Mission Accepted: Home
Relative disclaimers apply.

"You guys ready?"

"Yeah, sure. But I still think this is a crazy idea."

"You see all those reporters at the front gate, don't you?"

"Yes, the side gate's the only way to get in."

"You just don't want to wave your hand out the window."

"That's not the problem."

"Afraid you'll look stupid, braid-boy?"

"I told you, do not mess with the braid."

"Will you guys calm down? I have to wake her up now..."

"Okay, okay. You take her to the side gate. While I act like a princess."

"Act?"

"That does it—yi. Let go of me, man."

"Calm down."

"Oh boy....are you guys ready?"

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go."

Relena jerked out of sleep.

"Heero—"

No. She was home, and in her own bed.

She scowled. Had the past three days been a dream?

But she could feel his arms around her, his mouth pressed against hers. That wasn't her imagination; it was as though he were with her right now.

She sighed.

Thomas had been so relieved when he had opened the side entrance door and seen her and Quatre standing there. He'd asked question after question after question.

And of course, later, after the handshakes, gratitude and fare-thee-wells, he'd asked the real questions, over her protests, even though she'd been falling asleep on her feet.

"You were with him, weren't you? I'll KILL him! Why didn't you call me? Didn't I tell you to stay away from him? How dare you defy me! I may be your servant, Miss Relena, but I'm also older than you and know a bit more about life than you do, so you must heed me when I say that you have to stay away from him! He is not of our class! Did he touch you? I'll chop his limbs off! I'll have him drawn and quartered! Of course, you'll have to be defumigated as well. I cannot believe that you went out on your own like that! What were you thinking? You really had us worried—"

"That's enough, Thomas. And I'm sure that you knew exactly where I was. Isn't that why you didn't go looking for the limousine? And why a servant was right by the entrance?"

Thomas had gasped, then thought about it, then hadn't said another word until he left her to go into the kitchen, where he quietly vented his bad mood on the on-shift chefs.

Relena hadn't cared. She'd just wanted to sleep. If Thomas had continued to talk she might have slapped him, out of desperation more than anything else.

Heero. How do you really feel about me? What do I mean to you? Your touch, your kisses, they were true and real, but were they for me...or for your idea of me?

Quatre would know.

No, wait. He would tell her to leave him alone, not to expect Heero to act any differently just because he'd confessed.

But I must know. I can't live the rest of my life on a maybe.

"Miss Relena?"

One of the maids...knocking on the door.

"Miss Relena, are you awake? Mister Johnathan from the April May Bank left a message, he wants to know if you're going to keep tomorrow's appointment."

"WHAT?"

She was on her feet and into her robe and slippers within ten seconds.

The appointment! She'd forgotten about it. But she couldn't be expected to honor it, could she? She'd just gotten back home! But wait...tomorrow? That was impossible! That particular appointment was at least three days away!

"No! How long was I asleep?"

"You've been in and out for the past two days, Miss Relena."

Did any of them leave me any messages? Or emails? Anything?

"No! I must be updated on everything that happened while I was...in and out. Bring me all of my messages! Even the ridiculous ones!"

"Yes, Miss Relena."

"Immediately."

Relena looked herself over quickly. Could she at least sound presentable on the phone?

"Oh dear....I'll just have to do."

That decided upon, she began the preparations for what was left of the day.

Heero, perched in one of the trees in the estate's front garden, could just barely see the newest flurry of activity via Relena's bedroom windows.

She's awake.

He had tried to stay away. He had busied himself with gathering more information about Booth's and the still-mysterious person that seemed to want both Relena and Quatre to declare irreversible bankruptcy. But he wanted to share what he had found out with her, not Quatre or even Duo.

It was no use. Barring unforeseen circumstances he would keep an eye on her for the rest of his life.

I found out where he's hiding. It didn't take me long. I traced several phone calls from Booth's to a warehouse. We have to go there. You have to stay home. We'll take care of everything.

"Hey, Heero."

Heero glared down at Duo, who didn't look happy about interfering with Heero's self-appointed mission.

In fact, Duo wasn't happy at all. His very serious face reflected his mood.

Heero quirked an eyebrow.

"What."

"Quatre wants us to meet him now. Let's go."

Heero scowled.

"Fine."

"And...Heero?"

"What."

He began to descend the tree.

Duo exhaled.

"Leave her home this time, wouldya?"

Heero gave him an angry look that could have killed Duo on the spot, had it the power to.

It's not up to me. It's up to her. Maybe it always was.

Skin slapped against skin in semi-darkness.

"You FOOL, you let them escape AGAIN! And they've altered the codes, so we don't know where they are now! And we can't bug the buildings because I own them! And what's more, you let Bob and Joe get arrested, and now I have to pay their freaking BAIL! IDIOTS! I'm surrounded by IDIOTS!"

"But SIR—"

"But that's all right. I know that they're eventually going to go to the warehouse. I can find out when...it's just a matter of keeping an eye on the cars that are headed in that direction - and I can do that without the likes of YOU! BwaaaaHAhahahaha!"

"SIR!"

"SILENCE! I don't need you any more, Mis-ter-I-got-it-cov-vered!"

A gunshot rang out. There were a few grunts, a groan, and then a body thumped to a cement floor.

"I'm sick and tired of pipsqueaks like you! Those boys, though, yes, they present a challenge! I'll just wait for them to come to me. And then I'll show them...and the bitch...what an executive should be doing!"

"Those boys" sat around a table in another of Quatre's "hideouts".

"So what's the plan?" Duo asked.

"We move tomorrow morning," Quatre said.

He didn't specify a specific time. Surely Briggs Hawton knew that they were planning to confront him, and might be listening to this conversation.

"It's the old Datarese building," Heero said.

"Yeah, where lots of parts are rusting in peace," Duo half-joked.

"Very witty," Wufei said sarcastically, but he was grinning.

"Up yours," Duo retorted.

"I dare you to try," Wufei counterattacked.

"Anyway," Quatre said, "like I said, we're going there in the morning. So get a good night's sleep, and prepare for battle. We don't know what he's going to have waiting for us."

"He's got some freaking nerve, doing this to you two."

Duo punched an open palm with a fist.

"What did either of you ever do to him?"

Quatre shook his head.

"I don't know. As I said before, the name's familiar somehow. But that's all that it is, even with all the research we've done."

"Crap!" Duo exclaimed.

"Calm down, we'll get him soon enough," Trowa said.

Quatre nodded, then glanced at Heero, who was either sleeping or thinking deeply.

Go to her, Heero.

Heero suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Quatre, who looked back unflinchingly.

At least make sure she's all right. And in the right frame of mind for this.

Heero scowled.

Quatre exhaled.

"That's it. See you all later."

He knows that she's going to come along regardless of what anyone says or does. She wants to see this through to the end. And she will.

There was a new group of mediapeople just outside Northfield Gardens.

Thomas ignored them and their numerous requests for his attention as he took a walk in the front garden.

They're going to the warehouse in the morning. I can't allow her to go. But she will.

He stopped walking to look around. First at the flowers he was near, then at the house, then in the general direction of his mistress' rooms.

And then at Heero, who was walking behind the mediapeople, towards the closest intersection.

Their eyes met briefly.

Thomas' widened slightly.

Heero's narrowed.

A long, long second passed by.

Heero suddenly looked straight ahead again, but not before Thomas saw a vulnerability in his eyes and felt a lessening in the vibes that inspired people to keep their distance from him.

Wonders never cease. You do care about her. I'll allow you to continue your little exploits. But don't hope to ever put a foot into this house. Miss Relena socializes with a better sort. Once she's done with this little adventure she'll return to being a proper, upstanding young woman. And your kind will be forgotten. I shall see to that myself.

So decided, and feeling better about her going with them to the warehouse - he knew his mistress, she would indeed go - Thomas walked with a livelier step.

I do hope that they fix this Briggs Hawton, though. Yes. They will. They've gone this far, they won't stop until the job's through.

It stung him to give "them" some credit. It spoiled the walk for him. He turned back towards the house.

Just don't let my Miss Relena get hurt!

on to On The Way • home page • back to On the Road, 2