Remembrances (2/14)

[dephigravity]

Title: Remembrances
Pairing: Jensen/ Jared
Characters: Tom Welling, Justin Hartley, and various other CW folks
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1283

Summary: Tom Welling is a college student that is asked to spend time with an elderly Jensen Ackles. Jensen is slow to come around but realizes the company is just what he needs






Brothers
Tom knocked on the door and opened it, no longer waiting for the formality of “Come in.” or “Who's there?”

“Afternoon Jensen. How's your day been so far?” Tom dropped his bag near the doorway.

“Thomas, good to see you son. Come take a seat and humor and old man.”

Jensen lay on his bed, still under the covers. He sat up and Tom hurried to adjust the pillows behind his back. When finished he sat down in the small wooden chair and slid it closer to the man's bed.

“What's all this?” he asked in his gentle voice as he pointed to the loose photographs strewn across the blankets. A small leather album was tucked to Jensen's hip.

“Oh these? Just some old memories from this ancient codger's past.” He smiled.

Tom leaned his elbows on the mattress and picked up a small stack of pictures. He slowly scanned through to see a family portrait, a few old cars, and what he thought was a wedding photo of Jensen's parents. He paused over one that was clearly a teenage Jensen brushing the neck of a magnificent tan horse. He grinned silently as he shuffled it to the back of the pile. The next one was that of a large oak tree in the middle of a pasture. Wildflowers dusted the edge of the photograph, amongst the brilliant green grass and dandelions.

“Wow, this is beautiful.”

Jensen looked down over a set of glasses sitting lazily on his nose.

“Where was this taken?” Tom asked, enamored in the photo.

Taking the picture from the boy's hands he looked at it fondly.

“That, was out at Jared's parent's property. It was Jared's favorite place in the world. Whenever he got upset or sad he would always drag himself to that old tree. We also used to play out there...”

~~~

“Come on Jen, this will be great!” Jared ran directly for the large tree.

“I dunno Jared it looks really big!”

“Don't be a fraidy cat... it's just a tree! See watch me!”

Jared reached as high as he could and grabbed onto a knot in the wood. When he was sure he had a good grip he lifted up a foot and pushed himself upward. He quickly monkeyed his way up into the tree, finding a nice sitting place between two large limbs.

“See piece of cake!”

Jensen puckered his lips in reluctance but slowly marched to the massive wood trunk. He jumped to grab the same knot Jared had used, his feet dangled below him as he squirmed to find a foot hold.

“There's my boy!” Jared chuckled as he watched his struggling friend below. When Jensen couldn't manage he laid his body across the bark and stretched down a hand. “Here I'll help ya.”

Fingertips barely touched as Jensen reached desperately upwards with one hand. Jared pushed closer to the edge and was almost there when the limb bent down, dropping the boy to a horrible sounding thud.

Jared burst into sobs and tears flowed from his eyes as he sat up and clutched at his arm. Jensen immediately dropped and knelt by his friend's side. He caught the site of Jared's broken arm. The bone had broken cleanly and slipped over its other half, creating a evil looking zigzag under the skin. Jensen tried to fight back his own cries as he helped his best friend up and the two seven year olds walked slowly toward the house.

“It's okay Jary, I got ya, you're gonna be fine.”


___

Jared wiped a dirty hand across his sweaty forehead, streaks of mud formed over his brow as he panted in the summer heat.

“Needin' a break?” Jensen looked up at the sun glaring over the huge young man's shoulder.

“That would be amazing!” Jared said in exhaustion.

The two teens had been helping Jared's father put up a new fence out at the end of the property in the record breaking Texan July. Jared tugged at the leather work gloves and tossed them to the ground. He held an outstretched hand to his best friend that gladly took the assistance. The two walked over to the old oak and Jensen plopped his back up against the rough bark, he careful slid down to the take a seat at its base. Jared sat a few feet away and tumbled backwards to lay his shaggy chocolate hair against the other man's muscled thigh.

“You know I could just lay here forever. This place, so nice and peaceful.” he looked up at the clouds passing by overhead, their shade providing a much needed respite for far too short a time.

“Yeah? You wanna be alone?” teased the slightly older boy.

“Nah, I enjoy the company.” Jared closed his eyes and breathed in the dry summer air. A few minutes passed in the serene setting before the tall boy brought his hand up to shade the glaring sun's return.

“How's things going with Dani?”

“Eh... Okay I guess. I like her, she likes me. Just seems that no matter what I do it never seems good enough for her. I don't make enough money, I don't spend enough time with her, I don't open the door for her, just always something... you know.”

“Yeah, I guess I do. Sandy's not that bad of a nag. We just don't seem to have much in common anymore. Don't know if we ever did really. I think I'm gonna break things off before I head off to school.”

Jensen fidgeted under the weight of Jared's head. He didn't like the idea of school. His dad had been pressuring him to go to A&M, take up sport's medicine even. College just didn't appeal to him in the least. Jared on the other hand couldn't wait. He wasn't quite sure what he wanted to do there but the excitement of a new challenge, a new experience was intoxicating.

“You know your gonna have to come visit right? Like every weekend, I don't think I could handle not having you there.”

Jensen smiled down. “Right... you're gonna leave this town and all of us behind.”

“Are you kidding me?” Jared tilted his head backwards to stare at the other boy's sad face.

“Hey, you're like a brother to me! I could never forget you... we're gonna be best friends... always Jen!”

Jensen smiled tenderly back, as Jared quickly stood up. “Come on just another three hours and we're done for today!”

Jensen groaned as the bark scraped through his thin white tee shirt. He playfully swatted away Jared's once again offer of help.


~~~


“Is it still there?” Tom asked.

“What?” Jensen said coming back to the present. “No. It was a shame. His daddy lost the house and land about ten years later. They tore the whole field out and put up a god damned Walmart.”

“That's too bad.” Tom said as he sat the pile back down on the bed.

“It tore the both of us up when they ripped that ol' tree down. It was like they took a piece of us with it.”

“I'm sorry Jensen...”

“Wasn't your fault kid, hell you probably weren't even born yet. Well Tommy I think you better go catch that bus before you have to flatfoot your way on home.” he ruffled the ebony hairs of the large man's head.

“I guess so. Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow...” Jensen said in agreement as the boy wandered over to get his bag.

“You're a good boy Thomas.”

The bright green eyes and white smile flashed back as he looped the strap over his arm. “Thanks Mr. Ackles. You have a good night.'

“You too son, you too.”


(Next)

Comments

[fanofsuper.livejournal.com]

Poor Jared, he is not lucky with breaking his arm over & over again.

Off to read the next part

[dephigravity.livejournal.com]

That boy does have a knack for arm breaking doesn't he! lol Thanks again!

[fanofsuper.livejournal.com]

Yes he does. He broke his left hand during season 1 & his right during season 2. He also had an unexplained arm in a cast when he filmed Flight of the Phoenix

You're welcome