Disclaimer – If I stop doing these, will Bandai and Sunrise sue me? It's fanfiction for pete's sake! If I made money, you think I'd still be writing it?
AN: Thank you so much for your continued support. I honestly believe that my reviewers are some of the smartest, funniest, most wonderful people on the planet. You guys have picked up on so many little things in my story and given me so many great reviews and ideas. I can't thank you enough!
I apologize for how long it's taking for me to publish these chapters. It's been quite the summer and I'm in my final year of college. But bear with me, this crazy ride has almost reached its conclusion.
For Richer or Poorer
And if you feel that you can't go on.
And your will is sinkin' low
Just believe and you can't go wrong.
In the light you will find the road.
You will find the road.
Chapter Twelve: In The Light
Relena wasn't sure what woke her up: the sound of a heart monitor or the sunlight streaming through the open window. She thought vaguely that it was annoying. Thoughts were coming through in patchy waves, and it became harder and harder to concentrate on them. She hesitated to open her eyes, sleep and fatigue still trying to claim her.
Sounds penetrated her semi-conscious state. Birds chirping, people talking, wheels rolling.
Her mind was sluggish. Where was she? Who was on the heart monitor?
Her eyes were harder to open than she expected. Her mind was waking up but her body was lagging behind. She involuntarily licked her lips, finding them to be dry and uncomfortable. Her eyes finally obeyed her brain's command and opened.
It was a hospital room. A pristine, white hospital room. As she looked over, she found that it was her heart monitor giving off a continual beat.
She lifted her hand to brush some hair out of her face, finding it harder than she expected. She felt a sudden stab of pain at her lower abdomen. Her fingertips brushed over it and the pain changed from a dull ache to throbbing.
The memory came back to her suddenly. She was at the Getz Theatre. Then there was an explosion. She heard the steady beep of her monitor pick up speed. Hearing her own heart beat made her even more nervous.
Looking down, she saw what her fingers were touching. A long vertical scar stained her torso. It was raised and bright red. The skin around it looked jaundiced in comparison. Her mind was racing out of control. She was starting to get lightheaded. The heart rate monitor kept its tempo, slowly getting louder and faster until Relena was sure she was having a panic attack.
"You're awake!" the voice shook her out of her thoughts and she looked up. A tall, thin woman wearing green scrubs had walked into her room.
The woman set down the items she was carrying. "I'm Amanda, your nurse." The woman introduced herself as she checked the IV bag connected to Relena's bed.
Relena suddenly found it hard to speak. "Hello." Her voice cracked.
Amanda smiled. "You're coming off the anesthesia. You may not feel like yourself for a couple of hours."
"How long," Relena started to ask, but found her voice didn't have the strength.
"You've been out for two days." Amanda answered, picking up the clipboard at the foot of her bed.
"What happened?" Relena managed to get out as she watched Amanda round her bed and write down numbers on the clipboard.
"You were brought in with severe internal bleeding." She said, without looking at Relena. She had the talent to seem to be listening while multi-tasking. Relena recognized it immediately; it was something she was good at as well.
"You were in surgery for four hours," the nurse continued. "those stitches have to come out in a few days. But other than that, you're lucky."
"Lucky?" Relena asked. Her voice was getting strong. She could feel the anesthesia slowly leaving her body. The haze surrounding her thoughts was slowly dissipating and her mind was becoming clearer.
"Lucky to have such a handsome hero save you." Amanda said, this time not focused on Relena. It was lucky she wasn't looking at her. At the word 'hero', Relena's cheeks had flushed. The memory came rushing back. He brought her to the hospital. He was forced onto the ground and put in handcuffs right in front of her.
She looked around, suddenly very aware that he wasn't in the room.
"I'm sorry?" Relena said, trying to keep her heart rate under control. The beep picked up a few beats, but nothing that the nurse had noticed.
"The gentleman who brought you in. I'm surprised he's not here right now. He's been here the entire time."
"The man who brought me in?" Had she dreamt it all? Didn't Heero bring her?
"Yes, the Chief of Police. Guy Gisborne."
Amanda had looked up from her clipboard. Relena did everything she could to smile. "Oh yes. Guy."
That was good enough for the nurse, who smiled and returned to her paperwork. Relena laid her head back onto the pillow. She hadn't realized she'd sat up. She stared at the ceiling, hoping the nurse would soon leave and let her return to her thoughts, which at the moment were racing a mile a minute.
Amanda obliged her a minute later, mentioning something about food. Relena wasn't hungry. She was mostly sick to her stomach. The memory of that night was coming back in stages.
He'd kissed her. She'd gone on stage. The bomb had exploded. He was forced onto the ground, hands on his head.
She kept returning to that image. Heero on his knees, his gaze focused on her. It haunted her. It didn't leave her even when closed her eyes. All she could think about was him. Where was he? Was he ok? She refused to think he was dead.
She didn't realize how long she'd been lying there until there was a knock at the door. Her heart sank as Guy Gisborne walked through it.
Guilt and disappointment filled her. Disappointment that it wasn't Heero who walked through the door, and guilt that she'd felt that way.
"They told me you were awake." He said, obviously pleased, but trying to hide it.
"Yes," she said, not really sure if that statement needed an answer.
He'd wanted something a little more than that, she could tell. His expression faltered a bit before he spoke again. "Doctor Lee is really great."
Relena nodded, the guilt subsiding and disappointment and anger filling her every pore.
She didn't want to look at him, but she could tell her was searching for something to say.
"They tell me they can release you tomorrow. That you can do the rest of your healing at home."
"That's good news." She said, still not looking at him.
"Relena-"
"Everyone thinks you're the one who brought me to the hospital." She interrupted him, sounding as cold and professional as he'd ever heard her.
"Yes." He confirmed.
"We both know that's not true."
"No." He couldn't look at her for a moment. "No, it's not."
There was silence and the room seemed to radiate with tension.
"He's in jail." It wasn't a question, but it was clear she wanted an answer.
"Yes."
Finally, she looked at him. "He saved my life." She looked around the room, finding it too excruciating to look at him. Gisborne didn't speak, fearing what came next. "He saved my life and I would bet that he is in jail right now."
She looked up at him, but he was clearly avoiding her. He turned his back on her and looked out the window.
"Isn't he?" she asked.
"Yes." His answer was quiet, with the slightest hint of shame.
"He saved my life, Guy." She repeated. "I was on that stage, unconscious and bleeding and he saved my life."
"He kidnapped you."
"Is that what you think?" She asked, his voice rising. "Or is that what Prince told you to think?"
Her words stung.
"Relena, there is a warrant for his arrest. His arrest at any cost. He turned himself in and now the law has taken care of it. The law is good, the law is fair." He sounded like he was reciting lines. They were delivered with manufactured passion.
"It used to be."
Her gaze was burning holes in his back.
He didn't really feel like being polite any longer. "You were going to say no, weren't you?" he asked, fearing the answer.
She didn't say anything. But now it was his turn to become adamant. The fear had been replaced by unmitigated anger. "Weren't you?"
"I thought you understood how I felt about you."
"I thought I did too." His voice turned cold as he turned his back on her and left her alone in the hospital bed.
**
Gisborne didn't bother knocking. The great wooden door to Prince's office swung open and nearly took it off its hinges. He didn't say a word as he sat down in the chair across from Prince's desk, staring daggers at the man before him.
Prince wasn't fazed. He languidly looked up from his paper, glancing at Guy before returning to it.
"Fancy seeing you here. When I didn't see peasants with pitchforks outside of my office, I realized you might have had a change of heart."
Gisborne said nothing, just slumped lower into the chair.
Prince smiled amicably, still gazing lazily at his cohort. "Ah yes. I assume you're not talkative." He yawned. Gisborne couldn't tell if Prince was actually tired, or just pretending to be bored. Either way, it was annoying.
Gisborne didn't lift his head, but looked up Prince. "I'm not in the mood to be ridiculed, John."
"Of course." Prince said, his hand in the air in mock surrender. He sat down behind his desk. "Down to business instead. I trust she's healing?"
"Yes." Gisborne tried to hide the bitterness in his answer but failed.
Prince nodded slowly. "I figured this would happen." Gisborne didn't react. "So, I had a plan."
"I'm sick and tired of your plans, John."
Prince's smile was replaced by a self-satisfied smirk. "Yet, all of my plans work out beautifully. Really, Gisborne, it's quite a curse to be right all of the time."
"What about your plan to bring her down, John? It's failed miserably."
"Of course it hasn't." He said, leaning backwards in his chair comfortable. "It's only met a few..." he searched for the word with a smile the Cheshire cat would have envied. "setbacks." He finished the sentence with a flourish and a smirk. "Nothing I hadn't prepared for. Once she's out of the hospital, we'll deal with her."
**
All of the lights were out in the Sherwood Building, but it wasn't empty. The four men inside it all sat silently in the darkness, stuck in their own thoughts.
"It's been two days since we've heard anything about Heero." Quatre finally spoke up, looking at Duo. He didn't need to remind anyone, the thought was forefront on everyone's mind. His statement had broken what seemed like an eternity of silence. It felt as like no one had spoken since Heero had left.
His decision hung in the air, like a rain cloud over them. They were waiting for it to storm.
"They've caught him." Wufei said, staring out the window as a lone car passed out front. The headlights momentarily lit the room, but it was fleeting.
"We don't know that." Quatre said, turning to Wufei. "He could be hiding right now. It could be too dangerous for him to contact us."
"He's in jail." Duo said, resentment and sadness mixed in his voice. "He would have come back if they didn't catch him."
"How would they not have caught him?" Wufei asked bitterly. "He walked into an entire battalion of New Port's finest."
Trowa stood from his chair and looked at Wufei. "We can't just sit here and wait for him to get out."
"What do you propose?" The question came out more biting than Wufei had meant it. "Chances are most of the cops got a good look at your faces, so it's not a good idea to be seen right now."
"Can we confirm Heero's in jail?" Trowa asked.
"If we do, can we break him out?" Wufei countered, turning his gaze to Trowa.
"It's impossible." Quatre pointed out.
"When has that ever stopped us?" Duo said, a small smile returning to his face.
"Taking on a suicidal mission isn't always dishonorable, but this time," Wufei turned his back on the window and looked at Duo. "This time, I wouldn't advise it. If you get caught, you'll die, Heero will die and this all will be for nothing. You should honor Heero by honoring his sacrifice."
"And leave him in jail?" Duo shook his head. "No. I won't do it."
"It's the right thing to do. It's what he wanted."
"I don't really care what he wanted." Duo countered, growing angrier by the second. "He's in jail, and I'm his friend. And I'm going to go find a way to get him out of this." Duo picked up his jacket from the back of the chair and walked out of the building.
He walked several blocks before the anger left him and he was filled with only sadness. He'd lost one of his friends and alienated all of the rest.
Each step got heavier as he walked further from the Sherwood building, not really caring where he was walking. His eyes stayed focused on his shoes as he traveled the cracked sidewalk. He thought for a moment that he might run into a policeman, but dismissed the thought. They were probably celebrating the capture of the world's greatest criminal. He kicked a beer can across the sidewalk to vent his frustration.
Suddenly, he felt something hard push his shoulder. He looked up to find a woman picking up groceries from the ground. He had run into her while he wasn't paying attention.
"I'm sorry." He mumbled, bending down to help her.
"No, it's fine." She said, cringing as he brushed his hand over hers when reaching for the lettuce. Her hands trembled as she brought them to her chest. She squeezed her eyes shut, as if preparing for the worst. "I don't want any trouble." She said, her voice shaking as badly as the rest of her body.
Duo looked up at her. "I'm not here to hurt you." He was surprised at the violent reaction she'd had toward him.
She opened her eyes and looked at him. Uncontrollably, they filled with tears. "Oh," she gasped, her hands covering her mouth. "You're Duo Maxwell." She was barely forcing out the words.
Duo was dumbfounded. She recognized him and knew his name. "You – you know me?" Normally it was Heero who was recognized. The people were grateful to see him, but they never addressed him, only voicing their concerns to Heero. He saw the recognition and tears in the woman's eyes, and fought himself not become tearful as well.
"Know you?" she breathed. "The entire neighborhood knows you! You've given us so much." Tears were flowing readily down her face now.
She grabbed his hand. "I heard that Heero Yuy is dead. And I don't want to believe it." Duo didn't want to believe it either. He placed his hand over hers.
"It isn't true."
A smile broke across her face. "You all are a gift from God. Without your kindness and generosity, my family would have starved."
Duo gave her a small smile and a shake of his head, refusing to take credit for it.
But she shook her head. "No, really. Thank you."
He stared into her eyes and felt the gratitude deep in his soul. He felt humbled, and inspired. What they were doing was making a difference to people. And with or without Heero, he knew he had to continue it.
**
Relena stood in front of Prince's door for a long moment before opening it. She was out of the hospital, but on crutches, her mobility severely limited. She twisted the handle, quietly letting herself into the office.
If John Prince noticed her entrance, he didn't say anything. Of course, he knew she was coming, he'd sent for her. But he was playing it cool, sending her mixed signals in the process.
She didn't say a word to Prince until she was seated before him and her crutches leaned against the chair. She looked over and a chill ran down her spine as she saw Gisborne leaning against the back wall. He watched her move with a sort of empty stare that made her feel very cold. She broke eye contact with him and looked at Prince, feeling even less warmth. She gave him a nod and a curt, "Good afternoon."
"Healing well, Miss Darlian?" Prince asked, without getting up. His eyes had finally landed on her face, after looking at Gisborne and then sneaking a quick look at her crutches.
"Yes, thank you."
"I appreciate you coming here today." His words gave away that he was trying to hide something, but wasn't doing a very good job.
"Yes, well, when you're summoned to the Vice President's office, you come." She replied, sarcasm creeping into her voice.
Prince's smile grew, barely concealing his glee. "I think we can dispense with the pleasantries at this stage of our relationship, Relena."
She never lost the placid look on her face, but responded in kind. "That would do nicely, John. We have a few things to discuss."
"Like the punishment for your treason."
She was unfazed. "Or perhaps the fact that you tried to kill me."
They stared at each other, both refusing to speak first. Finally, Prince leaned back in his chair. "Treason is punishable by death. "
"Attacking a government official is as well."
"You have no proof."
"The law is no longer fair? I don't have due process and the right to find out all information pertaining to my attack?"
Guy spoke for the first time. His voice was chilling and unfeeling. "My force has examined the blast site. There's nothing unusual. The bomb was homemade."
"Which means Heero Yuy made it." Prince said.
Relena fought the urge to roll her eyes. "That's absurd."
"Heero Yuy made the bomb and set it to go off in the theatre. He then kidnapped you and demanded a ransom."
"That isn't true." Relena looked towards Guy for some sort of acknowledgement, but was only met with a blank stare.
Prince nodded his head. "No," he said, smile growing bigger by the second. "It isn't. But it's what we've told the public. And it's what they believe." Relena's eyes went wide and she unconsciously gripped the chair until her knuckles turned white. "Heero Yuy is to be tried for treason and crimes against the government in two days. As you've been recently informed, the punishment for those crimes is death."
"The public is smarter than that. They won't believe you."
"The public believes what I tell them to." Prince said, suddenly stern and serious. "And if I tell them that Heero Yuy tried to kill you, they will believe it."
"You wouldn't."
"I wouldn't?" His volume grew louder with every passing moment, like he was unleashing years of pent-up aggression. "What would make you believe that, Relena? What would make you believe that I'm not capable of this?"
Relena's head swam. "You can't. He didn't kidnap me. He was only there because-"
"Because of what, Relena?" Guy spoke up again.
"Because of me." Her voice was small and uncharacteristic of the young woman it came out of. Prince deflated from being red-faced and nearly out of his chair, to a man looking like he was contemplating his next move on a chess board.
Looking more composed, Prince continued. "The trial will be open to the public. I'd like them to see what happens when someone thinks they are bigger than the government."
"He was there because he wanted to keep me safe. He wasn't trying to bring you down."
He shrugged. "It doesn't really matter, Relena. I've won. You've lost. Heero Yuy will be executed in two days time. "
"What if I could give you something more valuable than Heero?"
"More valuable than Heero Yuy's head on a pike? I doubt it exists."
Relena was trying her hardest not to look frenzied. "An exchange." She said, the plan coming to her in pieces, with her blurting them out as they ran across her mind.
"An exchange?"
"Yes, you let Heero go and you'll get someone more influential than he is."
"And who would that be?"
"Me."
The air was sucked out of the room. Guy's anger dissolved and was replaced by a nauseating cocktail of guilt and anger. "You'd give up yourself for him?" he asked, not really wanting to hear the answer.
Luckily she didn't hear him. She stared at Prince who merely raised an eyebrow. "I know how this works, Relena. I take you instead of him, execute you for treason and the entire world hates me. I'm branded a tyrant and a liar."
"Then hold me as your captive."
Prince shook his head; his mind working so fast Relena could almost hear it. "Sticking you in jail would just encourage people to break you out. You'll become a martyr and a hero. I can't have that."
"Not in jail," Relena corrected, her heart trying to hold back her words, but her head overpowering her. "But I'd leave government. I'd resign and slip into obscurity."
Prince's sour expression slid off of his face. It was replaced by one of intrigue. "And how could I trust you would do that?"
"I'd marry Guy."
Guy's head snapped violently to look at Relena. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Prince nodded. "So you'd resign from your post as Foreign Minister. So what?"
"If I marry Guy, it would be like I condone your actions. Like I'm getting on board." Relena felt sick even saying the words.
The sickening smile crept back onto Prince's face and he clasped his hands together. "If I let Heero Yuy go, you'll agree to marry Guy and be under complete supervision?"
"Yes." She forced the answer out of her mouth. Even then, it tasted like acid on her tongue.
"You'll tell the public that you support me?"
"Yes."
Prince stared at her, wondering how far she was willing to go. "You'll name me as President of the Earth Sphere? Forsake Richards and call me the only true leader?"
Relena let a tear slip down her cheek. "Yes." The answer was quiet and strained, but Prince heard it.
"Don't I get a say in this?" Guy asked angrily, stepping in between Relena and Prince.
"No." Prince replied calmly. He turned his focus back to Relena. "You have yourself a deal, then. But if you back out, you both die."
"I understand."
Prince smiled jovially as if their conversation had suddenly turned to a happier topic. "Excellent. Then in two days, there will either be a wedding or an execution." He cast a look in Relena's direction. "Or both."
**
Hilde sat outside of Gisborne's office, her mind racing. This was the first time she'd ever been summoned to his office. He'd given her things to do, of course, but they'd always been through her superior officer, or during daily briefings. She'd never been directly called to his office.
She felt suddenly like a student being called to the principal's office. Had she been found out? She didn't have any contact with Duo or the other pilots since the theatre.
Her pulse picked up speed. Maybe he knew. Maybe he'd always known and now was confronting her when he had insurmountable proof. If that was the case, she should make sure she had an escape route. Or at least her weapon was loaded.
She didn't have time to check, as she saw Gisborne walking quickly towards her. He opened his office door and walked in without saying a word.
Hilde waited for a moment before she got up out of her chair.
"Get in here, Schbeiker."
She obeyed and entered his office. It was cleaner than she expected it. There weren't any loose papers. It looked too good to be true, like he never used it. He probably didn't, she mused, sitting down in the chair across from his desk.
She looked at the walls, finding papers pertaining to Heero - his location, his height and weight, and known associates. She breathed a sigh of relief that her name wasn't on that board.
"I need you to deliver a letter." He said, getting straight to the point.
"A letter?"
"Did I stutter?"
"No, sir."
He handed her a small envelope. "This goes to Relena Darlian."
"Sir?"
"What?"
"Isn't delivering a letter sort of… the duties of the postal service?"
Gisborne grimaced. "Is it a habit of yours to correct your superiors?"
Hilde felt her face flush. "No, sir."
She felt his displeasure with her attitude radiate as he continued. "It is the itinerary for tomorrow's events. It is highly confidential, of course."
"Tomorrow's events?" She hadn't meant to question him, it slipped out.
He didn't look at her, but furrowed his brow. "Yes. The rehearsal for our wedding."
He sounded fairly awkward saying it, and it didn't help that he was avoiding looking at Hilde.
This ended up being a very positive thing, because Hilde's jaw had about hit the floor. Hilde took the envelope from him, still shocked at his admission.
"You're getting married?" she said, still breathless.
"I picked you to deliver this to her because she seems to trust you." Gisborne said, still not making eye contact with her.
"Yes," was all Hilde managed to say. The surprise hit her like a ton of bricks and she was having trouble rebounding. She coughed, struggling to comprehend the situation. "I'm sorry Sir, you're marrying Relena Darlian?"
He didn't give her an answer. He merely took out a pen and started writing on a notepad. "You're dismissed."
Sensing that it was not up for discussion, Hilde quickly left his office, feeling like she had been punched in the stomach. This couldn't be true. It had to be some sort of trick. The only thing she could do was go to Relena, deliver the letter and confront her on this news.
Hilde shook her head as she left the Police building. This couldn't be true. It just couldn't.
**
Hilde sat on pins and needles in Relena's office. The envelope was burning a hole through her hand. The neutrally colored office was making her nauseous. Or maybe it was the fact that not 20 minutes ago, her world had been rocked. Hilde let out a breath, deciding that's probably what it was.
It felt like forever until her secretary let her know that Relena was ready for her.
Relena was sitting at her desk, writing on a pad of paper. She didn't make eye contact with Hilde as she entered. Everything looked normal, but Hilde couldn't settle her stomach. It wasn't right. This wasn't right.
"I just need to finish something." Relena said, motioning Hilde to come closer to her desk.
"Relena, we reall-"
"Hold on," Relena cut her off urgently. She held up a piece of paper that said in blocked letters: They've bugged the office.
Hilde nodded, understanding. She felt a little better; somehow feeling like Relena had a hold of the situation.
"Let me finish this letter. I need to take it downstairs before the post arrives." Relena said, trying to keep her voice even. Hilde peered over her desk and saw what Relena had written. There are no cameras, just listening devices. They have the entire floor. We have to go to the mailroom if we need to talk.
"All right." Relena said, finishing the last word with a flourish. "Let's go."
Relena got up from behind her desk and walked out of her office, barely waiting for Hilde to follow her. She talked quietly with her secretary in hushed tones. Hilde couldn't really overhear what they said, but the way her secretary glanced over at her, she was sure Relena was telling her something important.
Hilde gave the secretary a curt nod as she followed Relena into the elevator.
Once the doors closed, Hilde turned to Relena.
"I met with Gis-"
Hilde stopped immediately as she saw Relena pressed a finger to her lips, shaking her head violently.
Hilde sighed and leaned against the back of the elevator, anxiously waiting to hit the bottom floor.
As it did, Hilde followed Relena out and through a series of winding hallways. They walked in silence, side by side, until finally they entered a small room with wall-to-wall golden placards with numbers on them. Hilde assumed that it must have been the mailroom for the entire Capitol building.
"Hilde, it's a very bad idea for you to be here unannounced." Relena spoke, forcing Hilde to stop looking at the post boxes and look at Relena, who suddenly looked very tired.
"Gisborne asked me to give you the itinerary for tomorrow." Hilde replied, trying to read the expression on Relena's face.
"I see." Relena sighed, and looked at Hilde. She knew in that moment that Hilde knew. Hilde's eyes burned with indignation, and Relena felt ashamed.
"How could you do this, Relena? This is such a bad idea!"
"As far as I'm concerned, this is the only path I could choose." Relena regained her poise and stared defiantly at Hilde.
"No, you could have told Gisborne to screw himself and broken Heero out of jail!"
"What would that have accomplished? They would have caught me and thrown me in jail right along side him."
"Then at least you would have died for something."
"You don't have to like my decision."
"Don't worry, I don't."
"But it's the most practical."
"How so? You have to marry Gisborne."
"But Heero goes free." Relena sighed and looked away. "If all I am is a symbol of peace to people, I can continue to be that while I'm married to Gisborne. If all that inspires people to hope is merely that I take a breath each morning, then this isn't a bad choice. But Heero," she paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "What he does is real, it's tangible. It provides real help to real people. It's more important that a person is kept alive to further an ideal."
"If you think you represent peace and hope while being married to a corrupt officer, you're only fooling yourself."
"Which is why Heero needs to continue doing his work. It's why all of those men need to keep fighting and doing their jobs. They don't need me."
"Heero needs you." Hilde insisted.
Relena smiled sadly. "No, he wants me, but he doesn't need me." She looked back up at Hilde. "You're mad because my decision is practical, and not romantic. You're mad that I would rather save his life than die beside him."
"There was a time when you would have died for him." Hilde reminded her, sounding faintly accusatory.
Relena nodded a bit. "Yes, but then I learned the value of life, and what one can accomplish. He means more to these people than I can imagine. Letting him die as some ultimate act of love would be selfish."
Hilde hated it, but she understood.
"You should leave." Relena said, backing away, leaving Hilde to stand in the empty mailroom. "Tell Gisborne not to worry. I'll be there."
