A Hero's Journey -- Part 42-
Part XLII

“Hey, Major, when did you get in?” Duo grinned as he walked toward the doctor. “Are you the reason Wufei’s in such a good mood this morning?” he asked in a mock whisper.

“Maxwell, quit being an idiot,” Wufei growled, barely glancing up from his mug.

Quatre tried to hide a grin as he passed the coffee toward Sally. The room became quieter as talk was limited to “Pass the . . .” and similar lines. Everyone was in the room except for one.

‘He’s the last one I would have pegged as a late riser,’ Sally mused as she accepted a muffin from Noin. ‘But the boys are always full of surprises.’

‘No, not boys anymore,’ she thought as she watched her partner throw another insult at Duo. ‘And that, Sally-girl, means you’re getting old.’

She wondered what Wufei would say if he knew that she was considering retirement. Maybe not a complete retirement from the Preventers, but at least a retirement from active field work. ‘Let someone else break in the rookies on their vacation time.’

“Hey, Heero, it’s about time you got up,” Duo crowed. “Now the gang’s all here.”

The Japanese man surveyed the room. “What is this?”

Duo sighed. “It’s called breakfast, my friend. It’s supposed to be the most important meal of the day. But Sally would know more about that, would you?”

“Enough!” Heero said, whirling on Duo. “We’re supposed to find Relena and shutting down this new faction. Not holding some kind of reunion!”

“Was that a joke?” Duo backed up as Heero reached for his gun. “Hey, man, I want to find Relena as much as you and stop these new bastards. Besides, Wufei’s enough of a hard ass for everyone anyway.”

“Maxwell!”

The room erupted into chaos. Quatre and Noin grabbed Heero, trying to prevent him from getting to Duo. Sally physically placed herself between her partner and the mechanic, holding on to Wufei by his shoulders.

“Guys, this isn’t helping!” Quatre cried as the room finally settled down again. “We have to focus on the mission.”

“The mission,” Heero muttered. He shrugged himself free. “I’m beginning to believe this is a mission we can’t complete.”

“You let yourself believe that, Heero,” Quatre said, “and you will be right.”

“Looks like I came at a bad time.”

Everyone turned in surprise and watched as Trowa Barton closed the door behind him.