He heard her voice, but did not stop his tears.  Why should he?  "I am not a tank... just a man... not even that now..." he said quietly as he stared down at his worthless lower half.  "I can't walk, can't move my legs at all... Hell, I can not even feel them... Doc said I can not even please a woman... "  He slammed a meaty fist into his palm, letting the echo reverberate throughout the room.  "I can cook... a little.  I can still lift well over 400 pounds to my chest... " he looked at his torso.  "Lot easier to lift now, only half the distance from ground..."<br/><br/>He finally looked at Mea, a faint light coming back in his eyes as he made a startling revelation.  "Mea... close the door.  I have something to tell you."  He waited for a moment, gathering his thoughts.  "A few years ago... I told you something important... It was something that I had been hiding for a long time.  Something I think... I think you should know.  You don't remember.  So, I will tell you again, seeing as how, I do not think I will be on your team anymore... on anyone's team anymore."  Again he paused, the finality of his injuries settling back into his mind, yet that faint glimmer of hope he clung to.<br/><br/>"Mea... All of these years, we have worked together.  Helped each other.  It has been professional relationship... and I..." he stopped and took a breath. "I wanted more... " he stopped again.  The words he was trying to say escaping him, not wanting to tell her the full truth of his feelings, lest she not feel the same, yet at the same time... he did want to tell her everything.  He thought about the consequences of it all... Then he came to the conclusion, he had nothing else to lose.  He was a broken and busted up GI Joe toy whose wobbly legs were held on by a rubbery piece of string in his torso.  Nothing more, nothing less.  "Mea... damnit I love you.  There.  I said it and I'm glad I did.  I have been trying to say it for years... just after Russia... I have been afraid of getting you hurt... but now, I am hurt.  So I have no other fears now..."  he was not sure what else to say though, there really were no more words that he knew.  So, he lay back against his pillow and waited for his worst fear to hit him.  He waited for her to either ignore what he said, or walk out because she never felt the way he did.