Epilogue

He had been trying to wait for the right moment, but it just wouldn't come. So he figured breakfast was just as good as anything.

"I have to tell you something," Benji said and put the tea mugs between them. He took a deep breath. "When you had been gone a couple of days I couldn't sleep. I... I had nightmares again, it was... bad - and at some point I just gave up. But I really missed you and then I had a weak moment..."

Part of Skye immediately became apprehensive. "What did you do?"

Benji knew it sucked, so he didn't even try to make excuses. "I ran a search on you."

"You did what?" Her voice remained calm, but something accompanied the words that made Benji sound defensive.

"I just wanted to know where you are. That you were safe."

"You could have just asked Brandt where I was."

"It was the middle of the night. And also that's not my point."

Skye looked at the floor, already knew what was about to come.

"CCTV picked you up in London. I know you were there. At the time."

She wouldn't deny it. Not to Benji. She met his eyes. "I was going to tell you. I just wanted to wait a little to see how you would react," she said quietly. "Let it settle in."

Benji looked at the floor and nodded. "I wiped the footage."

Skye's lips parted, but she didn't say anything. There was gratitude she didn't know how to voice in her eyes, a bit of surprise too, immediately replaced by the knowledge that she could rely on him no matter what.

"Why did you do it, love?"

"You really have to ask?" she retorted softly.

He shook his head. "You could have gotten caught..."

"But I didn't get caught."

"Elaine knows?"

Skye nodded. "Most of it."

"It was still unnecessary danger," he said quietly. "Of your career and your life."

"You know why I did it?" She waited until he looked at her. "For peace of mind. We always would have been aware of the possibility that he could escape. That there was someone left in MI6 to help him. There would have been that last lingering doubt. Now we can be sure. That's really all it is."

They sat in silence for a little.

"Are you... are you mad?" she asked carefully. It put her off that he was so quiet.

Benji looked like he had to think about this. Then he said, "No. I just – I'm waiting to feel bad and it just doesn't happen."

"Why would you feel bad?"

"Because I don't wanna be happy about another human being dying. What would that say about me."

Skye looked at him for a long time and sighed eventually. "Sometimes I think you're too good for this job."

He smiled, then it suddenly broadened into a grin. "I don't know about that. I slept like a baby last night."

Author's Note: As always, thank you so much for reading my story. Your reviews were my daily highlight, and I'm for sure gonna miss that until my next story is ready - which could take a while I'm afraid. But what can I say. You're welcome. I don't know about you, but I needed this.

#Skylsa, anyone?