Thanks again for the reviews, in reply to them:

Pip3: thanks!

Cherry001: I changed the spelling of Lureen's name in this one, thanks very much for letting me know. And whether or not it's a happy story..well you'll jut have to wait and see MUAHAHA : )

scottsdream: THANKS SO MUCH! That is really what I wanted to go for in the last chapter but I wasn't sure how well it came across. And I'm very glad you think I got Lureen's character down.

This one unfortunately doesn't have much of Ennis and Jack together, sorry but I feel other things have to be taken care of first before they can really be together again, so please bear with me. : )


The car dug into the gravel outside. Car doors open and shut and Lureen could be heard yelling to her son.

"Remember, I told you careful Bobby!"

Who knows if those words ever made it to Bobby's ears. He bounded through the door, running to his dad's side. Jack saw that his son's eyes were already glistening and red. Bobby took the seat that Ennis had left open when he heard the car pull in.

Bobby didn't know what to do. His dad was lying in front of him, unable to move, unable to hold him.

"Mom said you got blown up by the truck."

"Yeah, something along those lines," Jack hadn't spoken for a while now and his voice was torn up again. Bobby winced as he heard it.

"Are you gonna be okay?"

"With time."

Bobby started tearing up again. He sat awkwardly in the chair trying to hold back his tears.

Jack saw this and sighed, "Come here little guy."

Bobby jumped off the chair and stopped so that he was in front of his dad's face. He buried his tear stricken cheeks in the crook of his father's neck. Jack used his one "good" arm to wrap around his son's shoulders and grasp him closer to him. He felt a surge of pain as he did so, but his son was more important.

--- --- --- --- --- ---

Ennis, who had moved into the kitchen to give Jack and his son their space, peered around the edge of the doorway when he heard the sobs. He saw that even as Jack held his crying son to him in what seemed to be a painful position, he was smiling. It was a slightly sorrowful smile, full of regret, but beneath that was a great layer of happiness.

Lureen joined Ennis in the kitchen.

Ennis hadn't even heard her come in. She must not of wanted to break up the moment between father and son.

"Tea?" She spoke softly.

Ennis shook his head, "Sorry I'm not much one for the taste."

"Didn't think so, thought I'd ask anyway."

Ennis turned around in his seat, his full attention back in the kitchen now.

Lureen was getting out a kettle from the cabinets. She began to fill it with water when she said, "I told Bobby 'bout you in the car. When he comes in'ere, I'll introduce you."

Ennis nodded.

She turned on a burner on the stove. "I told him you a friend of Jack's, helped out a couple o' times in the business, and that I called you over when I heard the explosion."

"Sounds 'bout right."

She turned around and joined Ennis at the table. She spoke even softer now, "Listen, where d'you think is best for Jack?"

That was a rough question. Ennis wanted to tell her that Jack should've been with him from the start but he knew better then to let his manners go so quick. "Well, here I reckon, he ain't doing no travelin' for a while."

She nodded, "But after that, when he gets better, I know we gotta separate, but I mean, I just wanna get this all out on the table. You'll be taking him home with you right?"

"I guess, I mean if it ain't gonna mess up nothin' round here for you 'n Bobby."

"Oh please Ennis, why'd you come here if not to take Jack with you?"

Damn, Jack had found himself a real smart woman.

Ennis smiled guiltily, "Then when he's in shape, I'll bring him up ta Wyoming with me."

She nodded in agreement yet sighed. She then stood up again, turning to the cabinets to find a cup for her tea.

Ennis turned around again to peer into the living room. Jack was still hanging onto his son like there was no tomorrow. Could Ennis break that up, really? Sure Ennis had left his family, but his family hadn't loved him as much. His girls had took it hard, especially Junior, but they weren't gonna go through nothing like what this boy had coming. Ennis figured Bobby was more or less like his dad, and would try to hold onto what he loved until it killed him.

"Bobby's gonna take it bad." Lureen interrupted Ennis's thoughts.

Ennis nodded.

There was an awkward silence.

"You don't say much do you?"

Ennis shook his head.

She smirked.

"You got any kids?"

He smiled as he answered, "Two. Two girls. Junior and Francine."

She smiled back, "How'd they do with you and your wife's divorce?"

"Junior hated me for weeks, Francine, don't think she cared much, she was a little too young to fully get what was going on."

At this point Bobby walked into the room.

"Bobby, this here is the Mr. Ennis Del Mar I was tellin' you 'bout."

Bobby smiled up shyly, "Hello Mr. Del Mar. Momma told me you got dad outta the explosion."

Ennis nodded.

"Thank you."

"You're very welcome." The kid had manners. Ennis took a closer look at him, he recognized that smile.

Lureen was back up, attending to her tea, "Bobby, have you got any homework?"

"Umm…no."

Jack always hesitated when he lied, and Ennis guessed that Bobby did too. He smiled at Bobby mischievously and gave him a wink.

Lureen knew just as well as everyone else in the room that Bobby probably had plenty of homework, but it was the weekend so there was a good amount of time to do it and considering the recent events she decided it was more than fair to let him slide by.

"Just do me a favor then, clean up your room a little bit and while you're up there show Mr. Del Mar the guest room. He's going to be stayin' with us for a while."

Ennis had hoped for it but was still a little shocked when Lureen spoke. He would have guessed she'd want him to get a motel room or even go back to Wyoming, but now he was going to be staying in Jack's home.

Bobby looked back up to Ennis who nodded and stood up ready for Bobby to lead the way.

As they passed through the living room both males gazed on Jack and smiled at him. Jack smiled back letting his eyes linger on the two people he loved most.

Ennis was taken up a set of stairs that led to a hallway with five doors to be seen.

Bobby, now warming up to his company, started giving Ennis the grand tour.

At the first door he stopped and said, "This is a closet. Nuttin' much to get excited 'bout." Across from that he opened the door and led Ennis in, "This is my room."

Ennis looked around, it was simple, had one window, a bed, a bookcase, a desk, and a dresser. There were all sorts of things scattered about, his clothes, books, old toys. All together though it was a nice room perfectly suited for Jack's boy.

"Not too bad, Bobby."

"Thanks," he took up all the books that were lying around and dumped them in a pile next to the bookcase and then shoved everything else against one wall, take away the clothes which he picked up and threw over his shoulder. He walked towards the door and motioned for Ennis to follow.

When back in the hallway, Bobby walked to the very end and threw his clothes in the hamper there then turned to face another door. He pushed it open saying, "This is the guest room."

Ennis again followed Bobby into the room. It wasn't nothing he didn't expect. A bed, dresser, and lamp covered it all for the room's furniture. There was one window like in Bobby's room and next to that hung a mirror. It was even more than Ennis had in his own room due to the mirror and it would suit him just fine.

Bobby walked out into the hall and pointed, "This here's the bathroom if you gotta go. And the other one," he pointed to a door on the opposite side of the hallway, "is Mom and Dad's room."

"Thanks, I'm just gonna get myself set up here then alright?"

"Yup," with that Bobby nodded and started walking back down the stairs probably to sit with his dad again.

"Man this is something you got yourself into Del Mar," Ennis said softly to himself.

He walked back into his new room and did all he could do to make it his own. He sat on the bed, looked around a few times then took off his hat and placed it on the dresser.

After that he planned on going back downstairs, see what he'd be doing to help but as he started walking down the hallway he felt a surge of temptation as he passed Jack's room. Stopping short and first listening to see if anyone else was coming up, Ennis put his hand to the door knob and pushed.

Ennis walked in and found that the curtains had been drawn, he went over and pulled one back to see what was outside. The first thing he saw was the roof of the garage and behind that the field. He could see the lines he had created when carrying Jack's bruised body from the dreadful clearing. Again, the horrid scene from that afternoon played through Ennis's mind.

Ennis blinked back tears and let the curtain fall from his fingers. He then turned around to see what else was in the room. On the dresser was an aged photograph of Jack and Lureen on their wedding day.

Ennis picked it up and smiled. It almost surprised him to see Jack that young and clear of scars. Ennis remembered better, easier times.

Still smiling he put down the photo and walked downstairs.

--- --- --- --- --- ---

The doctor came the following day and gave the proper casts to Jack as he said he would. It was a month before even the first one could come off. However, in that time, Jack was moved up to his bedroom for more comfort.

Ennis feeling more secure to talk with Jack behind a closed door, spent a great deal of his free time in there.

"Jack," Ennis one day said as he was changing Jack's bandages. Bobby was at school so it meant it was Ennis's turn to take care of Jack.

"Mmhmm?"

"What do you wanna do when you get outta all those casts?"

Jack was confused, he Ennis and Lureen had all already talked about this and agreed. "In case you forgot, I'm headin' back to Wyoming with you."

"Shit Jack, I know that's what we agreed on, but, I mean… well there's Bobby and everything."

Jack went silent, he already knew that was a problem.

Ennis recognized the silence, "You see, you don't want to leave him do you?"

"Jesus Ennis, he's my son, of course I don't, but hell, for the last twenty years I never once wanted to leave you, but every fishin' trip we went on came to an end, an I had to drive back here wit nothin' but memories."

That put Ennis in his place. He felt guilt rush over him every time he thought about how he had so often neglected Jack, even when he was the most prominent thing on his mind.

Jack saw the effect his comment had left, "I'm sorry," Jack raised his one arm that was almost completely healed to stroke Ennis's cheek.

Ennis melted into Jack's touch. It was something he had missed so much, more so because Jack was so close but still unable to hold him and embrace him back. This was the first time Ennis had felt Jack caressing him in a long time. Ennis almost asked him to stop just so he wouldn't become caught up in his desires.

Ennis took the hand in his own then lied down on his side next to Jack. Jack was giving him that damned smile. Ennis leaned forward, his face hovering above his lover's. He gently guided his lips onto Jack's and for the first time in months felt complete.

After a slow, lingering kiss, the two continued to lie beside one another, Jack stroking Ennis's hand gently with his thumb, and Ennis occasionally leaving a kiss on Jack's tender neck.