[He'll go. Because they need him. Because staying away feels like a disservice. Even if he's here for them, doing this for them. Because they're family. Just as much as...]
[... as much as Sam is.]
[And for a second, it all hurts almost too much to focus on. Taken from one family, given another, in a cycle he doesn't think he could possibly break. There's nothing to be done for it, is there? No way to keep this. Any more than there was a way to keep the team.]
[Any more than there was a way to keep his Commander and friend together, either.]
[He swallows, thickly, and when he returns the kiss a little more urgently than necessary. Like this is all going to be swept away again when they're least expecting it, when they're not looking. His hand gripping tighter.]
no subject
[... as much as Sam is.]
[And for a second, it all hurts almost too much to focus on. Taken from one family, given another, in a cycle he doesn't think he could possibly break. There's nothing to be done for it, is there? No way to keep this. Any more than there was a way to keep the team.]
[Any more than there was a way to keep his Commander and friend together, either.]
[He swallows, thickly, and when he returns the kiss a little more urgently than necessary. Like this is all going to be swept away again when they're least expecting it, when they're not looking. His hand gripping tighter.]
Yeah. We do.
[Don't they?]