The doorbell rang several times. Rashid stopped his pounding to make sure he heard right. Quatre heard it that time, and his heart was at the top of his throat with thanks to God. Rashid's footsteps cantered away from the door. Neither Quatre nor Dorothy dared move out of sheer terror.
Rashid stomped down the stairs in feverish annoyance. He walked over to the door, not knowing whom to expect, but annoyed with them just the same. He opened the door. Heero stood there, staring Rashid down and Relena looked concerned beside him.
Rashid was definitely not expecting them.
"Alright, Rashid, what the hell have you done with Quatre and Dorothy? And none of your bullshit you fed Lena over the phone!"
"I don't know what—"
"I thought I said no bullshit!" Heero raised his voice and pushed his way inside.
"Heero please, let's try to be adults about this," Relena pleaded, making a vain attempt to hold him back. Heero turned himself loose.
"I'm through being an adult! I'm ready to be a child! Where are they, Rashid? Where?"
"Heero, I really don't know what you mean. They steeped out sometime ago."
"What did I just say about all that bullshit?!" Heero yelled, getting in Rashid's face. "Quatre was supposed to be released today, but where the hell is he? Where is he Rashid? Where's Dorothy?"
"Mr. Yuy," Rashid came to his own defense, "I have no idea what you are talking about—"
Heero stuck his gun in Rashid's face (classic Heero) and growled, "There is something going on here, it's hurting Quatre and you're in the middle of it. I want to know what the hell is going on."
"Heero! Stop!" Relena pleaded, pulling at his arm.
"Where are they, Rashid?"
"I told you, boy—"
"Relena, call the police."
"Heero," she started.
"Go, Relena!" he ordered. She let go of his arm and exited the room. Heero kept his gun on Rashid.
"Why don't you shoot me?" Rashid muttered.
"You have to be brought to justice," Heero replied.
"And if I refuse?"
"I guess you'll just have to live with the dishonor." Heero quoted Wufei.
"I guess I will," Rashid backed away. Heero stepped with him.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"To create the dishonor I will have to live with." Rashid whipped around and bolted up the stairs. Heero called after him.
"Hey! Hey!" He ran after Rashid. Relena just walked back into the room to see Heero and Rashid dashing up the steps.
"Heero!" she ran after them. Rashid's great long legs got him up the steps in five or six leaps, but Heero only had to take two or three more. Rashid took a rifle off the wall and pulled the hammer back. He kicked Quatre's door. The door cracked and the desk fell over. Dorothy and Quatre gasped. Heero ran at Rashid. Rashid flipped Heero over his arm with a karate move. Relena stood back in shock.
"Rashid…" she muttered.
"Don't bother me, woman!" he screamed at her, and kicked Quatre's door open. Quatre found himself glaring into the barrel of his father's famed collector's edition 700 Series John Deere rifle.
"Sayonara, rich bitch!" Rashid yelled, pulling the trigger.
"Ahh!" Heero yelled, jumping on Rashid's back with all his might and falling with him, to the floor. The gun went off and Quatre grasped his stomach and keeled over.
"Quatre!" Dorothy screamed, falling to his side. Heero knocked the rifle out of Rashid's hands and under the bed.
"Damn!" Rashid hollered, knocking Heero off and going for the rifle. Heero dove on him again, ramming his head into the bedpost. Rashid was disoriented. Dorothy desperately tried to get Quatre up. Heero pulled Quatre to his feet and led him out. Relena came in and held Dorothy's hand as they led them out. Heero dragged Quatre down the hall and the stairs, being as careful as possible as quickly as possible. Quatre looked back at Dorothy. She seemed as pale and weak as ever, barely hanging onto Relena as they approached the front door. This was the end. No more abuse. Oh my God, Quatre realized, I was abused. And I thought it was justified punishment. I'm so stupid. I'm sorry Dorothy, I'm so…
Rashid was at the top of the steps, aiming the rifle at Quatre's head. Quatre lost all manhood.
"Heero!" Heero jerked around. The rifle went off. Heero was hit in the forehead and fell off of Quatre, who was leaning on him and fell also. Relena and Dorothy screamed. Rashid aimed for Quatre, who cried over Heero's body. He pulled back the hammer.
"QUATRE!" Dorothy screamed. Quatre snatched Heero's semi-automatic and shot Rashid. Rashid dropped his gun and held his shoulder. Quatre shot him again, angry this time. Rashid cried out, and fell to his knees. Quatre shot one last time, sealing the revenge he never claimed to believe in. Rashid toppled head over heels down the staircase landing a few feet from Relena and Dorothy. They scurried away. Quatre stayed frozen in the position he used to shoot Rashid all three times. He couldn't believe what just happened. My God, what have I done? What have I done, God? How could I? He was my father, my father. Quatre lay back slowly and stared at the ceiling, the endless marble ceiling dotted here and there with brilliant chandeliers—perfect serenity. Tears flowed. Quatre clenched his teeth and sobbed. It's over.
