Crying in Pain

By

Captain Anonymous

“So, your still worried about him Midii.”

“I guess I don’t do a good job hiding my emotions.”

“Well, not like Trowa.”

Midii smiled at her friend, and said in a more lighthearted voice,

“Careful, he might hear you.”

Sylvia could see the vague outline of Trowa on the view screen as he

walked behind Midii.

She decided to change the subject, she could see that talking about her

brother was unsettling to her.

“So, how’s Marie been. It seems like its been so long since I’ve seen

her.”

Midii smiled, “She’s grown a lot, she’s starting to get big. I’d go and

get her, but she’s asleep right now.”

“Its all right, next time we talk maybe. Its just hard to tell from

still pictures.”

“She’s been teething, so she’s been crying a lot more then she had been

before.”

“Poor thing.”

Midii said, “I know, I just wish there was something that I could do

for her to make the pain stop.”

Midii smiled at her friend, getting a playful look in her eye.

“So, have you and the Captain thought about having children?” Midii

stopped for a moment. She still thought of him plastered in his uniform,

like he had been during those days in the war.

She still hadn’t gotten used to calling him by his name.

“We really haven’t talked too much about it, but I don’t think I should

have too much trouble convincing him.” A smile lit up Sylvia’s face, as

she laughed.

“Where is he now?”

Sylvia looked to her side, “He’s asleep right now. I guess the party

last night and everything is catching up with him.”

“So, how was the party?”

“It was nice. He’s getting used to going to these formal events again.

And he’s becoming a better dancer.”

"I'm sure that he has a good teacher."

Sylvia glanced back at her husband.

She smiled as remembered the night before, they spent the entire night

together.

“Well, I’ve got to go and get some rest, I guess its all catching up to

me as well Midii.”

“Okay. Goodbye Sylvia.”

Sylvia moved her finger to the switch, and looked as Trowa came over to

Midii.

“Goodbye Midii, I’ll call you again this week.”

Sylvia walked over to the bed and laid down beside her husband. She

curled up and closed her eyes as she snuggled against him.

Midii stood up.

“How was Sylvia doing?”

“Just fine, its been so long since we had a chance to talk. I really

miss seeing them here.”

Trowa moved his arms around his wife, pushing back the strands of hair.

Trowa thought about the young couple. His former comrade. Midii’s

friend.

“I know how you feel.”

Trowa closed his eyes and rested his head on her shoulder.

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

Johnnie moved his hand to his face, rubbing his eyes with his sweaty

fingers.

He rubbed the back of his hand against his forehead, still warm, still

running a fever.

He didn’t want to move, his body hurt. His head felt like it had been

weighed down with gallons of water and with every motion, he would be

sent off balance.

But he moved, he sat up in bed.

What was he still doing here?

He moved his feet to the floor and shuffled his hand along the wood

floor looking for his cloths. His hand finally reached the chair on the

side of the bed.

He glanced down at the chair, and saw the cloths neatly folded up

beside him.

Johnnie picked up his shirt and slipped it on over his shoulders,

taking his time to button the first few buttons.

There was a sound at his door.

Johnnie moved his feet to the floor, touching the cold wood.

He finished buttoning his shirt with one hand as he went through the

pile of cloths on the chair looking for his socks.

The door opened. “Johnnie are you awake?”

Johnnie turned and looked at his younger brother as he stood in the

doorway.

Johnnie looked at him for a moment, as his eyes readjusted to the

bright light coming in from the hallway.

Johnnie moved his hand in front of his face to block out some of the

light.

He said, “Yeah.”

Lawrence walked closer to his brother.

“Are you leaving again Johnnie?”

Johnnie said, “Yeah, I’ll be leaving again.”

His brother looked at him, remembering the times when Johnnie would

leave, sometimes for days. The last time, a week.

“I’ll be going to see a friend of mine.”

Lawrence said, “How long will you be gone?”

Johnnie looked at his boots, as he readjusted them. “Probably a few

days.”

Johnnie stopped and looked at his brother. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back

before you know it, so don’t worry.”

Lawrence nodded, “Okay.”

Johnnie stood up and walked around the bed towards the mirror and

looked at his reflection in the pale light. He rubbed his eyes, tracing the

dark circles around them with his finger.

“Are Midii and Trowa around?”

Lawrence shook his head, “No, they’re asleep.”

Johnnie looked at his digital watch sitting on the table. 3:36 A.M.

Johnnie said, “I want you and your brother to be good for them while

I’m gone, okay? ”

“Don’t worry we will.”

“You’d better get back to bed. It’s still really late for you.”

His brother said, “All right.”

He walked over, “Goodbye Johnnie.”

“See ya Lawrence. Don’t worry, I’ll be coming home soon. I promise.”

Johnnie closed his eyes as his brother left the room.

His brother didn’t close the door all the way, allow for a small amount

of light to creep in.

He moved back to his dresser and went into the sock drawer. Under the

piles of clothing, he dug out a small object. He looked back at himself

in the mirror.

He was going away for a few awhile.

He already knew what he had to do.

Johnnie had to see Lady again, just to find out for himself.

He loved his brothers, and loved Midii.

He really didn’t want to see her get hurt.

Johnnie knew he would have to see for himself if Lady had really

changed, or if she was just using Midii’s kindness.

There were very few times when he had been with Midii when she was

happy.

Now she had everything, everything she ever wanted. Everything had been

taken from her.

Lady had turned a blind eye as the family ripped itself apart.

Nothing in hell would stop Johnnie from making sure that ever happened

again.

Johnnie looked at the switchblade knife in his hand. He flicked small

button, extending the blade.

He touched the skin of his fingers against the cold blade.

He would do it, even if he had to stop her.

Johnnie didn’t w to hurt anyone, but if it meant protecting his family,

he was prepared to do what ever it would take.

Johnnie took the blade and put it into his coat pocket.

He glanced back on the dresser and again at the mirror. He ran his hand

through his hair, doing his best to straighten it.

He walked to the door, closing it behind him, leaving the room in

darkness.

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

It was late afternoon when Johnnie found the house he had been looking

for.

He looked over the structure from the street.

He stared in anger at the house, as he stood in the freezing rain.

The rain dripped down on his face, and soaked his cloths.

The cold rain felt different then the warm tears he had shed.

Part of him still thought that he should have stayed with Midii.

She was probably worried about him.

But this was the only way.

He had to know.

He just had to know. There was going to be no other way.

He come all this way, he had finally made it.

This was what he was looking for.

So this was where she lived now.

Johnnie took a few steps before stopping, feeling the sharp stabbing

pain in his leg.

He leaned down rubbing the pain away.

He stood up slowly, and began towards the house, his eyes fixed on the

pained front door.

The lights were on inside.

She was here.

He walked up to the porch, the switchblade jostled in his pocket.

His feet touched the cement stairs as he climbed to the top.

Now he would know, now he would get his answers.

To be continued.