Two months earlier...

Barnaul, Russia: Rakov Residence II a.k.a Yuri's Place.

Bree stepped out on the spacious balcony to enjoy the beauty of a peaceful Russian morning. Her eyes roamed over Yuri's never-ending, well manicured lawn that looked like it should be a football field but was supposedly his ridiculously large back yard.

She had to admit, she knew the family was loaded but she didn't know that they could buy and sell this end of Russia twice and they made sure that their long lost son was well taken care of after his return.

After her and Yana's arrival some seven days ago, the Rakov family had extended their arms in a warm welcome to her and their precious granddaughter who they already began to spoil and with Sergei and Zlata's new baby in the picture, him and Yuri's parents were all too thrilled with all the new life around them.

Bree continued to stare out onto the compound and perked up when she spotted Yuri having a walk with Yana down the stone work path that lead to the most exquisite patio set she had ever seen.

He waved at her then whispered something to Yana and she looked up and waved too. Bree never knew Yuri had such great taste in outdoor and indoor furniture and she was sure to let him know that. It had taken him a full two weeks to convince her to come spend her two weeks of leave with him at his home there in Russia.

After his second near death experience back at Hotel Oasis, she was happy to see him back on his feet and taking on life one step at a time, so the least she could have done was to come spend some time with him and let him have Yana all to himself.

Besides, he was right, she really needed a little rest and relaxation for a while, time to get her thoughts together and see what she is willing to do next especially after John... Bree squeezed her eyes shut and pulled her silk robe tighter around her body. She refused to let he thoughts drift of in that direction.

For far too long thinking about him and wondering about his decision had kept her up at night in tears. Then there was dealing with having to see him every day. It irritated her to see him looking all normal as if nothing had ever happened between them.

Whether or not he'd be annoyed when he finds out where she spent her vacation and who she spent it with, she didn't care but sometimes, just sometimes she wondered if he missed her like she did him. If he still loved her... As for Yuri, he knew how she felt and showed no reaction towards it and just made her stay there feel like a real vacation.

A gust of wind blew through the line of massive Carolina Sapphire Cypress trees, that lined the outskirts of the plot and kept curious eyes out, and travelled across the lawn and crawled up to the balcony and gave Bree the well needed burst of fresh air after the threatening thoughts of John that attempted to crowd her mind but as usual she could not help but wonder what exactly took place in that hotel room.

Herefordshire, England – The Apartment:

John cracked the door open and stepped inside. It was the weekend and he needed some sort of get away from the base and the whole 'Being Captain' thing. The only place he could have thought of was the apartment he once shared with Bree.

With her and Yana gone for a while he'd have it all to himself. It felt great at first but when the warm memories of the tender moments they shared together clouded his mind but he found the apartment experience to be getting less enjoyable by the minute.

He walked over to the living room and sat heavily on the couch and leaned back. Anyone who took one look at him right now could tell that he was clearly frustrated. Sure he maintained a cherry exterior on base but he was devastated on the inside.

John got up from the couch and headed for the stairs and towards Bree's bedroom. When he arrived he paused to stare at the bed and smiled a little when he noticed she had made it with the set of white silk sheets that he loved. The same set of sheets that he had made love to her on for the first time on back in Kensington.

He shook his head and sat on the bed to collect his thoughts. The hotel… the phone call… the breakup… These were the three things that had been playing on his mind for the past month. A delicate subject he had no idea on how to approach.

John removed his shoes and lay on the bed with his hand over his face as he replayed the scene between Bree and himself at the hotel in his head.

One month before that…Arabian Peninsula, Hotel Mirage:

The morning after John, being the first to wake, lay in bed next to Bree with his arm around her. She was fast asleep against him with half her face buried into his chest and his left leg was practically wedged between hers, he noticed that she had the tip of her index finger stuck between her half parted lips.

Was she dry humping him in her sleep again? She done already woke his arse three times that night for sex yet still there she was... 'If you wanted more you could have just asked…' He smiled lazily at the silly, naughty thought and kissed her forehead. She looked so peaceful and adorable he could just eat her up but decided to save that one for later. For now she needed rest.

John eased himself out from under her and stood on the side of the bed for a stretch. The few rays of sunlight and dust lit upon his messed up hair and warmed his skin as he yawned and scratched his stomach like he didn't have a care in the world which was true.

Hell, everything actually was perfect. Makarov was gone for good, the war was finally over and he was ready to move on with his life and have a future with Bree all until his phone rang. He frowned and grabbed it on the way to the bathroom.

He stared at the screen at the Unknown caller. His initial thought was that someone was trying to find him at the base then he thought twice about taking it. Why ruin a perfect day? But after much deliberation he took the call.

"MacTavish…" he said, sounding somewhat terse but really didn't care.

"Sir… ", said Dalton, on the other end. "9-0… it's on the move." Having a Private do some snooping around to earn some extra credit can prove to be dangerous but in John's opinion, he would be the last one to be suspected of anything and above all, Dalton played it well.

"Shite…So soon?" John said. He knew something crazy would kick off the moment they were done with Makarov, but he had hoped to get at least a two week break before it did. "This is not supposed to be happening… What else do you know?"

Dalton stalled for a moment then spoke. "Nothing yet, Sir… You think it's him?"

John stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror and ruffled his hair. "I sure hope not." he replied. He walked back into the bedroom and stared out the window.

"Would you like me to alert Lieutenant Collins?" Dalton asked, being the ever helpful soldier that he was.

John studied Bree's sleeping form on the bed then walked over to the window. The sun had come up fully and was bright enough to hurt his eyes, he rubbed them as he sat on a bar stool near the balcony.

The mere thought of having to deal with his most hated enemy after Makarov was unsettling. What made it worse was that he did not want Bree to be involved, especially when she could be….

"No…I'll um.. I'll handle it." John muttered as he stumbled over his words. He ended the call and stared out the window in deep thought.

'Dammit, John. You really did it this time' he thought, sourly. Over and over he combed his mind for another way out of this where she would be safe and he would be able to deal with this budding situation that burned hot under the rug.

Until it hit him… In order to keep her he had to leave her…

The thought seared him like a hot iron and pounded his mind till he winced and closed his eyes. He knew she would be devastated and he already was but he needed her to be safe, even if it meant that he had to break her.

Just then he watched her wake with a start and searched the room with frantic eyes that made him worry because he knew her dreams at night really were bad.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her settle again with the look and the smile that he loved. The 'John-just-put-it-on-me' smile…

He bit his lip the first time she called him and turned his face when she spotted him in his little corner locked in a mental battle. He cringed on the inside as she neared him with deep concern in her eyes.

Momentarily he calmed at the sight of her pretty brown face in the sunlight but he knew if he had to do this, he had to do it now and come up with a reason fast.

"I can't do this anymore." he said before he could stop himself. Bree came closer to him where he sat on the hotel's bar stool nearest the window and inserted herself into his arms then locked them in hers around her body with her back against him.

"You mean it?" she replied sorrowfully, thinking that the old feeling John had on finding her with Yuri had come over him again. If she could just show him how much she cared maybe he might renege on his statement.

"I-..." he began but paused when he felt her hands squeeze his. "Please don't say yes..." She pleaded gently. John sighed and rested his chin on her shoulder and stared ahead of them. "Moving on is not as easy as it looks."

"No one ever said that it would be. I never meant to hurt you." She said as she pressed her cheek to his. She felt his chest quiver a bit as he took slow, unsteady breaths before trying to speak again. "Part of you almost died with him today." He said as his breath caught again. "If you still love him...just tell me, Bree." Suddenly he felt his being beginning to bend and break under the weight of his burden; one that he longed to share but couldn't. "Let me have it."

Bree's eyes widened when she heard him. "Then why did you sleep with me?" she said in a hushed tone. "Because I needed you..." He moaned. Trying to soften the situation as much as he could for them both.

"Needed me or needed to get off?" she said as she struggled out of his tightening hold. "You know it's not like that." he said as he buried his face into her neck. Bree bit back her response when she felt the first few drops that were his tears moisten her skin. "You know that…. I just can't deal..." he continued.

She looked at them in awe then pulled away from him and in her solemn respect for him she refused to look back in an effort to preserve what was left his pride.

John leaned his head against the window and looked out at the rapidly rising sun. "Bree..." he murmured in a low pain filled voice, as she gathered her clothes and quickly got dressed. She stopped and clutched her t-shirt to her chest and risked glancing at him.

He clenched his jaw and looked at her; Tears now rolling down his face uncontrollably. "Bree, you don't have to leave." He tried again. Disgusted by the partial lies he'd just told her, he shook his head. Her pain was his pain.

She bowed her head and pulled the t-shirt over her head then started for the door without even another glance in John's direction. "If you need me I'll be in my room...Sir." she spat over her shoulder.

Herefordshire, England – The Apartment:

John sat on the edge of the bed and hung his head. He's just spoken to Price and they planned to head out to do some more digging. The needed to be sure on what they were looking for before they made a move.

Right now he just wished that he had Bree around to comfort him and be her big baby for a while…

He saw his phone dancing around on the night table again and took it up. "Hello beautiful…" he said with a smile in his voice but not in his expression.

It was Annabelle Bourke. The tall, blond, blue-eyed bombshell that just so happened to be his… um…. 'Girlfriend' who truly proved to be a welcomed distraction but stringing women along was not his game and it only made him feel worse.

"Hey honey! Can you swing by my place tonight? I have something special for you." she said on the line. She was famous for her 'special surprises', rocking body and extravagant social events but for him, she didn't quite hit the spot.

"Of course." John said as he gripped the sheets. "Need any wine?"

"I only need you, pookie." She said in her overly cutesy voice. "Kisses!"

He returned the phone smooches and hung up with a sigh. Clearly he was pining for something more and he knew it.