See Part One for Disclaimers

Part Two

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>>dream or flashback<<
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After ordering Quatre to help Duo remove the glass from his neck, Heero beckoned the others to follow him.

"Where are you going?" Duo wondered.

"When you and Quatre are done, join us in the kitchen."  With that, Heero strode out of the remains of his office, followed closely by Trowa and Wufei.  When they reached the kitchen, Heero paused.  "I'll be right back"  Leaving his two fellow pilots, he made his way to the nearest bathroom, collapsing against the door as he closed it behind him.  Calm down.  Everything's okay.  Yeah, right.  Heero needed a few minutes alone; he had to recompose himself before he joined the others.

What if Duo'd been killed, the idiot.  Sitting next to that damn window.  I knew I should have had  all those windows boarded up!  Thank god everyone was okay, especially Duo.  Why  especially Duo?  No, mustn't think such things.  He wasn't allowed to care about others; that luxury belonged to people like...people like Relena.  What do you want to care about people for?  Look where it's gotten her.  Only the weak and the idiotic allow themselves to be distracted like that.  That's right, he was a soldier, their leader.  He had to be cold, calculating, flawless.  Just what they all want me to be, need me to be.

But he could still feel how his heart had jumped when he'd heard the gunfire, feel his stomach drop when he realized where the assault was taking place, the relief he'd felt when Duo had yelled at him.  I know I'm not allowed to care, but I  am glad he's okay.  With a few deep breaths, he straightened himself up a little and braved his companions once more.

As he entered the kitchen, all four were seated at the table, awaiting his orders.  A small tinge of resentment found its way into his chest.  Duo and Quatre both looked distressed; Wufei even looked a little out of sorts.  Why do they get to be so free?  Why do I always have to be the one?  Ah, but at least Trowa remained, stoic as ever.  He and I, we are the same.

Even as he thought the words, however, he knew they weren't true.  No, Trowa has it easier, he doesn't feel anything.  He's strong, he has his emotions under control, locked away somewhere safe.  I still feel things; I have to keep mine hidden.  I'm not so strong.  This was not the time to be thinking all of this.  He needed to feel safe and he needed it  now.  Easing into command mode, Heero successfully suppressed his careening mind and heart.  Now he could regain control of the situation, get everything back to normal.  They still had to prepare for tomorrow's mission.

*      *      *

The first thing Wufei had wanted to know was how the hell anyone had been able to find their residence.  "No one knows we're here in this place except for us and Relena."  He glanced over at Quatre momentarily.  "Noin doesn't even know where we're located."  The Chinese boy was extremely angry.  It was one thing attacking a munitions base or fighting it out in battle, but to attack their home...it was unforgivable.  The group seemed to ponder his words.

"What are you suggesting?" Quatre asked, doubt filling his voice.

"I'm just stating the facts.  Either someone made an extremely lucky discovery, or..."

Trowa cut him off.  "Or someone around here isn't who they seem."

Duo jumped out of his chair, regretting the sudden movement; his neck still felt like it was on fire.  Despite this, he carried on.  "Whoa, wait a minute.  Before we start accusing each other, has anyone considered that someone might have followed Heero back from the parade this afternoon?"  All eyes turned to Heero, who, for his part, slowly began to shake his head.

"No, I wasn't followed.  I switched cars three times on the way home, took the usual precautions."  Duo seemed a little crestfallen.

"Oh." He said miserably.  Wufei felt rather ill.  His four friends suddenly seemed different to him somehow.  Don't be ridiculous.  You know you can trust them.  A glimmer of hope filled his soul.  Maybe it's that woman Relena...  Yes, he'd never trusted her much.  It had been his experience that the people who yelled the loudest for peace often held a knife behind their back.  Well, it could be her.  By god, he hoped it was her.  Because if it wasn't, then...

Wufei wished this little meeting would hurry up and be over with.  He desperately needed to finish his meditation.  His ancestors could help him with this problem, if he could only talk to them.  They always talk to me when I'm quiet.  But he didn't just want to listen to them this time; he wanted to ask for their help.  Maybe if he was good and did what they said, they'd help him.  Oh, but the things they asked him to do.

*      *      *

Well, he'd told them.  His theory was finally out there, on the table.  Duo and Quatre didn't seem to be convinced, but at least Wufei agreed with him.  How he wanted to defend his position to the group, to explain the evidence he had been slowly gathering, but Trowa just couldn't will himself to speak.  It was so much safer to remain silent and listen, absorbing everything that went on.  When he was sure, positive of his theory,  then he could present it to them.

In the end, though, it didn't really matter what any of them thought.  It all came down to one person:  Heero.  This isn't a democracy, what Heero says goes.  There's no place for that kind of thing here.  Heero, still standing, seemed about to say something.  He's decided.

"We have to operate on the assumption that one of us  is a traitor."  The rest of the group was silent as Heero continued.  "However, that won't prevent us from completing our mission.  From now on, all incoming information will be relayed on a 'need to know' basis only."

Quatre's normally angelic face contorted in outrage, and before he knew what he was doing, he blurted out his complaint.  "How do we know  you're not the one working against us!"  Trowa had, of course, been thinking the same thing, as he suspected the others were as well.  Poor Quatre, such a pity he can't control himself any better than that.  Trowa reminded himself that it was exactly this kind of behavior that his defenses were in place to protect him from.  Still, it would be nice, once in a while, to...Quiet! he ordered himself.

Heero had not responded to Quatre's challenge, his face remaining blank.  Quatre, on the other hand, acted as if he really wished he'd been able to keep his big mouth shut.  "Heero, I..." he just couldn't find the words.  And then, before anyone could even blink, Heero was beside the blonde, pointing his gun directly between Quatre's eyes.

"Heero, no, I didn't, I'd never..."  His blue eyes were so wide with fear that the pupils had all but disappeared.  Heero remained unmoved, watching Quatre's terror intensify with the same interest he'd often watched other emotions.  He was fascinated in the ability of people like Quatre to express their feelings so openly.

Trowa wasn't sure where this was headed, but despite himself, he felt pity for the small pilot.  Heero finally decided to speak.  "And Quatre, how do we know that  you're not the one?"  Heero looked as if he was about to shoot.

It will probably be for the best.  Trowa had been noticing Quatre's defiant attitude lately.  Maybe he is the traitor.  At the very least, he's being insubordinate.  A good leader can not allow insubordination to go unchecked.  Trowa knew that this was the appropriate response.  Heero would remove a disobedient link in the chain, provide a scapegoat to blame the information leak on, and prove to Trowa and the others that he would tolerate very little, all with a single shot.

To Trowa's surprise, however, Heero lowered the gun and placed a heavy hand on Quatre's shoulder.  "We can't afford to be at each other's throats.  The real traitor will show himself eventually.  In the mean time," he tightened his grip on the thin shoulder, "there's no room for disobedience."  Quatre cried out in pain as Heero released his vice-like grip.

Trowa was a little disappointed in their leader.  Is this weakness that he's displaying?  Trowa wondered in silence if perhaps it was time for Heero's replacement.

*      *      *

When Heero let loose of him, Quatre became disoriented and unable to stand.  He felt his head exploding, as if the Japanese boy had actually shot him, and his legs gave way beneath him.  Quatre would have hit the hard wooden floor had not Duo caught him at the last minute.  Unconsciousness fell like a hot black mist over him, making it difficult to breathe.

When he awoke, Quatre was lying down somewhere.  What's going on?  Where am I?  He tried to bolt upright, but dizziness overtook him halfway there.  His head hit the pillow beneath him with a thud.  "I see you're awake."

Quatre knew better than to try moving again, so he asked, "Who's there?"

"Don't worry, it's just me."

"Oh, Duo."  He was relieved.  Thank god it's not Heero, coming to finish me off.

"Well, if you thought Heero was scary before..."  Duo tried to sound as light-hearted as possible.

Quatre managed a soft laugh.  "I really thought he was going to, to..."  He couldn't continue, the thought of being shot in the face at close range by a supposed friend too much for him.

"Listen, I think he was just trying to scare you."

Quatre managed to prop himself up on his elbow.  "Well it worked!" he shouted.  That asshole!  He's just trying to get rid of me so he won't have any competition!  Well, if that's the way he wants to play it...  Quatre's blue eyes seemed to go black momentarily, and he slowly raised himself into a sitting position.  "I haven't been that scared since..."  He let his voice trail away, the thought too painful to continue.

Duo emerged from the shadows to the left of the door and Quatre realized they were in his own bedroom.  "Don't get yourself all upset again.  I think it's best if you just go to sleep and forget about this."  Duo hoped he could calm the boy down.

"You're right; I'm sure Heero never really meant to shoot me."  Unless, of course, he's the traitor.  Duo didn't seem convinced that Quatre was going to 'forget about it', but he turned to leave anyway.

"And Duo?" Quatre called happily from the bed.

Duo paused for a moment.  "Yes?"

"Sleep well."  Duo felt a cold hand trail down his back; he'd never heard his friend sound quite so menacing.  Duo quickly exited, not wanting to spend another minute in isolation with Mr. Winner.

Alone, Quatre dropped his innocent child facade.  So, Heero wanted to play rough.  That could be arranged.  He had connections; people owed his family favors.  No, nothing so impersonal for the great Heero Yuy!  They were  all teaming up against him, though, not just Heero.  Trowa thought there was a traitor, an enemy among them.  I know he thinks it's me; I could see it in his eyes when Heero had the gun on me.  Wufei was no better.  Hell, even Duo hadn't tried to help him.  Ha!  Duo, my 'friend'!  No, none of them could be trusted anymore, least of all Heero.  I can't forget, I won't forget.  I'm sorry Duo, but I won't forget what Heero did!

In exhaustion, he fell back onto the bed, his dreams sweetened by thought of revenge.

*      *      *

Upon exiting the bedroom, Duo nearly ran right over Heero.  "Just where are you going?"  Duo was still angry with their leader for his behavior earlier.  After all, Quatre was the kindest of the pilots, certainly not a spy of anything like that.  His thoughts returned to the conversation he'd just had with the boy.  Sleep well...  Okay, Quatre was  usually kind.  At any rate, Heero'd had no right to do what he did.

"I was coming to check on him.  Is he all right?"  Was that guilt, concern maybe, that he saw on Heero's face?  Duo softened slightly.

"He's fine.  A little pissed, but fine."

Heero chuckled.  "I don't blame him."  Duo was surprised; the last thing he'd expected to see tonight was a pissed off Quatre and a laughing Heero.  Which of these is more frightening? he wondered.

"So what's the deal for tomorrow?  Oh wait, I forgot, we've gone to 'need to know', haven't we."  Heero just gave him a blank stare, his momentary lapse into joviality forgotten.

"Can't we just pretend like I need to know?"  Duo wasn't going to beg, but he didn't mind riding the line.

"We leave at ten hundred hours.  Sharp."

"Will we be taking the Gundams?"  Their last two missions hadn't required the giant war machines, but the one before that had.

"I'll tell you in the morning."  Heero began to proceed down the hallway to his own room, but stopped momentarily.  Turning, he said, "If I were working with the enemy, would you shoot me?"  What the hell kind of question was that!

"This is a little heavy for bedtime, isn't it?"  Duo didn't want to have to ponder the thought.

"Hmmmm..."  Heero turned again and resumed his procession down the hall.

God, how can he be so cold?  Am I the only one who thinks we're all friends here?  Yeah, probably.  Trowa certainly didn't act like he cared about any of them.  Hell, Wufei seemed to hold them all in open contempt.  Heero wasn't much friendlier than Trowa, although, he had his moments.

The only one of them Duo could actually call friend was Quatre, and even he acted, well, weird sometimes.  He has an excuse, at least.  Lately, Duo had noticed his fair-haired friend becoming more and more  something; not insane, exactly, just different.

At first, he'd just good-naturedly grumbled about some of Heero's orders.  And he sure enjoyed being in command a lot more than he used to.  Gradually, Quatre had come to practically despise Heero.

Do you blame him after what happened?  Duo wondered for a moment if he would have reacted the same as Quatre had to the incident.  God, I hope getting married will settle him down a little.  Duo thought Noin would be good for the boy; she was so levelheaded.

Hell, if she can deal with Relena, she's got my vote.

The American decided that was enough reflection for one night, and made his way towards his bedroom.  As he slipped into the room, he was too tired to notice the strange rustling of leaves of the tree outside his window.  Nor did he notice the pair of eyes peering ominously in at him.

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