ttw10

Thicker than Water
ten


Harlequin, too, was on his way. But he, sadly, was almost a full hour behind Heero and Wufei. Even Sally and Noin were trying to get a lock on Relena's location. For them, it was next to impossible, but thankfully, Duo had contacted them with the low-down. He knew that Heero wasn't the type to tell about his missions.

___

Relena stood in the cold darkness, the combat knife still lifted to her neck. She was unmoving, and it unnerved the captain. The men inside hooted and bellowed for him to get it over with. Dorothy passed out when one of the soldiers fired a shot in the ceiling.

I just want to let you know, he murmured, dropping the knife, but getting his handgun to replace it, I don't have anything against you personally.

Why are you doing this, then?

He looked away, and held the gun to her side. Forgive me, God...

___

Hurry up, Heero barked, fishtailing the Jeep Cherokee in the gravel at the front of the secluded cabin. They're already inside.

Wufei noticed that Heero wasn't armed. He himself held his Peacemaker, ironically, and readied to do all the shooting. Heero banged into the cabin, throwing his entire weight into his shoulder against the door, and a deafening shot rang through the mountains. Wufei cursed and fired rounds into the cabin. The resulting sounds of bodies hitting the floor followed.

Not caring, Heero had already charged in and ducked close to where Dorothy had been knocked out. A few drops of salty tears fell from her closed eyes, and Heero checked her pulse absently. Faint, but still there; he peered over the top of the counter. No one else was standing up. He motioned for Wufei to come in. A barrage of bullets came from one of the fallen men. He'd been knocked off his feet, but was still alive.

Damn you to hell!

Wufei emptied his clip into him and the other men from behind the counter, huddled by Heero. No other signs of activity. What was the other shot for?

___

I had better not be late this time, Harlequin growled, plowing down the main road to the cabin, already seeing the road block shattered up ahead.

___

Heero got up and checked the bodies, then noticed a bit of movement from the balcony. He cursed and backed along the wall until he could see outside. There was a man, sitting, leaning against the railing. Laying limply on the balcony a few feet away was the still body of Relena.

Heero yelled and slammed one of the doors open. The captain didn't look at him. He'd already shot himself during the crossfire between Wufei and the remaining soldiers. Relena, Relena, wake up.

He checked her vital signs and took Wufei's jacket from him when he exited onto the balcony. Heero pressed the cloth hard onto the wound in her side and told Wufei to keep holding it for him when Relena moaned.

She writhed in pain, arching her back up against the force on her abdomen. Wufei pressed her back down, keeping his eyes on the spreading, blackening red. It became sticky on his fingers, and the smells of everything around him filled his nose until it hurt. Cedar, perfume, the blood, gunpowder. Heero moved her onto her right side so that Wufei could put more pressure on the wound. His eyes softened, and she reached up at him, her hands splotched with her own blood.

she whispered, almost disbelievingly. You came for me.

He nodded, Mn hn. I promised that I'd protect you, Relena. And I wont let you die.

Relena's eyes fluttered, and her hand lowered slowly back onto the wooden balcony. Heero panicked and groped for her hands, enclosing them in his own, and pressed them to his cheek. Keep your eyes open, Relena. Look at me.

Outside, the familiar sound of car doors shutting reverberated through the trees and cavernous valleys below. Someone stormed inside and stepped past all the slain White Fang soldiers. He gasped and fell to Relena's fallen position on the balcony, dodging Wufei.

Wufei said to Harlequin, who had completely forgotten to remove his mask, you do this, I'll call for the medics.

Heero stared at Harlequin, but never let go of Relena's hands. he said, why don't you show her who you are?

He looked up, and realized that he was in the Harlequin mask. He pulled it off, mussing his hair, which fell over his eyes and his shoulders.

she sighed, I thought it could have been you. But I didn't think you would wear a mask. I thought we were further than that. I am your sister.

He would have touched her, smoothed her hair, or squeezed her arm, but he didn't. His hands were already covered in her blood.

To be continued...