csi_sanders1129 | Fic: Sink Or Swim (Reply)

Title: Sink or Swim
Chapters: 7/7 - Epilogue
Author:

csi_sanders1129
Genre: Romance. Angst. Hurt/Comfort. Drama.
Ratings: T
Word Count: 1,339/15,750
Pairings/Characters: Michael Woods/Jake Hunter, Tommy Biggs. [Jumping Ship (2001)]
Synopsis: It starts on Day 8. Jake can't take the staring anymore.
Comments: Okay, I know. Another fic for another fandom that no one is interested it (barring the friends I forced to watch the movie while I was writing this (to whom I owe thanks)). And yeah, the three main actors are all played by the Lawrence brothers, but they're not playing brothers, so ha! Not weird. Goes AU after Day 8 on the island. The movie is up on youtube, if anyone is interested in watching it. Comments are awesome, characters are not mine - do enjoy! Also, might have borrowed the dialogue from the end of the movie, as well...

Jake's sitting at one of the tables outside of the on-campus coffee shop, surrounded by the bustling crowd of students heading to and from their classes and cars. He's got an open biology textbook in front of him, and he's armed with a notebook and a variety of colorful highlighters, as well. It's his second semester here, and it's drawing to a close as Spring Break is set to begin in just a few days. He's got several of his general classes out of the way and he's focusing on biology, specifically of the marine variety as that's his major; and he's throwing a history minor into that, as well, given the salvage work he used to do with his father.

"Hey, babe," Michael greets, sliding into the seat across from him. "How'd your midterm go?"

The book closes, one of the highlighters stuck between the pages to keep his place for later. "Pretty well, I think. Then again, thinking I did well generally means I bombed. It's only when I think I did terribly that I actually end up acing things."

Michael shakes his head. "No way you do anything less than awesome on it. You've been studying for that exam for a week and a half."

"Well, let's hope so," Jake agrees, gathering his things and shoving them back into his bag. "We heading home now?"

"I was, ugh," Michael starts, standing once Jake does and leading the way to his car, parked just off campus, "actually thinking, maybe you'd want to go to dinner? It's been a while since we've both been free."

Jake nods, "Yeah, that sounds great," he agrees with a smile that grows even more intense when Michael straight out beams at him as they climb into the car.

"Fantastic."

Jake's anticipating a trip to some local restaurant or a stop off to pick up some carry-out in terms of Michael's plans for dinner, then maybe a night spent sprawled across the couch with a movie or a game. Jake isn't exactly dressed for anything particularly fancy, either - as college doesn't really necessitate anything more than jeans and t-shirt sort of attire (which is far dressier than some of his classmates, specifically those that show up in pajama pants and hooded sweatshirts and appear as though they've only just rolled out of bed) - so unless Michael is planning a stop off at home, their options are limited. But, they bypass the way back to the house and nearly every place that Jake can think of, so he's somewhat perplexed by the time they end up at the marina where the Tiffany II is docked.

"Been planning this, have you?" Jake asks, eyebrow raised as Michael parks the car.

"Maybe," Michael grins at him. The boat's about halfway down the main pier, and he has most definitely been planning something because there's really no other reason that a fully catered dinner should be prepared for their arrival. No one else is aboard, just the two of them. There's wine, too - Jake's not technically allowed to drink now that he's back in the States, but the drinking age in Australia is 18 so it's not like he's never done it before - and pretty much every food Jake can remember mentioning he loves, too. Yeah, Michael is definitely planning something.

They stay above deck - Jake has never warmed up to the table he was tied to over night when the pirates were holding him captive - and enjoy their meal as the sun sets over the water. Conversation is calm and typical, a combination of school, work, and plans for Michael's upcoming 24th birthday that causes them to lose track of time.

Michael's jumpy, though. The same way he was when they were stalling out on the conversation with Michael's Dad about their relationship - to which the man has greatly warmed - and so Jake is justifiably concerned by his behavior. His fingers are nervously tapping against the table edge, and he keeps biting his lip as if he wants to say something, and he keeps reaching for the black cord necklace that's attached to Jake's gold coin. Jake lasts about halfway through dessert until he can't take it anymore.

"Hey," he says, one hand crossing the small table to cover Michael's shaking one. "Relax, okay? What's wrong?"

"Nothing" Michael responds. Too quickly. "Nothing's wrong. I'm just..."

Jake waits for him to finish the sentence. "Just...?"

Michael stands, mumbles something that might roughly translate to "hold on a minute," and disappears below deck. Jake stares after him, more confused than ever, and just as he's getting up to follow after - half convinced that he's sick or injured or otherwise not in his right mind - Michael reappears. He looks no different from when he left, but he does seem to be even more anxious.

"Are you okay?" Jake asks catching hold of his arm as he returns to the table.

"Yeah, just had to get something, is all," Michael assures him, making no move to return to his seat, instead hovering awkwardly at Jake's side before he finally forces his body into compliance and drops to his knees. "I, ugh, I'm sorry I'm being weird. I just... Let's just say that preparation has met opportunity." He drags a hand over his face and refrains from mentioning that he's been planning this for over a month, just waiting for the chance when both of them had the time to get out here and enjoy themselves. He'll cover that later. After.

"Okay," Jake says, eyeing him suspiciously. "What is it?"

"I want to... Will you marry me?"

Jake blinks. Stares. Blinks again and stares some more because Michael is still on his knees next to him and he's watching Jake like he could either completely make or totally shatter his entire world depending on his answer. "What?" His voice is a little more monotone than he intends, but he's more than a little surprised by this unexpected turn of events.

Michael's fumbling for his pocket, then. Producing a velvet covered case that he snaps open once he gets his hands to stop shaking long enough to complete the task. "I, ugh, I really hope you don't mind, but I had them made out of the coin. I figured since it saved both our lives it was kind of appropriate and..." Rambling Michael has arrived, Jake is far from surprised to see, and he's still going even though he attempts to cut in. "I know we can't actually get married, but maybe one day we can, maybe not in California, but somewhere and you know I love you, since before we even got off the island, probably, and after all we've been through to get to this point... I want this, you, for as long as I can have you and hopefully that'll be for a very, very long time. And please, please say yes?" The case, which Michael now offers him, holds two identical golden rings - and Jake is nothing if not impressed that the single coin equated to two rings.

"Are you serious?" The smile on Jake's face is one of complete shock and awe and Michael seems to be relaxing quite a bit now that he's seen it, too.

He nods as he shifts closer, curling the fingers of his free hand around Jake's. "What do you say?"

Jake stands, pulls Michael to his feet, as well. "I don't know what to say," he answers. Michael's face freezes in something close to tortured and Jake takes the jump to put him out of his misery, because there really is only one answer to Michael's question. "Yes," he says, leaning forward to kiss Michael as passionately as he possibly can. "Absolutely, yes."

"Then 'yes,' it is." Michael grins against his lips, the kiss lasting for a long, long moment before he pulls away to carefully slide the gold ring onto Jake's finger; he lets Jake return the favor and then pulls him in close again. Hands entwine and foreheads press together as they break apart from another drawn out meeting of lips and tongue that leaves them both breathless and heated. Dessert is left forgotten on the table as Michael pulls Jake below deck to the brand new bed in the small stateroom so that they can properly celebrate.