Part 33
Zechs saw everything happen as if in slow motion. The expression of utter disbelief on Heero's face as Quatre fell, soon replaced by anguish, fear and rage. The slow drawing of the gun as the young killer suddenly turned again to Une. The almost careless aim. The bullet, searing through the air and hitting Une right in the middle of the forehead, its hollow point exploding and ravaging the brain mercilessly. The thump of her body falling on the street. It took less than three seconds, and yet seemed to last an eternity.
The moment was broken by the loud clatter of Heero's gun as the Japanese young man let it fall on the floor. Everyone had seemed pretty much paralyzed. Heero fell on his knees and carefully cradled Quatre on his lap. His voice was completely panicked, a fact Zechs was sure no one else had witnessed before.
"Katoru ! Katoru, answer me ! Katoru !"
"Cat !", Duo exclaimed, coming closer as fast as he dared. "Motherfucking son of a bitch ! If she wasn't dead already, I'd kill her myself !"
"Out of the way !", Sally barked. "Let me see this ! Wufei, call an ambulance ! Mil, you tape the crime scene and you call the paramedics for the body ! You tell those people at the morgue that if anyone touches that body before me, they won't live long enough to be sorry ! I need something to stop the blood !"
Without a word, Wufei took his white Chinese blouse and tore it, giving it to Sally as she tried to evaluate the seriousness of the wound.
"It's deep, and bleeding a lot, but I don't think vital organs have been touched. He's in shock, he needs to be kept warm !"
Trowa took off his coat and helped Heero wrap Quatre in it as slowly as possible, so that Sally would still be able to press on the wound with Wufei's now bloodied shirt.
"How bad is it really, Sally ?", Wufei asked earnestly.
Sally looked up.
"As long as we can keep him warm and stop the blood and get him to hospital the soonest possible, he will make it. He'll probably need a transfusion, and some surgery, but if the damn ambulance would please arrive five minutes ago that would be fine ! Mil ?"
"I can hear them", the tall agent replied.
Duo turned to Heero, who was muttering incoherently in Japanese under his breath, his eyes locked to Quatre's impossibly pale face.
"Heero ?"
Heero did not react. Very cautiously, Duo put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
"Heero ? You here with us, buddy ?"
Confused Prussian blue eyes locked with violet.
"I can't feel him, Duo. He's … gone."
"Now, don't freak out, Heero", Duo said in his most soothing voice. "I'm sure it's just because he's unconscious. You heard Sal, he's gonna be fine. He has to."
Before he could add a word, Trowa had knelt beside Heero, putting a comforting hand around his shoulders. When he spoke, it was in the same comforting tone Duo knew he used when coaxing the lions at the circus.
"Calm down, Heero. Everything will be alright. He's hurt, not dead. And he's got something to live for. Someone to come back to. He'll fight. I know it. He won't let you down."
"I should have protected him …"
"You did everything that was in your power, Heero. It's not your fault. Maybe you don't believe it because I'm the one saying it, but I know he'll say the same when he wakes up."
"I …"
Heero looked up in the green eyes. Trowa just looked back, radiating calm confidence.
"Trust him, Heero. He has faith in you. Have the same faith in him."
Heero almost jumped as a third hand joined the first two on his shoulder. Wufei was standing behind him.
"We're all in this together, Heero", the Chinese said. "I trust Quatre. He is strong. He will make it."
"D … Doumo sumimasen (1)", Heero whispered, holding out a hand to brush sweat-soaked light blond bangs from Quatre's face.
"Any time, Heero", Wufei answered, straightening up as the ambulance finally arrived.
"About time !", Sally screamed, jumping on the poor paramedics. "I have two wounded, bullets, KTPs. One clean shot, left shoulder, bullet came out. He is stable and conscious. One lower back wound, bullet is still inside, patient in shock and unconscious, doesn't answer to light or pain, lost a lot of blood. I need someone to warn ahead for a theatre block and assistants to be ready as soon as we get in !"
"Excuse me but who are you ?"
"I am the one who will fuckin' kick your ass if you don't get a move on and the only doctor in this galaxy to know how to treat these kind of wounds ! Now MOVE !"
Thirty seconds later, Quatre was eased on a stretcher, an IV line in his arm and a fresh compressive bandage around his midsection. Sally all but shoved Heero with him in the ambulance.
"I'm coming with you !", she said. "I can stay with him and stitch your shoulder during the ride. Wufei, you'll find a ride to the hospital ?"
Wufei nodded.
"Good. Mil, you warn Noin and have someone warn Iria Winner, too. And find a way to stop the freakin' reporters from jumping us !"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Let's go !"
O.O.O.O.O
When Wufei, Trowa and Duo made it to the hospital, they were taken by Rashid straight to the surgery waiting lobby. Heero was here, standing by a stretcher, his hand clutching Quatre's. Sally was here too, wearing a blue surgical gown, and giving instructions to the assistants.
"Glad you could make it", she said, beaming, when she saw them. "I was just telling Heero what is going to happen. I will operate myself, I'm the only surgeon here with enough experience on that type of wounds. We managed to stabilize him in the ambulance. He lost a lot of blood, but a transfusion is all he needs. There may be damage to a kidney, but the worst that can happen is that we'll have to remove it. We were able to get him here very fast, and that's good."
"He'll be alright ?", Heero asked.
"This is a severe wound, Heero, but he is in no mortal danger."
The blond doctor came closer and took Heero's free hand, forcing him to look at her in the eyes.
"I'll take care of him, Heero. I swear. Tomorrow, he'll be awake and smiling at you."
"Or yelling at you", Duo mumbled under his breath.
Trowa elbowed him, but couldn't help the little smile that crept on his face.
"It'll take approximately four hours, then we'll move him to ICU. We are lucky, the point did explode, but the shards are still attached to the case, which means there's no risk of forgetting one and starting an infection. You can all stay here. I suppose you're all staying."
"You bet we are !", Duo exclaimed.
"Good. Try to relax. It'll be fine. Oh, and Heero, a nurse will bring you some pain pills soon. You take them. No discussion", she added firmly when Heero started to protest he had had worse. "I don't wanna hear it. This one will need you at one hundred percent when he wakes up."
That was a low blow and Sally knew it, but she also knew it probably was the only way Heero would swallow the pills. The Japanese young man looked at Quatre again, then bent and deposited a light kiss on the pale forehead.
"Come back to me, koi", he whispered.
He straightened again, let go of Quatre's hand and took a step back.
"I trust you, Sally", he said.
"Well, that warms my heart, but he's the one who'll do all the work, Heero. When you fight to stay alive, that's more than half of the way."
She smiled kindly, then put on her mask. The assistants started to roll the stretcher away, leaving Heero, Trowa, Duo, Wufei and Rashid behind. The tall security guard soon left to make sure no reporters tried to sneak into the hospital. There was a heavy silence floating in the room as he went out. As usual, Duo was the first to break it.
"Heero ?"
Heero did not answer, gaze still fixed on the corridor Sally and Quatre had disappeared into. Duo moved a bit closer.
"Heero ? You should sit down, pal. You look like you just saw a ghost."
"I think I saw one", Heero murmured back.
"Huh ?"
"The ghost of my old life. I had a feeling it was coming back to haunt me again."
Duo shot a quizzical look to Trowa, unsure of what to do. The tall youngster came closer too.
"Get some rest, Heero", he said. "We have four hours to wait. We're not gonna stand all that time."
"I'll get us some food, or somethin'", Duo said, hurrying away. "Anything happens while I'm gone, you yell and I'm back here faster than you think."
He left. When Heero made no move to sit down whatsoever, Wufei let out an exasperated sigh and forcefully led him to a plastic chair near a window.
"What's wrong ?", he asked.
"I … I can't feel him."
"Duo told you it's because he's unconscious."
"Yeah, but … It's … you have no idea …"
"No, you're right, I don't. Sorry. Just … stay calm, okay ? Sally said everything is going to be alright. I believe her."
"I believe her too, Wufei."
There was a short pause.
"I just have to make sure it doesn't happen again because of me. Permanently."
"I see. First thing first, this did not happen because of you. The only person at fault in this is the one who pulled the trigger and it was not you."
"If I had, this wouldn't have happened."
"No one will ever know that and it does no good to dwell on the past. Pull yourself together, Yuy, 'cause if you don't, I'll make sure you will, and you're not gonna like my method ! Yes, we made mistakes today. WE, Yuy. Not you. We. I could have knocked her out out of rage, and Gods know I wanted to do it, and I refrained just because I wanted to prove I was a better human being than she was. Zechs could have confiscated her gun. There is a lot of things we could have done. We didn't, and what happened, happened. There's nothing we can change in the past. But you know he will be alright. So stop beating yourself up and think of how happy he'll be to see you."
A small smile finally made its way on Heero's face.
"Do I do anything but thank you lately, Chang ?"
"No, but I kinda like it that way, so you can keep on", Wufei said, deadpan. "Now can we just sit and wait for Maxwell and see if he actually managed to find something edible here ?"
"Define 'edible', Wufei", Trowa said, sitting down.
O.O.O.O.O
Four hours and a half later, Sally came back. Her gown was bloodied and she looked exhausted, but she was smiling. As soon as she entered the lobby, she found four young men standing and anxiously waiting for news.
"Everything went alright. We had a little fright when we lost his tension, but he's fine now. The bullet came out, we stitched everything right back in place, and we even manage to let his kidney in. He's in ICU with a transfusion now. We only have to wait for him to wake up."
Heero came forward and bowed to Sally.
"Arigatou gozaimasu (2), Sally-sama."
Then he turned around and began to make his way out, only to be stopped by Duo.
"Where do you think you're going ?"
"There's something I need to finish."
"Does it have to be now ? Cat'll want to see you !"
"He's asleep for the moment."
"Uh, I suppose he will be for a good eight hours", Sally cut in.
"That's more than enough", Heero said. "Let go, Duo, please."
"But, Heero …"
"Please."
Trowa came forward and gently pulled Duo away from Heero. He then looked for something in his pocket, took it out and presented it to Heero. It was his Glock. The gun he had killed Une with, and that he had let fall on the street. He had not bothered to pick it up, given he had had much on his mind at that particular moment. But Trowa had. And the green-eyed young man was giving it back to him without an hesitation, although Heero had no doubt he knew what he had planned to do with it.
"Do what you have to, Heero", Trowa said, "but better come back before he wakes up, or I'll kick your ass into next year."
"Wakatta. Doumo (3)."
Heero turned to Wufei, who just bowed slightly to him.
"Do as you see fit, Heero", the Chinese said. "I just hope this will help you find your peace as I found mine."
Heero nodded tersely. He took out the clip, emptied it, then slowly inserted five bullets in it again, before holstering the gun. He looked again at Trowa and Wufei, who silently gave their acceptance, and Duo, who had not a clue what was going on there but was assuming he was better off keeping his mouth shut. And then he left, the door silently sliding shut behind him.
"Oooookaaay, would anyone please care to explain what's going on ?", Duo said, his voice a bit strained by anger. "Why is he leaving now ?"
"Duo …", Trowa started.
"And what the hell were you doing picking up that gun and giving it back to him and all ? What did I miss ?"
"Calm down, Maxwell, and for God's sake don't raise your voice we're in a hospital !"
"He went to the Doctors", Trowa said flatly.
"What ?", Duo asked.
"The ones who hired him first. He'll make sure they won't be a threat anymore."
"Ya mean he's gonna kill them."
"There's a good chance."
"But …"
"That's enough, Maxwell", Wufei interrupted. "I do not approve of the methods, I do not approve of the motives, but we would be fools to think the GSA will be able to hold them long. And Yuy is only true to his word. He swore he would kill anyone trying to kill Quatre. He's just being a man of honor."
"So you guys are letting him ?"
"What would you have us do, Duo ?", Trowa asked calmly. "None of us could have prevented him from going. And I, for one, can say I am not sorry for them. I will not cry upon their tombs, that's for sure, and I'm sure neither will you, so what's wrong ?"
"I dunno, it's just …"
"You don't have to like it, Duo. But he needs to do it. Give him this at least."
"Fine ! Whatever you say, it's not my problem after all !"
"Then why are you still talking about it ?", Wufei said pointedly.
O.O.O.O.O
Three days later, when Treize Kushrenada finally agreed to reveal the location of the Doctor's headquarters, the GSA Special Squad was sent to arrest them. They were too late. When they entered the conference room, they were greeted by corpses. Each of the Doctors was still in his chair, a little hole in the middle of the forehead. On each of the corpses, the GSA Agents found an ace of spades. The one on Dr J's body was bearing a small inscription in Japanese.
'Ninmu kanryou (4).'
O.O.O.O.O
AC 198, August 28th, L4 Colony Cluster, Fatimah Private Medical Center, ICU Ward, 4:36 AM
Someone was calling him. Quatre shifted on the bed, trying to open his eyes. His head felt heavy, and his whole body was numb. The smell around was strange too, a mix of medicines and detergent. There was noise, an insistent beep in the background. And that sweet voice calling him.
Quatre tried harder, willing his mind to get clearer. The background noises became easier to hear. More feeling was returning into his body. He could feel IV lines into his arms. The beep came from a cardiac monitor, and he realized almost with a start that it was beeping in time with his own heart.
'I'm in hospital. What happened ? I …'
The sweet voice was still there. Someone was sitting near his bed, but not touching him, and talking. In a foreign language. But talking to him, Quatre could hear, every now and then, the sound of his own name rolling in a strange sonority.
'I know that voice. I know it …'
Then, that little part of his mind suddenly uncoiled, reached out and connected with something … so hard and so tender at the same time, something he had craved for all his life, something he had had before and almost lost. The person at his bedside stopped talking.
'Heero … It's Heero … he's alright.'
Slowly, very slowly, pale eyelids opened, revealing green-blue eyes still blurred by artificial sleep. Quatre blinked several times, adjusting to the low luminosity of the room, then turned his head to discover a stunned Heero sitting in a chair just beside his bed. The young man was holding his breath. He was still wearing the same clothes as the day before.
"Hee … Heero ?", Quatre croaked, his voice made harsh by the anesthetics.
"Shh, don't talk now, let me get you something to drink."
There was no water, but Heero found some ice chips and gave some to Quatre so that he could make them melt on his tongue.
"Heero … What happened ? I don't …"
Quatre stopped talking as several images played through his mind.
"I got shot", he said blankly, not really sure how he knew that.
Heero nodded.
"Une ?", Quatre asked.
Another nod.
"What …"
"She's dead."
There was a short silence.
"Heero, what's wrong ?"
"You scared me."
"I am really, really sorry, love. I didn't want to …"
"I know. I know."
"Why don't you come closer ? What is it ? Heero …"
Silently, Heero took the now empty gun out of his holster and carefully put it on the bedside cabinet. Then he stepped back, not daring to look up at Quatre. The young Arabian stared a moment at the gun, comprehension failing him. His gaze traveled for a while between Heero, still head bent, and the gun. Then, the huge green-blue eyes widened.
"Heero, you …"
"I had to, Katoru. Those were my last bullets. I had to. So that you would be safe."
Very slowly, Heero eventually looked up, ready for everything. Or so he thought. The little voice was nagging him again.
'If he throws you out, you've still got one bullet to fire, buddy.'
'No. He won't. He won't. Will he ?'
Their eyes connected. Their minds too. And all Heero saw there was a huge sorrow, a bit of pain, and above all love. Quatre opened his arms, still a bit weak and bothered by the IV lines.
"Come here, love", he whispered. "I want to touch you. Please."
Heero took an hesitant step and sat on the bed. When he made no further move, Quatre reached out and grabbed him, roughly pulling his lover against his chest and holding tight, trying to make all that guilt and that fear in the eyes he loved go away.
"Gomen nasai, Katoru. Gomen nasai, gomen …", Heero chanted like a litany, lost in the arms that encircled him.
"What is there to forgive, Heero ?"
"I didn't protect you."
"This is most definitely not your fault, love. I swear I don't blame you. It was foolish to turn my back on an armed killer."
"My hands are covered in blood, Katoru. I murdered five men."
"I know, love. I know. And I'm not saying I'm happy about it, 'cause that would be a lie, but … I understand, Heero. Remember I can look into your soul. I understand."
"How can you still want me … after that ?", Heero whispered.
Quatre just held him tighter.
"How many times do I have to tell you this, Heero ? I'm lost without you. If you're not here, it's like my heart has been taken from me, I'm just an empty shell. I need you. I won't let this get between us, love. I won't let you take all the blame and fade in self-misery. I … I love you, and I don't want you to leave me. Please tell me you're not going away, Heero. Tell me you won't leave me."
"Katoru, I … of course I don't want to leave ! I thought …"
"You think too much !"
Heero's eyes fell on the gun and he suppressed a shudder, but it didn't get past Quatre.
"Heero ? What …"
"I … I am tired, Katoru. I'm tired of killing. I'm tired of that empty thing my life has become."
"Oh, Heero …"
"I want … I want to forget. I want to stay here and forget everything. Make me forget, please."
Quatre took Heero's face in his hands, peering intently in the Prussian Blue eyes. Heero did look exhausted. A sharp pain tugged against Quatre's consciousness, and it only took him seconds to react.
"Let the tears out, love. Let them out. You need it, I can feel it. You were there for me, when I needed you most, now it's my turn. Just … let them out."
Heero felt a strange sensation in his chest and a tingling in his eyes. He didn't remember feeling quite like this before, happy and in the same time so full of pain that it was just waiting to explode. The first tear came out, rolling down his cheek slowly, and Quatre kissed it away reverently. Once it had started, though, there was no stopping it, and not too long after, Heero was sobbing against Quatre's chest, his hands buried in the blond hair. Quatre was caressing the chocolate bangs in front of his eyes, and rubbing gentle circles in Heero's back, but not saying a thing. He was letting his heart speak for him, letting out all his love and need, all his support through their bond and their physical contact. And Heero cried all the tears he hadn't before.
Quatre had no idea how long it lasted, the only noise behind being the cardiac monitor who was still quietly beeping. But when Heero finally calmed down, the young Arabian could feel the pain lifting off his lover chest, leaving just an exhausted young man behind. Quatre did not hesitate and captured Heero lips in a heartfelt, passionate kiss, pouring out all his love in it.
"I love you, Heero Yuy. We are going to make it, I know it. It is going to take time, but I know together we can make it. I gave you my heart, you gave me yours. I promise I'll take good care of it."
"Ai shiteiru, koi", Heero sniffled. "Ore ga omae to eien ni imasu (5)."
"Good. That's my plan too."
O.O.O.O.O
(1) And there you go, another way of saying thank you to someone who is your equal or your friend ! Thanks L-sama !
(2) And another one, to someone who is your superior on the social scale.
(3) 'Understood. Thanks.'
(4)To those of you who don't have the chance to have seen Gundam Wing on DVD and as such haven't heard that particular Heero catch phrase after 'Omae wo korosu' and 'Ninmu ryoukai', this ones means 'Mission accomplished'.
(5) 'I'll stay with you forever'. He said that already, didn't he ? scrambles around to find old notes anyway, another thanks to Laurence-sama for the translation.