Chapter Text
Fighting For Him
Chapter Twenty
One Year Later: Gettysburg, PA:
“Excuse me? Why am I here?” Chris Kane felt like his head would explode. His bar was a week away from finally opening so he had a million things to do. He was at a complete loss to why he was standing on a battlefield watching a reenactment in Gettysburg. It felt like déjà vu until he remembered that he had done this before.
“Because it just felt right to ask you to come since you were here with me last year,” Jensen replied without looking up from the sketch he was determined to finish before this reenactment was over. “Besides, it was Jay’s idea to ask you. I thought maybe he’d been inhaling paint fumes from painting the barn when he brought it up.”
“Oh, I see. You didn’t want your best friend around?” Chris snorted, hiding his smile as he tried to sneak a peek at the sketch. “I thought Soldier Boy said you’d finally started to draw stuff other than him?”
Batting his friend off, Jensen’s lips curved as he finished shading in an area of Jared’s face that the Confederate officer’s hat shielded. “I do paint and draw things more now that aren’t of Jared but he’s still my favorite subject to work on…in all ways.” He smiled fully, the mischievous glint in his happy eyes almost enough to keep his friend from fake gagging.
“Images, Ackles. I do not need those damn images,” Chris groaned, rolling his eyes while offering a long-suffering sigh at the slap to the back of his head. “Hello to you too, ‘Captain’,” he mock-growled as Jared approached. “Isn’t this a little weird?”
“I thought it would be but it’s actually interesting,” Jared shrugged. He knelt down beside Jensen and looked around before tipping his head back to kiss him fully. “Besides, we agreed we’d just come for this day since this is technically where we met.”
Chris hid his smirk as he watched the two men. He recognized how different his friend was now from this time last year but that didn’t mean he was willing to give up teasing the South Carolina native. “Yeah, how can I forget? You threatened me in the first five seconds of seeing me.”
“I still say you were lucky I didn’t shoot you, Yankee,” Jared shot back with a grin, taking the sketch with a sigh. “We need to find you a new topic to draw since you have me now every day.”
The past year still could seem surreal to the former Civil War officer, especially as he took in Gettysburg now, but he never regretted his choices.
Every morning he awoke to see that smile that lit Jensen’s eyes made Jared happy. They’d settled into Charleston well and without too many hassles. Miss Rachel was fond of dropping in a few times a week to bring them food since she was certain Jared couldn’t cook well enough to feed a mouse much less keep Jensen from starving.
Jared’s love for learning nearly equaled Jensen’s and once he’d been introduced to the wonderful world of the internet by way of Jensen’s laptop he’d just dove into everything he could find about anything he thought was interesting.
The property had finally been fixed up the way Jensen had always wanted. He did turn the one outbuilding into a larger studio but he still preferred to work in the house.
Jensen had started to paint in oils and acrylics and would have a few of his pieces in a local gallery in Charleston next winter, which still seemed so weird to him but had thrilled Jared, who merely said that he knew Jensen was that damn good.
There had only been one small issue involving Jensen’s mother but once it became clear to Celia that her son could no longer be frightened or intimidated she’d never bothered him again and a call to Sean Kane had assured that.
It had taken Jensen several more months before he finally stopped having nightmares or reaching for Jared in the middle of the night as if in fear of him not being there.
The day Jared had tugged him outside to the river bank under the willow tree to hand him the packet of old letters and a lighter had seemed to be when he slowly began to understand that Jared was ready to fully leave his old life behind to start fresh.
The oil painting had been reframed and hung to Jensen’s exact, and somewhat obsessive, specifications over the fireplace in the den where Jared had said it had hung before.
Now it had been a year since Jared’s arrival in this time and as he shrugged out of the uniform that had never seemed to suit him even when it was his, Jared was glad to change back into the soft grey t-shirt with a lightweight button down shirt of deep red since Jensen loved that color on him. He listened to Jensen bicker with Chris and smiled.
Pausing to time this just right, he reached up as if feeling around his neck to glance over. “Jen? My locket in your pencil bag?” he asked calmly.
The dented locket that had saved his life was the one thing Jared had kept from his previous life, in addition to the last sketch his friend had drawn before his death.
But today he understood that it was time to let go of that as well or at least make a change. He ignored Chris’s curious look while Jensen dug into the bag with his supplies to pull out the locket. He held it out but Jared shook his head slightly. “Open it.”
“I’ve never opened this before, Jay,” Jensen argued, but sighed as his friend shot him the look that meant they weren’t making it to dinner unless he did. “Fine. I read in your journal what you kept in here so…” he stopped in mid-sentence to stare. “When…when did you do this?”
“Couple weeks back,” Jared moved closer to take the locket that now had a new photo of Jensen on one side while the other had a picture of them together. “Remember when Miss Rachel’s granddaughter was running around the place taking pictures of everything?” He smiled while running his knuckles along his lover’s cheek. “You have got to be even harder than your kin to get to stand still for the time it takes to snap even a modern photo,” he chuckled.
Chris snorted, taking the sketchbook and bag of supplies before Jensen could choose to use either as a weapon against one of them. “Oh, he never liked to have his picture taken,” he remarked. “I used to bully him to do it but if I did that now his bodyguard would threaten to rip my throat out,” he added as he walked away.
“I only did that once, Yankee,” Jared shot back, looking down as the locket was hooked back around his neck and a kiss given to the corner of his mouth with a silent promise for more later when they were alone. “Are you happy, Jen?” he asked, feeling a slight chill in the breeze but shrugging it off as the surprisingly cool July day.
“I’ve never been happier, Jay,” Jensen assured him, surprised when Jared pulled him to his side since they still were wary of showing off their relationship in public. He slowly relaxed for the walk to the SUV where Chris was waiting. “I’m glad you fought for me, Jared.”
A glance back over his shoulder had Jared blinking as he took in the figure off in the distance of the field where he’d crossed over to find his future. His chest tightened at a glimpse of something he thought he saw before kissing Jensen deeply and without a care to who was watching them.
“I will always fight for you, Jensen,” he promised firmly. “I will fight for us. Now, let’s gather up the damn Yankee you insist on being friends with and go visit your grandmother.”
Jensen’s laugh was full and deep as he shook his head and just accepted the bickering he’d be listening to for the next several hours. He would never once look back and just wanted to look forward to what lay ahead for both of them as he rested his head on Jared’s shoulder. “Some dreams do come true,” he whispered to himself with a smile on his face, thinking of his longtime dreams about the man who now sat beside him while Chris drove away from Gettysburg.
“Or in my case, a nightmare,” Chris shot back, expecting something to be tossed at his head and not disappointed.
“You know there are a lot of back woods from here to Kate’s place, Kane,” Jared warned with a raised brow. “You could get dumped. I’m fairly sure your Pa won’t mind.”
“Guys, c’mon,” Jensen groaned as two sets of innocent eyes were aimed at him and he merely accepted this was how his friend and Jared dealt with one another. “Love you,” he whispered against Jared’s ear, pleased it worked as a distraction when he felt familiar fingers rubbing against his side.
“Love you too, Yankee Boy,” Jared murmured, still using his first nickname for Jensen because he knew it meant something to the man and enjoyed how it made him smile. He settled back to annoy Kane while Jensen tuned them out to sketch and looked forward to continuing this little tradition next year.
Kate Ackles’ plan to turn the family home into a bed and breakfast was still progressing well, though Jensen still complained about it.
This would be his first time back since cleaning out her barn that fateful day last year and Jared’s first time at the Ackles’ home in well over a century and a half.
Jensen had been a little uneasy about that but understood the reason they were here--other than his grandmother’s insistence that they come for a family meal to celebrate his successful move and new life.
Chris’s family as well as Danneel had also been invited and were in the house currently since it went without saying that this moment was private.
Kate had said how her late husband’s one wish before he passed away had been to erect a headstone to the Jensen Ackles that had lived but had been practically erased in the family. She had been planning to do it, so when Jensen had called to ask her permission she’d readily agreed.
Now she stood to watch two figures walk toward the family cemetery while glancing over her shoulder at the man slouched against a doorframe. “Have you accepted him?”
“Oh, I figure the Solider Boy and I will be fighting until I’m old but yeah,” Chris smirked. “It’s weird to not have to watch out for Jensen like I did and to know that he might actually be happy but every time I see him smile or he laughs I know who allowed him to be this way so it’s all good, Kate. Of course you could lecture them on giving me images that sear my poor brain.”
Kate merely laughed as she accepted the arm he offered to go join his parents and Dani in the living room while they waited for Jensen and Jared to complete this task alone.
The walk to the cemetery was quiet and Jensen couldn’t deny he was more than a little on edge. He’d said they didn’t have to come here but he supposed that, like burning the letters, this was also a way for Jared to find closure.
The tree remained with just a notch carved out to allow for the simple white marble headstone with an equally simple engraving: ‘Jensen Ross Ackles, born March 1, 1835 and died June 11, 1862. Son, brother, lover…hero.’
“He’d roll his eyes at the hero part but it was true.” Jared knelt to run his fingers along the stone before reaching up to touch the dated carved in the tree that he’d planted so long ago. “He was one of the bravest men I’d ever known…until I met you.” He looked up to extend a hand. “Come here, Jen.”
Jensen had held back to give his friend privacy to mourn. Although neither of them had sensed nor seen the spirit of his ancestor since that last day in Charleston, there were moments when Jensen wondered if, despite finally crossing, he might still be able to see them.
As he said this Jared merely smiled, bringing Jensen’s hand up to his lips to kiss it as Jensen knelt beside him in front of the newly installed stone. “I spent enough time grieving and mourning. I still miss him but I probably always will. I don’t regret the choice I made to stay and I thought you knew that.”
Jensen had accepted that but there were still times, like when they’d been cleaning out the barn down home and they’d found the place in a wall where Jensen had hidden his journals and several books, that the doubts returned.
“I do, Jay,” he murmured, leaning into the arm that wrapped around him. “It’s still hard at times to think that this is real and I know how much he meant to you and how it must have hurt to choose to let him go, to choose to stay in a time so unlike yours.”
“This is my time now, Jensen. You are what I wanted and I think I’d known that from the moment I woke up with you that first day,” Jared smiled when he held Jensen’s hand in his and their rings touched. He knew when Jensen felt it as well because he saw his smile. “He knew what my choice would be. He accepted my love for you and…” he paused to lift Jensen’s face in his palm to look into his eyes. “I do not regret it. Still have doubts about the Yankee but I suppose I’ll adjust to him in another 50 years.”
Laughing at that Jensen moved into the kiss but eased back to glance at the stone and touch it with light fingers. “Thank you for giving him to me,” he whispered and hoped that wherever his ancestor was that he could still hear him. “I love Jared and I will always do my best by him and give him all my love.” He smiled at the brush of fingers along his cheek that wiped his tears away. “Do…do you want to say goodbye alone?”
“Do you mind?” Jared hadn’t been sure he could do this alone but a soft wind changed his mind. “I’ll just be a few minutes and then I’ll be back to join you for supper.”
“Take your time,” Jensen said with a smile. “I’ll go keep Chris from getting killed by Nana’s kitchen staff since he’ll be looking for food by now.”
Jared decided to keep his mouth shut about that as he watched his friend walk back to the house before closing his eyes. He placed his hand back on the stone, only opening his eyes when he felt the slightest touch on his fingers. “I thought you crossed.”
‘Jensen Ackles’ smiled, green eyes soft. “Just because I crossed over and am not earthbound anymore doesn’t mean I can’t come back some times,” he returned, inclining his head just slightly. “Hello, Jared.”
The spirit had mostly crossed but he did still hover on the edge; less so these days once he’d seen that his former lover had adjusted to the modern world and that he and this Jensen seemed to be doing well. He missed the man; he would never begrudge Jared this happiness or the light of joy he could see in the eyes of his kin now.
“You didn’t let him see you.” Jared was a little glad of that since he understood that there were times when Jensen still felt unsure. He knew that those times would fade more with each passing day they were together.
“No, I didn’t see the reason to upset him or have him thinking I was stalking you.” ‘Jensen’ looked down at the headstone to smirk and roll his eyes. “I was never a hero.” He actually was surprised when he felt the tingle of a touch on his arm.
“You saved me, you helped me and you made sure I knew what the hell I was doing so I’d be able to help him. You were a hero, Jensen,” Jared told him and then frowned. “How often are you around?”
‘Jensen’ laughed. “Don’t worry. I know when not to peek in on the two of you.” He ran his tongue over his teeth while adding, “You do seem to be a fast learner though since I didn’t teach you all that you know on some…things.”
Jared blushed. “Shut up,” he muttered but grinned, looking back to the house. “Will he see you ever?” he asked.
“I was planning on talking to Jensen when he has his showing,” the spirit nodded, watching as Jared touched the stone again before standing to look at him. “Are you happy?”
“You know I am,” Jared replied, cocking his head. “Do you regret my choice?”
‘Jensen’ walked with him back toward the house. “I thought I would since I’d spent so long waiting. But seeing you with him, seeing your face light up if you’re outside and he steps out of the door or when he sits with you under the willow tree by the water to draw or play music…I’m happy for you both.” He looked to the house and smiled at the shadow of the man pacing the patio while trying not to seem like he was pacing. “If you want me to stop coming or fully cross all you have to do is tell me, Jared.”
Considering that, Jared shook his head. “I don’t mind seeing or talking to you, Jensen. You’re still my friend and so long as it doesn’t upset him then I’m good with your little ghostly visits,” he replied but then added quickly and with force. “So long as you don’t drop in when we’re…you know…having sex.”
“Trust me, Jared. I agree with the Kane boy. There are some images I don’t need.” The spirit chuckled, letting his hand rest on Jared’s arm with a nod. “Go to him now. I’ll be around.”
Jared wondered if he would get used to that but then his focus shifted to Jensen and his dimples came out as he smiled, opening his arms to welcome the man he loved into them. “Let’s go eat and then maybe you can show me this guest house since I really don’t feel right making love with you in your Grandmother’s home.”
“Yeah, that would scar Chris if he found that out.” Jensen laughed, leaning up to deepen the kiss that they shared before stepping into the house. He didn’t hear the quiet chuckle on the wind as both men thought about the pleasures that lay ahead.
The End