AN: As always dear readers many thanks for the reviews. This chapter is a bit short- the week has been hectic- finally the bad guys are making their move.

Chapter 7

"Descent into Chaos"

The first scream broke Dorothy and Quatre from there sensual haze of pleasure on the balcony.

Quatre taking her hand dashed in to see the ballroom had devolved into chaos. It looked like some of the Maganac group members were down including Sada-sama.

Heero was instantly by this side, gun drawn "I've checked the perimeter there is no intruders. Apparently specific members of the Maganac group have been poisoned. I've concluded the poison in the pitcher of date wine on their table. The ambulances have already been called."

Quatre was no longer listening as a cold sweat had broke out over his flesh, releasing Dorothy's had he wove through the frantic crowd to see that Rashid and Sada lay side by side unconcious. Ahmed and another member Ali were sitting up with there dress shirts open- sweating profusely. Two of his sisters were doctors and were tending quietly to the 4 affected men. Small first aide kits were open & in the distance he heard the sirens approaching the exclusive venue.

He kneeled down and felt the pulse of both of the men as Aisha injected something into Rashid's wrist.

"Antidote- a broad one" she said as if reading his mind. There wasn't any sign of the frivolous woman that had been petting his head less than an hour before and teasing him about his skills in the bedroom.

She then discarded the needle and did the same to Sada-sama

"Now all we can do and wait. Tala and I have stablized their vitals"

The EMT's were coming in and Quatre stepped aside as he let the professionals take over.

0000

Abdul approached Quatre in the waiting room of the hospital "Rashid-sama planned for this. I am still to take you and Dorothy-san to the safehouse. We will also transport Rashid and Sada-sama as well." the Maganac member said in low Arabic. Quatre watched as Dorothy rounded the corner with two teas in her hand. She paused at seeing the two of them, Quatre wore a grave look on his face.

"That is fine. When will be able to move the two of them?" he replied

"Radha- Sada-sama's wife is working with the hospital now. We should know soon."

000

It was past 12 and Dorothy and Quatre were in a blacked out jeep traveling across the desert. The air was frigid and the gown she wore even with the additional robe was like paper. The former Gundam pilot had barely spoken a few words to her since they had left the hospital. She knew that they were traveling to a safe house, abruptly the terrain beneath them changed to what felt like cobblestones. Dorothy felt her teeth rattling in her head, her eyes watering.

Suddenly a strong arm came around her shoulders pulling her close

"You are freezing Dorothy- why did you not say so before?" he whispered near her ear. Dorothy drew closer, Quatre was gloriously warm- apparently the extreme temperature change did not affect him.

Dorothy leaned against him "I" she founded herself strangely lost for words.

"You can rest easy once we reach the safe house. Then I can fill you in on everything" he said again his lips brushing her ear. Dorothy felt a thrill go through her

"Yes" she replied simply and closed her eyes.

0000

When Dorothy Winner next awoke bright sunlight was flooding through large windows. Groggily she sat up, to find herself in a large bedchamber. Spartan except for the bed she slept in. The carpets on the floor were decidedly worn and ancient their intricate patterns having long faded. Even the curtains too, once grand were now careworn- dust motes danced in the air like little sparkles of fairy dust. Throwing everything into a strange dreamlike state.

She noticed it then- the presence of another deliciously warm figure beside her. Slowly she turned to see that Quatre slept beside her. His back was to her and his breathing was deep and even. He wore the paper thin sleeping clothes suited for the desert and his alabaster flesh peaked out at her. She reached out and touched his back.

"Quatre"

Quatre rolled over onto his back and blinked sleepily at her "Dorothy?" his voice was thick with sleep. The view was even more devastating from here, Dorothy felt heat suffuse her cheeks as Quatre's lean torso was visible to her hungry eyes. The rosy pink of his nipples pebbled with the chill of the air. Still her eyes traveled lower- before with effort she tore her eyes away and back to his face. The sleep was entirely gone from his eyes, Dorothy swallowed

"Are you going to tell me where we are husband?" she asked brushing her lips over his. She had intended it be quick but Quatre wrapped a hand around her neck and kept her from drawing away. Angling her head to deepen the kiss, when Quatre finally released her lips Dorothy was panting.

"This is one of Sada-sama's more remote residences" he replied caressing her cheek "its worse for wear I'm afraid"

Dorothy grasped his hand "What of the poison?"

"Apparenty it was smuggled in- the Mars police found 3 of the staff members dead in the janitors closet."

Dorothy shook her head "I thought security was impossibly tight"

Quatre's fingers closed around hers "That is what happens when you leave security to others. If I hadn't been so distracted- none of this would have happened" his brows drew together in distress.

"I'm getting careless in my old age Dorothy" he added closing his eyes in pain.

Dorothy bent down and kissed him again "Nonsense Sada-sama and Rashid-san are on the way to recovery. Your sisters were lucky to be carrying an antidote around"

A wan smile curled his lips- "I'm afraid none of us are safe while this hit is on my life. Though I hate to carry a gun I think I will need to get used to it"

000

Argent had pursued them as far as he could into the ever encroaching reaches of the desert, even with the multiple changes in vehicles. He was now stuck in a tiny town just on the border of the desert where people spoke a much different dialect of Arabic that he understood. From what little he could glean, beyond this town was only desert. Honestly he had a hard time beliveing this, the way the villagers of this town looked at him was enough.

However he had found it very satifying to see the look of abject horror on Quatre Winners face just minutes after his blood had run so hot with passion. Showing the former gundam pilot just how powerless he really was.

Watching the wedding ceremony had made Argent quite nauseous. There was something terribly intimate about Dorothy Catalonia and Quatre Winner joining in wedded bliss.

Argent wanted to crush all the joy from his life & bring him to the Leader as a ruined man. Perhaps... Dorothy was the key to this...

With a slight smile- Argent called out to man with a pair of camels.