The next morning Katja awoke in her quarters, slowly, her entire body ached. She sat up and her head was swimming. She placed her right hand on her forehead and found her hand to be wrapped around the palm and down to her wrists. Her hand brushed a patch on her forehead, dampened with what she assumed was blood.
She dropped her hand at her side in exhaustion, sighed and got up. Katja took about five steps and then her knees, which already felt like jelly, gave in and she fell. She gave a groan of agitation, got up and walked to the Gundam holding area.
When she reached her Gundam she pushed off of the floor lightly and slowly rose. Being in outer space had it's advantaged. And a few seconds later, she reached the cockpit.
"So, what are you doing?" asked Katja as she looked into the cockpit to find Duo messing around within.
Realizing that he was found out, Duo gave a sheepish smile and pulled his hand back form the control board.
"Just getting a look at her from the inside. And making' sure that everything checks out," he answered.
Katja stepped into the doorway of the cockpit and leaned up against the doorframe, comfortably taking in Duo's story.
"Everything seems to be fine. You fried some wires pretty good but other then that it's as good as new." he dropped his arm from showing her where the fired wires used to be. "Well almost," he replied with a smile.
Katja laughed quietly at the joke and stepped back so duo could climb out.
"How are you feeling?" asked Duo once he was standing on the gate. He had his hands on her shoulders as if he would some how heal any of her pains with his touch.
"Okay I guess. I don't really remember what happened after I crashed into Wufei," answered Katja, not bothering to move from his touch. But Duo removed his hands anyway.
"You got electrocuted and we didn't know if you'd live," said Duo as he looked to the floor sheepishly.
"I should be Okay," replied Katja with a fake expression of confidence. As she stood there a throbbing pain reeked havoc in her stomach and was getting to be too much to bear.
The both paused for a split second just enjoying each other's company. Then the silence was broken.
"Come on you two stop flirting in there!" Quatre called cheerfully.
With a start, Duo turned and yelled from the edge of the gate. "You'd better run Quatre, 'cuz when I get done with you, you're going to be hurtin'!!"
Duo turned back to face Katja and blushed a little with embarrassment.
"I'd better go if I'm going to catch him. I'll talk to you later," he said and then jumped down from the platform.
With a sigh, Katja watched Duo slowly float down to the deck and take off running after Quatre. As duo ran out of sight she turned and gazed into the cockpit.
How much closer will I get, I wonder, she thought as she looked into the cockpit as if it were an endless cave. With another sigh and a wince of pain, Katja took her own leap of faith to the floor and strolled to the Café for lunch.
Later that day, Duo and Quatre, who now sported a split lip, called a meeting.
"Quatre and I have been talking… and we don't think you should fight anymore," stated Duo as bluntly and as quickly as possible. After a short pause, Trowa, cured from his amnesia during a previous battle, spoke up with his thoughts.
"I agree. You shouldn't be put in harm's way. Even if you have experience,"
In a sudden burst of anger, Katja shouted, "You can't ground me!"
"We're not grounding you…" Quatre said, desperately trying to clam things down.
"We're not against you fighting. In fact, we like the help, but you're just not…" Quatre paused trying to find the right words to avoid confrontation.
"Strong enough," finished Heero shortly.
Katja whipped her head around and glared at Heero, amazed at what he just said. Taking every word they had said personally.
"Not strong enough? Where do you get that idea?" she snapped.
"Lets see…Well for one thing Katja, you can hardly walk across the room and for another if you keep doing what you did yesterday you won't survive long," explained Wufei in a snippy tone. "Amazingly enough we want to keep you around."
That should have come off as a complement but Katja didn't focus on that.
"I've still got enough strength to take care of you, Wufei," she bragged.
"Prove it," challenged Wufei.
"All right," she said as she strained to get up.
Realizing that Katja was so stubborn that she would fight him, and that she would get hurt, Duo jumped in.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Let's not and say we did," a panicked Duo nearly shouted as he bolted in between them.
Facing Katja, he put his hands on her shoulders and tried to lightly push her away from Wufei, and back in to her seat. But she wouldn't go.
"Nock it off, Duo!" she shouted as she pushed his hand from her shoulders.
"We're not going to fight about this. Let's try to make it fare," Quatre announced.
"How fair is five verses one?" Shouted Katja in defiance.
After this the volume in the room rose as everyone started to argue with each other, except for Heero and Trowa, who remained silent in their chairs in the corner. Then all of a sudden the silence was broken.
"Katja!" shouted Heero over the noise. At the sound of his voice everyone stopped arguing. "Katja, I've got a deal for you," he said.
"What's the deal?" she asked, stepping away from Duo.
"Well, two will fight. The first to pin the other to the ground wins," offered Heero.
"What are the terms?" inquired Katja, while considering the deal.
"One of us against you. If we win, you don't fight, if you win, well, looks like we've got some help," said Trowa.
After a short deliberation the decision was made.
"Deal," she said in a stern, serious voice.
Hearing the words uttered, Wufei began to rise from his chair once again, when Heero leapt out of his chair and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sure I'll meet you match," he said.
Understanding Heero's cause, Wufei took his seat and Heero regained his focus on her.
The two stood with eyes locked. Exchanging their "intimidating glares." Which worked for neither of them.
"Let's go," said Katja in a mildly cocky tone.
Once she said that Wufei, Trowa and Quatre started to move the chairs out of the way to create an area for them to fight in. While Heero and Katja went to opposite corners of the cleared space.
Katja reached her corner and started to take off a few bits of jewelry that she owned. She strung her mother's silver wedding ring, on to a silver chain with a cross hanging on the end that usually hung around her neck, but was placed in her pocket before she went to fight the day before. Duo, who followed her like a lost little puppy, tired to keep her from fighting.
"Katja, you can't do this," he urged. "Heero is nuts. He'll kill you if you get him going," he half whispered.
Getting more and more agitated Katja replied, in a forced calmness.
"Would you stop telling me I can't do something. I 'v heard it all my life and damn it, Duo, I'm going to do this!!"
What the heck is she talking about? he though, eyes widened with curiosity and confusion.Both of them stared at each other, eyes locked. Duo looking for a weakness to play upon and Katja, trying to stress the belief that she could do it.
"Fighters to the center," instructed Wufei, who arbitrarily became the referee.
The link between them was broken by his voice. And Duo, finding nothing to stop her, bowed his head, slowly shook it in worry and disbelief then walked away and sat in a chair to watch Katja fight.
With Duo out of her way, Heero and Katja walked to the center of the cleared area, where Wufei was standing ready to referee the match.
Upon command they bowed to each other, then prepared to fight. And with the second command the two converged into what closely resembled a street fight that went on for about three minutes.
At one point Heero knocked Katja down, and tried to hold her there. But they ended up rolling around on the floor; each struggling for footing so one could hold the other on the ground.
Seeing no progress, Wufei separated them and upon his command to begin, both Heero and Katja lunged with their left arms extended, in a direct route to each other's throat. And with the grip of a pit bull, hit their target, neither showing any sin of letting go.
"Okay guys, break," said Wufei calmly, but neither of them moved, their grips just got tighter.
"Break it up!" he shouted again and again they ignored him. Both of their lips were turning from a red to slightly blue/purple color and their eyelids were becoming heavy from the lack of blood.
"I'm calling the match a tie. NOW LET GO BOTH OF YOU!!!" yelled Quatre.
Neither heeding the words first spoken now shouted. Not thinking that they would move to quickly, for fear that they would give up ground, Duo stepped forward and addressed Katja.
"Katja, let go. It's a tie, we can wok something out. Just let go!" pleaded Duo.
With a muffled grunt Katja struggled out the words.
"I…will…not…"
With a sigh Duo stepped back, knowing all too well the breath he wasted when trying to reason with her. The small grunts of someone straining for breath was the only sound that came from them as they further cut off each other's airways. Finally, after teetering on the brink of passing out they tumbled to the floor.
"Catch them!" shouted Wufei as he realized that they were falling.
Trowa and Duo dove to brake Katja's fall while at the same time Quatre and Wufei did the same for Heero.
Once braced by the floor, Heero and Katja laid gasping for air.
In the middle of this struggle for breath Katja began to cough, a deep guttural cough that shakes the very bone in one's body. When the coughing ceased, she pulled her hand away from her mouth and found the palm covered in blood.
"What's wrong?" asked Duo as he kneeled by her side waiting to help her up.
"Nothing," she replied hoarsely still regaining her bearings. All the while she tried to put up the front that she was inspecting her mouth for a cut, that wasn't there. Katja knew where the blood came from or at least why it was there.
"What's in your hand?" Duo asked again, becoming sterner, like a father interrogating a child holding something behind their back that they shouldn't have.
"I said it was nothing," she responded again, becoming agitated.
Trowa reached down and grasped her wrist with his large strong hands squeezing it just enough that he unfolded her fingers with ease. When he saw what she was hiding, his usually stoic mask broke and his eyes became wide with horror.
"What is it?" asked Duo, becoming worried after seeing Trowa's reaction.
Trowa turned her wrist to show him. Duo's eyes filled with fear. Hastily Katja gave him an excuse. "I bit my cheek when I fell. That's all," she said calmly, not bothering to try to pull her hand away. But that didn't deter his eyes. His look was one of question and worry.
"Here's a towel," said Quatre as he tossed a white cloth on her lap.
Trowa let go of her hand so she could clean it off.
"Thanks," said Katja as she took the towel and started to wipe of her hand.
"Lets get you off the cold floor," said Trowa. He and Duo then put their hands under her arms and lifted her to her feet once there Duo dipped under her right arm for support. The instant Katja started to move she got very dizzy. To the point that Duo and Trowa had to keep her steady. The time had come and she knew it.
"Good fight," said Heero as he reached out his hand for her to shake.
No matter how hard Katja tried she couldn't grasp his hand. She is seeing four of them and when Katja finally reached for the fourth one she got his hand, lightly shook it, and weakly smiled.
Oh no! It's affected my eyes, she thought.
After that Katja turned from Trowa and Duo and faced the doorway, and almost fainted then Trowa and Duo caught her. The only thing she knew was that she desperately needed to get to bed, but Duo beat her to the announcement. "Better get you to bed," he said.
"I'll help you," offered Trowa.
"Na, I've got her," said Duo as he led her staggering to the doorway and down the hall. When they reached Katja's quarters, Duo opened the door, and Katja immediately hobbled to her bed, sat down and just stared at the floor. Duo smiled at her, closed the door and walked over.
"Too tired to lift up your legs are ya?" he said jokingly.
Katja didn't respond, but just sat there in exhausted bliss. She didn't want to move because she knew that it would hurt. The pain will come again. An unbearable throbbing that wouldn't go away.
Duo got tired of waiting for a response, reached down, picked up her legs, swung them around and gently laid them on the bed.
Katja went along with the movements and laid her head down on the pillow.
"You just rest. You need it," said Duo as he covered her with a blanket. There was a long pause like he was sorting out what would be appropriate to say, while he pulled more blankets on top of her.
"You should have never fought Heero. I knew that you would get hurt," he said solemnly while covering her up.
"Please don't scold me," whispered Katja weakly. Her health had severely deteriorated since before the fight, it showed and she knew it.
"Oh, so you can talk," Duo said mockingly as he looked her directly in the eye and smiled.
"Stop it, Duo," Katja ordered quietly and half-heartedly.
"Well at least you didn't fight Wufei. He would have really messed you up," he said as reassuringly as possible as he sat down on the edge of the bed like a father tucking in his child and waited for a response.
"I just bit my cheek that's all," she lied but still to tired to argue.
"Well I don't care what you say. You're staying in bed for at least three days. Then we can argue over your health," ordered Duo.
Three days! I won't survive that long, thought Katja as she lay there.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said as he got up and headed to the door.
Not wishing to be alone when death possibly came to call, Katja gave in to her feelings. "Wait, Duo," she weakly called. "Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?"
With a warm smile Duo granted her wish and pulled a chair up to her bedside. Katja reached for his hand and he gave it to her. Feeling the warmth of his hand in hers and just knowing that he was there cause her to swiftly to go to sleep.
Once he was sure that Katja was asleep Duo took his hand from hers, then slowly and quietly left the room and closed the door. As he turned from the door, he jumped at the sight of Heero standing on the other side of the hall.
"Jeeze, Heero!" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here?" asked Duo as he relaxed from the initial shock, in a hissing whisper.
"I came to see Katja," she said rather bluntly. "How is she?"
Duo relaxed a little more then replied. "I don't know," he paused, clearly distressed. "It's like her will to live was exerted in the fight."
"I'll talk to her," said Heero.
"She just fell asleep," protested Duo in a protective tone.
Heero just stood there with a determined look to his face. Duo knew that look and that it meant that Heero was going to do what ever he damn well pleased.
"Fine. Just…if she wakes up, it's not my fault," said Duo as he reluctantly walked away.
Heero quietly opened the door and stepped in. He walked over to Katja's bedside and sat in the chair that Duo hadn't put away, sat down and just watched her sleep.
Slowly, as if she knew he was there, Katja woke up and weakly smiled at Heero.
"You've gotten worse," he said gravely.
"I know," she responded weakly.
"When was your last transfusion?" Heero asked.
"About seven months ago."
They both paused. Katja intentionally didn't get a transfusion earlier, but he didn't need to know that, it was none of his business. Heero's expression was like looking at a stonewall, nothing could break though.
"Well find a donor. There has to be someone with the same blood type," he said with the first sound of panic she had ever heard in his voice. Katja knew he was feeling distraught.
"There aren't enough people on the ship Heero. The ratio is too small," Katja paused and finally decided to express her feelings. "Just let me go. I've lived on borrowed time long enough."
"No Katja. You still have at least six months left to live. …I won't let you give into this disease," ordered Heero.
With a sigh of weariness Katja gave in. " Do what you must then, I know I can't stop you,"
Heero stood up and walked out of the room leaving her to rest.
Once outside Quatre stopped him before he could walk away. "What was that all about?" asked Quatre who was just passing by and heard them.
"Get everyone in the Café. I've got to tell you guys something," ordered Heero.
Within ten minutes the Gundam pilots were assembled in the Café.
"Quiet down!" ordered Heero. "I've got something to tell you."
Everyone stopped talking and listened.
"Katja is very ill," he began. "She was born with a deadly disease of the blood. Her body doesn't make enough blood to keep her alive," he paused as he looked around the room at all the amazed faces.
"Every six months she has to get a blood transfusion. Right now she's really pushing it by finishing off her seventh month," he paused again. "If we don't find a donor soon she is going to die."
The room was silent, only stunned faces screamed disbelief. How could she hide it for so long?
"So what do we do?" inquired Quatre.
"Everyone on the sip must have blood drawn and tested for a certain type. It's that blood that allows her to live for so long," answered Heero.
Everyone was sitting there listening intently to Heero, except Duo. He was sitting there with his head lowered fighting back the tears of fear that he had for Katja.
"Duo, are you all right?" asked Quatre as he placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
With a sudden fury that he rarely revealed, he shook off his hand and stormed out of the room and down the hall to the suite hanger. Leaving Heero and the others to their meeting.
"HOWARD!!" shouted Duo as he entered the room.
"Hey Duo, how's it going?" greeted Howard, the ship's captain, as he road a control platform down to the floor, where Duo jumped on.
"We need to do blood tests on everyone on the ship. We're looking for a donor," said Duo, leaning over a bank of controls, fighting his emotions.
"What for Duo, we have blood reserves?" asked Howard.
"We need a specific type that isn't in the bank," said Duo, not looking up from the control panel, still concentrating on the fact that the time he just spent with Katja could have been his last. With that, Howard ordered the men and women to assemble and have blood drawn.
Quatre and Trowa worked for an entire day drawing blood and testing it. Out of all the hundreds of men and women on board not one came close to being a usable donor.
The last to be tested were the Gundam pilots.
"Duo, you're up," called Quatre.
At the sound of his voice, Duo's eyes became wide with fear.
"No way I hate needles," he said as he slowly got out of his chair in an attempt to make a break for it.
"Oh come on Duo, it's just a needle," said Quatre.
"Whoa no! You're gonn a have to knock me out before you stick me with that!" panicked Duo.
By this time all four of the other pilots were surrounding Duo like a pack of hyenas stalking their pray, forcing Duo to back into a corner, Quatre among them with a syringe ready. While they slowly advanced, Quatre handed Wufei the rubber band to tie around his arm.
"Duo it's just a little prick that's all," coaxed Quatre.
"I said no. That's final," ordered Duo as his back reached the wall.
"What if you're the one, Duo? The one with the blood we need?" called Quatre, hoping to play on his emotions.
"Well put me under before you do it. I hate needles!" Duo answered, not buying it.
Getting tired of negotiations, Heero made a quick movement towards Duo. Startled, Duo took a quick step towards Wufei, who, with rubber strap in hand, pounced on Duo, followed by the others, and tied the rubber band to his right arm. Pinning it to the ground with one knee on the wrist and holding his shoulder to the wall.
Surprised by the sudden attack Duo began to flail his limbs, trying to kick them off.
"Now Quatre!" shouted Trowa while he was struggling to hold Duo's legs and torso still, in spite of his strength.
"No! Don't!!" came a muffled cry from Duo, still fighting to free his arm from Wufei's grip.
"I can't do it. He's bouncing around too much," called Quatre.
Realizing that they weren't going to be able to hold him for long, Heero took matters into his own hands and brought his right forearm across Duo's face and pinned his head against the wall. With his head pinned, Duo couldn't move.
"Duo, listen to me!" he shouted.
The struggling stopped and he paid attention.
"Either you hold still or I'm going to knock you out the hard way. Now let Quatre do this and we're done," he ordered with a hint of agitation.
Taking advantage of Duo remaining still, Trowa locked his hands around Duo's hips and entwined his left leg with Duo's right, while Wufei held Duo's arm tighter while Quatre drew the blood.
"Done," said Quatre triumphantly.
With that one word spoken, something inside of Duo snapped. He got an enormous amount of strength and with one monstrous kick into Trowa and Quatre, they went flying across the room. A split second later he swung his arms and tossed Wufei and Heero into the pile, then stormed out of the room. The rubber strap still tied around his arm.
