Disclaimer: I do not own G.I. Joe or any character affiliated with it....just Misaki

Running Blind

"Snake Eyes; have you seen Misaki? She signed out when she went outside about an hour or so ago but she hasn't signed back in yet. I figured that she must have forgotten." It was one of the security officers who ran the main entrance. Snake immediately sent a message to the main control room; telling them to start looking for his missing blossom. After nodding his thanks to the guard; Snake Eyes made straight for the surface while sending a second message to main control letting them know the situation.

*Maybe she is getting back....she better be.* Snake made it to the entrance way to find everything quiet; save for the wind that was now starting to howl outside. Panic caused the silent man to grab his long coat from a gear nook that had been set up for the team and make his way to the waiting storm. It didn't take long for the ninja's dark clothes to start turning a sand color as the wind whipped around him. Snake quickly changed the viewer on his visor to heat seeking since there was no way he would be able to track Misaki down without it. It was only a matter of time before his visor would be rendered useless; the fine grains of sand would make sure of that.

"Snake; if you keep going in the direction you're already headed, you should come across her. We can only get her on the infrared camera; she seems to be having a hard time walking."

How many times has she fallen?

"Since we have been watching her, three times; but thank god it's only to her knees. You better hurry though Snake, the brunt of the storm is going to be hitting us soon." Breaker's voice came over the radio in the visor.

*Stupid wind! Stupid sand!* Misaki grumbled in her mind as she stumbled to her knees for the third time since the storm had started. This fall however caused a sharp pain to develop in her abdomen. *This is not good.* It was almost as though the little girl within her was throwing a temper tantrum. "This is not a good time to be doing this, you realize that."

*This is not a good time for this to be happening!* Snakes viewer finally gave out. Taking the visor and mask off; the ninja threw the items to the side as he kept walking in the direction Breaker had said. He had to find his beautiful blossom; there was no way he could stop now. It was a struggle to see through the blowing sand as it hit his eyes. Snake knew it was foolish to keep his eyes open so wide but he had nothing else now. *I will find you Misaki.*

"Snakes.....is that you?" Misaki could have sworn that she heard her love say her name. But she just couldn't see him. *Ok, so I'm starting to go crazy.* The pain had lessened a little; allowing Misaki to get back up and start walking again. "Snakes....where are you."

*Misaki?!* Snake knew he had heard her voice; now if he could just see her. With new determination; the dark ninja marched on through the storm.

"Stupid sand!" Those two words were like music to Snakes ears as he finally located Misaki. He almost ran into her but he found her just the same. "Oh Snakes!" Misaki was in tears when she saw the long dark coat that was attached to her child's father. Without a word Snake Eyes took off his coat and wrapped Misaki up in it to protect her skin from any further pain that the sand was causing. A hand on his arm caught his attention; looking down he could just make out her face. "The baby, something is wrong." Misaki gasped out as another wave of pain hit her. Snake suddenly felt lost; he didn't know what to do. If he carried her in the storm there was a high risk that he could fall; making things worse. And so he did the only thing he could do; placing a hand around her waist the pair began to trudge back to the base entrance.

*This is the time when I could use a radio.* The flag that Snake had set up was now coming into view; barely as his eyes continued to take a beating from the sand. He had made sure that Misaki's eyes were covered so they wouldn't get damaged. In the back of his mind he knew that he risked permanent loss of his sight but at the moment nothing else mattered. He wasn't quite sure if it was blood or tears that were running from his eyes by the time he got the entrance door open.

"Misaki, the next time you decide to go out for some fresh air I am putting a beacon on you." Doc was there pulling the young woman to a waiting wheel chair.

"Sorry to freak out Doc." The pain was almost too much for her to take now. She watched as two nurses guided Snakes to the infirmary.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Now let's get you an ultra sound to check up on the little squirt." Doc wasted no time in getting Misaki ready for the ultra sound.

"Is Snakes going to be alright?" Misaki couldn't help but he worried about the man who was currently getting his eyes flushed out.

"He's going to need medical eye drops for about a month so they can heal; by that time things should be fine." Doc continued to scan Misaki's baby. "And you my dear have a perfectly healthy baby girl. The pain might be from stress; so you my dear get an all expense paid trip to your favourite room."

"But the pain."

"I'll check up on you in a few hours; until then you're going to get a shot for the pain. Now go get a shower while I get some food for you." Doc wasted no time as he handed the pregnant woman a towel and directed her to the shower.

Misaki awoke later to the sound of a deep voice humming beside her bed. Opening her eyes, she saw Snake leaning over her stomach with both hands stroking it. "Hey Snakes, you are going to spoil the little squirt." The humming didn't stop as the man gave her a smile. She could see the redness of his eyes and it made her feel bad about taking that walk. The pain had become dull since Doc had given her the pain medication and the sound of Snakes voice just made things better.

Due to little gum drops making demands I have come out with the next chapter, although it's not as long as I wanted it to be.....oh well ^_^ Enjoy

Cheers