He saw darkness. He felt pain go through his body. Jolting sparks coursing through his veins. The monitor's line raced up and fell hard. But he was still alive. Only just barely. His heart rate was dropping and rising back up. His body was going through the motions. What was happening? He was seeing black. He was seeing flashes. The smell of a clean room. The smell of dirt and blood. Hell fire. Bullets. His mind was racing and the computer was trying to keep up with his nerves that were sending information through the wires in his head. He was losing control of himself.

"What just happened?" He said slamming his hands on the monitor screen. The computer moved slightly showing a blue screen with symbol's glowing and fading.

"He fell and is now unconscious." She said touching her forehead, trying to keep a headache from forming. "Honestly, were you paying attention to what was going on or were you focusing on something else?"

She looked to the man as he was trying to close and reopen the program. He was not paying attention to her... as always. He was always so focused on their test subject. Every detail his eyes focused on. The monitor was going black.

"Can we bring him back? He couldn't have died." The sound of typing on the keyboard was rushed. Clinking of the mouse on the program on the screen kept going back and fourth. Both of them tried to find his memory.

"If he died his monitor would have flat lined by now. Just calm down. He is fine. Everything seems to be normal for him. His memory was just showing us how much of a dumbass this soldier can be. Saving that assassin was just one of the many dumb things he has done." She sighed, taking a sip of her coffee.

"He went dark."

He laid still on the mat. His breathing was heavy. He was sweating.

"We have to unclothe him. He has a fever." Malik said shaking his head. Altair stood at the door frame of the spare room looking at the novice. Disappointment was etched on his face. Both assassin's had to care for the novice who was now unconscious.

Malik was having no problem with David's clothing, Altair noticed. With one capable arm he was doing much with ease as any with both limbs attached. Still, a little quilt can go a long way.

"How could you be so careless?" Altair whispered to himself. Malik stood from David's side as he through his top robes leaving the novice in his pants.

"If you told me he saved you from being a target of an arrow, I might not have believed it. This novice is your responsibility. When the master hears of your failure he will not be pleased." Altair took a step forwards. A sudden anger boiled in his blood. It was not his fault David fell from the rooftops. If anything the foreign man saved him from being killed by some coward who could not face the blade of an assassin.

"My failure? If the master did not bring this man upon me, I would be gone from your sight and giving him my success of the mission. I hold no responsibility for a grown man. Even if he did save me. Such a reckless man." Malik raised a hand to stop Altair from talking. His raised voice will not bring David or himself peace.

"You will leave this man in my care. He is in no condition to travel at this time. I have to look over his wounds. I do not believe he has any broken bones. Give your status to the master and tell him David is here under my care. I have to once again clean your mess, Altair. You bring much to burden and I have to deal with them." Malik walked passed the assassin.

"You have not had to clean my mess. I can handle my own and you know of this." Altair spat.

"And you still speak of such arrogance. You put yourself so high above the rest that you do not see the errors and consequence of your own mistakes. I have eyes through this city and they say that you left David behind as you tried to get to the target. Your back was turned as you killed and you lost sight of what was around you. You forget your place." Malik defended.

Altair let out an annoyed sigh. Looking to David, there was no solemn peace. Why did he have to put up with the man? There was nothing they held in common. There was barely any communication between them. David was a burden to every mission given. What use was he if all he did was be held back. He was nothing. No novice. No assassin. It was in some relief when Malik said he would take him in. For how long? Altair wasn't all to sure.

Al Mualim will not be happy. Altair has already started to get back on his master's good side. Now, with David in a weaken state, who knows what Al Mualim will do. He may just have Altair come back for the novice when he recovers. Allah knows he will wake up.

"Get out of my sight and come to me when you learn. But I forget myself, you know nothing of it, Altair."

...

Symbols.

The sound of a man yelling as he held on tightly. Hitting the ground only took a few short seconds on impact. The archer was the first to land. His weapon and arrows scattered on the street. He was dead instantly from a broken neck. David landed not to far from the archer. His arm was sore from breaking his fall and his knees were scrapped. His body was shaking hard and his eyes were stinging from the dust that was collecting all around him.

He tried to stand up but his legs gave out. David was not sure if he broken anything. His mind was already in a daze. The impact from the fall rattled his brain. People were screaming all around him. They were running trying to find guards. Clenching his teeth together, David heard footsteps coming close.

Turning quickly to defend himself, through the blur and dust, Altair grabbed the former soldier. The assassin tried to bring him to his feet but David just could not hold himself up. His body was tired. He fell once more to his knees. Altair had to get him up and moving. He could hear the shouts of guards coming rather close.

Placing David's arm over his shoulder, the assassin rushed into a dark alleyway. He was going to save David no matter the cost.

...

He began to slowly open his eyes to something went being pressed against his lips. A blur was giving. He made a little sound from his parched throat.

"So you waken." A voice spoke.

His eyes cleared to see the rafiq: Malik. Looking around, David noticed he was still in the Bureau. There were maps, parchment, ink, tables, scattered about the small room. Light from the sun shown through a window. David breathed in the air only for his lungs to hurt on expansion.

"H-how long have I've been here?" David spoke. His voice cracked and he coughed. He noticed that he was exposed from the stomach up. White wraps covered his chest and his right hand. Looking to the rafiq with speculation that he was the one to put the wraps on him with the use of one arm.

"Two days. You were reckless with the mission and from my sources, you fell from the roof. You killed a archer and saved Altair." Malik said placing a small cup on a table. The rafiq held no expression. Just a blank face, crossing his single arm looking over David. He was observant and watching everything David did.

David closed his eyes trying to remember the events. Nothing.

"I have checked you over and you will make recovery in a week. Your body is fatigued. In the mean time you will train under me. I do not know what Altair has been teaching you or if he teaches you anything at all. You are nothing but a child learning to walk. An assassin is skilled in silence. He kills with a blade." Malik's voice lowered with disappointment.

"Altair will be back for his next mission is set in the next month. Before both of your arrival to Jerusalm, Al Mualim sent me a message of the targets. When Altair returns you will aid him and you will kill." David sat up quickly on the mat. His arms weak from the jolt and he given himself a head rush.

"Kill? Do not tell me I have to shed blood?" David said.

"You do not interrupt someone who has much experience than yourself. Al Mualim has given you much for what reason? You will kill as is needed. You may have saved the life of Al Mualim's favorite, and mine, you have to do kill in order to succeed." Malik stood up from his spot.

"If I refuse to take a life?" David knew the answer. He wanted to confirm it.

"You have taken a life. It might have been an accident, but your refusal will be your death. I know you have killed. Soldier's are told to spill blood. War is without it. You will learn to be a true assassin in the morning." Without saying much, Malik left the room for David to ponder in his thoughts.

A/N: Sorry if I've been gone for so long. I've meant to update sooner but life got in the way. I had no free time at all people. Forgive me on that. I try to update as often as I can. I have writer's block too but I try to get around it. Laziness, taking care of my daughter, work, blah blah.

Anyway, Altair saved David? I don't think Altair is as bad as everyone makes him out to be. He shows us that he can be selfish and arrogant, but when no one is looking he is a good person deep down. It might be a bit out of character for him. Redemption is in everyone. I wanted to show Altair's good side. For those also wondering, yes I am going to have David stay with Malik until he recovers. Trust me, it will be explained in later chapters or the next.