When Love Takes You In

Author's Notes: Wow… the theater was sure full on New Year's Day! My friend and I went to see the movie for the fourth time that day and I brought my notebook to take down notes to look back at during writing my fanfic. Of course then I ended up buying my own copy of the book afterwards, so that was kinda pointless. Can't wait for Friday! My friend and I are going for the fifth time…. Trying to beat my previous record of seeing Pirates of the Caribbean seven times.

Also after seeing the movie again, I thought about how relaxed Ennis and Jack are when they are together. You never see them that happy in any other scenes…

My friend, after reading what I have written so far, was concerned about how Jack and Ennis would make a living. That Jack is basically leaving with nothing and what-not. I tell you and her… do not be concerned. I have plans…. Jack is going to win the lottery and they end up moving to California and they become friends with Liberace.

just kidding…. But I do have plans. Haha.

Chapter Three

Lureen and Bobby weren't broken up when they found out that Jack would be leaving with Ennis once the hospital would release him. And though this did sting Jack, he knew he'd really lost them long ago.

Ennis spent the next couple of days with Jack and then spent most of Wednesday packing Jack's personal belongings for him. Mostly his clothes and some rodeo prizes and memorabilia. While he folded one last piece of clothing, he overheard part of a conversation between Bobby and some friend of his.

"… as far as I'm concerned, he deserved it. My grampa was right. My paw ain't no man and he never will be."

"Did you find out who beat him up?"

"Naw. Nobody's sayin' nothin' about it. Everyone's pretending like it never happened. Think I'd give 'em a hand if I ever find out who."

"I still can't believe yer fine with all this. If it were my daddy-"

"Well, your daddy ain't no queer so you have no idea what you'd do. Just shut up."

Ennis tossed Jack's shirt into the last box and let out a growl under his breath. He knew who the men were that attacked Jack. Jack had told him the names of the men the night before. He wouldn't say anything more about them though, probably knowing what Ennis would do with the information. But Ennis did intend to find out more and he would exact revenge on behalf of Jack Twist.

As he thought over Bobby's conversation, a rage welled up inside him at how coldly Jack's own son regarded him. He picked up the box and hurried out of the room. He glared at the closed door of Bobby's bedroom as he passed by, but didn't stop for any confrontation. The kid wasn't worth it.

Ennis drove to the small motel he'd been staying at. It was dirtier and stinkier than the dive he and Jack stayed at after their first reunion, but it was all he could afford at the moment.

He took a couple trips to bring Jack's stuff into the room, thinking on the pointlessness of it, since he would soon be putting it all back in the truck in a few days. But he didn't want to risk anything happening to Jack's stuff if they were left in the bed of his pick up.

He sat down on his small bed and reached into the side table drawer. He'd found out on the first night that the usual Bible was gone and replaced with a phonebook. This fit his needs just fine though, so he didn't mind.

He had three names written down on a notepad; Jared Henry, Ned Tralmer, and Jake Thompson. He intended to add addresses to those names. He looked them up in the phonebook and hoped that the addresses listed were all accurate. The book was a couple years old according to the cover.

Then he slammed the book shut and folded the paper in his hands, shoved it in his pocket, and left the room.

"Good evening, Mr. Del Mar. It's good to see you again. Your presence here is really helping Jack's recovery. He should be ready for Saturday's estimated release date." the second shift nurse greeted Ennis as he entered the wing that Jack's room was in. She'd been here each day since Ennis's first visit.

Her northeastern accent stood out among the native Texans and her way of thinking definitely singled her out. Ennis couldn't make a judgment about her and he was pretty good and measuring up people at first meeting. She'd walked in on an intimate make-out session between Ennis and Jack and they were able to come up with a lousy excuse to throw her way. She'd just smiled and left the room. She was either dumber than anyone Ennis had ever met or more understanding and open-minded than he thought was possible.

"Umm… thank ya, ma'am. Sure is good news about Jack." Ennis tipped his hat politely to her, unsure of how else to respond. She smiled at him as he passed by her on the way to Jack's room.

"Hey bud. How are ya today?" Ennis asked as he entered Jack's room. Jack turned off the television and smiled at Ennis.

"Hey there, Cowboy. I feel like I could dance if I didn't have this hunk of plaster on my leg." Jack grinned.

"So uh… I got all your things packed up. Lureen, she showed me what was yours and what wasn't." Ennis informed him. He sat on the foot of Jack's bed, put his hat on his knee, and grabbed one of Jack's feet to massage.

"Thanks Ennis… for my things. Though I could really get used to this treatment too." Jack snickered.

"I'm still not sure how we're gonna get yer truck since you can't drive."

"We can come back when I'm able and then drive back home separately." Ennis grinned slightly when Jack said the word 'home'.

"Sounds fine. So the nurse said you should be ready to leave on Saturday. So that means I'll be back at work on time on Monday." Ennis, despite anything that was happening in his life, was almost always work oriented. In his life, he's always had to be in order to survive. He waited tensely for a smart-ass remark from Jack about him always having to work, and he voice his surprise when there was none.

"Well, I ain't got a reason to be upset anymore. It can't keep us apart only to see each other a couple times a year. We'll be coming home to each other and so I finally get what I want. And in three days I'm free from here and our good life starts."

"And what are you looking forward to the most?" Ennis asked.

"Besides you?" Jack asked. Ennis nodded and Jack's gaze fell to Ennis's front pocket. "Honestly, I just can't wait for a smoke. Damn nurse won't let me have any in here." Jack looked and sounded so distraught about the situation, that Ennis actually started laughing.

"Guess we need to go for a walk then. I'll get the nurse." Ennis got up and walked back out to the nurse's station.

"Mr. Del Mar? Everything ok?" the nurse smiled at him. Nurse Holly, he finally took the time to look at her nametag.

"Yes, ma'am. We were just wonderin' if'n we could take a walk outside."

"That's a great idea! The fresh air should do him some good. Let's just get a wheelchair for him." And she walked away, her blonde ponytail bouncing behind her. Ennis followed obediently in silence until she started asking questions.

"So I've been in Texas for about a year and you and Jack Twist have a slightly different accent than the other Texans. Well, Jack's got some twang and I imagine if I went back home, my family would say I have one about now. So where are you from?" Nurse Holly asked. Ennis wondered how she had time to breath between all them words before answering her.

"Wyoming, ma'am. Opposite sides of the state."

"Well, that's a pretty big state, so how'd you come to meet?"

"We herded sheep up on Brokeback Mountain in summer of '63." Ennis gave simple answers.

"And you still live up there in Wyoming, right? Amazing that you come down here for Jack. Quite a long drive… you two much care for each other quite a lot." She had a sly smile in the corner of her mouth as she spoke.

"Uh yeah… like brothers." Ennis coughed a little when he talked.

"Yes, of course. Really close brothers." Holly nodded as she pulled a wheelchair from a long line of them in the hallway."

"Exactly." Ennis grumbled, not liking where the conversation was at. Holly ignored Ennis's tone of voice and continued on, cheerily.

"Any closer and you two would be kissing- oh!" She feigned surprise at her own 'revelation'. Ennis grabbed the wheelchair from her and gripped it tightly to restrain himself form anything he'd regret. He never quite forgave himself when he lost his temper at Alma on that Thanksgiving so long ago.

Holly let him stew for a few seconds as they walked back to Jack's room before she spoke again.

"There's nothing wrong with two men being in love. I know the south is a little behind the times, but I thought you should hear it from someone." She almost whispered.

Ennis stared at her in stunned silence. He had no idea what he was supposed to say to that, thought a million denials ran through his head, so he just turned away from her and walked on ahead of her into Jack's room.

End Chapter

So… Jack and Ennis… so cute and relaxed together. Squee!

Anyways… I have no forgotten about the rape situation. I do have plans for the future of this story. Also there is a point to this chipper Holly character from the northeast (probably from New York).

Now… thanks for the people who have reviewed so far. Your comments really do help to shape this fanfic. You keep me thinking on accurateness of the story and the characters and I thank you for that. Keep the reviews, comments, and critiques coming!

Thanks to:

Cammie Jenson

Ally

Kokiri85

sweet kitty

Vampirina08

Ckat44: I do apologize for the summary ruining the ending for you. I've changed it since then. I thought that only people who'd seen it or read it already would have seen my fic. I forgot about the people who have me on author alert. I'm sorry about that.

Taylor

Winterlove4

Close-range: You are right, it is unlike Ennis to admit his love so easily to Lureen. You really made me rethink some of my writing and I ended up re-writing chapter two before I posted it. So though he is having a huge change of perspective, I might have made it too drastic and therefore a little OOC.

Maria

Tania

Ahsara

nickel geek

GurVicious

Kathryn Merlin: highly unrealistic? I'm curious about your review. You seemed to like it, but were vague about the critique. Could you be more specific so that I can try to make this story a little better for you?

Daima ashiki

Stef: Thank you! But I think you meant Ennis, not Jack. Jack hadn't been written in the first chapter yet. J

Jakesdream: Oh yeas… there will definitely be Ennis angst. He is my favorite character and therefore he must go through hell…. Cuz it's just so adorable.

Genntle Kat

Dork

Mirakhe

Sebastien'sRiotGirl

Longblacksatinlace: Yay for nuclear warheads!

Carla: Thank you. The hospital go rewritten a couple of times.

Shelley

TavGal

Chop: I too hope this story will be long. I have many ideas for the future of it… I just gotta figure out how to get to each of those little ideas.

You is swell

Mysterious-muse

Horserider

Birds of morrigan

Jo Huston: Thanks. After seeing the movie each time, I try and speak like Ennis or Jack for at least an hour… it's fun… and I'm a dork, but it ended up helping in writing out the dialogue.