Chapter Text
Michaela stills at the mention of a bath. Painful memories going through her mind…
Her forced into sitting in icy water for hours on end.
Repeatedly being held under until she blacked out.
Nathaniel forcing her unde-
“Mick.” Jared’s voice brought her out of her reverie. The tone of his voice made it sound as if it were the millionth time he’d said her name, trying to get her attention. “You okay?”
“Y-yes, yes, I’m fine. Sorry.” Jared gave her one more look, checking to see if she was actually okay or not. He realised he wasn’t getting more than that and got closer to her, ready to carry her.
“W-what are you doing?” Michaela asked looking at him bizarrely. “I’m going to carry you to the bathroom Mick. Maybe even help you in there, you’re in no shape to do all that alone. It’s not anything I haven’t seen before” He teases, expecting a smile from her but all he got was a panicky frown.
He looks at her for a while, contemplating whether he should get her out of the thoughts that seem to be consuming her mind constantly or not. Jared decides it’s now or never and carries her in his arms towards the bathtub. Michaela jerks and starts trembling in his arms.
“No! No, no, no, not the bath. Please, I promise, I’ll be good-”
“Michaela. Hey, Mick” Jared’s head spun with panicky concern. He puts her down and cradles her face in his hands. “This won’t take long alright?” He assures, his voice soft and patient.
Michaela nods hesitantly as Jared starts helping her get rid of her clothing, trying hard to resist that sense of déjà vu trying to grasp onto his mind. He’s undressed her a million times, just never in a situation like this.
Michaela sits herself in the tub of clean, warm water, trying her best to relax. It had been ages since she’s had a proper bath. Living under Nathaniel’s care was hell. She hardly ever had a chance to clean up much less have access to clean water. That particular liquid usually carried the dread of being drowned or electrocuted.
Michaela shivers, a chill running down her spine as memories mercilessly flooded her mind just like the running water filling the tub. Keeping her bruised knees close to her chest, she shuts her eyes tight, tears threatening to spill.
“P-please don’t- I- N-no. I’ll be-behave. I’ll be goo- Please.” Michaela pleaded, thrashing around but to no avail as she’d been restrained to a bed.
“There’s no getting out of this detective, thrash all u want I’ll still dro-”
“Mick?”
A hitched breath.
“I- I’m sorry Jay, I’m sorry-”
“Hey, hey,” Jared soothes, aware of her struggles. Reaching out at a steady pace, he holds onto Michaela’s blood stained, shaking hands, stopping them from picking at healing scabs in her panic. Smiling sadly, he calls out to Michaela again, hoping to distract her from whatever that’s going on in her head.
“You don’t have to apologize Mick, it’s all okay now. You’re okay now.” He slowly lifts her up from the bathtub, wraps her up in a towel and lowers her onto his lap. Michaela starts to sob uncontrollably while Jared cups her face, looking at her anxiously. All he can do is pull her into a cradle and whisper soothing words into her ears, despite the horrible ache in his chest from seeing her so broken.
“Shh I’m here, I promise.”
Just as he feels her breaths start to even out, he hears “I love you.”
It’s a faint whisper yet he heard it.