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Title: Re-cast (scar!verse) ch 13/?
Author: Ladyjanelly
Rating: PG
Characters: Jensen/Jared,
Summary: Jensen stopped acting in 2000. He still runs into Jared.
Warning: Men sexing men, AU.
Disclaimer: Never happened, not my boys.
Feedback: Is always appreciated-- praise, crit, all of it.
Thanks to Jellicle for reading it over for me and reassuring me that it wasn't stupid. :)
The rental turns out to be a big white Silverado. Jared’s having a hard time getting over the fact that they rented a vehicle for a freakin’ family trip instead of someone picking them up at the airport and driving them around. Jensen had mentioned hotel arrangements too. Jared hopes Jensen's not expecting the same setup when they get to San Antone, ‘cause Jared’s mom will kill him if he mentions not sleeping in his old room.
Jensen drives the huge vehicle through rush hour traffic with a sure hand and an experienced eye. He knows where they’re going, and Jared feels like a guest in his life again.
“Hey, Jen?” He’d give anything to see his lover just relax and smile. This new tense Jensen is freaking him out.
“Yeah?” Jensen's attention flickers to him, and there’s a genuine attempt at a smile, but it comes off strained.
“It’ll be okay,” Jared says. “Whatever happens, it’ll be okay. I’m not going to do anything to try and upset your parents and nothing they could do, nothing, would make me love you less or want to be with you less.”
Jensen sighs, but it’s a good sign, the way the tension eases. “Thank you,” he says. “I know all that. It just helps to hear it.” He reaches out over the massive center console between the seats, and Jared laces their fingers together until Jensen needs his hand back to make a turn.
------
The house isn’t what Jared had been expecting. Truth to tell, he isn’t sure what exactly he’d thought it would be like. Special in some way, he thinks. Instead, it’s a one-story brick home on a little side street, so much like its neighbors that he’s not sure he could find it again if he had to. Large oaks and tall pecan trees line the road and shadow the homes.
Jensen pulls the truck up to the curb and turns off the engine. Cars crowd both sides of the street right here. Jensen had explained that there was a more-formal get-together of his parent’s friends and co-workers the night before the cook-out, but he and Jared were expected to make an appearance since they’d flown in from out of town.
Jared reaches for the truck’s door handle before he notices that Jensen's still sitting there, gripping onto the steering wheel.
“Jen,” says Jared, “Jen. The part of this that you’re doing for me? This is enough. Just being here. Your parents know who I am, what I am to you. Nobody else matters. You don’t have to introduce me as your boyfriend or anything.”
Jensen nods and swallows hard, still staring hard through the windshield.
“They love you,” Jared reminds him, “I love you. It’ll be okay.”
Jensen squares his shoulders and lets go of the wheel. He wipes his palms on his jeans and opens his door. Stomach fluttering, Jared gets out of the truck, hoping that he didn’t just tell the worst lie of his life.
They walk together up the sidewalk, not holding hands, but close enough that their shoulders brush. Jensen rings the bell, and then rocks on his heels, waiting.
The door opens, and Jared puts on his best “impress the parents” smile, projecting as much warmth and friendliness as he possesses. The sounds of music and conversation whisper through the closed door, louder when it opens.
What can only be Mrs. Ackles opens the door, dressed in a modest powder-blue dress. She’s not the delicate southern belle that Jared was expecting--she has a no-nonsense sort of look about her, a solid little woman with sharp eyes. She seems pleased to see Jensen at least, but surprised and puzzled too, as she lets them in. “Jensen!” she says, drawing him by the hand into the house. “Ringing the doorbell of your own home.”
Jared follows along, and he’s close enough to see her gaze trailing the line of Jensen's scar. “Oh, Jensen,” she says, that mix of sorrow and disappointment in her voice that only a mother can manage as she reaches to brush it with her fingertips. “Are you ever getting that fixed?”
Then she hugs him, her tall son, and Jared’s glad for the way she clings to Jensen's shoulders, hopes Jensen can feel the apology in her arms that Jared sees in her eyes.
Jensen looks relieved when they pull apart. “Mom, I want you to meet Jared.”
The woman tries, Jared has to give her that. “Jared, so nice to meet you.” She squeezes his hand, and there’s warmth in her eyes that he hadn’t expected. “Donna, call me Donna.”
Mr. Ackles steps up while Jared’s busy and hugs Jensen, says something that makes the younger man smile.
“Jared, this is my dad, Alan. Dad, this is Jared.”
Jared puts on his best smile and shakes the man’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you, sir. Your son is an extraordinary person; it’s great to meet the family he comes from.”
Jensen thwaps his shoulder. Donna laughs, but it sounds a little strained.
Alan grins. “Oh, I’d say that boy as much made himself as we raised him, but we’ll take the compliment anyway.”
They migrate to the living room, meeting random cousins and co-workers and friends of the happy couple on the way, and it’s more comfortable than Jared had expected. Alan asks him about his acting and his plans for his career and what he’s doing for hiatus. Jared’s careful to not touch Jensen in any way, to not gaze longingly into his eyes or do anything that could even be considered flirting.
Alan’s eyes never look his son square in the face for more than a fraction of a second. He’ll look at his hands or Jared or his wife but never Jensen. Jared doesn’t even know if Alan knows he’s doing it, but he can see the hurt it scores. Jensen's smiles grow more and more plastic; he stops looking at his father. Jared wishes he knew something to make this better, something to heal this old hurt, but he’s at a loss. He barely knows the problems, much less any possible solutions.
Mrs. Ackles can’t sit still for long, and she flitters between the kitchen and living room, bringing drinks and snacks for their guests. Jared tries not to make a pig of himself, but the last thing he ate was on the plane and that was hours ago, and the little mini-quiche are so tasty.
“Jared,” says Donna, on a pass through the living room, “You’re tall. Can you help me get some glasses down off the top shelf?”
It’s not like Alan or Jensen are short guys, and Jared can translate mom-speak for ‘Come talk to me in private.’ Jared has no idea what he’s getting into-- something about the offer he made to let Jensen come alone seems like the most probable topic, but he’s willing to put up with anything to keep Jensen happy. He smiles Sam’s cheerful grin and stands up to follow her into the kitchen. Jensen shoots him an uncertain glance and starts to rise, but Jared shakes his head.
“No problem,” he says, more for Jensen's benefit than his mother’s.
The kitchen is tucked away into the back corner of the house, away from the noise of the get-together, small and cheery and afflicted with an overabundance of sunflowers. The thought of Jensen growing up here, eating Cheerios in the mornings and fried chicken at night, brings a smile to Jared’s face.
“That cabinet, on the top,” Donna says, and Jared obliges and starts handing her down a glass at a time.
“You seem like a nice young man,” she says as they work, managing to not sound surprised. “I--we, Alan and I, want you to know that it wasn’t personal, not wanting you here.”
Jared clenches his jaw and continues to pass her glasses. “Are you saying I’d have been welcome if I wasn’t bi, or just if I wasn’t dating your son?” That--came out a little sharper than he’d intended, and he takes a calming breath while he waits for her answer.
“You don’t understand,” Donna whispers. “He’s our son. He’s not supposed to be--“
“He loves you,” Jared interrupts. “He loves you and this is tearing him up. If you can accept me, why can’t you accept him?” He can feel the dangerous slide into arguing with Jensen's mom, the rush of adrenaline, the shaking in his hands. He’s terrified of losing control of this, making a scene, getting Jensen hurt.
“This isn’t something he chose,” Jared says, turning to face her. “He can’t be something he’s not.”
The slap catches Jared completely off guard and he blinks at Donna, feeling the warmth spreading across his left cheek. There’s more shock than pain, and her eyes are filling with tears instead of his.
“Don’t you blame God,” she says, teeth clenched in anger, and Jared’s pretty sure he hadn’t said that. “God didn’t do this to my son. I did. Oh Jesus. I let--” Her voice breaks and she overlaps her hands over her mouth to keep the sobs in. Jared’s never been good with crying women, much less crying mom-age women. He puts his hand on her shoulder and she falls in against him.
“I let that man,” she sobs into his chest, “I let that man, and then when we found out, we tried to get him help but he didn’t want to be right again.”
Jared pats her back in a lame attempt at comfort. His stomach twists at her words. The thought of Jensen hurt somehow, some man hurting him, makes Jared want to punch walls but he can’t, not here, not now. He reminds himself that whatever happened it was in the past and he needs to focus on making sure Jensen doesn’t get hurt now.
“He’s happy,” Jared says, because it’s the only thing he can think of. “He’s happy and he’s your son and he’s--he’s making really healthy decisions with his life.”
Donna makes a little sniffle-sob of a laugh and pushes back. “Modesty is not your curse, is it Jared?” She smiles a broken smile and wipes at her eyes, trying to not smear her makeup.
Jared has to grin, because it really isn’t. He steps over to the sink and wets a paper towel for her face. On second thought he gets one for himself too, to take the sting out of his cheek.
There’s a light rapping on the kitchen door, just before it swings open. “Is everything okay in--“ Jensen pokes his head in. Jared tries to imagine what he sees (Jared with a towel to his cheek, Donna blotting at her eyes, both of them half-smiling) and figures the perplexed look on his lover’s face is warranted. His eyes flicked between them as if torn between which to go to first.
“We’re good,” Jared says, and it isn’t a lie, despite the things he wants to ask Jensen about later, in private.
Jensen's mom nods her agreement. “It’s fine, Jensen. Everything is alright, really. Could you--go get your father for me?”
Jensen goes and comes back with Alan before Jared can figure out anything to say to Donna.
“I think I’ve done my son-ly duty for the night,” Jensen says to Jared as Alan comforts Donna. Jared wishes he could tell what Jensen was thinking and feeling, but his lover’s face is like a fog-bank, showing nothing at all. “You wanna get out of here?”
Jared’s not quite sure he should leave after making Jensen's momma cry, but he nods.
“See you tomorrow?” Jensen asks his dad. “The stone tables at Whiterock Lake, right?”
“Two PM,” Alan agrees, and then Jensen grabs Jared’s hand and pulls him out the back door.
The back fence opens into the alley, and they have to walk around the block to get back to the truck. Jared figures it’s better than facing the chattering crowd though. Jensen doesn’t talk, and Jared tries to give him the time and quiet.
They get back in the vehicle and Jensen makes this strangled little laugh that reminds Jared so much of Donna, holding in his hurt and trying to shrug it off. “That could have gone worse,” he says, but like he can’t imagine how.
“I wish I could say she started it,” Jared sighs, “But I think it was me.”
Jensen looks up at him, and he looks so confused by this whole turn of events. “What the hell happened in there?” he asks, “You were only alone for ten minutes.”
Jared hangs his head. He feels like the moron who accidentally shoots someone during a cease-fire. He’s broken the fragile peace, and all he was trying to do was make it a little better.
“I just--I wanted her to know you were okay. She seemed so worried and I wanted her to know you were happy.”
Jensen folds his hands at the top of the steering wheel and rests his forehead against them.
“Are you mad at me?” Jared asks, because not-knowing is gonna make him sick. He wants to reach over and hug Jensen but the truck has a center console the size of a poker table between them.
“I’m not mad,” Jensen says, and lifts his head so Jared can see it’s the truth in his eyes. “It’s just so hard. It’s always been like this with them and I don’t understand why.”
Jared chews on his lower lip. He can feel the shaky ground below his proverbial feet. “Your mom,” he says, “She blames herself. That’s why she was crying.”
Jensen frowns, and Jared can see the surprise on his face. “She what?”
Jared’s gut clenches, because if Jensen doesn’t have a clue about this, maybe Jared’s betraying a confidence. Not that she said “don’t tell Jensen,” but still.
“She said she let a man do something, and that afterward you were gay and they couldn’t fix it.” Jared’s pretty sure that’s the gist of it. He wants to be the good boyfriend, supportive through whatever this is. “Jen, did somebody--were you--molested?”
For half a second, Jared thinks Jensen's snort of laughter is at the way Jared’s voice had broken on the question, before he realizes it was at the question itself.
“I’ll tell you what I told them,” Jensen says, serious again. “I wasn’t molested. Nobody messed me up. The only crappy parts of my teen years were my parents accusing my friend of being a pervert and sending me to a counselor once a week.”
Jared blinks, because that’s not at all the story he was expecting to hear. “Wait, what?”
Jensen sighs and rolls his eyes. “I was sixteen, and my mom had me doing all this modeling. I was gay and confused and I had a huge crush on my photographer.” He meets Jared’s gaze and holds it, making sure there can be no misunderstandings. “He could have talked me into anything, Jared, without much work, but he didn’t. He was in a long-term monogamous relationship and not interested in teenage boys.”
Jared’s throat is dry, and he tries to swallow. Jensen continues on unabated. “He was the first person in my life who said it was okay to be who I was. He introduced me to boys my own age. He talked to me about safe sex. I’d be a mess right now if he hadn’t seen how lost I was.”
Jared reaches out and cups Jensen's scarred cheek in his hand. “I believe you,” he says, because Jensen seems to need to hear the words. Jensen relaxes into the touch and closes his eyes. “Maybe your parents need to hear it again? Your mom--this guilt is eating her alive.”
Jensen sighs and nods. “I think I’ll have to talk to her.”
Jared leans over and brushes their lips together. “But we’re okay? You and me?”
Jensen smiles a little, and it makes it all the way to his eyes. “Yeah. We’re okay.” He puts on his considering-face, eyebrows up and gaze narrowed. “So. Where to now? Burgers the size of your head or back to the hotel for some ‘thank God we lived through that’ sex?”
“I have to choose? Jared asks, oh-so-aggrieved. “It’s early still, and we don’t have anywhere to be until two tomorrow.”
Hours later, Jared figures he must not be too bad of a fuck-up in the boyfriend department, since he ends up getting both.
---------------
Author: Ladyjanelly
Rating: PG
Characters: Jensen/Jared,
Summary: Jensen stopped acting in 2000. He still runs into Jared.
Warning: Men sexing men, AU.
Disclaimer: Never happened, not my boys.
Feedback: Is always appreciated-- praise, crit, all of it.
Thanks to Jellicle for reading it over for me and reassuring me that it wasn't stupid. :)
The rental turns out to be a big white Silverado. Jared’s having a hard time getting over the fact that they rented a vehicle for a freakin’ family trip instead of someone picking them up at the airport and driving them around. Jensen had mentioned hotel arrangements too. Jared hopes Jensen's not expecting the same setup when they get to San Antone, ‘cause Jared’s mom will kill him if he mentions not sleeping in his old room.
Jensen drives the huge vehicle through rush hour traffic with a sure hand and an experienced eye. He knows where they’re going, and Jared feels like a guest in his life again.
“Hey, Jen?” He’d give anything to see his lover just relax and smile. This new tense Jensen is freaking him out.
“Yeah?” Jensen's attention flickers to him, and there’s a genuine attempt at a smile, but it comes off strained.
“It’ll be okay,” Jared says. “Whatever happens, it’ll be okay. I’m not going to do anything to try and upset your parents and nothing they could do, nothing, would make me love you less or want to be with you less.”
Jensen sighs, but it’s a good sign, the way the tension eases. “Thank you,” he says. “I know all that. It just helps to hear it.” He reaches out over the massive center console between the seats, and Jared laces their fingers together until Jensen needs his hand back to make a turn.
------
The house isn’t what Jared had been expecting. Truth to tell, he isn’t sure what exactly he’d thought it would be like. Special in some way, he thinks. Instead, it’s a one-story brick home on a little side street, so much like its neighbors that he’s not sure he could find it again if he had to. Large oaks and tall pecan trees line the road and shadow the homes.
Jensen pulls the truck up to the curb and turns off the engine. Cars crowd both sides of the street right here. Jensen had explained that there was a more-formal get-together of his parent’s friends and co-workers the night before the cook-out, but he and Jared were expected to make an appearance since they’d flown in from out of town.
Jared reaches for the truck’s door handle before he notices that Jensen's still sitting there, gripping onto the steering wheel.
“Jen,” says Jared, “Jen. The part of this that you’re doing for me? This is enough. Just being here. Your parents know who I am, what I am to you. Nobody else matters. You don’t have to introduce me as your boyfriend or anything.”
Jensen nods and swallows hard, still staring hard through the windshield.
“They love you,” Jared reminds him, “I love you. It’ll be okay.”
Jensen squares his shoulders and lets go of the wheel. He wipes his palms on his jeans and opens his door. Stomach fluttering, Jared gets out of the truck, hoping that he didn’t just tell the worst lie of his life.
They walk together up the sidewalk, not holding hands, but close enough that their shoulders brush. Jensen rings the bell, and then rocks on his heels, waiting.
The door opens, and Jared puts on his best “impress the parents” smile, projecting as much warmth and friendliness as he possesses. The sounds of music and conversation whisper through the closed door, louder when it opens.
What can only be Mrs. Ackles opens the door, dressed in a modest powder-blue dress. She’s not the delicate southern belle that Jared was expecting--she has a no-nonsense sort of look about her, a solid little woman with sharp eyes. She seems pleased to see Jensen at least, but surprised and puzzled too, as she lets them in. “Jensen!” she says, drawing him by the hand into the house. “Ringing the doorbell of your own home.”
Jared follows along, and he’s close enough to see her gaze trailing the line of Jensen's scar. “Oh, Jensen,” she says, that mix of sorrow and disappointment in her voice that only a mother can manage as she reaches to brush it with her fingertips. “Are you ever getting that fixed?”
Then she hugs him, her tall son, and Jared’s glad for the way she clings to Jensen's shoulders, hopes Jensen can feel the apology in her arms that Jared sees in her eyes.
Jensen looks relieved when they pull apart. “Mom, I want you to meet Jared.”
The woman tries, Jared has to give her that. “Jared, so nice to meet you.” She squeezes his hand, and there’s warmth in her eyes that he hadn’t expected. “Donna, call me Donna.”
Mr. Ackles steps up while Jared’s busy and hugs Jensen, says something that makes the younger man smile.
“Jared, this is my dad, Alan. Dad, this is Jared.”
Jared puts on his best smile and shakes the man’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you, sir. Your son is an extraordinary person; it’s great to meet the family he comes from.”
Jensen thwaps his shoulder. Donna laughs, but it sounds a little strained.
Alan grins. “Oh, I’d say that boy as much made himself as we raised him, but we’ll take the compliment anyway.”
They migrate to the living room, meeting random cousins and co-workers and friends of the happy couple on the way, and it’s more comfortable than Jared had expected. Alan asks him about his acting and his plans for his career and what he’s doing for hiatus. Jared’s careful to not touch Jensen in any way, to not gaze longingly into his eyes or do anything that could even be considered flirting.
Alan’s eyes never look his son square in the face for more than a fraction of a second. He’ll look at his hands or Jared or his wife but never Jensen. Jared doesn’t even know if Alan knows he’s doing it, but he can see the hurt it scores. Jensen's smiles grow more and more plastic; he stops looking at his father. Jared wishes he knew something to make this better, something to heal this old hurt, but he’s at a loss. He barely knows the problems, much less any possible solutions.
Mrs. Ackles can’t sit still for long, and she flitters between the kitchen and living room, bringing drinks and snacks for their guests. Jared tries not to make a pig of himself, but the last thing he ate was on the plane and that was hours ago, and the little mini-quiche are so tasty.
“Jared,” says Donna, on a pass through the living room, “You’re tall. Can you help me get some glasses down off the top shelf?”
It’s not like Alan or Jensen are short guys, and Jared can translate mom-speak for ‘Come talk to me in private.’ Jared has no idea what he’s getting into-- something about the offer he made to let Jensen come alone seems like the most probable topic, but he’s willing to put up with anything to keep Jensen happy. He smiles Sam’s cheerful grin and stands up to follow her into the kitchen. Jensen shoots him an uncertain glance and starts to rise, but Jared shakes his head.
“No problem,” he says, more for Jensen's benefit than his mother’s.
The kitchen is tucked away into the back corner of the house, away from the noise of the get-together, small and cheery and afflicted with an overabundance of sunflowers. The thought of Jensen growing up here, eating Cheerios in the mornings and fried chicken at night, brings a smile to Jared’s face.
“That cabinet, on the top,” Donna says, and Jared obliges and starts handing her down a glass at a time.
“You seem like a nice young man,” she says as they work, managing to not sound surprised. “I--we, Alan and I, want you to know that it wasn’t personal, not wanting you here.”
Jared clenches his jaw and continues to pass her glasses. “Are you saying I’d have been welcome if I wasn’t bi, or just if I wasn’t dating your son?” That--came out a little sharper than he’d intended, and he takes a calming breath while he waits for her answer.
“You don’t understand,” Donna whispers. “He’s our son. He’s not supposed to be--“
“He loves you,” Jared interrupts. “He loves you and this is tearing him up. If you can accept me, why can’t you accept him?” He can feel the dangerous slide into arguing with Jensen's mom, the rush of adrenaline, the shaking in his hands. He’s terrified of losing control of this, making a scene, getting Jensen hurt.
“This isn’t something he chose,” Jared says, turning to face her. “He can’t be something he’s not.”
The slap catches Jared completely off guard and he blinks at Donna, feeling the warmth spreading across his left cheek. There’s more shock than pain, and her eyes are filling with tears instead of his.
“Don’t you blame God,” she says, teeth clenched in anger, and Jared’s pretty sure he hadn’t said that. “God didn’t do this to my son. I did. Oh Jesus. I let--” Her voice breaks and she overlaps her hands over her mouth to keep the sobs in. Jared’s never been good with crying women, much less crying mom-age women. He puts his hand on her shoulder and she falls in against him.
“I let that man,” she sobs into his chest, “I let that man, and then when we found out, we tried to get him help but he didn’t want to be right again.”
Jared pats her back in a lame attempt at comfort. His stomach twists at her words. The thought of Jensen hurt somehow, some man hurting him, makes Jared want to punch walls but he can’t, not here, not now. He reminds himself that whatever happened it was in the past and he needs to focus on making sure Jensen doesn’t get hurt now.
“He’s happy,” Jared says, because it’s the only thing he can think of. “He’s happy and he’s your son and he’s--he’s making really healthy decisions with his life.”
Donna makes a little sniffle-sob of a laugh and pushes back. “Modesty is not your curse, is it Jared?” She smiles a broken smile and wipes at her eyes, trying to not smear her makeup.
Jared has to grin, because it really isn’t. He steps over to the sink and wets a paper towel for her face. On second thought he gets one for himself too, to take the sting out of his cheek.
There’s a light rapping on the kitchen door, just before it swings open. “Is everything okay in--“ Jensen pokes his head in. Jared tries to imagine what he sees (Jared with a towel to his cheek, Donna blotting at her eyes, both of them half-smiling) and figures the perplexed look on his lover’s face is warranted. His eyes flicked between them as if torn between which to go to first.
“We’re good,” Jared says, and it isn’t a lie, despite the things he wants to ask Jensen about later, in private.
Jensen's mom nods her agreement. “It’s fine, Jensen. Everything is alright, really. Could you--go get your father for me?”
Jensen goes and comes back with Alan before Jared can figure out anything to say to Donna.
“I think I’ve done my son-ly duty for the night,” Jensen says to Jared as Alan comforts Donna. Jared wishes he could tell what Jensen was thinking and feeling, but his lover’s face is like a fog-bank, showing nothing at all. “You wanna get out of here?”
Jared’s not quite sure he should leave after making Jensen's momma cry, but he nods.
“See you tomorrow?” Jensen asks his dad. “The stone tables at Whiterock Lake, right?”
“Two PM,” Alan agrees, and then Jensen grabs Jared’s hand and pulls him out the back door.
The back fence opens into the alley, and they have to walk around the block to get back to the truck. Jared figures it’s better than facing the chattering crowd though. Jensen doesn’t talk, and Jared tries to give him the time and quiet.
They get back in the vehicle and Jensen makes this strangled little laugh that reminds Jared so much of Donna, holding in his hurt and trying to shrug it off. “That could have gone worse,” he says, but like he can’t imagine how.
“I wish I could say she started it,” Jared sighs, “But I think it was me.”
Jensen looks up at him, and he looks so confused by this whole turn of events. “What the hell happened in there?” he asks, “You were only alone for ten minutes.”
Jared hangs his head. He feels like the moron who accidentally shoots someone during a cease-fire. He’s broken the fragile peace, and all he was trying to do was make it a little better.
“I just--I wanted her to know you were okay. She seemed so worried and I wanted her to know you were happy.”
Jensen folds his hands at the top of the steering wheel and rests his forehead against them.
“Are you mad at me?” Jared asks, because not-knowing is gonna make him sick. He wants to reach over and hug Jensen but the truck has a center console the size of a poker table between them.
“I’m not mad,” Jensen says, and lifts his head so Jared can see it’s the truth in his eyes. “It’s just so hard. It’s always been like this with them and I don’t understand why.”
Jared chews on his lower lip. He can feel the shaky ground below his proverbial feet. “Your mom,” he says, “She blames herself. That’s why she was crying.”
Jensen frowns, and Jared can see the surprise on his face. “She what?”
Jared’s gut clenches, because if Jensen doesn’t have a clue about this, maybe Jared’s betraying a confidence. Not that she said “don’t tell Jensen,” but still.
“She said she let a man do something, and that afterward you were gay and they couldn’t fix it.” Jared’s pretty sure that’s the gist of it. He wants to be the good boyfriend, supportive through whatever this is. “Jen, did somebody--were you--molested?”
For half a second, Jared thinks Jensen's snort of laughter is at the way Jared’s voice had broken on the question, before he realizes it was at the question itself.
“I’ll tell you what I told them,” Jensen says, serious again. “I wasn’t molested. Nobody messed me up. The only crappy parts of my teen years were my parents accusing my friend of being a pervert and sending me to a counselor once a week.”
Jared blinks, because that’s not at all the story he was expecting to hear. “Wait, what?”
Jensen sighs and rolls his eyes. “I was sixteen, and my mom had me doing all this modeling. I was gay and confused and I had a huge crush on my photographer.” He meets Jared’s gaze and holds it, making sure there can be no misunderstandings. “He could have talked me into anything, Jared, without much work, but he didn’t. He was in a long-term monogamous relationship and not interested in teenage boys.”
Jared’s throat is dry, and he tries to swallow. Jensen continues on unabated. “He was the first person in my life who said it was okay to be who I was. He introduced me to boys my own age. He talked to me about safe sex. I’d be a mess right now if he hadn’t seen how lost I was.”
Jared reaches out and cups Jensen's scarred cheek in his hand. “I believe you,” he says, because Jensen seems to need to hear the words. Jensen relaxes into the touch and closes his eyes. “Maybe your parents need to hear it again? Your mom--this guilt is eating her alive.”
Jensen sighs and nods. “I think I’ll have to talk to her.”
Jared leans over and brushes their lips together. “But we’re okay? You and me?”
Jensen smiles a little, and it makes it all the way to his eyes. “Yeah. We’re okay.” He puts on his considering-face, eyebrows up and gaze narrowed. “So. Where to now? Burgers the size of your head or back to the hotel for some ‘thank God we lived through that’ sex?”
“I have to choose? Jared asks, oh-so-aggrieved. “It’s early still, and we don’t have anywhere to be until two tomorrow.”
Hours later, Jared figures he must not be too bad of a fuck-up in the boyfriend department, since he ends up getting both.
---------------
no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 02:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 02:53 am (UTC)Things aren't miraculously fixed, but at least now jensen has a clue what's going on in his parents' heads.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 02:43 am (UTC)I love that Jay translates her mom-speak.
And no, modesty has never been his curse.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 02:55 am (UTC)Heh. Jared's all like "He's doing okay. He's with me, isnt he?" :)
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 03:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 08:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 03:08 am (UTC)I will never understand the God thing though. Never ever.
Love Jensen's clarification as to what really happened too.
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Date: 2007-10-01 08:53 pm (UTC)I'd had the slap planned from almost the very beginning. so it felt good to get that scene done.
I really wanted the parents to be a couple who really love their son. I think if they thought Jensen had dome something that made him gay they'd have an easier forgiving him than they had of forgiving themselves.
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Date: 2007-10-01 04:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 08:59 pm (UTC)Jared's such a peace-maker in this. He just wants everybody to get along.
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Date: 2007-10-01 04:33 am (UTC)I like the info we learn about Jensen and why his mom feels the way she does.
Oh and his mom mentioning of the scar - why won't Jensen get it fixed? I'm really curious about the scar's story. And poor Jared, trying to make sure nothing goes wrong and then getting slapped - ouch. But at least it might help Jensen and his mom. Great chapter. Thanks for sharing.
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Date: 2007-10-01 09:02 pm (UTC)I really wanted his parents to come across as good people who just don't understand. They really love their son.
Jared really tries to play peace-keeper. I think he was okay with getting caught in the crossfire if it made things better for Jensen.
And yes. Scar. Now Jared has more of a reason to actually talk about it.
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Date: 2007-10-01 07:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 09:04 pm (UTC)It was so hard to manage a scene with so many people in it. I'm really not so good at groups.
Jensen's parents really love their son, and I think they would have had an easier time forgiving him than they had forgiving themselves.
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Date: 2007-10-01 11:39 am (UTC)cannot wait for more!
i love this verse!
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Date: 2007-10-01 09:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 12:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 09:05 pm (UTC)But now Jared understands more about Jensen's family dynamic, and now he has a reason to ask about the scar.
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Date: 2007-10-01 04:21 pm (UTC)I think you handled the Jared's meetings and opinion of the Ackles very well...
so yeah, loved this as usual.
Looking forward to seeing where it goes next.
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Date: 2007-10-01 09:09 pm (UTC)and now Jared has a reason to ask about the scar.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 06:09 pm (UTC)Also - congratulations to Jared for getting both!
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Date: 2007-10-01 09:17 pm (UTC)Heh. Jared rocks.
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Date: 2007-10-01 10:06 pm (UTC)Jared is TEH hero. and it's cute and just awwwwwww how he protects and cares for Jensen. he is the best boyfriend ever!!!
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Date: 2007-10-01 10:13 pm (UTC)Heh. Jared totally deserves all the thank-you sex he gets that night. he was willing to take the emotional bullett for Jensen, take the risks, be the one on the front lines of that battle.
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Date: 2007-10-01 11:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-02 05:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-02 12:21 am (UTC)Hopefully his talk with his mom will settle things there. Can't wait for more.
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Date: 2007-10-02 05:42 pm (UTC)At least Jensen knows now, and knowing is half the battle.
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Date: 2007-10-02 12:52 am (UTC)OH MAN, those boys are crazy :D
Thanks for the update :D
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Date: 2007-10-02 05:46 pm (UTC)Glad you enjoyed it.
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Date: 2007-10-02 04:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-02 05:49 pm (UTC)I really wanted to show Jensen's parents as people who truly love their son, they're just so wrapped up in the guilt and disappointment that they don'tknow how to get out of it.
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Date: 2007-10-02 08:14 am (UTC)I love this chapter it shows so much yet saying so little. Can not wait for the next update!
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Date: 2007-10-02 05:50 pm (UTC)Hopefully next chapter will be sooner than this update was. Holy crap that took forever to write.
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Date: 2007-10-02 09:19 am (UTC)Good old Jared making Mrs Ackles cry...
Can't wait for more (although I also love the model verse you've got going on too!)
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Date: 2007-10-02 05:51 pm (UTC)Heh. Somehow Jared made Jen's mom cry and still ended up the good boyfriend.
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Date: 2007-10-02 09:48 am (UTC)That sounds so Jared-like. Even if she hurt Jensen, he doesn't want to see her unhappy.
Somehow, I'm glad that Jen's parents are feeling guilty. Not because I wish them pain, but their relationship with Jensen seems more salvageable that way. They're prepared to make an effort and they've acted okay towards Jared. May I take a guess as to why Alan can't look his son in the eye? I think it's part uncomfortableness from him being gay, but it's probably mostly guilt. He feels like he failed Jensen somehow, failed to do something that would have made him straight.
Anyway, it's better than hatred, revulsion and disownment. I don't have to hate Jensen's parents that way.
Thanks for the update. Again, I absolutely love this verse.
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Date: 2007-10-02 11:17 pm (UTC)When I was coming up with the concept for this relationship between Jensen and his parents, I really wanted people who genuinely cared for their son. His parents love him. His mom sent him fajita spices when he was homesick for Texas cooking. They really wanted him to come to their bbq.
You're dead on about the uncomfortableness/guilt thing. I think Alan could have forgiven a lot earlier if he blamed Jensen and not himself.
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Date: 2007-10-02 02:00 pm (UTC)Yeah I know, I am late ...
Sorry but loads of work (you know the drill).
We know a part of the Jensen enigma ...
Great chapter.
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Date: 2007-10-02 11:21 pm (UTC)Glad you enjoyed hearing a little of the story. Dude, that boy holds his secrets close.
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Date: 2007-10-02 09:34 pm (UTC)It's totally adorable and so so lovely!
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Date: 2007-10-03 01:41 am (UTC)Welcome aboard, glad you're enjoying.
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Date: 2007-10-05 09:47 pm (UTC)And I'm very proud of Jared for taking mini-quiches and momma-slaps like a man. He was very brave to be a volunteer ambassador between Jensen and his mother.
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Date: 2007-10-05 09:50 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-10-10 12:11 am (UTC)And it was kind of funny how the expected story of molestation or trauma of some kind turns out to be just...parents not listening, again. I do feel some pity for Donna, because you can see the guilt is destroying her; hard enough to accept that your child is making choices that you really believe will harm their soul, but to believe that *you* were to blame for it...? That would be a crushing burden. I'm cautiously of the opinion that if Jensen can convince her nothing happened & he's all right, then she *might* be somewhat supportive, since she does like Jared. Alan's harder to read. The "non-looking" tactic could be anything from a regular fatherly reluctance to deal with the fact that "my son takes it up the ass from other guys?!" to genuine religious reluctance to accept the reality to sheer embarrassement. (My dad doesn't believe that his girls have ANY sexual urges whatsoever. *snickers* He's so innocent.)
Again, the scar raises it's...er, scarred head. Donna asks when he's going to get it fixed, which implies that it *can* be. I've always thought that Jensen keeps it as a reminder of what happened between him and Martin, a way of warning himself; if he ever gets it removed, it'll probably be after he forgives himself for whatever he did that he feels deserves punishment (trusting the wrong person, not leaving the relationship when he should, being taken advantage of??). The scar could also be a way of keeping peopl at a distance, since many would be reluctant to deal with whatever problems he might have.
However, I *still* wonder if it's even possible to fix it. Being held down and carved on doesn't indicate to me that Martin was all that worried about keeing things tidy for future cometic surgical needs, you know? I'm almost reluctant for the scar to disappear; it might make it seem like all the problems and history are gone with it, out of sight, out of mind. Hmm.
It's going to be interesting to see them with Jared's family. I bet Jensen's going to love them, and they're going to love him.
Pesti
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Date: 2007-10-11 01:52 am (UTC)I think his parents would have gotten over the gay thing much sooner if they didn't have a specific person/event to blame. The would have forgiven Jensen much sooner than they forgave themselves.
Mmm, scar. Jared's gotta ask about that soon.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 02:21 pm (UTC)You have a wonderful way with characterization. You also write extremely well, which is a hell of a relief to come across in fanfic. I'm looking forward to more.
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Date: 2007-10-31 11:51 pm (UTC)just read all 13 chapters
*smooches*
this is awesome update again soon!