Thanks again to everyone. Every review and view and such is very much appreciated.

I just wanted to throw in here that I know Ennis has been acting slightly out of character. However, I think that it's fair enough for him considering that he watched Jack almost die. Things however, should start to go back to normal soon enough. Hope you all enjoy this chapter. Fare thee well.


Jack cradled his son on his lap, and after both their fits of tears had resided Bobby asked, "Is it my fault Daddy?"

Jack squeezed his son even closer to him, "No. No, Bobby, that's the most important thing you need to know, alright? It was never nothin' you did. Understand?" Jack turned to look him dead in the eyes.

Bobby nodded, "Yes Daddy."

Jack smiled and pressed his lips to Bobby's forehead. "Come on now, let's go wash up. You got cheeks wetter than the river."

Gathering his son into his arms, Jack carried Bobby to the bathroom where he set him in front of the sink.

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

Downstairs, Ennis and Lureen heard the water running through the pipes. They had been patiently and silently waiting in the kitchen for any sound of what might be going on in Bobby's room.

"The sink?" Ennis questioned Lureen.

She nodded with the same puzzled look on her face.

They both continued to listen until the pipes closed off and the sound of running water died away.

Lureen sighed, "At least there ain't no screaming."

Ennis nodded.

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

"S'that better?" Jack turned off the faucet for his son and looked at him in the mirror. His eyes were still red but his cheeks were clear.

Bobby felt the pressure behind his eyes to cry again but he didn't want to disappoint his dad and have to wash his face twice. He choked back his tears and smiled.

Jack knew that smile, it was a false and a trusty mask to cover up tough times. He sighed, "Bobby, if you gotta cry, go, alright?"

Bobby's eyes began to gloss over.

"Come 'ere," Jack took his son into his arms again, "Bobby, this ain't sposed to be easy. If you gotta cry, cry. No one's gonna blame you."

Bobby whimpered in response and snuggled against his dad.

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

The pipes opened and the sound of running water flooded the house again. Lureen and Ennis were still left confused downstairs. They were both growing increasingly more impatient with the mystery left behind the silence and running water. Ennis sat in what had become his chair in the kitchen and Lureen had resorted to making a cup of tea, a task Ennis noticed she did only when she was stressed and needed something to preoccupy her time.

As Lureen stood impulsively in front of her kettle Ennis asked, "How long they been up there now?"

Lureen, grateful for a new distraction, turned to the clock on the wall and answered, "'Bout an hour now."

Again silence flooded the room until timid steps could be heard coming down the staircase. Ennis and Lureen both situated themselves to immediately face the arched doorway as Jack entered the room.

He had his head hung low and there wasn't a smiling line on his face. "He took it awfully well." Jack sat down in the seat across from Ennis and slumped forward his face resting in the palms of his hands, "He cried a whole bunch, but he's all cleaned up now."

The running water was explained to Lureen and Ennis but they didn't much care anymore.

Lureen asked cautiously, "Think he'll mind if I go up 'n see him?"

"No, go ahead, knock first."

Lureen nodded and left the kitchen after squeezing Jack's shoulder gently, she usually wouldn't have because she knew Ennis would take care of that but she didn't have the mind to consider Ennis at the moment.

Ennis was never one for words and he certainly didn't know what to say now. All he could muster was, "You alright?"

Jack didn't answer for some time. He sighed then said, "He ain't never cried so much Ennis. Not when he was even a baby."

Ennis gave a sympathizing smile then realized how stupid that was. Jack wasn't even raising his head. Not knowing what else to do, Ennis stood up and moved to the chair next to Jack. He placed a comforting hand on Jack's shoulder only to have it swatted away. Ennis was surprised.

He could now see that Jack was crying and when he spoke, his words were muffled between sobs, "This is your damn fault Ennis. You stupid sumabitch."

Ennis had been worried Jack might result to blame in his state of distress and regret.

"Why couldn't you take me up on the offer earlier dammit? Before I had Bobby…before any of this, you coulda gone back to Brokeback the second summer. You coulda found me, I told you where I'd be…" Jack couldn't say anything else coherently through his tears.

Ennis tried again to hold Jack, but Jack just belted him hard and pushed him away. Ennis wouldn't let him get away with that, he wouldn't let him get away. Despite Jack's forceful shoves, Ennis wrapped his arms tight about his shoulders, and held him still. They were both gripping tight enough to tear each other apart, yet after a pathetic final push, Jack collapsed in Ennis's arms, howling into his shoulder.

"Shh…shh," Ennis whispered over and over into Jack's ear. It wasn't meant as a command to be quiet, but as a syllable of comfort.

Jack slowly calmed in Ennis's arms and his thoughts keeping up with this paroxysm, he suddenly felt ashamed for his outburst. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Don't say that. You didn't do nothin', ever," Ennis knew that Jack was nothing but human for blaming him. He had every right. It was his fault that they were getting such a late start and indirectly, it was also his fault that Bobby was upstairs thinking about things no boy should ever have to go through. Ennis wasn't going to admit it but he'd felt for a long time that anything negative in their relationship had to be his fault.

After some silence Jack said in an exhausted tone, "When we gonna get out of here Ennis?"

"Whenever you're ready Jack."

Jack nodded and drove his face back into Ennis's shoulder. Ennis again wrapped his arms around him, meeting no resistance this time.

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

The weekend was already going by fast and Jack and Ennis had made their plans to leave Monday morning. Jack spent most of his time with Bobby. Lureen helped Ennis pack away everything and all that was left to do on Sunday night was for Jack and Lureen to sign there names at the bottom of the divorce papers and get sleep for tomorrow's departure.

Three pieces of legal paper were spread out across the coffee table and Lureen and Jack sat in front of them.

They had just finished reading through the agreements and everything was settled. Lureen took up the pen in her hand and leaned forward to sign her name to the first signature line.

She leaned back, looked at her signature then handed the pen to Jack giving him an understanding smile.

He leaned forward as well and signed his name on the second line. It was official now, the two were no longer married.

"Lureen," Jack had to make sure he told her this before he left, "I did love you at some point, and, well, I hope that we're gonna stay friends."

She smiled, she came to see again what a truly good man Jack was. "I wouldn't have it any other way Jack."

He smiled back and it was an awkward moment for they both felt the need to say something else but neither knew what it was so Lureen suddenly wrapped her arms around Jack and he immediately did the same to her. It was a long lasting but only friendly embrace, as it in some way meant their official goodbye.

They pulled apart and Lureen stood, "G'night Jack."

He nodded as though to tip his hat like how he would do when they first met and replied, "G'night Lureen."

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

The sun rose in the morning as it always does and Lureen prepared a quick breakfast for everyone. It was a very quiet meal, the only sounds being the clang of silverware and the open mouthed chewing of Bobby. No one would tell him this morning though to chew with his mouth closed.

As Lureen went to work on the dishes, Ennis marched upstairs to bring the last bags out to the truck and Jack sat on Bobby's bed with his son on his lap.

Jack planted another kiss on the top of his son's head as they sat in silence.

"You promise you be back for Easter?" Bobby asked with his big blue eyes.

"I wouldn't dare miss it. And then summers you can come up to the new ranch and I'll be back again for Christmas too."

Ennis could be heard coming back inside downstairs. The truck was ready to go.

"You gotta go now," Bobby pointed out.

Jack nodded, "Listen, before I go," Jack shifted Bobby on his lap so that he was facing him, "If you ever need me back, use the phone and I'll drive right back down alright?"

Bobby nodded.

Jack sighed, "I love you Bobby."

"Love you too Daddy."

Jack wrapped his arms tightly around his son and Bobby returned the hug. After many more whispers of "Love you," the two stood and hand in hand walked down the stairs.

Ennis and Lureen were saying their short goodbye as the father and son came down the stairs. Lureen smiled sympathetically and sweetly. She reached out to embrace Jack again and he gratefully returned it. She broke away, "You'll call when you get the place going?"

"Of course."

She kissed him quickly on the cheek, Jack smiled back and then kneeled down to his son's level. "Remember everything I said Bobby. If you need me…"

Bobby nodded then in one quick movement, threw himself against his dad. Jack held him tightly and told Bobby he loved him a number of more times even though he knew no matter how many times he said it Bobby would still cry when he left. "You gonna be alright." Jack left one final kiss on his son's head, said, "I love you," then stood up. He looked back to his son's eyes and smiled. He couldn't leave without knowing he looked at him properly one more time.

Putting on his black hat and pulling it low over his forehead to shadow his once again glossy eyes, he looked to Ennis then back to Lureen and Bobby. He nodded and smiled then walked out the door with Ennis.

Ennis opened the car door for Jack then walked quickly to the other side and let himself in. He started the engine, gave Jack a glance to make sure he knew there was no turning back. Jack nodded and Ennis gently stepped on the gas petal, driving them away from Jack's old home.

Jack watched the rear view mirror for as long as he could make out what was in it and then for some time after just for the sake of having something to look at. He wondered at this point if he should've taken his own truck. Then the silence wouldn't be as unnerving. The plan was to reclaim it when he came up for Easter. But no, he needed Ennis to be here now, silent or not. He needed to be reminded of why he was doing this.

Ennis was stealing glances at Jack to make sure he was alright. They were now on open country road and Ennis felt a need to break the silence. On the straight road he instinctively dropped one hand from the steering wheel. He had less need to be careful with his driving so the hand fell to his side. He looked once more at Jack then slid his hand over to lie on the other man's. Jack at first almost seemed to tense as Ennis did so, but then he sunk in his seat and turned his hand over so their fingers could interlace.

Ennis relaxed as well when Jack did so and the ride became notably less uncomfortable.

"You alright?" Ennis's voice showed more concern than he usually liked to let on.

Jack smiled noticing his tone. "I know I did the right thing Ennis, but damn. Bobby. You can really get attached to that kid."

Ennis smirked. "You tired?"

Jack nodded, he had managed get only an hour of sleep last night and Ennis knew it.

"Reach in the back, should be a blanket on top."

Jack was grateful, knowing privately that Ennis had left the blanket there purposely just for him. He took it, and spreading his legs across the seat, his feet resting by Ennis, draped himself in it.

Jack was asleep within ten minutes and Ennis took the liberty of pulling the blanket down over his feet. He drove fast, but making sure on every rough patch in the road that he hadn't woken up Jack. Within a matter of hours they were back at Ennis's home and he gently came to a stop along side his house. He took a moment to watch Jack, his breathing steady and calm, then he scooted as far over as he could go and leaned forward, fixing his lips on Jack's.

Jack wasn't even fully awake as he kissed Ennis back. Then as reality came back into focus he stopped for a second and felt Ennis pull away then sit grinning before him.

Ennis grabbed a few bags from the back seat then without even looking back jumped out of the pickup and started inside. Jack was left smiling wildly in the car. He folded up his blanket, grabbed what was left in the back seat and followed Ennis.

He walked in through the front, and he assumed, only door and as soon as he did so Ennis walked up on him, slammed the door behind him and pushed him up against it. Jack felt the bags slip from his fingers and his hands were free to grasp on to Ennis. This was something he had long wanted to do, and now as Ennis moved down his neck, sucking and kissing hard, Jack could do nothing but moan as Ennis took him over.

Jack let his hands wander to Ennis's front side. He undid the fly of his jeans and began to massage Ennis to a hard on. Ennis laughed, "You still ain't lost your touch Twist," but to prove he was still just as good he ripped the belt out from Jack's jeans, threw it to the floor, and undid the button and zipper. He pushed the pants so they fell to the floor and as Ennis began heatedly stroking through the underwear present, Jack tried his best to keep his balance and kick off his boots.

Ennis had been waiting too long to do anymore of this. He gripped Jack by the collar of his shirt and dragged him through the bedroom door. Jack instinctively laid on the bed and felt Ennis climb on top of him. Through strangled breaths the tore off each other's shirts. Moments after they were skin against skin.

Jack could feel the heat pulsing from Ennis's body, and he started to fall back into old suit. He had begun to forget what this felt like, but as Ennis violently pressed their lips together and he felt his cock grinding against his, Jack immediately knew what to do. He guided his hand to Ennis's groin again and began fondling. He shifted and began sucking and leaving kisses along the neck and shoulders in front of him.

Ennis let a small moan escape his mouth. He had missed this so fucking much. Usually he would've let Jack carry on for hours, but right now he just needed to get his way again. He wanted Jack fast.

Ennis jerked away from Jack and the second man immediately knew what was coming. He flipped over and pushed himself up onto his knees.

Ennis spit on his hands, gave himself some lube on his now throbbing cock and drove into Jack as hard as he knew how. With the first thrust both Jack and Ennis were giving deafening moans. Ennis continued pumping in and out of Jack, their rhythm growing faster with every drive. Jack cried out again as he felt Ennis tighten up within him and let his load out. Jack came seconds after and collapsed with Ennis on top of him.

After a good few minutes of panting, Ennis rolled off of Jack. He was first to regain himself so to help their rapidly cooling bodies, he pulled on the covers, and wrapped Jack in them, then huddled under them himself. Jack turned over, grateful for the warmth. He faced Ennis and smiled then closed eyes. "I missed that like something fierce."

"Me too," Ennis whispered. He sent a hand stroking through Jack's hair then spooned up next to him, draping an arm over his chest. Jack gave a contented sigh and took Ennis hand, their fingers interlacing. Within minutes they were both fast asleep again, each in complete bliss in the other's arms.