FIC: "Thawing Distance" (5/10)
Thawing Distance
By Simarillion
Fandom: Supernatural RPS
Universe: Alternative Universe
Rating: NC-17
Beta: asm_z
Pairing: Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki, others
Warnings: slash, M/M
Word Count: 3,014 (16,627)
Summary: Tell it like it is. (Of settling and living)
Disclaimer: None of the herein presented happenings and events are true. Everything is 100% fiction and that includes the sexuality of the characters. I don’t claim to be in the know about their relations and private affairs, and I don’t make any money with the creation of this story.
Author’s Note: I changed the age of Jensen and Jared, they are the same age now. The plot wouldn’t really work otherwise.
This is part 6 of the Glaciology! ‘verse. Jensen is a scientist in the field of glaciology and he spends most of his time surrounded by ice, whereas Jared is a Hollywood movie star. Prequel to this story are Invisible Glaciers, Iceberg Anatomy, Avalanches Approaching, Crevasse Rescue and Shelf Ice Meander.
[ Masterpost]
Part Five
The preparations for the semester are rather hurried, and only Kerr’s help makes sure that Jensen gets everything finished on time for his first lecture. His TA has become irreplaceable. More often than not, Kerr knows about the latest news before Jensen does, preventing any missing or additional work.
There is a significant increase in his workload to begin with. Jensen’s lectures are very popular and his work with AE has helped significantly to ensure his importance in the department. He can look back on a variety of jobs and projects where he got to do research in the area of environmental studies and sciences. It has made him think about signing up for a couple of classes and courses of some of his colleagues. Ever since his expedition into the jungle, he wants to learn more about ecology and environmental management.
Another result of the jungle life is that Jensen has suddenly the desire to see the world. So far his explorations had been limited to cold and snowy regions, and that is no bad thing. Ice and snow has been, and will always be, his number one love, but he can’t help but wonder what he missed out on, never going anywhere but north.
On Facebook, a social network that his friends, and most importantly his sister insisted on being very important these days, he sees pictures of friends, colleagues and family in exotic settings. There are deserts and beaches, mountains and swamps. Places that are sometimes familiar, but that have never seemed so interesting before.
His head filled with images of places he wants to see and facts of places he has been to, Jensen prepares himself for the semester. And once it starts, he’s back, completely immersed in university life with all its bureaucracy and its deadlines.
In the meantime Jared is already busy filming an action movie in the Caribbean. Every night Jensen gets a call from him. Some days the only thing Jared says is “I’m dead” but on other days, he’s all excited talking about where they are going to go after work. On the bad evenings Jensen talks him to sleep, telling him about his own day, about the cats and about Dean, and on the good evenings he tells Jared to have fun. More than once he receives a MMS message on his cell, showing a drunk Jared hanging out at some bar or club, grinning happily and drinking some cocktail.
The first message he received was titled ’Miss You’ featuring Jared, a bright yellow cocktail and a parrot on his shoulder. The content of the following messages hasn’t improved so far. But they make Jensen laugh in the morning when he finds them waiting on his phone.
A month into the winter semester he gets a call from Chris, announcing that he and Steve are going to do a gig in San Francisco and that they are happy to stay at his place for that time. Jensen laughs into the phone, demanding that they bring some of the good tequila with them when they’re heading up North.
During fall, work around the house and the garden increases as well. The flowers and grass need trimming and weeding. There are a couple of minor works and improvements to be done inside the house as well, and his neighbors have decided that there really should be some kind of neighborhood get together. So, if Jensen isn’t home-improving, gardening or working for university, he’s helping with the preparations for the bar-b-q that is to take place at the end of September. A little late, but everyone’s work schedule forbids an earlier date.
Even though the additional workload of the get together has Jensen stressed and getting barely any sleep, he enjoys the possibility to get to know the people on his street. Most of them are families and couples that have been living here for quite some time, but there are a couple of newcomers like Jensen as well.
What he really likes about this neighborhood is the acceptance he gets. He knows that unfortunately homosexuality is still a topic for a lot of people, but so far not one person he’s met in his community has said or done anything negative because of his sexuality. It helps that they are living in San Francisco. Jensen has no illusions about the welcome he would get, would he move into a Southern community.
During the time when the press and the media had laid siege on his home, he had gotten more than one phone call from concerned neighbors, asking if he was okay. Mary, Bill’s wife, even went so far, as to cook for him and have her kids smuggle care packages to Jensen’s backdoor.
The get together slowly but surely transforms into some kind of community event, and a week before the bar-b-q, the number of people participating and planning on showing up is in the three digit range. It’s unbelievable how much interest there is this party. The site has stayed the same, but due to the increase in people that are to be expected, the whole street will now be transformed into some kind of culinary village. Small groups have started to form, specializing in a certain cuisine.
So far there will be Thai and Chinese food, Mexican and Tex-Mex, Indian, Italian, Greek and Spanish. It has been decided that there will be ice cream and cake that everyone is welcome to donate, and drinks will be brought by everyone as they see fit. When the money for the meat and other ingredients had been collected in the beginning, the total number of hungry mouths to feed had been considerably smaller, so another rounds of collections had started, with people donating some of the ingredients as well.
It’s a very welcome coincidence that Chris and Steve will stay with Jensen in the same time as the bar-b-q takes place, and they readily offered to give a live concert in the evening. Kerr, who is always informed on everything that is going on in Jensen’s life, and who keeps a very tight schedule, has organized the necessary equipment for outdoor projection, and there will be a evening movie for the kids, most likely Highschol Musical 1 to 3.
Tom and Mike said that they don't want to miss out on the event and even Jared has been moping on the phone because he can't be there. Jensen suspects that the disappointment is more because of all the free food he's going to miss out on, but Jared swears up and down it's Jensen's presence that is the selling point.
The day before everything is supposed to go down; people are running around on the street, preparing everything for what is to come. Jensen, just like everybody else on his street has parked his truck somewhere else, the Impala in his driveway. Since the tents and tables and benches are already being set up, there’s no driving allowed on the street anymore.
Steve and Mike arrived last night, the two of them tired but grinning like idiots. They are already on stage, preparing for the gig, but Jensen has some more preparations for tomorrow to finish. Dean is all excited about the humans that are suddenly to be found everywhere. There are small ones and there are taller ones. The husky decided at the beginning of the week that no matter what shape or size they come in, all of the humans are his to rule.
So far, the kids are more than willing and able to keep the dog entertained, but Jensen has had to chase the husky away from the culinary stations more than once today. Nothing much has been set out yet, but it almost seems like he knows that there will be food to be found later on.
“Dean, no!” Once more the husky is sniffing around a fridge that has been incorporated in the Italian booth. Jensen grabs the dogs collar and drags him away, Dean looking at him with bid, innocent puppy eyes, whining pitifully.
“But Mr Jensen, Dean isn’t going to eat anything, we’ll take care of him.” A group of four kids, consisting of a gap toothed girl, a boy with a skinned knee and two other boys who are just as dirty as the first two, look pleadingly at him. It almost seems like they are copying the husky’s look.
“Sorry, but I have to leave and Dean can’t stay outside without my supervision.” This causes long faces and more whining from the husky. “Sorry, but tomorrow he can stay and play with you the whole day.”
This announcement earns him a couple of hugs. With a last wave at the kids, he herds his dog back towards the house. Occasionally he nods at one person or waves at another as he waves his way through the tables and benches. Mary smiles happily at him, but quickly returns to whatever she’s preparing for the next day.
Inside the house Dean trots off to the kitchen, visibly unhappy with the unsuccessful attempt of stealing food outside. As Jensen climbs the stairs to his bed room and the bath, he hears the clinking of the metal food bowl against the ceramic tiles, and then follows the sound of dog food being devoured. Apparently Dean would not have to starve tonight.
He shucks out of the sweaty and dirty t-shirt and jeans he’s wearing and quickly jumps into the shower. The warm water is perfect, washing away the traces of today’s work. Indulging himself, Jensen stays a couple of minutes longer than is strictly necessary, just letting the water sluice down his body. In the end, time presses him to ante up the pace, and he washes his hair and body.
Fresh out of the shower, he wraps himself in a soft white bath towel. It’s one of the towels Jared bought for him, insisting on Jensen needing the fluffiest towels he could find.
His feet leave puddled prints on the floor as he heads back to the bedroom. A last rub over his head and Jensen tosses the towel onto the bed. With a sigh he opens the drawers of the dresser, getting some underwear and socks, next are a fresh pair of jeans and a soft t-shirt. It’s one of his favorites, worn, the print almost gone. Happy memories are attached to this shirt.
It was his first UA shirt he got on campus.
He grabs his jacket and returns downstairs where Dean is already lying on the floor of the hall, eyeing the front door longingly. “You’re impossible sometimes.”
The husky doesn’t even pretend to care about what Jensen said, huffing heavily with a put upon air. When Jensen makes for the door, wallet and keys in hand, the dog jumps up, ready to head out but at a dark look from his human, he decides that today’s entertainment is over. Sighing the husky pads to the living room, deigning Jensen not even worth a last look goodbye.
The truck is parked two side streets down from the house. It’s a little bit of a walk but not really very far. People are busy finalizing today’s preparations and Jensen feels happy knowing that he made a good choice with the neighborhood. The last couple of weeks they all grew together like they were family.
Getting into the car he checks one last time that he has his wallet and all the other stuff he needs, and then he heads out. There are a couple of detours because of the preparations but he’s soon heading into the city, already singing along with Chris and Steve’s latest album.
When Jensen arrives at his destination he realizes he’s a little early. The Docks, for that’s what the location is called, is located, not surprisingly, at the docks. From the outside it looks like a rundown hangar or storage facility, but there are groups of people waiting outside the building, chatting, drinking beer and having a good time. With a nod to the security at the entrance he enters, almost overwhelmed by the amount of people that are here to see Kane.
It’s difficult to get closer to the bar, but after some waiting and even more shoving, Jensen finally arrives at the counter. The top is a little sticky, but the two barkeeps, have no time to wipe it clean, handing out beer and other drinks left and right.
“Can I get you something?” The blonde guy behind the counter smiles invitingly at Jensen, reminding him of one of his students in the Glaciotectonics class. With sudden clarity he comes to realize that he’s getting older. A couple of years ago the blond guy would have been a colleague at university or word with him on some project, but these days, young people only remind him of his students. “Anything to drink?”
The question has Jensen snap out of it. He grins bashfully back and quickly scans the list of beverages. “Uh, one Corona.”
A nod and a wink later Jensen has his chilled bottle of beer, a slice of lime wedged into the bottleneck, and he hands over his money.
“On the house.” Blondie smiles even brighter at Jensen, who stares dumbfound at the bill in his hands.
“Thanks.” His reply is confused and too late. The barkeeper is already handing drinks to a group of girls further down the bar. Jensen knows that he’s not ugly, and that some think that he’s good looking, but the last year, the amount of people flirting with him or telling him that they think he’s attractive is really baffling to him.
Clutching the bottle to his chest, he fights his way back to the stage. There’s a table with a big sheet of paper, a hand-written ‘reserved’ scrawled on it. Smiling amused he sits down, watching the technicians check the cables and the lights, the mikes and the keyboard, making sure everything’s working properly.
“Well hello, who do have we here?” Mike’s teasing question warns Jensen of the impending arrival of his two friends. Tom passes Jensen by to sit down next to him, rolling his eyes at Mike who sits down on Jensen’s other side. “Is this the Jensen Ackles everyone talks about?”
Jensen just boxes Mike against the arm, raising an eyebrow.
“Abuse!” The shout can’t be heard in all the ruckus around them, Mike grinning madly at them. “I have to say, celebrities these days are rather rude.”
“Idiot.” The fond tone of his voice has Tom nod his agreement and Mike wink at them. Jensen loves his friends. They are awesome. All of them.
“How are the preparations coming along?” Tom sets down his beer bottle, and sprawls comfortably on his stool. A glance at Mike has Jensen notice the heated look in his other friend’s eyes as he watches his boyfriend. “Did you get to finish everything that needed to be done today?”
“Tomorrow only the cooking stations need to be finalized, that means the food has to be brought, and the beverages are still in storage to chill them. Everything else is done.” Jensen takes a swig from his bottle, the sour and bitter flavor of the beer and the lime tastes like ambrosia after a long day of work. “Kerr and his crew prepared the movies and the stage was set up yesterday, Chris and Steve supervised the final touches today.”
“I wish we’d have something like that on our street as well. I think it’s great that all of you get along so well.” And Jensen can only agree with that. He loves living in his home.
“Yeah, it’s pretty awesome.” Any further talk is interrupted when a guitar solo has people heading for their tables, Silence starts to settle and everyone’s watching the stage with anticipation. It doesn’t take long either before Chris, Steve and their band step out, everyone cheering and clapping.
“Good evenin’!” Chris Southern drawl is welcomed with loud cheers. “Tonight I have the great honor and even greater pleasure to introduce to you, Kane. Enjoy the show!”
Another bout of clapping and shouting and the concert starts. The first song is from the new album, but everyone joins in, singing along with the band. With a crowd like this concerts are ten times as great. Jensen grins happily at Chris who smiles at them from the stage.
“Their new album is great.” Tom’s shouted comment is almost drowned in the noise of the singing and the music. Jensen nods his answer, knowing that it will be easier understood than any vocal reply.
The next couple of songs are both new and old, and when the band starts their famous love song, the female half of the crowd screams excitedly. Jensen and all the other guys collectively roll their eyes at the screaming, but they sing along just the same.
During the break Tom gets them more beer. He returns with three bottles and a napkin. One bottle is for each of them, but the napkin he puts in front of Jensen. “The blond at the bar asked me to pass this on to you.”
There’s a phone number and a name written on the napkin. Jensen stares from the paper to Tom, to the bar and back down. “Uh.”
“Seems like you made quite an impression on someone.” Mike grins at Jensen, but turns around to stare at the bar. He waves and suddenly turns to Jensen placing a kiss against his friend’s lips.
“Dude!” Jensen stares at Mike in horror and shock.
Tom just laughs and leans down to him, whispering into his ear, “Just to make sure that Blondie gets the message.”
When the concert continues, Jensen is scowling at Mike, warning him to keep his hands and lips where they belong, on Tom. This has all three of them laugh amusedly. Grinning madly, Jensen texts ‘Dude, Mike kissed me!!!!!!’ and sends it off to the Caribbean.
Half a minute later he receives the reply: “Gross!”
continue: Part Six
By Simarillion
Fandom: Supernatural RPS
Universe: Alternative Universe
Rating: NC-17
Beta: asm_z
Pairing: Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki, others
Warnings: slash, M/M
Word Count: 3,014 (16,627)
Summary: Tell it like it is. (Of settling and living)
Disclaimer: None of the herein presented happenings and events are true. Everything is 100% fiction and that includes the sexuality of the characters. I don’t claim to be in the know about their relations and private affairs, and I don’t make any money with the creation of this story.
Author’s Note: I changed the age of Jensen and Jared, they are the same age now. The plot wouldn’t really work otherwise.
This is part 6 of the Glaciology! ‘verse. Jensen is a scientist in the field of glaciology and he spends most of his time surrounded by ice, whereas Jared is a Hollywood movie star. Prequel to this story are Invisible Glaciers, Iceberg Anatomy, Avalanches Approaching, Crevasse Rescue and Shelf Ice Meander.
[ Masterpost]
Part Five
The preparations for the semester are rather hurried, and only Kerr’s help makes sure that Jensen gets everything finished on time for his first lecture. His TA has become irreplaceable. More often than not, Kerr knows about the latest news before Jensen does, preventing any missing or additional work.
There is a significant increase in his workload to begin with. Jensen’s lectures are very popular and his work with AE has helped significantly to ensure his importance in the department. He can look back on a variety of jobs and projects where he got to do research in the area of environmental studies and sciences. It has made him think about signing up for a couple of classes and courses of some of his colleagues. Ever since his expedition into the jungle, he wants to learn more about ecology and environmental management.
Another result of the jungle life is that Jensen has suddenly the desire to see the world. So far his explorations had been limited to cold and snowy regions, and that is no bad thing. Ice and snow has been, and will always be, his number one love, but he can’t help but wonder what he missed out on, never going anywhere but north.
On Facebook, a social network that his friends, and most importantly his sister insisted on being very important these days, he sees pictures of friends, colleagues and family in exotic settings. There are deserts and beaches, mountains and swamps. Places that are sometimes familiar, but that have never seemed so interesting before.
His head filled with images of places he wants to see and facts of places he has been to, Jensen prepares himself for the semester. And once it starts, he’s back, completely immersed in university life with all its bureaucracy and its deadlines.
In the meantime Jared is already busy filming an action movie in the Caribbean. Every night Jensen gets a call from him. Some days the only thing Jared says is “I’m dead” but on other days, he’s all excited talking about where they are going to go after work. On the bad evenings Jensen talks him to sleep, telling him about his own day, about the cats and about Dean, and on the good evenings he tells Jared to have fun. More than once he receives a MMS message on his cell, showing a drunk Jared hanging out at some bar or club, grinning happily and drinking some cocktail.
The first message he received was titled ’Miss You’ featuring Jared, a bright yellow cocktail and a parrot on his shoulder. The content of the following messages hasn’t improved so far. But they make Jensen laugh in the morning when he finds them waiting on his phone.
A month into the winter semester he gets a call from Chris, announcing that he and Steve are going to do a gig in San Francisco and that they are happy to stay at his place for that time. Jensen laughs into the phone, demanding that they bring some of the good tequila with them when they’re heading up North.
During fall, work around the house and the garden increases as well. The flowers and grass need trimming and weeding. There are a couple of minor works and improvements to be done inside the house as well, and his neighbors have decided that there really should be some kind of neighborhood get together. So, if Jensen isn’t home-improving, gardening or working for university, he’s helping with the preparations for the bar-b-q that is to take place at the end of September. A little late, but everyone’s work schedule forbids an earlier date.
Even though the additional workload of the get together has Jensen stressed and getting barely any sleep, he enjoys the possibility to get to know the people on his street. Most of them are families and couples that have been living here for quite some time, but there are a couple of newcomers like Jensen as well.
What he really likes about this neighborhood is the acceptance he gets. He knows that unfortunately homosexuality is still a topic for a lot of people, but so far not one person he’s met in his community has said or done anything negative because of his sexuality. It helps that they are living in San Francisco. Jensen has no illusions about the welcome he would get, would he move into a Southern community.
During the time when the press and the media had laid siege on his home, he had gotten more than one phone call from concerned neighbors, asking if he was okay. Mary, Bill’s wife, even went so far, as to cook for him and have her kids smuggle care packages to Jensen’s backdoor.
The get together slowly but surely transforms into some kind of community event, and a week before the bar-b-q, the number of people participating and planning on showing up is in the three digit range. It’s unbelievable how much interest there is this party. The site has stayed the same, but due to the increase in people that are to be expected, the whole street will now be transformed into some kind of culinary village. Small groups have started to form, specializing in a certain cuisine.
So far there will be Thai and Chinese food, Mexican and Tex-Mex, Indian, Italian, Greek and Spanish. It has been decided that there will be ice cream and cake that everyone is welcome to donate, and drinks will be brought by everyone as they see fit. When the money for the meat and other ingredients had been collected in the beginning, the total number of hungry mouths to feed had been considerably smaller, so another rounds of collections had started, with people donating some of the ingredients as well.
It’s a very welcome coincidence that Chris and Steve will stay with Jensen in the same time as the bar-b-q takes place, and they readily offered to give a live concert in the evening. Kerr, who is always informed on everything that is going on in Jensen’s life, and who keeps a very tight schedule, has organized the necessary equipment for outdoor projection, and there will be a evening movie for the kids, most likely Highschol Musical 1 to 3.
Tom and Mike said that they don't want to miss out on the event and even Jared has been moping on the phone because he can't be there. Jensen suspects that the disappointment is more because of all the free food he's going to miss out on, but Jared swears up and down it's Jensen's presence that is the selling point.
The day before everything is supposed to go down; people are running around on the street, preparing everything for what is to come. Jensen, just like everybody else on his street has parked his truck somewhere else, the Impala in his driveway. Since the tents and tables and benches are already being set up, there’s no driving allowed on the street anymore.
Steve and Mike arrived last night, the two of them tired but grinning like idiots. They are already on stage, preparing for the gig, but Jensen has some more preparations for tomorrow to finish. Dean is all excited about the humans that are suddenly to be found everywhere. There are small ones and there are taller ones. The husky decided at the beginning of the week that no matter what shape or size they come in, all of the humans are his to rule.
So far, the kids are more than willing and able to keep the dog entertained, but Jensen has had to chase the husky away from the culinary stations more than once today. Nothing much has been set out yet, but it almost seems like he knows that there will be food to be found later on.
“Dean, no!” Once more the husky is sniffing around a fridge that has been incorporated in the Italian booth. Jensen grabs the dogs collar and drags him away, Dean looking at him with bid, innocent puppy eyes, whining pitifully.
“But Mr Jensen, Dean isn’t going to eat anything, we’ll take care of him.” A group of four kids, consisting of a gap toothed girl, a boy with a skinned knee and two other boys who are just as dirty as the first two, look pleadingly at him. It almost seems like they are copying the husky’s look.
“Sorry, but I have to leave and Dean can’t stay outside without my supervision.” This causes long faces and more whining from the husky. “Sorry, but tomorrow he can stay and play with you the whole day.”
This announcement earns him a couple of hugs. With a last wave at the kids, he herds his dog back towards the house. Occasionally he nods at one person or waves at another as he waves his way through the tables and benches. Mary smiles happily at him, but quickly returns to whatever she’s preparing for the next day.
Inside the house Dean trots off to the kitchen, visibly unhappy with the unsuccessful attempt of stealing food outside. As Jensen climbs the stairs to his bed room and the bath, he hears the clinking of the metal food bowl against the ceramic tiles, and then follows the sound of dog food being devoured. Apparently Dean would not have to starve tonight.
He shucks out of the sweaty and dirty t-shirt and jeans he’s wearing and quickly jumps into the shower. The warm water is perfect, washing away the traces of today’s work. Indulging himself, Jensen stays a couple of minutes longer than is strictly necessary, just letting the water sluice down his body. In the end, time presses him to ante up the pace, and he washes his hair and body.
Fresh out of the shower, he wraps himself in a soft white bath towel. It’s one of the towels Jared bought for him, insisting on Jensen needing the fluffiest towels he could find.
His feet leave puddled prints on the floor as he heads back to the bedroom. A last rub over his head and Jensen tosses the towel onto the bed. With a sigh he opens the drawers of the dresser, getting some underwear and socks, next are a fresh pair of jeans and a soft t-shirt. It’s one of his favorites, worn, the print almost gone. Happy memories are attached to this shirt.
It was his first UA shirt he got on campus.
He grabs his jacket and returns downstairs where Dean is already lying on the floor of the hall, eyeing the front door longingly. “You’re impossible sometimes.”
The husky doesn’t even pretend to care about what Jensen said, huffing heavily with a put upon air. When Jensen makes for the door, wallet and keys in hand, the dog jumps up, ready to head out but at a dark look from his human, he decides that today’s entertainment is over. Sighing the husky pads to the living room, deigning Jensen not even worth a last look goodbye.
The truck is parked two side streets down from the house. It’s a little bit of a walk but not really very far. People are busy finalizing today’s preparations and Jensen feels happy knowing that he made a good choice with the neighborhood. The last couple of weeks they all grew together like they were family.
Getting into the car he checks one last time that he has his wallet and all the other stuff he needs, and then he heads out. There are a couple of detours because of the preparations but he’s soon heading into the city, already singing along with Chris and Steve’s latest album.
When Jensen arrives at his destination he realizes he’s a little early. The Docks, for that’s what the location is called, is located, not surprisingly, at the docks. From the outside it looks like a rundown hangar or storage facility, but there are groups of people waiting outside the building, chatting, drinking beer and having a good time. With a nod to the security at the entrance he enters, almost overwhelmed by the amount of people that are here to see Kane.
It’s difficult to get closer to the bar, but after some waiting and even more shoving, Jensen finally arrives at the counter. The top is a little sticky, but the two barkeeps, have no time to wipe it clean, handing out beer and other drinks left and right.
“Can I get you something?” The blonde guy behind the counter smiles invitingly at Jensen, reminding him of one of his students in the Glaciotectonics class. With sudden clarity he comes to realize that he’s getting older. A couple of years ago the blond guy would have been a colleague at university or word with him on some project, but these days, young people only remind him of his students. “Anything to drink?”
The question has Jensen snap out of it. He grins bashfully back and quickly scans the list of beverages. “Uh, one Corona.”
A nod and a wink later Jensen has his chilled bottle of beer, a slice of lime wedged into the bottleneck, and he hands over his money.
“On the house.” Blondie smiles even brighter at Jensen, who stares dumbfound at the bill in his hands.
“Thanks.” His reply is confused and too late. The barkeeper is already handing drinks to a group of girls further down the bar. Jensen knows that he’s not ugly, and that some think that he’s good looking, but the last year, the amount of people flirting with him or telling him that they think he’s attractive is really baffling to him.
Clutching the bottle to his chest, he fights his way back to the stage. There’s a table with a big sheet of paper, a hand-written ‘reserved’ scrawled on it. Smiling amused he sits down, watching the technicians check the cables and the lights, the mikes and the keyboard, making sure everything’s working properly.
“Well hello, who do have we here?” Mike’s teasing question warns Jensen of the impending arrival of his two friends. Tom passes Jensen by to sit down next to him, rolling his eyes at Mike who sits down on Jensen’s other side. “Is this the Jensen Ackles everyone talks about?”
Jensen just boxes Mike against the arm, raising an eyebrow.
“Abuse!” The shout can’t be heard in all the ruckus around them, Mike grinning madly at them. “I have to say, celebrities these days are rather rude.”
“Idiot.” The fond tone of his voice has Tom nod his agreement and Mike wink at them. Jensen loves his friends. They are awesome. All of them.
“How are the preparations coming along?” Tom sets down his beer bottle, and sprawls comfortably on his stool. A glance at Mike has Jensen notice the heated look in his other friend’s eyes as he watches his boyfriend. “Did you get to finish everything that needed to be done today?”
“Tomorrow only the cooking stations need to be finalized, that means the food has to be brought, and the beverages are still in storage to chill them. Everything else is done.” Jensen takes a swig from his bottle, the sour and bitter flavor of the beer and the lime tastes like ambrosia after a long day of work. “Kerr and his crew prepared the movies and the stage was set up yesterday, Chris and Steve supervised the final touches today.”
“I wish we’d have something like that on our street as well. I think it’s great that all of you get along so well.” And Jensen can only agree with that. He loves living in his home.
“Yeah, it’s pretty awesome.” Any further talk is interrupted when a guitar solo has people heading for their tables, Silence starts to settle and everyone’s watching the stage with anticipation. It doesn’t take long either before Chris, Steve and their band step out, everyone cheering and clapping.
“Good evenin’!” Chris Southern drawl is welcomed with loud cheers. “Tonight I have the great honor and even greater pleasure to introduce to you, Kane. Enjoy the show!”
Another bout of clapping and shouting and the concert starts. The first song is from the new album, but everyone joins in, singing along with the band. With a crowd like this concerts are ten times as great. Jensen grins happily at Chris who smiles at them from the stage.
“Their new album is great.” Tom’s shouted comment is almost drowned in the noise of the singing and the music. Jensen nods his answer, knowing that it will be easier understood than any vocal reply.
The next couple of songs are both new and old, and when the band starts their famous love song, the female half of the crowd screams excitedly. Jensen and all the other guys collectively roll their eyes at the screaming, but they sing along just the same.
During the break Tom gets them more beer. He returns with three bottles and a napkin. One bottle is for each of them, but the napkin he puts in front of Jensen. “The blond at the bar asked me to pass this on to you.”
There’s a phone number and a name written on the napkin. Jensen stares from the paper to Tom, to the bar and back down. “Uh.”
“Seems like you made quite an impression on someone.” Mike grins at Jensen, but turns around to stare at the bar. He waves and suddenly turns to Jensen placing a kiss against his friend’s lips.
“Dude!” Jensen stares at Mike in horror and shock.
Tom just laughs and leans down to him, whispering into his ear, “Just to make sure that Blondie gets the message.”
When the concert continues, Jensen is scowling at Mike, warning him to keep his hands and lips where they belong, on Tom. This has all three of them laugh amusedly. Grinning madly, Jensen texts ‘Dude, Mike kissed me!!!!!!’ and sends it off to the Caribbean.
Half a minute later he receives the reply: “Gross!”
continue: Part Six