Jared is pretty sure he's losing his mind. He's known Jensen for a little over a day and the only thing he can think of is getting the man out of his clothes and into his bed, or any other bed that happens to be handy. It's just, Jared's not that guy and cheating on Jesse with his twin just seems so far beyond wrong it makes him feel sick.

He still hasn't told Jensen about his relationship with Jesse, either, and that's fucked up, too. Sure, Jesse's a bit of an ass and Jared's pretty sure the relationship is only on his part, but he can't just shrug it off. It's just that Jensen is so adorable, from the rims of his geeky glasses to the soles of his feet. Jared just wants to wrap him in his arms and never let him go, because Jensen's special.

He's funny, sweet, smart and shy, wrapped in a package Jared was never able to resist. There's no doubt in his mind who is the good twin and as stupid as it might seem, he thinks that it was the potential of Jensen that drew him to Jesse in the first place;that makes him wanna check into the nearest mental institution, because he never bought into that new age crap before.

He'd been seconds away from kissing Jensen on his damned adorable mouth in the store, and he was pretty sure Jensen wouldn't have stopped him, and that's just fucked up. Maybe attraction to Jared is like genetic or something, maybe they both go for really tall guys with great hair and dubious taste in clothes.

Jensen's just so grateful for every scrap of attention and he's fitting in among Jared's friends seamlessly, like he's always been there. He was the one to start the standing ovation after Sandy's show and he did it naturally, like he just couldn't stay in his chair, damned near jumping at the spot.

They'd been at the party for a couple of hours now, and Jared's hardly seen Jensen because every time he tries to get to him, someone else steals Jensen away. He hasn't even had time to ask Jensen how the interview went and the question has been on the tip of his tongue the entire evening.

"He's really something," Steve says, appearing out of nowhere and Jared starts.

"Who?" he asks dumbly, even though he knows the answer.

"Jensen," Steve answers, giving him a wry look. "I'm talking about Jensen."

Jared licks his lips and looks the other way. "Yeah, he's cool."

"Cool? Who do you think you're kidding?"

"Can we not talk about this? I just… Fuck, Steve. I don't know how to do this."

"From where I'm standing it's pretty simple," Steve says, looking straight ahead. "You tell him you've been letting his twin fuck you in the ass whenever he's felt like it for the past six months, and then you ask him if he still wants your sorry ass."

"Fuck you," Jared says, a blush tinting his cheeks. "I can't do that."

"Yeah… but only because you're scared that if you tell him, he won't want you anymore."

Jared gives Steve an annoyed look. He's tired of all his friends having damned near psychic powers of one kind or another. Steve's right, of course, he should tell Jensen. Whether Jensen wants him or not, he's pretty sure that telling Jensen will be the same as losing Jensen and he doesn't even want to think about that, because he's insane and all.

"Jay…" Steve touches a hand to his wrist. "You know I love you, man, and I say this with uttermost kindness, but don't be an ass about this. Dump the fucking creep you're not having a relationship with, and do your very fucking best to win this one instead. It's a win/win situation."

Jared frowns, the shadow of a thought forming in his maybe insane brain. "Dump the creep," he says slowly. "Yeah, I can do that."

Steve's eyes narrow. "And tell Jensen about Jesse."

"Uh huh," Jared says noncommittally, one step at a time.

He walks out on the front porch and fishes his phone out of his pocket. Everyone else is out back, or inside, so no one's going to disturb him here. He finds Jesse's number in the phone book and presses call. He better do it while he still has the nerve.

"Hello," Jesse picks up after the first ring, surprisingly enough. He doesn't have the best track record when it comes to answering Jared's calls.

"Hey, it's Jared," he says, looking down at his sneaker clad feet.

"I saw," Jesse says and he doesn't really sound like Jensen, his voice is higher in pitch and he sounds a lot more mellow, but that might be because he's obviously high, or drunk, or maybe both.

"Yeah," Jared fiddles with his shirt, trying to come up with something to say.

"Did you want something?" Jesse asks and he sounds bored, like he couldn't care less that Jared's on the other end of the line.

"Yeah," Jared says. "I just wanted to… I dunno. Say goodbye or something. Whatever we've been doing for the past six months… it ends here. Thought I'd give you a heads up, or something."

Jesse laughs and Jared can hear someone talking in the background. "Whatever, dude. I'll call you when I get back."

Jared snorts. "Whatever. I won't pick up."

"What's all this about anyway?"

"Nothing," Jared says, looking down on the dusty wood between his feet. "Finally let my friends beat some sense into me, I suppose."

This time Jesse snorts. "Aww, have you been talking smack about me to your friends?"

"I never had to talk smack about you. Your behavior speaks for itself."

"I don't get you," Jesse says and Jared can hear the sound of rustling clothes. He wonders if someone's undressing him and finds that he really doesn't care.

"You never did."

"Gotta go now," Jesse says and then the line goes dead. Jared shakes his head and slips the phone back into his pocket. He realizes that he feels nothing but relieved, and it doesn't really have anything to do with Jensen. He should have said goodbye to Jesse long ago and it feels good to have finally done it.

"There you are," Chris says behind him, and Jared turns his head to find Chris standing in the doorway with a bottle of beer in his hand.

"Yeah, here I am," he says.

Chris closes the door behind him and sits down next to Jared, offering him the beer. Jared takes a swig and hands the bottle back.

"I like Jensen," Chris says.

"Me too," Jared admits, looking out on the quiet street.

"Are you going to go for it? Or I might just invite him to sleep in the middle."

"You're such a slut," Jared says with a grin, elbowing Chris in the side.

"Hey, I'm a man of simple pleasures. Gimme a cold beer, a guitar and a warm body and I'm good."

"Any warm body?" Jared asks, because sometimes he wonders.

Chris doesn't answer for the longest of whiles and when Jared looks at him he's staring at his hands. "No," he says, finally giving Jared a sourly look. "Not any warm body."

Jared grins, stretching his legs out in front of him and grabbing the bottle out of Chris's hands. "What body then? Please, do tell. I'm curious."

"Ass," Chris says, sounding grumpy. "You fucking know who."

"Just checking. Wouldn't want him to get hurt."

Chris sighs, stealing the bottle back mid swallow so that Jared drools beer all over his shirt. "You think I'm hurting him?" he asks.

"You tell me."

"I always sucked at relationships, like, royally sucked. I never got the rules. Are there rules?"

Jared snorts. "They're pretty simple. Don't fuck around, don't lie, don't be an idiot."

"I never lie to him."

"It's a start," Jared says, giving Chris a look. "You should work on the idiot and fucking around part, too."

"I don't fuck around… much."

"Chris…" Jared sighs. "I'm the worst person in the world to ask for relationship advice, and from where I'm standing… you don't need it. Just remember that however patient Steve is… he can only cut you so much slack before you're so far away he doesn't see the point in holding on anymore."

"I hate you."

"Yeah, I love you, too."

Chris hits him on the thigh and Jared shoves him hard enough to almost knock him off the stairs.

"Bitch," Chris says, getting up.

"Jerk," Jared answers, getting to his feet, as well.

He loves Chris, he really does, but sometimes he needs a kick in the head to start thinking about things, really thinking about them and not just accepting that they're happening. For fuck's sake, Steve moving in half a year ago and Chris not even realizing, never asking, that's pretty fucking dense, even for him.

They push and shove each other on their way back inside, Jared's height and bulk giving him the advantage, but since when did Chris ever play fair?

"Mind getting another case of beer from the basement?" Chris asks, as his eyes land on Steve, talking to Sandy across the room.

"No problem," Jared answers, heading for the kitchen.

He bounces down the basement stairs in the dark before groping for the light switch that's somewhere on his right. He flips it up and freezes at the sight presented to him. Tom in an ill fitting latex dress getting fucked from behind by Mike, who's dressed in chaps without pants underneath and a cowboy hat.

"Uhhh," he says, unable to decide where to look. The entire scene is horrid, there's just no safe place to rest his eyes.

"Do you mind?" Mike says, sounding out of breath and without missing a beat with his hips.

Jared realizes Tom isn't wearing a latex dress, it's a costume, a horse costume and he's wearing a bridle, with fake little pony ears and Mike's got the reins in one hand and a whip in the other.

"Uhhh," he says again, slowly backing away from the horrid sight. He's never having sex again. Never. In fact, he can't ever imagine getting an erection again, or looking Tom in the eyes, or Mike, or anyone until he's gotten his hands on some really fucking powerful brain bleach.

He flips the light switch again, making the room blessedly dark, but of course that leaves the noises. A steady slap, slap, slap of Mike's hips, Tom's harsh breathing around the strap of leather in his mouth and then the thwap of the whip as Mike brings it down.

"Faster, boy," he pants. "We gotta get there before the sheriff."

Jared turns on his heel and flees, blushing so dark he's afraid he'll combust. Chris is leaning against the kitchen counter with a smirk when he comes tumbling into the kitchen, slamming the door behind him and leaning against it.

"You knew," Jared whines, scrubbing a hand over his eyes, trying to force his mind to forget.

Chris crosses his legs and grins. "Uh huh."

"Jesus… That's… that's…"

"Disturbingly hot?" Chris suggests.

"Yes! NO, NO, NO. Hell NO."

Chris laughs, saluting Jared with his beer.

"I'll never make you talk about your feelings again. Never. Just please… pick the images out of my brain."

"Steve," Chris yells and Steve appears in the doorway, giving Jared an odd look.

"Why is… mmmfmmm."

Chris cuts Steve off by pressing him up against the wall and kissing him, one hand sliding into one of his back pockets while the other tangles in his hair. Steve doesn't react at first, but then one of his hands goes to Chris's neck and the other clutches at his hip. Jared watches the rare display of affection intently, ignoring the muffled yeeehaaw that reaches him through the door.

When Chris lifts his head, licking his lips, Steve looks equal parts dazed and confused.

"Why are we making out in front of Jared?" he asks and if they think Jared can't see the subtle way they're rubbing against each other, they got another one coming.

Chris shrugs. "He wanted to watch."

Steve smiles a little, glancing at Jared, who tries to look innocent but it's hard to do because he's pretty sure that's neighing coming from the basement.

"Did you send him to the basement?" Steve asks, resting his forehead against Chris's.

"Yeah," Chris says, shifting so that he's got Steve pinned up against the wall with his thigh pressed between Steve's.

Jared suddenly feels dirty for watching them, because they never let anyone see this thing between them, not like this. Steve's fingers are playing with the small hairs at the back of Chris's neck, and Chris is smiling at him like he's the only thing in the world worth looking at. Jared swallows, looking away, because he's pretty sure Chris doesn't really want him to see this.

"That was pretty mean of you," Steve says, but he just sounds amused.

"He was mean to me first," Chris says and Jared's pretty sure he's pouting.

"Do tell what kind of horror he put you through," Steve murmurs and Jared can hear his breath hitching, and seriously, can't the floor just open up and eat him.

"He made me talk," Chris mumbles. "About you."

Steve chuckles. "How horrible."

Jared dares a glance and wishes that he hadn't, the rhythmic shifts of Chris's hips are mesmerizing and Steve's got his lips pressed to Chris's ear. They're actually having fully clothed sex, right in front of him and hasn't he been through enough for one day.

"It totally… was," Chris murmurs, his voice a low, husky drawl and, Jesus, Jared does so remember how to get an erection, because, hello, totally hot.

Steve turns his head and they are kissing again and it's way hotter than any porno Jared ever watched. He squeezes his eyes shut, but he can still hear them, the slick sound of kissing, the rustle of clothes as they press against each other, breathing far quicker and harsher than normal.

Going back to the basement to watch Mike and Tom re-enact the Pony Express suddenly sounds like a good idea. Chris and Steve are way open and forthcoming towards him, letting him in to play in their playground, but not like this. If he'd taken them up on the threesome offer, this is not what he would have gotten. There would have been sex, probably spectacular sex even, but not this intimacy.

"Yeah," Steve sighs and the quiver in his voice nearly undoes Jared.

He keeps his eyes shut for the rest of it, the sounds reaching his ears more than enough to fill in the blanks. His pulse is beating way too fast and he feels flushed and sweaty all over. He sneaks a glance when he hears Steve laugh, so husky and sated that he's sure it's over.

They're leaning their foreheads together again and the lazy smile on Steve's face tells him everything he needs to know about the current state of their underwear. As he watches, Chris gives Steve another kiss before pulling away, letting his hands drop from Steve's body. They both turn to look at him and he really, really wants to die.

Steve just grins, though, winking at him before he pushes past Chris and disappears; a moment later they hear him walking up the stairs. Chris looks after him, before looking back at Jared.

Jared shakes his head and gestures. "Go after him," he says too loudly in the silent kitchen. "And what we talked about earlier… Forget everything I said. I'm an idiot and I don't understand shit about you."

Chris purses his lips for a moment. "I don't think you were wrong about everything," he says and then he's gone, leaving Jared with a boner the size of Texas and nowhere to go.

~*~

Jensen's having a blast at the party, he really is, and Sandy's show was really, really good. It's just that he's hardly seen Jared all night and he kind of wants to see him a lot, all the time. He knows it's utterly stupid and he's still not sure about Jared's preferences, but he likes him a lot.

When he finally finds Jared again he's in the kitchen with his head under the tap, splashing what looks to be cold water over his head.

"Hey," he says, feeling like he's intruding. "I, uh… What are you doing?"

Jared straightens up, water splashing everywhere, and Jensen was right when he thought it was cold.

"Uh…hey," Jared says, a blush creeping up his cheeks. "I was just… I…"

Jensen licks his lips, feeling like an idiot for intruding. "I'll just…" He gestures vaguely. "I'll just go over there and do something… else."

"No." Jared runs his fingers through his wet hair, pushing it back from his face. "No, I was just freshening up." He laughs a little. "Chris and Steve gave me something of a floor show and it was either cold water, or going up in flames."

Jensen blushes and licks his lips. "Maybe you want to uhm…" There's no logical, not dirty, conclusion to the sentence so he keeps his mouth shut.

Jared laughs again, throwing his head back. "Yeah… I really kinda do, but you know… There's something icky about the thought of jacking off thinking about your best friends."

Jensen makes a strangled sound and looks down on his feet. If he was the daring type, this is where he should say I can blow you if you want, but he's not, so he just lets the moment pass him by.

"Wanna take a walk?" Jared asks and Jensen looks up.

"Yeah," he says, a smile creeping onto his lips. "Yeah, that sounds good."

Jensen can't resist sneaking a glance at Jared's crotch, and his mouth goes dry at the pretty obvious tenting. He looks up quickly to find Jared watching him with a strange look on his face.

"God," Jared says, shaking his head and spraying Jensen with a myriad of tiny water drops. "If I say something inappropriate, hit me, okay? There's not enough blood in my brain right now."

"I wouldn't mind," Jensen responds and that's plenty daring to be him.

Jared just looks at him for a few moments, then he's in Jensen's personal space crowding him against the counter. Jensen shivers, licking his lips nervously. It's been ages since he kissed anyone and he's not sure he remembers how to do it. When Jared cups his face and bends down, though, he forgets all about being nervous, because Jared's hands are huge, spanning half his head and the lips seeking his are sure and strong.

He lets his eyes fall shut, opening his mouth to the gentle pressure of Jared's tongue. It's just as well that he's forgotten all about kissing, because he's never been kissed like this before. He wraps his fingers around Jared's biceps, holding on for dear life as Jared slowly but surely turns his world upside down and inside out with a few flicks of his tongue.

He tastes like beer and the honey coated ribs they had earlier, but more than anything, he tastes like Jared and Jensen just can't get enough. Jared pulls away to rest their foreheads together and he's almost looking pained.

"Jensen," he whispers. "God… I'm so…"

Jensen silently seconds that, even if he's not sure what it means. He grips Jared's arms tighter, licking his lips. Jared kisses him again, slow and deep like there's nothing in the world he'd rather be doing, rocking his hips lazily against Jensen's until Jensen's pretty sure he's gonna come in his pants. He hasn't done that since ever, and he doesn't really want to start now and look like a complete dork in front of Jared, but he hasn't got it in him to pull away when he's feeling so fucking good.

It's Jared that finally breaks the kiss, straightening up to look down on Jensen. He keeps his hands on Jensen's face, though, gently stroking his cheekbones with his thumbs.

"We shouldn't do this," he says, his voice several notes deeper than usual and ragged around the edges. "Not like this… I'm…"

He swallows, catching his lower lip between his teeth. "How did the interview go?"

Jensen lets out a bark of laughter, shaking his head. "It was fine… It… I don't really wanna talk about this right now."

"Yeah, sorry," Jared says, stepping away and letting his hands drop from Jensen's face. "I just… I never got to ask you and I really wanted to know."

"I got the job… or, you know, slave contract," he says with a grin, because he really is kind of proud. Jeffrey Dean is known to be extremely picky with his RAs.

"That's great," Jared says and his smile lights up his entire face. "Wonderful."

Jensen swallows and shakes his head, because he really, really sucks at this sort of thing. He hasn't really dated anyone for years and he wants to do things right, but he has no clue what right is.

"So now what?" he asks, looking at Jared, who is leaning against the kitchen island.

Jared shakes his head. "I don't know. I mean… I can't deny I want you…" He glances down with a smile.

Jensen arches an eyebrow. "I know you had that one before you molested me, so don't even try."

Jared laughs, deep and hoarse, sending shivers down Jensen's spine. "True…" Jared grins. "But I can assure you… I would no longer be thinking about my best friends."

"Glad I could help." He tries for casual, but ends up sounding pretty needy.

Jared sighs and scrubs his hands over his face, making his wet hair stand up at odd angles. "I… I want… Jesus… This is fucking complicated."

Jensen chews at his lower lip and a sinking feeling at the pit of his stomach tells him he knows what this is about. "It's Jesse… Isn't it?"

Jared looks away and he doesn't really have to say anything, it's evident in the slump of his shoulders.

Jensen shakes his head with a bitter chuckle. "Figures… You said he was out of town, right? So what am I… a pretty copy to use until he gets back? Must be really handy for you."

"Jensen… No, it's not… It's not like that."

"Then tell me what it's like, Jared, because from my side of the fence it really looks like it is."

"I don't know what to say," Jared finally says. "It's not… Jesse… Fuck."

"You know what?" Jensen pushes away from the counter. "You don't have to say anything at all. We hardly know each other and I bet you made out with plenty other boys that fell for your stupid smile and giant hands. Let's just forget we ever met, because I'm not going to be a stand in for Jesse. I don't measure up."

Jared catches him by the back of the neck as he tries to walk out of the kitchen. "How can you fucking say that?" he growls. "How can you ever think you don't measure up? Jesse is a dick. He's a self-centered asshole that never thinks about anyone but himself and I hardly know you, but I can already tell you're nothing like him."

Jensen shakes the hand on his neck away, squaring his shoulders. "I'm sorry he hurt you, Jared. I really am, but I'm not going to be a substitute."

This time Jared doesn't pull him back and as he walks through the living room towards the front door, he can't stop thinking that he's walking away from the best thing that ever happened to him.

~*~

Jared knows he fucked this one up royally. He should have told Jensen about Jesse the first time he thought about kissing him and not waited until Jensen dragged it out of him after they kissed. It's just that he's pretty sure this is how it would have gone down regardless. It's pretty obvious that Jensen and Jesse have issues and maybe he fucked up six months ago when he first let Jesse into his life.

The next time he falls for an asshole, he's totally going to resist him until he knows if he's hiding an adorkable twin brother somewhere. Only it's really fucking hard to think about falling for anyone when he can't get Jensen out of his mind. He can't stop thinking about Jensen's lips against his, Jensen's fingers curled around his arms, his adorable blush and his bashful smile. He can't stop thinking about Jensen period.

It's weird that in his mind Jensen and Jesse doesn't even look the same. Jensen is much softer around the edges, his eyes are darker and he has a way sweeter smile. They don't kiss the same and they don't feel the same, and Jared's pretty sure he would be able to tell them apart even if they were identically dressed. He doesn't want Jensen because of Jesse, but despite Jesse.

He would have wanted Jensen just as much had he just been anyone, because truth be told, he wasn't exactly inclined to like Jensen when they first bumped into each other. He just couldn't help himself.

Playing it cool was never really his gig, so he's already tried to call Jensen three times, despite the fact that it's 10 am. He tries again and ends up with Jensen's business like voicemail a fourth time.

"Hi," he says. "It's Jared… I just… I really want to talk to you, please pick up. I know I fucked up, but gimme a chance to explain… Please…"

He ends the call and stares morosely at the sleek phone in his hand, almost jumping out of his skin with it starts vibrating to the tune of "Moonshadow" by Cat Stevens.

"Yeah," he says after pressing the call button.

"Where did ya go last night?" Steve asks, sounding sleep gruff. "Almost thought you'd join us."

Jared smiles against the receiver, lying back on his bed. "Nah… Wouldn't wanna wreck that thing you got."

Steve chuckles. "You wouldn't."

Jared can hear Chris talking in the background and Steve's murmured answers. He closes his eyes, smiling a little at the thought of the two of them in bed and wondering if it's possible to fangirl your best friends' relationship. After the glimpse they gave him last night, he can't help but to think hell yeah when it comes to anything concerning them.

He could never live in a relationship like theirs, he's not secure enough, but it's nice to watch from the outside. He imagines having that sort of thing with Jensen, knowing each other so well there is hardly need for speech anymore, and he wants that. He wants Jensen.

"Did you fall asleep?" Steve asks with a smile in his voice.

"Nah, I was just listening to you and Chris."

"Pervert," Steve chuckles.

"Yeah… maybe." Jared sighs.

"What's wrong?"

Jared makes a face. "It's Jensen… I fucked up."

He spills the entire sordid story and Steve hums in all the right places until Jared finally runs out of air. Steve's silent for a minute, or rather he's not talking to Jared. Jared can hear him giving the story to Chris, only it takes him a lot less time to get the point across.

"Jared…" Steve finally says. "I know it sucks, but you did the right thing. I mean… you could have told him about Jesse before you kissed him, but… that would just mean you'd never gotten to do it."

"Yeah," Jared sighs. "Yeah, I know."

"Now you just have to fight for him. You know… Flowers and letters and declarations of love, the whole ordeal."

Jared chuckles when he hears Chris groan in the background. "It doesn't sound like Chris agrees," he says.

"Well, Chris is about as romantic as a ton of bricks hitting you on the head, so let's not take his advice. Why don't you come over and we'll talk about a game plan."

Jared laughs. "Yeah, sounds good." It beats moping around his room, at any rate. Chad's MIA, so he doesn't even have him to annoy.

"Oh and bring some breakfast. I'm fucking starving."

Jared translates breakfast into pizza because it's a lot simpler than bacon, ham, eggs and beans, or whatever the heck Steve eats for breakfast. Come to think of it, he's never eaten a proper breakfast over at Chris's because the fridge is always empty, so they usually go to the diner down the street.

Chris is sitting on the front porch when Jared gets off his bike and grabs the pizza boxes. He's got a cup of coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

"I thought you quit," Jared says, gesturing to the cigarette, because the mere thought of Chris quitting coffee sends shivers down his spine.

"I did," Chris answers, slow and lazy, eyes still at half-mast.

Chris takes another drag and Jared frowns. "Did you fight?"

Chris blinks slowly. "Nah… fucked my fucking brains out, though. Still can't think straight."

Jared laughs easily and hoists the pizza higher. "Well, I brought breakfast, so get your ass inside."

Chris grumbles something and when Jared looks back, he's leaning his head against the railing, looking for all the world like he's asleep.

"Is there a special trick to that?" Jared asks when Steve comes into the hall to take the pizzas out of his hands, nodding towards the still askew door and Chris's slumped form.

Steve smiles, his eyes looking soft for a moment. "Determination and lots of lube," he says, before turning on his heel and disappearing towards the kitchen.

Jared snorts and toes his sneakers off before following him, his bare feet hardly making a noise against the worn floor boards. Steve is getting plates and glasses out, lining them up on the kitchen island where the pizza's already waiting.

"Chris," he shouts. "Food's ready."

It takes a minute, but then Chris comes walking into the kitchen, still looking eerily like someone hit him over the head with a sledgehammer. He also looks a lot softer than he normally does with his bare feet, worn jeans and sleeveless t-shirt. Jared watches him with half a smile, wondering if their talk last night has something to do with his current state of mind.

Steve's leaning back against the counter, grinning as they both watch Chris get his food ready with sleep-fumbly fingers, cursing under his breath when the slice slips sideways and ends up on the counter. He finally manages to stack his plate and shots both of them dirty glares, before disappearing into the living room.

"Seriously," Jared says, as he gets his own plate. "What the fuck did you do to him?"

Steve winks and gets cutlery for the three of them out of a drawer. "I could tell you, but then I'd had to kill you."

"Do it," Chris chimes from the living room and Jared laughs, grabbing his plate and two of the glasses.

"Ass," he says, kicking Chris's feet off the coffee table.

Chris just flips him the finger and grabs another slice, so Jared slides down into the comfy armchair, leaving the space on the couch next to Chris for Steve. Normally Jared would be on the couch, but he doesn't trust Chris's half grumpy, half mellow mood. The fucker's volatile enough on a normal day.

Steve quirks an eyebrow at the shift of places, but slides down next to Chris without comment. Chris immediately moves around so that he's got his feet braced against Steve's thigh and Steve shots him a look.

"Shut up," Chris grumbles and takes another bite of pizza. "All your fault anyway.

Steve rolls his eyes, giving Jared an exasperated look. "Let's just ignore him, shall we? So tell me everything you know about Jensen."

It takes Jared a lot longer than he thought to tell Steve everything he knows about Jensen, because he poked and prodded and wheedled himself to a whole lot of information during their meetings. He thinks it's his massive word-flow - people struggle to keep up, saying a lot more than they planned to do in the process.

"Seriously…" Chris says when Jared stops talking. "I've known Steve for years on years and I still don't know that much about him."

"That's because you're an ass," Steve says easily, petting Chris's bare foot.

"Hey. You don't know all that stuff about me."

Jared grins when Steve gives Chris a look. "Try me."

"Sure… Who was my favorite teacher in high school?"

"Ms. Collins in fifth grade, because you liked her tits."

Chris frowns. "Who was the first guy I ever slept with?"

"You tell people it was Roger Dickins from the down the street, but it was really your cousin Pete and you were fourteen."

Jared leans back in the chair and focuses on the pizza that he more or less forgot while regaling his Jensen lore. He chews happily and fishes his phone out of his pocket, texting Jensen a simple Sorry. Steve and Chris are still going at it, questions and answers being exchanged at an ever growing speed.

He twitches when his phone vibrates and fumbles with the dials until he gets the message up on the screen. It's from Jensen and it simply says Stop it.

Jared grins and answers it. never.

Jensen answers after a few moments. never is a very long time.

Jared hits him back with: u'll be amazed by my patience.

It takes a little longer, but then the phone vibrates again. You hurt me.

Jared regales the message for a few moments, feeling like the lowest scum on earth. I know. very sorry. didn't mean to.

Jensen doesn't answer that one and Jared feels like maybe he's getting the point across, even if there's still a whole lot of making up to do. With a sigh he looks back up on Steve and Chris, who are still trading questions and answers, but he recognizes the gleam in their eyes as the one they had last night. Chris's feet are fully in Steve's lap now and he's massaging one of them, digging his thumbs into the fleshy part of the pad.

"What the best game I ever bowled?" Chris asks.

"You suck at bowling, man, and you never bowled a 250 in your life."

"Ha… My best score's totally 280."

"You say it is, yeah, but it's not fucking true."

"Fuck you, you weren't even there."

"Jason was and he told me. 210, I believe it was."

"Why do I even like you?"

Steve smiles, slow and sweet. "Because I'm the only one who bothers to remember all this shit about you."

Chris blinks. "Then why do you like me?"

Steve looks thoughtful. "I don't believe I do… In fact, I'm thinking about dumping your sorry ass."

There's a flitter of something passing over Chris's face, then he schools his features. "Yeah, right…"

A smile tugs at Steve's lips. "You sure? Because, you know… You really are an ass."

Chris narrows his eyes slightly, looking at Steve's hands cradling his foot. "You wouldn't."

Steve chuckles. "Idiot," he says fondly. "If you don't pull you head out of your ass, I'm gonna say it. In the middle of the day with Jared watching and all."

"And just who were you trading texts with?" Chris asks, turning his head to glare at Jared, who starts at the sudden attention.

"Jensen," he answers meekly, unable to keep the smile off his face.

Chris makes a disgusted noise. "I'm just gonna go back to bed. Don't think I wanna listen to this anyway. Just…" He gives Jared a pointed look. "Don't give him any ideas with your silly sunny-bright-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-serenade-you-in-the-moonlight-act now."

"Give who any ideas?" Jared asks in confusion.

Chris jerks his head in Steve's direction and pushes himself up from the couch. "The marshmallow half of the family, who else?"

Jared chuckles. "I won't. Cross my heart."

Chris ruffles Steve's hair on his way towards the stairs and Jared grins at the way Steve looks after him.

"What?" Steve asks when he looks back at Jared.

"Nothing," Jared says quickly. "So… Where do we start?"

"With a beer and a notepad." Steve gets up from the couch. "I'll be right with you."

"Yeah, right," Jared sighs to himself when Steve heads for the stairs. "In an hour, or so."

Read Chapter Three of Three of Only This and Nothing More by Jeyhawk