AN: This one's a short one guys, but I wanted to give you some resolution. I'm probably gonna be busy the next few days, so there might not be a ton of updates. I hope you'll be patient with me! -LB

Once Tegan was settled into her cot, finished typing her letter to the general. In the morning, she was calling for a chopper to come take Sergeant Carter to the nearest permanent base to be held until he could be shipped back to the States for the dishonorable discharge Sara was sure he would receive.

When she finished, she turned to look at Tegan. She had fallen asleep, which gave Sara an opportunity to really look at her in a way she hadn't had the chance to before. Tegan had the most beautiful face Sara had ever seen. Her strong jaw and perfect lips, her cute little nose. The way she a whisper of a smile crossed her lips as she slept. Her strong arms, and the fascinating tattoos that adorned them. The way her big personality and her stunning made her seem twice the size she really was. It was enough to send butterflies to Sara's gut and a shudder to her fingers.

Sara had never looked at anyone the way she looked at Tegan. Not even Emy, all those years ago. She soaked in every inch of Tegan, memorizing each line and curve and feature, committing them to memory so when she lay awake at night she could recall exactly what she looked like.

She moved to a chair that was sitting next to Tegan's cot. She gently ran her fingertips over the bruises on Tegan's forearms from where Carter had grabbed her. Sara's thoughts drifted, and she wondered what would have happened if she hadn't heard Tegan's cries. Tegan was so small, and she was scared. And Carter was strong and drunk….

Sara felt her chest tighten as she struggled to hold back tears. She wouldn't have been able to live with herself if Carter had been able to have his way with Tegan. She would never have forgiven herself. She knelt down beside the cot and rested her head next to Tegan. She felt tears running down her cheeks as she sobbed silently at Tegan's side. In that moment, she swore that she would protect Tegan, no matter what. Even if it cost her her job, or her rank, or her life. Tegan would never suffer harm while she could draw breath.

"Sara?" Tegan said groggily. Sara bolted upright, turning away in hopes that Tegan wouldn't see her tears. "What's wrong, Sara?" Sara's heart fluttered hearing Tegan say her name.

Sara cleared her throat. "Nothing," she mumbled. "Just… had something in my eye." She stood up, keeping her back to Tegan as she walked to her cot a few feet away.

"Sara, don't lie to me," Tegan whispered. "What's wrong?" Sara took a deep breath that shuddered as she exhaled. She was going to have to talk about it. She knew Tegan wouldn't let it rest until she did.

When Sara turned to face Tegan, she was sitting up in bed, a look of worry painted on her face. Sara forced a weak smile. "I just… I was just thinking about how… bad I would feel if anything worse had happened to you tonight," she finally said.

Tegan smiled her signature smile and swung her legs over the side of the bed. "But it didn't," she said. She walked over to Sara, daring to pull her into a hug. "It didn't. Because you saved me." Sara felt the tears coming back again as she wrapped her arms around Tegan. This was the first time she had let herself touch Tegan in seven years. She had almost forgotten how their bodies fit together perfectly, how their hearts lined up just right so that Sara could feel Tegan's heart beating against her chest.

"I know," Sara gasped between sobs. "But-"

"No." Tegan pulled back and held Sara at arm's length. "You don't get to think like that. Tonight, you are my hero. Don't beat yourself up over something that didn't even happen." She held Sara close again, placing a gently kiss atop her head.

Finally Sara let go of Tegan and both of them got in their beds, but not before Tegan pulled hers so that there was only a foot of space between them. Tegan reached out her hand to hold Sara's. Sara took hold of it, and they fell asleep that way. They both slept better that night than they had in years.