"Determined Protector"

by Shelly Webster

Disclaimer: I still own Sei (or am owned by him...) and I still lack any and all ownership to Escaflowne.

A/N: I sorta started this chapter before I finished the last one...but it's not my fault! The muses said to either end the last chapter with the first line of this or start this one with it, and the starting seemed a better choice. So I had to write it down before I forgot. I almost made this chapter the last one, but it wasn't happening. I so love having the CD-ROM of Webster's New World Dictionary and Thesaurus! It let's you have a parallel dictionary and thesaurus entry displayed. And there's all sorts of cross-referencing. Makes finding the word off the tip of one's tongue so much easier! Thanks to D. throws a party with a lovely beta-song Beta, beta, be-ta!

Shout-outs:

Ryuko-chan: I'd like to see where it's going too... bitchslaps muses At least Yaifa sounds cool, even if he's not like mine at all. You mean you don't want Sei to help Dil slowly shred her consciousness to tiny pieces and then remove them from their body? Actually, not sure what'll happen with her yet. I have a few vague ideas, but it might depend on what the RP looks like. Or if my muses ever shape up. But they might, since I have so much written for WTS now.

Sakura Shinguji-Albatou: Thanks for the brief bio on the other Yaifa. blushes I had no idea that name was used...I like their interaction too. It just was what Dilandau wanted to say, and what he wants to say gets said in the end.

Threshie: No one is alone forever. Or no one is ever not alone, but that's a little too depressing for Sei to ...errr...say. Especially to Dilandau. But now I'm getting too much like I do with Folkie. And as for Dilandau, he is an eternal smartass. But that's why we love him. Well, that and because he can be so sweet sometimes, usually when you least expect it.

Chapter 4

Visitation and a Custody Battle

"Can I at least visit my men? The other ones you are taking care of?" Sei kept that door locked, the key always upon his person in case Dilandau got the idea to sneak in there.

"What are your intentions for this visit?" Sei wanted to let the boy have his wish, but more importantly, he had to keep all of his patients safe.

Sei could see Dilandau struggling not to smirk or give a sarcastic answer. He was pleased that the youth was realizing there are situations that call for a certain level of decorum. Finally his question was answered, the smart remark withheld for now.

"I only wish to see how they are and find out what went wrong. Gatti's not supposed to be in here!" Dilandau looked as though he was fighting an urge to glare.

"If you have no objection to my presence in the room as well, that sounds reasonable enough. I know that your soldiers are important to you." Sei smiled kindly, hoping he had made the right choice. He won't try anything if I'm there...will he?

He watched the commander give this request serious thought. He doesn't seem to like any sort of supervision. Sei finished a cup of tea while he awaited the decision.

In the end, Dilandau conceded to Sei's request and they both proceeded into the quarantine chamber.

None of the soldiers looked up when they entered. Shesta was visiting Dalet, distracting him and occasionally the others with various antics and jokes. The Dragon Slayers had by now grown accustomed to the brief visits from Sei, and did not expect anyone else to enter from that door.

Dilandau cleared his throat, a displeased glare on his face.

At this sound, they all looked him, and tried to snap to attention. Gatti set aside the notebook he was writing in to stand and salute.

Sei could see that Dilandau wanted to slap him. He wondered what bothered him so about the young man so determined to do everything by the book.

He was impressed that the commander had enough control to restrain himself... It was clearly not something he was familiar with doing.

Dilandau smirked his pleasure at the recognition his men were giving. He allowed them to relax once more.

Sei allowed Dilandau to remain a couple of steps away from him. He followed the youth to the bedside of Guimel first. He's not going to apologize, is he? Sei would have liked to think so, but he knew his patient well enough to expect such a thing would never happen.

"What's the doc say? What's the punishment?" Sei was pleased that Dilandau was now relaxed enough with him to call him "doc" to his soldier.

Guimel smiled, an action Sei knew caused him no pain, but still he could see that the smile was not a very happy one. Rather, it seemed to mask a serious amount of pain. Sei made note of this in his head, not wanting to disrupt this visit with his own work. Something is not right...he should be feeling much less pain by now. He resolved to return and examine this patient once more later that day. I do have more patients than just the one that lives with me.

"Not too much longer, I think, Lord Dilandau." Guimel's voice was quieter than usual, as Sei knew from giving him a physical earlier that year.

Dilandau frowned. Sei suspected that he was having a hard time believing this.

"So long as you're ready for battle next time we get called out." Dilandau turned sharply and walked away. He now approached Dalet.

Shesta had been quietly cracking jokes with Dalet, but he fell silent when his commander joined them.

"Dalet, you half-wit, what have you done now?" Dalet and Chesta both tended to be very good-natured, but very active in foolishness and pranks on the Vione. Sei knew he had aided more than a few victims to these conspiracies, even Shesta and Dalet themselves. They, especially the ever-cheerful Shesta, never meant any harm, but boys will be boys and sometimes they didn't use enough discretion. Despite being soldiers, the young still usually thought they were invincible.

The brunette looked duly ashamed. "I'm sorry, Lord Dilandau. I have failed you."

"Yes you have. Why should I allow you to continue when you have failed?"

Sei did not expect Dilandau to actually dismiss the soldier. In the early days of the Dragon Slayers, there had been similar incidents, and yet never was any of them discharged from the military, or even from this team. They might be punished or forced to train extra, but they remained. Dilandau seemed to have some attachment to his men, though he never mentioned it.

Dalet did not seem to have come to that conclusion. He did a poor job of hiding the fear in his eyes as he spoke. "I will work harder. I do not wish to fail you again." His desire to remain on the team was clear to everyone in the room.

His commander gave no answer yet; not even acknowledging that anything had been said by the lacerated melef pilot.

Dalet added to what he had just said. "I would fight for you even if it costs me life and freedom."

Finally Dilandau nodded. He truly looked like a prince. And like a prince condescending to one of his subjects, he chose to be gracious just this once. "You may remain this time. But perhaps I will not be so kind should it happen again."

The imperious young man approached his second in command. Sei watched the blond conceal the notebook he had been writing in so diligently up until this point. He disrupted the intended pattern before Dilandau began any discussion with him.

"What is in the notebook, Gatti?"

A guilty look covered the subordinate's face. "I was just writing out some thoughts and plans for the team, sir; keeping my records."

"You recall my regimen for you, do you not? Or will I have to confiscate the notebook?"

He was not prone to such strict behavior, but with Gatti it proved necessary, as the youth was so determined to do his job, despite being told he could shorten his career that way.

"No, sir. I will try to restrain myself."

Dilandau interfered at this point. "You defied the doctor? I'd better not hear of that happening again! Show him the same respect you would me." His eyes flashed their carmine tones.

Sei was pleasantly surprised to be so defended. None of his soldiers would ever have expected a reaction like that one!

Gatti looked as though he was bracing himself, but no slap came. Instead, Dilandau circled the cot, his movement betraying his tension and anger.

Finally he spoke once more, almost barking the words out. "Well, if this work was so important, what were you writing?"

Gatti swallowed, obviously nervous. "I wrote out some battle strategies."

"And we don't have enough?" Sei could see the delight Dilandau took in the menacing appearance he had to the Dragon Slayers.

"There's always room for more, sir."

"Aren't the ones I have developed good enough for you? Or would you have the Dragon Slayers as your own team?"

"No! No, sir. I would never..."

"Good." The leader interrupted before Gatti could share just how loyal he was. His feelings on loyalty could actually be amusing at times. Sei supposed that was why he had been given the position of second-in-command. The physician could see that Dilandau was mainly toying with the youth at this point.

"Just see that you don't. You're not someone people would rally behind." While he would never be so blunt as to state it, Sei could tell that this was true. Gatti lacked the charisma of a leader, whereas Dilandau somehow seemed to be it in his very essence, despite his actions and attitude.

"Yes sir."

"Well..." Sei wondered what Dilandau was apparently waiting for.

"Sir?" Apparently so did Gatti.

"The notebook." He's taking it away? I was going to let him keep it.

Sei watched Dilandau flip it open and look over the pages filled with neat printing. He saw the scowl on the fairer youth's face. What's so awful about what's been written in the notebook? He's not someone who would be treasonous.

"What sort of bullshit do you write?" The formerly scowling young man was yelling intensely.

"S-sir..."

"My strategies are unfit? Ill-organized?" His yelling got louder. "They should be removed and replaced with these? Usurper!"

When Dilandau advanced on Gatti once more, Sei thrust himself betwixt the twain.

Dilandau stopped, not even near to making physical contact with the doctor.

Sei watched, shocked and embarrassed, as Dilandau burst out laughing. Between laughs, Dilandau tried to speak. "Old...man, you...thought I was...gonna hurt him." The fair-complexioned youth was still laughing at this point, bent over from the depth of his laughter, the notebook dropped on the floor.

"Erm...would it be a suitable time to leave now?" The doctor suspected he would never live this down, especially with a certain Lord Albatou.

"Sure thing, old man." Dilandau had straightened and now led him out rather cockily.

Sei began to prepare dinner for them both, putting up with Dilandau's good-natured teasing all the while.

This pleasant time was interrupted by a knock at the door.

Dilandau answered the door, to find that it was only a messenger. Sei saw his eyes roll as he stepped out of the doorway to allow the messenger entrance to the infirmary.

But instead of bringing the envelope to Sei as expected, it was handed to Dilandau. With a brief bow, the messenger disappeared back into the corridor.

The regal youth savagely tore away the envelope and unfolded the message contained therein. When he read it, he scowled and dropped it. "That nosy bastard thinks he can take the Dragon Slayers away from me. 'Due to your present internment in the infirmary, and the fact that your second is similarly incapacitated, someone more fit shall run the Dragon Slayers until further notice.'"

He demanded a pen and paper to send a reply. Sei amusedly supplied these.

He saw a barely legible message rapidly scrawled on the paper. Dilandau then summoned a messenger and sent his reply to Folken.

This should be interesting...