Breaking Away
Chapter 3

By Kit

A request fiction
AN: This happened during MY HEART IN YOUR HANDS- a little insert, but this is a fic that will stand alone

Location: Africa
2200 Hours

A man entered through the steel sliding door into a fully equipped computer room with a wide screen. Three men were seated, working upon a steel half moon panel of controls, all wearing forest green shirts and black pants.

"Found anything on her yet Rene?"

The man in the middle turned his seat around to face the one who entered. "Yes sir."

The man nodded. "Show it to me."

Rene cued to his partners and they started typing. A picture of a humble two-story building appeared on the screen in the middle.

"That is the Foundling." Rene said, putting an emphasis on the word ‘Foundling’. "Does that ring a bell, sir?"

The man frowned. "Yes… I do believe that it does."

"This is their headquarters, located about 45 miles East of our location."

Another picture covered the screen. A man who looks… utterly familiar…

"Lt. Parks…" The man muttered under his breath.

Rene nodded. "Yes sir. Lt. Parks was a research analyst under Oz’s team. He’s not a soldier. In every aspect, he’s a failure. But he is an organized man with a sharp mind for nuclear technology."

‘Yes… I remember him…’ the man thought back to when he was given a tour of the Oz main research laboratory…

"He is currently the man in charge of Foundling… And yet, upon further research, we found that he is working for another company."

‘What is your connection to this, Catalonia?’ the man asked himself.

Dorothy’s picture came up and the logo of Avalon Cosmetics.

"Foundling is being funded by Miss Dorothy Catalonia…" Rene turned around to face his superior, "Foundling is actually Miss Catalonia’s project… And yet she hides the fact that this is her company… With the security we had to go through, she protects this foundation to the utmost that she can."

The man nodded. "A mother and the baby… and the baby is left alone just within our grasp."

Rene nodded and grinned sinisterly. "Yes… Exactly what I was thinking, sir."

"Good job, Rene. Very commendable." He turned away from them. "All of us will have our revenge on her soon."

"Sir, I’d like to get your permission to install trinitrotoluene around the foundation."

The man stopped. "Let us wait for John to come back to us and see if he has Ms. Catalonia with him… Would it not be entertaining to watch her face when we finally blow up her baby?"

Rene’s eyes slanted as he smiled with malice, just as his superior is doing so. "Yes… Of course sir."

The man closed the door behind him and walked towards his own room, his thoughts- as usual- going back to the war…

He had striven- just as his men- to accumulate money to set up his organization… Years and years have passed and they were finally able to move in to the land they had purchased and set up their base. Years of wanting revenge, and trying to keep track of all the people they want to suffer… But especially, years of living with the knowledge that one of the people they had once admired had just left them to die… without ever turning back. She had the money while they were left to work hand and foot… She lived a life of luxury while they lived a life harder than that of mice…

"We’ll get you, you traitorous bitch…" he muttered. "We’ll get you and make you suffer…"

~*~

The last traces of the glorious, shimmering sunset slowly faded as dusk settled upon the land.

Dorothy snuggled inside Michael’s embrace as she watched the remaining light finally fade… She’d never thought that she’d ever feel so safe again… or so happy. She now know how to bowl- she smiled- she loves the ferris wheel… Michael had taken her out to so many places, asking her if she liked it… And she loved every single one of them! Even when she received her fifth threat letter, she did not feel so… threatened anymore… After all, it’s the fifth one already and still, nothing has happened. So why should she worry, right? And right now, she only wants to- she sighed deeply- stay in his embrace.

Today has been more than perfect… Michael had cooked a picnic for them and they ate it in a secluded area at the beach, drank wine… He had given her a seemingly three dozen red roses- she glanced to her side where she had gently placed it and smiled.

Michael tightened his hold on her as he placed his chin on her hair. It’s been a month… Sure, they only see each other at the end of the week, but each meeting is treasured in his heart… Well… There were times when she is angry at him for no reason- or not that he knows of- but of course, he just kept quiet… Not that he’s stupid… It’s just that he’d rather take the more reasonable side and listen to her, and try to make amends if need be… He doesn’t like fighting with her…

"What’s the occasion, Michael?" Dorothy asked almost in a whisper from his chest. "I mean… flowers, wine, picnic… beach… Am I missing something?"

Michael grinned… This day is especially special to him… Definitely special to him… He can’t help but remember…

Dorothy looked up from Michael’s chest. "Michael?"

He looked down at her… He once had thought that he’d never be able to embrace her like this… Hell! He’d thought that she’s marrying Heero!

His hand went up to cup her cheek and to trace it with his thumb. "Well… it’s special to me…"

He still can’t believe it… He knows that she’d be different once he gets to know her… But God! She’s the core of his happiness… She might have a cold outlook, but once he got her alone, she’s warm… Well, after she lets off her anger if she’s mad that day.

Dorothy frowned, "What is it? Come on, tell me."

Michael grinned, "I thought it’s the girls who’re supposed to know these things well."

He saw her eyebrow rise and knew that she’s starting to feel irked. He just smiled down at her. "It’s been a month since I saw you… Exactly a month since that special Friday when I bumped my head under that table, probably messing my marbles, and saw you in your gold ensemble."

Dorothy looked down on the white sand as she bit her lower lip while she relished the warmth that spread all over her. As usual, Michael had touched her- remembering something so special when she had forgotten all about it.

"I forgot."

"I know, but it’s okay… That’s why I’m here to remind you." His hands rubbed her arms and then went to her shoulders to massage it, trying to drive away that nagging sad feeling that she hadn’t remembered.

Dorothy closed her eyes in pleasure. "Are you trying to seduce me?"

"Is it working?" Michael whispered.

Dorothy smiled, "Uhmm… maybe just a little bit…"

She let him massage her until she stilled his hands with her own and leaned against him while looking up at the star-studded sky.

Michael sighed. The whole day they’ve been having fun, but he has that distinct feeling that something’s bugging her. "Dorothy? What’s wrong?"

She didn’t answer… She’s thinking about what Frank had told her earlier over the phone… someone had hacked into Foundling’s computer files… She hates it when her files are read so blatantly… But she had thought that she had a good security… ‘I guess I don’t…’

"Dorothy?" Michael asked once again as he tenderly squeezed her shoulders.

Dorothy felt it and blinked, returning back to reality. "Hmm?"

"What’s wrong?" Michael asked once again.

Dorothy sighed. "Michael, how good are you with computers?"

Michael’s eyebrow shot up. "Er… Dorothy, you’re talking to Quazer’s VP over here…" came the teasing voice.

Dorothy laughed softly. "Well, okay. I’ll be specific. How good are you with file security?"

Michael grinned, "That, my dear golden rose, is my specialty!"

Dorothy grinned as she turned around to face him, "Oh really? Care to show me some of your programs?"

Michael looked at her seriously. "Dorothy, I’ll show it to you… But you have to tell me why."

Dorothy sighed. "Someone hacked into some very personal files of mine… I mean, don’t get me wrong… I have quite a good security program… I checked it out myself, and I’m not that bad with computers… But someone was still able to hack into it…"

Michael nodded, feeling a spark of anger flare in him towards those who had invaded Dorothy’s privacy. "You don’t have to tell me anything more… I’ll give you one of my programs if you want… I know how it is… But you have to remember, every program has flaws that maybe will never be seen by anyone, if we’re lucky."

He saw that she finally relaxed a little bit, but there’s still that tenseness about her shoulders…

"You know, how about if we go to Quazer’s right now and I’ll show you one of them."

Michael saw the light shine in her eyes and smiled.

Dorothy’s face lit up. He’ll do it? She knows that he wants to spend his time relaxing… "Are you sure?"

Michael nodded. "Yeah…" he stood up and then helped Dorothy. "I’d rather see you completely smiling than smiling tensely."

Dorothy grinned, "I’ve been uptight, eh?"

Michael returned her grin with one of his own. "Well, let’s say that you weren’t you’re usual angry self tonight." He teased.

Dorothy slanted her eyes, "Why you-!"

"Ah! There she is! Now my dear, shall we go to my humble building?"

After glaring at him for a few seconds, Dorothy laughed. "Why yes, of course."

~*~

Location: Quazer Company

1900 Hours

Dorothy looked over Michael’s shoulder into his computer monitor. She smiled a little bit at the mess on his desk- papers and sketches of computers, pencils and many more… She can’t even see the phone! But then… he did warn her…

"Okay, here we are…"

Dorothy saw the programs on his monitor and her eyes widened a little bit at the complicated numbers and phrases, etc… Her own knowledge- gladly- didn’t fail to help her understand what might happen to the computer of the hacker-

Wait a minute… Her computer was given a virus…

"Michael… who’s the one that does the security for Quazer?" she asked curiously.

Michael grinned, "Well… it’s more of a partnership between me and Heero… I do the first part, he does the back up."

Dorothy blinked… ‘Back up? What back up? If Heero does the back-up… then…’ she stared at Michael… ‘Was he the one who made the…’

"Do you want to see what the last level looks like?" Michael proudly asked as he typed in some keys.

The same words that Dorothy had seen on her computer showed itself on Michael’s…

Her jaw nearly fell down.

"When a hacker passes my security, he goes to Heero’s programs before he’ll be able to get to the right files."

She couldn’t stop the words that came out of her mouth. "You were the one who did that? Not Heero?"

Michael frowned… She sounded as if she’d seen this… He looked into her usually guarded eyes and saw the disbelief in them…

"Is there something you want to tell me?" Michael asked curiously.

Dorothy looked away… Should she even tell him? What if he gets mad? Snooping around like-

"Dorothy?" Michael asked once again. He reached out and held her hands in his. "Please tell me."

Dorothy gave a guilty smile to Michael… "I…" she coughed. Why does she feel embarrassed? She shouldn’t feel guilty of any of her actions! She tilted her chin up. "I hacked into your program… Got into- I suppose its Heero’s fake schedule?"

Michael’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief… Dorothy…? Dorothy was the one…? "When did you try it?"

"The day before I went to your company… I wanted to be sure that Heero is accessible. And I didn’t want to give him any warning that I was coming over."

"So that was you!" Michael cried out with a cheery grin.

Dorothy frowned at his grin. "You- you’re not angry?"

Michael just shrugged, "Now why should I be? I’ve been wanting to meet the first person able to get to the last level and I was just dating her!"

Dorothy smiled at Michael’s grin. "Small world, isn’t it?"

Michael nodded, not releasing her hands, "So, which ones do you want? I’ll install it for you this weekend if you want."

Dorothy leaned down, putting her face just a few inches away from him. "Well, it’s up to you when you want to install it… But don’t do it tomorrow night."

Michael frowned, "Why?"

She grinned, "I spoiled tonight… So how about if you drop by my house at 6 and we’ll go out and get dinner."

Michael’s eyes showed mischief as he closed in. "And after dinner?"

Dorothy laughed. "After dinner, you’re going to go home and sleep, of course."

Michael pouted, "Ah well… at least I’ll get to eat dinner with you."

"Yes, consider yourself lucky that I’d even give you that chance."

Michael smiled at her unsubtle pride- too utterly playful. "Of course I do."

"Good… Now, I have to get home… And since you were the one who picked me up from my house, I’m supposing that you’ll drop me back there?"

Michael’s smile disappeared. "Why so early? It’s only 8!"

Dorothy bit her lip… ‘I don’t want to go either, Michael… But…’ she gave him an apologetic look. "I’m a little tired…"

Michael stomped on the sad feeling that was threatening to envelop him and smiled at her instead. "Why didn’t you tell me that you were tired?"

Dorothy bit her inner lip. She saw that quick look of sadness in his expressive eyes… "And miss the picnic and your home cooked meals? Not on your life." she reached out and tilted his chin while she leaned down and kissed him, intent on taking away that sad look…

Michael was the one who placed his hands on her shoulders and stopped the kiss.

They gasped for air.

"I think I better take you home before something happens." Michael muttered as he stood up, took a few steps away from Dorothy, looked at her longingly then turned away. "Let’s go."

Dorothy tried to stop the longing feeling in her as she stood up and followed him… He is right after all… She can’t risk it…

~*~

Dorothy looked at herself as she donned on her shimmering silvery evening gown. Her personal hairdresser and make-up artists had left just a few minutes ago.

She studied the flowing locks of curls in an elegant ponytail and her perfect make-up… She’d taken painstaking care to look nice tonight… no… nice is not the word… She wants to be stunning for him… and such a feeling scared her…

She sighed as she placed her fingers by her temple. What’s happening to her? Wasn’t it that she had told herself that she wouldn’t get involved with him? That she’ll only date him and not feel anything for him?

And yet now… she can’t get through a day without hearing even a hello from him, and she looks forward to their dinners and outings…

She shouldn’t risk it… but she has a bad feeling that she just did… or has she?

"I need an aspirin." She muttered as she went inside her bathroom.

From outside her apartment, a man clad in black, meshed with the shadows of the night, watched her… Then, he pushed the window open as silently as he could.

‘Finally… Dorothy Catalonia…’ he thought in deep hate.

From inside the bathroom, Dorothy gulped down a pill then checked her watch and saw that Michael will be knocking on her door anytime soon… She better be ready…

The man slid through the shadows, towards the bathroom. Then, he saw Dorothy coming out of the room, her back to him.

‘Perfect…’

He took out his handkerchief and quickly walked towards her.

Dorothy frowned as she reached her vanity table… She felt the hair at the back of her neck rise. Never happened in her room before… Shaking it off, she looked up at the mirror and saw a shadow behind her.

Her eyes widened as she quickly turned around. There wasn’t even a chance to scream out as the man grabbed her by the hair then placed a slightly wet handkerchief, half covering her face.

"Mmpphffff!!!" Dorothy struggled against the hold. Her free hand collided against the things on her table… Make-ups, lotions, and her lamp fell on the hard, wooden floor.

CRASH!!!

"You’re going with me to Africa…." The man whispered against her ear.

‘No! No! I can’t be taken in this easily!’ she thought in anger, and yet, she feels so afraid… Her body had suddenly become numb… Slowly, her vision started to cloud and then… darkness…

The man smiled as he felt Dorothy grow limp in his arms… He leaned and pulled her over his shoulder then walked towards the window…

~*~

Michael sighed as he walked inside the elevator… He knows for a fact that he loves her… Heck, how he even came down with that conclusion, he has no idea but he just knows. Sure, Heero will say that he’s dumb and that there’s no such thing- wait… what’s he talking about? He did see that stupid smile on Heero’s face over the phone nearly a month ago…

Well… anyway… He still doesn’t know how she feels for him… Sure she looks as if she’s enjoying herself with him, but what if it’s just that… she’s only just enjoying…

The elevator opened and he got off, arranging his tie nervously… He always feels nervous when he’s just about to pick Dorothy up… But it’s a pleasant kind of anxiety…

He stopped right outside of her door and was about to knock when-

CRASH!!!

Michael frowned, his instincts suddenly going haywire…

‘What the-! Dorothy!’

He didn’t think as he stepped back and brought his foot up to kick down her door.

One kick was all it took- ‘Thank God for Heero’s exercises!’

Through the bedroom door adjacent to that of the main door, he saw a man with an unconscious Dorothy slung over his shoulder glance behind-

‘So much for surprise entrances.’ Michael thought as he ran to the room.

The man move faster towards the window- but the weight he’s carrying didn’t let him move so freely.

Michael grabbed the man’s collar- well, where the collar should be if he had one- and jerked him backwards.

The man grunted and dropped Dorothy to the floor.

Michael’s eyes slanted in fury. "You’re going to pay for that." He muttered under his breath.

"Not if I kill you first." The man muttered from behind the mask.

They lunged for each other not at all caring about how many blows they received but only with one thing in their mind… One is to protect the unconscious woman that he loves, and the other to bring her to Africa…

Blood trickled down Michael’s nose as he received a blow at his jaw for the third time and then a kick to his stomach. He fell on his knees gasping for air. When he looked up, he saw the man about to give him a knock out blow over his neck and thinking instinctively, he pushed himself up and tackled the man. The two fell on the floor, and Michael saw the man’s eyes grimace as his head hit the floor.

He brought his hand and punched the man at the jaw, feeling slightly triumphant as he heard that audible crack… But before he could land another punch on the man’s face to knock the bloody hell out of him, he was suddenly tossed in the air, head over heels.

Michael landed with a thud on the floor, nearly knocking him out. But that one thought playing over and over in his mind made him hold on to his consciousness… Not at all at the verge of giving up, Michael groggily stood up. He watched tiredly as the other man also stood up.

They looked at each other with fury blazing in their eyes, enough to compete against the dessert sun, but both know that no one will give up.

"I will be back for her."

Michael gave a snarl, "And I’ll be here to stop you."

He watched as the man slowly walked towards the window, a slight limp nearly not evident and then he was no more… Merging once again with the shadows outside…

"Damn! Dammit all to hell!" Michael shouted as he fell on his knees and grabbed his aching sides. He should have stopped him. He shouldn’t have let that man who threatened Dorothy’s life escape… He shouldn’t have… But he knows his limit when he reached to it… He’s not like Heero who can fight so many people and not get a scratch…

‘Dammit! I wish I was…’ he wished for the very first time as he tried to slow down his breathing… He could feel himself about to collapse-

‘Oh God! Not right now… not right now…’ Michael chanted to himself as he bent his head forward, letting his blood run to his head.

Feeling a little bit better, Michael glanced up and saw Dorothy’s form, face down on the floor… A feeling of peace coursed through him as he slowly crawled to her on his hands and knees.

A person would have wept at the helpless image he presented as he gently brushed back the silky hair over her face and saw her eyes closed, as if sleeping… Helplessly in love… helpless… to protect…

He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. "I’m sorry Dorothy… I wasn’t able to get him." He whispered sadly. Arranging her body to a certain position, he slipped his arms under her knees and neck. After a grunt, he pushed himself up and brought Dorothy to his chest.

Slowly, he walked towards her large bed and then placed her on top of it, tenderly arranging her slightly mussed hair, and then covering her body with a light blanket, putting her arms on top of it.

He sighed as he sat down at the side of the bed and then looked down at her perfectly made up face. She looks so beautiful… It’s the first time he has seen her look peaceful…

He’s let her down… That was all he could think of… He could have stopped the man but he didn’t…

"Really sorry…" he whispered once again as he stood up and then looked at the mess on the floor.

Cleaning… a physical work. Maybe it’ll help him take his mind off what happened… Give him something to do.

He walked over in front of her dresser and started picking up the broken glass when a bunch of red envelopes caught his attention. He frowned, curiosity taking a hold as he reached for one and opened it. A single piece of paper with magazine letter cut outs…

His eyes widened- ‘What the-!’

He couldn’t stop himself as he reached for all of the envelopes and opened it, reading the threat on each letter. He quickly glanced back at Dorothy’s form…

Questions filled his head… ‘Why didn’t she tell me? What are these? Why?’

It doesn’t take a genius to connect the letters and the man that night… but why…?

He walked seriously towards the bed and then placed the letters by the edge.

‘I have to ask you about these.’ He thought before going back to the floor and started finishing his cleaning.

‘Man… wish Heero’s here… Would have loved to see his face, seeing me cleaning and all…’ Michael mused, his humor finally kicking back.

Minutes later, he washed his hands and dried it… He’s already closed all the windows and the door- even going so far as placing a sofa in front of it just in case. Dorothy’s pretty organized that it was easy to see where the broom and dust pan were… He checked the clock and saw that it was only 7…

He shouldn’t sleep… he has to stay awake for Dorothy’s sake… he doesn’t want that man coming back…

‘Heh… My body’s gonna be sore tomorrow…’ Michael thought in forced cheerfulness…

He walked towards the bed and sat on top of the blanket he had placed over Dorothy, scooting nearer and then placing an arm under her neck to position her in a half embrace. He kissed her on her hair once again and then leaned against the headboard…

No one- and he means no one is going to get her from him… He intends to stay awake the whole night and he will do so.

~*~

The man covered in shadow answered the ringing vid phone, showing a black haired man with no mask with blood trickling down his nose.

"Sir… I wasn’t able to get Catalonia."

The man nodded. "You wouldn’t have called so early if you had, John." Sarcasm lined his voice before he finally took John’s badly injured face. "What happened to you?"

John grimaced, "Someone was there."

The man leaned back on his chair. "Alright then… if Ms. Catalonia is so protected, she should come to us willingly. John, get back here. I’ll be expecting your full report at 0600 tomorrow."

John nodded, "Yes sir. I’ll be flying back there right now."

The monitor blackened and the man leaned over to press a number onto the screen.

Rene’s image came up.

"Rene, I want you to bring three people and commence with the bombing… I want that building turned to rubble."

Rene grinned. "Yes sir. It will be my pleasure…"

~*~

Michael looked groggily at the clock on top of Dorothy’s dresser… 7am… He looked down at Dorothy in his arms and frowned in confusion as to why she hasn’t woken up yet… If her breathing had become irregular, he would have taken her to the hospital… But so far, it’s been normal…

He yawned… It’s been a long night… he wasn’t able to sleep at all the other night since he was working on the prototype design that he and Duo had come up with- a miniature camera- really small that you won’t even know its there if you don’t know where to look… And of course a portable monitor along with it… It’s a great way to spy on people- or so Duo had teased…

He blinked, trying to stay awake… but as the sunlight filtered through Dorothy’s window, his eyelids slowly closed and he fell in deep slumber, not even noticing Dorothy’s slight movement…

Dorothy turned to her side and placed her arm over her pillow… She feels so comfortable and so safe…

Suddenly, her eyes opened wide as she remembered something-

‘Michael!’ she sat up straight- ‘Kidnapper!’ But when she looked around, she’s still in her own room… And someone’s sleeping on her… bed… with her… Her glance went to her left and she found Michael leaning against the headboard near her.

‘But where’s the kidnap-’ she didn’t finish her train of thought as she saw the bruises on Michael’s jaw, a cut near his eyes, and a slight swelling nose. It wasn’t hard to deduce that what had happened… After all, she’s not in some damp, dark cell… she’s still in her house with a Michael full of bruises.

She brought her hand up to his jaw to gently touch a bruise, gentleness encompassing her when she saw Michael frown and his eyelids move, waking up.

He could feel an angel’s touch to his jaw… slightly cold but gentle… He opened his eyes and saw Dorothy looking at him with so much concern that he couldn’t help but smile down at her. "Hey… G’morning."

"That must have hurt…" Dorothy said as she pushed herself up to a sitting position right beside him.

Michael shrugged… What could have hurt more is if he had lost her…

"Thank you." Dorothy whispered as she hugged him, placing her cheek on his chest. Last night had been so scary… She doesn’t like it when she’s taken off guard… And yet, she also knows that if the same thing had happened to her before Quatre had opened her eyes, she wouldn’t have felt fear but anger…

Michael felt her body start to shake as if cold and he started to rub her back. "Dorothy? Ssshhh… go ahead and cry…"

Dorothy shook her head. No… she doesn’t cry… She’s never cried… Trowa was correct about her that time… She is pathetic… She can’t even cry right now… she’s just-

"I’m just shaking from shock, Michael… I don’t cry. I don’t think I’d ever will again." She said sadly.

Michael frowned… There’s something about the way she said it that felt as if it had a double meaning… He glanced down at her once again, but his gaze was dragged away by the red envelopes seemingly calling his attention.

He grimaced… he hates to give her something more to worry about so early in the morning, but he needs to get down to this once and for all… ‘I don’t want anything like last night happening again.’

"Dorothy…"

She frowned as she looked up to his face. He rarely uses such a serious tone…

"What are those letters?" Michael asked pointing to the red envelopes. "Why didn’t you tell me that you were being threatened?"

Dorothy frowned as she followed his hand. She saw the threat letters she never wanted anyone to know about. Anger sparked in her… the anger she should have felt last night at whoever tried to kidnap her… at who’s been making her life such a miserable hell… at a certain someone who’d invaded her privacy… "You- you read them?! You read my letters?!"

Michael sighed. He’s not in the mood to be patient right now. Dammit! She was almost kidnapped last night and if he’s going to be able to do something about it she had better start talking!

"Yes I read them! What did you expect?! It was lying on the floor! Jezus Dorothy!!! Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped you!"

He asked… it wasn’t really the fact that he never knew about the letters that bothered him… It was the fact that Dorothy hadn’t even… Hadn’t trusted him enough to tell him so…

And damn but it hurts! It hurts more than those punches the guy had landed on him.

Dorothy slanted her eyes. "Did I even ask for your help?"

The words reverberated in the suddenly eerily silent room…

Dorothy suddenly felt the need to take them back, to tell Michael that she’s sorry… but she didn’t.

Those words seared through Michael like a knife. He closed his eyes before she could be able to read the pain he’s feeling and quickly he moved away from her…

‘Play with fire… and you burn…’ The words rang in his throbbing head like a broken record… He can’t stay here right now… not now…

‘So that’s the answer I had been looking for…’ Michael thought sadly, feeling weary so suddenly. ‘A lost war… no chance…’ the words added itself to his thoughts. He wanted to leave already, but he couldn’t… He has things to say… things he has to get off his chest… She might laugh at him… but that’s alright… he knows that he’s a fool…

"I was worried for you… I don’t want anything happening to you. Do you want to know why?" he didn’t give her a chance to answer… if she speaks now he might lose his courage to say his good byes.... "I want to marry you, make love with you, make a family with you and live to the old age with you… And it’s because of those reasons that I don’t want anything happening to you… But I guess I’m wrong…"

"Those things can never happen… Not like this Dorothy… You don’t trust me. And trust plays a big role in relationships… The thing is…" he turned to face Dorothy, his pain evident in his eyes. "You can never really trust anyone until you trust yourself… and with those fears that you’re running away from, that’s hard to do…"

Dorothy swallowed the thickness forming in her throat as she tried to hold on to anger after she heard what he had to say. "Are you calling me a coward?!"

"Did you hear me call you such a word? I only told you to face your fears Dorothy… That’s all… to face them. Remember that you’re not alone and that people can help." He didn’t say the last few words to her, but he thought of it. ‘I can help… I want to help.’

Slowly, Dorothy turned away from Michael, trying to keep a straight, strong face with her chin tilted in the air even though she feels as if she’s doing the worst mistake in her entire life… "I told you before that you shouldn’t expect me to feel anything for you…" The words were said clear and strong… not at all how she imagined it would sound with the weak feeling she has at the moment… but it did…

‘Closed… threw away the keys…’ came the bitter thought as Michael heard those words… He gave one last look at the proud woman in front of him, wanting to feel angry at her, shake her, slap her, make her feel something… but he only turned away in desolation and walked out of the suite…

The clear, audible sound of the knob turning… door opening… then finally, lock clicking back into place…

Her eyes traveled the short distance and saw that once again… she is alone… The sudden feel of cold loneliness blasting through her, as it had never done before…

Gone…

Her face fell as she lay back on her bed and then curled up into a ball… He’s as good as closed the door in front of her face and she helped him do it…

"You’re wrong Michael… I am alone…" she whispered brokenly. She closed her eyes to let the feeling of loneliness encompassed her as before… But this time, it hurt more… deeper… searing her…

Why does this always happen to her? Is she cursed? Is she cursed that everyone she cares for will die or hate her in the end?

She turned to face Michael’s imprint on her bed, traced it tenderly and then placed her cheek to it. "Damn you Michael…" she whispered, trying to work up anger against the man who has torn down her walls only to leave her again.

She didn’t know how long she stayed like that on her bed, but the urgent beeping of her vid phone made her twist and answer it, putting on her battered mask of haughtiness before the monitor flashed.

A man with gray streaks mingling in his black hair appeared.

Dorothy’s frown deepened at the man’s distraught face. "Frank, what’s wrong?"

"Dorothy… Foundling… it’s been bombed."

For the second time that morning, Dorothy felt a coldness encompass her… Foundling, her project… the project she had given so much time and energy… the project she had tried so hard to protect…

Her mask almost slipped…

"I’m sorry… I didn’t do a good job-"

"No. Don’t say that Frank… You’ve been doing a good job ever since I’ve asked you to play the part of heading Foundlings… How… how bad is the damage?"

Frank looked down sadly. "The whole building is totaled, Dorothy… Nothing is left but dust…"

Dorothy’s fingers curled, clutching her blanket as she willed her breathing to stay calm. It seems as if her whole life is crumbling right in front of her eyes…

Then she remembered something… The kidnapper had said Africa last night… Foundling is in Africa…

Hope rose in her as she her mind worked quickly. There’s a slight chance that the people who had tried so hard to harm her is in there.

"Frank, expect me there today. Amanda will give you my schedule."

She didn’t give Frank any time to question her decision as she turned off her phone and dialed another.

A sleepy looking Amanda answered. "Yes? Good morning…" her voice trailed off as her eyes widened, "Miss Catalonia!"

Dorothy nodded. "Amanda, I want you to arrange a flight to Africa with Gary. I’m going to Foundlings… It’s just been bombed. I don’t know when I’ll be back but take care of everything for me back there while I’m gone."

Amanda only nodded, her voice caught in shock at what happened… She knows full well how Dorothy loves Foundling…

The monitor turned black and Dorothy stood up from the bed to start packing.

"You assholes are going to pay." She whispered as she took out a sleek black outfit from the bottom drawer along with a pack of bullets and a gun.

Foundlings has been the only project where she had felt special… A project she had started since the war was over… A project she had thought up ever since she had told Noin that she wants to start anew…

Avalon is just a façade because she knows that the Gundam pilots will never look at in the cosmetics industry… And since she didn’t want anybody knowing that she has gone soft, she had asked Frank to stand in for her… Everybody thinks that it’s Frank who’s the director of Foundling even if she really is the one…

Well, she’s going to face her fears, alright… She’s going to face them and eliminate them all! She knows how to fight… dirty if need be… And all of them are going to pay… She might have lost Michael, but she’s not going to lose Foundling to those cowards…

Then she stilled…

But what if something happens to her? Who can she trust to look after everything? She doesn’t trust anyone- not even her vice presidents- except for…

Amanda…

~*~

Michael turned on his radio as he got on the freeway. He massaged his temple with one hand, trying not to think of what had happened in Dorothy’s place…

"Breaking news… Terrorists had just bombed the Foundlings Headquarters in Africa. Let’s go to Jillian for more information. Jillian?"

Michael listened with a frown at the news… "Damn those stupid terrorists!" he muttered in anger. "Don’t they even know how many people Foundlings help?"

He slapped his steering wheel. Quazers gives funding to that corporation… Well, he’ll be damned if they’re not going to help them out, that’s for sure!

"This is just a great day!" he said sarcastically… "Just great."

He reached his apartment, still fuming and slamming his door shut, going straight to his bedroom to take a shower to help relax and ease his mind… But he just couldn’t get his mind off Dorothy or those threat letters… and that man who nearly kidnapped her… He still thought of them as he donned on his jeans and shirt.

‘Why? Are you hiding something Dorothy?’ he asked himself…

Michael glanced over at his computer in his little built in office, an idea forming in his mind, but he shook his head… No… he shouldn’t… but then again…

He looked at the computer once again and walked towards it.

‘Then again… how would I be able to help Dorothy if I don’t know…’ A grimace appeared on his face… ‘Yeah right… help the person who’s not asking for help… Good one Mike!’ But even with that thought in mind, he turned on his monitor, sat down on the seat in front of it, getting ready to start his research…

A while later, a frown formed on Michael’s forehead as he stared at the financial records of Avalon Industries…

"Where is that money going to?" he thoughtfully as he computed the large amount that has private information… He hacked into it, not quite so easily, and then his eyes widened a little bit…

Michael’s head slowly started shaking from left to right in disbelief.

‘This couldn’t be possible… could it?’

He needs to be sure as he typed in a few more keys and the text scrolled down then it stopped…

"No way… Foundlings is Dorothy’s?!"

He leaned against his seat as if someone punched him once again while the information he just received seeped into him… He knew that deep inside, Dorothy has a heart of gold… but he didn’t expect it to be quite like this…!

Then a smile formed on his lips. ‘Why not?’ he thought suddenly happy… He did fall in love with the right woman! Suddenly, he remembered the news he heard over the radio…

What is she feeling right now? He needs to be there for her… She might not love him, but he’s hoping that someday she will…

He grabbed his laptop from his bedside table and then ran out of his house to his car, driving back to the direction he drove away from just hours ago, exceeding all speed limits as one thought throbbed in his mind.

‘I need to be there for her…’

~*~

Amanda watched as the private jet took off from behind the glass windows. She’s scared for Dorothy… She knows that look of determination in her eyes and she’s just afraid…

She had asked her if Michael knows she’s going to Africa, and she saw the look of pain and sadness in Dorothy’s eyes before turning away and not answering… Instead, she was given another command-

"Amanda, go back to my house and you’ll find a tape recorder on my computer desk. Play it and follow the instructions."

Amanda could only nod and watched as Dorothy had boarded the plane…

She sighed. It’s time to go to Dorothy’s house…

~*~

Michael reached the building and parked in an open space… then he frowned as he saw a familiar mousse haired girl getting out of a white car.

Michael quickly got out of the car and walked to the woman. "Hey! Amanda!!!"

Amanda turned around and saw Michael walking towards her. She waited for him to reach her, but even from a distance, she could see a slight droop on his shoulders and see sadness in his eyes…

‘What happened here?’ she thought as he reached her and she was finally able to see the slight black and blue bruises on his face.

"What happened to you!?"

Michael grimaced, "I’d rather not tell at the moment…"

"Michael? What happened between you and Dorothy?"

They have become friends when he first came to the building to ask Dorothy out… That pink envelope day… He was waiting for her to come in and they started talking to each other...

Michael gave a sad grin. "Eh… we kinda had a little fight this morning… What about you? What are you doing here?" they entered the elevator.

"Dorothy asked me to go to her house… Oh! Michael, she’s not here!" Amanda quickly said.

Michael frowned. "Where is she?"

They got off the elevator and started walking towards Dorothy’s door.

‘Should I tell him?’ Amanda asked herself… she decided to play it safe and change the subject instead. "Do you want some coffee? I’m sure Dorothy won’t mind."

She opened the door.

"Uh… sure… But Amanda, where’s Dorothy?"

Amanda swallowed and walked straight to the kitchen to turn on the coffee maker.

"I’m not sure if I should tell you, Michael…" she faced him. "Please look after the coffee maker while I go get what she wants me to do."

Michael nodded grimly as he took a seat.

Amanda went into the study and saw the tape recorder. She pressed it and heard Dorothy’s voice loud and clear…

Her body grew cold and numb… ‘What is this?! What is she saying?!’

Then her voice stopped and with a shaking hand, Amanda pressed stop… She looked outside the study and her breath came in gasps.

"Michael!"

Michael frowned as he looked up, hearing Amanda’s panicked voice. The look of utter fear on her face didn’t help his mood either, but before he could ask what’s wrong-

"Michael, tell me that I didn’t hear it correctly!" she told him as she handed him the tape recorder with shaky hands.

Michael pressed rewind and then play.

"Amanda, I’ve just asked you to get the plane ready… I know this is going to sound strange, but I’ve already talked to proper authorities. What I’m trying to tell you is that… if anything happens to me, I want you to take over the company… Everything will be legally yours… Just don’t forget Foundling, that’s all I’m asking you… Thank you for being my most trusted… friend… This is Dorothy Catalonia, owner of Avalon Industries and Foundling Foundation, security code J576432, for Amanda Hawkins…"

Michael stared at the recorder in stupor, his hands clammy… Then, he looked up at a sobbing Amanda. "Where is she?" he asked once again, this time he wants an answer.

Amanda looked into his hazel eyes. "She went to Africa nearly an hour ago…"

"Dammit!!!" Michael cried out as he slammed his hand on the table.

He stood up and started pacing. "Dorothy, you are so damn stupid!!!" he muttered under his breath… Foundlings was just bombed by terrorists… She was just nearly abducted last night…

Michael stopped as his brow furrowed… Is there any connection? Could it be that the terrorists in Africa is actually the same people threatening her?

He went into Dorothy’s study and turned on the computer to try to look for something that would help…

"What are you doing?" Amanda asked as she went behind him and saw the quick fingers typing on the keyboard…

"I’m trying to check for something…"

Numbers and names appeared beside a map of Africa where dots appeared everywhere…

Michael started typing in a few more commands and a new list showed itself…

Companies and names with a number beside it… Michael went down the list, closing and opening various windows and typing in the companies and names in fervor…

He grimaced by the time he was down with the last name… maybe he was wrong with his hunch…

He typed in the company name- White Two Technologies.

Maybe he’s digging in the wrong-

"Hello…" Michael muttered under his breath as nothing came out…

"What is it?" Amanda asked curiously.

"White two is not a real company… or if it is… they have no operating activity…"

"So?"

"They’ve purchased a land in Africa- a huge land… Dorothy is in Africa and she just said ‘IF anything happens’ to her and then Foundlings base is bombed… I might be wrong… but what if the terrorists are hiding in that land that they’ve purchased?"

Amanda nodded.

Michael turned off the monitor. They’ve wasted enough time as it is…

"Amanda, could you do me a favor and call this (he took a piece of paper and started writing a number) line and tell them that I want the plane to get ready for a flight to Africa."

"You’re going?" Amanda said in surprise.

Michael nodded seriously. "Dorothy might need me… That’s the number for my pilot. Tell him I’ll be there in," he checked his watch, it’s an hour drive and he needs to pack… not to mention the time to get to the airport… Damn! "Tell him I’ll be there in about three hours. Get the plane ready."

Michael grabbed his laptop and was almost out the door when he heard Amanda call to him. He turned around.

"Michael… good luck."

Michael nodded grimly.

He ran to his car the moment he got off the elevator… He’s taking a chance… he knows that… For one, Heero already said that Dorothy is trouble, so what will his friend say when he learns that he’s dating her? For two, who’ll take care of the company if anything happens to him? He still doesn’t know where Heero is… And in the end, if nothing happens to him in Africa… Heero will still probably kill him when he gets wind of what he’s doing…

He reached his apartment in record time- just 45 minutes for the usually one hour or more drive… he was speeding… oh well, no one caught him…

He was digging through his cabinet when he heard his vid phone beeping…

Cursing under his breath, he walked over to the sound- nearly tripping from the clothes strewn on the floor and turned on the phone.

Heero’s image showed itself on the screen.

‘Talk of the devil!’ Michael’s eyes widened. "Heero!"

Heero smiled at his friend. "Hello Michael. I see that you still haven’t cleaned your room." Heero observed, his eyes trailing behind Michael’s body.

Michael grinned… He doesn’t have to think of Number Two anymore… "Heero, where are you?"

"I’m at Duo’s… I’m not going back yet… I still have to finish some things over here…"

Michael didn’t let him finish. "Could you take care of the company, Heero? I mean, even if you’re there?"

Heero frowned. He could see that something’s bothering Michael… "I can do that. That’s why I asked Duo to give me an office in his building… give you a break."

Michael grinned without humor. "Heero… I’m going to go somewhere today… Africa to be exact… I uh… need to do something… But I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get back in one piece or not…"

Michael saw Heero’s piercing stare go through him… ‘Oh God! He knows!’ he thought in panic. Then, he saw Heero shake his head.

"Michael… Don’t worry… I don’t think anything will happen to you… I can see that determination in your eyes… But I will take care of the company from here, so go on ahead."

"Thanks, bud…" Michael muttered, feeling happy with his friend’s confidence.

"And Michael."

Michael glanced up to Heero’s eyes and saw concern.

"Good luck…" Heero looked as if the word he’s about to say was being forced out of him. "…bud."

Michael grinned. "Yeah… thanks. 072 over and out." Michael said before turning off the vid phone, saying his old goodbye just as he had during the war.

He sure do hope that Heero is right… then he turned back to his bedroom and finished his packing.

~*~

Location: Colony C-615

Heero leaned back on his chair as he stared at the phone.

‘What’s happening there…?’ he asked himself, a little worried for his friend… But he knows that Michael can handle it…

‘Although… where did he get those damn bruises?’

He trusts Michael… He’s going to come out of it in one piece… wouldn’t he?

"DUO MAXWELL!!! WILL YOU PLEASE CLEAN UP THIS MESS!!!" Hilde cried out. "WE’VE GOT A MEETING IN AN HOUR!!!"

Heero sighed… He’s got his hands full in trying to get those two together…

They’re both stubborn… Maybe if Hilde starts letting her hair down and wearing a skirt… Duo always falls head over heels for a girl in a skirt… Yeah… he’ll do that…

~*~

Location: Africa, Foundlings Land

Dorothy stared at the rubble of cement and dust in front of her… The once two-story base of all Foundlings operations… Her project…

"Dorothy? Are you alright?"

Dorothy turned to face Frank and he saw the anger in them. "Do I look alright? Frank! They’ve just bombed Foundling!"

Frank nodded. He knows how Dorothy feels about the project… At first, he was surprised to learn that she wants to do this… He had become somewhat of a friend of hers during the war… he was actually the one who drove her shuttle out of the White Fang base… Being that he already feels that White Fang is a bad place to be… He had stayed with Dorothy in her mansion as she tried to recuperate mentally, psychologically…

Finally, she came up with this idea, and it had seemed to help her get over her grief, both mental and emotional… The letters from children and families that had been so grateful brought happiness back to her eyes…

And now, they’ve just bombed what is so precious to her heart…

Frank frowned… He just received a letter in his house this morning… Probably from another grateful family… Maybe that will give Dorothy a slight peace of mind…

"Hey Dorothy… Let’s go to my house for a while. Get you some rest…"

Dorothy shook her head… but she knows that there’s nothing more she can do but that…

"Didn’t they give you any warnings?" Dorothy asked as she sat at the passenger seat and Frank started the engine.

"No, I’m sorry…"

Dorothy sighed. "Forget it…"

They reached the Franks’ house and servants took Dorothy’s bags into her room… She had insisted they drive to the site first… Just so she can see…

It was a good thing that no one was in the building… no one had died…

Frank moved to the stack of letters and took out a white envelope. "Here Dorothy. This one’s for you."

Dorothy looked at the handwriting at the back- ‘Foundlings’ She loves reading letters from people they have helped… Frank knows her well enough to think that she’ll feel better when she reads one…

"Thanks Frank…" she whispered as she walked towards her room… Once inside, she opened the envelope and took out a plain paper in three folds…

Her hands shook as she started to read…

"Meet us – ALONE- there is a map inserted to this letter… We’ll know if you aren’t alone, Catalonia…"

So they are here… She wants to rip the paper apart… But if she does, she’ll lose the map…

Anger sparked in her as she walked to her bag and took out her clothes, grabbing the black one-piece suit.

"They’ll pay…" she muttered as she took her clothes off and then put on the black suit, zipping the long zipper from her belly to her chin. She grabbed her gun, bullets and a few hand grenades and then placed them in the respective pockets, and then she walked out of her door.

Frank heard Dorothy’s door open and he walked from the kitchen with a glass of orange juice, only for it to nearly slip from his hands as he saw Dorothy in a black… He knows that suit well enough… one that she had worn when she was using the zero system inside the White Fang’s battle ship.

"Dorothy?"

"Frank, they called for me, and I’m going… Don’t go with me, and don’t tell the police. I’m warning you." She walked to the desk near the door and opened it. "Which keys is the jeep? I need it."

"Dorothy please-"

"No Frank!!! I need to do this alone!" she said rather coldly. ‘I need to face my fears…’ she thought, trying to make him understand.

Frank sighed. He’s heard that voice before… far too many times, in fact. And yet, he still can’t go against it. His feet took him to the desk and gave her a set of keys.

"That’s the black one, nearest to the garage door.

Dorothy nodded. "Thanks Frank. Remember, no police."

"You might be heading for a trap!!!" Frank shouted as Dorothy reached the door.

"I’ll just have to risk it!" Dorothy answered back. And yet, deep in her, she knows that she doesn’t want to die… She doesn’t want to because she wants to go back to her house, call up a certain hazel-eyed man and apologize.

~*~

Dorothy had followed the map to the best ability that she could, leading her to a clearing… The people hadn’t said when they want to meet… but she has a feeling that they’ll know once she gets there…

‘I’m here you cowards. Where are you?’

~*~

A knock resounded through the dark office.

"Come in."

A smiling man came in. "Sir, she’s here…"

The man within the shadows smiled himself. "Good…" he stood up. "I’m coming…" He looked down on his desk, at the 7 pictures with one of them Xed… Then, he took a marker and placed an X on top of Dorothy’s picture.

He stood up and followed the blonde haired soldier out of the room and to the elevator.

"Get the men ready."

The soldier nodded, "Yes sir."

Then the door closed.

~*~

Dorothy frowned as she heard a whirring sound from behind her. She willed her face not to show any surprise as a patch of grass slowly moved and then come up to show a wide cylindrical compartment coming up from the ground.

‘An underground base…’ Dorothy thought as her hand went to her gun and took it out.

The door opened and Dorothy’s eyes widened as she stared into the face of a ghost. "Colonel Ward…!"

Ward smiled at her. "Dorothy Catalonia, I’m surprised that you still remember me… after all, you didn’t think of any of the men you have left behind the base to fight on their own."

Dorothy forced her hand not to shake. "Why?" It was the only question she could ask.

Ward countered her question, "Why did you leave men loyal to you behind?!"

"You were soldiers! You were not loyal to me! You were loyal to your mission!"

"A mission that you yourself have come up with, Ms. Catalonia." Ward spat out in hate.

Dorothy saw her hand shake. ‘She didn’t… She wasn’t… Quatre was…’ she tried to make an excuse to herself, she tried not to feel guilty, and yet she knew that she had done them wrong…

"I advice you to put that gun away."

"No! I will not! You’re doing something wrong, Ward! This is wrong!"

Ward smiled sinisterly, making Dorothy’s skin crawl. "No, Catalonia… We’re finally doing something we want… something we think is right… and that is revenge…"

‘We..?!’ Dorothy thought in confusion. Suddenly, she felt a blow at the base of her neck… Her knees buckled and she fell into unconsciousness…

Ward walked over to Dorothy’s body, giving a nod to the man who had knocked her unconscious. He dropped to one knee and brushed back Dorothy’s golden hair from her face… itching to trace her frame…

The pain when she had left hurt most to him… He had loved her. Even with the knowledge that she is still young, he had seen her glorious in battles… a great mind in war… calculating… and yet she left with not even a glance back, not a word of good bye to all who had followed her commands…

His hands went over her body, taking out guns, grenades and bullets then he stood up.

"Put her in a cell." He said in a cold voice as he turned away to walk back to his elevator.

The soldier nodded, pulled Dorothy to his back like a light sack of flour then went below.

He dropped her as carelessly as he would drop any other thing and then locked her inside, typing in the code on the machine on the wall.

(AN: Comments and suggestions are welcome in Kit's Mailbox ^_^ Hope to hear from ya!)