Whew! A short chapter to tide you all over. The next one will be action packed and super great with reunions and such. Thanks for sticking with this story! it is coming to an end soon and I would like to know how you guys would like to see it ended. You guys are all awesome!

Roadblock held his breath when the unnamed aircraft descended, a PACK member leering from the cockpit at their tiny welcome group. The JOEs had only come, out into the middle of the Nevada Desert, because they hadn't wanted to give up more information as to where their base was. Not that Roadblock thought it truly mattered; this PACK wasn't something to be messed with. He had no doubts that they not only knew where the base was already, but could also shut it down if needed.

His stomach was doing flips when the hatch opened, a lean figure leaning against the side and grinning ferally at them. Her eyes flew to Storm Shadow, who had begrudgingly tagged along, and she blew him a coy kiss. The ninja visibly recoiled at the gesture and growled, unsheathing his swords violently. Roadblock wondered just what this woman was capable of.

"Now Duke," Sabor purred, loud enough to be heard over the rotors. "Don't be a stranger."

Duke nodded to Sabor and thanked her, to which she just waved a sharp hand and shooed him off the craft. As soon as he stepped onto the sand the hatch closed, and all he caught was Sabor's wicked smile piercing through the dark interior before the hatch sealed and Bengal waving from the cockpit as he flew away.

"It's really...Oh my god." Duke turned his head to Flint, who had his mouth wide open and hands shaking. Lady Jaye had a hand over her mouth, tears in her eyes, and even Roadblock had glassy eyes.

The large captain spit out a smile and a watery laugh. "Good thing we're not in a kitchen. No knives for you to throw with your freaky new powers, man."

And Duke was crossing the sand, giving his second-in-command a hearty hug and then moving onto all of the JOEs, even Storm Shadow received a handshake. When he got to Snake Eyes, he stopped, not taking the outstretched hand. The ninja turned his head slightly in question.

"She says she's sorry," Duke said, watching through enhanced eyes the stiffening of his shoulders and twitch of his fingers. He continued, chin held high. "She apologizes. She's okay, and alive, and sorry."

Snake retracted his hand, and nodded slowly to Duke, who simply patted him on the shoulder. The ninja fell into his thoughts, distracted by his mind and feelings toward the scout. Worry was natural, yes; he had spent weeks training her, and watching over her. Even the protectiveness could be explained. But his sense, desire to be near her, to make sure she was alive… it was stronger than that he felt for his teammates, and it conflicted deeply within him.

He shook himself out of it when Duke said, "Well, I know where the base is. It was my residence for three years, after all. And I think that's where they will stick next, get the plans back and sabotage the machine COBRA's building."

Duke shrugged. "That's what I would do. If, you know, I was still a nanite flesh zombie."

The JOEs shared a look, before Flint called their aircraft over and Roadblock gave to order to move out. Duke set a course for the Pyrenees Mountains and strapped himself in next to Snake Eyes. After everything that happened, he wanted peace.

He could tell the ninja was anything but at peace, though, and Duke could guess why. He messed around with the HUD in his eyes while saying, "She really seemed to miss you, Snake."

Duke looked to the ceiling before hearing Roadblock calling his name, sighing and standing. He didn't want to leave the ninja on that note, but duty was calling. "I can only assume why she ran, and to be honest, you have to admit it was for good reason. You've seen what those nanites can do. And hers are not armed with a contingency. Self-preservation is her nature; a part of you should at least understand that."

Snake did understand that, in so many ways. It made things much more complicated. Could that trait be brought out of Cat, and diminished? Of course. The question was, would she allow that to happen? After all those years she'd been harmed and used?

The sudden thought of how little credit he actually gave to Cat struck Snake like a truck. She was so much stronger than he had realized. For what she had went through, mentally, she was still relatively intact. And all he had done was baby her, and coddle her when she had proved many times she was adept at making quick decisions and avoiding near misses. What she lacked in physical prowess her mental strength made up for it. And now, with this revelation of these nanites and overhearing from Duke just what they could do, she had probably known her body way better than the doctor who had treated her for her legs. He had never even considered her knowledge.

What a fool he had been.

"Do not agonize yourself over it, brother," Storm said, stopping next to him and noticing he had lost himself in his mind again. He must have overheard the conversation. The other ninja narrowed his eyes in thought before moving away. "You'll have a reunion soon, I imagine."

Yes, thought Snake, looking out over the Atlantic, Soon enough.