Disclaimer: I do not own GW, and I make no money from this fic. The story line is all mine, as is Bastion Maxwell and his twin sisters. Oh.. and the setting is mine, too. Everything else belongs to Bandai and sunrise. Warnings? Death and abusive men. Couples? a smidgeon of 5xsp, and mention of 1xCB.

The Capture: Chapter 14
By Caliko

Patience Maxwell glanced up as Sally entered the women's quarters, then went back to smearing clear antibiotic cream over the tattoo she had just had done. Noticing Major Po's curious stare, she shrugged and smiled, quietly putting her finger to her lips.

"Don't tell my brothers about this. One, it's none of his business.. and two, I'll never hear the end of it." She giggled, reaching for the folder that was being held out to her. "What's this?"

"Captain Richards has assigned you planet side, so that you can train someone to handle the communications port." Sally bit her tounge, knowing what was going to happen. The Maxwell twins made no secret of the fact that they couldn't stand the restrictive society they came from. Neither would willingly go back to it.

"Hmmph! I don't think so!" Patience threw the file across the room, then blithely got up to pull her pants on. "You can tell him I am too busy developing that new relay that will go through the great mountains. He can send Sybil. She's not doing anything important."

"Pat.. Sybil has accepted another position, running the communications department of that new space colony. I'm afraid that you're the only logical choice."

"She did WHAT? Without telling me? The bitch! She's supposed to be my twin!" The Maxwell sputtered, suddenly realizing that her sister pulled a fast one on her. "Just wait until..."

"Patience!" Sally broke in, biting her lip to keep from laughing, "Richards is waiting for you."

The lithe girl stormed out of the woman's quarters and slammed the door behind her, leaving Sally to gaze fondly after her. A few minutes later, the buzzer sounded, announcing a visitor.

"Who would that be?" As far as she knew, none of the female officers were expecting company.

She exited the private section, then walked into the lounge. Opening the door, her mouth dropped, as she noticed Wu leaning against the far wall.

"Hello, Sally. Miss me?"

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Later that night, planet side:

Lord Trowa barely hesitated before lifting his hand to knock on Lord Yuy's quarters. Almost immediately, the door was opened, and he was led inside. His sovereign waited inside, worry etched on his pale skin.

It was then that the young lord remembered that Lord Heero was raised as a brother to the king. He had been Milliardo's constant companion and comrade in arms. Looking closer, he swallowed, seeing the cold light of fury on the rulers face.

"Your Grace..." He started, bowing low. "I have gathered my men. I hope that I can apprehend Schbeiker before he escapes outside of town."

Milliardo raised his brow, recognizing how out of character the Earl was being. It was a well known joke among the others that Quatre would be the first to run, but Trowa would be on his heels.

"That is unlike you, Trowa. You wouldn't fight for your own castle, but you would for Lord Yuy?"

Barton flushed, his face getting tight. He didn't need Milliardo to remind him of his past failures... still, he could understand the kings worry.

"I have reason to believe that Lady Yuy is my sister, Sir. I lost her once before, I do not wish to do so again."

"Then, go, My Lord. But don't bring him back to me. You may hold his trial in your camp."

Trowa nodded, then looked towards Yuy. "How is he?"

"He woke earlier out of his head with fever. The nurse gave him some medicine, but she said that it was a good sign. She said that we would have had more cause to worry if he woke not at all."

"Then," Trowa smiled, "I should get Catherine back before my new brother decides to go after her himself."

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Cathy woke up to a slight pounding in her head. Slowly, she reached up to touch her raw throat, wincing at the sharp sting her fingers brought. Gently, she explored the soreness, realizing that it reached almost completely around her neck.

She remembered Will straddling her waist, his hands squeezing until blackness covered her eyes. :::Bruised.::: She thought, pushing the panic behind her. It wouldn't do to dwell on it just now.

The Outworlder pushed herself up, her hands scraped against harsh rock underneath her palms. Wet dampness caressed her back, and she could feel clammy when she touched it. She finally realized that the pulse swishing through her ears was more than that - it was the persistent crash of waves upon rock.

:::We're still in the castle.:::

Carefully trying not to aggravate the soreness in her neck, she turned her head to the pinprick of lights coming from the side. Cathy could see the faint outline of a man in the darkness, and stiffened, knowing that it had to be Will Schbeiker. :::in the dungeon, maybe.:::

He came up to her, digging his cruel fingers into her arm as he pulled her up to her feet. "Walk." He muttered, pushing her forward even as she fell back on her unsteady feet. In her groggy clumsiness, she slipped, feeling her feet slip over a sharp ledge. A few seconds later, she heard rocks hit water below, and gulped.

Cursing low, he let her dangle a moment before pulling her back onto the path. "Watch your step, My Lady." He taunted, enjoying the shudder that ran down her spine. "We wouldn't want you to drown, would we? Now, move! And be more quiet!"

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Trowa held his hand up, pausing the men behind him. Up ahead, he spotted lamplight bouncing off of the cave walls. He could hear a man cursing, and then rocks sliding across the ground. A woman moaned, and then the sound of something being dragged over rocks.

Slowly, he drew his sword and moved forward, following the lamplight as it moved behind a curve in the wall. His men followed on padded feet, all of one mind. It was time to end this man's terror.

Bright sunlight appeared at the end of the tunnel, bathing the struggling pair in it's rays. They had emerged next to a cliff, and the Earl could hear the waves crashing below.

Cathy tripped over a large rock, nearly pulling Schbeiker to the ground with her. Regaining his feet, Will raised his fist and brought it down across the woman's back. She crumbled to the ground, her breath knocked out of her slim body.

Trowa clenched his jaw, seeing the woman that looked so much like his mother in so much pain. It brought back memories of the times his father found him in the woman's quarters as a child, and would beat his Mama for coddling him.

"Schbeiker!" Trowa shouted, drawing the man's attention. "Surrender!"

His men surrounded them, leaving only the cliff edge unguarded. The Rebel leader could not escape their net this time!

Will watched, laughing. His eyes shown craftily as his hands flexed at his sides.

"So.." he smirked, "The coward has decided to fight."

Lord Barton advanced, his sword raised. "I do what I must."

"Then save her if you can." Will shoved Cathy behind him, laughing as she lost her footing once more.

She screamed as she slid down the cliffside, her toes digging into the pocked dirt and rock to slow her decent.

"Cathlin!" Trowa shouted, the childhood nickname erupting involuntarily from his lips. He rushed to the edge, only to be brought up short by Schbeiker's sword.

"Going somewhere?" he taunted, pressing his blade closer into the Earls throat.

Trowa jumped back, bringing his own weapon up. "Step away from her, coward!"

The rebel only laughed. "You dare to call me a coward? You, who watched from across the river while I took your home? Tell me.. what is so important about this slut that you fight for her?"

"Don't call her that!" Trowa growled. "Cathlin.. are you alright?"

Catherine Bloom froze, hearing him call her that. Unbidden, memories thought lost flashed through her mind. A woman who looked like her, a little boy that followed her everywhere, calling her Cathlin because he could not pronounce Cathleen.

She remembered him screaming, his clear green eyes squinting with tears as their father pulled him from the nursery. Then, her sister distracting her with play.

"Trowa?" His name.. :::Lord Trowa?::: Cathy shook her head as a lifetime of fog began to lift.

Her brother sighed with relief at Cathy's voice. She was still there, alive. :::But for how long?:::

"Try to hold on!" He called down, bringing his sword up to block Wills.

"How sweet!" The villain simpered, pursing his lips. "You, the coward, begging your lover to save herself!" He stood there with his fist on his hip, and gestured in the air with his sword. "At least she's free to marry you, if you both survive. She didn't seem to get along with Yuy, anyway."

He then lunged forward, aiming his weapon on Trowa's chest. The Earl skipped sideways, slashing at Schbeiker's middle, drawing blood.

"Heero is alive and well." He smirked, watching as Will covered the deep cut with his hand. "And my sister will do well with him." And then, he dropped the smile, as his face became icy.

He stalked closer, his step speeding as the rebel fell backward. And then, they came together in a desperate shower of sparks.

Will had nothing left to lose, and fought with the ferocity of a doomed man. He no longer thought that he would escape with his life, but had every intention on taking the weak lord with him.

Trowa, on the other hand, had only one wish - to rescue his only surviving sister from this maniac's custody. For the first time in his life, he was grateful to his father. At least the old man made sure that he could fight.

He smiled tightly, knowing that the other Lords assumed that he was weak. They were too harsh in their own living to appreciate his love of peace, and would not believe that he stayed out of battle due to his ethics.

But.. there was a time when ethics had to be put aside. Because of that, he stayed in shape, daily practicing his skills with his men.

Slashing upwards, he nicked the other man's arms as Will blocked too late. Schbeiker jumped back, putting distance between them. Then, he threw his weight forward in an overhead slash, finally losing his temper.

Trowa blocked easily, and pushed Will aside, watching as the other man tripped over the same rock that had felled Cathy.

He landed on his back, his sword falling from his hand as his elbow hit the hard ground. Lord Barton came forward, standing over the downed man with his sword resting over Wills throat.

"Do you surrender?" He asked the rebel, cold victory licking at the edges of his eyes.

"Fuck you!" Will twisted, rolling away. He brought his legs up, and tangled them in Trowa's. Then, as Lord Barton fell backward, he stood up, looking frantically around him.

He glanced down, looking for his sword, only to see it cradled in one of the soldiers arms. Then, his gaze darted from side to side, looking for a break in the warriors ranks. Seeing none, he watched as Cathy pulled herself over the edge to sit on solid ground. Will smiled, his plan clear. He rushed over to Lady Yuy, intent on taking her again.

Cathy saw his movement out of the corner of her eye. Knowing that she didn't have the energy to fight him, she crouched, and threw herself in the breech between two of her brothers warriors.

Behind her, the men closed ranks and surrounded the man. Trowa stood up. Picking up his sword, he came closer, holding a pair of shackles in his hands.

"Give it up, Schbeiker. You know that we have you." He advised, facing him.

Will backed up slowly until his feet brushed against the void. No matter what happened.. he was dead. With that knowledge resounding in his head, he closed his eyes, and took one more step back.

"No! Don't!" Trowa shouted, reaching the spot too late.

Will hit the rocks below, his body breaking along the jagged peaks like a broken toy. Closing his eyes against the site, he turned away. Cathy came forward, her sorrow matching his. There were other options, like the prison colony the alliance was setting up. She knew that Schbeiker wasn't in his right mind - they could have treated him.

:::It's too late now.::: She thought, her hand brushing shyly against his.

He flinched away, then forced himself to relax. Taking her hand in his, he gently squeezed her palm, waiting for her to look at him.

"It's over, Cathlin." He smiled slightly, leading her away from the edge.

"How did you know it was me?"

"You're my sister... how could I not?"

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8 1/2 months later, in Castle Hell

Lord Maxwell smiled as he held his newborn son up to his people. Resounding cheers met the sight, the loud tones startling the infant into tears. Chagrined, he cuddled the boy close to his chest, grinning a sheepish, yet proud grin.

"I hereby present my son, Andrew Boyd Maxwell, the next Earl of Hell Keep!"

His eyes traveled over the crowd, laughing in joy with his guests as well wishes rang out. His former captain, Chang Wufei came forward, his hand cupping his wife's elbow. They were both wearing the red dress uniform of Alliance officers, and the former Shinigami had to admit that Wu looked well.

"My Lord!" Wufei called out, bowing, "May all of his years be blessed with wealth, love, and happiness!"

"Here, here!" Sally joined, nodding as she handed their gift to Lord Maxwell's advisor.

"Come up, join us!" Duo called down, motioning for them to sit at the high table. "After all, we wouldn't be here if it weren't for you two!"

Laughing in pleasure, the Chang's followed him up, sitting next to the bickering Heero and Cathy. After all of this time, however, no one was fooled. There was a decided.. heat... in the couples eyes when they looked at each other. You could never tell who would make their excuses first... the Lord Yuy, or his very pregnant bride.

Patience rolled her eyes as the Yuy's argument bordered closer to the ridicules, then determinedly ignored Trowa's flirty smile. "Brother..." She said, gaining Duo's attention. "I've been thinking."

"Hmm?" Duo glanced at her.

"I think it's time for me to take Bas to the Alliance home world. He's already devoured all of our training tapes.. it's time for him to receive a more formal education. He can also take over your trade interests when he's grown."

Duo shook his head, his gaze traveling over his newly reunited family. "No, Sister. I'm in no hurry to send any of you away just yet."

Inwardly, he laughed, already seeing how the wind was going. He had a feeling that Trowa would have her by this time next year. It was only a matter of time before they followed Sybil and Milliardo into wedded bliss.

He handed the babe to it's nurse, then reached under the table to squeeze Hilde's leg.

"No hurry, at all, Patience."

~~The End~~