Someone Else's Life
Mar. 14th, 2009 03:30 pmChapter: 3/?
Wordcount: 2,349
Characters, Pairing: Jared/Jensen, Chad, Sandy, Chris, Steve/Sophia, Patrick Dempsey, Robert Wisdom, David Boreanaz, mentions of Jared/omc; Jensen/ David .
Summary:Jared Padalecki is a young man living hand to mouth, trying to save the only two friends he has in the world. Jensen ackles is a man with a broken heart and dented pride, and enters Jareds life long enough to leave him with a drawing and a dream of what Jared could have had. When one of Jareds friends dies tragically, Jared is left with no choice but to run, and ends up living a life that isnt his, a life that he can never have. What happens when Jensen finds Jared living in the house meant for the fiance that broke his heart, and can they come to an arrangement that suits them both?
Warnings and authors notes on chapter one. No new warnings for this chapter.
Additional note: My thanks to all you wonderful people who commented on my note the other day. I was completely stuck and inspiration just hit me this morning and I think Im ok now, so Its all systems go.
Two days later saw Jared sitting out on the roof of his apartment block. It was pushing six in the evening and he had been already sitting there for hours. He had the day off thankfully, even Patrick recognising Jared’s need to be alone today, ok so he knew from this day twelve months ago that you left Jared alone today. It was mild, and it was dry, a nice breeze ruffled his hair and drove it wild on his head as he sat with his knees pulled up to his chin, a long forgotten beer at his side, as he sat staring out into a city he no longer cared about. Lost in memories of what should have been.
He didn’t even hear the approach of his two friends in the silence of this rooftop. They moved quietly, slowly until they flanked him on either side. The prostitute and the drug addict, both leaning in and letting Jared lean on them for just a little while, giving back what they could and Jared loved them for it.
For 364 days of the year, Jared was the strong one, for 364 days he coped, he lied and he worked. For 364 days he carried his two friends, worried for them and helped them heal when it all became too much. For 364 days he put up with the shitty job, and Patrick and the lewd suggestions of both Patrick and his customers, ably fending off both. For all those days he dodged Robert with a finesse born of practice. For 364 days of the year he was the Jared that he wanted the world to see. But for one day, just one day out of all those days he couldn’t cope, he couldn’t be strong and dodge the masses and face the world. Just one day he couldn’t be strong enough to support the others, just one day he needed them to support him.
One day in the year he allowed himself to grieve, and for one day a prostitute and an addict put their own living hell on hold to help pull Jared through his. So on the rooftop all three sat, long into the night, not talking, just sitting; three heads close together, bodies leaning in for warmth and support. Silently remembering and missing and longing, and allowing the strongest person they had ever known to cry in silence for a life he should have had and a love that should have never been taken away.
************
Jensen sighed and flipped his phone shut. Throwing it carelessly to the side, he leaned his head back and concentrated on breathing. He got David’s answering machine....again. Ever since the day two weeks ago now that he had taken David out to that house, and David had had the melt down at the very thoughts of even living there, he hadn’t heard a word from him. No matter how many times he called his phone, he got his answering machine.
Jesus his head still hurt.
He rubbed a hand across his forehead wearily and not for the last time, swore to himself he would never touch a drop of alcohol again. Two days after getting roaring drunk and he still had a headache from it. The worst part of it all was, his stupid brain even refused him the luxury of not remembering his antics from that night.
He remembered every single thing.
Fuck.
Again he felt his face heat up and his body fold in on itself with embarrassment at what had gone down that night. He has seen the movies, those movies where drunk men spilled their heart out to strange bar men, and he had scoffed, because seriously? He groaned and threw himself face down into the soft cushions of the couch he sat on. He had fucking told a complete stranger every last detail of his life, hell he had even literally drawn the man a picture! Oh but then as if he hadn’t made enough of a fool of himself he had made a pass at him, he was aware of the reputation the place had, but that still gave him no right to try and force himself on one of them. Jesus Christ he still remembered the look in those hazel eyes before he had thrown up all over him. He groaned again and wished to fuck he could have had the luxury of suffering one of those black outs after drink. He just was not that lucky, never had been. It was half the reason he rarely got that drunk, it just wasn’t worth the wanting to die from embarrassment the following day.
There was nothing for it, he knew the only way he would feel even remotely better would be to face the bar man and apologise. His head still stuck in the cushion he groped around till his hand fell on the phone thrown on the couch. From his position buried in the couch he dialled in Chris’ number, Chris was in town since yesterday, he had arrived to make sure Jensen hadn’t done anything stupid like maybe drink himself into oblivion and make a total ass of himself in front of tall handsome prostitute bartenders.
Oh wait....
Chris was way too cheery when he answered his phone and Jensen didn’t have the energy to want to try and kill him, so he quickly gave him the address of the bar and told him to meet him there in a half hour before hanging up to the sound of Chris’ laughter. He didn’t care how funny Chris thought it was that he wanted to go back and meet the guy and apologise. His Momma raised him right and this was the right thing to do.
One half hour later he arrived at the bar to find Chris waiting outside leisurely pulling on a cigarette while he waited. Ignoring the grin on Chris’ face when he saw him, Jensen walked into the bar, Chris on his heels. Inside it was moderately busy, and two bartenders were kept going serving the alcohol, while two or three more walked around making sure everyone was looked after.
There was no sign of him.
Damnit.
Taking a seat at the bar, he quietly ordered a beer for Chris and himself and waited for an opportunity to ask about the tall man who had served him that night. He didn’t have to wait long, and he was kept amused by the look on Chris’ face as he looked around him. They watched in silence as a good looking young man dressed in too tight trousers and tight white T shirt, led another to the back of the dimly lit restaurant through the door at the back. Chris turned incredulous eyes to Jensen;
“You want to apologise to one of these guys? Jensen, he has probably had much worse done to him by one of these creeps!”
Jensen stared Chris down then, “Chris, I’m not one of those creeps, and the guy was nice enough, he looked after me and made sure I got in a cab, least I can do is apologise for trying to feel him up and ruining his shirt. I owe him that much.”
Chris shook his head, “Know what your problem is Jen? You’re too fucking nice is what you’re problem is.”
“Maybe, but I still want to do this Chris.”
Chris grunted around the beer in his hand, “If you ask me, your time might be better spent getting the fuck out of that apartment, come back to town with me Jen, there is nothing here for you now man. David is an asshole and....”
Jensen shut him up with a look and Chris and the other man raised his hands in surrender; “Alright alright, you don’t want to move into the house I get it.”
“Good, now please drop the subject Chris!”
Before another word could be spoken, the arrival of a familiar bartender caught Jensen’s attention. This guy was there that night, he might remember him, maybe tell him when the tall guy would be here. He was a good looking kid, in his twenties, he introduced himself as Tony when Jensen got his attention and his smile only dimmed a little when Jensen asked about the tall one.
“Ahhh I remember you now, you’re the dude that threw up all over Jared’s shirt right?”
Chris chuckled beside him and Jensen blushed again.
“Yeah, yeah I uhh, I just wanted to apologise to him for that and for uhhh well...”
“For kissing him?” Tony laughed then, “You know how lucky you were that night?”
At Jensen’s confused expression he smiled and continued, “Jared isn’t uhhh, well he isn’t like the rest of us here, he doesn’t ummmm, he doesn’t have the same work detail as the rest of us, you get me?”
Jensen stared at him utterly lost for a moment before Chris rolled his eyes and put him out of his misery, god Jensen could be so naive sometimes, and this was why David asshole had been able to string him along for so long.
“He is telling you that this Jared dude doesn’t put out like the rest of them do Jen.”
“Oh....”
Silence.
“Oooooohhhh. Oh crap, and I .....aww man!” Jensen buried his head in his hands again and Chris couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him at Jensen’s torment. Raising his head he turned tortured eyes to Chris.
“It would only take me, to get plastered in a bar like this, and come onto the only non prostitute bar tender here...” He groaned again and Tony chuckled alittle.
“If it’s any consolation man, he didn’t hurt you, and believe me he has done that.”
Jensen raised an eyebrow at this, “how do you mean?”
“Well I have seen him literally snap a guys fingers for trying it on with him, I have never seen anyone get close enough to plant one on him and survive it. I think you may be the first person to come in here and get that close...and, you live to tell the tale. You even had Patrick wondering how you did that.”
“Patrick?”
Tony snorted, “Patrick is our boss, and the owner of this fine establishment, he has been trying to get into Jared’s pants for a while now, has been trying to talk him into uhhh joining in on the fun around here.”
Jensen was intrigued, he gestured for another beer and even Chris was silent as Jensen dared to enquire more;
“He hasn’t? Taken him up on his offer I mean?”
Tony shook his head and glanced up the bar, glancing back at Jensen he replied, “No, Jared isn’t like that, never was. Look, I’m sure you’re a nice guy, and I can kinda see why Jared never punched your lights out the other night but, I would get it out of your head man, Jared isn’t ever going to change his mind, hell he shouldn’t even be here.”
He glanced up the bar again; “Look man, I gotto go.” He gestured up the bar to where a balding man was waiting, “Duty calls, unless you wanna.....”
Jensen shook his head, “No man, I’m sorry, I just...I was hoping he would be here tonight. I kinda wanted to apologise for how bad I was, in person, you know?”
Tony nodded and smiled again, a little sadly, “He isn’t here tonight, and I wouldn’t expect him to be very receptive tomorrow either, it’s not the right time to be making any kind of moves on him, not now. Too many ghosts around now.”
“I don’t want to make a move on him, I just wanted to say I was sorry.”
“Well then, why don’t I just pass on that message and you walk away now and leave Jared be huh?”
Both of Jensen’s eyebrows rose this time, the other mans words were unmistakably protective of Jared, he was warning him off.
“Look, I don’t know what kind of idea you got into your head, but, I’m not here to chase the guy, hell I have enough on my own plate besides getting mixed up in whatever shit he has got going on here. I just wanted to apologise, that’s it.”
Tony nodded again and looked sheepish, “Ok cool, sorry for trying to go all he man on you, Jared hasn’t had it easy and....well it’s not my story to tell. He just wants to be left alone you know? I gotto go. Nice talking to you.”
Jensen and Chris sat in silence for a few minutes, before Jensen threw back the last of his beer and shrugged.
“Alright, I tried, lets get out of here Chris, last thing I want to do right now is get involved in some drama going on with a bar tender. I’m sorry I ruined his shirt, but I’m not that fucking sorry.”
Chris chuckled and rising from the stool clapped Jensen on the back.
“Alright dude, there may be some hope for you yet, now all I gotto do is get you to take that same attitude with David and forget about him.”
Jensen walked out the door ahead of Chris and started to walk back in the direction of the apartment he used to share with David, one that he now lived in alone.
“David will come around, he just freaked out a bit is all, he will be back once he calms down.”
The night was mild and dry, a light breeze giving enough air to be comfortable and the men took the long walk back to Jensen’s apartment. Talking and walking, and generally just enjoying each others company. They hadn’t spent enough time together in recent years and it felt good to be able to laugh again.
As two men walked past a run down apartment building, lost in conversation, three people sat huddled together on the rooftop, lost in thought and grief, each missing the other as they passed through lives that would come together sooner than even they knew.
chapter 4
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Date: 2009-03-14 03:45 pm (UTC)Well done babe!
:)
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Date: 2009-03-14 04:10 pm (UTC)Wow.....
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Date: 2009-03-14 03:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-14 04:12 pm (UTC)Jensen and Jared will meet again, its getting close.
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Date: 2009-03-14 05:06 pm (UTC)One day in the year he allowed himself to grieve, and for one day a prostitute and an addict put their own living hell on hold to help pull Jared through his. So on the rooftop all three sat, long into the night, not talking, just sitting; three heads close together, bodies leaning in for warmth and support. Silently remembering and missing and longing, and allowing the strongest person they had ever known to cry in silence for a life he should have had and a love that should have never been taken away.
Is so epically beautiful that it totally made me tear up, and now I feel like a baby!!! XP
But really, the writing is so elegant and moving, and I can't wait for more updates!! XD
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Date: 2009-03-14 05:10 pm (UTC)To be perfectly honest, after I wrote the start of this chapter with Jared grieving, it is what made me stop for days. I could not get into his head anymore after crying as I wrote that.
It is what caused the delay in the chapter really, and this morning it hit me to leave Jared be for now, let him recover a bit and go see what Jensen is up to.
So thank you,I cried too.
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Date: 2009-03-14 07:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-14 05:12 pm (UTC)I love it so much!
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Date: 2009-03-14 05:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-14 06:04 pm (UTC)I feel so sorry for him but he is lucky he have such great friends.
And poor Jensen trying to do the right thing and then getting mocked!!
He is lucky to have Chris though and he will come around, forget David and go back to see Jared, right??
♥hugs♥
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Date: 2009-03-16 02:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-14 06:39 pm (UTC)"One day in the year he allowed himself to grieve, and for one day a prostitute and an addict put their own living hell on hold to help pull Jared through his."
Seriously gave me shivers BB.
I find my self thnking about this fic of yours during the day while I'm at work or whatever and just...craving more, trying to figure out what is going to happen. More plez:)
*hugz*
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Date: 2009-03-16 02:18 pm (UTC)Jared has been to hell and is still trying to claw his way out.More on the way as I speak.
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Date: 2009-03-14 07:01 pm (UTC)Loved it:D
*hugs*
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Date: 2009-03-16 02:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-14 09:01 pm (UTC)Heehee, poor Jensen with his headache, lol.
Look forward to more!
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Date: 2009-03-16 02:20 pm (UTC)Im sooo pleased your enjoying it.
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Date: 2009-03-14 11:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-16 02:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-14 11:54 pm (UTC)Poor Jared *hugs him* and Jensen is so sweet wanting to apologise, bless him *grins*
Can't wait to read more :)
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Date: 2009-03-16 02:21 pm (UTC)More on the way right now!
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Date: 2009-03-15 02:50 am (UTC)Jared's part of the fic just about made me cry. It's nice he has Chad and Sandy on the day he needs them.
Keep up the awesome work, I'm really enjoying it.
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Date: 2009-03-16 02:21 pm (UTC)Thats all going to change.
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Date: 2009-03-15 05:30 am (UTC)it was so awww inducing
i'm lost for words this time round...
really dunno what to say
you've got such a great talent...
please bring us more of the wonderful
eS
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Date: 2009-03-16 02:22 pm (UTC)I hope I dont dissappoint!
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Date: 2009-03-15 07:45 am (UTC)I'm still hooked, as you know, it's impossible for me to leave now. I'm really in love with your writings.
I love the way you picture them all, and even the bittesweet part with Chris and the excuse part, it's so cute. I'm here and I'm waiting for the next fabulous part of your awesome fiction.
Luv Babe.
<3
San
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Date: 2009-03-16 02:22 pm (UTC)Thank you for being here all the time! #More on the way!
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Date: 2009-03-15 09:20 am (UTC)This chap has blown me away... your writing is awesome, so amazing, and the story is so cool....
*hugs*xxxx
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Date: 2009-03-16 02:23 pm (UTC)Its coming!
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Date: 2009-03-15 04:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-16 02:23 pm (UTC)Thank you so much hun, I hope you keep reading!
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Date: 2009-03-15 09:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-16 02:24 pm (UTC)More on the way!
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Date: 2009-04-08 04:38 am (UTC)I love that line.
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Date: 2009-04-08 03:39 pm (UTC)I'm so pleased you're here reading my nonsense!!