Thank you, Castiel's drycleaner, for your support and for being an awesome Beta.
And thank you to my reviewers of Chapter 5: Riley Carbine, Deth Faenim, DeceptionsDance, DevilChile, Thornangel, LaylaBinx, Flashtabulor, and gottalovealoser. I love reading what you think about my story.
I'm sorry this is a shorter chapter but it's more of a setup for chapter 7.
And of course for Cougar and Jensen to come out to the team officially.
Jensen's Petunia
As Cougar and Jensen walked back to the campsite, each with an arm wrapped around the other's waist, Cougar remembered the second part of his question. What about Ana?
"What about Analicia Jensen?" Cougar stopped dead in his tracks. He loved that little girl so much, almost as much as he loved her uncle. No one could love her as much as Jensen did though, except for Sarah…maybe.
"Hmmm. I know my niece's last name Cougar." At Cougar's blank stare Jensen explained. "You meant to sound like you were saying both our names together but you actually said her first name with her surname." Jensen couldn't help but chuckle at his observation. However, his companion did not find it funny. "Oh come on Cougs. Don't worry man. Ana loves you. She'll be thrilled when she finds out that Uncle Cougar is hers permanently."
When Cougar still did not seem too sure Jensen elaborated. "Cougar, you know my sister. As soon as Sarah found out how I felt about you she started preparing Ana for the day Uncle Cougar came to live with Uncle Jensen permanently. Ana's very smart. 'She understands what being homosexual means and that it is beautiful when two people are able to find a love that transcends all odds.' That is a direct quote from my sister. Sarah was convinced that you felt the same way about me as I did for you because of how you would look at me and act around me. I never saw it but hey, it turns out she was right." Wish I would have known that a year and a half ago but hey, better late than never.
Cougar's worry finally seemed appeased. They resumed the walk back to the campsite. By the time they arrived the fire had died out and the others had already gone to sleep. Considering that recon was starting at 0500 hours, they needed to get to sleep too. Well, Jensen did. Cougar wouldn't be sleeping at all with Wolfe in their midst.
Jensen used the bright moonlight to navigate his way to where he had already readied his bedroll between Clay's and Cougar's. They kept him between them because Jensen had a tendency to sleep walk. And believe it or not but the man talked in his sleep. And not just murmurs or one-word sentences. Entire one-sided Jensen-style conversations; where he could go on and on about anything and everything.
When they were in a hotel Jensen usually bunked with Cougar because the sniper was such a light sleeper. At least that was what they told Jensen. They knew Cougar would just be more comfortable if he could keep an eye on Jensen. Jensen still hadn't been able to prove that Cougar had the ability to sleep. But he kept trying to catch Cougar at it.
When they were out in the wild such as tonight, they always made sure that their bunks were in the following order: Cougar, Jensen, Clay, Pooch, Roque. Jensen always had to be between Cougar and either Clay or Pooch but also had to be as far away from Roque as possible.
Roque didn't take to Jensen's sleepwalking/talking. Once he became so frustrated that he knocked the subconscious man unconscious. After a few words from Cougar convinced him to never do that again, he demanded that the rest of the team keep better control over Jensen. At least during the night, he knew they couldn't do anything about his behavior during the day. Well Roque could try but he had no doubt in his mind that Cougar would kill him.
Cougar stood watch over Jensen as he settled himself and fell asleep. Then the three other men of their unit got out of their beds and followed Cougar the distance he felt comfortable putting between himself and Jensen, at least while Wolfe was still amongst them.
Roque was of course the first to speak. "So Cougar…did you get any?"
"Roque!" the harsh reprimand was whispered by Clay.
"What?" Roque protested. "It's been a year and a half. I say my man's waited long enough to pop Jensen's cherry."
Pooch gave Roque a disappointed shake of the head.
Clay shot Roque a very harsh look that deterred any further comments from Roque.
Cougar ignored their banter and caught Clay's gaze. He tilted his chin in Wolfe's direction.
Clay shook his head. "He's been sleeping for the past half hour."
Roque chuckled. "Yeah, apparently he has no problems sleeping with men he barely knows."
Clay ignored Roque as he addressed Cougar. "Well soldier?"
Pooch felt his excitement building. "Yeah Cougs, how'd it go?"
"As I already asked, did you get any?" Roque couldn't help but throw that question back into the mix.
Cougar studied them for a moment. "We discussed it. We've decided that we are together."
Clay, Pooch and Roque continued waiting for another few minutes before they realized that Cougar was done. Pooch raised his eyebrows at Cougar. "Come on man. You gotta tell us more than that. We've been waiting for this for the past year and a half. Now give."
Cougar let out the breath he had been holding. "Si. You're right. You deserve to know."
"Damn straight after all the shit we've put up with." Roque had a determined look on his face.
Clay couldn't take it anymore. "Cougar what happened when you found them? Wolfe came back, dropped the firewood and then retired for the night. He didn't say anything to any of us."
"Yeah man, did you cut out his tongue? What'd he do, french Jensen?" Sadly, Roque was serious as he asked this of Cougar.
Cougar just shook his head as his rage began to overtake him yet again. "No."
The men's eyes widened at the deadly harshness of Cougar's tone.
"He dared to hold Jake's hand. Then he tried to kiss him. When Jake backed away from him he made a move to pursue him. That's when I got in front of him and told him to bring the firewood back here."
None of the men mentioned Cougar's use of Jensen's given name. They valued their lives.
"So what happened with you and the J-man?" Pooch could barely contain his curiosity.
For the first time since his reentrance into the clearing Cougar smiled. A real smile too, not one of his famous smirks. "I told him I loved him." In order to avoid harassment of Jensen, Cougar left out the part where Jensen 'passed out'. "Then he told me that he loved me as well and had for nearly as long. He just avoided telling me for the same reasons that I had for not telling him. We didn't want to risk our friendship."
Rogue made an exasperated sound. "Enough of the mushy bullshit. What happened between you two afterwards?"
Cougar judged what he should tell them. As a unit, they didn't need to know anything that wasn't pertinent to the mission. But as friends, and people who entrusted each other with their lives, they deserved to know everything. They were a family. It took Cougar a long time to find a family. This unit, and their extended families, was an important part of Cougar's…and Jensen's…lives.
"We kissed, began to make out, but when Jensen wanted to consummate our relationship I put a stop to it. It didn't feel right for his first time to be on the hard ground surrounded by wild animals." And I just realized that I have no lube. That would have been too painful for Jake. It's good that I want this to be right for him.
His three teammates nodded their agreement. Jensen could be extremely aggravating at times but he was their youngest member. They loved him as if he were their kid brother and would do anything in their power to keep him safe, even die for him.
Wolfe listened to the supposed crack special ops team gossip like a bunch of women before finally going to bed. Well, all except Cougar. Wolfe knew the Spaniard wouldn't sleep until he was out of their lives. That would happen very soon if everything went according to Wolfe's plan. You made a big mistake by waiting to claim Jensen Cougar. Tomorrow I will take him and mark him so that you will always remember that I had him first.
TBC in Chapter 7.