ttw12

Thicker than Water
twelve


A week later...

Heero sat at Relena's bedside as he had been since she got out of surgery. The bullet had left a warpath of destruction through her midsection, grazing almost everything before embedding in her liver. Thankfully, it had bypassed her spine. The only thing that had saved her was the fact that the captain was thoughtful enough not to use hollow point bullets. Zechs had taken up camp for the first few days, but decided that he should get to the media before anyone else did, and returned to Preventer, knowing all too well that the world shouldn't know just yet. Heero wouldn't leave her, even when Wufei told him that he needed to get some real rest. It was the end of her first week in the hospital, and he was all she had left.

No matter what, we can't let the earth know that Relena's been badly injured. Who knows what could happen if rumors spread. We just have to go on as usual to prevent that from happening.

The ESUN already thinks that she's on vacation, we just have to make sure that it stays like that.

How cold hearted.

___

A few days later...

Relena grit her teeth together, being helped out of the wheelchair and lifted into the Cherokee. What's going to happen now?

She had to wait until he climbed in on the driver's side to get a reply. Your brother wants me to keep an eye on you until you recover.

Where are you taking me?

Back to the cabin, he cranked the SUV to life and lurched out of the entrance bay, where you will stay with me, until you're completely back to health.

In truth, it felt like she would never get better. Her entire body hurt, even her eyes. The muscles in her abdomen were screaming, being slashed by the bullet en route to her liver. She just felt bad all over, and Heero found himself having sympathy pains for her. In his heart, mostly, but his stomach was knotted and his head was light whenever he saw her in pain. Then again, he felt like that whenever he was around her, even if she wasn't wounded.

___

Heero set her down on the couch and propped her head up with a pillow. Don't even think about moving.

How strange, she mused, to be nursed by Heero Yuy.

He went to lock all the entry points and carried her bag of necessities into a bedroom. Relena winced as a spike of fire raged through her chest. She didn't say anything, but ever observant protector Heero didn't need her to. He was at her side with a hot compress without notice. In order to place it where it belonged, he had to lift her shirt and see the three inch long line of stitches on her torso. Relena yawned, and Heero cumbersomely laid the moist, steamy towel over her flat stomach and replaced her shirt.

As he got up to tend to the house, she took his hand weakly. Thank you.

___

You need to eat, Heero sat next to Relena on the couch, leaning up against the pillows for support.

She closed her eyes tiredly, and took short, recoiling breaths. I can't eat now, Heero. It hurts too much, and I'm sick enough already. Can't I just drink some of the Slim Fast in the fridge?

He shook his head, but traced the definite outline of her jaw with his fingers until she looked him in the eye. I'm supposed to get you healthy. It's my mission, Relena. You know better than to stand in the way of my mission.

You're right, she agreed, but I'm blaming you if I throw it all up during the night.

___

By the end of the month...

Relena stood warily on the balcony, not paying any attention to the fading blood stains by her feet. Heero saw her out there and went to join her, silent. He rested against the railing close enough for her to smell his cologne. She let her head fall against his shoulder. The stitches were gone, and she was only a week or two away from returning to work. They both knew it, but avoided it anyway.

What's next?

You go back, he gulped, and do what you do best.

Relena lifted her head and found his eyes. What about you?

He didn't say anything.

Just so you know, you're welcome in my home. It surprised him, and he turned to face her. If you ever need a place to stay.



She smiled contentedly, remembering the events that had drawn out over the past month. From being kidnapped by her own brother, to learning about her family, to being shot. And eventually cared solely by Heero. Their time together was drawing to a close, but she didn't want it to end.

Can you stay with me, Heero? If it isn't too much to ask, that is.

It isn't too much to ask of me, but too much to ask of the world, maybe. he couldn't seem to get the words out, even though it was only them and the mountains, you're all that matters to me. I would be with you every waking moment if I could.

Why can't you? This is your life, and it's mine too. Nothing else matters.

Nothing else. Heero didn't know what else to say, wanting to tell her so much more. Instead, he put his arms around her. And so very slowly, he kissed her.

Relena, I'll stay with you forever, as long as I live. But if it ever comes to the point of your being in danger, then I'll do whatever is needed to keep you safe.

Relena felt like she had been shot all over again; him speaking those words so true right over her very lips. For perhaps the very first time in her life, she was speechless. It didn't matter, though. Heero was all she'd ever wanted and couldn't have, until now. He did love her back, and she knew that she could die happy right then. But what kind of thing would that be? So, they stood in the orange golden hue of the setting sun, clinging to each other. It was strange, yes, but it was bliss, and it just felt right. The only thing they had to do now was deal with her brother, who still had to explain to her what it was to be a member of the Peacecraft family. And maybe, he'd have to explain it to Heero too.

The end.