&fic;

 

Small Favors

by sugargroupie

PG, 302 words

Summary: She couldn't compete with a ghost, and Aeryn Sun wouldn't stop haunting him.

Disclaimer: Not mine; O'Bannon, Henson, Kemper, et. al.

Notes: Spoilers for Terra Firma, written for the farscapefriday Valentine challenge.

.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .

He was back from the dead and still out of her reach.

Caroline couldn't figure him out. Far away and yet so damn close from the moment she'd brushed her lips against his, and she'd needed to see if he were real; if he was the John she knew. Had known. She kept forgetting she didn't know him anymore.

He was a bonafied space cowboy now and he wore the fa?de well. Kept his face blank and answers short. Yeah, everything's fine. Nothing going's on with Aeryn... there's nothing there. Nothing.

Nothing-- her ass. Caroline wasn't stupid. She couldn't read what was behind his eyes but she knew something was there; got just a hint of what he kept from the surface every time they kissed, whenever she touched his face.

But she couldn't compete with a ghost, and Aeryn Sun wouldn't stop haunting him.

Their casual times were behind them now. She knew he was testing himself with her, finding his way back. His path led to outer space, living ships and a Sebacean woman he kept pushing away. John was stubborn to the core, at least that hadn't changed.

Caroline didn't know his reasons, and she supposed she didn't really need to know; not to steer Aeryn in the right direction. She'd never pictured herself giving love advice to an alien, but this was for John. Former lover but still her friend, and she wanted him to be happy.

She knew John would not have thanked her for what she'd done-- telling Aeryn what was so obvious to anyone who bothered to look-- and that was okay. Caroline wasn't sure she would've accepted his gratitude, and that was fine too. Theirs was a relationship where things were better left unsaid. Uncomplicated.

And she wouldn't have changed it for the world.

*

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