Chapter 4

She tried to bite back her cries, but the pain was simply too much. "Please . . ." Upon being recaptured, Relena had spent what seemed like hours suffering at the brutal hands of Lieutenant Richards. Wounds, gashes, bruises, and broken bones all left her body screaming in agony.

"Please what?" Richards ran his hand over his fist. "You asked for it, I'm just given' you what you deserve." He reached down, laughing softly when she tried to avoid his hand as it caught her chin, fingering the new bruises and cuts covering her face. "And when we're finished with this, I'm gonna finish what you started before. You'd like that, wouldn't you?" The tears running down her white cheeks mingled with the blood of her wounds. He found it as exciting as the strip tease she'd tricked him with earlier.

"Heero . . ." Her voice trailed off; her throat was too sore from screaming. She'd known this would happen when she'd planned her escape, but . . . It hurts, Heero. I'm not as strong as you. I can't hold on, can't last much longer.

"Lieutenant Richards," a voice called over the speakers, "we are under attack. Repeat; we are under attack. Report to the loading dock. Five unidentified mobile suits approaching."

"Damn." Richards threw Relena to the floor. "I'm coming back for you." With that, he hung her back into the chains and ran out of the dark room.

Five suits? Heero . . . She gave up to her body's demands and sank down into painless oblivion.

* * *

Bullets rained down upon the five partners. "Heero!" Duo yelled, "You and Trowa get going! Activate the auto pilots of your suits and go find Relena!" Une's new technology, based on the Mercurious and Vayate, consisted of piloting systems based on each pilot's brain waves and fighting skills. With this program, Wing Zero and Heavyarms would continue to fight when the two young men had left the suits. That way, The White Fang troops would not realize that they had infiltrated the base. It reminded Duo too much of the detestable Mobile Dolls, but for this mission they didn't have a choice.

Heero activated the system and slid out of his cockpit. Dropping down into the woods, he was soon joined by Trowa. Silently, they crept through the underbrush towards the base. For those two, it was a simple procedure to creep in; they left a trail of unconscious guards behind them.

"Where . . ." Trowa glanced over at Heero, who jerked his head to the left. The quiet circus performer wasn't sure how the other knew where to go, but he assumed it was something similar to the rapport he and Quatre shared. That must be one strong bond, if they haven't even acknowledged their feelings for one-another.

The two ran silently along the corridors. "Here." Heero stopped at one door. "Locked. Stand back." He held his pistol . . . the same one he had trained on Relena so many years ago . . . up to the lock. One tug of the trigger, and the door slid open. "No!" That figure. It couldn't be, but the long, light brown hair, the slender curve of that cheekbone- "Relena!" The name tore itself out of his throat. He rushed forward. The iron brackets weren't difficult to open, but her unconscious form slipped though his trembling hands. Her blouse hung in stained tatters. "No. .Oh God." He gently took her in his arms. There was so much blood. How could someone so small hold so much blood? "Relena, come on, honey, come back to me."
Her eyes fluttered open. "Heero? You . . . you came. I knew . . . that you'd come." Her voice was so weak and rough, not the sweet music that he remembered.

"Shhhhh." He removed his jacket and wrapped it around her. "We're getting you out of
here."

"My brother . . ." She broke off, whimpered in pain. "Don't . . . don't leave him here."

The two men glanced at each other. Heero lifted Relena and slipped back down the way they'd come. It would be a little harder to get out then to get in with the limp girl in his arms.

Trowa watched as Heero ran ahead of him. How can he not see what she feels for him? Well, I guess I'm one to talk; it took forever for me to admit my love for Quatre. Focus of the mission, Barton. You and Quatre will have plenty of time later.

Wrapped in his own thoughts, Trowa didn't notice the door slide open. The next thing he knew, there was a bang, and his arm caught on fire. "What. -"

Heero spun around to see Trowa drop to his knees, cradling his arm, but he quickly refocused on the commanding figure who stepped in front of the young Frenchman.

"Well. Heero Yuy. I'm afraid I can't let you take my little sister. She's the key to my plans."

"Milliardo?" Groggily, Relena's head lifted form his chest, and her glassy eyes sought her brother's out. "Why? Please . . . come back . . . to me. You're . . . you're not . . . well."

The Lightning Count smirked, and a mad glow lit his eyes. "So naive. It's almost a pity that Richards didn't kill you. Tell me, did you enjoy his attentions? Tory usually enjoys little girls, but in this case he looked forward to making an exception." Heero gritted his teeth. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Trowa silently pulling himself to his feet. He needed to keep Zechs distracted for just a few more minutes.

"What the hell are you planning?" There wasn't a trace of sanity in his enemy's face; Heero hoped that the madman wouldn't be able to help bragging about his assumed genius.

"Everyone knows that my White Fang were defeated years ago. All of the Alliance's factions will accuse each other of having a hand in Relena's abduction, and when her body turns up in the Alliance Embassy itself, all trust will vanish. War is a part of human nature, and those instincts will erupt. Glorious battle will reign over the earth.

"Enough." Trowa stood behind Zechs, his pistol held mere feet from the man's head. "Heero, get her out of here. I'll take care of Zechs and follow you out." Heero nodded and started running; Trowa could take care of himself. A shot rang out, but he didn't look back.

Once outside, he pressed a remote held in his back pocket, and Wing Zero flew down to them. Soon the two were nestled inside of the suit's cockpit. "Duo."

"Heero? You got her?" At Heero's affirmative, Duo gave a huge whoop. "All right! You get the hell out of here, and we'll blast the place. Alliance troops are on their way to pick the White Fang's forces."

"Trowa's still inside. He's bringing Zechs."

"What?!"

"Give him ten minutes. I'm outta here." Even the call of battle paled before Relena's pained moans. As he flew off, she began to come to. "Honey?" How had that escaped his lips?

"It hurts, Heero, oh, God, it hurts." She broke off with a gasp. "Please . . ."

"Don't worry. I . . . I won't let them hurt you again. I won't leave you. I promise." He gathered her to his chest, unmindful of the blood that soon covered him.

"Heero?" Had she heard him correctly?

"I promise."

"Oh, Heero." Her head slipped down against her breast. Gently, he placed his hand under her chin, repositioned her so that her head rested on his shoulder. She felt so good, cuddled up to him so trustingly. I can't ever let her be hurt again. But . . . but he was a warrior. He would still have to fight. There was too much potential for danger in his life; he couldn't let her be threatened . . . The Japanese pilot's thoughts turned dark as he rushed back to the Alliance Embassy.

* * *

Relena swam upwards against a current of black. She had been lost, but Heero . . . Heero had found her, saved her. She had to fight her way back to the light. Back to Heero.

"Wait. Look. Her eyes are fluttering. Relena? Can you hear me?" That wasn't Heero's voice. Where was he?

"Quatre?" He wanted to cry; her voice was so weak. Such a dear friend, and they had almost lost her. Her eyes opened, and dazed, ocean-green eyes focused weakly upon him. "Quatre, where's Heero?"

Silently, he cursed the insensitive bastard who had left her behind. "He's not here, Relena. Rest now." He watched as her lips shaped a single negative before she closed tear-filled eyes and returned to her sleep. "As much as I care for him, I could almost rip his heart out for doing this to her again." A hand closed reassuringly over his shoulder, and he relaxed against Trowa, mindful of his lover's bandaged arm.
* * *

He had been running for weeks, trying to lose the memory of her trusting gaze, her sweet voice. I can't have her. But he had to know. Having made the decision, he dialed Duo's number. "Duo," he said in greeting as the American's face appeared on the screen.

"You son of a bitch." Duo's violet eyes filled with rage. "Who the hell do you think you are? To lead her on like that, then leave her behind like a piece of baggage? That's disgusting."

"How is she?"

Duo sighed. "She's still in pain, but she pulled through. She is tough. And the doctors picked around in Zech's head. The high pressures of the Libra's explosion created a chemical imbalance in his brain. He'll be fine, but I think it'll be awhile before he comes to terms with what he did to his little sister. Now go away, soldier boy, I don't want to talk to you right now." And he terminated the connection, leaving Heero filled with indecision.

* * *

Tortured images clouded Milliardo's mind. The explosion of the Libra's power system, the darkness, awakening weeks later in that base and being cared for by Fang physicians who had fled rather then die or surrender. Then waiting and planning. Relena. How could he have hurt his baby sister? "Ohhhhh."

His small groan brought Noin awake. "Zechs?          . . . Milliardo. How are you feeling?"

"I should have died . . ."

"No. Oh, no, no. It wasn't your fault." And you've returned to me. She laid her hand over his, and was rewarded when he turned that hand upwards to clasp hers.

"Thank you."

* * *

Faces whirled dizzily around her. Her brother, sneering at her. Richards, using his fists in ways that left her screaming in agony. An indistinct figure, so familiar, that walked away into the distance, leaving her cold. No. Please no.

"NO!" The scream pulled her awake. She wrapped her arms around her knees, trying desperately to stop their trembling. A nightmare. Only a nightmare. It was over, and Heero was gone. Why, Heero? He had said he wouldn't leave, but he had. Again. "Oh, Heero." Clutching the teddy bear he had given her so long ago, Relena crossed slowly to the window seat. So many parts of her body still ached. But those wounds would heal. Her heart wouldn't. "Heero." Rocking back and forth, the bear hugged to her breast, the young woman dissolved into tears.

* * *

The moon shone brightly that night. So different from the last time I did this. He'd fought it; God knows he'd fought it. But he'd promised her, and he'd promised himself. There were fewer guards, now that the threat was over. His rope caught smoothly, and the climb up to the balcony took seconds. This time, the French doors weren't even locked. Stealing inside, a noise caught his ears, tearing at his heart. Sobs, horrible and hopeless, ripped their way out of her throat. This is my doing. Relena, How could I have been so blind? Her bed was empty. A quick, panicked search led him to the window-seat, but she didn't even notice that he was there. She wore the same negligee that he remembered from his last visit. Even with healing scars and bruises, she was so beautiful . . . "Relena."

The name itself didn't even register. To her poor, worn nerves, all that mattered was that someone had crept up on her. She gasped, throwing herself back against the windowpane. "No! Please . . ." A scream began to climb. Wait. So familiar. Could it be . . .? "He...Heero?" No, that's impossible. Why would he come back? He doesn't love me.

He knelt at her side, not yet touching her. "I came back. Couldn't stay away. I promised, didn't I? Can. .can you forgive me?" Those last four words trembled. He gently, gently reached a hand out, smoothed tangled, tear-soaked hair from her face.

No. Could it be? Hesitantly, she unwrapped one arm from around the bear. "Is it really you?"

He caught at the smooth hand with his own callused one. "Please." Then, "I bought a tux for that ball . . . In fact, I left and bought it while you were being fitted for your dress."

All of her fears disappeared into the night as she tumbled into his arms. "Heero!" He stumbled as she wrapped her arms around him, just as she had done to that precious bear. Tears slipped down his own cheeks as he met her kisses with his own. It was all okay now. A single beam of moonlight found its way through the curtains, surrounding the loving couple in a soft glow, as everything in the world was suddenly made right by the promise he kept.