Remembrances (9/14)

[dephigravity]

Title: Remembrances
Pairing: Jensen/ Jared
Characters: Tom Welling, Justin Hartley, and various other CW folks
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1769
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





Close Calls

“Sir paramedics are on the way, please stay on the line with me until they arrive.” the operator announced.

Tom nodded his head in the affirmative, not understanding that she couldn't see it.

“Sir?”

“Yeah, okay... please hurry.”

The large man fumbled to the side of his now fallen friend. Tom tried desperately to remember his limited CPR experience from high school health class but his mind raced around trying to process far too much.

The front door opened, the tall woman dropped the supplies, and rushed to the old man's aide.

“What happened?” Deidre asked through fear.

Tom dropped the phone, the operator asking what was going on. “He started to cough and... and... he... and.. I...”

“It's okay Tom, move aside.” she said as politely as she could in her urgency. She felt for the faintest heart beat and signs of life. She then asked for the tall boy's assistance to turn Jensen around. She immediately started resuscitation of the old man.

Tom got up and started pacing nervously behind the pair, his poor thumb nail was torn to shreds from his gnashing teeth. Tears still sporadically escaped his eyes and rolled soundlessly down his cheek. Suddenly a deep gasp of inhalation came from the body. Tom fell to his knees as Jensen's pale green eyes darted around the room searching for familiarity. Paramedics rushed through the open doorway, asking the nurse the standard variety of questions as one female EMT approached the men.

“Sir? We are going to take you to the hospital, just as a precaution. Do you understand me?”

“T... to... mmy?” the man said in a raspy voice and felt around blindly. He finally found the large trembling hand and grasped it as tightly as his frail form would allow. “Please... I need m... my... grandson...” Jensen begged the EMT.

Tom looked down in a worried look at his friend. 'Grandson? Where did that come from?'

“Of course sir.” she motioned for the gurney and her fellow paramedics gently loaded up Jensen, the old man only momentarily letting go of the tall boy's hand. Tom gripped Jensen's hand once more as the door's were slammed shut, Jensen immediately placed his other hand on top of the grip.

“It's okay Jensen everything is going to be alright....” Tom choked out softly.

Jensen stared upwards and for a split second thought he saw the soft hazel eyes from an eternity ago. A solitary tear slowly fell down his cheek. “Thank you son.”

___

Tom paced back in forth in the hospital waiting room. His other thumb nail was going through it's own personal hell. Justin rushed to his side through the bobbing and weaving plethora of people. He instantly wrapped his arm's around his boyfriend. Tears and sobs burst from the tall dark haired man.

“What happened Tom? Is he okay?” Justin asked as he pulled away and held the boy's chin in his hands.

“I don't know, I think he just couldn't breathe and passed out... nobody will tell me anything.... Justin I'm so scared.”

“I'm so sorry...”

“Excuse me? Mr. Welling?” a short man asked.

Tom wiped his face with his sleeve. “Yeah?”

“Your grandfather is doing fine, we've moved him to a room. You should be able to see him now if you'd like.”

“Thanks...”

“Grandfather?” Justin asked quietly. Tom shrugged in response.

Justin told him that he would be waiting as the man walked Tom down the hall.

Jensen lay staring up at the ceiling, occasionally scratching at the tube in his arm. He smiled uncomfortably as the two men entered.

“I will leave you two alone then.” the short man left and closed the door silently behind him.

“How you doing Jen?” Tom slowly approached the bed.

“I'm fine now, Thomas. Can't wait to leave here though. I hate hospitals with a passion.”

“Me too.” Tom smiled shyly. “What happened back there?”

“I couldn't breathe son. They say I have a minor case of bronchitis. Don't worry I ain't kicking the bucket just yet.” he said in a lazy drawl.

“Good! I would have to come kick your bony ass!” Tom chuckled along with the elderly man. “You sure you are okay? You had me scared to death!”

“I'm sorry son, I am fine. I promise. I will try to keep better care of myself.” Jensen clutched Tom's hand softly.

___

Jensen grumbled when the doctor poked in to announce they were keeping him overnight for observations. Tom said his goodbyes and headed down the hall to his anxious boyfriend.

___

“Jensen can I ask you a question?” Tom asked, sitting to the side of Jensen's bed. They had brought him home earlier that morning.

“What's that son?” Jensen looked over.

“The other day... you called me your grandson. Why?”

Jensen breathed in heavily. “Well, personally I think of you as the grandson or son I never had, but more importantly it was for the hospital.”

“The hospital?” Tom asked in confusion. “I don't get it...”

“You are not directly related to me son, without my consent they couldn't legally update you on my condition. I didn't know whether I was going to be coherent enough to give it so I figured if I said you were my grandson they wouldn't question it.” Jensen spoke certainly.

"You sound as though this has happened before.” Tom said.

“Not to me, but to Jared a long time ago.” he lifted up his shirt sleeve to show the long scar down his left right arm. “This scar was from an accident I had quite a few years back....”


~~~


Jensen was on the steep side of the house. A large stack of shingles was draped over his shoulder. He slid carefully over the wooded roof, steadying himself periodically. His foot caught a discarded nail and slipped out from under him. He fell forwards, his chin thudding harshly against the roof, blood flowed from the suddenly bitten tongue. He grasped frantically as his body started to slide down the slope. His foot caught the lip of the rain gutter, holding him for a second. It finally gave way and Jensen yelled as he went over the side of the two level home. His arm caught on something he didn't see as the air beneath him rushed passed. Darkness overtook him the second he hit the ground, shingles pounding over his now limp body.

___


“Mr. Padalecki?” Elisha asked as she peeked through the glass door.

Jared paused from his presentation. “Yes?”

“You have a call on line 4.”

“Can you take a message for me? I am in the middle....”

“Sir, they say it's an emergency.” she tried to politely interrupt.

Jared cocked his head slightly. “Uh. Excuse me gentlemen and ladies....” he apologized as he hurried out the door and to his office.

“This is Jared Padalecki, how may I help you?”

“Jared. This is Jeff Morgan. I am Jensen's boss. You are listed as his emergency contact and well umm there's been an accident.”

___

Jared rushed from his office only pausing for a second to inform his secretary of his departure.

He sped through traffic and quickly parked illegally at the hospital entrance. He made his way to the hospital desk and asked for his husband's information. The snotty receptionist asked how he was related and scoffed at him when he said how they were related.

“I want to speak to someone in charge.” he said angrily.

Far too long later he was approached by a doctor. “What seems to be the problem sir?”

Jared bit back his anger. “My husband was admitted to this hospital and no one will tell me where he is, how he is, even if he is fucking alive!”

“Sir I understand your frustration but I need you to calm down.”

“Calm down? CALM DOWN?” Jared grew hotter by the second. “I want to see my husband."

“Sir, I understand that you are Mr. Ackles emergency contact but unfortunately the state of California does not recognize same sex marriage and therefor I cannot legally relay any information about his case to you, including his status. I'm sorry but if you could give us the name and number of his next of kin then....”

“Sorry? You're fucking sorry? I am his god damned next of kin you sorry son of a bitch and I want to see my husband you little fuck!” Jared spit downward at the obnoxious little man.

The man unwaveringly spoke back. “Sir if you do not calm down I will have to have you escorted from hospital property.”

“Escorted? I want my husband!”

The man motioned for security.

___

Jensen's head throbbed painfully as the room came into focus. He felt the slight sting in his wrist and began to scratch at the foreign tubing. He reached to his face to feel even more tubing across his upper lift. The soft beeps came from a machine to his left. He tried to sit up but his back screamed in agony. He licked his tongue out over dry lips. Word failed him as he tried to ask for help. Minutes passed before a young nurse walked passed and noticed he was awake.

“You're up! How do you feel?” the red head asked as she walked to his side.

He again tried to talk but nothing would come out of his dry throat. She quickly poured a cup of water and helped him to drink it.

“What happened?” he asked, his voice barely coming out in a scratch.

“You fell off a roof at your construction site. You've been out for about three days.”

“Three days?” he asked, not quite understanding.

“Yeah. You hit your head pretty hard and you had to have surgery on your arm there.” she pointed to his unnoticed bandage covered arm.

“Jared?”

“Pardon?” she asked sweetly.

“My husband...” he said dryly.” Where is Jared?”

“Umm I am not positive but I will find out for you sir.” she quickly left for the desk.

Jensen stared back upwards, waiting for what would seem an eternity to see his husband's terrified eyes.

~~~

“That's horrible!” Tom declared, never once thinking of all the implications.

“That's the way it was back then. It didn't matter what we said, unless we were legally recognized the hospital wouldn't allow us to see each other until I gave permission.”

“That must have been three days of pure hell for him, I can't even imagine.”

“Neither can I son. I am not sure how things are now days but now do you see why I said you were my grandson?”

“Yeah, I get it now...”



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