Part 30

The ride back to the Mansion was silent. Quatre was staring in the void, his hands balled in fists to prevent them from shaking. Heero looked ready to murder the next person who would open their mouth. Wufei had watched the two of them quizzically before shrugging when he had understood he wouldn't get any answers right now. And Duo had, surprisingly, decided to keep his mouth shut, just looking worriedly at Quatre, but apparently restrained by Trowa's hand on his shoulder from doing anything before they would be back.

They all went to Quatre's bedroom without even thinking about it. It looked like the place to go to. As soon as they were in, Wufei locked the door behind them, and Heero went to check the other rooms of the suite, so that Duo felt compelled to say the first words. And anyway, Quatre's distress was so obvious that he couldn't hold back any longer.

"You okay, Cat ?"

"I'm fine", Quatre answered a bit too quickly.

"Quatre .."

There was only the slightest nuance of reproach in Trowa's voice, but the green eyes were telling what words were not. 'We know you're not alright and you don't need to pretend with us. We don't want you to pretend with us.'

Heero came back just at that moment, and surprising everyone including himself, went to hug Quatre tightly.

"Daijobu ka (1), Katoru ?"

Quatre was tense in the embrace. He took his head in his hands and leaned a bit on Heero, seeking the warmth. Seeing that man standing there had almost brought that ice cold back.

"I … I don't know."

Almost naturally, like that other night, Duo, Wufei and Trowa came closer, forming a circle around him. Heero didn't say anything, just held his lover tighter, but his thank you could be seen in his eyes.

"Goddamn bastard !", Duo hissed. "I can't believe him ! How could he even think of coming there and order you around and …"

"Duo", Trowa interrupted gently.

"Sorry", the American mumbled.

"S'okay, Duo", Quatre whispered. "I couldn't have said it better myself. To be honest, I had to control myself not to strangle him on the spot. Allah, I just hate feeling that way. It makes me feel …dirty."

"Just calm down", Wufei said, brushing a few blond strands out of his friend's eyes. "Breathe slowly."

"Thanks", Quatre said with a weak smile. "I'm really lucky to have you here with me, guys. I think I would have lost it if you hadn't been there."

"I think I wouldn't have held ya back if you had lost it", Duo grumbled.

Trowa just rubbed gentle circles on Duo's back. He didn't like how tense his lover was, the strange glint in the usually violet eyes, the harshness in his voice. But inside, he agreed with Duo. That the man could have the gall to come and see Quatre when it was obvious the young man knew his implication in his father's assassination … well, either it was gall or just plain stupidity, Trowa wasn't sure which. But what mattered was that Quatre hadn't been ready for the confrontation, although he had handled it incredibly well. It was amazing how that soft-spoken, well-mannered youth could suddenly transform into a dedicated businessman and a tough negotiator. He had successfully wormed his way out of what could have become a power struggle in his own board, with an amazing ease, and probably won the indefectible loyalty of most of his directors with simple words.

Quatre gradually calmed down. He didn't know what Dermail had expected from that meeting, but he would get the exact opposite. The GSA inquiry would probably send him in prison, but Quatre was all the more determined to make his last free hours pure hell. That was petty and useless, but that would make him feel better.

"We need to talk about the press conference", Heero finally said. "If you don't mind, Katoru …"

"I don't. You're right, we must .. organize things a bit. I gave the general settings to Agent Noin so that she could organize some kind of official cover along with Rashid and his men."

They all settled down on the carpeted floor, sitting in a circle while Heero deployed a map of the neighborhood the press conference was supposed to take place in, just in front of the WEI building.

"You will be here", Heero said, pointing at the map. "The journalists and personalities are supposed to be monitored into that area. Agent Noin and Agent Po insisted to be with you on the podium, but they have the area covered with Rashid and his men. As far as I understood, they couldn't get enough agents on such short notice."

"What did you tell them exactly ?", Wufei inquired.

Heero looked up to the Chinese, his expression undecipherable.

"I told them what Agent Wind told me. I told them that we should be ready to face up to fifty men who are supposed to create confusion and ease Lady Une's escape, and that Agent Wind would probably be with her."

"But nothing more", Trowa stated, matter-of-factly.

Heero turned to the green-eyed tee with the ghost of a smile on his lips. Finally someone who kind of understood the way he worked.

"No, nothing more."

Wufei frowned.

"I don't get it. What more was there to say ?"

"That he had an idea where Lady Une would strike from and how she would position her men ?", Trowa offered.

The Japanese nodded once.

"How could you know that ? I thought not even Wind knew what the plan was", Wufei said.

"He didn't", Heero admitted, "but I have an idea. Une and I work in the same trade, Wufei. I won't pretend I know how her mind works, 'cause Gods only know if there's someone who can in this world, but I know what she's supposed to do. I know what I would do in this situation, and I know she wouldn't do exactly the same, but I also know what changes she would make."

"And what would you do ?"

"Well, first of all, I would be alone", Heero smirked. "We know she isn't. And we know the men she will have around are trained and armed. Noin and Po know about it and will do their best to avoid as much civilian casualties as possible, just as the security service. As for her …"

Heero indicated three points on the map.

"I'd say she will go for the sniper attack again. She'll have Wind with her and probably some means of escape not too far. The best points for that kind of attack are here, here and here. That's where my problem lies. I can't know which of the three she will choose. We'll need to watch the roofs. As for her men, I can only guess they will be divided in small groups and into the crowd, and waiting for their cue to act. We may have to disable some of them."

Something in the tone indicated that 'disabling' wasn't just disarming. Heero turned to Quatre, and for the first time, a strange light could be seen in the deep blue eyes.

"Are you sure you want to do it, Katoru ?"

The blond young man hardened his resolve. He could feel the fear in his lover, and if he was completely honest with himself, he was a bit afraid too. But there was no other way, and he didn't want to spend the rest of his life in fear, just because of that.

"I am sure", he said. "That's the only way."

Heero sighed.

"Well, then, I suggest we all rest and get ready. We'll need to be alert tomorrow."

He shot a pointed look to Duo, who pulled up a 'Do-you-really-think-I-could-do-anything-else-but-sleep-in-a-bed' face that made Quatre laugh and Wufei smile. Then, suddenly, Quatre remembered something.

"Heero, Relena will probably be there. I have to call her because I intend to announce the new partnership with the Peacecraft Foundation, and she will want to be there."

"Well, we'll have to warn Agent Noin about this, 'cause I'm not here to watch over her", Heero replied coldly. "If she's nice, she'll make her stay out of harm's way."

"I'll make my call and warn Agent Noin", Quatre said, getting up. "I'll be back right after that."

And he went out after stealing a quick kiss. As if on cue, Duo and Trowa got up too and left after waving goodbye, leaving only Heero and Wufei here. The Chinese man was looking at Heero. No, in fact, he was staring and frowning.

"What ?", Heero asked after a while.

"I'm just wondering why you don't want to work with the agents. Is there any rational reason to this, or is this just a matter of personal pride ?"

In spite of himself, Heero smiled.

"It may have a bit to do with personal pride, Wufei, but that's not all of it. Far from it."

"Then what is it ? They represent law, and catching Lady Une is supposed to be their job. From my point of view, working with them is only logical, but maybe I'm mistaken. Neither you nor Duo seemed to think that way."

There was a short silence.

"Yes, from your point of view, that would be logical. I understand. But the problem here is that we don't have the same agenda. They want Lady Une in prison. I want Katoru to be safe. I want all of you to be safe. And as I said to Agent Wind, my position allows me not to do things by the book. If I have to kill her, I will not hesitate just because I think she deserves a fair trial. And to be honest, I don't think she deserves it."

"I think I understand", Wufei said low. "I … I don't want you to think I'm doubting you or anything, I just wanted to be sure …"

"It's okay", Heero interrupted. "Really. I'm not really used to team work. I guess if I want you to follow, I have to give you a good reason to. But I thought you already had a good reason of your own."

"I also want Quatre to be safe, Heero. And I want Meiran to rest in peace."

"If she was still alive and she was threatened, what would you do, Wufei ?"

This stilled the Chinese young man efficiently. What would he do, indeed ?

"You've been protecting him from me", Heero kept on. "Would you … will you protect him again, if anything goes wrong ?"

Wufei frowned.

"Nothing will go wrong and you'd better not plan on dying out there, Yuy, or I'll kick your ass out of hell ! He needs you alive and whole, and it will do him no good if you die for him !"

Heero's Prussian blue eyes widened at the sudden outburst.

"What happened to 'If you hurt him, I'll make life hell for you' ?", he finally asked.

"It still stands. Because if you think he would not be hurt if you were dead, then you really don't get anything."

Wufei would have sworn he heard something click in the Japanese's mind, as if the pieces of a long forgotten puzzle were suddenly falling into place. And in fact the tale was not hard to read. From what Wufei had understood, Heero's childhood was far from having been a bed of roses, and having someone as wonderful and bright as Quatre in his life was something the young killer wasn't sure he could fathom. He wasn't sure he deserved it, and he was ready to give up his life for Quatre, and not really understanding that Quatre would be devastated without him. He knew Quatre needed him, but wasn't really sure how he, of all people, could have been spotted. Quatre had probably tried to explain, but the words were too new for Heero to assimilate them completely, or to be absolutely convinced. But now …now Heero seemed to have reached some new understanding and suddenly he smiled and bowed to Wufei.

"Arigatou gozaimasu (2). Kore wa wasurenai (3)."

Wufei nodded to the young man and left the room too.

O.O.O.O.O

Quatre came back only a few minutes after that to find Heero staring at one of the numerous pictures displayed in the room. There was something strange in the atmosphere of the room that he couldn't quite pinpoint. Opening his ability, he made his way to Heero.

"They're all gone ?"

"Hai."

Quatre held out his hand, caught Heero's face and forced his lover to look at him.

"What happened ? You look … you feel different", he said, putting his other hand on his heart.

"Just … something I finally understood. Thanks to Wufei."

"I'm glad he could help, but what was it that you couldn't talk to me ?"

"I … he …"

Heero was suddenly at a loss for words. How could he explain that to Quatre and not hurt his feelings ? After all his lover had done for him, he had been doubting. Not a very good way to reward the unending love and caring in those wonderful eyes.

"Heero, what is it ? Please talk to me, love."

"You really do need me, don't you ?", Heero asked abruptly.

Quatre frowned, trying to understand how that was relevant to the conversation, before something finally clicked in place.

"Did I ever give you any reason to doubt that, Heero ?"

"No, you didn't. It's not you, koi, it's me. I … I thought …"

"You thought you didn't deserve me. You thought you were unworthy of my love. You thought once this would be over, I would go my merry way and just dump you here and leave you. Am I right so far ?"

Heero averted his eyes, unable to hide the flush that was invading his cheeks.

"Gomen."

"Heero, look at me."

The young Japanese looked up reluctantly, feeling a lot like he was five years old again and being scolded because he had put dirt on his clothes. Quatre sighed and got closer, pulling him in a tight embrace.

"Heero, I … Allah I didn't expect it to be so difficult, but … never, ever think you are not worthy of my love, okay ? My heart is mine to give to whom I choose. And I chose you. I know Duo would tell you I probably don't have the best of taste as far as boyfriends are concerned, but … do you remember that night, on L3 ? Our first night ?"

"Hn."

"Everything I told you that night, everything I told you before on L2 is true. I gave you my heart and soul, Heero. I do not give them just to anyone. If it was you who caught them, there is a reason. I used not to believe in fate, Heero. In my culture it's often that way, you know. If a building crashes down or there's a storm, Allah decided it and it's fate, kismet, and nothing we could have done would have prevented it. And yet, even though I don't believe in fate, I believe in soul mates. What makes you think I would let my soul mate go once I've found him ?"

Quatre smiled, one of those radiant, beautiful smiles that illuminated him.

"No matter what people say about me, I've never been an angel, Heero. And I'll never be. I am just … me. And all in all, it's not that much. Not better than you, anyway. What makes us so different in the end ? That I was born in a family with money and power. That, too, is fate. And, do whatever you wish with my contradictions, I will not let that fate drive my life. You felt it, Heero. You felt my loneliness, my emptiness. You knew you could do something. And you did. You could have left, you know. Not just kill me, but leave and never come back. That would have been far worse for me. But you didn't. You stayed with me. You were there for me when I needed you, not even asking a question, just being there. But can you let me do that for you now ?"

The green-blue eyes were begging for understanding, and Quatre suddenly knew what he had to do.

"Feel it, Heero. Just feel what you made of me."

And he unleashed everything. All the passion, the warmth that chased the cold away, the feeling of being safe, and most of all, that wonderful, almost impossible to grasp feeling to be complete, at last. And Heero was caught in the wave, being left helpless as it washed over him. When he looked up at Quatre again, it was with tear-filled eyes.

"I'm sorry, Katoru. I shouldn't have doubted that …"

"Shh, it's okay", Quatre whispered, just holding on tighter. "I understand. But next time … remember this. I love you, Heero Yuy. I love you like I've never loved anyone else in my life, and I want to stay with you forever. You won't get rid of me that easily"

"Ai shiteiru, Katoru-koi", the muffled reply came.

Quatre smiled again, caressing the soft chocolate hair.

"Come on, we need some sleep. I don't know about you, but … well actually, I do know about you, and this exhausted you as much as me, so why don't we just go to bed ? I … I just want you to hold me like that night on L2, the first night you stayed. Is it … Is it okay with you ?"

"Of course it is, koi."

O.O.O.O.O

Wufei was sitting on the grass in the gigantic garden of the Winner estate, watching as the lights went dimmer and dimmer before leaving way to the cool night lights. He didn't move. He knew he should have been in bed sleeping, but somehow felt like staying here a bit longer. There was a odd calm about him, one he didn't remember feeling in a long time. Everything was clear in his mind. He didn't really know who he had to thank for it, be it Quatre, Duo, Heero, Trowa or even Sally, but he was feeling better. For the first time in a year, it felt like a heavy burden had been lifted off his chest.

"May I sit here ?"

Wufei turned his head to discover Sally standing just beside him. He had spent quite a lot of time with her lately. The woman came from mainland China on Earth, she had played quite an important part in his life these last days, and the slight blush that crept on her cheeks every time she spoke to him had led him to think that maybe she was kind of hitting on him. He had been most surprised to discover that he didn't mind, and even more to realize that it made him feel good. And curious.

"Didn't we have this conversation already ?", Wufei said with the faintest trace of a smile.

"I think we did", Sally agreed. "I just wanted to be sure I wasn't intruding or something."

"You're not. I was just … taking some time before going to bed. I wanted to watch the sunset, but I had forgotten it's not like on Earth."

"Hmm. Well, I just finished reviewing the files Heero brought back, and I needed a break."

"You read all of your files again ? Tonight ? Why ?"

"I just wanted to get a bit reacquainted with my killer", she said with a shrug, sitting down. "I had given up chasing her because everyone told me it wasn't worth it. This time if we can put her behind bars, it will be for good. I have enough proof to make her stay in prison for the rest of her life."

"I wish you good luck", Wufei said matter-of-factly.

"Why ? You don't believe we will catch her ?"

"Oh, I do believe we will. I can't guarantee which state she's going to be in. I mean, I am pretty sure I am not going to murder her in cold-blood if I see her, but, well, one can lose it. As for Heero, he'll kill her if she does anything more than look at Quatre, I'm quite sure of it. You'll have to run faster than him if you want to catch her alive."

"Not sure I am up to the challenge", Sally sighed. "Well, what will happen, will happen. I'm not going to say I would be absolutely overjoyed if she died tomorrow, but I think I could sleep with it quite comfortably. Maybe that's what bothers me a little."

"Why does it bother you ?", Wufei asked, now thoroughly intrigued.

Sally looked up and smiled a bit.

"I am a military doctor, Wufei. That in itself is a contradiction. A soldier is meant to kill, a doctor to cure. Of course, I haven't been in the field for quite a while. In fact, I chose to be assigned at a hospital, because helping people to heal is what I really wanted to do. And yet, there is still a soldier in me, who wants to fight against that woman because of what she did. She made my life hell. She made your life hell. She's toying with Quatre's life as if it's nothing. The doctor in me despises this. The soldier wants to act."

Wufei cocked his head to one side, trying to process everything she had said.

"I suppose it makes sense", he finally said. "You have a respect for life that makes you cringe at the idea of wanting to take one voluntarily."

"Exactly. And yet … if I was left alone with Une and a gun, I can't be sure I wouldn't use it. But that wouldn't make me better than her if I did. Gods, why do I even try to understand myself ? I'm not making any sense !"

She almost jumped when the young Chinese put his hand on hers.

"You are making sense", he said very low. "You know you have the power to kill and yet you are modest enough to know you shouldn't be the one to deal out justice. This is … admirable. I don't think I ever met someone quite like you before."

Sally blushed, and hoped that the darkness around was enough to cover it. God, how could he say such beautiful and meaningful things to her and apparently not notice the effect it had on her ? She had long given up trying to explain why she felt so inexplicably attracted to him. He was so intense, so focused. There was some kind of natural arrogance about him that made you want to look at him. She had been trying not to go out on him too much. She was not a teenager anymore, and he was certainly not either. But she did not know what else to do. She couldn't even try to attract his attention since it was clear every time they were alone, she had his full attention. But she didn't quite know what to think of it yet. Was it wrong ? Would he feel offended ? For the moment, he didn't offer anything more than the tender affection you have for a cherished friend, and yet that in itself was extraordinary, for she was almost sure he didn't open up to people like this usually. Not that the circumstances under which they had met had been usual.

"How was she ?", Sally suddenly blurted out, unable to stop herself.

Wufei frowned, not understanding the question.

"Meiran", she clarified. "I … I just read her file again, and I've met you, and I know about everything there is to know about her death. But how was she, when she was alive ?"

She stopped abruptly. This was a very intimate question, bordering on rude, even. She had autopsied his wife. If possible, she knew more about her body than he would ever. What kind of answer did she hope for, asking that ?

"She was …", Wufei started.

He hesitated, and then, Sally saw a quiet sad little smile appear on his face.

"She was very strong. Stubborn too, as much as I was. She was never afraid to tell people what she thought in their face, and if you didn't agree with her, you were free to try and fight her. She was pig-headed, high-tempered and very aware of her own value. She called herself Nataku."

Sally remained silent, not too sure there was something she could, or should say at that point. But Wufei just kept on talking, quietly looking afar, as if contemplating a long forgotten scar and trying to remember how he had been wounded.

"We hated each other when we were kids. She was the heiress, I was the only boy, so it was clear we would get married at some point for the clan to continue. But we were in constant competition. I was her grandfather's favorite pupil, she was his favorite grandchild. We always tried to outdo the other one. When we were young, she won, most of the time. She was a girl, that made her grandfather lenient. And she was a bit older than me, and she had the advantage of height and weight on me. Then, we turned fourteen, and we got married."

Wufei held back a snort of laughter as he remembered.

"Gods, the first months were pure hell. We couldn't stand being in the same room. She called me weak because I preferred studying to fighting. I would let her call me that as long as she would leave me with my books. That was until the day she challenged me to one of our little matches, and I won. I beat her to the ground in less that twenty seconds that day. And I don't know who was more surprised, her or me."

He shook his head.

"She never won again. Not for lack of trying. She kept coming back and back, and I would beat her and I didn't understand why she would come back and get beaten again. She told me she had to. That she was meant to fight, and that no matter how many battles she lost, she would fight until her last breath. Then I asked her why she had to fight me. I think it's about that time we started to get along quite well."

"She seemed to be … quite a firecracker", Sally said with a smile.

"She was. Full of life, always ready to laugh or explode with anger. Life with her was never boring."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry she was taken from you …"

"Don't be. I am not anymore. I think I am starting to understand. She died just as she lived, fighting. She wouldn't have had it any other way. She lived and died for her ideal. And if there's one thing I know for sure, it's that she died happy, because she knew she had protected me."

Wufei bent his head, looking for his next words.

"I think I blamed myself for her death for a long time now. I thought it should have been me. But I think in her eyes she couldn't do me a greater gift. She knew she was lost, but she fought 'til the end. Protecting me and our students with her last breath. Moping around is absolutely no way to thank her. She wouldn't want me to carry her ghost around for the rest of my life."

"Wufei, I …"

Sally's voice was choked by emotion, but she was pinned as the black eyes suddenly looked at her.

"I think I have a lot of people to thank for making me see this. Quatre, and Duo, and … you."

Sally's light blue eyes widened.

"Me ? What exactly did I do ? I mean apart from cutting your wife's body after she was dead ?"

"Well, that's putting it crudely, but you did your job. You are a doctor. You help people to heal. I was starting to heal, but something was missing. I think everything's alright now."

Sally closed her eyes, not daring to understand what she wanted to understand in those words. Was he actually trying to tell her …

"Sally, are you sure you're alright ?"

"Yes, yes, I am", Sally answered a bit too quickly. "But really, you don't have to thank me. I just … well I did my job, as you said."

'Great, Sally', she slapped herself mentally. 'That was the way to say it. You couldn't have pushed him away more clearly.'

She closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she jumped with surprise. The black eyes were far too close, and a honey-colored hand was pushing a few strands that had escaped from her braids away from her face.

"You are someone wonderful, Sally", Wufei said almost in a whisper. "If I didn't know Maxwell would beat me to pulp for even thinking it, I'd say you deserve much better than me. But I want to say thank you."

Sally had to actually fight a yelp back as smooth lips suddenly closed on her own. 'Okay, let's pause and think. Wufei is kissing me. WUFEI IS KISSING ME ! Ohmygodohmygodohmygod!' That was her last coherent thought as she started to answer to the kiss quite enthusiastically. She almost let out a small whimper of dissatisfaction as it ended. And was surprised to see the young man in front of her positively blushing with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry", he muttered, "I shouldn't have done that."

"I'm not about to complain", Sally said between short gasps. "In fact, I don't think I would complain if you did it again just right now. Gods, I've been trying not to jump on you since the first time we met."

"Really ?", Wufei asked, his eyes now sparkling with laughter, and it was her turn to blush in embarrassment.

"Yeah", she admitted reluctantly. "I … well, I didn't think it was very nice to jump someone when I had autopsied their wife earlier, so I tried to keep it to myself, but …"

She was silenced by another quick kiss.

"And for myself, this is not just saying thank you", Wufei said. "I admire and respect you a lot, Sally. It won't go any further than that if you don't want it to."

Sally resisted the urge to yell that she wanted to take it much further than that. If nothing else, it was neither the right time, nor the right place.

"Wufei, I … I think we're both tense, and there's something big happening tomorrow. I don't want to make a mistake."

"I understand."

The reply was soft. Too soft maybe, and Sally hastily explained herself.

"What I mean is, I am really attracted to you, Wufei. But there is a lot going on, and I'm not sure we should be starting anything right now. It could lead us to distraction, and we can't really afford that right now. I … Do you think, once it is over, that we could start this conversation again ? And … maybe take it further ?"

A big smile was all the answer she needed, and she got it.

"Sure", Wufei said. "I'd like that, and I think you're right. Tomorrow, one way or the other, it'll be over. Once I've laid my ghosts down to rest, it will be a lot easier."

Sally smiled back, happy to have reached some kind of understanding with the dark-haired young man. Yes, when this would be over, things could start again … for both of them.

"Wufei, would you like just to stay here a while longer with me ?", she asked barely above a whisper.

He didn't answer, but just drew her closer to him. Her arm closed around his waist almost out of its own will, and she laid her head on his shoulder. She never knew when he started to gently stroke her hair, but right now she honestly didn't care. They just sat here, content with each other's company and contemplating a world of futures. Wufei was smiling to himself. It made all the difference in the world when you had someone waiting for you.

O.O.O.O.O

(1) Japanese for 'Are you okay ?'

(2) One of the more respectful ways to say 'Thank you', when speaking to someone superior to you.

(3) Japanese for 'I won't forget this.'