...See what happens when I get lots of reviews? I just can't help but post.

I still felt weak and drained when I awoke the next morning, but it was better than it had been. My new master and his slave were taking good care of me, and I actually felt like I might be able to find some happiness with them, at least, as much happiness as a slave may find. It was with that thought, during the early hours of morning while master and Heero slept quietly, that I realized how little I had done, how little I had contributed, and how little worth I was proving to the master. I made an oath right then, as the other two slept peacefully, that I would begin to pull my weight, that I would overcome my weak body and prove that I was useful to master, so that he would keep me. However, as soon as this thought had entered my mind, my weak body betrayed me again and pulled me down into the depths of sleep.

The next time I woke, I cursed myself. Both master and Heero were gone, and breakfast was sitting next to me on the night stand. I had missed my chance to help out, I thought as I ate my toast and tea, but I could at least try to clean up after myself.

Master, however, had other plans, and entered just as I was finishing. He smiled at me, sat down beside me, and put his hand on my forehead.

"Feeling better?" he asked.

"Yes, master, thank you," I said timidly. I couldn't help it, master was so big and I was so much smaller. He made me feel that much weaker. Still, master just smiled and picked up the empty tray.

"Uh-... Oh!" I called to him, causing him to turn around, "I-I could take that," I offered, levering myself to my elbows with great difficulty. Master actually laughed at me.

"Don't be silly," he said, still smiling, "Go back to sleep. I'll wake you for lunch."

I fell back to the pillows in a huff. I would prove myself useful to master, no matter what I had to do.

At first, I decided that I needed to do something big to get master's attention. I certainly couldn't lure him into sex in my condition, but if I could make him lunch I could at least show him that I wasn't a complete waste of time. With that thought, I wiggled my legs off of the bed and attempted to stand, only to have my knees instantly give out. Unable to stop my downward movement, I slipped to my side and off the bed, rubbing my wounded back against the mattress on the way down. I couldn't help myself as I tried and failed to cut off a shriek of pain. There was a sudden flurry of footsteps and master came running into the room.

"What happened?" he questioned, helping me back into the bed.

"I... fell," I told him softly, hurt and humiliated by my own weakness.

"Were you trying to get something?" master asked, seeing through me.

"...I'm thirsty," I lied easily. My up bringing had shown me how to lie, and my time living with Master Marcel had honed that skill. I felt bad about it, but I wasn't about to take a punishment stupidly. Especially one that I doubted I could survive.

Master nodded his head, then brought me a glass of water. I was grateful for it, as I was feeling dizzy from falling out of bed and I needed to clear my head.

"If you need anything, just call. Heero or I will bring it to you. Don't be stupid and hurt yourself," master warned, then left the room, leaving the door open still incase I needed to call for something. I wondered if he was testing me, but I couldn't be sure. He had felt sincere earlier, but I was much too weak to tune my empathy in to one person and blank out the rest without physical contact. I hadn't been able to do that for months, there was a slim chance the power would return any time soon.

My next attempt was simply to sit up by myself, as I knew there was nothing I could do while in bed to help master, so that any aide I would give was dependant on me getting up. I managed to get to my elbows, but I made so much noise that master noticed.

"Quatre, what are you doing?" he asked as I collapsed back to the bed.

"Nothing," I called, praying he'd buy it. After a few minutes, I decided that he had either believed me or let it drop, because he wasn't coming to check on me. I tried again, and again, and again.

"Quatre? Do you need something?"

"Quatre... What are you doing?"

"Quatre, lay back down. I'm not going to say with again."

"Quatre, this is your last warning!"

"Quatre!" master called after my sixth attempt, finally angry as he stormed into the room. I was exhausted, covered in sweat and tears from all the attempts I'd made. I cowered against the bed, afraid I had finally pushed too far, as master opened the drawer loudly and took out a bottle of medicine. I whimpered as I recognized it as the one that put me to sleep. I wanted to help master, not look even more useless by sleeping. I also worried about what master would do to me while I slept. I had been so very bad lately...

"Open," master commanded sternly, holding a spoon of thick purple syrup in front of my face. I sobbed, but kept my mouth closed, backing away from him. If only I could tell him that I had been trying, that I would do better, that I could be useful...

"Quatre, open your mouth right now or you are going to be in very serious trouble," he growled. My mouth opened without my permission, my body too afraid to resist his commands. My body had been trained that resistance meant pain, and I was in too much already. I let out another sob as I swallowed the overly sweet contents of the spoon.

Master gave me a drink of water and pushed me back down to the bed then. I had managed to sit up, but nothing more, and probably would have fallen back down soon anyway. He pushed me to my stomach, but I was feeling vulnerable, and was uncomfortable having someone above me in that position anyway, so turned to my side.

Master surprised me. I had expected him to storm off in a huff, like many masters, and leave me alone to think about my actions, but he didn't. Instead, he slid in beside me and, after checking to make sure I was okay with his presence, pulled me against his side. I was tired, and beginning to feel lethargic from the medicine, so gave in to the temptation to curl against him. I could feel his annoyance, but it was superficial, and the worry underneath made me feel warm and cared for.

"What were you trying to do?" he asked softly, his lips brushing my forehead.

"I just..." I said, feeling the tears pool in my eyes, "I wanted to show you that I can be... useful," I told him. "I know that I..." I trailed off, changing my tactic as I ran my hand across his chest, making my voice hoarse and sultry, "...can be of use to you. Don't be afraid," I said, pulling his face toward mine, "to break me." I told him, moving my lips toward his. I was nearly there, thinking that I could do this to make master keep me, when he suddenly turned his head. I was so grateful I thought I would cry.

"Don't make promises you can't keep," he told me, looking into my eyes and, I thought, my soul. "I'm not going to do anything to you right now, when you're hurt. As for being useful, this certainly isn't how you go about doing it," he told me sternly, and I dissolved into tears, burying my face in his shoulder. I had only been trying to help, but I had messed everything up again. I was so stupid, and so useless, and selfish. Maybe if I had actually been trying to help the man who had been so kind to me, I would have been able to do it without screwing up.

"Enough, now," master cooed, wiping my face with a tissue, "I'm not angry." He paused then and let me collect myself before he went on. "Actually, there is something I need you for, but I'm not sure you're up to it."

"Anything," I breathed, hoping he would trust me when I had done nothing to earn his trust.

"Your old master saw me in the halls this morning and mentioned that I should bring you to the dinner tonight. I said that I might, but that you were feeling ill, so that I could not give him a direct answer. I would like to take you, but I don't know if I can trust you to rest until then, or to behave yourself once we get there."

"I will! I promise, I will! Please!" I begged. The mention of master Marcel had reminded me of how bad it could be. I would do anything not to go back to those days.

"Alright then, you can start by sleeping this morning and afternoon without complaint," he said, pulling out of my arms to rise from the bed. "Can you do that?"

I nodded and he left. It was not in the least bit difficult to follow the master's wishes, even though I was in knots over the meal. As much as I didn't want to see master Marcel again, I wanted to stay with master Zechs even more.