Days almost blurred together as her free time started diminishing by hours. From the near moment she woke up and was ready to meet the day, she was swept to a meeting, or went right into her office to look over papers.
So much needed to be done, demands met and peace established, that she hardly had time to BREATHE. It was all an exhausting, tedious schedule she held. But there were always those few precious hours from dinner to bedtime where she could see those that mattered the most.
Stopping in front of Hilde's room, she balanced the dinner tray with one hand and slowly peeked the door open. Her eyes locked on the sleeping girl's face, finding her the same as last night. Bright blue dimmed until it forcefully shined again when those orbs landed on the haggard person next to her bed.
With a small, kind smile, she almost tiptoed into the room and quietly closed the door. Edging into the room quietly, she put the tray on a nearby table. Since Duo basically refused to leave the room, she asked one of the servants to find a small table for them to use. She wasn't going to eat in the dining room by herself; eating with Duo was the next best thing.
Even though he never really said a word during dinner, his company was still a welcome change from solitude. Although Sally and Noin were around, Sally was MORE than preoccupied with Hilde's well-being, and her good friend was still trying to heal from her brother's demise. It was a sad fact, basically because it'd been three weeks since the war.
Looking at the sad scene in front of her, the kind smile dropped as pity entered those wise eyes. Duo was asleep next to Hilde. 'He probably dropped off, but not of his choosing.'
Blond hair shook with another constant wish that Hilde would wake up, and SOON. Duo barely slept and constantly dropped off like he was beyond his own willpower. With a sigh, though she hated to do so, she stopped next to Duo and put a hand on his shoulder, lightly shaking.
"Duo... Come on Duo, time to wake up." She quietly cooed, almost feeling like a mother to a child. The thin youth stirred briefly, giving a quiet, tired groan. The small noise didn't make her job any easier. "Come on Duo, I know you need your sleep, but you need to EAT as well..."
After a minute of constant coaching and gentle shaking, Duo's head slowly pulled from the dark confinement of his arms. "Relena?" He sleepily drawled. Hands rubbed his eyes, even though circles still remained when his hands dropped. "What time is it?"
Her lips quirked at his cute appearance, looking very much like a little boy after a much needed nap. "Dinnertime." Her hand extended and took his, lightly tugging him from the chair. She sometimes wondered if he was going to be stuck to that thing with as much as he sat in it. "Come on, don't let it get cold."
"I'm not really hungry Relena." He muttered, fighting a yawn.
Her determination didn't waver as she plopped him down into a chair before taking hers. "I realized that, but you need your strength if you want to keep watching over Hilde as much as you do."
A finger wagged in his face, wanting so BADLY to scold him about how he was NOT taking care of himself. Even though she had a hectic life as well, she found the time to eat and get some proper sleep.
"I KNOW you want to watch over Hilde every minute of the day, but do you think she'd want to wake up to you looking like you do?" A hand briefly waved at his attire. "You'll want to look the in the best of shape so Hilde has something to memorize when she first wakes up. I KNOW she'll want to see you when she does, don't disappoint her."
That small, impromptu speech seemed to work. Duo gripped the utensils by his food and didn't say another word, even though he toyed with the meal occasionally.
She snuck a few peeks at her dinner mate throughout the brief time. Duo's eyes didn't shine like they normally did during the war, even if the shine was a cover to not show how he really felt. Even so, she almost preferred the false shine of a 'happy-go-lucky' guy to the downtrodden person she had to coach to do ANYTHING. At least when he was that 'happy' person, she could drag him outside to get some fresh AIR.
Duo now refused to leave Hilde's side unless it was absolutely necessary, like sleeping. So, she resolved to open the windows every few days with a good excuse about letting Hilde get fresh air in hopes that it'd jog something inside her.
Every good excuse she threw at Duo was never shot down, mostly since she tacked on Hilde's name. 'He doesn't even seem to care about HIMSELF anymore.'
She figured he blamed himself because he didn't get there in time, or because he wasn't able to help her. He blamed himself over something he really couldn't change. It was really too bad there was no way she could make him SEE that fact.
When dinner quietly ended, she compiled everything and balanced the tray. Duo muttered a sheepish thanks, which she waved off. Getting Duo back on his feet, even though he was in an apparent state of depression, was nothing to thank her about. He was just overly worried about the woman he loved so very much.
When Duo turned to Hilde, his eyes darkened, reminding her so very much of a certain blue-eyed pilot. The unruly bangs from his position didn't help any. Thickly swallowing through a reminder that she'd check in later before going to bed, she almost rushed to the door.
After depositing the tray on the kitchen for someone to clean later, she walked to the patio doors, head tiredly resting against it. She felt so alone, even with her friends and servants around her.
Sad, blue eyes looked to the setting sun and she impulsively swung the wide doors open. Fresh air blew inside and she inhaled deeply, trying to clear her mind. Thinking of Heero now was not the way to go; she had too much to do tomorrow to let herself be bogged down by him. Besides, thinking about him always led to wondering where he was and worrying about his well-being. By the end of the day, she was normally a nervous wreck until Noin asked her what the matter was and reminded her just who Heero Yuy WAS.
'The 'perfect soldier'.' She scoffed, leaning against the railing. 'Perfection is not possible. Not even for Heero.' She venomously denied that Heero was perfect. NOTHING was. Heero was just human and humans tended to make mistakes, even though he didn't THINK he did.
Her eyes spotted movement a story below. Pondering this newest mystery, also keeping her from the depressing train of thought she was on, she tried calculating where the area was. Lips pursed in calculation and thought, she left the balcony and exited the kitchen. Going for a side exit from the immense place, she backtracked to the kitchen's vicinity and looked up. Seeing the balcony, she headed for the spectacle.
Her eyes squinted upon seeing something a little odd. Having never been near the more 'hands-on' jobs in her life, seeing whatever was going on peeked her curiosity. It also enticed her to move closer and find out what the workers were working on.
The closer she got, the more easily she could recognize the pink car she took to school so long ago. Her lips tilted as she stood by amidst the surrounding trees and watched. Curious eyes took in the handful of obvious mechanics that surrounded the car. Tools were everywhere and she wondered what they were trying to fix, figuring the car was in good enough shape. She rode in it not too long ago, what was the problem?
Slowly going to a closer tree, she almost timidly hid behind it. Although she was interested in what they were working on, she didn't know and asking was a good way to get a few humorous smiles. She didn't like being indirectly made fun of for not knowing what was going on; one reason she didn't move and get a better look. With a quiet sigh at her seemingly useless occupation, she watched from where they were.
~*~*~
As soon as he felt eyes other than those of his fellow employees, he nearly ducked under the chasse of the limo. Using that same helpful object he often used, strong hands gripped parts of the car and quickly wheeled underneath.
She was nearby; he could SENSE it. He could feel her presence; feel her EYES. She was in the general vicinity, or close enough to see what they were doing. The guys were showing him a general tune up and doing it to get it done at the same time. He also pulled a few things from the engine, just to memorize them and what they did before getting things put back. It was vital to his existence right now, so he didn't care if people oddly looked at him for excessive poking and prodding.
Now under the safety of the car, he started pulling things from the bottom to keep his attention from looking for her. She was closer than a few minutes ago, he just KNEW it. Sneaking a quick peek from underneath and around moving legs, he expertly spied her amidst the trees, that blond head sticking out from the trunk.
He almost wondered why she appeared to be hiding, but shot the idea aside and quickly went back to his job. Thinking about her and why she did what she did was got him nowhere. He didn't know what made her tick and trying to figure it out was a long drawn out process.
He almost wished she'd leave sometime soon, since she was unnerving him again. It was a horrible, almost sickly feeling to feel the adrenaline hit him whenever her eyes were nearby. Those honest, kind eyes always knocked him for a loop, since they were directed his way a few times in the past. THAT constantly unsettled him, since he never knew why she did it.
She always WAS a mystery, one he tried figuring out in the past. The unknowing was a scary thing for anyone, but trying to know another human being so entirely wasn't really possible. So he fought the urge to figure her out by keeping his attention diversed to something else. As long as she didn't move any closer, he could fight the nervous feeling that created the adrenaline rush he wasn't going to get rid of.
"Oh...hey Miss Relena!"
Shit.
Quickly rolling off the flat object, he scooted from the opposite side of the car and looked at the others. They moved to the other side, a few walking toward Relena.
Casting a quick check through the windows, he made sure everyone's attention was focused on their hostess before stealthily making his way inside the garage. Keeping low, he ducked into the open area, heading for one of the inside halls.
Quietly opening the door, he skirted past it, trying to keep it as closed as possible. Now safe, and in a safe place to keep hiding if needed, his ears perked to the outside talk. Relena's soft voice assaulted his ears above the rest.
Now alone in a mildly safe space, he tried to calm down. Physically, he didn't even exert himself from the small dash. INTERNALLY...that was a problem he didn't know how to fix. His heart was almost racing, much to his curiosity.
Through the glass panel in the door, blue kept trained on the garage opening in case someone walked in. He kept in a low crouch to stay as hidden as possible, the blessed hat hiding his unruly hair. He knew that was the first thing she'd notice. Keeping it covered was priority one. Even in the standard blue coveralls he had on, he knew she'd recognize him in a heartbeat.
Something utterly familiar came to him as he continued to listen through the crack in the door. This ducking and weaving, the need to hide but warily listen, almost reminded him of the way he'd hide from enemies during the war. But, Relena was no enemy, not anymore. Then what was the PROBLEM? Why was he doing this, escaping as if his LIFE were in danger?
Dark eyes narrowed in self-aggravation. 'If I knew the ANSWER, I wouldn't NEED to hide.' He mentally berated. The constant aggravation was directed on him for not being able to think out something so apparently simple and hiding because he thought his life WAS in danger. The war was OVER, damn it! He didn't NEED to hide anymore...
After the talk died down and things returned to normal, his name was mentioned. Straightening, he almost cautiously exited the hallway to the mechanic garage.
Striding out as if nothing was wrong, he locked eyes with his superior. "Where the hell WERE you boy? Miss Relena was here! I told her about you, but you were gone." His boss took on an annoyed stance as he stopped in front of the tinkered car. "Where'd you GO?"
"...Bathroom." He muttered, mind whirling for a believable lie.
Eyes rolled at his odd nature. "Well, you missed meeting a really nice girl. Next time, wait around a little longer and you'll get to meet her." The man gave him an odd look, shaking his head. "Don't know why you haven't bothered to greet her yet."
Giving a non-committal grunt, his hands dug into the engine to keep busy and ignore the higher up. It was none of the man's business to know what went on with him and Relena. Even though he didn't know what went on, thinking about it only angered and confused him.
His eyes nearly speared the motor from the small, powerful glare he owned. Lightly gritting his teeth from the confusing and unknowing that rose, he knew the rest of the day was going to be a long one.
~*~*~
The next afternoon was the same routine as normal. Nearly lunchtime, she put down another document to leave her study and raid the fridge. She knew the cook didn't know her hours, so making lunch on a normal basis wasn't really a good idea.
She gave him the afternoons off and let herself get something to eat. It was one of the only times she could take care of herself, since almost everyone around wouldn't let her do anything of the sort.
The vid phone rang during a much needed stretch. With a mixed glance of curiosity and annoyance, she sat back down and pressed a button. Almost expecting another businessman to be calling, she was pleasantly surprised by an unexpected sight.
"Hey Quatre!" She said happily, eyes lighting up.
Quatre's head bowed slightly in greeting, the initial smile widening. "Hello Relena." He greeted softly.
"How've you BEEN? Busy I take it." She said, smiling knowingly. The problems of the day almost melted away as she looked into his kind eyes. His reason for calling sprang into her mind. She was a little taken aback, having forgotten all about him wanting to give her the number to his business.
He nodded, sighing softly. "You have NO idea." He muttered, running a hand over his face. "I actually forgot to get the number until now. But before I do, how're YOU doing?"
Damn, he just HAD to go and remind what she was about to escape! Her put out expression was enough to make him laugh softly.
"Does HELL classify as a place in the politician business?" She asked mirthfully. They laughed.
"If it does, it also qualifies for a NORMAL business." Comfortable silence followed; the sight of each friend's face more than enough. Remembering to get the number, Quatre eagerly rattled it off with another reminder to have Hilde call the moment she woke up.
She smiled and reminded him of Duo's overprotectiveness and vowed she'd get a phone to Hilde, once Duo would allow her to have visitors. That brought another laugh, but it was strained on both parts.
"Has Duo even LEFT her room?" Quatre asked curiously.
She looked at her hands with a small shake of her head. She knew Duo hadn't left at all this morning, but she was just too busy to check up on him until sometime later. Any free time she could spare was spent with Duo. But, that was normally at supper.
Ocean blue widened slightly. "I normally have someone bring him food during the day. At night, I try and eat with him to keep his mind off of Hilde for a while." She looked up at him with sadness and admiration in her eyes. "I've never SEEN Duo so focused on staying by her side. I basically have to ORDER him to get out of that room once in a while. And he'll only do so when I can take time to watch Hilde."
A small smile popped up. "Even so, he makes me carry a two-way radio so I can inform him of any changes while he's gone." She sighed a little. "But...that was BEFORE I started getting too busy. I just don't have the time to sit with her anymore." Her eyes darted from Quatre's almost guiltily. "Things are just getting so busy around here."
"I understand Relena." Quatre kindly answered. The two chatted as long as Quatre could before he reminded her that this too was his lunch hour.
She hung up with her good friend, a little sad, but also happy. The paradox emotions assaulted her as she left the room and padded down the hall to the kitchen. It was good to see him again, even for a brief amount of time.
She knew ANY time she could speak with Quatre was time to cherish. He was the only person who she could relate so thoroughly to; basically since he was in the same boat she was. And now she had a way to get a hold of him.
A small smile appeared as bare feet touched the tiles. It was enough to know that she could contact one of her estranged friends if she ever needed to talk. Before, she was unable. 'And you were just too busy to REMEMBER he was going to call.' She mirthfully thought, sticking her head past the fridgerator doors.
~*~*~
Night came, as it always did. He snuck through the secret passages, as he always did. Hand against the secret tunnel wall as was a beginning custom; he quietly plodded along the way, knowing exactly where he was going.
Mentally counting the rooms he passed from coming in contact with each hidden door, he stopped at the appointed and felt for the knob. Slowly opening the door, he edged around it and moved past the large rug.
'She's still the SAME?' He curiously wondered, easily going to the edge of her bed. The last time he saw Hilde was nearly a week ago. Seeing her in a coma didn't give him much hope that she'd wake up anytime soon. He was starting to wonder if she was going to wake up at ALL...
Staring into her face, he quickly shoved the thought aside. She HAD to wake up if the sleeping pilot next to him was going to get back to 'normal'. Even though he never considered Duo normal by ANY means, mostly since he knew he was never normal, it was mildly saddening to see such a change in Duo. The former Deathsycthe pilot was taking this much too hard.
His eyes suddenly narrowed the more he stared at Hilde. Something seemed to be off somehow. He couldn't clearly tell, but something on Hilde's face was setting off warnings in his head.
Leaving his post at the end of her bed, he stopped close to her side and leaned to her face. Something wasn't right and he now knew what it was. There was a small, definable line on her brow. Whatever internal fight she was going through, she was losing.
His head twisted as his ear bent over her mouth. Her breathing was getting shallower as the seconds ticked by. Something in her body was causing her pain; her breathing was indication, as was the line on her forehead.
His head jerked up, deep blue landed on the nurse's button. Not thinking, just knowing he could help somehow, his hand shot down on it, harshly slapping the device. Seconds after, he ran around to Duo.
"Duo! Wake up!" He yelled, mouth next to the youth's ear. Duo's head jerked up as he looked around in disorientation, but by then, he was already slipping behind the curtain. Shutting the door, he stayed behind and listened.
~*~*~
Running and shouting woke her from peaceful slumber. Jerking up in bed, she startled when the bedroom door burst open. "RELENA! Hurry! It's Hilde!"
Her eyes widened from Sally's panicked outburst, quickly scurrying to the edge. Grabbing the robe she left on the bedpost, she ran from the room, hurrying to catch up.
Noin was next to the elder woman when she caught up. "What's going ON!?" She demanded. They hurried down the hall with utmost urgency, as if their lives depended on it. "What's wrong with Hilde??"
"The panic button went off a few minutes ago." Sally hurriedly explained, nearly sprinting to Hilde's room once they rounded another corner. "Something's seriously wrong!" Their resident doctor burst into the room, finding Duo already giving Hilde c.p.r.
As soon as the door opened, he looked up, utter panic and fear in his eyes. "Sally! Thank GOD you're here!" He nearly yelled. His mouth went back to Hilde's seconds later, not wanting to use his breath on anything but keeping her alive.
"Duo! What happened?!" Sally demanded, stopping next to the bed. She threw the lights on and stopped next to Noin. Noin looked at her and gripped her hand for reassurance. She startled slightly, but gave her friend a meek smile before turning worried eyes back on her friend as she looked on.
"I don't KNOW! As far as I knew, Hilde was FINE. I was sleeping and someone jogged me from it! Next thing I knew, Hilde wasn't breathing!"
Her eyes widened until she feared they were going to fall from their sockets. Hilde's heart stopped?! How?? It wasn't possible; she was supposed to be STABLE!
Her hand tightened around Noin's. They helplessly watched as Sally and Duo worked in unison on Hilde until a few other doctors ran into the room. She breathed a small sigh of relief, glad she had extra around just in case. It seemed that the just-in-case was now reality.
Noin pulled her back against the wall for space as the doctors surrounded the bed, carrying equipment with them. Sally ordered Duo away so another doctor could stand in his place. He refused to budge until she hurried over and almost drug him away, glad to be able to help somehow. Duo meekly resisted, trying to look at his beloved even after he was taken from her side.
After nearly half a minute of c.p.r, Sally ordered a doctor to charge the paddles. When they were ready, she ordered clear and pressed them against Hilde's chest. Duo nearly screamed in fright, his body jerking to the bed, eyes watching every second. Her grip tightened to keep him from doing more harm than good. Seconds later, his head buried itself in her shoulder, body shaking with worry and fear.
She was glad that all Hilde needed was one jolt. She didn't know if Duo's frail state of mind could take another from the paddles. He was so overwhelmed with everything now, she didn't know what would happen if Hilde needed repeated attempts to restart her heart. That normally meant a person was too far gone to save. She was relieved they were able to get to Hilde in time.
After the hysterics seemed to die down, Sally demanded the others give her space, since she worked on Hilde longer than any other. She avidly watched as she held Duo, eyes were also riveted on the horrible scene. Noin's arms went around her as she too looked, the three desperately praying.
Minutes slowly ticked by as Sally checked every vital sign she could find. Seeing everything back to normal, she leaned back and heaved a sigh. "She's back with us." She gratefully breathed, going for the closest chair. She plopped down as everyone in the room breathed an audible sigh. "I'm just glad you got to the button before any MORE time passed Duo." She muttered, rubbing a hand across her forehead.
"I didn't." He muttered, almost guiltily. Her brow furrowed as her attention shifted to Duo in her arms. He was clinging like a child during a thunderstorm. "I told you Sally, I was sleeping and last time I laid eyes on her, she was FINE. Somehow, I woke up and the alarm was already going off. She wasn't even breathing at the time and I just started c.p.r when you three arrived."
"Odd... I KNOW there wasn't a doctor on tonight's shift..." Sally thoughtfully muttered.
"You sure you didn't sleepwalk Duo?" Noin gently suggested. Duo finally stepped away from both women's comfortable embrace and walked back to Hilde. His hands sandwiched hers as he looked at her.
"Positive. I'm too heavy a sleeper for that to happen." He muttered, eyes never leaving the sleeper around them.
She gravely eyed the couple, wondering WHO pushed the button. Did a servant go out of their way to check up on Hilde once in a while? She KNEW Duo was a mildly heavy sleeper, but even HE would've noticed if someone was in the room...wouldn't he?
Her brow furrowed in confusion and small apprehension. She would have to let it pass. Whoever DID press the button did more for them tonight than they would ever know.
~*~*~
With a mental sigh of relief, he quietly stepped away from the door. She was going to be okay, all because he reacted without thinking. Such a foolish act could've exposed him, but the others were more worried about Hilde than his location. The ends justified the means.
With a slight nod, a hand rested against the wall as he journeyed back to his bed. It was quite a night. He hadn't expected to do anything but watch and hope such a courageous person woke up. Who knew his silent, watchful vigils would help more than he thought?
~*~*~
The night went into morning, the sun slowly rising and managing to peek under the closed curtains. She regretfully stirred and yawned, also getting in a quick stretch. Tired blue eyes looked around. Duo was at his normal sleeping spot on Hilde's bed; Noin and Sally were sleeping in chairs around the room, same as she was; and another doctor rested against the wall and floor near the door.
They all stayed the night in Hilde's room, just in case. Sally intended on staying and the doctor offered as well. She wanted to stay to give Duo support, knowing he'd NEED it. She knew Noin stayed around to give HER support, which was greatly appreciated.
She stood and walked next to Hilde, being extra careful not to wake anyone else up. They all had a late night and deserved their sleep. She was just an early riser due to her schedule, figuring in about another half hour she'd need to be up to get ready ANYWAY. Until then, she was going to memorize her friend's face, mostly since she didn't know when she'd see it again.
'Hopefully I can come back for supper tonight.' Turning, she snuck to the door and stealthfully exited to get ready for her hectic schedule, something that she seemed so detached from with what happened merely hours ago.
True to her wish, she was able to dine with Duo again, Sally joining her this time. The elder woman resolved to stay with Hilde a few days to be SURE she was stable this time.
"I just don't UNDERSTAND it..." Sally muttered, eyes on her food. She picked at the dish along with Duo.
She sighed for the dozenth time. "Well Sally, you didn't KNOW this would HAPPEN..."
Sally's lips stubbornly pursed. "Relena...I'm her DOCTOR. I check up on her daily. How could I not notice the SIGNS?"
"Stop BLAMING yourself Sally." She insisted again.
"Sally...not one of us here could've known Hilde was going to go into c.a." Duo quietly muttered, eyes directed to his meal.
She almost warily looked at him, concern also in her eyes. He abbreviated the medical term, almost as if he couldn't SAY it. Those dull violet orbs looked at their resident doctor.
"But you said you should've known...WHAT should you have known?"
Sally heaved another sigh, tapping a utensil against a dish. "I'm assuming since she's been in a coma for nearly a month, her body just got used to being in such a shutdown stasis. Maybe her heart stopped due to that fact." She shrugged and avoided Duo's eyes, hating it when she hypothesized things of that important magnitude.
The night wound down to a close. She took the dishes to the kitchen and went right back to Duo's room, wanting to sleep an extra night. She didn't like the hollow, haggard look in his eyes, not one bit.
After she shut the light off, everyone settled down for the night. She settled in a thick sleeping bag someone managed to find among the mansion, pillowing her head with both hands. Three sets of breathing, minus her own, greeted her ears in the quiet.
She was intensely worried about both Hilde AND Duo. Duo for his fragile state of mind, and Hilde for her lengthy coma. She was about the same size as the small girl, maybe an inch taller; Hilde should be AWAKE by now. She wasn't present when Hilde flew to Peacemillion OR was wheeled inside, but Sally had told her stories.
It wasn't fair; Hilde was such a nice person, as was Duo. They both deserved each other, not this hell they put up with. She knew it wasn't Hilde's fault for being in a coma; she had to obey what her body did.
She wondered if Hilde were awake now, what she would say about all this. She knew the first thing Hilde would do was attack Duo for the sloppy way he took care of himself.
She sighed. The boy needed to get OUT more often. She had a feeling that WHEN Hilde woke up, she wouldn't let Duo in her room afterward, if only to keep him in different surroundings for a while.
~*~*~
Tossing in his bed once again, those annoyed eyes looked at the clock. Three in the morning. He heaved a sigh and rolled back to the wall. He was NEVER going to get any sleep if whatever was plaguing him wasn't going to let up!
Purposely blanking his mind, exhaustion tugged at him once again. He wished to know what was keeping him up; he NEVER had this many problems sleeping, not even when Relena arrived on Sanc soil almost two weeks ago! Picturing those blue eyes in his mind, something pulled him to dreamland and he willingly complied.
He was picturing those blue eyes, but they didn't belong to Relena. Not able to clearly picture the entire face, just the eyes, he tried to focus on whose they were. He couldn't remember exactly WHO they belonged to, but he knew it was one of those he fought with. They just looked so FAMILIAR...
Those eyes suddenly crinkled as soft, pale skin shone from amidst the white fog around his vision. "You REALLY want to know why you're HERE, don't you Heero?" Asked a mirthful, feminine voice.
He was still unable to look around. It was as if his vision was locked to those eyes. In light of that new fact, he tried concentrating to bring the face in focus quicker. "Where am I?"
"In a dream."
"Who are YOU?"
"Boy, isn't THAT the question of the day." Came the patronizing, humorous answer.
His eyes narrowed in irritation. "Quit with the games. Who are you, where am I, and WHY are you in my dream?"
"Wow, you haven't changed since last time we met." She lightly answered. A small tinkle of laughter met his ears. "I just wanted to say thank you Heero. But, I think I should wait until I wake up for THAT... You seem pretty cranky when you sleep." She teased.
Something in his head tingled. Something this mysterious female was saying was hitting a knowledge from the conscious world. But, try as he might, he couldn't figure it out. He knew if the face would come into focus, he'd know immediately. How he knew was a mystery. "Why can't I see your face?"
"Cause you haven't figured it out yet." She answered. "Tsk, TSK Heero...I figured you, as smart as you are, would've figured out my purpose for being in your dream by now."
The constant ribbing and light teasing reminded him of someone else. A male; someone who ALSO teased him a lot.
"Close, but no cigar. Though I think you need to drag him outside by gunpoint before I do when I get up." She vaguely added, promise in her voice.
His mind was whirling with those ideas, invisible and as foggy as the mist around the girl's eyes. He knew someone like this female, their behaviors were extremely similar. He came in contact with both of them within a day or so, though he hadn't talked to either. Though hard to combine conscious and unconscious thought together, it turned on a light.
"HILDE?" He quietly breathed, eyes widening a little.
Her entire body was suddenly visible, as if figuring out the puzzle let him see her. She was wearing the same outfit he saw when she was brought into Peacemillion for medical attention.
She smiled at his look. "That's only cause you saw me in this last when I was mildly conscious." She disdainfully picked at the clothes, wrinkling half of her nose. "I wish I could wake up and stop WEARING this." Her arms crossed with a mild pout. "That's the bad thing about being a half spirit, I can't change my outfits."
"Half...SPIRIT?" He dumbly repeated.
She easily smiled, though her eyes were a little confused. "Don't ask. I'm not too sure how to explain it."
A hand waved in the air amidst their entirely white surroundings. Hilde sighed and looked around in distaste. "I must say 'perfect soldier', you sure have some boring backgrounds."
With a small shake of her head, she locked eyes with him and smiled again. "But anyway, I just came to say thank you for pressing the panic button and getting Sally to me as quick as possible. I don't think I would've lived if you hadn't done so."
He knew he was gawking, something he didn't do, but was too surprised and dumbfounded to CARE. "This HAS to be a dream..." He muttered, more to himself than her.
She chuckled, giving him a kind smile. "I SUPPOSE you would think this a dream. I mean, how would I, Hilde Schebeiker, know that I was having a cardiac arrest in my room at the Sanc Kingdom?" She gave him a knowing smile, meeting his eyes wisely.
"Do you want me to spell it out for you Heero?" He blinked, unable to figure out what she was getting at. "I KNOW you've been sneaking into my room every so often through those secret passageways. When I'm healed enough to walk, you'll have to get a flashlight and show me around." His eyes widened, not knowing anyone else knew about them. "Don't worry," She muttered, waving a hand, "I won't tell anyone. Though I have to SAY, I never figured you held much concern for me in any way."
"I saw you wheeled in and wanted to get answers." He answered. "Why haven't you woken up?" He asked, wanting a real answer other than her charts. If he was making this all up, maybe his subconscious could figure out a logical answer and he'd be lucky enough to remember it.
She somberly shrugged. "My body won't let me actually. So I'm stuck here to observe." Her eyes darkened. "Duo is DAMN lucky I'll be bedridden for a while. Otherwise, I'd beat his ass black and blue for the way he's ACTING." She vaguely growled. A brow rose at her angry statements. "He's STILL going to get an earful of it though. I think you'll be able to hear downstairs in the garage."
He looked at her. "How do you KNOW this? This HAS to be a dream." He answered, feeling a little panicked. How could ANYONE know where he was? He was so careful and secret with his new life, liking where he was. He didn't give those around him his real name or hint at his experience in the war. He thought every protective step had gone as planned.
She smiled again, the dark expression gone. "I TOLD you Heero. My body won't let me wake up, so I'm stuck in this makeshift LIMBO. I'm not DEAD, though I had another close call...but I don't have anything to DO while I wait for the time to open my physical eyes." Her smile widened. "So, I followed you around when you left my room a few nights ago. Though I can't go TOO far away from my physical body, I followed you as far as the main garage door."
She walked forward and lightly hugged him, minutely startling him. "I just wanted to say thanks again for helping. You helped more than you would've thought. By pressing a tiny red switch, you kept me alive and Duo from a lifetime of guilt for his inability to help. You helped Sally do her job, even though she still kicks herself for not being able to find my arrest signs sooner. And you relieved Relena of a LOT strain for trying to keep Duo's mind a little above normal."
His brow rose. "All I did was push a button. I didn't think you looked right, so I just acted."
She pulled away and clasped both hands behind her. "And I'm grateful you DID." Her head slightly tilted to one side. "Why don't you tell Relena where you are Heero? She misses you a LOT."
His head shook, looking away from her searching gaze. "I can't. I don't know why, but I can't."
She took another step forward, eyes on his face. She looked into his eyes, smiling soon after. "I understand Heero. Believe me, I've BEEN there. Just give it a little bit of time." A compassionate hand rested on his shoulder, eyes jerking back to her. "Duo and I had to before we realized what we felt toward each other." Another kind smile lit her eyes. "But enough about that; I've said what I wanted to say."
Her eyes left his face and looked into the white nothingness. The white seemed to brighten to a point where his eyes squinted to see. Hilde met his eyes again, taking a few steps back. "The sun is coming up, and I finally get to go back. I can FEEL it."
She gave a happy twirl, still walking away. A hand rose to his face to shelter those still squinting eyes, trying to keep tabs on his so-called 'specter'. "I'll be seeing you around Heero. Just think of what I said okay? Give yourself some time and then try thinking of revealing yourself. You're so lonely, no one should live a life like that. Bye Heero..."
His eyes squeezed shut when a small flash of light nearly blinded him. They quickly opened a second later and looked around through the whitening light. The intensity kept repeating and building until his eyes were forced to close again, this time for good.
They popped open a second later, staring at shadows of dusk on his ceiling. 'What a dream, almost felt like it was REAL.' Slowly sitting up in bed, he looked around the small bedroom, as if not really seeing his belongings around him.
He tried pulling every detail from his subconscious, tried to remember every single word. He remembered white light and Hilde standing in front of him, talking to him. He could picture her face, but only wisps of words came back. With a sigh, he got up from bed and decided to wake up, since he would be getting up soon anyway.
~*~*~
The next morning rose, light spilling through the curtains' edges once again. Being on the floor allowed her and Sally to get first dibs on the bright light, right into their eyes. Squinting her eyes tighter, she huddled into the sleeping bag and buried her head in the opening, trying to get a little more sleep. There wasn't a morning when she was allowed enough of it, it seemed.
Peeks of light still poured in above her head, hardening the realization that she was too awake to go back to sleep. With a heavy, annoyed sigh, she pulled the makeshift bed from her head and looked at the high ceiling. Sitting up, she stretched and yawned. Slowly standing, she struggled from the large sleeping bag and unsteadily stood, eyes being greeted to an utmost heavenly and seemingly impossible sight. Hilde...was awake.
Clamping hands over her mouth to keep from waking the others, she mentally cheered and screamed her happiness. Tears came to her eyes as she silently observed the raven-haired girl blankly looking at the ceiling, eyes blank of any emotion. "Hilde." She hurriedly whispered.
Those eyes slowly moved, a small, tender smile gracing Hilde's face. "Morning Relena." She tightly whispered.
Not wasting any time, she rushed to Hilde's bed, mindful of Sally nearby. "How are you??" She happily whispered, feeling like jumping up and down. A tear fell from her eye and she quickly wiped it away.
"Awake." She tiredly joked. A small, pained smile engulfed her mouth. Even though she was awake, small lines around her face told she was not quite out of the woods yet.
"And you don't know how pleased I am to KNOW that!" Turning from Hilde, she nearly ran to the other side and stopped next to Duo. Both hands tightly gripped an arm as she savagely shook him. "Duo! Duo, wake up!" She ecstatically muttered, not letting up.
Duo's head fell from the cocoon of his arms. He looked up a second later, finding a blinding smile.
"Relena...what's going on?" He tiredly asked, fighting a yawn. Not answering, a finger pointed behind him, bright blue eyes still on his face to see the shocked look.
Raising a confused brow at her behavior, he looked and the breath choked in his throat. Hilde was...LOOKING at him! Tears immediately came to his eyes as he met that beautiful blue. She was AWAKE!
"Duo," She tiredly muttered, "you and I are going to have a repeat talk about how you treat yourself when I'm bedridden." She answered, a grin tugging her lips.
Not answering, he shot from the chair and gripped her hand. "When did you wake up?!" He quietly asked, eyes wide. Leaning forward, his lips urgently met hers, kissing her with all the pent-up worry and love he was unable to show since he found her again.
Feeling grateful, joyous tears course down her face, she roughly plopped down in Duo's chair, closing her eyes. Her head tilted back, feeling all the strain and worry suddenly lift from her mind. Hilde was awake, though still not back to normal; it was a step in the right direction.
She looked at the two lovers still lip-locking and gently smiled. She decided not to wake Sally for a few more minutes, just to give Duo that piece of mind he'd been lacking for so long. He needed to heal his heart before Sally shoved him out the door to test Hilde's vital signs.
After a few hours passed, Sally checked Hilde over; Hilde scolded Duo in private, some reasons she could hear through the closed door; she was finally allowed back inside. A bright smile on her face, she looked at Hilde's mildly vertical position, Duo perched next to her in his usual chair, their hands clasped.
She felt happy for the couple, but also envious. She mildly wondered if she'd ever find someone like Duo, so caring and loving. She gave a mental shake through the reminder of what she entered for. There was a message she was to give before she had to head for work. "Hey Hilde." She greeted, stopping at the foot of the bed.
"Relena. Did you need something?" Hilde asked, fighting a yawn.
She smiled, knowing Hilde would still need a lot of sleep in order to stay up longer than she had. She was still too worn out to keep awake for any length of time. "I was told that when you woke up, to call Quatre and talk to him." Hilde's brow furrowed with a small tilt of her head.
"OH!" Duo suddenly burst out. He mildly startled to attention and stood. "That reminds me! Thanks Relena." A hand dug deep in his pocket, pulling out a folded note. "Trowa gave this to me weeks ago when he left." An eye scrunched shut as he wracked his brain for the words. "He said...this was what he wanted to tell you...if you were awake when he was here." He gave a quick shrug. "Don't know WHAT, but you can read for yourself."
She slowly walked next to Hilde, wondering what Trowa wanted to tell her. She knew very little of Trowa, though he was a complex man of few words. Her eyes widened at the small paragraph, mildly startled that Trowa wrote down so much.
Your strength and courage were enough to move mountains. Never lose the bravery you possess. Although I am not able to tell you in person, I am forever grateful for your help. If you ever need anything, let me know. Trowa.
"That's so cute..." Hilde whispered, tears coming to her eyes. She smiled and looked at the raven girl, fighting tears. Who knew Trowa could be so articulate with words? He never SPOKE them!
Not even half an hour later, she had a vid phone in front of Hilde with a quick excuse that she had to leave before she was late for a meeting. "I'll check back on you when I can." She cheerfully answered, half out the door.
"Just remember what I told you. If you can't get a hold of Quatre, don't feel bad. He's as busy as I am, and I'm sure you'll know the extend of my absence soon." Hilde quietly laughed as her eyes rolled. She waved to Hilde and exited the room.
~*~*~
Night fell as was its age-old custom. He snuck through the door to Hilde's room, just to see if what he dreamt wasn't a figment of his imagination. He thought all day about that dream, amazed at how clear and life-like it was.
He never really dreamt, unless it was about the war or his training. This new, unexpected twist mildly delighted him for the change of pace. There was no death or blood, it was actually peaceful in a way. It was just a question of whether or not Hilde was awake. He heard talk in the garage that Relena seemed in ten times a better mood than when she arrived, but that's all it was; talk.
Sneaking into the room, he stopped at the edge of the door, just to make sure the coast was clear. Before, he could always walk right in, but not anymore. Now, the rules changed and he needed to know what his safety boundaries were before haphazardly proceeding.
His eyes immediately searched for Duo. The youth was no longer asleep in his normal position, now sleeping next to Hilde's position on the bed, an arm protectively wrapped around her. He watched the touching scene and knew the braided youth was back to his 'normal state'.
Seeing Duo wasn't going to wake anytime soon, he inched into the room and stopped a few foot from Hilde's bed. His eyes locked on her sleeping face, somehow knowing she was awake and Duo hadn't tried to sleep next to her as a last resort to wake her. He couldn't put words to what he felt, but something nudged him in the direction of relief and knowing. He knew Hilde was awake and alright, for now. She still had a long way to go before she was 'alright'.
A hand lightly rubbed his chin as he observed them. 'It had to've been the dream.' He hypothesized. 'I don't know HOW, but it HAD to've been the dream.'
Feeling he didn't need to observe and his small mission done, he took a step to turn and leave. Hilde's hand suddenly moved on the covers, stopping next to her face. His eyes locked on that hand, finding something in it. The loose fist crinkled the paper, something vaguely noticeable in the dim lighting.
Kneeling, he edged closer to get a better look, odd curiosity sparking his interest. As his eyes adjusted even more, he could make out part of his name. Snaking a wary hand out, he gently took the folded paper from her, feeling as if it was meant for him.
Eyes on her face for any signs of waking; he snuck to the door and expertly closed the secret passage. Pocketing the note, he exited the passageway quicker than normal, wanting to know who wrote the note and why.
Now back in the garage, he left with usual, extreme caution. He waited until he was back in the safety of his tiny home to open it. Turning the lamp on in his room, he slowly unfolded the note, leaning against the bedpost.
Heero...in case you forgot or don't remember, I just wanted to say thanks again. Hilde.
His eyes widened and the paper fluttered through numbing hands. 'It was a dream.' He urgently repeated. 'Just a DREAM.' Suddenly feeling like a trapped animal, he started pacing again, hands clasped behind his back. As he paced, eyes kept drifting to the note lying useless on his bed.
The longer time and silence stretched out, the more he reflected on the note and his so-called 'dream'. He didn't know how to explain it, especially when it was so close to being called a premonition! But he never HAD premonitions before, why was this happening now??
Stopping in front of the bed, he snatched up the note and reread it almost a dozen times. Nothing was coming to him, except the fact that something incredible happened to him, something beyond his total comprehension.
Feeling that emotion of the unknown caused a surge of irritation that fisted his hand and crumpled the paper. His eyes narrowed at the source of his annoyance, but couldn't throw the note away. He somehow felt compelled to keep it. With that in mind, he decided to forget the night ever happened and get some sleep before tomorrow came and left him unprepared.
~*~*~
In another set of darkness, a different set of blue eyes looked at the strategically placed rug. An amused smile touched pink lips. "I FIGURED it was there. Wonder if he'll be back..."
That tiny hand fisted, now void of any paper. She smiled. "I'm glad I moved. I don't think he'd have seen my note if I DIDN'T." With a happy sigh, Hilde snuggled into Duo's embrace.
Hilde figured he would visit again, knowing he'd want to figure out why she appeared to him in a dream. She didn't really understand the depths of this strange ability, but found she could enter his head, and did. Heero saved her life, appreciation was SEVERELY in order!
She wondered if he remembered the dream, but wrote him the note just in case, just to see if she could jog his memory. She wondered if he would leave again. She HOPED not; Relena needed to know he was here.
"Sooner or later." Hilde tiredly whispered, mind already slipping to the comfortable darkness of sleep. She'd tell SOMEONE he was here, just not now. When she was up and around to prove to everyone he was able to move around the Sanc mansion she would. Right now, she was going to get some much needed sleep. Sally intended on starting 'training' to keep her resistance to sleep tomorrow.