11-Jul-2000
Title: Why Go
Category: Angst, Friendship
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: 4+Dorothy (sort of), 1+2
Warnings: A little harsh language.
Feedback: C&C
Notes: This started out as a Songfic, however I ran out of song before I ran out of story. Sorry if it's a touch too long.
Key:
'--denotes thoughts--'
[--song lyrics--]
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters belongs to Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu Agency and are only being used for non profit entertainment purposes. The song, Why Go, is written by Pearl Jam. Lyrics printed without permission.
Quatre was more than a little surprised by the letter he received in the mail. There was no return address and for a minute he thought about throwing it away. But something prevented him from doing it. So he sat in his favorite chair and began to open the letter. 'If this is a chain letter, by Allah I'll ...'
-Quatre,
I know you hate me. But I need you to help me.
Please help me.
-Dorothy
Quatre was rather taken aback. 'Dorothy? Dorothy Catalonia needs my help?' Then he thought back to when he last saw her. It wasn't a pleasant experience. She had tried to kill him in fact.
[She scratches a letter
into a wall made of stone
maybe someday
another child
won't feel as alone as she does
it's been two years
and counting
since they put her in this place
she's been diagnosed by some stupid fuck
and mommy agrees]
Dorothy seriously hoped that fat, disgusting pig mailed her letter. She couldn't believe she let him ... She found herself shivering at the memory as she allowed that imbecile calling himself an "attendant" to ravish her body. But there was no other way to get word out. She had been locked away here for ... 'God, I can't remember any more," she thought sadly as her clear blue eyes stared at the stone wall she had been using to mark time. 'Not two years, surely.'
Manic depression. 'What bullshit! She just didn't know what to do with me,' her mind huffed. 'I hope he decides to help.'
[why go home?
why go home?
why go home...]
Quatre decided to call upon Relena Peacecraft Dorlian. "Miss Relena, have you seen Miss Dorothy anywhere?"
Relena was rather surprised by the question. "No, come to think of it I haven't seen her in quite a while. I know she moved back home to look after her mother a year or so ago. Why do you ask?"
"No reason. I just thought it was funny no one has seen her in a while," Quatre stated, trying to sound casual.
"Do you think she's in any danger?" the former Queen of the World asked.
"Dorothy has always been able to take care of herself. I wouldn't worry."
[she seems to be stronger
but what they want her to be is weak
she could play pretend
she could join the game
she could be another clone]
At first she treated her stay her like one would treat a stay in prison. Get along and follow the rules and get off early for good behavior. She talked to the psychiatrists everyday about her father and the war. She sat through the group therapy sessions and participated. But it didn't take long to figure out in this place you weren't suppose to get better. You were only suppose to conform and take your pills like a good little girl.
Dorothy snickered. 'I've been accused of being lots of things but never a good little girl.' That's when they started the heavy doses of lithium. She hated feeling like she was trapped in the shell that was her body. Everything felt like slow motion. She moved like she was wearing a gundamium suit.
But Dorothy was a smart girl. She learned how to act like she was still under the influence while secretly spitting out the pills they gave her. 'If I could get my hands on her I'd ...'
Quatre found himself at the large estate of the Catalonias. He felt a little silly. He had never talked to Dorothy's mother before.
"May I help you?" a tall, proud woman with long blonde hair asked.
"Mrs. Catalonia? I'm ..."
"I know who you are. Everyone in the world knows who you are Mr. Winner. What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if you could tell me where your daughter may be," he said.
"I would think you'd be the last person who would want to know. She did try to kill you," said the proud woman.
"We had resolved our differences. But I was hoping to see her again."
"That's not possible."
"Why?"
"I had Dorothy committed a year or so ago."
"Why?" Quatre asked, truly surprised.
"She was out of control. And frankly, she scares me."
"Out of control?"
"Manic depression. After her father died in the war, she changed. The happy little girl I remember suddenly turned into a rude, manipulative being. I refuse to except that person in my home, so I made sure she got the help she needed."
"May I see her? Which hospital is she in?"
"You still want to see her?" Mrs. Catalonia asked, surprised.
"Is that a problem?" Quatre asked.
"No, I guess not. She's at Wintercrest. It's in the Sank Kingdom," she said.
"Is there any message you would like for me to give her?"
"No."
[why go home?
what you taught me
put me here
don't come visit
mommy dear]
'Maybe it's a prison after all, I'm getting a visitor. I wonder if she's changed her mind,' Dorothy wondered as she did her fake drugged shuffle into the morning room. They wouldn't tell her who her visitor was until she was settled down in the uncomfortable chair at the table.
A moment later, a blonde young man walked in the room and looked visibly shaken for a second.
"Dorothy?" Quatre's voice quavered. 'Allah, what have they done to her!' He stared at the once tall, proud woman that looked so broken. Her hair was cut short with no style at all. Her skin was even paler than before and her eyes seemed to have lost all its fire.
She slowly looked up, momentarily disappointed that it wasn't the bitch that put her in there. But once she realized she was looking at Quatre, she found she had tears in her eyes. She quickly looked in all directions to make sure they were alone, before she said his name out loud.
"Quatre?" her voice croaked from disuse. Once she realized she wouldn't get out anytime soon, she basically stopped talking.
The young man crossed the room quickly and pulled her from the chair for a hug. She didn't struggle. It was the first warm human contact she'd had since ... no that attendant didn't count ... she couldn't remember the last time.
"What happened Dorothy?" Quatre asked with tears in his eyes.
[why go home?
why go home...
why go home?]
"Mummy dear felt I was a danger and had me put here," she still found it difficult to speak.
Quatre poured her a glass of water and handed it to her. She took a sniff before sipping. 'I hope the water isn't drugged.' "So I've been locked away never to be bothered with again."
[what you taught me
put me here
don't come visit
mommy dear]
"Why would she think you were a danger?" Quatre remained confused as to how this could have happened.
"Well, I guess my murderous attempt on your person tipped her off," she tried to smile but couldn't quite.
Quatre looked up and smiled. He was starting to see it. The spark he thought was gone.
"I'm just a little too independent for her I guess. She didn't like that I was always visiting Treize and my father's graves. I guess she thought I would do something drastic? Hell, why am I making excuses?" Dorothy sighed.
"Nani?" Quatre asked.
"She hates me pure and simple. I'm an unlovable monster and better out of sight out of mind, yes?" She fumed.
"Dorothy, I'm going to try to get you out of here."
Dorothy stared in amazement at her old nemesis. "Quatre, are you serious?"
"Very. Hang on. I'll see what I can do."
"Mummy can be very tricky. Getting me out may not be so simple," she explained.
"Trust me."
"I do, Quatre," she smiled. "Now it's time for me to go back to zombie mode, if that's okay with you."
"That's fine," he said before he noticed the metamorphosis. The spark left her eye and her movements became duller. He was surprised at her acting skills. He left the room and went to the administrator.
"There's nothing that can be done. Her mother has given us power of attorney. Dorothy Catalonia is not eligible for release until she's 21 that won't be for another three years," the bored administrator said to the young man who looked somewhat familiar to him.
"So a family member could not get her released?" Quatre asked, sad that Dorothy was right about the craftiness of her Mother.
"The only family I know of is the Mother and she's not looking to..."
"I'm a family member!" Quatre lied.
"Really, what is your relation to the patient?"
"I'm her husband."
"Husband? How is it Mrs. Catalonia didn't know about this? And why has it taken you so long to look for your wife?" asked the administrator, rather distrustful.
"We were married without her mother's knowledge. We were in a war at the time if you remember. I had been away on assignment and sent Dorothy home to spend time with her mother, then she vanished. I've only just discovered where she was recently."
"Well, if you can produce proof that you are married, I'll consider releasing her to your custody."
"You'll have the papers in your hand within the hour," Quatre said confidently as he stormed out of the office.
"Nani?" Heero asked in shock. Duo spit his orange juice as he overheard the discussion on the videophone.
"Look Heero, you're the best at this sort of thing. I need you to draw up a fake, but authentic looking wedding certificate for me and Dorothy Catalonia. I know it sounds like a strange request-"
"You can say THAT again," Duo piped in.
"I need it quickly. I promised that I would help her. This will help her."
"How?" Heero asked.
"I'll explain it all later, I'm a little pressed for time. Can you do it and fax it to this number?" Quatre said as he punched in the number that appeared on the screen.
"Consider it done."
"Arigatou, Heero."
Quatre hung up and dialed one other number.
"Yes, Mr. Winner?" Mrs. Catalonia asked looking more than a littler perturbed. "Decided to tell me about your little game, have you? I just got an interesting call from Mr. Davies at Wintercrest."
"Mrs. Catalonia, I am going to get Dorothy out. She doesn't deserve to be there," Quatre said.
"How can you say that after all she did to you!"
"How is it I can forgive her, but you can't?" Quatre said in amazement.
"I don't know her. I don't want to know her."
"Don't worry, I don't think that will be a problem for Dorothy," Quatre said with almost a sneer. "I'm getting her out and we'll see what happens next shall we?"
"Do what you have to do, Mr. Winner. I won't stop you," Mrs. Catalonia said resigned.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me," the connection ended.
Dorothy sat in her room. Suddenly the door to her room opened and three people entered. One was a nurse, the other the administrator who committed her and the third was Quatre Raberba Winner.
"Umm, Mrs. Winner, we apologize for the misunderstanding. Your husband has come to take you home."
'Husband?' She almost laughed when she realized what Quatre done. "It's okay, Davies."
"Why didn't you tell me you were married?" Mr. Davies asked.
"It's not like I had many opportunities to mention the fact," she said in a monotone.
"Umm. No. I guess not. Anyway you are going to go home today. Isn't that great?"
"Yes, great."
"We'll let you pack."
"I have nothing here that I want to take with me."
Quatre spoke up, "I took the liberty of bringing you some new clothes, Dorothy." He took the bundle from his hands and gave it to her.
"Thank you, honey. Am I to undress with an audience?" Dorothy's said with a hint of sarcasm hidden in monotone.
Davies turned red. "Of course not, excuse us." He ushered everyone out the room. Minutes later, Dorothy emerged dressed in a simple blue dress that matched her eyes and a straw hat that covered her hackneyed cut hair.
"Darling, you remembered my size," she smiled at Quatre.
"Are we free to go?" Quatre asked Davies.
"You both need to sign a few papers and you can go after that." Papers signed. Quatre and Dorothy walked out of the private hospital arm in arm.
"My car is over there, Dorothy," Quatre motioned to his left.
"Okay, but we need to stop at the first park you see, if that's alright with you?" Dorothy asked.
"Okay."
As the car pulled further and further away from the hospital, Dorothy's spirits got brighter and brighter. "Quatre, stop, there's a park over there on the right."
Quatre pulled off the road to the small parking lot to the park. Dorothy practically jumped out of the car before it was even stopped. Quatre quickly followed.
Dorothy was running and twirling in circles like a little girl. "I'm FREEE!" she screamed aloud for the first time.
Quatre laughed. "Yes, you are."
She ran over to the young man and jumped into his arms knocking him down. "Thank you Quatre. Thank you so much!" She quickly kissed him before rolling off of him and staring at the sky. "I've missed being outside. I've missed this beautiful sky."
Quatre looked at her in quiet amazement. He could not recall a time he had ever seen her that happy.
"Dorothy, I'm sorry I hadn't tried looking for you earlier."
"What are you talking about? Why would you want to look for me earlier. Remember we were enemies, ne?" Dorothy smiled at him.
"But I thought we had come to an understanding after that encounter," Quatre reminded her.
"Yes, but it wasn't like we were going to be best buddies. I told you before. I'm unlovable, so I'm not surprise no one was looking for me," she said calmly.
"You're not unlovable, Dorothy. Don't ever say that again," Quatre said angrily.
She was a little surprised by his response. "Okay, let's just say I won't win any popularity contests and let's call it a day."
"Come on, we should go," Quatre said.
"Where to?"
"Home."
"I don't have a home, Quatre. Somehow I don't think Mummy is going to want me in the house anymore. Not that I would want to be there," said Dorothy.
"My home. You will be my guest until you get back on your feet."
"Damn, you really are a knight in shining white armor, aren't you?"
"Hey it's where I take all my fake wives. Let's go."
"Okay, husband. Let's go home."
OWARI
My first and probably last Quatre/Dorothy story. What do you think?
(:./babaca/whygo)
