"Fine," Alex said calmly, "Been listening to rumors. Apparently, there's some new special agent or spy or something." Sighing, he continued, "The last time they tried that... well lets just say i don't have fond memories of the incident." Shaking his head he said "Sorry, I shouldn't be so depressing. After all, We're both still alive right? So how are you?" Something seemed weird about here when he mentioned the rumors. Alex decided not to bring them up again. At least not yet.

Neva nodded when she heard him and knew exactly what he ment. She had seen what happened to the old spy. But she was different. She actually knew more then anyone should and it helped her in protecting herself and doing her job. She then smiled at him, "it is okay and your right, we are still alive and I am doing great. everyone is really nice here and Tessa has been showing me around." she said as she smield at him.

Frowning, Alex decided to keep his mouth shut. Tessa was showing Neva around? This had problems written all over it. He wanted to get up and storm around until he found the idiot who let them meet..... but he had nobody to blame but himself. He put a smile on, for Neva's sake, but he couldn't help from gripping the bed so hard, he bent the metal. "Did the doctors mention when i would be able to get out yet?"

Neva could tell that he was distressed right away about her being with Tessa. But she was and nothing was going to change that. She walked over to him and gently took his hand away from the bed and held it, "they said a few days so there is nothing to worry about." she said as she looked at him. From outside she heard Tessa call, "Neva we need you." Neva could only sigh and knew that she would be busy for a while. "I guess I need to go." she said looked at him sadly.

Alex groaned and said "A few days? You know how much muscle i have to regain after that" He was miming agony, when he heard Tessa's voice calling for Neva. As she turned to go, Alex grabbed her arm and said fervently, "No matter what, keep yourself in one piece. I don't know why she has such an interest in you Neva, but it can't be good. Stay safe."

Neva smirked when she heard him and kenw that should of been the first thought he had. but when he caught her arms she was surprised and then looked at him. She frowned a little bit and then took his hand into hers. "I will try to stay as safe as I can and I promise I will come back to you." she said and found herself kissing his cheek before running out of the room. She couldn't promise that she owuld come back in one piece because even she didn't know.

Alex was frozen with shock. He'd never even thought about kissing or being kissed by Neva before. But for some odd reason, the thought of it now gave him a strange feeling. Almost like and adrenaline rush, but somehow different. He wondered what to do about it for a while, then decided to put the matter aside for now. It could wait till she got back. Just as Alex was starting to become bored, Jocko walked in with a vase, saying "What's this I spy? One of my squad-mates taking a break without leave? This just won't do. I'll have to give you an assignment." Alex opened his mouth to complain, but Jocko shushed him, saying, "I think you'll like this assignment. Your task is to keep this person's morale high." Jocko waved, and Sandstorm rolled in on a wheelchair. Grinning, Alex talked with them until late at night.

Towards the Middle of the night Neva came back but this time it was different from the others. Instead of her dragging back a man she was hurt badly. She had a few gashes here and there and a broken arm. Tessa right away took her tothe hospital and they went to work patching her up. "your not going on any other missions for a few days." Tessa said once Neva had her arm in a sling and the gashes were wrapped up. Neva smiled and nodded, "yes mam, I am going to go check on Alex." she said and beaded over to his room. She then knocked before coming in, "hey you awake?" she asked as she headed inside

Sitting up, Alex started to say yeah, when Neva walked into the room. He saw that she was hurt, pretty badly in fact. Glaring, Alex stood up with out saying a word. Wishing he were strong enough to summon something else, he summoned a small knife. One side had a fagged edge, while the other was sharp as can be. He walked up to Neva, and gave her a quick hug saying. "Don't worry. They WILL pay." and turned to leave the room.

Neva was surprised when he got up and summoned something. But when he hugged her and she heard him she just stood there for a moment. She then ran after him and grabbed his arm with her good hand. "please dont, it is okay. They said I would be okay in a little while." she said and then moved infront of him. "your still hurt I dont want you to get hurt anymore. So please go back to your room." she said as she looked at him.

Growling, Alex said, "But its your hurt, and its HER fault!" Alex was about to go an a giant rampage, when he realized that the medication was hampering his judgement. Sighing, he said, "Alright. Have it your way. He tried to make it down the hall, back to his room, But he only got halfway there before he had to stop and lean on the wall. now that his blind fury had faded, the maniac energy had left him, and Alex realized how weak he was.

Neva shook her head when she eard him but smiled when he sighed and decided to let her have this. She then walked with him down the hall. But when he leaned against the wall she frowned and wrapped a arm him. She then pulled his arm around her shoulder and started to make her way to the room. "lean against me." she said softly as she helped him and didn't care that her body hurt. "and it isn't her fault. I went out and did my assignment and this is what happened." she said as she continued to help him. Soon they got to his room and she helped him into bed.

"Assignment?" Alex asked in surprise, "What assignment? What do they have you doing?" He wanted to go throttle Tessa again, but decided to hold his judgement until Neva explained what was going on. He didn't want to upset her. Besides, he thought to himself, I can always strangle that wench later....... He folded his arms and said firmly, "Tell me what they have you doing."

Neva sighed when she heard him and wished she could of kept this from him longer. But she just looked at him and knew she would of had to sooner or later, "well after you left Tessa saw me wondering around. We gotto talking and I told her what I could do. Right away she took me to see the other heads and they got to talking. When they said I could possibly help them I decided I would try. So after I took my blindfold off I learned everything they knew. I know almost everything about this place and all the best moves. They fitted me with these goggles and it keeps the pain away so I can see all the time now. It is nice and I am happy, I can now do things by myself. After that they gave me a name and they send me were they need me. I am better for the job then most people since I can learn everything about others right away. So they have me do certain assignments. No one forced me to do this, I chose to say yes." she said as she looked at him.

Alex sagged back in his bed. He wasn't expecting this. He wasn't sure what to do. Sighing, he said, "Alright. I'll keep myself under control...... For now." He raised his hands before Neva could object, "I'm sorry. That's the best i can promise for now." He spaced out for a minute, considering his options. He looked at Neva and asked, "Now that you work here, you can live in the barracks, if you want. Tessa will probably push that, so she can get you assignments faster." He was speaking in a monotone. "Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all in the caf. I'll show you that after I'm discharged." For some reason, the thought of losing Neva was like a physical pain. But he was determined. if she chose to move into the barracks, he wouldn't make her regret it.

Neva shook her head when she heard him and then looked at him, "why would I want to stay here? It is boring and I would rather not be close to my work. So I am going to stay with you... That is if it is okay with you." she said as she looked at him. She hoped she didn't since she liked living with him. She didn't want to leave him and for once she realized she didn't want to leave him ever! She wanted to be close to him for as long as she could be.

Shaking his head fervently, he said, "No no no! That's not.... What I meant was.... If it made you happy......" Alex wasn't sure what to say. Well, that wasn't quite true. He knew what he wanted to say, just not how to say it. Alex swallowed hard, and said softly. "You see, Neva. I want you to be happy. Always. Because..... you see..... I-" At that moment, Jocko wheeled Sandstorm in shouting, "HOLD IT! HOLD EVERYTHING! You two love birds aren't doing anything in this hospital. Not on my watch." Jocko seemed rather proud of himself, and of his lucky timing. Silently, Alex planned his revenge. Jocko was arachnophobic. And Alex had a friend in the zoo. Alex also knew where his desk was. That would do..... for now. Until late at night, Jocko and Sandstorm stayed. It wasn't bad, and in fact Alex was having a good time with them, but he wished they could have showed up even a minute later. Or a day.

Neva frowned when she heard him and didn't get what he was trying to say. She was happy, she was always happy when she was around him. But when his friends bursted into the room she frowned more. yet after a few seconds they were joking and having fun. She was happy and smiling as she talked to Jocko and sandstorm. But in the back of her head she coudlnt' help but wonder what Alex was going to say before the others came into the room.

When Jocko and Sandstorm finally left, it was almost midnight. Alex leaned back with a sigh. He turned to Neva and said. "Okay. now that we're finally alone, lets try this again." He sat back up and looked at her. He opened up his mouth to talk, but was unable to say anything. The brief moment of courage had left him. Suddenly, the entire situation was hilarious. He, who'd run through hell and back, was too afraid to tell Neva that he loved her. He began to laugh so hard, that he almost fell out of his bed.

Neva smiled and waved to the others as they left. But when Alex tried to say anything he couldn't and soon was laughing like crazy. She walked over to him and made sure that he didn't fall out and smiled at him. "get some sleep, what ever you have to say can wait till tomorrow." she said and kissed his forhead, "good night." she said as she yawned and then headed out of the room. Her room was close to his so she didn't have to go far but by the time she got there and into bed she passed out.

After she kissed him, Alex wanted to tell her again, but she was gone before he could. He got settled, and closed his eyes. He dreamed of Neva that night. The dreams made him smile in his sleep. They were mostly about them just being together, and enjoying each others company. When he got up the next morning, he managed to convince the doctors that he was better enough that he could get around on a crutch, but he still had to take the painkillers. He had already left his room, and walked through most of the hospital, when he realized that he didn't know where Neva's room was. He went off in search of an orderly.

Neva slept threw the night and found herself dreaming of Alex. But towards the end she saw blood and he was on the floor. She screamed and found hersled sitting up in bed and screaming silently to herself. She then started to shake and she was glad it had only been a dream. She then wondered where he was and slowly got out of bed and started to look for Alex.

He had found out from a nurse where Neva's room was, but when he went there, she'd already left. silently, he cursed himself. He should have realized that Neva would have gotten up and gone to find him. He turned to leave her room, When Tessa walked by rapidly. He considered following her for a moment, but decided against it. He started heading back for his room. Maybe he would run into her on the way, unless she was already there, he thought to himself.

Neva soon got to Alex's room and sat down on his bed. She wondered where he was but as she waited Tessa came running past the room. She then stopped when she saw Neva and said, "there you are, I need you to come with me." Neva nodded and got to her feet, "okay, then lets go." she said and she followed Neva out of there. On the way down the hall she thought she passed Alex but she wasn't sure since they where running down the hall.

Tessa went running past him again with Neva in tow. Alex called out, but they were gone before he could react. He cursed the painkillers for reducing his reaction time to snail speed. He went to follow him, but when he got to a certain section, one of the guards stopped him. Alex was confused, he normally had access to this section. As it turned out, he wasn't returned to active duty, so he only had access to the areas that anybody could go to. sighing, he returned to his room. He lay down on his bed, wondering whether he'd ever be able to tell Neva how he felt.....