Pushing through the layers of sleep and blackness she tried to find the constant that had kept her sane. It wasn't there. Panic gripped hard around her heart, hastening it. Worst case scenario was too much to bear and she would know, but then the crew wasn't of the same opinion as herself, they might have kept her alive. The fuzziness began to clear and the cold wall greeted her eyes. Struggling against the weight of the blankets she realized that there was something very wrong. Since she couldn't get out of bed unassisted, the girl called for someone, or tried to, her voice failed to be more than a scratchy noise drowned out by the unnoticed sounds of the ship. Fighting back terror she gave a final effort at escaping from the confines of the blankets. Pausing for a second to assess her success, breathing heavily, she realized her cheeks were wet, her lips salty. Frowning she lifted a hand gingerly to her face and found the tell tale paths of tears. She swore croakily.
"I don't want to have to wash your mouth out with soap for that," a voice said from the direction of the doorway, only slightly more audible than her own. Craning her neck around she tried to see the owner, who laughed at her, moving towards the bed. The weight felt so familiar she daren't breath incase it as a dream. A cool hand touched her brow and suddenly she was looking up into familiar eyes, having found the strength to maneuver to see him.
"Just as determined as ever, hey Gale?" His mouth twitched upward in a smile and she struggled under the blankets once more, worming her arms free before looping them around his neck and hugging him.
"I met the Fai, I met them."
"Me too, he saved me."
"I knew he would." For a moment they said nothing more, he had pulled her upright, arms enfolding her, clutched around her thin waist.
"I've missed you so much Gale."
"I've lost count, are you mad." The words were still at the other's ear, the pair refusing to let go. Some time later, a very worried Neo walked in.
"There you are!"
"Can I say it?" Trinity asked behind him.
"Don't you…"
"I told you so." She smiled, slipping past him and calling the girl's attention away from her newly found friend.
"Thank you!" The girl cried, eyes bright with joy.
"You both need rest," the woman said mock sternly, "unless you promise to be good and quiet we'll have to take you to separate rooms and lock the doors." The horrified looks were enough to convince the adults there would be no more disturbances. They left in silence.
"Morpheus wanted them to be apart until they healed."
"They wouldn't heal without the other, he knows that."
"Like I wouldn't have come back without you." She didn't look at him, silent as they walked back to the Core, they had work to do.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Neo ran his fingers softly through Trinity's hair as the lights changed to simulate day.
"Do I have to get up now?" He smiled softly, watching her eyes open heavily when he didn't answer. "Alright, I'm up." She ran a hand through her hair, sitting upright. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed he was already dressed.
"I was thinking."
"About?"
"Them. I don't want them separated. It would be more than cruel."
"We can't have them here, too dangerous for all involved."
"There's a solution, I know it."
"We'll find it Neo, we'll find it together." She reaches for her clothes and slips them on fluidly, walking stride for stride with Neo as they head to the galley. Something makes her stop. A moment later he hears it, laughter, bright and happy, fills the metal walls of the Neb. The girl is laughing over her breakfast, exactly as Trinity had seen in her mind what seemed like an age ago.