I Need You

Kira had to help Athrun to the couch where Cagalli hovered over him possessively. Meyrin brought the ice, but Cagalli insisted on being the one to administer it to his face and nether regions. Not that Athrun couldn't have handled that himself, but whatever.

Meanwhile Athrun politely requested that she not attack him again so soon.

Now that everyone but Athrun was comfortable, Meyrin decided to get the ball rolling on the inevitable conversation. "Anyone mind filling me in?"

Lacus did the honors. "Cagalli received this package today. That's what this is all about."

Meyrin didn't have to thumb through the pictures. Lacus handed her the only one that mattered. Tears welled in Meyrin's eyes, "I see."

"What is it?" asked Athrun.

"It's apparently us making love." Meyrin handed him the picture. Her knees were so wobbly that she had to sit by Athrun's feet, unable to make it back to her original chair.

"Good God," he muttered.

Having her hands where she could do even more damage to Athrun, Cagalli demanded of him, "Is it true?"

"Yes and no," Meyrin whispered.

"I wasn't asking you." Cagalli didn't take her eyes off of Athrun's face, studying it for any reaction. "Athrun?"

"Like she said. Yes and no. I'm sorry, Cagalli. I can't be the one to tell you about it." Athrun lay limp, ready to take whatever beating she decided to give him.

"What? Why?" Cagalli began weeping again.

Meyrin turned to Kira and Lacus. "Um, you two mind giving us some privacy?"

"Of course," Lacus went off with Kira in tow.

"What do you think?" Kira was making Lacus a second round of cocoa.

"Hmm?" She wasn't paying a bit of attention.

"About all this," he clarified.

"I'm not sure what to think. I honestly can't imagine that Athrun would do something like that. But still . . ." She let out an exasperated sigh. "I can't think about this anymore."

"Fair enough. We'll drop it and let them tell us about it later."

But Lacus couldn't stop thinking about it no matter how much she wanted to. Two hours ago, with tears streaming down her face, Cagalli recounted a conversation she had with Athrun long ago.

"So, what's the deal with you and Meyrin? You two are always hanging out," Cagalli had commented.

"She's my best friend. And she's saved my life more than once. We used to live together and she still comes by on occasion," Athrun had stated.

"You used to live with her?" Cagalli hadn't asked for clarification on the life saving bit. It was the living together that overshadowed everything else in her mind.

"Yeah. She used to say I was the older brother she always wanted. Meyrin was the only one there for me when I needed someone the most. If it wasn't for her . . ."

"Go on," Cagalli had prodded.

"No, that's enough. I hope it won't be a problem."

"Why would it? You're just friends, right?"

But Lacus knew, as any girl should, that jealousy can easily take root in situations like this. And Athrun's friendship with Meyrin had become someone's weapon against Cagalli.

Athrun groaned in pain. Cagalli wasn't feeling very kindhearted toward her patient. She was harming more than helping, in fact.

"Will you stop that? He didn't do anything wrong," Meyrin insisted. "It . . . I, um . . ."

"I'm waiting," Cagalli narrowed her eyes at Meyrin.

"Ambulance . . ." Athrun whispered. "Doctor . . ."

"You see, I made him promise me not to tell anyone about what happened," Meyrin began. "It was a several months ago, maybe about the time the Yamatos got married. No, I think it was a little bit after. I started seeing this guy and, well . . ."

White hot flames of hatred burned in Cagalli's eyes. At last she would hear the truth or, at the very least, an entertaining lie. "Go on."

"Look," Meyrin pointed at her face in the picture. "It wasn't consensual. Hell, I wasn't even conscious. And that's not Athrun. Well, it's been made to look like him, but Athrun has a scar on his arm that he keeps covered up."

"You mean . . ?" Cagalli's eyes widened a little.

Between sobs Meyrin whimpered, "I was . . . and Athrun took care of me. He's the only one who knows."

Cagalli lifted Athrun's shirt sleeve to check about the scar. "I'm so sorry."

"I think you've finally gone off the deep end," Athrun took both Cagalli's hands.

Cagalli could only respond with, "I know I have."

"I'm going to bed. You two . . . I don't care," Meyrin walked off crying. "I'll see you in the morning, Athrun."

"I am so sorry," Cagalli whispered.

"I'll be alright in a day or three. Sorry about not reporting into work tomorrow." He rolled down his sleeve again to conceal the secret once more.

"That's a pretty weak joke." Cagalli readjusted his ice packs, this time taking great care.

"I'm serious. And you won't be reporting in either. Take any bedroom you like but the one at the end of the hall. It's Meyrin's."

"Are you asking me to sleep over?" Cagalli wasn't used to him being so forward.

"No, I'm telling you. Go ahead and take my bed. I don't think I'll be getting up any time soon."

"Athrun, I . . ."

"One last thing. Don't ever try to split my friendship with Meryin. If I have to choose between my friendship with her and my love for you, then all three of us will lose."

"You . . . love me?" She hadn't heard those words before. Or maybe he had said it and she just hadn't paying attention at the time. It seemed odd to hear it now after all that she had done to him. And to Meyrin.

"Why else would I put up with you? Now go on," Athrun took the ice packs out of her hands. "I think you've done enough for one night."

In the end, they all stayed over. For once, Athrun's big empty house fulfilled its function. There was even a bed to spare.

"Morning," Meyrin greeted her stricken friend. "Can you get up?"

"I don't have the courage to try," Athrun yawned. He managed to sit up anyway. "You okay?"

Meyrin shook her head. "But I couldn't let it go on like that. It looked so . . ."

Athrun helped her search for adjectives. "Painful? Torturous? Horrifying?"

"Unnecessary," Cagalli helped out after entering unobserved by the other two. "Look, Meyrin. I really am sorry. I guess maybe I really have been going crazy lately."

Meyrin couldn't look at Cagalli. Not now. Not after last night. "I'll go make breakfast," she offered.

"I think Lacus beat you to that," Athrun informed her. "She came down about five minutes before you."

"Then I'll be upstairs getting ready for work."

Cagalli tried one more time, "Meyrin, I . . ." But she was already gone. "I screwed up big time, huh?"

"Yeah. It'll be alright. Meyrin doesn't hold grudges for long." Athrun was quite obviously angry about last night as well.

"How do you feel?" Cagalli sat at his side and took hold of his hand, unconsciously running her fingers over his scar.

"Like you broke them. If you did, you better buy me a new pair."

Her eyes widened in fear, letting moisture slip through her now rested tear ducts. "Maybe I really should get you to a doctor."

"That's what I've been saying for twelve hours." Being the good natured fellow that he is, Athrun wiped her face clear of tears. Apparently he couldn't hold a grudge for long either.

Cagalli grabbed the nearest phone and started dialing. "What will we do on our day off?"

"I don't know about you, but I think I'm going to move as little as possible."

"I guess I should work at not having a nervous breakdown," Cagalli laughed nervously. "Thanks."

"What for?"

"Being you. I need you so much and I'm terrified of losing you." This was the first time she admitted it to him, and probably herself.

"I'll try not to let that happen," Athrun reassured her.

You don't realize how much I need you. Love you all the time and never leave you . . .