morrobay1990

Title: “...quit if he had to...” - 8
Author:

morrobay1990
Genre: post canon
Warning:
Word count: 420
Disclaimer: Jack & Ennis are AP's
♥ Ennis

Ennis went back to ranch work, hired on here and there, not getting much ahead but glad enough to be around stock again, free to drop things, quit if he had to, and go into the mountains at short notice.

Shit, Jack was gonna be pissed.

But how was Ennis supposed to know that the Denver show would end up being so soon after their last trip? So soon that it was impossible to get that time off...

And hadn't he fixed it so they got together earlier that last time?

Jack wouldn't care about that now, though.

After they had set up the Denver trip, Jack had been so excited that Ennis had even come up with the damn idea, it was all he could talk about...that is, when he wasn't showing his appreciation in various and strenuous and lengthy physical ways...

Ennis struggled with how to let him know that he wouldn't be able to make it...how to let him know that it hurt him, too.

He knew he should call, knew he should call...knew that simply sending a card back was cowardly...

But telling Jack something he didn't want to hear...telling him something he knew would hurt him...

Well, Jack wasn't the only one with a tender heart.

Ennis had feelings...and he knew what Jack thought...in his heart, he knew a lot more than he let on.

He knew Jack thought that Ennis saw their meetings as a quick getaway for sex...that he didn't want anything more...that he was content...happy, even...with the few times a year they had with each other.

If Ennis was a different kind of man, a man who could put words to his feelings, maybe Jack would understand...

Maybe Ennis should try harder...

Try to what?

Try to overcome the trauma that was his childhood...

Try to forget the sight that no one should see, let alone a nine year old boy...

Try to come to grips with feelings that strangled him...

Try to accept a love that everything in him, everything around him, told him was wrong...but that felt so perfect...

If he was a different kind of man, maybe Jack wouldn't love him as much as he did...

who

fucking

knows

“Hello?”

“Jack.”

“....................yeah.......” he ain't goin

“Jack...I'm sorry...you know I am

Jack....

“Can't be there, huh?” what else is new?

“I want to...”

Jack...

“Yeah...sure...no problem...I didn't even pay for the room yet...”

“Jack.............”

“Yeah...........see ya next time........”

“I might be able to get away a little early in October...”

“ ”

“Jack?”

"Hello?"

"Michael...it's Jack..."