Wild West AU Dream: Rainbow Ranch

[thewolfinside]

The ranch was quiet at night. The house was dark, but light showed along the edges of the covered windows of the bunk house. There wasn't much noise, mostly the sounds of coyotes howling in the nearby hills and the horses moving around in the barn. A storm was moving in, and most of the cattle had been moved closer to the barn and wooded area nearby so they could ride out the worst of the wind.

The barn itself appeared dark, but if one went inside, they could see the faint glow from a lantern shining on the ceiling above the back corner of the hay loft. Up in that corner, Jason was curled up on a bedroll, a kettle of coffee nearby kept warm by the thick towls and hay around it. A cup of cooling liquid was on the floor beside him, forgotten while he wrote in his journal.

The journal was a small book with a leather cover and hand bound pages. It had kept him sane during the first few dark months after Rose's death and Jasia and Jase's leavings. The first Christmas had been the hardest, Gabe had refused to decorate or even admit that the holiday was happening. This last one had been better, Gabe actually smiling when recieving his gifts from Jason and Scud. After things had settled down and Jason had gotten used to the routine, it had become a habit to write in the journal.

Getting used to the routine had taken a while, and the first time or two that Scud had shown up to share Gabe's bed, the older man had to pull Jason aside and tell him what was going on. Jason had picked up on the signs quickly after that, giving both men a nod and a smile whenever Scud would darken the doorway, then leave them alone. He'd quickly decided after the first night that he was better off not being in the house when Scud came by, because the sounds only added to the images in his head, and he was sure that the ranch hand wasn't the type to invite anyone else into the bed.

Very rarely did he leave the ranch though, and most of those nights were spent up here, in the hayloft. Finished with his writing for now, Jason set the book and lead aside, then laid back against the hay bale. He wondered what had happened to Jasia, she had just up and disappeared and no one had heard a word from her. Jase wrote occasionally, his last letter telling about the ranch he had signed on with up in Montana and the troubles going on up there. He didn't expect it to last, Jase never stayed anywhere more than a few months, unable to settle down after losing his girl. Jason expected that his brother would be mourning Rose until he died.

Moving the now cold cup next to the lantern, Jason blew out the lantern and curled in his bedroom, not going to sleep, but thinking in the darkness.

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[lion-passant.livejournal.com]

Sleep wasn't a commodity Gabriel knew anymore. There'd been a time when he slept like a baby. Back when his little girl was still living. Before he'd lived with the fear that Jason might up and leave him again. Back when life was normal, or as normal as it ever got on the Double R.

But anymore sleep was a treat rather than a daily course. So it was that long after Scud had fallen asleep, Gabriel was pacing the property. He was trying to avoid it, to stay away but the call was too great.

The side door creaked as he slipped in, pausing to let his eyes adjust to the dark. Standing there, suddenly feeling stupid and young and...

"Jason?" Whispered so softly in case he was already asleep.

[thewolf-inside.livejournal.com]

Jason just started to drift off, snuggled quite happily in the bedroom and hay. He preferred here to the bunkhouse because the barn was definately warmer, and the only empty bed at the moment was Scud's.

The creaking is what jerked him out of his light doze and he mentally groaned, preparing to bury his head under some hay. The only problem with the quiet barn is that sometimes a ranch hand snuck over here for a bit of privacy.

The voice, his name, stopped him though and he sat up slowly. "Yeah?" His voice was a bit louder, letting Gabe hear where he was at.

[lion-passant.livejournal.com]

He moved easily to the ladder that lead up to the loft. He knew every inch of that barn by heart. It was his. His heart and soul. But he paused at the bottom, one hand on the lift and a foot on the riser.

"You mind if I come up?"

[thewolf-inside.livejournal.com]

He smiled at that, shaking his head even though Gabe couldn't see it.

"I don't mind, besides it's your barn."

Watching toward the area where the ladder was, even though he could barely see. He wasn't going to try and light the lantern right now, deciding that finding his pack and the matches would be too much of an effort.

[lion-passant.livejournal.com]

Ascending slowly, not bothering to gain his feet but staying on his knees as he made the landing. Stopping there, peering towards where he could barely make out the form of his lover. And his love.

"Think maybe you got room there for two?"

[thewolf-inside.livejournal.com]

Frowning for a moment then nodding, Jason moves over, making room for Gabe.

"'course I do. Everythin' okay?"

Of course it wasn't okay, not if Gabe was out here in the middle of the freezing night instead of in his bed, curled up around Scud.

[lion-passant.livejournal.com]

He doesn't hesitate, slipping in beside Jason. Still for a moment and then his arms were tight around his lover. Not gentle or loving. Clinging tightly to him as he buried his face into the crook of Jason's neck.

In that position his words, so sad, were muffled. "She'd be nineteen today."

[thewolf-inside.livejournal.com]

At first he was confused, until Gabe spoke. Pulling the top of the bedroom over the two of them, then curling around his lover, mentally hating himself for not realising the date.

There was nothing he could say, he may have lost Jase and Jasia, but they were still alive. He could hunt them down if he needed too. All that he was able to do was hold the man and be there for him.

[lion-passant.livejournal.com]

"You would think I'd be over it by now,' he murmured, kissing the side of Jason's throat. "I can't even deny she asked for it. I just...'

Raising his head, confusion on his features even if not visible.

"Was she just that much like me? Did I raise her wrong? I know she was happy and Jase made her that way and... I miss my little girl, Jason. So bad.'

But he wasn't crying even though he wanted to. He was done with that.

[thewolf-inside.livejournal.com]

"No! You raised her perfect, Gabe." Kissing Gabe's forehead, hugging him tightly. "She was foolhardy and headstrong, yes, but dammit, Gabe, you did the great job with her. She was also proud and capable of takin' care of herself, and one day she would have been able to take over the ranch."

Looking Gabe in the eyes, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I know you miss her, Gabe. I spend everyday wishing I could take the pain away for you, for Jase too. I wish I could bring her back for you."

[lion-passant.livejournal.com]

His arms tightened around Jason, needing that nearness, that closeness. Smiling at his words, resting his forehead against his lover's shoulder.

"I still want to kill him. Just want to know that the bastard paid for killing my beauty." Shuddering, slumping against Jason. "How is Jase?" He hadn't asked. Couldn't bring himself to. Not in nearly two years.

[thewolf-inside.livejournal.com]

"He will, one day he will."

Jason goes quiet, eyes closing as he thinks about his brother. "He's alive, I guess. He says the reason he keeps movin' is that he gets bored, the same scene gets stale. Truth is, he moves on whenever he starts to get attached to people."

[lion-passant.livejournal.com]

"I understand that.' More than he wanted to admit, he understood. He was waiting for the shoe to drop. For Scud and Jason to pack up and move on.

It was common. Hands moved on all the time. But these were his, his loves, but one day...

"Don't ever leave me.' The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. Wincing as he ducked back, pulling away in the dark.

[thewolf-inside.livejournal.com]

Jason refuses to let go though, clinging tighter to the other man. "I told you I'm here for as long as you'll let me stay."

He meant it too. He had tried to leave once before and hadn't lasted a week before he came crawling back. "For as long as I'm yours."

[lion-passant.livejournal.com]

Fingers tangling in Jason's hair, tightening before he yanked back. Leaning over the other man in the dark, staring into eyes he knew were as blue as the sky, even if he couldn't see them.

"Mine. Always. Not fucking letting you ever leave.' Fierce tones, almost angry as he leans down and nips Jason's lower lip.

[thewolf-inside.livejournal.com]

"Not gonna argue." Whispering the words just before kissing Gabe, his hands clutching at the man's shirt. Eyes closing, shaking from the fight to stay still, only seeking the kiss from his lover right now.

[lion-passant.livejournal.com]

Kissing him back, fingers tightening in that golden mane. Tugging, wanting to hear him, feeling him. That moment when one mourns and wonders about death. He was there and damned if Gabriel wasn't going to be reminded he was alive.

[thewolf-inside.livejournal.com]

His head was spinning. Gabe was here instead of at the house, giving fuel to far to many fantasies he'd had in this hayloft.

Groaning and arching up against Gabe, the tug of his hair painful, but a good pain. Pulling on Gabe's shirt, pulling the man against him, his knees bending, jean clad thighs rubbing against his lover's hips.

[lion-passant.livejournal.com]

This was wrong. Jason wasn't some cheap tramp to be taken like this; hidden in the hayloft for a quick fuck. But he was there, clinging to him and cradling him close.

Groaning, mouth sliding along his jaw, biting and suckling at Jason's throat as his free hand slid up, yanking his shirt free from his pants.

[thewolf-inside.livejournal.com]

"Fuck, Gabe." Moaning out the words softly, the other man's hand hot against his skin. Needing to feel Gabe's skin against his, tugging hard on the other man's shirt.

"Need it, Gabe."

[lion-passant.livejournal.com]

"Need what?" Growling out the words with another tug on that gorgeous mane he idolized. "Tell me."

Snapping at his throat once more before wriggling to get the shirt off. Changing his hold, not letting Jason go as he gets of his own shirt and then, impatiently, rips open the front of his lover's.

[thewolf-inside.livejournal.com]

"F-fuck me." Voice catching when his shirt is ripped open, mentally cursing himself and glad he'd left the lantern out. Almost two years, and he still blushed when saying those words, but he was sure that Gabe could feel it.

His hands fumble with the buttons on his jeans, tugging them open before reaching for Gabe's.

[lion-passant.livejournal.com]

"Oh god.' Groaning out the words, not sure what turned him on more. Jason saying them or the way he reacted. This wasn't some whore, some cheap slut. This was a good man who willingly laid with him, made love to him, loved him.

Panting as he felt air on his hip, letting go of Jason long enough to kick off his boots and wriggle out of his jeans. Grabbing Jason's boots, yanking them off, one at a time and then jerking on the hem of his jeans.

"Don't want to hurt you,' he whispered, but the reason was clear. He was feeling aggressive and needy and that scared him.

[thewolf-inside.livejournal.com]

He could hear Gabe, but could only see vague shadows in the darkness. Jason didn't know whether or not he should be ashamed that it turned him on so much.

Pulling free of his shirt, then raising his hips and pushing at his jeans when Gabe pulls. Going still at Gabe's words, Jason is suprised he isn't glowing like a hot coal, he's blushing so badly.

"Salve, in my bag, bale on your left."

[lion-passant.livejournal.com]

Practically diving for the back, snarling as he tried to find the small container in the dark. Finally seizing it with a moan.

And then there is silence. Nothing until his fingers glide along the crack of Jason's ass, teasing his asshole with slicked fingers.