Protective

1

A/N: Patrick is showing up just in a few chapters. I have a plan so please don't freak out. Yes I am working on my other stories too.
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"I hope you get some sleep Ells," Jake sighed as he kissed her soft tear stained cheek before rolling up and out of the bed inside the hotel. He gently pulled the sheets up over her sweats, and pushed one strand of honey blonde hair behind her ear. Ellen stirred as he left,

"Please don't go." She whispered in a heart broken tone that made his heart collapse at his feet. Slowly Jake turned around, watching her. Her bright jade green eyes were wide in the darkness of the room as he walked closer. He sat on the edge of the bed.

"It's been a long night. Why don't you just tell me the story, of you and death. Get it off your chest. I'm not here to judge you Ellen." Jake suggested as he watched her sit up. Ellen twisted the sheets in her hands, unsure if she could trust the young man. She had cried in his arms for hours and yet not exactly told him why. All he knew was that she's witnessed death. Not who. Why. When. How.

"Jake look, my tragic childhood is not...you don't wanna hear it." She replied, shying away again. Jake rolled his big blue eyes.

"Come on, who wouldn't want to hear stories about Boston. Ellen, come on," He chuckled. Ellen blushed in the dark.

"You're makin fun of my damn accent again!" She laughed, swatting at him. Jake shook his head no, and moved in to hug her as she spoke again. "Fine, fine. You want the ugly truth? I was almost five and I'm playing in the living room. My sister is talking on the phone to her friend, my papa is cooking. It smells amazing, Italian cooking every night. Mama is sitting in her chair like she always does. She-she god, she had these big pills, and they were in her hand, and she always took them. She was hit by a car, she was supposed to take 'em and she fell down and I saw her eyes Jake. My eyes, and she never got back up." Jake's entire body froze. He couldn't process how the amazing woman in his arms, the one he had found attractive since day one had witnessed this. He could process what on earth made her deserve it. His brain wracked and scrambled for anything, anything that said god had done this for a reason. Taking away a young girl's mother. Ellen let out a soft cry, her cheeks flushing again. She pushed him away. "God no I shouldn't be I-"

"Stop. You don't deserve this." Jake pulled her back, stroking her soft hair. He kissed her cheek, rocking her gently. "I don't know death like you do. I don't. But this movie is about pushing through it. You've done that for so long, you can still do it."
Ellen's cheeks stung from the kiss, her heart racing. She sank back, closing her eyes.

"This is stupid but will you sleep next to me tonight? I'm sorry I-" Ellen started to ramble as she grew embarrassed at the thought of what just came out of her mouth.

"Yes." Jake shook his head, stroking her flaming cheek. "It's not weird. You need comfort. I'm here for you. We're friends or else I wouldn't be here. It's what friends do." Softly he crawled under the warm sheets, draping an arm around her for comfort. Ellen's heart was still racing. What on earth had she done to deserve such a sweet person to work alongside? He had held her without asking for hours as she melted down in the middle of a crowded set. And he had brought her to her room, his hand on her shoulder the entire time. Ellen shivered at his touch as he rolled closer. He was already asleep. She laid her head down against him, hearing his beating heart. Sleep came easily to Ellen in his arms. It had been ages since she was held by someone, she had nearly forgotten the feeling. Her body did not know what to think of the warmth she felt, to react or not. All she knew was that it made her sleep through the night. Like she was a little girl again.
********
"So what was all that last night?"
Jake turned to see Dustin questioning him as he went to the breakfast buffet. He couldn't dodge his question quick enough,

"You know there's this greeting its known as hello good morning! You should try it Dustin." Jake grumbled towards him as he grabbed his oatmeal, sitting down at a table and digging in. Dustin followed, with Susan hot on his trail. He sat across from Jake and laughed.

"Good morning Jakey," Dustin teased. "Now. Tell me about last night. I just want to know if she's okay." His tone changed from playful to serious. Susan nodded, between bites of bacon she added,

"It was intense Jake. We care about her, I mean if you comforted her and you two finally got over your little feelings for each other and had sex that wouldn't be terrible you know,"

Jake rolled his eyes, putting down his orange juice.
"Look. I find Ellen attractive as ever but last night. I-nothing happened. I took her to my room, and I let her get it out. She's got demons that uh I won't tell you. They're personal. But she knows how to hide death, and she knows how Boston acts after a death. Guys don't please don't badger her about yesterday. She cried herself to sleep over it. Please." Jake begged, looking at Susan and Dustin who both got serious rather quick. Susan reached across the table to squeeze Jake's hand.

"You are such an old soul Jake. I love that about you. You did a good thing." She said, grinning. Susan got up and went towards the elevators. "She's in room 214 right? Next to you Jake? I'm just going to check in on her. I don't know why but I feel like I should."

Jake watched Susan go and sighed, looking back down at his oatmeal. It was strange. Everything. This shoot was so personal, so so personal. He could feel Dustin's eyes on him again as he thought about last night. Jake scuffed his shoes on the ground, frustrated. He had held Ellen close last night, smelled her hair, tasted the salt on her skin from her tears. And he told himself he had done the right thing, he was comforting her.

"You didn't even feel a spark last night?" Dustin asked carelessly, getting up to clean his plate. Jake groaned, following the seasoned older man. He made a noise in the back of his throat of frustration. Because Dustin was right, he had wanted to feel a spark with her...and he did. Only Jake knew he couldn't, he shouldn't.

"Look. Quit bothering me about fucking her when we could be worried about her mental health-" Dustin cut Jake off as he grew concerned for Ellen, with a laugh.

"You told me her mental health was okay this morning. Honestly Jake. What's holding you back? You two are the most secretive people I know. She's cute, you probably will never work together again. Come on." He set the plate on the cleaning counter and started to walk to the elevators.

"So besides promising Brad we wouldn't, I mean she's great and hot but Dustin our age-"

"You're 20 Jake. Live life in the fast lane." Dustin interrupted him before getting in an elevator. Jake groaned, leaning against the wall. Did he want to?