Chapter 3 - Return

Her logical-side, the side that screamed that his return was impossible was temporarily impaired by her emotions.

Indeed, Lara was raging with emotions.

Terry is alive….

It was like a flood of repressed memories had taken over her mind which raced between images of their happy times and then to the hurt and betrayal she felt when he was taken away.

She recalled their last adventure in Kenya. He had rescued her.

Then she shot him.

She had to.

Otherwise, Terry was going to destroy the world with Pandora's Box.

He was a dangerous man, yet Lara couldn't help but feel a sort of joy to see him.

It wasn't lost to her that those feelings probably wouldn't be returned. She had shot him.

'Terry. Thank goodness, you're alive…'

Propelled by guilt, happiness, relief… she wasn't sure, Lara jumped onto her motorbike. Gunning her engines, she raced towards the Royal Air Force station where Terry had been flown to.


Upon her arrival at the air force station, Lara was greeted by three men in dark, generic suits. She should have known.

"I see Her Majesty is interested in a dead man," Lara said. As they were trained, the MI6 agents did not react. One of them, the oldest looking one, stepped forward. From his coat pocket he took out a badge and flashed his credentials.

"Lady Croft, I'm Special Agent Smith and these are my associates. Yes, you mention 'dead man.' See, we are bit confused about the debriefing you gave us – you said that Terry Sheridan had been killed."

"Yes, he was shot in the Cradle of Life," Lara responded. She had never revealed that it was she who actually shot him. For the sake of his memory she felt it right to not reveal the last moments of Terry's greed to the government agency. After all, it didn't matter whether he tried to take the box or not, he was dead either way.

"Right, yet clearly you were mistaken by his condition."

"Hmm, and the next time you're in a cave next to a horrendous weapon that has the power to wipe out every living creature on the planet, you tell me how discerning you would be. He was shot. That's what I saw."

The agents exchanged looks again. Lara felt her anger rising.

"If you mean to keep him here as a government secret –"

"Wait, Lady Croft. You have it all wrong," the agent quickly interrupted. "We have no desire to contain Terry Sheridan. As far as we're concerned he has honored his part of the bargain and we're going to keep our original terms: an acquittal of his charges and a fresh start."

For once Lara was surprised by news from the British intelligence agency. When Terry had agreed to help Lara find the orb map that would lead to Pandora's Box they had offered to set him free and a new identity if he complied and was successful. He was successful, but they all thought he had died in the field.

"You mean that he is free?" Lara questioned.

"Yes. The British government made a deal. And we're going to honor it… Though, we're not sure how useful that will be… Unfortunately, the poor chap is unconscious, and seems to have been for quite some time…"

Lara closed her eyes. The implications of Terry's condition were sinking in.

"We can keep him on life support," the agent continued "But there's no knowing for how long." Lara shook her head then looked Agent Smith straight in the eye.

"I'd like for Terry to be taken to my estate. I'll look after him."

"But Lady Croft you do realize what that requires –"

"I said that I'll look after him," Lara said sharply. The agent nodded.

"Then, I think that can be arranged." Lara was only half listening. She was looking past the agents. Smith understood.

"He's down the hall, third door to the right."

The agents watched as Lara walked solemnly and briskly towards the room.

"They say the two have a 'history' together," one of the agents said as soon as Lara was out of earshot.

"Must of ended when that no-good, son-of-a-bitch traitor was hauled to that Siberian klinker," the other agent said. "Hell, I thought the bastard got what he deserved."

"Enough," Agent Smith interrupted. "Terry Sheridan was a good Marine. One of the best… And as far as the British government is concerned, he helped save the world from one of the deadliest weapons of mass destruction." The agent paused before looking at his associates. "And now it's likely that he'll be a vegetable for the rest of his life."

"Show him some respect. Show them both some respect."


The first time Lara had seen Terry Sheridan there was a mischievous smirk across his face. She was irritated, but couldn't deny his charm and presence. No matter where he was or what mood he was in, she could always feel his presence. Terry was always full of energy. Now he laid still on a hospital bed, eyes closed and breath slow. His hair had grown longer and it looked as if doctors had hastily given him a shave. She had always liked his five o'clock shadow.

Standing at the foot of his bed, Lara looked down at his expressionless face and remembered how his steel-colored eyes had looked into hers when he first approached her. Before she could say anything he had picked up her right hand and brought it to his lips. She was amazed and annoyed at how swift he was. She remembered looking surprised at her hand enclosed in his and then looking back up to see a twinkle in his eyes and that same smirk she had seen earlier. He always left a strong impression.

Lara grabbed his right hand, looking sadly on at her friend.

"I thought you were dead…. But I wonder if this is worse," she whispered.

Of course, he didn't respond. He rested in a quiet state that was opposite the man of action that she was used to. She thought it so unfair for a man of his ability to be in this state. She squeezed his hand tighter.

For once, in a long time, a figure had come behind Lara without her being aware.

The tomb raider twirled around seconds before the hand touched her shoulder.

She looked up in surprise.

"Kosa, I didn't know you had come," Lara exclaimed.

The tall, African man stepped out of the shadows. He gave Lara a hug. She looked like she needed one. Lara stepped back and shook her head with a questioning look on her face.

"I'll tell you everything," the Masai warrior said.