Betaed by Skippyscatt

Duo grinned at Relena. "I think Wuffers can handle himself. But if he can't, Tall, Blond and Icy can."

Relena gave Duo a sharp look. "Zechs would never dream. . ."

Heero sighed. "Relena, they're in love, he'd dare quite a bit more than facing off against the elders."

Relena thought for a moment. "I do believe you're right. I just hope they can work something out. Zechs has . . . interesting tastes."

Duo nearly spit out the sip of something green he'd taken. "Excuse me! I mean. . . you're not supposed to know about things like that."

Relena snorted. "I had to learn a great many things that a girl my age shouldn't. When it has to do with my brother, I'll know about it. I don't want things getting out of hand."

Heero could see by Duo's face that he was censoring himself into a panic.

"Very wise. But don't worry. Duo and I have our eyes on both of them. I don't think there's going to be trouble of any kind."

Duo wisely kept his mouth shut until they got away from Relena.

"Heero, how the hell . . . who . . . I mean . . . I'm gonna kill someone. Really."

Heero sighed. "I'm sure she was very discreet. Catalonia would do the research then tell her whatever she needed to know. I don't think she knows the dirty details. Just the generalities . . . I hope. Good lord!"

Duo rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah."

After recovering from that shock they decided to circulate and be ‘socially available'

Heero realized that the green drink that Duo was drinking was called a Shirley Temple. Some sort of reference to nonalcoholic beverages and a child movie star. He decided to ask Duo about it later.

"Um. . . do they have any other flavor? I don't like lime."

Duo smiled. "It's not lime, it's kiwi. But they have cherry and orange. Made with real juice."

Heero signaled one of the servers who came over with a tray of drinks. "Drink, sir?"

Heero nodded. "Cherry Shirley Temple, please."

The man handed Heero a glass off the tray. "There you are. . . um . . . " Heero just looked at the man. "Thanks for not making me refuse to serve you."

Heero shrugged. "I don't like alcohol and crowds. I'm too high strung to . . . loosen my inhibitions."

The server shuddered slightly, Duo snickered. "I think Wufei got a glass of wine."

Heero looked at him for a second. "You want some?"

Duo shook his head. "Not really. I just think it's stupid. We're old enough to get our asses shot off but not old enough to get drunk off our asses."

Heero laughed. "Well that's one way of looking at it."

They stood and watched the dancing for a while and finally Heero asked Duo to dance with him.

Duo grinned. "Oh, yeah. The Perfect Soldier dancing. Give me a break."

Heero just grinned at Duo. "I was taught. J made sure I knew everything I needed to, to go under cover at those boarding schools he was so fond of hiding me in. So I learned to dance, ride a horse, fence and . . . um . . . other things."

Duo snickered. "Like?"

"None of your business, Mr. Nosy Pants."

Duo resolved himself to find out sometime, but not tonight. He didn't want to spoil the mood by nagging at Heero.

"I've just marked myself, haven't I?"

Duo lay his head on Heero's shoulder and hummed in his ear. Heero smiled and they waltzed. No one much paid any attention. Homophobia had been conquered decades ago, except on a few colonies. Mostly in the L4 cluster.

Heero breathed in the special scent that was Duo Maxwell. He smelled like coconut and Sandalwood and thyme. And Duo.

Duo grumbled. "Oh, hell. What now."

The music had stopped and there was a small scuffle near one side of the ball room. Heero held Duo back. "Let ‘Fei handle it himself. We're here if he needs us, but Zechs is positively hovering."

Duo nodded and turned instead to the musicians and signaled that they should resume playing. They did and most of the attention turned back to the music and dancing again.

Heero led Duo through several more dances, then they headed for the refreshments. All that dancing had made them both thirsty.

Duo took the glass Heero offered and they wandered around the edge of the room people watching. Duo noticed that Heero kept between him and the room, he had to smile at that.

"‘Ro, you know I'm just as deadly as you are, don't you?"

"Yeah, but . . . I just . . . " Heero sighed. "I can't help it. So just go with the flow, ok."

Duo squeezed Heero's hand. "Sure, love. I just didn't want you thinking you got some other Duo Maxwell by the hand. Ya know?"

Heero grinned. "Idiot."

Duo lifted his drink in a cocky salute and sipped at it.

They made a complete circuit of the room and wound up back near Relena.

Relena was watching the dancers with a sour expression on her face. Duo couldn't believe that she wasn't enjoying her own party.

"Hey, Princess. Why the long face?"

Relena gave one of her disdainful little sniffs. "I'm tired of dancing with stinky old men who only want to dance with me to try to further their political ambitions. If I hear one more word about the WEI colony, I think I'll scream."

Duo blinked. "The . . . excuse me?"

"Quatre has . . . er . . . well. He's building a new colony, you knew that. Right?"

Duo and Heero both nodded. That was why their two comrades weren't at this ball. They were at the colony.

"Well, a few older men seem to think that he needs some sort of permits or permission or something. He doesn't. All he needs is the money to build the thing. But they're all agitating for some sort of sanctions. I'm sick of it all. Couldn't I just dance one dance where my partner wants just me?"

Duo looked at Heero. Heero shrugged. Relena said a very unladylike word.

"If that nasty man tries to kiss my hand again, I'll puke. I swear, it's like being licked by a St. Bernard. And his hands are . . . clammy doesn't quite describe it."

Duo immediately pounced on the man. "Hey, buddy how ya doin'"

The pudgy politician automatically offered Duo his hand. "Oh, man. Sticky. Whatcha been eatin'"

"I'm sorry?"

Duo quickly steered the man toward the men's rooms. "Your hands are all sticky. Make's a real bad impression. You ought to go wash them. Go on."

The man headed for the men's room wondering what had just happened. He'd had Relena in his sights, but somehow he was out of range again.

Duo grimaced in distaste. "Oh, man. Yuck! His hands are just plain wet."

Heero handed Duo his handkerchief without comment. Duo took it and wiped his hand off. Relena breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Well, thank you Duo. That was quick thinking."

Heero bowed to Relena then took her hand and led her onto the dance floor, where the orchestra was just striking up a quickstep.

Heero led Relena through the graceful, bouncy steps with a serene expression on his face. Relena lit up like a space port on a dark night. When the music stopped Heero led Relena off the floor and to the bar.

"Would you like something?"

Relena nodded, fanning herself with a small folding fan that was dangling from her wrist. "Something sour and not pink. I'm so tired of those syrupy things people keep pressing on me."

Duo joined them. "I'll get you something really good. It's called a Virgin Sour."

Relena watched Duo head for the bar. "What's that . . . oh, he didn't take your order."

Heero offered Relena his arm so they wouldn't get separated in the crowd and to discourage interruption. "It's a Whisky Sour without the whisky, it's good. That's what Duo's getting me. He knows I like them." Heero looked around, another politician was headed their way. He veered off when Heero glared at him.

Relena snickered. "Heero?"

"Hn?"

"Has anyone ever measured the Kelvin level of that glare?"

Heero shrugged. "Somewhere about minus two, Duo says."

Relena started to say something but was interrupted by Duo, who walked up, handed around drinks, and remarked, "I say a lot of things. Which thing is this?"

Relena explained what they were talking about and then asked, "I'm tired and I can't think. What is zero Kelvin in Celsius?"

"273.16C . . . absolute zero."

Relena snickered. "I remember now. And Heero's glare is minus two? Oh, dear."

They all laughed and Heero managed a slightly shamefaced look.

Relena looked around, then sighed. "I wish I could just sneak away. I'm supposed to dance with every dignitary here. Which I have done. See?" she lifted her skirts slightly and showed them the toe of her shoe. It was badly soiled and scuffed. "I swear every one of them stepped on my toes, or my hem. They either clutch me like they're afraid I'll fly away, or they act like I'm made of spun glass. I'm so tired of it all. All I want to do is dance. Like a real girl. Just watch. They clear a space around me and any partner like they're . . . I'm sorry, I'm ranting. I'm just tired." Relena reached out and the nearby server pressed a glass off his tray into her hand.

Duo nodded sagely. "I bet. Come on." He took Relena by the hand and tugged. Heero gave him a warning look but followed.

Duo led Relena up a hidden flight of stairs and into a room on the next floor.

"It's the small ball room. It's still big enough to house a shuttle but it's smaller than that monstrosity below." Duo disappeared into the gloom followed shortly by snapping sounds and light.

Heero looked around with appreciation. The walls were decorated with swags of brocade material to hide the fact that there were no windows. The chandeliers were simple slabs of crystal which dangled from a frame work in an ever decreasing spiral. The light glowed golden.

Relena smiled happily, they could still hear the music but it wasn't as loud so they could actually talk without screaming in each other's ears.

"Oh, my. This is nice. Duo this is wonderful. Thank you." She put her glass down on a small table nearby.

Duo grinned. "I could tell you weren't really happy. Why the hell do you have such big parties if you don't enjoy them?"

"Social and political obligations. It's a royal pain in the ass. I'm sick of it. And don't give me that look. I'm not some mealy mouthed, missish, girl anymore. I grew up."

Heero smacked Duo on the back of the head, loosening his braid.

"Hey! Be careful." Duo stuck his tongue out at Heero and both young men were delighted when Relena laughed at their antics.

Duo had forgone his usual tight braid and just braided it loosely for about a foot, then tied a large black velvet bow below the braid, just below his shoulder blades.

The orchestra struck up a Viennese waltz and Relena held out her arms to Duo. "Dance with me. I know you won't walk all over my feet."

Heero exclaimed. "Hey! I didn't."

Relena waltzed away with Duo calling over his shoulder. "No, you didn't, but you're one of the few . . . "

The rest of the remark was lost as Duo twirled her around the floor. They waltzed, then there was a polka. Heero snickered slightly, Duo was in trouble but he didn't know about it, yet.

After the polka there was a small pause. Heero pocketed his cell phone and waited. The musicians started another quickstep. Relena happily bounced across the floor, guided by Duo who as nothing if not enthusiastic.

Suddenly the bow on Duo's braid flew across the floor and his hair fell down with a silken sigh. Relena yelped, as they were in the middle of a twirl and Duo's hair wrapped around both of them covering her face with a sweet-smelling veil. Duo just started laughing. Heero joined him and then Relena, they all laughed heartily as Duo fumbled trying to gather his long hair into some sort of order.

Heero snickered. "Just leave it. You'll never get it fixed without help."

Relena mock wailed. "I wanna dance. Heeeerrrroooo, dance with me. Please?"

Heero winced slightly but offered Relena his arms. She danced away with him as Duo grumbled about his hair and wondered where he was going to get a new tie.

The music ended just as Relena and Heero came abreast of Duo again. Relena reached out and grabbed Duo by the hand.

"Dance with Heero. I want to watch you. You are such a cute couple." She picked up the glass she'd brought with her and finished off her drink.

So Heero grabbed Duo's other hand and pulled him into his arms. They danced away to the modern waltz. Duo's hair swirled around them like a living cinnamon-colored cloak. It wrapped around them then swung out in a curtain of silk.

Relena smiled, they were cute. There was a loud bang and suddenly, cute was deadly. Duo dropped and rolled away from Heero, drawing his gun. Heero was suddenly between Relena and the doors. Relena flattened herself on the floor, completing the ruin of her shoes and tearing her dress.

A heavy set man slammed the door against the wall again, this time keeping it open with one hand as he peered into the room.

"Lady Relena? Are you in here? Oh." He suddenly realized that his actions might not have been the wisest.

Relena let Heero help her up with one hand as he holstered his gun with the other. Duo just gave the man a nasty snarl, holstered his gun and swung the now tangled mass of his hair behind him.

Relena sighed and straightened her torn and slightly dirtied dress. She gave up on her slippers and stockings. She'd torn the knee out of one somehow.

The man bustled over to Relena and grabbed her wrist. "You shouldn't be in here socializing with these . . . boys. There are very important people waiting to speak with you."

Relena gave Heero such a look, so full of despair and sadness that he could only come to the rescue, with Duo riding shotgun.

Duo caught Relena by the elbow and Heero gripped the man by the wrist.

Relena pulled away from ‘Tubby', Heero squeezed his wrist and Duo got between Relena and any further groping.

Relena broke. She slowly cracked from top to bottom, side to side, and one single tear trickled down her white cheek.

"Heero! Make him go away. Please. Make them all go away." Relena sniffled, trying so hard not to cry. "I was having such good fun. Now it's all spoiled. I don't want to dance with some clammy handed old man. I want to dance with boys. I want to eat . . . eat . . . pizza. And . . . and . . . pop corn and hot dogs and crisps and and . . . damn."

Duo started to lead Relena farther away from Heero and his captive. She dug in her heels and shattered. Heero ducked her shoe.

"Take the damn things. They pinch my toes and they're ugly. I want fuck me sandals with rhine stones on them. And take this too." Relena pulled the delicate tiara off her head and hurled it after the shoe. Then followed it with the other shoe. "It's stupid. I . . . get out. Get Out! GET OUT!!"

Heero ducked the flying objects, released the man, and went to try to help Duo calm Relena.

@@@@@@@@

The door opened again only it opened slowly. Wufei stuck his head in with Zechs above and behind him Zechs didn't wait a second he opened the door the rest of the way and hurried in followed closely by Wufei

Zechs took in the scene with a quick flick of his eyes. He reached out and grabbed the officious little man and shoved him into Wufei's arms, Wufei shoved him again, right out the door.

There was some sputtering involved but everyone ignored it. Wufei stuck his head out the door and ordered, "No one comes in. No one." Then slammed the door.

Zechs joined Heero and Duo in trying to calm Relena. "What the hell is going on? Relena calm down. How can I help you if I don't know what's wrong?"

Heero quickly explained what had happened while Relena wet the shoulder of Duo's jacket with hot, bitter tears.

Zechs took things in hand swiftly. With Wufei in tow he found the Master of Ceremonies and told him that Relena was exhausted and had retired for the night. The Master made the announcement and the crowd immediately started to leave. Zechs ‘did the pretty' in Relena's stead. Shaking hands and taking complements with aplomb suited to his station, Wufei seconded him with serenity and grace.

It took only twenty minutes or so to nearly clear the room. The remaining guests would party well into dawn.

While Zechs and Wufei were doing that, Heero and Duo took Relena in hand.

"Relena, we want to take you to your quarters. Where are they?"

Relena snarled. "I hate them. They're all pink. Pinkpinkpink. I outgrew pink months and months ago . . . I don' wanna go. I wanna dance. An' . . . an' . . . Duo. I'm . . . sick. . . oh my."

Relena quivered then bent over and was sick. Not a ladylike wet hiccup. But really sick. Duo muttered, "God, can you say projectile? Not a drop on her. But, yuck."

Heero snarled, "Shut the fuck up. We got to get her out of here."

Duo shrugged. "Tell people I barfed, I don't care. . . .go sneak a peek out the door." Duo just scooped Relena up in his arms and started for the door.

Relena rolled her head back and forth on his shoulder. "Not that way. Go other way. "

Duo spun on his heel and headed for the back of the room, half a foot ball field away.

Heero hurried ahead and found the door behind the curtains there. He opened it and looked out into a wide hall. No one was there, so he motioned for Duo to give Relena to him. Duo handed her off to Heero and went ahead of the pair, checking to be sure that no one would see them. Relena sniffled and hiccupped into Heero's shoulder mumbling something about ‘tired' and ‘cowardly.'

Heero shushed her and carried her gently.

They reached her rooms and Duo cringed. Even Relena couldn't stand that much pink. The carpet was pink, the walls were blush, the over stuffed furniture was dusky rose and the desk was Louis something or other, white and painted with roses and vines. The entire suite was the same, everything was some shade of pink.

Heero took Relena into the bath room. "Get her a robe or something."

Duo went to find a robe and only came up with a slinky, silken bit of lace. "Heero, there's not a thing in here worth the name. Dammit. Someone's banging on the door."

Duo let Zechs and Wufei in without comment, then got on the phone, rebraiding his hair while he talked. "Catalonia? Yeah, Maxwell. Look . . . no I don't care. You do what I tell you to do or you'll get a visit from Shinigami in the middle of the night. . . no, I'm not threatening you. I don't threaten, I promise. We need some things and don't argue. First, a real bathrobe, not one of those slick cold pieces of shit, flannel or terry. Soup, rich beef broth or veal. Tea, spearmint or peppermint. And jammies. Not . . . yeah . . . jersey or flannel. And if anything is pink I'll make you eat it. Bye"

Duo tossed the phone in the general direction of the cradle and walked into the bathroom. He shamelessly rummaged a drawer for a new hair tie. He snapped it around the end of his sloppy braid then noticed what Heero was doing.

"‘Ro, you can't just strip her down and stuff her into a shower like that. She's a lady. Dammit!"

But Relena was far beyond resisting or complaining. She was sobbing her heart out and trying to apologize and explain. Heero finally told her to shut up.

Zechs returned from where he'd been turning down the bed and snapped. "That's my sister you're molesting Yuy."

Relena hiccupped, then giggled rather wetly. "Couldn't get him to strip me if I begged him to. Gay. Um . . . queer. . . what ever. Not that I mind exactly but . . . we could have had such beautiful children. I'm not gonna have any now. Not with the guys I've been offered. Ugh. Not gonna do my duty by my country. Sucks. ‘M drunk. . . why ‘m I drunk. I don't drink. Wh' gonna be sick again.. . . Heero."

And Relena was indeed sick again, several times in fact.

Duo sniffed at it with a disgusted expression. "She's not drunk. Doesn't smell of alcohol. Zechs. . I ordered what you'll really need to take care of her. You and ‘Fei be all right while Heero and I find out what happened?"

Zechs nodded distractedly while he coped with Relena, clad only in some skimpy, lacy underwear and her stockings. "Yes, once we find out what she was slipped we'll be better able to care for her. Oh, and when you find out who did this, I get them."

Duo cornered the wait staff supervisor and asked if anyone had taken off without warning. The supervisor said no, but he also said that someone had been messing with some of the drinks earlier. Several people had gone home early, feeling ill. Heero questioned the security teams, who didn't like it much. How dare this kid suggest that they weren't doing their job properly?

Heero stared Lady Une down without compunction. "She's sick. It's not alcohol. She wouldn't get drunk, you know that better than I do. So. . . . examine all the tapes and find out who did it. She could have been poisoned instead of ruffied." Heero turned away then looked over his shoulder. The temperature dropped about ten degrees. "Stay away from Duo. If you upset him again, I'll have a little talk with you after hours."

Lady Une raised one eyebrow. "Are you threatening me?"

"No." Heero walked away without looking back. Heero looked for Duo and finally ran him down in the Preventers van.

After glaring at the resident lab tech, he demanded, "What the hell are you doing? You scared me. I couldn't find you anywhere."

Duo looked up from the test tube he was holding. "Analyzing this. Zechs sent it to me. Heero this van is amazing. I want one. It has a complete lab, capable of analyzing almost anything not radioactive. Really neat."

Heero glanced around. "So, what have you found out?"

"She got a good dose of the latest date rape drug. How, I'm not sure. I think it was in that last drink she had. I sent a guy up to see if the glass is still there. Probably not. They're too fanatical about picking up all the glasses as soon as they're set down. But I suppose they need them. Well. . ."

Heero felt like he'd been kicked, why would anyone slip Relena a date rape drug?

"Heero . . . Heero?" Duo waved his hand in front of Heero's face. Heero blinked and turned to him. "Run interference between me and the bitch queen. Ok?"

Heero just nodded, ignoring the tech's snicker. "Already taken care of." He settled back to go over everything with Duo.

Heero's cell rang and then Duo's, they both answered their phones. Heero talked to Lady Une and Duo to Zechs.

Duo snapped his phone shut first and started cleaning up his mess. Heero pocketed his phone.

"Leave it. We need to meet with Zechs and Wufei. Come on."

Duo snorted. "It won't take me but a sec. I don't want to leave a mess for him." Duo nodded to the tech. "I don't do that."

Heero snarled slightly but realized that Duo was right. Duo quickly put the chemicals he'd used in their places and started to put the glass into a small dishwasher.

The tech took over, efficiently pointing Duo towards the door. "Hey, I got that. Lady Une is about to pop her cork. You better get going or she'll cut you a new one."

Duo just thanked the man, handed the last of his cleaning chore over and left the van.

They dodged Une easily enough and found Wufei waiting for them just inside the door. He led them to a large study in the back of the ground floor. It was one of the rooms that dignitaries were led to when they had to wait for Relena.

Zechs was standing by a large table set against one wall. He looked tired, furious and strained.
"Gentlemen, I'm not in the best of moods. This evening started out far different than it has ended up. What do you have to tell me?"

Duo reported first, then Heero. Wufei left to question one of the hosts assistants, she would know who had left early. And most likely why.

Zechs shifted slightly. Duo eyed him for a second, then smirked slightly. Heero looked from Duo to Zechs then back. Duo shrugged and started fiddling with the end of his braid.

Zechs looked at Heero who just looked back, finally Zechs snapped in exasperation, "If you've got something to say, say it."

Heero thought for a moment. "You indulging in power exchange games with Wufei, or what?"

Zechs turned so red Duo thought he might faint from lack of blood to his brain.

"That's not . . . well . . . dammit. Is it that obvious?"

"No. I'm just well aware of your needs and Wufei's abilities. Are you operational?"

Zechs realized that he was getting an up close and personal of the Perfect Soldier.

"Yes. Just uncomfortable."

"Don't worry. Chang won't leave you hanging. We'll get you both out of here within the hour."

Zechs was indignant. "I'm not shirking my duties to my sister, just because I'm horny. I'll be fine"

Duo snorted, Zechs was floundering in guilt and embarrassment.

Heero shook his head. "I have absolutely no desire to deal with a frustrated Chang Wufei…" Duo groaned dramatically. " . . . Nor you in a snit. You can't do much anyway. Conflict of interests. And we're not getting paid for this one so we have to be careful."

Duo beamed at Heero, he'd remembered everything that Duo had ever written him in his emails about company policy.

Duo took over then. "Zechs, I want you and Wufei out of this. You're too close and we really don't need conflict of interest complaints on top of the uproar that we're going to get from taking over from Preventers and Heero being involved. Ok?" Zechs looked doubtful. "Go. Have some fun. Leave this to Heero and me. We'll find out what went on and get our hands on the perp. You know you can't do anything to him, no matter what you want to do. Right?"

Zechs looked unhappy but nodded. "I know you're right. But I don't have to like it."
"No, you don't, but you know we're going to get the pisser. And I meant that literally. If Heero can't do it, I can. Scat."

So Zechs agreed to leave just as soon as Wufei came back.

~ * ~

Wufei entered a few moments later with a list of people who'd left early, several had claimed to be ill. Duo took the list glanced at it and sighed, they were all young ladies and their escorts or a family member.

"Ok, I'm turning this list over to Preventers. They can run down each person, get a sample. . . stomach contents or blood. Then they can do the analysis. I bet each one of these girls got doped with the same stuff as Relena. So . . ."

Heero grunted. "We need to find out if it's a plot aimed at Relena personally, young blond girls in general . . . or just a nasty prank that got out of hand."

Wufei started to say something, cleared his throat and tried again. He said exactly what Heero had said, finishing. "I'll take Zechs up to check on Relena again, then I'm taking him home. He's got to be . . . uncomfortable in the extreme. He's got very good self-control, but by now he's on the edge. We'll see you in the morning. . . late. Unless something comes up. Knock and wait. Good night."

Wufei gathered Zechs up with a look and headed back into the residential wing of the palace. Zechs smiled at Duo and Heero and followed.

They went back into the building and down the corridor into Relena's quarters. Zechs snorted softly. "I think I'm taking little sister shopping soon. This is atrocious."

Wufei nodded. "That could be fun. Check on her quickly while I call the car."

Zechs stuck his head in the bedroom door, after getting Relena out of the shower Zechs had turned her over to her waiting maid. An elderly Austrian woman who'd referred to Relena as Little Lady and taken her in hand.

She'd approved of the flannel pj's and robe. Remarking that Relena hated to hurt anyone's feelings so she wound up with things she hated to wear and nothing she liked.

Now Zechs caught the woman's attention and motioned that he wanted to talk to her.

She rose from the chair she was nodding off in and went into the sitting room with Zechs.

"How is she?"

"The doctor saw her while you were gone. She's going to be fine. Master Duo sent up information on the drug and the doctor said that all we had to do was wait until it wore off. She'll be fine in the morning." The woman shifted from foot to foot. "Please Herr Peacecraft. Talk to her. She's wearing herself out. She needs to be a little selfish from time to time."

Zechs nodded. "And that wardrobe needs a great deal of help. I want you to go through it while she's asleep and get rid of every thing she really hates."

The woman nodded, then smiled. "That will be more than half of it. But Ja, I'll get right on it. And I don't have to worry about her fussing at me. I'm just following orders." She gave Zechs a twinkling eyed look and opened the closet to get started.

Wufei nodded to Zechs and quietly left the room. He was waiting in the hall when Zechs got done with his last look at Relena.

"Are you ready?"

Zechs nodded "yes, the woman is very good. She obviously loves Relena. I just wish that I could help more."

Wufei just patted Zechs on the arm. "We can't and you know it. Come on the car is waiting . . . stop worrying. It's Duo and Heero."

Zechs drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I know we can't, but . . . it's my sister. Who did this, and why? And how. And . . . a thousand other questions. And I'll worry if I want to. Heero and Duo are the best there is, but . . . dammit."

Wufei got Zechs into the car and settled. He climbed in after, directed the driver to take them home and settled down to wait out the drive. He hoped that it would allow Zechs time to calm down and get his mind on other things.

~ * ~

Duo bit at his lip. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

Heero flipped through the pages of the report. "I'm thinking that someone tried to drug Relena and take her away. The other girls were just a smoke screen. We need more information. Dammit!" Heero tossed the report onto the table. "We can't do much more than we have. The server swears he didn't know anything. I think . . . I'm not sure what I think."

Duo thought hard swinging back and forth in the swivel chair. The click of his heels as he rocked his feet loud in the silence.

"I think we're at a dead end. We don't have the resources we need to do much more. WEI could mount a search, but we're not hired to do the job. We really have to tread carefully on this one. We can't afford to step on toes. Although I'd really love to show Une up. So . . . we give Une all the information we've got and let her do her job."

Heero agreed with Duo snarling about it a little. He wanted to find that fuck himself, but now was definitely not the time to poke a stick in the Preventers ant hill and stir.

They handed everything they had over to Une, or Heero did. Duo wouldn't go near enough to her to shout.

Then they found someone with enough stripes to help them and asked for a ride home. It was well after midnight and there wasn't a cab to be had.

They headed for home and bed.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Chesting someone, for those of you who don't know, is where you stand in someone's way and they either have to go around or bump into you, or if you're feeling really agressive, you sort of stick out your chest and bump them.