Jays2 (15/?)
Title: Jays2 (15/?)
Genre: J2 RPS, AU
Pairing: Jensen/Jared although - Heh! You know major league teams have 25-man rosters, right?
Rating: PG-13
Warnings (overall): Language, Baseball, Schmoop, Angst, Boy-Sexin’ (wait, what kind of warning is that?)
Word Count: ~ 4,100
Disclaimer: Fiction not fact. All these beautiful guys belong to themselves. Jensen and Jared belong to each other, we all know that :D Only the words are mine. No copyright infringement intended for the use of the MLB teams/players/logos, the Toronto Star, or Rogers Sportsnet. This is for fun, not profit.
A/N: Sorry this has taken a while. RL has been a biatch and my week has been a shitty mess. Whatevs. At least this ‘verse makes me happy! Enjoy! Comments = Love!
Summary: We’re heading into the last few games of the regular season now, and the team is giving it all they’ve got to try and make it into the play-offs. In the midst of all the excitement on the field, Jensen finds that he has some tough decisions to make. Will the Jays triumph? And, maybe a little more importantly: will the J’s triumph?
( 1 ), ( 2 ), ( 3 ), ( 4 ), ( 5 ), ( 6 ), ( 7 ), ( 8 ), ( 9 ), ( 10 ), ( 11 ), ( 12 ), ( 13 ), ( 14 )
FIFTEEN: OUT AND ABOUT IN TORONTO IN THE FALL (CLASSIC)
It started in Cleveland, that sense that he was being watched. And even though he knew better, Jensen shrugged it off.
Then he felt it again when they returned to Toronto shortly after, well into the first week of August.
It troubled him and it finally got to the point where he actually ditched Jared to go run errands by himself, just to see if he could flush out his stalker. And he had enough experience to know when he was being stalked.
That, strangely enough, had led to a whole new set of revelations that had nothing to do with the unseen eyes trailing him.
The girls at Tim Horton’s should have been his first clue.
“Hi Jensen! Where’s Jared?” They sing-songed in unison.
“He’s at home today,” Jensen told them whilst contemplating the merits of a chocolate glazed donut versus a double-chocolate dipped donut. Or hmm... maybe the Boston Creme?
“He’s not sick, is he?” The little blonde one asked, concern knitting her brow.
“No, he’s fine.”
“So why didn’t he come with you?” The brunette one asked, and that actually got Jensen’s attention. The girls were crushing on Jared, he thought, smirking; that was adorable.
“Er... he didn’t feel like it,” Jensen lied. The brunette studied him a mite too shrewdly for his liking.
“Are you gonna get his favourite? He always gets you yours,” the other not-quite-blonde one told him.
“Really?” This was news to Jensen; Jared hardly ever got him the same thing. “And what is my favourite?”
“Depends on your mood,” Not-quite-blonde stated.
“And if you woke up cranky or not,” the little blonde one looked at him with a sigh.
“And if you had a good game the night before. Also,” the brunette one expanded, “it depends on his mood.”
Jesus.
Jensen just stared at them, and then realized they were waiting for him to actually tell them how he was feeling. “Er...,” he gulped, “My mood’s all right. I did wake up a little cranky but I’m better now, and we won last night, so I had a good game and so did Jared. So his mood is good too. I guess. Okay, maybe he was a bit grumpy when I left.”
The three girls considered him and each other for a few seconds before the brunette nodded, reaching into the donut display rack behind the counter. “You’re both gonna need a little pick-me-up. Chocolate cream croissant for you.”
And suddenly, that’s exactly what Jensen wanted. “One for Jared, too, please,” he said, and the girls looked at him like he was an idiot.
“Well, duh.”
All righty then.
***
“Where your boyfriend?” Mrs. Lee, who had the best fruit stand at St. Lawrence Market, demanded. Jensen blinked at her, a blank expression on his face, until she had to mime a giant form next to him.
“Oh! No! He’s not my boyfriend,” he insisted, going red-faced, “Best friend! Just friends.” Mrs. Lee harrumphed her disbelief, and Jensen had forgotten to buy Jared’s clementines in his hurry to get away.
***
Mr. Janicki, their dry cleaner, thought Jared was his husband.
“Hello, Padalecki,” Mr. Janicki greeted him with a big, toothy grin.
“It’s Ackles,” Jensen corrected.
“No, Padalecki.”
“No, Ackles.”
“You two get a divorce? Why? What did you do? He’s a good Polish boy!” Smile gone, the man glared daggers at him until Jensen had to practically swear on the crucifix on the wall that he and Jared were happy and very much not divorced, thank you. It appeased Mr. Janicki, but it upset Jensen that the man would automatically assume that any rift between them would be his fault and not Jared’s.
‘Cause he was a good Anglo-Saxon boy, goddamn it.
***
Mrs. Khan at the Pakistani restaurant where they always got tikka kabobs from clucked and shook her head at him. “You look sad, poppet,” she crooned, patting his hand, “did you and Jared have a fight?”
“It’s not gonna affect your game again, is it?” Her fourteen-year-old son Sameer piped up. “We’re heading into the post-season, dude - can’t afford to lose focus now. Kiss and make-up, man. Don’t let it drag on like last time!”
Jensen just stared him, slackjawed.
“Look who’s giving relationship advice,” Mrs. Khan scoffed, rolling her eyes.
“You got a better idea, Ma?”
“Okay, in this particular case, you may have a point...”
“Yes!”
“Don’t get cocky. One time in his life, he’s right. I would suggest buying Jared food, Jensen, but you’re already here, so good going. The way to a man’s heart, and all that!”
Jensen gaped at them both. “I... we... you... No! We’re not...,” he sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face in resignation. “No, we didn’t have a fight - we’re fine. I’m just a little tired and he is too, so I left him at home.”
Mrs. Khan cooed at him. “Such a delightful and considerate boy you are, Jensen!” She whacked her son upside the head. “Learn a lesson from him. This is how to be a gentleman.” Sameer glared at Jensen and then at his mother’s back. “Here, just for being so lovely, Jensen - I’ll give you a free order of Jared’s favourite chicken biriyani too. And it’s hot outside, why don’t you have a Mango kulfi popsicle on the house?”
“Thanks, Mrs. Khan.”
“Next time you’re both knackered and hungry, call us, Jensen! We do deliver, you know.”
“Right - she means I’ll have to bike it over to your place,” Sameer grumbled.
“One time I ask you to deliver something, Sameer! That too, you spilled everything! You should have seen it, Jensen, there was a trail of pakoras from here to the Lakeshore!”
“Ma, don’t exaggerate,” he looked at Jensen, who was trying his damndest to keep a straight face. “They weren’t pakoras, they were onion bhajjis and I only dropped one!”
“You wouldn’t know a bhajji if it came up and bit you! Jensen, next time bring Jared here and have the sizzler hot, hot, from the grill!”
“Will do,” Jensen called over his shoulder as he made a hasty exit before they could somehow drag him into their next argument.
First off, he had no idea when he had become the kind of person who knew the names of people whose businesses he frequented, but there it was. He knew the guy who sold Shopsy’s hot dogs on Spadina Avenue (Enrice), he knew the ice cream dude who parked his truck in front of the Metro Convention Centre on Front Street (Ahmed) - hell, he even knew the names of the trio of Timmy’s girls aka the donut gurus: Anna, Annie and Ann... he just didn’t know who was whom yet. Jared did though, and really, Jensen knowing was all Jared’s fault.
It was kind of nice, actually, and Jensen kind of liked it. Most of the time. Today had not been one of those times. And okay, all right. So he and Jared were best friends and maybe a little more; he got that. Best friends didn’t kiss and cuddle on a regular basis, but, Jesus, did the entire population of downtown Toronto think they were a couple?
Fuck.
They hadn’t really discussed the aspects of their relationship that fell out of the realm of best friendom yet, but Jensen didn’t really feel the need to. They were them, and they were good they way they were, right? Besides which - it was August, and the end of the season was looming, which meant it would soon be time for him to return to Dallas, and return to the company.
Alone. As usual. Story of his life.
Then, before he knew it, it would be December, and the shit would hit the fan. He didn’t want Jared anywhere near him when that happened. Bad things tended to happen to innocent bystanders when he went up against his father, so the further away from him Jared was, the better. Because Jensen had made his choice now: he needed to be more careful; he needed to be smart.
He needed to keep Jared the hell away from his ridiculous other life.
And he needed to pay attention to where he was going, he thought as he tripped over a cracked slab of the sidewalk. It made him turn around to make sure he hadn’t dropped anything, and that’s when he noticed it again, just there in his periphery vision.
Someone was following him.
And now, he had a pretty good idea who it was.
|*|*|*|
Rogers Sportsnet Post-Game Broadcast:
Blue Jays Central with Matt Campbell and Caroline Millar
With every day that passes now, Caroline, we get closer and closer to the post-season, and no one understands how much this means better than Eric Kripke and his Toronto Blue Jays.
That’s right, Matt. The Jays are in fighting form and while Kripke’s boys have had a stellar season so far this year, pulling themselves out of the basement of the American League East’s standings, we’re heading into the home stretch and now every game counts. Big time.
That’s why the Jays were ecstatic last night with their sweep of Detroit, giving them a four game win-streak while sending the Tigers packing, tails between their legs. The team is really coming together with the entire line-up contributing to both offense and excelling defensively. Jared Padalecki was the standout star last night with his big three homeruns, bringing partner-in-crime Jensen Ackles in to score every single time. These guys were just awesome in action!
It really was an exciting night, Matt. But my favourite moment had to be the back-to-back homeruns from Misha Collins and Chad Michael Murray, both of whom have completely upped their games in recent weeks. And hold onto your ball caps, folks: Mayhem hasn’t made an error since the team got back from the All-Star break!
I just hope you didn’t jinx him by saying that, Caroline. We’ll take a break right now and when we come back, we’re talking to Eric Kripke about his strategy as the Jays inch closer to that elusive wild card spot in the American League.
|*|*|*|
Chad sputtered indignantly as he stared Jensen down in the parking lot of Yankee Stadium. “What?”
Jared was still as a statue next to Chad and the rest of the team looked perplexed at Eric’s announcement which really, he could have timed a lot better than when they were all walking from the visitors’ locker rooms to the Jays bus after their first game against the Yankees.
Chad looked agape at their manager. “What do you mean, Ackles is not back next season?”
Eric shrugged, looking none-too-pleased himself. “He has a one-year contract...”
“That JD can renew in a heartbeat!” Mike jumped in.
“Sure,” Kripke tried to calm his ace down, “if Jensen wanted to renew.”
The entire team turned to stare at Jensen in shock. “What the hell is he saying, Jensen?” Tom asked.
“One season is all I signed on for,” Jensen told his teammates, who all swung around in unison to look at Jared.
“And you knew about this?” Mike demanded.
“Yeah,” Jared admitted quietly.
“And you did nothing?”
“And nobody told us?”
“What the hell are you thinking?”
“Were you thinking at all?”
Jensen could no longer keep track of who had fired off what question. He held up his arms. “Guys, guys! Chill - and leave Jared out of this. The deal was made before I even met the team. One season.”
David turned to Jared. “And you’re just gonna let him go?”
Jared looked stumped. And more than a little defeated. “What am I supposed to do?”
Mark looked at him like he had lost what little faith he had in humanity. “Oh, I dunno - stop him, maybe? Make him change his mind?”
“Dudes,” Misha cut in, “you two are shoe-ins to win the Golden Gloves for short and second this year! You’re the best combo we’ve had since the Glory Days...”
Everyone took a moment to bow their heads and murmur, “Amen.”
What? It was completely normal for the Jays and all Jays fans to revere the 1992 and 1993 seasons, when the club had won back-to-back World Series Championships.
“I’m telling you,” Misha continued, “Jensen, you’re making a big mistake. This could mess up your destiny! We all have paths we must follow. This is your path!”
Jensen shook his head. He had really hoped to just slink away at the end of the season. Goddamn Kripke and his big mouth. “It’s out of my hands, guys - you know I would stay if I could.”
“Then make it so, man,” Cory implored. “You’re amazing and you give the best advice, and I’m gonna miss you something fierce...”
“Yeah!” John agreed adamantly, “so if we’re gonna miss you so much, can you even imagine how Jared is gonna feel?”
“Exactly!” Chad yelled, looking like he was going to start pulling his hair out any minute now. “It has to be said! Somebody say it!”
Both Jensen and Jared eyed him warily, but it was Jensen who spoke. “The hell are you talking about, Murray?”
“You! Jared! You and Jared! Oh God! Don’t make me say it!” Chad whined.
“Say what?” Jensen stared at the other man, but before Chad could elaborate, a flash of movement in the corner of Jensen’s eye distracted him.
Gotcha, Jensen thought, and dropping his bag, he took off at a run in the direction of a man hastily trying to get back into his vehicle. Jensen had him in a headlock and slammed up against the sedan in seconds, his teammates suddenly surrounding him, shock and fear on their faces.
“Jen!”
“Stay back, Jared! I got this.” Jensen kept his eyes on the other man, but then noticed movement in the car, and in seconds he had a gun trained on him by the man in the car. The collective gasp from his teammates seemed to resound through the almost empty lot. “Garrett,” he muttered to the man he held captive.
“Mr. Ackles,” the man grunted from past the chokehold Jensen had him in.
“Call off your lackey,” Jensen growled, shoving Garrett away from him.
Garett’s eyes went to his partner. “Goddamn it, Clyde! Put your weapon away. We’re in public!” He turned to Jensen, contrite. “Sorry, Mr. Ackles, he’s new.”
“You’re losing your touch, buddy,” Jensen taunted as the other man holstered his weapon. He stared down his stalker.
“When?” Garrett asked, sounding resigned.
“Since Cleveland,” Jensen told him, and the two men shared a look. “Why?”
“Just following orders.”
“No shit. Why?” Jensen’s question was met with stony silence. He sighed. “Whatever. I don’t really give a damn. It stops now.”
“I’m afraid that’s impossible.”
“Then you leave me no choice,” Jensen warned, his eyes hard, his voice unfeeling. “I’m calling Alex. If you’re watching me, I’ma make damn sure someone’s watching you.”
“There’s no need for that...”
“Oh, I think there’s every need!” Jensen spat. “You don’t work for me. Alex does.”
So it begins, he thought to himself as he stalked back to the bus, his teammates following, surrounding him, and he tried not to shudder as the familiar shadows of his father’s world closed in around him.
***
“They used to be my bodyguard detail,” Jensen told Jared before he could ask, after everyone was settled in the bus.
Jared looked shell-shocked. “You have a bodyguard?”
“I had two,” Jensen informed him, “that was them.”
“Had?” Tom asked.
“Haven’t had them in a while - not since I left Dallas.”
Mike looked confused. “Why are they back now?”
“My father,” Jensen sighed. “He’s maybe a little concerned that I’m a flight risk.”
“So he sends men with guns after you?” John squawked indignantly.
“Dude, your dad is fucked up!” Chad exclaimed.
Jensen barked out a laugh. “You don’t know the half of it.”
“Ackles, don’t take this the wrong way, but exactly how rich are you?” Mark asked him, and everyone else turned to look at him with interest.
“Me? Not that rich,” Jensen smirked. “My father is probably three or four down the line from Bill Gates. So... really rich.”
Mike looked perplexed. “So why does it matter whether or not you play baseball? What difference does it make to him?”
One corner of Jensen’s mouth tipped up ruefully. “Because baseball makes me happy, and he really can’t stand it when I’m happy.”
|*|*|*|
Rogers Sportsnet Post-Game Broadcast:
Blue Jays Central with Matt Campbell and Caroline Millar
The race for the wild card spot in the American League is heating up as we edge closer to the end of the season. Toronto is still in contention along with Boston, Tampa and the Chicago White Sox, and they’re putting their hearts and souls into every game - you can see it out there. You can feel it.
It’s written on all the players’ faces, Matt. This is has been a magical season for the Jays, so it was disappointing that they only managed to split the four-game series against the division-leading Yankees, who look on-track to clinch the title fairly soon. But as usual, when it comes to the crucial season-end, the Jays will face their toughest battles yet.
As usual is right. They head to Tampa tonight for another three-game series with the Rays and then immediately afterwards to Boston for three games. They end the season with New York and Boston at home in Toronto. Hold on to your ball caps, Jays fans, I get the feeling this is going to come down to the wire, so keep it locked right here on Blue Jays Central to get all the latest as we countdown to the Fall Classic.
|*|*|*|
Jared was uncharacteristically quiet after their loss to the Boston Red Sox, and Jensen found that he didn’t like that one bit. He sighed as they walked into their hotel room for the night as Jared flopped down on the couch, legs splayed wide, head resting against the wall. Jensen waited to see if he would say anything but the room stayed almost eerily silent.
Every night since their first game in New York Jared had wanted to talk and every night, Jensen had dodged him. For the past two nights, Jared hadn’t even bothered, and Jensen - well, Jensen was a fucking coward.
No more. After a whole lot of soul searching, he had come to decision last night, and it had resulted in a couple of changes in his game plan. Now, it was time to let Jared know.
“I’m sorry,” he said finally, sitting down next to him, facing Jared but not looking at him. “I never really meant to get so close to you, you know.”
Jared grabbed his chin and forced their eyes to meet. “You regret us?”
“No!” Jensen exclaimed, stunned that he would even think that. “You... Jared, you have to know... you... these past few months have been the best time in my life.”
“Then why are you leaving?”
“I signed a contract Jared...”
“With your father! Just break it!”
“There will be consequences if I do,” Jensen sighed. “People will get hurt just so that he can prove a point. I can’t let that happen again.”
“How can you just... go?” The look in Jared’s eyes was beseeching, uncomprehending.
“You think this is easy for me?”
“It sure looks that way!”
“It’s not,” Jensen said softly.
Jared’s voice was just as soft when he replied, “It’s not?” Jensen just shook his head, swallowing past the sudden lump in his throat. “Fine. I can handle you leaving the Jays. But what about... what about getting married, Jensen? Are you still gonna marry her?”
“I have to.”
Jared looked devastated. Then he looked angry, tight-lipped. “You don’t have to do anything! What is this - the dark ages?”
“It may as well be...”
“What if you had a reason not to?” Jared asked, his voice tentative. He stood. He paced. Jensen remained quiet, waiting. He wasn’t quite sure what he was waiting for but the anticipation left him breathless. Then Jared stopped, nodding to himself, as if making his mind up about something, and Jensen felt his pulse accelerate. “I’m not gonna let you do it, Jen. I’m not gonna stand by and let you marry some woman you don’t even know, let alone love. Not when I...,” his voice faltered slightly and he gulped.
“Not when you, what?” Jensen gently prodded, his voice barely a whisper. Jared stared hard at him before taking the two steps that separated them and falling to his knees in front of Jensen, his face earnest, his voice quiet and sincere.
“I think I’m falling in love with you, Jen.”
Jensen’s heart just froze mid-beat. “Jared...”
“I know, I know,” he said, frustrated, blowing the bangs out of his eyes. “We’re dudes, we’re straight... or not - what the fuck ever. None of that matters. All I know is, somewhere along the line, you’ve become the most important person in my life and I’m not gonna apologize for loving you,” his mouth hardened. “And if you think I’m gonna let you go without a fight - well then...,” he would have kept talking had Jensen not interrupted him.
“Okay.”
Jared did a double-take. “Okay?”
“Yeah,” Jensen flashed him a crooked smile, one that had Jared’s breath noticeably catching in his chest.
“Okay then,” Jared paused and blinked at him. “Jensen, I’m a little confused.”
“I have to get married to Danneel. You’re not gonna let that happen. What’s confusing about that?” Jared looked at him like he was re-thinking his whole declaration of love on account of Jensen being clinically insane. Jensen just smiled and winked at him. “Say what you want to say.”
“Don’t marry Danneel.”
“There’s a merger on the line. I have to,” Jensen answered, leaning forward, unflinchingly meeting Jared’s puzzled hazel-green eyes, before prompting him again. “Say what you want to say.”
“I’ll stop you.”
“You’ll have to come with me to do that,” Jensen told him.
Jared shook his head as if to clear it. “If I come with you, it’ll only be because I’ll be doing everything in my power to stop the wedding and... and…,” he floundered, visibly trying to wrangle his thoughts together.
“And?”
“And if we still make it to December 22nd and you haven’t changed your mind, I’m gonna... I'm gonna kidnap you from your own wedding!”
“Okay.”
“Okay.” Jared smacked a hand to his face. “Wait. Okay?”
“Okay,” Jensen agreed, one corner of his mouth tilting up slyly. “As in: I’m down with that plan.”
Jared blinked rapidly and then scrubbed his hand across his face a few times. “I guess we’re going to Dallas then.”
“I booked you a ticket last night.”
Jared looked stunned for a good few seconds before he smirked softly. “Awfully sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
“Awfully sure of you.”
“I love you,” Jared said quietly, still looking so mystified that Jensen had to smile. Actually, Jensen beamed.
“Don’t you think that after a declaration like that, you should, I dunno, kiss me or something?”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
Jared chuckled. “Okay,” he said, leaning forward, pushing Jensen back into the cushions as he did so, his mouth enticingly close to Jensen’s, warm breath wafting against his lips, as his tongue darted out to lick across Jensen's bottom lip. “As in: I’m down with that plan.”
And then he kissed him.
|*|*|*|
Rogers Sportsnet Post-Game Broadcast:
Blue Jays Central with Matt Campbell and Caroline Millar
Welcome back to Jays Central, glad you could join us tonight. I’m Caroline Millar.
And I’m Matt Campbell and tonight, even with an afternoon game against the Boston Red Sox that the Jays won, neither team has left the Rogers Centre.
The reason for that of course, is that both these teams are anxiously watching the game in Chicago, as the White Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays in their bid for the wild card spot, with baited breath. The statisticians have crunched the numbers and it plays out like this: if the ChiSox win tonight, they clinch the AL wild card, if they lose, they get another shot tomorrow, and the Jays, the Rays and the BoSox wild card hopes stay alive. With just three days left in regular season play, it all comes down to this, Jays fans.
This is a real edge-of-your-seat kind of game, too. Both the Rays and the ChiSox have a vested interest in the win tonight at US Cellular Field in Chicago, and it is a pitchers’ duel, with the game still scoreless in the bottom of the ninth... and wait, we’re just getting word that they’re heading into extra innings.
Keep it tuned to Jays Central for all the latest updates as we and our Toronto Blue Jays watch and wait.
|*|*|*|
Genre: J2 RPS, AU
Pairing: Jensen/Jared although - Heh! You know major league teams have 25-man rosters, right?
Rating: PG-13
Warnings (overall): Language, Baseball, Schmoop, Angst, Boy-Sexin’ (wait, what kind of warning is that?)
Word Count: ~ 4,100
Disclaimer: Fiction not fact. All these beautiful guys belong to themselves. Jensen and Jared belong to each other, we all know that :D Only the words are mine. No copyright infringement intended for the use of the MLB teams/players/logos, the Toronto Star, or Rogers Sportsnet. This is for fun, not profit.
A/N: Sorry this has taken a while. RL has been a biatch and my week has been a shitty mess. Whatevs. At least this ‘verse makes me happy! Enjoy! Comments = Love!
Summary: We’re heading into the last few games of the regular season now, and the team is giving it all they’ve got to try and make it into the play-offs. In the midst of all the excitement on the field, Jensen finds that he has some tough decisions to make. Will the Jays triumph? And, maybe a little more importantly: will the J’s triumph?
( 1 ), ( 2 ), ( 3 ), ( 4 ), ( 5 ), ( 6 ), ( 7 ), ( 8 ), ( 9 ), ( 10 ), ( 11 ), ( 12 ), ( 13 ), ( 14 )
FIFTEEN: OUT AND ABOUT IN TORONTO IN THE FALL (CLASSIC)
It started in Cleveland, that sense that he was being watched. And even though he knew better, Jensen shrugged it off.
Then he felt it again when they returned to Toronto shortly after, well into the first week of August.
It troubled him and it finally got to the point where he actually ditched Jared to go run errands by himself, just to see if he could flush out his stalker. And he had enough experience to know when he was being stalked.
That, strangely enough, had led to a whole new set of revelations that had nothing to do with the unseen eyes trailing him.
The girls at Tim Horton’s should have been his first clue.
“Hi Jensen! Where’s Jared?” They sing-songed in unison.
“He’s at home today,” Jensen told them whilst contemplating the merits of a chocolate glazed donut versus a double-chocolate dipped donut. Or hmm... maybe the Boston Creme?
“He’s not sick, is he?” The little blonde one asked, concern knitting her brow.
“No, he’s fine.”
“So why didn’t he come with you?” The brunette one asked, and that actually got Jensen’s attention. The girls were crushing on Jared, he thought, smirking; that was adorable.
“Er... he didn’t feel like it,” Jensen lied. The brunette studied him a mite too shrewdly for his liking.
“Are you gonna get his favourite? He always gets you yours,” the other not-quite-blonde one told him.
“Really?” This was news to Jensen; Jared hardly ever got him the same thing. “And what is my favourite?”
“Depends on your mood,” Not-quite-blonde stated.
“And if you woke up cranky or not,” the little blonde one looked at him with a sigh.
“And if you had a good game the night before. Also,” the brunette one expanded, “it depends on his mood.”
Jesus.
Jensen just stared at them, and then realized they were waiting for him to actually tell them how he was feeling. “Er...,” he gulped, “My mood’s all right. I did wake up a little cranky but I’m better now, and we won last night, so I had a good game and so did Jared. So his mood is good too. I guess. Okay, maybe he was a bit grumpy when I left.”
The three girls considered him and each other for a few seconds before the brunette nodded, reaching into the donut display rack behind the counter. “You’re both gonna need a little pick-me-up. Chocolate cream croissant for you.”
And suddenly, that’s exactly what Jensen wanted. “One for Jared, too, please,” he said, and the girls looked at him like he was an idiot.
“Well, duh.”
All righty then.
***
“Where your boyfriend?” Mrs. Lee, who had the best fruit stand at St. Lawrence Market, demanded. Jensen blinked at her, a blank expression on his face, until she had to mime a giant form next to him.
“Oh! No! He’s not my boyfriend,” he insisted, going red-faced, “Best friend! Just friends.” Mrs. Lee harrumphed her disbelief, and Jensen had forgotten to buy Jared’s clementines in his hurry to get away.
***
Mr. Janicki, their dry cleaner, thought Jared was his husband.
“Hello, Padalecki,” Mr. Janicki greeted him with a big, toothy grin.
“It’s Ackles,” Jensen corrected.
“No, Padalecki.”
“No, Ackles.”
“You two get a divorce? Why? What did you do? He’s a good Polish boy!” Smile gone, the man glared daggers at him until Jensen had to practically swear on the crucifix on the wall that he and Jared were happy and very much not divorced, thank you. It appeased Mr. Janicki, but it upset Jensen that the man would automatically assume that any rift between them would be his fault and not Jared’s.
‘Cause he was a good Anglo-Saxon boy, goddamn it.
***
Mrs. Khan at the Pakistani restaurant where they always got tikka kabobs from clucked and shook her head at him. “You look sad, poppet,” she crooned, patting his hand, “did you and Jared have a fight?”
“It’s not gonna affect your game again, is it?” Her fourteen-year-old son Sameer piped up. “We’re heading into the post-season, dude - can’t afford to lose focus now. Kiss and make-up, man. Don’t let it drag on like last time!”
Jensen just stared him, slackjawed.
“Look who’s giving relationship advice,” Mrs. Khan scoffed, rolling her eyes.
“You got a better idea, Ma?”
“Okay, in this particular case, you may have a point...”
“Yes!”
“Don’t get cocky. One time in his life, he’s right. I would suggest buying Jared food, Jensen, but you’re already here, so good going. The way to a man’s heart, and all that!”
Jensen gaped at them both. “I... we... you... No! We’re not...,” he sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face in resignation. “No, we didn’t have a fight - we’re fine. I’m just a little tired and he is too, so I left him at home.”
Mrs. Khan cooed at him. “Such a delightful and considerate boy you are, Jensen!” She whacked her son upside the head. “Learn a lesson from him. This is how to be a gentleman.” Sameer glared at Jensen and then at his mother’s back. “Here, just for being so lovely, Jensen - I’ll give you a free order of Jared’s favourite chicken biriyani too. And it’s hot outside, why don’t you have a Mango kulfi popsicle on the house?”
“Thanks, Mrs. Khan.”
“Next time you’re both knackered and hungry, call us, Jensen! We do deliver, you know.”
“Right - she means I’ll have to bike it over to your place,” Sameer grumbled.
“One time I ask you to deliver something, Sameer! That too, you spilled everything! You should have seen it, Jensen, there was a trail of pakoras from here to the Lakeshore!”
“Ma, don’t exaggerate,” he looked at Jensen, who was trying his damndest to keep a straight face. “They weren’t pakoras, they were onion bhajjis and I only dropped one!”
“You wouldn’t know a bhajji if it came up and bit you! Jensen, next time bring Jared here and have the sizzler hot, hot, from the grill!”
“Will do,” Jensen called over his shoulder as he made a hasty exit before they could somehow drag him into their next argument.
First off, he had no idea when he had become the kind of person who knew the names of people whose businesses he frequented, but there it was. He knew the guy who sold Shopsy’s hot dogs on Spadina Avenue (Enrice), he knew the ice cream dude who parked his truck in front of the Metro Convention Centre on Front Street (Ahmed) - hell, he even knew the names of the trio of Timmy’s girls aka the donut gurus: Anna, Annie and Ann... he just didn’t know who was whom yet. Jared did though, and really, Jensen knowing was all Jared’s fault.
It was kind of nice, actually, and Jensen kind of liked it. Most of the time. Today had not been one of those times. And okay, all right. So he and Jared were best friends and maybe a little more; he got that. Best friends didn’t kiss and cuddle on a regular basis, but, Jesus, did the entire population of downtown Toronto think they were a couple?
Fuck.
They hadn’t really discussed the aspects of their relationship that fell out of the realm of best friendom yet, but Jensen didn’t really feel the need to. They were them, and they were good they way they were, right? Besides which - it was August, and the end of the season was looming, which meant it would soon be time for him to return to Dallas, and return to the company.
Alone. As usual. Story of his life.
Then, before he knew it, it would be December, and the shit would hit the fan. He didn’t want Jared anywhere near him when that happened. Bad things tended to happen to innocent bystanders when he went up against his father, so the further away from him Jared was, the better. Because Jensen had made his choice now: he needed to be more careful; he needed to be smart.
He needed to keep Jared the hell away from his ridiculous other life.
And he needed to pay attention to where he was going, he thought as he tripped over a cracked slab of the sidewalk. It made him turn around to make sure he hadn’t dropped anything, and that’s when he noticed it again, just there in his periphery vision.
Someone was following him.
And now, he had a pretty good idea who it was.
|*|*|*|
Rogers Sportsnet Post-Game Broadcast:
Blue Jays Central with Matt Campbell and Caroline Millar
With every day that passes now, Caroline, we get closer and closer to the post-season, and no one understands how much this means better than Eric Kripke and his Toronto Blue Jays.
That’s right, Matt. The Jays are in fighting form and while Kripke’s boys have had a stellar season so far this year, pulling themselves out of the basement of the American League East’s standings, we’re heading into the home stretch and now every game counts. Big time.
That’s why the Jays were ecstatic last night with their sweep of Detroit, giving them a four game win-streak while sending the Tigers packing, tails between their legs. The team is really coming together with the entire line-up contributing to both offense and excelling defensively. Jared Padalecki was the standout star last night with his big three homeruns, bringing partner-in-crime Jensen Ackles in to score every single time. These guys were just awesome in action!
It really was an exciting night, Matt. But my favourite moment had to be the back-to-back homeruns from Misha Collins and Chad Michael Murray, both of whom have completely upped their games in recent weeks. And hold onto your ball caps, folks: Mayhem hasn’t made an error since the team got back from the All-Star break!
I just hope you didn’t jinx him by saying that, Caroline. We’ll take a break right now and when we come back, we’re talking to Eric Kripke about his strategy as the Jays inch closer to that elusive wild card spot in the American League.
|*|*|*|
Chad sputtered indignantly as he stared Jensen down in the parking lot of Yankee Stadium. “What?”
Jared was still as a statue next to Chad and the rest of the team looked perplexed at Eric’s announcement which really, he could have timed a lot better than when they were all walking from the visitors’ locker rooms to the Jays bus after their first game against the Yankees.
Chad looked agape at their manager. “What do you mean, Ackles is not back next season?”
Eric shrugged, looking none-too-pleased himself. “He has a one-year contract...”
“That JD can renew in a heartbeat!” Mike jumped in.
“Sure,” Kripke tried to calm his ace down, “if Jensen wanted to renew.”
The entire team turned to stare at Jensen in shock. “What the hell is he saying, Jensen?” Tom asked.
“One season is all I signed on for,” Jensen told his teammates, who all swung around in unison to look at Jared.
“And you knew about this?” Mike demanded.
“Yeah,” Jared admitted quietly.
“And you did nothing?”
“And nobody told us?”
“What the hell are you thinking?”
“Were you thinking at all?”
Jensen could no longer keep track of who had fired off what question. He held up his arms. “Guys, guys! Chill - and leave Jared out of this. The deal was made before I even met the team. One season.”
David turned to Jared. “And you’re just gonna let him go?”
Jared looked stumped. And more than a little defeated. “What am I supposed to do?”
Mark looked at him like he had lost what little faith he had in humanity. “Oh, I dunno - stop him, maybe? Make him change his mind?”
“Dudes,” Misha cut in, “you two are shoe-ins to win the Golden Gloves for short and second this year! You’re the best combo we’ve had since the Glory Days...”
Everyone took a moment to bow their heads and murmur, “Amen.”
What? It was completely normal for the Jays and all Jays fans to revere the 1992 and 1993 seasons, when the club had won back-to-back World Series Championships.
“I’m telling you,” Misha continued, “Jensen, you’re making a big mistake. This could mess up your destiny! We all have paths we must follow. This is your path!”
Jensen shook his head. He had really hoped to just slink away at the end of the season. Goddamn Kripke and his big mouth. “It’s out of my hands, guys - you know I would stay if I could.”
“Then make it so, man,” Cory implored. “You’re amazing and you give the best advice, and I’m gonna miss you something fierce...”
“Yeah!” John agreed adamantly, “so if we’re gonna miss you so much, can you even imagine how Jared is gonna feel?”
“Exactly!” Chad yelled, looking like he was going to start pulling his hair out any minute now. “It has to be said! Somebody say it!”
Both Jensen and Jared eyed him warily, but it was Jensen who spoke. “The hell are you talking about, Murray?”
“You! Jared! You and Jared! Oh God! Don’t make me say it!” Chad whined.
“Say what?” Jensen stared at the other man, but before Chad could elaborate, a flash of movement in the corner of Jensen’s eye distracted him.
Gotcha, Jensen thought, and dropping his bag, he took off at a run in the direction of a man hastily trying to get back into his vehicle. Jensen had him in a headlock and slammed up against the sedan in seconds, his teammates suddenly surrounding him, shock and fear on their faces.
“Jen!”
“Stay back, Jared! I got this.” Jensen kept his eyes on the other man, but then noticed movement in the car, and in seconds he had a gun trained on him by the man in the car. The collective gasp from his teammates seemed to resound through the almost empty lot. “Garrett,” he muttered to the man he held captive.
“Mr. Ackles,” the man grunted from past the chokehold Jensen had him in.
“Call off your lackey,” Jensen growled, shoving Garrett away from him.
Garett’s eyes went to his partner. “Goddamn it, Clyde! Put your weapon away. We’re in public!” He turned to Jensen, contrite. “Sorry, Mr. Ackles, he’s new.”
“You’re losing your touch, buddy,” Jensen taunted as the other man holstered his weapon. He stared down his stalker.
“When?” Garrett asked, sounding resigned.
“Since Cleveland,” Jensen told him, and the two men shared a look. “Why?”
“Just following orders.”
“No shit. Why?” Jensen’s question was met with stony silence. He sighed. “Whatever. I don’t really give a damn. It stops now.”
“I’m afraid that’s impossible.”
“Then you leave me no choice,” Jensen warned, his eyes hard, his voice unfeeling. “I’m calling Alex. If you’re watching me, I’ma make damn sure someone’s watching you.”
“There’s no need for that...”
“Oh, I think there’s every need!” Jensen spat. “You don’t work for me. Alex does.”
So it begins, he thought to himself as he stalked back to the bus, his teammates following, surrounding him, and he tried not to shudder as the familiar shadows of his father’s world closed in around him.
***
“They used to be my bodyguard detail,” Jensen told Jared before he could ask, after everyone was settled in the bus.
Jared looked shell-shocked. “You have a bodyguard?”
“I had two,” Jensen informed him, “that was them.”
“Had?” Tom asked.
“Haven’t had them in a while - not since I left Dallas.”
Mike looked confused. “Why are they back now?”
“My father,” Jensen sighed. “He’s maybe a little concerned that I’m a flight risk.”
“So he sends men with guns after you?” John squawked indignantly.
“Dude, your dad is fucked up!” Chad exclaimed.
Jensen barked out a laugh. “You don’t know the half of it.”
“Ackles, don’t take this the wrong way, but exactly how rich are you?” Mark asked him, and everyone else turned to look at him with interest.
“Me? Not that rich,” Jensen smirked. “My father is probably three or four down the line from Bill Gates. So... really rich.”
Mike looked perplexed. “So why does it matter whether or not you play baseball? What difference does it make to him?”
One corner of Jensen’s mouth tipped up ruefully. “Because baseball makes me happy, and he really can’t stand it when I’m happy.”
|*|*|*|
Rogers Sportsnet Post-Game Broadcast:
Blue Jays Central with Matt Campbell and Caroline Millar
The race for the wild card spot in the American League is heating up as we edge closer to the end of the season. Toronto is still in contention along with Boston, Tampa and the Chicago White Sox, and they’re putting their hearts and souls into every game - you can see it out there. You can feel it.
It’s written on all the players’ faces, Matt. This is has been a magical season for the Jays, so it was disappointing that they only managed to split the four-game series against the division-leading Yankees, who look on-track to clinch the title fairly soon. But as usual, when it comes to the crucial season-end, the Jays will face their toughest battles yet.
As usual is right. They head to Tampa tonight for another three-game series with the Rays and then immediately afterwards to Boston for three games. They end the season with New York and Boston at home in Toronto. Hold on to your ball caps, Jays fans, I get the feeling this is going to come down to the wire, so keep it locked right here on Blue Jays Central to get all the latest as we countdown to the Fall Classic.
|*|*|*|
Jared was uncharacteristically quiet after their loss to the Boston Red Sox, and Jensen found that he didn’t like that one bit. He sighed as they walked into their hotel room for the night as Jared flopped down on the couch, legs splayed wide, head resting against the wall. Jensen waited to see if he would say anything but the room stayed almost eerily silent.
Every night since their first game in New York Jared had wanted to talk and every night, Jensen had dodged him. For the past two nights, Jared hadn’t even bothered, and Jensen - well, Jensen was a fucking coward.
No more. After a whole lot of soul searching, he had come to decision last night, and it had resulted in a couple of changes in his game plan. Now, it was time to let Jared know.
“I’m sorry,” he said finally, sitting down next to him, facing Jared but not looking at him. “I never really meant to get so close to you, you know.”
Jared grabbed his chin and forced their eyes to meet. “You regret us?”
“No!” Jensen exclaimed, stunned that he would even think that. “You... Jared, you have to know... you... these past few months have been the best time in my life.”
“Then why are you leaving?”
“I signed a contract Jared...”
“With your father! Just break it!”
“There will be consequences if I do,” Jensen sighed. “People will get hurt just so that he can prove a point. I can’t let that happen again.”
“How can you just... go?” The look in Jared’s eyes was beseeching, uncomprehending.
“You think this is easy for me?”
“It sure looks that way!”
“It’s not,” Jensen said softly.
Jared’s voice was just as soft when he replied, “It’s not?” Jensen just shook his head, swallowing past the sudden lump in his throat. “Fine. I can handle you leaving the Jays. But what about... what about getting married, Jensen? Are you still gonna marry her?”
“I have to.”
Jared looked devastated. Then he looked angry, tight-lipped. “You don’t have to do anything! What is this - the dark ages?”
“It may as well be...”
“What if you had a reason not to?” Jared asked, his voice tentative. He stood. He paced. Jensen remained quiet, waiting. He wasn’t quite sure what he was waiting for but the anticipation left him breathless. Then Jared stopped, nodding to himself, as if making his mind up about something, and Jensen felt his pulse accelerate. “I’m not gonna let you do it, Jen. I’m not gonna stand by and let you marry some woman you don’t even know, let alone love. Not when I...,” his voice faltered slightly and he gulped.
“Not when you, what?” Jensen gently prodded, his voice barely a whisper. Jared stared hard at him before taking the two steps that separated them and falling to his knees in front of Jensen, his face earnest, his voice quiet and sincere.
“I think I’m falling in love with you, Jen.”
Jensen’s heart just froze mid-beat. “Jared...”
“I know, I know,” he said, frustrated, blowing the bangs out of his eyes. “We’re dudes, we’re straight... or not - what the fuck ever. None of that matters. All I know is, somewhere along the line, you’ve become the most important person in my life and I’m not gonna apologize for loving you,” his mouth hardened. “And if you think I’m gonna let you go without a fight - well then...,” he would have kept talking had Jensen not interrupted him.
“Okay.”
Jared did a double-take. “Okay?”
“Yeah,” Jensen flashed him a crooked smile, one that had Jared’s breath noticeably catching in his chest.
“Okay then,” Jared paused and blinked at him. “Jensen, I’m a little confused.”
“I have to get married to Danneel. You’re not gonna let that happen. What’s confusing about that?” Jared looked at him like he was re-thinking his whole declaration of love on account of Jensen being clinically insane. Jensen just smiled and winked at him. “Say what you want to say.”
“Don’t marry Danneel.”
“There’s a merger on the line. I have to,” Jensen answered, leaning forward, unflinchingly meeting Jared’s puzzled hazel-green eyes, before prompting him again. “Say what you want to say.”
“I’ll stop you.”
“You’ll have to come with me to do that,” Jensen told him.
Jared shook his head as if to clear it. “If I come with you, it’ll only be because I’ll be doing everything in my power to stop the wedding and... and…,” he floundered, visibly trying to wrangle his thoughts together.
“And?”
“And if we still make it to December 22nd and you haven’t changed your mind, I’m gonna... I'm gonna kidnap you from your own wedding!”
“Okay.”
“Okay.” Jared smacked a hand to his face. “Wait. Okay?”
“Okay,” Jensen agreed, one corner of his mouth tilting up slyly. “As in: I’m down with that plan.”
Jared blinked rapidly and then scrubbed his hand across his face a few times. “I guess we’re going to Dallas then.”
“I booked you a ticket last night.”
Jared looked stunned for a good few seconds before he smirked softly. “Awfully sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
“Awfully sure of you.”
“I love you,” Jared said quietly, still looking so mystified that Jensen had to smile. Actually, Jensen beamed.
“Don’t you think that after a declaration like that, you should, I dunno, kiss me or something?”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
Jared chuckled. “Okay,” he said, leaning forward, pushing Jensen back into the cushions as he did so, his mouth enticingly close to Jensen’s, warm breath wafting against his lips, as his tongue darted out to lick across Jensen's bottom lip. “As in: I’m down with that plan.”
And then he kissed him.
|*|*|*|
Rogers Sportsnet Post-Game Broadcast:
Blue Jays Central with Matt Campbell and Caroline Millar
Welcome back to Jays Central, glad you could join us tonight. I’m Caroline Millar.
And I’m Matt Campbell and tonight, even with an afternoon game against the Boston Red Sox that the Jays won, neither team has left the Rogers Centre.
The reason for that of course, is that both these teams are anxiously watching the game in Chicago, as the White Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays in their bid for the wild card spot, with baited breath. The statisticians have crunched the numbers and it plays out like this: if the ChiSox win tonight, they clinch the AL wild card, if they lose, they get another shot tomorrow, and the Jays, the Rays and the BoSox wild card hopes stay alive. With just three days left in regular season play, it all comes down to this, Jays fans.
This is a real edge-of-your-seat kind of game, too. Both the Rays and the ChiSox have a vested interest in the win tonight at US Cellular Field in Chicago, and it is a pitchers’ duel, with the game still scoreless in the bottom of the ninth... and wait, we’re just getting word that they’re heading into extra innings.
Keep it tuned to Jays Central for all the latest updates as we and our Toronto Blue Jays watch and wait.
|*|*|*|