sleep well!"
He waited until Jensen had made his way up the front walk to the hotel's main doors and disappeared inside them before he got back in the truck. God forbid he be the guy who was put in charge of taking care of Jensen Ackles and let him end up passed out in a puddle of his own vomit instead. That would obviously be the perfect end to the most awesome night ever. Jared groaned as he realized that the movie had just started filming and Jensen Ackles was going to be the focus of the city's attention for the better part of the summer.
"Kill me now," Jared muttered as he started the truck and pulled away from the curb.
~~~~
Death would have been a welcome visitor this morning, Jensen realized as soon as he cracked one eye open to the sound of the phone ringing shrilly beside his head. He smacked at it half heartedly, knocking the receiver to the floor. He could hear someone talking at him, a recorded message or some shit, and tried to yell at it but his voice came out in a half-croak.
His lips were dry, his eyes felt gritty (fucking hell, he slept in his contacts again) and there was drool smeared across his cheek. He rolled out of bed clumsily, one foot on the floor before he landed ass-first. He slammed the phone receiver down on the cradle and winced at the noise it made. He was still in his jeans, his wrinkled shirt from the night before was buried in his sheets somewhere and he muttered a few choice words before he noticed his wallet on the floor by the foot of the bed. At least he hadn't been so drunk that he wasn't able to get himself back to the hotel and in one piece. More or less, anyway.
He stumbled to the bathroom and pissed, his eyes drifting shut as he contemplated pulling a true act of Hollywood asshole-ism and calling in sick. Or not calling in sick, for that matter, and sleeping the day away with his phones unplugged and turned off. But he wasn't like that in the slightest and the mere thought made him feel guilty at the money and time it would cost the production company, studio and everyone working much harder than himself to get this movie made. It was bad enough that he went out last night and likely made a complete ass of himself at that bar he ended up at.
He flushed and turned to wash his hands but gasped as soon as he saw his reflection. His eyes were bloodshot and sunken from the lack of sleep, his skin was pale and greenish-tinged so his freckles stood out even more than normal, his normally styled hair was pressed flat and greasy against his scalp and he had bits of drool crust around his mouth. He felt like gagging and smacked his lips, suddenly recognizing the taste of vomit in his mouth. He groaned and ran the water in the sink quickly, dunking his head under to wake himself up.
"You fucking moron," Jensen whispered to himself as he stared himself in the mirror again. The water had chilled him and made him more alert, thankfully, as he blinked water away and stared into his usually bright eyes that were dull and flat this morning, surrounded by dark lashes made spiky from the water. He cursed himself for letting his personal life, or lack thereof, affect his work. He had tried so hard to keep them separate but last night the pressure got to be too much and he had to let off some steam. Of course, all that ended up getting him was a spotty memory, a pounding headache and a funky taste in his mouth.
He pushed away from the sink and turned the shower on as cold as he could stand it as if he could shiver away the stench of the alcohol. He vaguely remembered talking with some people at the bar and there being what he could only remember as an "incident". When he tried to remember how he got home, his mind offered up nothing but... hands. He could see them as clear as if he had been sober- strong and tanned and warm. He had no idea who the hands were attached to, but it was a start.
"M'never drinking again," Jensen mumbled.
~~~~
The last person Jared expected to see at seven the very next morning was Jensen. But when he sauntered out to the car that was waiting for him to pump gas there he was, with his dark sunglasses on and cradling a large cup of coffee with both hands, looking haggard and weary. Jared chanced a smile as he walked up to the window but got little in return except a raised eyebrow.
"Fill it up, please," Jensen asked in a raspy voice, clearly not out of bed long.
"Regular?" Jared asked. Jensen simply nodded and sipped his coffee carefully. Jared shook his head and muttered to himself as he set the pump and watched the numbers. He could feel eyes on him as he stood facing away from Jensen and his side mirror but didn't bother to look back.
"Can I get the windshield washed?" Jensen called out. Jared sighed to himself and set the nozzle to continue pumping. He grabbed the squeegee and flung the excess fluid off it with a quick, practiced flick of his wrist. He made fast work of Jensen's windshield that really didn't need to be washed but he did it anyway as Jensen was being conspicuously inconspicuous, watching Jared from behind his sunglasses. Jared gave him a quick nod when he finished and returned to the rear of the car to remove the nozzle. He capped the gas tank and wiped his hands on a rag he pulled out of his back pocket before standing by the drivers side door for payment.
"Sorry, I only have a credit card," Jensen told him as he offered up a Visa. Of course he only had a credit card. Why on earth would he need to carry any money around with him, after all? Jared smiled brightly, his natural defense against annoyance, and accepted the card to run it inside. He returned a couple minutes later with the slip for Jensen to sign and handed his card back.
"Hey," Jensen started. "You... drove me home last night, right?"
Jared nodded. "Sure did."
Jensen flushed and looked at a loss for words. "I should- here, just a second." He started rustling around in his console for change or some stray bills. "I should pay you."
Jared clenched his jaw. "No, that's alright. Really."
Jensen looked up at him, noting the tension in Jared's stance, and opened his mouth again but a horn honked from behind him, startling him. Jared stepped back and gestured for him to drive on. Jensen frowned as he started the car and drove out of the parking lot while Jared waited for the next car to pull up.
"Oh my god! Was that Jensen Ackles?" the girl in the car asked breathlessly. Jared resisted the urge to crumple the signed slip in his hand and forced another smile.
"Don't know, wasn't really paying attention. What can I do for you today?"
~~~~
"Heard you had quite the night," Lynne, Jensen's assistant, said with a smirk as Jensen slumped down onto the couch in his trailer wearily. He shot her half a second of a withering look before lying down and covering his eyes with his arm.
"How in the hell would you know about that?" he asked, muffled. The tight, blood-spattered jeans his character was wearing for the scene they were shooting today were more uncomfortable than normal and he wished with all his might that he could lay on the couch forever, ignoring any contractual or moral obligation he had to show up on set again after lunch.
"Can't say there's much of a problem with paparazzi in these parts, not like in Los Angeles, but small towns don't equal anonymity. You almost getting your ass kicked at one of the local bars travels fast," Lynne chided him lightly. She crouched down beside him and stroked his hair in a mothering way. "What happened, Jensen?"
"I don't know," Jensen mumbled, keeping the hand over his face. Lynne reached out to pull it back gently. "Seriously. I got drunk, I know that much. There was a confrontation and someone got me out of the way before anything happened. Then he drove me back to the hotel."
"Jensen..." Lynne started with a sigh.
"I know, okay? It was irresponsible, dangerous and stupid. I could have put the production, jobs and my career on the line. I get it."
"I wasn't going to say that. I mean, yes to all of it but that wasn't what I was going to say." Jensen raised an eyebrow at her. "Stop being so hard on yourself. You made a choice for your career but that's not a crime. I just wish you'd be yourself."
"I am," Jensen said flatly, sitting up. "And I don't want to talk about it."
"Just-"
"No."
"Think about it, alright? The world wouldn't end, you know. What's keeping you back?"
"Stop it, Lynne," Jensen said in a warning tone, low and dangerous. Lynne put her hands up in surrender and stood up.
"They're still setting up on set. Take a nap if you need to, drink some water and pop a couple Advil. I'll be back later to make sure you haven't swallowed your tongue."
"Thanks." Jensen waited until she left the trailer and closed the door behind him before slumping back on the couch again and sighing.
Sometimes he wondered if he could drown in his own self-pity and then groaned and gave himself a mental kick to the head. Other people, normal people, might give celebrities a hard shake because their lives were supposedly so perfect, but little did any of them know that Jensen's harshest critic was himself.
~~~~
"Oh, we have to get some paper plates and stuff to take to the party on Thursday, too."
Jared winced as he walked through the crowded mall with his girlfriend, Sandy. It was the first time they'd been able to do anything together in a couple weeks because of their constantly-conflicting schedules and of course the only thing they had time to do before he started his shift at the bar tonight was go to the mall. Sandy noticed his expression and sighed.
"Are you serious, Jared? You're working again?" Sandy asked, stopping to look up at him. She barely reached his shoulder but the way she looked up at him with those disappointed brown eyes made him feel like a dwarf next to her. He sometimes wondered how he ever ended up with her to begin with- she was Sandy McCoy, the most popular girl in high school, who had seen something in Jared and asked him out. After that they just were and had been ever since. Their families and friends thought of them as a set, a package deal - JaredandSandy- and until recently when their schedules kept them apart more than together, so did Jared.
"Lance needed the night off," Jared said apologetically. "His girlfriend's got some big company dinner party or something and she really wants him to be there."
"But I really want you to be there with me on Thursday. People look at you funny when you go to a party alone," Sandy complained.
"C'mon, Sandy. There'll be other parties; the summer's just starting. I'll make the next one, I promise."
"Yeah," she said softly, frowning. She opened her mouth to say something more but her cell phone rang and she answered it quickly, holding up a finger for Jared to wait a second. "Hello? Hey Chri- what? Are you shitting me? Where?" Jared raised an eyebrow as Sandy grabbed his arm and started pulling him through the mall while still on her phone. Jared followed, confused as Sandy got more excited by the second.
"Sandy. Sandy." He tried to get her to stop but she flipped her phone shut and grabbed his hand tighter.
"Come on! He's here!"
"Who?" Jared shook his head.
"Jensen Ackles!" Sandy replied breathlessly. Jared groaned out loud and came to a complete stop.
"No. We're not spending the afternoon following him around the mall while he shops for man panties or whatever the hell it is he buys."
"Stop being such a stick in the mud, Jared. I just want to see what he looks like up close. If he's as cute as he is in the magazines," Sandy laughed, then stuck out her lower lip. "Please?"
"I've seen as much of Jensen Ackles as I ever want to, thanks," Jared replied dryly.
"What do you mean?" she asked suspiciously.
"He was at the bar last week. Because of him there was almost a bar brawl and I had to drive his drunk ass home."
"Jared!" Sandy squealed. Jared turned red and noticed people turning to stare at them. "You didn't tell me!"
"What's there to tell? He was drunk, I drove him home. He was quiet and kinda stuck up."
"Oh, we have to go now! You know him!" She grabbed his hand and started pulling him through the mall again. Jared tried to get her to stop but Sandy would have none of it and dragged him to a men's store where there were some people gathered outside, some with cameras, watching through the window at what Jared presumed had to be Jensen. Sandy pushed to the front of the small group and gasped.
"That's him!" She exclaimed, pointing. Jared grabbed her hand and held it down, trying to get her to move out of the way. She bounced excitedly and gasped again when she saw him with some bags and walking toward the door with some guy Jared figured was a body guard or a manager or something.
"Come on!" Sandy pulled Jared toward the doors and squeezed his hand. "Say something to him when he comes out, okay?"
"Like what, Sandy? I don't know him!"
"Think of something!" She hissed as she flipped her hair over her shoulder and rubbed her teeth with her finger hurriedly. Once Jensen stepped out of the store there were camera flashes going off all around him and Jared tipped his head down to avoid being blinded while Sandy jerked her hand away from him to try and reach out to Jensen. He must have felt her hand on his arm because he turned around and looked at Jared.
"Hey," Jensen said casually, searching his face as if trying to think of something to say. Jared held a groan in and gave him a small smile and a nod.
"How's it going?"
"Good." Jared nodded again. Jensen was going to say something else but the guy with him whispered something in his ear and tried to guide him away instead. He looked vaguely disappointed and waved to Jared.
"Catch you later, hey?" Jared jerked his head slightly and stepped back as some of the crowd surged forward to follow Jensen through the mall. Sandy watched, disappointed, before turning around and slapping him on the arm.
"You could have said something else, Jared. Introduced me or something!"
"I don't know him! How can I introduce you when he doesn't even know my name?"
"Oh, well. He's here for awhile longer. If I meet him I could make some connections! Wouldn't that be exciting, Jared?"
"Thrilling," Jared muttered under his breath and let Sandy pull him through the mall again, set on shopping for those damn paper plates.
~~~~
Jerry greeted him at the swinging door to the bar's kitchen with a wide, knowing grin. Jared took one look at him and groaned, knowing it had to have something to do with Jensen. He cocked his head and didn't have to say a word before Jerry explained that the set had ordered food for their cast and crew- something about the craft services truck breaking down and there being dozens of half-starved Hollywood types running around freaking out. Jared just happened to be the lucky someone who was 'volunteered' to take the three big boxes of food over to their set.
Jared could see a couple waitresses snickering with the cooks, clearly having heard about his repeated run-ins with Jensen and he gave them all the finger as he gathered what he needed and carried the boxes of food to his truck. He was given directions to a warehouse downtown that was acting as their set and managed to find parking somewhat close to the building. He cleared security easily and walked into the mess of lights and cords and people slowly, unsure of where to go or who to see. Jerry told him the name of the person that had phoned the order in but no one on set was wearing a name tag and none of them looked particularly interested in stopping to help him out.
He found a picnic table and set the food down as he looked around and tried to figure out exactly what was going on. He shifted uneasily from foot to foot before reaching into his jacket pocket to pull out his cell phone, hoping Jerry would be able to call whoever had ordered back and tell them he was waiting there with the food. He'd just dialed the number when a slight girl wearing a headset and carrying a clipboard rushed up to him.
"Are you from the restaurant?" she asked breathlessly.
"Yeah, from Jer-"
"Great, I can get a check for you if you have a receipt," she said, cutting him off. Jared handed over the bill wordlessly and watched her rush off to find someone to sign the cheque for the food, leaving Jared to take in the chaos around him. People were running all over the place with various props and clipboards and walkie talkies, barking orders while directing others to take these papers to set or to find someone needed for the next scene they were shooting. There was so much happening at once he couldn't understand how they got anything done at all. He shuffled awkwardly, feeling like he stood out like a sore thumb just standing there with nothing to do but wait.
Jared walked a few steps away from the picnic table to check out the set more, trying to figure out where the cables and cords ran to and if there was any actual filming going on at the moment. He could see some trailers beyond the cluttered busy area he was in with names typed up on the doors, including one for his favorite shadow, Jensen Ackles. Jared sighed, doomed to be haunted by the guy forever - or at least the summer - it seemed, and turned back to see none other than Jensen fucking Ackles.
Jensen blinked and pointed at him, recognizing Jared. "Oh, hey. How's it going? You're... sorry, did I get your name?" Jensen asked, wrinkling his forehead as if he were trying to remember Jared's name.
"It's Jared. Pada-"
Suddenly a woman brushed past him and up to Jensen, ignoring Jared. "Jensen, we need you on set in five minutes. Make sure Jeannie does something to your hair, what's up with that?"
Jensen frowned and tried to dodge away as she ran her fingers through his hair and tried to fluff it up. He grabbed her wrist and shoved her arm away gently although he was clearly annoyed. "Jesus Christ, Lynne. Give it up, would you? Can I have five minutes of peace? Please?"
Jared raised an eyebrow as she rolled her eyes at Jensen and backed off. "Fine. Five minutes."
"Sorry about that," Jensen said once she left. He picked through the bags Jared brought and tore into it eagerly. He opened one of the Styrofoam containers and started picking at the fries immediately. "This yours?"
Jared shrugged. "From the bar I work at."
Jensen flushed a little at the mention of Jerry's and swallowed hard. "Hey, look man. I hope-"
"Got it!" The PA jogged back to Jared, holding a signed check. "There you go. Thanks for the food, guy!" Jared smiled and saluted before turning to head back to his car, leaving Jensen standing there staring after him.
"Hey! J-James? Sorry- what's your name again?" Jensen called out as Jared started to walk away. He turned back to Jensen and shrugged again.
"Don't worry about it, it's not important. Have a nice day, Mr. Ackles."
Jared continued back to his car and ignored whatever Jensen said next, though it sounded suspiciously like, 'I told you it was Jensen.' The last thing Jared was going to do now was play into Jensen's ego and become one of his dedicated fans, no matter how badly the guy wanted him to.
~~~~
Jensen felt bad for not remembering the guy's name and he could tell he was pissed. Jensen figured that since he was getting to know the guy, even inadvertently, the least he could do was know his name. He wanted to thank him properly for dragging his drunk ass out of the bar that night, but he seemed totally disinterested in hearing anything Jensen had to say or any thanks he might have. In fact, he seemed to be one of the only people in the town who wasn't fawning all over him all the time.
Jensen had to admit- it was intriguing. It wasn't that he came to expect people falling at his feet, but ever since he'd arrived to start filming he couldn't take a shit without someone thinking he should win an Oscar for it and it was really beginning to wear on his nerves. The studio was grooming him to be their next big star, their next giant talking head to paste on billboards and shove into blockbusters to make money. He was cool with that- it was his job, right? But at the same time he was growing more and more wary and weary of wondering who was there because they had a genuine interest in him and what he had to say and who was there to ride his coattails to fame.
This guy from the bar and the gas station and the mall- the ubiquitous tall, lanky, shaggy-haired guy with the strong, lean hands - seemed to be haunting him, almost. Everywhere he turned or looked or breathed, this guy was there. Jensen didn't believe in fate but he was beginning to wonder if it was a sign because there was no way in hell, even in a small city of this size, he could run into this guy all the time. Unless Jensen was doing it himself, purposefully putting himself in places he knew this guy would be. Which brought up another very interesting question- what was it about this guy that he would make Jensen want to do that?
"I can smell rubber," the PA, Tracy, spoke up suddenly.
"Huh?" Jensen asked, stupidly, turning to her with his burger in one hand, forgotten.
"If you think any harder I'll be seeing smoke," she teased. Jensen flushed and she giggled at him. She grabbed a couple of the bags and flashed him a smile and a wink before rushing to take the dinners to other people on set. Out of the corner of his eye he could see her glance back at him but he didn't look at her.
He really didn't want to encourage her; the last thing he wanted to explain to anyone was that she wasn't his type because she didn't have shaggy hair and strong hands.
~~~~
"Oh, come on," Jared groaned when he saw who walked into the bar an hour into his shift a few days after his last encounter with Jensen on set. He was standing behind the bar with Jerry, helping him stack some glasses before the big rush hit while they shot the shit about this game and that player. "What's that about?"
"What's what about?" Jerry asked, glancing in the direction Jared was looking. Jensen Ackles had just walked in the bar and it seemed like every single head in the place turned toward him as one. Immediately the bar got quiet and then buzzed again, louder than before, as everyone started talking to each other with constant glances in Jensen's direction. Jensen kept his eyes low, avoiding their gazes and looked for a table.
"He's everywhere I am this week. It's getting ridiculous! I kept his ass from being beat down, drove him home and he can't even remember my damn name," Jared complained, pulling the dishtowel from his back pocket and throwing it on the counter in frustration.
"You want him to remember your name?" Jerry raised an eyebrow.
Jared flushed and shook his head. "It just might be nice if we're going to keep running into each other, is all. I know he's a big movie star and everything but a 'thanks, Jared' when I pump his gas or bring him food or, I don't know, save his face from permanent disfigurement might be nice."
"Awww, muffin," Jerry teased. "Want some cheese with that whine?"
"Fuck off," Jared mumbled, a smile tugging at his lips. He continued stacking glasses, but out of the corner of his eye he watched Jensen choose a smaller table this week, one out of the way and somewhat secluded so he could see but not be seen. The other patrons in the bar were keeping their distance tonight and some were casting glances between Jensen and Ben, as if waiting for the aborted brawl from the week before to break out. Jensen was either a better actor than Jared gave him credit for, or he was totally oblivious to the attention he was drawing. One of the waitresses made an eager beeline for his table, cocking her hip playfully as she batted her eyelashes and took his order with a big smile, but Jensen barely gave her a second glance as he ordered quickly.
"I'm going to go make some rounds, make sure the boys know to keep an eye out for any more trouble, " Jerry said with a significant look in Jensen's direction as he clapped Jared on the shoulder. Jared watched him greet a few patrons and shake the hands of some others, welcoming them to the bar before Jared picked his dishcloth up and turned to check on things in the kitchen. He caught Jensen's eye for a split second before the actor ducked his head and avoided Jared's gaze. Jared could feel his cheeks heating up again even as he shook his head and fled to the back.
Closer to midnight found Jared rushing about behind the bar helping the bartenders and pouring beers for the patrons. As he predicted, the crowd grew and a lot of them were watching Jensen's table like hawks while tapping a foot or a finger to the beat of the live band. One of the other bouncers told Jared there was even a line outside to get into the bar, which was pretty much unheard of at Jerry's.
"You boys better be looking out for Hollywood over there tonight," Patty, Jensen's flirty waitress who had been rebuffed, shouted at them over the music as she passed her drink orders to one of the bartenders. Jared shot another glance over to Jensen's table quickly to make sure he was all right. Helping out the bartenders had kept him busy for the night and he barely had time to exchange a few words with the customers, let alone watch over Jensen.
"What's up? He getting drunk again?" Jared asked, turning back to Patty with frown.
Patty shook her head. "He's only had two. But Ben," she jerked her head toward the opposite corner where Ben and his buddies were staring at Jensen from across the room and talking to each other in low tones. "He's already two sheets to the wind and none too happy to see Jensen here tonight."
Jerry, who'd walked up behind Jared without him noticing, clapped him on the shoulder. "Looks like you've got babysitting duty again tonight, son."
Jared rolled his eyes exaggeratedly, and frowned again as if put out, but kept a more vigilant eye on Jensen. Just in case.
~~~~
Jensen swore lightly under his breath when he'd seen Ben walk into the bar earlier that night. All he wanted was a quiet, calm night alone to enjoy the band that was playing at the bar. He normally wouldn't be out on a night like this, when he had to film the next day and he'd already made an ass out of himself at this particular bar once, but people on set had said good things about the band and staring at the walls of his hotel room was starting to drive him around the bend.
Once the band started to play it seemed like things were going to stay fairly quiet for the night, however, and Jensen let himself relax and enjoy the music. He ignored the stares and whispers in his direction and communicated through his body language and refusal to meet anyone's gaze that he was content to be alone this evening. He did notice Jared across the bar, though, and caught his eye for a split second before he glanced down at the table, feeling a blush staining his cheeks at the thought of being caught staring. He tried to stay inconspicuous about it but he watched Jared all night as he worked, taking in the bright, wide smile that came easily when he didn't know that people were staring and his eyes that lit up with every laugh that erupted from him. Jensen had done some investigating after Jared brought the food to the set earlier in the week and learned his name, so maybe the next time their paths intersected - and Jensen was sure they would because he was half-tempted to deliberately seek him out - he could maybe strike up an actual conversation with the guy.
The waitress kept checking on him and flashing him a big grin along with a hint of cleavage throughout the night, but Jensen was happy to nurse his two beers, not anxious to have a repeat of the previous week. When Ben and his friends walked into the bar, Jensen feared an immediate problem but they stayed on the other side of the room, a safe distance away from Jensen, and shot him menacing looks instead. Jensen avoided their gazes as well and concentrated on the band and casting furtive glances in Jared's direction.
At some point Jared took a break from rushing around behind the bar and took a seat at the end of the bar with his own beer, sipping it while watching the crowd and drumming his fingers on the counter top to the beat of the band. Jensen used the opportunity to watch him closer and took in how his lanky frame straddled the bar stool, sneakered feet barely hooked comfortably on the bottom rung because his legs were so damn long. His jeans were holey and worn in all the right places, showing signs of age and favoritism. He was wearing a simple blue short-sleeved button up shirt over a wife beater and his shaggy, wavy hair was sticking to his forehead from the heat in the stuffy bar. Even from across the room Jensen could tell Jared worked out a lot. His shirt was tight across his arms and chest and he could see the muscles in his arm flex and relax as he brought the bottle to his mouth. The jeans were baggy enough to hide his legs but Jensen suspected they were as built as the rest of him. To put it in the plainest terms possible- the boy was easy on the eyes.
Every now and then Jensen could feel eyes on him as he watched the band, but when he would look over at Jared his eyes would be trained on anything but Jensen. It felt like they were playing a game to see who could catch the other one staring first and it was getting somewhat frustrating for Jensen. He considered just sucking it up and going over to talk to Jared, try and smooth out the vibe he kept getting from Jared every time they met, but he was interrupted before he could do anything.
"Are you retarded, movie star?" Ben called out as he approached Jensen's table with his buddies. "I figured after last week and the way you ran out of here you wouldn't be back. Guess I underestimated how stupid you are."
Jensen sat back in his chair and looked up at Ben, jaw clenched. "Look man, I'm not here to cause any trouble. I'm minding my own business over here, not bothering anyone. I'm sorry for whatever happened last week, if you thought I was hitting on your girl. Let's not do this, all right?"
It occured to Jensen suddenly that perhaps no one had ever really tried to reason with Ben before when he wanted to fight them because he looked downright confused as he mulled Jensen's words over. Ben didn't seem to be much of a thinker though, and instead of trying to figure out what Jensen was saying he stepped forward quickly and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, pulling him out of his chair. Jensen reached his fill of being picked on and bullied by the drunk townie and reached out to grab Ben's shirt in the same kind of grip and pulled him closer, growling under his breath. It seemed that Ben wasn't used to someone giving back what Ben dished out and his eyes widened, grip slackening just a little. Jensen tried to pull away from him, but Ben narrowed his eyes and wrapped his fist tighter, growling back at Jensen while people started to gather around them, chanting and catcalling.
Maybe staying at the hotel for the night and staring at the walls was the best plan after all, Jensen thought to himself ruefully.
~~~~
Jared had only just allowed himself to think that maybe that night was going to be easy going after all when Ben sauntered up to Jensen's table, all drunken, weaving swagger and cocky bullshit. Jared swallowed the rest of his beer quickly and called for Jerry who was at the other end of the bar. Jerry muttered something under his breath and joined Jared as they watched what was going down, each hoping for their own reasons that this was only going to be a peaceful, quiet one-on-one conversation that was not going to escalate under any circumstances.
A guy could hope, right?
As soon as Jared and Jerry saw Ben grab Jensen by the shirt and haul him out of his chair they began making their way through the crowd quickly, clearing people away. "Jared!" Jerry yelled out to him, rushing toward the pair who were grappling with each other and gestured for him to circle around. Jared hurried around the back of the table and brought an arm down between the two as Jerry started to pull Ben backwards. The other bouncers were already escorting Ben's friends out of the bar to a chorus of cheers and a few boos from the other patrons. Jared grabbed the back of Jensen's shirt and pulled him backwards, getting a smack to Ben's face in first with his other hand.
"Oops," he said loudly, to no one in particular. He could hear Jensen chuckle in front of him as he pulled him backwards, away from Ben's outstretched fist. Jared could hear sirens over the rowdy crowd and sighed in relief as some of the patrons started to move toward the front exit at the sound.
"Come on, Ackles," he said loudly and together they left the bar, slipping through the back door in a way that was starting to feel like déjà vu.
Jared didn't have to prod Jensen to get in the truck this week. He followed Jared out the back door of the bar and waited for him to unlock the cab of the truck before climbing in slowly. Jared pulled out of the parking lot and headed in the direction of Jensen's hotel, figuring another night was shot to hell.
"Do you have to take me back to the hotel?" Jensen asked suddenly as he turned to Jared who shrugged.
"Guess not. Did you want to go to another bar or something?"
"God, no. I'm not a bar guy, actually. Is there... I don't know, some place quiet to go? Some place where there's no one around?"
Jared thought for a second. "Yeah, I think I could take you somewhere."
~~~~
"Where are we?" Jensen asked when Jared finally stopped at the edge of a public playing field and park. Jensen didn't say a word as Jared drove them to the outskirts of the small city, so Jared figured it probably would have been a bad idea to make a wisecrack about this being where he usually stashed the bodies. When he put the truck in park, Jared climbed out and grabbed a blanket from behind the seat without answering him. Jensen followed him slowly and watched as Jared hopped into the bed of the truck and spread the blanket out.
"This is about as quiet and secluded you can get around these parts. This is one of the quieter areas around here and no one ever bothers me. It's got the best show around for free, too," Jared told him, gesturing upward. Jensen looked up and noticed how bright the stars were from where they were. Jared sat down on the blanket in the bed of the truck and looked at him expectantly.
"Well? It's either this or I take you back to your hotel," he drawled before laying back, hands folded on his chest. Jensen hopped up into the bed and laid down beside Jared, their arms brushing lightly as he did. He moved around, getting comfortable against the rough blanket that provided the bare minimum of protection against the hard bottom of the truck.
They lay in silence for a long time. Jensen half thought that Jared had fallen asleep but when he glanced over he noticed Jared's eyes were open and clear as they stared up at the night sky. Jensen got the feeling that this was the most still that Jared ever got outside of sleep and realized with a start that this was probably the first time that he could remember that he'd been able to do absolutely nothing. He sighed and felt some of the pent-up tension he'd been carrying relax from his body.
"So your name is Jared?" Jensen finally asked, cutting through the silence, trying to think of something to say.
"Was wondering when you were going to figure that out," Jared replied dryly.
"Sorry," Jensen mumbled. They lapsed into silence again and Jensen wondered if this was such a good idea after all, hanging out with someone who seemed to outright hate him, or so it seemed.
"I take it you don't have much time to look at the stars if you wanted? Or anything, really?" Jared asked softly, startling Jensen somewhat. Jensen shook his head slowly.
"No time to do much but work these days," he agreed. "It's great, don't get me wrong. I love my job and being able to do what I do. But it would be nice to get more than a day of downtime off."
"What do you normally do on your days off?"
"Sleep," Jensen replied truthfully. "I forward my calls to my assistant, Lynne - you saw her when you came to set last week - and sleep as late as I can. It usually fucks up my schedule and my system but it's so worth it."
"So hanging out at bars and pissing off the locals to the point of causing a riot generally isn't your thing?"
Jensen laughed. "Fuck no! I really didn't mean to get so drunk last week; I was just angry and pissed off and - well, doesn't matter. I'm really not usually like that. And tonight I just wanted to hear the band. I've heard some things about them before and thought it would be cool to catch them live. So much for that."
"Maybe next time," Jared replied softly and Jensen nodded. "Does that suck?"
"What?"
"Not being able to go anywhere without causing a scene?"
"It takes its toll," Jensen replied, picking at the pills on the blanket by his side. "I guess you just get used to it. Never thought I would, really, but then one day I realized that I'd learned to ignore it all."
"I don't think I ever could."
"You think that but then you just... do. It becomes part of the day to day, you know? Dealing with the crowds and making up bullshit PR and all that crap. Half the time I just have to stand there and smile and wave. My people do the rest."
"Your people," Jared snorted and Jensen laughed.
"I know, right? Sounds so..."
"Pompous?"
"I was going for lame but yeah, I guess. I hope I don't come off that way. Do I?" Jensen asked, turning to look at Jared, slightly anxious. Jared shrugged awkwardly.
"People are going to think what they want to, you know? You could say you weren't stuck up as much as you wanted, not going to change the way people are determined to think about you. If they hate you, they hate you."
There was a pause and then, "Do you hate me?"
Jared blinked. "No?"
"No?"
"Should I?"
"I don't want you to. But you haven't really been... You don't seem that impressed with me, I guess."
"Alright, I'll cop to it. I thought you were a stuck up, arrogant, pretty boy movie star when you got to town."
"You thought? And now?"
"Eh. You're not as stuck up as I thought you'd be." Jared could see Jensen out of the corner of his eye and waited to see how he would react. Jensen frowned, blinked, and then burst out laughing- a deep, loud chuckle that lit up his whole face. Jared looked over and saw the crinkles around his eyes as Jensen laughed hard and long. Jared started shake with his own laughter and soon it echoed back at them, bouncing off the trees.
"I just don't see what all the noise is over. You seem to be an all right guy and all, but I don't feel the need to treat you like you're the second coming," Jared explained once they settled down, now more relaxed.
"Believe me when I say thank you, then. People put you on a pedestal in this business and think that if they kiss your ass enough they'll be famous for it, or something. The attention is nice, sure, but after awhile you have to resist the urge to tell people to fuck off."
"But if you said that everyone would think you were an asshole and hard to work with or worse, as having gone off the deep end?" Jared continued for him and Jensen nodded.
"Basically. It's a no-win situation. You learn to put up with the bullshit and weed out the ones who are just hanging on for fun from the people who are in it for the long haul with you."
"Sounds like high school," Jared muttered.
"Yeah, pretty much. Only with more money and a few more mind games," Jensen laughed in agreement. They fell silent for a few minutes before Jensen worked up the nerve to speak again. "I gotta admit, Jared- you had me intrigued. It felt like the more we ran into each other, the more annoyed you seemed with me. Every time I turned around- there you were," Jensen told him.
"So were you!" Jared laughed. "You're right, everywhere I went- there you were. Between the constant updates in the news about filming and what happened during filming for the day and the daily Jensen sighting and you popping up everywhere I looked, I was wondering if someone was trying to tell me something."
"Like what?" Jensen asked with a smile.
"Save his ass in the bar again?"
Jensen let out a bark of laughter at that. "Did I ever thank you for driving me home last weekend, by the way?"
"No," Jared replied truthfully. No sense in sucking up to the guy now after he'd just put it all on the line to potentially offend the shit out of him.
"Yeah, sorry about that. And thank you, really. If it hadn't been for you and the other people that work at your bar I'd have been messed up pretty badly. You saved my ass."
"Yeah, I did," Jared replied modestly. Jensen snorted and smacked him on the arm lightly.
"Now who's pompous?"
"You gotta let me have one, dude, come on, now. You make out with people like Scarlett Johanssen and Christina Ricci on a daily basis. The least you can do is let me think I saved your scrawny ass," Jared joked with him.
"All right, I'll give you that. And I'll let the 'scrawny ass' thing slide," Jensen warned. Jared laughed and nodded and for the first time all week Jensen could relax as he started to realize his mystery hero was just a regular guy with a killer smile.
Part 2
Jared/Jensen, NC-17
See the index for a full header.
"I heard he's dating Lindsay Lohan."
"Are you on drugs? He wouldn't touch that skank. I heard he's been hanging around Scarlett Johansson."
"Yeah, whatever. She's with Justin now, remember?"
"You both have it totally wrong. Dude's a friend of Dorothy."
"What?"
"He's gay!"
"Now I know you've lost your mind. Jensen Ackles is totally straight, you whore."
"Denial's not just a river in Egypt, dear."
"Whatever."
"Seriously, guys! Jensen and Lindsay Lohan! I heard it on Entertainment Tonight. Or maybe it was the National Enquirer- it doesn't matter. All I know is that he..."
~~~~
Jared Padalecki shook his head and laughed to himself in disbelief as he made his way through the crowded bar, catching snippets of conversations left and right from gossip-hounds and regular patrons alike. Generally he paid no attention to what the local gossips were harping on, but lately it was hard to hear about anything else but Jensen Ackles. The famous actor was in Jared's small Texas hometown filming his latest soon-to-be blockbuster and it seemed that it was all anyone could talk about lately. Not even the damn bar was safe from it.
A lot of that had to do with the fact that Jensen just happened to be sitting across the room from the bar lined with stools, getting decidedly drunk. Jared fought his way through the crowd that was bigger than usual to reach the front, placing the blame totally on the actor for Jared having to work that night. Fuck him for showing up tonight - Jared's first night off in two weeks - and forcing the small watering hole to call in extra staff. He liked a good movie as much as the next person, but in his mind no one deserved this much attention for any reason.
"Goddamn, Jerry. It took me five minutes just to get here from the damn door," Jared drawled as he took a seat at the bar, throwing his baseball cap on the counter and glancing around at how busy things were. The bartenders were going full-tilt, mixing drinks and popping tops on beer bottles as fast as they could to keep up with the orders being shouted at them. Jared had a feeling the money exchanging hands over the bar tonight would rival any summer fight-night or homecoming celebration in recent memory.
"It's somethin' ain't it?" Jerry drawled, pulling on a beer. They both looked over at the actor who was regaling people (mostly women, mind you) at his table in the middle of the room with tales of this movie and that shoot and actor so-and-so who did do what everyone thought he did at that awards show, wink wink. Jared reached over the bar and grabbed a beer for himself and kept one eye on the table as he opened it, wondering what it was about a half-drunk pretty boy who just happened to get a lucky break into acting that made women flock to him. And a few men, too, Jared noted as he caught a few appraising but furtive glances shot in Jensen's direction.
"It's the mystery," Jerry said randomly. "Well, the money too, but mostly mystery."
"Hmm?" Jared asked, turning back to his friend and boss while taking a drink. The bar was stupidly hot tonight from all the people packed inside and he could feel sweat start to trickle down his back under his t-shirt and short-sleeved plaid button-up. His dark shaggy hair was already sticking to his forehead and he could feel his cheeks getting warmer by the second.
"It's one thing to know someone from what they present to the cameras, you know? But to be offered the chance to get to know them when they finally go home at night and the cameras shut off? That's the allure. Unfortunately that's all it is, just a big smoke screen."
"Dude, if I didn't know better-"
"I read a lot of People magazine," Jerry cut him off dryly. "And I have two eyes. I look over there and see a kid who's tired and looking to blow off some steam, likely because he puts in long hours at his job and his- what's the word? Entourage? His entourage keeps him on a tight leash so he doesn't get to have fun very often. He's just a small-town boy who made it big overnight, after all."
Jared arched an eyebrow questioningly and wondered when the gruff, no-bullshit bar owner had gone off the deep end. Jerry rolled his eyes, reached under the bar and slapped the most recent issue of In Touch with Jensen's face grinning up at him on the bar in front of Jared.
"That's cheating," Jared laughed.
"No, that's bathroom material," Jerry replied, tossing the magazine into the garbage can behind him. "Figured I should know something about him if he's going to be turning my bar into a mob scene on a Tuesday night."
"Sure you don't want to keep that?" Jared asked, pointing to the magazine in the trash. "I could go get it autographed for you. 'To Jerry, my biggest fan'," Jared teased. Jared took another drink of his beer as Jerry twapped him in the head with his dishcloth, watching the ever-growing crowd at Jensen's table. On a normal night things were far from quiet at the small bar so tonight Jared just hoped people would stay calm and not cause too much trouble, although in the pit of is stomach he knew that would be far from the case.
~~~~
"It's not about who... who you know in this bus- business. It's about who you blow," Jensen said, winking at one of the girls at his table who was hanging off his every word.
"Oooh! That sounds so dirty!" another girl squealed, leaning into Jensen so her boobs pressed against his arm. Jared did a double take from his seat at the end of the bar as he recognized her from his eleventh grade English class- Mindy or Mandy or Nancy something. Jensen, to his credit, kept his eyes above her chin and smiled drunkenly, seeming to enjoy being the center of attention.
Jared had been catching bits of their conversation all night as he moved around the bar, making sure things were going alright and saying hello to people he recognized. It was getting harder to get around Jensen's table as more and more people crowded around to listen to what he had to say and to ask questions or generally fawn all over him. Jensen didn't seem to mind though, as he kept ordering more drinks and springing for a couple rounds for the table. Jared rolled his eyes more than once on his way to and from the bar as Jensen flashed one blindingly bright smile after another and the girls seemed to collectively sigh at him, batting their lashes and trying to hold his attention for more than three seconds. Jared settled back on his stool, glancing at his watch and noting that he only had a couple more hours to go before he could finally go home and crawl into bed.
Unfortunately, that was plenty of time for complications to arise.
"Yeah, you'd know a lot about blowing, wouldn't you, Mr. Movie Star?"
The voice had come from the crowd of people around the table and Jared watched Jensen's jaw clench as he registered those words and looked around carefully. He turned around slowly to look at the rather large, and obviously drunk, meat head standing a few feet from Jensen's table, surrounded by three or four of his buddies, all trying to look intimidating.
"Yeah, that's right. Your movies suck, man. You blow!"
Jensen appeared to relax and let out a little laugh. "Hey, thanks guys. I always love getting feedback."
"You deaf, Hollywood? I said you blow," the guy repeated, getting angry with Jensen's apparent lack of reaction. Jensen just shrugged and turned back to his admiring crowd at the table. The guy got red and started to take off his coat, throwing it on the floor by his feet while his buddies tried to look threatening behind him, glaring at Jensen who seemed oblivious or was just doing a very good job of acting it.
"Oh, Ben," Mindy, Mandy or Nancy spoke up, addressing the angry guy. "Why don't you go back to your table and have another drink? You're making a fool of yourself."
Ben didn't seem to take too kindly to this suggestion because he flushed and flexed his hands into fists. He puffed up his chest and stepped up closer to Jensen's table, crooking a finger at the actor at which Jensen seemed very unimpressed. "Bring it on tough guy! You and me, right now! Show me some of your fancy fighting moves they teach you out there in fag-land!"
From across the room, Jerry and Jared watched with interest, along with everyone else in the bar who were hushed and warily keeping one eye on the table while trying to make it look like they weren't staring. Jerry threw his dishtowel on the counter and sighed, ducking under the bar and motioning for Jared to follow him.
"Come on, hotshot. That's our cue."
"Cue for what? Nothing's happened yet." Jared finished the last of his beer and caught up to him anyway.
"As much as I hate to say it, we can't let the pretty boy over there get his face all messed up on Ben's fist. I'm not all that excited at the thought of twenty camera crews hanging all over this place come morning if there's a brawl in my bar over him." Jerry jerked his thumb in Jensen's direction.
"Fair enough." Jared shrugged. They pushed through the growing crowd around Jensen's table and made it to him just in time to watch Ben step closer to Jensen while calling him out. Jensen just stared at him with open amusement, as if he didn't believe he was actually going to get totally thrashed by one of the local hotheads. Mindy, Mandy or Nancy was yelling at Ben while everyone around the table began laughing and shouting, either telling Ben to go sit down or for Jensen to be a man and show them his fancy moves from all his action movies. Jensen hadn't actually moved, and worry and fear started to creep into his face that he was trying, and failing, to mask with a drunk, stupid grin. Jerry and Jared pushed their way past people who were yelling louder and starting to shove inward to get a better view of what was happening. Jared moved around the table to Jensen's side and Jerry headed straight for Ben.
"Ben, don't you dare," Jerry yelled out as Jared glanced around, noticing a couple more bouncers trying to get the rowdy crowd to back up and stopping other skirmishes before they started. Jerry was trying to hold Ben and his buddies back as Jared grabbed Jensen by the shoulders and hauled him out of his chair from behind, inwardly groaning at the thought of the giant brawl that'd start at any moment if they didn't get out of there.
"Hey, what the hell!" Jensen shouted and tried to resist as Jared clamped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him backwards away from the table and the growing crowd.
"Just shut up. I'm getting you out of here so stop being a dick," Jared grumbled into Jensen's ear, avoiding a kick to his shins. Jensen continued to struggle half-heartedly until Jared pulled him back far enough to set him right and push him toward the emergency exit. He could still hear Ben yelling behind them.
"Just keep moving," Jared said when Jensen glanced back. Jensen glared at him and walked more or less steadily out the door. Once the door closed behind them Jensen took a moment and leaned against the wall, taking a few deep breaths.
"If you're gonna hurl, do it out here and not in my truck," Jared told him, fishing his keys out of his pocket and brushing past Jensen, who just stared at him.
"Not gettin' in your truck," he mumbled.
"You expect to get back to your hotel another way?" Jared asked.
"Call m' driver," Jensen replied.
"How long would that take, anyway? Longer than it's going to take for Ben to get kicked out of the bar and come looking for you?"
Jensen glanced at the emergency exit door for a second before pushing off the wall and following Jared. "Lead the way, Jeeves."
Jared unlocked his truck and pushed the door open from the inside for Jensen to climb in, watching carefully as he buckled himself in, not trusting Jensen to do it on his own. Jensen leaned his head back against the seat tiredly and was silent as Jared started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot. The first few minutes were so quiet Jared thought Jensen had passed out beside him.
"Are you goin' to tell the papers about this?" Jensen asked suddenly, slurring slightly. Jared frowned at him.
"Is that what you want someone to do?"
"No!" Jensen replied quickly and emphatically. "'Course not. I'm not some- some teeny bopper, coked-up publicity whore! But you know, can never be too sure anymore about ev'ryone else. I'm not usually like this. Really."
"Whatever you say," Jared replied, chuckling to himself. Jensen made a face at him. "What?"
"Stop treating me like I'm drunk."
"You are drunk," Jared told him, hiding a grin.
"Yeah, but stop treating me like it. M'a nice guy."
"Whatever you say, Mr. Ackles," Jared repeated.
"Jens'n," Jensen muttered beside him. Jared cast a sidelong glance at him but ignored him - this was not how he wanted to spend his night, babysitting a drunk movie star because he pissed off the local hot-heads.
"You're staying over at the country club hotel on the north side of town, right?"
"You know where I'm staying?" Jensen asked dumbly.
"Everyone knows where you're staying, dude. You can't hide here as easy as you can in Los Angeles," Jared replied matter-of-factly. Jensen mumbled to himself and slumped down in the seat.
"What was that guy's deal, anyway?" Jensen asked, staring out the window.
"Ben? Well, that girl that was hanging off you was his girlfriend. Sort of."
"Sort of?"
"He's cheating on his actual girlfriend with her. She's a nice girl but she's trouble in the long run. You probably don't care to hear this but stay away from her if you don't want to get in more trouble," Jared told him, feeling like he was overstepping his boundaries.
"Not a problem," Jensen muttered, more to himself than anyone else. Jared raised an eyebrow but let it go; it wasn't his place to counsel Jensen Ackles on his love life and the mechanics of small minds in small towns.
"So, filming a movie. That must be interesting," Jared said to try and fill the silence. Jensen mumbled something that Jared missed and figured it meant Mr. Ackles was in no condition to and had no intention of making small talk with him so Jared flipped the radio on to the local country station instead. He glanced over at Jensen, glancing over a couple times on the ride to see if he would be more receptive to conversation, but Jensen just stared out the window, avoiding him. Jared could appreciate a companionable silence but this felt awkward and weird. He wasn't sure what kind of protocol one was supposed to follow when driving a drunk celebrity around, and frankly didn't care, but it wasn't in Jared's nature to sit quietly and ignore someone or be ignored. When he pulled up as close to the front of the hotel as he could and parked the truck Jensen jerked back to attention and tried to open the door before he realized he was still held in by the seat belt.
"Do you need..." Jared trailed off as he watched Jensen struggle with the buckle, fingers fumbling over the button to release it. He sighed and hopped out of the truck, walking around to open Jensen's door and help him with his belt. Jensen jerked away as Jared tried to lend a hand to help him out of the truck and slid out of the cab to his feet on his own without stumbling too much. Jensen's hair was mussed up and his hazel eyes were dull and bloodshot- not at all like the good looking, photo-ready man Jared was used to seeing plastered across the tabloids and magazines.
"I can take it from here," Jensen said slowly, focusing on the words. Jared held up his hands and backed away as Jensen began walking unsteadily back towards the hotel.
"Don't say thanks or anything," Jared mumbled to himself. Jensen wheeled around at Jared's deep rumble and stared at him drunkenly.
"Whasat?"
Jared took a deep breath and waved. "Night! Sleep well!"
He waited until Jensen had made his way up the front walk to the hotel's main doors and disappeared inside them before he got back in the truck. God forbid he be the guy who was put in charge of taking care of Jensen Ackles and let him end up passed out in a puddle of his own vomit instead. That would obviously be the perfect end to the most awesome night ever. Jared groaned as he realized that the movie had just started filming and Jensen Ackles was going to be the focus of the city's attention for the better part of the summer.
"Kill me now," Jared muttered as he started the truck and pulled away from the curb.
~~~~
Death would have been a welcome visitor this morning, Jensen realized as soon as he cracked one eye open to the sound of the phone ringing shrilly beside his head. He smacked at it half heartedly, knocking the receiver to the floor. He could hear someone talking at him, a recorded message or some shit, and tried to yell at it but his voice came out in a half-croak.
His lips were dry, his eyes felt gritty (fucking hell, he slept in his contacts again) and there was drool smeared across his cheek. He rolled out of bed clumsily, one foot on the floor before he landed ass-first. He slammed the phone receiver down on the cradle and winced at the noise it made. He was still in his jeans, his wrinkled shirt from the night before was buried in his sheets somewhere and he muttered a few choice words before he noticed his wallet on the floor by the foot of the bed. At least he hadn't been so drunk that he wasn't able to get himself back to the hotel and in one piece. More or less, anyway.
He stumbled to the bathroom and pissed, his eyes drifting shut as he contemplated pulling a true act of Hollywood asshole-ism and calling in sick. Or not calling in sick, for that matter, and sleeping the day away with his phones unplugged and turned off. But he wasn't like that in the slightest and the mere thought made him feel guilty at the money and time it would cost the production company, studio and everyone working much harder than himself to get this movie made. It was bad enough that he went out last night and likely made a complete ass of himself at that bar he ended up at.
He flushed and turned to wash his hands but gasped as soon as he saw his reflection. His eyes were bloodshot and sunken from the lack of sleep, his skin was pale and greenish-tinged so his freckles stood out even more than normal, his normally styled hair was pressed flat and greasy against his scalp and he had bits of drool crust around his mouth. He felt like gagging and smacked his lips, suddenly recognizing the taste of vomit in his mouth. He groaned and ran the water in the sink quickly, dunking his head under to wake himself up.
"You fucking moron," Jensen whispered to himself as he stared himself in the mirror again. The water had chilled him and made him more alert, thankfully, as he blinked water away and stared into his usually bright eyes that were dull and flat this morning, surrounded by dark lashes made spiky from the water. He cursed himself for letting his personal life, or lack thereof, affect his work. He had tried so hard to keep them separate but last night the pressure got to be too much and he had to let off some steam. Of course, all that ended up getting him was a spotty memory, a pounding headache and a funky taste in his mouth.
He pushed away from the sink and turned the shower on as cold as he could stand it as if he could shiver away the stench of the alcohol. He vaguely remembered talking with some people at the bar and there being what he could only remember as an "incident". When he tried to remember how he got home, his mind offered up nothing but... hands. He could see them as clear as if he had been sober- strong and tanned and warm. He had no idea who the hands were attached to, but it was a start.
"M'never drinking again," Jensen mumbled.
~~~~
The last person Jared expected to see at seven the very next morning was Jensen. But when he sauntered out to the car that was waiting for him to pump gas there he was, with his dark sunglasses on and cradling a large cup of coffee with both hands, looking haggard and weary. Jared chanced a smile as he walked up to the window but got little in return except a raised eyebrow.
"Fill it up, please," Jensen asked in a raspy voice, clearly not out of bed long.
"Regular?" Jared asked. Jensen simply nodded and sipped his coffee carefully. Jared shook his head and muttered to himself as he set the pump and watched the numbers. He could feel eyes on him as he stood facing away from Jensen and his side mirror but didn't bother to look back.
"Can I get the windshield washed?" Jensen called out. Jared sighed to himself and set the nozzle to continue pumping. He grabbed the squeegee and flung the excess fluid off it with a quick, practiced flick of his wrist. He made fast work of Jensen's windshield that really didn't need to be washed but he did it anyway as Jensen was being conspicuously inconspicuous, watching Jared from behind his sunglasses. Jared gave him a quick nod when he finished and returned to the rear of the car to remove the nozzle. He capped the gas tank and wiped his hands on a rag he pulled out of his back pocket before standing by the drivers side door for payment.
"Sorry, I only have a credit card," Jensen told him as he offered up a Visa. Of course he only had a credit card. Why on earth would he need to carry any money around with him, after all? Jared smiled brightly, his natural defense against annoyance, and accepted the card to run it inside. He returned a couple minutes later with the slip for Jensen to sign and handed his card back.
"Hey," Jensen started. "You... drove me home last night, right?"
Jared nodded. "Sure did."
Jensen flushed and looked at a loss for words. "I should- here, just a second." He started rustling around in his console for change or some stray bills. "I should pay you."
Jared clenched his jaw. "No, that's alright. Really."
Jensen looked up at him, noting the tension in Jared's stance, and opened his mouth again but a horn honked from behind him, startling him. Jared stepped back and gestured for him to drive on. Jensen frowned as he started the car and drove out of the parking lot while Jared waited for the next car to pull up.
"Oh my god! Was that Jensen Ackles?" the girl in the car asked breathlessly. Jared resisted the urge to crumple the signed slip in his hand and forced another smile.
"Don't know, wasn't really paying attention. What can I do for you today?"
~~~~
"Heard you had quite the night," Lynne, Jensen's assistant, said with a smirk as Jensen slumped down onto the couch in his trailer wearily. He shot her half a second of a withering look before lying down and covering his eyes with his arm.
"How in the hell would you know about that?" he asked, muffled. The tight, blood-spattered jeans his character was wearing for the scene they were shooting today were more uncomfortable than normal and he wished with all his might that he could lay on the couch forever, ignoring any contractual or moral obligation he had to show up on set again after lunch.
"Can't say there's much of a problem with paparazzi in these parts, not like in Los Angeles, but small towns don't equal anonymity. You almost getting your ass kicked at one of the local bars travels fast," Lynne chided him lightly. She crouched down beside him and stroked his hair in a mothering way. "What happened, Jensen?"
"I don't know," Jensen mumbled, keeping the hand over his face. Lynne reached out to pull it back gently. "Seriously. I got drunk, I know that much. There was a confrontation and someone got me out of the way before anything happened. Then he drove me back to the hotel."
"Jensen..." Lynne started with a sigh.
"I know, okay? It was irresponsible, dangerous and stupid. I could have put the production, jobs and my career on the line. I get it."
"I wasn't going to say that. I mean, yes to all of it but that wasn't what I was going to say." Jensen raised an eyebrow at her. "Stop being so hard on yourself. You made a choice for your career but that's not a crime. I just wish you'd be yourself."
"I am," Jensen said flatly, sitting up. "And I don't want to talk about it."
"Just-"
"No."
"Think about it, alright? The world wouldn't end, you know. What's keeping you back?"
"Stop it, Lynne," Jensen said in a warning tone, low and dangerous. Lynne put her hands up in surrender and stood up.
"They're still setting up on set. Take a nap if you need to, drink some water and pop a couple Advil. I'll be back later to make sure you haven't swallowed your tongue."
"Thanks." Jensen waited until she left the trailer and closed the door behind him before slumping back on the couch again and sighing.
Sometimes he wondered if he could drown in his own self-pity and then groaned and gave himself a mental kick to the head. Other people, normal people, might give celebrities a hard shake because their lives were supposedly so perfect, but little did any of them know that Jensen's harshest critic was himself.
~~~~
"Oh, we have to get some paper plates and stuff to take to the party on Thursday, too."
Jared winced as he walked through the crowded mall with his girlfriend, Sandy. It was the first time they'd been able to do anything together in a couple weeks because of their constantly-conflicting schedules and of course the only thing they had time to do before he started his shift at the bar tonight was go to the mall. Sandy noticed his expression and sighed.
"Are you serious, Jared? You're working again?" Sandy asked, stopping to look up at him. She barely reached his shoulder but the way she looked up at him with those disappointed brown eyes made him feel like a dwarf next to her. He sometimes wondered how he ever ended up with her to begin with- she was Sandy McCoy, the most popular girl in high school, who had seen something in Jared and asked him out. After that they just were and had been ever since. Their families and friends thought of them as a set, a package deal - JaredandSandy- and until recently when their schedules kept them apart more than together, so did Jared.
"Lance needed the night off," Jared said apologetically. "His girlfriend's got some big company dinner party or something and she really wants him to be there."
"But I really want you to be there with me on Thursday. People look at you funny when you go to a party alone," Sandy complained.
"C'mon, Sandy. There'll be other parties; the summer's just starting. I'll make the next one, I promise."
"Yeah," she said softly, frowning. She opened her mouth to say something more but her cell phone rang and she answered it quickly, holding up a finger for Jared to wait a second. "Hello? Hey Chri- what? Are you shitting me? Where?" Jared raised an eyebrow as Sandy grabbed his arm and started pulling him through the mall while still on her phone. Jared followed, confused as Sandy got more excited by the second.
"Sandy. Sandy." He tried to get her to stop but she flipped her phone shut and grabbed his hand tighter.
"Come on! He's here!"
"Who?" Jared shook his head.
"Jensen Ackles!" Sandy replied breathlessly. Jared groaned out loud and came to a complete stop.
"No. We're not spending the afternoon following him around the mall while he shops for man panties or whatever the hell it is he buys."
"Stop being such a stick in the mud, Jared. I just want to see what he looks like up close. If he's as cute as he is in the magazines," Sandy laughed, then stuck out her lower lip. "Please?"
"I've seen as much of Jensen Ackles as I ever want to, thanks," Jared replied dryly.
"What do you mean?" she asked suspiciously.
"He was at the bar last week. Because of him there was almost a bar brawl and I had to drive his drunk ass home."
"Jared!" Sandy squealed. Jared turned red and noticed people turning to stare at them. "You didn't tell me!"
"What's there to tell? He was drunk, I drove him home. He was quiet and kinda stuck up."
"Oh, we have to go now! You know him!" She grabbed his hand and started pulling him through the mall again. Jared tried to get her to stop but Sandy would have none of it and dragged him to a men's store where there were some people gathered outside, some with cameras, watching through the window at what Jared presumed had to be Jensen. Sandy pushed to the front of the small group and gasped.
"That's him!" She exclaimed, pointing. Jared grabbed her hand and held it down, trying to get her to move out of the way. She bounced excitedly and gasped again when she saw him with some bags and walking toward the door with some guy Jared figured was a body guard or a manager or something.
"Come on!" Sandy pulled Jared toward the doors and squeezed his hand. "Say something to him when he comes out, okay?"
"Like what, Sandy? I don't know him!"
"Think of something!" She hissed as she flipped her hair over her shoulder and rubbed her teeth with her finger hurriedly. Once Jensen stepped out of the store there were camera flashes going off all around him and Jared tipped his head down to avoid being blinded while Sandy jerked her hand away from him to try and reach out to Jensen. He must have felt her hand on his arm because he turned around and looked at Jared.
"Hey," Jensen said casually, searching his face as if trying to think of something to say. Jared held a groan in and gave him a small smile and a nod.
"How's it going?"
"Good." Jared nodded again. Jensen was going to say something else but the guy with him whispered something in his ear and tried to guide him away instead. He looked vaguely disappointed and waved to Jared.
"Catch you later, hey?" Jared jerked his head slightly and stepped back as some of the crowd surged forward to follow Jensen through the mall. Sandy watched, disappointed, before turning around and slapping him on the arm.
"You could have said something else, Jared. Introduced me or something!"
"I don't know him! How can I introduce you when he doesn't even know my name?"
"Oh, well. He's here for awhile longer. If I meet him I could make some connections! Wouldn't that be exciting, Jared?"
"Thrilling," Jared muttered under his breath and let Sandy pull him through the mall again, set on shopping for those damn paper plates.
~~~~
Jerry greeted him at the swinging door to the bar's kitchen with a wide, knowing grin. Jared took one look at him and groaned, knowing it had to have something to do with Jensen. He cocked his head and didn't have to say a word before Jerry explained that the set had ordered food for their cast and crew- something about the craft services truck breaking down and there being dozens of half-starved Hollywood types running around freaking out. Jared just happened to be the lucky someone who was 'volunteered' to take the three big boxes of food over to their set.
Jared could see a couple waitresses snickering with the cooks, clearly having heard about his repeated run-ins with Jensen and he gave them all the finger as he gathered what he needed and carried the boxes of food to his truck. He was given directions to a warehouse downtown that was acting as their set and managed to find parking somewhat close to the building. He cleared security easily and walked into the mess of lights and cords and people slowly, unsure of where to go or who to see. Jerry told him the name of the person that had phoned the order in but no one on set was wearing a name tag and none of them looked particularly interested in stopping to help him out.
He found a picnic table and set the food down as he looked around and tried to figure out exactly what was going on. He shifted uneasily from foot to foot before reaching into his jacket pocket to pull out his cell phone, hoping Jerry would be able to call whoever had ordered back and tell them he was waiting there with the food. He'd just dialed the number when a slight girl wearing a headset and carrying a clipboard rushed up to him.
"Are you from the restaurant?" she asked breathlessly.
"Yeah, from Jer-"
"Great, I can get a check for you if you have a receipt," she said, cutting him off. Jared handed over the bill wordlessly and watched her rush off to find someone to sign the cheque for the food, leaving Jared to take in the chaos around him. People were running all over the place with various props and clipboards and walkie talkies, barking orders while directing others to take these papers to set or to find someone needed for the next scene they were shooting. There was so much happening at once he couldn't understand how they got anything done at all. He shuffled awkwardly, feeling like he stood out like a sore thumb just standing there with nothing to do but wait.
Jared walked a few steps away from the picnic table to check out the set more, trying to figure out where the cables and cords ran to and if there was any actual filming going on at the moment. He could see some trailers beyond the cluttered busy area he was in with names typed up on the doors, including one for his favorite shadow, Jensen Ackles. Jared sighed, doomed to be haunted by the guy forever - or at least the summer - it seemed, and turned back to see none other than Jensen fucking Ackles.
Jensen blinked and pointed at him, recognizing Jared. "Oh, hey. How's it going? You're... sorry, did I get your name?" Jensen asked, wrinkling his forehead as if he were trying to remember Jared's name.
"It's Jared. Pada-"
Suddenly a woman brushed past him and up to Jensen, ignoring Jared. "Jensen, we need you on set in five minutes. Make sure Jeannie does something to your hair, what's up with that?"
Jensen frowned and tried to dodge away as she ran her fingers through his hair and tried to fluff it up. He grabbed her wrist and shoved her arm away gently although he was clearly annoyed. "Jesus Christ, Lynne. Give it up, would you? Can I have five minutes of peace? Please?"
Jared raised an eyebrow as she rolled her eyes at Jensen and backed off. "Fine. Five minutes."
"Sorry about that," Jensen said once she left. He picked through the bags Jared brought and tore into it eagerly. He opened one of the Styrofoam containers and started picking at the fries immediately. "This yours?"
Jared shrugged. "From the bar I work at."
Jensen flushed a little at the mention of Jerry's and swallowed hard. "Hey, look man. I hope-"
"Got it!" The PA jogged back to Jared, holding a signed check. "There you go. Thanks for the food, guy!" Jared smiled and saluted before turning to head back to his car, leaving Jensen standing there staring after him.
"Hey! J-James? Sorry- what's your name again?" Jensen called out as Jared started to walk away. He turned back to Jensen and shrugged again.
"Don't worry about it, it's not important. Have a nice day, Mr. Ackles."
Jared continued back to his car and ignored whatever Jensen said next, though it sounded suspiciously like, 'I told you it was Jensen.' The last thing Jared was going to do now was play into Jensen's ego and become one of his dedicated fans, no matter how badly the guy wanted him to.
~~~~
Jensen felt bad for not remembering the guy's name and he could tell he was pissed. Jensen figured that since he was getting to know the guy, even inadvertently, the least he could do was know his name. He wanted to thank him properly for dragging his drunk ass out of the bar that night, but he seemed totally disinterested in hearing anything Jensen had to say or any thanks he might have. In fact, he seemed to be one of the only people in the town who wasn't fawning all over him all the time.
Jensen had to admit- it was intriguing. It wasn't that he came to expect people falling at his feet, but ever since he'd arrived to start filming he couldn't take a shit without someone thinking he should win an Oscar for it and it was really beginning to wear on his nerves. The studio was grooming him to be their next big star, their next giant talking head to paste on billboards and shove into blockbusters to make money. He was cool with that- it was his job, right? But at the same time he was growing more and more wary and weary of wondering who was there because they had a genuine interest in him and what he had to say and who was there to ride his coattails to fame.
This guy from the bar and the gas station and the mall- the ubiquitous tall, lanky, shaggy-haired guy with the strong, lean hands - seemed to be haunting him, almost. Everywhere he turned or looked or breathed, this guy was there. Jensen didn't believe in fate but he was beginning to wonder if it was a sign because there was no way in hell, even in a small city of this size, he could run into this guy all the time. Unless Jensen was doing it himself, purposefully putting himself in places he knew this guy would be. Which brought up another very interesting question- what was it about this guy that he would make Jensen want to do that?
"I can smell rubber," the PA, Tracy, spoke up suddenly.
"Huh?" Jensen asked, stupidly, turning to her with his burger in one hand, forgotten.
"If you think any harder I'll be seeing smoke," she teased. Jensen flushed and she giggled at him. She grabbed a couple of the bags and flashed him a smile and a wink before rushing to take the dinners to other people on set. Out of the corner of his eye he could see her glance back at him but he didn't look at her.
He really didn't want to encourage her; the last thing he wanted to explain to anyone was that she wasn't his type because she didn't have shaggy hair and strong hands.
~~~~
"Oh, come on," Jared groaned when he saw who walked into the bar an hour into his shift a few days after his last encounter with Jensen on set. He was standing behind the bar with Jerry, helping him stack some glasses before the big rush hit while they shot the shit about this game and that player. "What's that about?"
"What's what about?" Jerry asked, glancing in the direction Jared was looking. Jensen Ackles had just walked in the bar and it seemed like every single head in the place turned toward him as one. Immediately the bar got quiet and then buzzed again, louder than before, as everyone started talking to each other with constant glances in Jensen's direction. Jensen kept his eyes low, avoiding their gazes and looked for a table.
"He's everywhere I am this week. It's getting ridiculous! I kept his ass from being beat down, drove him home and he can't even remember my damn name," Jared complained, pulling the dishtowel from his back pocket and throwing it on the counter in frustration.
"You want him to remember your name?" Jerry raised an eyebrow.
Jared flushed and shook his head. "It just might be nice if we're going to keep running into each other, is all. I know he's a big movie star and everything but a 'thanks, Jared' when I pump his gas or bring him food or, I don't know, save his face from permanent disfigurement might be nice."
"Awww, muffin," Jerry teased. "Want some cheese with that whine?"
"Fuck off," Jared mumbled, a smile tugging at his lips. He continued stacking glasses, but out of the corner of his eye he watched Jensen choose a smaller table this week, one out of the way and somewhat secluded so he could see but not be seen. The other patrons in the bar were keeping their distance tonight and some were casting glances between Jensen and Ben, as if waiting for the aborted brawl from the week before to break out. Jensen was either a better actor than Jared gave him credit for, or he was totally oblivious to the attention he was drawing. One of the waitresses made an eager beeline for his table, cocking her hip playfully as she batted her eyelashes and took his order with a big smile, but Jensen barely gave her a second glance as he ordered quickly.
"I'm going to go make some rounds, make sure the boys know to keep an eye out for any more trouble, " Jerry said with a significant look in Jensen's direction as he clapped Jared on the shoulder. Jared watched him greet a few patrons and shake the hands of some others, welcoming them to the bar before Jared picked his dishcloth up and turned to check on things in the kitchen. He caught Jensen's eye for a split second before the actor ducked his head and avoided Jared's gaze. Jared could feel his cheeks heating up again even as he shook his head and fled to the back.
Closer to midnight found Jared rushing about behind the bar helping the bartenders and pouring beers for the patrons. As he predicted, the crowd grew and a lot of them were watching Jensen's table like hawks while tapping a foot or a finger to the beat of the live band. One of the other bouncers told Jared there was even a line outside to get into the bar, which was pretty much unheard of at Jerry's.
"You boys better be looking out for Hollywood over there tonight," Patty, Jensen's flirty waitress who had been rebuffed, shouted at them over the music as she passed her drink orders to one of the bartenders. Jared shot another glance over to Jensen's table quickly to make sure he was all right. Helping out the bartenders had kept him busy for the night and he barely had time to exchange a few words with the customers, let alone watch over Jensen.
"What's up? He getting drunk again?" Jared asked, turning back to Patty with frown.
Patty shook her head. "He's only had two. But Ben," she jerked her head toward the opposite corner where Ben and his buddies were staring at Jensen from across the room and talking to each other in low tones. "He's already two sheets to the wind and none too happy to see Jensen here tonight."
Jerry, who'd walked up behind Jared without him noticing, clapped him on the shoulder. "Looks like you've got babysitting duty again tonight, son."
Jared rolled his eyes exaggeratedly, and frowned again as if put out, but kept a more vigilant eye on Jensen. Just in case.
~~~~
Jensen swore lightly under his breath when he'd seen Ben walk into the bar earlier that night. All he wanted was a quiet, calm night alone to enjoy the band that was playing at the bar. He normally wouldn't be out on a night like this, when he had to film the next day and he'd already made an ass out of himself at this particular bar once, but people on set had said good things about the band and staring at the walls of his hotel room was starting to drive him around the bend.
Once the band started to play it seemed like things were going to stay fairly quiet for the night, however, and Jensen let himself relax and enjoy the music. He ignored the stares and whispers in his direction and communicated through his body language and refusal to meet anyone's gaze that he was content to be alone this evening. He did notice Jared across the bar, though, and caught his eye for a split second before he glanced down at the table, feeling a blush staining his cheeks at the thought of being caught staring. He tried to stay inconspicuous about it but he watched Jared all night as he worked, taking in the bright, wide smile that came easily when he didn't know that people were staring and his eyes that lit up with every laugh that erupted from him. Jensen had done some investigating after Jared brought the food to the set earlier in the week and learned his name, so maybe the next time their paths intersected - and Jensen was sure they would because he was half-tempted to deliberately seek him out - he could maybe strike up an actual conversation with the guy.
The waitress kept checking on him and flashing him a big grin along with a hint of cleavage throughout the night, but Jensen was happy to nurse his two beers, not anxious to have a repeat of the previous week. When Ben and his friends walked into the bar, Jensen feared an immediate problem but they stayed on the other side of the room, a safe distance away from Jensen, and shot him menacing looks instead. Jensen avoided their gazes as well and concentrated on the band and casting furtive glances in Jared's direction.
At some point Jared took a break from rushing around behind the bar and took a seat at the end of the bar with his own beer, sipping it while watching the crowd and drumming his fingers on the counter top to the beat of the band. Jensen used the opportunity to watch him closer and took in how his lanky frame straddled the bar stool, sneakered feet barely hooked comfortably on the bottom rung because his legs were so damn long. His jeans were holey and worn in all the right places, showing signs of age and favoritism. He was wearing a simple blue short-sleeved button up shirt over a wife beater and his shaggy, wavy hair was sticking to his forehead from the heat in the stuffy bar. Even from across the room Jensen could tell Jared worked out a lot. His shirt was tight across his arms and chest and he could see the muscles in his arm flex and relax as he brought the bottle to his mouth. The jeans were baggy enough to hide his legs but Jensen suspected they were as built as the rest of him. To put it in the plainest terms possible- the boy was easy on the eyes.
Every now and then Jensen could feel eyes on him as he watched the band, but when he would look over at Jared his eyes would be trained on anything but Jensen. It felt like they were playing a game to see who could catch the other one staring first and it was getting somewhat frustrating for Jensen. He considered just sucking it up and going over to talk to Jared, try and smooth out the vibe he kept getting from Jared every time they met, but he was interrupted before he could do anything.
"Are you retarded, movie star?" Ben called out as he approached Jensen's table with his buddies. "I figured after last week and the way you ran out of here you wouldn't be back. Guess I underestimated how stupid you are."
Jensen sat back in his chair and looked up at Ben, jaw clenched. "Look man, I'm not here to cause any trouble. I'm minding my own business over here, not bothering anyone. I'm sorry for whatever happened last week, if you thought I was hitting on your girl. Let's not do this, all right?"
It occured to Jensen suddenly that perhaps no one had ever really tried to reason with Ben before when he wanted to fight them because he looked downright confused as he mulled Jensen's words over. Ben didn't seem to be much of a thinker though, and instead of trying to figure out what Jensen was saying he stepped forward quickly and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, pulling him out of his chair. Jensen reached his fill of being picked on and bullied by the drunk townie and reached out to grab Ben's shirt in the same kind of grip and pulled him closer, growling under his breath. It seemed that Ben wasn't used to someone giving back what Ben dished out and his eyes widened, grip slackening just a little. Jensen tried to pull away from him, but Ben narrowed his eyes and wrapped his fist tighter, growling back at Jensen while people started to gather around them, chanting and catcalling.
Maybe staying at the hotel for the night and staring at the walls was the best plan after all, Jensen thought to himself ruefully.
~~~~
Jared had only just allowed himself to think that maybe that night was going to be easy going after all when Ben sauntered up to Jensen's table, all drunken, weaving swagger and cocky bullshit. Jared swallowed the rest of his beer quickly and called for Jerry who was at the other end of the bar. Jerry muttered something under his breath and joined Jared as they watched what was going down, each hoping for their own reasons that this was only going to be a peaceful, quiet one-on-one conversation that was not going to escalate under any circumstances.
A guy could hope, right?
As soon as Jared and Jerry saw Ben grab Jensen by the shirt and haul him out of his chair they began making their way through the crowd quickly, clearing people away. "Jared!" Jerry yelled out to him, rushing toward the pair who were grappling with each other and gestured for him to circle around. Jared hurried around the back of the table and brought an arm down between the two as Jerry started to pull Ben backwards. The other bouncers were already escorting Ben's friends out of the bar to a chorus of cheers and a few boos from the other patrons. Jared grabbed the back of Jensen's shirt and pulled him backwards, getting a smack to Ben's face in first with his other hand.
"Oops," he said loudly, to no one in particular. He could hear Jensen chuckle in front of him as he pulled him backwards, away from Ben's outstretched fist. Jared could hear sirens over the rowdy crowd and sighed in relief as some of the patrons started to move toward the front exit at the sound.
"Come on, Ackles," he said loudly and together they left the bar, slipping through the back door in a way that was starting to feel like déjà vu.
Jared didn't have to prod Jensen to get in the truck this week. He followed Jared out the back door of the bar and waited for him to unlock the cab of the truck before climbing in slowly. Jared pulled out of the parking lot and headed in the direction of Jensen's hotel, figuring another night was shot to hell.
"Do you have to take me back to the hotel?" Jensen asked suddenly as he turned to Jared who shrugged.
"Guess not. Did you want to go to another bar or something?"
"God, no. I'm not a bar guy, actually. Is there... I don't know, some place quiet to go? Some place where there's no one around?"
Jared thought for a second. "Yeah, I think I could take you somewhere."
~~~~
"Where are we?" Jensen asked when Jared finally stopped at the edge of a public playing field and park. Jensen didn't say a word as Jared drove them to the outskirts of the small city, so Jared figured it probably would have been a bad idea to make a wisecrack about this being where he usually stashed the bodies. When he put the truck in park, Jared climbed out and grabbed a blanket from behind the seat without answering him. Jensen followed him slowly and watched as Jared hopped into the bed of the truck and spread the blanket out.
"This is about as quiet and secluded you can get around these parts. This is one of the quieter areas around here and no one ever bothers me. It's got the best show around for free, too," Jared told him, gesturing upward. Jensen looked up and noticed how bright the stars were from where they were. Jared sat down on the blanket in the bed of the truck and looked at him expectantly.
"Well? It's either this or I take you back to your hotel," he drawled before laying back, hands folded on his chest. Jensen hopped up into the bed and laid down beside Jared, their arms brushing lightly as he did. He moved around, getting comfortable against the rough blanket that provided the bare minimum of protection against the hard bottom of the truck.
They lay in silence for a long time. Jensen half thought that Jared had fallen asleep but when he glanced over he noticed Jared's eyes were open and clear as they stared up at the night sky. Jensen got the feeling that this was the most still that Jared ever got outside of sleep and realized with a start that this was probably the first time that he could remember that he'd been able to do absolutely nothing. He sighed and felt some of the pent-up tension he'd been carrying relax from his body.
"So your name is Jared?" Jensen finally asked, cutting through the silence, trying to think of something to say.
"Was wondering when you were going to figure that out," Jared replied dryly.
"Sorry," Jensen mumbled. They lapsed into silence again and Jensen wondered if this was such a good idea after all, hanging out with someone who seemed to outright hate him, or so it seemed.
"I take it you don't have much time to look at the stars if you wanted? Or anything, really?" Jared asked softly, startling Jensen somewhat. Jensen shook his head slowly.
"No time to do much but work these days," he agreed. "It's great, don't get me wrong. I love my job and being able to do what I do. But it would be nice to get more than a day of downtime off."
"What do you normally do on your days off?"
"Sleep," Jensen replied truthfully. "I forward my calls to my assistant, Lynne - you saw her when you came to set last week - and sleep as late as I can. It usually fucks up my schedule and my system but it's so worth it."
"So hanging out at bars and pissing off the locals to the point of causing a riot generally isn't your thing?"
Jensen laughed. "Fuck no! I really didn't mean to get so drunk last week; I was just angry and pissed off and - well, doesn't matter. I'm really not usually like that. And tonight I just wanted to hear the band. I've heard some things about them before and thought it would be cool to catch them live. So much for that."
"Maybe next time," Jared replied softly and Jensen nodded. "Does that suck?"
"What?"
"Not being able to go anywhere without causing a scene?"
"It takes its toll," Jensen replied, picking at the pills on the blanket by his side. "I guess you just get used to it. Never thought I would, really, but then one day I realized that I'd learned to ignore it all."
"I don't think I ever could."
"You think that but then you just... do. It becomes part of the day to day, you know? Dealing with the crowds and making up bullshit PR and all that crap. Half the time I just have to stand there and smile and wave. My people do the rest."
"Your people," Jared snorted and Jensen laughed.
"I know, right? Sounds so..."
"Pompous?"
"I was going for lame but yeah, I guess. I hope I don't come off that way. Do I?" Jensen asked, turning to look at Jared, slightly anxious. Jared shrugged awkwardly.
"People are going to think what they want to, you know? You could say you weren't stuck up as much as you wanted, not going to change the way people are determined to think about you. If they hate you, they hate you."
There was a pause and then, "Do you hate me?"
Jared blinked. "No?"
"No?"
"Should I?"
"I don't want you to. But you haven't really been... You don't seem that impressed with me, I guess."
"Alright, I'll cop to it. I thought you were a stuck up, arrogant, pretty boy movie star when you got to town."
"You thought? And now?"
"Eh. You're not as stuck up as I thought you'd be." Jared could see Jensen out of the corner of his eye and waited to see how he would react. Jensen frowned, blinked, and then burst out laughing- a deep, loud chuckle that lit up his whole face. Jared looked over and saw the crinkles around his eyes as Jensen laughed hard and long. Jared started shake with his own laughter and soon it echoed back at them, bouncing off the trees.
"I just don't see what all the noise is over. You seem to be an all right guy and all, but I don't feel the need to treat you like you're the second coming," Jared explained once they settled down, now more relaxed.
"Believe me when I say thank you, then. People put you on a pedestal in this business and think that if they kiss your ass enough they'll be famous for it, or something. The attention is nice, sure, but after awhile you have to resist the urge to tell people to fuck off."
"But if you said that everyone would think you were an asshole and hard to work with or worse, as having gone off the deep end?" Jared continued for him and Jensen nodded.
"Basically. It's a no-win situation. You learn to put up with the bullshit and weed out the ones who are just hanging on for fun from the people who are in it for the long haul with you."
"Sounds like high school," Jared muttered.
"Yeah, pretty much. Only with more money and a few more mind games," Jensen laughed in agreement. They fell silent for a few minutes before Jensen worked up the nerve to speak again. "I gotta admit, Jared- you had me intrigued. It felt like the more we ran into each other, the more annoyed you seemed with me. Every time I turned around- there you were," Jensen told him.
"So were you!" Jared laughed. "You're right, everywhere I went- there you were. Between the constant updates in the news about filming and what happened during filming for the day and the daily Jensen sighting and you popping up everywhere I looked, I was wondering if someone was trying to tell me something."
"Like what?" Jensen asked with a smile.
"Save his ass in the bar again?"
Jensen let out a bark of laughter at that. "Did I ever thank you for driving me home last weekend, by the way?"
"No," Jared replied truthfully. No sense in sucking up to the guy now after he'd just put it all on the line to potentially offend the shit out of him.
"Yeah, sorry about that. And thank you, really. If it hadn't been for you and the other people that work at your bar I'd have been messed up pretty badly. You saved my ass."
"Yeah, I did," Jared replied modestly. Jensen snorted and smacked him on the arm lightly.
"Now who's pompous?"
"You gotta let me have one, dude, come on, now. You make out with people like Scarlett Johanssen and Christina Ricci on a daily basis. The least you can do is let me think I saved your scrawny ass," Jared joked with him.
"All right, I'll give you that. And I'll let the 'scrawny ass' thing slide," Jensen warned. Jared laughed and nodded and for the first time all week Jensen could relax as he started to realize his mystery hero was just a regular guy with a killer smile.
Part 2