Title: Atonement
Rating: G/PG for this chapter
Chapter: 4
Contact: synth3sis@yahoo.co.uk
Note: Short chapter, sorry. This one's a bridge to the next, which I PROMISE will be more action packed. Please keep reading, and thank you all for the reviews!

The atmosphere in the small side room where Otacon lie was tense. A doctor left, having said all she could; Otacon was blind, most likely temporary due to the swelling in his face, but it could have more far-reaching consequences. Apart from that, he was slightly confused and had limited memory, but the doctor assured Leon that these symptoms were normal for someone waking from a coma. Apparently, all would come back in time.

Alone once more, Leon sat down next to Otacon. He'd been moved out of intensive care, but he wasn't going anywhere fast. He held Otacon's hand, stroking it gently.

"Hal, it's me, Leon… Do you remember who I am?" He hoped that Otacon would recognize him, his nearest and dearest.

Otacon gave a low negative grunt, and Leon withdrew his hand, hurt by the lack of recognition. It was just his brain, fogged by the coma, he told himself, but there was a part of him afraid that Otacon would blame him somehow, or come out of this a different person and not need him anymore.

A face peered around the door and then the figure snuck back in. It was Snake.

"How is he?" Snake asked, "I couldn't get close enough to hear the doctor; there were orderlies everywhere…"

"He's temporarily blind, but perhaps it will be permanent, and he doesn't remember much. He looked at the floor… He doesn't even know who I am." He stood up, wanting to go for another drink. Snake took his seat, and spoke softly to Otacon.

"Hey, Otacon, the doctors say you'll be all right. You rest up; we'll take care of Metal Gear." He smiled warmly, forgetting for a second that Otacon couldn't see.

"S…Snake?" Otacon recognized Snake, and Snake confirmed with a grunt.

Leon stormed out of the room and down the stark corridor quickly, anxious to put as much distance between him and Snake as he could. It not only hurt that Otacon hadn't recognized him, but also that he'd recognized Snake straight away. Those two were too close…

He felt anger bubbling in his veins, wanted to take on Snake for infringing on his territory. He would find a way to make Snake suffer…or at least to keep what was his.

^*^

"I've got an idea." Leon stepped into the room, coffee in hand, looking determined.

"Oh?" Snake said, wondering when they could finally get out of the hospital and go home. He ached for some action, and some revenge.

"Metal Gear's not gonna wait for Hal to get better. We need to get moving, make some plans. You're well enough, now; get out of this hospital and make some plans, so when Hal gets out of here we can actually get moving." Leon perched himself against a radiator in the room, and quickly stood up again when the heat met him through his clothing.

Snake didn't need to be a mind reader to know that Leon wanted him out of the way, but he really hated hospitals, and it did make sense to start making plans as soon as possible. They'd already lost a week being treated, and Snake was paranoid that someone would recognize him and alert others to his presence, and in turn put Otacon in danger. Metal Gear wasn't going to go away, the more they'd wasted time here, the closer it had come to completion. Otacon was out for the count as far as information went, with his brain fogged and memory incomplete, and he didn't trust Leon as far as he could throw him (which was probably quite a distance).

"I'll go," he said, decided on his course of action, "I'll check into a new hotel; are you wired, Leon?" He tapped his ear, indicating his codec.

"Yeah," Leon replied, "Frequency 146.19."

Snake made a mental note and stood up. "Well, I'll check out and leave you guys to it. If anything changes, contact me at once." He spoke the words as an order; not a request, and Leon felt his tone was that of distrust and lack of respect.

Snake closed the door behind him, and Leon sat down next to Otacon, "I dunno why you like that guy, Otacon; he's nothing but trouble. He'll betray you someday, you know that…?"

^*^

Snake looked in the mirror, brushed his hair back. He felt a mess, and was exhausted, despite having had a lot of rest in the hospital. He sat down on the bed with only the clothes on his back – and even they weren't his. He'd gone back to Leon and told him he wasn't leaving in a hospital garb – finally letting his temper go, Leon had thrown Hal's clothes at him - "He won't be needing them anytime soon" – and told him to get out.

He peeled the t-shirt off, it was tight, and Otacon wore everything baggy. They smelled like Otacon, and somehow the smell reminded him of Shadow Moses. Of course, they'd both smelled of sweat then; there was no time for a quick shower on the battlefield. To him, it was the scent of fear, exhilaration, and the limits of human endurance. He shrugged it off, and showered, letting the water wash away the bad memories.

Leon. Snake could be sure as day that he had something to hide, and the revelation that he'd been the creator of the new Metal Gear only cemented that belief. How Otacon had ever trusted Leon enough to get into a relationship was beyond him. He knew there was a lot he didn't know; that only unnerved him more.

Otacon had lied to him, too. He said he'd let Leon in on the Metal Gear secret… when he'd known all along. Snake felt bad for suspecting his best friend, too, but nothing seemed to add up… If only he'd been able to talk to Otacon that day… the day they were attacked…

Then it dawned on him… and if his suspicions were correct, he and Otacon were in deep trouble. But he had no proof, and he knew the only way to find out the truth was to play along… He only hoped that he wouldn't sacrifice their lives in doing so.