A/N: So this is my attempt at continuing the story of the Half Life saga. People who have read my previous stories will know that I'm into psychology and relationships rather than the out and out action, however I will do my best to write a few sequences in which Gordon gets to pop a cap in the Combine's ass. Think of this as a potential Episode 3 storyline, only with a lot of the battles, puzzles, and bits where you have to jump from crate to crate at exactly the right angle to avoid being electrocuted taken out, cause I just don't have the talent to write them in an interesting way.

I have written a few stories leading up to this. The order in which they make most sense to read is: Unexpected, Arrival, Beneath the Surface, The Bends, Enough, Falling Into Place. Only The Bends and Falling Into Place are direct prequels though, the others are just character pieces so you wouldn't need to read them for it to make sense.

Just to let you know, I will shortly be going on placement, so updates will occasionally be sporadic.

Please R&R, all feedback is really appreciated and so helpful.

Suggested playlist while reading: Futureheads- This Is Not The World; Arcade Fire- Keep the Car Running; The Bronx- Oceans of Class; We Are Scientists- The Great Escape; Locussolus- Gunship; Vampire Weekend- Giving up the Gun; Belle and Sebastian- any song where a studious boy falls in love with an adventurous girl (ie most of their songs).


Gordon dozed, enjoying the sunlight streaming in through the window. He hadn't noticed Alyx leave, but the sound of her opening the door roused him and he sat up, pleasantly groggy. She crossed the room and dropped a small wrench and the electronic disruptor device she used on his desk. Noticing he was awake, she gave him a smile and crouched by his bedside.

"How're you doing, Gordon?"

It was a question he'd found it quite difficult to answer lately, but today the answer was clear to him. Still, the complicated kind of happiness he was feeling was too difficult to put into words, so he just smiled back and gave her a sleepy thumbs-up. Alyx rolled her eyes at him affectionately.

"I went down to the hangar while you were asleep, to check on the MI-8."

Gordon frowned. He'd worried that returning to the site of her father's death might have upset her, and he did think he saw a shadow pass across her face. But she remained as determinedly cheerful as ever. "Latke says it's been slightly damaged, but he thinks we'll be able to fix it ok. He just needs a few parts from this supply depot his kin came across a few miles away." She paused. "Fancy a road trip?"

He nodded, sat up and gazed around the room, orientating himself. He'd been sleeping a lot lately, even for him; partly as he recovered from his injuries but partly just because he liked to. His clothes were strewn on the floor, and there was a little light reading on the floor beside the bed, in the form of a summary of Dr Kleiner's work for the past 18 years. Alyx was smiling at him, but slightly expectantly, and he sensed she was eager to get going.

"Why don't I go and bring the car around while you get ready? I'll meet you at the front gate."

She left, and he sat up and put his feet on the ground.