When Love Takes You In
Author's Notes: I, personally, think this chapter is really lame… but I was having a hard time getting Jack and Ennis out of Texas. I figured you'd be more upset if I just posted a chapter that said "Ennis got Jack from the hospital on Saturday and they left Texas. End Chapter"…. so I stuck with the lame, but a little bit longer, chapter. I tried to make up for it's lameness at the end with a nice little treat.
Thanks for all my reviewers! I love you all! I'll probably list specific 'thank yous' in the next chapter.
There was one review I wanted to acknowledge at the moment… I don't remember the person's name (I'm upstairs on my computer with out internet, so I can't look it up) but the review said that in the movie Ennis and Jack stayed away from affectionate names like 'Little darlin' and 'angel'. I get that. But in the book:
Ennis, not big on endearments, said what he said to his horses and daughters, little darlin. So he at least calls him that. In the movie, he does call his daughters angels, so I'm combining the book and movie and saying he'll call Jack both. Plus, he's a little more affectionate now…. This is a new Ennis who realizes what he almost missed out on with Jack.
Chapter Five
Ennis heard the arguing voices of Lureen and Bobby before he walked into Jack's room. They hushed when they saw him.
"We were just leaving." Lureen said to him and turned to Bobby. "I just through you ought to at least say goodbye to your father."
Bobby ignored her and walked up to Ennis with a glare.
"So you're the guy he's queer with?"
"Bobby." Lureen objected in a bored, but stern tone. Ennis looked from Bobby to Jack and back again.
"And… if I am? Think you could do something about it?"
"Hell yeah. Seems like it wasn't to hard for anyone to take my father down. I could take you." Bobby looked confident in his ability and Ennis could see why. The kid was well built for a teenager… probably played football for his school. Still… Ennis had just finished three men twice the boy's size. He grinned slightly.
"I could kick your scrawny ass into next Sunday. Don't tempt me." He whispered into Bobby's ear. He saw a flicker of fear and knew he had gotten his little point across. Bobby stormed out with a scowl and Lureen followed him out without a goodbye.
Ennis walked over to Jack and kissed him on the forehead, something he'd never done so openly before.
Ennis! The door is wide open." Jack jerked away. He saw the hurt flash through Ennis's face, but it was hidden just as quickly.
"Ennis, I-" Jack sighed. "Hi. How was your day?"
"Just fine."
"What did you do all day?"
"I kept myself occupied." Ennis said evasively.
"And how'd you do that?" Jack's voice changed. He was digging for answers.
"I gassed up the truck and went out."
"To Hunter's Pond? Ennis, did you go to Hunter's Pond? Just a while ago three men were brought to the hospital in serious condition. Nurse Holly wouldn't tell me who, but I can guess… because I know you."
"So?" Ennis asked, biting his thumbnails absently.
"Ennis, you can't do that. We'll be killed over this." Jack worried.
"Naw… we'll be gone before anybody figures out who dunnit. Couldn'ta been you cuz of your condition and nobody 'cept Lureen and Bobby and Nurse Holly know about me."
"I hope you're right. Now go shut the door." Jack said as he laid his worried head down on his pillows. Ennis did as Jack requested and then sat down in the chair next to Jack and propped his feet up on the bed.
"Springin' from this joint tomorrow." Ennis tried to cheer Jack up and take his mind off of Ennis's revenge. Jack looked over at him, blank face turning into a small smile.
"God, I wish we were gone now."
"Gotta figure out how this is gonna work out, what I'm gonna tell the girls… the little girls. Alma already knows." Ennis mumbled in deep thought. He spit a fingernail over to the side, not noticing Jack's eyes go wide.
"W-what? When did she- how- why didn't you tell me?"
"Let me know after the divorce that she'd known. Didn't stick around to find out exactly when or how she knew… I suspect it was for a while before."
"And she never told no one?"
"Nope. We still get along an' all…. It ain't all spiteful as it could be…. Though she'd have every right to be after I pulled all this on her for most of the marriage."
"Nobody knows then? Not your daughters?"
"Nah. Alma said she didn't want to sully their view of their father." Ennis chuckled lightly.
"Awfully nice of her." Jack mumbled. "So what are ya gonna tell the girls?"
"Well that's what I'm tryin' to figure out now, ain't it. Could tell 'em yer just a friend down on his luck so we decided to put together… two people workin' together better than one. Or… the truth… Junior's such a smart girl anyway. She'd probably figure it out."
"Well, I don't know your girls, but if they are anything like Bobby then I wouldn't-"
"No. Nothing like that. Alma's quiet… her momma says she's too much like me… I sure hope not. Francine… well I don't know her much as well. We don't talk as much as Alma Jr. and me… but she's a nice girl." Ennis defended.
"Maybe we should just go somewhere were nobody knows us… tell people we're half brothers livin' together or something." Jack suggested.
"And where do you think we'll get the money to move anywhere besides the small shack I already got? Anyway, I can't leave the girls. We'll figure it out when we get there."
Jack conceded and decided to let Ennis handle this decision since it was his family and not Jack's.
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The next day Ennis packed all of Jack's boxes and went to get him at the hospital.
"I'm gonna miss you two. You reminded me so much of my brother and his partner." Nurse Holly sniffled as she rolled Jack out of the hospital, Ennis walking beside them.
"Uh… we'll miss you too." Jack said awkwardly and then realized all that she'd said. "Wait, what! How do you-"
"Jack, she walked in on us."
"But I thought-" Jack was shocked.
"I'm not that dumb, Jack Twist… especially since my brother…" Holly giggled.
"Yeah, yeah… we get it." Ennis sighed. He opened the truck door and helped Jack into the passenger side. Then he put Jack's new crutches in the bed of the truck. Holly went over everything with Ennis about how to take care of Jack's open wounds, how to help him bathe with the cast (no showers), and when he needed to make follow-up appointments with a doctor in Wyoming to get the stitches out and the cast off. Ennis nodded and took the pamphlets she handed him.
They said goodbye and Ennis hopped in the truck with Jack and drove away.
Jack was silent until they passed the state border.
"The cops were askin' me questions this morning before you got there. Ned fell into a coma. Jared's got his mouth wired shut and Jake's too scared to name anybody. What the hell did you do to them?" He asked, trying desperately to scratch at his itchy, healing arms.
"Don't scratch at that, you'll just star bleedin' and then you'll haveta clean up any blood you drip in the truck." Ennis muttered.
"Not an answer to my question." Jack stopped scratching.
"It was three against one, Jack. How much do you think I could have done?"
"Just… fine. Forget I asked." Jack threw his arms up in defeat.
"I'll do that."
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Fourteen hours later… the nex day, Ennis and Jack arrived at their little home. Resisting temptation to just head straight for Ennis's… their… bed, they were able to move Jack's things in… well Ennis was able to move Jack's things in. Jack mostly stood there, leaning on his crutches and watching Ennis.
While Ennis took out Jack's clothes to put away, Jack hobbled up behind him and wrapped an arm around Ennis's waist. He put his chin on Ennis's shoulder and Ennis laid his head back a little bit.
"C'mon, Hero… I haven't been able to thank you yet." Jack whispered. Ennis grinned and turned to face Jack, unpacking forgotten.
Ennis grabbed Jack's hair and pulled him close with a forceful kiss. Jack reciprocated in kind, crutches clattering on the wooden floor, hands roaming down Ennis's back and to his read end. Ennis let out a small around whimper, gently lifted Jack and and dropped both of them onto the bed. The sudden weight change cracking the old wooden frame and the mattress, with them on it, falling to the floor. Jack and Ennis both hurriedly tore their shirts off. Knowing that any of their favorite positions would have to wait until Jack's leg was free from the cast, they stuck to kissing and heavy petting.
Ennis pulled away from Jack a little, bottom lip being pulled slightly as Jack bit and let go. He loomed over Jack, eyes fiery with desire.
"I love you so much." Ennis said with his husky voice. Before Jack had a chance to respond, he dove for Jack's neck, sucking and kissing until he got down to Jack's chest. He licked a ring around the left nipple, feeling with his hand how hard Jack was.
"Shit, I'm supposed to be thanking you." Jack groaned.
"Tell me you love me."
"You know I do, Ennis."
"Say it!" Ennis bit down on Jack's nipple.
"I love you, Ennis Del Mar!" Jack arched his back in a combination of pain and pleasure. Ennis leaned in and kissed him passionately on the mouth and dropped down, laying his head on Jack's chest.
"You're welcome then. That's a good thank you."
End chapter
