25 The Choice

"Yeah?" You take a deep breath and look him in the eyes.

"You're pretty good at this"

You laugh as you cover your mouth with your hand. "I should be, I'm a doctor after all?"

NICK'S POINT OF VIEW

He can't seem to take his eyes off you. He's so consumed by the beauty and gentle nature that's standing before him. He tries to reason with himself that he needs to focus on Helena but she has become a distant memory when he's with you. Then you hypnotized him completely by covering your mouth when you laughed and all his defences fell away like it was fragile paper being blown away by the faintest wind.

"Dammit!"

"What?? What's wrong, did I hurt you?"

He didn't realize that he said it aloud. He can't control his emotions around you anymore and had to get some sort of release. He feels like a fool and doesn't know how to explain it away.

"No, no you didn't. I just…just….couldn't get to my water, that's all. Could you please help me to get my water?"

"Sure"

You walk over to his table next to his bed and hand him the water. "Here you go"

"Thank you"

"It's only a pleasure, Nick. You should get some sleep for that leg of yours"

"Yeah, you're right…yeah I should"

KIM'S POINT OF VIEW

You can't stay one more moment longer with him. You need to go back to your tent. Every pulse in your body wants to get in his bed and just hold him and be with him. You just want to feel that chiselled body next to yours and you want to be embraced by him. All the things that you're thinking about involve him being next to you and you know that the only way you'll not do it, will be when you're as far away from as possible from him.

"Sleep tight, Nick"

You turn around and make your way out of the tent. When one word stops you.

"Kim!"

You turn around and see Nick sitting upright and looking at you with eyes, begging.

"Yeah?"

"You going back to your tent? Shouldn't you be here, resting?"

"I don't need to be here, I can rest in my tent too"

"Oh, I see"

You smile and then turn around again.

"Kim!"

"Yeah?"

"Would you please stay here, tonight"

(Oh god!!)

Nick's asking you to stay with him tonight. You know he's merely asking you to stay by his side tonight but you don't know if you would be able to control yourself around him. Then, you remember how Helena left him when he needed her the most and how you swear you won't leave him if he would ever need you. You look deep into his eyes and it's clear that he's begging you to stay, for whatever reason. You know this isn't the cocky Nick you know.

NICK'S POINT OF VIEW

(What the fuck, Nick! What did you just ask her? What are you thinking?? She's got a boyfriend and you have a girlfriend!! Get a hold of yourself man!! You're a goddamn Seal!!)

He can't believe that he lost all control and just blabbered out something stupid like that. He's never been so out of control or such a fool with anyone.

"….I mean, to just make sure I'm okay?"

(Fuck! That's not making things better, Nick!!)

"…I mean-"

KIM'S POINT OF VIEW

You love the way that he's trying to explain why he needs you to stay. You love how he crumbles before you and that makes leaving him so much more difficult. You can't get yourself to leave the tent and your feet find their way back to his bed.

"I'll stay if you need me to stay Nick, anytime you want me to"

You see how he's demeanour changes to relief. He slowly lay back on his pillow and briefly closes his eyes. You take his blanket and pulls it up and over his chest. He takes hold of your hand and fire shoots through your entire being that resides in the core of your belly.

"Thank you, Kim. You don't know what this means to me"

You feel him caressing your hand with his thumb. You can't help but melt by the littlest touch from him. You feel so secure and safe just by being so close to him. Thoughts of you and him start to fill your mind. You want to pull him in and kiss him, tasting his lips but you won't, you can't.

"Get some sleep, Nick, please"

"Uhmm…"

You see him falling asleep peacefully. You walk back to your bed and try to fall asleep too but the thoughts of you and Nick keeps you wide awake. You know he's only a few feet from you and you can have your way with him right now but the voice of reason shouts loud and clear in your head. Then suddenly you understand what you should do.

You slowly get out of bed and check Nick's vitals one last time before you leave the tent. You stand at the opening of the tent and just turn to see if Nick is still sleeping. You can see his chest rising and falling and you know he's sleeping well. You smile and make your way out of the tent. You feel your heart racing with nervousness and excitement.

You finally arrive at the tent that you wanted to go into.

"Admiral, sir?"

He walks to the door of his tent and then sees it's you and he smiles, showing you with his hand to come in. You walk in and you feel like a little girl going to the principal's office.

"Come in, come in"

"Thank you, sir. I'm so very sorry to disturb you at this hour"

"As you can see, I'm not close to sleeping, so you're not disturbing me at all. What can I help you with, Dr McPherson?"

"Sir, thank you. I was just wondering if that offer still stands?"

"Are you talking about what I can do for you, for saving Nick's life? That offer?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Of course it still stands, what can I help you with?"

"Can I call home?"