A big thanks to everyone again, all the reviews and such really mean a lot.

Hope you guys enjoy this next one.


Jack was continuing to heal nicely. After a couple long months, he was making short trips around the house with the aid of crutches. And even though Jack insisted he was fine, every time he was up and walking, Ennis would secretly watch him just to make sure.

Ennis would never say it but he was going to miss the days of Jack's recovery. It was during that time that every weekday he would spend and hour or so replacing yesterday's bandages and then always another couple hours talking with and lying next to Jack. It was something they never got to do enough of, just talking, but depending on their luck, they would have a chance to do that much more often now.

Lureen walked into Jack's room, turning on his bedside lamp she sat down and said, "Now Jack, we have to discuss the finalities of this divorce. I'm perfectly fine with dividing our savings half 'n half, we've got enough of it. You take your stuff and I'll keep mine, you're movin' so I got the house, the only big thing left is Bobby."

Jack nodded, "After I tell him he ain't even gonna wanna see the looks of me, so he's yours, but if he's up to it I wanna have him for summers and visits round the holidays too."

"Ah Jack, he won't hate you that much, yer his Daddy and he loves you. You remember when you first got hurt an'he came home? He was so scared he had lost you."

"Well now he basically is losin' me Lureen."

Lureen choked on her words, Jack was right. She reaffirmed herself, "He ain't gonna hate you Jack. Besides if you're not thinking he's gonna hold at least some resentment towards me too then you ain't thinkin'. Bobby's not stupid, he knows what a divorce is an'he knows both parents have to agree to it."

Jack knew Lureen held a point but it was still him who was leaving Bobby behind and he felt the guilt like something fierce. "So I can see him summers and holidays then?"

Lureen smiled, "Of course." She marked that down on some papers that were in her hand then looked up again, "So when you gonna tell him, I mean you're lookin' much better so I guess you're gonna head out soon."

"Yeah. I think as soon as I'm off these crutches I'm gonna tell him, then I'll probably have to get out."

Lureen sighed and stood up, as she walked towards the door she said, "He ain't gonna hate you that much Jack."

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

Jack sat on his bed, planning his conversation with Bobby. The words he wanted to say, he ran them over and over in his head.

Jack would walk into his son's room, "Hey Bobby."

"Hey Daddy."

"There's something we gotta talk about."

Bobby will look up to Jack with those big blue eyes. Those eyes would bring Jack down.

"Me and your Mom," no, "Your Mom and I, we're thinking about getting a divorce."

Screw that, he has already got the divorce, just gotta sign the papers. Can't lead the kid on like that.

"Your mom and I, we're going to be getting a divorce."

That's better.

Yeah it's "better" alright, then Bobby's gonna start crying, and Jack knew he wouldn't even be able to hold him cause Bobby wouldn't want him to.

"Shit," Jack sighed. He stood up and grabbed his one crutch from its resting place against the wall. He limped over to the window to see if Ennis was outside. It was winter's last days but the fireplace still needed to be filled with something so Ennis was doing Jack's job of chopping wood. It had been a very cold winter, even in Texas.

Jack smiled as he watched him. He remembered early days on Brokeback, before his and Ennis's first night together. He had always been at least slightly attracted to Ennis and on those long days of hard sweat they would have to strip down to nothing but jeans and boots to keep from burning up. Even in the cold Wyoming mountains it managed to get pretty hot. It was then that he had first watched Ennis chop wood. Jack had been strengthening the tent and every chance he got, he would glimpse at Ennis out of the corner of his eye. Never then did he think things would get this far.

Ennis paused for a moment as he saw something out of the corner of his eye in the window. He knew which room the window was to and as he turned around fully he wasn't surprised to see Jack's guilty face staring at him.

Jack gave him that damned smile. Ennis dropped his tools. He gathered up the wood in his arms and hastily dropped it in a pile next to the fireplace inside. Ennis then rushed up the stairs. He opened the door to Jack's room and found him still standing where he'd last seen him. He walked over and wrapped his arms around Jack's body from behind, one around his waist and the other around his shoulder, though he dared not apply any pressure on Jack's stance. With his head resting on Jack's shoulder he said, "I was getting bored out there."

Jack smirked then returned to his earlier thoughts, "Ennis, what'd you tell your girls when you 'n Alma split?"

Ennis knew this had been coming. He lifted his head and said, "I told 'em the truth Jack."

Jack nodded.

"Francine, she was a little younger than Bobby is now. She didn't care much. Junior though, hell she hated me like something fierce. She didn't last long though, only a few days."

"You think Bobby's gonna hate me?"

"Yes. My guess though, he's gonna do like Junior and come around. He's a little younger than she was then and he sure ain't as tough as Junior likes to act."

"I hope so."

Ennis gave Jack a gentle squeeze then pressed his lips to the back of his head. He let go and walked to sit on the bed. Jack shambled over and handed his crutch to Ennis who stood it against the wall. Ennis slipped an arm around Jack's waist who in turn rested his head on Ennis's shoulders. Together they started a sort of rhythm, rocking back and forth, and soon Ennis began softly humming a tune he had first started on Brokeback Mountain.

Jack knew it well by now, he had often let it play in his head at night when he had missed Ennis most.

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

Weeks passed by, the doctor showed up again and was continuously impressed by Jack's recovery. He said whenever Jack pleased he could gradually start walking on his own. The meaning behind that frightened Jack more so than anything. He was almost wishing to somehow injure himself again just to put off his talk with Bobby, but he knew everyday he delayed with Bobby was a day he was no longer had with Ennis.

It was Friday afternoon and Jack had forewarned everyone that he planned on speaking with Bobby when he came home from school. The day went by faster then it ever had before and when Lureen left to pick up Bobby, Jack had already done everything he could to keep from losing control of himself.

Ennis was ready for him to come and cry on his shoulder. The whole day Jack had been tense and uneasy, and Ennis knew he would need to just let go at some point. As Lureen started her car and drove away, he found Jack on the couch in the living room and sat next to him.

On cue Jack's felt his eyes become heavy and Ennis watched them gloss over. Jack wrapped his arms around Ennis's waist, gripping hard at his shirt. Ennis in turn embraced him by the shoulders.

"I don't wanna do this to him Ennis."

Ennis wanted to say something but wasn't sure how, after pausing he said, "Jack, listen, if it's easier, you stay here, won't have to say anything to Bobby, and I'll just, just get a place down here or sumtin."

"Hell no Ennis. I've been thinkin' 'bout that for awhile now, and no, I don't wanna hurt Bobby, but if I stay here, what goods it gonna do? Lureen won't be able to have no life of'er own, and for you and me, well, it wouldn't be the same. You know that. This is as fair as it gets."

Ennis nodded.

"I just don't want'im ta hate me."

"He won't."

Jack stayed safe in Ennis's arms until they heard the car drive up. Ennis helped Jack up and watched him stagger up the stairs. Bobby came running in with Lureen shortly behind him.

"'Ello Mr. Del Mar."

"Hey Bobby, you can call me Ennis ya' know."

"Alright, Mr. Ennis."

Ennis smirked, "Close enough."

Lureen smiled then joined Ennis on the couch as they watched Bobby run upstairs. "Jack upstairs?"

Ennis nodded.

"He ready?"

"As ready as he's gonna be."

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

Jack heard Bobby's quick steps up the stairs. He waited in his room until he knew Bobby was in his own room and then he walked in.

"Hey Bobby."

"Hey Daddy, guess what?"

Jack almost cringed, "What?"

"Today at school, Michael and Tom got in this big fight! Tom got a black eye cause he can't fight as good. Michael really got 'im good."

"I'll bet that was something."

Bobby nodded.

"Listen there's something I gotta talk to you 'bout."

Bobby looked up curiously with those big blue eyes. Jack couldn't look back. He just sat down on the bed and gestured for Bobby to sit down next to him.

"Listen, me and your Mom, we're gonna be gettin' a divorce."

Bobby didn't say nothing, he just looked at his Dad in disbelief.

"I'm so sorry Bobby. It ain't nothin' you've done."

"But…why?" Bobby's voice was already dying as a fresh set of tears came on and Jack could hear it.

"It's just, we don't love each other s'much as we used to."

"So what's it mean?" Bobby looked up at his Dad with glossy blue eyes.

"Well you're gonna get ta stay with Mom here, and I'm movin' out ta start a ranch with Mr. Del Mar." Jack finally looked at his son, "Ah Bobby, I'm so sorry, I wouldn't do this if I didn't think it was best, and you can come see me summers 'n holidays 'n whenever else you want. Whenever you need me I'll come right back. I'll hop in the truck, drive as fast as I can…" Jack was just rambling on now for the sake of saying something.

"Daddy, but, I don't want you to go. Can't you stay here?"

"I promise I'll be here if you need me," Jack didn't answer Bobby's question.

Bobby seemed confused for a moment, staring at the wall, and then he cried.

Jack wasn't sure if he should reach out to comfort his son or not. Hell, it was his son. He cautiously wrapped an arm around Bobby's shoulder, and surprisingly, he felt Bobby slouch against him, burying his face against Jack's chest.

Jack felt relief sweep over him.

Between sobs the words, "It ain't fair," could be heard.

Jack winced at those words. Holding his son close, he whispered, "Nothin' much is fair Bobby."

Jack held onto to his son for as long as long as Bobby needed, as long as he could.