#ch.38

"Hi, this message is for Lexi Ackles. I'm calling to remind you of your appointment at Women's Health Cent-"

 Lexi quickly reached pressing the delete button. "What was that?" Jared looked at her baffled. 

"Oh, it's-it's nothing." Lexi brushed off Jared's question walking to the stack of mail flipping through it absentmindedly. 

"What do you have an appointment for?" He turned toward her unsure if he should be concerned or not.

"Oh, uh, it's nothing." She tossed the pile of mail down exiting the room.

Jared gave a discontented huff then followed her out of the room. Lexi was halfway up the stairs by the time he made the corner of the hallway. Jared followed her to their bedroom and paused at the door watching her put away clothes in the dresser. 

"Is something wrong?" He asked studyingz her body language.  "Are you still sick?"

"I'm fine, Jared. Just forget about it." She tossed a shirt in the drawer closing it with more force than needed.

 "I'm not gonna forget about a doctor's office calling about an appointment you didn't even tell me about."  Jared challenged. "Why are you going to the doctor-'' Jared paused with a tilt of his head. "Women's Health Center, that's- that's a-'' Jared stepped into the room and stood in front of Lexi who still wasn't looking at Jared. "Lex, are," Jared bit his bottom lip taking a breath. "Are you pregnant?" The last part coming out like a whisper.

Lexi finally lifted her head looking at Jared, her eyes filled with tears. Without a word she walked over to her jewelry box lifted the top piece out and pulled out the test, handing it to Jared. 

Jared looked down at the test and saw the two pink lines in the window. "Oh fuck."  He backed away till the back of his legs hit the bed and he lowered himself down to sit.  "I-I don't understand. You're on the pill and we were always so careful." He continued to stare at the positive test. "How?"

"I'm sorry." Lexi answered in a broken voice. "It's my fault." Jare finally looked up at her.  "I-I missed a few pills in LA when things got hectic. I didn't realize I had until the day after I got back and went to take my birth control." She wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I ran out right away at got the morning after pill, but-"

"But, it didn't work." Jared spoke with an annoyed tone.

"I'm sorry." Lexi said again. "I wanted to know for sure before I told you-"

Jared stood. "What, was the positive pregnancy test not enough for you?" He snapped tossing the test down on the bed. 

"I wanted to verify by blood work. So I didn't upset you for nothing."

Jared ran a hand over his face. "How long have you known?"

Lexi looked down. "A few weeks."

"A few weeks?!" He stepped closer to her. "You knew for a few weeks you are pregnant and didn't tell me a damn thing?!" His voice rose as she stepped away from him.

Jared was pissed off but he stopped in his tracks. He looked down at Lexi, her eyes filled with unfallen tears and her cheeks damp from the tears she'd already shed. She wouldn't look up at him, her eyes staying casted down to the floor. She kept backing away from him. He saw a scared woman. Lexi was terrified, not just of being pregnant, but of the situation. Jared knew that he had two options at the moment. He could take his anger out on her, yell, curse, maybe punch a wall. Or he could be there for his girlfriend who is scared of what will happen.

This was tough for Jared. He wanted to scream at her for not telling him, for not letting him be part of this decision. But when he looked at her he saw how truly afraid she was of what was happening. Not just being pregnant but she was scared of Jared's reaction.

Jared backed away, his anger leaving him. "Come here." He held out his hand. 

Lexi looked at him and took his hand. Jared pulled her to the bed and sat her down. "You just should have told me." He pulled her into his arms. "I'm gonna postpone my flight and go with you to the doctor."

"No, Jared." She looked up at him. "It's just blood work. I won't find out for a few days anyways." Lexi took his hand. "No point in screwing up the work week for something like that. I'll be in Vancouver the day after you." Lexi looked down at his hands in hers. "I'm sorry." She blinked away tears. "I-I know you feel like you let Jensen down and it's all my fault."

"No, no-I," He paused and looked away then back to her. "Maybe a little."

They sat for a while, not really talking, just sitting together. Neither knew what to say. Yeah they had a thousand things they could talk about pertaining to the situation but they didn't.  

Lexi looked at Jared seeing his mind racing through his eyes. "WHat's going through that head of yours?" Jared simple shook his head. "Jared, come on. I know you're thinking of a million things right now."

Jared nibbled on his bottom lip a bit more. "A-are you gonna keep it?"

Lexi looked at him flabbergasted. "WHat the hell kind of question is that?" She stood. "WHy the hell would you even ask me that?" SHe turned back to him.

"COme on, Lex." He stood shoving his hands in his pockets. "EVeryone around here knows that place mainly does abortions."

Lexi huffed. "And they give you proof of pregnancy to take to your OB!" She walked past him then turned back to him. "See, this is why I didn't tell you!" She turned to walk out of the room. 

"Just give me an answer!" Jared shouted, not meaning to. "Please." He lowered his voice. "The baby, OUR baby," His voice betrayed him showing the hurt and fear in ihim. "Do you plan on terminating the pregnancy."

Lexi walked back up to Jared. "I know this wasn't planned. I know that this isn't what we want right now. But I would never, ever," SHe paused, keeping herself from crying. "If I am pregnant then this is something that we made together. This would be our child," She couldn’t hold it back anymore and began sobbing.

Jared grabbed her pulling her into his chest. "I'm sorry." Her held her close. "I never should've assumed you would do that." Tears started to roll down Jred’s ceek as well. “I know you’re scared, baby. I’m scared, too.” He took her face into his hands. “Look at me.” He made sure she had her eyes on him. “I’m sorry.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “I’m really sorry, baby.”

“This is all my fault.”

“No.” He made her look at him again. “This was just something that happened. And if you are, then Jensen will just have to suck it up and deal with having another niece or nephew.” He kissed her forehead. “I love you.”

“I love you, Jared.”

~

Four days later Lexi was sitting on the couch with Jared next to her while she focused on her tablet, Jensen and Jared watching a musical documentary on TV. Lexi told Jared that Jensen knew and to both their surprise, Jensen was accepting of the situation. Not entirely happy about it, but accepting. 

Everytime her cellphone rang she was nervous. She didn’t know if it was the phone call that wuld change things or not. She and Jared were pretty convinced that she was pregnant and were just waiting on the test results for confirmation. 

Lexi’s phone buzzed on the side table as she absentmindedly answered.

“Hello?” Suddenly she placed her tablet down. “Oh, hello doctor.” Jared and Jensen’s eyes both darted to her. “Uh huh.” Lexi said, Jensen shutting off the TV focusing on Lexi. “Okay… And will that… Alright… And- and are you one hundred percent sure?” Lexi looked up at Jared the back down at whatever she was focusing on in her lap. “Okay, thank you. I appreciate it. Bye.” She hung up her phone and just stared at it in her hands for a bit.

“Baby?” Jared placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Lex, what did the doctor say?” Jensen asked wide-eyed.

“It-it, I’m not pregnant.” She looked up at Jared and let out a loud exhale and a smile. “It was a false positive.”

Jared pulled her into a hug, Jensen sighing just as loudly. “False positive? I- I don’t understand.” Jared looked down at her. 

“Yeah, Punk, you had all those symptoms.” 

“Uh, the doctor said she knows I can’t just come into her office because of work so she sent an email with information. Something about hormone levels and stuff. I didn’t really pick up on anything after ‘you're not pregnant’.” She chuckled.

“After you read over it, let me know what it says.” Jensen stood giving Lexi a hug then turned to Jared. “Congrats on not knocking up my sister.” He slapped his shoulder.

After Jensen walked out of the room Jared turned to Lexi. “You okay?”

“Yeah,”

“Then why do you look disappointed?”

Lexi looked up at him. “I’m not.” Jared gave her a knowing look. “Maybe a little.”

“I thought you didn’t want to be pregnant.”

“I don’t. But, I-I kind of got used to the idea of having a baby, YOUR baby growing in me.” She looked up at Jared. “I never realized how much I want a baby with you someday, till now.”

“And we will. When we are ready.” He kissed her head. “And when Jensen won’t kill me.”

Lexi gave a chuckle. “Lets see what the doctor sent.” She held up her tablet logging into her email. 

Jared and Lexi were still reading through the e-mail and blood test results when Jensen came back downstairs fresh from the shower. “So, what's the story?”

“Uh,” Jared looked up from the tablet. “Lexi is anemic, her sodium levels are low, her vitamin D levels are low, her calcium is low, her hormones are out of whack and her bipolar meds are not working the way they should because her levels are not how they were when they were prescribed.”

“Okay. What does all that mean?” Jensen looked to Jared.

“Basically, Lexi is over doing it. She isn’t listening to her body and taking care of herself how she should.” Jared looked down at her for a moment then back to Jensen. “Instead of slowing down when she started showing signs of exhaustion, she overdid it with wacka do vitamins and crap to boost her energy.”

“And some of those homeo whatever can give false readings.” Jensen added. “Lex, I told you if you do all this at home remdies you could do more harm than good. Especially when you have a medical condition already.”

“Exactly.” Jared nodded. “So I’m stepping into my overprotective, worry wart boyfriend shoes and will make sure my girl starts taking care of herself.” Jared placed an arm around her shoulders. “Starting with getting rest.” He took the tablet from her hands and placed it down.

“I was working!” She reached for the tablet.

“No you weren’t. You were going over the same photos you already made up your mind about two hours ago.”

“I like to be sure.”

“Take a nap or something.” Jared fussed.

“Okay, but, does this mean no more all night sex sessions?” Lexi looked up at Jared.

“Okay!” Jensen stoof up.  “I’m going to the store.”  

“Can you get me some vitamins? Like the real ones?” Lexi snuggled into Jared’s side. 

“Yeah, this is what the doctor recommended.” Jared handed him his phone with a picture of the vitamins.

“Alrighty.” He handed Jared back his phone. “Anything for you, dude?”

“Yeah, a box of condoms.” Jared smiled up at Jensen.

“I will punch you.” Jensen looked down at Jared, Lexi laughing next to him. “Right in the kisser.” Jensen held up a fist before walking away. 

Jared went back to looking over Lexi’s test results while Lexi watched whatever was on the TV. She could feel Jared looking at her every so often. As if she would pass out or something at any moment. After ten minutes of this Lexi spoke.

“I'm fine, Jare.” She said not looking at him. 

“I never noticed how pale you are. Till now.”

“Thanks.” She looked at him in mock insult. 

“No, that's not-” Lexi laughed.  “I just meant, I never noticed you weren’t feeling well.”

“No one did.” She tilted her head to Jared. “Jensen isn’t the only one who caan act.” She smiled. “I honestly didn’t think it was a big deal.” She looked back down for a moment then back to Jared. “I Just thought I was tired because I was always on the go.”

“You need to take care of yourself. I need you to be healthy so one day we CAN have a baby.” He rubbed her belly. “And if something would ever happen to you, I think I’d go crazy.”

“I just need to stop going so much, like you said.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “Now be quiet so I can take a nap.”

Jared chuckled placing his arms around her, resting his head on hers.

~

Lexi buckled down and started being mindful of her body. She was slowly learning how to give it what it needed and not drive herself to the point of exhaustion. Jared often would pop in on her in the makeup trailer just to say hi and make sure she is taking breaks, eating lunch and drinking water. Yes, he was an annoying overly worried boyfriend. But she loved him for that. Plenty of times they started the day before the sun came up and worked well passed the moon rising and Lexi would be running from the makeup trailer to the set. She would forget to stop for fifteen minutes to eat at least a granola bar. Jared would find her with a bar in hand as her saving grace.

“So, I have to ask.” A makeup artist, Becca, a girl around Lexi’s age with her piercings and lavender hair, spoke as they walked back to the makeup trailer from set. “Jared seems sweet on you.”

“Does he?” Lexi smiled.

“Yes!” Becca sounded like a school girl. “Haven’t you noticed?”

“Um, We-We are dating.” 

“Shut up!” Becca stopped in her tracks. “Seriously?!” 

Lexi laughed again. “Yeah, for a while now.”

“That’s why he looks at you like he’s seen you naked. Because he has.” Becca shimmied her shoulders with a wink.

“No one really know yet, except for some family and a few close friends.”

“Oh Got it!” Becca motioned zipping her lips. “Not a word.”

“We plan on coming out to the public, we just haven’t yet.” Lexi opened the trailer door and they walked in. 

“Is it because Jensen’s your brother?”

“Eh, sorta. People talk.” Lexi hoped up on the makeup counter. “Neither of them want me to become fotter for the tabloids.”

“So is he like really romantic?” Becca sat back in one of the makeup chairs opposite end of the trailer. “I’ve heard Texas guys are more romantic than guys from any other state.”

The trailer door opened and Jared walked in, not noticing Becca her leaned in giving Lexi a kiss to her lips. Lexi pulled away after a moment witha giggle.

“Uh,” She gestured towards Becca.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Jared blushed. “I thought she was alone.”

“I can give you guys privacy.” Becca smiled.

“No, thats okay. I only have a minute.” Jared told her. “I just swung by to give you this.” He handed her a protein bar. “And this.” He pulled a pale blue rose from his back pocket. “They were decorating the set with them so I stole one for you. I know roses are you favorite.”

Lexi looked over at Becca. “Does that answer your question?”

“What?” Jared gave Lexi a confused look.

“Nothing, go back to set before you get in trouble. And thank you.” She pressed a kiss to his lips.

“Nice meeting you...uh-”

“Becca, her name is Becca.” Lexi said quickly.

“Becca. And sorry for the PDA.” Jared waved before walking out.

Becca gave a laugh. “That was so sweet! Does he do that stuff all the time?”

“Yes.” Lexi sat back on the counter. “Even more so now. I had gotten kind of sick a while back and now he makes sure I eat and don’t run myself back down.”

“Awe. Does he have a brother?” Becca giggled.

“Yes actually and believe it or not, taller than him.”

“No way!”

“Yeah. But he’s married with four kids.” Lexi informed breaking her bar in half giving it to Becca.

“Now why you gotta break a girl’s heart?”

~

Later that night by the time Jared and Jensen got back to the shared house Lexi was comfortable in Jared’s bed that they’ve come to share. Hearing the bedroom door open she turns her attention to her boyfriend. Jared looking exhausted Jared slide out of his sports coat, pulling at the tie around his neck.

“Hey, babe.” Lexi sat him tossing her magazine to the side. “Long meeting?”

“Yeah.” He leaned over and pecked her lips. “So you made a new friend.” 

 “Becca is Amy’s niece.” She’s really nice. “I hope you don’t mind that I tod her about us.”

“Not at all. Actually , remember that CW Gala I was telling you about?”

“Yeah.” She sat up on her knees pulling his tie from its knot.

“I was thinking we’d go together.” 

“You want to finally make it public?” Lexi paused.

“Well, the tabloids are posting pics of us here and there and its only a matter of time before the reporters start asking questions-” Lexi pulled Jared’s tied till their lips met. “I take that as a yes?” He asked, pulling away slightly.

One kiss went into another and then another, til Jared was flat on his back on the bed and Lexi was straddling his waist. Jared’s hands slide up the outside of her thigh resting on her ass giving a squeeze. Lexi giggled into another kiss sliding a hand behind Jared’s neck pulling him into a sitting position.  Lexi’s fingers were working the buttons open on his dark blue dress shirt, her lips moving down to his jaw. His stubble from his five o’clock shadow leaving a delicious burn on her lips as she moved to his neck.  Jared tilted his head back, his eyes shut as she left open mouthed kisses over his skin.

“Jare, you- son of a bitch!” Jensen snapped walking into Jared’s bedroom.  Lexi and Jared looking over to him. “I have GOT to start knocking!” 

Jared leaned back on his elbows while Lexi sat back. “What’s up?”

“Did you check, I-uh, okay I am totally good with you two being together and all,” Jensen gestured a finger between the two of them. “But Lexi, can you not straddle him while I talk to him?”

“Can you not have a conversation while I straddle him?” Lexi smiled at her brother, dipping her head to nibble Jared’s neck just below his ear. 

Jared shut his eyes for a second before turning to Jensen reopening them. “Okay, say what you gotta say, Jay because-” He gave a chuckle. “She’s winning this argument.” Lexi gave another giggle sitting back on Jared’s lap again.

“She’s always gonna when cuz I ain’t kissin’ your neck.” Jensen crossed his arms. “You check your email? There’s a few changes to the script for tomorrow.”

“Alright. Work before play.” Lexi tried to slide off his lap.

“No.” Jared grabbed Lexi’s waist. “I’ve worked all day.” 

“Bye.” Jensen closed the door behind him.

With a chuckle and a cheeky grin Jared slipped his hand behind her neck pulling her face closer to his. “I deserve a little play.” He kissed her, nibbling herbottom lip. 

Later that night Jared walked into the kitchen in only his pajama pants pouring himself a glass of water. He downed the glass in one breath before turning to see Jensen sitting at the small table in the breakfast nook.

Jared gave a startled jump. “Geez, you scared me!” Jared said putting his glass back in the sink.

“Worked up a thirst?” Jensen asked with a raided brow.

“I-uh-” Jared rubbed the back of his neck with a nervouse chuckle.

“What’s wrong?” Jensen stood alking over to the fridge grabbing another beer. “Can’t keep up, old man?” He slapped Jared on the shoulder before holding out a beer for Jared.

“Speak for yourself, your older than me!” Jared jested back.

“Yeah, but I’m not sleeping with someone sixteen years younger than me.” Jared smiled looking down at his beer bottle. “Are you blushing, Padalecki?!” Jensen poked fun at the pinkening tint on his friend’s cheeks. “Come on man, since when are you bashful?”

Jared opened his beer and looked at Jensen. “I don’t know,” He shrugged. “Don’t wanna make it weird talking about my sex life with your sister.”

“As long as you don’t go into full detail, I can handle it.” Jensen sat back down. “I only bring it up because, well, to be blunt you two go at it like kids in highschool.”

“No we don’t!” Jared denied. “I mean we- I-she-” 

Jensen laughed. “I get it, you two are hot for eachother.”  

“It’s not just that.” Jared looked away continuing to blush. “Its-its different with her. She makes me feel like, like I’m the only man that can love her.” Keeping his eyes averted from his friend. “Like I’m the only one that can make her feel that good. That when we’re together its better than any other high she’d ever had.”

“It makes you feel good that you give her that.” Jensen sipped his beer. “Like you’re doing what you need to as her guy.”

“I feel like I’m loving her right if I make her feel like that.” Jared confessed. “And if we’re being honest,” He glanced at Jensen but only for a second. “I’ve been with my fair share, you know this.” Jensen was nodded. “But with Lexi, the way she makes be feel when we’re,” Jared paused pulling his bottom lip between his teeth. “I have never felt that good during sex before her.” 

“I’m still that way with Dee.”

“So you do get it.”

“After all these years of marriage and three kids and I still feel like I can not get enough.” Jensen told Jared with a grin. “So, the Gala,”

Next Chapter>

Robert made a surprised sound, and he would have loved to follow that train of thought, mainly because his ego was going rampant with joy. 'I knew it,' he would have liked to say, followed by an embarrassed Link who would stumble with his words. Something that would have totally happened if Robert had gone with that. But he didn't. Because Link was putting on those monstruous boots and Robert had more questions than answers, How in Hylia's name would those heavy-ass boots help them get across? Link looked confident enough, that was for sure, but Robert could still fell waves of heat coming from below the cliff, right from where the magma moved under them, and that, along with some questionable thoughts, 'Link was not going to go and try to walk directly on magma, was he?' made him whimper, "Dude, what are you doing?"

Link had the gall to wink at him and whisper, "Sheika arts."

The only reason Robert didn't scream in surprise was the shock that seeing Link upside-down gave him, "What?"

Link tightened his straps and moved along the ceiling toward a spot nearer Robert. "Come on, you gotta hang onto me."

Robert shook his head, "The fuck did you do?"

Link couldn't help the grin on his face, "I told you, Sheika arts."

"How in the... no... you're not magical, are you?" It would explain a lot of things, though, Robert thought.

Link was having a greater time than last time he had been here moving up and down the caves so he indulged a little, "As with most magical acts, it's just science, Robert, the boots have a sole hidden by a metal sheet," Link then crouched and pointed to a protruding piece of metal from the side of the boot, "you move it with that. You open it you get attracted to the nearest magnetic thing you have, which is this cave's roof."

Robert looked up and traced with his eyes the way to the other side of the room they were in, "You close it up," he said.

"And we'll get safely to the other side."

Robert swore that if Link even fake-dropped him he would cry so hard monsters would come. Link was too much of a nice person to even keep on pestering Robert with it, so in a more-than-tense couple of seconds for Robert they were on the other side.

"Oh, Hylia, that was nerve-wracking."

Link took off the boots and scoffed.

"I thought you only killed the monsters, I had no idea you did," Robert moved his hands around, trying to explain how he would have never imagined that as part of the adventure.

"Come on, we gotta move."

Robert looked back, "Sure, sure." Link was wiping the sweat that had pooled on his forehead. "I had to ask you more about what you said back there, though, you sneaky bastard."

"How am I sneaky? You can ask all you want."

Robert moved to stand next to Link, expecting the blond to shy away or to at least blush, "So you're in love with the princess?"

But Link didn't even falter, "Yes, I would say so."

Robert coughed, "With, you know, Her Excellency Zelda Eugenia Harkinian Hyrule?"

"Yes, Robert, with her."

"So, to make things clear, all this mumbo jumbo we're doing is for her, right?"

Link cocked his head and made an unsure face, "You could make a connection, for sure." Robert was getting too close to Link, so Link answered before he could hear anything from Robert, "And I mean it like, this is more for the councilpeople than for her, more for Hyrule than her, this was not a request nor a demand, this was a choice I made."

Robert had his brows furrowed and he was starting to forget the heat biting at him, "But-"

Link nodded, "Yes, I know, I know that this is for her, it's just- you know-"

Robert didn't know.

"-I would like to do something for her her," Link stressed, "Like, not something that will help her in a roundabout way, or something she is doing for the sake of other... like..."

"Something she asks of you?" Robert helped.

"For her," Link finished.

Link turned after a couple of seconds, Robert was still, a few meters behind.

"I just fucking knew it." Robert smiled.

"How do you eat with a heat like this?" Robert couldn't remember what fresh water felt like.

"You'll get used to it," Link chewed a fresh but warm hearty apple.

"I don't want to," Robert cried. What did a dry body felt like, anyway? He was sweating from his Goddesses forsaken shins! "Oh, Hylia, take me. Link do you have water, please?"

"In my bag."

Robert plodded to it, sighing with every movement. Why couldn't Hyrule have trouble with the Zoras? Then they could have been able to suffer through lakes and fields and cold water. Robert went straight for the skin of water, his mind was muddled and he didn't look around too much. When he felt the surge of energy come through his fingertips, Robert only yelped and fell on his ass.

"Robert?"

Robert looked at his fingers, sure that he was going to find them burnt or frozen or maybe letting out some sparks. "What?"

"What happened?"

"Uh. Something on your bag snapped at me?" Maybe, Robert wasn't sure.

Link was about to sit again and keep on eating, letting Robert with his fantasies alone, but then he remembered the shard of the mirror of twilight was there, and somehow everything clicked.

Link was walking towards Robert the next moment, "Do you feel all right?"

Robert did his best to remain calm, "I don't feel bad."

That had to be enough. Link crouched and went to take the shard, expecting to feel a magic connection or a jolt of energy or whatever had happened to Robert. But the shard rested on his palm and Link eyed it with defiance, "Robert, are you sure you touched it?"

"It almost took my hand, of course I touched it."

Link turned and showed it to Robert, "Well, it's doing nothing to me."

Robert made a disgusted face, "Well, you're weird so."

Link took the shard and pressed it against Robert's forearm.

"Link, you son of a-"

"It seems you're fine now."

"-baba!" Robert looked at the shard and then at Link, "You are the worst, you know."

They finished their meal with Robert allucinating about cold showers and cold air.

If Robert had been scared shitless from seeing Link fight that time in the cave. But now, seeing him fight against three lizalfos, in between platforms that were surrounded by magma, with Link dodging, jumping and even making one of the lizalfos fall into the furious red that surrounded them, Robert was mesmerized, terrified and completely in awe.

"Thanks for taking care of the bags," Link joked when he came back.

Robert remembered Link's bloodied figure, his lifeless eyes, and the sight that he could see now was so opposite to it he couldn't help but smile, "Well, I would love to see you getting back without those damn boots."

Robert hadn't really thought about it before, he had followed Link out of a sense of duty. Yes, him, duty. And a sense of gratitude Robert was still unsure how to repay, but now, Robert wondered.