Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Mistaken Words ❯ Awakening to Realisations ( Chapter 14 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Mistaken Words

AN: Man I'm so sorry I haven't posted in so long, I got caught up in so many other things, I hope I can make it up to you who were reading this story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing

Awakening To Realisations

"Let me get this straight," Duo leaned forward on the conference table, speaking slowly and enunciating very clearly, "We have nothing…absolutely, not a bloody thing!"

Une sighed painfully rubbing at her temples, "Maxwell, you've been with us from the very beginning, I find it strangely hard to believe that you haven't already reached this conclusion."

The braided man barked a laugh, and pushed his chair back from the table so he could stretch his legs up on top of it. "No worries, this isn't some new revelation, I just still find it hard to fathom that we have nothing…how could these people be this good?"

"They do have Yuy on their side…" Trowa put in softly, though his words were as hard as steel.

"And it drives me crazy that I can't follow him!" Duo vented bitterly.

"He's changed too much about himself, he uses none of the old patterns, which is not really surprising," Wufei spoke up for the first time since the meeting had commenced more than an hour ago.

Zechs leaned deeper into his chair pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and fore finger; they had been here for more than an hour and had accomplished nothing. Meanwhile Relena lay in a secured part of the base, still unconscious to the world, and had been for a week. Sally had assured them all that she would wake, but even she was finding this extended time unnerving, and more than a little worrying. Though the last she tried very hard not to show. All in all everyone sitting in the conference room was under a great deal of stress, a stress that they could only really vent behind closed doors.

The world was still unaware that Relena had been taken, as far as anyone outside of this small group was concerned, she was still on a much needed vacation in the mountains. And that's the way Zechs wanted to keep it, if at all possible he wanted to have this whole matter solved without ever once informing the general populous. Three years of peace did not allow people to forget how quickly it could be broken, and the last thing any of them needed on their hands was a mass panic.

"They must have taken her there by shuttle, is there no way to look back and see which might have passed near that point?" Zechs asked absently, already suspecting the answer that would be given.

"No they chose their point too carefully," Une confirmed his suspicions, "That satellite has been in a `dead zone' for years, no one monitors the traffic moving in or out."

Wufei placed his hands on the table, "And asking for colonial records of all the shuttle flight plans is out of the question, there's simply too many, and with no place to start the search we'd just be wasting time…"

"Time that we could be putting to what else?" Zechs asked wearily leaning to one side in his chair allowing his hand to massage the side of his head. "Have we any new speculation as to why they wanted her?"

"No, nothing we haven't already stated before," Duo returned bitterly; "Quatre doesn't even have an idea of where to begin looking. He says the colonies have been really quiet. The usual small squabbles but nothing that would raise anyone's alarm."

"Terrific," the one time warrior, and now present king breathed tiredly. "Have we made any progress with what Anderson and Ryan could tell us?"

Trowa shook his head, "There's nothing anywhere about this group called the `Free Born' and no surprise there aren't any records of a man named Ash…it would be too much to hope that they'd slip up."

"So what are we to do now?" Zechs did not let the silence last.

"For now I'd like us to do nothing…"Une began slowly, her hands already raised to silence the protest that were fast to come. "At least until Relena has awoken, and can tell us what she knows, what other choice do we have? I don't yet want to make this public knowledge, not even to the rest of the base. And we are not enough people to search through all the records that would be required."

Duo's fist slammed the table, with a resounding crack, "Damnit!!"

Zechs stood suddenly from his seat, sending the plush leather skidding back across the tile floor. "I don't see that we can accomplish much here, as you say Une, we'll know more when Relena wakes." He straightened his formal wear, looking every inch the king he did not truly want to be, "That said, I think I'll look in on her before I have to leave. Regular meetings here, though they are standard do seemed to make my advisers curious when they take too long."

Nodding to the pilots and Une, Zechs turned towards the door, feeling far less calm than the face he was putting forward. He was not allowed to dwell upon his anger; he was not given that luxury. If any questions were asked, he be forced to give some answer, and what could he possibly say that would satisfy? The world was at peace along with its brethren the colonies, the world was at everyone wanted it. There was no reason for such extreme emotions.

And yet he felt utterly consumed by them, to the point where he thought his flesh would burn away with the sheer intensity of his anger. His night was plagued by dreams, more nightmares really, but instead of leaving him cold and shaking, they left him hot with rage, an emotion he desperately needed an outlet for. Noin did a great deal to help in those moments, she could listen to him rant for almost hours it seemed, and at the end say something that somehow managed to placate the anger for a little while. Zechs didn't know what he'd possible do without her…he probably would have died from stress long ago.

Walking down the busy corridors, Zechs tried to acknowledge every deep bow, and word of greeting, with at least a nod of his head. He was not at present in the mood to be approach by just anyone, and at the same time he had to keep up appearances. It was with great relief he reach his destination. A seemingly normal elevator stood at the end of a quiet hall, but it was not ever used by the public nor even the agents at the base, only a select few ever stepped inside, this elevator would take him to Relena. Striking the keys from memory Zechs stepped inside as the doors slid opened, and quickly hit the second code, which sent the doors sliding closed and the elevator into motion.

The elevator came to a stop within seconds and the door slid opened, his pale blue eyes looked out over the empty hallway. This was the section of the base the pilots used. It was also where Relena was being kept. Sally had had a special room designed, with the pilots specifically in mind, it was a room meant to keep them in, where she could treat them properly when they needed it. She had had all the supplies she could possibly need stored here, making it almost a second infirmary.

Walking a short distance down the hall, Zechs came to a stop at the first door. He paused for a moment, just standing outside of it, eyes not really seeing the door but almost envisioning the girl who lay behind it, his sister. With a slow steady breath he turned the knob and walked in. Relena lay pale among the sheets as she had every day since her return. It came as no surprise to Zechs that Luc was in the room, he had noticed right away that the doctor did not seemed to like being parted from her. He was not entirely sure what he thought of that; Zechs was not so protective a brother that he would attempt to limit, which men Relena associated with, the attachment just seemed a little strong to him.

He had discussed it once with Trowa, and could easily see the merits of the pilot's thinking. And if this man could help his sister get past such an experience, than he would be entirely for it. Closing the door silently behind him, Zechs nodded to Luc and crossed the room to Relena's bed. Without hesitation he took her tiny hand into his own, and gently rubbed some warmth back into it. It hurt him to see how fragile she had become, she had always been so vibrant, and he desperately wanted to see her so again.

~come back to us~ he whispered in the depths of his mind, not feeling all that comfortable speaking his thoughts with a third party present. Reaching back behind him Zechs drew up the chair he knew was waiting back there and sat down. He still had a fair amount of time before he was due back at the palace. Noin was handling all the small petty matters, freeing up this precious time. He sat there for several minutes in silence as Luc moved about the room performing random tasks, Zechs' mind wandered randomly as he tried to keep it away from the areas that would anger him most.

Gasping in shock Zechs was shaken from his thoughts as he felt Relena's small hand grips his weakly. He was on his feet immediately looking down at her with a welcoming smile. A little colour seemed to have returned to her face as she struggled to open her eyes. The moment Zechs had stood Luc had been there, at the other side of the bed, looking as though he had been there the whole time. She opened her mouth to speak, her unfocused eyes watching Zechs, but nothing came out. He glanced about for a glass of water that he could offer her, but Luc was way ahead of him, already slipping a hand behind her head to help her drink.

A ghost of a smile flickered across her face as the refreshing liquid tricked down her throat. Zechs eased himself down on the bed beside her bringing his face closer to hers, he felt more than saw Luc glare, as his access to Relena was caught off. Putting the man from his mind Zechs focused all his attention on Relena, who was waking more each second that past. Her eyes continued to clear as she pulled herself from the blackness that she had been trapped in for far too long. Relena's smile became far more genuine as the seconds past; "Zechs…" she finally whispered.

"It's good to have you back," he told her quietly, part of him wishing they were alone.

"How…long?" she inquired softly.

"You've been gone for about a month," he told her gravely.

Zechs began to feel uneasy at the confused light reflecting in Relena's eyes; she glanced past him at her surroundings, pausing on Luc for only a second before returning to Zechs. "What happened?"

He looked at her trying very hard to keep the worry from his eyes, "What do you remember last?"

Her face scrunched up as she tried to remember, and Zechs felt all his hopes fall away as she uttered two words, "The cottage…"

"Nothing else?" he prompted gently touching a hand to the side of her head.

Relena's eyes began to tear up as she shook her head; "No…what happened to me?" her voice shook as she looked down at herself.

Offering her what he hoped was a reassuring smile, Zechs tried desperately to think of something to say. But what could he offer of comfort? They didn't know what happened to her, why she was taken or by whom. "Don't worry Relena, it will come back to you…" he whispered.

"There's just a huge blank…" she looked so small and lost as she was clearly trying hopelessly to remember

"Just relax. You've just woken up, there will be time for all that later," he soothed brushing her golden hair back from her face. "Relena I need to speak to Sally for a moment," she looked suddenly very worried as though she didn't want to be alone, he could understand her feelings, and his gaze turned to Luc. "This is Dr Carter, he's been looking after you, will it be alright if he's here while I step out?"

Relena looked to Luc, and the doctor offered her a very charming smile, she returned him a weak one of her own before looking back to her brother. "Alright…" she breathed tiredly.

Zechs stood from the bed, and gently squeezed her hand before placing it back down beside her, "Is there anything I can get you?"

Her blue eyes looked hopeful, "Trowa?"

He nodded with a smile, "I'll have him sent up, but you also need to rest." Zechs turned his attention to Luc for a brief moment, noting that for all intents and purposes the doctor had all but forgotten his presence. Without a word Zechs left the room, shutting the door behind him. For a time Zechs focused upon nothing more than getting from point A to point B, he did not want to think over what he had been told, at least not yet. But not thinking proved to be an incredibly hard task. On the one hand, he was altogether relieved that Relena had woken up, but there was also a sense of hopelessness gnawing at his mind.

Stepping off yet another elevator Zechs entered a more public portion of the base, and two men fell into flanking positions behind him. At most times their presence meant nothing to the former warrior, he understood that this was more for the peoples' peace of mind than his own safety. Yet today they irritated him, mostly because his patience had already been worn dangerously thin. He pushed the bodyguards from his mind and continued on his chosen path. The key to keeping this base opened and operational was to keep it as far from military might as possible.

So instead of soldiers, they had agents, men and women capable of handling dangerous situations, mostly without shedding blood. Also the vast majority of the base was opened to the public, the infirmary was actually the city's hospital, and consequently doctor's offices too, at least those who wanted to practice here. Sally was one of them, when the wars had ended she had turned her life back to medicine, in her own way making up for the blood that had been spilled. Of course her main focus was the pilots, Une, Relena, and himself. Because of that she kept her patient list rather short allowing them easy access to her.

As he strode down the halls he could feel eyes upon him and hear words whispered; he wished his presence could simply go unnoticed. But that was not possible, and he knew that tomorrow there would be tons of speculation about what could have brought him to the infirmary. Zechs felt his bodyguards close the distance between him, he knew they were uncomfortable with so many unknowns around. But Zechs had made it clear from the beginning, that he would tolerate two guards, but that he was more than capable of handling himself in a crowded room, therefore there was no reason to clear it before hand. That hadn't gone over too well with very many people, but there were few men out there who would dare to oppose him.

Opening the door to Sally's office, he was pleased to see the waiting room was next best thing to empty, and he quickly made his way to the receptionist. They young woman sat behind the desk, head bowed over some form, she was a very diligent worker. "Sarah, is Sally in her office?" he asked softly.

Sarah jumped out of her seat, eyes going as wide as saucers at the sight of him. Diligent, but a little flighty. She curtsied shakily eyes not looking at him, "Yes my Lord…"

He reached out a hand to touch her should, "Relax, how many times do I have to tell you just sir will do?" despite how he was feeling he managed to offer her a smile. Zechs had never been comfortable with all the bowing and scrapping some people felt the need to do, they all seemed a little old fashioned to him. She returned his smile with a tiny one of her own, "Thank you" he turned to his guards, "You can wait here." They did not seem all that pleased about it but they did as they were told.

Walking past her desk Zechs made his way down the long corridor lined with doors, it was the very last one that he made his way to, and entered with only a warning knock. Sally was seated behind her desk, and open folder laying before her. "What brings you here?" she asked closing the folder, and leaning forward of the heavy desk.

Zechs pressed his back to the door, and folded his arms, "She's awake."

Sally was on her feet in an instant, "This wonderful, when did she wake? Has she said anything yet?" she questioned excitedly, not yet noticing his solemn expression.

"She awake," he said again with a sigh, "But she doesn't remember a thing…"

That halted Sally's enthusiasm instantly, and her shoulders slumped, "That leave us with nothing…" she whispered eyes growing somewhat distant. "She must be forcing herself to forget. They were very careful with her, she's suffered no real trauma…at least nothing that should have caused this."

"Will she get the memories back? And if so how long will it take?"

"There's really no way to say…" Sally told him rubbing a hand across her eyes, "She may never remember what happened during that period, we don't even know for how much of it she was awake."

"Well this is just great!" Zechs roared, his patience finally snapping, "We wait this long and still we have nothing! How the hell can they possible have so much luck?!"

"I don't know," Sally responded softly.

Zechs balled his hands up into fists, looking desperately for something to break, some way to release the anger he had been holding in check for far too long. Sally did not miss the darting of his eyes and bravely closed the distance too him, "Just relax, Zechs there's nothing saying she won't remember in a day or so, all we can do is wait a see."

"I'm sick to death of waiting, those bastards kidnapped her, for reasons unknown, if we don't find out who they are they're going to get away with it!" he fumed bitterly.

"Well unless you can read minds, I don't see that we really have all that many other options to try. Focus on Relena, she awake, but that's only half the battle, we still don't know how the drug will effect her, I'm hoping she's slept through the worst of it. But either way she's going to need us," Sally place a comforting hand on his shoulder, looking up into his eyes "We all feel the same way you do."

He held his for a moment longer, relishing in the burn it sent through his veins the life it offered him. It was an emotion he was more than comfortable with, at times he almost wished his could simply let go, allowing his anger to breed further anger, until there was nothing left, so he would no longer have to try to contain it. But Zechs knew he couldn't afford to let go in such a way, his anger was too great, and people needed him, needed for him to be thinking clearly, and rationally. Something that wasn't always assured when emotions were leading the way. Finally he sighed, letting his shoulders slump as the anger retreated from the for moment, leaving him drained. "I know…" he breathed softly, looking down at Sally.

"Do the others know yet?" She asked moving back behind her desk, and resumed her seat.

Zechs shook his head, raking a hand through his hair, "No, I came straight here. I wanted to know what could have caused this memory loss first."

Sally nodded in understanding, and leaned towards him both elbows on her desk, "I admit it never really occurred to me that this might happen. But it's not uncommon for someone in traumatic situations to force the event from their minds."

Shutting his eyes for a brief moment, Zechs worked at keeping the pseudo calm he had only just recently attained. "I can't stay here much longer, let me use your phone, they should still be in the conference room."

"Sure," Sally quickly moved the phone across the desk so it was in front of Zechs, "Noin is expecting you back when?"

Glancing briefly at his watch Zechs seated himself in one of the two chairs positioned in from of the doctor's desk. "In about twenty minutes," he dialled the conference room's number, and waited on the edge of his seat for it to be answered.

"Yes?" Une questioned looking none to pleased at this interruption, it only took a second for her to see who it was, and note the serious expression on his face. "Zechs what is it? Is everything alright with Relena?" behind her Zechs could see the others crowding in.

"She's awake," he raised a hand to silence the acclamations he could see coming, and quickly continued. "She doesn't remember a thing of what's happened to her…" Zechs watched as looks of disbelief quickly disintegrated into that of barely contained frustration and rage.

"How can this be? Was it something they did to her?!" Duo burst through, eyes nearly sparking with his raw untamed emotions.

"Sally tells me that it is not uncommon for people to force themselves to forget unpleasant experiences. We don't know when she'll remember, but chances are she will, we just don't know when." He was shocked at himself, at how calm his voice was.

"I can't remain here any longer, so I want reports on her progress," Zechs' ice blue eyes zeroed in on Trowa, "She's asked for you," he told him simply, Trowa merely nodded and silently excused himself from the room. Only Wufei seemed not to think this odd, but no one questioned his going. "Let me know the minute anything changes," he did not waste time with goodbyes but terminated the connection and came to his feet.

"Zechs," Sally called to his retreating back, he paused but did not turn, "She will get better." The words were offered as a comfort, though they did little for him, Zechs nodded all the same, and left the room, his mind on dark matters.

***

Trowa stood outside Relena's door, in his hand a carefully wrapped box. He has stopped by his room to get it, knowing that it would bring a smile—however small—to Relena's face. Drawing a breath of preparation Trowa rapped a knuckle upon the door, and walked in. What he found pleased his eyes, Luc was seated on the edge of Relena's bed speaking in soft tones, his face revealing a warm smile. Relena for her part appeared completely relaxed in the doctor's presence offering a tiny smile of her own from time to time. The sight gave Trowa hope, that the feelings which Luc so obviously held might not remain forever one sided. This was of course only the beginning, but every relationship had to start somewhere.

His entrance to the room did not go unnoticed, and Relena's weary face lit up at the sight of him, "Trowa…" she breathed as though it took all her strength, a small amount of light re-entering her once dull eyes.

Luc's expression was only slightly less welcoming, something he would have to work on. If he wanted to be with Relena he was going to have to be willing to share her, she was after all a public figure and much beloved by everyone around her. Trowa strode across the room keeping his small gift out of sight for the moment, and offered her a ghost of a smile as he took her small hand in his own.

"Luc, would you please excuse us for the moment?" she asked softly, it amazed him that she was so calm, he knew what it was like to not remember events in your life. And he was proud of the courage she showed. Luc did not appear too happy with this request, and for a second seemed on the edge of refusing. But his face changed in a heartbeat to that warm smile, and he nodded silently leaving the room.

Trowa's eyes never left Relena's face as she watched Luc leave. The instant the door closed behind him and they were alone Relena's small hand tugged as his, and he sat on the bed gathering her gently into his arms. She did not cry, he was not sure if she had already—something told him she had not—or whether she just did not know how to for this situation. Her body shook in his arm, and it was not from some chilled breeze, she was terrified. For many moments he held her too him rocking slightly where he sat. No words of comfort left his lips, as he knew none and she had never expected any, it was his presence she needed, and so long as it help he would be glad to give it.

"I…" she spoke so quietly at first, that Trowa was not sure he had heard, he leaned closer so she would not have to try and raise her voice. "I can't remember…" her words trembled but she did not break.

"It'll come back to you," he assured her quietly not know at all if that was true, but he silently prayed it would, they needed it too.

Relena was silent for several moments, and he could feel her working up to something, "Was…he there?"

Trowa held back his sigh, and for a time merely gazed at the far wall wondering at how he should answer. Yet he knew the longer he waited the more his silence would simply confirm her fears, "Yes," he told her finally, the word barely more than a whisper.

The breath she released at that moment was near on the edge of a breakdown, he could hear it. Desperately his mind raced trying to think of a way to keep her mind from those thoughts he knew must have been roaming through her head. He pulled a hand away from her, reaching it behind him for the gift he had brought. Slowly he drew it before her eyes, watching as the haunted sadness was gladly overcome by surprise and a special form of love.

She smiled up at him clearly glad for the distraction, "Is this what I think it is?" she whispered as though afraid to break the moment.

"You're favourite," he smiled, placing the box in her tiny hands.

Thanks for reading!

The Last Piece:

For the briefest instant Ash's heart stopped when he saw that Heero's prussian eyes were slightly opened. But he quickly realised that there was no comprehension behind those glazed orbs. The Japanese man's breathing became ragged as he struggled against something Ash could not even imagine. Vaguely in the back of his mind Ash registered the commotion in the hall leading to Heero's room, and voices commanding him to move out of the way. But he paid them no mind, instead moving back to where he had been standing, eyes never leaving Heero's horror filled face.

Heero might not been aware of where he was, but he still had a sense for the space around himself. As Ash noticed a violent change in his thrashing once he was standing beside Heero. He could not begin to imagine what it must have felt like to know someone was near you and not know whether they were friend or foe. Heero obviously assumed foe, Ash did not touch him, it was clear that would only aggravate him more, instead he began to speak.

Ash's mind screamed at him to be away from here, but he was not moving, he felt someone grip his arm trying to forcibly remove him from where he stood rooted near the bed. "It's alright Heero…" he breathed casting a glare in the direction of the doctor who had his arm, nothing was going to take him from where he was now. He could not tell if Heero understood his words, or even heard them, but he kept speaking, unable to think of anything else to do. "I've got your back…it's okay you can relax…" he hoped it would help but that Heero wouldn't actually know it was him speaking.

The buzz in the room slowly died down, as both machines and medical staff began to quiet. Heero blinked his eyes still unseeing, slowly his breathing began to even out, and he went limp on the bed, seeming like the last of his energy had been zapped from his worn body. For only a heartbeat Heero's unfocused eyes turned to look directly at him, and Ash's heart stopped, but there was still no recognition in them. Ash breathed a sigh of relief as Heero's eyes finally fell closed; everything seemed back to the way it was though Heero's expression did not seem quite so pained.

Morganeth Taren'drel