DorkFish 4: The Ruthless Scheme

Euphoric Horror, Wondrous Dread, Retribution

5:12 P.M.

Miles high over the Atlantic, Jensen stood in the doorway of Jared's tiny room on the jet, watching him sleep with Justice pressed securely against his chest.

Just like he had done back in August when he had proposed to him, he had holed himself up in that room as soon as they had boarded the plan, this time taking their son with him, without so much as a word to him.

He'd been in there for hours, from the look of it, he had no intention of emerging anytime soon.

Fury and hurt still charred his heart, but now he knew where to direct his rage. When the time was right, he'd deal property with Misha.

But ultimately, Misha wasn't the one to blame.

"I am," he murmured.

Where Jared meant so much to him, he should have been more present. He should have insisted he visit him in Rome. Or he should have gotten his fucking priorities straight and carved some time for a trip to Mid-town.

No matter how hard he and Misha both tried to keep him away from him.

No matter what critical phase the merger was entering.

If he had followed his gut instincts and come home to him, even if only for a weekend, he would have discovered the pregnancy, he would have learned about this web of lies Misha was weaving around him, and he would have figured out what the fuck was motivating his second-in-command to do it.

He should have told Jared that he loved him way back in November. He should have stayed with him after he had begged him not to go. He should have pressed when he suspected there was something wrong with him, even though Misha assured him Jared was fine. He should have grabbed that beautiful "Stranger" on the streets of Rome. He should have come home to him the morning after rather than let Jared talk him out of it. If he had done any of those things, he could have repaired the damage that had been done.

Instead, he had abandoned him when he needed Jensen most, believed him when he had said he was alright. He had left him in the hands of someone he thought he could trust, only to have that person ruin what they had built together. He had let the situation get so out of hand that it drove Jared to keep the most precious thing of his life from him.

He had failed him, miserably, and it had probably nearly cost them their lives.

Jensen stepped into the little room, even though Jared had ordered him not to touch him, he stroked a finger lovingly down his cheek.

"Forgive me, Carissima," he whispered.

At his gentle touch, Jared smiled softly in his sleep. He nuzzled his face against Jensen's hand with a deep sigh of subconscious contentment, that small thing gave Jensen hope.

His fingers trailed from his cheek to their son's, where his head rested on Jared's shoulder, he thought about that overwhelming moment of terror and joy when he had seen him for the first time, sound asleep in his crib.

Jensen had crept into Jared's apartment with his Kimber drawn, ready for the battle to come, but when he had discovered the coast was clear, that Jared was soaking in the tub and oblivious to his presence, he had headed straight for the child he had named after him.

Names didn't mean anything.

Jared had been right to start his defense with the paternity matter. Truth be told, it was the first thing that had crossed his mind when Kane had delivered the news. That suspicion was only reinforced when he saw the way Misha had touched him outside of the building, how Jared had smiled at him, that rivaled the sun in brightness.