Snake barely remembered what had happened. He still couldn't tell where he was, afraid to open his eyes. He remembered the crash, the burning in his eye and the ground careening toward the front of his glider. Who had found him? Was it friend or foe? Never a man to fear for long he opened his eyes, squinting against the bright light. Something wasn't quite right but he couldn't really place it as he scanned his surroundings. Slowly his eye adjusted to the light and the answer to his question came. He could only see one side of the room, the right side.

Snake's face crumpled in confusion leading to more pain. He groaned trying to ward it off and understand what was going on. His mind raced as he attempted to search for an answer.

Images hit him; the flash, a scream on the comm., snapping sounds followed by pain, a burning pain like none he had ever known. His eye widened as he mumbled "No". Internally or out loud he couldn't be sure if he had actually spoken.

Snake forced his hand to find his face. There he discovered a piece of leather over his left eye. His fingers could feel the chord like straps extending into his hair. Snake knew what it was and why he couldn't see the left side of the room. He had to explore underneath the patch. Snake had to know what happened, how bad it was. His fingers wearily found the edge of the stiff leather. Snake took a deep breath preparing for the worst. Lifting the patch he felt a burning, excruciating pain as the light filtered in. The scream that followed was so loud Snake could have easily imagined it coming from someone else. Snake had never screamed from pain, not like this scream.

Someone pulled his hand away and replaced the patch. The hands were rough and he heard them speak but the pain filled his ears muffling the words beyond recognition. For a long time Snake laid still clenching his jaw against the residual throbbing.

"Hey Snake, You ok man?"

This time the voice was unmistakable and friendly. There was a sigh of relief. "Taylor?" Snake felt the hand on his shoulder and turned his eye to see his second in command sitting at the bedside.