[Fic] Bump In The Night 4/4
Title: Bump In The Night 4/4
Author: lil_1337
Pairing/Characters: 5xR, 1x2, 3x4, Cathy
Rating: R for sex and violence
Word count: 6,181
Warnings/Kinks: AU, paranormal, geeky ramblings, humor, horror, profanity
Summary: Who you gonna call? The Winner Foundation Paranormal Investigations team of course. Sequel to 'Who's Johnny?’
Disclaimer: I don't own them in this life, but I'm holding out hope for the next one.
Tucson, Arizona, Friday, December 16th, 2006.
“The secret to making eggs fluffy is air.” Wufei nodded, watching as Trowa expertly whipped together three eggs and dribble of heavy cream. “The more foam in the bowl when you put them in the pan the fluffier they will be when they cook.” Trowa handed the bowl to Wufei and set a skillet on the stove. Butter was added before Trowa turned back to his new assistant. “Making good eggs takes strong arms and wrists.” He raised an eyebrow at Wufei’s smirk then returned it in kind. “Why do you think the best chefs are men?”
Wufei chuckled, handing the bowl back to Trowa when he reached for it. “I hadn’t really thought about it.”
“The muffins should be cool enough now. Just turn the pan over and dump them onto the rack. If any of them stick then run a knife under the top and they should come right off.”
Wufei did as he was told, arranging the still warm pastries right side up in a neat row. Looking over them he took the two that looked the best and placed them on the plates next to the orange slices and bacon that were already there. At the stove Trowa’s spatula was in perpetual motion, breaking up the clumps of egg as it cooked.
“You want to make sure the eggs aren’t runny, but don’t leave them in too long or they’ll get dry and rubbery.”
“I’m not much of a cook, nor is Relena. Neither of us have had the time or inclination to learn.” The calm tone of Wufei’s voice was in direct contrast with the way that his fingers nervously adjusted and straightened anything within reach.
“It’s not hard once you get the hang of it. My mom was a great cook and she thought that everyone should know at least the basics. Cathy was never much interested, but I always enjoyed it. I learned a lot from her.” Trowa nudged Wufei with his elbow keeping the steaming skillet to the side until there was room to add eggs to each meal without the danger of burning him. Noting Wufei’s anxious fingers he grinned. “Don’t worry, she’ll like it. This is what I always make Cathy the first morning she visits. Quatre gets an omelet and coffee instead of scrambled eggs and juice, but the rest is the same.”
Wufei moved the now full plate to a lap tray that was already set with silverware wrapped in a cloth napkin, a glass of juice and a single red rose in a vase. “You do realize that you’re spoiling him? He’s insufferable as it is.” A small smile softened the words as he carefully picked up the tray
“I like spoiling him.” Trowa hoisted his tray and followed Wufei across the kitchen. “It’s only the first morning then he has to get up and eat in the dining room like the rest of us.”
“I believe yesterday was the second morning.”
“I had finals the day before and he was already up when I got home so it didn't count. He messed up my schedule by coming in early.”
“Impressive rationalization.” Chuckling, Wufei pushed through the kitchen door into the dining room. “You work hard too. Make sure you remind him of that occasionally.”
Trowa paused, his hand raised to knock on Cathy’s door. “I don’t have to. He never forgets.” Trowa's eyes dropped but the smile was clearly visible behind his fall of hair. “That's one of the best things about him.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Thank you for seeing us especially on such short notice, Mrs. Ortiz.” Quatre sat carefully on the couch, his fingers moving immediately to scratch behind the ears of the large marmalade tabby stretched out on the arm. “Do you have any questions for me before my associate starts the recording?”
Mrs. Ortiz, a small woman with a worried smile, shook her head. “I think you explained it all already.”
“Just ignore the cameras.” Quatre shot Heero a look and nodded slightly signaling to start the recording. When the light on the camera directly in front of him went to green he looked away, concentrating on the woman seated across from him. “Could you please state your name, age and address?”
“Aalyiah Marcela Ortiz. Twenty six. 2162 S. Calle Escondia, Tucson, Arizona, 85705.”
“Thank you.” Quatre smiled, encouraging his subject to relax. “In your own words can you please tell me about the night of April 23rd 2000?”
Mrs. Ortiz frowned, fingers twisting the material of her dress. “I was in my room studying when the phone rang. Mama answered it and I remember hearing her voice getting louder and louder as she got more upset. I went out to see what was wrong and she told me that papa had been in an accident and a police officer was coming to pick her and take her to the hospital. My brothers were eight and ten so they were already in bed so she told me to take care of them and she would be home when she could. My sister Carmelita was sixteen and she was out at a study group so mama called her and told her to come home and stay with us. It wasn't long, mama was getting her shoes on, before the policeman arrived. Carmelita got home about an hour after that and stayed up waiting until mama called to tell us that papa was alive and they were running tests on him.”
“Can you describe the kind of accident that your father was involved in?”
“The people that he worked with said that they found him in a corner screaming for help.” Mrs. Ortiz paused to smooth the wrinkles she had made in her dress. “They thought he had gone crazy. He wasn’t!” She looked up challenging Quatre to disagree with her. “He worked hard to take care of us and never complained about it. He didn’t drink and he never did drugs. They did tests on him when he was in the hospital and they all came back negative.” Her intense gaze softened and she looked away. “He was a good husband and father. He never raised a hand to us and he encouraged my sister and I to go to school instead of getting married young like a lot of the girls we knew.”
“He sounds like a good man who certainly did not deserve what happened to him.” Quatre’s statement earned him another smile, this one less tentative. “Did your father ever mention seeing, hearing or smelling anything strange when he was working?”
“He said there was something evil there and that it watched him. I remember him telling me once that it was like a man made out of darkness.” She frowned, the skin on her forehead wrinkling as she concentrated. “I don't remember him saying anything about hearing or smelling strange things. He didn't really talk about it much. I think he was trying to protect us from whatever it was.”
Swallowing hard Quatre pushed aside the memories of his own experience and forced himself to focus on the interview despite the chills that crawled up his spine. The words of Mrs. Ortiz's father described exactly the thing he had seen. The similarities were reassuring even as the implication filled him with horror. “Was he prone to saying things like that?”
“No, that's why I remembered it. He believed in God and he went to church every Sunday, but he was never preached or talked about the devil. He used to tell us that everything had to make their own peace with God.”
“Did you ever see the entity that he described?”
“No. Papa wouldn't let us come see him at work even to visit or bring him dinner like we did when he worked at the grocery store. I remember him and mama fighting about it because papa would have to eat leftovers or sandwiches instead of what we had for dinner.”
“When was the fight? In relation to the day he was hospitalized.”
“I think it was not too long after he started working there. Maybe a year or so.”
“Is there anything else that you think is relevant?”
“The Doctors tried a lot of different medications on my papa which they said worked for other people who had the same disease he did. None of them did anything to help him at all. He just sat in his chair and stared without talking. They did tests on his brain and took pictures thinking he had a stroke, but they couldn’t find anything wrong.”
“I’m very sorry for your loss.” Quatre suppressed the urge to shudder shoving down the question of what might have happened to him if Trowa had not been there. “Is there anything that you would like to ask or tell me before we turn off the cameras?”
She shook her head waiting until Heero began removing the cameras from the tripods to pack them away before speaking. “Have you seen this thing? The thing that hurt my papa?”
Hesitating for the space of a moment Quatre nodded slowly torn between the desire to reassure her and his inherent unwillingness to make a flat statement about something he couldn't verify scientifically. “I saw something a couple of days ago which was very similar to what your father described to you.”
“Then you don’t think my papa was crazy?”
Quatre met her eyes unable to look away or douse the flicker of hope he saw there. “No, Mrs. Ortiz, I don’t. I think your father saw something and it scared him so badly he never recovered from it.”
“Gracias. Thank you. It means so much to hear that. I worry that they were right and I will go crazy too someday. Now I know that it does not have to happen.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“I like him.” Cathy caught the corner of the sheet and took it around the bed spreading it flat across the mattress before tucking it in. “He has a good heart and he makes you smile.”
“His heart isn’t the only thing that’s good.”
“Well, now that I’ve seen him I have to agree he does have a very nice ass and a beautiful smile. In fact he's very easy on the eyes.” She tilted her head, grinning impishly. “I never thought you would end up with a blond though.”
“I've always liked blonds.” Trowa’s grin turned predatory and paused with the blanket hovering several inches above its destination. “He has a great ass and I love his smile.”
“I do too.” Cathy tugged gently on the blanket pulling Trowa out of his thoughts and back to the chore at hand. “Especially when he is smiling at you. He just lights up when you're around.”
Trowa laughed, warm and contentedly as he made quick work of smoothing down the coverlet. “I love him. I think I might be in love with him.” He straightened and met her eyes. “I never wanted to be in a relationship. I had school, gymnastics and this place to keep me busy. I thought it was enough. But now that I have him in my life I know that it wasn't. Being around him makes everything better, more real.”
“Have you told him all this?” She inclined her head to one side studying Trowa’s profile.
“No.”
“Why not? He really cares about you, Trowa. “ She smiled gently walking around the now made bed to join her brother. “When he talks about you he gets all dreamy eyed just like you do when you talk about him.”
“We’ve only known each other a few months, Cathy I don’t want to rush things.” The 'I don't want him to leave me' hung in the air, unspoken but no less solid for it.
Cathy sighed wrapping an arm around Trowa waist and giving him a quick squeeze. “The feelings are already there, saying the words won’t make it any more real than it already is.”
“I know.” Trowa hugged her back pulling her close and resting his cheek on the top of her head. “That’s what scares me.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Are you sure this is the place?” Relena frowned, taking in the crumbling adobe walls of what appeared to be the remains of a dilapidated old building. The roof had long since disappeared and all that remained were three walls in a rough U shape that was open to the road.
“According to the GPS this is indeed where we want to be.” Wufei turned off the engine of the rented van and pocketed the keys before opening his door. “If it’s wrong we’ll ask someone at the restaurant next door.” Once out of the van he stopped and sniffed the air taking in the scent of fresh roasted chilies that mixed with the crisp bite of cilantro and habenaro peppers.
“Okay.” Camera in hand Relena climbed out of the van closing the door behind her. A cold wind blew down the back of her coat eliciting a shiver though it barely stirred the sun baked earth she stood on. The hard packed ground was solid and unyielding underfoot unlike the soft dirt she was familiar with.
Coming around the van Wufei spotted a sign off to the side and changed course to investigate it. After scanning it he turned back to Relena. “This is indeed El Tiridito.”
Moving to join him, Relena removed the cap from the end of the camera lens and began taking pictures. Using a grid pattern she shot the sign making sure that each picture overlapped enough to be able to recreate the whole thing in a single panoramic shot later.
While she meticulously documented the shrine Wufei first read the sign absorbing the information on it before moving on to study the weather worn, but well tended altar. He was no stranger to holy places having visited quite a few in his travels, but this one was different than any he had experienced before. Despite the trappings of faith it had no feeling of warmth or safety. Instead it left him feeling empty and cold inside in a way that the heat from the candles that covered the walls and altar couldn’t begin to touch. The feeling that he was being watched, no studied, made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and he found himself moving to stand behind Relena with the intent of watching her back.
The light and heat from the candles mixed with the growing internal sense of cold created a sense of disorientation that made Wufei’s head swim. Reluctantly he moved towards the entrance to the shrine, putting some distance between him and the altar. Dead leaves danced on the sidewalk as the wind pushed them yet the flames of the candles never flickered. From his position outside the entrance Wufei studied the side walls noting that neither of them was high enough to block the wind that was now tugging at his ponytail in a less than playful manner.
“Relena?” He called her name softly wanting her attention without disturbing her concentration. “When you’re finished I have a couple of pictures I’d like for you to take.”
“Okay. Since you made me breakfast in bed.” The genuine warmth of her words wrapped themselves around him dispelling the empty feeling in the pit of his stomach and restoring his sense of balance.
“Trowa did most of it, but I’m willing to accept credit if since it seems to have earned me a place in your good graces.
“You already had that.” Lowering the camera Relena chuckled then moved to stand in front of him. “It was your idea and you got up to help so you deserve credit.” Stepping into his personal space she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him lightly. “I love you for wanting to do it.” She kissed him again and Wufei’s hands came up to wrap around her waist. Feeling her pressed against him brought heat and disorientation of a much more pleasurable kind and he leaned into it savoring the happiness that came from being with her.
Pulling away reluctantly Wufei smiled then kissed the tip of her nose. “I love you, that’s why I wanted to do it.” Sighing softly he loosened his hold. “How much more do you have to do?”
“Just your special shots and then I’m done.” She shivered giving the shrine the once over. before turning back to Wufei. “I’d like to get out of here. This place gives me the creeps.”
“You too?” Wufei moved closer keeping in physical contact as she stepped to the lining up a shot. “I thought it was just me.”
“No, it's not. It feels like I'm taking pictures of a serial killer instead of a shrine. There is nothing holy about this place at all.”
Wufei nodded, pleased that he was not the only one who was reacting badly. “I don't think Quatre should come here.”
“No! Not ever.” Relena lowered her camera and snapped the cover on the lens. “I'm done. Lets get out here and find some place warm that serves hot chocolate.”
“That is the second best offer I've had today.” Wufei unlocked the passenger side door then turned to make his way around the van. From the corner of his eye he caught a hint of movement, but when he turned to look the shrine was empty except for the shadows thrown by the burning candles.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“What happens next?” Duo sat on the edge of Heero’s bed watching as his boyfriend connected a camera to his laptop to upload the interview footage taken earlier that day.
“If Wufei deems the shrine worth taking measurements of then that is the next step. If he doesn’t then I think we are at an impasse.”
“Either way you’re probably done with this thing today.” Duo tried not to let the disappointment show through in his voice.
“This is my assessment, yes.”
“Oh. Does that mean that you'll be heading home soon?”
Heero clicked the upload box then turned to Duo a frown creasing his forehead. “Do you want me to leave?”
“No! Shit, Heero, of course not. I love having you here. I just wanted to know I knew what to expect. It took a lot longer when you guys did your thing here so I was figuring you'd be here long enough for us to spend some time together. Maybe go see a movie or look at lights.”
“Wufei and Relena have a return flight for late on the twentieth, but I had Iria book mine for the same flight for same one Quatre is on. I thought that would be more efficient as it will save you from making an additional trip to the airport. I hope that wasn't presumptuous.”
“Not at all.” Duo grinned and leaned into Heero entwining their fingers. “I thought you would want to be home for Christmas since it is such a big thing with your family. Won't your mom be mad if you aren't there?”
“I've already spoken to her and explained the situation. She is willing to give me an exception this year with the caveat that next year I attend and bring you along as well. Apparently she was quite impressed when she met you at Thanksgiving.”
“I'm glad.” Duo's usual bravado slipped a little to show the eager young man underneath. “I liked her a lot too. All of your family was great. You're a lucky guy, Heero.”
Heero leaned in for a kiss pausing just a hair's breath away. “Yes, I am.” With a pleased smile tugging at the corners of his lips he brought their lips together in confirmation of his statement.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“How is your visit going?” Quatre stepped out of his dress shoes lining them up neatly next to his suitcase.
“That’s the first thing Cathy asked me. You guys are getting along way too well. I'm not sure if that makes me happy or nervous.”
Chuckling, Quatre pulled off his tie and looped it over a hanger. “I was surprised how different the two of you, but I like her a lot. She seems like someone I would enjoy spending time with.”
Trowa smiled, his eyes never leaving Quatre as he removed first his dress shirt and then his slacks. “She got all the social skills which is good because one of us needed to.”
Quatre laughed, shaking his head as he hung his barely worn clothes in the closet. “You got the lion’s share of the beauty and the brains seem to be evenly split so I guess it all works out in the end.” He yelped in surprise when a pair of arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him back against Trowa's solid chest.
“I missed you.” Trowa’s lips ghosted a line down Quatre’s neck pausing to nip then tongue the hollow where it joined his shoulder.
“You had Cathy to keep you company.” Quatre’s breath hitched then sped up giving his words a huskier quality. He reached back to run his hands up and down Trowa's legs using the angle to draw Trowa tight against him.
“It’s not the same.” One of Trowa’s hands slid down Quatre’s stomach to cup the rapidly growing bulge in the front of his boxer briefs. “She's my sister and you're my boyfriend. If I had my way both of you would be here all the time.”
“As long as she has her own room.” Quatre tried to twist in Trowa’s arms but found himself pinned between the hand on his cock and the one that had snaked it’s way up under his undershirt to tweak a nipple. He groaned as coherent thought left his brain accompanied by the lips that had returned to exploring his neck.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Seventy three candles.” Wufei made a note on the pad in his hand as he called back over his shoulder to Heero. He was not pleased about having to return to El Tiradito, but he deny that it was worth giving a complete once over using the other tools at their disposal.
“That should not be enough to account for the difference in temperature even factoring in the lack of air flow.” Heero finished his slow sweep of the area and adjusted the settings on the camera before starting the second one.
“Relena got some good close ups of the candles so we should be able to find out who makes them and what ingredients they use. It could impact the amount of heat being given off.”
“That is a valid path of elimination.” Finished with his rotation Heero looked up from the camera with a slight grin. “We’ll make a scientist out of you yet.”
Wufei snorted as he jotted down distances and their accompanying temperatures. “No thank you. I’m quite happy with the career path I plan to pursue.”
“Studying ancient cultures and deciphering dead languages?”
“With my lovely and talented photographer girlfriend at my side. A twosome of intrepid adventures.” Wufei put the thermometer back, careful to return it to its designated place in Heero’s toolbox before removing the barometer. He scribbled down the digital reading then began a backward path matching his barometric readings to those of the thermometer.
“Fortunately Relena will have the skills to actually be able to secure a job.” Heero removed the camera from the tripod and slid his hand into the side strap before moving towards the altar to get close up shots of the candles and the shelves they sat on.
“If things get bad we’ll just bring our six children and come live with you and Duo.” Wufei ignored the derisive snort that accompanied his words. “The fortunate thing about running a bed and breakfast is that there is always room for destitute relatives to move in with you.”
“You’re assuming that Duo and I will still be together.”
Wufei paused looking up to study his friend. “I was. Should I make other back up plans?” His tone remained light as it had been, but it carried an undertone of concern.
“No.” Heero smiled. “I'll be sure to inform Duo of the possibilities. No doubt he would open his home to you without hesitation. He's very generous to those people he cares for.”
“He's a good man.” Wufei replaced the barometer and removed the EMF meter. “The kind of person that I could see you spending a lifetime with.”
Keeping the camera steady Heero looked away from the eyepiece to give Wufei his full attention. “That is my plan.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Excuse me.” Cathy tapped lightly on the open door to Relena's room before stepping. “Do you have a minute?”
“I just need to crop and resize this picture then I can take a break. Make yourself comfortable.”
“Thanks.” Cathy dropped gracefully onto the bed and watched unabashed as Relena expertly manipulated the image on the screen of her laptop. “You make that look so easy.”
“Years of practice. When I first started I was horrible. I've learned a lot since then.” She sat back and examined the photo closely then clicked on save with a satisfied nod. “Trowa said you work for a circus? I bet that is a lot more difficult than a little photo clean up.
“I grew up doing gymnastics and acrobatics so it doesn't seem that way to me. Sitting still and doing what you do would be more difficult.” Cathy shifted, getting comfortable. “I know you're busy so I won't take up too much of your time.”
“No problem.” Relena spun in the chair to face her visitor. “Was there something specific you wanted to talk about?”
“Not really.” Cathy blushed and tugged on one of her curls straightening it out then letting it go so it bounced back into place. “I've always looked out for Trowa. He's my baby brother and even though we were lucky enough to be adopted by great people in a way it's still the two of us against the world.”
Relena nodded. “From what little I know I can understand how you would feel that way.”
“It's been strange, good, but strange to have him suddenly have a bunch of new people in his life that I don't know. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled he is making friends and opening himself up, but it also makes me want to make sure he's safe.” Cathy laughed softly though her eyes were wary. “That's probably silly and overprotective considering Trowa isn't a kid anymore and he can certainly take care of himself.”
“I think it's part of human nature to want to look out for the people you care about.” Relena got out of her chair and moved to sit next to Cathy on the bed. “Heero made Wufei fill out an application to date me. He said it was an information sheet, but we both know it was more than that.” Relena smiled, amused affection coloring her features. “I had a long talk with Trowa when Heero and Duo started dating because despite the fact that Heero can be a pain I love my cousin and I wanted to know about the man that he was spending time with.”
“That makes me feel better.” Cathy's grin held less hesitation. “What do you think about the idea of continuing this conversation over a couple of chocolate muffins and coffee?”
“Make it tea and I wouldn't say no.”
“Tea it is.” Cathy bounced to her feet followed by an amused looking Relena. “I'm looking forward to getting to know you.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“There are some anomalies in the readings from El Tiradito though there are several avenues of research that need to be pursued before we can be sure whether or not they can be explained by means other than paranormal activity.” Quatre sighed pushing his bangs back out of his face. “Without being able to run a formal investigation of the hotel I think we have as much as we are going to get. The interview with Mrs. Ortiz was helpful as background, but it doesn't really give us any new leads to check out.”
“Anecdotal evidence would suggest that there is some kind of malevolent spirit that lives in the area of the hotel. If or how it is connected to the shrine I really would not want to speculate. Nor would I have any idea of how to go about proving or disproving that theory.” Wufei smiled apologetically. “I can say that the shrine did not feel like any other holy place I have ever been.”
“It was creepy. I felt like someone was watching us the whole time we were there.” Relena shuddered unconsciously moving closer to Wufei. “I’m still going through the pictures I took, but the one thing I noticed was that you can see the trees and bushes moving in the wind and none of the candles have been blown out or are even flickering. It would probably be easier to see in the video then with stills so that might be something to look for when you process it, Heero.”
Heero nodded and made a note. “I’ll do that.”
“There is one other thing though it's possible that it was something I did.” She frowned then hesitantly handed her laptop over to Quatre.
“If you look at the panorama I was putting together here the walls seem to not quite meet in the corner even though they do on the other side.” She leaned across the machine to maximize another picture of the same area captured in a single shot. “When I blew them up to see the area more clearly I got this.” She pressed another key bring up an enlarged version of the three pictures. In the corner was a the hazy black outline of a human figure on the wall. “I thought it was a shadow at first, but then I realized that mine was off to the side. Given the position of the sun to cast a shadow there someone would have to stand right in front of the wall and they would be completely visible in the picture.
“I don't think it's a shadow.” Quatre’s voice was whisper soft, but strong though his face showed his trepidation.
“No, it doesn’t.” Heero then Wufei nodded in agreement.
“Let me know if you find anything else in the other pictures or on the video.” Quatre leaned into the arm that Trowa had draped over his shoulders. His face was pale, but the color was slowly returning. “I think at this point we should focus on analyzing what data we have so that it can be presented to the foundation as the basis to formally request a full investigation.” He looked around the table and found no disagreement on any of his friends’ faces.
“That leaves us a few days before we leave. Is there anything else you want us to do?” Though the words came from Wufei Heero appeared equally interested in the answer.
“Actually there is.” Once again Quatre looked around the table turning his smile on each person. “I appreciate your concern and understanding on what has been a strange situation even for us. You've worked hard and you deserve some time to relax and see the sights before you head home.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tucson, Arizona, Saturday, December 18th, 2006.
The wagon that awaited them at the entrance to Winter Haven was drawn by horses and filled with bales of fragrant hay. Close to the entrance sat a group of college student. In the center were three couples and they were surrounded by an additional five or six individuals. Two sets of crutches were stowed off to the far side and the cast adorning the leg of one of the young women glowed a sickly neon green in contrast to the rest of her festive wear. They chattered loudly amongst themselves, laughing and teasing each other in a way that added to the overall sense of high spirited anticipation.
Cheery hellos were exchanged as Trowa led the way up onto the wagon and headed towards the front to make room for other passengers that would be boarding after. He settled himself with his back to the driver, one arm around Quatre and the other around Cathy. Duo sat on her other side claiming that Trowa was monopolizing too much of his favorite sister’s time making her giggle and earning him a mock glare from both Trowa and Heero, who was sitting as close to his boyfriend as possible without actually being on his lap. On Quatre’s other side sat Relena snuggled up to Wufei and took in the sights without the usual framing of a camera.
As promised the ride began promptly at seven. The slap of reins and the jingle of sleigh bells foreshadowed the jerk that jostled the passengers enough to make they sway and bring forth laughter. The steady clip clop of horse shoes on asphalt set the rhythm like an equine metronome and the passengers settled into it easily. It was faster than walking, but still slow enough to allow time to admire the houses on both sides of the street.
“This is beautiful. I haven't gone out to look at Christmas lights since I was a little girl.” Relena sighed leaning into Wufei while pointing at a residence passing on their left. “I love the way the white lights look like icicles.”
“You see icicles all the time at home.” Wufei chuckled and kissed her softly.”
“True, but it's cold there. Here I can see the beauty of the effect without freezing the in process. It's the best of both worlds.”
“Look at that.” Cathy laughed pointing out an inflatable snowman, snow globe and train set alongside two mechanical reindeer in the yard of one of the houses as they passed.
“The inflatable things are everywhere now.” Duo shuddered “Most of them are so fucking tacky too.”
“Not as tacky as when you made Mr. Edwin's reindeer look like they were mating in his front yard.” Trowa smirked at Duo's unrepentant grin.
“I like those.” Quatre pointed to the strands of blue and white lights that outlined the arms of an ocotillo cactus. They lit the stark branches and softened the harsh angles. “We don't have anything like that back home.”
“They are nice.” Trowa agreed earning him a smile that was brighter than the decorations and a kiss on the cheek much to the amusement of the rest of the group.
“I got to hand it to you, Quatre. I’ve tried to get Tro out here to see the lights every year and it is always no go. He says its too cold and goes back into his bear cave to hibernate.”
“It’s quite possible you’ve met your match for thin blood.” Wufei couldn’t resist joining in the teasing even though it earned him a good natured punch on the shoulder from Relena.
Cathy grinned then leaned a bit to rest her head on Duo’s shoulder. “It's the power of love. It can move mountains, part seas, and make Trowa go out in the cold to look at Christmas lights.”
“Shut up.” Trowa’s growl was more bark then bite though not all the red on his cheeks was from the cold. He cuddled a little closer to Quatre despite the risk of bringing on more teasing. Capturing his lips in a short but intense kiss Trowa shifted a little bringing his mouth close to Quatre’s ear. “She’s right,” he whispered ignoring the pounding of his heart and the sense of panic that was trying to take hold. “I do love you.”
Quatre smiled, soft and genuine, as he shifted to look Trowa in the eye. “I know.” He replied just as quietly. “I love you too.”
Author: lil_1337
Pairing/Characters: 5xR, 1x2, 3x4, Cathy
Rating: R for sex and violence
Word count: 6,181
Warnings/Kinks: AU, paranormal, geeky ramblings, humor, horror, profanity
Summary: Who you gonna call? The Winner Foundation Paranormal Investigations team of course. Sequel to 'Who's Johnny?’
Disclaimer: I don't own them in this life, but I'm holding out hope for the next one.
Tucson, Arizona, Friday, December 16th, 2006.
“The secret to making eggs fluffy is air.” Wufei nodded, watching as Trowa expertly whipped together three eggs and dribble of heavy cream. “The more foam in the bowl when you put them in the pan the fluffier they will be when they cook.” Trowa handed the bowl to Wufei and set a skillet on the stove. Butter was added before Trowa turned back to his new assistant. “Making good eggs takes strong arms and wrists.” He raised an eyebrow at Wufei’s smirk then returned it in kind. “Why do you think the best chefs are men?”
Wufei chuckled, handing the bowl back to Trowa when he reached for it. “I hadn’t really thought about it.”
“The muffins should be cool enough now. Just turn the pan over and dump them onto the rack. If any of them stick then run a knife under the top and they should come right off.”
Wufei did as he was told, arranging the still warm pastries right side up in a neat row. Looking over them he took the two that looked the best and placed them on the plates next to the orange slices and bacon that were already there. At the stove Trowa’s spatula was in perpetual motion, breaking up the clumps of egg as it cooked.
“You want to make sure the eggs aren’t runny, but don’t leave them in too long or they’ll get dry and rubbery.”
“I’m not much of a cook, nor is Relena. Neither of us have had the time or inclination to learn.” The calm tone of Wufei’s voice was in direct contrast with the way that his fingers nervously adjusted and straightened anything within reach.
“It’s not hard once you get the hang of it. My mom was a great cook and she thought that everyone should know at least the basics. Cathy was never much interested, but I always enjoyed it. I learned a lot from her.” Trowa nudged Wufei with his elbow keeping the steaming skillet to the side until there was room to add eggs to each meal without the danger of burning him. Noting Wufei’s anxious fingers he grinned. “Don’t worry, she’ll like it. This is what I always make Cathy the first morning she visits. Quatre gets an omelet and coffee instead of scrambled eggs and juice, but the rest is the same.”
Wufei moved the now full plate to a lap tray that was already set with silverware wrapped in a cloth napkin, a glass of juice and a single red rose in a vase. “You do realize that you’re spoiling him? He’s insufferable as it is.” A small smile softened the words as he carefully picked up the tray
“I like spoiling him.” Trowa hoisted his tray and followed Wufei across the kitchen. “It’s only the first morning then he has to get up and eat in the dining room like the rest of us.”
“I believe yesterday was the second morning.”
“I had finals the day before and he was already up when I got home so it didn't count. He messed up my schedule by coming in early.”
“Impressive rationalization.” Chuckling, Wufei pushed through the kitchen door into the dining room. “You work hard too. Make sure you remind him of that occasionally.”
Trowa paused, his hand raised to knock on Cathy’s door. “I don’t have to. He never forgets.” Trowa's eyes dropped but the smile was clearly visible behind his fall of hair. “That's one of the best things about him.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Thank you for seeing us especially on such short notice, Mrs. Ortiz.” Quatre sat carefully on the couch, his fingers moving immediately to scratch behind the ears of the large marmalade tabby stretched out on the arm. “Do you have any questions for me before my associate starts the recording?”
Mrs. Ortiz, a small woman with a worried smile, shook her head. “I think you explained it all already.”
“Just ignore the cameras.” Quatre shot Heero a look and nodded slightly signaling to start the recording. When the light on the camera directly in front of him went to green he looked away, concentrating on the woman seated across from him. “Could you please state your name, age and address?”
“Aalyiah Marcela Ortiz. Twenty six. 2162 S. Calle Escondia, Tucson, Arizona, 85705.”
“Thank you.” Quatre smiled, encouraging his subject to relax. “In your own words can you please tell me about the night of April 23rd 2000?”
Mrs. Ortiz frowned, fingers twisting the material of her dress. “I was in my room studying when the phone rang. Mama answered it and I remember hearing her voice getting louder and louder as she got more upset. I went out to see what was wrong and she told me that papa had been in an accident and a police officer was coming to pick her and take her to the hospital. My brothers were eight and ten so they were already in bed so she told me to take care of them and she would be home when she could. My sister Carmelita was sixteen and she was out at a study group so mama called her and told her to come home and stay with us. It wasn't long, mama was getting her shoes on, before the policeman arrived. Carmelita got home about an hour after that and stayed up waiting until mama called to tell us that papa was alive and they were running tests on him.”
“Can you describe the kind of accident that your father was involved in?”
“The people that he worked with said that they found him in a corner screaming for help.” Mrs. Ortiz paused to smooth the wrinkles she had made in her dress. “They thought he had gone crazy. He wasn’t!” She looked up challenging Quatre to disagree with her. “He worked hard to take care of us and never complained about it. He didn’t drink and he never did drugs. They did tests on him when he was in the hospital and they all came back negative.” Her intense gaze softened and she looked away. “He was a good husband and father. He never raised a hand to us and he encouraged my sister and I to go to school instead of getting married young like a lot of the girls we knew.”
“He sounds like a good man who certainly did not deserve what happened to him.” Quatre’s statement earned him another smile, this one less tentative. “Did your father ever mention seeing, hearing or smelling anything strange when he was working?”
“He said there was something evil there and that it watched him. I remember him telling me once that it was like a man made out of darkness.” She frowned, the skin on her forehead wrinkling as she concentrated. “I don't remember him saying anything about hearing or smelling strange things. He didn't really talk about it much. I think he was trying to protect us from whatever it was.”
Swallowing hard Quatre pushed aside the memories of his own experience and forced himself to focus on the interview despite the chills that crawled up his spine. The words of Mrs. Ortiz's father described exactly the thing he had seen. The similarities were reassuring even as the implication filled him with horror. “Was he prone to saying things like that?”
“No, that's why I remembered it. He believed in God and he went to church every Sunday, but he was never preached or talked about the devil. He used to tell us that everything had to make their own peace with God.”
“Did you ever see the entity that he described?”
“No. Papa wouldn't let us come see him at work even to visit or bring him dinner like we did when he worked at the grocery store. I remember him and mama fighting about it because papa would have to eat leftovers or sandwiches instead of what we had for dinner.”
“When was the fight? In relation to the day he was hospitalized.”
“I think it was not too long after he started working there. Maybe a year or so.”
“Is there anything else that you think is relevant?”
“The Doctors tried a lot of different medications on my papa which they said worked for other people who had the same disease he did. None of them did anything to help him at all. He just sat in his chair and stared without talking. They did tests on his brain and took pictures thinking he had a stroke, but they couldn’t find anything wrong.”
“I’m very sorry for your loss.” Quatre suppressed the urge to shudder shoving down the question of what might have happened to him if Trowa had not been there. “Is there anything that you would like to ask or tell me before we turn off the cameras?”
She shook her head waiting until Heero began removing the cameras from the tripods to pack them away before speaking. “Have you seen this thing? The thing that hurt my papa?”
Hesitating for the space of a moment Quatre nodded slowly torn between the desire to reassure her and his inherent unwillingness to make a flat statement about something he couldn't verify scientifically. “I saw something a couple of days ago which was very similar to what your father described to you.”
“Then you don’t think my papa was crazy?”
Quatre met her eyes unable to look away or douse the flicker of hope he saw there. “No, Mrs. Ortiz, I don’t. I think your father saw something and it scared him so badly he never recovered from it.”
“Gracias. Thank you. It means so much to hear that. I worry that they were right and I will go crazy too someday. Now I know that it does not have to happen.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“I like him.” Cathy caught the corner of the sheet and took it around the bed spreading it flat across the mattress before tucking it in. “He has a good heart and he makes you smile.”
“His heart isn’t the only thing that’s good.”
“Well, now that I’ve seen him I have to agree he does have a very nice ass and a beautiful smile. In fact he's very easy on the eyes.” She tilted her head, grinning impishly. “I never thought you would end up with a blond though.”
“I've always liked blonds.” Trowa’s grin turned predatory and paused with the blanket hovering several inches above its destination. “He has a great ass and I love his smile.”
“I do too.” Cathy tugged gently on the blanket pulling Trowa out of his thoughts and back to the chore at hand. “Especially when he is smiling at you. He just lights up when you're around.”
Trowa laughed, warm and contentedly as he made quick work of smoothing down the coverlet. “I love him. I think I might be in love with him.” He straightened and met her eyes. “I never wanted to be in a relationship. I had school, gymnastics and this place to keep me busy. I thought it was enough. But now that I have him in my life I know that it wasn't. Being around him makes everything better, more real.”
“Have you told him all this?” She inclined her head to one side studying Trowa’s profile.
“No.”
“Why not? He really cares about you, Trowa. “ She smiled gently walking around the now made bed to join her brother. “When he talks about you he gets all dreamy eyed just like you do when you talk about him.”
“We’ve only known each other a few months, Cathy I don’t want to rush things.” The 'I don't want him to leave me' hung in the air, unspoken but no less solid for it.
Cathy sighed wrapping an arm around Trowa waist and giving him a quick squeeze. “The feelings are already there, saying the words won’t make it any more real than it already is.”
“I know.” Trowa hugged her back pulling her close and resting his cheek on the top of her head. “That’s what scares me.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Are you sure this is the place?” Relena frowned, taking in the crumbling adobe walls of what appeared to be the remains of a dilapidated old building. The roof had long since disappeared and all that remained were three walls in a rough U shape that was open to the road.
“According to the GPS this is indeed where we want to be.” Wufei turned off the engine of the rented van and pocketed the keys before opening his door. “If it’s wrong we’ll ask someone at the restaurant next door.” Once out of the van he stopped and sniffed the air taking in the scent of fresh roasted chilies that mixed with the crisp bite of cilantro and habenaro peppers.
“Okay.” Camera in hand Relena climbed out of the van closing the door behind her. A cold wind blew down the back of her coat eliciting a shiver though it barely stirred the sun baked earth she stood on. The hard packed ground was solid and unyielding underfoot unlike the soft dirt she was familiar with.
Coming around the van Wufei spotted a sign off to the side and changed course to investigate it. After scanning it he turned back to Relena. “This is indeed El Tiridito.”
Moving to join him, Relena removed the cap from the end of the camera lens and began taking pictures. Using a grid pattern she shot the sign making sure that each picture overlapped enough to be able to recreate the whole thing in a single panoramic shot later.
While she meticulously documented the shrine Wufei first read the sign absorbing the information on it before moving on to study the weather worn, but well tended altar. He was no stranger to holy places having visited quite a few in his travels, but this one was different than any he had experienced before. Despite the trappings of faith it had no feeling of warmth or safety. Instead it left him feeling empty and cold inside in a way that the heat from the candles that covered the walls and altar couldn’t begin to touch. The feeling that he was being watched, no studied, made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and he found himself moving to stand behind Relena with the intent of watching her back.
The light and heat from the candles mixed with the growing internal sense of cold created a sense of disorientation that made Wufei’s head swim. Reluctantly he moved towards the entrance to the shrine, putting some distance between him and the altar. Dead leaves danced on the sidewalk as the wind pushed them yet the flames of the candles never flickered. From his position outside the entrance Wufei studied the side walls noting that neither of them was high enough to block the wind that was now tugging at his ponytail in a less than playful manner.
“Relena?” He called her name softly wanting her attention without disturbing her concentration. “When you’re finished I have a couple of pictures I’d like for you to take.”
“Okay. Since you made me breakfast in bed.” The genuine warmth of her words wrapped themselves around him dispelling the empty feeling in the pit of his stomach and restoring his sense of balance.
“Trowa did most of it, but I’m willing to accept credit if since it seems to have earned me a place in your good graces.
“You already had that.” Lowering the camera Relena chuckled then moved to stand in front of him. “It was your idea and you got up to help so you deserve credit.” Stepping into his personal space she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him lightly. “I love you for wanting to do it.” She kissed him again and Wufei’s hands came up to wrap around her waist. Feeling her pressed against him brought heat and disorientation of a much more pleasurable kind and he leaned into it savoring the happiness that came from being with her.
Pulling away reluctantly Wufei smiled then kissed the tip of her nose. “I love you, that’s why I wanted to do it.” Sighing softly he loosened his hold. “How much more do you have to do?”
“Just your special shots and then I’m done.” She shivered giving the shrine the once over. before turning back to Wufei. “I’d like to get out of here. This place gives me the creeps.”
“You too?” Wufei moved closer keeping in physical contact as she stepped to the lining up a shot. “I thought it was just me.”
“No, it's not. It feels like I'm taking pictures of a serial killer instead of a shrine. There is nothing holy about this place at all.”
Wufei nodded, pleased that he was not the only one who was reacting badly. “I don't think Quatre should come here.”
“No! Not ever.” Relena lowered her camera and snapped the cover on the lens. “I'm done. Lets get out here and find some place warm that serves hot chocolate.”
“That is the second best offer I've had today.” Wufei unlocked the passenger side door then turned to make his way around the van. From the corner of his eye he caught a hint of movement, but when he turned to look the shrine was empty except for the shadows thrown by the burning candles.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“What happens next?” Duo sat on the edge of Heero’s bed watching as his boyfriend connected a camera to his laptop to upload the interview footage taken earlier that day.
“If Wufei deems the shrine worth taking measurements of then that is the next step. If he doesn’t then I think we are at an impasse.”
“Either way you’re probably done with this thing today.” Duo tried not to let the disappointment show through in his voice.
“This is my assessment, yes.”
“Oh. Does that mean that you'll be heading home soon?”
Heero clicked the upload box then turned to Duo a frown creasing his forehead. “Do you want me to leave?”
“No! Shit, Heero, of course not. I love having you here. I just wanted to know I knew what to expect. It took a lot longer when you guys did your thing here so I was figuring you'd be here long enough for us to spend some time together. Maybe go see a movie or look at lights.”
“Wufei and Relena have a return flight for late on the twentieth, but I had Iria book mine for the same flight for same one Quatre is on. I thought that would be more efficient as it will save you from making an additional trip to the airport. I hope that wasn't presumptuous.”
“Not at all.” Duo grinned and leaned into Heero entwining their fingers. “I thought you would want to be home for Christmas since it is such a big thing with your family. Won't your mom be mad if you aren't there?”
“I've already spoken to her and explained the situation. She is willing to give me an exception this year with the caveat that next year I attend and bring you along as well. Apparently she was quite impressed when she met you at Thanksgiving.”
“I'm glad.” Duo's usual bravado slipped a little to show the eager young man underneath. “I liked her a lot too. All of your family was great. You're a lucky guy, Heero.”
Heero leaned in for a kiss pausing just a hair's breath away. “Yes, I am.” With a pleased smile tugging at the corners of his lips he brought their lips together in confirmation of his statement.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“How is your visit going?” Quatre stepped out of his dress shoes lining them up neatly next to his suitcase.
“That’s the first thing Cathy asked me. You guys are getting along way too well. I'm not sure if that makes me happy or nervous.”
Chuckling, Quatre pulled off his tie and looped it over a hanger. “I was surprised how different the two of you, but I like her a lot. She seems like someone I would enjoy spending time with.”
Trowa smiled, his eyes never leaving Quatre as he removed first his dress shirt and then his slacks. “She got all the social skills which is good because one of us needed to.”
Quatre laughed, shaking his head as he hung his barely worn clothes in the closet. “You got the lion’s share of the beauty and the brains seem to be evenly split so I guess it all works out in the end.” He yelped in surprise when a pair of arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him back against Trowa's solid chest.
“I missed you.” Trowa’s lips ghosted a line down Quatre’s neck pausing to nip then tongue the hollow where it joined his shoulder.
“You had Cathy to keep you company.” Quatre’s breath hitched then sped up giving his words a huskier quality. He reached back to run his hands up and down Trowa's legs using the angle to draw Trowa tight against him.
“It’s not the same.” One of Trowa’s hands slid down Quatre’s stomach to cup the rapidly growing bulge in the front of his boxer briefs. “She's my sister and you're my boyfriend. If I had my way both of you would be here all the time.”
“As long as she has her own room.” Quatre tried to twist in Trowa’s arms but found himself pinned between the hand on his cock and the one that had snaked it’s way up under his undershirt to tweak a nipple. He groaned as coherent thought left his brain accompanied by the lips that had returned to exploring his neck.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Seventy three candles.” Wufei made a note on the pad in his hand as he called back over his shoulder to Heero. He was not pleased about having to return to El Tiradito, but he deny that it was worth giving a complete once over using the other tools at their disposal.
“That should not be enough to account for the difference in temperature even factoring in the lack of air flow.” Heero finished his slow sweep of the area and adjusted the settings on the camera before starting the second one.
“Relena got some good close ups of the candles so we should be able to find out who makes them and what ingredients they use. It could impact the amount of heat being given off.”
“That is a valid path of elimination.” Finished with his rotation Heero looked up from the camera with a slight grin. “We’ll make a scientist out of you yet.”
Wufei snorted as he jotted down distances and their accompanying temperatures. “No thank you. I’m quite happy with the career path I plan to pursue.”
“Studying ancient cultures and deciphering dead languages?”
“With my lovely and talented photographer girlfriend at my side. A twosome of intrepid adventures.” Wufei put the thermometer back, careful to return it to its designated place in Heero’s toolbox before removing the barometer. He scribbled down the digital reading then began a backward path matching his barometric readings to those of the thermometer.
“Fortunately Relena will have the skills to actually be able to secure a job.” Heero removed the camera from the tripod and slid his hand into the side strap before moving towards the altar to get close up shots of the candles and the shelves they sat on.
“If things get bad we’ll just bring our six children and come live with you and Duo.” Wufei ignored the derisive snort that accompanied his words. “The fortunate thing about running a bed and breakfast is that there is always room for destitute relatives to move in with you.”
“You’re assuming that Duo and I will still be together.”
Wufei paused looking up to study his friend. “I was. Should I make other back up plans?” His tone remained light as it had been, but it carried an undertone of concern.
“No.” Heero smiled. “I'll be sure to inform Duo of the possibilities. No doubt he would open his home to you without hesitation. He's very generous to those people he cares for.”
“He's a good man.” Wufei replaced the barometer and removed the EMF meter. “The kind of person that I could see you spending a lifetime with.”
Keeping the camera steady Heero looked away from the eyepiece to give Wufei his full attention. “That is my plan.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Excuse me.” Cathy tapped lightly on the open door to Relena's room before stepping. “Do you have a minute?”
“I just need to crop and resize this picture then I can take a break. Make yourself comfortable.”
“Thanks.” Cathy dropped gracefully onto the bed and watched unabashed as Relena expertly manipulated the image on the screen of her laptop. “You make that look so easy.”
“Years of practice. When I first started I was horrible. I've learned a lot since then.” She sat back and examined the photo closely then clicked on save with a satisfied nod. “Trowa said you work for a circus? I bet that is a lot more difficult than a little photo clean up.
“I grew up doing gymnastics and acrobatics so it doesn't seem that way to me. Sitting still and doing what you do would be more difficult.” Cathy shifted, getting comfortable. “I know you're busy so I won't take up too much of your time.”
“No problem.” Relena spun in the chair to face her visitor. “Was there something specific you wanted to talk about?”
“Not really.” Cathy blushed and tugged on one of her curls straightening it out then letting it go so it bounced back into place. “I've always looked out for Trowa. He's my baby brother and even though we were lucky enough to be adopted by great people in a way it's still the two of us against the world.”
Relena nodded. “From what little I know I can understand how you would feel that way.”
“It's been strange, good, but strange to have him suddenly have a bunch of new people in his life that I don't know. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled he is making friends and opening himself up, but it also makes me want to make sure he's safe.” Cathy laughed softly though her eyes were wary. “That's probably silly and overprotective considering Trowa isn't a kid anymore and he can certainly take care of himself.”
“I think it's part of human nature to want to look out for the people you care about.” Relena got out of her chair and moved to sit next to Cathy on the bed. “Heero made Wufei fill out an application to date me. He said it was an information sheet, but we both know it was more than that.” Relena smiled, amused affection coloring her features. “I had a long talk with Trowa when Heero and Duo started dating because despite the fact that Heero can be a pain I love my cousin and I wanted to know about the man that he was spending time with.”
“That makes me feel better.” Cathy's grin held less hesitation. “What do you think about the idea of continuing this conversation over a couple of chocolate muffins and coffee?”
“Make it tea and I wouldn't say no.”
“Tea it is.” Cathy bounced to her feet followed by an amused looking Relena. “I'm looking forward to getting to know you.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“There are some anomalies in the readings from El Tiradito though there are several avenues of research that need to be pursued before we can be sure whether or not they can be explained by means other than paranormal activity.” Quatre sighed pushing his bangs back out of his face. “Without being able to run a formal investigation of the hotel I think we have as much as we are going to get. The interview with Mrs. Ortiz was helpful as background, but it doesn't really give us any new leads to check out.”
“Anecdotal evidence would suggest that there is some kind of malevolent spirit that lives in the area of the hotel. If or how it is connected to the shrine I really would not want to speculate. Nor would I have any idea of how to go about proving or disproving that theory.” Wufei smiled apologetically. “I can say that the shrine did not feel like any other holy place I have ever been.”
“It was creepy. I felt like someone was watching us the whole time we were there.” Relena shuddered unconsciously moving closer to Wufei. “I’m still going through the pictures I took, but the one thing I noticed was that you can see the trees and bushes moving in the wind and none of the candles have been blown out or are even flickering. It would probably be easier to see in the video then with stills so that might be something to look for when you process it, Heero.”
Heero nodded and made a note. “I’ll do that.”
“There is one other thing though it's possible that it was something I did.” She frowned then hesitantly handed her laptop over to Quatre.
“If you look at the panorama I was putting together here the walls seem to not quite meet in the corner even though they do on the other side.” She leaned across the machine to maximize another picture of the same area captured in a single shot. “When I blew them up to see the area more clearly I got this.” She pressed another key bring up an enlarged version of the three pictures. In the corner was a the hazy black outline of a human figure on the wall. “I thought it was a shadow at first, but then I realized that mine was off to the side. Given the position of the sun to cast a shadow there someone would have to stand right in front of the wall and they would be completely visible in the picture.
“I don't think it's a shadow.” Quatre’s voice was whisper soft, but strong though his face showed his trepidation.
“No, it doesn’t.” Heero then Wufei nodded in agreement.
“Let me know if you find anything else in the other pictures or on the video.” Quatre leaned into the arm that Trowa had draped over his shoulders. His face was pale, but the color was slowly returning. “I think at this point we should focus on analyzing what data we have so that it can be presented to the foundation as the basis to formally request a full investigation.” He looked around the table and found no disagreement on any of his friends’ faces.
“That leaves us a few days before we leave. Is there anything else you want us to do?” Though the words came from Wufei Heero appeared equally interested in the answer.
“Actually there is.” Once again Quatre looked around the table turning his smile on each person. “I appreciate your concern and understanding on what has been a strange situation even for us. You've worked hard and you deserve some time to relax and see the sights before you head home.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tucson, Arizona, Saturday, December 18th, 2006.
The wagon that awaited them at the entrance to Winter Haven was drawn by horses and filled with bales of fragrant hay. Close to the entrance sat a group of college student. In the center were three couples and they were surrounded by an additional five or six individuals. Two sets of crutches were stowed off to the far side and the cast adorning the leg of one of the young women glowed a sickly neon green in contrast to the rest of her festive wear. They chattered loudly amongst themselves, laughing and teasing each other in a way that added to the overall sense of high spirited anticipation.
Cheery hellos were exchanged as Trowa led the way up onto the wagon and headed towards the front to make room for other passengers that would be boarding after. He settled himself with his back to the driver, one arm around Quatre and the other around Cathy. Duo sat on her other side claiming that Trowa was monopolizing too much of his favorite sister’s time making her giggle and earning him a mock glare from both Trowa and Heero, who was sitting as close to his boyfriend as possible without actually being on his lap. On Quatre’s other side sat Relena snuggled up to Wufei and took in the sights without the usual framing of a camera.
As promised the ride began promptly at seven. The slap of reins and the jingle of sleigh bells foreshadowed the jerk that jostled the passengers enough to make they sway and bring forth laughter. The steady clip clop of horse shoes on asphalt set the rhythm like an equine metronome and the passengers settled into it easily. It was faster than walking, but still slow enough to allow time to admire the houses on both sides of the street.
“This is beautiful. I haven't gone out to look at Christmas lights since I was a little girl.” Relena sighed leaning into Wufei while pointing at a residence passing on their left. “I love the way the white lights look like icicles.”
“You see icicles all the time at home.” Wufei chuckled and kissed her softly.”
“True, but it's cold there. Here I can see the beauty of the effect without freezing the in process. It's the best of both worlds.”
“Look at that.” Cathy laughed pointing out an inflatable snowman, snow globe and train set alongside two mechanical reindeer in the yard of one of the houses as they passed.
“The inflatable things are everywhere now.” Duo shuddered “Most of them are so fucking tacky too.”
“Not as tacky as when you made Mr. Edwin's reindeer look like they were mating in his front yard.” Trowa smirked at Duo's unrepentant grin.
“I like those.” Quatre pointed to the strands of blue and white lights that outlined the arms of an ocotillo cactus. They lit the stark branches and softened the harsh angles. “We don't have anything like that back home.”
“They are nice.” Trowa agreed earning him a smile that was brighter than the decorations and a kiss on the cheek much to the amusement of the rest of the group.
“I got to hand it to you, Quatre. I’ve tried to get Tro out here to see the lights every year and it is always no go. He says its too cold and goes back into his bear cave to hibernate.”
“It’s quite possible you’ve met your match for thin blood.” Wufei couldn’t resist joining in the teasing even though it earned him a good natured punch on the shoulder from Relena.
Cathy grinned then leaned a bit to rest her head on Duo’s shoulder. “It's the power of love. It can move mountains, part seas, and make Trowa go out in the cold to look at Christmas lights.”
“Shut up.” Trowa’s growl was more bark then bite though not all the red on his cheeks was from the cold. He cuddled a little closer to Quatre despite the risk of bringing on more teasing. Capturing his lips in a short but intense kiss Trowa shifted a little bringing his mouth close to Quatre’s ear. “She’s right,” he whispered ignoring the pounding of his heart and the sense of panic that was trying to take hold. “I do love you.”
Quatre smiled, soft and genuine, as he shifted to look Trowa in the eye. “I know.” He replied just as quietly. “I love you too.”