Bibliomaniac: As for who, he's after- I'm deliberately keeping that ambiguous.:) The next two chapters will be kind of a lull before another storm. All character and plot development. Sorry action fans you'll just have to wait. :)
To ALL: I am so so sorry. I had no intention of keeping you waiting so long. Can you forgive me? Life just got so hectic and try as I might I'm only just now finding time to write.
Chapter 4
The man stood over Heero his gun aimed directly at him. Heero watched as if in slow motion as his finger started to squeeze the trigger.
"Heero!!"the urgent cry slashed through the intense night startling the man and knocking Heero out of his trance. Heero recovered first instinct kicking in sweeping his leg out upending the other man. Heero immediately reached out for him, but was knocked away as the gun was brought down hard against his head. He reeled to the side. With another kick, the man wiggled out from under him gaining his feet. He paused before his downed opponent before running away. A few moments later, Trowa broke through the trees, Duo and Wufie close behind. Trowa paused a moment, but Duo waved him onward as he knelt down to Heero trying to get a good look at him.
"This looks pretty bad." Duo commented as he probed the cut on his friend's head. Heero bit back a hiss as Duo's gentle touch caused more pain. He forcefully pushed back Duo's hand grinding his teeth as he struggled to get to his feet. "You're overdoing it again." Duo admonished. "Why don't you take a moment to recover first. Trowa and Wufie can handle it."
Heero startled to shake his head, but abruptly stopped when the trees started to blur into a confusing swirls of green and grays. Taking a steadying breath, Heero forced himself to his feet leaving a sighing Duo with no other choice, but to follow.
They had not gone far when they noticed tendrils of fog snaking towards them .Threading and curling through the long thin trees. Frowning they slowed and stepped more carefully. The fog continued to get thicker and thicker as they progressed. Both Heero and Duo were forced to squint as the the thickening mist started to irritate their eyes making them water. When it got too thick to see the trees beyond they stopped all together. Duo saw the dark outline first. Motioning to Heero he raised his gun. Heero tensed ready to spring into action at the slightest notice. The figure stumbled oddly as if it were drunk. Heero could hear sporadic fits of coughing. Unsure of the identity of the person. They both remained silent as to alert him to their presence. The man clumsily stumbled out of the mist. Duo tightened his finger on the gun as Heero tensed to spring-
"Wait! It's me." Duo let out a large sigh of relief.
"Don't do that!" Duo admonished lowering his gun.
"What happened? Where's Wufie?" Heero asked urgently.
"The guy dropped a canister of some sort. Wufie..he went after him. I doubt he'll find him though. The mist is even denser further out. Our best bet is to just wait it out, until the mists clear. There might be clues."
Heero walked closer to the mist his eyes intense as if trying to see through the barrier that separated him from the sniper.
"Heero." Duo called his tone filled with unspoken caution. Heero stopped, clenching his fists in frustration knowing Duo was right. They had to wait.
"Come on Buddy, you're bleeding all over your rental suit. "
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Relena looked up sharply as the door opened.
"Relena, hold still." Sally admonished as she finished bandaging her arm. Relena wasn't listening though as she gazed at the knew arrivals, one in particular. He looked rather horrible right then with bruises, cuts, and smears of blood down his face. To her, it was the most beautiful sight that she could hope to see. He had come back alive and relatively unharmed. His eyes met hers for a moment and she could see a relief that mirrored hers in his eyes.
Sally clucked her tongue. "Sit down Heero before you fall down. As soon as I finish her you're next."
Anticipating Heero's response, Duo decided to intervene, pushing him down into a chair himself. Duo smiled unfazed, as he was predictably rewarded with one of Heero's trademark glares.Hilde wishing to keep her boyfriend in one piece quickly hauled him a safe distance away.
Sally finished tying the knot on Relena's bandage before gathering her stuff and sitting next to Heero. She got out antiseptic and got to work.
Wufie entered a short time after. All eyes turned to him expectantly. He shook his head. "We were able to clear out the fog, but as you can guess by that time he was no where around. I've got some guys going over it with a fine tooth comb, but there's no evidence yet. The gas canister's clean. No prints or anything. Same with the sniper rifle he left behind. They both look to be street made. Untraceable. Two guards were found unconscious."
"Did they see anything?" Quatre asked.
"No, they were surprised from behind." The disgust was obvious in his tone.
"Miss Relena," Noin said" We'll need to get you to someplace safe until all this is over."
But Relena was already shaking her head before she had even finished the sentence.
"This obviously has to do with your stance in the upcoming meeting..."
"And that's precisely why I won't hide. This is important I am willing to risk my life for it.
"That guy came pretty close this time. Need I remind you." Sally purposely gestured at her bandaged arm. But one look at Relena'a stubborn features and they all knew they had once again lost the argument. Sally in her frustration unintentionally probed too hard on the large cut on Heero's head, but though she knew it must have caused him a lot of pain not one wrinkle marred his battered face. So Stubborn! It shouldn't surprise her that Relena was just as stubborn as Heero after all it was him that she had learned it from. Self-sacrificing to a fault. She sighed.
"We need to prepare a security detail then. Those guys are pathetic." Wufie stated with his usual haughtiness.
"I'll do it." Heero spoke up suddenly.
"I thought you were leaving."Relena couldn't help asking.
"You need someone with experience to coordinate the security detail. I'm staying until these meetings are over that's all."
It was a dim hope, but one Relena fully intended to take advantage of.
TBC...
Again, I am so so so sorry for the delay. Apologies on the quality. I did this in a rush and I know it shows. Next two chapters which I'll be at the same time and will be much better. Until then... Next chapter Meet Joe Average...er I'm mean our mystery man. He finally gets a name!