15
Title: Stop The World Part 15...
Rated: PG-13?
Warnings: A.U., mystery!, shounen ai 1x2 of course with background 3x4 and Rx13, cursing, weak storyline, tons of P.O.V. switching, drama, and sap. Small amount of future angst, tissues not required. ^_^V
PART 15
... the lights wouldn't stop flashing.... she was so tired, and her head ached... What... happened... But her memory was already returning in flashes. Frightening white flashes that were synchronized with each flood of light as consciousness met her, then receded. She remembered the mirror...
My brother-- she flung out her arms desperately, fighting a ghost-- How could you kill her?! She screamed, but no sound came to her ears; just more pain as her face moved, and tears burned down her face. Hands restrained her, and soothing voices rumbled outside of her panic, but she had to tell them-- I have to warn "Heero--"
"I ri a." Relena froze at the strained and liquidy sound that had come from her lips. She began to choke on something warm, and began to cry again... Someone held her hand tightly as comforting darkness rolled in. One last surge of urgency filled her, then was replaced by dark calm.
"What room is Relena Peacecraft in?" Quatre ordered as he approached the nurses' desk. The face of a tired nurse glanced disinterestedly at him from her computer screen.
"Are you family?" She asked blandly. Quatre hesitated, and she went on in a more dismissive tone. "Only family is allowed in Intensive Care. You'll have to wait."
Wait?! The idea was absurd-- terrible-- I can't wait to hear if Relena's dead! Quatre pounded his fist once on the counter, and felt Trowa's calming hand on his shoulder. "I have to see her-- I'm practically family--"
"Practically isn't enough," the nurse sniffed. She didn't even turn her head as Quatre let out an exasperated sigh, and pounded the desk again.
"Quatre?"
Treize's voice was faint, but Quatre recognized the sigh and whirled instantly. His memory of a tall, built, and confidant man was over shadowed by the slouching and rumpled figure shuffling down the hall. Treize's face was pale, and Quatre felt his heart surge as Treize raised his hand in greeting-- he was shaking.
"Thanks for coming," Treize murmured. "She would have wanted you here..."
Quatre moved forward, and forced himself to ask-- "What happened? Is she alright--"
Treize let out an angry snort, and flung up his hands. "What happened? I have no idea. I come home and the love of my life is being wheeled out on a gurney, covered in blood--" He stopped flailing his arms and folded them tightly in front of him. His frantic gaze had never risen from the floor during his narrative, but now he met Quatre's electric gaze. "I can't live if she dies," he admitted. "She's everything--"
Dies, Quatre's mind echoed. Relena might die... my angel. He curled one of his hands into a fist, and pressed it to the aching throb in his chest. The hospital lights were dimming dangerously...
Trowa caught Quatre before his knees even buckled. Treize moved forward clumsily, but Trowa was already pulling him over to sit in the waiting station.
"Quatre look at me--" Trowa called softly to him, willing his unfocused gaze to sharpen into some semblance of consciousness--
"Treize!" A familiar brisk voice stormed into the sickly silence of the hall, and two coherent gazes rose to meet with the sight of a dark shadow-- hovering like death--
But it was Duo, standing beneath a burnt out florescent light, with Heero's figure overlapping. Trowa took a steadying breath as the two approached. Quatre stirred next to him, and Duo was suddenly shaking the traumatized blonde.
"Quatre! Why the hell do you look like you just passed out-- did he just pass out? He did, didn't he?!" Duo rattled off a few choice curses and sat down next to his business partner and friend. Heero took a seat on the other side.
"Duo..." Quatre muttered thickly. "Poor Relena..."
"Yeah," Duo agreed softly. "Poor Queen of The World-- but you know she's gonna be all right. Angels are pretty tough," he laughed. Quatre's eyes closed swiftly, and he buried his head into Duo's shoulder... he began to shake...
Trowa leaned back discontentedly. Duo's his best friend, he reasoned. Of course he'd go to him for comfort...
"... Barton..." Trowa looked up quickly to where the whisper hailed from-- the corner of the hall. A familiar dark pair of eyes was all he needed to distinguish. He stood quietly, and stalked quickly over to his partner. Wufei was buzzing with curiosity. Trowa couldn't even attempt to smile.
"Relena Peacecraft is here," he reported grimly. "Remember-- close friend of Quatre's?"
Wufei's eyes grew round. He threw a furtive glance at the waiting room conglomeration. Trowa continued.
"The husband hasn't been told what happened--" he paused as Treize Kushrenada started ranting; blood and *Iria*-- He shared a solemn glance with Wufei.
"They were at the coffee shop the whole time. And before that, they were in the shop. He couldn't have sneaked out." Wufei slowed his report and continued with his epiphany. "A partner."
"There were two? Or more?" Trowa added incredulously. "The Peacecraft girl could have found out, and threatened them--"
"So they tried to kill her," Wufei nodded fiercely. He narrowed his eyes and glanced around Trowa to study their newly analyzed suspect. Said object of scrutiny shifted nervously in his seat.
"How is he?" Treize asked Duo's curled figure. Duo looked up with a strained grin.
"He got my shoulder soaked, but I think he's going to be okay." The smile flattened out as he went on. "How's Relena? Please tell me I didn't lie to the kid--"
Treize shrugged slightly. He had focused on a distant point in the room, and was beginning to chew his nails. "She's lost a lot of blood... they have her in surgery right now." Treize sighed around his hand. "I only got to stay until she started having-- seizures... she was yelling about Iria..."
"Iria?" Quatre mumbled around Duo's shirt. He sat up hesitantly, and wiped his face before looking up at his friends. "Why would she mention my sister?"
Treize's numb expression didn't waver at Quatre's small inquiry. Duo patted Quatre's soft head back onto his shoulder.
"... She cried out 'hero' once..." Treize explained softly. "I couldn't catch anything else... And I didn't understand what I did hear..."
Quatre froze as Treize repeated his wife's delirious calls. Hero. Heero. *Heero*. He shivered when he turned, and stared wide eyed at Heero's stony face.
"Heero," he began solidly. Duo blinked at him, and Treize offered as much as he could in the way of attention. Heero's face remained expressionless. The closest emotion such facial structure could be likened to was sadness... Relena believed he was innocent... did she pay for it with her life...? "Did you know my sister Iria?"
I had heard the facts. Relena was calling my name, and Quatre's sister's name. Two unconnected people in once sentence. One dead, one living and very much a suspect. But I couldn't help feeling surprised, and hurt, when Quatre asked me if I'd killed his sister-- He didn't ask that exactly, but he wanted to know. I couldn't blame him.
"No," I answered softly. Quatre's eyes flashed hesitantly, and he leaned closer to me. Duo was caught in the middle, and I could feel him watching me... A lot of people were watching me...
"Relena said you committed a crime," Quatre whispered urgently. "I'm sorry-- you have to tell me if you-- was it Iria?"
My breath caught in my throat. He'd asked me. There was already remorse in his glittering eyes and I wanted to scream that I would never hurt his sister I'd never hurt him or any one. The Guardians are wrong I'm not fallen!!!
"Mr. Kushrenada?" A soft, feminine voice interrupted my whirling thoughts, and the hovering man, Treize, turned dizzyingly in answer. "Your wife is stable, Mr. Kushrenada. You can go in to see her." The woman smiled comfortingly. "She has a strong heart, sir. With enough time to heal, she'll be back to her old self."
A small thread of tension snapped. Quatre's interrogation dropped as if it had never started, and he stood up. Treize waved him over urgently, and both followed the white clad woman down the hall. Quatre paused, and turned to look back at Duo and I, before moving on.
I blinked as a slight flash of white obstructed my view. I reached up to capture it and felt a soft weight meet my fingers. I stared at my hand for a moment. It was a feather.
"Heero Yuy?" A gruff voice snapped into my lulled thoughts, and I looked up from examining the strange appearance of a feather-- an angel's feather-- I met a pair of fiery black eyes. "I'm Detective Wufei Chang, this is my partner Detective Trowa Barton. We need you to come with us, for questioning."
I heard Duo sputtering beside me, barking indignantly at the two detectives. I just stared at them, an incriminating feather poised in my palm.
"... hell you're questioning him! There's no reason to--"
"Mr. Maxwell," Detective Chang interrupted angrily. "Shut up. Yuy--" he added sharply. "If you don't come with us now, we'll have to take you in by force--"
I stood obediently. Duo was beside me instantly. "I'm coming too."
"It's alright," I found myself consoling him. "I'll be right back..." I hope. Duo was obviously eager to object, so I moved my feet before he could. I released the feather into a trash receptacle and stared at the linoleum as I was led. It reminded me of marble. Marble halls, and a long walk to judgment.
