"...and he found ways to spend it." - 8

[morrobay1990]

Title: “...and he found ways to spend it.” - 8
Author: morrobay1990
Genre: post canon
Warning:
Word count: 550
Disclaimer: Jack & Ennis are AP's
♥ Jack



”Down in Texas Jack's father-in-law died and Lureen, who inherited the farm equipment business, showed a skill for management and hard deals. Jack found himself with a vague managerial title, traveling to stock and agricultural shows. He had some money now and found ways to spend it."











This was new – another first. He suddenly realized he wasn't ready for it to be over.

There was something to be said for being held, and made love to, and soothed, even if it wasn't by the one he wanted most...and Ennis had never been very soothing.

For the first time since he'd been alone with Michael he thought about Ennis, vaguely wondered what he was doing.

He suddenly wanted to jump in the truck with Michael and just drive...get away and leave it all.

There was one thing that could change all that.

On an impulse he picked up the phone by the bed and asked the motel operator for an outside line, dialed the memorized number.

“Yeah, it's Jack.

“Uh, Amarillo. Stock show.

“Nothin...well, yeah...I was wonderin about June...

“Yeah, I know but...I was thinkin maybe I could come up now...or maybe we could make it earlier...maybe May."

He closed his eyes against the answer.

“Yeah...yeah, I remember...yeah, you always said he was a bastard to work for.

“See ya in June, then.”

He hung up the phone and sadness descended.

Michael emerged from the bathroom...steam and the smell of soap came with him...his hair was wet and he was wrapping a cheap white motel towel around his waist.

Jack looked at him and pushed the darkness aside...he flashed him a smile.

“I got an idea.”







Within ninety minutes Jack's pick-up was headed out of town towards Colorado.

He'd told Michael what he had in mind, then taken a quick shower, gave him some money to pay his motel bill (including the long-distance phone bill), and gone back to his hotel and packed up.

From his room he quickly called Lureen and told her he was changing hotels and would call her later...he could hear the adding machine in the background, and he didn't have to get too creative, she wasn't really listening. He hung up the phone and sighed.

It seemed everyone in his life was just fine without him.

At the front desk he settled up in cash, then drove to the long-term parking garage downtown, where Michael put his truck.

There hadn't been a lot of conversation between the two of them that morning, but what was said had lifted Jack's spirits, especially after the beating they had taken from Ennis.

When he had first suggested leaving the show and going to the mountains, he knew he was taking a gamble...for all he knew this guy was just out for a night, like he himself had been more times than he wanted to remember.

If he had gotten turned down twice in an hour, by Ennis and then by Michael...well, he hadn't really thought that far ahead. And Michael had shown more than a little interest in him.

And the response had surprised him...surprised him, and made Ennis recede a little further into the darkness that he had created in Jack's mind.

After he had laid out what he'd been thinking, Michael had come to him and leaned over...softly kissed him twice, and told him he could be ready in ten minutes.

Comments

[carmenmariabs.livejournal.com]

que duro es esto...

[sjmarv.livejournal.com]

Breaking my heart so beautifully.

Susan

[soulan.livejournal.com]

Reading this type of scenario just from Jack's side, it's really easy to cheer him on, root for the Other Guy and write off Ennis because, like Slipping Into Darkness, we haven't seen Ennis in the story. We just imagine unseen Ennis as his pure canon self whereas this Jack, by virtue of doing something different, is not his pure canon self. I think the real challenge would be to bring Ennis into the picture as well, make us sympathize with him and still have Jack quit him.

moving on

[joetheone.livejournal.com]

Well, his heart will always be with Ennis but it is nice to have a person who is willing to give a little of themselves and to be with. When the one you want is not available and giving you a difficult time this is how it is. I know a lot of people would tell me that is wrong and that whatever you should remain loyal and not do such things but, from life experience I have to say I agree with Jack. No doubt in my mind that if Ennis said okay lets do this Jack would drop Michael in a heartbeat and move forward with Ennis but he is not and well life goes on. Joe

[moyaima.livejournal.com]

awww, one part of me don' like Jack at all right now for what he's doing, but another, growing part keeps thinkin go for it boy, you gotta do with what life gives ya ... and I'm liking this story this ... thanks for writing and for the time you're putting in it ☺x

[eandj.livejournal.com]

poor Michael- I think he really likes Jack and perhaps is ready for more but Jack will never be ready- not really
Ennis only has to say the word and he's out here but nonetheless I' glad he took the opportunity to be with someone who actually shows an interest in him.
Paula

[tizi17.livejournal.com]

soulan's comment is not so off...
but do we really know canon jack? do we know what he did on his trips? when he went to mexico? important thing is, though, that he always came back to ennis, and got rejected again...

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

yes, never easy for them.
thanks for reading, Carmen

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

Susan, didn't mean to break your heart (well, maybe I did...)

thank you for reading and always commenting

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

go for it...I'd certainly read that

Re: moving on

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

I've found myself getting mad at Ennis while writing this one...usually I can see both sides of them, but when I put myself so much in Jack's shoes, while he's away from Ennis and the comfort he needs from him, it's harder to deal with.

thanks, Joe

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

I'm torn in the same way...be loyal to someone who can't give much, or as you say, live life.

thanks for the comment about putting in the time...I'm so very glad it's appreciated.

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

No, Jack will never be able to move away from Ennis for good...sad for all three of them

thank you for reading and leaving your thoughts.

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

right, nobody knows...there's so much left unanswered...I sometimes wish AP had done a 500 page novel and filled in some of the blanks for us...Jack's life especially is such a mystery, not Ennis's so much.

thanks for reading and commenting

[heathyluv.livejournal.com]

Fuck, I'm totally hooked on this story, Nancy. I feel Jack's pain with each caress to Michael's body. Fuckin' Ennis. You said in a comment above how pissed off you got at Ennis while writing this. Well, I'm right there with you.

I hope you post again soon.

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised, I didn't think this would be your type of story at all...but glad you like it.

[heathyluv.livejournal.com]

I'm just as surprised as you are. But you pack such a vivid/raw punch in so few words... I'm right there with Jack. It's fantastic writing.

[morrobay1990.livejournal.com]

Oh, well said. And me, too...I am most definitely conflicted.

This one is not easy for me to write, it's going to a place I've never gone before in writing, or even really thought about, in connection with the original story and movie.

I love both these characters, and I do have compassion for them both. But AP left it wide open for all sorts of things to have happened when Ennis wasn't available to Jack.

And as you say, he did deserve some "relief and joy". And Michael is a good guy...

thanks so much.

[rimasworld.livejournal.com]

I think Jack needs someone like Michael. Although Ennis doesn't mean to hurt him, he does and also hurts himself too. Their relationship is so heartbreaking sometimes I wish Jack could have lived to move on with someone more open and affectionate.

[lara-pinta.livejournal.com]

Great writing to still be keeping Ennis in the background, even with the telephone conversation. It makes us fill in the blanks ourselves about Ennis, and we have to rely on what we already know about canon Ennis.

Thank you