"I don't hold that against him, Boss," Fox said. "It wasn't a betrayal. I knew when I left to join you that he and I would be on different sides, that we would perhaps eventually be forced to fight to the death." He also had a lot more experience with Snake than Big Boss had. This wasn't the Snake he knew, but Fox had seen what he could be, and was confident that he knew what sort of person Snake was better than Big Boss.

Fox walked over to Big Boss again, tentatively putting a hand on his shoulder. It was a little risky to make things physical again after that short exchange of blows, but he didn't want their to be a rift between them either. "Boss... I don't think I could stand to lose either of you again. I've lost too many people I've cared about to this place, I won't allow it any more." Disagreements with Big Boss were always more difficult than they were with Snake, and they'd never gotten into anything this bad.

Big Boss was much more than just a commander to him, he always had been and always would be. It was very obvious that Big Boss was upset over what had happened in Zanzibar. Fox couldn't blame him, he doubted he'd have made a quick emotional and mental recovery either even if he'd been given the chance. The anger was fading, leaving behind a deep emotional pain.