Secrets Kept Inside
By
Captain Anonymous

 
The door had been left part way open, the light from the hall filtered into the dark room.
Midii opened the door, and walked inside the bedroom. The light from the hall, lit the room. 
Johnnie laid on the bed, face down, he was still wearing the cloths he had been wearing the night before.
Midii sat down in the chair beside the bed. Johnnie was still awake, he moved his head, and looked at his sister with his blue eyes.
Midii leaned down, lightly touching her brothers forehead, brushing is hair back.
"How are you tonight Johnnie?"
Johnnie was exhausted, but the guilt and the pain wouldn't let him rest.
He lifted his head slightly, "Midii....."
"Its all right now."
Johnnie rested his head back onto the pillow. "I don't know how much longer I can live like this."
Midii said, "I understand the pain your going through. I know how you must feel."
She could see Johnnie's eyes as they looked at her. She see could the pain inside of him, she knew it all too well.

Nights she would sit up late, unable to sleep, she often would get up and look at herself in the mirror. 
She would look into her own eyes, looking back at herself. 
She would stare at herself, wanting to die, feeling that she was not worth anything alive.
Those feelings, they seemed so far, but still, Midii would always carry them inside of her.

Johnnie's expression didn't change, "I love her. Its tearing me up inside."
Midii sat silently for a moment, Johnnie was still suffering from his guilt. Midii would never forget what happened that day. The news came in that the Preventer unit that had been sent into the warehouse had taken casualties. One dead, one wounded. 
She had been so worried at the time, when she found out Trowa had been assigned to the mission. Trowa did come back to her, his Preventer jacket was splattered in crimson. 
Ordway had been wounded. Midii could still remember seeing him, with the empty sleeve hanging from his jacket when she first met him during the war. If it hadn't been for Ordway, she might never have found Trowa.
Then, he was gone, died of his wounds. 
Ironically, after the death of Ordway, the one who helped her find Trowa, her brother helped her find the rest of her remaining family.
It seemed no matter what path she took in life, it seemed that everyone she cared about was linked in death to someone she cared about.
There were so many people dead. 
So many people that had helped her, people that she loved and cared about.
She still cared about her brother. He had done exactly what she had done, fighting to help take care of the family.

Midii stood beside the bed, "Tomorrow you can take a shower. But please try and get some rest tonight. I'll be her for you tomorrow if you want to talk about it.  I know you'll do the right thing, Johnnie. 
Midii walked over to the other edge of the bed. She slipped the heavy boots off his feet and placed them on the floor.
She picked up the heavy blanket that was folded on the end of the bed, and spread it out. She covered her brother with the blanket.
"Goodnight Johnnie."
She could here a muffled noise, "Goodnight, Midii."
Midii walked to the door, and carefully closed it behind her, leaving Johnnie's room in darkness.

Trowa stood in the hallway, leaning against the wall, waiting for her. 
He said in a concerned tone, "How's he doing?"
Midii said, "I think he'll feel better once he gets some rest."
"I'm glad to here it, I know that you were worried about him."
They walked into the bedroom down the hall, and closed the door.
"Marie's asleep, I already checked on her when you were with Johnnie."
Midii sat on the edge of the bed, she looked towards the window, out at the night sky.
"I know how he feels, all the pain inside of him, there is nothing I really can say, or do that will help him."
Trowa sat on the bed beside her, "I know its hard, but he's like you. He's a strong person."
Midii still stared at the stars, they were barely visible from the well lit room. "I know what he did caused all of us, especially Catherine, so much pain, but I still do care about him. Somewhere deep inside, I know he's the caring younger brother I had to leave years ago."
Trowa sat silently, looking at his young wife as she looked at the stars. 

Midii went on, "I wasn't able to talk with him about it, I really didn't want to upset him now. When the time is right, I will tell him."
Trowa said, "I think that's a good idea for the time being, with things as they are with him, knowing about Lady might be a bit much for him."
Midii took a deep breathe, "I'm still not sure how to deal with it myself, its a difficult choice."
Midii had already talked with him about her feelings. She had made an important choice. She was going to talk to Lady again. It was what she had decided.
Trowa touched her soft hand, Midii could see the look in his eyes in his green eyes.
They were full of compassion, and love. 
"Midii.....No matter what happens, you know that I'm here with you."
She said softly, "Thank you."

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

The car pulled inside the familiar metal gates. Mitchell opened the driver side door, and stepped out into the warm Sicilian sun.
He closed the door and moved his hand to his face, to shield his eyes from the sun glare. He walked around to the other side of the car, and opened the door
Sylvia put her feet on the Sicilian soil, and stepped out of the car. She smiled at Mitchell, as he closed the door.
Mitchell looked at his young wife, as she stood in the sunlight. 
He looked around the large estate, over the gardens, and the sea of green grass.

They were finally home. 

They walked towards the house, he could feel Sylvia's hand against his as they walk to the front door. 
The door opened in front of them, as one the servants stood waiting for them to come inside. 
Mitchell followed Sylvia inside, as they entered the house. The sounds of foot steps on the polished wood floors echoed through the house. 
Sylvia's grandmother stood waiting for them at the base of the main staircase.
She walked towards them,  "I'm so glad that both of you are finally home."
Sylvia walked over and embraced her grandmother.
"Its so good to see you."
Mitchell slowly walked over to them, and stood silently.
Sylvia's grandmother looked at Mitchell, and smiled at him. 
Mitchell smiled, and nodded slightly.

Sylvia's grandmother. Mitchell could remember what she had said to him right before their wedding.
He could remember those words. She told him, just how happy she was that Sylvia was getting married to him. 
After the death of her grandfather, through all the pain and hardship, this was the happiest she had seen Sylvia.
She accepted Mitchell as part of the family.
She was a kind person, much like her husband had been. 
Sylvia's grandmother knew about the fact that he had been an Alliance Officer, and an aid to the Field Marshal. Mitchell was never quite sure how much Sylvia had told her about his role in the defense of Marseilles, and what happened to him after he was captured by OZ.

"I know you must be tired from your trip, we can talk again later if you'd like to get some rest."
Sylvia nodded, "We did have a long flight, so I think we both could use the rest."

Joel followed Sylvia up the stairs, the up to the bedroom at the top of the hall.
Mitchell stood at the window, looking outside for moment over. 
He looked over his shoulder, and turned his body, as Sylvia got undressed.
She took the clips out of her hair, and moved the long strands of hair through her fingers.
"I'm so glad that were finally home now, Joel."
Mitchell took off his battered boots and placed them at the foot of the bed. He moved his fingers along the buttons of his shirt, undoing each of them.
"As much as I hated to leave, I can't really say that I was ever fond of hotel rooms."
Mitchell undid the buttons on the cuff of his shirt, "But I must say, I certainly don't mind staying in them as long as I'm with you Sylvia."
Mitchell put his white shirt and his pants on the chair along with Sylvia's cloths.
Mitchell walked back over to the window and closed the curtains, dimming the sunlight that still filtered into the room.
Sylvia had already laid down on the bed, stretching her slender body out over the silk sheets.
Mitchell laid down beside her, feeling the tense muscles in his back as result of the long flight.
Sylvia moved towards him, letting her lips brush against his. Joel could feel her place her chin on his shoulder, as Sylvia made herself comfortable in his arms.
Mitchell waited until Sylvia had fallen asleep, before closing his eyes and falling asleep.


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

Lt. Norton slid his Preventer jacket on, as he walked down the dark halls of the Preventer Headquarters. He put his hands into his jacket pocket, pulling out his keys.
As he drew the keys out, a small piece of paper fluttered from his grasp, landing on the cold floor.
Norton leaned over and picked up the small ticket stub.  He glanced at it, forgetting that he had it in his coat pocket. The small colorful ticket stub from the circus. A smile glanced his face just thinking about it. 
He placed it back into his coats pocket, before continuing on down the hall. 
Stopped by Townsend's office as he walked past, the door was open and light was on.
It shouldn't have come to any suprise that Townsend was working late. Townsend worked more late nights then any other officer in the entire command.
Major Sally and Captain Harrow, along with himself, often would offer to take over his shift, but Townsend would graciously refuse. 
Norton glanced into the room. Townsend stood at the window, looking out over the yard.
Townsend didn't notice Norton.
Townsend stood silently, sipping coffee, just staring down at the yard. Towards the remains of the mobile suits that were being scrapped.
Norton walked by, towards the stairs. He wanted to stop, and talk to him for a moment. But there was nothing he could do, or nothing he could say to him.
Norton walked down, and walked out the glass doors in the front of the building.
There was breeze in the air, as he walked back towards his car.

To be continued

Next: A fateful call.