Worth Fighting For Part 20
A Father's Love
"Is Mr. Maxwell not joining us today?" Devalin asked as Mike, Quatre, Trowa, Relena, Odin, Solo, Helen and April all strolled into Regence Hall.
"He will be here." Mike informed Devalin, if you can wait for him."
"Certainly."
~Last Night~
"Mike? Duo just woke up and demanding to know what happened." Wufei said, to the man standing in the kitchen drinking coffee.
"Oh, well. I'll go talk to him."
"He's not happy." Wufei said as Mike walked past.
"Would you be happy to wake up finding you were drugged and that the man you love has taken your place?"
"No."
Mike said nothing, already proving his point to Wufei and he headed up to Duo's room where Relena was standing nervously in the doorway.
"He's angry. I told him that it was alright, that Heero had completed the task and he started yelling and throwing things."
"I'll handle it." Mike told her as he opened the door and strolled in.
"BASTARD!"
"You got your energy back quickly." Mike commented as Duo was standing in the middle of the room.
"Why did you let him do it?!" Duo snarled. "How dare you let Heero put his very life on the line like that?!"
"He wanted to do it. I could not stop him!"
"Yes you could of!"
"Devalin would have killed him Duo, understand that. There was no other choice that Heero could have made, especially with Devalin threating both his and your life."
"I don't care. You should have woken me up, I would have done it."
"You were not strong enough, you still aren't."
"I'm fine."
"Really? Then why are you struggling to breath, why are you gasping for air, why are you sweaty and why are your knees trembling? You are not well Duo. You had a very violent reaction to the drugs that were put in your system and you need time to recover, you shouldn't be out of bed."
"But I have to help him." Duo plead softly as his knees gave way and he fell to the floor, silent tears falling down his face without him realising.
Mike crossed the room and knelt down next to Duo.
"I know you want too Duo, but you can't right now." Mike didn't try to touch Duo, the boy had to turn to him, the boy had to look for comfort in order to receive it, so that he would understand that it wasn't just him that Devalin was causing so much pain too and that he wasn't alone. "Heero had a few problems with his arm but he did it really well and nothing bad happened to him."
"I should have been there, it should have been me." Duo whispered.
"Nothing happened. Heero completed the task without even a scratch and he is more than willing to do the task tomorrow."
"Can I go?"
"Yes, if you let Sally look at you and she gives the all clear."
Duo gave a sniff and turned to bury his head against Mike's chest.
"Hey, you ok?"
"Yeah, I just was so scared that something bad had happened."
"No, silly." Mike laughed hugging Duo tight to him.
"It all ends tomorrow and then Heero will be free."
Mike didn't tell Duo what Relena had told him, he thought Devalin might have said what he had in order to scare Relena but then, part of him told him that Devalin was speaking the truth and that tomorrow, no matter what happened, blood would be spilled.
"Mike?"
"Yes Duo?"
"Could you help me get back into bed?" Duo asked, his face hidden away. He was ashamed of being so weak and unable to help himself.
Mike said nothing, just picked Duo up and put him on the bed and tucked him in like he was five years old.
"Relena wants to see you."
"Send her in, I need to apologise for throwing that paperweight at her."
Mike smiled and ruffled Duo's long hair.
"I'll see you in the morning."
"Thank you Mike." Duo mumbled as he relaxed into the bed.
"Your welcome Duo."
~Present time~
"How long will they be?" Solo asked Mike.
"Few minutes."
Heero was sitting down on the edge of the stage.
"Devalin what is this task?" He asked but Devalin refused to answer his question. Odin and Solo strolled over to Heero.
"Are you ok?" Odin asked his son.
"Yes. I want to know what Devalin has planned but he wont say anything."
"You'll do fine." Odin patted his son's knee. "I'll be supporting you."
"Thanks Dad."
Odin turned and walked away towards April who grabbed hold of her husband demanding to know how her son was.
Solo opened his mouth to speak just as the door opened again and in came Wufei, Sally and Duo.
Heero's eyes met Duo's and Duo gave him a smile.
"Are we ready to start now?" Devalin asked and everyone gave him a nod. "Very good. Its lovely to see you up and about Duo, after that night I did fear the worst for you."
Duo sat down on a seat beside his father who stood, almost acting like a guard over his recovering son.
"It is a simple task Heero. I want a few things..." Devalin handed Heero a list. "Find them and bring them to me."
Heero stared at the paper.
Pen
Toilet Paper
Soap
Dead Spider
Spoon
"You are kidding me right?" Heero snapped.
"Not at all. Get these for me and I'll give you your freedom back."
Heero stood there as if he was waiting for Devalin to start laughing at him.
"I am quite serious Mr. Yuy. You have half an hour."
Heero shrugged and climbed off the stage, heading first towards the toilet.
"What was on that list?" Duo asked.
"Just a few things, I might need." Devalin smiled before turning away to fiddle with something he blocked from view.
Duo reached behind his own back and gripped the gun that was tucked in the back of his jeans and he checked again, for about the 100th time that the safety was on.
They sat there in silence for about 15 minutes before Heero returned, carrying the five objects that Devalin wanted.
"Well done." Devalin congratulated him.
Solo moved away from Duo and stepped towards Heero who was standing by the stage. Something didn't add up his feelings told him and he moved closer as Devalin reached behind his back.
"You have successful completely all five tasks."
"Then we are free to go." Heero informed Devalin and he turned his back, determined to walk out of the building with Duo by his side.
"Not quite." Devalin whispered just loud enough for Heero to hear.
Heero also heard the click of the safety being removed from a gun and he knew he blocked the gun from the Preventers view.
"You said we could go free if we completed the tasks."
"Did I? Oh dear me, I have forgotten that. I haven't forgotten, however, the fork that you so delightfully put through my hand, the two times I've had my nose broken, and the night of passion that you had with Mr. Maxwell, or the death of my brother."
"A deal is a deal."
"I'm changing the deal."
Everyone watched, not really understanding what was going on because the gun was still not in their view.
"Five seconds Yuy." Devalin hissed. "To say goodbye."
"No." Duo yelled standing up quickly. "Devalin, we made a deal." Duo stumbled, his body not strong enough to support itself from the suddenly change of position and Odin grabbed Duo to steady him.
"I made a new one." Devalin replied. "One."
"Devalin." Duo growled but his weaken state left him unable to help Heero.
"Two... Three... No goodbyes?"
"Duo." Heero muttered as he watched the flash of pain cross Duo's face.
"Four... Five..."
Devalin was so focused on Heero he never saw the man move.
"Goodbye Heero Yuy." Devalin purred, his finger squeezed the trigger and the gun went off with a bang.
"HEERO!" Duo gave a wide cry but the bullet didn't hit Heero's back.
Heero felt the man push him to a ground and he saw blue eyes widen in shock as the bullet meant for Heero hit him straight in the chest and he fell to the floor beside Heero who laid there, watching in horror.
Helen gasped and gripped Relena's hand tightly.
Duo just stood there, unable to move as Heero reached his hand out towards the man who had saved his life.
"Father." Duo whispered without realising he had spoken.
"Solo." Heero gripped the cold hand that reached towards his as he had moved.
"Heero." Solo tried to smile but was stopped when blood filled his mouth and he choked back a whimper of pain, blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth.
"Why?" Heero asked, his eyes searching the painfilled one of the man before him.
"Duo needs you." Solo replied, coughing up blood.
"Solo." Heero felt his eyes water.
"Sorry to break this up but I have unfinished business." Devalin said, his foot kicked at Heero knocking the surprised boy backwards and he raised his gun. "His sacrifice was in vain. You are still going to die." He raised the gun and pointed it straight at Heero's forehead.
"No, you don't."
"What?" Devalin turned round to see Duo strolling towards him, gun out.
"I'll see you in Hell." Duo hissed before pulling the trigger of his gun, again and again and again until the clip had been empty into Devalin's body.
The man fell to the ground, dead.
Duo dropped the gun he was holding and took a few shaky deep breaths before he hurried towards Solo and Heero. He gathered Solo into his arms, not caring for the blood that soaked his clothes.
"Dad!"
Solo looked at his son, his eyes barely recognising the boy who held him. "Duo?"
Heero crawled over, his hand touched Duo's but Duo paid him no attention, his violet eyes were fixed on his father.
"You can't die." Duo plead with his father, his other hand gripped Solo's.
"It's too late, Duo." Heero whispered, his own prussian eyes held Solo in their gaze.
"Look after everyone for me Duo." Solo ordered him. "And... something I've never told you before son... I'm proud of you and I..." Solo broke off, his whole body jolted before falling still and the light of life died in his eyes.
Duo bowed his head, fighting back the tears.
"Duo?" Heero asked softly.
Duo jerked away from the touch and stood up, his breath coming in irregular gasps and his fists clenched together so tightly together that you could hear the bones grinding against each other.
"DAMN IT!!!" Duo yelled, his grief overwhelming him and he sunk to his knees again, falling into the puddle of his father's blood and he sobbed.
TBC...
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