The Lantern Holder

Chapter 7

By Aryn

"Vitals are strong." Iria said.

"The download is halfway through." Sally answered.

Both women gazed down at the two bodies on the operating tables. Both appeared to be deep in a peaceful sleep. Iria stopped by the redheaded body and brushed a few stray locks off the forehead.

"Do you think Quatre's doing this for her because he loves her?" Iria asked Sally.

"Quatre's one of the most unselfish, caring people in the world." Sally responded. "He would do this for anyone, if he loved them or not."

Iria nodded her head in agreement but she still felt, deep down, that her brother had fallen in love with this shattered soul. She had to admit to herself, as much as she didn't want to, that her little brother was growing up. Her words from four years ago drifted back to her memory. She remembered with painstaking detail, the final time she had seen her father alive, in his office on the L-4 colony. He had been berating Quatre for his fighting in the Gundam. He had even gone as far as telling him that he was going to fail as an heir to the Winner fortune. And Quatre had held his tongue during the conversation, which was when Iria stepped in to her brother defense.

"I think he'll make a great heir." she had said. Iria looked over to the window where observers could look in on the operation. She could see Quatre's concerned face as he peered into the room. She was glad she had been right.

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Trowa walked into the observation room and immediately saw his friend standing by the window, arms crossed tightly against his chest.

"If you want to stand any closer, you'll be in the operating room." Trowa quietly teased.

"I can't help but worry right now." Quatre answered. "I keep asking myself if this was a mistake. What if she doesn't come out of it? What if something goes wrong with the download?"

"What if you were killed in the up coming battle? Or any of the past ones?" Trowa cut in. "If we asked ourselves those questions, we would never leave our homes. Risk is what got us this far."

Quatre returned his troubled gaze back to prone forms on the slabs of metal, doubts still filtering through his mind. He couldn't lose her, not yet, not this way. Trowa regarded the blond thoughtful. He was used to his friend's concern for others, but somehow, this time was different. He seemed too concerned. It was then that the reason came to him.

"You love her, don't you?" Trowa asked point blank.

Quatre remained fixed on the red head on the operating table. "Yes, I do."

"Quatre." Trowa said lowly, trying to get his friend's attention. Reluctantly, Quatre turned to faced the taller boy. When Trowa thought he had Quatre's attention, he continued.

"She will be in Inazuma's body. That might cause her personality to change. There is a possibility she won't be the same person that you love."

"She was able to keep her gentle spirit for years in a unfeeling body. Being placed in a human body shouldn't change anything." Quatre defended.

"Her personality may not change, but it is not guaranteed. Be prepared." Trowa gently warned.

Quatre reluctantly nodded his head in understanding. "I'm sorry. I just want to believe that everything is going to be all right. But for some reason, I feel like something is going to go wrong."

"Nari knew what the danger was when she placed herself in Sally and Iria's hands. Besides, if I was in her place, I would see death as a release, not something to be feared."

"I don't want to be left alone." Quatre winced as the words left his mouth. He hadn't meant to sound selfish, but those seven little words summed up everything he had felt for the past few years. He was willing to step back from Arys for Heero. He was not so willing to step back from Nari for anyone, or anything, not even death.

Trowa hadn't realized the extent of Quatre's feelings. He had been so consumed with his own thoughts and feelings for the past few months that the slight, quiet changes in his friend had gone unnoticed. He mentally kicked himself for not noticing. Trowa gently laid a hand on Quatre's shoulder.

"Nari's a lot stronger than we're giving her credit for." he told Quatre. "In fact, I think she's stronger than she gives herself credit for."

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Sally followed Iria into the observation room where Trowa and Quatre sat, both anxiously awaiting the doctors. The two friends jumped to their feet as soon as the two women walked into the room. Iria immediately held up her hands to halt any questions her little brother might have had.

"The procedure went extremely well." Iria said, calming both the boys down. "The download is complete and the human body has strong vital signs."

"We've moved the body into a make-shift Intensive Care Unit where we're waiting for her to wake up." Sally continued. "But, everything is going to be amplified, by thousands of times. Touch, sight, sound and smell is going to be so intense that at times it might be painful."

"How long will that last?" Quatre asked.

"Not for long." Iria answered. "At most, two days."

"Can I see her?"

"Sure." Iria said, leading the way to the ICU.