Quiet Celebration 9

[Morganeth]

AN: Okay so I equal fail, I finished this chapter yesterday but neglected to post it for all you fine people, I hope you can forgive me!

I always find it hard to believe when I make it to the end of a fic, the longer it is the harder to believe. I think my brain will just explode when I finish Mistaken Words. I want to send out a HUGE Thank you! To Honourable Fool wouldn?t be here now without your suggestion! I hope you all enjoy the final chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from Gundam Wing

Quiet Celebration 9

Relena leaned against the cold stone wall of the observation room, looking through the thick glass to the operating theater below. It was a sea of teal, paint, blankets and surgeons in scrubs splattered here and there with Heero?s red blood. It was difficult to watch, but she?d insisted on being there for him. From the moment he was taken into surgery to when he finally woke; Relena wanted to be there whether he knew it or not.

Sally had called her early in the morning to tell her that Heero was getting a kidney; for a moment she?d been too shocked to do anything other than cry in relief. It didn?t matter in those first few seconds where the kidney had come from only that Heero was going to be alright. In retrospect Relena felt bad for it now, wishing she?d at least given the poor man that had died for this a moments thought.

She hadn?t been able to get to the hospital fast enough, wanting desperately a moment alone with Heero before he went into surgery. But there hadn?t been time for that, upon arrival Relena had heard Heero had already gone into surgery, and she had instead been brought up to this observation room. She could barely make out his face among all the staff and sheets; Relena was a little glad of that, having caught a brief glimpse of the tube coming out of his mouth, those gorgeous eyes tapped shut.

Having no idea how long the surgery would take; Relena could only stand and watch; and wish that she had a doctor up here to tell her how it was going. Would it be much longer? Was Heero doing alright?

Relena heard the door open behind her but didn?t bother turning her head, she could tell from the reflection in the window that Trowa was leaning against the wall behind her. ?This was all my fault,? she breathed the admission surprising her, but it was no less true.

Trowa didn?t say anything, his silence seeming to ask for him, ?Why is that??

Shaking her head, Relena wrapped her arms around her self a cold shiver running down her spine. ?I held us up, if we had left on time??

?Relena you have no control over other drivers.?

She knew it, the man who had hit them hadn?t even been drunk, his only crime was being new still learning the how to drive the truck. Even beyond that the rain had been the ultimate factor. ?We would have avoided the worst of the rain.? Guilt washed over her, it wasn?t until now that it was all breaking open. There had only been shock in the beginning, and her subconscious had been happy to hide there. It had found any excuse to avoid really thinking about her role in all this.

Trowa?s hand on her shoulder made her jump, ?Even if Heero saw that night the same way you do, he?d never blame you. You know that,? his tone was encouraging, longer fingers squeezing her narrow shoulder.

?So much of this could be avoided,? she said blue eyes returning to the surgery below in time to see Sally glance up, offering a reassuring nod. ?I?ve doubted him Trowa?? she whispered another deeply held secret now out in the open.

?Because of me?? he asked no accusation or disapproval in his voice.

She nodded slowly, ?Partly, but I kept asking myself, if he really loves me, why won?t he let me help him. He?s helped me so much, and no one denies that if roles were reversed Heero would be the first one in line to give me his kidney.?

He sighed a hint of an understanding smile touching his face, ?You?re right.?

?Then why?? she demanded trying hard to keep the heat from her voice, ?Why would you agree to let him risk death??

Trowa stepped away resting on hand heavily against the glass as he turned his gaze down to Heero, ?I don?t think I can give you any answer to that.? He paused, emerald eye briefly glancing at her, ?Not one that will make you happy.?

?I?m not looking for happiness,? she threw back letting a little of her frustration seep into her voice. ?Just an answer, I?m not above any of you. I?m no nobler than anyone; I was thrust into this position, so how does that make me more special than you??

The former pilot sighed and Relena turned back to the window a shaking hand pulling through her hair. ?The fact that you?re a soldier doesn?t change anything about you. I fought too.?

?Call it a tightly held conviction,? Trowa said finally, she could feel him watching her but refused to look over. ?How strongly do you believe in pacifism?? he asked.

?That?s hardly the same,? Relena began shaking her head.

?How is your total faith in a non-violent approach, different from Heero?s complete belief that you should live??

?I?m just one person!? she countered.

?The one person he couldn?t kill,? Trowa pointed out, ?You changed the way he saw the world, the war, everything. You taught a machine how to love; can you blame him for not wanting to risk that??

Relena shook her head stubbornly, ?It?s all just excuses??

?I told you, you wouldn?t be happy with my answer,? Trowa replied.

?But all of this runs under the assumption that I would die on the operating table,? she countered one last time.

?Relena whether you want to admit it or not, it does happen.?

?My body, my choice to make,? she muttered.

Trowa turned to look at her again, ?It?s just the same for him.?

Relena leaned heavily against the edge of the window a long tired sigh escaping her, ?So ultimately what you?re saying is. This is just an endless cycle,? none of them could win this discussion. The only thing that mattered now was Heero?s health, he wasn?t going to die, and that would have to be enough.

***

Heero?s entire body felt heavy as he woke a soft groan escaping his lips. He didn?t bother trying to hide the fact that he was awake; the presence of a doctor standing over him meant there was no point.

?Coming around already?? Sally?s voice asked though she didn?t sound the least bit surprised.

Forcing heavy eyes to open Heero waited for his blurry vision to come into focus not recognizing the room, ?Where?? he muttered voice dry.

?Recovery,? Sally said, adjusting her stethoscope into her ears, ?You came through the surgery well.? She leaned over the bed, ?Are you in any pain??

Heero shook his head and watched as she checked his vitals before folding back the sheets so she could check the surgical incision. ?When can I leave?? he?d spent far too long in the hospital already.

?Recovery? Or the hospital?? she returned draping the sheets back over him.

?Both.?

Sally straightened resting her left hand on the rail of the bed, ?I?ll move you back to your room in a few minutes. So long as your body doesn?t reject the new kidney you should bounce back as fast as always.?

?A non answer,? he muttered tiredly.

?Well you don?t need to rush this Heero,? Sally contended but it sounded to Heero like she didn?t entirely believe herself.

?I need to get back to work,? he stressed working to raise a hand to his face. Heero took a moment to massage at his eyes, which felt liked they wanted to stick shut.

?Pace yourself Heero,? she warned, ?It?s not going to happen overnight, and it might not happen at all.?

He looked at her sharply.

?Heero, if you were any other agent you?d have already been permanently removed from active duty.? Sally sighed resting her hands on the rail of the bed before drawing in a breath, ?Perventers doesn?t allow agents to continue active duty if they?ve donated an organ or received one.?

?They also don?t accept sixteen year-old applicants,? Heero countered dryly.

Sally raised her hands, ?All I?m saying is, as your doctor you have to take it easy.? A knock on the door drew Sally?s attention, and she stepped away from the bed. ?And if you need that to be an order, it is,? she tossed back over her shoulder before speaking to the nurse.

Heero repressed a sigh looking down at himself, he?d been laid up in bed for too long already. There was no way he was going to spend any longer than he absolutely had too here. ?Better to listen,? Trowa?s voice said from the doorway, and Heero looked over to see his friend leaning against the door frame, Relena was standing in front of him. ?She?ll end up cuffing you to the bed.?

?It?ll take more than that,? he replied, eyes studying Relena?s face; her expression was particularly hard to read.

?I wouldn?t give her any ideas,? Trowa straightened from the frame nodding his head once before making his way back down the hall.

The silence in the room felt tight to Heero, and he stretched out a hand towards Relena, ?What time is it?? he asked when she took his hand.

?Early,? she replied resting a hand briefly on his forehead before running her fingers through his hair. ?You should get some rest.?

Heero looked closely at her face, ?What?s the matter??

Relena shook her head, a wan smile ghosting across her lips, ?It can wait.?

?You?d rather not,? he stated forcing his heavy lids to open a little wider.

?No,? she admitted with a smile, ?But you look exhausted.? Relena?s fingers light brushed down the side of his neck before coming to rest on his shoulder. ?Don?t fight it Heero, let yourself rest.?

He sighed in frustration, ?I?ve rested long enough,? he wanted the words to come off firm, but his voice was fast loosing strength as he fought against the growing fatigue.

?Just a little longer,? was the last thing Heero remembered hearing.

***

Heero woke back in his hospital room, alone with no idea how long he?d been out. He felt far more alert, and quickly pushed himself up into a sitting position. The movement causes some discomfort in his abdomen, but nothing was going to keep him in the bed a moment longer. It took Heero a couple of minutes to unhook himself from the various machines. He was just about to remove the IV when the door to his room opened.

?Don?t even think about it,? Sally warned sternly, and Heero stared at her with a raised eyebrow. ?You?re on anti-rejection meds.?

?I know there?s a pill form,? he told her flatly.

Sally nodded, ?And I?ll start you on them tomorrow, until then the IV stays.?

He couldn?t really argue with that, ?How long was I out?? he asked swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.

?Over twenty-four hours,? she informed crossing the room so she was standing in front of him. ?You?re looking a lot better, how do you feet?? Sally?s hand reached for his forehead, before moving to his wrist.

?Fine.?

?Any pain or discomfort?? she continued letting his generic answer slide, but she was staring at him directly in the eyes like she was ready to see past any lie he might offer.

Heero sighed, ?Some,? he said honestly, ?But you knew that already.?

?Just wanted to see if you?d own up to it,? she smiled, placing a small kit she?d carried in with her on the bed beside him. ?I?m going to draw some blood, test that new kidney make sure it?s working.?

Without needing to be asked Heero offered his arm, letting Sally wrap the rubber tourniquet around his bicep. ?I know you?re eager to get back on your feet,? Sally said as she worked, ?But I want you to take it easy.? She looked at him sternly, ?Doctor?s orders.?

Heero barely managed to repress a sigh, ?How long??

?Hard to say,? she commented pressing a cotton ball to the inside of Heero?s elbow, before raising his arm. ?You?re already doing better than most in your situation. It?s possible I could sign your release at the end of the week,? Sally?s attention was on the vials of blood she?d drawn, and marked them with pen.

-Or I could just leave- Heero thought, it certainly wouldn?t be the first time and he definitely didn?t like the idea of staying around to be poked and prodded for an entire week.

?And I wouldn?t suggest trying to leave either,? Sally said as though she were reading his mind. ?Trowa would hunt you down and bring you right back.?

?When did you get him on your pay role?? he asked incredulously.

?Oh right around the time you nearly died.?

Heero shook his head, ?Where?s Relena?? he asked to change the subject.

?She was in a meeting,? Sally said glancing down at her watch, ?But she should be here any minute.? Her expression became serious, ?Now can I trust you to stay in this room, and get some rest??

?I don?t know,? he commented with a shrug, ?Trusting me is your issue, not mine.?

?More like both,? she conceded gathering up her kit, ?Are you hungry at all??

He thought about that for a moment, it had been a while since he?d felt like eating, ?Only if it?s not pure liquid.?

?That can be arranged,? she smiled before making her way out of the room.

Heero released a pent up sigh once she was gone, head dropping cobalt eyes staring holes into his hands. What was he supposed to do for the rest of the week, rubbing at his eyes Heero glanced around the room searching for something he could distract himself with. The door opened again, and Heero found his answer as Relena stepped into the room.

There was a smile on her face, but Heero could still see something in her eyes, there was something on her mind. ?You?re looking better,? she said coming to within a foot of him.

?What did you want to talk about?? he asked shifting on the bed so Relena could take a seat next to him.

Relena didn?t move from where she stood, but looked at him in a considering way tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. ?How do you see me?? she asked eyes dropping.

Heero wasn?t sure what to make of the question, his first silent response was ?You?re the job- but he knew it was more than that, far more. But knowing that didn?t give Heero any better idea of how to answer her question. And he somehow knew the longer he waited the worse this was going to get.

?Do you see me as the woman you love?? she spoke up finally jewel blue eyes returning to his. ?Or am I just a symbol to you that needs protecting??

?What brought this on?? he returned.

Relena scoffed with a shake of her head, ?This did,? she said gesturing around the room, before pointing at the bandaged on Heero?s abdomen.

?Because I refused to accept your kidney?? he asked pulling his right leg up under him.

She nodded; folding her arms beneath her breast, ?I was speaking to Trowa during your surgery?? she trailed off for a moment looking away.

Heero could only imagine what that conversation had been like, he felt sure that whatever points Trowa had made, had been on his side.

?I need to know if you love me,? she stated bluntly.

Still not sure he even understood the emotion; it wasn?t something he?d been taught Heero searched for the words to respond, ?I?d give my life for you.? He had been willing to give his life for the war, but this felt distinctly different.

?But is that because you love me? Or believe I need to be here for the peace?? she pressed clearly searching for something specific.

Heero stared at her confused, could they not be one in the same? She had brought the peace not only to the ESUN but also to him; she had shown him a different life. And he admired her for that, was that love? Under her definition? ?You aren?t the peace,? he began finally, and watched a light flicker in her eyes. ?I just want to protect you,? Heero said though the words sounded awkward to his ears.

?Then why am I not allowed to do the same for you?? she demanded. ?And don?t tell me you?re not worth the risk! Because I love you, I?d do anything for you!?

Heero reached out, and took hold of Relena?s shoulders and pulled her too him, wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug. ?I can?t lose you,? he whispered selfishly.

Thanks for Reading

Morganeth Taren?drel

[Fate Lowe]

That was a perfect ending! Great job! Keep up the good work. I can't wait to read more from you in the future!

[Morganeth]

Thank you so much!! So happy you liked it! I was really concerned there for a while. I got to the last sentence there, and wasn't really sure it was an ending, but my mind had shut the story down like it usually does for endings ^_~

Thanks again!

[Ice_Vixen]

So Sweet! I've said it a million times now, but a job well done on keeping them in character. It's hard to do sweet heero/relena moments without making them too extreme one way or the other, but you did it! Great job. I really enjoyed this fic! two thumbs up!

[Morganeth]

thank you so much! I've found in recent years that I'm not such a big fan of writing Heero/Relena moments for exactly that reason, but despite my best efforts they just keep appearing in my stories ^_^

so glad you liked this story it's the first multi-chapter fic I've finished in a long time, and I wasn't so sure how the ending would stand up.

thanks again for the review!