Disclaimer – I don't own Gundam Wing or anything associated with it. Well, I do down the DVDs. And some VHS … wow, I'm showing my age.
AN: I apologize for the long wait between chapters! But no matter what, I love this story, love these characters, LOVE YOU GUYS!
For Richer or Poorer
In my time of dying, want nobody to mourn
All I want for you to do is take my body home
Well, well, well, so I can die easy
I've only been this young once.
I never thought I'd do anybody
no wrong
Chapter Eleven: In My Time of Dying
As she kneeled by the bed, Sally Po felt an odd sense of déjà vu. She'd definitely been in the Sherwood building before, tending to an injured person, but this was different. She took her stethoscope out of her black shoulder bag and put the plugs into her ears. As she pressed it against the cold, pale skin of Relena Darlian, a chill passed through her. No, she knew it wasn't déjà vu now. It was more the icy feeling of dread that sat heavy in her stomach. Her own heart pounded in her ears as she waited anxiously to hear a foreign heartbeat.
Her wait was made even more agonizing due to the audience she had behind her. Although she couldn't see them, she was fully aware that five men stood behind her, staring at her, waiting for her to give her assessment. She couldn't be wrong.
Sally breathed out a small sigh as she heard the other woman's heartbeat. Rapid, and weak. She bit her lip absentmindedly. She had a diagnosis to share. She knew exactly what was wrong with the young woman in front of her.
Sally swallowed thickly. This was why she didn't become a doctor. Fixing people, and sending them on their way, that was the easy part. Handing crying children to their grateful mothers, who hugged and kissed them incessantly, was something Sally could handle. It was the bad cases. The certain death cases. It was those that made her reconsider her career. Kneeling next to Relena, she knew that this was why she quit medicine. The bad news.
"Well?"
Sally was surprised to hear that it was Duo who spoke first, but she didn't react. She took a small bottle of rubbing alcohol and a roll of gauze out of her bag. She poured a small amount onto the gauze and gently dabbed at the cuts on Relena's chest. The young woman flinched, but didn't open her eyes.
"I'm not actually a doctor, Duo." Sally responded, cleaning the cuts. She gingerly touched the torn fabric at Relena's abdomen. As soon as she picked up the call from Wufei, she knew it couldn't have been good. He'd told her it was an emergency and to be at Sherwood as soon as she could. She packed up her sparse medical supplies, shoving them haphazardly into a black bag. She hurried to the building, fearing the worst, that perhaps one of the boys had been shot. She nearly fell to her knees when she saw the Foreign Minister lying on the bed, unconscious, blood staining her abdomen, her ivory dress in tatters. She'd gotten to work right away, wrapping her deepest gash in gauze. Even now, the blood was showing through it, and Sally searched her bag to see if she had anything else to wrap around the gash.
"You used to be. And you know more than we do." Duo retorted, obviously on edge.
Sally stopped rummaging through her bag and finally turned to look at the men in the room with her. "It's not looking good." She replied, her voice dipping downwards, showing the slightest hint of defeat. She looked at Duo, who's heart, she could tell, sank at the news. Quatre and Trowa stood next to him in the small bedroom, both staring at Relena. Quatre's brow was furrowed, and Sally could tell his mind was working overtime, trying to find a solution to this problem. Trowa's hand was firm on his shoulder, keeping him in place. Quatre looked as if he was about to spring out of his shoes; he was restless and needed something to do.
Sally instantly felt pity for these men. This must be the hard part for them, she surmised. Watching, waiting, and not being able to do anything. She momentarily locked eyes with Wufei. The unnerving professionalism was gone from his face, but it wasn't replaced by kindness. Sally assumed this was the closest he was going to get to worry. He looked away after a moment, and stared into the living room.
Lastly, she looked at Heero. She was almost afraid to lay eyes on him, fearing she was going to see him completely dismantled. She was shocked to find him staring at Relena, arms crossed, with no readable emotion on his face. He stood in the doorway, still dressed in the tuxedo shirt and black pants. He was a chilling sight, his white shirt covered in blood, some of it streaked across his sleeves. He didn't look distressed or worried, but it bothered Sally the most that he didn't even look like he was there.
"The worst I can tell without any equipment is that it's mostly cuts and bruises." She said, finding that she couldn't look at Heero any more.
"Why isn't that looking good?" Quatre asked, voicing the question that was obviously on everyone's mind.
"I can't be certain, but she's showing signs of internal bleeding. Now, I can fix up the cuts and bruises, but the internal bleeding … I can't do anything about that." Sally said, delicately wiping off some of the blood that had spattered onto Relena's neck. She watched Relena's facial muscles twitch as she carefully wiped rubbing alcohol onto a small cut near her neck. Sally sighed, wishing she wasn't going to have to be the one to bring it up. But as the silence once again filled the room, she knew that it was her duty to voice it.
"She's going to need surgery. She has to go to the hospital."
v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v
Guy sat awkwardly in the chair inside Prince's office. He stared out the window, waiting for him to arrive. The night was calm, too calm. Even from 34 floors up, he could see the flashing red lights on the street. They didn't make him feel any better. She was still gone.
And here he was, sitting in Prince's office, his shoulder in a sling, and holding an icepack on his head. He was a sorry sight.
The door opened and Prince walked in swiftly, letting the door close itself, which it did with a noise that made Gisborne jump. Prince sat down behind him desk, barely concealing the smile on his face. He surveyed his Police Chief up and down before speaking. "You're not injured too terribly?" he asked, in a tone that was all too saccharine.
"Only my pride." Guy muttered, shifting the ice pack.
"What's that?" Prince asked, distracted by the loud call of a police siren driving by the building.
"Nothing." Guy said, a little louder, trying not to roll his eyes. "I have a few bruises that'll hurt worse in the morning. But I'm fine."
"That's comforting."
"I'm glad you're pleased." Guy spat, his eyes narrowing. "He has Relena. She could be dead for all I know."
An emotion flashed onto Prince's face that Guy was certain wasn't pity or concern. It was definitely self-satisfaction, and it made Gisborne's blood boil. "It's regrettable that it had to happen this way." Prince said, his tone of voice indicating anything but regret. "But it was necessary."
"Necessary?" Gisborne was about to spit venom.
"Necessary." Prince repeated, his eyes suddenly turning dark. "When I took over, when we took over," he halted for a moment, letting Gisborne squirm in his chair. "We agreed she was a nuisance. Then you went and fell in love with her." The last part of the sentence was more accusatory than factual. Prince's eyes were burning with rage. "You let her get in the way of the mission. So, I had to remove the obstacle."
Gisborne didn't speak for a long moment, letting the anger subside. His chest felt tight, and he was starting to feel light-headed. He wasn't sure if this was a reaction from his injuries, or from Prince's words. "You planned to kill her?" he asked, his voice deadly calm.
Prince noticed the change in attitude but didn't react. He continued to watch his Police Chief like a predator stalking his prey. "No."
This drew a reaction from Gisborne. "No?"
"I used her to draw out Heero Yuy. I knew he would show."
"Your plan failed." Gisborne pointed out, his statement laced with malice. "Yuy got away. With Relena." He looked out the window, past Prince. "They're probably out of the city by now."
A smile crept across Prince's face, finally resulting in a self-satisfied smirk. "He won't stay hidden for long."
Gisborne tore his gaze away from the view outside and looked at Prince. He looked into his eyes for a long minute before realizing that he was looking in the vast emptiness that was Prince's conscience. There was nothing there. No regret, no remorse, just plan after miserable plan. "What have you done?" Gisborne murmured, sensing that he didn't yet know everything John Prince had planned.
"With the Chief of Police momentarily knocked out, I took over your responsibilities. I stationed all of your officers at the city's three hospitals and barricaded the streets." He drummed his fingers on the desk, quite pleased with himself. "She was much too close to the blast, her injuries are most likely serious. Yuy will take her to the hospital, or she will die." Prince's eyes flickered from obscurity to Gisborne's face. "It's that simple. And when he arrives at the hospital, he'll be arrested."
"And if she dies?" Gisborne asked, barely concealing his disdain.
Prince showed no signs of remorse. "Then she dies."
Guy threw his ice pack to the ground, standing up involuntarily. "That was never part of the plan, John."
"She was never supposed to be part of the plan, Guy." Prince matched Gisborne's conviction, glaring at the younger man. "She's standing in our way. She's always been part of the problem."
Gisborne sat down slowly, never losing eye contact. "And if she survives?"
Prince shrugged. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
He shook his head, picking his ice pack up off of the floor. "I can't support you doing this, John. I'm drawing the line here."
Prince nodded, somehow expecting that out of his Chief of Police. He watched silently as Gisborne gathered his ice pack and adjusted his sling, and got up from the chair. "You're in too deep to leave now, Guy."
Gisborne looked down, shaking his head. "I'm going to go find her. I'm going to tell her everything. And once I'm done with that, I'm going to tell the world everything." He glared Prince, nearly shaking with rage.
"She was going to say no." Prince said quietly, his eyes following Gisborne's nervous movements.
Immediately, he stopped where he was. He looked up at Prince, eyes shining with hurt and scorn. "She didn't give me an answer. You saw to that."
"She stalled, Guy." He said, lifting his head a bit to get a better view. "The answer was no." He leaned back in his chair a little more, realizing he had the advantage. "The answer was always going to be no."
Guy's eyes narrowed. "You don't know that. You don't know her, and how she is around me."
Prince allowed himself a smile. "She doesn't love you, Guy. She never has. And I doubt she ever will."
"No."
"She's a politician, Guy. She knows how to play people better than anyone. She knows how to make them like her." Prince was taunting him now, and Guy knew it.
He met Prince's knowing stare with disgust. "You're wrong."
v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v
They all sat in the living room, quiet and unnerved. No one wanted to be the first to speak. Duo got up from his chair at the small table and started to pace. He passed Wufei and Sally, who sat at the table with him, and meandered through the small living room, passing Quatre and Trowa, who were sitting on the cot. He took this route around the living room multiple times.
Duo carefully avoided the doorway to the bedroom where Relena lay, incapacitated. His eyes flickered in that direction every few seconds, checking to see if it's two inhabitants were still in there.
Heero hadn't moved in what seemed like hours. He stood near the doorway, his back to the living room, just watching her. His arms were at his side, as he stood motionless by her bed.
Duo tore his gaze away and concentrated on moving around. He tried to formulate a plan, but every time he tried, it died prematurely. Finally he spoke. "We can't just sit here forever."
No one answered him. The sound of a police siren wailed in the distance. Wufei let it pass into silence before he looked up. "We have to take her to the hospital, you heard Sally." He watched Duo walk towards Quatre and Trowa again. "That's why we're sitting here, waiting for a decision."
Duo looked up, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"She has to get help." Wufei said quietly, as if suddenly afraid they could be overheard. "But they've got cops roaming the city."
"And stationed at every hospital." Trowa added.
Duo nodded, remembering the conversation he'd had with Hilde. He stopped for a moment, across from Wufei. "So what's there to decide? We get her help."
"Yes, let's hand her over to the cops." Wufei said sarcastically, eyes following Duo's movements once more.
"Well, what's your bright idea?" Duo snapped. "We're not just going to let her die."
"No." Wufei agreed, shifting his focus past Duo, into the small room, and Heero's stoic figure.
"So we're in agreement that she needs to get there." Quatre said, trying to fill the silence somehow. "And we're not going to just drop her off on the sidewalk."
"Maybe you could put her at the corner, then call an ambulance to get her." Trowa offered.
"I don't advise that." Sally spoke up, looking over at Trowa. "Those injuries are serious. In the time you're waiting for an ambulance, she could bleed out and die."
"While we're talking about it right now, she could bleed out and die!" Duo said angrily. He let his fist come down and rest on the table with a bang.
Sally watched him while slowly nodding.
"You could take her, Wufei." Quatre said. "They don't suspect you."
"How did I supposedly find her?" Wufei asked, turning to face Quatre. "She was just bleeding on the street somewhere?" He turned back around. "They wouldn't buy it."
"We could still call an ambulance." Duo suggested.
"Yes, let's lead them straight here."
"Well I don't hear you coming up with anything." Duo snapped, glaring at Wufei.
"I didn't get her in this mess, I warned you-"
"Warned us? What the hell Wufei, you call showing up and giving us some vague-"
"I stick out my neck for you and this is-"
They were talking loudly over each other, barely listening at what the other was saying. Duo crossed the room, standing across of the table from Wufei, his face turning red as he shot back insults at him. Wufei's arms were crossed, but was visibly angered by Duo's accusations.
"You owe us that much, you owe these people that much!"
"I serve these people by working with the Prevent-"
"The Preventers? Ha!"
Their argument was suddenly cut short. "I'll take her." The air was sucked out of the room as Heero stood in the doorway.
Everyone in the room looked over, not expecting Heero to be speaking.
"Heero, are you sure?" Quatre asked, standing up, working his way across the room. He stood a few feet away, not daring to get any closer.
He nodded, looking straight ahead, but avoiding eye contact with anyone. "It's my duty."
"They'll arrest you, Heero. You've become such a symbol to these people, if you were to die," Trowa trailed off, but knew that Heero would understand his sentiment.
Heero blinked and nodded absentmindedly. "I know."
The room stayed silent as Heero unbuttoned the top button on his tuxedo shirt. All eyes rested on him, each person wondering what he would do next. Heero looked up, finally making eye contact with Duo.
The two didn't move, looking at each other. Duo searched his face, realizing that Heero was asking something from him: confirmation. He wanted to know he was doing the right thing. And he was asking Duo if he was doing the right thing. Duo felt a sickening mixture of pride and sorrow, realizing Heero was asking him for his blessing in the only way he knew how.
"I told you I'd stand by you." He finally said, vocalizing the unspoken conversation he and Heero had been having.
Heero gave him a short nod. "I'm taking her there."
Duo returned the nod.
Heero turned his back on the people in the small living area and retreated once more into the bedroom where Relena lay. He felt himself move towards the bed. He'd been like this before, his body moving on autopilot. He finally reached the bed, thinking of nothing other than practical thoughts. How heavy is she? What is the shortest route to the nearest hospital?
These thoughts came to logical conclusions in his head as he knelt down, putting Sally's supplies back into her bag. He looked up at Relena's sleeping form without recognizing it. He had seen much of this growing up and during the war. Young people, spread out on the battlefield, stained in blood. It seemed to follow him whatever he went. It had followed him throughout his life, to his mission to Mars. Now, it had followed him to Sherwood.
The broken, bloodiest sight in front of him wasn't new. And he had gotten good at blocking it out.
Her arm had started to hang off of the bed. He took it and placed it back by her side. She stirred. She moaned softly, her face scrunching up.
He looked over at her. His preconceptions about war and casualties dissolved. It suddenly became too real for him. The veil that had shrouded her in anonymity fell and revealed Relena. Lying on the bed, she was hurt and in pain and undeniably real. The autopilot in his brain shut off and his mind flooded with questions and emotions he couldn't control. The dam had burst and he was sitting, staring at her, listening to her whimper, and for the first time in his life, he didn't know how to proceed.
She opened her mouth, but didn't speak. Her eyes stayed closed, but he could tell she was fighting to open them. He sat there, slack-jawed, waiting, and suddenly unsure.
Relena momentarily won the battle against pain and opened her eyes. It took her a moment to focus, but as soon as she did, she found him.
"Heero," she murmured, her tongue thick with a mixture of pain and sleep. "Heero," she spoke his name again, struggling to keep conscious. "It hurts," she said, eyelids sinking.
The fear threatened to grab a hold of him. It gripped him and paralyzed him. In the face of battle, he could stand strong. But that young woman, whimpering the bed, bleeding and calling out his name was slowly breaking him.
Her hand reached out, trying to find him as he eyelids closed once more. She grabbed onto his hand and tried to squeeze it.
"I know." He finally answered, as she sunk back into unconsciousness. He spoke to her with a softness that he didn't even know he was capable of.
"I'm sorry." She whispered, eyes still closed, suddenly breaking the silence. "I should've listened." She was starting to slur her words together. Her head slipped backwards and rested on the pillow and she was unconscious again.
Her hand went limp as Heero realized how tight his grip on it was. Certainty replaced anxiety and he knew what he had to do. More even, he knew what was right. He'd done enough to her, he'd put her and the city in enough danger. It was time to face his crimes.
v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v
The street lights flickered ominously as a young police officer, Adams, walked to the light pole for the fifth time that night. He looked over at his counterpart, who was leaning on the pole at the entrance to the hospital.
"I don't know why we're here." He said, his voice carrying over the silent night. He was speaking more to himself than to the other officer, but he wouldn't have minded a response.
The officer leaning on the pole just shrugged. "These are our orders." Through the still night, the other officer could hear the chewing of gum. Adams walked toward the light pole, this time counting his steps as he walked.
"He's not gonna show." He said, throwing his comment to the leaning officer. His comment just got him another shrug.
"Waste of time." He muttered, counting his 59th step to the pole. The sound of something in the distance broke his concentration. Adams looked up into the direction of the flickering light. There was nothing.
The other officer had heard it too. He stopped leaning on the pole, standing a little straighter.
The sound got a little louder and the officer could make out what they were. Footsteps. Heavy footsteps. Whoever it was, he was carrying something.
Adams looked backwards at the other officer. "Go get backup." He hissed, trying to keep his voice down. It was no use, the night was so quiet, and it would likely have been heard across town. Adams looked toward the sound, wondering if his warning had reached it.
The footsteps were still slow and steady, getting louder with each step. Adams heard footsteps behind him, the familiar sound of police officers gathering. The street light flickered, and his heart rate increased.
Heero Yuy stepped suddenly out of the shadows, carrying someone in his arms. Adams nearly dropped his gun. Heero Yuy was walking straight toward him, unarmed. He quickly remembered his training and his mission and pointed the gun at the advancing figure.
"Stop!" he called out, knowing at this point, Heero could hear him. Heero did not stop, but continued moving toward the hospital doors.
"Stop!" Adams repeated. He heard guns cock behind him, as he realized the other officers had now raised their guns in Heero Yuy's direction. "You are under arrest!"
Heero continued his slow march to the hospital. As he neared, Adams could make out whom he was carrying. It was Relena Darlian, and she was hanging limply from his arms, covered in blood.
"Oh my god," he whispered. "Get a doctor," he said, his gun falling from its upright position. He whipped around to face his stunned colleagues, who had also just gotten a good look at her. "Get a doctor!" he cried. Two other officers jumped and ran inside the hospital.
Heero walked up to Adams. He stood, staring blankly into the officer's face.
"You- you're under arrest." Adams choked out, looking from Heero to Relena with uncertainty.
"I understand."
The sound of a metal gurney broke through the night and a team of doctors rushed out of the hospital, making a beeline for Heero. One of the doctors took her carefully out of his arms. Heero cooperated, but made no indication he was going to leave. He watched her be placed on the gurney, making little to no eye contact with the doctors and nurses.
Adams had overcome his surprise and gotten behind Heero. Cautiously, he placed handcuffs on him, positioning them behind his back. Heero did not retaliate.
The doctors were firing rapid questions and answers at each other. Heero didn't pay attention to them. He felt the cold metal on his skin and realized he was now shackled. He didn't fight them.
Relena opened her eyes for a moment, trying to place all of the noise and confusion she was hearing. She focused quickly on Heero, the only familiar piece of the puzzle she was in. She tried to smile at him, but quickly realized the pain was far too great. She managed a small upturn of her mouth before a painful shudder gripped her. Her eyes opened again and she looked at Heero.
He hadn't returned her smile. More over, there was a sad, faraway look in his eyes. The rest of the scene came into focus and Relena watched as Heero was forced to his knees.
The words around her stopped being white noise and started to make sense. The words were forming as she heard "Someone call Gisborne."
Her mind raced, dizziness and nausea threatened to strip her of her consciousness again. She managed to open her eyes, and tried to find Heero in the chaos. He was kneeling on the ground, staring straight at her. This couldn't be happening. Where was she? How did she get here?
"No," she said, her mouth thick. She wasn't sure she was even getting the words out, but she forced them nonetheless. Her eyes opened a little wider and could see the doctors walking around her, checking dials and buttons, placing straps around her arms. "No." she said louder as her vision sharpened. If the doctors could hear her, they simply ignored her. She was at a hospital, she suddenly understood. And Heero was being arrested. "No!" she cried, the realization coming to her as if it too had exploded right in front of her. She struggled to get off of the gurney.
"Hurry, give her the Morphine." A voice next to her said. She felt the cool prick of a needle and her vision turned blurry again. She tried speaking, yelling or moving, but she couldn't. She slipped back into unconsciousness with his name on her lips.
