Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Dream To Reality ❯ The Black Lotus [Part 3/3]: Raw Emotion ( Chapter 15 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing

Author Notes: The finale of the 'Black Lotus' Trilogy… featuring a sweet 03/J ending… stick around.

Chapter #15: The Black Lotus [Part 3/3]: Raw Emotion

Jessica looked up at him with dull, lifeless eyes, they promptly rolled to the back of her head as the girl succumbed to her injuries and lost consciousness… Trowa since he stood beside her, caught the girl before she could hit the hard limestone floor, "We have to get her home! Now!" Sage commanded. Without second thoughts, Trowa picked the girl up as they raced for their home. Amber was in panic, what would her parents think, them returning in the middle of the night with Jessica beaten so badly. They would surely blame everything on the guys. "I knew that onna would kill herself," Wufei mumbled. "You're not helping Wufei," Mandy hissed at him.

Barely five minutes later Heero sped off, the car was at maximum throttle, doing a clean one sixty, where normally such speed would be deadly on the streets, Heero could easily keep control of the car, he was used to something faster after all. Jessica was laid across the back seat. "Shouldn't we drive her to the hospital?" Amber wondered. "Are you kidding? Her father will be alerted on a whim! One look at the injuries and he'll know it's G-force, and there is no carnival in town with a centrifuge ride powerful enough to make someone faint like that. He's smart, he'll piece it together, and then our cover is blown… we can always say she got in a cat fight with someone at the club, Jessica always picks bones with other girls for one thing or another, and now she has a big reason to pick a bone with other girls," Mandy replied. The other girls immediately understood what she meant by the reason, but it escaped the guys.

Trowa watched the girl, intently; his heart was beating in his throat. He was afraid for the girl; Heero's once spoken line struck him. 'The best way to live your life, is to act on your emotions,' Shocking the revelation was that whenever her breathing stalled, just for a second, his mind would shoot into high alert, he was afraid she would stop breathing completely. But no, her breathing was shallow, but it remained more or less even and rhythmic, although it would stall once a few seconds, undoubtedly she had lung damage, and even out cold, it subconsciously was hard for her to breathe.

Heero made record-breaking time getting home, Sage didn't bother to knock, she inserted in the key and as quickly as she could she opened the door. It was about 4 am on the clock. Trowa carried the girl upstairs and he entered her room, laying the girl on her bed.

The sounds of rapid footsteps woke Amber's parents. Elizabeth appeared from the basement, "What is going on?" she asked. "Mom… it's nothing," Amber spoke. "Dear you are an awful liar," Elizabeth warned her daughter. Amber sighed, "Jessica got into a catfight… the girl she was fighting gave her a fast one, knocking her out," Amber cringed. "And what reason did she have to fight?" William Koch appeared behind his wife. "Dad… you know Trowa, well Jess has a big… and I mean big crush on him… well… that other girl tried to lay her hands on him, and Jessica being who she is snapped at her like a mad alligator… lets just say it was snowball down the hill afterwards. We tried to separate them, but… let's just say, her boyfriends almost ganged up on us," Amber explained. "Oh lord…" Elizabeth gasped out loud moving up the stairs, although she wasn't Jessica's mother, Elizabeth Koch was good friends with the girl's father, she wanted to make sure the girl was alright, "William! Call Arthur, he has the right to know!" she called over her shoulder to her husband who nodded.

Trowa looked around the darkened room he sat in; something shining on Jessica's bedside table caught his attention. He knew he shouldn't be here, with the girl out cold and hurt so badly. But his curiosity got the better of him, he flicked on the light, turning to the bedside table, what he saw surprised him. Right there, on the bedside table was a picture frame, golden, with a cute red heart over one corner that proclaimed 'My Love' in black letters. And in the frame sat a picture of himself. He felt honored, an involuntary blush rising over his cheeks, now everything made sense to him.

Elizabeth Koch entered the room a second later and found him standing there, with the back to the door, starring intently at the picture frame. "Trowa?" she asked. He snapped out of his reverie, "Oh sorry Mrs. Koch," he left the room quickly. Heading downstairs. Elizabeth moved closer to the girl, she saw no apparent bruises, but obviously the girl had something wrong with her, because she was out cold, and breathing very shallowly. Elizabeth took a seat beside her, she was no doctor, and so she had to wait for the arrival of Arthur Bailey, Jessica's father.

Thirty Minutes later, everyone heard a car pull over in the driveway, the guys have retreated to their attic, after having found that Jessica's parents will be coming over. Quatre felt awful, "It's all our fault you guys… we shouldn't have let her fight, she isn't trained properly," he spoke in a quiet voice. "No kidding, and here I thought I finally found someone who shared my liking for fine food," Duo added, his own head hung low, and even the happy-go-lucky pilot couldn't muster a smile. "That onna isn't as weak as the rest, she'll pull through," Wufei added. They heard voices from below and moved closer to the drop-down stairs.

Arthur Bailey followed by his wife entered Jessica's room. Helena Bailey immediately rushed to her daughter's side taking her hand. Arthur opened his briefcase and began a basic checkup.

Trowa watched them enter the room hauntingly; he wanted to be right there with the girl, the other pilots watched him. Duo smiled a bit, "Don't worry bud… she'll be ok, she aint going to leave you just yet," he spoke, and clapped Trowa on the shoulder. He spared Duo a strange glance but then shook his head, the braided pilot was right; at least Trowa hoped he was.

The other girls gathered by Jessica's room, like in a waiting room, awaiting anxiously to find if Jessica's father finds anything serious with the girl. Amber glanced up at the attic sadly. Jessica's father exited the room, "There is some bruising, and she's breathing shallow, but nothing serious, she should wake up soon, it would appear that she just exhausted herself with the catfight and the dancing," He said. The girls immediately smiled, "Jess was always rowdy, but that girl tonight… damn, she has a hell of a hook punch," Mandy stated. "Next time she starts picking a fight like that, stop her, she'll get herself killed that way," William spoke. "Will do…" Amber spoke. Mrs. Bailey appeared, satisfied that her daughter was ok. The adults moved down to the living room. Amber used the opportunity to vanish in the attic.

The guys were sitting around on their beds, deep in thought. "She'll be ok… just exhausted herself, of course you know what G-force does better then other people, she overdid it a bit, but she'll be ok, needs some rest and relaxation, mark my words… in two days, she'll be her feisty self again," Amber stated. "The adults are downstairs now, so if one of you wants to see her…" Amber began. Trowa got up he had to see her, he had to make sure she was ok for himself.

Making silent steps to her room he snuck in. Jessica was still on the bed, out cold. He sat by her side, and took one hand in his, she looked a lot like sleeping beauty to him, with her long auburn hair cascading about her face, highlighted by the uncharacteristically low moon. Slowly he edged out of the room, not wanting to be caught by her parents, he knew she was in the best of hands, after all her father was a surgeon, he would know trouble when he saw it. He exited the room and moved back to attic silently.

The gang stayed at home, because of their friend was still out cold, but also because the guys couldn't sneak out. Arthur Bailey left for work, leaving his wife to stay with Jessica. Currently she was sitting at her daughter's side, Jessica's breathing evened out and now she was probably sleeping, rather then out cold.

Jessica woke up slowly, at first she noticed that the pain in her arms subsided, and she no longer felt nauseous. Her legs however still felt numb. Her throat was dry as a desert and felt a bit sandy. 'They got me home,' she thought. The image of the black lotus sprung to mind, she instantly winced at the memory. "Honey you're awake!" she heard a voice. "Mom?" Jessica's eyes flew open and focused on her mother. "Yes dear… William called as soon as the girls brought you in," she replied. "Did you see the… never mind," Jessica mentally kicked herself; her mother was better off without seeing the guys just yet. "See who?" Helena wondered. "I said never mind, just my five other friends," Jessica bit her lip a bit. "Oh Elizabeth said that one boy carried you into the house, who was he?" Helena wondered. Jessica raked her mind, "How would I know mom… I was out cold, did she tell you what he looked like?" Jessica was curious, who of them would carry her, she knew it wasn't Wufei, maybe Heero, he owed her a few, Duo probably wasn't strong enough, Trowa maybe, and Quatre may perhaps but highly unlikely.

"Hmm… she didn't say, but she did say one thing, he seemed very concerned, his green eyes just shone it," Helena without knowing it shocked her daughter. Jessica blushed, not only for one thing that it was Trowa, but another that he seemed concerned with her, "Mom… that guy, he's a friend of mine, actually… I kind of have a crush on him," she said. Helena smiled, "Oh he's the one you beat the girl up for?" Jessica quirked eyebrow but then she realized it must be one of the cover-up the girls invented, "Yea… she practically wanted to make out with him, I aint not letting some slut have my cutie," she bit her lip, what if her mother sees the guys.

"Oh a gentleman, I'd like to meet him," Helena enjoyed the look of horror on her daughter's face, obviously he didn't yet know that the girl liked him, "Of course whenever you feel it is the day to… 'Meet the parents' ok?" she stood up and left her daughter's side chuckling to herself.

By morning, the girls thought it was safe to introduce Jessica's mother to the guys. Amber walked the woman to the living room, "Mrs. Bailey, we want to introduce you to our other friends, yes they are guys, but they are cool," Amber motioned the woman to sit down. The guys appeared in the doorway. Mrs. Bailey looked over them, her first impression was in three words, 'Calm and strong,' and then she took the time to inspect them closely. Her eyes paused on the tallest one, more particularly his green eyes, she immediately understood that he was the one Jessica had a crush on, she also admitted to herself that compared to the other guys in Jessica's school, this one looked like a real find.

"Mrs. Bailey, this is Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Trowa Barton, Quatre Winner, and Wufei Chang," Amber introduced them, each in turn nodded. "It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am," Quatre spoke up. "Yea… pleasure to meet you Mrs. Bailey," Duo chimed in. She smiled at them, nice boys, albeit three were quiet, but she didn't mind that at all.

"Is this the way you guys greet my mother? For shame!" a voice called. The guys whirled around. There stood Jessica, clothed in her usual house attire, one hand on her hip, the other hanging down her side. Her auburn hair wasn't tied back, but it was brushed, it looked like a lion's mane how it pooled around her neck. "Jessica!" Mrs. Bailey instantly stood up, "Mom I'm fine… I lost consciousness… don't act like I was shot!" Jessica replied. "Damn, you gave us a scare girl," Duo chimed, "I never seen T-man so worried," he added as an afterthought. Trowa nearly spluttered, he glared at Duo. Jessica laughed, "Duo stop terrorizing the guys, mom really I'm fine," she said. "Oh well, I think I'll go help Elizabeth with breakfast," Helena moved to the kitchen.

"Guys… I have to thank you for last night," Jessica spoke, meaningfully looking at Trowa with that 'I know everything' look of hers. "That's what are friends for," Sage clapped her on the back and moved to the kitchen to help the adults. "Oh well, I have to do my homework," Amber moved upstairs. "Me too! AMBER wait! You promised you would help me with Biology!" Mandy quickly vanished upstairs. "Well I think I'll get going now, my parents will kill me when they find out I was over here," Katie grabbed her overcoat and left. "I'm going to see if breakfast is done," Duo also vanished in the kitchen, Quatre silently followed, knowing him he was going to try and help with the food. Heero and Wufei wordlessly vanished upstairs leaving Jessica alone with Trowa.

"Trowa, can I have a word with you?" Jessica led him to the living room. "About last night, you really didn't have to carry me you know," she stated. Trowa raised an eyebrow, wondering how she knew, Jessica seemingly read his mind, "Mom told me all about it," she stated. "It was the civil thing to do," Trowa replied. Jessica smiled, she placed a hand on his shoulder, "Thanks anyways, it was… sweet of you," she was battling temptation to lean over and kiss him again, he deserved it.

"Jessica, did Phoenix show you anything? By the look you had last night, I would think it did," He asked next. "It showed me a black lotus, the symbol of death, I don't know why, but I know for sure that it doesn't mean I'm leaving this world any time soon, sure as hell I'm not. I have things and people to live for. Thanks for your concern, it's… sweet," she smiled at him again. "I still can't believe you tamed the Zero System," He added. "I hate to brag, but some people are just naturals at that stuff," Jessica leaned over, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, giving him a warm hug. Trowa was shocked for a second but then he hugged her back, he knew her secret, and all made sense to him, she was suppressing her true emotions behind the Amazon façade.

Jessica then bolted away, realizing what she was doing, "I'm sorry Trowa," She told him. "It's ok Jess, I seen your picture frame, I know," he told her. Jessica spluttered, "I'm sorry… I know I promised…" he quieted her with a kiss. Jessica was blown away, at first she was shocked but slowly she began to kiss him back. The kiss ended as abruptly as it began, Jessica promptly went red, and even he was blushing a bit, "What was that?" Jessica asked. He remained quiet, while his eyes shone volumes, for once Jessica could read everything on his mind just by looking into his ocean-deep green eyes. No words needed to be spoken between them; Jessica just hugged him one more time, content just to hold him close.

Helena Bailey watched from the living room doorway, it was a private moment, but she couldn't help it. The two of them reminded her of her own youth and the first time Arthur told her he loved her. She knew they would stay together, Jessica was mature enough to know true love, and he looked totally serious. She smiled, 'Little Jess has grown up, and she couldn't have picked anyone better to be with,' happily the woman turned back to the kitchen.

Author Notes: This is it for the trilogy, stick out for more! Coming soon to a browser near you!