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Author: YanzaDracan
Beta:
Artist: tiggeratl1
Characters/Pairings: Christian Kane; Steve Carlson; Jensen Ackles; Jared Padalecki; Danneel Harris; Tim Hutton; Beth Riesgraf; OCs; Robert Riggle; Rob Huebel; Sandy & Chris Carlson; Rosalee & Darren Sher
Rating: R
Genre: RPS
Warning: Mentions of Characters death! Language
Word Count: 7,627/34,815
Summary: The massive earth changes happen Thanksgiving 2012. A sanctuary in all the chaos and destruction is the SC-KANE ranch in Broken Bow, OK. Who survived and what happens next? Will his family accept Jensen and sacrifices he made for them? Based on the earth changes maps of Gordon Michael Scallion. Images in my head from Steve Carlson's song Quarter To Three.
"I'm getting married." Jared Padalecki stared out the bedroom window, not wanting to see the expression on his lover's face.
"Just like that?" A chuckle came from the direction of the bed. "Not a very romantic proposal, Jare."
The tall man closed his eyes and stiffened his spine. "Not to you."
The silence became a living entity.
"I want normal. I can't have normal with you." He cringed at how cold he sounded.
They had become lovers after his break-up with Sandy, but now he wanted a life like his parents, not something that made him an oddity, perhaps a pariah, or that caused whispers behind his back and frowns of disapproval from people that could make or break his career. John Barrowman he was not, though they had once joked about it, his lover's voice carrying a hopeful tone.
The bedsprings protested as his lover left their bed.
"I'll get a hotel 'til I can find a place. I'll have my stuff out of here as soon as possible." The usually warm, rich voice was flat…empty.
"You don't have to…this is your home." Jared turned and faced his lover.
"Not anymore. You just fucked me then kicked me to the curb." He gave a bitter chuckle. "Maybe I should call Sandy. We can start a club, 'Lovers crushed under Jared Padalecki's ambition'. Fuck. I've become a cliché." He mumbled to himself as he moved, naked, around the room throwing clothes into his duffel.
Jared stepped into his path and reached out to stop the shorter man.
Hands coming into his range of vision had the other man flinching away.
"No! You don't get to touch the merchandise anymore. Get out of my way, Jared."
"Jensen…Jen, please…you don't have to leave."
"What? After that little bombshell you expect me to stay!?" Eyebrows rose toward the tousled hairline.
"I thought…"
"What? That we'd keep fucking until you walked down the aisle? Be your best man? Be the other woman? So which of the little brunette clones are you marrying?" The voice never changed its calm inflection.
Jared was getting scared. He'd never seen this side of Jensen Ackles. He thought he knew everything there was to know about his co-star and lover, but apparently he'd missed something.
"Genevieve."
"Ah Ruby 2.0. Personally, Katie's the better actress." Jensen picked up a set of clean clothes and shut himself in the bathroom.
He leaned against the door for untold minutes trying to pull together all the broken pieces of his mind. His heart would have to keep bleeding until he could get away from Jared. He couldn't believe what had just happened. An hour ago he'd been relaxed, sated and loved. Now he was homeless, shattered-feeling used and alone.
When he felt like his knees would support him, he turned on the shower hot as he could stand. When the smell of Jared was obliterated from his skin, he dried off and dressed without looking in mirror. There was no way to wash away the bruises and marks of Jared's passion, but he didn't have to acknowledge them.
His shaving kit still rested on the counter from their last publicity jaunt. He ruthlessly shoved his toiletries in the bag, taking the first step in erasing himself from Jared's life. He sucked in a deep breath, pulled his mask in place, and went to face Jared one more time.
He walked straight to his duffel, never looking at the man sitting on the bed where he thought they'd made love a mere two hours before.
*Hmph. So that's how long it takes for my world to end.* Jensen almost giggled, maybe a tad hysterically, at the cynical voice in his brain.
He was almost through the door, mind cataloging the things he needed to take with him now. Laptop, cell phone, guitars…
"Jen, please." Jared voice sounded hoarse, almost like he was on the verge of tears.
Jensen dropped his bag and whirled on Jared.
"Please what, Jared?" The expressions that warred on Jensen's face caused the bigger man to lean away from the force of his emotions. "Please stay, please fuck me, please I was only joking let's go back to being fuck buddies? Please, I love you and it was all a big mistake? "
Jared's chin dropped to his chest as he shook his head, but Jensen refused to let him hide. Strong fingers grabbed his chin and forced Jared to look at him.
"I gave…you are…were…everything to me, but apparently I was just a convenient fuck for you. Thanks for making me feel like a whore, and your dirty little secret." Jensen dropped Jared's chin.
The last Jared saw of Jensen that night was his back as he walked out the door.
%%%%%
Jensen drove away from his former home…numb…knowing he was bleeding internally. Like any wounded animal he wanted to find a safe place to hide-to lick his wounds away from prying eyes.
Large neon signs beckoned him to stop…Hotel, motel, inn. He drove, eyes unseeing, the weight in his chest growing heavier every mile. He had given all of himself to Jared and now he was nothing.
Wheels turned, bright lights caused him to blink as somehow he answered questions, showed proper paperwork, chatted with people in Customs who knew him from traveling between Los Angeles and Vancouver since his Dark Angel days. Wheels turned once more and when they finally stopped he got out of his truck and stumbled to a door. Two sets of pale eyes took in his appearance, but didn't speak. Two sets of arms pulled him into the shelter of their home and their love as the keening sounds of a wounded heart fell from his lips as he collapsed into their arms.
%%%%%
They were furious. One they loved for so long had been grievously wounded. As soon as the healing began, they would hunt and run their prey to ground so he would never again hurt one of theirs. The predatory smiles they exchanged over the sleeping man sealed their silent agreement.
%%%%%
In the odd way things sometimes work, Jared and Jensen didn't film together the first part of the week. When Jared got home on Wednesday, things seemed-wrong-out of place inside his house.
He was in the backyard playing with the Harley and Sadie when it struck him. He ran for the house, the dogs followed, thinking they were still playing. All three skidded to a halt at Jared's bedroom. He pulled open doors and drawers unable to believe they were empty. Jensen was really gone.
The tall man sagged onto the bed. There had been a part of his brain that insisted when Jensen got over his snit of offended pride that he would come home. Sitting on the bed staring at the empty half of the closet, Jared finally realized the depth of Jensen's feelings for him. Rubbing his hands over his face, he saw his fantasy of having Gen and Jen crumple to dust.
%%%%%
Seeing Cliff pull up to the curb the next morning, Jared's heart raced, anticipating seeing Jensen sitting in the back seat, cap low, head resting against the window half asleep. His heart fell when he saw the empty seat.
"Mornin', Cliff. How ya doin'?" Jared tried to sound upbeat. "Where's Jensen?"
Cliff continued to stare out the windshield. "Drives himself since he got his new place." His voice was blunt…flat.
Noting Cliff's demeanor, Jared's anxiety cranked up. He wondered what waited for him at the studio.
Through wardrobe and makeup, nobody acted different. When he asked about Jensen, the ladies told him he'd been in earlier. He was needed for some extra shots.
Entering the sound stage, he saw Jensen sitting off to the side with a cup of coffee, his concentration so focused on his script nothing else existed. Consumed with wanting to talk to the older man, Jared never saw the two figures moving toward him from the shadows. His forward movement was stopped when hands grabbed his arms and yanked him into a space between stacks of equipment.
"What the…" Jared's voice rose until he saw the murderous expression on the faces in front of him.
The light and dark half of the couple known as Jensen's best friends had a hold on his arms that was sure to leave bruises.
The light half's grip tightened further, *damn, who knew guitar players had such strong hands*, as the dark half grabbed his nape and dragged his head down like an errant pup. Jared shivered when his eyes met the fury directed at him.
"You say one word to our boy that's not related to work-You say one thing that causes him even a twinge of pain, and we will personally make you wish you really were in hell." The growled words were practically subvocal as the bones in his neck popped from the hard shake he received as an exclamation point.
They stepped back as one. They stared hard at Jared until he nodded his agreement. In eerie precision they turned and started toward the door. When the hair on the back of his neck stood up, Jared looked toward the door. A ray of light fell across the men's faces illuminating blue/grey and blue/green eyes as they stared at their prey. Always in tune, they turned and left the sound stage.
Heart pounding, adrenaline pumping, Jared stepped out of the shadows and looked around. Jensen was talking to Sera, Misha, and Eric, the crew was setting up the first shot of the day. It was as though his run-in with Steve and Christian had pulled him out of time then dumped him back when they were finished putting the fear of Kane and Carlson into him.
The two men had embraced him wholeheartedly because he was with Jensen, but Jared had forgotten they were Jensen's friends long before they even knew his name, and his friendship with them ran a poor second to the years the three had been together. He remembered thinking many times that there had to more happening with them than he was seeing the way the trio moved seamlessly in and out and each others' lives.
The day that started so surreal continued until holiday hiatus. In public Jensen was the perfect co-star, but away from work there was no socializing-no getting together to watch the game or any of the other things they did before. When Genevieve was in town it wasn't bad, but most times he missed Jensen so much all he had was a chest full of pain.
After Thanksgiving the 'Net was abuzz with the news of an engagement between two of TV's beautiful people, Jensen Ackles and Danneel Harris.
%%%%%
Danneel had invited her good friend, Genevieve Cortes, to their engagement party, which naturally led to Jared attending. He never had gotten to talk to Jensen about their relationship after he told him he was getting married. His fear of a repeat visit from Kane and Carlson kept their conversations strictly business, but as time passed, his need for answers had become stronger than his fear.
Jared was primed to demand answers, and was halfway across the room when he looked up and saw Christian staring unblinkingly at him. He shivered as Steve walked up behind his dark half and handed him a fresh beer, his stare joining Kane's. Jared shoved his shaking hands in his pockets, and joined his fiancée in giving congratulations to the couple.
%%%%%
Steve leaned back against the broad chest when strong arms wrapped around his waist and warm breath brushed his neck as Christian propped his chin on his shoulder and stared at their home. It had taken almost two years to complete, but it had become a labor of love for both men.
The blond had scoffed and teased Christian when he'd bought the 1300 acres close to Broken Bow, Oklahoma. His plan was to build a house right in the middle of the acreage, to afford them maximum privacy, had almost ground to a halt when he'd talked to the power company. The cost of running electric lines to the home site was almost as much as he'd paid for the land.
Stubborn and undeterred Christian looked for another way. Flipping through an old copy of Mother Earth News while he waited for the doctor to remove his latest round of stitches started his creative juices flowing.
Originally skeptical, Steve had climbed on board Christian's crazy train after he'd shown the singer the plans he'd had drawn by an architect specializing in Earthship Biotecture. Ever mindful of his family's safety because they were in Tornado Alley, Christian wanted the house as resistant to Mother Nature as possible.
People shouting about earth changes and the end of days might be a few fries short a Happy Meal, but Christian wanted to be prepared just in case they were right.
Totally off the grid, solar and wind powered, the earth-bermed house sported an adobe façade around the entryway with windows touted to be resistant to hailstones up to softball size. The men's love of Native American art mixed well with the mission style of the décor. Their biggest luxury had been the recording studio.
"We'd better get the food in the house before it spoils and we don't have anything to feed the hoard." Steve straightened away from Chris.
Chris groaned. "Tell me again why I agreed to a housewarming/Thanksgiving get together."
"'Cause we'd just christened our brand new California king, and you'll agree to just about anything after sex." Steve grinned mischievously as they grabbed crates and bags out of both trucks.
"Speaking of sex, when's Jen comin'?"
"He and my folks should be here sometime tomorrow. They were going to meet up in Flagstaff. That aircraft carrier of an RV doesn't make it down the road as fast as Jensen." Steve chuckled.
"Danneel?"
"She doesn't wrap filming until the tenth." Steve looked at his partner of almost fifteen years. "Christian…"
"What. She won't care."
Steve sighed as they continued to empty out the trucks.
%%%%%
Soon after their engagement was announced, Danneel had called Steve and invited him and Christian to dinner even though Jensen was away at a convention. Much to the men's surprise, she had laid all her cards on the table as to why she accepted Jensen's proposal.
It turned out she, too, had been jilted by a long time lover that she thought was going to propose, but instead told her there was another woman. The two heartbroken friends had mapped out an old-fashioned marriage of convenience with both parties agreeing to be discrete if either took a lover.
%%%%%
The Ackles were the up and coming power couple in Hollywood right behind Angelina and Brad. Jensen's directorial debut during Season 6 had drawn all the right kinds of attention. He was so busy with offers to direct and then produce that he had turned down a very lucrative contract for Season 7 of Supernatural.
When the stress of the series and working with Jared every day disappeared, Jensen had emerged from behind the façade of indifference he'd donned after their break-up. The few projects he'd chosen to work on had been both critical and commercial successes allowing him to relax and enjoy what his hard work had wrought. The trades touted him to as a young Dean Devlin. He'd even found time to go on tour with KANE and relish being with the two men that over the years he'd grown to love as he'd once loved Jared.
%%%%%
Steve looked up from the score sheet that contained the lead guitar arrangement of a song they'd written with Jensen on their last tour. The music the three men wrote on that trip filled the pit of his stomach with such warmth that they'd barely unpacked before he and Christian were in the studio working out which songs were best suited for the Carlson sound and which were best for KANE. There were even a couple they were going to pitch to the Shers for Rosalee.
An odd thing happened during their time on tour. They would wake to find Jensen leaned against the foot of their bed, his restless mind not allowing him to sleep. They'd pull him into the bed and cocoon around him giving his mind another focus.
Though their touch quieted his thoughts and allowed him to sleep, and he would kiss and cuddle with them, he refused to have sex with them. Christian would often growl in frustration, but under all his years in Los Angeles, Jensen was still a Texas boy raised in the Bible Belt. Steve would point out how thin he was splitting hairs, but Jensen remained firm in his refusal.
Steve began looking for ways to make Jensen change his mind.
The next time they were at Jensen and Danneel's he turned to Christian to find him looking back.
"Finally noticed, did ya?"
Steve blinked. "Uh…what?"
I've been watchin' 'em since the weddin'. Wonder if they've moved into separate rooms yet?"
"But they always seemed so together-the way he looks at her and their body language." He was confused.
"Jenny's always been a helluva an actor, but, things have been changin' for awhile. She's movin' on-he's settled for what he can get-made himself be comfortable."
"Think she'll leave him?" Steve felt his chest tighten.
"Eventually." Christian's tone was bleak. "She sends him to us to get him out of her way."
"You talk to her?"
"If you can distract Jen for a while…"
"I'm on it."
When Christian saw Steve take Jensen outside for a cigarette he cornered Danneel. Always the diplomat, he went straight for the jugular.
"Who is he?"
Danneel's expression was calm though confused.
Who's who?"
"The guy you're fuckin'…the reason yer gonna leave Jensen." He stated flatly.
"Christian." She smiled disarmingly.
"Don't try to bullshit me, sweetheart." He glared.
Danneel sighed. She loved these guys, but she needed more. Riding Jensen's new found fame as a director didn't satisfy her anymore. She wanted more than Jensen was capable of giving, at least to her. She sighed doing a quick look around the room.
"Steve's distractin' him so we can chat." Chris assured her.
"Look. I care for Jensen. I really do, but since that whole thing with Jared the only people he's truly himself with is you and Steve. In that hard head of his he's positive everyone is going to leave so he's mentally ready all the time for everyone he loves to walk away." Brown eyes darted around the room to see if anyone was listening.
Christian took a step closer forcing the petite brunette against the wall. "You walk away with one thing…one penny that ain't yers and you'll rue the day. It's bad enough yer gonna break 'is heart, but you ain't bankruptin' his whole life."
Christian's demeanor and tone sent warning bells through Danneel. Instinct made her expose her throat to him as he bristled at the threat to Jensen.
"I wouldn't do that to him." She kept her voice soft. "I do care, just not like you and Steve." She tried to soothe Christian's ire before anyone else noticed a snapping, snarling Kane, and started asking questions she didn't want to answer.
Christian watched as her eyes landed, and she gave a minute shake of her head. He followed her line of sight, stormy eyes narrowed when he saw who she was warning away.
"You bitch." Chris growled more than spoke. "You invited the motherfucker here…now!" He kept his voice low, but the contempt was obvious. "Of all the people in this whole fuckin' industry…you're fuckin' him, or is this some kinda sick revenge on Jensen? That yer leavin' him for his ex? Does Jen even know he's here?"
"NO!" Danneel pleaded, brown eyes filled with tears. "No one knows. We haven't told anyone. He promised to avoid Jensen, and only stay long enough for people from the movie to see him. Please, Christian, I'm begging you not to say anything. He was invited because he's part of the cast. I couldn't invite them and not him, too. Please. He cares about Jensen, too." She clutched at the tense arm blocking her escape.
"Interestin' way of showin' it." Christian backed off like he smelled something foul.
As he started to walk away, he turned back whispered in her ear. "We tried-believe me we tried, but he never broke his vows to you…ever."
He glared across the room, his hatred a living thing, before grabbing a bottle of Jack and stalking off in search of the two most important men in his life.
%%%%%
Steve's mother had once joked about moving their mementos to 'The Fortress' as she'd dubbed their house, but it wasn't long after the house was finished that boxes began arriving. Christian wondered if she didn't have some sixth sense working, or if she was spending too much time with Jensen. Wrapped in Steve's warmth, staring at their home, Christian felt a lump in the pit of his stomach warning him that as happy as they were right this minute, something big and nasty was looming. He pulled Steve's arms tighter and hoped HIS sixth sense was wrong.
Giving in to Christian's paranoia, they spent the next day making sure their small herd of cattle and horses were in the pasture close to the barn. They watched the west coast news feeds just to prove the silliness of their dread. Steve started to scoff at Christian during the sports report until one of the anchors yelled 'OH MY GOD!' before the screen went black. Both men grabbed their cell phones and began to dial.
%%%%%
Watching television became torture. Reports were spotty. The country…the world was thrown into chaos. The US government had gone to the bunkers, cities, countries, governments disappeared across the world. The electrical grid worked spottily at best, cell phones and internet connections were barely reliable depending on whether the towers and networks were located in parts of the country still above water. They still hadn't heard from Jensen, the Carlsons, or any of their west coast friends and family. They'd talked to the Kanes, Manns, Riley, and the Ackles. Steve's sister had called from Colorado to say she was fine and that her house had sustained minor damage from the earthquakes, but she now lived only a few miles from the ocean. Oklahoma had experienced some trembling and shaking, between 4 and 5 on the Ricker scale that caused only minor damage.
%%%%%
They sat gripping each other's hands as they watched the west coast along with pieces of states all the way to Denver break up into islands. The reports showed the same thing happening all over the world. They still hadn't heard from Jensen, Sandy or Chris.
Everyone's electricity was erratic as the grid tried to compensate for loss of a third of the country. The east coast and Midwest were the least affected, but there were a multitude of problems trying to patch together gas and power lines, along with getting city services up and running.
Food and water shortages were becoming a problem in the cities while people in rural communities fared better. Steve and Christian made several trips into Broken Bow for staples then began opening the crates Jensen had been shipping from California, and taking stock of their provisions.
Seeing the variety of people on the road during their last trip to town, Christian had started carrying a pistol and a rifle. Steve had been reluctant, but agreed to carry a weapon when they left the house.
%%%%%
Information was sporadic. Many of the radio and television stations were off the air. There was information on the Internet when it was available, but there were also a lot of misinformation and conspiracy nuts posting things as well. As dire as the situation, Steve would grin at a growling Christian as they plowed through various websites looking for information on their missing friends.
A week after the quakes started, they began to give up hope anyone made it out of California until early one morning Steve's phone sang out a familiar ringtone.
"MOM!?" Steve's voice was hopeful.
"Will Dad do?" Chris Carlson asked his son.
Relieved to hear one of his parents Steve put the phone on speaker so Christian could listen before he started firing questions.
"Slow down, son." Chris' chuckle was rusty. "We're in Oklahoma City. We were able to find fuel for the RV and Jensen's truck, so we should make it to the ranch before dark."
"Where's Mom?...How's Jen? Has he heard from Danni?"Steve jumped in as soon as his dad paused.
"Your mom's okay." Chris' voice was a little hesitant.
"Dad?"
Steve felt Christian's hand on his arm in silent support.
"It's been a rough trip what with the quakes and…everything...I'm thankful every day Jensen was with us." There was a pause then Chris was back. "Gotta go. We just wanted to let you know we'll be there soon."
Seven hours later when the pickup and RV pulled into the yard, Steve and Christian breathed a sigh of relief. The people and the vehicles were dusty and a little banged and bruised, but they were the best sight the couple had seen since the earthquakes started.
Christian hung back slightly taking in the trailers behind both the RV and the truck. He wanted to question the things he was noticing, but Steve was already halfway to his parents so he headed toward Jensen, but paused when they saw the weapons and the dogs poised on either side of the younger man. They both sucked in a shocked breath when they noticed even Sandy was armed. The impasse was broken when Cody bounded out of the RV followed a scrap of fur about the size of their barn cats that looked like a wire brush on legs rushing toward Steve with happy barks and whines.
"Come on in and relax," Steve cajoled, "we'll unpack later."
Jensen shook his head. "You guys go on...I'm gonna get the trailers off loaded and secured." He looked around the yard. "Where did you put the fuel tanks?" He looked at Christian.
Eyes narrowed, Christian indicated the lean-to with the tanks and pumps. More relaxed because their master relaxed, the two Belgian Malinois, Parker and Spencer, trotted over to get their share of scritches from the men.
Jensen had bought the dogs after run-ins with stalkerazzi and overzealous fans, and they were never far from his side. When Steve began herding his parents toward the house, Jensen climbed back into his truck. Not liking the vibe he was getting, Christian jumped in along with the dogs.
Once the fuel was being off-loaded, Jensen visibly relaxed. Christian finally reached out and wrapped his hand around the freckled neck. At that touch Jensen practically collapsed into Christian's embrace.
"Jenny?"
"Oh God, Christian…it…you…I…" He breathed in the older man's scent, letting it seep into his mind that he was home--safe.
Letting out the breath, he tried again. "It's bad. California's gone…all our friends, and…and…Danni…my family…"
"…Are fine. We called them after the quakes started. They got shook up a little, but Dallas survived pretty much intact. "What happened out there, Jen?" Christian prodded.
"I'll tell you after we get unloaded. Did you get the crates and equipment I've been sending?" Jensen asked as he tried to burrow against Christian's solid strength.
"Yeah. They're in the shed by the house. We opened a couple, but decided to wait until y'all got here to open the rest."
The gurgling of the pump pulled Jensen out of Christian's arms.
They swapped out the vehicles and while Jensen and the dogs emptied the tank of diesel fuel that was hooked behind the RV, Christian began unloading the pickup.
Jensen unhooked the trailer and pulled the RV up to the house. Christian and the Carlsons climbed into the motor home.
"Holy shit!" Christian and Steve exclaimed together as they looked at the inside of the huge vehicle that held Sandy and Chris' most treasured items along with survival supplies.
"Mom, what is all this?" Steve asked.
"I asked Jensen what I should pack and he told me to act like I was never coming back." Sandy's voice hitched.
Chris wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulders.
"Why don't we just get the essentials? We'll take care of everything else later. We could all do with a good night's rest before we tackle… " Chris waved his hand at the stacks of non-perishable goods.
With a sniff and a quick brush of the tears off her cheeks, Sandy nodded and started toward the back of the RV. Steve and Christian exchanged a look. Steve went with his parents while Christian settled in the passenger seat.
"Jensen, why were you stockpiling stuff like it's the end of the world?" Christian asked quietly.
"I didn't know if all the doomsday bullshit everyone was spouting was true, but I wanted to be prepared for worst case scenario." Jensen explained as he huffed out a quiet breath. "I believed 'em…the psychics, the prophets…all of 'em. People thought I was crazy. Danni thought I should get help…" He picked up a box closed with red tape. "I liquidated all my assets," he slit open the box, " I have paper money, which may only be good for wiping your ass if we run out of toilet paper, and I have a lot of these." He pulled back a piece of foam to reveal gold and silver coins.
"Fuck!" Christian exclaimed in shock. Then a sheepish look crossed his face.
"Steve and I did some of that…" he looked back toward the bedroom, "just in case." His face turned serious. "What happened to Sandy's face?"
Jensen paled. "Later. After we get settled."
Christian nodded his agreement. When he started to stand, Jensen grabbed his arm.
"We all gotta start carryin'…Steve, too."
"We already have. Nothin's happened but some of the people we've seen on the road when we went into Broken Bow..."
He stopped-thinking how tense Jensen and the dogs had been when they pulled in the yard. How tentative Chris was on the phone. Even out this far they wouldn't be immune to bandits and desperate people. Steve hadn't like it, but he'd resigned himself-it was go out armed or stay sequestered in the house.
"We need to start usin' the horses. Save our fuel for only necessary stuff." He stopped when he heard boxes being shifted.
Christian looked at his friend with new eyes. He'd always known there was a core of steel in Jensen. There was no way someone with his looks survived in LA otherwise. Jared's betrayal had hardened that steel, and now for the survival of his remaining family, Jensen encased his soft heart inside that steel.
With a nod Christian acknowledged the wisdom of Jensen's words, and a silent vow to not allow the younger man to get lost inside that steel core. It was time to do what he and Steve should have done before Jensen had made the mistake of marrying Danneel.
After supper they relaxed, enjoying the last of the wine they'd had with their meal. Christian opened his mouth to ask about their trip, but Steve beat him to the punch.
"What happened between here and California?" He asked as he stared at the bruises on his mother's face and wrists.
"We met up at the fuel stop outside Flagstaff, just like we planned," Chris started, "it's a place we always stop. Jensen arrived about ten minutes later, we fueled, grabbed some snacks and headed east on 40. We stopped just east of Gallup to eat and top off the tanks, stock the fridge and coolers…we wanted to drive as long as possible. The dogs were acting strange..edgy, but we didn't think anything of it." Chris squeezed Sandy's hand. "When we got to Albuquerque, Jensen insisted we buy the trailers and tanks from a ranch supply. He didn't want us to run out of fuel if we couldn't find any between Albuquerque and here." The Carlsons both turned to look at Jensen who had moved to look out the windows. Chris continued. "Jensen told us later that he'd been listening to the shortwave and sideband channels on his CB and had information that wasn't on the regular radio. We found one of those bulk fuel places and filled the tanks-Jensen schmoozed the owner about us movin' into a place up north of the city and how we wanted to be prepared for anything when we got there. The wad of cash he flashed didn't hurt either."
"I was watching TV in the coach when the network broke in with a bulletin about earthquakes in northern California, and all over the world." Sandy picked up the story. "We spent the night off one of those exits where there isn't anything, away from the interstate where we could see for miles. We were almost to the New Mexico-Texas border when the reports got real bad." Her eyes welled up at the thought of their friends who died when California broke up and disappeared into the ocean.
"We saw. Information was spotty, but the satellite TV was broadcasting the stations still on the air." Steve soothed his mother. "That's when we startin' makin' calls."
"Mama and Daddy, my sister and her family are fine. Jensen's family's all good. Josh and Mac moved back home with their families. Yer mom said it's a little crowded but safer than out on the new Mississippi River plain. Jason and his family were at his folks in Virginia, and Riley was in Iowa for the holidays." Christian drew a shaky breath as anguish caused tears to well in his and Steve's eyes. "We haven't heard from Darren or Rosalee or any body from Vegas, Steve's crew in LA, the Leverage crew, or the rest of KANE. Tim, Beth and Aldis were supposed to be here, but…" Christian spread his hands in a helpless gesture.
"Everyone at Sis' is fine, learning to live on the ocean." Steve assured his mother. "What happened when you got to Texas?" Steve's question brought them back to the original topic.
"It was my fault." Jensen stated flatly from by the windows. "I let my guard down."
"Jensen, No!" Chris and Sandy said together. "We…I…" Sandy looked at Chris, "thought Jensen was just being paranoid and over protective. We stopped at a little fuel stop after we got through Amarillo, figuring the big truck stops would run out of fuel first." Sandy's voice quivered, but when Chris tried to get her to stop, she stubbornly shook him off.
Steve and Christian switched their attention between the three. Their attention switched back to Sandy when she started to talk again.
"Chris and Jen were taking care of fueling the vehicles so I decided to slip inside the store…see if there was anything I could add to what we already had in the coach. I should have told the guys I was leaving the RV, but I didn't think. I wasn't in survival mode, but apparently the men inside the store were and thought I'd make a nice addition to their collection." Sandy shuddered. "One of them grabbed my wrist and punched me thinking I'd be easier to handle if I was unconscious. He must have pulled his punch or I moved enough that I didn't get the full effect, but I was groggy and played possum because I knew I couldn't get away without help. One of them hoisted me over his shoulder and was taking me out the side door so I started kicking and screaming hoping the guys would hear me."
Sandy grabbed her wine glass and drained what was left. Chris picked up the story.
"I ran around the corner without thinking, but Jensen hung back leaving the dogs with the vehicles. A couple men pulled a van around the building while a big man carried Sandy over his shoulder. When I came around the corner the driver yelled. The guy carrying Sandy and the passenger pulled guns. I hadn't thought to grab a gun so I stopped. Suddenly the guy with Sandy falls, dropping her, then one of the windows in the van shattered. The men in the van left their buddy and drove off. I grabbed Sandy and ran for the RV. We left as fast as we could pulling the trailers. We didn't stop until we got to Shamrock where we got a few hours sleep, then pushed on to Oklahoma City. We pulled in the truck stop, thankfully they still had diesel, and stayed the night. The military was starting to deploy throughout the city when we were leaving. It was also the first place we got a signal so we could call, but after what happened in Amarillo, we started carrying weapons wherever we went." Chris wiped a hand down his face.
Before anyone could add anything, the front door clicked shut. Jensen was gone.
"The guy that was shot?" Christian asked as he stood.
"Jensen's a dead shot." Sandy whispered as she curled against her husband. "He was afraid of hitting me if he took a head shot, but a body shot worked just as well."
Steve and Christian followed the younger man out the door.
They found Jensen and the dogs, even the scrap of hair Sandy called Evita, by the corrals, watching the horses in the failing light.
"How soon before you have to give those up?" Christian indicated his cigarette.
A shoulder shrug then exhale. "Should have a crateful somewhere."
"Is it that bad? We thought the reports were maybe sensationalizing things." Steve asked, as he reached out to pluck the cigarette from Jensen's fingers then pulled a drag deep into his own lungs.
Steve's hands still shook from how close he'd come to losing his parents. Even Christian took a drag wishing it was a joint instead of a cigarette.
"Bad. The stuff that was coming over the sideband and shortwave…sometimes while they were still broadcasting the signal would just stop." Jensen drew a shaky breath. "Things may start to settle now that the quakes seemed to have stopped, and the military's movin' into town, but it's like the Wild West. Not much law, very little order. You know the script. The strong and the thugs take over and the weak fall in line. Sounds like most of the government survived in the bunkers, but it'll be awhile before there's any kind of enforcement of anything. Think I'll start ridin' perimeter tomorrow. Maybe take the cattle and horses out for a few hours."
"I wasn't your fault, Jen." Steve said softly.
"You did what was necessary to protect your family." Christian added.
"But…"
"No." Fingertips covered the full lips. "Mom always has to do it her way. I'm just glad you were there. If you hadn't shot that guy we might have lost all of you and never known what happened." Steve's voice hitched.
Parker and Spencer crowded his legs as they sensed their master's distress. Stepping around the dogs, Steve and Christian wrapped around Jensen, giving him the support he needed to let go.
The emotional upheaval of finding the divorce papers Danneel thought she'd hidden…the earthquakes…his wife's death as California crumbled, their harrowing flight to Oklahoma culminating when he killed the man trying to kidnap Sandy…it all finally sank into his exhausted brain. He shivered as tears dampened Steve's shirt. Christian thought it eerie how Jensen never made a sound. He finally lifted his head off Steve's shoulder.
"She was going to divorce me."
"What!?" Steve and Christian said together.
"Danni." I found the papers the day I left." He pulled a bandana from his pocket and wiped his face as he took a step back from Steve, only to bump into Christian.
Exchanging a look the older men kept silent, but pressed closer.
"It was probably someone from one of her movies. I know it wasn't Riley. He came by the house to introduce me to his fiancée before they left for Iowa to meet his folks. God, I'm glad they were there when the quakes started." Shimmering green eyes caught Steve's. "I should never have married her, should have been strong enough to turn down an idea hatched in the middle of a drunken pity party."
He stepped from between the partners and walked a few steps toward the house. "Shouldn't ever git between people who love each other." He shoved his hands in his pockets as he called the dogs and went to the house.
"Jensen." Christian started, but a careless wave cut him off.
"I'm just tired and feeling sorry for myself." He said as he kept walking, the dogs trailing behind.
"Dammit!." Steve spat as he watched Jensen disappear into the house.
He'd expected Christian to be just as upset, but when the silence continued, he turned to see a speculative look in the blue/grey eyes.
"What are you planning, Kane?"
"Nothing much." He moved to head back to the house.
Exasperated, Steve pulled him to a stop.
"Christian?"
"You know he'll never come to us now?" The brunette's smile was sly.
"Be like talkin' to that fence post." Steve agreed.
"We'll just be our normal selves."
"Handsy?" Steve's grin matched Christian's.
"Touchy feeley."
"All in his space."
"He'll run."
They exchanged a sad look.
"Nowhere to run." They both said.
"We'll have to go to him." Steve reminded.
"We can do that." Christian made it sound like a vow.
Jensen was either up early or hadn't slept. Coffee was made and missing a cup when Christian walked into the kitchen. He was settling his shoulder holster when Steve shuffled in the room.
"Did he sleep?"
"'Bout to find out." Christian caught a quick kiss from Steve before heading toward the barn.
Jensen was currying his horse as the seal brown stallion munched through his breakfast. When the horse and dogs turned their heads, Jensen's hand went to his pistol.
"Kane comin' in." Christian called out.
Rolling his eyes, he reached for the saddle blanket.
"Funny, Kane." Jensen's laugh held more bark than humor.
Christian bent to ruffle the dogs' ears before turning his attention to the horse he was going to ride. The black and white paint gelding was a good horse, but didn't have the spirit of his favorite.
The blood bay Quarter Horse mare had been a green broke two year old when Steve and Jensen had given her to Christian for their tenth anniversary. It had been love at first sight. Now she was carrying her first foal due sometime in January, and he couldn't wait to see the pretty baby Jensen's stud was sure to have sired.
He'd just thrown the saddle on the paint when Jensen walked up leading Stoney.
"Ya eat?" Christian asked as he bounced his knee against Spook's side. The horse was notorious for holding his breath and dumping his saddle and rider.
"What are you…my mother?" Jensen grinned at the gelding's annoyed grunt.
"Nope. He's cookin' breakfast, and he told me to ask."
Jensen's sigh matched Spook's.
"Got some stuff in the saddlebags, but I gotta take the scrap back to the house anyway." He indicated Sandy's terrier.
"Ya takin' the dogs?"
"Yeah. Great alarms and Cody might even remember he's a herdin' dog." Jensen's voice was serious as they led the horses to the house.
Steve was turning toward the door when the men and dogs came in and settled to their breakfast.
"You sleep?" Steve asked bluntly as he sipped his coffee.
"Yeah." Jensen frowned around his omelet. "Anything on the news?"
"Usual. Members of the military and government employees that survived overseas are trying to make their way home. Martial law, President, vice-president and cabinet are starting to crawl out of their bunkers, total chaos, millions of people dead, huge chunks of the country gone, spotty services." Steve's breath hitched, he grabbed Jensen's arm. "Thank you for getting my parents here safe.' He said solemnly.
Jensen nodded curtly before leaving the table. "Five minutes, Kane." He said gruffly.
Taking those five minutes to comfort Steve, Christian admonished him not to go out without being armed-even to walk the dog.
"Better start to inventory everything…Freezers, refrigerators, Jensen's crates, every cigarette and jar of peanut butter. It might be a long winter."
Evita barking at the outer door broke them apart. Christian settled his hat on his head and rifle in his saddle scabbard, and swung up on Spook.
"Love ya. I'll text you when we're headed home so ya can have supper waitin', Darlin'. Hopefully there's a signal." He teased the blond man holding the blonde dog and was rewarded with a one finger salute.
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Part 2
