Jewel's Sacrifices
Chapter 2: Duo's Recovery

Disclaimer: I don't own anything!

At the Winner Mansion the violet-eyed girl was packing her bags; she had been called back to the colonies. She received word that she was to take the next shuttle back to the L1 Colony Cluster. As she put her shut-down laptop into her carrier she took one last look around at her room. She took a deep breath before putting on her coat and walking out to the door. At this time at night, all those in the manor were sound asleep. She walked out the door silently and took a taxi to the airport.
On the shuttle the girl felt deep regret for what she had allowed to happen to the normally happy-go-lucky pilot. She felt the presence of the person next to her, but kept her gaze to out the window. He had been studying her for most of the flight, and she was starting to get annoyed by it. She turned her glare to the person next to her to be surprised at the young man sitting next to her. "Heero?! What the." she was cut off when he put his hand over her mouth. He leaned forward to whisper into her ear. "Calm down. I was ordered to follow you; I'm surprised that Dr. J didn't tell you. But, please relax, I can see the fatigue and sorrow in your eyes; and it's taking away their beauty." He murmured. As flattering as his words were, she couldn't smile, but she became peaceful; as he had told her too. He kept staring at her, but now that she knew who it was, she didn't mind it as much. "You're beautiful." he muttered all of a sudden. She was surprised that he would ever say that to anyone, let alone her. She looked at him, examining him. He was handsome, and that was apparent now that he was 18. "You are too." she whispered into his ear. He felt his skin grow taunt as he smiled; she placed as light kiss on his cheek before pulling away to see him beaming happily; she returned the gesture gently. She felt the shuttle jerk lightly; this meant that they were going to arrive in about ten minutes.
At the secret hanger where Dr. J was staying at, Jewel obediently stood completely still. He was lecturing her in a very infuriated tone, and was yelling at her straight in her face. He stalked angrily in front of the motionless pilot, he whirled around and threw a punch exactly in-between her eyes; but she didn't flinch. His punches where weak, so they never hurt the teenager. Heero stood back, watching her endure this punishment without a recoil. He punched her full force in the jaw; thus causing a small crimson stream to flow from the left side of her mouth. The two pilots listened to his last part of his furious words: "You will you back to the Earth and protect all the pilots with your life. You will guard them closer then ever. I don't want to hear that even one finger was laid on any of the pilots. You will report often to me. You will obey any orders they give you, and you shall not disobey. Now, is that clear?!" shrieked the fuming man. "Acknowledged. Affirmative." Jewel replied as she saluted the angry man in front of her and was ushered to a room where the two pilots would rest before returning to Earth.
Jewel went into the washroom to take care of the injury to her jaw caused by Doctor J. "Let me see." Heero said after she had rinsed her mouth out and taken care of the bloody flow from her mouth. He tilted her head up to check for any injuries on her face. He felt her jaw line for any breaks; he did the same to her nose and skull. She winced as he touched the spot where the angry scientist had punched her in-between the eyes. "It's not broken, but he might have bruised the bone." Heero said gently as he inspected it closer. "Why did you allow him to hit you?" The 'Perfect Soldier' asked. "I usually don't tolerate anyone striking me, but he is my superior, so I had too." Jewel replied as she leaned back against the wall she was sitting by. She moaned lightly as a headache came forth. Heero looked at her in sympathy. He knew that the spot where the doctor had hit her was a point of pain. He came and sat by her and gently rubbed her back. She opened one eye, than laid down to sleep. He gently strolled over to his bunk and watched her fall into a pain filled slumber before falling asleep himself.
Heero was awakened by a few light shakes on his shoulder. He opened his eyes to see Jewel sitting on the edge of his bunk. "Wake up, it's 0400 hours. Time to get up and get ready to catch the next shuttle." She said gently, trying to urge him out of his sleep. He sat up groggily as she moved off his bunk to go change [her clothes]. He heard the shower start as he got up to get dressed. Ten minutes later Jewel came out from the bathroom dressed and brushing her hair. There was a small red mark amid her eyes. She finished brushing her ankle-length gold hair and braided it, but didn't coil it; thus letting it fall to the back of her calves. Heero moved over to inspect the mark amongst the girl's eyes. As soon as he touched it she grimaced from pain. "It looks as if he did bruise the bone." The Japanese pilot commented after examining the other soldiers face. "I'll be okay. Let's get back to Earth, I want to see how Duo is." She remarked as she grabbed her bag and walked out the door.
On the shuttle Jewel slept most of the way, but it was an aching doze indeed. Heero sat near and watched her closely, as if guarding her. When the shuttle jerked before landing the girl woke gently and sat up. They unloaded the shuttle and went directly to the hospital. As soon as they got to the hospital the girl went out to the gardens to think. The young woman automatically traveled back to the small creek so it would help calm her. She sat down and put her head in her lap. She had a terrible headache that was basically impossible to get rid of. She moaned lightly as the pain increased. She heard someone behind her but made no move to make them aware that she was conscious to their presence. She recognized the pattern in the person's step: Heero Yuy. "You okay?" he inquired as he sat down and watched her wordlessly. "I'm okay, it's just a headache." The girl replied as she recoiled again. Heero gently picked her head up and leaned her on his shoulder. She felt safe there, but the pain in her head was intense and it made her despondent. She was starting to fall asleep as she felt something and instantaneously jumped to her feet. "Duo's life energy is fading." she muttered as she sprinted off towards the building. Heero followed close behind, but was scarcely able to keep up.
Jewel ran as fast as she could to the injured boy's room. As soon as she arrived in the room, her prediction came true: Duo was slipping. She turned quickly to Heero with pleading eyes, not knowing what to do. The other pilots came rushing in a few seconds later. Jewel traveled over to the bed of the wounded boy and started to think rapidly. She thought of the cure, and turned to the pilots to speak, "I'm going to transfer my life energy to Duo, that way he'll heal faster and won't die at all. I can't say the same for me, though. At least this way I know that I won't see suffering anymore. Please understand what I am doing and forgive me for what I am about to do." Those were the final words she said before she started to chant rapidly. A light enveloped her and the glow shed on the unconscious boy in front of her. After a few minutes of chanting her voice ceased and she dropped to the floor. Duo woke up, saw the girl, and automatically tried to get up. Heero ran over and started to inspect the young woman. Duo had finally gotten up and was kneeling beside the Japanese pilot and the golden haired girl. "Unconscious; very weak." Heero identified as he relaxed. "Why didn't I die?" a weak voice came from the 'Perfect Soldier's' arms. The 5 pilots looked down to see Jewel open her eyes. "I didn't take all the energy you transferred. That way you would live." Duo said with a cheeky grin. Jewel leaned on Heero and Duo for walking support and spoke, "So much for a better world." She said with a sigh. All the pilots, including Jewel, started to laugh; but Jewel's laughter was cutoff when: her headache got the best of her.

~~End~~

Explanations: Mobile Trace System- it's a cockpit system were you were a special suit and there are no controls or seats in the cockpit. The suit that you wear using
your energy and make the MS move the same way as you. Berserker System- this is a system that plays off a human's anger and turns that anger and hate to strength; it isn't used often because it is hard on
the pilot's body and also hard on their mind. Guardian- a guardian is someone who protects the innocent, and also fights
evil; these beings are often immortal.
Life Energy- this is the energy that heals and keeps you alive.
Transfer of Life Energy- this is an ancient technique that is used by
guardians; the guardian gives their life energy to another person, many
times the Guardian gives their life..