Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Texas summers were always the worst. Hot, Humid, and the sun is burning into the pavement. The weather was always bipolar, too; one day, it was as bright as all hell, rain and hail the next day, and still over 100 degrees. Dell preferred the fall; it was never too cold, the snow didn't fall, and the sun didn't burn his skin. But one good thing about the summer? People his age always came around to help him and his father out on the farm. They were always down for a drink after work too.

Today was a typical day for Dell. He woke up, drank some coffee, and went to his workshop. His dad walked in just a few minutes later, knocking on the side of the door as he entered.

"Mornin', papa...," Dell says, not even looking up from his desk. He's been laser-focused on his latest blueprints for a new machine. He never incorporated his contraptions into his farm work; he kept them separate, like a man keeping a mistress.

"Tomorrow, we've got some help comin' down. The name was uh- Jane, I believe.'' Jane? They never had women come down to help them. 

"Oh yeah? Who is it?" he asked, still not paying attention to his father. 

"Jane, I said," he comes up behind Dell and smacks him over the back of the head. "C'mon, son, listen to me when I talk to you."

"Yeah... I meant, where's she from? She a local?" If she was local, he likely knew her, which made him feel a little better about it. Most women here were used to farm work and didn't make a big fuss about it.

"Naw, she uh... Saw the ad in the paper, I believe. She's from up north."

"Oh, really? Where up north?"

"Ohio, I think she said. She didn't say why she was down here, though."

"Hm... She a city girl?"

"Not sure, really. Didn't tell me much, actually. All she did was send in a letter that said she wanted the job," Dell's father says, patting him on the back and moving around to stand Beside him.

"Did you talk to her yet?" Dell asks, looking over to his father. "On the phone, I mean..."

"Nah, she said she Didn't have access to one," He said, pulling up a chair. "something to do with not havin' money for the payphone..."

"Hm, alright..." Dell says, still distracted by his latest engineering masterpiece.

"Boy, You better talk to her when she shows up! I need ya' to show her the ropes, Alright?" his father said, smacking him upside the head.

"I will; I will!" Dell says, still engrossed in his work.

"Tomorrow at noon, Alright?"

"Sure thing, sir!"

The next day, a bus pulled up to their farm. It was a rare sight since it didn't pass by there often. Dell knew it was the help they were bringing when the bus drove away. He was surprised to see a man on the other side of the road waving at him. It took him a few seconds to realize that the man was Jane, the person his father had hired. The man walked over, half-running across the road to meet Dell.

"Hello," the man salutes, half his face covered by a gray-green canvas hat. "Are you Fred?"

"That would be my father. The name's Dell," Dell replied, extending his hand to shake Jane's hand. The man was significantly taller than him. Then again, everyone was.

"Jane," the man, Jane smiles, shaking Dell's hand. Dell showed Jane around the farm, talking him through his daily chores. He was reticent and seemed to be taking it all in. He Didn't ask many questions, which worried Dell a little. He was used to overbearingly loud, happy, talkative people.

"You gotta get yourself acquainted with all the horses," Dell explained, leading Jane to one of the stalls. "They're real friendly, but they don't take kindly to strangers."

"Friendly?" Jane asks, looking over the horse. "They look pretty scary to me."

"You afraid of horses?" Dell asks, his voice teasing.

"Yes."

"What, you got somethin' against horses?"

"No! It's just that they're so," He tries to find the words "big..."

"I know," Dell laughs, "but they're docile once you get to know 'em. Come on, let's go feed 'em."

He enjoyed Jane's company, as he did most of the help that visited in the summers. Jane was more reserved, but Dell liked his calm attitude. He didn't have much to say, but it was interesting when he did. However, there was Something about Jane that seemed hidden. Beyond just the way he constantly covered his eyes with his hat and refused to make eye contact, beyond the fact that he never gave a reason as to why he was in town or even left Ohio, to begin with. 

But what seemed latent, hidden away, was his personality. His quiet nature and his passive attitude seemed like a mask, unnervingly ‘normal’ in comparison to his strange quirks, for example, Everything down to his posture seemed like that of a soldier's, straight back, puffed out chest, avoiding eye contact, and the unflinching way he took orders, even if he didn’t understand them. Dell didn't know what to make of it, but he didn't mind things he couldn't understand. It was like taking apart a machine to learn its inner workings. Dell gathered this all from just one day of showing him around the farm. He wasn't the most observant person, but he had a sixth sense about people, About how they thought and how they worked.He could look at someone and see how they ticked. However, he had trouble using this knowledge in interactions, especially when it came to social cues. That's why he preferred working with animals and machines, which were much easier to troubleshoot than human beings with their complex, unwritten rules.

Shaking off his thoughts, Dell led Jane inside to meet his father. The warm glow of the interior lights greeted them as they stepped through the door, and Dell's father looked up from his newspaper to greet them.

"Well... You must be Jane," Dell's father said, looking up at the taller man. "You uh... Don't quite match the mental image that I had of you, but uh... You'll do just fine." That was a nice way of saying he didn't look like a girl.

"Hi, I'm Jane," he says, shaking the man's hand.

"I'm Fred Conagher," the man smiles, "And I'm sure you're hungry. Why don't you sit at the table? Dinner will be ready soon." Fred smiles, motioning at the table as he gets up and enters the kitchen. Jane sat at the table, his hat still on. 

"You don't mind if I eat with you, do you?" Jane asked.

"Not at all," Mr. Conagher said, "so, how do you like the place?" Fred asked, pouring Jane a glass of water.

"It's very nice. It's very uh... Big." He looked down at the table the whole time, grabbing the cup and holding it close to him as if it were a shield. His hands were big and rough, like a working man's hands. Maybe he would fit in just fine. Dell removed his hat and set it on the coat rack beside the door.

"Y'gonna take your hat off, Jane?" Dell asks, pulling up a chair and sitting down beside him.

"Why?"

"Well, 'cause it's rude to wear your hat at the dinner table," Dell said, smiling slightly.

"why?" Jane asked again, turning his head slightly to Dell.

"Well, because it's a sign of respect, and-"

"Lay off, Dell," Fred said sternly, "why don't you take your hat off, Jane?" It was more of an order than a question, but Jane didn't see it that way.

"I don't like People looking at my eyes. Or the back of my head." The response alone surprised Fred into dropping the subject. Jane was strange… He made his own rules. At least, that's what he thought. Jane and Fred were both silent for the rest of dinner.

After dinner, Dell and Jane walked out to the porch, and Jane sat down on the steps and enjoyed the cool evening air. They didn't speak. Dell just looked at Jane... Analyzing him... Trying to figure him out.

"Hey, Dell?"

"Yeah?"

"Where am I going to sleep Tonight?"

Dell looked at Jane with a raised eyebrow. This was unexpected. He had not planned on having him stay in the house. The farmhands never really lodged at the house, so they never made it a point to have a guest room set up. In fact, they had long since converted the guest room into a junk room of sorts.

"Well... I ain't sure." Dell admitted, staring into the night sky. "You can sleep on the couch until we get another bed set up for ya'..."

"Can I sleep on the couch?"

"Yeah. Unless you want a cot in the barn, but I doubt that would be your preference."

"Thank you, Dell."

"Awh, it ain't nothin'," Dell smiled, waving a hand at Jane. "Least we can do for ya'." Jane went silent again, fidgeting with the laces on his boots. He didn't seem to know what to do with himself.

"Hey, Jane?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you want a beer?"

"I don't drink."

"You're lyin," Dell chuckled, sitting next to Jane on the steps.

"What? No, I'm not," Jane said, his voice rising a little. "Why would I-"

"Hey, Jane," Dell put his hand on Jane's shoulder, squeezing it. "I'm just messin' with ya'." Jane relaxed and took a deep breath. He looked at Dell and smiled but said nothing. "So, do you want a beer or not?"

Jane nodded in response.

"Great," Dell said, standing up and walking away from the porch and into the house.

When he returned, Jane was sitting just as he was when he left him. He handed Jane one of the bottles and sat down beside him again.

"So what brings you out here, huh?" Dell asks, taking a sip of his beer.

"I had to get out," Jane said softly. He was holding the neck of the bottle tightly.

"Out of what?"

"The house. Ohio. The-" his voice falters a little. "The shame..."

"The shame?"

"I don't feel like talking about it."

"Come on, Jane. You can tell me anything."

"I just met you."

"That's true." The conversation ended there. Dell didn't want to pry, and he was worried about what would happen if he did. He was starting to get an idea of Jane's past, though. Dell wished he could take back his question and erase the conversation. But he knew it couldn't be helped. Jane was strange.

Chapter Text

…But Dell found that he may be even stranger. They let Jane shower before bed just to let him freshen up a bit. When he heard a knock at his door, Dell had been sitting in his room at his desk, drawing up schematics for his latest invention. He found a wet, half-naked Jane before him when he opened it.

His eyes were glued to the floor, but his voice was clear and confident.

"hi, dell. Your father said you might have some clothes for me."

His tone was quick and monotone; his eyes locked on the floor. He had a towel wrapped around his waist, hanging loosely off his hips. His body was Tanned slightly, dirty blonde hair covering his chest and stomach, a trail leading from below his navel down to his-  Dell quickly forced himself to look away, feeling his face flush hot with embarrassment. The rush of blood to his ears only served to heighten his discomfort, leaving him feeling flustered and awkward in the man's presence. He swallowed thickly.

"Yeah, one second," he managed to say, clearing his throat. What the hell was wrong with him? He quickly rummaged through his drawers, finding some semblance of appropriate work clothing for Jane. Dell always had to buy clothes a bit too big on account of the fact that he had a broad, stocky build. All his clothes were too long, but they seemed to be just Jane's size. Jane still stood in the doorway, his fist gripping the towel and ensuring it was firmly in place. Dell's heart was beating so fast he thought it might burst.

"Thanks, Dell," Jane said, briefly flashing his eyes at him—a gray-blue meeting Dell's muddy green.

"You're welcome." Jane starts to walk away after Dell hands him the clothes, but Dell calls out to him. "Hey, Jane?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you look at me real quick? I want to make sure I got everything." Jane hesitantly looks up at Dell. He notices the wet, glistening skin of his chest. "I got everything. Night, Jane."

"Okay," Jane mumbled, walking down the stairs.

Dell felt sick to his stomach. He wanted to vomit. He turned away and quickly closed the door. He heard the latch click and rushed back to his desk. What the hell was wrong with him? Sure, he had seen men before. Shirtless, nude, all of it. He was a man, after all. He was used to the locker rooms and the showers. What made this any different? Maybe it was the fact that Jane let him see his face for the first time, completely. It was an intimate, bonding moment. It showed Jane trusted him a little, right? Dell didn't understand it.

He tried to focus back on his design, but he found he couldn't. His head was swimming. He grabbed his lighter and lit a cigarette, inhaling the smoke deeply. He flipped to a blank page in his sketchbook.

As he sat at his desk, Dell could feel the stiffness in his fingers as he struggled to draw something organic. His lines were rigid, and his shapes were blocky, starkly contrasting the fluid curves he was trying to capture. Despite his limitations, he persisted, pouring his all into each pencil stroke. He needed to get Jane out of his system, and this was his only escape. After several long minutes, he finally set down his pencil and surveyed his work. His heart sank as he took in the page before him. The figure on the paper looked nothing like Jane or anyone for that matter. He could feel the blood rushing to his face, hot and embarrassed. In a quick motion, he tucked the drawing beneath his desk.

He was interrupted by another knock at the door. He opened it to find Jane there, now dressed.

"they're too tight..." Jane grumbled, his gaze fixated on the ground. Dell couldn't help but notice how Jane's clothes clung to his every curve, accentuating his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His pants were snug, outlining his toned thighs. The length of the shirt was just enough to reveal a tantalizing glimpse of Jane's taut midriff. Dell's eyes were drawn to the smooth planes of Jane's stomach, which looked as if it had been chiseled out of marble by a master sculptor. It resembled a work of art, not Michelangelo's David, but Aphrodite. Each movement of Jane's body seemed to accentuate his physique's soft curves and lines, sending a rush of heat through Dell's veins.

 "Can I come in?" Jane asks, fidgeting with the string on his PJ pants.

"Yeah," Dell said, turning his back on Jane. he couldn't look at him any longer; guilt churned in his stomach. He had no right to feel this way towards this man.

"Thanks."

"No problem." Dell rummaged through his drawers, looking for clothes big enough for Jane. At the bottom of the drawer was a long-forgotten magazine. He blushed when he realized what it was, the half-naked lady on the cover making it obvious. He quickly tossed it in the trash can, but not before Jane caught a glimpse of it.

"what's that?" Jane asked, leaning over, picking up the magazine, and looking at the cover. Dell tensed and Looked away.

"It's nothing," Dell said, not moving, "Don't worry about it." he heard Jane give out a small noise that sounded like a mix between a shaky sigh and a quiet 'oh.'

"Can I look at it?" Jane asked; his voice was so quiet that Dell strained to hear him.

"Uh-" Dell is hesitant, "Sure..."

Jane flipped through the pages without really looking at them; His eyes finally fixated on the centerfold. Dell closed one drawer and opened the one under it, looking for the right size clothes. He subtly looked behind him. He didn't know why... He just did.

Jane sat on Dell's bed, shifting uncomfortably. He worried at his bottom lip, his tongue darting out to wet his lips as he stared at the centerfold. He noticed as Jane squeezed his thighs together.

"what? You never seen a skin mag before?" Dell teased, 

"I- uh," Jane stuttered, his voice breathy, "I just- no..." Dell laughed, feeling a strange sense of relief.

"you can keep it." Jane didn't respond; He just kept looking at the same centerfold. Dell closed the drawer and looked in the one below it. He found the clothes he was looking for. He grabbed them and shoved them into Jane's hands.

"Can I change in here?"

"Sure," Dell said. "I'll be at my desk."

 As Jane turned away, Dell felt a twinge of discomfort, almost as if he were violating some unspoken rule, But the sight before him was impossible to ignore. Dell tried not to look at him, but the man's back dimples beckoned him, made him want to look, to stare. Jane had wide, Muscular shoulders and a broad back to complement it, but his waist was narrow and tapered out to his hips. His hips were wide, and his legs were thick and Muscular. Dell could see Jane's defined buttocks and the top of his crack peeking through his underwear. 

It was as if every inch of the man was sculpted to perfection, a work of art that Dell couldn't help but appreciate. Even though Jane was a man, Dell found himself admiring him like he would a beautiful woman, unable to tear his gaze away from the stunning sight in front of him.

Dell needed to find a way to get Jane's attention back to him and get Dell out of his trance before he went mad. He searched Jane's body for a conversational piece, looking for a scar or a tattoo. His eyes landed on the jutting bones of his spine. Despite his softer figure, his spinal column had a distinct outline.

"You need to eat a little more, Jane," Dell said, making it known that he had been looking at the man.

"I do," Jane said, not turning to look at Dell as he pulled his new shirt on. Maybe he did, but Dell could tell by how much Jane's hip bones jutted out that he didn't. Jane turned around to face Dell. It didn't look anywhere near as tight as the other clothes had, but the tank top he was now wearing was a little too short, showing off his midriff again.

"Do you eat three meals a day?" Dell asks, pulling his eyes away from Jane's stomach.

"I... haven't really had the money to, lately," Jane said, Avoiding eye contact like he always did.

"I'll have to fix you a special breakfast tomorrow morning, then. How does that sound?" Dell asked, trying to keep the hopefulness out of his voice.

"Sounds good." Jane lifted his head up finally, giving Dell a slight smile. It looked forced, but there was an air of hopefulness to it that caught Dell's eye.

"I'll see you in the morning then." Jane didn't say anything in return, but he gave Dell a slight nod before wandering out of the room.

Maybe they were both strange.

Chapter Text

The following day, Dell woke up early to fulfill his small promise to Jane: breakfast. He made his way to the kitchen, the floorboards creaking gently beneath his feet. 

Dell carefully prepared French toast and bacon for breakfast. He took care to add vanilla and cinnamon to the egg mixture. The sweet aroma filled the room as the French toast sizzled in the pan and the bacon sizzled in the other pan, adding a smoky scent to the mix. He finished the dishes with powdered sugar and butter, artfully arranging the plates.

Dell cooked and plated the breakfast dishes with precision, ensuring each slice of French toast was perfectly cooked. The aroma of powdered sugar and the smoky scent of the bacon mingled together. Dell felt a sense of pride well up in him as he looked down at the plate. 

"Dell?" Dell jumped in place, letting out a sharp noise as he placed the plates on the table. Jane stood in the kitchen, his short blonde hair standing up straight as if he had been struck by lighting, his blue eyes wide. He looked around the kitchen, observing as if he were seeing food for the first time.

"Morning Jane... you scared me," Dell said, a warm smile on his face as he met Jane's gaze.

"You're up early," Jane observed.

"Yeah, I promised I'd make you breakfast, didn't I?" Dell replied, gesturing to the plate of food on the table. 

Jane didn't respond, just looked down at the plate of food in front of him with an expression of wonder. 

"Eat up, man. We've got lots to do today," Dell urged, sitting next to Jane. 

Jane remained silent, lost in thought, as he picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite out of it. 

"Jane?" Dell prompted, noticing the distant look in his eyes

"No one has ever made me breakfast before," Jane said, looking past Dell

Dell felt a pang of sadness for Jane but didn't show it. "I told you I would," he said, putting the bowls and pans into the sink

"I didn't think you actually would, though," Jane admitted, taking another bite of his food

"I said I would, and I meant it," Dell replied, taking a bite out of his French toast. "You seem like a nice man, Jane. Typically, the guys who come down to help us out over the summer are just out of high school. They have a place to live n' food to eat. They're just looking for a summer job. But you're different. You're here to help us, and I think we need to help you too. 

Jane didn't say anything; he just looked at Dell with an unfathomable expression

Dell reached out and patted Jane on the back. "It's okay. We'll take care of you while you're here."

"C'mon... Finish up your food n' get your shoes on. We gotta do our morning rounds." Dell smiles, putting his dishes sink and walking back to his room.

"Thank you, Dell," Jane whispers. Dell couldn't hear him.

Jane met Dell at the door 10 minutes later and walked outside with him. It was hot and humid out. He noticed that the air had that damp smell that it gets before a storm. The sun was shining just 20 minutes ago.

"Alright, let's go to check on the animals," Dell suggested as he walked toward the barn.

"Alright," Jane said, but he didn't move. His feet were rooted in place.

"What?" Dell asked, turning around.

"I," Jane angles his head down, the brim of his hat covering his eyes, "Don't want to feed the horses..." he said, messing with the hem of his shirt.

"huh?" Dell said, confused.

"I don't want to feed them," Jane said, moving his eyes up to Dell. "they're always staring." Dell feels confused. He doesn't know what Jane is talking about. "I'm sorry... I just don't like horses." He said.

 "That's Alright, Jane," Dell says, exhaling. He walks over to Jane and puts his hand on the taller man's shoulder, "I'll teach you how to feed the cows instead," Dell smiles at Jane, making sure not to look into his eyes, "I'll feed the horses."

"Really?" Jane asks, looking up at Dell with interest.

"Yeah," Dell says, leading Jane toward the barn. "Really."

Dell teaches Jane the basics of how to feed the cows, fill the troughs, and ensure he doesn't spook the cows. Jane was quiet the whole time, his hands bunched at his midsection and messing with his fingers as he listened To dell's instructions. Dell left him alone with the cows and walked off to the horse stable to feed them too.

Dell was nervous about leaving Jane with the cows because he sensed something was off. He knew Jane was a man with few words and even fewer social skills, but that wasn't the case. Dell was just worried Jane hadn't been listening and would do something wrong. He entered the horse stable and began filling up the water trough, whistling as he went. The horse's whinny echoed off the stable walls. He whistled loudly, enjoying the sound. He liked this time of day. It was just before noon, and the horses were beginning to gather their energy for the rest of the day. 

He finished up in the horse stable and began walking back to the barn when he heard deep, cackling laughter coming from inside the barn. He opened the door and saw one of the cows pushing its nose into Jane's midsection as Jane laughed uncontrollably. He had this goofy, full-body laugh, and Dell felt a smile spread across his face. Jane had his hands raised, trying not to touch the calf as she shoved him around, obviously looking for food. Jane looks over and sees Dell smiling at him widely.

"help! I- I don't wanna touch him, but he won't stop getting me!" Jane laughed as the calf kept nudging him against the wall. Dell smiled as he walked over and petted the calf, drawing her attention to him and leading her back to her mother.

"It's Alright, Jane, she uh," Dell smiled even bigger as he looked up at Jane's panting form. "She learned that from the dogs, I think..." he says.

"the dogs?" Jane asks, his eyes lighting up even more.

"mhm," Dell nods, checking to ensure Jane filled the troughs correctly, "I'll let you meet 'em when we feed the chickens."

Jane smiles, nodding as he follows Dell out of the barn. They leave the barn and walk over to the chicken coop.

"Hey, Dell?"

"Yeah?"

"You don't have any roosters, do you?" Jane asked, sounding a little afraid.

"no. Not this time of year," Dell reassured him, "why?"

"Because They're fucking crazy." Jane whispers loudly, "I think they want to kill me. I'm not kidding."

"oh," Dell says with a grin, "yeah, that's just how roosters are."

 "My neighbor used to have a bunch of chickens. I had to feed them once she got too sick to. We ended up getting them when she died." Jane says, "The roosters tried to kill me once." Dell starts to laugh, smiling up at Jane.

"Yeah, they do that, but once you know how to deal with them, they're fine," Dell says, "Come on, let's go feed the chickens."

They finish feeding the chickens, and Jane, although wary of the smaller animals crowding at his feet, seems happy to help feed the chickens, even picking one up (and subsequently putting it down after Dell warned him that the chickens can and will poop on him). Dell laughed as Jane talked about the roosters, his eyes crinkled up, and his face was full of joy.

"no! I promise, the- the roosters were... Forming a military, I think!" Jane continued, trying to catch a chicken as he talked. "I- I'm pretty sure they had a leader- a big one. I swear, he used to peck at my window at night." Dell laughs, dusting his hands off.

"you sure it wasn't just a tree branch?" Jane's face scrunched up in thought now, making Dell smile softly to himself. Jane had a habit of being monotone or even bland at times, but his face would show it when he really got to feeling a well-defined emotion. At times, Jane would go from poker-faced to grinning or frowning in mere seconds, and the differences between each emotion were distinct and well-defined. It was quite charming. After they finished feeding the chickens, Dell introduced Jane to the dogs. Dell leads Jane into the pasture, and two massive dogs immediately start barking and running at Dell and Jane.

"calm down, ladies," Dell says, "it's just the new guy." one of The dogs immediately stops barking, sniffing at Jane and wagging its tail happily. The other one keeps barking. Dell looks over at Jane and sees his hands over his ears. Dell kneels and lets the dog jump on him, still barking periodically. He pets it and scratches it behind its ears which gets it to stop barking. Dell stands back up and puts his hand on Jane's shoulder, pulling his attention back to him.

"they're huge," Jane says, "how do you get them to be so calm?"

"You just gotta know how to train 'em,'" Dell says, "We've had both of them since they were puppies." Jane looks down at the dog closest to him and sits in the grass, letting it jump up on him.

"What's this one's name?" Jane asks, petting the dog with two hands. The dog nudges his nose into Jane's hand, wagging its tail happily.

"ranger. She's real nice, been part of the family for years."

"How come she doesn't bark more?"

"She's a real lady. Once she knows you, she's a friend for life." Ranger pushes Jane to the ground, trying to get him to play fight with her. He hesitates for a moment, then gives in. Jane pretends to surrender, going limp and letting Ranger push him around. She nips at his fingers, trying to get him to scratch her. Jane grabs her and wrestles her to the ground, the two of them rolling around in the grass.

 The other dog bounds over to Jane and Ranger, barking excitedly. Jane gets off the ground and starts running, getting the dogs to follow him. The two dogs catch up to him and start running around him in circles, barking and wagging their tails. Jane lets them lick his face and hands as he throws himself back down, grinning from ear to ear.

Dell watches as Jane plays with the dogs, smiling and occasionally calling over to him. He leans back against the side of the house and takes out a cigarette, lighting it. He looks up at the sky and notices how much darker the clouds are getting. Soon, the sky will be completely overcast and impossible to see. He feels the beginning of raindrops, and the back of his neck starts to itch. He doesn't mind. He's enjoying watching Jane play with the dogs and the clouds getting darker.

"It's raining," he yells at Jane over the sound of the dogs, "we should go back inside!"

"I like it out here," Jane yells at him, still playing with the dogs, the dogs circling him and nipping at his legs. Dell smiles, letting the rain start pouring down on him. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a lighter, re-lighting the end of his cigarette. The cool, wet air and rain hitting his face as he inhales makes him feel real good.

A few minutes pass, and Jane runs over to Dell, panting and soaking wet. His hat is gone, and his white shirt is almost completely stained green. His shirt clings to his body and is see-through, exposing most of his upper body. Dell blushes, trying to keep himself from staring. Dell realizes now that this is the clearest he's ever seen Jane's face. 

Jane smiles at him and sits beside him, the dogs following him. He turns to face him and notices the rain on his face. Dell looked at Jane, trying to study his face as much as he would let him. Even on the darker, overcast day, he notices that Jane has light freckles covering his face. Dell noted the thickness of Jane's bottom lip and the slight bump in his nose. His high dark blonde hair was matted to his forehead, and the rain made his eyelashes clump together, making them look long and full. Dell's stomach churned when he realized that Jane was pretty. Jane turns away from him, looking at the rain. He leans back against the house, soaking it in as best as possible. He closes his eyes, enjoying the moment.

"What were you looking at me for?" Jane asks, Avoiding Dell's gaze. "Did I do something wrong?" Jane whispers

Dell opens his eyes, raising his head as if he had just woken up. He blinks a few times, trying to get his bearings. He looks at Jane and notices his hair is still dripping. He runs his hand through it, trying to keep it from getting on his clothes.

"Dell?" Jane says, his voice slightly alarmed.

Dell notices that Jane is looking at him expectantly. He blinks again and slowly realizes that Jane is waiting for an answer.

"oh... Sorry, Jane," Dell looked away from the man sitting below him. "I just got in a trance for a minute, that's all. I was just... thinking."

"Oh, " Jane says, almost as if he had expected something more. "Alright... Can we go inside now? I'm cold."

Chapter Text

Jane sat on the ground next to the fireplace when Dell came back down the stairs with new, dry clothes.

He sat crisscrossed in front of the warmth of the fire, shirtless and smiling contently. The orange-yellow light of the fire shined on his face, making his blonde hair glow.

The dogs went over and lay at his feet, putting their heads down beside his legs.

Dell noticed that Jane was looking at him expectantly.

"did you get some dry clothes?" Jane asked.

"Sure did. I think They're finally the right size too."

Jane smiled and got up, going over to the pile of wet clothes and grabbing his shirt, holding it to his chest.

"Thanks," Jane whispered. "where do I put this?"

"It's Alright. I'll take it." Dell smiles, reaching for Jane's wet clothes. Jane pulls away, holding his clothes close to his chest. 

"no. Tell me where the laundry room is." Jane says, His voice firm but his eyes still fixated on the wall behind Dell. 

"It's right down that hallway." Dell points down the hall. "the first door to the left."

"Thank you," Jane mumbles, walking into the laundry room.

Dell watches Jane as he disappears into the laundry room. He looks over at the dogs, who are watching him expectantly. He smiles.

"Come on." Dell sits on the couch and pats his lap. Ranger hops up on the couch and lays her head on Dell's lap, wagging her tail As he pets her. Dell leans forward and grabs a book off the coffee table. He starts to read, his eyes moving over the page.

"I'm gonna take a shower, okay, Dell?" Jane says as he picks up the dry clothes.

Dell looks up, his eyes lingering on Jane's body. He turns away. 

"Yeah, sure. See you in a bit."

Jane came out of the shower 30 minutes later, a towel on his head. The new, dry clothes actually fit Jane now, the jeans were loose on him, but the shirt fits alright, if not a little short. All the men in Dell's family were short, so even if the clothes belonged to a bigger family member, chances are they would still be too short for Jane.

Jane sat down on the couch, drying his hair. His biceps flexed as he moved the towel back and forth, drying his hair. He looked over at Dell, who was still reading.

 "What are you reading?" Jane asked. Dell looked over and flashed the cover of the book at Jane. "I- uh..." Jane stammered, "I can't see what that says from over here," Dell noticed that Jane looked uncomfortable now, his fingers messing with the dog's fur. 

"It's 'Of Mice And Men,'" Dell says, closing his finger between the book's pages to save his place.

"Oh," Jane says, his fingers still carding deftly through Ranger's fur

"You wanna read it sometime?" Dell asks.

"uh, no- no, thank you..." Jane stammers. He looks like he wants to say something more.

"It's okay. I was just asking." Dell says, stretching his legs out onto the coffee table

"I just... it's a long story." Jane says.

Dell feels he knows why Jane seems so apprehensive about reading the book. He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and looks at Jane. 

"You ever read it?" Dell asks.

"no," Jane answers.

"Can I ask you something personal, Jane?" Dell asks, setting the book down on the coffee table

"Sure."

"Why don't you like to read?" Dell asks, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't... it's just..." Jane says, trailing off. He looks down and messes with his fingers in his lap. He mumbles something that Dell can't hear.

"You can trust me, Jane. I won't tell anyone."

 Jane sighs and closes his eyes, his words coming out loud and frustrated; "I can't read!" his sudden volume startles Ranger, and she jumps off the couch. A stagnant quiet follows Jane's outburst as Dell formulates a response. He had suspected that Jane had difficulty reading since the conversation started, but hearing Jane himself say it was a surprise. 

"That's Alright, Jane," Dell says, smiling softly. "Do you wanna learn how?"

"do i...I want to learn how?" Jane asks, his face betraying bewilderment.

"yeah. I wanna teach you. Do you wanna learn?" Dell asks, hopeful.

"you'd really do that for me?" Jane asks, surprised.

 "c'mere," Dell scoots over and pats the seat next to him, grabbing the book off the coffee table. "I want you to follow while I read out loud to you, Alright?" Dell confirms as Jane sits closer to him, their thighs touching. Dell opens the book to the first page and begins to read. "A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close 

to the hillside bank and runs deep and green." Dell reads, his finger guiding Jane's eye along the words as he does so. "The water is warm 

too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the narrow pool..."

Dell read to Jane for what seemed like an eternity, answering all his questions As they went. 'What does that mean' and 'How does that work' Dell explained each word, each concept, and each problem. Jane wanted to know everything, and he learned just as much from Jane as Jane did from him. Ranger sat nearby, her head resting on Jane's leg as he leaned over the book, enthralled with every word. They had read three chapters by the time Dell's father arrived home, drenched from the downpour. The distinct earthy scent of wet soil and the musty smell of mildew followed him inside, causing Dell's nose to twitch in irritation.

"Goddamn!" he sighed, holding four grocery bags per hand and entering the room. "Sorry I'm late, boys. It's been raining cats n dogs since 9 O'clock!"

"It's Alright, Pa'," Dell said, "we've stayed busy," both he and Jane looked up at mr. Conagher. "what did ya' get?"

"I got some clothes for Jane," he answers, wiping his boots on the mat. "I hope you're a large, boy," Dell's father says to Jane, laughing as he sets the bags on the kitchen table.

"I hope so, too," Jane answers.

 Dell looked over at Jane, admiring the domesticity of it all. It was bittersweet, really, the way he felt a sense of nostalgia before the moment even ended. As much as he cherished this time spent with Jane, Dell knew deep down that their friendship was brief. He had seen it before, with all the other young helpers who had come and gone over the years. Despite their promises to stay in touch after the summer ended, life had a way of pulling people in different directions. Time had a way of erasing memories and people from our lives, no matter how much we wanted them to stay.

The crackling of the fireplace, the warm glow of the flames, and the flicker of shadows on the walls. The earthy, wet smell of the rain outside that seeped in through the cracks in the old cabin walls. The sound of his father's familiar voice, whistling a tune, and puttering around the kitchen as he prepared dinner; all of it was fleeting. He tried to push the thought from his mind and focus on the present, the warmth, and comfort of the moment. But it was hard to shake the feeling of sadness and longing that came with the knowledge that it would soon be over. As much as he wanted to hold onto this moment forever, Dell knew it was impossible. Life was a series of fleeting moments, each passing by quicker than the last.

But even as the moment slipped away, Dell couldn't help but feel grateful for it. For the warmth of the fire, the smell of the rain, the sound of his father's voice. For Jane and the friendship they had formed, even if it was temporary. For now, this moment was all that mattered. He would hold onto it tightly, like a precious gem, and carry it with him always.

Chapter Text

After dinner, Jane and Dell sit outside on the porch, under the Awning, for protection from the rain. They both nurse a beer, a comfortable silence between them as they watch the raindrops falling into the puddles below. It's humid and sticky, the air heavy and still. Ranger sits beside Jane, resting her head in his lap, while the other dog lays at Dell's feet.
"What's her name?" Jane asks, pointing to the dog closest to Dell, scratching behind Ranger's ears affectionately.
"Cornbread," Dell answers, the yellow lab's ears perking up upon hearing her name. "She responds to Missy too. Miss Cornbread is her full name."
"That's silly," Jane says, smiling. They're silent again for a while, just watching as the sun sets behind the thick gray clouds. Neither of them has finished their beer. 
"Jane..." Dell breaks the silence. "Can I ask you something personal?"
"You ask a lot of personal questions," Jane mumbles quietly, his fingers running through Ranger's fur.
"I know," Dell hesitates, rethinking his decision, "And you don't have to answer!" He thinks about taking back anything he says. "I just... Wanna know why you can't read."
Jane sighs deeply, taking a big swig of his beer. "When I was younger, I lived in a really poor part of town," Jane starts, petting Ranger as he speaks, "We didn't have water filtering, and he didn't want to waste propane boiling water, so..." He trails off, his leg bouncing up and down. "I don't think we had it as bad as some of the other kids in the neighborhood, but," he sighs, "the teachers and the doctors all agreed that I had some... trouble. So they tested me, and they said I couldn't read. We didn't know why at first. The teachers always called me..." he trails off, "...names."
Dell leans in close, resting his head on his hand. "I... Sorry," he says softly. "Sorry, I asked..."
"no, don't worry. You're the only one I've ever told about this. No one else ever cared enough to ask." He turns to Dell. Dell feels a pang of sympathy for the boy.
"Did they ever figure out why you couldn't read?"
"Lead poisoning," Jane reveals, his voice heavy with bitterness and regret. "it turned out that was why I couldn't read. But it was too late when we figured it out."
Dell leans in, listening intently. "What do you mean, too late?" he asks.
"Well, I was already labeled as a 'trouble' student. The teachers and doctors didn't bother to look for any underlying medical issues, so they just assumed I was 'stupid.' They didn't want to waste time with me," Jane explains, his voice tinged with anger. "I was a lost cause in their eyes. So I gave up, dropped out of school, and tried to join the military when I turned 18."
Dell nods, trying to hide his shock. "Tried? They didn't let you join?"
"Nah," Jane replies, a bitter laugh escaping him. "Most branches require at least an eighth-grade education and the ability to read more than just a picture book. I had neither."
Dell looks at Jane with sympathy. "I'm sorry, man. That must have been tough for you."
"mhm," Jane nodded, messing with Ranger's ear, flopping it back and forth. "everyone knew I was the 'Idiot' who couldn't even join the fuckin' military," his voice mounted, calling the dogs' attention, shoulders slumped, and he sighed defeatedly. "I got out as soon as I could. It wasn't worth staying there."
  Dell nodded, sipping his beer. He wanted to say something more, add to the conversation, offer comfort, but he couldn't think of anything. At that moment, the two of them were alone in the world, he and the boy who was only there to help. What Dell had said that morning was right; it was as much his job to help Jane as it was Jane's job to help them.
"Dell?" Jane asks, looking over at Dell. "I'm your friend, right?"
"Yeah, of course," he answers, looking at the ground, nodding. He realized How nervous he felt, his heart pounding in his chest at such a simple question.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
 "Just... Why? Why are you, my friend? What do you like about me?" Jane asks, his voice wavering.
Dell raises his eyes to meet Jane's gaze, Quickly looking away after remembering Jane's discomfort with eye contact.
"Because you're a good guy, Jane," he answers honestly. "hell, more than that... You remind me of what it means to be a kid."
"why?" Jane asks again, his leg bouncing up and down, still.
"watching you run around in the yard while it was pouring down rain. Hearing you talk about those chickens, Seeing you laugh when the cow wouldn't stop messing with you. It just makes me feel like a kid again," Dell explains, a small smile on his face.
"Dell…" Jane trails off, 
 "I'm only 23, but," he trails off slightly, "it's been so long since I've felt young. So long since, I've felt anything but responsibility. You remind me of a time when I didn't have to do anything when I could run around and just have fun. You make me feel like that kid again, and it makes me happy."
"Dell..." Jane whispered, his face becoming a strange shade of red. "I-i just..."
"you what?" Dell asks, a little worried, a little hopeful.
"I just..." He paused. "I don't know how to say it without sounding weird..."
Dell's heart is pounding in his chest.
"Just say it, Jane," He encourages.
 "I've just never had a friend before," Jane confesses, looking down at his feet. Dell claps Jane on the back and pulls his attention towards him.
"Well, hell," Dell smiles, squeezing Jane's shoulder. "I'm gonna make it count then!" Jane looks at Dell, his face a mix of bittersweet emotions." you gonna make it count with me?" he raises his beer bottle in a toast.
Dell and Jane clink their beer bottles together in a toast, smiling with a newfound warmth. It was a moment of genuine connection that they both desperately needed.
"Always," Jane beams, his voice laced with a newfound sense of confidence.
Dell feels a surge of pride and joy in his chest. "Always," he echoes back, grinning ear to ear.
As they sit in comfortable silence, petting Ranger and sipping their beers, Dell feels a sense of hope for the first time in a long time. He had come to this job feeling lost and disconnected from the world, but meeting Jane had given him a sense of purpose.
Looking over at Jane, he feels grateful for their newfound friendship. They may come from vastly different backgrounds, but at that moment, they were just two friends enjoying each other's company.
"Hey, Jane," Dell says, breaking the silence. "Wanna come into town with me tomorrow? I could use an extra hand."
Jane nods eagerly, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "sure."
As they finish their beers and say their goodnights, Dell feels a sense of contentment wash over him. He may not have all the answers, but at that moment, he knew he had found a true friend in Jane.