Woke Up One Morning... Part 20
Dressed in an uncomfortable gray business suit and deep purple tie, I fidget anxiously in my seat at one of the many the boarding gates in the Maryland International Airport. It's bad enough I'm restless at having to go the 'civilian' route to keep up with a cover of a business trip, but I have to wear these uncomfortable things in the process?
I really will have to have a talk with Penelope for coming up with this whole plan when we get back.
"Relax," Heero urges quietly, sitting beside me in a suit of his own. A suit, I must add, that he looks absolutely ravishing in. The deep blue pants and jacket bring out the cobalt of his eyes while the white shirt and dark gold tie make his tanned skin almost glow.
It really makes me wish that I had the time to take care of... business when I had my shower this morning.
Since no one else waiting around us is anywhere close, the others on our team all spread out to take care of food or phone calls to loved ones, it's so damned tempting to reach over for even one kiss right now.
Turning to face me, my husband smirks, "You're almost making me anxious when you fidget. We'll be boarding in about ten more minutes."
My breath comes out in a long-suffering sigh and I mutter, "I know, I know. Just hard to be patient at a time like this, when we're more used to coming and going as we please when it comes to these missions. Damned never-involved-in-confrontation-country.
Heero chuckles softly and shakes his head in amusement. Lightly and discretely, he brushes his fingers against the back of my hand. The simple touch sends a chill up my spine as it's the first contact we've had for hours. "Why don't you check on Trowa and Wufei to let them know we'll be boarding shortly?" he suggests.
Not a bad idea. At least it'll give me something to do.
With a small nod, I push myself up onto my feet.
Moving away from the waiting area, it does not take long for me to find Trowa hidden away down one of the secluded hallways. His laptop propped up on a tall table, he stands with his side turned towards me before the screen talking quietly.
As I approach, I overhear Quatre's concerned voice saying over the connection, "Just call whenever you can so that I know you're alright. You know I'll be worrying about you until you do."
Snickering, Trowa shakes his head, "I would never expect otherwise from you, love. There is no need for you to worry."
I wince a bit and turn to make a quick leave before I'm spotted. The last thing I want to do is listen in on a private conversation like theirs. I only manage to get a couple of steps away when I hear my Latin friend's voice call, "Hey, Duo. Want to say 'hello' to Quatre?"
When I turn to meet his green eyes, I flash an apologetic grin for my interruption that he waves off in understanding. Stepping aside a bit, he makes room for me to stand before the monitor and I smile, "Hey, Quat. Sorry to break in."
Laughing, my blonde comrade reassures, "No apology needed. We were just in the middle of a never ending circle of my fretting and Trowa trying to get me to relax. So, nothing very new or exciting."
My eyes roll as I snort, "You do have a tendency to 'mother hen.'" Trowa chuckles beside me while Quat's eyes narrow in a mock threat.
Brightening at finally having a chance to catch up with the sometimes over-compassionate Arab, I ask, "So how the heck have you been, man? Any luck with filling those opened seats in the Assembly?"
For obvious reasons, any news on the progress in that has been kept under wraps. Any parties being looked at would have to be held from public knowledge by not having their names known until there is a certainty they will be on board and physically protected as such.
Sighing deeply, Quatre shakes his head, "Well, we have three of the five seats filled. The last two are becoming quite the battle amongst the current members.
"Everyone has their own preferences for certain people and we need to be fair so that we can actually represent all people fairly. Basically, it's all amounting to a lot of meetings and arguments that will probably go on for weeks."
I whistle through my teeth and comment, "Can't say I envy you, pal. You couldn't pay me enough to put up with what you deal with."
Quat leans closely towards the screen with a grin on his face. Lowering his voice while I lean in as well, he informs, "Well, I do have some good news. Those three members that we do know are coming in have all expressed that amongst their interests, looking after L2 is one of their priorities."
Stunned, I blink my wide eyes dumbly at him, but my back straightens in a snap. Holy shit... I never would have expected that. More people in the Assembly looking out for L2, the easier it would be to persuade the representatives against it.
This is... incredible news.
My stunned silence drags on until Quatre sits back as he snickers, "Just thought you might like to know about that."
Raising a finger, he warns, "Of course, we have to be cautiously optimistic that there will be any changes in how our help is distributed. However, it certainly is a step in the right direction. Relena is very happy as well."
Finally breaking through my state of shock, I blink and grin widely, "That is awesome news, Quat. Thank you for telling me." Looking over at Trowa, I smirk, "Well, I'll let you love birds finish up your call. We'll be getting ready to board our plane soon."
Waving at the image of my Arab friend, I tell him, "Take care, buddy. We'll make sure to check in whenever we can so that you're not losing too much sleep."
"That would be appreciated," Quatre smirks and waves back. "Best of luck to all of you on your mission, Duo." It's more than evident in his voice that aside from his concern for all of our safety, there is also a frustration at not being able to be more involved in this case.
Mild and meek as our little counterpart can be, Winner never was one to like sitting on the sidelines when it comes to defending everything that we've worked for. Not that he should think that he is not helping with his seat on the Assembly.
With one last wave to the laptop camera and a nod to Trowa, I turn and head off, my head swarming with the announcement that Quatre had to offer.
For a long time now, I was really starting to believe that L2 was forgotten. I thought that by the time Heero and I do move to the Colony to begin drumming up support that we would be fighting an uphill battle.
Only time will tell if there will be a real difference in the minds of the Assembly, as Quatre was warning me to keep my head leveled. But, as he also said, it is a step in the right direction... a huge step.
Smiling from ear-to-ear, I step out of the hallway and into the mass of people heading this way and that for their gates. When I return to where I had been sitting with Heero, he looks up with a curious look. "What's going on?" he asks when I return to my chair beside him.
Looking around, I note how crowded the area has become now that we're about to be called to board. "I can't really say right now, but I'll tell you as soon as we're alone," I promise. Always the more patient one in our outfit, my husband nods and drops the matter.
Perfectly timed, Wufei and Tyce arrive after making their calls to their wives. Suitcases andi n hand, they sit close by and Trowa is the last to return just as we're called to get into line with our tickets.
Cases and bags secured away, I take my place beside Heero in our double-seated row. He takes the window and lowers the shade to allow me to get some rest during the long flight before I even have to make the request. Smiling warmly at him, I make myself as comfortable as I can in the chair after I'm strapped in.
The stewardess begins the protocol of announcing the safety procedures and our plane begins to pull away from the airport as my eyes drift closed. I feel Heero's hand squeeze mine as he whispers, "Sleep well." That is the last thing I hear before I doze off.
* * * * * *
My nap on the plane helped pass quite a bit of time for the flight. There is something about flying, trusting another pilot, that unsettles my stomach a little bit. Funny, since I can handle an evacuation flight with the Preventers with Danielle or another skilled pilot with ease compared to a simple commuter flight.
Finally touching down in Switzerland, I joined my team in the luggage gathering area and went through the extra paperwork international travelers deal with. When we were given the clear to carry on, we took up the four rented cars and drove to Lugano.
In the black vehicle we paired up in, Heero is at the wheel as we come up over one of the last hills before our destination. Eyes widening as I take in the beautiful city, I breathe, "Wow." All around the impressive mass of buildings is something right out of nature to appreciate. It's almost like a hidden paradise. [1]
Rolling hills, short-peaked mountains and the large Lugano Lake where the city line ends are absolutely breathtaking. And way off in the distance, the Alps could be seen clearly. "Feels more like a place to honeymoon than a place to work," I mutter. Heero chuckles quietly, but nods in agreement.
We're far from the only ones appreciating the town. Lugano's beauty and perfect August weather has drawn a lot of other people out here for vacationing. Before we left headquarters, every one of us had all been warned by Penelope that there are going to be as many, if not more, tourists than actual residents here.
Yet another thing to keep in mind as we search for Krutza. More people means the greater the potential of an innocent getting in harm's way.
But all of this is kind of a minute thought as I continue to gape at the incredible sights before me. Maybe 'Ro and I can come back here for when this case is closed before we move to L2... for that honeymoon we've missed out on.
"So are you going to tell me what had you smiling back at the airport, or are you going to make me wait even longer?" my partner asks without taking his eyes off the winding road leading us through the city.
Laughing in surprise, I smirk, "Curiosity suddenly getting the best of even Heero Yuy?"
Not missing a beat, Heero corrects, "Yuy-Maxwell." Glancing at me from the corner of his eye, he admits, "And, yes. I am a bit anxious to know. Whatever it is, it would have to be good news to make you grin the way you were."
Oh, this is fun. Nothing like being a little tease every now and then. My smirk only grows as I shrug, "I'll tell you when we're in our hotel room." At 'Ro's half-faked look of frustration, I promise, "I won't make you wait longer that that."
Happy with that, my partner gives me a small smile and a nod that tell me he's going to hold me to that. Turning his head, he focuses back on the road as I do the same.
The more and more I see of this peaceful, beautiful town, I know I'll be mentioning the idea of returning here for that honeymoon.
* * * * * *
"Your rooms are all ready," the girl at the front desk announces in Italian. Good thing I freshened up on the language during the flight when I was awake.
Accepting the three keys, Wufei smiles a kind 'thank you' in her native tongue. She rewards him with a surprised and pleased smile then bows her head politely before returning to her desk computer.
Just as we had paired off in the cars, so we pair off in the two-bedded rooms- me and Heero, Wufei and Trowa, Tyce and his hand-selected agent, Bryant. Heading up to the rooms I'm thrilled to find that they are facing the lake that is only a couple of miles away.
Though the hotel itself is not one of the more expensive or elaborate, the interior is furnished with everything we could need to be comfortable during our stay. We had positioned ourselves on the third floor- low enough to make a quick dart out if needed and high enough to see perfectly the house across the street where Jesse Krutza lives.
As soon as I set foot inside the room Heero and I are sharing, I my husband closes the door behind us and all but slams me up against it.
Gasping for air from the jolt, my open mouth is taken in a fierce kiss that sends my mind reeling for a second before my tongue 'fights' back. I choke off a moan so the others residing on the other side of our walls can't hear.
When I'm released, 'Ro smirks smugly, "Good job keeping quiet. I imagine that must have been difficult."
Son of a bitch! Glaring as best I can while panting, I manage weakly, "Hey... That... wasn't fair."
Chuckling, he raises an eyebrow and retorts, "Neither was teasing me by making me wait until we got here to share your news."
Okay. He has me there. I smile sheepishly and shrug to let him know I give.
Now that I have a moment, I can take in our space. Or a hotel room, the set up is quite large with three brightly colored rooms- a bedroom that be closed off, the main living room that also leads off to the bathroom. It's almost a small apartment, furnished fully with two beds and two dressers in the bedroom as well as a large round table in the main room, a couch and a television in the living room.
Heero shakes his head in amusement and moves into the bedroom with myself right behind. Lowering his bags, he moves for the first bed. Allowing me a chance set my own bags down, he pulls me to sit on the edge of his mattress and fixes me with a firm look.
"Tell me," he commands without being the slightest bit mean.
I let him off the hook with a grin as I tell him, "Quatre said that three of the five seats open on the Assembly are going to representatives that have all expressed their interests in looking after L2. I'm being cautiously optimistic, but it's something."
His cobalt eyes widening, 'Ro's mouth opens and closes a couple of times before he smiles warmly, "That's great news, Duo." A sudden thought crosses my mind and the corners of my mouth drop as I look away from him. "What's wrong?" he urges gently, resting a hand on my lower back.
Voicing my thoughts as they come, I frown deeply, "I just realized what a shit I am for being happy about this. This whole time, I've been excited that L2 will have three votes it didn't have before and it's hitting me how those seats were opened in the first place. Even if those representatives killed didn't stand behind L2's boost, I never wished any harm on them to get my way."
With a finger under my chin, Heero turns my head back to face him. "I know that," he says quietly. "And you know that. Yes, the circumstances were not what anyone wanted to see happen and those lives should not have been lost.
"But don't believe that your excitement right now is any poor reflection on who you are. You've been fighting for L2 since the end of the wars. You have every right to be happy that something may actually be working towards that."
Leave it to that husband of mine to put things into perspective. Slowly, my mouth curls up again as I breathe, "Thanks, 'Ro." Before I allow any doubt to set in, I quickly peck his lips and get to my feet.
Heading out of the bedroom and for the large window of the living room, I pull back the drawn curtains and sunlight pours in.
As Heero moves to stand behind me, we look to the quaint little hill about a mile ahead of us. At the bottom of that hill is a ring of houses with one estate at the top. That gated home at three stories high belongs to our target.
"You have to hand it to Krutza. He's smart," I comment. "He went with a large enough place to enjoy his fortune, but at the same time low-scale enough to not raise too much attention since his house is as large as the ones around him. Shore-front property here costs a pretty enough penny that questions would have come up and the locals would have talked."
My husband nods, "Um-hm. It's just too bad for him that it's all catching up now, whether he likes it or not."
Turning my head to face him, I shrug, "So, tonight, we watch his habits and see if there is anyone else in the house with him before we move in to set up the recorders and videos once we know what security devices he has set up." I face the house again and shake my head, "It won't be easy getting in and out undetected by the neighbors."
Heero snorts, "That's certainly nothing you can't handle." He gets a wide grin from me for that compliment.
Our work is going to be cut out for us on this one. But, I never was one to back down from a challenge. And I am not about to start now.
So now, a whole new round of fun begins.
TBC...
[1] Here are just a few pics of Lugano to appreciate that I used as my research. http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Lugano+pictures&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title
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