"Now try to relax, Heero." Sally smiled encouragingly. Heero leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a second before focusing them on the dangling silver pendant Sally held in front of him.

"Try and relax. Everything is well. You are in the company of friends," she began to swing the chain rhythmically. "You are not alone. You are happy. Content." Heero’s eyes began to flutter as sleep overtook him. "You are safe. You remember everything. Everything of your past." She paused and stopped swing the pendant. "Now. What do you see?"

Heero suddenly smiled. Both Sally and Quatre were surprised by the childlike tone in Heero’s voice as he spoke, obviously lost in his memory.

"It’s Mommy and Daddy!" he squealed, wriggling in his chair.

Sally took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.

"What are they doing, Heero?"

Heero remained smiling.

"They’re talking to Doctor J! I-I can’t hear them. They’re just standing there and he’s…" Heero trailed off and the smile quickly vanished from his face. "M-Mommy! Why are you crying?" Tears formed in his eyes and spilled over, wetting the carpet. "Why did Doctor J make her cry?! OUCH! Let go of me!" Heero curled up into a tight ball within his chair. "Mommy! Daddy! Please come back! Don’t leave me! Pleeeeeese!!!"

Quatre couldn’t take it anymore.

"Heero! Wake up, Heero!" He turned to Sally and growled. "What’s wrong with him? Why can’t he wake up!?"

Sally stared at the writhing mass formerly a somewhat stable Heero Yuy.

"We...We need to wake him up gently. Any sudden movements could traumatize his already weakened state and I don't think-"

"AARRRG!!!" Quatre screamed, grabbing Heero's quivering shoulders and shaking him violently, tears streaming down his face.

"Wake UP, dammit!"

Heero tumbled from his chair, hitting the floor with a thud. The jolt seemed to shock him because his eyes opened suddenly, taking a few seconds to focus before he murmured softly.

"What happened?"

"Heero…" Quatre collapsed on the floor next to him, sobbing loudly now. Heero wrapped his arms comfortingly around the small blonde boy and gazed up at Sally questioningly. She just shook her head and began to organize the stacks of papers on her desk.

By the time the boys returned to the safehouse night had already fallen. Shadows melding with the darkness around them, Heero and Quatre entered and quietly made their way to the kitchen. Quatre grabbed a teapot just as Heero collapsed on one of the wooden kitchen chairs.

"I’m not too tired right now. Would you join me for tea before bed, Heero?" Quatre looked at the brunette hopefully.

Quatre beamed and filled the teapot at the tap, setting it on the stove to heat up. He walked over to where Heero sat at the kitchen table. Picking a chair, he sat down beside the other boy. They sat there in silence, each waiting for the other to speak.

"You…you know, Heero…" he paused. "I was really worried about you back there." Heero’s head lifted and he stared into the sky blue of Quatre’s eyes. The blonde boy blushed. "I-I mean….Your past just really seemed painful for you, and I…" his head dipped downward away from Heero’s piercing cobalt eyes. "…I really care about you."

The teapot began to whistle, startling them both. Quatre leapt up from his chair and moved swiftly to the steaming pot, taking it off the stove and pouring it into two cups, dropping a tea bag into each to seep.

He was almost sorry to return to the table. After baring his soul to Heero, he was feeling uncomfortable. The Wing pilot just accepted the offered cup of tea in silence and took a small sip, thoughts turned inward.

They drank in silence, neither boy making any further attempts at starting a conversation. Quatre was feeling anxious. Their tea was finished, and Heero had yet to say anything.

Heero rose from his chair and went to the sink to clear their cups, rinsing them out and setting them by the sink to be cleaned later. He paused, staring out the window into the darkness beyond. Quatre stared at him in return. Heero turned to face him and Quatre blushed, knowing he had been caught staring. Heero didn’t seem to notice though.

"Quatre, I…I care about you, too."

Quatre’s lips turned up into one of his brightest smiles. Somehow he had never doubted the other pilot’s affections.

The clock in the hall chimed the hour making both pilots jump in surprise.

"It’s getting late. We should go o bed. I’ll walk you to your room if you’d like, Heero."

The Japanese boy nodded silently and they both turned off the kitchen lights and continued down the hall. Stopping in front of Heero’s room, Quatre turned to the other boy and smiled.

"I guess this is your stop. Goodnight, Heero." He turned and began to walk away, chiding himself for such a cheesy line, when Heero’s voice suddenly rang out.

"Qu…Quatre! Um…Would you….I mean…" Heero blushed bright red and Quatre, now extremely curious, returned to his side.

"What is it, Heero?"

Heero’s blush deepened.

"Wou…Would you stay here tonight? With me? I-I just really don’t want to be alone after all that’s happened today."

Quatre’s eyes widened.

He gazed up at Heero and caught the shy smile on those perfect lips before the boy turned away in embarrassment.

Quatre smiled.

Well, sometimes it’s good to lose control…