CHAPTER 6

Two days later...

Gordon paced back and forth as he waited in the waiting room. Misato was sitting by, looking grim. "Hey Gordon… What was it like being there… Being the Catalyst of the Resonance Cascade?" Gordon wasn't expecting her to ask that in a time like this, but he guessed she was just trying to make conversation. "Its was hard at first… Knowing that you triggered the very thing that… Began the end…" Misato said nothing but her story. "I was in Antarctica when second impact happened. My father sacrificed himself to save me." She clutched the cross necklace around her neck. "I wouldn't speak for 2 years…" Gordon felt bad, he read her file and knew she was the sole survivors of the Katsuragi Expedition. "We both have our demons, mine is that I can't help but feel that this whole thing was planned." Misato wanted to say that Second impact was planned, but she felt that he shouldn't know just yet. Just then the Doctor taking care of Ritsuko, came out and smiled at the two of them.

"Good news, she is already awake and patched up. We gave her some painkillers so she will be a bit out of it. Her left femur is going to be fine, it was fractured, but we fixed it." Gordon and Misato let out a sigh of relief. The doctor lead them to her room, where she sat in her bed all drugged up. When Ritsuko saw them she started speaking Japanese. "She is too high to speak English… Could you translate for me?" Misato nodded and sat next to Ritsuko. Misato talked to Ritsuko, and Ritsuko replied a bit slurred. "Ask her if she is feeling OK." Misato then asked her, to which Ritsuko replied. "She says yes and she feels fuzzy." Gordon chuckled. The two hung around Ritsuko until the doctor told them that she needed to rest. Misato and Gordon walked out of the hospital and sat at a bench in the Geo-front. "Hey Gordon, Tell me about your friends in your world. I've been meaning to get to know you better, and Shinji been telling me about how you were able to calm him down through the fourteenth angel, You saved both my boy and his friend." She smiled at him, making Gordon feel good inside. "Thanks, I just did what people should do… And as for my friends, we recently got in contact with the resistance back home. I used to work with these three. Dr Isaac Kleiner was a good friend of mine back in Black Mesa, and so was Dr Eli Vance. Eli argued with the administrator about studying that sample but ultimately backed down. And Barney Calhoun… He was a fun guy, he loved anime and would've flipped if he came here. And Eli's Daughter, Alyx, she is a fighter, just like her mother… She was 1 year old when the Black Mesa incident happened. Oh before you say how old I am, I'm still biologically 29, but chronologically I'm 49… Apparently the suited man kept me in stasis for 20 years…" Misato took this all in, there is much to learn from Gordon. "What about your friends that helped you escape Black Mesa?" She asked. "Ah, well, Tommy Coolatta died later on from the 7 hour war, Dr Harold Coomer died in Xen, Dr Bubby was never heard from again… And Benrey… he committed suicide… They were great people, Benrey was annoying but they were my friends…"

Misato felt bad for Gordon, she didn't know about that. She put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. "Well, they probably would've wanted you to move on and save the world." Gordon gave her a sad smile. "You know, Shinji's been asking if you were ever going to come over, but I told him that the commander wants you to stay in the Geo-front." Gordon sighed. "Well I'm sure that the Commander has his reasons… No matter how dumb they may be…" Misato chuckled. "Yeah that's Commander Ikari all right… Sub-commander Fuyutsuki is a much kinder man, I wonder why he even still listens to Ikari…" Gordon nodded in agreement. Gordon's Phone rang, and he looked at the caller ID to see it was Shinji calling. Gordon answered it and showed the phone to Misato, letting her know he was being called by Shinji. "Hey Shinji, how are you?" "I'm good Dr Freeman… I uh.. Called you to ask if you are available for me to see you in the Geo-front? I was hoping to get some advice from you…" Gordon was pleasantly surprised, Shinji wanted to better himself, and he was asking him for help. "Uh yes I'm available right now, just stop by Ritsuko's Lab and we can chat." "All right, thank you Dr Freeman." Shinji then hung up. "So It seems he does like you. Originally it was hard for him to reach out, but it seems you've cracked his shell." Gordon smiled and nodded. "So I have." Gordon got up and stretched. "I should head back to the lab to wait for him, ill also see if I can get him to say something to Asuka." Misato Giggled, and waved as he left.

Back in the lab, Gordon took out his Gravity gun and switched it on. He targeted a metal box, and grabbed it. He then repelled it at a target on the other side of the room. His Gravity gun has since came down from the energy spike from the citadel and is back to normal, albeit a bit overworked. He then checked off a list on a clipboard. His Gravity gun was still in relative good condition, but he liked to keep it maintained. The Door beeped signaling that someone was there. "Come in!" He said. The door opened to reveal Shinji holding a small box. "Hey Shinji, have a seat where ever." Shinji walked in and stood in front of Gordon holding out the small box. "For you Dr Freeman! For helping me think straight." Gordon took the box and opened it. Inside was a brand new Mp3 player, and a SD card with it. "I copied my favorite songs on to it, I thought you might like it. I hope this makes us even, If there is anything else I could do to make it up to you I-" Gordon stood up and hugged the boy, lord knows he needed this hug. Shinji was stiff and surprised at the sudden hug, but slowly accepted it. Shinji started to tear up a bit. This was the first hug he had in a LONG time. "Shinji, you don't need to do anything for me, taking my advice is enough, and I don't do this for me, I can tell you need someone to guide you. And since no one else is doing it, I thought I should." Gordon said. Shinji began to softly sob. What have they done to this kid? He cries from getting a hug! He really does need my help… Gordon remembered the days back in high school when he would act as an adviser to his friends. He wasn't popular, but he wasn't hated, people at his school would always come to him for help, as he was both athletic and a genius.

After calming Shinji down, he sat him in a chair and spoke to him. "So Shinji, You've come seeking the advice of Gordon Freeman, how can my Freeman's Mind be of use to you?" Shinji shuffled a little in his seat. "I need advice on how to appease Asuka… She likes it when I cook and stuff but she is always rude about it, she kinda bullies me a bit…" Gordon nodded as he listened. He remembered Barney saying something about an anime cliche, a personality that people have that bully people that they like, something called a Tsundere. He listened as Shinji explained the things she did to him, its ever getting more obvious, from Gordon's point of view. "She then one day asked if I wanted to try a kiss and-" Gordon put his hands up and sighed. "Shinji. She likes you. A lot." Gordon said with a smirk. This made Shinji very very red. "WAH?! She actually likes me back?!" Gotcha. "Oh yes, and from your response, You like her too!" Shinji turned even more red and began to stutter. "Sit down Shinji and learn from the Lady killer." Shinji hesitantly nodded. "Now, I've read both your files and I know that you two live with Misato. And I know that both of you come from a bad past. Shinji, I cant tell you anymore but I can say, you two have been hurt a lot. And I want to help you heal!" Gordon said putting a hand on Shinji's shoulder. "Now then let me enlighten you with some knowledge!"

After a bit of talking Gordon finally said. "All right Shinji, now I want you to go to the nearest exotic goods store and buy the finest German chocolate they have, then leave a note saying its from you to her. It may seem old fashion, but for a girl like her, I'm sure it'll be fine. But if she downplays it, use reverse psychology!" Shinji nodded at the advice. It was getting late so Shinji said his goodbyes and headed back to the surface. He decided to do it today and head to the local foreign goods store. He looked up and down the aisles until he found the Sweets section. He then scoured the shelves for the most elegant looking box of chocolates, until his eyes set upon one… It was a dark brown box with elegant looking decal, it was an assortment of German chocolates, it was from a brand that Asuka said she had liked. He checked the price and almost dropped it. 10,000 Yen! He shook his head and took the box with him to the check out, he has to do this, even if it includes not heading to the Arcade for a month. He paid for the Chocolate and headed back to Misato's apartment. He took the elevator and thought to himself what would happen if she didn't like the chocolate. He shook his head and continued to the apartment. He got out his key card and opened the door, to find his red head roommate standing there.

"There you are! Do you know how long I've been waiting for my dinner?!" But before the German could continue her rant, he held out the chocolates in front of him almost like a shield. She immediately quieted once she saw the box. "I-I was out talking to Dr Freeman, and on the way back, I got you these…" He said, stuttering in fear. "You… Got this for me?…" She sounded stunned as she looked both at the box and at Shinji. "Milka…" She slowly took the box from him. "You are forgiven! But don't let this happen again!" She then scurried inside and into her room to eat the box of chocolates. Shinji gave a weak smile. Gordon was right, she did like it. He headed inside to start cooking dinner when Misato came out of her room. "I heard from Gordon that you asked him for advice. That's good Shinji. You're finally coming out of your shell." She smiled at him as she pulled out a beer from the fridge and opened it. Shinji smiled. I guess I have…

"Ikari, judging on how well the outsider handled Bardiel and the Third Child, Its safe to say that he won't be much of an interference to our scenario." Said SEELE 04. "But since he is not born of Lilith, he will not be brought into instrumentality, he will simply be left to die." Said SEELE 07. "Ikari, We will hold off the UN's Investigations, But you must keep him under strict control, if his story's are to be believed, he could be a major threat to us. You must keep him compliant" Said Keel, before switching off the holograms. "Gendo, Are you sure you want to keep going down this path?" Fuyutsuki said with concern in his voice. "It is the only way, We will be reunited again…" Fuyutsuki sighed. He wishes for Gordon to return home, so he doesn't have to witness a horrible end.

Hooo boy, Gordon still has the center of attention. Anyways please RR and ill see you in the next chapter!

-DerpymanMt