Would Have Never Made It
Archive – Take it; it's yours (just tell me where it will end up).
Category – Angst, Romance
Rating – G
Warnings – NONE (if shortness doesn't count)
Summary – Ennis had a realization. Jack felt it. And mourned.
Feedback – Greatly appreciated.
Disclaimer – Any money-wise profitable aspects in regard to this movie certainly are not affiliated with me.
Author's Note – Big thanks to Hwin, Michaelandthe roamer! I've done some slight changes (again), because I can only notice mistakes when the story is already published…grr. And roamer, I hate to put this, but I'm afraid that it is unlikely that I'm going to continue this story…because…I'm never good at story structure…sorry.
It was their first ever "fishing trip".
Jack checked his reflection nervously in his rearview mirror, hoping to improve his image as much as possible before his arrival. He found signs of aging, and, to his annoyance, the lingering shadow of grief on his face. Jack sighed deeply; that look had not left since he first parted with Ennis in 1963, and now it had become more than visible. The noise of a pick-up interrupted his thoughts, and Jack sharply turned around.
His entire body tensed as he saw the man in his dreams stepped out of the vehicle.
Ennis.
The sandy-haired man smiled at him, and Jack could not help smiling back. Before Jack knew it he was already only inches apart from Ennis; somewhat tentatively, he raised a trembling hand to touch Ennis' cheek.
It was real. Jack knew it. They both knew it.
Ennis put his arms around Jack and pulled him close for an intimate embrace. They both exhaled at the familiar closeness between them and Jack rested his head against Ennis' broad chest, savoring the moment, feeling the heartbeat of the person he cared so much about yet could meet so infrequently, and that was when he noticed an unusual trace in Ennis' mannerism. Fear was flowing through Ennis, as it was in the beginning and the end of Brokeback.
Jack tried to loose the hug and look up, "Ennis?"
But Ennis refused to let Jack go. He was just relieved that he was here; merely one week ago the traffic accident on his way home and the following explosion could have claimed his life had he not climbed under the remains and out of range fast enough.
Might have never seen him again. Ennis thought to himself, burying his chin into Jack's dark hair. The fleetingness of lives still shocked him, as he was holding his most cherished treasure in his arms.
Knowing Ennis far too well, Jack felt the emotions even though they weren't worded. For this moment they were just content to each other's presence as fate would allow, but in his heart, Jack suddenly understood that the separation had deprived them of far more than they had expected.