Chapter Nine

"What's the matter Relena? Aren't you feeling well?" asked Heero seeing his wife coming in their living room with a sad expression.

"No, I'm alright…is just that I've just spoken to Hilde…they have had the results from the tests and the doctor said that, in order for her to follow the treatment they would have to live here on Earth, apparently the chances of succeeding are higher here on Earth than on the colonies…" explained Relena sitting down next to her husband.

"So?" asked Heero.

"Well, it would be a bit of a problem because they have their business in L2…they've worked so hard to make it successful…" replied Relena trying to make him understand what the problem was.

"I cannot see that being an issue…They're home now, right?" asked Heero.

"Yes, they had to go back home yesterday because of the scrap yard…" replied Relena.

"Ok, then, I'll talk to Duo" said Heero getting up and heading to the videocom.

"Heero? What…" started saying Relena, only to stop curious to see what her husband had in mind.

She saw Heero sitting in front of the videocom and dialling up Duo and Hilde's number.

Duo's face appeared on the screen.

"Hey Heero! What have I done to deserve the honour?" asked Duo happy to see his friend on the other side of the line.

"Relena has told me about your problem…" started Heero.

"Ah…man…It's crap, isn't it? We really cannot afford moving to Earth now…besides, our business…" started saying Duo dropping his trademark smile.

"Like I said to Relena, I can't see what the problem is…you need to move to Earth to do the treatment…and, I happen to need someone to work with me…" said Heero shocking Duo and Relena at the same time.

"Heero? Are you asking ME to work with YOU?" asked Duo. The braided man obviously thought it was some kind of joke.

"Yes. As a matter of fact, I am…I already have some instructors working FOR me, but I would need someone to work WITH me…" explained Heero.

"Wow…I don't know what to say…what about accommodation?" asked Duo.

"I'm sure we can find something suitable for you two to live in…if not, if the worse comes to the worse, there are some unused appartments in this palace, I'm sure Relena can let you use one of them…some of them are completely detached from the palace so your independence is guaranteed" explained Heero.

"As usual you've thought of everything…" said Duo admiringly.

"Hn" was Heero's reply.

"Well…I guess we will not have a much better opportunity so I guess…I guess you've got yourself a new partner…" said Duo.

"Good…when can you move here then?" asked Heero sounding like if he had not even doubted for a second about Duo accepting his proposal.

"Well, we will need to sell the scrap yard and then we have the house here…we will need to sell that as well…" said Duo.

"You don't need to sell anything…why don't you rent it out? This way you'll keep your property, in case you want to have a second base…" proposed Heero.

"Well…yes, why not? I guess it's better…in case we ever want to come back to the colony…" said Duo.

"Ok then, it's decided…give us a call as soon as you've finished organising things…" said Heero.

"Sure…man…I mean…thank you…" stuttered Duo getting a bit emotional.

"I will expect you to work hard so don't thank me…Now, I'll speak to you soon. Over" saying so, Heero pressed the button to close the communication not even letting Duo reply.

Relena was very impressed. Heero was truly recovered. He was now even better than when she had met him. The old Heero would have not given a damn about someone being in trouble. She definitely liked this new Heero better.

Quatre got in the bar where Midii was supposed to be singing that night. Wufei was waiting in the car ready to dash off in case things got out of hand. Trowa was waiting in a small alley next to the back entrance of the bar.

They were all connected to each other by radio so, if anything went wrong they could tell one another immediately. They were very lucky to count with Wufei's help. Quatre had not thought of it twice and had asked him to help them as soon as he had learned that Wufei was in L3 attending the tests for new recruits for the preventers. He was one of the members of the jury that passed or failed the candidates. It had taken a while to convince him but, Quatre could be very persuasive…and Sally seemed to have worked some kind of miracle with Wufei. He did seem a lot more sociable since he started living with the doctor.

Quatre located the girl immediately. She was already on stage performing a catchy song. Modern music…Quatre was not a big fan of that kind of music but, for the sake of the mission pretended to be enjoying it.

"Hey man…she's a beauty, isn't she?" a brute placed next to Quatre asked. Quatre turned around and looking at the man replied:

"Yes, the lady is very good looking…Just as some friend has told me…".

"Who are you? I think I've seen you before…" asked the man.

"I'm Quatre Raberba Winner…" replied Quatre politely.

"Winner? From the Winner empire?" asked the man shocked, Quatre could almost see the greed appearing on the man's eyes.

"Yes. The same one. And who do I have to pleasure to be talking with?" asked Quatre using his best manners. He didn't need the answer for he had guessed who this guy was.

"I'm Bill Mitchell. I'm Midii's husband…I'll be happy to introduce her to you after the show…" said the man confirming Quatre's suspicion.

"I'll be delighted. If I may add…you're a lucky man…" said Quatre playing the part very convincingly.

Thankfully they did not have to wait for too long since Midii was about to finish her last song. As soon as she stepped down the stage, Bill had already led Quatre to meet her.

"Midii…I'd like you to meet Mr Winner…" said Bill taking Midii quite roughly by one of her arms and placing her in front of Quatre. The blond man noticed the gesture and did his best to hide the negative feelings he was starting to feel towards the bastard. Quatre had very strong ideas when it came to the way a gentleman was supposed to treat a lady.

"It's a pleasure to meet you…" said Quatre shaking her hand. She got surprised by the tiny piece of paper that Quatre had given her during the handshake. Quatre gave her an almost unnoticeable sign not to give him away. This was the most delicate part of the game. He hoped she did not misunderstand the situation and hoped she would not give him away.

"The pleasure is mine…" replied Midii. She seemed to have understood the message.

"Mr Winner is going to join us for a drink so go and get changed…" Bill said to Midii in what was more an other than a request.

"Sure…I'll join you as soon as I can" replied Midii.

As soon as she got in her changing room she unfolded the piece of paper. Like she had guessed, there was a message in it:

'Please meet me outside the back door. I'm in the alley. I need to talk to you…Trowa Barton'.

Trowa Barton. Again. He was being very insistent and she was curious to know why. From the changing rooms getting to the back door was relatively easy. The problem was that she did not know whether Bill would be coming to get her like he sometimes did. She really wanted to see Trowa but she was also very scared of the possibility of getting caught by Bill. He had already made her pay for her 'misconduct' in numerous occasions.

Realising this might have been the chance she had waiting for, she decided to take the risk. She ran to the back door and opening it, found Trowa standing in front of it.

"Trowa…I can't stay long…what's the matter? Didn't I tell you to stay away?" said Midii looking around as if she was expecting Bill to show up at any time.

"I needed to talk to you. I know what you're being through. I know that Bill is beating you up and I want to help you. I feel responsible for it…ten years ago you offered me your friendship and I refused it. I'm sorry for it and I would like to issue the same offer to you now. Will you please accept my help and my friendship?" asked Trowa.

"I wish I could but, Bill will kill me if he finds out…he's…very jealous…" replied Midii.

"Are you in love with him?" asked Trowa directly.

"I used to think so…I don't anymore…but, I can't leave him…he'll kill me…" insisted Midii.

"No he won't…if you want to, we can leave right here right now…" said Trowa.

"I don't know…" replied Midii.

"You don't need to be afraid. I'll protect you, I also have some friends here that will help us…you'll be safe…but you have to take the decision now…" said Trowa.

"I have to go back in, Bill wants us to have a drink with someone called Mr Winner, he gave me your note. Is he one of your friends?" asked Midii.

"Yes, he is…now, what do you want to do?" asked Trowa hoping he had convinced the girl.

"Ok…I'll come with you…" accepted Midii.

"Perfect then, follow me…" said Trowa.

Then, through his earpiece, Trowa heard Quatre's voice:

"Trowa, Bill has gone to fetch Midii…is she with you?".

"Yes, she is…" replied Trowa.

"Ok, then take her to the car now…" ordered Quatre.

Just as Trowa had heard this, Bill saw the back door open. He headed immediately outside. He made it just in time to see Trowa and Midii running. He ran after them.

Unfortunately Trowa couldn't run as fast as he could because Midii was obviously in some kind of pain. He noticed that she was limping. She had probably twisted an ankle or…that bastard had hurt her more than only her face. He felt his blood heat up with anger.

Finally Bill caught up with them. He grabbed Midii and was about to hit her when Trowa stopped him with a punch that made him drop on the ground. Quatre and Wufei arrived in that precise moment. Bill, getting up, was about to return the punch to Trowa when Wufei, producing his preventer's ID card said:

"Sir, I wouldn't do that if I were you…You're already in enough trouble as it is…".

"What the fuck are you talking about? Do you want me to beat the hell out of you as soon as I finish with this bastard here?" asked Bill provokingly. He was about to grab Trowa when Wufei said:

"Oh, I'd really like that…so, in addition with the accuse of battering this lady here, you would also be accused of attacking a public officer…that would be just great…now, make it easy on yourself and turn around…I declare you under arrest…".

Then Wufei pulled a pair of handcuffs out and started to tell him his rights.

Trowa, making a huge effort not to kill the bastard, passed an arm around Midii's shoulder and started walking her to the car. Then, Bill, in a desperate attempt, tried to pull off Wufei's grasp. Not succeeding, Bill turned around and tried to hit Wufei. From all the ideas he may have had, that was probably the worst one. Wufei, with a swift move, not only avoided the punch but also grabbed Bill and crashed him against the ground, face down.

"Ok, now you are in big trouble…he did warn you…" said Quatre seeing a not very happy Wufei not only handcuffing him but also ensuring that he would not get up by pressing his boot on his upper back, "I will testify everything I've seen before a jury…" added the Arabian man.

"Ok, Trowa, take the girl to the Hotel. I'll ask to the local patrol to come and pick this scumbag up…" said Wufei pulling out his preventer's radio.

"What about Quatre?" asked Trowa.

"Don't worry about me, I'll call my chauffeur. He'll pick me and Wufei up…" replied the blond man, Trowa nodded.

"What is going to happen to him?" asked Midii as soon as she was safe in the car.

"I'm not sure but, in any case, you're safe now…I guarantee you that…" replied Trowa starting the car's engine.

END OF CHAPTER NINE