Four days after I was sent to the hospital, the doctor finally allowed me to go home. I had been able to walk on my own since yesterday, and I hadn't had a fainting spell for nearly two days. My health, though I was still weak and easily tired, had much improved, and I was feeling better than I had in months. The doctor felt that if I was allowed proper rest and nutrition I would soon be back to full health.

With that prognosis, the doctor released me early the next morning, and I was as eager to return to the apartment as I was nervous. On the one hand, I had been terribly lonely in the hospital, in my tiny white room all alone, and would have probably come undone if it hadn't been for Heero's companionship. He was there every day for nearly five hours, and I knew that he left me to go straight to a work out. I could see it wearing on him, and often felt guilty for putting him through such trouble, but I was far too afraid of being left alone to tell him to stop coming.

Which was one of the reasons I was so nervous about returning to the master. It was possible that he could be angry with me for taking Heero away so often, or because I had left him for so long. Or he could even have decided to let his new slave take my place, and get rid of me.

All this entered my mind as I halted outside the door to the only place that had begun to feel welcoming in years, uncertain of my welcome. I set aside the small white bag of supplies and instructions the hospital had given me and dropped to my knees, the proper position for a message carrying slave or one who had been away for a long period of time. Once in the proper, submissive position, I reached my hand up and rang the doorbell. There were steps only a moment later and my heart jumped to my throat as I heard master's heavy, bold steps come to the door. The handle turned, the door opened, and master simply stared down at me in surprise for a moment. I lowered my head, begging silently for him to do something.

Please, don't turn me away!

"Quatre!" he shouted, falling to his knees beside me, a grin lighting his face. "Are you alright? What are you doing here? You look great! Can you stand? Eh, never mind, that's not important," he said, lifting me from the floor, giving me only time enough to grab my bag before carting me into the room. "Heero said you wouldn't be out until the end of the week! You didn't sneak away, did you? No, you're too good-hearted for that, aren't you, angel face? It seems like you've been gone forever! So much has happened! But, I can tell you about that after you tell me all about your hospital stay. Were they kind to you?" he asked, placing me on the couch, then seating himself on the adjacent one and listening to me with interest. It took me a moment to realize that I was actually being given time to respond.

"Uh-yes, they were very kind. But they were very busy, too, and I was lonely."

"But Heero came every day, right?"

"Of course, but he was only allowed to stay for a few hours, then the doctor made him leave."

"And he went straight to the gym, I'll suppose. Persistent boy. But what of your treatment?"

"I don't really remember the first day, but I know they used some kind of machine to clean and seal the wounds. After that they merely checked them every day, made me take lots of pills, drink lots of fluids, and sleep a lot."

"Well, I'm certain we can do that here just as well. The other two are enjoying that last option themselves."

"They're still sleeping?" I asked. It was early, but not that early.

"Yes. You know how hard Heero's been pushing himself, and Trowa isn't in the best shape because of his previous master's treatment."

"Trowa... what is he like?" I questioned hesitantly. Master replied instantly.

"Shy. I think you'll like him. He's quiet, but he says a lot with the few words he uses. I want you two to get along."

"What does Heero think of him?"

"I... honestly don't know. Heero is still so guarded around him, and Trowa won't take the initiative to get close to him. I don't think they've made any progress at all other than deciding not to hate each other."

"Oh," I said. That didn't sound overly promising, but it wasn't the worst report, either. And it would be very much of Heero's nature to reserve judgement until he had a full view of Trowa's character.

"Do you want to see him?" master asked, a playful grin on his face. "You could sneak over and take a peak. I won't tell," he said, then stood. "I'll take your bag, if you want," he offered, and I quickly shook my head.

"No, it's alright. I'll- uh... I'll put it in the second bathroom, so it won't be in the way," I said quicky. I didn't want master going through my bag and asking questions about my medicine yet. I wasn't sure of my place in the house anymore, and I wanted to be sure to secure it before I brought up that subject with master.

"Alright, then, I need to get a shower, then we can have breakfast and I can introduce you to Trowa. Do you need me to wake Heero up, or are you alright by yourself?"

"I'm fine. I'm not really sick anymore, I'm just weak."

"As would be expected after what you've been through. Don't worry, though, you'll feel better soon enough," he said, then patted me on the head and walked to the bedroom. When I heard the water start in the other room, I hurried to the slave's bathroom. I had never been to the slave's quarters before, but Heero had pointed them out to me. It was much smaller than the master sweet, as I had assumed. I put most of my medicine into the cupboard, but one bottle under the sink, hoping no one would find it before I had time to talk to master in private. It would be easy for someone to... make the wrong assumption, were they to see it. I wanted to explain my situation to master, but only once I was sure he wouldn't turn me out. I couldn't take that.

Once I was finished stashing my medication, I wasn't really certain where to go. I didn't feel like being alone, and master's earlier offer echoed through my head, so I tiptoed out of the slaves quarters and up to the master's bedroom. A lamp was on and, peering through the dim light. I could make out two forms in the bed. The smaller one I recognized as Heero, so I assumed that the taller must be Trowa. I peered closely. He was tall, lean, and somewhat muscled, but thinner than he should have been. His face was relaxed but blank, neither pleased nor pained. His hair was mussed, and the style was odd, with most of it falling forward over his face into one big bang, which had been pushed to the side only enough to reveal one eye.

An eye which, as though sensing my presence, opened to disclose a startling emerald orb.