The Next Texan Face 20/?
Title: The Next Texan Face 20/?
Pairing: J2
By: freakn_out and heartsonwings
Rating: NC-17 (just to be safe)
Disclaimer: all that follows is fictional
Summary: Jay's a contestant on a TV-show. Jen's the host.
Warnings: This fic is incomplete because freakn_out never finished it.
And just a further note of thanks to heartsonwings for helping me out, my muse really needs to be kicked once in a while =D
He chuckles, his breath warm behind my ear, “That would be a bit sad. Would you prefer to be buried or cremated?”
Punching his belly lightly, I can‘t help laughing, “Idiot.”
“Me?” he sounds so innocent. “Never!”
“Yes, you. You and your conniving ways. You had this all planned, didn’t you?”
“Ah, damn. You got me. I planned this whole thing, everything right from my ankle to the river-tossing-us-around part. All me. Yup.”
We grin stupidly at each other, then it suddenly hits me. “Shit, how’re you feeling? Any dizziness, nausea, hallucinations? How bad’s your ankle? Do you think you can walk? Shit, we have to get you back to the doctor soon. We should probably set off right away.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down, Speedy Gonzales. One thing at a time.” He staggers to his feet, face scrunching up in pain as he breathes out, “Fuuuck.”
I manage to dart forwards just in time to stop him from crumbling into a heap, he groans as I deposit him back on the bed. A new wave of panic bubbles up in me and I suddenly feel like bashing my head against the wall. We had sex. We had sex while Jared could be critically injured. Shit. Shit. Shit. He looks pale and his eyes slightly unfocused. Shit.
After getting him some water, I run my hand furiously through my hair and begin searching the room for some kind of a brace for his leg, just so he doesn’t have to put as much strain on his ankle. I manage to find a piece of cloth that I quickly fold into a bandage. What I also discover, is food. I nearly start singing that song from Oliver Twist, Food, glorious food, but decide not to. But best of all, was an old radio transmitter hidden beneath the desk.
After making some oats, I flip the switch on the ancient machine and grin as it buzzes to life. Then I realise I have no idea what to do and I stare at it for a few seconds.
“Don’t tell me you never had a phase like this?” Jared teases between his groans at having something to eat. We haven’t eaten since yesterday.
By that point I’m too happy just discovering that he does know, so I can’t come up with a decent reply. I help him over and he slips the headphones over his head, easily flipping switches this way and that.
“Mayday, mayday, mayday. 40166 to 40 245, do you read me?”
What the…? Where did he get those numbers… oh. I scan the piece of paper tacked to the radio. Right.
The light flickers and static crackles, then a voice comes over, “Yes, 40166, we read you. Go ahead.”
“We are situated in Cabin 102, 11-23. We require assistance as soon as possible. Two persons, one injured. Over.”
“Call sign 40166, we read you. Help is on its way. Over.”
“40166, clear.” Jared pulls the headphones off and grins at me. They should be here in a few hours.
I stare back blankly for a couple of seconds before grinning.
“Dude, either I’m going loopy or that was seriously hot!”
Jared laughs heartily, “Radio transmission? Seriously? Well, whatever turns you on, I guess!”
I pout, punching him playfully on the arm. “I MEANT you, the brave, hero guy, rescuing me and all.” I bat my eyelashes at him with a smirk and receive a cheeky wink in return just before a very loud knocking sound comes from the door. We both jump as a large and painfully familiar voice booms into the cabin.
“This is 40 245...is anybody in there?”
“Is that…?” Jared starts
“Jeff?” I finish.
We both look at each other before Jeff’s voice floods into the room.
“If that’s who I think it is, then you have some very serious explaining to do!” the stern voice is followed by a chuckle.
I run over to open the door and am met by Jeff’s very amused face. “Sort things out?” he raises an eyebrow, smirking.
“Uhm…well…we uh…we…made up.” I finish lamely.
“Mmhmm, that’s great, okay, so you said something about an injury? I’m guessing Jared…”
I nod letting him into the cabin.
“It’s his ankle, he says he’s alright, but I don’t trust him to walk far on it.”
Jared welcomes Jeff with a smile but makes no attempts to move from his chair.
“Okay Jared, I have some men waiting outside, and we’ll have a wheelchair and a chopper here soon. Oh, and Jensen, before I forget, YOU are in big trouble. The bosses went apeshit when you didn’t show up for prize giving!”
I groan, I knew this was going to happen. “Fuck, do you think they’ll forgive me if I was with a contestant?”
“When you say ‘with‘…?”
“Fuck!”
Jeff smirks at the implication before schooling his face into a serious expression. “Okay, boys time to get out of here. Do you need help, Jared?”
Jared shakes his head slowly before gazing up a me, an pleading, wide-eyed expression on his face. I catch on instantly and dart forwards, “Here, I got ya.”
Slowly, he manages to find his feet, leaning gently against me as if not wanting to put too much pressure on me.
“It’s okay, Jay” I whisper softly in his ear, “Just let me help you.”
Eventually, he allows himself to be held by me, fitting perfectly into my arms.
“Ready?”
He nods and slowly we make our way towards the door, Jeff following closely behind. Once we make our way outside I spot four guys, who I may or may not have met before, all crowded before a rescue helicopter, a wheelchair beside them.
“How’d you get all this here so fast?” Jared asks between gritted teeth, his face pale from the pain.
“We were scouring the area, I knew Jared had an injured leg and we found the remains of the canoe. When we got the radio transmission, it was just a simple matter of landing.”
“Right.”
When the men spot us walking - or limping in Jared’s case - towards them, a few make their way forwards, one pushing the wheelchair before him.
“We have some painkillers in ‘copter, but unless you need any other medical attention, we’re going to take you straight back to the ranch.”
Jared nods calmly, his attempts to hide his pain completely unsuccessful. “Straight back, I would love those painkillers, though.”
With much difficulty and swearing, I mange to help Jared lower himself into the chair. Once he’s sitting comfortably, I begin to wheel the chair up the awaiting ramp, but a large hand clamps down on my shoulder, stopping me from moving.
“If you don’t mind, Jensen, I’d like a quick word?” Jeff’s voice is gruff, gruffer than I’ve ever heard him. One look in his eyes and I know he means business, so, not wanting to be the one to piss him off even further, I reluctantly follow, throwing an apologetic look in Jared’s direction as he was being wheeled away by one of the other men.
“Jensen, look at me.” Jeff waits until my eyes are focused solely on him before he continues, “What went on between you two? Because when you said ‘made up’ I kinda got the impression something more than just talking happened.”
Despite his rough voice, his face is calm and soothing, God, the amount of messages that guy can give out in one sentence.
Letting out a sigh, I realise there’s no point lying to him, he’s probably guessed it anyway.
“We just…we…had sex.” I cast my eyes downwards, not sure how he’ll react, whether he’ll be overjoyed about that fact we made up or just plain pissed at me for doing it with a virgin…who also happens to be a contestant on a show I’m hosting. I’m kind of hoping it’s the first one.
“Jensen…do you really think that was wise?”
My eyes shoot up to glare. “Hey! Of course I do! Do you really think I would have if I hadn’t? I told him that maybe we should wait… but he was so sure and… one thing led to another and we’re both okay with it! We wanted it, so it happened.”
Jeff nods slowly, although I can see mild disappointment on his face.
“Look, I know it seems a little…hasty or whatever, but it was kind of special, you know?” My attempts to smooth him over are met with reluctance.
“Let’s just get back, okay?”
Nodding, I turn to follow him into the helicopter, ready to face my fate with the big bosses.
Jared’s POV
The moment we touch down, all hell breaks loose.
A flurry of medics, angry hosts some with stormy faces and others concerned, surround us. I manage to catch a glimpse of Jensen’s stricken expression, seconds before he disappears into the crowd. I’d love nothing more than to go over and hold him until that look is wiped off his face, but knowing what the consequences will be and not wanting to get the poor guy in even more trouble, I manage to restrain myself.
The moment I manage to wheel myself away from the prying hands of the countless medics, I’m immediately engulfed by Tom, Mike, Sophie, Chris and Steve. Each one trying to be either the first to throttle me or the first one to tell me with an oxygen-stealing hug how worried they were and if I ever do that again…
It’s almost nice to see how much they care, well, until Mike starts declaring his undying love for me, how he’d sacrifice his soul for me to live. I swear that guy has more than a few marbles missing.
It’s only when I manage to wheel my way across to the main tent, that I realise all the other contestants are waiting for us, the entire thing being filmed by various cameramen. That and the fact that Jensen has probably been dragged away by the execs, forms an anxious bubble in my chest. I’d never forgive myself if he loses his job because of me.
“Okay everyone that’s enough! Give the guy at least some room to breath! Come on, move along!”
But that point I’m about to throw up, the flashing lights and shouting making me dizzy. I’m so relieved to hear Jeff’s voice, but the crowd somehow just seems to be getting bigger and bigger, closer and closer…not good.
******************
Jensen’s POV
“What the hell do you mean, you ‘just took him canoeing‘? Do you have any idea how serious this is, Jensen?”
I drop my gaze to a tiny stain on the carpet, feeling like a scolded kid who just got his hand caught in a cookie jar. Yeah, that definitely sounds about right. Jared’s the evil cookie jar who got me into this mess.
“What’s so funny, young man?” the CW exec growls at me.
Quickly wiping the smile from my face, I put on my most earnest expression, “Listen, Jim. You’ve known me for a while, haven’t you?” without waiting for him to nod, I continue, “And in all that time have you ever known me to be unprofessional with any of the contestants?”
Reluctantly he shakes his head.
“I just felt bad for the kid, I mean, I remember when I was his age and how much fun this competition was for me. It must have been a real downer for him when he injured his ankle-”
“And you just had to take him god-knows-where and make it worse?”
Wiping a hand down my face to try erase the frustration that’s boiling up, I try to remind myself that despite all his faults, Jim really doesn’t deserve to be chucked off the cliff. In the middle of the night. With his stupid briefcase chucked after him. No, definitely not.
“Look, I just wanted to ensure that all the contestants were enjoying themselves. I made a mistake. Luckily no one got seriously hurt and-”
“What do you mean, ‘no-one got seriously hurt? Did you see that kid’s ankle? Or maybe you missed how goddamn pale he was? This show’s supposed to be television, Jensen. Not some fucking death-show. I wouldn’t blame this guy if he wanted to press charges. Hell, I’d sue you if I were him. I just hope he blames you and not the company.”
Well, it’s nice to know I’ve got backup, right? But, I doubt that Jay’ll press charges.
“I’m sorry, am I a walking joke book?” Jim’s prissy tone jerks me out of my thoughts.
He’s probably going to fire me. Not that I’ll be surprised. It wouldn’t actually be that bad. I have enough money to set me up for life and if I’m no longer the host, then I can be with Jay openly.
“Look, if you’re going to fire me, go right ahead. I’m starving, tired and dying for a beer, so if you don’t mind?”
He glowers at me, “If it was up to me, the door’d be hitting your ass on your way out. But luckily for you…” he nearly snarls, “the public seem to like this whole fuck up. The ratings have nearly doubled since your disappearing act.”
I couldn’t keep the grin off my face if I tried, “Well, if that’s all then, I’m off to find that beer.”
But of course I don’t. My feet seem to have a mind of their own and moments later I’m nodding at a passing medic and stepping inside Jared’s tent.