DANGEROUS LIES
BY: KIM FITZSIMMONS

Part Three
Light Shines Through

    As Scarlett breathed his name Snake Eyes nodded slowly a couple of times, letting the gravity of her situation sink in. She sat up slowly and got to her feet. snake Eyes didn't budge, didn't blink, he just watched her, the full force of that icy silver gaze on her.

    She spoke, "I know what they told you Snake Eyes, and the truth is, your getting burnt and losing your voice was my fault." There were tears glistening in her vivid blue eyes and her voice broke a little.

    Snake Eyes was mildly shocked, although nothing about him revealed that fact. Her admission was certainly not what he was expecting to hear. He kept his gaze inscrutable as she spoke again.

    "We were in a chopper together when the engine stalled out. The door on one side slammed shut on my web gear and jammed, trapping me. You wouldn't leave me. you were cutting through my web gear when we hit the other chopper. The fuel tank exploded in your face. I was knocked out in the crash, but you carried me to safety with your head still on fire." The tears in her eyes began to spill down her cheeks and her voice was a tremulous whisper as she finished her story, "You got hurt because of me."

    Snake Eyes stared at her in disbelief, his mind enraged at her lies, but something else in him seemed to tighten, desperately wanting her words to be true. All of the sudden images and sounds flooded his mind. The roar of a chopper, yelling, Scarlett screaming at him to save himself, and then fire and horrible pain on his face and in his throat. The jolt of images in his mind sent a wave of agony tearing through Snake Eyes' mind, the pain blinding him and slamming him to his knees.

    Scarlett stepped forward to help him, but at her tentative touch his defenses screamed a warning. Before she could react, Snake Eyes grabbed his sword, shot to his feet and pressed the tip of his razor sharp sword against the vulnerable hollow of Scarlett's throat. He was shaking his head no, anger warring with uncertainty in his silver eyes.

    Scarlett kept very still, Snake Eyes was in a dangerous state, and any sudden moves would send him over the edge. She spoke once more, her voice as pure as the sound of clear water running through a stream, " I could never hurt you, I love you."

    Snake Eyes' eyes seemed to glow in the dim light, black rage sweeping through him that she would dare say such a thing.

    In retaliation he pressed the sword tip in to her throat, the blade puncturing skin. A large droplet of blood welled up and spilled down her neck. Snake Eyes watched the thin ribbon of blood travel to the top of Scarlett's chest and lower. The he noticed the locket. Fascinated, he lowered the blade of his sword to where the little pendant lay against Scarlett's breastbone and he used the blade to open the tiny latch. He then stared in disbelief at what he saw. Pictures of Scarlett and ... himself.

    He seemed unable to breathe as he watched the blood from Scarlett's small wound trickle onto and cover Scarlett's tiny picture in her own blood. Snake Eyes lifted his now horrified gaze back to Scarlett's face to see a look of complete trust and love shining in her eyes. He lifted a shaky hand to the wound on her throat and skimmed a feather light touch across it, coating his fingertips in Scarlett's blood.

    At that moment his memories seemed to return into his mind with a single rush and he realized how easily Cobra had made him hurt the one person he cherished above all others. Staring at the blood coating his fingers he fell to his knees, his sword clattering to the floor.

    Scarlett went to her knees in front of him, wrapping her arms around him. His emotions spilled over with that gentle hug, and he latched onto her like a drowning man, nearly squeezing the breath from her. He pulled back slightly and took her face between his hands, unmindful of the blood he was smearing on her cheek. He just knew he wanted, NEEDED to touch her.

    She smiled gently, "Let's go home."

* * * * * * * *

    They touched the FANG down at the Pitt where it was very quickly surrounded by a very tense group of Joes. Snake Eyes got out of the chopper first and then put his arms up to help Scarlett down. As soon as Scarlett appeared, in one piece, a huge wave of relief swept through the group of Joes.

    Jinx rushed up to hug Scarlett, "I knew you would bring him back, but you sure gave us one Hell of a scare!" She then noticed the blood on her friend's shirt seeping from her neck. "Ugh, come on, let's get that looked at and cleaned."

    Scarlett let Jinx lead her off, turning to flash one more smile at Snake Eyes as she left. Snake Eyes explained to Hawk what happened.

    Hawk's response was to shake his head and smile while saying, "Never underestimate the power."

    Storm Shadow stood beside his friend, noticing how tense he was, and it came as no surprise to him when Snake Eyes turned to him and signed, "Can I talk to you?"

* * * * * * * *

    In Snake Eyes' room, Storm Shadow watched his friend pace relentlessly. He could tell his friend's confidence had suffered a serious blow after today's events. Snake Eyes heaved a silent sigh and signed, "I nearly killed her, Tommy. I remember everything I was feeling, I wanted to hurt her, to make her suffer like I thought she'd made me suffer. I came so close..."

    Storm Shadow was shocked to see this man, who was normally a pillar of strength trembling, shaken to the core by what he'd nearly done. Storm Shadow laid his hand on his friend's shoulder, "But you didn't. No matter how angry you were, you couldn't bring yourself to truly hurt her. Even if your mind didn't remember loving her, your heart and soul recognized her."

    Snake Eyes lifted his silver eyes to meet Tommy's onyx ones and he saw the absolute truth of his friend's words. Storm Shadow said just one more thing, "Go to her."

* * * * * * * *

    Scarlett opened her door to see Snake Eyes standing there, and he asked if he could come in. "Of course," she replied, her voice a soothing balm to his frayed nerves.

    In her hands, she held his once pristine white dress shirt, now stained with her blood. She gave him a little smile, "I guess I owe you a new shirt."

    He signed back, "I have others." He noticed she'd changed into a forest green silk blouse and fresh pair of jeans. Then he saw the white gauze bandage taped at the hollow of her throat, covering the wound he'd inflicted on her.

    Scarlett saw where his silver gaze was locked and gently lifted his chin to meet her gaze. "Hey, it's just a scratch, it doesn't even hurt."

    He just lifted a slightly shaking hand to delicately touch the bandage before he signed, " But I came so close to hurting you. But even though I believed what Cobra Commander said about you, I still couldn't bring myself to harm you. Even though I didn't realize it, I loved you." She smiled warmly at him before he continued. "My love for you saved me, saved both of us."

    "What do you mean?"

    He lifted his silver eyes, which seemed to warm like molten mercury to hers and she saw how serious he was. "If I had...hurt you, it would have destroyed me. I would have become dangerous to everyone. Don't you understand? Without you, I would have lost all goodness long ago. My loyalty to Stalker would have kept me around for only so long. When I met you I suddenly had balance and purpose. I saw in you everything I wanted to be. You are purity and light, without you my life would be in darkness."

    Scarlett felt her heart sing at what he said, "I can't believe you feel that way about me." "Believe it," he signed, "I need you like I need the air that I breathe. You are a part of me. What I feel for you goes beyond love."

    At this he removed his mask and his head dipped down to to brush hers with a feather light kiss that deepened as they drowned in each other.

    As they finally broke apart, Scarlett sighed, "I guess love really does conquer all."

~End~

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