Just pretend ten days passed, and I was on time with this update =_='
CHAPTER FIVE: The Calvary Arrives
Scarlet walked into General Hawk's office and stood respectfully in front of his desk, slightly curious as to why she'd been summoned. Since Cobra's incarceration, the G.I. Joes were experiencing a period of calm and peace, their focus shifting away from hunting down terrorists to rebuilding bases and recruiting new faces. Scarlet was busy overseeing several weapons and vehicle projects as the rest of her team branched off and spent time with family - or not, in the case of Snake Eyes. Raising his head from a small pile of paperwork, General Hawk signalled for Scarlet to sit down.
"You wanted to see me, sir?" she asked cautiously.
"Yes. I was wondering if you've had any contact with Snake Eyes recently." The general said, leaning forward and lacing his fingers together.
"No…not recently, I assumed he was away on a mission."
"But wouldn't he have told you?" The general wondered.
"Usually yes. What is this about?"
General Hawk sighed deeply and rose from his seat, again gesturing for Scarlet to follow as they moved out from his office and into the command center. Scarlet hadn't received any missions, the Alpha Team was allotted vacation time after saving the world although neither Snake Eyes nor Scarlet had any place to go; both were staunch workaholics and more at ease while working or if they spent time together doing most anything. Scarlet assumed that Snake Eyes was given solo missions as he was one of –if not the most – skilled Joes in the program; he could be in Japan overseeing training of new ninja, the name Jinx came to mind but he hadn't said much on the topic. Understandably, she then had no real reason venture inside the command center and she was even more surprised when one of the screens had Snake Eyes plastered all over it.
"Since Storm Shadow's termination, has Snake Eyes said anything to you?"
Scarlet leaned over the person at the computer and scanned the screen, they were attempting to retrieve any and all data concerning the silent ninja – Scarlet was puzzled as to what drew his attention up into Western Canada. After going so far north, all traces of him disappeared.
"Not a word. I know he's been restless, I mean, I understand why but…" Scarlet froze. "Sir, are you implying that Storm Shadow is alive?"
"Why not? Storm Shadow's body was never recovered and ninja are inherently sneaky. I'm going to get in contact with the rest of your team, we'll continue to gather information but I want you ready to move out anytime. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead, oh shit, sorry, one moment." Theresa spun around, a breakfast plate in one hand, Taiga's bowl in the other, and another plate balanced awkwardly in the crook of her elbow.
Snake Eyes moved up from the couch and caught Taiga's bowl, whistling for the husky who darted out of the studio and sat down in front of the ninja expectantly. Snake Eyes rubbed the dog's head before setting the bowl down and then rotated back to the couch where Theresa placed the plates on the small table in front of them.
It had been a month since Snake Eyes arrived at Theresa's cabin and the two of them had established a routine; Theresa made breakfast then Snake Eyes would sit down and teach her sign language. The two of them would go hunting once a week, and Snake Eyes had taken up a training regime early in the morning for "strictly rehabilitation purposes". Theresa was concerned Snake Eyes would hurt himself again but at the same time, suspected he was searching for the white ninja. Snake Eyes hadn't mentioned much regarding the other ninja, only that the two of them were enemies and the white ninja was very, very dangerous. He also mentioned that he worked for a secret military group in America, all covert stuff.
"Alright, what's on your mind, Hayabusa?" Theresa said grinning, apparently she was referencing some videogame ninja.
"I was wondering why you chose to live here." Snake Eyes signed, lifting up his mask. Theresa had fried two elk steaks and some frozen hash browns for breakfast this morning.
"My brother's been wanting to get me up here for years but Mom wanted me to finish university first. The family didn't react well to my brother's marriage so he and Hideki moved up here to get away from the drama. Hideki has his wood carving and Logan's a painter and they go down and sell their stuff a few times a month…"
"What is it?" Snake Eyes asked, cocking his head at the look on Theresa's face.
"It's just…the two of them went down to deliver these photos, we've been finding animal carcasses all around the cabin for the past two years now. They left when you got here, actually…They should've been back by now."
"Visiting family maybe? Replenishing supplies?"
"I thought about that…but the storm was crazy that night." She stared down at her plate for a minute or two and then decided it wasn't worth it. She set her plate down and excused herself to the bathroom, quietly shutting the door and lowering herself over the sink.
They're fine, she thought, they're fine. They've stopped to visit Hideki's family after delivering the photos and then they'll be back with more food. Relax.
But Theresa couldn't relax. She kept thinking of the storm that day and shuddered at the memory of the thunder and heavy rain. Hideki was a great pilot but in that weather…
Theresa sighed and splashed water onto her face, nearly bumping into Snake Eyes upon exiting the bathroom. She mumbled an apology as she pushed past him into the living room, eyeing her plate of food and grimacing before she wrapped it up and stowed it in the fridge. She felt a little warm and moved a hand over her face with a tired sigh, catching movement from the corner of her eye. Turning, she smiled sheepishly and asked for Snake Eyes to repeat his sentence. Ever the patient one, he moved his hands again.
"Come here a moment."
Theresa raised an eyebrow and walked over to stand in front of Snake Eyes. He sat down and crossed his legs, indicating for Theresa to follow suit. After a moment's hesitation, she shrugged and copied Snake Eyes.
"Have you ever meditated before?"
"Not really, no."
"That's fine." Snake Eyes placed his hands on his knees and Theresa did the same.
"Do I close my eyes now?"
Snake Eyes nodded.
"How long do we do this for?"
"As long as you like."
Theresa lasted an hour before her bum got sore and her feet fell asleep, she awkwardly climbed to her feet and stumbled over to the couch where she poked and prodded her feet until they woke up. Snake Eyes didn't seem to notice a change and Theresa figured that she'd leave him alone for a bit, gravitating towards the fridge for her unfinished meal. She did feel better and by the time she had finished and cleaned up, Snake Eyes was standing beside her.
"Better?"
"Much. Thanks." Theresa smiled and spun around, leaning against the sink and sighing.
"Something wrong?"
"Nah. Just tired."
"You're worried, no one can fault you for that."
"I know." Theresa pushed off the sink and headed towards the stairs. "Mind if I take a nap?"
"By all means."
Theresa nodded and saw Taiga sitting in front of the door, she gave the ninja a pleading look as the husky started whining.
"I'll take him, don't worry."
"You're life saver, Snake." Theresa said as she retreated upstairs.
Snake Eyes turned towards Taiga and grabbed a sweater from the closet, slipping into his boots and opening the front door. Locking it behind him, the ninja and dog started walking ahead, Snake Eyes watched Taiga sniff the air and fixate on a point far away from the house. Snake Eyes put a hand over his stomach, feeling his ribs with a grimace, before following Taiga. After travelling over muddy grass, the pair pushed through tall yellow grass and Taiga immediately started growling. Someone moved towards them and Snake Eyes bent down, waiting long enough for the person to reveal themselves.
"Snake Eyes?"
Snake Eyes put a hand on Taiga's back and stood up, letting Scarlet wrap her arms around him before she stared at the husky. "Not mind, a friend's."
"Someone we know?" Called a voice and Snake Eyes peered around Scarlet as Duke appeared from out of the brush.
"No. What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you." Ripcord said, stumbling forward and giving the ninja a grin. "Scar was worried."
Snake Eyes cocked his head to one side as he stared at Scarlet, perplexed by the nickname and slightly annoyed.
"If anything had gone wrong, I would've contacted you."
"That's just it though, we lost all trace of you." Breaker muttered, angrily shoving the grass away.
"Why do you keep doing that? Is Heavy Duty here as well or will he appear when I use the right dialogue?"
"Touchy, are we? See, this is what we get for worrying 'bout you." Heavy Duty sniggered and Snake Eyes put a hand over his eyes. Scarlet patted his shoulder with a teasing smile and bent down, putting her hand out for Taiga to smell.
"So, let's meet this friend of yours."
Theresa woke up to the sound of people laughing.
Which seemed really odd considering Snake Eyes didn't talk and the voices did not sound like Logan or Hideki. She sat up and stretched before sliding off the bed and leaving her room, walking down the stairs as quietly as she could. She could see a couple of people spread out over the couches and Taiga was making the rounds for attention, but she couldn't see Snake Eyes yet. While hoping to remain unseen for a few moments more, Theresa backed into the kitchen and squeaked when her back collided with another solid form. Looking up and over her shoulder, the woman grinned awkwardly at Snake Eyes as he took her hand and led her towards the group of people.
"And where did you lot come from?"