Disclaimer: I don't own Trigun or any other anime - I just like making up stories…oh, and this is my second official fan fic and my first Trigun fan fic so I'll just apologize now if it sucks. Sorry!

Chapter Twenty-Two: Breakthroughs

What does it take to move a heart? A name mentioned in passing, by a stranger? An encouraging word, spoken by one's beloved? A touch by someone you barely know? The answer is yes, to all of these things, and many, many more. When the heart is moved, a breakthrough occurs.

When the tall man in black kicked open the door, with his arms laden with a very big, very pregnant, very unconscious woman, the whole room noticed. No more than five seconds passed before the doctor and the two nurses were helping him. There were two young patients in the room, both of whom were watching the spectacle with a great deal of interest.

"Is that Milly?" The little girl asked the boy to her left as she hugged a yellow eyed black cat.

"Yea, but who's that man?" The little boy scratched the cat's head as it meowed.

The doctor was helping Milly into a nearby bed and barking orders to the nurses who were flying across the room in a panic. The baby was coming. The doctor ushered the priest into a waiting area and began questioning him.

"Who are you?" The doctor looked over his clipboard while scribbling notes feverishly on it.

"Oh, I'm just a servant of God roaming the earth, helping the helpless, er, I was helping her with her groceries. My name's Wolfwood." He cleared his throat and offered his hand to the doctor who did not return the greeting. But instead he shook his head.

"No, no, no. Are you any relation, the father of the child, perhaps?"

Wolfwood gave a nervous laugh. "Eh heh, no, I've never seen this lady before in my life."

"I see." The doctor said as he went back to his clipboard. "Well then, let's see, where was she and what was she doing when her water broke? Was she overly excited or stressed? "

The priest looked faint-hearted for a moment. "Well, I don't think so, I was just walking her home, and she was asking me questions."

"What sort of questions? Did she seem worried or fatigued?" The doctor looked up inquisitively and furrowed together his eyebrows.

"She was asking me questions, er, about me." Wolfwood hesitated. "About whom I was."

The doctor nodded "That sounds like something Milly would do, but why would that have upset her? That's interesting." He got to his feet and looked once more that the priest. "Well, you stay put, if you will, Father Wolfwood, I'll be back before too long." He said sharply, and left the room. Wolfwood wiped his brow, where surprisingly, a great deal of sweat had gathered. His mind raced. Who is she? Do I know her – this woman? Milly? She asked me why I was still alive. He moved for a nurse who was running through the room with an IV. He frowned. Who is she?

Milly? Milly! With no warning, intense pain shot through the priests head as he collapsed on the floor.

Meryl smiled. I understand that you don't want to part with me. I mean, let's face it, who would want to part with me?

Vash raised an eyebrow. You're so humble.

Well, at least I've cleared my conscience. Meryl ran a hand through her hair.

"Oh, hey Meryl, seeing as we're confessing things, I have a predicament of my own that I'd like to share with you." Vash took Meryl hands in his. Meryl looked up into his eyes, feeling a blush cover her face.

"I'm almost afraid to ask." She blinked up at him.

"It's about Knives." He spoke softer and then switched into telepathy. I've made a deal with him.

Meryl's eyes widened as she gasped. What do you mean you made a deal with him! Vash! What sort of deal did you make? Oh god! Don't tell me he's going to go on a killing spree if you leave him!

Vash sighed. She was freaking out again. He was expecting that sort of reaction. It's nothing like that. Er, not exactly. He has to stay with me for the rest of the week, that's four more days, and at the end of the week, if he hasn't seen that humanity is peaceful and good, than he has the freedom to go and do as he pleases. Of course, he'll always have to face me whenever he's finished, but that's the deal.

Meryl threw her hands up in the air and turned away from him. For a moment neither of them moved, nor said a word. Suddenly Meryl turned around with a flash in her eyes. "All right then! We have missions! I have to get to Milly, and you have to teach Knives the truth about mankind – so – let's formulate a plan!"

Marianne opened her eyes and found herself staring into a pair of eyes unlike anything she'd ever seen before. Knives was obviously shocked at his actions as much as she was. But there was something more. He was…frightened? She blinked in amazement. He only stared back at her.

Why? Why did you do that? She ventured to communicate with him.

He only held his gaze, with no response.

Knives? She reached a hand up to his face and touched him cautiously.

Knives closed his eyes for a moment. What have I done? What the fuck have I done?

Knives! Answer me!

Knives opened his eyes and looked back at Marianne. She seemed so calm, so steady. She was the opposite of him, she was so, stable. What should I say to you? You want me to admit that I feel when I kill? You want me to admit that I am not such a higher life form? That I'm flawed? Alright, I admit it. I'm not perfect. I'm not these things; I am not unemotional or cruel, not by nature! But how can someone survive in this world, how can someone live, without becoming cold and merciless? He tore himself away from her caress and paced violently on the sidewalk while he screamed in her mind. I was driven to become what I am! I was forced to be what I am! Your people made me what I am!

Marianne had heard enough. She reached out and flung her arms around the tormented man before her. Enough! I understand what you're saying Knives. Mankind hurt you, so mankind must repair the damages. But repair does not come through death, it comes through love Knives. Through love comes healing.

He stood there listening to her words, feeling her touch and something inside of Knives was touched for the first time in over a century. The ice that covered his heart cracked and melted into a pool.

Yea, I'm seein' an end now, maybe one or two more chapters and that'll be it. I got nothin' more. I'm really thinking about doing a Cowboy Bebop fic next. lisa