Author's Note: Honey, I'm home!!! Hey guys! Long time, no see! I have been very neglectful of my stories for a while and I apologize for that. I've been a busy little bee and haven't really had time to sit down and write anything for a while. Things have calmed down some so I am trying to get back into the swing of things. This is my first offering of what I hope will be back-to-back updates on all my stories. So, enough of the talky-talky...here's the new stuff!

Disclaimer: I don't own MK...ya'll know that!

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Del sat cross-legged on top of her bed, humming happily as she restrung her bow. Needless to say, she was more than a little startled when the door to the room slammed open to admit her pale, shaken room mate. Instantly concerned, she sat the bow aside. "Wren? What's wrong?"

Wren said nothing. She merely crossed the floor to where her bed was, dropped to her knees and began pulling items out from underneath it. Unable to find what she was looking for, she stood and turned to face the other woman. "Have you seen my jian?"

"Wren..." Del's concern kicked up a notch when she saw the unshed tears shining in the woman's eyes. "What happened?"

Wren averted her gaze. "I need my sword."

"You put it in the closet..." Del stood and followed her friend across the room to the large, walk-in closet they shared. "Talk to me. What's going on?"

"Nothing's going on." Wren dug around in the closet until she found what she sought. Tucking the scabbard under her arm, she stepped out and closed the door behind her. "I just can't do this anymore."

"Can't do what anymore?" Del was becoming more worried by the second. "What are you talking about?"

"This..." Wren turned to face the woman and gestured around herself. "This whole place. Sub Zero...Frost..." Wren blinked her eyes as tears threatened. "I can't keep going like this."

Del's jaw clenched. "Its her, isn't it? What did she do? Did she say something to you?"

Wren shook her head. "She didn't have to say anything. Actions speak a lot louder than words ever could. Its obvious to me that I am somewhere that I have no business being. I've outlasted my usefulness. The sooner I'm out of here, the sooner things can go back to the way they were."

"Back the way they were?!" Del looked at Wren with a confused, panicked expression. "You're talking about leaving? You can't leave! We'll talk to the Grandmaster. Whatever's going on between you and Frost..."

Wren snorted. "No, he's already made it very clear where he stands on the subject. There's nothing else to say." Moving away from her friend, she paused at the door, casting a glance back over her shoulder. "I've really enjoyed knowing you." She smiled sadly as she passed through the doorframe and out into the hallway.

"Wren, wait!" There was a shuffling of footsteps as Del hurried to catch up with the retreating woman.

"Del, what are you doing?" Wren eyed the woman as she caught up with her.

"What does it look like?" Del shrugged and offered her friend a smile. "I'm going with you."

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Why? Why did this have to happen? After everything he had worked through to get this far...

Sub Zero's arm shot out to capture a passing Lin Kuei. His icy fingers rested loosely around the man's throat. He pinned the frightened man with his piercing gaze. "Have you seen Wren?"

"N-no, Sir" The man shook his head vigorously.

Sub Zero released the man and cursed softly. He had been everywhere he thought she may go with no luck. The only place he hadn't been was the room she shared with Delilah and he was on his way there now. He prayed to the gods she would be there. He had to know that she understood that, despite what she may have seen, there was nothing going on between himself and Frost.

Why hadn't he just listened to Smoke in the first place when he told him to turn Frost away? His sense of responsibility and the affection he had once held for the woman had blinded him in a way that he could scarcely see what was before his face. Deep down he knew she was an irretrievably lost cause. Her motives were completely self-serving. Her pride and selfishness prevented her from ever being more than what she was. No amount of encouragement on his part would ever change that.

Any lingering doubt he may have had about his feelings for his former student were swept away the very moment he took Wren into his arms. The two women were like polar opposites. His time mentoring Frost had been an uphill fight, always a struggle both personally and professionally. With Wren, things seemed to flow along naturally. He likened it to having been wandering through the blistering desert and finally being offered something cold and refreshing to drink...and he had no intention of ever doing without again. Not if he could help it. Things would be rectified if it was the last thing he ever did.

Frost had to go. Of that much he was absolutely certain. She could not remain if he ever hoped to gain any sort of semblance of normalcy. She most certainly could not stay if he hoped to retain Wren, which at the moment was his main concern. The fragile bond he had managed to forge with the young woman had suffered greatly in just the short amount of time Frost had been back on the scene. His only hope of salvaging anything of their relationship was to get Frost out of the picture. He only hoped it wasn't too late.

End of Chapter 32

I know this one is on the short side. Its just a little something to get things rolling again and back on the right track. I hope it wasn't too terribly disappointing. I didn't forget about Frost, either. Trust me, she's creeping around somewhere with something deliciously evil planned...but we'll get into that with the next one. Peace!

VoodooQueen