Eternal Flame

Disclaimer: I don\'t own the G Boys, I just borrow them from time to time and return them a whole lot happier ne? :) I do however own Shane, Paul, Colin, Mickey, Benny, Toby, Fayah and any other unfamiliar characters that crop up. I also own the plot if you can call it that.

Rating: NC 17

Warnings: Sap, angst, OC, Lemon, Lime, abuse, violence, language.

Pairings: 1x2x1, 3x4x3, 5xS, OC x OC and maybe some more... check each part to be sure ;)

Archive: http://gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com
http://sweetlysour.net
http://www.adult-fanfiction.org
http://www.theforsakenwk.com/

Status: Work in progress.

Beta: DBZVelena... *huggles*

Author: ShenLong

Authors notes: *sigh* Well here I am again caving into pressure. I know it has taken a while to get to this and for that I apologize but I could not come up with a plot I deemed worthy enough.... until now. This is yet another sequel... this time to United Hearts. I did promise I would write the wedding for you all and I intend to do that. For those that haven\'t read United or Lost Souls I recommend that you do, otherwise this sequel will not make much sense. All of your favorite characters are back and up to as much mischief as possible.
This is set fourteen months after the end of United and all the children are older now. The Gundam Pilots are all 20yrs, Shane and Fayah are 16, Paul is 15, Colin is 14, Mickey is 12, Benny is 10 1/2 and not forgetting that little rascal Toby who is 10.
Thank you to all those who supported me through the writing of United, I hope you enjoy this just as much.

\"Eternal Flame\"

April 2003 ShenLong

Chapter 41

Quatre and Wufei had played several games of chess and after losing more than he cared to admit, Quatre decided to find a bunk and get some sleep. Wufei rechecked the auto pilot and set the alarm to wake them once they were approaching the Earth\'s orbit should they by chance still be sleeping. With a final look over the navigational console he contacted Zodiac to confirm their trajectory and inform the lead ship of their intentions to rest.

Quatre wandered down the corridor, pushing buttons at the side of the various doors until he found a comfortable looking cabin. He looked up as Wufei shadowed the doorway. \"I\'m going to sleep in here. Is everything okay with the navigation?\"

\"Yes. I have informed the Zodiac of our intention to rest and all is well with the flight plan.\" Wufei turned. \"I will take the cabin opposite. The alarm is set to wake us if necessary.\"

\"Okay. Pleasant dreams, Wufei.\"

Wufei nodded. \"You too, Winner.\"

The door slid shut as Wufei departed and Quatre dropped to the bunk with a sigh. He ran his hands gently through his hair and then laid his weary body on the bunk. Within seconds he was asleep.

Wufei carefully pulled the blanket back on the bunk he\'d selected out of the four in the room to use. At least the bed linen was clean. He lay himself down and began a slow meditation technique he\'d learnt while in training many years ago. It soothed his mind and body, relaxing his muscles and putting all immediate thoughts of their trip back home and the previous hours of fighting to a secure location deep in his brain to be thought about at a later, more convenient time. Right now he needed to sleep if he was to perform at his best. His body needed the chance to begin to heal itself and energy supplies were desperate to be restored. The food they had found and consumed earlier in the carrier\'s galley had been nutritious as well as filling so at least his stomach was happy. With thoughts of home, Sally and Paul in his mind he drifted into a deep sleep.

~ * ~

On board the Zodiac, Howard had in his hand the more simplified damage report. The read out wasn\'t as bad as it could have been. The Alpha was a write off, the Beta not too bad. The Zodiac\'s cloaking system would need a complete rewire as would some of her other circuits from the shock wave. The stabilizers had only taken minor damage while the cargo bay where the Alpha remained had sustained large amounts of damage to the walls; all would need to be replaced. Fortunately the gyros had escaped pretty much unscathed but the communications system would need an overhaul.

Then there was the little problem of the Gundams...

\"Give it up, Howard.\"

Howard raised his head to see who had spoken to him and saw Trowa sitting opposite him, his tired green eyes watching Howard\'s hands shuffle the papers and his mind tick over. \"What?\"

Trowa uncurled his body from the seat and stood up. \"Une won\'t lock you up because you built the suits. I\'m sure she will be happy to thank you for doing so.\"

\"Yeah, right.\"

Trowa shifted and leant over the console. \"I know what you\'re thinking, Howard and if I might make a suggestion here?\"

The older man rubbed his chin. \"What do you have in mind?\"

Trowa proceeded to fill Howard in on his idea and the more Howard listened the more the idea made sense and appealed to him. \"Well, you\'ve sold me on the idea, son, but I\'m not the one you have to convince.\"

\"I\'m sure that Commander Une will agree once the facts are presented to her.\"

\"What about Quatre? Does he know what you\'re proposing?\"

Trowa shook his head. \"Not yet but If I know Quatre he will be only to happy to do this, if he\'s going to be pissed over anything it will be because he didn\'t think of it first.\" Trowa gave one of his rare smiles.

\"Well, I have to admit, it\'s a logical solution and would save a whole heap of trouble, both for me as well as Preventers.\" Howard\'s sunglasses flashed. \"I just hope we can convince the boss lady of it.\"

\"Leave her to Quatre. No one is immune once he starts with his explanations and arguments.\"

Howard laughed. \"Yeah, you have a point there.\" He turned to face the young man and offered his hand. \"Thanks.\"

Trowa shook the offered hand and shook it firmly. \"No thanks needed. If it wasn\'t for you, Howard, then we would all most likely be bowing down to another form of terrorism and insane rule. It\'s thanks to your forethought that we still have peace.\"

\"Well, the suits couldn\'t have done it without you guys so I guess we can call it even, hey?\"

Trowa laughed. \"Acknowledged and agreed. Now, I\'m going to go and get some sleep.\"

\"I think I\'ll grab a few hours myself,\" replied Howard. \"I\'ll wake you when we\'re close to landing this bird.\"

\"Thank you.\" Trowa turned and left the bridge, heading back to the cabin he and Quatre had shared earlier. He wondered how his blonde partner was coping on the carrier with Wufei and smiled to himself. Rather it be Quatre with the Chinese agent than Duo.

Howard checked on the prisoners and wounded before giving Thomas his instructions to wake him should there be any problems at all arising while he rested. Knowing the Zodiac was in good hands he exited the bridge and headed for his quarters, giving the console a loving pat and a few soft words of thanks on the way. He\'d never admit it but the Zodiac was like a child to him. He\'d bought her as a shell of a ship and modified her systems, practically completely rebuilding her from her undercarriage up. He was proud of her and the way she had handled everything that had been thrown at her. She reminded him of another ship he\'d had the privilege of captaining... and destroying.

Peacemillion.

He found his cabin and tumbled tiredly to the bed. He was asleep before his head could reach the pillow.

~ * ~

Sally placed the last of the dishes into the dishwasher and switched the machine on. Drying her hands on the tea towel she checked the state of the kitchen before calling out to Paul and Leith that it was time to go. Paul appeared moments later pushing Leith in the wheelchair that Sally had managed to \'borrow\'. \"We\'re all set.\"

\"Good. I\'ll just get my bag and we can get going. You got everything, Leith?\"

\"Yep.\" Leith pointed to the small back pack on his lap. It contained a couple of books, Paul\'s discman and a board game compendium. Just a few things to pass away the time for both of them while the doctor did his tests.

\"I\'ll wheel Leith out inta the hall and wait fer yer by the elevator, Sally,\" shouted Paul as he began to push his boyfriend towards the apartment door.

\"Okay, I won\'t be a sec,\" came the reply from inside Sally and Wufei\'s bedroom.

Paul maneuvered the wheelchair out of the apartment and along the hall, coming to a stop by the elevator and pushing the button. He stared back down the hall as Sally stepped out of the apartment and locked the door behind her. As she met up with the two boys so the elevator chimed its arrival.

Paul wheeled Leith into the small car and pushed the button that would take them to the parking area below the building. Once there he wheeled Leith to Sally\'s car and waited while she unlocked it and opened the door. Between the two of them and Leith\'s own good arm, they managed to get the tento nto the car and his seat belt buckled. Paul folded the wheel chair up and stowed it in the trunk then got in beside Leith and once he\'d gotten his own seat belt on he took his boyfriend\'s hand and squeezed it reassuringly.

\"All set?\" asked Sally as she turned the key and the engine roared into life.

\"As ready as I\'ll ever be,\" replied Leith.

\"Let\'s hit the road!\" cried Paul, his eyes shining with excitement.

With a shake of her head, Sally backed the vehicle out and headed into the morning traffic.

They arrived at Mercy General Hospital at eight fifteen. Paul quickly got the wheelchair out and set up. Sally assisted him to half drag, half lift Leith out of the car. It had been much easier when they\'d picked him up having had Wufei there to help. With Leith now in the wheelchair, his clothes straightened and looking none the worse for his rough handling, Paul wheeled him towards the sliding entrance doors of the hospital and Doctor Stokes\' rooms.

Sylvia greeted them and showed them through to the doctor\'s office, explaining that he was still on his rounds but shouldn\'t be too much longer. She fetched a coffee for Sally and orange juice for the two boys before returning to her desk and the duties that awaited her. They didn\'t have to wait too long, at eight forty the young doctor strode into the room, apologizing for his tardiness; apologies that Sally waved away.

\"Don\'t worry about it, Doctor Stokes, I know what it\'s like, I\'m a doctor myself, remember?\" Sally said in a light tone.

The doctor ran his hand through his hair. \"Yes, I know,\" he replied with a chuckle then turned his attention to Leith. \"So, young man. I believe you\'re starting to get some feeling back in your toes?\"

\"That\'s right,\" replied Leith. \"I felt something like tingling in my toes yesterday when Paul was helping me up.\"

Paul nearly choked on his orange juice at Leith\'s choice of words. Sally frowned at him and Leith just grinned. Doctor Stokes didn\'t take any notice but moved on with his questioning.

All the usual questions were asked, the same ones that Sally had asked the night before. Basic tests, some similar, some the same as what Sally had done were tried out on his legs and feet. This time though the sensations were a little stronger.

Finally Doctor Stokes straightened and faced the group, directing his gaze at Leith but his words to them all. \"From what I can tell from the tests and questions we\'ve just done the nerves are definitely starting to respond to stimuli. That indicates to me that the pressure that was exerted on the spinal cord is beginning to recede and allowing the signals to pass through once more.\" Although he could use technical terms, Doctor Stokes deliberately kept his words and explanations in lay man\'s terms so that Leith could follow what he was saying. \"I will need to take you down for a CAT scan of your spine as well as a couple of other tests. I\'m afraid a couple of them won\'t be very pleasant but they are necessary.\"

Leith felt a little uncomfortable with that confession. He didn\'t like pain and lately he\'d endured more than his fair share. His burnt skin had begun to heal very well and as far as they could tell there would only be minimal scarring. The hair that he\'d lost was also regenerating, growing back thick and glossy. Now all that remained was for his bones to finish healing in his arm and the swelling to leave his spine and Leith would be one happy little camper.

\"Do I have your permission to conduct these tests, Leith?\"

\"Um... sure, Doc. You do whatever you think is necessary. If it\'s goinghelphelp me walk again then I\'m more than willing to be a guinea pig.\"

The doctor laughed. \"I assure you, Leith, we won\'t be using you as a guinea pig. Now, if I can get you to sign these consent papers please, we can get this CAT scan underway.\" Doctor Stokes handed Leith a clip board with the consent papers on them.

Leith looked at Sally for guidance and Sally gave the paperwork a quick look over. \"That\'s fine,\" she told Leith and the teen signed his name on the dotted line. He handed the paper work back to the doctor and reached for Paul\'s hand, needing some form of comfort. He was scared.

\"Doc?\"

Both Sally and Doctor Stokes turned to look at Paul.

\"Umm... Would it be all right if I comes wiv Leith ta these tests and stuff?\"

The doctor smiled. \"I can\'t see any reason why not. Just stay out of the way of the technicians and nursing staff while they do what they have to do. Especially the nurses.\" The doctor winked at him. \"They get easily annoyed and have a nasty habit of getting their own back on you if you pee them off, which usually involves sharp pointy things called needles.\"

Paul\'s eyes widened considerably and he vowed to be extra polite to the nurses.

Seeing the look on Paul\'s face, Sally began to laugh. \"He\'s teasing you, Paul,\" she said in-between chuckles.

Paul turned to look at the doctor again and noticed the broad smile on his face. Teasing or not, Paul decided to play it safe anyway.

\"Okay, everything is in order so let\'s get going to the radiology department and get these tests underway.\" Doctor Stokes moved to the door and opened it, Paul wheeling Leith through and Sally following.

~ * ~

Paul looked up from the book he was reading when the nurse wheeled Leith out. This was the fourth scan that Leith had endured. This time a dye had been injected into his spinal column and then the scan repeated. Leith was beginning to look tired and Paul felt for his boyfriend.

\"Shouldn\'t be too many more now, Leith, and then all we have to do is wait for the results,\" said Sally as she placed a comforting hand on the teen\'s shoulder.

Leith gave her a grateful look but held tight to Paul\'s hand Sal Sally\'s pager went off and she quickly rummaged through her handbag to find the device. She turned the beeping off and scanned the message before turning to the two boys. \"That\'s headquarters. The ships have reached orbit and are waiting for the window to be able to enter the atmosphere and dock at the base. I have to go.\"

Paul nodded. \"Okay, Sally. Yer better get goin\' then, can\'t keep the boss lady waitin\'.\"

\"Are you sure you two will be okay while I\'m gone? It could be a while before I get back.\"

As Sally spoke so Doctor Stokes returned and caught the tail end of the sentence. \"You have to leave us?\"

Sally faced the young doctor. \"I\'m afraid so. I\'m not too sure how long I will be gone but I should be back before evening.\"

\"That\'s fine. I\'ll arrange for a private room for Leith to use while he\'s here. We need to analyze these test results and do a couple more. Depending on the results of these tests we may need to arrange for more in-depth ones. It would be best for him to be admitted as a day patient for the moment. That way he will also get fed.\" The doctor turned and smiled at Leith. \"That is if you can stomach hospital food.\"

Leith laughed. \"It\'s not that bad,\" he replied. \"But what about Paul?\"

\"He can stay too. I\'ll arrange for him to be fed as well.\"

\"Thank you, Doctor. I really appreciate this.\" Sally held out her hand and shook her colleague\'s warm one.

\"No problem, Doctor Po-Chang. I\'m happy to be of service to you.\"

After giving both boys the usual *talk* about behaving themselves, Sally took her leave and headed for the Phoenix port and the next of many things on her hectic schedule. The main one being making sure her husband was in one piece so she could tear strips off him for making her worry so much.

~ * ~

\"Zodiac, this is the carrier ship; do you read?\"

\"Carrier, this is Zodiac,aheaahead, Quatre.\"

\"Approaching Earth orbit. Will contact Une and advise of our arrival. Will also request docking instructions.\"

\"Roger, Quatre. I\'ll await your instructions. Zodiac out.\"

Howard sat back in his chair, the Zodiac\'s navigational system guiding them into an orbiting path around the blue-green planet they could see on the screen. \"Nearly home,\" he said softly.

\"Amen to that,\" replied Trowa from his seat across from Howard.

On board the carrier Quatre was busy contacting Preventer Phoenix base and getting the landing instructions. Once they had been sent through to the ship\'s computer he opened the com line to Zodiac once more. \"Zodiac. This is the carrier.\"

\"Zodiac here, go ahead.\"

\"Phoenix base will be sending through the landing coordinates and approach details to you now. Lock them in to the navigational controls and await further instructions. Carrier will land first. Window will be coming up in ten minutes. We should be clear for Zodiac to land in the next window, approximately an hour after Carrier has landed.\"

\"Roger that, Carrier. Details are coming through now.\"

\"Gouck,uck, Zodiac. See you Earth-side. Carrier out.\"

\"Good luck, Carrier. Meet you on terra firma. Zodiac out.\"

Howard checked the information coming through on the Zodiac\'s computer, all seemed to be in order. He gave Trowa the nod to start feeding the information into the navigational system and sat back to wait for the window.

Wufei rechecked the coordinates then disengaged the auto pilot. Taking command of the ship with Quatre by his side he began the task of bringing the ship through the atmosphere and to the Phoenix port.

Quatre reeled off the information as it flashed across the screen, descent rate, speed, altitude, direction; the numbers flowed and Wufei piloted the craft with skill through the first layers of gasses that surrounded the planet, hitting the atmosphere at just the right angle so as not to go bouncing off into space. The blackness began to give way and blue took its place, fluffy white clouds appeared way below them but were approaching rapidly. The engines were slowed as Wufei attempted to bring the craft back to a more reasonable speed, succeeding despite the ship\'s reluctance at first.

As the ship slowed so the clouds reached them and seconds later they had broken through, a patchwork of land lay below them and Quatre couldn\'t help but grin. \"Nearly home,\" he said softly.

Wufei watched his instruments, adjusting the craft\'s descent, speed and direction as the computer dictated. Then he could see the lights of the Phoenix base ahead and concentrated on bringing the ship in to land.

From inside the base control tower, Une and Sally watched the carrier ship making its approach. Like a large, silver bird it dropped steadily earthwards until it hit the runway. Only then did Sally let go a breath she hadn\'t known she was holding. As the large carrier taxied to a halt so the smaller \'tow\' vehicles rushed out to meet it. They hooked onto the ship and began to haul it off the runway and to the docking bay that had been cleared for it.

~ * ~

Back on board the Zodiac the com crackled again.

\"Zodiac, this is the Carrier. We have landed safely.\"

\"Carrier, this is Zodiac. Great news. I hope you get your asses off the runway as we will be beginning our run home in forty-five minutes.\"

There was the sound of an indignant snort which Trowa assumed came from Wufei, then Quatre\'s voice came over the com.

\"Don\'t worry about our asses, Howard, they\'re safely grounded and the runway is clear for that bucket of bolts of yours.\"

\"Why you...\"

\"Got to Goo Good luck with your approach and landing. Will be waiting for you in the docking bay. Carrier out.\"

Before Howard had the chance to come back with a suitable comment the link had been cut. He turned to Trowa. \"I think your boyfriend has been spending too much time with Duo.\"

Trowa just smirked. \"Actually I think it\'s too much time with Benny and Toby.\"

Howard thought it best to admit defeat now before he dug himself a hole he couldn\'t possibly hope to get out of. \"I\'ll pilot her in, you going to ride shotgun?\"

\"Wouldn\'t miss it, Howard.\"

\"Good, then get your ass over here and prepare to bring this baby home.\"

~ * ~

Sally left Une in the control tower and headed for the docking bay. She had a certain husband to meet. As she arrived so the large craft finished its power down sequence and silence suddenly hit the air. The Preventer crew secured the craft while the hatch popped and Quatre\'s blonde head came into view. Spotting Sally down below he gave a cheery wave and then waited for the ground crew to slide the steps into place so as both he and Wufei could leave the ship.

Moments later both agents were on the ground and Wufei found himself with an armful of ecstatic woman. \"Wufei,! Oh, I\'m so glad you\'re back,\" said Sally as she wrapped her arms around the Chinese man and kissed him possessively.

Despite the wince as his bruised ribs were crushed, Wufei drew the woman close and kissed her back with as much passion as he could manage. It felt undeniably good to have her in his arms again. He\'d never admit to the weakness though.

Once their greeting was finished, Sally took a step back and ran her medical eye over the pair of them. Quatre, she decided, wasn\'t in any danger, the cut to his head appeared professionally bandaged so that could be checked out later. She turned her attention back to Wufei and gently ran her hands over his ribs, noting the slight wince when she hit a particularly tender spot. \"What about the cut to your leg?\" she asked.

\"It\'s fine. The medic on Zodiac treated it.\"

\"I\'d still like to take a look.\"

\"Not here you\'re not!\" Wufei looked affronted. Noticing that Quatre was watching him, a small smile on his face, Wufei turned to his wife. \"The cut is rather high up on my thigh and I refuse to have you probing around that area while we are out here. It can wait until later when we have the privacy of a room.\"

\"Sounds good to me, Wufei.\" Quatre winked at the Chinese man. Wufei turned bright red and began to splutter, Quatre simply laughed.

Sally grinned and turned back to her husband. \"Right, I\'ll tend to it later then but meanwhile I have a bone to pick with you,\" Sally\'s voice lowered. \"What the hell did you think you were doing out there? Getting yourself into all sorts of trouble, nearly being blown out of the universe! Have you no respect for my feelings? How do you think it feels to be me sitting back here knowing you could be getting blown up at any second....\"

Sally\'s voice continued on, berating Wufei for his lack of consideration. Quatre ignored the \'Save me\' look that Wufei gave him and with a smile and wave left the Chinese man to his wife\'s barrage. \"I\'m going to wait for the Zodiac,\" he said and turned to leave the building.

~ * ~

The Zodiac burst through the atmospheric layers and clouds, descending rapidly towards the planet surface, Howard piloting her in with a skill born of years behind the controls of space ships. From the docking bay, Quatre, Wufei and Sally, who had finally run out of words, watched and waited as the massive ship weaved through the air and approached the base. She was truly a beautiful craft to observe. Sleek and shining, although there were a few darker marks upon the hull, she slowly lowered until touching the runway and gliding to a halt.

From inside the tower Une watched the Zodiac approach and silently sent prayers that she had listened to Howard about the size of the ship. She certainly was a large craft. The Phoenix base would only just manage to house her and then she was going to take up at leasree ree of their largest docking bays. Hopefully the ship wasn\'t too damaged and wouldn\'t need to spend a large amount of time in the port, they did have Preventer craft to maintain after all, but Une had given her word and Howard would be free to use the resources for as long as he needed them.

The small \'tow\' vehicles were completely dwarfed by the Zodiac as they rushed out to assist the craft into the allocated bays. It took four of them to guide her in. Once she was docked the Preventer staff moved in to secure the area, Une arriving seconds later to supervise the operation.

\"Prisoners are to be brought off first and escorted to the transport vehicles,\" Une ordered.

Several vehicles that had been waiting outside the docking bays now came forward and lined up. The main hatch of the Zodiac opened with a loud hiss and Trowa stuck his head out. \"Howard will open the lower hatchway; the sweepers will meet you there and show you to where the prisoners are being held.\"

No sooner had he spoken than a lower door on the Zodiac began to open and a ramp extended out. Two sweepers came out onto the ramp to be met by Preventer agents and they quickly showed them to where the prisoners were being held. Things moved pretty rapidly then. The prisoners were all escorted from the Zodiac, down the ramp and into the waiting transport, armed Preventer Agents doing their job like a well oiled machine. Once the last of the detainees had cleared the ship so the injured were then brought out.

Sally came forward and began to assess each of the wounded, deciding the order in which they needed to be treated. She marveled at the expert way in which the sweeper medic had treated the casualties with the limited resources that were available in space. Only Bob Martins and Grant remained to be brought off the ship and while Sally was eager to see Martins, she couldn\'t say the same about Grant.

Une stepped forward to take a look at the man who had caused so much trouble with his need for revenge. He was still unconscious, the sweeper medic having taken no chances. Une\'s face curled into a snarl as she looked upon the trouble maker. His wrist had been strapped but the bone was going to need surgery to plate the fragments back and the Sweeper medic didn\'t have the equipment in the Zodiac medical bay to deal with such intricate surgery.

\"So this is the asshole that caused all the trouble,\" Une muttered \"Doesn\'t look too dangerous now.\"

Sally slowly turned her head to look at her commanding officer. \"I don\'t believe I heard that, Une.\"

Une just smirked. \"Take him to Preventer hospital and let the doctors know his status. They can take it from there. Once he\'s out of surgery I want an armed guard on him 24/7.\"

The medical staff nodded and wheeled the gurney with Grant on it to the waiting transport and loaded him in. Two armed agents accompanied the prisoner.

Once Grant had departed so Bob Martins was wheeled down the ramp and Sally immediately hurried over. The sweeper medic picked up the file with Bob\'s medical status in it and passed it over for Sally to read. She quickly thumbed through it, noting the treatment that had taken place and the drugs Bob was being given along with his current stats. She was satisfied with the results and motioned for the medics to move Bob to a transport tak take him through to Mercy General.

Once all the relevant personnel had left the Zodiac so Trowa and Howard appeared. Quatre made a beeline for his lover, carefully wrapping an arm around his waist and squeezing gently. Trowa gifted him a warm smile in return. \"Glad to see you could make it,\" Quatre murmured.

\"Well, I couldn\'t keep you waiting too long.\" Trowa leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his lover\'s lips.

\"Does anyone know how long until the other ship will be in orbit?\" Une looked around at the group.

\"No. She was only traveling on half power and we lost communication with her quite some time ago,\" replied Wufei.

\"I\'d guess she would be at least another six to eight hours away,\" Howard stated.

\"Right. In that case I\'ll have the tower keep a scan going and alert us immediately they pick up on her. Meanwhile, Sally, I want you to go to the Preventer hospital and make sure all injured prisoners are being taken care of before going on to Mercy and checking on Bob Martins\' status. He is a very important witness in this case so I want him to have the best of care. Also take one of the other Preventer agents with you and leave him stationed as a guard.\"

Sally nodded. \"On my way.\"

\"I want you,\" Une nodded at Quatre, Trowa and Wufei, \"...to go with Sally to Preventer hospital and be checked out properly. Once you\'re cleared from there report back to me.\"

\"Yes ma\'am,\" the three replied, albeit reluctantly. Sally snickered, Wufei glared at her.

\"Howard...\"

The older man looked at the Commander. \"Yes?\"

\"I\'d like you to come with me. I have a few questions I\'d like to ask you.\"

~ * ~

tbc......