It's more than he deserves and he knows it. Far more.
And yet he's not strong enough to refuse any of it. Maybe a few years ago he would have still been closed off enough, his walls still sturdy enough to walk away -- Carter would have been able to attest to that -- but no longer. While maybe he doesn't deserve any of what Karen is offering him, it's just as true she doesn't deserve his inability to deal with an emotional connection. Out of respect for what Finch has done with him, he has to be smart enough not to go drown himself in a bottle, but out of respect for Karen, he has to be a better man than he's been in the past.
"Well, it's certainly what Harold wanted," he says with a soft laugh, reaching up to stroke his fingers through her hair. He tugs gently on the ends, enjoying how soft the strands feel against his fingers and then he tips his head forward slightly, pressing his mouth to hers. It's a soft kiss, not with the usual heat he feels for her, but it's no less meaningful.
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And yet he's not strong enough to refuse any of it. Maybe a few years ago he would have still been closed off enough, his walls still sturdy enough to walk away -- Carter would have been able to attest to that -- but no longer. While maybe he doesn't deserve any of what Karen is offering him, it's just as true she doesn't deserve his inability to deal with an emotional connection. Out of respect for what Finch has done with him, he has to be smart enough not to go drown himself in a bottle, but out of respect for Karen, he has to be a better man than he's been in the past.
"Well, it's certainly what Harold wanted," he says with a soft laugh, reaching up to stroke his fingers through her hair. He tugs gently on the ends, enjoying how soft the strands feel against his fingers and then he tips his head forward slightly, pressing his mouth to hers. It's a soft kiss, not with the usual heat he feels for her, but it's no less meaningful.