Hi everyone...wow...thank you so much for the responses from last chapter...I just kept throwing cliffhangers out there. Hopefully, I didn't let you all down with this chapter, I've been pretty busy lately. Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or any of its characters.

Wing: Yeah, I pretty much got the same response from everyone else that Heero and Relena MUST live...I guess we'll all have to wait and see. Thanks for reviewing.

Vixencat: Thanks for your comments and good luck writing on your stories too!

Melodi Moon: Your question will be answered in this chapter.

Haruya: Hmmm...I could be an evil authoress...hehe.

Ladybug: Well, I can't say about the ending yet...though most likely there will be twists.

Sakura123: I wouldn't leave William out of the picture yet...hint hint!!!

jero: Yeah, I hear you...;

CrimsonDragon: Thanks for the review...yeah I just love putting out cliffhangers.

hikaru-wings: The wait is over.


Hurdles


The small group of townspeople looked onward as an entourage emerged from the trees. They saw a male and female lying on wooden boards with their clothes soaked in blood. To their eyes they couldn't believe that something could happen in the town of Winfield. Their safety net had been broken and now a killer was on the loose.

"Get out of the way!" A man shouted from the front of the line. He quickly ran to the front steps and prepared the way for the team.

The doctor was already waiting at the front door with her light brown hair braided. Hilde already informed her of the situation and the names of the two young victims. She already prepared herself for the major task that lay ahead of her by prepping the dining room as the main trauma center...she didn't dare to send her patients to her main clinic in town...the only reason was that too much time would have been wasted.

"Where do you want the basin of warm water at?" One of her nurses held the large porcelain vessel in her hands.

"Over by the small table next to the dining room." She went over to the foyer and grabbed her white apron and placed it over the front of her dress. She quickly knotted the two strings together in the back. She could already see a faint light coming from the side of the road. "Everyone get ready." She rolled her sleeves up to her elbows.

Right then, the entourage finally made its way to the Peacecraft mansion. The small group of men laid the victims on the ground and Sally quickly assessed their injuries. She noticed the gunshot wounds to the both of them and that Relena was barely conscious at all. "This is not good." She looked at their clothes and noticed that both were drenched in their own blood. She called out to the small group at the entrance of the door, "We might need a blood transfusion later on if any complications arise. Is anyone willing to give blood later?" She saw a couple of hands rose in the air. "All right then, I'll have one of my nurses take down your names and addresses. Afterwards, all of you are free to go, but I might just keep one or two of you here in case of an emergency." She saw the group nod their heads in agreement and she went on her way.

Duo then went up to Sally, "Will they be all right?"

"It's too early to tell, but I need to operate on Relena first. For now, just apply more pressure to his back."

"Okay then." He did what the doctor him to do, "Just hang in there," he whispered. He looked up and saw a rush of people moving Relena's body to the dining room. He saw Sally draw up a makeshift curtain to block everyone's view from the surgery in case anyone had the faint of heart from the sight of blood. All he could see were the silhouettes of Sally and a couple of nurses moving about the room. He heard the use of scissors and saw the removal of clothing. He bent his head down and began to pray for his friends' safety.


"I need more chloroform." A nurse grabbed the small brown jar and poured the colorless liquid onto a small facial towel. She immediately handed the moistened towel to Sally and she gingerly placed it over Relena's nose and mouth. She then went over to her set of surgical tools and found a small pair forceps and tweezers. Luckily for her, the bullet didn't go to far into Relena's abdominal area due to the fact that her corset's thick material reduced the severity of the gunshot. She quickly grabbed the tweezers and pulled out the red metallic piece and dropped it into a bowl.

A nurse then handed her a small sterilized needle and a long line of thread to sew up the gash. "Just hang in there Relena, we're almost finished." She continued to stitch the wound up and looked at the pan beside Relena's body...water was still dripping out of the small pipe that she had inserted prior to the surgery.

"Sally do you think we should add a second line in?" One of her worried nurses looked up from the sight.

"Find me a small pump...hopefully the pressure can draw out some more water."

The nurse quickly obliged to her request and went over to the medical supplies that the group had brought earlier. She fumbled through the equipment and pulled out a small hand held brass pump. "I found it."

"Good...now place the tip of it into the small tube and slowly pull up with the handle. Once the handle is near the top, release the pump from the tube and see how much water still drips." She continued to make the last finishing touches to her stitching and with that, she grabbed the scissors and cut the black thread. "How is the water flowing now?"

"It's coming to a stop."

She let out a sigh of relief. One hurdle was down, but she knew that Relena had still some obstacles ahead of in her recovery. "Just monitor her for now and let me know if her condition changes." She then went over and pulled a light blanket over her body. She then left the room and saw Trudy sitting patiently on the small couch in the living room. "You can see her now, but she's unconscious. We won't know anything until she wakes up. I've done all I can for her."

"Thank you, Dr. Po." She slowly rose from her seat and went to the dining room. "Is there anything else I can do for now?"

"Is it a possibility if Heero stays here for the night?"

"It shouldn't be a problem at all. There are plenty of guest rooms in this house. There's one on your left when you walk up the stairs."

She acknowledged the maid's response and made a mental note about it. She then left Trudy and went over to the basin of water and plunged her hands into the lukewarm liquid, which transformed quickly into a crimson red. She then went for a bar of soap and quickly washed her hands in the same liquid. With that, she grabbed a clean towel and wiped her hands on it. She saw Duo in the next room and saw his weary eyes.

"Hey there...how is Heero doing?" She pulled one of her loose strands of hair back into place.

"I don't know...is he going to die?" A worried look came across his face.

With determination and affirmation in her voice, "Not if I can help it." She ordered one of her nurses to bring the surgical cart to where she was sitting. "Is everything sterilized?"

"Yes."

"All right then, let's get this over with." It dawned on her that this operation would be trickier than Relena's. The gunshot wound that Heero presented was on his back. She needed some special platform to support his head face down. If she laid him on his side, the bullet might shift and might harm vital organs that are nearby.

"Okay let's think things through before we begin." She looked around the room to see if there was another long table that was available, but there wasn't. She went back to the dining room to see how Relena was doing and checked her pulse, which was gaining some strength. She noticed that Trudy was still with the young lady. "Trudy, do you think you're able to help me move her to the living room?"

"Is it safe for us to do that?" The woman was worried to death that the move could kill the nineteen year old.

"She should be stable enough. I made sure that the stitches won't open. I need this table for Heero's operation."

"All right then." The maid reluctantly got up from her seat and went over to Relena's side. With the help of a group of nurses, Sally, and her, they all moved Relena to a couch in the living room. Sally made sure that all the water from her lungs had drained out and immediately stitched the small opening. She then placed a small makeshift bandage on the area and made sure her vitals were still stable. "Okay, she made it through the first part and now we wait." She gave Trudy the go ahead to nurse Relena, while she went back to the dining room to prep for Heero. She ordered her nurses to fashion a makeshift platform, where Heero's head would be looking face down at the floor. With everything in order, she ordered his body be placed on the table with his back facing her. In minutes, she began the surgery using the same routine that she had done on Relena...tracing the path of the bullet until she found the mass in the flesh. For Heero, she noticed that the bullet barely missed his kidneys just by a few centimeters. She found the bullet in his lower back and immediately grabbed the tweezers and pulled the object out. She made sure that there weren't any other fragments from the bullet. Otherwise, if she missed a fragment, it could possibly cause an infection in his lower back and that his recovery would be endangered.

"Needle and thread please." A nurse handed her the objects and was about to stitch the incision that she had made half an hour before.

"More chloroform?"

"That won't be necessary, I think he's had enough. She checked the still moistened towel that the nurse had in her hands. "It'll do." She then resumed her task of closing her incision, making sure that her stitches wouldn't tear open easily. For five minutes, her hands carefully weaved the small metal needle back and forth until the incision was sealed...sweat began to dot her forehead and one of her assistants wiped it off with a cool wet towel. She nodded thanks in return and continued to focus in front of her. Her pale hand went over to her tray and found the scissors. She grabbed it and with one snipe, it was over. She then carefully dressed the area with a bandage and on her mark... everyone helped her move Heero on his back. "Thanks for your help everyone." She smiled wearily and she gathered two people to lift Heero to one of the guest rooms on the second floor. She then went back downstairs and found the nurses had already begun the daunting task of cleaning the dining room.

Within minutes, the dining room looked spotless. No one would have guessed that two surgeries took place just hours before. With everything back in its place, Sally and her nurses quickly packed their things for the night, but they remained in the large house. The nurses took refuge in the kitchen and sat there sipping their cups of warm tea. Sally on the other hand went over to the living room, where she saw Relena still lying on the couch with Trudy beside her.

She checked on her vitals, "She's a fighter."

"Indeed she is."

"We should move her up to her own room, so she can get some privacy."

Trudy nodded at the response. In a matter of minutes, Relena was in her own bed. Color was slowly returning to her milky skin. For the night, Trudy remained close to the young woman's side, keeping the lantern on low just in case she awoke from her deep slumber in the early morning hours.

"I'll check on her regularly."

"Thank you again, Dr. Po."

"Please call me Sally...there's no need for formalities and you're welcome." With that, she closed the door to Relena's room and headed to the guest room, where Heero was lodged in. When she opened the door, she found Duo sitting in an armchair. "I guess you found your way."

"Sure did. Will he make it?"

"He will. He was lucky...I have to admit that. The bullet nearly missed his right kidney." She went over to Heero's side and examined the bandage...the white surface was still clean. "It'll be alright, Duo." She patted him on his shoulders and walked out of the room. Before she closed the door she whispered, "You should get some sleep. Heero won't wake up until morning. The chloroform is still going through his body."

"Thanks for your help, doc."

"You're welcome. Good night now...or should I say an early good morning." A small laugh escaped from him.

With two patients asleep, Sally made her way back down the well-lighted staircase. Her crisp apron was stained in red and her hair was in a mess, but she didn't mind. For the early dark morning, she felt relieved that she had done her duty in saving two young lives. She continued down the stairs until she was at the front door, where she knew there would be a couple of bystanders left. She turned the brass knob to the left and before she knew, grief-stricken eyes met hers. "Heero and Relena are asleep right now. Their operations were a success."

Sighs of relief were heard especially from Hilde, who decided to stay out on the front porch. The group slowly disbanded into the early morning, returning to their own homes and some of them would talk about this night for the upcoming week.


"Milliardo...I think it's time." Noin held a hand over her round belly, as she felt water seeping through her nightgown.

The others in the home heard her screams and came running in. "Milliardo get the doctor now," requested Noin's mother.

In an instant, he bolted out of the room and in minutes, he ran into the next street over. The cobblestone pavement was damp from the chilly late night. He saw the light of the doctor's office still faintly glowing. "Dr. Murphy, I need your help." He pounded with his fists on the white-framed door. He looked over to a window and saw a man emerged from one of the rooms. Right then, the door opened and a middle-aged man appeared to greet Milliardo.

"What brings you here in this hour?" His eyes were semi-alert.

"It's time, my wife is in labor."

"Calm down...let me get my things."

In two minutes, the two traversed the cobblestone streets and entered the Noin residence. They both heard commands from the matriarch of the family, "Michael, I need a warm basin of water...Lily go the closet in the hallway and grab a couple of towels. I think this baby is going to come out now, whether we like it or not."

They quickly went up to the second floor and found Noin already pushing with her mother directing her on what to do. Milliardo went to his wife's side and gently pushed aside her strands of hair from her face. "I'm here now." He kissed her on her forehead and took a small towel in his hands. He gingerly wiped away the sweat drops that beaded her forehead. "You're doing great."

Dr. Murphy and her mother continued to urge her to push. "All right Lucrezia, one more push. I see the head." His hands were ready to catch the newborn.

She was breathing in deeply now and she took one deep breath in. Milliardo then supported her back and gave her his right hand. She took it and with that, she pushed with the last bit of her strength. A loud cry was heard as she collapsed onto the bed. She looked up at Milliardo's blue eyes, "We did it." She smiled and looked over to where her mother and the doctor were examining their baby. "What is it?"

His blue eyes darted to the small table and the doctor mouthed the answer to him, "It's a boy." He kissed her again on the forehead and before long, the doctor brought over the healthy baby to her arms.

"Congratulations." Dr. Murphy gathered his things and left the young family to themselves.

"Thank you Dr. Murphy." The two said.

"It was my pleasure." He went back down the stairs, escorted by Noin's mother and family members. The group said their thanks and watched Dr. Murphy walk off in the early morning. The first light of dawn was just hinting over the horizon.

"I think we should let the new family have a little peace and quiet."

"I agree mother," replied Lily. The sixteen year old had enough excitement for the day and returned to her room. She had inherited her father's looks that consisted of dark brown hair and brown eyes.

"I agree too, mother." Michael walked off to the study and read through his law books. He couldn't even sleep now due to all of the excitement, but pondered what would his own family be like. As for Michael, he had inherited a combination of looks from his parents...his father's hair color and his mother's eyes.

Back upstairs in her childhood room, Noin cradled their baby boy in her arms. His tiny hands clasped over a strand of her curled shoulder length hair. "He has your eyes." She continued to cradle him. "Relena will be happy that she's an auntie."

"I'll make sure that she receives the news." He went over to the black telephone and dialed in the numbers by rotating the circular dialing pad. He dialed the main number to Winfield's telephone receiver and on the other end someone had picked up.

"Winfield's main telephone directory. How can I be of service today?" An unfamiliar woman's voice resonated into the earphone.

"I would like a message be sent to Relena Peacecraft." His voice was filled with joy. He remained on the line, but heard tears in the background. He looked over to Noin, who was starting to worry.

"Did you hear the news about her accident?" She continued to sniff sporadically throughout their conversation.

"No, I'm calling from Boston. I'm a friend of hers," concealing his true identity.

"She was found in the lake behind the Peacecraft mansion with a gunshot wound. Rumors have been spreading that it was an altercation between her former boyfriend that goes by the name of William Bennett. Another young gentleman was involved...Heero Yuy."

He immediately closed off the connection to the line. The words coming from the woman on the other end seemed unreal. He had to grab the table to support himself from falling. He just couldn't believe it...not just yet.

"What's wrong?" Noin alarmed more than ever.

"Relena...she was found in the lake by my parents' home."

Noin tried to get up from her bed along with their baby, but Milliardo stopped her before she had a chance to comfort him. "I'm so sorry." She hugged him tighter along with their newborn son. "We need to get back there now."

"No...not in your state...not just yet. I'll go there myself. You need to rest." He kissed her on top of her forehead.

"But Zechs..." She looked up to his intense blue eyes with a look of determination.


Light streamed through the lace curtains as Duo shifted uncomfortably in his armchair. The past eight hours were anything but peaceful. He looked towards Heero and found him laying on his back still. He closed his eyes for a minute, but before long, his ears picked up something.

"Duo?"

He then shot up from his resting position and was happier than ever to see his friend alive, "You're awake. I'll get Dr. Po up here. Don't you dare move a muscle...otherwise I'll have to get a bottle of chloroform myself." He quickly exited the room and nearly tripped while coming down the stairs. "Dr. Po...Heero's awake." His voice boomed throughout the entire home and he ended up waking Sally and her assistants from their deep slumber.

"That's great," she followed the short-braided hair man up the stairs and entered the room.

The two just entered at the right time when Heero was trying to escape from the guest room. "You shouldn't be running about right now," she looked disapprovingly at him, "You might tear the wound apart and it'll have to be stitched again."

"I'm not worried about that." He tried to force himself up from the bed, but Duo blocked his escape.

"Listen to the doctor, Heero."

He gave his friend one of his infamous death glares and slowly complied to their wishes. He watched Duo leave the room, giving him a little privacy with Sally.

"Your wound isn't infected, which is a good sign." She then went over to a small nightstand and came back with new dressings in her hands. "That wasn't that bad...was it?"

"Hn."

"Your lucky, Heero, that bullet nearly grazed your kidney." She poured some water out from a ceramic pitcher into a basin and washed her hands.

"How is she?" He stared into the ceiling, noting the pale blue room color.

"I'm not too sure," already knowing whom he was referring to. "I drained some water out of her lungs last night." She paused in her next statement, "She hasn't awakened yet."

He just blinked and remained quiet.

"What really happened out there last night...if you don't mind me asking? I was just given the information that the two of you were shot and that Relena was found in the lake, but there's evidence that there was struggle between Relena and her attacker." She went over to a small towel that lay beside the basin.

"William Bennett. I found him on top of her and attacked him."

Sally nodded her head in response and didn't need to get any further details from her patient. "I'll be back later to check on you."

"I want to see her." He tried to sit up, but a shockwave of pain went up and down his spinal cord. The pain didn't faze him and he continued to prop himself up on the back headboard.

"You're going to strain yourself," she tried to sedate him with chloroform before he did anymore damage to his back.

"No...I want to see her." He pushed the cloth away from his face, the smell made him a little lightheaded for a brief moment.

She saw the determination within him and knew this was a fight that she couldn't win. She then ordered a wheelchair to be brought up to the second floor and before long, she wheeled him to the room.

Trudy, who remained faithfully by her side throughout the entire ordeal, met the two, "She's still sleeping." She left the two and went down into the hallway, pulling out a small handkerchief from her pocket. She whispered to herself, "Please let her be safe..."

Sally pulled the chair up to Relena's left-hand side of the bed and left Heero some private time with her. To him, she looked more beautiful than ever. Her long strands of honey blonde hair graced below her shoulders and that her face was giving off a natural glow. He gently took her hand in his, hoping that it would wake her from her deep sleep. "Don't leave me now...not just yet." He stayed by her bedside for the rest of the day, ignoring Sally's persistent orders that he should rest.

He watched the sunset dance in her room and realized that it was useless for him to remain any longer at her side, he wheeled himself out of the room and back into his own. "I need to get out of here..."

"What did you say, Heero?" Duo looked towards him suspiciously with his dinner tray.

"Nothing," his face showed no emotions or feelings at all...though an ulterior motive was brooding within him.

"I'm sure you said something...I'm not deaf." He placed the tray down on the small dresser. "I could have sworn you said you needed to leave."

"I need to find that William," his fists clenched against the arms of his wheelchair.

"Not in your current state, you need to rest." He stared down his friend hoping to divert his attention to Sally's orders. "I'm not leaving this room until you have something to eat. Otherwise I'm bringing in Sally and have her use chloroform on you."

"That won't be necessary."


Back in Relena's room, Trudy was asleep in the armchair with her arms splayed out towards Relena. The old woman remained still as Relena's body began to jerk, "Please stop...NO...DON'T!!!" Her blue eyes opened immediately and Trudy was then awakened from Relena's fit.

"Relena...dear...it's all right, I'm here." She tried calming the girl down, but she noticed that she was breathing too rapidly.

"Sally!!!" Her scream pierced the silence in the hallways.


TBC

Well stay tuned for chapter 12!!! Thanks for reading or reviewing.