"...quit if he had to..." - 9

[morrobay1990]

Title: “...quit if he had to...” - 9
Author: morrobay1990
Genre: au
Warning:
Word count: 360
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.


















What was he doing?
Why was he going?
What would he say when he got there?
What if Jack wasn't even there?

The questions spun around in Ennis's head until he couldn't think straight.

He couldn't get extra time off, but didn't have to work the weekend, and had decided on the spur of the moment to go and meet up with Jack, try to straighten things out, even if they could only spend a day together.

Would Jack be glad to see him?
Would he see that Ennis was trying?

His truck sped down the highway towards Denver.










“Glad you called...good to see ya again.”

“Well...glad you decided to come...so to speak.”

Michael laughed, “Let's go out, I'm hungry.”

“Yeah, but I need a shower first.”

“Me, too...you wash my back, I'll wash yours...might even do your front...”










Once inside Denver city limits Ennis stopped at a pay phone and looked in the giant directory that hung by a steel cord, trying to find the name of the motel that Jack had put on his postcard....he dialed.

“Uh, yeah...is there a Jack Twist stayin there?”

“Hold on....room 4, want me to ring?”

“No, no thanks.”










Ennis pulled into the motel parking lot and found number 4 near the back. He parked and looked around for Jack's truck but didn't see it. He went to the door and knocked quietly...no response...he must be at the show.

He made his way back to his truck and rested his head back and closed his eyes, trying to think of what he was going to say...didn't really matter, after the first couple minutes they wouldn't be doing any talking anyway...he drifted off.

The loud slam of a truck door woke him.

It was dark. He looked out to see if it was Jack...and it was.

Jack and another man got out of Jack's truck...the other man was talking and making gestures with his arms, as if he were telling a story, and Jack was laughing...they walked up to room 4, Jack opened the door with his key and they both walked in.

Then he shut the door behind them.

Comments

[yummyje.livejournal.com]

Wow! Boy O Boy! Can't wait to see the fur fly - though the sadness and disappointment will be major. Maybe they can have a 3-way (just kidding). I love the way you've blended the two stories together in continuation. Though J and E are always destined to be together I hope for something good for Michael too; he's too nice a guy to always be left wanting...

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

Thanks, glad you like the twists and turns...Michael is a good guy...Ennis is a dork, sometimes...Jack's just Jack :)

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

Caught you by surprise? Stay tuned...

thank you

Okay

[joetheone.livejournal.com]

Well a dose of medication that we don't want to take at all. Seeing your man the one you love the one you yearn for daily talking and smiling with another and entering a hotel room. Well, what do you do? One Ennis I know would start his truck and go back to Riverton and stew and be mad as hell and hate life and Jack and himself. Another Ennis will go to the door and see what is up and what is going on? When he finds out he will want to tear the new guy a new asshole and yell and scream and cause a terrible scene. Or he could yet just sulk in the truck until morning and wait for Jack to find him in the parking lot and confront him on what he was doing in that their room. So many options and you are leaving us hanging and waiting and panting for more more more. I hate guessing but I had to do it. Joe

Re: Okay

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

Hey Joe,
Yes, seeing someone you love with another person will break your heart...

Who knows what Ennis would do...all of your guesses are plausible...we'll see :)

thank you!

[moyaima.livejournal.com]

Is there still som hope ? .... come on Ennis, be a man, for once in your life ....
Like Joe says, there's so many possibilities...
Thanks again for this great fic, can't wait for the next instalment ☺x

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you like it...I'll try to get the next one up quickly

thanks!

[soulan.livejournal.com]

Ennis, act fast! Whatever you do don't wait 5 minutes before deciding to go in there.


You will be updating shortly, right?

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

Act fast? You mean, Ennis, the master of confrontation?

Yes, updating shortly..

thank you

[aileenfan.livejournal.com]

Oh my!!! I smell a disaster!!! Ennis will be furious but then maybe he'll finally see that Jack can't wait forever:/

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

Sometimes it takes a kick in the ass to get somebody (no names) moving!

thanks for reading

[noreins.livejournal.com]

Yikes!

I hope Ennis doesn't just hightail it back to Wyoming...

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

Now what makes you think he'd do that? Oh, yeah...it's Ennis we're talking about.

thanks for reading and commenting

[dreamy40.livejournal.com]

Did not see that coming! Yowsa! Looking forward to more. And to think when I saw the word count I was disappointed it was such a small number. And look what you did with your 360 words.

More please.
x

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you...glad you thought the 360 was enough after all!

[sjmarv.livejournal.com]

Hope Ennis confronts Jack and vice versa.

Susan

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

Hi Susan
yeah, something's got to give.

thanks for reading and commenting.

[sliveredmoon.livejournal.com]

I hope Ennis leaves. Just goes back home and thinks about what they've been playing at. Because arguing with Jack right now won't resolve anything, and it will hurt Michael, who's really an innocent bystander. Funny how it bothers me that Michael might get hurt in all this. Ennis has to think about whether he wants to play, "Gotcha." I hope he can see that his stubbornness is pushing Jack away. I believe Ennis is at some kind of crossroads.

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

I like your thoughts on this, very definite, and they match the characters so well...I think it's sweet that you're worried about Michael...I am, too...

thank you so much

[heathyluv.livejournal.com]

My computer has been all screwed up and a few minutes after turning it on, some huge black bar shows up on my screen. BUT, thankfully, your installments usually aren't that long, so I get just the right amount of time to check out your new chapters. And let me tell you, this chapter had me on the edge of my seat! I can't wait for more. Please update again soon.

[heathyluv.livejournal.com]

Oh, and another thing, no matter how you play this out; Ennis leaves, or confronts Jack, I know it will be good and damn realistic as you always portray your E and J.

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Kelly, always nice to hear that you like the way things are going...

Next one should be up pretty quick.

[juliathecat.livejournal.com]

Uh oh.

I hope this is the time when Ennis finally realizes what and who he's risking to lose. I'm curious to know what's next.

This was an unexpected turn, thanks!

JC

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

Uh oh, is right. Who thought that Ennis would get up off his ass and go to Jack, right?

Thank you, and glad you like it.

[mazaher.livejournal.com]

It seems you are raising a lot of wishes with this one =)
I have no doubt that you're going to go on writing this exactly how *you* are seeing it.
But as wishes are for free...
I tend to agree with sliveredmoon. Only, there is a risk that if Ennis goes back home before facing the issue, he may lose courage and avoid it completely, acting as nothing had happened and trying to mend things that way.
If I were in his boots, I'd say my best option would be waiting outside in the truck, allowing Michael to leave (or asking for a talk with Jack alone if they're going out together in the morning), trying not to lose his handle on his feelings, and seeing what happens.
There's a whole sleepless night in which to make up his mind as to the risk/cost/benefit ratio.
In any case, thank you for a masterful story.

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

Ah, glad to hear from you, as always!

Wishes are free, and if I could have one...well, then we wouldn't need slash, there would already be a happy ending.

To me Jack is very straightforward to write...he knows what he wants, and tries to go after it, whether it's Ennis or now Michael.

Ennis is so complex and so simple, at the same time. What would he, as written by AP, do? Both scenarios are plausible: stay and fight, or leave alone.

So we shall see.

Thank you so much. (Masterful - I love that word!)

[ramona4jake.livejournal.com]

holly hell, now what ?! will this be a wake-up cal for Ennis ? at last.....

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

yes, a very loud wake-up call

thank you

[sliveredmoon.livejournal.com]

The thing I had to remember is that Ennis didn't get time off. This was an impulsive overnight trip. He has to go home or lose his job. This chapter is just so frustrating.

From where Ennis is sitting, Jack still has his "public" image with Lureen, a good life, and a flexible job. He has Ennis, and he has other options when Ennis isn't available.

This situation isn't all Ennis' fault due to his stubborn nature. Some of it is Jack's too. Jack could change his own live whenever he chooses. If Jack were single, and out here waiting for him, then what?

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

Exactly, good point. Ennis doesn't have a week to try to figure out what to do, it's got to be a quick decision - stay or go.

If Jack knew Ennis would go with him, he would leave Lureen in a second.

But if Jack were free, do you think Ennis would go to him?

I'm not so sure...

[blackbird-y.livejournal.com]

Oh god.. >< ohgodohgodohgod