Re: Sam/Jenna
"I know, baby, and it's okay. You don't have to try so hard." He backed away enough that he could look at her, but always keeping his arms around her. "What you should and shouldn't do doesn't work after spending months on the front lines. It's just not the way we operate. You spend months being on high alert, with the other Marines as your companions that the life there becomes normal." He caressed her cheek. "You don't have to feel guilty for wanting to leave. Maybe Sean doesn't get it, but I do. I understand, and I can explain it to him, that desire to be there. I can at least do that for you."
Sam sighed. "It's a lot more complicated than that, Jenna. I wanted to be a SEAL, and with my five year commitment and the extra two tacked on because of the SEAL training, I had no choice for seven years, and we were out on the field whenever they needed us. We had to be ready to leave at any time. By the time the seven years were up, me and your mom had split up, you kids were in school, and the SEALs were my only stable home. Even after joining NCIS, I've had mission sending me in those parts of the world." He smiled. "And now that I'm here, I miss people shooting at me, because that's my normal, that's when I know what I'm doing. It's strange, weird, and most people don't understand, but it's normal for us, and wanting to go back is normal for you."