Chapter 10

After their little altercation at the lobby, Trowa had avoided Linwood like the plague. He steered right off the man's way if he noticed their paths would cross and made sure the other veterinarian was busy before he went to the lobby or the lounge. That morning, however, he could not escape.

Linwood was stepping out of a surgery when Trowa walked into the dressing room, an emergency had just arrived so he had no choice other than to get changed and scrub into the surgery to assist their boss. It was not only the man's personal request but an orthopaedic case which interested Trowa immensely. There was no missing it, not even in order to avoid an exhausting confrontation.

'Barton.'

'Linwood.' He returned the greeting with a curt tone that he hoped would discourage any attempts the other man might make at conversation. It seemed to work for a short while though he could feel Linwood watching him out of the corner of his eye.

'Hey, Barton. Where've you been? Haven't seen you around much lately.'

'Just because you haven't seen me doesn't mean I wasn't here.'

'But on Saturday you weren't here. I'm positive. Even though you used to be here all weekend, every weekend… So where were you?'

Trowa thrust his feet into his surgical slippers. 'It's none of your business where I was.' He said as politely as he possibly could.

'You've been with her then, huh? How much does she pay you?'

'Linwood.' He stood up, making use of his full height as well as his cold hard tone to try and stop the other man, but Linwood continued anyway.

'Nothing? Is she good at least? They say prude girls like her are actually—'

His fist flew before he could stop it and collided with the other's cheek seconds before their boss stepped in. The man glanced from Trowa's tense frame, heaving with barely controlled anger, to Linwood whose hand was nursing a red, already swelling jaw.

'Barton, a word, please?' he said calmly and held the door open until Trowa had walked past him. 'Linwood, you'll be scrubbing in with me. I'll need a second pair of hands.'

'With all due respect, sir. This is my surgery.' Trowa said as soon as he was face to face with his boss in the empty corridor. The older man did not even flinch.

'When was the last time you took some decent time off, Barton?'

'I took the entire day off just this Saturday.'

'I mean vacations, Barton. A week at the very least. I want you to take a week off, get your thoughts in order.'

'But my patients—'

'Your patients will be well looked after. I'll tend to them myself if you like.' He was not relenting, Trowa could see that. So he did not insist. He knew he was obligated to take vacations from time to time and he had been pushing the limits as it were. He should be happy to get off with only a week's mandatory leave. 'Go now. I only wish to see you again in a week! And with a cool head preferably.'

'Sir.'

It was only when he found himself alone in the corridor that Trowa noticed the pain in his knuckles. He was glad Linwood would have something to remember him by while he was away, but he just could not understand why he'd punched the man so promptly after no more than a few words… It had been the mention of Relena, of course, no use denying it though the drastic effect it had had on him was hard to comprehend. Those were mere words Linwood had used and the object of those words did not even hear them so they harmed no one. Then why hadn't he been able to keep his wits about him? Relena herself would have acted with a lot more dignity.

The point, Trowa mused as he made his way back to the lounge to get changed, was not if she had been good in bed or not… The point was that she was so much more than that. There wasn't a single moment spent with her that he did not find enjoyable. The sex had been just a big bonus, a rather unexpected one really. So how could Linwood reduce her to so little?

As he finished tying his shoe laces, he found himself texting her. 'All set for Saturday.' A part of him still refused to believe he had accepted to indulge her that easily, but he kept telling himself it was only temporary. He had to avoid sleeping with her again and try to reduce the time they spent together, of course, but he had enough time to work on all that. And once Jackie no longer bound him to her they would go back to being complete strangers. Or, at the very least, acting as such.

'Great! Pick you up at eight?' came her prompt reply.

The earliness wasn't a problem for him. After all, he was used to being awake at all sorts of odd hours… He did not feel like being driven around by Relena's security staff though.

'How about I pick YOU up at nine?'

'Why? In a motorcycle? No way.'

'Send me the address then and I'll meet you there at ten.'

Surprisingly enough she did send him the address and a 'See you there. Don't let me down!'

Shaking his head, he made his way out of the hospital. The busy foyer and waiting room were hard for him to ignore, but he knew they had enough staff to keep things running smoothly or his boss wouldn't have sent him home like that. He wished he could at least take some charts with him, but he knew they'd might be needed if his patients' treatment plans were to be followed correctly. He had no idea what he would do with himself now other than to get up to date on some articles…

Saturday was only a day away and yet that one day suddenly seemed like a whole year.

XXX

Relena spotted the blonde man as soon as she stepped into the restaurant. Never one to care much for decorum, he waved at her with a bright smile and she need only point at him, when the maître d' approached her, to be led to his table.

'Quatre.' She greeted with a smile after he'd kissed her on the cheek. 'It's so good to see you.'

'It's really nice to see you too, Lena.' He was still smiling as he regained his seat across her. 'Though it still puzzles me how you found out I was in the city.'

'A mutual friend told me.'

'A mutual friend?' Quatre frowned at the sly smile she sent him over the menu. 'But I didn't tell anyone I was coming…'

'You paid him a visit…and gave him lilies.'

His face lit up in realisation, but he quickly frowned again. 'But how did you…?'

'You and the others were the first that came to my mind… It was Heero, Quatre. He did it. Somehow… I know he did.'

'Well… Who am I to doubt you? Have you already chosen?' he pointed at her menu then motioned for the waiter to approach and take their orders. Once the man was gone he turned back to Relena. 'You never told me what you wanted to talk to me about either.'

'Another mutual friend.' That had him raising his eyebrows in surprise. However, she could see he was at loss. 'One who's "vanished".'

'Trowa?' Quatre leaned forward, his eyes sparkling hopefully. 'Have you heard from him?'

'Better. I've met him.'

'You have? How is he? I knew he was alive, of course, but… What is he doing? Is he well? Did you talk to him?'

She could not help but chuckle at his childish eagerness. He must have been worried about Trowa ever since the man disappeared or, knowing Quate, even longer than that.

'I don't think he'd like me to tell you… Do you promise not to tell anyone?'

'I promise.'

'And not to seek him out either?'

'Of course. Of course, I promise.'

They waited as they were served their entrees and had their glasses refilled. Relena had picked a white wine to accompany her dinner, but Quatre did not have alcohol so he stuck to the water they'd already been drinking. She turned back to him after chewing on a forkful. 'We met by accident at the cemetery… He was there the day of the burial. He thought by the time he arrived everyone would have already left.'

The Winner heir shook his head, took a sip of water and sighed. 'I told him he was crazy to think he could cut us out of his life, but he's so stubborn… Did he tell you why he did it?'

'He said he didn't wish to hurt anyone he cared for anymore.'

'That's more-or-less what he told me too.' He nodded. 'I think it's mostly my fault…and Catherine's. Because of how we reacted when we first found out he'd lost his memory. Trowa's actually quite sensitive. That's why he acts the way he does, why he feels it's best to keep others at bay. Ultimately, he's protecting himself.' She nodded her understanding, wondering how she could possibly make him see that. Unaware of her wandering thoughts, Quatre resumed. 'What's he been doing? Do you know?'

'He's a veterinarian now. He works in a hospital an hour or so from here.'

'So close?'

'I was surprised myself, especially since Preventers hadn't found him, but he said the best place to hide is in plain sight and that they'd never look for him.'

'I told them he'd left.' He paused and smiled at the waiter as he took away their empty plates. 'Une herself wanted to conduct a search…at Duo's insistence. So I had to tell them. I'm sure Trowa knew I would.'

Once they'd been served and got started on their main dishes, Quatre picked up: 'So he went back to school?'

'Yes… He seems to have done well for himself though it really bothers me to see him so isolated…' Relena lamented and felt her companion's thoughtful eyes lingered on her for too long. She quickly continued. 'I was wondering if you could help me change his mind and come back to his friends and family.'

For the longest time Quatre chewed on his food, watching her intently. He had a good number of mouthfuls before he put down his cutlery and smiled. 'I feel like you're on the right path already.'

'The right path?'

'You don't need my help, Lena.' He reassured, taking her hand in his and smiling even more widely. She felt as if he could read her mind and blushed furiously. Thankfully, Quatre did not seem to notice that. 'I failed to convince him back then, but you can do it now. I believe in you more than I believe in myself.'

'I'm…' she pulled her hand back rather awkwardly and stabbed at the remaining food on her plate before she felt forced to meet his gaze. 'Thank you.'

'You may call me if you need anything.'

'I will.'

After they'd finished and the waiter had replaced their empty plates with the kind of tasty looking dessert Trowa would have approved of, Relena found the courage to ask him something that had been sitting at the back of her mind for a while.

'Quatre? Heero. You think he would…?'

'I think, if he really did lead you to me, then he must have meant for me to tell you that all he ever wanted was for you to be happy.'

She nodded and smiled, discreetly wiping the tears away.

XXX

Trowa had been so eager for something to do that it was only when Relena's car parked beside his bike, in front of the shelter, that he realised this was their first meeting after…all that had happened. Would she still act as if it hadn't meant a thing? Had it? Had it meant something? As he watched her approach, from where he was perched on his motorcycle, he could not help the smug smile that twisted his lips. It must have meant something or he wouldn't be feeling this way…. As if he'd missed her.

'You're early.' She remarked, returning his smirk quite effortlessly.

'So are you.'

'Which means you're even earlier.'

He shrugged as if he hadn't realised. 'Should we go in?'

She nodded and turned around for a moment to wave at Carlos who was still inside the car. 'How do you plan to take your Jackie back home in a motorcycle?'

'I brought rope. I'll strap the cat's carrier to the seat.'

'You'll strap the carrier to the seat?' her eyebrow arched as he held the door open for her.

'Yes.'

Relena shook her head, stepping past him at last. 'I'll be nice and drive your Jackie home for you.'

'You mean Carlos will.'

'As per my wishes.'

A couple stood waiting by the reception counter that morning. So they followed the row of chairs standing against the wall next to them and took a seat, trying to look inconspicuous. The silence the strangers' presence imposed on them made Trowa feel unusually fidgety. Beside him, Relena seemed to be experiencing something similar. He watched as her hands clenched and unclenched on her lap before she spotted a magazine a chair away and reached out for it.

The attendant soon came out of a door behind the counter, dragging a large panting Saint Bernard behind her. The couple seemed ecstatic to see it, kneeling to greet the dog with gentle pats and baby talk when it crossed to their side of the room. The dog didn't appear to care much about them just yet and merely stood there, long pink tongue dripping saliva on the floor, until they were ready to take it home. After thanking the attendant, they waved their goodbyes and were gone.

'May I help you?' the woman turned on them with a wide smile and then, recognising Relena: 'Oh, Ms. Darlian! So great to see you again. How's your dog doing?'

'She's doing great. Thank you.'

'Have you come to get her a little brother or sister today?'

'Oh, no. I don't think I'll be getting another pet anytime soon…' she chuckled. Trowa fought the urge to roll his eyes at their chitchat.

'Yours was the one with the heart condition, right? Is she too much work?' the other woman asked worriedly as if afraid Relena might have come to return the dog.

'Not as much as one might think.' She beamed reassuringly then hurriedly changed the subject. 'In fact, today's visit is not about me or Jackie at all! I've brought a friend today. He needs his own pet.' The last part she pretended to whisper as if trusting the other woman with some sort of secret.

Trowa ignored that and stood, giving them the same automatic smile he used with his patients' guardians. The attendant, who had clearly thought he was Relena's bodyguard, looked surprised and, for a long second, she studied his tall thin form pensively. 'Ah… A cat, is it?' she smiled at last.

It was his turn to be surprised which he showed by raising an eyebrow. Relena, however, was more vocal. 'How can you tell?'

'I've just been doing this for a while.' The woman laughed, flushing pleasantly, and waved her hand dismissively. 'So?'

He nodded. 'A cat.'

'You sure do know your cat and dog people.' Relena observed as they followed the attendant past the counter and into the corridor where she had been once before. 'But, if you knew I was a dog person… Why did you offer me a cat?'

'You looked a little unsure when you came… I couldn't really tell what you wanted.' The other woman confessed as they stopped in front of a door. 'This is the cats' corridor. Feel free to look, but, please, refrain from touching any of the animals. You'll be allowed to meet the ones that truly interest you in private later.'

They agreed to all the conditions and listened attentively to the explanation on the colours of the cats' files. Once they were good to go, the woman opened the door for them and they stepped inside.

Cages lined the walls on both sides, the upper line held the older cats while the one underneath it housed the younger ones. Some of the youngest kittens were kept together in cages that were slightly wider. Trowa inspected all their conditions as he felt it was his duty to. If Relena noticed she made no comment.

'So?' she asked when they reached the end of the corridor for the second time.

He had almost forgotten about her presence, she had been so quiet. 'I wished I could do the same you did and take home one of the sick elderly ones that are unlikely to ever get adopted but I wouldn't have the time to care for it.'

'Why not take it with you to the hospital when you go in?'

'A hospital's no place for an animal. We try to keep them there as little as possible.'

Relena nodded quietly. 'I visited Heero at many a hospital throughout his life… As fancy and top-notch as some of them were, I don't blame him for wanting out so desperately.'

'Then you know what I mean.' For once he gave her a genuine, albeit small, smile. 'I can't adopt a kitten either because they need more attention than an adult cat. They're all sure to get adopted anyway.'

'That leaves you the adult cats.'

'A young adult… To make sure it won't have any health conditions anytime soon.'

'Some people get sick at a young age.' She reminded him with a teasing smile. Though she sounded like she was trying to undermine his reasoning he knew it was not so, besides he was ahead of her for once.

'True, but the chances are slimmer.'

Relena smiled, and he led her back to the middle of the corridor where three cages housed two and three year old cats all neutered males. The first one was very friendly and came to the bars to greet them straight away. It was hard to ignore him, but Trowa moved on after a moment only. The second and third were more suspicious and aloof and it was these two that he decided he would be meeting in private for a few minutes.

'Why not the first one?' Relena asked as heartbroken as he was about overlooking the clearly love-craving tabby.

'He's friendlier and will get adopted more easily.'

'What if you're wrong?'

'It's a sad reality either way.' He paused at the doorway and met her gaze for a moment before glancing at the cage riddled corridor one final time. 'We can't save them all.'

A.N.: A slightly longer chapter this time. \o/ I didn't expect the visit to the shelter to turn so... Sad? I don't know. But I couldn't help but recall a shelter I visited myself a couple years ago. Even though the shelter here in the story is a top-notch one. :P I still wanted to write a 'Trowa buried in cats' as Sorcha NaMoireach had in mind, just because it made such a funny mental image. Haha But oh, well... Thanks for reading and reviewing!