"Get out of my way." Her voice was soft, cold as ice and as strong as steel.
"No."
"Now." It was a command
"I won't let you do this." His softness was underlined with determination.
"You don't have a choice in the matter."
"Damnit, why won't you listen to me?" The velvet tore from the iron fist for a moment.
"Because you're wrong."
"How do you know? Everything I've said Link has verified."
"And Morpheus has given me permission. I'm going in." She would not let him win this.
"It's too dangerous." He was pulling her to him with his eyes.
"I can take care of myself."
"Let me come with you." A compromise, she didn't hesitate in her reply.
"No." It echoed his earlier denial, he tried a different approach.
"I can't," there was a pause as he tried to say something. "Please." He was begging.
"Stay here, I won't be long." It was the tone of reassurance, of promise.
"But they're so real!" For the first time she saw the fear in his eyes.
"And I'm faster than they are."
"Trinity, don't do this." He hardened again, trying to seem reasonable.
"I have to test it, I'm not putting you in danger over some stupid new training program."
"Please, don't go in there." One hand lay on her shoulder as he tried to gain her promise.
"Get your hand off me and let me do my job." The hand fell and she approached the chair.
"It is not your job to die in a simulation." She turned on him as he spoke.
"It is my job to protect the ones I care about. You will go in there over my dead body."
"All ready for you Trinity." Link said, moving towards his station.
"Please, let me, I'm the One, I can do this."
"And I can't?" Her eyes flashed angrily.
"I don't want to risk it." He took a step towards her.
"Risk what Neo?" She stepped closer, voice deadly quiet. "I am nothing to you."
"You are everything to me." He countered with feeling.
"Then let me go."
"No." It was torn from his throat, harsh and fearful yet endlessly determined.
"If I come back, I'm yours."
"No Trinity, I can't risk this."
"What Neo? Can't risk what?"
"I… I…" He stumbled over the words, trying to get them out. She stepped away.
"If you can't say it, it isn't real Neo." She settled her weight in the chair as the silence wore on.
"Are you going to stand there, or are you going to plug her in?" Link asked the statue-like One.
"Shit." With fumbling fingers, Neo reached for the spike, carefully sliding it home.
"Alright, let's get this program started." Link tapped at the keys and Neo watched from his position beside Trinity. The captain walked in and joined the others, carefully assessing the code that ran in green rivulets down the screen.
*~*~*
A/N: I hope you like this bit, if so I'll continue, if not I'll remove it and leave this at just a chapter story J Review please!