A/N: Happy 4th of July! :) You guys are definitely going to love this chapter :3
I still can't answer reviews, so...
Maddison1803 - I completely understand, but these characters have to go through some things to move forward with less bites from the past. Typically, though, he's not gonna open up for very long.
changingdestiny40 - I get what you're saying. And of course I'd have the three of them together, they totally understand that their pain is no easy fix.
annavale23 - I know! :( But you'll see why I have him there. It's going to be okay.
Skye found Grant sitting on a small outcropping of rock on a bend in the river. He was side on to her as she approached, but didn't acknowledge her presence until she stood behind him.
"Maybe it was a mistake coming here." He said eventually. His voice was sullen and just loud enough for Skye to hear.
"Because you don't want to face your past?" she asked softly. He nodded, sighing.
"I'm trying to move forward. And coming here, to where Garrett left me to rot…"
"It's difficult." Skye said, moving to sit next to him, albeit facing the other way. "I get that. But Grant," she reached out to gently direct his face to look at her. "How you feel about your past is what directs your actions. You don't want to be controlled like that again. So you won't. All the stuff you've seen and done shows you exactly what you don't want to be."
He looked at her with immense sadness and pain in his eyes. "All the good memories I have here are overshadowed with lies and manipulation. Buddy was the one person I trusted completely, even though he was a dog, and he's gone."
Skye smiled sympathetically. "So make new memories. Now. With us." She held out the dog tag for him to see. "Accept the past, and put it to rest."
As soon as his eyes lit upon the tag, Grant's breath hitched. "Buddy." He whispered, taking the tag from her with shaking fingers. "Where was this?" he glanced up at her.
"I found it in the dirt by the cabin steps. I thought you should know before you…see the rest."
"The rest?" his voice shook with his hand, and he clenched his fist around the tag to still the tremors. "The rest of Buddy is by the cabin?"
"Yeah." Skye twirled around so she was facing the same direction as Grant. "But think of it this way." She said, laying her head on his shoulder. "You can give him a proper burial and regale me and Kara with the stuff you two got up to in these woods." She smiled when he laid his head on top of hers. Slowly, Grant lowered his hand.
"What, like raiding other cabins?"
Skye snorted. "You really think I'll be judgmental about stealing? How do you think I got by in that van?"
"You didn't nick gas, did you?" Grant frowned.
"No." she laughed. "That's the one thing I never stole. They have a CCTV guarantee policy. And I lived with that number plate."
This had Grant chuckling. Raising his head, he looked directly at her. "I'll try it." When Skye raised her head to send him a look of confusion, he clarified. "The new memories thing."
"Oh." she said breathlessly.
Leaning in, Grant raised his free hand to cup Skye's face. To his immense relief, she was mirroring his actions, and their lips met.