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agt_spookyTitle: Shadows in His Eyes
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
agt_spooky
Pairing: Jensen/Jared
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 45,121
Genre: Police AU
Warnings/Spoilers: domestic violence themes
Disclaimer: It’s RPS, people. It never happened, but I wish it would. :-)
Author’s Notes: Many thanks tosn_24lover, charityflint and queeberquabbler for their beta work and invaluable input. Thank you for being my cheerleaders!
Summary: For K-9 Officer Jared Padalecki, transferring from the San Antonio police department to the elite L.A.P.D. was a dream come true. He nearly forgets he’s in Hollywood until he responds to a 911 call that brings him to the home of actor Jensen Ackles.
It appeared that Jensen had it all – a career that was on fire and a loving, long-term relationship with his partner, Mark. But then Jared uncovers the truth that Jensen had been trying to hide, and the illusion comes crashing down.
Can Jared help Jensen break free of a life he’s convinced he deserves before it’s too late, and in the process help them both find love?
(banner by agt_spooky)
Previous chapters: Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3
After cleaning themselves up, they pulled back the blankets and crawled in, making themselves a comfortable cocoon where they slept for several hours in each other’s embrace, sated and warm.
Eventually Jared stirred, feeling Jensen’s fingers tracing softly over his chest and he blinked open his eyes to see Jensen gazing back at him with a soft smile on his face.
“Hey,” Jared whispered, leaning in for a lingering kiss.
“I’m sorry about earlier today,” Jensen apologized. “You were right, I shouldn’t have interferred. You know how to do your job.” He took a breath. “Did I get you in trouble with Jeff?”
“He laid into me pretty good,” Jared answered. “But in the end he realized that your actions were beyond my control and my probation status is still okay.”
Jensen blew out a relieved breath. “Thank God. I know what I did was stupid, but can you answer me something?”
“Sure, what?”
“If the situation had been reversed, what would you have done?” Jensen asked softly.
Jared closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Jensen’s. He had him and Jensen knew it. “The same damn thing,” he admitted. “So I guess I can’t be mad at you,” he smiled warmly, then kissed Jensen again for long moments before pulling back with a long, contented sigh.
“I love you,” Jared breathed against Jensen’s lips. “I think from the moment I met you.”
“I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you,” Jensen apologized.
Jared shook his head. “Don’t be,” he said gently. “You needed to be sure.”
“I am,” came Jensen’s heartfelt reply. “Thank you for waiting.”
“It was worth it,” Jared smiled, pulling Jensen close. “God, it was worth it,” he murmured, kissing Jensen long and slow.
He felt his arousal build again, rolling through him in gentle waves this time, felt Jensen’s answering desire as he grew and lengthened against Jared’s leg.
“Want you again, Jare…need you so damn bad…” Jensen breathed, his hips moving restlessly.
“Jesus…yes…want you in me,” Jared answered, voice low, needy.
“Turn over, on your side,” Jensen directed him and Jared eagerly complied.
Jensen pressed himself up against Jared’s back, all heat and muscle and smooth skin. “Gonna do this slow and deep,” he promised, his rough voice sending a shiver down Jared’s spine in anticipation as he heard the cap of the lube snap open.
He bent Jared’s top leg up slightly, exposing Jared’s opening, and then his cock was there, rubbing against his balls, eliciting a soft groan from Jared. Then the head was pushing, pushing with a slow insistence that left Jared gasping.
His body opened around Jensen easily this time, still slick and filled with Jensen’s release, his cock stretching him an inch at a time, letting Jared feel all of him, how hard he was for Jared. He could hear his own fast breathing in his ears, his heart picking up its pace.
Jensen’s hand gripped his hip tightly, fingers digging into Jared’s skin. “Jared…oh, fuck, Jare…” he groaned, still pressing inward with his cock.
Nearly insane now with the need and desire to have Jensen buried balls-deep inside him, Jared shifted his hips backwards, taking Jensen in that last inch, the heat of Jensen’s smooth groin and balls searing into his skin.
“I love you,” Jensen whispered and Jared fought to swallow around the lump of emotion in his throat as Jensen kissed him tenderly on his neck.
They moved together in slow, soul-searing passion and Jared had never felt like this, ever. Never felt closer to anyone in his life like he did with Jensen.
Working slow and steady, Jensen pushing so deep inside him, they brought each other to orgasm again, Jared spilling over Jensen’s fingers moments before Jensen filled him for a second time.
And to Jared, as he lay there with Jensen pressed so tightly against him, the older man’s hand resting over his heart, this sure felt like a Hollywood happy ending to him.
~*~*~*~
Several weeks later found Jared and Harley on patrol on the night shift. One of the other K-9 units was down with the flu, so the rest of the division was taking turns filling in, and tonight was Jared’s turn.
Hollywood was different at night. More alive. People crowded the streets, going to bars and restaurants, even after midnight. Jared yawned, unaccustomed to working this late. Even Harley was dozing off in the backseat as Jared cruised slowly up and down Sunset Boulevard. But his ears perked up when he heard the familiar beeping of the radio.
“Six-Adam-Twelve.” It was Garett, one of the third shift dispatchers.
Jared grabbed the mic. “Six-Adam-Twelve, go.”
“Six-Adam-Twelve, report of a man on the road, staggering into traffic near Fountain and Vista. Please respond.”
“10-4. Six-Adam-Twelve, responding.”
Jared flipped on his lights and turned his head toward his partner. “The drunks come out at night, eh, Harley?”
He was unable to locate the man on Fountain when he arrived about five minutes later, so he turned south on Vista. There were no street lights down this residential road, so Jared used his spotlight, sweeping it back and forth. And there, just ahead of him was a man on the left side of the street, staggering further into the road, then back toward the shoulder. From his appearance and direction of travel, Jared guessed he was homeless, heading to Plummer Park just down the street to try and get over the gate and find a bench to sleep on.
Jared pulled off on the shoulder, leaving his red and white lights flashing, his spotlight pointed at the man, and picked up his mic.
“Dispatch, Six-Adam-Twelve.”
“Six-Adam-Twelve, go,” came Garett’s reply.
“Show me Code 6 on Vista, just north of Plummer Park.”
“10-4. Dispatch out.”
Jared replaced the mic and exited his squad. He jogged across the road and approached the man.
“Sir,” he called out. “I’m Officer Padalecki from the L.A.P.D. Can you stop for me, please?”
But the burly man, who appeared to be in his early forties, ignored Jared and continued down the road. It was difficult for Jared to see his face, obscured by the man’s long, stringy blonde hair and the way he was hunched over, hands deep inside the front pocket of his stained, olive-drab hoodie.
Jared walked closer, a step or two behind the man now. “Sir, I need you to stop. I just want to make sure you’re alright – “
The next moments happened in the blink of an eye.
One second the man was walking, the next he was spinning around, lunging at Jared. “NO!” he roared, pulling out a wicked looking knife from inside the pocket of his hoodie, slashing out with it in a wide arc.
All Jared had time to see was a flash of steel reflected in the spotlight before the blade cut deeply all the way across his right bicep, instantly rendering his right arm completely numb. Before Jared could even register the intense pain, the crazed man slammed into him and they hit the ground hard in a tangle of thrashing limbs.
The man kept trying to stab Jared, and now Jared could see in the glare of the spotlight the man’s wide, unfocused eyes and knew without a doubt he wasn’t drunk, but high on meth or crack cocaine. Which made him even more dangerous and gave him abnormal strength on top of it.
They rolled across the ground, Jared trying to grab the man’s left hand with the knife, but he couldn’t feel the fingers on his own right hand, trying to use his forearm to block the stabs. The knife glanced across Jared’s chest, the thickness of his kevlar vest the only thing that saved him.
Jared pushed against the man as hard as he could, managing to knock the man backwards just enough so that Jared could slap his nearly useless right hand against the remote on his belt. He tried desperately to remove his weapon from his holster, but his numb, blood-slicked fingers refused to curl around the grip.
Jared could hear Harley’s furious barking as he jumped from the open back door and he knew he only needed to hold off the drugged man for another minute more before his partner would be there. But the man was quick and swung the knife again at Jared, who tried to scramble backwards out of the way.
He wasn’t fast enough.
The downward arc of the blade slashed across the inside of Jared’s upper right thigh and Jared cried out with the pain, blood flowing freely from the wound. He collapsed back onto the ground just as Harley arrived. The bull mastiff was aiming for the man’s upper left arm that held the knife, but at the last second the man twisted, and Harley hit the man’s shoulder, unable to get a firm grip with his teeth. The force of the impact knocked the man away from Jared and he fell onto his back. Harley lunged again, snarling, teeth bared, his only instinct to protect Jared, no matter what the cost.
And this time…this time it may be with his life.
The blade flashed again in the spotlight in an upward thrust and a horrible, pain-filled squeal from Harley filled Jared’s ears a second later.
“NO!” Jared cried out as his partner’s body landed next to him in the dirt.
Jared’s scream startled the man and he looked around wildly before suddenly turning and running off into the night.
Jared’s breathing was ragged, his vision starting to go dark at the edges from the large amount of blood he was losing from his leg, which was starting to grow cold, and from his right arm, a dead weight at his side.
Fighting to hold on to consciousness, Jared lifted up his left hand to press the button on the mic clipped to his shoulder.
“10-99…10-99…” he panted harshly. “Officer…officer down…”
Releasing the mic, Jared reached out with the last of his strength, buried his fingers in Harley’s short fur…and let the darkness claim him.
~*~*~*~
The sound of voices pulled Jared back to consciousness slowly and painfully. He struggled to open his eyes, feeling as if he were underwater, limbs heavy, trying to swim to the surface. He blinked open heavy eyelids, closing them again at the light assaulting his eyes.
“-ared? Jared?”
A familiar voice pulled at him again, preventing him from slipping back into the welcoming darkness.
“Open your eyes for me, okay? C’mon…you can do it…please…”
It was the plea and the sound of Jensen’s voice breaking that gave him the strength to open his eyes once more and hold them open, as hard as it was.
“God, yeah, that’s it…”
Jensen’s face swam into view above him and to his left as he became aware of how much he hurt. His head, his chest, his leg and his arm all throbbed. He grimaced and turned his head toward Jensen, trying to speak, but his throat was too dry to form words.
“Wait, don’t try and talk,” Jensen told him, disappearing from view for a moment, coming back with a cup and straw. “Here, sip this, just a little.” He put his hand behind Jared’s head and helped him lift it up and Jared drank gratefully of the cool water.
Jensen laid his head back gently against the pillow then kissed his dry lips. “Hey, Sleeping Beauty,” he whispered and Jared saw how red his eyes were, how shaky his smile was.
“Hi,” he answered, his own voice scratchy. “God, I hurt…” he groaned, and just like that, the events of the night came rushing back to him with painful clarity and an icy band of fear squeezed his chest.
“Harley! Jen – is he –“ Jared’s words were choked, panicked.
Jensen gripped his hand. “Jare, calm down, calm down. Harley’s alive.”
Jared sucked in a hard, shaky breath, briefly closing his eyes. “Thank god. How is he? Where is he?”
“He’s at the police vet. He was hurt pretty bad. The stab wound was deep,” Jensen told him. “He was in surgery for awhile, but the vet was able to stop the bleeding.” Jensen squeezed his hand. “He’s going to be okay."
“I watched that bastard stab him. I thought I’d lost him,” Jared whispered, feeling tears prick the back of his eyes.
Jensen raised Jared’s hand up to rest against the side of his face. “I thought I’d lost you, too,” he breathed, green eyes shining with his own tears.
“I don’t remember anything after radioing in to dispatch. What happened?”
Jensen took a deep breath. “Jeff’s the one that called me. He told me the knife nicked your femoral artery. By the time the paramedics got there you were in pretty bad shape from all the blood you’d lost.” He laid his other hand on Jared’s chest. “Before they could get you in the ambulance you stopped breathing. They had to do CPR on you.” Jensen’s voice broke and he swallowed hard, brushing at his eyes. “Both you and Harley were in surgery at the same time and I swear I thought the stress was going to kill me, waiting for word on both of you.”
Listening to Jensen talk, hearing the fear in his voice, all Jared could think was, This is it. This is when it all ends. Now he knows how hard being with a cop is and I’m going to lose him.
“Stop it.”
Jensen’s firm voice brought him out of his thoughts.
“I can tell what you’re thinking. It’s written all over your face.” Jensen rose from his chair and sat on the bed next to Jared. “Now listen to me, because I’m only going to say this once.” His gaze was steady, unwavering. “I love you. I love you and I’m not going anywhere. I told you I could handle this, you being a cop, and this was my trial by fire.” He spread his hands open. “And here I am,” he said quietly.
Jared felt his chest constrict with sudden emotion. “I love you. So goddamn much.”
Jensen smiled tenderly at him, then sealed his promise with a kiss.
~*~*~*~
Jared’s long body sliced easily through the crystal clear water, his strokes even and rhythmical, carrying him across the long length of Jensen’s pool. He reached the end, flipped underwater and began the return lap, pushing himself a little harder, a little faster. His fingertips touched the side at the far end and he stopped, bobbing in the water for a moment before hefting himself up and out. He lay down on his back on his towel and closed his eyes, letting the sun warm his body. But a minute later a happy bark from Harley had him sitting up as his partner bounded over, orange rubber ball in his mouth that he dropped at Jared’s side, then looked at him expectedly. Jared grinned and tossed the ball back into the yard, watching as Harley tore off after it.
They’d both come a long way in these last six weeks.
After being released from the hospital and the vet, Jensen insisted that both he and Harley move in with him while they recuperated, an offer that Jared gratefully accepted. He spent most of his time that first week sleeping, Harley’s warm weight pressed up against him, a thick bandage around the dog’s middle matching the two that Jared sported.
The description that Jared was able to give Jeff of his attacker led to the man’s arrest two weeks after Jared was released from the hospital. After identifying the man in a line-up, he was currently being held without bail in the county jail, awaiting trial for attempted murder on a police officer.
Physical therapy had begun for both he and Harley nearly at the same time. The knife had done extensive damage to Jared’s bicep, and regaining strength and flexibility in his arm was crucial. His leg as well was weak from disuse from being unable to put any weight on it after his life saving surgery to repair his femoral artery. The pool in Jensen’s backyard became invaluable during his recovery time, a low-impact way for him to strengthen both his arm and leg muscles.
Jared held his arm up and flexed, made a muscle, not even feeling a twinge of pain, and he smiled, his confidence bolstered for the next day – requalification at the gun range. It was the last step before being allowed to return to active duty, and Jared was itching to get back on the streets.
A strum of a guitar caught his attention and Jared turned to look over at the deck. Chris was seated at the patio table, guitar in hand, sheet music and a pencil on the table, in the midst of composing a new song.
He and Chris had become close friends these last six weeks, after Chris became his designated babysitter. After Jared moved in with Jensen, the actor had wanted to cancel his scheduled meetings with his agent and the writer/director of his upcoming police movie, plus interviews and appearances for Dark Highway while Jared recuperated, not willing to leave Jared by himself while he was still injured.
But ultimately Jensen realized that this would raise suspicions as to why he was suddenly withdrawing from the media. It could eventually get out that Jared was living with Jensen and in turn bring to light the situation with Mark that Jensen was still avoiding dealing with.
In the end, Chris had volunteered to come over whenever Jensen was working to help Jared out, and a strong friendship had formed between the two men. Jared hadn’t needed any help for the last couple of weeks, but Chris still came over to hang out and Jared enjoyed his company.
Jared sighed and looked around the yard - at Chris, at Harley rolling around in the grass, at the house he’d thought of as his home for the last six weeks. It was going to be hard to leave all of this, and Jensen most of all, and move back to his own place in the next couple of days. It was going to be lonely.
“Well, hey, Mr. Movie Star. Have they ordered your star for the Walk of Fame yet?”
Jared turned his head at the sound of Chris’s voice, and saw Jensen stepping out of the French doors and out onto the deck, looking every bit the Hollywood actor in his loose, white linen shirt, khaki pants, loafers and sunglasses.
Jensen rolled his eyes and shook his head, smacking Chris on his shoulder. “Shut up,” Jensen replied good naturedly.
As Jensen chatted with Chris for a bit, Jared felt his heart swell with love for the green-eyed man. Jensen had been amazing this last month and a half. It’d been hard for both Jared and Harley to get around due to their injuries, and Jensen was always right there, helping them both in any way he could. Even picking up Harley and taking him outside, then carrying him back in several times a day. He even put up with Jared’s bad moods and anger when he felt his physical therapy wasn’t going well, which would endanger his career as a K-9 officer if he didn’t make a full recovery. But Jensen withstood it all, encouraging Jared not to give up and work harder. And with Jensen’s support he did, which brought him to where he was today – one day away from returning to duty.
Jared watched as Chris stood and gathered up his things, raising a hand up to Jared. “Later, man!”
“You got it!” Jared called back. “Song’s sounding great, man!”
Chris clapped Jensen on his shoulder then left, and Jensen walked down off the deck to the edge of the pool. Jared slipped back into the water and swam to where Jensen was standing, resting his folded arms on the edge.
“Hey,” Jensen smiled down at him, settling his sunglasses on the top of his head, eyes like emeralds in the sunlight.
“Hey yourself. How’d your meeting go?”
“Really good. The script’s almost finalized now. They’ll start sending out casting calls soon for all of the supporting parts.” Jensen turned to look over at Harley and grinned. “Including dogs.” Jensen hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “I’m gonna make some lunch. Hungry?”
Jared tried not to let his smirk show. Oh, he was hungry all right. But not for food.
“Yeah,” he answered, holding up a hand. “Help me up?”
Jared could tell Jensen realized his mistake the moment he grasped Jared’s hand, at the mischievous grin Jared finally let loose.
“No, don’t –“
That’s all Jensen got out as Jared pulled hard, sending Jensen toppling head over heels into the pool with a huge splash. Jared laughed as Jensen resurfaced, sputtering, wiping water out of his eyes.
“You jerk!” Jensen swore at him without anger, smacking Jared in the chest.
Jared only laughed again, hooking an arm around Jensen’s waist, pulling him flush against his body. “You love me and you know it,” he grinned.
Jensen settled his arms around Jared’s neck. “God help me, but I do,” he admitted with a soft smile.
Jared let one of his hands drift downward, to cup the swell of Jensen’s ass, his desire clear, his body starting to respond to the closeness of Jensen’s own.
Six weeks. It’d been six weeks with no kind of sexual activity between them at all. With Jared’s wound so close to his groin, Jensen had put his foot down, despite Jared’s protests, refusing to take the chance on aggravating the injury or pulling Jared’s stitches. But Jared was finally healed now, been given the all clear by his doctor and all he wanted was the one thing he’d been denied for so long – Jensen buried deep inside him.
“God, I need you,” Jared growled, dipping his head for a hard, fast kiss.
Jensen cupped his head, ran his fingers through Jared’s wet hair and kissed him back with equal passion. Jared’s other hand wandered up Jensen’s chest, over the wet material clinging to his body to find and tease a flat nipple to pebble hardness.
Jensen jerked and moaned at the sensation, his cock growing and hardening against Jared’s own, pushing his hips into Jared. Jared pulled back from the kiss, breathing hard, pulling at the wet material of Jensen’s shirt. Liquid heat was pooling in his groin, his cock fully erect and pushing at the fabric of his swim trunks.
“Want you in me, right here…in the water…” Jared panted, feeling his balls throb at the erotic thought.
Jensen’s eyes went instantly dark with arousal. “Jesus…yeah...” he breathed, attacking Jared’s mouth again, walking forward until Jared’s back was up against the side of the pool.
They kissed until Jared couldn’t breathe, mouths slanting against one another fierce and demanding, weeks of pent up desire finally being released. Jared’s hands went back to Jensen’s shirt and they pulled apart long enough to strip their clothing away, various articles floating away across the pool.
Naked now, the sun warming their water slicked skin, they let their hands wander across each other’s bodies, over hard muscles and smooth skin, relearning the feel of one another after so many weeks apart.
“Turn around,” Jensen finally breathed, his cock pushing insistently against Jared’s own.
Jared turned and faced the side of the pool, bracing his hands in front of him, pulse quickening in anticipation.
Jensen stepped up close, molding his body to Jared’s long, naked back, and kissed his way down the side of Jared’s neck and over his shoulder while his fingers pinched and rolled both of Jared’s nipples. Jared closed his eyes and groaned, tipping his face up to the sun, letting the sensations Jensen was creating course through his body. His hips started moving of their own accord, his cock jutting out in front of him, seeking friction in the smooth water.
He felt Jensen’s own cock then, pushing against his ass, and Jared spread his legs wide, bending his upper body over slightly. Jensen’s cock slipped easily between his legs, nudging against Jared’s heavy balls for a moment before withdrawing, to be replaced by Jensen’s fingers.
With the water slicking the way, Jensen slid one finger past the puckered muscle of Jared’s entrance and Jared couldn’t help the tremor that raced through him.
“More, Jen, please,” Jared moaned. “Need you so fucking bad…”
A second finger joined the first, stretching him, crooking just so, finding the spot that made him jerk and shudder, his cock releasing another burst of precome into the water.
Before he could beg, Jensen’s fingers were sliding out of his body, and the engorged head of his cock was pressing against his opening. Jensen’s hands gripped his hips and he kissed along Jared’s back.
“Gonna make this so good,” he promised, then pushed with his hips, his cock finally, finally sinking deep inside Jared’s body.
Jared cried out with the feeling of incredible fullness as Jensen’s thick cock filled him up again after so long.
“So tight, Jare…feel so good…” Jensen panted, sliding out then pushing back in again, hard, fingers digging into Jared’s hips.
He set up a fast rhythm, thrusting over and over into Jared, creating ripples and waves in the warm water that flowed around their bodies, heightening the experience of making love in the pool.
Neither of them were going to last long, not after being denied this intimacy for weeks. Jared could already feel Jensen faltering in his rhythm, his hips stuttering. Jared’s own balls were drawing up, the beginnings of his orgasm curling deep inside his belly.
“Wish you could see this, Jare,” Jensen said, voice deep and husky. “The way your body stretches around me…God…” he groaned, and suddenly Jared could feel Jensen’s finger there, tracing around where they were joined as he continued to thrust, setting off sparks behind Jared’s eyes.
“Jesus…Jensen…” he ground out, unable to stop the flames of his release licking up his spine now, moments from climax.
And when Jensen’s finger slid in alongside his cock, stretching Jared even further, he shattered into a million pieces. His orgasm so strong, so powerful, his vision whited out as his cock, completely untouched, pulsed again and again in the water, releasing thick, white streams.
He was still coming when Jensen found his own completion a moment later, his cock swelling inside Jared an instant before Jared was filled with liquid heat. Jared’s moan was long and deep at the dual sensations that seemed to go on and on.
Long minutes later both men quieted, Jensen’s arms encircling Jared, his head resting against Jared’s back.
“Don’t wanna move,” Jensen murmured. “Wanna stay right here, just like this, inside you.”
Jared sighed contentedly and reached back to run his hand along Jensen’s side. “I wish you could, too. Love the way you feel in me.” Then he chuckled. “Might make it difficult to go to work, however.”
He felt Jensen smile against his skin then lift up, shifting his hips back. Jared groaned at the feel of Jensen’s semi-hard cock sliding out of his body ever so slowly, Jensen drawing it out as much as possible until he slipped free.
Jared turned in the water and reached for Jensen. “C’mere,” he smiled gently, cupping the other man’s face for a tender kiss. “That was amazing, thank you.”
Jensen’s green eyes were filled with love, clear and bright as he smiled in reply, running his hands along Jared’s arms, stopping when he reached Jared’s right bicep. He turned his head, kissing the scar there that marred the smooth skin and Jared felt his chest constrict with sudden emotion.
“Are you ready for tomorrow?” Jensen asked.
Jared swallowed around the lump in his throat. “I am now.”
~*~*~*~
The next afternoon Jared hopped out of his truck and headed for the officer’s entrance of the police station, tugging on his shirt to smooth it down. Technically he didn’t need to wear his uniform to requalify on the range today, but Jared had missed it’s familiar feel and the heavy weight of his gun belt at his waist after so long.
He’d no more than stepped through the doors and he was surrounded by his fellow officers, who smiled and shook his hand and clapped him on the shoulder, glad to see Jared up and around again.
“Thanks, guys,” Jared smiled. “I really appreciate all of you coming to visit me in the hospital.” Then he looked at Claudia and Paul. “And for visiting Harley at the vet as well.”
“He’s part of the team, too!” Claudia grinned.
Ray Parker stuck out his hand. “Good luck on the range today, man. You’ll be back out on duty in no time.”
Jared returned the handshake with a smile. “Thanks, Ray. I’ll be seeing you guys out on the street soon.”
~*~*~*~
The range master on duty that day was Sergeant Isabelle Rousseau, and she greeted Jared with a warm smile and handshake.
“Good to see you, Jared,” she nodded. “Ready to get this formality out of the way and get you back in your squad?”
“More than ready, Sarge.”
“Okay, you know the drill. We’ve got you set up at station two. Head on in.”
Jared nodded and entered the range, noticing that he was the only one in there that day, and walked down to station two. Laid out for him were his safety glass, ear protection and three full clips. Jared removed his Colt .45 from his holster and laid it next to the clips, then put on his glasses and ear protection. He took a moment to look at the target hanging in front of him, then cleared his mind, concentrating on the task to come. He needed to fire off four full clips of ten rounds each at the target, hitting center mass or headshots in order for it to count. As he would stop to reload, the target would move further away. He had two minutes to fire off all forty rounds and needed a score of 30 out of 40 in order to pass.
Jared took a deep, steadying breath and raised his hand, his signal to the range master that he was ready. Sergeant Rousseau’s voice came over the loudspeaker.
“Ready…fire.”
Jared’s coiled body sprang into action, snatching up his Colt quick as lightning and started firing. The recoil of the first shot reverberated down his previously injured arm causing a barely noticeable flinch as the healed muscle was put to the test for the first time. After that Jared felt nothing at all from his bicep as his finger squeezed off one round after another. His breathing was short but even, pulse picking up its pace as he emptied one clip and reloaded another, his focus entirely on the target that was getting progressively further away and the clock counting down the seconds.
Three clips down, one to go, the smell of cordite and the sound of gunfire filling the range as spent casings fell like rain to pool at Jared’s feet.
And there… the last bullet ejected from Jared’s Colt and tore it’s way through the target…with twenty seconds remaining on the clock.
Jared stood still for a moment and breathed deep, bringing his pulse rate back down. It was hard to see at this distance how many of his shots might have missed the target, but Jared felt confident he’d passed.
Sergeant Rousseau came out of the control center and walked down-range to retrieve Jared’s target. In her hand was a red marker that she would use to circle any missed shots. Jared saw her hand moving and waited expectantly for her to return to his station.
Finally she pulled the target down, rolled it up and walked up to Jared, her face expressionless, giving Jared no indication of his fate. When she was standing in front of him she unrolled the target without a word, Jared’s score written in red in – 36/40.
Jared’s jaw dropped and Isabelle smiled. “Congratulations, Officer Padalecki. You passed with flying colors.” She held out her hand. “Welcome back to duty.”
~*~*~*~
Jared’s sneakered feet slapped rhythmically against the damp pavement as he ran through the park in the light rain, Harley at his side. The morning had dawned cold and grey, mirroring his mood, such a contrast to the euphoria he felt yesterday.
He had been practically vibrating with happiness when he returned to Jensen’s after his successful requalification at the range. Jensen broke out a bottle of champagne and threw steaks on the grill to celebrate and then laid Jared out on the couch to show him exactly how proud he was of him.
But after dinner the mood started to change. Jared was fully healed and was now cleared to return to work the next day. There was no more reason for Jared to be staying at Jensen’s house. It was with a heavy heart that he packed his duffle bags, kissed Jensen goodnight and drove away with Harley.
His own house felt cold and empty and he barely slept that night, missing Jensen’s warmth pressed up against him, a feeling he’d become accustomed to after so many weeks.
Jared blew out a breath as he ran. He was tired of hiding his relationship with Jensen. The premiere for Dark Highway was fast approaching and he wanted to be standing next to Jensen on the red carpet, supporting him, instead of watching from the sidelines. He’d respected Jensen’s decision to keep quiet about Mark, and in turn them, but Jensen couldn’t avoid the situation about Mark forever. He needed to take charge of it on his own terms before it somehow blew up in his face. And he needed to know how Jared was feeling about all this. And also that he wouldn’t have to face this on his own. That Jared would be right there by his side, no matter what.
Maybe that would be the encouragement and reassurance that Jensen needed to take back control of his life.
~*~*~*~
The weather started to clear as the day went on, and by noon there was more sun than clouds. Jared and Harley had just finished up their lunch and gotten back in their squad when their got their first call of the day.
The radio beeped and Amy’s voice came over the speaker. “Six-Adam-Twelve.”
Jared snatched up the mic. “Six-Adam-Twelve, go.”
“Six-Adam-Twelve, Six-Adam-Fifteen is in pursuit of a 459 suspect fleeing on foot and is requesting immediate K-9 assistance. Switch to channel two.”
“10-4. Six-Adam-Twelve, switching to channel two.” Jared reached down and turned the knob on his radio and instantly heard the voice of Claudia’s partner, Andrew Oatley, yelling as he ran.
“-pect was running north on Cherokee from Fountain! I’ve lost him in Delongpre Park!”
Jared broke in on the radio. “Six-Adam-Twelve is responding! ETA is five minutes!”
Jared slammed the mic back down, feeling his heart start to pound as he flipped on the lights and sirens and hit the gas. Their first call since returning to duty – running down a burglary suspect – it was time to prove he and Harley were as good as they ever were.
~*~*~*~
Jared roared up to the entrance of Delongpre Park four minutes later, jumping out and opening the back door for Harley, who immediately sprang out, ears perked up. He knew it was time to go to work. Jared quickly attached Harley’s leash to his collar and then the two of them were running down the main path, toward Andrew and Claudia. The other officers were standing just off the path in front of a long line of dense underbrush that ran along a shallow ravine, guns drawn.
“Tell me,” Jared said the minute he ran up to Andrew and Claudia.
Andrew was still breathing hard. “We were chasing a 459 suspect who crashed his vehicle and fled on foot. We followed him into the park but lost him in this area.”
“Description?” Jared asked.
Claudia spoke up. “White male, 20-25, 5’ 11’, 150 lbs, black hair. Wearing black shorts, grey hoodie, sneakers.”
“Armed?”
“Unknown,” Andrew replied. “Convenience store clerk said he threatened him with a gun, but he never saw it leave his pocket.”
Jared nodded, jaw tight. He hated the unknown. “Where’s the last place you saw him?”
Claudia indicated in front of her. “Pretty much right here. He ducked in there and we never saw him come out.”
Jared nodded again. “Okay, let’s do this.”
Claudia took position off to the left of Jared, while Andrew took position just behind him. Andrew touched Jared on his back.
“Go.”
Jared drew his .45 and looked down at his partner. “Harley, track!”
The big dog’s nose went to the grass instantly, searching for the freshest scent. He circled for a moment at the edge of the underbrush before heading north at a quick pace. All three officers followed, Andrew and Claudia’s eyes peeled for any movement while Jared watched Harley intently. He led them about ten yards from where they originally started then stopped abruptly and tried to lunge forward, barking furiously.
Jared held him back, the dog straining against his collar, growling, barking, trying to get to his prey as all three officers dropped down to a crouch, guns pointed out in front of them. “This is the L.A.P.D!” Jared yelled. “You have ten seconds to come out with your hands up or I’ll send in the dog!”
There was sudden movement in the underbrush and everyone tensed.
“No, don’t!” yelled a male voice. “I’m coming out!”
A moment later the man emerged from the foliage, hands raised above his head.
“On your knees! Hands on top of your head!” Claudia commanded, then flicked a glance at Andrew, who circled behind the man and had him cuffed in moments. A quick search turned up a BB gun in the man’s pocket that looked exactly like a 9mm along with a wad of cash from the convenient store.
Jared kneeled down in front of a hyper Harley, a huge grin on his face, scratching his partner behind his ears. “Good boy, Harley! Good boy!” Harley barked and licked Jared’s face in response.
As Andrew walked past Jared, marching the suspect in front of him, he clapped Jared on the shoulder. “Excellent job, man. Both of you.”
Jared smiled at Harley again. Oh yeah, they were back!
~*~*~*~
Opening night of Dark Highway had finally arrived.
Jared stood in Jensen’s bathroom, toweling off after his shower. He’d only worked a half shift today so that he could get ready for the premiere. As of now, Jared was still going to be driving himself while Jensen took a limo because Jared had yet to talk to Jensen about coming out in the open with their relationship and attending the premiere together. There just never seemed to be the right time. Jared had barely seen Jensen over the last week, the actor’s schedule jam packed with interviews and photo shoots. But now this was it. He’d run out of time, with the red carpet appearance only four hours away.
Jared drew in a long breath and wrapped the towel around his waist. Time to go talk to Jensen.
He stepped out of the bathroom and crossed the hall to the bedroom, every word of his rehearsed speech to Jensen flying out of his head when he saw what was waiting for him – Jensen, lying on his side on the bed, wearing nothing but Jared’s uniform shirt.
Jared’s mouth opened but nothing came out and Jensen chuckled. “Hope you don’t mind,” he said with a sly grin. “I thought I’d start getting a handle on my next character. What it feels like to wear a uniform.” He brought one of his hands to his chest and bunched up the material, giving Jared a view of his hard cock peeking out just below the hem of the shirt.
Jared’s mouth went dry at the sight, his own cock beginning to fill rapidly beneath his towel. He swallowed, his voice coming out hoarse with desire. “Why don’t you come over here and search me, Officer?”
Jensen’s eyes went dark as he swept them up and down Jared’s body, stopping at his groin. “It does look like you’re carrying a concealed weapon,” he replied, sliding off the bed and approaching Jared.
“Up against the wall and spread ‘em,” Jensen commanded, voice husky with arousal.
Jared went willingly, turning to the wall beside the door and placed his palms flat against it, feeling the first drops of pre-come ooze from the slit of his cock.
Jensen stepped up right behind him, his body flush with Jared’s and he shivered at the feel of his own uniform rubbing against him, the cold metal of his badge pressing into his back.
Jensen ran his hands slowly down Jared’s arms, from his wrist to his shoulders, his fingers raising goosebumps on Jared’s bare skin. His hands circled around to Jared’s chest next, sliding down from his collarbone, stopping when his questing fingers found both of Jared’s flat nipples. Jared groaned and jerked as Jensen rolled them between his fingers, teasing them to pebble hardness, the sensation shooting straight down to his cock.
Jensen’s mouth was on his neck then, kissing hot and wet against his skin as he rocked against him, his hard cock pressing into the soft cotton of the towel. Jared wanted to speak, to beg Jensen to tear away the towel and slide deep inside him, but he couldn’t form the words, carried away by the sensations Jensen was creating inside him.
Jensen’s fingers left his nipples then and scratched lightly down his abs and stomach, making Jared shiver once more. His hands slid down over the front of the towel where they cupped the heavy weight of Jared’s cock and balls. Jared moaned as Jensen fondled him through the material, the head of his cock now sticky with pre-come.
Jensen chuckled against Jared’s neck. “Hmmm, you’re definitely packing,” he smirked. “I think you need to be searched much more thoroughly…”
He spun Jared around then, marched him backwards toward the bed, and when the backs of Jared’s legs hit the mattress he pushed against Jared’s chest, sending him sprawling onto his back. Jared scrambled up further onto the bed as Jensen crawled up onto it, straddling Jared’s body.
Jensen’s hands reached for Jared’s towel the same time Jared’s fingers reached for the buttons on his uniform shirt. Jensen stripped the towel away and sent it fluttering to the floor, then helped Jared’s fumbling fingers with the buttons. But when he went to push the shirt off his shoulders, Jared stopped him.
“No…leave it on…” he breathed roughly, then pulled Jensen down on top of him.
Their mouths collided, Jensen’s fingers tangling Jared’s hair as Jared’s hands slid up the back of the shirt, pressing Jensen down even tighter against him. As their tongues did sensuous battle with one another Jensen began moving restlessly on top of Jared, pushing his ass back against the head of Jared’s cock until it was pressed right against the puckered muscle of Jensen’s entrance.
Jensen broke the kiss then, breathing short and fast. “Jared…” he moaned, pushing back again. “Please…want you in me. Need to feel you so fucking bad…”
At Jensen’s plea Jared’s heart skipped a beat and he forgot how to breathe. In all the months they’d been together Jensen had never asked for this and Jared had never brought up the suggestion. He was more than happy to bottom and give control over to Jensen, something the other man hadn’t had in over a year with Mark.
But now…now Jensen was ready to truly give the last piece of himself to Jared.
Jared felt his throat close up with emotion. “God, Jen…” he whispered. “I want that…I want that, too…”
Then Jensen’s mouth was covering his again, hard and fast until they were both dizzy with desire and desperate to join their bodies together. Jensen sat up and leaned sideways, opening the nightstand drawer and withdrawing a tube of lube. He snicked open the cap and coated the palm of his hand, then tossed the tube onto the bed. He reached behind him, his slick hand encircling the length of Jared’s hard cock, coating it with the lube from tip to root. Jared couldn’t help throwing his head back at the feeling, his eyes sliding closed. But he opened them again when he felt Jensen guide him to his entrance and start pushing down.
“God, Jen, wait…don’t want to hurt you…let me – “
But Jensen shook his head. “I already did…when you were in the shower…”
Jared’s breath stuttered as his mind conjured up an image of Jensen sliding his fingers into himself, stretching himself, opening himself up for Jared’s cock. “Jesus…”
“Didn’t wanna wait,” Jensen panted, pushing down again. “Wanted you – oh, God…Jared…” he gasped as the head of Jared’s cock slipped inside his body.
Jared sucked in a sharp breath as his cock was gripped in tight heat, surrounded so intimately by Jensen’s body, hands grasping at Jensen’s hips, careful not to grip too hard. He would never, ever leave a bruise on Jensen’s skin.
Jensen worked his way down Jared’s cock in slow, steady movements until he had taken all of Jared in, leaving both men breathing hard.
“God…you feel so good, Jare,” Jensen breathed, throwing his head back. “Jesus, I’m so full…” he moaned, eyes sliding closed.
Jared stroked his thumbs across Jensen’s hips, his voice high and thready when he spoke. “Ride me, Jen…God, please…”
Jensen opened his eyes and looked down at Jared, his gaze so full of heat and passion that it threatened to burn Jared up from the inside. Then he leaned forward a bit, bracing his hands on Jared’s chest, and raised up on his knees, letting Jared’s cock slide out of his body until only the engorged head remained inside. And then in one fluid movement sank all the way back down.
Both men groaned sharply at the sensation and Jensen set up a steady rhythm, riding Jared hard, trying to take him deeper each time. Jared ran his hands up Jensen’s muscular chest, rubbing his thumbs across Jensen’s nipples as Jensen’s fingers flexed on Jared’s skin.
Jared let his hands drift downward again, one curling around Jensen’s hip, the other curling around Jensen’s hard cock, stroking quickly, firmly. Jensen jerked, mouth falling open with a silent moan. He shifted then, leaning forward to brace a hand next to Jared’s head. Jared could tell it was the change in position he was searching for as he gasped sharply, grinding himself down even harder on Jared’s cock.
“Is that it, Jen? Right there?” Jared asked breathlessly, bucking up his hips this time as Jensen pushed down.
“Yes!” Jensen shook against him, his rhythm faltering and Jared could feel the tremors racing under Jensen’s skin.
“Let go, Jen…” Jared urged him. “Just let go…”
“Jared…” Jensen practically sobbed. “Love how you feel in me…so hard…gonna make me come…God…”
Looking up, Jared wished he could he could freeze this moment in time, to capture Jensen just like this – wearing Jared’s shirt, skin flushed, eyes dark with lust, lip caught between his bottom teeth, cock jutting out proudly from his body, moments away from climax.
He was beautiful.
And then Jensen fell over the edge, shattering apart above him with a sharp cry of completion, his cock pulsing in Jared’s grasp, his release flowing hot and thick over Jared’s chest.
As Jensen’s body clamped down around him, Jared felt his own climax surge like a freight train through his body, starting deep in his balls, stealing his breath with its intensity as it raced up his spine. One thrust, two…and he was gone. He felt his cock swell an instant before he filled Jensen with slick, wet heat again and again.
Jensen groaned long and low, clutching at Jared’s shoulders as Jared climaxed. “Don’t stop, don’t stop…oh God, Jared,” he keened, squeezing his internal muscles around Jared’s cock, drawing out Jared’s orgasm, Jensen’s own cock releasing another thick rope of semen at the feel of Jared coming inside him.
Finally both men were spent, trembling against one another. Jared drew Jensen down to him, held him close, felt the pounding of his heart against his chest that matched his own.
“I love you,” Jared whispered, voice full of emotion.
Jensen raised his head, green eyes shining with warmth. “I love you, too,” he murmured. “You mean everything to me, Jared.”
They kissed then, long and slow, tongues sliding lazily against each other, their bodies warm and sated. They gradually pulled apart with contented sighs, their foreheads resting together, neither quite ready to move from one another’s arms. But eventually Jensen raised up and shifted, Jared’s cock slipping slowly from his body and both men couldn’t help but groan softly at the feeling. Jensen laid down on the bed beside Jared as Jared reached to the floor and snagged his discarded towel, using it to clean both of them up as best he could, but they were both going to need another shower.
Jared took a deep breath as he looked at Jensen lying next to him. No more stalling now.
“Jen,” he started, taking Jensen’s hand in his. “I need to talk to you about something. Will you promise to let me finish before you say anything?”
Jensen’s eyebrows drew together in concern. “Okay,” he said warily.
Jared nodded, then began. “I want to go to the premiere with you tonight. In the limo with you. I want to be there with you on the red carpet, supporting you, instead of looking at you from the other side of the barriers.” He squeezed Jensen’s hand, his voice soft. “I’m tired of hiding, Jen. I want everyone to know how much I love you. I know you’re still afraid of people finding out about what happened between you and Mark. But what’s going to happen when you get out of that limo alone tonight? Mark’s been with you at every one of these events for three years. Questions are going to start getting asked, no matter what, after tonight. I’m not saying you need to announce on the red carpet what happened between the two of you, but you can at least be the one to take control of the situation instead of the press.”
Jensen was silent for a long minute, deep in thought, his expression giving nothing away to Jared. Finally he dropped his gaze, looking down at their entwined hands before looking back at Jared.
“You’re right,” Jensen admitted quietly. “I can’t avoid this forever. And I’m sorry,” he apologized, squeezing Jared’s hand. “None of this has been fair to you, making you keep our relationship a secret because I couldn’t face talking about Mark.” He paused. “But Jare, are you ready for this? Once we go public your life is going to change in a drastic way. The press will have your life under a microscope in a heartbeat and will follow you around whenever they can.”
Jared smiled. “Jen, I’ve got nothing to hide. No skeletons in my closet. If the L.A.P.D.’s background check passed me with flying colors the paparazzi don’t scare me one bit.” He jostled their hands. “So…does this mean I get to go to work with you tonight?” he joked.
Jensen laughed. “You bet you do,” he answered, drawing Jared in for a kiss. “And I can’t wait to show you off.”
~*~*~*~
CHAPTER FIVE
Author:
agt_spookyPairing: Jensen/Jared
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 45,121
Genre: Police AU
Warnings/Spoilers: domestic violence themes
Disclaimer: It’s RPS, people. It never happened, but I wish it would. :-)
Author’s Notes: Many thanks to
sn_24lover, charityflint and queeberquabbler for their beta work and invaluable input. Thank you for being my cheerleaders!Summary: For K-9 Officer Jared Padalecki, transferring from the San Antonio police department to the elite L.A.P.D. was a dream come true. He nearly forgets he’s in Hollywood until he responds to a 911 call that brings him to the home of actor Jensen Ackles.
It appeared that Jensen had it all – a career that was on fire and a loving, long-term relationship with his partner, Mark. But then Jared uncovers the truth that Jensen had been trying to hide, and the illusion comes crashing down.
Can Jared help Jensen break free of a life he’s convinced he deserves before it’s too late, and in the process help them both find love?
agt_spooky)Previous chapters: Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3
After cleaning themselves up, they pulled back the blankets and crawled in, making themselves a comfortable cocoon where they slept for several hours in each other’s embrace, sated and warm.
Eventually Jared stirred, feeling Jensen’s fingers tracing softly over his chest and he blinked open his eyes to see Jensen gazing back at him with a soft smile on his face.
“Hey,” Jared whispered, leaning in for a lingering kiss.
“I’m sorry about earlier today,” Jensen apologized. “You were right, I shouldn’t have interferred. You know how to do your job.” He took a breath. “Did I get you in trouble with Jeff?”
“He laid into me pretty good,” Jared answered. “But in the end he realized that your actions were beyond my control and my probation status is still okay.”
Jensen blew out a relieved breath. “Thank God. I know what I did was stupid, but can you answer me something?”
“Sure, what?”
“If the situation had been reversed, what would you have done?” Jensen asked softly.
Jared closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Jensen’s. He had him and Jensen knew it. “The same damn thing,” he admitted. “So I guess I can’t be mad at you,” he smiled warmly, then kissed Jensen again for long moments before pulling back with a long, contented sigh.
“I love you,” Jared breathed against Jensen’s lips. “I think from the moment I met you.”
“I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you,” Jensen apologized.
Jared shook his head. “Don’t be,” he said gently. “You needed to be sure.”
“I am,” came Jensen’s heartfelt reply. “Thank you for waiting.”
“It was worth it,” Jared smiled, pulling Jensen close. “God, it was worth it,” he murmured, kissing Jensen long and slow.
He felt his arousal build again, rolling through him in gentle waves this time, felt Jensen’s answering desire as he grew and lengthened against Jared’s leg.
“Want you again, Jare…need you so damn bad…” Jensen breathed, his hips moving restlessly.
“Jesus…yes…want you in me,” Jared answered, voice low, needy.
“Turn over, on your side,” Jensen directed him and Jared eagerly complied.
Jensen pressed himself up against Jared’s back, all heat and muscle and smooth skin. “Gonna do this slow and deep,” he promised, his rough voice sending a shiver down Jared’s spine in anticipation as he heard the cap of the lube snap open.
He bent Jared’s top leg up slightly, exposing Jared’s opening, and then his cock was there, rubbing against his balls, eliciting a soft groan from Jared. Then the head was pushing, pushing with a slow insistence that left Jared gasping.
His body opened around Jensen easily this time, still slick and filled with Jensen’s release, his cock stretching him an inch at a time, letting Jared feel all of him, how hard he was for Jared. He could hear his own fast breathing in his ears, his heart picking up its pace.
Jensen’s hand gripped his hip tightly, fingers digging into Jared’s skin. “Jared…oh, fuck, Jare…” he groaned, still pressing inward with his cock.
Nearly insane now with the need and desire to have Jensen buried balls-deep inside him, Jared shifted his hips backwards, taking Jensen in that last inch, the heat of Jensen’s smooth groin and balls searing into his skin.
“I love you,” Jensen whispered and Jared fought to swallow around the lump of emotion in his throat as Jensen kissed him tenderly on his neck.
They moved together in slow, soul-searing passion and Jared had never felt like this, ever. Never felt closer to anyone in his life like he did with Jensen.
Working slow and steady, Jensen pushing so deep inside him, they brought each other to orgasm again, Jared spilling over Jensen’s fingers moments before Jensen filled him for a second time.
And to Jared, as he lay there with Jensen pressed so tightly against him, the older man’s hand resting over his heart, this sure felt like a Hollywood happy ending to him.
~*~*~*~
Several weeks later found Jared and Harley on patrol on the night shift. One of the other K-9 units was down with the flu, so the rest of the division was taking turns filling in, and tonight was Jared’s turn.
Hollywood was different at night. More alive. People crowded the streets, going to bars and restaurants, even after midnight. Jared yawned, unaccustomed to working this late. Even Harley was dozing off in the backseat as Jared cruised slowly up and down Sunset Boulevard. But his ears perked up when he heard the familiar beeping of the radio.
“Six-Adam-Twelve.” It was Garett, one of the third shift dispatchers.
Jared grabbed the mic. “Six-Adam-Twelve, go.”
“Six-Adam-Twelve, report of a man on the road, staggering into traffic near Fountain and Vista. Please respond.”
“10-4. Six-Adam-Twelve, responding.”
Jared flipped on his lights and turned his head toward his partner. “The drunks come out at night, eh, Harley?”
He was unable to locate the man on Fountain when he arrived about five minutes later, so he turned south on Vista. There were no street lights down this residential road, so Jared used his spotlight, sweeping it back and forth. And there, just ahead of him was a man on the left side of the street, staggering further into the road, then back toward the shoulder. From his appearance and direction of travel, Jared guessed he was homeless, heading to Plummer Park just down the street to try and get over the gate and find a bench to sleep on.
Jared pulled off on the shoulder, leaving his red and white lights flashing, his spotlight pointed at the man, and picked up his mic.
“Dispatch, Six-Adam-Twelve.”
“Six-Adam-Twelve, go,” came Garett’s reply.
“Show me Code 6 on Vista, just north of Plummer Park.”
“10-4. Dispatch out.”
Jared replaced the mic and exited his squad. He jogged across the road and approached the man.
“Sir,” he called out. “I’m Officer Padalecki from the L.A.P.D. Can you stop for me, please?”
But the burly man, who appeared to be in his early forties, ignored Jared and continued down the road. It was difficult for Jared to see his face, obscured by the man’s long, stringy blonde hair and the way he was hunched over, hands deep inside the front pocket of his stained, olive-drab hoodie.
Jared walked closer, a step or two behind the man now. “Sir, I need you to stop. I just want to make sure you’re alright – “
The next moments happened in the blink of an eye.
One second the man was walking, the next he was spinning around, lunging at Jared. “NO!” he roared, pulling out a wicked looking knife from inside the pocket of his hoodie, slashing out with it in a wide arc.
All Jared had time to see was a flash of steel reflected in the spotlight before the blade cut deeply all the way across his right bicep, instantly rendering his right arm completely numb. Before Jared could even register the intense pain, the crazed man slammed into him and they hit the ground hard in a tangle of thrashing limbs.
The man kept trying to stab Jared, and now Jared could see in the glare of the spotlight the man’s wide, unfocused eyes and knew without a doubt he wasn’t drunk, but high on meth or crack cocaine. Which made him even more dangerous and gave him abnormal strength on top of it.
They rolled across the ground, Jared trying to grab the man’s left hand with the knife, but he couldn’t feel the fingers on his own right hand, trying to use his forearm to block the stabs. The knife glanced across Jared’s chest, the thickness of his kevlar vest the only thing that saved him.
Jared pushed against the man as hard as he could, managing to knock the man backwards just enough so that Jared could slap his nearly useless right hand against the remote on his belt. He tried desperately to remove his weapon from his holster, but his numb, blood-slicked fingers refused to curl around the grip.
Jared could hear Harley’s furious barking as he jumped from the open back door and he knew he only needed to hold off the drugged man for another minute more before his partner would be there. But the man was quick and swung the knife again at Jared, who tried to scramble backwards out of the way.
He wasn’t fast enough.
The downward arc of the blade slashed across the inside of Jared’s upper right thigh and Jared cried out with the pain, blood flowing freely from the wound. He collapsed back onto the ground just as Harley arrived. The bull mastiff was aiming for the man’s upper left arm that held the knife, but at the last second the man twisted, and Harley hit the man’s shoulder, unable to get a firm grip with his teeth. The force of the impact knocked the man away from Jared and he fell onto his back. Harley lunged again, snarling, teeth bared, his only instinct to protect Jared, no matter what the cost.
And this time…this time it may be with his life.
The blade flashed again in the spotlight in an upward thrust and a horrible, pain-filled squeal from Harley filled Jared’s ears a second later.
“NO!” Jared cried out as his partner’s body landed next to him in the dirt.
Jared’s scream startled the man and he looked around wildly before suddenly turning and running off into the night.
Jared’s breathing was ragged, his vision starting to go dark at the edges from the large amount of blood he was losing from his leg, which was starting to grow cold, and from his right arm, a dead weight at his side.
Fighting to hold on to consciousness, Jared lifted up his left hand to press the button on the mic clipped to his shoulder.
“10-99…10-99…” he panted harshly. “Officer…officer down…”
Releasing the mic, Jared reached out with the last of his strength, buried his fingers in Harley’s short fur…and let the darkness claim him.
~*~*~*~
The sound of voices pulled Jared back to consciousness slowly and painfully. He struggled to open his eyes, feeling as if he were underwater, limbs heavy, trying to swim to the surface. He blinked open heavy eyelids, closing them again at the light assaulting his eyes.
“-ared? Jared?”
A familiar voice pulled at him again, preventing him from slipping back into the welcoming darkness.
“Open your eyes for me, okay? C’mon…you can do it…please…”
It was the plea and the sound of Jensen’s voice breaking that gave him the strength to open his eyes once more and hold them open, as hard as it was.
“God, yeah, that’s it…”
Jensen’s face swam into view above him and to his left as he became aware of how much he hurt. His head, his chest, his leg and his arm all throbbed. He grimaced and turned his head toward Jensen, trying to speak, but his throat was too dry to form words.
“Wait, don’t try and talk,” Jensen told him, disappearing from view for a moment, coming back with a cup and straw. “Here, sip this, just a little.” He put his hand behind Jared’s head and helped him lift it up and Jared drank gratefully of the cool water.
Jensen laid his head back gently against the pillow then kissed his dry lips. “Hey, Sleeping Beauty,” he whispered and Jared saw how red his eyes were, how shaky his smile was.
“Hi,” he answered, his own voice scratchy. “God, I hurt…” he groaned, and just like that, the events of the night came rushing back to him with painful clarity and an icy band of fear squeezed his chest.
“Harley! Jen – is he –“ Jared’s words were choked, panicked.
Jensen gripped his hand. “Jare, calm down, calm down. Harley’s alive.”
Jared sucked in a hard, shaky breath, briefly closing his eyes. “Thank god. How is he? Where is he?”
“He’s at the police vet. He was hurt pretty bad. The stab wound was deep,” Jensen told him. “He was in surgery for awhile, but the vet was able to stop the bleeding.” Jensen squeezed his hand. “He’s going to be okay."
“I watched that bastard stab him. I thought I’d lost him,” Jared whispered, feeling tears prick the back of his eyes.
Jensen raised Jared’s hand up to rest against the side of his face. “I thought I’d lost you, too,” he breathed, green eyes shining with his own tears.
“I don’t remember anything after radioing in to dispatch. What happened?”
Jensen took a deep breath. “Jeff’s the one that called me. He told me the knife nicked your femoral artery. By the time the paramedics got there you were in pretty bad shape from all the blood you’d lost.” He laid his other hand on Jared’s chest. “Before they could get you in the ambulance you stopped breathing. They had to do CPR on you.” Jensen’s voice broke and he swallowed hard, brushing at his eyes. “Both you and Harley were in surgery at the same time and I swear I thought the stress was going to kill me, waiting for word on both of you.”
Listening to Jensen talk, hearing the fear in his voice, all Jared could think was, This is it. This is when it all ends. Now he knows how hard being with a cop is and I’m going to lose him.
“Stop it.”
Jensen’s firm voice brought him out of his thoughts.
“I can tell what you’re thinking. It’s written all over your face.” Jensen rose from his chair and sat on the bed next to Jared. “Now listen to me, because I’m only going to say this once.” His gaze was steady, unwavering. “I love you. I love you and I’m not going anywhere. I told you I could handle this, you being a cop, and this was my trial by fire.” He spread his hands open. “And here I am,” he said quietly.
Jared felt his chest constrict with sudden emotion. “I love you. So goddamn much.”
Jensen smiled tenderly at him, then sealed his promise with a kiss.
~*~*~*~
Jared’s long body sliced easily through the crystal clear water, his strokes even and rhythmical, carrying him across the long length of Jensen’s pool. He reached the end, flipped underwater and began the return lap, pushing himself a little harder, a little faster. His fingertips touched the side at the far end and he stopped, bobbing in the water for a moment before hefting himself up and out. He lay down on his back on his towel and closed his eyes, letting the sun warm his body. But a minute later a happy bark from Harley had him sitting up as his partner bounded over, orange rubber ball in his mouth that he dropped at Jared’s side, then looked at him expectedly. Jared grinned and tossed the ball back into the yard, watching as Harley tore off after it.
They’d both come a long way in these last six weeks.
After being released from the hospital and the vet, Jensen insisted that both he and Harley move in with him while they recuperated, an offer that Jared gratefully accepted. He spent most of his time that first week sleeping, Harley’s warm weight pressed up against him, a thick bandage around the dog’s middle matching the two that Jared sported.
The description that Jared was able to give Jeff of his attacker led to the man’s arrest two weeks after Jared was released from the hospital. After identifying the man in a line-up, he was currently being held without bail in the county jail, awaiting trial for attempted murder on a police officer.
Physical therapy had begun for both he and Harley nearly at the same time. The knife had done extensive damage to Jared’s bicep, and regaining strength and flexibility in his arm was crucial. His leg as well was weak from disuse from being unable to put any weight on it after his life saving surgery to repair his femoral artery. The pool in Jensen’s backyard became invaluable during his recovery time, a low-impact way for him to strengthen both his arm and leg muscles.
Jared held his arm up and flexed, made a muscle, not even feeling a twinge of pain, and he smiled, his confidence bolstered for the next day – requalification at the gun range. It was the last step before being allowed to return to active duty, and Jared was itching to get back on the streets.
A strum of a guitar caught his attention and Jared turned to look over at the deck. Chris was seated at the patio table, guitar in hand, sheet music and a pencil on the table, in the midst of composing a new song.
He and Chris had become close friends these last six weeks, after Chris became his designated babysitter. After Jared moved in with Jensen, the actor had wanted to cancel his scheduled meetings with his agent and the writer/director of his upcoming police movie, plus interviews and appearances for Dark Highway while Jared recuperated, not willing to leave Jared by himself while he was still injured.
But ultimately Jensen realized that this would raise suspicions as to why he was suddenly withdrawing from the media. It could eventually get out that Jared was living with Jensen and in turn bring to light the situation with Mark that Jensen was still avoiding dealing with.
In the end, Chris had volunteered to come over whenever Jensen was working to help Jared out, and a strong friendship had formed between the two men. Jared hadn’t needed any help for the last couple of weeks, but Chris still came over to hang out and Jared enjoyed his company.
Jared sighed and looked around the yard - at Chris, at Harley rolling around in the grass, at the house he’d thought of as his home for the last six weeks. It was going to be hard to leave all of this, and Jensen most of all, and move back to his own place in the next couple of days. It was going to be lonely.
“Well, hey, Mr. Movie Star. Have they ordered your star for the Walk of Fame yet?”
Jared turned his head at the sound of Chris’s voice, and saw Jensen stepping out of the French doors and out onto the deck, looking every bit the Hollywood actor in his loose, white linen shirt, khaki pants, loafers and sunglasses.
Jensen rolled his eyes and shook his head, smacking Chris on his shoulder. “Shut up,” Jensen replied good naturedly.
As Jensen chatted with Chris for a bit, Jared felt his heart swell with love for the green-eyed man. Jensen had been amazing this last month and a half. It’d been hard for both Jared and Harley to get around due to their injuries, and Jensen was always right there, helping them both in any way he could. Even picking up Harley and taking him outside, then carrying him back in several times a day. He even put up with Jared’s bad moods and anger when he felt his physical therapy wasn’t going well, which would endanger his career as a K-9 officer if he didn’t make a full recovery. But Jensen withstood it all, encouraging Jared not to give up and work harder. And with Jensen’s support he did, which brought him to where he was today – one day away from returning to duty.
Jared watched as Chris stood and gathered up his things, raising a hand up to Jared. “Later, man!”
“You got it!” Jared called back. “Song’s sounding great, man!”
Chris clapped Jensen on his shoulder then left, and Jensen walked down off the deck to the edge of the pool. Jared slipped back into the water and swam to where Jensen was standing, resting his folded arms on the edge.
“Hey,” Jensen smiled down at him, settling his sunglasses on the top of his head, eyes like emeralds in the sunlight.
“Hey yourself. How’d your meeting go?”
“Really good. The script’s almost finalized now. They’ll start sending out casting calls soon for all of the supporting parts.” Jensen turned to look over at Harley and grinned. “Including dogs.” Jensen hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “I’m gonna make some lunch. Hungry?”
Jared tried not to let his smirk show. Oh, he was hungry all right. But not for food.
“Yeah,” he answered, holding up a hand. “Help me up?”
Jared could tell Jensen realized his mistake the moment he grasped Jared’s hand, at the mischievous grin Jared finally let loose.
“No, don’t –“
That’s all Jensen got out as Jared pulled hard, sending Jensen toppling head over heels into the pool with a huge splash. Jared laughed as Jensen resurfaced, sputtering, wiping water out of his eyes.
“You jerk!” Jensen swore at him without anger, smacking Jared in the chest.
Jared only laughed again, hooking an arm around Jensen’s waist, pulling him flush against his body. “You love me and you know it,” he grinned.
Jensen settled his arms around Jared’s neck. “God help me, but I do,” he admitted with a soft smile.
Jared let one of his hands drift downward, to cup the swell of Jensen’s ass, his desire clear, his body starting to respond to the closeness of Jensen’s own.
Six weeks. It’d been six weeks with no kind of sexual activity between them at all. With Jared’s wound so close to his groin, Jensen had put his foot down, despite Jared’s protests, refusing to take the chance on aggravating the injury or pulling Jared’s stitches. But Jared was finally healed now, been given the all clear by his doctor and all he wanted was the one thing he’d been denied for so long – Jensen buried deep inside him.
“God, I need you,” Jared growled, dipping his head for a hard, fast kiss.
Jensen cupped his head, ran his fingers through Jared’s wet hair and kissed him back with equal passion. Jared’s other hand wandered up Jensen’s chest, over the wet material clinging to his body to find and tease a flat nipple to pebble hardness.
Jensen jerked and moaned at the sensation, his cock growing and hardening against Jared’s own, pushing his hips into Jared. Jared pulled back from the kiss, breathing hard, pulling at the wet material of Jensen’s shirt. Liquid heat was pooling in his groin, his cock fully erect and pushing at the fabric of his swim trunks.
“Want you in me, right here…in the water…” Jared panted, feeling his balls throb at the erotic thought.
Jensen’s eyes went instantly dark with arousal. “Jesus…yeah...” he breathed, attacking Jared’s mouth again, walking forward until Jared’s back was up against the side of the pool.
They kissed until Jared couldn’t breathe, mouths slanting against one another fierce and demanding, weeks of pent up desire finally being released. Jared’s hands went back to Jensen’s shirt and they pulled apart long enough to strip their clothing away, various articles floating away across the pool.
Naked now, the sun warming their water slicked skin, they let their hands wander across each other’s bodies, over hard muscles and smooth skin, relearning the feel of one another after so many weeks apart.
“Turn around,” Jensen finally breathed, his cock pushing insistently against Jared’s own.
Jared turned and faced the side of the pool, bracing his hands in front of him, pulse quickening in anticipation.
Jensen stepped up close, molding his body to Jared’s long, naked back, and kissed his way down the side of Jared’s neck and over his shoulder while his fingers pinched and rolled both of Jared’s nipples. Jared closed his eyes and groaned, tipping his face up to the sun, letting the sensations Jensen was creating course through his body. His hips started moving of their own accord, his cock jutting out in front of him, seeking friction in the smooth water.
He felt Jensen’s own cock then, pushing against his ass, and Jared spread his legs wide, bending his upper body over slightly. Jensen’s cock slipped easily between his legs, nudging against Jared’s heavy balls for a moment before withdrawing, to be replaced by Jensen’s fingers.
With the water slicking the way, Jensen slid one finger past the puckered muscle of Jared’s entrance and Jared couldn’t help the tremor that raced through him.
“More, Jen, please,” Jared moaned. “Need you so fucking bad…”
A second finger joined the first, stretching him, crooking just so, finding the spot that made him jerk and shudder, his cock releasing another burst of precome into the water.
Before he could beg, Jensen’s fingers were sliding out of his body, and the engorged head of his cock was pressing against his opening. Jensen’s hands gripped his hips and he kissed along Jared’s back.
“Gonna make this so good,” he promised, then pushed with his hips, his cock finally, finally sinking deep inside Jared’s body.
Jared cried out with the feeling of incredible fullness as Jensen’s thick cock filled him up again after so long.
“So tight, Jare…feel so good…” Jensen panted, sliding out then pushing back in again, hard, fingers digging into Jared’s hips.
He set up a fast rhythm, thrusting over and over into Jared, creating ripples and waves in the warm water that flowed around their bodies, heightening the experience of making love in the pool.
Neither of them were going to last long, not after being denied this intimacy for weeks. Jared could already feel Jensen faltering in his rhythm, his hips stuttering. Jared’s own balls were drawing up, the beginnings of his orgasm curling deep inside his belly.
“Wish you could see this, Jare,” Jensen said, voice deep and husky. “The way your body stretches around me…God…” he groaned, and suddenly Jared could feel Jensen’s finger there, tracing around where they were joined as he continued to thrust, setting off sparks behind Jared’s eyes.
“Jesus…Jensen…” he ground out, unable to stop the flames of his release licking up his spine now, moments from climax.
And when Jensen’s finger slid in alongside his cock, stretching Jared even further, he shattered into a million pieces. His orgasm so strong, so powerful, his vision whited out as his cock, completely untouched, pulsed again and again in the water, releasing thick, white streams.
He was still coming when Jensen found his own completion a moment later, his cock swelling inside Jared an instant before Jared was filled with liquid heat. Jared’s moan was long and deep at the dual sensations that seemed to go on and on.
Long minutes later both men quieted, Jensen’s arms encircling Jared, his head resting against Jared’s back.
“Don’t wanna move,” Jensen murmured. “Wanna stay right here, just like this, inside you.”
Jared sighed contentedly and reached back to run his hand along Jensen’s side. “I wish you could, too. Love the way you feel in me.” Then he chuckled. “Might make it difficult to go to work, however.”
He felt Jensen smile against his skin then lift up, shifting his hips back. Jared groaned at the feel of Jensen’s semi-hard cock sliding out of his body ever so slowly, Jensen drawing it out as much as possible until he slipped free.
Jared turned in the water and reached for Jensen. “C’mere,” he smiled gently, cupping the other man’s face for a tender kiss. “That was amazing, thank you.”
Jensen’s green eyes were filled with love, clear and bright as he smiled in reply, running his hands along Jared’s arms, stopping when he reached Jared’s right bicep. He turned his head, kissing the scar there that marred the smooth skin and Jared felt his chest constrict with sudden emotion.
“Are you ready for tomorrow?” Jensen asked.
Jared swallowed around the lump in his throat. “I am now.”
~*~*~*~
The next afternoon Jared hopped out of his truck and headed for the officer’s entrance of the police station, tugging on his shirt to smooth it down. Technically he didn’t need to wear his uniform to requalify on the range today, but Jared had missed it’s familiar feel and the heavy weight of his gun belt at his waist after so long.
He’d no more than stepped through the doors and he was surrounded by his fellow officers, who smiled and shook his hand and clapped him on the shoulder, glad to see Jared up and around again.
“Thanks, guys,” Jared smiled. “I really appreciate all of you coming to visit me in the hospital.” Then he looked at Claudia and Paul. “And for visiting Harley at the vet as well.”
“He’s part of the team, too!” Claudia grinned.
Ray Parker stuck out his hand. “Good luck on the range today, man. You’ll be back out on duty in no time.”
Jared returned the handshake with a smile. “Thanks, Ray. I’ll be seeing you guys out on the street soon.”
~*~*~*~
The range master on duty that day was Sergeant Isabelle Rousseau, and she greeted Jared with a warm smile and handshake.
“Good to see you, Jared,” she nodded. “Ready to get this formality out of the way and get you back in your squad?”
“More than ready, Sarge.”
“Okay, you know the drill. We’ve got you set up at station two. Head on in.”
Jared nodded and entered the range, noticing that he was the only one in there that day, and walked down to station two. Laid out for him were his safety glass, ear protection and three full clips. Jared removed his Colt .45 from his holster and laid it next to the clips, then put on his glasses and ear protection. He took a moment to look at the target hanging in front of him, then cleared his mind, concentrating on the task to come. He needed to fire off four full clips of ten rounds each at the target, hitting center mass or headshots in order for it to count. As he would stop to reload, the target would move further away. He had two minutes to fire off all forty rounds and needed a score of 30 out of 40 in order to pass.
Jared took a deep, steadying breath and raised his hand, his signal to the range master that he was ready. Sergeant Rousseau’s voice came over the loudspeaker.
“Ready…fire.”
Jared’s coiled body sprang into action, snatching up his Colt quick as lightning and started firing. The recoil of the first shot reverberated down his previously injured arm causing a barely noticeable flinch as the healed muscle was put to the test for the first time. After that Jared felt nothing at all from his bicep as his finger squeezed off one round after another. His breathing was short but even, pulse picking up its pace as he emptied one clip and reloaded another, his focus entirely on the target that was getting progressively further away and the clock counting down the seconds.
Three clips down, one to go, the smell of cordite and the sound of gunfire filling the range as spent casings fell like rain to pool at Jared’s feet.
And there… the last bullet ejected from Jared’s Colt and tore it’s way through the target…with twenty seconds remaining on the clock.
Jared stood still for a moment and breathed deep, bringing his pulse rate back down. It was hard to see at this distance how many of his shots might have missed the target, but Jared felt confident he’d passed.
Sergeant Rousseau came out of the control center and walked down-range to retrieve Jared’s target. In her hand was a red marker that she would use to circle any missed shots. Jared saw her hand moving and waited expectantly for her to return to his station.
Finally she pulled the target down, rolled it up and walked up to Jared, her face expressionless, giving Jared no indication of his fate. When she was standing in front of him she unrolled the target without a word, Jared’s score written in red in – 36/40.
Jared’s jaw dropped and Isabelle smiled. “Congratulations, Officer Padalecki. You passed with flying colors.” She held out her hand. “Welcome back to duty.”
~*~*~*~
Jared’s sneakered feet slapped rhythmically against the damp pavement as he ran through the park in the light rain, Harley at his side. The morning had dawned cold and grey, mirroring his mood, such a contrast to the euphoria he felt yesterday.
He had been practically vibrating with happiness when he returned to Jensen’s after his successful requalification at the range. Jensen broke out a bottle of champagne and threw steaks on the grill to celebrate and then laid Jared out on the couch to show him exactly how proud he was of him.
But after dinner the mood started to change. Jared was fully healed and was now cleared to return to work the next day. There was no more reason for Jared to be staying at Jensen’s house. It was with a heavy heart that he packed his duffle bags, kissed Jensen goodnight and drove away with Harley.
His own house felt cold and empty and he barely slept that night, missing Jensen’s warmth pressed up against him, a feeling he’d become accustomed to after so many weeks.
Jared blew out a breath as he ran. He was tired of hiding his relationship with Jensen. The premiere for Dark Highway was fast approaching and he wanted to be standing next to Jensen on the red carpet, supporting him, instead of watching from the sidelines. He’d respected Jensen’s decision to keep quiet about Mark, and in turn them, but Jensen couldn’t avoid the situation about Mark forever. He needed to take charge of it on his own terms before it somehow blew up in his face. And he needed to know how Jared was feeling about all this. And also that he wouldn’t have to face this on his own. That Jared would be right there by his side, no matter what.
Maybe that would be the encouragement and reassurance that Jensen needed to take back control of his life.
~*~*~*~
The weather started to clear as the day went on, and by noon there was more sun than clouds. Jared and Harley had just finished up their lunch and gotten back in their squad when their got their first call of the day.
The radio beeped and Amy’s voice came over the speaker. “Six-Adam-Twelve.”
Jared snatched up the mic. “Six-Adam-Twelve, go.”
“Six-Adam-Twelve, Six-Adam-Fifteen is in pursuit of a 459 suspect fleeing on foot and is requesting immediate K-9 assistance. Switch to channel two.”
“10-4. Six-Adam-Twelve, switching to channel two.” Jared reached down and turned the knob on his radio and instantly heard the voice of Claudia’s partner, Andrew Oatley, yelling as he ran.
“-pect was running north on Cherokee from Fountain! I’ve lost him in Delongpre Park!”
Jared broke in on the radio. “Six-Adam-Twelve is responding! ETA is five minutes!”
Jared slammed the mic back down, feeling his heart start to pound as he flipped on the lights and sirens and hit the gas. Their first call since returning to duty – running down a burglary suspect – it was time to prove he and Harley were as good as they ever were.
~*~*~*~
Jared roared up to the entrance of Delongpre Park four minutes later, jumping out and opening the back door for Harley, who immediately sprang out, ears perked up. He knew it was time to go to work. Jared quickly attached Harley’s leash to his collar and then the two of them were running down the main path, toward Andrew and Claudia. The other officers were standing just off the path in front of a long line of dense underbrush that ran along a shallow ravine, guns drawn.
“Tell me,” Jared said the minute he ran up to Andrew and Claudia.
Andrew was still breathing hard. “We were chasing a 459 suspect who crashed his vehicle and fled on foot. We followed him into the park but lost him in this area.”
“Description?” Jared asked.
Claudia spoke up. “White male, 20-25, 5’ 11’, 150 lbs, black hair. Wearing black shorts, grey hoodie, sneakers.”
“Armed?”
“Unknown,” Andrew replied. “Convenience store clerk said he threatened him with a gun, but he never saw it leave his pocket.”
Jared nodded, jaw tight. He hated the unknown. “Where’s the last place you saw him?”
Claudia indicated in front of her. “Pretty much right here. He ducked in there and we never saw him come out.”
Jared nodded again. “Okay, let’s do this.”
Claudia took position off to the left of Jared, while Andrew took position just behind him. Andrew touched Jared on his back.
“Go.”
Jared drew his .45 and looked down at his partner. “Harley, track!”
The big dog’s nose went to the grass instantly, searching for the freshest scent. He circled for a moment at the edge of the underbrush before heading north at a quick pace. All three officers followed, Andrew and Claudia’s eyes peeled for any movement while Jared watched Harley intently. He led them about ten yards from where they originally started then stopped abruptly and tried to lunge forward, barking furiously.
Jared held him back, the dog straining against his collar, growling, barking, trying to get to his prey as all three officers dropped down to a crouch, guns pointed out in front of them. “This is the L.A.P.D!” Jared yelled. “You have ten seconds to come out with your hands up or I’ll send in the dog!”
There was sudden movement in the underbrush and everyone tensed.
“No, don’t!” yelled a male voice. “I’m coming out!”
A moment later the man emerged from the foliage, hands raised above his head.
“On your knees! Hands on top of your head!” Claudia commanded, then flicked a glance at Andrew, who circled behind the man and had him cuffed in moments. A quick search turned up a BB gun in the man’s pocket that looked exactly like a 9mm along with a wad of cash from the convenient store.
Jared kneeled down in front of a hyper Harley, a huge grin on his face, scratching his partner behind his ears. “Good boy, Harley! Good boy!” Harley barked and licked Jared’s face in response.
As Andrew walked past Jared, marching the suspect in front of him, he clapped Jared on the shoulder. “Excellent job, man. Both of you.”
Jared smiled at Harley again. Oh yeah, they were back!
~*~*~*~
Opening night of Dark Highway had finally arrived.
Jared stood in Jensen’s bathroom, toweling off after his shower. He’d only worked a half shift today so that he could get ready for the premiere. As of now, Jared was still going to be driving himself while Jensen took a limo because Jared had yet to talk to Jensen about coming out in the open with their relationship and attending the premiere together. There just never seemed to be the right time. Jared had barely seen Jensen over the last week, the actor’s schedule jam packed with interviews and photo shoots. But now this was it. He’d run out of time, with the red carpet appearance only four hours away.
Jared drew in a long breath and wrapped the towel around his waist. Time to go talk to Jensen.
He stepped out of the bathroom and crossed the hall to the bedroom, every word of his rehearsed speech to Jensen flying out of his head when he saw what was waiting for him – Jensen, lying on his side on the bed, wearing nothing but Jared’s uniform shirt.
Jared’s mouth opened but nothing came out and Jensen chuckled. “Hope you don’t mind,” he said with a sly grin. “I thought I’d start getting a handle on my next character. What it feels like to wear a uniform.” He brought one of his hands to his chest and bunched up the material, giving Jared a view of his hard cock peeking out just below the hem of the shirt.
Jared’s mouth went dry at the sight, his own cock beginning to fill rapidly beneath his towel. He swallowed, his voice coming out hoarse with desire. “Why don’t you come over here and search me, Officer?”
Jensen’s eyes went dark as he swept them up and down Jared’s body, stopping at his groin. “It does look like you’re carrying a concealed weapon,” he replied, sliding off the bed and approaching Jared.
“Up against the wall and spread ‘em,” Jensen commanded, voice husky with arousal.
Jared went willingly, turning to the wall beside the door and placed his palms flat against it, feeling the first drops of pre-come ooze from the slit of his cock.
Jensen stepped up right behind him, his body flush with Jared’s and he shivered at the feel of his own uniform rubbing against him, the cold metal of his badge pressing into his back.
Jensen ran his hands slowly down Jared’s arms, from his wrist to his shoulders, his fingers raising goosebumps on Jared’s bare skin. His hands circled around to Jared’s chest next, sliding down from his collarbone, stopping when his questing fingers found both of Jared’s flat nipples. Jared groaned and jerked as Jensen rolled them between his fingers, teasing them to pebble hardness, the sensation shooting straight down to his cock.
Jensen’s mouth was on his neck then, kissing hot and wet against his skin as he rocked against him, his hard cock pressing into the soft cotton of the towel. Jared wanted to speak, to beg Jensen to tear away the towel and slide deep inside him, but he couldn’t form the words, carried away by the sensations Jensen was creating inside him.
Jensen’s fingers left his nipples then and scratched lightly down his abs and stomach, making Jared shiver once more. His hands slid down over the front of the towel where they cupped the heavy weight of Jared’s cock and balls. Jared moaned as Jensen fondled him through the material, the head of his cock now sticky with pre-come.
Jensen chuckled against Jared’s neck. “Hmmm, you’re definitely packing,” he smirked. “I think you need to be searched much more thoroughly…”
He spun Jared around then, marched him backwards toward the bed, and when the backs of Jared’s legs hit the mattress he pushed against Jared’s chest, sending him sprawling onto his back. Jared scrambled up further onto the bed as Jensen crawled up onto it, straddling Jared’s body.
Jensen’s hands reached for Jared’s towel the same time Jared’s fingers reached for the buttons on his uniform shirt. Jensen stripped the towel away and sent it fluttering to the floor, then helped Jared’s fumbling fingers with the buttons. But when he went to push the shirt off his shoulders, Jared stopped him.
“No…leave it on…” he breathed roughly, then pulled Jensen down on top of him.
Their mouths collided, Jensen’s fingers tangling Jared’s hair as Jared’s hands slid up the back of the shirt, pressing Jensen down even tighter against him. As their tongues did sensuous battle with one another Jensen began moving restlessly on top of Jared, pushing his ass back against the head of Jared’s cock until it was pressed right against the puckered muscle of Jensen’s entrance.
Jensen broke the kiss then, breathing short and fast. “Jared…” he moaned, pushing back again. “Please…want you in me. Need to feel you so fucking bad…”
At Jensen’s plea Jared’s heart skipped a beat and he forgot how to breathe. In all the months they’d been together Jensen had never asked for this and Jared had never brought up the suggestion. He was more than happy to bottom and give control over to Jensen, something the other man hadn’t had in over a year with Mark.
But now…now Jensen was ready to truly give the last piece of himself to Jared.
Jared felt his throat close up with emotion. “God, Jen…” he whispered. “I want that…I want that, too…”
Then Jensen’s mouth was covering his again, hard and fast until they were both dizzy with desire and desperate to join their bodies together. Jensen sat up and leaned sideways, opening the nightstand drawer and withdrawing a tube of lube. He snicked open the cap and coated the palm of his hand, then tossed the tube onto the bed. He reached behind him, his slick hand encircling the length of Jared’s hard cock, coating it with the lube from tip to root. Jared couldn’t help throwing his head back at the feeling, his eyes sliding closed. But he opened them again when he felt Jensen guide him to his entrance and start pushing down.
“God, Jen, wait…don’t want to hurt you…let me – “
But Jensen shook his head. “I already did…when you were in the shower…”
Jared’s breath stuttered as his mind conjured up an image of Jensen sliding his fingers into himself, stretching himself, opening himself up for Jared’s cock. “Jesus…”
“Didn’t wanna wait,” Jensen panted, pushing down again. “Wanted you – oh, God…Jared…” he gasped as the head of Jared’s cock slipped inside his body.
Jared sucked in a sharp breath as his cock was gripped in tight heat, surrounded so intimately by Jensen’s body, hands grasping at Jensen’s hips, careful not to grip too hard. He would never, ever leave a bruise on Jensen’s skin.
Jensen worked his way down Jared’s cock in slow, steady movements until he had taken all of Jared in, leaving both men breathing hard.
“God…you feel so good, Jare,” Jensen breathed, throwing his head back. “Jesus, I’m so full…” he moaned, eyes sliding closed.
Jared stroked his thumbs across Jensen’s hips, his voice high and thready when he spoke. “Ride me, Jen…God, please…”
Jensen opened his eyes and looked down at Jared, his gaze so full of heat and passion that it threatened to burn Jared up from the inside. Then he leaned forward a bit, bracing his hands on Jared’s chest, and raised up on his knees, letting Jared’s cock slide out of his body until only the engorged head remained inside. And then in one fluid movement sank all the way back down.
Both men groaned sharply at the sensation and Jensen set up a steady rhythm, riding Jared hard, trying to take him deeper each time. Jared ran his hands up Jensen’s muscular chest, rubbing his thumbs across Jensen’s nipples as Jensen’s fingers flexed on Jared’s skin.
Jared let his hands drift downward again, one curling around Jensen’s hip, the other curling around Jensen’s hard cock, stroking quickly, firmly. Jensen jerked, mouth falling open with a silent moan. He shifted then, leaning forward to brace a hand next to Jared’s head. Jared could tell it was the change in position he was searching for as he gasped sharply, grinding himself down even harder on Jared’s cock.
“Is that it, Jen? Right there?” Jared asked breathlessly, bucking up his hips this time as Jensen pushed down.
“Yes!” Jensen shook against him, his rhythm faltering and Jared could feel the tremors racing under Jensen’s skin.
“Let go, Jen…” Jared urged him. “Just let go…”
“Jared…” Jensen practically sobbed. “Love how you feel in me…so hard…gonna make me come…God…”
Looking up, Jared wished he could he could freeze this moment in time, to capture Jensen just like this – wearing Jared’s shirt, skin flushed, eyes dark with lust, lip caught between his bottom teeth, cock jutting out proudly from his body, moments away from climax.
He was beautiful.
And then Jensen fell over the edge, shattering apart above him with a sharp cry of completion, his cock pulsing in Jared’s grasp, his release flowing hot and thick over Jared’s chest.
As Jensen’s body clamped down around him, Jared felt his own climax surge like a freight train through his body, starting deep in his balls, stealing his breath with its intensity as it raced up his spine. One thrust, two…and he was gone. He felt his cock swell an instant before he filled Jensen with slick, wet heat again and again.
Jensen groaned long and low, clutching at Jared’s shoulders as Jared climaxed. “Don’t stop, don’t stop…oh God, Jared,” he keened, squeezing his internal muscles around Jared’s cock, drawing out Jared’s orgasm, Jensen’s own cock releasing another thick rope of semen at the feel of Jared coming inside him.
Finally both men were spent, trembling against one another. Jared drew Jensen down to him, held him close, felt the pounding of his heart against his chest that matched his own.
“I love you,” Jared whispered, voice full of emotion.
Jensen raised his head, green eyes shining with warmth. “I love you, too,” he murmured. “You mean everything to me, Jared.”
They kissed then, long and slow, tongues sliding lazily against each other, their bodies warm and sated. They gradually pulled apart with contented sighs, their foreheads resting together, neither quite ready to move from one another’s arms. But eventually Jensen raised up and shifted, Jared’s cock slipping slowly from his body and both men couldn’t help but groan softly at the feeling. Jensen laid down on the bed beside Jared as Jared reached to the floor and snagged his discarded towel, using it to clean both of them up as best he could, but they were both going to need another shower.
Jared took a deep breath as he looked at Jensen lying next to him. No more stalling now.
“Jen,” he started, taking Jensen’s hand in his. “I need to talk to you about something. Will you promise to let me finish before you say anything?”
Jensen’s eyebrows drew together in concern. “Okay,” he said warily.
Jared nodded, then began. “I want to go to the premiere with you tonight. In the limo with you. I want to be there with you on the red carpet, supporting you, instead of looking at you from the other side of the barriers.” He squeezed Jensen’s hand, his voice soft. “I’m tired of hiding, Jen. I want everyone to know how much I love you. I know you’re still afraid of people finding out about what happened between you and Mark. But what’s going to happen when you get out of that limo alone tonight? Mark’s been with you at every one of these events for three years. Questions are going to start getting asked, no matter what, after tonight. I’m not saying you need to announce on the red carpet what happened between the two of you, but you can at least be the one to take control of the situation instead of the press.”
Jensen was silent for a long minute, deep in thought, his expression giving nothing away to Jared. Finally he dropped his gaze, looking down at their entwined hands before looking back at Jared.
“You’re right,” Jensen admitted quietly. “I can’t avoid this forever. And I’m sorry,” he apologized, squeezing Jared’s hand. “None of this has been fair to you, making you keep our relationship a secret because I couldn’t face talking about Mark.” He paused. “But Jare, are you ready for this? Once we go public your life is going to change in a drastic way. The press will have your life under a microscope in a heartbeat and will follow you around whenever they can.”
Jared smiled. “Jen, I’ve got nothing to hide. No skeletons in my closet. If the L.A.P.D.’s background check passed me with flying colors the paparazzi don’t scare me one bit.” He jostled their hands. “So…does this mean I get to go to work with you tonight?” he joked.
Jensen laughed. “You bet you do,” he answered, drawing Jared in for a kiss. “And I can’t wait to show you off.”
~*~*~*~
CHAPTER FIVE
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Date: 2010-03-02 08:34 pm (UTC)