Interesting, Guilty and Weird Visitors
"Uhmmm hello." Quatre said slowly, moving in quick to smooth things over. He didn't know who these people were but they could be trouble, especially if they brought in doctors or nurses. "I'm Quatre Winner and these are my friends Duo Maxwell, Wufei Chang, Trowa Barton and Heero Yuy. We're..friends of Catherine's and came to visit as soon as we heard that she was in the hospital. And you are?"
"I'm Roberto Trent, this is my wife Angelina, and our son Max. Miss. Rorake was injured saving his life a couple of months ago." The man began as he stepped forward, offering his hand to Quatre who took it, the rest of the guys taking his offered hand in cool shakes. "I'm very sorry about her, I wish there was more I could do to thank her for what she did."
"A bad man came to my Daddy's party and tried to shoot him dead. Miss. Rorake got in the way though and she saved Daddy and me from the bad man. I brought her this teddy bear to make her feel better cause she's got really big owies." The little boy said as he held up the large pink bear for inspection. "I got her a pink one cause all the girls I know really like that color even though I don't. Do you think she'll like it?"
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"Pink is the most evil of colors and anyone who likes it has been brainwashed by our fascist, government based, society." Cat hissed even though no one but the boys could hear her. The idea that the boy would actually bring her something was weird enough but did it have to be pink? Maybe it wasn't a thank you at all but payback because they'd some how figured out she'd gone to that party to shoot his dad. Maybe the bear released toxic gas or something that would finish her off. And maybe she was tired, cranky and rattled. But just in case she wasn't she continued on her I hate pink rant. "I'd sooner be sat on by a sumo wrestler then even be seen in public with that thing. I'd sooner be tied to a tree and lynched. Or tarred and feathered or..do they still tar and feather people?"
"She'll love it." Duo said with a smile, ignoring Cat's little rant. It was the thought that counted after all and the boy couldn't have known he was shopping for a pink hating maniac.
"Is that your cat? I didn't know you were allowed to bring pets in here. If I had I would have brought my dog Benji in so that she could see him." Max said as he pointed to the big fuzzy kitty currently hissing at the guy with the really long braid. His hair's longer then my mom's, Max thought to himself, not sure whether that was cool or just weird.
"Actually...well you aren't supposed to bring animals into hospitals but we smuggled her in." Trowa said quietly as he watched the boy move over to get a better look at Cat in cat form. "You see we brought..Sassy here because she used to belong to Cat and we thought it might cheer her up if we brought her along to visit."
"So if you see any nurses give us a shout so we can hide her." Quatre added with a wink, used to be around children thanks to his sisters who were always having them.
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"So everyone calls her Cat and she likes cats?" Max asked with a giggle, the idea tickling his funny bone. Reaching out Max carefully stroked the cat's back just like his mom had showed him with Benji. "Nice kitty. Do you like the bear?" He wanted to know, holding it in front of the cat so she could see it well.
"Now that is a face not even a mother could love." Cat said as she scrunched up her nose as a pink teddy bear was suddenly thrusted in front of her before she had time to scramble away for safety. "Someone get this bear away from me or I swear I'm gonna decapitate it."
"I think she likes it. Now why don't you go give it to Cat?" Quatre said gently, ushering the boy up to the front of the bed where Cat's body lay, unmoving and barely alive. "I bet it will cheer her up even more then Sassy can."
"Be careful, Max." Mr. Trent cautioned, moving forward a couple steps. "Remember she's very sick and you can't disturb any of the machines that are making her better."
"I'll be careful, Daddy. I promise. Here you go, Cat. Thank you very much for saving me." Max said as he got up on his tippy toes but was still too small. "Could you help me, please?" He asked as he looked up at Heero who looked taken aback by the request. Of all of them he had the least experience with children and he certainly had no idea how to handle them.
"Sure." Heero said as he reached down and picked up the boy, holding him up so that Max could set the bear on Cat's side and shift her arm over so that she was holding it with one arm. Leaning forward the little boy placed a kiss on Cat's pale cheek and then Heero lowered him back to the floor.
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"Her cheek was cold, Mommy. How come it was so cold when it's not cold in here?" Max wanted to know as he walked back over to his mother's side, taking her hand. "And why is she never awake when we come to see her?"
"Well, sweetie, it's because she's very, very sick." Mrs. Trent said with a shimmer of tears in her eyes. She was well aware of the facts concerning the young woman who lay there on the bed and she still didn't know how she was ever going to explain it to Max. How did she tell him that the damage was just too severe and that she would never wake up. She would never see the bear he'd given her.
"But the doctors will make her all better soon." Max said with the assurance only a child could have. "And then she can come with me to show and tell. I told all the kids at school about her and they really want to meet her."
"What am I, a one woman side show? Like I'd want to go to some stupid school and get surrounded by sugar crazy little maniacs with exemption from being prosecuted by the law for any crime they might commit against me." Cat choked out, feeling lower then dirt because she knew that this kid was gonna be sad when she died. Seeing the kid kiss her cheek, hold his mother's hand...if she could..she'd have let him take her to show and tell.
"Son, why don't you and mom go out to the vending machine and get something to snack on. I need to talk to Cat's friends for a minute." Mr. Trent said softly and soon he'd herded his family out, closing the door behind him. "I don't know how I'm ever going to find the words to explain this all to him." Roberto began as he looked at the five men who were watching him with soldiers eyes now. "I trust that you already know her condition..what her chances are?"
"We know that the only thing keeping her alive are these machines...and that she's going to die anyway." Quatre said with a quiet nod, his face grim as he looked at the man who looked more then a little worn around the edges now that his family was no longer in the room. Putting on a good face for the boy, Quatre assumed.
"You should know that I'm as responsible for her being in that bed as the man who pulled the trigger. He's been arrested by the way, the PA is stalling on court dates, likely waiting for her to die." Mr. Trent said with a dark look in his already dark eyes. "I'm not a good man, I can't claim to have ever been worthy of the gifts God's given me. It took that girl, the knowledge that I almost killed my son..to make me see just how far I'd fallen."
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"You're the one who's been paying for all this, haven't you?" Trowa stated, his face as blank as usual. "The hospital bills and the private room. It must be costing you a pretty penny."
"Yes, partly because there was no one else to pay it and partly out of guilt in all honesty. I don't know her, this Cat of yours. What I could find out, well I got a very sad picture of a loner without ties to anyone or anything. And now she's laying there, no more then a child and I know that she doesn't have a future because she did the right thing. That she had to give up her life for my own stupid mistakes. I don't think there's ever going to be a way to justify that." Mr. Trent said as he stared at the pale girl, her arm wrapped around a ridiculously gaudy pink teddy bear with a fluffy cat at her feet. "All I can say is...if I could have changed things...I'd have taken that bullet instead. I deserved to."
"No arguments here." Heero said under his breath, sending Wufei a dark look when his friend elbowed him in the side.
"If you want to balance the scales I suggest you clean up your act then." Wufei said, ignoring Heero's glaring. "The reason you were shot at is because you'd become a man without morals or honor, Trent. Live the rest of your life with those two things and you might begin to make her sacrifice have meaning. Raise your son to be a good and honorable man as well. That is what she would have wanted."
"Way to put words in my mouth, Chang." Cat muttered though she had to admit that was pretty much what she would have said too. Only she'd have been more colorful and descriptive about what kind of a person he was and how he needed to shape up.
"That's what I'm hoping to do. My wife...well..lets just say with her and Max sticking by me..I'm going to give it my best shot. I'll never be a saint but I'll at least try for a decent human being. It's what I pray for."
"Then you're already-." Quatre began then came to a halting stop when the door to the room suddenly burst open and a flying blur ran passed him and dived onto the bed, wrapping her arms around Cat's neck as she lay against Cat's still body.
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"Oh my God but it's all my fault!" The blur cried out, now identified as a female with hair in braids varying in color from pink and blue to yellow and green. "You're going to die and it's all my fault cause I didn't tell you that your horoscope said you were in for bad luck." The girl sobbed, her face buried in Cat's neck. "I didn't think you'd believe me even if I told you but maybe you would have and now you're going to die!"
"What the...Suki?" Cat said from the end of the bed, looking at a pair of high heeled, electric green boots. Suki kind of boots.
"Sorry about this." Another voice said and the guys looked from the bed to see a tall young woman with long blank hair dressed all in black. "And who are all of you for that matter? Suki, quit your bawling."
"But Cat's going to die and I..I..I never got a chance to say good bye or that I loved her or that she was one of the best friends I ever had!" The girl, identified as Suki sobbed out, lifting her head slightly to look at the other girl with green eyes rimmed with red. "And how can you be so calm? The nurse said she was likely gonna die, Anna. She's gonna die!"
"True and crying all over her isn't going to change that. Now get off before you cause her body more damage." Anna pointed out before scanning the group, her eyebrow raising as she identified three of the six men in the room. "So what is a senator, the Silencer and the would be dead guy doing here?" She asked while Suki got off and stood between Wufei and Heero who were both watching her wearily as she continued to cry.
"Jesus, Suki would you shut up and stop crying? You're gonna drown us all in here." Cat groused, feeling utterly helpless and getting the start of a major headache. No one was more of a drama queen then Suki and once she started going there was no stopping her.
"What the hell?" Anna said slowly, her eyes scanning the room, staring a hole into the still figure on the bed. "Suki shut up. I think I just heard Cat say something."
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"What, really? She's awake?" Suki said hesitantly, hope brimming in her eyes as she looked over at Cat's still form, frowning down at the still figure. "But she's not moving or anything and her eyes aren't open. You're hearing things, Anna. Unless...unless she's dead and you heard her ghost speaking." Suki said in a horrified tone, her eyes going wide at the thought. "Maybe she's haunting this room or something!"
"Jesus..can you guys hear me too?" Cat said in surprise though it did make sense. Suki and Anna were her friends after all and they did care about her.
"AHHHHHHHHH!" Suki screamed as she jumped into the air and latched onto Heero, her arms wrapping around his neck while her legs did the same at his waist. "It's Cat's ghost and she's come to haunt me because I didn't tell her that she was headed for disaster."
"What the hell is?" Mr. Trent began, not quite sure what the hell to make of all of this.
"Is something wrong?" Mrs. Trent wanted to know as she moved in the doorway with an excited Max at her side. "We heard someone screaming."
"My sister, she hasn't had her medication today and got a little upset when she saw what kind of condition our friend is in." Anna said smoothly though her nerves were just a little rattled. That was twice she'd heard Cat's voice but the second time she'd been watching and Cat's lips hadn't moved at all. "Anyway it's getting crowded in here..." Anna hinted, not really bothering to be subtle about it.
"Well I guess we should be going anyway. Here's my card if you want to get in touch with me." Mr. Trent said wearily, taking out a card and handing it over to Quatre who took it, more then understanding the slightly frazzled look on the other man's face. So now there were two more people who could hear Cat. Two very strange and weird women at that.
"Bye bye, Cat!" Max called out cheerfully, waving at her as his parents ushered him out and closed the door firmly behind them.
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"So someone care to explain what the hell is going on here? And, Suki, get the hell off of Yuy, Do you realize you're hanging off the man known as the Perfect Soldier?" Anna said as she put her hands on her hips having just recognized the man from political pictures she'd seen of him acting as Relena Peacecraft's bodyguard. Odds were they were all Preventers, she was sure they were all soldiers.
"Do they really?" Suki sniffed, looking into the eyes of her knight in shining armor. Her gorgeous knight in shining armor, Suki realized as she blinked away her tears. And one who really didn't appreciate her hanging off him like this. "Yup, you are definitely a soldier. You can tell from your eyes though this rock hard body of yours is a pretty good give away too." Suki said with a weak smile as she slid off then looking over at the bed started to cry all over again though she was doing it quietly this time.
"Oh Jeez. Turn off the water works, would ya, Suk? We can't explain this whole mess to you if you're blubbering." Cat began then yelped when Anna was suddenly in her face, bending down so that they were almost nose to nose.
"Cat's voice is coming from this cat." Anna said as she stared hard into the cat's eyes before straightening to look at the guys with hard eyes. 'Why is that?"
"Maybe her spirit got trapped inside the body of the cat? It's a really cute cat." Suki suggested, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her tie dye, long sleeved shirt.
"Well you aren't exactly far off. If you ladies would take a seat we'll explain everything to you." Quatre said carefully and as soon as the girls were seated he explained everything as clearly as he could with Cat adding in here and there where Quatre's knowledge was a little bit hazy. It took a long time with both Suki and Anna asking questions but they were both finally convinced and were left looking at their friend in the body of a fluffy Himalayan.
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"Well at least they didn't decide to turn you into a cow, then you might have gotten eaten or milked every day." Suki pointed out once Cat stopped for breath during one of her I hate being a cat speeches the boys knew only too well.
"That's what I said." Duo added, pleased that at least someone was on the same wave length as him. Even if that someone was a pint sized fire cracker with multi colored hair, interesting fashion sense and a lot of excess energy.
"It was kind of you, to take her in. Thank you." Anna added, not quite sure what to think about all of this. Her sister was a Buddhist but she herself really had no religion and like Cat she had what could be termed questionable morals. Looks like she was in for one hellish ride when she died, Anna thought, not pleased at the idea of getting stuck in some animal's body for a few months. And they called the devil a sadist bastard. "She's not an easy person to live with."
"I resent that."
"Oh hey, Anna. We haven't properly introduced our selves or anything." Suki said from her spot on the bed where she sat, cuddling Cat in her arms which was the only way to get her to stop crying. "I'm Suki Hinata and this is my sister Anna." Suki added with beaming smile on her face now that she knew what was going on and that Cat wasn't dead. "We're Cat's best friends and occasional co workers."
"You three sometimes work together?" Quatre asked hesitantly, not wanting to say anything unkind. The older one he could see, she had the eyes for it but the little ball of emotional energy? He just couldn't see that one. Maybe Cat occasionally did legitimate work too and just hadn't mentioned it to them.
"Yup yup. I'm a hacker and my sister kills people for a living just like Cat." Suki said with a cheerful, peppy school girl smile. "I do research for them sometimes so that they don't kill the good guys or get caught. I'm a Buddhist though so I don't kill people for financial gain. That would be wrong."