Hey everyone! Sorry for my lack of updates. School just started and I've been trying to get organized for weeks! With homework, tutoring people, and my insane amount of dental and doctor appointments this month, I've been so busy! So, I thank you for not sending me hate mail and angry PM's telling me to update.
Thank you very much RedQueenForever and silverandrubies for reviewing and anybody else who's been reading.
Also, I apologize for my chapters being so short. I have no idea why I keep doing this. From now on, I will not post a chapter that is under 1,000 words.
Disclaimer: I do not own 'The Matrix' or any brand named products/items mentioned in this story
Warning: They're out of character in this chapter. Deal with it.
"Morpheus? Are you still there?" Neo asked.
"Neo, where…? Why…? I-I don't understand this."
"I need your help."
"Where are you now?"
"Somewhere in the matrix? I'm not sure," said Neo. "I don't know how I got here -or why for that matter- but I know you can help me."
"Alright. We'll find your location and Link can-"
"No!" Neo growled. "Nobody can know where we are. It can only be you, Morpheus. You're the only one I can trust now."
Morpheus paused. "Okay. I'll only be able to jack in for about an hour. After that, they'll become suspicious."
"Fine."
"Neo?" Morpheus asked. Without a reply, he said, "I've always believed in you… But this time, I'm not so sure."
Neo was about to respond, but as he heard Morpheus hang up, Neo scoffed and slammed the receiver down on the counter.
He made his way to his and Trinity's bedroom, calming himself on the way there. He took a deep breath, releasing the rest of his anger before entering the room. He saw Trinity just as she was when he left, sitting up against the bed's headboard, looking straight ahead towards the closet. Neo could see her picking at her nails and scratching her palms, leaving red stains on the bedspread. Kneeling beside her, he took her bleeding hands into his, smearing the blood onto his own hand to examine her cuts.
Looking into her sad eyes, he asked, "Are you hurting yourself?"
Trinity shook her head firmly.
"What are you doing?" Neo asked gently.
Trinity hung her head shamefully and Neo sighed. "You're… Delicate, Trin. You've got to be careful now," he said.
Neo saw tears drop from Trinity's face, falling onto her bleeding palms. He got up to get bandages and Neosporin in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom and to wash his own hands.
As Neo wiped off the dried blood on Trinity, he tilted her chin up to look at him. He smiled and said, "We've got an old friend an old friend coming by later."
Trinity's eyes brightened behind the white haze clouding them. "Who is it?" she asked softly.
"Morpheus."
"You said he was a friend of ours. Did you mean yours?" Trinity asked innocently.
Neo's brow furrowed. "What're you talking about, Trin? You've known him longer than I have."
Trinity shook her head. Looking back at Neo, smiling widely, she said, "Maybe I'll remember him when I see him."
Neo nodded. "Yeah. Maybe you will."
Trinity began to yawn as Neo finished wrapping her discolored hands in gauze. "Why don't you take a nap," he suggested. Trinity shrugged. "You'll probably wake up before Morpheus comes."
"Do you promise I can meet him today?" Neo nodded. "Okay. Just for a little while." She agreed.
Neo helped her lay down, as she still couldn't move well due to her injured ribs.
Neo waited for Morpheus for over an hour. The good thing was that Trinity could get some sleep. The bad part was that Morpheus was never late. Timing is everything. Neo was starting to doubt if he would show up. Though as if on cue, Morpheus knocked on the frame of the screen door, looking through the window next to him. It didn't take Neo more than thirty seconds to answer the door and invite Morpheus inside.
"Let's stay out here for now, Neo. There are some things we have to talk about," said Morpheus.
Neo stepped onto the creaking porch and closed the screen door behind him before sitting on the steps next to his friend.
After a few moments of silence, Morpheus asked "Neo… how is it that you're…?"
"Alive?" Neo paused. "I honestly can't tell you. I remember Smith and our last fight. I think I beat him. Then I woke up. I woke up in the matrix with Trinity."
"Well, you did defeat Smith; that I'm sure of. The machines got to Zion before us. They destroyed most of the city, but we're rebuilding."
Neo's elbows were rested on his knees as he traced his lower lip with his thumb. "Did anyone… Is everyone alright?"
"In Zion or on the ship?"
"You tell me."
"About a third of our soldiers died and there's more than I can count who're in critical care." Morpheus sighed.
Neo shifted uncomfortably on the step. "What about everyone on the Hammer?"
"They're okay. Nobody there got hurt seriously - except Maggie." Neo looked up curiously with a confused expression. "Bane got her."
"Oh," Neo said quietly.
"What happened to Bane? We assumed you were the only one who knew but you never came back…"
"He was, I don't know, 'possessed' you could say," said Neo.
"By whom?"
Neo didn't answer. He stared at Morpheus knowing he'd understand who it was.
"Smith? How is that possible? He's a program," Morpheus hissed.
"It doesn't matter now. Smith is gone," Neo said quietly as if reminding himself. Morpheus nodded.
"Smith tried to attack you out of the matrix?" Morpheus asked, insisting they kept the conversation.
"Morpheus, I don't know," he said slowly. "I don't know why I'm here or what happened here, alright? Please, I don't want to talk about it."
"I'm sorry," Morpheus said after a few minutes. "I shouldn't have came here and bombarded you with all these questions without even saying 'hello' first." He put a hand on Neo's shoulder, squeezing it gently. "I'm glad you're back, Neo."
Neo stretched his back and looked away from Morpheus after he took his hand off his shoulder. They sat there for a while, collecting their own thoughts until Morpheus spoke out.
"Do you know what happened to the matrix?"
"What about it?" Neo asked, deciding he was too curious to give his ex-captain an attitude.
"When I was on my way over here, I saw everything in ruins! Then there's just a couple miles of a field and then this house," he said, motioning around them. "Do you know where we are right now?" Neo didn't answer. "New York City, Neo. And look, not a single person besides you here."
"Trinity, too," Neo added.
"While I was searching for you, I tried looking for her too. I couldn't find her."
"No, she's here Morpheus," Neo assured. He stood up; grabbing Morpheus's arm and pulling him up too, Neo led him into the bedroom where Trinity was still sleeping.
Neo moved to her side, sending his grin towards Morpheus.
Not believing it could possibly be Trinity; Morpheus stepped forward, coming closer and closer to her until he found himself sitting on the bed in the space next to her. He reached a hand out to touch her green, flushed skin, cringing when he felt the coldness of her body.
"It's amazing. She was gone, but now she's back." Neo beamed.
Too low for Neo to understand, he mumbled, "I don't think she is."
Eh, so what'd you think? Is this fic turning out to be too depressing? I hope not. Knowing me, it probably is though.
Also, I'm depending on Microsoft Word's spell check this time. I'm way too tired to proof read and I usually don't do a good job anyway. Sorry if it didn't pick up on anything or if I was just being a moron like I tend to be sometimes. hehe
Reviews are uh-may-zing! Thanks for reading!