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phantismaFandom: RPS (Supernatural with added Buffy, Angel, SGA, STNG)
Title: In Service, Part 12 (Previous parts found: Part One Here, Part Two Here, Part Three Here, Part 4 Here, Part 5 here, Part 6 here, Part 7 here, Part 8 here, Part 9 Here, Part 10 here, Part 11 here)
Pairing/Characters: Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki, Jeffery Dean Morgan, Chris Kane, Eliza Dushku, OCs
Rating: Rish due to theme
Word Count: 3542
Summary: Disaster strikes, leaving Jensen reeling and struggling to take care of the people he cares about.
A/Ns & Warnings: Ummm...yeah totally AU. It's...crack...No, seriously...total crack. I take great liberties with the families of the celebrities I...um...use...creating siblings, erasing siblings, aging and de-aging siblings...pretty much doing anything I want. Um...and just about anyone is game. As to Warnings: This is slave fic, dubious con to some degree...This part includes brief, off-screen non-con.
Jensen stumbled down the stairs, already on the phone with the studio. “No, I’m going to work from home today. Email them. No more couriers.”
He squinted at the bright sunlight streaming in the kitchen windows as he made for the coffee. Jeff was already up, sitting at the small kitchen table, nursing his own cup of coffee. “Morning.” Jensen offered before coming to sit beside him.
Jeff groaned and rubbed a hand over his head. “I must have been gone.” He sipped at his coffee and didn’t quite look at Jensen. “Sorry.”
“I was right behind you.” Jensen said. He set his cup down. “Don’t worry about it.” Except Jensen could still feel the way Jeff had leaned over him, into him…he shook his head, then regretted it. “I’m staying home today, but if you want I can have my driver take you in…and bring you home tonight.”
“Tonight’s the big night?” Jeff looked at him. “I finally find out what you’ve been hiding from me.”
“Not hiding anything, Jeff.” Jensen sipped at his coffee. “I have been thinking though.”
“I don’t know, Jensen, the last time you told me you’d been thinking, it evolved into needing armed guards.” He smirked, despite his words.
Jensen nodded. “I know. I never said I was good at this.”
“So…what is it you’ve been thinking?”
Jensen didn’t answer right away. He sipped at his coffee and took a deep breath. He opened his mouth to speak, and his phone rang. “Marcy?”
He could barely hear her, the background noise was outrageously loud. Sirens and people shouting. “Calm down, Marcy. Tell me what’s wrong.”
He thought he heard words like “bomb” and “fire”. “Marcy?”
“Jensen!” JP skidded to a halt as he spotted Jeff, then looked at Jensen. “You gotta come see this. Someone bombed your building.”
Jensen was up and following JP into the living room, where the younger man was getting the television turned on. He set it to a news channel. The whole front of the building was rubble. Fires dotted what was left. People were milling about and choppers were pouring chemicals down onto the building. “Oh my god.” Jensen sank to the couch. “Marcy? Where are you?”
Jensen shook his head in disbelief. “Get everyone out. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
He grabbed the remote from JP and switched it to his station. It was off the air, nothing but static. “We’re down.”
“Local station was hit too.” JP said. “That was the first thing, actually.”
Jensen dropped the remote and headed for the door. “I’ve got to get down there.”
“I’m with you.” Jeff said, following.
The destruction was intense. They could smell smoke long before they reached the site. Jensen was up and out of the car, Jeff right behind him as they came to a stop. He looked for someone who could tell him what had happened. Jeff tapped his shoulder and pointed to an ambulance. Samantha was on a gurney being lifted into the back.
Jensen jogged over. “Hey.” Her eyes flicked to his, but it was easy to see she wasn’t talking any time soon. The left side of her face was burned, her neck black. Jensen turned away and fought down a wave of nausea.
Jeff’s voice cut through to him. “My Lord, this is the Chief of Police, Martin Gordan. Chief, Lord Jensen Ackles.”
Jensen looked up. “How bad?”
“My Lord, I’m sorry.”
Jensen sighed and shook his head. “Don’t be sorry. Talk to me.”
“We don’t know the full extent of the damage. Won’t until the fires are out. We know the device was delivered through the front door. We think that it set off secondary devices throughout the building.”
Jensen tried to breath through the terror in his stomach. He had done this. “Casualties?” he choked out.
“So far…there are fifteen dead, more than fifty wounded.”
“Fuck.” Jensen turned away, his hand covering his mouth. The stench of burning wiring and flesh swirled around him. Fifteen dead. Probably more. “And the station?”
“There was nothing left, my Lord.”
“How many dead?”
“All of them, sir. Ten people. It was fortunate it wasn’t later in the day. The body count would have been much higher.”
“Fuck.” He was going to be sick. He stumbled away, grabbing onto a truck as he doubled over and threw up. When he was done, he drew a shaking hand over his mouth. He turned back to Jeff and the police Chief. “Do we know who did it?”
The chief shook his head. “Not yet, but I imagine someone will claim responsibility.”
Jensen imagine he already did know who was responsible, but there was no way he could blame him. “Well, Lord Ackles has had at least two hundred death threats in the last few weeks. I have records of them.” Jeff said.
“That would be very helpful.”
Jensen wandered away while they talked. He had to see it for himself. He picked his way over hoses and debris. The whole in the building was black and looming. Firemen moved in and out of it, some of them carrying the wounded, shouting for medics and others hauling hoses deeper into the building.
He felt eyes and turned, scanning the dirty faces of his employees who had somehow survived, the police and firemen, the news crews and spectators. Then he spotted a familiar bald head, He stared.
Stewart leaned against his limo near the street, his arms folded across his chest. He inclined his head as if in greeting. Jensen seethed and before he could stop himself, he was storming toward him.
A hand on his arm stopped him, turned him. Jensen growled as Jeff pulled him to face him. “Let go of me.”
Jeff shook his head. “You can’t go over there.”
“Fuck you.” Jensen said forcefully, pulling his arm free.
“Jensen—“
Jensen held up a finger. “I will remind you that I am still your boss, and I am still nobility. Shut the fuck up.”
Jensen turned back. Stewart was smiling. Fucking smiling. He blew out and crossed the remaining fifty yards or so. “Come to watch the show?”
He let his eyes pass over the building before coming back to Jensen. “Having trouble with your man?” Stewart nodded toward Jeff.
“Get the fuck out of here.” Jensen said through clenched teeth.
“Or what? You’ll sick the cops on me?” Stewart adjusted his jacket and shook his head. “Come now, Jensen, we both know they can’t touch me…even if I had something to do with this.”
“I was beating you at your own game.” Jensen said, moving a little closer, his hands in fists at his side.
Stewart smiled, slow and easy. “You were, yes. I think balance is restored now though, don’t you? Pretty difficult to maintain a ratings increase when you’re off the air, don’t you think?”
“I’m going to fucking kill you.” Jensen growled.
“Easy now, wouldn’t want to be heard threatening me in front of all of these police.” Stewart stepped back toward his car. “Business is business, I’m sure you’re learning that. Say hello to your father to me, won’t you?”
Jensen seethed with anger as Stewart got back into his car and drove off. He screamed wordlessly and turned back to the building. His father. Stewart wouldn’t…He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed. His father answered on the second ring. “Dad…no…I just…” Just what? Wanted to make sure you weren’t dead? “Checking in. Didn’t know if you heard the news. The studio got bombed. I’m fine.” He wasn’t fine.
He was so far from fine he couldn’t see it anymore. “Dad…things are going to…get ugly. You and Mom should get out of the country.” His father was apologizing, something about law firms and conflict of interest.
“Do you understand what I’m saying, Jensen?”
Jensen shook his head. “Yeah, Dad. Stewart bought them off. It’s not your fault. None of this is. I should have read the contract myself before I signed it. Look…I gotta go. My people need me.”
He hung up the phone and pocketed it. With a deep breath he headed back into the chaos, grabbing Jeff and drawing him in between two of the trucks. “We need to gather any of the senior staff that are still mobile. I want to organize relief efforts. Get me lists of the injured and what hospital they’re being taken to. I need to know what our insurance is going to cover and what it isn’t. I’m going to need to talk to the press. We should organize a press conference. Early rather than waiting.”
“Is that wise? What will you tell them?”
That he wasn’t sure about. Part of him wanted to tell them the truth. “Enough to keep them off our backs while we recover.” Jensen shook his head. He had to make sure he took care of everything before the deadline…because after…”Jeff…I’m sorry.”
Jeff shook his head. “It’s okay.”
“No. You’ve been a good friend. I shouldn’t have yelled.”
“That sounds like you’ve given up.”
Jensen shook his head, but a part of him knew he had. “I have a week. Let’s make it worth something.” He walked away, leaving Jeff to do as he asked, while he retreated into his car for a few moments to collect himself.
He should warn the house. He dialed the phone. To his surprise, JP answered it. “Jared’s a wreck. He saw the news and he’s freaking out.”
Jensen closed his eyes and fell against the seat. “You’re going to have to deal with it JP. I can’t leave.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“JP, listen to me. Things are bad. I need you to do like we talked about. Get ready to run. Don’t tell Jared. I’ll talk to him tonight.” Jensen sighed. Then he remembered something. “JP, where are you?”
“Kitchen.”
“Go to my office. I left without my briefcase. There’s an envelope in it. I need you to open it and read it to me.”
“Give me a sec.”
Jensen could hear footsteps, then a door. Then another door. “Okay, got it.” There was the sound of tearing paper. “My Lord Ackles, “ JP read, “it may be presumptuous of me, but I assure you that my concern is primarily for the two young men in your care. When the time comes, call this number. We can help. There’s a phone number.”
Jensen let out a breath. “Okay, JP…I need you to pay attention. I have a few things I need for you to do. Don’t use any of our phones though. Borrow one from the staff, security…something.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“Call Lisa, tell her you need to get out. You and Jared. Tell her…” His stomach twisted. “Tell her to draw up the papers to release Jared. I’ll sign them. Have her bring them here.”
“How do you know she’s still in town?”
“Because she knew how this would go down. Call the number, I guarantee it will be her. Also, I need her to bring something else. A book.”
“What book?”
“Something for Jared.” He sighed. He had no idea how he was going to break this to Jared. “Have her call me. I’ll explain.”
There was a knock on the window and Jeff was standing outside the car. “I have to go, JP. I’ll be in touch.”
“Eat.” Jeff shoved a Styrofoam plate at him and took his phone away.
“Not hungry.” Jensen reached for his phone and Jeff shoved it into a pocket.
“Don’t care. Eat.”
They had a makeshift command center set up under a canopy. Out of his senior staff he had Jeff and Dave and Amanda Allen still standing, though Dave’s arm was broken and Amanda had a nasty black eye. The death count had risen over twenty five, and it was still going up.
Jensen picked at the plate, but he really wasn’t hungry. He was less hungover now, which he thought was good…but the thought of food was still kind of nauseating. It didn’t help that it was some sort of pasta. He couldn’t begrudge the effort. The catering people had shown up of their own accord and volunteered their services.
“What time is it?”
“After three.” Jeff said. His voice was gruff from the smoke they’d been breathing all day. “Eat, or I’ll sit on you and force feed you.”
Jensen made a show of putting a forkful in his mouth and Jeff smirked. “Better.”
He took a pile of papers from an aide, only to have Jeff take them out of his hand. “I’ll handle it.”
“I’m not a child, Jeff, I can eat and read.”
“I’m sure you can. I’ll still handle it.”
Jensen shook his head and put more food in his mouth while Jeff ruffled through the papers. “My Lord, there’s a lawyer here to see you.”
Jensen looked up at the young man. He pointed toward the street. Lisa nodded and Jensen stood. “Yeah, thanks. Uh, Jeff? I’ll be right back.” He wiped his face and headed toward her. “Lisa, thanks for coming.”
“Well, when JP told me what you wanted, how could I refuse?”
“I’m so not in the mood. Did you bring what I asked?”
She nodded, her eyes skimming over him, then the scene behind him. “You have someplace we can talk privately?”
He nodded and directed her toward his car. They both got in and she frowned at him. “You okay? You look…terrible.”
He groaned and laid his head back against the seat for a moment. “No, I’m tired and hungover and I’ve been breathing smoke all day…I have twenty-six dead employees, another 62 in local hospitals, and god knows how many with injuries who haven’t been treated. I’m about to lose everything. I am seriously not okay.”
He lifted his head and looked at her. “I know you don’t like me, Lisa, and that’s okay. I need to know I can trust you though.”
“That depends on what you’re trusting me with.”
He nodded and sighed, rubbed his dirty hand over his dirty face. “I’m in some serious trouble here.”
“I can see that.”
He shook his head. “No…not this. I mean, this is bad…but it’s a product of the trouble. I’m in so far over my head…” He sighed again. “I need to know you can keep JP and Jared safe.”
She regarded him quietly for a minute. “Safe from who?”
“Lord Stewart.” He pulled the papers from his pocket. He’d taken to carrying them around, just to remind him what was at stake. It was time to go for broke. “He’s played me, right from the start. And with this,” he waved his hand at the window, “he’s won. But if I free Jared before it comes due, Jared will be free, right?”
She skimmed over the page marked in yellow, frowning. “Why did you sign this?”
Jensen sighed again. “I didn’t read it. My father’s attorney looked it over and okayed it. Turns out my father’s attorney works for the same firm employed by Stewart. Stewart paid him off.”
“You can have him disbarred for that.”
Jensen shook his head. “No. It’s not worth the fight.”
“We could tie this up in court for months, maybe years.” Lisa said, looking up at him, concern coloring her face now.
Jensen closed his eyes. He was so tired of fighting. “It’s over, Lisa,” he said softly. “I just want to make sure my people are taken care of, and that JP and Jared are safe. I’ll face Stewart myself.”
“Do you even know what that means?” She reached across to touch his knee. “Have you been watching your own station?”
He didn’t want to think about it. He just wanted it to be over. “I’ll have them ready before dawn tomorrow. I’ll bring them…wherever you want. Just…” He looked up at her. “Take care of them.”
She nodded slowly and opened her briefcase, handing him a folder. “The papers you asked for.”
Jensen smiled wryly. “You won’t be offended if I read them myself.”
“No…of course not.”
“And the other thing?”
She pulled a bag from her briefcase. “It was one of my favorites.”
Jensen took the bag and pulled the book out to look at. “I’ve never read it.” He looked out the window. There was another dead body coming out of the ruins. “Thank you.”
Lisa handed him a card with an address on it. “We leave at 4:30 sharp. Be there before then.”
Jeff was quiet on the ride home. The day had been horrific, with news coming in over the day of more deaths and destruction around the country as five major broadcast stations had been hit. By the end of the day, the count of the dead had gone over a hundred.
Jensen was quiet too. Defeated, broken, tired. “I’m going to shower.”
Jeff nodded as they headed toward their rooms. “Sleep too. You look like you could use it.”
Jensen opened his door, not surprised to find Jared and JP waiting for him. Jared was up and in his arms before he could close the door. “I was worried. JP wouldn’t tell me what was going on.”
Jensen kissed his cheek and pushed him back a little. “I’m okay, Jared.”
“You don’t look okay.” JP said.
“I’m tired, it’s been a long, bad day.” He brushed a hand over Jared’s cheek and smiled lightly at him. “I’m glad to be home.” He fingered the bag in his hands. It held Jared’s book and the papers. He’d signed them. Jared was free, even now. He just didn’t know it yet.
Jensen put the bag on the dresser. “I’m going to take a shower. Then we need to talk.”
Jared clung to him, “May I serve?” he asked in a desperate whisper. Jensen wanted to tell him no, wanted to leave him with JP, but he was so worried, so…needy that he nodded, drawing him with him toward the bathroom. He let Jared help him peel off the stinky clothes and let him wash his hair and skin, but when Jared went to one knee in front of him, Jensen shook his head. “Not now, Jared. I’m just…too tired.”
He looked hurt, but nodded and stood. “I understand.”
Jensen was pretty sure he didn’t understand…and that didn’t bode well for the rest of their evening. When he was out and Jared had wrapped him in a towel, they went back out to the bedroom where JP was still sitting.
Jensen put off saying anything by getting into his robe, watching Jared put his shorts on. It occurred to him that he was going to have to get Jared into something other than servant brown in the morning.
He felt JP’s eyes and turned. This was it. He gathered Jared in his arms, guiding them toward the bed, then gesturing for JP to join them. Once they were all sitting, Jensen took Jared’s hands. “Do you remember I promised I was never going to send you away?” Jared’s eyes were big as he nodded. Jensen licked his lips. “Do you remember I told you I love you?” Again, the nod. “I do. I love you Jared. I want you to be with me forever…but for right now, that can’t happen.”
There were already tears in his eyes and Jensen had to look away or start crying himself. “It isn’t safe to be here with me anymore.”
“I don’t want to leave, my Lord.” Jared whispered.
“I know, Jared…I don’t want you to either…but I don’t want you to end up hurt, or dead.” Or worse. “I need to know that you’re safe.”
Jared shook his head. “No. You are my Lord. I am your Servant. I belong with you.”
Jensen swallowed and squeezed his hands. “Not anymore.”
Jared looked like he’d hit him. Like Jensen had slapped him. “What?” His voice trembled and a heavy tear fell.
Jensen closed his eyes. “Please, Jared…understand…I love you, I can’t stomach the thought of you ending up with him.” He shook his head. “If you stay with me, that’s what will happen. In a week I will lose everything. Including you. Lord Stewart will take it all. If you go now, you’ll be free.”
Jared was crying now, looking from Jensen to JP and back again. “JP will go with you, take care of you.”
“And Jensen will join us as soon as he can.” JP offered, sliding an arm around Jared. “Won’t you, my Lord?”
Jensen nodded, but didn’t look at either of them. Couldn’t look. He felt the tear and wiped it away. He wouldn’t let Jared know the truth. He wouldn’t burden him with that.
“I don’t want to leave.” Jared said softly in the silence. “But I am your Servant…I will do as you wish.”
He got up then, crossed to his bed and sat on it. Jensen ran a hand through his hair. JP got up too. “I still have some things to pack.”
Jensen nodded absently, watching Jared. He didn’t like the hard set to his expression. Didn’t like the way he shut down. He sighed. “Get some sleep Jared. Tomorrow will be a long day.”
Title: In Service, Part 12 (Previous parts found: Part One Here, Part Two Here, Part Three Here, Part 4 Here, Part 5 here, Part 6 here, Part 7 here, Part 8 here, Part 9 Here, Part 10 here, Part 11 here)
Pairing/Characters: Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki, Jeffery Dean Morgan, Chris Kane, Eliza Dushku, OCs
Rating: Rish due to theme
Word Count: 3542
Summary: Disaster strikes, leaving Jensen reeling and struggling to take care of the people he cares about.
A/Ns & Warnings: Ummm...yeah totally AU. It's...crack...No, seriously...total crack. I take great liberties with the families of the celebrities I...um...use...creating siblings, erasing siblings, aging and de-aging siblings...pretty much doing anything I want. Um...and just about anyone is game. As to Warnings: This is slave fic, dubious con to some degree...This part includes brief, off-screen non-con.
Jensen stumbled down the stairs, already on the phone with the studio. “No, I’m going to work from home today. Email them. No more couriers.”
He squinted at the bright sunlight streaming in the kitchen windows as he made for the coffee. Jeff was already up, sitting at the small kitchen table, nursing his own cup of coffee. “Morning.” Jensen offered before coming to sit beside him.
Jeff groaned and rubbed a hand over his head. “I must have been gone.” He sipped at his coffee and didn’t quite look at Jensen. “Sorry.”
“I was right behind you.” Jensen said. He set his cup down. “Don’t worry about it.” Except Jensen could still feel the way Jeff had leaned over him, into him…he shook his head, then regretted it. “I’m staying home today, but if you want I can have my driver take you in…and bring you home tonight.”
“Tonight’s the big night?” Jeff looked at him. “I finally find out what you’ve been hiding from me.”
“Not hiding anything, Jeff.” Jensen sipped at his coffee. “I have been thinking though.”
“I don’t know, Jensen, the last time you told me you’d been thinking, it evolved into needing armed guards.” He smirked, despite his words.
Jensen nodded. “I know. I never said I was good at this.”
“So…what is it you’ve been thinking?”
Jensen didn’t answer right away. He sipped at his coffee and took a deep breath. He opened his mouth to speak, and his phone rang. “Marcy?”
He could barely hear her, the background noise was outrageously loud. Sirens and people shouting. “Calm down, Marcy. Tell me what’s wrong.”
He thought he heard words like “bomb” and “fire”. “Marcy?”
“Jensen!” JP skidded to a halt as he spotted Jeff, then looked at Jensen. “You gotta come see this. Someone bombed your building.”
Jensen was up and following JP into the living room, where the younger man was getting the television turned on. He set it to a news channel. The whole front of the building was rubble. Fires dotted what was left. People were milling about and choppers were pouring chemicals down onto the building. “Oh my god.” Jensen sank to the couch. “Marcy? Where are you?”
Jensen shook his head in disbelief. “Get everyone out. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
He grabbed the remote from JP and switched it to his station. It was off the air, nothing but static. “We’re down.”
“Local station was hit too.” JP said. “That was the first thing, actually.”
Jensen dropped the remote and headed for the door. “I’ve got to get down there.”
“I’m with you.” Jeff said, following.
The destruction was intense. They could smell smoke long before they reached the site. Jensen was up and out of the car, Jeff right behind him as they came to a stop. He looked for someone who could tell him what had happened. Jeff tapped his shoulder and pointed to an ambulance. Samantha was on a gurney being lifted into the back.
Jensen jogged over. “Hey.” Her eyes flicked to his, but it was easy to see she wasn’t talking any time soon. The left side of her face was burned, her neck black. Jensen turned away and fought down a wave of nausea.
Jeff’s voice cut through to him. “My Lord, this is the Chief of Police, Martin Gordan. Chief, Lord Jensen Ackles.”
Jensen looked up. “How bad?”
“My Lord, I’m sorry.”
Jensen sighed and shook his head. “Don’t be sorry. Talk to me.”
“We don’t know the full extent of the damage. Won’t until the fires are out. We know the device was delivered through the front door. We think that it set off secondary devices throughout the building.”
Jensen tried to breath through the terror in his stomach. He had done this. “Casualties?” he choked out.
“So far…there are fifteen dead, more than fifty wounded.”
“Fuck.” Jensen turned away, his hand covering his mouth. The stench of burning wiring and flesh swirled around him. Fifteen dead. Probably more. “And the station?”
“There was nothing left, my Lord.”
“How many dead?”
“All of them, sir. Ten people. It was fortunate it wasn’t later in the day. The body count would have been much higher.”
“Fuck.” He was going to be sick. He stumbled away, grabbing onto a truck as he doubled over and threw up. When he was done, he drew a shaking hand over his mouth. He turned back to Jeff and the police Chief. “Do we know who did it?”
The chief shook his head. “Not yet, but I imagine someone will claim responsibility.”
Jensen imagine he already did know who was responsible, but there was no way he could blame him. “Well, Lord Ackles has had at least two hundred death threats in the last few weeks. I have records of them.” Jeff said.
“That would be very helpful.”
Jensen wandered away while they talked. He had to see it for himself. He picked his way over hoses and debris. The whole in the building was black and looming. Firemen moved in and out of it, some of them carrying the wounded, shouting for medics and others hauling hoses deeper into the building.
He felt eyes and turned, scanning the dirty faces of his employees who had somehow survived, the police and firemen, the news crews and spectators. Then he spotted a familiar bald head, He stared.
Stewart leaned against his limo near the street, his arms folded across his chest. He inclined his head as if in greeting. Jensen seethed and before he could stop himself, he was storming toward him.
A hand on his arm stopped him, turned him. Jensen growled as Jeff pulled him to face him. “Let go of me.”
Jeff shook his head. “You can’t go over there.”
“Fuck you.” Jensen said forcefully, pulling his arm free.
“Jensen—“
Jensen held up a finger. “I will remind you that I am still your boss, and I am still nobility. Shut the fuck up.”
Jensen turned back. Stewart was smiling. Fucking smiling. He blew out and crossed the remaining fifty yards or so. “Come to watch the show?”
He let his eyes pass over the building before coming back to Jensen. “Having trouble with your man?” Stewart nodded toward Jeff.
“Get the fuck out of here.” Jensen said through clenched teeth.
“Or what? You’ll sick the cops on me?” Stewart adjusted his jacket and shook his head. “Come now, Jensen, we both know they can’t touch me…even if I had something to do with this.”
“I was beating you at your own game.” Jensen said, moving a little closer, his hands in fists at his side.
Stewart smiled, slow and easy. “You were, yes. I think balance is restored now though, don’t you? Pretty difficult to maintain a ratings increase when you’re off the air, don’t you think?”
“I’m going to fucking kill you.” Jensen growled.
“Easy now, wouldn’t want to be heard threatening me in front of all of these police.” Stewart stepped back toward his car. “Business is business, I’m sure you’re learning that. Say hello to your father to me, won’t you?”
Jensen seethed with anger as Stewart got back into his car and drove off. He screamed wordlessly and turned back to the building. His father. Stewart wouldn’t…He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed. His father answered on the second ring. “Dad…no…I just…” Just what? Wanted to make sure you weren’t dead? “Checking in. Didn’t know if you heard the news. The studio got bombed. I’m fine.” He wasn’t fine.
He was so far from fine he couldn’t see it anymore. “Dad…things are going to…get ugly. You and Mom should get out of the country.” His father was apologizing, something about law firms and conflict of interest.
“Do you understand what I’m saying, Jensen?”
Jensen shook his head. “Yeah, Dad. Stewart bought them off. It’s not your fault. None of this is. I should have read the contract myself before I signed it. Look…I gotta go. My people need me.”
He hung up the phone and pocketed it. With a deep breath he headed back into the chaos, grabbing Jeff and drawing him in between two of the trucks. “We need to gather any of the senior staff that are still mobile. I want to organize relief efforts. Get me lists of the injured and what hospital they’re being taken to. I need to know what our insurance is going to cover and what it isn’t. I’m going to need to talk to the press. We should organize a press conference. Early rather than waiting.”
“Is that wise? What will you tell them?”
That he wasn’t sure about. Part of him wanted to tell them the truth. “Enough to keep them off our backs while we recover.” Jensen shook his head. He had to make sure he took care of everything before the deadline…because after…”Jeff…I’m sorry.”
Jeff shook his head. “It’s okay.”
“No. You’ve been a good friend. I shouldn’t have yelled.”
“That sounds like you’ve given up.”
Jensen shook his head, but a part of him knew he had. “I have a week. Let’s make it worth something.” He walked away, leaving Jeff to do as he asked, while he retreated into his car for a few moments to collect himself.
He should warn the house. He dialed the phone. To his surprise, JP answered it. “Jared’s a wreck. He saw the news and he’s freaking out.”
Jensen closed his eyes and fell against the seat. “You’re going to have to deal with it JP. I can’t leave.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“JP, listen to me. Things are bad. I need you to do like we talked about. Get ready to run. Don’t tell Jared. I’ll talk to him tonight.” Jensen sighed. Then he remembered something. “JP, where are you?”
“Kitchen.”
“Go to my office. I left without my briefcase. There’s an envelope in it. I need you to open it and read it to me.”
“Give me a sec.”
Jensen could hear footsteps, then a door. Then another door. “Okay, got it.” There was the sound of tearing paper. “My Lord Ackles, “ JP read, “it may be presumptuous of me, but I assure you that my concern is primarily for the two young men in your care. When the time comes, call this number. We can help. There’s a phone number.”
Jensen let out a breath. “Okay, JP…I need you to pay attention. I have a few things I need for you to do. Don’t use any of our phones though. Borrow one from the staff, security…something.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“Call Lisa, tell her you need to get out. You and Jared. Tell her…” His stomach twisted. “Tell her to draw up the papers to release Jared. I’ll sign them. Have her bring them here.”
“How do you know she’s still in town?”
“Because she knew how this would go down. Call the number, I guarantee it will be her. Also, I need her to bring something else. A book.”
“What book?”
“Something for Jared.” He sighed. He had no idea how he was going to break this to Jared. “Have her call me. I’ll explain.”
There was a knock on the window and Jeff was standing outside the car. “I have to go, JP. I’ll be in touch.”
“Eat.” Jeff shoved a Styrofoam plate at him and took his phone away.
“Not hungry.” Jensen reached for his phone and Jeff shoved it into a pocket.
“Don’t care. Eat.”
They had a makeshift command center set up under a canopy. Out of his senior staff he had Jeff and Dave and Amanda Allen still standing, though Dave’s arm was broken and Amanda had a nasty black eye. The death count had risen over twenty five, and it was still going up.
Jensen picked at the plate, but he really wasn’t hungry. He was less hungover now, which he thought was good…but the thought of food was still kind of nauseating. It didn’t help that it was some sort of pasta. He couldn’t begrudge the effort. The catering people had shown up of their own accord and volunteered their services.
“What time is it?”
“After three.” Jeff said. His voice was gruff from the smoke they’d been breathing all day. “Eat, or I’ll sit on you and force feed you.”
Jensen made a show of putting a forkful in his mouth and Jeff smirked. “Better.”
He took a pile of papers from an aide, only to have Jeff take them out of his hand. “I’ll handle it.”
“I’m not a child, Jeff, I can eat and read.”
“I’m sure you can. I’ll still handle it.”
Jensen shook his head and put more food in his mouth while Jeff ruffled through the papers. “My Lord, there’s a lawyer here to see you.”
Jensen looked up at the young man. He pointed toward the street. Lisa nodded and Jensen stood. “Yeah, thanks. Uh, Jeff? I’ll be right back.” He wiped his face and headed toward her. “Lisa, thanks for coming.”
“Well, when JP told me what you wanted, how could I refuse?”
“I’m so not in the mood. Did you bring what I asked?”
She nodded, her eyes skimming over him, then the scene behind him. “You have someplace we can talk privately?”
He nodded and directed her toward his car. They both got in and she frowned at him. “You okay? You look…terrible.”
He groaned and laid his head back against the seat for a moment. “No, I’m tired and hungover and I’ve been breathing smoke all day…I have twenty-six dead employees, another 62 in local hospitals, and god knows how many with injuries who haven’t been treated. I’m about to lose everything. I am seriously not okay.”
He lifted his head and looked at her. “I know you don’t like me, Lisa, and that’s okay. I need to know I can trust you though.”
“That depends on what you’re trusting me with.”
He nodded and sighed, rubbed his dirty hand over his dirty face. “I’m in some serious trouble here.”
“I can see that.”
He shook his head. “No…not this. I mean, this is bad…but it’s a product of the trouble. I’m in so far over my head…” He sighed again. “I need to know you can keep JP and Jared safe.”
She regarded him quietly for a minute. “Safe from who?”
“Lord Stewart.” He pulled the papers from his pocket. He’d taken to carrying them around, just to remind him what was at stake. It was time to go for broke. “He’s played me, right from the start. And with this,” he waved his hand at the window, “he’s won. But if I free Jared before it comes due, Jared will be free, right?”
She skimmed over the page marked in yellow, frowning. “Why did you sign this?”
Jensen sighed again. “I didn’t read it. My father’s attorney looked it over and okayed it. Turns out my father’s attorney works for the same firm employed by Stewart. Stewart paid him off.”
“You can have him disbarred for that.”
Jensen shook his head. “No. It’s not worth the fight.”
“We could tie this up in court for months, maybe years.” Lisa said, looking up at him, concern coloring her face now.
Jensen closed his eyes. He was so tired of fighting. “It’s over, Lisa,” he said softly. “I just want to make sure my people are taken care of, and that JP and Jared are safe. I’ll face Stewart myself.”
“Do you even know what that means?” She reached across to touch his knee. “Have you been watching your own station?”
He didn’t want to think about it. He just wanted it to be over. “I’ll have them ready before dawn tomorrow. I’ll bring them…wherever you want. Just…” He looked up at her. “Take care of them.”
She nodded slowly and opened her briefcase, handing him a folder. “The papers you asked for.”
Jensen smiled wryly. “You won’t be offended if I read them myself.”
“No…of course not.”
“And the other thing?”
She pulled a bag from her briefcase. “It was one of my favorites.”
Jensen took the bag and pulled the book out to look at. “I’ve never read it.” He looked out the window. There was another dead body coming out of the ruins. “Thank you.”
Lisa handed him a card with an address on it. “We leave at 4:30 sharp. Be there before then.”
Jeff was quiet on the ride home. The day had been horrific, with news coming in over the day of more deaths and destruction around the country as five major broadcast stations had been hit. By the end of the day, the count of the dead had gone over a hundred.
Jensen was quiet too. Defeated, broken, tired. “I’m going to shower.”
Jeff nodded as they headed toward their rooms. “Sleep too. You look like you could use it.”
Jensen opened his door, not surprised to find Jared and JP waiting for him. Jared was up and in his arms before he could close the door. “I was worried. JP wouldn’t tell me what was going on.”
Jensen kissed his cheek and pushed him back a little. “I’m okay, Jared.”
“You don’t look okay.” JP said.
“I’m tired, it’s been a long, bad day.” He brushed a hand over Jared’s cheek and smiled lightly at him. “I’m glad to be home.” He fingered the bag in his hands. It held Jared’s book and the papers. He’d signed them. Jared was free, even now. He just didn’t know it yet.
Jensen put the bag on the dresser. “I’m going to take a shower. Then we need to talk.”
Jared clung to him, “May I serve?” he asked in a desperate whisper. Jensen wanted to tell him no, wanted to leave him with JP, but he was so worried, so…needy that he nodded, drawing him with him toward the bathroom. He let Jared help him peel off the stinky clothes and let him wash his hair and skin, but when Jared went to one knee in front of him, Jensen shook his head. “Not now, Jared. I’m just…too tired.”
He looked hurt, but nodded and stood. “I understand.”
Jensen was pretty sure he didn’t understand…and that didn’t bode well for the rest of their evening. When he was out and Jared had wrapped him in a towel, they went back out to the bedroom where JP was still sitting.
Jensen put off saying anything by getting into his robe, watching Jared put his shorts on. It occurred to him that he was going to have to get Jared into something other than servant brown in the morning.
He felt JP’s eyes and turned. This was it. He gathered Jared in his arms, guiding them toward the bed, then gesturing for JP to join them. Once they were all sitting, Jensen took Jared’s hands. “Do you remember I promised I was never going to send you away?” Jared’s eyes were big as he nodded. Jensen licked his lips. “Do you remember I told you I love you?” Again, the nod. “I do. I love you Jared. I want you to be with me forever…but for right now, that can’t happen.”
There were already tears in his eyes and Jensen had to look away or start crying himself. “It isn’t safe to be here with me anymore.”
“I don’t want to leave, my Lord.” Jared whispered.
“I know, Jared…I don’t want you to either…but I don’t want you to end up hurt, or dead.” Or worse. “I need to know that you’re safe.”
Jared shook his head. “No. You are my Lord. I am your Servant. I belong with you.”
Jensen swallowed and squeezed his hands. “Not anymore.”
Jared looked like he’d hit him. Like Jensen had slapped him. “What?” His voice trembled and a heavy tear fell.
Jensen closed his eyes. “Please, Jared…understand…I love you, I can’t stomach the thought of you ending up with him.” He shook his head. “If you stay with me, that’s what will happen. In a week I will lose everything. Including you. Lord Stewart will take it all. If you go now, you’ll be free.”
Jared was crying now, looking from Jensen to JP and back again. “JP will go with you, take care of you.”
“And Jensen will join us as soon as he can.” JP offered, sliding an arm around Jared. “Won’t you, my Lord?”
Jensen nodded, but didn’t look at either of them. Couldn’t look. He felt the tear and wiped it away. He wouldn’t let Jared know the truth. He wouldn’t burden him with that.
“I don’t want to leave.” Jared said softly in the silence. “But I am your Servant…I will do as you wish.”
He got up then, crossed to his bed and sat on it. Jensen ran a hand through his hair. JP got up too. “I still have some things to pack.”
Jensen nodded absently, watching Jared. He didn’t like the hard set to his expression. Didn’t like the way he shut down. He sighed. “Get some sleep Jared. Tomorrow will be a long day.”
