Quiet Celebration 4

[Morganeth]

AN: Hooray for writing coming easier to me again, not entirely sure what I think of this chapter but I give it to you all the same I hope it's something you enjoy!

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

Quiet Celebration 4

Heero felt the presence in his room before he?d even fully risen from his sleep; several awakening senses told him it was Relena. His limp hand was being held between her two warm ones, and the scent of her hair was light in the air. Had he been able to fall back into the realm of sleep Heero would have greatly welcomed it, he could sense the tension and frustration seeping off Relena has she quietly waited, but sleep wouldn?t come to him.

Cracking open one cobalt eye Heero found himself looking into the face of a tightly held storm. Relena?s eyes were red rimmed tears standing out on the edge, she was pale and she was biting down hard on the edge of her lip.

She stared at him for a long silent moment, as though making sure he was truly awake,
?I need to know,? Relena breathed emotions tightly held; her blue eyes broke contact with his own while her hands tightened.

Heero watched mutely his mind still waking, but he knew what was coming. He?d known from the beginning that his conversation with Trowa would not simply stay between them.

?Do you want to die?? she asked, her tone a deep mix of fear, frustration and hard anger.

The former pilot blinked considering her question, ?That?s got nothing to do with this,? he told her simply.

?No?? Relena was incredulous, ?You took your name off the transplant list.?

Heero shifted on the bed, ?There?s no reason my name should have gone ahead.?

?It happens all the time!? she threw back immediately.

?Anaya needs it more than I do.?

?Why? Because she?s a war orphan??

Heero?s free hand clenched into a fist, head turning away so he didn?t have to see the conviction in Relena?s eyes, she wouldn?t let this drop so easily.

?The two of you are not so different you know, you lost your parents in the war same as her,? Relena attempted gently.

?She?s waited,? he said letting his eyes fall closed.

Relena?s hand reached out and took hold of his face, ?Then why not avoid the list?? she asked and he could hear a waver in her voice drawing his eyes to her. ?Let me give you one of mine,? already it was a plead.

Heero took hold of Relena?s wrist to take her hand from his cheek. He brushed each of her fingers across his lips, ?I won?t let you take the risk.?

?You won?t ?let me??? she returned with clear indignation, ?I believe it?s my choice to make.?

?I?ve already refused to accept, no surgeon would agree to the operation,? Heero told her gently, knowing this wouldn?t be the end.

?But why?!? she demanded tears of frustration falling down her face.

Heero had giving it a lot of thought in a short period of time, he?d known this would be their first fall back. But Heero had felt immediately that he couldn?t accept such a gift from Relena. Not because he didn?t want to be saved by her, and not entirely because he didn?t think he life was worth saving. But the prime reason was, ?I don?t want you to take the risk.?

?What risk?? she shot back immediately, ?Transplant surgeries are done all the time!?

?And deaths do happen.?

?I could die by an assassin?s bullet if you?re not there to protect me!? she threw back.

?I?m not dead yet,? he pointed out squeezing her hand comfortingly.

Relena looked at him with hard eyes, ?No, but you?re basically doing everything you can to end up that way.? She pulled her hand from his sitting back in the chair, and scrubbed at her tear soaked cheeks.

Raising himself up so he didn?t feel so weak in front of her; Heero locked eyes with Relena. ?It?s my job is to protect you,? he stated bluntly, it wasn?t a position he planned on giving up. But at the same time he couldn?t put his life ahead of anyone else, not with all the lives he?d taken.

?Would you give me one of your kidneys if it meant saving my life?? she demanded, he could hear in her voice the fight she was having to maintain control.

Heero?s eyes feel closed, he should have seen this coming, but his mind was beginning to feel tired and muddled. He already knew his answer, but he didn?t want to say it, he didn?t want to fuel Relena?s frustration. Still he knew silence would only do the same, ?Of course.?

?Then I?m doing the same for you!?

?No,? Heero lifted himself from the bed ignoring the pain in his side and abdomen as he twisted to take hold of Relena?s hands. It was a desperate attempt to forestall the continuation of this argument. ?Listen to me Relena,? he attempted waiting a minute for her to look him in the eyes. ?You?re too important to take this risk.?

Relena bit down on a sob, ?Do you value your life so little??

The former pilot sighed looking away, unable to confirm or deny the question. On more than one occasion he?d been ready to die for a cause. Now the peace had been won, and it left him wondering ?was there really a place for him in this world?? ?Did they need people who only knew how to kill??

?You have every right to be saved!? Relena stressed as though reading his thoughts.

?I could well have been the one to kill Anaya?s parents,? he pointed out.

?Could have, but you weren?t.?

Heero sighed tiredly, ?Doesn?t really matter, I was apart of it I don?t deserve to take her place.?

?Which is why I suggested removing the list altogether,? she returned running her fingers lightly through his hair. He noticed for the first time the dark circles under her eyes which only magnified the pain within, and just how pale she was.

He began shaking his head, but Relena?s hand stopped him, once more forcing him to look her in the eyes. ?I don?t want to live without you,? she all but whispered, ?I love you!?

Heero turned his head into her hand kissing her palm, ?I?m not giving up without a fight,? he told her just as softly. Before Relena could respond the door opened, and Heero slowly lowered himself back on the bed only to see Sally walking over.

The doctor glanced between the two of them, her lips pulled down into a small frown. Heero shifted trying to find that position he woke up in, the one that caused no pain, all the while Relena remained at his side. The expression on her face told him their conversation wasn?t over. He didn?t expect it to be, but he was assured in the knowledge that Trowa would uphold his wishes which were to protect Relena. It was his job, he wasn?t about to stop now.

?Relena, could you give us a moment?? Sally asked resting both her hands on the metal rail of the bed. Heero knew immediately it wasn?t a request at all.

?But I?? she began eyes flashing between Heero and Sally.

?Quatre just arrived, he really wants to see how you?re doing,? her tone remained gentle but it brooked no room for argument.

Relena looked for a moment like she wasn?t going to give up, but soon her shoulders dropped and the feet of the chair scrapped across the tile floor. She swept her hair back over her shoulder, offering Heero one last meaningful look before he walked out of the room.

Heero let his eyes fall closed, feeling the wave of exhaustion wash over him, he knew there was no way he could make Relena see this through his eyes. Or any of the others for that matter, he wasn?t sure what to expect with Sally which is why he much preferred the idea of just falling back to sleep.

?How?re you feeling?? Sally asked after a moment her hands taking hold of the blankets.

Opening his eyes Heero?s gaze moved from the doctor to her hands, ?Tired,? was his only response.

Sally just nodded lips quirking in an understanding smile as she began shifting his thin shirt up exposing the bandaged. ?How?s the pain?? it sounded to Heero like she already knew the answer. ?You really shouldn?t be moving around like that,? she admonished pulling back the bandages from his stitches and he could see some fresh blood on the gauze.

The former pilot watched Sally examine the line of stitches that ran from his navel to just bellow his diaphragm. She cleaned away the blood with a disinfecting cloth before turning her attention to the shorter line of thread on his side. Her work was professional but Heero could feel that there was more she wanted to be saying. Sally?s right hand slide up to his shoulder, ?I need you to roll a little on your side.?

?You agree with Relena,? he ground out as Sally helped easy him onto his right side.

?I didn?t say that,? Sally counted after a moment gently lowering Heero onto his back.

Heero raised an eyebrow, ?How soon before my name is back up on that list??

Sally crossed the room to gather some supplies, ?It already is,? she told him.

?And how do you justify putting my name before a war orphan?? it had been her decision in the first place.

?Your conditions are--?

?The same,? Heero finished firmly, that was one of the first things he had looked into.

Sally placed her supplies on the table stopping for a moment before making eye contact with him. ?You deserve to live Heero.?

?So does she!?

?You need to be resting Heero, not worrying over this,? Sally breathed as she began recovering his stitches.

?I made a promise?? he said voice low eyes falling closed, and he felt Sally stop her work. ?I won?t kill,? Heero locked eyes with the doctor, ?That includes indirectly.? Heero raised his head from the pillow, ?Is this how it?s going to be??

Sally just stared at him, clearly having no answer.

Thanks for Reading!

Morganeth Taren'drel

[Ice_Vixen]

On the edge of my seat here...*leans forward, chewing on nails in anticipation* why is he being so stubborn? I love how you're portraying them. keep up the good work!

[Morganeth]

thanks so much! there were so many ways this fic could go, but I'm really enjoying people's reactions to this one ^_^

thanks again! I hope it won't be too long before I give you more!

[flipped]

(i'm still posting my comments here)

On the edge of my seat here...*leans forward, chewing on nails in anticipation* why is he being so stubborn? I love how you're portraying them. keep up the good work!

couldn't agree more.
i liked the way you opened up the chapter - relena being angry and heartbroken by the situation.

[Morganeth]

Thanks! writing this story has been a different experience for me than say Mistaken Words...not entirely sure why [could be the fact that it was originally a one shot]

But I just can get over readers reactions to it ^_~ you guys make my heart shine!

Thanks so much!

[Fate Lowe]

Great chapter. I love the way that you write. Whether it be this story, Mistaken Words, or any of your other fics. You just capture the characters so well. Keep up the good work. I can't wait for the next chapter.

[Morganeth]

Thank you so much! You're wait for the next chapter is over ^_~ I'm just about to post it now! I hope you enjoy!