Chapter 22: Reunion

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John couldn't move fast enough to gather her up in his arms, and neither could Soap, who beat him to it. He laughed breathlessly and flopped her ears; she stood on her back legs and crushed him in a tight hug, neck craned around his head. "Gal, what the hell! You're back!"

"Why didn't you say anything over the com?" Price asked.

Yuri shook his head, leaning his weight on his un-injured knee. "It was kind of a lot to explain over the radio, I figured it would be easier to show you."

Galaxy turned back to Yuri, brushing up against his side and wagging her tail as he patted her shoulder with a heavy thump. "Poor thing was too shocked to speak when he saw me anyway," she chuckled.

Their attention turned upward when they heard Nikolai's helicopter. It touched down and Soap helped Yuri toward the aircraft. "Nik," said Soap. "Yuri's got a game knee, gonna need a first aid kit so we can take care of it, over."

Nikolai opened the door and gave Soap a thumbs up before reaching for the kit. "Bandages and some ibuprofen should do the trick." He looked past them. "Who's that with the Captain?"

Price, still standing in the lashing rain, had waited for Soap and Yuri to go ahead. Galaxy had shifted, now standing in a flowing, silvery-white dress, and faced him as he closed the distance between them, but she was the first to grab him in a hug, nestling her face into his neck. He felt her warmth, the mass of her body, her breath on his skin, and he smiled. It wasn't a dream anymore.

"You fool girl," he chuckled in her ear. "I thought I was never going to see you again. How on earth did you get back here?"

She could hear his voice starting to crack, but didn't want to point it out in case he got embarrassed. "It's a bit of a long story, and I think we've got a bird to catch," she said, gesturing with her head toward the helicopter. "I'll tell you everything when we get out of here."

Before she could walk ahead, he kept a grip on her wrist and pulled her back, planting a longing kiss on her lips. She was surprised at first, but she quickly melted into it. Jessica only broke it after a moment. "John," she giggled, hiding her face in his shoulder. "I think they're watching..."

"I don't care," he murmured, pulling her up for another. This time is was brief, just enough to touch her lips again, and then he started toward the helicopter, holding her hand in his.

It was the strangest thing being back in England. Jessica hadn't been home in what felt like forever, and if she was honest, she wasn't quite ready to be home yet. She stood in the driveway, looking at the front door, but couldn't get her feet to move toward it.

"Are you going to stay out here all night?"

She looked over at John and grinned softly. "I never thought I'd see this place again... It feels... Strange."

He draped an arm around her, kissing her cheek. "You're not ready to go inside?" he asked.

"I don't know... Not yet..."

John squeezed her tighter, silent in thought. "We can go inside my place? It's not quite home."

She pouted her lips as she contemplated his offer. It did sound comforting. Jessica sighed and kissed his hand. "Why not? It's better than some alternatives," she said.

He smiled and led her through his front door. The soft glow of dawn flowed through the windows onto the wood floor and John carefully walked through the dimly light entryway. He could feel her bright hazel eyes on him in sweet admiration, and his stomach was a-flutter with excitement. Her feet carefully bounced behind him, following his steps exactly and he chuckled. "Why are you being so cute?" he inquired, making an about-face to catch her up close to his chest.

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