Shadow Brook
Title: Shadow Brook - Part 7
Authors: deansdarkdream &
micamonroe
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Warnings: slash, possession, illness, abusive behavior, angst, hurt
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: Jensen and Jared discover one of the secrets of Shadow Brook.
Shadow Brook
Part Seven
Jensen rode by the long tree shadowed brook that had given Jared's ancestral estate it's name. The brook formed a natural landmark at the back boundary of the Padalecki Equine Breeding and Training lands. Jensen brought Ebonne to a halt and just listened to the sound of the water for a few moments. It soothed his frayed nerves and calmed his mind. Jensen's hand went to his pocket unconsciously touching the gold band there. He thought about how he had felt a cold breeze in the passageway, then the exit had been revealed while he and Ti looked on. If there was a ghost at Shadow Brook, it had given him Ross's ring and helped him get Jared out of the secret passage behind the walls. Jensen pushed those thoughts out of his troubled mind, pointed Ebonne towards the road and headed towards Katie's house. He didn't want to be distracted when he faced the blond shrew at her home. Jensen didn't realize it, but he was being followed on his errand as he made his way to Katie's home.
When Jensen turned Ebonne into Katie's drive, he took a long look at the large two story farm house that she had inherited from her parents. The house could do with a fresh coat of paint and the grounds needed a good cleaning up. The only place in pristine condition was the stables. As Jensen rode up to the corral, he noticed a sorrel colored thoroughbred tied there. He wondered who was visiting Katie and hoped they would be on their way soon. What he had to say to Katie needed to be said alone. Jensen dismounted and ground tied Ebonne. He petted the big black horse and slipped him a carrot. Ebonne nuzzled Jensen's hand and whickered at him softly. Jensen smiled brightly at him before turning to walk up to the house.
Jensen had only gone a couple of steps before he heard a noise in the stables. He changed direction to see if Katie was in there. Jensen walked into the stables and sensed a movement to his right. Just as he started to turn he felt a sharp pain in his head. Jensen crumpled onto the straw covered floor unconscious from the blow to the head. A tall figure in a black cloak ran out of the barn, mounted the thoroughbred and galloped away.
Ebonne watched as the tall man in a hooded cloak raced out of the barn, climbed into the saddle and dashed away. He sensed something was wrong with the gentle man who had given him the carrot. Ebonne walked into the stable and saw Jensen laying motionless on the floor. He nuzzled the man's shoulder gently and whickered at him. The man moaned softly and started to move a little. Ebonne heard a sound behind him and turned towards the doorway. He saw the blond woman who had been with them the last time his friend had been hurt. Ebonne lunged for her snapping his teeth and laying his ears back against his head.
Ti had been following Jensen and Ebonne since they left Shadow Brook. He didn't like his friend going off alone. When he saw the tall man in the black cloak leave the stable and realized Jensen didn't come out after him, Ti ran from his vantage point across the road to see what was going on. He arrived in time to watch as Ebonne forced Katie out of the stable. Ti raced past them and went to Jensen who was struggling to come back to consciousness. Ti rubbed his cheek against Jensen's and meowed encouragement.
“Get away from me, you big black devil!” Katie yelled as she backed away from Ebonne's gnashing teeth.
When Ebonne had her several feet from Jensen, he stopped advancing and watched Katie with keen eyes. Ti was still in the stable meowing to Jensen who was opening his eyes and looking around trying to figure out what had happened. He sat up and the world seemed to swim out of focus. A sharp lightening bolt of pain lanced his head and he groaned. Jensen lifted up his hand and felt a bloody place over his left ear. A knot was already forming from the blow he'd received. Now, Jensen remembered, he had heard a noise in the stable. When he came in to see if it was Katie, he had been hit on the head. Jensen petted Ti for a moment while the world came back into focus. He carefully rose to his feet and walked out into the sun. He stopped when he saw Ebonne facing off with Katie by the corral.
“Would you call off this big brute? He won't let me pass!” Katie yelled when Jensen walked out of the stable.
Jensen walked up beside Ebonne's head and petted him. Ti had followed his friend and was sitting by Jensen's boot clad feet. “Who was visiting you, Katie? I saw his horse tied at the corral.” Jensen asked as he kept his eyes on the blond.
“You're bleeding! Did you fall off your horse again? I think you should give up riding. Obviously, you aren't suited for it. What are you doing here anyway? Don't you have a ghost to catch?” Katie said all in a rush.
Jensen's jaw tightened, his eyes darkened and he took a menacing step towards Katie. “I'm going to ask you one more time, then I'm going to turn Ebonne loose on you. Who was visiting you? He was riding a sorrel thoroughbred.” Jensen wasn't an aggressive man by nature, but Katie was threatening his future with Jared and he would not tolerate it.
“I don't know what you're talking about. I've spent the entire morning on the phone with Briarwood farms trying to broker a deal for two brood mares from their Arabian stock. You can call Paul Miller, the owner, and ask him. If there was someone here, he didn't come to the house and visit me.” Katie stated.
Jensen looked at her hard. He believed her, but what did that mean? Who had been here? “Alright so he didn't visit you, but do you know someone in the area who has a horse like that?” Jensen asked.
“I could name a dozen just off the top of my head. Now, what are you doing here besides falling down again?” Katie taunted Jensen.
“I'm here to tell you that I'm not leaving. Jared and I are going to be managing Shadow Brook together. We aren't going to crumble under the pressure of those who are trying to destroy us. In fact, all of this has made us stronger. Jared and I are a team. We are partners in every sense of the word. You can keep playing your power games, but you won't win. We are the Lords of Shadow Brook. Resign yourself to it.” Jensen declared, then he hopped into the saddle and turned Ebonne back down the road. Ti followed close behind glad that his friend had put Katie on notice.
Katie watched him leave and she trembled with fury. Jensen was a lot tougher than she had given him credit for. It might be time for Jensen to meet with an untimely demise. That would send Jared spiraling into a depression from which he might not return and Shadow Brook would be up for grabs for the man or woman strong enough to claim it. Katie pulled out her cell phone and made a call to set the plan in motion.
Even though Ebonne had a smooth gait, each step sent a bolt of pain through Jensen's head. Going through the fields lessoned the jolting as Jensen, Ebonne and Ti made their way back to Shadow Brook. When Jensen arrived at the stable, Chris came out to greet him. Jensen slid off Ebonne and Chris saw the blood on the side of his head staining his blond hair.
“Jensen, you're bleeding! What happened?” Chris asked as moved closer to inspect the wound.
“I went to Katie's house and someone ambushed me in the stable. Whoever it was, clocked me upside the head then ran. He had a sorrel thoroughbred. I didn't get a good look at him.” Jensen explained as Chris examined the wound.
Chris called for a groom to take care of putting Ebonne away and walked with Jensen into the kitchen entrance of Shadow Brook. Clara looked up when they came in and gasped.
“What happened?” She asked as she washed her hands and grabbed a first aid kit out of the cabinet.
“Jensen rode over to Katie's house and someone attacked him in her stable. He didn't get a look at the person, but they were riding a sorrel thoroughbred.” Chris said as he sat Jensen down at the kitchen table.
Misha was in the doorway and rushed forward to sit by Jensen. “Jen, are you okay?” He asked looking like he was going to cry.
Jensen put his hand over Misha's. “I'm okay, Misha. It's just a little knot and some blood. No permanent harm done. I just wish I'd gotten a look at the guy.” Jensen stated as Clara began to clean the wound.
“I'm going to call Jared and let him know what's happened.” Chris said as he got out his phone.
“Don't do that. I'm fine and I don't want him to be worrying about me. Jared has got too much weighing on his mind already.” Jensen said.
“Alright, I won't call him, but he won't be happy when he gets back and sees you like this.” Chris said as he met Jensen's determined eyes.
“I'll deal with him. Thanks for helping me Chris.” Jensen replied.
“You're in good hands here.” Chris said with a smile to Misha. “I've got a lot of work to do. I'm going to head back out to the training arena. If you need anything, call me.”
Jensen and Misha said goodbye to Chris and watched him walk out the door.
“You don't need stitches. It's just a little cut but that knot is gonna be sore for a few days.” Clara said as she finished cleaning Jensen's head wound.
“Thanks, Clara. You're a treasure!” Jensen said with a bright grin even though his head was still throbbing.
“You're very welcome, Jensen. You should know that most of us here at Shadow Brook have taken quite a shine to you. We want you and Jared to be happy here.” Clara said as she returned Jensen's smile.
“I want that too.” Jensen replied a bit wistfully as Clara went back to her kitchen duties.
“I'm not letting you take off riding alone anymore. My nerves can't take it, Jen! I'll go with you, if you want to explore the countryside.” Misha stated with a determined look.
“You won't get an argument from me on that. Next time I go out, I want you right there beside me.” Jensen said and squeezed his best friend's hand. “Right now, I'm going to go up to my room and rest a bit. I feel exhausted. I'll see you tonight at dinner.”
“See ya then.” Misha said and hugged Jensen. When Jensen had gone, Misha left the house to go talk to Chris. He wanted to know if Chris had any idea who owned the sorrel horse that Jensen had seen at Katie's before he was attacked.
Ti followed Misha out to the barn. He wanted to listen in on the blue eyed man's conversation with the horse trainer. Ti wondered if Chris knew more about the incident than he had let on. He hoped that wasn't true. Ti liked Chris and Misha and didn't want them to be involved in the plot against Jensen and Jared.
Jensen went up to his bed room, took off his riding habit and pulled on pajama pants and an old t-shirt. He wanted to be comfortable as he rested. Jensen put in his ear buds and fired up his iPod. It only took a few minutes for him to fall into an exhausted sleep.
The panel opened in the wall of Jensen's bedroom. A tall figure in a black cloak pushed the antique wardrobe out of the way of the opening and stepped into the room. The figure stopped for a moment and looked down at Jensen's sleeping form. He hadn't wanted to kill Jensen, but it seemed that was the only way to drive Jared out of Shadow Brook. The tall figure moved forward and lifted Jensen off the bed into his arms. The smaller man was soft and warm and only stirred a little. The figure carried Jensen into the passageway and used his booted foot to press the lever and close the opening. When the tall man stepped out into the attic, he looked at the open door to the room that many believed Tristan Padalecki had kept his lover, Ross, prisoner in. The tall man carried Jensen into the room, set him down gently on the hardwood floor and leaned him back against the wall. He closed the door behind him as Jensen began to stir. The man tied Jensen's hands behind him, blindfolded him and gagged him as the smaller man struggled with him.
Jensen was completely panicked. He couldn't see or speak and his hands were tied tightly behind his back. He could feel the other presence in the room with him and he was afraid. This was the man who had been impersonating Tristan Padalecki. This man was dangerous. Jensen tried to calm his breathing. Maybe he would be able to reason with the man if he could just get the gag off.
The tall man took the deadly sharp hunting knife off his belt. He was glad he had covered Jensen's eyes, not just to mask his identity. The man didn't want to see Jensen's bright green eyes when he stuck the knife in.
To Be Continued