Chapter Four

Quatre

Quatre had taken over his father business after the war and it had become even more successful than before. His employee's loved him and his business partners admired him. He loved his job very much, which is why the attempt at sabotage hurt him so. He thought he was doing a good job, who was trying to ruin him?

He tried to distract himself by catching up on some old business files on his computer and it seemed to work for a while. He was just finishing up file number 215 when the phone on his desk buzzed. He jumped slightly and then cursed himself for doing so. He reached over and pushed the small red button.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Winner, there's a Duo Maxwell here to see you," screeched a high female voice from the speaker.

Quatre smiled. "Great! Send him in!" He said and turned to the door. Moments later Duo marched in with his hands stuck in the pockets of his black leather jacket.

Wow…he looks good…Quatre thought.

Duo walked in and smiled.

"Hey Quat!" He said and plopped down into the chair in front of Quatre's desk.

"It's good to see you again, Duo." Quatre smiled.

"Even though we just saw each other this morning." Duo chuckled. "I just came by to see what I could find out. You know, where I should start in this whole investigation thing."

Quatre nodded and began fiddling with his computer. "I'll bring up the security details. You can start there."

Duo nodded and leaned over the desk to watch. His eyes drifted over to Quatre as he typed.

Man he's sexy…Duo thought. I just want to wrap that little frame in my arms and…

"…and this is the mines here, and this…Duo are you listening to me?"

Duo snapped out of his trance to find Quatre staring at him. "Oh…uhh…yeah. Mines. Okay." He smiled trying to hide his embarrassment.

Quatre shifted uncomfortably and pointed to the screen again. "This is where the first incident happened. You may want to check it out." He said. On the screen was a picture of one of the mines. "I can send Rashid with you to show you the way."

Duo smiled and nodded. "Right." He stood up. "I'm on it."

Rashid and Duo remained at the mines long into the afternoon searching for clues. Just as the sun was setting over the mountains Duo collapsed on a rock.

"I don't get it…how can there not be a single clue?" He said.

Rashid crossed his arms over his chest. "They're tricky…that's for sure. I wish I knew who was trying to ruin Master Quatre's business. The Winner family has always been respectable."

"I know…that's what's got me so confused." Duo said and stood up. "Well, I guess I'll go report our lack of findings to Quatre."

Maybe Heero and Relena have found something…Duo thought as he walked back to the trolley car that brought them there.

Half way back to the main building, Duo's cell phone rang. He reached into his pocket and looked at the name flashing on the screen: Winner. He smiled and answered it.

"Quat? What have you found out?...yeah….uh-huh…really? Well that's great!...yeah sure!...We're on out way back now…this is great news!" He smiled and hung the phone up.

Rashid looked over at Duo with a quizzical look. "Heero did it! He found the guy! And your not going to believe who it was!"

"Who?"

"Quat's own brother-in-law!"

Rashid nearly fainted. "Which one?"

"I think Quat said his name was Jon, or Jonny or something. He's the one married to Quat's oldest sister."

"Jonathan?" Rashid gasped.

"Yeah that's it! For what Quat said, he was mad because it was Quatre who took over the company instead of him. He said that since he was married to the older sister and had been in the family longer than Quatre has even been alive, that he should get the company."

"But that's ridicules! Master Quatre is a blood heir. Never in the Winner family tradition has a woman been heir unless she was the only child!" Rashid said.

Duo nodded. "I know. But I guess he didn't like that. Anyway, they have him in jail now. Heero knocked him a good one and they say he hasn't even woken up yet!" Duo grinned.

Rashid chuckled. "Good! Now Master Quatre can continue on with his work in peace."

"Yeah…in peace…" Duo smiled and watched the scenery pass. He was glad Quatre wasn't at risk any more. And who knows what this guy was planning next? Duo didn't know what he would do if anything happened to Quatre…

Quatre sat back in his chair, grateful that the trouble was over, but hurt that it was his sister husband behind it all. He had always liked Jonathan. He was like a big brother to him. He had joined the family the same year Quatre was born and he helped to comfort the family when Quatre's mother died.

He looked over at a picture on his desk. It was a family picture…the last one taken before Quatre's father died. It was Quatre and his father surrounded by all of his sisters…and there in the corner, stood Jonathan. He looked so happy and carefree. It just didn't seem right that he could be behind it…but Heero had said he over heard Jonathan bragging about it. And Jonathan even confessed when he was caught! Quatre knew that Heero would never lie, but it still didn't seem right. His sister took the news hard as well. He had just gotten off the phone with her and she was very upset. Quatre offered to go and see her but she declined, telling him he had too much work to do. She was upset, but she didn't seem surprised. This also disturbed Quatre. Did she know he was planning this? Or maybe he had mentioned it to her. Letting her know it upset him.

Quatre sighed. Suspecting his sister wasn't going to lighten his mood, but he knew what could. He leaned over his desk and opened the screen for his video phone. He dialed a number that he knew fluently and smiled when the stoic face appeared on the screen.

"Hello, Trowa." Quatre smiled.

"Hey there, Little One." Trowa smiled slightly. "What's wrong?"

Oh that's right…I…I haven't even told him yet…

"Oh…nothing." He smiled warmly. "I just wanted to see your face."

Trowa raised a brow then chuckled. "It's good to see you too, Quatre."

"So, what are you doing?" Quatre asked propping his chin up with his palms and placing his elbows on the desk.

"Just getting ready for the show tonight. You'll…you'll be there, right?" Trowa asked, seeming unsure.

Quatre hesitated and smiled again. "Of course! I've never missed one of your shows."

Trowa nodded but didn't smile. "Good. Well…I should go. Catherine needs me."

Quatre nodded. "Okay. I'll see you at home."

Trowa nodded and the screen went dark. Quatre bowed his head and looked at his hands.

"You haven't told him…have you?"

Quatre jerked his head up to see Duo standing before him with a frown across his face. The small blond sighed and looked back at the empty screen.

"I'm not sure what's happening, Duo. We seem to be…falling apart. I…I don't know why. We don't spend as much time with each other anymore and we hardly talk." He turned to his braided friend. "He even moved into the guest bedroom about a month ago."

Duo's eyes darkened. He hated seeing pain in those beautiful blue eyes. He wanted so badly to reach run over and hug all of his problems away. But know…"You don't want to scare him." That's what Relena would say. He sighed and sat down.

"I'm sorry, Q-man. I…I don't know what to say."

Yes you do! Tell him you love him! Tell him that you and Heero are history and that you love him! His brain was screaming at him and it was almost over powering. He opened his mouth to speak when Quatre stood up.

"Wh-Where are you going?" Duo asked.

"I…I need to think." He reached down and tapped the intercom button. "Diane? I'm going out. Hold all my calls."

"Yes, Mr. Winner." Came the screeching female voice. Quatre walked to the coat hanger and pulled his soft blue blazer from it sliding it over his white suit. He turned to Duo as he approached the door. "I appreciate everything you've done, Duo. I…I'm glad you're my friend." He smiled and left the room.

"Your friend?" Duo repeated and sighed. "Yeah…that's all I'll ever be…your friend…" He sighed and left the office.