"Flash!" Trinity called out when she and Neo entered the infirmary together.

Flash poked his head out from under the medical table.

"Yeah?"

"Neo was hurt while working in the engine room. Niobe had me bring him up." Trinity replied calmly.

"Okey dokey, let's clean you up and check you out then. Come on over and sit on the table." Flash gestured towards the bare slab of metal before turning towards a sink and filling a small bowl with water.

"Ouch. That's looks painful, how'd it happen?" Flash asked as he began to gently clean the wound with soap and water.

Wincing slightly, Neo responded, "When I turned the power switches to the cockpit back on, a wire burst and got me."

"Damn. I hope that didn't do anymore damage to the cockpit."

"I don't think it did." Neo replied, gazing over Flash's shoulder to a spot on the wall.

"Well, let me just put some ointment on it and then wrap it up and you'll be fine. Try not to flex it too much or shit like that. You get me?" Flash asked as he proceeded to rub a yellow-ish ointment on Neo's hand.

"Got it." A moment passed in silence as Neo and Trinity watched Flash wrap Neo's hand up.

"All right. That should do it. Check back later so I can make sure it doesn't get infected." Flash commented as Neo slide off the metal slab.

Nodding, Neo turned, only to stop and stare at Bane, still in a coma.

"How's he doing?" Neo asked absently.

"Eeh, no change. Still, there are abnormal readings for his vital statistics. Like he's not himself." Flash waved his hand at the monitors.

"Hmmm. Well, I better get back to the engines. Thanks." Neo smiled before turning to leaving, following Trinity out.

~~*~~

-Five Days Later-

"My God, Neo looks so, so, miserable." Sparks commented to Morpheus on the sixth day of Neo and Trinity's punishment.

"Mmmm. I agree, but so does Trinity. I can bet you, before the day is out, they'll find a way." Morpheus.

"They'd be breaking the punishment rules." Sparks argued.

"Since when did either of them listen to rules? Half the time they ignore what I tell them to do in the Matrix and out. The only time they listen and follow commands every time they are given is when it's one of them commanding the other. Trinity obeys Neo in the Matrix and Neo almost always obeys Trinity in the real world. It's how they work so well together. When their views collide, a fight ensues. Which, granted doesn't occur often, but when it does-." Morpheus trailed off.

"What happens?" Sparks asked, intrigued.

Link, who had entered during Morpheus' explanation, continued where he had left off.

"Well, the fight involves many curses and insults, objects being thrown-"

"Thrown?" Sparks asked, shocked.

"Yeah, though that only happens once Neo has really pissed Trinity off. Which he follows up, throwing something back, not at her of course, just back. Eventually someone shows true, hard core emotion and the fight collapses." Link finished, taking a seat in the second Operator's chair.

"Then what happens?"

"Well, they forgive each other in the most passionate act of human survival." Morpheus replied with a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Oh. Wow. They never tire of one another? I mean, they are always around each other, and generally after you're in a relationship for some time, it cools down. It seems like they never do." Sparks continued, trying to understand.

"I know what you mean, but daily they risk their lives. It kindles a fire that never dies because it's that daily clash with death that makes them want to remember and prove that they are alive. It's also a way to assert that their lover is not gone. Neo and Trinity have both died, and they brought each other back to life. That's why they never grow tired of one another or 'cool down', as you say. They have lost what they hold most dear, and have gotten it back because they simply won't LET the other go. That's the power that amazes every observer of their love." Morpheus took a breath, watching Sparks' reaction.

"So your saying that they will break any and all rules just to be together? Even in the real world?"

Smiling softly at the knowledge that right this moment Neo was about to break the rules, Morpheus replied, "Something like that."

~~*~~

Neo slid down the ladder before stepping on the last two rungs for the main deck. Walking as stealthily as possible, Neo moved into the mess hall. Upon finding who he expected to find there, he turned away, going back towards the ladder, a signal to no one but his lover to follow him. As he got onto the deck where the crewmembers' quarters were, Neo wasn't surprised to see Trinity climbing off the ladder behind him. Walking down the hall to Ghost's quarters, Trinity walked in behind Neo before closing the door tightly, hoping no one would come in.

"Six days." Neo whispered from across the small room. "I thought we might make it."

"But," Trinity whispered back, moving forward to press her forehead against his.

"But it was either die from the need to be with you or throw Niobe's ruling out the window and give in."

"Like you always do." Trinity reminded him, a small smile playing across her features as she captured Neo's lips with her own.

Neo gasped as their mouths opened, inviting tongues to clash. Taking her slowly down onto the bed, Neo felt the desire that had been building all week, push to crash down in waves and sensed Trinity struggling with the same problem. Clothes were shed quickly as the fire of desire burned brightly. His heart racing, Neo slid his hands up Trinity's sides, slowly letting go of all rational thought, but the moment he felt Trinity's lips against his neck, he forgot to think. Everything became reactions, wants, needs and desires.

And he gave in, like Trinity said. He gave in to her body's curves melding perfectly against his own as he rocked against her. He gave in as they fought to keep their passionate act silent but still furious. He gave in to her fingers pressing against his back, palm damp. He gave in to a soft moan that he could not hold back. He gave in to the crashing waves of pleasure. He gave in to her. Always to her.

As they lay, tangled together, hearts racing in unison, the door slowly opened, leaving barely enough time for Neo to grab a blanket and pull it over their naked bodies.

"Trinity, I was just- Oh, well, umm, hmmm." Sparks turned, taking an immediate interest in the metal door, trying to find a way around this embarrassing moment.

"Yes Sparks?" Trinity asked, sounding not a bit embarrassed, her tone all serious, sounding as if he'd just walked in on her reading instead of right after having sex.

"Well, I was gonna tell you that Niobe wanted to ask you something, but may I should just go tell her that you guys gave in."

"Would you really do that?" Trinity asked impassively.

Fumbling for a moment, his façade broke. "No."

"Okay then, when do I have to see her?" Trinity asked, moving back to the cause for the interruption.

"As soon as you are ready- or as least presentable." At the last comment Sparks smiled and closed the door.

"I swear, he can be worse than Link." Neo commented the moment the door shut.

"Mmmm. Well, I might as well go get ready." Trinity sat up, slowly pushing Neo off.

"We may have broken the rules, but I'm not sorry. Are you?" Neo asked offhand as he pulled his clothes on.

Trinity paused as she pulled her shirt on, then finished before leaning over and placing a soft kiss on his lips. Pulling back, she replied,

"No, and I never will be."