Smoke & Lightning: City Of Angels (2/?)
Title: Smoke & Lightning : City Of Angels (2/?)
Authors: eviltwin and bloody_adorable
Fandoms: Supernatural RPS AU
Pairing: Jensen Ackles / Jared Padalecki.
Wordcount: 4,275
Rating: Adult.
Summary: Getting used to a new routine is tough, but Jensen and Jared are getting there.
Disclaimer: None of the following is true in any way, and no profit is made from this work of fiction.
DEDICATED TO candygramme, WHOSE BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW. HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR TOMORROW! ♥♥♥
CHAPTER TWO
It was weird. He had an office. Lots of guys had offices, he knew that. And sure, he'd been in Ballantine's office. Had even been in Lang's. But this was his office. His name was etched into the nameplate on the door. And, while the office furniture was still new and shiny, it was still all his. It had been ordered for him.
He didn't have to be on the Peds floor for a little while. He took advantage of the few precious minutes to arrange his work space. He'd hung a framed Thruxton poster up, depicting the very bike he owned, minus the customizations. It made him smile when he looked at it. The salesman had thrown the poster in for free when Jensen got the bike. Jared had gotten it framed for his office.
He set up his iPod station, too. He wanted to be able to have his tunes going when he was doing paperwork. He made sure the small dorm-sized refrigerator was on, stacked plain navy blue towels into his bathroom, complete with a shower. You never knew what was going to hit you in pediatrics. He knew that first hand.
After more busy work, Jensen took one last thing out of the box he'd brought in. He smiled down at the framed picture and set it on his desk, facing him. In it, he was kissing Jared's cheek, both of them clearly happy. Maya was sat between them, looking at the camera, oblivious to her two owners' antics.
Maya. Jensen stared at her for a moment. She was another reason that Jared had been so grumpy lately. They'd had to leave her in Texas. Their apartment complex accepted pets just fine, but both Jensen and Jared hadn't been sure they could give her the proper attention right now. Once they were settled, they would send for her. Jensen was sure Chris or Phin would bring her to LA for them. But that was another thing that had Jared feeling unsettled. He hadn't been able to go for his usual runs with Maya, hadn't been able to play with her. Funny how a big ball of fur had become such an important part of their life.
Sighing, Jensen decided that they would have to call home later. Jared, who had never really left home like this before, was probably homesick. Jensen knew that he was, for sure, no matter how much he liked his new job. Glancing down at his watch, he decided that he'd better get down and do his afternoon rounds. That way, he could sit down for a nice lunch with Jared. Granted, it would have to be in the hospital cafeteria, but the food there was pretty decent.
Grabbing his pen and clinical folder, Jensen headed out of the office, over to the elevators. He took the lift to the Peds floor by himself, checking his cell phone to make sure it was off. He couldn't get service in the hospital anyway. When the doors opened, he smiled and nodded in greeting at a young nurse, then headed to his ward. He punched in the security code privy only to hospital staff, a security measure present on all pediatric units. Parents or friends of the family did not know the code. They used the phone handset provided outside the room to buzz in to ask permission to be allowed inside.
Pulling open the door, Jensen clicked his pen and opened the clinical folder. It had a list of room numbers, rather than names, where his patients were staying. Before he could put a checkmark by the first number, he caught movement out of his peripheral vision. He looked up in time to jump out of the way of a red kickball coming straight at his head. The ball bounced off the wall, and then back into the room it had come from, making a kind of twang sound as it went. A touch more alert, Jensen leaned into the doorway, just his head poking around the door frame.
Alissa - Ally, she had informed him yesterday that she preferred Ally - sat in a wheelchair, holding the ball and looking up at Jensen rather sheepishly. "Hi," she smiled. "Sorry, I didn't know you were out there."
"Could've been someone else," he reminded her.
"But it was you," she returned.
"I could be mean."
"You are not!"
He laughed and stepped all the way into the room, even though she was not who he had planned on visiting first. He knelt down in front of her wheelchair and tapped her knee. "What are you up to this afternoon, kiddo?"
She shrugged. "I wanna go outside, but Nurse Barbie says that I have to wait until she's free, and she's never free."
"So, is this your chariot?" he asked, motioning to the wheelchair.
"Yep," she nodded proudly. "Wanna take it for a spin?"
"I might," he nodded. "But I have work to do first." He winked at her. "And I don't think I'd be as good as you in it, anyway."
Jensen felt bad that Ally's parents didn't get to visit very often. With their child's medical bills, both of them had to work to keep their heads above water. Sometimes, in cases like Ally's, the hospital staff became surrogate parents. Jensen stood, leaned down to her. She immediately put her arms around his neck and let him heft her out of the chair. She could walk fine, but this was a lot more fun.
While he carried her to the bed, Ally saw something of interest, and pulled Jensen's scrub shirt collar side. "What's that?" she asked.
For a second, Jensen tried to look at what she was pointing at, then realized that she had seen some of his ink. "It's a tattoo," he said.
"Why do you have it?"
Holding her in his arms, he shrugged. "Because I wanted it," he answered truthfully. "A friend of mine has a whole bunch of them, and I liked them."
"Is it pretty?" she asked, innocently.
He nodded. "It sure is. Maybe someday you can see it."
"Can I see it now?"
"No," he refused.
"Why not?"
He suddenly feigned losing strength in his arms and let her slip out of his grasp just slightly. "Because you're really heavy," he grunted. "What did you eat for breakfast? Bricks?"
Ally giggled and clutched at his scrubs, at his white lab coat. She continued to slide down Jensen until she sat down upon the hospital bed in her room. "Not bricks!" she argued. "I had Cheerios."
"Cheerios?" he repeated. He sat down on the edge of the bed, while she settled against the pillows. "I don't believe you."
Ally heartily nodded her head, her eyes wide. "I did," she assured him.
Jensen chuckled, gazing down at her. "Let's talk for a few minutes," he told her. "See how you're doing. Then I gotta go visit some other kids."
"But I bet I'm your favorite," she said for him.
That made Jensen laugh a little louder. "You definitely are, sweetheart," he agreed.
* * *
It was well after their appointed time to meet. Jensen had tried to hurry, but Fate was against him. He knew that if he could check his phone, he would see he'd missed a call from Jared. On his way out of the ward, he checked his watch and sighed, grumbling inwardly.
On his office floor, he flew past a few of his fellow doctors, saying a quick hello and excusing himself. The walls to his office were glass, covered only by vertical shades. Jensen could see someone sitting in the office chair, his feet propped up on the desk. He slowed, stopped, and smiled. His heart slowed somewhat, to a comfortable pace, and he felt at ease. Stepping into his office, he sighed. "I am so sorry," he apologized outright. "I swear to frickin' God I tried to get out of there earlier than this."
Jared looked up from his place and grinned. "I know," he said. "I went down and asked about you. They said you were busy."
Jensen moved to lean against his desk, next to Jared's outstretched legs. He gazed down at Jared for a few seconds, watching the man try to win one of those cheap games where you move the blue plastic pegs around, taking away the ones you've "jumped," until you only have one left. "You okay?" Jensen asked.
Jared nodded. "Yeah," he said. "I was just waiting for you."
"Are you mad?"
Taking a deep breath, Jared sighed and let his boots slip from where they rested against the desktop. He set the cheap wooden game down and looked up at Jensen. "I'm not mad," he assured him. "And I'm sorry I got so upset before. You're a doctor, Jen. You have a lot of responsibility. A hell of a lot more than I could ever deal with. And as much as I'd like you at my beck and call, you're not. But I'm damn proud of you."
Jensen smiled gratefully.
"We'll get used to this schedule," Jared continiued. "It's just gonna take me some time."
Staring down at him, Jensen nodded his head. "Me too. And I'm sorry. Your job is stressful too, and I shouldn't add to it."
"Fuck," Jared suddenly cursed. "Are we done with this Hallmark-moment shit? I'm starving."
Jensen laughed and nodded his head. "Yes," he agreed. "Is the cafeteria okay?"
"I was hoping for somewhere else," Jared sighed.
"I'll make it up to you," he offered.
Jared stood to face Jensen, his hands slipping underneath Jensen's white lab coat to rest at the man's waist. "Yeah?"
"Mm-hmm," he nodded. "I'll come home and have dinner with you, and then when you get home from work, you can wake me up."
"Hello," Jared smiled. "You got yourself a deal."
They picked a spot where the sunshine was streaming through the tinted windows. Jared kept his black sunglasses on while they ate. They talked over burgers and chips, sipped at fountain sodas and eyed the desserts in the refrigerator. So engrossed in each other, they didn't really hear the commotion until it was nearly right next to them. They both turned and saw a little girl in a wheelchair being pushed towards them.
Jensen immediately chuckled when he recognized Alissa, now clad in a light cardigan so that she could go outside. It was plenty warm out, but the sickly little girl was in the hospital for a reason. With his napkin, he wiped off his mouth, crumpling the paper onto his plate as he turned towards her.
"I'm so sorry, Doctor," the nurse apologized. "I tried to explain that you were on break, but she made such a commotion."
Jensen pulled the wheelchair closer, smiling at her. "What are you doing to this poor nurse?" he asked her.
Alissa smiled. "I saw you in here and I made Nurse Marianne wheel me in here," she explained. "She's on my time, after all."
She was too smart for her own good, and reminded Jensen of Holly. He had a sudden severe pang of homesickness. He patted his leg and invited her to sit with them. Pulling herself out of the chair, Alissa settled herself on Jensen's knee. He looked up at the nurse and smiled. "She's okay," he assured her. "I'll bring her back as soon as I'm done here."
The nurse looked relieved. Alissa could be a handful, to say the least. "Thank you," she said.
"Hi," Alissa said leaning her elbows on the table. "What's your name?"
Jared smiled at her, raising his sunglasses and pushing them into his hair. He leaned his elbows onto the table and leaned down further so that he was more at her level. "I'm Jared," he said. "What's your name?"
"I'm Alissa," she said. "I'm Doc Jensen's favorite."
Smiling, Jared narrowed his eyes at her. "I bet you are," he nodded. He listened to Alissa giggle as Jensen bounced her on his knee a couple of times. "Did you eat your lunch, Alissa?"
She nodded. "But I love ice cream," she said.
"Ice cream?" he repeated, straightening. "Nobody likes ice cream."
She nodded, her dark eyes wide as she tried to convince him. "Yes," she told him. "I really really do."
"Jensen, do you like ice cream?"
Jensen glanced down at her, her attention still riveted on Jared, and shook his head. "Nah," he said. "Can't stand the stuff."
Alissa whipped her head around to look at him, her dark pigtails bouncing around her head. "You're crazy," she spoke, sounding amazed.
Jensen met Jared's eyes for a moment then feigned a dramatic sigh. "Alright," he huffed. He'd read Alissa's chart, knew it inside-out, frontwards and backwards. She could have some ice cream. "If you really want some, I guess we can spring for it. But you won't like it."
She clapped her hands and giggled. "Yes, I will!"
Jensen stared to put her back in her chair, but she clung to him like she was made of super glue. "What, sweetie?"
"I wanna go with you."
Straightening, he looked down at her, propped up on his hip. "Jay won't hurt you."
"I wanna go with you," she repeated.
He shrugged, smiled at Jared and agreed. "Okay. Let's go."
Jared watched from his place as Jensen carried the little girl over to the soft serve machine. It probably wasn't the best ice cream in the world, but to kids, it didn't matter. He picked up a small bowl and told her which lever was vanilla, which one was chocolate, and which one was twist. She thought for a moment and touched the vanilla lever. Jensen put the bowl underneath the spout and told her to pull the lever. She did and the soft serve curled out of the machine. When the bowl was full, Alissa still kept going. Jensen warned her to stop, then did a laugh-shout as the ice cream started to take over. Alissa giggled and pushed the lever back to stop the flow. Jared laughed as he watched them, pride and love filling him. They poured bottled chocolate syrup over the ice cream and Alissa declared it perfection. Jensen carried her back over to the table, praying she didn't drop the bowl on his white lab coat. She didn't, thankfully. Jared handed her his spoon that he didn't use, and she dug into the ice cream, still rested upon Jensen's knee.
Jensen met Jared's eyes, finding him already staring at him. He smiled and tried not to blush when Jared winked at him, because he was pretty sure he knew just what the other man was thinking.
* * *
Standing before the stove, Jensen got a little too close to the pan on the burner and yanked his hand back, cursing. He shook the pain out of his fingers and brought them to his mouth. "Jay, this is ready," he called out.
When he had arrived home, the place had actually been picked up from the previous night. Jensen had smiled, just in the doorway, and decided he could make dinner, seeing as there was nothing else left to do. Since they'd had a fairly bad lunch, burgers and fries, Jensen felt guilty and opted to make a pasta, veggie and shrimp stir-fry, while Jared got ready for work. The shower had stopped some time ago, so Jensen assumed he was nearly done.
"Jay," Jensen called again.
Jared stepped into the open kitchen, adjusting the polo shirt cuffs around his biceps. "I know, I heard," he said. He sat down at the island bar, across from Jensen and watched Jensen serve him some of the stir-fry.
Jensen couldn't help but eye the shirt Jared was wearing. "Kinda tight, isn't it?"
Jared looked down for just a moment. The fabric of the polo shirt was stretched over his chest, puckering in places as it fought to cover his pecs. "It's what they gave me."
"Did they think you were an adolescent high schooler?" He scooped some of the stir-fry onto his own plate.
Fluttering his eyelashes, Jared looked at Jensen. "Har, har," he mock-laughed. "I think you're just jealous."
Setting the pan on the stovetop again, Jensen moved to sit down across from Jared. "I am," he nodded, picking up his fork. "Bars have chicks. I don't want chicks eyeing you."
"Guys are there too," he said, around a mouthful of veggies. "They could eye me."
"Again, I say," he smiled back, "jealous."
Chuckling, Jared stabbed a shrimp with his fork. "So come down to the Blue tonight," he offered.
For some reason, Jensen was reminded of the first time he went to a bar with Jared. The place had been pretty rough, and a fight had broken out. He remembered how terrified he'd been, how he had ditched Jared and hid in the men's room. While he was tougher than that now, he still didn't really want to get caught up in a fist fight. Which would no doubt happen in this new place. "Thanks," he said. "I might just chill out tonight."
"Suit yourself," he shrugged. "But I'm lookin' pretty hot in this shirt."
Jensen laughed and nodded. "Yes, you are," he agreed. "But I get to take that shirt off of you when you get home."
"Point," Jared nodded back.
* * *
The job wasn't only about bouncing, laying down the law. Jared had a gift with the patrons, that was true. Most times, he could talk someone out of a fight and make them laugh about it. Most times, he could bring someone outside without too much of an incident. But, more often than he liked, the patron was too belligerent to deal with, and a fight broke out.
He'd learned the ropes fast, though. Marco had taught him what he knew in a flash, just in two nights. He had a natural talent for what he was doing. Jared took on other responsibilities without being asked. He helped clean up tables when they became free. He assisted the two bartenders, Shell and Tisha. Rob, the owner of the Blue, watched him with an impressed eye. Rock and Mickey had been right about the kid. He was going to be good for the place.
During a lull, Jared sat down at the bar and had a cup of coffee. Rob leaned over the bar and spoke over the loud music in the place. "You ready to be put on the books, JT?"
Jared turned and looked at him. "Yeah," he smiled.
"Even though you could get really hurt one night?"
He only smiled brighter, nodding his head.
"Alright," he agreed. "Consider it done." He held out his hand.
Jared took hold of the man's hand, shaking it firmly. "Thanks, man."
Roberto nodded. "Keep up the good work, and you might get a better position yet."
With a twinkle in his eye, Jared grinned. "You gonna let me run the place?"
Rob laughed, nodding his head. "Just maybe," he returned. "You come with a resume of gold, kid. I know about you."
Jared waved off the statement. "Most of it's lies," he said, bringing his coffee mug to his lips. "Rock and Mickey are notorious liars and kleptomaniacs."
"Shit, you ain't kiddin'," Rob chuckled. "Rock's still got my goddamn bike."
That delighted Jared. He laughed aloud and settled in for a conversation about which bike it was. He wanted to know all about it.
* * *
The night had been fairly uneventful. Jared and Marco had had to throw out only four patrons, versus the ten or twelve they'd had to toss the previous night. Jared liked to think that, already, he was making a difference. But he found that hard to believe.
Rob didn't, however. Out on the town, he'd already heard some people talking about how there was a new, tough bouncer at the Blue. Jared's massive, intimidating presence was already being discussed, and he liked it.
Around four in the morning -- the bar closed at three, but Jared had to help close up the place -- Jared finally let himself into the apartment he and Jensen shared. He immediately went to the fridge and took out the carton of orange juice. He took a long drink from the carton, then put it back in the fridge. He locked the door again and moved to the bedroom. Normally, he would have pulled his shirt off as he went, but he remembered that Jensen wanted the job tonight.
In the bedroom, Jensen was sprawled across the bed, his nakedness hidden by the blanket draped over his waist. His chest and legs were bared to the night. Smiling, Jared crawled down atop the mattress and straddled Jensen's naked frame. He rested his hands at either side of the sleeping man's head, his knees at either side of Jensen's waist, and leaned down to place kisses upon the man's neck.
Breath hitching in his lungs, Jensen turned and saw Jared hovering over him. "Hey," he greeted, his voice thick with sleep. "What time is it?"
"A little after four," he answered. "How was your night?"
Rubbing at his eyes to make himself completely wake up, Jensen nodded. "Good," he said. He had gone to bed early, knowing he'd have to rise early when Jared got home. Typically, he was up at five-thirty or six, so a couple hours wouldn't matter now. "How was it tonight."
Jared nodded. "It was fine tonight."
"No busted lips, broken bones?"
"I'm good to go," he chuckled.
"Good," Jensen smiled. He reached up and set his palm against the side of Jared's face, feeling the man lean in to give him a slow, soft kiss. "Oh," he interrupted. "Before I forget. Holly called."
"Uh-oh," Jared said, an inch away from Jensen's mouth. "What's going on?"
"She just misses you," he said. "Apparently, she got word that she's in Miss Harrington's class this year. School started in August, and one of their first field trips is the end of September, to the science center. She wanted us to come home and chaperone."
"What'd you tell her?"
"I told her probably not this time," he frowned. "But Stevie says Miss Harrington always takes the kids to the zoo before Christmas vacation. I told her that we might be able to do that one."
"Ugh," Jared grumbled. He rolled away from Jensen, onto his back beside him. Jensen followed, propping himself up on an elbow. "Just what I need. To be mother-hen to a bunch of screaming kids."
"Hey," Jensen almost scolded. "That's your baby sister."
Taking a deep breath, Jared sighed. He set a hand to Jensen's blanket-clad hip. "I know," he said. "I miss the little snot."
"Someone else misses you too," he returned. "I was thinking that we could go home at Christmas time. Do the zoo thing, and pick Maya up. Bring her back here with us."
"Yeah," Jared nodded. "I miss that little brat too."
Jensen suddenly laughed aloud. "She's a brat because you spoil her, Jay."
"Oh, and you haven't had a hand in spoiling her in the least."
"No," he returned. "I'm the sensible one."
It was Jared's turn to laugh, rocking the bed slightly as he did. "My ass," he argued.
Jensen chuckled with him, his head still propped up in his hand. "Does your ass want action tonight?"
"Hell, yeah."
"Then shut up and kiss me, already."
"You're awful pushy, but okay." He wrapped his arms around Jensen, pulling him into a hot, wet kiss. He felt the man's body form to his own, almost melting into him, and his heart started to race. Jensen's hands crept under the hem of the tight black polo shirt, brushing up against warm, inked skin, tracing the lines of muscle. His jeans were undone, pulled open enough to let Jensen's hand slip inside, stroking soft skin that was hardening quickly.
A sound escaped Jared. He flexed his hips, pushing up into Jensen's hand, his own hand sliding down to grasp at the crotch of his jeans. Jensen had the ability to make him come undone much too quickly, but he loved it. No one else could do that to him, even through all of his years of experience. Jensen just did something to him that he couldn't explain. Chills flashed across Jared's skin, as he deepened the kiss.
Jared tasted like orange juice and coffee. A strange combination, but Jensen liked it. He felt hot, muscles hard, skin soft. Even just the smell of him was intoxicating. Jensen wished he could tell Jared just how much he affected him. He nipped at Jared's bottom lip, liking the erotic sound the man made when he did so.
Jensen was suddenly gone and Jared let his mouth fall open, breathing deeply and evenly. He felt hot, wet kisses pressed against his belly, felt his jeans being tugged on, lowered. Jared raised his hips and helped, threading his fingers through Jensen's short locks as his cock disappeared into the man's mouth. He raised his head to watch for a few strokes, then leaned back and let Jensen work his magic. He arched slightly when he felt a gentle scrape of teeth, and then suction. Jensen didn't stay long, setting him free and moving up Jared's body. He pushed the polo shirt up to nip and Jared's nipple rings, then pulled him into a sitting position.
"Time to take this off," he said, smiling down at Jared.
Jared raised his arms and let Jensen peel the tight shirt off. It was thrown to the floor, forgotten about as they kissed, their arms tight around each other.
NEXT
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