nosunlight

11:58 pm: Can't Stand It - v8
Title: Can’t Stand It - Vignettes
Rating: NC-17 for the whole story
Genre: au Summary: Jack drives to Wyoming when he hears about Ennis’ divorce. He does not react well to Ennis sending him away.Warnings: Angst, bad grammar, typos......no death and I like happily ever after.Disclaimer: I borrowed these characters and I make no money from this.Feedback: Yes, be honest- just be nice about it. I’m sorry that I write the lamest responses.ENJOY!
 

Can't Stand It
v8

They left the hotel and Bobby said he wasn’t ready for breakfast. He wanted to walk around the small town. It wasn’t as cold as the day before so Bobby stated it was a sign that they should. Jack didn’t want to, but he agreed. Ennis stayed silent. Bobby and Ennis listened as Jack pointed to stores and told them about them if they had been around when he was living with his parents.

Even at the early hour on a Saturday morning there were people doing errands. Jack was pointing to a building across the street when Ennis noticed Bobby running away from them. "Jack."

Jack turned a saw that a little girl had fallen. She was on the sidewalk looking at her bloody palms. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ennis catch a small glittery pink ball. Adults walked around the girl as if she didn’t exist. He always had a low opinion of the people living in Lightening Flats but he couldn’t understand why no one stopped. She looked up when Bobby reached her and kneeled down to her. She looked Asian, but not completely.

Jack and Ennis walked toward Bobby and the small girl. Bobby had helped her up and then picked her up. Jack could see that the knees of her tights were torn and looked bloody. A tall man with sandy colored hair was walking quickly toward her. Jack could see that the man was carrying several bags in each hand.

As they all reached Bobby and the little girl, the door of the small shop opened and a woman came out. She looked at the girl. "Did you hurt yourself?" When the girl nodded the woman held the door open. "Come inside and we will fix you up." Bobby carried the girl in. He was followed by the sandy haired man and then by Jack and Ennis.

The sandy haired man looked at the little girl. "Are you okay, Penny?"

"My ball bounced away, Daddy." She said quietly.

Ennis walked over to her. "Is this yours?" He held out the ball. He watched her eyes light up. She took the ball from him.

"Thank you." She said quietly.

Bobby looked at her. "That’s Ennis. Behind him is my Dad. His name is Jack." He looked at the sandy haired man. "I’m Bobby."

"I’m Henry. Thank you for helping my daughter Penny."

"You’re welcome. How come no one stopped to help her?"

The man’s expression changed to a sad expression. So did Penny’s. The woman who let them in was walking toward them with a scissors. "Because some people haven’t figured out that the world isn’t flat." She stood in front of the little girl. "I think that your tights are done for. Maybe if I cut out the knees your Mommy could sew some patches on." She looked at Henry who nodded. "After I cut the stockings you can take off your coat and your Daddy can take you to the back room and wash your booboos. I have band aids, too."

"Thank you, Meg." He was still holding the bags.

Jack moved closer. "If you tell me where your truck is we can put your bags in the back."

The man looked a little unsure. Bobby spoke, "You can hold me hostage until they come back."  The man smiled and handed the bags to Jack and Ennis. He told them where his truck was and described the truck.

Jack half listened to Henry as he talked. He was watching Bobby and listening to him talk to Penny. Jack realized that they were in a bakery. He watched as Bobby carried Penny to the display cases.

"Look, little people cookies. Have you ever eaten a cookie that looked like a person?"

"No." Penny answered.

"I haven’t either. They have chocolate and vanilla people." Bobby kneeled. "They look like they are two cookies sandwiched together. We have to taste them after you get fixed up."

"I don’t have any money."

"I do." Bobby replied.

Henry took off his coat and put it on a chair. He walked over to his daughter and took her from Bobby. He took her coat off her and put is on top of his coat. As he carried her to the back room, she called out to Bobby. "Don’t go."

"I won’t. We have to have our cookies." He took off his coat and put it on the pile.

When the father and daughter went into the back, Jack looked at the woman Henry called Meg. He talked softly. "Why did the people ignore her?"

"Henry was sent to Vietnam. When he came back, he came back with a Vietnamese wife. Most people here were not too happy or too nice. They had been here a couple of years when they had Penny. They stayed out of town for the most part. But Penny started first grade this year. My daughter is in sixth grade and says that when she looks out the window and sees the lower grades at recess, no one talks to Penny. She plays by herself."

"I hate this place." Jack said.

"Not everyone is like that. My daughter says that on the first day, Penny was harassed when she got on the school bus. A group of kids, mostly older kids, protect her and sit with her."

"Why doesn’t he leave?"

"And go where?"

"Anywhere."

"They have a small house and they stay there. I guess they felt they could hide from the world. Penny and her mother only come into town with Henry. People don’t say anything rude when he is around. I think they survive because he is very good at what he does and so people use him."

"What does he do?"

"He’s a blacksmith, but mostly he is a farrier."

Ennis saw the grin on Jack’s face. "We should bring the bags to the truck, Jack."

"Sure. Bobby, stay put."

"Like I’m going to leave before I get to eat little people cookies." Bobby grinned at his father.

Jack grinned back. "H."

Ennis and Jack left the bakery. Ennis looked over at Jack. "What is going through your brain?"
"Would be nice to have another full time farrier. We do have a lot of horses. And, if he is a blacksmith, that could be interesting."

"We don’t even know if he is any good."

"People wouldn’t use him if he wasn’t good. They wouldn’t bite down their hate and hire him if he wasn’t good. We could look at his work."

"You think he would have a better time in Kansas?"

"Could it be worse?"

"What about us? You would have to tell him."

"If we think he would be a good fit we could tell him on our way out of town. It’s not like he has a lot of people to tell. Besides, people in glass houses . . . "

When they got back to the bakery, they found Henry, Penny and Bobby sitting at a small table eating cookies. There was an open box and Jack and Ennis each took a cookie. "Is this our breakfast?"

Bobby laughed. "No. This is our first course."

Ennis could see that Penny was clutching a small box with a pink bow. She kept glancing over at Bobby and looked at him with all the love a six-year-old could muster. Jack pulled Henry away and Ennis sat down and grabbed another cookie. He listened to Bobby telling her about the horse they had named Penny.

When Henry and Jack returned Henry looked at Penny. "We got to go, Penny." When her face started to crumble, he added, "Don’t worry. Bobby will be at the house later. His father wants to see what I do." Penny grinned again. Henry put his coat on and then put Penny’s coat on her. Henry thanked Bobby for the cookies.

Bobby waved as they left. Jack sat down and took another cookie. "You bought the cookies?"

"I bought this box and then I bought her a little box so she could have some later and she wanted her Mom to try them."

"You had money?"

"I always carry money."

"Pup, you are the best kid."

Bobby smiled. "I know. Can we get a real breakfast now?"

"Sure."

They thanked Meg and took the remaining cookies with them. As soon as they entered the diner they all recognized people that had walked by Penny. They didn’t talk about Penny or Henry during breakfast.

After breakfast they got in the truck. "Daddy, I can’t believe people are so mean to a six-year-old. She’s so cute and sweet. Do you think they feel guilty?"

"I think they think they are superior and they don’t think about it once they don’t see her." Jack said flatly. "So you think she’s cute?"

"I know you call me Pup, but she reminded me of a puppy . . . You know the runt of the litter that is left behind? I think that you should offer her father a job . . . "

Ennis whispered, "Minnie Moo . . . I swear the two of you share a brain."

Bobby laughed. "If anyone else said that I would be insulted." Bobby looked at his father. "So you are thinking about it?"

"I want to see his work first. But, I don’t want her to grow up here. They must be very lonely."

Bobby smiled. "You know who is going to love her the most?"

"Jenny?" Ennis answered.

"Nope."

"Brenda?" Jack answered.

"Nope. Sam."

"Sam?" Jack and Ennis both asked.

"Yeah. I never met someone who liked to be teased more. I don’t mean mean teased, but fun teased. Sam loves to tease, but his kids get bored. I have a feeling that if Sam held that pink ball out of Penny’s reach she would try to get it . . . For hours."

They reached the ranch. The coop and chickens were gone. So were the boxes and the cattle that had been left to be taken. They found a covered plate of brownies sitting at the front door of the house. There was a note thanking them and stating they would be by later to collect the household items. They each took a brownie and smiled as they ate them.

They went to the root cellar. Jack wasn’t looking forward to being in that room again. He felt Ennis’ hand move underneath his coat and rub his back. Jack turned on the string of lights. Jack looked at the wall he had tried to forget. Hanging on the wall were two of his father’s favorite weapons. A worn leather strap mocked him. He swore that he could see his dry blood still on it. The other was a wooden paddle. His father had made him make it himself. He lost in his own thoughts.

Ennis saw what was on the wall. He could see that Jack was reliving some of the horrors. He started to move toward him when he saw Bobby hug Jack. He heard Bobby whispered, "They can’t hurt you now."

Jack hugged Bobby. He wondered if he should have let Bobby come with him, to let his see the horror of his childhood. He felt Bobby pull his head down until he rested it on Bobby’s shoulder. He wrapped his arms around Bobby. He listened to Bobby and his soft words. He took comfort in his son’s arms.

Ennis watched Bobby hold Jack. He could see that Bobby was repeating what Jack did to comfort him. He stayed back and let them have their moment. After a few minutes, the Twists two separated. Ennis watched Bobby lead Jack to the wall. Jack took down the two agents of his father’s cruelty. Ennis followed the Twists outside and watched Jack throw them out. Bobby hugged Jack again. They all walked into the cellar again. Jack smiled at him.

They walked toward the shelves. There were a lot of glass canning jars. Jack picked up one. "I wasn’t allowed to eat most these. My mother won some ribbons and sold some it for money. It was one of the few things my father let her do." He held the jar out to the others. "Her apple butter was always the biggest seller. Never tasted it."

Ennis walked over and took it from Jack. He looked at the date. It was only a month old. He opened it and used his cleanest finger to scoop out some. He stuck it in Jack’s mouth. "They can’t stop you now."

Jack couldn’t believe something so sweet and tasty could leave a terrible taste in his mouth. He watched as Bobby and Ennis taste it. He could see that they both though it tasted good, but their expressions made him realize they too tasted the bitterness. He looked at Bobby and Ennis as Ennis put the apple butter on the shelf. Even being in the cellar of this house of horrors couldn’t take away the sweetness of his life now. He pulled Ennis and Bobby to him and he held them.

Ennis kissed Jack’s cheek and whispered, "Love you."

Jack kissed you back. "Love you." Jack kissed Bobby. "Love you."

They hugged until they heard trucks drive up and park. They walked outside and watched several people pour out of two banged up trucks. Adam Millner wasn’t with them. He was working, but his wife, father, sons and nephews all greeted them. They spent the next hour loading the Millner’s trucks. The house was emptied. Jack gave them the keys and said they could strip the house clean. Some of the windows seemed new and there were some cabinets, appliances and hardware they might want. They could rip the floor up and take the roof down, he didn’t care. Jack didn’t tell them that he wanted the house to be destroyed, gone from the earth. He told them that the buyers of the land had no interest in living on the land.

After the Millners left, Jack walked around the house one more time. He walked to the spot where he would look out and dream of escaping. He had escaped. These people may have been his blood, but they weren’t his heart and soul. They were waiting in the truck. He walked to the truck and climbed in. He kissed Bobby and Ennis. "Let’s go see Henry and Penny."

The house was small. Behind the house was a small stable, a forge, a greenhouse and a large enclosed garden. Penny was thrilled to see them. Henry introduced them to his wife Margo. Margo thanked Bobby for helping Penny. Margo was quiet at first, unsure about Jack and Ennis. But after watching them with Penny and then the horses she seemed to relax.

Jack wondered if Margo spoke to people other than her daughter and husband. He was surprised how well she spoke English. There was a slight accent, but nothing dramatic. In the stable they found out that Margo’s parents had been part of the elite in Vietnam. Her father had been a doctor and been educated in France. She had been taught French and English by tutors when she was a child. She had gone to college and planned on being a Botanist. She wasn’t able to complete her degree because of the war. Her parents and siblings had been killed during the war. She ended up working as an interpreter for the Americans. That is how she met Henry.

Ennis listened to her tell her story. He watched them as they talked. Even with what they had been through in Vietnam and in America he could see that Margo and Henry would smile at each other. From listening to them he figured out that Henry’s parents weren’t thrilled about Margo, at first. They slowly warmed up to her. Very few people in town gave her a chance. Henry built her the greenhouse. She was able to use her skills to give the family fresh vegetables and fruits in the winter. His parents were thrilled at Penny’s birth, but hard work and a hard life took a toll on them. They both died within the past two years.

Henry had kept the business going and the house was paid for so expenses were low. Margo’s garden and greenhouse kept them well fed. Jack and Ennis were surprised that Henry and Margo were so open. They both assumed that they didn’t have a lot of people to talk to. Jack kept trying to place Henry, but there was enough of an age difference to have kept them in separate circles. Henry’s family hadn’t belonged to his mother’s church and Jack’s father wouldn’t socialize with very many people. Jack and Ennis were both impressed with his work as a farrier. They toured the greenhouse and were impressed at Margo’s ability to grow healthy and hearty plants. They tasted some of the results and were pleased with the taste.

Penny was disappointed when they were about to leave. But they promised to stop by the next day when they were leaving town.

Ennis and Bobby played cards while Jack talked to Brenda and then Frank. Jack watched them as they played. They were sitting on Bobby’s bed. Bobby had taught Ennis how to play ‘bullshit’ just so he could make Ennis say bullshit. When he got off the phone, Jack climbed onto Bobby’s bed. Ennis won the card game because Bobby kept giggling whenever Ennis said bullshit. Jack pulled Bobby onto his lap and hugged him.

"I knew this was coming." Bobby said as he put his arms around his father.

Jack laughed. He looked over Bobby’s shoulder and smiled at Ennis. "What a day."

"I know, Daddy . . . But I gotta pee . . . Can you hug Ennis in my place?"

"If I have to." Jack let Bobby go and watched him go to the bathroom. "Come sit on my lap and hug me, Ennis."

"Jack . . . "

"Bobby said for you to take his place. I will behave."

Ennis muttered to himself. "The things I do . . . " Ennis sat on Jack’s lap and he felt Jack’s arms around him. Jack rested his head on his shoulder.

"Thanks, Ennis."

"I think Bobby faked having to pee."

"Probably." The shower started in the bathroom. "Little sneak. I felt so bad for him when he was playing with Penny. He would have been a great big brother."

"I know . . . "

"Every since he was attacked at school because of us he has become . . . I don’t know . . . Kind to the outcasts. I’m glad that Bobby isn’t an outcast, but I don’t know . . . I wonder if he hadn’t gone through that, would he . . . "

"Jack, he was always a sweet kid."

"No, not always. He wasn’t a bully or anything, but he wasn’t. LD hurting him started to change him . . . That and growing up."

"Does it matter?"

"Guess not. I just wish he was happier. He still hurts for a lot of reasons and it kills me."

"You are doing the best you can. I think Doris is helping."

"I hope so. I’m sorry we had to cancel his session to come here. I think in a week or two she wants me in there. I don’t know what to expect."

"It will be okay. Wonder when they want me."

"Don’t know . . . Ennis . . . I was thinking about having Doris finding me someone to talk to."

"You can talk to me."

"I know, Ennis."

"Aren’t you happy? I thought me and you in Kansas is what you wanted."

"Ennis, I’m very happy. I want to stay that way. But being here . . . All the memories are flooding back. I don’t want to hurt you or Bobby. I told you some of the things my father did, but being here, I’m remembering stuff I forgot. Some of it makes the things I told you seem like paradise now."

Ennis kissed Jack’s cheek. "I want you to do whatever it takes to feel better."

"If I go and I asked you to come with me, would you?"

"Yeah."

Jack sat up and kissed Ennis. They rested their cheeks against the others. "You make me very happy, Ennis."

"You make me happy."

"Wish we could have nookie."

"Wish you would come up with another term."

Jack laughed. The shower was turned off. Bobby came out in his pajamas. "Pup, dry your hair, it’s a cold night and this room isn’t that warm." Bobby rolled his eyes at him. "Pup . . . "

"Fine." Bobby went back into the bathroom, dried his hair and walked back into the room.

Ennis looked at Bobby. "Your hair looks like that ice skater . . . "

"What?" Bobby looked confused.

"Dorothy something."

"Daddy, Ennis says I look like Dorothy Hamill." Bobby climbed onto his bed.

Jack laughed. "Maybe it’s time for a hair cut."

"I didn’t mean it in a bad way." Ennis said to Bobby.

"So telling me I have a woman ice skater’s hair is a good thing?"

"Isn’t it time for you to go to bed?" Ennis asked.

"Trying to change the subject, Ennis. Nice." Bobby replied.

"Get under the covers, I will read to you." Jack said as he leaned to grab the book. "Ennis, you got to get off of me."

"Sorry." Ennis climbed off.

Bobby looked at Ennis. "Who are you wearing under your jeans?"

Ennis laughed. "Just pajamas."

"Boring."

"Sorry."

"Don’t be sorry, get ready for bed too. Daddy is in his sweats."

"Yes, Boss." Ennis got himself ready for bed and walked over to the bed. He was surprised that Bobby pulled the bedding up so he could climb into the bed.

"Ennis, you look cold. Get in."

"Yes, Boss."

"Are you cold, Daddy?"

"No, Pup. My sweats are thicker than Ennis’ pj’s."

Ennis jumped a little. "Shit! You got cold feet, Bobby."

Bobby pressed against Ennis. "And you are so warm. Jenny says you are better than an electric blanket."

"Hmmmm."

"Are you going to read, Daddy?"

"Stop being so bossy."

"Sorry. Daddy, could you please read?"

"Yeah." Jack looked over at Ennis and Bobby. They were snuggled together. He started to read. After a while he could hear that Ennis fell asleep. He looked over at Bobby. Bobby looked amused. Jack kept reading. When Bobby fell asleep, Jack climbed into his bed and turned out the light.

In the middle of the night Jack woke up to someone entering his bed. He felt Ennis put his head on his chest. Jack went back to sleep. A little later Jack woke up again and felt someone else climb into bed.  "Pup?"

"I’m cold." Bobby pressed against Jack and put his head on his chest. Jack lay there with Ennis and Bobby’s heads on his chest. He couldn’t believe how hot he was. But after all the nights in Lightening Flat where he was cold and alone, he thought it was fitting that the last night in town he was overheated and surrounded by the two people he loved most. Jack fell asleep with a smile on his face.

Jack and Ennis stood in front of Henry and Margo. Bobby was running around the yard with Penny. Jack spoke. "Before we go home I wanted to offer you a job, actually, both of you." Henry and Margo both looked surprised. "My farm is big and we could use another farrier, especially someone who is a blacksmith as well. And, after looking at your greenhouse, I believe Margo would be a wonderful addition."

Jack paused. "But, there are some things you need to know. No matter what your decision, I hope you keep this information to yourself." Jack glanced over to Ennis and then back at the couple. "Ennis isn’t just one of my foremen . . . He’s my boyfriend." Jack glanced over at Ennis for a second. "He’s more than that. He lives with me and Bobby. Everyone in town knows, some people care, some don’t."

Ennis stopped listening to Jack’s words and watched Henry and Margo. Henry blinked a few times when Jack said boyfriend, but he didn’t comment or look upset. He heard Jack state salaries and other things, but he didn’t keep up. He noticed Henry kept glancing over to Penny. She was laughing while Bobby kept running ahead of her as she tried to tag him.

Jack gave him them his card and told them to think about it and call in a few days.

It was late when they got home. Jack threw Bobby over his shoulder and Ennis carried their bags. Ennis let Jack deal with Bobby and went into their room. He sat on his bed and waited for Jack. He didn’t know what to expect. It would be the first time they would be alone. He wondered if everything Jack held inside would pour out of him or was he still too numb.

Jack entered their room. He shut and locked the door. He sat next to Ennis and tipped over so his head was on Ennis’ lap. He felt Ennis’ fingers running through his hair. He closed his eyes. "I’m glad I will never have to return to that awful place. Thanks for going with me."
"I would go anywhere you need, Jack."

"I know, Ennis. I think knowing that made me feel better than anything else."

"You want to take a quick shower and go to sleep?"

"Will you take it with me?"

"Of course."

When they climbed into bed, they each set their alarm clock. They turned off the lights and Jack positioned his head on Ennis’ chest. "I’m too tired for nookie."

"Me, too."

"But I might wake you up in the middle of the night."

"I have a feeling you are going to sleep all night."

"If I do, can you wake me up in the morning? Morning nookie sounds nice."

Ennis kissed Jack’s forehead. "You have a date."

"I might even get up in the morning and brush my teeth for you."

"Maybe I will, too."

In the middle of the night Ennis woke up and knew the bed was empty. He was relieved when Jack walked out of the bathroom and climbed into the bed.

"You okay, Jack?"

"Had to pee."

"Thanks for sharing."

"I could have shared, but I didn’t think you wanted to pee on you."

"Yuck."

Jack pulled Ennis close. "I want you in me."

Ennis kissed Jack. "I think I can do that."

"But . . . "

"But, what?"

"I’ll tell you in a few minutes." Jack turned on the lights and grabbed the lube and threw it on the bed. He pulled Ennis on top of him. When Ennis slid inside Jack stopped Ennis from moving. "Don’t move. Thrust once a minute."

"What?"

Jack pulled Ennis’ face close to his. "I want you in me for a long time. I just want to feel connected." They kissed some more. Jack moaned when Ennis moved. "We have to find a better word than boyfriend. You are so much more than that."

"You want to talk about it now?"

"We have time between . . . Good God . . . When I call you my boyfriend. It doesn’t say what you are to me." Jack moved his hands to touch all the places he knew Ennis liked to be touched.

"How about Love-Slave?"

"It would be the last thing I every get to say. You would kill me."

"I don’t know . . . Think of something . . . You are the talker."

Jack bit Ennis’ shoulder. "How about twice a minute?"

"Getting bored?"

"Yeah. You bore me. Are you bored?"

"Always."

"Poor thing."

"I’m suffering . . . This is awful." Ennis laughed. "I think we should all our conversations while having sex."

"All conversations?"

"Private ones."

"Ennis . . . No more talking. Show me how much you love me."

And he did.

 

Tags: au, bbm, can't stand it, nosunlight