Black Waltz (part 3)
By Chibi Acky
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing... blah, blah, blipty, blah.
Author's note: Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOO much to everyone who's reviewed this story! I love you all! I promise I'll try to get chapters out faster (this includes the partially done part of The Scavenger Years and the unstarted Circle Game) if time allows me to...
(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(
"Am I dreaming....or is this a definite nightmare?"
-Ryo (Ronin Warriors)
^(^ (^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^
Relena stormed out of Sally's office, quite of unsure of why she was shaking. Pausing to regain to composure, she slid into the bathroom, and tidied up her appearance. She didn't look into the mirror; she knew what would be there if she did.
A thin, tired, girl.
She left the bathroom in great haste.
[Later]
"...and so in conclusion..." Relena droned out again as the speaker of the house lectured on, and on, and on... Her meetings with the World Delegate lately had been very, VERY tiring for her. The room was shaped much like a coliseum, with all the Delegates circling the very center with the Speaker and the main podium. Each Delegate was given two seats and a table with a microphone and a glass of water.
Noin nudged her sister in-law, who was seemingly staring into outerspace. "What are you doing?" She scribbled on a piece of paper.
She shook violently, as if she had just been awakened, "Sleeping." Her response confused Noin slightly. Sleeping? With her eyes open? Relena gave her a wink and turned back to the speaker who was addressing her.
"So, Vice Foreign Minister, what are your views on the subject?" Noin narrowed her eyes slightly at the man. Robert Welsh was a wealthy man whose black hair speckled with gray. His piercing green eyes bore into you with no mercy, and it was obvious to anyone who had heard him speak to the former Queen of the World, that he wanted her job.
"Why are my views important on this matter?" She shot back, slightly raising an eyebrow. Noin stood amazed yet again, how could she be so aware of everything even through slumber?
"You're Vice Foreign Minister, what concerns the colonies should concern you." He challenged. Everyone in the conference room took a shallow breath as the fragile Minister stood up.
"No, that's not quite what I meant. When I was asking why it should concern me, I was referring to the colonies being able to make their own decisions. Why are you asking me if the citizens on the colonies would rather elect their leader?"
"It's your job-" Relena cut him off, victory in her grasp.
"No, it's not my job to decide for them. Shouldn't we let them? I'm proposing that we poll both the people of Earth and the colonies on whether or not the president of ESUN should be an elected official." She paused, "But not just the president, because that would only limit their rights so much. Shouldn't we let them elect people as their representatives too? Why are you and I even holding this job?"
"Rubbish!" Robert Welsh seemed absolutely flabbergasted at the idea.
"-It's because you and I were trusted enough by the founders of ESUN to lead the people. But should the question be not ESUN trusting us, but rather the people?" Relena sat back down, all eyes of the country representatives on her.
Quatre stood up, drawing all eyes to him, "She's absolutely right-"
"Mr. Winner, the speaker has not given you-" Robert tried to cut him off, but the blonde held a firm hand up stopping him. "In an essence, what I've done to you, is exactly what the colonies feel the earth is doing to them."
Relena nodded confirming it, "He's completely accurate in his demonstration. My fear is another war is soon to spring up just because of the feeling of insignificance." Oh, her head was spinning now, she put a hand on the desk she was seating at with Noin to try and steady herself.
"The Delegate recognizes the President of the United Sates of America." Robert called as President Ashford stood to speak.
The representative of America sent a kind smile in Relena's direction, "When the founding father's of our country first set up our nation, the smaller colonies- or rather the less populated, felt cheated by the idea of having a House of Representatives based on population. There was a compromise, and eventually, two houses were formed."
"But what does this have to do with anything?" Robert called from the main podium.
"Everything, Mr. Speaker. Our country gave up most of it's freedoms to be allowed in this World Nation. While I may be President of the United States, I'm not quite entitled to the same power as the presidents in the past. However, if I were to deny my people the same right that allows them to vote me into office, they would forever lose that feeling of equal rights."
"So, you're agreeing with Minister Darlian?" Robert inquired.
"Yes, I do suppose I am." President Ashford sat down.
"The Delegates recognize the Representative of Spain."
"President Ashford, you may think me ignorant, but as a native of Spain, I have no idea what rights you're talking about." His thick, heaving accent made it near impossible for Relena to understand him.
"Mr. Representative, surely President Ashford wouldn't-"
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Ashford paused, leaning forward in his seat, "The Declaration of Natural Rights, as directly stated in the Declaration of Independence." **
Relena began to applaud, slowly but surely. It was as if he had summed up how a government should act according to a document that was hundreds of years old. The other delegates echoed her, and soon, the house was thundering.
"ORDER! ORDER!" Robert cut in, "Minister Darlian, for the records, what are you proposing exactly?"
"The decision of whether or not..." She blinked and tried to clear her vision, "... we should have the colonies vote on if they would like to..." She began to sway as though the world was moving beneath her, "... elect candidates as..."
Suddenly, all she could see were Robert Welsh, and his cruel, cruel smile. Bastard, I'm gonna say it, even if it kills me...
In almost a final stand she stated clearly, "... their representatives and President." She finally did slip, all her strength gone from her body. Noin almost screamed as her sister in-law slumped to the ground in a dead faint. Quatre jumped down from where he had been seated, and rushed to her aide.
"Relena, RELENA!" Noin was slapping her cheek, "Will someone...call an ambulance!?"
"No, there's no time." Noin and Quatre looked up to be met by a pair of cold blue eyes. "Heero-?"
"There's a traffic jam, the ambulance wouldn't be able to get close... call Sally at the hospital, she should be on shift today, I'll meet her there." He scooped Relena up out of the stunned Noin's arms.
He began a full run, carrying the small girl in his arms as he dodged Representatives and the overcrowding reporters. "Sir! What's wrong-"
"Is Minister Darlian-?"
"Can you answer some questions for W10KFNN?"
"BACK OFF!" At the door stood four extremely annoyed people. "Give the man some room!" Hilde screeched. Duo, Wufei , and Trowa winced at the pitch of her voice.
Heero ran right by them, and outside into the crowds of people waiting to catch a glimpse of their savior. As soon as they realized it was Relena in the arms of the Preventer, some began to cry, some screamed, and even more stood silent.
Horns blared and sirens were heard as Heero continued towards the hospital. Unfortunately, he had reached the point of the traffic jam, and it was only a sea of cars. Deciding it was the only way, he jumped from car hood to car-hood, ignoring the profanities flying from the owner's mouths. His mission was her.
His mission was slowly fading away.
++++++++++=++++++++++
When he finally did get to the hospital, he was greeted by Sally and numerous hospital staff members. It was all a blur after that.
They had hurried her into the ER, and two hour had gone by. Surrounding him were... well everyone that cared for Relena in the slightest bit. Outside, hundreds of people waited, and inside, Reporters tried to sneak in, posing as fake Preventers or "family."
The only reason Trowa, Duo, and Hilde had been at the meeting was they had just arrived at work for the Preventers, and were sent to the meeting to "keep order." Wufei had followed them, having merely nothing else to do while his partner was making the rounds at the hospital. Noin had put a comforting arm around her husband, who had his face buried in hands. Dorothy and Quatre had made a snack run, and Duo, several attempts to keep Heero from killing the flirting nurse staff.
"This is all my fault." Milliardo muttered, All my damn fault... what's wrong Relena?
Heero was glaring at everyone exiting and entering the ER in haste. One ran out covered in scrubs stained with blood, and Heero nearly had the nerve to ask what was happening.
Almost.
But not quite.
"Milliardo! THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT!" Noin finally burst, "For Christ's sake, not everything in this world is your fault!"
"Almost."
"ARGH!" Noin threw her hands up in the air, and Hilde and Duo managed to snicker.
"Name one problem in this world that wasn't my fault!" Milliardo challenged, looking up.
"Relena's kidnapping during the Mariemaia incident."
"Nope, if I had been there, she wouldn't have been taken."
"Hmmmm...."
[An hour later]
"DAMMIT MILLIARDO! The Stock Market STILL would have crashed!"
"But I could've..."
"Face it, man, she beat you." Duo muttered, running a hand absentmindedly through Hilde's hair, as she had fallen asleep in his lap.
There was constant bantering back and forth between everyone in the room until Heero's piercing voice, well, cut through.
"How is she?"
Startled, everyone looked up to be met with the face of a weary Sally Po. They sat in silence as Duo nudged Hilde awake. "Sally? Oh god she's-" Dorothy covered her mouth, praying to whatever God was above that her friend hadn't passed on.
Sally gave a small sigh, which turned into a quirky smile, "She says she wants to see Dorothy and Hilde." There were collective sighs of relief. "So she's all right then?" Hilde and Dorothy tore past her throwing the door open to the recovery room and vanishing inside.
Milliardo and Heero both made a move to follow, but Sally blocked their path. If looks could kill, she would have been deader than a doornail, but she supposed that was what made her job as a Preventer worthwhile. "Gentlemen, a word?" She motioned for them to sit down.
They didn't budge.
No surprises there.
"Look, she asked for Hilde and Dorothy. I'm sorry if she's not ready to answer your questions!" Sally threw her arms up in the air hopelessly, "She needs support, not accusations, not people who don't TRUST her." She shot a angry glance at Milliardo who finally nodded and sat back down.
"Sally, you never told us what's wrong-" Sally cut Quatre off, "That's because we're not quite sure what's wrong with her."
"What?" Wufei leaned back in his chair.
"It's just what I said... when Heero brought her in, her heart had stopped beating and she wasn't breathing." Everyone in the room winced, "We're running some blood tests, but it's a miracle that she's alive. Truly, it is."
Noin was practically crying, "Is she-?"
"I don't know, honestly, I don't know..."
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
"Weeeeeeelllllll! Good mornin' sunshine!" Hilde knelt beside Relena's hospital bed.
"Not...so... loud..." She croaked in a dry voice.
"Ooops! Sorry!" She whispered.
"Miss Relena, would you like something to drink?" Dorothy smiled as Relena nodded enthusiastically. On the table besides Relena sat a pitcher of water, and Dorothy poured a glass and handed it to her friend, "Sorry, there's no lemon.... sheesh! The service these days!" Relena and Hilde laughed.
"I must look awful." Relena sat back against her pillow. Hilde and Dorothy glanced her over. Her hair was matted, her face pale, and her lips chapped.
"Uh... you look fine!" Hilde shot Dorothy a look to shut her up.
"That bad, huh?" Relena tilted her head to the side to side and stared out the window, "You're both mad at me for not telling you, aren't you?"
"Not as mad as your brother." Hilde patted her on the hand reassuringly. "I swear, you should have heard the poor man, he was almost in agony."
"Did he cry?"
Both girls opposite her seemed surprised, but shook their heads. "Oh, that's good then." Relena muttered.
"You know it was Heero that brought you here, don't you." Dorothy wasn't asking a question. Relena merely nodded, "Has he left?"
"Amazingly, no. Though he keeps reaching for his gun when a nurse comes up to him." Hilde winked at her friend, "I still think he's hopelessly in love with you!"
Relena said nothing but hurt shone clearly in her eyes. Dorothy elbowed her in the stomach, hard, and Hilde fell over. "Arrghhhhh... Dorothy!" Hilde tried to find purchase on Relena's hospital bed.
Giggling, Relena shook her head, "You two crack me up."
"Aw, she likes us Dorothy! She really likes us!"
"Naw, she loves us!" Dorothy gave her a wink as Sally opened the door, "All right, girls, enough chit chatting! Relena needs her rest!" She called in a mock-mother voice.
"But SAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLY!" The three younger girls whined.
"Don't 'but Sally' me!"
"Yes, mother."
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
"...Lena?"
Was someone calling her name?
"Relena, can you hear me?"
"Ugh... Milliardo?" She groaned, trying to blink her eyes open. She was met with a concerned pair a light blue eyes.
"Are you all right?"
Boy, what a stupid question. Relena thought, trying to fight back another groan, "Somewhat."
Silence.
"Look I'm so sorry-"
"It's all my fault-"
Silence.
Then came the laughter. "You go first."
"No, YOU go first."
"No, it's quite all right if you go first!" Zechs insinuated.
"Look, I'm sorry about what I said... it's just lately I haven't been precisely... myself. I never thought it would just... all come OUT." She paused looking hopefully at him. She was rewarded with a kind smile.
"My turn I guess.." He fumbled slightly, "I'm not that good with things like this..." He took a deep breath, "Now, I've done a lot of thinking, and I've come to find that I may not be the world's best older brother-"
"That's-"
He held up a hand to silence her, "You really think purposely trying to destroy everything on the world, would qualify me to such a high rank? I admit it, I'm a coward when it comes to facing my problems, pretending to be dead so you wouldn't have to suffer with the knowledge of having scum like me related to you..." He trailed off, and his looked away. A small, cold hand, gave his a reassuring squeeze.
"Don't you think I've already forgiven you. I wouldn't care if you blew up the entire universe- as long as you were fighting for what you believe in." She gave a bitter laugh, "If running away from your problems makes you a coward, then that makes two of us. For the longest time I ran away from the truth, hiding behind a false mask... look where's it's gotten me...
"It takes a brave person to face the truth and suffer the consequences, but an even greater soul to live through it all and come back stronger than ever." She smiled at her brother. She didn't even mind the stinging pains in her body as her brother gave her a hug.
"You're never going to trust me again... are you?"
"Nope."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Sally rubbed her eyes for what seemed like the twentieth time. No tumors, no virus, no nothing. Adjusting her microscope, she prepared to take the last look for the night. Instantly she saw what she that would have been impossible to miss. Almost in disbelief, she readjusted it again and again, hoping- no, praying that this wasn't the sample of her friend's blood.
"Oh my god... no..." Her sobs echoed through the empty laboratory.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
** Is it just me that has to say the Declaration of Natural Rights every morning after the morning announcements? I mean, it's rather riduculous having the national anthem, the Pledge of Alliegance, a moment of silence, AND the Declaration of Natural Rights... please tell me I'm not the only one that has to suffer through this...
Dun DUN DUUUUUUUUNNNNN! You know what I just realized? My fics can get pretty boring 'cause I enjoy writing conversation too much. *sighs* Oh well ^^;
Please Review to keep me going!
luvs and hugs
Chibi Acky
By Chibi Acky
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing... blah, blah, blipty, blah.
Author's note: Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOO much to everyone who's reviewed this story! I love you all! I promise I'll try to get chapters out faster (this includes the partially done part of The Scavenger Years and the unstarted Circle Game) if time allows me to...
(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(
"Am I dreaming....or is this a definite nightmare?"
-Ryo (Ronin Warriors)
^(^ (^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^(^
Relena stormed out of Sally's office, quite of unsure of why she was shaking. Pausing to regain to composure, she slid into the bathroom, and tidied up her appearance. She didn't look into the mirror; she knew what would be there if she did.
A thin, tired, girl.
She left the bathroom in great haste.
[Later]
"...and so in conclusion..." Relena droned out again as the speaker of the house lectured on, and on, and on... Her meetings with the World Delegate lately had been very, VERY tiring for her. The room was shaped much like a coliseum, with all the Delegates circling the very center with the Speaker and the main podium. Each Delegate was given two seats and a table with a microphone and a glass of water.
Noin nudged her sister in-law, who was seemingly staring into outerspace. "What are you doing?" She scribbled on a piece of paper.
She shook violently, as if she had just been awakened, "Sleeping." Her response confused Noin slightly. Sleeping? With her eyes open? Relena gave her a wink and turned back to the speaker who was addressing her.
"So, Vice Foreign Minister, what are your views on the subject?" Noin narrowed her eyes slightly at the man. Robert Welsh was a wealthy man whose black hair speckled with gray. His piercing green eyes bore into you with no mercy, and it was obvious to anyone who had heard him speak to the former Queen of the World, that he wanted her job.
"Why are my views important on this matter?" She shot back, slightly raising an eyebrow. Noin stood amazed yet again, how could she be so aware of everything even through slumber?
"You're Vice Foreign Minister, what concerns the colonies should concern you." He challenged. Everyone in the conference room took a shallow breath as the fragile Minister stood up.
"No, that's not quite what I meant. When I was asking why it should concern me, I was referring to the colonies being able to make their own decisions. Why are you asking me if the citizens on the colonies would rather elect their leader?"
"It's your job-" Relena cut him off, victory in her grasp.
"No, it's not my job to decide for them. Shouldn't we let them? I'm proposing that we poll both the people of Earth and the colonies on whether or not the president of ESUN should be an elected official." She paused, "But not just the president, because that would only limit their rights so much. Shouldn't we let them elect people as their representatives too? Why are you and I even holding this job?"
"Rubbish!" Robert Welsh seemed absolutely flabbergasted at the idea.
"-It's because you and I were trusted enough by the founders of ESUN to lead the people. But should the question be not ESUN trusting us, but rather the people?" Relena sat back down, all eyes of the country representatives on her.
Quatre stood up, drawing all eyes to him, "She's absolutely right-"
"Mr. Winner, the speaker has not given you-" Robert tried to cut him off, but the blonde held a firm hand up stopping him. "In an essence, what I've done to you, is exactly what the colonies feel the earth is doing to them."
Relena nodded confirming it, "He's completely accurate in his demonstration. My fear is another war is soon to spring up just because of the feeling of insignificance." Oh, her head was spinning now, she put a hand on the desk she was seating at with Noin to try and steady herself.
"The Delegate recognizes the President of the United Sates of America." Robert called as President Ashford stood to speak.
The representative of America sent a kind smile in Relena's direction, "When the founding father's of our country first set up our nation, the smaller colonies- or rather the less populated, felt cheated by the idea of having a House of Representatives based on population. There was a compromise, and eventually, two houses were formed."
"But what does this have to do with anything?" Robert called from the main podium.
"Everything, Mr. Speaker. Our country gave up most of it's freedoms to be allowed in this World Nation. While I may be President of the United States, I'm not quite entitled to the same power as the presidents in the past. However, if I were to deny my people the same right that allows them to vote me into office, they would forever lose that feeling of equal rights."
"So, you're agreeing with Minister Darlian?" Robert inquired.
"Yes, I do suppose I am." President Ashford sat down.
"The Delegates recognize the Representative of Spain."
"President Ashford, you may think me ignorant, but as a native of Spain, I have no idea what rights you're talking about." His thick, heaving accent made it near impossible for Relena to understand him.
"Mr. Representative, surely President Ashford wouldn't-"
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Ashford paused, leaning forward in his seat, "The Declaration of Natural Rights, as directly stated in the Declaration of Independence." **
Relena began to applaud, slowly but surely. It was as if he had summed up how a government should act according to a document that was hundreds of years old. The other delegates echoed her, and soon, the house was thundering.
"ORDER! ORDER!" Robert cut in, "Minister Darlian, for the records, what are you proposing exactly?"
"The decision of whether or not..." She blinked and tried to clear her vision, "... we should have the colonies vote on if they would like to..." She began to sway as though the world was moving beneath her, "... elect candidates as..."
Suddenly, all she could see were Robert Welsh, and his cruel, cruel smile. Bastard, I'm gonna say it, even if it kills me...
In almost a final stand she stated clearly, "... their representatives and President." She finally did slip, all her strength gone from her body. Noin almost screamed as her sister in-law slumped to the ground in a dead faint. Quatre jumped down from where he had been seated, and rushed to her aide.
"Relena, RELENA!" Noin was slapping her cheek, "Will someone...call an ambulance!?"
"No, there's no time." Noin and Quatre looked up to be met by a pair of cold blue eyes. "Heero-?"
"There's a traffic jam, the ambulance wouldn't be able to get close... call Sally at the hospital, she should be on shift today, I'll meet her there." He scooped Relena up out of the stunned Noin's arms.
He began a full run, carrying the small girl in his arms as he dodged Representatives and the overcrowding reporters. "Sir! What's wrong-"
"Is Minister Darlian-?"
"Can you answer some questions for W10KFNN?"
"BACK OFF!" At the door stood four extremely annoyed people. "Give the man some room!" Hilde screeched. Duo, Wufei , and Trowa winced at the pitch of her voice.
Heero ran right by them, and outside into the crowds of people waiting to catch a glimpse of their savior. As soon as they realized it was Relena in the arms of the Preventer, some began to cry, some screamed, and even more stood silent.
Horns blared and sirens were heard as Heero continued towards the hospital. Unfortunately, he had reached the point of the traffic jam, and it was only a sea of cars. Deciding it was the only way, he jumped from car hood to car-hood, ignoring the profanities flying from the owner's mouths. His mission was her.
His mission was slowly fading away.
++++++++++=++++++++++
When he finally did get to the hospital, he was greeted by Sally and numerous hospital staff members. It was all a blur after that.
They had hurried her into the ER, and two hour had gone by. Surrounding him were... well everyone that cared for Relena in the slightest bit. Outside, hundreds of people waited, and inside, Reporters tried to sneak in, posing as fake Preventers or "family."
The only reason Trowa, Duo, and Hilde had been at the meeting was they had just arrived at work for the Preventers, and were sent to the meeting to "keep order." Wufei had followed them, having merely nothing else to do while his partner was making the rounds at the hospital. Noin had put a comforting arm around her husband, who had his face buried in hands. Dorothy and Quatre had made a snack run, and Duo, several attempts to keep Heero from killing the flirting nurse staff.
"This is all my fault." Milliardo muttered, All my damn fault... what's wrong Relena?
Heero was glaring at everyone exiting and entering the ER in haste. One ran out covered in scrubs stained with blood, and Heero nearly had the nerve to ask what was happening.
Almost.
But not quite.
"Milliardo! THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT!" Noin finally burst, "For Christ's sake, not everything in this world is your fault!"
"Almost."
"ARGH!" Noin threw her hands up in the air, and Hilde and Duo managed to snicker.
"Name one problem in this world that wasn't my fault!" Milliardo challenged, looking up.
"Relena's kidnapping during the Mariemaia incident."
"Nope, if I had been there, she wouldn't have been taken."
"Hmmmm...."
[An hour later]
"DAMMIT MILLIARDO! The Stock Market STILL would have crashed!"
"But I could've..."
"Face it, man, she beat you." Duo muttered, running a hand absentmindedly through Hilde's hair, as she had fallen asleep in his lap.
There was constant bantering back and forth between everyone in the room until Heero's piercing voice, well, cut through.
"How is she?"
Startled, everyone looked up to be met with the face of a weary Sally Po. They sat in silence as Duo nudged Hilde awake. "Sally? Oh god she's-" Dorothy covered her mouth, praying to whatever God was above that her friend hadn't passed on.
Sally gave a small sigh, which turned into a quirky smile, "She says she wants to see Dorothy and Hilde." There were collective sighs of relief. "So she's all right then?" Hilde and Dorothy tore past her throwing the door open to the recovery room and vanishing inside.
Milliardo and Heero both made a move to follow, but Sally blocked their path. If looks could kill, she would have been deader than a doornail, but she supposed that was what made her job as a Preventer worthwhile. "Gentlemen, a word?" She motioned for them to sit down.
They didn't budge.
No surprises there.
"Look, she asked for Hilde and Dorothy. I'm sorry if she's not ready to answer your questions!" Sally threw her arms up in the air hopelessly, "She needs support, not accusations, not people who don't TRUST her." She shot a angry glance at Milliardo who finally nodded and sat back down.
"Sally, you never told us what's wrong-" Sally cut Quatre off, "That's because we're not quite sure what's wrong with her."
"What?" Wufei leaned back in his chair.
"It's just what I said... when Heero brought her in, her heart had stopped beating and she wasn't breathing." Everyone in the room winced, "We're running some blood tests, but it's a miracle that she's alive. Truly, it is."
Noin was practically crying, "Is she-?"
"I don't know, honestly, I don't know..."
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
"Weeeeeeelllllll! Good mornin' sunshine!" Hilde knelt beside Relena's hospital bed.
"Not...so... loud..." She croaked in a dry voice.
"Ooops! Sorry!" She whispered.
"Miss Relena, would you like something to drink?" Dorothy smiled as Relena nodded enthusiastically. On the table besides Relena sat a pitcher of water, and Dorothy poured a glass and handed it to her friend, "Sorry, there's no lemon.... sheesh! The service these days!" Relena and Hilde laughed.
"I must look awful." Relena sat back against her pillow. Hilde and Dorothy glanced her over. Her hair was matted, her face pale, and her lips chapped.
"Uh... you look fine!" Hilde shot Dorothy a look to shut her up.
"That bad, huh?" Relena tilted her head to the side to side and stared out the window, "You're both mad at me for not telling you, aren't you?"
"Not as mad as your brother." Hilde patted her on the hand reassuringly. "I swear, you should have heard the poor man, he was almost in agony."
"Did he cry?"
Both girls opposite her seemed surprised, but shook their heads. "Oh, that's good then." Relena muttered.
"You know it was Heero that brought you here, don't you." Dorothy wasn't asking a question. Relena merely nodded, "Has he left?"
"Amazingly, no. Though he keeps reaching for his gun when a nurse comes up to him." Hilde winked at her friend, "I still think he's hopelessly in love with you!"
Relena said nothing but hurt shone clearly in her eyes. Dorothy elbowed her in the stomach, hard, and Hilde fell over. "Arrghhhhh... Dorothy!" Hilde tried to find purchase on Relena's hospital bed.
Giggling, Relena shook her head, "You two crack me up."
"Aw, she likes us Dorothy! She really likes us!"
"Naw, she loves us!" Dorothy gave her a wink as Sally opened the door, "All right, girls, enough chit chatting! Relena needs her rest!" She called in a mock-mother voice.
"But SAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLY!" The three younger girls whined.
"Don't 'but Sally' me!"
"Yes, mother."
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
"...Lena?"
Was someone calling her name?
"Relena, can you hear me?"
"Ugh... Milliardo?" She groaned, trying to blink her eyes open. She was met with a concerned pair a light blue eyes.
"Are you all right?"
Boy, what a stupid question. Relena thought, trying to fight back another groan, "Somewhat."
Silence.
"Look I'm so sorry-"
"It's all my fault-"
Silence.
Then came the laughter. "You go first."
"No, YOU go first."
"No, it's quite all right if you go first!" Zechs insinuated.
"Look, I'm sorry about what I said... it's just lately I haven't been precisely... myself. I never thought it would just... all come OUT." She paused looking hopefully at him. She was rewarded with a kind smile.
"My turn I guess.." He fumbled slightly, "I'm not that good with things like this..." He took a deep breath, "Now, I've done a lot of thinking, and I've come to find that I may not be the world's best older brother-"
"That's-"
He held up a hand to silence her, "You really think purposely trying to destroy everything on the world, would qualify me to such a high rank? I admit it, I'm a coward when it comes to facing my problems, pretending to be dead so you wouldn't have to suffer with the knowledge of having scum like me related to you..." He trailed off, and his looked away. A small, cold hand, gave his a reassuring squeeze.
"Don't you think I've already forgiven you. I wouldn't care if you blew up the entire universe- as long as you were fighting for what you believe in." She gave a bitter laugh, "If running away from your problems makes you a coward, then that makes two of us. For the longest time I ran away from the truth, hiding behind a false mask... look where's it's gotten me...
"It takes a brave person to face the truth and suffer the consequences, but an even greater soul to live through it all and come back stronger than ever." She smiled at her brother. She didn't even mind the stinging pains in her body as her brother gave her a hug.
"You're never going to trust me again... are you?"
"Nope."
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Sally rubbed her eyes for what seemed like the twentieth time. No tumors, no virus, no nothing. Adjusting her microscope, she prepared to take the last look for the night. Instantly she saw what she that would have been impossible to miss. Almost in disbelief, she readjusted it again and again, hoping- no, praying that this wasn't the sample of her friend's blood.
"Oh my god... no..." Her sobs echoed through the empty laboratory.
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** Is it just me that has to say the Declaration of Natural Rights every morning after the morning announcements? I mean, it's rather riduculous having the national anthem, the Pledge of Alliegance, a moment of silence, AND the Declaration of Natural Rights... please tell me I'm not the only one that has to suffer through this...
Dun DUN DUUUUUUUUNNNNN! You know what I just realized? My fics can get pretty boring 'cause I enjoy writing conversation too much. *sighs* Oh well ^^;
Please Review to keep me going!
luvs and hugs
Chibi Acky