"Manifestations"
By Isis
Chapter 4

"Representative Omalar Crumbaker. Now he was a twitchy little fellow if I've ever seen one," Lieutenant Jameson muttered.

Heero sat in the Lieutenant's office, situated next to the monitoring command center, located on the second floor of Relena's mansion. It was a small den of sorts that had been improvised to contain a door and glass wall that looked in on the monitor displays. The large desk took up most of the room, leaving only a few bookshelves to cover the walls, most of which were either empty or cluttered, but never normal. A window behind the desk looked out over the expansive backyard.

There were no curtains on the window, and only a green area rug on the floor. There was a single pile of papers on the desk in front of him which steadily grew as Jameson continued to give him things that he thought Heero would need in order to "fulfill his duty." However, the more the man piled on him—and the more he fidgeted—the more Heero suspected that there would be next to nothing of real use to him in those folders and books.

Heero had a notepad opened on his lap and pen in hand but as of yet nothing that Jameson had "recommended" he write down had been worth the bother. He was also noting with greater clarity that Jameson had no lights on in the office. A fact that was becoming more apparent as the sun slowly set.

"But then, you'll figure this all out, you're a bright young lad." The older man twitched his mustache again, a common habit Heero had noted. The red fuzzy appendage was in blatant contrast to the lack of hair on top of his head. It could have been comical if not carried off by Jameson's strong, although restless, physique.

"You're a colony boy yourself, aren't ya?"

Heero nodded to him. His background and history file had been specifically formulated to show that he was born and raised on an L1 colony.

"Well, you'll get all that stuff that I never did. Just not the same up there. Might just be me though. Heck, I was never cut out for space travel and colony living. Guess it's best they did leave me on the ground."

Heero didn't try to comfort the older man. There just wasn't anything he could say to that.

"Huh, well, I've probably taken up enough of your time. You have all of the records you need on your crew? Good bunch they are, good bunch."

He nodded, noting the folders stuck on the bottom of his pile. He would do his own checking on the worthiness of the mission team. But they had been the same for more than two months now, he was sure that meant that Relena would be quite found of them, and vise versa. He was the perfect example of what even a small amount of time spent around Relena Darlian could do to hostile intentions.

Heero took the chance to leave before that thought worked a smirk onto his face. He stood up, shortly thanking the Lieutenant for his time and help, and picked up his pile of items.

"Lt. Jameson," one of house command called through the open doorway between them and the monitoring station.

"Yeah?"

"Miss Relena will be arriving in one minute, Sir."

The older man nodded and waved him off. The younger officer and one of the others left the station, presumably to meet her at the door and escort her inside. That left one to watch the monitors and keep communication with the two others patrolling the grounds.

Heero watched the two men leave, not sure what to feel. When he had first learned the extent of the security measures surrounding Relena he had been pleased with their thoroughness. However, a larger and larger part of him was beginning to empathize with the sheer lack of privacy for her.

During their first meeting Heero had been true to his orders and asked her about the security protocols and personnel she was around. She had immediately confided that she felt imprisoned more than she really felt safe, but had just as easily stated that she understood, and was thankful for, the concern of so many people.

It was like her. He'd known that she would tolerate any amount of inconvenience if it made those around her feel better about her well being.

It was tragically humorous.

"You've met with Miss Relena since you've been here, haven't you?"

Heero nodded, turning back to the other man.

"I've never known a finer girl." Lt. Jameson stood and paced over to the open doorway, watching a display monitor that showed the outside driveway, and the unsuspicious car that was pulling through the front gates.

He stood behind the man, gazing at the same monitor and thinking basically the same thing. "Hn," he agreed. Looking to the back of the older gentleman Heero took his seat again. "There is something that I think I should make you aware of."

Jameson turned back to him a bit surprised, but he nodded and walked over to shut the door before they continued, turning on the overhead light as well. "No use in being discreet with me, son, out with it."

He let the other man take his seat behind the desk again. "On my first meeting with Miss Darlian, it was part of my interview to ask her about the security efforts in place for her."

The other nodded, "There's been a lot of changes lately."

"Miss Darlian appreciates all of the efforts made for her safety. But, she seems very… uncomfortable with the constant attention."

Jameson frowned at him, obviously a bit confused. "I am sure that it was difficult for her during the renovations made on the house," he waved a hand around. "It was very difficult to work on a project like this while she was still living here."

Heero looked the other man in the eye. "I'm not sure Miss Darlian thinks that she actually lives here anymore."

The other started, staring openly at him. "What exactly are you getting at?"

Heero looked down and shook his head. "I'm not suggesting anything now. But I will be continually reviewing the necessity of such… harsh security measures. At the moment, Miss Darlian's recent abduction is still fresh." He looked up at the other man again, "But if she is uncomfortable with these arrangements, we will not operate against her will."

"You're kidding?"

Heero narrowed his eyes, fixing him with a very pointed expression.

The other leaned back in his chair and turned away. Staring at the monitors in the other room he sat still a moment. "I suppose there's nothing I can do about that either is there?"

It was a bitter statement, and he knew it. "No."

Jameson's jaw tightened under his bushy mustache a moment and then he sighed. "You're the Special Agent."

Heero nodded, knowing that when the time came Jameson would be the strongest opponent to relieving some of the security force. Until Heero believed that Relena would be safe without such measures, he would leave things as they were. All he needed to control now was the threat to her during her travels.

The two officers re-entered the command center to monitor the computer sensors, denoting that Relena had been safely ushered through the front doors. Heero took the chance to take his leave. He again picked up the stack of papers and folders.

Jameson again thanked him politely for his time and wished him well with the team. Heero nodded, "I will be in touch."

"As will I," the other mumbled after him as he left the office.

Heero walked away with the feeling that it hadn't gone well but didn't allow it to bother him. His mission was Relena's well being, both physical and mental, as far as he was concerned.

"Agent Yuy?"

Heero stopped next to the staircase and turned back to see Lt. Jameson exiting his office.

"Miss Relena has requested to talk to you if you have the time."

Heero blinked, figuring one of the officers from the command center must have told her he was here. He somehow felt… sordid at being caught in her house. "Hn."

"She'll be in the downstairs sitting room." He pointed down the staircase and over to his right. "Down the hall, first door on the left."

Heero nodded; the directions unnecessary. He knew the blueprints probably better than the officers sitting in the monitoring station. Having a legitimate security clearance had its advantages in ease of access.

He was a bit uneasy at meeting her in a monitored room though. In their "confidential" meeting Heero had impressed upon her that no one outside of the few Preventer agents that already knew them were to learn that they had much of past relationship—more specifically, that he had been a Gundam pilot. Heero had left his short time at St. Gabriel's school in his history file. When questioned, he would answer that he knew her vaguely during his three week stay there before the school was closed. It gave him an edge of credibility and also the advantage if he happened across one of her old friends.

Keeping this name had its disadvantages.

He walked calmly into the large room. The fireplace was crackling lightly in the corner next to the door, and he found her seated on one of the couches across the room, facing the doorway. She had her feet curled up under her with a book in her lap. Knocking lightly on the door he got her attention.

She looked up and smiled politely, standing up to greet him. "Agent Yuy, please come in and have a seat." She motioned to the couch across from her.

He took a seat on it and set the papers down beside him. "You wished to see me, Miss Darlian."

"Relena, please," she said off-handedly. She sat down as well, picked up a mug from the coffee table between them. "Can I have anything brought for you?"

He shook his head and waited for her to continue, relaxing with the knowledge that she was easily keeping his secret. He shouldn't have doubted.

"Agent Yuy—"

"Heero, please," he mimicked.

She smiled, genuinely. "Heero, I have a change to my schedule that I would like to make." She picked up a folder and planner from the table and flipped through them. "Officer Collin informed me that you were meeting with Lt. Dave, so I thought I could avoid troubling you at the office if I caught you before you left tonight."

"No trouble," he mumbled.

She smiled again, finally finding the sheet she was looking for. "I have been offered an invitation to visit a friend of mine for the unveiling of his new building project," she said handing over the sheet to him.

Heero took it and noted immediately whom she was talking about.

"He and his crew have been the most instrumental part in the building of the new L4 Colony 19979. The official opening will be during my conference with the collective L3 Representatives, but he offered me the chance to see it before that."

"Quatre Raberba Winner," he read. Heero held back the smirk. Relena had perfectly executed the conversation so that there would be no surprised or recognizable reaction to what she was asking him for, giving him time to read the name for himself. The gesture was unneeded, he would have been able to control his expressions, but it relieved the idea that it would be difficult to hide his past.

"Yes, I have met with him on a couple of occasions, and I believe he still holds a full 5 point security check." He nodded. "I would like to be able to leave two to three days early for colony 19979, and then proceeded from there to the conference."

Heero nodded to her again. "That seems probable. I will give you a final answer Monday."

She nodded to him, "Thank you, that will be fine."

He stood up, adding the paper to his stack, "Good evening, Relena."

She stood as well, extending her hand to him. "Good evening, Heero. It is nice to have you with us."

He shook her hand gently, knowing she meant that. He nodded and then quickly let himself out.

"The easiest kind of relationship for me is with ten thousand people. The hardest is with one." – Joan Baez

Proofed by: Melika Elena. Thank you.