While she was remembering the events, Sally had checked on all the minor burns on her upper body and the wounds on her arm. With the help of AC-199 technology, what was left of her cuts were two very thin white lines, one on her fore-arm, the other in her palm.

The doctor, very much concentrated on her examination, was startled when Relena broke the silence. " So I lost too much blood? That's why I fainted?"

"What? Hum... no." Sally replied. "But it's why Heero brought you here in the first place. Only it's not why you fainted or why you're still here."

Relena was puzzled by her affirmation. "Well I don't remember anything else, I mean, maybe I was burnt too..."

-It's not that either.

-Then what is it?

-The poison.

-The what? Poison!? What are you talking about?

-You were injected a poison miss Relena, right here.

Sally put her finger on the back of her shoulder. Relena twisted her head to see the black spot that was about an inch in diameter.

"When the hell did that happen?"

-We have no way of telling. The substance that was used is unknown to us and it matches no other in our database. Fortunately, we managed to clean your blood in time with that machine over there. You were quite lucky because most hospitals are not equipped to deal with this kind of poisoning

-The unknown kind? Relena said, sarcastically.

-Most facilities only have a reserve of antidotes and counter-poisons. I must admit, the situation is very alarming. If Heero had brought you here a minute later, you probably wouldn't have survived.

-What does it do? The poison I mean...

-It slows your metabolism nearly to a stop. Youe heart was bearly beating when you arrived here. You spent two days in intensive care, and three here. But you are O.K. now, we were able to significantly decrease the concentration of the substance in your blood. You should be able to leave the day after tomorrow.

-I'll leave as soon as possible Sally, I have to find who did this, and most importantly, why.

Without notice, Wufei entered the room.

"I see you are awake Cadet Bolian" he said, "I imagine you will be back in class next week for your evaluations"

The way he talked to her proved that Sally had kept her secret. Although she had seen Wufei two or three times during the semester, it was the first time he had talked to her. If he seemed insensitive to her situation, she knew somehow he cared for his injured student.

"Of course Mr Wufei, as I was telling doctor Po, the sooner I leave, the better."

"Good. Lady Une has asked two of my instructors to carry the investigation of the explosion and your poisoning. Expect one of them to come and interrogate you in the following hours. I'll let you know how the case develops. Ms, Doctor, good day."

Just as he passed the door, Sally winked to Relena and left too.

Finally alone, Relena took the opportunity to take a shower. Only the hot water couldn't wash away her thoughts, as they swirled into her head.

"Ok now let's think... Why me? Is someone after me or Crystal? Why would anyone want to hurt Crystal? Then it has to be that someone knows who I am. Who? Is it related to the attempts on the Gundam pilots and my relations with them? Even the Gundam pilots haven't recognized me. Or have they? Even then, they wouldn't hurt me, would they? Why now? Why here?"

As she stepped out of the shower, she found herself staring at her reflection in the mirror. Tiny white spots showed where metal crumbs had burnt through her skin.

"Geez! what have you done? You went hurting yourself for that man again?"

She looked at her unrecognizable face, her wet red hair curling down to her shoulders.

"Why did you do this again? Is it really to help maintain peace? Is it? Don't lie to yourself Relena. You did this to prove your worth to yourself. That's it. You are not as selfless as you think you are. You should have stayed home, were you belong. Politics is your world, what you are good at. On top of it all, you're falling in love with Heero Yuy all over again. You can't. Go home, forget about Crystal, just go home..."

She got dressed and returned in her room to find Heero sitting by her bed. She had mixed feelings seeing him. On one hand she was thankful to the man that had saved her life, on the other hand, she was frustrated by what he said about her, about Relena letting him down. Without a word, she climbed on her hospital bed, as he watched her silently. He was as serious as he ever was. He stared at her while she couldn't bring herself to face him.

"Thank you, she said, still looking at the white wall in front of her. I owe you my life."

"Cadet Bolian, please tell me what happened that day" was his response.

She turned to look at him, puzzled. She crossed his cold gaze. He was serious.

-Well... after I jumped off the Mobile Suit I waited in the jeep...

-No... from the beginning.

-I... I don't understand...

-Please.

She felt insulted. He was there! It was demeaning; he knew exactly what had happened...

-Well, you went to my room and asked for my help with a damaged Mobile Suit. We went to the hangars and I got the debris out of its mechanism; cutting my arm and hand. You told me to wait in the jeep and there was an explosion. I went looking for you...

-That's when you bumped into me.

-That's right

She was somewhat relieved that he cut her before she had to go through the humiliating part; the part when she held him in her arms, crying. But somehow, he didn't seem satisfied with her explanation. He seemed somehow... angry. What had she done wrong?

-And then I remember saying you were bleeding because I saw blood on your uniform...

-Do you know anyone that could have done this to you? Anyone who could have wanted to harm you?

Relena was mortified. Anybody could want Vice Foreign Minister Darlian dead. Should she tell him the truth?