Disclaimer: I don't own Brokeback Mountain.
WARNING: by the end of this, several of you are probably going to hate me. But I wanted to explore an idea. Sue me. violence and cursing. Hold onto your hats and I will try to get this updated as quickly as possible.
The next morning Jack woke up first. Ennis still lightly snored next to him. Jack smiled and kissed Ennis on the forehead before crawling out of bed and limping into the bathroom. He turned on the water and stepped in under the hot water. It still felt weird having water running down his leg. He sighed, closed his eyes, and let the water run over his head and face. He was thinking about his son who was sleeping upstairs from him for the first time in what felt like years. In reality, it was only a few months. He felt his chest heaving and the tears from his eyes were indistinguishable from the water. He felt two strong arms wrap around him and pull him back towards the familiar chest. He shuddered slightly from the tears that he was still trying to hold back.
"It's all right rodeo," said the voice he loved in a whisper. "I'm here." Jack let go of his tears and cried until he felt like he didn't have tears to cry anymore. After they both showered, they got out and got dressed. Ennis went into the kitchen and started on breakfast as Jack started a pot of coffee. Lureen was the first to come down and sat down. Jack sat down as well.
"What's the matter Jack?" said Lureen. Having lived with him for a few years, she could still read his face like a book.
"I just... Bobby..." Lureen smiled with an understanding look.
"It's all right Jack, you don't have to say anything else." He grinned slightly at her and fought back the tears that were threatening to spill over once again. He felt a gentle squeeze on his shoulder from Ennis and he took in a deep breath.
"I miss him, Lureen. I'm not saying this to make you feel guilty or anything like that, I made my choice and I'm happy with it. It's just... I miss him sometimes."
"It's all right Jack, you don't have to explain to me. Believe it or not I do miss you sometimes. Like when I need a pickle jar opened." She winked at him and Jack smiled at her joke. "But seriously Jack, there are sometimes that... I do miss you. And I know for a fact that even with all my Daddy's trying, Bobby still misses you almost every day."
"Your Daddy still trying to turn him against me?"
"Every chance he gets. But he doesn't know the stubborness that you implanted in that boy. He loves you, and he's going to love you until the day he dies."
"What about you?"
"You'll always have a special place in my heart Jack. But we always seemed to do better as friends than as husband and wife."
"I'm going into town for a few minutes," said Ennis picking up the keys to the truck.
"What do you need?"
"We need some milk and that cereal that Francine likes."
"Trix. With the bunny."
"Right, that. Can you think of anything else we need?"
"Pick me up a pack of cigarettes?"
"Easily done, anything else?"
"Not that I can think of. Just come back soon."
"I'll be back in two shakes." Ennis looked at Lureen for a nervous second before leaning down and kissing Jack on the forehead. Then he quickly turned and walked out the door.
"Sorry... it's one of Ennis's things," said Jack quickly, "he likes to kiss me on the forehead before he leaves. He says it makes him think I'll stay here until he comes back when he kisses me on the lips." Lureen giggled.
"It's cute Jack. Don't worry. I told you, I've got another man now, and he makes me very happy. Even though he infuriates my father. And he loves Bobby."
"How is Bobby reacting to him?"
"He's all right. Dan is making the smart move and isn't acting like he will replace the dad that left. He just wants to be Bobby's friend, not a replacement for you."
"Dan sounds like good people. Why does he infuriate your father?"
"He's a Democrat." Jack leaned back in a full belly laugh and Lureen joined in with him. The kids came down soon and everyone started getting breakfast. The bacon that Ennis had left on the stove was ready and Lureen put it on a plate for everyone.
"Where's Dad?" asked Francine as she emptied the last of the Trix into a bowl.
"He went to get you some more cereal and a couple other things." Jack looked up at the clock. Ennis had only been gone ten minutes. He didn't think about it. Later he would wish that he had.
Ennis was going through the check out line when he heard a few voices whispering. He glanced around and saw three guys standing near by and staring at him. He knew that one of them was a farmer who lived a few miles away from his ranch. He didn't like the way they were looking at him. He paid for everything quickly and walked back to his truck. He heard the three men follow him out of the store. He put his groceries in his truck and turned around.
"Sirs, please, just let me go home," he said calmly. "I haven't done anything at all to you."
"We don't like what you do up there with that other man," said the first who was holding a tire iron in his hand. Ennis took in a deep breath and kept his temper under control.
"You don't know what I do and further more it's none of your business. It doesn't affect you in any way that I can see."
"We want to teach you a lesson," said the second. Ennis was possibly more surprised than the three men in front of him when he let out a low chuckle.
"What the hell are you laughing for queer?" asked the first one as he tapped the tire iron on his hand.
"The fact that you think this lesson you're about to teach me is going to change my ways." He only thought of Jack as the tire iron came down.
Back at the ranch, everyone was getting worried. It had been an hour since Ennis had left. Jack kept trying to think up bull shit excuses, but none of them were convincing him anymore.
"Where the fucking hell can he be?" he whispered under his breath as he stared out the window for the millionth time. A gentle hand touched his back and he leaped nearly ten feet in the air.
"Easy Jack," said Lureen's calm voice. He sighed and shut his eyes.
"Something's wrong," said Jack quietly. "I know something's wrong."
"We could take my car and go looking for him. The kids can stay here in case he comes back." Jack couldn't deny that the option was better than just sitting here waiting.
"Do you mind?"
"Jack I'm starting to get worried myself. And I know you. You can't sit still in a situation like this." Jack nodded silently.
"All right. Let's tell the kids and then we'll go into town." They told the kids quickly what they were intending on doing and then headed into town. They headed for the grocery store that they always went to and Jack's heart skipped a beat when he saw Ennis's truck sitting empty outside the store. Next to it was a small pool of blood. Jack's breathing sped up and his heart was thudding in his chest so fast. Lureen pulled up next to the truck and both of them got out. Jack looked in the truck and saw the forgotten cereal and cigarettes.
"Lureen..." he said in a shaky voice.
"It's all right Jack, we'll find him." Jack walked as quickly as he could into the grocery store and found the nearest clerk.
"What happened outside?" he asked.
"Some man got beat up by three guys with tire irons," she said in a thick country accent. "A couple of guys ran out and pulled them off him. The ambulance came and took him away about ten minutes ago."
"Do you know what hospital they went to?"
"The paramedics were saying they were going to get him to Our Lady of Mercy which is the closest one. It's about ten minutes away from here."
"I know the one." He turned back out and found Lureen waiting at her car.
"Look, you go back home, tell the girls that their dad is in the hospital and I'm going to take care of him. Tell them all I love them." He opened the truck and handed her the box of cereal. The cigarettes he left in the truck. "I'll call you from the hospital once I know more."
"I could go with you."
"I need you to take care of my kids Lureen. You're the only person I trust to do that." Lureen nodded and hugged him tightly.
"I hope Ennis is all right. I really do."
"I know... I hope he's all right too." Jack climbed into the truck and made his way to the hospital. He limped in and smiled at Lily, one of the nurses that he recognized at the front desk. She had been there when he broke his leg and had been there several times when he came in for physical therapy. Today her smile sympathetic and almost nervous. He froze after getting that smile. She stood up from the nurses station and walked towards him.
"Oh God... please tell me he's here..."
"He's here," she said nodding. "He's here." She was one of the few who knew about their relationship outside of the family and she was fine with who they were.
"Is he all right?"
"He was beaten very badly Jack. I think he's still in surgery right now." Jack felt his knees start to give out from under him. Lily took his arm and led him over to the brightly colored plastic chairs.
"Were you here when he came in?" She sat down on the table in front of him and smoothed her skirt over her knees.
"Yes, Jack. I was."
"How bad is it?"
"It's bad. One of his arms was broken, one kneecap was broken, several ribs were broken and at least one of the had punctured one of his lungs. That's why he's in surgery right now."
"Did the docs..."
"They were hopeful. They got him soon enough that he hadn't lost much blood. Once he gets out of surgery I'll let you know. Do you need anything?" Jack stared at her perfectly white shoes and managed to choke out one word.
"Him." Lily touched his shoulder and then walked away. She came back a few minutes later with a cup of coffee which she sat down in front of him. Jack sipped on it gingerly and continued to stare at one point on the floor. He was hoping and praying that somewhere they had done something good enough for Ennis to be spared. He remembered that he needed to call the house. He found a payphone and numbly put in the money and dialed the number. It rang only once before it was picked up.
"Hello?" said Lureen's nervous voice.
"It's me Lureen," said Jack.
"How is he?"
"He's in surgery right now. They broke his arm, his kneecap, several ribs and one of them punctured his lung." He heard Lureen gasp over the phone. "They think he'll be all right if all of this goes well. I'll let you know when he gets out of surgery. How's everyone there?"
"They're worried and scared. What should I tell them?"
"Tell them, he's in surgery, I'll call when he gets out. I'll be staying here tonight. I'll call tomorrow morning when there is more news. Tell them I love them, and that Ennis loves his daughters."
"All right," said Lureen in a voice that was starting to break.
"It's going to be all right Lureen. I'll let you know when the kids can come visit him."
"All right. I'll get dinner ready and tell them."
"I'll call soon."
"I'll be here." Jack hung up the phone and walked back to his chair. He felt his knees about to give out from under him as he neared the chair.
"I can't loose him..." he whispered as he sat down. "I can't loose him. Please God I can't loose him..." He waited for three hours before Lily returned to him.
"He's out of surgery now and is being put in a room," she said quietly.
"Can I see him?"
"Not at the moment. They're still getting him comfortable and getting everything set up. It should only be a few more minutes. I'll get you when they're ready."
"Did they say anything?"
"He has a chance Jack. It's not much of one, but it is a chance. They haven't given up hope yet."
"Thank you." She nodded and turned back down the hall. She walked into Ennis's room as the doctor was setting up the last IV.
"Do you need any help?" she asked calmly.
"Isn't your shift over?"
"It's been over for five hours now. I decided to cover a shift for another nurse."
"You wanted to stick around for him didn't you?" She looked straight into his eyes and didn't blink.
"She wanted to stay home with one of her sick kids." She was a good liar.
"Well, we've done all we can. Now we just have to sit and wait." He wrote down a few notes on the chart. "Make sure he gets morphine once an hour." Lily nodded silently and stared at Ennis as the doctor walked out. She had barely recognized him when he came in. Now with the bandages and all she could hardly tell that he was a man. Half of his face was wrapped in bandages and the other half was almost swollen beyond recognition. She feared bringing Jack into this room and having him see his lover like this. But she knew that there was no other choice. She took a deep breath and walked into the waiting room once again. Jack looked up in nervous anticipation.
"You can see him now," she said calmly. Under her calm exterior her insides were twisting and she was trying to know what to do. Jack followed her to the room. She stopped outside the door and put her hand on the handle.
"Remember Jack," she said before turning the handle, "I'll be right there with you." She opened the door and walked in. Jack limped in a second after her. She shut the door back but Jack barely heard the click. He could have sworn that his heart had stopped. He wanted to believe that the broken and bandaged form in front of him was not Ennis. He felt his knees fully give out from under him now. He cried with tears that wracked his body. He barely felt Lily put her arms around his shoulders and try to hold him. At some point Lily managed to get Jack to the chair she had placed next to the bed. Jack gently held Ennis's hand while Lily checked his vitals and gave him his next dose of morphine.
"Do you think he can hear me?" he whispered quietly.
"Yes Jack, I think he can." He took in a deep breath.
"What the hell do I say?" Lily smiled sadly at him.
"Say whatever you want to say. Say what you feel." Jack swallowed and took in another deep breath.
"I love you, Ennis. I hope you can hear me. I love you. Everything's going to be all right. Lureen is taking care of the kids right now. I'm not going to leave your side. I'm staying right here with you. Please don't leave me."