FIC: Know Your Damn Constituents, Part 4 of 4

[bekkis]

Part Four

Jensen's not nervous. Really. It's been a week since the election. He slept for most of it and now he feels refreshed for the first time in a year and a half. He still hasn't heard from anyone. Well, he's heard from Chad, who called him the day after the election to make sure he got home alive.

But Jared hasn't called.

Jensen didn't really expect anything. They'd managed to become friends over the campaign, but he was probably pushing it by expecting Jared to forget everything that happened. And Jensen's too chickenshit to ask Jared to take him back. To risk everything just to be with him.

He tries to keep busy. He cleans his apartment, does about a hundred loads of laundry, and buys groceries. He mainlines Scrubs, trying to avoid the subject of politics all together.

All that goes out the window when Jared finally calls him. It’s almost two weeks after the election.

"The Governor wants to meet with you. Can you get here tomorrow?"

Jensen lets out a sigh of relief. "I'll be there." He's on a plane a few hours later, carrying only a duffle with clothes for two days.

***

"Thanks for flying out so fast." Jensen shakes the President Elect's hand, grinning widely.

"It's no problem, sir. How's the transition going?" The President-Elect gestures towards an empty chair, and they both sit. Jared's already sitting next to the President-Elect, a wide stack of papers in front of him. Jensen gives him a nervous smile, and Jared just sits there. Awesome.

"Very good, thank you." The President-Elect glances at Jared, who just nods, before turning back to face Jensen. "I'd like you to join my staff. As a Special Assistant to the President."

"What?" Jensen can hear a dull ringing in his ear.

"I'd like you to join my administration."

Jensen opens and closes his mouth a few times. This is unexpected. The President-Elect looks amused. Jensen risks a glance at Jared, who is smiling softly.

"I'd...I'd be honored, sir. Thank you." Jensen shakes his hand again, and the President-Elect grins broadly.

"Fantastic." Jared reaches over to shake Jensen's hand as well and nods at him.

***

It turns out that transition is a bad time to try to fix his personal life.

Jared’s avoiding him for anything but work and Jensen has way too much to get done to stress about it. He has two months to find a decent apartment in D.C., he has to figure out what to do with his place in Dallas, see his family and figure out how to get Jared to talk to him beyond what he has to for work.

Taking care of his apartment in Dallas is easy. Finding a place in D.C. is a little harder. However, it turns out that by turning his life upside down and working for the biggest law firm in Dallas means he has enough money put away to get a decent place while he tries to live on a government salary for the next four years. It’s not as nice as the place he had with Joanna, but it’s better than the first place he lived with Chris (which was so bad that no one besides Chris or Jensen ever set foot in the place).

He spends a week at home before packing up his belongings and going back to D.C.

Over a year and a half ago he swore he’d never go back to D.C., and now he’s living there again. He was back in D.C. during the campaign for meetings with the DNC, but they had kept their campaign headquarters in Denver, so he hadn’t been back too often. Now he’s going to be living here again full time and it’s weird. He walks past the same coffee place he used to frequent, past the restaurant he and Joanna went to on their first date and the bar where he spent most of his weekends.
It’s harder than he thought it’d be, to be back the same place he equally loves and hates.

The clusterfuck of organizing the transition has just started and Jensen spends more time in the office than he does in his apartment. There’s not really time for him to freak out about the fact that Jared’s acting awkward and weird again. Jared makes a point to never end up alone in a room with him, which makes their job that much harder.

By now, Jensen should know better when to keep his dick in his goddamn pants.

***

Chad throws a party after New Years. He’s going to be one of the most powerful men in the country in another few weeks and yet Chad still can’t resist an excuse to drink.

Not that Jensen blames him.

"We need to celebrate, get some beers, maybe some girls...well, not for you. Or for me actually. Okay, just the booze then."

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Jensen frowns down into his cup of mixed...well, he thinks it’s punch and rum. Possibly. He sniffs it and shrugs, before taking one long gulp

“I don’t know about you, but I need to get shitfaced before I sit through another meeting with the Majority Leader. Fuckin’ Christ, was he always that bad?” Chad grimaces and throws back a shot.

Jensen winces. “God, yes. Chris used to...” Jensen swallows and sets his cup down on the table.

Chad squints at him and passes him a shot glass. “Bottoms up.”

Jensen takes it and throws back the shot, wincing a little bit as the tequila hits. He spots Jared across the room, talking to Misha and Sophia.

Jared hasn’t said a word to him all night.

“Did you see that article in the New York Times this morning?” Danneel grabs a fresh beer and leans against the sofa. She hands the bottle to Jensen, and he pops the cap off with his ring before handing it back to her.

“No shop talk, Harris. I don’t care what the New York Times said or what’s all over DailyKos. I just want to get drunk. If I happen to get laid, that’d be good, too. I’m not picky," Chad says as he pours another set of shots.

Danneel rolls her eyes. “It amazes me that you ever made it this far in life.”

“You’re both annoying the fuck out of me, you know that?” Jensen scowls and steals Danneel’s beer. She slaps his head and takes the bottle back.

“Don’t steal my beer.” She takes a long drink. “And Jensen, you should be at least a little bit worried about what was in the Times today.”

“Blah blah, I’m a dick, blah blah, Jared and I are fighting again, blah blah.” Jensen waves his hands. “I read it, cried over my Corn Flakes and sat through a day of meetings. With Democrats. Who hate me. So to answer your question, I did see the article in the Times this morning. And I’ve been trying to forget it all day. Thanks for bringing it up.”

Danneel winces and rubs his back. “Sorry, I just thought..."

“Okay, enough of this shit. You guys are bringing me down.” Chad grabs two beers and flips them off. “I’m gonna find someone to talk to who isn’t a whiney bastard.”

Jensen scowls as Chad walks away. Danneel rests her head on his shoulder and passes him her beer. She doesn’t say anything for a few minutes and Jensen watches Jared talk to Misha, hands waving wildly as he talks.

“It’ll get better. At least you’re not really fighting this time.”

Jensen snorts and takes a sip of beer, rubbing his thumb against the label. They aren’t fighting, it’s true. It’s just awkward as fuck.

Jared glances across the room and meets his gaze. Jensen swallows and smiles softly at Jared. Jared nods at Jensen and turns back to Misha. Jensen stares down at his beer and takes another sip, draining the bottle. He grabs two more and hands one over to Danneel.

“Transition sucks,” Jensen sighs.

Danneel laughs against his shoulder. “It’s all downhill from here,” she says.

“At least I get my own office. With a window and everything.”

“How many steps from the Oval?” Danneel sits up and grins at him.

“Um, I don’t know.” Jensen shifts his gaze away from her and takes a sip of beer.

“Bullshit,” Danneel says, laughing.

It’s quiet for a minute before Jensen mumbles, “Twenty steps’.

Danneel throws her head back as she laughs. Jensen grins at her and spots Jared watching them from across the room, a soft smile on his face.

Yeah, it’ll get better.

***

It’s a combination of Danneel and Jared that forces him into going to the Inauguration Balls. Jensen doesn’t want to go at all. But Jared had given him a shy smile and ducked his head and Jensen felt his resistance fall a little.

And then Danneel had threatened him with the Secret Service and he’s pretty sure there’s one or two of them that wouldn’t mind doing her a favor.

So, now he’s standing in the middle of a ballroom and wearing a stupid tux. Danneel ditched him an hour ago when she pulled Misha out on the dance floor and Chad had wandered off with Sophia right after that. Jensen’s stuck alone drinking champagne and passing on about fifteen different offers to dance. He feels a little pathetic.

It’s been a long transition. He’s supposed to be enjoying this. It’s his dream job, working for someone he actually believes in. He’s too busy thinking about Jared and all the fucking awkward tension between them. He never told Danneel about what happened on Election Night but she keeps giving him looks whenever he and Jared start bickering in the middle of meetings.

The truth is, Jensen is stupidly in love with Jared.

It’s something he pushed down and ignored for a long fucking time. He’s so fucking in love with the guy that Jensen’s willing to risk everything to be with him. He never felt this way about Joanna. It’s the reason he gave into that kiss on Jared’s couch in his shitty D.C. apartment so long ago.

And Jared wants nothing beyond friendship with Jensen.

“Isn’t this supposed to be fun?” Danneel asks, hip checking Jensen as she comes up next to him.

His champagne almost spills out of his glass and he glares at her before draining the glass. “I am having fun.”

Danneel laughs at him and plucks the empty glass out of his hand and gives him a fresh glass. The waiter eyes her not too subtly but Jensen just raises his eyebrow at the kid and he scampers off.

“Where’s Misha?”

Danneel honest to God flushes and Jensen pokes her side. She slaps his hand and steals his champagne.

“Don’t change the subject.” She takes a healthy sip of champagne and hands the glass back to him. “You need to quit pouting in the corner.”

“I’m not pouting.” Except he kind of is pouting in the corner.

“Right, well, this is the last time we’ll get to relax for like, a long fucking time. So drink more and go ask Jared to dance.”

Jensen chokes on his champagne and Chad pushes him as he walks up from behind him.

“Seriously, can’t you people greet anyone in a nonviolent way?” Jensen wipes the champagne off his tux and places the glass on a tray as a waiter walks by. He frowns when the guy gives him a once over and a flirty grin.

“Don’t want the rest of the GOP to get the wrong idea. You let one guy float by and the rest think they can dick you around,” Chad says through a mouthful of crackers. He gets crumbs all over his tux.

“I’m pretty sure the Minority Leader got the picture last week, Chad. I think he went back and cried in his office.” Jensen resists the urge to roll his eyes.

“That was fuckin’ sweet. It’s been awhile since I’ve made a Republican cry. I thought I might be a little rusty..."

“Yeah, now I have to sit through meetings with the guy. He’s still pissed about the whole...” Jensen waves his hand.

“The whole leaving the party and working for a Democrat thing?” Danneel finishes.

“Look, as fascinating as this whole conversation is...” Chad wipes his hands on his pants.

“Right. Jensen, pouting in the corner while Jared works the room is just pathetic.” Danneel waves her hand. “And whatever the hell happened on Election Day, can you just like...I don’t know.”

“Well said, Harris. No wonder we hired you to speak for the President of the United States.” Chad rolls his eyes.

Jensen holds up his hands in front of him. “Seriously, you’re both driving me crazy. I’m just gonna leave before I hurt someone and get taken away by the Secret Service.”

“Mmm, could be worth it. You could take one home! Who’d you pick? I’d go with Jason...” Danneel stares dreamily across the room. She shakes her head. “We’re supposed to be having fun tonight. I hate watching you stand here all by yourself being all cranky.”

Jensen avoids her eyes and glances around the room. He’s spent the whole night trying not to watch one person but his gaze keeps drifting over to him.

Jared’s just as exhausted as Jensen is but he looks a million times better than Jensen does. He’s all tuxed out, his hair curling against his neck and that same giddy smile on his face, dimples out in full force. Jared’s deep in conversation with the Speaker but he looks up and meets Jensen’s gaze. His mouth widens a bit and Jensen smiles back at him nervously. Jared smiles back before turning his attention back to the Speaker.

“Christ, you’re pathetic, Ackles,” Chad mutters and brings an arm up to rest on Jensen’s shoulder.

“I know.” Jensen swallows.

They stand there for a minute, watching the room. Danneel rests her hand on his arm and Jensen lets himself watch Jared unabashedly. Jared keeps glancing over at him and Jensen can feel his face flushing every time Jared looks over. He finally excuses himself from his conversation with the Speaker and makes his way over to them. Jared stops and talks to a few people, his hands shoved in his pockets. He grabs a couple of champagne glasses on his way over and stops in front of them.

“Are we plotting a war against a small country or just trying to figure out how to make another member of the GOP cry themselves to sleep tonight?” Jared passes the glass around.

“I’m pretty sure they’ll do that without any help from me,” Chad says. He takes a long sip from his champagne. “Not that I’m not gonna try anyway..."

Jared smirks as he takes a sip from his own glass. Jensen watches as Jared licks his lips and flushes when Jared meets his gaze. Jared meets his gaze and Jensen swallows nervously.

“Can you guys excuse us for a minute?” Jared asks.

Chad and Danneel make a hasty escape and Jared glances around the room. He pulls Jensen out of the ballroom and Jensen looks backwards and shrugs at Danneel before following Jared out into the hallway. Jared glances around, frowns, and pulls Jensen into a deserted corner.

Jensen rubs the back of his neck, leaning against the wall. “Look, is it okay if I take off? I know it kinda looks bad, but man, I’m so fuckin’ tired.”

Jared doesn’t say anything for a minute and just looks at Jensen, his gaze flickering from Jensen’s eyes to his mouth and down to his neck. Jensen swallows nervously and pulls at his tie.

“Yeah…” Jared starts. He runs a hand through his hair and glances down the hallway again.

“So, it’s okay if..."
Jared rests a hand on Jensen’s shoulder, effectively silencing him. Jared rubs his thumb along the seam of Jensen’s jacket and then slides his hand to Jensen’s neck.

“Jared...” Jensen starts and Jared leans closer, his other hand resting on Jensen’s waist.

“Been driving me crazy all night...” Jared murmurs. His thumb strokes Jensen’s neck.

“How much champagne did you drink?” He can’t take another drunken hookup followed by another three months of pretending it never happened.

“I’m not drunk.”

“We’re not doing this again.” Jensen grabs Jared’s hands and pulls them away.

“I think…you’ve been waiting for me to say something for ages, haven’t you? And I’ve been waiting for you to say something.”
Jensen just shrugs. He loosens his tie a little and slips his hands into his pockets.

"If it's...if you don't want that anymore, it's okay. I understand, Jared. I just...we can be friends, right?"

Jared grabs the lapels of Jensen's jacket and pulls Jensen towards him. Jared kisses him, opening his mouth, and Jensen slides his tongue against Jared's. Jensen's hands slide around Jared's back as Jared presses him against the wall. Jared's trying to pull Jensen closer, sliding one hand up to Jensen's face, tilting his head to deepen the kiss. Jensen has a little trouble breathing when Jared pulls back to press his forehead against Jensen's.

“That’s fighting dirty, Padalecki.”

Jensen can’t help himself and Jared hums a little as Jensen leans up on his toes. Jared meets him halfway and their mouths press together softly. Jared lets out a soft noise before pressing Jensen against the wall and Jensen slides his hands into Jared’s hair as he deepens the kiss. Jared’s hands are warm on his hips, fingers teasing his waistband. Jensen’s pressed against the wall, Jared flushed against him and he can feel Jared’s cock against his leg.

Just when Jensen’s starting to forget where he is and grinds against Jared, someone makes an “eh-em” noise in their throat. They pull apart and Jensen flushes when he sees a Secret Service guy standing a few feet away.

“There are reporters around boys. You might not want to do that here.” The guy smirks at the two of them and nods down the hallway.

Jensen sneaks a look at Jared and sees that his face is just as red as Jensen’s feels. Jared nods and they pull away from the wall, straightening out their clothes. Jared meets his gaze and Jensen can’t help but start laughing. Jared rolls his eyes and grabs Jensen’s hand, quieting his laughter.

“Can we just...okay, I’m sort of stupidly in love with you. And I’ve tried to just move on and I can’t. And you still drive me fuckin’ insane most of the time.”

Jared leans down and presses his forehead against Jensen’s and takes a deep breath.

“I wanted to be so pissed at you and then you just showed up lookin’ all hopeful...” He leans back.

“I’m kind of stupidly in love with you, too,” Jensen blurts out. “And that whole year I was in Dallas, all I could think about was how much I fucked everything up and how I wanted to fix it.”

Jared kisses him again and Jensen pulls away before it can get too far.

“I was a dick for leaving like that. I’m sorry.”

Jared shrugs. “I’m sorry, too. I think we should try this again. For real.”

Jensen nods and threads their fingers together. Jared kisses their entwined fingers before letting go and sliding his arm around Jensen’s shoulder.

“I wanna dance.”

Jensen groans and tries to pull away from Jared as they walk down the hallway together. “No fuckin’ way.”

“You stood around and pouted all night. I want one dance.” Jared pulls him closer. “I wanna make all those girls jealous.”

Jensen resists rolling his eyes. “I think I saw Buchanan walking around earlier. You just wanna get him all pissed off so he’ll go on Maddow’s show tomorrow night and throw a shit fit.”

Jared pulls him into the ballroom and towards the dance floor.

“Dude, she already mentioned me for two nights in a row, I’m goin’ for number three.”

Jensen’s given up fighting and gives into Jared’s request for one stupid dance. They fumble for a minute, hands resting awkwardly and Jared steps on his foot before Jared finally lets him lead. Jensen’s not looking around the room, but why would he when Jared’s in front of him looking amazing and gorgeous.

“Should I be jealous? Do I need to go and have a chat with her?” Jensen raises an eyebrow.

Jared chuckles and pulls him closer. “Nah, I’m all yours.”

Jensen swallows and pulls Jared down for a quick kiss.

“Yeah, all yours.”

THE END



Soundtrack | Master Post

Author's Notes

This story is mostly Misha Collin's fault. Isn't everything?

Okay, I guess it's not completely his fault. I had wanted a J2 political AU ever since I got into SPN, and no one had written it. I really wanted fic where Jared and Jensen were rivals and hated each other, and ended up being forced to work together. But I never planned on trying to write it. Then Misha did all those interviews about working in the White House and I had a long convo with maboheme in her LJ about possibilities for a J2 political AU. I started thinking about it more and more. By January I had the whole thing plotted out in my head and started tentatively writing it. Signing up for Big Bang was clearly insane, as I'd participated only as a reader for the last two years, and I hadn't written fic in over five years and never anything like this.

The version I originally started was a bit different than what I ended up with, including a whole other plot line involving Jared at law school and Jensen as a young attorney, but most of that got ditched (and boy was that a good idea, because it got a little ridiculous). I'm pretty pleased with the result. This is the longest fic I've ever attempted to write and the first J2 I wrote, and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. It's also pretty much self-indulgent. Sorry;)

This fic was very much inspired by the Obama for America Campaign/Administration and the West Wing. Some of the campaign comments and stories were taken from my own experiences working on a presidential campaign. Unfortunately, I never worked with hot gay boys who were in love with each other (though I did work with gay boys!). All newspaper articles and speeches were written by me, so I apologize if they're cheesy. I'm clearly not meant to have Toby Zeigler's job;)

Acknowledgements

Thank you times a bazillion to bohemianrose. I really couldn't have asked for a better beta. This was an absolute mess when I sent it to her and she ran with it and cleaned this sucker up. She wasn't afraid to tell me if a scene didn't work, or fix my crappy grammar or to tell me to put more Misha in it;) She is the reason this story is even readable. I'm so grateful for all the help she gave me. She seriously calmed me down in the last weeks before I posted, letting me send her rewrites right up to the last minute. Thanks for letting me ramble at you at over drinks and for all your cheerleading right from the start. Danielle, seriously, thank you so much. (CAPTAIN FINE TIMESTAMP COMING SOON BB!)

Thank you so much to bobbinrob for creating so much amazing art for this fic. I've never done anything like this before, and Robyn was so excited about EVERYTHING that it made me excited about the fic, especially when I was ready to delete the whole thing. I was so excited to get paired up with you, and every time I got an email from you, I was literally sitting there squealing over it. You went above and beyond and I can't say thank you enough. I had so much fun working with you!

Also, thank you to maboheme for all your encouraging comments right from the start and for helping me out when you had a million other things going on. Thanks babe! Thank you so much to pez_gurl and hd_obsession for all the encouraging comments and pushing me along to finish this, even when I was being a whiny brat. I couldn't have finished this without your cheerleading. And thanks to everyone on my Big Bang filter who left me comments on snippets and left me suggestions on my posts. I would've gone crazy without it!

Thanks to audrarose, wendy and thehighwaywoman for running such an awesome challenge! This was my first year participating and the whole thing ran so smoothly! I had such a blast!

Master Post | Art | Soundtrack