As the night waned towards morning, David held Megan in his arms, taking comfort in her warm presence, and trying to put any thoughts that this might be the last time he held her out of his mind.

"Do you really need to go?" said Megan.

David stroked her hair softly. "Yes. Somebody has to, and of all of us I have the best chance of facing down whatever it is down there and coming back. I can't send somebody else, knowing that I might be sending them to die where I could survive, Megan. I can't do that."

"Then maybe we shouldn't send anybody at all," she said.

David kissed the top of her head softly. "I know you're worried about me, but you know better than that. This is something we need to know about. Somebody has to go, and that somebody is me. And," he added, "Whatever Mack might say, I'm not being a martyr. I fully intend to come back safely. I won't take any risks I don't have to, I promise. You know I keep my promises."

Megan put her head against his chest, tucked under his chin, and pressed closer, clinging to him. "I know."