Hi!

Thanks for reading everyone! And thank you to my two reviewers! Heheheh! It's nice to know someone is reading this.

Ok, the website won't let me use the 'breaks' in the pages so i am just going to write "break" where there is meant to be one. Sorry about that but there is nothing else i can do.

Well it's another story finished but I hope you enjoyed it

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Seed.

Luck of the Draw

Chapter #4: On the Flip of a Card

Over the next 24 hours, Athrun steadily improved, although he slept a good deal of the time. He was very weak from loss of blood and made no noises about getting back to the academy and into his own bed. The other boys had returned to the academy. All except Nicol and, of course, Rau Le Crueset.

They managed to get Athrun on his feet for a short while the following day, but he was very shaky and relieved to lie down again. His left arm was encased in a sling to ease the pressure on his collarbone and Athrun found it was easier when he held his right arm across his body, too. "I'm wearing more bandages than a mummy," he complained as Doctor Niles gently bound up his chest again. He had been checking his handiwork and was pleased with the way the knife wound was healing.

"You must be getting better," Niles remarked. "You're complaining."

Smiling, Athrun met the doctor's laughing gaze. "But I'm obviously not complaining enough," he retorted. "You still won't let me go back to the academy."

"You've got that right," Niles agreed. "You're not well enough for that. Give it another few days and you should be up to the trip."

"It's only been two days, Athrun," Nicol chided him gently.

"I know," Athrun sighed. "I just want things to go back to normal." He tried very hard not to sound as if he was whining.

"Soon," Niles replied.

BREAK

There was a knock on the surgery door as Niles eased Athrun back onto a pile of pillows. Rau went to answer it as Athrun laid his head down for a moment. It was the police. "Come in," Rau offered, surprised to see that the authorities had come so quickly.

His face paled. Perhaps Patrick Zala had found out about what had happened.

But they hadn't been expecting the man who trailed the officer into the room –Li Hawke. Athrun gaped at him, fear clenching his insides, even though Li was in handcuffs.

"What's he doing here?" Rau demanded, seeing the distress in Athrun and Nicol's eyes.

"I brought him," The officer replied imperiously. "Athrun Zala, do you recognize this man?"

"Yes," Athrun whispered. "Li Hawke."

"How do you know him?" The policeman persisted.

"He held me hostage two days ago at the bar a few blocks from here," Athrun replied, his voice stronger. "He held a knife to my throat." The cuts on Athrun's throat had been superficial, no worse than if he'd cut himself shaving. "He tried to kill me."

"That's all I needed to know," The officer nodded. "Thank you, Athrun." He turned and led the way out of the door.

Li paused, looking down at Athrun. He gave the familiar, wolfish grin. "You're in some state, boy," he commented. The officer, annoyed, tugged on his arm and the bigger man simply tugged his arm free and before anyone could move, he was over by Athrun, dragging the injured boy up by the throat. "Nobody do anything stupid," he ordered.

"Let him go!" Rau ordered, his calm voice belying the fear that gripped his belly. "You're not doing yourself any favors with this display."

"If it gets me out of here, its doing me enough," Li replied. "Commander, get the handcuffs off me."

For a moment, Rau hesitated and Li began to squeeze.

Athrun choked.

The officer nodded, handing the ZAFT commander the keys and Rau walked forward. His hands shook as he unlocked the handcuffs and removed them. Li was grinning again. "Now, put them on the boy here."

"That's cruelty!" Niles thundered. "Athrun is injured!"

"Do it!" Li ordered, squeezing again. Rau swallowed and did as he was told. When he was finished, Li removed one large hand from Athrun's throat and shoved both Nicol and Rau to the floor. "Now get out of my way, because I'm leaving here."

"No!" The police officer protested and made a move towards Li, who simply pushed him out of the way. He dragged Athrun to his feet, looking momentarily surprised when Athrun sagged, but not allowing that to stop him. He wrapped one arm around Athrun's neck and began to drag the injured, handcuffed young man after him as he backed towards the door.

"I'm leaving and if nobody moves, I might leave this boy outside. Anyone follows me and I'll take him apart bit by bit. Is that clear?" He shook Athrun slightly as if to emphasis the point and Athrun groaned. Everyone froze in place, watching in horror.

As Li backed away, Rau became aware of someone in the outer office behind the criminal. He bit his tongue, not knowing who it was and afraid of doing something that would put Athrun's life in more jeopardy than it already was. And then the person moved slightly and Rau realized that he knew who it was.

It was Patrick Zala himself!

There was no time to formulate a plan, no time to wonder what he ought to do. Patrick simply put his hands on Li's shoulders, wrenching his arm from around Athrun's throat and whirled the man around. With two efficient punches, he laid the man on the floor.

For a moment, the group in the office was kept frozen, unable to believe what they had just witnessed. Then Nicol moved. "Athrun!" He dived forward to kneel beside his friend, who was lying on the floor groaning in pain. Seconds later, Doctor Niles was by his side, urging Athrun to lie still while he checked him over.

"Get those handcuffs off him!" Patrick cried and Rau hurried over, the keys in his hands once more.

As Rau put the handcuffs back on Li, Patrick hurried over to look down anxiously at Athrun. "Athrun, son, are you all right?" he asked gruffly.

Opening his eyes, Athrun tried to smile. "Father…I'm sorry…thank you." he panted. The pain radiating through his chest and shoulders was taking his breath away.

"Nicol, you help get Li back to the jail," Patrick suggested. "The doctor and I will take care of Athrun." He barely spared a glance for the police officer. He would make sure that man never served on a police force again.

"I'm sorry about what happened, Sir," Rau said, when Athrun was once more on the bed and Niles was tending to him. "I never dreamed anything like this would happen when I gave him the 24 hour pass."

Although the temptation to lay all the blame on the Commander was strong, Patrick resisted. "It wasn't your fault," he replied, a mild irritation slipping into his voice. "You should have told me about this though. Do you know how disturbing it was to find out from Yzak's mother? The boy told his mom who promptly told me. I got here as fast as I could and I'm pleased to see that Athrun is not dead. I want the men who attacked my son punished."

"Yes, Sir," Rau agreed. "The Hawkes killed enough people to warrant the death penalty and any pleas for clemency will not be accepted."

"I'm pleased to hear that," Patrick replied, with a barely controlled savagery. He nodded to the commander and went to bend over Athrun.

There was indeed no doubt about the verdict. The Hawke brothers were condemned to death while Athrun drifted in a drug-induced slumber. He had been lucky, and none of his injuries had been aggravated by his rough treatment. He had some more bruises and his throat was sore, but essentially, he was no worse off.

By the next afternoon, Athrun had rallied and was once more trying to persuade Niles to let him go back to the academy. He was still weak, but beginning to regain his strength. He had managed to stay awake for a good portion of the day and had enjoyed a short visit from Nicol.

"All right!" Niles laughed, putting his hands up. "If you're feeling all right tomorrow, I'll let you go back. Anything to stop you complaining!"

Grinning broadly, Athrun turned to look at Nicol. "Did you hear that? You won't have that room to yourself much long at the academy."

"That's great. It's kind of lonely there without you," Nicol nodded before he paused and turned to the doctor. "Are you sure, Doctor Niles?"

"There's nothing more I can do for him here," Niles replied. "He just needs time now – time to heal. Give him a couple of months, and he'll never know there was anything wrong with him."

As Niles went off to do some other things, Nicol sat down by Athrun's bed. "Well, that is good news, isn't it?" he commented.

"Sure is," Athrun agreed, sleepily. "You know, Nicol, I think it'll be a long time before I want to play poker again, even if it's just with you."

"I can understand that," Nicol replied. He continued, watching as his friend's eyelids dropped sleepily.

"You know what?" Athrun murmured, just remembering. "I had a Royal flush." He forced his eyes open and was gratified to see the look on Nicol's face. "I never had one of those before."

"I guess it was just the luck of the draw," Nicol replied. He thought that it was the luck of the draw that had saved their lives. He shuddered to think that their lives had depended upon the turn of a card.

How lucky they all had been.

The End.

Well, I really enjoyed writing this one. It's probably my favorite story so far hehehehe. I think that in many ways, Patrick Zala did care about Athrun – you can see it in the beginning of the series.

Well, I'm going to work on Affronted Affections for a while now and after that one is complete I will start the sequel to Abhorrence as promised.

Thanks for reading!

Until next time,

Krilyn