Disclaimer: I do not own G. I. Joe series, franchise, nor any of the characters. I also do not own the characters of Lt. Col. Jane Abernathy "Demon Rose" (or Emily Rose), Sgt. Jake Henderson "Pile-Driver", Corporal First Class Jana Ling "Amethyst", and Col. Roger Stevenson "Cap", Sarah "Listener" Rose Abernathy, Sakura Rose or Viper they belong to my co-writer Samantha Jane West-croft. The only characters I own are my Oc's Doctor Aaliyah Leslie Renee Satou, Nicholas Tylor Satou and their father Tatsuya Satou, Phoenix, and Logan.
Synapse: Aaliyah, having recently recovered from the loss of two of her brothers, is recruited as a new medical officer for the G.I. Joe Program. She accepts but things aren't the greatest when her old flame is rooting for the other side. Past MindBenderxOC, Current TunnelRatxOC Demon RoseAU
Chapter 8
Tunnel Rat walked towards the medical wing, knowing that Aaliyah was probably there. Instead he found himself running into her again, but this time he wrapped his arms around her and allowed himself to cushion her fall. "Are you ok? You've been crying." He said looking at her. His hands rested on either hip and he tried to smile. But those sad silvery blue eyes looked at him in shock. "Aaliyah, what's wrong?"
He knew that it might be embarrassing, the position they were in, in the hallway. But at that point he didn't care. The woman was hurting emotionally and it was too easy to tell.
Aaliyah looked at him in shock. She wasn't really sure what to say. "I..." She was trying to stop herself from bursting into tears. "I'm sorry I ran into you I need to pay more attention to what I'm doing."
Tunnel Rat sat up. Now she was sitting in his lap. He brushed a hand against her face. "Aaliyah, it's fine." He said in a whisper before quickly standing up, pulling her with him.
Ripcord walked by, making cooing sounds like a bird or some such thing. He even said: "Looks like the Rat's found a victim" before noticing that the woman had tear stained cheeks.
Tunnel Rat scowled at the man but walked Aaliyah to her quarters, opening then closing the door behind them. "Aaliyah, tell me, what's wrong?" He didn't want to pry, but he had a feeling the woman needed to tell someone the heavy burden she was carrying. "Is it about your brothers again?"
Taken aback that he had remembered the story, Aaliyah shook her head. Choking on a sudden sob she whispered: "No it isn't about them. My Lǎoshī is very sick and I can do nothing to help him." Tears began to fall from her eyes.
Instantly Tunnel Rat reached forward and cupped her face with both hands. He didn't really know what he was doing, but he hoped the action would comfort her in some way. But as he stood there she was instantly against his chest. They stood like that for a while; he let her sob against his chest until she stopped finally. When she looked up at him he brushed a straggling tear away with his thumb. "Better, even just a little bit?"
"Yes a little thank you." Though it hurt she smiled. "You know you're the only other person who has ever let me cry on their shoulder since my brothers. Thank you."
Tunnel Rat blushed a little then rubbed the back of his head. "It's nothing, really it isn't." He rubbed the last of the tears away then smiled again. "I'll go watch over him for a while if it makes you feel better."
"Thank you it is very sweet of you to offer." Without a second thought she hugged him again. "But you don't have too."
Tunnel Rat was stunned at first by this hug. Gently he wrapped his arms around her, returning the hug. "I think it would ease your mind that much more."
"Thank you but he'll probably just try to shoo you away." A slight laugh escaped her "He is a bit stubborn sometimes."
Tunnel Rat chuckled then walked towards the door. "I'll see you in the morning Aaliyah, get some sleep."
Making his way to the medical wing, Tunnel Rat noticed that the music was still playing from a radio. Finally get into the room where they kept Aaliyah's most recent patient, Tunnel Rat turned the radio down and sat in a chair near the bed. What am I doing here? Normally I wouldn't offer to do something like this for anyone! He thought before looking on the silent sleeping face of the Chinese man. But she's not just anyone; she's the new kid on the block who just lost everyone she ever cared about. And now she's loosing someone else dear to her, her teacher.
Aaliyah lay on her bed tossing and turning in restless sleep. Her dreams kept waking her. No matter what she tried she could not find a peaceful sleep.
Waking the next morning in the same chair he had been sitting in, Tunnel Rat saw the elderly gentleman smiling at him. "Uh...Hello?" Tunnel Rat said while popping his neck.
"So, what exactly are you doing here young man?" Tǎiyǎng asked.
"I uh...Aaliyah needed to sleep and I thought that I uh...I thought if I stayed and watched you it might give her peace of mind?"
Tǎiyǎng chuckled and smiled at Tunnel Rat. "You seem nice enough." He glanced at the door as Aaliyah walked in. "Aaliyah, you have a good boy here."
Aaliyah's eyes widened as she turned bright pink "Lǎoshī we're not…I'm not…!" She was far too embarrassed to finish her sentence.
Tǎiyǎng narrowed his eyes in confusion then widened in surprise. "That's not what I meant!" He shouted while struggling to sit up. "I thought he was one of your nurses!"
Tunnel Rat was just as embarrassed as Aaliyah, but more so when the elderly man thought he was a nurse. "I'm not a nurse, just a good friend of hers."
Aaliyah laughed as she helped Tǎiyǎng to sit up "You thought he was one of the nurses? No…no he is my friend. He is a Field Medic though." She said trying to contain her laughter.
Tǎiyǎng arched an eyebrow then shrugged. "Actions can be so misleading."
Tunnel Rat walked towards the exit.
Aaliyah shakes her head "Are you hungry Tǎiyǎng?" Man calling him that just sounded so strange to her. I think I'll just stick to calling him Lǎoshī.
Tǎiyǎng raised an eyebrow at her. It's strange hearing her say that to me and I'm not dying. "Kind of...a bowl of soup would be nice."
"Okay, I'll be back." Aaliyah left the room and walked to the mess hall. She got in the line to get the food. She got a bowl of soup for Tǎiyǎng and a bowl of cereal for herself. Then she turned to leave.
