Infirmary Clinic, L12

Another report, another diagnosis, another treatment, another prescription. Trynity blew out air, tossed a folder on her desk and leaned back in her chair. Glancing at her computer screen she had to blink twice before she could believe her eyes. There were no scheduled appointments for at least an hour. That didn't mean she wouldn't have a patient or two straggle in off the street. And Trynity could not turn down the needy refugees from the Mars colony. Kicking off her shoes, she slouched in her chair and closed her eyes. Perhaps she could get just a short nap. She had been so busy working these past few weeks that she went home late, rose early...

Who was she trying to kid? It hadn't been work that made her lose sleep. Trynity couldn't relax with Duo Maxwell nearby. The week he had been in the hospital, she couldn't help but check on him, and the week since he had returned to the Yuy residence, she had been on edge. He was so close now, and yet he might as well still be on Calabria. Duo rarely spoke to her, and only when giving monosyllabic answers to the questions she asked him about Calabria. Trynity dared not let loose with her own suppressed feelings after his illness. She wasn't exactly sure what she felt anymore. Duo Maxwell wasn't the same young man she had fallen in love with so many years ago. That Duo had been carefree, sensitive, and quick to make her laugh. He had smoothed out her rough edges, had made her feel something she had not even known existed. The Duo Maxwell that had returned from Calabria was moody and quiet. His only concern was for Princess Shamara and their return to Calabria. Her grieving for Duo had not been in vain; the Duo she had known had died. She didn't know the man who had risen from his ashes.

A quick rap at the door preceded its opening, and her daughter slipped into the room. "Mom, your nurse skipped out, so I checked and saw that you didn't have any patients for a while. Can I come in?"

Trynity smiled at her as she waved her forward. "Don't tell me you are feeling sick."

Quynn tossed back her hair. "I haven't been sick a day in my life."

"There were plenty of times when you were a baby that your father and I stayed up all night to see you through your fevers."

Quynn sat on the corner of her desk. "Well, I haven't been sick since then."

"You have been very healthy," agreed Trynity. She picked up a pencil and opened a patient's file, but she wasn't really looking at it. Quynn was looking at her in an odd manner that made her feel uncomfortable. "Did you drop by just to remind me how healthy you are?"

Quynn crossed her arms. "Mom, what do you know about Guerani powers?"

Trynity began to tap her pencil nervously. She didn't need Quynn prying into her past, especially the days spent on Calabria. "Well, I know that they are very strong, and if they are misused, they can be dangerous."

"Is it true that they can know everything about a person just through touch?" Quynn was staring at her intently.

"They do seem to have a heightened awareness through the touch of their hands. I would be curious to see what parts of the brain the Guerani people have developed to make them as they are."

"So, you actually think they know everything, even things the person they touch does not?" Quynn was wringing her hands and looking anywhere but at Trynity.

"Imperial Guard Arora helped Trowa Barton recall his past," said Trynity. She was tapping her pencil just as nervously as Quynn was wringing her hands. "What is this about, Quynn?"

"I touched her." Quynn shuddered. "I touched her hand."

The pencil froze, and Trynity couldn't breathe. "What...what did you see?"

"I am not sure." Quynn was lying. Trynity could tell by the way that she avoided looking directly at her. "But...but the feelings I got...that I'm not who I think I am." She looked at Trynity directly now. "I felt so sad when our hands touched. I've been trying to think of a reason, but I can't. Perhaps you could tell me what it all means."

Trynity could tell her exactly what it meant, but she did not want to. She had decided long ago that her children would only know Lars Nelson as their father. Revealing the truth to them now would only end in disaster. Quynn had adored Lars, and a father and son couldn't be any closer than he and Stryfe had been. They had both taken their father's death very hard, and she didn't even want to know how they would feel to discover that Duo Maxwell was their biological father. In Trynity's eyes, he was nothing to them except the male who supplied the genetic material. Duo was ambivalent towards his own son. Deep inside she knew he wouldn't have been able to sustain a relationship within the confines of a family. Watching his lack of interaction with Taeron convinced Trynity that Duo wasn't cut out to be a father. Ironically, Lars couldn't give her any more children although they had both wanted them. His ability to do so had been wiped away doubtless by the blast he had received from the Shadowhawk in the saving of Duo Maxwell's life. Strange that he had ended up raising Duo's children. Was there some poetic justice in that?

"Mom, are you listening?"

She started and looked at Quynn. "I'm sorry I can't concentrate very well. I've been busy lately."

Quynn sighed. "You've been acting strange since those people from Calabria arrived. I did some checking up on Duo Maxwell."

Trynity was confident there was no damning information about them in the military files. "And what did you discover?"

"Not much except that he piloted the Deathscythe during the wars in the year A.C. 195 and later against the Barton Foundation and the Coalition. His academic record at the Royal Academy is quite a humorous read."

Trynity couldn't help but smile.

Quynn laughed. "Your record is even funnier. Do you know, Mom, that you were labeled a social misfit?"

"I know exactly who could have done that!"

"Every teacher except your art teacher. He noted that you were very studious and hard-working."

Trynity laughed. "Actually, I believe he enjoyed looking down my blouse while I was working. He gave me the creeps."

Quynn rolled her eyes. "I know the feeling." She hopped off her desk. "I suppose I should let you get back to work. Stryfe is hanging around with the Calabrians. Their ship is almost completely repaired. Heero had the hull plated with gundanium, and the systems inside are just about ready. Lord Duo has been busy rewiring the ship."

"He used to work on the Deathscythe," commented Trynity.

Quynn walked to the door, but she paused and looked back at her. "Mom, it almost seems as if you are avoiding him. I thought the two of you might ..."

Trynity put up her hand. "Enough, Quynn. I don't need you to set me up with anyone. I'm perfectly happy the way I am."

"That's just it, Mom. I thought you were perfectly happy until he came along. Now you just look downright miserable."

Trynity sighed. "You're mistaking the reason. I am miserable because I feel obligated to stay here. I would rather be home, on the Mars colony. I am fearful of the situation there. Refugees recently arriving speak of a wizard in the employ of the brigands. I can hardly believe it, but they are frightened witless. Soon enough, no one will be left on the planet. We all had such high hopes for it."

"Maybe you should give up too, Mom. I don't think Quatre Winner is going to let up any time soon. Mars is just a fancy resource satellite of the Winner Foundation. Accept it and leave it at that."

"I can't, Quynn. Not after all the work that went into developing the planet."

Quynn shrugged. "I'll see you later."

"I will have to work late."

"You don't have to work late. Duo Maxwell is going on a date, so you don't have to avoid him."

Before Trynity could respond, Quynn ducked out the door.

A date?

Her hand reached for the telecom, and she quickly dialed Relena. The nurse stepped in to announce a patient, but Trynity waved her away. After a moment, Relena responded to her call.

"Trynity, what are you doing calling in the middle of the day? Is there a problem?"

Trynity couldn't contain her curiosity. "What is this I hear about a date?"

"Whose date?" asked Relena, but by the sly look in her eyes, Trynity knew she knew exactly of whom she spoke.

"Dammit, just tell me!"

"I didn't think you cared."

"I don't!" But she did. Trynity was having a hard enough time dealing with Taeron and her wild imaginings of Duo with another woman. She didn't think she would actually see him with one. "Who is it?"

"She arrived from L11 yesterday on a business trip. If you had been around yesterday, you might have seen her drop by. She was very sorry she missed you."

Trynity curled her hands into fists, the pencil breaking. "That bitch! Please tell me it is not Hilde Schbeiker!"

"I think you better give yourself a sedative," laughed Relena.

The nurse popped her head in. "I'm sorry to disturb you, doctor, but you have several patients waiting."

Trynity ended her communication to Relena without a good-bye. Hilde! Hilde hadn't wanted to give up Duo seventeen years ago, and worse, she just wouldn't leave Lars alone. Lars had never been unfaithful to Trynity, but Hilde certainly tried to tempt him by conveniently being on the different colonies where Lars would be arriving. Somehow the witch managed to hack into the transport logs to find out where his next mission would take him, and once he arrived, she would be all over him. Lars had thought it sadly amusing. Trynity couldn't help feeling worried that he would find something in Hilde that was lacking in her. He never did, but that didn't stop Hilde from trying. Trynity didn't need to be psychic to know what her game was now. Trynity refused to play! Duo was nothing to her! Nothing!

Then why couldn't she concentrate on her patients? After that short break, she didn't have a moment's peace as they kept arriving at her temporary office in the colony infirmary. Trynity knew she was being downright foolish to think about Duo's "date", but she couldn't help it. There was still so much unresolved between them, and she didn't want Hilde tangling herself into the muddle. What would she do if Duo now preferred Hilde?

There was no possible way for her to leave the infirmary at a reasonable time, and when the last patient had gone, she was on her way out the door when she was confronted by a heavily pregnant woman half-hysterical because she was going into labor early. Trynity did not leave her until she was comfortably settled in the infirmary, the crisis momentarily abated. By that time it was very late and Trynity had missed dinner again. On the way out, she stopped in the cafeteria, which was deserted and purchased a sandwich from a vending machine. The bread was a little stale and the meat dry, so she tossed it in the trash. She debated stopping for a drink, but she didn't like to go into a canteen or a bar alone, so she returned to Heero and Relena's home.

It was very late, so she quietly went to her room, changed, and throwing on a silky pink dressing gown Relena had given to her over her black negligee, she walked out to kitchen. The cook and staff were gone, so she scrounged in the refrigerator to her heart's content and managed to find leftover roast, so she made herself a sandwich, poured a glass of wine, then headed back to her room.

She was passing through the salon when the door slid open and she froze when Duo stepped in. At first he didn't see her in the dim light, and she considered dashing for her room, but Trynity wasn't a coward.

"You were out late." She tried to sound light-hearted, but wondered if she sounded like a jealous shrew.

Duo turned his head toward the sound of Trynity's voice. He didn't want this now! He had spent the evening fighting off Hilde's hands. She had made it quite clear what she wanted from the moment they sat down to dine at an elegant restaurant. They might just as well have been at some low-life dive. He had decided to give her what she wanted, thinking he might enjoy it more believing it might hurt Trynity even just a little, but as the evening progressed and she bragged about her on-going affair with Lars Nelson behind his unsuspecting wife's back, Duo lost any interest in her. He suspected she was lying; Trynity wasn't that stupid.

Seeing her now in a silly, clinging pink garment that did little to hide her curves, Duo knew Lars wasn't that stupid either. From what Stryfe had said of his father in the last few days when Duo had the young man nipping at his heels like a lost puppydog, Lars had been devoted to his wife and children. Duo reminded himself that he had left Trynity, not the other way around. So why did he still feel the ache of betrayal?

He felt foolish staring at her, and the smile was fading from her lips, lips he wanted to kiss despite everything that had happened. "You weren't waiting up, were you?" Stupid! Where had that little taunt come from?

To his annoyance, she laughed and took a drink from her glass of wine. "I just returned myself."

Who had she been with? During his week at the infirmary, he had seen and heard enough to know any doctor, young or old, was more than just a little interested in Dr. Nelson. Did she finally give in to that pompous ass surgeon? "I hope you had a good time."

Her brows wrinkled for a moment, then she shrugged. "I suppose so. I'm a little out of practice, but those kinds of things I couldn't forget."

What did that mean? She was looking at him with that little lift of her arched bows as if she were jerking him and he knew she was. "Some emergency at the infirmary?"

She took another drink from the wine. Was he making her nervous? Looking at her was certainly starting to have an effect on him. He hadn't had thoughts like this in many years, and he wasn't sure what kind of self-control he possessed. What was she wearing under that flimsy pink garment? Did he see black? The thought of what she might be wearing almost made him groan. He didn't need this distraction!

"I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow," he forced himself to say. "In another day we will be leaving." He started forward, but he hesitated when he realized he would have to walk near her to get to the hallway leading to the guest suites, then forced his feet to move.

He almost made it past her, despite the heat he felt from her, the faint scent of roses from her perfume mingling with a scent that was Trynity. But she put out her hand to touch his arm, and he stopped abruptly before she could complete the motion. If she touched him, he might lose control despite the self-discipline he had learned in his training as an imperial guard.

"We haven't spoken at all, Duo."

"It's late." Duo wanted to get away. "And there is nothing to say."

Trynity half turned away, and he watched as she set down the plate with her sandwich and then drained the glass of wine before placing it on a table. He watched every movement of her body, thought that in the past he would have dragged her down to the couch or floor by now, and she would have enjoyed it. Was she teasing him?

His thoughts were becoming so centered on one thing that he was unprepared for the sharp slap she delivered to his face. That first slap seemed to awaken him, and the second, made him completely forget what he was thinking.

"There is something to say, Duo Maxwell. And I am the one who is going to say it. I'll never forgive you for what you did!"

Although his cheeks were stinging, he didn't rub them. "I didn't ask for your forgiveness," he said. Damn! His face felt numb! In all these years she certainly could still pack a wallop.

"You should be begging for my forgiveness!" She put her hands on her hips and leaned toward him. "You can't begin to imagine how I felt that day!"

"No, I honestly can't. By my calculations, you must have hit the sack with Lars that night, considering Stryfe and Quynn's age."

"You are an ass!" But her face was turning a shade darker, doubtless from shame.

He started to walk away.

She grabbed his arm and pulled him back. "You have never given me an explanation! Certainly not in that sorry excuse of a note you left behind."

"I didn't have time to say what I wanted…"

"You lying bastard! You planned to ditch me probably before we even left L10!"

"That's not true!" Duo couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Do you think I wanted to be separated from you? I did what I did for you. I wanted you to get a good start in your career without me holding you back. What did you do with my sacrifice? You let Nelson screw you and your future."

She balled her hand into a fist, but he was ready to evade her punch. Trynity didn't swing. She glared at him, took a deep breath, then relaxed. "I'm sorry. I thought we knew each other, but I guess you didn't know what I wanted for my future, and I didn't realize what a disaster we would have been together. I owe you thanks, Duo Maxwell."

He narrowed his eyes. Was this a trick? She seemed rather calm. "Why should you thank me?"

"Because you enabled me to have a life you couldn't even possibly dream of." She picked up her sandwich and left the room without another word.

Duo watched her disappear into the darkness, and he thought briefly of his constant nightmares. If only this was another he could wake up, and this time he might let Shamara take away the pain forever. But his wasn't a dream or a nightmare. The reality was that she was brutally honest, and he deserved every recrimination.

He dropped onto the couch and covered his face with his hands.

"She's right."

Duo didn't bother looking. "Not now, Relena."

Relena sat on the couch beside him and put her arm around his shoulders. He might have shoved her away if he didn't need some comfort. "Well, she's had her say. Maybe now you two can start to move forward."

"There is no forward for us, Relena. I don't understand Trynity. She didn't become what I had expected."

"You didn't even know her, Duo. I don't think any of us did. Deep inside she wanted to help people, and her very short career in physics didn't do anything to satisfy that need." Relena reached down to take his hand, and he felt something warm drop into his palm. "Perhaps she will some day take this back from you. But you have to get to know her as she is now, not as she was back then."

Relena stood and left him alone.

Duo reached into his palm and lifted a gold chain from which dangled a small golden scythe. His instinct was to cry, but he pushed it back. He had shed enough tears. He had to move on with his life.

When he entered his room, he heard the soft sighs of his sleeping companions. Taeron was sitting with his back propped against the wall, sword in his hand while Shamara was sprawled on the sofa, her head almost on the floor, her legs draped over the back.

Suddenly he snorted with laughter. Taeron started, the sword clattering as it fell to the floor, and Shamara rolled off the couch, cursing when her head bumped a coffee table set near the couch.

"My lord!" gasped Taeron as he fumbled for his weapon.

"Don't bother, Taeron. Had I been an actual assassin, I think I would have been able to dispose of you by now."

"I beg your forgiveness!"

"Screw it! Get some sleep. No one is going to attack here. And Shamara, if you insist on sleeping like that, you are going to get a headache.""

She rubbed her head. "I already have one."

Duo tossed aside his tunic and lay on the bed. Trynity was wrong. He could dream of a life such as she had. He almost had it. Shamara was like his own daughter, and Taeron, well Taeron might as well be his son.

He felt Shamara's touch to his cheek. "You are calm," she remarked as she settled beside him. "You have never been this calm."

There was a moment of silence before Taeron remarked, "The floor is uncomfortable."

Duo chuckled. "I was wondering when you were going to notice that. Go ahead and sleep on the couch."

"I didn't like the couch anyway," said Shamara.

Taeron settled on it. "This is much better."

Duo was still smiling as he closed his eyes. He was still holding the necklace Relena had returned to him.

Shamara kissed his cheek, then whispered in his ear. "I hear her in my heart. She is crying."

He opened one eye to look at Shamara. "Maybe you should concentrate on listening a little more closely for Prince Dagan instead of meddling in my life."

She turned away from him without further comment.

In a couple of days they would leave in search of the Bayman ship. Once he had concluded that business, he decided that he would come back to Trynity. Somehow he would make amends.

"Do you think she can ever love me again?" he asked Shamara softly.

She didn't respond.

Duo turned on his side to look at the princess. "Shamara?"

When Shamara opened her eyes, she found herself standing in a forest. There was a strange reddish-yellow glow from above, rays of the sun through a red tinted sky. The foliage was dark green, the trees tall, the grass short and soft, like a thick carpet. A mist blanketed the forest. She knew it was a dream and that she could easily leave it, but something or someone seemed to call her here. The forest was eerily quiet. She expected something to happen.

The call of a bird turned her attention upwards, and she watched as an eagle soared high, then dived downwards, straight for her. Shamara did not move except to raise her arm, and the fierce bird gently landed. With her other hand she smoothed its feathers. She wondered if its appearance had some meaning.

The howl of a wolf made the bird snap its head about, feathers ruffling. Shamara looked in the direction from which came the howl. The air seemed to grow heavy, and she could see that the bird was nervous, but it did not fly away. Suddenly there was a rustling in the bushes, and Shamara held her breath as a huge wolf crashed through. It came to within a foot of Shamara, lowered its head and bared its long fangs. Unafraid, Shamara merely watched it, not moving. The eagle spread its huge wings and took flight, and the wolf bounded after it.

"That was very brave," she heard a man's voice. "Or very stupid."

She turned her head. Standing where the wolf had been was a young man. He was handsome, with dark hair and eyes, and he was dressed in dark clothing. Although he had the appearance of someone sinister, she did not feel any evil emanating from him.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. She thought she should know him, but she couldn't quite recall where she had seen him before.

"I should be asking you that." His brown eyes seemed to melt her as he looked her over from top to bottom. "I have seen you elsewhere, and yet I do not know you."

Strange that they should have the same thoughts. "You are in my dream."

"Interesting. You are in mine. Rather, mine is not a dream. The gods have sent me here."

Shamara could not resist laughing. "You think the gods are responsible?"

His brows drew together. "Do you doubt me?"

She bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing again about his seriousness. This was just a dream. But she still wondered where her mind had conjured such an attractive man. "Don't let me keep you from your quest."

"A quest!" He seemed to like that idea. "Yes, the gods have sent me on a quest. I do not know what you could possibly have to do with it."

"I am only dreaming," she reminded him. "When I awaken, my part in your quest will be at an end."

"There is a evil to be slain," he said, ignoring her comment.

"I suppose that is a worthy quest. Do you have…"

He drew a long, nasty sword. "I have a weapon."

She looked at his weapon skeptically especially at how he was handling it. "I doubt you know how to use it."

He sheathed the sword again, then held out his hand. "The gods have sent you, so you must join me in my quest."

Shamara looked at his hand. "I will be gone when my dream ends."

"My quest will continue after you leave."

With a shrug, she slipped her hand into his, and she felt a jolt run straight to her toes. He felt it too, because he quickly released her and stumbled back.

"What magic is that?" he demanded as he ran a shaking hand through his hair.

Shamara was trembling from the after effect. "Who are you?" But she sensed deep inside his identity.

"Dagan, heir of Bayman."

This was Dagan!? Shamara shook her head. No, this was not possible! She didn't remember Dagan looking like this, and yet her senses told her otherwise. She had once touched Dagan, and once touched, she would never forget his essence.

"You are Shamara," he stated.

"How do you know?" Of course he would know! This was her dream he was in. Besides, he must have gained the knowledge through her own ill-controlled powers.

There was a roar behind them in the dark forest. Dagan drew his sword and stepped in front of Shamara. "I will protect you, princess."

"I am not really the type of princess that requires a great deal of protection," she said matter-of-factly. Just the same, she moved close to him and put her hands on his arm. This was nice, she thought as she touched the hard muscles. The real Dagan was probably weak and flabby because he did nothing but entertain his women and enjoy his position as his father's heir. The Dagan of her dreams was strong and warm. He smelled of leather and spice, and something that was uniquely him. What would it be like to be held in his strong arms, to feel his lips on hers?

"Princess, I can't concentrate when you have such thoughts."

Shamara let her hands drop. Drats! She had betrayed herself. "I am sorry." Yet if he did kiss her, she wouldn't mind running her fingers through his thick dark hair. She had never been kissed, except by her family members and she had noted that her parents seemed to enjoy the activity. Shamara knew it often lead to other activities…She didn't really know what they were. No one seemed to want to enlighten her despite her investigations.

"By the gods! Stop thinking such things!" Dagan glanced back at her. "If you want me to kiss you, I will do so, but after the danger has passed."

She looked down at her hands. They hadn't been touching him. "How did you know…?" She didn't get a chance to finish her question because there was suddenly a loud crack and a crash as a tree tumbled down in front of them. From out of the depths of the forest burst a gigantic beast. Shamara had never seen anything like it in her life! More than five times the size of Dagan, it had huge, club-like arms extending to hands that were claws, a mouth filled with razor sharp teeth. Green ooze sizzled the grass as it dripped on the ground, and three eyes were positioned evenly around its head so that it could see everywhere at once.

"What is it?" she cried as she clutched Dagan's arms.

"Perhaps you could tell me, since it is your dream, princess."

Shamara's retort was lost when the beast roared and swung its arm, slicing out its claws. Dagan dived to the side, dragging Shamara with him. She landed on top of him, but he immediately rolled them both to safety as the monster stomped a foot down where they had been.

Dagan tossed Shamara even further away, then leapt agily to his feet and after ducking another swipe, swung out his sword to slice the monster's leg. The monster screamed in agonized, angry pain, then struck out at Dagan again. He barely managed to avoid it, then threw out his sword in a desperate move that managed to cut the beast's other leg. Shamara could feel evil coming from the beast, and she knew of one sure way to end this fight.

She closed her eyes and willed the dream to be over.

But when she opened them again, she saw the monster threw back its head and she realized it was gathering up those grotesque juices to use on the unprotected Dagan. Shamara took a deep breath, but her hands to her heart, then threw out her arms. Just as the beast spewed, a white bubble formed around Dagan and the juices instantly dissolved.

Dagan then fell back onto the ground and the forest was filled with the screams of rage of the beast. As Shamara's protection wore away and she dropped to her knees weakly, the monster threw itself at Dagan in another effort to kill.

Dagan put up his own hands, Shamara thought to futilely protect himself, but suddenly from those hands came a blast of light, and from which she had to shield her eyes. When she was able to see again, she saw the beast lying motionless on its back, its body charred and stiff. The air reeked of its burning flesh. Dagan had disappeared. Had he been annihilated by the magic she had seen him use?

Before she could wonder much more, she felt strong arms slip around her and raise her up. Shamara turned her head and found herself looking into Dagan's dark eyes, her face only inches from his. "You saved my life, princess." His head came even closer to hers.

"You saved mine," she said breathlessly, her lips actually brushing his. She was going to faint from the pleasure.

His smile made her insides melt. "I think we both deserve a reward."

"I agree." She tilted her head, preparing to savor her first kiss.

"By the gods, Shamara, wake up!"

Her eyes snapped open and she found herself facing a very haggard, tired and angry Lord Duo. She wanted to scream in frustration.

"Finally!" He lay back, throwing an arm over his eyes. "I hope your dream was worth the aggravation you have put me and Taeron through."

Shamara was deeply embarrassed. Taeron had pulled a pillow over his head, but he peered at her from beneath. "Was…was I noisy?"

Duo didn't look at her. "I think I have heard more than I wanted to."

"Me too," remarked Taeron, his voice muffled under the pillow. "I wasn't sure how I was going to protect you from that man in your dream."

Shamara covered her eyes with her hands. It had seemed so real! Her body was still tingling, both from excitement and fear. Had it been just a dream? Or was there more to it? And what had she said in her sleep?!?

She turned her head and was about to tell Duo about her dream, but she could see that he was already sleeping. Well, maybe it was just a dream, after all. A very bizarre dream.

A very unsatisfying dream.