Jared was going out of his mind with worry. Jensen had been gone for twenty minutes now and Jared was starting to think of all the things that could have happened to prevent him from coming back. He wanted to know what was happening, why Jensen was taking so long, whether he was o.k., if he could . . . help he supposed. He couldn't though – not while he was locked away in the panic room. There was nothing he could do but wait. So he waited. He waited and tried not to let his panic consume him.

In the end he waited another thirty minutes before he finally heard the locks to the panic room door being released.

Jared all but leapt up, anxious to know what had gone down while he had been in confinement. Rushing over and yanking the door open he let out a sigh of relief when he saw it was actually Jensen on the other side, regardless of Jared's feelings towards the man and his actions, he would never wish to see him dead or seriously injured – he wouldn't wish that on anybody. Besides the matter of Jared's feelings towards Jensen had somehow become . . . unexpectedly complicated. Not more than an hour ago Jared had wanted nothing to do with the man and wanted nothing more than the chance to never see him again . . . now? He wasn't so sure – before he had been certain that Jensen's fascination with him had been entirely temporary and that with Jensen's track record, as soon as the obsession faded he may well find himself in serious danger . . . but it was starting to look like he may have been wrong – after all Jensen had risked himself by going out there all in the name of keeping Jared safe, and it wasn't the first time Jensen had done something like this . . . what if he'd got it wrong? What if Jensen was just trying to help him – to . . . make amends for everything he'd done in the past? Jared wasn't sure that could ever really happen, he was still pissed as hell at Jensen for what he'd done and he honestly didn't think he'd ever be able to just forgive and forget – but he could at least stop being such a dick if all Jensen was doing was trying to keep him safe. Despite everything Jared genuinely felt guilty for the way he'd been acting the past few weeks when Jensen had been nothing but helpful – don't get him wrong, once this whole thing was over he fully intended to move on and never see Jensen again . . . but, until then, he could at least try to co-operate with the man who was trying to save his life – which meant he needed to talk to Jensen.

With that in mind Jared shook himself from his musings and followed the path Jensen had taken to the front room moments ago . . . without saying a word, wait, Jensen hadn't even spoken to him since letting him out of the panic room which was . . . unusual in itself – Jensen was usually never without something to say when it came to Jared, thinking back to when Jared had first seen Jensen standing outside the panic room door he recalled that Jensen's expression was off too – his eyes seemed . . . troubled, haunted even. What the hell had happened that had made Jensen look like that? Well, whatever it was Jared was damn-well going to find out.

Finally reaching his destination, Jared stopped in the doorway and took a moment to study the tense lines of Jensen's back – trying to gauge what Jensen's reaction to being disturbed would be. After a moment Jared figured that even with whatever was on Jensen's mind he was probably expecting to be questioned by Jared anyway so why disappoint?

"Jensen?"

Jensen's shoulder's seemed to tense further at the sound but he didn't turn around.

"Do you need something Jared?"

'I-I just thought maybe we could . . . talk?"

"Sure, what about?"

The words seemed to be breathed out on a troubled sigh as Jensen finally turned to face him.

"Well, I – Oh my god! Jensen what happened?"

Jared's eyes were fixed in horror to the dark blood stain on Jensen's shirt that was gradually spreading as more blood spilled from the wound on his chest. At Jared's outburst Jensen looked down at himself, seeming almost surprised by the existence of the cut as though he'd forgotten it was there.

"Oh, right – that. It's nothing, I'll be fine . . ."

"Nothing? Jensen you're bleeding – sit down and take off your shirt while I get the med-kit."

"Jared really there's no need . . . I'm fine – this isn't exactly the first time something like this has happened to me . . ."

"Oh, I'm sorry; you seem to be under the impression that, that was optional . . . it wasn't."

"Jared it's not that bad – really I'm . . ."

"Say you're fine one more time and I swear I'll kick your ass. Trust me when I say that isn't a threat, it's a promise – now sit!"

Jared's tone left no room for argument and for once Jensen immediately complied – sitting on the plush couch and removing his blood soaked shirt, he bunched up the material and pressed it against the angry wound marring his otherwise flawless skin. Jared retrieved the medical supplies needed as quickly as possible and hurried to Jensen's side. Once there Jared pulled the shirt away from Jensen and began the task of cleaning the wound, frowning when he realized just how deep the cut was.

"You're a stupid ass you know that? What were you thinking going out there alone? You knew it could be dangerous."

"I did what I had to . . ."

"Yeah, and look where it got you."

"Still a hell of a lot better off than the other's."

Jared fought back the glare that wanted to take over his features at that last comment – he wasn't stupid, he knew that in all likelihood whoever had attacked Jensen was dead now, but now wasn't the time to voice his feelings on Jensen's actions – he could do that later, when he knew for certain that Jensen was o.k.

"Even so, you're not as invincible as you like to think – this just goes to prove it."

"Like I said, I've had worse."

"It was still a stupid move."

"I was protecting you and I'd do it again in an instant."

"You'd seriously risk getting yourself killed for me?"

"Yes. I'd do anything for you Jared. I'd die for you in a heartbeat."

Jared paused in the action of strapping a gaze bandage over the wound. The words caused an unexpected warmth to flood through him – what the hell that meant, Jared wasn't ready to analyze yet. Instead he settled for brushing the feeling off.

"You make me sound so precious." Jared laughed.

"You are. I just wish you could see that about yourself. I wish you could see yourself as I do."

Jared had just finished wrapping Jensen's wound. Jensen's words caused him to still instantly. Looking up into Jensen's eyes Jared saw nothing but warmth and – as much as he wanted to deny it – love. For a moment it was all too easy to get lost in those eyes and the emotions within them, they were beautiful.

It was then that Jared realized just how close they were and abruptly pulled away; breaking the spell Jensen's words had created between them, but before he could move too far Jensen grabbed his arm holding him in place.

"Jared wait. You said you wanted to talk – so talk . . . please?"

Jared could do nothing but nod his assent as he numbly took the seat next to Jensen on the couch. Jensen was the first to break the silence.

"Wait, a minute you want to talk . . . does . . . does this mean that you're going to stop fighting me at every turn?" The hope in his voice didn't go unnoticed by Jared.

"We're both stuck here together and I'm still not happy about it but I guess this whole thing would be a hell of a lot easier if we actually talked rather than argued once in a while. So, we'll call ceasefire and see how it goes?"

"Yeah, o.k. that's great. That's really . . . .so, what did you want to talk about?"

"Well, first off, I want you to tell me what happened out there – and don't bullshit me Jensen, Whatever it was got to you. I saw how tense you were when I came in. Whatever it is concerns me just as much as you so just save yourself the trouble of missing out details and tell me everything."

"Wow, even when we're not arguing you're still as fiery as ever – that's probably one of my favorite things about you . . . O.k. look – if we're going to be talking now then there has to be some kind of . . . policy I guess? Is that the right word?"

"Policy?" Jared couldn't keep his amusement at the word under control.

"Shut up, you know what I mean. Rules. I don't want to lie to you anymore Jared. I don't want to hide anything. So, from now on if we're gonna talk then we're completely honest and no matter what gets said we don't . . . get angry. We keep emotions under control no matter what o.k.? Because that's the only way this is gonna work. Deal?"

"Deal, now are you gonna stop stalling and tell me what happened?"

" . . . I was attacked – obviously, they were scoping the place. There was . . . two of them, I think – both seemed to have basic training in arms and combat – nothing too advanced. To cut a long story short I took the first one out no problem, the second, jumped me from behind – earning me this lovely war-wound. Him I tackled to the ground. I wanted information from him . . . and I definitely got it . . ."

"What do you mean? What did he say?"

"Jared I need to tell you . . .this whole situation, everything it's all my fault. Their target is me – they want to kill you to get to me. It's all because of what I did – The guy – he said . . . God if I hadn't of . . ."

"Jensen! What are you talking about? What did he say?"

Taking a deep breath Jensen continued.

"It's Mark, Jared. They're his men."

"Mark? You mean my Ex the one you . . ."

"Killed? Bingo. That lying scamming rat was part of a ring of fraudsters – his . . contacts. They helped him with his cons and have all managed to avoid detection by the police for years. I knew about them then, but 'bottom-of-the-barrel' criminals that they are I didn't think much of them – wasn't my concern . . ."

"But now they're coming after you because you . . . killed Mark?"

"Pretty much, but that's not the biggest problem. These guys – they're lowlife's but they're not completely stupid. They're operation is flimsy at best – they wouldn't risk making themselves known to the police to come after me, not without insurance."

"Insurance?"

"They must have some kind of in with the police. Someone watching over their mission who has enough authority to guarantee them protection from the law. Whoever it is, is probably running the whole show. Giving them their orders."

"But don't you have contacts in the police? Can't you get their help?"

"Not without knowing who this guy is. My influence only goes so far, I have no way of knowing if his goes further – until I do, I can't risk it."

"So what do we do?"

"Honestly? I don't think there's anything we can do except wait for him to make his next move."

The man leant back in his chair as James (who he had sent on a specific mission with two others to kill Ackles and bring back Padalecki) related his story of how he got away from Jensen Ackles with only a bullet in his leg to show for it.

"So let me get this straight – you failed? Again?"

"Well yes but A-Ackles is good – I've never seen anyone move that fast before and . . ."

"STOP! I don't wanna hear your excuses – I gave you instructions, you were unable to follow them, you failed."

"I'm sorry sir."

"Sorry isn't good enough. Sorry doesn't put a bullet through Ackles's skull. Fuck this; you want something done you gotta do it yourself. I don't want any loose ends, so I'm going to hunt down Ackles like the animal he is and kill him myself seeing as you don't seem capable of dealing with one man between the three of you I sent. You – are fired. Now get the fuck outta my office."

"Yes sir."

James turned to leave the office.

"Oh and James? One more thing."

James turned back around as the man pulled out a gun and shot him straight through the skull, his body falling lifeless to the floor.

"Well, I did say no loose ends."

TBC