Chapter Five

The next few hours passed without much excitement. The men finished unpacking their few belongings into the designated rooms and Quatre and Wufei decided to venture into the kitchen in search of something to cook for dinner while Duo and Trowa sat in the living room discussing their current situation.

"If this man has escaped from prison and wants us dead, wouldn't he suspect we would go into hiding?" Duo ventured, sitting on the arm of the couch.

"We can't be certain until something happens." Trowa replied sitting next to Duo. "We know nothing about this man or his motives. For all we know it could be a hoax."

"Some hoax." Duo muttered stood. "If Sally wanted us to come here then it's gotta be serious."

Trowa shrugged. "Perhaps. But we also know that Sally worries. It may be nothing but a precaution."

"Hmm," Duo sighed and paced the living room floor. "I don't know. Sally's not exactly the type to panic over nothing and that look in her eyes when she told us…I don't know. I just got a strange feeling that this is more serious than everyone thinks it is."

Trowa nodded. "All we can do is keep our guard up and try to stay out of sight until Zechs and Noin get to the bottom of this."

"Yeah…Humph." Duo grunted and collapsed into the arm chair in frustration. "I hate being locked up in here. I feel like I should be doing something to help."

Trowa nodded. "I understand. I feel the same way. However, I think we should humor Sally. At least for the time being."

Duo nodded. "Yeah. I guess you're right." He stood up. "Hey!" He shouted into the kitchen. "Do you guys need help?"

A loud crash echoed into the living room from the small kitchen and Trowa and Duo exchanged a glance; shortly after a rather flushed Quatre emerged holding a large metal cookie sheet.

"Quat? You okay?" Duo asked.

The small blond nodded. "Yes. We found a rat and…well…" His flush increased and he bowed his head.

Trowa smiled and stood up. "Don't worry, Little One. I understand." He smiled and embraced Quatre in a brotherly hug.

Quatre chuckled in embarrassment and looked up at Trowa. "Thanks…we found some pasta and a few vegetables so Wufei is going to make some stir fry for us."

"Are you not helping?" Trowa asked in a soothing voice.

Quatre smiled shyly and shook his head. "I'm only getting in the way." He sheepishly made his way to his room. "I think I'm just going to read." He said before disappearing into the small room and closing the door.

Trowa sighed.

"Man, he just can't go one day without that attitude!" Duo exclaimed and marched into the kitchen.

"Duo, wait." Trowa called but it was too late. Duo entered the kitchen and found Wufei adding pasta to the boiling water.

"You just can't stand it, can you Chang?"

Wufei looked up at Duo and raised a brow.

"You just have to be Mister Independent, don't you?" Duo continued.

"What are you talking about Maxwell?" Wufei growled.

"You just can't accept help can you? Not even for dinner. Nope, Chang Wufei has to do everything for himself. He just…" Duo trailed off and drooped backwards into Trowa's arms.

Trowa sighed and released Duo's pressure point and looked up at Wufei.

"He must be tired." Trowa said.

Wufei nodded with a questioning look on his face. "Perhaps he should be taken to bed."

Trowa nodded and lifted Duo easily in his arms and carried him into the bedroom they shared. He laid him down on the bed and carefully tucked the blankets around him.

"You really need to learn to control your outbursts, Duo." He said to the sleeping form before leaving the room.


Quatre lay on his stomach on the bed with a book stretched out before him. Written on he cover, in sharp gold letters, were the words The House of Mirth.

Ironic, Quatre thought, because this book is nothing but happy.

He was just getting through chapter five when the door creaked open. He looked up and saw Wufei enter and close the door behind him.

"Wufei?" Quatre asked, sitting up.

"Winner, I require your assistance in the kitchen." He said quickly.

Quatre raised a brow and Wufei decided to amend his statement.

"I would like your assistance in the kitchen. I could use some help with the vegetables."

Quatre smiled warmly and nodded. "Alright." He stood and placed the book on top of the dresser before following Wufei into the kitchen. "Where are Trowa and Duo? He asked observing the empty living room.

"Maxwell had…an episode."

Quatre's eyes widened and he turned to Wufei. "An episode? Is he okay?"

"Yes, Barton is seeing to him. You needn't worry."

Quatre nodded and continued to follow after stealing a glance at the closed door leading to Trowa and Duo's room. Without exchanging another word, Quatre walked over to the counter top and began cutting vegetables while Wufei watched over the pasta and readied the rest of the meal. The kitchen was silent except the sounds of the cutting and stirring.

"Wufei?" Quatre asked.

Wufei turned to him while dumping more vegetables into his simmering sauce.

"Why did you change your mind?" The blond looked into the dark eyes of the Chinese man with question. "About needing help I mean."

Wufei stared into the soft blue eyes of the blond for a moment, formulating an answer before turning back to the dish. "I realized I was being foolish."

Quatre raised a brow. He hadn't expected that. "Foolish?"

Wufei nodded and continued to stir. "We are in a situation that could prove to be very dangerous. Often times…during the war, I mean…I never accepted, or even asked for, help from anyone and I ended up in more trouble than I intended. I reminded myself that I could handle it and never thought on the matter again. I…realized that if I end up in trouble this time, it's not only my life at stake but all of yours as well." He stopped stirring and turned to Quatre. "Dinner is as good a place as any to start trusting."

Quatre smiled warmly and nodded. "Yes it is."

Wufei bowed his head respectfully before turning back to the food. The two cooked together in silence, only this time, it wasn't an uncomfortable silence; this time they were surrounded with the feeling of friendship.


Okay, there's chapter five. I'm sooo sorry that it took so long to get out. I'm been sooo busy with life. Anyway, thanks so much to my reviewer Demain Matin. I really appreciate the support. I hope you enjoy this next chapter!