My Guarded Heart

@ Jinx...

Kell could see that Hazel had a faraway look in her eyes as they drove. "You know, June really looks up to you," he said after a little bit of driving. He hadn't interacted with June as much as Hazel but he could tell from the interactions he'd witnessed between them and the way June looked at Hazel with grateful, caring eyes. "I think she relies a lot on your strength to fuel her own. Drake told me that she asked him for fighting lessons like you. Apparently she also asked him to teach her to shoot," He added the last part trying to stop a grimace at that. He wasn't entirely sure how he felt about teaching them to shoot, and he was sure Hazel would want in on that as well now that he'd mentioned it, but he did know that he was willing to do whatever it took to help them feel safer. "My point is, June sees you fighting him in everything you do and I think she wants to be able to protect you as much as you've protected her."

"You do so much Hazel. I see how much you care about June. I won't pretend to understand what you're going through but I do want you to know that I'm here for you. June and Drake are too. You did everything right, you fought to get out of there and you did and now you're still fighting to make sure it stays that way. You have my utmost respect." He told her. And it was true.

Kell took a deep breath and let it out slowly, hoping that he wasn't butting in too much. He knew he couldn't just take away the pain, but he hoped he could help ease it, even if just a little.

---

June looked up at the sound of the car driving away and she went to the window, feeling a touch of panic. Was everyone leaving her, dumping the burden she still felt she was? Was she alone here? Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew that she was being irrational and that someone had to still be here with her, but in her current mental state all that registered was the blinding fear of being left alone. If she was fast enough, she could get to the car before everyone left her forever.

She busted out of her room, full on running down the hall and taking the stairs two at a time. She turned the corner when she crashed into Drake, knocking both of them to ground on impact. She'd landed on him and relief flooded her to see him. "You're here," she breathed. "You didn't leave." She sat there, too relieved that she hadn't been left behind to notice that she was sitting on him. "I'm sorry," she said, for what felt like the hundredth time that day. "I thought everyone left." It sounded dumb now that she'd said it aloud. The reality of the situation began to process in her head and she got up off of him quickly. "I'm sorry," she said again, holding out a hand to help him up.

Drake explained that Kelden and Hazel had just gone out for supplies and assured her that they would be back. She was feeling less hollow now, realizing that she really didn't want to sit in a dark room alone. Hazel had come to her rescue once again, putting her own pain aside to help June's and she didn't want to keep making Hazel put herself at risk for June. Letting the thoughts consume her until she felt nothing wouldn't help her or anyone.

@ Lost Oceans
Hazel listened to Kelden and he tried to give her a pep talk. She knew June was better for her being here but she still couldn't stop thinking she should have done more for June when they were held captive. He told her that she did everything right and that they got out. She sighed deflating a little her wall going down a little.

Hazel rubbed her eyes. She felt like there was a rock in her throat making it hard to swallow without the tears swelling up in her eyes. Not that she needed more tears in her eyes because it felt like the entire weight of a flood behind her eyes and she was only just able to keep them back with all the strength she had.

Hazel sat back and pulled her legs into her chair hugging them. "I just can't stop thinking I should have done more to protect her in there, like there was something I could have done to save her all this pain." Hazel admitted and truly surprised herself that she was confiding in Kelden like this. She looked over at him then away. It was easier when he wasn't watching her with those open eyes.

Hazel just wished there was something she could do that would have helped June so she could eat a little more, so a shower didn't completely take her back or maybe there was something she could have done to give June more fight. Hazel felt bad for even thinking it because she was already fighting so hard, but Hazel blamed herself for that.

---

Drake was surprised when June ran into him and he looked up at her his hands on her hips as she straddled him. He blushed and let his hands fall sitting up on his elbows. He chuckled and smiled. "Of course not. I am always here for you." he said. She was so very beautiful. "June it wouldn't be a good idea to leave you alone besides it's my job to keep you safe and I can't do that if I am not here." he said touched the end of her hair. When she started to apologize he shook his head. "June we're not going to keep doing this. You don't have to apologize to me for just existing. Drake took her hand standing and smiled at her. "Seriously I want you to work on not apologizing to me." he said and patted her hand. "You feeling hungry? I saw some apples and peanut butter." he said hoping she would eat a snack at least or drink some water. He needed her to take care of herself.

"Hazel and Kelden went out for supplies so they will be back later." He grinned. "Is there anything you need right now? I'll text Kelden and let him now to grab it." he said and headed with June out of the hall. He was really glad that she had come out of her room. He was glad that she was starting to come out of her shell a little. It would make Hazel happy to know and he texted Kelden to let him know so he could tell Hazel if it was a good moment. Drake got a glass of water and leaned against the counter drinking it.

@ Jinx...

Kell shook his head, "Hazel you did everything you could. You can't think about the what ifs, it'll just drive you mad," he said, but he knew that it wasn't that simple. How many times had he been told that before after particularly hard cases? It hadn't stopped the thoughts. Even now, he was thinking what if we'd been assigned this case sooner? He sighed, letting the thought go. If he wanted to help Hazel move forward, he would have to be willing to do it himself. "When I look at you Hazel, you know what I see? I see this strong, beautiful woman who has fought and continues to fight for her friend, for herself, in every second of the day. I see you doing everything you possibly can and then somehow doing even more after that." He told her honestly. He passed a sign stating the town he was heading for was only a few more miles up ahead. He felt a buzz in his pocket and glanced down at the message quickly. "Drake says that June is out of her room and doing better," he told Hazel, offering her a gentle smile. A second buzz. "And she's eating something."

In town he pulled into the parking lot of the large superstore. "Ok, before we go inside, I need you to promise to stay fairly close to me. Even though I know you can take care of yourself, its still my job to protect you," he said. And out of the car, Kelden's senses were on high alert. Though it wasn't crowded, there were still plenty of people around and he wasn't going to let his guard down for a second. Inside he led Hazel to the hardware section first and he grabbed some tools needed to get to work on the shower. After that though, he let Hazel lead him around to get the things she needed and wanted.

---

June bit her lip but nodded, knowing that she'd have a hard time not apologizing, but she would try to be more conscious of that. She followed him into the kitchen and knowing that she was probably worrying everyone with her limited eating, she plucked an apple out of the bowl on the counter. She examined it for a minute before deciding it was safe to eat and took a big bite out of it. She stomach ached, happy for some food. She decided to try and eat the whole apple.

"Let me think on a list and I'll text it to Hazel in a minute," she said between bites. She took out the phone that she'd been given by Kelden and thought for a moment. First thing she did was text Hazel a thank you and an I love you. She hopped up on the counter next to Drake, eating her apple. Sitting on the counter she was actually a little taller than him now. She thought of some items that she wanted and sent Hazel a text asking for them. Namely some clothes, especially workout clothes, and some bathroom necessities. She finished her apple and thought about what to do. She had been planning on asking Drake for those lessons around this time but now she felt that any more high stress situations today would just make things worse so she wanted to find something else to focus on. Something that would give her semblance of life before it had become hell. "Do you like pie?" she asked him

@ Lost Oceans
Hazel listened to Kelden and blushed at what he saw in her. She didn't know what to say to that. It was really sweet of him to say the things. Hazel looked at him as his eyes stayed focused on the road. He really meant it she could tell. Maybe it was the set in his jaw but he was determined to make her feel better and that alone did make her feel better. She didn't't know how he did it. She still thought it couldn't be true but when he told her June was out of her room and eaten she sighed and melted into the chair. Maybe he was right, maybe this was enough for June, and herself.

Hazel looked at the town as they rode into it. It was a small town and she wondered what a small town would be like never having been in one herself unless she was just passing through. They parked and she could nearly bounce with he excitement. They might only be shopping for supplies but it was still more than she had done in what felt like a lifetime.

Kelden asked her to stay close and she nodded. "Okay." she said and smiled at him. She got out with him and moved to his side. She touched his arm. "Relax... your brining attention to yourself." she said softly people looking at them strangely. She didn't want people to realize he was FBI. If people realized what he was they would talk and it would get out exposing them.

They walked through the store. she watched him pick up things for plumbing and realized what he was going to do. It was amazing and she had a hard time not tackling him with a hug. Hazel spent the time going over the test June sent thinking about it and getting specifics but also telling June she loved her too, because it was true, why else would she risk everything for her? When Kelden said it was her turn she went to the cosmetics department first picking things up for her and June though Hazel just went with the basics. "Do you or Drake need shampoo?" she asked and held up the shampoo and body wash for men.

After that part of her list was done she then went to the cloths and picked out things in the sizes June gave her before adding a few things to her arm. "I'm going to try these on." she said and bit her lip. "You... don't need to check the dressing room do you?" she blushed not wanting to deal with that oddity. When she tried her cloths on she was in there for longer than she normally would be thinking what Kelden would think with her not wearing basic academy clothing. Hazel putt her other cloths on and came out blushing still as she put the cloths in the basket. "Okay just some candles then we will be good." she said grabbing a few more things before they went to check out.

---

Drake smiled as June came into the kitchen and sat not he counter he couldn't help but think how sexy a pretty girl was on the counter. There was just something about it that called to him. He was happy when she ate the apple taking a big bite. He would be proud if she ate the entire thing. She had hardly touched breakfast either so she needed the food.

They were sent as June hammered out what she needed on the supply run and texted Hazel. He was feeling better with June there with him instead of up in her room. When she finished the apple he tried to hide his stupid grin. It was an accomplishment for sure to him and he hoped it was the beginning of good eating habits.

Drake was surprised when she asked if he liked pie. He laughed. "Who doesn't like pie?" he asked. "I have some bad Pi jokes to I can entertain you with if you are making a pie." he chuckled grinning at her. He enjoyed the corny jokes that made people cringe almost as much as it made them laugh about the bad jokes. Drake knew if he ever became a dad he would have the most amazing dad jokes. "Anything I can do to help?" he asked. "I'll wear the ugly apron too if you want." He teased.

@ Jinx...

Kelden relaxed his body at her touch, realizing he was maybe looking too big and tough right now. He needed to blend in better. He gave her a soft smile and let himself walk more naturally. He followed Hazel around the store, happy to see that she seemed happy right now. She was even grabbing things for him and Drake as she held up the men's shampoo, and he nodded gratefully. He laughed when she asked if he needed to check the dressing room first. "No, go ahead," he chuckled, and waited patiently outside for her to try things on. He was actually excited to see her in something other than some basic academy clothes. Not that they looked bad on her, he was pretty sure she could wear a potato sack and still pull off her grace and beauty, but he still wanted to see her in her style. He couldn't help but notice a blush to her cheeks when she came out of the dressing room and a big smile played on his face.

They went to find some candles and though they grabbed a bunch of plain ones in case of a power outage, he also kept grabbing a few of the scented ones and held them up to Hazel's nose to smell. They joked about ones that smelled good and others that smelled like a disaster, particularly one labeled 'Great Outdoors' that was so overwhelming with the scent of pine, he was sure he'd be smelling that for hours. He sniffed one labeled 'Manly Man' and then held it out to Hazel. "Is this what I smell like?" He joked, grinning at her.

After a bit of that, they were ready to check out and they carried the bags out to the car. They were heading back on the road when he saw a small ice cream shop down the street and pointed it out to Hazel. "Hey, I could go for a cone, do you want anything?" He asked, pulling up to the drive-through. "They also have coffees and milkshakes it looks like," he said, looking at their menu.

---

June remembered the horrible joke he had told her yesterday and beamed at Drake. "Please do," she said, grabbing some ingredients from various places and getting to work. When he offered to help, and even offered to wear a nearby apron, she had to admit that she wanted to see that so she grinned at him. "Okay, but only if you wear the apron," she said playfully. When he actually went over and put it on, she laughed. The ugly print covered the entire thing and in the middle was the classic, cheesy line "Kiss the Cook". "Oh my god, you were born to be a chef," she laughed.

She started to get the dough ready for the crust, mixing all the ingredients and then set it in front of Drake with a rolling pin. "Want to roll this for me while I get the filling ready?" She asked. She started to prepare her cherry compote when she noticed he wasn't rolling the dough quite thin enough. "Hmm, here," she said, trying to show him the pressure he wanted to use. It wasn't working well from the side though, so she ducked under his arms so she was in front of him. She went tense for a moment, realizing that the feeling of him behind her was triggering, but she took in a deep breath. Don't let him win, I'm in control. She repeated what Hazel had told her earlier in the shower. Drake wouldn't hurt her, she was perfectly safe with him behind her. She let out her breath and then put her hands over Drake's, guiding them on the rolling pin with the correct pressure until the dough started to reach the thickness she wanted. "Perfect!" She said, ducking out from under his arms and returning to her filling.

She put together the pie, using a small knife to carve some designs in the crust that would go on top of the pie. It was simplistic compared to some of the pies she'd made, but she also didn't have all her usual tools specifically for decorating more intricate designs. She had Drake help her put it together, showing him the proper way to put the crust over the top with the rolling pin and then put it in the oven and began to clean up. They both had flour on them, but Drake seemed to have a lot more. "Good thing you had that apron," she teased.

@ Lost Oceans
Hazel hadn't realized until she tried on the cloths how much weight she had lost. She needed to strengthen her muscles again. Hazel couldn't help as Kelden shoved funny smelling candles in her face to smell. She obliged and would make faces laughing at the smell of some of the candles and some of the others she would hold onto a little longer her hands wrapping around his to keep the candle just a moment more. He teased about the Manly Man smell and she laughed. "Would you cry if I said yes?" she asked teasing and chuckled touching his arm. "No Kelden you're safe you don't smell like that." she said.

Once they got in the car she relaxed back against the seat. She had her eyes half closed when he suggested ice cream. She looked over as he pulled over her cheeks pinking. She hadn't gone to get ice cream in a long time, since she was a kid and suddenly it felt like a date. She bit her lip as he looked at her. "Umm actually chocolate espresso ice cream in a cone sounds amazing." She said and looked down at her lap. She was glad they had her favorite on the menu but she felt odd that he would know that about her now. She would have to add that to her list of never thought, she never though an incredibly sexy FBI agent would know her favorite ice cream and go candle sniffing with her. It was so simple and she loved it. She couldn't have described a first date better, even though this couldn't be a first date. She pulled her hair to the side and ran her fingers through it as they waited for their cones.

Hazel took her cone from Kelden their hands touching and Hazel's eyes widened before she looked down at the cone and looked out the window taking a lick. She hummed and bit her lip. "Thanks Kelden." she said quietly her voice timid and shy with an innocence to it that had never been there before. Hazel licked her cone as she fiddled with the radio before setting on a station that played some of the hits she remembered from a long while ago. Hazel looked out her window. She loved the woods. They were soothing and she wanted to buy a house in the woods but had no idea how she was even going to get a job after all this.

---

Drake grinned as she gave him the opening for more bad jokes. He chuckled. "Okay why should you never talk to Pi?" Drake chuckled waiting for her. she looked over at him his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Because he will go on forever!" he chuckled and stood picking up the apron. He slipped it on then turned to her grinning like a fool as she looked him over. He loved that he laughed just seeing him in that cheesy apron. He smirked and came over to let her put him to work. He wasn't very good at baking but his mother had taught him a few things, mostly on his grandmothers insistence.

Drake nodded as she se the dough in front of him. He started to work on it bitting his lip in concentration. He focused harder on that pie crust then anything he had done in a while. She went to show him and he smiled at her. He couldn't complain at being bad at this. Drake smiled as she slipped under his arm. He forced himself to relax as she tensed. If he stayed calm it would help her. "Baking is hard work." he said softly his mouth not far from her lips as he moved with her to roll the dough. Once she finished it with him her sweet hands over his big course ones. Drake turned and watched her finish the filling and couldn't help but feel like they had yet again hit an accomplishment today.

Drake watched her put her touch on the pie and he grinned like a fool unable to help how lovely it was to watch her work. She was so good at this. She didn't have a recipe this was all from memory. He helped her finish it up and they put it in the oven. Drake looked down and noticed he was covered in flour. He laughed taking a pile from the counter were she hadn't cleaned yet and ran it down her nose. "There now we are even." he chuckled. He didn't know what had possessed him to do it but once he did he instantly was worried about her reaction. Would she be mad, upset, or worse?

@ Jinx...

Kelden ordered her chocolate espresso ice cream and his a chocolate peanut butter. He'd have to try chocolate espresso in the future, it sounded delicious. When he was handed the cones, he passed Hazel's on to her and he smiled when their fingers brushed. He had to admit he felt a small spark of electricity every time they touched, even when it was something as small as this. He really shouldn't feel this way, but he couldn't help it. So he drove off from the little ice cream shop, heading towards home.

He let her fidget with the radio and she settled on some popular music that he'd heard on the radio a few times. It was quiet for a bit, save for the radio, but suddenly Kell heard the beginning intro of a fairly old but very popular song. He turned the sound up a couple notches and tapped his fingers to the beat on the steering wheel. Kell looked at Hazel with a big grin on his face and when the lead singer started, Kelden began to sing along. He purposely exaggerated a few of the notes and danced a bit in his seat, enjoying the music. He'd make the biggest fool of himself if it made Hazel smile.

He continued that for the rest of the ride home, grinning like a fool the whole way. When they arrived back at the house, Kell grabbed several of the bags and made his way inside. He could hear June and Drake in the kitchen and since there was some food in the bags, he went that way to set them down on the kitchen table. He stopped short when he saw the kitchen though. At first glance, he tensed up seeing the mess, wondering if something had happened but when he saw the silly smiles on Drake and June's faces, he relaxed and shook his head in amazement. "What in the hell happened here? Did a flour bag explode?" He asked, his eyebrows raised, his own smile beginning to form on his face. Drake and June looked sheepish, in the middle of cleaning the mess. He shook his head and began to put some groceries away around them.

---

June was shocked to feel the flour on her nose suddenly and looked up in surprise at Drake. "Did you just..?" She began and then a sly smile formed on her face as she reached over and grabbed her own handful and tossed it at Drake, hitting him square in the chest with a flourished puff of white. She bit her bottom lip and gave Drake the universal hand signal for "bring it" and thus began a war. By the time it was over, there was flour everywhere and June was on the floor, covered in the white powder, laughing so hard she could hardly catch her breath. "Look what we did!" She exclaimed, not an ounce of guilt in her for the fun she'd just had.

"Truce!" she said, holding her hand out to shake Drake's to agree to peace, and then soaked a towel in water and began to clean. "I think we can all agree that I won that," she teased, wiping down the counter and other various surfaces that had gotten caught in the cross-fire of their flour battle. She went to toss the now empty bag of flour into the garbage when something brilliant came to mind. She looked over at Drake and grinned. "I guess you could say we used up all our flour power?" She said, holding up the empty bag to show. "Oh god that was awful, even for a bad pun," she laughed and tossed it away. "I'm going to leave the bad jokes to you from now on," she told him.

June rinsed off the towel in the sink, wringing out the flour in it and then resoaking it to be used again. She noticed that Drake had lots of flour all over his face and she went over to him. "Here," she said, standing on her tippy toes in front of him as she wiped the flour away. She was leaning in close to make sure she got it all. A little shiver went down her spine at the closeness, like when she'd been helping him roll the dough, and her eyes went to his lips briefly, remembering how close they'd been then and realizing how close they were now. She bit her own lip, knowing what she wanted to do but not sure she had the guts to do it. She doubted he felt the same rush she did at being this close so she gave him a quick, soft peck on the cheek and stepped back. "Thanks for baking with me," she said.

@ Lost Oceans
Hazel finished her cone and looked over as Kelden turned up the music. She smiled as he started to give her the wiggly playful eyebrows. He then sang and danced to the first chorus of the song and she busted out laughing. How could he be such a goof? She loved it and by the time they got back tot he house she was feeling completely giddy.

Hazel got out of the car and grabbed some bags walking behind Kelden into the house. She peeked over his shoulder seeing Drake looking down blushing and June looking like she had been caught. She laughed. "You guys are a mess." she said and shook her head. "You should have told me to pick up more flour." she said and walked in setting the groceries in the only clean spot on the counter. Once she did she came out and went to get more things from the car.

Hazel recognized sexual tension when she saw it. Drake looked like he was feeling guilty for it and she understood that this was his job and he never expected to have feelings for June. Hazel brought in the cloths and went and set them on her bed. She knew June would like to go through them with her. It had been a long time since either of them got to just be normal. Once Hazel was done with that she went back out grabbing the last of the things and bringing them in locking up the car.

Hazel looked at the locks in the bags that she had picked up as well and bit her lip. She knew she wasn't just on vacation but for a moment it had felt like it. She came back down stairs seeing that the kitchen was cleaned up she sniffed the air. "Is that pie?" she asked grinning.

---

Drake laughed as she tossed a fist full of flour at him. He smiled as she began the war. He didn't think he had ever had more fun than right now. When she looked around and the flour was empty he laughed and shrugged. "Well it was fun." he said and grabbed the broom starting to sweep up what was on the floor. Drake reached over and shook her hand to cement their truce with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes still.

Drake looked up as she mad a really bad pun joke and he tossed his head back laughing. "That was brilliant!" he said swept the pile into he dust pan tossing it out. "You can give me a bad joke anytime." he winked and then stilled as she came over and started to clean up his face. She looked at her his body buzzing with desire. He just wanted to lean in and press his lips to hers. She was pressed to him to get up to his face and clean it up. He gulped and watched her face. She looked at his lips, or at least he thought she did. Before he knew it his fingers were gently playing with the tips of her hair on her shoulder. She kissed his cheek and stepped back out of his reach. He felt like his entire body was on fire and he didn't want it to stop.

It wasn't but a few moments later when Kelden came in Hazel behind him. Drake dropped his head looking at the flour floor and rubbed the back of his neck. "We can pick some up later or ask Betty across the lake for a couple cups till we restock again." he said and smiled softly at June knowing she would love an excuse to go see Mac. It wasn't long before they were hard at work actually cleaning the kitchen. He then snuck off to shower real quick. He came out wearing new fresh cloths. He went and helped Kelden with the rest of the supplies they had gotten.

@ Jinx...

With Hazel’s help, they got the groceries put away and Kelden joined in on the the cleaning, mostly because he was hungry and couldn’t imagine cooking around the two mess-makers. When the kitchen looked almost back to normal, Kell went to put away the rest of the supplies, putting a small handful of candles in several locations so that they’d be easy to get to no matter where anyone was. Drake joined him a little later while June and Hazel hung around the kitchen.

“So, a food fight?” He asked Drake, his tone teasing. “Let me guess, you started it?” He laughed. The smell of food was wafting out of the kitchen by the time the two of them finished and he went in to see June cooking dinner, the pie cooling to the side. It looked delicious. “I was going to cook,” he said, feeling bad that she’d started instead. “No, it’s ok!” June assured him. “I owe it after making a huge mess!” Kelden just smiled gratefully. “Well, it smells good. Better than anything I could have whipped up,” he said. They all sat down to eat, and Kelden noted that June actually ate a bit more than she had at previous meals and he was proud of her.

Kell cleaned up the kitchen when they were done eating, the mess minimal compared to the flour disaster that had previously occupied the kitchen and when he came out, he heard June talking about a game, a deck of cards in her hands. He looked at Drake and Hazel and then shrugged. “I’m down for cards. I’ll have you all know that I am an undefeated champion at Go Fish,” he joked.

---

June’s skin prickled with want as she stepped away. She was thankful for Kelden and Hazel to return home, clearing the electric charge in the air as they joked about the mess. When Drake brought up borrowing flour from Betty, June perked up. “That’s right! Hazel you have to meet Mac, he’s the biggest, fluffiest dog I’ve ever seen and so sweet too!” She said. She told Hazel about Mac and Betty, telling her she would need to meet them at some point and that Betty was a very nice old woman.

When the kitchen was clean, she pulled out the pie and set it aside to cool and began to start dinner. She hung out with Hazel as she cooked, asking about how the supply run had went and hoping she could go with them next time. It would be nice to be out and about like a normal person for a bit. They sat and ate and June repeated Hazel’s mantra to her as she took bites. Don’t let him win. You’re in control. She still couldn’t bring herself to finish all her food but she had eaten more at least. After that, she wanted to explore a bit of the house, curious about what else there was for entertainment besides tv and books. That was when she found a couple decks of cards in a closet.

“Anyone up for a card game?” She asked, bouncing back into the room to show everyone what she’d found. Before everything, she had joined in on a co-worker’s board game nights a few times and had learned various games. Kelden agreed, joking about Go Fish and she looked to Drake and Hazel eagerly.

@ Lost Oceans
Hazel smiled as she came in and watched everyone interact. Hazel was just enjoying the company as she sat in the kitchen with everyone. She grinned enjoying the playful little quips being tossed around the kitchen as June made dinner. She could tell June liked to cook and bake, it made Hazel glad there was something she enjoyed doing. While June told Hazel all about the big dog Mac. Hazel grinned. She was happy there was someone kind for them to be neighborly with but Hazel didn't think she was feeling like socializing.

They ate all together and Hazel smiled seeing June eating more. It was a success to Hazel even if she wasn't eating all her meals yet. They cleaned up and she watched June come in with some cards looking hopeful. Hazel laughed at Kelden as he said he was the champ at GO Fish. "Well then you are about to meet your match." she said and stretched out her hands.

Hazel was thankful that she and Kelden were getting along so well. It defiantly made things easier for her being around him so much. Hazel was really looking forward to teaching him yoga tomorrow. It was an entirely different kind of training and she wondered how he would take it. She got her water and set up at the table waiting for everyone else to join in. She had a really nice time this afternoon with Kelden at the store and getting ice cream. They had a good time and she still would blush thinking about it even now.

---

They all had dinner together and sat enjoying each other's company. It did feel like they were al just friends on a vacation. It was really nice for a change. He had never been on a job like this one. It had never been this nice and yet this important to keep these women safe from harm. He was so glad that June ate most of her meal. After the apple earlier he had expected her to eat less but she surprised them all.

When Drake was headed back to the kitchen after dinner he smiled at Kelden as they started to walk together. "Me start it? Naw! She threw the first fistful." he grinned and chuckled. "Can't blame me this time." he chuckled. They just walked into the kitchen when June brought in cards. He grinned. "I would love to play some rounds of cards." he said moving to the table.

Drake stretched his legs out under the table looking up at June grinning. "Here I will shuffle. I have the mad card moves." he grinned. He could really get use to them enjoying nights like this together the four of them. Still Drake knew that they had to find a way to get on with their lives after all this was done.

When the cards were handed over to him he shuffled them like it was a show letting June cut the deck. He smiled at her before finishing putting the decks back together and dealing the hands.

@ Jinx...

“A challenger approaches!” Kelden said with flourish, waggling his eyebrows at Hazel and settling down to play. He was really enjoying himself being here, the sense of comradere between them was building quickly and it was nice. It was the only job he could think of that hadn’t felt like just a job. He cared deeply for Hazel and June, and felt something even deeper for Hazel though he wasn’t supposed to. It would probably be painful down the line but he had already resolved that no matter his feelings, he would be there for her in any way he could, even if it was only friendship until they were safe and could return to their normal lives.

“Look at this show off!” He said, teasing Drake with a light elbow nudge. “Trying to impress the ladies, I see.” June cut the deck and Drake dealt the hands. Kelden picked up his cards and made his matches, starting off the game. The light outside grew dim as nighttime came and they played several rounds of a couple different games. Hazel won the first game of Go Fish, he had playfully bowed to her as the new queen of cards when she did. Outside the sky darkened as they played, nighttime coming around once again. They played a few rounds each of several various card games, a couple of which June had to teach them all how to play. “Okay,” he started. “I’ve gotten my ass handed to me enough for one night.” He’d managed to lose every game they played somehow. “That’s what I get for bragging about my card game skills,” he joked.

“How does everyone feel about that pie?” June asked, getting up and serving everyone a slice. Kelden ate his slice quickly, amazed at the flavor. “You’ve got some intense cooking skills there June,” he told her between bites and she smiled appreciatively at him. “Drake helped too. He even wore the apron,” she teased. Kelden couldn’t help but notice a blush form on her face at that remark, though she quickly turned away to busy herself at the sink. He raised a confused eyebrow at Drake who also seemed to be avoiding his gaze. What was the story with the apron? He turned to Hazel. “Anything you’d like to do before it gets any later?” He asked her.

---

“He even wore the apron,” June teased and then remembered the “Kiss the Cook” wording on it and her shy kiss on Drake’s cheek and she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. She quickly turned and began cleaning some dishes before anyone could see it. Trying to focus on anything else, June thought about how nice the evening had been, how she had actually enjoyed it as though she really was on a summer vacation with some friends. It was beginning to dawn on her that maybe things would be ok some day. The darkness she felt would haunt her, maybe forever, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy life in the moments between. She was allowed to enjoy the life she had fought to keep.

“Would you be willing to tell me more about the stars?” June asked Drake as Kelden and Hazel went off to do their own thing. She had enjoyed sitting with him looking up at the night sky last night. She finished up cleaning and put her jacket on before they headed out. She didn’t want to leave him without a jacket again, though she had to admit to herself that she had liked wearing it. It was giant and warm and safe, or maybe that was just because that’s how Drake felt to her.

As they walked, June decided she wanted to learn more about Drake. “What made you decide to become an agent?” She asked, looking up at him curiously. She wondered how one even got into that position. When June was a little girl, she had told people when she grew up, she was going to be a secret agent, imagining herself dodging lasers to get into bad guy’s highly guarded secret lairs. Lots of silly spy movies plus a child with an overactive imagination had been the perfect combo to put those fantasies in her head.

@ Lost Oceans
Hazel chuckled agreeing with him. "Humbleness is a virtue." she teased and perked up when June mentioned her pie. She grinned. "Finally. I thought you would never ask." she said and helped June pass out pie. She took her slice sitting crosslegged in her chair devouring the piece. She hummed with contentment. "You ever think about opening a bakery?" she asked and looked over at June. "You would be good at it." she said smiling. Hazel wished that she had something that obvious that she should be doing and would be good at.

Once they all split up and Kelden asked her what she wanted to do she grinned. Hazel looked around wondering what else there was to do in a place like this. "You want to help me put a few things up before we relax for the night?" she bit her lip thinking of the locks. She had been planning to do them when everyone else went to bed but she knew it would be better if she had help and didn't wake anyone with the odd noises.

Hazel went to her room and pulled out the lock chain. "Come on in." she said and pulled out a screw driver. "They come with screws." she said and blushed letting him look it over. "Tomorrow I wanted to cut the wood poles you looked at me strangely to get for the windows. They just need to be long enough to block it from opening more than a hair." She bit her lip and looked down. She felt guilty for acting so paranoid because she knew Drake and Kelden were good agents but she would rest better not having to check on the locks all the time and would be able to see easily that things were okay. She fidgeted not really feeling confident as she asked for his help with her little projects.

---

Drake own once and he was pretty sure one of the girls handed him the win just ganging up on Kelden because of his barging. Drake chuckled as they stopped Kelden calling quits first. "Can't take the storm partner?" he teased. He was just getting some water when June came over to him asking for them to go see more of the stars. He chuckled and nodded. "Yeah I would love that." he said and watched her eyes light up as she left from the room to go get her jacket. He chuckled getting his own jacket and grabbing the flashlight. Drake waited for June to come down and smiled at her as she did.

They headed out of the house and he hummed as she asked her question to him. He grinned and thought back to when he was a new recruit. He sighed. "Honestly probably nothing good, you see the FBI recruited me out of college. I thought like most newbies that it would be all big explosions and victories." Drake shrugged. "It was when they put me in the basic classes for vic... I'm sorry, for people who have been hurt by psychos that I realized there was so much. That first week in the class I played tough but then I just broke down and ever since I specialized in that area. I thought of my sister, of my family and if they had been through that I would want someone with a soft touch and a kind heart being there for them when I couldn't." Drake looked down as they walked. "I think now I realize that the reason I am an agent is because of the people. I know I can never save the world, or stop all the psychos but the more I do the better the world is for it." He looked at her nervously wondering if that was a bad or selfish answer.

They walked out onto the pier and he pulled out a blanket from his jacket and set it down for them so they could be a little more warm. "How about you point out the stars you want to hear about this time." He said and smiled over at her as they sat side by side on the most beautiful lake he had ever seen.

@ Jinx...

Kelden looked over the locks she’d gotten and nodded. “Yeah we can can get these up tonight, shouldn’t take too long.” He said. If this would help her feel safer here, he’d do it in a heartbeat. He got to work helping her screw the locks onto the door. “I think you already noticed from the plumbing equipment I got at the store, but I’m planning on making the shower into a tub as well. After we finish with yoga tomorrow, want to help me get to work on that?” He asked her.

He stepped back to show Hazel the lock secured against the door. “How’s that?” He asked, letting her inspect it. He helped her put another on the back door and then he led her up to the attic to put a lock on the window up there. He held his hand out to her to help her up the last few rungs of the ladder. “I think someday I’d like to own a place like this,” he told her, making idle chat while she held the lock in place so he could screw it in. “A nice quiet bit of property but civilization not to far away if I have a sudden craving for ice cream,” he said with a grin. The attic offered less space for them to work so every now and again, they’d brush against each other slightly.

When they finished, he gathered up the sticks she had gotten for the windows and set them on the counter so he could cut them tomorrow to put in the windows. “How does a movie sound?” He called to her as he went through the house to check all the locks. He left the front unlocked for Drake and June but made sure everything else was secure.

---

June listened intently, her heart swelling to hear his reasoning. “You’ve definitely got the soft touch and kind heart to be in this line of work,” she told him honestly. “Even if you can’t take away all of the bad, and no one should expect you to, you remind people who’ve lost hope that there is still good in this world.” She rested a hand against his shoulder and offered him a smile.

When they reached the pier, she watched him pull out a blanket and couldn’t help but smile at how thoughtful he was. She sat beside him, again in disbelief of how beautiful it was out here. She looked up at the sky and tried to pick out stars she thought might be constellations. She also had him repeat a few of her favorites from the night before, hoping that she wasn’t being annoying him for wanting to hear them again.

As it got colder, June draped the blanket over both of their shoulders and she leaned in close to him for warmth. She loved the feeling of being close to him. “Where did you learn so much about the stars,” she asked.

@ Lost Oceans
Hazel smiled at him as he told her his plan for the tub and she nodded. "Yeah that would be great." she said glad that they had projects they could do. She didn't know if she could just chat or rest all day, she needed to be doing something. Hazel grinned and opened the door watching the door pull against the the chain on the lock. She sighed in relief and nodded. "Perfect." she closed the door unlocked it turning to him blushing. He hadn't even hesitated in helping her even thought it was excessive and she knew it. They moved up into the attic after doing the other doors.

Hazel took his hand letting him help her up the ladder. She was holding the lock in place when he confessed he wanted a place like this one day. She was so close to him their shoulders nearly pressed together as he worked his hands would brush hers periodically. Hazel bit her lip. His dream was a beautiful one and she would only add one thing, someone to share that lovely dream with but she wasn't about to say that aloud. Hazel looked up at him her stomach flipping inside of her and her knees feeling weak. Her cheeks wouldn't stop and she didn't know how to get them to stop blushing. She always felt like she was an open book. Hazel looked down at her shoes. "That is a beautiful dream." she said not wanting to say too much more or how she had a similar dream. A little place of her own were she could finally feel safe.

Hazel walked with Kelden and kept her hands in her pockets as they checked the windows and doors together. He was really trying to give her the feeling of being safe. He was doing everything he could and she was thankful for that. "A movie sounds good. She hadn't really watched movies in a while. Hazel bit her lip. "Could I ask you something?" she asked him. Hazel bit her lip and looked down. "June told me no one was really looking for me. I know I don't have family in the area and they wouldn't know if something happened to me because we really only talk on holidays and birthdays but... why was no one searching for me?" she asked that lump in her throat forming again. She knew it was probably a senseless question but she wanted to hear what Kelden had to say.

---

Drake smiled as she said he had the right stuff for this job. He was glad for it. Drake was actually really touched that she saw him that way. "Thank you June. I really appreciate that." he said truly grateful for having met her. It was easy to point out the best in the world with her around. She saw what he saw all he had to do was point it out and she took it in, in the same way that he had appreciated it enough to share.

They sat down and looked up at the stars he told her about the ones she asked about as much as he knew anyways and he was having fun doing it. He didn't mind telling some of them again, they were good ones and he loved how she enjoyed them. Drake smiled as she moved the blanket over them and leaned into him as they looked up the stars. He hummed thinking back to when he was learning about the stars as a kid. "Well it started when I was a kid. My mom was a mythology professor so durning the summers we would go on trips and camp out under the stars and we would sit up for hours looking up at them and talking about them. She would tell me the stories and that really fueled my love affair with the stars. I then took all the classes in school from middle school until the FBI recruited me. By then I knew a lot but the rest of it was personal study and reading because it was a part of my family and something I want to pass on to my kids one day."

Drake smiled at her and looked into her beautiful eyes. He watched as a a breeze made some hair float into her face and unthinking he reached up and tucked it back his hand brushing her cheek. He tucked her hair behind her ear and then froze. "I'm sorry." he said and dropped his hand looking back up at the sky. "It's getting cold we should head back and keep you warm." he said and smiled sheepishly at her.

Kelden's heart broke into a thousand pieces. When he'd arrived at the hospital and local law enforcement had given him a run down, he'd asked the same question. "Sit down with me and I'll tell you what I know," he promised her. He moved to the couch, leaving room for her to do the same. He decided that being straight and factual would be the best way to have this conversation with Hazel, he had a feeling that trying to sugarcoat anything would only come across as patronizing to her. "When you went missing, only one body had been discovered so far. Local law enforcement didn't find a pattern until the third. They discovered that all 3 women had been abducted in the same general area of the city, based on statements from their friends and families when they were reported missing. You were reported by your landlord, who didn't know you were gone until she tried to get a hold of you and a few of your neighbors told her you hadn't noticed you home in a few days. You lived on the other side of the city, and your missing person's case was handled by a completely separate precinct."

Kelden paused, letting her process what he'd told her so far before he continued. "The FBI was brought in after June went missing. I wasn't part of the investigation but from what I know, they weren't able to get much more info. He was very meticulous about making sure there was nothing on the bodies that could have given any clues to where he was keeping them. It wasn't until you and June gave your statements that they even knew he was taking multiple girls at once." He clenched his teeth, trying to hold in his anger. "In the end, even though you were among the first women he took, police didn't know your case was connected until you turned up at the hospital," he told her.

He sat with Hazel on the couch quietly, letting the information sink in. He longed to reach out and pull her close to him, to comfort her in any way he could. "Is there anything else I can try and answer for you?" He asked her.

---

June loved the happy glow in his eyes as he talked about his family and childhood. "Your mom must be a wonderful woman if she raised such a great son," she said, smiling up at him. His eyes met hers and suddenly he reached up to tuck a stray strand on hair behind her ear. The touch sent a shiver down her spine, one of pleasure and not discomfort. When he apologized and dropped his hand, she grabbed it with both of hers suddenly. "Don't apologize," she breathed. She held his hand a moment, staring into his eyes with intensity. "Before we go in," she started. "Can we try something?" She looked down at his hand for a few quiet seconds before taking a deep breath.

"I trust you. You wouldn't hurt me and I know that," she said, shifting so that she was sitting facing him now. She took his other hand as well and brought them both into the air in front of her. And then she closed her eyes. "So touch me. You have my permission," she said, a slight shiver to her body. As she sat there, she thought she was proving to him that she trusted him, but it began to dawn on her that she needed this to prove something to herself. She wanted to prove that could feel another human's touch without flinching or tensing up. She wanted to prove that she wasn't a fragile piece of glass on the brink of shattering. Realizing this, it hardened her resolve and the slight shivering died off. She sat in front of Drake, perfectly still, her body relaxing and her breathing evening out. June was calm as she waited for his warm and gentle fingertips to touch her skin.

@ Lost Oceans
Hazel sat and listened to him. So basically only her land board noticed because she hadn't paid the bill on time that month. Hazel bit her bottom lip sitting there listening and thinking. She was angry and hurt and she felt like she could explode but when Kelden asked what else he could try to answer she looked at him all the pain in her eyes. "I know you can't answer this... but..." she looked down. "I want to know why he choose to kill all the others before me, why he kept me.... He had taken two to start with and then added Penny. When he killed the very first then he brought me in. He use to make us choose who would get a daily toucher. When we stopped volunteering we would have to turn on each other. We were forced to be the worst of ourselves until we couldn't take it anymore. He found out that three could be to hard to handle so he waited until we were desperate and drugged us with the food. He took the one that had been there the longest and left me with Penny. I can still hear her screams, he torchered her for longer than ever before." Hazel shivered. "After that he played a different kind of game that he had done before before he brought me in so Penny knew it." Tears welled up in her eyes. "I was the one to fight back against him so why... why did he take her?" she whimpered and buried her face in her hands. "She screamed my name Kelden.... I know he made her because when he finished he came back and looked at me smiling." she was shaking like crazy again.

Hazel knew that he didn't know all of this. She hadn't told anyone how much they went through she had only answered the questions that had been given to her. Kelden was getting knowledge that she was sire no one knew but her and that psycho. "That is why I know he is going to come for me Kelden." she said whipping her eyes and looked at him fear and anger and pain all mixed in her wild eyes. She was letting her walls down to Kelden and she hoped that when this was all over she wouldn't regret it but she knew if she died when he came back for her that she would regret not opening up to Kelden.

"Do you think the cops would have even believed he had taken me if I hadn't brought June back with me?" she asked him and ran a hand through her hair. "Do they suspect at all that it was me?" she asked because honestly she didn't trust the cops anymore. She wouldn't be surprised if they tried to pin all this on her because she was someone they didn't know about and it was easier than catching that psycho. Then there was that last question in her mind she just couldn't say a loud, What was she going to do after all this?

---

Drake nodded. "She was." he said not going into more right now. When she took his hand he listened to her sitting up more. "June..." She looked at his hand and looked like she was resolving her nerves. He stopped arguing when she said she trusted him. He didn't know if she should because of his completely inappropriate desires but he said nothing as she moved. She gave him her permission to touch her and he bit his bottom lip. She sat there and he studied her. She stopped shivering and he realized this wasn't about him. He sat up on his knees and moved in closer his hand gently touching her cheeks. He ran his hand hover her cheek and back behind her ear pulling her in closer to him so their foreheads meet. Drake looked at her beautiful face and ran his other hand up her arm slowly until his hands came up to her shoulders and her gently massaged them. "June." he stopped and sat back taking her hands. "Come on let's get you out of the cold." he said and helped her stand. He picked up the blanket and dusted it off before wrapping it around her shoulders and giving her a gentle side hug.

Drake was sure she had no idea how much he had wanted to kiss her just now. She was so stunning and trusting and strong it amazed him and he knew as much as he wanted her he couldn't have her, at least while he had a job to do. Drake walked back with her to the house. He had to keep his objectives clear for both of their sakes.

Kelden sat quietly before Hazel, offering her his hand. He didn't touch her, but he wanted her to know he was there for her if she wanted him to be. He didn't know the answers to the questions she asked, he wished that he could give them to her. He stayed quiet while she spoke though, letting her release the pain inside of her. Kell looked into her eyes, seeing the anger, fear, and pain that were fresh in them and he took a sharp intake of breath at how open she was being with him. The final question she asked, at least he could give an answer to. "Hazel, Hazel. They do believe you. Even without June they would have believed you." he assured her. He ran a hand through his short hair. "No one thinks you're responsible for any of this, I swear to you. I swear that to you on my life."

"For some reason in his sick, sick mind, he's chosen you to focus on. I can't tell you why but I promise you this. He is not going to get away with it. He's going to get caught. And if he makes it here before then? Then we'll be ready for him," he promised her. If that bastard made it here before the FBI caught up with him, Kell would make sure he took that sick sonofabitch down even if it would be the last thing he ever did. Kelden got up and grabbed a blanket and draped it over Hazel's shoulders, hoping it would help ease her trembling.

"You are the strongest person I have ever met in my life, Hazel," he told her honestly. The things she had had to go through were far worse than he could have imagined.

---

June breathed slowly feeling Drake's fingers brush her skin, his forehead against hers. His hands felt good but it was also empowering to feel so calm while he touched her. The moment was short and all too soon Drake was helping her up to go inside. She gave him a small smile, trying to hide the hint of sadness she was trying to process. "Yeah, let's go in," she agreed, flicking on the flashlight. The walk back was quiet as she was lost in her thoughts. She found herself wishing she knew what Drake thought of her. Was she pushing boundaries with someone who only saw her as a job? She thought she felt something between them but how could she really be sure she wasn't just grasping at fantasies. She'd almost forgot what it was like to be human while she was locked away and now that she was out and free, how could she be sure that her perceptions weren't skewed? Frustration flared in her stomach. It felt like every step forward she took, she was getting thrown two steps back.

When they got back, June was planning on grabbing a book to try and forget about everything. Her head was hurting from all the thoughts racing in her head, but she walked past the living room and saw Hazel and instantly forgot her own frustrations. She made eye contact with her, glancing at Kelden and back to Hazel in a silent sign that June would make up an excuse to get them both upstairs and away from the agents if Hazel wanted her to. She would do anything for Hazel.

@ Lost Oceans
Hazel sighed and nodded relaxing. She didn't want them to try and blame her for all this, it would break her because she had lived through it all, had fought him at every step even when it made things worse she had never stopped because she knew he was evil and she could never give up.

Hazel relaxed into his touch as he put the blanket over her. He reassured her that if the FBI didn't catch him first that Hazel and Kelden would be able to deal with it. She was sure he was talking about Drake but Hazel knew this psycho and he would not strike when it wasn't in his favor. Hazel leaned into Kelden's side and rubbed her eyes. She relaxed the trembling stopping and she looked up at him her eyes trusting. He called her the strongest person he knew she even if she didn't believe that about herself she believed he meant it and she hugged him. She heard the back door open and pulled away her cheeks red as she was sure her eyes were.

June looked at her and then Kelden and back and Hazel blushed and patted his leg before standing pulling the blanket closer. "We were just about to put on a movie you guys in? I will make popcorn." she said moving towards the kitchen. Hazelnut her lip and could feel June watching her sure that she would be following here soon. Things between her and Kelden seemed to be getting close quickly she knew but Kelden was the only person she knew outside of June that actually stepped up to the challenges she they his way. June and Kelden were the only ones to break into her wall and she couldn't tell anyone how they had done it but she was grateful. Drake was easy, he was like her brother when they were young and she was sure if she spent more time with him that things would be just as close. There was something about these men that drew her in and she was tired of trying to fight it, it was a good thing and she was trying to embrace more of that.

---

Drake knew he pulled away suddenly but he was afraid if he had stayed much longer his lips would have been pressed to hers next, or worse another part of her and he wouldn't have complete guidance over their direction from there. He could feel June's frustration and he slipped his hand into hers that didn't have the flashlight. He helped her up the trail and let her into the house locking it up behind him his hand having let hers go at the porch.

He turned seeing Hazel looking sheepish and then looked at Kelden surprise on his face. Drake ran his hand into his hair watching the little part on Kelden's leg and raised and eyebrow watching her slip into the other room. "Yeah a movie sounds nice." he said and turned to Kelden his eyes questioning what was going on between his partner and Hazel as subtlety as he could. There was something he could tell that was more than it had been this morning. They had been here two days and already things were changing and he was worried how it would affect both of their objectivity.

@ Jinx...

Kelden wrapped his arms protectively around Hazel, returning her hug. He wished more than anything that he could take away all her pain, though he knew that was impossible. He held her quietly until he head the back door open and they pulled away. He looked up to see June, her eyes regarding him for a moment before returning to Hazel with concern. Then his eyes met Drake's and he had to look away sheepishly. Hazel patted his leg and retreated to the kitchen, June following behind her. He watched them go, waiting until they were out of the room and out of earshot. He ran his hand through his hair and finally looked up to meet Drake's gaze. "This isn't good, huh?" He asked, knowing that he and June were becoming close in a way similar to him and Hazel.

"You feel something for June, don't you?" He asked Drake quietly, wondering if his partner would admit it. "I have a feeling these two are going to be our hardest case yet, and not for reasons we would have ever expected." He sighed. A short bit later, Hazel and June returned with a couple bowls of popcorn. He and Drake let them pick out the movie and he got up for a minute before the movie started to double check all the locks and get a glass of water. He returned and sat on the loveseat.

He started out watching the movie, but his mind began to wander. He couldn't focus on it, his eyes continually finding their way to Hazel every so often. He couldn't help but wonder how his feelings would affect his mission to protect the girls. He'd never developed feelings for someone he was supposed to be protecting, honestly he'd never developed feelings this intense for anyone ever. He could remain objective and maintain a rational state of mind in the case of an emergency, couldn't he? He thought he could, but he wasn't sure. He knew that no matter what, he would do everything in his power to protect them.

---

June felt even more conflicted to have his hand find hers in the dark suddenly, but she couldn't deny how good it made her feel. Inside, she nodded at the sound of a movie and then followed Hazel into the kitchen to make popcorn. When she was sure they were out of earshot, with the added bonus of the sound of popcorn popping, June turned to Hazel. "Kelden's a really good guy," she said offhandedly, a smile small on her lips. She knew that trust didn't come easily for her friend, not after what they'd been through, and it seemed that Hazel was growing to trust Kelden quickly, just as she was trusting Drake rather quickly. It was hard to deny the fact that Drake and Kelden were simply easy to get along with, even after all she and Hazel had been through.

"I think," she started. "I may be catching feelings for Drake," she admitted to Hazel, helping her make popcorn. She bit her lip, wondering if Hazel would chastise her for falling so quickly. It had only been days but after being locked away for weeks, time didn't have the same feeling it used to. "And I can't help but wonder if he feels similarly or if I'm only imagining it because I want him to feel something back."

She helped Hazel carry popcorn back into the living room and they picked out a movie together. She settled onto the couch while Kelden went around and double checked locks. She couldn't help but wonder if there would ever be a time in the future where they wouldn't have to check locks. She doubted it but it was a nice thought to imagine regardless. She tried to focus on the movie, wanting to try and forget about the worries and doubts in her head for at least a short time.

@ Lost Oceans
Drake ran a hand through his hair. "Oh no we're not starting with me and June. June is soft and needs support and you know I am a softy so that one was obvious but Hazel? Dude she has her guards up to everyone, the question is what are you going to do now that she is letting you in because for her it doesn't end after the job, if she lets you in anymore and you cut her off she will be bitter for life and won't heal properly Kelden so think about it before you just try and fix her, you have to decide how committed you are going to be and come out front with that. She doesn't play games." he sighed. "I know what I have to do with June and I am deciding on that right now because I know what this will do to her." he said and shut up as he heard the microwave go off. He sat on the sofa and waited for the girls to come in.

Drake thanked them for the popcorn and munched on some trying to consider what to do with June. He knew for him that the things he loved he kept close and safe, it was in his bones to protect but he could also be very distracted and that would put Hazel in danger. The more time he spent with June the less protection he would give to Hazel and the sad part was part of him believed she would be just fine on her own anyways but he knew better, she was fighting and learning to be better at it but she was still hurting inside and having to face him again might break any training she had. Drake couldn't concentrate on the movie his thoughts running. June sat close to him and he could smell her and it wasn't helping because all he wanted to do was burry his nose into her neck and hold her tight.

---

Hazel smiled as she said Kelden was a good guy. "He has a job to do." she said and yet she couldn't stop the desire to just sneak into his bed one night, it was an odd desire and it made her shiver to think of it but she had a feeling in Kelden's arms would be the most safe and passionate place she could ever be after all that happened. No one else would understand the way he did after all.

Hazel looked at June as she said she was falling for Drake. Her eyes grew wide and she rubbed her shoulder. Hazel couldn't fall June. These men were good and protectors. This situation didn't help and she wondered if it was the situation drawing them all closer or if it was more. "June... just be careful, remember he has a job to do. I'm not saying he might not be feeling he same way or not but remember they are suppose to be here first to protect us." she said and didn't say more because she knew that the psycho was coming back for them but she didn't know if June believed it like she did. "But whatever happens just trust yourself." she said and hugged her softly. She really hoped June wouldn't get hurt in all this. Once the popcorn was finished she brought out a bowl and picked a movie as Kelden checked the locks. How was she suppose to guard her heart from that when he was doing everything so she could just be normal and feel safe? When Kelden came back and sat down she handed the popcorn to him sitting crosslegged beside him. She pulled a blanket off the back curling up in it. Hazel yawned as the movie started and propped her chin up on her fist. She reached into the bowl on Kelden's lap and took a handful popping it into her mouth as the movie started.