--- Part 8 ---

With a grimace, Relena collapsed against her pillow. She felt so helpless as Noin and Hilde pulled her legs onto the bed and covered her up to her chin with a blanket. However, she just didn’t have the strength to perform the tasks on her own.

Noin stroked her hair. “How are you feeling?”

“Probably as bad as I look,” Relena replied with a faint smile. “How’s Miliardo?”

“He’s trying to cope,” Noin replied. “He still blames himself for your capture.”

Relena shook her head. “He can’t protect me from life, Noin.”

“He’ll keep trying.”

Hilde stepped closer to the bed. “If you like, I’ll send him in here and get Dr. Ling.”

“Thank you, Hilde,” Relena stated, watching the other girl as she left the room.

She waited for the door to close before she turned to Noin again. “Lucrezia, please make me a promise. Please promise me that you’ll keep taking care of my brother, especially if something happens to me.”

“Relena,” Noin whispered, her voice breaking. She took a deep breath to steady herself. “You need to focus on getting well, Relena. You need to think about yourself now.”

Relena’s reply was prevented by Miliardo’s entrance. He nodded at Noin as he stood on the other side of the bed. With a stoic face, he took one of Relena’s hands in his.

“How do you feel?” he asked quietly.

“I’m fine, brother,” she said gently. “Hilde went to get Dr. Ling. I think we should try the new treatment as soon as possible.”

He nodded, glancing briefly down at the delicate hand he held. As he looked back up at his sister’s eyes, he saw a spirit far stronger than its body. Breathing a silent prayer, he hoped that the treatment would work.

* * * * *

“So, how’s my girl?” Duo asked quietly, draping an arm across Hilde’s shoulders.

“Tired,” she replied with a faint smile. “I need to go get Dr. Ling so she can begin the treatment.”

“I’ll walk with you, babe,” he told her, leaving Trowa to guard Relena’s door.

They walked silently down the hallways of the hospital, Duo’s arm still draped supportively around Hilde’s shoulders. It had been draining for her to see Relena so weak when she had helped Noin get the politician ready for her address. She silently wondered if Relena had enough strength left to benefit from Dr. Ling’s new treatment.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

She smiled. “You wouldn’t get your money’s worth, Duo. How about the scrap yard? Do you think that one of us should be heading back?”

“Nah, the scrap yard can wait, Hilde,” he replied. “We both need to be here for Relena. That’s way more important than business.”

“I’m glad you said that, Duo. I feel the same way.”

They find Dr. Ling in her office, working on an impressive stack of charts. However, she saw Duo and Hilde, she waved them in. As they entered, she gestured for them to sit down.

“No, thanks,” Hilde said, “I’m just came to tell you that Relena is ready to try the treatment if you are ready to do so, Dr. Ling.”

“Thanks for letting me know,” Alex replied, rising from her chair. “You know I honestly expected Relena’s address to last longer.”

“Well, for a politician, Relena tends to keep the speeches pretty short and to the point,” Duo stated with a grin.

Alex matched the grin. “If you two will tell them I am on my way, I’ll gather the necessary supplies for the treatment.”

“We will,” Hilde answered with a nod. “Honestly, Dr. Ling, I hope this works.”

After Duo and Hilde shut the door behind them, Alex sighed, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I hope so, too.”

* * * * *

Alex smiled slightly at Trowa as she entered Relena’s room. “How are you feeling? Are you up for this?”

Relena smiled. “I think so.”

“Okay, let’s get started,” Alex said, standing next to the bed. “The treatment is actually a combination of three different medications. The unique mix of the medications should help your body fight off the fever as well as the infection. However, I must again warn you that I’m not sure how specifically your body will react to the individual medications or the combination itself. Also, there is the possibility that it will not work at all.”

Relena nodded. “I understand the risks involved, Dr. Ling. However, I think that we all agree that this is the best course of action at the moment we have.”

“If you have no objections, I will administer the treatment.”

Again, Relena nodded, looking from Dr. Ling to her brother and then back to the doctor. Her ocean-colored eyes gleaming with purpose and determination. “I’m ready.”


Part VIII With a grimace, Relena collapsed against her pillow. She felt so helpless as Noin and Hilde pulled her legs onto the bed and covered her up to her chin with a blanket. However, she just didn’t have the strength to perform the tasks on her own. Noin stroked her hair. “How are you feeling?” “Probably as bad as I look,” Relena replied with a faint smile. “How’s Miliardo?” “He’s trying to cope,” Noin replied. “He still blames himself for your capture.” Relena shook her head. “He can’t protect me from life, Noin.” “He’ll keep trying.” Hilde stepped closer to the bed. “If you like, I’ll send him in here and get Dr. Ling.” “Thank you, Hilde,” Relena stated, watching the other girl as she left the room. She waited for the door to close before she turned to Noin again. “Lucrezia, please make me a promise. Please promise me that you’ll keep taking care of my brother, especially if something happens to me.” “Relena,” Noin whispered, her voice breaking. She took a deep breath to steady herself. “You need to focus on getting well, Relena. You need to think about yourself now.” Relena’s reply was prevented by Miliardo’s entrance. He nodded at Noin as he stood on the other side of the bed. With a stoic face, he took one of Relena’s hands in his. “How do you feel?” he asked quietly. “I’m fine, brother,” she said gently. “Hilde went to get Dr. Ling. I think we should try the new treatment as soon as possible.” He nodded, glancing briefly down at the delicate hand he held. As he looked back up at his sister’s eyes, he saw a spirit far stronger than its body. Breathing a silent prayer, he hoped that the treatment would work. * * * * * “So, how’s my girl?” Duo asked quietly, draping an arm across Hilde’s shoulders. “Tired,” she replied with a faint smile. “I need to go get Dr. Ling so she can begin the treatment.” “I’ll walk with you, babe,” he told her, leaving Trowa to guard Relena’s door. They walked silently down the hallways of the hospital, Duo’s arm still draped supportively around Hilde’s shoulders. It had been draining for her to see Relena so weak when she had helped Noin get the politician ready for her address. She silently wondered if Relena had enough strength left to benefit from Dr. Ling’s new treatment. “Penny for your thoughts?” She smiled. “You wouldn’t get your money’s worth, Duo. How about the scrap yard? Do you think that one of us should be heading back?” “Nah, the scrap yard can wait, Hilde,” he replied. “We both need to be here for Relena. That’s way more important than business.” “I’m glad you said that, Duo. I feel the same way.” They find Dr. Ling in her office, working on an impressive stack of charts. However, she saw Duo and Hilde, she waved them in. As they entered, she gestured for them to sit down. “No, thanks,” Hilde said, “I’m just came to tell you that Relena is ready to try the treatment if you are ready to do so, Dr. Ling.” “Thanks for letting me know,” Alex replied, rising from her chair. “You know I honestly expected Relena’s address to last longer.” “Well, for a politician, Relena tends to keep the speeches pretty short and to the point,” Duo stated with a grin. Alex matched the grin. “If you two will tell them I am on my way, I’ll gather the necessary supplies for the treatment.” “We will,” Hilde answered with a nod. “Honestly, Dr. Ling, I hope this works.” After Duo and Hilde shut the door behind them, Alex sighed, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I hope so, too.” * * * * * Alex smiled slightly at Trowa as she entered Relena’s room. “How are you feeling? Are you up for this?” Relena smiled. “I think so.” “Okay, let’s get started,” Alex said, standing next to the bed. “The treatment is actually a combination of three different medications. The unique mix of the medications should help your body fight off the fever as well as the infection. However, I must again warn you that I’m not sure how specifically your body will react to the individual medications or the combination itself. Also, there is the possibility that it will not work at all.” Relena nodded. “I understand the risks involved, Dr. Ling. However, I think that we all agree that this is the best course of action at the moment we have.” “If you have no objections, I will administer the treatment.” Again, Relena nodded, looking from Dr. Ling to her brother and then back to the doctor. Her ocean-colored eyes gleaming with purpose and determination. “I’m ready.”


Part IX You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye