Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Mr. Jared says we shouldn’t have to sing the national anthem in school if we don’t want to.” Addison said, much to Jensen’s surprise. She wasn’t one for quoting teachers. Just the opposite in fact.

“Suddenly you have a problem with the national anthem?” he asked incredulously.

“I have a problem with us being forced to sing it every morning like we’re in a cult.”

Jensen frowned, wondering where his daughter got all these liberal ideas. “Is this TikTok talking or your teacher?”

They were in Texas after all. Jensen did not expect teachers to be spreading such propaganda.

“This is me, dad. Mr.. Jared taught us that we should always analyze things for ourselves and come to our own conclusion. And not the way Grandpa does where he’s just parroting whatever Fox News tells him neither.”

Jensen’s frown deepened. “I don’t like you talking like that about your grandpa. And if this teacher is the one teaching you how to do that then I might have to issue a complai-”

“Don’t you dare dad!” Addison shot to her feet, pointing an accusing finger at Jensen, “Mr. Jared is the best teacher I’ve ever had. If you get him fired, I’ll never forgive you.”

Jensen gaped at his daughter, completely dumbfounded. She’d never spoken to him like that before.

I need to find out more about this Mr. Jared and what exactly he’s doing to my child.

Chapter Text

Jared’s eyes flicked to the clock on the wall, and he gasped, shooting to his feet. He’d gotten so lost in the series that he’d lost track of time. Now if he didn’t get a move on, he’d be late for his first class. He aimed the remote at the TV, cutting Calian off as he said something in a concerned voice to Abby. He loved Walker Independence, but it wasn’t because of the potential romances.

It was just that it was the first western he’d ever seen that even acknowledged the existence of coolies or queer people in the West. He was thinking of ways he could incorporate some of the scenes in his class. After all, his next few classes were meant to deal with the Gilded Age in American history.

He grabbed his bag and ran out the door.

“Hey Mr. Jared.”

“Hey Tony, how’s the knee? Feeling better?”

“Yeah, thanks for asking Mr. Jared.” Tony grinned happily and waved.

“Morning Mr. Jared.”

“Hey Samantha. What did we say about…” he gave her a look.

“Articulating clearly?” she finished for him in a slightly louder voice.

Jared held out his hand so she could high five him.

“Yo! Mr. Jared, how’s it hanging?” Jared offered his fist for a dap, nodded to Michael and kept it moving.

“Top of the mornin’ to ya Mr. Jared.” Ever since he’d discovered his Irish heritage Sean had been trying on Irish accents with mixed results.

Jared smirked at him. “Hey Red, how you doing?”

“Just great. Looking forward to St. Patrick’s Day.”

“Aren’t we all.”

“Hi Mr. Jared!” Janice Greenberg gave him a flirty wave.

“Hey Janice.” Jared kept his wave as muted as he could. Janice had a habit of following him around with her eyes. She hadn’t crossed the line, not yet, but he had a bad feeling about her. He kept the smile on his face as he slipped into his office. He had mere minutes to gather his notes and get to class.

“Can anyone tell me, if you’ve ever heard the word coolies?” Jared asked as he perched on the corner of his desk.

Half the class raised their hands.

Jared smiled and nodded to Jasper Cravens who always sat in the front row. “Yes Jasper.”

“Were they the Chinese railroad workers?”

“Very good. Someone did their reading.”

“We all did our reading!” Tony called from the back of the class.

Jared held up his hands in surrender, smirking. “My bad. Far be it from me to imply that some of you work harder than others.” He sobered, “Because I do appreciate how hard y’all work. And because I love y’all, our first lesson is going to be watching an episode of Walker Independence. Then y’all will go home and find out which parts of the show are accurate to real life in the 1880s and which were inaccurate.”

There was a general pandemonium in the class but soon they settled down as Jared set up the projector, turned down the lights and put on the show. He sat at the back of the class, watching his class watch the show, as he took down his own notes on what was happening. He could feel a few eyes on him but didn’t bother to look up. There were a few of the girls that tended to stare longingly at him – Janice Greenberg, Addison Ackles, Samantha Harvelle...he was used to it and there wasn’t much he could do about it as long as they didn’t cross any lines.

He could appreciate a high school crush as much as the next young teacher. He’d harbored his own when he was that age. But this wasn’t the nineties anymore. He wasn’t likely to skirt by with a slap on the wrist if he was caught in flagrante with a student.

Especially since he was gay.

In Texas.

“Mr. Jared?” Janice whispered loudly and he raised his eyes to give her a look.

“Is this like…your favorite series?”

Jared bit back a smile. “You’re supposed to be watching, not talking to me.”

“Oh! Sorry Mr. Jared!” she turned back around in her seat, so she was facing the front, but her eyes kept flicking towards him. He sighed inwardly.

Just last week, she’d lingered after class and asked for private lessons since she felt she was falling behind.

“I’m sorry Janice. I don’t give private lessons. But if you like I can arrange for a tutor for you.”

Her face had fallen so comically he was hard put not to laugh.

The episode came to an end and he clicked off the screen before going to the front of the class. He checked his watch. “We still have five minutes. Any initial thoughts.”

Sean’s hand shot up. “I don’t think they’d be so much mixing of the races. I think people tended to stick with their own kind.”

“That’s an interesting premise. Do you have any citations for that or is it an assumption?”

Sean shrugged. “Just going by what I see today.”

Jared smiled. “That’s very astute. Now go and do the research and let’s see how true it is.”

Sean blushed. “Yeah okay.” He bit his lip to hide his beaming smile.

Jared looked around at the rest of the class. “What the hell, you can leave ten minutes early. I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

Nobody seemed particularly eager to leave for their next class. Addison and Samantha stopped by his desk. “So how was your weekend Mr. Jared?”

He cocked an eyebrow.

My weekend was great. I went to a drag show and then hooked up with the star of the show in their changing room.

“It was good. You?”

“Good. Yeah…uh, I went to this crazy party.” Addison said blushing hotly.

“Oh yeah? I hope you didn’t do anything I wouldn’t.”

Which is a tremendously short list.

“I mean yeah, um, no. Not really.” She shrugged, twisting her blonde hair round her finger and kicking her foot. “We got really drunk though.”

Jared tried to keep his face only vaguely interested to mask the fact that he knew she was lying in an attempt to impress him.

“As long as you were safe. Did you have a designated driver?”

“Oh um, yeah we took an uber.”

“Wise choice.”

She beamed as if he’d given her an A in the final exam. “Yeah, I mean…” she twisted from side to side, one foot behind the other and stared at him from beneath her lashes.

“I didn’t drink.” Samantha said.

Jared shifted to look at her. “Wiser choice.” He said.

Samantha gasped, pumping up her chest with pleasure.

“What do you guys have next lesson?”

Addison leaned against the desk. “Oh, I have a free period.”

“I have math.” Samantha said sadly.

“Maybe I could hang out here with you and you can tell me more about…history.” Addison suggested hopefully.

Slowly Jared shook his head. “I can’t. I have another class. But I can give you some reading recs if you like.”

“I’d like that. Can we discuss after I’ve read through it?”

“Yeah. Of course. I have a reading group that meets on Saturday if you wanna join.”

“Yeah!” Addison exclaimed, her eyes brightening before she hunched in on herself. “I mean, that sounds like a fun time.”

Jared smiled. “Great. We meet at this little café library I know. I’ll text you the address.”

Addison’s face got redder. “I can’t wait.”

“I’d like to come too.” Samantha said. “Can I get a reading list too?”

“Of course. I’ll email you both.”

Addison shot a glare at Samantha who was too busy being inordinately pleased to notice. Jared got to his feet. “Now if you’ll excuse me ladies. I have to get to my next class.”

“See ya Mr. Jared.” Tony called from the back of the class.

Jared waved. “Have a good day guys.”

He walked out of the class and back to his office, feeling a little guilty for lying to Addison. He didn’t really have another class. He just didn’t want to be left alone with any of his students. Especially ones who looked at him like that.

Nope. No thank you.

Chapter Text

Jared walked into Harry’s, ducking his head to get in the door. The room was packed, and he quickly found a seat. His eyes swept the room, froze and moved back to a certain tall, built figure.

God, what’s he doing here?

Of all the places he could meet his ex, he thought he’d be safe here. Stephen was nothing if not a closet republican. He didn’t like to associate with any gays who flew their colors.

“Just because we’re gay doesn’t mean we can’t be normal.” He’d say earnestly to Jared before asking him to take off his heeled boots before they went to dinner. Jared had always obliged because he assumed that it was the height difference that bothered Stephen.

He’d secretly found it adorable.

Until his eyes were truly open to who Stephen was. Even now, almost six months since they broke up, he couldn’t believe how blind he’d been to the man’s true character.

“Jared!”

He turned his head startled, just in time for Anson to press his lips against Jared’s lips instead of to his cheek. Jared grinned, wiping away the lipstick.

“I didn’t expect you to come.” Anson said.

“What? Are you kidding? And miss your debut? I would never.”

Anson’s hand fluttered against his chest, showing his nervousness. He had on clip-on nails that were longer than talons, painted gaily in pride colors. His Dolly Parton wig added at least three inches to his height. His make up was over the top with blue eyeliner and purple lipstick. He had glitter scattered on his cheeks.

“You look beautiful.” Jared said.

Anson blushed, shoving his shoulder lightly. “Flatterer.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

“Okay kids, enough arguing.” A diminutive man appeared between them, trying to wrap his arms around both their shoulders. He had to stand on tip toe to do it, despite the fact that Jared was sitting down.

“Hey Rich. How’s tricks?” Jared asked with a smile.

Rich grinned at him. “Can’t complain. Business is booming.” He looked around the room proudly. Rich was the proud owner of Harry’s, the bar and restaurant which hosted weekly drag shows.

“Good for you, little guy.” Anson patted him on the head, patronizingly.

Rich glared at him. “Keep in mind that I can fire you at any time.”

Anson snorted derisively. Being a drag queen was not his day job. It was simply a quiet rebellion against his homophobic father. Anson wasn’t even gay. He had nothing to lose here except a means to thumb his nose at his father.

“You know you’ve been dying to watch him perform.” Jared said.

Rich had a very obvious crush on Anson. Everyone who knew them knew about it…except Anson.

“Shut up.” Rich said and sauntered off, faux casually.

Jared huffed, shaking his head. Anson inclined his head to the side, giving him a quizzical look. “What?” he asked.

Jared shook his head. “Nothing. Who do I have to fuck to get a beer around here?”

Anson raised his hands. “Not me. I’ll get you that beer for free. Gimme five.”

Jared glanced down at Anson’s heels. “You sure you want to be walking around in those.”

Anson huffed. “Hey, I’ve been wearing heels for years. I’m more comfortable in stilettos than you.”

Jared looked down at his six-inch boots. The heel was a solid block, very different from Anson’s pointed heel. “Yeah well, I don’t wanna sprain my ankle.”

Anson peered downward. “How tall are you in those? Seven foot five?”

Jared laughed. “More like seven foot one.”

“Because you’re not tall enough on your own.”

Jared shrugged, twirling his silver feather earring. “What? I like heels.”

“Clearly.” Anson said sardonically.

“Ladies and Gentlemen!” They looked towards the stage where Rich was about to start the show, “Arya havin’ a good time?”

“Bye, see you later!” Anson said as he began to hurry backstage.

Jared waved affectionately at his friend. A few minutes later, a waiter brought him a drink and a large bowl of nachos. “Compliments of Anson.” She said.

Jared lifted his beer, “Cheers.” He said with a smile.

Jensen was very uncomfortable. He plastered a smile on his face and looked around at the other people on the table. He’d thought this was just a run of the mill ordinary birthday dinner, instead he found himself surrounded by outlandishly dressed queer people, watching men in drag dance on stage.

This was not his idea of a good time.

He looked around surreptitiously, hoping there was nobody he knew in the establishment. Nobody aside from his aunt and her friends that was. If he couldn’t risk offending her because she was his primary help in taking care of Addy, he might have stood up and walked out. Honestly, she’s fifty-three years old. What possible interest could she have in this place?

He deeply regretted agreeing to attend this occasion.

A loud laugh had his head turning to a nearby table where a long haired gentleman had his head thrown back, his mouth open wide as he guffawed uproariously. Jensen blinked at him wondering what anyone could find to be so joyous about. The man stopped laughing but only to talk a mile a minute to his table companion – a man in full drag.

Jensen frowned. The man looked relatively normal but he was clearly comfortable in this environment. Then he stood up and Jensen’s eyes widened. He just rose and rose and rose, the top of his head almost brushing the chandelier atop his head.

The man was wearing six inch heeled boots.

Jensen was sad to have been wrong about him. He wasn’t a normal guy. He was probably one of the dancers or something.

What a pity. He looked like he’d be an interesting guy to talk to.

Chapter Text

“Good morning class. How was your weekend? Anyone manage to get through War and Peace or were you too busy inventing tiktoks?”

The class erupted, everyone talking at once. Jared watched them, a slight smile on his face. He loved how engaged his students were.

“Hey hey hey! One at a time. I can’t hear if you all talk at the same time.”

Everyone’s hand shot up.

He pointed to one at random. “Teresa? Anything interesting to report?”

“I started reading War and Peace,” she said with a wide cheeky grin.

Jared cocked an eyebrow. “Is that so? Where’d you reach?”

“The first page.”

Everyone started to laugh.

Jared smiled. “Well kudos to you for getting that far.”

He looked around, “Anyone else?”

He wiggled his fingers, looking around the class, trying to choose. “Addison?”

“Yes Mr. Jared?” she said eagerly.

“What about you? Did you read War and Peace?”

“No, I went over to my mom’s. She doesn’t like me to read.”

Jared’s mouth fell open in faux shock. He was well aware of Addison’s mom and her problem with Addison becoming too well read – it wasn’t conduct becoming of a lady apparently. Jared sometimes wondered what century she was living in.

“No! Really?” he said.

Addison giggled. “Yeah. So I watched the movie.”

Jared gave her a surprised look. “There’s a movie?”

“Yeah Mr. Jared. Didn’t we tell you about those. It’s like acting out the words in books.” Addison grinned at him.

Jared put on a thinking face. “Hmm, tell me more of this phenomenon. Where does one access these…movies did you say?”

The class laughed. “You’re so silly Mr. Jared,” Jenny Gardner said fondly from the back.

“Thank you Jenny.” Jared straightened up. “Enough small talk. It’s time to get your notebooks out because you’re writing an essay today.”

Everyone groaned.

“Don’t you groan at me. I warned you on Friday.”

“We thought you were joking.” Tyson Kelly said.

Jared cut him a glance. “Well joke’s on you coz I was serious. The essay is on what you think War and Peace is about.”

An instant uproar went around the class and Jared held up his hand to silence them. They promptly stopped protesting.

“I didn’t say ‘what was War and Peace about?’ I said, what you think. This is an exercise in imagination and proper grammar. You will be graded on your use of imagery, correct grammar, length and effort. By effort I mean did you really bother to think and opine or did you just dash something off, run it through Grammarly and call it a day.”

“But how will you know which one we did?” Philip Seymour asked.

“I’ll let you in on a secret – it’s not that hard to tell. Now, begin writing. Imma just sit here and read War and Peace. I might read a few parts aloud if they get interesting.”

He went behind his desk, turned his chair around so the back was to the desk and straddled it. He took his copy of War and Peace out from his desk drawer and leaning his arms on the chair back, began to read.

There was a bit of shuffling and whispering as the class settled down but soon, they were all writing. Jared stole glances at them from behind his book, smiling slightly at the focus with which focused on their pages.

He loved his students.

He loved the effort they put in for him and he in turn, gave them just as much of himself.

He’d heard teachers complain in the staffroom about what pains in the ass their students were and he just could not relate. There had yet to be a group of students with whom he could not relate.

Of course, some of them developed crushes on him, or fancied themselves in love. He could understand it and he made sure never to make them feel embarrassed. He tried to protect both them and himself by never being alone with a student and never encouraging those feelings if he recognized them. It was a delicate balance especially in this class where he knew at least four people who were crushing hard on him.

“How was school today?” Jensen ventured to ask Addy when he got home from work. She was getting more difficult to talk to as she got older but at least he could lend an ear as she complained about schoolwork while they had dinner.

“It was great.” She chuckled fondly, “Mr. Jared gave us this crazy assignment where he told us to write what we thought War and Peace was about. Some people wrote some crazy stuff. Mr. Jared read some of it out and we all laughed.” She sighed. “He’s so…funny.”

Jensen frowned. He did not like the way his daughter spoke about this teacher. “Is that in the curriculum?”

She rolled his eyes at him. “He’s an English and history teacher dad. We did an essay in English didn’t we?”

Jensen opened his mouth to say something about that but couldn’t quite think of anything.

“That’s what I thought.” She muttered, picking up her plate of sandwiches and stomping off to her room. He watched her go, wincing as she slammed the door.

He didn’t understand what he had said that was so awful. He was just trying to be a good dad. He picked up his phone and texted his ex-wife. She was usually the one who attended parent-teacher conferences.

Do you know this Mr. Jared person who teaches Addy English and history?

She answered right away, sending him a rolling eyes emoji.

Of course I know him. He’s overly friendly and too handsome for his own good but he’s competent. Why?

Jensen snorted before texting back that he was just curious.

Considering the reason that he and Emily were divorced was because she’d been cheating on him with one of Addison’s tutors, it was quite ironic that she was calling another of their daughter’s teachers ‘too handsome for his own good’.

Did she proposition him and he turned her down?

His curiosity was piqued even further by this information because he suspected his wife wasn’t the only one in the family with romantic feelings towards this man. Jensen decided that he needed to find out exactly what kind of man he was.

He picked up his phone and called his PI. As a lawyer, he found it more convenient to keep one on retainer.

“Hey Steve, got a favor to ask you.”

“Shoot.”

“Well I’d like you to look into one of the teachers at Addison’s school. First name Jared, he teaches English.”

“That’s all you know?”

“Yeah…well unless you want to count my ex calling him too handsome for his own good.”

Steve laughed. “Fine. What am I looking for?”

“Well…I’m kinda concerned at how much influence he has over Addy. I kinda wanna make sure he’s not crossing any lines.”

“Gotcha.”

“Thanks Steve.”

“Thank me with a hefty cheque dude.”

Jensen huffed. “Yeah alright.”

He hung up, throwing his phone on the table and looking down at his plate of lasagna. He suddenly wasn’t hungry anymore so he scraped it into a container and put it in the fridge for later. He plucked a beer out of the fridge and went to sit in the living room, staring blankly at the TV screen.

He’d been trying with all his might but ever since he’d seen that tall man on Saturday night, he hadn’t been able to put him out of his mind. He’d ended up watching him surreptitiously for almost the whole night. Jensen had been right about him – he did know all the drag queens, including the announcer slash owner of the joint.

He’s probably very gay.

Jensen recalled the look of the man’s ass in his tight blue jeans, the way his high heeled boots emphasized his endless legs, his transparent black shirt, open to his chest, the rhinestone belt circling his small waist. Jensen didn’t know why his palms itched to touch him. Why he could not get the man out of his mind. He’d found men attractive before. It was perfectly natural what with him having eyes in his head.

But he’d never fixated on one like this.

It was bizarre.

Maybe I’ll go back there and ask someone who he is.

Jensen shoved that thought as far away as he could. He’d promised his father after conversion camp that he’d never have these thoughts ever again. He  had been pretty good about making sure he didn’t…until this man who was breaking down his iron self-control in a way that scared the shit out of him.

It doesn’t have to mean anything. It’s just because he was so tall and loud. Nothing more.

Chapter Text

“So next week we’re going to have our first parent-teacher conference for the term. I hope you’re all ready.” Vice Principal Harris looked around at the group of teachers with a gimlet eye.

Jared smirked as her eye fell on him. He and Harris were good friends outside of work but what that meant was that she was even harder on him than the other teachers while on the school compound.

“Jared, no flirting with the parents. I can’t have any more of them wanting to know if you’re single.”

He laughed but didn’t say anything. He really couldn’t help how these people reacted to a bit of friendliness. Meeting with parents wasn’t his favorite thing. Most of them were disappointing in some way. Either they didn’t seem to care how their child was doing in class or they wanted to blame everyone and their grandmother for the child’s failings. Everyone but their dear lil pookie bear who was doing their best. Others were committed to misunderstanding everything he said.

None of it was helpful.

Jared would just have preferred working with the kid to improve and leave the parents out of it. To compensate for his ambivalence, the more he disliked a parent, the friendlier he was with them.

That had left them sometimes with a different kind of misunderstanding.

Addison Ackles’ mother came to mind.

If he never had to see that woman again, it’d be too soon.

Do you mind if I went to the parent teacher conf. this time instead of you?

Jensen waited impatiently for Emily to reply. Steve had gotten back to him to report that everyone he spoke to about Jared Padalecki thought he practically walked on water. This had done nothing to assuage Jensen’s concerns. He didn’t trust anyone who didn’t have a dark side. It was simply unnatural. It meant his dark side was so bad that he was hiding it.

What if he’s taking advantage of the students?

There had been a story in the news just last week of a teacher having sex with her thirteen year old student. In Texas!

One could never be too vigilant.

Jared looked up with a ready smile for the next parent and was surprise when the man came to a sudden stop in the doorway, staring at Jared with his mouth open.

“Hello?” Jared said encouragingly.

The man just continued to stand there.

Jared got to his feet. “Um, I’m sorry, are you lost?”

The man’s eyes traveled up and down his frame. There was something hungry about his gaze. No actually he looked starved. Jared took an involuntary step back, wondering what to do. He was pretty sure he could take the guy if he tried something but he was trying to be a professional and get through the parent teacher meetings, not get into a brawl.

Finally, the man swallowed, jerking a little like he was a mannequin being moved by someone else. “Er…” he said.

Jared cocked an eyebrow. “Yes?”

The man cleared his throat. “I uh, I’m Jensen Ackles? My daughter is in your class.”

Relief went through Jared as he realized the other guy wasn’t some random crazy dude.

“Oh, I’m Jared Padalecki,” he held out his hand in greeting, “I’ve only met your wife so it’s nice to finally meet you.”

The man – Jensen Ackles – stared at his hand like it might be infected with COVID-19. Jared put it down and sat in his chair. He wasn’t offended. Some people were germophobes especially these days.

“Er, have a seat.” He gestured to the chair across from him.

Jensen walked jerkily towards the chair and then collapsed into it just as if he’d lost control of his legs. “E-ex.” He said.

“I beg your pardon?”

We should get some security buttons to push or something when we need help.

“Ex. She’s my ex-wife.”

Jared blinked at him, trying to figure out what he was talking about then he remembered that he’d mentioned Addison’s mother. “Oh! Well, um, sorry?”

Jensen shook his head. “It’s fine.”

Jared nodded slowly, staring at him. The man was really quite fascinating. He had a bunch of freckles over his straight nose, just like Addison, and a pair of crow’s feet etched permanently at the corner of each eye. Somehow Jared didn’t think it was from smiling too much. He didn’t look like a man who smiled much.

Oh he fakes it but he doesn’t smile for real.

Jared could see the misery in his green eyes. A misery that seemed to have taken up residence and had no intention of leaving any time soon. His dirty blonde hair was cropped short on the sides and a little longer up top. He had a luxuriant strawberry blonde beard that made him look like something of a tough guy but it was canceled by the uncertainty in his eyes.

Jared was surprised at how much he could read about the man just from his appearance.

He was wearing a bespoke suit that fitted him like a glove. Obviously he was well off – most of the families at this school were – and he wanted Jared to know it. Why else wear such a suit to a parent teacher conference?

Maybe that’s just his style, Padalecki. The mocking voice in his head that sounded like his brother said.

Jared snorted. He would put money on his own explanation for Jensen’s appearance rather than his mind brother’s.

Jensen lifted an eyebrow. “What…?” he said.

“Oh sorry, I had a stray thought. Now, you’re Addison’s dad? Very glad to meet you. Do you have any questions for me?”

Jensen stared at him for an uncomfortably long time. “What?” he said at last.

“I said, do you have any questions for me?”

Jensen cleared his throat. “Are you a drag queen?”

Jared blinked, staring at the other man in shock. “Beg pardon?”

Jensen shook his head like a dog shaking water from its mane. “I-I’m sorry. I meant er, how long have you taught English or or…is it history?”

Jared blinked at him a bit longer, very taken aback by his behavior. “I…I’ve been teaching since I left college so seven years. And it’s both.”

“Oh, wow. You don’t look old enough to have been teaching for almost a decade.”

Jared would normally have grinned and made a sassy comment but he was wary of this man. “Er well, I am.”

Jensen nodded. “My daughter admires you.” He said.

Jared nodded back and smiled. “That’s nice. I try my best to impart knowledge in a way they would enjoy.”

“Well you succeed. She’s always gushing about you.”

“Is that why you came today? To scope me out?” Jared was only half joking.

Jensen spluttered. He seemed to choke on air. His face got very red.

Jared’s brow furrowed in concern. “Are you okay?” he asked.

Jensen shot to his feet. “I have to go.” He said and rushed out before Jared could say anything.

“But we haven’t discussed your daughter’s work yet.” Jared said to the empty doorway. He was very perturbed by the other man’s behavior. Reaching down to the floor, he picked up his water bottle and took a long sip. He couldn’t afford to be discombobulated. He had parents waiting.

It was him!

Jensen didn’t understand how he’d refrained from screaming incoherently when he saw Jared – the man from the drag show. Except now, he was also Addison’s teacher.

How can that be?

He didn’t think those kinds of people had ordinary jobs and he was certainly surprised that the school would hire such a person. How would they know if the man could be trusted around children?

My daughter loves him.

And if that wasn’t the biggest red flag, Jensen did not know what was.

He was aware he’d made something of a moron of himself in Jared’s class but his brain had just short circuited and he’d been unable to function normally. On the one hand he’d been…okay the correct word was obsessing, about the man from the drag show. It was as if God – or more likely the devil - was testing him or something.

On the other hand, he had been so sure he’d find a fatal flaw in Addison’s teacher that made her put him on such a pedestal.

Now it turned out those two men were the very same!

The fatal flaw is that Addison’s teacher is a cross dressing transvestite who is probably perverting Addison’s mind and I need to get him fired.

Chapter Text

I'm sorry about the way the meeting went. I was distracted. Are you free tomorrow morning? I can come to you. J. Ackles.

Jared stared at the message, nonplussed. “First of all where did he get my number?” He asked himself aloud.

He had definitely thought that Addison’s father could maybe use some psychiatric help, after his abrupt exit last night, but he'd been too busy to think too much about it - aside from a stray thought that he was really hot, if very uptight.

He also couldn't make sense of the feeling that Mr. Ackles had looked at him as if he knew Jared. And it wasn’t one of those looks like ‘oh I know you teach here’. It was more like ‘what the fuck are you doing here?’

Jared was sure that if he had seen Mr. Ackles anywhere he would have remembered. He was a man who stood out in ways Jared didn't want to think about. Not when the guy was a parent.

Suddenly Jared realized that he hadn't replied to the text. He scrambled for his phone almost dropping it in his haste. He didn't want Mr. Ackles to think he was even more of a weirdo then he apparently did.

Yeah OK. I can meet you in the morning before school stats. Come to my office. It's room 589 on the third floor.

Jared looked over his text, keeping an eye out for any spelling mistakes. He saw that he had written stats instead of starts and quickly made the correction. He let out a long exhalation. “Why am I so nervous about this? He's just another parent.”

“Talking to yourself again? You know they have mental institutions for that.”

Jared jumped. He hadn't heard Chad come in. His neighbor walked straight to the kitchen and opened the fridge peering inside intently. Jared had long ago given up on establishing any boundaries between them.

“Ugh your fridge is so empty. I thought you might at least have some frozen pizza.”

“Yeah well I don't,” Jared said dryly, “but you know there's this place called the supermarket where you can get all the frozen pizza you want.”

“Ha ha ha ha. Very funny Jared.” Chad grabbed a beer before closing the fridge. He flicked it open as he came to lean his hip against the kitchen island. “So. What's stressing you so much that you're talking to yourself?”

Jared shrugged. “Nothing. Just some school shit.”

Chad snorted. “I don't know why you insist on teaching Jared. With a body like yours you'd make a killing as a model.”

“Yeah no. I'm fine with this thanks.”

Chad shook his head slowly. “What am I going to do with you.” He ruffled Jared’s hair ignoring his annoyed humph before leaving.

Jared went back to his phone, realizing once again that he hadn't yet sent the message. With another humph he hit the send button before tossing his phone onto the counter and getting off the stool he had been sitting on. He’d just come off the treadmill when he got the text and he knew that a long hot shower was what he needed to get his mind and body right. He felt a bit of regret that he wouldn't be able to go through Addison’s file again before he spoke to her father but then shrugged.

He's the one who messed up the meeting so he'll take what he's given and like it.

Jared shivered a little thinking about Mr. Ackles taking in more than his words. It was all too easy to visualize the other man kneeling before him, his pretty mouth open like a tiny baby bird, ready to be fed Jared’s dick.

He pushed the thought away violently.

“None of that.” He murmured to himself.

I think I need to get laid. And soon. Before hunger has me making bad decisions.

They had agreed to meet at 7:00 in the morning, so Jensen prided himself on being early, since he was there by 6:45. The school was deserted, but there were a few cars already parked in the teacher's parking. Jensen hoped that Jared’s was one of them. He grabbed the two cups of Starbucks he bought that morning - because he was thoughtful like that - and walked confidently into the school building.

He was stopped by a guard at the door. “Excuse me where are you going?”

“I have an appointment with Mr. Jared?” Jensen said as confidently as he could. He couldn't help feeling a little nervous. Now that he knew just what kind of person Mr. Jared was, he didn't know quite how to speak to him, or what to say. Talking to liberals was such a minefield, filled with faux pas waiting to happen.

Jensen would be the first to admit that he wasn't up to all the politically correct terms. Addison was always chastising him about it.

He gave an internal shrug. This is Texas. He must be used to people say things he doesn't agree with.

Jensen panted a bit as he climbed the stairs to the third floor. He would not have called himself an unfit man, but damn these were a lot of stairs. When he reach the third floor he took a sip of his coffee, glad for the energy boost. He knocked on Jared’s office door and was relieved when somebody called for him to come in. He turned the knob peering into the room cautiously.

“Good morning. I know I'm a bit early. I hope you don't mind.”

The teacher grinned at him his whole face seeming to light up. It was as if he was really glad to see Jensen. “No absolutely not, come right in.”

Jensen hesitated for a moment having forgotten what it was he had said to get that reply. he was too busy praying for his heart to restart after being favored with that smile.

“Come in.” Jared said again, waving him over.

Jensen jerked brought to the awareness that he was still acting weird. He stepped quickly into the room, and offered the tray with two Starbucks cups in it. “I brought you coffee.” He said proudly.

The teacher frowned at the cup. “Oh I'm sorry,” he said looking repelled. “I don't drink Starbucks.” He raised his fist, “Solidarity and all, yeah?”

Jensen frowned. He had no idea what the guy meant. He cleared his throat putting the cup down on the table. “Er, sorry?”

“No thank you for the thought,” Jared said as if Jensen was one of his students he was trying to console. It did not make Jensen feel good, for reasons he didn’t want to examine too closely.

He cleared his throat. “So. About Addison…?”

“Ah yes, your daughter. I must say that she’s a bright spot in the class. Always wanting to help, volunteer, answer questions. She’s quite the active participant. So eager to learn. She’s a great student.”

This was the first Jensen was hearing of it. Usually Addy’s teachers were dismissive of her academic prowess or  telling him she had potential if only she applied herself.

“Well…that’s new.” Jensen mumbled.

“Beg pardon?” the teacher leaned towards him, the better to hear maybe and Jensen caught a whiff of his cologne. It was familiar, definitely something designer. Jensen didn’t think this teacher needed any more advantages. He was already impossibly tall, with that hair and those eyes and that skin and those shoulders, his tiny waist and his endless legs, that smile that was like the sun coming out from behind a cloud…he didn’t need to smell good too.

It was too much for any hormonal teenager.

Jensen pushed his chair back, out of smelling distance. “N-nothing. I didn’t say anything. I mean, I did say that most of Addy’s teachers are not so effusive with their praise of her. What’s your secret?”

Ja-Mr. Jared laughed. “No secret. Maybe I don’t treat them like nuisances…” he shrugged self-deprecatingly, “I don’t know.”

Jensen did not like how effortlessly charming he was. The way he had Jensen wanting to smile back. The ground under his feet suddenly felt very shaky. He stood up abruptly. “Er, well thank you for the meeting. I have to go now.” He nodded curtly to the teacher and hurried out.

The man’s scent seemed to follow him down the hall and try as Jensen might, he couldn’t shake the man’s face from his mind, his cat eyes going as wide as they could when Jensen practically bolted out of there.

He probably thinks I’m crazy.

He looked back, half expecting the teacher to have followed him but there was no tall, lanky figure stalking him. When he reached the main office, he knocked on the door and poked his head in. “Er, hello. Is the headmaster in?” he asked.

The receptionist looked up in surprise. “Yes he is. And you are?”

“Mr. Ackles.” Jensen stepped in the room, hands in pockets as he tried on a polite smile. “I’d like to see him if I may.”

“Are you a parent or…?”

“Yes, I’m a parent.”

The receptionist nodded, picking up her phone. Soon after, she was ushering Jensen into the Principal’s office. “Mr. Ackles to see you Principal Huffman.”

Jensen gave the Principal a tentative smile.

What am I doing here?

The Principal smiled back. “Come in, have a seat. I don’t believe we met before.”

“Er yes, my ex-wife usually handles the school runs.”

“Of course. What can I do for you, Mr. Ackles?”

Jensen cleared his throat. “I was just curious about your vetting process for teachers. How do you ensure that they are…above board?”

Principal Huffman’s brow furrowed. “Has something happened, Mr. Ackles?” he asked.

Jensen pursed his lips. “Nothing…overt. Just…I’m concerned.”

“About?”

“Potential bad influences around my daughters. I pay your exorbitant fees because you assure me that my daughter is safe here.”

“Has something happened that makes you think she isn’t?”

“Well, what do you do with teachers who might be a little too…familiar with their students?”

Principal Huffman shot to his feet, his face paling. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist on a little specificity. Are you accusing one of my teachers of something?”

Jensen also got to his feet slowly. “Not yet. But you should look into your teachers’ extra curriculars and maybe vet them a bit more.”

“If you have nothing further to say then I’m afraid this meeting is over. I’m very busy.”

Jensen slowly got to his feet. “I would have thought you’d be more concerned about the safety of your students than this.”

“Give me a name then, Mr. Ackles.”

Jensen took a deep breath. “I happened to see one of your teachers in an establishment where men dress in drag and perform. He was dressed in a manner likely to suggest he does the same. I’m just hoping he doesn’t bring those values to his classroom. If I were you, I’d want to make sure of it.”

“What the teachers do in their own time-” Principal Huffman began to say.

“Can spill over into the classroom. All I want to know is that my daughter is  safe. This teacher seems to exert an undue amount of influence on her and others. This could be dangerous. I hope we can deal with it between us.”

Principal Huffman stared at him. “Are you threatening me, Mr. Ackles.”

Jensen pursed his lips. “Not at all…but I will do everything I can to keep my daughter safe.” He walked out, quite satisfied that the principal had gotten the message.

Chapter Text

Sitting in his living room, the rain coming down outside, reading a book with is feet up on the ottoman was Jared’s idea of a good time. His phone notifications kept going off but he was ignoring them for now. This was his down time, his time for self-care and relaxation. He wasn’t going to allow anyone’s drama to interfere with it.

His mind couldn’t help wandering towards the strange conversation he’d had with the vice principal in the staff room earlier.

“Hey, Jare, listen, I think there’s a parent who has it out for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, someone is complaining to the principal about how close you are to the students and that you might be a ‘bad influence'.” She raised her hands to make the quotation marks.

Jared straightened up in his chair, instantly concerned. “Who said that?”

“He didn’t say who. But since you’re the most popular teacher with students…”

“But it could be someone else?”

Harris gave a half shrug. “Anything’s possible.”

Jared sighed. Who has it out for me?

He couldn’t recall having any fights with anyone, either on staff, certainly no parents. Of course with such a high percentage of conservative families in the school, it could just be some bullshit like he was teaching history a little too accurately.

“I haven’t even assigned any banned books for reading this semester!” he protested to himself.

“Eh? Banned books? You lookin’ for contraband Padalecki, coz I can hook you up.”

Jared jolted in surprise, turning to see Chad walking past his living room in his socks and straight to the kitchen. He hadn’t even heard the other man come in.

“Why are you creeping around my house like the murder guy from Scream Queens?”

Chad grinned. “Maybe I’m looking to stab you to death. You really oughta lock your door.”

“I thought I had.”

“Oh. Well it’s a good thing I have a key.”

Jared frowned. “I didn’t give you a key.”

“No? Well I’m sure you meant to, so I saved you the trouble by cutting my own.” Chad said, his head buried deep in Jared’s fridge. He straightened up after a while to look at Jared, “I think you’re out of mayo.”

“Oh am I?” said Jared sarcastically.

“Yeah. Now I’ll have to use ketchup on my sandwich instead and you know I hate that shit.”

“Tragic. Maybe go look for some mayo in your apartment.”

“I don't have any."

Jared gave his friend a side long glance. There just seemed to be no end to Chad’s audacity, or shame. Jared didn't even know why he kept trying. “Uh, yeah okay, I'll buy some tomorrow.”

“That's my man.” Chad gave him a pleased grin before picking up his sandwich, and taking a large bite. He strolled past Jared with a wave. “See ya later, alligator.”

Jared shook his head in bemusement.

Steve finally got back to him, much to Jensen’s relief. “Hey so I looked into your guy. Not much to find. He’s a homebody, loves to read.”

Jensen snorted, “That can’t be all.”

“No, I mean he holds a book club for some of his students at the local library one day a month and volunteers at Out Youth the other three weekends. He’s single as far as I can tell. Known associates, Anson Gordon, son of Austin businessman Nick Gordon, Chad Michael Murray, occupation unknown – is rumored to be a hacker, Elta Harris, Vice Principal at Pinewood School.”

“That’s quite a…diverse group. What about that club that has drag queens? You’re saying they’re not his associates?”

“Oh no, they are. He seems friendly with quite a few of them including the club owner.”

“Does he also…er, participate?”

“Participate in what?”

“The drag, like, does he wear er…”

“Women’s clothes?”

“Yeah.”

“I mean…I don’t know. Not that I’ve seen.”

“I saw him in heels and a see through shirt.”

“Yeah well gay men do dress like that.”

“So he’s definitely gay?”

“Uh…yeah he is.”

“I see. Thanks.”

Jensen didn’t know why his heart was beating so fast. There was nothing he’d heard that he hadn’t expected to hear. But suspecting, and knowing, were two different things. All he knew was that he had to get this man as far away from his family as possible before Jared destroyed it and everything Jensen had built for himself.

Chapter Text

You have to be careful. There's a parent out to get you. I told you what would happen if you let those kids get too close.

Jared stared at the message in a state of utter shock. There was no number indicated on the text message. It just said private number.

Is this a prank?

He couldn't imagine why anyone would send him such a message and not identify themselves, or at least give him a chance to ask a question back.

He slowly put down his phone, and sat down heavily on the bed. He had his he had been on his way out, for a date with a guy he met in the supermarket. Jeff seemed like a sweet guy - he was newly relocated to Austin after a divorce. They'd gotten to talking in the milk aisle, and Jeff had explained that it was his wife who initiated the divorce. “She couldn't ignore her gaydar anymore I guess.” He said with a self-deprecating shrug.

Jared couldn't help thinking how cute he was.

“How did you feel about that.”

Jeff grinned at him. “Liberated. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her. And I'm just grateful she had the courage to let me go because I don't think I would have had the courage to leave.”

Jared had rubbed his arm sympathetically. “Seems like a tough spot to be in.”

“Have you ever gone through something like that?” Jeff had asked curiously.

Jared shook his head. “I've kinda known I was gay since I was 13. Everyone in my family knew I didn't even have to come out.”

Jeff laughed, shaking his head. “Well you know my family is Haitian, so it wouldn't have occurred to them, or to me for that matter.”

“So what now? What's next?”

Just give a huge sigh. “It's kind of overwhelming you know, but I guess I want to like explore a little, date a little.” He gave Jared a speculative look. “I mean are you doing anything tonight?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. I can see that you're a nice guy, we get along great. Do you think there might be something here?”

Jared had laughed blushing deeply. “I wasn't uh… trying to pick you up or anything.”

“I know. I know man. I'm just shooting my shot here. Would you like to go for dinner with me?”

Jared usually steered clear of men who had newly come out. But something about Jeff had made him say yes. Now he was all dressed up ready to go, and someone was sending him cryptic messages.

He sat on his bed staring at his shoes wondering what to do. Then he shrugged getting to his feet. “There's nothing I can do now. Might as well go and enjoy my date.”

Jeff had chosen a cozy little restaurant, that served great brisket, and doubled as a bar in case they wanted to stay late. He was attentive and not afraid to show a little PDA, despite his newness to the scene. Jared wanted to enjoy every moment but the text message kept echoing in his mind.

“Is everything okay? Am I boring you?” Jeff asked after the third time Jared got lost in his own thoughts.

Jared sighed, “It's not you. Before I arrived I received a crazy threatening text and I can't stop thinking about it.”

Jeff frowned. “Someone's threatening you?”

Jared shook his head. “Not like physically. They're just like coming after me. A parent in my school apparently. They seem to be trying to accuse me of being a pedophile or something.”

Jeff’s frown deepened. “Why would they do that?”

Jared shrugged. “Because I'm gay? I don't know.  I teach at a private school. Traditional values, all that. My sexuality has never been a problem before but…” he trailed off, the gravity of his situation hitting him all at once.

Jeff reached across the table and covered his hand. “Hey. It’ll be alright. I got your back.”

Jared stared at him in disbelief. “You hardly know me. For all you know, I really am a pedophile.”

Jeff snorted derisively. “I’m a black man in America. I know what discrimination looks like.”

A single tear rolled down Jared’s face and he turned his hand around, so that he could clasp Jeff’s. “Thanks man. That means a lot.”

“Hey guess what? I’m joining the Rangers next week. So if you want me to hunt this guy down and charge him with a hate crime, I can do that.”

Jared laughed wetly. “Seriously?” he asked in disbelief.

“Yeah.” Jeff said softly.

Jared squeezed his hand. “God, I’m glad I met you. You’re exactly what I need tonight.”

“Do you wanna…shit, forget it.”

“No, what is it?”

Jeff waved the hand not currently entwined with Jared’s. “It’s nothing.”

Jared grinned. “You were about to proposition me weren’t you?”

Jeff blushed, dipping his head and letting go of Jared’s hand. “Yeah but I realized in time what a dick move that would be so, can we please forget it?”

Jared smirked. “What if I don’t wanna forget it.”

“Honestly Jared, you don’t have to do that.”

“Do what?”

“Reward me for believing you or whatever.”

Jared’s brow rose. “That’s what you think is going on here?”

Jeff shrugged.

“Well it’s not. I like you. You like me.” Jared shrugged, “So why not?”

Jeff gave him a look. “Maybe I want more than a one night stand.”

Jared grinned. “Yeah and?”

Jeff just blinked at him.

Jared leaned in, “Look, I get it. You’re used to dating girls. They want to be wined and dined, they have a three date rule, all that. Which is great. But me, I have a different rule. It’s a vibe rule. And you, Jeff Pierre, pass the vibe check. So, if you want to come home with me, that’s great. If this leads to something more, also great. If it doesn’t,” he shrugged, “No hard feelings. Welcome to gaydom.”

Jeff laughed softly, shaking his head. He reached for his wallet, paying for the meal and leaving a tip. “Fine. Let’s go.”

Jared stood up and then paused. “Wait, you’ve done it with a guy before, right?”

Jeff stared at him with wide eyes. “Er…yeah. Yeah I have.”

“Okay. Cool.” He took hold of Jeff’s hand and dragged him out of the restaurant.

Is he stalking me?

Jensen didn’t understand why he was seeing Jared everywhere he went. He felt as if he was being punished for a crime  he hadn’t committed. He gnashed his teeth, wondering what the teacher was doing out on a school night.

Did he have to canoodle in public. Couldn’t he keep that shit indoors.

He watched angrily as Jared hurried out of the restaurant, the other man’s hand firmly held in his. It was clear what their intentions were.

He’s so shameless.

“Everything alright?”

Jensen jerked in surprise, remembering that he wasn’t alone. He gave his business partner a strained smile. “Yes, of course. Just…remembered that I need to buy some craft things for Addy before I get home. You know how they always tell you at the last minute.”

Christian shook his head. “No, as a matter of fact I don’t. No kids.” He smiled smugly.

Jensen shook his head, “Yeah, yeah…whatever.”

As soon as he got home, Jensen sent a text.

Hey. Can we meet tomorrow? Lunch is on me. It’s about the kids.

He put his phone down and got in the shower. Try as he might, he could not get the image of Padalecki holding that guy’s hand out of his head.

His hands were so big. And his hair, so unruly. Does he even comb it?

Even as he put on the shower, his hands itched with the need to feel Jared’s hair, smooth it down, capture all the rogue tendrils flying around his face, run his fingers through the errant curls at the back. His hair just seemed so soft. Such a contrast with the hardness of the rest of his body – his face all sharp cheekbones and jaw, everything hard and sharp aside from the soft dimples in his cheeks when he smiled.

He smiled a lot.

The way he leaned forward towards the other man, his wide shoulders blocking Jensen’s view of the man’s reaction. That back, just tapering down to a tiny waist like the most cliché romance cover hero.

I mean who the hell does he think he is?

Those impossibly long legs, making it hard to believe he could really fit them under that small table.

Maybe that’s why they looked like they were too close.

His mouth, nothing remarkable about it at first glance except for how it could look small and pert and demure but then he smiled and his lips just spread across his face, wide and happy. Jensen’s hand tightened on his hard dick as it twitched and jerked as if threatening to blow it’s load right here and now, when he had a man on the brain.

That would not do at all.

He closed his eyes and tried to think of a woman.

Any woman.

The teller at the seven eleven down the street with her curly red hair and rosy cheeks. Her short pudgy hands were the opposite of Jared’s long, huge, elegant looking ones. He would be able to circle Jensen’s dick with no problems. His wrist strength would make it easy for him to squeeze and release in pulsing rhythm, driving him mad with-

The red head at the seven eleven was short but her lips were a rosy bud. Maybe she could go on her knees and-…But no, on her knees she’d be too short to reach his dick. She’d need to stand and maybe he could find a stool.

Or they could lie down.

Jared would cover the entirety of his length if they lay down. His body could cover Jensen’s, no problem. His dick, if it was proportional, would brush against his-

Red head. Mouth. Dick.

His dick was pulsing, ready to blow. He threw his head back, mouth open as he thrust forward at nothing, imagining rock hard abs-

Soft pudgy pale flesh…

A huge dick brushing against his hole.

Warm, soft, small hands.

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” he spurted into his hand as he imagined Jared’s hand inside of him, moving in and out, jabbing his prostate effortlessly with every brush of his fingers.

His dick hurt with the strain and struggle, the push and pull of wanting to come but not. He collapsed forward, leaning his head on the cold shower tile and panting, feeling even more frustrated than he had before he jerked off.

He hadn’t intended to jerk off.

“Fuck!” he hit the wall in frustration.

I need to get that man out of my life. What is he doing to me?

Chapter Text

Jensen stopped at the Starbucks, where he’d arranged to meet Gen Cortese, another parent from the school. He remembered vaguely that Addy had said something about boycotting but he really couldn’t be arsed.

“Jensen!”

He looked up to see Gen waving at him from a seat in a corner nook. He walked over to her, pinning a smile on his face. “Hey. Long time.”

She got to her feet. “Jensen. How nice to see you. I was surprised to get your call. You don’t usually socialize with us school moms.”

He showed all his teeth in a fake grin, “I leave that to my ex-wife.”

“I haven’t seen Emily around much. Is she in town?”

His eyes widened, “As far as I know.”

“Hmm, so anyway, what did you want to talk about?”

“Gen and Gen!” the barista called and Gen grinned.

“Oop, there’s our order. I hope you don’t mind that I ordered for you?”

“Not at all.” Jensen said.

Fucking control freak.

Gen went over to get their order of coffee and muffins, setting his before him. it was black as sin, no sugar, just the way he liked it. She’d also chosen a chocolate muffin for him. “It’s like you know me or something.” He said as he took a decadent bite.

She smiled. “I pride myself on it. So…?” she trailed off, giving him an opportunity to fill her in.

“Jared Padalecki.” He said and immediately, she frowned.

“What about him?”

“I remember you saying how he wasn’t a good influence on the students.”

“Yes well he’s….” she looked around the café before turning back to him and lowering her voice. “g-a-y.”

Jensen pursed his lips as if he’d just bitten into a lemon. “It’s not a crime.”

“Yes well, if I wanted my kids exposed to such liberal views I’d take them to a public school.”

“Well, I remember you’d said something about starting a petition or rallying the troops to get him out?”

She perked up. “Yeah. I had that idea but there were very few takers so…”

Jensen leaned in confidingly. “I think you and I together might be able to pull it off.”

Gen smiled. “You think so?”

“I know so.”

“Addy?”

“Yes daddy.” She grinned, “that rhymed.”

“Oh yeah, ha ha. Anyway...”

She looked up from her homework. “What?”

“I wanted to ask about that teacher of yours…Mr. Jared, you called him?”

“Yeah? What about him?”

“Well, I’m not sure he’s a good influence on you.”

Addison put her stylus pen down as well as her iPad. She eyeballed her father. “What do you mean by that?”

“I just mean…well, he has you reading all these banned books and teaches you history you’re not supposed to learn, and his lifestyle…”

Addison narrowed her eyes at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about father. You’re being weird.”

Jensen sighed, dropping into the seat next to Addison on the dining table. “Look, I’m not trying to weird you out but that man-”

“Don’t you have enough to do at your job? Why are you so concerned about Mr. Jared?”

Jensen blinked at her, “Well clearly, I’m right to be concerned. You’ve never interrupted me before.”

Addison’s eyes widened, “And you’re blaming that on Mr. Jared?”

“You’re different these days. You go chasing after all these liberal ideas and god only knows where it’ll lead. We are a good Christian family, Addy. We believe-”

“In God and America? C’mon dad. Get real.” Addison rolled her eyes.

Jensen stared at her in horror. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Addison snorted as she picked her stylus back up. “What do you think it means dad? Only that the whole ‘being a patriot’ thing is cultish and stupid. People trying to stop us from thinking for ourselves. It’s all bullshit dad.”

“Being a patriot is bullshit? Is that what Mr. Jared teaches you?”

She rolled her eyes at him, “I can think for myself dad.”

Jensen stared at her, nonplussed.

“For example have  you noticed that smart people are usually depicted as creepy and weird in movies and tv shows? Why is that? And basically, bullying is okay because the cool kids do it. Have you noticed?”

“Bullying is never okay?”

“Isn’t it though? Because it’s not only kids who do it. Grown ups too. That’s where the kids learn it. Racism is just an elevated form of bullying. So is transphobia, and homophobia. All bigotry really.” Addison said earnestly.

Jensen’s mouth opened and closed. He didn’t know what to say. “Tomorrow I’m taking you to talk with the pastor.” He said.

Addison laughed. “Can’t make it sorry. I have a book club meeting with Mr. Jared.”

“Book club? On a Saturday?”

Addison nodded.

“Is that extracurricular?”

“It’s a book club.”

“So it’s not part of your school activities?”

“No.”

“And he invited you to attend?”

Addison gave him a look. “It’s a book club. Mr. Jared said anyone who was interested could join.”

“So the school knows about this?”

“It’s not a school activity, dad.”

“What? You don’t hold it in school?”

“We meet at the library. Dad I’ve told you this before.”

“You’ve told me you’re going to the library. You have never said you’re going to your teacher’s book club. And by the way, I don’t think it’s appropriate for him to be inviting you places that are outside of school. I forbid you to attend this book club.”

Addison shot to her feet. “What? Dad! No!”

“What is that tone, Addy? Is that how you speak to your father?”

“Since when did you become the gestapo? Fuck dad, forbid me? What century is this?”

Jensen narrowed his eyes at her. “Apologize.”

“No.”

“Addy…” he said warningly.

“You’re a douche dad. I’m going to my room until you come to your senses. This is bullshit.” She began to stalk off but Jensen caught hold of her arm.

“Mr. Jared tell you this is a good way to behave towards your parent?”

“What you got against him? You think I don’t have a mind of my own? Nobody has to tell me how to behave.”

“I would hope that your mother and I taught you how to behave.”

Addison snorted loudly. “Gimme a break.”

“What’s that supposed to mean, Addy?”

“Leave go my hand dad. I wanna go to my room.”

“Apologize first.”

“I said no, dad.”

“You’re not going anywhere then.”

“How you gonna stop me, Jensen?”

Jensen stared at her. She seemed to him to be a virtual stranger, completely transformed into a little liberal brat by his personal nemesis – the great Jared Padalecki – teacher extraordinaire and daughter corruptor. If he’d had any qualms about getting the man fired, Jensen didn’t anymore.

Chapter Text

Jared woke up to a text from the principal. Mr. Huffman wanted to see him first thing,  as soon as he got in. Jared frowned, wondering what that might be about. He’d had no issues with any of his classes as far as he knew. His students were thriving, engaged and working hard.

He shrugged. “I’m sure he’ll tell me when I get there. No need to borrow trouble now. Maybe I’m getting a promotion.”

Jared smirked at himself in the mirror, knowing full well how unlikely that was. As a teacher, his mandate was to educate his students but if he was promoted to some other role, he’d have to interact with parents and the education department. He had no interest in such a role and everyone knew it. Jared had no wish to perform toxic masculinity in order to make the largely conservative parent population of the school comfortable.

Still, he took his time driving to work, not wanting his anxiety to lead him to making a fatal traffic error.

“I’m too pretty for jail.” He murmured to himself as he turned into the school compound. He saw that Principal Huffman’s car was already in the parking lot.

He slowly alighted from his car, took a deep breath and made his way to the principal’s office.

“Jared, what are you doing?” he asked, in a tired voice.

He raised an eyebrow. “I’m going to need some context for that.”

“You know the kind of families that send their kids here. You know they don’t want their kids to be taught uncomfortable truths. Can’t you just…” he raised his hand helplessly.

Jared’s eyes narrowed. “Just say what you need to say, Philip. Am I out or what?”

He gave a loud sigh. “I don’t want to do this but a complaint has been lodged with the board and this is coming from above me. Someone wants you out pretty badly.”

Jared’s heart sank. “Is this effective immediately or do I get to bid my kids goodbye?”

“They don’t want you to have any further contact with any of the kids.” he gave Jared a sad smile.

Jared nodded jerkily. “Fine. I’ll…I guess I’ll empty my locker.”

“I’m really sorry, Jared.”

“Yeah.” Jared said quietly as he walked out of the room.

His feet dragged as he walked to his locker. He was relieved about the early hour. There were not many people about. No one to see his humiliation. He could feel the acidity bubbling up his belly and burning all the way to his throat. His hands were shaking as he unlocked his locker and began to empty it. He didn’t have much in there – an extra shirt and tie because he was clumsy and might spill something on himself, a copy of War and Peace and his extra iPad where he kept a back up of his class notes.

Quickly stuffing them in his back pack, he walked away quickly. Reaching for his phone, he switched it off. He had no desire to be reachable at the moment. He needed time to process. This was his first time ever to be fired from a job and he truly did not know how to react to it.

He drove to Barton Creek, changed into the sweats that lived in his gym bag in the trunk of his car, and took off running. It was a hot day and within minutes he was dripping with sweat. He also wasn’t thinking about anything except the breath in his lungs and his legs pumping away, as he raced away from his problems. It was exactly what he needed.

Soon he came to the shore of Colorado river and plopped himself down, taking off his sneakers and immersing his legs in the water. He closed his eyes, focusing on his breathing and nothing else.

Even though it was the middle of the day, he could still hear footsteps as people trudged or ran past him along the path. Suddenly there was a yell and the sound of skidding. Jared’s eyes shot open and he turned just in time to see a body sliding off the path towards him. He rolled out of the way and then reached out with one hand as the person splashed into the water. Jared grabbed for him, just in case the idiot couldn’t swim.

The man began spluttering and choking, grabbing with both hands for Jared’s hand. He didn’t have a proper foothold and felt himself sliding forward on the grass. If he didn’t let go, he’d slide into the river head first himself.

He didn’t let go… mainly because the guy looked terrified.

He began to slip forward in the grass and realized he’d have to let go. He opened his hand and let the guy slip into the water before getting up on his knees and reaching for him. The guy was splashing about, spluttering and choking but he managed to stay afloat. Jared grabbed him and pulled, using all his strength to get the guy onto the shore.

He sat back, panting with the effort as he watched the guy cough and splatter, his face bright red. He looked familiar but Jared couldn’t think where he might have met him.

Probably at Harry’s or one of the other clubs.

The man finally stopped coughing and to Jared’s surprise, he glared up at Jared. “You tried to drown me.” He accused.

Jared’s jaw dropped open. “I beg your fucking pardon?”

Chapter Text

Jared could not believe the day he was having. First he got fired, and now some random gentleman was accusing him of trying to murder him.

Lord, whatever I did to deserve this, I’m sorry!

“I beg your motherfucking pardon? Why would I try to drown you?”

The man coughed some more. “Because I got you fired.” He said.

Jared blinked at him in utter shock. “Say again?”

“Oh don’t pretend like you don’t know!” the man sneered.

Jared reared back, taken aback by the accusations that seemed to come out of nowhere. “I don’t know who the fuck you think I am but I promise you, this is not how you thank someone for rescuing you.”

The guy stared at him, bug eyed. “Rescuing...? You…” he fisted his hand, lifting it as if he meant to punch Jared in the face before turning away with a frustrated expression. He took several loud deep breaths and then turned right back around.

“Wait a minute.” Jared said, pointing at the guy. “You got me fired?”

The man just looked at him.

“Why the hell would you do that?”

The look the man was leveling at him became even more eloquent. Jared raked the guy’s frame, noting the expensive – very wet – bespoke suit, the severely gelled down hair, his Rolex, manicured nails…he was giving closet case pro max.

“Wait. I know you.” Jared realized. “You’re Addison Ackles’ dad.”

The man inclined his head. “Yes, and you know what you did to her.”

Jared frowned. “Did to her? What the fuck does that mean?”

“Would you stop cursing so much?”

“I’ll do whatever the fuck I want. Last I checked it was a free country.”

He pursed his lips disapprovingly. “That doesn’t mean we go around doing whatever we please.”

Jared crossed his arms. “Doesn’t it? I think that’s exactly what it means.”

“Yeah and look where that got you.” He said sardonically.

“No darling, you’re the one who got me fired. Not anything I did.”

“You were teaching my daughter the wrong things!” he jabbed Jared in the chest.

“Get your fucking hand off me.” Jared caught the finger and twisted it.

“Ouch! What is wrong with you?” the other man looked offended.

“What’s wrong with you?” Jared countered, “I wonder when the last time was you pooped with an ass that tight.”

He blushed, looking flustered. “I will thank you not to use such language with me. Not all of  us are…” he trailed off uncertainly.

“Flaming queens?” Jared finished for him, “You sure about that?” he leaned in and pressed his lips firmly against Jensen’s. He felt the other man stiffen, his lips softened momentarily before he pushed Jared away, coughing, and spluttering, his face flaming.

“How dare you?” he growled wiping at his lips.

Jared smirked and didn’t bother to answer.

“I. am. Not. Like. You!” Jensen insisted.

“Then why did you get me fired? I haven’t done a thing to your daughter. Why target me?”

“Don’t act like I was victimizing you. I wasn’t. What you were teaching her wasn’t right. And you were luring her to your after school activities, unauthorized by the way. I have a duty to protect her from people like you.”

“Ugh. Such right wing bs. Get the fuck away from me.” Jared turned away in disgust.

“You see.” Jensen said quietly, “That’s exactly the attitude you’re imparting to my daughter. You’re teaching her to hate me!”

Jared turned back. “Your daughter not subscribing to your political beliefs is not my fault, dude. Have you considered that maybe you just have bad vibes?”

“You keep denying your influence and proving it at the same time. Monkey see monkey do.”

Jared snorted. “Leave aside calling your daughter a monkey, doesn’t she spend more time with you than me? Shouldn’t you be the monkey she’s aping?”

Jared watched with satisfaction as Jensen floundered looking for an answer. He was feeling much better about being fired because he realized that there was very little he could have done about it. He was who he was, and Jensen Ackles was a powerful member of the community. He had done nothing to attract his ire except exist.

“I gotta go. A new job isn’t going to find itself.” He snapped before walking off and leaving the other man dripping by the river. His sense of satisfaction only lasted until he reached his car, then he experienced such a drop in mood that he had to lean against the car. His legs could not support him. He slid down against the car door until his butt landed on the hot gravel of the parking lot. Knees folded, head buried in his hands, he burst into tears.

Jensen squelched his way back up the path, mumbling comebacks to himself. He’d thought of several as soon as Padalecki had disappeared up the path, his pert little bottom swaying a bit from side to side in his anger.

Jensen angrily thrust that thought away from him. He had no business thinking about Jared’s ass or any other part of his body at that. His lips were still tingling from having Jared’s pressed to them. In truth, he was still kinda reeling from that kiss. Try as he might, he could not quite escape from the after effects. He couldn’t help wishing it had lasted longer.

He hated himself for even thinking it.

He held onto the annoyance he felt rather than think of the embarrassment of accusing Jared of trying to drown him. In his defense he had not expected to see the man so soon after…well after. And he’d been thinking of Jared all morning – how he might react to being fired – and it had just been a surprise to run into him while also slipping off an embankment and into the river. It had felt…karmic almost – except he didn’t believe in that mumbo jumbo and so had just lashed out.

So now if Jared hadn’t known before who got him kicked out of his job, he knew now.

Jensen didn’t even know why that bothered him. It wasn’t as if he intended to run into the man ever again. The whole point of this was to get Jared out of their lives.

“Daddy what did you do?” Addy yelled in his face as soon as he got in the door. He was bone-tired, it had been a really long day. He did not need this shit. He’d had to change into his spare suit in his work bathroom and everyone had kept asking him why his shoes were squeaking.

“What are you talking about?” he asked as he flopped onto the sofa and closed his eyes with a sigh of relief.

“I’m talking about Mr. Jared. Rumor has it he was fired. Did you do something to get him fired dad?”

Jensen rubbed his head tiredly. “What are you talking about Addy? God I’ve had a long day. Can this wait?”

“Why won’t you answer the question?”

Jensen huffed. “Maybe because I’m not on trial and I don’t appreciate being interrogated?”

“I haven’t interrogated you. I just asked you a simple question. Did you get Mr. Jared fired?”

Jensen sat up, glaring at his daughter. “And why does it matter so much? Are you in love with this guy? Because something tells me he’s not interested in girls.”

“Are you interested in him? Why did you do this?” she wailed.

Jensen felt his heart jump at Addy’s rejoinder. It hit a little too close to home. “Who said I did anything?”

“The fact that you haven’t denied it? C’mon dad, I know you. That’s your guilty face.”

Jensen immediately frowned. “Don’t be silly Addy.”

“Don’t gaslight me dad.” She pointed a finger in his face.

He frowned at it. “You know what?” he said standing up, “If I did get him fired, and that’s a big if, I’d be justified just by your behavior this evening. Yelling at me, pointing fingers…it’s unseemly. And it’s all because of your precious Mr. Jared.”

Addy’s bottom lip trembled and her eyes watered. “I hate you!” she cried before running off to her bedroom.

Jensen stared bleakly after her. He felt distinctly as if he was fucking everything up and he had not clue how to unfuck it.

Chapter Text

“Now what am I going to do?” Jared sighed, staring at his laptop screen. He was looking over his resume, updating it where necessary but the thought of applying anywhere, or even interviewing…having to explain why he was fired…it was already too tiring. He sighed again. “Why did this happen to me?”

He lay back on his sofa, shaking his head, as he looked up at the ceiling.

“Dude, I need some sugar.” Chad came barging in as he always did. Jared took a breath to chastise him thoroughly for making free with his house especially since he didn’t know how he was going to pay his rent let alone buy sugar from now on.

But it felt like too much like an exercise in futility.

He was too tired for this shit.

Chad came to a stop, peering at him curiously. “Hey Jared? What’s up with the ignoring me huh? I thought we were friends.”

Jared snorted. “You making free with my stuff doesn’t make us friends, Chad.”

The other man frowned and then sat his ass down next to Jared. “Okay buddy. You can tell Uncle Chaddy all about it. What’s got your knickers all in a twist?”

Jared slid him an epic side eye. “That is the most disturbing thing you’ve ever said to me in a long and storied career of disturbing things.”

“Hey! I’m tryna be a friend here and you’re holding my language against me?”

Jared huffed in amusement. He shook his head. There was no use trying to fight against the force of nature that Chad Michael Murray. The best thing to do was not to brace yourself and just relax as he carried you along on his caravan of crazy. “So I got fired today.”

“What? Why?” Chad sounded honestly shocked.

I shrugged. “If I’m guessing right it’s because I’m gay.”

Chad shot to his feet, his face paling. “No! Isn’t that illegal or something?”

Jared snorted. “Not in Texas apparently.”

“Fuck. That sucks balls. Did they only just find out that you play for the other team?” Chad sounded surprisingly empathetic.

“No. I think it was one of the parents who found it unpalatable.”

“So? What business was it of his?” Chad sounded so outraged on Jared’s behalf that Jared could not help but feel grateful. He’d been wondering if this was his fault after all, especially after he hadn’t heard from any of his former colleagues all day.

Not even Harris.

He didn’t get it.

“I don’t know. I wouldn’t have thought one parent could have so much power.”

“It probably wasn’t just one parent. These people travel in packs.”

“You’re probably right.”

“Ain’t no probably about it. I know these people.”

Jared sighed. “There’s no use dwelling on it. What’s done is done.”

Chad just gave him an empathetic look. “So, what now? You go to work full time at Harry’s? I know some gays who would be thrilled.”

Jared snorted. “Yeah, no. I’ll ask Shelby at the library if she has anything for me. Maybe I can look at getting researcher gigs. The problem with getting fired from a school for your lifestyle choices is that there’s always a whiff of pedo about it, y’know?”

Chad frowned. “Fuck those people. No, like for real, fuck them. You’re going to be fine. I promise you.” With that he took the sugar and marched out. Jared watched him go with a rueful smile, shaking his head.

Jensen was having some trouble sleeping. He could admit that to himself. He’d thought that removing Jared from sight would solve the problem but now his daughter wasn’t speaking to him and he still couldn’t get the damned man off his mind.

Maybe he was also feeling a little guilty but he pushed that thought away as unproductive. It wasn’t as if he could go back to Gen and say he wanted to undo what they’d done. That wasn’t how these things worked.

Besides he’d since learned why Gen was so against Jared. Another parent had given him the tea.

“She asked him out y’know? In fact, there was a bit of a stalker situation going on there for a while. He shut her down. She’s never forgiven him for it.”

It didn’t help his pride that he and Gen had gone after Jared for the same reason – they were both attracted to him.

As much as he’d tried to deny it, he could not run from the parallels. With a  sardonic snort, he got up and walked out of the room, onto his balcony. He’d concealed a blunt in the flower pot and he thought this was a good time to light up. Addison was away at her mother’s and he was alone in the house.

He dug the blunt out and lit it, settling down on the wicker chair and staring out at the starry night. He thought about his life, wondering how he’d come to this point.

“I’m a nice guy.” He murmured softly to himself but he couldn’t quite make himself believe it.

Chapter Text

Jensen came to tied to a chair, a gag over his mouth. He tried to move his arms instinctively and found that he couldn’t. His eyes widened in alarm and his heart reverberated with fear as he realized he couldn’t see. Wherever he was, it was dark as fuck.

Oh God, what’s happening?

He began to struggle in earnest. The chair he was sitting on didn’t move an inch even though he was literally jerking his entire body from side to side.

It must be nailed to the floor.

He began to hyperventilate, fear taking him over. He tried to shout for help but no coherent words could get past the gag in his mouth. Suddenly a light went on overhead and he froze, looking around him. He was in some kind of basement.

Three people stood at the doorway above him. Two of them were his height or taller, one was fairly short. They had animal masks over their faces. They also wore long sleeved shirts, cargo pants, boots and gloves over their hands. He could not tell their age, race or even sex if he was honest. They climbed down the flight, the tallest in front followed by the short one and then the other tall one.

They all came to a stop in front of him, regarding him silently.

He looked from one to the other to the next, pleading to be let go with his eyes. He couldn’t even remember how he’d gotten  here. The last thing he remembered was sitting on his deck, smoking a blunt.

He waited to see what they would do, while he thought frantically about how much money he could put together quickly. He hadn’t really thought of himself as rich enough to be a candidate for kidnapping but obviously, he’d been wrong.

One of the taller people lifted his hand and pointed at him. “You’re much prettier in person.” he said. His voice was deep and undisguised, and his shoulders were broad and muscled. Jensen just blinked at him.

“The evil ones always are.” The short one said, his voice higher but also male sounding.

“Where do you want to start?” the third one asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe cut off his dick since he’s probably too tight assed to get much use of it.” The first one said.

The other two laughed. Jensen tensed.

Why are they talking like they know me? Or like I did something to them?

“His dick is probably what makes him a dick.” The short one said and they all laughed again.

“So?” the third one raised his hand…in which he held a gleamingly sharp knife. “We cut it off?”

Jensen screamed in protest behind his gag and started to struggle again, in earnest.

“What? Did you say something?” the short one said, putting a gloved hand to his invisible ear. Then he reached out and took the gag from Jensen’s mouth.

Jensen exhaled in relief. “Please, I have money. Let me go and-”

“Typical asshole,” the tallest one interrupted, “Always thinks money can solve anything.” The contempt in his voice was palpable.

Jensen took a deep breath. “Look, whatever  I did. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah…you’re gonna be.” The other tall guy said and he sounded like he meant it.

The middle guy put the gag back on Jensen and they all walked out, turning out the light and shutting the door behind them. Jensen was panting with fear. It was worse than he imagined. These people had a personal vendetta against him. The worst thing was he could not begin to guess who they were. As a lawyer, he dealt with torts and contracts and as cutthroat as that world was, if a disgruntled client wanted to deal with him, this would not be how they’d go about it.

God, what am I going to do?

The only bit of consolation he could think of was that once Addison came home and found he wasn’t there, she would call the authorities. Or perhaps when he failed to come into work, they might ask for a wellness check. He could only pray so. He didn’t want to think about the fact that aside from his daughter and his job, no one else would notice his absence.

Jared woke up late, and then proceeded to stare at the ceiling for half an hour, just wallowing in his situation. He knew he should get up and go…do something about his employment situation, about the state of his apartment, maybe take a shower…but when he thought about having to explain why he was fired from his last job, all the remaining energy in his body drained away.

Harris had finally called, after a week of silence to say that she was sorry about what had happened to him and she was ashamed but also scared if she spoke up, she’d be next. And that made her more ashamed. Jared had ended up comforting her about how badly she was processing everything that had happened to him. It just made him feel more tired.

“This is some fucked up shit.” He whispered to himself.

A banging on his front door made him jerk in startlement, his heart skipping a beat.

“Jar man!” Chad called from the other side of his door, “Open up. I got a present for you.”

Jared huffed, shaking his head before dragging himself out of bed. Chad had been flitting in and out of his apartment all week, trying to ‘cheer him up’. He wasn’t very good at it, but Jared appreciated the effort. Of all his friends, he hadn’t expected Chad to be the one who was most concerned.

Anson and Dick had also dropped by, and Anson had stocked his fridge with ‘depression food’. Ice cream, frozen pizza, apple pie, chocolate cake and lots and lots of drinks from water to an assortment of alcoholic beverages. At least Jared hadn’t had to worry about buying food or drink for a week.

Dick had offered to find something for him to do at Harry’s. Jared was grateful, but he wasn’t yet ready to face the world. Or to explain why he had gone from being a teacher to working in a gay bar.

Too many people knew him at Harry’s.

He opened the door and stared at a grinning Chad. “It’s too early.” He said.

Chad’s grin widened. “What? You’re not letting me in?”

Jared sighed and stepped aside to Chad could enter his apartment. “So, I kinda have a surprise for you.”

Jared cocked an eyebrow. “What is it?”

“Okay so the Speightster, Anson and I were talking and we were just saying what a downer you’ve been since you lost your job and how obvious it is that your heart is broken.”

Jared rolled his eyes. “Thanks for telling me about how you’re talking about me behind my back.”

“No, you don’t get it. We were just wondering what we could do to make it better and then Anson said, ‘what if we could get him his job back?’ and Dick and I were like how?”

Jared stared at Chad, waiting for him to continue but Chad just continued to look at him. He cocked his head to the side, “So, what did he say?” he finally asked.

“Well…it was kinda my idea? But Dick and Anz were good with it.”

“What idea?” Jared felt foreboding. He had a bad feeling about this idea.

“Well…” he moved his head from side to side, “We thought, what if we could get this republican to change his mind and withdraw his objections to your teaching at that school?”

Jared snorted. “Yeah, good luck with that.”

Chad grimaced. “Well….”

Jared frowned at him, “What Chad?”

Chad sighed, “I’m only telling you this because Anson insisted. He said we can’t proceed to phase two if you weren’t on board.”

“What do you mean phase two?” Jared’s heart sank with fear. What had his friends done?

Chad shrugged. “Torture.”

Jared’s eyes bugged out of his head. “I beg your pardon?”

“Phase two is torture.”

“What was phase one?” Jared squeaked in horror.

Chad gave him a reluctant look.

“Chad!” Jared insisted.

“Ugh, fine. Phase one was kidnapping.” He said grumpily.

Jared gaped at him in disbelief. “Sorry, what?”

Chad shrugged sulkily, looking away. “We got that republican bound and gagged and sitting in Anson’s basement.”

Jared jaw dropped. He could not believe the words he was hearing. “You…what?”

“We kidnapped Jensen.”

“Fuck.” Jared whispered.

Chapter Text

Jared paced up and down the door to the basement while his three friends watched him with trepidation.

“Fuck.” He said as he reached the wall and turned. “Fuck.” He said again, as he reached the other wall.

“Jared?” Anson said tentatively and Jared held up his hand, for silence.

He needed to think of a way to get himself and his friends out of this extremely ill advised hole they’d dug themselves into. He stopped pacing to look at the three of them. “So you say he’s tied up in that basement?”

“Yes.” Dick replied.

He took a deep breath. “Okay. I’m going in.” he reached for the door handle but Chad leapt forward to stop him. “You’re not properly dressed.” He hissed urgently.

Jared frowned. “What does that mean?”

Anson held out the head of a moose. “Put this on.”

Jared frowned at it.

“And these.” Dick held out some black gloves.

Jared regarded his three friends. “Okay so once this is over, y’all are going to tell me who exactly you are and how you know so much about kidnapping and torture.”

“Yeah. Okay but first…” Dick shook the gloves at him. Jared took them and put them on. With his plaid shirt, jeans and boots, he was now totally covered. Once he put on the moose  head, nobody would be able to identify him. He tensed as he put the head on, thinking that it would be suffocating but realized that it was very breathable, full of tiny holes that let in plenty of air. With a deep breath, he opened the door and made his way down the stairs.

He could see Jensen sitting in the middle of the room, tied to a chair, a gag in his mouth. He was staring at Jared with wide eyes as he came down the stairs. His eyes never left him even as Jared came to a stop in front of Jensen.

He cleared his throat. “Um so, are you okay?” he asked.

Jensen just stared at him and Jared realized he couldn’t answer because of the gag.

“Oops, sorry.” He reached over and pulled it out of Jensen’s mouth. “better?”

Jensen moved his mouth around as if loosening the muscles. The first word out of Jensen’s mouth tho, had him freezing in shock.

“Jared?”

“How did-?” Jared cut him off before he could ask the question in full.

Jensen’s eyes raked his frame. “I’d know that body anywhere.” He said before his eyes widened in shock as if he hadn’t intended to say that.

Jared reached for his moose mask and took it off. He looked Jensen in the eye. “So now what?”

Jensen blinked at him. “This is about your job?”

Jared shrugged.

“Are you going to let me go?”

Jared shrugged again. “That depends. What will you do if we let you go?”

“Nothing, I swear. I won’t tell anyone.”

Jared snorted, looking away. “Yeah okay.”

“Jared? I mean it. I regretted what I did as soon as it was done. Hey! Hey!” he insisted as Jared looked anywhere but at him. Jared turned his head, to look back at Jensen. The other man’s green eyes shone as his gaze bored into Jared. “I’m sorry.”

Jared huffed, his mouth turning down. “What does that even mean? Never have two words been more useless in any language.”

“What do you want from me? Just tell me.” Jensen said intently.

Jared looked down at his moose mask. He lifted it and put it back on his head before stuffing the gag back in Jensen’s mouth and walking slowly up the stairs. He closed the door behind him and faced his three friends who were waiting for him. “He’s going to turn us all in the minute he’s loose and he recognized me even with the mask on.” He said.

Chad stepped forward, his face serious. “I’m not going to ask you what you want done. I won’t put that on you. You can walk out the door and you’ll never have to know anything else that happens here.”

Jared considered him for a while. “You said the next step is…torture?”

Chad nodded.

Jared bit his bottom lip thoughtfully. “You’re going to…make him do what what you want?”

Chad nodded.

Jared sighed before straightening up and moving away from the door. He put down the mask and the gloves before turning back to his three friends. “Make sure he doesn’t talk.” He said before heading to the front door.

Chapter Text

Jared woke up the next morning feeling energetic and full of enthusiasm. He got in his sweats and left the house to go jogging, reveling in the early morning coolness that would soon dissipate. He couldn’t believe how much zest for life he had. After he got back home, and had a hot shower and a smoothie, he set out to the library.

It was time to find out if Shelby had a position for him and maybe send out some resumes. It was time to come out of hiding and live again. The bigoted actions of one man should not cause him to withdraw, turtle and disappear from life.

No one should have that kind of power over me.

His good mood lasted until mid-morning. Shelby had asked him to bring in his resume and an application letter and he’d sent a few off to jobs he found on LinkedIn. Now, sitting in a coffee shop, eating a beef sandwich and a drinking an iced tea, everything that had happened seemed to fall over him like a large bucket of cold water leaving him shivering and hunched in on himself in misery.

What is happening to my life??

Jensen was shaking and shivering, his body and mind in shock. Whoever the men in masks were, they knew what they were about when it came to inflicting pain. He knew that none of them were Jared – even with the masks, he could tell that Jared’s tall, broad shouldered, long-legged body wasn’t one of them.

But he left me to their mercy.

For some reason, he felt quite hurt about that. After everything Addy had said about him, Jensen hadn’t expected him to be the kind of guy who would leave another man in the lurch like this. He could acknowledge his hypocrisy. After all, as the other three men kept telling him, he was responsible for losing Jared his job and possibly tanking his reputation. They were very eager to tell him that he’d broken Jared’s heart and that they intended to extract the pain of that from Jensen’s flesh.

He was a little envious of the fact that Jared had friends who would risk it all for him. He could certainly understand why. If Jared loved him, even as a friend, he might be willing to do unspeakable things for him too.

Now where the fuck did that thought come from?

Jensen could not believe he was sitting tied to a chair, his pants stained with his piss, his arms bleeding from the strategic cuts the second tall one had inflicted on him…and thinking how he could understand why someone would do this for Jared.

It was utter madness.

He was getting tired of the gag. His mouth was so dry due to his soundless screaming and the fact that all his saliva was being absorbed by the cloth in his mouth. He just wanted to be able to close his mouth and swallow. He felt light headed, realizing he hadn’t eaten since he was abducted.

He heard voices at the top of the stairs and tensed. Were they coming to continue torturing him? God he hoped not. If they took his gag off, he would promise to do whatever they wanted if they would just stop.

“How’s it going?” Jared asked, eyeing Chad’s bloodstained shirt with trepidation.

“Oh, he’s good and broken. Now the training can begin.”

He stared at Chad, the look of satisfaction and determination on his face so very foreign to the goofy neighbor he knew.

“Who are you really, Chad?” he asked.

Chad laughed and then shook his head. “I’m your neighbor and your friend who barges into your house at all hours and eats you out of house and home.”

Jared narrowed his eyes at the guy.  “Yeah? And what else?”

Chad just smiled. “That’s all Jarhead. Now, who’s hungry?”

Anson raised his hand. “Me.”

Jared looked at the three of them with something like awe. They were literally risking their livelihoods and freedoms on his behalf. He had no words.

Dick picked up his keys. “Right. Lunch is on me. How does barbecue sound?” he asked, heading to the door.

“Fucking perfect.” Chad said, taking off his shirt and throwing it into the fireplace where a small fire was merrily burning.

Jared took a deep breath. “I think before we go any further, I need to talk to him. Like…really talk.”

Chad nodded slowly. “Yeah…okay. If that’s what you want.”

Jared nodded. “I need to.”

“Fine,” Chad gestured towards the door to the basement, “Be my guest.”

Jared nodded. “Okay then. I’m going in.”

Chad grinned. “Go get em tiger.”

Jared didn’t bother with the mask. Jensen already knew who he was anyway. He descended the stairs slowly, as Jensen watched him, a weary look in his eye. His face had a cut at the eyebrow which was still bleeding and one eye was swollen shut. His hair was pointing every which way and his shirt was a ruin.

There was a burn mark on his naked foot.

Jared winced. “Ch- I mean, they really worked you over huh?”

Jensen just blinked at him.

Jared reached for the chair standing next to the wall and pulled it closer. He swung it around so that the back of the chair was facing Jensen. Then leaning forward, he snatched the gag out of Jensen’s mouth before swinging his leg over the chair and sitting down.

He sighed. “We need to talk.”

Jensen just looked at him, moving his mouth about to bring some feeling back into it.

Jared leaned forward a little. “Why did you do it? What was it that I did to you, that made you campaign to get me fired?”

Jensen looked down into his lap.

Jared waited for an answer as the silence stretched out uncomfortably. “Look man, you gotta give me something. Tell me why and I’ll tell the guys to set you free. I’ll take whatever’s coming for me if you just tell me why. Was it something that I did?”

Jensen expelled a loud breath, still looking in his lap. “You…” he shrugged, “I don’t know. I guess I could see the influence you had on my daughter and…I didn’t want that.”

“You got me fired for influencing your daughter?”

“Not just that. I…saw you at that bar with your heels and the make up and the mesh shirt. All the men were looking at you. You knew what you were doing. Tempting them. Making them think….”

Jared frowned at Jensen. “Did you just slut shame me?” he asked in disbelief.

Jensen snorted. “I don’t care for that woke language. What even does slut shame mean? You were acting like a slut!” finally he looked up at Jared, his eyes accusing.

Jared stared back at him, wide eyed. “You’re crazy.” He said.

“Crazy? Why? Because I have eyes in my head? I saw you. Tossing your hair around, laughing loudly while every man in your vicinity hung on your every word. It was impossible not to notice you!”

Jared narrowed his eyes. “And that’s why you got me fired? Because you noticed me?”

“No. I…it…I…You’re obviously…” he seemed to be at a loss for words.

A realization hit Jared and his eyes widened even further. “You like me.” He said.

“What? No!” Jensen squeaked. “Why would I like you?”

“That’s why you got me fired. Because you like me.” Jared said with certainty. He gave Jensen a piercing gaze, “I mean clearly you’re not out. What? Was I a threat to your carefully curated life, Jensen? Did I disrupt your idea of who you were? Did I awaken you?”

Jensen stared at him with desperate eyes. “Now who’s talking crazy?”

“Not me. I’m just drawing the logical conclusion. You saw me at Harry’s. You noticed me. And then your daughter….talked about me? Or, no. It was the parent teacher conference! I remember how weird you were acting. Was I too much for you? Could you not stop thinking about me?”

Jensen just blinked at him, his bosom heaving. “Gen Cortese helped me!” he blurted, “You going to say she had a big gay crush on you too?”

Jared gave him a half smile. “I actually had to let Ms. Cortese down gently several times. She had trouble taking no for an answer.”

Jensen gaped at him as if Jared had dealt him some kind of blow.

Jared let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “So y’all motherfuckers actually got me fired because I was what? Your unrequited passions? God you’re both pathetic.”

He stood up, flinging the chair away and walked angrily out of the room, slamming the door behind him. He stormed into the living room, huffing with rage and began to pace up and down. Anson quirked an eyebrow at him. “What’s up? What’s got your knickers in a twist?”

Jared shook his head angrily. “These…people!”

“What about them?” Anson asked.

“Can you believe this shit? That man down there got me fired because he wanted in my pants. Can you believe that shit?” he pulled at his hair still pacing angrily.

Anson gave him a disbelieving look before he laughed. “Man, you are just too irresistible. Living rent free in everyone’s head. Too fine for your own good.”

Jared pointed at him, “Do not even joke about this Anson.”

“Apparently it’s not a joke.” He stood up, walking up to Jared to put a hand on his shoulder so as to slow down his pacing. “So now what? I’m thinking we clean him up, give him a few days to pretty up and then we record a video of him declaring how he got a man fired because he had the hots for him.”

Jared snorted. “Yeah, like he would agree to that.”

“We have the carrot and the stick. The carrot is if he records it, we let him go. The stick is…Chad.”

Jared slowed down, considering Anson thoughtfully. “You think he’d go for it?”

“I think he would. He’s not that tough. And we tell him to shut the fuck up about what happened here or we’ll release the video.”

Jared cocked an eyebrow. “I did not know you were so diabolical Anson. You think you know a guy…well…guys.”

Anson laughed. “Hey, apparently people go to disturbing lengths for you. Just go with it. As soon as Chad and Dick get back, I’ll update them on the new plan. But for now, have a drink. You look like your brain literally wants to explode.”

Jared huffed in quiet laughter, “It does.”

Anson handed him a whisky. “Drink up. Everything’s going to be fine.”

Chapter Text

“Dad!” Addison ran to him, throwing herself into his arms. “Where have you been?”

He embraced her tightly, burying his face in her hair and breathing her in. He was exhausted but so very glad to be home. “It’s a long story.”

She stepped back to look him in the face, her eyes narrowed. “What happened to you?”

I was kidnapped, tortured, blackmailed and released.

He forced a smile. “I’ll tell you, I promise. But for now, do you mind if I jump in the shower? I feel filthy.”

She wrinkled her nose teasingly. “You smell it too.”

“Oh ha-ha.” He said drily before releasing her and stepping away. “I’ll be right back.”

He shuffled off, feeling her eyes on him as he walked away. Jared had lent him some jeans and a shirt when he and his friends finally released Jensen. The friends had remained out of sight as soon as he was set free, letting Jared deal with him. So he still did not know what any of them looked like.

Even if he had, there was no way he could tell anyone what they’d done.

Can I?

There was no way he could without exposing things about himself he’d worked so hard to push away. He turned the shower to the hottest it could go and then stood still, letting the water slew over him as he thought about his life. He couldn’t help but be embarrassed about what happened, what those people had on him.

As soon as he left the shower, he grabbed his phone, which he’d left on his bedside table. He picked it up and clicked it on; battery was on 5%.

“Go figure.” He murmured grumpily. He’d been gone for god knew how long and nobody had found his goddamned phone or even notified the police of his absence.

A wave of loneliness swept over him and he flopped down onto his bed with a loud exhalation of breath. The smell of cooking meat came to him and he realized that Addison was out there, cooking for him while she waited for him to explain himself.

What will I say?

He had to think of something before he went to face her.

Jared was restless. He’d received a reply from Shelby. She was pleased to welcome him to head the research section and to organize and lead some of the public events held at the library. (Honestly it’s a relief – she wrote – having someone to shift that load to). The job was full time but Jared still needed supplemental income if he was to live, so he was still applying around for research gigs he could do concurrently.

He'd been on his laptop all morning, trying to do applications but his mind kept wandering to Jensen – wondering how he was doing and what he was up to. The man had done a misguided thing but Jared got it. He’d grown up in Texas, he knew the pressures of being outside of the norm in a society in which conformity was a religion.

If he had been any better at pretending, he might have gone the route Jensen did too. But by the time he was thirteen, his family had already accepted that he was queer. What with the ballet lessons and playing dolls with his sister and the fact that he never looked back when the girls looked at him. He never had a chance to hide it.

Maybe I can help him.

He stared at his phone, struggling with himself. He was very likely the last person Jensen wanted to hear from. But for the sake of his conscience, he had to try.

He picked up his phone and took a deep breath. “Time to send a risky text.”

Hey Jensen, how are you doing?

He stared at the text in disbelief. He had Jared’s number from the file Steve had compiled on him. For some reason, he had not deleted it once he got Jared fired. Seeing a message from the man had literally stopped him in his tracks – he’d been on a fast walk, having taken some official time off from work to reevaluate his life.

He hadn’t really been getting anywhere. Addison kept at him, trying to make him talk about his ‘time away’ as he’d put it to her, but other than her, no one else really seemed to have noted his absence.

It’s par for the course.

He tried to tell himself.

This is normal. Everyone’s wrestling with their own demons. They don’t have time to think about you.

Intellectually, it was a sound argument, but he still felt very much alone and unloved which was ironic because he’d never ever thought about being loved before. He’d locked all that in a drawer at the back of his mind ever since…ever since.

But now he could feel the restlessness in his chest, the agitation, the dissatisfaction with what his life had become.

Hence the long walk. He’d hoped to burn that shit out of him.

Then Jared texted.

What do you care?

He texted back and then stared at his message, his thumb hovering over the send button. He shook his head, and deleted it before staring at Jared’s text again. He clicked on the keyboard.

Can we talk?

He wrote slowly, and then let out the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. He stared at his phone, wondering what Jared would reply.

Jared is typing.

He stared at those words, his chest getting tighter and tighter for an interminable time. Then the message appeared and he gasped.

Sure.

He blinked a few times, not sure if he was hallucinating the word. “Are you sure?” he asked his phone but the iPhone 14 did not reply. He jogged a bit on the spot, trying to clear his head, before letting out a loud whooshing breath.

He lifted his phone and typed. Yes.

Jared’s eyebrows almost disappeared inside his hairline, and considering the size of his forehead, that was quite a feat. To say he was surprised would be the understatement of the century. His thumb hung over the reply icon, torn between sending a reply and just ignoring the text for now. He’d expected insults or a brusque, one word reply.

Not a request to talk.

He clicked out of his message app and called Jensen.

“Er, hi.” He said shakily when the other man answered.

“Hi.” Jensen said.

There was a short awkward, tense silence between them.

Jared waited with bated breath for Jensen to say something else.

He didn’t.

“So…” Jared said.

“Yes.” Jensen replied expectantly.

“You wanted to talk?”

“Uh….yeah.”

“Okay, so what did you want to talk about?”

“Can we…meet?”

“Meet?” Jared frowned, “Is this some trick?”

“No. I…I really want to meet with you. I need someone to talk to and…” he gave a bleak laugh, “you’re apparently the only one I can think of.”

Jared was silent for a long while. “You realize the irony of that, right?” he said at last.

Jensen sighed. “I do…so? Will you meet me?”

“You remember we still have that leverage against you, right?”

Jensen huffed, “This isn’t a trick Jared. I swear.”

“Fine. Let’s have coffee at Mozart’s. Your treat since I’m unemployed.”

Chapter Text

He took way too long finding something to wear.

“It’s not even a date. What am I doing?” he mumbled to himself as he held first the blue green shirt and then the black one up to the mirror, trying to find the right one to wear with his black Levis. He wished he could ask Addison for an opinion but they weren’t really on good terms yet and he didn’t want her asking too many questions.

He wasn’t ready to answer them.

He didn’t even know if he was ready to face them.

Still, he had to admit, he’d never felt more alive than he felt right now, getting ready to meet Jared Padalecki for a not-date at a coffee shop.

He decided on the blue green shirt. It was a hot day and black on black might just be too much. He chose a pair of black and white vans, no socks, to wear on his feet, grabbed his keys and left the house. Heart pounding, pits sweating, his breath coming short with nerves, he drove to the coffee shop.

“God, please don’t let me have a heart attack before we talk.” He murmured as he parked the car.

Taking a few calming breaths, he climbed out of the car. As he was walking to the shop, he spotted Jared, leaning against the counter, a huge grin on his face as he talked with a barista. Nobody seemed bothered about Jared taking up the guy’s time like that, especially not the barista in question. His ears were pink with pleasure as he grinned at Jared.

“Is everyone in love with him?” Jensen murmured incredulously to himself.

“Beg pardon?”

Jensen jumped, realizing that there was a woman behind him, pushing a stroller and watching him expectantly. He cleared his throat, blushing with embarrassment. Then he shook his head. “N-nothing.” He mumbled before hurrying away.

Jared caught sight of him and straightened up. The smile fell off his face, and he looked at Jensen with trepidation. Jensen came to a stop in front of him. “Hi.” He squeaked.

Jared swallowed, looking him over. “Uh, hi.”

Jensen looked around. “Um, where do you want to sit?”

Jared looked towards the glass doors, to the outside seating, which had a magnificent view of the lake. “It’s nice out. Let’s sit there.”

Jensen nodded. “Okay.”

Jensen seemed nervous. Jared couldn’t imagine why.

“So, what did you want to talk about?” he asked as Jamie brought them coffees.

“I er…I don’t know how to put this.” He gestured uselessly with his hands. “I…well, I was locked up in that basement for…I don’t even know how many days and no one missed me.”

Jared just stared at him. Jensen stared back. They sat in pregnant silence as the sounds of the coffee shop and people gallivanting out on the lake provided a sonic background to their little bubble.

“Okay…and?” Jared finally said.

“And well…it really made me look at myself. The person I am.” His head drooped, “So many years dedicated to hiding this one thing about myself has made me into….” He shook his head, still looking down, “This caricature of a person. It’s no wonder I’m close with no one. How can I be when I’m hiding the person I really am? I think you’re the person who sees me the clearest in this world. How fucked up is that?” He turned his head, looking out into the water.

Jared took a deep breath. “Shouldn’t this be the kind of thing you discuss with a shrink?”

Jensen gave him a bleak look. “I suppose?”

“So, why me?”

“I…” Jensen shrugged. “Okay to tell the truth, you’re kinda this larger than life figure to me. You seem to have it all figured out. You know who you are. You live out loud. I just…” he shook his head, his cheeks pinkening, “I guess I just wanted to touch the hem of your cloak.”

Jared shivered, “How…frighteningly religious.” He said.

Jensen huffed.

“And totally inaccurate. I’m an unemployed gay teacher living in Texas. I am as far from having it together as it’s possible to get.”

“You being unemployed is my fault. It’s down to me feeling threatened by you and frightened of the feelings you aroused in me. I’m taking steps to reverse that.”

Jared shook his head slowly. “I’m not sure I want it reversed. They were so quick to let go of me, maybe they don’t deserve me.”

“See!” Jensen pointed to him, “So self-assured! You know your worth. And…and…maybe the school doesn’t deserve you, but those kids need you. Please, don’t abandon them because us adults are assholes.”

Jared snorted. “You know how freaky it is to hear you say that?”

“You know how freaky it is to say it?”

“I’m not here to be your Yoda, Jensen, or your sensei or whatever. I don’t have time for that anyway, or the energy.”

“I know.” Jensen said softly, looking anywhere but at Jared. “Maybe that’s not what I want from you either.”

Jared cocked an eyebrow, playing with his cup of coffee. “So, what do you want?”

“I…” Jensen’s eyes widened, “I…want to come…out.”

Jared just blinked at him, waiting for him to finish the thought.

“I want to come out.” Jensen said again, more firmly, his shoulders straightening.

Jared raised his cup in a toast. “Then let me be the first to congratulate you.”

Jensen looked Jared in the eye. “I…don’t suppose you’d… agree to go on a date with me?”

Jared laughed, and then took a sip of his coffee. “No.”

Jensen nodded. “I deserve that.” He said dejectedly.

Jared stared at him disbelievingly. “You’re serious? You really wanna date me?”

Jensen slowly nodded.

“I promised myself I’d never be anyone’s experiment. You want this life? Go ahead and live it. But leave me out of it.”

Jensen nodded. “I’m thirty eight years old. I’ve spent every one of those thirty eight years fighting myself. To be able to let go, to just be myself, to make that decision….” He shook his head, “It’s a weight off my shoulders. It’s like I was drowning and now I’m not. I don’t want to wait another minute to start living. I’m not a child. I know how I feel. I know why I was compelled to destroy you and yet doing it felt like destroying myself. Because I was. I was trying to destroy that part of me that was in love with you. I know it might seem sudden to you, me asking you out. Like you were the first gay guy I saw. The truth is that you’re the only person I see. The only one I think about. The one I can’t stop thinking about.”

Jared blinked at him, totally gagged. “What about Addison?” his mouth said totally without his permission.

Jensen snorted, breaking the tension. “You know what I mean.”

“You can’t know you’re in love with me. That’s just…” he shrugged. “Hero worship. You don’t know me.”

“Yeah. Maybe. But your friends kidnapped me and we spent some time together and you threatened me, blackmailed me… honestly, I feel like hero worship would have dissipated at this point.”

Jared stared at him, stymied. Jensen stared back at him. They both burst out laughing.

“Oh my god,” Jared wheezed, “this is so silly.”

Jensen shrugged. “I guess it is.”

Jared sighed. “This could never work.”

“I’m not hearing you say you don’t want me.” Jensen challenged.

Jared gagged, spluttered, and choked on his own spit. He was flabbergasted to find that Jensen was right. He hadn’t said that. He didn’t even think of it. He was caught up in the semantics of dating Jensen, the obstacles in their path, and not…lack of interest.

“Fuck.” He said.

Chapter Text

“Oh. My. God, what a plot twist.” Jared knocked his forehead on the surface of the bar, repeatedly.

Chad laughed. “I think we all pretty much took for granted that he had the hots for you, didn’t we?”

“Yeah, but…I wasn’t supposed to…” Jared trailed off, unable to say it.

“Fall for him?” Anson asked, rubbing his back consolingly.

“Ugh, don’t even say it.”

“There there.” Dick said, “Come on, raise your head, have a sip of this Irish beer. You’ll feel better.”

“I don’t wanna.” Jared whined. “What the fuck is wrong with me? Am I a glutton for punishment?”

“Look.” Chad said, “We’ve all seen this Jensen guy. He’s hot in a very tight assed, white guy way. And he just up and vomited his feelings all over you? You know you’re susceptible to that shit you romantic bugger you.”

Jared groaned again. “I don’t want to be.”

“Well you are. And hey, no one here is judging you for it. We all knew you had a big soft heart. And hey, if anyone was put through what we put Jensen through and still feels like he wants to be with you, I say you give him the chance.”

Jared lifted his head, to gawp at Chad. He frowned. “When did you become the wise one?”

Chad grinned, clapping him on the shoulder. “Don’t get used to it.”

“Hi.” All four of them turned to find Jensen standing a few steps away. “Hope I’m not intruding.”

Jared’s jaw dropped. “Are you stalking me?”

Jensen smiled. “Remember when I accused you of that?”

“Yeah well, you were crazy. I have legitimate concerns.”

Jensen huffed, “I’m not stalking you. I decided to come here on the off chance you were around since I don’t know where you live.”

“Why?”

Jensen looked at the other three. “I’m guessing y’all are my kidnappers?”

No one responded. They all just stared at Jensen.

He gave a wry smile. “Guess no one is incriminating themselves.”

Still, no one said a word.

Jensen took a deep breath. “Jared? Can I talk to you for a moment?”

Jared startled. He’d been so busy watching everyone’s reactions he’d forgotten that Jensen was likely here for him.

“Uh…okay.” He stood up, nodded to his three friends and went off with Jensen to find a booth.

“Do you want a drink?” Jensen asked.

“I’m good. Why are you here?”

Jensen cleared his throat nervously. “I realized how…unhinged I must have sounded this morning.”

Jared’s heart sank. “And now you’ve come to take it all back?”

“Sort of. I want to say that I realize your objections are valid. You probably can’t trust me and it’d be awkward at thanksgiving with me and your friends at the same table.”

“Wow, you already have us celebrating holidays together?”

Jensen shrugged. “I don’t like to do things half way.” He looked down at Jared’s hand, “your fingers, are long and delicate. You’d probably fit a medium ring. Emerald inlaid in silver to try and match the color of your eyes. We could travel to New York for the wedding. I know at least Addison would come. For you if not for me.”

Jared stared at him in stupefaction. “You’re quite the daydreamer huh?”

“I’ve spent years living in an alternate reality. It’s not hard to make the leap to another one.”

“Can you try living in real reality for five minutes?”

Jensen looked him in the eye. His eyes were sad. “Of course.”

Jared held up a finger. “One date. We’ll see how it goes.”

Jensen’s eyes lit up. “I promise, I’ll never let you down again.”

“Down boy.” Jared said. “It’s just a date, not a proposal.”

Jensen reached out slowly and took Jared’s hand. He raised it to his lips, his gaze holding Jared’s. He pressed his lips to Jared’s knuckles. “Not yet.” He whispered and smiled.