Always Been You

Tim handed the phone to her, obviously frustrated that things had backfired.

“You are both so annoying,” he yelled before he rushed to his room.

Katherine buried her face in her hands. Confused about how she was feeling. She couldn’t decide if she was more angry at Tim for being such a brat or relieved that he was back home and safe.. She sighed, and then she felt Jensen’s hand on her shoulder.

“It’s okay,” Jensen said. “Don’t worry so much about him. He is just acting out and being a teenager. It’s normal. At least we know that he is safe and not into trouble. At least we know he is home.”

Katherine’s anger returned in full force. She lifted her head and dropped her hands, then she turned to face him.

“Excuse me?” she said angrily and Jensen took one step backward.

“I’m in trouble too, am I not?” he asked.

“Like hell you are” Katherine yelled as she took one step towards him. “Now where the hell have you been and why are you just coming home now?” she asked.

Jensen frowned. “Honey,” he began. “I told you on the phone. I was busy at work. I had a lot to do. I still have a lot to do. Look, baby, I understand that you are really upset right now about this thing with Tim. I’m upset about it too, but please don’t take out your anger on me. I handle that right now ”

He turned and grabbed his suit jacket which he had removed earlier and began to walk towards the stairs. Which made Katherine even more angry

“I’m not done talking, Jensen” she yelled, “So don’t you dare walk away from me right now”

“Oh really now?” Jensen asked sarcastically as he turned to face her. “Talk? Is that it? Do you really want to talk, Kat? Or do you want to yell? Because those are two different things and you are yelling. That is exactly what you are doing right now and I’m not in the mood for that. As you can see, I’m really, really tired”

“You see, that’s what I am talking about,” Katherine said, as she ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. “You are tired because you spend almost every hour of every day at the office working. Tim is right, you are never home these days. You don’t even eat with us anymore. You promised me you would be home early today, but of course you are late again. And I’m left to handle everything about the kids alone. Even little Deanie wanted you here tonight, but of course you weren’t here. She cried herself to sleep. Tim has been acting out and I don’t I don’t know what his problem is. But of course I am left to handle it alone… ”

Jensen sighed and threw the jacket on the chair once more, then he faced Katherine.” You make it sound like I’m at the office playing with toys or something? I’m working, Kat. For all of us. I don’t understand, are you blaming me for what is happening with Tim?”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

“I’m not blaming you for that. I just want you to care. I have a job too and I don’t let it affect my time with my family. My job is important too” Katherine yelled.

“I care. Don’t you dare say that I don’t care. And yeah, I know-how know you have your job too, But it’s not as… as….” Jensen began.

“As what?” Katherine asked angrily. “Are you trying to say that your job is more important than mine?”

“No. Of course that is not what I’m trying to say” Jensen said immediately. “I’m just saying that you should understand that my job could be more demanding than yours. It could take more of my time and you should be more understanding”

“You know that I have tried to be understanding,” Katherine said. “But it’s becoming a habit. It has become a normal thing for you to come home so late that even Tim notices it. It has become a normal thing for you not to have breakfast or dinner with us. I know your job is important, but your family is too, Jensen. We need you. I need you. How can you not see that?”

Jensen lifted his hands and rubbed his forehead.”I can’t do this right now, Katherine” he said. “I have a fucking headache and I can’t talk about this. I don’t want to have this conversation right now”.

“Why not? Katherine asked.

“Because I don’t want to, okay?” Jensen snapped. “I don’t want to talk because I’m tired. Do I need your permission to get some rest too?”

“And so we are just going to push this aside, like we push aside everything else lately?” Katherine asked. Her voice shook.

“Yes, Kat, that is exactly what we are going to do” Jensen replied carelessly.

Katherine stared at him, unable to say anything else. Right now, it was almost like she couldn’t recognize him.