Hidden Part 6
Cathy looked surprised when Trowa walked into her trailer. "Back already?"
"Didn't you see the news? They caught the bad guys." He dropped a kiss on her cheek.
"I did, but Quatre called me a day or so ago- he said you'd been injured." Cathy's eyes narrowed. "You look terrible. Are you even supposed to be upright?"
Trowa shrugged a little. "I'm not too sure. I didn't see Sally before I left. But I was under the regen stuff for two days- that has to be long enough." He knew Cathy was quite capable of calling Sally herself, so he added: "I'll call her later. They were all busy when I left and I didn't want to wait."
"You should have," Cathy frowned at him. "Drop your stuff off, see Doc and then take a nap. I want him to clear you before we put you up on a wire."
"Cathy- I'm fine. Don't we have a show soon?"
She sniffed. "Not tonight. Local religious law or something. No shows today. So you have plenty of time to get checked out and catch some sleep."
"Okay, okay. You win. I'll see Doc and get some rest."
"Today," Cathy added, her lips quirking up at the corners.
Trowa nodded and opened the door. "You are so bossy."
"I know. It's one of my endearing qualities." Cathy tossed a pillow at him. "Go on before you fall over."
"I'm not that bad!" Trowa protested.
"Bet you haven't looked in a mirror lately," he heard her say as he closed the door. He settled his bag in his hand and shook his head. There wasn't any point in arguing with Cathy, as he well knew, so he headed for his trailer.
It was cold inside after sitting empty for a few days, so he flipped on the heater after he closed the door. He put his bag down on his bed and looked longingly at the pillows. It was really tempting to just stretch out and sleep for a bit, but he knew Cathy would check with Doc. He'd meant to sleep on the shuttle, but he hadn't been able to relax enough to manage it. His mind had kept drifting back to Quatre...
No. Not now. He'd spent most of the trip back dwelling on the mistake he'd made. There was no changing it now- not matter how much he might wish otherwise.
Giving himself a metal shake, he left his trailer to warm up and headed toward Doc's. Doc wasn't really a doctor, he was a contortionist with medic training, but the circus people had given him the title out of courtesy. It was better to go to Doc than some outsider who didn't understand the risks of their lives.
Doc wasn't in his trailer and Trowa briefly considered heading back to his, but as he passed the lions' enclosure, he decided to make a brief stop.
The big cats came to the bars when he knelt down beside them and presented their heads to be scratched. Speaking softly to them, he lost track of the time- this was familiar and comforting, a balm to his soul. He was so absorbed in the attention that he almost missed the small, unmistakable click behind him.
Whirling, he was on his feet and turned around in an instant, surprising the man behind him.
"Freeze," the stranger barked, the gun in his hand aimed at Trowa's midsection. "Hands up."
Trowa did as he was directed, mind spinning. "Who are you?" Was this a robbery? Or-
"I've been waiting for you." The man snarled. "They sent me here to take care of you- they didn't expect that you'd go off to guard one of the others. I've been waiting ever since-"
Trowa clenched his jaw. Damn it... one of the assassins- the pilots had been the target? Then the Preventers hadn't gotten all of them! How could they have been so mistaken? Quatre and the others were still in danger-
"The news said they caught all of you," he said quietly, assessing the man's stance. The assassin wasn't familiar with that gun- Trowa could tell by the way he held it. Might it be possible to get it away from him somehow?
"Well, they didn't catch me. I have to admit I was a little upset that they didn't call me in, but now I'm glad they left me in place. At least we'll get one of you murdering bastards." His fingers tightened on the gun and Trowa tensed. He'd only have one chance....
~*~
Quatre frowned at the bag beside the bed. Where the hell was Trowa? Cathy had said he was supposed to see the medic and get some rest, but Doc hadn't seen him- and he wasn't here. Had he collapsed somewhere? Had Cathy managed to let him know that Quatre was here? Was he hiding?
"I'm not leaving," he muttered to the empty room. "Not until I've seen you."
He went back to the front door and scanned the small group of trailers and tents. Where could Trowa be? One tent caught his eye and his lips curved in recognition.
He'd be there of course. Quatre moved quickly across the space between Trowa's trailer and the lion's enclosure. He had just reached the entrance when he froze. Something wasn't right...
"At least we'll get one of you murdering bastards," he heard and a wave of hatred washed over him. Damn it- the assassins! Une had been so sure they'd picked up the whole group!
Quatre slipped into the tent, stepping quickly behind the hay bales piled just inside. He could see Trowa in front of the cage, his hands resting on the top of his head, still in one piece...
There was a man between them, his back to Quatre's hiding place, but Quatre knew he had to be armed from the way Trowa's eyes kept flicking down from the man's face to the space between them.
"It will be quick, which is more than you deserve," the man snarled and Quatre took a deep breath. Slipping his hand under his jacket, he pulled out his own gun and stepped out from behind the hay bales.
"Is this a private discussion, or can anyone join in?" He asked and the assassin turned, his jaw dropping open in surprise.
Trowa launched himself at the man, knocking the gun out of his hand. The assassin made a grab for it and Quatre hit him in the back of the head. The man dropped like a felled tree, out cold. Trowa frowned at Quatre.
"What are you doing here?"
"Saving your ass, apparently." Quatre pulled out his phone. "You want to call Une and tell her she missed something, or should I?"
"I guess I should, she pays me for this sort of thing after all." Trowa took the phone and dialed the number. Quatre couldn't read the expression on his face. "Thanks for the save."
Quatre smiled. "Couldn't let you escape me now."
Trowa's eyes widened, but before he could say anything, the phone beeped in his ear. "Commander," Trowa said into the phone, his eyes still on Quatre. "We seem to have discovered another assassin..."
TBC...
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