![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beansideMore Deathknell!
Title: Turn the Stone
Rating: R
Authors:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
nilchance and beanside
Disclaimer: Never happened. Fiction and lies, all of it.
A/N: Many thanks to our betas extraordinare,embroiderama and topaz119 You're both awesome and we adore you!
As he wound up the mountain, Jared tried to think of what he was going to say when he saw Jeff. Or Jensen.
He had no clue.
He'd spent the night walking, trying to sort through the thoughts in his brain, but they just played tag with each other, circling round and round until he'd had to catch a nap in the transport to silence them. And now, here he was, awake and still with no better idea of what to do.
Bisou met him at the door, and Jared scratched behind her ears, kneeling down as he closed the door on the feeling of being watched. OF course he was being watched, Jesus. His boyfriend--fiance, was the heir to the United States Presidency. Kane would have Tom and Al watching at the very least.
Bisou wiggled her joy at the attention, and he petted her absently. He loved the girl, he reasoned. This was in no way an attempt to put off seeing Jeff.
Jared wandered into the living room, his lips narrowing as he caught sight of Jensen curled up next to Kane on the sofa, both snoring softly. Looked like Jensen had drooled down Kane's shoulder. The thought made Jared smile a little, touching his sore jaw lightly. As though he'd heard the thought, Kane slitted an eye open, looking in his direction.
When he saw that Jared was rubbing his jaw, Chris' lips curled in a smarmy smirk.
Fucker, Jared mouthed.
The door to the bedroom was mostly closed, which he figured meant that Jeff was in there.
Four years together, one lie by omission. It shouldn't be so hard to reach for the door's handle and close this new, unfamiliar distance.
They'd sent an assassin. He wasn't the first, according to Christian. Thirty years of hiding, of running. Of never knowing if you were in the sights of someone's rifle. From that perspective, it almost made sense. How could you tell someone the truth? When could you tell them?
And when Jeff finally had, Jared hadn't exactly acted like he could be trusted.
The door opened soundlessly, and Jared slid inside, closing it quietly. Jeff was in there, all right, smelling like a distillery had exploded on him. He looked like hell, curled up in a miserable lump, still in his clothes and his shoes. Despite himself, despite everything, Jared had to crack a smile. It eased the ache in his chest, letting him breathe again.
Slowly, Jared sat down on the end of the bed. He reached for Jeff's foot, to undo his shoelaces. Jeff reacted immediately, jerking upright with a knife in his hand. His eyes were all pupil. Scared. When he saw that it was Jared, he didn't relax much.
Feeling like he'd been kicked in the chest, Jared forced a tight smile. "Hi."
Jeff exhaled, flipping the knife closed and putting it aside. He looked tired, older than Jared had ever seen. "Hi," Jeff said to the quilt, his eyes averted. "If you've come to get your stuff, I can- I'll get out of your-"
"No." Jared stretched, covering Jeff's hand with his own. "I, um. Stay?"
Jeff raised his eyes. He looked like he expected to be kicked, but he carefully turned his hand over to twine their fingers together. Jared squeezed his hand, and the look on Jeff's face broke his heart.
"Did you actually drink the whiskey, or just pour it on yourself?" Jared tried for a light tone, wincing when it came out almost accusatory.
Jeff shrugged, looking down again. "Sorry."
"No. Jeff, I. Christ, I'm sorry. I'm fucking this up." Jared took a deep breath. "I'm still pissed."
"I figured."
The dejection in those two workds cut like a knife. It let the next words slide out of his mouth. "I love you."
Jeff stilled for a moment. "I love you, too," he said. Jared winced at the hoarse edge in his voice.
"Good. Now you better get showered and cleaned up. I'm not marrying a bum."
This time, when Jeff looked up, Jared managed a real smile.
"Really?" Jeff asked warily.
"Yeah," Jared murmured, bending to press his lips against Jeff's.
Jeff pulled back at the last second. "Uh. You probably don't want to do that right now, baby."
"Mmm. Good point."
Jeff slid off the bed, lightly brushing his hand over Jared's cheek, like he still wasn't sure how his touch would be received.
Jared locked his hand around Jeff's wrist, holding him there. "Y'know, I was out all night. I could probably stand a shower, too."
Jeff didn't smile, just looked at him, but the heat in his eyes could've lit the city for a week. "We could conserve water."
"We could. You go brush your teeth first, baby. Cause, damn."
Jeff smiled, ducking his head. "Yeah, sorry about that."
"Not a problem."
Jeff started to get up, then hesitated. "About Jensen-"
Jared sighed. "I don't get it. I won't lie. They sent him here to kill you. But I get that he's your grandmother's. Last link to what she was for you."
"Not exactly. Everything that Morgan made Jensen do, everything that he is, was because she wanted me to be safe. He never had a chance, and it's my--" Jeff cut himself off, too late to hide what he had been about to say. He swallowed and looked away. "He's my responsibility now. I can't just let that go."
So this was why Jeff avoided the Agency. Why they'd taken in three refugees. Why Jeff tortured himself for being free. The answer clicked into place, aching all the way.
Jeff looked so miserable that Jared couldn't help himself. With a quick tug, he pulled Jeff down into his lap. Jeff resisted, spine stiff, until Jared cupped his hand around Jeff's jaw and made Jeff look at him. "It's not your fault," Jared said.
With a bitter smile, Jeff said, "The hell it's not."
"You can't control what your grandmother did."
"No, but goddamn it, when she died I had to get him out. Him and his sister. But I was too chickenshit to cross the US border. I'd been hiding so long that..." Jeff fell silent, his expression hardening as he looked beyond Jared.
"They would've killed you," Jared murmured.
"Then I should've died."
Jesus. Jared tapped Jeff's cheek, trying to get his attention, needing to get that awful look off his face. Jeff refocused on him and held his eyes, unflinching. Meaning it. "That wouldn't help anyone," Jared said.
"Edward... he sent pictures. I never saw Jensen's face, or Nikki's; the bastard had them in hoods. But I saw what he'd done to them. And eventually, he went too far. Nikki..." Jeff closed his eyes. "When he found out, Kane nearly died with her. He loved Nikki. With everything he had. And he lived for the day when Grandmom would free her, too. But the old bitch needed her. And then, Grandmom died. Had a stroke and fell down the stairs. From what Edward said, one of the slaves broke her neck and ended it for her. Probably Jensen."
"Jesus." Jared tightened his grip on Jeff at the words, delivered in a cold monotone.
"I was grateful," Jeff said absently. "It was better than what Chancellor would have done. She'd have been trotted out like a show pony. 'See how well we're treating the queen of Camelot? See? Now that she can't speak, now that's she's helpless, see how close we are? It's exactly what her husband would have wanted.'"
Jared could see it, all too easily. "Sweetheart-"
"I finally got Edward to agree to send Jensen to me in Zimbabwe. After he killed Nikki, I think he was afraid of what I'd do when I found out," Jeff said dully. "Not that I would have stopped trying to get them, but he got worried. I paid him two hundred thousand euros. Instead, he ran to the administration. They sent an assassin instead. And Jensen got shuffled off to service some other deviant bastard."
"Fuck." Jared shook his head, trying to take in a stream of ugly secrets. "God, Jeff. I-"
"If Kane hadn't been there, I'd have gotten more than stitches," Jeff murmured, fingers tracing the scar that ran across his collarbones. He'd always explained that it was from a mugging years ago, a lucky miss. "He jerked me back. Knife missed my throat. We spent the next few years hiding, running from country to country. By the time the heat died down enough to look for Jensen, he'd been swallowed up. We didn't have anything to go on, no name, no face, just his age and a description. Mid-twenties, personal slave, green eyes, freckles."
Realization dawned, and Jared blurted out, "That's why you were in Seattle. Are you insane? They could've-"
"They didn't," Jeff said bluntly. "And I found you. I'll never be sorry for that."
Jared laid his head against Jeff's shoulder, smiling despite himself. "Kiss-ass."
Jeff didn't react, just sat, body still held a little stiff.
"That was a joke, baby."
"They're not going to stop coming, Jared. They're going to keep sending people. Chancellor wants me dead, and Bentley wants us both out of the way. There's only one way to make it stop." Jeff's head fell forward. "I have to go public. And I have to move. Again."
"Okay." Jared ran a soothing hand down Jeff's back.
"Jare, it's not going to be fun. Probably Bumfuck Alaska, or Japan, or Hawaii. Any place that'll offer sanctuary, and the more remote, the better. I'm going to be an even bigger target than I am now. And I'm going to be up to my ass in renewing my grandparents political contacts. I don't expect you to go with. It's too damn dangerous, and you didn't sign on for it."
"I'm going-"
"You- Jared, I can't risk you. If something happened to you--I'd die. Fuck the US, fuck the rest of the world. If you got hurt because of me, it would kill me. I need you to be safe-"
Jared pressed his fingers over Jeff's lips. "Shut the fuck up," he growled. "You don't get to do this. You don't get to martyr yourself and this relationship because you say so. I'm fucking going with you, and if you even try to leave me behind, I will kick your ass all the way to Alaska, got it?"
Jeff looked at him, silent. Pleading.
With a sigh, Jared took his hand back. "You're asking me to have faith in you. I do. Now have some goddamn faith in me. I'm a trained field agent, I've survived hell, and I love you. You're not doing this alone."
Jeff let his forehead drop and rest heavily against Jared's shoulder. Quiet reigned for a few uneasy seconds before Jeff turned his head and let Jared see his face, the too-bright shine of his eyes. "Stubborn ass," he said roughly.
Smile trembling, Jared said, "You know it. Now go brush your teeth so I can kiss you, not Jack and Jose."
"Bossy," Jeff muttered, and managed a smile. When he got up, he moved like he was guarding a mortal wound, dragging himself to the sink.
Down the hall, Jared could smell their pet assassin starting breakfast. Kane was watching him, had been all night. It still made Jared's teeth itch. Jensen had been in the house, in their bed.
Which was the real Jensen? The beaten slave who delighted in good food and had screaming nightmares or the killer who was here for Jeff?
That nightmare. Jensen had bolted through the woods. Christ, had he been trying to run? Combine that with the scorpion implant and it made a disturbing picture.
Dragging a restless hand through his hair, Jared went to stand behind Jeff. He wrapped his arms around Jeff, laid his chin on Jeff's shoulder. Solid ground. Watching Jeff in the mirror, he asked, "What about Jensen?"
Jeff went still. After a moment, he recovered enough to spit out mouthwash, wipe his mouth on his wrist and answer carefully. "That's up to him."
"Jail?"
"No. I'll explain what we know and offer him amnesty. Kane's got someone working on a falsified passport for him. He's already got his freedom bars. Once we get the implant out of his shoulder, he can go wherever he wants." Before Jared could respond, Jeff added, "No, I don't think he'll come back and kill me. He's still a slave, sweetheart. They've got people on our side of the border who can--and have--smuggled refugees back into the US. I'm guessing Jonas was supposed to break out of Agency custody and make sure Jensen was put back in his cage once he'd killed me."
"But someone killed Jonas," Jared said. "They wouldn't hit their own man. There are two groups in play here?"
"So it'd seem. Jensen is Bentley's. Odds are, the transport that hit Jonas was Chancellor's."
"Christ," Jared breathed. "What a clusterfuck. I'm amazed Chris's head hasn't exploded. So Chancellor'll be sending his own assassin, then."
"Most likely. He sent somebody yesterday to kill Jensen--and me, if he got lucky." Jeff met Jared's eyes in the mirror. "I killed him."
Jared blinked. That... explained a lot, particularly why a forty year-old artist kept himself in prime fighting shape and carried a switchblade. Jeff had always said it was so he could keep up with Jared, the price for robbing the cradle. Perversely, the truth made Jared feel better. He stroked Jeff's stomach and said only, "Okay."
Jeff raised his eyebrow and echoed, "Okay?"
"Yeah. When this is done, wanna spar?"
Despite everything, Jeff laughed and leaned his head against Jared's. "I love you," he said, the smile rich in his voice. "You're so fucked in the head."
"You sweet-talker." Jared tightened his grip around Jeff and squeezed, hard enough that Jeff grunted. Then he relaxed his grip, idly rubbing Jeff's stomach. "When this is over and Jensen hasn't done the job, he'll be a traitor."
"Yes," Jeff said simply. That was enough; they both understood what happened to people who betrayed the US government.
If Jensen tried to finish the job, to kill Jeff, he'd either be killed by Kane or caught and thrown in prison. His slave tattoo marked him as a personal slave. Even if Chancellor didn't have him killed, he'd be fresh meat for the other prisoners.
If Jensen didn't move on Jeff, he'd be a traitor. He would be hunted by Chancellor and Bentley. There was nowhere he could run that would be far enough, no place to hide. Both of the old men had spies embedded in every country, every government, including Canada's. They would find him, and they would tear him apart. There were only a few people who had burned Bentley and survived: Tom, Kane, Jeff. Only one safe place.
Slowly, painfully, Jared said, "What if he came with us?"
Jeff turned to look at him, the toothbrush hanging from his mouth. "Huh?"
"Jensen. He could come with us. Probably the safest place, right? Kane'll make sure we've got security up the ass. He could finish rehabbing."
"I didn't think you'd want him there."
"I'm willing to hold judgment. It obviously means a lot to you that he's taken care of. So, yeah. Assuming he doesn't try for your throat in the next couple days..."
"Yeah." Jeff rinsed his mouth out. "You might want to have a bag ready. If they send another assassin then we're going to have to bolt."
"I can do that. Y'know, there's one good thing about all of this."
"What's that?" Jeff gave him a dubious look.
"I probably won't have to shovel the transport out when the snow hits this weekend."
Jeff's laughter followed Jared to the shower.
~*~*~*~
Now, because she loves you, my lovely wife has also written a ficlet sidestep as someone had requested Jensen's POV in the market. So, go forth and read and give her much love. Seed.
Title: Turn the Stone
Rating: R
Authors:
nilchance and beansideDisclaimer: Never happened. Fiction and lies, all of it.
A/N: Many thanks to our betas extraordinare,
embroiderama and topaz119 You're both awesome and we adore you!As he wound up the mountain, Jared tried to think of what he was going to say when he saw Jeff. Or Jensen.
He had no clue.
He'd spent the night walking, trying to sort through the thoughts in his brain, but they just played tag with each other, circling round and round until he'd had to catch a nap in the transport to silence them. And now, here he was, awake and still with no better idea of what to do.
Bisou met him at the door, and Jared scratched behind her ears, kneeling down as he closed the door on the feeling of being watched. OF course he was being watched, Jesus. His boyfriend--fiance, was the heir to the United States Presidency. Kane would have Tom and Al watching at the very least.
Bisou wiggled her joy at the attention, and he petted her absently. He loved the girl, he reasoned. This was in no way an attempt to put off seeing Jeff.
Jared wandered into the living room, his lips narrowing as he caught sight of Jensen curled up next to Kane on the sofa, both snoring softly. Looked like Jensen had drooled down Kane's shoulder. The thought made Jared smile a little, touching his sore jaw lightly. As though he'd heard the thought, Kane slitted an eye open, looking in his direction.
When he saw that Jared was rubbing his jaw, Chris' lips curled in a smarmy smirk.
Fucker, Jared mouthed.
The door to the bedroom was mostly closed, which he figured meant that Jeff was in there.
Four years together, one lie by omission. It shouldn't be so hard to reach for the door's handle and close this new, unfamiliar distance.
They'd sent an assassin. He wasn't the first, according to Christian. Thirty years of hiding, of running. Of never knowing if you were in the sights of someone's rifle. From that perspective, it almost made sense. How could you tell someone the truth? When could you tell them?
And when Jeff finally had, Jared hadn't exactly acted like he could be trusted.
The door opened soundlessly, and Jared slid inside, closing it quietly. Jeff was in there, all right, smelling like a distillery had exploded on him. He looked like hell, curled up in a miserable lump, still in his clothes and his shoes. Despite himself, despite everything, Jared had to crack a smile. It eased the ache in his chest, letting him breathe again.
Slowly, Jared sat down on the end of the bed. He reached for Jeff's foot, to undo his shoelaces. Jeff reacted immediately, jerking upright with a knife in his hand. His eyes were all pupil. Scared. When he saw that it was Jared, he didn't relax much.
Feeling like he'd been kicked in the chest, Jared forced a tight smile. "Hi."
Jeff exhaled, flipping the knife closed and putting it aside. He looked tired, older than Jared had ever seen. "Hi," Jeff said to the quilt, his eyes averted. "If you've come to get your stuff, I can- I'll get out of your-"
"No." Jared stretched, covering Jeff's hand with his own. "I, um. Stay?"
Jeff raised his eyes. He looked like he expected to be kicked, but he carefully turned his hand over to twine their fingers together. Jared squeezed his hand, and the look on Jeff's face broke his heart.
"Did you actually drink the whiskey, or just pour it on yourself?" Jared tried for a light tone, wincing when it came out almost accusatory.
Jeff shrugged, looking down again. "Sorry."
"No. Jeff, I. Christ, I'm sorry. I'm fucking this up." Jared took a deep breath. "I'm still pissed."
"I figured."
The dejection in those two workds cut like a knife. It let the next words slide out of his mouth. "I love you."
Jeff stilled for a moment. "I love you, too," he said. Jared winced at the hoarse edge in his voice.
"Good. Now you better get showered and cleaned up. I'm not marrying a bum."
This time, when Jeff looked up, Jared managed a real smile.
"Really?" Jeff asked warily.
"Yeah," Jared murmured, bending to press his lips against Jeff's.
Jeff pulled back at the last second. "Uh. You probably don't want to do that right now, baby."
"Mmm. Good point."
Jeff slid off the bed, lightly brushing his hand over Jared's cheek, like he still wasn't sure how his touch would be received.
Jared locked his hand around Jeff's wrist, holding him there. "Y'know, I was out all night. I could probably stand a shower, too."
Jeff didn't smile, just looked at him, but the heat in his eyes could've lit the city for a week. "We could conserve water."
"We could. You go brush your teeth first, baby. Cause, damn."
Jeff smiled, ducking his head. "Yeah, sorry about that."
"Not a problem."
Jeff started to get up, then hesitated. "About Jensen-"
Jared sighed. "I don't get it. I won't lie. They sent him here to kill you. But I get that he's your grandmother's. Last link to what she was for you."
"Not exactly. Everything that Morgan made Jensen do, everything that he is, was because she wanted me to be safe. He never had a chance, and it's my--" Jeff cut himself off, too late to hide what he had been about to say. He swallowed and looked away. "He's my responsibility now. I can't just let that go."
So this was why Jeff avoided the Agency. Why they'd taken in three refugees. Why Jeff tortured himself for being free. The answer clicked into place, aching all the way.
Jeff looked so miserable that Jared couldn't help himself. With a quick tug, he pulled Jeff down into his lap. Jeff resisted, spine stiff, until Jared cupped his hand around Jeff's jaw and made Jeff look at him. "It's not your fault," Jared said.
With a bitter smile, Jeff said, "The hell it's not."
"You can't control what your grandmother did."
"No, but goddamn it, when she died I had to get him out. Him and his sister. But I was too chickenshit to cross the US border. I'd been hiding so long that..." Jeff fell silent, his expression hardening as he looked beyond Jared.
"They would've killed you," Jared murmured.
"Then I should've died."
Jesus. Jared tapped Jeff's cheek, trying to get his attention, needing to get that awful look off his face. Jeff refocused on him and held his eyes, unflinching. Meaning it. "That wouldn't help anyone," Jared said.
"Edward... he sent pictures. I never saw Jensen's face, or Nikki's; the bastard had them in hoods. But I saw what he'd done to them. And eventually, he went too far. Nikki..." Jeff closed his eyes. "When he found out, Kane nearly died with her. He loved Nikki. With everything he had. And he lived for the day when Grandmom would free her, too. But the old bitch needed her. And then, Grandmom died. Had a stroke and fell down the stairs. From what Edward said, one of the slaves broke her neck and ended it for her. Probably Jensen."
"Jesus." Jared tightened his grip on Jeff at the words, delivered in a cold monotone.
"I was grateful," Jeff said absently. "It was better than what Chancellor would have done. She'd have been trotted out like a show pony. 'See how well we're treating the queen of Camelot? See? Now that she can't speak, now that's she's helpless, see how close we are? It's exactly what her husband would have wanted.'"
Jared could see it, all too easily. "Sweetheart-"
"I finally got Edward to agree to send Jensen to me in Zimbabwe. After he killed Nikki, I think he was afraid of what I'd do when I found out," Jeff said dully. "Not that I would have stopped trying to get them, but he got worried. I paid him two hundred thousand euros. Instead, he ran to the administration. They sent an assassin instead. And Jensen got shuffled off to service some other deviant bastard."
"Fuck." Jared shook his head, trying to take in a stream of ugly secrets. "God, Jeff. I-"
"If Kane hadn't been there, I'd have gotten more than stitches," Jeff murmured, fingers tracing the scar that ran across his collarbones. He'd always explained that it was from a mugging years ago, a lucky miss. "He jerked me back. Knife missed my throat. We spent the next few years hiding, running from country to country. By the time the heat died down enough to look for Jensen, he'd been swallowed up. We didn't have anything to go on, no name, no face, just his age and a description. Mid-twenties, personal slave, green eyes, freckles."
Realization dawned, and Jared blurted out, "That's why you were in Seattle. Are you insane? They could've-"
"They didn't," Jeff said bluntly. "And I found you. I'll never be sorry for that."
Jared laid his head against Jeff's shoulder, smiling despite himself. "Kiss-ass."
Jeff didn't react, just sat, body still held a little stiff.
"That was a joke, baby."
"They're not going to stop coming, Jared. They're going to keep sending people. Chancellor wants me dead, and Bentley wants us both out of the way. There's only one way to make it stop." Jeff's head fell forward. "I have to go public. And I have to move. Again."
"Okay." Jared ran a soothing hand down Jeff's back.
"Jare, it's not going to be fun. Probably Bumfuck Alaska, or Japan, or Hawaii. Any place that'll offer sanctuary, and the more remote, the better. I'm going to be an even bigger target than I am now. And I'm going to be up to my ass in renewing my grandparents political contacts. I don't expect you to go with. It's too damn dangerous, and you didn't sign on for it."
"I'm going-"
"You- Jared, I can't risk you. If something happened to you--I'd die. Fuck the US, fuck the rest of the world. If you got hurt because of me, it would kill me. I need you to be safe-"
Jared pressed his fingers over Jeff's lips. "Shut the fuck up," he growled. "You don't get to do this. You don't get to martyr yourself and this relationship because you say so. I'm fucking going with you, and if you even try to leave me behind, I will kick your ass all the way to Alaska, got it?"
Jeff looked at him, silent. Pleading.
With a sigh, Jared took his hand back. "You're asking me to have faith in you. I do. Now have some goddamn faith in me. I'm a trained field agent, I've survived hell, and I love you. You're not doing this alone."
Jeff let his forehead drop and rest heavily against Jared's shoulder. Quiet reigned for a few uneasy seconds before Jeff turned his head and let Jared see his face, the too-bright shine of his eyes. "Stubborn ass," he said roughly.
Smile trembling, Jared said, "You know it. Now go brush your teeth so I can kiss you, not Jack and Jose."
"Bossy," Jeff muttered, and managed a smile. When he got up, he moved like he was guarding a mortal wound, dragging himself to the sink.
Down the hall, Jared could smell their pet assassin starting breakfast. Kane was watching him, had been all night. It still made Jared's teeth itch. Jensen had been in the house, in their bed.
Which was the real Jensen? The beaten slave who delighted in good food and had screaming nightmares or the killer who was here for Jeff?
That nightmare. Jensen had bolted through the woods. Christ, had he been trying to run? Combine that with the scorpion implant and it made a disturbing picture.
Dragging a restless hand through his hair, Jared went to stand behind Jeff. He wrapped his arms around Jeff, laid his chin on Jeff's shoulder. Solid ground. Watching Jeff in the mirror, he asked, "What about Jensen?"
Jeff went still. After a moment, he recovered enough to spit out mouthwash, wipe his mouth on his wrist and answer carefully. "That's up to him."
"Jail?"
"No. I'll explain what we know and offer him amnesty. Kane's got someone working on a falsified passport for him. He's already got his freedom bars. Once we get the implant out of his shoulder, he can go wherever he wants." Before Jared could respond, Jeff added, "No, I don't think he'll come back and kill me. He's still a slave, sweetheart. They've got people on our side of the border who can--and have--smuggled refugees back into the US. I'm guessing Jonas was supposed to break out of Agency custody and make sure Jensen was put back in his cage once he'd killed me."
"But someone killed Jonas," Jared said. "They wouldn't hit their own man. There are two groups in play here?"
"So it'd seem. Jensen is Bentley's. Odds are, the transport that hit Jonas was Chancellor's."
"Christ," Jared breathed. "What a clusterfuck. I'm amazed Chris's head hasn't exploded. So Chancellor'll be sending his own assassin, then."
"Most likely. He sent somebody yesterday to kill Jensen--and me, if he got lucky." Jeff met Jared's eyes in the mirror. "I killed him."
Jared blinked. That... explained a lot, particularly why a forty year-old artist kept himself in prime fighting shape and carried a switchblade. Jeff had always said it was so he could keep up with Jared, the price for robbing the cradle. Perversely, the truth made Jared feel better. He stroked Jeff's stomach and said only, "Okay."
Jeff raised his eyebrow and echoed, "Okay?"
"Yeah. When this is done, wanna spar?"
Despite everything, Jeff laughed and leaned his head against Jared's. "I love you," he said, the smile rich in his voice. "You're so fucked in the head."
"You sweet-talker." Jared tightened his grip around Jeff and squeezed, hard enough that Jeff grunted. Then he relaxed his grip, idly rubbing Jeff's stomach. "When this is over and Jensen hasn't done the job, he'll be a traitor."
"Yes," Jeff said simply. That was enough; they both understood what happened to people who betrayed the US government.
If Jensen tried to finish the job, to kill Jeff, he'd either be killed by Kane or caught and thrown in prison. His slave tattoo marked him as a personal slave. Even if Chancellor didn't have him killed, he'd be fresh meat for the other prisoners.
If Jensen didn't move on Jeff, he'd be a traitor. He would be hunted by Chancellor and Bentley. There was nowhere he could run that would be far enough, no place to hide. Both of the old men had spies embedded in every country, every government, including Canada's. They would find him, and they would tear him apart. There were only a few people who had burned Bentley and survived: Tom, Kane, Jeff. Only one safe place.
Slowly, painfully, Jared said, "What if he came with us?"
Jeff turned to look at him, the toothbrush hanging from his mouth. "Huh?"
"Jensen. He could come with us. Probably the safest place, right? Kane'll make sure we've got security up the ass. He could finish rehabbing."
"I didn't think you'd want him there."
"I'm willing to hold judgment. It obviously means a lot to you that he's taken care of. So, yeah. Assuming he doesn't try for your throat in the next couple days..."
"Yeah." Jeff rinsed his mouth out. "You might want to have a bag ready. If they send another assassin then we're going to have to bolt."
"I can do that. Y'know, there's one good thing about all of this."
"What's that?" Jeff gave him a dubious look.
"I probably won't have to shovel the transport out when the snow hits this weekend."
Jeff's laughter followed Jared to the shower.
~*~*~*~
Now, because she loves you, my lovely wife has also written a ficlet sidestep as someone had requested Jensen's POV in the market. So, go forth and read and give her much love. Seed.
Tags:
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-07-02 10:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-03 02:34 am (UTC)Not to be missed!
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-07-02 10:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 05:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-02 10:24 pm (UTC)Okay ... I'm skidaddling over to that other morsel of Deathnell goodness now ...
no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 05:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-02 10:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-03 04:04 am (UTC)If Jensen didn't move on Jeff, he'd be a traitor. He would be hunted by Chancellor and Bentley. There was nowhere he could run that would be far enough, no place to hide. Both of the old men had spies embedded in every country, every government, including Canada's. They would find him, and they would tear him apart. There were only a few people who had burned Bentley and survived: Tom, Kane, Jeff. Only one safe place.
Slowly, painfully, Jared said, "What if he came with us?"
Suddenly the ending and all those future tales are in sight. Eee!
*geeks out*
The market POV is priceless, btw. Makes me wish we had his thoughts on a few other crucial scenes. But that's just because you guys are so good at creating a world that we want moremoremore.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-07-02 10:52 pm (UTC)As always, great chapter. How do you come up with this stuff?
no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 05:28 pm (UTC)I have no clue, to be honest, where we get stuff. We talk, and things just pop up.
Thank you!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-02 11:17 pm (UTC)*hugs*
-C-
no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 05:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-02 11:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 05:29 pm (UTC)Thank you! I'm glad you like it!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-02 11:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 05:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-03 01:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 05:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-03 01:45 am (UTC)And it case it's not obvious by now: I love you both.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 05:32 pm (UTC)*Grin* We love you too!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-03 02:53 am (UTC)It has J3, it has a wonderful ensemble cast, it has an intricate plot, it has tension it has sizzling sex, it has angst and just enough schmoop. It also has two very talented writers.
Kudos, ladies. Another wonderful chapter.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 05:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-03 03:49 am (UTC)I have nothing but love for this gift you give fandom.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 05:40 pm (UTC)Thank you!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-03 04:21 am (UTC)Second - Yes! Yes Jensen should go with them to be 'rehabbed'.
And by rehabbed I mean - have lots of hot sex with Jeff and Jared.
Yummy.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 05:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-03 07:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 05:42 pm (UTC)Thank you!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-03 07:53 am (UTC)As always so exciting to see another update AND a little ficlet...interesting to see Jensen's POV of the scene. Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 05:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-03 09:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 05:46 pm (UTC)I'm glad you liked it! Thank you!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-03 04:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 05:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-03 05:43 pm (UTC)The whole thing is just... Wow. At first I thought Jensen was really just a black market slave, then I had a moment where I thought he was a hardcore assasin, and now I'm thinking he's so totally confused at all the upheaval in his world, and all the contradictions, and I feel so bad for him. I adore Jared and Jeff, and Chris too, and the rest of the cast.
I can't wait for more! You guys rock. :)
no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 06:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-04 09:25 am (UTC)Addicted!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 06:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-04 02:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 06:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-04 08:43 pm (UTC)I love how this part overlaps with the last. Jared coming home to see Kane and Jensen. I just love how you do the different POV and weave it all together.
Need to friend. Can't miss anything. HI.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 06:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-05 07:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 06:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 06:18 pm (UTC)Feel free to friend away! Welcome to the loony bin!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-06 09:01 pm (UTC)So much love for Jared coming back and still wants to marry Jeff!And take Jensen with them!
And Jensen curled up next to Chris scene is adorable!
:)
*off to read the ficlet*
no subject
Date: 2009-02-09 12:19 pm (UTC)I'm horrifically behind on replying, but thank you!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-12 08:39 am (UTC)Thanks for sharing.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-09 12:38 pm (UTC)