Marcus' boots made little noise as he walked across Savannah's porch. He gingerly opened the door and walked in. Savannah was sitting on the couch with her head in her hands. Marcus sat down beside her. Without looking at him, Savannah said, "I'm sorry." Marcus sighed and put his forearms on his thighs. Savannah raised her head and looked over at him. He turned to her and said, "It's okay. I shouldn't have said anything." Savannah reached out and gently touched Marcus' beard. He looked into her eyes, watching her with an intensity that made Savannah's stomach tighten.
She leaned over and softly kissed him. His eyes were still closed when she pulled back and looked at him. When he opened his eyes, she said, "Baird and I will always have a hard time fighting our attraction, and I don't want to put myself in a situation that could cause me to do something he and I will regret." Marcus stared at her, slightly clenching his hands. Savannah ran her fingers through his hair and whispered to him, "I am in love with you, Marcus Fenix, but I cannot trust myself alone with Damon Baird. I know that sounds contradictory, but I need you to understand why he can't be here."
Marcus nodded his head slowly and stood up. Savannah watched him walk to the table and take off his duty belt. He bent forward with his palms down on the table, closed his eyes and said, "I don't know what you want me to say. I've already told you I can't give you what you want. I've decided to go back home...to Anya." Savannah gasped, stood up and walked over to Marcus. When he turned to her, she threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Marcus stiffened and reached up to remove her arms from around his shoulders. She jerked her hands away from him, her eyes blazing with fury.
"You are a fucking liar, Fenix," she spit at him. He glared at her and crossed his arms. She put her hands on her hips and took a step toward him. "You will never convince me that you don't love me, and the only reason you want to leave is because you're scared of how you feel." She took another step closer to him, put her hands and forehead on his chest, and whispered," Don't walk away from the one person who understands you, Marcus."
Marcus didn't move for several seconds, but then he slowly wrapped his arms around Savannah. He tightened his grip and quietly said into her hair, "I told you I am beyond help. I have too much baggage to be with anybody. It's best that I leave." Savannah wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. She looked into his eyes, rose up on her toes, and softly kissed him. She said against his lips, "Please don't shut me out, Marcus. I know the pain that consumes you, and I promise we will get through it together."
Marcus let go of her, took a step back, and dropped his hands to his side. He looked around the room before he said, "I don't know how to love anybody but Anya. She never demanded anything from me. She let me treat her like shit for years. I am not good at this, Savannah. Why would you want to be with someone that can't give you what Loomis gave you." At the mention of Loomis' name, Savannah put her fingers to her lips and watched Marcus while tears formed in her eyes. He glanced over at her, and when he saw her wiping her eyes, he said, "This is exactly what I'm talking about. I can't open my mouth without hurting you. I have to go, Savannah. I have to. I can't stand to see you like this."
Savannah hugged herself and said to Marcus, "Hearing his name will always hurt. Thinking of him hurts. Picturing him hurts. Everything to do with him hurts. You know exactly how that feels. I see how much losing Anya has devastated you, and that's why I know we can heal each other." Marcus let out a sigh and sat down on the couch. Savannah set down beside him. She laid her head on his shoulder. They sat in comfortable silence for a while. Suddenly, an explosion ripped through the outer wall of the base.