Woke Up One Morning... Part 39
"Alright," I grin widely as I drape a thin blanket over Heero's legs stretched out across the living room couch. Moving to double-check the pillows that are propping his back up against the arm rest with an extra fluffing, I ask, "Comfortable?"
My husband smirks at me, "I'm perfectly fine, Duo. No need to fret over me." I blush at that and duck my head, knowing how much I can't stand being over-handled whenever I'm injured. As I begin to mumble an apology, my words are cut off when 'Ro pulls me down for a deep kiss that takes my breath away.
When we pull away, he smiles sincerely, "I do appreciate the effort, though. Thank you." Blinking in surprise, I giggle like some love-sick high school kid and kiss his forehead before moving from the room to head for the kitchen to help the others finish preparing lunch.
Over the last couple of days, our friends have kept their vigil at our home. We had a smooth schedule of rounds to watch Heero while he was in the hospital. And while I was here, it was seen by the others that I stayed well-rested and nourished.
It's meant more to me than I would ever be able to express, having them go so out of their way to help every way they can.
Their care, along with my being able to catch up on sleep and good meals, has been lifting my spirits considerably after the attack on headquarters. And now that Heero is out of the hospital and finally back home, I finally feel myself again after having my other half where he belongs.
Due to his surgery, my partner is going to be moving a little slower and more carefully on account of some tenderness. And he will be for a couple more weeks before he's fully recovered. It'll be at least a month before he's ready to take on work in the field again. [1]
Still, 'Ro's ability to somehow heal faster than most works in his favor. Already the bruises on his face are beginning to fade and the bandage covering the other side of his face will be removed along with the stitches underneath at the end of the week... just in time for the memorial services for those Preventers lost.
The fact that a human spleen helps wards off sicknesses is not a concern considering the fact that our immune systems have been so warped from our training days that we could go our lives without the organ and still not catch even a simple bug.
At the request of the families of those killed, a joint service will be held for all of them since they fought together and died together. They will all have their individual funerals over the next few days before they are buried in a quiet few acres at one of the city's cemeteries that is being plotted off for all of them to be laid to rest side-by-side.
...For someone who is used to death, I'll also never really get used to it. So, I'm kind of dreading the service even though I would never miss having the chance to pay my respects to my fellow agents.
Even with a few days past, I still haven't talked to Heero about any of my experiences that God awful day.
Come to think about it, I haven't really talked to anyone about it. I'm starting to have a hard enough time with nightmares from that time as it is. The last thing that I want is to have to relive the whole experience again.
Another round of shifts that we have been working around is going back to the remains of headquarters to collect what information was in our databases as well as whatever documents can be salvaged from the current investigations taking place.
Lady Une and many other agents are working on reestablishing what was lost as best they can. Those still out on missions have all been reached and ordered to stay low wherever they are until they are further contacted on where we will be reorganizing.
Peering over his shoulder as I enter the kitchen, Trowa greets me with a small nod and returns to focusing on his task of chopping carrots on the counter cutting board. "I take it the commute home went fine?" he inquires with an amused smile in his tone.
Wufei and Sally, both also at work at the other counter top and stove with their own jobs snicker and shake their heads.
I roll my eyes, knowing the scene I must have made fretting over making sure everything was perfect for Heero's return home. "Yes, it all went fine," I sigh dramatically. "Jeez, fault a guy for wanting to make sure everything is good for his husband who has been stuck in the hospital because part of a building fell on him." The others just resume their quiet laughter as they continue their work.
Watching the flurry of food from salads to a fish main course, I ask," So where can I help?"
"You can go and relax," Sally reassures as she removes the salmon from the oven to set it on the stove burners not in use. "We have this handled." 'Fei and Tro nod their heads in agreement without missing a beat in getting the side dishes together.
Another sigh escapes me. I'd pretty much figured they were going to keep me from lifting a finger after all of my panicking earlier today. "Alright," I relent with a sigh and smile, "Thanks, gang."
Stepping out, I move to the back patio where Relena and Quatre are both on their cell phones, pacing the room in opposite directions while being lost in their own worlds. Neither of them notices the fact that I've entered.
The Vice-Foreign Minister pauses in her steps with her back to me and declares, "I don't believe that postponing the meeting is the right thing to do. Whoever is responsible for this heinous act is looking to cause chaos in our way of handling things. We need to send our own message back that we will not be frightened by such cowardly acts."
Nodding, Quat stops to stare out at the ocean as he says into his own cell phone, "I completely agree. Set it to a vote where the majority rules."
Ah. It was mentioned earlier this morning that there was an Assembly meeting scheduled in just a few days here. Seems there are some on the board that are getting cold feet after the most recent attack that was all too familiar to them.
Not wanting to listen in on such an important discussion, I turn quickly to give my political friends some privacy in their conference meeting.
"Duo," Relena's voice calls in a whisper. Gazing back over my shoulder just as I reach the doorway, she grins and covers her cell phone's mouthpiece. "Would you be willing to stand up as a guard when we do have another gathering?" At the other end of the room, Quatre, spins and smiles brightly at me.
My eyes widen at the request. I'm sure that there are still members of the Assembly that would be a little less than comfortable with my being there... what with the accusations thrown around after the first attack.
Sensing my hesitation, Quat covers his own phone's receiver and says, "You would be our honored guest as well as chosen by the both of us to serve. We'll handle anyone that opposes your being there." Relena nods enthusiastically.
Again, they are going above and beyond to help me out. They know how anxious I am to see how the proceedings that will decide who receives the Assembly's support will go... especially with a new batch of members that are sympathetic to L2.
So, they're willing to endure whatever hard times their fellow representatives give them by extending this invitation.
While all of that is an honor in itself, I would never feel comfortable with anyone watching out for them besides myself and Heero. Smiling, I nod firmly, "I'll be there with bells on." Their grins growing, my friends look back out the windows to listen in on the vote that is being taken and I quietly take my leave.
As I've already known... 'Ro and I have the best friends ever.
* * * * * *
Over the remaining days before the weekend, Heero continued to regain his strength and energy to the point that he is now able to walk around and function normally with very minimal discomfort. And as he healed, our friends began filtering off for their own homes once all was back to normal for us.
Now, on this morning of the memorial service, that sickened feeling in the pit of my stomach has been eased a bit thanks to my finally being able to wake in my husband's arms for the first time in almost a whole week. When we crawled into bed last night, he was every bit as relieved as I was to have this last bit of missing normalcy in our lives back.
Staring at his healed up face as he continues to sleep, my gaze follows along the fine scar that curves along the left side of his face. Unless someone was this close, it would be hard for anyone to tell that it was there in the first place.
But for us, it'll remain a constant reminder of what had happened. A part of me thinks that's a good thing... we really shouldn't forget what had happened.
After a long watch, along with me when he wakes and meets my eyes, Heero kisses the top of my nose. "Hey," he whispers huskily, sending a shiver up my back.
"Hey," I respond as quietly and kiss his lips gently. "God, I missed this," I sigh and snuggle closer up against him.
Chuckling, 'Ro tightens his arms around me and nods. Lightly running his fingers over the side of my face, he sobers and frowns sadly, "I know that today is going to be difficult. And I want us to get past what happened, but we cannot do that without talking."
I blink in confusion when he says, "Wufei told me how you ran back to help at headquarters while I was in surgery." Panic begins to build in my at that instant, my eyes widening as I shake my head in a plea that I can't past my throat.
His frown deepening, Heero lightly pinches my chin between his fingers to hold my head still. "Please, Duo," he breathes. "Talk to me about this. You're the one who always told me that nothing ever heals if you don't talk about it. Tell me what happened and what you saw, what you did. Get it out before it starts eating at you more than it already has."
Oh, God, I so did not want to have to do this. And yet, I know he's right in that I need to finally get this off my chest.
A sob escaping me as a few tears roll, I cling to him and it all just pours out of me- the sights, the smells, the frantic look for anyone still alive and the devastation of finding yet another body, all the while not knowing how he was. I hold nothing back I'm held and my back is rubbed. And I am not interrupted until everything that has been trapped in me is out.
Even though my chest hurts from my crying so hard and my eyes are burning, I actually... do feel better. Holy shit. That advice that's been preached to and passed on by me really works.
Heero smiles sadly at me and moves in form a deep kiss that makes the rest of the pain go away. "I'm so... damned proud of you," he pants when we pull away for air. Resting our foreheads together, he comments, "I can imagine how hard that was for you to go back in there instead of go with me, but you did the right thing."
To have that reassurance for him in regards to my choice means more than any words can say. Biting my lip, I sniffle, "Love you... so damned much, Heero." His answer comes in the form of another shearing kiss.
Reluctant as we are to ever leave our little haven, we both know we have a long day ahead and eventually pull apart to change into our uniforms. Eating our breakfast in silence, the gravity of the approaching service starts setting in.
Once in a while when I look over at my partner, I'll catch him watching me with a concerned expression that he quickly turns away.
During the drive to Saint Steven's Church, we make idle conversation to fill the air. And I am not surprised that every parking area within a ten-block radius around the place is taken. Media line the pavement outside of the church, which we completely ignore on our way to the tall stairway leading inside.
Then the stomach churning returns as we greet those teary-eyed relatives of the deceased that we recognize.
Offering embraces and whatever kind word we can, we make our rounds before moving to the front of the massive cathedral were a framed picture of those eighty-seven agents gone in their uniforms are lined up in rows instead of their casket since there are so many.
Slowly walking around the images, my eyes start misting at actually seeing the faces of those that I would no longer see on a daily basis. Many of them I had directly worked with in the past. Those especially- Bryant, Penelope, Adam and so many others hit the hardest.
We move to sit alongside Wufei, Sally and Lady Une in the front row. Behind us, Trowa, Quatre and Relena sit with many members of the Assembly that have come to pay their respects to those that helped protect them. Heather came on Tony's arm with quite the protection around her from her friends.
Not one person that I can see has an easy time holding back their own tears as the pastor steps out and begins the service. All around, quiet sobs and sniffles fill the air from the mourners.
The sermon is a beautiful one, of course... like so many sermons of the same nature that we've heard over the course of working as Preventers. The impact of there being so many this time makes the words of hope, of peace in the afterlife that much more profound.
For the whole mass Heero keeps our hands linked as he reaches up with his free fingers to wipe at his red eyes from time-to-time. At a time like this, I'm glad as hell that our relationship is out in the open that we can publicly lean on each other. The situation of our announcement may not have been the most ideal, but it was needed.
At the end of the service, everyone moves back to their cars to form a procession for the cemetery at the edge of town. The caskets are already waiting at the bottom of their open graves marked by their headstones when we all arrive to gather at the green stretch of land.
Standing at the front of the burial site is a large, massive statue of marble that takes on the form of a male and female angel.
With their hands joined and massive wings spread, they stand in a protective stance. The male holds up a long sword overhead in his other hand while the female does the same with a sharply-tipped spear. Around them loose robes and hair 'blowing' around their forms freely and their expressions are etched in brave defiance of whatever harm may come their way.
On a plague on the base, there are the names of those about to be buried on the grounds with a scripture passage that I can't bring myself to read. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to see past the constant, watery blur of my vision.
Like the sermon at the mass, the one given now is every bit as fitting and lovely for those we are saying goodbye to. And when it is all over, the loved ones move to the graves of their husband, wife, father, mother, brother, sister and dear friends to give their last farewells.
Heero and I linger around to talk with our own friends. Several people that recognize us, either other Preventers or relatives that they had come to know, begin to gather around. Instead of discussing anything about the service, they begin to ask my partner and I if they can have a look at our wedding bands.
Stunned at first, we shared a wide-eyed glance before holding our left hands out. And for those around, they actually begin to break out in smiles and laugh at having the rumors that had been floating confirmed. More handshakes and embraces are shared, only this time with words of congratulations for us.
I begin to understand why so many of them came forward to learn what they could about our marriage... they all wanted something to celebrate for the first time in many long days for them. While I'm not completely comfortable with the idea of being the center of attention at such a time, I am also happy to help them take their minds off everything.
To somehow be a bright spot amidst the chaos and sadness, I am truly honored.
* * * * * *
Lunch was a somber affair with all of us closing one of the finer restaurants with our numbers. Seated with our immediate friends, Heero and I keep a quiet discussion going at our table as everyone catches up and looks forward to payback for all of the suffering that Ivanov has brought on.
Sighing, Lady Une and informs us quietly, "We have quite a bit of Krutza's documents in tact. Those survivors from Adam's team are using what had been decrypted to translate what is still written in code." At the mention of Agent Link, her voice hitched enough that she had to clear her throat to continue.
"And the sooner that we can get the agents that have had to go dark back the better," Wufei comments. "I can imagine they're all a little more than shaken by the fact that they're carrying fugitives with nowhere to go."
Quatre shakes his head and tells the Commander, "You know that I would be more than willing to offer you any one of my estates to use as your new headquarters. However, it would not take much for Ivanov to find our connection and find any one of my residences. You would all just be targets again."
Une smiles kindly and responds, "I understand, Quatre. And I very much appreciate your consideration." Her grin fading, she states, "Finding a new place to call our home for the time being has proven to be quite the challenge."
'Lena suddenly looks across the room and smiles, "Well, I think that it's a challenge that's about to be solved. My surprise got here just in time."
I raise my head along with everyone around me to gaze in the same direction that she is facing. My jaw drops when I see who is entering the room. Pretty soon, everyone around the space ends their conversation to stare at the new guests.
Coming to a stop before our table with Noin at his side, Zechs smirks and bows at the waist. "Good afternoon, everyone," he opens politely. As he straightens, he says sincerely, "It's very good to see you all again."
TBC...
[1] From a medical journal: Recovery from the operation should be rapid. Hospitalization is usually less than a week (1 - 2 days for laparoscopic splenectomy). You should be completely healed within 4 - 6 weeks.
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