A/N: OMG, it's been like, forever since I updated this story. I'm so damned bad. To be honest, I wasn't sure where to take it now, seeing as to how I lost all the notes on the story. So I'm sort of making it up as I go along now. Bear with me... Oh yes, adult content. You've been warned.

Chapter 11

Connie's Losses

Connie awoke to the murmuring of multiple voices outside her door. She could not discern what they way saying, but they sounded urgent and hushed. She allowed herself a few brief moments to take inventory of what she had available to her, in case she had to fight to protect herself. Her mind berated her for her foolishness, knew that if it came to that, she was doomed before she could even begin. With the bandages around her eyes, she was blind, she was weakened and she was still drowsy from the cocktail of drugs still in circulation in her blood.

The voices ceased suddenly, and a moment later, Connie heard her door open. She heard the multiple footsteps of military boots and thousand dollar Gucci shoes on the vinyl floor, surrounding her bed. She guessed that there were at least six people.

"Good evening Miss O'Nealle." The voice was a deep and slow drawl, soothing to the ear. Connie couldn't help but appreciate the intelligence of making that man their speaker. Connie chose to say nothing, and continued to feign sleep, with her head lolled to the side.

"There's no need to pretend your asleep Miss, we have no intention of harming you." That voice belonged to a woman, sophisticated in her speech, and obviously of some importance. Connie could imagine seeing her with her hair tied back in a curled bun, reading glasses, a neat suit and a clipboard in her arms. Connie sighed to herself, knowing her cover was blown, and she forced herself to sit up against her pillows. She still refused to speak.

"Thank you Miss O'Nealle." The soothing voice of the male again. She imagined him to be an older man, in his mid-fifties, with chocolate skin and graying hair.

"Call me Connie." She said quietly, more habit than anything else.

"Of course, Connie." The man said, with a smile in his voice. "First off, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to what occurred. It was never an intention for you to be involved. The man in charge of the operation thought it prudent however, that we..."

"Save it." Connie said tersely. She felt a tiny pang of guilt. It was not in Connie's nature to be rude or cruel, but she found herself making an exception to these people.

"As you wish Connie." The man's voice seemed to sparkle with amusement.

"Just tell me what you want." Connie said, not bothering to hide her anger and resentment.

"We only wanted to offer you our apologies. We know how much you lost in Cells attack. We know how much, everyone lost. We don't think it was your fault that Cell destroyed the city. He was just being... well... Cell." Connie felt her rage beginning to burn inside her again.

"Shut up! What do you know?! Cell isn't the mean mechanical monster you make him out to be." Her sudden outburst was met with a light chuckle from the mans throat.

"Of course not. The fact that he destroyed over two hundred, thousand lives, is inconsequential. After all, hes a nice guy." Connie snarled in the direction of the man.

"He was provoked." She knew her voice sounded feeble, and worse yet, she could feel the doubt creeping into her mind.

"Ah yes. Because we were threatening to hurt him, with guns pointed at him, demanding he blow up the city surrounds." The words were delivered lightly, but it stung like a slap to the face.

"Miss O'Nealle, we don't blame you." The woman's voice again. "But it's prudent that you help us. We can't let Cell simply live out his life. He is simply too much of a liability. Any man who has the power to wipe out whole cities, when he gets a little angry, is far too much of a risk. Next time it could be millions."

"Of course, we would be happy to help you in return. Even now, we are trying to rebuild the damaged city, although it would never be the same. A new cafe, better than the last one, a new home in a new city. A chance to start over. Thats what we are willing to give to you." The man added.

"What do you want me to do? What do you think I can do?! Cell can't be killed. And I wouldn't, even if it was possible." Connie felt her anger and hurt surfacing. She knew what the people were trying to do. Cellwas a threat to the human race. He was a threat no matter where he went. But it wasn't his fault... It was all Doctor Gero's fault... Wasn't it? Connie suddenly wasn't so sure.

"We acknowledge his superior design. He is the ultimate weapon. We tried to capture him, to utilize him, but we know that we can not have him, if he will not come willingly." Connie's mind suddenly clicked. She began to understand now.

"But he listens to you, Connie." The man touched her knee on top of the blanket in a gesture of assurance. "He is an uncontrolled menace at the moment. He needs direction. You need to convince him to let us help him. We have facilities that can house him, offer him everything he will need or want. He will be free from prejudice and insult. He can become our protector, save us from any aliens that may wish us ill, again. He will become a hero."

"I don't think he'd agree with that." Connie said quietly. Her mind was already feebly trying to imagine Cell saving the Earth from a giant meteorite or alien invasion. She found it fake and unlikely.

"Try to convince him though. Make him realize that we mean him no harm. We are only trying to protect our planet."

"And if he doesn't agree?" Connie's voice was dark but stern. The man chuckled.

"If he doesn't not agree to stay with us, as a benign protector, then make him leave. If he does neither, then we will rally all the fire power we have to destroy him. We will hound him and hunt him. I doubt we will succeed without heavy losses, but we can not merely roll over and let him terrorize us as he sees fit." Connie knew that what the man said made sense, and she forced herself to nod once, curtly. She found the motion incredibly hard.

"Thank You, Miss O'Nealle." Said the woman. Connie heard the people leaving, but the man's hand was still on her leg.

"You seem like a good girl Connie. I can see why Cell has taken such a liking to you. I trust you'll do what you see is best." Connie didn't respond, simply looked down, at where she thought her hands were, laying limp in her lap. She felt the man withdraw his hand, and heard his slow footsteps leave, and the door close.

Connie's mind wandered through the information that had been given to her. She felt dirty and miserable. What they had done, was truly dumped the weight of the world's fate on her shoulders. She longed to go back to her cafe and her apartment, crawl into a ball and cry herself to sleep. She felt the burning sensation in her tear ducts as she cried, motionless, the bandages sucking up all the moisture before the tears could fall.

"My cafe is gone... My friends are gone... My home is gone... My eye is gone... All I have left is Cell... But I can't have him. Everything has become so... so complicated." She said to herself quietly. "What happened to the times when everything was simple and life was pleasant and there were no nasty surprises hiding around the corners." She pulled her knees up to her chest and buried her face, letting all her welled up emotions out. It caused pain from her swollen empty eye socket, adding to her miserably feeling.

It felt like years until she finally stopped, although it could have been only minutes. She had a headache now, and she felt the deep ache in her face from her injury. She lifted her head and swung her legs over the bed. She felt the needle in her wrist, and she made to pull it from herself, when two warm hands took her wrists. She froze until she caught his scent, rich in her nostrils, and she relaxed. Slowly his hands removed the needle and tube, causing only a mild sting of pain in response. She stood up, feeling weak on her legs, and took a few steps forward.

"How long have you been in here?"

"Long enough." She knew that he meant that he had watched her cry, and had let her get it out of her system. She nodded slowly in the direction of his voice. She felt numbed.

"Are you alright?" She asked, more to break the awkward tension.

"No." She hadn't been expecting the answer and she felt her mouth open in a small 'o' shape.

"I heard what those Military Servants said, what they wished to offer me." Connie frowned slightly, mentally picturing Cell hovering outside the window, listening in.

"Are you going to take their offer?"

"Do you think I should?" His voice was unsure, not as self-confident as normal. She knew then, that he was conflicted. He had actually been considering staying, despite the fact it was against everything he once was. She considered her words carefully.

"It would mean that we could be together. No other option gives us that." Cell snorted.

"That doesn't answer the question."

"No." She said it suddenly, but knew it was true. "If you stay Cell, I don't think you could ever be happy. You would become bored, angry and eventually, destructive. You aren't the settling type." She felt her tears welling in her eyes again, felt the burning sensation.

"I think you are right." He spoke quietly, but whole-heartedly. He suddenly closed the distance between them, and took Connie into a tight embrace, kissing her forehead.

"I know that you have to leave. You have to go and discover who you really are, if you are to ever find your own inner peace and happiness. But I don't want you to go. I... I have this feeling that I'll never see you again." Cell chose not to reply, simply held her, fighting internally, the usual war he had within himself. Tyrant Cell, the old android he had once been, fighting the New Cell, the man he had become.

They're moments respite was suddenly interrupted as the door opened, and the doctor walked in, staring down at his clipboard. Finally he looked up, saw Cell glaring at him, and froze dead in his tracks.

"What?" Cell said sharply, still holding Connie against him.

"...I... Er... Check... Bandages... time to... Er!" Cell finally let Connie go, and she sat down on the bed. Cell walked to the other side of the room, his eyes never leaving the doctors.

"Well, get to work." Cell said pointedly. The doctor moved to Connie, his hands shaking as he unwrapped the bandages. As each layer was removed, the room became a little lighter and brighter. Finally as the last bandage was removed, Connie could see. She blinked rapidly, trying to get her eyes to focus. She saw the old doctor, eyes wide and skittish as he slowly removed the additional thick bandage that had been taped across her empty socket. Connie felt the stabs of pain, but she bore it well, instead turning her focus to Cell who smirked back at her, his eyes folded across his chest. He wore his full amour, which still bore the dried blood and grime from the facility.

Twenty minutes passed, the doctor jumping at every tiny sound, before finally he deemed her fit enough to leave. He re-wrapped her head. But left her remaining eye uncovered so she could see. She found the world seemed much flatter with only one eye, as she had lost her perspective. The doctor left, paying no bother with the pleasantries, leaving Cell and Connie alone again.

"You could use a bath." She pointed out. Cell's face seemed to beam at her jibe.

"Well you don't exactly smell like a bunch of roses either." He retorted. She laughed at him, feeling considerably more at ease now she could see. "Come on then." He closed the distance between them, scooping her into his arms. She barely had time to protest loudly before the hospital was a rapidly decreasing blur on the ground behind and below.

Connie enjoyed the sensation of flying immensely, loving the cool air against her skin and through her hair. But she quickly became cold, and turned her face to Cell's chest to avoid the harsh chill. Cell only snickered, and began to descend.

Cell landed smoothly and flawlessly on a grassy bank of a slow and wide river. He placed Connie on the ground, letting her explore. They were out beyond the rural areas of the city, and were in what appeared to be a wild nature reserve. The trees were huge and thick, the brush underneath thriving so close to the water. Connie smiled, noting the wild strawberries that grew like mad around the grassy clearings. She plucked one and popped it in her mouth, relishing the sweet juices.

"Mm, Delicious." She plucked another handful, heading back to Cell, offering him some. He popped one in his mouth, savoring the flavor.

"So when are you going to leave?" Connie asked the question, as if it was a normal conversation.

"Soon... I think after I know that you will be alright without me." His voice had lost some of the smug luster it normally had.

"Oh." An awkward silence befell them, so Connie turned her gaze to the river's water, popping another strawberry in her mouth.

"We shouldn't dwell on unpleasant subjects." Cell said slowly. Connie turned back to him, saw the conflict behind his eyes again, felt a deep pang of pain and guilt.

Suddenly Cell's conflict vanished from his face, as if it never had been. He smirked playfully at her, before flexing his body, his face contorting into concentration. Connie watched, partially horrified, partially awed, and mostly disturbed as Cell's green speckled amour was re-absorbed back into his skin, leaving Cell standing naked before her. He gave her a casual smirk, before he dove into the water. Connie watched him resurface a moment later, flicking his wet hair back against his skull.

"How is it?" Connie asked, watching as Cell stretched out on the water's surface.

"Relaxing." Cell replied. Connie grinned, and stripped off her flimsy hospital gown, discarding it on the grass, and she dove into the water, after Cell. The water was only about neck high, and she was able to kick off the river bed, back towards the air.

She resurfaced, gasping with the shock to her pores. She was still chilled from their flight, and although the water wasn't freezing, it wasn't warm either. Cell laughed at her, jauntily. Connie growled and used her arm to sweep a wave of water at him. He laughed harder, unfazed, and flicked some water back at her. She lunged towards him, splashing as much water as she could at him in the process. He caught her around the wrist, and he pulled her into a tight hug. She could only stare as Cell used his energy to concentrate a ball of water from the river, lift it over their heads, so it wobbled dangerously above them. Connie watched it, awed, and dreading the next part.

The ball of water suddenly dropped as Cell released his control, and they were both suddenly showered in cold water. Cell laughed the whole time. Connie pounded on his chest.

"Jerk." She said playfully.

A moment of silence as they both calmed down, their eyes locking together. Cell brushed some of Connie's soaked hair from her bandaged face, smiling before he leaned down, kissing her deeply. She returned the kiss, feeling considerably better than she had in a few days. She snaked her arms around his neck, and took in a deep draught of his smell, which was growing stronger. She felt one of his hands wander down her back and side. Finally she broke the kiss, licking her lips. She could taste the lingering strawberry from earlier. He smirked as she licked her lips, before he lunged at her again, bringing her into a passionate kiss. She felt him beginning to grow aroused and his scent became stronger and his body warmer. She allowed herself several moments, merely to wallow in his presence, noting her bodies responses as she became equally aroused.

His hands ran down her side, before grabbing at her rear, offering her support. Connie wrapped her legs around Cell's waist, felt his hardened member pressing into her thigh. She shifted her weight, opening herself to Cell. He hesitated for a moment, before he plunged into welcoming body, breaking the kiss, to stifle a moan. She smiled at him, allowing him a few moments to get his bearings, before he thrust himself into her slowly. The chill of the water offered a stark contrast to the heat of their bodies.

He established a pattern, slowly getting faster and harder. His lips danced across the subtle flesh of Connie's neck. Finally, Cell ceased, allowing himself a moment to recover. Still inside of her, he walked slowly through the water, supporting Connie. She kissed the tip of his nose, and ran her fingers through her hair.

She felt the sudden cold hard rock against her back, and realized what Cell had done. She smiled at him, pulling his face to hers, into a deep passionate kiss. He allowed himself a few more moments, before he began to thrust into her again, and again.

Connie leaned back against the smooth rock, bearing her breasts to Cell. He kissed the soft flesh, before he turned his attention to the hardened dark nipples. Connie couldn't contain a moan of satisfaction as a wave of pleasure rolled over her body. Cell pumped harder, faster. He wouldn't be able to last much longer. Connie arched her back, and Cell's eyes widened and he moaned as his pressure burst. Connie clutched at Cell's hair as he arched his back, spilling his seed inside of her. A few moments passed with them both panting, just leaning into each other, before Connie finally hugged Cell's head and kissed his nose. He smiled at her, and slowly let her go.

They bathed a while longer, mostly enjoying each others' company. The sun ducked beneath the mountains on the horizon, and the water became cooler, so they decided to retire to the grassy banks. Connie gathered some branches from the forest floor, and Cell lit them with a flick of his wrist. It was a warm night, and laying besides the fire provided them with amply warmth. Cell used a tiny amount of his energy to establish a sort of bubble around their small camp, which kept the bugs and mosquitoes from coming near them.

Connie fell asleep that night, in the arms of the man she loved, surrounded by nothing except nature and with only the stars as their silent watchers. For the first time, in a very long time, Connie felt truly alive.

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