Disclaimer: Not mine, couldn't handle the pressure

A/N: Just gotta say, this is one of my fav stories that I've written, so I'm glad you're enjoying it too. Responses to reviews are at the bottem. This is mainly two flashbacks, and then I'm hoping to have the last chappie with one last flashback and something like a conclusion. I meant to update this a few days ago, but the next update will be slower, cuz I need to tweak the chappie, and also I've got a friend who went to Singapore coming to visit (and two of my friends have made matters v v complicated). Here goes.

Say You're Here

Neo sat on the bed, alone. Thoughts of worry still filling his head, though now a new thought had joined the others. 'Why did I push Trin away? I need her' He did need her. He loved her. He couldn't do it alone.

***

Outside the room, Trinity stood, her hand raised, ready to knock. Then it dropped. She wasn't sure if she could do this, be there for him. She wanted too, wanted to be there for him, to help- but what if she couldn't? What if she hadn't changed enough from the cold, harsh solider she was before. Neo had changed her, created a crack in her armour, but only enough for her to let him in. What if that wasn't enough?

            The thoughts flew around her head as she stood outside their room. Hearing a slight whimper from inside, Trinity threw her fears out of the window. If Neo was upset, she would be there. If he cried, she'd wipe away all of his tears, and if he screamed, she'd fight away all of his fears. She was Trinity; she didn't get scared.

            She knocked softly

"Neo?"

A pause. Then, quietly, the door creaked open to reveal Neo leaning against the doorframe.

"Hey."

"Are you ok?" She had never seen the point in small talk, always straight to the point.

"I'm fine."

"What happened back there, in the Matrix?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Neo, you have to. I need to know what's wrong. I can't help you if I don't know."

"Well maybe I don't need any help." His eyes flashed with quiet anger, and for the first time Trinity noticed the redness around his them. He'd been crying.

"Neo, you can't do this alone. It'll consume you. I know."

"I don't need your sympathy, Trin. It's no big deal."

"If it's 'no big deal' like you say, why were you crying?" Neo's gaze flicked to the floor while Trinity continued. "I spent a long time on my own, Neo, I thought I could handle everything- my past, my family, me. But I couldn't. I needed someone. You showed me that. So let me help you." Slowly, Neo stepped back, allowing Trinity to enter the room.

"Thank-you."

            Carefully, she took him by the hand and led him to the bed, waiting for him to speak. When he just stared at his hands, one still connected with hers, Trinity decided to talk first.

"Who was he?"

There was a long pause.

"My step-dad."

"Why did you freeze?" her voice was gentle, caring, far from the stoic Trinity he knew outside.

"I just- did" There was a pause before Neo spoke again.

"When I was younger, m- my dad was like my best friend." He stopped, gathering his thoughts. Trinity gripped his hand, noting his unusual stutter.

"I wasn't exactly the most social butterfly. We used to play Monopoly together all the time- I loved that game." he smiled grimly at the memory.

"Then, when I was seven, he, he died. There was a car crash on his way back from work. I saw him in hospital- he looked horrible." Trinity squeezed his hand again to reassure him she was still there as his eyes filled with tears and he stared at something nobody else could see.

~*~

Thomas pushed open the hospital door slowly. Inside lay his father, hooked up to dozens of machines, all bleeping and showing blue lines.

            As he sat down at his fathers side, Thomas realised he was shaking. Covering his father's hand with his own, smaller, seven year old hands, he surveyed the damage, through all- seeing eyes. Cuts covering his face had already been stitched up. There wasn't much blood on his skin, but his hair was caked with the stuff. Ignoring the inner turmoil at seeing his father like this, the young boy tried to speak to him.

"Hello Daddy. How are you? Mommy said you might be in here a while. Are you going to be ok? Daddy?"

Thomas looked again at his Dad. As if in reply to his question, his body seemed to spasm- his whole body moving, as if wrestling something in his sleep. Rising quickly from his chair, Thomas backed away from the bed as nurses poured into the room. One quickly hurried Thomas from the room.

~*~

"He died officially three days later. I missed most of the funeral. Had to be taken out 'cause I didn't understand why he was gone- couldn't accept it. Then, when I was nine, my mum remarried. Vince. I hated him. I felt like mum was betraying dad's memory in some way. I guess it was all right at first. Anna, my stepsister was really nice."

"In the Matrix- that was Vince?" Neo nodded, not looking at Trinity.

"Everything went wrong eventually. Vince got really angry with mum and hit her. And he hit me. Anna told me what he used to do to her- what he used to be like- before he met mum. He used to beat her." He looked at her then, wondering if she understood the full meaning of her words.

~*~

Anna slowly pulled up her sleeve. Thomas leaned forward to look. What he saw there made him gasp. Her whole arm, from the elbow, was covered in bruises and cuts. As he stared at them, trying to comprehend, Anna broke the silence.

"It started when I was nine, like you."

"What happened?"

"I guess he just got angry. He drank a lot, and one time it just went too far. He stopped when he met your mum. I thought he'd changed, but I guess he was just pretending. As was I."

"Do you think he'll start again?"

"I don't know." Her eyes focused "But you can't let him get to you. You can't give up. Ever"

"I won't."

"Tom, I swear, it was hell living with him. If he starts again, I'll run away for sure. And if dad finds out I told you- he'll kill me."

"He'll never find out, we'll make it. Promise."

"That's good to know."

~*~

A/N: There, hope you liked. Please review, I'll update quicker it you do!!!

Responses

Shadow 2207- Thanks for the review, hope you like what I've done with it, and given a good explanation for most things!

Thereisnobrain- I love your name! It is sooo cool! Sorry, had to say that. Supposedly the man got shot, though I wasn't planning on revealing that, as it wasn't serious, and he won't die from it, so it was mainly just for my info. Hope you don't explode, cuz well, general badness when you start having people explode. Did anybody else see that ep of Buffy when she screamed and those guys heads exploded and all that green stuff came out? So cool.

Divamercury- Glad you like. I liked the bit about Trinity falling! I basically needed some background stuff, and even if it seemed OOC, the point was that Neo barely noticed. But, yay! I've got someone hooked! It is so cool to hear that!

Starlight623- Thanks for the review, hope you liked this chappie.

Angel-Of-Lightness- Hey, thanks for the review. Do I get put in prison for crimes against humanity? And if I update often, you've got to too!

Teresa- Thanks, good to know you 'likey'! Cool word.

Annonymous- Thanks for the review.