RunAway

Chapter Six

By EvilBunny

Disclaimer: gundam wing is not mine.

            His report took four minutes and a half to give, and Heero felt each and every breath Releena took during that time. He could sense each one, sighing outward and wafting down his neck. When he'd finished speaking, he suddenly realized he should have been planning what would come next, instead of counting seconds and the breaths of the girl behind him, while trying at the same time to keep his mind off  the girl behind him. He didn't want Noin thinking there was anything special about this. Normal procedure, getting bystanders out of danger, nothing more. Releena needed care, somewhere to stay, and Noin could provide her with all that. She didn't need him, and he certainly didn't need her, so this was the best possible solution. He'd leave on this next mission, and it would be just as well if she didn't get attached to him. Not that she would. Nor did he want her to. And he didn't want to even think about needing her. Because he didn't. Right.

            Still he felt a flare of jealous protection when Noin's attention changed to the girl, and a sullen resentment that anyone else should talk to her, let alone offer her a bath. He wouldn't have thought to offer her that, but the idea seemed suddenly very tempting. Still, it wasn't anything he couldn't have found for her. But Heero kept himself still, and hid the flinch at the quiet agreement that sent her walking away from him. It took her a full thirty seconds to cross the balcony and walk out of sight, and Heero waited another minute before leaving himself, walking on auto-pilot through the halls to his own room, and set about reconnecting his computer. No new mission flashed across the screen. They were still foolishly trying to force him to take vacation time: you'd think they'd be pleased he was so dedicated.

            Heero sat back in his chair and surveyed the room he'd been assigned at the beginning of the operation. Well, more like had picked out for himself, and then had assigned for him. One bed, closet, dresser, desk and chair; sparse, utilitarian, and completely devoid of the distraction from a pair of hazel eyes that he was seeking. When he realized he'd just sized up the room to see if her wingspan would fit, and that she would just fit, he started pacing. Take two paces, turn, repeat. Measure and calm to any unfamiliar observer, he couldn't stop thinking about her.  With a determined turn on his heel, he forced himself to stop moving, and sat back on his small bed. This was pointless. He shouldn't be wasting energy on this fruitless obsession. Better to just replenish sleep lost on the mission now he had the chance. Although he would never admit to being tired, maybe even he could feel stress. That settled, he lay back on the covers, and determinedly closed his eyes. Within moments he drifted off, his last thought gratitude that amidst this confusion he hadn't lost his ability to sleep at will.

            He awoke precisely a half hour later, alert but not nearer to his usual state of indifference than when he'd closed his eyes. He needed to know they were taking proper care of her. She was HIS responsibility after all; he'd brought her here, he was just doing his job. They couldn't say anything against that. Plus, HE was the one she turned to for help.

            Heero knew that if there was any information in the computer about her, he could find it without barely trying, but the system was notoriously slow and chances were she wasn't even entered yet. Easier to just go find her. The house didn't have many bathrooms where she would fit. In fact, Heero only knew of one.

            That decided, Heero lost no time in smoothing the wrinkles from his bed and walking briskly out of the room and down the hall. Full twilight had fallen, and Heero's path soon took him out of the brightly lit quarters, where busy army attachés laden under piles of paper scurried out of the way at his approach and into the passages of the original lighting. The soft wattage shed pools of light that just met each other before the edge of darkness and made the few who had to pass this way grateful any of the light that still came through the windows. Heero moved from light to dark without thinking, intent on his goal, checking each person who went by to be sure they weren't out of place; and the nearer he came to Releena, the more closely he inspected each individual passing by. Even his efforts had not made this old castle secure, too many entrances, and just because she'd been safe last time didn't mean the danger had disappeared.

            Again when he turned the corner the door to where he knew Releena to be stood open. He really had to explain to her the dangers of leaving herself so unprotected. He decided to ignore the fact that he assumed he'd be in the room with her next time to be sure she locked it.

            A loud shriek set him running forward, all thoughts about next time forgotten, and his mind coolly calculating the weapons he had with him while another part of him wanted to rip the cause to shreds with his bare hands. A small analytical voice in the back of his head began describing the correct way to approach the situation, advising a stealthy approach, not just blindly running in, but he could barely recognize the thoughts amidst the cold panic that he'd be too late.

            Before he quite reached the door, Releena came hurtling out into the hall, crashing against the wall as her wings caught in the doorframe, bringing her to an abrupt halt before she began to thrash wildly about. Before he could reach her she'd pulled free with a violent wrench, and turned just in time to run full into him.

            Releena screamed as Heero closed his hands about her arms, pining her, trying to keep her from doing any more damage while he found out what was wrong. She sounded like an animal in pain, completely panicked, her eyes dilated far beyond their normal size. She wore nothing more than a towel, but before this could distract him she began to fight him violently, still shrieking, and he quickly changed his grip to her wrists to prevent her from clawing at him. Her fear lent her strength, and she even went so far as to send them both careening up against the far wall, her wings whipping against him in wet slaps, a miniature snowstorm. Still, she obviously could never escape a qualified soldier.

            She didn't recognize him. He called her name once, twice, and still she fought him. He had to concentrate not to hurt her; she seemed careless of her own safety in her frenzy for escape. Didn't she know she was safe now? That he would take care of her? But she wouldn't meet his eyes, shaking her head frantically eyes searching for a way out, and he couldn't let her go to find out what was wrong or he knew she'd run. He wasn't even sure she could hear him.

            "Thank you for stopping her Mr. Yui." The cool, professional voice came from the bathroom door, and Heero looked up instantly, prepared to destroy whatever had caused the fear Releena was still under. He recognized one of the army doctors, but nearly feel as suddenly all the fight left Releena and she sunk bonelessly downwards at the sound of the doctors voice. Unwilling to release her in this state, but unable to keep her up, he went down with her, crouching on the stone floor, his back against the wall, trying to keep the girl in his arms from collapsing completely. But he couldn't block out the dispirited murmuring as she shook her head back and forth. All he could hear was a hopeless litany "no, no, no", her eyes tight shut, face hidden behind her hair.

            Heero glared at the doctor, blue eyes furious ice as the carefully ground out the words:

            "What happened?" this man obviously had something to do with Releena's distress, but he had to find out what had happened before he killed him. The doctor explained they'd been assigned to do a routine checkup, but when they'd approached the girl she'd gone berserk. She was obviously in need of some serious treatment, and to illustrate the severity of the situation he sent his assistant away for medical treatment for the bite mark on her hand.

            By the time the doctor had finished his story, Heero could barely see from the anger, but he resisted the urge to pound the blind fool before him into a bloody pulp; Releena  hadn't stopped her pitiful denials, curled closed in on herself as far as she could with Heero holding both her arms, and he needed to get her away as soon as possible. But he was going to find out who had thought that after going through her medical torture for the wings that another exam was a good idea. He promised her that. Plus he needed to get her some clothes. Obviously, from her apparel or lack there of, she'd just emerged from the bath. Whatever shampoo she'd used smelled heavenly.

            Heero stood slowly, forcing Releena to rise also, and sent a look to the doctor which sent him sputtering to a stop in the midst of  some medical jargon. Heero didn't like him at all, what he'd tried to do, what had happened to Releena, and he especially didn't like the looks this old man kept shooting at the wings coming from Releena's back.

            "I'll take it from here." The doctor must had heard the rest of what Heero wanted to say in his voice, for he scurried away without another word, sending only one covetous glance back at his lost prize.

            Heero was finally free to turn his full attention to Releena. She hadn't opened her eyes since the doctor had entered the hallway, her face hidden behind wet hair, and he only caught glimpses of her between the strands as she continued to shake her head. Whatever shock she'd fallen into had taken a strong hold, and the energy she'd had moments before to break free from the doctors had just as obviously left her. He needed something, anything to prove she'd come back, just a little, that she knew who he was. Her scream, pure fear, when he'd touched her, as if he could EVER hurt her, still ate at him.

            "Releena." She didn't even look up. Why wouldn't she look at him? She didn't seem in any danger of running now, but he kept one hand still wrapped around her wrist as he forced her chin up with the other. Her eyes were still unfocused, and her lips still mouthed the word "no" over and over, although Heero could no longer even hear the words.

            "Releena, its okay." He shouldn't have left her. She'd told him what they'd done to her, he knew she was fragile, he should have known the operators wouldn't understand. He just wanted her to see him, like she had in the garden, on the balcony.

            There was no one in the hall, and he let himself rest his forhead against hers. "Please, I"ve got you now." He repeated, praying that'd be enough, his face so close to hers he saw her blink in the breeze from his breath. And between that blink and the next he saw blessed confusion replace the blankness in her stare, and he watched her lips form the word "Heero" as she looked at him dazedly.

            That was good enough for him. The next step was to get her our of the hallway, and Heero distanced himself, bringing his attention back to the situation and away from the curve of her next when she tilted to look up at him. With her awake enough not to fight him every step of the way he could get her out easily. Releena stood as if in a daze, still barely supporting her own weight, and rather than see if she could make the walk, he picked her up, sitting her in front of him where she naturally turned into his neck for balance, her arms holding tight and her wings almost dragging on the floor around them. The wings were surprisingly heavy, but she still weighed less than she should.

            Her eyes were closed again, but her breathing no longer worrisome and from the way she clung to him he knew she no longer considered him harmful. Heero set his pace at a smooth walk, grateful for the wings which covered most of the girl he held, as she still wore only the towel, and he didn't need any more questions.

            He needn't have worried.  The sight of Heero walking through the halls carrying what appeared to be a drowned angel as if she was glass, and fiercely scowling at anyone who looked their way shocked all who saw them into silence. Still Heero was grateful when he'd finally maneuvered them safely into his room, and shut the door behind him, but there he was face with the realization that he didn't want to put her down, nor did he know where he could put her. Even curled up against him her wings filled the room, making the familiar place a half hidden and ambiguous fairyland, with them at the center.