--- Part 7 ---

“This may burn a little,” Alex said, inserting the syringe into Relena’s IV line at the top of her hand. “Are you ready?”

Leaning back against the pillows, Relena closed her eyes and nodded. She bit her lip as the medicine entered her vein, burning as it traveled up her arm. Milliardo held her free hand tightly. As the burning sensation faded, she looked up at him and smiled.

“It will take a little time for it to take effect,” Alex explained, dropping the needle into the biohazard box. “However, by the time of your announcement, you should be fever free. I also gave you something for the dizziness and nausea. It may make you a little drowsy, but with the effects of the other stuff, it shouldn’t make you too sleepy.”

Relena nodded. “And when my speech is over, we can try the new treatment?”

“You bet,” Alex said. “But right now, conserve your strength.”

Saying goodbye, Alex left the room and entered the hallway. As she headed back to the nurses’ station, she met Dr. Wiebe. Seeing her approach, the other physician stopped and glared.

“How’s your newest patient?” he asked, his tone acid.

Alex sighed. “She’s doing well, Ian. Thanks for asking.”

“You can stop with the niceties, Ling,” he spat, continuing to glare at her. “You may have stole this patient from me, but don’t think that I will ever forget that just because you are playing nice.”

“You lost this patient because of your attitude, Ian,” Alex stated. “You’re a brilliant doctor, but your horrible people skills are killing your reputation.”

“Don’t you worry about my reputation. I can take care of myself. It’s you that better watch yourself. I have far more friends on the board of directors at this hospital than you, Ling. Tread softly.”

“Is that a threat, Dr. Wiebe?”

He suddenly appeared smug. “You can take that however you like, Dr. Ling.”

“Well, let me tell you something, Ian,” she said, stepping until she was in inches of his face. “You can threaten me all you want. Go running like a spoiled schoolboy to the board of directors and tell on me for supposedly stealing one of your few patients. Go right ahead, because it is going to take more than some pampered little rich kid to bring me down. Or stupid hospital politics for that matter. I have worked too hard to get where I am to not do down without a fight.”

“Is he bothering you, Dr. Ling?”

The two physicians stopped and turned in the direction of the low, steely voice. A young man, no older than his late teens, stood rock still, observing the pair critically. His unruly dark hair fell into his face, partially obscuring his deep blue eyes.

“Just who are you?” Dr. Wiebe demanded.

“You can call me Heero,” he replied.

Dr. Wiebe went white, remembering the other boy’s warning. With a final glare at Alex, he turned and marched off down the hallway. Alex watched him with a pitying smile before she turned to him.

“So, you’re Heero,” she said quietly. He nodded slightly.

“I’m Alexandra Ling,” she continued, sticking her hand out. “It’s a pleasure to meet you at last, Mr. Yuy. Your compatriots have told me about you.”

Heero shook her hand, a ghost of a smile hovering over his lips. “Duo talks too much.”

Alex smiled. “He can be an entertaining distraction. If you will excuse me, I need to get back to work. Where are you heading?”

Heero paused for a moment before replying, “I don’t know.”

She watched him head down the hallway toward Relena’s room. ‘What a tortured soul,’ she mused, as his form disappeared from sight. With a sigh, she resumed her way back to the nurses’ station.

* * * * *

Relena leaned against her brother as she took the three steps required from the wheelchair to straight-back chair. She pointedly kept her eyes averted from the others. She didn’t know what she feared most: their possible looks of contempt or the probable gazes of pity.

As she sat down, Duo told her that everything was ready for the transmission. She smiled, now noticing that there were no strangers present in the room. Duo, Quatre, and Trowa were working as the crew, while the other two pilots guarded the doors outside. She wondered how much persuasion her brother had needed to accomplish that.

“Okay, let’s get this over with,” Relena said.

Duo’s hands flew over the control boards. “Whenever you’re ready.”

“People of the Earth Sphere and of the colonies, I am Vice Foreign Minister Relena Dorlian. Undoubtedly, the majority of you have heard of the latest attack on me. Thanks to several brave men, I survived my ordeal and am now recovering.

“However, I am not quite ready to return to my duties. Therefore, I am temporarily stepping down as Vice Foreign Minister. I ask that my colleague Benjamin Stelmein be considered as my successor in consideration for all that he has accomplished during my absence.

“I also ask that your support be given to Minister Stelmein as it was given to me. He is a man of great integrity and he will do the best he can for all of us. I know he will do that and more.

“Thank you for your concern and patience. I sincerely hope to return to my duties soon. Good evening.”

As Duo ended the transmission, Relena leaned back wearily and closed her eyes. Although she knew it would difficult for her to give up her duties, she hadn’t expected for it to hurt so much. She hoped that Stelmein could the job as well as she thought he could.

Sighing, she rose from the chair and moved toward the door. She had made two steps before her knees buckled, sending her to the floor. Immediately, Quatre and Milliardo were beside her, picking up gently as if she was something very fragile.

“Are you all right, Miss Relena?” The Arabian’s concerned eyes bore into hers.

She nodded, cursing Isom for making her so weak. “I guess that took more out of me that I thought.”

“We’ll get you back to your room,” Milliardo said, his expression ordering Quatre to get the wheelchair.

“I’ll be all right,” she murmured, trying to convince both him and herself. “I’ll be fine.”


Part VII “This may burn a little,” Alex said, inserting the syringe into Relena’s IV line at the top of her hand. “Are you ready?” Leaning back against the pillows, Relena closed her eyes and nodded. She bit her lip as the medicine entered her vein, burning as it traveled up her arm. Milliardo held her free hand tightly. As the burning sensation faded, she looked up at him and smiled. “It will take a little time for it to take effect,” Alex explained, dropping the needle into the biohazard box. “However, by the time of your announcement, you should be fever free. I also gave you something for the dizziness and nausea. It may make you a little drowsy, but with the effects of the other stuff, it shouldn’t make you too sleepy.” Relena nodded. “And when my speech is over, we can try the new treatment?” “You bet,” Alex said. “But right now, conserve your strength.” Saying goodbye, Alex left the room and entered the hallway. As she headed back to the nurses’ station, she met Dr. Wiebe. Seeing her approach, the other physician stopped and glared. “How’s your newest patient?” he asked, his tone acid. Alex sighed. “She’s doing well, Ian. Thanks for asking.” “You can stop with the niceties, Ling,” he spat, continuing to glare at her. “You may have stole this patient from me, but don’t think that I will ever forget that just because you are playing nice.” “You lost this patient because of your attitude, Ian,” Alex stated. “You’re a brilliant doctor, but your horrible people skills are killing your reputation.” “Don’t you worry about my reputation. I can take care of myself. It’s you that better watch yourself. I have far more friends on the board of directors at this hospital than you, Ling. Tread softly.” “Is that a threat, Dr. Wiebe?” He suddenly appeared smug. “You can take that however you like, Dr. Ling.” “Well, let me tell you something, Ian,” she said, stepping until she was in inches of his face. “You can threaten me all you want. Go running like a spoiled schoolboy to the board of directors and tell on me for supposedly stealing one of your few patients. Go right ahead, because it is going to take more than some pampered little rich kid to bring me down. Or stupid hospital politics for that matter. I have worked too hard to get where I am to not do down without a fight.” “Is he bothering you, Dr. Ling?” The two physicians stopped and turned in the direction of the low, steely voice. A young man, no older than his late teens, stood rock still, observing the pair critically. His unruly dark hair fell into his face, partially obscuring his deep blue eyes. “Just who are you?” Dr. Wiebe demanded. “You can call me Heero,” he replied. Dr. Wiebe went white, remembering the other boy’s warning. With a final glare at Alex, he turned and marched off down the hallway. Alex watched him with a pitying smile before she turned to him. “So, you’re Heero,” she said quietly. He nodded slightly. “I’m Alexandra Ling,” she continued, sticking her hand out. “It’s a pleasure to meet you at last, Mr. Yuy. Your compatriots have told me about you.” Heero shook her hand, a ghost of a smile hovering over his lips. “Duo talks too much.” Alex smiled. “He can be an entertaining distraction. If you will excuse me, I need to get back to work. Where are you heading?” Heero paused for a moment before replying, “I don’t know.” She watched him head down the hallway toward Relena’s room. ‘What a tortured soul,’ she mused, as his form disappeared from sight. With a sigh, she resumed her way back to the nurses’ station. * * * * * Relena leaned against her brother as she took the three steps required from the wheelchair to straight-back chair. She pointedly kept her eyes averted from the others. She didn’t know what she feared most: their possible looks of contempt or the probable gazes of pity. As she sat down, Duo told her that everything was ready for the transmission. She smiled, now noticing that there were no strangers present in the room. Duo, Quatre, and Trowa were working as the crew, while the other two pilots guarded the doors outside. She wondered how much persuasion her brother had needed to accomplish that. “Okay, let’s get this over with,” Relena said. Duo’s hands flew over the control boards. “Whenever you’re ready.” “People of the Earth Sphere and of the colonies, I am Vice Foreign Minister Relena Dorlian. Undoubtedly, the majority of you have heard of the latest attack on me. Thanks to several brave men, I survived my ordeal and am now recovering. “However, I am not quite ready to return to my duties. Therefore, I am temporarily stepping down as Vice Foreign Minister. I ask that my colleague Benjamin Stelmein be considered as my successor in consideration for all that he has accomplished during my absence. “I also ask that your support be given to Minister Stelmein as it was given to me. He is a man of great integrity and he will do the best he can for all of us. I know he will do that and more. “Thank you for your concern and patience. I sincerely hope to return to my duties soon. Good evening.” As Duo ended the transmission, Relena leaned back wearily and closed her eyes. Although she knew it would difficult for her to give up her duties, she hadn’t expected for it to hurt so much. She hoped that Stelmein could the job as well as she thought he could. Sighing, she rose from the chair and moved toward the door. She had made two steps before her knees buckled, sending her to the floor. Immediately, Quatre and Milliardo were beside her, picking up gently as if she was something very fragile. “Are you all right, Miss Relena?” The Arabian’s concerned eyes bore into hers. She nodded, cursing Isom for making her so weak. “I guess that took more out of me that I thought.” “We’ll get you back to your room,” Milliardo said, his expression ordering Quatre to get the wheelchair. “I’ll be all right,” she murmured, trying to convince both him and herself. “I’ll be fine.”


Part VIII You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye