--- Part 4 ---

Relena slowly opened her eyes as she felt something cold and wet press against her forehead. Blinking to clear her vision, she murmured, “Where am I?”

“You’re in a hospital, Miss Relena,” a soft voice answered.

She tried to sit up, but firm yet gentle hands urged to lay still. “Quatre?”

“Shh, Miss Relena,” the Arabian said quietly. “You need your rest.”

“I was so afraid that it was all a dream,” Relena stated quietly, grateful that Quatre’s face was finally coming into focus.

With a tender air, Quatre placed the remoistened cloth on her forehead, the cool water a soothing contrast to her fiery skin. “What was a dream?”

“Waking up earlier,” she replied. “I thought I was dreaming, that I was still with Isom.”

She closed her eyes, trying to hide the tears. However, despite her efforts, they began to fall down her cheeks. As if he was afraid he would hurt her, Quatre delicately brushed them from her face.

“But you’re not dreaming, Miss Relena,” he told her. “You’re safe now. He can’t hurt you anymore. You’re safe.”

Hoping that her tears were done, Relena opened her eyes. “Thank you, Quatre.”

Sitting back, he smiled. “You’re welcome, Miss Relena.”

The two sat in comfortable silence for a moment. Then, Relena glanced at Quatre. “Is my brother and Noin still here?”

“Yes, I’ll get them for you.”

With a final smile, he rose and headed for the door. However, as he reached for the handle of the door, she called his name. Puzzled, he turned around.

“Yes, Miss Relena?”

“Is Heero here?”

The Arabian’s brow furrowed. He hadn’t seen Heero since they had completed their mission. There was no telling where the 01 pilot could be. With a sigh, he lowered his head. “I don’t know, Miss Relena.”

“I was just curious,” she said quietly, neither of them convinced by the statement. “Thank you for getting Miliardo and Noin for me, Quatre.”

Nodding, he opened the door and left the room.

* * * * *

As soon as he entered the hospital cafeteria, he saw Noin and Miliardo. The couple was seated at a table on the far wall, staring into twin cups of coffee. By the appearance of the liquid, the two had been sitting there for quite a while.

Hearing his footsteps, Miliardo looked up. Nodding briefly at the Arabian, he returned to gazing into the pool of black liquid. Noin, on the other hand, watched Quatre approached, a hint of hope lingering in her eyes.

“Miss Relena is awake and is asking for the two of you,” Quatre stated softly.

Miliardo immediately rose to his feet. “Thank you,” he said, walking past the younger man as he headed toward the exit of the cafeteria. Noin offered him a smile and followed quickly on Miliardo’s heels.

After watching the pair leave, Quatre fixed himself a fresh cup of coffee. He was surprised to see Heero in a vacant, far-off corner of the room. The Arabian smiled slightly as he realized that the Perfect Soldier was working diligently on the ever-present laptop.

“Hello, Heero,” Quatre greeted, as he sat down across from Heero.

The typing stopped as Heero glanced at Quatre, obviously annoyed at the interruption.

“What do you want, Quatre?” the 01 pilot demanded, already resuming his work.

The Arabian shrugged and took a sip from his cup. “The pleasure of your company?”

Again the typing stop as Heero leveled another annoyed glance at the Arabian. As his attention once more returned to the screen of the laptop, Quatre could have sworn that he saw the corner of Heero’s lips twitch. Shaking his head, Quatre took another drink.

“You’ve been around Duo too long,” Heero commented, his eyes never leaving the computer.

Quatre laughed. “I can die a happy man now, Heero. I have lived long enough to hear you make a joke.”

Heero snorted, clearly the only reply he was going to give the Arabian.

Quatre became thoughtful as he drank his coffee and listened to Heero’s fingers flying across the keyboard of his computer. Relena still had a high fever, even after the efforts of Dr. Wiebe and Dr. Ling. He was worried that if they didn’t find what was making Relena sick soon, time would run out for the Vice Foreign Minister.

Skaing his head to clear the depressing thoughts, Quatre studied Heero for a moment.

Feeling the Arabian’s eyes on him, Heero continued his work. “I’ll ask you again. What do you want, Quatre?”

“I want to know that she’ll be okay,” he replied quietly after a lengthy pause. “We need her.”

Heero continued to study the screen of his computer, debating about how much of his activities he should reveal. Yet, what he had learned about Quatre told him that he could trust the Arabian. With a silent sigh, he stopped typing and looked up.

“I’m analyzing Isom’s computer data,” Heero stated.

Quatre was visibly surprised. “All of it?”

Heero nodded.

“Why? We’ve captured the vast majority of his supporters.”

“I’m searching for clues about what they did to Relena,” Heero said. “Most of the data survived the attack. Apparently no one thought to erase the hard drives.”

Heero’s smirk indicated his low assessment of the intelligence of Isom’s men. Yet, Quatre reminded himself, they had effectively compromised their security measures when they abducted Relena. “Have you found anything helpful yet?”

“No.”

Another lapse in conversation ensued. Finishing his coffee, Quatre looked at Heero. “She asked about you when she woke up,” he stated quietly.

“She’ll never learn,” Heero stated dismissively.

Quatre raised one eyebrow. “Learn what, Heero?”

“That I will destroy her,” he said. Closing the laptop, he stood up and left the cafeteria.

Shaking his head slightly, Quatre watched Heero leave the cafeteria. ‘You are a fool, Heero,’ he thought. ‘If you truly meant to destroy her, why are you working so hard to save her?’


Part IV Relena slowly opened her eyes as she felt something cold and wet press against her forehead. Blinking to clear her vision, she murmured, “Where am I?” “You’re in a hospital, Miss Relena,” a soft voice answered. She tried to sit up, but firm yet gentle hands urged to lay still. “Quatre?” “Shh, Miss Relena,” the Arabian said quietly. “You need your rest.” “I was so afraid that it was all a dream,” Relena stated quietly, grateful that Quatre’s face was finally coming into focus. With a tender air, Quatre placed the remoistened cloth on her forehead, the cool water a soothing contrast to her fiery skin. “What was a dream?” “Waking up earlier,” she replied. “I thought I was dreaming, that I was still with Isom.” She closed her eyes, trying to hide the tears. However, despite her efforts, they began to fall down her cheeks. As if he was afraid he would hurt her, Quatre delicately brushed them from her face. “But you’re not dreaming, Miss Relena,” he told her. “You’re safe now. He can’t hurt you anymore. You’re safe.” Hoping that her tears were done, Relena opened her eyes. “Thank you, Quatre.” Sitting back, he smiled. “You’re welcome, Miss Relena.” The two sat in comfortable silence for a moment. Then, Relena glanced at Quatre. “Is my brother and Noin still here?” “Yes, I’ll get them for you.” With a final smile, he rose and headed for the door. However, as he reached for the handle of the door, she called his name. Puzzled, he turned around. “Yes, Miss Relena?” “Is Heero here?” The Arabian’s brow furrowed. He hadn’t seen Heero since they had completed their mission. There was no telling where the 01 pilot could be. With a sigh, he lowered his head. “I don’t know, Miss Relena.” “I was just curious,” she said quietly, neither of them convinced by the statement. “Thank you for getting Miliardo and Noin for me, Quatre.” Nodding, he opened the door and left the room. * * * * * As soon as he entered the hospital cafeteria, he saw Noin and Miliardo. The couple was seated at a table on the far wall, staring into twin cups of coffee. By the appearance of the liquid, the two had been sitting there for quite a while. Hearing his footsteps, Miliardo looked up. Nodding briefly at the Arabian, he returned to gazing into the pool of black liquid. Noin, on the other hand, watched Quatre approached, a hint of hope lingering in her eyes. “Miss Relena is awake and is asking for the two of you,” Quatre stated softly. Miliardo immediately rose to his feet. “Thank you,” he said, walking past the younger man as he headed toward the exit of the cafeteria. Noin offered him a smile and followed quickly on Miliardo’s heels. After watching the pair leave, Quatre fixed himself a fresh cup of coffee. He was surprised to see Heero in a vacant, far-off corner of the room. The Arabian smiled slightly as he realized that the Perfect Soldier was working diligently on the ever-present laptop. “Hello, Heero,” Quatre greeted, as he sat down across from Heero. The typing stopped as Heero glanced at Quatre, obviously annoyed at the interruption. “What do you want, Quatre?” the 01 pilot demanded, already resuming his work. The Arabian shrugged and took a sip from his cup. “The pleasure of your company?” Again the typing stop as Heero leveled another annoyed glance at the Arabian. As his attention once more returned to the screen of the laptop, Quatre could have sworn that he saw the corner of Heero’s lips twitch. Shaking his head, Quatre took another drink. “You’ve been around Duo too long,” Heero commented, his eyes never leaving the computer. Quatre laughed. “I can die a happy man now, Heero. I have lived long enough to hear you make a joke.” Heero snorted, clearly the only reply he was going to give the Arabian. Quatre became thoughtful as he drank his coffee and listened to Heero’s fingers flying across the keyboard of his computer. Relena still had a high fever, even after the efforts of Dr. Wiebe and Dr. Ling. He was worried that if they didn’t find what was making Relena sick soon, time would run out for the Vice Foreign Minister. Skaing his head to clear the depressing thoughts, Quatre studied Heero for a moment. Feeling the Arabian’s eyes on him, Heero continued his work. “I’ll ask you again. What do you want, Quatre?” “I want to know that she’ll be okay,” he replied quietly after a lengthy pause. “We need her.” Heero continued to study the screen of his computer, debating about how much of his activities he should reveal. Yet, what he had learned about Quatre told him that he could trust the Arabian. With a silent sigh, he stopped typing and looked up. “I’m analyzing Isom’s computer data,” Heero stated. Quatre was visibly surprised. “All of it?” Heero nodded. “Why? We’ve captured the vast majority of his supporters.” “I’m searching for clues about what they did to Relena,” Heero said. “Most of the data survived the attack. Apparently no one thought to erase the hard drives.” Heero’s smirk indicated his low assessment of the intelligence of Isom’s men. Yet, Quatre reminded himself, they had effectively compromised their security measures when they abducted Relena. “Have you found anything helpful yet?” “No.” Another lapse in conversation ensued. Finishing his coffee, Quatre looked at Heero. “She asked about you when she woke up,” he stated quietly. “She’ll never learn,” Heero stated dismissively. Quatre raised one eyebrow. “Learn what, Heero?” “That I will destroy her,” he said. Closing the laptop, he stood up and left the cafeteria. Shaking his head slightly, Quatre watched Heero leave the cafeteria. ‘You are a fool, Heero,’ he thought. ‘If you truly meant to destroy her, why are you working so hard to save her?’


Part V -- Coming Soon You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye