My Name Is Trouble 3/3

[longsufferingly]

Part one
Part two


Jared hasn't spent the entire time Jensen has been here thinking about this, just like he hasn't spent the whole last six years thinking about this. It occurs to him, every now and then, that it's not normal to miss someone every day, to still think of him first whenever something important or funny or bad happens, to still think of him as his best friend.

But he never really lets himself admit that Jensen Ackles broke his fucking heart, because he didn't think it meant anything to him either. He hasn't exactly been in denial, he's just--been kind of busy.

Kissing Jensen is a lot like it was six years ago, warm and familiar and easy, leaving him wanting more, wanting forever.

This time, though, it's not lazy and easy, it's hot and insistent and wanting, and he's not interested in keeping his mouth on Jensen's when there are so many other places it could be going.

Jensen almost whines as Jared pulls away again. "Jesus, what is it now?"

Jared chuckles, pushes Jensen's t-shirt over his head and grins. "Better things to do with my mouth," he says, sucking a hickey just above Jensen's heart.

"Oh," says Jensen, more a breath than a real reply, and he starts unbuttoning Jared's shirt, slipping it off. "You really want to have sex on the couch?"

"Guess not," says Jared, pressing another kiss to Jensen's lips. "Haven't got anything anyway." He gives Jensen a hand up, keeping a hold of it as they go upstairs. He almost giggles, holding hands with his shirtless ex-co-star as they head upstairs to fuck in Ithaca, New York, of all places, instead of screwing each other in Vancouver a billion years ago like they probably should have.

"Boy scouts would be disappointed," says Jensen.

"Boy scouts love gay sex," Jared agrees. He pushes Jensen up against the wall in the hallway to get another kiss before they get to the bedroom. Jensen kisses back eagerly, and Jared laughs a little, because smiling can't get all his happiness out.

It's Jensen.

Jared pushes him onto the bed, starts kissing again in earnest, running his hands all over Jensen's chest, taking in the firmness of his arms, his abs. Thinking how different Jensen is than he used to be, how little he cares. Jared loves Jensen like he's loved nobody else in his whole life; he'd have to, for Jensen to have screwed him up this much.

Jensen pushes his leg up between Jared's, and Jared moans at the sudden, steady pressure against his dick. He thinks about just riding Jensen's leg until he comes, but that's not what he wants right now.

Later, they can try everything.

Tonight, he needs to fuck Jensen, wants to feel Jensen all around him, wants to claim him.

"Get these off," he mutters, fumbling at Jensen's jeans, pulling them down with a hard yank. Jensen's wearing boxer-briefs, gray and kind of faded, bought somewhere cheap. It amuses Jared--no matter how classy Jensen dresses up, he never started believing in designer underwear. He probably got these at Walmart.

Jensen kicks the jeans off the rest of the way, moans as Jared ghosts his hands over his cock. "What are we doing?" Jensen asks. It's not questioning the act, not questioning them; Jensen just wants to know what Jared's plan is here.

"Wanna fuck you," says Jared, biting Jensen's neck.

"Okay," says Jensen instantly. Being with guys isn't new for either of them, but it still feels new to Jared, still feels giant and nerve-racking, exciting and terrifying, like his first time.

Jared unbuttons his own jeans, pushes them down roughly. He leans over to get stuff from his bedside table, the lube that Greg likes, which makes his stomach drop for just a second.

But then Jensen's hands trail down his stomach and under the waist of his underwear, Jensen's fingers wrapping around his cock, and Jared remembers why this whole thing was unfair to Greg from the start.

"Jesus fuck," Jared swears. "Christ, Jensen."

Jensen pushes Jared's boxers out of the way, just partly down his legs, so he has more room to work Jared's dick.

"There's a lot of you," says Jensen, sounding kind of thoughtful, but when Jared meets his eyes they're anything but considerate; they're nearly black, wanting, and Jared chuckles.

"Size queen much?"

"Shut up," says Jensen. "Last guy I fucked was Rosenbaum, and he never fucks me. It's been a while."

Jared grins and nuzzles Jensen's neck. "I'll be gentle."

"Asshole."

"Mmm," says Jared, nipping behind Jensen's ear. "Good idea."

He lubes up his fingers, getting them slick and hot, and drops his hands deliberately, skirting down Jensen's dick, rubbing his balls a little, and then behind, to tease around Jensen's ass.

"Fuck," says Jensen. His hand stills on Jared's dick as he tenses. "Fuck."

"Haven't even started," Jared whispers, teasing the tip of his finger into Jensen's hole. "You like this, right? Bet you love getting fucked."

"Yeah," Jensen manages.

"That's good," says Jared, "because I've got a feeling I'm going to love fucking you."

He's in to the first knuckle, Jensen so tight around him, and he just keeps working slowly, kissing Jensen's neck as he goes. Jensen relaxes around him by degrees, body remembering what it's like as he goes. In no time, his whole finger's in, and he starts a second, stretching Jensen open, feeling Jensen tense around him, so tight.

Jensen drops Jared's dick, pulls Jared's lips back to him instead, makes little noises into Jared's mouth as Jared works his fingers. A sudden gasp and Jensen jerks away, arching, and Jared grins, working the spot again.

"More," says Jensen, thrusting back against Jared's fingers, and Jared gets a third in.

"Someday," Jared says conversationally, "I'm just gonna finger fuck you til you come. I want to see that."

"Do something today," says Jensen, eyes squeezed shut. "God, Jared."

"Gonna," says Jared, taking his fingers out and slipping on his condom. "You ready?"

Jensen pulls Jared's hips insistently forward, kissing him hard as he does it.

Jared doesn't hesitate, gets his dick lined up and pushes in slowly. Jensen pulls away from the kiss, as Jared knew he'd have to, and takes Jared in, his face contorted but not so pained Jared has to stop. He just watches, thinking, I get this. This is mine forever, and suddenly he realizes he's in.

Jared brushes his hand over Jensen's forehead. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Jensen manages. Then, he opens his eyes and smirks. "Come on, Padalecki."

So Jared does. He fucks Jensen, thrusting hard and long, and Jensen moves with him, fucking perfect rhythm, and Jared wonders if they would have been this good at this six years ago.

They start kissing again somewhere in the middle, sloppy and off-target most of the time, but Jared doesn't care, wants everything. He reaches down for Jensen's cock, tugs it in time to their thrusts and murmurs things he can't hear as he says them, because Jared's never been good at shutting up. Jensen is tight and hot and Jensen's dick is hard and throbbing and this is everything Jared has ever wanted in his life right here--Jensen Ackles in his house, in his life, in his bed, so close he can't tell where they start being two different people.

Jensen comes first, and the feeling of it around Jared's dick pushes him over the edge too, and he collapses on top of Jensen, his dick still half in Jensen's ass.

Jensen shoves him a little. "Get off."

"Just did," says Jared happily.

"You're a giant."

"In my dick area."

Jensen groans and shoves him over. Jared hums and rolls off the condom, tossing it in the trash. He turns back to curl around Jensen, nuzzling his neck.

"You're an idiot," Jensen mutters, but he leans back against Jared, burrowing in contentedly.

"Mmm hmm," says Jared, and goes to sleep almost instantly.

*

Jensen is the master of the awkward morning after. He figures he's going to reach a new personal best today, because he and Jared have never settled for second in any aspect of their relationship. He wonders if he's going to have to leave, mostly because he can't actually comprehend this going well. Even though, if he's honest, there's no reason it shouldn't.

As usual, Jared is up before him, but apparently not by much. The sheets are still warm by Jensen's side.

He hauls himself to the guest room and pulls on pajama pants and a t-shirt, notes a dark hickey on his chest.

It's kind of nice to realize this can't fuck their relationship up more than it was already fucked.

Downstairs, he smells coffee and sees Jared at the stove in nothing but his boxers, and the relief that hits him is so strong and sudden that he slumps against the door frame. Jared's been careful, and Jensen has too--for the first time in their lives they'd always been fully clothed around each other, buttoned up and distanced.

"Mornin'," says Jared, turning with a slow smile. His voice is deep and twanging Texas and Jensen feels nostalgic for a life he never had.

"Morning," says Jensen, crossing the room to kiss Jared as natural as anything.

Jared has morning breath--is the first person in years he's kissed who's had morning breath, possibly the first since Danneel. He wonders if Jared has kissed anyone like this since Sandy.

"What're you making?" asks Jensen, leaning against Jared's back, feeling the warmth of the smooth skin against his face.

"French toast."

"Classy."

"Well," says Jared easily, "I've got this new boyfriend I want to impress."

It should feel big, but after seeing Jared there in the kitchen, it just seems anticlimactic, almost. Taken for granted.

"Don't think you need to bother," says Jensen.

Jared snorts. "Yeah, he's easy as hell."

*

In fact, having a lot of hot sex with Jensen Ackles does not solve all of Jared's problems instantly. He's happier, absolutely--happy like he hasn't been in six years, like he's maybe never been, because the first time he met Jensen it was like finding something missing, and he's only just realized where he fits.

But he still broke his coworker's heart, and Jensen still has a stalker, and they're still six years out of touch, no matter how natural it feels.

Mostly Jared is exactly the same, but he can't stop smiling because he has Jensen back, and as far as he's concerned, he'll fuck up everything else for Jensen.

At least now he's doing it in a positive way.

Monday is awkward beyond the telling of it--he doesn't see Greg, but Muriel pulls him aside and rips him a new one. He's not going to pretend he doesn't deserve it, because he's only technically the one who got dumped here, and Muriel's right, he should have had the balls to end it himself instead of making Greg do it. And all the other teachers comment on his good mood, which is even worse, because he doesn't want Greg thinking he's happier without him, or realizing that he shacked up with Jensen roughly 24 hours after they broke up, but every time he stops paying attention he just starts looking happy, apparently.

"That was balls," Jared says when he gets home. Jensen's on the couch with his laptop, and he raises his eyebrows.

"What happened?"

"I learned why you never date your coworkers. Because it's awkward as fuck when you break up."

Jensen frowns. "Oh, yeah. Sorry. Did you--"

"I didn't see him," Jared says quickly. He drops a brief kiss on Jensen's lips as he heads to the kitchen. "I got reamed out for not having the guts to just tell him it wasn't working."

"You didn't tell him about me," says Jensen. He doesn't sound hurt, but Jared can't see him, and he has to worry that maybe there's something wrong there.

"It's been two days," says Jared. "And--the last place I'd tell anyone I was dating you is at school. I'd never hear the end of it from the students. I'm pretty sure some of the girls read fanfic about us."

"That reminds me," says Jensen, too casually, "I figured I'd tell my publicist I want to come out." Jared heads back into the living room with a tub of ice cream and two spoons. Jensen raises his eyebrows as Jared hands one over. "I forget you become a sixteen-year-old girl during breakups."

"It was a tough day," says Jared, sticking out his tongue and settling closer next to Jensen. "You want to come out?"

Jensen shrugs. "Maria keeps yelling at me."

"Aww," says Jared, "all you needed to come out was true love! That's beautiful."

Jensen stares at him for a moment, eyes wide and a little scared, and Jared remembers that love hasn't actually come up before. They haven't said it before. He thought Jensen was on the same page, but maybe--

"You're a jerk, Padalecki," says Jensen, laughing.

Jared puts the ice cream on the coffee table to get Jensen in a headlock.

"You needed loooooooove," says Jared. "Don't worry, I'll feed you and walk you every day and--"

Jensen shoves him off. "Fuckhead."

"You say the sweetest things." He reclaims the ice cream. "What about the stalker?"

Jensen blows out his breath. "Yeah, uh. I dunno. What are--I have to be in LA in July. Filming starts."

Jared lets out a breath. "There are schools in LA," he says, a little hesitantly.

"You mind coming back?"

"Nah," he says. "I don't mind. But I gotta be here til at least mid-June. Finish off the school year."

"Yeah," Jensen agrees. Then, "I figure if you're gonna be living with me again, I should probably just give it up and come out."

Jared nods. "You're not really fooling anybody."

"Shut up."

"You can stay here til graduation, if you want," says Jared. "I mean--as long as you want to."

"Yeah," Jensen agrees. "I figure--I'll tell Maria that I want to come out. She'll be so thrilled she won't care I dropped off the radar totally."

"Yeah she will," says Jared. "I remember publicists."

"Yeah, she's been trying to kill me over to phone. So I guess I'll fly to LA, do an interview next weekend, and then come back here. Or something. I'll check with her."

Jared nods. "You tell your agent where you are yet?"

"Nope."

"How close is he to snapping?"

"Really close. I'll tell him first." Jensen closes the laptop and puts it away, curling against Jared's shoulder as he starts in on the ice cream.

Jared flips on the TV and fits an arm over Jensen's shoulders. "Good plan."

*

Jensen can't actually tell anyone that he's hooking up with Jared, because then they'll know where he is, and that kind of defeats the whole purpose of hiding out with Jared. Well, not the whole purpose anymore, because it's been four days since he and Jared got together and he pretty much forgets he's not there just because he wants to spend time with Jared.

He forgot that sometimes even before they started fucking, honestly.

He thinks he'll pitch it to Owen and Maria as throwing them a bone--he knows people have been missing him, and he's still not going to tell them where he is, so the least he can do is tell them he's gay, he figures.

He calls Owen first.

"I thought you forgot my number," Owen grumbles. "Please tell me you're back in LA."

"Not coming back to LA," says Jensen firmly.

"Why the fuck not?" asks Owen. "There's radio silence from the stalker. What's the worst that's going to happen?"

"I get killed," says Jensen. "Look, I'll be back in June, okay?"

"Fucking June? Jensen--"

"I'm not working anyway! What the hell does it matter?"

"It matters because you're a celebrity. You're already a pretty crappy one, but you need to be a presence, or people are going to forget about you."

Jensen's pretty sure no one is going to forget about him, given his show's finale hasn't aired yet, but whatever. It's a good opening.

"Okay, I'll make you a deal," he says.

"I'm not agreeing to the deal until I hear it."

"I'll come back to LA for the weekend," says Jensen. "I want to come out."

There's a pause. "Come out, like--gay?"

"Yeah. You knew, right?"

"Everyone knew. But--you want to come out?"

"Yes. Is that so weird?"

"I thought you were dead set against ever discussing your personal life with anyone."

"I changed my mind."

Another pause. "Who is he?"

"There isn't anyone," Jensen lies.

"Jensen."

"He's--nobody. I mean, he's not an actor. I'm not involving him in this yet."

Owen sighs. "What does Maria think?"

"I told you first. What do you think?"

"I think it can't hurt. You're contracted for Englewood, and they love you, and most of your coworkers know you're gay, right?"

"Yeah."

"Any publicity is good publicity at this point."

"I'm glad I suck so much at getting my name out there that it's okay to be gay."

"Call Maria," says Owen. "Tell her to get in touch with me when you're done and we'll coordinate when and where you should do the interview."

"Got it," he says. "Anything from the police?"

"Nothing. I think they're benching it until they get more information."

"Great."

"They're doing all they can. There just isn't a lot to go on."

"I know. I'll be in touch."

The call with Maria is either going to go a lot better or a lot worse, and Jensen has no idea which it's going to be. Maria is unpredictable.

"Jensen! Where the hell are you?"

"I'm going to come back to LA for the weekend and come out," he says, no preamble. "How do you think I should do it."

There's a long silence. "And it's not even my birthday," she finally says. "Really?"

"Really."

"Please tell me you have an adorable boyfriend who you'll take to events and kiss on the red carpet."

Jared's never actually kissed Jensen on the red carpet, but it's been close a couple of times.

"Just felt like time," he says.

"But you're not telling us where you are."

"No."

"Naked beach holiday," she says firmly.

Jensen laughs. "Exactly."

*

Jared drives Jensen to New York on Friday, and Jensen wears a baseball hat and sunglasses like a real loser of a movie star. They don't kiss in the car, because it's too obvious, but they have a lot of sex on Thursday night, and a blowjob in the shower on Friday morning, so Jared feels at least a little okay about things. Besides, Jensen's going to LA to give his first official public statement about his love life, like, ever, so Jared can't pretend like Jensen doesn't like him.

It's nice that no one knows Jensen is here, because if they did, it would be fucking obvious.

Jared feels kind of bad keeping it a secret, especially from Danneel, who apparently prompted all this by telling Jensen to get off his stupid ass and ask Jared out, but Jensen's a paranoid fucker, and word does get around even in Hollywood.

Still, she might figure it out.

Jared sighs, pulls out his phone.

just danneel, he texts Jensen. Then he adds. we owe her one

between us we owe her like fifty, Jensen shoots back. just danneel.

thanks.

"Hey, Jared!" she says when she picks up. She sounds pleased, a little rushed, typical Danneel.

"Hi. Are you alone?"

"Yes? Why?"

"Really alone?"

There's a pause, a male voice, and then silence. "Not a soul around. Why?"

"Want to hear a secret?"

"Always."

Jared wonders how he's supposed to start with this. "Jensen's been living here because someone was stalking him, and he's coming out this weekend, and I'm probably going to marry him. Eventually. We're just having sex right now. Not right now, I mean. I wouldn't call you while we were having sex."

There's a pause. "Did you guys have sex six years ago?" She just sounds curious.

"No," says Jared. "We made out a little. One time. And never talked about it until last week."

"That explains a lot," says Danneel. She sounds a little tense.

"No one knows where he is," says Jared. "That's why--we didn't tell you sooner."

She's quiet again, and Jared knows this is hard. He knows him and Jensen is probably going to be tough for everyone who isn't them, just because they've both been so stupid for so long.

"You guys should have just gotten together six years ago," she says, not bitter, just tired. "Saved us all some trouble."

"Sorry," says Jared. Then, he adds quietly, "At least we had some awesome sex."

"You and me or you and Jensen?"

"Both. And you and Jensen, I guess. Everyone had lots of awesome sex."

She laughs now, softly. "He's really coming out?"

"On his way to LA now, yeah."

"He really has a stalker?"

"Apparently."

She laughs again, stronger. "What is about Jensen, do you think?"

"Not a clue."

"You're gonna take care of him, right?"

The 'of course' is on the tip of Jared's tongue, but they didn't take care of each other for six years, so Jared guesses it's not something he can claim is for granted anymore. "Yeah," he says instead. "I am."

*

Owen French hasn't seen Jensen Ackles relaxed and happy the entire time he's been his agent. The guy's so on edge most of the time that Owen doesn't understand how he manages to shed it when he's acting.

Saturday, however, Jensen looks content, easy, and light. Well-fucked, too, Owen has to admit, and he wonders if Jensen went into hiding with his boyfriend, or happened to find one wherever he went. He isn't tan, so it's nowhere warm, apparently. Maybe he fled back to Canada.

"Something tasteful," says Jensen, when Maria asks him what he wants. "No photoshoots where I'm dressed up in leather or anything. Actually, no photoshoots period."

"I've got a couple magazines that are willing to run a story," she says. "And AfterElton would love you forever, of course."

Jensen nods. "I like AfterElton. I mean, for us, by us, right?"

"I don't think that's their motto," Owen points out. Heidi is texting him, and that's probably more important than Jensen's gay crisis. Or non-crisis. Whatever Jensen is doing with AfterElton.

"Whatever. I'd rather give the scoop to a gay site if I can, I guess."

Jensen is not really great at being a gay activist, Owen knows. He's pretty sure Jensen doesn't think of himself as gay most of the time, just thinks he has sex with other men. It's weird, but it's not really Owen's place to judge. As clients go, Jensen isn't bad. True, he's kind of a socially retarded hermit, but he never has scandals and he does good work.

"It'll get out fast from AfterElton. You're not saying anything about your relationship?"

Owen does perk up at that, because Jensen must actually have a boyfriend. He can't really picture it.

"I'm saying I like men," says Jensen. "That's it. Does it really have to be an interview? Can I just call someone and tell them I'm into guys?"

Maria shakes her head. "Interview."

Jensen sighs. "I'm doing you a favor," he mutters.

"You're doing yourself a favor. This is going to do nothing but good for your career."

Jensen glares, and Owen has to shake his head. He likes Maria, she's a good, sharp woman who can turn a scandal into a success like no one else, but she has never come close to understanding Jensen Ackles.

*

Jensen comes back on Sunday and tells Jared it went well. Jared's shocked just how sharply he missed him--it was all of two days, not even quite that long, and he's been without Jensen for a lot longer. It should feel familiar, but it doesn't. His bed is already too big and his house already too empty.

He wonders if Greg's house feels like that. It shouldn't, but he's realized he doesn't have any very good idea how Greg is feeling right now. He doesn't like that.

They've talked a little in school by now, short, awkward conversations that don't go anywhere, and Muriel is understandably upset with him. He thinks he and Greg were the only ones who didn't realize this was going to go badly. He doesn't know how he missed it; he has a few years of crappy relationships to tip him off.

Somehow, seeing Jensen for the first time on Sunday wipes all that out. He's just happy again. It's honestly a little weird.

"I think it went well," Jensen is telling him as they drive out of New York. "Not phenomenal or anything, but, you know. Okay. They kept asking about my relationship."

Jared raises his eyebrows. "You told them you had a relationship?"

"Maria did."

"You told her?"

"She figured it out."

Jared laughs. "So pretty much everyone knows that you're never in a million years going to come out just because you want to."

"Yeah."

"You're a real catch, Ackles."

Jensen tries to look annoyed, but he still ends up smiling. "Tell me about your weekend."

Jared did absolutely nothing interesting, but he tells Jensen anyway, and Jensen seems to enjoy listening, for some reason.

Finally, he asks, "How'd Danneel take it?"

Jared's been trying to figure that out since he called her. "She said we should've done this six years ago and saved everyone some trouble."

Jared doesn't think it would have saved everyone; it would have just shifted around who got fucked up by the entire thing.

Jensen's quiet for a long minute. "Hey, pull over."

Jared blinks; they're on the highway heading towards Ithaca, a few other cars around but mostly no one. It's getting dark. There's nothing here. But he does it anyway.

As soon as he turns to ask Jensen what's up, he's got Jensen kissing him.

"Wanted to do that at the airport," Jensen murmurs.

Jared grins. "Me too."

Jensen settles back. "I called her."

"What'd she say?"

"We dueted 'I Will Always Love You' and cried a little," says Jensen, rolling his eyes as Jared gets back on the road. "She was Danneel. She said she was happy and told me I shouldn't have ever proposed to her."

Jared laughs softly. "That guy of hers better treat her right."

"Yeah," Jensen agrees.

The article goes live on Monday, and Jared finds out about twenty minutes after it happens, tops, when Haley Prescott in his third period class raises her hand and says, "Mr. Padalecki, did you know Jensen Ackles was gay?"

"I knew he was bi," says Jared, "and that has nothing to do with physics, so we're moving on."

Lunch is--interesting, in the least positive way Jared can mean it. He gets back to missed calls from a few reporters, Chad, and Mike, and a text from Jensen that just says I hate my life. He texts Jensen back with I hate your life too and then the students come in, mostly girls, but a few guys too.

"Guys, what are you doing reading celebrity gossip at school?" he asks, trying to sound firm.

"It's AfterElton," says Erica. "It's supporting gay rights."

"Not a valid argument," says Jared. "You guys know I haven't talked to Jensen Ackles for six years, right?"

"But you guys were really good friends," says a girl who isn't even in any of his classes--Dara, he thinks. She's in Greg's AP.

"Yeah," says Jared, "but that doesn't mean I have the secret scoop about him coming out."

He doesn't really like lying to the kids--hates it, in fact--but he can't actually tell them the truth. For any number of reasons.

"Was he really dating Danneel Harris or was she just a beard?" asks Nate.

"I'd like to see Danneel be anyone's beard," Jared snorts. "She's really not that kind of girl."

Nate goes a little starry-eyed, presumably thinking of what kind of girl Danneel is. Nate has the dubious distinction of being the only student to ever actually ask Jared what it was like to "tap that," and Jared refused to even dignify the question with a response.

His phone rings with a number he doesn't recognize, and he wonders which is worse--being hounded by the press or being hounded by high school students.

"Hello?" he tries.

"Mr. Padalecki, this is Peter Nickson for Us Weekly, do you have a response to Jensen Ackles' homosexuality?"

"Don't you have anything better to do?" asks Jared.

"Do you blame yourself for this?"

Jared somehow manages to not snort. "Which part of this would you say is something someone should feel bad about?"

"Do you think it's your fault he no longer likes women? Because of your relationship with Danneel Harris?"

"I think he probably just likes guys," says Jared. "Just a guess."

Then he hangs up.

The students are looking at him with something like awe, and Jared thinks, not for the first time, that it's sad Jensen has so few friends that the media still feels the need to consult him on this stuff.

Of course, the whole situation is kind of generally sad.

Principal Rogers asks him to stay after, which isn't surprising.

"Mr. Padalecki," she says gravely, leveling her gaze at him across the desk. "Jared. I like you. You're a good teacher, involved with the community, popular with the students. But the fact of the matter is, you used to be an actor, and your continued involvement with other actors is distracting to some of your students."

"I understand that," says Jared. "But, honestly, I don't--I'm not sure what you want me to do about it."

She sighs. "I know it's not your fault, Jared," she says.

He feels like it is this time, though. He hadn't thought--he didn't think anyone would actually ask him. A few students, maybe, but he's shocked by how much they care.

He's been out of the business too long, maybe.

"Just--please keep in mind the kind of sensation this causes."

"Right," says Jared. He swallows. "I'm seeing him."

The principal's eyes shoot up to her hair. "What?"

Jared pushes his hand through his hair. "I'm the boyfriend."

Principal Rogers sighs. "Jared--"

"No one knows," he says quickly. "I'm not going to tell anyone."

"I assume this is why you're not returning next year."

Jared flushes. "I'm sorry."

"I'm giving you a warning. I don't care if you're gay or straight or what, and frankly I like you, but if this turns my school into a zoo? I'm not going to be happy."

"Neither am I," Jared assures her.

She stares for a minute and then nods. "Have a good day, Jared."

"Thanks."

He gets up to leave, but he voice stops him at the door. "Oh, Jared?"

"Yes?"

The principal blushes a little. "If you could get me an autograph, I'd appreciate it. My daughter is quite a fan."

The way she says it makes it clear her daughter isn't the only one. Jared laughs. "I'll get a couple."

*

Jensen turned off his phone at around two, because he just couldn't take it anymore. When Jared gets back, he's lying on his back in Jared's yard, taking in the sun.

"Ha," says Jared, plopping down next to him. "I knew you came outside sometimes."

Jensen cracks one eye open. "Shut up. I had a fucking stressful day."

"I bet," groans Jared. "I told my boss we were dating."

"Why?" he asks, curious but unconcerned, It surprises him every time to remember how implicitly he trusts Jared's judgment, trusts Jared. It's been a long time since he's had that with anyone.

"I got mobbed by students wanting to know what you were doing, who you were dating--everything, pretty much. She was worried about it being a distraction, and I figured I should warn her. Just--"

"In case," Jensen agrees. He hadn't thought how much this could affect Jared, forgot that it was a big deal in a totally different way for him. "Maybe I should've waited," he says.

Jared leans over and kisses him. "Nah. I don't mind."

*

The shit hits the fan on Wednesday.

Jared gets to school and the first thing he hears is, "Holy shit, Mr. Padalecki, Jensen Ackles is here?"

It's Nate again. Jared really doesn't like Nate.

"What?" he asks, with his best baffled Sam face.

"Saw it on TMZ, man. Are you, like, his girlfriend?"

"I know school hasn't started yet, but you can't talk to me like that, Nate," says Jared as mildly as he can manage. "What are you talking about?"

"Like you don't know."

"I don't," says Jared. He can make an educated guess, but he's praying--like actual, in his head, please god, please god, please god praying--that he's wrong. That it's a rumor, that there's nothing verified, that no one saw anything.

Who would have seen?

Nate laughs. "I'm not really into that, but, hey, whatever, congrats on your star-fucking."

"That's a detention for language," Jared manages, but it still doesn't feel like he came out ahead in this conversation.

*

Jensen's dozing when his phone wakes him up, Maria's annoying, chipper ring shattering any hope of sleep. He rolls over and groans--not even nine a.m., and what the fuck is Maria doing up at five in California?

"Why," says Maria, before Jensen can say anything, "did you not tell me that you were dating Jared Padalecki?"

She says it sort of calmly, but with this mounting rage that scares Jensen shitless. He is going to get killed over the phone.

Then her words sink in and Jensen thinks he might die before she can do anything to him.

"Uh," he says.

"TMZ," she continues, "has pictures of you."

"Doing what?" asks Jensen.

"Watching TV, sitting on his lawn--you can see the house number in a few. Jensen, what the fuck?"

It seems pointless to deny it. Whether or not the pictures are proof, the rumor's out there, and it's Maria's job to help.

"I wasn't planning to," he says. It seems like a weak defense. "I needed to get away, so I came to him."

"Have you been talking to him all this time?"

"No. I hadn't seen him since the show ended."

Maria is silent.

"We were waiting for the--oh, shit."

"What," she says, dangerous.

"He's a teacher. God, if his kids know--fuck."

"Jensen, I don't care if you lie to your mother, but if you're with someone famous? You tell me, so I'm prepared. I don't want to get woken up at fucking five a.m. because TMZ says you're screwing your ex-co-star."

Jensen rubs his forehead. "Can you deny it?"

"I can deny anything," she scoffs. "But you need to get out of there."

"Why?"

"Because I don't think you want to be there when the press arrives."

"Fuck," says Jensen, with feeling. "Does Owen know?"

"I didn't tell him yet. I'm letting him sleep."

"I gotta--I'll get out as soon as I can talk to Jared."

"I tell you," says Maria darkly, "to just talk about your boyfriend. But no, you have to run off to New York in secret and shack up with your ex-costar."

"Sorry," says Jensen meekly. "I'll call you with an ETA."

He's just managed to get showered and caffeinated when Jared comes in. He smiles ruefully.

"I guess you heard," says Jared.

"Yeah. You got sent home?"

"Causing a disturbance. Jesus, what happened?"

Jensen sighs. "I didn't notice a stakeout."

"TMZ said they had a source."

"TMZ always says they have a source."

"Yeah, but--why would anyone look for you here? Everyone knows we're not pals."

"Not anymore," says Jensen. He rubs his forehead. "I have to go, you know."

"I figured, yeah. Denying everything?"

"I wouldn't," he admits. "But--I've still got a stalker, Jared. And I don't really wanna paint a target on your giant head."

Jared laughs. "Go out with some twinky guys. I won't feel threatened."

"I think I'm at Maria's mercy for the next billion years," Jensen groans. "Expect a lot of charity events when you move in with me."

Jared laughs. "How are you leaving?"

"Maria's sending a guy," says Jensen. "Don't ask me how."

Jared laughs. He's leaning against Jensen a little, apparently just taking him in. "She's got connections."

"Yeah."

"You know I'm totally in love with you, right?" says Jared softly.

"I noticed," says Jensen.

"Okay," says Jared. He nods. "Yeah. Good."

"I'm not leaving forever, you know."

"Yeah," says Jared. "Just--whatever."

Jensen gets it; Jensen almost always gets Jared.

"Yeah. I know."

*

It hits Jared about an hour after Jensen leaves, and he punches the wall when he figures it out.

He paces the house like a caged animal, trying to do something to distract himself but just getting more and more pissed every time his phone rings, which feels like five times a minute.

Finally, at one, when he's trying to watch soap operas, he hears Chad's ring.

"Are you seriously fucking Ackles?" asks Chad.

"Yeah," says Jared. He's never seen much point in lying to Chad.

"Why the fuck," says Chad.

"Because I've been in love with him for--" Jared thinks. "God, like ten years."

Chad sighs. "You never fucked him before. Why start now?"

"Because we stopped being stupid."

There's a snort. "Yeah, whatever, I'll believe that when I see it." He pauses. "You happy?"

"Except for all the bullshit press, yeah."

"Well," says Chad awkwardly, "good."

*

Greg knew the call was coming. He sees Jared's name on the display and thinks seriously about not answering. But truth be told, he's glad Jared's calling. He was half-afraid he'd come home and just find him on the doorstep waiting.

"Hi, Jared," he says.

"It was you, right?" says Jared. It's kind of calm, the way he says it, like he's just curious from an academic perspective. Like he's trying to put together the plot of a mystery novel. "You were the source."

"I always thought hell hath no fury was needlessly gender specific," he says.

"I--god, are you--" Jared's struggling for words.

It's pathetic, really, how much Greg still likes him. It's not that Jared is a bad boyfriend--Greg knows that. Jared is clearly a very good boyfriend.

Just to Jensen Ackles. Not to him.

"He didn't deserve this," says Jared. "Maybe I did, but it's not--it's not his fault he fucked me up."

"It'll blow over in a week."

There's a pause. "He was being stalked," says Jared quietly. "That's why he came to stay with me. Not because he missed me, not because he wanted to steal me away, just because he had to get away where no one would look for him."

Greg swallows.

"So you blew his cover. He didn't deserve that. And now I might have to leave town too. I'm still waiting on a ruling from the LAPD."

"I didn't mean--"

"Yeah, I know. But--god, be pissed at me, I get it, I don't blame you. But that's Jensen."

Greg knows, with a clarity he hates, that Jared would never be so riled up about him.

"I'm sorry," says Jared, "that I hurt you. I never wanted to. I never meant--I didn't know."

At first glance, Jared had seemed like such an amazing catch. Greg had seen Friday the Thirteenth, dabbled in Supernatural, lamented to friends that he never met guys that hot in real life, and then years later, there was Jared Padalecki, giving him that fucking smile and telling him it was a real pleasure.

He thought he was the luckiest guy in the world when Jared agreed to a date.

"I know," he says. He wishes he could believe there had been some conspiracy theory, that he could really honestly think Jared had meant to break his heart.

"Bye," says Jared, and hangs up before Greg can say anything.

*

Jensen has a billion voicemails and texts and e-mails when he gets off the plane; every one of his inboxes except e-mail is full. He scans for names he cares about--a couple calls from Maria, one from Owen, one from Mike, two each from Steve, Chris, and Maggie. A text from Jared--greg told.

Jensen wishes he was there so hard he aches from it.

He calls Owen first. "I'm LA. What do you want me to do?"

"Build a time machine."

"You and me both."

"You're in Maria's hands for this one, Jensen."

"So you just wanted to be on record that you were pissed at me?"

"That's it."

"Consider it noted."

"Here's how I think we should spin it," says Maria when she picks up. "You and Jared have been fighting for years, your reconciliation with Danneel made you come to terms with your sexuality, accept yourself for who you are, and decide that it was time to forgive Jared. You went to visit him. Not for sex, just to apologize."

Jensen nods, then remembers she can't see him. "Sounds good."

"You were off the radar because you were soul-searching trying to figure yourself out, and now you're coming home because Jared has an ordinary life that you don't want to disrupt."

"You think that'll work?"

"I don't think any more people are going to decide you're fucking Jared based on it."

"That's about all I was hoping for," Jensen says. "Thanks."

"You owe me. Tons of dates with Jared when you two officially start dating. Kissing babies."

"I promise."

"I'm sending you that in writing."

"Bye, Maria."

Jensen lets people see him as he leaves, tries to hold his head high. It's a strange feeling after hiding for so long; he finds he missed it, just a little.

*

"So you fled LA to hook up with Jared," says Mike. "I thought you moved out of the house in a panic."

"I did. Then I started getting those stalker calls on my cell and--"

Mike chokes. "Wait, what?"

Jensen blinks. "What?"

There's a long pause, and Jensen wonders if Mike dropped the phone.

"This was because of those calls?"

"And the letters, but yeah."

"What letters?"

"I was getting letters."

"I didn't send letters!"

Jensen takes a deep breath. He can't kill Mike over the phone, so he shouldn't get worked up yet. "What."

"I might have called you," Mike grants. "A couple times."

"How many."

"Twice! Just two! Once after you got that weird call, just to fuck with you. And then after you changed your number and moved to the hotel, I thought you were seriously overreacting, so I called back."

"You're an asshole," says Jensen.

"What letters?"

"I got letters. At my house."

"That wasn't me!"

"You only called my new cell once?" asks Jensen.

"Yeah."

Jensen groans. "What the fuck is wrong with you, Mike."

"I didn't think you had a real stalker! I had Lilah get me a phone that couldn't be traced. I called you a couple times, Tommy once . . ."

"Do you have the phone?" asks Jensen.

"Yeah, of course."

"Bring it over."

*

It happens quickly from there, more quickly than Jensen was expecting. Mike calls him from the car to tell him there are more calls than he made on the phone, enough calls to account for everything Jensen got.

"I don't--" starts Mike. "God, I have no idea what happened, Jensen," he says, and Jensen says to just come over, he'll get the police.

The police are there when Mike gets there, and they think it's got to be him, but that doesn't add up for Jensen. Even if Mike was actually stalking him (which he has trouble conceiving of, because it's Mike), he didn't have to tell Jensen he'd made the calls, and he could have told Jensen he'd made all the calls as the worst prank ever, and Jensen would have believed him and probably forgiven him within, like, a week. Tops. And Mike knows it.

"What the fuck," says Mike blankly, sitting on the couch with a dazed expression. "Am I sleep stalking you?"

"I'll ask the questions, Mr. Rosenbaum," says the officer.

"I'm sorry," says Mike, with a genuineness Jensen isn't used to hearing from him. "I'm new at this."

The officer nods. "Can you tell me when you bought the phone?" she asks, getting out a notebook.

"Uh," says Mike, running his hand through his hair. "It would've been April 17? I didn't actually buy it--I got my assistant to do that."

"Your assistant?"

"Lilah Thomas," says Mike. "She handles most of my daily affairs."

"Did she have access to the phone?"

"Yeah," says Mike, blinking. Then, more confidently, "Yes, she would have had access to the phone."

"When was the first call you made?"

"The 17th."

"And the second?"

"To Jensen?"

"Yes, to Mr. Ackles."

"May 6th, I guess? I was trying to figure it out--it was the day he moved to the hotel."

"And you deny making any of the other calls on this phone."

"None of the others to Jensen. The three to Tom Welling are me," says Mike. He scrubs his face. "Should I wait for my lawyer? I've never really--am I incriminating myself? How would I know?"

Jensen fights a snicker. He thinks it would come out kind of hysterical anyway,

"Can you give me your assistant's address? We'll need her for questioning."

"Absolutely," says Mike, "she's in Long Beach. Let me--" he pulls out a PDA and scrolls through. "Here."

The officer calls someone else and tells them to head out, and then she looks considerately at the PDA, fiddles around with it. "How many people have access to this PDA, Mr. Rosenbaum?"

"Just me and Lilah," says Mike. "As far as I know. She programs my appointments into it. She's my only assistant."

"This has Mr. Ackles' address in it," says the officer.

"It has all my friends' addresses," says Mike.

The officer nods. "I'm going to take this," she says. "Mr. Rosenbaum, I'm afraid you're going to have to come down to the station with us for further questioning."

Mike blanches.

"Sorry," says Jensen, feeling kind of bad. At the same time, though, Mike definitely has no one to blame but himself.

"Hey, it's my fault for being the dumbass who bought a fake phone to crank call his friends."

Jensen can't argue that one.

"Mr. Ackles, we'd prefer if you also came with us."

"Yeah," says Jensen, "I'm not doing anything else tonight."

*

By the time the police are done with him, it's late as fuck in New York, but Jensen lays even odds that Jared isn't sleeping. He texts you awake? and the phone rings five minutes later.

"Hi," breathes Jensen.

"You sound wrung out."

"It turns out Mike's a dumbass."

"How is that new?"

"He bought a phone to crank call me."

"It was Mike?"

"It was Mike twice. But all the calls came from his phone. I think the police suspect his assistant."

"Jesus," says Jared.

"Sorry I didn't call sooner," says Jensen. "It's been--pretty nuts."

He can hear the weary smile in Jared's voice. "Hey, I get it."

"So--Greg?"

"Yeah. I--he was hurt, I guess. I just--shitty situation all around, you know?"

"Yeah," Jensen agrees.

There's a pause, not awkward, just tired. Jared laughs softly. "I was gonna try to have phone sex with you, but I'm way too exhausted."

"You say the sweetest things."

"That's me, always a charmer."

"Any more news from the school?" asks Jensen.

"Not yet. It's just a couple more weeks of classes, all my students were totally distracted all the time anyway. I think Rogers will probably just let me finish out. I already got asked for autographs all the time anyway, it's not that new."

"The official story is that we just made up." Jensen yawns. "I wanted to, you know, mend broken bridges. Since me and Danneel made up."

"Sounds plausible," says Jared. "Talk to you tomorrow?"

"Unless my stalker or my agent or the police get me first."

Jared laughs. "Night."

"Night."

*

Lilah slips up, admits to knowing about the calls to Tom although Mike didn't tell her about them, and earlier claimed to have had no contact with the phone since buying it for Mike. It also turns out Percy tried asking her out when she was dropping off the hand delivered letter, so he can put her at the house on the day in question.

She cops to it finally, admitting that she thought Jensen wasn't good enough for Mike and wanted to scare him away. The logic doesn't totally follow for Jensen, but he's pretty much used to that from fans, at this point.

He takes Danneel out to coffee once the police are done with him, since he figures he owes her at least that much.

Really, he owes her a lot more, but he doubts she'd accept much past that.

"What really surprises me," says Danneel, sipping her drink in the bright sun, looking more like a movie star than anyone else Jensen has ever seen, "is that she wasn't your psycho fan."

Jensen laughs. "I haven't had anyone really crazy since Supernatural. No conventions or anything."

"Well," says Danneel, eying him over her sunglasses, "you and Jared always were something."

He swallows. "Yeah."

"When's he coming down?"

"After graduation."

"Are you going back up?"

Jensen shrugs. "We're supposed to be being subtle."

"Try being happy instead," Danneel suggests. "It'll be a lot more novel for you."

Jensen raises his eyebrows. Danneel just smiles back, serene.

"You look good," he says. "How's the boyfriend?"

"Fine," she says. Then, smile growing stronger, "Great."

He laughs. "Did I ever apologize?"

"Not very well," she says simply.

"I'm sorry."

"You're forgiven," she says. "I'm happy for you."

"Yeah," he says. "Me too."

After they finish their drinks, he lets her go with a kiss on the cheek, and then he calls Maria.

*

When Jared gets home, he finds Jensen sitting on his front steps, signing an autograph for Mrs. Plymouth from down the street.

"You have a very sweet boyfriend, Jared," she tells him with a wink.

Jared flushes dark. "Thanks."

Jensen grins up at him. "Hey."

Jared swallows. "Hey. What are you doing here?" He knows that they got the girl who'd sent the letters, that it was all tied up, but he's still getting scouted by the press every few days and this is beyond obvious. If Jensen's here--if he's sitting on Jared's stairs signing autographs he must not care who sees, and Jared really thought he'd just stay in LA until school let out. It seemed easier.

"Came to see my boyfriend," says Jensen.

Jared laughs. "You didn't have to."

"I'm still not doing anything this summer. What was I supposed to do? Hang out in LA and miss you?"

"Nah," says Jared. Then, "Everyone's going to know."

"They guessed anyway."

"Yeah," Jared agrees.

Jensen tugs him down to sit on the stairs, and Jared goes happily.

"My apartment in LA kind of sucks," says Jensen.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I was thinking we could get a house."

"A house?"

"Something with a yard. Maybe a dog."

Jared grins, leans back on the stairs. The sun is bright, not too warm, just enough. Jensen's arm is brushing against his, his hand still in Jared's from pulling him down.

It's a nice day.

"Maybe two."