Chapter 7:

Alethea practically ran through the halls, all the way back to the barracks; upon entering the large room which she had to herself for the moment, she started frantically pacing across the floor as her breaths were coming in short, quick gasps. She raised a hand up to cover her forehead and closed her eyes for a second to try and clam herself but that did little good.

"Oh my go…..he's here….." she whispered out loud. Alethea brought her pacing to a stop before she lowered her hand from her face and wrapped her arms around herself for comfort. Alethea forced herself to take in a few deep breaths. When she finally managed to slow her heat rate down, Alethea slowly walked over and took a seat on the large sofa. Alethea hunched over and propped both her elbows up on her knees so that she could hold her head in her hands. She stayed like that for a few more silent moments before the sound of an opening door reached her ears and caused her to look up. Alethea expected it to be either Sash or maybe even Scarlet to walk through the door but instead her eyes landed on the tall, well built black ninja standing in the doorway. Slowly, Alethea rose to her feet. Her blue eyes blinked a couple times as they silently searched the hidden face of Snake Eyes before she took in a soft shaky breath and spoke.

"Hello Sna…."her voice trailed off, not being able to finish her sentence. The idea that he was here, in the same room with her, made it so it felt like her throat was slowly closing up. Alethea swallowed silently and decided it would be best if he made the move. Snake Eyes took one step towards her, followed by another. Alethea found herself moving towards him too. The two stopped when they stood toe to toe. Her head had to tilt back slightly so she could look up into his masked face; this was certainly not the same little boy she knew almost ten years ago, this Snake Eyes was a man. He now stood at least at least a foot in a half taller than herself and his well muscled form gave him a very broad and defined chest with even broader shoulders, making Alethea feel tiny compared to him. Keeping her eyes on his face, she searched long and hard for any sign of the Snake Eyes she knew. But with his mask and black visor, there was nothing. A single hand rose up from Alethea's side and reached up to touch Snake Eyes face but hesitated and lowered itself back down. Snake Eyes moved. He pulled out a small notepad that he carried on him and a pen before he flipped the book open and began to scribble something down. Alethea found herself taking a small step back in confusion. When Snake Eyes looked back up at her he turned his notepad toward her so that she could read the finely printed words on the piece of paper.

'Alethea,' it wrote 'It's me.'

Alethea quickly read the words before she looked back up into his hidden face. Her brows furrowed in deep thought then like before her hand came up and lightly touched the side of his face. Her blue eyes widened softly when she saw Snake Eyes covered mouth pull up at the corners, giving off a soft familiar smile. Alethea let out a soft sigh of both disbelief and of joy.

"It is you." She whispered; a tiny smile began to display itself on her face. Snake Eyes nodded his black head. As the two stared at each others faces, the hissing sound of a door was heard behind them and Sash entered the room halting her stride abruptly when she noticed the two united friends.

Sash cleared her throat apologetically. "Ahem, are you alright Alethea?" She asked, hoping that she hadn't interrupted anything too important.

Alethea felt her attention snap away from Snake Eyes' face and she looked over at Sash with a dazed and vacant expression. "Huh?" She managed to get out.

"Are you…."Sash started again only slower this time "Alright?"

"I….we were just….and I'm…"She stumbled out. She stopped herself to regain her composure. "I am fine, thank you Sash." She said, now calm and refocused.

Sash nodded, periodically glancing at the expressionless Snake Eyes. "Well, everyone was just a little confused…I thought it best to check." She said. "Anyways, Scarlet wanted me to remind you that we are to attend the next debriefing by General Hawk at about 19:30 hours….is that alright with you?" She asked.

Alethea nodded, barely refraining from glancing back at the silent Snake Eyes who still stood so closely in front of her. To have him so near, so suddenly, it almost made her worried that if she turned back around he would be gone again, as though she had only imagined him being there in the first place. "Yes, that's fine with me." She replied. All three stood around silently for a few moments, and Sash took the hint to take her leave.

"I'll just go and….tell her then." She said with downplayed casualness. Then, taking one more look at the two silent people before her, she stepped back out of the room, leaving them in peace.

Alethea smiled faintly as she watched the door close behind Sash before she turned her head back to Snake Eyes who was once more writing something down on his notepad. Alethea eyed it with curiosity. When Snake Eyes was finished, he turned the notepad towards her so she could see what he wrote.

'We have much to discuss.' he stated.

Alethea's blue eyes flickered up to stare into his hidden face before she softly nodded her head,

"Yes….yes we do." She agreed; her smile slowly faded from her face and Alethea lowered her gaze back down to the floor. Suddenly feeling very small under Snake Eyes' gaze, Alethea sifted slightly on her feet before confidently raising her head back up once more. "…..you had left." She reminded him solemnly. Snake Eyes glanced down for a second before he started writing again.

'I had to.' He replied.

"What happened?" Alethea asked, "...and why aren't you speaking?" she added.

'I took a vow of silence.' He answered, '…..after our Master's death.'

"Oh Snake…." Alethea whispered softly and sympathetically. Snake Eyes continued on writing,

'I joined the Joes when I was 18. That was when I left the Temple and came here.'

"And you've been here ever since." Alethea stated sadly. Snake Eyes could only nod his head. Before Alethea could control herself, she found her eyes watering with tears. Angry with herself, she turned away from Snake Eyes, and sniffed softly before she wrapped her own arms around herself for security. "Why didn't you write me?" She asked in a firm but calm voice. Behind her Snake Eyes moved, next thing she knew she felt one of his large hands place itself upon her shoulder in comfort. But that didn't seem enough for Alethea. She lightly shrugged away from his touch and turned about to face him. "I waited for you." She whispered, letting this time a single tear slide down her left cheek. "….I waited." She repeated passionately. Snake Eyes' head bowed slightly as if he could share the pain that Alethea was now feeling. With another quick sniff, Alethea shook her head and raised a hand to brush away that one tear before she straightened up and lifted her head softly, "Tell General Hawk to forgive me, but it appears that I won't be attending tonight's briefing after all." She informed before she swiftly moved around Snake Eyes' larger form and headed across the room to where her and Sash's bedroom would be. Right before she approached the door, she felt Snake Eyes grab her hand from behind. She stopped for only a quick moment before glancing sadly back over her shoulder at the black ninja,

"Let me go Snake Eyes." She practically pleaded with him, "…..you've already done it once before." She added painfully. Snake Eyes' grip tightened for a quick second before he released her hand. Alethea wasted no time in opening the door to her room before she quickly entered it and closed it on Snake Eyes. The last image of him that she saw was of him reaching a hand out for her before drawing it back altogether and standing silently right outside the door. Tears came flooding back to Alethea's eyes before she released a soft little sob and ran to the nearest bed on the right side of the room. She threw herself down on the fairly soft mattress and buried her head in the pillow. Her quiet sobs softly shook her shoulders before she curled up on the bed and cried herself to sleep.