srndpty. --> a jared and drea fanfic

Part 36

"Do you need anything else?" She asked, securing everything for him before going to bed. Jared softly shook his head like a little boy and wrapped himself up in sheets, signaling that he's ready for bed. Drea went out right after, closing the door behind her. 

She will lose him anyway, she said. And yet when she knew that he's in the verge of dying, the first words that flew out her mouth were "I can't lose you."

His house exploded. Nothing was left of it except the structure. But everything inside... everything is gone. And it's because of her. Not really because of her, but because of her involvement with the fin. It's not a hundred percent to be blamed to her but she takes herself responsible for this. Nothing is left of Jared and now, she has to let him stay here, beside her. Just so she is sure he will be safe. 

Every piece of clothing, every little memory he has of that house are now just ashes. She thought he would go all-out angry but he didn't even react aggressively. His eyes were innocent to ask "what", and aside from that he didn't have any more reaction. It's like he was ready to let it go. Like he was okay with losing it all. He even mentioned getting another house like he's been preparing for it.

However her heart can't take just neglecting him after that. As she said, she feels responsible. So for the meantime, she's letting him stay here in "their" house just until he can find a safe place to rent. She bought him all sorts of clothes, his hygiene products, basically everything he's lost from the fire except the ones with sentimental value like pictures of his wife... or whatever.

Also, she's helping him process all the legal papers he lost. Since his house just went through mayhem and he's homeless right now, the precinct granted him leave. While Drea was the one who wanted to take a break from work, she set it aside for now. She figured out that since one of the lead detectives is off duty, the office is short of hands. And this way, she doesn't have to see him often. That's the plan, right? That's what she wants to have. Distance. She wants to distance herself from him and as much as possible, they'd only talk about the house and not personal matters.

Him living with her now doesn't mean they have a chance of getting closer, because she's not intending to go that way. She doesn't want to hear his voice of see his face as much as she did the past few months. She doesn't want her heart to get more confused day after day.

But it feels more like hell. It feels a lot more uncomfortable.

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Jared swept the floor, washed the dishes, fed Jimmy, and now he's on the couch, practicing with his new guitar. Drea is definitely privileged. She bought him all the stuff he's lost from the explosion of his house, including this guitar.

It's been more than three weeks since he's stayed here. Drea goes to the precinct every day without a day off and he's left here to take care of the house while she's gone. He doesn't get why she doesn't let him attend to work yet, he's not injured or anything. And he can't get his paycheck if he stays here and does nothing while she does everything for him out there.

And another thing, he misses her. Badly.

That night that she came running to his arms, she just came from his burning house. She was so worried, and she said she couldn't lose him. When she told him that he wouldn't have a home to come back to anymore, he wasn't even horrified. It was heavily unexpected, sure, but what's more unexpected was Drea's reaction. She was so worried, so scared, and yet after telling him she can't lose him, she began giving him the cold shoulder.

And there he thought he could finally make things clear to them.

They would only meet at night, when Drea's finally home from work. Sometimes, they even don't see each other for 24 straight hours. She will go to the precinct extra early when he isn't yet awake and come back when he's already set for bed. One time, he tried waking up first, and since the Stone's and Zeke know of his situation, they told him they're one call away. Michaela is working, so is Ben, Cal and Olive goes to school, Grace takes care of Eden. As much as his pride pushes him not to, he still called Zeke that one morning.