Chapter Thirteen

Crash

Sometimes Tai wondered about this entire Christmas thing. It was the same every year. You go to sleep, wake up with a little girl screaming in your face, blearily open some presents but quite honestly can't think or see straight so when people look at you to see your excitement, all they get is a vague "Mwahan." Then they pull out the cameras. Just what he always wanted–pictures of him with a near afro.

Then you stuffed your face and feel like a blob for a week because you've managed to gain ten pounds in one day. And there was the lack of privacy, and the silliness, and mushy couples.

Tai pushed his curtain of shaggy hair from his eyes and yawned widely and Yachi pat his cheeks from her sitting position on his legs. "Come on, just smile for the camera!"

"I need to be awake in order to instruct my face."

Yachi giggled and flung her arms around his neck. "You're so silly!"

Tai let his head flop against the couch and succumbed to the situation. He couldn't really fight against it. Yachi clinging to his chest, little Umiko was sitting on the couch he was leaning against, playing with his hair, and the baby had plopped himself at Tai's feet and proceeded to confuse his toes with his pacifier. It was a good thing Tai wasn't ticklishor at least not there.

"You need to shave," Yachi was saying as she rubbed her hands up his sandpapery five o'clock face.

"That would be because it's morning Yachi," Toshi said from the other end of the room. He was fiddling with some new gadget of his. Tai wasn't sure what it was for, but it beeped shrilly every few seconds.

Then Hanako came to his rescue. She pulled her little boy from his feet and scolded Umiko while Tai found the energy to shove Yachi off of him. But she kept skipping behind him.

"Mom, can I help you?" he asked, slouching into the kitchen.

She looked up from the counter where she was kneading raisins into a blob of dough. "No, I'm just fine!"

"Please?" he looked at her hopefully as Yachi dragged a chair behind him and attempted a flying leap onto his shoulders.

But mid jump Gina appeared and pulled the chair out from under Yachi, and she fell to the ground. "Oops!" she said with mock innocence. "I didn't notice you there!"

Yachi sat up and glared at her sister. "Mom! Gina's being mean again!!"

"Yachi, I think you are little over active. Maybe you should leave Tai alone for a little while," she said patiently. "And that wasn't very nice Gina." Gina shrugged her usual careless expression. Her latest excuse for abusing her siblings was "It's his fault!" as she pointed to her swollen belly.

But this was all the diversion Tai needed. He slipped out of the room and flew up the stairs for his vent. He had taken a pillow and blanket up there for this very situation. Incredible things, these archaic air vents. Modern ones were much too tight to fit in comfortably, but these older ones.

But he didn't get very far with his plans. Huy was lying on the top bunk, staring at the ceiling blankly. His eyes looked a bit glassy.

Tai pulled himself up and hung onto the bed by his elbows, feet dangling below. "You thinking about her again?"

Huy blinked and turned to look at his brother. His eyes had turned a nasty greenish-purple color that brought to mind either a severely hung-over druggy, or Igor of Frankenstein. "She was so excited to spend Christmas with us. I thought it would be nice to share Christmas with her, thought maybeI don't even know what I thought."

"You thought you'd spend the rest of your life with her. No more stupid playing games with women or lonely nights. You thought she was a constant in your life."

"Yah." Huy looked down at his hands, then looked wryly at his brother. "You sure sound like you know what you're talking about."

"Don't even get started. Stop thinking right now."

"So you admit that I do think!" he exclaimed triumphantly.

Tai couldn't let him get away with this. "From time to time, yes."

Huy grinned sheepishly. "Do you think that she'll take me back, Tai?"

"Definitely. Just don't act like a two-year old again. It'll be okay. She loves you."

"Do you ever wonder why we ended up together even though she met you first?" Huy asked.

"Not really. I know why so I don't need to wonder."

"Really? Why?"

"Because I wasn't interested in finding anyone and at the time we met, neither was she. She was scared and hurt. She would never trust someone with her heart again, at least that's what she thought then. I think somehow I gained her trust so when she met you, she had me in mind except all new, as if we'd met again and she was happy and healed. Only you were interested in finding someone. And it worked."

"You don't think it's because we are so different then?" Huy asked curiously.

"Partly. But I don't think we are really THAT different. We definitely are different, but we aren't totally alien from each other."

Huy grinned at his brother. "Thanks for not being interested."

"Anytime."

"And thanks for beating me over the head."

Tai smiled at him. "Sure thing."

"You and Deirdreso you honestly don't want her?" Huy changed the subject.

Tai sighed and rested his chin on his hands. "It's too complicated. But we are just friends. Nothing more."

Then Huy nodded and seemed to accept his brother's unwillingness to talk about it. Then he looked up at the air vent. "So that's how you escape herI was wondering how you did it."

"But you never needed to find a spot. She doesn't attack you guys as much as she does me!"

"Maybe be." Huy grinned again.

Kiki rolled over in bed. She could hear Kieko jabbering excitedly in the kitchen. That girl was way too lively. Deirdre was always happy and sweet, but never that talkative. And at first Kiki thought Kieko would just bawl the entire visit, but she was wrong. The two of them seemed to be a bit of a deadly combination. They'd been prancing around the apartment like they were five again and believed that Santa Clause came down the chimney, reindeer and all.

"Kiki!" Deirdre called cautiously into the room. "Come on! It's snowing outside! It's so pretty." Her face was gleaming with excitement. "Kieko and I are going to make a snowman. Come on!"

Kiki grumbled incoherently and flopped over. "Kiki!" Kieko had entered the room too. There was a groan of springs as the girls sat on the end of the bed. "It's Christmas. You can't waste away the day in bed. It'll be gone before you know it."

"I'll get her up," Deirdre was saying. "Why don't you go on, Kieko."

Kieko made a few noises of protest, but finally got up. "Kiki, you've been unusually quiet and cranky. What's happened? Is it because Kieko's around?" Deirdre said, with large imploring eyes that Kiki refused to look at.

Kiki snorted at Kieko's name. "What's with that girl anyway? I thought she was upset about her boyfriend."

"She is. She was crying again last night. I heard her," Deirdre told her quietly. "I think she's just trying very hard not to think about it. They were engaged after all."

"Not anymore then."

"Not necessarily." For some reason Kiki was feeling even more annoyed. What right did Kieko have being happy. If she loved this guy that much she should be much more upset. She slipped back into her moody silence.

Deirdre rested a hand delicately on her shoulder and shook her gently. "Kiki?"

"It doesn't matter, leave me alone. I'm just sleepy." Kiki blinked hard–her eyes were prickling and stinging slightly. But Deirdre continued to sit there quietly, a hand on her shoulder. Kiki could feel the kind eyes boring into her. Deirdre would probably sit there for hours, not speaking if she had to. Drat her. Kiki would have to say something to get rid of her.

"I was just wishing that I could take my mom to the Philippians," she said dully.

"Why can't you?" Deirdre did not seem surprised at her admission of this secret ambition.

"Because I'm a poor student with nothing to my name" Kiki wanted to add, "You ignorant, blind, dope," but decided that wasn't very kind and Deirdre was just trying to help.

Deirdre smiled softly. "But you'll be able to do it some day. You're very good at saving money." To her that seemed to settle the matter because she stood up and pulled the blanket off of her disgruntled roommate.

"Wha" Kiki started.

"Well, get up! If you aren't going to talk about it or work something out, then move," she said cheerfully. "There are mounds of snow waiting for us!"

Kiki sat up slowly and Deirdre thrust some clothes at her. Five minutes later they left the apartment to be hit full in the face by very cold, very wet snowballs. Kieko laughed merrily from below.

Just what Kiki needed right nowa good fight to work off her frustrations and worry. She grinned down at Kieko and narrowed her eyes evilly. Kieko seemed to sense the danger and took off, disappearing around the corner, dark hair whipping wildly behind her.

Deirdre sighed and leaned against the wooden railing of the apartment building. She'd stayed up all night with Kieko and was exhausted. The girl was putting up a good front around Kiki and the general public, everyone she didn't know, but around Deirdre, who she knew at least a little, she was a basket case crying inconsolably. Deirdre had half a mind to hide all sharp objects from her. Kieko didn't seem the type to do something like that, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

Heero never asked her for anything, but when he'd called her about Kieko, she knew it must be serious. She never realized it was this serious. And the way Kieko looked as she spoke about Tai, even though he was her fiancé's twin, was of utmost respect. Deirdre wondered why she wasn't marrying Tai instead of Huy. She did meet Tai first after all. Maybe she'd ask him sometime. But in the meantime, she was very happy that Kieko had chosen Huy.

Julie sat down at the dinner table glared indignantly at the napkin in her glass of water, then across at her big brother, who was grinning at her daring her to retaliate. Great Aunt Lucy was rambling about some by who'd taken her on a sleigh ride when she was a girl, a VERY long time ago, and Grandpa McKinley was mumbling to his mashed potatoes. Her father was cutting up the turkey, oblivious to his surroundings and her mother was glaring daggers at her four children, daring them to disrupt Christmas dinner.

Sighing, Julie pulled the napkin out of her glass and rolled her beans around her plate with a fork. She's just have to get him after dinner when the elderly family members were out of harms way. Besides, she was in a very indulgent mood. The boy she'd met just before coming home had asked for her home number and called her just a few hours ago. He was really nice. Of course Tai was nicer. She quickly shook him out of her mind. She was being silly to even think of Tai. And there were more pressing matters at hand–the napkin war didn't seem to be enough for her brother.

Small green objects flew at her randomly. But every time she looked up her brother was gazing avidly at Great Aunt Lucy. Then one hit her squarely in the forehead. This was war.

Julie stood up slowly from the table with her glass, to refill it at the sink, making a side trip to the freezer.

That evening her mother spent an hour yelling at her children for ruining, yet again, another Christmas dinner. But all Julie thought about was her phone call and the words just bounced off of her.

Kieko was dancing on the balls of her feet as she waited at the shuttleport. She was there just as promised, waiting for the twins. She still wasn't sure if she should forgive and forget or not. If someone had to ability to act a certain way once, they did it again because it was in their nature, and it's incredibly difficult to deny one's natural tendencies. But Tai was okaymaybe it was just a slip upmaybe everything was okay.

During the break, Kieko had stewed over that afternoon, playing it out over and over and over. Her anger had ebbed away and left her with hurt and great disappointment. If only.

But she would just have to see, and wait. She still hadn't told Julie or her own family about the fight, and she probably never would. There was no point to it. If they called of the wedding, it was nobody's business why, she told herself firmly.

Kieko then took to pacing up and down the blue and green tiles, following the patterns of colors like a child.

"Kieko!" Tai called to her. She could always tell the difference between their voices–Huy's was a little bit deeper and lighter. Tai's was only slightly higher pitched, but more solemn.

She whirled around and met Tai in a one-armed hug. "Are you okay?" His eyes searched her face quickly, eyebrows knitting together forming God only knew what conclusion.

"Fine. Deirdre was such a sweetheart. I really owe her."

"No you don't. She was glad to help. She loves helping. If anyone owes her it's me because I requested that you stay with her." Tai released her and turned around. Huy had both of their bags slung around his shoulders and neck, panting heavily and glaring at his brother. "What the heck did you leave me there for with all your crap!" he sputtered.

Tai didn't seem bothered as his brother stopped short, and turned red, looking at Kieko. "What happened to your face?" she asked abruptly. He was covered in slowly healing, yellowish bruises. They looked fairly old, but not gone yet. He looked like he had a run in with a couple brick walls.

"Tai and I had a ratherenthusiastic conversation." Huy looked flustered as he tried to disentangle himself from the bags–it looked like the bags were winning the mini fight though. When he pulled one over his head, the other swung and hit him in the back, he winced and tried to push it away, dropping the first back down onto his shoulders.

Kieko looked up at Tai and blinked. He shrugged. "I was just letting Huy know that he was acting like a little teenage brat."

It was a bit automatic. Had she stopped to think, she certainly wouldn't have helped him. She would have stood there and let Huy struggle and he would have deserved it. But she was a little shocked that Tai had beaten his brother. It seemed that the injuries had been rather one-sided.

She pulled the bags off of Huy and put both hands on his face. "They don't hurt now, do they? I mean, you look nearly healed."

Huy's eyes widened at her touch and she jerked her hands away quickly as if burned, or frozen one. He looked rather disappointed. "I'm fine."

They stood awkwardly staring at each other for a minute, then they both started rambling very quickly.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean."

"I shouldn't have been so harsh on you."

"I'm so sorry."

"Christmas was miserable without you."

"Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry."

"It was so lonely! I never expected to miss you so much!"

"I'm a jerk, and a moron, and I'm sorry, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really."

"Will you shut up already and kiss me!!"

Huy stopped talking, his mouth hanging open like a fish out of water, wordlessly mouthing into the air. Kieko glared at him with her hands on her hips, tapping a foot impatiently. He broke into a grin and grabbed her around the waist. Kieko let out a little startled yelp as he kissed her (Tai thought it looked a bit more like biting though), but quickly recovered and wrapped her arms around his neck, her feet now a couple inches off the floor, hanging on to him. Both were laughing and crying and hardly stopping to breathe. Tai was surprised neither had blacked out.

Tai smiled and picked up the bags and sat down in the nearest chair. He figured they'd be there a while judging from the way they were practically inhaling each other.

Wufei was sitting at his desk typing away. He was having trouble concentrating. Christmas break had been a bit too relaxing, and now that the Heero situation had been amended, he was feeling the stress. All the frustration and righteous indignation had flowed from him, leaving him empty and exhausted. But he prided himself upon his willpower.

Sally came into the room. She'd left just after Christmas to do a few things and arrived several days late. It was the first time he'd seen her since then.

"How was it at Quatre's after I left?" She asked cheerfully. She seemed happy.

"Fine. Normal."

"In other words, Duo and Hilde drove you batty, Zechs and Noin hid away, and Quatre looked politely frightened?"

"That sounds about right" he mumbled.

Sally rushed around the room for a minute or two, shuffling files and digging out her desk from beneath the in-box. She seemed more jittery than usual. Then she paused. "Wufei"

"Yes?" he asked curtly.

She walked up to him and shoved her hand under his nose. It was such close proximity that Wufei went a little cross-eyed and pulled her hand down so he could see what she was showing him.

"I'm engaged" she said softly, happiness positively leaking out of every pore.

Wufei blinked down at the hand. "Kind of sudden isn't? I've never seen you around with anyone." Wufei wasn't sure what was swirling around in him. It was acutely uncomfortable though.

"He works on another base–New Edwards. I met him on one of our missions. But we've been writing and calling and every time we're in the same area we meet. Then we sort of started planning meetings, and one thing just lead to another."

"How long has this been going on?"

"A yearmaybe a little less."

"Congratulations," he said and forced a smile up at her. Things like this always made him think of Meiran, made him wonder what life would be like if she had lived. They were only kids after all.

Sally grinned sheepishly and pranced out of the room. "I'm off to show Noin!" she told him in a singsong voice.

Wufei bent down to his typing again. He had mountains of paper work to catch up on. Glaring at the screen, Wufei stood up quickly and walked briskly to the break room. It was empty, being between lunch and breakfast. Someone had left a cup of steaming coffee sitting on the table. He sat down and stared at the swirling wisps rising from it.

Maybe Sally would be reassigned now that she was getting married. She was the only person he could stand to work with. He hoped that she wouldn't be going far, and maybe they'd have a long engagement. It had never occurred to him the he would lose her some day, and now it was glaring him in the face. He didn't want to think about a life without her. Suddenly he felt a surge of energy and got up, throwing himself furiously into his work again, drowning out his thoughts. Relationships were stupid. It would be so much easier if everyone needed no one then no one would care about anything.

Huy rolled his pencil between his fingers, tapping on his paper as the professor droned on. His last semester. Just one lefthe grinned to himself. A girl next to him glared at his bouncing hand and he desisted, then rested his chin on his folded arms on the pullout-desk. Then the bell rang.

Jumping up, Huy just heard someone shouting out his name. Turning, he waited for a girl who looked vaguely familiar bound up to him.

"Huy Iwasato! How're you doing?" she asked excitedly as they walked off.

"Erokay. How about you?" he asked her awkwardly. He searched his brain frantically, trying to place her face. He knew the bouncy, dark haired girl. Why couldn't he remember?

"I'm good. I'm just visiting a friend so I've been following her around in her classes. I've been thinking about coming her for grad school–they have a really good vet school!"

Huy nodded knowingly. "Of course." Crapwhere did he know this girl from?

"What are you doing? I haven't heard from you in forever! Or Heero! Or any of the other guys for that matter!!"

Huy winced at the name. "Well, could you keep your voice down with that? He goes by Tai now." He was thinking fast. He must have known her in high school.

"Why?"

"Well, you seeit's kind of complicated." He stopped and a dreamy expression came over his face. The girl grimaced at him and looked where he was looking. Kieko came over and linked arms with him. Huy blinked and noticed the girl did not look very happy. "Kieko."

"Huy, darling," she began, and Huy knew he was in trouble for something. She was using that falsely sweet voice of hers. "What did you do with that box of invitations?"

"Invitations?" he asked nervously biting his lip.

"The one's we sealed yesterday? Remember? For my side of the family?"

He scratched his head. "Ummaybe Tai knows."

Kieko rolled her eyes. The dark girl looked expectantly at Huy, and coughed loudly drawing his attention back to her.

"Oh yah! This is Kieko, my fiancée!" he said quickly, hoping that the girl would introduce herself. Then maybe he would remember her.

Keiko smiled. "And you are?"

"Etrea. I'm a friend from high school." She turned to Huy with an eyebrow cocked. "This is nice. Did you plan on telling any of us that you're getting married?"

Huy could've slapped himself in the face. But her hair looked totally different, and she was wearing make-up. "Of course! I'm sending you all invitations."

"Uh-uh," she said sarcastically, one hand on her hip. "So what's up with Heero? Or, Tai, did you say?"

Kieko bit her lip nervously. "She's not one ofshe's not."

"No. She was my friend in high school, not Tai's," Huy said quickly in an undertone. Etrea looked confused so Huy elaborated. "Tai has friends from before we met and they tend to be a bit"

"Okaynone of this makes any sense."

But Kieko was eyeing her fiancé with annoyance. "Listen, Etrea, I really have to go right now, but why don't you stop by my apartment. Tai and I should both be home and we can go and eat or something. What do you think?"

She grinned happily. "Okay. What time?"

"UmI guess around sevenKieko turn around for a minute" Huy said as he used Kieko's back as a hard surface write his address and phone number on a scratch sheet of paper. "Just give us a call there before you come to make sure we're there and come on over!" Etrea grinned and nodded before bouncing away. "I think that girl's bi-polar or something" Huy muttered.

"The invitations?" a disgruntled Kieko prompted, tapping her foot.

Tai sat at his desk when Huy bounded in, flapped around the room noisily, and flopped down on his bed.

"Guess what!" Huy said breathlessly. "You got three chances!"

Tai shrugged. "Let's just skip to the, I don't know' part. What's up?" He was feeling very impatient right now. He was right in the middle of a paper.

"I saw Etrea today. She's going to visit us for dinner!"

Much to Tai's annoyance, he was interested. Etrea had been an interesting friend. "How's she doing?"

"Don't know. I didn't get to ask her too much. Kieko came and started hounding me about the invitations again. Hey, do you think all girls are such nags? Or is it just Kieko?"

"Probably a good percentage of women are like that. What time is Etrea coming?"

"I told her around seven or so, but she said she'd call before she came." Huy was digging around in his bag now. "Hey, you seen any of my books laying around?"

"Only everywhere. Check the lobby."

"But I haven't been in there for a while."

Tai sighed at his brother's forgetfulness. "Last night, with Kieko."

"Yah but we weren't study-yahah." Huy grinned sheepishly at his brother as he stuttered to a stop. "Right. I'll go check."

Tai rolled his eyes as his brother ran out. But his concentration had already been destroyed. He hadn't answered his emails yet today, so Tai clicked open the link. Donny had just emailed him–he was still on Earth with his adoptive family. But he didn't really have any ambition so he had joined the preventor's two years ago, and was being trained as a radio technician. Tai smiled at Donny's usual choppy writing. He seemed pretty excited by his job. Anything that had wires was interesting to Donny, but he had no self-discipline to go to school on his own. He needed something to force him. Gina was complaining about being seven months pregnant, and Toshi was reporting another goofy story about Umiko. Yachi was uncontrollable as usual, Ai was worrying entirely too much. And his father hadn't emailed him yet, not that he expected it. He and his father still wrote, but it was much less often than the rest of the family. But Relena hadn't emailed yet. Tai sighed and began to type.

But shortly after that, Huy re-appeared and bombarded his brother with questions as usual, then Etrea arrived with the expected exclamations. "What! Brothers!!!" Tai thought she looked about the same as usual, with her dark hair and large eyes. She eagerly asked if they knew anything about the vet school at Swinson but neither did, much to her dismay. Then she enthusiastically told them about past classmates and their "going on"s.

Tai didn't feel particularly interest, and felt a little guilty. But life did go on and he had only known these people for a year. But then again, he still kept in touch with Donny. But Huy still spoke to them all, he'd known them a lot longer.

Tai rolled his eyes and felt himself falling back to his usual gruff nature around her. He wasn't sure he liked acting like this, but it was automatic. But the evening was, overall, enjoyable. But the next morning brought on a wave of panic as he realized he still hadn't finished his paper.

Grimacing, he turned in one of the worst papers he'd ever written. He had to worry about the medical school applications. He'd already sent out two. Three more were going out in a week, and he had essays to write for all of them, and teacher recommendations. He could feel the gray hairs sprouting.

As there were only twenty-four hours in the day, Tai felt he had to be very careful with his time. Huy had already yelled at him last night for pulling an all-nighter. But Tai was rapidly getting behind in his studies, which he was fighting against. He couldn't wait for this month to be over with.

"Deirdre! You ready to go yet?" Celes called.

"I'm coming!" Deirdre threw on her coat and, panic-stricken, flew out the door after her roommate. They were going to be late for Ianthe's scrimmage. And she'd been so excited about it. The other girls had already walked down earlier, but Celes and Deirdre had had the great misfortune to run into some very persistent males at the grocery store. Hence, it had become a double date.

"I'm here!" she panted, clutching at a stitch in her side. "I'm ready."

The boys smiled politely, tall and handsome, and led the girls to the car. They seemed gentlemanly enough, but she still hardly even knew her date. It would be very awkward, but at least the car ride would be quick. She heard herself asking him, automatically, what his major was.

Celes and her date climbed into the back, Deirdre sat in the front next to her date, who was driving. She buckled her seat belt, but as they pulled out, her shoe began to irritate her. Leaning forward, she couldn't quite get to it without looking incredibly stupid, so she unbuckled her seatbelt and bent to straiten the laces and shoe tongue.

Then her date swore very colorfully and Deirdre felt herself slam forcefully into the dashboard. There was a loud crunching noise that sounded a bit like a lot of aluminum foil being wadded up into a tight knot. A girl's voice behind her shrieked and a large object slammed into the back of her seat.

It was spinning and a horrible ripping noise. It was loud, too loud, but somehow silent to Deirdre's ears. And fast. She didn't have time to register what was happening. Deirdre felt herself retch as they slammed to a halt. Blinking at the sudden stillness, Deirdre attempted to sit up, but immediately felt her body scream out in pain. Something was over her back so she was trapped into a tight little cubbyhole, leaning with her face against the dashboard. She blinked down and her nostrils were filled with the putrid smell of sick everywhere. Her knees were burning something terrible, one arm was pinioned painfully behind her, and the other trapped between her chest and knees.

There was a crunching noise and male voices, but Deirdre's mind wasn't working properly. It all sounded like a TV with a very bad reception. Blood pounded in her ears and she felt a great darkness sweep over her.

"DeirdreDeirdre!! Get up Deirdre!!" Celes screamed, her tear streaked, attempting to climb into the front of the car, but her date and near stranger grabbed her around the waist.

"Come on. We've got to get you out of here Celes. We'll get some help for Deirdrethe sooner the better.."

Celes yelped in pain, her ankle was pined between the side of the crumpled car and Deirdre's seat. The dark-haired boy gently pushed the seat slightly and pulled her ankle out delicately. He alone seemed untouched. Deirdre and the boy in the front were silent. But Celes continued to fight him as he pulled her out.

"NO! She'll suuf-focate! We've g-g-got to help her!" Celes had completely lost control and she shrieked and struggled against him. She felt him yank her out and Celes landed hard on the concrete, leaned forward and rest her head between her knees breath hard to keep from hyperventilating. "He-elp her" she hiccuped. Through her tangled, blood filled hair Celes looked at the little green car, it's front end completely smashed into another car, the passenger side crunched against the guardrail, and the top smashed in from rolling over. Another car was stopped behind, the driver standing on the road open-mouthed.

Celes' ankle was burning painfully and her wrist was sticking out at an odd angle but the shock numbed most of the pain. Her body was wracked with powerful sobs.

"On highway 7," the boy's voice from above her said matter-of-factly as he spoke on the cell phone. Celes hardly noticed as someone held her around the shoulders and patted her back.

"It's okay dear." But Celes threw herself up again and ran to the car. Climbing on top of the crumple front, she attempted to climb through the broken windshield. Shards of glass wedged themselves deep into her hands, and blood flowed freely. But as she stared forward she paused and stared in horror. The roof of the car had been smashed in so that she could not see either passenger in the front seats. Sliding off, she scrambled to the driver's side–she couldn't reach the passenger side as it was smashed against the guardrail. The boy in the driver's seat had his head flung back against the seat, his hands still on the steering wheel, glass covering him, blood everywhere and the edge of the crumpled roof wedged against his wrists; where he leaned over, the gear shift stabbed into his side, literally. There was only a cloud of red hair from his side. The only other part of Deirdre she could see was a limp hand sticking out at an odd angle, fingers white with blood dripping.

She sat there, staring, mouthing like a fish out of water. She didn't even protest this time as strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her out. She didn't notice the boy had his face hidden in her arm, or the pallid, almost green tint to it. Nor did she hear him being sick across the highway shortly afterward.

It was all a blaze of lights and shouting. Blue and red and violent white lights blinded her as many hands pushed her into a white van. She watched several men with hacksaws pass her as they shoved her in.

A woman with a soft kind voice spoke to Celes, but she hardly heard a word. The handless boy and Deirdre's dripping blood filled her eyes.

"It's okay dear. You're okay now. Can you tell us of someone to call? Anyone?"

Celes sobbed softly into her hands, shaking her head. She couldn't think, she didn't want to think. Gentle hands were touching her ankle and wrist, pulling her hands from her face.

"You've got to let us help you now" someone was saying. But she ignored the voice.

They forced her into a wheel chair, but Celes continued to sob silently now. She didn't have the energy to be noisy.

"Did you find an ID on her?"

The room was stark white and sterile. It was almost sickly with the smell of it. The leather bench was hard and cold under her hands, but she was burning inside, yet totally frozen. People, there were people everywhere. They kept trying to ask her questions. Where did she live? Who had she been with? Did she see what happened?

The voices were telling her she was safe, that she would be okay. But Deirdre's bloody limp hand filled her mind. It's all she could see.

Suddenly she was alone, and Celes leaned forward on herself, sobbing loudly again.

The night was cold and long. Her roommates had appeared shortly afterward and took her home, but all she could do was cry. Nothing too bad–sprained ankle, strained wrist. She'd be sore tomorrow with a multitude of bruises, but her seat belt had saved her.

She was in a cloud and a haze. She didn't even notice as she got up and sat at the kitchen table, staring blankly forward. It was automatic. She didn't blink as she watched the closed door. Maybe Deirdre would walk in. Maybe this was a bad nightmarethat was it.

"Celes?" Maryanne asked. Celes blinked again in reply. Then she felt Maryanne hug her from behind, and not let go. Then she sobbed and didn't stop.

"It's okay. It's going to be okay. Deirdre will be fine, you'll see"

Celes hiccuped and cried more. "It's not fair. It's not fair."

Maryanne rocked her roommate in her arms. "You're okay and she'll be okay."

"You didn't see herthe cartha-that boy." She was starting to stutter again. She hated it when she stuttered so she quit talking and just cried some more.

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A/N I'm actually home now and posting this myself! (I had my sister post my last couple chapters for me). I love being home! And I survived one more semester! Three semesters down and only seven to go! That sounds so sadanyway, I just wanted to thank everyone for sticking with this story and still reading it! I've tried to answer some of your reviews, especially the ones that were emailed directly to me, but I don't know if they made it or not. But thank you all for reading and I'm so glad that you are enjoying this. I'm going to try and get another chapter written before I go back to school. If I do, I'll post another one before I leave, but I'm not sure how likely that is. Sorry. And I know this is a horrible cliffhanger–sorry! But just stick with me please! Have a wonderful holiday and thanks again! If I didn't know that people still wanted to read this story, I'd probably quit writing it–since I know the ending and all. So quite honestly you guys keep me writing. Happy holidays! Toodles for now, Tygerlilee =^;^=