Things had been awkward in the house for a few days. Cami had been spending time with Hank and Judy, so she hadn't really seen too much of what had gone on. Mouse had been fine with her, but he was so clearly distracted at work. He wasn't happy and she hated seeing him like that. Trudy had gotten his record cleared and he was free to reenlist. But had had been hesitating and Quinn knew it was for her.
"Quinn" He said taking her hand "When I said I love you I meant that, you and Cami"
"I know" She said her eyes welling up.
"I would stay for you" He told her.
"Greg" She said softly "We both know that would be for me and not for you. You have loved me more than anyone else ever has, and I know we are happy together, but I see how unhappy you are with everything else, and eventually this won't be enough and I don't want us to slowly fall apart"
"I'm really going to miss you" He said cupping her face.
"We could try long distance" She said.
"You deserve better than that" He said shaking his head "I don't know when I'll be back, and I don't want you to wait for me"
"But I love you" She said her voice cracking.
"You deserve to be happy" He told her putting his forehead against hers "I want to say we can be together when I can back, but I don't know that I will"
"When are you leaving?" She asked.
"Tomorrow" He replied.
"I can take you to the airport" She told him.
"Then I might not go" He said shaking his head.
"Will you stay tonight?" She asked "And say goodbye to Cami"
Mouse woke up the next morning with Quinn in his arms her head on his chest and he didn't want to leave her. But he knew it was something he had to do. Quinn was right, as much as he loved her and Cami it wouldn't be enough in the end. He would always regret not going and doing what he was supposed to do. He hoped they would end up back together some day. He hated the thought of her being with someone else, but he hated the thought of her home waiting for him even more.
"Are you awake?" She asked quietly.
"Yeah" He replied, "Did I wake you?"
"No" She sighed "I couldn't really sleep; I didn't want it to be morning"
He kissed the top of her forehead and she closed her eyes.
They had to get up and dressed to out and pick up Cami. Mouse had packed up his stuff already and Jay was going to put what he wasn't taking with him into storage.
Quinn looked pale and barely said a word on the way to Hank's house. He took her hand and she clasped it tightly.
When they pulled up on the driveway, Quinn got out and went to knock on the door.
"You're here early" Hank said opening the door, he paused as he looked at Quinn's face, her eyes were red and puffy "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine" She nodded "Greg's come to say goodbye to Cami, and I was going to stay here for a bit if that's ok"
"Of course, it is" Hank said showing them inside.
Hank waited until Quinn had walked through to the living room and he put a hand on Mouse's arm to stop him in his tracks.
"So, you're leaving?" Hank asked.
"Today" He nodded.
"You know I support you serving this country" Hank told him "But you've broken that girl's heart"
"Broke mine too" He admitted.
"You stay safe over there" Hank told him "You're a good kid Mouse"
"Thank you, sir," He said.
Quinn was sat with Cami giving her a cuddle as Greg explained that he was going back to the Army and he would be going away.
"I'll miss you" Cami told him throwing her arms around his neck.
"I'll miss you too kid" He said stroking her hair.
"You have to take this" Cami said running over to her bag.
Mouse looked down at the picture of the three of them. They had been playing and running around in the living room. Quinn had roped him in to one of their sleepover nights. They were all smiling up at the camera and he knew he would treasure it.
"Thank you" He said putting it in his pocket.
"I wish you didn't have to go" Cami said hugging him again.
"Greg is very brave fighting for our country, just like your Dad" Quinn said pulling her daughter into a hug "We need to be really proud of him"
Mouse had asked Jay to pick him up and drive him to the airport. Quinn walked him outside and stood with her arms folded across her chest. She felt broken but she was trying to hold it together.
Jay was putting Mouse's bag into the back seat so he could say his goodbyes.
"I don't want to do this" She said shaking her head.
"I couldn't have gotten to this place without you" He said putting his arms around her "You and Jay saved me, you know that"
Quinn stood up on her tiptoes to pull him down into a kiss goodbye.
"Goodbye Quinn" He said his hand still on her cheek before turning to Jay "Will you look out for her?"
"Of course," Jay said patting him on the shoulder.
"Goodbye Greg" She said kissing him one last time.
She watched as he walked over to the car still looking back at her. She tried to wave as they started to drive off, but she collapsed onto the porch steps in tears.
"Hey" Hank said coming out and putting his arms around her "You're ok"
"I can't do this" She said trying to control her breathing.
"Yes, you can" He said hugging her tighter "Take a deep breath and then let it out"
"I can't let Cami see me like this" She said burying her face in Hank's shoulder.
"Cami's fine inside" He told her "You just take a few minutes; I'm not going anywhere"
Erin was in work with Jay the next day. They were getting coffee in the breakroom.
"I thought Mouse was going to make me turn back" Jay said shaking his head "She was broken, it was awful"
"Do you think she'll come in today?" Adam asked "I can't believe he left"
"She'll be here" Erin nodded.
"Have you heard from her?" Jay asked.
"No" Erin replied shaking her head "But I know her"
Adam looked over as she walked up the stairs and straight over to her desk. She was immaculately dressed, with not a single hair out of place. She looked like she didn't have a care in the world.
"She looks fine" Adam said, "That's a good thing then, right?"
"No" Erin sighed "It's exactly what I was worried about"
They changed the subject as Quinn walked through the door to get coffee.
"Good Morning" She said walking past them and pulling down a cup from the cabinet.
"How are you doing?" Erin asked cocking her head to the side watching her carefully.
"I'm fine thank you" She replied without looking back.
"I'm really sorry about Mouse" Adam said "We're all going to miss him"
"There's nothing to be sorry about" She shrugged "He's gone to do what he's supposed to do, life goes on"
"Well that was a little cold" Adam said as Quinn went back to her desk.
"It means she's hurting, and she needs us" Erin said "We get angry or go off the deep end, she does the Ice Queen act and it never ends well"
"Speaking from experience?" Jay asked
"Yep" Erin nodded.
"She's one of us" Adam said "We'll be there for her"
"I need to talk to Hank" Erin said walking out of the break room and into Hank's office shutting the door behind her.
"Erin" He said leaning back in his chair.
"How bad was it?" Erin asked taking a seat.
"She took it hard" He nodded.
"She's really shut down" Erin told him "Acting like she doesn't care; I'm worried about her"
"She just needs a little time" He said "We'll keep an eye on her"