AN; so i decided on another jared/mel story, this time a twoshot cause i cba to finish it right now but i want your opinions on what i've already written :) sorry for any mistakes but please review :)
I watched as he ran his hands over the picture he kept under his pillow. I knew that picture well, he had taken it out of my families photo album. I had seen him repeat the same motion many a time. He would trace the outline of her face, her hair and then her lips. Despair was written all over his face. At least, it used to be. Now his face was a hard mask. Totally emotionless. It used to be filled with pain, guilt, depression. He used to talk about it, he used to tell me how guilty he felt. Well, not outright. But I could tell. Now he is just a hard empty shell of a man without her. Without my sister, Melanie Stryder. I knew how he felt though. She's my sister. We let her go off alone, and she was caught. Now she was dead. Well, she might as well be anyway. The souls would have killed her.
I saw him sigh and put the picture back under his pillow. He then took out my photo album before tracing over the lines on the back of the album. He did this a lot too. Always trying to figure out the warped directions Uncle Jeb had left for us. It broke my heart to see him like this. He was always so good natured, laughing and joking with me and Mel, now he doesn't do anything. He's angry or completely emotionless. I hate when he's angry. He scares me sometimes. Not just because he's hitting the wall or muttering to himself, but he often takes it out on me. He doesn't hit me or anything but it does hurt when he shoves me away from him. I know why. I remind him too much of Mel. I look like her a lot, so it hurts him to be around me sometimes.
The album flew across the room at full speed as he threw it making a frustrated noise. I sighed knowing how angry he was that he couldn't find out what it meant. Mel had disappeared two years ago, and he was still finding it difficult to function like he used to. Walking over to pick it up I knelt down and saw the picture of my grandparents at their ranch at Picacho Peak. I stared at it for a moment looking at the familiar curve of the mountain behind the ranch. I flipped the book to the back and stared at the first of the lines Jeb had carved there. Then I looked back at the old faded picture. I felt excitement rise in me as I made the connection.
"Jared, its here! The answer is in the damn book!" I took it over to him and showed him the picture then the line. I saw a flicker of happiness run across his face before he pulled me into his chest tightly. "You know we won't find Mel though right?" I was sixteen I wasn't naive. I felt him nod against me holding me tighter, a protective stance over me. I knew why he suddenly got protective. He had promised Mel that he would always look after me and take care of me. Lately, it was me taking care of him since he had completely shut down but at least I know that he still feels protective, should anything happen to us. I wished he'd talk to me though. He never talks anymore. Not unless he is muttering orders whilst we're raiding.
He moved away from me and turned on the portable stove we'd stolen from a soul's campsite a few months ago. I watched him silently open a tin of soup and tipping it into a pan. He then pushed it around with a spoon for a bit whilst it heated through. I sighed watching him. I had given up trying to get him to talk. Sometimes, though, I really wish he would. I feel lonely when he doesn't talk t me for days on end. I take the soup he offers me and sit on the makeshift couch with him to eat it.
Mel's POV
The desert landscape was possibly the most boring thing ever to look at, but at least it gave me something to think about. Being on patrol was good for many reasons, it allowed me to think without being bothered, it allowed me those precious moments of alone time that you rarely get in the caves and it especially allows me the tiny bit of hope that Jared and Jamie would have finally figured out the puzzle. It gave me hope that I would be the first one they saw, the first one that would run up to them and wrap my arms around them. They wouldn't have gotten caught, they couldn't have been. It was Jared for heaven's sake. He would never allow them to be caught. He isn't as reckless as I was.
I smiled at Wanda as she came up to hand me a bottle of water. I had Wanda to thank for so much, for bringing me here, for trusting me, for gaining the trust of the family, for allowing me my body back, for showing me that life and love really does go on, human or soul. She truly was an inspiration, if not a little sickening whilst Ian was around.
"You're not getting upset again are you? Mel you know it's been two years. The likelihood of them coming is so small."
"But it's Jared and Jamie," I whispered, as I usually did when someone asked me this question. It's like it answered everything. Of course, it didn't it just felt like it did to me. I would never give up hope. Never. She sighed getting up just as I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist. But they felt wrong. They were constantly there, but they felt wrong. There was no burn where our bare skin touched, no passion, no need. It isn't what it's like with Jared. Jared was special. I know I could never love anyone but him. But, at the same time, I had often gone to seek comfort from Aaron. I know I shouldn't have, but hugs and crying soon turned into meaningless sex. Something which he seems to have recently taken further than we agreed.
"Mel, why don't you let me take over? Or at least sit with you... we always have fun." I could hear the smirk in his voice as he nibbled on the bottom of my ear. I pushed him away, not in the mood to play his games. That seemed to anger him though. "For god's sake Mel. When are you going to realise that he's never coming here? Don't you get it? You're pining after a lost man who is most likely inhabited or dead! I love you for god's sake! Why can't you see that?"
I shivered at the thought of Jared being gone. Especially Jamie being gone. I don't know what I'd do if I knew I had lost both of them. After all, no news is good news right? It was better than him being captured by the group and me knowing he was a soul. He may have never woken up from that. Never. Tears sprang to my eyes as I realised the harsh truth of the situation. What if I never see him again? Aaron wasn't going to wait around forever. That much was clear. Could I really stand to be alone for years to come? Without the comfort of a warm body beside me? Even if I didn't love Aaron, he provided a nice distraction.
"Please, Mel. I won't make you regret it." I sighed nodding slightly. He scooped me up into his arms and held me close to him. Guilt washed over me. It felt like cheating. Like I was betraying Jared.
"C-can I just be alone for a bit?" He nodded walking off after whispering thoughts of love in my ear. I sighed, the guilt returning to my gut. I'm leading him on, and I know it. But I feel nothing bad about that. He knows that I'm hopelessly devoted to Jared. The question is, would Jared ever forgive me if he found out I had been sleeping with another man? I sighed letting my eyes scan the horizon again, just for that one little glimmer of hope. but, once again, it was totally clear.