Chapter 3

Hera regained consciousness after three days, and awoke to find herself in a dark, cold hospital room. She pulled the covers up a bit more so that her chest wouldn't feel so cold and empty.

It was dark. Too dark for her liking .. She decided she should just get straight back to sleep and then she might wake up from this horrible nightmare.

Three hours later, she awoke, only to find Heero and Tori fighting outside the door. She tried to open her eyes, but found she was too weak to manage, so she listened.

'Tell me why she is.. Why she's like the way she is..'

'I don't know what you're talking about Heero. she's just a normal High school student.'

'Yeah right, and who are you anyway? How do you know Hera?'

I'm.. a close friend! My name is Tori, Tori Shengtu. Who did you think I was? You idiot.' Tori knew he shouldn't really have called his best friend's brother an idiot, but it had just been so tempting!

'Tell me who she is, NOW!' Said Heero angrily - unusual for him, giving Tori a death glare and grabbing his shirt. Tori, however, just smirked slightly. He liked that he had been able to ruffle the Perfect Soldier's perfect feathers a little.

'Shhhh.. You'll wake Hera up.' Said Relena sternly, coming round the corner in a wheel chair.

'Miss Relena, are you all right? Nothing bad has happened I hope.' Asked Tori, slightly emotionlessly - switching back into the polite but meaningless mask both he and Hera used in "public company" - causing Heero to glare at him once more.

'No. I'm fine, thanks to Hera. She saved my life. I really would like to know how and why she is . as strong as she is. I mean, I'm all for equal opportunities and abilities, but . it isn't normal for a woman to be that . strong, is it?'

Heero - not looking up from where he was holding Tori's shirt - mumbled,

"Sally. Noin. they're strong." Relena shook her head absently. They were fast and skilled, not strong. And Heero knew that, he was just uncomfortable with the fact that some impostor was stronger than his friends .

'I'm sorry, but may I ask who you are?' Asked Relena, addressing Tori.

'My name is Tori Shengtu; I'm a very close friend of Hera's.' Tori replied, his mask crumbling slightly as he tried to break free of Heero's grasp.

Relena, however, was prevented from answering by an extremely painful- sounding moan. Hearing this moan, they all rushed into the room Hera was in.

She slowly opened her eyes. to find a doctor standing above her, looking quite relieved as she spoke,

'Ah, you're awake, good, I'm glad to see you've finally come around.. Was beginning to think.. Ah well, you're ok now.. That's what matters.' Said doctor Po all very fast. Then he saw everyone running into the room.

'Umm.. Excuse me, but no visitors please. Well, at least, not for now. I'm very sorry, but you'll all have to wait for a few hours, and you Miss Peacecraft, I told you to stay in bed!'

'Let us in, or else! I'm not going to listen to a weakling like you Sally Po!' Said Heero, sounding annoyed (and also sounding like Wufei).

'Have you been taking speech lessons from Wufei? I told him to give up on that stupid W. H. D. B. H. I. W. thing.. Anyway, tough luck guys. Later. Now, get out!'

'Ahhh. where am I?' Asked Hera uncertainly once everyone else was out, her voice gravely and her throat sore.

'You're in hospital honey, your wound was very bad, I'm afraid you'll have to stay here for . well until you're feeling better. About a week I guess.'

'A week! No way. I can't, they'll find me here!'

'Who'll find you here?' Sally looked confused and slightly alarmed at Hera's outburst. Hera, on the other hand, waved the concerned doctor off,

'Hm? Oh, no one. no one at all.'

* * *

'Ok, visitors can go in one by one. But be careful, she's still a bit.. A bit.. Weird.. Try not to tire her out too much. Ok? Now, who's going first?'

'I am.' Said Heero and Tori in unison.

'I'm going first you idiot!' Heero said, in a voice that would have had most people quaking in their boots. Tori, however, was not most people, and he had known Hera longer, it was only natural that he went first.

'No, I'm going first you prat!'

They keep arguing for a very long time.

'Ok, now, don't forget; don't tire her out too much. In you go.' Sally smiled.

'Thank you.' Replied Relena, walking into the hospital room.

Heero and Tori glared at her.

~

'Hello Hera. How are you feeling? Are you Ok?' Relena asked, slipping quietly into a chair beside the bed. Hera couldn't help wondering why Relena hadn't become a Preventer; she would certainly pass the stealth test.

'I'm. I'm ok, I guess Relena.'

'I just wanted to thank you for saving my life, Hera.'

'Oh, it was nothing.' She replied, blushing slightly.

'No, really, I'm really curious as to how you actually managed!'

'Well, Tori and Heero were there also.'

'Relena! Back to bed! Now! You've been gone for long enough!' Called a nurse standing outside Hera's door.

'Well, I guess I'll see you later. Bye!'

'Bye Relena. Thank you so much for coming.' Said Hera, smiling one of her rare true smiles at the young pacifist.

'It's ok, any time.'

~

'Hera!' Cried Tori rushing into her room and giving her a hug, causing her to wince slightly. Noticing this, he quickly let go of her, looking embarrassed, 'How are you? Are you ok?'

'I'm fine Tori, really! Hello Heero, I never guessed you'd actually come and see me.' Hera smirked at the frowning man in the doorway.

'Hn. Are you doing ok?' He asked with no emotion what so ever in his voice.

'I'm fine. Thanks.' She sighed, noticing his attitude. Tori, meanwhile, was still scowling at him.

'Tori, we really should go.'

'How long did doctor Po said you should stay here?' Asked Tori in a patronising tone.

'Um. a. one day.'

'TELL ME THE GODDAMNED TRUTH!' Her protective partner shouted.

'A week.' She replied sadly.

'A week! That long?' He moaned, hanging his head.

'See, that's what I mean, we really should go. We can't risk staying here for too long!' Hera pleaded with Tori.

'No! Absolutely not! You're staying here, and that's final. I'll make sure. umm. that nothing unpleasant happens while you're here.'

'What the hell are you two talking about? I want to know why it sounds so much like you're talking in code!' Heero demanded.

'Well, I should go and start preparing, umm. the equipment. Stay in that bed. Ok?' Tori kissed her forehead and left in a hurry.

'Bye Tori. Thank you.' She whispered.

'What was that all about? Explain!' Heero said, struggling to keep his mask in place.

'Ummm. nothing, what could it be about?' She replied in monotone.



Ok, I know this chapter sucks, but.. Umm. nope, no excuse.. It just sucks!

But, I am going to try and improve it as soon as I can. I hope you ppl enjoyed this by the way.. so far.Ok, BYE! ~Fearless~