There were problems right away, but I expected nothing less. Before I could allow the boys to begin working on the barn I had to have it inspected. Of course, once it was inspected it was found that it had, not only rodents, but termites as well, and so it had to be fumigated. And once it was fumigated I was informed that all the hay and dust would have to be removed, less the horses eat it and die. And so I found that Heero's riding lessons would have to be pushed back at least two weeks.

Of course, I could have paid to have it completely redone in a few days, but I could not bring the team it would take to my estate because of the risk it posed to my mission. It was risky enough to bring the inspector and the exterminator in, and first they had to undergo a thorough background check, but I could not get permission to bring in a team. So the work would have to be done almost completely by the boys and myself. Of course, a little hard work would be good for them, and I doubted any of them would complain, but I did worry about the time Heero would lose in training. With Collar so little time until the start of Collar a week lost would be extremely costly. I could only hope Heero would be able to make it up.

The next problem came in the form of an irate phone call from Sally. Apparently she had gotten word that I had authorized some tutors and was completely appalled that I had forgotten to schedule a check-up for the boys first. Nor did she cut me any slack because I was right in the middle of redoing the barn and setting up the teachers. But, regardless, I set another day aside so that she could do her exams and gave the boys another day off of practice.

Next I realized that, though I had purchased the boys several pairs of clothes when they arrived, neither Heero, Wufei, nor Duo actually had work-out clothes. Heero had one pair of spandex shorts and a tank-top that he had been wearing every day and washing every night, so they were looking extremely haggard. Duo also had one pair of shorts, but they were the wrong size and dangerously baggy on him. I worried he would catch the shorts in one of the machines and, if not hurt himself, embarrass himself terribly. Wufei had two sets of tradition Chinese clothes, but they were both a bright white, which was difficult to wash if one worked hard enough to sweat. I got a distinct feeling that Wufei must have come from a very proper family, because he spent almost as much cleaning those clothes as he spent working out in them. It was useless, and I hoped buying him some clothes in a darker color would alleviate the problem.

Trowa and Quatre, on the other hand, did not need any new clothes, though I intended to buy them some eventually. All of Trowa's lessons could be performed in jeans, and most of them would not get him dirty. Quatre's lessons, on the other hand, would probably all get him dirty, but he would be able to wear an apron for most or all of them. So, though I would eventually buy them clothes, I would be able to wait until things had settled a bit.

So, for the first three days of training, nothing actually got done. One the first day the barn was inspected, and I didn't have any time from looking it over to call for the teachers. On the second day the barn was fumigated, and I received the previously mentioned delightful phone call from Sally. And, on the third day, Sally was scheduled to come and give each of the boys a physical.

The authorization papers for the tutors showed up on my desk the same day Sally planned to come for the exams. It seemed like a pretty decent series of events, because the barn was still airing out, so hopefully Sally would clear the boys to work on it tonight, and they could begin to work on it tomorrow around their lessons. I could only hope that she wouldn't find anything bad, because they would only delay us further, and I wasn't sure we could afford that.

Sally showed up around noon, hauling with her an entire truckload of medical equipment which she set up in the downstairs bedroom.

"I thought this was just a checkup?" I wondered as Sally hauled in what appeared to be a portable x-ray machine.

"You're boys have never had proper medical attention, you can't take them to the hospital, and they're going to be working out at a dangerous pace. Plus, they're teenage boys. There's a good chance that even if I don't find something today I'll need this stuff sometime in the future. Since you had an extra room anyway I decided just to set up here, so that I can handle anything from a fever to a broken bone. Hopefully this way we won't have to wait for the hospital to clear out if one of the boys gets hurt or sick."

"Well... you're certainly thinking ahead. But how did you get all of this stuff?"

"Hm? Oh, you mean these machines. Yeah... well... I kind of had to say that I was purchasing this for a clinic I was opening."

"A clinic? But wouldn't the merchandiser look into that? Don't you need a license to buy this kind of stuff?"

"Not if it's for animals."

"For what!" I couldn't help but snap. "You're looking at my boys with veterinary equipment?"

"Look, it's the same thing, only I don't need to fill out four thousand forms and wait six months to get these," Sally said, slamming down a box and turning to me. "If you have a better idea, please tell me now. Otherwise stop standing there gawking me and start bringing in boxes!" she snapped. Ouch. In the future I'd have to remember not to second guess Sally when she was holding a heavy box.

I called the boys and between the seven of us the van was soon empty and the spare room was full to the top with boxes. Sally shooed us out then and started setting up by herself. Quatre offered to go back and help her, but I led him away and probably saved his life. Sally could be insanely meticulous; it was better to let her set things up her own way.

Instead we split up and I went with Trowa and Quatre to make lunch. I was glad to find that, now that the competitions had been announced Trowa had stepped up to teach Quatre the basics of cooking while they waited for the teachers to arrive. I had previously been worried about jealousy between the two, but as I watched them in the kitchen my fears were laid to rest. Trowa doted on Quatre, and Quatre blushed with every attention Trowa paid him. The two tangoed around the kitchen in the age old ritual of courtship. It was refreshing to see it, even though I feared it would be crushed in its infancy by the circumstances. But I didn't have the heart to destroy the fledgling buds of their love, so I could only do my best to nurture and protect it. Besides, teenage romance was normal and even needed for growth and maturity. So I soon retired to my study to give the two some much needed privacy.

By the time lunch was done Sally had unpacked all the boxes and tossed them back into the van. Without all the packing materials the equipment fit nicely into the small room. Of course, it was impossible to see out of the back of the van because of all the packing material, but that was really Sally's problem, not mine.

We had lunch together, and when the boys had consumed a nearly impossible amount of food and Sally and I had stuffed ourselves with considerably less, we sat back and relaxed, stomachs full and content.

"Ahh..." Sally sighed. "I'm glad I don't come here often. I'd get so fat."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it, Ms. Sally," Quatre commented. "Trowa taught me how to make it this morning. He's a really great cook."

"That's wonderful."

"Quatre's being modest," I decided to put in, seeing that Trowa wanted to say something but was far too shy. I had to wonder if this would become a problem. Trowa was quiet around us, but he had never clammed up like he had since Sally walked in. He hadn't said more than three words the entire time she was here. I worried briefly that he might do the same thing at Collar, but I would cross that bridge when I came to it. "They're both good cooks."

"Hm. Well, anyway, now that the pleasant part is over we'd better get down to business," Sally said, straightening up in her seat. "I don't know if Zechs told you or not, but you each need a check-up and a complete physical. I'll take you one at a time in the new medical room. This may take a while, but once I get a thorough check-up over with you won't need another one for a month, and then they'll be quick exams instead of total physical, alright? So I'll take Duo first, if that's alright."

"Why me? I see you enough as it is," Duo pouted.

"That's exactly why you're first. I need to make sure you're healing properly, and that will probably take a little longer than the others. Everyone else can go about their business, but stay within hearing distance."

"Will you need me?" I wondered.

"No, probably not."

"Ah. Well, then I'll be in my study if you need me."

With that everyone split up, Sally and Duo going to her examining room, the rest of the boys heading in the direction of the den, and I went across the hall to my study. There was a lot of paperwork to look at dealing with my accounts and investments, as always, but more now that I had spent such large sums on my new mission. It was also a convenient excuse to stay close to the examining room, in case Sally should have any problems.

About an hour and a half later I finally drew myself away from papers to stretch and check in on the boys' progress. My timing was extremely lucky, because I almost bumped into Heero. He was the last to be examined, and he had just finished. Sally followed him out of the room, carrying with her a clipboard and a small case. I assumed she would be heading out soon, and commented on it.

"Not quite yet," Sally said, looking over a chart as she walked into the den where the boys, like normal teenagers, were crowded around the TV. "There's still one more thing we need to do, then I'll be out of your hair."

"And what would that be?" I wondered, secretly relieved to have everything go so smoothly.

"It seems, my dear Zechs, that some of your slaves are not up to code on their vaccinations. Now, Heero and Wufei have had everything they need and Quatre has had shots I don't even recognize. Illium Hydroxide? Good lord Quatre, isn't that a preservative?"

"I... I-uh-I don't think so..."

"Well, whatever it is, you've certainly had enough shots for one lifetime. Now, that only leaves Trowa and Duo. The rest of you can step outside for a moment," she said. I nodded to the other three, who slowly departed, leaving the four of us alone. "Duo has had all his shots, but needs boosters on everything, and Trowa is so susceptible to everything that I thought about putting him in quarantine. If he had been on a public plane when you came back I would have to suggest it. But, anyway, I've compressed all the shots into one tube, so neither of you will have to be stuck more than once, alright? I'll take Duo first," Sally said. While she spoke she pulled a filled syringe out of her case. Duo came forward unhesitatingly, pushing up his sleeves.

"You couldn't have put it in with all that other crap you gave me? You're just a sadist, aren't you?"

"Shut up and give me your arm," Sally growled teasingly. She had grown fond of Duo in the hospital, even though he had been unconscious most of the time. Go figure.

Duo grumbled some more but obediently stuck out his arm. Sally had been giving injections for years, so she was quick and nearly painless. Duo didn't even flinch, though that could be attributed to either of them.

"Alright then," Sally said, sitting back and disposing of the needle. "That only leaves one more and that's... Trowa? Where'd he go?" she wondered. It was only then that I heard the pounding of feet down the hall, and the realization dawned on me.

Trowa was terrified of needles.

I was out of my chair a second later, giving chase to my fleeing slave. I hadn't even thought about Trowa's fear of needles because I hadn't equated the needles that had been in his body with the medical needles Sally would use. Unfortunately it seemed that his mind couldn't see a difference between the two, and so he had take the opportunity Duo's shot gave him and slipped away. He probably hadn't even thought about where he would run too, just running in blind panic.

But I was older, taller, and in better health. Trowa's head start allowed him to get into the yard, but I was at his heels by the time he got to the door. He tossed a backwards glance over his shoulder and saw me, giving him an extra boost of adrenaline. He widened the gap between us, but I could see he was winded. Running full tilt, first through a house that size and now through the yard, was not easy, especially for the two of us, because we were bigger than the rest and couldn't take the turns so easily.

As he crossed the yard, panting and frightened, I noticed Quatre ahead of us, probably heading out to work in the barn as his chore. Despite the noise we were making he had yet to notice us.

Quatre!" I shouted. "Grab Trowa!" I yelled. Quatre turned, stunned, toward us. His eyes widened at the picture we created. It was probably something from his nightmares, the image of his best friend being chased down at a dead run by his master. So I wasn't overly surprised when he froze up, though I was a bit annoyed. Trowa was a teenager, and though I was certainly healthier than he was, I was also older. He was really making me feel old enough to have my first heart attack.

But it didn't really matter, because Trowa had used up the last of his adrenaline, and I was quickly gaining on him. In another second I was only inches away from him, and I managed to find a reserve of energy that allowed me to jump at Trowa and tackle him to the ground. He struggled like a wild man, trying to get away from me, but he simply wasn't big enough to shake me. On the other hand, I wasn't strong enough to pin and lift his thrashing body at the same time. So we were at an impasse.

I realized, after enduring a minute of Trowa's thrashing, that my slave was just too frightened to be allowed to calm on his own. At this rate he'd hurt himself before he lost all of his energy, and I couldn't allow that.

"Trowa," I growled, leaning in close to his ear. "Trowa, you will stop immediately," I commanded, my voice harsh and demanding. Trowa froze, not exactly calming, but close enough to what I needed. "Do not move, or you will be punished," I told him, then rose, putting Trowa over my shoulder. He did not struggle, but I could hear his panting breaths coming much too quickly. But there was nothing I could do about it while we walked, so I simply hurried to the house.