Bittersweet Part 2

As Heero pulled into the Med-Center parking lot he noticed Quatre's car, which was easily identified by SANDROCK printed on the license plate, sitting at the far end of the row. Heero parked two spaces over.

Crossing a dividing strip Heero passed Wufie's vehicle in the adjoining lot. Chang's black SUV was also always easy to spot as it was the only one around with a fiery dragon's head painted on the driver's side door.

A quick stop at the information desk to get Duo's room number as the hospital finally had a name for the mysterious "John Doe" then a short elevator ride to the third floor.

Heero found Wufei leaning on the wall, hands stuffed in his pockets, staring down at his feet. Chang's dark gaze met Heero's tear-reddened eyes as he approached.

"How is he?" Heero asked peering around the door. His attempt to see his friend was foiled by Quatre and Trowa standing at the foot of Duo's bed. Another man Heero assumed was a doctor checking a monitor cut off his sight from the other side.

Wufei stood straighter, removed his hands and push heavy unruly strands of ebony hair back from his face. "I don't know I just got here. Quatre, Trowa and Dr. Blare were already in there so I stayed out here to give them room to move around"

Heero placed a hand on Wufei's shoulder, "Come on there is plenty of space." he encouraged Shenlong's Master to move on inside.

The concerned pair of ex-Gundam pilots turned as their brothers-in-arms walked through the door. Quatre's sad eyes and the serious statement on his fair face gave Heero's heart another reason to resume its aching.

Without a word the noble Desert Prince reached out to take hold of Heero's arm before guiding him between himself and Trowa.

Duo laid on his back with a sheet smoothed over his thinner as usual frame. Each arm rested in a straightened alignment on either side atop the taut material.

His unbraided hair feathered out on the pillow cascading over the sterile linen. The flowing mane framed his high cheekbones lending an even more gaunt appearance to Duo's pale countenance.

Duo's face was ashen except for the dark purple shading under his eyes. His dry lips were partly slightly allowing swallow breaths to escape over their equally whitened surface. His eyelids were cracked opened just enough for everyone to see a glimpse of violet.

However there was no indication Duo was seeing anything clearly through the narrowed slits. And if he was that was nothing to show that any information was accurately being registered in his mind. There was no outward sign whatsoever Duo was aware of his surroundings or that all his worry friends were gathered around him.

Two IV tubes and wires attached to monitoring patches ran from his pale skin to their various connections. A steady beep from one monitor was the only sound in the clinically cold room's antiseptic atmosphere.

Heero moved nearer fighting back a renewed urge to cry. He had never felt this way, never so freely shone his emotions. But he would have had no emotions to show at all had it not been for Duo's steadfast encouragement. His patience endurance while teaching Zero's pilot that is was all right to have feelings and let them show was the sole reason Heero's heart was now hurting so badly.

Then Heero's eyes fell on the restrains strapped firmly about Duo's wrists keeping his hands at his sides. Suddenly anger boiled up replacing the painful pangs tearing through his heart.

"Are these necessary?" Heero growled at the startled doctor not bothering to hide his rage. Then the hissed question was reinforced with a typical Yuy death glare.

Quatre sighed locking his indigo eyes with Heero's brooding cobalt centers of sight. "Duo has had some lucid periods." he offered an explanation.

"Each time he comes around he fights to get out of bed. Duo is in no condition to get up. The attending staff was afraid he would hurt himself or someone else in the process so they thought it best to keep him in light restraints." he stated with another sigh.

"Unfortunately there is not enough extra staff for someone to sit with Duo at all times to make certain he stays in bed." Trowa added putting his arm around Quatre's shoulders. "It was for his own good."

"Well there are people here now." Heero declared in a no nonsense tone.

"Duo is not alone and will not ever be again." he announced keeping the stony glare in force.

"If someone is going to stay in here," Dr. Blare answered Yuy's curt statement, "I don't suppose they are necessary. The restraints may be removed but only if one or more of you are going to keep a close eye on Mr. Maxwell."

Without another word Heero began to undo the straps rubbing each wrist in turn as if trying to erase the discolored rings encompassing Duo's bony wrists.

"He is so thin." Heero declared to no one in particular. "Oh Duo what happened to you?" he choked out the words as his trembling voice told volumes about the emotional turmoil crashing through Heero's guts.

Then Heero looked over at Dr. Blare and, this time, a softer cast glowed in his misty eyes. "Was there any.........." he began swallowing hard to wash down the fear clogging his throat, "any brain damage?" he paused then quickly made his next inquiry before his nerve gave out altogether, "He will recover, won't he?"

Dr. Blare lowered his eyes avoiding the anguish in the young man's anxious face. "It is too early to tell." he stated wanting to be completely honest. He felt Heero and the others deserved that much.

"The tests on the pills Mr. Maxwell ingested were not conclusive. They were a mixture of several drugs and that was no way to know how much he took or how long it had been before he was found. We pumped his stomach and administered medication that hopefully lessened the affects. I wish I could give you a more solid diagnosis but there are too many variables, too many unknowns. One of the greatest determining factors in this kind of recovery is the patient's willingness to help themselves. "A lot rests with the person's desire to live. Mr. Maxwell must want to get better." the Doctor announced, "I have done all I can medically, now it is up to him if he wants to come back or not. I will do everything I can to help him along, but in the end it will be his decision."

Wufei stepped forward speaking out for the first time. "Duo will come out of this. With our help I know he will." he stated with certainty.

"Is Duo strong enough?" Quatre wondered quietly voicing the other's unspoken thoughts and fears.

Heero shook his head as he carefully sat on the bed's side. Taking Duo's clammy hand he used the other to caress his friend's warm brow.

"Don't give up." he whispered. "Damn it Duo you will not give up!" his raised voice declared before falling away into silence.

Dr. Blare motioned in the other pilot's general direction, "I need some additional information could one of you take a minute to help me?"

Trowa nodded glancing down at Heero who looked so lost and alone. "I think we need to give Heero some privacy." he proclaimed taking Quatre's hand before guiding him away from the bedside.

Wufei offered a small nod managing a thin smile then followed the others into the hall. Heero did not notice one last quick look over Chang's shoulder before the door closed shutting out the lights and noise leaving Heero and Duo alone in a deafening silence.

TBC...

 

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