The hum of the engines were deafening. Each and every noise seemed new to Isaac. He stood in his skivvies in front of a bathroom mirror. His body was still strong but there was a noticeable difference in his face and chest. He had lost a lot of weight. He tried to keep in the best shape he could but with the lack of rations had left him feeling weak and tired most days. And he didn't need to be wasting precious energy on working out while he was trying to get his ass saved. He turned with disgust, pulling on a grey set of sweats, it was all they had given to him once he had arrived. Though the private cabin was appreciated instead of shared quarters with other marines. The lights were dim to keep the headaches away. It had been quite some time since he had spent some time under LEDs.

"Petty Officer First Class, you are wanted on the Med bay immediately for an evaluation." Roland, the ships AI paged over his private COM channel. He turned and stared at the speaker. He got up without a word, silently angry at the humiliation that this was causing him. A super soldier getting a psyche evaluation. They probably thought he was going to snap. How pathetic. He turned and headed out of the private quarters. It was a lively hour for sure. Officers littered the hallways as he passed, their loud conversations suddenly becoming hushed tones. He grit his teeth before he was met by two MPs by the elevators.

"Sir, we will be escorting you to the Medbay."

Insulting, he thought to himself. He allowed it though as he stepped into the elevator. The ride was quite but the noticeable shifting of the men had him on edge. They were nervous which had caught Isaacs attention. Nervous for what? Him? They must have been debriefed on the situation. ONI sometimes made things worst for Spartans. They weren't prepared to find him. Nor were they prepared to handle him. Once he was in the medbay, he was met with nothing but a screen. He was told to take a seat and nothing further. He obliged, sitting for ally as he waited. It didn't take long before a screen flickered to life. A female sitting across from him, datapad in hand as she stared at him. "Good morning sierra-039. " the voice sent a chill through him like a lightening bolt.

"Dr. Halsey... I did not expect you.." he muttered softly, looking her over. She was frail looking though that stoic look always set on her face.

"Nor I you." A smile curved her chapped lips as she adjusted herself, flipping through her monitor. "How have you been?" A laughable question really. She always had such polite mannerisms. Isaac drew his brows together.

"Is this a rhetorical question, ma'am?" He asked curiously. Surely she could not be serious? Another smile curved her lips as she looked up from the bridge of her nose.

"Always so serious, aren't you?" She huffed and turned back to him. "I was trying to keep the mood light but if you insist; Tell me about your time on Reach, from the beginning." She said as she tapped a pen to her lips, ready to listen intently. Isaac began to skim his mind of all the memories...

"...It was dark... and hot when I woke up. Really hot. The cryo pod had failed and had released me out of fail safe. I remember looking for Vinh, she was crushed by debris. It looked old, her body was rotting but it was the only way we could survive the blast from those charges." He waved his hand and leaned forward as he rubbed his temples. Thinking about it his mind became blurry and the details were no longer coming to him. It was almost like he didn't want to remember. "I just remember looking for others. The COMs were down. It was nearly three days before I reached the surface."

"What did you see?" She sled, interested.

"Not much. Reach was honeycombed into the crust and fires were raging. I realized after a week or so that I was either the only one left or there were more just not in any surrounding areas." His eyes flickered at the details roaming through his psyche. "I remember about a month in the Covenant was in the ozone. No where around me. Mainly searching the wreckages. I could never get there in time to at least steal a ship.. after that they left. Skies quiet. I remember finding supplies deeper within CASTLE." He shrugged, looking towards her.

"How did you feel?" Dr. Halsey pried now. What did he feel? What a stupid question. He felt like he was back in training after losing one of Chief Mendez's training exercises.

"Annoyed. Resentful." He pandered, and then he was quiet. "Alone." Isaac spoke finally. That's what she was looking for and that was when Isaac realized that he shouldn't have said that. She jotted something down on her monitor before she swiped it away.

"All circumstantial, I assume?" Dr. Halsey questioned, lifting an eyebrow. It was like she was drilling him to say the wrong thing. Her Spartans were suppose to be the best. They didn't have thoughts on their feelings and they didn't crumble under pressure mentally.

"Yes ma'am." He answered in a quick manner. She brought up another screen, a wall in front of him, revealing an MRI with a few techs standing by.

"I will consider what we have talked about. For not I would like it if you would lay down so we can do a MRI on your head and go from there. Until then, you will be put on R&R. Enjoy your day, 039. And welcome back." Before he could ask any questions the screen went black and the transmission had disconnected. Isaac turned towards the MRI and grit his teeth.

This is unbelievable.

Once the lab had ran its tests, and given Isaac the physical he needed, he was released into the ship with limited access. He lumbered down the halls towards the indoor shooting range. He needed to get his mind from running off the rails somehow. He hadn't been able to freely shoot without consequence in a long time. He reached the range, doors sliding open in front of him, almost having to duck through the opening. Isaac was met by the Master Gunnery Sargent. His eyes scanned over his uniform. Stacker. Isaac saluted the officer.

"At ease, soldier." He spoke. The softened sound of gunshots behind the plexiglass surged through him, making him ease. Isaac dropped his salute as he proceeded forward. "What can I do for you?" Stacker's head tilted. He was an elder gentlemen with salt and pepper hair fading into a five o'clock shadow. His eyes seemed blood shot and milky from plasma scarring. He had seen it in the Spartans but this seemed to be almost permanent.

"Magnum. Four clips. Battle rifle, two clips." He demanded. His skin was crawling, finger tips tingling at the rumble in the metal floor from all the rounds being popped off. The gunny went to work as he handed him exactly what he asked for. The Spartan checked and inspected the weapons. Feeling the weight in his hands. His skin prickled with excitement. He nodded to the gunny before he took off to the range. Isaac needed some release.

John had been fixing himself at the range for nearly hours now. He had remade his bed twice this morning, sifted through FLEETCOM reports and upcoming missions. Secretly, his mind was askew. His mind replayed the scene of Isaac. His gaunt form, primal need just for food alone. That worried him. He had not heard any news from Lasky of his medical screenings. He could not think clearly. The fresh scar of Cortana slipping through his fingers on Requiem. Yet, the silence in his mind was welcomed. He was becoming indifferent to his situation. A shadow passed by him as he reloaded his DMR magazine, turning just to catch the tail end of the man that had passed him. Isaac. The Master Chief contemplated for a long moment. Letting the soldier relax and get a few shots in before he made his way over to him seemed like the best idea. In the mean time he cleaned his station, watching intently as Isaac shot at the targets he had picked with small bullseyes. It was clear to the Chief what he was doing. Trying to make sure he still had his touch. Who wouldn't though? With minimal ammo and such a long stretch with no action and nothing but survival instincts keeping you alive? A little shooting would be the first thing on the Chiefs list to 'relax'.

It wasn't long before the large Spartan made his way over, standing well behind him for safety as he leaned against the glass and watched. Either Isaac had acknowledged John was there, and didn't care. Or he felt lax enough to not care to watch his six.

"Is there something I can do for you, Master Chief?" A monotone voice came, replenishing his clip. The first option then, the Chief thought to himself.

"Checking up." The flat reply came. Isaac only grunted in response before he continued to unload the weapon with precision. Each bullseye cleared before the next target came and disappeared again. Another clip.

"Spoke with . She put me on recuperation." He all but snarled. No Spartan liked to hear that. It put a thorn in his side for sure. John processed this for a moment. It made sense though he could see where the irritation would come from.

"You should be at 100 percent before you retake the field. Sharpen yourself up."

Dead stop. Isaac's stance dropped. Rage seethed through him for a hot moment before it dulled. The Chief regretting his words immediately.

"For the record, sir, I will be just fine. " Charged words left his lips, turning to the Chief, "With all due respect: I need to be back on the field. I accomplish nothing being on recuperation. The war might be over but there was still missions to be run. Intel needing collecting. What do I accomplish here? Nothing!" Isaac snarled, pointing off into the distance to assert himself further. It wasn't often that a Spartan would become... so annoyed that they would raise their voice in such ways, especially to another brother. But Johns eyes only ignited with interest.

"I'm glad you still have that fire." He all but grinned. Flabbergasted, Isaac looked over the Chief. He wasn't going to expect that type of response to his outburst.

"When we found you back on Reach. I assumed you were going to be withdrawn... 'broken' as some Marines would say. " John explained. "I'm glad that Captain Lasky and his spooks were wrong about you. You'll be back in the field with me soon enough. " Isaac's heart nearly soared. A wild eyed look danced across his unusual brown hues. "Do what they ask of you, Petty Officer. That's all I ask of you. I could use some help out there." John took himself off the plexiglass as he clamped Isaac on the shoulder. "I'll be seeing you." And then he was gone, Isaac still standing there awestruck. It was nice to know that there was one person on this entire ship not thinking that there was something wrong with him. He thought perhaps someone would think that he wasn't going to be fit for duty. He still had no idea where the UNSC stood or how much he had to catch up on. But he knew that the Chief would never leave him in the dark.

Welcome back. I know I only posted the second chapter last night. It I had this rolling and didn't want to stop my idea train. This will more than likely be a long story. I don't like to rush a decent storyline I got going on in my head. Bless y'all for the follows and don't forget to let me know what you think via review or PM!