Yay, I'm back with another chapter. Yes, it's a short one again, but things've been hectic lately (finals are a real pain!). At any rate, it looks like things might be wrapping up…or are they? Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Halo.

Chapter Twelve: Regrets and Decisions

Jessica forced herself to maintain calm as she entered the cabin, fingers absentmindedly brushing her desk before she turned to face the Chief.

"Well, Chief, apparently you have something on your mind, presumably regarding the mission. What's wrong?"

"What happened down there, Jessica?" The use of her first name stunned her; she couldn't remember him ever using it before.

"Regarding the mission? ONI found a wealth of Forerunner information, and most of the enemy opposition's given up. We're still sorting through the data—"

Jessica found herself unable to finish the sentence; after all, it gets difficult to talk when one's mouth is covered by someone else's. The Chief's kiss surprised her completely, and when he finally pulled away it was all she could do to stay upright.

"Wha—what was that?" she panted.

"What we need to discuss."

----

John had surprised himself when he kissed her, but it seemed the best thing to do. Instincts long buried and unneeded had nudged him along, and from her response it was obvious that they had been right. He watched Jessica as she shakily moved away.

"You call that a discussion? Most people consider it foreplay," she shot back, her eyes widening only after she realized what she'd insinuated.

"I'm surprised you're upset by that, since you were the one who started all of this," John stated calmly; how he could stay so calm was a mystery, since every part of his body demanded that he step closer and kiss her again. Don't move, he thought to himself.

"I know, and I'm well aware of the breach in protocol, one more thing I'll have to answer for when I get back. My actions were unnecessary, unprofessional and uncalled for." Jessica turned away and faced the wall. "I'll do my best to make sure you don't get hit by the fallout. No reason you should be tarred with the same brush as I am."

He was shocked that she was viewing everything so coldly. Did she really feel nothing on Olympus? "Jessica—"

"Is there anything else, Master Chief?" she cut him off, clearly intending to end the conversation. John had been trained as a soldier, and knew a dismissal when he heard one.

"No, ma'am."

"Good," Jessica sat down at her desk and stared intently at him. "We'll reach Earth in a few days. I trust you'll keep quiet about all this?"

"Yes, ma'am," John snapped a crisp salute, which she returned before dismissing him. It was only hours later that he realized there had been an unusual shine to her eyes, as if she were fighting not to cry.

----

Imbedded deep inside the Athens' computer core, Cortana watched everything happening on the ship, from the galley (where she saw what the cook was doing to the rations) to the engine room (where crews were working with the new engines) to Lieutenant Hawkes' quarters. She processed a flicker of mild annoyance as she listened to the conversation between Hawkes and the Chief. What is it going to take? Although the Chief definitely seems open to the idea, now. Still, in spite of her best efforts, Hawkes seemed determined to avoid any relationship with the Chief. Highly unusual, considering that she usually has no respect for protocol on her missions.

The Chief was gone now, Hawkes had dismissed him. Cortana watched in some surprise as the ONI lieutenant roughly wiped her eyes on her uniform, wincing from her injured back. Odd, to say the least.

"I'm sorry, John, but I can't do it," she whispered. "You can't know, you weren't supposed to know. And I hope you never find out exactly how much…no, you'll never know." The woman sighed heavily; Cortana saw a look of regret mixed with determination in her hazel eyes. "Soon as I get back to Earth I'm out of here."

----

The Athens had made it back to Earth in relatively decent time, when compared to normal Slipspace cores. Perfect, now I get to face the firing squad, Jessica frowned as she walked the halls. She never really cared for Sydney, Australia, but Colonel Ackerson wanted her close by. He'll be disappointed, but even he'll see why I have to do this. Still, she'd be glad to never see this place again; right now, there was nothing Jessica wanted more than a fresh start.

"Lieutenant Hawkes?" A female voice echoed down the corridor, and she turned to see a female aide running after her.

"Yes?" She tried to smile, she really did, but from the worried look on the other woman's face it didn't work.

"Colonel Ackerson asked me to find you, he said it was urgent."

"I was just on my way to his office, figured he'd be there." She frowned thoughtfully. "He's not in his office?"

"No, ma'am, he had a meeting in one of the conference rooms in the south wing. I can take you if you'd like."

Jessica actually smiled at that; the poor aide was doing her best, really. "I think that would be best. Heaven knows I get lost in here often enough. Lead on."

----

James Ackerson was known as a man of ruthless cunning; what people didn't really know was that under the ruthless mask was a family man. One of the few people who did was Jessica Hawkes, whose father had been a good friend of his. They'd been squadmates early on in their service to the UNSC, and when he'd been promoted, he'd made sure to keep in touch with Aaron Hawkes and his family. He'd seen Jessica grow up from a carefree child whose only goal was to raid the cookie jars into a stealth operative that could rival even the Spartans. But the change hadn't come without hardship; when she'd just turned nineteen her father had been killed on Sigma Octanus, and her life had changed drastically. Ackerson took her under his wing, as he'd promised her father a long time ago.

His musings were interrupted when the door to the conference room opened, revealing a familiar green-flecked gaze. Jessica stared at him through the doorway, and he swore she had a sad look on her face. Something's happened. The "parent" in him wanted to do something, anything, to get that sad look out of her eyes, but the colonel in him said to wait until she'd said her piece.

"Sir, respectfully, we need to talk."