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The First To Fall
*~Chapter 1~*
"Okay, okay, I’ll send someone over there right away," Lady Une barked down the phone. Slamming down the receiver, she turned her hazel eyes upon the the newlyweds who were standing in her office a few feet away.
"What’s wrong?" Lucrezia Noin-Peacecraft inquired, her heart sinking at the prospect of another oppression after many months of harmonious existence.
The other woman ran a hand through her chestnut mane, an action that usually accompanied her apprehension. "I’m not sure exactly what happened..."
Zechs raised an eyebrow.
"... but what I have just been told is that Preventer Chang is in serious trouble," Lady Une struggled on, "...he’s had some kind of accident...he’s...unconscious right now."
" A coma?" Noin said slowly, the words registering.
" Not...exactly...," Une replied, though in no way convincing.
"I know what that means! I’m not stupid," Noin retorted. Zechs, who was renowned for keeping his composure in the face of dilemmas, placed a hand over his wife’s shoulders and squeezed them firmly.
"That’s dire. Was it Sally Po who called you?" he asked in a low, gruff voice.
"No, some person from the island hospital," Une answered, resisting the urge to glare at Noin. "Sally is...the guy didn’t say where. She’s probably around, I would guess."
There was a tense silence for a moment, then Noin spoke up; "You want Zechs and I to go out to them?"
Une nodded. "Ideally, I would have sent the former Gundam pilots seeing as they are the closest connection to Wufei. Only not one of them is present at this time, I shall have to contact them and cut short their Preventer assignments. I feel they would be concerned for their comrade."
"Yes," Zechs agreed. "This may take considerable time though, abandoning a mission isn’t an overnight task. Of course Lucrezia and I will fly out and assess the situation before the four of them arrive."
"But I just can’t understand what could have gone wrong," Noin wondered aloud. "Sally and Wufei were only there patrolling the areas which we Preventers have agreed to survey once in a while. It wasn’t even a proper mission."
Une had to agree. "Yes, but accidents can happen anywhere."
Zechs glanced over at the computer which displayed the area where each of the Preventer agents were located at that point. Reaching for the mouse, he clicked onto the place on the map which high-lighted where to two Preventers in question were posted.
"Quite a remote place, really - on the Mediterranean," he stated the obvious. "And it’s strange how neither of them contacted at the first sign of the enemy. Wufei is slightly young and inexperienced as a Preventer but I expect you will agree that Sally would have had more sense than to keep quiet..."
Noin nodded, then her eyes met his, now a flawless shade of ice blue. " What are you saying, Zechs?"
"What I’m saying is, I don’t think an enemy party was involved."
Lady Une shifted her weight onto each foot. " Well like I said, accidents can happen anywhere," she replied. Noin frowned at her husband. His face appeared to be set in stone.
Zechs shook his head; "No, Une, that’s not what I meant either."
"What did you mean, Preventer Wind?" Lady Une inquired, her expression reflecting that of Noin.
Zechs was silent. "I shouldn’t have spoken. Come, we must go out to them at once."
**************
Striding along the white-walled corridors, Zechs and Noin sought out the room in which Wufei was. Their footwear made a harsh clatter on the hard, shining floor. They had gained quick easy access to the island - as they belonged to the Preventer organisation, they had avoided civilian procedures. Neither had taken any time to admire the beautiful surrounds the island placed them in. The sun at noon left them hot and lethargic, and the glittering expanse of seawater hadn't an ounce of appeal at this present moment.
"This place isn’t very big," Zechs observed. "Quite simplistic, really. The receptionist told us the intensive care unit was on the third floor, corridor two, huh?"
Noin didn’t answer. She felt so numb, half out of pity for the poor boy who despite their misgivings, was still a part of her daily life. The other half of her anxiety was for Sally, whose current state had not been mentioned. She gripped Zechs’ hand, feeling rather like a young child needing guidance.
"This is corridor two," Zechs continued, his face remaining impassive, his eyes showing no apparent concern. But Noin was aware of his masks.
There they found her, Sally Po, staring at the inanimate figure of her young partner through the thin window of glass. The machinery inside the room beeped every so often, and Noin noticed the woman cringe each time it did so.
"Sally," she called softly, pacing over, her fingers uncurling themselves from Zechs’.
Sally removed her palms from where they were pressed against the cold glass. Noin noted the prints they made. Sally’s hands were larger than hers.
"Are you all right, what’s going on?" the dark-haired woman inquired anxiously.
Zechs sighed. Sally didn’t look in any fit state to give an explanation; her hair was hanging limply by her shoulders, becoming untwisted in places, and the damp redness around her eyes and the areas of smeared make-up clarified that she had been crying. Her skin was pale, unusual in such a climate, displaying dark circles, her shirt buttoned up all wrong.
"You haven’t slept much, have you?" he asked grimly.
Sally shook her head. It didn’t appear that she’d even left the hospital, as perched on the chair nearby, was a pillow which some nurse had obviously given to her to make the night more comfortable. Noin and Zechs stood a little awkwardly for a few moment. Noin was unsure in what way to comfort her companion. At this present moment, perhaps she would just rather be alone.
Lucrezia moved to the window and glanced at the bed in which Wufei lay. He looked so small and vulnerable, despite being physically strong. The boy’s raven hair was loose and wires sprouted from him at every angle. He looked dead. And looking into the dull blue of her eyes, so did Sally.
A tanned doctor of mid-height emerged in the corridor at that moment and was quickly collared by Zechs.
"You’re asking about Mr Chang, sir?" he said, the words carrying a strong accent. Zechs nodded. It was impossible not to feel slightly intimidated by someone carrying themselves the way the tall, flaxen-haired man did. The doctor didn’t even attempt to brush him off.
"He’s currently unconscious and there is no way of telling for how long this will last," the middle-aged doctor replied. "He has a broken shoulder, a sprained wrist and severe concussion. We have calculated he must have struck his head in the fall -"
"The fall you speak of. How did it happen?" Zechs growled. "That is what I’m asking. We are all quite aware of this boy’s situation."
"We were called out from a remote road by this woman here," he answered hastily, gesturing to Sally who turned away. "The youth was injured and was not conscious..."
"But WHAT happened?" Zechs repeated, his tone becoming more agitated by the second. "Was there any sign of an attack?"
"No, not a soul in the area but the boy and his partner. Just them and a jeep. He... was... run over."
Noin’s eyes widened swivelled to Sally. The young tawny-haired woman hung her head, struggling to frame her words. Her whole body was shaking and it was obvious she was holding back tears.
"Sally...no. Sally...no you didn’t -"
The doctor, at this point, turned on his heel and strode away, not wishing to deal with the situation further. Zechs and Noin turned the attention to Preventer Water.
"Yes...I...I did it!" Sally shrieked. "I knocked him down! It’s...it’s all my fault." After uttering these words, she tore away in the opposite direction of the doctor. Her boots made a dramatic clamour in the otherwise empty hallway.
Zechs inhaled deeply, taking hold of Noin’s arm to prevent her from pursuing her friend. He gently manoeuvred her round, until they were both peering at Wufei’s motionless form.
"Zechs....Sally couldn’t have done it , there must be some mistake...an accident," Lucrezia declared, sounding increasingly distressed. "She cared about that boy, she did! I know it. And I know her!"
Zechs sighed. "No matter how well you think you know a person, you can never truly know what’s in their heart."
"What makes you say that, Zechs?"
He didn’t answer her. He simply stared ahead, frowning slightly as if brooding over some new thought that had entered his mind.
Noin shook her head exhaustedly and took his arm. "Come with me, I need a drink."
**************
The hotel room was silent. Dark. Private. Noin and Zechs were next door and Sally was completely alone. She sank down upon the generously sized bed, wishing she could sleep, blot out everything that had happened. She hadn’t slept for more than an hour she calculated, since it happened. She’d been keeping vigil at Wufei’s bedside, praying for him. She had wanted so badly for him to wake but at the same time, hated him. Hated him for what he made her feel.
Noin had wanted her to rest here, still unbelieving of what Sally had revealed to the two of them. Still coddling her and telling her everything would be all right. But Sally knew the cold, hard truth.
She moved towards the basin and glared at herself in the mirror. The moonlight showed her the reflection - a drawn, haggard woman with blood-shot eyes and pallid skin. The cold water did not rinse away this image. The woman in the mirror started to undress herself, crying behind her eyes whilst she did so, pulling on her loaned night dress and bathrobe. She kicked her dirty clothes somewhere across the dark floor. She couldn’t see where.
Sinking down again onto the vanity table, Sally buried her head in her arms and found with alarm that she could no longer produce tears. Her eyes were so sore, and she lacked the strength to relay yesterday’s events to herself just one more time.
How should she release her anxiety if she could not even weep? Glancing up, she saw the item of her deliverance just inches away resting on the basin. The thought caused her heart to flood with guilt. As a former doctor, she knew people should not do such a thing to themselves. But ignoring the logical, collected Sally in her head, she snatched at the plastic razor and swept it purposely across her left wrist.
Dumping the blade in the sink, Sally flicked on a small light and watched the blood trickle from the wound and fall steadily onto the carpet, a few droplets staining her bare toes.
"Sal? You asleep?"
It was Noin. The door creaked open and Sally Po found herself exposed in all her misery to her companion.
"You...what are you doing?" Lucrezia demanded, striding towards her.
"Nothing," Sally mumbled.
Noin grasped her wrist. "Cutting yourself. I don’t call that nothing," she exclaimed.
Sally wrenched her arm away. "I needed to release some tension," she explained casually, as if this was completely normal. Something a doctor would approve of.
"Sally, self-harm is not the way," Noin persisted, taking a small bandage from the cabinet and following her friend to the bed.
"You know that. You’re sensible."
"I’ll do it," Sally demanded, taking the bandage and wrapping it one around her wrist. Then, she climbed into the middle of the bed and lay down, not facing Noin. It was her cue to go. But Lucrezia showed no signs of leaving.
"Aren’t you going back to Zechs? I’m fine, I don’t need watching over, you know," Sally said into the darkness.
"Whilst you’re in such a mess, I think you do," Noin answered firmly. "Now move over. I’m sleeping here tonight."
"People might get the wrong idea..."
"Quite frankly, I don’t care."
Sally reluctantly shifted over a little to make room for her friend. Noin placed her head on the pillow and tugged the quilt under chin. "Try to sleep, Sal, it’ll do you good. Wufei...he’ll....he’s in good hands."
The other woman just glared into the face of her companion, her eyes glistening.
"Oh Noin," she whispered faintly, her voice cracking. "This...is all my fault... I did it."
"It isn’t your fault Sally, I promise," Noin replied stroking her friend’s wet cheek.
"How do you know? Were you there?" Sally replied, pushing Noin’s hand away. "Don’t touch me."
"I’m sorry," whispered Noin. "Please, Sal, tell me the truth about what happened out there. Then I can understand you."
Sally was murmuring into the pillow; "I can’t, I’m not sure myself...I don’t understand him...."
"What are you talking about...about Wufei?"
"There’s just too many barriers, too many," Sally sighed as if uttering these words to herself more than anyone. " He’s blinded by his youth...."
"I’m not following you," Noin replied softly, reaching to remove a strand of hair from Sally’s eyes. "What do you mean? Please don’t cry...just talk to me."
Sally groaned inwardly, aware of how pitifully feeble she appeared. Right now she didn’t feel the strength to be her steadfast self. She just had to cry, to blurt things out to feel better.
"We...were in the jeep...just driving though some country... to...to get some food from a nearby town," the blonde woman spoke up, choking on her words. "I was just talking to him...we were just talking as usual....everything was ordinary...then...then...
Noin willed herself to be silent and just to listen.
"And then...something happened to the vehicle...it stalled and wouldn’t restart. I was trying so hard to make it start...nothing worked...."
Sally bit her lip, the recollection painful for her. What came next was difficult to share in all it’s extent with a friend.
"We...we were like that for a good half an hour, just stranded in the middle of nowhere. I ....I can’t tell you this....."
"You can," Noin pressed. " You need to tell me."
Sally closed her eyes tightly, forcing herself to continue. But the feeling of him beside her, that prickling heat, only hindered her speech - his eyes probing into the depths of her soul. Wanting things from her, wanting answers, snatching at the emotions she held only to herself.
"Then he just....well, both of us really...." Sally’s voice faltered and she pressed her nose into the soft pillow, now only inches from her friend’s dark hair.
"What did he do? What did you do?" Noin whispered. "To get you like this?"
"Nothing...I mean....nothing...we didn’t do anything...not what you’re probably thinking."
"I don’t know what I’m thinking, Sally."
"He just...we just....argued, that’s all. Argued. That’s it. Then I asked him to get out and minutes later, I reversed the jeep into him. End of story."
"I don’t believe you, Sally," Noin insisted.
"I can’t care right now, I just want to sleep," the other woman whispered hoarsely. "Forget it. I can take care of myself, you know. I can handle a...kid."
Noin sighed, knowing she should not pursue the subject any further. "Okay, if you want we’ll visit Wufei tomorrow..."
Sally didn’t answer. She simply turned over, giving the appearance of being asleep. Noin wasn’t satisfied that she was okay at all, and could not risk Sally slipping out of bed to torture herself again. She eyed with resentment the glow of the white bandage poking out from under the covers.
"You...you won’t get out of bed and use that razor will you?" she murmured. "Sally? Do you hear me?"
Sally smeared a few tears from her cheeks, hoping Noin didn’t judge her on how pathetic she was being. Or so she thought. She hated sympathy in any form. Sally wanted to be strong and collected, not some whimpering wreck.
"Hn," she mumbled. "Don’t fuss over me, Noin. I can do whatever I feel is best. You can’t stop me."
"I can." Noin clamped her hand around Sally’s wrist, though not enough pressure to hurt her.
"Look, I’m not going to ask you for any details but I know there is something that has happened between you and Wufei and all that I ask is that you stop being so harsh on yourself."
Sally nodded, knowing Noin meant well but could never understand how she was really feeling. The guilt, that twisted sickness she felt in the pit of her stomach. Nevertheless, here was a friend who was willing to stick with her despite her ignorance of the situation, and that meant a lot.
"Thank you, Noin."
"For what?"
"For being a friend."
The Italian woman smiled into the darkness. "Hey, we don’t have family, if we don’t have a friend who have we got?"
"You’ve got a husband."
"Yeah, but Zechs, he’s one on his own, you know. He loves me, but he can be so confusing at times. Sometimes, it’s good just to have a girl friend to look out for you. Men often are so difficult to understand. Especially Zechs."
Sally didn’t want think about what men were really like. It made her feel so hollow when Noin talked about Zechs. Because the person she cared for, she was sure of, she could never have, and the prospect was slipping from her grasp by the day.
"Noin, how do you tell if you love someone?" Sally whispered.
But her companion didn’t answer. Under some notion that Sally was now her stable self, she had drifted off to sleep, cuddled up to her warmth and it struck Sally just how everyone seemed to view her as a kind of mother figure, and how when her profound strength crumbled, no-one seemed to truly believe it.
TBC