AN - Sorry, this chapter's quite a bit shorter than the last one. And its taken me a fair while to update, I know, I'm sorry! I've also decided to name my chapters, for no reason other than it seems like a good idea at the moment. I would just like to thank all the truly wonderful people who reviewed! You all made my day!

Oh yeah, and I didn't mention it on the last chapter, but any text contained *like so* is ASL. I apologise for any possible confusion :/

I have a feeling some people in this chapter are OOC, I don't know. If its unbearable, let me know please.

Disclaimer - I own few things in this world, and unfortunately GI Joe isn't one of them


Chapter 2

Innocent Hands

Jinx didn't see the new recruit again until lunch. She walked into the mess hall to see the back of her head, waiting in the lunch queue. Jinx stepped lightly into line beside her. The girl turned and smiled nervously.

"Sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier. I'm Jinx."

"Hi. I'm Sparrow"

Nothing more was said until it was Sparrows turn to get served. She looked down in mild disgust at the gooey mess that had been slumped onto her plate.

"What is it?" she asked the bored-looking guy behind the counter. He shrugged in reply.

"I think it's supposed to be a chicken korma," Jinx said peering at the yellow substance she had just been given. Sparrow stared at her. Jinx huffed almost silently in exasperation, turned on her heel and made her way over to an abandoned table, not bothering to see if the girl was following.

The sat down, and were soon joined by various Joes, many of whom Jinx would have preferred not to have sat with. Fortunately, however, they paid Jinx little attention, focusing on questioning the new girl.

Jinx mostly ignored them in return, until Kamakura sat down next to her.

"So who is she?" he asked in a barely audible murmur.

"Why don't you ask her yourself?" Jinx retorted.

"Well, I would, but I can't get a word in edgeways." There was a note of irritation in his voice and Jinx smiled inwardly.

"She's called Sparrow, a new recruit"

"Hawk doesn't usually let anymore people sign up at this time of year, does he?"

"No" was Jinx's curt reply.

"So why is she here?"

Jinx groaned, and stood up abruptly to go and dump her plate and tray, despite the fact she hadn't even eaten half of it. Kamakura stayed where he was.

She headed towards the dojo. She entered to see her Sensei completing the final movements of a particularly complicated kata. The moment he finished he turned around to face Jinx.

*What is it, apprentice?* his signs were very nearly too fast for Jinx to understand

"I was wondering if you might spar with me, Sensei?" she asked tentatively.

*Sorry, Jinx, I have to go* he brushed past her, and Jinx decided that taking into account the urgency with which he was signing and the way he didn't even give her anything she should do in his absence, that there was something very important going on. She followed and finally caught up with him in Cover Girls office.

"Look Snake Eyes, I'm really sorry, but Hawk simply cannot be disturbed." Cover Girl explained patiently.

Snake Eyes clenched his fists and started pacing angrily around her office. Jinx was quite surprised; her Sensei usually kept such a cool head. Catching sight of his apprentice, he stopped. Cover Girl noticed Jinx too.

"Jinx, would you please explain to him that he simply can't go barging into a Generals office!" Snake Eyes turned back to Cover Girl.

*Well, why not? This is important* he stressed the sign for important.

"So is what's going on in there! Honestly, I really would let you see him in any other circumstances; I know you wouldn't waste his time, but…"

At that moment, the door to Hawk's office opened and Hawk stepped out. Snake Eyes rushed up to him before Cover Girl could stop him and started signing rapidly.

*Is the mission back? How did it go? Is Scarlett back? Is she okay?* Hawk held up his hands to quiet him.

"Easy, solider. No, they're not back yet"

Snake Eyes shoulders visibly slumped, before he stood straight and alert again.

*Is there a problem? How is it going? Why have they not returned yet? Have they made contact?*

"Calm down. There is no problem, and it is going fine."

*How do you know? Have they made contact?*

Hawk sighed "No, they haven't made contact" Snake Eyes began to sign frantically once more and Hawk groaned in frustration "Just because they've run a little behind schedule, and they haven't made contact yet, that does NOT mean they are in trouble. How many missions have you been on where you've been late, but nothing was wrong?" This silenced the distressed ninja.

"Exactly" Hawk continued "They were due back last night, and whilst I agree it isn't like a team lead by Scarlett to be late, that doesn't automatically mean they're in trouble and need our help"

Snake Eyes nodded.

"And don't you dare go after them." There was a pause, and after Snake Eyes didn't answer, Hawk continued "I mean it, sergeant. If you do, I'll make sure you don't go on a mission for so long you'll forget what a COBRA uniform looks like. Do I make myself clear?"

*Yes, General*

"Very well, then. Dismissed." Snake Eyes saluted smartly and swept from the room. Jinx followed seconds after, and saw her master leaning back against a wall holding his head in one hand.

"Sensei?" she said softly. His head snapped up.

*Yes?*

"Are you okay?" She was pretty sure she was crossing some sort of line, but she continued regardless.

*Yes. Now go* Jinx considered pressing him for information, but decided against it; she knew that if someone was pestering her about something she clearly didn't want to talk about, she wouldn't be too happy about it.

Jinx bowed and left her Sensei to his thoughts.

_ _ _ _ _ _

The next day, in training, her master wasn't his usual self. He was quiet usually, but this was different. It just seemed as though he couldn't be bothered, and he wasn't concentrating properly. Jinx had twice almost kicked him in the head in the last 5 minutes, and he didn't keep stopping hers and Kamakura's arguments like he normally did.

He ended his and Jinx's sparring match, and instructed them to go through all the katas until he returned, then he left the dojo swiftly. It wasn't unusual for him to set them such a task, but he would generally watch them for a short while before he left.

Jinx shared a confused glance with Kamakura, then shrugged and got on with her task. She felt Kamakura do the same beside her, and they started competing to see who could do it the fastest.

_ _ _ _ _ _

Snake Eyes was a corridor away from Hawks office when a hand appeared on his chest. He followed the arm and found it was connected to Stalker.

"Snakes…" he said, disapprovingly.

*Yes?* Snake Eyes did his best to sign innocently. It didn't work.

"Don't think I don't know what you're doing. You can't keep pestering Hawk."

*I do not know what you are talking about* The innocent signing continued.

"Yes you do. Scarlett is perfectly fine. You don't need to do anything, Hawk doesn't need to send a team in." Snake Eyes decided to drop the innocent approach.

*But what if she is in trouble. I just…*

Stalker interrupted him "You don't know she's in trouble. Scarlett's tough. And how do you think she'd react if you burst in there, all macho-hero, and she had everything under control?"

The frankly terrifying prospect of Scarlett's wrath temporarily stilled his frenzied hands.

"Look, I know you're worried about her, and I understand that. But you need to relax. This is her thing. Let her do it"

Snake Eyes paused, before nodded reluctantly. He turned and grudgingly walked in the opposite direction from Hawks office, back to his apprentices.


AN - Are they OOC? Do you think Snake Eyes worry about Scarlett has come on too quickly? Is it unbelievable? I had some serious difficulty writing this chapter, so let me know!

If you have any favourite characters, tell me about them and I will try to include them :)

Review please!