Chapter Text
Jack knew he was going to meet someone tonight. He just had a feeling. He was wearing his leather jacket over a new, well fitted white button down shirt, his hair was impeccably styled, and he wore a little cologne. He was a beautiful man, but these things still helped. He looked good, really good, and he knew it. He felt good too. He had a job he liked, he had a house, and he had been relationship free for some time, which was really not like him but was also a positive thing. He and his good friend Pacey were going to go out to a bar tonight in the neighboring city of Lancaster that he'd heard nice things about. Pacey was always up for fun and Jack was looking forward to it.
Pacey had texted him earlier in the day:
wanna meet up at my house at 7? I need to change after work and then we can drive together
sure - my car or yours?
yours
great see you then
Jack drove his convertible over to Pacey's house, though he had left the top up so as to not mess up his hair. He could be a little vain that way. Jack parked on the street because he saw another vehicle in the driveway. He almost immediately recognized it as belonging to Pacey’s brother Doug Witter—it was a law enforcement vehicle with “Capeside Sheriff’s Office” emblazoned in a logo on its side. Doug Witter was the Sheriff of the Capeside Police Department, and the youngest person ever elected to the position. Pacey and his other family members were quite proud of that fact—Jack could always tell by the way that Pacey talked about it, even if he and Doug hadn't always seen eye to eye growing up.
Jack wondered where Pacey was. His car wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Maybe he was inside but maybe he wasn't, and Jack felt a little dumb somehow barging in on Doug Witter if he was in there alone. Doug had always seemed an untouchable, not just to Jack but to all of Pacey’s friends—Pacey's intimidating older brother. When they were younger, Pacey and Doug had always had the typical sibling relationship, especially when there was a bit of an age gap and especially between brothers—competitive, needling and rather aggressive. And of course Jack and Pacey's other friends took Pacey’s side in any disagreement between the siblings that they were privy to. And, they had all agreed, Doug was clearly the favorite of his family—a golden boy—tall, blonde, handsome, great athlete, good grades, the list went on. And now Sheriff! Some things don’t change, Jack thought to himself.
Despite his reticence on going inside, Jack also felt weird just standing in the driveway and he didn’t really want to go back and sit in his car, so he finally walked up to the front door. “Hello?” he called as he opened the door and went in. This was how he always walked into Pacey's house. It was how Pacey preferred it—he was a casual, open kind of guy who loved having people drop by. Jack walked into the living room. There was no one in it but the lights were on.
Doug Witter popped his head out from the recesses of the kitchen, which was off to the left of the living room. “Oh! Jack, Hi!” His tone was friendly. He disappeared from view again. ”Be right with you!
"Oh, uh, Hi! Sheriff, how’re you?” Jack said a little loudly since he couldn’t see the other man.
”Not bad!” A moment later Doug Witter emerged from the kitchen, holding some sort of envelope in his hand. He wasn't wearing a uniform, just khakis and a blue long sleeved shirt, so Jack presumed he must be off work. Doug was as tall, gorgeous and trim as always. Maybe a tiny bit of gray at the temples but it only added to his charm.
”Please, Jack, call me Doug!”
They shook hands.
”Oh, OK got it, Doug. Just like the good old days, right?”
Doug smiled. “Yeah.”
Jack had meant for a casual tone, but instead his voice had sounded slightly nervous as he said the words. He chastised himself. Why was he getting so intimidated interacting with this guy after all these years? Jack reminded himself that he had his own qualities. He was also a smart, accomplished, attractive guy. He stood up a little taller, his broad shoulders filling out his shirt and jacket nicely, and his own dashing good looks on display. “So, uh, where’s Pace?” He glanced back toward the front window then looked back at Doug. “He and I are supposed to go out." Jack looked at his watch. "Like 10 minutes ago.”
Doug walked casually over to the kitchen table, which sat closer to the pass-through window of the kitchen. “I just talked to him and he said he’s running a little late. Told me to tell you.” He paused. “Something with work.”
There were a couple of folders sitting on the table. Doug sat down at the table. He seemed to be sorting through their contents.
“Ah, OK, got it. That’s cool.” Jack looked at Doug. “You’re not joining us, are you?” Jack definitely doubted it but didn’t really know what else to say.
Doug looked up at Jack with kind of a surprised look on his face, “Uh, no, I’m just stopping through.” He paused. “Pacey thought he has some old records related to a piece of land we’re trying to deal with in the family that I need.” He sighed slightly. “But I just spent 10 minutes looking through the filing cabinet in the back room and I didn’t find anything.” He shook his head. “I’ll have to get after him about it. God help me if my files were ever in that state.”
“Yeah?” Jack half smiled. “I guess some of us are organizationally challenged. I know it’s not always my strong point.”
“Well, I am sure you can’t be as bad as Pacey.” Doug seemed to hold Jack’s gaze for a moment. Then he went back to sorting through the papers. “I don’t think I’ve run into you for quite a while, huh?”
Jack looked thoughtful. “Yeah, I don’t know. Between going off to Boston for school and just regular life, I feel like it’s been quite a while. I think we might have both been at Pacey's birthday party back in college? Not sure.”
Doug nodded. “Yeah, I think that's right.”
Jack smiled. “The clearest memories I have of you are from high school. You were my buddy’s intimidating older brother who thought we were a bunch of goons!”
“Ha, well, maybe.” Doug laughed and looked at Jack. “Pacey for sure!” He paused. “I still have a memory of you and him running through the house one summer day, I think with water balloons, threatening to unload them, and my mom freaking out?”
Jack laughed and ran a hand slightly through his hair. “Uh, I think I do actually remember that incident, but no, that was Pacey who was threatening to unload them… on me! I would never have done something like that in someone else’s house, much less my own!” Jack added with a serious note in his voice.
Doug laughed. “OK, well, I’m glad to hear it! Oh, forgot my phone.” He got up and disappeared into the kitchen again.
Jack watched him go. The view was too nice not to grab a look. Jack walked over and sat down on Pacey’s couch. Jack put an arm along the back of the couch, crossed one leg over the other at the ankle, and looked around the room. The windows were open a bit despite the cooler weather and a breeze was coming in. It felt nice.
Doug walked back in, went over to the table again and sat down. He didn't say anything more so Jack took out his phone. He started fiddling with it. He wanted to check his email and so on but then thought that might seem rude to Doug, even though it seemed like their conversation had dried up. He looked again at the other man, whose head was slightly down flipping through some papers. “So, how’s life as sheriff?”
Doug glanced up, “Oh you know, busy, always something to worry about. But I love it.”
Jack nodded. Somehow Jack thought these last words sounded a little hollow.
“Hope you get some free time too,” Jack said pleasantly. “Life’s not all about work.”
Doug looked at him and smiled. “True.”
Doug seemed to finish up with the files. He put some papers from one of them into a manila envelope, which he closed up and put it under his arm. He walked over across the room and leaned against the wall in the living room nearest Jack.
“You’re teaching at Capeside High now, right?” Doug seemed interested in chatting a bit more.
Jack set his phone down. “You knew that, huh?" Jack was a little surprised at this.
“Of course!” Doug’s clipped manner cracked Jack up. “Pacey told me.”
Jack nodded.
“How are you liking it?”
“Not bad. I like the students, most of the time! And it’s nice to have a steady paycheck.” Jack's grin played out across his handsome face. “Bought a house too. Guess I’ve really crossed over into adulthood.”
Doug nodded. He was being a lot more social then Jack had expected and this was also surprising.
“Ah, where's your house?”
“Off of Third, near Ocean Bay Drive.”
Doug nodded. “Oh, yes, that's a very nice stretch.” He looked at Jack a little narrowly. “You were able to buy there...on a teacher's salary?”
Jack colored slightly, “Well, uh, you know, my dad helped me out a bit with the down payment.”
“Ah, got it.” Doug didn't say it but Jack could tell he didn't quite approve. Jack knew that Doug had been working for quite a long time and likely didn't get as much financial help, if any, from his family as Jack had. On the other hand, Jack told himself, Doug had been the apple of his family’s eye for much of his life. And he hadn't had to struggle with the whole coming out thing either.
There was a bit of an awkward silence.
Doug leaned forward and tapped Jack on the arm lightly. “Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. It's none of my business!” Doug looked rather earnest.
Jack looked up at him. “No, no offense taken!” He smiled, genuinely, at Doug. He paused. “I know I was pretty lucky to get that help.”
Doug nodded. He glanced toward the window, possibly looking to see if Pacey was coming, Jack thought, then back at Jack. “Actually, I’m going to be doing some work at Capeside High coming up.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“I’m advising the task force on school safety—we're working on the next 5 year plan.”
“Oh? Maybe I've heard mention of that. I'm not sure.”
“Maybe we’ll cross paths.”
“Yeah, maybe," Jack said a little unsurely. "Who are you working with?”
Doug listed off some names, including of course Jack’s boss, Principal Jackson. “I think that’s almost everyone? We’re still working out the details.”
A couple of the people Doug listed were along the uptight end of the spectrum, so Jack didn’t envy Doug having to deal with them. Principal Jackson however, was very sharp, and she generally knew how to keep the culture of the school positive and productive.
Doug continued. “We actually we just lost someone to knee replacement surgery so we’re down a teacher on the committee.”
“Must be Carla Manning. Teaches Algebra and Trig?”
“Yeah, uh, could be. The name escapes me.” Doug paused. “So, uh, Jack, can we count you in as her replacement?”
Jack seemed a little caught, “Ah….”
“Kidding, only kidding!” Doug smiled. “I know you’ve probably got your hands full.”
Jack recovered himself quickly. “Well, uh I’m interested (this was a bit of a white lie) but I did just wrap up serving on another committee for the school—the new track and field area—so a little less high stakes than what you are dealing with!" Jack laughed. “But it was still a lot of work and I’m feeling a little fried (this was true).” The last thing Jack actually wanted to do was be on another committee. But he also didn’t want to sound like a flake about something that was an important issue, and clearly important to Capeside’s sheriff. "It is great that they are looking for teacher input. I’ll have to think it over.”
“Sure,” Doug said, and Jack could swear that he saw a little bit of a smile ghost over Doug’s handsome face, as if he knew Jack didn’t want to do it.
God, he probably thinks I am as immature as ever, Jack thought to himself. Great. He couldn’t deny that he was feeling the need somehow to impress the other man. On the other hand, though he did feel a little bad for not wanting to volunteer to be on the task force, he didn’t feel that bad. It dawned on him though that he did want to at least offer a little emotional support to Doug, if he could. He seemed to be a pretty decent guy and Jack was actually enjoying their conversation. “Well, if you think of it,” Jack said, “my classroom is Room 143, drop by and say ‘Hi’ if I’m around. I know these meetings drag on at times, and you might enjoy seeing a friendly face!”
“143,” Doug repeated. He seemed touched by the offer. “Thanks, I might take you up on that.”
Jack doubted he would. Despite his unexpected warmth toward Jack, Doug Witter still had a lot of the consummate contained and controlled professional about him. He wasn’t going to go out looking for his little brother’s friends, no matter how old they were now. But it made Jack feel good to have made the overture.
Doug straightened up. “Listen I have to run. Could you do me a favor and tell Pacey to call me later?”
“You bet,” Jack said. “Hope you find the paperwork you’re after.”
“I’m sure I’ll get it one way or another.” Doug stuck his hand out and Jack leaned forward and shook Jack’s hand again. “Really nice talking to you Jack.” He seemed to hold Jack’s gaze a little longer and his eyes were very blue as he said this last sentence.
“Yeah, you too, Doug.“
Doug left.
“God. He's. Cute,” Jack said to no one in particular, since no one was around. And a lot nicer than I thought he would be. Even a little flirty. Life is funny that way he thought to himself. People don’t always turn out the way you expect. He got out his phone again and started checking his email and texts.
Pacey showed up about 5 minutes later. “Sorry, sorry—we had a dishwasher not show up and it threw everything off!”
Jack looked compassionate. “That sucks. Well,” he took a breath, “I got to chat with your hotter than fuck sibling in your absence, so that’s something!”
Pacey chuckled. “You mean Doug?”
Jack nodded. “I’m not talking about one of your sisters!”
“I talked to him earlier. Did he find what he was looking for?”
“No, he said your files were a mess.”
“Huh, I’ll have to look around,” Pacey shook his head. He started moving toward the hallway that led to the back bedrooms. “Let me just jump in the shower—I smell like the damn restaurant!”
“Fine. But please put a move on it!”
“Got it!” Pacey yelled from his room.
Pacey returned pretty quickly, freshly showered, and in a new shirt and jeans.
“So, should I tell Doug you think he’s cute?” he said abruptly, a playful look on his face.
Jack looked at Pacey. “Uh, please don’t!”
“Won’t be anything he hasn’t heard before.” Pacey continued as if hadn’t heard Jack’s last comment. “He’s had people commenting on his looks his whole life. Of course, I know you’ve heard it your whole life too.”
Jack rolled his eyes.
“What? You’re a seriously beautiful guy, Jack.” Pacey could say this and yet not have his sexuality questioned. Pacey was serious for a moment. “You would think Doug would have the women lined up, but I guess he was looking for something else.” He paused. “At least that’s what all of his boyfriends have told me.” He turned and made a face at Jack.
Jack made a face back. “Uh-huh.” He knew that Pacey had made cracks like that for years at Doug’s expense, and he knew that Doug was straight, straight, straight.
Pacey and Jack's sojourn to the bar in Lancaster that night was basically a bust, despite Jack’s premonition. It wasn’t particularly crowded, the beer selection was uninspired, and Jack didn’t meet anyone. He and Pacey ended up playing pool for most of the night and Jack got to hear a long story about Pacey’s issues with his current fling and how she did and didn’t compare to his ex Joey, also a friend of Jack’s. One semi-cute guy did come up to Jack at one point, but it was only to ask directions to another bar.
“So much for my hunch,” Jack chuckled to himself.