--- Part 10 --- -

Asking Gillian to stay with Relena, Alex slowly exited the room and silently closed the door behind her. As soon as he saw the tired doctor, Milliardo rose to his feet, quickly followed by Noin. With a weary, grim expression, she nodded in greeting.

“How is Relena?” Milliardo demanded.

“She has stabilized and regained consciousness,” Alex stated. “However, her reaction to the treatment has left even more weakened. Since her fever is not responding to any of the other possible treatments, I’m afraid that there are few options left.”

Hilde covered her mouth with the hand, trying to hide her gasp. “Are you saying that Relena . . . that she is going to . . .”

However, she couldn’t bring herself to finish the question. Looking away, Alex slowly nodded. “I’m sorry, but there is really nothing left for us to do but to keep her as comfortable as possible.”

The silence was deafening, as everyone tried to digest the new situation. Finally, Milliardo spoke.

“How much longer can she last in her condition, Dr. Ling?”

Alex sighed before raising her eyes to him. “I would say a few days at most. It is amazing that she has managed to hang on this long. She is a quite determined young woman.”

With the barest hint of a smile, Milliardo nodded. “That she is.”

“If you want, you may see her now, but not too many at a time. If you need me, the nurses can find me.”

She was only a few steps down the hall before someone called her name.

“Does Relena know?” Noin asked quietly.

Alex nodded. “She does. I honestly wish that there was more that I could do for her.”

As Alex turned again and headed back down the hallway, she thought she heard Noin whisper, “So do I.”

* * * * *

Alex jerked her head up at the knock on her door. With a sigh, she set her cup back on her desk and walked to the door. Yet, she was mildly surprised to see her visitor.

“Come in,” Alex said, stepping back to allow her guest to enter.

“How are you doing, Alex?” Sally asked, taking one of the vacant chairs in front of the desk.

“I think that’s suppose to be my line,” she replied, resuming her seat behind her desk.

Wordlessly, she offered Sally some coffee, but the other physician just shook her head. She watched Alex as she downed a large portion of the hot, black coffee. Wincing as the liquid burned her throat, Alex collapsed further into her chair.

“It never gets easier, does it,” Sally murmured, “watching your patients die, despite all your efforts?”

Alex sat still long enough that Sally thought Alex hadn’t heard her. However, after a few lengthy moments, Alex sat her mug down. Finally, she turned her weary eyes to Sally.

“The day it becomes easy is the day I quit,” Alex stated. “How did you ever make it through the war, Sally? As a healer taking a life, I mean.”

Sally leaned back into her chair. “For a long time, it did bother me,” she admitted. “However, I made a choice. I realized that I had to follow my principles. Yet, I tried to stay true to my medical calling by helping all those I could.”

Alex shook her head. “I’m sorry, Sally, it wasn’t my place to ask.”

“If that were so, Alex, I wouldn’t have answered,” Sally replied with a smile.

“How are they coping?”

“Well, I think, though everyone is reacting in their own way.”

“What about Heero?” Alex asked.

“I don’t know,” Sally answered honestly. “With Heero, you never really know.”

* * * * *

“There you are,” Duo announced, leaning against the doorway. “Man, I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

Heero didn’t even look up from his computer, his hands never stilling in their typing.

“Why?”

“Why?!” Duo sighed and looked skyward, as if he was praying for patience. With slumped shoulders, he approached Heero. “Dr. Ling finally came out. It’s not good news, buddy.”

Duo waited for some response, but the other pilot refused to give him one.

“Fine, I’ll just tell you,” Duo said, anger now seeping into his voice. “Dr. Ling can’t do anything else for Relena. Did you hear that, Heero? Relena’s dying, and we both know that any chance of a lasting peace dies with her.”

Duo again waited for some reaction, some kind of response. However, Heero continued to work on his computer. He didn’t give any indication that he was affected by Duo’s announcement. Without warning, Duo grabbed the computer and slammed it closed.

“Relena’s dying,” Duo stated, locking eyes with the Perfect Soldier. “Do you hear me now? Dr. Ling can’t do anything else for her, so we all have to sit around now and watch her die. Relena’s dying, Heero.”

Heero’s face still betrayed no emotion. “I heard you the first time, Duo. Now, give me my computer. I have work to do.”

While still glaring at Heero, Duo threw the computer against the wall, enjoying the crunch the machine made. Heero rose to his feet, anger now becoming evident in his features. However, Duo just shoved him back into his chair and hovered over him once more.

“Well, the next time you see Dr. J, Heero,” Duo growled, “you can tell him what a good job he did. You care more about that damned computer than you do her! Okay, you don’t return the feelings Relena has for you. That doesn’t mean that you have to be such an asshole to her.”

Duo suddenly stopped in the middle of his tirade and sighed. He stood up and looked down at Heero. “I don’t know why I’m even wasting my breath.”

The braided pilot turned and left the room without a single glance back. Heero rose from his chair and crossed the room to the window. He didn’t bother with the computer. He had finished analyzing the data just after Duo had found him.

“I’ve failed.”


Part X Asking Gillian to stay with Relena, Alex slowly exited the room and silently closed the door behind her. As soon as he saw the tired doctor, Milliardo rose to his feet, quickly followed by Noin. With a weary, grim expression, she nodded in greeting. “How is Relena?” Milliardo demanded. “She has stabilized and regained consciousness,” Alex stated. “However, her reaction to the treatment has left even more weakened. Since her fever is not responding to any of the other possible treatments, I’m afraid that there are few options left.” Hilde covered her mouth with the hand, trying to hide her gasp. “Are you saying that Relena . . . that she is going to . . .” However, she couldn’t bring herself to finish the question. Looking away, Alex slowly nodded. “I’m sorry, but there is really nothing left for us to do but to keep her as comfortable as possible.” The silence was deafening, as everyone tried to digest the new situation. Finally, Milliardo spoke. “How much longer can she last in her condition, Dr. Ling?” Alex sighed before raising her eyes to him. “I would say a few days at most. It is amazing that she has managed to hang on this long. She is a quite determined young woman.” With the barest hint of a smile, Milliardo nodded. “That she is.” “If you want, you may see her now, but not too many at a time. If you need me, the nurses can find me.” She was only a few steps down the hall before someone called her name. “Does Relena know?” Noin asked quietly. Alex nodded. “She does. I honestly wish that there was more that I could do for her.” As Alex turned again and headed back down the hallway, she thought she heard Noin whisper, “So do I.” * * * * * Alex jerked her head up at the knock on her door. With a sigh, she set her cup back on her desk and walked to the door. Yet, she was mildly surprised to see her visitor. “Come in,” Alex said, stepping back to allow her guest to enter. “How are you doing, Alex?” Sally asked, taking one of the vacant chairs in front of the desk. “I think that’s suppose to be my line,” she replied, resuming her seat behind her desk. Wordlessly, she offered Sally some coffee, but the other physician just shook her head. She watched Alex as she downed a large portion of the hot, black coffee. Wincing as the liquid burned her throat, Alex collapsed further into her chair. “It never gets easier, does it,” Sally murmured, “watching your patients die, despite all your efforts?” Alex sat still long enough that Sally thought Alex hadn’t heard her. However, after a few lengthy moments, Alex sat her mug down. Finally, she turned her weary eyes to Sally. “The day it becomes easy is the day I quit,” Alex stated. “How did you ever make it through the war, Sally? As a healer taking a life, I mean.” Sally leaned back into her chair. “For a long time, it did bother me,” she admitted. “However, I made a choice. I realized that I had to follow my principles. Yet, I tried to stay true to my medical calling by helping all those I could.” Alex shook her head. “I’m sorry, Sally, it wasn’t my place to ask.” “If that were so, Alex, I wouldn’t have answered,” Sally replied with a smile. “How are they coping?” “Well, I think, though everyone is reacting in their own way.” “What about Heero?” Alex asked. “I don’t know,” Sally answered honestly. “With Heero, you never really know.” * * * * * “There you are,” Duo announced, leaning against the doorway. “Man, I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” Heero didn’t even look up from his computer, his hands never stilling in their typing. “Why?” “Why?!” Duo sighed and looked skyward, as if he was praying for patience. With slumped shoulders, he approached Heero. “Dr. Ling finally came out. It’s not good news, buddy.” Duo waited for some response, but the other pilot refused to give him one. “Fine, I’ll just tell you,” Duo said, anger now seeping into his voice. “Dr. Ling can’t do anything else for Relena. Did you hear that, Heero? Relena’s dying, and we both know that any chance of a lasting peace dies with her.” Duo again waited for some reaction, some kind of response. However, Heero continued to work on his computer. He didn’t give any indication that he was affected by Duo’s announcement. Without warning, Duo grabbed the computer and slammed it closed. “Relena’s dying,” Duo stated, locking eyes with the Perfect Soldier. “Do you hear me now? Dr. Ling can’t do anything else for her, so we all have to sit around now and watch her die. Relena’s dying, Heero.” Heero’s face still betrayed no emotion. “I heard you the first time, Duo. Now, give me my computer. I have work to do.” While still glaring at Heero, Duo threw the computer against the wall, enjoying the crunch the machine made. Heero rose to his feet, anger now becoming evident in his features. However, Duo just shoved him back into his chair and hovered over him once more. “Well, the next time you see Dr. J, Heero,” Duo growled, “you can tell him what a good job he did. You care more about that damned computer than you do her! Okay, you don’t return the feelings Relena has for you. That doesn’t mean that you have to be such an asshole to her.” Duo suddenly stopped in the middle of his tirade and sighed. He stood up and looked down at Heero. “I don’t know why I’m even wasting my breath.” The braided pilot turned and left the room without a single glance back. Heero rose from his chair and crossed the room to the window. He didn’t bother with the computer. He had finished analyzing the data just after Duo had found him. “I’ve failed.”


Part XI You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye