Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or any of its characters. They belong
to their respective owners and creators. I'm only writing this story out of
my own passion.
Author's Note:
Love will not Die
Part VI
By, Silver Fox ".She could die."
Everything froze around Quatre as he heard those words. The scariest thing about it was the fact that in his head, when he went by his fear of Dorothy's funeral, this was the way she died. His mind blanked out everything else in it and focused on those stabbing, fatal words.
".She could die."
Without even thinking, he started running. His mind didn't even realize he was running. He was only following his basic instinct. He wanted to protect her. He had to do something. He didn't hear his friends yelling at him, or the frightened people he was almost knocking down. He could only hear one thing in his mind, the same terminal words he heard the rushing doctors say.
".She could die."
No, he thought. I can't let that happen. I won't let that happen. I'll stop it. I'll prevent it. I won't fail. I can't fail. I can't afford to fail. My life depends on her life. I have to do something.
"Sir, Sir!! Please sir, you have to wait here."
Someone was holding him back. The doctors had already rushed in the doors, but someone was restraining him. He tried to break through their hold with all his might, but it was in vain, for he could not get through. He tried clawing at the man's arm, but all it did was scratch him slightly. He kept trying to look in the emergency room.
"What's happening, what's going on?"
"Calm down sir, the doctors will take care of it."
"Tell me what's wrong!"
"Alright alright. Apparently, there are complications in the surgery and she's having a seizure. When they put the new heart in, apparently her body is rejecting it. So we're doing all we can right now sir. Please, just step back."
Quatre didn't want to step back. He kept trying to break through the grasp that held him. He used all his strength to push his way through, but it was in vain. His strength gave out and his knees buckled from under him. Two nurses carried him off to his room. He kept looking back at the room.
"Dorothy."
****
"Dorothy."
She opened her eyes at the sound of a voice to see just a blank ceiling. She saw she was lying on and operating table with all sorts of doctors around her. Scared upon seeing this, she jumped up and off of the table. She gawked as she saw herself on the table, being operated on.
"Oh god," she thought out loud, "Am I dead?"
She turned away from the site of her open body, seeing as she didn't like seeing operations. Then, she turned back and tried to tap the one of the doctors on the shoulder, but her hand went right through him. She saw herself having convulsions, and while still having a heart rate, she saw herself looking very unstable.
"Is this how it's going to end? I have to die right here? Right now? While I'm unconscious? And I don't even get to say goodbye to anyone? I can't see my Quatre again?"
A voice came down and only she seemed to hear it.
"Dorothy, go to him now."
She reared her head up and looked around to see nothing. "What?"
"Do as I said, go to him now."
"Who are you, anyway?"
"Does that really matter right now? Go to him, he needs you. Then you can make your choice."
"What choice?"
"JUST GO! All will be explained later, just go to him!"
"Alright, alright." She walked through the doors without opening them, and looked around. People were walking right through her. She walked down the hall, passing everyone. She knew exactly where she had to go, to see Quatre. The misty facade of herself drifted past many hallways and rooms, until she reached her final destination. It was almost painful to see him like this. While he was sedated, he looked so blank. She moved in closer to him. She tried to touch his face, but she went through him, and it looked like it made him cold.
"Quatre, can you hear me?"
He didn't answer.
"I guess you can't. I don't know exactly what's happening, Quatre. I don't know what's going on with me. I wish I could talk to you, and you could hear me. I want to assure you that everything will be all right; I want to make you feel better. But, I can't. I don't know if I'm going to be all right. I don't even know if I'm already dead."
She looked longingly at him. "The only thing I'm happy about is that it's me here and not you." She bent down to give him a kiss, and it almost looked like he could feel it. "I don't know if I'll ever see you again, so in case I don't, Aishiteru Quatre Rababa Winner. You are the kindest, most decent person that I ever knew." She slowly turned and left the room. When she got out, she turned her head up towards the ceiling. "What now? What do I do now?"
"You have to decide."
"Decide? Decide what?"
"You have to decide."
"Ok, scratch that question. Where do I go now?"
"You go to your decision."
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Will you please just tell me what I have to decide? Honestly, this is getting on my nerves."
"Don't you dare disrespect me."
"Well who are you anyway?"
An image appeared in front of her. Her jaw dropped upon seeing it. This was an image she thought she would never see. The sheer sight of this made her knees tremble. It was her mother.
"M-mother? I mean; is it really you?"
The image now smiled at her and moved closer. "Yes Dorothy. I am your mother."
"But, how?"
"I was sent here to help you."
"But-does that mean I'm dead?"
She sighed. "There is no definite answer to that. The fact is I cannot answer it. Only you can. That is what you must decide."
"Must decide what?"
"Dorothy, you must decide if you want to live or die."
"Live or die?" The answer seemed so obvious to her that she almost laughed as she said it. "I want to live of course!"
"For yourself or just for Quatre?"
She shot a strange look to the image. "And what does that have to do with anything?"
"It has a lot to do everything, Dorothy." Her mother moved closer to her. "You see, the only way you can live again, is to live for yourself. I know you're willing to live for Quatre's sake, but that's not good enough. If you're not willing to live for yourself right now, then you will die."
Dorothy nearly laughed out of cold irony. "But that would be selfish, to want to live for myself. Let me understand this. I've been selfish my entire life, caring only about what I wanted. And now, at this point in my life, when I love someone so much that I want to live for his sake, you're telling me that's not good enough???"
Her mother retracted as she nearly spat at her. "Dorothy, this isn't a matter of being selfish. This is a matter of much greater things."
"Oh really, and would you mind telling me what they are? Before I actually do die I mean."
"Stop your attitude, it's sickening. What is at stake here is your self worth. Now you have to act fast, or you're dead. Go back to your body, and think good things of yourself. And loving someone is one of those things. Now go before it's too late!"
Without saying another word, Dorothy was already off down the hall, getting back to herself. Though it was all very unclear to her, she had to try something. What was all that about wanting to live for herself? She didn't know, but she wanted to live. When she got back to the operating room, she saw that she had started flat lining. Panic was rushing over her. What could she do? She didn't have a clue. She knew she had to do something about wanting to live for herself, but what the hell did that mean? She thought quickly. She knew she loved Quatre, and he made her feel like she was important. That might be it! Because she loved him, she felt like she was worth something.
"I hope that counts for something."
She saw the doctors were talking to each other.
"The only hope we have is the new artificial heart."
"But we can't do that, that'll probably kill her."
"Well we don't have much of a choice. Her body's rejecting the transplant."
"But it'll probably reject this too!"
"Well you're the head doctor, you make the final decision."
I have to convince him to use the artificial heart. She walked over to him and put her hand through his head. Instantly, his expression changed. Then, with a different look in his eyes, said the final order.
"Use the artificial heart."
She then let her misty self become one with her body.
****
"Mr. Winner?"
Quatre lifted his head from between his legs and sat up in his chair. He rubbed his red tear stained eyes. Despite what they told him to stay in bed, he refused and was dressed in a messy untucked and unbuttoned shirt and thrown on pants, and in the waiting room. Desperation was starting to overcome him. He stood up and looked the messenger straight in the eye.
"Yes, that's me. Now how's Dorothy? Is she ok? Please, tell me what's going on I'm losing my mind!" He was now gripping the doctor by his jacket.
"Please, sir! Put me down sir. Yes, Miss Catalonia is all right now. She should be waking up soon. Now please, sir. Put me down!"
Quatre gradually released the doctor. Relief rushed over him. A tear of joy escaped from his eye. "Oh thank god. Thank you, thank you, thank you god." Suddenly, his grip tightened on the man's jacket again. "What room is she in?"
"Ug, she's in room 107. Now please let me go sir!"
"Alright then." He released his hold on the man. "Oh, and uh, sorry about that." He then was instantly darting off in the direction of Dorothy's room. He skidded to a stop as he found it. He took a moment to look at her. She was asleep. How beautiful she looked while she was sleeping. So peaceful, not burdened by the rest of the world. He slowly opened the door, slipped in and slowly closed it. He found a chair and pulled up to her bed. He took a moment to talk to god. He had never been a praying man for most of his life, but now he felt it was a good time to start. He even got off the chair and sunk to his knees. He let out a sigh and looked up.
"Dear god, Hello its Quatre Rababa Winner. I know I shouldn't be one to talk to you. I've done so many things I've regretted. I was a Gundam Pilot. I killed people. I'm sorry. I know shouldn't have done the things I did, but I know I can't take them back. For awhile, I wasn't sure I believed in you, but," he smiled and looked at his sleeping goddess, "now I wonder how ever not believed in you. Thank you for bringing her back to me. I can't tell you how much she means to me. And now, I want to ask you for something. Nothing for me, but please protect her. Keep her safe, and help her conquer her disease. Please, keep her alive and happy. Thank you." He blessed himself and got back in his chair. Then, he saw her starting to stir. He touched her face.
"Dorothy? Can you hear me, love?"
****
Dorothy opened her eyes upon hearing a familiar voice. She saw the happiest site she could possibly see. She saw her Quatre. Instantly, the fear deep inside her began to vanish.
"Quatre.let me make sure, are you real?"
He smiled, stroked her hair, and leaned in and gave her a deep kiss. "Does that answer your question, fallen angel?"
She chuckled. "Well now I know you are real." she moved over in her hospital bed and patted the seat next to her. "Lie down here."
"Are you sure I'm supposed to?"
"Quatre, now when have I ever cared enough to respect those 'supposed to' rules?"
He smiled. "Well that's right. You were always quite the firecracker." He got into the bed on the other side of her and put his arms around her. "But you're my firecracker."
She smiled closed her eyes. Then, she opened them again. "Quatre?"
"Yes?"
"What actually happened in the operating room?"
There was a short pause. "Are you sure you want to hear?"
"Yes, I do."
"Ok. Well they were giving you your transplant, then you."Quatre was nearly choking on his words. Dorothy rolled over and brushed some of the hair out of his eyes. He smiled, sighed and continued talking. "You started having a seizure. That's what I overheard. What I also heard is that you could have."
"Died?"
"Yes."
"Well, I guess now we've both had a brush with death. But don't you ever do it again."
"Well I won't if you won't."
She mocked a thinking face. "Alright, deal. Let's seal it with a kiss."
He smiled. "No objection here." He leaned in as they gave each other the most deep, and longing kiss they'd ever felt. After awhile, they pulled apart to look into each other's eyes.
"I love you Quatre."
"And I love you, Dorothy."
She cuddled up in his arms. "Quatre, I want you to promise me that, if I ever die first, you won't kill yourself. I'll do the same, but promise me."
"Dorothy." He was a little shocked upon hearing this. He knew she was saying this because of her illness. "Alright, Dorothy. I promise."
"Good." Her eyes were getting heavy as she was drifting off to sleep. "We can finally start to have a normal life now Quatre. We can finally start to be happy together."
He smiled as she fell asleep in his arms. He held her a little closer. "Yes, Dorothy. Now, we can finally have the life we deserve."
Author's Note:
Author's Note:
Love will not Die
Part VI
By, Silver Fox ".She could die."
Everything froze around Quatre as he heard those words. The scariest thing about it was the fact that in his head, when he went by his fear of Dorothy's funeral, this was the way she died. His mind blanked out everything else in it and focused on those stabbing, fatal words.
".She could die."
Without even thinking, he started running. His mind didn't even realize he was running. He was only following his basic instinct. He wanted to protect her. He had to do something. He didn't hear his friends yelling at him, or the frightened people he was almost knocking down. He could only hear one thing in his mind, the same terminal words he heard the rushing doctors say.
".She could die."
No, he thought. I can't let that happen. I won't let that happen. I'll stop it. I'll prevent it. I won't fail. I can't fail. I can't afford to fail. My life depends on her life. I have to do something.
"Sir, Sir!! Please sir, you have to wait here."
Someone was holding him back. The doctors had already rushed in the doors, but someone was restraining him. He tried to break through their hold with all his might, but it was in vain, for he could not get through. He tried clawing at the man's arm, but all it did was scratch him slightly. He kept trying to look in the emergency room.
"What's happening, what's going on?"
"Calm down sir, the doctors will take care of it."
"Tell me what's wrong!"
"Alright alright. Apparently, there are complications in the surgery and she's having a seizure. When they put the new heart in, apparently her body is rejecting it. So we're doing all we can right now sir. Please, just step back."
Quatre didn't want to step back. He kept trying to break through the grasp that held him. He used all his strength to push his way through, but it was in vain. His strength gave out and his knees buckled from under him. Two nurses carried him off to his room. He kept looking back at the room.
"Dorothy."
****
"Dorothy."
She opened her eyes at the sound of a voice to see just a blank ceiling. She saw she was lying on and operating table with all sorts of doctors around her. Scared upon seeing this, she jumped up and off of the table. She gawked as she saw herself on the table, being operated on.
"Oh god," she thought out loud, "Am I dead?"
She turned away from the site of her open body, seeing as she didn't like seeing operations. Then, she turned back and tried to tap the one of the doctors on the shoulder, but her hand went right through him. She saw herself having convulsions, and while still having a heart rate, she saw herself looking very unstable.
"Is this how it's going to end? I have to die right here? Right now? While I'm unconscious? And I don't even get to say goodbye to anyone? I can't see my Quatre again?"
A voice came down and only she seemed to hear it.
"Dorothy, go to him now."
She reared her head up and looked around to see nothing. "What?"
"Do as I said, go to him now."
"Who are you, anyway?"
"Does that really matter right now? Go to him, he needs you. Then you can make your choice."
"What choice?"
"JUST GO! All will be explained later, just go to him!"
"Alright, alright." She walked through the doors without opening them, and looked around. People were walking right through her. She walked down the hall, passing everyone. She knew exactly where she had to go, to see Quatre. The misty facade of herself drifted past many hallways and rooms, until she reached her final destination. It was almost painful to see him like this. While he was sedated, he looked so blank. She moved in closer to him. She tried to touch his face, but she went through him, and it looked like it made him cold.
"Quatre, can you hear me?"
He didn't answer.
"I guess you can't. I don't know exactly what's happening, Quatre. I don't know what's going on with me. I wish I could talk to you, and you could hear me. I want to assure you that everything will be all right; I want to make you feel better. But, I can't. I don't know if I'm going to be all right. I don't even know if I'm already dead."
She looked longingly at him. "The only thing I'm happy about is that it's me here and not you." She bent down to give him a kiss, and it almost looked like he could feel it. "I don't know if I'll ever see you again, so in case I don't, Aishiteru Quatre Rababa Winner. You are the kindest, most decent person that I ever knew." She slowly turned and left the room. When she got out, she turned her head up towards the ceiling. "What now? What do I do now?"
"You have to decide."
"Decide? Decide what?"
"You have to decide."
"Ok, scratch that question. Where do I go now?"
"You go to your decision."
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Will you please just tell me what I have to decide? Honestly, this is getting on my nerves."
"Don't you dare disrespect me."
"Well who are you anyway?"
An image appeared in front of her. Her jaw dropped upon seeing it. This was an image she thought she would never see. The sheer sight of this made her knees tremble. It was her mother.
"M-mother? I mean; is it really you?"
The image now smiled at her and moved closer. "Yes Dorothy. I am your mother."
"But, how?"
"I was sent here to help you."
"But-does that mean I'm dead?"
She sighed. "There is no definite answer to that. The fact is I cannot answer it. Only you can. That is what you must decide."
"Must decide what?"
"Dorothy, you must decide if you want to live or die."
"Live or die?" The answer seemed so obvious to her that she almost laughed as she said it. "I want to live of course!"
"For yourself or just for Quatre?"
She shot a strange look to the image. "And what does that have to do with anything?"
"It has a lot to do everything, Dorothy." Her mother moved closer to her. "You see, the only way you can live again, is to live for yourself. I know you're willing to live for Quatre's sake, but that's not good enough. If you're not willing to live for yourself right now, then you will die."
Dorothy nearly laughed out of cold irony. "But that would be selfish, to want to live for myself. Let me understand this. I've been selfish my entire life, caring only about what I wanted. And now, at this point in my life, when I love someone so much that I want to live for his sake, you're telling me that's not good enough???"
Her mother retracted as she nearly spat at her. "Dorothy, this isn't a matter of being selfish. This is a matter of much greater things."
"Oh really, and would you mind telling me what they are? Before I actually do die I mean."
"Stop your attitude, it's sickening. What is at stake here is your self worth. Now you have to act fast, or you're dead. Go back to your body, and think good things of yourself. And loving someone is one of those things. Now go before it's too late!"
Without saying another word, Dorothy was already off down the hall, getting back to herself. Though it was all very unclear to her, she had to try something. What was all that about wanting to live for herself? She didn't know, but she wanted to live. When she got back to the operating room, she saw that she had started flat lining. Panic was rushing over her. What could she do? She didn't have a clue. She knew she had to do something about wanting to live for herself, but what the hell did that mean? She thought quickly. She knew she loved Quatre, and he made her feel like she was important. That might be it! Because she loved him, she felt like she was worth something.
"I hope that counts for something."
She saw the doctors were talking to each other.
"The only hope we have is the new artificial heart."
"But we can't do that, that'll probably kill her."
"Well we don't have much of a choice. Her body's rejecting the transplant."
"But it'll probably reject this too!"
"Well you're the head doctor, you make the final decision."
I have to convince him to use the artificial heart. She walked over to him and put her hand through his head. Instantly, his expression changed. Then, with a different look in his eyes, said the final order.
"Use the artificial heart."
She then let her misty self become one with her body.
****
"Mr. Winner?"
Quatre lifted his head from between his legs and sat up in his chair. He rubbed his red tear stained eyes. Despite what they told him to stay in bed, he refused and was dressed in a messy untucked and unbuttoned shirt and thrown on pants, and in the waiting room. Desperation was starting to overcome him. He stood up and looked the messenger straight in the eye.
"Yes, that's me. Now how's Dorothy? Is she ok? Please, tell me what's going on I'm losing my mind!" He was now gripping the doctor by his jacket.
"Please, sir! Put me down sir. Yes, Miss Catalonia is all right now. She should be waking up soon. Now please, sir. Put me down!"
Quatre gradually released the doctor. Relief rushed over him. A tear of joy escaped from his eye. "Oh thank god. Thank you, thank you, thank you god." Suddenly, his grip tightened on the man's jacket again. "What room is she in?"
"Ug, she's in room 107. Now please let me go sir!"
"Alright then." He released his hold on the man. "Oh, and uh, sorry about that." He then was instantly darting off in the direction of Dorothy's room. He skidded to a stop as he found it. He took a moment to look at her. She was asleep. How beautiful she looked while she was sleeping. So peaceful, not burdened by the rest of the world. He slowly opened the door, slipped in and slowly closed it. He found a chair and pulled up to her bed. He took a moment to talk to god. He had never been a praying man for most of his life, but now he felt it was a good time to start. He even got off the chair and sunk to his knees. He let out a sigh and looked up.
"Dear god, Hello its Quatre Rababa Winner. I know I shouldn't be one to talk to you. I've done so many things I've regretted. I was a Gundam Pilot. I killed people. I'm sorry. I know shouldn't have done the things I did, but I know I can't take them back. For awhile, I wasn't sure I believed in you, but," he smiled and looked at his sleeping goddess, "now I wonder how ever not believed in you. Thank you for bringing her back to me. I can't tell you how much she means to me. And now, I want to ask you for something. Nothing for me, but please protect her. Keep her safe, and help her conquer her disease. Please, keep her alive and happy. Thank you." He blessed himself and got back in his chair. Then, he saw her starting to stir. He touched her face.
"Dorothy? Can you hear me, love?"
****
Dorothy opened her eyes upon hearing a familiar voice. She saw the happiest site she could possibly see. She saw her Quatre. Instantly, the fear deep inside her began to vanish.
"Quatre.let me make sure, are you real?"
He smiled, stroked her hair, and leaned in and gave her a deep kiss. "Does that answer your question, fallen angel?"
She chuckled. "Well now I know you are real." she moved over in her hospital bed and patted the seat next to her. "Lie down here."
"Are you sure I'm supposed to?"
"Quatre, now when have I ever cared enough to respect those 'supposed to' rules?"
He smiled. "Well that's right. You were always quite the firecracker." He got into the bed on the other side of her and put his arms around her. "But you're my firecracker."
She smiled closed her eyes. Then, she opened them again. "Quatre?"
"Yes?"
"What actually happened in the operating room?"
There was a short pause. "Are you sure you want to hear?"
"Yes, I do."
"Ok. Well they were giving you your transplant, then you."Quatre was nearly choking on his words. Dorothy rolled over and brushed some of the hair out of his eyes. He smiled, sighed and continued talking. "You started having a seizure. That's what I overheard. What I also heard is that you could have."
"Died?"
"Yes."
"Well, I guess now we've both had a brush with death. But don't you ever do it again."
"Well I won't if you won't."
She mocked a thinking face. "Alright, deal. Let's seal it with a kiss."
He smiled. "No objection here." He leaned in as they gave each other the most deep, and longing kiss they'd ever felt. After awhile, they pulled apart to look into each other's eyes.
"I love you Quatre."
"And I love you, Dorothy."
She cuddled up in his arms. "Quatre, I want you to promise me that, if I ever die first, you won't kill yourself. I'll do the same, but promise me."
"Dorothy." He was a little shocked upon hearing this. He knew she was saying this because of her illness. "Alright, Dorothy. I promise."
"Good." Her eyes were getting heavy as she was drifting off to sleep. "We can finally start to have a normal life now Quatre. We can finally start to be happy together."
He smiled as she fell asleep in his arms. He held her a little closer. "Yes, Dorothy. Now, we can finally have the life we deserve."
Author's Note: