Possession
By RoeBoot
Based on the song by Sarah Mc Lachlan

Dot sat in her living room waiting for Bob to stop by. She kept herself busy by going over the progress reports on putting an end to all Neo Viral activity. If the Neo Virals were still hostile after infection removal, they were locked up for the duration to be evaluated. If they were determined not to be suitable citizens, they were to be expelled from Mainframe. Dot hated to make anyone leave but with Megabyte defeated, hopefully for good, they all wanted peace. And she wanted her life back.

But she remained distracted by Bob's behavior. He had been avoiding her, working to the point of exhaustion to catch all Megabyte's remaining troops and cure them. What Megabyte had done caused a great divide between them. She had betrayed him more then once but Bob now felt like the guilty party in their relationship. Dot kept having dreadful feelings of being left alone. Perhaps she needed to talk to Phong.

No. She needed to speak to Bob. They had to figure this out for themselves.

Bob walked in. He appeared more haggard then Dot had ever seen him. The dark circles under Bob's eyes were proof of his lack of sleep.

He smiled weakly and said, "Hi."

It made her heart drive break to see him. Her hero, all broken inside, feeling the hurt of his own personal suffering.

Dot put aside her glasses and organizer and patted her hand on the seat cushion beside her, a signal she wanted him to sit down. Bob did so, but opposite end of the couch just out of her reach. Bob kept his firewall up. And she needed to hack it down.

"I caught the last three Neo Virals hiding behind Al's place. I was going home to crash but I figured you wanted me to stop by."

She was ready to tell him to sleep in the guest quarters. Bob anticipated her request and said, "I'll feel better sleeping at home. It wouldn't feel right staying at the Principle Office."

Dot nodded.

"I can't see how you'd want to stay here after what happened. You could stay over my place."

Dot's eyes widened.

"Ouch! Yeah. Not very BSnP. Huh?"

Dot laughed. It made Bob cheer up for a fraction of a nanosecond. Bob said, "I don't deserve someone like you."

The words were not meant to insult her. They were his personal indictment of himself for what happened. Dot opened here mouth to speak but Bob looked down at the floor. "I should have called for backup. Then none of this would have happened. I put your lives in danger and for what? For what!?"

Dot tried to cut in but lost her chance again.

"All because I have to do it by my own code! I actually think I know better then the entire guardian collective! What a dipswitch I've turned out to be. Maybe it would be better if I left."

Dot finally got out a word. "No!"

Bob never gazed at her. He only shook his head. "I out did you Dot! You said you gave up on me. Twice! But I don't blame you. I thought I would never get back from the Web. And I understand why Megabyte fooled you. You were deceived. He took advantage of how much you loved me. But I walked into this with my eyes wide open!"

Bob pressed his hands to the sides of his head as if he wanted to crush his own skull. Bob's mind was full of the terrible images replaying over and over, robbing him of his sleep, giving him nightmares. "I should have listened to Turbo! One squad of soldiers and this could have been over! But no! I had to do it my way! And it nearly got everyone deleted!"

Dot slid over and put her hand on his shoulder. Bob took his hands away from his face and looked at her. There were tears in his eyes. He said, "I've caused you enough pain. You need to find another guardian. Turbo will send you someone better, someone who won't let you down."

Dot shook her head but Bob refused to change his mind. "I going home Dot. My real home. The Super Computer. I'm sorry for everything I've done. I hope you forgive me."

Bob started to get up. Dot refused to accept Bob's decision. She wouldn't be denied!

Dot grabbed Bob by the arm and pulled. He fell back across her lap. Dot held him down and kissed him so hard, Bob couldn't find his breath. His eyes remanded open, his mind racing along, looking for an explanation. Hexadecimal kissed him this way. Had the virus come back from the defragmented and taken Dot's place?

Dot finally stopped, leaving Bob panting for air. He stared into her beautiful violet eyes, knowing it was really her. He tried to speak but this time Dot took control. She pressed a finger to his lips and said, "Now you listen to me! I don't want to ever hear about you leaving. You made a promise and I expect you to keep it. Because if you try to leave, I'll do everything I can to stop you. And if you get away, I'll follow you wherever you go on the Net. Even if you go to the Web, I'll come after you. I'd rather degrade with you then live without you. And if everyone in Mainframe hates you and wants you to go, then I'll go with you wherever you choose. Because if no one else forgives you, then I will be the one. Because I love you."

Bob made a sound like a cross between a gasp and a sob. He blinked, causing tears to run down his cheeks.

"Shhhh," Dot said wiping away the tears. "Just close your eyes."

Bob had told Dot, he didn't deserve her. This was the proof and he wanted to say so. But his intense fatigue and being held so tenderly in her arms, washed away some of the anguish inside. Bob closed his eyes and relaxed. Within nanos he had fallen asleep. Dot continued to hold him close, caressing his face and hair. She kissed his forehead, making him smile in his sleep. She had no clue as to how long she'd have to sit with him sleeping on her lap.

And it didn't matter either.

They were together again.

End

Listen as the wind blows from across the great divide
Voices trapped in yearning; memories trapped in time
The night is my companion and solitude my guide
Would I spend forever here and not be satisfied?

And I would be the one
To hold you down
Kiss you so hard
I'll take your breath away
And after I'd wipe away the tears
Just close your eyes, dear

Through this world I've stumbled so many times betrayed
Trying to find an honest word; to find the truth enslaved
Oh, you speak to me in riddles and you speak to me in rhymes
My body aches to breathe your breath; your words keep me alive

And I would be the one
To hold you down
Kiss you so hard
I'll take your breath away
And after I'd wipe away the tears
Just close your eyes, dear

Into this night I wander. It's morning that I dread
Another day of knowing the path I fear to tread
Oh, into the sea of waking dreams I follow without pride
'Cause nothing stands between us here and I won't be denied

And I would be the one
To hold you down
Kiss you so hard
I'll take your breath away
And after I'd wipe away the tears
Just close your eyes...

http://www.sarahmclachlan.com/lyrics/Pos.html