Semper Fi: Always there for you.

5. Taking it all.

She didn't have to wait, Chris opened the door as soon as she stopped knocking.

"Jess!..." he flashed a genuine smile through a tired and worried face. Devilishly handsome face, she thought, pressing her lips together.

Those lips should have kissed him, they both had longed for each other for days, but that awkwardness was back between them. So thick you could cut it with a knife.
Blame his lame excuse last time they were together, blame her agenda that made her away for days, blame his insistence on the phone when all she needed was quiet time to focus on Oyster's defense, blame some harsh snaps she gave him so he left her alone. Blame their craving for each other. Blame his trauma. Blame the bad news she was bringing.
Fuck. Neither of them knew how to behave.

"Come in." He finally invited her in, his tone low and warm. Devilishly sexy, she thought.
Damn she felt hot in her core just being there, as she passed him, her stare locked on his.
She'd been mesmerized by those blue eyes for the very beginning, the depth of his long stare on her, the kindness of his looks lingering a little bit too long on her features, their wildness when they stopped on her curves, like he's caressing her body. The sadness she could read through them and wanted to erase with sweet kisses and touches.

She adverted her eyes from his, just to realize he's shirtless. Heavy muscles. Chest hair. Perfect lines. Silver chain. Jesus Christ.
She became aware of her staring and blushing, but couldn't resolve herself to look away. Sure he had noticed.
Sure, and he didn't mind. And stared back. Shamelessly.

"Nice to have you back." Chris whispered, stepping closer.
How nice. How nice it was to have her home. How nicer would it be to have her nestled against his chest, his hands roaming all over her silky skin.
They'd shared a few kisses already, they'd shared heavenly strokes and hotter games but never went further, which was his doing, which he's now starting to regret.

"I've missed you..." Chris whispered, but she didn't answer.
"How was work?" He sweetly asked, trying to break the ice.

His fingertips were about to land on the little of her back when her face changed. Darkened.
She felt awful for what she's about to do. Deceive him. Hurt him more than life already had had.
He froze as she stepped back, unsure of how she could deliver the bad news.

"I... I've come to see you..." She started, crossing her arms over her chest, like to keep those words inside. But she had to spill it out.
"It didn't work." Her voice trembled.

Chris' arms and jaws dropped down, his face crumbled as he got what she's talking about.

No. Not again.

"I'm so sorry Chris. I did everything I could to defend Oyster's case to the prosecutor..."

Chris fisted his hands so hard his nails were digging through his palms. He hoped he could bleed all his sorrow and anger out, to keep her safe from the storm coming up.
If only he could bleed his pain out, and not hear what she was trying to explain.

"Chris, the defense was good, the argument was receivable but... since Oyster evaded justice and fled out of the States... there's... there's nothing we can do..." Tears threatened to flow down and her voice broke as loud as his heart did.

Chris stumbled through the hall, his knees so weak under him he had to grip the table that sat the other side of the living room not to faint.
Panting heavily, his forehead on his wrists, now leaning his elbows on the table, he struggled to stay strong, somehow.

Once again he failed. He failed to protect his little brother, have him safe and warm at home. He failed to serve his country, he failed to honour his oath. And now that he completely broke, desperately sobbing and crying like a little boy, he failed to stand as a proud man, to cope with this shit.