smoke & lightning: city of angels (17/?)
Title: Smoke & Lightning : City Of Angels (17/?)
Authors: eviltwin and bloody_adorable
Fandoms: Supernatural RPS AU
Pairing: Jensen Ackles / Jared Padalecki.
Wordcount: 4,196
Rating: Adult.
Summary: Jared finally gets to go home, but not before one mystery is nearly solved.
Disclaimer: None of the following is true in any way, and no profit is made from this work of fiction.
MASTER POST
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The following weeks were much like the previous one. Lynn and Johnny hadn't been able to fly out and Jensen had persuaded Chris to go home instead, to be with them rather than him. Jensen spent as much time at the hospital with Jared as he could. He returned to his duties, but made it quite clear that if he was called to Jared's side, he would rush there. A few fellow doctors had an issue with that, feeling that Jensen was being favored by the Board. And while he still didn't really like to rock the boat, Jensen spoke up for himself, assuring them that there was no favoritism. As Jared had told him, Jensen just knew that if he lost the job there in LA, there was another place for him back home.
He didn't want to lose his position though. He adored the majority of his patients. Sometimes there was a hypochondriac parent or two that badgered a doctor endlessly, or a parent without social skills, but overall Jensen was happy.
And even from his hospital bed, Jared was doing work. He had the bar bring over the books, receipts and a few other things to keep him occupied. He even got to order the supplies for the bar. He felt useful, regardless of his current position. He still went to Physical Therapy, and bitched about it the whole time. He still took the pain meds, though he complained all the while about not wanting to get hooked on them.
The complaints made Jensen curious. "Jay," he said one day, "you talk like you've been through something like that before."
Quickly, Jared looked back down at the laptop on his over-bed table.
"Jay," Jensen had said, this time a little more warily. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," he'd returned.
Reaching out, Jensen had closed the top of the computer and forced himself into Jared's field of vision. "Tell me why you're so worried about the pain meds."
Taking a deep breath, Jared had raked his fingers through his shaggy hair. It had grown out since the accident, but he refused to go to the barber's in the basement of the hospital. He liked his regular barber to take care of him. "Alright," he grumbled. "When I was eighteen, I broke my arm in a couple of places after a bike accident."
Jensen nodded. He'd remembered seeing pictures of young Jared with a cast on his arm. "Okay."
"They gave me some pain meds," he'd shrugged. His one shoulder was still sore, but he could move it with relative ease. "I got hooked on them. For eight fucking awful months, I begged, borrowed and stole to get the pills."
Surprised, Jensen had grumbled. He knew Jared wasn't keeping secrets from him, it had just never come up in their conversations. He hated that it hadn't, only because it made him feel guilty. Like he wasn't a good partner. "Why the hell didn't you say something?" he'd asked, annoyed.
"I just did." He'd seen that those three words only made Jensen more upset. "I'm sorry, okay? Just...addiction is in my blood, Jen. I don't want to go through the shit I did with those pills. I don't think Jeff wants to go through it again either. Hell, if it hadn't been for him..."
Jensen held up a hand. "I get it," he'd nodded. He sat down on the edge of Jared's bed, looking at him. "I understand now, at least. But I don't want to hear again how addiction is in your blood."
"Jen, my real Dad was a fucking loser."
"I don't care," he had returned. "You're not his. You're Jeff's."
The declaration had made Jared smile. "And yours?"
Jensen had returned the grin, nodding his head. "And mine."
With just a few more assurances, Jared had settled down. He'd been taking his meds without complaining, and seemed happier. He still got tired out very quickly, and slept a lot. The only thing he really complained about was the food. If Jensen got him to eat some Jell-O or some soup, he was doing well. Jared hated the hospital meals and was losing weight too quickly for Jensen's liking. Of course, Jensen was pretty sure Jared was just going on a hunger strike in order to be released.
"I just want to be home, Jen," he complained. "I can do all the same stuff there as I do here. And I already talked to Helga and her House of Pain. She said they'd come to our place for Physical Therapy."
Jensen promised it would be soon. He knew, at home, Jared would at least eat better. And he'd be able to use his weights as much as physically possible. That alone would settle the man's mind.
Three weeks after they'd arrived, Jeff and Stevie decided to head home. Jared had pulled through and was well on his way to healing, and he was in capable hands. Donna and Rock had left a week earlier, quickly followed by Kenzie and Phin. Jensen had eyed his sister warily, still not convinced that she and Phin were just step-brother and sister. Just friends. He didn't bring it up, however.
Jeff and Stevie's departure was a little more emotional than the others' had been. Jensen knew it was just because they'd lived with the couple for so long. As Jeff leaned over the hospital bed, Jared clung to him a little longer than he usually did. There were words passed between them that Jensen couldn't understand. He thought, perhaps, it was the three words both men had such a difficult time uttering. Stevie embraced Jensen tightly, and Jensen was momentarily glad he wasn't made of clay, else he would have had some pretty deep Stevie-sized dents in him just then.
"Sure you don't want to stay a little longer?" Jensen asked Jeff, after giving him a hug. "Jared will get out of here in a couple of days, I'm sure of it."
"We've been in your hair enough," Jeff smirked.
"Stop," Jensen chuckled. "I couldn't have done any of this without you guys."
"Yes, you could have," he nodded. "You're stronger than you think, Jensen."
He could only smile gratefully.
They said good-bye and made Jared and Jensen think about going home for a visit around Christmas time, providing they could swing it. Jared told them they would make sure they could.
And then they were gone. The room seemed empty and quiet. Jensen and Jared remained in limbo for a few minutes, trying to get used to the feeling of no family around them again.
"I don't like it," Jensen said, breaking the silence.
Jared turned towards him. "Don't like what?"
"It's too quiet," he returned. "Don't you think?"
"I think I have to take a piss," he said back to him. "Come over and help me out of this damn bed."
The hospital staff had installed a triangle gymnast ring, something like what was on a children's playground. It was attached to a short chain, which was in turn attached to a metal pole, supported by the bed frame. With this contraption, Jared was able to lift himself up for short periods of time. At first, it had hurt to do it, but after awhile, Jared was able to haul himself up off the mattress for short periods of time, giving the nurses enough time to quickly change the sheets on the bed.
Now, Jared used the triangle ring to move himself towards the edge of the mattress. Jensen helped him, gently lowering Jared's broken leg down to the floor. Jared started to hiss at the cold tile upon his bare feet, but quickly broke off the complaint, knowing very well Jensen would remind him that he fought to not wear the hospital socks, so he should just hush.
Jared was still hooked up to a couple of IVs, just medications really. But the tubes got tangled in the blankets, on the metal railings of the bed. "Hold on," Jensen advised. "You're caught up."
Balancing on his one good leg, Jared bounced around in a circle until he was facing Jensen. He was also turned more towards the doorway, and movement caught his attention. Thinking that Jeff or Stevie had come back for some reason, he leaned to the side just slightly, to get a better look.
The figure in the small glass panel in the door moved away, not letting Jared get a really good look. He still had caught a glimpse, and what he had seen concerned him.
"Did you see that?"
Stepping closer with the extra cording to the IV, Jensen looked up at Jared. "See what?"
Still staring at the doorway, Jared's brow was furrowed. "That looked like my Dad," he explained.
Jensen followed his gaze, but saw no one there. "Your Dad?" he repeated. "Like..."
Jared nodded. "My loser, wife-and-child-beating father?"
It was quiet for a moment, as Jensen searched for something to say. "Well, I'm sure it wasn't," he finally spoke. "I mean, what would he be doing here?"
Jared didn't seem convinced, or even the slightest bit more at ease about the whole thing. He eyed the door a few seconds longer, mumbling an, "I don't know," to Jensen before tearing his gaze away and heading for the restroom.
* * *
He felt like he was on his way to see an old friend. One that he had thought of too many times, and missed terribly. The swim trunks snapped against his waist, clinging to the form that he used to hate before Jared came along. Now, he thought he wasn't too bad. At least, not as bad as Doug used to make him out to be.
As he walked out to the pool, Jensen smiled. He felt silly smiling a greeting to a pool, but he felt like he had neglected this relationship most of all. He'd managed to spend time with Matty, to do his work, and still keep up with Jared, but it was all getting to him. Late last night, Jared had made him promise to go swimming. It was a stress reliever and Jensen needed that.
"Jay, I don't have time," Jensen had told him.
"Then you'll fucking make time," he returned.
Jensen had sighed then, staring at him.
"I'm serious, Jen," Jared had continued. "Go now, go to bed, get up early, and come in to swim. I want to smell chlorine on you the next time I see you."
He'd smiled, chuckling softly. "And if you don't?"
Jared hadn't returned the smile, instead shrugging his shoulders. There was a twinkle in his eyes, though, that told Jensen he was amused. "I could probably still kick your ass."
That made Jensen chuckle and agree to take a break from his busy schedule. He was at the pool just as it opened in the hospital gym. Only the lifeguard was there with him. She sat atop her chair, reading a book, knowing very well that she didn't have to lifeguard Jensen. She looked up, waved and smiled, then went back to her book.
After donning his goggles, Jensen stretched his arms and dove into the water like a pro. He swam underwater for a good length, and then emerged. He took even, measured breaths, long strokes and glided through the water, just like when he was a kid. It felt fantastic to be back. After a good many laps, he turned over on his back and did more laps that way. By the time he was done, he was breathing hard, but every one of his muscles was tired in a good way.
Jensen took a quick shower and dressed for the day in a long sleeve shirt underneath his scrubs. He clipped his nametag to his uniform and stuffed the rest of his things in a duffel bag. He'd stow the bag in his office and head down to the OR. He was needed there in twenty-five minutes, if he remembered his schedule correctly. As he was getting ready, he got a text message on his phone. The OR opened earlier than planned, he was to report for the surgery he was assisting with pronto.
He was out of the OR well after noon. Having missed lunch, Jensen didn't really feel hungry, so he opted to run over to the coffee shop again. A doughnut would put a smile on Jared's face, he was almost sure. He got two coffees and a couple of really fattening doughnuts, and then headed back over to the hospital. It didn't take long. Traffic wasn't too bad today, and he made it back in record time. His attention was diverted however, when, as he stepped up on the curb, he recognized the car sitting there. He stopped, staring at it. He easily recalled the license plates and stickers. It was the same car that both he and Jared had seen lurking outside their apartment. He wondered, for a moment, if he should call the police. This was getting crazy.
But, it could very well be that someone else had rented the car. Who's to say that it was the same person that had been following them before?
Shaking his head, Jensen moved through the hospital sliding glass doors and up to Jared's floor.
"Hey," he greeted, stepping into the room.
Jared put a Harley magazine down. "Hey," he returned. He crooked a finger at Jensen. "Come here."
Jensen smiled, knowing very well it wasn't the coffee Jared wanted. He complied, stepping closer and leaning down to the man. He felt Jared's nose slip behind his ear, nuzzling, and heard him breathe deep.
"You smell like chlorine," Jared noted.
"Yes, I do," he grinned, straightening. "Now you don't have to kick my ass."
"Excellent. Now give me my coffee."
Jensen chuckled and handed over one of the Styrofoam cups of coffee. "And a snack."
Jared practically tore into the bag. He quickly fished out the sour cream doughnut and jammed it between his teeth, taking a hunk off of it. "Dear God, this is better than sex."
That made Jensen laugh even louder. "Is it now?" he almost dared.
Jared saw the twinkle in Jensen's eyes. "Not better than our sex," he corrected himself.
"Good save." Jensen sat on the edge of Jared's bed, resting both his coffee and the bag of doughnuts on the over-bed table. "Has PT come to get you yet?"
"Ugh, yes," Jared said through a mouthful of doughnut. "God, I hate those people."
"You just hate them because they're making you work."
Jared swallowed the last of his doughnut and tongued his teeth, raising the coffee to his lips. "You could make me work and I wouldn't complain."
Smiling brightly, Jensen winked. "You're feeling better."
Jared moved to set the cup of coffee on the over-bed table. "Yes, I am," he agreed. "Now come give me a kiss."
Grinning even more than before, Jensen inched closer and leaned in to him. The kiss was soft and gentle, both opening their mouths just enough to taste the sugar and caffeine on each other's tongues. Jensen tried to ignore his quickening heartbeat. Now wasn't the time or the place to make a move on Jared. But damn if the thought hadn't entered his mind. He tried to be careful of the cut on Jared's lip, of the bruises and wounds everywhere on the man.
The thought apparently entered Jared's mind too, though that was hardly surprising. Sex is what made his world go 'round. He reached up and held Jensen in the kiss, deepening it with a gentle scrape of teeth and a breathy moan. He felt Jensen shifting, turning so that he could reach him easier. Eyes closed, he nosed Jensen's head aside, pulling him in so that he could nip at the man's throat and ear.
Jensen's eyes rolled into the back of his head, his jaw going slack at the feel of Jared's mouth on him. He wanted to pull him in harder, get Jared to bite him because it felt so damn good. He shouldn't be doing this. What if someone walked in on them? Yet, contrary to his worries, one hand was threaded through Jared's longish hair, while the other had somehow found its way down underneath both the covers and Jared's shorts, fingers curling around the man's cock, stroking up and down his full length.
Jared moaned into his ear, saying his name and how much he missed him. He didn't tell him that it had scared him, how close he'd come to never ever being able to do this. To touch Jensen, to love him.
Jensen spoke back to him, breathy tones, that said they should stop. They could get into trouble.
Maybe that's why neither of them cared to stop. The possibility of getting caught had turned them on far too much to turn back now.
Jared reached down with one hand and helped Jensen stroke him. His other hand slithered down along Jensen's stomach and curled around the bulge in the man's scrub pants. He squeezed, but Jensen apparently didn't want to have to worry about changing, cleaning up, because he took Jared's hand away, interlocking their fingers on that hand.
Letting his head fall back, Jared closed his eyes and helped Jensen stroke him faster, harder. Jensen took advantage of his exposed throat and kissed the column there, the line of muscle that moved with each heavy breath Jared took, each moan he made.
It hurt when all of his muscles tensed, but the feeling of bliss that crashed over him, covering him in warmth and chills at the same time, well overpowered the ache in his bones. Jared shuddered, his mouth open wide in a silent, desperate moan. He felt Jensen try to let go of him with his free hand, but he found it difficult to unlock their fingers. He turned and looked at the man instead, suddenly rushed at with a passionate kiss.
Still breathing heavy, Jared reached up with one hand, the other still at his cock, touching Jensen's fingers there, and held Jensen in the hungry, needful kiss. That had been what he’d needed, that closeness, that feeling that only Jensen could ever give him.
Foreheads pressed together, both of them took deep, calming breaths, blinking their eyes hard and swallowing against dry throats.
"I missed you," Jensen finally spoke, his voice almost scratchy.
Jared tried to tell him the same thing, but all he could do was look into Jensen's eyes, hoping that the man could read there everything he wanted to say. After a few moments, he reached up and wrapped both arms around Jensen, wincing in pain. The hurt was worth it, to feel Jensen in his arms again.
* * *
Sure enough, two days later, Jensen took the day off in order to get Jared home and settled. He wasn't around Jared much in the morning, trying to get physical therapy and a home care nurse scheduled. Both of them would show up for just a little while every day -- the nurse would stay longer -- but at least Jared wouldn't be alone constantly. And he'd have his XBox 360, movies, weights, and Maya to keep him company the rest of the time.
Jensen returned to Jared's hospital room in time to hear him saying, "I'm not a goddamn invalid."
The nurse that was there did not look pleased. She had both hands on her hips and sighed, gazing at Jensen with a look that silently screamed help me! Jensen smiled and stepped closer to Jared's bed. "What's going on? Are you ready, or what?"
"So fucking ready," Jared grumbled. "Tell her I'm not using that damn thing."
Jensen looked down to where Jared motioned. The wheelchair had seen better days, but it was sturdy enough to hold all of Jared's waning two-hundred-twenty pounds of muscle. He knew that it was Jared's pride holding him back. He smiled and nodded at the nurse. "I'll get him in the chair," he assured her. "We'll meet you out at the desk."
She didn't argue with him, heaving another sigh and shaking her head at Jared as she headed out the door. She left the entryway open for them, anticipating their arrival at the front desk. Jared watched her go, glaring daggers. His gaze drifted up to Jensen and the look melted away. "What?"
"Don't 'what' me," Jensen said, with an amused tone. "Why are you being difficult?"
"Giving them one last hurrah?"
Sitting down beside him on the bed, Jensen reached out and brushed Jared's shaggy hair back away from his face. "What's going on?" he asked. "Why don't you want to get in the wheelchair? You know it's regulations."
"Because I worked damn hard to get out of one of those," he said. "I can walk just fine with my crutches."
"No one's saying you can't," Jensen said. He was actually kind of tired of explaining everything to Jared, like he was his child, instead of his partner. "Come on. Get in, and the nurse will wheel you out and we can get the hell out of here."
This time, Jared was the one to heave a sigh. "I just don't understand why the hell you made me go through all that shit, if I'm just going to be wheeled out anyway."
Jensen didn't answer him, instead chuckling almost silently. He helped Jared into the chair, propped his leg up and rested the crutches between Jared's legs. Once settled, they headed out of the room. Before they could get very far, however, a shadow blocked their path. Both Jared and Jensen looked up, neither of them really expecting anyone.
The happy look on Jensen's face melted away, leaving one of confusion. Jared's own amused expression instantly vanished. He stiffened in the chair and his jaw clenched.
"Jared," the man spoke.
Jensen looked from the newcomer, down to his partner, then back again. "Can we help you?"
The man was tall, bearded, wearing a long, dirty overcoat. His boots were unlaced, and his jeans had paint splatters upon them. Jensen wondered if he was homeless.
"Hello, son," the man said, not taking his eyes off of Jared.
Instantly, Jensen's look of confusion changed to one of surprise. Jared had been right. Blinking in shock, Jensen's gaze fell to what was in the man's hands. A set of keys dangled there, with the rental car logo on the keychain.
"What the fuck do you want?" Jared finally managed.
"Are you alright?"
"You've lost the right to ask me that," he snarled.
Jensen noticed that Jared's words were spoken through a tense jaw, almost growled out. He looked back over at the man in the doorway. He saw it then, the resemblance that Jared had to the man. The same eyes, the same lean build, a similar shaped mouth. But the rest of Jared was from his mother.
As if reading Jensen's mind, the man spoke about the woman. "I heard about your Mom," he said. "I'm so sorry, Jared."
"Sorry she died?" he bit angrily. "Or, just sorry that, if you'd stayed, you would've had one less punching-bag?"
Jensen felt like he should say something, while another part of him realized that perhaps this was something Jared needed to do on his own. He remained where he was, keeping a watchful eye on the two of them.
"I'm in rehab now," the man said.
"Good for you." His words were sharp, uncaring.
The man continued, as if he hadn't even heard Jared. "I'm doing the twelve steps, y'know? I'm to the part where I have to apologize to all the people I've hurt."
"Hell of a long list," Jared grumbled.
"So, when I heard that you were here in this hospital, it was like a sign from God," he smiled.
Jensen shook his head. The rental car. Jensen knew, from seeing the keychain, that the man had been watching them for some time. He hadn't just happened upon them.
Jared's father smiled. "I found you and came to say I'm sorry, son."
Instantly, Jensen's words about Jeff popped into his mind. You're not his, you're Jeff's. His jaw jutted out and his chest swelled with pride. "I'm not your son," he snarled back. "I'm Jeff Morgan's son."
The man looked almost sad when he nodded his head. "I screwed up," he agreed. "I should never have let you go."
Jensen was surprised when the wheelchair moved away from him. He looked down and saw that Jared was wheeling it closer to the man. He quickly followed, grabbing hold of the handles.
Jared glared up at the man. "No," he argued. "That's one of the smartest things you ever did do." He pushed past the man, bumping up against him with the rubber wheels of the chair. As Jared met up with the discharge nurse, Jensen glanced back at the man, wanting to apologize when he saw the saddened look on the man's face. But then he remembered all of the times Jared told him about the abuse, verbal and physical, and anger welled-up inside of him. He turned one last time to look at the man, and then caught up to Jared and the nurse.
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