The gentle winter sun rose above the distant hills. The giant group of trailers still sat still in the melting snow. A blinding sunbeam shone through the thin maroon curtains above Trowa's bed. In it, lay Shanell, unconcious still with bandages wrapped all over her body. Down the hall, a thin stream of steam poured from a door-- Catherine showering. The cackle of Pippa's laughter echoed off the thin walls from the little kitchen. She, Heero and Quatre, who was cookig, were all laughing-- Heero barely chuckling under his breath. In her tank, boxers and little kitty slippers, Pippa showed down on pancakes, made by Quatre. Heero played with his pancakes, taking a bite here and there. Surprisingly, his 'clean' white shirt was dotted with syprup!
"Man *gulp* these are great, Katcha!" Pippa said, mouth full.
"Thank yu" Quatre smiled, with a pink apron on and a spatula at hand. He did seem to be the cooking type.
"Yah" Heero mumbled.
"I wonder when Duo and Trowa will get back.." Quatre sighed, flipping some more cakes, looking out the steamy window.
"They'll get back soon-- don' worry!" Pippa retorted as she handed her plate over to Quatre for more food. Heero raised and eyebrow at this girl's appetite.
"Yah" Heero agreed again.
"Nmm... Quatre.. heh heh..mm..." said a sleeping Chantal. Sleep talking. She lay half on the fold out couch, arms and legs strewn about the pink sheets.
"Hahahahahahahhaha!!!" Pippa cracked up as she tried to eat at hearing teh comment. She choked a little, coughing then just laughing more. "What was that!?" Quatre's eyes widened and his porcelian cheeks turned rose coloured.
"Hn... she doesn't seem your type." Heero commented, taking a sip of his coffee.
"N-n-no, I dont know what sh-she's talking about" Quatre stuttered. Pippa was still uncontrollably laughing.
"Whats all the fuss this time?" Catherine laughed a little, emerging from the bathroom, drying her hair.
"Chantal....was....hahahahahah!" Pippa at least tried to explain.
"Huh?" Catherine said, taking a plate from Quatre.
"Chantal was dreaming about Quatre, talking of him in her sleep." Heero explained calmly.
"Oh, dear" Catherine hid a giggle.
The four stayed silent, ocassionaly glancing around. But it was mostly gazes between the pancakes and Pippa. Finally, Catherine broke the silence.
"Someone should wake her up" referring to Chantal.
"Oo! Oo! Can I? Please? You dont mind, do you Quatre!?" Pippa burst.
"Why would -- oh, no, go ahead" Quatre said, not looking back at her.
Pippa evilly smirked and gracefully stood up. Heero, knowing of the evil look in her eye, smirked himself, sipping at his coffee. She walked carefully towards the bed whre she had shared the pink sheets with Chantal the night before. Chantal lay so innocently there, a grin plastered on her placid face, unbeknowest to her fate.
"Heheh.. She'll regret her ever being a blanket hog...yes..." Pippa snickered.
Slowly, the braided girl snuck up onto the back of the couch and stood up as tall she could under the short ceiling.
"What are you..." Catherine asked, but the nshut up, seeing her plan.
Pippa took a relaxing, deep breath and closed her eyes, coutning to three to herself. "1..2..3--"
"We're back!" chimed a familiar voice-- right as Pippa was jumping. It scared both her and Chantal. Chantal shot awake as Pippa tripped and bounced off the bed onto the floor. Duo blinked. "Did we come at a bad time?"
"Ow! Dammit!!" Pipped yelled, sitting up.
"Duo! You're back!" Quatre said, noting the figure in the door. A taller boy stepped up inside as well and tossed his jacket perfectly to the coat rack.
"Trowa Barton!" scolded Catherine. "Where have you been!?"
"Business." Trowa said calmly. He looked around the room, at the aching Pippa, waking Chantal and chuckling Heero, who took pleasure in other's pain.
"Mmmmm! Smells good!" Duo announced as he drifted towards Quatre and the stock of pancakes.
"Hungry? Theres plenty to go around." Quatre winked at the braided boy, who blinked at Quatre.
"I am... but I think I'll have a sample first." Trowa murmurred. He looked down at the table and decided to eat part of Catherine's breakfast, who was away at the moment. He guessed and grabbed a fork from the half-eated, over syrupped plate-- how Catherine ate her pancakes. Duo plopped down next to Heero, saying: "Hey buddy!" and digging into his own plate. Trowa carefully made a litle wedge out of a piece of pancake and ate it, enjoying it.
"Hey! What are you doing!?" Pippa shouted, seeing Trowa eating her pancakes.
"Eating" Trowa replied, going back to Quatre for his own plate.
"Well, you just ate MY pancake!! Great, now I cant eat off the same plate or fork or pancakes!!!" Pippa got up and tossed the half eaten food, throwing the dish into the sink.
"Be quiet!" Chantal said to the loud girl as she tried to wake.
"Hey, speaking of tired, where's Shanell?" Duo inquired.
"Oh, she's still unconscience." Pippa quieted down. She looked over at the bedroom then went back to taking revenger on Trowa.
"Unconcious? What happened?" Duo said, startled.
"Well, during that little fight in Chicago, when Shanell's suit was down, her head hit the screens and the glass tore into her and...she was knocked out cold. The the door swung up and she was, like, dangling out! It was kinda cool." Pippa gladly explained.
"Oh my god.." Duo muttered.
"The rescue guys came and took her to a nearby hospital and then we brought her back here." she continued.
"Where were you two?" Chantal asked as she stumbled to the table.
"Good morning!" Quatre exclaimed at Chantal.
"We were shooting down those last 5 suits. They were hidden real well." Trowa said. "When we killed them off, we just headed back here--"
"Hey! That reminds me! Wheres my suit?" Pippa burst.
"Mobile suit?" Catherine came from the other room.
"Euh... oh.. I meant my ... Business suit!! Silly me!" Pippa laughed.
"She doesnt..." Trowa began to mutter under his breath.
"Oh, yeah, haha... okay!" Pippa replied.
"Your business suit is at the Colonies Base in Toronto." Duo explained. "But who cares about your business suit!! Is Shanell gonna be okay?"
"She just needs some time, thats all.." Catherine told the boy.
"Can I see her?" Duo asked.
"Sure... shes in the bedroom. Why do you want to?"
"He loooooves her!" Pippa butted in.
"Be nice!" Chantal scolded.
Duo stood and followed Catherine to the bedroom. There lay Shanell, basking in the light unconciously. She looked so peaceful there in the blue sheets, wearing a pair of Catherine's pajamas. He walked over to the bed and looked down at her, worried.
"The doctors said it wasnt really as bad as it looks." Catherine told him. Duo's eyes teared up just the tiniest bit, but she soon wiped them from his big blue eyes and left the room.
"Keep her well, kay?" he said to Catherine.
"I understand, I wont tell" Catherine smiled, putting a finger cross her mouth.
"Thanks" Duo said as he left the room and sat back at the table to eat. For some reason unknown to all, the always unfriendly Heero, the monotone Trowa and the spazmmatic Pippa had engaged themselves in a fork fight over the last pancake. That didnt cheer him up a bit.
"Whats the matter" a concerned Quatre said towards the blue Duo.
"Huh? Oh.. I uh... just.. can't find my fork." Duo tripped through the lie of his. Luckily enough, Pippa flung Trowa and Heero's forks away, both landing near Duo.
"I win!" Pippa exclaimed. "Girl power!" she looked at the staring eyes. "Uh... I mean.. uh... sorry."
Duo grabbed his fork and just ate the plate in front of his-- who cared who's it actually was.
'I dont see why I have to be so down over her' Duo thought. 'I mean, its not like we're related or... in love.'
A hard slap on the back interrupted Duo's train of thought. Pippa bent down over him with a smile."C'mon! Cheer up, Lil' Buddy!" She squaked. "Everyone 'round here says you're always happy! Be yourself! And besides, theres gonna be a really great game of tennis on soon!"
"No thanks...I'll just finish eating" Duo replied.
"Whatever" Pippa shrugged as she lunged her huge length over the couch, grabbing the remote. "Anyone up for some lazin'?"
"Sren't you going to get dressed?" asked Quatre.
"Why? I'm takin' a break!" Pippa snorted as she skimmed through various channels, searching for tennis.
"Yeah, but still!" Quatre complained.
Trowa stood up, cleaned his dishes, then happily retired to the couch. Comfy. Quatre and Chantal sat together at the table, starting up a lovely conversation about mobile suits while Heero listened in, thinking of going to go watch TV. He could get walk pretty far alone if he tried. Duo just stared down at his disappearing breakfast.
~~*
"A month without any major attacks, huh. I'm getting a little edgy about this. What if the colonies stage a surprise attack at the general's base and we don't respond quick enough?" whined a woman on a screen. Her long purpleish bangs hung in her face. Her starched, green uniform was perfectly kept. In a carrier far away, her message was replied to.
"Noin, you worry too much lately." replied the platinum blonde Colonel Zech Merquise. He sat perchecd high in a chair, tidy uniform and even gauntlets. "Ever since the self destruction of 01. But nevertheless, I have a mission I'd like for you to complete on my behalf."
"Yes sir?" she replied.
"Find for me that pilot."
"But Zechs! Why? I thought he was dead!"
"I want a rematch. I just.. have a feeling. He's out there. Somewhere."
"Oh, I see. Right away, sir!"
"Please... don't call me sir in private. Zechs is fine."
"Right.. Zechs."
~~*
"Battle in Antarctica, is that so. Why, Zechs sure has gotten clever, hasn't he." General Treize Khushrenada, of the specials, said to himself. "But I shant ruin this for him. He deserves it, afterall, Zechs has been loyal to me for 10 years now I believe."
~~*
Music was playing inside the normal sized trailer. Pippa, Trowa and Heero watched the end of a tennis match. Pippa was eating crackers while cheering on her favorite player.
"C'mon! Win, dammit!!" Pippa exclaimed through a full mouth. She spat cracker crumbs about the coffee tableand tv, not on purpose, mind you.
"Eeww! Pippa!!" Chantal said when she saw the mess.
"If you think its so gross, why don't you clean it up! I wanna watch my tennis!" Pippa yelled back at Chantal. The game did, of course, end with her guy winning.
"Hand it over!" Pippa said to Trowa and Heero. They both reached into their pockets and handed her bills of money. Pippa counted them.
"You bet on the game?" Quatre asked.
"Yep! And got me some good money for it, too! And a little extra, heh heh." Pippa told them. Trowa and Heero groaned. Duo sighed angrily and continued to stare at the roof.
"Well, what now?" Quatre asked, flipping the tele off.
"I dont care, really" Chantal sighed. The 5 sat in silence, staring off into space. Not a sound arose from the bunch. It was quiet. Too quiet.
"So.. are you and Catherine..." Pippa asked Trowa, who had a pretty much sleeping Heero fallen on his lap. Damn Narcaleptic moments.
"No, not even in my wildest nigthmares." he replied. Several quick giggles escaped Chantal and Quatre. Nobody struck up a conversation from the subject. Sad.
"Hey, that reminds me! Did she ever return from the store?" Chantal mentioned.
"No, its a bit far, and shes a little on the slow side anyway." Trowa replied. A low sound was heard from down the hall, like a groan. Everyone sat up ... except for Heero, of course.
"What was that?" Duo asked.
"I dunno" Pippa replied.
"Whar...ere ah?" the groan continued.
"She's awake!" Duo nearly shouted. He jumped over the back of the couch, tipping it over.
"Ee!" Pippa yelped as the two men she sat with just groaned as they hit the floor, backs first.
Duo half ran to the bedroom where Shanell lay and carefully opened the door, stepping in. She was awake!
"Duo?" she looked at him.
"Yea! Good Morn-- uh, Afternoon, Shanell!" he said. Duo swayed over to her bedside and leaned over her. Akward was what it was.
Out at the fallen couch, Pippa stood up clumsily and started after Duo in a rage. Chantal still was in a bit of shock as was Quatre from the two events. Soon enough, they followed into the room. Trowa and Heero just...sat.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so glad you're okay!" Duo whispered.
"Why are you whispering?" Shanell said flatly.
'Exactly my thoughts." Pippa bumped Duo out of the way. "You better be okay, man. I stripped nude to save ya!"
"What? Oh, its just you." Shanell lowered her eyes at the tall girl.
"Damn skippy, its me! I saved your bloody life!" Pippa snapped.
"Shu up!" Duo pushed Pippa away.
"You!" she retorted.
"Welcome back!" Chantal waved at Shanell.
"Yes, definatley!" Quatre joined.
"I thought you all hated me?" Shanell was a bit confused.
"Well, uh..." Chantal mumbled.
"They're fixing up your suit as we speak" Duo butted in.
"I don't really care about that right now, just that yo--" Shanell stopped and though for a moment. "You're all okay."
"Aaaww! She cares about us!"
"Go away, Pippa!" Shanell pointed at the door.
"Reer!" Pippa hissed as she left.
You two, too, Quatre, Chantal" Shanell sounded stern.
"But.. why do we hafta leave?" Quatre asked.
"Just come on Quatre" Chantal dragged the boy out.
The door shut behind the three, making Duo ever nervous.
Shanell looked up at him with her big gold eyes.
"Duo??"
"Yea.."
"Why.. did you fly away?"
"Because..."
"..."
"Because I wanted to take revenge"
"Why did you want revenge?"
"Because...Oz is evil! and... they hurt inocent people.."
"Well, thank you..." her eyes teared up a bit.
"Yeah, your welcome." Duo flipped his hair a little and slowly backed towards the door. "You better rest up-- Ill be back in a little, with some food."
"Thanks" said Shanell, laying back down.
When Duo had gotten backto the main room of the trailer, he let out a happy sigh. The loud rambling of Pippa and Quatre's fighting about what to have for lunch, either minestrone soup or "cooked" sushi, filled the house. Of course, Quatre thought sushi came cook-- him, not being knowledgeable in eastern foods. Chantal gladly watched a soap opera with sleeping Heero. Trowa had politely untipped the couch and planted him at the table, looking through recipes.
"Soup is much better!"
"No, sushi is! Cooked" she stifled a laugh, "sushi!"
"Will you two hush" Trowa said gently. "Maybe we could have Macaroni and Cheese, the real kind."
'Sounds fine to me!" Pippa exclaimed.
"Yah, whatever" Chantal said.
"Sure!" Duo mumbled.
"Okay! 4 to 2-- get cookin, uni-bang." Pippa snorted at Trowa.
Trowa grunted.
Right then a knock came to the little door, rattling its bolts. Quatre hopped to his feet and anounced that he would answer the door. The little blonde boy clammered over to the door and opened it wide. There stood a tall, dark haired woman in a lieutenants uniform. From OZ.
"How may I help you?" Quatre asked.
"Is Heero Yuy here? I needto speak to him urgently."
"He's resting." Quatre explained.
"No Im not." Heero tried to sit up, spooking Chantal. "Who is it."
The woman stepped inside and bowed a little. "I'm Lieutenant Lucriezia Noin. I have an urgent message for you from Colonel Zechs Merquise."
"Him?" Heero snorted.
"Yes. He wants a rematch-- a mobile suit battle."
"Tell him I'm not interested." Heero lay back down.
"You have a few days to decide." Noin informed him.
Chantal smile and laughed to herself.
"Whats so funny?" Noin asked the girl.
"He's not going to be healthy and ready to fight for some time. I mean, he did self-detonate and almost died, there."
"I can try." Heero muttered.
"We have a nery good medical facitlity at the Barkley base." Noin insisted.
"Barkley... isn't that in Antarctica?" Trowa asked.
"Yes, it is."
"It'd still be a white before he could fight, lady. Your blonde roots are showin'." Pippa sneered.
"Will you all shut up!?" Shanell yelled from the other room.
"Yeah!" agreed Duo.
I'll go." Heero muttered.
"Great! Now, bring whatever you must! You have to be in top physical condition, afterall!" Noin clasped her hands, smiling.
"I need help up first." Heero stated.
Trowa immediatley stood up and helped Heero up, seeing that noone else had. He helped the injurred boy over to the closet. Inside lay severeal bags, duffel bags and jackets and shoes. Heero grabbed his items-- a pair of shoes and a rather small duffel bag with the name 'Trowa Barton' crossed out on it. They sat down, Heero replacing his shoes to his feet and resting momentarily.
Chantal and Pippa gathered at the end of the hallway, on opposte ends, as Heero suited up. He cringed as his jacket was placed on him, trying to bend his arm up to fit it through the sleeve.
"Ready?" Noin asked, still standing perfect in the living room.
"Yah." Heero said. He balanced himself then attempted to walk without assistance, without previal. Trowa came to his resuce, holding the boy up, grabbing both of their jackets, etc.
"Why do you have your stuff?" Pippa asked.
"I'm coming slong" Trowa explained.
"What?" Chantal was a bit surprised.
"Im assisting Heero, bringing my suit along also just in case.
Eventually, Trowa's suit was loaded into a blue OZ jet and they headed off. Pippa, Chantal and Quatre stood out the doorway, all three of them, saying their goodbyes as the plane took flight.
"Bye!" "See ya." "Good luck!"
Only Trow aknowledged this and gave them a little wave.
"Zechs was expecting you to be alive. He didn't think you would have actually died, I couldn't believe it myself, that you were here." Noin explained. They all sat together in a relatively small passenger area.
"How'd you find us?" Trowa asked before Heero.
"A few officers that had survived your attack saw where you headed, a few up north here saw your suits all come to this general area. I had some of my men search a 5-mile radius." she told them. "You're smart young mean, I would have never guessed youd be here."
"Hn." Heero grunted. Noin gave him a bit of an annoyed glance.
~~*
"Wonder why Trowa went with..." Chantal thought aloud as she stepped inside, to the table. She decided to help Quatre cook.
"He probably felt that Heero was still too badly injured to go his own. He was healing quite well, actually." Quatre said.
"Yeah... guess so.." Pippa added, jumping over the couch and returning to her surfing of television channels.
~~*
"He is alive, huh... Okay. I'll hurry up the mechanics on the 01... yes, I understand, I'll phone to nurse to clear him a spot. Bye." Zechs hung up the wall phone and walked out the catwalk to face the restored Wing Gundam. 01.
'It's amazing. How could such a young boy survive self-detonation. I better expact that from all the Gundam pilots from now on.' Zechs thought. 'He'll be a good match.'
"Colonel Zechs, sir! The repairs to Tallgeese are complete. But we can't fully restore the beam cannon on the 01 and in the time it would take to actually repair it, we could have made a whole new mobile suit." said a young mechanic.
"Use parts from the left arm of the Tallgeese for the right arm of the 01." Zechs replied.
"But, sir!"
"That arm was damaged in Siberia-- it's a valid handicap."
"Yes, sir."
~~*
Duo carefully carried a tray containing some food to where Shanell lay. he rested it on his hip as he knocked gently on the door.
"Shanell? Are you awake?" he asked, opening the door. In the half-lit room, Shanell sat up and yawned. She smiled and replied. "I am now."
"I brought you some lunch. " He sat on the foot of her bed and set the tray next to him. "Lets see... you got some Mac'N'Cheese-- its reaaaaaly good-- made by Chantal and Quatre, and some life-sucking tea." They both laughed as she pulled the tray closer.
"Thank you, Duo." she said grabbing the fork. Duo stood up and looked at her. He turned ans walked out, barely keeping the door open. Once again he sighed and came back to everyone else. 'Why do I get so nervous while I'm around her' Duo thought to himself.
"She okay?" Quatre asked.
"Yeah.." Duo replied.
'But I dont think I am...'
~~*
"Its hard to believe that it's been a month and a half since we last confronted you guys." Noin began. The plan was so bare and quiet, she just couldn't stand it much longer. Especially with her enemies at an arm's reach.
Neither of the boys replied.
"Not talkative, huh? Thats fine." Noin noticed the two boys' silence. They just sat there, staring down to their shoes and pasing land.
"He just feels guilty." Trowa spoke up. "About killing the pacifists. He still doesn't feel right. And I just dont feel like talking to you."
Noice closed her eyes and half nodded. She understood. Not that anything anywhere near such an ordeal had ever fallen upon her. She just knew.
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