A/N: I came up with this story while watching Phase 35, as Patrick was being rather stern at Athrun. That and I thought that Patrick deserved a bit more development, mostly because he has a hand in the creation of ZAFT, and well most people don't like him. So I thought I would see what I could do in a) making him look more human and b) do a bit of character development.

Basically, this story takes place shortly before Athrun was sent to Copernicus and delves into the main reason why Patrick sent him there (apart from schooling).

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Gundam SEED, though I do own my thoughts.

A Long Summer Chapter 1

If the idea of spending close to ten or twelve hours a day for an entire week had made itself known before he had been elected to the council, Patrick would have happily supported his friend, Siegal Clyne, to get elected and he would have been happy enough sitting the background, supporting him in his choices. It would have made his life so much easier and would have allowed him to see his family more then he did now. But, alas, nobody had warned him of that or the extra time he had to spend in getting arrangements made for a vehicle to take him home every night, so he was now just getting home at one in the morning with a very disgruntled driver in front of him.

"Sorry for being late sir, got held up on another job. Hope you have a good night and see you tomorrow," the other Coordinator said as the councilman stepped out, brief case in hand.

"It's alright, I had paperwork to do as it was. Go home and rest, that's what I intend to do at any rate." Patrick replied, receiving a grin from the driver. Yeah, and if the rumors about Lenore Zala's over protectiveness of her home were true, Mr. Zala wasn't going to be in the best of shape tomorrow, but he didn't say that. Instead, the driver nodded and took off, leaving the other man to stare at his home with something close to dread. Yes his wife may be over protective, but he had a key and access to the couch, so he really didn't have to go to bed, he just had to come up with an excuse as to why he didn't. So with a sigh he pulled out the metal object and walked towards the door, not taking the time he normally did to look at his home with respect or wonder, mostly at how large it looked in the colony.

"Well, may as well get this over with," He muttered as he carefully opened the door and took a good look at the floor before going any farther. Athrun had a nasty habit of leaving tools, shoes, unfinished robots and other things on the floor in the general area of the door, and on more than one occasion Patrick had met the floor because of them. Floors clear, nobody in the shadows. Now if only I can make it to the family room with out being noticed. He thought as he shut the door and crept carefully into the house, his eyes scanning his surroundings before moving into the next room. As he made it into the family room, he sighed and stopped looking at where he was stepping or his surroundings in general. So it came as a great surprise when he slipped on something left on the floor and went crashing into the carpet, along with a long string of words that his mother would have washed his mouth out with soap if she heard them.

"Frag it!" He finished with as he started to get up, only to drop back onto the floor and rolling as something hard came crashing down near his head.

Great, now I have someone out for my head! He thought sarcastically as he let go of his briefcase and rolling away again, only to hear the sound of something hitting the paper carrier hard. It was then that his assailant decided to turn on a flashlight and directed it at his eyes.

"Stay put Chairman Zala, or prepare to lose your head," The person said menacingly, and Patrick could see the outline of what appeared to be a baseball bat.

"Well, while I'm laying here, with a light in my eyes may I ask who you are?" Using a tone that had earned him respect while helping to build the PLANTs he continued to scan around the room, looking for a way to escape his attacker, or to fight back.

"Someone you know." If it had been any other situation, Patrick would have taken it as a sarcastic remark, but he took it seriously for now. That and the fact that the voice did sound rather familer.

"Well, that could be anyone could you be more specific?"

"Someone you've known for years," He noticed a tool of Athrun's near the hand away from his assailant.

"Yet again, I know a number of people," He was almost there now, just a little more. He finally got it as the person responded, "Well, we are rather close." Okay, so that narrowed it down to around five people, two of which lived in this house and only one of whom would play these tricks.

"Athrun wha-" He was cut off by a sharp blow to the back of his head, which knocked him out.

"Mom," The flashlight holder whined, moving the beam to look at the other attacker, "Why did you knock out Dad?" The other person stood there, staring at the unconscious chairperson with a hand over her mouth and the other hold a…golf club.

"Oops, Athrun would you be a dear and turn the lights on?" Lenore said as she kneeled down next to her husband, finding his neck and checking for a pulse. Even though he was a Coordinator like her, she had a rather hard item in her hand and didn't exactly trust her strength when it came to hitting things, she was as Patrick and others put it over protective. Happy to have found a pulse (come on people he is in SEED! Can't kill him off, or I'd have to redo SEED!) she then set about rolling him over, as the lights flickered on.

"Mom, think he needs ice?" Athrun yelled over, standing near the door to the kitchen. Thinking about it for a moment she then answered yes that his father probably did need ice for the conk on the head. She then sat on the floor, trying to think of what to do next when a thought came to her.

"Athrun, why were you up this late?" Her tone screamed to be answered something which the younger Zala quickly answered to.

"I wanted a glass of water when Dad walked in. I didn't know what to do so I grabbed a baseball bat, why were you up?" He questioned as he brought over the ice pack and handed it to his mother, who laid it on the carpet and underneath Patrick's head.

"I was using the bathroom when I heard you two talking," She answered, resting a hand on her husbands chest in case he woke up with a start.

"Okay then," Athrun didn't bother to ask why she had taken a golf club to the bathroom, he had already come to the conclusion that his mother was just a tad over protective and this proved it. Lenore didn't have time to answer as the other man stirred, groaning and muttering how paperwork and late nights didn't seem to agree with people at home. The other two Zala's didn't even bother to answer to that, they just let him talk until he opened his eyes.

"Lenore, Athrun?" He had a confused look to his face before the memories came back to him, and after he noticed the golf club nearby. So, instead of asking what had happened he asked a very odd question, "Why the putter?" This brought laughter from the others while Patrick shook his head.

"Well, Patrick dear I think you need to go to bed," Lenore stated, not answering her husbands question. She took the others hand and got up slowly, pulling Patrick up with her with out arugment. With a quick reprimand from his father about not picking up his tools, Athrun stood up as well and went toward the stairs to go to his room.

"I guess we should do the same," Lenore stated, with a nodded agreement from the other. With that they both took off for the stairs, shutting off the lights as they left.

With that ends chapter 1! I know it didn't explain why in the first part but bear with me people! Oh, I know that Patrick would have known that he would have to take forever and a day to get his work down and all but I needed a way to start the chapter and what better way than him complaining about work. And the car thing, well I thought that at first they wouldn't have a ride back and forth as I see the PLANTs as having some kind of vehicle service for that. So, yeah he had to make arrangements to be picked up, eh….

Anyway read and review people! I crave critizcism.