Operation: Lost Boys Part 3

Trowa woke slowly early the next morning. He was hardly surprised to find that Quatre wasn't beside him. Sunrise was a little under an hour away, and the Arabian was probably eating a huge breakfast at the moment. He stood up and put his robe on before heading downstairs. When he neared the dining hall, he was surprised to hear several voices. He walked in and blinked at the sight of the 'Core, as he called the Maguanac.

Quatre noticed Trowa and smiled. "Good morning, Trowa! I hope I didn't wake you up!"

Trowa smiled as he sat in a convenient empty chair next to Quatre. "It was more like your absence that woke me, little one. How are you feeling?"

Rashid frowned in concern. "Have you been ill, Master Quatre?"

Quatre shook his head. "No. I just did a little too much yesterday. It wore me out last evening, but I'm fine now." Out of politeness, he stood as Wendy walked in followed by three technicians.

Wendy smiled at Quatre and sat down as well. "Good morning, everyone. As soon as breakfast is finished, my friends here will lead you to the Mosque which is on the grounds."

Quatre blinked. "You built a Mosque? Why?"

Wendy giggled at Quatre's tone. "There are all sorts of places of worship on the grounds. I built them for the volunteers who are helping me out. It was the very least I could do."

Quatre smiled at Wendy and finished his tea. "What are you doing up this early?"

"I have my own things to do... there's a pile of replies I have to read." She turned to Trowa. "If you have nothing better to do, you can help me out."

Trowa frowned. "Replies? Replies for what?"

Wendy grinned as she sipped her own tea. "About a month ago, I sent a letter out to every kid we found a home for asking them what they would want if they could have anything in the solar system. It's a ten year anniversary since my mother and I started this shindig, and I thought I'd do something special."

Trowa merely nodded. "Sounds interesting, and I have nothing better to do."

*****

Quatre looked around, his bare feet feeling as if he had just walked across shards of glass, they were so cold. But what could you expect after walking through snow to get to the Mosque. Everything within the Mosque was as it should have been. Wendy obviously hired someone that knew what he was doing.

Quatre let the thoughts drift away, it wasn't truly important. He began the ceremony called, Al-wudhu. "Allah." He said, speaking the name of God. He followed Rashid and the others over to the washing area a group of what looked like sinks set into the floor. He washed his hands, followed by his mouth, his nostrils and face. Next he washed his arms from the wrist to elbow, the right arm first, before he washed his head and ears. Last he washed both of his feet up to the ankles. It was ceremony, something always done upon entering the Mosque.

Once again Quatre followed Rashid and the other Maguanac. This time they went further into the Mosque. The prayer began in the standing position, to show that he was listening to Allah, and wanted Allah to hear the prayer. The opening verses of the Koran were said, "~Allah is great.~" Of course the entire prayer is said in Arabic, as it is the language of the Koran.

Quatre bowed to show respect to Allah. Then he touched the ground with his forehead, knees, nose and palms of the hands. This he did twice. At the end of the prayer, Quatre knelt to pray for Muhammad and all Muslims. Then he turned his head to the right and left saying, "~Peace be on you and Allah's blessings.~" He could hear the others saying that as well, and smiled, kindly.

This had been a good idea of Wendy's to have this place built. Muslims thought of the Mosque as the center of many activities. It was almost crucial to a devout follower's way of life. She gave so much without asking for something in return, which was why people flocked to her cause. When the prayers were over, he sent a last one for Wendy... that she might know peace and happiness.

*****

"Here's another one."

Wendy blinked as Duo held out the letter. "So far... every single one... has said much the same thing." Her eyes started to fill with tears and she caressed one of the letters. "Such sweet kids."

Wufei stuck his head in. "So there you are. What's this about sweet kids?"

Duo held up yet another letter. "Wendy sent out a letter to the kids she found homes for asking them what they wanted if they could have anything in the solar system. So far... each kid has basically said that he or she wants Wendy to get her Christmas wish... and that THAT is what they'll be wishing for this year."

By this time, Wendy had covered her mouth with both hands to hold back her sobs.

Trowa placed his hand on her shoulder. "I can understand how they feel. You've been denied that which you've given to so many. You can add my wishes to the list." He blinked as Wendy threw her arms around him and sobbed whole-heartedly. "What? What did I say?"

"If... if only w-wishes would make it t-true!" She sniffled and resumed crying broken heartedly. "It's been over ten YEARS! And... and I MISS HIM!!!" If she said anything after that, it was incoherent through her sobs.

Duo felt a swell of sympathy for the girl. He knew longing all too well. Longing for a home... for a family. "Hey... don't give up hope just yet. I know that if I had any family out there, I'd want them to keep the search up. Whoever you're looking for is really lucky that you cling to the hope that he's okay."

Wendy partially glared at Duo, the effect ruined by the pain in her eyes. "I am NOT giving up on him! I will NEVER give up! Until someone can prove that he died, I will cling to every shred of hope that he is alive."

Duo held his hands up defensively. "Oi! I didn't mean it like that, Wendy lady!"

Wendy couldn't help herself, she giggled at the reference to the book. "You're terrible!" Then she sniffled once more. "But I thank you for trying to cheer me up."

Duo pouted a little. "You mean it didn't work? Darn it!"

Wendy shook her head with a chuckle and stood up. "I'll finish reading these later." She brushed her bangs away from her face. "Although it looks like they all say the same thing." She sighed and turned from the group. "If you'll all excuse me... I'd like to be by myself for a little while."

Duo watched as Wendy left the room. 'Hn! She is practically screaming for someone to really talk to. I might as well be the one who annoys her into talking.' He waited about five minutes, then went in search of their mysterious hostess.

*****

There was a slight breeze that nipped at her face as Wendy sat in her little niche on the roof. It was like a miniature gazeebo. She went there whenever she needed to think... to be alone. The breeze stung her cheek where her tears had left a trail of moisture.

"Hey, Wendy lady! You'll freeze if you stay out here too long." Duo looked around and whistled. "Woah! What a view! It must be gorgeous in the autumn with the leaves turning brown... and the spring..."

Wendy glanced at Duo briefly. "Yeah... the summer, too. What are you doing up here, Maxwell? I won't play Heero to your Relena."

Duo turned to Wendy, feeling slightly insulted, but his annoyance vanished when he saw the real distress in her face. "Those letters hit you hard, huh? Look... I'm not stalking you. I like to know every nook and cranny of places." He sat down on a small bench opposite from the one she was sitting on. "Hell... I'd probably hack into Heero's laptop if I didn't know that he'd beat me to a pulp for it."

"So it's just coincidence that you just happen to pop up ten minutes after I leave saying I want to be alone." She glanced at Duo. "Why? Do you want to know every nook and cranny in my head as well?"

Duo shrugged. "Only if you want to tell me, but whenever I say I want to be alone, usually I want someone to come after me... to listen to my problems. So far... that hasn't happened, and I've been left to deal with my own heartaches." He smiled sadly. "I figured that... I could at least offer a friendly ear. Maybe it won't hurt so much if you tell someone what's bothering you. I AM a good listener when I'm not the one who has to do all the talking."

Wendy's defenses dropped. "All right..." She sighed and rested her chin on her knees. "Only if you share something painful with me first."

Duo stared at the girl. "Oh-KAY!" He sighed and leaned against the trellis. "Let's see... you already know about the Maxwell Church." He bit his lip and sighed sadly. "There is something... that I doubt the others know about." He paused before starting. "When I first got to the L-2 cluster, I was just another street urchin. Begging for scraps and doing whatever it took to keep me alive. When the first winter hit, I was close to freezing to death. No food, no money... and nowhere to go. That's how I was found by Solo, the leader of a group of war orphans... starving and half dead." He had to swallow the lump in his throat. "He nursed me back to health. The kids all looked up to him because he was a little older than the rest of us ... he was like a protective older brother." He paused when Wendy let out a small whimper. He wondered what he had said, then shrugged as he continued. "Anyway... he took me under his wing and took care of me. He got me out of a lot of tight situations. Then the plague came... naturally the Federation made up a vaccine to counteract the virus, but only the Feds and the more wealthy colonists were able to get a hold of the vaccine. The poor, like us street rats, were dropping off left and right. When Solo contracted the disease, I tossed all caution to the wind and stole enough of the vaccine for the kids and for Solo... but not for me." He saw the look of confusion on Wendy's face. "I was a liability... always getting into trouble."

Duo couldn't bear sitting any longer, so he got up and started pacing. "I got the vaccine to all the kids, including Solo. In Solo's case, however, I was too late. By the time I reached him, the vaccine had no effect." He sneered with self-loathing. "I gave the vaccine to the kids, then just waited to get sick myself. Ironically enough, I never got so much as a headache. I attributed it as Solo's spirit watching over me." He gazed out at the distance. "That's when I named myself Duo... feeling that Solo would always watch over me." He sighed. "I don't even really remember my real name anymore. After Solo died, it was up to me to look after the recovering kids. They admired me for sticking my neck out for them and considered me their new leader. Fat lot of good I did. I nearly got them killed during our last run by robbing a Federation base. They sent us to Maxwell Church. After a while, the other kids got adopted, but people didn't like the fact that I had a mind of my own... so I kept getting sent back like an unwanted piece of trash." It still hurt to remember people who wouldn't even try to understand him. Then he turned to Wendy. "Your turn."

Wendy sighed. "It's not as tragic as your story, but I'm looking for my brother. When the explosions started, I wanted to wait for him to come home, but there was no time. As it was, I nearly got myself and my mother killed by tallying behind and looking for signs of him. The Federalists found us as we were boarding the shuttle. My father shoved my mother and myself onto the shuttle. The Federalists killed him right in front of us. They nearly managed to board the shuttle when it took off." Her eyes grew sad. "My mother hasn't been quite all there since then. She's a little delusional, and has managed to convince herself that my father is still alive, and on a business trip, and that my brother is either somewhere playing or at school. They locked her up in a mental hospital, thinking her a danger to society. I only see her at Christmastime, and every year I fight to keep her with me. So far, I've failed." She shrugged. "That's all there is to it. For years, the few butt kissers that got close enough to me to try calling me their friend have learned my reason and told me to give up... that he has to be dead. Needless to say, they were never welcome in my home again."

Duo gazed at her. "So that's what your wish is? That you find your brother?" When she nodded, he shrugged. "I guess I'll put a wish in for you. I never made a Christmas wish, so I guess my wish would carry more weight."

Wendy smiled at him. "Thanks. Even if it doesn't come true, I really appreciate it." She looked into the distance. "Although... I have the strangest feeling this year. I feel that he's close... so I have more hope this year than I've had for years. Maybe this is the year. He'd be old enough to watch over other kids. We always encourage older kids to come, too. Why should little kids be the only ones to get homes?"

Duo smiled. "So... this brother... is he older or younger than you?"

Wendy smiled back. "He's a little older and never let me forget it." She fell back into a melancholy mood. "I doubt if he'll even remember me... if he'll resent me for having mom while he had no one... or has he been adopted? What if he no longer wants us because he has a new family? Then there are the doubts. He could be out there somewhere... sick and hurt with nothing to wear except rags. I don't know if I'd even know him if and when I saw him. What if I find him too late, and he's already dead like people say?"

Duo sat next to her. "C'mere!" He didn't normally go for the sentimental junk, but he pulled Wendy into his arms as she sobbed quietly. He liked her. They were kindred spirits... two people who hid their pain behind masks of cheerfulness. "Man... if your brother doesn't appreciate all the trouble and heartache you're going through when you find him, then he doesn't deserve to have you as a sister."

Wendy calmed quickly and kissed Duo on the cheek. "Thank you. You were right, sharing helped. I think I'll go inside now. It should be about lunch time." She stood up and held a hand out to help him up. "I think there's two cups of cocoa calling our names. If you want, I can teach you how to play chess."

Duo grinned and accepted the hand. "Sounds good. It'll give Wufei something to laugh at." He watched as Wendy opened the door to the attic and climbed down the ladder. 'Wherever you are, dude... I envy you! A guy couldn't ask for a sweeter sister.' He shook his head and closed his eyes against the flitting images that ran through his head. He sighed and climbed down the ladder himself.

TBC...

 

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