Title: I'll Be There - Chapter 1
Rating: PG-13 for language
Pairing: Ennis/Jack
Summary: This is not an AU exactly in that it takes place after the end of the original story. In this, everything that happened in the M/SS did happen, and Jack did die… but… he is being given a chance to let Ennis know how he feels and ease his overwhelming grief… I can't say more… it would spoil it… let's just say it is a bit sad… but hopefully the ending will be happy enough to ease that.
Disclaimer: Although they are not mine... they will live in my heart forever...
Feedback: Yes, please... let me know whatcha think.
Author's Note: Ok… a few things you should note, first off, this story is inspired by the song 'I'll Be There' by 'The Escape Club." Because of this, I am taking a verse from the song as a header for each chapter. However, due to the way the story will be played out, the verses may not be in the order they appear in the original song.

Secondly, I have made a slight change to the prologue, originally, Jack was to be allowed to return for a month, however, the muses have informed me that 'They' would never allow that much time, therefore, the time that Jack has been allowed to come back for has been changed to 3 days. This seems like a more logical length of time… at least the muses seem to think so.

Thirdly, I warn you now… there may be some tears with this one, although I hope not so many (not good with writing the tear jerkers!) and that some of them may even be happy ones! J

Lastly, I am unsure at this point how many chapters this story will consist of. At this point it looks to be 5 including the Prologue and an Epilogue. I know some of you are grumbling, and I am sorry, but the plot at this point, unfortunately does not require more then that. I have already written the final chapter so all I can say is we will see where the story and the muses lead in order to reach that end.

Thank you for reading!

I'll Be There

In the breath of a wind that sighs,
Oh, there's no need to cry
just think of me
and I'll be there

Chapter 1: Tuesday, May 21, 1984, 12:01 am

Hour 1 of 72

Jack stood helplessly and watched as Ennis lay slumped and sobbing beside the camp fire. Feeling tears in his own eyes, Jack squatted down beside the fire wishing he had a stick to poke at the ashes.

Through the tears and sobbing, Jack could occasionally make out a word or two, mostly his name, spoken in broken raw tones.

Finally, after a long while, when the sobbing did not appear to be lessoning, Jack could resist no longer and he cautiously approached Ennis' side.

Yer a ghost dumbass, what makes ya think there's anythin' ya can do fer him!

Pushing this thought aside, Jack squatted down next to Ennis' quivering form, and reached his hand out. He jumped and yanked his hand back when it actually came in contact with his coat.

I can touch him… felt funny… didn't feel like I was touchin' him exac'ly… not like before… but…

Encouraged, Jack extended his hand again, and gently ran it across Ennis' shoulder, grimacing at the odd feeling but just grateful that he could touch him at all.

"Shhh… it's a'right, Cowboy… don't cry…" He said gently, remembering that his grandmother had said that people would be able to hear him.

Ennis suddenly, mid sob, became quiet and still. His eyes were big, and he cocked his head to one side, as though he were listening.

Excited, Jack placed his hand on Ennis' shoulder and squeezed a bit as he said his name.

"Ennis"

Eyes wider, Ennis began scrambling backward across the ground. Once he was several feet away, he stared at the spot where he had been.

"Shit!" Jack muttered, and sighed before he tried again in a slightly lower tone of voice, "Ennis… don' be 'fraid, cowboy… it's me… Jack!"

"Fuck…" Ennis moaned, looked once at the bottle of whiskey still clutched in his hand and then recoiled from it as though it were a snake. Frantically he flung the bottle away into the darkness, and Jack heard the thud and tinkle of breaking glass against rock.

"Ah, Ennis" Jack said, lowering his head and fighting not to cry. "Grammie… ya made it sound so easy… but ya jus don' know Ennis… this ain' never gonna work!"

As Jack sat there with his hands over his face, he heard a very tentative voice whisper, "Jack…?"

He looked up to see Ennis once again cocking his head, listening. Tears were streaming down his face, and he looked more scared then Jack had ever seen him.

After several minutes in which Ennis barely twitched, and Jack argued with himself about whether he should say something and risk scaring him again, Ennis finally moved and stood up on wobbly legs.

Walking back toward the fire he began muttering to himself, "Christ, Del Mar… yer losing yer fuckin' mind! To much damn whiskey… all it was…!" with a grunt of agreement with himself, he walked around the fire, giving the spot where he had been sitting a wide berth.

Still muttering to himself about being 'out of his fuckin' mind,' he picked up the bucket of water he had brought up from the stream earlier, and doused the fire, plunging the camp into darkness. Cursing and bitching about not being able to see, he stumbled over to the tent and climbed inside.

Feeling heavy and disappointed, Jack went and sat next to the tent for a moment, listening while Ennis shuffled around inside getting ready for sleep.

After several minutes, he heard Ennis whisper, "Goodnite, Jack" and a muffled sob and sighed when he realized that Ennis was once again crying. He said very little this time, just sobbed quietly until finally the sobs became further apart, and Ennis' breathing evened out.

When he was sure he was asleep and it wouldn't scare him, Jack whispered, "Goodnite, Ennis."

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Hour 3 of 72

Seven months… seven goddam months. How many times in them seven months did he cry himself to sleep like that? How many bottles of whiskey has he drunk? Why didn' they let me come to him soon'r… why make him suffer fer such a long time?

He paced back and forth across the campsite, kicking at rocks and sticks. It was very dark, and Jack could barely see. He kicked at another rock, and cursed as a jolt of pain shot through his foot.

Shit! I'm a goddamn ghost… whatev'r happen'd to walkin' through shit? Guess all them movies were wrong 'bout that! Wrong about not feelin' pain too… damn that hurts!

Skirting around the offending rock, he resumed pacing, a slight limp marking the pain that still throbbed through his toes. Soon enough, the pain in his chest overrode his throbbing foot, and he resumed his earlier tirade.

It ain' fair… it ain' fair that now when Ennis needs me the most, I can't do nothin' to help him! All them years, when I was comin' here to see him, he never needed me… not the way I want'd 'em to…not so's he'd ev'r admit it anyway… now when he finally does…I'm fuckin' dead! Talk about ironic! Jus' like Ennis… waits til I'm gone to figure out he wants me!

Jack was working himself up into a real snit, kicking and stomping about, swearing and muttering.

Suddenly he heard a muttering snore come from the tent, and the sound of Ennis moving around. He stood still for a minute, waiting to see if Ennis would come out of the tent.

After several minutes with no further noise, Jack started his pacing again.

How the hell am I ev'r suppos'd ta get him ta hear me? He wouldn' listen ta me when I was alive, why should me bein' dead be any diff'rent"!

That thought sounded so stupid, that Jack couldn't help but chuckle. That felt so good that he let loose and laughed a loud belly laugh that echoed across the still lake, sounding for all the world like a loon.

Suddenly from the tent behind him he heard Ennis grunt and say clear as day, "Keep it down huh, Jack… tryin' ta get some sleep here!"

Spinning around, Jack stared at the tent. When Ennis didn't say anything else for a minute or two, he walked quietly back over to the tent, and listened. After several minutes, he heard Ennis' soft snores again and realized that Ennis had been talking in his sleep.

Reaching up slowly, he unzipped a tiny opening in the door. He prayed that Ennis was indeed asleep and would not see the door opening and freak out. Peeking in through the opening, he saw Ennis laying on his right side, clutching a pillow to him the same way he used to clutch Jack. He was indeed asleep.

But he heard me… and he weren't afraid!

Moving quietly, he unzipped the door enough so he could climb in and then quietly zipped it closed again.

He gazed down at Ennis' sleeping form, his face relaxed and boyish in his sleep, dried tear streaks on his cheeks.

As quietly as he could, he walked over and sat down next to Ennis.

Feeling brave and encouraged by the absence of fear in Ennis' voice Jack reached out and ran his fingers through Ennis' hair. His hand stilled and he gasped a bit when Ennis moved his head slightly, pushing it against Jack's touch and mumbled something that Jack couldn't make out. Slowly Jack brought his hand down to cup Ennis' face, rubbing his thumb over it and wiping away a dried tear track.

A smile played across Ennis' lips, and he nuzzled against Jack's hand, and incredibly, pressed a kiss into his palm. Jack winced at that odd feeling, his chest aching for the feeling of heat and want that used to rush through him when Ennis did this, now it felt no different then any other touch he had experienced thus far that night.

Sighing, deeply saddened by the sudden knowledge that he would never feel that rush of heat and excitement again, Jack removed his hand and from Ennis' face, and stroked a thumb across his eyebrow.

"I miss ya, Ennis…" he whispered, and then jumped when Ennis, still asleep but smiling nonetheless, whispered, "I miss ya too, Lil' darlin'"

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