Civilian. ci·vil·ian (s-vlyn)
n.
1. A person following the pursuits of civil life, especially one who is not an active member of the military, the police, or a belligerent group.
It was unreal. Everything about this was unreal. How had... What was he supposed to do? everything he had... Everything he knew, or thought he knew, about himself is...was...Marine. He was a marine- theres no such thing as an Ex-Marine- unless its taken away by a general. Combine this with finding out you're a father to a child...woman, who thinks you're dead... unreal.
John Casey was numb. Nothing was registering to him at this point in time as he listened to Chuck talk at him. Sitting in a bare house, nothing but a chair and a bonzai tree, if he took a moment to allow emotion though, he was sure it would end him completely- especially with Bartowski in the room. He knew the kid was trying to help- but it only made it harder, especailly when he saw him making the same choices he made himself those years ago.
He had seen it happening for a while now- Slowly, but surely Chuck was becoming more like him- and now he, himself had switched places with the kid. Civilian. Chuck was the spy and he was the civilian. Not colonel, no- he gave that up when he broke protocol and went against his country for the woman he loved. Turning back away from Chuck, he feigned continued interest in his Bonzai tree until Bartowski, who hadn't moved, decided to leave without a word.
Chuck had to admit, this whole ordeal was very unsettling- with Casey gone... well, the man seemed to be capable of anything- without the aide of a government supercomputer in his brain. After he left Casey's bare home he couldnt help but look back to see his friend staring blankly at the photos in his hands, which were beginning to shake, small tears sneaking from his eyes, undisturbed. Chuck felt his heart breaking as he realised the full implications of this situation. All Casey had in his life was the mission- he had his rank, he had his guns and he had his mission- without that... Chuck shook his head. He wouldn't dwell on the implications. He would get Casey back his silver leaf- or at least one of the weapons he had taken away from him. Civilian or not- he was a target, and without a weapon... He would get that leaf back.