Behind the Scenes - 14

A/N: Woooo, I'm on a roll! So, the overlapping of scenes from the end of this movie made the timeline a little hard to understand for me, so I'm interpreting it in my own way. Hopefully it makes sense! And also, skip ahead a bit if M-ratings are not for you. ;-) Enjoy!

They rescued The Keymaker. Somehow, they fucking did it. Trinity had never felt such adrenaline before, driving that motorcycle. The resulting high was… incredible. She was also thankful everyone made it out alive. More than once she wondered if that was going to be the case. There were too many close calls to count. Once they were all safe, they left The Keymaker with Seraph in their old, secret meeting spot in an abandoned building so they could regroup and gather the rest of the teams. He'd told them briefly that this next step was going to take far more people than they had, so Morpheus agreed to return early the next day with more volunteers. The Keymaker would wait until everyone had gathered together before going over the plan, step by step, to ensure they got it right.

As soon as they were all unplugged, Neo retreated without saying a word to anyone. Trinity hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should follow him or not. She thought he might want his privacy after everything that happened, but she finally settled on, "to hell with it," and decided to seek him out instead. She looked in their cabin, the kitchen, and the washroom and couldn't find him. Knowing Neo, this left only one logical solution: the engine room.

She heard the chugging sound of the engine before she saw him. He was sitting on the floor, back against the far wall, with his head in his hands and feet flat on the floor. She wondered if he was crying, but when his head snapped up to look her way, she saw that he wasn't. In fact, he looked angry. She stepped inside and closed the door behind her.

"Are you okay?" she dared to ask him. She stepped closer and looked down at him, not able to tell if he wanted her company or not.

"I'm fine," he responded curtly. Trinity took a deep breath. Okayyy, I guess we're gonna sit…she thought to herself as she bent down to sit next to him.

"You don't look fine," she commented matter-of-factly.

He scoffed. "I should be the one asking you if you're okay."

"What do you mean?" Trinity asked, eyebrows furrowing.

He gave her a look like he couldn't believe she was asking that question. "You know what I mean," he said softly. She could barely make out the words above the noise of the engine.

Ohh. That.

"You did what you had to do," Trinity said tersely. She'd almost forgotten. The rush of the car chase temporarily distracted her from any jealousy or anger from their encounter with Persephone. Now that Neo brought it back up though, it all started leaking back into her veins. She figured it would happen eventually. She had just hoped to hide it when it did. She didn't want to make Neo feel bad when he'd only done what he'd done to accomplish the mission. There was no way they would have gotten The Keymaker otherwise, she knew that now.

"Doesn't matter. You shouldn't have had to see that." His anger was simmering under his skin; Trinity could almost see it.

"You're right, but I did. And it is what it is. Can't do anything about it, anyway." Her response came out more aggressive than she'd intended. She didn't want to take it out on him… but it was just too easy.

"You know it meant nothing to me, right?" Neo was practically begging her, she could tell. His eyes urged her to understand.

"Of course I know that," she snapped. She was starting to unravel. She really hadn't expected to talk about this now. "But that bitch got her claws on you right in front of me, just because she wanted to see me suffer. It had nothing to do with her pathetic excuse of wanting to 'feel something.' Bullshit. She wanted to come between us and keep a piece of you for herself. Fucking tramp."

"But she's not you, Trinity. There was no way I could have ever pretended she was. And she didn't take anything - I'm still all yours."

"Damn right you are," Trinity scowled and grabbed the neck of Neo's shirt. She pulled him to her and pressed her lips roughly against his. Her tongue dove into his mouth and she used her fingernails to scratch the back of Neo's neck. He moaned and grabbed her lower back, curling his fingers into her shirt. After a moment, he pulled away slightly, breathless and dizzy.

"Not that I'm complaining or anything, but… what are you doing? Are we not arguing?"

"No, Neo, we're not. And what am I doing? I'm reclaiming what's mine," Trinity growled before crushing her lips to his once more. She straddled his hips and pulled him close, running her fingers through his hair. He clutched her back, hands roaming underneath her shirt. She could feel him hardening beneath her, and it sent her into a frenzy. She needed him now. Completely desperate, she angled her hips so she could pull off her trousers and underwear. Neo stretched out his legs, still sitting on the floor, and pulled his pants down to his knees.

His eyes were heavy lidded and he was panting. Trinity paused after removing her clothing and eyed him through her lashes. She gave him a wicked grin before bending over and taking him fully in her mouth. Neo gasped, completely taken aback, and clutched her hair in his fist. She moved slowly, teasing, for several long minutes before she pulled away, only to straddle him again and take him inside her. She kissed him fervently as she moved, grinding into him. It wasn't long before she came, hard, and Neo followed not long after.

For a moment they sat there, panting, sweaty, and spent. Neo was flabbergasted. He had no idea what just happened, nor did he really care. Trinity gave him one last kiss before whispering in his ear, "I am just as much yours as you are mine. Don't you forget that." She kissed him on the cheek, stood up, pulled on her trousers and tied the string around her hips. She then left the engine room behind, feeling satisfied and smug. Persephone would never get that from Neo. That was for her and her alone.

Morpheus spent hours talking with Niobe and Soren. They were hashing out the details for the meeting the next morning with The Keymaker. Trinity took watch in the cockpit while Link monitored Morpheus. This left Neo to shower and try and get some rest. Mostly, he still felt brain-dead from his earlier encounter with Trinity. She'd anger-fucked him. When was the last time she'd done that? He half-wondered if he should make her angry more often.

Soon enough, he fell into a light sleep, still fully dressed and lying on top of the blankets. Hours later, Trinity slipped into bed. She tried to be quiet, but Neo roused anyway.

"Hey," he murmured into the dark.

Trinity pulled the blanket over them both and settled her back against his chest. "Hey," she responded back, also keeping her voice low.

"I'm almost afraid to ask, but… you okay?" Neo smiled into the back of her neck, knowing he was goading her.

She chuckled lightly. "Yes, I'm fine. Are you?" She laced her fingers with his and brought them up near her heart.

"Yep."

She sighed. "I don't want to talk about it, okay?"

"I'm not talking about anything."

"Good."

"Okay, then."

Trinity sighed and turned to face Neo in the darkness. "Okay, I'm over the Persephone thing. I am. But… now I'm more focused on tomorrow. What if it all goes to shit?"

Neo shrugged with one shoulder. "I don't know, Trin. I guess we just have to wait and see; be on our guard."

"Yeah…" she bit her lip in consternation. "We're one step closer, Neo. The war is going to end soon, I think. I feel it… it's all coming together."

Neo nodded gently before pressing his forehead into Trinity's. "I feel the same way. You uh… you kinda took my mind off it earlier, but… even Morpheus seems really tense. I think he feels the same way we do. I kept thinking about it while I was trying to sleep earlier. Something feels… I don't know how to describe it… but it feels like we're running out of time or something."

"I agree," Trinity whispered, stomach clenching.

"I wonder what will happen when I go to the machine mainframe…I wonder what awaits me there."

"I don't know. But you know what I do know?"

"What?" he asked gently, kissing her forehead.

"I know that I don't want to think about it anymore. And I want you to make love to me. We don't know what's coming, and… it could be our - " But Neo cut her off.

"Don't. Don't say it. I can't, Trin."

Last time, she thought to herself. But she didn't say it out loud. She pursed her lips together and looked up at Neo. He looked pained. His face was stricken, and his hand clenched hers tighter than it had a moment ago.

"I will come back to you. I will."

As much as she longed to hear those words, she also hated to hear them, too. She hated when he made promises he couldn't keep.

"Kiss me," she whispered, voice hitching slightly. He obeyed without question, and they made love long into the night, before falling asleep in each other's arms.

Trinity had been right, though. This would be their last time.

The next morning, Neo sat on the edge of their bed in their cabin alone. He knew they were preparing to enter into the matrix and meet up with The Keymaker, but he couldn't seem to find the energy to leave the room. He was frozen and afraid. The dream last night… it felt so real. He saw more than he'd ever seen, too. He saw Trinity crash right into a car parked below the building. What did it all mean?!

She came in, looking worried. He knew she would come check on him eventually. He didn't want to worry her, but something felt wrong about all this. She sat next to him, shoulder to shoulder, and tried to look him in the eyes. He couldn't meet hers. He just couldn't.

"Neo, I know something is wrong. You don't have to tell me. I just want you to know that I'm here," she told him, and took his hand in hers.

Neo had a choice to make. He could either pretend his dreams meant nothing and therefore say nothing to Trinity, or he could tell her everything and beg her not to go into the matrix until this was all over. He didn't want to do either, so he settled for somewhere in the middle.

"I wanna ask you to do something, but I don't know how," he muttered, trying to find the right words.

"I promise you, if I can, I will." She wanted so badly to reassure him, but she knew it was fruitless.

"What if I asked you to stay out of this? No matter what, to stay out of the matrix?"

"Why?" she asked, hoping he would finally, finally tell her.

He took her hand, unwilling still to say the words aloud. "Please?" he begged.

She paused, sighed, and agreed, against her better judgment. "Alright."

Neo closed his eyes and squeezed her hand, grateful that she agreed.

"On one condition," she added as she narrowed her eyes slightly.

"What's that?"

"I want to hear what The Keymaker says. I want to go in with you as he explains the plan, but I'll stay with Link when you go through with it. Deal?"

Neo considered. There'd be several people in the room with The Keymaker. When he saw Trinity fall, she was alone. He nodded his consent and she kissed him on the cheek before leaving him alone once more.

They listened to The Keymaker go through the plan. Some of the volunteers had questions, and he answered them dutifully. Once everyone got their timelines down, they exited the matrix temporarily to make proper preparations. In a few hours, they would enter back in and take up their positions.

When the time finally came for the plan to begin, Trinity kissed Neo softly on the lips before plugging him in. She hated the fact that she was staying behind. She wanted to help, but she'd made a promise to Neo, and the words of the Oracle rang in her mind: If Neo asks you to do something, do it; unless that action results in Neo failing his mission. Then you must protect him at all costs. This must be that moment. She'd done what Neo asked her to do, now she just needed to make sure this mission succeeded.

At first, everything was fine. But then Trinity and Link realized something was wrong. Niobe and her crew were doing their part, but Soren's crew wasn't moving. Something must have happened to them. If the timing wasn't synced to exactly midnight, all would be lost.

"Call Neo now," Trinity ordered Link. Her stomach was sour with worry. He wasn't picking up. Something felt wrong. The emergency power cut on, and Trinity panicked. She'd made a promise, but she'd also been warned. Did she listen to the Oracle who told her that she must ensure Neo's protection, or did she stay out of the matrix like Neo asked, knowing full well by now that he'd asked her to stay away because of his dreams?

She knew going into the matrix might result in her death… but if it meant saving Neo… There was no question. She'd do anything for him.

Trinity told Link to load her in; she refused to let them die. Not now. Not when they've come this far. She couldn't bear to lose Neo, but she also couldn't bear to be responsible for the mission failing and their shot at ending the war crumbling to pieces.

Link asks if she is sure, and she is. She is completely sure. She knows in her gut she is going to die. But yes, she is sure. She knows it will take less than five minutes for her to bring that whole building down, and she says just as much to Link.

She clears her mind of all thoughts of Neo. She goes back to her early days and all her training. She becomes a woman on a mission and she kicks ass.

She fights her way into the control room and shuts down the emergency system just in time. It wasn't a moment too soon. Mission complete, she focused on finding a way out. Hopefully she could get back out of the matrix and Neo would be none the wiser. Sure, he may be mad she disobeyed his wishes, but at least he'd be alive.

But…

She didn't plan to run into another agent. She didn't plan to fall. She didn't plan to get shot. She didn't plan to think to herself, What have I done?, before picturing Neo's face as he lay next to her, hair still mussed from sleep, as she plummeted to her death.

Neo was trying to keep his shit together as he talked with this maniac who called himself The Architect. His anger was flaring higher and higher the more this man (program?) spoke. His rage had hit a boiling point when he was given a choice: save Zion, or save Trinity and doom them all. His first thought was, this is impossible, but then he saw her in his mind's eye: she was giving him one of her rare smiles as she laughed at something he'd said. It was a favorite memory of his, and he didn't even remember when it happened, sometime near the beginning of their relationship. Her laugh had electrified his blood and warmed him from the inside out. It was delicate and restrained, and it made her look so goddamn beautiful he couldn't help but laugh back. And that was all it took. Remembering this one thing, and he'd instantly decided. He would do anything for her, and there wasn't anything they couldn't do together. They'd figure out how to end the war some other way. Clearly it hadn't worked for his "predecessors" anyway, choosing the other door. No. He was going to do something different.

So, he made his choice. She'd entered the matrix to save him, knowing it would cost her her own. But he wasn't going to let that happen. So he left the room as quickly as he could, focused his mind, and became the legendary One. The words of the Architect still rang in his ears as he flew, faster and faster until the world around him became a blur: She is going to die and there is nothing you can do to stop it.

Behind him, the building exploded. He barely noticed. He searched for her, through the code of the matrix, until at last he found her miles away.

As Trinity fell, she knew. She just knew this was it. This was the image that had plagued Neo for months. Knowing that he'd tried to warn her and she did it anyway caused her more guilt than she'd ever thought possible. Knowing that she'd been destined for this moment and the Oracle hadn't said a word to her felt like a betrayal like nothing she'd ever experienced before. Knowing that in a matter of moments she was going to die and leave Neo all alone, broke her heart into a million tiny pieces; it hurt worse than the bullet shredding her flesh.

But she didn't regret a damn thing.

She closed her eyes, waiting for the impact she knew was coming, when she felt it. Her trajectory changed, and she felt a warm body slam against her. Neo had come out of nowhere. He'd seen her just before she hit the car below. He'd never pushed his speed like that before, so much so that he'd left a tornado of metal, concrete, and glass spinning in his wake. His path of destruction was cut into the earth like a jagged scar, evidence of the ruin he was more than willing to create to get to her.

They both felt the wind whipping against their faces as Neo soared upwards to a nearby building. He laid her down on the rooftop, inspecting her for injuries. Trinity had never felt such pain in her life, and she'd been injured many times in her history of fighting this war. The pain grounded her at first, reminding her that she was indeed still alive, but when the numbness settled in and the weakness overtook her, she knew she was in real trouble. She could hardly breathe and her thoughts were a jumble in her brain. She wanted to say so much to him, but she didn't have time. What was most important? What needed to be said before everything else? She could barely see him, let alone come up with what she knew would be her last words.

Neo was frantic. He could tell she was in tremendous pain and his body shook with conflicting emotions, all fighting for dominance in his heart. First and foremost, he felt earth-bending, world-shattering love for the woman in front of him. But, he also felt fury; fury at the Architect, fury at the agents, and even fury at Trinity. She'd disobeyed his wishes and broken her promise by coming here. If she'd have just stayed away… but he couldn't focus on that now. His fear iced his veins as he realized she was about to die right here, right now. He couldn't bear to lose her. She meant everything to him. And finally, the emotions that conquered all others: determination and defiance. He'd be damned if he was going to let her die for him.

"Neo, I had to," she chokes out, trying to convey to him everything in those three words. I had to come, you were going to die, Soren's crew all died and you weren't going to make it, I had to, you needed me. She didn't have the strength to say much more than that, so she hoped he understood.

"I know," he said. He didn't. Not really. But her eyes shone with desperation; she needed to see that he understood. "The bullet is still inside," he murmured, before focusing on her code and her code alone. He scooped the bullet out, and she released a blood curdling scream. It pierced through him and made him want to vomit. She was trembling against him, both in pain and severely afraid.

She kept thinking about how much she wanted to say. She saw his face swimming before hers, and knew she had one shot at this. What do you say to the man you love as you die in his arms? What words can you leave him with, to make him understand why you did what you did? How do you tell him how you feel about him? About how he was your best friend, your soulmate, your hero. How can you possibly, ever convey how regretful you are that you're leaving him behind, and that you wished he didn't have to live in a world without you in it?

"I'm sorry," she whispered, and her eyes closed. Her body stopped trembling. It went slack, and as it did, Neo's heart crumbled to dust in his chest. He wanted to die.

"Trinity?!" Neo cried. A sob escaped his throat. This can't be happening. Dear God this can't be happening. Please, take me instead. Not her. Anyone but her. Neo fought back the urge to vomit as he forced himself to strengthen his resolve and steel his nerves. "Trinity, I know you can hear me. I'm not letting you go. I can't. I love you too damn much." And he took a shot in the dark. She'd brought him back with a kiss, why couldn't he, the One, bring her back too? He could fly, read the matrix's code, and was faster than bullets. He didn't know if this would work, but he had to try.

He reached inside her and found her heart. He wrapped his hand around it and squeezed. He poured all his love, all his memories, and all his energy into the action. Start, damn it. Come back to me. He begged the universe. The universe listened.

She gasped suddenly, eyes wide and confused. Neo removed his hand from her body and held her tightly against him. When she'd reawoken, his heart had practically stopped. He was stunned. He couldn't believe it had worked. Yet, here she was. He crushed his lips to hers, tasting her blood in his mouth and not giving a shit. She was warm, and whole, and alive, and he couldn't get close enough to her.

"I guess this makes us even," she choked out. He smiled before pulling her in again and letting her kiss tamp down the anxiety flooding his system. As she kissed him, Trinity wondered what the hell had happened. One minute, nothing, and the next, she was gasping for air in Neo's arms. She was disoriented, and her body ached, but she was here. Whatever Neo had done had worked, and was incredibly lucky to have this incredible man, her hero, by her side.

They stayed locked in their embrace for several minutes before Trinity needed to pull back. She gulped air into her lungs and sagged against Neo's shoulder. She felt like she'd been run over by a truck, which she supposed she kind of had. Neo was flying incredibly fast when he'd scooped her up, and her body was still disoriented and sore.

"Are you alright?" he asked gently, cradling her face in his hands.

"Yeah, I think so," she muttered.

"I think it's time we get you out of here." She didn't protest as he scooped her back up in his arms and flew them to their rendezvous point designated earlier where Link would pull them out. As they flew, Trinity felt the cool wind on her face. She looked up at Neo and locked her arms around his neck. He smiled down at her, and she began to cry softly. She couldn't help it. Not only did everything hurt, but she was damn lucky to be alive. She was also lucky to be so loved by this man. It was all just too much. He didn't say anything as they flew, he just let her get it out. Once they arrived at the phone booth, they contacted Link and he set up the line. Trinity exited first, followed shortly after by Neo.

Link unplugged Neo and Morpheus unplugged Trinity. Before she could even register her surroundings, Morpheus pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. She could feel him trembling and realized he must have seen the whole thing; he must have felt the pain of her death, too. She felt awful - the guilt gnawed at her gut, even as she hugged him back just as tightly. After several moments, he let go, and she could swear she saw tears in his eyes as he pulled away to lightly embrace Neo.

"Thank you," he choked, slapping Neo affectionately on the back. Neo only nodded in acknowledgment, at a loss for words. The exertion of what he'd just done was catching up with him.

"What the hell happened?" Link exclaimed. He threw his hands out and Neo tilted his head towards the kitchen.

"I need some water or something. Let's go in there and sit down, and I'll explain everything," Neo suggested. Link and Morpheus nodded in agreement and set off. Neo took Trinity's hand and led her slowly to the kitchen, letting the others go ahead. "You okay?" he asked her quietly. "Do you need the infirmary?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm okay. Let's just go with Link and Morpheus. I'll be fine."

He stopped walking. "Are you sure?" He cupped both of her cheeks in his hands and searched her eyes for any indication of how she was feeling. He couldn't read her, for the first time in a long time.

"I'm sure. But… thank you." She smiled a small smile, twisting it to the side a bit.

"Trinity, you should know by now I would do anything for you," Neo whispered, lowering his face to hers. Their noses and foreheads touched and Trinity closed her eyes.

"I know. Neo, I'm so sorry." A single tear streaked down Trinity's cheek, though her eyes were still closed. "Soren's crew, something happened to them. I don't know what. If I didn't shut down the emergency power, you wouldn't have made it. I had to." The words came rushing out, and her anguish only heightened with each sentence.

Neo kissed her firmly. "Shhh. It's okay. I understand. I'm not mad. I'm just glad you're alright," he murmured against her lips. She nodded gratefully and leaned in to kiss him again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. Reluctantly, she broke the kiss and rested her cheek on his shoulder, relishing in the hug she so desperately needed. He inhaled deeply, taking in her scent. He needed this too.

When they finally arrived in the kitchen a few minutes later, she sat down on the bench and Neo stood protectively next to her, forgetting about his need for water. Neither Link nor Morpheus said anything about their tardiness. Neither could blame them for wanting a moment alone.

Neo cleared his throat before explaining everything: what happened to The Keymaker, his conversation with the Architect, and even how he saved Trinity by restarting her heart. He recalled as much as he could, even though the Architect had spoken to him like a smartass. Even now as he recalled that conversation, he felt himself growing angry. He'd been right when he'd told Trinity he felt like they were about to find out if the prophecy was real or not. As it turns out, it was all a game - a hoax.

Morpheus paced around the small eating area, clearly agitated. He didn't understand why the war wasn't over. He refused to admit that the prophecy had been a lie. Neo warned him that Zion would be destroyed in the next 24 hours. They were out of time.

Trinity was astounded by this information. She felt panic rising in her chest as she pictured her home being destroyed. She couldn't fathom it… all those innocent lives lost, in the blink of an eye... It made her nauseous. Neo said the One was never meant to end anything, that it was all just a system of control. Trinity wondered what the hell they were going to do in the next 24 hours to stop this. She felt helpless and terrified and truly, part of her felt like giving up completely.

"What are we going to do?" she asked. She didn't want to put any more pressure on Neo than there already was, but the situation felt bleak. She couldn't even fathom the weight Neo must have had on his shoulders.

Suddenly, they heard the alarms blaring. Sentinels were coming. It was a bomb, headed right their way. They only had time to grab guns before dashing out of the Neb and running for safety. There was no time for anything else. There wasn't even time to grieve their loss as the Nebuchadnezzar exploded right in front of their very eyes. It felt like they had witnessed the loss of a friend. It was their home, and one minute it was there, and the next it was a fiery ball of torment and misery.

Trinity's heart broke. She could almost feel it - small fissures working their way across the delicate organ, sending shrapnel into her blood. But there was no time. The sentinels were still coming. They made a mad dash to hide behind some debris but Neo stopped. Trinity screamed at him, but he held out his hands. He said he could feel them.

When the sentinels finally came, and the trio felt certain they were going to die, Neo only felt confidence. He did the impossible and stopped all of them, just with his mind alone. Morpheus, Link, and Trinity stared at him, gaping in amazement. But their shock was short lived, as Neo almost immediately collapsed on the ground. He'd spent all his energy and had nothing left. Trinity cried out and bent down to check on him. He was still breathing, so she pulled him into her lap, not knowing what else to do. But before true desperation could settle in, they saw the Hammer approach them.

They were quickly ushered inside and whisked away to safety. Neo was brought to the medbay and evaluated. Trinity was told that Neo was in some kind of coma. Luckily, his vitals were stable. Though Trinity was grateful, she also felt resentment and fear. He'd just saved them, saved her, and this is what happened to him? He didn't deserve this. He needed actual rest and food and warmth, and she wanted more than anything for him to wake up and look into her eyes again. This can't be fucking happening, she thought to herself as anxiety tore through her body.

Trinity vaguely registered someone talking to her. She was told she should get some rest. But she wasn't going to leave him. She will never leave his side again, she vowed. She almost sobbed, remembering that night in Zion where she told him she'd never let go. So she held his hand, kissed his knuckles before gently kissing his lips. (It was worth a try, wasn't it?)

She knew the redhead (what was her name again?) was watching them covertly, but Trinity didn't care. She didn't care if everyone knew about them at this point. All she wanted was for Neo to come back to her. She would do anything to get him to come back to her.

Anything.

A/N: And there you go! Sappy sap, but I love it. And now we are on to movie 3! I don't know how many chapters will be dedicated to it before we move onto 4, but I'm fine with that. :-) As always, feel free to reviewww! (Please and thank you!) And special super big thanks to Lucy and Victoria for their continued encouragement and support!