Marconi Plays the Mamba, Part Four
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Title: Marconi Plays the Mamba
Author: tcs1121
Artist: 2blueshoes
Pairing and Characters: Jensen/Jared, Felicia Day, Alaina Huffman, DJ Qualls, Chad Michael Murry, Misha Collins, Osric Chau, Katie Cassady, Genevieve Cortese,
Cameos and mentions: Jim Beaver, Sandy McCoy, Mark Pellegrino, Mark Sheppard, Richard Speight, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Brock Kelley, Alona Tal Rob Benedict, Bryan Norcross, Jim Cantore
Rating: NC-17
Genre: J2 AU, romantic comedy, some hurt/comfort
Word Count: ~34,500
Warnings: No Warnings outside of the sexual activities associated with the rating.
Disclaimer: Untrue story. Character names are being used without permission. No money changes hands.
~~*~~*~~Special Thanks to~~*~~*~~
My longtime friend and beta kee Who is so very special.
To my artist 2blueshoes who captured the essence of Jensen's smiles :-)
The art master post is HERE Please take a look and send your love. <3
To wendy Tireless moderator for the SPN J2 Big Bang year after year after year. Thank you, wendy!
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A/N 1: If you don't understand Chad, it's because he speaks in Jimmy Buffett lyrics
A/N 2: All restaurants named are real. I didn't make up any of them.
Summary:
Jensen is a local Florida weatherman who is known for his handsome face and winning smiles. Although he gave up the dream of becoming a real meteorologist, he is extremely passionate about the weather. And, eventually, Jared.
Jared is a brilliant computer programmer whose company, PMC (Padalecki, Morgan, Collins) gets contracted by Jensen's TV studio to revamp their software. Jared speaks fluent Mexican Restaurant Menu Spanish and has strong affection for weather. And, eventually, Jensen.
It's all fun and games until deadly weather threatens their town. Then, it's up to them to save Coconut Bay.
~~*~~*~~
Back to Part Three
~~*~~*~~
"Ms. Huffman, while we’re forcing everyone's attention to the east, watching Hurricane Baby's benign approach, to our west, serious storms are developing that will affect our area. I believe we need to concentrate our viewers on these storms and keep them up to date so they can prepare properly."
Alaina perused the materials regarding derecho storms that Jensen handed her before sitting.
"Thunderstorms? Not dramatic. This," she unfurled the latest edition of the
Nassau Guardian and poked the top story with her marker, "is."
All Eyes are on Hurricane Baby
Hurricane Baby is officially a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of 98 miles per hour and wind gusts up to 115. The storm's course has turned sharply northward toward south Florida with her eye on Miami. However, a large high-pressure system, coming across North America from the west, is likely to impede this storm's progress, possibly causing it to veer away from the United States completely. But right now, Baby has her sights set on Miami, Florida, leaving us here in Nassau and the Bahamas breathing a sigh of relief.
"Yes, Ms. Huffman, but see where they mention the high-pressure system? That ring of high-pressure will chase the hurricane off shore, but the weather coalescing in front of it will create dangerous wind and rain storms." Jensen pounded the desk softly. "Alaina, the public needs to know what's coming. There is a potential for real danger."
Alaina looked at the Guardian and then at Jensen's reports.
"Potential? When?"
"Sometime Wednesday, day after tomorrow, probably nightfall."
"Will the hurricane be gone by then?"
"No, it won't be gone, but it'll be weakening after it's forced into another trajectory."
"Explain that."
Jensen tapped the desk with his index finger. "By Wednesday night, the edge of the high-pressure front will be meeting up with Baby's outer winds. The low pressure of the hurricane will try to slip under the High, but can't get through because this High is stronger. As the high-pressure veers east, northeast, Baby will skirt Florida and boomerang out to the Atlantic, where the waters are cooler, robbing it of energy and turning it into a tropical storm. Meanwhile, we here, are left picking up the pieces of the damaging derecho winds that blew our houses down!"
She stared at the newspaper, stabbing the front page with black dots. "Boomeranging hurricanes are more interesting than windy thunderstorms."
"Ms. Huffman, please."
"I'll look into it." She looked up at Jensen, maybe for the first time ever in Jensen's memory. "I will. I'll talk to the execs. I'll tell them what you told me, and see how they want us to handle it."
Maybe she would, maybe they wouldn't. What he needed was Jared's team and DJs help, because these were more than just windy thunderstorms. These were intense storms that had the potential for creating real damage. They didn't know it yet, but his WBB viewers needed his help.
"Tomorrow?"
"Night. Tomorrow night."
"And where will you be?"
"Here, broadcasting from upstairs. Can you do it, Jay?"
The iPhone was silent on Jensen's end until Jared asked, "How sure are you about this?"
"I am positive."
More silence then, "Yes. We can do it. We will do it."
Jensen breathed out forcefully. "Thank God. Okay, when DJ gets here, I'll fill him in."
"What if he doesn't go for it?"
"I'll lock him in the downstairs bathroom and call Felicia."
"Well, good. I didn't realize you had a backup plan." Jared sounded like he was being playful, but Jensen knew that this undertaking could cost them all, including himself, their jobs. Maybe forever.
"I'll record for the looping tonight," Jared said. "Can I come over after? It could be late."
Alaina had gotten back to Jensen by texting him a picture of a sad face, and the underlined words: EXECTS SAID NO. With a softer touch she wrote: sorry
Now, though, there was more on the line than just their jobs. Jensen ran and reran the vectors and velocities, and found that the downburst clusters and micro bursts that made up this potential derecho storm system, could give birth to sustained winds of up to 115 mph and gusts up to 130. These are the windspeeds of a Category 3 hurricane or an F2 tornado.
This system was now roaring its way across the Gulf of Mexico aiming for the sleepy little city of Coconut Bay.
"I don't care how late you are. I want you here."
"Bossy, bossy."
"Jared, I know I'm asking a lot, and I wouldn't ask if I wasn't sure. I, oh hell, I really appreciate the trust you have in me that you're willing to do this."
"Hey, Jensen?"
"Yes?"
"I know. I'll be over late tonight. Love you, bye."
*click*
Jensen hoped he'd get another chance to stay away from the wind farms and avoid la petite mort because Jared was risking everything on Jensen's word alone.
"Love you, too, Jay," he said into the air. "Love you, too."
Jensen was pacing in his master bedroom when Jared knocked softly on the door frame.
"How did you get in?" Jensen rushed over and hugged him.
"Key in the Oleander." Jared kissed the top of his head.
"Jay, if there was any other way, believe me I wouldn't ask you. I hate that I can't do it on my own. I hate that you have to risk your jobs because of me."
Jared looked Jensen square in the eye. "If you tell me that lives and property are in danger, and that we can warn them? We have to do it. Remember, I'm the kid in the storm cellar hugging my dogs, and we barely had enough warning to get there."
Jensen was speechless. Partially because he got a flash of a very young Jared, huddling, terrified in an underground bunker while his family fought to keep the wind from blowing them away. Also because of the profound faith Jared had in him.
"Okay, what's the game plan?" Jensen sat on the edge of the bed and patted the spot next to him.
"Since you calculated that the weather will reach critical mass tomorrow night, we'll need to get you solidly on the air without Security messing us up. To get your broadcast live, all of Alona and Rob's feed will have to be switched off, including the cameras. To make the audio switch, I recorded portions of Alona and Rob's newscast this evening to loop it through the station's sound system to make it sound like they are still broadcasting after we cut their feed. It will take less than a minute to cut to you. The cameras going dark will be a little trickier.
"During the switch, the lights on Camera One, the stationary camera, will go out for that half minute, so whoever is on the air will see that camera wink out. We'll get the camera's lights on again, even though the camera's offline, but for that few seconds we'll need a diversion. The manned camera feed will already be disabled, but with the red light on and the camera operating properly the cameraman won't know his camera is dark to the air. Your feed will go live, but audio only. It'll be a lot harder to kick you off the air if you're weathercast is routed through the studio than from your bedroom."
"Wow, Jared, that's amazing." Jensen's hand shook as he ran his fingers through his hair. "What's the diversion going to be?"
"Not what, but who?" Jared grinned. "Big Jim from Big Jim's Sports Spot with Big Jim will be breaking into the on-air news with some imaginary sports emergency that he has to take to the airwaves with. He'll see Camera One shut off, and keep talking until it lights up again. By then, we'll be split seconds away to getting you up and running."
"Big Jim would do that?" Jensen breathed, "For me?"
"For you and Coconut Bay." He wrapped his arms around Jensen. "If I wasn't so sure I was your person of choice, I’d be jealous of Big Jim because he thinks awfully highly of you."
"That's great." Jensen tried to keep him emotions intact. "That's great of him to help."
"Well, after my team gets the studio live feed disabled, and your live audio on the air, we'll cut the looping, and continue to outwit the station's Security team to keep you live. That's why we needed the diversion and the looping. If we got caught before you got on the air, they could shut us down, but once I get your broadcast up, we've got the wheel and you're on the air until you tell me it's over."
"Your team is incredible. I can't begin to thank you all."
Jared hugged him close. "At the risk of getting you all jealous, Misha's the one who came up with the coding to keep Security out of the system once you start weathercasting."
Jensen shook his head. "Nope, sorry. I still want to break his nose." He was smiling, but his eyes were sad. "I'll keep a close eye on the storm formations, and as soon as I feel I need to start the warnings, I'll let you know. Right now, I'm thinking it'll be somewhere near the end of the 9:00 News Hour."
Jared's voice became deadly serious. "You need to do something for me, Jensen."
"Anything."
"Listen carefully. If, at any time, you feel that you're in the line of fire, you must end the broadcast and take cover immediately."
"Jay, that's not likely."
"You have to promise me, Jensen, or all bets are off. I know it's not likely that an F2 storm will tear down your street, but you'll be the first to see it if it does. If you do, promise me you'll get to safety."
"What about you?" Jensen was ashamed to think that he hadn't thought of that. "Will you be safe? You won't be able to hear my alerts."
"After your live stream is locked in, it'll take an act of God-or Misha-to get you off the air. We'll all be listening to you at the studio."
"There are windows in Alaina's office." Jensen said. "She'll want to chew you out when she finds out what we've done. Make sure you stay out of her office and away from the windows."
"I will if you will." Jared took his hand.
Jensen squeezed tight. "I will if you will."
"You will?" Jared's eyes were stern.
"I will."
"Okay, let's go to sleep, we have a busy day tomorrow." Jared lay them both down. Jensen in his soft pajama pants, and Jared in his jeans and tee shirt.
"Jay, thank you."
"Don't thank me. Just tell me you love me."
"I love you."
"Now tell me you'll be safe."
"I'll be safe."
"Then, that's all that matters. But if something does happen, I get the telescoping eyeball."
"Okay. Deal."
"We're watching the weather for you, Coconut Bay. Hurricane Baby will be heading out to sea, but there is rough weather expected to arrive here tonight. The National Weather Service has issued thunderstorm watches for our area, but I'm sure they will be issuing severe storm warnings soon. A watch is just that, they're watching the weather. A warning means the danger is imminent. These are very strong, very dangerous storms coming to our area.
"I'll be keeping you up-to-date throughout the day and evening, so stay tuned. Also, make sure you have fresh batteries for your radios and flashlights in case any power outages occur. Stay safe, Coconut Bay, and stay tuned here." Jensen couldn't force a smile even if he wanted to.
He didn't want to tip his hand and get yanked off the air by the studio executives by being too alarmist, so he kept a low but definite profile on today's weather. Unfortunately, today appeared to be JAPDIP-Just Another Perfect Day In Paradise, so his warnings about stormy weather were pretty much ignored.
Three, two, one, "Okay, Jensen. We're out. You were pretty serious today. What's up?"
DJ flipped a switch and began wrapping a power cord around his arm.
"DJ, I need you to do something for me. If you don't want to, that's cool, but I'd ask you, please don't mess this up."
"What the hell are you talking about?" DJ grinned ear-to-ear.
"Come into the kitchen and we'll talk."
Jensen used his French Press as he laid out the entire plan. DJ was needed at Jensen's to maintain the live audio feed so that the studio could pick up the broadcast. Jensen couldn't be on the air broadcasting weather warnings and maintaining the output by himself. He needed DJ's help.
DJ sat stone silent and tinged green.
"DJ, are you all right?"
He swallowed, "Yeah. I, I, I've got to make a phone call."
"DJ?"
"No, don't worry. I gotta, you know, get someone to take care of Scout." DJ took in a breath. "I'm with you all the way, Jensen." And he left.
Jensen sat with his head in his hands. Look what he was doing to the people closest to him. He almost wished he didn't know about the damaging winds about to engulf his town, but he knew what he knew, and had to warn them.
"Okay, Jensen. Tell me times and exactly what we need to do."
Jensen brewed another pot of coffee and gave a recap. The color had returned to DJ's face and now he looked determined.
"DJ, I'm so sorry I have to bring you into this."
"Naw, we're friends and that's what friendship is all about. You know, trust and stuff, and I trust you. Besides, if the bosses at WBB don't understand that there's danger to our town, and you do, Jense, then you need to save us."
"I think I'll get a dog. When this is all over, come with me to the animal shelter and help me pick one out, okay?"
"Absolutely! Play dates! Maybe even agility classes. I heard they were a blast. Wait a minute."
There was steady knocking at the front door. Scout bounded in followed by a somber looking Felicia.
"Well, Weatherman. When do we start?"
The goddamn sunshine just didn't let up. The blue skies and hot summer breezes off the Gulf were making a liar out of him. The days were lasting longer and the sun was so bright it was having a hard time setting.
Jensen got some nasty tweets @AckWeather with a # So Where's the Wind? when he continued to broadcast his, and the National Weather Service's, warnings. Even though he was the trusted voice of Coconut Bay's weather, he had to orchestrate his warnings carefully, or they'd stop paying attention all together.
So, they waited. Jensen was glued to his weather monitors, DJ kept the regular live feeds going and Felicia manned the phones, speaking with Jared. It was 8:39 PM and the sun was thinking about setting, when Jensen's heart skipped a beat. All the elements were coming together to form the first shelf cloud. These menacing, low hanging, dark cloud formations marked the creation of the gust fronts of a derecho.
Even though Jensen knew it was coming, seeing the strength of the storms forming in front of his eyes was terrifying
Once these storms got going, they were fast and furious. They traveled fifty to seventy linear miles per hour, so catching them as soon as the conditions were ripe was vital.
"Red, get Jared on speaker phone." Jensen had only glanced away from his monitors for a second, and the mounting storms gained strength exponentially.
"Jensen?"
"It's go time."
"On it. Give us forty seconds. Countdown starts now."
They were listening to the WBB newsroom on Jensen's open phone when Big Jim's voice boomed through.
"Hey, you idjits, it's Big Jim here from Big Jim's Sport Spot, and I just gotta innerupt this broadcast for an important announcement."
"Are you sure it's time for that, Jim?" Alona's sweet voice asked.
"Well, hell, you know it is, Missy. The Sun Park Wildcats have finally done it! For the first time in Wildcat history…"
Jensen waved his hand, Felicia cut the speaker and put the phone to her ear. After several more seconds, she pointed at DJ and nodded.
"You ready, Jensen?" DJ asked.
Jensen nodded; eyes glued to the monitor.
"You're on in three, two, one, and now."
"This is not a drill. This is Jensen Ackles with an urgent storm warning from the National Weather Service. A derecho storm system with damaging winds and heavy thunderstorms is approaching Coconut Bay. Possible flash flooding, large hailstones and dangerous windstorms carrying tornado strength winds are heading straight for us. Damaging winds will cause trees and large branches to fall, blocking the roadways. Localized power outages are possible. Unsecured home, patio and outdoor objects could become flying projectiles.
"These waves of storms are coming in fast and there is high potential for property damage and serious physical injury. I repeat, this is not a drill.
Jensen's eyes darted across the data coming across his screens.
"Listen up! Residents of the Parkside area of the Bay take cover immediately as winds of, " Jensen checked again, "shit, sustained winds of 85 miles per hour are heading your way. Get away from the windows and move to the lowest and innermost room of your house. Lock the doors and take your portable radio and bunker down. Wait for the all clear."
Jensen nervously scanned the information streams, watching as the bow echo of the first wave screamed toward Parkside. The next wave was already forming and lining up. Felicia's phone was up to her ear, and the land line phones to Jensen's house were all buzzing.
He took to the air. "Bay Park! Storms are heading your way now. Hit the deck. Immediately, and I mean now, get your kids inside and go to the floor. This one's coming in fast and these winds are brutal at," Jensen frantically calculated the speeds, "over 90 miles per hour, and gusts higher than that. Everybody in Bay Park, take cover, take cover, and move as far away from trees and power lines as you can. Stay away from the windows."
Now, the storms were hitting all over. Lightning and thunder occurred at the same time. The skies were wide open and horizontal rain and large hail battered Jensen's house so hard it was tough to be heard without screaming.
"Coconut Bay, flash flooding is possible. Do not, do not drive through flooded areas or into any standing water. Turn around. If you're caught up in floodwaters, get out of the car and move to higher ground before you get swept away!"
The lights in Jensen's house flickered. Scout cowered under the bed as a new wave formed. Stronger winds were blasting at over 100 miles per hour and aiming-Jensen's breath caught in his throat-aiming straight at Park Dale. Straight at the WBB studio.
"Red! Tell Jared one's coming his way!"
"On it. I've got Chad."
"Chad, there's fins to the left, fins to the right! Keep your heads down and away from the windows. Please, please Jared, if you're listening, take your team and go to the console room and take cover. Stay safe! Jared! You promised!" Jensen didn't care if he was on the air, openly concerned about his person of choice. His Jared.
"Park Dale! You're it. Go inside right now. Hit the ground, get in the bathtub, cover yourself up and stay there. Keep down! Stay down! This wave is strong, with gusts over 100 mph, and that's the power of a Cat 2, and it's aiming right at you. Get inside, get down, now, now, now!"
He watched the weather cameras and his stomach dropped as the shelf cloud engulfed the television station a little over a mile away. His own house swayed with the force of the derecho winds funneling around him.
"Red, get Jay on the phone, I need to hear he's okay."
"Working on it."
"Shit. Shit. Shit! Gulf Beach Park, Gulf Beach Park! Take cover. Take cover now. This is urgent. Listen to me. Listen to me! If you're in your car, stay in your car and out of the way of power lines and trees. Keep your seatbelts on. Do not, I repeat, do not take shelter under an overpass because the winds and debris get funneled through them. Get your vehicle lower than the road. Lower than the road! If you can't get inside a safe structure, run your car into a ditch and stay belted in. Take cover. Gulf Beach Park, get in the house, away from the windows. Get in the bathtub at once and lock the doors because there are rotational winds heading your way, too.
"Felicia, have you talked to Jared?"
"Still trying Jensen."
"Keep trying."
Jensen sought out windspeeds, direction and rotation, extrapolating the next bullseye. His mouth went dry as his eyes locked on the screen. "Felicia, hang up. Get DJ."
"What?"
"Do it! Winter Park, get ready, the next blast is coming our way. "
Felicia and DJ stood at attention.
"Okay," Jensen said. "Take all the pillows, the comforters and all the cushions you can carry. Take Scout and go to the middle downstairs bathroom. The bathtub is big enough for the three of you."
The house was shaking wildly.
"Cover yourselves with the pillows and cushions, lock the door and don't come out until I give the word."
"Jensen? Come with us." Felicia's voice cracked. "Please come with us."
"Soon. You go, now!" He yelled into the mike. "This is bad, Winter Park, we've got 110 mile per hour wind gusts coming at us. This is code red, don't think, run. Run inside, stay low and keep low. Stay down and get to cover, immediately, immediately!"
Jensen felt DJ slip something into his pocket. "Get downstairs, DJ!"
"Winter Park!" Jensen shouted. "Winter Park, seek shelter, now!" The whole house quaked. Jensen's roof rattled and he felt the floor cracking. "Take cover in the lowest floor of your house! Innermost room, away from windows!" Glass shattered in his master bedroom, and an ominous groan rose from the roof rafters. The pressure in his ears was sudden and painful, "Move away from trees! Away from power lines! Go, go, go!"
A powerful downburst tore through his bedroom. His desktop computer smashed through the window behind him and he felt himself lift from the floor. When he looked up, he saw the sky.
Shit.
Jared would later tell Jensen that, over the live stream, he heard glass breaking, metal crunching, and a deafening roar. He swore he heard Jensen gasp before all that was left in the air was static.
The first thing Jensen heard was Jared's soft voice. "…because Misha was able to get the WNBC national news in New York City to carry your reporting live, and Osric hacked into the Emergency Broadcast System to get your broadcast out on people's radios, computers and phones- I don't know how he did it, and he probably should be in jail-," Jared stopped to sniff, "we are not only not in trouble, we're kind of heroes, except," here Jared's voice faltered, "except we all know who the real hero is. Can you please, please open your eyes, now?"
Jensen would have liked to, but he didn't quite remember how. He was in a stupidly soft place, he felt no pain, and Jared was here. All was well. The storm must be over.
The storm.
The wailing of mechanical beeping and shrill alarms accompanied Jensen's attempts to sit up.
Bad mistake. Bad. Bad. Bad.
"Jensen?" Jared's voice filtered through the noise and pain. "Help! We need help in here!"
More beeping.
"Jensen? Can you hear me? Try to take it easy, okay? Be easy. Jensen are you okay? Jensen?" Jared took his hand.
Something was happening all around him, but hearing Jared ask him questions continuously, while mildly annoying, was a balm for his soul. No wonder Jared was his boyfriend. He was suddenly tired so he figured he'd catch a few zzzs before pulling another stunt like that one.
~~*~~*~~
Jensen tried to open his eyes, because he remembered that attempting to sit up was a terrible idea. He wasn't going to do that again. Like, ever. He'd start slow.
It was quiet again, with soft sounds, soft smells and Jared's right hand in his left. It sounded like Jared was snoring.
Jensen tried and tried until he was successful at getting one eye to open. He wasn't sure what he was seeing but it didn't look good.
"Hey, hey Jensen. Can you hear me now?"
Jensen swallowed twice before attempting a sound. "Ver…n?"
Jared aimed a bendy straw at Jensen's mouth and he sipped. Jared whispered softly, "How about now? Can you hear me now?"
Jensen nodded and mouthed a word. Jared brought his ear down close.
"Verizon." Jensen nodded again. "Can you hear me, now?" Boy, his voice sounded awful and felt even worse.
To Jensen's utter horror, Jared broke into a million weeping pieces.
"You promised, Jensen. You promised. I will if you will you said. Well I did and you didn't. When Alaina called me into her office to ream me out over the live stream hijacking, I told her I wasn't going in, and that if I were her, I'd get to the console room immediately."
Jensen blinked twice.
"You bet your ass I did, and, no, she didn't like it, but she came. It was a good thing, too, because one of the station's landscaped Magnolia trees exploded through her window and impaled itself on her desk chair. Glass was fucking everywhere. And do you know why I didn't get hurt? Do you know why? I didn't get hurt because I stuck to the deal. I didn't go into her office where there were windows."
Jensen sighed a prayer of deep thanks. He began shaking, holding tighter to Jared's hand.
Jared dropped his head. "You didn't stick to the deal and we almost lost you." Jared glanced at Jensen, "In fact, we did sort of lose you. If DJ hadn't slipped Scout's GPS into your pocket, we might have found you much later than we did."
Jensen cocked his head to the left.
"Oh," Jared said. "After Scout got lost the last time, DJ bought a GPS locator for him to wear on his collar. DJ put it in your back pocket before he, Scout and Felicia went to safety in your ground floor bathtub."
Jensen knitted his eyebrows.
"Yeah, they're fine. Covered in goose down, but waiting downstairs to hear how you're doing, like the rest of the country. Do you remember us finding you?"
Jensen shook his head, no, then tested his vocal cords. "How bad?" There, that wasn't so hard.
"Lots of property damage, several low-lying areas got hit with flash flooding, and a small tornado touched down in Gulf Beach Park. Some people got hurt, but no deaths. Not one." His eyes got wet. "Almost one, Jensen. Almost you. Why didn't you move to safety? Why?" Jared's eyes were more than wet, now.
"Sorry. I'm sorry." When did it take so much energy to say three words? He started to lose the battle with consciousness. "Jay?"
"Rest now. I'll let people know you're awake, and then I'll be back. I'll be right back."
Jensen though about nodding, but lost the thought as he drifted away.
True to his word, Jared was back at his bedside, holding his hand. Jensen felt bold so he squeezed Jared's hand. Jared jerked up.
"Hey, how're doing?" Jared aimed the bendy straw again.
Jensen sucked down a few mouthfuls of cool water and took a deep breath.
"What happened to me?" he squeaked.
"You...you got blown out of your house and landed in the back yard." Jared's hands shook so hard he had to put down the bendy straw. "You were buried under rubble, so we had to key in Scout's GPS code to find you."
Jensen's eyes widened in shock.
"Am I okay?"
"No."
"No?" The beeping started up in earnest and Jensen had trouble catching his breath.
"Hold on, hold on. You're going to be okay. You're just not okay right now." Jared held and squeezed Jensen's hand. "Here, breathe with me. In and out. In and out."
"What's?" In and out, in and out. "What's not okay about me?"
"Easy. Slow and easy." Jared smoothed Jensen's hair away from his face. He stroked his cheek and kissed his hair. Jensen had to admit that it was a good way of calming him down.
"Jensen, when they found you…"
"So, how's Florida's favorite weatherman? I'm Doctor Brown, one of your orthopedic surgeons, we haven't been formally introduced, but I know you pretty well." Doctor Brown came in with a laptop on wheels and was currently pulling up what appeared to be Jensen's medical information.
Jensen turned to Jared and mouthed, "Doc Brown?"
"Yeah," Jared whispered and then stood. "He's the one who pinned you back together."
"One of the surgeons. You've had quite a team working on you, son. Dr. Whovian and I have been the main two tag-teaming you." Doc Brown smiled kindly and sat in Jared's chair, at eye level with Jensen. "First, you're a very lucky man. You sustained impact injuries from a defenestration from the second story and impact injuries caused by falling and blowing debris."
Jensen was squinting.
"You got blown out of a window from your top floor, landed in your yard and stuff hit you while you were falling and stuff fell on top of you after you landed," Doc Brown clarified.
Jensen felt Jared's hand on his shoulder on the other side of the bed.
"Your pelvis is fractured, as is your left ankle. Your right femur-that's your thigh bone-is also fractured and your right knee was dislocated. Now, let's see," Doc Brown clicked through the reports in front of him. "Your right elbow needed surgical realignment, and your right wrist, and three of the four fingers on your right hand were broken. You took a lot of damage on that right side. You have three cracked ribs, also on the right, and a concussion resulting in a mild closed head injury. Internal damage was done to your spleen and right lung, and you sustained a mean case of road rash," he looked up. "That's going to hurt. We surgically reduced the femur fracture and used pins and rods so it would heal properly. We set the bones in your ankle and wrist and fingers. We had to surgically realign the right elbow and braced your right knee, but you'll need surgery on that in the next couple of weeks. Your pelvis and ribs will heal on their own."
Jensen kept with the in and out, in and out, as much as he could. "Wow," he panted. "I'm a mess."
"There is good news, though," the doctor said, gently. "There was no damage to your spine, no lasting effects from the head injury are expected, although you may never remember the actual event. All of the internal injuries are expected to heal without complications. As a bonus, not a mark on your face. Twelve stitches at the hairline, but even those will be invisible with time."
"Will I walk again?"
"Yes. It's going to take time and work, but we expect you to be back on both feet again. Mr. Ackles, you were badly hurt, but you're young and strong, and have friends and support. No one can predict your prognosis with certainty, but we expect all positive outcomes."
"Good, I think. Thank you." Jensen swallowed around the lump in his throat.
"How's the pain?"
"Not bad."
"Until he tried to sit up," Jared interjected.
Jensen attempted a glare at Jared, but Jared looked so battered that he couldn't hold it for long.
"Be honest about the pain. We can and should control it for you. Please let the nurses know when you need relief. I'll give you something in your IV now and I'll be checking on you later this evening."
"Thank you, doctor," said Jensen.
"Thanks, doc," said Jared as the doctor left the room and shut the door.
"The way I look at it, I can still forecast the weather. In fact, I might be able to predict cold fronts just with my bones alone." He smiled feebly at Jared.
"My house didn't get hit hard. I'm over in Parkbridge, and we didn't get a full-on blast. I'd like it if you came home with me after your stay in rehab. I have wide doorways and wide hallways big enough for your temporary wheelchair. I have that big guest bedroom on the ground floor with an attached bathroom that we could modify."
"Oh," Jensen's face fell. "The guest bedroom, huh?"
Jared finally shot Jensen his winning smile. "The guest bedroom that we can modify into a master bedroom."
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
Jensen was hoping Jared wanted to do this.
"Of course, I do. After all, there's somethings I haven't told you yet."
"No more surprises. I don't think I can take any more surprises."
"Sorry, but you have to know that when Misha ran the live feed through the major NBC networks to the entire country, you became America's New Darling."
"Please say that's not true."
"Well, that's what I call you."
"Please don't."
"All of America heard you warning the city about the derecho. Live. You were live when you asked about my safety. That's how I was able to be your significant other and allowed to be here with you right now. Can we start using the term "boyfriend"?"
"Yes we can, boyfriend."
"You were live on the air the whole time and that meant everybody heard when you…" Jared stopped and caught his breath. "You were live when the storm got you."
Jensen squeezed Jared's wrist with his unbroken hand.
"You generated a lot of public concern when it took some time to get you out. I warn you now, because pretty soon this whole hospital will be filled with Get Well Soon balloons, flowers, candy and toys. Felicia's been fielding all your calls."
"How long did it take to find me?"
"Thanks to Scout and DJ we knew right away where you were buried. Getting you out took a little doing, especially since the storms were still winding down. The first responders had to shore up the debris before is safe to move you. Most of your rescue was on the local air, live, with the WBB news crew."
"Crap." A floaty, calm feeling quietly overcame Jensen. Am I on a cloud?
"No, you're not on a cloud. Take a look here." Jared opened the top three buttons of his shirt. "Saint Medardus. I'm wearing him and thanking him for you."
He reached over and stroked the medal Jared held, and gave him a drooly smile.
Jared must have known that the drugs were hitting so he added quickly, "When you wake up, I have one more piece of news for you, and I'm sure you're going to like it. "
"Huh? Wha's'zit?"
"I'll tell you later, and, if you're good, and if they let me, I'll sneak you in a salad from Bread Zeppelin. Go to sleep."
A soft touch at his hairline, a soft kiss at his temple and Jensen was out for the count.
Four Months Later
"The great state of Florida has asked me to join its citizens in recognizing Jensen Ackles for his heroic actions and outstanding bravery, disregarding imminent risk to his own life, to issue warnings to keep safe the residents of Coconut Bay and beyond, during a destructive derecho storm. Risking, and, in fact, sustaining serious bodily injury to himself, Jensen acted to keep the citizens of his hometown informed as to the progression and track of the storms. Mr. Ackles remained live, on the air, reporting while catastrophic storms struck his listening area. He warned the residents of the impending dangers and appropriate methods of when and how to seek cover and avoid injury. While there was extensive property damage and many personal injuries, there were no deaths related to this weather event. We believe we owe that to Jensen Ackles's exceptional weather coverage, as well as to his dedication and courage in reporting it.
"It is with great pleasure and great thanks and humility that I am allowed to honor Jensen with the State of Florida Civilian Medal of Valor."
The audience rose from their seats, clapping loudly as Jared helped Jensen stand, handing him his cane for the slow walk up the steps to the podium.
Jensen's cheeks felt red and his eyes were misty as he stood and surveyed the auditorium and the guests who were standing in front of him. He turned to the speaker who was handing him the boxed medal of civilian valor. It was a silver star with the engraved letter V and Great Seal of the State of Florida, In God We Trust in the middle.
"Thank-you, Mr. Norcross, for this unexpected and wholly appreciated honor. However, I feel I need to set the record straight. It wasn't just me who warned the town. I could not have broadcasted to the listeners if it hadn't been for my production staff, the PMC&O tech team and the WBB network studio staff. Oh," Jensen pointed out into the audience, "and Big Jim Beaver."
He shifted his weight to the left to off his still sore right side. He really could tell the weather with his bones.
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Bryan. You will never know how much this means to me."
Jensen took the box, looked inside and then held it up for them all to see.
The crowd went wild with joyful clapping and cheers. Alaina, Jim and the WBB crew was off to the left, PMC&Osric were off to the right, and Felicia, DJ, Jared and Scout were front and center. Jensen had left his little shelter mutt, Meddie, short for Medardus, at home. She was probably chewing up the couch-again.
Jared helped Jensen get situated comfortably in his chair to watch the other honorees receive their accolades in this Honor's Awards Ceremony.
He leaned over to Jared and whispered, "So, where to after this?"
"How about Chinese? I'm thinking Fu King Chinese or maybe Soon Fatt? Big Wong? Man Ho? Or Vietnamese? Pho King Good? TemptAsian?"
"All good choices."
The crowd stood applauding for Sarah O'Malley, the Middle School teacher who was driving home during Jensen's derecho. She convinced three of her students, who were playing in the wind storm, to get into her car for safety where she drove into a low ditch. Power lines came down almost immediately where they had been standing. The wind blew harmlessly over the top of her Honda Pilot.
"Because of Jensen Ackles's reporting, I was able to save three young lives plus my own. Thank you, Jensen."
The crowd turned from applauding Sarah to applauding Jensen in the front row. Two young men and one young lady, the teenagers, walked over to Jensen.
The girl held out a pink rose. "A pink rose signifies admiration and appreciation. Mr. Ackles, thank you for saving our lives."
Jensen swallowed. Overcome and unable to speak, he turned his wide, wet eyes to Jared.
Jared took the rose for Jensen and said, "Mr. Ackles says it was his honor. Thank you."
Jensen clamped his jaw shut and nodded vigorously to the kids.
Each boy said 'thank you' before returning to their seats.
Jensen sniffed and practiced breathing. If there was ever any question as to whether the pain he'd experienced since taking a two-story fall was worth it, it was answered in the form of one pink rose.
Jared stroked his shoulder, took his hand and asked, "So, Man Ho?"
Jensen snorted.
It was gross.
Epilogue
"I'm going to be old by the time I finish." Jensen whined, as he packed another suitcase. He only needed two. All his worldly possessions, except for his car, which he couldn't even drive for several months, were either lost or ruined by the storms. Now, he had two suitcases full of clothes and that was about it. He'd been living with Jared since the accident and didn't need anything but clothes.
"You're going to be old anyway, you might as well be an old meteorologist." Jared was packing his house up, so it was a lot more work for him. "Shit, Jensen, you're kind of old now, so what difference will it make?"
"Well, that's just nice. I'm already old? What difference will it make? Well, that's just nice."
Jared sighed, swung his arm around Jensen, aimed his lips at his and effectively shut him up.
After several minutes of that, Jensen breathed and sighed. "Well-that's just nice."
"Come on, admit it, you're excited about starting our new adventure." Jared marked a box: KTCHEN
"I am." Jensen sat on the stair. He was still healing. Even after several months his right knee and right elbow still didn't bend easily. But Jared had been the best nurse ever. Even so, he probably wasn't ever going to be hiking, rock climbing or snowboarding, but he never did those before, so it was more or less okay.
Jared could work remotely, so moving to Greenville, North Carolina for a few years wouldn't be too hard on him. Then they'd planned on moving back to Florida so Jensen could work on his doctorate in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology at Florida State University.
Jensen had said to Jared. "I know I probably could have stayed in Florida for the whole nine yards of Atmospheric Sciences, but I'd read about East Carolina University when I was thirteen and I always wanted to go there."
"So, we'll go there," Jared had said. And that was that.
There was a gleam in Jared's eye and a spring to his step as he packed up his house. Jensen didn't remember the last time he saw Jared wearing his beanie.
He took it as a personal accomplishment.
Jared would be renting his house out. Jensen had insurance money and savings, and they'd be renting a house in Greenville. It was scary, but what a pleasure it was to retire Numbers One through Twenty.
"So," Jensen scratched the floor with the toe of his shoe. "No regrets?"
Jared looked up from his packing. "Hmm, do I have any regrets?" He sat and placed his hand up to his chin. "You mean outside of that time you didn't keep your promise and almost died?"
Jensen's ears burned red. He kept scratching the floor. "Yeah, outside of that."
"Let me think." Jared paused so long that Jensen got nervous and looked up.
"Nope, not a one." Jared unloaded his 1000-watt, full double-dimpled smile with his eyebrows up and his front teeth showing.
And dear God, it was beautiful.
~~*~~*~~fin~~*~~*~~
Cue Starship: We Built This City
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
Sincerest thanks to my artist 2blueshoes for the hard work and winning smile! The art master post can be found HERE on AO3
~~*~~*~~
And for any of you Hurt!Jensen/Caring!Jared fans out there, I've written and posted a timestamp chronicling Jensen's rescue and recovery. It's a little more serious than the original, but you'll recognize the fun restaurant names. Go HERE to read We Made it Through the Rain for the Hurt/Comfort timestamp. Enjoy!
Additional notes:
Unfortunately, I don't think there really is a State of Florida Civilian Medal of Valor.
However, Chad's Margaritaville hat exists
Kate Beckinsale in costume
Not Blue Steel but Magnum elicited the "Dear God, it's beautiful."
I lived in Clearwater and Tampa, Florida and the local weatherman used to say JAPDIP after almost every forecast.
Weather Info and Links
Yes, derecho storms can have windspeeds this intense. Derecho information from NOAA
I was in the middle of a Derecho a few years back, and they are fast, furious, dark, even in the daytime, and tornado scary.
Flash Flood Safety Information
Tornado Safety Tips
NOAA Main Site
High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR)
National Weather Service (NWS)
North American Mesoscale Forecast System (NAM)
National Center for Environmental Prediction
Aviation Weather Center
Hurricane Harvey
YouTube: Bryan Norcross recalls Hurricane Andrew 25 Years Later.
Rare Red Lightning Sprites
Sundogs
Because Sundogs are cool
.
Title: Marconi Plays the Mamba
Author: tcs1121
Artist: 2blueshoes
Pairing and Characters: Jensen/Jared, Felicia Day, Alaina Huffman, DJ Qualls, Chad Michael Murry, Misha Collins, Osric Chau, Katie Cassady, Genevieve Cortese,
Cameos and mentions: Jim Beaver, Sandy McCoy, Mark Pellegrino, Mark Sheppard, Richard Speight, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Brock Kelley, Alona Tal Rob Benedict, Bryan Norcross, Jim Cantore
Rating: NC-17
Genre: J2 AU, romantic comedy, some hurt/comfort
Word Count: ~34,500
Warnings: No Warnings outside of the sexual activities associated with the rating.
Disclaimer: Untrue story. Character names are being used without permission. No money changes hands.
~~*~~*~~Special Thanks to~~*~~*~~
My longtime friend and beta kee Who is so very special.
To my artist 2blueshoes who captured the essence of Jensen's smiles :-)
The art master post is HERE Please take a look and send your love. <3
To wendy Tireless moderator for the SPN J2 Big Bang year after year after year. Thank you, wendy!
~~*~~*~~
A/N 1: If you don't understand Chad, it's because he speaks in Jimmy Buffett lyrics
A/N 2: All restaurants named are real. I didn't make up any of them.
Summary:
Jensen is a local Florida weatherman who is known for his handsome face and winning smiles. Although he gave up the dream of becoming a real meteorologist, he is extremely passionate about the weather. And, eventually, Jared.
Jared is a brilliant computer programmer whose company, PMC (Padalecki, Morgan, Collins) gets contracted by Jensen's TV studio to revamp their software. Jared speaks fluent Mexican Restaurant Menu Spanish and has strong affection for weather. And, eventually, Jensen.
It's all fun and games until deadly weather threatens their town. Then, it's up to them to save Coconut Bay.
~~*~~*~~
Back to Part Three
~~*~~*~~
"Ms. Huffman, while we’re forcing everyone's attention to the east, watching Hurricane Baby's benign approach, to our west, serious storms are developing that will affect our area. I believe we need to concentrate our viewers on these storms and keep them up to date so they can prepare properly."
Alaina perused the materials regarding derecho storms that Jensen handed her before sitting.
"Thunderstorms? Not dramatic. This," she unfurled the latest edition of the
Nassau Guardian and poked the top story with her marker, "is."
All Eyes are on Hurricane Baby
Hurricane Baby is officially a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of 98 miles per hour and wind gusts up to 115. The storm's course has turned sharply northward toward south Florida with her eye on Miami. However, a large high-pressure system, coming across North America from the west, is likely to impede this storm's progress, possibly causing it to veer away from the United States completely. But right now, Baby has her sights set on Miami, Florida, leaving us here in Nassau and the Bahamas breathing a sigh of relief.
"Yes, Ms. Huffman, but see where they mention the high-pressure system? That ring of high-pressure will chase the hurricane off shore, but the weather coalescing in front of it will create dangerous wind and rain storms." Jensen pounded the desk softly. "Alaina, the public needs to know what's coming. There is a potential for real danger."
Alaina looked at the Guardian and then at Jensen's reports.
"Potential? When?"
"Sometime Wednesday, day after tomorrow, probably nightfall."
"Will the hurricane be gone by then?"
"No, it won't be gone, but it'll be weakening after it's forced into another trajectory."
"Explain that."
Jensen tapped the desk with his index finger. "By Wednesday night, the edge of the high-pressure front will be meeting up with Baby's outer winds. The low pressure of the hurricane will try to slip under the High, but can't get through because this High is stronger. As the high-pressure veers east, northeast, Baby will skirt Florida and boomerang out to the Atlantic, where the waters are cooler, robbing it of energy and turning it into a tropical storm. Meanwhile, we here, are left picking up the pieces of the damaging derecho winds that blew our houses down!"
She stared at the newspaper, stabbing the front page with black dots. "Boomeranging hurricanes are more interesting than windy thunderstorms."
"Ms. Huffman, please."
"I'll look into it." She looked up at Jensen, maybe for the first time ever in Jensen's memory. "I will. I'll talk to the execs. I'll tell them what you told me, and see how they want us to handle it."
Maybe she would, maybe they wouldn't. What he needed was Jared's team and DJs help, because these were more than just windy thunderstorms. These were intense storms that had the potential for creating real damage. They didn't know it yet, but his WBB viewers needed his help.
"Tomorrow?"
"Night. Tomorrow night."
"And where will you be?"
"Here, broadcasting from upstairs. Can you do it, Jay?"
The iPhone was silent on Jensen's end until Jared asked, "How sure are you about this?"
"I am positive."
More silence then, "Yes. We can do it. We will do it."
Jensen breathed out forcefully. "Thank God. Okay, when DJ gets here, I'll fill him in."
"What if he doesn't go for it?"
"I'll lock him in the downstairs bathroom and call Felicia."
"Well, good. I didn't realize you had a backup plan." Jared sounded like he was being playful, but Jensen knew that this undertaking could cost them all, including himself, their jobs. Maybe forever.
"I'll record for the looping tonight," Jared said. "Can I come over after? It could be late."
Alaina had gotten back to Jensen by texting him a picture of a sad face, and the underlined words: EXECTS SAID NO. With a softer touch she wrote: sorry
Now, though, there was more on the line than just their jobs. Jensen ran and reran the vectors and velocities, and found that the downburst clusters and micro bursts that made up this potential derecho storm system, could give birth to sustained winds of up to 115 mph and gusts up to 130. These are the windspeeds of a Category 3 hurricane or an F2 tornado.
This system was now roaring its way across the Gulf of Mexico aiming for the sleepy little city of Coconut Bay.
"I don't care how late you are. I want you here."
"Bossy, bossy."
"Jared, I know I'm asking a lot, and I wouldn't ask if I wasn't sure. I, oh hell, I really appreciate the trust you have in me that you're willing to do this."
"Hey, Jensen?"
"Yes?"
"I know. I'll be over late tonight. Love you, bye."
*click*
Jensen hoped he'd get another chance to stay away from the wind farms and avoid la petite mort because Jared was risking everything on Jensen's word alone.
"Love you, too, Jay," he said into the air. "Love you, too."
Jensen was pacing in his master bedroom when Jared knocked softly on the door frame.
"How did you get in?" Jensen rushed over and hugged him.
"Key in the Oleander." Jared kissed the top of his head.
"Jay, if there was any other way, believe me I wouldn't ask you. I hate that I can't do it on my own. I hate that you have to risk your jobs because of me."
Jared looked Jensen square in the eye. "If you tell me that lives and property are in danger, and that we can warn them? We have to do it. Remember, I'm the kid in the storm cellar hugging my dogs, and we barely had enough warning to get there."
Jensen was speechless. Partially because he got a flash of a very young Jared, huddling, terrified in an underground bunker while his family fought to keep the wind from blowing them away. Also because of the profound faith Jared had in him.
"Okay, what's the game plan?" Jensen sat on the edge of the bed and patted the spot next to him.
"Since you calculated that the weather will reach critical mass tomorrow night, we'll need to get you solidly on the air without Security messing us up. To get your broadcast live, all of Alona and Rob's feed will have to be switched off, including the cameras. To make the audio switch, I recorded portions of Alona and Rob's newscast this evening to loop it through the station's sound system to make it sound like they are still broadcasting after we cut their feed. It will take less than a minute to cut to you. The cameras going dark will be a little trickier.
"During the switch, the lights on Camera One, the stationary camera, will go out for that half minute, so whoever is on the air will see that camera wink out. We'll get the camera's lights on again, even though the camera's offline, but for that few seconds we'll need a diversion. The manned camera feed will already be disabled, but with the red light on and the camera operating properly the cameraman won't know his camera is dark to the air. Your feed will go live, but audio only. It'll be a lot harder to kick you off the air if you're weathercast is routed through the studio than from your bedroom."
"Wow, Jared, that's amazing." Jensen's hand shook as he ran his fingers through his hair. "What's the diversion going to be?"
"Not what, but who?" Jared grinned. "Big Jim from Big Jim's Sports Spot with Big Jim will be breaking into the on-air news with some imaginary sports emergency that he has to take to the airwaves with. He'll see Camera One shut off, and keep talking until it lights up again. By then, we'll be split seconds away to getting you up and running."
"Big Jim would do that?" Jensen breathed, "For me?"
"For you and Coconut Bay." He wrapped his arms around Jensen. "If I wasn't so sure I was your person of choice, I’d be jealous of Big Jim because he thinks awfully highly of you."
"That's great." Jensen tried to keep him emotions intact. "That's great of him to help."
"Well, after my team gets the studio live feed disabled, and your live audio on the air, we'll cut the looping, and continue to outwit the station's Security team to keep you live. That's why we needed the diversion and the looping. If we got caught before you got on the air, they could shut us down, but once I get your broadcast up, we've got the wheel and you're on the air until you tell me it's over."
"Your team is incredible. I can't begin to thank you all."
Jared hugged him close. "At the risk of getting you all jealous, Misha's the one who came up with the coding to keep Security out of the system once you start weathercasting."
Jensen shook his head. "Nope, sorry. I still want to break his nose." He was smiling, but his eyes were sad. "I'll keep a close eye on the storm formations, and as soon as I feel I need to start the warnings, I'll let you know. Right now, I'm thinking it'll be somewhere near the end of the 9:00 News Hour."
Jared's voice became deadly serious. "You need to do something for me, Jensen."
"Anything."
"Listen carefully. If, at any time, you feel that you're in the line of fire, you must end the broadcast and take cover immediately."
"Jay, that's not likely."
"You have to promise me, Jensen, or all bets are off. I know it's not likely that an F2 storm will tear down your street, but you'll be the first to see it if it does. If you do, promise me you'll get to safety."
"What about you?" Jensen was ashamed to think that he hadn't thought of that. "Will you be safe? You won't be able to hear my alerts."
"After your live stream is locked in, it'll take an act of God-or Misha-to get you off the air. We'll all be listening to you at the studio."
"There are windows in Alaina's office." Jensen said. "She'll want to chew you out when she finds out what we've done. Make sure you stay out of her office and away from the windows."
"I will if you will." Jared took his hand.
Jensen squeezed tight. "I will if you will."
"You will?" Jared's eyes were stern.
"I will."
"Okay, let's go to sleep, we have a busy day tomorrow." Jared lay them both down. Jensen in his soft pajama pants, and Jared in his jeans and tee shirt.
"Jay, thank you."
"Don't thank me. Just tell me you love me."
"I love you."
"Now tell me you'll be safe."
"I'll be safe."
"Then, that's all that matters. But if something does happen, I get the telescoping eyeball."
"Okay. Deal."
"We're watching the weather for you, Coconut Bay. Hurricane Baby will be heading out to sea, but there is rough weather expected to arrive here tonight. The National Weather Service has issued thunderstorm watches for our area, but I'm sure they will be issuing severe storm warnings soon. A watch is just that, they're watching the weather. A warning means the danger is imminent. These are very strong, very dangerous storms coming to our area.
"I'll be keeping you up-to-date throughout the day and evening, so stay tuned. Also, make sure you have fresh batteries for your radios and flashlights in case any power outages occur. Stay safe, Coconut Bay, and stay tuned here." Jensen couldn't force a smile even if he wanted to.
He didn't want to tip his hand and get yanked off the air by the studio executives by being too alarmist, so he kept a low but definite profile on today's weather. Unfortunately, today appeared to be JAPDIP-Just Another Perfect Day In Paradise, so his warnings about stormy weather were pretty much ignored.
Three, two, one, "Okay, Jensen. We're out. You were pretty serious today. What's up?"
DJ flipped a switch and began wrapping a power cord around his arm.
"DJ, I need you to do something for me. If you don't want to, that's cool, but I'd ask you, please don't mess this up."
"What the hell are you talking about?" DJ grinned ear-to-ear.
"Come into the kitchen and we'll talk."
Jensen used his French Press as he laid out the entire plan. DJ was needed at Jensen's to maintain the live audio feed so that the studio could pick up the broadcast. Jensen couldn't be on the air broadcasting weather warnings and maintaining the output by himself. He needed DJ's help.
DJ sat stone silent and tinged green.
"DJ, are you all right?"
He swallowed, "Yeah. I, I, I've got to make a phone call."
"DJ?"
"No, don't worry. I gotta, you know, get someone to take care of Scout." DJ took in a breath. "I'm with you all the way, Jensen." And he left.
Jensen sat with his head in his hands. Look what he was doing to the people closest to him. He almost wished he didn't know about the damaging winds about to engulf his town, but he knew what he knew, and had to warn them.
"Okay, Jensen. Tell me times and exactly what we need to do."
Jensen brewed another pot of coffee and gave a recap. The color had returned to DJ's face and now he looked determined.
"DJ, I'm so sorry I have to bring you into this."
"Naw, we're friends and that's what friendship is all about. You know, trust and stuff, and I trust you. Besides, if the bosses at WBB don't understand that there's danger to our town, and you do, Jense, then you need to save us."
"I think I'll get a dog. When this is all over, come with me to the animal shelter and help me pick one out, okay?"
"Absolutely! Play dates! Maybe even agility classes. I heard they were a blast. Wait a minute."
There was steady knocking at the front door. Scout bounded in followed by a somber looking Felicia.
"Well, Weatherman. When do we start?"
The goddamn sunshine just didn't let up. The blue skies and hot summer breezes off the Gulf were making a liar out of him. The days were lasting longer and the sun was so bright it was having a hard time setting.
Jensen got some nasty tweets @AckWeather with a # So Where's the Wind? when he continued to broadcast his, and the National Weather Service's, warnings. Even though he was the trusted voice of Coconut Bay's weather, he had to orchestrate his warnings carefully, or they'd stop paying attention all together.
So, they waited. Jensen was glued to his weather monitors, DJ kept the regular live feeds going and Felicia manned the phones, speaking with Jared. It was 8:39 PM and the sun was thinking about setting, when Jensen's heart skipped a beat. All the elements were coming together to form the first shelf cloud. These menacing, low hanging, dark cloud formations marked the creation of the gust fronts of a derecho.
Even though Jensen knew it was coming, seeing the strength of the storms forming in front of his eyes was terrifying
Once these storms got going, they were fast and furious. They traveled fifty to seventy linear miles per hour, so catching them as soon as the conditions were ripe was vital.
"Red, get Jared on speaker phone." Jensen had only glanced away from his monitors for a second, and the mounting storms gained strength exponentially.
"Jensen?"
"It's go time."
"On it. Give us forty seconds. Countdown starts now."
They were listening to the WBB newsroom on Jensen's open phone when Big Jim's voice boomed through.
"Hey, you idjits, it's Big Jim here from Big Jim's Sport Spot, and I just gotta innerupt this broadcast for an important announcement."
"Are you sure it's time for that, Jim?" Alona's sweet voice asked.
"Well, hell, you know it is, Missy. The Sun Park Wildcats have finally done it! For the first time in Wildcat history…"
Jensen waved his hand, Felicia cut the speaker and put the phone to her ear. After several more seconds, she pointed at DJ and nodded.
"You ready, Jensen?" DJ asked.
Jensen nodded; eyes glued to the monitor.
"You're on in three, two, one, and now."
"This is not a drill. This is Jensen Ackles with an urgent storm warning from the National Weather Service. A derecho storm system with damaging winds and heavy thunderstorms is approaching Coconut Bay. Possible flash flooding, large hailstones and dangerous windstorms carrying tornado strength winds are heading straight for us. Damaging winds will cause trees and large branches to fall, blocking the roadways. Localized power outages are possible. Unsecured home, patio and outdoor objects could become flying projectiles.
"These waves of storms are coming in fast and there is high potential for property damage and serious physical injury. I repeat, this is not a drill.
Jensen's eyes darted across the data coming across his screens.
"Listen up! Residents of the Parkside area of the Bay take cover immediately as winds of, " Jensen checked again, "shit, sustained winds of 85 miles per hour are heading your way. Get away from the windows and move to the lowest and innermost room of your house. Lock the doors and take your portable radio and bunker down. Wait for the all clear."
Jensen nervously scanned the information streams, watching as the bow echo of the first wave screamed toward Parkside. The next wave was already forming and lining up. Felicia's phone was up to her ear, and the land line phones to Jensen's house were all buzzing.
He took to the air. "Bay Park! Storms are heading your way now. Hit the deck. Immediately, and I mean now, get your kids inside and go to the floor. This one's coming in fast and these winds are brutal at," Jensen frantically calculated the speeds, "over 90 miles per hour, and gusts higher than that. Everybody in Bay Park, take cover, take cover, and move as far away from trees and power lines as you can. Stay away from the windows."
Now, the storms were hitting all over. Lightning and thunder occurred at the same time. The skies were wide open and horizontal rain and large hail battered Jensen's house so hard it was tough to be heard without screaming.
"Coconut Bay, flash flooding is possible. Do not, do not drive through flooded areas or into any standing water. Turn around. If you're caught up in floodwaters, get out of the car and move to higher ground before you get swept away!"
The lights in Jensen's house flickered. Scout cowered under the bed as a new wave formed. Stronger winds were blasting at over 100 miles per hour and aiming-Jensen's breath caught in his throat-aiming straight at Park Dale. Straight at the WBB studio.
"Red! Tell Jared one's coming his way!"
"On it. I've got Chad."
"Chad, there's fins to the left, fins to the right! Keep your heads down and away from the windows. Please, please Jared, if you're listening, take your team and go to the console room and take cover. Stay safe! Jared! You promised!" Jensen didn't care if he was on the air, openly concerned about his person of choice. His Jared.
"Park Dale! You're it. Go inside right now. Hit the ground, get in the bathtub, cover yourself up and stay there. Keep down! Stay down! This wave is strong, with gusts over 100 mph, and that's the power of a Cat 2, and it's aiming right at you. Get inside, get down, now, now, now!"
He watched the weather cameras and his stomach dropped as the shelf cloud engulfed the television station a little over a mile away. His own house swayed with the force of the derecho winds funneling around him.
"Red, get Jay on the phone, I need to hear he's okay."
"Working on it."
"Shit. Shit. Shit! Gulf Beach Park, Gulf Beach Park! Take cover. Take cover now. This is urgent. Listen to me. Listen to me! If you're in your car, stay in your car and out of the way of power lines and trees. Keep your seatbelts on. Do not, I repeat, do not take shelter under an overpass because the winds and debris get funneled through them. Get your vehicle lower than the road. Lower than the road! If you can't get inside a safe structure, run your car into a ditch and stay belted in. Take cover. Gulf Beach Park, get in the house, away from the windows. Get in the bathtub at once and lock the doors because there are rotational winds heading your way, too.
"Felicia, have you talked to Jared?"
"Still trying Jensen."
"Keep trying."
Jensen sought out windspeeds, direction and rotation, extrapolating the next bullseye. His mouth went dry as his eyes locked on the screen. "Felicia, hang up. Get DJ."
"What?"
"Do it! Winter Park, get ready, the next blast is coming our way. "
Felicia and DJ stood at attention.
"Okay," Jensen said. "Take all the pillows, the comforters and all the cushions you can carry. Take Scout and go to the middle downstairs bathroom. The bathtub is big enough for the three of you."
The house was shaking wildly.
"Cover yourselves with the pillows and cushions, lock the door and don't come out until I give the word."
"Jensen? Come with us." Felicia's voice cracked. "Please come with us."
"Soon. You go, now!" He yelled into the mike. "This is bad, Winter Park, we've got 110 mile per hour wind gusts coming at us. This is code red, don't think, run. Run inside, stay low and keep low. Stay down and get to cover, immediately, immediately!"
Jensen felt DJ slip something into his pocket. "Get downstairs, DJ!"
"Winter Park!" Jensen shouted. "Winter Park, seek shelter, now!" The whole house quaked. Jensen's roof rattled and he felt the floor cracking. "Take cover in the lowest floor of your house! Innermost room, away from windows!" Glass shattered in his master bedroom, and an ominous groan rose from the roof rafters. The pressure in his ears was sudden and painful, "Move away from trees! Away from power lines! Go, go, go!"
A powerful downburst tore through his bedroom. His desktop computer smashed through the window behind him and he felt himself lift from the floor. When he looked up, he saw the sky.
Shit.
Jared would later tell Jensen that, over the live stream, he heard glass breaking, metal crunching, and a deafening roar. He swore he heard Jensen gasp before all that was left in the air was static.
The first thing Jensen heard was Jared's soft voice. "…because Misha was able to get the WNBC national news in New York City to carry your reporting live, and Osric hacked into the Emergency Broadcast System to get your broadcast out on people's radios, computers and phones- I don't know how he did it, and he probably should be in jail-," Jared stopped to sniff, "we are not only not in trouble, we're kind of heroes, except," here Jared's voice faltered, "except we all know who the real hero is. Can you please, please open your eyes, now?"
Jensen would have liked to, but he didn't quite remember how. He was in a stupidly soft place, he felt no pain, and Jared was here. All was well. The storm must be over.
The storm.
The wailing of mechanical beeping and shrill alarms accompanied Jensen's attempts to sit up.
Bad mistake. Bad. Bad. Bad.
"Jensen?" Jared's voice filtered through the noise and pain. "Help! We need help in here!"
More beeping.
"Jensen? Can you hear me? Try to take it easy, okay? Be easy. Jensen are you okay? Jensen?" Jared took his hand.
Something was happening all around him, but hearing Jared ask him questions continuously, while mildly annoying, was a balm for his soul. No wonder Jared was his boyfriend. He was suddenly tired so he figured he'd catch a few zzzs before pulling another stunt like that one.
~~*~~*~~
Jensen tried to open his eyes, because he remembered that attempting to sit up was a terrible idea. He wasn't going to do that again. Like, ever. He'd start slow.
It was quiet again, with soft sounds, soft smells and Jared's right hand in his left. It sounded like Jared was snoring.
Jensen tried and tried until he was successful at getting one eye to open. He wasn't sure what he was seeing but it didn't look good.
"Hey, hey Jensen. Can you hear me now?"
Jensen swallowed twice before attempting a sound. "Ver…n?"
Jared aimed a bendy straw at Jensen's mouth and he sipped. Jared whispered softly, "How about now? Can you hear me now?"
Jensen nodded and mouthed a word. Jared brought his ear down close.
"Verizon." Jensen nodded again. "Can you hear me, now?" Boy, his voice sounded awful and felt even worse.
To Jensen's utter horror, Jared broke into a million weeping pieces.
"You promised, Jensen. You promised. I will if you will you said. Well I did and you didn't. When Alaina called me into her office to ream me out over the live stream hijacking, I told her I wasn't going in, and that if I were her, I'd get to the console room immediately."
Jensen blinked twice.
"You bet your ass I did, and, no, she didn't like it, but she came. It was a good thing, too, because one of the station's landscaped Magnolia trees exploded through her window and impaled itself on her desk chair. Glass was fucking everywhere. And do you know why I didn't get hurt? Do you know why? I didn't get hurt because I stuck to the deal. I didn't go into her office where there were windows."
Jensen sighed a prayer of deep thanks. He began shaking, holding tighter to Jared's hand.
Jared dropped his head. "You didn't stick to the deal and we almost lost you." Jared glanced at Jensen, "In fact, we did sort of lose you. If DJ hadn't slipped Scout's GPS into your pocket, we might have found you much later than we did."
Jensen cocked his head to the left.
"Oh," Jared said. "After Scout got lost the last time, DJ bought a GPS locator for him to wear on his collar. DJ put it in your back pocket before he, Scout and Felicia went to safety in your ground floor bathtub."
Jensen knitted his eyebrows.
"Yeah, they're fine. Covered in goose down, but waiting downstairs to hear how you're doing, like the rest of the country. Do you remember us finding you?"
Jensen shook his head, no, then tested his vocal cords. "How bad?" There, that wasn't so hard.
"Lots of property damage, several low-lying areas got hit with flash flooding, and a small tornado touched down in Gulf Beach Park. Some people got hurt, but no deaths. Not one." His eyes got wet. "Almost one, Jensen. Almost you. Why didn't you move to safety? Why?" Jared's eyes were more than wet, now.
"Sorry. I'm sorry." When did it take so much energy to say three words? He started to lose the battle with consciousness. "Jay?"
"Rest now. I'll let people know you're awake, and then I'll be back. I'll be right back."
Jensen though about nodding, but lost the thought as he drifted away.
True to his word, Jared was back at his bedside, holding his hand. Jensen felt bold so he squeezed Jared's hand. Jared jerked up.
"Hey, how're doing?" Jared aimed the bendy straw again.
Jensen sucked down a few mouthfuls of cool water and took a deep breath.
"What happened to me?" he squeaked.
"You...you got blown out of your house and landed in the back yard." Jared's hands shook so hard he had to put down the bendy straw. "You were buried under rubble, so we had to key in Scout's GPS code to find you."
Jensen's eyes widened in shock.
"Am I okay?"
"No."
"No?" The beeping started up in earnest and Jensen had trouble catching his breath.
"Hold on, hold on. You're going to be okay. You're just not okay right now." Jared held and squeezed Jensen's hand. "Here, breathe with me. In and out. In and out."
"What's?" In and out, in and out. "What's not okay about me?"
"Easy. Slow and easy." Jared smoothed Jensen's hair away from his face. He stroked his cheek and kissed his hair. Jensen had to admit that it was a good way of calming him down.
"Jensen, when they found you…"
"So, how's Florida's favorite weatherman? I'm Doctor Brown, one of your orthopedic surgeons, we haven't been formally introduced, but I know you pretty well." Doctor Brown came in with a laptop on wheels and was currently pulling up what appeared to be Jensen's medical information.
Jensen turned to Jared and mouthed, "Doc Brown?"
"Yeah," Jared whispered and then stood. "He's the one who pinned you back together."
"One of the surgeons. You've had quite a team working on you, son. Dr. Whovian and I have been the main two tag-teaming you." Doc Brown smiled kindly and sat in Jared's chair, at eye level with Jensen. "First, you're a very lucky man. You sustained impact injuries from a defenestration from the second story and impact injuries caused by falling and blowing debris."
Jensen was squinting.
"You got blown out of a window from your top floor, landed in your yard and stuff hit you while you were falling and stuff fell on top of you after you landed," Doc Brown clarified.
Jensen felt Jared's hand on his shoulder on the other side of the bed.
"Your pelvis is fractured, as is your left ankle. Your right femur-that's your thigh bone-is also fractured and your right knee was dislocated. Now, let's see," Doc Brown clicked through the reports in front of him. "Your right elbow needed surgical realignment, and your right wrist, and three of the four fingers on your right hand were broken. You took a lot of damage on that right side. You have three cracked ribs, also on the right, and a concussion resulting in a mild closed head injury. Internal damage was done to your spleen and right lung, and you sustained a mean case of road rash," he looked up. "That's going to hurt. We surgically reduced the femur fracture and used pins and rods so it would heal properly. We set the bones in your ankle and wrist and fingers. We had to surgically realign the right elbow and braced your right knee, but you'll need surgery on that in the next couple of weeks. Your pelvis and ribs will heal on their own."
Jensen kept with the in and out, in and out, as much as he could. "Wow," he panted. "I'm a mess."
"There is good news, though," the doctor said, gently. "There was no damage to your spine, no lasting effects from the head injury are expected, although you may never remember the actual event. All of the internal injuries are expected to heal without complications. As a bonus, not a mark on your face. Twelve stitches at the hairline, but even those will be invisible with time."
"Will I walk again?"
"Yes. It's going to take time and work, but we expect you to be back on both feet again. Mr. Ackles, you were badly hurt, but you're young and strong, and have friends and support. No one can predict your prognosis with certainty, but we expect all positive outcomes."
"Good, I think. Thank you." Jensen swallowed around the lump in his throat.
"How's the pain?"
"Not bad."
"Until he tried to sit up," Jared interjected.
Jensen attempted a glare at Jared, but Jared looked so battered that he couldn't hold it for long.
"Be honest about the pain. We can and should control it for you. Please let the nurses know when you need relief. I'll give you something in your IV now and I'll be checking on you later this evening."
"Thank you, doctor," said Jensen.
"Thanks, doc," said Jared as the doctor left the room and shut the door.
"The way I look at it, I can still forecast the weather. In fact, I might be able to predict cold fronts just with my bones alone." He smiled feebly at Jared.
"My house didn't get hit hard. I'm over in Parkbridge, and we didn't get a full-on blast. I'd like it if you came home with me after your stay in rehab. I have wide doorways and wide hallways big enough for your temporary wheelchair. I have that big guest bedroom on the ground floor with an attached bathroom that we could modify."
"Oh," Jensen's face fell. "The guest bedroom, huh?"
Jared finally shot Jensen his winning smile. "The guest bedroom that we can modify into a master bedroom."
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
Jensen was hoping Jared wanted to do this.
"Of course, I do. After all, there's somethings I haven't told you yet."
"No more surprises. I don't think I can take any more surprises."
"Sorry, but you have to know that when Misha ran the live feed through the major NBC networks to the entire country, you became America's New Darling."
"Please say that's not true."
"Well, that's what I call you."
"Please don't."
"All of America heard you warning the city about the derecho. Live. You were live when you asked about my safety. That's how I was able to be your significant other and allowed to be here with you right now. Can we start using the term "boyfriend"?"
"Yes we can, boyfriend."
"You were live on the air the whole time and that meant everybody heard when you…" Jared stopped and caught his breath. "You were live when the storm got you."
Jensen squeezed Jared's wrist with his unbroken hand.
"You generated a lot of public concern when it took some time to get you out. I warn you now, because pretty soon this whole hospital will be filled with Get Well Soon balloons, flowers, candy and toys. Felicia's been fielding all your calls."
"How long did it take to find me?"
"Thanks to Scout and DJ we knew right away where you were buried. Getting you out took a little doing, especially since the storms were still winding down. The first responders had to shore up the debris before is safe to move you. Most of your rescue was on the local air, live, with the WBB news crew."
"Crap." A floaty, calm feeling quietly overcame Jensen. Am I on a cloud?
"No, you're not on a cloud. Take a look here." Jared opened the top three buttons of his shirt. "Saint Medardus. I'm wearing him and thanking him for you."
He reached over and stroked the medal Jared held, and gave him a drooly smile.
Jared must have known that the drugs were hitting so he added quickly, "When you wake up, I have one more piece of news for you, and I'm sure you're going to like it. "
"Huh? Wha's'zit?"
"I'll tell you later, and, if you're good, and if they let me, I'll sneak you in a salad from Bread Zeppelin. Go to sleep."
A soft touch at his hairline, a soft kiss at his temple and Jensen was out for the count.
Four Months Later
"The great state of Florida has asked me to join its citizens in recognizing Jensen Ackles for his heroic actions and outstanding bravery, disregarding imminent risk to his own life, to issue warnings to keep safe the residents of Coconut Bay and beyond, during a destructive derecho storm. Risking, and, in fact, sustaining serious bodily injury to himself, Jensen acted to keep the citizens of his hometown informed as to the progression and track of the storms. Mr. Ackles remained live, on the air, reporting while catastrophic storms struck his listening area. He warned the residents of the impending dangers and appropriate methods of when and how to seek cover and avoid injury. While there was extensive property damage and many personal injuries, there were no deaths related to this weather event. We believe we owe that to Jensen Ackles's exceptional weather coverage, as well as to his dedication and courage in reporting it.
"It is with great pleasure and great thanks and humility that I am allowed to honor Jensen with the State of Florida Civilian Medal of Valor."
The audience rose from their seats, clapping loudly as Jared helped Jensen stand, handing him his cane for the slow walk up the steps to the podium.
Jensen's cheeks felt red and his eyes were misty as he stood and surveyed the auditorium and the guests who were standing in front of him. He turned to the speaker who was handing him the boxed medal of civilian valor. It was a silver star with the engraved letter V and Great Seal of the State of Florida, In God We Trust in the middle.
"Thank-you, Mr. Norcross, for this unexpected and wholly appreciated honor. However, I feel I need to set the record straight. It wasn't just me who warned the town. I could not have broadcasted to the listeners if it hadn't been for my production staff, the PMC&O tech team and the WBB network studio staff. Oh," Jensen pointed out into the audience, "and Big Jim Beaver."
He shifted his weight to the left to off his still sore right side. He really could tell the weather with his bones.
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Bryan. You will never know how much this means to me."
Jensen took the box, looked inside and then held it up for them all to see.
The crowd went wild with joyful clapping and cheers. Alaina, Jim and the WBB crew was off to the left, PMC&Osric were off to the right, and Felicia, DJ, Jared and Scout were front and center. Jensen had left his little shelter mutt, Meddie, short for Medardus, at home. She was probably chewing up the couch-again.
Jared helped Jensen get situated comfortably in his chair to watch the other honorees receive their accolades in this Honor's Awards Ceremony.
He leaned over to Jared and whispered, "So, where to after this?"
"How about Chinese? I'm thinking Fu King Chinese or maybe Soon Fatt? Big Wong? Man Ho? Or Vietnamese? Pho King Good? TemptAsian?"
"All good choices."
The crowd stood applauding for Sarah O'Malley, the Middle School teacher who was driving home during Jensen's derecho. She convinced three of her students, who were playing in the wind storm, to get into her car for safety where she drove into a low ditch. Power lines came down almost immediately where they had been standing. The wind blew harmlessly over the top of her Honda Pilot.
"Because of Jensen Ackles's reporting, I was able to save three young lives plus my own. Thank you, Jensen."
The crowd turned from applauding Sarah to applauding Jensen in the front row. Two young men and one young lady, the teenagers, walked over to Jensen.
The girl held out a pink rose. "A pink rose signifies admiration and appreciation. Mr. Ackles, thank you for saving our lives."
Jensen swallowed. Overcome and unable to speak, he turned his wide, wet eyes to Jared.
Jared took the rose for Jensen and said, "Mr. Ackles says it was his honor. Thank you."
Jensen clamped his jaw shut and nodded vigorously to the kids.
Each boy said 'thank you' before returning to their seats.
Jensen sniffed and practiced breathing. If there was ever any question as to whether the pain he'd experienced since taking a two-story fall was worth it, it was answered in the form of one pink rose.
Jared stroked his shoulder, took his hand and asked, "So, Man Ho?"
Jensen snorted.
It was gross.
Epilogue
"I'm going to be old by the time I finish." Jensen whined, as he packed another suitcase. He only needed two. All his worldly possessions, except for his car, which he couldn't even drive for several months, were either lost or ruined by the storms. Now, he had two suitcases full of clothes and that was about it. He'd been living with Jared since the accident and didn't need anything but clothes.
"You're going to be old anyway, you might as well be an old meteorologist." Jared was packing his house up, so it was a lot more work for him. "Shit, Jensen, you're kind of old now, so what difference will it make?"
"Well, that's just nice. I'm already old? What difference will it make? Well, that's just nice."
Jared sighed, swung his arm around Jensen, aimed his lips at his and effectively shut him up.
After several minutes of that, Jensen breathed and sighed. "Well-that's just nice."
"Come on, admit it, you're excited about starting our new adventure." Jared marked a box: KTCHEN
"I am." Jensen sat on the stair. He was still healing. Even after several months his right knee and right elbow still didn't bend easily. But Jared had been the best nurse ever. Even so, he probably wasn't ever going to be hiking, rock climbing or snowboarding, but he never did those before, so it was more or less okay.
Jared could work remotely, so moving to Greenville, North Carolina for a few years wouldn't be too hard on him. Then they'd planned on moving back to Florida so Jensen could work on his doctorate in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology at Florida State University.
Jensen had said to Jared. "I know I probably could have stayed in Florida for the whole nine yards of Atmospheric Sciences, but I'd read about East Carolina University when I was thirteen and I always wanted to go there."
"So, we'll go there," Jared had said. And that was that.
There was a gleam in Jared's eye and a spring to his step as he packed up his house. Jensen didn't remember the last time he saw Jared wearing his beanie.
He took it as a personal accomplishment.
Jared would be renting his house out. Jensen had insurance money and savings, and they'd be renting a house in Greenville. It was scary, but what a pleasure it was to retire Numbers One through Twenty.
"So," Jensen scratched the floor with the toe of his shoe. "No regrets?"
Jared looked up from his packing. "Hmm, do I have any regrets?" He sat and placed his hand up to his chin. "You mean outside of that time you didn't keep your promise and almost died?"
Jensen's ears burned red. He kept scratching the floor. "Yeah, outside of that."
"Let me think." Jared paused so long that Jensen got nervous and looked up.
"Nope, not a one." Jared unloaded his 1000-watt, full double-dimpled smile with his eyebrows up and his front teeth showing.
And dear God, it was beautiful.
~~*~~*~~fin~~*~~*~~
Cue Starship: We Built This City
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
Sincerest thanks to my artist 2blueshoes for the hard work and winning smile! The art master post can be found HERE on AO3
~~*~~*~~
And for any of you Hurt!Jensen/Caring!Jared fans out there, I've written and posted a timestamp chronicling Jensen's rescue and recovery. It's a little more serious than the original, but you'll recognize the fun restaurant names. Go HERE to read We Made it Through the Rain for the Hurt/Comfort timestamp. Enjoy!
Additional notes:
Unfortunately, I don't think there really is a State of Florida Civilian Medal of Valor.
However, Chad's Margaritaville hat exists
Kate Beckinsale in costume
Not Blue Steel but Magnum elicited the "Dear God, it's beautiful."
I lived in Clearwater and Tampa, Florida and the local weatherman used to say JAPDIP after almost every forecast.
Weather Info and Links
Yes, derecho storms can have windspeeds this intense. Derecho information from NOAA
I was in the middle of a Derecho a few years back, and they are fast, furious, dark, even in the daytime, and tornado scary.
Flash Flood Safety Information
Tornado Safety Tips
NOAA Main Site
High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR)
National Weather Service (NWS)
North American Mesoscale Forecast System (NAM)
National Center for Environmental Prediction
Aviation Weather Center
Hurricane Harvey
YouTube: Bryan Norcross recalls Hurricane Andrew 25 Years Later.
Rare Red Lightning Sprites
Sundogs
Because Sundogs are cool