Title: Missing

Author: Karina

Rating: PG

Pairing: Duo + Wu Fei + Pagan

Notes: Challenge 22. Baby Series 2 #10. Takes place approximately 30 minutes after Storm Warning.

Spoilers: None

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the Characters from the series but the baby is mine.

Title: Missing

"Chang? Have you seen Milliardo?"

Pagan glanced up from placing a tray of letters on the desk beside Wu Fei, who reached to pick up the top letter.

"His Majesty would be in his study. I believe he has an appointment for a video conference since the weather has locked us in."

"Yeah, well I know where he's supposed to be, and I know he isn't there. I checked. I think he's upset."

Pagan paused at the door. "Why should he be upset, Mr Maxwell?"

"I don't know. It was weird. He was okay one minute, and then he was gone. Something in his voice worried me."

Chang set aside the letter and rose. "If he is not in his study preparing, then something is wrong. He considered this a matter of some importance. Where did you last see him?"

"Near the ballroom, in that little anteroom off the stairs. I was watching the snow and he said it would be a blizzard by morning, and we'd probably be locked in for anything from a week to a month."

Duo led Pagan and Chang to the small room sandwiched between a grand staircase and the largest of the ballrooms.

"We were here and then we stated walking along the hallway, and he was saying something about old tunnels from a few centuries ago, and opening them up to link areas of the city. We were talking about emergency services and how they could do their job if we were snowed in."

The sharply inhaled breath from Pagan drew their attention and they stopped, turning to the old man.

"What? What did I say?" Duo demanded.

"Did he say nothing more?"

"Well, not much. He looked sort of odd, and I asked if he was okay. He said not really, something about the storm and preferring to forget. Then he excused himself and took off."

"I had though he would have outgrown…" Pagan frowned. "I believe we may need to question the staff. One may have noted the King in passing."

"Fess up, Pagan." Duo growled. "What did I say?"

"Enough to make me concerned for the Kings state of mind, Master Maxwell."

"I think we need a better explanation than that." Chang stalked after the taller man, his scowl growing more pronounced.

Pagan paused at the foot of the staircase. "It was snowing heavily the day of the massacre, and Milliardo was lost in the chaos that ensued. I learned later that he survived on his own for three days before he found help. What he did during that time… I have yet to learn what he did, but I believe for at least the first day he was trapped within the burning palace."

"Flashback." Chang whispered.

"Not good." Duo returned. "Pagan, you better fetch Heero. If Milliardo goes Zechs and gets all twitchy you don't want any of your staff around. They might get hurt. We'll find him."

End

Karina Robertson 2005