A/N: This was a drabble challenge written for a fellow Careeser.
Just once, he wished he could see her face again. Just once, he wished he could look into her eyes again. Just once, he wished he could see her smile again. Just once, he wished he could hear her laughter again. Just once, he wished he could smell her scent again. Just once, he wished he could hear her voice again. Just once, he wished he could touch her skin again. Just once, he wished he could feel her lips again. Just once, he wished he could say I love you.
"John."
He opened his eyes and wondered if his just once had come true. He saw her face. He looked into her eyes. He saw her smile. He heard her laughter. He smelled her scent. He heard her voice.
"John" she spoke again.
He stared at her, drinking in the beautiful vision before him.
"Are you ... really ... here" he asked in wonderment as he reached up and touched his hand to her skin.
"I'm here" she confirmed.
"What are you doing here?" he asked with growing bewilderment.
"I'm here to take you to the other side" she answered with a wider smile.
"So it's time?"
"It's time."
"I'm glad it's you. There's no one else ..."
"I know and I'm glad it's me too because I've missed you."
"I missed you more" he declared as his eyes began to water. "We aren't alone anymore."
"We never were, not really" she affirmed as her smile began to brighten." You always had me and I always had you."
"Why didn't you let me come with you the last time?"
"Because you had more work to do soldier."
"And the drill sergeant wasn't going to let me stop until I finished my mission" he chuckled.
"No she wasn't" she laughed.
His breathing became labored and he fought with everything he had left in him because his mission wasn't quite complete. He searched for the strength to say the words he should have said that night.
"Joss …" his voice was barely a whisper as his eyelids began to droop.
"I know" she whispered as she lowered her lips. "You don't have to say it" she said quietly after lifting her lips from his.
"Yes I do" he proclaimed.
Slowly he opened his blue eyes to look into her brown eyes.
"I love you Joss."
"I love you too."
He called on the last bit of strength he had to lift his head. She met him half way as their lips touched for the final time on this side. She gently held his head as they lingered in the kiss.
When she felt the last be of his strength leave, she laid his head down.
"I think you're ready now" she smiled down at him as he opened his eyes.
He grinned at her as he began to quickly fade. He closed his eyes. He sighed contently as felt her take his hand.
"I love you Joss" he breathed his last breath as his Detective lead him home and his just once turned into forever.
Forever he would see her face. Forever he would look into her eyes. Forever he would see her smile. Forever he would hear her laughter. Forever he would smell her scent. Forever he would hear her voice. Forever he would touch her skin. Forever he would feel her lips. Forever he would say I love you.
