Disclaimer: Does it look like I own Gundam Wing? NO!

Kati to 'girl': ((adopts freaky Godfather/Mafia voice)) I know what 'cha thinkin. Did he fire five bullets or six?

Girl: Umm, 'he' didn't fire any bullets.

Kati: Well, I kinda lost track myself.

Girl: That's normal.

Kati: Well, are you feelin' lucky? Eh, Punk?

Girl: No, I'm stuck with you as my author.

Kati: ((Switches positions so she is facing where she was before)) Mistah Harry! Mistah Harry. I gotsta know! How many bullets?

Girl: None.

Kati: ((Switches to former position, then points her finger in the air; gun style. She makes a clicking noise.))

Girl: Oh no. ((faux exitement)) Her fingers loaded!!! AHHHH!!

Kati: ((Pokes her in the side))

Girl: OWWWW!!! MY PAIN!!!!!! WAHHHHHHHH!

Kati: And so begins the chapter…sorry to those people who like it morbid…I'll get back into that state of mind soon enough…for now…. REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter Two: Agony of the Heart

"Heero, did you get that funding analysis that I asked for?" Quatre stepped out of the hall into the den that Heero had claimed as his own.

"You mean the one Duo asked you to ask for?" He handed over the papers. "Yes."

Quatre glanced once over the papers then grimaced. "Duo's not gonna like this."

"They're cutting the funding for the life support of the assassin." Heero mused. "Whatever he wants to know from her he should ask now."

"I'm in the process of doing that, as soon as I can get my blasted jeep started. Heero, your Mr. Perfect, come help me." Duo called from the hall.

"Be right out." Heero called back to him. "Braided baka can't even manage to get his car started." He laughed to Quatre.

"Looks like someone wants you to stay here, they've cut your gas line. You'll never be able to get anywhere with the car in this condition." Heero pulled himself out from under the offending automobile.

"Crap. I've gotta get to the hospital."

"You can use the motorcycle, it'll probably be faster than the jeep anyway." Heero suggested. "It's crucial that you get to her, they've cut her funding for the medical care because of her attempt on Relena.

"What?!" Duo turned from his position facing the garage back to Heero. "When?"

"This morning."

"I'm on my way. Thanks Heero." He ran to the garage and punched in the code. The door seemed to inch open mechanically and finally Duo had enough clearance that he could duck under. He pulled the sleek black and silver cycle out and inserted the keys. Then he threw a leg over, revved the engine and sped out of the garage as the door reached just above the five-foot mark.

~

"Who are you here to see?" The snobby receptionist droned as she picked at the hot pink nail polish coating her fingernails.

"The girl that came in yesterday, the assassin." Duo waited anxiously as the woman slowly checked the database.

"I'm sorry sir, she's under restriction. Not accepting any visitors."

"Except me." Duo turned sharply on his heel and marched through the shiny silver doorway that blocked the reception area from the stark white hallways of the hospital. Heedless to the annoyed cries of the receptionist.

~

She wasn't in the room or the hallway around. The only way Duo knew they had not given her an early trial was by newspapers and the nurse that came at his call and was horrified at the thought of a killer being loose in the clinic.

Duo had to resort to calling "Girl! Girl!" again. And this time she didn't answer.

By now the halls were crowded with security and some of the more brawny nurses. They searched all the way to the eighth floor and down to the basement level negative three. Then there was no where to go but to the roof. Duo immediately took that route, and when he got to the staircase he saw several red smears on the wall, as if someone injured had leant on it for support.

"Crap." He took the steps two at a time and when he got to the top he opened the door.

At first glance everything was normal, the smooth rooftop leaving no room for hiding. And the red smudges elongated, indicating that the girl had resorted to crawling and then dragging herself along. Then Duo panicked, the body was nowhere to be seen. He raced to the edge following the telltale signs and then, in the air conditioning ditch he hadn't noticed, there she was. Lying unconscious. The wounds had reopened and she was in great danger of bleeding to death.

"I'm…still here." She flinched as he picked her up, he was not in the least bit surprised how light she was. She looked emaciated. "At least…for now."

"Stay, please. Just hang in there."

"I will…Or… I'll try."

Then he turned and trying not to jolt her, he started across the rooftop in the artificial sun, and down the staircase.

~

"Where are you going?" The receptionist clumsily jumped from her chair as Duo carried the girl through the reception area. "What are you doing?" She shrieked.

"She needs serious medical attention, I intend to get it for her." And without another word to the flustered secretary, he was off.

He sat the girl on the motorcycle behind him. "You're going to have to hold on." He told her.

"Ok... I'll try." And he started the engine and pulled quickly out of the parking lot. "We're really lucky they didn't take the time to get a hospital gown for the terrorist. Otherwise the people behind us would be getting a pretty nice view."

Duo chanced a glimpse of the stained and torn black clothing she was still wearing and flinched, they'd have to get her new clothes as well.

"You good?" He asked as they pulled into the driveway.

"Yeah… Where are…we?" She glanced up at the large house that Quatre's extensive funding had bought the ex-pilots.

"The House. Where me and some friends live while finishing our degrees." Duo put the kickstand in place and jumped off the bike.

"Gundam…pilots go… to school?" She attempted a grin, which turned into a grimace as he lifted her off the cycle.

"Finishing up our last year of college. The goings been slow, though, all the Preventer work gets in the way."

"Finishing…at twenty?"

"Yeah! We were ready for college way before we were all seventeen." He bragged. "Can you walk."

"Sure." She rejected the arm he offered.

"Okay then, this way!" He walked the bike into the garage. Then hearing gasping, he turned. The girl was lying on the ground, twitching with convulsions. "Oh God! Heero! Call Sally!"