I'm so happy to have another chapter finished for you all. I worked hard on this chapter (my mind has been everywhere deciding what goes next and in what order) and I hope you like it. =) And have a great week.

Returning to base was…strange. The atmosphere between the duo was heavy, still, and painful. Reyes could feel Sombra's energy, but it began to weigh on him. He couldn't understand it. The hate that she felt for him still burned, but was softened by a new feeling, one he doesn't quite recognize. He may be a psychopath, but he can figure out when Sombra's fear towards him dwindled. This sensation isn't one he is all too comfortable with either. Tormenting her is the most appeal that she offers, but he finds himself confused by her change of emotion.

Murdering some gang members was supposed to be a favor for the both of them and he doesn't do favors for other people. He assumed that this "favor" was supposed to bring peace of mind, but it has done the exact opposite. Gabriel often becomes overwhelmed at the thought of Sombra's…nothingness? She barely distraught! He can't bask in her misery if there isn't any misery to begin with. Although it was annoying, he misses her combativeness. He likes it when she is riled up, but now she's numb to him. He should have saved himself the trip to Mexico…

...

However, Sombra is in agony. She can hardly sort out her feelings, but she refuses to show it. She feels like the dirt underneath someone's boots. It feel as though every time something could go right for her, it doesn't. The constant reminder of the deaths of her compadres haunts her. These were deaths that she caused. Deaths that she both mourns and celebrates. Her mind has become sick…like his. Perhaps she is the worse out of the two of them.

There's no drowning out the constant turmoil in her head. It's never silenced by anything she does. The only thing she can do is obey him to try to mask her irritation. If she remains loyal to him, he won't be able to hurt her anymore. The damage has hit its totality. Sombra has accepted her fate.

...

For weeks on end, Sombra does what is commanded of her. She goes out on missions with her captor, does the occasional favor for him all while keeping her mouth shut. They never talk to one another. There's nothing to say anymore anyway. Which is good for her, but he wants to know what's going on in her mind. He can't assume, but is forced to.

As time passes, Sombra becomes so submissive that they occasionally are "intimate," consensually at that. She isn't really responsive during however. She just does whatever gets him to leave her alone.

It takes some time, but Gabriel slowly trusts Sombra to go outside on her own. Even so, she rarely decides to. When she does, she go bar hopping in hopes to find the one she can be "safe" in. She has finally seen the majority of Talon operatives and whichever bar isn't crawling with them is the one for her. Once she finds the one, she goes every weekend and to prevent any attention to herself she never speaks to anyone or gets drunk. Engaging in either of those things obviously has consequences.

Reyes never questions where she vanishes to either because she always returns to him. He does smell the alcohol on her, but never press the matter. She isn't wasted so he leaves it alone, until something changes…

As the weeks go by Sombra's behavior towards him slightly changes. It's very subtle, but he notices it every time she returns from whatever place she drinks at. She smiles at him sometimes…without reason. When she walks by him, she smiles. It's a coy smile, but something is lurking underneath it. The problem is minimal, but it bothers him. How could she be happy? She can't possibly be up to something, he has just began to trust her…

So he follows her one day. The dullness that was becoming of their relationship is fading finally. Although he caused Sombra to turn into the living dead, the excitement of something being wrong amuses him. He is thrilled sensing her disobedience.

...

The night he follows her is slow with nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe his senses were wrong. Perhaps all she would do is get her occasional drink at a bar and then leave. The only special thing about this outing was how far off it was from base. No wonder it takes her so long to come back, the damn thing feels like its 50 miles away and she goes there on foot.

Despite no major action, Gabriel kept his post on top of a nearby building. Maybe something else will happen like a bar fight even though the bar doesn't appear to get too busy.

It takes hours before Sombra steps foot outside the bar again. Reyes could've fell asleep waiting for her out of boredom, but it's who follows her out catches his eye. A man. You would think she would have learned not to pick up men anymore, but killing some idiot would be the highlight of his day. Gabriel almost hops down from where he is stationed, but takes a better look at the man… A cowboy?

Thousands of memories flood his mind. JESSE. He panics, how could she… What is she doing with him? Does she know of the relationship they have? The more Reyes thinks, the more he despises Sombra. How could she do something so…vile? She's associating with someone from his past. This is much worse than he thought her little smiles meant. He assumed…he doesn't know what he assumed. He knew Sombra had information about him and should have never let her outside on her own again. FUCK. He fucked up. Reyes balls his hands into fists wanting to scream. He can't just swoop down there and kill Jesse. That will cause too many problems.

Attempting to stay calm, he watches the two walk off. With his few emotions mixing themselves and his body agitated he gradually gets himself ready to follow behind them. Are they plotting his demise?

...

It took some time for Sombra to trust this strange man. He appeared after a couple of trips she made to the bar. The entire bar went silent when he entered too, but the bartender greeted him like an old friend. That first time she paid him no mind, but after a few weeks he does take a seat next to her. She says nothing till he does.

"You're pretty."

Sombra almost blushes. A compliment? She rarely gets those… Sombra does however take a better look at him. He's almost an eyesore. The man is nothing but beard, not a well-shaped one at that. She smiles feebly at him. His eyes are piercing yet pleasant. He might be handsome if she cared.

The friendly cowboy doesn't take too kindly to her silence. As the silence persists without a response from her, he continues, "Typically a lady says thank you after receiving a compliment." Sombra's shocked. Great…this one is cocky. She turns away from the man and stares at the drink between her hands. The cowboy is put off by her. Something isn't quite right 'bout her and he isn't certain what it is. He is interested. He forces a conversation, "What? You hiding from your boyfriend in here or something?" It's meant to be a joke, but it's pretty accurate to her situation. Sombra finally answers him, "Something like that." The cowboy is surprised she answered him. He was beginning to think her mute. He smiles.

"A pretty lady like you shouldn't be in here moping over some has-been. Want me to rough him up a bit?" He playfully flexes his biceps.

It obvious that he wants to make light of the conversation, but Sombra's thoughts remind her of who she belongs to. She rolls her eyes and responds in a sarcastic tone, "Good one."

The cowboy's confidence diminishes by her response and he switches his tone, "I'm serious. Pretty girls shouldn't be sitting 'round miserable. Need some help, I got cha." He removes his hat. The man is very sincere. Although he is not a knight in shining armor, he hates seeing a woman in need.

"What about the ugly ones?" Sombra asks with a devilish grin.

The man blinks, "Beg your pardon?" That definitely was not what he was expecting for her to say in return.

"You say you help the pretty girls, what about the ugly ones?" Her grin is wide. Yes, this one makes jokes.

The cowboy continues to blink rapidly trying to catch what she means and answers, "They can help themselves. What's your name anyway?" Sombra tilts her head and continues her catty behavior, "Typically a man introduces himself first to a lady." She just doesn't quit, but he doesn't know that yet. The cowboy scratches the back of his head embarrassed and proceeds to answer, "The names-" Before he can finish his answer the bartender interrupts, "We call this one Joel." The cowboy doesn't correct or change what they call him. He supposes she can call him that too.

"Joel?" there's a slight pause in her thoughts, "Cute name." The embarrassment he feels is evident on his face now. He calms down before asking her once more what her name is only to get another response that he doesn't want.

"I don't have a name," she answers.

So the girl really likes playing games. If the cowboy was in another scenario he might find her annoying, but he finds her remarks charming and flatters her, "Oh so you the mysterious type?" Sombra flips her hair in response. She had the cuteish charm about herself that he enjoyed. The cowboy wants this one.

...

Reyes didn't know it, but this was a night she wasn't returning to base.