A Painful Past

Chapter 6

"ARG! Son of a BITCH!!!" Kaylee screamed at the screen and slammed her fists on the control panel. She had been doing simulator battles for the past two days. It had been three days since her talk with Dr. J and her fight with Robert. She still hadn't made up with him.

Each morning at six, Kaylee would go jogging in the woods surrounding the base. Then she would go to the weight room and do more exercises and lift weights until about nine. After eating breakfast, she would be in simulator battles till well past lunch. Today was no different, except that it wasn't going her way. She had lost every battle but two thus far.
"Kaylee...babe...what's going on? You did so well yesterday," Duo asked her.
"Don't you 'babe' me. This thing is cheating. It isn't my fault!"
"It's on the same setting it was yesterday," Heero said.
"You're just weak," Wufei mumbled, but Kaylee didn't hear him. Quatre glared at Wufei again. Trowa just kept quiet. He didn't want fighting but he didn't know what to say.
"Look, I'm tired and hungry. I'm going for a run. I'll work on it when I get back o.k.?"
"That's fine. You look like you need a break anyway," Quatre said. Just then Jen walked out of the lounge.
"We're low on food. Put in your two cents, Hilde and I are going to the store. You want to come, Kaylee?" she said.
"No thanks. I'm going for a run to chill out. But don't forget the pizza rolls!" Kaylee smiled and went to change into her running clothes.

"Something's bugging her," Heero said nodding towards Kaylees' retreating form. "If we don't bring it to the surface, she will be of no use to us as a soldier."
"She'll avoid it at all costs." The five pilots looked up, seeing Robert leaning against a doorframe. They hadn't realized he had been standing there.
"She went through hell last time, and she doesn't want to relive it through meaningless talk." he said.
"Well, what happened last time?" Quatre asked.
"I can't tell you. If she wants you to know, she will tell you herself."
"I hate being left in the dark," Duo pouted. Robert walked away and Heero spoke up again.
"We have to dig up the past if she's going to help us." The other pilots nodded in agreement.
"Heero, Trowa, you keep her focused on training. Wufei you use your verbal skills' to try and draw out the bug. Quatre, you and I will just have to be her friends." Duo said. They all nodded. Ninmu Ryoukai.

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'She was running. But nothing real was chasing her. Only ghosts from her past. She saw the horror on innocent peoples faces and the agony as they watched their families die.'

"Kaylee, WAKE UP!
Kaylee gasped and woke up with a start to find Hilde shaking her and Trowa looking in from the doorway. Kaylee was a wreck. He hair was all tangled and one of the spaghetti straps was hanging off the shoulder. Her once deep green eyes were now blood shot and dull.
"I've been shaking you, trying to get you to wake up before your shouts woke everyone else. Daijoubu dese?" Kaylee looked at the clock. It was 5:30 a.m.
"Nothing. Bad dream is all. I'm sorry to have woken you. It wont happen again."
"Nonsense! I just wanted to make sure you were o.k."
"What's going on?" Duo said over a yawn as he walked into the room. "I just knocked on your door Hilde but you didn't answer. I needed some cuddlin'," He gave her his cute smile, "Hey Kaylee. Is everything o.k.?"
"You know I wouldn't have let you in anyways, Duo. Kaylee just had a bad dream."
"O.k., well time for a midnight snack," Duo said and he rubbed his hands together.
"It's 5:30." Trowa spoke up.
"Well then an early breakfast," Duo smiled. Trowa followed him out the door. Hilde smiled and shook her head.
"I swear, I love him, but he is two much," she slightly chuckled.
"Well, thanks Hilde and I'm really sorry. I'm going for an early run." Kaylee said.
"O.K. See you at breakfast!" Hilde smiled and went back to bed. As Kaylee stretched before her run, she was unaware of Trowa watching her from the doorway. All this time they had been working side by side, in companionship, he had to keep from smiling and staring at her. Soldiers show no emotions, as Heero said. But he couldn't help it. She was beautiful to him, inside and out. He liked her enthusiasm and attitude. He enjoyed their talks while working. She was the only one he talked to really. And even though they talked about nothing in particular, he felt he was apart of her. But she was also mysterious, revealing nothing about her past or personal life. And not knowing was driving him nuts. But for now he would just have to be content watching her until everything came to light. Just then everyone came out of the barracks looking for breakfast. Trowa put on his neutral mask and went back to his food.