Chapter 6
Cat opened her eyes to a bright glare and the smell of antiseptic. She knew immediately where she was, but couldn't for the life of her remember why. She remembered something vaguely about cold and a pain in her chest, but no more. There seemed to be a weight and a patch of warmth pressing on her right side and, looking down, she saw the familiar spikes of John's hair, still standing up impossibly. His head was resting on her stomach and his hand lightly on her arm. She was about to stroke his head, when more memories of the night before came flooding back to her: the coldness of her bed when she woke up to find him absent; his harsh words; the feeling of loneliness on the pier; his hand running over a brunette's body, and she withdrew her hand, simply staring down at him. He must have felt her stir, because his head shot up and she was amazed to see the expression in his expressive eyes, the eyes that had made her fall in love with him in the first place.
'Oh god, Cat, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me for being such a damn fool. I love you so much. I thought you were dead. I thought I'd never be able to hold you again.' To her amazement, a tear crept down his cheek as his voice broke, and she had a sobbing John Sheppard in her arms. But more importantly, he had said those words that she never thought to hear. There was much to be sorted between them, and he had a lot of explaining to do, but this would do for now.
'I love you too, John Sheppard, but then you already know that. I promise you, if you ever pull a stunt like that again, I will never forgive you.' He looked into her eyes and she saw his love for her, wishing she could bottle that look and carry it with her forever.
***
She woke up to the early morning sun, warming her front. Behind her was the familiar comfort of his body, spooning her as always. The bed was still too small, but these moments made it all worthwhile. She had thought about getting up, when he tightened his arms around her and pulled her towards him. She felt his naked body against hers, the way his body reacted to her in the early morning and smiled a lustful smile. She knew every muscle and every contour of him and knew too what the next half an hour would bring. And, as always these days, he kissed her neck, then whispered in her ear, 'I love you Cat Adams. Always will.'
THE END
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