Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing.

"Maxwell here." The voice was lighthearted as ever.

"Is Yuy there?"

"Who is this?"

"It's Pagan," the old man replied.

"Hold on," Duo mumbled as he popped a candy in his mouth, setting down the phone. "Hey, buddie." He rounded the corner. "The phone's for you."

Heero raised an eyebrow, silently, demanding the caller.

"It's Pagan."

"I'm not here," he said, coolly.

"He's not here," Duo lied. "Not on the colony, even."

Pagan chuckled. "Very well. Will you take a note, for him?"

Duo grabbed a wrinkled receipt and a pen, nearby. "Shoot."

"Tell him that the record he's looking for is Doe, John Carina, at the St Theresa Institute of Medicine. I'll be expecting his call." Pagan quietly hung up.

Duo tilted his head, handing the note to Heero. "'John' means it's not Relena," he said assuringly.

Heero stared at the note for several seconds, deciphering the scribbled handwriting, then began typing vigorously. Once he reached the file, he clicked slowly through it for about five minutes, before picking up his phone.

Pagan answered, calmly.

"What do you need?"

"She'll need you."

Heero sighed. "Alright," he said, understandingly. All the training in the world hadn't managed to take his humanity. "I'll be there in a few days."

"Heero," Pagan made him pause. "Don't tell her."

Heero scoffed under his breath. "I never tell her anything."

:::

Heero sat silently on the bench, absorbing the cool air, when his cell rang. Glancing down, he raised his eyebrow in surprise, then answered. "You're not supposed to use this number," he said.

"I didn't know who else to call."

"What do you want?"

"I need," her voice was weak. "I need a sounding board."

"So now I've been demoted to a sounding board?"

"I'd call it a promotion." He could hear her smile, as she teased at him. They drank in the silence, growing comfortable with the connection between them.

"It's Pagan." She finally broke in.

"Pagan?"

"Heero," her voice sounded desperate. Hurting. "He's not himself. I can see it. He's getting weaker."

"People get weaker as they age," he tried to calm her nerves.

"Heero, he's sick." He answered in silence. "I've been trying to get him to see a doctor, but he won't. I even checked to see if he'd been going behind my back, but his charts say he hasn't been since his last annual. And, in spite of its name, that was well over a year, ago!"

"Relena," he searched for the words, trying not to lie to her. "If he was sick, I'm sure he'd have a plan. He'll look out for you."

"It's not me that I'm worried about," she sighed. "I can handle myself."

Heero cracked a smile, picturing her trying to figure out how to make her own coffee. Rolling his eyes at the cartoon in his head, he whispered softly. "I somehow doubt your confidence would reassure him."

She stifled a laugh, knowing she was being slapped in the face. A soft knock at her door assured her that her time was up.

"I have to go," she whispered. "I'm late for a meeting."

"Alright."

"Heero?" He waited. "Please come? Help me talk him into seeing a doctor?"

"No promises," he smiled.

"Alright," she sighed. "I'll talk to you later." As she lowered the phone to end the call, the whisper escaped her lips, naturally. "I miss you."

Heero looked down at the phone, bewildered. He got the impression that the last three words, trailing into darkness, before the sudden click, were never meant to be heard. He grinned. I miss you, too, he thought.

Taking a deep breath, he scanned the pick-up line. Finally, he spotted the black sedan, waiting for him. His face hardened. Standing at the driver's door, the blonde smiled curiously. He hadn't told her why the sudden need, but Dorothy was always glad to bring Heero anywhere, especially to Relena's house.

"You know, she'll be at work?" Dorothy said, as he climbed in the passenger seat.

"Yep. I planned it that way."

She sped off.

:::

Pulling into the drive, Dorothy was perplexed by the antique pink limousine. "She's home?" She asked.

"No. Pagan spends most of the day here."

She put the car in park.

"Do make sure to enjoy your stay, Mr. Yuy," she winked at him.

Pulling his bag from the back seat, he nodded solidly, knowing her meaning. "I'll keep your wishes in mind," he said in a cold tone.

As she watched him walk up the stairs to the front door, Dorothy whispered, "If only people would bow to my simple wishes. Heavens. All I ask for them is happiness." She rolled her eyes, hearing the wedding bells in her imagination. With a shake of the head, she drove off.

As Pagan answered the door, Heero was startled by his own reaction. After hearing the news, Pagan's presence seemed to bring a different feeling all together. His chest ached, deep behind his heart, and his stomach almost turned. He swallowed back the lump in his throat, trying to steady himself to speak.

"Don't. Do it." Pagan's sudden words were the perfect guard from the pity.

Heero broke through the weakening thoughts with a small, smileless laugh, which Pagan seemed to need to hear. "You're right," he said, stepping inside.

Heero dropped his duffle at the bottom of the stairs, making note of the late hour. Traffic had set them back, and there was no time for conversation.

"How long?" He started back for the door, leading Pagan to the limo.

"A few weeks, at best," Pagan's voice did sound more tired than Heero had remembered.

Settling in the front seat, Heero asked the pressing question. "Why me?"

Pagan just looked at the young man with a knowing smile.

Heero sighed, shaking his head. "I won't do it." He looked back at the driver. "I'll teach her anything you want me to, but I'm not going to cross that line."

Pagan smiled at the secret.

Silence fell over the car, and Heero leaned his head back, exhausted from the journey.