Warnings: Language.

AN: Day 6, Sunday, morning. (Edited March 07)

IMPORTANT: Reread or skim ALL past chapters, please! I've revised so much that there are entire new sections to some scenes and things will read much more smoothly if you're aware of what happened.

Timeline Note: Information retrieval mission occurred on Friday night instead of Saturday as they had originally planned. The change of day is not stated but I think it may be subtly implied, or maybe I only thought to imply it and didn't. Thus the sequence of events occurs thusly. Do let me know if someone spots a goof on my part. I like things to be realistic.

Friday (day 4), major storm occurred that slowed by late Friday night. Late Friday night, information retrieval mission.
Saturday (day 5), afternoon, weather had cleared for the day and church mission occurred.
Sunday (day 6, as its midnight and after), very early morning, the truth about Duo came out.

Originally they planned to wait Sunday out (day 6) and leave Monday. Heero decides it would be better to leave Sunday morning for Duo's sake, before the storm. And that's where we are.

Leave Taking

I yawn and tuck the journal into the small bag, along with the pouch holding the medicines, and then stand up slowly, stretching, arms high above my head. Movement catches my attention and I see Heero has stopped in the doorway, eyebrows drawn together in thought as his eyes scan the room. And then his attention stops on me and he gives me a thoughtful look up and down that's part overall concern and part something more like gentle curiosity and considering interest. It's strange to be aware of his intense eyes moving over me, and just knowing that there's more behind the looks, if only in potential, than that of a fellow fighter or even friend. I feel heat rise to my face.

"You ready?" he asks after a few more moments, folding his arms lightly over his chest, his eyes lingering on studying my face.

I nod and tuck the escaping strands of hair behind my ears, suddenly self- conscious. Not even Austin had been able to pull it back correctly with the bandaged hands, much to his consternation. The uneven, sloppy braid I'm too tired to care about. But this other thing…

I'm a messy, lumpy-braided, wispy-haired, clothes rumpled, eyes shadowed, unpleasantly pale, bandaged, blushing mess. Heero's not allowed to look at me like that when I look like something not even the cat would drag in.

"Quatre and Trowa are leaving tomorrow," Heero tells me. "They'll lock up and make sure everything is in its place."

I glance around the room, giving it an assessing glance of my own, as Heero steps into the room. He picks up my larger duffle by the door and then comes over to me and nods to the smaller one, expression not one of 'can I' but 'is it ready.'

"I can get my stuff," I tell Heero, maybe a touch defensive, reaching for the bag before he can grab it. He pushes my hand away gently.

"I've got it," he tells me. "I'm dressed to go out in the weather and you're not yet, so no reason why I shouldn't take it out while you finish getting dressed." His mouth quirks. "And besides, your hands need a break."

I give a slow nod and he pecks me on the cheek, turning and taking my bag with him. Pressing the back of my hand lightly to my cheek I sink down onto the bed. Damn but Heero is always managing to surprise me. I wonder just how he's seen our relationship change that he'd be so comfortable as that. I wonder just how much our relationship has changed. But the wondering of it accomplishes little.

I lean down to pick up my boots and pull them on, though the laces cause me a bit of trouble and I end up securing them more loosely than I'd prefer. Heero either moved far quicker than I would have guessed or I took far longer with the laces than I thought because I'm just straightening up when he calls my name from the front room. I call back an acknowledgement as I stand, gathering Toby against my chest, and I make my way to the door. In the doorway I stop and turn to give the room a last look over.

The rumpled blue sheets and pillowcases we'd brought will be left behind. A usual occurrence. One of Bailey's peculiarities. Aside from those, and I think maybe some missing blankets depending on what Heero did with the several he left with, there will be no lasting sign of our having been here.

The little shelves below the bedside table look strangely bare without my things in it, as does the surface with only its lamp. The spotless surfaces of the table and desk and dresser will soon be home to an ever-growing layer of dust, at least until the cabin is rented out again and someone comes by to tidy up a little. Not that we'd rented it, I reflect with a snort. Heero had just made sure no one else would be during our time.

No one who uses this cabin for years to come will ever have the faintest clue about the events that transpired here, the words said, the acts planned, the secrets bared, or the futures decided.

I smile a little to myself.

That's just fine by me.

Still smiling I close the door to the room and join Heero in the living room. He and Trowa are quietly discussing something and Quatre is at the edge of their 'group' looking at them and glancing over at the hall every few moments. When he sees me he comes over with a gentle, very Quatre smile and settles next to me with a gentle, very Quatre half hug.

"I want us to all get together sometime, when we're not busy trying to fight the evil in the world," he says quietly, eyes shining like a little kid's. I really can't help but like Quatre. I give him a nod, smiling all the more when he reaches out to finger Toby's ratty ear. I can tell he's curious but I can also tell he won't ask. Hell, with the way he's rubbing and smoothing the ear he's probably got a stuffed animal tucked away somewhere himself.

We are so macho!

It takes a lot of control not to snigger at Meyer's exclamation.

"Try to keep in touch," Quatre continues. "And get some sleep. From what I hear you need it. And be more careful too," he chides, tapping me on the nose. "You're just lucky that glass didn't really cut you up."

My smile falters a little and I glance at Heero, and then back to Quatre. I can sort of guess what story Heero gave him, but not knowing the exact details makes me a little uneasy. Not that it's Heero's fault, what with the way last night went.

"He told us, don't worry." He pats the bear's head lightly. Oh yeah, Quat's definitely got his own tucked away somewhere. "All that stress and everything, just in general. And then, well, yesterday. I know how it is. Especially with us, right? Especially with the cheap glasses they have here." He rolls his eyes. Double oh yeah, the lil' pampered prince is still squirreled away somewhere in everyone's favorite blonde. "Actually kind of surprised one of us hasn't managed to break or chip or crack something before now."

I nod. I can totally understand that. Though in my case it was more of a worry that Meyer would break or chip or crack something and irritate the hell out of someone.

"Yeah. Definitely not the Ritz, eh?"

Quatre snorts, still patting Toby's head. "No, definitely not."

Meyer pokes me and then pokes me again, muttering about Toby. I grumble at him, but agree.

I grin at Quatre. "So, Quat, seeing as how you've been feeling him up for the past couples minutes, might as well introduce you two properly, huh?"

He gives me a confused look for a moment, and then pinks ever so slightly before laughing. "That sounds like a good idea."

I stop clutching at Toby around the stomach and legs and hold him loosely around his back, presenting him properly. "Quatre, I'd like you to meet Mr. Tobias. Toby to his friends and relatives. Though at one point in his life the poor thing was called Tobby."

Hey!

I snicker inwardly at Meyer's indignant exclamation. Not my fault, kiddo, if you named the bear Tobby.

Quatre laughs. "Well then. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Tobias. And congratulations on your name change."

"Oh, I think its safe enough for you to call him Toby."

"Excellent. I've always wanted to say I know a Toby."

"And now you do."

"Duo." Heero gives me an odd look of amusement. "We'd better go."

"Looks like we're off. And yeah, we'll have to keep in touch."

"Hugs," Quatre insists, giving me another one. Must be all those sisters of his. Not that I'm complaining. I more than happily give him a hug back, and then hold out Toby with a serious look.

"The bear, too."

"Of course." He gives Toby a hug and hands him back, then taps the bear on the nose. "You two take care." He follows me as I make my way towards Heero. "And you drive safely," Quatre tells Heero sternly. "And be careful. Keep an ear on the news."

"Of course."

Quatre sneaks a quick hug in on Heero and then pulls back with a pleased smile. I give Trowa a friendly nod. Don't know him so well as Quatre, but he's an all right guy from what I've seen. Just not quite at the hugging each other point. Though an imp of mischief gives me a tickle and I can't resist giving in.

"And the bear wants a hug from you, too," I tell Trowa.

Trowa gives me an odd look, but it's tolerant enough, maybe even a touch amused. And he accepts the held out bear to give it a gentle hug, then holds it closely as if it's something delicate and small and important. "I'll keep him company while you put on your jacket."

With a grin I let Quatre help me with that – honestly, he can be such a mother hen, I am so going to blame all those sisters of his, can't be healthy, being surrounded by that much estrogen – and then I accept Toby back. Trowa gives me a companionable shoulder pat/clasp thing and then gives me a little push to the door. I take the hint and head out to join Heero.

The jeep is on the snowy drive by the shed/garage thing and I just stop to stare at it.

The hell…

Um, yeah, that's kind of… not the same vehicle…

I had a brownie in the glove box!

You what?

Shut up. Everyone. Weird new jeep, no brownie.

"Going to stand there all day?" Heero asks, straightening up from where'd he'd been leaning over, putting bags in the backseat.

"Where the hell did this jeep come from?"

He gives what amounts to a grin. "Been here all along. Same jeep."

"No way. Totally different color. And the other jeep had a different body shape."

Heero nods in agreement. "But it's the same jeep."

"Where's the brownie?" Meyer demands.

"What?" Always priceless seeing Heero taken aback by something.

"There, uh, was a brownie in the glove box. Apparently. Of the other jeep."

"Ah." He goes around obligingly and digs in the glove box, and what do you know, there's a plastic wrapped brownie in there.

Yay, same jeep!

"Okay, so it's the same jeep. I'm going to get in now because it's cold and you can explain why the same jeep is a different jeep."

And someone can explain why there was a brownie in the glove box.

My browwwwnie.

And someone else can explain how the hell Meyer, of all people, managed to sneak a brownie into the glove box without Heero noticing.

Hey! Wanna know what I want someone to explain?

What's that, Meyer?

Why the hell are there no gloves in our glove box!?

I shake my head slightly and buckle in as Heero starts the jeep up. I let him have until he's navigated off the driveway onto the small, secondary road that will lead to the main one before I make a questioning jeep.

"Yes, the jeep. Magnetic body pieces. They're more of a movie prop, but they've been reinforced so they're not as noticeably cosmetic. Put them on and the vehicle has one shape, take them off with the special tool and it has another. As for the color, the jeep is actually white. I had a red paint on that can be removed with a pressure washer and a little bit of patience." He shrugs, then shakes his head with something like disgust. "Basic human nature. Different appearance, must be a different jeep." He gives me an apologetic smile. "Even you thought it was," he points out.

"Yeah. Damn. And wow."

That is so cool.

Totally.

Rather interesting, yes.

Austin snorts in disgust that we didn't notice, even as he mentally records the information for later. Ara points out that we're not exactly operating with all systems at the moment.

Heero glances over several times to eye me and I finally give him a questioning look.

"It's a long trip," he says after a moment. "And you only have had about three hours sleep. Why don't you get some sleep? You can crawl into the back seat; I brought a blanket with us, from the cabin. It's clean, freshly washed."

I smile a little, glancing back and then to Heero again. So he did. And now that he mentions it I am pretty damned tired. "Thanks, Heero."

"No problem."

Bailey twitches a little about us not wearing a seatbelt as I unbuckle ours and then crawl between the seats into the back. But the very real near exhaustion we're feeling even quiets him and he moves onto nattering about not putting our boots on the seat. I let him have at getting them off, and then it's a small matter to shake out the blanket and curl up under it, tucking it around us as best I can and using Toby as a pillow. Meyer mutters a little complaint but I tell him to zip it, and then I have to tell him to just freakin' shut up as he starts to make zipping noises.

"Don't let me sleep too long," I tell Heero. "Got to get some sleep tonight."

"Don't worry." He glances back briefly, smiling a little. I can't see the rearview mirror, but I can tell he glances up at it a few more times before I finally let myself snug in and close my eyes and get some much needed rest.