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Jensen looked down at the white, warmed porcelain cup into which dark, strong espresso dripped. The aroma of the freshly ground Arabica beans hit his nose and made the taste buds on the tip of his tongue rejoice. Only about 1,000 tons of Blue Mountain coffee, from a small plantation in Jamaica, are harvested each year; handpicked, stored in wooden barrels, and roasted directly on site. Jensen forked out $60 for each precious pound, but he didn’t care about the cost. Because if Jensen had anything, it was money.
Jensen took a sip of the divine beverage, letting the velvety texture of the roast glide over his tongue. He savored the last drop before placing the exquisite china cup on the matching saucer and walking to the floor-to-ceiling window of his office. High up on the fourteenth-floor, it granted him a breathtaking view of Austin's business district.
Jensen's gaze went down the straight lines of the streets below, watching. the turbulent traffic. Straight, structured, perfect–just like his life. With a filthy rich family, anything he wanted, he got it, regardless of the envy and malice of the less fortunate. His mother made it clear to him that money and influence were a privilege, and people who didn't want him and his family to enjoy their wealth were not worth dealing with. Jensen didn't care if he had friends. He had status. And with status, friends came naturally. All just as rich, shallow, and privileged as he was.
Only the disinterested unconcern with which his parents had regarded him all his life ever bothered him. Or at least, until the day he came out to them.
Alan, his father, barely looked up from his newspaper. His mother Donna looked her son up and down before replying in a bored tone, "Susan‘s son Damien is gay too, and he works for Gucci. Penelope, Cindy's daughter, is bisexual and works for Senator Gordon. Really, Jensen, don't act like you are someone special."
If there ever had been passion in Jensen's eyes, it went out that day.
From then on, all that mattered to Jensen was his luxurious, lavish, life of possessions.
Now he was a top-level executive at his parents’ oil company, doing as little work as possible for an obscene salary. Anything his eye alighted on, he bought.
There was a knock on his office door as Jensen finished his espresso. The door opened slowly.
"Mr. Ackles?"
Jensen smiled to himself, watching the reflection of his new personal assistant in the window. Jensen had personally selected him from a headhunter’s roster; the tall, broad-shouldered man was hardworking, polite, handsome, and had a smile that would grace an angel.
"Come in, Jared." Jensen turned slowly and smiled at the young man walking into his office with a heavy leather file under his arm.
Jared Padalecki.
The real kicker was that after a short time, Jensen realized that Jared was more than just a Texan T-bone steak. He and Jared harmonized perfectly. They shared the same kind of humor, and rooted for the Dallas Cowboys. When he and Jared sat at Jensen’s in the evenings, desk littered with Chinese takeaway, and talked about a successful day, Jensen truly enjoyed Jared's presence. Besides Steve, Jared became the only person Jensen trusted. And unlike Steve, Jared was the only man who sparked a deeper interest in Jensen.
With that interest in mind, Jensen discreetly asked Steve to do a backround check on Jared. Jared lived alone, in a small but adequate apartment downtown. He had a taste for Chinese and Mexican food, he donated once a month to the Austin Animal Shelter, and he was gay. According to Jared's neighbors, his last relationship had been more than eight months ago.
Jensen put the cup back next to the coffee maker and strode to his large mahogany desk. He pulled back the leather chair and sat down.
"You still have to sign the protocol from your meeting with Denver, you have a video conference with Richard and Timothy at three, and your mom has called twice asking for a call back." Jared stuck the yellow post-it note with "Call your mom!" on Jensen's phone. He unfolded the heavy leather folder in front of Jensen and placed the papers in front of him for him to sign. Jensen took in Jared's cologne, woodsy and fresh, and he looked up into Jared's face.
"Thank you," he smiled at Jared, but he noticed how Jared kept his distance.
At first, Jared had seemed to respond to Jensen's flirting attempts. He had accepted the gold key ring embossed with a J for his office key at that time. Jared had also commented on the Louis Vuitton Filofax Jensen had gifted him with on his birthday as excessive, but still used it. But when Jensen had invited him to dinner, Jared declined.
Jensen did not understand the rejection. His reaction was to present an even more expensive gift; VIP tickets for the Cowboys, Valentino sunglasses that Jensen had flown in from Milan, a sinfully expensive Rolex Submariner. Jared put each gift back on Jensen's desk the next day.
Jensen walked in one day to hear Jared talking to his niece on the phone. Apparently she was turning ten, and her fondest wish was for a horse. Not twenty minutes after the phone call, Jared strode into Jensen's office.
"Jensen, promise me there won't be a horse at my niece's birthday party tomorrow."
Jensen glanced over the edge of his open laptop. "Excuse me?" he asked innocently.
Jared drew himself up, not really angry, more exasperated.
"I know you overheard my conversation, but the last thing I need is to have to explain to my sister that she now has a horse in her backyard because my boss won't accept that I'm not going out with him." Jared rubs the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger.
"Then why don't you just go out with me, or am I such an unattractive companion?" asked Jensen with his most charming smile on his face.
Jared lowered his hand and looked directly at Jensen. God, what Jensen would give to feel that intense gaze on him while Jared lay naked beneath him.
"Jensen."
Jensen discarded his lustful thoughts and tried to focus on Jared's words.
"When I first applied, did you hire me because of my qualifications? Or did you just want a pretty trophy for your front office?" Jared’s voice was tense.
Jensen leaned back in his chair. He hoped Jared would realize how serious his next words were. "Jared, I can assure you that although you are certainly attractive, that was not the main reason I hired you."
"Then please respect that I value you as a boss, but I will not be your…mistress."
Jensen wondered why Jared chose that word. Never would Jensen have thought of keeping Jared hidden as a lover, disparaged as his assistant. But Jared’s firm tone and forthright gaze made it clear to Jensen that it was to give up.
"I understand. I promise you, from now on no more expensive gifts, and I won't ask you out again."
Jared’s face relaxed in relief. "Thank you, Jensen."
Jensen learned two things that night–sometimes in life you don't get everything you want, no matter how much you want it, and it costs $1,600 to cancel the purchase of a pony.
***
After signing all the paperwork Jared had brought in, Jensen folded the heavy notebook closed and handed it back to Jared. Their fingers touched for a moment and Jensen was sure he wasn't the only one who felt a tingle. But if Jared felt it too, he didn't let on. He simply smiled kindly at Jensen before walking out to his desk outside of Jensen's office.
When Jensen left his office at five, he turned up the collar of his beige cashmere coat and walked to his black Mercedes-AMG GT. He pressed the start button on the sports car and listened to the powerful engine purr.
Jensen steered the car out of the parking garage and was about to search for a suitable song on the radio when his eyes fell on Jared's silver Honda CR-V. Jared had left the office half an hour before him, so Jensen wondered why his car was still there.
Then Jensen saw Jared striding along the row of cars, running a hand through his hair and making an obviously annoyed phone call.
Jensen pressed the button for his side window. "You all right?" he called through the open window, and Jared turned around. He paced to Jensen's window and put a hand on the car.
"My car won't start, and AAA can't tell me when they can bring a service car by."
"That sucks. Want me to give them a call?"
Jared shook his head. "Thanks, I think they're just overloaded right now."
Jensen could have countered that a call from a Premier member might well carry a different weight. But there was something else in Jared's expression. Jared bit his lower lip and glanced at his watch for the second time.
"Are you missing a date right now?" Jensen hoped his words sounded as cool as possible.
Jared seemed to be weighing his answer, which only triggered more crazy thoughts in Jensen. Was there really a man in Jared's life? How much would Jensen have to pay this man to get him out of town, or better yet, out of the States?
"It's not a date," Jared finally replied, and Jensen was grateful that his 'How to ship Jared's mystery boyfriend out of the country' fantasies were stopped for the time being. "But...I have an appointment that I hate to cancel."
"Then leave your car keys with the doorman out front, and I'll clear it with AAA that they should consider it a company car and repair it here, if possible. I'll drive you to your appointment, and then afterward you can take a cab back here and get your car."
Jared's fingers drummed on the Mercedes' car paint and Jensen wondered why he was still hesitating.
"Jared, I'm just offering to help. Nothing more." Jensen's seriousness seemed to convince Jared.
"Okay." Jared walked to his car and pulled a bag out of the trunk.
He got into the passenger side of the Mercedes and gave Jensen the address, which he typed into the Nav system.
They handed Jared's keys to Norman at the gate, explained the situation, and Jensen called AAA again from the road. As expected, Jensen's membership worked a small miracle and he was promised that someone would be at Jared's car within an hour. Jared snorted, but Jensen shrugged his shoulders.
"Hey, be glad it's working out so fast."
Jared bit his lip again. "Thanks."
Jensen looked over at Jared. Why couldn't Jared see that he really just wanted to help? Even though he understood by now that Jared was rejecting his gifts and his attempts at flirtation, Jensen still wondered if there was something else standing between them.
Half an hour later, Jensen steered the Mercedes into the parking lot of the Austin Animal Shelter. Curious, he checked the address and glanced over at Jared.
Jared was nervously playing with the zipper on his bag.
"I volunteer here twice a week."
"Oh." Jensen tried to process the new information about Jared and wondered why Steve hadn't mentioned it.
Jared turned in his seat and looked at Jensen. He pointed to the nondescript building in front of him. "This place means the world to me. I beg you, please don't use this info against me."
Jensen snorted. "What do you mean?"
Jared's features softened. He dropped his head forward and hid his eyes under his long hair. "Sorry. That was disrespectful of me. You were just trying to help, but ..."
"But?" echoed Jensen.
"I was afraid you might do something stupid with that info, thinking you could talk me into a date. Please excuse me."
Jensen playfully rolled his eyes. "You needed help, I brought you here, that's it. No stupid ulterior motives."
Jared peeked out from under his bangs and a thousand butterflies danced inside Jensen at once. "Thank you."
Jared gave him another smile before opening the passenger door and climbing out.
Jensen waited until Jared had disappeared through the shelter door before using his car's voice controls.
"Call Steve."
***
"You're crazy." Steve's comment was short and to the point.
An hour after Jensen had dropped Jared off at the shelter, he was sitting in his living room with Steve, both of them holding a whiskey.
Jensen gave Steve a stubborn look. "I don't understand the problem."
Steve shook his head. "You can't just buy an animal shelter."
"Of course I can. I just want you to help me sort out the paperwork."
Jensen took a sip and ignored Steve's gaze resting on him.
"Jensen." Steve's warm tone finally made him look up. "What is it with you and Jared?"
Jensen swirled the golden-brown liquid in his glass. "I...I like him. And I don't know how to get him to give me a chance. I've tried everything, Steve. But every gift he rejected. Maybe with this, I can show him that I'm serious."
Steven smiled gently at Jensen. "By buying an entire animal shelter?"
Jensen shrugged. He felt transported back to the little boy who couldn't grasp why no one wanted to play with him.
Steve put the glass down and leaned forward slightly. His elbows rested on his thighs. "Jensen, do you know why I consider you one of my best friends?"
Jensen grinned over. "Because my orders bought you this fancy house?"
Steve's smile was saddened. "I knew you'd say that." He rubbed his palms together. "The night we were in that car accident? When they arrested us, I was really scared, you know. Neither of us knew what to expect, and Sheriff Mason tore us a new one. You were scared too, don't deny it."
Jensen nodded, thinking back to that night. He, Steve, and two other friends were drunk-driving and crashed Jensen’s car. Luckily, no one had been seriously injured.
"He kept asking you for the names of the other two in the car, but you kept quiet."
"I was the driver. The others weren't important." Jensen whispered.
"The other two ran away like cowards. You couldn't have given a shit if you blew the whistle on them and that might have left you alone in the sheriff's sights. But you stayed stubborn and so did I. I saw the real Jensen for the first time that evening. Not the one your parents want you to be."
Jensen swallowed. "What do you mean?"
Steve took a breath. "Jensen, you grew up thinking that money can buy everything. But you can't buy affection, real feelings, you have to earn them."
"You sound like a shrink."
Steve laughed out loud. "More like a friend. If you really care about Jared, show him that. And not by buying a shelter, but by spending time with him. Take an interest in him. Be there for him without ulterior motives and without the help of money. Show him the Jensen that I know."
Jensen let the words sink in for a moment. His mother's words stuck with him. ‘Anyone who doesn't like our money and status is not worthy of our time.’ He had clung to that as a boy. He never worried about rejection again because he didn't seek recognition in the first place. But it was different with Jared. For the first time, Jensen wanted someone to choose him. To know that Jared liked him for him and not his status.
"And what if he doesn't like that Jensen?" He whispered his biggest concern into the room.
Steve looked over at him. "That's a risk you'll have to take, Jensen."
***
Four days later, Jensen was again in front of the shelter. This time he came alone, but he spotted Jared's Honda in the parking lot.
Jensen stayed in the car and stared at the front door. What was he doing here? After Steve had finally convinced him that buying the shelter might have been overkill, he had another idea. And in his mind, the idea sounded great. Now, here on the spot, he had slight doubts.
Pull yourself together, Jensen. It can't be that hard. He got out of the car and went into the shelter.
From far away he heard the yapping of at least two dogs. In the anteroom was a small counter and a sign signaling that Jensen was there outside of office hours. A red door with a viewing window seemed to lead to the back rooms. It smelled of disinfectant, linoleum, and something musty. Jensen wrinkled his nose, then his eyes fell on countless pictures hanging on the wall. The sign above informed that these were animals now happily adopted with their new owners. As bleak as this small room seemed at first glance, it radiated hope.
The red door was pushed open and a familiar, tall figure came out. "Hey, sorry we're actually closed ...uh Jensen?" Jared stared at Jensen in disbelief. Jensen looked back at Jared with wide eyes as well.
Jared looked nothing like he did at work. He was wearing washed-out baggy jeans and a black Star Wars t-shirt that had been washed so many times you could barely make out the W. His hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, and Jensen's fingers twitched in anticipation of catching the wild strands that had escaped.
"Hi," Jensen replied, surprised at how nervous he sounded.
Jared's posture changed. If he seemed relaxed and at ease a moment ago, he now straightened up and crossed his arms in front of him. Obviously, Jensen's visit was suspicious to him.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
Jensen stepped from one foot to the other. Damn it, he had gone through this scenario in his head at least twenty times and had figured out exactly what he wanted to say. Now that he was facing Jared, his brain was just an empty shell.
"I want to help." That wasn't quite the speech he had prepared, but at least it was the gist of what he had to say.
“You want to help here at the shelter? Why?"
Because Steve forbade me to buy it, Jensen thought secretly, but he found his words again. "Jared, I'm not going to deny that I like you, okay? I want to spend time with you. And I want to show you that I'm more than just the snooty guy who sits behind his desk and signs contracts."
"Jensen," Jared began, but Jensen interrupted him.
“I want to help. I mean it. No quid pro quo."
Jared unfolded his arms. "You really want to help?"
"Yes."
"Like this?" Jared slid a glance over Jensen and raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Jensen glanced down at himself as well. He couldn’t find any official recommendation on what to wear to volunteer at a shelter. So Jensen had decided to wear a simple outfit; a white T-shirt with a black fleece jacket, and an older pair of jeans, which still emphasized his perky, round butt. And because he only owned slick tennis shoes or leather designer dress shoes, he went for a sturdy, waterproof alternative.
"They're rubber boots." Jensen clarified.
The corner of Jared's mouth lifted slightly.
"Jensen, they're Dolce and Gabbana rubber boots."
"But they're rubber boots." Jensen pouted, and this time Jared laughed out loud. Jensen couldn't remember ever seeing Jared laugh so heartily. His dimples were popping, and Jensen vowed to wear these stupid boots every day from now on if they could bring such joy to Jared's face.
Jared wiped a tear of laughter from his eye before becoming more serious again. "You really mean it, don't you?"
Jensen nodded.
Jared braced his hands on his hips. "I'm not going easy on you, Ackles. You're helping out completely. Those animals are depending on us. They're scared, some of them are traumatized or grieving for their old owners. You're going to respect them. And... you don't expect anything in return from me.“ With the last words, Jared's voice became quieter. And Jensen hurried to confirm Jared's conditions.
"You are the boss."
Jared's eyes flashed a diabolical joy. "Well, in that case, let's get right to work on the litter boxes, shall we?"
Jensen gulped. "Enjoying this a little too much, aren't you?"
"You have no idea." Jared's hazel eyes sparkled at Jensen, and Jensen's knees weakened.
***
They emptied cat litter boxes and washed out small bathtubs for parakeets. They cleaned out rabbit hutches and put new litter in hamster cages. They filled the food bowls for at least thirty dogs and were greeted with barking and furiously wagging tails. Only the tarantula was vetoed by Jensen. Seriously, who keeps a spider as a pet and then gives it to the shelter?
Two hours later, they took their first break. Jared got water for himself and Jensen from the fridge and Jensen quenched his thirst by emptying half the bottle.
"And...still motivated?" Jared asked, also putting the bottle to his lips. Jensen's answer took a moment because his eyes were fixed on Jared's lips with a single drop of water running down Jared's chin.
"I feel like I have muscles in my body that I used for the first time in my life." Jensen answered honestly, rubbing his shoulder.
The cats eyed Jensen like he was an alien. They immediately recognized that he was new, and it was as if they disapproved of his every action. A black tomcat named Muffin watched Jensen especially suspiciously.
"Don't worry about it," Jared placated. "He's suspicious of everyone, even me."
And Jensen understood what Jared meant by that. He knew Jared was a brilliant secretary, receptive and friendly. But here, Jared seemed to blossom. He called each animal by name. Each got a dose of petting or a kiss on the forehead (except for the tarantula, Jensen was relieved to notice).
At first Jensen was completely fascinated by Jared's muscular arms when he brought a bale of hay into the small animal enclosure, or the tight ass that stretched out towards Jensen when Jared bent down to put a kitten back into its enclosure, but more and more he was captivated by Jared's charisma.
If he hadn't felt feelings for this man before, now his heart was beating just for Jared. Jensen didn't know how to deal with the flood of new feelings.
"What are you thinking about, Ackles?" Jared asked him, and Jensen felt his cheeks turn red.
"About my bed," Jensen lied until he noticed that Jared was looking a little more reserved again. "The one I'm going to fall into when I get home, dead tired," Jensen added, now noticing Jared blushing in turn.
"Then let's make sure we're done soon, shall we?" Jared patted Jensen on the shoulder and he groaned as he got back to work.
At the end of the shift, Muffin wasn't really thrilled with Jensen's work, but he tolerated Jensen’s presence. Jensen was sure one of the puppies had peed on him. But the loud laugh coming from Jared's throat, coupled with the view of Jared's long, bare neck made up for it all. And the fact that Jensen had twice caught Jared secretly watching him (the jeans had been a good choice, after all) let Jensen drive home feeling elated.
And that's how they spent the next few weeks. From Monday to Friday, they were businessmen by day, in dapper suits and polished shoes. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, they hung up their suits in the locker room and became friends, with Van Halen t-shirts and holes in their jeans.
Jensen never felt more alive than in those hours. He began to remember the names of the fosters. He rejoiced over adopted animals and pasted pictures of new, happy owners on the wall.
Muffin had made a habit of following Jensen around, cat-like throughout his visit. "You really need to make sure I'm doing this right, huh?" The cat just meowed and sat down within staring distance.
"Muffin's owner died nine months ago. The kids couldn't or wouldn't take him. He's been here ever since, not really letting anyone get close to him."
"I don't blame him." Jensen winked at the cat, but he just stared back. "Amazing that no one wants such a beautiful animal."
"Black cats always have it harder, way too many stupid prejudices. And he's ten, so who would want an old cat when they can have a young animal?"
Muffin followed them to the door that went out into the cat house.
With the dogs, Jared was in his element, playing with them, giving them treats, and teaching them little tricks when time allowed. Watching him, Jensen began to approach even the big dogs with increasing love. At first he had some respect for them, but this gave way more and more to the satisfaction of getting a grateful look or a dog's nose nudging him when he wanted to stop scratching.
With a Great Dane he noticed that she limped slightly. He stroked her hind leg, looking for a callous, and began to slide the muscle strands along. He felt that Jared was watching him, but the dog had his full attention. Jensen felt the hardening loosen, and on the very next try, the dog seemed to walk more roundly.
Satisfied, Jensen straightened up, feeling Jared standing beside him.
"That was impressive," he commented.
Jensen avoided his gaze. "I used to be interested in that."
Jared raised a brow. "Did you want to be a veterinarian?"
Jensen laughed. "Oh no, that might have appealed to my mother. Similarly, I got interested in sports medicine, as a physical therapist."
"But that sounds great."
Jensen smiled wryly. "Not if your profession is to keep up on the golf course.
Jensen was going to the next dog when Jared held him back. "I think you should ask yourself who you want to make happy, Jensen. Your mother, or you. And the Jensen I see here? He's happy."
Jensen had kept his word for weeks, not once asking Jared out, not even making a lewd remark, but here and now, he couldn't resist. He ran his fingers over Jared's arm, his shoulders, his cheek. Jared's eyes were wide and questioning, and Jensen waited for a moment of objection. He ran his thumb over Jared's lower lip before tentatively reaching out to him. He felt the warmth of Jared's lips nearly on his until something strong bumped against his legs. Gunther, the fat St. Bernard, didn't want to wait any longer for his caresses. Impatiently, he nudged Jensen. Jensen regained his balance and Jared shyly turned away. The moment was over.
****
Three weeks had passed since then and Jensen couldn't stop thinking about that moment. Whenever he saw Jared, he remembered the feeling of Jared's lips so close to his and he was sure that he had seen the same desire in Jared's eyes. But there just wasn't a situation that would make a repetition possible. Muffin still accompanied Jensen's every step in the cat enclosure. Wherever Jensen went, Muffin followed him at a proper distance. Just before Christmas, all hell broke loose in the shelter. And although the employees were happy on the one hand when animals could be adopted, they checked out every interested person carefully before Christmas. Too many bad experiences had been made in the past.
Also in the company, Jensen still wanted to close all orders fast, before the Christmas season slowed down the transactions with overseas issues. Jensen felt himself going into the job more and more listless and bored. Several times he questioned his real purpose in the office and his real contribution. When he wasn't at the shelter or with Steve, he was searching the Internet for physical therapy classes. Jared had ignited a fire in him that he thought had been extinguished long ago.
On Thursday, three days before Christmas, Jensen arrived at the shelter late. Jared had already driven up and a call from Paris could not be postponed until the next day. Jensen slipped into his comfortable clothes, an old Led Zeppelin t-shirt he had dug out of his university box, and a pair of dark blue jeans, and went whistling to the cat house. He opened the door and looked for Muffin, but couldn't find him. "Muffin?" he called after the cat, searching the room. Has Muffin really been adopted? On the one hand Jensen was happy about the news, but on the other hand he would miss the stubborn cat. He pulled the door closed and looked for Jared. He found him at one of the dog kennels tightly cuddling a golden retriever.
"Hey, has Muffin been adopted out?" He asked Jared, but when Jared looked up at him, his breath caught. Jared's eyes were red; he had obviously been crying.
Jared's hands were incessantly cuddling the retriever, as if they needed something to do. "Jensen..." Jared began, but his voice wavered.
"What?" Jensen sank to his knees beside Jared and Jared began again.
"They found a tumor on Muffin and..."
"And what?" Jensen's heart began to beat wildly.
"Jensen, he's too old, the shelter has to weigh which animal is worth it..."
Jensen roared. "What do you mean weighing? Does that mean Muffin can’t have surgery?"
Jared tried to calm Jensen down. "The odds are 50/50 at most - an operation with anesthesia and further treatment will cost well over a thousand dollars. No shelter has that kind of money."
"But I do!" Jensen jumped up angrily and wiped away the tear that crept into his eye.
Jared let go of the retriever and slowly straightened up. He put his hand on Jensen's shoulder.
"You can't save them all, Jensen."
"But this one! Just because he's grumpy, or ...or because he doesn't open up to everyone right away, doesn't mean he doesn't deserve a chance. Just because he's different from the others doesn't mean he's a bad guy. He just needs to have someone believe in him, Jared. He...he just needs to learn to love again." Jensen didn't notice the tears streaming from his eyes. He looked at Jared's eyes, which looked at him with such care that Jensen could hardly bear it. "He just deserves a second chance ...please."
Jared nodded silently, unable to answer.
"Where is he?" Jensen pressed out.
Jared pointed ahead. "We put him in an adjoining room so Dr. Kent can come by later."
Jensen dried his face. "Nobody touches him, you understand?"
Jared nodded and stroked Jensen's arm. "Nobody's going to hurt him. I promise."
"Okay."
****
Ten hours later, Muffin was on Dr. Kent's operating table.
Jensen refused to leave the waiting room. He called his company and said he wouldn't be back today. When asked by the receptionist when he would be back at work, Jensen hesitated briefly, then curtly responded with "Never again."
His cell phone showed two missed calls from Jared, ten from his mother. And a message from his father telling Jensen to call his mother.
Despite the impending confrontation with his parents, Jensen felt a concrete slab had been taken off his chest. He texted Steve and asked him to do a net worth statement. Jensen knew the money from his trust fund and what he had earned until now was more than enough to live the rest of his life comfortably. If his parents threatened to disinherit him, he didn't care. From today on, he would go his own way.
Steve responded briefly with "Finally," and, "Say hi to Jared." Jensen smiled, then put the phone in his pocket. He didn't know where he stood with Jared. Jared shouldn't suffer from Jensen's leaving the company. If he didn't get hired in a new position there, Jensen would make sure that Jared would get the best references. Even if they parted ways now, he would always thank Jared for what he had changed in Jensen.
The door of the waiting room opened. Shortly after, someone sat down right next to Jensen, two cups of coffee in hand.
"Any news?" Jared asked, handing Jensen a cup.
Jensen looked at Jared and couldn't help but smile. "He's still in surgery. But the physician's assistant came out earlier and said it looks good."
Jared nodded with satisfaction.
"What are you doing here, Jared?" Jensen asked him.
"Bringing you coffee," Jared replied, winking at him.
Jensen sipped the still-warm beverage. He looked at Jared in wonder. "This is my coffee?"
Jared cleared his throat. "I took the liberty of packing your coffee maker, and your much-loved coffee."
"Thanks."
"Is it true you quit?"
Jensen nodded and drank his coffee.
"Your parents won't be thrilled."
"Then they'll finally have something to gossip about in their clubs. The black sheep of the family cut loose."
"I like black sheep," Jared whispered."There's something so unique about them."
Jensen stroked the rim of the cup with his thumb. "Jared, can I ask you a question?"
Jared hesitated briefly, then nodded.
Jensen glanced toward the room behind where Muffin was being operated on. "Why wouldn’t you go out with me? I know I might have overdone it at first, but ... "
Jared didn't answer for a long time, and Jensen was afraid he would never get an answer. But then Jared started to talk.
"I'm the first person in my family to graduate from a real university. I'm not saying that my siblings are any less great. They're fantastic, but I wanted more. I had two part-time jobs to pay for my studies. And I love my work. Numbers, coordinating, keeping track of things, that's what I do. I love working at the shelter for balance, but I'm proud of what I've accomplished."
"And you should be too. I know I would have been completely lost without you sometimes."
"Sometimes?" Jared teased, but then turned serious again. "I had several job offers, but the one at Ackles Oil allowed me to stay in Texas, closer to my family. And I felt we both clicked. There was something from the first moment that connected us."
Jensen turned around. "But I felt the same thing, why...?" Jared raised his hand and interrupted him.
"I can't and won't deny that I found you attractive, but I didn't want to risk my job that I had worked so hard to get."
Jensen continued to listen.
Jared ran his finger along the seam of his pants. "Then your mother came into the office. Unannounced."
Jensen thought back to that day, wondering what Jared meant, until it came back to him.
"You overheard our conversation?"
Jared pressed his lips together before opening them and saying softly, "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I heard my name and I couldn’t help myself.”.
Jensen remembered the moment like it was yesterday.
Donna Ackles’ visits were always the same: she announced herself in the morning, expected Jensen to immediately make time for her, complained about the traffic, the unfriendliness of the receptionist, and the weather. They drank a cup of coffee together, of which his mother drank only half, then she complained that next time Jensen absolutely must play a round of golf with his father before leaving as quickly as she came.
That was exactly how this particular visit began. As Jared served them both coffee, he winked at Jensen, whose heart did a little skip.
"Here you go Ma’am." Jared set the cup down in front of Donna, and she eyed Jared like he was cattle at an auction.
After Jared quietly walked out of the room, Donna commented with a smug smile, "Well, the qualities of your secretary are really not to be sneezed at. I just hope you remembered the confidentiality clause, Jensen. Don't let the little gelding think you have serious intentions. At least you can't get him pregnant."
Jensen stared at his mother in shock and hoped Jared hadn’t heard her words.
"Somebody's touchy," Donna mocked, and Jensen clenched his fists.
"How dare you talk that way about my assistant, Mother."
"Oh, please, like you and I both don't know why you picked him." Donna rolled her eyes. “The boy is sex on two legs. I do not begrudge you, at least you have taste.“
"I can assure you that Jared was chosen solely for his professional qualifications. Unlike you, I don't just value appearances."
"Oh, come on, Jensen. As if you ever cared about anything other than your looks, your prestige, and my money that you spend so freely."
Jensen stood up from his chair, placing his hands flat on the mahogany desk. "I think you should leave now."
Donna’s cup clinked as she abruptly set it down, clinking. She stood up and swung her purse strap over her shoulder. "I'll tell your father about this."
She turned and strode out on her stylish and expensive black pumps.
Jensen tried to talk to Jared later that day, but found the young man avoiding him.
"You kept your distance after that," Jensen noted. “I worried that you had overheard her. Subtlety is not her strong suit.”
Jared nodded. "I had already written my resignation, but ...then I couldn't. I didn't want what I had fought for to just be over. But I knew that if it was going to work, I could never be your bedtime snack."
Jensen put his hand over his eyes. "I never thought of you like that, Jared."
Jared bit his lower lip. "I know that now. I didn’t then, and had my pride, too."
Jensen thought about the past few weeks, how his life had changed, his perspective on his future. "I applied for a course to become a physical therapist," he said. "Guess from the spring on, I won't be a big shot anymore but just an ordinary student."
"You'll be great."
"What's going to happen to your job?" asked Jensen anxiously.
Jared brushed a strand of hair out of his face. "I got an offer today from a hard-working lawyer who's desperate for a capable assistant. I guess I'll give him a call."
Jensen took another loose strand of Jared's hair and wrapped it around his finger before tucking it behind Jared's ear.
"You should do that." Jensen's finger slid from Jared's ear under his chin."Jared?"
"Mmh?"
"Will you go out with me?"
Jared smiled mischievously, then opened a paper bag and pulled out two sandwiches. Jensen looked at him in irritation. Jared placed a sandwich next to Jensen's coffee.
"We have food, we have drinks..."
Jensen understood and grinned. "Best date ever."
Jared whispered against Jensen's lips. "Best date ever."
The kiss was gentle, lips pressed lightly against each other, with a melancholy feeling of what they had missed, and a promise of what lay ahead.
When their lips parted, Jensen held Jared close. One hand rested on Jared's cheek while the other sought Jared's hand. "Could you imagine spending Christmas with me? But I must warn you, as of today I have a rather fierce cat living with me who will get all of my attention."
Jared intertwined their fingers together. "Your full attention?" He asked while kissing Jensen again.
Jensen pulled his head back briefly and smiled at Jared.
"He'll have to learn to share."