they had been too late. much too late. the traffic jam had made it impossible to get through the streets and now they could only collect the rubble. it happened sometimes, it couldn't always go perfectly, but still it hit jack every time something like that happened. a whole existence, a home had been destroyed to the ground and nothing was left except soot and ashes. just thinking about how many memories had disappeared with it made him sick. he loved his job and would never have wanted to change it, but moments like these made it difficult to continue. he rolled up the hose, pinned it to the vehicle and ran a hand over his forehead, spreading soot on his face. at least everyone had escaped safely, nobody seemed to be injured and he was just about to help with the clean-up when he noticed a girl. no one seemed to take great care of her, while others were given blankets and rushed to the ambulance, nobody cared about her. he hesitated, because either she had been involved or she was just a passer-by. but the way she looked at the heap of rubble, that look on her face, he didn't hesitate any longer and walked quickly towards her. when he got to her, he took off his jacket to put it over her shoulders. "here, so you don't get cold. the warming blankets all seem to be in use because otherwise you would have been given one” he looked around briefly before turning back to her. "i'm sorry, we couldn't do more and ... i'm just really sorry." it felt terrible to have to utter such words. "the emergency services are already looking for accommodations for everyone, emergency accommodations for the night," he added. most of the time you could only stay there for a few nights, he bit his lip thoughtfully. “if you want, i still have a spare room, you could stay there. god, i know that must sound crazy because we barely know each other. but i wouldn't care how long you stay.” jack was almost a little embarrassed to suggest this, especially considering that his apartment wasn't a villa with a lake view after all. but somehow he felt the need to help, to have to do more after this fiasco.