Love's Labours Lost Chapter 14

[blackrose]

<center>Love's Labours Lost</center>

AN: We're coming really close to finishing this off.? Stella sent me what she thought was next, and then I ended up writing this chapter from scratch.? So, once I round out what she sent, there will be a chapter 15.? I already wrote the epilogue a while back, so that should just need some fine-tuning and we're done.?

Thanks so much for reading, and for all your support and patience.? Much love, Rose

<b>Chapter 14</b>

<i> There couldn't be a group of men less suited to live together than the GLLC partners, unless it was a group of cannibals. The combination of four, widely different personalities, plus a near-impossible deadline, plus the requisite lack of sleep required to make the near-impossible deadline even remotely possible, was fatal at best. The only thing I think the PCC executives were hoping for was a miracle.</i>

If there was a God-awful time of day to be up and still trying to think? Vash was already past it. He didn't think even toothpicks would keep his eyelids open, but at this hour, he was willing to try jamming the pointed sticks in his eyes.

"You still awake, boss?"

"Hn." The brown-haired lump across the room emitted a grunt and might have moved.

"Yes?" Vash blinked several times and tried to make his eyes focus. On the other side of the living room, Heero sat hunched over in front of his computer monitor. The four friends had cleared space by trading the couch for the kitchen table; they then moved Heero's computer equipment out of his closet and to the table. The Epyon server was due for delivery in the morning. Correction, in a few short hours.

"Hn."

Vash rubbed his eyes. Heero tapped a few keys, and seemed to glow with a greenish light. "Man. I don't know how you're still upright."

The software mogul turned around in his chair. Vash could see the dark circles starting to form under his friend's eyes. "Why don't you go to bed?"

"I think I have to. You're glowing."

Heero turned back towards the monitor. "Hn."

"No, I mean it. You shouldn't be glowing. You're green." He blinked and tried to open his eyes wider. His head felt fuzzy and he couldn't manage to stay fully awake for more than a few seconds at a time.

"Go to bed, Vash. I can't have you designing anything in this shape."

Vash stood, and stumbled forward. He caught himself on the end of the couch. "It moved. It's trying to trip me."

"Good night, Vash." Heero's voice sounded gruff, and echoed inside the tester's head.

It took every ounce of strength to fully open his eyes. "Good night, boss."

The world went black.

<b>3 hours later?</b>

He was cold. The bed beneath him was hard and equally as icy. Something wet touched his face. Vash wrinkled his nose and willed it to go away. Somewhere in the fog, a voice called his name.

"Vash."

The lanky tester brought one arm up to cradle his head. His arm, for some reason, was softer than his pillow. His hand touched something cold and slimy. He moved it, but it just seemed to smear. "Go?way."

"Vash. Get up."

He frowned. The voice was annoying. Vash wanted to sleep. But why was his hand wet? And why was the bed so hard? The tester moved to get more comfortable, but everything ached when he tried to stretch. He groaned.

"Vash. I'm warning you. You're between me and the coffee pot. You have until the count of three, and then I'm not responsible for what I do to you. One?two?"

"How am I keeping you from your coffee?" Vash moved his wet hand through a puddle of drool on the floor as he peeled open his eyes. "Where the hell?"

"Three. That's it, I'm stepping on you."

"What-- Where am I?"

"Vash! Get the hell off the floor so I can make some damn coffee!"

Vash shot up to his feet. And almost fell back down. Every inch of his body screamed when he tried to stand up straight. The tester doubled over and placed both hands on his knees. Van shoved passed him and set about brewing coffee.

"Why was I sleeping on the floor?" Vash saw the tile swim before his eyes and tried to steady himself.

"I was going to ask you the same question."

"But?I don't even remember?" He straightened up and heard his spine pop as his muscles protested the movement. "Ugh. This is worse than a hangover."

"That's because you did a swan dive into the tile last night. I thought you were dead." Heero's voice spoke from his place still in front of the computer. The sound of keystrokes followed the statement as the man of steel continued to inhumanly plug away at the code revisions.

"I'm touched by your concern. Did you at least have a moment of silence for my passing?" Vash's neck throbbed when he tried to turn it. He grit his teeth and popped it back in line.

"No time." Tap tappity tap.

Van poured coffee into his over-sized mug. "Oh, we would have buried you after the launch. Don't worry."

Vash scowled. "And who would do the testing then?"

Heero tapped a few more times on the keyboard. "No one. I write perfect code."

"Yeah, and I never miss a defect." Vash snorted.

"I know that's not true." The software mogul shoved his chair away from the table and stood up. "When is the Epyon supposed to be here?" Heero strode towards the kitchen and the other two semi-upright men. As he approached, Vash could see the bags that had formed under his friend's red-rimmed eyes and the thick-looking stubble that peppered Heero's chin. His friend's clothes, the same ones he'd come home from class in, were wrinkled and the top two or three buttons of his now un-tucked shirt were undone. He'd unbuttoned and turned up the sleeves; his hair seemed messier than usual.

"Early this morning, I think. I'm sure Relena doesn't want to waste any more time than we already have."

At the mention of Relena's name, Vash could have sworn he saw all the muscles in Heero's face tighten. But he wasn't entirely sure it didn't have something to do with simple lack of sleep. Of course, world hunger could have been chalked up to lack of sleep right then. "She does still care about you." The software tester found that rubbing a hand over his face and head made him feel somewhat more coherent.

"Hn." Heero stepped around Vash and glared at the half empty coffee pot and then Van's bucket o' coffee in his hand. The GLLC president grabbed a regular-sized coffee mug off the counter and poured. "Do you think you can make a pot for the rest of us?"

"I can share. I'm sharing, see? You're having some."

Heero placed the pot back on the burner and shot Van a look. "Another pot. I'm going to need it after my shower."

Vash stopped rubbing his head. "You're not going to go get some rest, boss?"

"I figure by the time I'm out of the shower, the server will be here. It will need to be installed?"

"I can install it," the tester said.

Van finished taking another gulp of his coffee. "We can help, you know."

"Yeah. Van and Quatre can help. That way you can catch a nap and start fresh this afternoon."

"No. I'll handle it," Heero said and started to walk off in the direction of his bedroom. Vash watched him go and then turned to shoot a questioning look at Van.

The marketing VP just shrugged. "Not my problem."

Vash turned around. "You know, if you die making these code revisions, we'll have to answer to Relena."

Heero stopped in his tracks. "I won't die."

"The human body can only go seventy-two hours without sleep before the brain begins to shut down and demand rest."

Van came to stand beside him, still holding his personal coffee bowl. "Is that true?"

"No, but it sounded good, didn't it?"

Heero took another step towards his room. "I'm taking a shower."

"Boss, I know you don't think--"

He paused at the door, his hand on the knob. "It doesn't matter. I did what I did and there's no going back." He disappeared into his room and slammed the door behind him.

Van took another sip from the bottomless mug. "How long do you think he's going to make it before he crashes?"

Vash shook his head and stared at the closed door. It was just like his friend: cold, stubborn, strong? "I'm wondering how long it'll be before he can forgive himself."

***************************
<i> Emotions were running high from the beginning. The GLLC partners had already seen their life-long friendship strained over varying business and personal issues alike. The company performance, not surprisingly, had begun to suffer. Though it culminated in the widely-publicized Weiss Kreuz hacking protest against the software giant.

Their personal issues, however, were largely kept out of the press, but it didn't erase the impact from their lives. The strain and stress were all too evident to anyone who spent more than a few minutes in their combined presence.

Could these four men pull things together long enough to save PCC's most important release in their history? And was there any chance that they could bury the hatchet and rediscover their friendship?</i>

The warm water was soothing. Too soothing. It was lulling Heero to sleep standing up in the shower.

<i> Damn, I'm tired. I should just make Vash install the server.</i>

He turned around and let the water run down the length of his back. His half-asleep blood cells decided to move a bit to humor him.

<i>"You are just like every other man I?ve ever met. And I can honestly say I never want to see you again."</i>

Heero groaned and tried to block out the image of her angry face, her tears? On top of everything else, her brother's illness, her company's financial situation, he had not done one thing to help her. He'd only made her life more difficult.

Heero lathered up his wash cloth and began to bathe.

<i>I've been selfish, but? This whole situation makes no sense. </i>

The GLLC president leaned back into the spray and wet his hair. Soap bubbles scattered as the water flooded the skin on his chest. Had he not already rinsed off?

<i>Everything's out-of-control. I don't even know what I'm doing.</i>

He cupped his hands and splashed his face with water. His eyelids felt like they had weights tied to each individual lash when he tried to open them again. Water ran into the corners of his eyes, but nothing could possibly make them feel worse than they did.

He heard Quatre's voice in his head: <i>"She needs you?"</i>

Cold air assaulted his skin and Heero shivered. He glanced around and realized he must have turned off the water and started to get out. Yuy grabbed for a towel on the nearby rack.

<i> If I get these revisions done, there's a chance she won't hate me.</i>

He wiped the towel over his face; the rough terry cloth felt good against his cheek. <i>But then what? The others have found their answer, but?</i>

Heero finished drying off and then wrapped the towel around his waist. He glanced in the mirror at his tired-looking reflection. Bloodshot eyes stared back. He looked?Older than he'd ever felt in his life.

<i>I don't believe that the answer is that simple. I care what she thinks of me. I care when she's hurting, but I?</i>

He shook his head and exited the bathroom. His body felt like it was weighted down with lead every time he took a step. He had to sit and rest when he got to the bed. <i>I care about her. I know that. I can't explain it, but I do.</i>

Heero propped his arms up on his knees and bent forward; he held his head in his hands and closed his eyes to block out the harsh, overhead light.

<i> College isn't the answer. But I don't know that taking Relena to bed, marrying her, or just?</i>

He tightened his fingers and grabbed his hair.

<i> I just don't believe that's what's missing. </i>


*****************************************
<i> The project got off to a rocky start. Never mind the crazy hours the partners worked during day one, the server arrived the morning of day two, and already? Heero Yuy, GLLC's president and programmer for the project, was missing!</i>

<b>An hour later?</b>

Vash watched Van stir creamer into a fresh serving (or ten) of coffee. The marketing executive stared down at the mug, as if expecting the caffeinated liquid to magically impart some wisdom from the glass. Or energy.

The tester turned his focus back to the morning paper. He hadn't managed to read a single story that he could remember. He glanced at his watch and sighed. "What do you think happened to him?" He looked up at Van again and folded the paper down to his lap. The kitchen had turned a dingy yellow color, and the edges of objects pulsed with a strange glow. He rubbed his eyes and couldn't stifle a yawn.

"I heard the shower turn off forty minutes ago. I thought he'd be out here by now," the coffee monster replied. "I can't believe he was up all night."

"I can't believe you need to drink more of that stuff."

"It puts me in a better mood." Van hefted the mug to his lips and took a healthy drink.

"Who stayed up all night?" Quatre shuffled into the room, wearing a pair of yellow flannel pajamas; his mouth opened wide in a yawn and he rubbed his eyes. He looked like a kid coming to breakfast on a school day.

"Boss. He worked on the code revisions all night."

Quatre smiled. His eyes weren't completely open, so he looked a little sheepish. "Of course he did. He has to prove himself to Relena."

"Prove--? What does he have to prove? Other than maybe he's not the total uncaring asshole he seems to be," Van said and then took another sip.

<i> So much for it putting him in a better mood.</i>

The accountant poured coffee into a mug and sat down on the kitchen couch. "He doesn't have anything to prove. He feels like he does. He feels like he has to make all this up to her."

The tester felt his eyelids grow heavy. He shook his head to try to clear it. "Ah. But wait, which part?" Vash put the paper down and crossed the room to get his own infusion of caffeine.

Quatre took a sip of his coffee and made a wry face. "Knowing Heero, he has to make everything that went wrong in her entire life up to her."

"Is that why he's insisting on doing all the work himself?" Vash eyed the last bit of coffee, then looked over at Van.

Van took another sip from his bucket. He stirred it for a second, then glanced back at the pot. His hand slid along the countertop towards the handle as his eyes darted about the room. He stopped and retracted his hand when he met Vash's gaze. The tester narrowed his eyes and shook his head slowly from side to side. Van stared back.

Quatre started to respond: "Yes, well, Vash, you've--"
Before the marketing VP could react, Vash sprung for the pot and emptied it into the last clean mug on the countertop.

"Son of a--" Van made a swipe for the pot of coffee, but was way too late.

"A ha!" The tester swung around and cradled his trophy against his body.

"Dammit, Vash! That was the last cup." Van grabbed for Vash's shoulder. The tester shrugged out of his friend's grip and took a giant step to put safe distance between them.

"You already drank the entire pot. You don't need this last little bit." Vash held the mug up to his lips and tilted his head back. He drained the entire cup.

Van let out a long breath and moved to the pantry to pull out the industrial-sized can of coffee.

"I could really go for another serving, too, Van," Quatre said and smiled at his friend.

Van's shoulders slumped. "Great."

"Anyway, to answer your question, Vash. Yes. But you should know that. You've known him as long as I have."

"He thinks he's superhuman."

Vash thought he heard Van swear under his breath.

"Sometimes, just thinking it, is enough to accomplish more than most people are capable of." Quatre put his mug of coffee down on the cushion next to him and leaned forward; he rested his elbow on his leg and propped one hand under his chin.

"If he doesn't let us help, he's not going to get it done," Vash sat down next to him on the kitchen's new couch.

"He'll die trying," Van said. The marketing VP was once again standing over the coffee pot - arranging the filter in the container.

"That's what I'm afraid of."

"Where is he now?" Quatre glanced over at the door to the software mogul's room.

"In his room. He just--" A loud snore cut off the rest of Vash's sentence. And practically shook the walls of the apartment. The tester let out a breath and assumed a similar position to Quatre's. "Guess he's asleep."

"That or a giant ape with sinus problems scaled the building and snuck into his room." Van scooped coffee grinds into the filter and filled the pot with water.

Vash looked at his friend. "You sniffing that stuff?"

"We're in New York. Maybe he got lost trying to find the Empire State Building." The marketing VP closed the lid and hit the 'Brew' button. Dark liquid began to pour into the pot.

"Uh-huh." Vash turned back towards the other remaining sane occupant. "If the server would get here, we could go ahead--"

KNOCK KNOCK!

Van shot across the room to the door. Quatre ran into him on the way. Vash snickered at his two friends as they wrestled each other to open the door.

Hitomi and Dorothy stood in the hallway with a rack mount server as tall as Hitomi. It was beautiful, with lights and buttons, and plenty of space for--

"Special delivery," Hitomi said and grinned up at Van.

"Do I have to sign for it?" He leaned down and stole a kiss.

"Hmph. It's a good thing we delivered it ourselves. I'd hate to imagine what you'd do if we'd sent it UPS," Dorothy said with her trademark smirk. "I know you technology guys love electronics, but there's something about the thought of you French-kissing the UPS man that just seems? tres nouveau."

Van rolled his eyes. "Hello to you, too, Dorothy."

"PCC girls!" Vash called out and pushed both Van and Quatre aside to snag the girls into a huge bear hug.

"Vash!" Quatre tugged on his shoulder. "Can't I greet my?my?uh Dorothy before you maul her?"

The tester let go of the two young women and stepped aside while they greeted and re-greeted their respective partners. Vash grinned at the picture the two happy couples made. He turned to begin maneuvering the rack-mount into the apartment ? he could imagine the sound it would make once it was finished being assembled and--

Out of the corner of his eye, Vash saw Van's hand move up to grasp the door. The marketing VP's other arm was still wrapped tightly around Hitomi, and the two had not yet come up for air.

The tester started for the door. "Wait. Van. I--" The front door slammed shut in his face. Vash grabbed the knob. It wouldn't twist.

"Van! Let me in! Guys, come on?. There's still that giant rat out here. He could eat me, and the server. And then how will you test? Quatre!" He pounded on the metal panel.

"You can't leave me alone out here!" Vash plunked down on the ground with his back to the door.

"Awwww, man. At least I can catch a few z's, until someone decides we need to get some work done on the server." He leaned his head back. "Why do I get the feeling I'll have to wait for Heero to wake up before that happens?"

The door swung open, dumping the tester flat on his back. His head smacked the tile, and everything shifted out of focus. He blinked and his vision cleared again.

Van stood over him. "Vash, stop lying around, we have work to do!" The marketing VP stepped over his friend's fallen form and went around to the other side of the server to push. "Get out of the way."

"You know, you're starting to sound like a broken record." Vash rose to a sitting position. His vision still swam a bit and he could feel a steady pounding settle in the back of his head like someone was using it for a drum.

"I'll run over you if I have to."

The tester brought both legs up and rested his elbows on his kneecaps. "You know, if it was Heero pushing that thing, I'd almost believe you."
*****************************************
A vague buzzing noise filtered into Heero's ear. His arm came up to lift the layers of fog draped over his head, and he groaned. Yuy swatted at the sound, but it grew louder. If he had to open his eyes, someone was going to die.

The buzzing stopped. Heero sighed and relaxed back into the intoxicating comfort of his bed.

<i> Public Sub FindText(objDataControl As Control, sFieldName As String)</i>

He tried to obliterate the lines of code in his head. He wanted to sleep.

<i>No more code.</i>

Heero pulled the pillow over his head.

<i> "Thank you, Heero, for everything you've done." Relena's kind eyes smiled up at him. She was wearing a short, satin nightie?at her office?

She moved closer. "I'd like to thank you more personally?"

She was so close. He could feel the heat of her breath against his chin. Could see the individual lashes brush against her cheekbones. So, incredibly close. He bent down and let his lips?</i>
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Heero shot upright in the bed.

"Vash! I told you to get out of the damned way!" Van's voice didn't filter through the door. It plowed into the room like a bullhorn. Heero grit his teeth.

"You ran over me!" Vash whined. "I can't believe you'd run over your friend with a rackmount! That's?that's assault?"

Heero dug his fingers into the sheets of the bed. He felt his heart begin to pound and his breathing quickened.

"With what? A server? Can you be booked for that downtown? Mr. Fanel, you're under arrest. For assault with a deadly server. Your fine is five dollars and having to put up with Vash's earsplitting scream!"

"Van, calm down. You didn't have to hurt him." Quatre sounded far too calm and reasonable.

"Yeah. You didn't have to hurt me."

Heero felt his blood pressure shoot through the roof. How long had he been asleep? A half hour? He stood up from the bed, stomped across the room, and threw open the door.

Five pairs of eyes turned to stare at him.

"What. Is. The. Matter. With. You?" Everything in the room was sharp, defined; he heaved for breath like he had just finished a race.

"Ummm?boss?" Vash's voice squeaked.

"I have had a half hour of sleep in forty hours--"

"Ummm, boss?" Vash interrupted him again. Red flames danced in front of his eyes and his right hand clenched into a fist.

"Do not. Say. Another word." He glared at the tester and each of his partners in turn. There seemed to be a few more of them for some reason. "Set up the damned server or get the fuck out of the apartment and don't come back."

"My my," a female voice cut through the sound of blood pounding through his ears.

"I know we were hoping for a closer relationship with GLLC. But I don't think seeing the president in nothing but a towel was at the top of my list." Dorothy grinned like the cat that had just swallowed the canary.

"Nice legs."

Heero glanced down at where he was still only wearing a towel slung around his hips. He crossed his arms across his chest. "Why are you here?"

Quatre spoke first. "Dorothy and Hitomi just delivered the Epyon server."

"We had no idea we would be intruding on your personal time. Perhaps we should come back la?"

Heero turned around, went back into his room, and slammed the door shut behind him.

The laughter that sounded from the other side of the door didn't do anything to soothe his nerves.

<i>When this is over? So is our friendship.</i>
****************************************
<i>Day six: To the outside eye, it looked like organized chaos. The makeshift lab was strewn with pizza boxes and cardboard containers half-filled with leftover Chinese take-out. Cans of caffeinated colas littered the floor, in a colorful array of what could have been a testament to pop culture or a prime bachelorhood disaster.

But to an insider, they were a well-oiled machine. Okay, maybe not quite a well-oiled machine. More like four men in a potato sack trying to win a potato sack race.

By the end of the week, one man stood alone, a pillar of strength ? if a seriously annoyed one ? working as close to around the clock as one human couldn't possibly manage?</i>

Code floated off the monitor and into the air. It was still there when Heero closed his eyes. Something just wasn't working. And he knew what it was, but he couldn't find it.

He rubbed a hand over his face and reached for the mug next to his left hand. The mouthful of coffee was ice cold. He swallowed it, anyway.

"You should go to bed, Heero." The reporter's voice drifted into the room from the kitchen. "I know you probably don't want to hear?"

"I'm fine."

He heard footsteps as Meryl came closer. "I know she wouldn't want you doing this to yourself. There's only so much a person can do."

<i>Now she even sounds like Vash.</i> "I'm close. There's something here that I'm missing. I'll figure it out."

The footsteps stopped and without looking up, he felt her presence behind his chair. He could see her reflection in the monitor. "If you got some rest?"

"No." He sat forward in his seat.

"Okay, okay." Her mirror threw her hands up in the air and turned around. She walked away, and Heero felt his shoulders relax. He went back to trying to concentrate on debugging the problem.

"You know?she comes back from Seattle tomorrow."

He closed his eyes. An image of her somehow replaced the code that otherwise wouldn't leave his mind. "I know."

<i>?You?re just too damn stubborn for your own good, you know that??

I know?</i>

"I can do a little snooping and find out when she arrives. If you wanted to see her."

His eyes snapped open. "Don't waste your time." He willed his eyes to focus on the screen and what was right in front of him.

"Heero?"

Green lines made shapes, number, letters. The lines of code had long since stopped making sense. He rubbed his eyes and scrolled to the top of his window again. <i>Why doesn't this work?</i>

"Why are you doing this?" Meryl's voice had an iron edge to it that made him grit his teeth.

"What?" He felt the muscles in his neck tighten and he wished for not the first time that he was better at blocking her words, and those of her?boyfriend, out of his head.

"Why are you making these code changes?"

Heero let out a long breath. "The new database program operates on our Gundanium framework?"

"That's not what I meant." Her voice, which had been mostly low and gentle, changed to something loud and sharp.

"I didn't mean why are the code changes necessary. I meant, why did you change your mind and decide to make them?"

"My?" he ground his teeth before forming the word, "partners signed a contract with PCC?"

"But you didn't have to sign it." She was moving towards him again, her voice growing closer and more shrill. "Or you could have assigned the work to someone else. Why are YOU doing this?"

"Because it's my responsibility?"

"Bullshit. Stop making up excuses."

Heero frowned. The program on the screen started to take shape again. "Is this one of your interview techniques? Because I don?t have time?"

"You're going to make time to hear what I have to say. Cut the bullshit, this isn't about bottom lines or fiscal responsibility. This is about people, and it's about time you could admit that."

Heero's left hand gripped the edge of the table in front of him.

"There's a reason you have gone seven days with barely seven hours of sleep. And it's not because you want to make Weiss richer or line PCCs pockets with money. If you wanted to bail Relena's company out, you could have given her a loan."

The knuckles of his hand turned white. "Meryl, you're Vash's girlfriend, so I'm tolerating?"

"Why is it so hard for you to admit it?" Her fist came down on the back of his chair. He narrowed his eyes at her reflection in the screen.

"Admit. What?" Something, some emotion rose from the pit of nothing he thought was the only thing left inside. Something moved amidst the emptiness and raced like venom through his veins. He stood up to his full height and turned around to glare down at the reporter.

"What do you want me to admit? Admit that she gets to me?" He took a step forward. Meryl stood her ground.

"Admit that for just once in my life I want to do something right? Not the correct thing or the expected thing but the right thing." He advanced another step. "Admit that from the moment I met her, she challenged me and made me want to be a better person ? so that she wouldn't see me the way the rest of the world does?"

"You're not?" Her voice was strangely quiet.

"I'm doing this, Ms. Stryfe, because it's the only thing I can do. It's the only thing I know how to do."

She put a hand on his arm. "You're doing this for her."

Heero turned away.

"Not the money, not for her company, but for her. And for how you feel about her."

Heero clenched both hands into fists and his shoulders tensed. "I still have work to do."

"You should tell her, you know." Meryl's voice seemed far away.

He sat back down in his chair and focused on the debug program. "Like I said. I have work to do."
****************************************
<i> Day nine: The final countdown was in full swing. The GLLC partners had to complete the code changes and test the new code on the Epyon server, then deliver it to Weiss at least forty-eight hours prior to PCC's launch. That left Mr. Yuy and Mr. Vash with precisely sixty hours to finish programming the new function calls, complete the test design, and run the test suite.

The catch: the test design would take an estimated sixteen hours to complete, once Yuy finished the code. If the developer's work was perfect the first time, then the GLLC president had forty-four hours to complete his part of the design (with no time for sleep).

If even one error was found, then another complete set of tests would be required. The longer it took for Yuy to finish, the less time there would be to fix any mistakes.</i>

Vash found it strangely comfortable to lay on the floor with his feet up on the couch. He stared straight ahead at the ceiling. <i>Maybe Heero's code would make more sense upside down?</i>

He rolled his head to the side to try and peer right-side-upish at the software mogul. "Where are Van and Quatre? Oh, that's right, you ran them out of the apartment."

The immovable rock grunted. "Hn."

Vash lay back down on the floor. "Maybe you need another pair of eyes?"

"Maybe you need another hole in your head."

"Yikes. Maybe not."

A weird silence settled over the room. It was never empty anymore, but rather pregnant with a frazzled sort of hostility. And it was enough to drive someone crazy- if the lot of them hadn't already passed the "crazy" mark on day six.

"You need a break." I wonder how many cracks we do have in the ceiling. <i>One?two? </i>His eyelids grew heavy. <i> ?seventeen?</i>
"So do you."

Heero's voice brought him back to consciousness. He blinked and tried to remember what he had said. You need a break. Vash scowled. "I don't mean one in my arm."

"Your mouth has been running for twelve days, Vash. Shut the hell up."

The ceiling disappeared into a grey haze. His friend had already insulted Quatre, yelled at Van, ridiculed Hitomi, and slammed the door in Dorothy's face. At this point, Vash wouldn't be surprised if Heero had found a way to hang up on Mother Theresa. "You can't treat people like this. I know you're tired, but--"

"I'm not listening to you."

"Boss, I haven't been getting a lot of sleep either, but you don't see me?"

"Shut. Up. Or I'm going to shut you up."

"Why don't you be a man and get up from that chair, then?"

"I don't have time. I have to fix this last problem you found so I can deliver the code in the morning. If you're going to be?"

"If I'm going to be what? Stubborn like you?"

"Vash?." His friend's voice held more than a hint of warning. It had been given a full helping with a side of sarcasm.

"Come on, tough guy."

"I do need a break." Heero stood up from his chair. He rolled his shoulders and leveled a glare at his friend. "Maybe beating in your skull will shed some light on this problem."

Vash rose to his full height, which was a good four inches taller than Heero. He stared back. "Bring it."

<b>30 minutes later?</b>

Heero's fingers flew over the keyboard at a hectic pace. Well, as hectic as was possible while balancing an ice pack on his head.

"Who knew that banging your head on the table would be so productive?" Vash said and kept a good distance away. He wasn't quite ready to die yet.

"Hn. Remind me to kill you later."

"You slipped! It wasn't my fault. Honest. Besides, I still have to test that crappy code you're writing." Vash took a giant step back.

Heero stopped typing and put the ice pack down on the desk. He turned and glared at his friend. A bruise was beginning to form over his right eyebrow, but it was mostly hidden by the mess of hair that fell over his forehead. "I won't kill you right away. You have to test this code, then I have to get some sleep, shower, shave, deliver the disk to Weiss, get some more sleep, and then I'll kill you."

"Wow. I feel much better, now."

Heero smirked and turned back to the computer to finish out-witting the code.
****************************************
<i>Day twelve: The two men worked all the way down to the wire. After an altercation jogged, none-too-gently, Mr. Yuy's memory a bit, he fixed the bug in the code, and was able to put together a new build for testing. Would it pass? Or would they have to go back to the drawing board? With only a few hours left? Did GLLC have a prayer of making it in time?</i>

Vash yawned and poured himself another serving of coffee. It was hours old, but he just wanted the caffeine. Testing Heero's code wouldn't take that long, now that he'd designed all the programs to complete the tests. It was just a matter of whether or not Vash could stay awake long enough to do it.

He gulped the lukewarm liquid from the Styrofoam cup and tried to shake himself awake. Even though he was still upright?or especially since he was still upright, Vash wanted to be certain he was alert. Ish. He couldn't afford another diving header into the floor.

He glanced over at the superior model of obstinacy, and saw Heero in a new position for once ? huddled over the computer table with his head on the surface.

"I don't think you're supposed to fall asleep, boss." Vash started towards his fallen comrade.

"I'm tired." The software mogul's voice rumbled when he spoke. "I'll do what I want."

"You hit your head. It's not safe for you to sleep right now." Vash shook his friend a bit, trying to get him to sit up.

Heero shoved him away. "Dammit Vash. Just do the testing."

The tester's jaw dropped. "You mean?"

"It's done. The cd is on the keyboard over there."

Vash tried to speak, but nothing came out. He looked over at the cd, calmly resting on top of the keyboard ? as if it had no idea how difficult it was just to bring its contents into existence. When programmers referred to code as their babies?

"Staring at it doesn't cut it."

The tester crossed his arms and frowned through blurry vision down at his friend.

"You have to promise to sit up."

Heero sat up straight in his chair and shot a look as sharp as a dagger at his friend.

"It's for your own good." Vash took a seat in front of the server and logged in. "Relena really would kill me?"

"She won't care."

The tester let his shoulders slump. "Boss?" He turned back around in his chair.

Heero sat, still upright, arms crossed, and staring at the table. "Just run your little tests. I don't want to talk about it."

Vash set the configurations on the server. He caught Heero's head nodding forward out of the corner of his eye. "BOSS!"

"Vash?" The software mogul's head snapped up.

"I know it's late, and you're tired." Vash keyed in the name of the file. "But I don't think you're supposed to sleep after a head injury."

"I can't die, I still have to murder you."

The tester stopped typing.

"Vash, I'm exhausted. Just let me sleep and you can deliver the code to Weiss in the morning if I'm dead."

Vash jumped to his feet. "No! You think you're superhuman, but you could really die, boss."

"I'm not going to die ? as long as I get some sleep." Heero lay his head back down on the desk.

"I mean it. I'm really worried about you."

"Don't."

"Heero, but?"

The GLLC president turned to face the other direction. "Leave me alone. I won't warn you again."

"Fine," Vash yelled down at his friend! "If you want to feel sorry for yourself, then you just?just go ahead."

He watched Heero get up and start to cross the room.

"But you're the one shutting us out. We care about you."

Yuy kept going.

"The only reason I came on this crazy adventure was because I care.
Not about money or cars or even a college degree," the tester continued. "I care about you, and Quatre, and Van."

Heero reached the short hall to his room.

"You're my family!" Vash's heart raced in his chest, and he had to blink back tears.

Heero remained still; his hand rested on the doorknob.

"And partnership or no partnership? We'll still be friends." Despite his efforts, drops fell from his eyes and dripped down his chin.

The GLLC president opened the door and let himself into his room.

"Right?"

Heero shut the door behind him.

Vash bowed his head. <i> Come on, Relena. Please? Take pity on him.</i>
***********************************
<i>Day thirteen: I'm happy to say that miracles do happen. And the carnage was mostly contained. No innocent bystanders were harmed in the making of this software. Heero Yuy delivered the object code to Weiss company headquarters right on schedule at 10:00 am. This is one reporter who would have loved to be a fly on the wall during that meeting of the minds.

But the question that I'm sure is on everyone's mind is why? Why would the stoic, immovable Heero Yuy go out of his way, working night and day, to make a former enemy's software work on Gundanium's platform? Considering the software giant has a reputation for being slow to adapt customer requests, and known for making demands on computer makers and software vendors alike (as well as telling those they don't like to figuratively 'take a hike') ? none of this adds up.

To get to the source, we asked one of the GLLC partners, and Mr. Yuy's lifelong friend, just what was up with the closed and somewhat reclusive billionaire. The response was more than a bit surprising, though not to those who know him best.

"It's simple, really," Vash said as a big, goofy grin crossed his face.

"For Heero, this was merely a labor of love." </i>

[RyanEX2000]

(Does little dance of joy)

TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH!!!!!!

Who knew readong about programming software could be so enjoyable.

[Crazygurl]

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My friend mailed me to tell me about the update, and my reaction was 'BOOYEAH!!! I'M OFF!!!'

OMG, i'm all hyped again. This is awesome... awesome... I feel tired for them. I mean, a whole week with only a few hours of sleep is... Wow, he must really love her, uh?

[deathroseaiko]

Great chapter. But I weas wondering when Missing a Mile's new chapter will be up, Rose.

I love this, business and love. Choosing two things in your life that you consider the most important and most valuable. This isn't the sadest story I've read, but it's one of the greats in my list.

[Adaon]

I had a thought after reading this, Rose I think this story was the first of your works I ever read. (and I won't bring up how long ago that was. )

I ALMOST feel sorry for Vash, at least once Heero gets plenty of sleep. But we all know what Heero was really mad at him for was waking him up.

So...

How long until the next chapter?

[silversong]

(does a dance) Huzzah!

Rose, I love this story. The suspense is great. I know that it will have a happy ending, eventually, but all the twists and turns as it's getting there are really great. Thank you!

~Silver

[Kaili Charmer]

OMG!! I love you Rose and Stella! This story is just so exciting! I could feel the pressure in this chapter, what with the countdown by Meryl's article and the battles for the coffee were priceless. The part where Vash is yelling his feelings about family while heero goes to bed made my eyes water. Gosh, I love this story. Get the next part out soon!

[APerfectSoldier87]

mm, fic update taste like yum, mmhm

[Shinigamigrul]

Yayyy!!! ive been waiting for a LOOONG time for this and im GOOO glad you finally posted Rose..

This was actually the first story i read by you...when i first read it i thought it was great...and it still is great!

[melrose_stormhaven]

FINALLY, GEDDAMNIT!

*hugs Rose*

I love this!

Now...if you'll just update the other ones...