Nothing Will Ever Change That

Disclaimer- I do not own anything to do with NGE.

Chapter 53: Private Down

NERV – One Week Later – Cass / Sam's Room – 10:00 PM

I was in Cass's room just talking while Sam was in Asuka's room.

"So, you guys decided on a name yet?" he suddenly asks the question I have been dreading. I'm not to sure why, but I hated to talk about my child. I wasn't too sure if it was because of the fact that it wasn't born yet, or if I was just embarrassed.

"Well… kinda. If it's a boy, we'll name it Nao, and if it's a girl we'll name it Dietlinde. We both thought that one should be German and one is Japanese," in a way, I was hoping for a girl.

"Not bad, I like Nao. Reminds me of an old friend…" that was… odd. Cass never talked about his past. Just then, someone knocked on the door, "It's open!" the door slides open to reveal a tall man in an army uniform. Cass leaps up and salutes.

"Are you Private Sonnenschein?" the man was obviously having trouble speaking Japanese.

"Yes sir." Cass was now speaking German. I was able to understand a little due to Asuka occasionally speaking it to me.

"Good, this is for you," the man hands Cass a letter. He opens it and goes wide eyed.

"But… why? I'm an Eva pilot now, not a soldier! I thought that was established before!" Cass sounded angry now. He has lost his salute and is now yelling.

"Private Sonnenschein! Calm down! This is not my order, it falls under the rule of the German Government! You are scheduled to leave tomorrow, be ready at o-four-hundred hours! That is all." With that, the man walked off, leaving Cass standing there with the letter in his hands.

"Cass? What… happened?" he slugged over to his bed and fell on his back.

"War just broke out in Germany…"

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Ten Minutes Later – Gendo's Office

Cass was talking to Gendo about the war, and I was listening in.

"I'm sorry, we can't do anything. Germany still is in control of you, therefore able to do what they feel is necessary. I suggest you say you're good-byes and get ready. That will be all," so cold.

"But… I can't… please! Do something!" Gendo kept quiet, "So you're just going to let it happen? Fine. I don't need this piece of shit you call NERV, and I don't need your sorry ass!" the door swings open, and I was barely able to dodge it, "You tell anyone and you WILL regret it Ikari." Was he threatening me?

"I… but…" he walked off before I could speak. Was he really leaving? How could they make him do that? I followed him to his room. Thank God Sam wasn't in there, he was not exactly in a good mood. I heard him start to pull open closets and shove clothes into bags.

"Six hours…" I heard him mutter. I had to tell Sam, he couldn't just leave without saying good-bye. I run to Asuka's room and see her chatting with Sam.

"Cass… he's…" I was so out of breath, I couldn't even talk.

"What? Come on! Spit it out!" Asuka seemed annoyed.

"Cass… is being… transferred," I finally caught my breath, "a few minutes ago, a man from Germany came. War has broken out in Germany and they're going to send him to fight! He's leaving in six hours!" silence lasted for what seemed like an eternity.

"Shinji… are you joking?" Sam had a ghost-white face. I nodded and she jetted out of the room. I chased after her and found that she was back in her room.

"Oh, hey Sa… what the hell are you doing?" Sam had embraced him in a tight hug.

"Don't leave! Please, don't leave!" she was crying into his stomach. Cass looked up at me and gave me a glare that would kill even Asuka.

"I told you not to say anything!" he pushed her away and came for me.

"Whoa! Cass, calm down! I…" he cut me off with a swift jab to the stomach. I fell to the floor in pain.

"I warned your ass!" he kicked me in the shoulder, then in my ribs. Asuka came running in and damn near tackled him.

"What the hell is your problem! I don't care what he did; it doesn't give you the right to…" Asuka was pushed off of him.

"Just back the fuck off! Screw this!" he walked over and grabbed a hold of his newly packed suitcase and left. I slowly got to my feet, and saw that I was bleeding pretty badly on my shoulder.

"Shinji! Ah crap!" Asuka came over to me and put my arm around her for support. I tried to move the bloody arm, but when I did pain shot through my body. Great, now I have a broken arm! What the hell was his problem?

"I'm… fine…" like hell I was.

"Cass…" I saw that Sam had a steady stream of tears rolling down her face.

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Sam's Room – One Month Later – 9:00 PM

One month has passed since Cass left us. My arm has healed – it just turned out to be dislocated – aside from a long scar running down my shoulder-blade. We haven't gotten any calls, any letters, or any word on Cass. In fact, we didn't even know if he was alive. We were all gathered around the television watching the status on the war between Germany and the UK.

"An entire battalion was wiped out today by the United Kingdom's forces. The brave men were killed by an air strike, and died instantly. May we please have a moment of silence for these brave solders…" the screen then started to show the list of names of the men that died. Sam Asuka read over them carefully, but then realized she didn't even know his name. Neither Gahiji nor I told if his name appeared.

"Just tell us! Come on!" Sam was in tears at this point. We both shake our head, "Please! Shinji! I need to know!" I couldn't stand to see her like this.

"His name… was on the list…" she broke out crying. I go over and hug her, trying to calm her down. I thought that I saw a tear or two in Asuka's eye, but I wasn't too sure. Sam threw her head onto my chest and cried without restraint. She was hysterical, and I couldn't blame her.

"Cass! Oh my God!" she was yelling into my shirt. By now there was a large wet spot on the fabric. Asuka just stared at her friend. I put a hand on Sam's back, trying to comfort her, but at this point, there was no calming her down.

"Sam… I'm so sorry…" I tried to talk to her, but I was sure I wasn't getting through. I motion Asuka and Gahiji to leave, and they do without a word. I pick the crying girl up and set her down on the bed.

"Shin… ji…" I've never seen anyone so sad. I just couldn't leave her. I lie down next to her and cradle her. Soon, the crying stopped and she was asleep. I tried to get up, but when I did, she threw an arm around me. Looks like I'm here for the night. I hope Asuka didn't see this.

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Same Place – 3:00 AM

"Shinji… have you no shame? Wasn't getting Asuka pregnant enough?" I woke up to see Gendo standing in front of the bed, "Get up. Now." I would if I could!

"I… can't…" I try to get up, but once again Sam holds on tight to me.

"I don't care if you're naked or not! Get up now!" I wasn't having sex with her!

"I'm not naked! See?" I rip off the sheets, "Sam was extremely upset about the loss of Cass, so I tried to comfort her. now, what did you want?" I was in no mood to be lectured.

"I apologize," Gendo was apologizing! "I jumped to conclusions. Now, I needed to ask you something; in Cass's will, he requested to be buried here in Japan. What I need to know is if you are willing to arrange this." Why did he want me to do it?

"S-sure… I'd really like that…" then he just left. So now I had to put together a funeral… just great. Like I didn't have enough on my plate. It's not that I didn't want to – I did – it's just that I had no idea on how to do it. "I'll have to ask around…"

A/N- Sorry… but don't worry, I'll make up for it. Just so there is no confusion, Cass is dead. How will Sam handle this? What will the funeral be like? Find out in the next chapter; Planning, until then, keep on keepin' on!