A/N: I am alive! For those who are reading this story and were wondering what the hell was I thinking with what I'm doing with this story and how I left it with what I did in the last chapter over the holidays, I'm sorry! I had planned to update over the holidays but the proverbial shit hit the fan y'all, really, it did, and then it didn't get any better. But alas, I'm not here to bear my problems just to give an explanation as to why I took so long to update. I know I don't like it when authors take SO LONG to update and here I had become one. Well, here's the update, long over due, to My Memory of Her! And yes, the competition is still going on and if new readers want to know what it's about go to my homepage on my profile and there will be a link there that will give the instructions and some more good stuff on it. Oh, and on the note of updates and stuff, if I don't update in a while or you're curious as to what's going on feel free to email me, PM me, check my profile if I have any announcements (i.e. I'm working on some new projects, tests coming up, crap going on, etcetera, etcetera. XD) Enjoy the update! And I hope everyone's holidays went well and Happy Late New Years to everyone too!
Disclaimer: Okay, back to serious stuff. I do not own Gundam Wing. But I do own Michael, and other characters that I did create on my own. The plot of this story is also mine. I'm just borrowing the characters and names from the big guys who created Gundam Wing, and their stuff belongs to them and their people.
My Memory of Her: Michael's Song
The hospital doors opened and the gurney was taken in by some nurses who went to Quatre's aid outside as he sped up to the entrance of the hospital with his damaged Hummer.
"Get him to OR two. Come on!" one of the nurses shouted as she led the others back into the hospital and disappeared, along with the unconscious Heero who's brown hair was matted with blood, behind a pair of double doors.
Normally Quatre would go and observe the surgery to make sure his patient was safe but he had to take care of Michael and had to prepare to be part of the investigation of the situation. With his head spinning over what he witnessed and how strange it all was, it was enough to keep his mind preoccupied with it and not anything else. He went back to his truck and went to park it in some space near the entrance of the hospital and was taken out of his reeling thoughts by Michael's soft and scared voice.
"Quatre… Will Daddy be okay?" asked Michael with his head down and his eyes on the black matt where his feet would some day reach.
"Yes, your Dad will be fine Michael, he's just hurt and they're going to take really good care of him. I will do everything that I can, I promise," said Quatre as he put the truck in park and looked at Michael as he looked emotionally cold and his eyes looked empty. Quatre feared that he had probably seen Heero's face when he put him in the back seat. Heero's eyes had been open and lifeless as blood ran down his face and the smell of blood was almost gone from having the window's down but it lingered just to make them remember that there was a body once there in the back.
Quatre looked in his side and rear view mirrors as he heard some speeding vehicle, or vehicles, and sure enough saw a familiar sports car zoom by escorting Dorothy. Quatre not wanting to worry Michael even more, showed no concern even though he was worried since Dorothy didn't sound like her normal self when she called him at the house, and now Heero was just in a head on collision. He didn't like the feeling that he was getting in his stomach.
He got out of his vehicle and went to open Michael's door but was grabbed by Dorothy and she gave him a look over and was surprised to see the blood, confirming her suspicions that something was going on with Heero.
"Where is he?" she asked glancing around to make sure no one would hear them.
"They just took him in a little while ago into surgery. Are you okay?" asked Quatre as he saw her assistants walking in their direction.
"Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry about such things Quatre, how's Michael?" she said not wanting to leave any room for Quatre to question her any further.
"He's really shaken up," Quatre said as he put his hand on the door handle and opened it.
Michael's eyes light up a little at seeing Dorothy and fought the urge to jump out and hug her. He had to stay strong so that they would know he was okay. Dorothy went to him and hugged the boy, knowing very well that that's what one would need after what had happened even though she didn't know many details of why Quatre had blood, why Heero was in the hospital, and why Quatre's truck looked like it had been in some drive by, she knew the boy was probably very scared.
"Aaron, George, go and get some ice cream from a near by place," she said as she got Michael out of the truck and began making her way to the hospital, she now had two clients to protect. One was in her arms and the other probably on his deathbed.
"Yes ma'am," both twins replied. They got in their Cadillac XLR and made their way out of the parking lot and a black car pulled in and stopped right in front of Quatre as he wanted to get inside the hospital too.
"Mr. Winner, we were just informed that Heero Yuy was admitted to this hospital and by the blood on your shirt, I have some questions for you," said Trowa as he got out of the driver's seat and held out his badge to eliminate any questions that Quatre could have asked that would further delay them from asking anything.
"I'd love to, as soon as my attorneys arrive," Quatre said coolly. He was not one to impede the judicial process but at the same time knew he had to be careful of how he handled things with the name he bore. Even if Dorothy was there, there was a conflict of interest on both parts and for many reasons, so he had to call his own people.
…
"Come on you dumb shit!" yelled Duo at some vehicle in front of him that was in his way of getting into the hospital parking lot. He honked his horn insistently and was irritated that someone would not move out of the way with a truck flashing lights that obviously meant it was a police vehicle.
After the vehicle scooted up a little at the annoyance from Duo's honking, he cut in and picked up the curb in the process but made his way into the parking lot and parked in a handicap parking space because it was close to the hospital entrance. He was scared that Heero was injured as the APB got canceled and Mileshaw informed him that Heero was in the hospital before he got Quatre's phone call. As he got to the sliding doors, his shaking was no longer from fear and worry for Heero and Michael but that of anger as he saw the two people he didn't want to see just yet.
"You sonuva bitch!"
Duo hit Trowa square in the jaw and made his head look at an angel away from him. Trowa put his hand on his jaw and looked back at Duo with a cold glare, "What the hell Maxwell?"
"It's because of you two that Heero got involved in this kind of shit and now look where he ended up!" Duo shouted ready to hit Trowa again but to knock him down this time.
"Hey, he's a detective what did you think it was going to be like? You know your brother's reputation better than we do, and can you honestly say, you're surprised?" said Catherine sarcastically as she helped her brother a bit, even though he really didn't need the help.
"He has a fucking kid! You should know that and know that if anything were to happen to him he'd be a-"
Dorothy slapping him across the face promptly cutting off Duo, "Maxwell shut. The hell. Up," said Dorothy coldly no longer holding Michael as he was now eating some ice cream with her assistants.
"You have every right to be upset, but keep yourself together. Michael's right over there," said Dorothy as she gave him a cold stare that silenced him.
Quatre came out of a locker room and was now wearing a pair of scrubs as his clothes had Heero's blood on them and were taken as evidence and it was approved by his attorneys who he had just gotten off the phone with a few minutes ago.
"Hey what is going on here?" said Quatre as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"Nothing, I'm just asking these assholes why Heero's in here, that's all Q," said Duo nonchalantly yet stressing the word assholes.
"Hey hey! Cut it out!" said a doctor firmly towards Duo as the doctor took the surgeon's mask off and approached the crowd.
"You all need to calm the hell down and remember that this is a hospital! You can have family court somewhere else," she said glaring at Duo as she had heard him making the most commotion. She stopped security from kicking him out because she figured someone was here and not in very good condition and felt sorry for them.
"Doctor Schbeiker is there any update on Heero Yuy?" asked Quatre.
"Oh Doctor Winner, did you bring him in? I heard that he was brought in by a reckless doctor, who didn't wait for an ambulance and you were the last person on my mind to be able to do that," she said in a teasing manner.
"He would've died by the time an ambulance got through all the traffic and the mess that was made at the scene. I had no choice," Quatre said flustered that he was being called reckless and not at all picking up on her just teasing.
"I'm kidding! I'm glad you brought him in, he wouldn't have made it without your decision," she said with a smile that turned into a serious expression.
"What do you mean? What happened?" asked Duo now panicking.
"He came in with a minor concussion, some broken ribs, and some internal bleeding. We got it under control though. He's being sent to a recovery room as we speak."
Before the doctor could get any further in her explanation a group of men stormed in and caused a commotion in the hospital. Again.
"Master Winner, we have a situation sir," said one of the men in dark sunglasses in a black suit with the signature gold "W" pin on his coat.
"What is it?" asked Quatre worried that one of his staff would infiltrate the hospital. Dorothy also shared a concerned look given that everything that could've gone wrong this week went wrong in one day. Her assistants who were also on the lookout, despite being with the shy and uncomfortable Michael were paying attention. Not for Quatre, but for Dorothy, where their allegiance lay with, as they saw a staff member of the Winner-Catalonia Mansion approaching her.
"Mistress Catalonia, the car is here for you and Master Michael," said another staff member of Quatre's as he appeared behind Dorothy.
"Sir, one of your oil rigs caught fire and will explode sir," said the other man dressed in uniform to Quatre.
"Is it the Sandrock?" Quatre asked hoping that his biggest and favorite oilrig was not the one that was going to go under.
"No, sir, it's not that one," the other man said matter-of-factly to Quatre.
"Very well," Quatre said with a relieved sigh yet distressed with everything that was going on. He could use some tea, maybe even wine.
"How did you know where I was?" asked Dorothy with a raised eyebrow as she crossed her arms as George and Aaron kept their eyes on the man.
"The helicopter is waiting for you on the lift pad sir," said the first man to Quatre.
"Master Winner called for a car to pick up Michael," said the driver of the car sent for Dorothy and Michael to Dorothy.
Duo, Trowa, Catherine, and Doctor Schbeiker did their best to follow both sets of conversations but were utterly confused.
"Dorothy, I have to go," said Quatre as he turned to look at her, "I don't know which rig is going down but I'll call you via satellite phone as soon as I can."
They both embraced and she whispered in his ear, "Don't send a car for me unless I ask for it but because Michael needs to get some rest, I'll accept it. I may be your wife Mr. Winner, legally, but don't forget I'm no ordinary bride." She said in a stern yet seductive tone as he turned red but couldn't help his protective tendencies, even if she didn't like them.
Quatre left the group and followed the two men up to the helipad on the hospital's roof and Dorothy went back to the hospital counter to make sure that Heero was under surveillance and kept his files confidential due to the high profile case he was on and the case he and Michael were about to get into.
"George, Aaron, go home and get some rest. Don't go to work tomorrow," Dorothy said as she sat next to Michael and her assistants.
"But what about," stared one twin.
"The office?" finished the other one.
"The office will be closed as I have a family emergency to attend to and my husband has to go over seas due to an emergency of his own. If you know who calls, tell him to call me."
"Do you mean Mike?" asked George.
"No, I already spoke with him," said Dorothy as she got up and offered Michael her hand and he took it.
"Oh," said both twins as they nodded in now knowing who she was referring to. They stood up and escorted her to Quatre's Rolls Royce limo that was exactly like hers, except that it was Alpine White with chrome trim.
"You two boys are twenty, you should go and get hammered," said Dorothy with a small grin on her face as she stood in front of the open car door and back at her assistants.
"But it's only," started one twin.
"Wednesday," finished the other.
"Exactly, so call if you two need a ride and watch out for each other with roofies," said Dorothy with a light chuckle and got in the car after Michael who kept his head down.
One of the twins blushed and the other had a smirk.
"Madam," said one twin.
"Catalonia," said the other twin.
She turned around and they both had a look that she understood and closed the door as Michael sat in the limo. Dorothy stayed close to the door and Michael could barely pick up on what they were saying because it was so quiet in the limo. The driver had had the window rolled up as well, so any noise coming from the driver's cab would not come through. Michael could not pick up on the language that Dorothy and her two assistants were now speaking but he had never heard it before. It caught his attention, but felt guilty because he knew eaves dropping was bad.
…
"Hey Heero…" said Duo as he stood watching his younger brother sleeping on the hospital bed as he was hooked up to machines. Duo had just walked in and was already feeling sick with all the unpleasant memories hospitals and hospital rooms gave him. Their mother died in one, Michael's mother died in one, the only two times he'd been to the hospital was when someone he cared about, even if indirectly, died. He couldn't afford to loose Heero. His life was a wreck compared to his, and he would not be able to take care of Michael, he wouldn't know what to do.
Duo sat with his thoughts and closed his eyes fighting his emotions in a loosing battle. When Heero had just had Michael, he was there for his brother on the one day he just so happened to show him he was human. Even if it was just for a little bit. Duo opened his eyes as the sound of the curtain being moved and saw that it was a nurse who was just checking in on Heero and didn't even give Duo a glance. It could've been Trowa, Catherine, or Mileshaw, who were outside keeping guard, or even Relena, if she wasn't on the TV giving a speech right now on the behalf of the United Kingdom, or just the fact that maybe she didn't give a damn, either way this nurse bothered Duo. He wanted to kick her ass for not being considerate, but as long as she helped keep Heero alive he'd spare her.
He turned his gaze back to Heero and hoped that he would wake up and that it better be soon; if not for his sake, for his little boy. The boy he swore he'd raise as his own and protect him from the terrible things he knew existed and that had killed his mother; death. Who was he kidding, if that were to happen, he'd probably freeze and cry and say he couldn't handle it. He could barely take care of himself, much less of a developing boy as precious as Michael, and would better be suited under the care of Dorothy and Quatre, despite their demanding lifestyles.
"Wake up Heero…"
…
"Quatre I don't know what to do. I don't have a place for a child to-"
"Don't worry about it, you know that you have a room here, you and Duo do. I'll have them set up one of the bigger rooms for you and…" Quatre trailed off.
"Michael."
"And I'll have someone pick up a crib," said Dorothy as she leaned against the doorframe and looked at Heero and the baby.
"Hn. Thanks," Heero said as he looked at the sleeping child in his arms. Young and healthy enough to not stay long in the hospital quite the opposite of his mother. Quatre, may I make a phone call?"
"Of course! You don't even have to ask Heero."
"I meant in private," Heero said coldly.
"Oh, sure. Not a problem," Quatre said as he made his way out of the room with Dorothy to go on to their other business in their house and to leave Heero with some privacy.
Thankfully, money wouldn't be an option and he'd have enough to take care of him and Michael, thanks to Quatre's gift that he had given him a couple of years prior. The stocks of Winner Corp. have always been healthy after Quatre took over and have an increasing value and Heero was sure to put them to good use.
"Yes, I'd like to make arrangements for a funeral."
…
"Come on Michael, let's go up and get some rest," Dorothy said as she guided Michael through the mansion by his hand and they made their way up. He was doing a little better knowing that his dad was going to be okay and that he was in the hospital where Quatre worked helped too. But he couldn't help feeling so alone right now. Sure he had spent days with Dorothy and Quatre and Duo without his father but it felt different, and as he climbed the stairs with Dorothy it was harder to keep his emotions at bay.
"Do you want to get some rest in my bedroom or in another room?" asked Dorothy as she stopped in the hallway.
"Yours…" Michael whispered.
Dorothy opened her and Quatre's bedroom door and helped Michael onto the tall bed. She felt bad for Michael for she knew how it felt to feel alone and so did Quatre. He and Michael shared one very important thing in common that not many people knew, at least Michael didn't. Quatre's mother had died after giving birth to him as well. That's why Michael would forever be his surrogate son and would be the closet thing to having a child. Children were not on Dorothy's agenda. At all.
Looking back at the little boy Dorothy felt compassion for him, and remembered what her and Quatre used to do while Heero had to work and they took care of Michael.
"Would you like for me to play you a song?" Dorothy asked trying to sound sweet and breaking the awkward silence between them.
Michael nodded silently and Dorothy went to her closet and got out her flute and quietly assembled the gold and silver instrument. She quickly sifted through her memory and remembered the song that usually got Michael to bed when he was troubled when Heero had to stay out late when he was much much younger. She put the cool instrument to her lips as she took a seat next to Michael and began to play "Mama's Gonna Buy You A Mockingbird."
The boy curled up in her lap and his tears that had escaped his little eyes stopped, his breathing slowed and he eventually allowed the song to lull him to sleep.