Disclaimer: I don't own Brokeback Mountain...

So a nice surprise awaits Jack in this one. Then we go back to Wyoming and things get moving from there... hopefully...

Saturday Jack spent packing up once again. Lureen helped him part of the day with sifting through their closets and boxes. During all the packing, Bobby walked in to the room.

"Hey there little man," said Jack trying to sound cheery. "What do you need?"

"What did I do?" he asked.

"What?" said Jack looking up in confusion.

"What did I do to make you leave?"

"Oh Bobby, no. You didn't do anything."

"What do I need to do to make you stay?"

"There isn't anything you can do to make me stay Bobby. But you didn't do anything to make me leave either. Bobby I hope you will understand why I had to do this one day. I know you don't understand now, but I hope you will understand one day."

"Why can't you stay?"

"Bobby your mother and I don't get along anymore. If I stayed then I would be making yours and your mother's lives very difficult. It doesn't seem like it now, but it's the best thing that we can do for ourselves and for you." Bobby's face turned red and he was visibly trying to keep from crying. "Bobby, be angry with me, be upset, be everything you're feeling, but just don't hold it in." That was the one phrase that caused his son to finally break down crying. Jack gently held his son in his lap and rocked him like he used to do when he was little. Jack felt terrible that he made his son feel so terrible. He had been so certain that Bobby wouldn't care about him leaving. But now he knew that he really was important to his son's life. They sat together for a long time and eventually he and Bobby packed up some things together.

Over lunch Bobby didn't sulk at all and actually talked to his parents. Even dinner was a civil affair for all three. It wasn't until late that night that the phone rang with Ennis on the other end of the line.

"Hey rodeo," said Ennis when Jack picked up the phone.

"Hey cowboy," he said sitting down on the bed he and Lureen used to share.

"You got everything ready?"

"Yeah, I guess. Loading all of this up in the truck is going to be a bear."

"Is it all going to fit?"

"Yeah, it will all fit. Just boxes of clothes and a few books and my saddle and such like that. Tomorrow I make the long drive back to you."

"Yeah, don't fall asleep on the way back."

"I'll try not to. I miss you."

"I know, I miss you too. But do you know what will help?"

"What?"

"Go sit out on the front porch." Jack furrowed his brow in confusion.

"What?"

"Just believe me. Just do it. Go sit out on the front porch."

"Ennis... where are you?"

"Just do it."

"All right. I'll see you soon."

"Not if I don't see you first." Jack heard the phone click and he went out onto the front porch with his pack of cigarettes. He lit his cigarette and looked up and down the street but he couldn't see anyone in the dark. He sat down on one of the wicker chairs on the porch and began to wait. He wondered if somehow Ennis had left Wyoming and was coming to see him. Part of him doubted it, but still the hopeful part of him hoped he had done it. Then he heard footsteps on the empty street. Slow deliberate steps in cowboy boots that hit the pavement. Jack put out his cigarette and walked up to the front of the porch. He could barely believe his eyes. There was a figure walking down the street. Even though it was dark he could have recognized that walk in the middle of hell. He knew it was Ennis.

"Ennis!" he shouted and the figure's head immediately picked up. Jack ran down the three steps from the porch to the ground and broke into a run towards the figure that was now running towards him as well. The two collided into each other's arms and spun around laughing and smiling.

"What the hell are you doing here cowboy?" said Jack still holding Ennis close to him.

"I took the train down. I figured you could use some company on the way back." The two wanted to kiss but they could see the houses around them still had lights on so they began to walk back to Jack's house side by side.

"Thank you for coming Ennis," Jack said to him quietly.

"Well, I figured I couldn't have you falling asleep at the wheel on the way home and crashing everything. I can't run a ranch by myself." Jack smiled to himself. He knew that Ennis meant that he missed him.

"I think Lureen will let you sleep on the couch. I don't think it would be a good idea to sleep with me in the guest room."

"I figured that. When did you want to leave in the morning?"

"Around five. If you want I can take the first driving shift and you can sleep until I get too tired to drive."

"Sounds fine to me." Then two walked in silence the rest of the way back to the house.

"Well, I guess now you get to meet Bobby and Lureen. You sure you're ready for that?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." Jack opened the door and walked in with Ennis following close behind. Lureen was in the living room when they walked in and she looked up at the two of them.

"Lureen," said Jack with a deep breath, "this is Ennis. My friend from Wyoming." Lureen smiled pleasantly and stood to greet Ennis.

"Well, it's nice to finally meet you."

"Ma'am," said Ennis quietly and taking off his tan hat.

"He's going to go back with me in the morning. Can he sleep on the couch?"

"He can sleep in the guest room with you," said Lureen pleasantly. "I'm guessing that the two of you won't object to that." Jack and Ennis looked at each other with slight nervousness. It wasn't helped when Bobby walked in to see the three of them.

"Who's that?" he asked. Bobby was dressed in his pajamas and was about to go to bed.

"This is my friend Ennis," said Jack calmly. "He's going to help me start the ranch."

"Hey there Bobby," said Ennis.

"Hi," said Bobby rubbing his eyes.

"All right, time for bed," said Lureen ushering Bobby up the stairs. "Jack, I'm sure you can show Ennis where the guest room is while I get Bobby to bed." Jack nodded and waited until she had taken Bobby to his room before leading Ennis to the guest room. Once in the guest room and the door was closed and locked the two grabbed each other tightly and kissed each other almost violently.

"You have no idea how much I missed you rodeo," said Ennis breathlessly. "Waking up alone this morning... I knew that I had to come here to see you. My world just doesn't work without you in it." Jack kissed him once again and they embraced each other tightly.

"I'm really really glad you came Ennis. This whole thing with Bobby has just been ripping me up inside." Jack felt the tears he had been holding back stinging his eyes. "I just didn't think..."

"Easy rodeo, it's ok. No one does when they get into these things. It just happens." Ennis held Jack close and hummed to him gently.

"How is that you know how to calm me when no one else does?"

"You might as well ask me how the sun works. I don't know how, I just know that it does." Jack buried his face in the nape of Ennis's neck and gently breathed in the scent he loved so much. "C'mon rodeo. We have an early morning tomorrow. And I'm exhausted." Jack nodded as he finally pulled away from Ennis. The two stripped down to the underwear and t-shirts and climbed into bed together. Jack had been imagining Ennis holding him the night before so that he could get to sleep. Tonight he felt sleep come over him as Ennis's gentle arms encircled him.

The next morning Jack woke with the alarm clock buzzing in his ear. He shut it off as best he could and not pull away from Ennis's arms. He rolled over with Ennis's arms still around him and gently touched his lover's face.

"Time to get up cowboy," Jack said gently in Ennis's ear.

"Hmm?" said Ennis in sleep.

"It's time to get up."

"Just stay here for a minute longer."

"Why?" Ennis leaned across the bed and gently kissed him.

"That's why." Jack smiled and they gently kissed each other for a few minutes. They finally pulled away from each other and went about the business of getting dressed and packing away the things he had packed in the truck. Lureen woke up when they were taking everything outside and made them coffee and breakfast. Once they had all the boxes away they both sat down with Lureen and ate.

"Write to me about the ranch," said Lureen kindly. "I'd like to hear how you are doing."

"I will. We should get going soon. It's a long drive back to Wyoming."

"You should say good bye to Bobby." Jack nodded.

"I'll go wait in the car," said Ennis quietly. "It was nice meeting you, Lureen." He tipped his hat and walked out the front door.

"He doesn't say much does he?" said Lureen.

"That's Ennis for ya. Always a man of few words. I'm going to go up and say good bye to Bobby." Jack quietly walked down the hall and sneaked into Bobby's room. He sat down on the edge of the bed and gently touched Bobby's shoulder.

"Wake up little man," he said softly. "Daddy's gotta go." Bobby's eyes slowly opened and looked up at his Dad.

"You leaving now?"

"Yeah Bobby, I'm leaving for Wyoming."

"Will you ever be back?"

"I'll probably come back for Christmas. I'll write you letters from the ranch. I'll even send you pictures if I get the chance." Bobby finally sat up in bed and hugged his father.

"Drive safe Daddy."

"I will. I love you, Bobby. Don't ever forget that."

"I love you too, Daddy." Jack gave his son one last comforting squeeze.

"Go back to sleep kid. It's early and you have time before you have to go to church to catch a little more sleep."

"Mm'k." Bobby laid back down in bed and was asleep within seconds. Jack leaned over and kissed Bobby on the forehead before leaving his son's room. Lureen was waiting for him by the front door.

"Take care of yourself Jack," said Lureen quietly.

"I will." Jack held his ex-wife one last time before putting on his hat and coat.

"I'd like to come down for a couple days during Christmas, if that's all right."

"That's fine. Bobby will like it." Both smiled at each other. "Drive safely."

"We will." Jack walked out the door and gently shut it back. He got into the truck and saw that Ennis was all ready starting to doze off.

"You can lay down in the seat if you want," said Jack getting behind the steering wheel. Ennis nodded and turned so that he was lying on his back on the seat. He rested his head on a rolled blanket that he had pulled from Jack's stuff and pulled his hat down over his eyes. Jack smiled at the familiar sight next to him.

"Just wake me up when you start falling asleep at the wheel. If I'm going to die I want to be awake for it."

"Don't worry." Jack started the truck and pulled away from the house he used to live in. "I'll wake you up." He turned onto the road and began the long trek to his new home.