Body ~ Wow, it's been what... a month since I last posted? I know, I'm such a slacker... Well here's part ten, and I should have part eleven out as soon as I get back from vacation. It's so nice having a laptop. Now I can work on my stuff wherever I go! *sarcastically* Oh joy! Anyway, read part ten and tell me what you think.

Disclaimer: If you still haven't figured it out by now... Gundam Wing and it's characters etc., do not belong to me.

If Only

Part X

By: Penybright

"I'm sorry, but we have no choice. It's for his own good."

"There has to be some other way," Relena prompted.

"I'm sorry Miss Dorlain, but Mr. Yuy needs to be institutionalized," the doctor replied.

"But, his wounds weren't self inflicted. He's not a danger to himself. He's usually very calm," Relena tried to argue.

"I'm sure that you're telling the truth, but this is for his own good, as well as yours. He can be properly treated and watched at an institution."

"Surely, there has to be---"

"I'm sorry Miss Dorlain, but there is no other way. I'll let you know when visiting hours are."

Relena nodded numbly, walking out of the doctor's office in a trance-like state. She couldn't believe this was happening. And Heero had been improving too. True, it wasn't exactly a large leap, but it was a minute difference. Even a minute change was good in Heero's case...

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Relena stepped into the pristine white hallway, her footsteps echoing down the corridor as she walked. Something about this pace really creeped her out, and it wasn't the fact that it was an institution. It was something else... Relena rounded a bend in the hall and walked several steps to a large, metal door with a fiberglass window. She could her a scuffle going on, on the other side of the door, and peeked inside. Two attendants were holding Heero down as he struggled against the bonds they were trying to put him in.

"Hold still!" one attendant shouted, wrestling with the uncooperative patient.

"Stop!" Heero cried, fighting against them. "Please stop..."

Relena shoved the door open, rushing into the room. One look at Heero's eyes confirmed her suspicion. He was having flashbacks of his training. Relena had never know anything besides those memories that could terrify Heero so much.

"Let him go," Relena ordered. The two orderlies looked at her in disbelief.

"I'm sorry, miss, but we can't do that. He's mentally unstable, and there's no telling what he could do."

"Heero won't do anything. Now let him go!" Relena ordered again, stepping over to the bed Heero was partially strapped to. Heero tugged against his bonds, his eyes opened wide with a wild look in them. His chest heaved as his breathing became erratic.

"What have you done to him?" Relena accused.

The two attendants merely stared at her. Relena reached a hand out, soothing Heero's sweat-slicked hair back from his face. Heero's frantic eyes shifted to look at her, not sure if she was friend or foe.

"It's all right Heero. No one's going to hurt you. I'm going to get you out of here."

Relena's soothing touch, as well as her words, seemed to calm Heero considerably, until the two orderlies approached. Heero tried to cringe away, once again struggling against his bonds.

"Get away!" Relena shouted angrily. "Can't you see that he's terrified of you? What were you monsters doing to him?!"

"We were just strapping him down to give him his medication."

"He tends to get a little violent when we give him the injections," the second attendant finished. Relena grimaced, glaring at both men.

"Go and get the director of the institution at once," Relena said in low voice, glaring harder for emphasis. The two men hesitated, before scrambling out he door. When they returned, there was an older man with them.

"Miss Dorlain?" the man with gray streaked hair questioned.

"Yes?" Relena responded.

"I was told you wished to speak with me."

"I would like to inform you of Heero's discharge from this institution."

"I'm afraid I can't condone that, Miss Dorlain."

"It's not up to you. I'm taking Heero out of here, and that's final. You people are doing more harm for him than good. Look at him!" Relena accused, pointing to the form huddled on the bed. The doctor looked over to see Heero visibly shaking as he tried to cringe away from everyone in the room except Relena.

"I can't say I like this Miss Dorlain..."

"You don't have to like it, just do it," Relena responded, unbuckling the straps that held Heero down. Once free, Heero latched onto Relena's arm as she led him out of the institution. He didn't let go until they arrived at Relena's mansion, and even then he was reluctant to do so.

"It's going to be long road to recovery," Duo commented to Relena, as the two watched Heero cautiously creep around the mansion.

"But he is going to recover," Relena responded with determination.

"I hope so," Duo whispered under his breath.

~ Hmmm... Heero didn't react very well to being put in an institution, did he? So, was this chapter "up to par"? Questions, comments, criticisms (constructive criticisms)?