Sub-Zero awoke suddenly when someone touched his arm. He instinctively grabbed the offending digits, and a high-pitched squeak of alarm pierced his clouded brain. He opened his eyes just a crack to allow them to adjust and let go of the nurse he had startled.

The nurse was an attractive blonde woman, and was quite flushed from being surprised. Judging by her features, she was of European ancestry, leading him to wonder where on Earth he was. The room was plain, but most medical facilities aren't overly concerned décor. He did note, however, that he was in a single occupancy room, and there was someone in a military uniform posted outside his door.

Still flustered, the nurse pushed the call button beside the monitoring equipment on the wall. She turned her attention to him and said, "I was just coming in to check your temperature."

He smiled when he saw the type of thermometer she was carrying and replied, "Not with that you're not," with mock indignance, but his mouth felt like cotton and it came out more as a garbled mess.

"I've called the doctor, she should be here soon. You just lie still and I'll get you some water," she said before scurrying out.

His eye having fully adjusted to the light, he began to take full stock of the situation. Aside form the usual medical equipment, the room also contained a small side table, which had a get-well card on it, a television, and what he suspected was a video camera.

He seemed to be in pretty good shape, although the dull ache in his abdomen indicated he wasn't fully healed. There was an IV and device in her left hand, but he couldn't quite read what the bag of fluid said from his vantage point. The skin beneath the tape on his face was itching, which told him that his nose was still healing but when he felt it there was no cast. How long had he been unconscious?

Realizing that the doctor was not about to appear instantaneously, he set about counting the ceiling tiles to pass the time.

---

Sonya set about her paperwork with an uncharacteristic smile. She had just gotten back from a visit with Jax, who was looking better everyday. His scars would remain, but other than that he was expected to fully recover and return to his post within six months.

The paperwork was also a bit better that the morning drudgery that normally appeared on Monday mornings. The paper in front of her was a report commending Lieutenant Evans and the intelligence team for their work in the takeover of the Red Dragon headquarters and the destruction of the Tekunin. The young officer would go far in the OIA if she continued with such work.

Next on the list was a briefing on the Tekunin mission, which she looked forward to writing with a sort of vindictive pleasure. Thanks to the unintended diversion caused by Sub-Zero and his student, the advance team had gotten in almost completely unnoticed, and jacked into the security controls, almost immediately, leading to a smooth attack. More importantly, Sektor was dead and all the Tekunin seemed to be accounted for.

So it was with a friendly face she greeted the messenger who knocked on her door. "Enter!"

"Ma'am," the agent saluted, and the smile on his handsome face told her that he was the bearer of good news. "Dr. Davis has sent up a message the Lin Kuei has woken up."

She smiled and replied, "Its about damn time."

----

Frost received the message that Sub-Zero would be returning to the Ice Temple within the hour with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. While she was glad to hear that her sifu was well again, she dreaded what he might have to say to her.

She found herself wondering what proper protocol for a situation like this was; should she greet him when he first arrived, wait for him to call her to his office, go ahead and commit hara kiri? Her nervous energy was getting to be too much and she started wandering the hallways aimlessly.

She had no particular destination in mind, so when she found herself in one of the practice areas she decided it was as good as any other place to be. Walking to the center of the room, she got her first stance and began the Yuan Yang kata. The moves flowed smoothly enough, but her heart- mind just wasn't in it.

The last pose was just finished when she heard a voice from the doorway. "Very good, but your kicks are still off balance."

She turned to face her sifu as he came carefully down the steps and stiffly walked towards her. The injuries he had sustained were barely noticeable, Frost noted, although the plaster strip on his nose and loose shirt indicated he was still not fully healed.

He was watching her curiously, and suddenly she felt irrationally shy. There was not a single thing she could think to say as she dropped her gaze to the floor timidly. Finally, she felt a cold hand lifting her chin, and looked into her sifu's eyes. His other hand gingerly traced the scar forming from the scar wound running down her eye.

"Its not a badge of hone, you know," he said wryly.

She smiled nervously. "How did you get yours?" She asked, glad to take the attention off of herself.

"It was given to me when I betrayed the clan and refused to be automated," he sighed. "You have no idea how lucky you are for escaping."

"I know," she replied quietly. "I already got that lecture from Smoke."

"I'm sure you'll hear it several times, from everyone. We all had to go through a lot to save your ass," he shook his head.

"You're not mad, are you?" she asked.

"Are you kidding? I'm absolutely furious! You nearly got me killed, in case you didn't notice."

"... I guess I'll go pack my things then," she said meekly, and turned to go.

"Oh no, you aren't going to get off that easily," he smiled slightly when she blanched. "You are going to be scrubbing the toilets until your arm falls off."

Frost looked up hopefully, "You aren't going to kick me out/"

"No. No I'm not," he said with a sight. "Contrary to popular belief, I was once young and know what its like to do very stupid things. That doesn't mean I'm not going to make you sincerely regret the past few weeks, though."

Frost's face fell, but she tried to be optimistic. "That's good...I guess."

"Of course. Now go find me a cup of tea and tell Smoke to meet me in my office," he ordered, and headed back to business as usual.

---

Fin

---

Author's Notes: I found it quite amusing that everyone was begging for Frost not to die, when Midway offed her themselves. bastards In reality, Frost was never intended to die in this story; it was Sub-Zero who wasn't going to make it out of the Tekunin headquarters.

About the ending: I left a lot of loose ends still floating about in the hopes that I will be inspired to write a sequel. Or set another story in the time period of this one.