Left Behind by Captain Anonymous Trowa walked down the flight of stairs to the living room, his bare feet touching the cold wooden floor. It was long after midnight, Trowa wasn’t sure of the time, he never bothered to check. Midii stood by the window, staring out over the darkness. It had been over 24 hours now, since Johnnie had left. He had never been gone this long. Every morning he would always come back home. This time there was nothing, he disappeared the night before into the darkness. The look in her eyes gave her away. He could tell that Midii was worried about him. Trowa silently walked across the floor towards her. He stood beside her. He stood silently for a moment, Midii glanced over towards him, giving him a tired half smile. Trowa finally said, “Your still worried about him.” Midii looked away from the window, and walked the few steps to couch. Trowa sat beside her, taking her warm hand into his. “I just can’t stop thinking about it. I really didn’t want to hurt him.” Trowa looked into Midii’s eyes. Midii went on, “I didn’t want you to go after him last night. There more I could say to him. But now, I don’t know what he’ll do. He’s changed so much.” Trowa said softly, “It’s all right Midii. There was nothing that you could have done to stop him. I know that he still cares about you, and your brothers, and won’t do anything to hurt you.” Midii glanced back towards the window, looking for a moment into the darkness outside. “I didn’t want to see anyone to get hurt. I want to believe that I’m doing the right thing. It always goes on like this. Everytime I try to get close to a person in my life, someone else important to me is taken away. I really don’t lose him.” Midii fell silent for a moment and took a deep breath. “Trowa......I know it maybe selfish, but I wanted us to be a family again.” Trowa touched Midii’s cheek, “Its not selfish to be with the ones you love. I know how important this is to you. I understand your feelings towards your brothers. Before the war, I spent so many years alone, I didn’t understand why you fought so hard to protect your family. Now that I have you and a family now, I understand how you feel, I know the pain your going through.......... Midii, I do love you.” Trowa fell silent, unable to find the words, the emotions that had been buried deep inside of him for so many years poured out of him. Midii looked into his green eyes, he didn’t have to a word, she knew how he felt. “I’d like to wait just a little while longer Trowa.” Trowa moved his hand to end of the couch, and pulled out the thick blanket that Catherine had knitted. He unfolded the blanket, and moved it over their bodies, as Midii moved closer to him. Trowa could feel Midii’s head as she rested it on his shoulder. She closed her eyes. Trowa smiled, pulling the blanket up around her. It would be morning soon. -------------------- Sylvia sat up in bed, moving the blankets up around her body. She moved her long hair away from her face. In the pale light she could see her husband as he slept. She wished he was awake now, but she couldn’t bring herself to touch him. He looked so peaceful, the memories of their first nights together were still clear in her mind. Seeing him wake up covered in sweat, and the pain in his eyes. She laid her head back, letting her long strands of hair fall over the silk pillows. He seemed so peaceful now, she closed her eyes, laying in his warm embrace. ----------------------- Townsend stood away from his desk, looking out over the familiar view from his office window. He could Lt. Norton’s voice as he gave him the reports from the previous day. “And sir, one more thing, Commandant Une will be taking a leave of absents for the next few days for personal reasons. Sally will be taking command of the department. Townsend did not look behind him. He said in his normal southern drawl, “Thank you, Lt. Norton.” Townsend turned slowly, looking towards Norton. “You were working late last night?” Norton said, “Yes sir.” “Probably you should take tonight off then and get some rest. I’ll take care of things here.” Norton nodded, “Are you sure, Colonel?” “I can handle things.” Against his better judgment, Norton agreed. “Yes Colonel. Will that will be all?” “Yes, your dismissed.” He heard Norton click his heels together before he left the room. Townsend listened as the door closed. Another night working late. He had gotten used to them now. He had seen so many soldiers just like Norton, they were all the same. He had been like them at one point. The nights seemed endless now. He knew his time was almost up. It was only a matter of time now. He knew better then anyone that the Preventer force was going to be reduced. He would be removed from active command. It wouldn’t be the first time he had been left behind. He could see his reflection in the dark glass. Maybe it was time for him to leave the service. To fall back on his title, live life. Maybe he was meant to go back, and get a second chance. Just leave everything behind and live under his title and rank, and live this world of peace. With his rank, it wouldn’t be too much trouble to put in his resignation and leave the service once and for all. Hunting by day, going to endless balls and parties at night. Familiar times. That was how it was back before the start of the war. As a young officer, he could remember those times, he could almost taste the wine, and smell the perfume in the air. Those times, how much he wanted to relive them. To go back just one more time. It seemed so tempting. He looked back the piles of meaningless forms and reports that sat on his desk. He turned away from the window and sat down. He picked up the first folder and opened it, reading over the words on the page. ---------------------- Marlene closed the door to her room, and walked over towards the lone figure sitting by the edge of her bed. “I thought that you might a cup of tea.” Johnnie took the cup from her and held it between his hands. “Can I get you something to eat, you haven’t had anything since you’ve come here.” Johnnie didn’t make eye contact as he looked down in the black liquid in the cup. “I’m not hungry.” Marlene sat silently beside him, not sure of what to say. “I never should have let this happen.” Marlene looked at Johnnie, the look his blue eyes. He come to her, and spent most of the night before with her, and all that day. In that time, Johnnie never said just what it was that had upset him. She moved put down her cup on the table beside the bed. Marlene glanced down at Johnnie’s fingers as the gripped the cup ever tighter. She could feel the pain inside of him, as if she could a deep connection into his soul. The pain, the ache, the bitterness, the void inside of him. She didn’t want to push him. “Johnnie, is anything I can do? I want to be able to help you.” Johnnie took a deep breathe, “There’s nothing.” He fell silent, after a moment he finally spoke again. “There was someone.” Marlene felt a chill move up her spine. “Years ago. She was a like a sister to us, we all lived together. Then she left us.” Marlene sat silently. After a moment, Johnnie finally spoke again, “She us, to go with the one she loved. We had nothing at the time, no means for support. First Midii, then myself. We all suffered because of her. She didn’t care about then. Maybe she never cared about us at all.” Marlene moved her hand towards his, feeling his vice like grip as it tightened around the cup in his hands. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know.” Johnnie could feel her slender fingers against his hand. “I don’t want her to hurt any of us again. I don’t want to see her hurt Midii.” He dropped the empty cup, there as a sharp sounds as it broke on the wooden floor. He laid his head against Marlene’s breast, as she craddled him in his arms. “It was because of her. My guilt, my pain. I wouldn’t have had to hurt anyone.” Marlene sat silently, running her fingers through his blonde hair. “Marlene, I’ll do what ever it takes. Whatever it takes to make sure she never hurts anyone ever again.” To be continued. Next: Midii and Lady have come together again. More Sylvia and Mitchell. What extremes will Johnnie go to?