Driven

Chapter 9: I'm Very Photogenic

"You ever been sailing?"

It was quite possibly the most random question in the history of random questions. Jared and Jensen were lounging on Jared's giant leather sofa, watching a crappy movie on Sci-Fi. Harley was sprawled on the floor next to Jared's feet and Sadie had her head propped on Jensen's knee. One of his hands absently carded through her fur, which kept her very happy. They'd spent several afternoons and evenings when Jared was finished shooting just like this recently- watching movies, playing video games, drinking beer, and just hanging out. It was nice. Comfortable. As if they'd been doing it for years instead of off and on again for months.

They'd fallen into a rhythm together and dating wasn't so much 'dating' anymore. They'd been able to patch up the disagreement from the previous weeks and became closer because of it. The only times they weren't together were when one or the other was working. Jared kept to Jensen's boundaries about his career and Jensen respected Jared's need to hang around and be 'normal' guys more often. He requested dinners at local restaurants and movie dates in low-key theaters just as often as they spent time on each other's couches. How they kept themselves out of the limelight was a mystery, one that Jared welcomed with open arms.

"What? Sailing?"

"Yeah."

"On a boat?"

"Yeah, doofus. What else do you sail on?"

Jared laughed, then scratched his head. "I mean, I guess I've been on a fishing boat with my dad before. Does that count?"

"Not really. I'm talking on the ocean for like a day. Hanging out on a boat with beers and the guitar and just relaxing."

"Well then, no, I haven't been sailing."

Jensen picked up the remote and turned off the TV, movie long forgotten anyway. Sadie hopped up, ears cocked towards the sky and tongue hanging out in anticipation. He turned to Jared. "Wanna go?" Sadie began dancing back and forth, thinking the question was for her. Harley looked up from his spot on the floor, taking a small interest now that the word go had been uttered.

"What? Now?"

"Sure!" Jensen stood up, taking Jared by the hand and pulling him up off the couch. "You grab the beers, I'll grab the keys and..."

"Wait. You have a boat?"

Jensen gave him a look like he was completely dense. "No, I'm making us get up off the sofa on a perfectly lazy Sunday morning so I can pretend to have a boat." He made his way over to his overnight bag and dug out some sandals. "Come on," he encouraged Jared, who hadn't moved yet, "get some shoes and let's go."

Sadie began whimpering, bouncing from Jared to Jensen. Harley stood near the door, one paw up as if to knock. Jensen cooed at them, ruffling Sadie's fur. "Don't think Daddy will let you go on this trip, guys. Not sure how your stomachs will handle the waves."

Jared smiled at the scene. "Let me just get dressed."

"No!" Jensen exclaimed. Sadie's ears dropped and she gave Jensen her best puppy eyes. He scratched at her ear in apology for startling her. "Just....you're fine. We're going sailing for fuck's sake. Grab a hat and some glasses. We're burning daylight, Jay."

Jared looked down at his teeshirt and basketball shorts, then over at Jensen's similar outfit. "Okay," he agreed. He slid his feet into the flip flops by the door, grabbed his Cowboys cap off the hook in the hall closet, and grabbed his house keys and sunglasses from the side table. "Ready, I guess."

Jensen whooped in delight. He headed into the kitchen to pull a few remaining beers from the fridge, tossing Sadie and Harley a couple Milkbones. "You guys get to hold down the fort," he said to the dogs, who were much too involved in the treats to even acknowledge him.