Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, this is a fan fiction.

Pain

Chapter 2: Wake Up Call

Ember was alone in her study. Overlooking some new plans for her Gundam. A cool breeze rushed through her open windows. It scattered a few pages toward the opposite wall.

"Crap!" she gasped as she chased them down. When they were collected and accounted for Ember walked over to the window to shut them. Just before she could close the last one she spotted Heero and Duo on the lawn. They seemed to be in dispute. Ember squinted her eyes to try to read their lips but Heero's back was to her and Duo wasn't talking.

"Well damn." she sighed.

Entranced by the fight she kept watching. It was rare that those two fought so openly. Heero caught a retreating Duo's wrist and pulled him back to him.

Then he forced his mouth over Duo's who returned the gesture eagerly. Ember's pupils shrank and water began to build in her ducts. She couldn't look away, her heart broke as the love scene continued to unravel. Tears escaped their source and rolled down her face. White-hot pain lay siege upon her being. She banged the window shut and ran from the room. Her heart in a panic and her mind unable to think all she did was run, run away. Looking for a non-existent battlefield to lose her-self in. The last of her greatest joys. She burst out the front entrance of the mansion. Quatre almost at her heels hollering "What's wrong?!" But she didn't stop; she wouldn't stop until her mind erased the occurrences that had taken place. Suddenly, Ember felt blood stain her skin.

"What?" she questioned.

Then a figure appeared before her. It was the blonde from the mall. The same insane grin stretched across her face. Horror washed over her. The figure raised her weapon. Ember froze. Why couldn't she move? Her brain sent the signals but the gears refused to move. She looked down at her feet. There were hands holding her feet down. The hands belonged to countless undead OZ soldiers, ones that she herself had dispatched. Then she felt a hand cover her mouth. She looked over to find a rotting zombie that at one time had resembled Heero.

Three shots cut the air and plunged into her chest, and then there was nothing. Only silence…

Slowly her eyes opened. It had all been a dream. She looked around at the machines and screens. She tried to move her fingers and toes but had no luck. Hours dropped off the clock as she waited for feeling or pain to resurface. Finally her left hand gave a slight twitch and she whacked something soft. Pushing her senses toward the object she discovered hair. She froze. Her last moments of consciousness replaying in her now awake mind.

Was he here next to her? Now on this plane? She wasn't still dreaming?

Oh if heaven could only be so generous. She forced herself to kind of sit up. It hurt but if he was there it would be worth it. Her heart leaped and sank at in the same instant. It was the "God of Death" at her bedside. Her "Perfect Solider" was in a chair across the room. Both asleep. Her eyes rolled back and she flopped back down on her bed.

"Fuck you." she spat. At the sound of her voice Duo sprang to life.

"Ember?!!!" he said smiling wide. Ember was shocked. Hadn't Duo been asleep?! "How are you feeling?" he started his 20 questions.

Heero stirred in his chair. She didn't want to talk to him now. She would vomit the words she had been holding back since she saw Heero and Duo that day.

Faint! Vomit! Die! She commanded her body. Do something!!! She was frantic. Her heart racing as she saw his eyes upon her. She felt a pain in her stomach. And it grew into trauma, everything was happening so fast all she could do was react to the overpowering pain. She just screamed and clutched her torso. Duo panicked and scrambled to retrieve a doctor.

"Ember!" Heero cried "Clam down!" He tried to touch her but she smacked his hand away.

No, don't touch me. Her mind pleaded. Don't heal me with your words. I can't take it. A doctor appeared and asked Duo to hold Ember down. She only gave a little resistance to Duo's force. A needle plunged into her vein. She slowly stopped crying out and her eyes fell on Heero's worried face. A tear fell down her cheek, and once again drugs claimed her.

'When did you see this?' Quatre's voice asked.

'Yesterday...' Ember answered. Her eyes seemed empty.

'Do you still love him?' He inquired.

Ember lifted her face, silent tears stream down her face.

'Yes.' She choked, a smile appeared through her tears.

'Well then, you should talk to him. Tell him how you feel." He encouraged.

What kind of advice is that?!?!? Ember thought.

After that discussion Ember eluded Heero whenever they ran into each other.

Quatre was getting sick of waiting for Ember to take an opportunity and made an opportunity. He talked Heero into taking Ember with him to 'Gadget House'. He had ordered something months ago and it had just come in. Duo offered to accompany them but Quatre insisted that Duo stay behind and help him with work.

Damn blonde haired little con-man!!!!!!!

That's how all this mess got started. In the back of her mind she realized that Quatre would feel somewhat responsible.

Poor bastard…

What would Heero do if she confronted him about the kiss? He couldn't deny it and if he did she would really be upset.

Oh well…. Might as well face the day like a good solider should.

Her sense of time was off whack so when she opened her eyes the morning sun was blazing in her sight.

FUCK!!!!!!!! I didn't mean like that!! She raised her arms and groped for anything to block the glare of day. Her hand fell upon leather. She froze.

AWWWW FUCK! Her mind cursed again.

She felt the leather. It was warm.

"Do you like it?" A voice questioned.

"Could you shut the blinds?" Ember asked. She felt stupid but she was injured.

"Sure, no problem." He answered. The blinds closed with a soft swish.

Ember lowered her arms. Could she trust him? Buy time, get him to talk. Maybe her knight in his denim jacket would show up. Ha, Ha She laughed silently

"What do you want?" Ember asked.

"Well to be truthful… we want you dead." he paused. "There is a sizeable cash trophy awaiting for whomever collects your pretty little head."

"Really?" Ember smiled "Just how much?" This wasn't staling, she was now purely interested to hear this out.

"I'm not at liberty to say!"

"Oh come on, your going to kill me anyway." Ember coaxed.

A gun materialized right in her face. He's fast.

"Tell you what…." he smirked. "Studies say you live 5 seconds after you die. So I'll shoot you first then as you pass over I'll whisper it in your ear." He got so close Ember could smell the Chinese takeout on his breath. Chinese take out, blonde partner. A light bulb ignited.

"What about your partner?" Ember asked. "Shouldn't she be here?" His face went instantly from glee filled to blank.

"My partner!?!" he asked. He seemed confused. Then he backed up a bit, the color draining from his face. It was the look people got from fear and hatred.

"The blonde haired woman?"

Then the sparkle returned to his eyes. It burned with an unwelcome passion. Ember twitched.

"I've been killing 'Grand war veterans' for 3 years now! That woman is no partner of mine. She thinks she's my boss. Going after you was my idea! Sure Yuy is the top of the list but your picture was mesmerizing." He leaned in close again. "I especially love your eyes. After they were done with you I was going to ask for them as a bonus."

Ember started to tremble. This guy was crazy. And in her current state she couldn't lift a finger to save herself. Was she going to die?

Heero's face whizzed by in her head. She then relaxed. This was going to happen. With her out of the way Heero and Duo could freely love each other.

"Giving up?" he smiled. Ember closed her eyes.

"Don't forget to tell me how much I'm worth." Ember reminded him. The safety hammered back.

This is it… she thought. The end.

A bang cut the air. Ember opened one eye, Heero and Trowa had burst into the room. Trowa knocked the man unconscious with a chair and Heero had thrown himself onto Ember to stop the bullet had it left its chamber.

Heero held Ember at arms length. He sighed in relief when he was sure she was unharmed.

"Why?" he asked. His relieved face transformed into his stone face.

"Why what?" she asked.

"Why did you just sit there and wait to die!?" he demanded.

She wanted to cry. The last person she had thought of was here, and he was giving her the 3rd degree.

She slapped him across the face.

"How dare you!" she growled. "I… I…" She wanted to say it. To make him feel stupid for not realizing it sooner.

"Clam down." Trowa warned them. "We can't have her wounds opening again."

Heero looked at Trowa ready to argue, but then agreed and calmed himself down. Trowa walked over to Ember's bedside, he plopped down at her side and smiled. "How are you?"

Ember was at a loss. How could Trowa always turn a hostile situation into a happy reunion?

"Okay I guess…" she answered.

Damn just when I get the nerve to spit it out Trowa kills the mood.

Security came by and picked up the assassin. One reached for the jacket but Ember clutched it tight. He gave her a disapproving look. The other officer came up and requested the contents of the garment. Ember gathered the contents and gave them to him. Ember took a second glance at the other of the officers. She knew those eyes.

Trowa reclaimed her attention by talking about his circus life, the lions and other performers. They talked for a couple hours. Then the nurse wheeled Ember away to under go some tests.

"She's still a nice person." Trowa smiled as they left the hospital. Heero rubbed his cheek. Trowa steals a glance at him and chuckles. Heero glared at him.

"She did that for a reason." he laughed again. Heero looked confused. "However, if and when you figure that out is up to you." He turned to face Heero, poked his comrade's nose and said. "Stop walking around with your eyes closed."

Heero blinked. Trowa waved good-bye and drove away.

"My eyes are closed?" He asked himself.