Conclusion
Part Two

20-08-18
Author’s Note: Hey everyone! Well, here's Chapter 2... I didn't want to put any subtitles in my conclusions since, well... it is the conlcusion... Disclaimers except for my characters: Thaliah, Rebecca, Aria.

Gaia Colony, Outer Space:

Quatre looked at the people in front of him and sighed… They're all worried sick about Wufei… No one was able to sleep last night…

When he and Aria came back from the apartments, he could feel the tension and see the worry on Rebecca, Heero, Relena, Duo and Trowa's face… They didn't talk. Instead, they took two more chairs and sat down.

He wasn't able to ask what was wrong… But he could be sure that Wufei didn't look too good…

They just sat there in the room last night until this morning when he told them to go to the hospital's cafeteria and try to eat- if they could.. But Rebecca stayed behind.

Quatre sighed once again as he drank his light coffee.

~*~

Heero rubbed his temple as he looked around the table… When Rebecca had come in from Wufei's room last night and he saw her face…

He closed his eyes… 'God! Her eyes looked so sad, painful… haunted…' He knew that Relena felt the same things he did when she looked at Rebecca's face and followed the girl until she seated herself, seemingly oblivious to the world around her…

He couldn't talk and neither could Relena… They just sat there in silence, each lost in their own thoughts and prayers until Duo and Trowa came in…

~*~

The moment Duo and Trowa walked through the door, they knew that something was wrong.

Trowa only had to look at Rebecca's face to know that she had seen Wufei and it wasn't a good sight…

Duo looked at Rebecca and felt his heart go to this new girl who became involved with Wufei's problems… and… he could feel it… fell in love with Wufei… He cleared his throat and glanced at Heero.

"What's the news?" Duo tried his best to keep his voice level. He was never close to Wufei… but he is still one of them…

Heero shook his head. "He's in the other room now… but unconscious… doctors say that only time can tell if he'll wake up and stay with us…"

Trowa closed his eyes and finished the sentence himself, 'or sleep forever and die… Dammit!!!'

Duo grimaced… He hates this… he hates it that someone got hurt and he hates it that… He glanced at Rebecca… 'that someone will get hurt if Wufei doesn't survive…' He pounded his fist into the palm of his hand.

"Bull@#$%!!! Why didn't he call us and ask for help instead of fighting them on his own!!!" he exclaimed in frustration.

Rebecca's head jerked up at Duo's outburst and tears clouded her eyes… 'Yes… why didn't you ask your friends help, Wufei?'

Trowa looked up at Duo… He knows that this braided pilot isn't used to show his feelings to other people… He remembers how Duo had tried to look unconcerned when Hilde came back from the battle to Peacemillion to give them the disk, but he could see Duo's feelings through those expressive eyes…

"Duo…" Trowa started as he placed a hand on Duo's shoulder, trying to calm him.

Heero spoke up, "I don't know why Wufei did that… but I'm sure he thought that it was for the best…"

Duo shook his head in disbelief… He hates feeling so… useless!!!

"Duo, Trowa… How about if you sit down…" Relena said in a soft voice.

Knowing that there isn't much they could do, the two complied, took a chair and sat down…

Silence encompassed the room as each person is lost in their thoughts once again.

Location: Hospital Cafeteria, Gaia Colony

"Phone call for Mr. Winner… Phone call for Mr. Winner…" a computerized voice echoed through the cafeteria hall.

The group was so deep in thought that they didn't hear until the voice spoke near them, announcing the call for three times in a row.

Quatre jerked and nearly spilled his coffee while the others just looked curiously at the moving desk that has a monitor-phone on top.

"Oh good…" Quatre said without the usual cheerfulness in his voice, "They got the moveable phone working…"

"Excuse me you guys…" Quatre walked to another table, faced the desk, picked the phone up and turned on the screen. Lucrezia Noin showed up looking very concerned.

"Quatre, did Wufei get there alright?"

Quatre moistened his lip and Noin frowned, noticing his nervousness.

"What is it?"

Quatre breathed in, "Wufei reached my colony, but he… he's in serious condition right now…"

Quatre saw Noin bite her lip and close her eyes, "Oh God! I had a feeling about this…"

"What do you mean?" Quatre asked with a frown.

But Noin ignored his question, "Is Rebecca alright?"

Quatre frowned… "Wait a minute… How did you know that Wufei is going to go to my colony… and how do you know about Rebecca?"

Heero, who read Quatre's lips in curiousity, walked over to Quatre and tapped his shoulder. "Noin knows about it because I asked her to give Wufei the shuttle that he asked for."

Quatre nodded and moved aside as Heero faced the monitor. "Thank you Noin."

Noin nodded. "It's alright… Heero, I just got word that investigators are looking up an explosion in outer space… that's why I was worried about Wufei… I knew that there was someone chasing after them, but we thought that Wufei had taken care of him… I'm guessing that the explosion is Wufei's handiwork, right?"

Heero nodded, "Probably…"

Quatre nodded, "Yes, there's a possibility that it is Wufei's fault that it happened, but it was for self defense… Noin, you should have seen how wrecked the shuttle looked!"

Noin combed her hands through her hair. "Well… I just want to inform you guys that there are people investigating…"

Heero and Quatre nodded.

"We'll take care of it. We can't have people panicking…" Heero assured Noin.

"I'll make sure that no one talks about what's happened here." Quatre added.

"Maybe I can make it seem that those debris were from old wrecks…" Heero nodded as he looked thoughtful.

"Well… I just wanted you guys to know."

"Heero, would you like some more coffee?" Relena suddenly came into view as she placed a hand on her husband's shoulder.

Heero smiled softly up at her, not noticing how Noin's eyes grew wide.

"No thanks, honey… I think I had enough…"

But Quatre, still looking at the monitor, saw Noin's reaction and realized that she didn't know about Relena…

He saw Noin's mouth start to move, and before she could say anything, Quatre spoke first, cutting her off.

"Noin, before you say anything- please talk low…"

Relena looked up at Quatre as she heard Noin's name while Heero grimaced, remembering that Noin doesn't know…

Heero faced the monitor while Relena asked,

"What do you mean, 'Noin' Quatre?"

Quatre pointed at the monitor and Relena looked at it, seeing Lucrezia's face. Guilt went through her for deceiving the her friend and the whole world…

"Oh Lucrezia… I'm-" Relena started to say, but before she could finish, Noin stopped her.

"Relena, don't say I'm sorry because I'm happy for you… That's all that matters- that you're happy…" she said with a smile.

Relena stared at Noin and a small smile started to form on her lips, "Thank you Lucrezia…"

Noin nodded. "You're welcome… but I am going to visit you as soon as I can! I can't believe that you didn't invite me to the wedding!!! You two are so bad!"

Quatre laughed softly while Relena just shook her head and Heero looked away.

"Well, anyway, I have to go… There's a council meeting I have to go to in 15 minutes…" she suddenly looked serious, "Please say hi to Rebecca for me… and I do hope that Wufei is alright… Bye everyone." Then the monitor turned black.

Relena placed both her hands on her cheeks, "I can't believe she learned about us that way…"

Heero shrugged, "She has to know sooner or later… she's a good friend of yours."

Quatre nodded, "Yeah… besides, we can trust Noin."

The three went back to the still silent table.

"You guys want to go back up?" Duo asked as he looked around.

The others nodded except for Relena.

"I'm going to get some food for Rebecca." She said as she started to walk away.

"I'm going with her." Heero added as he walked to Relena.

Duo and Trowa shook their head in slight disbelief at Heero's actions while Aria and Quatre just smiled. Then the group walked up the stairs.

Two days later:

The doctor shook his head as he re-checked Wufei, then looked at his paper.

The others all waited anxiously, their worry doubling at the doctors' frown.

Finally, Aria couldn't take it and walked up to the man beside Wufei. "What's wrong?"

The man shook his head then looked at Aria with a smile. "Dr. Walker, there is actually nothing wrong… I'm just surprised at the seemingly quick recovery of this man." He pointed at Wufei.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and started to smile.

Duo slapped Heero on the back, "I knew he could do it!"

"Does that mean that he'll be conscious soon?" Rebecca piped up, hope blossoming in her heart.

The doctor shook his head. "His body may be healing fast, but it is still up to a man's will to live or to die…"

The sounds of merriment died down as everyone's gaze turned back on Wufei…

"We may be able to take out these (he pointed to the tubes and the mask on Wufei's face to indicate it to the others) tomorrow." Then, after writing something down on his paper, he left the silent group, now permitted to be able to stay in Wufei's room.

The next day:

Everybody watched as the nurses took off Wufei's tubes and mask, check him and left.

Duo glanced at Rebecca and touched her shoulder, "Go on…" he said softly to the red eyed girl who hasn't been sleeping very well for the past few days since they got here.

Rebecca looked around and the others nodded.

"We'll be outside." Relena said as she turned away and herded the others out the door.

Aria leaned against the wall, "How was he able to do it?" she asked in wonder at Wufei's battered body's quick recovery.

Duo smirked. "You should have seen him when we were trapped in the moon base and they shut down our oxygen… Wufei was in some sort of trance…" Duo started to say as he remembered that day.

Trowa looked around him. So far, the hospital seemed to be like a second home now… Everyone only goes home to take a bath and change then come back here and look after Wufei or try to keep Rebecca company. Trowa looked over at the red head girl and shook his head… She's been sleeping in here and only upon Relena and Aria's insistence does she eat. And every time Relena goes home for a change, when she comes back, she's got clothes for Rebecca also. Well… he's happy that at least Wufei is healing better…

He looked towards the hospital windows to the bright atmosphere outside and thought of Thaliah's smile… He suddenly felt as if the walls were closing in on him and he started to sweat.

"Uhm… I'm going out for a little walk…"

The others looked at him and smiled or nodded their permission. Trowa started to walk away from them and outside the hospital, trying to feel the life of the colony in his seemingly dead life… without Thaliah.

~*~

C623 Colony, Outer Space:

Hilde grimaced as she pushed open the glass doors. She headed straight for the elevator and pressed the up arrow.

'I'm calm…' she thought as she breathed in and out, her heart fluttering at the thought of seeing Duo once again since the incident at the church. She had been so mad that she told him that she hates him! Well… not exactly in those words but…

Hilde's cheeks burned as she remembered distinctly how she said that sentence…

She had gone to one of the resort hotels to let off her anger, not wanting to see Duo, wanting to sort out what she feels and knowing that Duo would never look for her there.

She was right… he never found her- if he even looked for her!

She stepped inside the elevator and pushed the button for the top floor.

In that time span that she spent at the resort, her mind calmed and she remembered Duo saying something that completely baffled her…

'You're mine and nobody is going to take you away from me!'

Did he really say that? She really couldn't remember much of the details, all she knew was that it was the first time she felt such anger towards Duo… And if he did say that and it wasn't her imagination… then does that mean…?

She remembered how when she wanted to deliver a disk to Duo and Duo had shouted at her 'You're stupid!'…

She's known Duo for such a long time now… but even in those first months that she'd been with him, she had already understood him… He may be a person who seems cheerful and light hearted, but deep inside, he keeps a thick lock and chain on his emotions…

She reached their floor and went to the receptionist counter, seeing their usual receptionist on the desk.

"Hey Gail… Any messages and mails for me?" Hilde asked with forced enthusiasm as she tried to quell her pounding heart at the inevitable- seeing Duo once again and sorting out what had happened…

Gail looked up quickly… Hilde frowned… 'She seems jumpy today…'

"Oh Ms. Schebecker!" Gail started in a quick nervous tone.

Hilde's frown deepend, "What is it, Gail?"

Gail started looking around her desk then finally looked up as she held a piece of white paper in her trembling hands.

"The intern… Sharon… she's off today and she gave me this message…"

Hilde noticed her tremulous voice and started to feel a sense of dread as she waited.

Gail gulped, "She told me to tell this to you and tell you as soon as you come in…"

Hilde tapped her foot, "Yes! Alright! I'm here! What is it?!" she asked, snapping because of the nervousness she felt. Then she saw how Gail's eyes suddenly became full of tears.

"I-it… s-she said… th-that… Mr. Yuy took M-M-Mr. Maxwell to Longsworth hospital at the Gaia colony… c-critical condition…" she said in a broken voice, trying to reign in her sobs… She's afraid for their employer… Sharon only said that Mr. Yuy had said that he's taking him to the hospital and to tell Hilde…

Hilde's blood froze and forced herself to speak, "When?"

Gail looked at the paper, "Three days ago…"

Hilde bit her lip… three days ago was on the same day that they had the argument in the church… Did anything happen to him afterwards?!

"What happened?!" she demanded in panic.

Gail shook her head, "I don't know! I honestly don't! Everyone is worried sick!"

"Well!!! Didn't any of you have the brains to call Longsworth and inquire?!" Hilde shouted as she gripped the counter for balance, her legs wobbly at the thought that something might have happened to Duo and she wasn't there for him…

Gail shook her head, "I'm sorry Ma'am…"

Hilde closed her eyes and tilted her head up as she tried to stop some tears from flowing. 'If anything happened to Duo… I…' she didn't let herself finish as she faced Gail once again.

"Reserve a flight for me to Gaia. I'm going straight to the airport right now! Tell Jasmine and Rene to look after the business for a while."

Gail nodded as she picked up the phone and dialed the number, "Yes Ms. Schebecker."

Hilde quickly turned around and ran to the elevator. 'Duo, I'm coming…' Her anger sparked as she thought of Heero, 'Heero I thought you were going to take care of Duo! Wait till I get my hands on you!!!'

~*~

Gaia Colony, Outer Space:

Trowa dug his hands into his trouser pocket as he passed by a bakery… the smell of freshly baked cookies and pastry bringing back memories of Thaliah in his mind. He looked inside the bakery and jerked to a stop as his eyes bulged at the image behind the glass, buying a loaf of bread…

The woman has the same features as… Thaliah…!

Tormented, Trowa closed his eyes and shook his head… 'Trowa… you're seeing things…' he told himself as he counted to ten. Halfway through, he heard the soft chime of bells echoing through the bustling street, and when he opened his eyes once again, he didn't see the woman anymore…

Trowa brought his hand up to his temple and started massaging it. "You are seeing things… Maybe I need to get some rest… or coffee…" he muttered as he turned away from the bakery and started walking towards the park cafeteria where he and Duo talked that night when Wufei was in the hospital.

He's tried to be happy, or to act nonchalant for the other's sake… There's too many sad faces already… but… in his heart and soul, he feels so dead.

'Thaliah… where are you…? I don't think I can go on without you beside me…'

~*~

Thaliah walked around the man made pond and started throwing the last bit of the loaf she brought to the swans swimming inside…

She sighed as she stopped under the shade of a tree, remembering her picnics with Trowa in another park… in another place… in another time…

She leaned against the tree and hugged herself… It's been five days since she last saw him… but how she misses him… His shy hugs and kisses… that soft smile…

'Oh Quatre… When are you coming back home from the plant…? I need to talk to you…'

A tear escaped her eye as she looked across the park, towards the café and she stopped.

She squinted through the bright light and stared in disbelief as she saw familiar brown hair and the way Trowa sits…

Slowly, Thaliah brought a trembling hand to her face… 'Oh God! I'm seeing things! I miss him so much I'm seeing him everywhere!'

She tilted her head up and looked at the café once again and found the chair and table empty…

Thaliah started to shiver as she slowly sat down under the tree and brought her knees up to her chest while she remembered those hurtful words she heard him utter and the tears fell from her eyes…

When she finished crying, she slowly stood up and dusted herself then wiped her tears away. 'I need to get my mind off him…' she thought with weak determination… She started to walk to the direction of a grocery store.

~*~

Thaliah walked out of the store carrying a paper bag full of ingredients she might need. She went to the stoplight and waited with the other people around her for the signal…

~*~

Trowa started to walk back to the hospital… he's been gone the whole morning…and half of the afternoon… the others might get worried about him… He stopped by a stoplight and pushed the pedestrian button and waited, his eyes scanning the area ahead of him.

His gaze flickered across a brown haired woman and stopped, widening…

Trowa blinked a couple of times more, sure that any time soon the woman in front of him will disappear like the one in the bakery, but she didn't…

~*~

Thaliah shifted her load to the other side and sighed sadly as she looked across the sidewalk. Then she gasped as once again, she saw Trowa amongst her people… She shook her head in disbelief.

'I- I'm loosing my mind!' she thought in panic as her whole body became numb.

Slowly, she started to step backwards, away from the figure that reminds her of a love that might have been… she bumped into someone and in shock, her bag fell down, spilling the contents all over the ground.

She placed her hand on her mouth and uttered a faint apology to the people around her then started backing away slowly to go in another direction.

She walked slowly, her whole body deadened while her eyes filled with tears that started to fall one by one…

~*~

Trowa stared at the place where the woman once stood, then at the spilled grocery on the asphalt…

The shock he had seen on her face… the look of recognition… all those seem to be so real…

At that moment, the pedestrian signal turned on and Trowa hurried down the other side of the street. He knelt on one knee as he falteringly touched the one-kilo bag of flour and felt the solidness of it…

'It's real…! I can feel it!' He looked up and saw the slowly disappearing figure of the girl he loves.

"Thaliah! Thaliah wait!!!" he shouted as he scrambled to a stand and tried to push through the crowd.

~*~

Thaliah stopped and her heart ached.

'Now I can hear him…' she thought in anguish… Her hands went to her ears as if to try to stop hearing his voice and she started to run towards the park where she went to earlier.

She needs to get away… She had one destination in her mind… her secret place under the bridge where no one will ever notice her…

~*~

Trowa's heart started to pound as he pushed his way through the crowd. He saw a flash of brown hair and green skirt- the one he saw the woman wearing- disappear around a corner and forcefully pushed his way through the milling crowd.

When he reached the corner, he couldn't see her anymore… In front of him is the sprawling green park that he has been to earlier to drink coffee…

His heart sank.

'Thaliah… why did you run away…?'

He was about to turn back when he stopped… He faintly remembered Thaliah saying something to him once while they were eating at the park in Norway…

'There's this one place I go to if I want to be alone… It's inside this beautiful man made park… under the bridge… and no one disturbs me… It's peaceful…'

Trowa remembered seeing a bridge in the middle of the park, near the pond. 'Is it possible…?' he asked himself as he looked at the park once again.

Then he shook his head. 'It's worth a try! I am not going to let her go!'

He looked to his left then to his right and crossed the street towards the park, walking towards the bridge in the middle, trying to be hopeful.

As he reached it, he heard someone sniffling under the bridge and his heart fluttered, feeling alive once more. He climbed down the small hill and reached the bottom, seeing a silhouette leaning against the brick foundation of the bridge.

'It's her!' his mind echoed in happiness as he saw the brown hair and the pixie face…

"Thaliah…" he whispered.

~*~

'Thaliah…'

Thaliah looked up, hearing the whisper and her eyes went wide as she saw Trowa once again.

She turned away from image that she saw and she hugged herself.

"Go away! Leave me alone!" she cried out… She can't take knowing that Trowa and she will never be together… and now she's seeing him everywhere- tormenting her…

She scrambled to get herself up the hill and tried not to look back.

~*~

Trowa stared as her words seeped into him. He saw her walk up the hill away from him and his whole heart cried out. Before he could stop himself, he was running after her once again.

"No! No I won't!!!" he said, just loud enough and he reached for her, grabbing her shoulder and turning her around.

Thaliah gasped as she felt the pressure on her shoulder. She looked up at his face, her vision distorted by the tears in her eyes but she could plainly see the forest green eyes and the thick brown hair, framing his face.

"Oh Trowa…" she whispered, wanting him to be real.

Trowa's heart went out to her as he wiped the tears falling down her cheek. "Thaliah… I found you…"

Thaliah closed her eyes as she felt his hand on her face… then she frowned at what he said… 'He found me…?' she thought in confusion… She opened her eyes and slowly held out her hand to his face to trace it and touch his hair, his eyes, his nose and lips.

She gave a slight cry of surprise… 'He's real!' and she quickly stepped away from him, remembering that one faithful day when she had overheard him in the park…

Trowa frowned as Thaliah stepped away from him just when he felt at home when she'd started touching him.

"Thaliah…?" he asked in confusion.

Thaliah shook her head. "I… I have… I have to go…" she said as she started to turn away from him.

Trowa stepped to her and grabbed her hand. "Why are you running away from me…?" he asked in a pained voice…

Thaliah swallowed as she looked up at his face, pain evident in her eyes. "Trowa, I'm not running away from you… I'm giving you the space that you want…" her voice cracked as she tried to stop her sobs.

Trowa looked more confused than ever. "I… I thought you said that you loved me…"

Thaliah gently took her hand away from his as she felt pain in her… Yes, she said that… and what about him…?

Her pain turned into anger as she started to speak. "I said that I love you, Trowa… I'll shout it to the whole world if you want me to!"

An old couple was passing by them and Thaliah held out a hand to them.

"Do you know what?" she asked them with forced enthusiasm. The couple stopped, willing to give her a little time.

"I love this man!" Thaliah announced as she pointed to Trowa who blushed suddenly.

The couple smiled.

"Good for you dear." The woman said.

"You've got quite a woman there, son." The man said to Trowa, then they started to walk away.

Thaliah faced Trowa her emotions of pain and anger warring inside her as she remembered how his words seemed like a shout at her face…

"Can you do that, Trowa…?" she asked softly, her eyes on the man in front of her. "Can you shout that you love me and mean it…?" she asked, 'the way you seemed to shout how you felt in that park that day…' she added to herself…

Trowa stared at Thaliah… What is she asking him to do…? Is she asking him to shout out right now in this place that he loves her…?

Thaliah slowly looked away from Trowa as he didn't reply, then she turned from him and started to walk away.

"Good bye, Trowa…" she whispered softly, but the wind carried it loudly to Trowa's ears…

'I'm doing this because this is what you want…' she thought as she started to walk to her house.

Trowa stared after Thaliah's slowly disappearing figure. His mind numb at the future he could see without her.

His feet started to move, following her… Not really knowing why he did so. He followed her until she reached a quaint Victorian style house at the other side of the park, open the door, went inside and closed it...

Trowa stood a few meters away, his mind in utter confusion… 'What happened…? What is it you're asking me to do, Thaliah…?'

He turned away and started walking back to the hospital, more desolate than he had ever been before…

Then, he stopped, an idea starting to form in his head. He looked back at Thaliah's house.

"I'll do whatever it takes to try to win you back Thaliah… I promise…" he whispered towards the house.

Then, he turned away one last time and started walking with his shoulders straight and his walk full of determination.

~*~

Rebecca sighed as she stopped herself from standing up and panicking at the slight breath that Wufei is taking… His heartbeat is now stable… thank God!

She dropped her head on the palm of her hand in frustration… She couldn't do anything for him… not a single thing!

Her hand went up to his bed sheet and smoothed out that small area of cloth as she looked at him and imagine that she's holding him instead. 'Wufei… don't leave me… Wake up… I… I love you…'

~*~

Duo looked up at Rebecca's swollen and tired eyes… 'God! If I could just give her some sleeping pills so she could go to sleep at least!' he thought in frustration. 'Dammit Wufei! Why won't you wake up?!' Duo's mind silently cried out. 'Don't you want to live?! Don't you want to spend your days with a person who loves you so much?'

Duo turned away as he started thinking of Hilde. 'This is so hopeless…' he sighed in deject.

Relena walked up to Duo and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey there, you alright?" she asked softly.

Duo looked up, he could see Quatre, Aria, and Heero eyeing him with concern also… He nodded.

"Yeah… I'm cool… don't worry…"

He looked over at Rebecca who was sitting on a chair near Wufei with all attention focused on him and sighed. 'Wake up, dammit!'

~*~

Rebecca suddenly jerked her head up as she heard a slight whisper of a sound from Wufei's direction. She stood up, excited… 'Is he waking up…?'

The others noted her actions and went near the bed to see what Rebecca is looking at.

They saw Wufei frown a little bit and move his head just a fraction of an inch… then, his lips started to move…

"…Sal…ly… Nata…ku…" his weak voice was carried around the silent room loudly. Everyone quickly glanced at Rebecca, not knowing how to handle the situation.

Rebecca paled… She'd heard those names before…! On that first night… Merian, Sally, Nataku… Merian was his wife… but who is Sally…? Nataku…? Someone more important than her to be uttered by a man fighting for consciousness… More important than her…

She remembered how before he closed his eyes in the shuttle, his last words were to bring the disk to his friends… not that he cares for her…

Rebecca slowly tilted her head away from the other's gazes, placed her hand on her mouth to stop the sobs that wants to escape and hurriedly walked out of the room into the other, wanting to be alone with the revelation that she had just learnt.

Duo's hands turned into fist as he watched Rebecca leave. He knows how she feels… He knows exactly how it feels… His eyes turned to Wufei, blazing with anger.

"How could you…" he whispered at Wufei at first, then he started shouting, "How could you do that to her!!!"

"Duo!" Quatre's reprimanding, yet soft voice rang out while Heero grabbed Duo's arm, thinking that with the way Duo is standing, he looks just about to tackle Wufei…

"Duo, get a hold of yourself. Wufei doesn't know what he's doing right now." Heero whispered dangerously.

Aria looked away at the scene. She knows that Duo has been hurt… It's only natural for him to take Rebecca's side… But she can be sure that he'd appreciate it if she wouldn't look at them at the moment. She doesn't know how she knew… she just knows it.

Relena on the other hand looked from Duo to open door where Rebecca had just left, torn to decide whether to comfort the woman who just left or to try to smoothen Duo's ruffled feelings. But before she could decide, Duo jerked his arm away from Heero.

"Don't worry Heero… I'm not going to do anything to him." He indicated Wufei as he turned around, then added, "… yet."

He started walking to the door. "I'm going out for some fresh air… I can't stand this any more." Between his envy for Quatre and Aria, Heero and Relena's happiness, and worry for Wufei and Rebecca, he feels like he's going to burst!

His fingers grabbed the knob then his eyes frowned as it quickly turned by itself.

'What the-!'

The next thing he knew, he was thrown back and he felt pain on his face. Before he lost his consciousness, he thought he heard Hilde's voice…

~*~

Hilde stepped out of the airport and into the bustling street of the Gaia colony. She flagged down a taxi and gave her destination.

Her mind went to Duo… 'What happened…?' she thought for the thousandth time since she heard the news… 'Oh Duo… I didn't mean it…'

They reached the hospital and she quickly ran inside to the receptionist at the counter.

Out of breath and worried she questioned the receptionist.

"What room is Duo Maxwell in please?"

The nurse frowned at Hilde then faced her computer to start typing. Her frown deepened as she started typing some more.

Hilde shifted her weight from one foot to another. 'Hurry up!' her mind cried out.

The nurse faced her once again. "I'm sorry ma'am… but there is no registered Duo Maxwell in this hospital."

Hilde stilled… "Tha- that can't be possible…!" Her shocked mind remembered Heero and she asked once again.

"Is there a room registered to a Heero Yuy?"

The nurse typed on the keyboard once again then after a moment, shook her head.

"That can't be possible!!!" Hilde cried out once again, her nerves all taunt. She pounded her fist on the counter in front of the nurse.

"I was told that Duo Maxwell was admitted to this hospital!!!" she demanded.

The nurse stood up, putting on a patient façade. "Look, miss… The names you gave aren't registered."

Hilde stamped her right foot and turned around, ready to scream out her frustration when a familiar mousse brown hair caught her eyes.

She watched as the tall man went through the double glass doors, looking at the floor and seemingly lost in his thought…

"T-Trowa…?" Hilde said in disbelief.

Trowa looked up at Hilde with unfocused eyes, seeing her, but not really with her. "Oh, hey Hilde…"

The moment he said that, confirming that he is Trowa, Hilde marched up to him and grabbed his arm.

"Trowa, where's Duo?" she demanded.

Trowa frowned… "Er… Duo…?" he asked absently while Hilde nodded quickly, just wanting to know where Duo's room is.

"I… I think that the others are with him…"

"Which room, Trowa!" she nearly screamed out to him.

"Hmmm…? Er… I'm going up there now…" he answered and started walking to the elevator and Hilde followed. They went inside.

"Why isn't Duo's name registered in the hospital records?!" Hilde questioned him.

Trowa didn't answer for a while then, he remembered that Hilde had asked him a question. "The room is under Quatre's name…" he said vaguely.

Hilde tilted her head up in disbelief. 'Of course! How could she have been so stupid! This is Quatre's colony and he is Duo's friend! Of course Quatre will see to it for him…'

In a faltering voice, Hilde asked for the inevitable… trying to steel herself from what Trowa might say.

"How is he… Trowa?"

Trowa looked at Hilde vaguely, confused… What did Hilde ask him? Oh yes… how he is…

Trowa shook his head sadly. "We're still waiting for him to regain consciousness… Only then will we know that he'll be alright…"

Hilde closed her eyes as she felt her throat burn with stopping the sudden sensation of crying.

"Oh god…!" she whispered. She bit her lip then the elevator opened.

Hilde quickly looked around her, wanting so desperately to be beside Duo. "Trowa, which room?!"

"B417." Trowa answered.

Hilde ran to her left, seeing the signs directing people where which rooms are located.

B414…15..16…

Then she stopped… B417… Her heart pounded behind her chest and she couldn't stop herself as she quickly grabbed the knob, turned it around and pushed it back with all her might. One thing in her mind… She wants to be beside Duo and nothing could stop her!

"Duo!"

~*~

Trowa frowned as he saw Hilde running down the hall… 'Why…?' Finished formulating a plan, he started to remember Hilde's question and Trowa nearly slapped himself at what he just did…

'I gave her the wrong impression!'

He started running down the hall after Hilde, thankful that there aren't any nurses to scold him as he started to whisper quite distinctly,

"Hilde wait!!!"

He watched as Hilde reached the room and quickly pushed back the door as if the door is a barrier that she should bring down to get to the treasure.

~*~

Heero stared, flabbergasted as he saw the door open with such force, hitting Duo on the nose, pushing him backwards and making him hit the back of his head on the wall! And crumple down on the floor.

He winced at what happened to the braided Shinigami pilot and then was completely surprised as Hilde zoomed inside the room, yelling

"Duo!!!"

Heero is baffled… Just a while ago, he was asking himself where Hilde is, concerned about Duo since for the past few days, Duo's been acting strange. Either he's too silent or he's temperamental!

Just a while ago he was wishing that Hilde be here and sort out the problems with Duo so he can be his old self… And now!

Hilde reached the bed and looked down at Wufei, her eyes widening at what she saw and he could see the question in her eyes.

"This… this isn't Duo…" she whispered.

A movement by the door caught Heero's attention and he saw Trowa.

~*~

Trowa reached the door- too late and heard Hilde's shocked observation that the person on the bed isn't Duo.

He looked at the floor and frowned in confusion as he saw black boots just behind the door…

He went inside, around the door and saw Duo, unconscious on the floor with blood flowing from his nose.

His brain started deducing what happened as he looked up to the shocked and surprised faces of Quatre, Aria, Relena and Heero, then went back to Duo.

He couldn't stop himself as memories of Thaliah flooded in his mind-

"What is it with doors anyway!!!" he shouted.

~*~

Quatre looked at Trowa in disbelief- 'Trowa just… shouted…?! Silent, all patient big brother Trowa…?'

~*~

Hilde looked up at Heero, Aria, Relena and Quatre who are sitting together at the other side of the room.

Her gaze zeroed in at Heero and she didn't know whether to be relieved that Duo isn't the one on the bed, or be angry for being played a fool. Seeing the surprise on all four people's faces and knowing that her outburst was the cause, she turned to anger…

Well! She isn't finished yet! Duo and Heero made her worry to death and now it isn't even true!!!

Her angry eyes turned to Heero.

~*~

Heero silently gulped as he saw anger blaze in Hilde's midnight blue eyes… 'Shheeesh! I'm in trouble now…'

~*~

"Heero Yuy!!!" she yelled out as she walked towards him.

Heero stood up, ready for a punch or a slap, but to his surprise, Hilde just stopped a few feet away from him, breathing very hard in anger.

"I'll deal with you later for lying to me." She said dangerously, "WHERE IS THAT MAXWELL SO I CAN GIVE HIM A PIECE OF MY MIND?!!!"

Heero stifled a breath of relief and his eyebrow rose at Hilde's question.

'Didn't she feel the door hitting someone when she came inside?' but he didn't say that, instead, he slowly let his eyes meet Hilde's, then shifted his head so he's looking at the doorway, at Duo's unconscious body.

~*~

Hilde followed Heero's gaze and looked towards the door, thinking that Duo was just standing over there. She was about to yell 'He isn't here!' to Heero, when something caught her attention on the floor… familiar black boots… her gaze drifted slowly up… black pants…. Blue poloshirt… brown long braid… ?!

Her head jerked up and saw Duo's pale face, with blood trickling down his chin.

"Oh God!" she exclaimed, her anger vanishing, replaced by concern. She quickly went to him, getting out a handkerchief from her pocket and kneeled beside him.

Her other hand went to her mouth as she stared at him. Then she slowly brushed back his hair and wiped the blood from his nose.

"Duo…" she whispered as she finished. She slowly shook his shoulder, but he still won't wake up…

'How did this…?' her eyes went to the door and then to Duo… And grimaced…

She's the one who did this…

"Oh I'm soo sorry Duo…!" she whispered as she placed her hand on top of her lap. Then, she looked behind her at the others.

"Could somebody help me? I want to put Duo on a bed." She said in a slight whisper.

Quatre was about to move when Heero stopped him.

"I'll do it, Quatre. Secure another room for Duo."

Quatre nodded, and with a quick 'excuse me look' to the others, he left.

~*~

Quatre quickly ran down the stairs to the main office's counter and was greeted by a smiling nurse.

"What can I do for you today, Mr. Winner?"

"Another room please. And if possible around the B400's area." Quatre said after a smile.

A telephone rang somewhere and another nurse answered it.

The nurse started typing something in the monitor then smiled, pleased, and looked up at Quatre.

"We have Room 425 just cleared out."

"Thanks." Quatre said with a nod and was about to leave when the other nurse who answered the phone called him back.

"Mr. Winner! Just a minute!"

Quatre came back to the counter with an inquiring look. "Yes?"

"There's a Mr. Tessler on the line and would like to talk to you."

Quatre nodded, relieved. "Is there a room I can take this call in private?"

The nurse nodded. "Just go right inside our office, Mr. Winner and push line 6."

Quatre gave a smile of thanks and went inside.

"John, how are you doing with the shuttle?"

"The pieces are being shipped to graveyard sir. It was completely taken apart."

"That's good! Thank the staff for me. And I know that you guys have been working hard so, how about three days off with pay?" Quatre said with a smile.

He heard a slight gasp from the other end of the line, "Really sir?!"

"You guys deserve it." Quatre added.

"Thank you!"

"Well, I have to go, John. Good bye."

"Sir wait!" John's loud voice cried out quickly and Quatre held on the phone.

"Yes? Is there something else?"

"Sir, we found a… sketchbook at one of the compartments. According to this book, it belongs to a Rebecca Neill."

Quatre frowned… Sketchbook…? Well… it does belong to Rebecca…

"Send someone to bring it over here. I'm in Room B417." Quatre ordered.

"Yes sir! I'll bring it in myself."

"Thanks John… Good bye." And Quatre hung up the phone, rushed outside and waved to the other nurses his thanks and dashed up the stairs.

~*~

Heero looked at Aria with an eyebrow raised. "Ready to look after another person, Doctor?"

Aria nodded, still shocked at the seemingly unnatural event that just happened… An event that she thought she could only see on one of those television series…

Her gaze went to a shoulder length black haired girl, kneeling beside Duo… Knowing, without anybody telling her that this is Hilde… the last of the 'gang'.

Heero then looked at Trowa who was standing just beside Hilde, "Trowa, could you help me?"

Trowa nodded, "You take the head, I'll take the feet."

Hilde stood away from the two boys.

Quatre came back inside, panting. "I've got a room just down the hall. Are you guys ready?"

Heero and Trowa grunted as they picked up Duo.

Quatre looked back at Relena. "I'll be right back after I show these guys where it is."

Relena nodded as Duo and Trowa started out the door following Quatre, while Hilde and Aria trailing right behind them.

"I'll stay here with Wufei until you guys get back." Relena said as the group went out the door.

Relena looked at Wufei's bed and sighed as she walked to the seat where Rebecca was sitting on a while ago.

She sat down feeling concern warring with a slight anger at what just happened. Suddenly, she frowned…

Relena stood up and walked nearer to Wufei's head…

"…Rebecca… Becky…" came that soft broken whisper from Wufei's seemingly unmoving mouth.

Relena closed her eyes as a wave of happiness overcame her… "Oh I wish Rebecca could have heard that…" she whispered to no one.

Quatre came in. "Relena, go on to Rebecca… I know that you want to talk to her…" he said softly as he walked up to Wufei. "I mean… about what happened here earlier."

Relena smiled as she faced Quatre. "Thanks Quatre. I really do want to talk to her… But… I think everything will be fine now…" with one last look at Wufei, she went to door. "I'll be checking up on Duo first, though." And left.

~*~

Aria finished putting a large bandage on Duo's nose. "He'll be okay. He's just going to have a huge lump on the back of his head, and wake up with a bad head ache… not to mention that his nose will be slightly swollen."

Hilde shifted her weight to another food. "Why isn't he still waking up?"

Aria wiped her hands with some disinfectant then faced Hilde. "There has been a lot of strain these past few days. I can assure you that Duo hasn't been sleeping very well… I think it's because of that… He needs to get a little rest, and you just gave it to him." Aria said with a smile.

Hilde grimaced, "Yeah… the hard way…"

Heero patted Hilde's shoulder. "Don't worry about it."

At the sound of Heero's voice, Hilde's anger returned. She quickly turned around and faced Heero. Then, before anybody could do anything, her fist connected with Heero's stomach.

"Ugh!" Heero took a step back and only gave a fleeting look of grimace. But, he didn't fall.

Aria and Trowa stared at Heero and Hilde in amazement, they didn't even notice the door open.

"What is happening here? Hilde, why did you just punch Heero?" Relena's voice resounded inside the quiet room.

Hilde faced Relena, not at all surprised that the dead Relena Peacecraft is infront of her. "He told our receptionist that he took Duo to the critical condition ward! He gave me the wrong idea!!! I was worried sick!" Tears started to appear on her eyes, "I.. I thought something bad had happened to Duo…" her tears started to fall.

Aria reached for a tissue and held it up to her and Hilde quickly took it, wiping her tears.

Heero looked at Relena who has a questioning look and he nodded.

Relena's eyes turned to slits… then… she sighed and shook her head. "I'm going to Rebecca's room… I want to know what your side is later, Heero." She glanced one last time at Hilde who was looking at Duo, nodded to Aria and Trowa, then left.

Heero faced Hilde and waited until she could look at him again.

"Hilde, I'm sorry… I know I deserved that." He said in his low baritone voice.

Hilde nodded. "Sorry too…" she mumbled, and turned away from Heero to Duo.

Heero looked over at Trowa and Aria and motioned for them to go outside. They nodded and walked out of the room, leaving Duo and Hilde behind.

"Are you alright, Heero?" Aria asked with concern.

"Yeah… it's nothing… I was thinking of something like that happening… Hilde might look very sweet and helpless, but she isn't… So, I was expecting that…"

Trowa nodded, "Yeah… I know what you mean…" he said as he thought of Thaliah and how Thaliah is exactly like that.

"Where is Quatre?" he asked quickly, needing to talk to him.

"He said that he'll be back at Wufei's room." Aria answered.

"Good… I need to talk to him… Is it alright with you if I take some of his time, Aria?" he asked with a small smile.

Aria smiled. "Why not, 'big bro'? Besides, I can't take him away from his friends."

With a wave to the others, Trowa quickened his step and went inside Wufei's room.

Quatre looked up and smiled as he saw Trowa.

"Hey Trowa…"

Trowa closed the door and started to look nervous.

"What is it?" Quatre asked with a frown. "Is Duo alright? I mean… his nose isn't broken, is it?"

Trowa shook his head. "No…no its not… it's going to be swollen though…"

Quatre tilted his head, "What is it then…?"

Trowa swallowed. "I found her."

Quatre frowned in confusion then… light shone is his eyes. A smile appeared on his face and he stood up in excitement.

"You did?! That's good! Where is she? How did you find her?"

Trowa smiled at his friend's reaction. "She's here… in your colony."

Quatre's jaw dropped. "She was just under our noses…?!"

"I saw her while I was walking this morning."

Quatre nodded excitedly, "Aaannndd?"

Trowa sighed dejectedly.

Quatre's smile faded and his loyalty to his friend sparked. "Why wouldn't this Thaliah Locklin open her eyes and just come to you?!!! She must be crazy to leave you! Why would any one want to do that to you?!" came Quatre's barrage of questions, shocked and irritated at this woman's actions.

Trowa shook his head. He's touched at Quatre's outburst, but, even if he doesn't understand why Thaliah would suddenly leave him, he knows that he can't live without her.

"Quatre, I need your help…" Trowa said softly.

Quatre stopped and looked at his friend. "You're still going after her… huh…?"

Trowa nodded.

Quatre sighed. Well… he can't stop Trowa… besides… this is what Trowa wants to do… he can only support him.

"Tell me what you need and I'll help you in any way I can…" Quatre said with resolve.

Trowa smiled, "Thanks Quatre…"

~*~

Heero and Aria stopped in front of Room B416.

Heero sighed, knowing he has to face the inevitable… a very probably angry Relena…

"Well… Relena said that she'll be waiting for you." Aria said, already feeling nervous for Heero. Sure, Relena is well known for her patience, especially as the ruler of the Sanct Kingdom… but, as an average person now… Aria shook her head. There is a saying that goes 'it's the silent ones that one should look out for…'

Heero nodded.

"I'll wait for you outside and help if you need my medical expertise." Aria joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Heero smiled softly. "Gee… thanks doc." With one last relaxing breath, Heero went inside the room.

~*~

Relena knocked softly and came in. She saw Rebecca looking outside the window, her arms crossed around her waist.

"Rebecca…" Relena started, her voice soft.

Rebecca turned around to look at Relena and smiled her welcome, though it was a pathetic try, and she knew it…

"Hey, come on now, Rebecca… You can't let what Wufei say disturb you… He's not himself yet…" she said as she tried to ease Rebecca's feelings.

Rebecca shook her head. "Yes… I know… but… he's mentioned those names before too… when I first met him…"

Relena smiled as she sat on the edge of the bed and patted the space beside her. "Sit down… How about if you tell me how you guys met… I'd really like to know…"

Rebecca's face turned wistful as she sat beside Relena, remembering that night…

"He was shot by one of Stone's men… And… well, I took him in. I mean, I probably should have left him lying there since the police were coming… but I couldn't…"

Relena nodded, she herself remembered how she wanted to help Heero when she first saw him unconscious on the beach…

"I know what you mean…"

Rebecca smiled, "Well… he was unconscious for about three days…" she continued her story, finally releasing what she has been thinking of, reliving of… those wonderful times when Wufei was so much alive… and not lying in a cot inside the hospital…

She finished her story looking at her hands.

"I've only known him less than three weeks… but…" her voice trailed off, not able to finish her sentence yet, because of her warring feelings.

"You love him…" Relena finished it for her.

Rebecca nodded. "Yes… I do… Do you think it impossible to fall in love at such a short period of time?" she asked Relena, not really caring for her opinion, but… just asking it…

Relena smiled, "No… I don't think it impossible…"

Rebecca looked away, "I thought… he might care for me a little… but… whoever Nataku and Sally are, they seem much more important to him than I am…"

Relena frowned… 'She doesn't know who Nataku is…? That means she doesn't know that he's a gundam pilot…'

Relena bit her lip, stopping herself from telling Rebecca that she shouldn't worry about Nataku… "Rebecca… as I said before… Wufei isn't himself yet…"

Rebecca sighed, but before she could answer, they heard the door open.

"Rena..?"

Relena turned around at Heero's voice and remembered what she wanted to talk to him about as she watched her husband go inside the room.

Relena patted Rebecca's hand, "Just a minute okay?" she whispered before completely facing her husband.

"Why did Hilde punch you?"

Rebecca frowned. 'Someone punched Heero? Who's Hilde and… Why?' Rebecca's frown went away as she remembered Heero talk about what happened to Duo… 'Of course! Hilde's the girl Duo's in love with…Wait… she's here?'

Heero sighed. "I told Hilde's receptionist to give Hilde a message… er… I told her to only tell Hilde that I brought Duo to Longsworth hospital and that we were going to the critical condition ward…"

"And did you purposely make your message vague?"

Heero shrugged, "Desperate times sometimes calls for desperate measures… I needed Hilde to face Duo again and I wasn't sure if Hilde meant what she said at the church… But counting on Hilde's soft side, if she heard that Duo's in a hospital, she'll instantly go to him…"

'Oh…' Rebecca thought.

Relena sighed. "Did you even think of what you'd make her go through?"

Heero didn't answer.

"Well, what matters is they're together again, and I'm sure that they'll fix everything up with each other…" Relena started to say as she went to her husband and encircled his waist with her arms in an embrace.

Rebecca looked away at the touching scene.

"You did your best…" she whispered.

Heero hugged her back. "You're not angry?"

Relena frowned, "Why should I be?"

Heero shrugged, "I don't know…" then a teasing smile appeared on his face, "Aria's waiting outside just as a precaution…"

Relena smiled. "Well, let's get her inside…"

With a nod, Relena let go of Heero so he could open the door.

"Aria, want to come in?" Heero asked.

Aria smiled and went inside, quickly giving Relena a smile, "I see that you didn't hurt him."

Relena grinned, "Oh… that'll come later…"

Aria looked at Rebecca and smiled softly, "Well, how're you doing, Rebecca?"

"Just fine… Thanks for asking, Aria…" Rebecca replied in a tired voice.

Relena suddenly gasped as she remembered something.

"Heero! Do you know where Sally is?" she quickly asked.

Aria and Rebecca looked up at Relena.

"You know Sally?" Rebecca quickly asked.

"What are you planning, Rena?" Aria asked at the same time.

Relena nodded at Rebecca's question, "Hopefully the Sally that Wufei is talking about is the same…" She faced Heero. "Well? Do you know where Sally is?"

Heero nodded, "Yes… She's the head of our DWHQT researchers… She's actually the one who proposed the project…" Heero answered.

Relena frowned, "How could you leave that detail behind? I would have liked to see Sally again…Well, anyway… I want you to contact Sally…" Relena didn't finish her sentence as she saw understanding in her husband's eyes.

Heero nodded. "Of course… If she's here, she can probably tell us why Wufei is looking for her…" He checked his watch for the time and date then looked at Relena.

"She's on Earth right now, doing some tests that she said can only be done on Earth and not at the space research lab… If I call her tonight, she'll be here tomorrow…"

Relena nodded. "Good… Do you want me to come with you?"

Heero shook his head, "No… I'll do it…" and with that, he left the room.

Rebecca bit her lip… She's going to meet Sally soon… but what of Nataku…? Her hand is itching for the comfort of her sketchbook, to draw what she's feeling… but at the moment, she doesn't know where her sketchbook is…

(Author's Note: What do you think is Sally's part in all this? Will Trowa and Thaliah finally be together? What about Wufei and Rebecca? Not to mention a still stilted Duo and Hilde… Well, you'll soon know on the last chapter. I do hope that you've enjoyed this! E-mail me ^_^ at KIT)

Chapter 1
Chapter 3: Finale