How long do you think that our restless ninja will stay cooped up? Will he eventually deal with his inner demons?
Much later in the day:
"Sensei, we have done all the katas, each day. Jinx and I have been sparring, and she had been showing me new sword techniques." Snake Eyes listened and nodded, looking at Jinx as she stood attentively. "I believe I have improved a great deal! When you are better I will be able to show you."
Suddenly annoyed with his inactivity, the ninja master stood up and walked to the door where he stopped. Forced inactivity gnawed at him. They'd allowed him to have clothing, which translated to pajama pants. He'd gotten Jinx to bring him real clothing, but been forbidden by Doc to get dressed. He'd already pulled the heart monitor wiring loose and not allowed it to be replaced. Pointing out that he'd given his word had made Doc back off, but it meant he only had the room itself to pad around in. Anyone could walk back and bother him, which was how he'd come to have both apprentices in here telling him about all the activity they could engage in, while he sat around. He wouldn't break his word though. He turned on Kamakura.
*Go get Doc* He paced around restlessly, ignoring Jinx's questions while he waited impatiently. When he finally arrived with the smiling apprentice, Snake Eyes turned to him. *I want to go out.*
"Out of the question." Doc folded his arms stubbornly and Snake Eyes thought quickly, what would he have to concede in order to get out.
*I only want to go for a walk. It's terrible in here.* He gestured around the small room. *I'm going mad. I need out. Just for a walk.* Doc shook his head. *Please? Just for an hour? It can't hurt to let me leave for an hour.*
Now he saw the doctor waffle slightly. "Well... I know you hate just sitting around, but.. your leg isn't healed.."
Snake Eyes gestured at the limb, flexing it to show. *It's fine. A walk would loosen it up.*
"I don't know, if I let you leave.. what says you'll come back?" Doc watched him solemnly promise to return. "I'm just picturing fifty things you'll no doubt get into the instant you're out of sight." Lifeline appeared unexpectedly. "Ahhh.. and the solution walks in." Doc reached to take the medic by the shoulder. "If you had someone with you, to keep an eye on you, then I'd feel better."
Snake Eyes hurriedly signed. *I would have have Jinx... and Kamakura*
Doc nodded at him. "And Lifeline." At the slightly distressed look, he smiled. "If you are only planning on a little walk to stretch your legs, then having Lifeline along shouldn't be a worry.. right?" Stymied, the ninja sighed and nodded. "That's settled. Lifeline, our wayward stubborn ninja is granted one hour's parole to go stretch his legs, and see something other than the medical ward."
The medic looked from one face to the other. "Okaaay. So I babysit him, while he gets to go out for a while."
The doctor lifted a finger. "For one hour. No obstacle courses, no sparring, no building climbing." He thought a second. "No weapons." He saw the ninja's face fall and nodded. "Have a nice walk." Doc strolled down the hallway to the front desk, whistling to himself cheerily.
Snake Eyes watched him leave, and signed with narrowed eyes. *He's a mean man.*
Lifeline shrugged and waved at the little pile of folded clothing. "You're using up your hour." That got him to hurry and change, pulling his usual mask on with haste. "Do you really need boots?"
His patient gave him a derisive snort. *Ninja's don't wear bedroom slippers.* That made the medic laugh. *I'm ready, let's go.* He walked out at a moderate pace, nodding amiably at Doc as he passed the desk.
"Fifty-five minutes."
Snake Eyes turned and gestured in protest. *The time doesn't start until I leave the medical wing* Doc never even looked up, marking another spot in his crossword puzzle.
"Fifty-four minutes..."
Lifeline watched the ninja stiffen but he chose to leave rather than argue the point. The two apprentices followed him, and Lifeline brought up the rear, rather bemused at his odd duty for the day. A few Joes saw Snake Eyes and gave him exuberant greetings, which he gestured a short sign or two in reply to. If they were disappointed, they didn't show it, and Lifeline wouldn't be surprised if they considered it nothing out of the ordinary as far as the resident ninja.
"Snakes!" This greeting wouldn't be ignored, as Stalker walked up and grasped his friend's arm and hand. "Dude, it's good to see you up. Feeling better?" He got a nod and an odd head tilt. "Well, you can't expect to rush off on a mission right out of the hospital." A shift of the commando's body and a lifted hand. "Oh no, you'll be right in no time." The medic watched the entire conversation proceed without a single ASL sign from Snake Eyes. "Doc did what?" Now a quick monologue on the part of Snake Eyes began, but the signs didn't quite always make sense, so Lifeline had a hard time following all of it. Jinx followed right behind, but didn't put in any comments. Kamakura dropped back a couple steps to walk beside Lifeline instead.
"Hi."
Lifeline looked at him. "Hi Kamakura." He paused, trying to think of something polite and friendly. "How are your studies going?"
The apprentice straightened. "It goes well. Jinx is helping me with my swords, and I have mastered the katas, so that our exercises go very quickly." He obviously struggled to think of something to ask the medic. "Ahh.... do you.. umm.. practice a fighting style?"
Lifeline gave him a smile. "I'm a non-combatant, and a pacifist. But I do practice Aikido." That seemed to set the ninja trainee back a little. "Snake Eyes helped teach me it, and although I'm no master, I still manage to progress a little every year."
The tall young man nodded then. "Sensei is a very good teacher." He lowered his head down closer to the medic's. "Will Sensei be okay?"
Giving a reassuring nod, he answered. "He should be fine, his injuries are healing."
"Good. Jinx says not to worry, but I do anyway. Soo..." He made a visible effort to think up something else to talk about. "Ahhh... is it hard? Not to fight?"
Lifeline hummed softly. "I don't know really. I don't like to fight, and so to me, fighting would be much harder than not fighting." That seemed to confuse the ninja. "To me, your life, training constantly to hit and hurt people would seem strange and horrifying."
"But... but it is the most rewarding thing, to learn more of the techniques and skills!" He softened his voice. "One day I will be better than Jinx. I'll make Master very proud of me."
Lifeline swore he saw Jinx tilt her head slightly as if she were listening so he cleared his throat. "I think both of you are very skilled." He suddenly noted that they were entering the gym. "Why are we going in here?" Snake Eyes looked at him, then around with mock surprise and shrugged. "No, no no... Doc said no. You're supposed to just go for a walk, not a workout."
Snake Eyes continued towards the mats, walking backwards while signing to the medic. *I'm only going to do some exercises.. really.. like.. stretches..* Lifeline sighed but stood at the edge watching with disapproval. The two apprentices happily arranged themselves on either side, and the trio began the first kata in synch. He had to admit that it was smooth and relaxing looking.
After a quarter of an hour, all three stopped with graceful moves. Snake Eyes turned to the medic and tapped his own wrist. He checked the time. "Twenty-five minutes." He watched the shoulders rise and fall in a sigh. "Sorry, but you promised." He got a nod in reply, and the ninja stepped off the mats and motioned for his apprentices to run through a practice bout.
Even knowing it was mere practice, and that neither young person was trying to harm the other, Lifeline winced repeatedly at the blows they landed. The blinding speed and attacks flowed so quickly, it was hard to keep track, and suddenly Kamakura landed on his back hard with an audible thump.
"Yield!" Jinx released him, and he came to his feet and bowed, as she returned the bow. Snake Eyes signed at them, something about Kamakura's defensive moves it seemed. They faced off again, and although Lifeline watched carefully, it all seemed a blur again, this time with Kamakura ending up wrestling with the smaller Jinx. Suddenly Snake Eyes clapped his hands sharply, and they broke apart to face him. He made quick precise signs, obviously annoyed at something they had done, or not done. A duo of "Yes Sensei" and they faced off again, streaming sweat now, and Kamakura was beginning to look tired.
He watched them fight again, kicking and dodging, and blocking and swinging, and he was simply glad that it was 'only' practice. Kamakura grabbed Jinx and threw her, slinging her towards the mats hard. Lifeline opened his mouth to cry out, but watched in disbelief as she twisted mid-air to land feet first, and reverse the throw, tossing the hapless young man to the mat and twisting an arm into the air brutally. He let out a cry of pain, and she twisted harder. Before Lifeline could protest, Snake Eyes was on the mat and yanked her away.
"He didn't yield!" Before she could protest further, he kicked out at her, making her defend herself. She hit the mats the same way, with her own arm twisted in the same hold. "Yaaahhhh..." She grimaced, and he held the arm pinned in place, and leaned around so she could see him clearly.
He signed with one hand. *Yield.* She opened her mouth and whined. He bent her slightly further. *Yield.* Instead, she let out another short cry. He released her abruptly and stepped back. *You do not hurt your partner in sparring. If I see you bully your apprentice brother again, I'll put you on suspension for a month.* He stepped backwards.
She climbed to her feet, obviously angry, pushing her hair off her face. "He's not at my level!" Snake Eyes tensed up, and she crouched, facing off with the more experienced fighter. He gave a beckoning motion. Before Lifeline could protest, they flew into motion.
If he'd thought the practice sparring was fast and vicious looking, it was nothing compared to the whirlwind that erupted on the mat. Kicks, blocks, punches, leaps, they all blurred until Jinx suddenly leapt forward and was met by a swinging kick that threw her backwards like a limp doll. Snake Eyes lunged after her, grabbing her up almost as she hit the padded floor. He signed frantically at her, apologizing and asking if she was okay.
"I'm fine sensei." Obviously confused, she struggled up. Snake Eyes knelt on the mat, clenching his fists. "Sensei, what's wrong?" He shook his head. "It wasn't that hard of a kick..."
Standing up, he pushed her away, walking off the mats limping badly. *Stop.*
Lifeline hurried up. "You hurt your leg..." He was waved off. "No, let me see how badly it's hurt. You weren't supposed to be sparring, Doc told you.."
Snake Eyes turned on him so fast he almost ran into the bigger ninja. *Leave me alone* The sharp gestures told him how angry the man was. *I killed her! Jinx...* He stopped and clenched fists over his eyes suddenly.
Jinx walked up and placed a hand gently on his shoulder. "Sensei, I'm fine, you didn't kick me that hard. Kamakura has hit me harder!" She tugged at his arm insistently, and he suddenly whirled and flung her away from him. She landed hard on the mat and rolled to her feet, obviously stunned by the unexpected attack.
*Stop* He pointed at her, then signed with choppy motions. *Stop belittling your brother. It is unworthy of a Arashikage.* The ninja suddenly pressed his hands over his eyes again, his breathing got fast and shallow as he fought mentally to keep control. At this point the gym was quiet, only murmurs of people as they watched the drama unfold. Lifeline started forward, and Snake Eyes stopped him with a hand up. *Stay away from me.*
"Look, just calm down, Snake Eyes. Jinx wasn't hurt. You just need to relax." Hoping it wasn't a huge mistake, he reached out to touch his arm. "Come on.. look at Jinx, she's tough."
Snake Eyes looked at his confused students. *Enough. Go.* He paused, then looked angry. *Go, be someone else's apprentices. I release you from your obligations.* He turned and limped out, with Lifeline going after him.
"Don't you think that's a little rash?" He trotted to catch up, and walked beside him.
"Yeah, Snakes.. " Stalker came up. "You're being a little harsh on the kids."
The angry commando swung a hand in a chopping motion. *They don't need to learn from me. Better off learning from a teacher who isn't...* He stopped.
Stalker leaned in. "Isn't what?" He got no answer. "Snakes.. you've been acting weirded out since you got back. Why don't you just tell us what's wrong? We can help you." He was ignored. Finally he stopped and let his friend walk away. Lifeline walked with him, all the way back to the medical wing, surprised when he went straight in to the back room without protest. Doc saw his body language and didn't comment.
The subdued man sat on the edge of the bed, looking defeated and upset. *you think Stalker is right*. Lifeline looked away, not wanting to set him off by arguing with him. *He is right. But I want them to leave, and telling them to leave will only make them argue with me. Releasing them means they can find a better teacher.*
Lifeline sat in the room's chair. This really was Psyche-Out's department. "I think that.. that they believe they've found the best teacher in you. I think that right now you're not thinking straight, and making a big decision like releasing them should wait a while." The ninja sighed. "You can always decide to let them go later. What does it hurt to let things sit for just a little while?"
Snake Eyes seemed to brood for a few minutes before he raised his hands to sign. *You don't think I'm insane.* He watched Lifeline shake his head. *You're wrong.* He suddenly turned away, and closing his eyes, pretended to be meditating.
Lifeline got up and went out to find Doc. The older man was seated, scribbling notes in someone's file. "How did the walk go, and what did he manage to do that was prohibited?" The medic filled him in. "Well... that's not as bad as it could have been physically. And mentally, well... at least he didn't lose it." He put down the pen and rubbed his eyes. "Psyche-Out is due in a few minutes for his daily session. He's getting frustrated too. I can't release Snake Eyes until his psyche evaluation is clean.. or at least clean enough to pass... so it's up to him as to when he will deal with things."
Lifeline sighed as he picked up the charts in his box. "I just hope it's soon. He's tearing himself apart, and I think he's trying to alienate everyone in the hope they'll leave him so he has the excuse. The only person he hasn't shoved away is Stalker, and I'm not so sure that he believes he's capable of convincing Stalker to leave him."
The Doc chuckled wryly. "Stalker and you. And I might count Scarlett, since she's still coming a couple times a day, despite the cold shoulder treatment he's given her. He might think he's fooling everyone, but he's not quite able to hurt her. The best he's been able to do is to ignore her. Scarlett is a little tougher than that." Lifeline agreed and their attention turned to the day's work.
* * * *
What are you thinking? Like? Dislike? Suggestions?