Author's Note: Shame on me! I am so sorry I haven't updated in like months! School has been so crazy, and then this lil story completely left the vicinity of my mind. To all of you who are actually reading this, all I have to say is opps and sorry! Anyway, I hope you enjoy! I'll try to update again tomorrow if I can *don't roll your eyes at me!* Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving!

Disclaimer: read chapter one. :P

------------------Where we last left our friends------------------------------------

"I'm assuming you mean Nous is awake."

"She's waiting for you."

"Good." Morpheus headed towards the ladder I had just came up from. I headed towards the core.

About 15 minutes ladder I could hear voices drifting towards me. I knew it must be Morpheus giving Nous 'the tour'. I went to stand beside Switch and Dozer. I was coming down a ladder from the upper level and Tank came out of the mess. We were all ready to meet the newest member of the crew, at least those who hadn't met her already. Nous came towards us, following Morpheus, wrapped in a large blanket.

Morpheus introduced us one by one. "That's Dozer and the one beside him is his little brother Tank. This is Switch, and I believe you already know Cypher." I gave her a small smile, which she gave me in turn. "You say you want to know what the Matrix is Nous?" She nodded. "Unfortunately, the Matrix cannot be explained, rather you have to see it for yourself." Tank moved towards the operator's chair and I walked with Morpheus, leading Nous to one of the uploading chairs. I began to set up the screen that monitors her vitals and she eyed it with interest. "Take a seat." She sat down, then laid back in the chair.

She looked nervous, I took her hand in mine. " This is going to feel weird." Then I plugged her in and she scrunched her eyes shut, I hit upload, and instantly her body relaxed. I walked towards the operator's chair, and with everyone, watched the screen intently as Morpheus explained the Matrix, the AI and what the real world was like. Nous hardly said anything throughout the whole explanation, which was very uncharacteristic of her. I looked at her vitals, something was wrong, adrenaline was way up, as was temperature, she was panicking. She was going to snap any minute now.

"I don't believe you! I don't believe any of this!" She was struggling in her chair; I hurried over and unplugged her. She practically bounced from the chair, then backed up until she was against one of the walls. We all moved closer. She closed her eyes and leaned heavily against the wall.

"She's going to pass out." I murmured. No one ever reacted well to being told that everything they've known, their whole lives has been fake, a lie, a dream. But she didn't fall to the floor, instead she took deep slow breathes. She kept her eyes closed, almost as if she believed that as long as she didn't see us she could wish us all away, wake up from this dream. Soon she slid to the floor and wrapped her arms around her knees. She barely moved. She barely made a sound. I moved forward and knelt down in front of her. "Nous?" I said her name softly, almost a whisper.

She hugged her legs closer. She looked so frail, so innocent like something you need to protect yet when she opened her eyes and looked at me I could see the intelligence and strength that laid within. "Tell me this is all a bad dream. That in a few minutes I'll wake up and this will all be gone…"

I looked at her. Watched as her eyes searched my face, as the tears rolled down hers. " I'm sorry, I can't." She nodded and held out her hand. I stood up and reached down, taking her tiny hand in mine. I pulled her to her feet. Everyone was still standing around us in a semi-circle.

"I think I want to go back to my room for awhile", Nous paused. "I need to think."

I put my hand on the small of her back and gently directed her back towards the living area. "I'll walk you back." I grabbed the blanket from the floor and wrapped it around her shoulders.