Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Anything Would be Better Than Your Good-bye on a Bad Day ❯ A Fulfilled Vow in Bewilderment ( Chapter 4 )

Written By: Minako-hime and R.S. Xavior

Disclaimer: We renounce any ownership to Gundam Wing or any of it characters. They are owned by Bandai, Sunrise, and their respective creators. So please don't sue us because combined, all we have are ten cats and two very annoying computers. Plus, we are not getting paid to write this.

-Barton Family Mansion-

"Well, it looks as if everything is going as planned..." Dreia said, sitting in her chair, monitoring the battle.

"The gundam pilots have not moved out yet," the spy commented.

"They are mobilizing, and they are planning to strike without Heero. And only leaving Sally Po there! How grand!!" Dreia replied enthusiastically.

"Reports say 01 is injured," the spy added.

"Even this unexpected turn will prove to our benefit. I wasn't expecting that. But all destiny is on our side!!!" Dreia said, smiling.

"Should we move out now?" the spy asked.

"Move out, but do not attack them yet! Make it look as if you are moving out to attack, but do not waste weaponry! It shall prove to our advantage because we will put ourselves at a disadvantage as soon as we fight! Now, move!!!" Dreia answered.

"Yes ma'am," the spy said, leaving.

"All is coming into play exactly as I planned. That one mild disturbance will work to our advantage. No need to be hasty..." she said, watching her troops.

-Meanwhile at the Newport City Border (1)-

"It looks like we're stuck with two Taurus, one Leo, three Aeris, and one Virgo for now," Trowa commented from an Aeris.

"I think it's about time we moved out ," Quatre said from old Taurus suit from the war.

"Man why did I get the Leo?" Duo complained from the Leo suit.

"We'll win with justice on our side," Wufei said from his Virgo suit. "That is because you are a baka and caused Heero more pain by pushing him down so hard!"

"Just shut up, Duo," Zechs said from his Aeris.

"Others said they will join us soon, so be hopeful," Trowa added.

"Let's move out!" Quatre said, moving his Taurus through the air.

"Yeah, it's not like we can fight this battle all by ourselves!" Duo commented. "Hey, slow down, my suit can't keep up!"

"Like we care...They're already attacking," Wufei said, seeing the mobile suits.

"They seem to be attacking a single flank," Zechs added.

"Odd..." Quatre said.

"Most likely a trick," Wufei commented.

"It doesn't look like they're using all of their forces on us...Wouldn't they have used more mobile suits?" Trowa asked.

"They are moving too fast and are barely attacking us," Duo added.

"It looks as if they're trying to make it look as if they're attacking while not depleting their forces at all!" Quatre exclaimed.

"Tell me why couldn't I get the extra Aeris?" Duo asked, whining.

"You've caused enough trouble today, so I don't want to hear it," Zechs quipped.

"But it moves at the speed of a snail!" Duo whined.

"Something's not right..." Trowa said.

"Do they have back-up forces somewhere?" Wufei questioned.

"Maybe, or they plan to attack from somewhere else soon," Noin suggested.

"That is probably true. But whom would they attack? They said they wanted to attack Relena..." Zechs added.

"Maybe they are trying to destroy the mansion. Their attack movement says that they are," Duo replied.

"So they're obviously not here to attack Relena-sama...But who would they attack?" Trowa asked.

"No, it can't be..." Wufei said, realizing their true target.

"No, it's Heero they're attacking!" Quatre answered in disbelief.

"But if we let up our attack, others will die," Wufei added.

"They put us in this trap on purpose," Zechs stated.

"Our only solution is to split up. Zechs, Noin, Duo, and Trowa; you keep these troops at bay. Wufei and I will go and protect Heero and Relena," Quatre said.

"Move out!" Wufei ordered. Wufei and Quatre back away with their Gundams and abandon them, heading for the mansion. Wufei and Quatre run upstairs to Relena's room.

"Any trouble, yet?" Wufei asked, entering the room. Relena still lay asleep, pale and weak. Heero was slowly waking up, despite the sedatives.

"What's wrong?" Sally asked.

"They're not after Relena. They're after Heero this time. It's all a trap!" Quatre replied.

"More guns...under bed…if need.. " Heero said weakly.

"They're...after Heero...aren't they?…" Relena questioned, stirring.

"Yes," Wufei answered, holding up his gun.

"I told you!!!! I told...you this would happen!!!!" Relena screamed hysterically, causing Heero to immediately awaken, worried again.

"They coming... I heard it all," Heero said. "Wufei, I...want my gun..."

"You...can't...fight...like that!" Relena said, taking Heero's hand weakly in hers, trying to protect him.

"I must...help..." Heero replied.

'"But you'll die!...I can't...let you die!...They'll kill you..." she replied, beginning to sob.

"I will stay in this room and protect you if they get past them..." Heero responded.

"Heero...I can't let you...protect me...! You always have...It's my turn to...protect you...Don't you remember...what I said?" Relena said, limply holding his arm.

"Yes…but…I must... I am a better shot than you..." Heero stated, sitting on the side of the bed.

"Well, whoever needs another, I got plenty from Heero's bed," Wufei said, entering the room with ammunition.

Relena got up from her bed stubbornly, leaning on the bedpost for support.

"Please stay, Relena…And Sally, I don't want you to say I am doing this..." Heero said, getting up and taking a gun from the floor. He still clutched his stomach with his left arm.

"Heero, we've got to protect you! You're the one who's injured!" Sally quipped.

"I have been through worse..." he replied.

Relena slowly stumbled toward the pile of guns, falling to the floor as she reached it. "I...will...protect...you.... I can't stay here...and watch you die!" she said.

"Please, Relena you will only…cause me more pain…by fighting... I know our promise…but please..." Heero commented.

"No sign of anyone yet..." Quatre said from outside in the hallway, behind a potted plant.

"Nor here," Wufei said hiding in the room behind the huge dresser. Heero took a position behind the door. Relena picked up a lighter gun, hoping it wouldn't weigh her arm down too much. Sally walked over and took one herself. She hid behind the nightstand, which was near the window. She was guarding the window.

"I can't let...you die...I promised...I would protect you...I'll do it with my life!" Relena commented.

"They are coming…They are downstairs...Get ready, Quatre..." Heero said, cocking his gun.

Relena unsteadily made ready her gun, but the contents of the dream came into her mind again, horrifically vivid.

"Noo!!" she screamed loudly.

"They will hear you," Heero commented.

"I'm sorry..." she said, steadying herself.

Quatre aimed for the stairs as a shadow started coming into view. After not recognizing the person, he fired. Relena silently waited, holding the gun in her hands, ready to fire it. A yell of pain was heard from the hall. She silently prayed that Heero would make it through this battle. Footsteps continued to come their way. Relena aimed her gun as the footsteps got closer, aiming at the shadow coming towards them.

"We have no time to worry over Quatre…Even though it sounds harsh," Wufei commented as he heard Quatre's recognizable yell.

"I guess you're right...but we'll check on him afterward," Relena replied. Heero aimed his gun through the small opening between the door and the doorframe. The shadow neared them, and Relena aimed as the shadow's source came into view, and she fired. The shadow jumped at the last second and landed in the middle of the room. Wufei, Sally, and Heero started opening fire on her, but she kept jumping. Relena locked on the female assassin and fired, wounding her in the leg.

"Even if you stop me, there will be more..." the assassin said, jumping and aiming for Heero. Relena suddenly jumped in front of Heero, taking the bullet in her own flesh.

"Relena!!" Heero yelled. He aimed and fired toward the assassin, killing her, his breathing labored and his eyes wide in shock. Relena fell down on the ground in front of Heero, pale again.

"Relena, speak to me.." he said, taking her in his arms.

"Heero.." she said, looking up to him. "I promised I would protect you..." She closed her eyes.

"Don't leave me…" he said as Sally knelt beside them.

"I'll try not to..." she said, going unconscious.

"Watch out!!" Wufei yelled, rolling to the side and killing another assassin.

"Sally, isn't there anything we can do?" Heero asked, trying to hold back his emotional pain.

"For now, this is the only thing we can do. I'll take her to the medical wing," Sally said, taking Relena and leaving the room hastily.

"We have to move from here... They know that we are in here..." Wufei said, following Sally. "Heero and I will follow you with Quatre."

"You're okay, right, Heero?" Quatre asked, rubbing his head.

Heero walked with his eyes downcast. His stomach started hurting him, and he held onto it with his arm. He showed no pain and looked lifeless as he continued forward. "Hn…"

"Relena got shot...?" Quatre asked as he laid eyes on her bleeding form.

"Yes...She took a bullet for him.." Wufei replied.

"I see..." Quatre said, his eyes saddening.

"What happened to you back there? Get hit on the head or something?" Wufei asked, looking to Quatre.

"Yeah... Someone from behind hit me with a gun," Quatre replied.

"I hope we can get her there in time," Sally said.

"Then what are you walking for?!" Heero questioned loudly, increasing his pace to a run. Wufei and Quatre followed suit.

Sally looked down at the figure in her arms, noticing again her paleness and her emaciated state, quickening her pace to a run. "You're right." Gunshots are fired off from somewhere, but none hit their marks.

"They're on to us!!" Sally said.

Heero stopped and aimed his gun. "Go on, I won't let them get closer," he said hurriedly.

They made it to the medical wing, picking a room out that seemed suitable, then Sally hooked Relena to monitors and an IV.

"I am going to go back to help Heero," Wufei said, leaving the room.

"What do I need to do?" Quatre asked.

"Go fetch some blood...She's losing a lot. We're going to need to perform surgery to get this out," Sally replied.

"Right," Quatre said, running off for type A blood.

"It's too risky to take her out of here..." Sally said, taking out a scalpel and opening the wound to remove the bullet.

"I found it," Quatre said, handing Sally the blood.

"Thank you, Quatre. I'm going to need you to ward off any other assassins," Sally said, taking it.

"I am on it. I will try to shut this area off," Quatre said, running off to another room (2).

Sally removed the bullet and closed up the wound, then hooked Relena to the tube that would send much needed blood into her. "There...Let's hope that helps..."

"The Peacecraft mansion will be locked down in one minute. All personnel, please go to your stations," an intercom sounded.

"This place has got to be protected," Wufei said, shooting in strategic points along the medical wing.

Heero shot down another person. He ran from the main hall to the medical wing before the metal gates and doors sealed him off. A small change began to appear in the monitors. Relena regained a bit of her color, the blood helping her regain health slowly.

"Heero, over here!" Wufei cried, spotting Heero.

"Coming…" Heero said, weakly clutching his side.

"Are you alright?" Quatre asked, putting the gun to his side and looking concernedly at Heero. Heero shook his head in response. "Let me help you...It's been a long day..." He gently lifted Heero's arm, carefully and put it over his shoulders, helping him walk back to the medical room.

"What happened? Sally, we've got another one for you!" Wufei said, noticing dark red staining his tank top and some on his jeans.

"Get him to the table," Sally said, turning to face them.

"One of the female assassins stabbed me..." Heero answered.

"You should have told us...It could be really serious.." Quatre said, putting him on the table near Relena.

"Sorry," Heero replied.

Sally began to close up Heero's wound carefully, trying to inflict as minimal pain as possible. "Don't worry. You're not the one I'm worried about." She finished. "Done. You need to rest up. I'll take care of Relena- sama."

"The residence is secure now...How is she?" Quatre asked.

"She seems to be improving...But she's got a while to go," Sally answered, turning to Quatre. Relena's pulse elevated.

"Is she trying to wake up?" Heero questioned.

"I hope, for both their sakes, that she'll be alright...." Wufei commented.

"Looks like it," Quatre said, looking hopeful.

"Why are they after me?" Heero mumbled out loud, not noticing he did so.

"Well, next time we can't leave you two by yourselves, injured like that," Sally responded.

"We'll be sure to keep a better watch...It was my failure...I should have been able to figure out their intentions earlier," Quatre added.

"No, when the Barton Family is at work, you can't figure it out ahead of time..." Heero responded.

"Yes...But it's still my fault." Quatre retorted. Heero thought for a moment. Then his eyes grew as big as saucers.

"What's wrong?" Wufei asked.

"Looks like he figured it out..." Sally replied.

"I know too much…" Heero said. Relena began to move, still pale, and her eyes fluttered open. "They are taking me down just like father..."

Relena tried to get up out of bed, sitting up abruptly, although weak. "We can't let that happen!"

"Lie down...please..." Heero said. Relena lay herself back into the bed, hurting a little.

"That means you too, Heero. We need to keep on watch," Quatre quipped.

Reluctantly, Heero lay back against the sheets. His arm lay across his stomach. "You guys just won't let me be stubborn, will you?"

"Not when you are like this!" Sally retorted.

"They will attempt to hack into the system now and break the system," Heero commented.

"I'm on that now," Wufei said, picking up his Preventer laptop.

"Heero, do you know whom the person might be who is trying to kill you?" Quatre asked. Relena intertwined her hand in Heero's, trying to comfort him.

"The only Barton left, Dreia, daughter of Dekim..." Heero answered.

"I'll put a heavier lock on the system. We need it with her around.." Wufei commented.

"It gets worse... She leads a group of assassins called the Dark Messengers... What we have faced now are rookies as far as they are concerned. The elite ones haven't even shown up yet..." Heero continued. Relena tightened her grip on Heero's hand.

"We won't let anything happen. We won't allow her to rule this world," Sally replied. The other Gundam pilots came in from the finished battle.

"Man, that was like not even hard!" Duo gawked at the sight in front of him. "What the Hell happened here?!"

"Assassins... And how did you find us down here and get in?" Wufei asked.

"What? We weren't supposed to just burst in a hole in the wall with our Gundams...?" Duo replied, turning red.

"Stupid they can get in here now!" Wufei yelled.

"Oh no..." Quatre said, shaking his head.

"That was Duo's doing...I tried to stop him," Trowa commented.

"Why am I getting all the blame?! I'm the bad guy?" Duo quipped.

"Now he has to pay for the repairs to the house," Zechs said, smirking.

"No!!! I don't make that kind of money!!! You must think I'm rich like you!" Duo yelled, holding the sides of his head in fright.

"They're coming!" Heero said, sitting up, abruptly.

"Heero!" Relena said, trying to pull him back down, weakly.

"Sorry. Forgot," Heero said, hitting the sheets.

"I bet you did, stubborn..." she quipped.

"Now looked what you have caused, baka onna!!" Wufei yelled, looking to Duo.

"Let's block off the other doors more securely," Quatre stated.

"We worked so hard to get them off our tails, too!!" Wufei added.

"Your lock wasn't tight enough, Wuffers!" Duo retorted.

"I am not a waffle!!!" Wufei yelled, turning red. Duo ran out before Wufei got a chance to run after him.

"Come on, we can't worry about that right now," Sally commented.

"I will see what I can do about the hole in the wall," Wufei said, running off.

"I will guard in this area," Zechs said, taking out his gun.

"I'll guard the both of you," Quatre said, walking out not too far from the room.

"You won't be mad if I shot them from the bed?" Heero asked, looking at his gun.

"You have to protect yourself," Relena answered. She clung very closely to him, having risen from her horizontal position on the bed.

"I will go help Quatre and Duo," Trowa said, running off.

"Now look who is being stubborn and moving around..." Heero said, looking to Relena.

"You're the one that...has a wound...in his side and wants...to keep fighting..." she said, smiling softly at him.

"If I don't fight, then I will kick myself in the morning," he replied, smirking slightly.

She smiled as she wrapped her fragile arms from the back of his shoulders to his neck protectively. "I suppose you will...I know you too well.."

"Well, isn't that sweet?" Duo said, looking in.

Relena looked up at Duo, her arms still wrapped around Heero. "Shouldn't you be working?"

"Oh, yeah..." Duo replied, grinning and walking off, looking to the ceiling.

She shook her head weakly, the movement causing her head to hurt a bit. "Heero...Are you afraid?"

"No," he answered.

She turned his face towards hers, looking into his Prussian blue gaze penetratingly. "Really?"

"Why would I be? If I were, you would just worry more. Remember, Duo gave the nickname 'Perfect Soldier,'" he said, smiling a bit.

She held him more closely, trying her best to protect him in his weakened state. "I feel so guilty that you have to live up to such a title...I wish I could take all your burdens for you."

"You wouldn't want them..." he replied.

"If it could make all your pain go away...I'd do anything," she closed her eyes, resting on his shoulder. "Because I love you…"

"I thank you, but..." he started.

"I don't want to lose you...I was so scared...And I won't let that happen...I refuse to allow it," she responded.

"That won't happen because I am too stubborn to die..." he said, smiling.

"That's true...And I'm sure you've noticed I am too," she said, smiling.

"Makes me wonder…" he said, closing his eyes.

She felt a pain in her stomach, again joined in their special link perfectly. "How so?"

He grimaced and clinched his stomach. "How I could be trained to do that and you not so? And how can you cringe when my stomach hurts me."

She smiled, hiding the pain successfully. "I don't know...But it's definitely a good thing. It's strange…" She held him more closely. "I love you...And whatever happens to me is okay...as long as you live."

"Aishiteru.." he said, cringing in pain and not hiding it.

She brushed a few stubborn bangs from his face, a tear running down her face. "I hate to see you like this..."

"Thanks... I think I have overworked myself again.." he replied, cringing again.

"You're quite good at that," she stated. "I'll be destroyed before you will be…"

"My stomach it is," he cringes.

She held hers tightly in pain. "I know. I feel it too."

"It is like before in your room," he cringes again. She sighed, trying to forget the pain. Relena lifted his chin, ignoring the pain, leaving her mouth to rest on his. Heero moaned a bit in his throat, but remained quiet, accepting her kiss. She saddened, seeing his lack of response, then removed her face from his, moving away from him. "I'm sorry," she said.

"No, it's okay... I needed that," he said, smiling weakly.

"You're not just saying that?" she said, forcing a smile. He shook his head in response. She warily shifted back to him, a little uneasy. "Are you sure? I'm not hurting you...?"

"No, you are not...It's my own body hurting me..." he replied. She winced in pain as another surge moved through her body. She tried to hide it from him so he wouldn't worry again. His eyes closed, and his face paled, and he was clinching his stomach harder. She looked at him worriedly, then placed her hand gently on his as she held him. "I'll protect you...even if it means I die…" she said.

"Don't say things like that, but I thank you..." he responded.

"I won't let you die!" she stated. She held him more tightly. He was her only anchor, everything she lived for, and everything she would die for. He intertwined his hand in hers and smiled weakly, feeling another wave of pain. "I am too stubborn to die, remember?" She smirked slightly, knowing he had no idea of what she really meant. If he died, she knew she couldn't live…He started trembling slightly out of his own control.

Her own face becomes extremely pale as her worry intensifies. "Heero?"

"Daijoubu desu..." Heero replied weakly.

She began to sob uncontrollably, the details of the dream coming back to her. "No, I can't let that happen!"

"Happening like before…hurts like hell...Maybe we should get Sally," he said, grimacing.

She got out of bed, still in pain and hardly able to get around. "I'll go get her," she said, leaving before he could protest. Outside, further down the hall, gunshots could be heard. Relena hid herself and spotted Sally at a desk in her office. Relena barely held herself up as she reached Sally. "I need…your help…" She held herself up using the doorknob, pale as chalk with an exhausted look on her face.

"Relena! You shouldn't be up!" Sally said, taking Relena in her arms and heading back to the room.

"Heero's...in...pain again... Please help him!..." Relena pleaded, relenting to Sally's grip, but not able to struggle against her. Sally nodded and almost ran back to the room, placing Relena back on the bed.

"Where are you in pain? How bad is it?" Sally asked, looking at Heero worriedly, surveying him.

"Stomach…terrible…almost like before.." he replied between the waves of pain.

Sally took out a vial and syringe, filling it again with pain medication. "I'm going to have to give you this so I can check you out, I'm afraid." She injected the contents into him.

"Of what?" he asked, moaning slightly.

"Don't worry. It's just a little morphine. You're going to have to be calmer this time when I examine you," Sally answered. He nodded in response. Moments later, his muscles relaxed as the medicine took effect. Sally stood near the bed, observing him as the medicine took effect, then began examining him, trying her best to be gentle. He ignored the very slight pain her hands caused him and hid it. Relena held Heero to herself closely, trying her best to protect him. Heero squeezed her hand in response. Sally finished the examination.

"Looks like your wounds have reopened again, kid. You've got to be careful," Sally said.

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but to fight," Heero replied.

"Try your best not to overwork yourself. Your body is very fragile right now. You can't just pick up and move like you normally do," Sally responded.

"Fragile and I don't mix very well..." Heero said, closing his eyes.

"I know, Heero, but it will have to work for now. You need to get well," Sally said, turning to Relena. "Now ring the bell next time, Relena. I don't want to see you pushing yourself either."

Relena rested on Heero's weak form, unable to hold herself upright. "I'll try," she replied.

"Before you go…How is the battle going?" Heero asked, his eyes still closed.

"It's going well now. They're firing shots mostly to scare any assassins away, or they're just patrolling. I've got the security lock back on the system, and the door is being repaired," Sally answered, turning back to them. Heero nodded in return. His muscles relaxed completely as the medication induced him into a light slumber. His mouth opened very slightly as he breathed lightly in his sleep. Relena surrendered herself unwillingly into the world of dreams, not succeeding in her attempt to stay conscious.

--To Be Continued...

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(1) - Newport City is the capital of Sanc Kingdom.

(2) - I assume the mansion has a lock down system because the Peacecrafts are always prepared.