Memoirs of a Texan Abroad (10/14)
Title: How Jensen Ackles Hated Mr. Right, Shagged Mr. Wrong, and Finally Got a Clue
Author: texankate
Pairings/Characters: J-squared, Jensen/ Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Jared/Sandy, Chris/Steve, Usual Suspects OFCs, OMCs. S1 'The Tudors', S1 'Primeval'.
Rating: Up to NC17 in places
Disclaimer: If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber'd here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream,. In other words: complete and utter fiction. I own nothing but my twisted and sordid little brain. I even had to borrow my disclaimer.
Summary: When Jensen left everything behind for his big shot overseas assignment, he only wanted a life of adventure. Will he choose passion with a sexy foreigner? Or will he realize that true love was in his back yard the whole time?
Chapter 10
Douglas came in a little while later. He logged onto his computer while Jensen went downstairs to grab a bacon and egg sandwich and a soda for breakfast.
"How was Wales?" Douglas asked, once Jensen returned.
"It was good. Ally and I had a really fun time," Jensen said. "As soon as James gets in, I'll tell you all about it."
"Lucy wanted me to make sure you're still up for Saturday," he said. "We're thinking maybe Stonehenge, since you haven't seen it yet."
"Ooh, that sounds fantastic!" Jensen said. "I have dinner plans the evening before, but I'm definitely up for big rocks on Saturday."
"Dinner with Natalie? Or Ally?" he asked.
"Actually, it's someone I met back in April," Jensen said. "He's from Houston, but he travels over here quite a bit for work." He hadn't mentioned Jared much at work, except to Ally.
"Would this be the fellow you went to Kew with?" he asked. Jensen looked at him, questioningly.
"I heard you and Ally talking about it," Douglas said, blushing just a tad.
"Yes, him," Jensen admitted.
"Has he been to Stonehenge?" Douglas asked.
"I don't know. I don't think so. He says he never gets a chance to see anything when he's here," Jensen said.
"Well, if you're still speaking to him after dinner, why don't you invite him to come with us?" Douglas said. "I'd like to meet him." Douglas was taking this surrogate big brother bit a little far.
"Wow, Dad, if you say so," Jensen said, rolling his eyes.
"I'm sorry. But Alasdair will have my head if I let you get hurt again," he said.
"Again? Please tell me you didn't tell him about Johnny," Jensen begged.
"No, nothing," he promised. "But he asked me to keep an eye on you."
"Do all of your employees get this kind of treatment?" Jensen asked.
"No, just the ones we want to keep around," Douglas said. "Just think about it. It's an open invitation for your friend."
"Thanks, Dad."
"You're welcome, son. Now take out the garbage and clean your room."
Jensen got to work early on Friday, hoping to leave a little early. He wasn't meeting Jared until seven o'clock, but he wanted to get home and change before he met him at the station. Not that Jensen wanted to dress up, or anything. But he didn't want to wear the jeans and sweatshirt he wore to work.
Douglas must have guessed that he was nervous, because around one, he looked over and made the international hand sign for 'wanna go for a drink?' They grabbed their ID badges and walked down to the pub. Douglas bought pints, and they went out to the back patio. The lunch crowd had started to slack off, so they were able to claim a picnic table all to themselves.
"You're awfully jumpy today," Douglas said. "Tonight's the big date, right."
"It's not a date," Jensen said. "We're just meeting for dinner."
"Sure," Douglas said. "And you'll invite him to go with us tomorrow?"
"I don't know," Jensen said, honestly. "We'll see how tonight goes." They stared into their pints. Ever the slacker, Jensen was way behind Douglas, who finished his first pint, and went in for a second. He came back out a few minutes later.
"Have you talked to Johnny lately?" he asked, as he sat down.
"Not likely," Jensen said. "Things ended badly."
"I thought as much," he said.
"Is that why you and Everett sent him to Oslo?" Jensen asked. Douglas had the grace to blush. "I thought so," Jensen said.
"Johnny was always flexible about where he worked," Douglas said. "Don't worry; it's a promotion for him. He's running projects now. It just worked out best for everyone."
"What happens when I go back to the States?" Jensen asked.
"He'll still be in Oslo," Douglas shrugged. "You sound like you're ready to go home."
"I suppose," Jensen said. He hadn't really thought about it.
"You've enjoyed your time here," Douglas said. A statement, not a question.
"Very much so. It's been amazing," Jensen agreed.
"You're profile in the database says you're willing to take long term assignments out of your home country. Have you thought about staying here?" Douglas asked.
"I haven't been offered a permanent position," Jensen said. "I'd have to wait until I was to even think about it."
"Well, you might want to start thinking about it," Douglas said. "I know Everett has been impressed with your work."
"Thanks, I really appreciate it," Jensen said. Great, he thought, like I need more things to obsess over.
They finished their drinks and went back to work. Around four o'clock, Jensen shut down his terminal. He confirmed that he was to meet Douglas and Lucy at the office at ten o'clock the next morning, and then left for the day. An hour later, he was standing in his room, digging through the wardrobe. He pulled out the suit he'd worn to dinner in London. The jacket was too dressy, but he pulled on the trousers and paired it with the white shirt and black cashmere sweater that Natalie had talked him into. It wasn't formal, but still looked smart and put together. It said 'Hey, this is just dinner. No need to get worked up.' He checked his watch, and realized that if he didn't leave for the station soon, he'd be late.
Jared was waiting for him when he got to the station. He grinned hesitantly, and Jensen gave him what he hoped was an encouraging smile. Jared walked down the steps, and stopped in front of him.
"You look good," he said.
"You too," Jensen said. And Jared did. Black trousers and a dark green buttoned down shirt. His skin was darker, too-he'd said something about going to on a Grand Canyon trip with his old roommate. The outdoors seemed to agree with him.
He seemed taller and stronger than the last time Jensen had seen him, but that could easily be chalked up to his demeanor. Tonight he hasn't the man Jensen had seen a month ago in the Starbucks, begging for another chance. He was the man who'd pulled Jensen onto his lap at Kew. Jensen would have to be on his toes, or he might end up back on Jared's lap. The wicked little voice in his head said that might not be such a bad thing. They walked over to the High Street, where all the good restaurants edged the promenade.
"What are you in the mood for?" Jensen asked. "We've got a couple of Italian places, a tapas bar, Indian food. Whatever you like."
"How about Indian?" Jared said. They walked over to Jensen's favorite, and went inside. They had beaten most of the dinner rush, and were able to get a table on the patio. They didn't talk much until the waiter brought their dinner and a bottle of red wine.
"What made you change your mind about seeing me again?" Jared finally asked.
"Ally. Kind of. When we were in Wales, we had a lot of time to talk. I finally realized that I'd been maybe a little unfair to you. I want to ask you to forgive me for jumping to conclusions and not giving you a chance to explain things before I flew off the handle," Jensen said. Jared reached across the table and grabbed his hand.
"Thank you. In your shoes, I'd have thought the same thing. But I want you to know, nothing happened. I didn't want anything to happen. I promise," he said. Jensen smiled and squeezed his hand.
Conversation got a little easier after that. They talked about home, football, and what Jensen missed the most from home. He had to risk being completely honest and admit it wasn’t his friends or family.
"Food," he said. "I would kill for real fajitas and chips with salsa. And barbecue, with pinto beans and potato salad. And Blue Bell ice cream."
"Well, I don’t think I can smuggle you any Blue Bell, but I might be able to do something about some of the other stuff," he chuckled. "I could cook for you."
"You cook?" Jensen asked, highly impressed.
"Had to. When Mom had stuff to do, we all took turns cooking," he said. "I make really good tortillas."
"Keep saying stuff like that and I'll lock you away in my flat, never to see the sun again," Jensen said. A half second later, he realized how suggestive that sounded. Jared wriggled his eyebrows at Jensen and gave him a goofy leer.
"I iron, and I do the dishes, too," he said. Jensen rolled his eyes and suppressed a grin.
They walked down the street to an ice cream shop for dessert, lingering in front of some of the window displays. Jensen told him about Stonehenge over strawberry chocolate chip in a cone. He made sure to include that Douglas was dead serious about Jared coming with them.
"Unless, of course, you have something else going on," he said.
"Nope, I'm free," Jared said. "And I'd love to meet Douglas. He sounds like a great guy." Jensen didn't tell him that Douglas was trying to lure him over for a permanent position. Things were going well at the moment-no need to add more stress.
"Well, if we're going to do the tourist thing tomorrow, you had better get home and get a good night's sleep. You have to be exhausted," Jensen said.
"I'm lagging, just a little," he admitted. They turned back and walked back toward the station. Jensen meant to walk him to his train, but Jared wouldn't hear of it.
"I'd feel better if you let me walk you home," he said. "Let me be a gentleman, please?" Jensen relented, and they walked through the neighborhood, holding hands. It felt completely comfortable.
"Okay, I guess we should get some of the big questions out of the way. Favorite movie?" Jensen asked.
"Ooh, tough one. Do I lie and pick something sensitive like 'The English Patient', or do I show my guyness and admit to loving 'Caddyshack'?"
"I can handle 'Caddyshack', Jensen said. "I mean, it's no 'Blazing Saddles', but it's funny."
"You like 'Blazing Saddles'?" Jared asked.
"I love all Mel Brooks movies. Well, not that one where he's the slum lord. Just the classics like 'Blazing Saddles' and 'Young Frankenstein'"
"Am I moving too fast if I tell you I think we might be soul mates?" Jared asked, grinning.
Jensen laughed. "Just a touch. I mean, we haven't even touched on my obsession with Hope and Crosby 'On the Road' movies. You might find out there's a deal breaker in there somewhere."
"How do you feel about Tom Hanks?" Jared asked.
"Not fond of him," Jensen admitted. "You know, saying that is a crime in twenty states?"
"Then maybe they can give us adjoining cells," Jared laughed. "Because I'm guilty too." They turned onto Jensen's street, and crossed over to his flat. Natalie was pulling in as walked up.
"Halloo," she said, stepping out of her car. "Who's this, then?"
"Hey Natalie. I'd like you to meet Jared Padalecki," Jensen said.
"Jared? The Jared?" she said, extending her hand. Jensen nodded. "Well it's about bloody time I met you."
"Likewise," he grinned. Natalie reached back into her car and grabbed her overnight bag.
"Stop by when you get a moment," she told Jensen. "I brought you a present from Paris."
"Ooh," he said. "What did you get me?"
"Well, I was going to bring you back a nice French fellow, but I see you've gotten a man for yourself. Good thing, too. My case is rather small," she grinned. They watched her unlock her door and go inside. Jensen led Jared downstairs to his flat.
"Would you like to come in for a drink?" he asked.
"Not tonight," Jared said. "I'd hate to fall asleep on you."
"Rain check, then?" Jensen asked.
"Most definitely," he murmured, tipping Jensen's chin up. He kissed Jensen sweetly, with warm, gentle lips. Jensen would have liked for him to continue, but he backed away.
"Tomorrow. Around nine at Starbucks, right?" he said.
"I'll see you then," Jensen said. He watched Jared climb back up to street level, and quickly disappear from view. Jensen went inside, and slid the deadbolt. He figured Natalie hadn't gone to bed in the two minutes since he'd seen her, so he went out the back door and up to hers. He knocked loudly, and she opened the door a few moments later.
"Sorry, did I interrupt?" she asked, walking into the kitchen.
"No, he was just walking me home. Nothing more," Jensen said, following. He pulled out a chair and plopped down at her kitchen table.
"Yet," Natalie said. "You two looked awfully chummy, though." She couldn't hide her grin.
"Yeah," Jensen said, blushing. "I did get a good night kiss. That was nice."
"Just nice?" Natalie said. "Maybe you should hold out for more than 'nice'."
"Oh, it was just a preview," Jensen said. "We'll see how things go. I didn't really plan on letting him kiss me tonight, but when we got to dinner, everything just went so well."
"Good. He seems like a proper chap," Natalie said. "Unlike that asshole, Johnny."
"Well, he certainly doesn't treat me like an ignorant child like Johnny did," Jensen said. "But there could be all sorts of hidden flaws."
"And all sorts of hidden gems, too," Natalie said. "Don't just look for the bad stuff. You have to look for the good, too. Never forget that."
"You're sounding all sorts of romantic this evening," Jensen said. "What's up?"
"Remember the guy I told you about?" she asked.
"Which one?" he asked. She shot him a dirty look.
"Paolo, the one I met in Barcelona," she clarified. "Well, since I had a two day stop in Paris, he flew up to see me," she said. "We spent the whole time, well, enjoying Paris."
"Shagging like rabbits in your hotel room, you mean?" Jensen grinned. "No wonder you have this dazed, happy look on your face."
Natalie blushed. "Yes, well. Yes," she said. "Anyway, he wants me to take some time off and come stay with him in Spain."
"And?"
"And, I think I might," she said. "It would have to be after New Year's, of course. They don't let us take much vacation during the busy season. But I could probably manage to take a week and go see him in February or so. Assuming things are still good, that is."
"Look at you, with your hot foreign love," Jensen teased. "So, were you joking about the present?" Natalie laughed. She went into the other room and brought back a bag.
"In honor of your not really a date but hopefully it will lead to one," she said, tossing the bag at me. It was from a lingerie shop in Paris. Jensen looked at her, with one eyebrow raised.
"What? You threw away the stuff Johnny got you, so I thought you might need something new for when you finally chain Jared to your bed and exert you wicked ways," she said, shrugging. "Besides, they were having a sale, and I was already picking up something for Paolo." She grinned, saucily.
Jensen pulled out a tissue wrapped bundle, and gently untied the ribbon. He folded the paper back and gasped at the contents. Natalie had much better taste than Johnny. He pulled out a pair of green colored boxers, made of a light silk. There was also a matching robe, which poured through his fingertips like water.
"Natalie, this must have cost a fortune!" he gasped.
"Not to worry," she said. "The French consider lingerie a staple, like bread and wine. You can get some amazing stuff over there, for not too much money. So you like it?" she asked.
"Of course!" he said, reaching over to give her a hug.
"More importantly, do you think Jared will like it?" she asked.
"Oh, I think he will," Jensen grinned, imagining his reaction.
"Good. Well, you'd better get a good night's sleep," she said. "You want to look refreshed for your fellow, don't you?" Jensen gave her another quick hug and went back to his flat. He hung up the robe where he could see it from the bed. He drifted off to sleep, and had very pleasant dreams.
Jensen got to the coffee shop early the next morning, intending to treat Jared to coffee this time. He might not make as much as Jared clearly was, but he still felt weird letting Jared pay for everything. He was feeling well pleased with himself until he ran into Jared on the train platform.
"Great minds think alike," Jared said, giving Jensen a big hug and lifting him off of his feet.
"Must be it," Jensen said. Damn, Jared looked even better than he had at dinner. And Jensen had forgotten how good he smelled.
They took the escalator up from the platform, and entered the main terminal, pausing at the ATM so they could both pulse cash.
"I warn you, you'll have to fight with Douglas if you try to pick up the check," Jensen said. "He never lets me pay for anything."
"Because he thinks of you like a kid brother," Jared said, shrugging.
"But I can pay my own way," Jensen said, keeping his tone light. "The hotel, dinner last night, freaking coffee."
"Of course you can pay. But you know most guys were raised to think that we should do those sorts of things," he said. "We open doors, we buy dinner. It's a guy thing."
"And I'm not a guy?" Jensen asked, a little edge in his voice.
Jared stopped and turned to look at Jensen. "No. You're very much a guy, which I'm very happy about. You could probably kick my ass. In fact, from your tone of voice, I have a feeling you're about to," he said, nudging Jensen in the arm. "It's just, I don't know, respect? Protective instinct? I spent so many years not being able to take care of my family, that now maybe I go a little overboard"
"You don't have to take care of me," Jensen said, relaxing a little.
"But I want to," Jared said, putting an arm around Jensen's shoulders and pulling him close enough to kiss the top of his head.
Since they were both running early, they ended up grabbing a real breakfast instead of coffee and a muffin. Jensen knew he had much more fun when he traveled on a full stomach, and he knew Jared could eat enough to put a horse to shame.
"I love breakfast over here," Jared rhapsodized. "The bacon is so much better."
"I know. I hate really crisp bacon like they serve back home. This stuff is like a cross between bacon and ham. Too good for words," Jensen said.
"Will you miss this place when you come home?" Jared asked.
"Yeah. I think I'll miss it more than I realize. It's really started to feel like home," Jensen said, shrugging. "And I know I'll miss the guys at the office. And Natalie."
"You're really lucky to have a boss like Douglas," he said.
"He and Lucy have kind of adopted me," Jensen said. "And I warn you, he's taking the adoptive father/big brother role quite seriously. It's the reason he asked me to invite you along; he wants to check you out."
"I don't always do well with parents," Jared said, sounding a little nervous. "My ex's parents hated me."
"Why?" Jensen asked. "Or should I say for how long? I imagine they weren't too fond of you after you called off the wedding." He was proud of himself for not overreacting to the fact that Jared brought up his ex.
"Well, my parents were teachers, and Sandy's family is definitely old money," he said. "They're from North Carolina, and they've been there since the Revolutionary War, as they love to point out."
"Please," Jensen snorted. "My mother's family was at Jamestown. Fucking newcomers."
Jared laughed. "So you're old money, too?" he asked.
"Nope. Sorry. We're not old money. Not new money. Not a whole lot of money at all," Jensen said.
"Tell me about your folks," Jared said.
"Mom and Dad were high school sweethearts, and then went to college together. They got married right out of school and started having kids," Jensen said. "My dad works the Houston Arts Council, and my mom is a housewife. They both do lots of charity and volunteer work."
"Will they like me?" Jared teased.
"Please. My mother already adores you," Jensen said. "My dad will give you a hard time and try to scare the crap out of you, but he'll secretly like you. He just won't admit it for the first couple of years."
"First couple of years, huh?" Jared said, with a huge grin. "I like the sound of that."
Jensen blushed.
"Sounds like your dad is a bit of a character," Jared said.
"He can be. You're lucky you just have to deal with Douglas today," Jensen said. "When I went to my senior prom, my dad was sitting at the kitchen tables cleaning his guns when my date came to pick me up. Mom was running around with a camera and a box of Kleenex, and Dad just sat there, not saying anything. Every once in a while he'd pull back the hammer and make that 'click' noise that you always hear in the movies. Adam was terrified."
"I think you're going to have to coach me before I meet your father," Jared said. "But I'm glad your mother is already in my corner."
"Yep. I got an earful of 'That Jared seemed like a nice boy', the whole trip," Jensen said. "When she found out I was going into London to see you, I could tell she wanted to do handsprings, but she was afraid I'd tank things, just to spite her hopes of seeing me settle down and adopt a herd of kids."
"You don't want kids?" Jared asked. The tone of his voice was a little like Jensen's had been down by the ATM.
"I do. Just not at this exact moment. I'd really like to do more traveling before I have kids," Jensen said. It was better to get this sort of thing out into the open up front, he supposed. Before either of them got in too deep.
"Me too," Jared said, relief in his voice. "I mean, the wanting them, but not right now thing."
"So what about your mom?" Jensen asked. "Do you think she'll like me?" He could tell that Jared's family was close, and if they hated him, it would make things difficult.
"I think so," he said. "I mentioned you after our trip to Kew, and she wanted to know more about you. When she and my sister say your picture, they both giggled like little girls." Jared grinned when Jensen blushed.
"What have you told her since then?" Jensen asked, warily.
"I said that I might have messed things up beyond repair," Jared said. "She told me not to give up, so I take that as a good omen."
After breakfast, which Jensen bought, they walked to his office to wait for Douglas and Lucy. They were punctual, as always. Jensen introduced them to Jared, and he could tell he scored early points with Douglas just by his manners. They climbed into the back seat, and Douglas pulled out onto the road.
Under the guise of small talk, Douglas probed and prodded, trying to find out as much as he could about Jared. To his credit, Douglas was more subtle than Alan Ackles would have been. Even still, Jared and Jensen exchanged a couple of grins as the questions got a little pointed.
Soon the conversation switched to sport. Surprisingly, Jared followed soccer, and he and Douglas were able to talk about the upcoming season. Lucy and Jensen at each other and rolled their eyes. 'Boys!' she mouthed.
Chris had told Jensen that Stonehenge just kind of crept on you. One minute you were driving along, you came over a hill and there it was, plain as day. Douglas gave them a little advance warning, but Chris was right; it was still surprising. Douglas turned off into the parking lot, and found a spot relatively close to the gate. They bought admissions and rented the audio guides. Jensen had wondered that the parking lot was across the road from the monoliths, but was happy to discover a tunnel underneath the road, leading to the site.
They separated at the entrance to the site. Douglas and Lucy had been several times before, so they didn't have to pause and listen to all of the tracks on the guides. Jared and Jensen, however, stopped at every marker and listened. Jensen reveled in how nice it was to have someone to share the day with. Ally was fun, sure, but her butt wasn't nearly as cute as Jared's. And he really didn't want to know what kind of kisser she was.
"So, do you think they really had virgin sacrifices here?" Jared asked. "Isn't that what the druids were supposed to have done?"
"Well, it certainly has that sort of feeling to it, doesn't it?" Jensen said. "Although, nowadays, this place just attracts a lot of New Age folks. Some are serious about it, and some are just wackos."
"There are wackos everywhere," Jared said, shrugging.
They took pictures, of the monument, and each other. Douglas and Lucy took photos of the both of them, and then Jared took pictures of Jensen with Douglas and Lucy. Once everyone had had their picture taken, they trudged back to the other side of the road. Jared turned in their guides while Jensen went into the gift shop.
He picked up a couple of things, including the Stonehenge tea towel for Chris. Jensen got the chocolate Stonehenge for his sister and a pretty pair of earrings for his sister-in-law. Jared picked up a couple of things for his brother, sister, and mother, and they met Douglas and Lucy outside.
"It's still early. Why don't we go down to Salisbury and take a look around?" Douglas suggested. "It's got a stonking big cathedral, and lots of little shops."
"Sounds like fun," Jensen said. "You up for it?" he asked Jared.
"Yes sir," he said. When they got back to the car, Lucy pushed Jared up front so she and Jensen could chat while Jared and Douglas argued sports.
"He's lovely," she whispered, before the other two got in the car.
"I think so," Jensen said.
"Douglas likes him," she said, nodding as if that was the end of it.
"So does my mother," Jensen said.
"Did your mother ever meet…" she didn't finish the question.
"No. And I'm glad of it. She would have worried herself to death. He was not the kind of guy you want to take home to your parents. Which is fun for a while, but it's not the kind of guy you want for the long haul," Jensen said. And Jared was made for the long haul, it seemed.
They parked just outside of the city center, and walked toward the cathedral spires. They stopped for lunch in a restaurant that overlooked the small river that ran through the town, sitting out on the deck to enjoy the day. Douglas regaled them with stories from his stints working in Africa, and Jared talked about his first job in South America, when he still did field engineering.
As predicted, the two men squared off over the check. Lucy and Jensen walked outside, leaving them to duke it out. Five minutes later, they joined them, Jared with a triumphant grin and Douglas shaking his head and mumbling about freakishly long arms.
They visited the cathedral, which boasted the highest spire in all of England.
Jared and Douglas took the tour up to the top, each boasting that he would make it up first. Jensen hadn't gotten any better with heights, so he backed out. Lucy wasn't overly thrilled with the prospect either, so she stayed with him on solid ground. They visited the gift shop while Douglas and Jared climbed too many stairs to contemplate.
Jensen picked up a few odds and ends, and then he and Lucy found a lovely bench in the shade. Not long after, two very tired and disheveled looking men plopped down next to them on the grass. Douglas checked his watch, and declared that it was just about time for a pint. Jensen knew him too well to think they'd get out of whatever pub they found any time soon.
The sky had clouded up while they were in the cathedral, and they had to duck into the first shabby pub they found. The service wasn't great, but the beer was good, and they found a comfy table in the back. Two hours, many beers, and a good conversation later, the rain let up, and they were able to leave.
Jared reclaimed the back seat on the drive back. Jensen scooted over until he was snuggled up against Jared's side, and they enjoyed the scenery. Douglas had a talent for picking the prettiest route for any trip he took.
During a gas stop, Lucy and Jensen grabbed sodas and candy bars for their party, and went back outside, where Douglas and Jared were talking. Whatever they were talking about, they stopped as soon as Jensen and Lucy were in earshot. Jensen gave Jared a questioning look, but he just smiled.
Douglas dropped them off at Jensen's flat. He offered to take Jared to the station, but Jensen said that he had rented a video, and invited Jared to join him. Jared grinned, and politely turned down Douglas's offer. Lucy smiled conspiratorially, and didn't let Douglas linger over goodbyes.
"What video?" Jared asked, as they went inside.
"I lied," Jensen said. "See if you can find anything on the four channels of television that I get. If not, we can raid Natalie's stash." He headed back to the kitchen to see what he had in the refrigerator. Not much.
"How do you feel about pizza?" he yelled, thinking Jared was still in the sitting room.
"Sounds good," Jared said, standing right behind him. "I think we'll have to raid Natalie's. All I can find is some really lame Star Search clone, DIY shows, and a documentary on snakes."
They ordered the pizza and went up to Natalie's for a video. Jared picked the latest James Bond, which was fine with Jensen. Once dinner arrived, they curled up on the sofa with their food and watched the movie. They were both tired, and ended up falling asleep on the couch. It was nearly three in the morning when they finally woke up.
"Don't even think about taking a train back into London tonight," Jensen mumbled, pulling Jared up off the couch.
"You don't mind if I stay over?" he said, nuzzling Jensen's neck. "What happened to taking it slow? Not that I'm complaining, mind you."
"We're both too tired to get into trouble," Jensen said. "I think we're safe."
"Sadly, I think you might be right," Jared said, yawning. They went back to Jensen's room and got ready for bed. Jensen gave him a t-shirt and a pair of sleep pants, and tried to look away while Jared changed. Just to be polite. He failed miserably.
Jared was a boxer brief guy, much to Jensen's delight. He changed into his own t-shirt and pajama bottoms, and the two men curled up in bed. Safe or not, Jared pulled Jensen close, and spooned against his back. Jensen should have been too excited to sleep, but in reality, he was so comfortable that he was asleep within minutes, his hand curled in Jared's.
Next
Author: texankate
Pairings/Characters: J-squared, Jensen/ Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Jared/Sandy, Chris/Steve, Usual Suspects OFCs, OMCs. S1 'The Tudors', S1 'Primeval'.
Rating: Up to NC17 in places
Disclaimer: If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber'd here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream,. In other words: complete and utter fiction. I own nothing but my twisted and sordid little brain. I even had to borrow my disclaimer.
Summary: When Jensen left everything behind for his big shot overseas assignment, he only wanted a life of adventure. Will he choose passion with a sexy foreigner? Or will he realize that true love was in his back yard the whole time?
Chapter 10
Douglas came in a little while later. He logged onto his computer while Jensen went downstairs to grab a bacon and egg sandwich and a soda for breakfast.
"How was Wales?" Douglas asked, once Jensen returned.
"It was good. Ally and I had a really fun time," Jensen said. "As soon as James gets in, I'll tell you all about it."
"Lucy wanted me to make sure you're still up for Saturday," he said. "We're thinking maybe Stonehenge, since you haven't seen it yet."
"Ooh, that sounds fantastic!" Jensen said. "I have dinner plans the evening before, but I'm definitely up for big rocks on Saturday."
"Dinner with Natalie? Or Ally?" he asked.
"Actually, it's someone I met back in April," Jensen said. "He's from Houston, but he travels over here quite a bit for work." He hadn't mentioned Jared much at work, except to Ally.
"Would this be the fellow you went to Kew with?" he asked. Jensen looked at him, questioningly.
"I heard you and Ally talking about it," Douglas said, blushing just a tad.
"Yes, him," Jensen admitted.
"Has he been to Stonehenge?" Douglas asked.
"I don't know. I don't think so. He says he never gets a chance to see anything when he's here," Jensen said.
"Well, if you're still speaking to him after dinner, why don't you invite him to come with us?" Douglas said. "I'd like to meet him." Douglas was taking this surrogate big brother bit a little far.
"Wow, Dad, if you say so," Jensen said, rolling his eyes.
"I'm sorry. But Alasdair will have my head if I let you get hurt again," he said.
"Again? Please tell me you didn't tell him about Johnny," Jensen begged.
"No, nothing," he promised. "But he asked me to keep an eye on you."
"Do all of your employees get this kind of treatment?" Jensen asked.
"No, just the ones we want to keep around," Douglas said. "Just think about it. It's an open invitation for your friend."
"Thanks, Dad."
"You're welcome, son. Now take out the garbage and clean your room."
Jensen got to work early on Friday, hoping to leave a little early. He wasn't meeting Jared until seven o'clock, but he wanted to get home and change before he met him at the station. Not that Jensen wanted to dress up, or anything. But he didn't want to wear the jeans and sweatshirt he wore to work.
Douglas must have guessed that he was nervous, because around one, he looked over and made the international hand sign for 'wanna go for a drink?' They grabbed their ID badges and walked down to the pub. Douglas bought pints, and they went out to the back patio. The lunch crowd had started to slack off, so they were able to claim a picnic table all to themselves.
"You're awfully jumpy today," Douglas said. "Tonight's the big date, right."
"It's not a date," Jensen said. "We're just meeting for dinner."
"Sure," Douglas said. "And you'll invite him to go with us tomorrow?"
"I don't know," Jensen said, honestly. "We'll see how tonight goes." They stared into their pints. Ever the slacker, Jensen was way behind Douglas, who finished his first pint, and went in for a second. He came back out a few minutes later.
"Have you talked to Johnny lately?" he asked, as he sat down.
"Not likely," Jensen said. "Things ended badly."
"I thought as much," he said.
"Is that why you and Everett sent him to Oslo?" Jensen asked. Douglas had the grace to blush. "I thought so," Jensen said.
"Johnny was always flexible about where he worked," Douglas said. "Don't worry; it's a promotion for him. He's running projects now. It just worked out best for everyone."
"What happens when I go back to the States?" Jensen asked.
"He'll still be in Oslo," Douglas shrugged. "You sound like you're ready to go home."
"I suppose," Jensen said. He hadn't really thought about it.
"You've enjoyed your time here," Douglas said. A statement, not a question.
"Very much so. It's been amazing," Jensen agreed.
"You're profile in the database says you're willing to take long term assignments out of your home country. Have you thought about staying here?" Douglas asked.
"I haven't been offered a permanent position," Jensen said. "I'd have to wait until I was to even think about it."
"Well, you might want to start thinking about it," Douglas said. "I know Everett has been impressed with your work."
"Thanks, I really appreciate it," Jensen said. Great, he thought, like I need more things to obsess over.
They finished their drinks and went back to work. Around four o'clock, Jensen shut down his terminal. He confirmed that he was to meet Douglas and Lucy at the office at ten o'clock the next morning, and then left for the day. An hour later, he was standing in his room, digging through the wardrobe. He pulled out the suit he'd worn to dinner in London. The jacket was too dressy, but he pulled on the trousers and paired it with the white shirt and black cashmere sweater that Natalie had talked him into. It wasn't formal, but still looked smart and put together. It said 'Hey, this is just dinner. No need to get worked up.' He checked his watch, and realized that if he didn't leave for the station soon, he'd be late.
Jared was waiting for him when he got to the station. He grinned hesitantly, and Jensen gave him what he hoped was an encouraging smile. Jared walked down the steps, and stopped in front of him.
"You look good," he said.
"You too," Jensen said. And Jared did. Black trousers and a dark green buttoned down shirt. His skin was darker, too-he'd said something about going to on a Grand Canyon trip with his old roommate. The outdoors seemed to agree with him.
He seemed taller and stronger than the last time Jensen had seen him, but that could easily be chalked up to his demeanor. Tonight he hasn't the man Jensen had seen a month ago in the Starbucks, begging for another chance. He was the man who'd pulled Jensen onto his lap at Kew. Jensen would have to be on his toes, or he might end up back on Jared's lap. The wicked little voice in his head said that might not be such a bad thing. They walked over to the High Street, where all the good restaurants edged the promenade.
"What are you in the mood for?" Jensen asked. "We've got a couple of Italian places, a tapas bar, Indian food. Whatever you like."
"How about Indian?" Jared said. They walked over to Jensen's favorite, and went inside. They had beaten most of the dinner rush, and were able to get a table on the patio. They didn't talk much until the waiter brought their dinner and a bottle of red wine.
"What made you change your mind about seeing me again?" Jared finally asked.
"Ally. Kind of. When we were in Wales, we had a lot of time to talk. I finally realized that I'd been maybe a little unfair to you. I want to ask you to forgive me for jumping to conclusions and not giving you a chance to explain things before I flew off the handle," Jensen said. Jared reached across the table and grabbed his hand.
"Thank you. In your shoes, I'd have thought the same thing. But I want you to know, nothing happened. I didn't want anything to happen. I promise," he said. Jensen smiled and squeezed his hand.
Conversation got a little easier after that. They talked about home, football, and what Jensen missed the most from home. He had to risk being completely honest and admit it wasn’t his friends or family.
"Food," he said. "I would kill for real fajitas and chips with salsa. And barbecue, with pinto beans and potato salad. And Blue Bell ice cream."
"Well, I don’t think I can smuggle you any Blue Bell, but I might be able to do something about some of the other stuff," he chuckled. "I could cook for you."
"You cook?" Jensen asked, highly impressed.
"Had to. When Mom had stuff to do, we all took turns cooking," he said. "I make really good tortillas."
"Keep saying stuff like that and I'll lock you away in my flat, never to see the sun again," Jensen said. A half second later, he realized how suggestive that sounded. Jared wriggled his eyebrows at Jensen and gave him a goofy leer.
"I iron, and I do the dishes, too," he said. Jensen rolled his eyes and suppressed a grin.
They walked down the street to an ice cream shop for dessert, lingering in front of some of the window displays. Jensen told him about Stonehenge over strawberry chocolate chip in a cone. He made sure to include that Douglas was dead serious about Jared coming with them.
"Unless, of course, you have something else going on," he said.
"Nope, I'm free," Jared said. "And I'd love to meet Douglas. He sounds like a great guy." Jensen didn't tell him that Douglas was trying to lure him over for a permanent position. Things were going well at the moment-no need to add more stress.
"Well, if we're going to do the tourist thing tomorrow, you had better get home and get a good night's sleep. You have to be exhausted," Jensen said.
"I'm lagging, just a little," he admitted. They turned back and walked back toward the station. Jensen meant to walk him to his train, but Jared wouldn't hear of it.
"I'd feel better if you let me walk you home," he said. "Let me be a gentleman, please?" Jensen relented, and they walked through the neighborhood, holding hands. It felt completely comfortable.
"Okay, I guess we should get some of the big questions out of the way. Favorite movie?" Jensen asked.
"Ooh, tough one. Do I lie and pick something sensitive like 'The English Patient', or do I show my guyness and admit to loving 'Caddyshack'?"
"I can handle 'Caddyshack', Jensen said. "I mean, it's no 'Blazing Saddles', but it's funny."
"You like 'Blazing Saddles'?" Jared asked.
"I love all Mel Brooks movies. Well, not that one where he's the slum lord. Just the classics like 'Blazing Saddles' and 'Young Frankenstein'"
"Am I moving too fast if I tell you I think we might be soul mates?" Jared asked, grinning.
Jensen laughed. "Just a touch. I mean, we haven't even touched on my obsession with Hope and Crosby 'On the Road' movies. You might find out there's a deal breaker in there somewhere."
"How do you feel about Tom Hanks?" Jared asked.
"Not fond of him," Jensen admitted. "You know, saying that is a crime in twenty states?"
"Then maybe they can give us adjoining cells," Jared laughed. "Because I'm guilty too." They turned onto Jensen's street, and crossed over to his flat. Natalie was pulling in as walked up.
"Halloo," she said, stepping out of her car. "Who's this, then?"
"Hey Natalie. I'd like you to meet Jared Padalecki," Jensen said.
"Jared? The Jared?" she said, extending her hand. Jensen nodded. "Well it's about bloody time I met you."
"Likewise," he grinned. Natalie reached back into her car and grabbed her overnight bag.
"Stop by when you get a moment," she told Jensen. "I brought you a present from Paris."
"Ooh," he said. "What did you get me?"
"Well, I was going to bring you back a nice French fellow, but I see you've gotten a man for yourself. Good thing, too. My case is rather small," she grinned. They watched her unlock her door and go inside. Jensen led Jared downstairs to his flat.
"Would you like to come in for a drink?" he asked.
"Not tonight," Jared said. "I'd hate to fall asleep on you."
"Rain check, then?" Jensen asked.
"Most definitely," he murmured, tipping Jensen's chin up. He kissed Jensen sweetly, with warm, gentle lips. Jensen would have liked for him to continue, but he backed away.
"Tomorrow. Around nine at Starbucks, right?" he said.
"I'll see you then," Jensen said. He watched Jared climb back up to street level, and quickly disappear from view. Jensen went inside, and slid the deadbolt. He figured Natalie hadn't gone to bed in the two minutes since he'd seen her, so he went out the back door and up to hers. He knocked loudly, and she opened the door a few moments later.
"Sorry, did I interrupt?" she asked, walking into the kitchen.
"No, he was just walking me home. Nothing more," Jensen said, following. He pulled out a chair and plopped down at her kitchen table.
"Yet," Natalie said. "You two looked awfully chummy, though." She couldn't hide her grin.
"Yeah," Jensen said, blushing. "I did get a good night kiss. That was nice."
"Just nice?" Natalie said. "Maybe you should hold out for more than 'nice'."
"Oh, it was just a preview," Jensen said. "We'll see how things go. I didn't really plan on letting him kiss me tonight, but when we got to dinner, everything just went so well."
"Good. He seems like a proper chap," Natalie said. "Unlike that asshole, Johnny."
"Well, he certainly doesn't treat me like an ignorant child like Johnny did," Jensen said. "But there could be all sorts of hidden flaws."
"And all sorts of hidden gems, too," Natalie said. "Don't just look for the bad stuff. You have to look for the good, too. Never forget that."
"You're sounding all sorts of romantic this evening," Jensen said. "What's up?"
"Remember the guy I told you about?" she asked.
"Which one?" he asked. She shot him a dirty look.
"Paolo, the one I met in Barcelona," she clarified. "Well, since I had a two day stop in Paris, he flew up to see me," she said. "We spent the whole time, well, enjoying Paris."
"Shagging like rabbits in your hotel room, you mean?" Jensen grinned. "No wonder you have this dazed, happy look on your face."
Natalie blushed. "Yes, well. Yes," she said. "Anyway, he wants me to take some time off and come stay with him in Spain."
"And?"
"And, I think I might," she said. "It would have to be after New Year's, of course. They don't let us take much vacation during the busy season. But I could probably manage to take a week and go see him in February or so. Assuming things are still good, that is."
"Look at you, with your hot foreign love," Jensen teased. "So, were you joking about the present?" Natalie laughed. She went into the other room and brought back a bag.
"In honor of your not really a date but hopefully it will lead to one," she said, tossing the bag at me. It was from a lingerie shop in Paris. Jensen looked at her, with one eyebrow raised.
"What? You threw away the stuff Johnny got you, so I thought you might need something new for when you finally chain Jared to your bed and exert you wicked ways," she said, shrugging. "Besides, they were having a sale, and I was already picking up something for Paolo." She grinned, saucily.
Jensen pulled out a tissue wrapped bundle, and gently untied the ribbon. He folded the paper back and gasped at the contents. Natalie had much better taste than Johnny. He pulled out a pair of green colored boxers, made of a light silk. There was also a matching robe, which poured through his fingertips like water.
"Natalie, this must have cost a fortune!" he gasped.
"Not to worry," she said. "The French consider lingerie a staple, like bread and wine. You can get some amazing stuff over there, for not too much money. So you like it?" she asked.
"Of course!" he said, reaching over to give her a hug.
"More importantly, do you think Jared will like it?" she asked.
"Oh, I think he will," Jensen grinned, imagining his reaction.
"Good. Well, you'd better get a good night's sleep," she said. "You want to look refreshed for your fellow, don't you?" Jensen gave her another quick hug and went back to his flat. He hung up the robe where he could see it from the bed. He drifted off to sleep, and had very pleasant dreams.
Jensen got to the coffee shop early the next morning, intending to treat Jared to coffee this time. He might not make as much as Jared clearly was, but he still felt weird letting Jared pay for everything. He was feeling well pleased with himself until he ran into Jared on the train platform.
"Great minds think alike," Jared said, giving Jensen a big hug and lifting him off of his feet.
"Must be it," Jensen said. Damn, Jared looked even better than he had at dinner. And Jensen had forgotten how good he smelled.
They took the escalator up from the platform, and entered the main terminal, pausing at the ATM so they could both pulse cash.
"I warn you, you'll have to fight with Douglas if you try to pick up the check," Jensen said. "He never lets me pay for anything."
"Because he thinks of you like a kid brother," Jared said, shrugging.
"But I can pay my own way," Jensen said, keeping his tone light. "The hotel, dinner last night, freaking coffee."
"Of course you can pay. But you know most guys were raised to think that we should do those sorts of things," he said. "We open doors, we buy dinner. It's a guy thing."
"And I'm not a guy?" Jensen asked, a little edge in his voice.
Jared stopped and turned to look at Jensen. "No. You're very much a guy, which I'm very happy about. You could probably kick my ass. In fact, from your tone of voice, I have a feeling you're about to," he said, nudging Jensen in the arm. "It's just, I don't know, respect? Protective instinct? I spent so many years not being able to take care of my family, that now maybe I go a little overboard"
"You don't have to take care of me," Jensen said, relaxing a little.
"But I want to," Jared said, putting an arm around Jensen's shoulders and pulling him close enough to kiss the top of his head.
Since they were both running early, they ended up grabbing a real breakfast instead of coffee and a muffin. Jensen knew he had much more fun when he traveled on a full stomach, and he knew Jared could eat enough to put a horse to shame.
"I love breakfast over here," Jared rhapsodized. "The bacon is so much better."
"I know. I hate really crisp bacon like they serve back home. This stuff is like a cross between bacon and ham. Too good for words," Jensen said.
"Will you miss this place when you come home?" Jared asked.
"Yeah. I think I'll miss it more than I realize. It's really started to feel like home," Jensen said, shrugging. "And I know I'll miss the guys at the office. And Natalie."
"You're really lucky to have a boss like Douglas," he said.
"He and Lucy have kind of adopted me," Jensen said. "And I warn you, he's taking the adoptive father/big brother role quite seriously. It's the reason he asked me to invite you along; he wants to check you out."
"I don't always do well with parents," Jared said, sounding a little nervous. "My ex's parents hated me."
"Why?" Jensen asked. "Or should I say for how long? I imagine they weren't too fond of you after you called off the wedding." He was proud of himself for not overreacting to the fact that Jared brought up his ex.
"Well, my parents were teachers, and Sandy's family is definitely old money," he said. "They're from North Carolina, and they've been there since the Revolutionary War, as they love to point out."
"Please," Jensen snorted. "My mother's family was at Jamestown. Fucking newcomers."
Jared laughed. "So you're old money, too?" he asked.
"Nope. Sorry. We're not old money. Not new money. Not a whole lot of money at all," Jensen said.
"Tell me about your folks," Jared said.
"Mom and Dad were high school sweethearts, and then went to college together. They got married right out of school and started having kids," Jensen said. "My dad works the Houston Arts Council, and my mom is a housewife. They both do lots of charity and volunteer work."
"Will they like me?" Jared teased.
"Please. My mother already adores you," Jensen said. "My dad will give you a hard time and try to scare the crap out of you, but he'll secretly like you. He just won't admit it for the first couple of years."
"First couple of years, huh?" Jared said, with a huge grin. "I like the sound of that."
Jensen blushed.
"Sounds like your dad is a bit of a character," Jared said.
"He can be. You're lucky you just have to deal with Douglas today," Jensen said. "When I went to my senior prom, my dad was sitting at the kitchen tables cleaning his guns when my date came to pick me up. Mom was running around with a camera and a box of Kleenex, and Dad just sat there, not saying anything. Every once in a while he'd pull back the hammer and make that 'click' noise that you always hear in the movies. Adam was terrified."
"I think you're going to have to coach me before I meet your father," Jared said. "But I'm glad your mother is already in my corner."
"Yep. I got an earful of 'That Jared seemed like a nice boy', the whole trip," Jensen said. "When she found out I was going into London to see you, I could tell she wanted to do handsprings, but she was afraid I'd tank things, just to spite her hopes of seeing me settle down and adopt a herd of kids."
"You don't want kids?" Jared asked. The tone of his voice was a little like Jensen's had been down by the ATM.
"I do. Just not at this exact moment. I'd really like to do more traveling before I have kids," Jensen said. It was better to get this sort of thing out into the open up front, he supposed. Before either of them got in too deep.
"Me too," Jared said, relief in his voice. "I mean, the wanting them, but not right now thing."
"So what about your mom?" Jensen asked. "Do you think she'll like me?" He could tell that Jared's family was close, and if they hated him, it would make things difficult.
"I think so," he said. "I mentioned you after our trip to Kew, and she wanted to know more about you. When she and my sister say your picture, they both giggled like little girls." Jared grinned when Jensen blushed.
"What have you told her since then?" Jensen asked, warily.
"I said that I might have messed things up beyond repair," Jared said. "She told me not to give up, so I take that as a good omen."
After breakfast, which Jensen bought, they walked to his office to wait for Douglas and Lucy. They were punctual, as always. Jensen introduced them to Jared, and he could tell he scored early points with Douglas just by his manners. They climbed into the back seat, and Douglas pulled out onto the road.
Under the guise of small talk, Douglas probed and prodded, trying to find out as much as he could about Jared. To his credit, Douglas was more subtle than Alan Ackles would have been. Even still, Jared and Jensen exchanged a couple of grins as the questions got a little pointed.
Soon the conversation switched to sport. Surprisingly, Jared followed soccer, and he and Douglas were able to talk about the upcoming season. Lucy and Jensen at each other and rolled their eyes. 'Boys!' she mouthed.
Chris had told Jensen that Stonehenge just kind of crept on you. One minute you were driving along, you came over a hill and there it was, plain as day. Douglas gave them a little advance warning, but Chris was right; it was still surprising. Douglas turned off into the parking lot, and found a spot relatively close to the gate. They bought admissions and rented the audio guides. Jensen had wondered that the parking lot was across the road from the monoliths, but was happy to discover a tunnel underneath the road, leading to the site.
They separated at the entrance to the site. Douglas and Lucy had been several times before, so they didn't have to pause and listen to all of the tracks on the guides. Jared and Jensen, however, stopped at every marker and listened. Jensen reveled in how nice it was to have someone to share the day with. Ally was fun, sure, but her butt wasn't nearly as cute as Jared's. And he really didn't want to know what kind of kisser she was.
"So, do you think they really had virgin sacrifices here?" Jared asked. "Isn't that what the druids were supposed to have done?"
"Well, it certainly has that sort of feeling to it, doesn't it?" Jensen said. "Although, nowadays, this place just attracts a lot of New Age folks. Some are serious about it, and some are just wackos."
"There are wackos everywhere," Jared said, shrugging.
They took pictures, of the monument, and each other. Douglas and Lucy took photos of the both of them, and then Jared took pictures of Jensen with Douglas and Lucy. Once everyone had had their picture taken, they trudged back to the other side of the road. Jared turned in their guides while Jensen went into the gift shop.
He picked up a couple of things, including the Stonehenge tea towel for Chris. Jensen got the chocolate Stonehenge for his sister and a pretty pair of earrings for his sister-in-law. Jared picked up a couple of things for his brother, sister, and mother, and they met Douglas and Lucy outside.
"It's still early. Why don't we go down to Salisbury and take a look around?" Douglas suggested. "It's got a stonking big cathedral, and lots of little shops."
"Sounds like fun," Jensen said. "You up for it?" he asked Jared.
"Yes sir," he said. When they got back to the car, Lucy pushed Jared up front so she and Jensen could chat while Jared and Douglas argued sports.
"He's lovely," she whispered, before the other two got in the car.
"I think so," Jensen said.
"Douglas likes him," she said, nodding as if that was the end of it.
"So does my mother," Jensen said.
"Did your mother ever meet…" she didn't finish the question.
"No. And I'm glad of it. She would have worried herself to death. He was not the kind of guy you want to take home to your parents. Which is fun for a while, but it's not the kind of guy you want for the long haul," Jensen said. And Jared was made for the long haul, it seemed.
They parked just outside of the city center, and walked toward the cathedral spires. They stopped for lunch in a restaurant that overlooked the small river that ran through the town, sitting out on the deck to enjoy the day. Douglas regaled them with stories from his stints working in Africa, and Jared talked about his first job in South America, when he still did field engineering.
As predicted, the two men squared off over the check. Lucy and Jensen walked outside, leaving them to duke it out. Five minutes later, they joined them, Jared with a triumphant grin and Douglas shaking his head and mumbling about freakishly long arms.
They visited the cathedral, which boasted the highest spire in all of England.
Jared and Douglas took the tour up to the top, each boasting that he would make it up first. Jensen hadn't gotten any better with heights, so he backed out. Lucy wasn't overly thrilled with the prospect either, so she stayed with him on solid ground. They visited the gift shop while Douglas and Jared climbed too many stairs to contemplate.
Jensen picked up a few odds and ends, and then he and Lucy found a lovely bench in the shade. Not long after, two very tired and disheveled looking men plopped down next to them on the grass. Douglas checked his watch, and declared that it was just about time for a pint. Jensen knew him too well to think they'd get out of whatever pub they found any time soon.
The sky had clouded up while they were in the cathedral, and they had to duck into the first shabby pub they found. The service wasn't great, but the beer was good, and they found a comfy table in the back. Two hours, many beers, and a good conversation later, the rain let up, and they were able to leave.
Jared reclaimed the back seat on the drive back. Jensen scooted over until he was snuggled up against Jared's side, and they enjoyed the scenery. Douglas had a talent for picking the prettiest route for any trip he took.
During a gas stop, Lucy and Jensen grabbed sodas and candy bars for their party, and went back outside, where Douglas and Jared were talking. Whatever they were talking about, they stopped as soon as Jensen and Lucy were in earshot. Jensen gave Jared a questioning look, but he just smiled.
Douglas dropped them off at Jensen's flat. He offered to take Jared to the station, but Jensen said that he had rented a video, and invited Jared to join him. Jared grinned, and politely turned down Douglas's offer. Lucy smiled conspiratorially, and didn't let Douglas linger over goodbyes.
"What video?" Jared asked, as they went inside.
"I lied," Jensen said. "See if you can find anything on the four channels of television that I get. If not, we can raid Natalie's stash." He headed back to the kitchen to see what he had in the refrigerator. Not much.
"How do you feel about pizza?" he yelled, thinking Jared was still in the sitting room.
"Sounds good," Jared said, standing right behind him. "I think we'll have to raid Natalie's. All I can find is some really lame Star Search clone, DIY shows, and a documentary on snakes."
They ordered the pizza and went up to Natalie's for a video. Jared picked the latest James Bond, which was fine with Jensen. Once dinner arrived, they curled up on the sofa with their food and watched the movie. They were both tired, and ended up falling asleep on the couch. It was nearly three in the morning when they finally woke up.
"Don't even think about taking a train back into London tonight," Jensen mumbled, pulling Jared up off the couch.
"You don't mind if I stay over?" he said, nuzzling Jensen's neck. "What happened to taking it slow? Not that I'm complaining, mind you."
"We're both too tired to get into trouble," Jensen said. "I think we're safe."
"Sadly, I think you might be right," Jared said, yawning. They went back to Jensen's room and got ready for bed. Jensen gave him a t-shirt and a pair of sleep pants, and tried to look away while Jared changed. Just to be polite. He failed miserably.
Jared was a boxer brief guy, much to Jensen's delight. He changed into his own t-shirt and pajama bottoms, and the two men curled up in bed. Safe or not, Jared pulled Jensen close, and spooned against his back. Jensen should have been too excited to sleep, but in reality, he was so comfortable that he was asleep within minutes, his hand curled in Jared's.
Next