Disclaimer: Not mine. No son mios.

= : Thoughts.

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Chapter ten: Hidden feelings

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"Well done team, the cyborg has been destroyed, as well as the warehouse, and we are already miles away. I don't think we will have any more troubles for a while, and I am almost done with that mind transferer. By the way 003, good timing with the body control change."

"It was all luck Dr. Gilmore, If we hadn't had that bump in the head it wouldn't have happened," 003 answered.

"Well, whatever it was. Now I'll do some minor repair work on the deck. If any one feels like helping please follow me."

Most of the cyborgs went with Dr. Gilmore, some other went to their rooms, including 003. Not that she didn't want to help, but she felt annoyance coming from 009. Once she was in there, she wound up her ballerina music box and sat on the bed.

"009, you are awfully quiet."

=mmm...=

"What's wrong? Are you angry because you can't control my body any more?"

003 knew perfectly well that was not the reason, but she preferred to allow him to express himself.

=No... no, it's nothing like that. =

"Then what is it?"

=It's just that... I wasn't of much help in the battle. Why didn't it occur to me to use your powers the way you did? It seems so logical now.=

"You were not useless, you were the one who detected the octopus first. If not for that, it would have caught us all by surprise."

=But I was able to do it only because you helped me.=

"Joe... I am used to it. They are my powers. I have some time with them, you only have three days. If I were in your body I probably wouldn't have a clue of what to do with your acceleration mode either. You are a great leader and your abilities have saved us countless times. You'll be back soon."

=I hope. 003, thanks for your words.=

She smiled at his words and then there was a comfortable silence, where only the soft notes of the music box could be heard.

=You know? Now I appreciate even more what you do. How important is your part in making us work as a team. I don't mean that I didn't appreciate it before, but I understand it much better now.=

003's cheeks turned red, now that she was back in control.

=You look so cute when you blush Francoise.=

"You really think so?" Asked 003 taking her hands to her face, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of red.

009 didn't realize his thoughts had crossed his mental walls, but now he couldn't take it back.

=Eh... Yeah. I do.=

"You never told me that before."

=I... eh... I... uhm... well, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable.=

"How could you make me feel uncomfortable by telling me I look cute?"

=I dunno. I don't have much experience with women you know.=

"But I am your friend."

=But you're more than a friend to me. = 009 kicked himself; his thoughts had crossed the barrier again. It was difficult to control the thoughts that stayed and the ones that crossed when he was that nervous.

"What? Do I make you nervous?" 003 was enjoying this chat very much. It was now her turn for revenge.

=N-no. Nervous? Me? Not at all. Why should I?=

"Alright, I am not so cruel to keep on teasing you like this. But Joe?"

=Yes?=

"When you are back in your body, maybe we could restart this conversation."

=Eh...ok...=

"You know... about me being more than a friend to you."

=La lala la la la laaaaaa.=

003 chuckled this time. "Ok ok. I will drop it."

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Next chapter: Do you know what it feels like for a girl? Heh heh heh :D well... Joe will know! And he won't like it!.

Thanks for the reviews, I will answer you guys at the end of this fic. And of course, how couldn't I thank GA2?