Drowning Chapter 4: Gundam Team Reunited, a gundam wing/ac fanfic

Drowning: Chapter 4

Gundam Team Reunited

Pairings: ok you lucky people. I finally decided on some so here they are: 1xR, DxH

Quatre's POV

Warnings: none

Just a few notes on the last chapter: (by the by, thanks people who reviewed! You always give me new ideas to kick around). I decided on the pairings as they are because I think they're the most supported by the series, but I was seriously tempted to turn this into a 4xR fic. I do think though that Relena and Quatre make good friends, so that's what they'll stay. Also, the whole bathroom thing came from growing up in a small house and large family and fighting over the shower in the morning. I think it helps Cat's relationship with his family to know they were close and fought over stupid things. Also I'm pretending that coming from an Arabic background causes the L4 people not to want to waste water, thus the 3 bathroom limit. Ok, so that was a lot of notes. Oh, well.

Disclaimer: don't own Gundam Wing

Wash hands and wrists. Wash out mouth. Cleanse nostrils. Wash entire face: forehead to chin, ear to ear. Right arm, then left, then forehead to back of neck. Delicate insides of ears must also be washed. Wipe around the neck. Wash the feet

Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar

Ashhadu Allah ilaaha illa-Lah, Ashhadu Allah ilaaha illa-Lah Ash Hadu anna Muhamadar rasuulullah, Ash Hadu anna Muhamadar rasuulullah Hay ya' alas Salaah, Hay ya' alas Salaah Hay ya' ala Falaah, Hay ya' ala Falaah Qad qaamitis Salaah, Qad qaamitis Salaah Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar Laa ilaaha illa-Lah

Alluha Akbar

Subhaana ala humma wa bihamdika wa tabaara kasmuka wa ta'aalaa jadduka wa laa ilaaha ghairuk

A'uudhu billaahi minash shaitaan ar-Rajeem

Bismillaah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem

Al hamdu lillaahi rabbil 'alameen Ar-Rahman ar-Raheem Maaliki yaumid Deen Iyyaaka na'abudu wa iy yaaka nasta'een Ihdinas siraatal mustaqeem Siraatal ladheena an 'amta' alaihim Ghairil maghduubi' alaihim waladaaleen Aameen

Bismillaah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem Wal 'Asr Innal insaana lafee khusr Illal ladhenna aamannu Wa 'amilus saalihaati wa tawaasau bilhaqq Wa tawaasau bis sabr

Allahu Akbar

Subhanna rabbiyal 'Azeem, Subhanna rabbiyal 'Azeem, Subhanna rabbiyal 'Azeem

Sami' allaahu liman hamidah

Rabbanaa wa lakal hamd

Allahu Akbar

Subhaana rabbiyal 'Alaa, Subhaana rabbiyal 'Alaa, Subhaana rabbiyal 'Alaa

Allahu Akbar

Subhaana rabbiyal 'Alaa, Subhaana rabbiyal 'Alaa, Subhaana rabbiyal 'Alaa

Allahu Akbar

Bismillaah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem

Bismillaah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem Qul huwallaahu ahad Allahus samad Lam yalid wa lam yuulad Wa lamyakun lahuuu kufuwan ahad

At Tahiyyaatu lilaahi was Salawaatu wat tayibaatu As Salaamu 'alaika ayyuhan nabiyyu wa rahmatul laahi wa barakaatuh As Salaamu 'alainaa wa 'alaa 'ebaadillaahis saaliheen, Ash hadu allaa ilaah ilallaah Wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhuu wa rasuuluh

Allahu Akbar

Bismillaah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem

As Salaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatulaah 1

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Father is there to guide me up the steps of the Mosque. There's sand blowing around the bottom of my robe. It stings a little, but I'm too excited to care much. My hand is small in his. We are going to Mosque today. Father is taking me to Mosque…

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I'm nervous. The clenching in my belly won't go away. I'm taking deep breathes but that only seems to make it worse. Please Allah, don't let me screw up. Not today. Father is counting on me. Today I recite the Qur'an…

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There's blood all over the steps and the sun is drying it. Gluing it down like morbid paint. The Sahara will soon cover it up. It's almost time for the Sirocco to blow. I won't be able to forget what happened here. The death screams of men terrified to die, though they know Allah will welcome them into paradise. I wonder why they're so afraid if their faith is that strong. I'm not afraid to die. Father took me by the hand and led me to God…

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Where was God when I was dying a hundred deaths? Where was Allah when they put the test subjects into the fires and burned them to death? Where was my God when they left me alone to die? I wasn't afraid to die. I was with the God of Death…

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I don't think I've ever been as disoriented as I am now. I recognize that I'm in my bed at home, but it's dark outside and I don't know what's going on. There are so many emotions drifting around…drifting like sand over blood…that I can't keep track of it all.

There's someone standing over me. Or something. No, definitely a someone. He's dressed all in black and talking a mile a minute. Ah. Duo.

"Hey Cat! You're finally awake! Jeez, man? What's been happening to you? You look like shit."

Good old Duo. Still knows how to talk at that perfect speed that only lets me catch about half of what he's saying. And that's when I'm totally awake and not nursing a splitting headache.

"Duo…" I'm trying valiantly not to wince as I sit up. "SLOW DOWN."

"Oh, hey man. Sorry 'bout that. You seem a little foggy still. You need help sitting up?" He asks contritely.

It feels good to have his arm around me. It's safe and reassuring and brotherly all at the same time. As soon as the room stops spinning I'm able to look up at him and smile. I wouldn't have thought that he would ever be taller than me.

"I'm ok now. Thanks Duo. Uh, Duo?"

"Ya, bud?"

"Um, what's going on? Why are there so many people in the house?"

"Wow. You must have some killer hearing or something! I can't even hear the other guys moving around downstairs."

"The other guys?" I ask desperately, trying to cover my sudden lapse in good sense. At least I know now that nobody but my family knows about me. Well, knows about that part of me.

"Yep! Me, Heero and Trowa all got here about five hours ago. Wufei is here too…he's not really talking to us though…"

I forgot he was still feeling terribly guilty over the whole Marimeia incident. I'm touched and a little surprised that he came at all.

"We got a call from Relena saying that you were in a bad way and needed us here. By the time we got here, you had…well…had another, you know…"

"Episode?"

"Ya. You, um…you ok?" I could tell he was trying to remain cool and not get emotional. His one hand gripping the sheet on my bed had turned white.

"I…I don't know. I'm glad you guys are here though. Really glad. I don't know what's going on with me," I say shakily, "To tell you the truth…I'm terrified."

I look up at him again, trying to decide if he's disappointed in me, if he thinks I've gone soft.

Instead his arm around me tightens and he nods his head a little.

"We're all pretty scared too. It's not everyday you hear one of your best friends wakes up screaming every night and seizures out every once and a while." He's laughing but there isn't any humor in it.

"Wakes up screaming?" I don't remember that.

"Your sisters told us. And just a few minutes ago you were crying in your sleep."

We're quiet for a few minutes. I'm trying to absorb all this and Duo is silently freaking out, something I've never seen him do. Duo never does anything silently. Well, except kill people.

The three other guys took that moment to make their appearance. They haven't changed all that much since I saw them at New Years. It's comforting to know that I see them often enough that I can't noticeably see them growing up.

After a subdued round of greetings we settle into a companionable silence. Duo's arm is getting heavy and sweaty on my thin shoulders but I don't mind and he doesn't move it. For the first time in months I feel protected. Safe from the visions that haunt not only my days, but my nights as well now.

In the distance I can hear the muadhdhin calling the faithful to prayer.

Again, thanks to my reviewers. If you would also like to have questions answered or give me suggestions on the story, don't hesitate to review because I really do read them!

-NostalgieMalaak

1 Salaat: Muslim prayer performed five times a day