Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Victoria Base Affair Extended Edition ❯ Recovery ( Chapter 9 )

Warning: Once again, this chapter contains strong sexual content. There's a little harsh language, too.

-o-o-o-

Chapter 9: Recovery

Zechs was floating in darkness. Am I dead?, he wondered. He remembered the ambush, the rogue mobile suits springing up from nowhere all around them and Sheldon screaming for backup. The battle was painfully clear in his mind. He might have escaped if he'd been alone, but he knew Sheldon couldn't keep up with him if he ran and Zechs refused to abandon a comrade, even to save his own life. They had managed to get back to back, but they were too outnumbered; the outcome was inevitable. He remembered Sheldon going down, the terrible scream of agony as his Leo blew apart. Zechs suspected it was the explosion from Sheldon's suit that had knocked him flying and driven him into the ground, but he wasn't sure. He remembered little after that.

Except that he thought he remembered hearing Treize's voice and trying to apologize for his failure. The thought of Treize filled him with regret. He had let Treize down. And now he was dead and he would never see Treize again.

But this cottony limbo was not what he had expected after death. Nor was the dull ache that was starting to radiate from somewhere on his left side, trying to blossom into full-fledged pain. Then the left side of his head started to throb. He moaned.

“Are you in pain, Lieutenant?”

He was definitely not dead. He tried to answer, but his throat did not appear to work right. He managed a croaking sound. Now he could hear the soft hum and click of machinery around him and the sound of rubber soles scuffing across a vinyl floor.

“This should help,” said the same friendly female voice.

An instant later, soothing relief washed through his body and the pain receded. He decided to try opening his eyes. Dim light greeted blurred vision and he blinked several times, trying to bring the world into focus. The nurse appeared in his field of view and he shifted his focus to her handsome brown face.

“Would you like some water, Lieutenant?”

“Yes,” he croaked, surprised that he'd gotten out a recognizable word.

She reached for something out of his view and produced a cup with an angled straw, which she held against his lips. He sipped the water, savoring its coolness as it moistened the inside of his mouth and washed the gritty feel from his throat.

“Thank you.” His voice sounded almost normal.

“I'll go tell Commander Kushranada you're awake. He's been very worried.” The nurse patted his shoulder and smiled before disappearing.

Zechs closed his eyes and smiled too. Treize was worried about him! He let the painkiller soothe him back to sleep.

-o-o-o-

“The nurse told me you were awake.”

The sound of Treize's voice pulled Zechs instantly out of his doze. His eyes flew open and he stared up at Treize's face, delighted by the sight. But then he remembered what had happened and dismay struck him.

“I'm sorry, Treize. I shouldn't have been taken by surprise. I cost Sheldon his life.”

“No, you didn't,” Treize answered gently. “You never had a chance. You probably kept Sheldon alive longer than anyone else could have.” He touched Zechs' right cheek with his fingertips. “Don't blame yourself.”

Then he leaned over until his face was so close that all Zechs could see were his dark, beautiful, worried eyes. “Don't ever do this to me again, Zechs,” he whispered. “You're the only thing in this world that truly matters to me.”

He touched his lips to Zechs' in the gentlest, most loving kiss Zechs had ever experienced. He closed his eyes and fell in love with Treize all over again.

“Is Lieutenant Merquise awake, Lord Treize?”

Treize straightened up quickly, his eyes catching Zechs' for a moment before turning to answer Lady Une standing in the doorway.

“Yes, Lady Une, but he is still quite weak.”

He stepped aside so Une had a clear view of Zechs and he of her. There was an odd look on her face and Zechs wondered if she realized they had been kissing. Knowing how she felt about Treize, he doubted she would take such knowledge well.

“It is good to see you recovering, Count Merquise,” was all she said, however. Her eyes shifted back to Treize. “General Catalonia has called an emergency staff meeting.”

Treize nodded. “Thank you, Une. I'll be right there.”

Une saluted and left, pulling the door shut behind her. Treize looked back down at Zechs.

“Get well quickly, Zechs. I'm going to need you.”

“I'm always at your service, Lord Kushranada.”

-o-o-o-o-o-

In the hallway outside Zechs' room, Treize became all business to keep Une from asking any questions. If she suspected he had been kissing Zechs, he did not want to confirm it for her by behaving oddly.

“Did the General give any indication what the meeting is about?”

“Not specifically, but I suspect it has to do with the ambush.”

“That happened over two weeks ago,” Treize snapped. “I gave him a full report three days later and he's only ready to talk about it now?”

Une gave him a level look. “You know the general is very busy. The attack on Count Merquise was followed by a sharp upswing in rebel attacks.”

“I know that!” Treize made an effort to keep his voice level. “But I lost a man! I think that is more important than a bunch of memory chips disappearing from some damn truck.”

“The general has to look at the bigger picture.”

“Fuck the bigger picture!” Treize growled. He stalked ahead of Une angrily. He was angry about losing Sheldon. The name of each person who died under his charge was permanently engraved in Treize's memory. And if Zechs' name got added to that list… Treize didn't want to think about that. He glared back over his shoulder at Une. “We're lucky we didn't lose Zechs, too. The general needs to understand. It's one thing to lose material; it's something else entirely to lose people. Lives are irreplaceable!”

Treize marched ahead of Une as they left the hospital and headed for the Administration building. He was glad to be back in Luxembourg, but the reason still made his heart skip a beat. After the ambush, Zechs had been put into an induced coma while they waited for swelling in his brain to subside. The doctors had tried to hide their concern from Treize, but Treize knew exactly how serious Zechs' condition was. When Zechs was stabilized, he was transferred back to the hospital at Luxembourg and Treize had brought the entire unit home, with the general's concurrence. A full division of Alliance troops had been transferred to Pancevo to suppress the rebels, but Treize doubted the results. The general was missing something; Treize was sure of it.

The officers already assembled in the briefing room whispered nervously to one another as they waited for the general to arrive. Treize regarded their obvious show of worry with faint contempt. Now was not the time to worry. Now was the time to take firm charge of the situation and bring it under control. He took his seat without speaking to anyone. Following his example, Une sat silently beside him.

Clearly not taking the hint, one of the junior officers approached Treize uncertainly. “Do you know what the meeting is about, Commander?”

“If I do, I hardly plan on discussing it prior to the general's arrival,” Treize replied coldly. “Why don't you take your seat and wait?”

The young man flushed and retreated to a chair farther down the table. Someone murmured a question at him, but he shook his head in response, his eyes flicking toward Treize and then down to the table in front of him. More eyes fell on Treize and he returned the stares with a sharp glare. Under the weight of his open disapproval, the others moved to take their seats. The last had just sat down when the general marched in, trailed by his aide.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” General Catalonia began without preamble, “I shouldn't have to tell you, we're in a right mess.” He took his seat as the aide moved to lower the lights and bring up the overhead display. “I've suspected from the beginning that these rebel attacks and thefts were being coordinated. I'm now fairly certain that they are receiving help from within the Alliance itself.”

This statement was greeted with surprise.

“Surely not, General!” Commander Blacow exclaimed. Blacow had also graduated from the Victoria Base Academy, a few years ahead of Treize. “I could imagine one or two traitors working alone, but a coordinated effort?”

“Too many of these incidents required inside information, Commander,” the general responded. “It's possible that our computer systems were plundered, but I have had our systems analysts running intrusion detection day and night. No one has gotten in. The rebels are getting information through other channels and they're getting a lot of it. It can't be just one or two individuals and it's not just random information.” General Catalonia nodded to his aide and an image appeared on the big screen. “I think most of you are familiar with the area outside Pancevo Base.”

Treize frowned. The image showed the field where Zechs and Sheldon had been attacked. The large holes where the guerilla mobile suits had lain hidden were fully exposed.

“We did dozens of sweeps through this area prior to the attack. How did these holes get missed?”

“They weren't there before?” someone ventured.

“Precisely!” General Catalonia slapped the table. “These holes were made the night before the attack.” The image changed to one showing the same field without the holes. “This satellite image shows the same field two days before. This ambush was planned. They knew Commander Kushranada's team regularly went through this field. These holes were dug and manned the night before with the knowledge that the next day's patrol would go through that field.”

Treize leaned forward. “General, the night patrols would have discovered a force of that size moving into position.”

“Not if those rebel forces knew the precise location of the night patrols.” The general also leaned forward and pinned his eyes on Treize. “They had inside help. I'm sure of it.”

“I agree, but it still makes no sense to me that they would commit that much of their resources to ambush two men.”

“It was their bad luck that one of those men was Lieutenant Merquise,” General Catalonia said. “Had it been anyone else, they would likely have finished them off quickly and gotten away before reinforcements arrived. We would have been left to wonder how we lost a patrol so close to Pancevo: a demoralizing blow for Alliance forces and a boost for the rebels.”

“Perhaps.”

“But if there are traitors in the Alliance, how are we going to catch them?” asked the young officer who had spoken to Treize.

“That's why I'm going to Pancevo myself,” the general replied. “I'm taking several units of Specials to assume command of all aspects of Pancevo Base operations. We will cut the traitors off from their normal channels of communication. They will be forced into the open if they want to keep operating. Commander Kushranada, you will assume command of the forces remaining at Luxembourg.”

“Yes, General.”

Treize did not wait to talk to the general after the meeting. He was still irritated. He knew part of his problem was not being able to discuss it with Zechs. He liked bouncing his thoughts off of Zechs and getting his opinions. Zechs had a way of looking at things that helped Treize see through problems. He stopped abruptly and turned to Une.

“Lady Une, I'm going back to the hospital to speak to Zechs. Would you please find Cole and tell him about the briefing? He probably should have been there.”

“Yes, Commander.” Une saluted and hurried away.

Treize watched her go with a frown. Une felt like his right arm sometimes, completely indispensable. But at other times, her presence was faintly distressing. I need Zechs, Treize thought. I need to be alone with him.

-o-o-o-o-o-

It was a relief to be out of the hospital. Zechs looked around his small room in the barracks. Someone had cleaned it for him, because there wasn't a trace of dust anywhere. It was just like Treize to remember the small details. Zechs was tired and it annoyed him. The walk from the car to his room wasn't that long, but it had left him winded. His injury and the long recovery had left him horribly out of shape. He would have to work hard to get back into fighting trim. He pulled the chair out from his small desk and sat, but stood again immediately when someone knocked on his door. He opened it to find Treize leaning against the frame with one hand, the other resting on his hip.

“How do you feel?” Treize asked promptly.

“I'm fine, Treize. Come in.” Zechs stepped aside so Treize could enter. He glanced into the hall to make sure it was empty before closing the door behind him. “I'm ready if you need me,” he added.

“No you're not,” Treize replied good-naturedly. “You've been bedridden for a month. I'll give you a few weeks to get back into shape.”

Zechs frowned and flopped down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. “I hate this,” he growled. “There's a war going on and I should be out there with you.”

“You will be.” Treize seated himself in the chair. “Anyway, it's a lull right now. The rebels are regrouping after we kicked their butts in Miloscz. We think they're running low on supplies, so we've beefed up the security around all the storage facilities in the region. You have some time.”

“That's a relief.” Zechs rolled his head to the side and looked at Treize through the curtain of his bangs. His hair had grown in the hospital, it seemed. “Have you replaced Sheldon yet?”

“Not yet. Since I can't get my first choice, I'm taking my time.”

“Who's your first choice?”

“Lucretzia Noin. Do you know her? She was in your class. She spent her junior year in cadet training with me in the Colonies. She's an instructor at the Victoria Base Academy now and I haven't been able to convince her to leave.”

Zechs smiled. “Of course I know Noin. She was second in my class. I barely beat her at the alumni games last year. We're good friends.” He sat up on one elbow. “She used to talk about you all the time. I was terribly jealous.”

Treize looked surprised. “Why would you be jealous? You know you're the only one I love.”

“Yes, but she got to spend time with you. I was jealous of anyone who got to spend time with you.” Zechs sat up. “Can you stay for a while?”

“You just got out of the hospital, Zechs. I think we should wait a little longer before we…”

Zechs interrupted him with a low growl. “I won't break, Treize, but if you don't make love with me right now, I WILL go insane.”

Treize blinked once and then moved to the bed. He put his arm around Zechs' waist and kissed him. Zechs put his arms around Treize's shoulders, sliding his fingers up into the soft brown curls of Treize's hair, and pulled Treize's mouth hard against his, kissing hungrily. Treize had come to see him every day in the hospital, which had been wonderful and maddening at the same time. Arousal washed through him and he ached with need.

“Zechs,” Treize murmured. “I haven't touched you in over a month. You were in a coma for nearly two weeks. I'm not going to risk hurting you for a moment of pleasure.”

“Not fucking me is hurting me!” Zechs groaned. “And if you only spend a moment on this, I'll never speak to you again!” He pressed his open mouth against Treize's neck and sucked eagerly.

Treize groaned. “Oh, god! Please, Zechs, you need to take time to recover!”

Zechs grabbed Treize's hand and jammed it against his crotch. “This part of me is recovered just fine,” he moaned. “I'm sure all the neighboring parts are in perfect working order as well.” He leaned back and looked into Treize's eyes. “I need you so much right now I can't think! Show me how glad you are I'm not dead!”

Treize stared at him for a moment, then pushed Zechs over onto his back and undid his trousers. “I didn't bring any lubricant.”

“There's some in my desk drawer.”

Treize leaned across and opened the drawer. He chuckled softly. “My favorite brand!”

“It's longer lasting,” Zechs purred.

“I only planned to stop by here for a minute to see how you were doing.”

“Then you should stop wasting time.” Zechs quickly took off his pants, leaned back, grabbed his knees and lifted his feet up into the air.

Treize pushed his own pants down and slipped under Zechs' heels. He squeezed the lubricant onto his fingers and applied it slowly. Zechs gasped softly. “You're tight again,” Treize murmured.

“I don't care. You'll open me up. I want something bigger than your fingers in there!”

Treize moved against Zechs' bottom and began to push himself in. Zechs pulled his knees down to his chest, lifting his hips so Treize could get into him more deeply. Treize leaned low over him and pushed in farther. Zechs groaned aloud. It had been a long time and Treize's big erection felt like it was splitting him open. He made a conscious effort to relax and then Treize drove all the way into him. Zechs' mouth fell open and he gasped aloud in sheer pleasure. Every deep, hard thrust was a spear of utter ecstasy. He clung to Treize's arms, his fingers digging into the hard muscles. Treize kept pounding against him, driving himself in over and over until Zechs was gasping helplessly. Orgasm wracked him and he arched up stiffly against Treize's pelvis. It felt like his cock would never stop spurting and each pulsing explosion submerged him in another wave of pleasure.

Treize rested on his hands afterward, breathing hard. “Zechs Merquise, you are the only man I know who can make me act against my better judgment.” He lowered Zechs' legs from his shoulders and settled onto his elbows.

Zechs smiled, stroking his fingers down the middle of Treize's back. “You said I needed to get back in shape. I think regular sexual activity will improve my stamina and flexibility tremendously.' He wrapped his legs around Treize. “And I truly did need you.” He met Treize's eyes. “Do you know what I was most afraid of, when I thought I was going to die with Sheldon?” Treize shook his head. “I was afraid I would never see you again.”

Treize gazed at him in silence for a moment before lowering his head to kiss Zechs gently. “I was afraid of the same thing,” he said softly. He kissed Zechs again and then pushed up onto his hands, pulling out of Zechs at the same time. Looking down at the front of his uniform, he shook his head in dismay. “How am I going to explain this? You've soaked me.” He smiled as he spoke.

Zechs nodded toward the little sink embedded in the side wall. “Rinse it off and tell anyone who asks that I was sick. I just got out of hospital. They'll believe it.”

Treize nodded. “It'll have to do.” He moved to the sink to clean up. “I want you to start attending the daily briefings, even though I won't have you resume your regular duties for a few weeks. I want you up to speed.”

“Yes, sir,” Zechs replied. He grabbed his pants and pulled them back on. “I won't let you down again.”

“You didn't let me down, Zechs.” Treize turned off the water and came over to place a comforting hand on his shoulder. “If you had died, that would have been letting me down.” He leaned close and favored Zechs with a long and gentle kiss. “Today's briefing is in one hour. Don't be late.”

Zechs stared after him long after he was gone.

-o-o-o-

“Lieutenant Merquise! It's good to see you back on your feet!” Cole clapped Zechs on the back and clasped his hand in a firm shake at the same time. “We've missed you on the battlefield, my friend.”

“I'm sorry to have missed it,” Zechs replied. “I feel like I've let you all down.”

Cole shook his head. “It was a tough break, Lieutenant. We were lucky not to lose you.”

“It wasn't luck,” Dmitri Wakov interrupted. “I saw how many rebels you and Sheldon took down before the end. You almost had them. You're one hell of a fighter, Zechs.”

“Thanks.”

Treize walked in at that moment with Une at his elbow and waved everyone to their seats. “Sit down, please. Let's get started. As you can see, Lieutenant Merquise is out of the hospital. He's not yet back on full duty, but he's got some catching up to do.”

Zechs noticed a slight frown on Une's face as her eyes fell on him, but she nodded a silent greeting before taking her seat.

“Have you heard anything new from General Catalonia?” Cole asked.

“No. Things are suspiciously quiet in Pancevo right now. In fact, there isn't a lot of rebel activity going on anywhere on Earth.”

“Has it picked up in space?” Zechs asked promptly.

Treize smiled grimly. “You haven't lost your touch, Lieutenant. There has been an increase in insurgency in the Colonies in contrast to the relative calm on Earth. Unfortunately, that means the eyes of many in the senior command are turning outward. I'm afraid our Earth-based rebels will use this opportunity to start planning their next series of attacks. Although they've been focused on Pancevo, we can't assume the next round of trouble will start there. Your thoughts?” Treize looked around the table.

Cole rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Well, with a third of the Luxembourg command down in Pancevo, our own region isn't getting the attention it normally would. We should probably increase patrols around all the bases with units deployed elsewhere.”

Treize nodded. “Good idea. Anything else?”

“Monitor the activities of all scientists,” Une said. “Many of them openly support independence movements in their own countries and may not be above aiding the rebels with technical expertise.”

“That might be difficult, but let's look into it anyway.” Treize frowned slightly. “We should monitor diplomats and minor government officials as well, for the same reason. I don't believe the current lull is permanent. We need to be ready for whatever is coming next.”

Zechs watched Treize's face as a few more suggestions were made. He was sure Treize was keeping something to himself, but he decided not to ask about it until they had a chance to discuss it alone. The thought made him smile to himself. With a lull in rebel activity and a third of the base deployed to Pancevo, there should be ample opportunities for the two of them to be alone together. Zechs looked forward to being able to spend many nights in Treize's bed.