I decided to keep the shoneni-ai in this down to a minimum so that all people could enjoy it, but it is there so be warned. I don't know if Lady Une took care of Mariemaia after she was healed, but I thought it fit so that's what I did. Major angst, but no one dies, I hate death fics. Erm...anyways on with the fic!

A.C. 195

The war is over, but only by minutes. The five Gundams and their pilots lay in a field on earth, panting from exhaustion and relief...but most of all relief.

Duo was the first one to jump from his huge machine, yelling countless words of joy.

Trowa was next, but his deep green eyes were filled with worry. He dashed over to Sandrock where his friend Quatre lay in pain from the sword fight he had with Dorothy only hours before.

"Are you alright Quatre?" Trowa asked gently slipping his hand around the boys waist.

"I'll be okay...I am a Gundam pilot after all." Quatre replied, trying to smile, but he ended up wincing in pain.

"We need to get you to a hospital." He said simply, then called to Duo.

"Yeah Trowa?" He asked jogging over. Wufei and Heero ran up as well looking concerned.

"Could you please find the nearest hospital? I want to get Quatre out of here before the press shows up."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Wufei, Heero, Duo and Trowa sat in the small waiting room of the hospital, waiting for the doctor to come and tell them that Quatre was going to be alright. The small boy had been in surgery for nearly two hours. The wound was worse than anyone had thought.

Duo sighed and put his hands behind his head. "You think Quatre's going to be alright?"

"He'll be fine." Heero stated, trying to sound more confident than he felt, but Quatre was strong, he'd pull through okay.

Duo looked at his stoic friends and sighed. He was sure that Quatre was going to be okay too, but they just had better ways of showing it. Yet he couldn't help but notice that Trowa couldn't keep his hands still.

"Friends of Mr. Winner I presume?" A voice asked.

All heads shot up at once to look at him...except Duo, his whole body shot up.

The doctor smiled in amusement before continuing. "You'll be pleased to know that you're friend is going to be just fine. Though I am going to ask you not to see him tonight. He is frail and needs his rest."

No one said anything. They were all dealing with their own feelings of relief.

Seeing that no one had any questions the doctor continued on his rounds.

They all sat in silence. Finally thinking about what they were to do now. They all figured that they would separate, but Heero was the first to try and leave.

"Where you going Heero?" Duo asked.

"I'm not sure. The world doesn't have a place for a perfect soldier anymore." And with that he walked away. No one tried to stop him...but he turned back suddenly. "Tell Quatre I hope he feels better soon. He was a good friend to me." His shadow could be seen walking across the wet grass outside the glass doors into the darkness.

Trowa sighed inwardly. He wanted to tell Quatre to feel better too, but would never have the courage to say anything.

Suddenly Trowa felt cold all over. Something was very, very wrong.

The hospital doors swung open and three large men walked through looking mean and tough. "Trowa Barton?" the one in the front demanded. Trowa recognized him instantly and stood, but didn't say a word. He only returned the glare the man was giving him.

The man sneered. "Just as I thought, if Trowa Barton really had been here, the war wouldn't have ended the way it did." He continued to look Trowa over. "So, Nanshi, you were the one chosen to continue with operation meteor hu? Tell me something...where is the real Trowa Barton?"

"Your brother was shot Kimo. He died before the Gundam ever left the colony." Trowa replied calmly.

Duo and Wufei were watching the conversation take place with shock. Duo was the first one to regain his voice. "Look here you, I don't know who you are, but you better treat Trowa with a little more respect." He said with suppressed rage.

Kimo stamped his foot on the ground, much like a young child would when they aren't getting what they want, and there was little sanity in his eyes. "His name is not Trowa Barton! He is irrelevant to this world! He is Nanshi!" He turned angrily to Trowa. "I expected Trowa to be locked up somewhere, I was going to go free him...but now I find out that he's dead!?" He growled at Trowa and pulled out a gun. "And I blame you...Nanshi."

A shot was fired, but instead of Trowa, Kimo was the one who fell to the ground.

The three Gundam Pilots looked up to see Heero holding a smoking gun, aimed at the spot Kimo had stood. He lowered his arm and nodded at the other pilots.

The two men who had been with Kimo fled the hospital.

"I had a feeling that I shouldn't leave you just yet." Heero explained.

"Thanks Heero." Trowa said.

"Just repaying my debts."Heero answered, refusing to let anyone show him gratitude.

A rapid coughing sound caused them all to turn around.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Quatre's eyes fluttered open as he regained consciousness. He was alone in a dark room. Where was Trowa? he needed to thank him.

Carefully he removed the blankets from his body and stepped onto the cold floor, going off in search of his friend.

An elevator ride and three hallways later Quatre found the waiting room. Three men had just entered and were speaking to Trowa. 'There you are.' Quatre thought to himself, gripping the wall.

"So Nanshi, you were the one chosen to continue with Operation Meteor hu?"

'Nanshi!?' Quatre thought. 'no name!? how could anyone say such a thing?!'

Quatre continued to watch the confrontation in growing horror. He saw Heero quietly enter the hospital and aim a gun at Trowa's opponent's back...and fire.

Quatre's legs went weak. Wether it be from seeing someone killed before his eyes, or the fear he felt for Trowa, or just the fact that he shouldn't have been out of bed at all, he began to cough uncontrollably and sank to the floor.

"Quatre what are you doing out of bed?" Heero demanded, picking him up and cradling him in his arms. Quatre, still coughing, gave Heero an apologetic glance. Heero sighed and handed him to Trowa. "I need to go now. Maybe we'll meet up again sometime." He turned to Quatre. "Take care of yourself."

"I will." Quatre promised.

As Heero walked away Quatre felt his eyes wander over to Duo, who was quickly wiping his eyes. His heart went out to him.

Trowa began to walk down the hallway to the elevator, holding Quatre firmly so he wouldn't fall. Duo and Wufei followed, apparently wanting to make sure Quatre got into bed alright.

As they reached the large doors Wufei cleared his throat loudly, getting everyone's attention. "I'm also going to leave. Since Quatre is well I see know reason to stay, and as Heero stated maybe we'll meet again." He turned to Quatre. "You have a strong heart, follow it and you'll never go wrong." And he too, tuned and disappeared.

"Trowa?" Quatre asked meekly as the elevator door shut the two of them and Duo inside.

"Yes Quatre?"

"You didn't take anything those guys said to heart did you?"

"Why do you ask?"

Quatre paused. Why *had* he asked?

The elevator door opened then and Trowa led the way to Quatre's room.

"Just know that you will always be Trowa to me, and I don't think the world would survive without you." Quatre said at last.

Trowa smiled a very rare smile of amusement as he lay Quatre on the bed and covered him up. "Go to sleep Quatre, I'll see you in the morning."

His eyes began to droop, Trowa looked so strong then...maybe...

"See you Quatre." Duo said waving as he left the room also.

"Are you leaving too?" Quatre asked sadly.

"Nawww. I've got nothing better to do, I'll stick around for a while." He replied leaning on the door frame and sticking one hand into his pocket. "Make sure you get back on your feet alright. You're the heir of Winner Industries after all."

Quatre smiled. "Thanks...and Duo?"

"Yeah?"

"You'll see Heero again. Don't worry."

Duo began to pout. "Why would I want to see him again?"

Quatre lowered his eyes. "Duuuoo. Come on, I know you like him.

Duo crossed his arms. "I do not like him." A smile began to form on his lips. "I'm down right crazy about him."

"Bye Duo."

"See you in the morning."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Staring at the computer screen in the dark hours of the morning a single figure types away, looking for specific information.

Rage filled his heart and soul to the point he was sure he'd kill someone before dawn broke. It wasn't fair. Trowa was gone and his sister was gone, Kimo was now dead also. He was alone.

The man suddenly found what he had been searching for and grinned in anticipation. "You will pay for what you have done...Heero Yuy. I plan on watching you for a very long time..."