Weeks passed and there was still no improvement. The war was almost over; all that was left to do was to clean out the loyalists and some of Cassius’ generals.
Alexis and David had postponed their wedding until there was definite news about Jason’s condition.
Heero and Relena were stuck in a moral dilemma: pull the plug on Jason or keep him alive, in a coma and brain-dead.
Helen had not left his side in 3 weeks. During that period she had a lot of time to think. The thought of losing Jason seemed beyond unbearable. If he left, so would she…
She hardly ate at all, even though people did bring her food. She was losing a lot of weight, and was always tired and cold. The doctors put her on iron supplements and vitamins, but they didn’t help much. For everyone’s sake, they all hoped Jason would come out of it soon.
~~
Helen had fallen asleep curled around Jason. Her head was resting on the inside of his shoulder, but she didn’t feel it at first when something stirred beneath her.
But after a moment, her senses told her something was wrong and she woke up. She looked at Jason and didn’t believe her own eyes at first. Jason’s head was turned to the side and he was looking straight at her, his eyes completely unblinking.
“Jason…?” She gasped, “Oh god Jason, please do something other than sit there and drool at me…” If he’s brain-dead I don’t know what I’ll do…
“I can’t help it,” He answered in a scratchy, weak voice, “You’re just so damn cute…”
Helen’s mouth fell open in shock. “JASON! YOU’RE OK!” She screamed.
“Quick, how many fingers am I holding up?” She had to be sure. She held up three fingers.
“Six…no wait, I’m seeing doubles, three.”
Helen smiled and leapt from the bed. “I’ll be right back! Don’t go anywhere!” She was gone from the room in an instant.
What the hell…? He thought.
~~~
Seth, Joel, Jasmine and Indigo were sitting in the lounge when Helen came racing in.
The group blinked at the blue-haired girl as she caught her breath.
“Helen?” Jasmine asked, “Why aren’t you with Jason?”
“You guys have to come quick! Where is the doctor?”
Jasmine pointed numbly in the direction of the doctor’s dressing room.
“Thanks,” Helen ran out as quickly as she had come.
“Oh my God…something’s happened to Jason!” Indigo choked. The group bolted from their chairs and dashed towards the medical wing.
~~~
Jason was surprised at how quickly the room filled up. Just about every single person he knew – and a few he didn’t – had come to see him.
From the center of the group his mother came running out and latched onto him protectively.
“Jason! We thought you were going to die!” Relena wept.
“That kid’s as tough as you are,” Duo said merrily as he slapped Heero on the back and then made his way over to Jason’s side. “Lookin’ good, kid.” He grinned.
Jason only smiled and nodded back.
“We were worried about you!” Quatre quipped.
“Amazing recovery.” Midii agreed. Soon everyone was talking about how Jason had somehow inherited his father’s ability to live through anything.
Jason didn’t pay any attention to them at all. He was searching the crowd for someone specific.
“She’s right over there,” Duo winked and nudged him playfully. He pointed her out, leaning lazily against the doorjamb, her blue-black braid hanging over her shoulder.
Jason sighed; it didn’t look like Helen would be coming over any time soon. Still, he knew that she would not leave his side.
~
As the time passed, the crowd grew smaller and smaller until finally even his own family decided to leave him alone.
Finally, Jason thought, relieved. He was getting really tired, and he still hadn’t been able to talk to Helen.
He glanced over his shoulder and saw her coming his way.
“Hey Jason,” She said softly as she sat down next to him. “How are you feeling?” She kept her head down, but Jason could see a hint of red in her cheeks. Was she embarrassed about showing some form of compassion towards him?
“Just fine,” Jason answered, “A little tired though,”
Helen nodded, but said nothing.
“So…” Jason started, “It’s finally over, huh?”
“Pretty much…we can go back to our own lives again.”
“I don’t want to,”
“Huh?” Helen looked up at him in shock.
“Not without you.” He finished.
“Jason…” Helen rolled her eyes. “Stop trying to be romantic, you suck at it.”
“Okay,” Jason laughed, “So what’s going to happen to Brittney?”
Helen cringed at the sound of her name. “She’s being sent to penal colony 1-975. She’ll never be released.”
“And Cassius?”
“The best mental institute in the known universe.” Helen chuckled. “Somewhere up on L6.”
Jason laughed as well. “I would have loved to have seen her face. I wonder how she’s taking it…?”
~~~
The young doctor looked down at his new patient.
The Preventors had sent her to them earlier that morning.
He took a long look at her and shook his head in despair. It was obvious that the young woman had once been very beautiful, but now…
She had taken scissors to her once long, silvery locks, and she had stopped eating. Her limbs were thin and sinewy and her skin hung off her bones in loose folds. Dark circles encased her eyes and all the way up her arms were cuts and bite marks. What’s worse, the poor girl had nothing to look forward to. Once she recovered, if she ever did, she was to be sent to penal colony 1-975.
“Name: Cassius Matatara,” He made a few notes and told the orderlies to put her in.
“YOU BASTARDS WON’T GET AWAY WITH THIS!” She screamed. “LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO ME!” She kicked and screamed in her restraints and the orderlies struggled to keep control of her.
They tossed her into the starchy white padded room, leaving her sitting on the floor, raging in the strait jacket.
She continued screaming.
“Give her a sedative,” The doctor ordered, “And remember that she is on a strict diet. We’ll begin therapy immediately.”
“YOU’LL PAY!” Cassius continued. She stumbled up to the door and glared through the tiny food slot. Her piercing eyes stared accusingly at the doctor and the two orderlies.
“You will pay for the sins of your past, doc-tor.” She chuckled hauntingly, “And those little children too. They’ll never get away from me.” She sat down on the floor and started to rock.
“You’re gonna pa-ay…you’re gonna pa-ay…” She sing-songed.
The doctor ran his hands through his short black hair and sighed before he turned and started to walk down the hallway.
Behind him, her hollow voice still echoed.
“You’re gonna pa-ay…you’re gonna pa-ay…”
