Shinigami's Song Part 19
"What are you talking about?" Duo stared agape. "I've been..."
Vinny shook his head. "Duo, you've been in a coma since the day of your interview. I found you on the floor of your apartment..." Vinny shivered noticeably. "Everyone has been so worried! I've... been so worried."
This was too much to process. ~What the hell is he talking about? I've been with Heero! ... Haven't I?~
"You seemed to wake up around five times, but each time you'd barely blink before you slipped back into a coma."
~Five times... I've 'been in a hospital' five times since I remember Vinny breaking down my door...~ Duo's heart clenched in his chest.
Was everything a dream? Quatre... Trowa... Relena's apology... Heero? ~Oh god... Heero! Have I been dreaming all this time?!~
Tears ran down Duo's face as he realized that the past bliss with Heero had been nothing but a figment of his imagination- nothing but hopeless fantasies made up by his own treacherous mind to taunt and torment him.
"Duo?"
He looked up into Vinny's concerned eyes. "Daijoubu."
"Huh?"
Shaking his head Duo waved away his concerned friend. "I'm fine... I just... want to be alone ok?"
Vinny seemed to understand, and he patted Duo's shoulder as he stood and turned to the door. "Fine, but if you need anything... I'm here Duo."
He managed a weak smile for his friend. "Ok Vinny..."
~*~
Sitting in the stark white room with nothing to occupy his mind was a living hell for Duo. He could have gone back to sleep, in fact, he really wanted to. But he was too afraid that if he did, he would once again fall into that happy world he'd made for himself in his coma. He was sure he'd never want to leave.
So he just lay there... unsure as to how to proceed. Should he just let himself go back to sleep? There was nothing keeping him in this world but pain. Should he seek out the real Heero once he was released? Could they really start again?
The mind does funny things when you've got nothing to do but think. The body can become hypersensitive to the point where a simple itch can drive you absolutely insane. It was when he reached such a state did Duo finally acknowledge the throbbing pain on his chest.
"What the..." He lifted up the blankets and peered down the front of his hospital gown. Sure enough, his right nipple was red and swollen compared to the left. He cautiously poked it with his index finger, and the dull throbbing became sharp intense pain.
His brow furrowed thoughtfully. This was not the type of injury he'd expect from someone who's been in a coma for the past three weeks. In fact, all of his other abrasions were healed. Why would this one remain?
He frowned harder and inspected his chest even more. There appeared to be a small red hole in his nipple... ~The piercing!~
He replaced the blankets and reclined on his bed to think. ~I could be just trying to convince myself that what happened in my dream was real, so I'm using anything I can to corroborate my story. But what other explanation could there be?~
Duo's eyes narrowed and he felt his earlobe. Similar pain resulted. There was definitely a hole in his earlobe as well. This was just too much!
There was something going on. And Duo had the feeing that Vinny was a part of it.
Duo silently slipped out of his bed and quietly walked to the door. It wouldn't do to be caught out of bed... just in case he was right. He opened the door slightly and peered out.
Duo took in the décor of the hall. Immediately outside of his door the façade of it being a hospital stopped. It was obviously a private home he was being kept in, and it was even more obvious to him was the fact that Vinny was lying.
Duo slipped back into his bed to think. It wouldn't do to blunder around without a plan... Vinny was obviously a dangerous man, or at least somehow involved with the person stalking him.
The more Duo thought about it, the surer he was that it had been Vinny behind every attempt on his life.
~Think Duo! Think! How can I contact Heero...~ He massaged his temples in frustration. He couldn't make a move until he knew what to do.
~How can I get in touch with Heero??! Wait a minute...~ Duo grinned evilly. He didn't need to find Heero... Heero could find him! ~I just hope Wu-man has the right equipment!~
~Now all I have to do is wait for Vinny.~ Comforted by the knowledge that he hadn't been dreaming, that Heero really did love him, that he had a reason to go on... Duo fell asleep.
~*~
"... duo... Duo?"
"Hmnnn whaat?" Duo cracked open bleary eyes.
"Time for dinner!" Vinny pushed a tray onto Duo's lap.
"Oh..." He lifted the cover and stared at what could have been hospital food. Oddly disappointed he picked a bit before deciding to put operation 'get me the hell outta here' into action. "Ne, Vinny..."
The blonde man looked surprised to be addressed. "What?"
"Ya know what I could reeeaaaally go for?" He grinned playfully and flirted as if his life depended upon it... oh wait, it did.
"What?" Suspicion laced the question, but not overly much... not enough to make Duo abort operation 'get me the hell outta here'.
"A nice cold beer! I'm dieing for a cold one man!" He leaned closer to Vinny in a 'confidential' manner. "Do ya think you could help me out man?"
"Well... uhhh..." Obviously flustered, Vinny blinked in surprise.
"Pleeeeasssseeee?" An obvious come on, but Duo was a desperate man, and desperate times called for desperate measures.
A smile flashed on his manager's face, and Duo knew he'd won. "Sure man! Anything for a friend! Anything...." The last anything was softer and sounded almost sincere, so sincere Duo almost felt badly for tricking the guy... almost.
~*~
~ninety eight Mississippi... ninety nine Mississippi... one hundred Mississippi.~ Duo jumped out of the bed and made his way to the door. He quietly slipped out into the hall and sprinted silently to his left. There weren't many doors, but the ones that there were didn't have much in the way of furniture. This place was obviously an empty house, possibly one that was for sale. In other words, no one knew anyone was staying in here.
Duo was almost going to turn back before one of his keen senses told him he was close to his destination- the kitchen. Duo smelled where food was cooking or recently cooked.
He followed his nose down the hall and around a few corners until he reached the dining area. Positive he was close now, Duo carefully peered around the corner into the kitchen. No one was there. ~Perfect.~
He quickly ran to the phone and punched in the number for the Preventers head office.
"Preventers."
"I need Wufei Chang. Immediately."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Chang isn't accepting any calls at this mome-"
Duo was running out of time and patience. "Listen. I need to talk to him NOW. Tell him that this is Duo Maxwell on the phone!"
"I really don't think-"
"NOW!"
Duo smirked as the call was quickly punched through.
"Chang."
"Wu-man, am I glad to hear you!"
TBC...
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