03-Sep-2000
Category: Friendship, humor
Rating: PG
Pairings: 4+3, 4+D
Warnings: None
Feedback: C&C
Notes: Sequel to the Songfic story I wrote a few months back called Why Go. Since some folks thought there should be more to the story, here it is.
'--denotes thoughts--'
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters belongs to Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu Agency and are only being used for non profit entertainment purposes.
Trowa had been away for quite awhile. He really hadn't thought the circus would be such a big hit on the Colony X2231 settlement of L3. Everyone was pleased. The sold out performances assured them that they would be working for months to come. Trowa would call Quatre on a weekly basis and except for the one weekend when he couldn't reach him. He had the feeling something was being kept from him.
"Are you sure you're okay, Quatre? You're not mad at me, are you? For being away so long?" Trowa asked hesitantly trying to gauge what his blond love was keeping from him.
"Mad at you? No. Mad about you? Absolutely," Quatre said, pleased with his pun. "When are you coming to see me?"
"I don't know. We've been playing to packed houses. It looks like they've extended our contract for another week or so," Trowa said wondering what Quatre was finding so funny over on his end. "Quatre, what's so funny?"
Quatre whose eyes had been wandering just to the left of the monitor returned to the monitor to stare at his love. "Oh, nothing. Abdul was doing something goofy that's all. I'll see you when I see you then. Bye, Trowa."
"Goodbye," Trowa said, still puzzled as to what was going on over there.
Quatre once the connection was broken burst out laughing. "You have GOT to stop doing that to me!" he said to his companion in the room.
"What?" asked Dorothy. "Or rather, ...." She was wearing some of Trowa's clothes that he had left at the estate. She meticulously brushed her blonde bangs into the unique shape that Trowa maintained. She had walked into the study like that to get a laugh out of Quatre before she realized the real deal was on the phone to his love.
"Trowa now thinks I'm crazy you know," Quatre berated her. But he couldn't stay angry, she did look pretty funny like that.
"No, just crazy about you!" Dorothy laughed, "Mad about you? Honestly Quatre, you really need to work on your lovey-dovey talk!"
"Don't you start!" Quatre laughed.
"Alright, I'll go change. I don't know how he wears this things, these jeans are so tight I can barely move."
"And he never filled out a turtleneck sweater quite like that either," Quatre felt the need to point out.
"Ecchi!" Dorothy said, sticking her tongue out at him, as she left the room.
Dorothy had been staying with Quatre for the past couple of months after he helped her escape life in an asylum. Although she pretended that being imprisoned there for so long hadn't affected her, Quatre knew better. There were little differences. She wasn't quite as brash as she was in the past. Sometimes suddenly movements or too many people in a room frightened her some. She would try to pretend it wasn't a big deal. It only made Quatre angry that her own mother committed her because she didn't like the girl. But rather than embarrass Dorothy, he would also play it off like it was no big deal as well.
What really troubled Quatre was he never found a good way to tell Trowa about his houseguest. Trowa never really forgave Dorothy for the duel where she tried to kill him. Since Dorothy was such a sore subject, so to speak, he felt it better not to say anything.
Dorothy returned dressed in more comfortable jeans and a tank top. "Quatre, is it time for me to move on? I know you said I could stay for as long as I want, but if Trowa's coming back..."
"Don't worry about Trowa," Quatre tried reassuring her.
"You still haven't told him that I'm here," Dorothy reminded him.
"I know."
"So better for me to be out of here than cause trouble. Bet you never thought you'd hear something like that coming out of my mouth, ne?" Dorothy smiled.
Quatre found her smile infectious. "I'll tell him, don't worry. So what do you have planned?"
"I guess I'll go see Relena. Time to mingle in society again, don't you think?" Dorothy said ruefully.
"Yes, but don't push yourself, if you're not ready."
"Oh, I think I can face a few pointed barbs from Miss Relena."
Relena didn't know what to think. The thought that Dorothy had been trapped in a mental hospital, had her secretly filled with a combination of horror and twisted glee. She shook those thoughts out of her head and focused on Dorothy.
"It's okay, Miss Relena, do your worse, I'm ready," Dorothy said with her arms spread out waiting for the crucifixion to begin.
"Dorothy, do you think so little of me that I would say anything to hurt you?" Relena asked.
"Oh come on Relena. I know you always take the high road, I'm offering you a chance to rut around in the low road for a change. Seriously, do your worse, I can take it."
"I won't do it, Dorothy," she said. 'No matter how much I would LIKE to,' was her thought. "What can I do to help you?"
"Well, since you asked, I could use a job. Mummy has cut me off completely financially. I've been saying with Quatre, but that can't last forever, time to stand on my own feet," Dorothy said earnestly.
"That I can do for you," smiled Relena.
Quatre and Dorothy sat in the formal dining room having dinner together later that evening. They didn't usually dine together much. Quatre was usually busy with Winner Enterprises. But tonight was different. They were celebrating her new job.
"Just think all those years ago, I was following Miss Relena around trying to get her to see reason when it came to total pacificism, now I'm paid to follow her around as an aide-de-camp. Funny world, huh?" Dorothy laughed.
"Congratulations, Dorothy."
"Thank you Quatre, I couldn't have done any of this without your help."
"It was nothing, I assure you."
"It was plenty to me. Don't make me grovel, you know I hate that. Just accept this from me," Dorothy said as she got up from her chair and pulled Quatre up from his to give him a hug. "Arigato, Quatre."
Trowa walked into the dining room, "Quatre, what are you doing in here? You usually--" He stopped when he saw Quatre embracing ... DOROTHY?
"Damn," Quatre said quietly, but not so quietly that Trowa and Dorothy couldn't hear him.
"Hello Trowa," Dorothy said, stepping out of the embrace. "Please come in." Trowa didn't move. "Damn, indeed."
"What's going on, Quatre?" Trowa asked, ignoring the tall blonde woman. "Why is Dorothy here?"
"Dorothy, could you give us a moment?" Quatre said softly.
"Certainly, Quatre. I'll be in my room," Dorothy said as she vacated the dining room. She was certain Trowa's visible eye widened to the words, 'my room', but there was nothing she could do about that.
After the woman left, Trowa turned his attentions back to Quatre. "Well?"
"She was in trouble a while ago. I helped her out. She needed a place to stay so I offered," Quatre shrugged.
"How long has she been here?" Trowa asked trying to process the information.
"Just a few months or so."
"A FEW MONTHS? And you didn't feel the need to mention this little fact ONCE?" Trowa asked astounded.
"I know how you felt about her. There was no point in you getting upset by it," Quatre reasoned.
"You mean like I'm upset now?"
"Dorothy and I are friends ..."
"Quatre, I know you have a big heart and all, but you do realize that person tried gutting you like a fish before, right?" Trowa attempted to remind him.
"She's been through hell, Trowa. Her own mother locked her up in an asylum."
"Good."
"Trowa, you can't mean that."
"Quatre, I'm afraid he does," Dorothy said from the doorway, holding an overnight bag. No one had seen her return. "Trowa, you have every right to be angry. I know I would be," Dorothy said. "Relena said she could put me up for the night. I'll get rest of my things later."
"No, Dorothy, don't go," Quatre said.
Dorothy smiled at Quatre. "Come on, you love birds need your time together and I don't want to be the cause of any fuss. Trowa, when you are less angry we should talk. Good night," she said as she left.
Trowa blinked. "Who was that and what did she do with Dorothy?"
Quatre sighed. "I tried to tell you. She's changed. Her experiences in the asylum weren't pleasant ones. She's been trying hard to readjust to life on the outside. I'm sorry she felt she had to leave."
"Do you want me to try and get her to come back," Trowa sighed. He knew Quatre would worry incessantly until he made contact with the girl again.
"No, that's okay. She'll be with Relena, that's fine," Quatre said. "But I may just leave a message with Relena to call us when Dorothy gets there." He was heading for the phone while Trowa shook his head.
"Hello Pargan. Is Miss Relena in? What do you mean? Did Dorothy call earlier? Did you tell her that? Okay. Hmm? No, no message. Thank you. Goodbye." Quatre looked mildly irritated and a little worried.
"What's wrong?"
"Relena is out of town at a conference. Dorothy isn't staying at Relena's."
"Maybe she found some other friends to stay with, Quatre," Trowa said.
"Then why tell us she's staying with Relena? To be honest, I don't think Dorothy has very many friends."
"Maybe she's staying at a hotel then?" Trowa continued offering any suggestion that popped in his head.
"She's broke, she can't afford a room anywhere. Trowa, I'm worried."
"Okay," Trowa said, resigned, "Let's go."
"I don't know if going after her is a good idea, Trowa. She'll be mad if she knows we caught her in a lie."
"But you'll go nuts, if you don't know where she is. I know you. So come on, let's see where she might go."
Reluctantly, Quatre agreed. "Okay, let's go!"
"What is she driving?" Trowa asked.
"I let her borrow one of my cars. I'm not sure which one she took though."
Trowa began to chuckle. "Well this should be easy then."
"What do you mean?"
"Rashid had tracking devices installed in all of your cars, little one. All we need to do is activate the device and we'll find her," Trowa laughed.
Quatre bristled. "Remind me to have a little talk with Rashid when we get back."
Trowa looked at his lover, "Don't be like that. He is just looking out for your safety."
"Maybe. But doesn't anyone think I can take care of myself?" Quatre asked.
"I know you can. And so does Rashid. It's just sometimes there are circumstances that are beyond our control."
With the tracking device, they found Quatre's car in a park not far from Quatre's estate. Quatre began to get out of the car before Trowa stopped him.
"Let me, Quatre."
"Are you sure?" Quatre asked hesitantly. "I don't want you upsetting her more."
"I won't upset her. I promise."
"Okay."
Trowa got out of the car and walked onto the park grounds. As he approached the young woman whose hair was cut short as Quatre's, it struck Trowa funny that from behind, she kind of reminded him of his love.
"Dorothy," Trowa said softly, as to not startle the girl.
She still started, but slowly turned around to look at Trowa. "I'd ask how did you find me, but that's probably a silly question. What do you want, Trowa?"
"To talk," he said as he sat down on the grass across from her.
"Okay, this should be interesting. I understand you are a man of few words. Let's talk," she said bemused slightly.
"Why did you seek Quatre's help?"
"You know I've wondered that myself. I think it has something to do with the fact that he seems to be the most forgiving creature I've ever encountered. Even after I ... I hurt him, he still was trying to help me," she said, not meeting Trowa's inquisitive gaze.
"Why did you lie about having a place to stay tonight?"
"You may not believe this, Trowa, but I am actually making a real effort not to be such a heartless bitch. I was never really heartless in the past, just misunderstood. But Quatre has given me so much that it's only fair that I try not to make him suffer if he doesn't have to," she shrugged.
"What has Quatre given you?" Trowa asked.
Dorothy looked up at Trowa at that point. "He has given me what he has given you and many others. Friendship. Compassion. Acceptance. He may be the only true friend I have ever had. He isn't trying to get anything from me. He gives with his whole heart, which makes you want to give back on equal terms. Does that make any sense?"
Trowa nodded. "It makes perfect sense. Come on, let's go home."
Dorothy shook her head. "No, you and Quatre need your time together. I'll be fine."
"Do you seriously think that Quatre will let you stay out here by yourself alone?" Trowa asked. "Dorothy, I'm offering to be your friend as well. I'm not as open as Quatre..."
"Who is?" smiled Dorothy.
"But I'm willing to try if you are. What do you say?" Trowa looked closely at Dorothy. He could see she was thinking about it, looking to see if there were any hidden agendas.
"Oh, alright, friend Trowa," she grinned. "I'll follow you back to the house in ..."
"Nope, that would be unacceptable. How would we know you won't ditch us on the way back. You're coming with me. We'll get the car tomorrow." He stood and offered his hand. Dorothy looked at it a moment before giving her own. He pulled her up to her feet and they headed for the car Quatre was waiting in.
Quatre looked over to see Trowa and Dorothy walking towards him, arm in arm and he beamed.
The next morning, Trowa walked into the kitchen where Dorothy and Quatre were having breakfast.
"Okay, who's been stretching my turtleneck sweaters?"
Quatre and Dorothy giggled.
~OWARI~
(:./babaca/houseguest)
