Trowa watched Relena and Wufei out of the corner of his eye, wondering what might have happened in the lab. Whatever it was, he could sense the strain between the two from across the room as Wufei ushered Relena out of the building. As soon as the security guard finished scanning the packages for Dr. Zan, Trowa would follow Relena outside and find out exactly what had transpired. But his plan was quickly foiled.

"Dr. Zan?" The man waved over to Wufei. "Packages for you…"

Wufei turned toward the security post, frowning. "All right," he said as he strode in their direction. He looked blankly at Trowa. "Could you bring those down to the lab for me? Thanks."

Trowa blinked but managed to hide his surprise. "Sure thing." He grabbed the packages and followed after Wufei toward the lobby elevators.

"What's with the get-up?" Wufei muttered once they were out of the guard's earshot. "Bad enough I've got Darlian running around in a catsuit; now you've joined the costume parade. Why didn't you just show up as a clown? You could've posed as the entertainment."

Trowa barely refrained from rolling his eyes. "Une sent me to retrieve Relena. An errand I wouldn't have had to bother with if you hadn't let her come here in the first place." Wufei's jaw tightened as he punched the elevator button, but he didn't address Trowa until they were both inside.

"You know how she can be," Wufei said through clenched teeth once the doors had shut. He punched the button for the basement level. Trowa shifted his weight as he held the boxes, but Wufei didn't bother taking any from him. They rode down in silence and exited the elevator into the hallway. Trowa followed after Wufei as he took a right and headed down a corridor.

"So that's your excuse?" Trowa asked. "After you complained about her bringing me into this mission, you just cave to her whims? Apparently she's got you wrapped around her little finger."

Wufei addressed Trowa without turning around. "More than you know." He hastened his pace down the dimly-lit corridor. Trowa's stomach dropped.

"Not you, too..."

Ahead of Trowa, Wufei's shoulders slumped, but he continued leading them down the long corridor. And while Trowa had a longer stride, he had to quicken his pace to keep up with Wufei, all the while juggling his pile of boxes. Luckily, juggling happened to be one of his specialties; apparently, it was also one of Relena's. His chest felt aflame with a jealous rage he hadn't known he was capable of feeling.

"But... Relena said Heero was the only-"

"Other man she'd been with?" Wufei scoffed. "Yeah. I heard that one."

"When?" he asked Wufei tersely, as they approached the lab entrance. The shorter man turned dark eyes up to Trowa.

"A few months back. She was… distraught when she found out what had happened to Heero." Wufei glanced around him furtively before continuing. "I tried to stay out of it, but she said she needed someone to talk to, and so I became the proverbial shoulder to cry on." His mouth hardened into a firm line. "I'm sure you can fill in the rest from there."

Trowa fought to suppress the tide of emotions that roiled him. "Why didn't you say anything?" Wufei rolled his eyes.

"Whatever she does is none of my business. It never was. And anyway, whatever you were doing with her is over and done with, now that she's seen Heero again." Wufei looked pointedly at Trowa. "You do realize this?"

Trowa's throat tightened. "But Heero's not himself."

Wufei chuckled darkly. "You think she cares about that? You think she cares about any of this?" He gestured vaguely around them before turning and entering a code on the panel to the side of the large metal doors. "Anyway. Prepare yourself."

The doors slid open and Wufei swept inside. Trowa followed behind him, hefting the boxes, his mind still trying to register Wufei's insinuation. He wondered who he should believe- him or Relena. Was the kind, caring woman he was getting to know even capable of such deceit? Perhaps her other persona had become the more dominant side, rendering the version of Relena he knew into nothing more than a play for sympathy, whenever it was convenient for her. Trowa felt hurt and disgusted as he set the boxes down on a side table, as Wufei directed.

And then he looked up and turned his head, meeting the cold, blue eyes of none other than Heero Yuy. Trowa felt a chill run through him. Even though Heero was inside a smaller exam room and strapped to a table, he could feel the man's stare burning through the glass.

Trowa turned when he felt other eyes on him. Wufei stood watching him with a bemused expression. Trowa had to wonder if the other former Gundam pilot was thinking what he was; that, if Heero - the old Heero - had heard what they had just been discussing, neither one of them would be standing there much longer.

"It's like he knows," Trowa murmured. Wufei's eyes glinted.

"The thought has crossed my mind, more than once," he said just loudly enough for Trowa to hear. "But extensive testing has confirmed that he has not, in fact, retained any of his memories prior to the start of the procedure." He tipped his head toward the exam room. "He looks at you like he can see right through you. You know Heero, though. That severe expression is his default."

"True," Trowa said with a nod. "He's always had that unfortunate resting bitch face." Wufei snorted. he asked more quietly. "How did Relena take it?"

Wufei's eyes rolled. "Are you kidding? I had to pry her away from him." Trowa's jaw tightened.

"I see."

"Women love bastards," Wufei mumbled. Now Trowa rolled his eyes.

"You ought to know."

"She didn't love me," Wufei growled. "Do you want to talk to him, or what?" Trowa looked taken aback.

"Seriously?"

"Isn't that why you're here?"

Trowa shook his head. "I came for Relena, remember?"

"And I've already taken care of that," Wufei said flatly. "She's no longer in harm's way." Trowa frowned, wondering exactly what he meant by that.

"I've been ordered to keep an eye on her."

"Well, if she's not in here, she can't be getting into much trouble elsewhere," Wufei grumbled. "Knowing her, she probably went home to have a good cry."

"Not if she's in Faye mode," Trowa pointed out. Wufei scoffed.

"No such thing."

Trowa arched a brow. "You don't think so? Une is concerned-"

Wufei cut him off with a curt shake of his head. "Bullshit. Relena has no 'alter persona'; they're one in the same." He turned smug eyes up to Trowa. "She really has you fooled, doesn't she?" Trowa shifted uncomfortably where he stood, still under the watchful gaze of Heero Yuy. He wanted to leave. Wufei must have sensed his unease, because he waved Trowa towards the door, which Wufei opened with another code. They stepped back out into the main corridor.

"If what you're saying is true, then you fell for it just as much," Trowa muttered. "And you continue to let her play you."

"Like you didn't either. How far did she let you go?" Wufei asked, mirth dripping from his words.

Trowa opened his mouth to speak, but before he could come up with a lie, a young technician appeared from an adjacent room to Heero's cell, worry and fear written across his face.

"What is it?" Wufei barked.

"It's the specimen! He's going crazy! He started as soon as you left the room!" the technician cried. Wufei whirled around and punched in the code to Heero's cell. He threw himself through the doorway and halted, his eyes wide.

Heero had ripped through his restraints and was pounding on the glass with his super-human strength. Trowa followed Wufei into the room and bumped into his shoulder, stopping in surprise at Heero's violence.

Even worse, the glass was shattering.

Wufei spun around and slammed his hand against a button on the wall. An alarm blared to life and red lights in the ceiling flashed. With another heavy pound, Heero broke through the glass window. It shattered into large pieces on the ground. Heero stepped through the broken glass, scratching himself in the process. Drops of shining red blood fell from his arms into little puddles on the tiled floor.

"Well, doctor," Heero said, smiling at Wufei and Trowa. "I believe our relationship has come to an end. I would shake your hand, but I have this feeling that I don't shake people's hands."

With that, Heero landed a punch to Wufei's gut, sending him flying against the wall. His body hit, hard, and he slumped to the floor, his eyes closed. Trowa hesitated for a moment, but it was a moment too long. Heero threw a punch at the side of Trowa's head and made a connection. Trowa flew off his feet to the side and landed in a heap on the floor.

Heero looked down at their bodies without emotion and stepped over them, heading for the door.


A/N: Love to our reviewers!

- RGS