Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Flood ❯ df2 ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, only this fanfiction piece.

 

Recap: `She must be desperate to leave here if she is willing to have me around her,' Quatre mused to himself. Dorothy usually found some sort of excuse to get out of whatever room or whatever event that was going to put the two of them together. Once she had apologized for injuring him, Dorothy had gone out of her way to avoid him.

Dorothy was silently agreeing with Quatre's assessment of her, but she was more than willing to put up with her emotions and Quatre if it meant leaving the hospital; heck, she would even put up with Barton if it meant her freedom.

 

Betaed by filledelmer:

 

Dark Flood

 

Chapter Two

Distant Memories

 

 

Dorothy suffered through her company for a few more minutes until Sally shooed everyone out of the room, so she could exam Dorothy. Dorothy then suffered through a slow and meticulous exam. Finally, Sally let her be; then Quatre was back by her side.

 

Wufie came back in with Sally a few minutes later to grill Dorothy for information on the men that had attacked the two girls. Dorothy had nothing to add to Relena's story. She could give logistics, but she never saw any faces either. Wufie, frustrated by the lack of information, had snarled something about woman incompetence in general and had stormed off.

 

Sally shook her head and spoke up for the first time of the interview. “Dorothy, if you remember anything, please tell Quatre or whoever is with you to get in contact with Wufie or me. We want to get these men before they try for Relena again.” Sally touched Dorothy's arm, silently noting that Dorothy had flinched ever so slightly from the touch.

 

“I leave her to you, Quatre.” Sally smiled and winked at Quatre as her usual good humor returned and walked out the door after her partner.

 

“Where is Miss Relena?” Dorothy turned her attention to Quatre, who was staring out one of the windows in the room.

 

“Heero took her home. It isn't safe for her to stay here any longer,” Quatre answered absently. Dorothy looked at him curiously; he was not acting in his usual manner. He looked worried as usual, but his attention was clearly somewhere else.

 

 

Sally shook her head as she led her irritated partner down the medical wing towards the main base. She could practically feel him seething behind her. He was being unreasonable again.

 

Flash Back

 

“I warned you, Wufie, that anyone who is that concerned with survival isn't going to care about who is shooting at them. All they are going to care about is getting out of the way. Give the girl a break.”

 

Sally glanced at her partner as she came out of Dorothy's room. They continued down the hall. She understood Wufie had wanted information, but Dorothy did not posses it. Wufie had snarled something about women in general again. Then he had slammed his hand into the wall and stormed off. Sally, sighing, hurried after him.

 

End of Flash back

 

 

 

Wufie finally turned to look at his partner.

“How does Une expect us to find eight masked men who are proclaiming that Relena is the perfect dove and the rightful ruler of peace?” Wufie looked annoyed at the thought of having to look for a needle in a haystack.

 

Sally sighed loudly into the empty hallway. Wufie shot his partner a look.

 

“Look Wufie, I am starting to think this is a problem that we should bring in some special help for, you know. If one of the protectors has time, maybe they should start lending some of it,” Sally said, speaking slightly in code.

 

Wufie nodded slowly. “I'll see what I can do. Maybe we are just not looking in the correct place,” he said with a slight frown.

 

They continued down the hall unaware they were being watched

 

----------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

 

Dorothy, unnerved by the silence of the room, finally shifted to find a more comfortable position on the bed. Her slight movement caught Quatre attention, and he moved to her side.

 

“What's wrong, Miss Dorothy?” Quatre question quietly.

 

Dorothy quickly shook her head negatively, too tired to form a sentence.

“Would you like me to turn off the lights for a few minutes?” Quatre asked as he gently brushed some of Dorothy's hair out of her face.

 

“Sure.” Dorothy said softly. Quatre smiled and turned off the light. The room now plunged into mostly darkness, and Quatre reclaimed his seat by Dorothy's bed. Dorothy's eyes begged to be closed, if only for a moment; so, Dorothy sighed and closed her eyes, giving into the nagging feeling. Seconds later, she was sound asleep.

 

 

 

 

“Mama? Where are you?” eight year- old Dorothy called, as she tugged nervously on her waist length hair.

 

She wandered around her family's ancestral chateau looking for her mother.

 

“Mama?” Dorothy called out again, more nervous now than before.

 

She could not find her mother anywhere. She was getting a bad feeling from this.

 

Mama was always sitting in the family sitting room staring out into the water. She had not changed this routine since they had learned Father had died. Dorothy was desperate to find her mother; Grandfather had been so angry the last time that Mama had skipped a meal. It was almost dinnertime, and Dorothy still could not find her mother. Grandfather would be really angry if Mother didn't come to dinner again.

 

“Please, Mama.” Dorothy whispered, wishing she knew where her mother was hiding.

 

Finally, with no other place to check, Dorothy headed towards her parents' room—a room which used to be filled with joy, but for the last two years had been filled with sadness— even the walls seemed to cry out for her father's presence. She did not enter this room very often any more; Mama would get angry, and Dorothy would rather Mother be sad than angry. Mother was so gentle and kind; sadness suited her better than anger, but then laughter and joy fitted her mother better than the overwhelming sadness she suffered from now. Dorothy stopped in front of the door and silently prepared her self for a scolding as she gently and hesitantly pushed open the door. What met her eyes was not what she expected in the least. She let out a cry of anguish and rushed into the room, drop to her knees and tried picking up her mother's silent form.

 

“Mama! Mama, wake up! Get off the floor. Mama, please, move!” Dorothy was shaking her mother trying to wake her.

 

Dorothy accidentally kicked a small bottle, and it rolled away from her mother's outstretched hand, further into the room. Dorothy barely spared the bottle a glance. Mother was so cold. Dorothy dragged a couple blankets off the bed and tried wrapping her Mother up in the blankets to try to keep her warm.

 

“I'll be right back, Mama! I am going to go get Grandfather.” Dorothy jumped up from her knees and ran from the room towards the study where she knew her Grandfather was working. Dorothy did not even knock on the door but shoved it open violently

 

“Grandfather, something's wrong with Mama! She is lying on the floor and she won't wake up! She is really, really cold! Grandfather, what are we going to do! What's wrong with her?” Dorothy cried out, clearly distraught.

 

Her grandfather slowly came to his feet.

 

“Where is she Dorothy?” he asked calmly.

 

The room was filled with men, but Dorothy barely spared them a glance in her effort to make her grandfather understand how sick Mother was.

 

“In her room, Grandfather, please, I think something is very wrong with her.” Dorothy tried to prod her Grandfather along.

 

She waited impatiently as her grandfather then excused himself from the room and walked toward the family area of the house. Dorothy trailed along behind him, wishing that he would hurry up and help her mother.

 

Duke Dermail leaned over his only daughter and checked her pulse. He frowned slightly and then called an ambulance.

 

The next few hours were a blur, but they seemed to pass by so slowly. Dorothy, bored by the first half an hour of sitting, silently began to swing her feet—anything to keep herself amused.

 

“Dorothy, sit still; ladies do not fidget.” Grandmother's stern voice cut into Dorothy's fantasy world.

 

“Yes, Grandmother,” Dorothy replied dutifully, but inwardly, she was rolling her eyes.

 

After waiting for hours, Grandfather walked down the hall towards them. Then he said, “She is gone; they could do nothing for her. It is time to leave.”

 

Grandmother simply stood up. Dorothy panicked slightly for a moment.

 

“Wait a moment, where will I stay?” Dorothy may be only eight years-old, but she understood death. Her favorite cousin had explained why her father was gone and why he was not coming back.

 

Dorothy's eyes were closed, keeping tears behind closed lids. She was a big girl; she was not going to cry—not for herself or for Mother or even Father. It did not matter anymore.

 

“You will remain with us, Dorothy. Now be silent and get into the car,” her Grandmother said, her word final.

 

Dorothy nodded, stood up, and turned away from where her mother had been taken.

 

`Good-bye, Mother, may you find your way to Father,' Dorothy whispered in her mind. Strong and unemotional Dorothy walked out of the hospital and head back to the only home she knew—a home completely void of her family.

_________________________________________________________________ _______

 

A gentle hand pulled Dorothy back to the surface. Blinking hard, Dorothy finally managed to make out Quatre's face in the gloom.

 

“Quatre?” Dorothy asked groggily.

 

“What's wrong, you were crying out in your sleep.” Quatre brushed loose strands of hair back. His tender voice made Dorothy want to snuggle into the blankets. For the first time in, well, forever, she felt safe. Dorothy silently struggled between accepting his gentle feelings or pushing him farther away and burying herself back down behind the normal Dorothy.

 

Quatre oblivious to Dorothy's mental battle continued stroking her hair. He wouldn't tell her that she had scared him half to death calling out for her mother. Quatre was beginning to think that her mother had something to do with her fear of hospitals. He was not sure if he should brave her wrath to find out either; it was probably a sticky topic.

 

`Just like Father and I are.'

 

Quatre was struck once again at how similar their lives had been. He knew that Dorothy did not have any family left; she had made that fact clear on Libra, and he knew that she stayed in the capital area now more than her ancestral home. He knew that she never talked about her family, but with this group, it was kind of an unwritten law.

 

“Quatre, may I ask you something?” Dorothy's question came out of the blue and western sky.

 

Quatre, slightly startled out of his mental musing, blinked rapidly.

 

“Yes, Miss Dorothy?” Quatre said softly.

 

“What exactly did I say when I was asleep?” Dorothy requested.

 

“You talked about your mother. You just kept mumbling “Mama” over and over again. I didn't want to wake you until you started sounding upset,” Quatre soothed quickly trying to put her busy mind at easy.

 

“I see. Nothing else?” Dorothy requested, hoping to make sure that she had kept the damage to a minimum.

 

“That all I promise.” Quatre smiled wryly at her lack of trust.

 

Dorothy nodded.

 

“Please don't tell Miss Relena. She is worried about me as it is; she will worry more if she thinks I am talking about my mother in my sleep,” Dorothy finally requested.

 

Quatre nodded his head, but his curiosity at her request was practically killing him.

 

“Yo, Q-man, time for a switching of the guard. Sally said that if you have some spare time and if you could drop by her office for a minute, she has a question or two for ya,” Duo Maxwell said as he strolled into the room and then balanced back on his heels.

 

“Miss Dorothy, if you need anything, please have the front desk call for me. I left them instructions on how to reach me.” Quatre brushed her hair back once more.

 

“Sleep well,” Quatre said as he stood up reluctantly.

 

Dorothy nodded, and Duo grinned at both of them.

 

“Aww, aint that cute? Don't worry Q- man I'll take good care of your little lady.” Duo winked at him and then strolled forward and took Quatre's seat. He frowned and then tugged the chair back around, sat down, and smiled at Dorothy's slightly startled face.

 

“Hi ya, Princess,” Duo greeted her.

 

“Hello, Maxwell.” Dorothy resisted rolling her eyes at his huge grin.

 

Duo's smile began to loss some of its power.

 

“Look Q's gotta have some sleep. He'll be back tomorrow. He always checks in on you when he isn't with Trowa or with Relena. So relax, kay, babe?” Duo rocked back in his chair.

 

“I am not worried about Quatre. I do not need a baby sitter. I can take care of my self,” Dorothy snapped angrily.

 

Duo rolled his eyes. “Umm… so I would like to point out that I totally saw the two of you all over each other earlier.” Duo tried to not to laugh at the outraged expression on Dorothy's face.

 

“What! He was trying to help me; that's all,” Dorothy tried to defend her self.

 

“Umm, sure; that's what they all say.” Duo smirked at Dorothy.

 

“Just go away.” Dorothy said irritated and tired of the Duo's insinuations.

 

“Sorry, babe. Can't do that. I really don't want a bunch of trigger happy people going after me, thanks, and just so ya know I'm including Relena in the trigger happy group.” Duo leaned in and smiled brightly.

 

“Then just be quiet then. You're giving me a headache,” Dorothy finally snapped losing all of her patience.

 

“Look, Princess. I guess now isn't really the time to be asking this, but I know you and Q have a history. I overheard him and Trowa talking `bout it.” Duo said slowly, leaning forward and absently tugging the bottom of his braid.

 

“What do you want, Maxwell?” Dorothy said slowly, almost hesitantly.

 

“Look, I don't know everything, but I do know that maybe you should give Q a chance and Trowa, too. They are nice guys, and they wanna help ya. Trowa thinks that you are afraid of Q. Look, maybe you are and maybe you're not,” Duo said as he held up hand at Dorothy's outraged expression.

 

“I aint saying one way or another, but I just think you should think bout it, kay?” Duo settled back in his chair.

 

Dorothy slowly and painfully pulled her self to a sitting position.

 

“I am not afraid of Trowa or Quatre. I can assure you of that.” Dorothy snapped, annoyed.

 

“So, there is nothing to think about,” Dorothy finished off as she slowly gained her feet. Her hand shot out for the side of the bed as she wobbled.

 

Duo watched her move around the room slowly.

 

“Hey, Cat lady, I don't think that you are supposed to be walking around,” Duo slowly commented.

 

“Just go away.” Dorothy murmured as she attempted the five foot gap between the bed and the far wall. She let out a little cry of distress as her legs suddenly gave out.

 

Duo moved in a blur of motion, and his arms quickly encircled her waist.

 

“Cat, you're not ready to walk,” Duo said, trying to break the news gently.

 

“I… can't… stay….here. You…, you… don't…. understand…, this…. place…, staying… here… I… would. rather… rather… die,” Dorothy managed to pant out, her breath coming out in short words.

 

Dorothy desperately tried to recompose herself.

 

“Look, Cat, breathe. Come on; let's sit on the bed, and then we can try again.” Duo smoothed a hand through her hair.

 

Dorothy jerked her head in a nod, and Duo helped her back to her bed.

 

After Dorothy caught her breath, she leveled Duo with a glare that could rival one of Heero's glares.

 

“Don't speak a word of this to anyone. Do we have an understanding?” Dorothy said slowly.

 

“Yeah, yeah, I hear ya. You aint ready, Cat. Relax, `bout 10 minutes, and I'll help ya try again, kay?” Duo stepped back from the bed.

 

Dorothy nodded and leaned heavily against her pillows.

 

 

 

 

“Miss Sally, you wanted to see me?” Quatre called out as he tapped on Sally's door.

 

“Ah, Quatre, just the man I wanted to see. Come in for a sec, will you?” Sally said, as she looked up from the paperwork on her desk.

 

Quatre stepped into the room and smiled. Sally's side of the room looked like a small tornado had come through. Wufie's side was extremely neat with three huge stacks of folders resting all around him, and he was currently looking through one of the many folders.

 

“Quatre, are you aware that we are having a little difficulty locating the people after Miss Relena? We were thinking maybe whoever wasn't on guard duty could help us look for our missing piece. We know there has got to be something we are overlooking.” Sally leaned back in her chair.

 

“I'm almost tempted to get outer space's point of view,” Sally sighed as she ran a hand through her hair.

 

“I would be happy to help. I'm sure the others would be as well,” Quatre said with a smile.

 

“Good; first thing tomorrow, we will brief you on what we have—” Sally was interrupted by Wufie's slight snort. “It isn't a lot but it's something. We know how many men attacked them, what they were wearing, and why they attacked. It's something to go off of.” Sally rolled her eyes at her partner, as he snorted again.

 

“We know nothing. We have a general idea. There are no facts,” Wufie protested.

 

“We will find them; don't worry,” Quatre said, trying to smooth the way.

 

“Are you headed for Relena's?” Sally asked, curious.

 

“Yes, Duo's already sitting with Miss Dorothy,” Quatre said nodding.

 

“You're worried about him with her, aren't you?” Sally teased him slightly.

 

“Duo is my friend; he will protect Dorothy,” Quatre said trying to defend his friend.

 

“Ah, but the real question is who is going to defend him from her.” Sally laughed at Quatre's stricken expression.

 

 

Authors note:

That is all for now dear readers a special thanks to every one who reviews or read my story sorry about the hold up. I really expected to updates this days ago.

 

Special thanks go out to my sherry twin for Beta this for me, she is amazing. That and I know she enjoys the good laugh from my spelling and grammar mistakes. I promise next time to work on the verbs

 

So any ways tell me what you think.

Later

Hugs: angelfire1