Chapter IX

Relena realized two things when she woke up: she was surrounded by a nice warmth and she was in pain, horrible pain. Her head felt like it was going to burst and her stomach was burning.

She let out a soft groan as she opened her eyes; her vision slightly blurry.

"Oh! She's awake!" a soft voice said by her side.

She hadn't known them for long, but she was could still recognize that voice. Quatre, the most gentle member of a group of five men that had turned Mrs. McGreville's inn into their home.

"Alright...let me take a look." another familiar voice, this one took her by surprise as she didn't expect to hear it.

"Sally?"

"Good...no memory loss, then…" she replied amused "We can cross posible amnesia from the list…"

"Uhg…"

Relena tried to push herself up, but the intense pain made her fall back and a wave of nausea invaded her.

"Ms. Dorian...you should stay down." Quatre said kindly.

"Uh...thank you, Mr. Winner."she said in a whisper.

Relena looked around. She wasn't in her home, in fact she wasn't sure where she was or how she had gotten there. She tried to map back the events since the moment she had left the pub. She had been walking home, then something had hit him and then...nothing. She couldn't really remember much after that.

"Where am I?"

"This is one of the rooms from the Timber Bells" Sally replied softly sitting down at the edge of the bed "Do you know what happened to you?"

"I...I don't think I do. I was walking back home. WHy are you here Sally? Didn't you have to work overnight today?"

"I was supposed to, but...I got myself dragged out of the hospital and all the way through the city under this dreadful weather by a no so pleasant gentleman…"

"Forgive Wufei's manners. He does not know how to handle himself when it comes to women…"Quatre said apologetically.

"That is fine, Mr. Winner. It is not like I don't have to put up with men like him all the time." Sally smiled "If only all were as nice as you, Mr. Winner…"

"Oh, you flatter…" Quatre said embarrassed "I will go tell Heero and the other's that is awake. They must be really worried…"

Quatre walked out of the room silently and Sally let out a soft sigh as she tilted her head a little. Her light blue eyes staring at the, now, closed door, before turning back to Relena.

"So...what happened to me?"

"Well, for what Hilde told me. You were attacked by Harrington and his gang of useless folk." Sally said visibly annoyed "You were lucky that she made it to you on time; she made a lot of noise and scared them off. She then brought you back to the pub. These gentlemen took care of you until I arrived…"

"I told you they were good people." Relena smiled.

"Yes, yes. I guess you were not lying after all " Sally smiled "I could see they were really concerned."

"I must thank them properly…"

Relena tried to push herself up once more. The piercing pain across her stomach made moan.

"You won't be going anywhere for awhile, I am afraid. I already talked to Ms. McGreville and she's decided to have you stay here until the injuries are better."

"What? You know I can't…"

"You will have to, Relena. I doubt you could make it home in this condition anyway. Besides, with injuries like this, the risk of an infection is high. It'd be better if you stay here until you get better. I was dragged out from the hospital, so I did not bring any medicine with me, but I will see what I can get you later, alright?"

"Thank you, Sally."

"Don't thank me, silly. We have known each for years, we are like sisters. You should know better…"

Relena gave the older blonde a shy smile.

"How is Hilde? She wasn't hurt, was she?"

"She's a little shaken up, but she is well and unharmed."

Relena nodded. Suddenly, there was a soft knock in the door. Sally pushed herself up and opened the door just to let Hilde burst into the room. She knelt next to the bed with her face filled by relief. Relena saw the faces of Mrs. McGreville and the five gentle guests appear at the door; she caught a pair of concerned prussian eyes staring at her and she smiled faintly.

"Thanks goodness." Hilde sighed "Lena, you gave me a scare out there."

"I am alright, Hilde. Thank you for saving me."

"What are you saying? You would have done the same for me…"

"So Lena 's fixed up?" Mrs. McGreville asked Sally.

"As best as I could do…" Sally smiled at the chubby lady "but I am not miracle worker. She will need to rest and proper care to prevent any kind of infection. I will try to sneak some medicines from the hospital for her…"

"Sally, dear...won' ye get trouble for doin' hat?"

Sally shrugged.

"I will handle it. Don't worry…"

"Stealing? Such an dishonorable practice…" Wufei muttered and Sally glared at him.

"It might be dishonorable, but sometimes it is necessary…" Sally defended.

"Wouldn't be easier to buy it?" Quatre asked.

"Medicines are expensive…" Sally replied shaking her head "It's not like everyone can afford it. Even if Relena used the money that her brother sends her, it wouldn't be enough. Unfortunately, life is not fair when you are poor…" she added bitterly.

"Don't worry about it, Sally. I don't want you to get into trouble because of me. I can handle it without the medicines…"

"Relena, I can't be as cruel as letting you take the pain without medication…"

"Oh...perhaps we can buy 'em…" Mrs. McGreville "Lena 's like our child. We don't mind…"

"Mrs. McGreville, please don't. I will be fine. It already a lot that you are letting me stay here…"

"Nonsen'. I told ye lon' ago ye shoul' muv 'ere…."

"I can't do that. You know that Mrs. McGreville."

"Either way. I am sure everyone is exhausted and I need to get back to the hospital now. I'll come see you later today, Relena."

"Thank you again, Sally."

"Silly. Very well...gentlemen...Out. The patient needs to rest!"

Relena suppressed a chuckle making the pain from her stomach increase, but she managed to keep it from showing in her face. Sally put on her mask of stern nurse and pushed all the visitors but Hilde out of the room. She gave the two girls a gentle smile and left the room closing the door.

When Sally reached the corridor she found someone waiting for her. Heero stood casually leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Her lips curled into a small smirk. Relena had told her about him, and she could tell that the younger girl had an evident interest in the man.

"Mr. Yuy, right?"

"Hn. Thank you…"

"You're thanking me?"

"For helping her…"

Sally smiled again. So the interest was probably not one sided after all.

"Like I said, Relena is like my little sister. There is nothing to thank."

"You have known her for long?"

"Yes, since she was a little child. We even live together. The three of us…"

"The three?"

"Relena, Hilde and I."
"So you live in the Damps, too?"

"Contrary to what most people believe, not all the people who live in the lower districts are a bunch of criminals."

"I did not intend to offend you…"

"Non taken." Sally shook her head quietly.

"You too are refugee of war, then?"

"I came to London with my grandmother when I was five. My hometown was burned down by the Romefeller Troupes. I met Relena and her brother and we became friends since we were close in age."

"And the kid…?"

"Hilde? She too. We all had that in common."

Heero nodded. His eyes looked past her shoulder and Sally realized that he was staring at the closed door behind her.

"About the medicines…" he said "Write me what she needs. I'll buy them…"

Sally looked at him surprised.

"Oh, pass by the hospital later. I'll give it to you"

Heero nodded. He bid her goodbye and headed back to his room, leaving Sally alone with her thoughts. She rushed her way down the stairs pondering about Relena and this certain gentleman of blue eyes when she crashed against an annoyed Wufei.

"What took you so long?" he said raising an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?"

" I am scorting you back to the hospital."

"You...are?"

"It would be dishonorable and low to allow a woman to walk alone this late. Let's go…"

Sally snorted. So this man wasn't as bad as she had originally thought. He just had a very poor temper.