Hi everyone! Nobody kill me! I know I haven't updated in ages! I'm real sorry! Writers block, it's evil I tell you! EVIL! Anyway, thanks to all my reviewers! You guys are the best!

Chapter 9: Misunderstandings

Alive? He's alive? 'Commander Creuset, what information do you have to support this? And it had better be good. We're still reeling from Operation Spitbreak! We have enough on our plates without having to deal with claims supported by nothing!'

Commander Creuset's face curled up in a smile. Patrick felt his blood presure rise, and he glared at the younger man angrily. Seemingly taking the hint, the commander ducked his head and Patrick heard the distinct sound of tapping keys. 'I'm afraid we don't have much, Chairman. But we do have enough to support the theory that young Ensign Zala is alive.' Creuset lifted his head again. 'One of my team recorded this at Alaska.'

One final click of a button and the sound of static filled the room Patrick raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth, when a voice sounded through the noise.

"Dam... Yzak! What ... hell ... doing!" His breath hitched. That voice... quiet and soft, even when its owner was yelling. There really was no mistaking it. His son, his little boy, was still alive, and in the hands of the enemy. They had kept him on the ship. They had still wanted to use him. Which meant they had know about the target of Spitbreak beforehand. Which meant that bomb in the base had been set beforehand. Had Athrun given them that information? That wasn't likely. Athrun hadn't been given the details on Spitbreak. He hadn't known...

Rau watched the chairman with interest. Dearka's discovery was ... interesting, to say the least. It proved that Athrun's desire to live was strong. And it also proved that the crew of the Legged Ship either cared... or merely wanted something to abuse. And it was obvious which conclusion the chairman would come to.

'Commander Creuset! Ensign Zala may let something slip to the EA. I do have faith that he will not tell deliberatly, but who knows what means those naturals use to get information. It could be catastrophic if even the smallest piece of information gets out. Therefore, I want you to take him back. Destroy the Legged Ship if need be. And ... and kill Ensign Zala if no other options are available.'

Rau nodded and shut the link. Patrick sighed and slumped back in his chair. Athrun smiled up at him from the picture on his desk. Slowly, he reached out and touched the glass, running his finger along the smooth flawless face. God knows what those monsters had done to it, what condition that face would be in. That face was so much like Lenore's. Maybe now... maybe now it would look the way her's had, before... before the explosion had completely consumed her. Maybe now he would have to look at Lenore's dead face, on his son's living body. Or maybe he would just have to look at two gravestones. And stand on empty graves.

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Mu slipped a comforting arm around Murrue's shoulders, feeling the slight tremors running through them. Zala had left only minutes ago. The boy's face had been carefully blank, but for a fleeting second, emotion had passed through the emerald orbs. And it hadn't been anger. Nor was it fear, although that was closer. It was really the look of a child that had lost its mother in a train station or something. A look of abandonment, loneliness, with that small sprinkle of strange curiosity.

The eyes of a child that wanted his father. And they had denied him permission. They had left him standing in the lobbie, with nowhere to go. Murrue glanced up at him, tears glinting faintly in her eyes.

'He... he really is... only a child. Isn't he?' she whispered. Mu nodded, and watched the captain bite her lip. He chuckled, and she started.

'You really are a mother, aren't you?' Her eyes widened, so he continued. 'He's lost, and you want to find him, somehow. But you have a ship to captain, and a part of him doesn't want to be found. Is that why you're so upset ... Murrue? You want to help him, to be a mother to him, but circumstances won't allow it. You can't help him the way you helped Kira.'

Her chestnut eyes were so wide it gave her the deer-in-a-headlight look. But that only served to make her more beautiful. Slowly she nodded, and then stood up and buried her head in his chest.

Athrun walked briskly down the corridor, wanting nothing more then to break into a run. Just to start running and stay going until he'd somehow managed to get away from this. Until he'd somehow gotten into a world where his mother was still alive, where he wasn't a soldier, and where Kira was still his friend.

But the rational part of his mind wouldn't allow it. Doing that wouldn't solve anything, which would only make him more upset, and it would also get him more lost then he already was. He sighed and slumped against the wall.

Why didn't I just ask someone where the mess hall was? Sai told me to meet him there, so why didn't I just ask? "Because you're..."

He started out of his thoughts as two hands landed on either side of his head. His eyes shot open, and found himself staring at a face pushed close to his. Glancing around, he saw his exit blocked on either side by two other men.

'Awwww, is the coordinator lost?' one of the men mocked. He growled softly.

'Figure that out all by yourself, or were you handed the answer?' he asked, raising his eyebrows. The hand on his right left the wall and grabbed a handful of his hair, yanking his head back into the wall. He bit his thoung to stop any kind of cry leaving his lips.

'Listen here, you filthy little coordinator, I don't care what the captain says about you! You're against what God intended! And all you deserve is death! The captain and some of those younger idiots may trust you, but most of us don't! You don't deserve to be given the run of the ship!'

Athrun arched his eyebrows higher. 'Really? Well I'm sure the captain would be delighted to here that. Quite frankly, I really don't care.' His head was jerked again.

'I had family on Heliopolis! And they didn't make it off!' the man screamed. Athrun started. That was a strange change of subject... He couldn't answer that, so he remained silent, averting his eyes. For some reason, that seemed to anger all three men, as he suddenly found himself crashing down onto the floor, landing hard on his back. The brusies on his body suddenly ignited in firey pain. He groaned softly and pushed himself into sitting position, glaring up at the men.

Something wet landed on his cheek.

His eyes widened in disgust as saliva made its steady way down his face. The man laughed. Clenching his fists, Athrun stood, standing like a soldier. His head was high, dignified. The man started as his "victim" suddenly seemed a lot more dangerous.

'I'll let you have that one,' Athrun said, his voice calm and almost good natured, 'But try it again and you won't live five minutes beyond it.'

The three men stepped back, then seemed to decide one coordinator wasn't a match for them and made to attack. The sound of running feet startled them all. Mirella Haw suddenly appeared between both parties, scowling.

'What are you doing?' she barked. Athrun stared at her as the men shuffled their feet nervously. The girl shook her head and turned. Her hand closed around his arm and she began steering him away. The men's growls rolled down the corridor.

'You gotta watch what you're doing. Many people here are still anti-coordinator. They won't hesitate to make their beliefs known.'

Athrun sighed. 'I think I figured that out.' Milly giggled slightly and pulled out a tissue. Athrun started as she gently wiped his face, being careful not to apply pressure to the still healing cut. She smiled as his eyes widened. Then raised her eyebrows as they suddenly glimmered with tears. He looked away.

'They speak of Heliopolis... as if... as if we attacked first. As if they never did anything like it. As if they didn't realise what building Mobile suits there would do. And as if we didn't feel remorse for making that attack.'

Milly sighed and cupped his face, pulling his eyes back onto her. 'Be that as it may, it still happened, and civilians still still died.' His eyes blazed.

'Don't you think I know that! Don't you think I understand exactly what I've done. Don't you realise how much that hurt because it was so much like Junius Seven! I heard my mother screaming watching that place fall! But they... they act as if... as if...?'

He stopped as she wound her arms around his neck and held him close. 'I know, OK? I understand. But they don't. They don't,' she whispered, and sank down to her knees, willing him to fall as well. He did, tears falling down his face. 'Why won't they let me speak to my father?' he sobbed. Milly didn't answer.

Sai watched Milly and Athrun, an ache building up in his chest. He probably should've realised... should've known... Milly understood, at least in some way, what Athrun was going through. Plus, she was female... But... but... His hands closed around Athrun's dog tags, and he turned to walk away.

Well? Sorry again for not updating for so long. Please R&R?