Jaid: Stupid bunnies! BACK! BACK I SAY!!! *looks at reader* Oh, hello *hits one bunny on the head with her frying pan* Please enjoy the story! *to herself* I hope Amber gets here soon. This is the last time she's staying in the alternate dimension room…
Naga: Well, she ought to be grateful for that!
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Chapter Nineteen
"Trieze!" Duo half hissed, half gasped. The tall blonde man turned and Duo shoved the bleeding ten year old in his arms.
"Marie." Trieze whispered. Duo mounted his horse and held out his arms.
"I know where a doctor lives." he said. Trieze nodded and gave up Mariemeia.
"She's in the East side." Duo continued. "A white house, with a porch swing and small flower garden. Next to a mercantile shop. You guys can follow." Without waiting for an answer, he spurred his horse and galloped away. Trieze watched them go.
"God-speed." he whispered.
* * *
"Quiet down." Sally whispered. Janet gave a faint moan. Rose looked at Sally anxiously. Sally carefully removed the makeshift bandage Rose had placed.
Sally swore softly, then began to rummage around in her black bag. Pulling out a bottle, she looked at Rose.
"Rose, I'm going to need a nurse, okay? Do you think you can do it?"
The older black woman nodded.
"Okay, we're going to need hot water, not warm, boiling and I'm going to need some clean rags." Sally told her, then turned to Zechs as the cook went to follow her orders. "Zechs, help me lift her to the bed."
The two carefully lifted Janet's body and placed it on the bed, fortunately not making the wound bleed even more.
"Okay, that's all I need you to do." Sally said. "Go stay with Dorothy."
Zechs nodded and left.
* * *
Iria woke up, startled, at the vicious pounding at her door. Going down the stairs, she opened the door. A young man burst in, a child in his arms.
"Quick!" he gasped. "She's lost a lot of blood."
"In here." Iria said crisply. "Anna!"
A black woman in her twenties (although she looked nearer to twelve) came in.
"I'm going to need help." Iria said, in the same brisk tone. "Duo, can you go to Mrs. Hart's and get Jim? I'm going to need a trained nurse."
"Right." Duo left the room hurriedly. Iria nodded, satisfied that Anna had already gone about to get things that Iria would need.
"Hang in there, dear." Iria whispered. The tiny red-head gave no indication of life, other than her slow, haggard bleeding. Frowning, Iria rolled up the sleeves of her robe and put some pressure on the wound.
* * *
"Quick." Trieze said as WuFei, Quatre and Catherine walked up. "Marie's been shot. Duo's taken her to a doctor-"
"I know where it is." WuFei said, mounting his gray mare. Quatre mounted his palomino, Iria, and helped Catherine up.
"Okay." he said. WuFei nodded and led the way.
* * *
Grimacing, Trowa stood and limped out the door. There were shots; somebody was in a firefight and he could only pray that Catherine was out of it. He managed to get out of the house and untie Jimmy. Mounting, he spurred the horse and said, "Go home." Jimmy tossed his head and began to trot away. Trowa winced the stab of pain it gave him and prayed that he wouldn't faint from blood loss before they reached Midii's.
* * *
Armond swore vehemently as Duo disappeared into the darkness. Turning to Charles, he thundered, "What were you doing?! You were supposed to watch her!"
"I was!" Charles defended himself. "I didn't expect to have the living daylights knocked out of me!"
Armond's jaw tightened. "Well, it just means we'll have to move quicker. We should…" Suddenly, he stopped as a thought hit him. Walking quickly out the door, he went to Mariemeia's room. The door was opened and Armond swore again. Charles gave a faint moan. Armond looked in and found what he expected to find – nothing. Turning, he stormed down the steps. Charles got out of his way, knowing that someone was going to pay for this. Armond's yell of rage a few minutes later was something that Charles did not want to hear.
* * *
Catherine bit her tongue nervously and twisted her brown skirt. Quatre, Duo, WuFei, and Trieze stared at her blankly.
"Come on." she said. "Say something, don't just stare at me like that."
"Well," WuFei commented. "I can't really say I blame you, being in a similar situation."
"Yeah." Duo said. Trieze nodded his head, although he didn't look like he was paying attention. Catherine looked Quatre.
"Deputy?" She asked. Quatre sighed.
"We need to get back, quick." He looked at Catherine. "How soon do you think Traycsant will strike?"
"Depends. He needs those crown jewels." Catherine looked down, tears gathering in her blue/gray eyes. "I'm sorry, I honestly had no idea of what I was getting into." She whispered. Quatre came over and knelt in front of her. Somewhat awkwardly, he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"We're not blaming you." he said gently. "Don't cry, Ms. Bl-uh, Catherine. Don't worry."
"But Trowa." She whispered. "I heard gunshots. What if, if…" she trailed off, sobbing in earnest. Quatre looked helplessly at the others. Duo just grinned and winked at him, WuFei was pretending not to notice and Trieze was lost to the world.
Thanks guys. Quatre thought sarcastically, then turned his attention back to Catherine.
"Catherine…" Quatre bit his lip. Catherine was sobbing, not only from worry over her brother, but also over a rather stressful night. Hesitantly, Quatre put his arms around her and Catherine sobbed into his shoulder, eventually falling asleep. Quatre sighed again. It was going to be a long night.
* * *
Just before dawn, a doctor walked out to the waiting people and sadly shook her head. Inside, the doctor's assistant pulled a white sheet over the patient's dead body.
* * *
Mieran shook her self awake. Une was stirring, and moaning slightly. Mieran stood and grabbed a wet cloth and placed it on the woman's forehead.
"Ms. Une." she said, accidentally slipping into Chinese. "Ms. Une, wake up."
"Wha…?" Une's brown eyes fluttered open.
"Oh, you're awake!" Mieran smiled.
"Speak English, girl." Une commanded weakly. Mieran blushed slightly.
"Sorry." she whispered. Une grabbed her arm.
"Help me sit up." she said hoarsely. Mieran did her best to support her. Once in a sitting position, Une leaned against the backboard.
"I don't think you should." Mieran told her. "Dr. Po say that your wound is not closed yet."
"It doesn't matter." Une sighed. "Where's Mareimeia and Trieze?"
"Both are gone." Mieran told her. Une leaned forward clutched her arm.
"What do you mean?" she demanded.
"Mariemeia was kidnapped and Mr. Khushrenada," Mieran slowly said Trieze's last name, "went with some others to go and look for her."
Une closed her eyes and relaxed. Mieran turned to go, when a noise made her turn. Grimacing, Une was standing, and reaching for her robe.
"No!" Mieran came over. "You are not-"
"Hand me my robe." Une cut her off. "Now."
Mieran's lips pursed together in a tight line, but she did as told. Une put it on and looked around helplessly.
"Where are my spectacles?" she asked.
"They were broken." Meiran answered.
"Broken? Oh blast." Une wavered and nearly fell, but Mieran caught her.
"Here," the tiny Asian girl offered. "Lean on me."
Une gave her half a smile. "Thank you."
* * *
"I have to find it." Dorothy muttered to herself.
"Dorothy?"
Dorothy stifled a scream and looked up. Zechs gazed down at her, a quizzical expression on his face.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Looking for the crown jewels." Dorothy admitted. Zechs blinked several times.
"Right." he said, then turned and walked away. "I'm going to go get Lucrezia." he said over his shoulder.
* * *
Relena had canceled school for the day. To tell the truth, she felt rather tired and inclined to headaches.
"Closed." she muttered gloomily at the storefront. Closing her eyes, she sank into the bench near the door. A cold wind blew her skirt and shawl and Relena shivered. Winter would be here soon.
"Rather cold for you to be out here with out your coat." a voice commented. Relena smiled.
"Nice to know you care." she murmured.
A warm, brownish – gray coat was put over her shoulders and a young man sat next to her.
"Won't you be cold?" Relena asked. Heero shrugged.
"Used to it."
"Heero, I've got a shawl. There's no need for you to freeze to death-"
"I'm not going to freeze." Heero stated, arms crossed. "A little bit early to be shopping?"
"Well, I decided to cancel school for the season. It might snow soon and the children need to be home, especially those who live on farms or ranches." Relena stated. "What about you, Heero?"
"I'm fine." he said, as stoic as ever. Relena sighed.
"What?" he asked.
"I don't know." she said helplessly. "It's just everything. Zechs left late last night and hasn't been home and Quatre's been gone since yesterday afternoon." She looked down at her empty basket. "I've forgotten how lonely I get."
"You care a lot for them, don't you?" Heero asked.
"Yes." Relena answered. "I mean, Zechs, of course, he's my brother. And Quatre's like my brother too." She looked at Heero. "Why?" she smiled. "Jealous?"
"No." Heero answered, a little too quickly. Relena's smile deepened.
"Oh really?" She said.
"Hn."
Relena laughed. "Mr. Yuy," she said, standing. "Would you mind accompanying me home?"
"Your brother – "
"I'll handle my brother." Relena said and held out her hand. "Please?"
Heero looked at her. Then, taking her hand, he stood and walked with her.
* * *
"I've looked everywhere!" Dorothy muttered in frustration. At least one thing was good; looking for the jewels had distracted her from the death of Janet. Mindlessly, she looked at her jewelry box. Frowning, she stood and opened it. Gasping, she pulled out a long chain of amber and pearl.
"I wonder." she said. Digging through the other jewelry she readily found some pieces that could possibly be the crown jewels. Another idea hit her and she went to wear her dresses were stored. If memory served her right, she had noticed that some were quite elaborate; and at the time she had wondered why.
* * *
"Mr. Khushrenanda?" Iria stepped out into the early morning. WuFei was leaning against the building, legs crossed and eyes closed, but Iria wasn't sure if he was sleeping. Duo was stretched out on the porch, despite the cold and Catherine had fallen asleep on Quatre's shoulder on the bench. Trieze was standing near the porch steps and turned as Iria called to him.
"Yes?" he answered, rather hoarsely.
"Would you like to come see your daughter?" Iria asked.
"Yes." Trieze said, hastily stepping over Duo. "She's…?"
"I think she'll be fine, although it's a little early to tell." Iria told him. "But she's been asking for you."
"Of course." Trieze said, then hesitated.
"Go on in." Iria told him with a smile. He entered the building and Iria turned to look at the figures asleep on her porch. The blond boy looked familiar.
He looks like Quatrine. she though, thinking of her stepmother. I wonder…Shaking her head, Iria went back inside.
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Jaid: Amber! You're here!
Amber: Sorry it took me so long. Don't worry, I've brought lots of pork chops.
Naga: Pork chops? *gets a glint in his eye*
Amber: *smacks him* These are bait! Bad boy, don't touch!
Naga: I am not a dog, thank you.
Jad: He just acts like one occasionally.
Naga: *glares*
Jaid: Oh for the love of heaven! R&R please!