Chapter Two

When Dom got up in the morning, he carefully eased himself out from under Brian, not an unusual happening since Brian tended to be a cuddler and often Dom found his lover wrapped around him, or attached in some way in the morning. After pulling on a pair of sweat pants, Dom moved carefully out of the room, shutting the door tightly behind him before heading downstairs.

Stepping into the living room, he saw their guest curled up as much as he could get on the couch, the blanket he'd been given lying in a pile on the floor, Shaking his head, Dom leaned over and picked it up, spreading it back over him. For several moments, he watched the younger man sleep letting himself worry about what this outsider's presence was going to mean for his little family.

He hadn't had much left after the dust finally settled from the hijackings. When he'd gotten out of prison, most of his old team had scattered, even Vince had gone off to do his own thing far away from California and Dominic Toretto. In all honesty, Dom didn't know what he would have done, if he hadn't found Jared in prison and taken him under his wing. At the time he went to prison it had been hard going from being the leader of a tight knit team to being an army of one and maybe two depending on what side of the fence Brian was going to land on. Standing in his cell, Dom hadn't been sure even though he should have known better than to doubt the man's integrity and loyalty.

Jared though, Jared Padalecki had been exactly the thing Dominic had needed to keep his head in the right place. The kid had come into his cell looking all kinds of badass, but for Dom it was easy to see the act was just that, and at the time it was a very thin shell around what turned out to be a very scared kid. He'd been more or less abandoned by his family for something as stupid as his sexuality. Then to make matters worse he'd attached himself to the wrong crowd. One thing led to another and eventually was railroaded into a tougher sentence than he deserved in Dom's opinion by a prosecutor pissed off that the kid wouldn't squeal and a judge who wanted to prove he was tough on crime for his political aspirations, Jared was a case book example of wrong place, wrong time.

A good kid who the world seemed to have simply turned its back on and forgotten Jared had learned a lot of wrong lessons by the time he'd stepped into Dom's cell. Fortunately for him, Dom had by that time learned more right ones than he had before his first trip through the justice system, and immediately after lying eyes on the kid, decided he was gonna be a much better influence the second time around. As time went by though, Dominic gradually began to wonder who was teaching who, as the kid slowly began to ingrain himself onto Dominic's soul until there was no family for him that didn't include this tall sometimes hot headed kid who liked to smile and just seemed to want someone to care enough to stick around.

Vince had moved to upstate New York, and Dom wondered if that was the furthest the other man could think to get away from him. Leon had never shown back up after the last heist, and Dom prayed every night that his old friend was safe and alive wherever he was. Letty had moved on to someone tougher and much more badass. Dominic figured that once she'd seen the writing on the wall where their relationship was concerned, she hadn't been able to find any other reason to stick around. More than one night had been spent sleepless, as he went over all the ways he'd done her wrong wondering if she would ever find her way off the bad road he blamed himself for her being on.

Mia, Dominic's baby sister, had finally just quietly given up.

She still called once a week, still asked about the store now turned bar` and the garage and whatever else was going on in his life, but she too had moved away, building herself a life away from Dominic and hers was probably the loss that hurt the most. She was a subject that he and Brian just Did. Not. Talk. About. Brian's opinion on certain members of his former team was quite colorful and acidic. An argument about them was the one time he had Brian had ever had a throw down. Interestingly enough, when he'd told his sister what Brian had said, she'd laughed and said O'Connor always had had their numbers. Dom hadn't been sure what kind of a reaction he'd expected, but that certainly was not it.

After laughing she'd proceeded to tell Dom that he was a fucking moron if he let Brian get away and assured him that she was well over any love or lust she'd thought she'd ever felt for the blonde surfer boy. "My girlfriend has more than soothed any wounds he left, Dominic," she'd told him in a sarcastically caustic way that left Dom's insides scared and raw.

Strangely enough or maybe not strangely at all, after that conversation, Dominic hadn't felt as defensive towards Brian's opinions on his baby sister and his old friends as he had before.

Finally moving away from Jensen, Dom moved to the window seeing a pair of long legs stretched out under it and sighed before moving away. Moving quietly so as not to awaken the two sleeping men, Dom made breakfast, a couple bagels putting lots of cream cheese and some smoked salmon on one, knowing it was one of Jared's non-sugary breakfast weaknesses. Then, after loading up a tray, Dom made his way down the hallway and outside onto the patio setting himself and the tray down next to his young friend turned little brother.

"You look like shit," Dom said after taking a look at Jared's face. "You slept yet?"

When the other man just shrugged, Dom sighed and took a sip of his coffee before sinking his teeth into his jalapeno bagel. "What'd he say?" Dom asked after several minutes had gone by with him eating and Jared just sitting next to him silent and stubborn.

"It's stupid," Jared finally muttered quietly. "You're gonna yell."

Dom sighed and turned his attention to Jared again; thinking not for the first time that he was much more the kid than Dom a lot of the time remembered. "Maybe, but only if you deserve it." Dom said firmly and yet gently remembering all the times his father had done the same with him.

"He basically insulted your honor," Jared said blushing and Dom blinked fighting not to laugh.

"My honor, kid?" Dom finally asked once he was sure he wouldn't laugh. "What am I some damsel in distress?"

When Jared only glared angrily kicking at the boards under his foot, Dom sighed and tried again. "What did he say, Jared."

"He said that he couldn't believe that someone like you would care what happened to a Federal Agent!" Jared snapped angry and still upset, jaw clenched and eyes suspiciously shiny. "As if because you've been to jail you'd just watch someone take him down. As if you'll never be anything humane just because you've done time. Like we're all just animals still locked in cages."

It was the 'we're' that finally explained to Dom what was going on. Taking a minute to get his thoughts in order, Dom finished off half of his bagel, more than a little relieved when Jared finally started to nibble on one half of his own. "You really like him, huh?" Dom asked ignoring the rest of it for the moment, and when Jared looked at him startled, Dom knew he'd hit the nail on the head.

"You know, Jay, he isn't the only lawman to think we're little more than savages because we got records," Dom pointed out and Jared scowled drinking his coffee filled with cream and sugar.

"Brian doesn't act that way." Jared pouted and Dom didn't even try to stop the grin at the mention of his lover's name.

"Well, Brian is what you call unique," Dom pointed out and Jared shrugged still scowling mulishly. "Jensen is supposed to be his boy," Jared spat back and Dom nodded carefully. "I would never speak about Brian like that to one of his friends, even if I thought it was true!"

"I'd tell you that he was a jackass sure and fuck even him, but I wouldn't go runnin' my mouth to some fuckin' stranger I don't even know badmouthin' him! If for no other reason than because it'd reflect bad on you an' I owe you more'n that!"

Dom smiled and pulled Jared over into a half hug pretending he didn't hear the younger man sniffling against his chest. "Well, you're kinda unique too, Jay," Dom finally said proud of his boy because he knew what Jared said was the truth. The chances of Jared talking smack about Brian to Jensen was less than zero, despite the fact that they weren't the best of friends. Jared was just simply too loyal and too big-hearted to talk bad about someone Dominic cared about to anyone but Dominic and the other person. When he heard Jared yawning against his chest, Dom smiled and slapped his shoulder.

"Come on into the house. You got awhile before you gotta leave, and you should get some sleep. I'll clean this breakfast stuff up later." Leading Jared into the house, Dom ignored the man sitting on the couch as he got his boy upstairs and into bed.

Slipping into his own room, Dom laid down on the empty bed staring at the ceiling, and stayed that way 'til Brian came in wet from his shower. "What happened now?" Brain asked, running the towel over his hair one last time before tossing it towards the hamper then sitting down next to Dom on the bed.

"Jared's back. Jensen apparently implied I should be less than concerned about his welfare for no other reason than because I am a con."

"And therefore Jared also," Brian sighed running a hand over his face before turning his body to look at his boyfriend. "I don't think he meant it that way," Brian started then stopped and shrugged. "Although he could have, I haven't seen him since I left the bureau. I know this doesn't excuse it, Dom, but you gotta remember how green he is. I mean, I did my best to help him see that sometimes good people just did bad things or got themselves into bad situations, but he's been surrounded by a bunch of cynical jackasses for a long time. He's a good guy, Dom."

Dom rolled his head, turning his attention away from the ceiling and onto Brian frowning slightly. "Never said he wasn't, Bri. It's like you said last night. Jensen said something stupid and Jared over reacted. We both know how protective of me Jared is and we both know he takes insults toward me much more seriously than he does ones toward himself."

Brian snorted and half grinned. "He really is a Vince Jr. sometimes. I'll go down and talk to him. Jared gonna be ok?"

Dom nodded and lifting a hand rubbed it over Brian's back more to soothe himself though with the contact than Brian. "Yeah, I put him to bed. He should be ok in a few hours."

"Maybe you should get some more sleep yourself," Brian suggested gently and stood letting Dom rearrange himself on the bed, and by the time he was dressed and ready to go, his lover was fast asleep again.

When Brian got to the bottom of the stairs, he saw Jensen sitting up on the couch watching him warily as if he was unsure he wanted to know who'd been coming down. "You forget everything I taught you, Texas?" Brian asked stepping off the bottom step and crossing the hallway heading into the living room. He watched Jensen hang his head, heard the slight sniffle, and knew the kid was beating himself up more than anyone else could. "Didn't mean it like that," Jensen said so softly that Brian almost didn't hear him as he crossed the room to sit next to his friend.

"I know," Brian assured pulling the kid over into a one armed hug. Taking a deep breath, Brian let his head tilt backwards to look up at the ceiling as he felt Jensen cautiously getting comfortable next to him an arm stretching tentatively across his waist. "And I told Dom that I didn't think you did, but Jen..." Brian stopped and sighed unsure of how to proceed. How was he supposed to assure Jensen he knew where he was coming from without slipping into bad habits where Jared was concerned?

"I know that you didn't mean that you think Dom is some kind of heartless con, or at least I think for the most part you didn't. I think for the most part you meant that you think you are beneath Dom's worrying about because you for some reason think you are less of a person than him, which by the way Texas is complete bullshit. We'll get into that later though."

"Back to the current issue, I do think that there is some part of you that isn't quite sure you trust Dom, trust any con, and I get it, kid. I honestly and truly do. It's an easy habit to fall into and it's an even harder habit to break considering 90% of the scumbags that we deal with are basically worthless, heartless, bastards."

"In your defense, I know that Jared is protective of Dom so much that it borders on obsession sometimes, but in Jared's defense I understand. Honestly, if I were in his shoes I would probably be the same way. Dom is one hell of a bright light when you're lost in the dark, and for someone who was as lost in it as Jay was, Dom would be impossibly hard to resist. Hell I wasn't even half as lost as Jared was and I got caught so bad I nearly went to prison for the man."

Moving a hand under Jensen's chin, Brian made the younger man look up at him before he continued. "You're gonna have to remember that Jared is touchy where Dom is concerned, and that you have nothing to fear here. Hell not even Jay and his temper, 'cause as hot as it burns sometimes I've never seen him loose it so much that he's lost control over himself. He may yell and try and intimidate you, but that's pretty much it unless you keep pushing. Just remember you're my boy as much as he is Dom's, so if it comes down to it I've got your back."

"But I gotta tell you Texas, it would be nice if the two of you could learn to work together so I didn't have to butt heads with Dom. 'Cause I guarantee as soon as I step up between you two, he's gonna do the same."

"I don't wanna cause trouble between you and Dom," Jensen insisted sitting up and sighing. "I really don't want to fight with Jared. I swear I didn't mean to step on his toes." Snorting Jensen looked down and Brian could tell he was angry with himself. "Trust me, fighting was the last thing I wanted to do with Jared last night, but as usual I fucked it up."

"Knock it off," Brian ordered sternly before patting Jensen's shoulder and standing. "Come on Texas, I'll make us some breakfast if you can handle eggs and bacon."

Jensen arched an eyebrow suddenly warily. "Umm, only if your cooking has improved," he shot back with a grin on his face, following Brian out of the room.



~~~~@-->--->------- --------<----<--@~~~~~

Several hours later, Jensen found himself sitting shotgun in Jared's car, sunglasses on, radio blasting something Metallica, and wondering if his hand would get broken if he turned it down to talk. Deciding that he was feeling brave, Jensen reached over, turning the volume down enough so he could speak over the screaming guitars. However, he shifted uneasily under what he guessed was Jared was giving him the stink eye from behind his own sunglasses.

"I just wanted to apologize," Jensen said softly having to clear his throat and try again when the first time came out as a very unmanly croak. "You know, for last night." Jensen clarified when Jared remained quiet. "I didn't... I wouldn't... I mean I..."

"It's ok," Jared finally said interrupting quietly tapping the steering wheel with his thumbs. "I tend to be over sensitive where Dom is concerned. A fact he points out quite often."

"It's just," Jared started, but stopped to compose his thoughts while he passed a line of cars before continuing. "I owe Dom. I owe him more than I probably will ever be able to repay, and to be honest he's pretty much all I have. An' I am honest enough and smart enough to know that if he hadn't decided to watch out for me while we were in, my life would be a huge pile of crap right now. I was going nowhere, making all the wrong decisions, listening to all the wrong people, and the fact that it landed me in federal prison should have been a wakeup call. Unfortunately I don't think it would have been if it hadn't been for Dom."

"I had no friends left, had no family left. They all tossed me out and turned their backs when I came out to them." Jared shrugged as if he didn't care, but Jensen couldn't imagine how something like that wouldn't follow you throughout the rest of your life. "All I got myself was a one way ticket to the big house. It's really only dumb luck that things have worked out so well."

"What were you in for?" Jensen asked softly and Jared shrugged again turning his head to look at Jensen before turning back to the road. "I was the getaway driver for a bank robbery. Stupid, naive, didn't have a fuckin' clue what I was doing. I was scared shitless when I got sent to prison. Thought that I could keep pretending to be a badass, praying to GOD that they didn't find out I was queer. I wasn't used to being on my own. I'd been pretty tight with my family up 'til I came out. I always had a million friends, hell I even pretended I was madly in love with the head cheerleader for awhile, even though it was the grease monkey in shop class I really wanted."

"Went in a 21 year old scared kid and came out a 28 year old with no future except what Dom's garage offered and no family except the con who had become my big brother. So, sometimes I over react where Dom is concerned, but the way I see it, he's all I got in this fuckin' crappy assed life I am living. So, I can either protect what I got or watch someone take it away like they have everything else."

Jensen knew he should speak. Knew that this was the point where he was supposed to offer some bit of himself and create some connection between them, but after hearing Jared's story, he only felt like a giant ass.

"I don't want to fight with you," Jared said quietly again, and Jensen turned his head to look at Jared.

"I don't want to fight with you either," Jensen admitted swallowing with difficulty before looking away.

"So let's not," Jared suggested and thankful Jensen nodded his agreement as they slipped into silence.

"I don't blame you," Jensen finally spoke after Trapped under Ice switched to Escape. "I can't imagine losing everything you have just because you like men instead of women." He admitted quietly. "My family was so supportive not that we're the Cleavers but at least in that aspect they supported me. I mean I have friends whose families had problems but nothing that..." Jensen paused shaking his head. "Not even your friends stood by you?"

Jared sighed shrugging again. "No, not really. I mean, I come from a pretty small town where different just isn't done. Don't think any of them had ever seen a gay person before. One minute I had this huge loving family and a whole town filled with friends, and the next I had nothing. Then I fuck up, end up in jail thinking I am heading into the biggest nightmare of my life, and end up with a man I'm closer to than my real flesh and blood brother." Jared shook his head and flashed Jensen a grin before turning his eyes back to the road. "Life is weird huh? We're here."

And, before Jensen could reply Jared was pulling into the restaurant and parking the car.

Taking a deep breath, Jensen got his mind back onto the issue at hand before getting out and joining Jared who was waiting for him patiently at the front of the car.

~~~~~@-->--->------- --------<----<--@~~~~~

"Did we figure out who Jay was?" Greg whispered to Nick seeing the huge man coming in with Jensen walking next to him like a bodyguard. When his partner didn't respond Greg turned to look at him and saw his lover studying the men intently and he knew Nick was wondering the same thing.

"I think it's that Pada... that kid Toretto picked up in prison." Nick finally replied watching Jensen and Jared approach the table.

"You say that like he's some disease or something," Greg whispered kicking his partner under the table earning himself a glare. "You know we're supposed to be open minded here."

"I'm being open minded about Jensen," Nick huffed. "I made no promises on the jailbird." Greg rolled his eyes resisting the urge to kick Nick again as the other two men reached the table finally.

As he moved through the restaurant, Jensen could feel Jared looming beside him. The older man seemed to have changed the second Jensen got out of the car. It was almost as if some switch had been flipped. Despite the fight from the night before when Jensen was sure he was gonna get his face pounded in, this was the first time Jared felt... dangerous. Jensen almost felt bad for anyone who tried to get to him, 'cause he had no doubt that Jared would make sure it was the last thing they did.

As they neared the table, he could see Nick was watching them. Jensen thought that it was Jared drawing the senior agent's attention, but couldn't help inching slightly closer to Jay, just in case he was wrong. His extra height and those huge muscles alone made Jensen feel safer than he had with any partner he'd ever had outside of Brian. He knew Jared was packing. He'd seen him tuck the gun into the back of his pants at the house. He figured he should have at least put up a courtesy protest, but didn't. He didn't want to admit even to himself that he felt better knowing it was there.

"G," Jensen greeted smiling a true smile as his friend came out from behind the table giving him a hug. "Greg, Nick, this is Jared Padalecki. Jay, this is Greg and Nick."

"Is this some kind of Texas ritual," Greg whispered as they watched Nick and Jared stare at each other. Shaking his head, Jensen tried not to smile, doubting Jared would be too happy about it. "More like some alpha male thing, I think," he finally replied wondering what was going on in Jared's head.

Jared hated cops and any law enforcement type person. He figured it was something about having been in prison that gave a person the 'us versus them' mentality. He had no doubt this person knew who he was and where he'd been. Brian had drawn him aside before he'd left and warned him what to expect. He was also trying to ignore the fact that Brian used to be one of those law enforcement type people; otherwise he'd just be screwed.

"Nick Stokes," the man he'd been studying finally said stepping out from his seat behind the table holding out a hand to Jared.

Frowning Jared slowly lifted his hand and took Nick's in one of his big paws trying to resist the urge to break it. He knew he could, but doubted Dom would be happy though. Besides, he didn't really understand just what was going on. This ubber FBI type guy wasn't supposed to be acting like he was willing to consider Jared friend until proven foe.

"What just happened?" Greg whispered to Jensen who shrugged as confused as his friend. He'd been about to call Brian and tell him to get bail money ready when Nick held out his hand to Jared.

"Let's sit," Jensen suggested and thankfully everyone agreed Nick and Greg resuming their positions at the back of the table with Jared and Jensen at the front, Jensen getting put on the inside next to the wall. For a moment he had a flash of irritation since he WAS the federal agent, but then quickly remembered how scared he'd been the last several months on his own and was once again glad for Jared's protection.

"So," Nick said after they all gave the waitress their drink orders, "What's goin on, Jen?"

Jensen took a moment to look at Jared, who gave him a quick nod, before turning his attention back to Nick. "That's what I need to know." Jensen said lifting his chin. "How does a rookie who has had two partners one accused of being dirty and the other actually being dirty get an undercover assignment that should go to someone who has deep undercover experience? How is it a senior officer that isn't even over my unit sends me to said accused agent and all but tells me not to look at said former agent's two time ex con boyfriend? I ain't an idiot Stokes, I know I'm getting screwed here. I'd just like to know how many guys I am takin' it up the ass for before I catch somethin' communicable."

Jensen heard Jared snort and turned his head briefly to see the younger man relaxed in his chair lounging like he didn't have a care in the world with his hands folded, resting on the table. He was under no misconception though that it was real, believing he'd come alive at the drop of a pin if needed. Unable to explain why if he had to, Jensen found himself grinning at him, drawing a wink and a grin back before turning his attention back to Nick who was watching the interaction between them behind a guarded gaze.

"Am I gonna end up standin' alone with my dick waving in the wind? Or am I gonna have some help when I need it?" Jensen insisted getting back to the matter at hand and watched Stokes ease back in his own chair copying Jared's stance growing even more confused at their actions.

"You're not alone, Ackles," Nick finally responded, guarded expression still firmly in place. "That is one reason we agreed to this, because we wanted you to know that despite Rosenbaum's agenda, you have backup. His agenda is not our agenda, or even the bureau's agenda. The bureau's agenda is to get Sterling Brown off the streets and you are as good of an agent to do the job as any of us. It's not always about experience. Rosenbaum is a situation completely separate from all of this and I don't want you worrying about that. We'll handle him. You just worry about the mission at hand."

"How am I supposed to do that when I know my boss only picked me because he wants me fired?" Jensen snapped and felt more than saw Jared tense next to him, but didn't turn his attention from the senior agent this time.

"Because your real boss thinks you can do the job, or he wouldn't have had the chat with you about O'Connor," Nick admitted and both Jensen and Greg's mouths fell open with surprise. "I assume I don't have to say how extremely sensitive that information is."

"I'm gonna have to tell Irish," Jensen said immediately and Nick smirked and shrugged. "We figured as much. We wouldn't have sent you to him if we weren't comfortable with him knowing everything you do."

"So, what should I know about Sterling K Brown that I can't get from a file?" Jensen asked and the three agents settled in to talk shop, with Jared appearing extremely bored until his food came which he eagerly focused his entire attention on.

Later as they were leaving the restaurant, the pairs splitting up to go back to report to their side, Nick paused on his way to his SUV. "Jensen, do me a favor. Tell O'Connor we said that it's all friendly skies from here," He called and frowning Jensen nodded.

Jared remained quiet until they got into the car. "Wha's that mean?" He asked curious, but Jensen just shrugged, as unsure as Jared was.

Read Chapter Three of Five of Life Actoss the Finish Line (or J2 does the Fast and the Furious) by KliqzAngel