You Forget To Breathe - Part 1 of 2
Title : You Forget To Breathe
Rating : NC-17
Pairing : Jensen/Jared and canon Twilight couples.
Word Count : 17.5kish. (Posted in two parts.) *Not including Always a Cowboy and Epilogue of sorts.
Summary : When police officer Jared Padalecki moved to the small town of Forks he never expected to meet someone like Dr. Jensen Cullen. As it turns out, he's in for a hell of a surprise... or two.
Notes : For spnchallenges. A J2 take on the movie/book Twilight.
Disclaimer : Don't own. Even a bit.
It was late in December 2004 when Jared moved to Forks, Washington. The town was quiet and comfortable and reminded him of home in Texas. The biggest difference he noticed was the weather, and it hit him immediately and he suddenly missed the warmth of the San Antonio sun. There was a small coating of snow painting the grass a pristine white. He had his doubts but Harley and Sadie quickly soothed them over, tails wagging as they trotted happily through new territory.
If he looked back to his early teenage years this would've seemed silly, moving to a small town no one back in Texas had ever heard of to become a police officer. Minus the winter cold it wasn't all that bad, though. The kids were friendly and there were beaches he couldn't wait to visit in the warmer months.
Best of all, though, besides the fact that he got to bring his dogs and have his own gun, was the fact that he actually liked his coworkers. In years past as a struggling wannabe actor he'd had to work with people who weren't always friendly and didn't quite realize that their blood wasn't blue. When he came down to visit over a month ago he was able to meet to the police chief, Charlie Swan. He was a quiet but pleasant man with a friendly smile and firm handshake, all qualities Jared was raised to respect.
Sometimes Jared thought people all too often took the simple things for granted. He had a cozy home and a friendly work environment and life was good. He was happy.
The first few months were easy going. Charlie's daughter had moved to town and while Charlie always kept good control over his emotions Jared could see the stress and nervousness clearly written over the police chief's face days before she arrived.
It was towards the end of January when he first met Isabella Swan. She was much like her father who at that time was struggling to keep hold of his composure. There had been an accident at the school resulting in a Bella nearly being hit by a van. Understandably, Charlie was livid and pressed with worry, so Jared took it upon himself to take the statements of the majority of involved people.
He'd heard of the Cullen's before, passing rumors and whispers that he often closed off. Meeting Edward though he realized the thin line of truth that those stories held. He was quiet, his eyes barely meeting Jared's as he just stared over Jared's shoulder towards Bella. Jared found it hard to put two and two together in the situation, a firm hand shaped dent in the side of the van. Strength was possible but he'd never seen anything quite like that.
In the end the police office just let it roll off their shoulders; passing it off as some freak case of extreme adrenaline. Things again quieted down and it wasn't until March that Jared was again called out into the field. Someone had reported sightings of a bear and Jared was one of the few sent into the woods with just a shotgun and a flash light to see if there was any truth to the report.
His long legs were tired after walking for hours and sweat dripped like rain down his forehead. Finally, the order to come back came across the walkie-talkie and he was more than ready to go home and collapse on his couch with a bowl of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. The sun was setting as he made his way up a hill just minutes from the meeting spot where the rest of the group waited and while he'd enjoyed the sites he was both disappointed and relieved to not see any bears or even some large animal to make the trip mention worthy. Lost in his thoughts about moose and ice cream and how Sadie and Harley were holding up inside the house, he forgot to pay attention to his steps. It only took one press of his left foot on the muddy stone to slip through the mud. Jared was sent tumbling, his large frame falling ungracefully into a patch of leaves and sticks and scattered sharp edged stones.
"Shit," his Texas accent came through thick and curved as he pulled his hand back from his head. He almost immediately realized the red in his palm, sticky and bright. He cussed and groaned all the way back up the hill, phrases like 'damned rocks' and 'bear my ass' spewing sharply from his dry lips.
The group of aggravated officers soon surrounded him, questions flying from them as they took in his dirt covered uniform and a bloody splotch of hair in the back of his head.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. C'mon guys, please," he begged them as one of the older men called Charlie who sternly told Jared he had to go to the hospital whether he liked it or not. He pouted the entire ride there, his grown body undermined by the extension of his bottom lips and the puppy-dog like expression of a child that didn't get his way.
He could hear the jokes at the office already. Not only was he the 'new guy' but he was also now the 'new guy who can't walk up a hill without falling on his ass at least once'.
The cruiser pulled into the hospital parking lot and Jared found himself wishing Forks was just a little bit bigger. Charlie was waiting outside the hospital doors, uniform disheveled and eyes tired.
"Taking a nap, captain?" Jared asked, humor dancing in the corner of his voice. The sleep worn man only grunted, practically pushing Jared through the automatic doors of the hospital.
One of the nurses came to them quickly, noting the brown paper towel pressed uncomfortably to his skull. They got him in quickly, another nurse checking him over. His patience was wearing thin as she took his temperature and checked his pulse. He wanted to push her away and tell her he was fine, it was just a little bump, but of course Charlie would be sitting at the exit in case Jared decided to make any attempts at escaping.
"Dr. Jensen Cullen is on call, he'll be in shortly," the nurse said quietly before exiting and leaving him to lie there and wait.
It hadn't been long but Jared was already burning holes through the door with his glare, the bright white room giving him a slight headache. The door creaked open and a man walked in clothed in a long white coat and a name tag that told him that this was Dr. Cullen. It was only seconds between when Dr. Cullen was reading the chart to when his eyes snapped up to meet Jared's. It was just a single instant of eyes meeting and breaths lingering and then it was gone, faded like the sun on the horizon.
Jared noted the doctor's tense posture, his shoulders knotted together and face solid like a perfectly sculpted rock. The softness he'd seen in the man’s eyes had melted away and left a hard shell in its place. "Sorry for the wait, Mr. Padalecki."
"Jared," Jared corrected him, "You can call me Jared."
The doctor looked at him with a skeptical expression before nodding and turning his attention back to the chart. The silence was awkward and overwhelming and Jared found himself pushing out words he didn't know were on his tongue, "Busy today?"
"No," the answer was detached and blunt, "My daughter called, girl problems, you know."
The attempt at a joke loosened the air, a smile creeping to Jared's face and showing off his dimples. "What's her name?" Jared asked, calmer now.
The other man finally looked up, his eyes crawling over the expanse of Jared's neck and down the curve of his clothed shoulder. Goosebumps grew on Jared's tanned skin, a now nervous smile sitting patiently on his face. "Alice, her name is Alice." He paused and gathered some gauze and tape. "You got any kids?"
Jared hadn't expected the question but again like a boneless doll the tension curled up into nothing. "No, just two dogs." Dr. Cullen laughed lightly, his deep voice molding around the easy noise.
"Well, Jared, it seems you're going to need a couple stitches. The nurse said you were feeling fine but that's a pretty big cut up there so we'll get you all sewed up and on your way," Dr. Cullen moved behind Jared, needle and thread in hand.
"Relax," the doctor's voice was soothing. "So you're pretty new around here, how do you like it?" He carried on a normal conversation like he wasn't about to stitch Jared's head together like some child's stuffed animal. It was an odd comfort, the easiness, and Jared found himself forgetting the fact that he was in a hospital or what was currently being held between Dr. Cullen's thin fingers.
It was only a few stitches but Jared couldn't help but whimper as he felt the needle being pressed through and brought around again. He heard a light laugh brush against his ear with the third curve of the needle, light and playful. "Hey, I'm not deaf you know!"
The laughter grew as he heard the clink of something being set down on a metal surface. The doctor walked back around, a large smile on his almost godly face. Jared felt his breath hitch high in his chest and the slight pickup in speed of his heart.
"You're all set," the voice came out like velvet.
"Thanks, Dr. Cullen. When do I get them out?" He wasn't quite sure if the real reason he was so eager for their next appointment was to get the damned things out.
"I'll see you in about ten days," Jared got up and Dr. Cullen walked him quietly to the door, handing him a prescription in case there was any pain. Jared pushed open the door to leave, stopping when he heard Dr. Cullen calling to him.
"Oh, and Jared, you can call me Jensen."
A lot had happened in those ten days. Jared wasn't sure if it was going fast or slow but either way it was just plain agonizing. He had needed the painkillers the day after his stitches; his head had been throbbing like the wild beat of a bongo drum. More than ever he was grateful for the weekend and a soft couch and even softer pillows.
He was already feeling better the next morning and the days following were thankfully uneventful. Each day the pain in his scalp would lessen and the boys at the station became less worried and more mocking. He found himself counting down the days to what should have been the day the stitches would be removed, but it instead came out in his head as the days left until he would see Jensen again.
It was early Sunday morning and he had planned for it to be a couch-sitting-video-game-playing, lazy ass day. The phone had other plans, however, and he nearly fell out of bed when he rolled over to answer.
"Hello?" His voice was gruff and tired, the southern boy inside his words wide-awake.
The worry laced in the caller's voice made him abruptly alert like he had been splashed with a bucket of ice water.
"Yes, sir. I'll be right in," Jared answered him.
Charlie had called in, a rare occurrence for the hard working chief. He never sat in the back and watched people do things; he was always right there doing them himself. Jared was curious at what had happened, worried even, but it was obvious by the puzzled expression on his fellow officers' faces that they were just as clueless as he was.
The next day was the same and the building felt empty without Charlie there. Finally, at lunch he worked up the courage to ask one of the veterans if he knew what was going on. The man explained to him vaguely that Bella had left and something about the Cullen boy being in the mix. There was no sense to it and not once did the curious questions leave his head.
An hour or two later, he drove himself to the hospital and waited patiently. The tension he'd seen in Jensen's body before was nothing quite like what was there now. Every muscle in the doctor's body was tied together tightly and while each step was still graceful it was a type of grace that seemed more haunting than beautiful.
At first they barely spoke, just fractions of words split into quiet phrases. It was almost robotic the way they went back and forth, flat voices. Jared could barely stand being in the room, the entire surroundings just too thick and suffocating. "Are you okay?" His voice was like a gun shot in a sanctuary, booming and earth shattering.
Jensen's head snapped up, his eyes lingering on Jared. A minute passed, then another, and another. Their gazes remained interlocked, Jared's glance worried and Jensen's questioning.
"Family problems," Jensen answered just when Jared was sure he wasn't going to.
With skilled hands Jensen was able to make quick work of removing the stitches and causing only a slight twinge of pain for Jared. There was the same metal clink and Jared knew it was done but instead of walking back around Jensen stood there, his fingers curled with care in Jared's hair.
There was a deliberate inhale and exhale of warm air. It ghosted across Jared's skin and he felt his eyes close and his body lean back into those fingers. Just as fast as the moment had happened it ended and Jensen came back around front, a small smile on his pale lips. It was as if the tension had been drained and the doctor's muscles soothed over and somehow for reasons beyond his conscious mind Jared understood the intense release.
Jensen turned away and wrote something on a small slip and just as Jared was about to tell him he wasn't in any pain and didn't need any medicine he noticed just what was written on that paper in seven small and perfect digits. He didn't know when or where or even why, but he knew he would be seeing Jensen again very soon.
Jared didn't know how long he'd stared at that number, reading over each digit again and again until it was pressed so deeply in his head he could see it on the back of his eyelids with each blink. Around him officers were working, typing up papers, and chatting between themselves and despite the clicks of a keyboard and rough laughs he remained in his own world. Yesterday was the same, just staring and quiet and being so completely at peace.
He was startled when a hand came roughly on his shoulder, squeezing lightly before being gone. Hazel eyes watched Charlie pull a chair up next to him, smiling lightly. The silence was anything but awkward, just light and curious.
"You've been real quiet lately, Jared," Charlie's voice was caring and reminded Jared of his own father. "You know-," the police chief was cut off abruptly by the ringing of his cell phone.
It only took a brief instant to realize that something was wrong. Charlie's relaxed and calm posture went rigid and his face dropped in what could only be described as horror. He watched the man move his lips, the air from Charlie's throat breaking every time he tried to form words. There was a short nod before Charlie realized they couldn't see him and finally in a forced and almost boyish tone he spoke, "I'll be right there."
The older man stood and looked around the office as if he was confused or lost. "It's Bella," Jared wasn't going to ask, not now, but Charlie was going to tell him anyways, "Something happened."
It took little to convince Charlie that it was best if Jared drove him to the hospital. An officer shouldn't speed or break the laws they are paid to enforce but none of that mattered. His foot pressed on the pedal and from the corner of calculating eyes he watched a worried father trying desperately to hold himself together. It was almost painful, the violent pain behind Charlie's eyes and the shaking of hands that were usually firm and sure. Charlie was scared and that terrified Jared.
No nurse or doctor was going to keep Charlie from seeing his daughter, and by the looks on the staff's faces, they already knew it wasn't worth the effort. The waiting room was empty and dark even with the overhead lights. It was eerie to stand there and just wait and worry. He barely knew Bella and she knew even less of him but he knew Charlie and over the last few months he'd grown to look up to the chief. There was a fondness there that was hard to explain, but it was an almost brotherly protection that he felt towards Bella.
One hour and twelve minutes had passed, his eyes watching the hand move over each second. The hospital was oddly quiet beyond the tick of the clock and his impatient sighs. The clicks and squeaks of a pair of shoes caught his attention, and he stood, hands stuffed in his pocket. "Is she okay?" he asked in a rushed voice before the person even got to turn the corner.
"Jared." Honey and silk and shit why was he here again? He looked over Jensen who stood with a knowing smile. "She'll be okay. Charlie didn't want to leave her just yet but mentioned you were here so I figured I'd come and let you know." He mentally slapped himself remembering that oh yeah, that's why he was there in that damned hospital in front of the ever-gorgeous Dr. Cullen.
"Thanks, man." His voice was dry and he found the accent slipping again, a Texas curl flying through the air between them.
Jensen smiled, bright and beautiful. He had a glow to him, Jared thought, an enchanting and enticing glow that made his pale skin sparkle. Jared's eyes wandered blunt and free, and not once did the doctor's smile fade. It was comfortable and odd but mostly it was just right.
"I need to get back and check on Bella but I'll see you later?" It was a question with an answer and Jared walked forward. They were just inches apart and as he walked past their shoulders brushed, electric and burning.
Finally, after another hour of waiting, Charlie emerged in the stark white halls. The chief's face was pale, and his eyes tired with just as much worry as before.
“I told Bella you were here. She asked to see you,” Charlie's voice brings a new meaning to strength.
When Jared gets to the room he understands why Charlie is so completely on edge. Bella is wrapped in so much white. It's a mix of gauze and cast, and it barely ends to show the tip of her painted toes.
“Alice painted them.” Bella smiles when she notices the direction of Jared's glance.
He laughs, open and free. “You look like shit, Bells.”
“I could say the same, Frankenstein. Those stitches come in pink? They'd go nicely with your face.”
They've always had this connection between them. Bella had said she liked Jared's whole 'big bad cuddly bear' routine, and Jared liked her teenage angst with a hint of bitch mixed it. They got along in a completely nonsense way. Charlie had tried to understand, but after a fight about Bella going to prom and Jared offering to take her, and his gun, Charlie stopped asking questions.
They sat and talked for a while until Bella's medicine began to take a toll on her eyelids, weighing them down like rocks. “You better visit me again, Jay.”
“See you soon, Bells. Try not to break anything.”
Later at home Jared found himself remembering that feeling of Jensen. It was a quick intense throb in his heart and a clench in the deep bottom of his gut. For hours after and even at that very moment, lying alone in bed, he could still feel the surge of something a little like want and a lot like need.
Jared stared at the ceiling and just wondered curiously what it would be like to press their arms together. A surge, perhaps, and Jared could imagine himself breathless and begging in those arms. Behind his eyes he saw the picture painted in his mind, the entire length of their bodies pressed together and Jensen's lips brushing against his.
He wasn't sure when he'd slipped off his boxers or when his fingers had come to wrap firmly around his hard cock, but he didn't care. The thought alone made him moan and wither and he screamed out for Jensen, begging his imagination to let him feel more. Jared was desperate, twisting and needing more; needing Jensen in him, burning hot and fucking into Jared's willing body. The film in his head played on and finally Jensen pressed forth, inside, and Jared's entire world exploded.
Jared was panting and sweating, his hand covered in come and his mind a blur. It was all just a scene created in his head and he ached with the need to know what it would feel like to be real.
Manners and respect were two things his mother had made sure Jared knew inside and out. There were so many rules, and Jared recalled being a child and wondering if there was ever any way he could possibly remember all of them. Out of his thoughts again he thanked the lady behind the cash register and told her to have a good day, a fresh bouquet of daisies in one hand and the leftover 25 cents in the other.
He'd called Charlie that morning to check on Bella. It was obvious the other man had gotten no sleep the night before and in a tired and uncomfortable voice he told Jared he was just stopping at home for a quick nap. It was a promise he'd made to Charlie, to go see Bella and watch her for him, but the flowers were never part of the deal.
Nervously he knocked on her door that was halfway open, walking in and hoping that she liked daisies. She was sore and drugged but remembered to thank him, yawning in the middle of the word 'you'. She looked at him like she had questions, but didn't ask anything. She just closed her eyes and fell back into a deep sleep.
“I'll have to get the name of the drug they're giving her from the nurse. Ain't never seen her do that before. Damn,” Jared announces to no one in particular.
Her mother was there, too, and it took a lot more coaxing than it did with Charlie to get her to go rest. She'd told him to call her Renée, and with a small smile, he patted her arm.
"Renée, I promise, I'll be like her personal bodyguard."
Ten minutes later she'd left promising to be back as soon as possible. Two minutes after that she came back, a worried expression on her face. "Just wanted to check," she said before kissing Bella in a small area where she wasn't bruised.
Jared was sure she'd finally left, but then he heard footsteps and the squeak of the door. He was prepared to scold Renée for being so silly but when his eyes reached up, they met an equally worried Edward. The worry soon changed to curiosity and he watched Edward's eyebrow rise.
"I'm the, uh, bodyguard," Jared offered. The eyebrow lowered and Edward made his way to a seat near Bella's bed.
"Charlie sent you, I'm guessing," Edward's voice was smooth like his father's but instead of warm and friendly it held an edge. Jared couldn't help himself from thinking what a shame it was and how much he wanted to hear Jensen's words wrap around him in a welcome embrace.
The quick change in Edward's demeanor was alarming. The edge from before seemed like child's play compared to this. Edward's lips were tight and his eyes colder than any winter night. He looked angry and disgusted and Jared could not quite figure out what he'd done. He was sure the daises couldn't have been that bad, at least they looked nice and why would Edward care anyways?
"You don't need to be here," the voice was like being sliced with a butcher knife, venom dripping from each vowel.
"Edward," Another voice calls. It's stern, but soft like caramel. Jared turned his head to look at the man who had just spoken, already knowing it was Jensen standing there. They exchanged a smile like it was their own private greeting and the tension surrounding Edward became even thicker.
"Edward, we need to talk," there was a pause. "Now."
Jensen turned to leave and Edward followed quietly, his graceful stride matching his fathers. It was almost painful to feel the way Edward was looking at him, like he was trying to crack Jared's skull with his eyes alone. Even after they were gone the feeling remained and it took Jared a handful of minutes before he was able to turn and face forward in his seat.
To his surprise Bella was watching him, her eyes darting towards the wall when she realized he was staring back at her.
"Don't think your boyfriend likes me very much," he said.
"His name is Edward and no, I don't think so either." While her correction was sharp the ending was more curious than anything like she didn't quite know why either. She looked back at him, calculating and cool. Her eyes searched for a while, like she was trying to take a peek inside his soul to see what exactly made Edward hate him so much.
Finally she sighed and Jared knew she had nothing, couldn't think of one thing he'd said or done to her knowledge. The sibling-like ease returned between them and together they enjoyed the silence. "Must have been the daisies," Jared said with a shrug.
The tension was palpable as Edward and Jensen returned and yet their faces gave away nothing as to their conversation. Edward didn't say word or even look towards Jared as he walked back to the chair at Bella's side and sat quietly. "Mr. Padalecki, if you want to come with me I'm sure Edward and Bella will be fine," Jensen spoke in an impersonal tone.
It was a cold shock when Jensen had not called him by his first name. They'd developed a sense of comfort around each other quickly and for some reason it had been shredded. He swallowed and nodded in response before following Dr. Cullen from the room.
Jared didn't realize he had been holding his breath until he let it all go, his lungs and chest expanding with a large curve. They'd turned down the hallway away from Bella's room when he felt a palm press to the small of his back. He looked at Jensen out the corner of his eye knowing it was his hand; the surge of heat in his own belly told him so. Instead of smiling or even just looking at him Jensen had a collected expression, eyes straight forward and posture straighter than an arrow.
When he felt the hand press and push he didn't fight it. Quickly, he was directed into a room at the end of the hall. It smelt like cleaning supplies and felt damp and cold. Jensen didn't turn on the ligh; he just closed the door and looked directly at Jared.
"You have to be careful," his voice was scolding but not in a fatherly manner, more like a worried friend.
Jared was confused, his face scrunched up like a child's as he thought. "Oh shit! She's not allergic to daisies is she? I swear I didn't know."
A laugh, warm and heart melting burst into the air. "No, not that," he said, amused. "Edward's good at... reading people, Jared." Again, confusion hit Jared. He was glad the light wasn't on because he wasn't sure how completely twisted and scrunched his face had become.
"You like me," Jensen's voice held no question. Jared felt his face fall and his heart speed up. His ears pounded with the sharp pumps and suddenly the room was really fucking hot. Jared reached to loosen his collar when Jensen's hand grasped his, fingers wrapping around each other like vines. There was a hand on his chest, over his heart, as if feeling it pump.
"I like you, too." Jared wasn't sure when the space between them had closed or how Jensen's lips had become pressed to his ear, whispering.
Jensen pulled back just slightly so that their lips hovered inches apart. Open and dry his mouth hung and his breath mingled with... nothing. He was confused, the daze breaking slightly as he tried to feel the air coming from Jensen, but still there was nothing. Jensen's lips pressed to his then, knowing and slow. It was like he was trying to kiss the questions away, make Jared forget his thoughts.
His fingers had just moved to curve around the doctor's neck when Jensen pulled back, quick and alert. In the dark they exchanged glances, blind but somehow seeing right into each other. "You have my number, Jay. Call it." And then Jensen was gone.
Jared didn't have a chance to call Jensen. The next day, Charlie called to ask him if he was ready to go for tomorrow. He wasn't. In fact he'd completely forgotten about the annual camping trip a few of the officers took up in the farthest part of the woods. They called it 'male bonding' and there was no way to get out of it. He was actually kind of looking forward to getting to know some of the other guys better.
They camped in Texas, of course, but he hadn't thought to bring up his sleeping bag from his parents house. After calling Charlie he was informed about a small camping store. It was a short and peaceful drive with nice scenery along the roads. He couldn't help but whistle at the Jaguar parked in front of the store. Jared was still looking at it when he pulled open the door to step inside.
It was like hitting a brick wall, all the air being sucked out of his lungs. Fall doesn't quite describe what happened; instead he practically flew to the ground with sheer force, his back crushing against sharp gravel.
"What the," he paused as he looked up. Jared was expecting a linebacker or perhaps even a wrestler to be standing tall and fierce in front of him. Instead shock painted his face when he was met with a girl who probably only came to his shoulders, her body petite and more like a ballet dancer than anything. She was pale, porcelain even, and he couldn't help but wonder if anyone in this town got actual sun or had ever heard of bronzer.
The look in her eyes was sharp and dark, and he felt a chill crawl up his spine. He moved his lips until he found words and pushed them force, "I'm so sorry." He pushed himself to his feet, towering over her like a giraffe to a gazelle. She didn't answer him or look away, just glared with violent intent.
"Sorry," he coughed and brushed past her into the store. A young boy stood behind the counter, his eyes fixed on the scene. Jared nodded at him in acknowledgement before rushing down an aisle. It took all of ten minutes and he was pleasantly surprised to find one that he could actually fit in. Typically he had to special order due to his long legs.
"You find everything alright?" the cashier asked and Jared read his employee tag that spelled out 'Mike' in bold letters. He looked back up to meet curious eyes before Mike spoke again, "So, what'd you do to piss off Alice Cullen, man? Thought she was going to rip your head off."
Alice Cullen. That was Alice Cullen. Jared was stunned for a brief moment before finally closing his gaping mouth. Edward had sensed something about him and his feelings towards Jensen, and despite how weird it was, it helped make sense of Edward's treatment toward him. It was possible Edward had mentioned something to Alice but instead of saying something, Jared just shrugged his shoulders with an easy smile.
He walked out of the store without a thought, sleeping bag under his arm. There were hushed shouts, an argument loud enough to hear a slight hiss of the words. As he got closer to his car he could hear the conversation clearer. "We can't go Emmett; you heard Alice. It's too dangerous."
The eyes of a blonde girl about the same height of Alice snapped towards him, fierce and practically bitching at him with her look alone. She had been yelling at a boy, closer to his own height and about as muscular. Emmett, he assumed. The girl looked back at Emmett, whispering something sharp and inaudible to Jared. With one last, sharp glare they were gone, the jaguar roaring to life. Jared was glad he wasn't on duty because they sped off like bats out of hell and if she was that angry at him for over hearing he didn't even want to see her when he told her she was speeding 90 miles per hour past a sign that clearly read '30.'
By the time Jared pulled in at the small cleared area for parking all the other officers were already there. His alarm didn't go off but Charlie had called him, practically smiling through the phone. "Happens to the new guy every year," the chief said with a laugh.
He was up late the night before thinking about his encounter with the three teens. All of them had dark, almost unbearable eyes. It was uncomfortable just thinking about them and he knew he'd have to speak to Jensen about the previous day’s events when he returned from camping. Something was up, rough and unsettling and he needed to at least try to understand.
The sun was just barely rising when they all stood in a circle together. "Alright, here's the plan, kids," one of the veterans spoke.
They went over a small map, worn with age and tattered at the corners. There was a red line drawn from the blue dot that represented their current position and led around and across to another blue dot. Jared learned the second blue dot would be their destination, a beautiful clearing they had discovered years earlier.
An hour later, and knee deep in mud that looked like something that had been puked up three or four times, Jared realized that the little map did this area no justice. It was a long and tiring hike, and even though he was the youngest of all the men, Jared found himself panting against the trees every mile or so. There was cussing and groaning, and then disaster struck.
They were almost there, or at least the chief kept insisting they were. The mud had only gotten thicker and his blue jeans now held a tint of brown and green. Lifting your feet was no form of art, Jared knew that, but if it had been, he would be what you could call an 'art ruiner'. His boot didn't lift with his leg and the next thing he saw was a flash of his white socks and then he was wobbling and seeing three shades of brown and ten shades of red.
"Fucking hell," his words were sharp as he pulled himself from the mud. It smelt as bad as it looked and tasted even worse. He was gagging and spewing swear words. Somehow the men all found it incredibly funny and Jared debated crying for all of two minutes before the chief handed him a washcloth.
"Careful there, boy," the man to his left spoke, trying to push down a laugh and failing horribly.
He could've been in an advertisement for mud baths and despite being beyond pissed he decided to continue on, the path back only looking worse than the one ahead of them. Charlie was right, too, they were close. It was just ten minutes later that they hit the clearing. Jared wasn't paying attention, just trying to get all of the mud out of his mouth.
"Hey, Jared, what do you think?" Charlie asked, startling Jared who had his finger pressed in his mouth rubbing his teeth.
"Hmpf?" Jared asked, all the men looking at him puzzled. He took his finger from his mouth and worked his jaw slightly. "Huh, what do you mean?" he asked again.
"Looks like the clearing got rained out," the veteran from earlier answered.
"Wanna head north or west?" Charlie asked him, looking in both directions as he spoke.
They decided north was best because the rain had been thinner in that area. The hour-long walk until they reached another clearing was far easier than the one before. Everyone was relieved just to be able to sit down on a patch of green grass, no matter how soggy it may be.
The day had passed quickly and by the time camp was set up and a fire burning the sun was setting, a pink hue burning elegantly across the sky. Jared was able to get cleaned up and change, his hair less muddy thanks to four or five bottles of water and the genius discovery of a small lake a few minutes from the clearing.
The men left him to bathe and he was relieved to have complete silence. The water was cool against his skin, but the satisfaction when the mud poured off his skin and into the water was worth the goose bumps. He dressed in warm clothes, a plaid shirt, and an older pair of tight and torn jeans.
The sky was dark when he walked back. He could've been back at camp by then but it was relaxing, the cool air on his warm body and the slight hum of crickets dusting across his senses. One minute he was walking alone and the next there was Jensen and he could've sworn he was dreaming. It was quick, unbelievable like a flash of lightning. It didn't matter how many times he blinked, though, Jensen was still there, and then Alice and the other blonde girl from the day before.
"I thought you said they wouldn't be around here!" the blonde was yelling, livid despite her eyes being lighter than when he last saw her.
"How was I supposed to know they'd change camps, Rosalie?" Alice's voice was strong and desperate all at the same time. Jensen's eyes lay flatly on Jared, though, ignoring their interaction just behind him.
It took a moment or two but finally Jared's senses snapped, confusion burning through his veins when he realized he wasn't dreaming. It was real, too real.
"Why... no, how the hell did you get here, Jensen?" His voice was somehow angrier than both the girls who were still bickering.
Jensen didn't answer and it only angered Jared further. "Jensen! What are you doing here?" He practically shouted now, catching the attention of both the girls. He felt their eyes on him but it didn't stop him from coming close to Jensen, just a breath between them as he searched Jensen's bright eyes.
He realized, then, that the reason Jensen hadn't moved or blinked or even breathed was because in those eyes was something odd and unfitting; it was fear. Jensen was scared and of what Jared didn't know, but it scared him too.
"Rosalie, Alice, head back and tell Emmett to finish up," it was like a switch went off in Jensen's head and suddenly he was back.
They were reluctant to leave, but when they did Jensen stepped closer, closing the space and embracing Jared. It was the first time Jared noticed how completely cold Jensen was, his body like a concrete slate on ice. "You weren't supposed to be here," Jensen's voice was barely a whisper against his ear.
Jared pulled back, his eyebrows closing in sadness and confusion that was becoming overwhelming. "Neither were you," he answered.
Jensen smiled and when he smiled, it wasn't happy or peaceful like their usual exchanges, just comforting and quiet. "I can't explain right now. But I promise I will, okay? I promise," he repeated himself like he didn't expect Jared to believe him and it nearly broke Jared's heart to hear how vulnerable Jensen was beyond his strong and careful shell.
"Okay," Jared said, and their lips met just for the briefest of moments before Jensen was gone just like he'd came.
The next two days served as pure torture for Jared. The men laughed and cracked jokes about silly things he should've found funny, but instead he was just plain irritable. He ended up snapping twice, once on the chief. It was a scary thing, the feeling deep in the pit of his stomach. It boiled and swelled and he knew something wasn't right.
In the tent at night he thought about reasons why the Cullen's could've been out there. Camping at this time of year was crazy, hence the cops being out there, enjoying it. As part of the job he needed to know the hunting season and he was positive that nothing would be in season until April. Even then why would the Cullen's be interested in hunting turkey? Jared knew some turkey hunters and the Cullen's definitely weren't like them.
By the time the group left camp early Monday morning Jared knew only one thing. There was no reason under any circumstance for them to be out there, in that spot. That combined with their beyond fast appearing and disappearing proved to Jared that he had gotten himself into something deep; just what that was, he didn't know.
He'd never been so grateful for over-time. The next few days was spent at his desk and around town on patrol or checking out a prank call the office had received. It kept his mind busy and at the end of the day he was too tired to walk let alone think. In the brief periods of time his mind did wander it'd only confused him more.
It was late on Friday night, the sun long gone from the now dark blue sky. Jared was half way to his door when he looked up to see Jensen standing there, casual and quiet. The face he made must've been funny because next thing he knew, Jensen was laughing and Jared felt his own belly drop like a pile of bricks at the sound of the deep velvet voice.
When the laughs stopped the quiet of the night hit him with a needlepoint sting. "We need to talk," Jensen said, his tongue curling over the words.
Jared nodded, debating for only a minute if he should let Jensen in his house or not. With the speed he had seen in the woods he knew it wouldn't matter if he held the door open it attempted to shut it in the other man's face, if Jensen wanted to come in he would get in somehow.
The door had barely shut by the time Jensen was kissing him, like trying to kiss away the need for an excuse. With the crush of the cold lips and the tongue in his mouth that tasted like warm vanilla it took all of Jared's will to pull away, pushing against an icy chest. "You wanted to talk, Dr. Cullen, so talk."
He could tell it hurt Jensen to hear the formal use of his name. The air changed quickly and Jared stared, confused, at the empty space in front of him where Jensen stood just seconds ago. The click of shoes on wood made him turn and find Jensen, legs crossed elegantly and his posture perfectly upright as he sat on the couch.
The look of fear from the night in the forest returned to Jensen. "I," he forced out the words like it was a painful process, "My family, we're special." He could barely look at Jared and instead found interest in the floorboards.
"Jared, listen," Jensen said, and Jared obeyed. "I'm going to sound crazy but just hear me out. You can ask any question you want. Just know that this needs to stay between us. You can't even think about it," Jensen's voice was calm, unlike his eyes burning with a slight sense of nervousness hidden behind a collected exterior.
"We're vampires."
Jared wasn't sure if he was supposed to find it funny or not. He just stared blankly at Jensen like he'd grown another head. Finally, Jensen met his eyes and the hurt in those green eyes was alarming to Jared. "Right and I'm the cookie monster," he finally replied.
"Jared, I'm not joking, please." Perhaps it was the pain-laced voice or the frantic movement to reach out to Jared that made him realize that Jensen wasn't joking. He was serious. It was impossible, being a vampire, but still Jensen was fucking serious.
"We can get you help for this, Jensen. There are doctors out there who can talk to you, you know," Fear changed to anger in Jensen's eyes as Jared spoke each and every word. Jensen shook his head and insisted, "No, it's not like that Jared," and suddenly Jared had had enough.
"Get out, Jensen. It's not funny, man. Just get out. I can't help you if you won't let me," The cop's voice was sharp and stern, yet caring all at the same time; like a parent scolding his child.
"The first time I met you, Jared, you were bleeding," there was a pause and then Jensen was at his side, his hands curled on Jared's shoulders and his lips dusting against the shell of Jared's ear, "I could smell you, so fucking sweet. Do you know how long it's been since I've smelt someone like you, Jay?"
It made sense, the lack of breathing and the tense posture like Jensen was being tortured. Everything fit into place and Jared found himself more scared of the fact that he believed Jensen than the fact that he knew Jensen was not lying.
He really was a vampire.
After the initial shock wore down they sat quietly on the couch. The silence was borderline awkward but had grown an edge of comfort that made it easy to relax against the soft cushions. "Do you want coffee?" Jared finally asked, sensing a long night ahead of them.
"No, Jay, thank you. I don't eat or drink human food." It was like he was talking about weather, the statement light and airy.
"What else don't you do?" The curiosity had scratched violently at his skin. There were so many fairytales in the world about vampires. From death by sunlight to no reflection, Jared had no idea what was real and what wasn't.
"Sleep," Another casual reply, "We're not incapable, Jared. We can go out in the day as long as it's not too sunny. We don't even have to drink," Jensen paused to search for the right words, finally coming up with, "fresh blood, we don't have to drink fresh blood. We get it from blood banks and animals. That's why I was in the forest. We were hunting. Emmett was getting really thirsty and he's hard to control when he gets too bad."
It was overwhelming. Jared didn't know what thought to process first; everything just came so quick and hard and he had to stop and think, 'wait, vampires are real?'. When Jared had asked to see Jensen's teeth he showed him the thin point at the end, but nothing more. Jensen was practiced in this, experienced with age of what Jared had learned to be hundreds of years, or 360 years to be more precise.
"So, your kids?" Jared asked, curious.
"Adopted, if you will. The process of changing is beyond horrible, it's like your entire life being set on fire and you're burning alive. With them, I did what I had to; they were dying already. They're my family, Jay, I know it sounds crazy but I love them," the answer was full of care and emotion. Crazy didn't fit it at all.
Three or four cups of coffee later Jared's eyelids began to droop, a thin line of exhaustion underneath the curve of his eye. Jensen's hand was so cold against his cheek and he had not realized that Jensen had stopped talking. He remembered being kissed, light and delicate, and then carried like a child to his bed.
He woke with confusion, the sound of rain dropping down on the roof and concrete. Jared rubbed his eyes, yawning and stretching elegantly into a bow-like shape. Somewhere between his room and the bathroom, he remembered the night before. Jared passed it off as a silly dream; the result of too much coffee perhaps.
When he walked back into his room, a towel wrapped sloppily around his muscular waist, Jensen was there. "Jen," he was cut off by lips, abusive and so welcome. Cold hands slipped down over the curve of his shoulders, the pale fingers outlining the muscles as they stretched down his back and towards his ass. A violent blush rose to Jared's cheeks, dreams didn't kiss like that.
He grabbed for Jensen, wanting to pull him closer and beg for more, but instead the other man stepped backwards. The glance Jared received was sharp and practiced. "I should be more careful," Jensen spoke, "I don't want to hurt you, Jay."
Jared stared, questioning. He didn't need to speak for Jensen to know that he wanted to know why the worry. "You have no idea how good you smell, and God your taste, Jay." One of them stepped forward, or perhaps both; it was a blur. Then Jensen whispered lightly in Jared's ear, "You just scream fuck me, take me, and God I want to, so bad."
The words went directly to Jared's groin, his cock hard beneath the towel and his throat dry. He was there for Jensen to take and to play like some broken down instrument, and yet he didn't. "Not yet, Jared. I'm not ready."
It was hard for Jared to push out words, his voice threatening to crack, deep with the fade of arousal. "Okay." That was the end of the discussion, like the door had been shut. Jared went to change and Jensen made breakfast for one. As a southern boy Jared felt it improper to eat in front of a guest but this was one case he figured his mother would allow an exception.
"Did you go home last night?" Jared asked and Jensen nodded, a smile on his lips as he watched Jared lift the fork full of eggs and cheese to his mouth. Jared practically purred after every bite, closing his eyes and grumbling like the food was God's gift to the Earth.
"Man, where did you learn to cook? This is amazing," he spoke before he took another bite, leaving the plate empty without the littlest of crumbs.
"Here and there, Esme taught me that, though," The mood shattered at the mention of Jensen's wife. Jared's posture went rigid and suddenly the eggs might have been just a bit on the bland side. He had not realized he was so easy to read but when he looked up to find Jensen's worried expression he felt like an open book.
The atmosphere was still on edge from the conversation, or lack thereof, in the bedroom just a half hour before. Instead of discussing it they swept it under the rug and silently washed the dishes together before settling on the couch to watch TV.
Curled up in Jensen's cool arms they rested, watching some ridiculous cop show and jibing each other about their professions. It was light and carefree and it felt so good. The emptiness that surrounded Jared the instant Jensen left for his shift at the hospital was like the shock of jumping into a frigid lake in the winter. The addiction that had begun to develop should have been scary to Jared. Instead he found it comfortable, welcomed it with open arms. As long as the arms were Jensen's he would have no fear.
Part Two
Rating : NC-17
Pairing : Jensen/Jared and canon Twilight couples.
Word Count : 17.5kish. (Posted in two parts.) *Not including Always a Cowboy and Epilogue of sorts.
Summary : When police officer Jared Padalecki moved to the small town of Forks he never expected to meet someone like Dr. Jensen Cullen. As it turns out, he's in for a hell of a surprise... or two.
Notes : For spnchallenges. A J2 take on the movie/book Twilight.
Disclaimer : Don't own. Even a bit.
It was late in December 2004 when Jared moved to Forks, Washington. The town was quiet and comfortable and reminded him of home in Texas. The biggest difference he noticed was the weather, and it hit him immediately and he suddenly missed the warmth of the San Antonio sun. There was a small coating of snow painting the grass a pristine white. He had his doubts but Harley and Sadie quickly soothed them over, tails wagging as they trotted happily through new territory.
If he looked back to his early teenage years this would've seemed silly, moving to a small town no one back in Texas had ever heard of to become a police officer. Minus the winter cold it wasn't all that bad, though. The kids were friendly and there were beaches he couldn't wait to visit in the warmer months.
Best of all, though, besides the fact that he got to bring his dogs and have his own gun, was the fact that he actually liked his coworkers. In years past as a struggling wannabe actor he'd had to work with people who weren't always friendly and didn't quite realize that their blood wasn't blue. When he came down to visit over a month ago he was able to meet to the police chief, Charlie Swan. He was a quiet but pleasant man with a friendly smile and firm handshake, all qualities Jared was raised to respect.
Sometimes Jared thought people all too often took the simple things for granted. He had a cozy home and a friendly work environment and life was good. He was happy.
The first few months were easy going. Charlie's daughter had moved to town and while Charlie always kept good control over his emotions Jared could see the stress and nervousness clearly written over the police chief's face days before she arrived.
It was towards the end of January when he first met Isabella Swan. She was much like her father who at that time was struggling to keep hold of his composure. There had been an accident at the school resulting in a Bella nearly being hit by a van. Understandably, Charlie was livid and pressed with worry, so Jared took it upon himself to take the statements of the majority of involved people.
He'd heard of the Cullen's before, passing rumors and whispers that he often closed off. Meeting Edward though he realized the thin line of truth that those stories held. He was quiet, his eyes barely meeting Jared's as he just stared over Jared's shoulder towards Bella. Jared found it hard to put two and two together in the situation, a firm hand shaped dent in the side of the van. Strength was possible but he'd never seen anything quite like that.
In the end the police office just let it roll off their shoulders; passing it off as some freak case of extreme adrenaline. Things again quieted down and it wasn't until March that Jared was again called out into the field. Someone had reported sightings of a bear and Jared was one of the few sent into the woods with just a shotgun and a flash light to see if there was any truth to the report.
His long legs were tired after walking for hours and sweat dripped like rain down his forehead. Finally, the order to come back came across the walkie-talkie and he was more than ready to go home and collapse on his couch with a bowl of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. The sun was setting as he made his way up a hill just minutes from the meeting spot where the rest of the group waited and while he'd enjoyed the sites he was both disappointed and relieved to not see any bears or even some large animal to make the trip mention worthy. Lost in his thoughts about moose and ice cream and how Sadie and Harley were holding up inside the house, he forgot to pay attention to his steps. It only took one press of his left foot on the muddy stone to slip through the mud. Jared was sent tumbling, his large frame falling ungracefully into a patch of leaves and sticks and scattered sharp edged stones.
"Shit," his Texas accent came through thick and curved as he pulled his hand back from his head. He almost immediately realized the red in his palm, sticky and bright. He cussed and groaned all the way back up the hill, phrases like 'damned rocks' and 'bear my ass' spewing sharply from his dry lips.
The group of aggravated officers soon surrounded him, questions flying from them as they took in his dirt covered uniform and a bloody splotch of hair in the back of his head.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. C'mon guys, please," he begged them as one of the older men called Charlie who sternly told Jared he had to go to the hospital whether he liked it or not. He pouted the entire ride there, his grown body undermined by the extension of his bottom lips and the puppy-dog like expression of a child that didn't get his way.
He could hear the jokes at the office already. Not only was he the 'new guy' but he was also now the 'new guy who can't walk up a hill without falling on his ass at least once'.
The cruiser pulled into the hospital parking lot and Jared found himself wishing Forks was just a little bit bigger. Charlie was waiting outside the hospital doors, uniform disheveled and eyes tired.
"Taking a nap, captain?" Jared asked, humor dancing in the corner of his voice. The sleep worn man only grunted, practically pushing Jared through the automatic doors of the hospital.
One of the nurses came to them quickly, noting the brown paper towel pressed uncomfortably to his skull. They got him in quickly, another nurse checking him over. His patience was wearing thin as she took his temperature and checked his pulse. He wanted to push her away and tell her he was fine, it was just a little bump, but of course Charlie would be sitting at the exit in case Jared decided to make any attempts at escaping.
"Dr. Jensen Cullen is on call, he'll be in shortly," the nurse said quietly before exiting and leaving him to lie there and wait.
It hadn't been long but Jared was already burning holes through the door with his glare, the bright white room giving him a slight headache. The door creaked open and a man walked in clothed in a long white coat and a name tag that told him that this was Dr. Cullen. It was only seconds between when Dr. Cullen was reading the chart to when his eyes snapped up to meet Jared's. It was just a single instant of eyes meeting and breaths lingering and then it was gone, faded like the sun on the horizon.
Jared noted the doctor's tense posture, his shoulders knotted together and face solid like a perfectly sculpted rock. The softness he'd seen in the man’s eyes had melted away and left a hard shell in its place. "Sorry for the wait, Mr. Padalecki."
"Jared," Jared corrected him, "You can call me Jared."
The doctor looked at him with a skeptical expression before nodding and turning his attention back to the chart. The silence was awkward and overwhelming and Jared found himself pushing out words he didn't know were on his tongue, "Busy today?"
"No," the answer was detached and blunt, "My daughter called, girl problems, you know."
The attempt at a joke loosened the air, a smile creeping to Jared's face and showing off his dimples. "What's her name?" Jared asked, calmer now.
The other man finally looked up, his eyes crawling over the expanse of Jared's neck and down the curve of his clothed shoulder. Goosebumps grew on Jared's tanned skin, a now nervous smile sitting patiently on his face. "Alice, her name is Alice." He paused and gathered some gauze and tape. "You got any kids?"
Jared hadn't expected the question but again like a boneless doll the tension curled up into nothing. "No, just two dogs." Dr. Cullen laughed lightly, his deep voice molding around the easy noise.
"Well, Jared, it seems you're going to need a couple stitches. The nurse said you were feeling fine but that's a pretty big cut up there so we'll get you all sewed up and on your way," Dr. Cullen moved behind Jared, needle and thread in hand.
"Relax," the doctor's voice was soothing. "So you're pretty new around here, how do you like it?" He carried on a normal conversation like he wasn't about to stitch Jared's head together like some child's stuffed animal. It was an odd comfort, the easiness, and Jared found himself forgetting the fact that he was in a hospital or what was currently being held between Dr. Cullen's thin fingers.
It was only a few stitches but Jared couldn't help but whimper as he felt the needle being pressed through and brought around again. He heard a light laugh brush against his ear with the third curve of the needle, light and playful. "Hey, I'm not deaf you know!"
The laughter grew as he heard the clink of something being set down on a metal surface. The doctor walked back around, a large smile on his almost godly face. Jared felt his breath hitch high in his chest and the slight pickup in speed of his heart.
"You're all set," the voice came out like velvet.
"Thanks, Dr. Cullen. When do I get them out?" He wasn't quite sure if the real reason he was so eager for their next appointment was to get the damned things out.
"I'll see you in about ten days," Jared got up and Dr. Cullen walked him quietly to the door, handing him a prescription in case there was any pain. Jared pushed open the door to leave, stopping when he heard Dr. Cullen calling to him.
"Oh, and Jared, you can call me Jensen."
A lot had happened in those ten days. Jared wasn't sure if it was going fast or slow but either way it was just plain agonizing. He had needed the painkillers the day after his stitches; his head had been throbbing like the wild beat of a bongo drum. More than ever he was grateful for the weekend and a soft couch and even softer pillows.
He was already feeling better the next morning and the days following were thankfully uneventful. Each day the pain in his scalp would lessen and the boys at the station became less worried and more mocking. He found himself counting down the days to what should have been the day the stitches would be removed, but it instead came out in his head as the days left until he would see Jensen again.
It was early Sunday morning and he had planned for it to be a couch-sitting-video-game-playing, lazy ass day. The phone had other plans, however, and he nearly fell out of bed when he rolled over to answer.
"Hello?" His voice was gruff and tired, the southern boy inside his words wide-awake.
The worry laced in the caller's voice made him abruptly alert like he had been splashed with a bucket of ice water.
"Yes, sir. I'll be right in," Jared answered him.
Charlie had called in, a rare occurrence for the hard working chief. He never sat in the back and watched people do things; he was always right there doing them himself. Jared was curious at what had happened, worried even, but it was obvious by the puzzled expression on his fellow officers' faces that they were just as clueless as he was.
The next day was the same and the building felt empty without Charlie there. Finally, at lunch he worked up the courage to ask one of the veterans if he knew what was going on. The man explained to him vaguely that Bella had left and something about the Cullen boy being in the mix. There was no sense to it and not once did the curious questions leave his head.
An hour or two later, he drove himself to the hospital and waited patiently. The tension he'd seen in Jensen's body before was nothing quite like what was there now. Every muscle in the doctor's body was tied together tightly and while each step was still graceful it was a type of grace that seemed more haunting than beautiful.
At first they barely spoke, just fractions of words split into quiet phrases. It was almost robotic the way they went back and forth, flat voices. Jared could barely stand being in the room, the entire surroundings just too thick and suffocating. "Are you okay?" His voice was like a gun shot in a sanctuary, booming and earth shattering.
Jensen's head snapped up, his eyes lingering on Jared. A minute passed, then another, and another. Their gazes remained interlocked, Jared's glance worried and Jensen's questioning.
"Family problems," Jensen answered just when Jared was sure he wasn't going to.
With skilled hands Jensen was able to make quick work of removing the stitches and causing only a slight twinge of pain for Jared. There was the same metal clink and Jared knew it was done but instead of walking back around Jensen stood there, his fingers curled with care in Jared's hair.
There was a deliberate inhale and exhale of warm air. It ghosted across Jared's skin and he felt his eyes close and his body lean back into those fingers. Just as fast as the moment had happened it ended and Jensen came back around front, a small smile on his pale lips. It was as if the tension had been drained and the doctor's muscles soothed over and somehow for reasons beyond his conscious mind Jared understood the intense release.
Jensen turned away and wrote something on a small slip and just as Jared was about to tell him he wasn't in any pain and didn't need any medicine he noticed just what was written on that paper in seven small and perfect digits. He didn't know when or where or even why, but he knew he would be seeing Jensen again very soon.
Jared didn't know how long he'd stared at that number, reading over each digit again and again until it was pressed so deeply in his head he could see it on the back of his eyelids with each blink. Around him officers were working, typing up papers, and chatting between themselves and despite the clicks of a keyboard and rough laughs he remained in his own world. Yesterday was the same, just staring and quiet and being so completely at peace.
He was startled when a hand came roughly on his shoulder, squeezing lightly before being gone. Hazel eyes watched Charlie pull a chair up next to him, smiling lightly. The silence was anything but awkward, just light and curious.
"You've been real quiet lately, Jared," Charlie's voice was caring and reminded Jared of his own father. "You know-," the police chief was cut off abruptly by the ringing of his cell phone.
It only took a brief instant to realize that something was wrong. Charlie's relaxed and calm posture went rigid and his face dropped in what could only be described as horror. He watched the man move his lips, the air from Charlie's throat breaking every time he tried to form words. There was a short nod before Charlie realized they couldn't see him and finally in a forced and almost boyish tone he spoke, "I'll be right there."
The older man stood and looked around the office as if he was confused or lost. "It's Bella," Jared wasn't going to ask, not now, but Charlie was going to tell him anyways, "Something happened."
It took little to convince Charlie that it was best if Jared drove him to the hospital. An officer shouldn't speed or break the laws they are paid to enforce but none of that mattered. His foot pressed on the pedal and from the corner of calculating eyes he watched a worried father trying desperately to hold himself together. It was almost painful, the violent pain behind Charlie's eyes and the shaking of hands that were usually firm and sure. Charlie was scared and that terrified Jared.
No nurse or doctor was going to keep Charlie from seeing his daughter, and by the looks on the staff's faces, they already knew it wasn't worth the effort. The waiting room was empty and dark even with the overhead lights. It was eerie to stand there and just wait and worry. He barely knew Bella and she knew even less of him but he knew Charlie and over the last few months he'd grown to look up to the chief. There was a fondness there that was hard to explain, but it was an almost brotherly protection that he felt towards Bella.
One hour and twelve minutes had passed, his eyes watching the hand move over each second. The hospital was oddly quiet beyond the tick of the clock and his impatient sighs. The clicks and squeaks of a pair of shoes caught his attention, and he stood, hands stuffed in his pocket. "Is she okay?" he asked in a rushed voice before the person even got to turn the corner.
"Jared." Honey and silk and shit why was he here again? He looked over Jensen who stood with a knowing smile. "She'll be okay. Charlie didn't want to leave her just yet but mentioned you were here so I figured I'd come and let you know." He mentally slapped himself remembering that oh yeah, that's why he was there in that damned hospital in front of the ever-gorgeous Dr. Cullen.
"Thanks, man." His voice was dry and he found the accent slipping again, a Texas curl flying through the air between them.
Jensen smiled, bright and beautiful. He had a glow to him, Jared thought, an enchanting and enticing glow that made his pale skin sparkle. Jared's eyes wandered blunt and free, and not once did the doctor's smile fade. It was comfortable and odd but mostly it was just right.
"I need to get back and check on Bella but I'll see you later?" It was a question with an answer and Jared walked forward. They were just inches apart and as he walked past their shoulders brushed, electric and burning.
Finally, after another hour of waiting, Charlie emerged in the stark white halls. The chief's face was pale, and his eyes tired with just as much worry as before.
“I told Bella you were here. She asked to see you,” Charlie's voice brings a new meaning to strength.
When Jared gets to the room he understands why Charlie is so completely on edge. Bella is wrapped in so much white. It's a mix of gauze and cast, and it barely ends to show the tip of her painted toes.
“Alice painted them.” Bella smiles when she notices the direction of Jared's glance.
He laughs, open and free. “You look like shit, Bells.”
“I could say the same, Frankenstein. Those stitches come in pink? They'd go nicely with your face.”
They've always had this connection between them. Bella had said she liked Jared's whole 'big bad cuddly bear' routine, and Jared liked her teenage angst with a hint of bitch mixed it. They got along in a completely nonsense way. Charlie had tried to understand, but after a fight about Bella going to prom and Jared offering to take her, and his gun, Charlie stopped asking questions.
They sat and talked for a while until Bella's medicine began to take a toll on her eyelids, weighing them down like rocks. “You better visit me again, Jay.”
“See you soon, Bells. Try not to break anything.”
Later at home Jared found himself remembering that feeling of Jensen. It was a quick intense throb in his heart and a clench in the deep bottom of his gut. For hours after and even at that very moment, lying alone in bed, he could still feel the surge of something a little like want and a lot like need.
Jared stared at the ceiling and just wondered curiously what it would be like to press their arms together. A surge, perhaps, and Jared could imagine himself breathless and begging in those arms. Behind his eyes he saw the picture painted in his mind, the entire length of their bodies pressed together and Jensen's lips brushing against his.
He wasn't sure when he'd slipped off his boxers or when his fingers had come to wrap firmly around his hard cock, but he didn't care. The thought alone made him moan and wither and he screamed out for Jensen, begging his imagination to let him feel more. Jared was desperate, twisting and needing more; needing Jensen in him, burning hot and fucking into Jared's willing body. The film in his head played on and finally Jensen pressed forth, inside, and Jared's entire world exploded.
Jared was panting and sweating, his hand covered in come and his mind a blur. It was all just a scene created in his head and he ached with the need to know what it would feel like to be real.
Manners and respect were two things his mother had made sure Jared knew inside and out. There were so many rules, and Jared recalled being a child and wondering if there was ever any way he could possibly remember all of them. Out of his thoughts again he thanked the lady behind the cash register and told her to have a good day, a fresh bouquet of daisies in one hand and the leftover 25 cents in the other.
He'd called Charlie that morning to check on Bella. It was obvious the other man had gotten no sleep the night before and in a tired and uncomfortable voice he told Jared he was just stopping at home for a quick nap. It was a promise he'd made to Charlie, to go see Bella and watch her for him, but the flowers were never part of the deal.
Nervously he knocked on her door that was halfway open, walking in and hoping that she liked daisies. She was sore and drugged but remembered to thank him, yawning in the middle of the word 'you'. She looked at him like she had questions, but didn't ask anything. She just closed her eyes and fell back into a deep sleep.
“I'll have to get the name of the drug they're giving her from the nurse. Ain't never seen her do that before. Damn,” Jared announces to no one in particular.
Her mother was there, too, and it took a lot more coaxing than it did with Charlie to get her to go rest. She'd told him to call her Renée, and with a small smile, he patted her arm.
"Renée, I promise, I'll be like her personal bodyguard."
Ten minutes later she'd left promising to be back as soon as possible. Two minutes after that she came back, a worried expression on her face. "Just wanted to check," she said before kissing Bella in a small area where she wasn't bruised.
Jared was sure she'd finally left, but then he heard footsteps and the squeak of the door. He was prepared to scold Renée for being so silly but when his eyes reached up, they met an equally worried Edward. The worry soon changed to curiosity and he watched Edward's eyebrow rise.
"I'm the, uh, bodyguard," Jared offered. The eyebrow lowered and Edward made his way to a seat near Bella's bed.
"Charlie sent you, I'm guessing," Edward's voice was smooth like his father's but instead of warm and friendly it held an edge. Jared couldn't help himself from thinking what a shame it was and how much he wanted to hear Jensen's words wrap around him in a welcome embrace.
The quick change in Edward's demeanor was alarming. The edge from before seemed like child's play compared to this. Edward's lips were tight and his eyes colder than any winter night. He looked angry and disgusted and Jared could not quite figure out what he'd done. He was sure the daises couldn't have been that bad, at least they looked nice and why would Edward care anyways?
"You don't need to be here," the voice was like being sliced with a butcher knife, venom dripping from each vowel.
"Edward," Another voice calls. It's stern, but soft like caramel. Jared turned his head to look at the man who had just spoken, already knowing it was Jensen standing there. They exchanged a smile like it was their own private greeting and the tension surrounding Edward became even thicker.
"Edward, we need to talk," there was a pause. "Now."
Jensen turned to leave and Edward followed quietly, his graceful stride matching his fathers. It was almost painful to feel the way Edward was looking at him, like he was trying to crack Jared's skull with his eyes alone. Even after they were gone the feeling remained and it took Jared a handful of minutes before he was able to turn and face forward in his seat.
To his surprise Bella was watching him, her eyes darting towards the wall when she realized he was staring back at her.
"Don't think your boyfriend likes me very much," he said.
"His name is Edward and no, I don't think so either." While her correction was sharp the ending was more curious than anything like she didn't quite know why either. She looked back at him, calculating and cool. Her eyes searched for a while, like she was trying to take a peek inside his soul to see what exactly made Edward hate him so much.
Finally she sighed and Jared knew she had nothing, couldn't think of one thing he'd said or done to her knowledge. The sibling-like ease returned between them and together they enjoyed the silence. "Must have been the daisies," Jared said with a shrug.
The tension was palpable as Edward and Jensen returned and yet their faces gave away nothing as to their conversation. Edward didn't say word or even look towards Jared as he walked back to the chair at Bella's side and sat quietly. "Mr. Padalecki, if you want to come with me I'm sure Edward and Bella will be fine," Jensen spoke in an impersonal tone.
It was a cold shock when Jensen had not called him by his first name. They'd developed a sense of comfort around each other quickly and for some reason it had been shredded. He swallowed and nodded in response before following Dr. Cullen from the room.
Jared didn't realize he had been holding his breath until he let it all go, his lungs and chest expanding with a large curve. They'd turned down the hallway away from Bella's room when he felt a palm press to the small of his back. He looked at Jensen out the corner of his eye knowing it was his hand; the surge of heat in his own belly told him so. Instead of smiling or even just looking at him Jensen had a collected expression, eyes straight forward and posture straighter than an arrow.
When he felt the hand press and push he didn't fight it. Quickly, he was directed into a room at the end of the hall. It smelt like cleaning supplies and felt damp and cold. Jensen didn't turn on the ligh; he just closed the door and looked directly at Jared.
"You have to be careful," his voice was scolding but not in a fatherly manner, more like a worried friend.
Jared was confused, his face scrunched up like a child's as he thought. "Oh shit! She's not allergic to daisies is she? I swear I didn't know."
A laugh, warm and heart melting burst into the air. "No, not that," he said, amused. "Edward's good at... reading people, Jared." Again, confusion hit Jared. He was glad the light wasn't on because he wasn't sure how completely twisted and scrunched his face had become.
"You like me," Jensen's voice held no question. Jared felt his face fall and his heart speed up. His ears pounded with the sharp pumps and suddenly the room was really fucking hot. Jared reached to loosen his collar when Jensen's hand grasped his, fingers wrapping around each other like vines. There was a hand on his chest, over his heart, as if feeling it pump.
"I like you, too." Jared wasn't sure when the space between them had closed or how Jensen's lips had become pressed to his ear, whispering.
Jensen pulled back just slightly so that their lips hovered inches apart. Open and dry his mouth hung and his breath mingled with... nothing. He was confused, the daze breaking slightly as he tried to feel the air coming from Jensen, but still there was nothing. Jensen's lips pressed to his then, knowing and slow. It was like he was trying to kiss the questions away, make Jared forget his thoughts.
His fingers had just moved to curve around the doctor's neck when Jensen pulled back, quick and alert. In the dark they exchanged glances, blind but somehow seeing right into each other. "You have my number, Jay. Call it." And then Jensen was gone.
Jared didn't have a chance to call Jensen. The next day, Charlie called to ask him if he was ready to go for tomorrow. He wasn't. In fact he'd completely forgotten about the annual camping trip a few of the officers took up in the farthest part of the woods. They called it 'male bonding' and there was no way to get out of it. He was actually kind of looking forward to getting to know some of the other guys better.
They camped in Texas, of course, but he hadn't thought to bring up his sleeping bag from his parents house. After calling Charlie he was informed about a small camping store. It was a short and peaceful drive with nice scenery along the roads. He couldn't help but whistle at the Jaguar parked in front of the store. Jared was still looking at it when he pulled open the door to step inside.
It was like hitting a brick wall, all the air being sucked out of his lungs. Fall doesn't quite describe what happened; instead he practically flew to the ground with sheer force, his back crushing against sharp gravel.
"What the," he paused as he looked up. Jared was expecting a linebacker or perhaps even a wrestler to be standing tall and fierce in front of him. Instead shock painted his face when he was met with a girl who probably only came to his shoulders, her body petite and more like a ballet dancer than anything. She was pale, porcelain even, and he couldn't help but wonder if anyone in this town got actual sun or had ever heard of bronzer.
The look in her eyes was sharp and dark, and he felt a chill crawl up his spine. He moved his lips until he found words and pushed them force, "I'm so sorry." He pushed himself to his feet, towering over her like a giraffe to a gazelle. She didn't answer him or look away, just glared with violent intent.
"Sorry," he coughed and brushed past her into the store. A young boy stood behind the counter, his eyes fixed on the scene. Jared nodded at him in acknowledgement before rushing down an aisle. It took all of ten minutes and he was pleasantly surprised to find one that he could actually fit in. Typically he had to special order due to his long legs.
"You find everything alright?" the cashier asked and Jared read his employee tag that spelled out 'Mike' in bold letters. He looked back up to meet curious eyes before Mike spoke again, "So, what'd you do to piss off Alice Cullen, man? Thought she was going to rip your head off."
Alice Cullen. That was Alice Cullen. Jared was stunned for a brief moment before finally closing his gaping mouth. Edward had sensed something about him and his feelings towards Jensen, and despite how weird it was, it helped make sense of Edward's treatment toward him. It was possible Edward had mentioned something to Alice but instead of saying something, Jared just shrugged his shoulders with an easy smile.
He walked out of the store without a thought, sleeping bag under his arm. There were hushed shouts, an argument loud enough to hear a slight hiss of the words. As he got closer to his car he could hear the conversation clearer. "We can't go Emmett; you heard Alice. It's too dangerous."
The eyes of a blonde girl about the same height of Alice snapped towards him, fierce and practically bitching at him with her look alone. She had been yelling at a boy, closer to his own height and about as muscular. Emmett, he assumed. The girl looked back at Emmett, whispering something sharp and inaudible to Jared. With one last, sharp glare they were gone, the jaguar roaring to life. Jared was glad he wasn't on duty because they sped off like bats out of hell and if she was that angry at him for over hearing he didn't even want to see her when he told her she was speeding 90 miles per hour past a sign that clearly read '30.'
By the time Jared pulled in at the small cleared area for parking all the other officers were already there. His alarm didn't go off but Charlie had called him, practically smiling through the phone. "Happens to the new guy every year," the chief said with a laugh.
He was up late the night before thinking about his encounter with the three teens. All of them had dark, almost unbearable eyes. It was uncomfortable just thinking about them and he knew he'd have to speak to Jensen about the previous day’s events when he returned from camping. Something was up, rough and unsettling and he needed to at least try to understand.
The sun was just barely rising when they all stood in a circle together. "Alright, here's the plan, kids," one of the veterans spoke.
They went over a small map, worn with age and tattered at the corners. There was a red line drawn from the blue dot that represented their current position and led around and across to another blue dot. Jared learned the second blue dot would be their destination, a beautiful clearing they had discovered years earlier.
An hour later, and knee deep in mud that looked like something that had been puked up three or four times, Jared realized that the little map did this area no justice. It was a long and tiring hike, and even though he was the youngest of all the men, Jared found himself panting against the trees every mile or so. There was cussing and groaning, and then disaster struck.
They were almost there, or at least the chief kept insisting they were. The mud had only gotten thicker and his blue jeans now held a tint of brown and green. Lifting your feet was no form of art, Jared knew that, but if it had been, he would be what you could call an 'art ruiner'. His boot didn't lift with his leg and the next thing he saw was a flash of his white socks and then he was wobbling and seeing three shades of brown and ten shades of red.
"Fucking hell," his words were sharp as he pulled himself from the mud. It smelt as bad as it looked and tasted even worse. He was gagging and spewing swear words. Somehow the men all found it incredibly funny and Jared debated crying for all of two minutes before the chief handed him a washcloth.
"Careful there, boy," the man to his left spoke, trying to push down a laugh and failing horribly.
He could've been in an advertisement for mud baths and despite being beyond pissed he decided to continue on, the path back only looking worse than the one ahead of them. Charlie was right, too, they were close. It was just ten minutes later that they hit the clearing. Jared wasn't paying attention, just trying to get all of the mud out of his mouth.
"Hey, Jared, what do you think?" Charlie asked, startling Jared who had his finger pressed in his mouth rubbing his teeth.
"Hmpf?" Jared asked, all the men looking at him puzzled. He took his finger from his mouth and worked his jaw slightly. "Huh, what do you mean?" he asked again.
"Looks like the clearing got rained out," the veteran from earlier answered.
"Wanna head north or west?" Charlie asked him, looking in both directions as he spoke.
They decided north was best because the rain had been thinner in that area. The hour-long walk until they reached another clearing was far easier than the one before. Everyone was relieved just to be able to sit down on a patch of green grass, no matter how soggy it may be.
The day had passed quickly and by the time camp was set up and a fire burning the sun was setting, a pink hue burning elegantly across the sky. Jared was able to get cleaned up and change, his hair less muddy thanks to four or five bottles of water and the genius discovery of a small lake a few minutes from the clearing.
The men left him to bathe and he was relieved to have complete silence. The water was cool against his skin, but the satisfaction when the mud poured off his skin and into the water was worth the goose bumps. He dressed in warm clothes, a plaid shirt, and an older pair of tight and torn jeans.
The sky was dark when he walked back. He could've been back at camp by then but it was relaxing, the cool air on his warm body and the slight hum of crickets dusting across his senses. One minute he was walking alone and the next there was Jensen and he could've sworn he was dreaming. It was quick, unbelievable like a flash of lightning. It didn't matter how many times he blinked, though, Jensen was still there, and then Alice and the other blonde girl from the day before.
"I thought you said they wouldn't be around here!" the blonde was yelling, livid despite her eyes being lighter than when he last saw her.
"How was I supposed to know they'd change camps, Rosalie?" Alice's voice was strong and desperate all at the same time. Jensen's eyes lay flatly on Jared, though, ignoring their interaction just behind him.
It took a moment or two but finally Jared's senses snapped, confusion burning through his veins when he realized he wasn't dreaming. It was real, too real.
"Why... no, how the hell did you get here, Jensen?" His voice was somehow angrier than both the girls who were still bickering.
Jensen didn't answer and it only angered Jared further. "Jensen! What are you doing here?" He practically shouted now, catching the attention of both the girls. He felt their eyes on him but it didn't stop him from coming close to Jensen, just a breath between them as he searched Jensen's bright eyes.
He realized, then, that the reason Jensen hadn't moved or blinked or even breathed was because in those eyes was something odd and unfitting; it was fear. Jensen was scared and of what Jared didn't know, but it scared him too.
"Rosalie, Alice, head back and tell Emmett to finish up," it was like a switch went off in Jensen's head and suddenly he was back.
They were reluctant to leave, but when they did Jensen stepped closer, closing the space and embracing Jared. It was the first time Jared noticed how completely cold Jensen was, his body like a concrete slate on ice. "You weren't supposed to be here," Jensen's voice was barely a whisper against his ear.
Jared pulled back, his eyebrows closing in sadness and confusion that was becoming overwhelming. "Neither were you," he answered.
Jensen smiled and when he smiled, it wasn't happy or peaceful like their usual exchanges, just comforting and quiet. "I can't explain right now. But I promise I will, okay? I promise," he repeated himself like he didn't expect Jared to believe him and it nearly broke Jared's heart to hear how vulnerable Jensen was beyond his strong and careful shell.
"Okay," Jared said, and their lips met just for the briefest of moments before Jensen was gone just like he'd came.
The next two days served as pure torture for Jared. The men laughed and cracked jokes about silly things he should've found funny, but instead he was just plain irritable. He ended up snapping twice, once on the chief. It was a scary thing, the feeling deep in the pit of his stomach. It boiled and swelled and he knew something wasn't right.
In the tent at night he thought about reasons why the Cullen's could've been out there. Camping at this time of year was crazy, hence the cops being out there, enjoying it. As part of the job he needed to know the hunting season and he was positive that nothing would be in season until April. Even then why would the Cullen's be interested in hunting turkey? Jared knew some turkey hunters and the Cullen's definitely weren't like them.
By the time the group left camp early Monday morning Jared knew only one thing. There was no reason under any circumstance for them to be out there, in that spot. That combined with their beyond fast appearing and disappearing proved to Jared that he had gotten himself into something deep; just what that was, he didn't know.
He'd never been so grateful for over-time. The next few days was spent at his desk and around town on patrol or checking out a prank call the office had received. It kept his mind busy and at the end of the day he was too tired to walk let alone think. In the brief periods of time his mind did wander it'd only confused him more.
It was late on Friday night, the sun long gone from the now dark blue sky. Jared was half way to his door when he looked up to see Jensen standing there, casual and quiet. The face he made must've been funny because next thing he knew, Jensen was laughing and Jared felt his own belly drop like a pile of bricks at the sound of the deep velvet voice.
When the laughs stopped the quiet of the night hit him with a needlepoint sting. "We need to talk," Jensen said, his tongue curling over the words.
Jared nodded, debating for only a minute if he should let Jensen in his house or not. With the speed he had seen in the woods he knew it wouldn't matter if he held the door open it attempted to shut it in the other man's face, if Jensen wanted to come in he would get in somehow.
The door had barely shut by the time Jensen was kissing him, like trying to kiss away the need for an excuse. With the crush of the cold lips and the tongue in his mouth that tasted like warm vanilla it took all of Jared's will to pull away, pushing against an icy chest. "You wanted to talk, Dr. Cullen, so talk."
He could tell it hurt Jensen to hear the formal use of his name. The air changed quickly and Jared stared, confused, at the empty space in front of him where Jensen stood just seconds ago. The click of shoes on wood made him turn and find Jensen, legs crossed elegantly and his posture perfectly upright as he sat on the couch.
The look of fear from the night in the forest returned to Jensen. "I," he forced out the words like it was a painful process, "My family, we're special." He could barely look at Jared and instead found interest in the floorboards.
"Jared, listen," Jensen said, and Jared obeyed. "I'm going to sound crazy but just hear me out. You can ask any question you want. Just know that this needs to stay between us. You can't even think about it," Jensen's voice was calm, unlike his eyes burning with a slight sense of nervousness hidden behind a collected exterior.
"We're vampires."
Jared wasn't sure if he was supposed to find it funny or not. He just stared blankly at Jensen like he'd grown another head. Finally, Jensen met his eyes and the hurt in those green eyes was alarming to Jared. "Right and I'm the cookie monster," he finally replied.
"Jared, I'm not joking, please." Perhaps it was the pain-laced voice or the frantic movement to reach out to Jared that made him realize that Jensen wasn't joking. He was serious. It was impossible, being a vampire, but still Jensen was fucking serious.
"We can get you help for this, Jensen. There are doctors out there who can talk to you, you know," Fear changed to anger in Jensen's eyes as Jared spoke each and every word. Jensen shook his head and insisted, "No, it's not like that Jared," and suddenly Jared had had enough.
"Get out, Jensen. It's not funny, man. Just get out. I can't help you if you won't let me," The cop's voice was sharp and stern, yet caring all at the same time; like a parent scolding his child.
"The first time I met you, Jared, you were bleeding," there was a pause and then Jensen was at his side, his hands curled on Jared's shoulders and his lips dusting against the shell of Jared's ear, "I could smell you, so fucking sweet. Do you know how long it's been since I've smelt someone like you, Jay?"
It made sense, the lack of breathing and the tense posture like Jensen was being tortured. Everything fit into place and Jared found himself more scared of the fact that he believed Jensen than the fact that he knew Jensen was not lying.
He really was a vampire.
After the initial shock wore down they sat quietly on the couch. The silence was borderline awkward but had grown an edge of comfort that made it easy to relax against the soft cushions. "Do you want coffee?" Jared finally asked, sensing a long night ahead of them.
"No, Jay, thank you. I don't eat or drink human food." It was like he was talking about weather, the statement light and airy.
"What else don't you do?" The curiosity had scratched violently at his skin. There were so many fairytales in the world about vampires. From death by sunlight to no reflection, Jared had no idea what was real and what wasn't.
"Sleep," Another casual reply, "We're not incapable, Jared. We can go out in the day as long as it's not too sunny. We don't even have to drink," Jensen paused to search for the right words, finally coming up with, "fresh blood, we don't have to drink fresh blood. We get it from blood banks and animals. That's why I was in the forest. We were hunting. Emmett was getting really thirsty and he's hard to control when he gets too bad."
It was overwhelming. Jared didn't know what thought to process first; everything just came so quick and hard and he had to stop and think, 'wait, vampires are real?'. When Jared had asked to see Jensen's teeth he showed him the thin point at the end, but nothing more. Jensen was practiced in this, experienced with age of what Jared had learned to be hundreds of years, or 360 years to be more precise.
"So, your kids?" Jared asked, curious.
"Adopted, if you will. The process of changing is beyond horrible, it's like your entire life being set on fire and you're burning alive. With them, I did what I had to; they were dying already. They're my family, Jay, I know it sounds crazy but I love them," the answer was full of care and emotion. Crazy didn't fit it at all.
Three or four cups of coffee later Jared's eyelids began to droop, a thin line of exhaustion underneath the curve of his eye. Jensen's hand was so cold against his cheek and he had not realized that Jensen had stopped talking. He remembered being kissed, light and delicate, and then carried like a child to his bed.
He woke with confusion, the sound of rain dropping down on the roof and concrete. Jared rubbed his eyes, yawning and stretching elegantly into a bow-like shape. Somewhere between his room and the bathroom, he remembered the night before. Jared passed it off as a silly dream; the result of too much coffee perhaps.
When he walked back into his room, a towel wrapped sloppily around his muscular waist, Jensen was there. "Jen," he was cut off by lips, abusive and so welcome. Cold hands slipped down over the curve of his shoulders, the pale fingers outlining the muscles as they stretched down his back and towards his ass. A violent blush rose to Jared's cheeks, dreams didn't kiss like that.
He grabbed for Jensen, wanting to pull him closer and beg for more, but instead the other man stepped backwards. The glance Jared received was sharp and practiced. "I should be more careful," Jensen spoke, "I don't want to hurt you, Jay."
Jared stared, questioning. He didn't need to speak for Jensen to know that he wanted to know why the worry. "You have no idea how good you smell, and God your taste, Jay." One of them stepped forward, or perhaps both; it was a blur. Then Jensen whispered lightly in Jared's ear, "You just scream fuck me, take me, and God I want to, so bad."
The words went directly to Jared's groin, his cock hard beneath the towel and his throat dry. He was there for Jensen to take and to play like some broken down instrument, and yet he didn't. "Not yet, Jared. I'm not ready."
It was hard for Jared to push out words, his voice threatening to crack, deep with the fade of arousal. "Okay." That was the end of the discussion, like the door had been shut. Jared went to change and Jensen made breakfast for one. As a southern boy Jared felt it improper to eat in front of a guest but this was one case he figured his mother would allow an exception.
"Did you go home last night?" Jared asked and Jensen nodded, a smile on his lips as he watched Jared lift the fork full of eggs and cheese to his mouth. Jared practically purred after every bite, closing his eyes and grumbling like the food was God's gift to the Earth.
"Man, where did you learn to cook? This is amazing," he spoke before he took another bite, leaving the plate empty without the littlest of crumbs.
"Here and there, Esme taught me that, though," The mood shattered at the mention of Jensen's wife. Jared's posture went rigid and suddenly the eggs might have been just a bit on the bland side. He had not realized he was so easy to read but when he looked up to find Jensen's worried expression he felt like an open book.
The atmosphere was still on edge from the conversation, or lack thereof, in the bedroom just a half hour before. Instead of discussing it they swept it under the rug and silently washed the dishes together before settling on the couch to watch TV.
Curled up in Jensen's cool arms they rested, watching some ridiculous cop show and jibing each other about their professions. It was light and carefree and it felt so good. The emptiness that surrounded Jared the instant Jensen left for his shift at the hospital was like the shock of jumping into a frigid lake in the winter. The addiction that had begun to develop should have been scary to Jared. Instead he found it comfortable, welcomed it with open arms. As long as the arms were Jensen's he would have no fear.
Part Two