Chapter 13

Five days later, both Recruits were still drifting in light comas. Three days ago, had they been able, both Quatre and Trowa would have stood before the council for placements, but that fateful meeting had been postponed until they were well.

The camp had rallied behind their fallen comrades. Though only Recruits for a little over a week, both Quatre and Trowa had become a part of the Maguanac family from the moment the Great Gates had been closed. Now, ninety-eight men prayed for their safe recovery, but more than the rest were two.

Abdule walked silently next to his Teacher. Rashid had been at Quatre's bedside since the boy had taken ill. He'd been hard pressed to get Rashid to take the occasional shower--let alone a hot meal. But Wufei had insisted that Rashid was of no use to him if not fed and rested, so the young doctor had gone to Master Habsaba who had that afternoon ordered Rashid to rest, shower and feed, all in one sitting.

But now they were returning--one failed sexual attempt between them. Abdule walked silently, knowing his Teacher was on edge and hating the fact that he couldn't seem to do anything to help. He wanted to shake Rashid, to remind him that he wasn't the only one hurt by Quatre's sudden illness, that he'd thought of the little Recruit as something more than just a housemate; that the boy had become something special to him. But it was as if his lover walked in a haze, unmindful of the pain around him--only in him.

When they entered the hospital room he didn't even move to go to Quatre's side, knowing Rashid would want to sit next to him. Instead he moved to the floor next to Master Habsaba's feet, resting his head on the older man's knee, feeling gnarled fingers work softly through his short hair.

The defeated and nearly broken voice that spoke was that of his Teacher. "Has there been any change?"

From the corner of the brightly lit medical facility, Wufei arrived carrying a syringe. There was a brief shake of his head before he moved to inject the medicine into Trowa's IV.

Trowa. Twice more the young man had gone into a seizure. Each time the room held its breath, waiting for the high pitched whine that would mean his heart had stopped. But it didn't, and like before, it continued on the exact same rhythm as Quatre's. It was too strange, too amazing to image how their heartbeats had aligned so perfectly. Wufei said it was nothing but coincidence, but Abdule had his own ideas.

There had been something in the way Quatre and Trowa had talked to each other that afternoon six days ago. It'd been so strange, as if they'd known each other and yet, couldn't remember how. He'd kept silent about the encounter he'd witnessed. Quatre had become so ill afterwards, and there hadn't been time to really explain what he'd seen since then. There was that, and also the fact that he couldn't be sure he'd actually seen anything. Maybe it'd been nothing, a meeting of two Recruits for the first time, but something in that explanation rang false to him, he just knew it.

"He'll hate this you know. He'll look at me with those eyes that say, 'I'm not afraid to die.' They'll be full of accusation, I just know they will." Ralph had tried to remain strong. He'd remained up beat, continuously telling Rashid that the children would awaken in minutes. But as minutes had turned to days, his optimism had slowly crumbled into doubt. His newest prophecy was that Trowa would hate him for keeping him alive. There was no basis for this argument, but Ralph seemed to think Trowa would have been happier dead. Habsaba ended that thought quickly.

"Whether they are or not is of no consequence. In time, under your care and love, Trowa will see that death is not the answer." There was such finality in his words, as if Habsaba spoke a truth he felt no wavering in. And that finality seemed to be all Ralph needed to hear.

"You're right, Master. Trowa will understand in time. He's just sick right now, but I'll show him later that everything will be alright." Abdule had to smile at the conviction in the man's voice. With a turn of his head however, his smile disappeared as he looked at Rashid.

Hunched over, his massive frame twisted in doubt, Rashid had one large hand against Quatre's bare chest. His humbling eyed were closed, and while Abdule couldn't hear it, he knew Rashid was praying for Quatre's recovery. Abdule only hoped it came soon, before it destroyed Rashid.

* * *

Duo was bored. He'd gone to lessens, finished his homework, bugged Howard, kissed Howard, made Howard promise to cook hotdogs for dinner, and now was completely out of people to annoy. Heero was working out, and as much as he loved his partner, he didn't relish being beaten up in the name of training. That left only Wufei, the other half of his absolute and total affections.

Standing outside the med. bay he considered the fact that his lover had a lot to do, what with both Quatre and Trowa still hanging out in Coma-land, but responsibility had never stopped Duo before.

Bursting into the room, he called out in his most joyful voice. "FEI! YOUR AMERICAN HONEY'S HERE!" When that got no response, he decided to investigate.

There wasn't much need on the satellite for doctors, most of the soldiers kept healthy on their own, which meant they didn't need that many doctors. Wufei was only one of two doctors in the corp. but in Duo's--and a lot of other people's opinion--the best. Ary was the other doctor, but at seventy-six years old, he was usually napping. As Duo opened the supply door he knew this wasn't going to be any different as he found Dr. Ary fast asleep in an extremely uncomfortable looking chair. Rolling his eyes, Duo decided not to awaken the doctor and moved on in hopes of finding Wufei.

He found the time charts instead and cursed himself for forgetting that Wufei had made special arrangements to test out Nataku's new thrust engines--he wasn't here. Sighing at his botched attempt at annoyance, Duo decided to check on the object of his newest obsession--Quatre.

Duo wasn't one to give up on his promises, and he'd made a promise to Allah that if Quatre lived, he'd become the kid's best friend, no ifs ans or buts about it. That didn't mean he didn't have his reservations about it though. Quatre was a strange duck, first the kid fell apart in a hallway when all he'd been trying to do was say hi, next he'd freaked out when Duo had brought him a video game. Quatre didn't have the greatest track record with Duo, but that wasn't going to stop him!

What did stop him was the sight he met as he opened the door to Quatre and Trowa's private room.

On legs that stood like iron, Trowa was leaning next to Quatre's bed, a strange almost tearful expression on his face. The taller boy had looked up when Duo had entered the room, but dismissing him as no threat, had turned back to Quatre.

Moving carefully, Duo shifted closer to the bed and realized that Trowa had one hand on the metal caging around Quatre's bed, the other however, was resting softly against Quatre's heart. There was a moment of silence for all in the room and Duo found himself oddly speechless, when suddenly, Trowa turned around and looked at him.

The first thing Duo noted was there was a tear running down Trowa's gaunt cheek. The second thing was the waver of pain and fear in Trowa's voice. The third was the full impact of what Trowa said in that voice.

"I can't get him to wake up."

Stunned, Duo absently shook his head before answering. "He's in a coma. You both have been for the last two weeks. We were starting to…we were worried about you both."

Silently, Trowa seemed to ponder that statement, before he shakily turned back to face Quatre. His voice was so lost when he spoke again. "I'm awake now. He should be awake now too. I-I keep trying…he has to wake up."

Worried, Duo took a step forward. "Trowa--"

"I can't do this without him!" Anguish, the kind that rips the soul apart and scatters it to the four winds. It was the sound of a broken young man who shouldn't have any reason to care about a tiny blond boy.

Shaking his head, Duo answered the only way he could. "Don't worry, Trowa, you're not going to have to. Quatre's going to wake up. You'll see. He just needs…he just needs time that's all. Listen, I'm going to go get Wufei, he's a doctor, remember him? He's been taking care of you and Quatre all along. I'm gonna go get him, and he'll figure out what's wrong with Quatre, OK? It's going to be OK, I promise, Quatre's going to be alright, and so are you."

With that Duo turned and ran from the room, his haste in finding Wufei preventing him from hearing Trowa's parting words.

"The healer can do nothing for my Luv."

* * *

Fifteen minutes later the whole camp knew of Trowa's recovery, and nearly every man ran to the viewing area of the infirmary to see the walking and talking boy themselves. What they saw was not what they were expecting.

Scalpel in hand, Trowa was taking calculating swipes of the blade at anyone who ventured too close to Quatre's bed. There was a wild look in his eyes, as if the boy was possessed, but Duo knew, he understood as he watched from behind the glass, that Trowa was wasn't insane, only grief-stricken.

The first place Duo had run after leaving Trowa had been the hanger. He'd found Wufei just coming out of docking.

"Duo what--"

"Trowa's awake! I just came from the infirmary to surprise you and I saw Trowa. He's a mess Wufei! He's hanging out next to Quatre, and he keeps saying that that he can't wake Quatre up! He's really, really, really upset, Fei!"

Wufei was totally surprised. As much as he'd tried to stay positive, the days that soon turned into two weeks, showed little to no signs of improvement for either patient, and in all honesty, he wasn't holding out much hope in their recovery.

Nodding his understanding to Duo, he issued orders as he raced back to his patients. "Go back into the hanger and tell Ralph and Abdule. Then go get Master Habsaba--he wanted to be informed the moment either boy awoke. Go Duo! Hurry!"

And Duo had. He'd run into the hanger and told an overjoyed Teacher his Recruit had awoken. But Abdule's face had been nearly heartbreaking. Quatre was not awake and he was going to have to tell that to Rashid.

Suddenly, in the here and now, there was a tug about his shoulder, and the next thing Duo knew, he was wrapped securely and warmly in Heero's arms.

"Are you alright?" There was a fierce protectiveness in Heero's voice, and Duo melted into the concern, he was extremely tired.

"Yeah. Have you seen, Heero? Look at him? If Rashid keeps moving like that, Trowa's going to really hurt him. I mean Trowa's already slashed into him like four times! He's just so scared for Quatre."

"Rashid will overcome his own fears."

Duo shook his head and looked into cobalt blue eyes. "No Heero, you don't understand. It's not Rashid who's scared for Quatre, it's Trowa. Trowa doesn't want anyone to touch Quatre, he thinks he's the only one that can wake Quatre up." A mask of confusion fell across Heero's face, and with his eyes he prompted Duo to continue. "When I found Trowa awake, he was so upset. He said he couldn't wake Quatre up. It's crazy, I know, but I really think Trowa's trying to protect Quatre. I don't know why, though. Besides that first day in the hallway, I don't think they've ever met, but you have to admit, the way they acted in the hallway, it was so strange, eerie really. It's like they know each other…but don't. Am I making any sense?"

Without answering, Heero pulled him in tighter, offering comfort as the assassin watched Trowa again slice into Rashid's arm in what he now saw as a form of defense. Shifting his gaze, he turned to see Rashid's face, and paused in mid caress of Duo's hair. Rashid's eyes were enraged, the gaze in them, that of a man kept from what was his, and Heero suddenly realized, it was the same look in Trowa's eyes.

With a swift turn, Heero grabbed Duo's wrist and pulled him through the crowd of bewildered Maguanacs. "Hurry, Duo! We have to stop Rashid!"

* * *

When Heero and Duo entered the room it was chaos. Ralph was desperately trying to calm Trowa down. "Trowa! Trowa, just listen to me, everything is going to be all right. No one's going to hurt you, I promise. Just, please, Trowa, put the knife down and let Rashid get to Quatre. Trowa, Rashid is Quatre's Teacher. Trowa!"

Wufei was carefully edging his way towards the medical supply closet, trying in vain to go unseen by Trowa's watchful eye.

Abdule was standing far out of the way, arms wrapped about himself as he watched Trowa do everything in his limited power to keep the giant away from Quatre.

But Rashid, enraged and blinded as such, barely acknowledged the slash marks across his torso and forearms as he tried again and again to find a way past Trowa's expert use of the scalpel.

Heero was just about to speak, to tell Rashid to move away--that there was some connection between Trowa and Quatre--but he didn't get the chance.

From behind him he felt the door swoosh open and with the quick tapping of a cane, turned to see both his Teacher, Trieze, and Master Habsaba enter. Their master was not silent long.

In a voice that commanded and spoke nothing of his withered age, Habsaba bellowed loudly to be heard over Rashid's cursing. "Rashid! Move away from Trowa now!" When Rashid failed to acknowledge him, Habsaba raised his voice. "Rashid!"

With obvious anger, Rashid turned to look behind him at his master, only to have Trowa retreat a step; pressing the edge of his back into the corner of Quatre's bed. There was a moment of pure silence, when the room held its breath to see if Rashid would listen. If he didn't, it wouldn't be the first time. But with a growl, Rashid took two half steps back, giving the illusion he was following orders. His voice belied the illusion. "Habsaba."

A whimper startled the room until they turned from Rashid's rage to Trowa's pain. Leaning against the foot of the bed, Trowa was carefully pulling back the blankets by Quatre's feet. The sight was grotesque at best. After years of Rubar walking, Quatre's feet were a disfigured mess. Blisters that had not fully healed, covered his feet, and deep gouges cut at all angles across the ball and heel. But Trowa's manner was gentle, soft and if Heero didn't know any better, loving, as the taller Recruit ran his fingertips over the appendages that everyone knew caused Quatre a great deal of pain. The sounds the boy made were agonizing, as the pads of his fingers skidded over blisters and permanently indented flesh. They ripped into Heero's often cold heart, and unknowingly, he clutched Duo closer to him.

But he was completely baffled, as were the other Maguanacs in the viewing room, by the events that played out next.

Habsaba's voice was soft, reverent and controlled. There was an air of wonder and great concern in the old man's voice as he spoke directly to Trowa.

"With whom am I speaking?"

Confused, the room turned to stare at their master. Treize moved closer and laid a hand upon Habsaba's shoulder, but the old man shook it off before taking a step closer.

"With whom am I speaking?"

There was a shuddering draw of breath before Trowa replaced the blanket and turned around, hate and rage, sorrow and fear, emanating from his too slender frame and chilling eyes.

"Trowa." Was the boy's reply.

Absently, Habsaba nodded his head. "Yes, but which one?"

A brief but startled look stole into Trowa's eyes before a cold mask of hatred fell completely upon his face. The sorrow was gone, the fear replaced by total and utter hatred for the withered man before him. Every muscle in Trowa's body tensed, and the whimpering boy of only moments before was replaced with hatred personified. When Trowa finally spoke, his voice shook from rage.

"You knew it was him."

And then suddenly, Master Habsaba, leader of the Maguanacs, fell to his knees, his head bent in shame. The room gasped at the sight, but Trowa didn't seem to hear it. He took a menacing step towards their fallen leader before balling his fists and swiftly turning away from the submissive figure.

Silence reigned until Habsaba spoke, tears in his voice.

"I have failed."

No one had time to process the statement before Trowa let lose all the rage he contained.

"Failed! FAILED! You've destroyed them both! Look! LOOK AT ME!!!"

In lost restrain, Trowa moved forward, grabbing Habsaba under the chin and yanking his face up and into view. There were tears in the leader's eyes. Suddenly, Trowa crouched down so that he was eye level with Master Habsaba. When he spoke again, his voice was as cold as space, and no one in the room dared move.

"What do you see? Tell me. Do you see a boy? A child? Do you see a broken child? Feel with those gifts granted to you by your God! What do you feel?! Do you feel his pain?! Do you feel his torture?! Can you sense the suffering, just under the surface?! What do you see when you look into these eyes?" The last line was spoken in a near nothing whisper but Habsaba heard it and his eyes could not make contact with the lengthy boy's before him.

Habsaba's voice was quiet when he answered. "Death."

And true to the word, Trowa's voice was dead when next he spoke.

"Yes, and you are the one that killed him."

Suddenly it was too much for Habsaba, in fear and sorrow he denied the claim.

"No! I never--"

With a shove that sent their leader completely to the ground, Trowa stood, his voice a near scream.

"You chose to ignore the signs! You chose to ignore the visions! Five years! Five years they suffered because of your fears! Five years this boy," and Trowa pointed to himself. "Suffered at hands he could not defend against! Five years he died a little every night so that you could sleep better! Did you, Habsaba? Did you sleep better knowing what you'd done?! Knowing a child suffered because of your fears!"

"Allah, no--"

"Your gifts were wasted! Your promises blasphemous! You spoke words of love to Allah, and then betrayed Him! Betrayed all of His people! You've destroyed the covenant, desecrated it! It stands for nothing--"

"NO! ALLAH NO!" On hands and knees, the leader of the Maguanacs knelt at the feet of a seventeen-year-old boy. "I am the one who has failed our God. The Maguanacs follow my word, which was given without their full knowledge of events. Allah, I beg You, do not punish the protectors of Your people, because of a cowardly old man!"

Disgust and contempt flashed across Trowa's face. With a near spin of revulsion, he turned back to look at Quatre. "Get up old man! Do not desecrate Allah's covenant more by kneeling at false idols. I am not your God, only His messenger in this alone--Allah is greatly displeased, Habsaba. He is greatly displeased." In an ominous way, Trowa's voice died out at the last line and again his hand strayed to touch Quatre's form beneath the blankets.

"I-I understand--"

"YOU UNDERSTAND NOTHING!!!" Trowa turned, and again he showed unabashed hatred towards the fallen man. Again he pointed to his own chest. "This boy's pain has been unbearable, but Quatre's pain, his suffering… To feel the hatred of the universe, to know the agony and suffering he has been forced to know…" And in a pain filled and quiet whisper, "He breaks…so easily. He feels more than Allah ever wished him too." Trowa paused, and in that time, a single tear fell from the tip of his chin before he continued.

"Five years ago, you were told of his coming, and you ignored it. Took in two others that did not fit the covenant. Two children that had to died to open the promise! You let that happen, you killed them to protect your own interests! And Quatre, and this poor child," and again he pointed to his chest. "Were forced back into that place!" With wild gestures, Trowa pointed outward, encompassing with his words the world outside the Maguanacs satellite. "What say you, Habsaba? What defense do you bring? You chose those three! You chose them, and denied them!" Trowa swept his hand to include Wufei, Heero and Duo in the first sweep, and himself and Quatre in the next. "Give to me your defense to this crime!"

And in the silence, were simply an old man and his sobs.

This time, Trowa knelt down again, not bothering to lift Habsaba's eyes to view.

"He will not awaken, and I cannot awaken him. The time has come and gone and he sleeps. Do you know what will happen if he does not wake up? Do you know the consequences of your actions against him?" Trowa paused, not waiting for an answer, only letting the ramifications of his words sink in. "You told the Teacher, Rashid, that Quatre was special, delicate, but you failed to tell him why! Tell him now, Habsaba! Tell him, how you saw Quatre, then only ten short years, and quaked in your throne of gold and rubies! Tell your once Recruit that you closed your ears to words that obligated you to take the boy! Tell your general how you closed your eyes to the pain and suffering written on Quatre's face! Tell your people how you turned him away!"

More sobs, more heart wrenching sobs that forced the room to stare but feel no sorrow or need to defend their leader. The boy spoke.

"Or what of this one?" Again Trowa indicated himself in third person. "Broken and half-starved even then. Cold and sick, suffering and needing; but you turned him away, just like Quatre. You turned him away and fled from the room, knowing that in your fear, you had defied Allah. He will punish you, Habsaba. Allah forgives all things except betrayal. Quatre should have been rescued, trained, comforted--five years ago! Instead he suffered in ways you will never know about--in ways his Teacher will be lucky to discover! And you've condemned this boy as well." Trowa pointed to himself yet again. "He is afraid, terrified of contact, and in a world where Quatre should have been stronger, he will now be forced to carry the burden! You have rearranged fate, destroyed planning, and these two children will suffer--have suffered--for it! This boy--Trowa-- may not be strong enough! He may not have the strength to carry this burden, and if he falls, if he cannot, you already know what will happen."

With a jerk Trowa stood, moving again to stand next to Quatre's bed, this time at the side, so that with one fluid movement he had his hand resting against Quatre's heart. There was a painful and far away look in his eyes, and while Habsaba continued to weep upon the floor, Trowa began to speak again, this time, not taking his eyes from his hand upon Quatre's chest.

"Rashid, as his Teacher you agreed to care for him, love him, but Quatre is different, special in ways you cannot even yet imagine. He is The Promise, The Way. But he is damaged, and Trowa…this boy--cannot help him alone. You and your first Recruit must bear the burden of Quatre's sanity, and crimes committed upon him by your Master and others." Another pause and then a brief half smile fell across Trowa's face. "My Quatre always was a soft soul. He'll feel your discontent, be careful how you feel around him, for Quatre would now rather die than cause you pain. He's not strong enough to yet deal with what is to come. Shelter him, but do not deny him. He must know all that there is, Quatre and Quatre alone must come to understand his place here. Influence, but do not command him, his soul is too cracked to handle it.

"Ralph." And this time Trowa did look up, his eyes holding infinite amounts of respect and something unknown. "Trowa will be the same. They are both like glass that has already begun to splinter. Use your love, your compassion, your faith to mend him, or truly all will be lost. Give Trowa time, but press him, he must be ready before Quatre. He must be prepared for the tests to come or Quatre surely will falter." Another tear escaped from Trowa's eye and he bowed his head in agony at his own words.

"Habsaba, you have done this, and while I ache to drive my blade through your heart, you are needed. Take the role you were supposed to claim five years ago and train Quatre. He is older now, perhaps too old to understand Allah's gifts to him. Teach him to be strong, and perhaps, when your judgement comes, I will demand the abyss rather than Hell." Trowa turned his hate filled eyes onto Habsaba, but the man only nodded, resigned to his fate.

And then Trowa's demeanor changed completely. From the rage before was a softer boy, one that wore a smile of remembrance and caring. His eyes were directed towards Heero, Duo and Wufei. "Had we not been separated by these five years, you would already understand what is to come. But time and circumstance have separated us. In time you three will also remember, but until then, I urge you to try to befriend these two. They will be withdrawn, scared, and distant, with any number of other emotions throw in--do not be swayed. Had they been chosen at the same time as you three, a bond would have been formed immediately, now it will have to be forced in some ways." Trowa's voice softly died out in sadness. Heero moved to fill the void.

"Tell me who you are. Who you really are."

A sad smile fell upon Trowa's face then, and the Maguanacs watched as he turned slowly to regard Heero. "It pains me that you do not remember. It's to be expected, but hurts none the less. I am…who I am. Have faith Heero, I do."

Shaken up by Trowa's words--the words of a stranger that seemed to know him and not know him, Heero shifted his eyes in time to see Howard against the glass of the viewing room, his consummate sunglasses removed, his eyes wide in something like recognition and fear.

Heero didn't notice until he heard Duo's hair tie hit the metal caging around Quatre's bed that his lover had moved away from him. He saw Wufei move to call Duo away, when fate or Allah struck another blow.

Duo's voice was awed and a little fearful as he spoke, his voice directed towards Trowa.

"I-I don't know why, but I understand what you're talking about. This is…man this is fucked up, but I…I think I can help you. I don't have a clue as to why, but I think I can help you--wake Quatre up that is." Duo looked confused, startled by his own words, but Trowa only nodded, an easier and more hopeful smile gracing his beautiful face.

"You were his best friend, if anyone beside myself could, it would be you."

But Duo only shook his head. "I just met him two weeks ago, and he was totally freaked out by me! We're not friends, I don't even think he likes me!"

Trowa shook his head. "Quatre will come to understand you. Besides, you made a promise to Allah that you must keep."

Suddenly Duo's face went completely white and his head jerked up to stare with surprised horror at Trowa's face. "H-How did you know that?"

Trowa only smiled. "Because you've made that very same promise before."

Shaking his head Duo protested. "But I've never--"

"Duo." Trowa paused long enough to gain the longhaired boy's full attention. "It is unimportant how I know or why, only that you keep the promise you made. I speak the truth when I tell you that Quatre's life depends on it."

For a long moment in time, Duo stared at Trowa, looking into his eyes and his soul for answers. Finally, he spoke again. "You're not going to remember this, are you? Trowa, our Trowa, won't remember anything that's happened here, will he?"

With a pain filled cast of his eyes Trowa slowly shook his head. "Not all of it, not even most of it, but the emotions, the understanding will be like a forgotten dream to him. He'll remember in moments of fear or happiness, anger or rage. But it will come back to him eventually, it has to, we're not different, only separated."

Shaking his head in utter confusion, Duo sighed. "Ok, listen, I don't know what the fuck is going on, but I have this really strange need to put my hand over yours on Blondie's chest. I've got a feeling something's 'sposed to happen after that." Trowa nodded. "Ok, well lets do this so I can go back to Heero and Wufei and demand three whole nights of comfort sex for the creeps this is giving me."

With a smile Trowa nodded, and in the next moment, Duo's hand was resting atop his. There was no flash of light; no bells or angel's choirs. Instead, there was a soft sigh on Trowa's part, a light smile which drifted across his chiseled face, and then movement as Trowa leaned down, and ever so softly--with every bit of reverence a human could possess--kissed Quatre softly before crumpling to the ground, motionless.