Shadow Brook
Title: Shadow Brook Part 2
Authors: deansdarkdream &
micamonroe
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Warnings: slash, possession, illness, abusive behavior, angst
Disclaimer: We don't own Jared, Jensen, Misha, Christian, Jake or anyone else.
Summary: Jared Padalecki brought his partner, Jensen Ackles to his ancestral estate, Shadow Brook as the time grew near to claim it. Jared was rightful heir to the horse breeding and training business that had been in his family for generations. They weren't at Shadow Brook long when Jared started to change. He seemed to become possessed by the spirit of his ancestor, Tristan Padalecki. Jensen must unravel the mystery of Shadow Brook before he loses Jared to the past forever.
A/N: The mystery deepens at Shadow Brook.
Shadow Brook
Part Two
Jared walked into the dining room and started to greet his guests when Katie got up from the table and threw herself into his arms. “Jared! When I heard you were here at Shadow Brook to claim your birth right, I had to come and see you. Imagine my surprise when I heard you had brought your partner here. I hope his presence isn't making the transition harder for you. You know I'm here to help you in any way I can.” Katie said as she pressed her body against Jared and held on tight.
Jared firmly pulled Katie's arms from around his neck and stepped away from her. “I can assure you that having Jensen by my side makes all aspects of my life better.” He stepped over to Jensen who stood up beside him. Jared put his arms around Jensen and gave him a loving kiss as Edna and Katie both gasped. “When I've gotten caught up with my work here, Jensen and I will have a party and introduce everyone properly to the Lords of Shadow Brook.” Jared said with a smile as he kept Jensen held close to his side.
“Is your cousin, Adam, going to stay on after the transition is complete?” Ken asked.
“Adam has done a great job managing Shadow Brook these past few months. I have asked him to stay on as operations manager. He's a great assest and always welcome here.” Jared replied.
“I look forward to riding with you, Adam and Christian like we did when you spent your summers here as a boy. I've missed you, old friend.” Ken said with a warm smile.
“Jensen will join us now. I want him to know and love the land here as much as I do.” Jared stated as he smile down at Jensen.
Jensen returned the smile happily. He was very thankful that Jared had showed up and helped him deal with their unexpected guests.
“I could take Jensen on a tour of the neighbors to help him get his bearings.” Katie offered with a small smile.
Jensen looked at the blond sharply figuring she had to have an ulterior motive for inviting him to ride with her. “I don't know. I'm not a very strong rider yet. I'd probably slow you down.” Jensen said.
“Is the new Lord of Shadow Brook seriously scared to take a ride around his land to meet the neighbors? You're going to have to grow a backbone, if you're going to survive here.” Katie remarked with her smug grin.
Jared started to reply, but Jensen cut him off with a terse. “I'll go.”
“I'll be here tomorrow at 2:00. Now I must rush, I've got lots to do. See you soon, Jared.” Katie said as she gave him a beautiful smile before turning to leave.
“We really must be going too. We'll be waiting for that party invitation, Jared. I trust you won't disappoint us.” Edna said pointedly as she rose to leave.
Ken stood and shook Jensen's hand and hugged Jared. “It was really good to see both of you. I hope we'll all go out riding together soon.”
“We will.” Jared assured him and they said their goodbyes to everyone.
When all the neighbors were gone and Misha had headed out of the kitchen, Jensen turned to Jared. “Thanks for coming to my rescue. Katie and Edna were a bit abrasive. I don't think they approve of me being your partner here at Shadow Brook.”
“I don't care what they think. I love you, Jense and I'm damn proud to have you by my side.” Jared declared as he looked down into Jensen's deep green eyes.
“I love you too, Jay.” Jensen said and started to lean up and kiss him.
Jared's cell phone rang and broke the moment. “Sorry Jense, it's about a new stallion for the breeding program. I have to take this. We'll resume this later.” Jared promised as he trailed his finger down Jensen's cheek before turning away to take the call.
Jensen couldn't stop thinking about the story of Tristan and Ross. He made his way up to the attic and walked over to the locked door. Ti was following at his heels curious as to what Jensen was going to do. Jensen wondered why Jared had lied and told him this room was a classroom. He tried the door, but it was locked. Jensen thought about Ross being locked in that room for weeks crying and begging for help. He could picture the homesick young man yearning for his family that he'd been taken from. Had Tristan Padalecki really forced Ross to stay with him? Jensen started to wonder through the attic with Ti right beside him. He looked through some old luggage and trunks hoping to find an old journal or something that would tell him more about Tristan and Ross.
“Jensen!” Jared called from below.
Jensen heard him and looked down at Ti. “Jared is looking for me. We'd better get downstairs.” Jensen hurried down the stairway to the second floor. He saw Jared in the hallway. “I'm here, Jay!” He called out.
“I got done with my business and I couldn't find you. Where did you get off to?” Jared asked as he walked up close to Jensen.
“I was just exploring the house a bit with Ti. I wanted to get familiar with it.” Jensen replied.
Ti meowed beside his feet and Jared bent down to pet the green eyed tabby cat.
“Thanks for keeping him safe, Ti.” Jared said and Ti purred happily at the attention.
When Jared stood up, he pulled Jensen tight against him and kissed him passionately. Jensen melted against Jared's broad muscular chest. It seemed like forever since Jared had touched him like this. Jensen opened his mouth and invited Jared to taste him. Their tongues danced together as their hands moved with familiar ease over each other's hard bodies. Jensen needed this reassurance that Jared still desired him. He had been worried that the fire between them had been dampened by the events at Shadow Brook. Jared's large hands moved down to cup Jensen's pert behind and press their hips together. Jensen felt how hard Jared was against him and moaned into the kiss. Jared pulled away and looked down at Jensen with lust darkened eyes. Then, he picked Jensen up in his arms and began to carry him down the hall towards his bedroom. Jensen was nuzzling Jared's neck when he heard, Misha's panicked sounding voice.
“Jensen, I need to talk to you! Please! It's important!” Misha sounded very upset.
Jared stopped walking and set Jensen down on his feet. “It seems your friend needs you. We'll get back to this later.” Jared said and kissed Jensen one last time before nodding to Misha and walking away.
Jensen was very disappointed to have his moment with Jared ruined, but he was worried about Misha. His friend looked very pale and upset. Jensen walked over and hugged the ebony haired man. “What happened, Mish?” He asked gently as he pulled back.
Misha looked around anxiously before he answered. “Let's go down to the kitchen. I'll feel safer there.” He said.
Jensen followed Misha down to the kitchen and made them both a cup of tea. They sat side by side at the table. “Alright, tell me what happened.”
'About an hour ago, I came back from my riding lesson with Chris. I was looking for you so I went to your room. You weren't there so I started to walk towards the stairs when I heard footsteps. I turned and saw someone walking boldly up to your bedroom door. He had on a long black cloak over his clothes with a hood covering his head. I could tell he was wearing tall black riding boots. He was tall and broad shouldered like Jared. When he got to your bedroom door, he looked at me and snarled like a wild beast! I knew you weren't in there so I just took off running. I came back downstairs and tried to find you or Jared. I was so scared, Jensen! I started to wonder if he was the ghost of Tristan Padalecki! Maybe he's haunting Shadow Brook and driving poor Jared to madness!” Misha's blue eyes were huge and his hand was trembling as he raised his tea cup to his lips.
Jensen's body was rigid with tension. Ti jumped into his lap and Jensen began to pet him automatically. The contact with his beloved pet helped him to focus his thoughts and calm his nerves. Who would dress up like that and go to his bedroom? If it was Jared, then he was more disturbed than Jensen had thought.
“I think Shadow Brook is a dangerous place for all of us. There are buried secrets here and people who want us to leave this place. Maybe we should go, Jensen, before something terrible happens.” Misha said as he stared at his best friend beseechingly. He was genuinely worried that none of them were safe in Shadow Brook.
“Jared won't leave here and I can't leave him. I can suggest he see a doctor. Maybe that would help him.” Jensen said as he put his hand comfortingly over Misha's.
“Do you mean a psychiatrist?” Misha asked.
“Yes.” Jensen said and felt a sharp pain lance through his heart. He had convinced himself and Misha that Jared's erratic behavior had been due to the stress of taking the reins here. He had been convinced that with enough time and tender loving care, Jared would be back to his normal self. Now it seemed that Jared might be mentally ill if he was dressing up as his ancestor and roaming the halls of Shadow Brook. He suddenly felt the need to find Jared and ask him some questions. “I'm going to talk to Jared and see if I can find out what's going on here. I'll see you at dinner. Okay, Mish?”
He stood and Misha got up and hugged him tight. “I'm hoping it is a ghost and Jared isn't sick. I want you and Jared to be happy together.” Misha said sincerely.
“Thank you, Mish.” Jensen said softly, then pulled away to go looking for Jared.
Jensen began his search for Jared with the long main hallway on the first floor. He walked past the library, the parlor and was walking towards Jared's office when he heard voices. Jensen stopped close to the door and listened for a moment.
“I need time to work the new stallion. With my current schedule, I won't be able to put the proper time in on him.” Chris stated.
“You're right. I'm going to speak with Jared about hiring another stable hand to take some of the pressure of you. That will give you more time training which is what you're brilliant at.” Jake replied.
“The sooner he or she could start, the better.” Chris said.
Jensen knocked on the door and walked in. “Sorry to interrupt. I was looking for Jared. Have you seen him?”
“It's been a couple of hours since we spoke about the new stallion. He didn't say where he was going when he left me.” Adam replied.
“I haven't seen him since this morning. Is there something wrong, Jensen? Do you need our help?” Chris asked looking at Jensen with concern. He knew that Jared had been acting strangely lately. He wanted to help Jensen, if he could.
“No, nothings wrong. It's just that I seem to see Jared so rarely since he's so busy here. I was merely seeking out his company.” Jensen answered with a small smile at the two men.
“I heard you had some hostile visitors earlier today. Edna and Katie are hard headed women. They have lived in this area all their lives and feel they rule the place. Katie has always believed she would marry Jared and run Shadow Brook at his side. She wasn't pleased when he brought you here.” Adam said as he gave Jensen a compassionate smile.
“Were Jared and Katie actually a couple?” Jensen asked looking a little horrified at the thought.
“God, no! She just wanted to be the queen bee around here. Jared was kind to her, but was never interested in her as a lover or partner. You have nothing to worry about there. It's obvious to all of us that you and Jared are perfect together.” Chris gave Jensen an encouraging smile.
“Thanks, Chris. I'm glad there are a few people who like me here at Shadow Brook. Now, I'm going to go find my man!” Jensen said with a smile as he left the room to a chorus of goodbyes from Chris and Jake.
Jensen took the stairs to the second level two at a time. He called out Jared's name a couple of times as he headed towards his lover's bedroom. Jensen really wanted to finish what he and Jared had started before Misha had interrupted. Maybe a little sexual healing would bring Jared around. Jensen smiled mischievously as he approached Jared's bedroom door. “Jay!” Jensen called out, then he turned the doorknob. He walked in and was disappointed that Jared wasn't there waiting for him. Jensen looked around the room and noticed that the door to the large closet was partially open. He walked over and looked inside. Jensen's eyes flew wide when he saw the black hooded cloak hanging on the back of the door. Jensen's hands grasped the thick coarse material to assure himself that it was real. “Oh, Jared. What have you done?” Jensen said in a trembling voice as he hugged his arms around himself and cried.
Shadow Brook Part 3
