Took me long enough to get this chapter out, huh? Much busier with work and being an adult and having a house and all that stuff, but feel free to send me a PM if you'd like to add me on Steam. Bonus points if you're a big Payday 2 fan.

Anyways, enjoy.

000

"Well, look who finally decided to wake up."

The black-furred cat sneered at the voice of Wolf O'Donnell, looking up as he rounded the corner from the hallway before resting his gaze on the lupine who was sitting on the couch cleaning his blaster. Every step he took, every muscle he moved, reminded him of the countless thorns, nettles, and briars that he'd spent hours plucking out of his ruffled black coat. Even now, as he entered the kitchen and pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge, he was sure that he'd missed a few somewhere.

"Funny." he replied in a deep tone, cracking the seal and taking a sip. "But I wasn't sleeping." he went on, stepping back into the lounge and flexing his shoulders timidly, "Rather, ridding my beautiful fur of those stupid blemishes."

Wolf couldn't help but smirk, continuing to look down at his blaster as he polished it, and ultimately getting an annoyed snort from Panther as he stepped forward and around the couch. "Well, you are always carrying those stupid roses around. Is the irony lost on you?"

The black cat growled, watching as Wolf stood up and holstered his weapon before turning and matching his gaze. The feline was able to hold his leader's line of sight for a few seconds before finally sighing and turning his head, "Any more jokes you've been wanting to make?" he asked coldly, clenching his fists. "Or can we focus on figuring out who did this and where Krystal is?"

Wolf merely shrugged and stepped by him, the cat immediately turning and following after.

"Well...while you've been grooming yourself..." he spoke back, "Leon and myself decided to return to Sauria and look for clues." As he spoke the two of them walked onward, coming to the bridge and stepping across it before entering into the control room.

"And?" the cat prompted, walking faster and looking over. "Did you find anything?"

Wolf stopped before one of the main computers and looked down at it, reaching forward and typing in a few menial commands before glancing back up at the holographic screen before them both. "Only this." he answered, hitting one last key and causing the image of a small cylindrical tube to load in.

The black cat narrowed his gaze and stepped closer, reaching up with a paw and pulling at the screen to enhance the image, and ultimately figuring out nothing more than he'd already known.

"What is-

"Here." Wolf interrupted, raising his hand up and showing him the real thing. "If you want a better view."

He took it from him and looked it over once again, running his fingers over the silver outside and noticing the switch and release buttons on the end, but still not knowing what the hell it was. "Leon found it along the river, right where you and Krystal had been 'scouting' your area out." The lupine spoke with an annoyed tone at this. "It's some sort of chemical weapon. Liquids, gases, maybe both...I'm not sure. All I know is that it put you both to sleep...and hard."

The feline continued to look it over, pulling down on the release switch and hitting the button, imagining how it might have worked. Only vaguely could he recall the few seconds he'd been awake after it had went off. There had been a slight hissing sound the entire time, but that was hardly noticeable. It was the lack of sight and the sharp scent that he couldn't forget. The fumes had made his eyes water and his nose burn, and he could just barely remember fighting to escape the smoke cloud before falling over on his side.

"Yeah..." he finally replied, handing the tube back to Wolf. "It did. So, is there any way of figuring out who was behind this? Whoever it was, they have to have Krystal."

"In time." The lupine answered confidently, allowing himself a moment to look over the device once again. "It's definitely Cornerian, that's all I'm sure of right now."

At this the feline growled and shook his head. "That can't be." he spoke, stepping around and leaning against the computer table. "Cornerians don't use biological weaponry like this. Even if they did, why us? We're on their side now."

Wolf merely let out a 'feh' of annoyance at those words, clenching the tube tight in his paw and shoving it back into his pocket. "Don't remind me." he muttered, glancing up at the screen before them yet again. "And you're right, Corneria's military doesn't. But that doesn't mean one of their allies wouldn't."

"You're suggesting another planet then?" the feline asked, cocking his head, "That still doesn't explain anything."

"Another planet..." the lupine replied, closing his eyes and allowing the image of Fox McCloud to pop into his head. "Or just someone they trust."

An aggravated sigh escaped the cat and Wolf slowly opened one eye, looking over at his wing-man and mentally wondering how he could be so blind. In truth, Wolf didn't know McCloud was behind this, but he had his guesses. He may just be a battle hardened mercenary, but he paid more attention to things than most would believe...especially StarFox. And ever since that vixen had been forced to leave, ever since she'd joined StarWolf, he'd been keeping a close eye on his lifelong rival...watching from a distance as his life fell apart day after day. He'd figured it wouldn't be long before the vulpine did something drastic.

Kidnapping Krystal though? He'd wanted to give McCloud more credit than that. But apparently the vulpine was softer than he'd thought and...perhaps...just as desperate as well.

It was very well possible that he was the one behind all of this. Fox getting his hands on technology such as what was used to incapacitate Panther and Krystal wasn't that far fetched to imagine...and in time he'd be able to prove if that had been the case. But until then they'd have to wait. He didn't plan on telling Panther any more than the cat could figure out on his own. Truthfully, he preferred the ship without the her on it. She was more of a distraction than anything. If McCloud wanted her, then good for him. He could deal with having that burden on his shoulders. Love had no place in the life of a mercenary such as himself anyways.

"This doesn't tell me anything." the cat answered, clenching his fists and looking at the image of the tube, "This doesn't help me find her."

Hearing this, Wolf couldn't help but smirk as he thought of a response. "She's a grown woman." he spoke back, glaring over at the feline, "She can take care of herself. Hell, for all you know this was her way of leaving you."

Now it was Panther's turn to laugh, an overly amused chuckle leaving him as he shook his head and smirked back. "That is the one thing that didn't happen." he replied, reaching up and smoothing the fur that ran over his head. "After all, why would she want to leave perfection? It's obvious someone was just jealous of me and tried to steal her away."

"And succeeded." the lupine muttered afterward.

Surely he suspects McCloud as well...

"I will get her back before long." he promised, narrowing his gaze at the screen and eying the one piece of evidence they had to go on. "A Panther never loses his rose."

000

How did it come to this? Fox forcing her to leave, joining StarWolf, coupling up with Panther, being kidnapped, and now? Finding herself at the foot of her bed, listening to the sound of the vulpine in the kitchen as he prepared them something to eat...as if it everything was back to normal. How...how did it happen? Her life had been so perfect, then completely ruined, all in what had seemed like the blink of an eye. Now things were almost looking up for her again. In some twisted way, she was beginning to feel some semblance of happiness again.

Even despite the pit in her stomach that refused to go away...ignoring the incessant gnawing of fear and apprehension that settled in the back of her mind at all times...she was feeling...better.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't in love with him.

It was such an awkward place to be in. They had the entire ship to themselves. No Falco. No Slippy. No Katt, Peppy, Rob...no anyone. Just herself and Fox. All alone. And before, this would have been the pure definition of awkward nervousness between them, and she would have loved it. But now...now it was different.

She still didn't want to give in. Afraid. Afraid that he'd do it again. It had hurt so much...so badly...she'd lost count of how many nights she'd cried herself to sleep. No one understood that pain. Being in love with someone, thinking they loved you back, and then being slapped in the face and thrown away like a piece of garbage. He'd done it with her 'best intentions' in mind, but she still found that hard to believe. Part of her still wanted to escape. She could have done so earlier that day back on Corneria. She could have ran out the door of the shopping center, flagged down a taxi, found a transmitter, called Panther, and been back on StarWolf within the hour.

Yet that ending sounded pathetic, even to her.

She knew the truth.

I want to be here.

It was the circumstances she couldn't stand. She should have never left. This should have never happened. Fox should have never done what he did.

"Hey."

The voice caused the vixen's head to jerk up from the floor, eyes narrowing around the vulpine's silhouetted form before adjusting and flicking across his face with struggle. Even then, in just the brief moment their eyes locked together, she knew he was thinking all the same things she was. Her powers as a telepath weren't needed for that, yet they easily picked up on it every second they were together. Fox had, once upon a time, been able to hide his thoughts and emotions from her. But now, after all this, he didn't try at all.

He wants me to know.

"I've got some food ready...if you're hungry." he continued, seeing that the vixen had no intention of replying off the bat. His voice was soft and caring, with a hopeful and loving tone sliding off the end of every word. She knew what he wanted of her, but as for how she should respond, she wasn't sure.

She'd done absolutely everything within her power to stay out of the same room as the vulpine ever since she'd woken up here after the kidnapping, and that included eating. Her bedroom had been her home for most of this stay...and she'd started to hate it with a passion. She wanted to get out and walk through the ship like old times. She wanted to plop down beside the vulpine on the couch and watch tv with him, or sit by his side at the table as they shared a meal...but...it was still so hard to see that happening again, like it used to be.

I'm afraid.

I'm afraid it won't be like it once was. That those memories...the only things I have left...will be ruined if I try to relive my life with Fox again.

"I...I can bring it to you..." he finally spoke, having broken the short silence between them, his ears drooping down as he turned and began to head back down the hallway.

The vixen merely sat there, paws clenched into fists as she stared at the wall where the vulpine had been. He'd hardly given her time to answer before deciding she'd turned his offer down. Slowly though, she rose to her feet, glancing back at her bedside table and eying the empty glass on it that represented the last of her breakfast from earlier that day...before they'd went to Corneria...before things had changed. The vixen bowed her head and gritted her teeth, trying to decide on what to do. Follow her heart, or her mind? Her heart would have her out the door and by the vulpine's side without a second's hesitation. No...no her heart would have her mouth up against his and their bodies locked together for the rest of the night...so it couldn't be that one.

Her mind on the other hand, well, it still resisted. She couldn't forgive him so easily, not even after all this. It still hurt her to think about what he'd done. She still winced and felt sick to her stomach just remembering it all. In truth, that part of her wanted something else out of Fox, something that would prove to her once and for all that he wouldn't do it again. Something that proved he truly loved her and that she could trust him with her heart a second time. But, even deeper within her mind, she knew it didn't matter. She'd never leave him. And if he tried to make her do it again, she'd refuse. She would die before letting it happen again.

Suddenly her body was turned around, facing the doorway and padding towards it with a quick step. She had to do something. What...she had no idea. But something had to change.

Her thoughts were rushing forth as she reached up and pushed a lock of hair from before her eyes, flicking her tail out and pulling her shirt tight. Why, she wasn't sure. Blind ambition seemed to be telling her body what to do. She placed a paw on the doorway to her room before turning around the corner and heading down the hall, getting a stronger whiff of the meal that the vulpine had cooked for them. She'd been starving a few minutes ago but now the hunger seemed to be dulled, replaced with a newfound sense of nervousness and anxiety.

I'll concede. I have to, if only a little. I can't take this anymore.

As she entered the lounge so did the vulpine turn from the counter, his tail drooping and shoulders slumped. She knew he'd bring it to her, and then return to eat his own all alone in the kitchen...that is...if she let him. Her steps were light and inaudible and she was up next to him before he seemed to register what he was seeing...yet the vixen didn't waver. In one quick motion her paws slid around the plate in his hands and eased it away, also managing to grab the fork he'd been holding. What followed was an elegant and swift kick to the legs of a chair at the table, throwing it out and giving her room to sit.

Her plate clanked off the surface before she settled into the seat and looked down at what was on it, not really taking in what he'd prepared but, rather, staring down at it to hide the blush on her face. She took a few seconds, forcing it away, gripping the fork tight and cutting into a piece of meat, before looking up at the vulpine and shrugging.

"You going to eat or what?" she spoke, nodding at the chair before him and then turning back to her food.

She was still being oh-so reserved and distant, but it was more obvious now. She was coming around to him and, as much as she still wanted to make him suffer by giving him the cold shoulder, she simply couldn't. The truth was, no matter how egocentric she acted, no matter how much she pitied and felt sorry for herself, Fox had been hurt just as bad she was. She hated to admit it. She didn't want to believe that the one who'd caused her so much pain had actually ended up suffering more than she did...but it was more than possible.

I don't want to hurt him anymore.

Slowly she glanced over at the vulpine as he slid down into his seat, the vixen then freezing in place as she looked him over. He had his head bowed, yet she could see the grin on his face...that smile...the one he looked so handsome and happy in. He was trying to hide it from her. He knew she'd given him an inch, and she knew he wanted to make it a mile, but he held himself back. Though, that wasn't what caught her off guard. It wasn't the smile. In fact, she was almost annoyed that he had found a reason to smirk at her doing this for him. But then she saw something else. Something far more breathtaking and heartbreaking. The single, glistening, fur-dampening tear that trailed down one of his cheeks. That...coupled with the vulpine's bowed head and unrivaled smile as he tried to hide it all from her...all of it backed by the realization that she'd just done something for him that he'd probably been praying for ever since all of this had started.

All I did was sit down at the table with him...is...is he really that grateful?

He'd screwed up. It was his fault all of this happened. The blame was on his shoulders, not her own. But...somehow...she was the one feeling guilty now.

"Thank you." came that strong, soft voice as the vulpine slowly raised his head. Their gazes met only for a second before she immediately blushed and looked back down at her food.

Say something! You can make it better now! Who cares about showing restraint!? What does that matter?

For once...she actually heeded her thoughts, though the words that left her were not the ones her heart had wanted. Still, it was better than nothing. The vixen timidly reached forward and focused on the glass of water the vulpine had poured for her, before softly clearing her throat and trying to put on her best 'unemotional' voice and expression. "Fox...I...I want to be able to visit the rest of the ship."

Why...why that? Why couldn't you say something sensible?

It was more of a demand than a request, and why she said it she wasn't sure. Something inside of her was still holding her back. Something wasn't willing and ready to deal with the cascade that was 'being in love with Fox McCloud' again. So...she'd spoken the only other words she'd been able to come up with. In truth, she really did want to visit the rest of the ship. Ever since she'd been brought back, the idea of walking throughout the halls of GreatFox, visiting the hangar, the control room, the upper deck...it was something she missed.

"I hate being stuck in my room." she added, her voice softer as she turned and looked over at the vulpine again.

She didn't have to add the explanation. She knew that he'd concede to her request regardless. The opportunity for her to escape was now a standing offer. He'd already given her the chance to run, and she'd passed it up. She had specifically told him she would rather stay on the ship than go back to StarWolf. So...when he nodded and gave her a friendly smile, she wasn't surprised.

"Blue."

The single word he spoke made her stiffen and narrow her gaze, holding the vulpine's line of a sight for a few seconds before turning her head and shoving a forkful of mashed potatoes into her maw. It could reference so many things...yet her mind already knew what he'd meant by it. The color. To him it was something special...and inwardly it made her cringe for being so cold-hearted to him, even now.

"That's the-

"I know." she interrupted, pausing to swallow, looking down at her plate with a faint look on her face. The fork in her paw was shaking slightly and she loosened her grip on it. Once again her insides were fighting for control. Give in...or stay stubborn? Why not the first? Why in the world would she hold on to the past any longer, especially when it hurt her so damn much? "A little short for a security code."

Once again she'd succeeded in saying something that would get her out of having to make a decision then and there, postponing the inevitable just a little while longer. Her head turned towards the vulpine then, his eyes resting right over her own, a small grin slipping across his lips before he weakly shook his head and looked down at his own plate of food.

"It was the only thing I could think of."

She stiffened yet again, eyes widening slightly before she managed to flick her head back down towards the table, desperate to hide any and all emotion that might creep across her face. She shoved her paw down and picked up a piece of bread, sinking her fangs into it and doing her best to avoid looking anywhere close to the vulpine's general direction. It was pathetic, really, how bad they both were at being discrete now. Fox wasn't even trying, as if he no longer cared. It was so unlike him. He used to blush and fumble with words. She'd lost count of how many times she'd been talking to him and he'd ended up walking into a door or falling down a set of stairs.

But that wasn't there anymore.

He doesn't have anything to be scared of now.

You don't either! Stop resisting and just end this!

The sound of a fork falling against the table broke the short period of silence between them then, the vixen pushing her chair back and staring down at her half-finished plate. For a moment she didn't move, instead looking down at her feet as she bit her lip and took a deep breath. She could feel his eyes against her, wondering what was about to happen, if he'd screwed up, if this was finally it...he didn't hide the thoughts.

"Thanks for supper." she finally spoke, immediately turning away afterward and stepping around the table. Her head was bowed as she made a beeline for the hall. It'd happened again. The opportunity for change had risen, yet she'd turned it down and ran away. And the worst part was that she didn't know why she did it.

Why can't I just forgive him!? Why do I keep-

"Krystal."

A blue paw came to an immediate stop on tiled hallway floor, and her right hand's fingertips danced over the wall outside of her room as she heard her name echo across the the lounge. She closed her eyes and took a second to simply bask in the sound that was Fox saying her name, before slowly turning her head back towards the vulpine. He was standing now, leaving her to admire his broad shoulders and strong posture...something she desperately wanted to be up against and holding tight until all of this stopped hurting. The urge to let go and simply run back into his arms was absolutely unbearable now...

Just let go.

Her grasp on the corner of the wall had only started to fall away when she caught herself. It was the smallest of movements imaginable, so subtle that not even a fly would have caught it...yet...he had. The instant it happened, the moment he realized she was still holding herself back from him, he blinked. His tail flicked downward and his eyes glazed over with heartache, but elsewhere nothing about him changed. Just as he'd noticed her reactions, she'd noticed his. They were so in-touch with each other that it took hardly any effort at all.

Perhaps that was becoming a bad thing.

"Never mind." he finally muttered, his voice soft and apologetic as he turned back around, already trying to act focused on something else, leaving her to stand there and watch for a few seconds longer, before turning and slowly stepping down the hallway.

Right then, as she softly padded step by step towards her room, as she stepped inside the door and closed it, as she walked over to her bed and looked down at the unkempt sheets...she realized she'd never been more angry with herself. Paws formed fists that soon crashed upon her mattress, punch after punch landing against the soft surface, leaving small indications of her heartache and despair, before she finally fell forward and buried her head into her pillow. Tears stung her eyes and, for some reason, she found herself silently crying then.

Angry at him.

Angry at herself.

Angry at life for being so hard on them.

"None of this was supposed to happen." Her own voice nothing but a pathetic whimper it seemed, which only added emphasis to the words. "None of this should have happened."

Why...why couldn't it have been as easy as falling in love with him? Why do things have to be so hard? I just don't want to be hurt again. If it happened a second time...

Do you honestly think he would let that happen? After all of this...do you really think he'd hurt you?

She wanted to believe that part of her mind, and truthfully, nearly ever fiber of being did. She trusted Fox with her life, with her heart, and body. He'd protect her, he'd take care of her. She knew he would. But the past kept telling her otherwise...and because of that...because of those nightmarish memories...she couldn't escape that small spec of fear and restraint that kept her away.

The very same restraint that was steadily eating away at their time...letting pieces of sand fall through the hourglass that was counting down the next twisted turn in both their lives. How long would this last before StarWolf came looking for her? How much time did they have to get things right before it was too late? That was the only guarantee. Change.

Something was going to happen, and she was running out of ways to run and hide from it.

000