Alex closes her eyes tightly and takes a deep breath. "I know," she whispers hoarsely. "But that doesn't make it any easier." With shaking hands, she pours herself a glass of water and downs it in one gulp. She needs to calm down, think clearly. There are so many things to consider...

I stare at him, my mind reeling with questions and emotions. How could he have gotten me into this mess? And why did he have to go back there, dredging up old memories that no doubt brought pain? I force myself to focus on the present, on the task at hand. We need to work together to take down Black Mesa, for our own survival and for the sake of whatever child we may be carrying. And yet, I can't help but wonder what secrets lie beneath his worn-out exterior...what demons he's been fighting all these years...