A/N: Okay… um… I have no excuse for not updating for about a half a year. I feel like the most terrible person in the world! I'm really sorry for not updating sooner, my faithful readers (if you're still out there!). So, please forgive me and enjoy chapter 16 as my own little peace offering!

Thanks for the Caffeine

Quatre and Trowa carefully closed the guest bedroom door and tiptoed down the hall. Upon reaching the stairs, the boys let out a sigh simultaneously; bath time can sure be exhausting. The two ex-pilots trudged down the stairs—careful of the missing step—and collapsed onto the nearest couch.

"Quatre, is that you?" Hilde called from the kitchen.

The young multi-millionaire's voice cracked a "Yes." Apparently, he sounded a little groggier than he meant to.

Hilde poked her head around the corner. "Are you okay? You sound terrible."

Thanks… "I'm alright, Miss Hilde. I'm just a little tired."

"'Miss Hilde'? …Would you like some tea to wake you up, Mr. Quatre?"

A lopsided smile crept upon his lips. "Tea sounds great. Thank you."

"Comin' right up!" Apparently, she sounded a little perkier than she meant to…

…Trowa woke up.

"Can I have some tea also?" His tone was childlike.

"Oh, sorry, Trowa! I didn't see you. I'll be right back with your tea."

Hilde took two steps and stopped. "Where's Duo and Heero."

"They're asleep in the guest bedroom," Quatre responded leaning against the couch's arm.

"Are they squeaky clean?" Hilde smiled excitedly.

"For the most part," answered Trowa.

Hilde raised her eyebrows. "'For the most part'?"

Quatre rolled over on his side. "Heero was afraid of the soap," he yawned.

"…?" Hilde excused herself from the room and ducked into the kitchen. They need caffeine… badly.

"Heero?"

"…"

"Heero?"

"……"

"Heero!"

"WHAT DO YOU WANT!"

Duo paused, slightly shocked from Heero's sudden outburst. "Why didn't you answer me right away?"

"Because I was ignoring you. What do you want?"

"What?"

Heero tugged on the blanket and covered his head. "I was ignoring you," he repeated slowly.

"Am I really that annoying that you can't even talk to me?" Duo bellyached, while grabbing back his side of the blanket, uncovering Heero to some extent.

There was one thing, however, that Duo failed to recognize: Heero was cranky.

The little Japanese baby seized the entire blanket. "Just leave me alone," he said in a very threatening manner.

Okay, Duo was starting to get the picture here. After all, neither of them has slept very much at all, considering their infant age. But stealing the entire blanket? Now that's just rude.

Duo yanked the blanket back and quickly wrapped himself in it, creating a snug Duo Burrito. Yummy!

But it was not yummy. Heero was certainly not in the mood for a Duo Burrito.

Blanket War II began…

The soothing smell of herbal tea filled Quatre's sinuses. At once, he perked up with great eagerness.

His sudden movement stirred Trowa. The tea's aroma reached his nose, yet no emotion was triggered. Trowa wasn't much of a tea drinker; he preferred java. But at this point, any source of caffeine would suffice.

Relena strolled across the floor with perfect posture holding a silver platter with three cups of tea placed perfectly on it. She smiled perfectly and perfectly presented the two cups of perfect tea.

Quatre snatched the closest cup, muttered something resembling a "thank you", and chugged the hot liquid like a drunkard.

Trowa took his tired time and held the cup in his hands for warmth. He eyed Quatre out of the corner of his visible eye, feeling concerned for the blonde's sanity.

After an awkward silence, Relena spoke. "Where is Wufei?"

Trowa opened his mouth, but nothing came out. That's a good question… he thought, closing his mouth. "I'm not sure," he finally decided.

"Oh." Relena turned her attention back to the blonde. "Quatre, do you know where Wufei is?"

Quatre lowered his cup and licked his tea-soaked lips. "I beg you pardon?"

"Where is Wufei?" she patiently restated.

With one last swig, Quatre finished his tea and considered Relena's question. "I'm not sure, but we shouldn't let his cup of tea go to waste." Without any warning, he swooped in and snatched the remaining cup of tea, and gulped it down.

The laboratory was dark, cold, and cluttered. It was then that Wufei assumed that only a crazy old man could work under these conditions. He ran his fingertips along the wall as he navigated his way to the only clear source of light.

An old man hunched over an uneven desk, papers scattered everywhere. In his wrinkled hand he held an electric tool and in his claw hand he held a scrap of gundanium.

Wufei squinted; the white sparks coming from the old man's workstation strained his eyesight. The young teen took a step forward and addressed the old man, "Are you Dr. J?"

The old man stopped working. He looked up with his back still facing the Asian. "Who wants to know?"

"Chang Wufei."

"Ah, yes… Chang Wufei. A fine pilot… good lad."

A little annoyed, the good lad questioned again. "Are you Dr. J?"

"Of course I am." Dr. J turned around, his black goggles gleaming.

"I've come to talk to you about Yuy and Maxwell. They're still—"

"Oh!" the old man proclaimed. "Dear me, I almost forgot!" Dr. J chuckled.

Wufei was losing his patience. "You mean to tell me that you have had all this time and you haven't—"

Dr. J chuckled once again. "Gracious, no! I have already completed the molecular relapse mechanism."

For a brief moment, Wufei felt a bit of joy in his heart… his day of hell was finally going to end…

"However, I'll need a test subject."

A/N: That's all for this chapter. Sorry again for the extremely slow update. I know it's kinda short, but I just had to get something out there for you guys to read!

Who's gonna be the test subject? Was caffeine such a good idea? Will Heero and Duo kill each other? Are these obvious questions too much to handle? Hmmm…

Please Review!