The Closing Curtain
By
Captain Anonymous


Lt. Norton walked through the crowds of people, as they filed out of the main circus tent.

The show was over; it had better than anyone could have hoped for.

The crowds of people, the parents and children all wandered out, still talking about what they had seen, recounting favorite and thrilling moments among themselves.

No one paid any attention to Lt. Norton, as he moved past the crowds of people.

He had seen the entire show, taking special note of when the girl with the knives would come out.

She had appeared several times that night during the show. Everything from bareback riding, to knife throwing to even the high wire acts.

Norton moved away from the crowds of people as they flood the exits and the pathway to the other attractions, and walked towards the back area where the trailers were parked.
There was no security. Norton walked slowly through the area, looking around the open areas.

A flood of performers filed past, all moving along to their trailers to rest for the night, and change out of their sweat drenched costumes.
Norton watched the group; most of them were clowns, no sign of the young woman.

Norton took a deep breathe, and turned to his side. He caught sight of her coming out of the tent, walking towards his direction, back to her trailer.
Catherine didn't think anything of the young man standing before her, likely just some member of the audience that had wandered away.

Norton turned to face her, and took a step towards her. "Hello," his voice was tense, nervous as he spoke. "I saw your show tonight, you were great out there."
Catherine looked at man; there was something familiar about him.
She said, "Thank you."
Suddenly she recognized him, as one of the Preventers that Trowa had worked with.
She looked at him for a moment, she had seen him a few times, she was certain that he had worked with Trowa at some point, after Ordway had been killed. She never recalled meeting him when Ordway was working at the Agency.
Trowa must not have been very close to him, unlike Ordway and Mitchell. She never remembered him even mentioning this man.
Only seeing him a few times.
She was fairly certain she had heard his name at some point, and fished her mind to see if she could recall it. But she couldn't.
She spoke in a tired voice, most of her energy expended during the show, "I'm glad you enjoyed the show."
The way he looked, it vaguely reminded her of Ordway. She took a deep breathe, and closed her eyes for a moment, and felt a chill go through her body.
There was something about this man……………

She heard a voice call for her, from the others. Both heard it and looked in the direction of the trailers parked in the back.
Catherine moved away from him, "Excuse me, please." As she walked passed.

"Wait, uh, um, sure…………"

Norton stood alone, watching her disappear into the maze of trailers and people.

He stood for a moment, uncertain of what he should do next. He wanted to follow her, and wait outside for her, but he knew he couldn't do that. He turned slowly and walked back.

----------------

Trowa and Midii waited in the crowded terminal, watching the large display of flights that were coming in.
Midii held Marie in her arms, as she watched the display screen, intently waiting for the particular flight to arrive. She looked at Trowa, at his expressionless face, as he too stared at the screen, to flight 431's entry.
Midii spoke softly, "I really hope it isn't delayed again. With weather we've been having, it's hard to believe it ever got delayed really in the first place."
Trowa looked at his watch then back up at the board. "I think it should be on time now."
Trowa saw the screen change, as the flight's status was changed to arrive.

Midii smiled, "Look's like they're here now."

Trowa nodded, a light smile came to his face, "Let's go."

They walked together to the gate.

"It's been so long since we've all together like this. It'll be good to spend some time together."
Trowa nodded, staying silent.

They arrived at the gate just as the passengers had come from the gate, walking through the open spaces, meeting loved ones or business associates.

They stood in the crowd, watching the people come in.

Trowa turned, and caught site of them.

"There they are." He said a light smile still on his normally cold face.

Midii turned and caught sight of Sylvia as she came through the gate.
Sylvia instantly saw Midii and quickly moved the crowds and towards her.
"Midii! Trowa!" There was an excited sound in her voice.
Sylvia said, "It's been so long, it's so good to see you both."
Midii said, "It's good to see you, how was your flight?"
Sylvia said, "Aside from a few delays, it was a pleasant trip."
Sylvia looked at her friends, it seemed like it had been a life time since she had seen them.

Her attention was quickly snared away by Marie.
"I can't believe just how big she's gotten."
Midii touched the small Angel's long blonde hair, moving the fine silk-like strands away from her face.
Midii carefully, let Sylvia hold her.
"I can't believe just how much she looks like you, Midii."

Trowa looked past Sylvia, towards the crowd. Mitchell moved past the people, towards them, working his way slowly towards them.
Midii looked at Mitchell, "Hi Joel."
Mitchell bowed his head slightly, "Midii, Trowa."
Trowa looked at his old comrade. It almost didn't look like the same person. He had more color in his skin, he appeared that he had been eating more, and seemed far more healthy then the Preventer Captain he had once known.
Mitchell turned to Trowa as Midii and Sylvia beamed over Marie.
"It's good to see you Trowa."
"It's been a while."
Mitchell nodded, "I know. I'm glad we could make out to see you."
Mitchell stood aside with Trowa, as Midii and Sylvia talked about Marie, and fussed over her.
"It's been a while since I've been to see the Major."
Trowa said, "I'm sure he'd understand."
Mitchell looked at Trowa, "Thanks."

They walked back through the terminal, together back out to the parking lots.
Sylvia walked beside her husband, as she glanced over at Midii and Trowa.
She knew there would be time to talk to Midii later, about what she still kept from him.
Maybe Midii could help her, she needed to tell someone. She never wanted to wait this long, but it just seemed so hard for her to do so.
She still worried that Joel would find some other way, somehow, and it would end up hurting him even more.


She looked at Trowa, as he held the small angel with the green eyes.
She took a deep breathe.
She never wanted it be like this. Maybe now would be the best time, when they were both close. She would be able to tell him before would go back home, back to Sicily.
She knew she could trust Midii and Trowa if they knew.
Sylvia didn't say word until they got outside.

------------

Johnnie sat on the edge of the bed as he watched Marlene get dressed.
His eyes were fixed on her every motion as she prepared herself.
She looked at him, at his tired eyes, as he sat quietly. His hand was still bandaged.
She really didn't want to leave him tonight, but she had already promised Quatre that she would go with him and Dorothy tonight.
It was going to be a gathering, many important investors in her family's business would be there, and it was important that they would make a favorable impression.
He had been better, she would have taken Johnnie, but in his condition, he wasn't in any shape to do much of anything. He didn't eat as much, and still wasn't sleeping well at all.
Marlene looked at her lover and said, "You should try and get some rest while I'm gone. Most of my brother's body guards won't be around, so it should be pretty quiet here."
Johnnie still hadn't slept very well in the past few weeks.
Marlene still worried about him; she didn't like seeing him like this.
Johnnie heard her soft words, but didn't respond.
"Are you going to back and see your sister tonight?" she asked.
Johnnie said, "Not tonight. Probably tomorrow. I don't think I can get back there on my own tonight."
Marlene said, "I'm not sure what time I'll be back tonight, I don't think that it will be very late. I might try and sneak off if I can."
Johnnie said, "I'll be here when you get back, tonight at least."
Marlene smiled, as she stood by the mirror, putting on her lipstick.
He thought about what Marlene had said before, about wanting to run away together.
Just go somewhere, maybe to Europe, maybe into space, just run away from it all.
Just watching her like this, it seemed all too tempting for him.
After he last spoke to Midii…………
He knew he had to go and talk to her, at least one more time. He had to tell her.
But everything, it all seemed so painful, so difficult for him to even to think about.
His guilt between Catherine and Ordway, and the past with Lady, it all just seemed to build inside of him, he wasn't sure just how to feel anymore.
He just wanted it end, an end to the pain that haunted him.
Maybe running away with Marlene would be best. He would still have to tell Midii, and his brothers, but he would leave them for a while, leave everything. He could still call, and write them.
But he knew he couldn't do that. It had taken so long, more than five years for them to come together, and finally be a family again.
He didn't want to leave them all, not now, not after all that they had gone through.
He felt so confused. He wanted a family, he wanted to be able to go home, and live with them and everything to be all right.
He just wanted the pain to end, all the burdens he carried to be gone.
He looked at Marlene again, he loved her. He didn't want to have to leave her.
He didn't know what to do. No matter path he could take, nothing would seem right, it some pain, something haunting him, tearing into him.
Marlene looked at herself in the mirror, satisfied by her appearance.
She walked over to Johnnie.
Johnnie said, looking at her with tired eyes, "You look beautiful."
Marlene moved close to him. "Please, just try and get some rest. It probably won't seem to be too long before I come back tonight. We can talk tomorrow. I want to help you. If you want, I could go with you."
Johnnie looked at her, slowly closing his eyes, and letting her hold him for a moment.


To be continued……