A.N. : Sorry for the long waiting, but school (help! I'm dead!) is really keeping me busy!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Matrix.

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Mind Games

Chapter3: So weird

"Holy shit... I mean... Holy shit."

That was the first shocked comment of a same shocked Link when Morpheus told him the strange situation they had faced in the Matrix.

Actually, Link had seen the man approach Trinity, but she could take care of herself, so he hadn't worried too much. And he couldn't know he was the program, until it had been too late. "I've never seen Neo look so... so upset..." he sighed audibly. Silence.

"Sir... what are we doing now?" he spoke again after a long pause, glancing at the thoughtful captain. Morpheus turned to him.

"Let's get some rest, then we'll have a talk... hoping that Trinity will feel like telling us what exactly happened."

"At least, the program didn't really attacked Trinity and Neo... did he?"

"Not physically... but he used the worst thing to hurt them... he attacked their hearts."

"Trinity, please, open the door. Please." Neo's voice came softly trough the metal, followed by a hesitant knock. Trinity didn't answer.

She was curled up on the bed, hugging her knees against her chest.

It wasn't her intention, but she had completely ignored Neo, that had been knocking on the door for the past half an hour, pleading her to get out and talk with him. Poor Neo. She wandered how he could be so quiet and sweet with her, despite his anger before, even after such a thing. He's so worried for me that he almost doesn't care of what I did. But I can't even explain... oh Neo, I'm so sorry...

Her heart hurt. Of all people, Neo didn't deserve that. Still, she couldn't face him. Not yet.

She closed her eyes and a few tears slid down her cheeks, letting out a sorrowful sigh when he finally gave up and went away after a last prayer. Later, a wave of fatigue hit her, and she drifted into a restless sleep. Oh Neo... I feel so weird... so weird...

Neo leaned slightly against the door, closing his eyes in sadness. Please, Trin, talk to me... talk to me... he pleaded mentally. I can't stand you to be in this way... please, tell me what can I do... for you...

"Please... I'm with you..." he whispered, his hand running down the smooth surface of the metal door. Nothing.

Neo shuddered in the silence, feeling the cold and the tiredness hit him. He reluctantly lgave up and walked slowly to their quarters, sad and disconsolate. As soon as they had got out of the Matrix, in complete silence, Trinity had practically run away into one of the cabin, the first she had reached, locking the door. And he had just spent a good half an hour trying to persuade her to open it. God, what can I do?

He wasn't angry with her. He couldn't hold a grudge against the woman he loved. Not for too long. Worry had completely filled and covered his momentary anger.

Not knowing how to face such a situation and help her was driving him crazy. Once in the cabin, he let himself drop heavily on the bed for a while, exhausted. Then he sat, back and head against the wall, racking his brains to find a solution.

Come on, admit it... you liked it... don't you see? You can't help thinking about it...

No! I didn't like it! And I don't like you! I hate you!

You're mine now... don't try to deny it... otherwise, why are you here alone?

It's none of your fucking business! Let me go!

You should be with your boyfriend at this moment, if you really loved him, shouldn't you? But you're with me... why don't we have a little fun?

Cruel laughs followed his words.

NO! THAT'S NOT TRUE! I LOVE HIM! GET OUT OF ME!

Trinity woke up with a violent jerk, gasping hard... and falling on the cold floor of the Neb. Thank God, it was just a dream... good riddance.

She stood up slowly, then she took a deep breath to held back a horrible sense of nausea in her stomach. She had been tossing and turning in the bed, all because of that damned dream. Dream? No, not a dream... more a nightmare.

Besides, that bastard of a program sounded like Cypher. Cypher... that memory always made her feel angrier and sadder.

Trinity slipped out of the cabin and walked silently to the mess hall. It was empty. Well, she didn't want to see anyone, just do something to keep herself busy. She gripped a cup of water and sat on the bench, taking a few sips, then she looked tiredly at her reflex.

Suddenly, the deep blue of the eyes staring at her slowly dissolved to change in a familiar and hated grey. Trinity winced and threw the cup down on the floor with rage. Ok, she also needed something to relieve herself from the tension in her mind. An idea occurred to her, and she quickly got out of the room.

You know... I really enjoyed kissing your woman...

You viscid...

What a pity that she's with you... What can you offer her? I think she deserves much better...

Like you, you bastard!?!

I can get everything I want... even her... and you can't stop me...

NOOO! DON'T DARE TO!

Neo jolted awake, holding back a frustrated scream of anger and desperation. His hands clenched in fists. Then a lot of different thoughts exploded in his mind. God, Neo, stop it! He's just a program! You're jealous of a machine! Stop being ridiculous, Trinity would never... But she did, didn't she? Another voice echoed. Again that voice.

Neo shook violently his head, trying to suppress it. No, Neo, you're not an idiot... you're a colossal idiot. She's Trinity, your Trinity, you know her... and if you don't even trust her... he stood up. I have to talk with her, trough a wall, if it's necessary...

Don't worry, sooner or later I'll catch you, you son of- "Ah!"

Link literally jumped when a hand fell heavily on his shoulder. He turned, only to see a very annoyed Trinity behind him.

"Jesus Christ, Trinity, you scared the shit out of me!" he exclaimed, sighing in relief.

Trinity didn't even seem to hear him.

"Link, plug me in."

"What?!"

"Quiet, just in the Construct. Some combat simulations."

"Ah..." Link sighed again. "Ok."

Neo reached the cabin in which Trinity was supposed to be, and found it open. Wordlessly, he turned and ran down the corridor that took to the Core, bumping in Morpheus.

"Neo! I'm glad to see you're ok..." the captain glanced at him. "...physically."

"Where is Trinity? Finally she got out of the room."

"Maybe she's in the Core... listen, Neo, we all know Trinity, if she has done... that, it means that she was forced to-"

"I know, that's why I'm looking for her..." Neo interrupted him. "And I know it's hard for her, but she has to explain to me everything, otherwise I can't help her..."

Morpheus nodded in agreement, then they both hurried to the Core.

Huh! That surely hurts like hell! I'm glad I can't jack in! Link thought, wincing as he saw Trinity knock out another virtual enemy with her famous levitation-kick.

"Link..."

The operator turned abruptly to see Neo standing beside him.

"God, but everyone really wants to scare me to death!" he complained half-jokingly.

"Sorry... please, get Trinity out, I absolutely have to talk with her..."

"Sure." The other man said, typing on the keyboard, while Neo moved to unplug Trinity.

Never found a better way to calm myself down... Trinity mused, jumping to avoid a flying-kick. She was about to knock a right hook in the face of her digital opponent, when everything suddenly disappeared and she found herself in the Construct. What the hell...?

Then she felt her RSI code dissolve and leave the program. A few second later, her eyes snapped open, and the cold of the Neb greeted her.

"Link, why did-" she trailed off curtly as he saw Neo's face above her.

So, you like it? I changed some things in the chapters beacuse I think they needed it. I'm writing the next chapters, but I have really a little time. Please, Review!