Aftermath // h.s

Chapter 5

You tried to appear like a functioning human being, but the lack of sleep that had been replaced by relentless tears put you in more of a zombie-like state. Harry hadn't left your side since yesterday. He was on high-alert and was there whenever you needed absolutely anything. You could hear him in the shower, singing a mindless melody that put the ghost of a smile on your face.

As you sat hunched over in bed, your stomach growled and broke you from your thoughts. An appetite was a good sign in your mind. Slowly, you got out of bed and headed down the stairs, trudging into the kitchen. You didn't want to test your stomach too much, the lack of food you had had over the last 24 hours being minimal. Some toast would get you started, just a little bit of butter and strawberry jam.

Harry came down with a pair of sweats hanging from his hips, his wet hair sticking to his forehead.

"Wondered where ya went..." he murmured, slowing his steps when he saw you in the kitchen.

"Just getting some food," you commented, turning to face him a bit.

"What're ya havin'?" he asked, leaning his shoulder against the wooden doorframe.

"Toast."

"Good choice," he grinned.

You jumped visibly when the toaster finished, Harry's grin disappearing. Swallowing thickly, you turned back and carefully pulled the crisp toast from the chambers, dropping them on a plate before adding your desired spreads.

"Your phone went off when I was getting changed darling... it was the detective."

You froze for a brief second, the butter knife still in your hand as you spread the jam over. "And?"

"There was a match to the DNA... someone in the system..." he mentioned quietly. "They need you to go down there when they get the guy... see if you can make an I.D."

"I don't want to see him again..." you said quietly.

"It's the only way..."

"If he's in the system, surely there's another person, no? They can come forward and do it."

"They're trying to reach out to any other of his victim's babe, but they have to find them first. He was in the system for a different crime I guess. There's no one else who's come forward..."

You let out a sigh, setting the knife down and dropping your head. The last thing you wanted to do was face him and go through the whole event again. It was hard enough, so much had already happened in the last 24 hours, and it just kept coming. You were already exhausted, how were you expected to take time to cope, and rest, and deal with what had happened. You had no time.

"(Y/N)..."

"I don't want this..."