Can't say I blame you. My initial response to seeing it was a definite GAAH and jumping back in my chair. But that was pure shock on my part more than anything else. I tried shooting at it a couple of times with the Manstopper (my private name for the .357), but at that point I was too worried about running out of ammo to take the chance on shooting more. At that point I was picturing Gordon thinking 'okay, okay, it's a fricking SEA MONSTER in the middle of the BUILDING, I have no grenades, I have no boom at all, my only hope is to run like a fricking rabbit and hope it doesn't catch me'.

As far as the expansions go, I'm not sure. I'm considering it. I didn't download them from Valve originally, but I might do that just to see. Got HL2 and the Episodes when I bought the Orange Box, though, so that's available whenever.