Disclaimer: I do not own this thing called Gundam Wing. The plot is all mine though. That and my strange obsession with Trowa.


Within Relena's Shame: Chapter Two
by Wicked Child

A week's time had lapsed since the brutal attack on Relena. Wufei had been pulling triple duty since that night: lead investigator, bodyguard, and most importantly, friend. Relena had allowed him the use of one of the spare rooms for an office as he currently could not risk an encounter with Heero or the others. He had also stopped by his apartment to gather some clothing, a few personal items, and his cat Bo. She had always been able to soothe him when he was stressed and near insanity. He was hoping Bo would have the same effect on Relena.

She had barely spoken since that night. She rarely removed herself from her room, Pagan bringing her meals to her making sure she ate and kept her health up. It pained everyone allowed near the house to see the woman so forlorn.

Wufei stood at a bulletin board, his back to the door, surveying the photographs taken of Relena at the hospital, the location where the police picked her up, as well as those taken from a location near the restaurant where she'd been attacked. There were many photographs. Too many. Wufei moved toward the bed where more pictures lay and his own notes.

He had compiled numerous notes and theories regarding the case but not enough hard evidence to lead him. He was no closer to finding a suspect or suspects today than he was that first night. They were still waiting for the DNA results from the forensics lab as well as the results regarding the fibers found on Relena's clothing and pubic hair. The person or persons had attacked then vanished into thin air.

Normally Wufei would have discarded the foreign hair, attributing to natural phenomena for a normal woman of twenty-two years of age. However, this was Relena who'd been attacked. Prior to the rape, she had been a virgin. Her doctor confirmed Relena's own claim as well as Wufei's suspicion.

She still is a virgin, he mentally corrected. Wufei sighed and walked to the large window overlooking the backyard. Relena's home had beautiful rose gardens and statuary consisting of forest animals and mythical creatures. There was a large swimming pool as well as a koi pond, both accompanied by waterfalls.

It was a beautiful end of May day, birds chirping, bees buzzing, Bo pawing at something in the rose bushes, sun shining in a clear blue sky with not a hint of clouds as far as the eyes could see. Fresh air was what he need. It was what she needed.

Walking briskly, he made his way to Relena's bedroom. Without knocking he walked in and strode toward the bed.

"Come. We are going outside. The fresh air will do you some good."

Relena sat in the middle of her bed, covers wrapped around her waist and lower torso. She looked at him dully.

Wufei paid no attention. She needed to get out of that room. He knew she heard him. "Come. It is a beautiful day not to be wasted."

He removed the covers from the bed, effectively stripping the bed. He then took Relena's calves in hand and swung her body around so that her feet were touching the floor. He then walked to her closet and began the task of trying to find a suitable outfit.

"Let's see. We have dresses, dresses, and more dresses. Woman, where are your casual pants?" He looked back at his friend. She just stared back, still dull. Undaunted, Wufei moved to her dresser. He collected the necessary undergarments and finally found a suitable shirt and some short pants.

"Put these on. We're going outside." He placed the clothing on her lap.

Relena shook her head.

"Yes we are. You've been locked up in your room all week. You need exercise and fresh air."

Still Relena shook her head. She didn't want to leave the safety of her bed, the safety of her bedroom, the safety of the second floor. It was her sanctuary. Sanctuary, she repeated in her mind. She had told Heero that once.

Her home, her room was her sanctuary from all other things. They had been having a reunion of sorts at Quatre's home on Earth. She didn't expect Heero to respond to her comment.

He had looked at her, his features softened making him look more like the handsome and kind young man he was instead of the former assassin. She knew she would forever etch that moment in her mind. But his words left an even bigger impact.

"An angel's sanctuary."

His eyes bore into hers, telling her something that she couldn't quite decipher. It reminded her of their time on Libra, right before he went out to kill her brother.

The moment had been broken by Duo. He just had to show them some new-neato-nifty thing he had found. Relena had been kind enough to show interest while Heero had glared at him until the man-child bounded away.

"Sometimes I feel like we're his parents."

"Better to be his parents than, let's say Trowa."

Heero quirked an eyebrow. "How so?"

"At least Duo talks, laughs, and acts reasonably normal. With Trowa we'd have to coax him if not downright bribe him into it. Kinda like a dog." Relena nodded her head at her last statement.

"How very un-Relena like of you to say that." He knew the girl had a sense of humor though he didn't always get the joke but neither did he get Duo's jokes. He liked her jokes better anyway.

Instead of responding to Heero's observation, she asked, "What's Trowa's favorite food?"

Heero shrugged. "I don't know but he has a thing for creampuffs."

"Here Trowa. I'll give you a creampuff if you smile! A grin? A smirk or even a frown? No? Okay…how about two creampuffs for a word like 'mommy'? 'Daddy?' 'No?' 'Yes?' Okay let me have a grunt. Just one freaking grunt!"

Throughout her little speech, Relena had pantomimed herself holding out a creampuff to Trowa like a master to a dog. Heero had actually begun to laugh, rather hard and neither had noticed Trowa walking up until he cleared his throat.

Relena paled, then turned crimson before burying her face into her hands then Heero's shirt all the while saying, "Oh my God. I'm so sorry. Oh my God, oh my God."

Heero had just placed his arms around her trying to soothe the embarrassed girl. He gave Trowa a look that promised he'd know all later. Suffice to say, Relena had received a note and a box of creampuffs a day later.

'Dearest Mother,

I would have grunted for three creampuffs.

Love Always,
Trowa (the better son according to Father)'

She wished times were still that carefree and simple. Unfortunately for her, she didn't think she'd ever be able to be as carefree ever again. She was forced to live a new life, one that she already despised.

In the back of her mind she heard Wufei still trying to convince her to go outside. She knew the day was beautiful, she'd been watching the Weather Channel. It was the only channel not discussing her sabbatical. It was the only channel that didn't remind her of her situation.

Wufei had knelt down in front of her, his eyes pleading. She had never seen him plead before. It was the strangest thing.

"Please honey. It's only the backyard and I'm going too. Bo's already out there in your rose garden. We both want you out there. You need to do this. Give Pagan a break. He doesn't need to come up these stairs at his age."

"I have an elevator."

"Please…what?" Her comment took him by surprise.

"Pagan can use the elevator if he needs to."

"He doesn't."

"Oh." Pagan had always been a stubborn man.

"Let's go downstairs. The sun will do us both good. Besides, you need to work on your tan." Wufei gave her a smile. The mood of the house had been too dark and depressing. It was time to start healing.

Finally, Relena nodded in agreement. It was his smile and his eyes that convinced her.

The two spent the afternoon in the backyard, not saying much but enjoying the day in all its simplicity and beauty. Bo had snuggled up to Wufei at first then Relena. He was pleased to see that Relena began to relax. It made him relax.

Instead of cooking that night, Pagan had bought Chinese take-out. It wasn't bad but it wasn't as good as Wufei would have liked or cooked.

"Then you are going to have to grace us with your culinary skills Master Wufei," Pagan had challenged.

"You'll never go back to anything that tastes American, Italian, Mexican, or any other food you thought was your favorite," Wufei declared in response to the challenge. In fact he'd be happy to cook for the four of them: Relena, Pagan, himself, and Davis--who had been invited to dinner that night.

"I don't think anything will taste as good as chili-cheese fries," Relena commented. She almost smiled. For Wufei it was a damn near breakthrough. She was beginning to travel down the road of healing.

"We'll see about that."

This time Relena did smile. Bo stretched and looked at her master.

"Meow."

~~~

He'd been back from his latest mission for several days now and all hell had broken loose while he was away. Wufei had been missing from Preventer HQ for a week. Une told him that Wufei was on a very important and very sensitive mission. He had agreed to let it drop but felt strange about the circumstances. Not seeing Wufei in Preventer HQ was like the sun not rising. It was like himself taking a vacation. It just didn't happen.

To make matters worse, Relena had suddenly collapsed and ordered to rest. No one knew where she was. And the people who did know, weren't talking. Une had told him to let it go as did Pagan. It was none of his business.

Since when is Relena not my business? And when did Relena get a cat? Pagan did tell him that she was abroad for her time of rest. But without Pagan? She takes Pagan with her everywhere she goes. Is that where Wufei is? Is Relena his mission? His most feared emotion reared its ugly head: jealousy.

He didn't like it. He thought about going to her home and checking things out. But it was only a thought. A memory stopped him.

"Why do you sneak into my home all the time?"

A shrug.

"That's not an answer."

"I want to make sure you're safe."

"By sneaking in?"

"It's the only way I know."

The girl shook her head and pressed a key into his hand. "If you ever need to see me, or check up on me, use the front door."

He looked at the key. "You don't like me sneaking in to ensure your safety?"

She smiled. "The little girl in me finds it romantic. But we're older now, and I'm not that little girl anymore. We're friends, but it seems rather strange for you to sneak in all the time."

He looked into her eyes then at the key. He turned and threw the key into the lake.

"Heero!" She sounded hurt, devastated even.

He turned back to her. He cupped the side of her face in his hand, his thumb brushing against her cheek.

"Never lose that little girl inside of you Relena."

He then turned and walked away.

Later that night he returned to the lake and dove in, easily finding the key. He took it home and placed it inside a small plain wooden box, right next to a locket that was missing its partner.