AN- Back to happy again, sort of.
"Cause she's bittersweet, she knocks me off of my feet,
And I can't help myself, I don't want anyone else.
She's a mystery, she's too much for me,
And I keep coming back for more.
She's just the girl I'm looking for."
"Just The Girl." by The Click Five.
As he watched Kerry walk away he knew it was for the best. Yes they had fun, and they were good together but it just wasn't right. How had she termed it again?
"You have issues. It's okay we all have them but, there's just one that I don't think I can Love, I mean live with."
She was right of course, he only had one issue, and Kerry being as smart as she was knew what, or move so who, the issue was.
"I have just one question. Is the Air Force the only thing keeping you two apart? Because if it is you're making a big mistake." Talk about nail on the head and driving the point home.
Kerry suggestion, of course, was retirement. Sweet retirement with no calls, no crisis, no Gou'ld or replicators. If only life could be that simple. He would happily hand in his retirement papers that had been sitting in the bottom drawer of his desk since what felt like forever. All they needed was signed and dated and they were done. He could call the president and tell him he was done, fax the papers over and just walk away. He could go find Carter and, oh crap, Carter!
Nearly running through the corridors, he stopped at the observation room and saw her sitting there, looking down at her father. His heart ached as he watched her. Stepping inside, he sat down next to her and looked down at Jacob Carter before glancing at Carter. Her eyes were red and puffy and when she spoke he heard the croak in her voice from her tears. He so desperately wanted to scream sod it and pull her to him, hold her close and never let go. Yet he couldn't, wouldn't, do it no matter how much it hurt him.
"Com'mere," He mumbled as he lifted his arm and watched as she slid up against his side.
Wrapping his arm around her, he rested his hand on her shoulder and felt the pang of longing as she took his hand in hers and rubbed it against her cheek before running her thumb over the back of his hand.
"Thank you, Sir." He heard her say as he looked down at her father.
"For what?" He whispered, a little surprised she was thanking him.
"For being here for me," She replied.
His heart was at breaking point. She was sat watching her father die and she was thanking him for being there. He wouldn't be anywhere else in the world but at her side, didn't she know that? Turning to look back at her he said the first word he thought of.
"Always."
Seeing her turn to him, her lips turning into a small smile at the realisation of what that single word meant. They understood there was nothing either could do about it yet. Giving his hand a gentle squeeze she brushed it against her cheek one last time. Always meaning 'I Love you'.