pairings:
overall- 5x4, 3+4, 1+2 [implied], and others.
this part- 5+4, 3+4

notes:
<<.....>> = flashback
// italics // = inner thoughts

AN:
this picks up right where part 9 left off

warnings:
YAOI *ANGST* LEMON NCS.
Bastardized Wufei. {before you run though, he does have reasons, and is not made evil "just because". and this is not your average "he's raping him because he has nothing better to do on a Saturday night" type fic. He does have twisted reasoning, and demons, and I try to do him justice.}



{ PIECES }
part ten

Trowa shivered violently, his teeth chattering in the cool morning air. He rubbed his arms briskly, but it offered no warmth. His entire body felt cold. Not a chill from the cold breeze. No, that only froze his skin. He felt cold inside. Like his blood had turned to ice, swiftly freezing him from within. Heero was glaring at the building, no doubt forming some sort of well-planned attack strategy. Rashid was standing stiffly, his entire body tensed, hands curled into tight fists.


Heero turned back to Trowa. "You know which room he's in?"


Trowa nodded, and dropped his head. A large hand settled on his shoulder. Trowa could feel the heat radiating off it, but it did nothing to warm him.


Heero turned back to the building, not looking at Trowa, but speaking to him. "It was wise to wait for us. You might have gotten hurt trying to rescue him with the state you're in," Heero sighed in frustration, "I just wish we knew what we were up against." He turned back to face Trowa. "Did you see anybody go into the room? Did you see anything? Any ideas of what we're facing?"


Trowa gulped. In his frantic call to the hospital, he had only told Heero that he had found where Quatre had been taken. He failed to mention who he suspected the kidnapper to be. The hand on his shoulder squeezed lightly, in an attempt at support. The tall boy looked up. "It's Wufei."


Heero looked around, scanning the area quickly. "Where? I don't see him."


Trowa pointed up, to the window of the room. "It's Wufei."


Silence reigned as those words sunk in.


* * *


The blood from Quatre's busted lip was still fresh in his mouth, as another sharp crack echoed in the small room. Stinging pain exploded from his cheek where Wufei smacked him. His breath was knocked out of him when Wufei delivered a harsh blow to his midsection. His body screamed at the abuse, its weak condition making the beating seem ten times worse. Quatre was just so tired, and the darkness that beckoned him promised relief. It sang a sweet siren's song of freedom and rest. Of escape. It lured him ever closer to the empty void, to the place of eternal slumber.


But he was drawn back when he was roughly lifted up, and shaken thoroughly. Quatre opened his eyes, and was lost in the anger of burning black orbs glittering close to his. "Ready to tell me the truth?"


Quatre licked his lips, tasting the metallic tinge of his own blood upon his tongue. "I...I did..," he whispered.


Wufei sighed in annoyance. His fingers gripped Quatre's sides, biting into the tender skin. "It doesn't matter now. Whatever happened he will never bother us again. No one will ever come between us, my Quatre. Except death."


Then the raven-haired boy wandered over to the broken body on the floor. Quatre closed his eyes once more, and went lax on the bed, waiting for whatever else Wufei deemed a proper punishment. He was still for a few anxious minutes before he felt the bed dip with extra weight. He was surprised when he felt something wet tracing along his stomach. He hesitantly opened an eye, and saw Wufei writing on his skin. The redness of the liquid he was writing with could only be one thing. Quatre didn't even have to look at the crumpled mass on the floor to know it had a new wound. The blonde had to fight back the bile that rose in his throat. Nausea rolled over him, as he felt, and smelled another's blood drying on him.


Wufei sat back to admire his handiwork. In a childish print, he had scrawled just one simple word across Quatre's stomach. Wufei's. The glaring red color stood out dramatically against the Arabian's flesh. "Beautiful," he murmured, "just beautiful."


The Chinese boy looked up at Quatre. "I think our time apart has been bad for you. You seem to have forgotten certain things," his eyes turned dark, "like, who you belong to." Quatre shook his head. Wufei's moods were swinging back and forth quickly, like a frantic pendulum. Angry, calm, angry, calm. Ever shifting between the two, leaving the blonde to guess which mood he was in.


Wufei streaked his thumb over Quatre's cheek, leaving a line of blood behind. He trailed another finger down the side of Quatre's face. The red marks looking like some sort of gruesome war paint. Then, the dark haired boy seized his face, and pulled him up, crushing their mouths together. Quatre nearly gagged before he was able to control himself, and distance his mind from what was happening. Wufei released his mouth, and moved over to nuzzle the Arabian's ear with his lips.  "I have missed you, my sweet little angel. I think it's time we get.. reacquainted.."


Quatre merely nodded. He didn't want to disrupt the calmness Wufei seemed to be experiencing. The Chinese boy graced him with a smile, and let him lie back against the mattress. He reached into the drawer, and produced a tiny key, with which he used to unlock the handcuffs securing Quatre to the bed. As soon as his hands were freed, Quatre rubbed at the raw marks, trying to urge some feeling back into his numb fingers.


"The others are getting close," Wufei said offhandedly, "I suppose I shall have to let them have you back for a while. But I'll stay close to you this time, love. And when it's safe, it will just be the two of us again."


Quatre nodded. Wufei sighed, almost dreamily. "How do you do it?"


Quatre looked at him in confusion. "How do I do what?"


Wufei smiled at him. His dark eyes were filled with hate, and yet an almost wistfulness lurked in them too. "How do you maintain your innocence?"


Quatre wanted to scream. These games were too much. He opened his mouth to protest, but Wufei placed a finger over his lips. "Sshh, love, I know. You're anything but innocent.. but you have this air about you. It just, flows from you. This feeling, this look of purity. Even after all the beatings I've put you through, after all the times I've come in your body, you still have it. This inner essence of innocence. It gleams inside of you like some untouchable, luminescent star. I can't seem to destroy it, no matter how hard I try. That's what draws me back to you, what will keep me with you until death separates us. I want your purity. I want to beat it out of you, to hit your body, and fuck it until I can feel the immaculateness seep out of you. To hold that shiny cleanness in my hands. But I can't. No matter what I do you find a way to stay like that. It's what I hate about you. What I.. love.. about you."


Quatre sat in shock trying to process all that Wufei was saying. //He wants my purity? My innocence? But.. he has them already. He stole them from me long ago..//


"I want to hurt you, Quatre. I live to hate you. My one passion is to cause you pain." Wufei spoke calmly, his voice soft, "I want to hurt you so much that it aches at times. I have this *need* to see you broken. It consumes me until it's all that I know..."


"But.. why?" Quatre asked, "What did I ever do to you.. what could I have done to make you hate me that much?"


Wufei stared at him for a few long minutes. "You were you. You were bright, and innocent, and happy, and pure. You sparkled with this radiant light. You had this optimism that shone in the face of all the hardships. You were so.. *alive*. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. You could have had anything you wanted, you had that way about you. You could have had Trowa, you could have found love, and true happiness in life.. it would have been amazing."


The Chinese boy snuggled close to the Arabian, laying his head on Quatre's chest. Quatre's body cried in agony, as pressure was inadvertently applied to his injuries. "I had to crush all of that, because I wanted it, I craved it.. I *craved* you. The need to possess you made me so weak, it was all I could think about, all I could see. I had to destroy that beauty, to destroy you.."


Wufei gently stroked over Quatre's side, tender movements that were unlike his usual touches.  "I hate you so much, and I desire your death with my every breath. For your demise will be the end of your power. And it will prove that I'm stronger.. that I'm strong..."


The door suddenly burst open. Wufei jerked his head up, his mouth hanging open in surprise. Heero, Trowa, and Rashid stormed in, their faces grim with determination. Trowa thought his heart would stop when he saw Wufei lying on top of Quatre. His heart beat wildly with fear, until he saw that the blonde was still partially clothed. //We made it in time. Wufei hasn't had a chance to... // Trowa's moment of elation was gone when he realized that though Quatre was safe this time, he hadn't been safe before. But blind rage took over his sorrow when he saw the blood on Quatre's mouth, and the fresh bruises forming, mixed with blood streaks, on his face. "Get. Off. Him." He growled through gritted teeth.


Wufei slowly moved off Quatre, and stood by the bed. The Chinese boy raised his hands in surrender, but he kept himself between the others and Quatre. Almost as if Wufei was protecting Quatre from *them*. Heero had his gun raised, and it was trained right between Wufei's eyes. Trowa clenched his fists, willing them not to beat Wufei to a bloody mess. His eyes strayed to the Arabian who was still lying dazed on the bed. Quatre looked too stunned to move.


Rashid held out his hand to the blonde.  "Come Master Quatre. You're safe now." The large man spoke soothingly, as if beckoning a small child.


Quatre slowly sat up, and eased his legs over the side of the bed. He stood, teetering dangerously on his weakened legs. They all gaped at the word written across his stomach, trying not to stare, but being drawn to the gruesome sight. Quatre's ocean colored eyes stared at them in disbelief, as if he expected them to disappear at any second. Slowly, he took a tentative step forward. And then another. Wufei made slight noise, and Quatre immediately stopped, and lowered his eyes to the floor. The room was silent, tension crackling around the sounds of breathing. No one dared move. Quatre stared at the ground. He was ten steps to freedom, and yet they stretched for an eternity. He was locked in an invisible cage, a prison that couldn't be seen, but whose walls could be felt.


Trowa took a step towards him, and the Arabian flinched. "Quatre..," Trowa's voice wavered with sadness. "Quatre we're here for you. We'll protect you, it's all right now.. it will be all right."


Quatre shook his head, his eyes still lowered. "I.. I can't."


Wufei smiled triumphantly. "See? He *wants* to stay."


Icy threads wrapped themselves around Trowa's heart, choking it, freezing it. but they couldn't compare to the boiling anger that burned through his blood. The rage, the frenzy that overtook all rational thought. "He *wants* to stay? Why? So he can end up like that?" Trowa motioned to the bloody body on the floor, and then locked eyes with Wufei. "You are one sick, twisted bastard."


Wufei's eyes narrowed."Jealous Barton? Because I got to sample his tight, little body first?"


Trowa snapped. With an angry cry he lunged at Wufei, knocking them both to the floor. The banged boy pummeled his fists into the body below him, pure hate clouding his vision, blinding him to his own actions. Heero and Rashid stood stupefied at the scene before them. Quatre continued staring at the ground, willing himself not to think about all the consequences this was going to cause. Heero crossed the gap between them, and shook the blonde. Quatre raised his eyes, startled by Heero.


"You have to stop them!" Heero yelled.


"I.. I can't.."


"Stop saying that! They're fighting over *you*"


Quatre watched the two beating each other. Fists connected with flesh with sickening thuds. To him, it was rather like watching two dogs fight over the last scrap of meat. Neither was hungry.. it was more of a fight for dominance.. for territory. He stepped towards them slowly. He reached down to grab Trowa, attempting to pull him off Wufei. Trowa was caught off guard, and Wufei landed a hard punch right to his jaw. Then the Chinese boy kicked him, effectively dislodging the boy's body from over him. He got to his feet, and grabbed Quatre's arm. The blonde winced as fingers dug into the skin deep enough to bruise. "And who the hell told you to get involved?" he screamed.


Wufei released Quatre's arm, and backhanded the boy to the floor. Trowa leapt to his feet and smashed his fist into Wufei's face, sending him sprawling. "Don't you ever touch him again!" Trowa spit out a mouthful of blood before going over to help Quatre up from the floor. He reached his hand out, offering it to Quatre.


The Arabian shied away from him, curling up into a ball. "I think you all should leave," he whispered.


Trowa's eyes went wide with confusion. "No, Quatre. No.. we aren't leaving without you."


He kneeled down, and wrapped his arms around the shaking blonde. The tall boy lifted him to his feet, and made sure he was steady before letting him go. His arms lingered a bit too long, and Quatre pushed at him, trying to squirm free of his grasp.


"I said *go*."


"Quatre.. you don't mean.."


"Go! Damnit! Just go, leave, get out of here!"


Trowa took Quatre's face into his hands, and looked deep into the flat, blue-green eyes. "We came to save you.."


"Just.. go away Trowa. Run.. it's what you're good at."


The green eyed boy stumbled back a few steps, Quatre's words cutting into him like the sharpest of knives. "What-what do you mean? I don't.. I.."


"What I mean," Quatre said bitterly, "is that running away seems to be your forte. Every time things get rough you leave. Every time we get even slightly close, you take off." Quatre looked him right in the eyes. "Every time I need you," he whispered, "you are never there..."


Trowa seemed to crumple right before him. As if all his strength had been sapped out by those few words.


"I wouldn't want to break your pattern," the blonde continued, his voice laced with sarcasm. "So I'm giving you what you want. I'm telling you to walk out right now. We both know you will anyway. Why not do it with my blessing?" Quatre was fighting to remain standing. With each word he tore as his own soul. He had done all this to keep Trowa safe, and here he was being the one to rip him to shreds. //But it's all for the best, it's all for the best. Save Trowa now, and you can deal with the pain later. You can let Wufei absolve you, show your contrition with your body.//


Rashid had to support Trowa who was wobbling. The tall boy feared his legs would give out from under him. The pain, the pain lancing through him was so much deeper than anything he had known. "Quatre.. you can't.. you don't mean that. You can't want to stay with him.. you can't..," Trowa trailed off, shaking his head in disbelief.


Wufei had gotten up, and moved that he stood behind Quatre. He wrapped his caramel arms around the boy's torso. Making sure the word Wufei was still readable. His stance was one of pure possessiveness. "He can, and he will. You and the others can leave now, Barton. I think you've done enough."


Rashid stood stock still, completely dumbfounded. Heero stood to the side, having no idea what to do. But Trowa wasn't finished. "Why? Look at what he's done to you," he gestured to Quatre's abused body, "and-and.. he *kidnapped* you! You were in a coma, and he stole you from the hospital!"


Quatre shook his head, and sighed in what he hoped sounded like annoyance. "Do you honestly believe that if I didn't want to stay here, that Wufei could keep me? Do you think of me as that weak?"


Trowa shook his head, confused. "No.. I *know* you aren't weak.. I just.. I think he has some sort of power over you. But I can't figure out what it could be that would force you to endure this."


Wufei laughed and tightened his arms around Quatre. "I do have power over him. I give it to him hard and rough, just like he likes it. Isn't that right, Quatre-baby?"


Quatre nodded, knowing if he spoke he'd break down completely.


"Quatre?" Trowa was staring at him, some sort of realization dawning on him. "That day.. at the last safehouse, when I came into the room.. and--," he looked down, frowning as if trying to remember everything exactly. "--and I kissed you.. and you thought I was someone else.." His head snapped up, and horror was written across his face. "Who did you think I was?"


Quatre's eyes widened. He stared at Trowa in shock, his vocal cords refusing to work.


"Who did you think I was?" Trowa demanded again.


And still Quatre refused to answer.


"You thought I was Wufei," the taller boy stated sadly, " you thought I was him.. and yet you told me that you loved *me*. Why? Was it fun for you to play with my emotions? Too see if you could get me to open up, and then crush me? And that's the reason it could never work out? Because you love him?"


Quatre stood completely still. His mind screamed at him to deny all that. //No! I love *you* Trowa! Always you, only you. Save me, love me, fix me.. help me.. oh, please help me..// But his mouth never moved.


Rashid stared fixedly into Quatre's eyes. He could see the hidden battle behind the glassy orbs. Trowa was too blinded by sadness to look clearly. "Master Quatre, I know where your feelings lie. You've told me so many times. Don't deny them to yourself. Whatever has happened in the past can be healed. Find happiness with the one you truly love. With the one that loves you.."


Quatre bit his lip, feeling the pain as his teeth dug into the cut. "I...," Wufei's arms tightened around him, "I..."


There was a thud from inside the closet. Heero whirled around, and pointed his gun at the cracked, mirrored doors. They were barely on the tracks, and looked about ready to fall over. The Japanese boy approached them slowly. His reflection in them was shattered, showing hundreds of Heero's in the shards.


Wufei let go of Quatre, and ran to put himself between Heero and the doors. "Leave it alone Yuy. It's none of your concern."


Heero aimed his gun at Wufei. "Back away now, or I'll haul your dead body away. Your choice."


Wufei stared down the barrel of the gun. With an angry sigh he stepped to the side. Heero, still keeping an eye on him, managed to pry the doors open. Inside the dark, cramped closet there was a woman tied to a chair.


"Who the hell are you?" Heero asked.


She looked up, her eyes bleary, her face mottled with bruises. She was gagged, and bound, wrist and ankle. Heero noticed that her wrists were covered with dried blood, as were her ankles. She had been trying to free herself, and had rubbed the skin until it bled. But it had worked. She had worked free one foot, and used her small amount of remaining energy to kick listlessly at the door. No one else in the room could see what was going on, as Heero was blocking the door. Quatre moved over to him, and pushed him lightly to the side. When he saw who it was he gasped, and wobbled unsteadily. Rashid rushed over, and held Quatre up. He too gasped as he saw who held captive in there.


"Iria?"


At the mention of the woman's name, Trowa was snapped out of his daze. Rashid had to pull Quatre away as the blonde looked to be going into shock. His blue green eyes were unfocused, he was just staring ahead. Trowa ran over to the closet, and knelt in front of Iria. He pulled the gag down from her mouth, and took the dirty sock out that was stuffed inside. "Iria? ...Iria? Are you all right?"


The blonde woman nodded slightly. She moved her lips as if trying to speak, but her mouth was achingly dry. She mouthed the word water, and Trowa stood up and headed to the bathroom to get her some.


He passed the body on the floor, and unable to stand the sight anymore, he lifted it up, and dragged it into the bathroom. He flipped the light switch, and nothing happened. He could see a little from the light in the main room. He hauled the boy into the tub, and laid him out. He sighed, and walked over to the sink, not looking back. Trowa picked up a glass, trying not to wonder what was crusted on it, and filled it with the murky water from the tap.


While he was in the bathroom, Heero backed Wufei into the far corner of the room. "Don't move," he commanded.


Wufei shrugged carelessly, and kept his eyes locked on Quatre. He sat cross-legged on the floor, never diverting his attention away from the blonde. Rashid had set the boy on the bed, and was kneeling in front of him, talking to him. Wufei strained to hear what they were saying, but Rashid was deliberately talking softly.


Trowa came out of the bathroom, and glared at Wufei. The Chinese boy smirked as he caught the look from the corner of his eye. Trowa knelt before Iria, and placed the rim of the glass to her lips. She drank greedily, swallowing the questionable liquid quickly. It began to spill down her shirt, so Trowa pulled it away. She licked her lips, and tried to smile at him.


"Are you ok?" he asked quietly.


"I've been better," she rasped out.


Trowa lifted the glass back to her mouth, and she drank the rest of it. "Let me see if I can get something to cut through these," he said, motioning to the ropes.


"Wait."


Trowa looked at her expectantly. She tried to look over to where her brother was, but he was out of sight. She could only see what was in front of her. She leaned forward a little.


Trowa started to move away "I'll get something..."


"No. Wait.. Quatre?"


Trowa looked over his shoulder. The blonde was sitting on the bed, his body slumped over. Rashid was trying to talk to him, but it didn't look like Quatre was paying attention. Trowa turned back to Iria. "He's..," he moved closer to Iria, "I can't say he's fine, but we're here now. We'll help him." Trowa paused, and looked over at the pale form. "If he wants us to."


"Trowa. You have to help him. Please. This Wufei guy, he's going to kill him." A slight note of desperation entered Iria's voice. "I know Quatre loves you. He told me. If you give up..."


The sting from Quatre's harsh words were still biting into Trowa. But Iria seemed so sure. Rashid seemed so sure. Even Heero seemed so sure. //How is it they all saw it, but I never did? Am I that blind to everything? Or is that why I ran? Was I trying to outrun what I knew along? Well, no more. No more running.// Trowa nodded slowly. He was through running away.


Iria sighed in relief, and slumped into the chair. "Now, get me out of these ropes so I can kill that bastard."


He almost smiled at the thought of that. Iria, in her weakened state, taking down Wufei like a good mother protecting her cub. The tall boy searched the room, there weren't many places to store things. He opened the night stand, and there by the obligatory Bible, was a gleaming knife. He pulled it out slowly, well aware the blade was most likely razor sharp. The implications of why the knife was at the bedside washed over him. He held them at bay, knowing if he thought about them he'd break down, and jam the knife into Wufei's heart. He was shaking as he went back to Iria. The knife slid through the ropes easily, and within seconds she was free.


Trowa dropped the knife, and helped her up. Her unused legs felt like jelly, and she was forced to lean on Trowa. He led her over to the bed so she could sit by Quatre. She ran her fingers through his hair. He turned his dull eyes to meet hers. She pulled him close, both wincing at the pain, but neither wanting to let go. He didn't hug back, his arms stayed at his side, but he didn't push her away either. She rocked them slowly, softly whispering in Quatre's ear. Suddenly; he pulled back, and stared at her, as if he was shocked to see her.


"Iria?! How.."


Iria reached out to him, trying to soothe him. But Quatre backed further away, and glanced over at Wufei. Black eyes were glaring at him. And the Chinese boy winked, like they were in on some secret joke. Quatre looked back and forth between him and Iria. Horror dawned on the blonde boy's face.


"Wufei...," he turned to the black haired boy sitting calmly on the floor, "Wu..fei.."


Quatre stood up slowly, and walked around the end of the bed. Wufei got to his feet. Quatre walked over to where Heero was guarding him. He pushed the Japanese boy away, and stared into the eyes of his captor. "You promised," he hissed.


Heero grunted in surprise at being knocked away. But he stayed to the side, keeping his eyes firmly on Wufei. Trowa moved in closer, wanting to be near should the Chinese boy try anything. Rashid helped Iria to her feet, and they moved behind Trowa. The four of them were partially behind Quatre. They were silently supporting him, his backup, his allies, his loved ones. Wufei was regarding Quatre with a bored look.


Quatre moved closer. "You *promised*. You gave me your word."


Wufei narrowed his eyes. "So did you. And you broke it."


Quatre's body began to shake. The room crackled with tension, and all that was heard were the heavy breaths coming from the Arabian. And then the blonde exploded, and rage filled the room. "I gave you everything I had Wufei. *Everything*. Never once did I deny you. I played every one of your sick little games. And I kept my mouth shut. I never spoke a word to anyone, I never *saw* anyone! You took everything I ever had, and more. And I *let* you. I let you have all of me. And you promised, *promised* me that you would leave them alone. The price of their safety was my willingness, and I paid!" He laughed hysterically. "I must have paid you a thousand times over. And you still..," he looked back at Iria, "you still hurt them..."


He lunged at the astonished Wufei, and tried to wrap his hands around his neck. His blue-green eyes were dead and cold. No amount of humanity shone through. Just the need to kill. Heero leapt forward, and grabbed the blonde, who kicked and screamed to be let go.


Trowa was standing there, his eyes glazed over as he tried to make sense of his beloved's words. // The price of their safety was my willingness. The price of their safety was my willingness. The price of their safety was my willingness. So, that was why..// His heart constricted painfully inside his chest, and he found it was hard to breathe. // You took everything I ever had, and more. And I *let* you. I *let* you. I *let* you. You let him torture you? To.. to *save* us?//


The others looked just as shocked. Iria's hands were balled into tight fists. // My brother, my little brother. He.. hurt *you*..//


Heero was trying to calm Quatre down, to no advantage. He knew the all consuming anger the Arabian was going through, but if he let him harm Wufei he knew it would only make matters worse. // Quatre? What's happening? What? Why? You paid.. Why did you..?//


Rashid held onto Iria, fearing if he let go of her one of them would crack the Chinese boy's skull. //Master Quatre.. we swore to follow you into whatever fray there was. And yet you fought the most horrific battle on your own. I knew you had the courage to sacrifice all. I just never wanted you to have to..//


Trowa grabbed the blonde from Heero, and held him close. He needed to feel that small body, to reassure himself that he was real. He would spend the rest of his life at this boy's side, proving himself worthy of the gift he had been given. Quatre was struggling against him, desperate to get his hands back around Wufei's throat.


Wufei regained his composure, and straightened his rumpled clothing. He glared at Trowa, before moving his gaze back to Quatre. "You went into the hospital little Quatre. Barton was guarding you day and night. I had to have some collateral to make sure you would come back with me. But don't worry. I just hit her a little, nothing serious."


Quatre slumped in Trowa's arms, his head hanging, defeated. He laughed a little to himself.  "It was my fault. I should have known." He looked up. "What will you do now Wufei? Now that all the others know?"


"You're not taking him back," Trowa growled.


Wufei narrowed his eyes. "Who says I even want the little slut now?"


Iria broke free from Rashid's grasp. She stumbled forward, and before anyone knew what she was doing she cold cocked Wufei. He fell back, and smashed into the wall. "That's for my brother," she spat. Then blonde woman wavered. She swayed back and forth.


Rashid made it to her side right before she fell over. He picked her up like a little rag doll, and balanced her in his arms. "I'm going to take her downstairs now, and call an ambulance for the two of them."


The rest of them were standing there stunned. Quatre found his voice fist. "Thank you Rashid. Thank you."


Rashid smiled, nodded, and left the room, with Iria in his arms.


Heero looked down at Wufei, who's nose was trickling blood. He nudged him with the toe of his shoe. "Get up."


Wufei rose to his feet, dusting off his clothes, and wiping the blood away with his hand. Quatre finally seemed to notice that he was wrapped in Trowa's arms. He squirmed until Trowa loosened them, even though it was the last thing the tall boy wanted to do. And they stood there.


One boy filled with confusion, and anguish, as to where his life would take him.


One boy filled with sorrow, and longing for the boy who had stolen his heart.


One boy filled with rage, and anxiety, his whole plan crumbling before him.


And one boy filled with betrayal, and anger, that one he had trusted had deceived them


"So what are you going to do?" Wufei asked. "Turn me in I suppose. Let me serve my time, and repent for my crimes.."


Trowa's eyes burned like green flames. They lit upon Wufei, and the Chinese boy almost felt as if they would burn through him. "And what would be the use in that?" He cracked his knuckles, "I haven't used my "interrogation" skills in a while.." He looked over to Heero.


The blue eyed pilot narrowed his eyes, and nodded. "We have so many things to ask you.. it might take a while." Heero motioned his gun towards the door. "Now, you have two choices. You can either walk calmly, and slowly, and go where I tell you. Or, I can knock you unconscious and drag your carcass."


"I'll die before I follow your orders, Yuy."


Heero smiled. "I was hoping you would say that."


He smashed his fist into Wufei's face, the Chinese boy's injured nose erupting with blood. He was out before he hit the ground. Heero hauled him over his shoulder, and carried him out the door. "I'll be waiting. Hurry." He called back.


Trowa and Quatre turned to face each other. Neither knew what to say to the other. Quatre shuffled his feet nervously.


Trowa cleared his throat, and walked closer. "Well, I guess you don't have much choice now. You'll have to come with us."


Quatre nodded. Trowa offered out his hand. The blonde looked at warily. Slowly, he raised his own, and took it.


Trowa clasped his fingers around Quatre's. He met the unsure ocean eyes, with a look of pure love. "Wufei didn't take everything from you."


Quatre looked at him questioningly.


Trowa smiled, and pulled him toward the door. "He didn't take *me*."


* * *


The two Winner siblings were safely tucked into their beds, their rooms being the best the hospital could offer. Iria was suffering from dehydration, and she had a few cuts and bruises, but otherwise she was fine. Quatre they were more worried about. His body seemed drained of energy. The two weeks he had been there prior to his abduction had helped, but then being taken away from that had set the blonde back some. The doctors were still optimistic. Then main thing that had concerned them was Quatre's awakening. And since he had done that, they assured everyone that the rest of his injuries could heal in time. There was no internal bleeding, and his cat scan showed nothing abnormal. His body was just weak to the point of severe exhaustion.


The ride to the hospital had been interesting, with Trowa refusing to leave Quatre's side, and Heero refusing to take his eyes off Wufei. They had finally decided to stick Heero and Wufei in with Iria, and Trowa and Rashid rode with Quatre. If any of the paramedics thought Heero aiming a gun at an unconscious Wufei was unusual, they wisely kept it themselves. When they got to the hospital, they had split up. Heero took Wufei, and Rashid and Trowa stayed with Quatre, and Iria. That had been yesterday. Quatre and Iria had slept almost straight through. It probably had something to do with the heavy amount of sedatives they had been given.


That had given Trowa plenty of time to plan his justice for Wufei. Part of him wondered if it was his place to play judge, jury, and executioner. But that part was drowned out by the thought of Wufei touching Quatre. Quatre crying in pain, and fear with no one to help him. Quatre being brutally taken, and violated over and over by a boy they had called friend. His love being beaten, and treated like some animal, some possession. All on the sick whims of his comrade. No, Wufei would pay for what he had done. Trowa choked slightly as his mind reeled at all that had happened. The most gentle soul he had ever known was almost crushed. He had been tread upon, stepped on, and beaten down. And still he persevered. Not for his own sake, but for theirs. The pain welled inside him, the anguish of knowing he hadn't been able to spare Quatre from that. It demanded an outlet, it had to be freed.


Trowa was again perched in a chair next to Quatre's bed. He had twined their fingers together. He had promised to join Heero, but not until Quatre woke up. He was going to be here for that. The blonde's eyelids began to flutter, before they opened fully. Cloudy eyes scanned the room, and came to rest on Trowa. The banged boy reached for the cup of water on the bed side, and lifted Quatre so he could take a sip. The doctor had informed him that the Arabian would likely wake up dying of thirst. Quatre made a small noise to let him know he was finished and Trowa lowered the cup.


They watched the other for a while. It wasn't quite an awkward silence, but it wasn't a comfortable one either. Trowa brushed some of the hair out of Quatre's face. The blonde looked leery of him, watching him carefully.


Trowa sighed and stood. "I guess I'll leave you alone for a while. I'll come and check on you in a day or two."


"W-where are you going?"


Trowa looked hesitant to answer. He opened his mouth, and then abruptly shut it.


Quatre watched him, scared of having him this close, and yet terrified of him leaving.


"I.. I have some business to take care of. And then I'll be back. I *will* come back to you, Quatre. I promise."


"I don't believe in promises anymore..," he whispered.


Trowa sat back down and gathered a cold hand into his own. "Iria will be fine. I've seen her, she's doing very good. The doctors--"


"Trowa?" Quatre interrupted.


"Yes?"


The blonde nibbled at his lower lip. "Don't. Don't kill him, please."


Trowa's mouth dropped open. "What? Quatre, after all he's done, all he's put you through.. "


Quatre shifted away a little. "I know that you want to, and Heero does too, but that will make you no better than him," Quatre's voice dropped to a whisper, and Trowa had to lean close to hear. "I know he did all these awful things, *believe* me, I know. But, if you kill him, then that will make you him, and I couldn't stand that. I don't want to think of you as anything like him." The pale hand lightly squeezed his own. "I know this sounds stupid. I above all should want him dead. But, it's not right. None of this is."


Trowa frowned, trying to comprehend what Quatre was asking of him. //After all he's done and you want me to spare him? I don't know if I can do that. I just want to tear his throat out, and stab him once for every tear he made you cry. And here you are asking me not to kill him.. And how can I deny you?//


"Quatre, it hurts so much inside. That-that he could make you suffer so much. I want to make him hurt, but I don't want you to think of me as him. I never want that. But how can I just let him get away with all he's done?"


"I'm free Trowa. I honestly never thought I would be able to say that. I'm free, and you're.. safe. And that's all I ever wanted."


Trowa squeezed the pale hand in his lightly. "You will never cease to amaze me. For you, Quatre. For you, I will spare his life. Because I love you too much to cause you any more pain."


The Arabian tried to smile, but it wasn't the sunny one Trowa was used to. It was a wistful version, full of things that could have been.


"Sleep now," the taller boy whispered.


Quatre's eyes closed, and he nodded. "You'll.. you're coming back?"


"I prom.. swear it."


Trowa tucked the covers around his now sleeping beloved, and crept from the room. A quick check showed that Iria was fine, with Rashid watching over her. He strolled out of the building, and made his way to the waiting car. Rashid had gotten it for him, though gods knew how. He slid into the car, and started it up, making his way back into the woods where all this mess had begun. He reached the cabin quickly, turned off the car, and made his way inside. The back room was just how they had left it. Messy, and bloody splattered. With one new addition.


Wufei was bound to one of the dining room chairs. His arms and legs tied tight. Heero was sitting on the bed, awaiting Trowa. The banged boy walked in and took a seat in another of the chairs they had dragged in. Their prisoner looked at them belligerently.


Trowa stared him right in the eye. Fiery green meeting smoldering black. "Why Wufei?"


The Chinese boy smirked to himself, laughing at a joke only he understood. "Always with the whys.."


~~~~~

tbc.


{ part 11 }

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