Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jared relished the nip in the air as he stepped out of the taxi onto the Toronto sidewalk, stretching his long legs after the flight from Austin. Jensen had picked a steakhouse for dinner. He was excited to meet up with his buddy and get the low down before his first day on the set of The Boys on Monday. After five years he’d be sharing the stage with Ackles again and it felt so right.

He pushed open the heavy wooden door and scanned the dimly lit restaurant. Jensen was tucked in a booth down the back corner, nursing a double. He was wearing a thin black sweater pushed up to his elbows. He looked oddly hunched, making himself appear smaller than he was.

Jared smiled at the sight regardless and strode over, clapping him on the shoulder.

“Ackles! How you doing, man?”

Jensen got up and grinned, pulling Jared in for a hug.

“Good to see ya, Buddy.”

Despite his enthusiasm, Jared immediately heard the strain and congestion in his voice.

“You sick?” He asked flippantly, as they sat across from each other.

Jensen waved a hand dismissively, “Eh, a little under the weather. I’ll be fine.”

“Dude, we could have cancelled. You should get some rest.”

“Nah, man, it’s your first night! Besides I handled filming today, I can handle dinner.”

“Ackles, you are not Dean Winchester, or Soldier Boy for that matter. You don’t need to act like some unkillable badass.”

Jensen rolled his eyes and directed a heavy cough into his fist.

Jared studied him with one eyebrow raised.

“Oh, shut up,” Jensen croaked, pulling a tissue out of his pocket and sneezing into it twice, loudly, and in quick succession.

“Hey, take it easy.”

Jensen waited, breath hitching, and sneezed one more time.

“Keep it down.”

“You’re an asshole,” Jensen groaned with a small smirk.

Jared flagged down the waitress and ordered himself a giant steak, and, getting in before Jensen could protest, “He’ll have the soup of the day and a hot toddy.”

The waitress smiled sympathetically and left as Jensen fell into another wet cough, that he tried to choke off quickly. Jensen’s hand was trembling as he lifted his whiskey to his lips to quell the fit.

When he could talk again he said, “I came for steak, not old man food.”

“You are an old man.”

“I feel like an old man.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t care if it’s my first night. You need to get to bed early.”

“Oh, this is not going to be a late one.”

“You’re so lame now. Back in the day you would have finished this night with a negroni in a negroni. Sick or not.”

“Alright, maybe I am an old man.”

Jared cackled. Jensen chuckled, then immediately winced as his throat protested. Jared could tell he felt awful, was toughing it out like he always does. Some things never change , he thought affectionately.

For the next hour, they ate, joked, and swapped stories, Jensen laughing between sips of whiskey, voice getting rougher by the minute. He’d only eaten half his soup and Jared’s plate was practically licked clean. By the time the check arrived, his friend’s eyes were red rimmed and he’d been rubbing at them tiredly with the back of his knuckles. He’d been alternately pulling his sleeves down over his hands, then pushing them back up to his elbows and Jared could almost feel the heat radiating off him over the table. Jensen yawned and leaned back in his chair.

Jared smiled sympathetically, “You need a fucking break, man.” He stood and clapped a hand on Jensen’s shoulder.

“The last time I thought that, the world shut down,” Jensen chuckled, coughing into his sleeve.

“Jesus,” Jared laughed, throwing some bills down on the table.

“Hold up,” Jensen started to pull out his wallet.

“No, no, no, I got this. Come on. Let’s get you back to the hotel before you pass out in your soup.”

Jensen groaned but didn’t disagree.

As they stepped out into the cool Toronto night, Jared wrapped an arm around his buddy’s shoulders, steering him toward the waiting car. “Jensen, you don’t have to be a superhero all the time.”

Jensen sniffed indignantly. “Tell that to my schedule.”

Jared just shook his head. “Tomorrow, you’re resting and that’s an order.”

Jensen didn’t answer right away, but as they slid into the backseat of the car, he mumbled, “Yeah, yeah. Alright.”

Jared smiled. Maybe he wouldn’t admit it, but working with Jensen just felt like home. Making sure he took care of himself when he was run down, sick, and working himself to the bone, well, that felt like home too.

Jared sighed, taking in his friend as he leaned against the door and closed his eyes. Yeah, it was good to be home.

Chapter Text

11:47 PM

J-rod: You alive?

Jack: Barely. Feel like I got hit by the impala

J-rod: Told you you’re not Dean, dude. You can’t just power through everything.

Jack: U sound like Danneel

J-rod: That’s because we’re both smarter than you. You should be asleep.

Jack: U texted me

J-rod: You just posted your wordle score. 

Jack: Tried. But I can’t breathe through my nose, and my head feels like it’s gonna explode

J-rod: Explains your wordle score. You got drugs?

Jack: Just took a heavy dose of NyQuil

J-rod: Good. You need anything? I can bring over supplies. 

Jack: Nah, I’m good. Appreciate it tho

J-rod: You sure? I could come over to rub Vicks on your chest 

J-rod: Ackles?

Jack: Tempting. But I think the NyQuil’s kicking in

J-rod: Finally. Get some sleep, man. We got work to do, and I need my Soldier Boy in one piece.

Jack: I’ll do my best. No promises

J-rod: If you’re still this sick tomorrow, I’m dragging your ass to a doctor.

Jack: If you show up at my door playing nurse, I swear 

J-rod: Oh, it’s happening. Sweet dreams, brother.

Jack: [Read at 11:53 PM]

Chapter Text

8:32 AM

J-rod: Morning, sunshine. How’s the plague treating you?

Jack: Worse

J-rod: Shocking.

Jack: Shut up

J-rod: You eating enough? Drinking water?

Jack: Does whiskey count

J-rod: Dude.

Jack: Kidding. Had some coffee. Not hungry though

J-rod: Okay, well, I’m bringing over food. And meds. And Gatorade.

Jack: U don’t have to 

J-rod: Not up for debate.

Jack: Ur the worst

J-rod: And you’re lucky to have me.

Jack: Debatable

J-rod: Be there in 20. Don’t bother fighting it.

Jack: I hate u

J-rod: Love you too, buddy.