Disclaimer: Sh*t Happens (5/5)
Oct. 25th, 2009 09:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
raeschaeTitle: Disclaimer: Sh*t Happens (5/5)
Author:raeschae
Beta:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
neutraldeviance, who totally rocks my socks off. You are my greatest supporter, cheerleader, and friend. Thank you, baby, for everything.
Graphics:raeschae
Rating: R
Characters/Pairings: Jared/Jensen, Everybody Else.
Warnings: Swearing. Minimal suspense. Enough sweetness to cause cavities. Brush after reading!
Word Count: 3825
Disclaimer: For the last time, they're not mine. In reality, they belong to themselves, rumor has it possibly to each other. Who knows? All I know is that the version herein is a figment of my over-active imagination. Seriously? I have to say this every time? Sheesh.
Summary: “Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.” -John Lennon, Beautiful Boy
(Sequel to Disclaimer: We Will Not Be Held Responsible . . . I won't say you absolutely have to read that one first, but I will say you might be a little lost if you don't.)
A/N: Alright, y'all. This be the final chapter/epilogue of this installment in the crazy animal that has taken over my life. You know it as the disclaimer!verse. Once again, I find myself reading through this chapter and just knowing that it's not the end. A little birdie put an idea in my ear for a possible two or three chapter holiday offering – I'm sure the guys just love Christmas – and I'm working on an idea for Brayden's first love. And, as always, I'm open to suggestions, so if there's something you want to see the boys doing, let me know!
Graphic's still under the cut.
If Jared sits a little more gingerly than usual on the edge of his stool the next day, it's totally not because he and Jensen had more sex last night than they've had in the last year combined. And if he's smiling like a gigantic moron, it's not because he's pretty sure that he's more in love than he's ever been. He doesn't do shit like that, because despite what Jensen says about his hair, Jared is not a fucking girl.
“My man Jay,” a deep voice sounds right along with the bell over the door at Slinging Ink and Jared looks up from his magazine to see Aldis cross to Genevieve's desk.
He stands and goes to offer a hand while she slides the paperwork across the granite surface. “What's up, man?” he asks easily, leaning against the desk while Aldis signs his release form.
“Nothin' new,” he answers, eyes concentrated on the paper in front of him. “Took down a pretty extensive prostitution ring last night, so thought it was high time I come visit my man and make it official.”
Jared nods and takes the information that Aldis gives him, before sketching something on the paper that Genevieve hands him. It's not a complicated job – just a little something extra to the piece that started across his back almost six years ago now. Jared could do it in his sleep, which is good, because he has more important matters to focus on today.
It's actually Aldis who breaches the subject, however unwittingly it might be, when Jared asks what he's working on now. Being as he's undercover most of the time, Aldis can't really share a lot of specifics with Jared, but he does his best to vaguely fill him in.
“Now that we go this one sewn up,” he refers to the case that brought him through the door, “gotta turn my attention to some dealers out in Inglewood.”
The name jars Jared, too fresh in his mind, and he has to sit back for a second to make his hand stop shaking. “Inglewood, huh? Had a friend got in an accident in Inglewood the other night,” he says when he can hold himself steady again.
“This friend didn't happen to have a kid with him, did he?”
“You know him?” Jared asks, every ounce of concentration on the piece in front of him.
“Couple years back, they were tryin' to pin some traffickin' charges on him, you know? But he checked into rehab and cleaned his shit up 'fore they could get enough evidence to stick. Still ain't got much more than suspicion,” Aldis explains.
Jared forces the conversation into more neutral territory, if for no other reason than the desire not to dig his needle too deep into Aldis's skin, as his brain starts to drift again. He can wait – there'll be time for discussion later.
At the bar, Aldis orders the first round and leans back in his chair, eyes fixed on Jared in curiosity. “So this friend of yours,” he starts.
Jared just shakes his head. “He's not my friend,” Jared corrects. They don't use names when they talk, can't really go into details, but they both know exactly what they're discussing. “His kid? Back when he was in rehab? His kid lived with Jensen and I,” he explains.
“Damn,” Aldis shakes his head and tips his bottle to his lips. “Sorry 'bout the accident, Jay. How's the kid doin'?”
“He's gonna be alright. Got some bruises and a couple broken bones, but he'll make it,” he says. “Thing is, he told me and Jen some shit yesterday. About his dad.” He watches Aldis through curious eyes, waiting to see what the man's reaction will be.
He's interested, if the way he sets his bottle on the table and leans forward on his elbows is any indication. “Shit? Like what shit?”
“This on the record?” Jared asks him, though it doesn't really matter. When all he gets is a noncommittal shrug in response, he tips his beer and swallows. “Says he's usin' again, and that he tried to get him to push at school a couple weeks back,” he says.
“Which means he's dealin' again,” Aldis fills in the blank, and Jared just nods. “Tried to get his own damn kid to push his shit? At school?” He takes a drink and shakes his head. “That's sick, man. Fuckin' sick. Wait a minute, you said tried, right? Kid didn't go through with it?”
Jared's almost offended at the question, but he just shakes his head and doesn't say as much. Aldis doesn't know Brayden, so there's no way he'd know that he's too good a kid to even consider it. “I can't prove he was high when he wrecked that car, man, but I know he's usin'. And dealin'. The kid wouldn't lie about that.” Jensen's right when he says that Brayden loves his dad too damn much to purposely get him in trouble for something he didn't do.
Aldis's eyes focus somewhere over Jared's shoulder, and the wheels are almost visibly turning there. “I can nail him, Jay,” he finally says, turning to look at the man beside him. “But he's slippery, ya know? Been workin' this shit a long damn time, so he knows how not to get caught.”
It's an idea he's been toying with all day, and Jared's not sure it'll work, but he thinks it's probably the best chance they've got. “I think I can help you with that.”
“You sure you're okay with this? Cause, ya know, you don't have to do it.”
Rolling her eyes, Katie grits her teeth and tightens her ponytail. “For fuck's sake, Soph, ask me one more time and watch me change my mind.”
It's a long shot, and pretty much everyone gathered around Jared and Jensen's living room knows it. They need someone fairly new. Close enough to know that the guys are still at the hospital with Brayden, but not so much a part of their inner-circle that they'd rather punch him in the face than deal with him right now. They need someone who can keep her cool, draw him in, and then convince him to sell.
Plus, Katie kind of looks like Lindsay, if you squint and stand really far away, and Brayden's mentioned that his dad only watched one episode of Jared's show, but that he couldn't stop talkin' about that bad-ass, smokin'-hot blond chick. Maybe it'll be enough to lull him into a false sense of security.
Everyone's here, standing around in the rec room as Aldis and his team fill Katie in on exactly what she's supposed to say and the signals she's supposed to use if she suspects trouble. They give her a tiny digital recorder to stick in the pocket of her baggy jeans, and remind her again that she doesn't have to do anything that makes her feel uncomfortable.
“Oh,” she nods, eyes wide. “So I don't have to bend over the couch and let him fuck me first?” Turning, she points to Jared and says, “But I thought you said,” stops and shakes her head. “Nevermind.”
“Sarcasm is sexy,” Genevieve whispers from her place next to Jensen and he turns his head to give her a shut the fuck up or get out of my house look. “What? It is,” she defends herself and then goes back to drooling over the woman in the center of the room.
“Alright, everybody's clear?” The team nods and Aldis motions for them to leave, stopping in front of Jared and Jensen. “I don't fuckin' care how bad you wanna follow, you keep your asses here and wait for my call. We clear?”
With a nod, they both fidget a little and wait for the police to leave their home. If Katie can't do it, if Rick catches on to the sting somehow, they're going to have to wait for him to slip up on his own. And Aldis is pretty sure it'll be awhile before that happens. But if it works, Brayden becomes a ward of the state again. Jared's lawyer, Jeff, is on alert, waiting for word to file the papers for legal guardianship. They could be one deal away from bringing the kid home for good.
If this works.
“Blow me.”
“No,” Chad pulls his thumbnail out of his mouth long enough to answer Jensen and then goes right back to nibbling again, his other hand running up and down Sophia's back.
Jensen rolls his eyes and turns to Jared, pressed up against his left side, tapping his foot against the floor. “I meant you,” he clarifies and Jared just turns and looks at him blankly. “Seriously. Come on, man. Upstairs. Now.” He starts to stand and Jared just pulls him back to the couch with a roll of his eyes. “Too fuckin' tense.”
“I'm not gonna blow you,” Jared says as though Jensen's a little touched in the head.
“Let me blow you?” Jensen tries again.
“I'll blow you both if it'll make you stop talkin' about it,” Sandy offers from her place next to Chad and Sophia.
Jared seems to consider it for a minute and then shakes his head and starts to speak before snapping his mouth shut and looking around the room. “Where's Tommy?” He does another head count. “And Mike?”
“Probably blowin' each other to take the edge off,” Danneel answers with a smug smirk. “C'mon, Jen-Jen. Come outside with me.”
“You gonna blow me?” he asks, making his way to his feet. She just arches an eyebrow and he grabs his cigarettes from the end table. Only one thing he and Daneel ever blow together.
Standing poolside, Danneel holds her unlit cigarette to Jensen's lighter and takes a long drag before speaking. “Is it a good or bad sign that they've been gone for three hours?” she asks finally.
Jensen wishes he knew. When Jared told him the plan, to have Katie head over there and tell Rick that she heard from a friend that he could hook her up, he thought it was ridiculous. Like Rick wasn't going to wonder about some chick who works for Jared, showing up to score from him. But Jared explained the story, the way Katie would play him to think that she wasn't all that close to the guys and that they're just irrational idiots who wanna take his kid away from him anyway.
Jensen's not sure how good of an actress Katie is, but if she can pull this shit off? He'll make her a goddamn Oscar himself. “You think it's gonna work?” he asks, and Danneel just shrugs. “Thanks. You're really fuckin' helpful.”
“Well, I don't know, Jen. It's hard enough to wrap my head around the idea of you and Jared wanting to be parents. Throw in all this crime drama bull shit and it suddenly doesn't feel much like our lives, ya know? Whatever happened to mellowin' out by the pipe, drinkin' and listenin' to music and just . . . I don't know . . . chillin'?”
He huffs out a laugh and takes another drag, watching the plume of smoke as it curls in the air and disintegrates. “Not like we're aching to be parents, Dani. If this was anybody else, you know we wouldn't even consider it. But that kid,” he trails off and she mumbles something in agreement.
“He's lucky to have you guys,” she says after a few minutes of silence.
When her cigarette is finished, Danneel tosses it to the ground and stamps it with the heel of her sandal. She opens her mouth to speak, but Jared steps through the sliding glass door and she takes it as her cue to leave. Pressing a kiss to Jensen's cheek, she turns and pats Jared's arm before disappearing.
“Hey,” Jensen smiles when Jared bumps their shoulders together.
“'Sup?” Jared responds, and it's so ridiculous, and light-hearted, that it breaks the tension of the moment. “What the fuck are we doin', Jen?”
It's funny because, up until this very moment, Jared has been all-systems-go on the entire Brayden situation. He hasn't hesitated even once to ask if this was a good idea or if they should reconsider. And now he wants to know what they're doing?
“Fuck if I know,” Jensen answers, handing his cigarette over. Jared takes a long drag and hands it back, pivoting until he can rest both of his hands on Jensen's waist, pulling the older man's back flush to his chest. It's not so much 'cuddling' as it is reassuring himself that Jensen is here with him. Jared does it every time he starts to get really nervous about something. Which, granted, isn't often. But Jensen's found himself in this position a couple of times in the last five years.
Before either of them can say anything else, the phone on Jared's belt rings. His left hand squeezes tighter into Jensen's hip as his right flips the cell open. “Yeah? Kay.” He flicks the phone shut and clips it back in place.
“What?” Jensen asks when Jared just looks at him and shakes his head. “Jared Tristan,” he starts with the whole 'full name' routine, but Jared crushes his mouth against Jensen's and then pulls back with a laugh.
“Come on,” he says, releasing his boyfriend faster than he wrapped him up the first time.
Jensen follows Jared back into the kitchen and watches as his boyfriend grabs his keys. “You gonna tell me where the fuck we're goin'?” he asks, though he really fucking hopes he already knows.
The smile that splits Jared's face in half is enough of an answer, though he says it anyway. “To tell Bray he's comin' home.”
It sure as hell wasn't easy. And it isn't something that Jensen ever wants to go through again. Getting legal custody of Brayden took more out of he and Jared than opening businesses or anything else they've ever attempted. There were meetings with judges and house visits and interviews. Everyone on their staffs talked to these people from CPS, and there was a couple of times when they were both pretty sure it wasn't going to happen. There was a time when they were pretty sure Brayden was going to pull the plug himself.
What they didn't count on, in their haste to save the kid, was his reaction to everything that went down. Once again, he woke up one morning with a dad, and by dinner, the guy was gone. Granted, he hadn't been to visit Brayden in the hospital at all, but the kid still had hope that his father would show up. And then he couldn't.
Aldis explained a little bit about what had gone down – just enough for Brayden to understand that, once he was released from the hospital, he was going back to the guys' house until everything got all straightened out. And by the time he was released, just a few days later, the kid was convinced that his father was going to hate him for tattling.
Even after he came to terms with the fact that his father's choices are his own, that Brayden didn't do anything wrong, the kid had trouble adjusting to life with the guys. Last time he was with them, it was temporary, and they all knew it. Now things are permanent, and to be fair, none of them really knew how to handle it at first. For all of their charging, full-steam-ahead, into saving the kid, what did Jared and Jensen know about being actual parents? The first few months were a total mind fuck.
Things did settle down eventually. Social services deemed them suitable foster parents, and after the police found a meth lab in Rick's basement and he plea-bargained down fifteen years on multiple counts, Jared was named Brayden's legal guardian. They're pretty sure that Brayden's petition to the court, since he was 14 at the time and legally able to make the request, sealed the deal in the end.
Sometimes it still freaks Jensen out. Sometimes he looks at the kid and thinks, “Fuck, it's my responsibility to make sure nothing happens to him. That he turns out relatively normal.” And then Brayden flips him off or calls him a giant girl, and he thinks it's not so bad after all.
Jared was pretty sure that his show wouldn't get picked up for a third season after he refused to let the cameras anywhere near his personal and legal situation in season two. Miraculously, Genevieve and Katie's 'will they or won't they' flirtation, along with Steve and Christian's first record deal, provided enough fodder to keep the ratings up.
It took almost a year for everything to calm down and fall into a routine, but now that they have? It's pretty damn good.
So good, in fact, that Jensen decided to throw one of those parties where they all mellow out at Ollie, drink, and listen to music. A 'chill party' as Danneel calls it. Everyone's here, including most of Brayden's friends, and Jensen's inside, leaning against the cash register, and thinking about how lucky they really are.
“You got anymore ice in here?” Chad asks, throwing the door to the empty and darkened pro shop just wide enough to stick his head in.
“Just what's in the cooler, man.”
“Then we're all out. Think we got more down at the shop.” He makes to leave and then turns back. “You seen Jay lately?”
Jensen just shakes his head. “Check with Bray. They were talkin' 'bout inkin' up some of his friends earlier.” Because, apparently, Brayden's friends can't hang out anymore if Jared doesn't airbrush them all at some point. It's cute, though, how Jared never acts like he loves doing it, even when Jensen can tell he does.
When the door closes, Jensen leans both of his elbows back on the counter and squeezes his eyes shut. “Fuckin' hell, Jay,” he grits when Jared pulls off his spent cock with an obscene pop.
Wiping his mouth, the younger man makes his way to his feet and smirks. “I ever tell you how hot it is when you do that,” Jared growls as he leans forward to capture Jensen's ear between his teeth.
“Yeah?” Jensen twists until he can reach Jared's mouth. “Figure we got a few more minutes until anybody figures out we're both MIA.” He lets his gaze drift past Jared's shoulder and then back, with a wicked gleam in his lined eyes. “Cleared my desk off yesterday afternoon and everything.”
Jared groans and starts to turn, but a whooping scream from outside draws both of their attention. “Who's that?” he asks as they watch Chris jump up from his place beside Steve to run toward the pier.
Jensen steps out from behind the counter and walks to the door for a better look. “Is it,” he stops and then pushes his way out into the blinding afternoon sun. “Lindsay?” he asks when Christian leads the willowy blond in his direction.
She's not like any version of Lindsay Jensen's ever seen. She's beaming. Her hair's clean. Her clothes look new. He's not sure he's ever seen Lindsay Kane looking . . . healthy. “Hey, Jen,” she smiles brightly and offers a little wave.
They've never been friends. In fact, Chris used to joke that his sister was an acquired taste, and Jensen would always fire back that he was pretty sure he would never acquire. Still, he can't say he's not glad to see her like this. If for no other reason than the look it puts on his best friend's face.
“You look great,” he compliments, pulling her into a hug. When he lets go, he looks over his shoulder and motions for his boyfriend to join them. “I don't know if you remember Jared,” he introduces.
Lindsay nods. “Not much, but I don't think I could totally forget those arms,” she blushes a little bit and, for lack of a better word, swoons. It's not an unusual reaction around the big man. “Um, so, I hope it's okay I crashed your party,” she says, turning to look at Chris like she needs reassurance or something.
“Course,” Jensen nods. “So you're just visitin'? Are you back for good?”
Her ponytail bobs when she shakes her head. “Nah, I'm just visitin'. Got a pretty good gig back home now, so . . . “ she trails off and bites her lip for a second. “Really, I just wanted to spend some time with my little brother and maybe get a chance to thank you guys.” The blush deepens in her cheeks as she looks to her feet and then back up. “Chris told me what's been goin' on around here. With Rick and everything. And, um, I just . . . I know Bray's in good hands. He deserves better than we ever gave him, ya know? Better than . . . he deserves to be in a good place.”
It's awkward, but if anyone in this circle is the master of putting people at ease, it's Jared. “You wanna say 'hi'? He's around here somewhere.” With his hands in his pockets, he brushes his shoulder against Jensen's and takes off in search of the kid.
Lindsay makes to follow and then turns back. “Your mom's in the store once a week, Jensen,” she says, referring to the grocery store Chris already told him she's working in now. “Asks about you all the time. You should give her a call.” And with that, she takes off after Jared to find Brayden.
Jensen just laughs her off and shakes his head, ignoring Chris's knowing look. He hasn't talked to his parents in ten years, and today's not really the day he wants to start thinking about fixing that. His life just fell back into place, thank you very much.
“Hey, Jen!”
Saved from whatever was just about to come out of Christian's mouth, Jensen's never been so happy to hear Mike's voice in his entire life. Turning, he eyes the young man at the top of the pipe and tilts his head. “The fuck are you doin', asshole?” he calls out when the man holds out the boards in each of his hands.
“C'mon.” Mike nods his head toward a few of Brayden's friends standing at the opposite side of the pipe. “Let's show these fuckers what a McTwist is supposed to look like.”
With a casual nod, he stuffs his hands into his pockets and makes his way to the ramp. Honestly? There's nothing else he'd rather do.
Author:
raeschae Beta:
neutraldeviance, who totally rocks my socks off. You are my greatest supporter, cheerleader, and friend. Thank you, baby, for everything.Graphics:
raeschaeRating: R
Characters/Pairings: Jared/Jensen, Everybody Else.
Warnings: Swearing. Minimal suspense. Enough sweetness to cause cavities. Brush after reading!
Word Count: 3825
Disclaimer: For the last time, they're not mine. In reality, they belong to themselves, rumor has it possibly to each other. Who knows? All I know is that the version herein is a figment of my over-active imagination. Seriously? I have to say this every time? Sheesh.
Summary: “Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.” -John Lennon, Beautiful Boy
(Sequel to Disclaimer: We Will Not Be Held Responsible . . . I won't say you absolutely have to read that one first, but I will say you might be a little lost if you don't.)
A/N: Alright, y'all. This be the final chapter/epilogue of this installment in the crazy animal that has taken over my life. You know it as the disclaimer!verse. Once again, I find myself reading through this chapter and just knowing that it's not the end. A little birdie put an idea in my ear for a possible two or three chapter holiday offering – I'm sure the guys just love Christmas – and I'm working on an idea for Brayden's first love. And, as always, I'm open to suggestions, so if there's something you want to see the boys doing, let me know!
Graphic's still under the cut.
If Jared sits a little more gingerly than usual on the edge of his stool the next day, it's totally not because he and Jensen had more sex last night than they've had in the last year combined. And if he's smiling like a gigantic moron, it's not because he's pretty sure that he's more in love than he's ever been. He doesn't do shit like that, because despite what Jensen says about his hair, Jared is not a fucking girl.
“My man Jay,” a deep voice sounds right along with the bell over the door at Slinging Ink and Jared looks up from his magazine to see Aldis cross to Genevieve's desk.
He stands and goes to offer a hand while she slides the paperwork across the granite surface. “What's up, man?” he asks easily, leaning against the desk while Aldis signs his release form.
“Nothin' new,” he answers, eyes concentrated on the paper in front of him. “Took down a pretty extensive prostitution ring last night, so thought it was high time I come visit my man and make it official.”
Jared nods and takes the information that Aldis gives him, before sketching something on the paper that Genevieve hands him. It's not a complicated job – just a little something extra to the piece that started across his back almost six years ago now. Jared could do it in his sleep, which is good, because he has more important matters to focus on today.
It's actually Aldis who breaches the subject, however unwittingly it might be, when Jared asks what he's working on now. Being as he's undercover most of the time, Aldis can't really share a lot of specifics with Jared, but he does his best to vaguely fill him in.
“Now that we go this one sewn up,” he refers to the case that brought him through the door, “gotta turn my attention to some dealers out in Inglewood.”
The name jars Jared, too fresh in his mind, and he has to sit back for a second to make his hand stop shaking. “Inglewood, huh? Had a friend got in an accident in Inglewood the other night,” he says when he can hold himself steady again.
“This friend didn't happen to have a kid with him, did he?”
“You know him?” Jared asks, every ounce of concentration on the piece in front of him.
“Couple years back, they were tryin' to pin some traffickin' charges on him, you know? But he checked into rehab and cleaned his shit up 'fore they could get enough evidence to stick. Still ain't got much more than suspicion,” Aldis explains.
Jared forces the conversation into more neutral territory, if for no other reason than the desire not to dig his needle too deep into Aldis's skin, as his brain starts to drift again. He can wait – there'll be time for discussion later.
At the bar, Aldis orders the first round and leans back in his chair, eyes fixed on Jared in curiosity. “So this friend of yours,” he starts.
Jared just shakes his head. “He's not my friend,” Jared corrects. They don't use names when they talk, can't really go into details, but they both know exactly what they're discussing. “His kid? Back when he was in rehab? His kid lived with Jensen and I,” he explains.
“Damn,” Aldis shakes his head and tips his bottle to his lips. “Sorry 'bout the accident, Jay. How's the kid doin'?”
“He's gonna be alright. Got some bruises and a couple broken bones, but he'll make it,” he says. “Thing is, he told me and Jen some shit yesterday. About his dad.” He watches Aldis through curious eyes, waiting to see what the man's reaction will be.
He's interested, if the way he sets his bottle on the table and leans forward on his elbows is any indication. “Shit? Like what shit?”
“This on the record?” Jared asks him, though it doesn't really matter. When all he gets is a noncommittal shrug in response, he tips his beer and swallows. “Says he's usin' again, and that he tried to get him to push at school a couple weeks back,” he says.
“Which means he's dealin' again,” Aldis fills in the blank, and Jared just nods. “Tried to get his own damn kid to push his shit? At school?” He takes a drink and shakes his head. “That's sick, man. Fuckin' sick. Wait a minute, you said tried, right? Kid didn't go through with it?”
Jared's almost offended at the question, but he just shakes his head and doesn't say as much. Aldis doesn't know Brayden, so there's no way he'd know that he's too good a kid to even consider it. “I can't prove he was high when he wrecked that car, man, but I know he's usin'. And dealin'. The kid wouldn't lie about that.” Jensen's right when he says that Brayden loves his dad too damn much to purposely get him in trouble for something he didn't do.
Aldis's eyes focus somewhere over Jared's shoulder, and the wheels are almost visibly turning there. “I can nail him, Jay,” he finally says, turning to look at the man beside him. “But he's slippery, ya know? Been workin' this shit a long damn time, so he knows how not to get caught.”
It's an idea he's been toying with all day, and Jared's not sure it'll work, but he thinks it's probably the best chance they've got. “I think I can help you with that.”
“You sure you're okay with this? Cause, ya know, you don't have to do it.”
Rolling her eyes, Katie grits her teeth and tightens her ponytail. “For fuck's sake, Soph, ask me one more time and watch me change my mind.”
It's a long shot, and pretty much everyone gathered around Jared and Jensen's living room knows it. They need someone fairly new. Close enough to know that the guys are still at the hospital with Brayden, but not so much a part of their inner-circle that they'd rather punch him in the face than deal with him right now. They need someone who can keep her cool, draw him in, and then convince him to sell.
Plus, Katie kind of looks like Lindsay, if you squint and stand really far away, and Brayden's mentioned that his dad only watched one episode of Jared's show, but that he couldn't stop talkin' about that bad-ass, smokin'-hot blond chick. Maybe it'll be enough to lull him into a false sense of security.
Everyone's here, standing around in the rec room as Aldis and his team fill Katie in on exactly what she's supposed to say and the signals she's supposed to use if she suspects trouble. They give her a tiny digital recorder to stick in the pocket of her baggy jeans, and remind her again that she doesn't have to do anything that makes her feel uncomfortable.
“Oh,” she nods, eyes wide. “So I don't have to bend over the couch and let him fuck me first?” Turning, she points to Jared and says, “But I thought you said,” stops and shakes her head. “Nevermind.”
“Sarcasm is sexy,” Genevieve whispers from her place next to Jensen and he turns his head to give her a shut the fuck up or get out of my house look. “What? It is,” she defends herself and then goes back to drooling over the woman in the center of the room.
“Alright, everybody's clear?” The team nods and Aldis motions for them to leave, stopping in front of Jared and Jensen. “I don't fuckin' care how bad you wanna follow, you keep your asses here and wait for my call. We clear?”
With a nod, they both fidget a little and wait for the police to leave their home. If Katie can't do it, if Rick catches on to the sting somehow, they're going to have to wait for him to slip up on his own. And Aldis is pretty sure it'll be awhile before that happens. But if it works, Brayden becomes a ward of the state again. Jared's lawyer, Jeff, is on alert, waiting for word to file the papers for legal guardianship. They could be one deal away from bringing the kid home for good.
If this works.
“Blow me.”
“No,” Chad pulls his thumbnail out of his mouth long enough to answer Jensen and then goes right back to nibbling again, his other hand running up and down Sophia's back.
Jensen rolls his eyes and turns to Jared, pressed up against his left side, tapping his foot against the floor. “I meant you,” he clarifies and Jared just turns and looks at him blankly. “Seriously. Come on, man. Upstairs. Now.” He starts to stand and Jared just pulls him back to the couch with a roll of his eyes. “Too fuckin' tense.”
“I'm not gonna blow you,” Jared says as though Jensen's a little touched in the head.
“Let me blow you?” Jensen tries again.
“I'll blow you both if it'll make you stop talkin' about it,” Sandy offers from her place next to Chad and Sophia.
Jared seems to consider it for a minute and then shakes his head and starts to speak before snapping his mouth shut and looking around the room. “Where's Tommy?” He does another head count. “And Mike?”
“Probably blowin' each other to take the edge off,” Danneel answers with a smug smirk. “C'mon, Jen-Jen. Come outside with me.”
“You gonna blow me?” he asks, making his way to his feet. She just arches an eyebrow and he grabs his cigarettes from the end table. Only one thing he and Daneel ever blow together.
Standing poolside, Danneel holds her unlit cigarette to Jensen's lighter and takes a long drag before speaking. “Is it a good or bad sign that they've been gone for three hours?” she asks finally.
Jensen wishes he knew. When Jared told him the plan, to have Katie head over there and tell Rick that she heard from a friend that he could hook her up, he thought it was ridiculous. Like Rick wasn't going to wonder about some chick who works for Jared, showing up to score from him. But Jared explained the story, the way Katie would play him to think that she wasn't all that close to the guys and that they're just irrational idiots who wanna take his kid away from him anyway.
Jensen's not sure how good of an actress Katie is, but if she can pull this shit off? He'll make her a goddamn Oscar himself. “You think it's gonna work?” he asks, and Danneel just shrugs. “Thanks. You're really fuckin' helpful.”
“Well, I don't know, Jen. It's hard enough to wrap my head around the idea of you and Jared wanting to be parents. Throw in all this crime drama bull shit and it suddenly doesn't feel much like our lives, ya know? Whatever happened to mellowin' out by the pipe, drinkin' and listenin' to music and just . . . I don't know . . . chillin'?”
He huffs out a laugh and takes another drag, watching the plume of smoke as it curls in the air and disintegrates. “Not like we're aching to be parents, Dani. If this was anybody else, you know we wouldn't even consider it. But that kid,” he trails off and she mumbles something in agreement.
“He's lucky to have you guys,” she says after a few minutes of silence.
When her cigarette is finished, Danneel tosses it to the ground and stamps it with the heel of her sandal. She opens her mouth to speak, but Jared steps through the sliding glass door and she takes it as her cue to leave. Pressing a kiss to Jensen's cheek, she turns and pats Jared's arm before disappearing.
“Hey,” Jensen smiles when Jared bumps their shoulders together.
“'Sup?” Jared responds, and it's so ridiculous, and light-hearted, that it breaks the tension of the moment. “What the fuck are we doin', Jen?”
It's funny because, up until this very moment, Jared has been all-systems-go on the entire Brayden situation. He hasn't hesitated even once to ask if this was a good idea or if they should reconsider. And now he wants to know what they're doing?
“Fuck if I know,” Jensen answers, handing his cigarette over. Jared takes a long drag and hands it back, pivoting until he can rest both of his hands on Jensen's waist, pulling the older man's back flush to his chest. It's not so much 'cuddling' as it is reassuring himself that Jensen is here with him. Jared does it every time he starts to get really nervous about something. Which, granted, isn't often. But Jensen's found himself in this position a couple of times in the last five years.
Before either of them can say anything else, the phone on Jared's belt rings. His left hand squeezes tighter into Jensen's hip as his right flips the cell open. “Yeah? Kay.” He flicks the phone shut and clips it back in place.
“What?” Jensen asks when Jared just looks at him and shakes his head. “Jared Tristan,” he starts with the whole 'full name' routine, but Jared crushes his mouth against Jensen's and then pulls back with a laugh.
“Come on,” he says, releasing his boyfriend faster than he wrapped him up the first time.
Jensen follows Jared back into the kitchen and watches as his boyfriend grabs his keys. “You gonna tell me where the fuck we're goin'?” he asks, though he really fucking hopes he already knows.
The smile that splits Jared's face in half is enough of an answer, though he says it anyway. “To tell Bray he's comin' home.”
It sure as hell wasn't easy. And it isn't something that Jensen ever wants to go through again. Getting legal custody of Brayden took more out of he and Jared than opening businesses or anything else they've ever attempted. There were meetings with judges and house visits and interviews. Everyone on their staffs talked to these people from CPS, and there was a couple of times when they were both pretty sure it wasn't going to happen. There was a time when they were pretty sure Brayden was going to pull the plug himself.
What they didn't count on, in their haste to save the kid, was his reaction to everything that went down. Once again, he woke up one morning with a dad, and by dinner, the guy was gone. Granted, he hadn't been to visit Brayden in the hospital at all, but the kid still had hope that his father would show up. And then he couldn't.
Aldis explained a little bit about what had gone down – just enough for Brayden to understand that, once he was released from the hospital, he was going back to the guys' house until everything got all straightened out. And by the time he was released, just a few days later, the kid was convinced that his father was going to hate him for tattling.
Even after he came to terms with the fact that his father's choices are his own, that Brayden didn't do anything wrong, the kid had trouble adjusting to life with the guys. Last time he was with them, it was temporary, and they all knew it. Now things are permanent, and to be fair, none of them really knew how to handle it at first. For all of their charging, full-steam-ahead, into saving the kid, what did Jared and Jensen know about being actual parents? The first few months were a total mind fuck.
Things did settle down eventually. Social services deemed them suitable foster parents, and after the police found a meth lab in Rick's basement and he plea-bargained down fifteen years on multiple counts, Jared was named Brayden's legal guardian. They're pretty sure that Brayden's petition to the court, since he was 14 at the time and legally able to make the request, sealed the deal in the end.
Sometimes it still freaks Jensen out. Sometimes he looks at the kid and thinks, “Fuck, it's my responsibility to make sure nothing happens to him. That he turns out relatively normal.” And then Brayden flips him off or calls him a giant girl, and he thinks it's not so bad after all.
Jared was pretty sure that his show wouldn't get picked up for a third season after he refused to let the cameras anywhere near his personal and legal situation in season two. Miraculously, Genevieve and Katie's 'will they or won't they' flirtation, along with Steve and Christian's first record deal, provided enough fodder to keep the ratings up.
It took almost a year for everything to calm down and fall into a routine, but now that they have? It's pretty damn good.
So good, in fact, that Jensen decided to throw one of those parties where they all mellow out at Ollie, drink, and listen to music. A 'chill party' as Danneel calls it. Everyone's here, including most of Brayden's friends, and Jensen's inside, leaning against the cash register, and thinking about how lucky they really are.
“You got anymore ice in here?” Chad asks, throwing the door to the empty and darkened pro shop just wide enough to stick his head in.
“Just what's in the cooler, man.”
“Then we're all out. Think we got more down at the shop.” He makes to leave and then turns back. “You seen Jay lately?”
Jensen just shakes his head. “Check with Bray. They were talkin' 'bout inkin' up some of his friends earlier.” Because, apparently, Brayden's friends can't hang out anymore if Jared doesn't airbrush them all at some point. It's cute, though, how Jared never acts like he loves doing it, even when Jensen can tell he does.
When the door closes, Jensen leans both of his elbows back on the counter and squeezes his eyes shut. “Fuckin' hell, Jay,” he grits when Jared pulls off his spent cock with an obscene pop.
Wiping his mouth, the younger man makes his way to his feet and smirks. “I ever tell you how hot it is when you do that,” Jared growls as he leans forward to capture Jensen's ear between his teeth.
“Yeah?” Jensen twists until he can reach Jared's mouth. “Figure we got a few more minutes until anybody figures out we're both MIA.” He lets his gaze drift past Jared's shoulder and then back, with a wicked gleam in his lined eyes. “Cleared my desk off yesterday afternoon and everything.”
Jared groans and starts to turn, but a whooping scream from outside draws both of their attention. “Who's that?” he asks as they watch Chris jump up from his place beside Steve to run toward the pier.
Jensen steps out from behind the counter and walks to the door for a better look. “Is it,” he stops and then pushes his way out into the blinding afternoon sun. “Lindsay?” he asks when Christian leads the willowy blond in his direction.
She's not like any version of Lindsay Jensen's ever seen. She's beaming. Her hair's clean. Her clothes look new. He's not sure he's ever seen Lindsay Kane looking . . . healthy. “Hey, Jen,” she smiles brightly and offers a little wave.
They've never been friends. In fact, Chris used to joke that his sister was an acquired taste, and Jensen would always fire back that he was pretty sure he would never acquire. Still, he can't say he's not glad to see her like this. If for no other reason than the look it puts on his best friend's face.
“You look great,” he compliments, pulling her into a hug. When he lets go, he looks over his shoulder and motions for his boyfriend to join them. “I don't know if you remember Jared,” he introduces.
Lindsay nods. “Not much, but I don't think I could totally forget those arms,” she blushes a little bit and, for lack of a better word, swoons. It's not an unusual reaction around the big man. “Um, so, I hope it's okay I crashed your party,” she says, turning to look at Chris like she needs reassurance or something.
“Course,” Jensen nods. “So you're just visitin'? Are you back for good?”
Her ponytail bobs when she shakes her head. “Nah, I'm just visitin'. Got a pretty good gig back home now, so . . . “ she trails off and bites her lip for a second. “Really, I just wanted to spend some time with my little brother and maybe get a chance to thank you guys.” The blush deepens in her cheeks as she looks to her feet and then back up. “Chris told me what's been goin' on around here. With Rick and everything. And, um, I just . . . I know Bray's in good hands. He deserves better than we ever gave him, ya know? Better than . . . he deserves to be in a good place.”
It's awkward, but if anyone in this circle is the master of putting people at ease, it's Jared. “You wanna say 'hi'? He's around here somewhere.” With his hands in his pockets, he brushes his shoulder against Jensen's and takes off in search of the kid.
Lindsay makes to follow and then turns back. “Your mom's in the store once a week, Jensen,” she says, referring to the grocery store Chris already told him she's working in now. “Asks about you all the time. You should give her a call.” And with that, she takes off after Jared to find Brayden.
Jensen just laughs her off and shakes his head, ignoring Chris's knowing look. He hasn't talked to his parents in ten years, and today's not really the day he wants to start thinking about fixing that. His life just fell back into place, thank you very much.
“Hey, Jen!”
Saved from whatever was just about to come out of Christian's mouth, Jensen's never been so happy to hear Mike's voice in his entire life. Turning, he eyes the young man at the top of the pipe and tilts his head. “The fuck are you doin', asshole?” he calls out when the man holds out the boards in each of his hands.
“C'mon.” Mike nods his head toward a few of Brayden's friends standing at the opposite side of the pipe. “Let's show these fuckers what a McTwist is supposed to look like.”
With a casual nod, he stuffs his hands into his pockets and makes his way to the ramp. Honestly? There's nothing else he'd rather do.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 01:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 01:47 am (UTC)I...
GAHHHHHHH.
Is it really bad that I just want you to keep writing this verse forever?
no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 01:51 am (UTC)Seriously. You are the bomb.com. This story was... INCREDIBLE. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me want to get tattooes and it even almost made me like Genevieve. Your women are strong and independent, your men are tough and tortured, your characters are realistic and layered, your graphics are the SHIT, and the kid is perfect.
AND IF YOU WRITE A STORY ABOUT BRAYDEN'S FIRST LOVE I AM FLYING ALL THE WAY TO WHEREVER YOU LIVE AND GLOMPING YOU IN PERSON. (it is something akin to the starfish. Pretty much a full body hug where I knock you over with my intense amount of love and hero worship.)
Seriously, you'd better keep going, otherwise I may have to write fanfiction about your fanfiction. It just can't die!
no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 01:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 01:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 02:04 am (UTC)Thank you so much for not only reading and loving the boys through my eyes, but for keeping me so highly entertained through the entire posting process.
Oh, and for the record, Brayden's first love was going to be the next story that I wrote, but now I'm fearing this whole glomping process. Sounds messy. How 'bout you just come up with a new dance and we'll call it even? ;)
no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 02:05 am (UTC)And thank you!
no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 02:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 02:08 am (UTC)And yeah - without spoiling too much - Jensen's going to meet up with his folks again in a subsequent sequel of sorts. I realized I've written a hell of a lot about Jared's childhood, but never really had Jensen face up to his . . . it's coming . . . eventually. :)
no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 02:09 am (UTC)And I'm not ready for it to end, either. Though, I might be taking a slight rest. At the moment, my fingers feel like they might fall off from all this typing. :) But never fear - there will be new shiny disclaimer goodness in the near future.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 02:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 02:10 am (UTC)Haha well I've enjoyed entertaining you. You're such a doll. :)
no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 02:11 am (UTC)Hm . . . too bad there's no fifteen-year-old girls in the RPS 'verse to hook him up with . . . Gonna have to create someone original.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 02:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 02:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 02:18 am (UTC)I SWEAR TO KRIPKE IF YOU MAKE HIM FALL IN LOVE WITH TAYLOR MOMSEN WE ARE DONE PROFESSIONALLY.
I trust your brain. I put the srs bznz of creating a kick ass, gorgeous, artistic chick to be Brayden's first love in your hands. *nods solemnly*
no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 02:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 02:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 02:55 am (UTC)And thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed the story!
no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 02:55 am (UTC)Hmmm... Yeah, there aren't that many younger girls around at all. Which, I think, is both a good thing and a bad thing. You may just have to create one for him, as there aren't any girls alive that are good enough for
ouryour Brayden. :Dno subject
Date: 2009-10-26 02:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 03:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 03:12 am (UTC)Okay, that's out. Well done you - I lurve this and I just feel more coming from you - I just know it......Jensen and his parents......*sigh*
Everything is right with the world again, the boys have each other and Bray and *sigh*
Loved it - can you tell - if not - I LOVED IT!
Lisa, xxx
no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 03:19 am (UTC)And I think you're right - I think she's gonna have to be an original . . . I can't think of anyone else good enough for him. :)
no subject
Date: 2009-10-26 03:19 am (UTC)great story - glad to see they got to get Brayden finally. They are definitely better for him than Rick. Good to learn Lindsay cleaned up her act. And Jensen's family gets mentioned again. Can't wait for that story. And whatever else you have planned for them.
Thanks for sharing.