Kye exhaled slowly, his eyes remaining on his phone long after the call screen disappeared. God, how he wanted to get on a plane.

Shae was right... that was absurd, and while he didn't know exactly how badly he'd be reprimanded for it, he knew it wouldn't be pretty and the possibility of a dishonorable discharge was certainly there. As much as he loved his job and knew it was what he was supposed to be doing, he'd never have the luxury of just calling out of a shift or two and going where he wanted to go. He had leave when he had leave, and apart from it, seeing as he was in Georgia and she was in California, all he had was his phone.

He'd stepped outside hours before, as soon as he figured out this was not just going to be a movie call. He had his own bedroom so that hadn't been a problem with his roommates, but he'd wanted to give Shae more privacy than them hearing what he was saying to her in a more personal conversation would afford. And anyway, he always paced when he was anxious. He'd never gone back inside in the time which had stretched between then and the conversation he'd just finished. He'd needed to pace, and then pacing had turned to crying on his knees as he prayed, and then he just hadn't moved... until she'd called again and he'd gotten up to pace once more.

Now, he looked up at the sound of approaching footsteps. At the sight of his platoon leader, he shoved his phone into his pocket and snapped to attention, his right hand coming up to salute.

"Good evening, Sir."

The Lieutenant, Warrent, was a handsome man in his thirties, and he was a one of Kye's favorite officers he'd ever had. He was by nature kind, reasonable, and personal, and only became otherwise when given good reason, which Kye personally never had, though the platoon as a whole couldn't say the same and that meant everyone got it sometimes.

He returned the salute. "Good evening, Private." Then, he waved his hand in a more casual gesture, dismissing him from formality.

"You're out late tonight, Furllen."

"Yes, Sir."

"Suppose I am to," he conceded with a hint of a rueful smile. "But I was in meetings all day and had to catch up on paperwork afterwards." He grimaced a little. "What's your excuse?"

Kye hesitated a moment, unsure how to explain in simple terms. "I, uh... I had to take a phone call."

"Everything okay?"

"Yes, Sir." He paused a moment before adding, "For the moment."

"I guess that's why Halent said you were on your knees over here earlier?"

Kye's eyes dropped for a moment before he forced them to meet his commander's once more. "Yes, Sir. I apologize if I made a scene."

Warrent waved the words away. "Private, there are men in this world that will demand you apologize for talking to God. I am not one of those men. I'm glad you know where to take your burdens."

"Yes, Sir."

"I overheard the boys teasing you about a girl you'd been on the phone with," the older man said after a moment. "Was this call from her?"

"Yes, Sir."

"The boys made me curious," Warrent told him with a slight smile. "Tell me about this girl."

"Well..." He hesitated. "Did you ever meet Sergeant Michael Lawson?"

A tinge of sadness entered the Lieutenant's gaze. "I did. He was a good man."

"Yes, Sir, he was." The younger man struggled to swallow down the lump that had formed in his throat as he continued. "The girl is his daughter. He was stationed at the base where I did basic and career. I, uh... never really got along with my parents, and I was only seventeen when I enlisted, so he kinda... took me under his wing, I guess. Took me home with him most weekends, so I got to know his daughter, and we became a sort of best friends and stayed that way."

"Best friends, is it? Anything more?"

"No, Sir. She's seventeen."

Warrent nodded slowly. "Glad to hear you're a man with class. But what about when she turns eighteen? Do you love her for something more? You can be honest."

Kye opened his mouth, but for a long moment nothing came out. A lie would be easiest, but that was hard to pit against the sincerity in his commander's eyes. "Well, yes Sir," he admitted at last. "I think I do. But I only want to be with her if that's the best thing for her."

"You're a good man, Furllen," his commander said with a small smile. "I can tell you genuinely care about this girl. Poor kid, though... her dad talked so much about her. They were obviously very close. She just live with her momma now?"

"She did," Kye replied gravely. "until her momma was killed in a car accident almost a year ago."

Compassion washed over the Lieutenant's face. "Poor kid," he repeated softly. "So who does she live with?"

"Well, Sir," Kye replied hesitantly. "That's a big part of the problem. She's between homes right now."

"Any idea where she's headed?"

The younger man bit the inside of his cheek as he considered his response.

"She's, uh... she's got a few options," he said at last. "Personal offers, or a group home. She's so freaked out about being a burden to anyone that she's just about decided on the group home, but I... I don't like the idea."

"Any particular reason, other than that a more personal environment is almost always better?"

"Well, she's... she's been through a lot, even more than losing both parents, since her mom died. And tonight..." He hesitated, swallowing hard. "I called her around nine, and she was in a pretty rough place, with the homes and mentally. Said some stuff she wouldn't have normally said. I mean, she meant them, she just usually wouldn't have admitted it. Told me she... and everyone else... would be better off if she was dead. Course, she tried to convince me she was just being emotional and whatever when we just talked again, but I... I know at least a part of her meant it. I'd just prefer she was with someone who could keep her safe better than a group home could."

Warrant nodded slowly, serious sadness in his eyes. "She in a safe place tonight?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Good." He was quiet, thinking, for a long moment before he spoke again. "All I can tell you is to keep doing what you're doing, alright? Keep praying, keep talking to her when you can. And don't be afraid to pass on what she said, even if she asks you not to. I know it's a tough position, but her safety's the priority, right?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Alright. Good." Warrant offered him a half hearted smile. "What's her name?"

"Shae."

"I'll be praying for her too."

"Thank you, Sir." He hesitated a second before adding, "And thank you for listening. Helped a lot."

"Anytime." The older man clapped a hand onto his shoulder. "Get some sleep, alright? Staying up won't help her and it'll only hurt you."

"Yes, Sir."

With one more nod of satisfaction, his commander released him. "Goodnight, Private."

"Goodnight, Sir."

He turned back towards the building behind him as Warrant walked off towards his own living quarters. While worry and helplessness were still aching at the back of his mind, the conversation had helped to ease them from the throbbing presence which had consumed his consciousness. She was safe tonight, and he'd talk to her again tomorrow. He'd keep praying, but that was all he could do for her now. The decision was in her hands, and he had to trust her to make the right one.