The Open Road (PG-13, R/NC-17 to come)
Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:37 pm
THE OPEN ROAD
Relena was in a good mood today. After three cups of her favorite coffee (someone had finally got it right) she was sitting comfortably in the private shuttle, neatly fastening her seatbelt and reclining into the plush seat. Outside her window the sky was clear and sunny, and the air was warm. San Francisco?s skyscrapers couldn?t be hidden by the leaves of distant trees being ruffled by the cool breeze. She would have liked to spend her vacation here, but convenience called that she should spend it closer to New York City, with Quatre at his Hampton home.
Tap?tap?tap.
Relena inwardly cringed. She tried to block out the familiar sound as she pushed herself farther into the upholstery.
Tap?taptaptaptaptaptap.
?Mackenzie,? Relena opened her eyes and turned to the petite woman beside her.
The diminutive woman dropped her pen accidentally, ?Oh, I?m sorry Miss Relena. I didn?t mean to disturb you?I?ve been trying so hard, but I just can?t seem to help the nervousness?? The brown haired, brown-eyed girl bit her lip, ?Would you mind if I held your hand during takeoff again??
Relena frowned slightly, ?Mackenzie, I thought you were over this. We had a flight four days ago and you were fine?It?s been nearly a month since your last bout of anxiety.?
?I know,? the other girl?s mousy brown hair showed itself to Relena as she looked into her lap, ?and I want to thank you for the opportunity you?ve given me,? Relena smiled as Mackenzie paused, a thinking look covering her features, ??but it?s just?? Relena?s personal secretary smiled ruefully and shook her head, ?I suppose I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.?
Laying a reassuring hand on Mackenzie?s forearm, Relena?s smile turned genuine. It had taken a while to find this one. When she didn?t have a good explanation for the third time she was sent to the hospital for exhaustion, her ?loving? brother insisted?no, demanded?that she get someone to help her manage her workload. In the end, despite her feverous protests, she had been forced to concede. Mackenzie was the fourth after three women (Milliardo has somehow lost all of the male applications) who were either too uptight, too slow or too disorganized. At first, Relena was annoyed and put off by this often forgetful, clumsy young woman (two years younger than herself, but she somehow made Relena always feel so old) but she soon came to adore and depend on her. Always moving made it hard to have a constant in her life, but for the past four months Relena hadn?t been lonely.
?Try and relax.?
Mackenzie finally seemed to absorb some of the warmth emanating from her dirty-blond-haired employer, and smiled reassuringly in return. As she came to fasten her seatbelt, Relena turned her head and allowed herself to get lost in her own thoughts. She began to wonder what the weather would be like on the place once called Long Island. She knew it would be humid and hot, but Quatre had mentioned sailing, which was something that couldn?t be experienced on the colonies?
?Oh!? The foreign minister?s reverie was broken by her assistant?s voice, and Relena turned to her.
?Happy Birthday.?
Relena smiled softly to her counterpart, trying to hide that she had forgotten.
Oh, goodness?Mackenzie was right. Twenty-three. At fifteen she definitely never would have thought that she would end up where she was then. It had been a shuttle just like this one..goodness, six years ago now? Suddenly she looked around. Every year now he had hoodwinked her, somehow sneaking by her to leave her six little teddy bears. He was probably down in the luggage right now, Relena mused, picking out her bag among the pile and placing the gift neatly in her suitcase. Or the small token could be waiting for her in her hotel room, and she would see only the glimpse of Heero the busboy, or the doorman. Maybe two years ago she would have been obsessing over seeing him days beforehand, but now it was just sort of a short-lived comfort. If he had actually cared, she would see him more than in passing once a year?Relena shook her head to clear her thoughts. What was she doing? Today was a good day! Relena settled back into her seat, having unconsciously tensed.
She looked over at Mackenzie, wondering if she had read her thoughts; if she knew she was thinking about him again. The smaller woman had her schedule book open and was busy concentrating on Relena?s next big weekend. Suddenly uncomfortable, Relena unbuckled her seatbelt, knowing that her thoughts were running with a mind of their own?Hamburgers?alligators?water parks?Deutschland?Heero. The war now over, she had no reason to know where he was. Not that I did before, Relena reminded herself, but now that she had no excuse it was sometimes frustrating. She could only hope that he was happy with whomever he had chosen. In one of her sporadic conversations with Duo she learned that he had graduated from college two years before...
And then Relena felt Mackenzie?s arm stiffen. There was a loud thump as the schedule book fell to the floor. She looked over at her assistant, about to chide her on being clumsy, but the sudden sight of her made Relena freeze.
The girl was staring straight ahead, eyes wide. Relena heard the noise.
There was a scuffle in the cockpit.
Voices were arguing?two of them, a muffling of material being strained. Relena felt herself tense up, feeling the smallest hairs on the back of her neck prickle.
The door burst open?loudly.
Trowa? He stood in the doorway, eyes wild, his chest heaving. What is Trowa doing here--?
Trowa lunged for the woman, grabbing her by the upper arm. Relena stifled a scream as the Gundam pilot ripped her out of her chair. What the--? Danger! Mackenzie! Relena whipped her head around to look to the other woman as she was nearly at the door, only glimpsing the woman fumbling furiously with her seatbelt, squirming desperately to follow Relena in her escape??Mackenzie!? Relena didn?t realize she screamed as Trowa grabbed her around her middle and jumped to the ground, sheltering her body as they rolled on the asphalt.
The shuttle exploded with fire.
Relena felt the blast from underneath the solid body. The heat overcame the air as debris fell around and over her savior.
NO! Relena didn?t hear herself scream, trying to thrust herself out of Trowa?s embrace. She didn?t care why he was here! She didn?t care what it meant that he was here! There was a woman aboard that ship who had no idea why she was dead! Mackenzie?s parents had died in the war?
She was pushing roughly against Trowa?s chest from where she was pinned to the asphalt beneath him, needing to get help?only stopping when Trowa?s hands gripped her shoulders roughly. He was shouting her name but she could not hear him. She could see the smoke starting to rise from the debris of the craft. She could see the flashing lights in the distance, where the breeze was ruffling the leaves of the trees?
??you all right!? he was yelling. Trowa?s features were contorted with unconcealed anxiety. She pushed him away with strength she didn?t know she possessed, standing and breaking into a run towards the ambulance and fire engine approaching.
?Relena!?
She wanted to rip off her high heels, knowing she wasn?t getting far?her thoughts were cut short as she tripped on the jagged pavement, pitching forward?to find two arms wrap around her, catch her, spin her around to face him.
?You cannot put yourself at risk!? Wild green eyes were ablaze. Relena involuntarily sucked in a sudden breath as her own eyes widened, and her world collapsed. What had just?happened? She cast her eyes away from his. Her mind was suddenly reeling. She felt her knees begin to shake uncontrollably as she struggled for air past the overwhelming lump blocking her throat.
When the older man pulled away, Relena did not move to run again. Trowa looked her over before pulling his small cell phone from his pocket and punching buttons.
?Give me Une.? There was a short pause, ?There is a situation involving Operation two-eight-nine.? He paused a moment to hear the other line and hung up the phone. He dialed another number.
?There is a problem.?
Relena didn?t understand what was happening. She watched in gruesome terror as the fire engine unloaded its hose, and the men aboard fought to control the flame. The ambulance was setting up their mobile ER unit, waiting for the fire to die down before they searched for bodies.
Relena was numbly aware of the tears beginning to soak her cheeks.
She turned from the wreck to Trowa. He was breathing heavily, glaring past her with a confined look. His clothes were torn from the tumble, and his right shoulder was becoming stained with red. Relena sucked in another breath as she walked purposefully over to him, undeterred when he noticed her intent upon his wound and raised his hands to meet her.
?Trowa, I will not ask you why it was that I was not informed of your presence if you allow me to at least attempt to do something to help the situation.?
He looked like he was about to protest, but as he looked over her resolute features, he let his hands drop to his sides.
Relena crossed the remaining distance and tore his shirt from his shoulder, seeing the deep gash below his shoulder blade. Where most women would have gasped or fainted, Relena began pushing the former Gundam pilot towards the medical unit standing by.
When they were half way there Trowa was thrown off guard as the Foreign Minister choked on a sob and took off in a run.
?Agh!? Trowa yelled and grabbed for the woman, but the surprise of her outburst left him without enough time to react.
?There?s a woman on board that ship!? she yelledemphatically,coming within hearing distance. A firefighter rushed over and grabbed her around the arms, hushing her and dragging her away from the carnage.
?We know, Miss. We?re doing everything we can.?
?It?s not enough! You can?t be doing enough! She could be dying!?Don?t you realize that! She could be dying!?
Trowa reached her at that point, and took over. Relena began sobbing anew, frustrated and confused, as she cradled herself against Trowa?s shoulder.
He winced as she came too close to his wound.
Relena lifted her head to meet his eyes?complete vulnerability staining her features. Her eyes trailed to his shoulder, and Trowa watched as she struggled to calm her quivering lips, began to blink to try to stop her tears. The determination crept in, and she focused. Sniffing all the snot back into her nose, Relena turned away from him, his arm in her hand, as she led him once again to medical personnel.
?This man needs attention,? Relena announced upon their arrival, the gleam in her eyes making the man who looked up to confront her start. Trowa looked sheepishly towards the medic and surrendered himself.
?I understand Miss, but we?re busy as it is.?
?This man needs assistance!?
Trowa tried to nudge Relena discretely but missed.
?Okay, fine, you want him to get some help? Here,? he reached into the van and pulled out a small first aid kit, ?Do it yourself.? He threw the box to her, and she caught it.
?Thank you,? Relena replied quietly, turning with Trowa back towards where they had came. She paused two steps away, ?The woman on board that ship is very dear to me.?
And then she saw her out of the corner of her eye?heard first the shouting of people from the craft, and then the attendant she had just been speaking with grab the stretcher and rush forward. A man standing just inside the shuttle lifted a limp body down to the pristine white mat. Relena whirled around.
?She?s alive!? someone yelled in the teal medical uniform.
There was a squeal of tires from somewhere distantly behind her, but Relena heard nothing but the phrase.
Relena smiled broadly, relief suddenly coursing through her like jumping into the coolest pool on the warmest day. She flung herself into Trowa?s unsuspecting arms. ?She?s alive!? Relena reiterated, ?Alive! Oh, goodness, she?s alive?Mackenzie?s alive??
?Ahe?ahem.?
Relena froze. Her eyes snapped open as ice seemed to flow down her spine. She stepped away from Trowa, and turned to face the man behind her.
?Heero,? she said distantly.
He was standing behind the open door of his black sports car, wearing signature tight jeans and a simple, fitting white t-shirt. His hair was mussed, as usual, his dark blue eyes filled with intensity. Relena reminded herself to swallow as she composed herself.
Trowa stepped towards Heero, but Relena was lost on what was said next. She was becoming lost once again in those deep blue eyes, which refused to leave her own.
?The copilot wasn?t checked out thoroughly enough, or his report was wrong. He attacked me unprovoked and then revealed the bomb strapped to himself. Relena is, as far as I know, unharmed, and it looks like Miss Mackenzie Strauch will survive.?
Heero walked around his car door and crossed the short distance to stand in front of Relena.
The breath flew from Relena?s lungs. She could just see the fine wrinkles of his brow, could see the smoothness of his lips?
Relena jolted as Heero?s hands packed down on either of her shoulders. His hands traveled down her arms, his fingers applying the smallest amount of pressure to the fabric of her wool blazer. Her flesh tingled excitedly. He grabbed either of Relena?s hands and flipped them over, his eyes boring holes into her skin.
Relena found her voice again when his hands moved to either side of her waist, and he began to move his hands up her sides.
?Excuse me!? she stepped away from him, pushing his trespassing hands away, ?I have to ask you just what you think you are doing??
He looked her in the eye as if everything was normal. ?I was checking for injuries.?
?You could have told me before you began molesting me!? Relena prayed to everything that he could not see the way her breasts had reacted to his hands on her body, or the blush she knew was threatening to burn her cheeks.
Heero?s look darkened even more then when he had first stepped out of his car. She was wearing a thong.
?Heero, we need to discuss a course of action.? Trowa shattered what was left of the fantasy, bringing Relena?s feet to the ground.
The sounds of sirens resounded again, and Relena turned to see the ambulance start its drive to the nearest hospital. She took a step towards the retreating automobile.
?Ms. Peacecraft, whether you want to acknowledge it or not, your life is in potentially serious danger. We don?t know if he was acting alone.? His voice was so gruff.
?We need to get you out of the open as soon as possible, Relena.?
Relena?s eyes cast downward, her mind suddenly reeling. She hadn?t really thought about her life yet.
?The area was secure when I left, Trowa. I plan on asking you later how it is exactly that you let some guy nearly kill the Foreign Minister.?
Heero sent Trowa a searing look as he grabbed Relena?s elbow, beginning to usher her towards his car. The fellow Gundam pilot seemed to take it in stride as he held the front seat forward for Relena.
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Four and a half hours later three Gundam pilots, a Foreign Minister, and a video screen with an extremely stressed out looking Colonel were shoved into a small, enclosed room with no windows, one door, and four cups of bland, rapidly cooling coffee.
?Seeing as our culprit is now bits of flesh and rubble we can?t exactly distract from the fact that most of the blame lays in Preventers.? Colonel Une massaged her temples, her eyes closed to the connection. ?The public can?t know about this?yet.?
Relena stole a glance at Trowa. She?d been trying to speak in his defense as much as possible, but the others seemed set on blaming the now-silent soldier, standing by himself in the corner. His arms were crossed over his chest as he leaned against the wall, his eyes closed to the room.
?I agree. This situation is too easily skewed as an attempt at a new war,? Wufei was standing closest to the video screen, leaning over a manila folder sprawled open on the single table, ?The fact that we couldn?t inhibit this doesn?t really instill the sense of security we?ve been trying to uphold.? Records of a late spacecraft pilot stared up at the ceiling from the two-dimensional sheets, his data spilling everywhere.
Heero had been pacing sporadically for the last hour and a half. His comments had been sparse, and every once in awhile he would send Trowa a scalding look.
?What, exactly, did he say again Trowa?? Une?s voice echoed in the room.
?That it was time for the colonies to start supporting themselves independently, and not abusing the Earth?s resources.? Heero cut in gruffly, though it didn?t look like he was cutting off former pilot zero-three, ?Or something to that effect,? he added as an afterthought, shooting another scathing look at Trowa.
Relena?s brow furrowed, as it did every time she heard that particular bit of news.
Heero stopped wearing tracks in the linoleum floor, ?Regardless, the Foreign Minister needs to be in New York exactly one week from today.?
?I?m well aware of the Peace Conference, Mr. Yuy,? Une muttered.
?Preventers was hired to take care of the security measures,? Wufei added, ?We can?t let the press think we?re all incompetent.?
Relena stared into the black puddle at the bottom of her coffee cup.
?Is there any news on Mackenzie, yet??
?No, Relena.? Heero didn?t look up when he spoke, but continued to pace the room. Relena sighed. She hoped that Quatre would go sailing without her?
There was a shuffling of papers from the video screen. ?Look, until we know exactly who, or exactly why this?? Une looked to the files on her desk, the same ones which Wufei was poring over himself, ??Johan Skilzer?, did what he did, there?s nothing we can do. I don?t believe in trying to cover up what was done, so we won?t. There was an electrical problem, and luckily the copilot thought just enough ahead to rescue the Foreign Minister.? Relena fidgeted in her seat, suddenly uncomfortable.
?Mr. Barton,? the Gundam pilot lifted his head the fraction of an inch as she addressed him, ?I hope you won?t mind that I give this hero business to someone else. It?s a bit below you, and I don?t want one of my private agents suddenly blaring all over on the six o?clock news. Despite what your coworkers might wish, I don?t want to let you go. I do want you to take two weeks off, and then report back to my office September first, at nine am sharp.?
Trowa nodded, barely.
?What we need to figure out now is how to get Ms. Peacecraft across the country. There?s too much of a risk to go by shuttle.?
?Quatre Winner is expecting her, correct?? Wufei looked at Une through the video screen. ?I?m sure the bleeding heart liberal would request to send a private shuttle.?
?I?m sure he would,? Une waved off his remark, ?but I still would not authorize Ms. Peacecraft to board.? She connected eyes with Wufei and Heero individually, ?You?re missing the point. Ms. Peacecraft cannot go by air, nor by any means of public transportation.?
There was a pause throughout the room, the quiet broken only by the taps of Heero?s heels.
Heero suddenly stopped, ?You want her to drive across the country.?
Relena started at the sound of Heero?s voice right behind her. She looked up and saw the beautiful underside of his chin.
?But not alone.?
Heero?s stern look became impossible sterner. He resumed his pace.
Wufei misinterpreted. ?I do not have time to baby-sit,? he growled.
?I think,? Colonel Une said offhandedly, as she began to organize her papers, ?That Mr. Yuy has a free week.?
Relena froze.
?Ex?excuse me??? Relena heard her hollow voice. She stood from her chair, her frame suddenly awkward and shaking, ?You can?texpect me to?to??She looked behind her to where Heero was walking back and forth, completely ignoring her. ?That could take?days! I?m sure there must be another way.?
?I?m afraid, Mrs. Peacecraft, that in situations of dire emergencies, you do not have a choice.? Une looked off-screen as someone handed her a small scrap of paper.
?But?but this is my vacation! Quatre is expecting me!?
?Mr. Winner can be contacted. I?m sure the bleeding-heart-liberal will understand.? Wufei smirked at the Colonel?s reference, ?Oh, it seems that Ms. Strauch is in stable condition. You can visit her at the Oakland hospital.?
Relena sobered. She took a moment, and nodded at the screen.
Une finished filing her papers into one neat stack. ?Mr. Yuy, I expect your travel plans to be on my personal server in less than two hours.?
Heero nodded, and without a look to Relena, left the room. Wufei began to stuff the papers into the manila folder of his own. ?I expect you want me back at headquarters, then??
?You have eight hours, Mr. Chang.? Wufei checked his walk and snorted. He started towards the door, nodding to the room as he turned.
?Always a pleasure, Trowa.? He snarled, ignoring Relena as a pawn.
Relena turned to the video screen, giving the Colonel a weak smile as she leaned to turn off the link. Une held up her hand to stop her.
?Miss Peacecraft,? she took off her glasses to address the woman, ?I?m sorry for all this. First, that we didn?t tell you how closely we were ensuring your protection, and second, that we couldn?t do all that we are capable of. If you wish to file a complaint, I can promise that it will be placed on my personal desk right away.?
Relena offered a slightly stronger smile, ?No, it?s fine. I?m sorry as well. I didn?t know I was so much trouble.?
The colonel?s set expression didn?t change, ?I?ll instruct Mr. Yuy to make your vacation as comfortable as possible.?
Relena became subdued. She nodded, her expression blank, and reached the extra inch to turn off the screen. Une?s face blinked into one horizontal line and disappeared. The room was suddenly deadly quiet. Relena?s face turned downward, her hair hiding the better part of her features. She?didn?t know what to think. Fortunately, Trowa was still in the room.
?Come on, I can take you to the hospital.?
Relena didn?t turn. She nodded numbly.
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?So I don?t know what to do now. It looks like I?ll be spending a week in a small car with Heero?Heero Yuy.? She choked on his name.
Relena looked to the woman on the bed, enveloped in pristine white sheets and plastic tubing. Everything was humming and smelled like disinfectant.
?It was so odd to see him again all of a sudden. So..out of place, I suppose. Unexpected.? She took a shuddering breath against the pressure afflicting her chest. ?You should have seen him?he barely looked at me. He probably thinks I?m disgusting now, with how rashly I acted.?
Relena took her lip into her mouth with her teeth.
?I?m sorry this happened,? she breathed. Her voice echoed off the walls. ?I?m sorry for everything.?
She sniffed against the wetness of her nose and eyes. The steady beep of the machinery let her know the woman was still living.
?I?m just so?afraid.? A mutinous tear let itself fall down her cheek. She already felt so drained, and still?
Relena brought a folded hand to her mouth, trying to control her emotion. She couldn?t stop her head from falling forward, as tears began to run.
?I?m so afraid I might still love him.?
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Trowa drove her to the small motel on the edge of town. Heero was already there, his black sports car sitting in the nearly deserted lot.
Relena was exhausted, not having been able to sleep in their silent car ride. She had barely noticed the interior of the Preventer-supplied transport, all the colors of the west coast seeming to blend together unattractively. She knew he wouldn?t acknowledge her presence when she stepped from the automobile, so when she saw his eyes trained on Trowa, who stepped from the car first, her heart did not break.
Heero nodded at his ex-fellow Gundam pilot and started walking towards him. Relena noticed how overcast the sky was, the rays from the moon highlighting the outlines of billowing clouds.
She heard the muffled voices of Trowa and Heero exchanging conversation, but Relena didn?t listen in. How could one day turn out like this?
??Relena??
Relena?s head lolled to the two men. They were giving her curious expressions. Trowa stepped towards her.
?Are you all right??
Relena blinked. She smiled. ?Yes, I?m fine, Mr. Barton. I was wondering if I could trouble you for the whereabouts of my room? I?m a bit tired.?
Trowa?s face set. She could tell he hadn?t bought her ruse.
?I?ll show you to it.? Heero?s curt voice broke in. Relena looked to the other, but found his eyes unreadable.
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?I?m going to check on you every forty minutes. If anything should happen to you in that span of time, you are to make as much noise as possible. That door,? he gestured to the panel connecting their motel rooms, ?is to remain open at all times.?
Relena sat on the edge of her large motel bed, her face turned towards the ground. She punctuated her movements with a nod every once in awhile, but couldn?t bring herself to really pay attention to what Heero was saying.
?We leave tomorrow at 0600.?
Heero paused. He had been talking at her for the last ten minutes, and she still hadn?t looked at him once since he came in. Something about this frustrated him. For some reason he needed her to look at him.
?Do you?have any questions.? His statement trailed off. He wasn?t sure if he?d ever asked that before, and he didn?t like to think he had been unclear.
Relena shook her head but didn?t look at him.
Heero shifted his weight to his left foot. Her yellow hair fell loosely from over her shoulder, hiding the better part of her face. He felt the frustration build even more. From what he could see, she looked?what, sad? Upset? Probably upset. Heero looked around the room, at anything but her. The room was secure, he had seen to that. There were two security cameras set up at either entrance to the room (window or door), plus a wire?Fuck, how could one day go so wrong?
Heero stole one last glance at Relena, and left the room.
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Taa-daa! It?s finally started! Got the ball rolling! Gathering no moss!
So this is chapter one. I?m thinking?seven chapters? Maybe eight? Each chapter will be a day on the road, and, well, we all know committed Heero is to completing his mission.
Don?t know how soon I?ll be able to crank everything out but still?I?m looking for a beta reader! Editor! Someone ;; There was a lot in this draft which I didn?t like so much, but left it in anyway, thinking maybe I had some innate artistic talent?but, you know, I?m probably wrong. ;
Thank you for reading!
-Ali
Relena was in a good mood today. After three cups of her favorite coffee (someone had finally got it right) she was sitting comfortably in the private shuttle, neatly fastening her seatbelt and reclining into the plush seat. Outside her window the sky was clear and sunny, and the air was warm. San Francisco?s skyscrapers couldn?t be hidden by the leaves of distant trees being ruffled by the cool breeze. She would have liked to spend her vacation here, but convenience called that she should spend it closer to New York City, with Quatre at his Hampton home.
Tap?tap?tap.
Relena inwardly cringed. She tried to block out the familiar sound as she pushed herself farther into the upholstery.
Tap?taptaptaptaptaptap.
?Mackenzie,? Relena opened her eyes and turned to the petite woman beside her.
The diminutive woman dropped her pen accidentally, ?Oh, I?m sorry Miss Relena. I didn?t mean to disturb you?I?ve been trying so hard, but I just can?t seem to help the nervousness?? The brown haired, brown-eyed girl bit her lip, ?Would you mind if I held your hand during takeoff again??
Relena frowned slightly, ?Mackenzie, I thought you were over this. We had a flight four days ago and you were fine?It?s been nearly a month since your last bout of anxiety.?
?I know,? the other girl?s mousy brown hair showed itself to Relena as she looked into her lap, ?and I want to thank you for the opportunity you?ve given me,? Relena smiled as Mackenzie paused, a thinking look covering her features, ??but it?s just?? Relena?s personal secretary smiled ruefully and shook her head, ?I suppose I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.?
Laying a reassuring hand on Mackenzie?s forearm, Relena?s smile turned genuine. It had taken a while to find this one. When she didn?t have a good explanation for the third time she was sent to the hospital for exhaustion, her ?loving? brother insisted?no, demanded?that she get someone to help her manage her workload. In the end, despite her feverous protests, she had been forced to concede. Mackenzie was the fourth after three women (Milliardo has somehow lost all of the male applications) who were either too uptight, too slow or too disorganized. At first, Relena was annoyed and put off by this often forgetful, clumsy young woman (two years younger than herself, but she somehow made Relena always feel so old) but she soon came to adore and depend on her. Always moving made it hard to have a constant in her life, but for the past four months Relena hadn?t been lonely.
?Try and relax.?
Mackenzie finally seemed to absorb some of the warmth emanating from her dirty-blond-haired employer, and smiled reassuringly in return. As she came to fasten her seatbelt, Relena turned her head and allowed herself to get lost in her own thoughts. She began to wonder what the weather would be like on the place once called Long Island. She knew it would be humid and hot, but Quatre had mentioned sailing, which was something that couldn?t be experienced on the colonies?
?Oh!? The foreign minister?s reverie was broken by her assistant?s voice, and Relena turned to her.
?Happy Birthday.?
Relena smiled softly to her counterpart, trying to hide that she had forgotten.
Oh, goodness?Mackenzie was right. Twenty-three. At fifteen she definitely never would have thought that she would end up where she was then. It had been a shuttle just like this one..goodness, six years ago now? Suddenly she looked around. Every year now he had hoodwinked her, somehow sneaking by her to leave her six little teddy bears. He was probably down in the luggage right now, Relena mused, picking out her bag among the pile and placing the gift neatly in her suitcase. Or the small token could be waiting for her in her hotel room, and she would see only the glimpse of Heero the busboy, or the doorman. Maybe two years ago she would have been obsessing over seeing him days beforehand, but now it was just sort of a short-lived comfort. If he had actually cared, she would see him more than in passing once a year?Relena shook her head to clear her thoughts. What was she doing? Today was a good day! Relena settled back into her seat, having unconsciously tensed.
She looked over at Mackenzie, wondering if she had read her thoughts; if she knew she was thinking about him again. The smaller woman had her schedule book open and was busy concentrating on Relena?s next big weekend. Suddenly uncomfortable, Relena unbuckled her seatbelt, knowing that her thoughts were running with a mind of their own?Hamburgers?alligators?water parks?Deutschland?Heero. The war now over, she had no reason to know where he was. Not that I did before, Relena reminded herself, but now that she had no excuse it was sometimes frustrating. She could only hope that he was happy with whomever he had chosen. In one of her sporadic conversations with Duo she learned that he had graduated from college two years before...
And then Relena felt Mackenzie?s arm stiffen. There was a loud thump as the schedule book fell to the floor. She looked over at her assistant, about to chide her on being clumsy, but the sudden sight of her made Relena freeze.
The girl was staring straight ahead, eyes wide. Relena heard the noise.
There was a scuffle in the cockpit.
Voices were arguing?two of them, a muffling of material being strained. Relena felt herself tense up, feeling the smallest hairs on the back of her neck prickle.
The door burst open?loudly.
Trowa? He stood in the doorway, eyes wild, his chest heaving. What is Trowa doing here--?
Trowa lunged for the woman, grabbing her by the upper arm. Relena stifled a scream as the Gundam pilot ripped her out of her chair. What the--? Danger! Mackenzie! Relena whipped her head around to look to the other woman as she was nearly at the door, only glimpsing the woman fumbling furiously with her seatbelt, squirming desperately to follow Relena in her escape??Mackenzie!? Relena didn?t realize she screamed as Trowa grabbed her around her middle and jumped to the ground, sheltering her body as they rolled on the asphalt.
The shuttle exploded with fire.
Relena felt the blast from underneath the solid body. The heat overcame the air as debris fell around and over her savior.
NO! Relena didn?t hear herself scream, trying to thrust herself out of Trowa?s embrace. She didn?t care why he was here! She didn?t care what it meant that he was here! There was a woman aboard that ship who had no idea why she was dead! Mackenzie?s parents had died in the war?
She was pushing roughly against Trowa?s chest from where she was pinned to the asphalt beneath him, needing to get help?only stopping when Trowa?s hands gripped her shoulders roughly. He was shouting her name but she could not hear him. She could see the smoke starting to rise from the debris of the craft. She could see the flashing lights in the distance, where the breeze was ruffling the leaves of the trees?
??you all right!? he was yelling. Trowa?s features were contorted with unconcealed anxiety. She pushed him away with strength she didn?t know she possessed, standing and breaking into a run towards the ambulance and fire engine approaching.
?Relena!?
She wanted to rip off her high heels, knowing she wasn?t getting far?her thoughts were cut short as she tripped on the jagged pavement, pitching forward?to find two arms wrap around her, catch her, spin her around to face him.
?You cannot put yourself at risk!? Wild green eyes were ablaze. Relena involuntarily sucked in a sudden breath as her own eyes widened, and her world collapsed. What had just?happened? She cast her eyes away from his. Her mind was suddenly reeling. She felt her knees begin to shake uncontrollably as she struggled for air past the overwhelming lump blocking her throat.
When the older man pulled away, Relena did not move to run again. Trowa looked her over before pulling his small cell phone from his pocket and punching buttons.
?Give me Une.? There was a short pause, ?There is a situation involving Operation two-eight-nine.? He paused a moment to hear the other line and hung up the phone. He dialed another number.
?There is a problem.?
Relena didn?t understand what was happening. She watched in gruesome terror as the fire engine unloaded its hose, and the men aboard fought to control the flame. The ambulance was setting up their mobile ER unit, waiting for the fire to die down before they searched for bodies.
Relena was numbly aware of the tears beginning to soak her cheeks.
She turned from the wreck to Trowa. He was breathing heavily, glaring past her with a confined look. His clothes were torn from the tumble, and his right shoulder was becoming stained with red. Relena sucked in another breath as she walked purposefully over to him, undeterred when he noticed her intent upon his wound and raised his hands to meet her.
?Trowa, I will not ask you why it was that I was not informed of your presence if you allow me to at least attempt to do something to help the situation.?
He looked like he was about to protest, but as he looked over her resolute features, he let his hands drop to his sides.
Relena crossed the remaining distance and tore his shirt from his shoulder, seeing the deep gash below his shoulder blade. Where most women would have gasped or fainted, Relena began pushing the former Gundam pilot towards the medical unit standing by.
When they were half way there Trowa was thrown off guard as the Foreign Minister choked on a sob and took off in a run.
?Agh!? Trowa yelled and grabbed for the woman, but the surprise of her outburst left him without enough time to react.
?There?s a woman on board that ship!? she yelledemphatically,coming within hearing distance. A firefighter rushed over and grabbed her around the arms, hushing her and dragging her away from the carnage.
?We know, Miss. We?re doing everything we can.?
?It?s not enough! You can?t be doing enough! She could be dying!?Don?t you realize that! She could be dying!?
Trowa reached her at that point, and took over. Relena began sobbing anew, frustrated and confused, as she cradled herself against Trowa?s shoulder.
He winced as she came too close to his wound.
Relena lifted her head to meet his eyes?complete vulnerability staining her features. Her eyes trailed to his shoulder, and Trowa watched as she struggled to calm her quivering lips, began to blink to try to stop her tears. The determination crept in, and she focused. Sniffing all the snot back into her nose, Relena turned away from him, his arm in her hand, as she led him once again to medical personnel.
?This man needs attention,? Relena announced upon their arrival, the gleam in her eyes making the man who looked up to confront her start. Trowa looked sheepishly towards the medic and surrendered himself.
?I understand Miss, but we?re busy as it is.?
?This man needs assistance!?
Trowa tried to nudge Relena discretely but missed.
?Okay, fine, you want him to get some help? Here,? he reached into the van and pulled out a small first aid kit, ?Do it yourself.? He threw the box to her, and she caught it.
?Thank you,? Relena replied quietly, turning with Trowa back towards where they had came. She paused two steps away, ?The woman on board that ship is very dear to me.?
And then she saw her out of the corner of her eye?heard first the shouting of people from the craft, and then the attendant she had just been speaking with grab the stretcher and rush forward. A man standing just inside the shuttle lifted a limp body down to the pristine white mat. Relena whirled around.
?She?s alive!? someone yelled in the teal medical uniform.
There was a squeal of tires from somewhere distantly behind her, but Relena heard nothing but the phrase.
Relena smiled broadly, relief suddenly coursing through her like jumping into the coolest pool on the warmest day. She flung herself into Trowa?s unsuspecting arms. ?She?s alive!? Relena reiterated, ?Alive! Oh, goodness, she?s alive?Mackenzie?s alive??
?Ahe?ahem.?
Relena froze. Her eyes snapped open as ice seemed to flow down her spine. She stepped away from Trowa, and turned to face the man behind her.
?Heero,? she said distantly.
He was standing behind the open door of his black sports car, wearing signature tight jeans and a simple, fitting white t-shirt. His hair was mussed, as usual, his dark blue eyes filled with intensity. Relena reminded herself to swallow as she composed herself.
Trowa stepped towards Heero, but Relena was lost on what was said next. She was becoming lost once again in those deep blue eyes, which refused to leave her own.
?The copilot wasn?t checked out thoroughly enough, or his report was wrong. He attacked me unprovoked and then revealed the bomb strapped to himself. Relena is, as far as I know, unharmed, and it looks like Miss Mackenzie Strauch will survive.?
Heero walked around his car door and crossed the short distance to stand in front of Relena.
The breath flew from Relena?s lungs. She could just see the fine wrinkles of his brow, could see the smoothness of his lips?
Relena jolted as Heero?s hands packed down on either of her shoulders. His hands traveled down her arms, his fingers applying the smallest amount of pressure to the fabric of her wool blazer. Her flesh tingled excitedly. He grabbed either of Relena?s hands and flipped them over, his eyes boring holes into her skin.
Relena found her voice again when his hands moved to either side of her waist, and he began to move his hands up her sides.
?Excuse me!? she stepped away from him, pushing his trespassing hands away, ?I have to ask you just what you think you are doing??
He looked her in the eye as if everything was normal. ?I was checking for injuries.?
?You could have told me before you began molesting me!? Relena prayed to everything that he could not see the way her breasts had reacted to his hands on her body, or the blush she knew was threatening to burn her cheeks.
Heero?s look darkened even more then when he had first stepped out of his car. She was wearing a thong.
?Heero, we need to discuss a course of action.? Trowa shattered what was left of the fantasy, bringing Relena?s feet to the ground.
The sounds of sirens resounded again, and Relena turned to see the ambulance start its drive to the nearest hospital. She took a step towards the retreating automobile.
?Ms. Peacecraft, whether you want to acknowledge it or not, your life is in potentially serious danger. We don?t know if he was acting alone.? His voice was so gruff.
?We need to get you out of the open as soon as possible, Relena.?
Relena?s eyes cast downward, her mind suddenly reeling. She hadn?t really thought about her life yet.
?The area was secure when I left, Trowa. I plan on asking you later how it is exactly that you let some guy nearly kill the Foreign Minister.?
Heero sent Trowa a searing look as he grabbed Relena?s elbow, beginning to usher her towards his car. The fellow Gundam pilot seemed to take it in stride as he held the front seat forward for Relena.
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Four and a half hours later three Gundam pilots, a Foreign Minister, and a video screen with an extremely stressed out looking Colonel were shoved into a small, enclosed room with no windows, one door, and four cups of bland, rapidly cooling coffee.
?Seeing as our culprit is now bits of flesh and rubble we can?t exactly distract from the fact that most of the blame lays in Preventers.? Colonel Une massaged her temples, her eyes closed to the connection. ?The public can?t know about this?yet.?
Relena stole a glance at Trowa. She?d been trying to speak in his defense as much as possible, but the others seemed set on blaming the now-silent soldier, standing by himself in the corner. His arms were crossed over his chest as he leaned against the wall, his eyes closed to the room.
?I agree. This situation is too easily skewed as an attempt at a new war,? Wufei was standing closest to the video screen, leaning over a manila folder sprawled open on the single table, ?The fact that we couldn?t inhibit this doesn?t really instill the sense of security we?ve been trying to uphold.? Records of a late spacecraft pilot stared up at the ceiling from the two-dimensional sheets, his data spilling everywhere.
Heero had been pacing sporadically for the last hour and a half. His comments had been sparse, and every once in awhile he would send Trowa a scalding look.
?What, exactly, did he say again Trowa?? Une?s voice echoed in the room.
?That it was time for the colonies to start supporting themselves independently, and not abusing the Earth?s resources.? Heero cut in gruffly, though it didn?t look like he was cutting off former pilot zero-three, ?Or something to that effect,? he added as an afterthought, shooting another scathing look at Trowa.
Relena?s brow furrowed, as it did every time she heard that particular bit of news.
Heero stopped wearing tracks in the linoleum floor, ?Regardless, the Foreign Minister needs to be in New York exactly one week from today.?
?I?m well aware of the Peace Conference, Mr. Yuy,? Une muttered.
?Preventers was hired to take care of the security measures,? Wufei added, ?We can?t let the press think we?re all incompetent.?
Relena stared into the black puddle at the bottom of her coffee cup.
?Is there any news on Mackenzie, yet??
?No, Relena.? Heero didn?t look up when he spoke, but continued to pace the room. Relena sighed. She hoped that Quatre would go sailing without her?
There was a shuffling of papers from the video screen. ?Look, until we know exactly who, or exactly why this?? Une looked to the files on her desk, the same ones which Wufei was poring over himself, ??Johan Skilzer?, did what he did, there?s nothing we can do. I don?t believe in trying to cover up what was done, so we won?t. There was an electrical problem, and luckily the copilot thought just enough ahead to rescue the Foreign Minister.? Relena fidgeted in her seat, suddenly uncomfortable.
?Mr. Barton,? the Gundam pilot lifted his head the fraction of an inch as she addressed him, ?I hope you won?t mind that I give this hero business to someone else. It?s a bit below you, and I don?t want one of my private agents suddenly blaring all over on the six o?clock news. Despite what your coworkers might wish, I don?t want to let you go. I do want you to take two weeks off, and then report back to my office September first, at nine am sharp.?
Trowa nodded, barely.
?What we need to figure out now is how to get Ms. Peacecraft across the country. There?s too much of a risk to go by shuttle.?
?Quatre Winner is expecting her, correct?? Wufei looked at Une through the video screen. ?I?m sure the bleeding heart liberal would request to send a private shuttle.?
?I?m sure he would,? Une waved off his remark, ?but I still would not authorize Ms. Peacecraft to board.? She connected eyes with Wufei and Heero individually, ?You?re missing the point. Ms. Peacecraft cannot go by air, nor by any means of public transportation.?
There was a pause throughout the room, the quiet broken only by the taps of Heero?s heels.
Heero suddenly stopped, ?You want her to drive across the country.?
Relena started at the sound of Heero?s voice right behind her. She looked up and saw the beautiful underside of his chin.
?But not alone.?
Heero?s stern look became impossible sterner. He resumed his pace.
Wufei misinterpreted. ?I do not have time to baby-sit,? he growled.
?I think,? Colonel Une said offhandedly, as she began to organize her papers, ?That Mr. Yuy has a free week.?
Relena froze.
?Ex?excuse me??? Relena heard her hollow voice. She stood from her chair, her frame suddenly awkward and shaking, ?You can?texpect me to?to??She looked behind her to where Heero was walking back and forth, completely ignoring her. ?That could take?days! I?m sure there must be another way.?
?I?m afraid, Mrs. Peacecraft, that in situations of dire emergencies, you do not have a choice.? Une looked off-screen as someone handed her a small scrap of paper.
?But?but this is my vacation! Quatre is expecting me!?
?Mr. Winner can be contacted. I?m sure the bleeding-heart-liberal will understand.? Wufei smirked at the Colonel?s reference, ?Oh, it seems that Ms. Strauch is in stable condition. You can visit her at the Oakland hospital.?
Relena sobered. She took a moment, and nodded at the screen.
Une finished filing her papers into one neat stack. ?Mr. Yuy, I expect your travel plans to be on my personal server in less than two hours.?
Heero nodded, and without a look to Relena, left the room. Wufei began to stuff the papers into the manila folder of his own. ?I expect you want me back at headquarters, then??
?You have eight hours, Mr. Chang.? Wufei checked his walk and snorted. He started towards the door, nodding to the room as he turned.
?Always a pleasure, Trowa.? He snarled, ignoring Relena as a pawn.
Relena turned to the video screen, giving the Colonel a weak smile as she leaned to turn off the link. Une held up her hand to stop her.
?Miss Peacecraft,? she took off her glasses to address the woman, ?I?m sorry for all this. First, that we didn?t tell you how closely we were ensuring your protection, and second, that we couldn?t do all that we are capable of. If you wish to file a complaint, I can promise that it will be placed on my personal desk right away.?
Relena offered a slightly stronger smile, ?No, it?s fine. I?m sorry as well. I didn?t know I was so much trouble.?
The colonel?s set expression didn?t change, ?I?ll instruct Mr. Yuy to make your vacation as comfortable as possible.?
Relena became subdued. She nodded, her expression blank, and reached the extra inch to turn off the screen. Une?s face blinked into one horizontal line and disappeared. The room was suddenly deadly quiet. Relena?s face turned downward, her hair hiding the better part of her features. She?didn?t know what to think. Fortunately, Trowa was still in the room.
?Come on, I can take you to the hospital.?
Relena didn?t turn. She nodded numbly.
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?So I don?t know what to do now. It looks like I?ll be spending a week in a small car with Heero?Heero Yuy.? She choked on his name.
Relena looked to the woman on the bed, enveloped in pristine white sheets and plastic tubing. Everything was humming and smelled like disinfectant.
?It was so odd to see him again all of a sudden. So..out of place, I suppose. Unexpected.? She took a shuddering breath against the pressure afflicting her chest. ?You should have seen him?he barely looked at me. He probably thinks I?m disgusting now, with how rashly I acted.?
Relena took her lip into her mouth with her teeth.
?I?m sorry this happened,? she breathed. Her voice echoed off the walls. ?I?m sorry for everything.?
She sniffed against the wetness of her nose and eyes. The steady beep of the machinery let her know the woman was still living.
?I?m just so?afraid.? A mutinous tear let itself fall down her cheek. She already felt so drained, and still?
Relena brought a folded hand to her mouth, trying to control her emotion. She couldn?t stop her head from falling forward, as tears began to run.
?I?m so afraid I might still love him.?
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Trowa drove her to the small motel on the edge of town. Heero was already there, his black sports car sitting in the nearly deserted lot.
Relena was exhausted, not having been able to sleep in their silent car ride. She had barely noticed the interior of the Preventer-supplied transport, all the colors of the west coast seeming to blend together unattractively. She knew he wouldn?t acknowledge her presence when she stepped from the automobile, so when she saw his eyes trained on Trowa, who stepped from the car first, her heart did not break.
Heero nodded at his ex-fellow Gundam pilot and started walking towards him. Relena noticed how overcast the sky was, the rays from the moon highlighting the outlines of billowing clouds.
She heard the muffled voices of Trowa and Heero exchanging conversation, but Relena didn?t listen in. How could one day turn out like this?
??Relena??
Relena?s head lolled to the two men. They were giving her curious expressions. Trowa stepped towards her.
?Are you all right??
Relena blinked. She smiled. ?Yes, I?m fine, Mr. Barton. I was wondering if I could trouble you for the whereabouts of my room? I?m a bit tired.?
Trowa?s face set. She could tell he hadn?t bought her ruse.
?I?ll show you to it.? Heero?s curt voice broke in. Relena looked to the other, but found his eyes unreadable.
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?I?m going to check on you every forty minutes. If anything should happen to you in that span of time, you are to make as much noise as possible. That door,? he gestured to the panel connecting their motel rooms, ?is to remain open at all times.?
Relena sat on the edge of her large motel bed, her face turned towards the ground. She punctuated her movements with a nod every once in awhile, but couldn?t bring herself to really pay attention to what Heero was saying.
?We leave tomorrow at 0600.?
Heero paused. He had been talking at her for the last ten minutes, and she still hadn?t looked at him once since he came in. Something about this frustrated him. For some reason he needed her to look at him.
?Do you?have any questions.? His statement trailed off. He wasn?t sure if he?d ever asked that before, and he didn?t like to think he had been unclear.
Relena shook her head but didn?t look at him.
Heero shifted his weight to his left foot. Her yellow hair fell loosely from over her shoulder, hiding the better part of her face. He felt the frustration build even more. From what he could see, she looked?what, sad? Upset? Probably upset. Heero looked around the room, at anything but her. The room was secure, he had seen to that. There were two security cameras set up at either entrance to the room (window or door), plus a wire?Fuck, how could one day go so wrong?
Heero stole one last glance at Relena, and left the room.
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Taa-daa! It?s finally started! Got the ball rolling! Gathering no moss!
So this is chapter one. I?m thinking?seven chapters? Maybe eight? Each chapter will be a day on the road, and, well, we all know committed Heero is to completing his mission.
Don?t know how soon I?ll be able to crank everything out but still?I?m looking for a beta reader! Editor! Someone ;; There was a lot in this draft which I didn?t like so much, but left it in anyway, thinking maybe I had some innate artistic talent?but, you know, I?m probably wrong. ;
Thank you for reading!
-Ali
I can't wait to see more.
