Strike Force Five Part 19
Foiling Fate's Desires
"HEERO! NO!" Duo wailed reaching out a trembling hand for a lifeline as the faint hint of Heero's essence drifted away.
A firm grip took hold of his hand. "It's just my mind playing cruel tricks." Duo told himself.
Something cool touched his feverish forehead. The sudden temperature change caused a gut-deep shiver to course over his body.
"Duo."
Heero's voice? The timbre was familiar but was the distant sound only a mimicry... a vague recalling?
"Duo look at me."
Duo tried to open his eyes, to find the voice's source but his eyelids were too burdened with weakness to respond. Once more Duo's mind questioned his hearing as the voice called again.
It felt as though Duo was moving, his back lifting from its stony bed. His chest seemed lighter, his lungs more inclined to breathe but their marginally improved functions still came with a tight constriction and stabbing coughs still rattled his insides.
Duo pushed his waning residuum of strength as hard as it would go. Grudgingly his eyelids began to part spurred on by the insistent calling of his name. A dry film clung doggedly to his eyes. They stuck and hurt as Duo forced them to blink. Slowly they offered a glimpse of light and gradually the tacky coating thinned granting him a less hindered view.
Now Duo was certain that he had burned out his last few brain cells for when his eyesight cleared Heero's face, streaked with soot and sweat, looked back. Heero rested on one knee. He, too, had unzipped his jacket. Stringy hair was matted in the grimy moisture on his forehead and cheeks.
"Duo look at me!" he shouted to be heard above the grinding girder and the crackling fire. "Focus...tell me who I am." he ordered as his hand, which was twice as dark as usual, brushed back stiff bloodstained bangs from Duo's blurry eyes.
First Duo realized that he was being supported in a semi-upright posture. Next he tilted his head and winced as his stiff neck muscles painfully protested. But he had to fully see Heero's face, had to be sure that he was real and not a hallucination.
Duo swallowed with great difficulty and fought against his heavy eyelids wanting to close again. "Heero?" he wheezed praying that this was not a fever-struck nightmare that he would awake from to find himself alone.
"Fight to stay with me." Heero urged with a shiver in his voice as the shored up his embrace.
Every inch of Duo's body was wet inside his windsuit. Heero could feel the heat radiating from the humid flesh trapped in the leather encasement. He spread Duo's jacket wider for better circulation but with the surrounding air being just as hot the separation did little to relieve the overheating.
Heero pulled at the jacket determined to free Duo from his sweltering cocoon. A hard flinch, a sharp intake of breath and the painful wincing on Duo's face told Heero that he might be doing more harm to his battered body still he had to take the chance and remove the tight apparel before the elevated temperature caused permanent brain damage.
Heero moped back gritty, wet bangs from Duo's eyes then carefully untangle his braid. Gently he slipped one arm at a time from the sleeves then finally peeled the saturated garment away. Heero hoped that Duo's exposed arms would help with the cooling but as quickly as the wetness would ease another outbreak of sweating would take its place.
Heero carefully shifted his hold reaching for something beside his leg. "Drink this." he urged pressing a water bottle to Duo's swollen cracked lips.
The first taste of the lifesaving liquid washed over, running away at the corners of Duo's mouth. Heero elevated his shoulders a little higher and tried again. The second drink trickled inside gathering at the base of Duo's tongue. Heero slowly increased the flow until enough water pooled up to allow Duo to swallow. Again his throat burned, the amount being too small to wash away the dryness. It took two more attempts before the lukewarm water soothed Duo's scorched throat and put out the fire.
As the meager measure triggered his thirst response Duo's desperately dehydrated system begged for more moisture. Duo's hand coated with an oily film of grime, sweat and smoke closed around Heero's hand that held the container.
Shaking with frantic pleading Duo applied persuasive pressure to the bottle tipping it up too quickly and causing the water to course down before his impaired reflexes could cope with the flood. Strangulated contractions to keep the fluid from his windpipe seized Duo's body with fits of choking. The gagging retched through his stomach threatening to bring up the water that he had already swallowed.
Each gasp for air stuck in Duo's throat. His face was ashen, his eyes unfocused and his body limp in Heero's grip. "Dammit Duo don't do this to me." Heero lifted Duo's shoulders higher. "Come on breathe!"
Out of desperation Heero leaned Duo at an acute angle and hit the heel of his hand between his shoulder blades. He knew he might be risking further injury but if his comrade didn't catch his breath the risk wouldn't matter. Thankfully the centered strike produced positive results. Gradually the spasms decreased in their severity and Duo began to take in regulated respirations.
Duo took in a calmer gulp hoping to keep the gagging at bay. As his bruised head rested heavily on Heero's chest, he whispered through his still scratchy throat, "What in the hell are you doing here?"
"Where else would I be?"
"But you...."
Heero pressed a finger to Duo's lips cutting off his protests. " I don't have time to argue." he stated firmly. Nodding up at the large length of menacing metal dangling overhead he tried to press upon Duo the urgency of their situation. "I don't know how much longer that girder is going to stay there."
With a puzzled frown Duo directed his wandering gaze up through the smoky haze. All he could see passed the wind-swirled smog was a gray outline that appeared to be swinging back and forth.
But even though the danger was obvious Duo's confused mind could not comprehend the crisis. "I think my foot is stuck." he informed his partner as if his caught boot was their only reason to worry.
Heero didn't try to explain knowing that it would take too long to make Duo understand. "I'm going to have to lay you down." He folded Duo's jacket and pillowed it under his head then carefully let his arms slip from around Duo's ribcage.
Heero pulled off his jacket finding that his body was as drenched as Duo's. He poured the remaining water in his hand and washed down Duo's arms. He repeated the procedure out of desperation, knowing all along that it was pointless but feeling that he had to do something no matter how futile the effort. A discouraged sigh escaped over Heero's lips as his heart ached in an empathic response to Duo's anguish.
Duo settled down with his own weary sigh. His eyes stared up at the odd oscillating shape but they still failed to relay the hazard to his compromised senses. Then Heero's movement redirected Duo's addled sight to the immovable pile as his comrade crawled to where his foot was trapped.
The girder groaned as the hot currents continually assaulted it. Heero disregarded the ominous noise and began tossing aside crumbling chunks and splintered spikes of metal.
*********
Heero would occasionally stop to rethink his tactics as each unearthed layer presented a new challenge. After one studying pause he wedged both hands under a piece of bluish metal that was protruding from the side. Muscles bulged with a steady upward pull. His hands tore on the rough, pitted surface.
And of course since Duo's luck had long ago decided to go AWOL the length of warped reinforcing rod would not budge. One end curled over Duo's boot while the other end was buried, no one knew how deep, under the rubble.
Heero raised up on his knees, braced his bleeding hands in the powdery grit and aligned himself with Duo's pain-dulled sight. "I need your help." he stated even though he was not certain that Duo realized he was there.
"DUO!" he shouted grabbing onto Duo's leg and giving it a hard shake.
Duo flinched as his deadened senses were rudely stirred back to life. He planted his elbows among the stony shards to sit up as best he could. "What?" he whispered hoarsely.
"I need your help." Heero repeated as he stood up.
Heero found a long piece of spanner and slid it under the unbendable rod. He wiped his blood-slick hands on his pants, refolded his grip and centered his weight. Looking back at Duo to be sure that he was listening he instructed. "When you feel the pressure ease up pull your foot free."
Duo nodded "yes" then braced himself for the pain he knew any movement would produce. "Go ahead."
Heero drew in an energizing breath, gritted his teeth and put his total concentration into lifting the rod but despite his best efforts the twisted metal refused to move in any direction. With each thwarted attempt Heero swore lowly under his breath not wanting Duo to hear his frustration.
But Duo knew of his comrade's failures. He could read Heero's defeated posture, the way his shoulders slumped and his chest heaved from exhaustion. Even through the thickness of his boot he knew that his leg was still pinned in place. And in spite of his muddled senses Duo knew that the rod had not given up an inch and was not going to no matter how much leverage Heero applied.
"Heero." Duo called trying to keep his voice as even as possible.
Heero paused to muster the most positive expression he could before pivoting to face his friend. When Heero finally did turn around he could tell by the grave distress in Duo's eyes that he already knew that his prospects for freedom were hopeless.
"I will think of something." Heero promised not bothering to hide his concern.
Duo shook his head slowly. "No you won't." he stated not buying into Heero's determination to grasp at straws.
Heero dropped to his knees and set back on his heels reexamining the situation. "Yes I will." he growled out tensely, "I have to." he finished in a heartbroken whisper.
Now certain that Heero Yuy would not be the deliverer of his salvation Duo steeled up his will and prepared to counter any forthcoming arguments. "We both know that nothing can be done." he declared as calmly as he could.
As the first rays of dawn filtered through the gray smog he ordered. "You have to leave me."
"Duo...no!" Heero exclaimed moving to his side. "I won't...."
Duo raised his hand. "Let me finish." he demanded. "If it has to be this way then so be it." He sucked in a labored breath. "I want you to get out of here now. I could not have a peaceful heart if you died because of me."
Heero shook his head defiantly. "There is still time." he hissed, gritting his teeth at the injustice being forced on both of them.
But Duo would not be deterred. Whenever his plight he would face it the same way that he had faced everything else in his life with piss and fire and an unshakable faith that there was a better place waiting for him.
Duo locked his watery eyes on his comrade's anguished features. "DON'T ARGUE WITH ME!" he shouted sternly letting it be known by his curt tone that the debating and haggling was over.
Heero bowed his head in a downcast gaze. A soft rush of air fluttered over his lips and when he looked up again tears glistened in his cobalt eyes. "Damn you Duo Maxwell I tried so hard not to care and then you pull something like this."
He carefully entwined his fingers around Duo's bruised hand. "I love you. Don't you know that I could no more abandon you than I could stop breathing?"
A smile caressed Duo's lips and despite his skin's grimy coating his face glowed. "I loved you the first time I saw you and I will love you forever. That is why your death cannot be on my conscience for that would surely send my soul to hell and then we could not spend eternity together."
"Then I will stay with you in hell." Heero proclaimed leaning over to seal his promise with a kiss.
Overhead one more brace sliced in two. The girder groaned so loudly that its wailing could be heard above the crackling fire and mournful wind. Heero ignored the heavy beam's pronouncement of doom choosing instead to deepen the kiss.
Duo broke the kiss with a whimper then pushed weakly on Heero's chest. "Please...for my sake...go now." With his final plea Duo laid his head back and closed his eye for it would be too painful to watch his lover leave.
Heero's eyes flashed as he jumped to his feet. "I am not going to let fate defeat us!" he screamed aiming his angry glare at the erratic girder.
In two long strides he stopped beside the stubborn rod. He shoved the spanner in a far as it would go, flexed his muscles and drew on an internal strength that was multiplied tenfold by love. There would be no trying but doing. Duo would be freed or Heero would die in the attempt.
The scraping on Duo's boot was barely noticed as his fading senses answered the Grim Reaper's call to surrender then Heero's voice echoed in his head. "I love you."
Opening his eyes Duo felt the weight on his foot give up some of its influence. In a heartbeat the rod rose high enough to clear his boot. "NOW DUO!" Heero shouted as his arms quivered and his muscles burned from the strain.
Duo planted his hands on the grimy ramp and put every ounce of power he had into sliding backwards. An inch more and his foot would be out. Half an inch and Duo could see firelight shining through the narrow opening. One last scooting. "I'm free." he shouted triumphantly before he collapsed from total exhaustion.
Before the rod settled down with a grating clatter Heero was by Duo's side. Misty moisture sparkled across his dark pupils. A wide grin showed both relief and joy. "I knew we could do it."
But Heero's celebration was quickly cut short as a shrill whine told him that the last of the girder's bolts were about to break free. "We need to move now."
Heero knelt behind Duo slipping his arms around his sweat-soaked chest. Duo grimaced as his too long stationary body was dragged back. He flinched as his torn shoulder muscles and his badly sprained ankle painfully reacted to the sudden change in position.
Heero didn't stop his tugging until he reached the ramp's serrated edge. "The climb down is going to be rough." he wheezed as the foul air and dense smoke had already begun to affect his breathing.
Duo nodded as he peered over the irregular rim. "Shit look at my SCAT." he swore as his eyes caught sight of the mangled remains of his bike.
Heero couldn't help but grin at Duo's concern over his defunct SCAT. "Baka." he whispered gently running his finger over Duo's oily cheek. "Your Shinigami is waiting for you so let's not wasted anymore time."
Suddenly that was a shape creaking followed closely by a gut-wrenching quiver. The tower shifted violently almost knocking Heero off his feet. Duo clung desperately to his lover as the ramp trembled and clouds of dust and smoke blotted out the sunrise.
The pile of rubble that had formally held Duo captive began to disappear through an ever-widening hole. From the crater's center a pressurized jet spewed spark-drenched plumes in a condensed stream. Renewed fireballs sprayed from every unclogged crack and crevice.
White-hot flames hungrily tasted the infusion of fresh air in an unchecked feeding frenzy. Turning reddish orange the fiery tongues licked at the ash and smoke until their ascending tips flickered away into infinity. The hissing geyser buffeted the lax girder pushing it wildly to and fro. The rocking doubled in its intensity each time until the hard sway pitched it into a sagging support column.
Until that moment the taunting pendulum had been satisfied to stay in place as long as it believed there was no hope of Duo's escape. But seeing its intended victim free and leaving it decided with swift retaliatory vengeance to take out not only Duo but Heero as well for meddling in its termination plans.
With a travailing screech the girder declared its intentions to execute punishment for Duo's desertion. Heero grabbed Duo's arm and tugged sideways to remove him from the beam's plummeting path. "This is going to be close." Heero thought as his boots skidded on the ramp's powdery surface.
Color drained from Duo's face. A lancing chill clawed through the thermal blanket encasing his sweltering body bringing on bone-jarring convulsions. Duo closed his eyes and clenched his teeth as arms and legs shook in uncontrolled spasms of pain. He had nothing left, not one ounce of toughness to brace against the furious tremors. Nothing to overcome the mind-deadening faintness. Heero ignored Duo's pale features and profuse shaking and jerked again.
A deafening CLANG echoed. A swish of hot air surged over Duo as Heero draped his body over his lover. The massive slab of metal flew sideways. One end bounced putting it into an uncontrolled spin. Heero tightened his protective posture covering Duo's head with his outstretched arms.
Less than four feet from the Strike Force pair the girder's opposite end slammed into what was left of some tattered bracing beams. Blue sparks danced over the scaffolding and an ear-piercing squall set every nerve on edge. Then there was an eerie silence as the girder went airborne. A glint of the rising sun on scorched metal was the last thing Heero saw before the girder tumbled harmlessly over the edge.
Now Heero's face was as pale as Duo's, not from pain but from sheer fright. Heero raised up anxiously checking Duo for injuries. He stroked back stringing bangs then became lost in Duo's revealed violet gaze.
"Are you all right?" he asked as he allowed his tears free reign.
Duo lifted a trembling hand pressing it to Heero's damp cheek. "Arigato my love." he whispered before completely surrendering as Heero's arms encircled him in an unbelievably loving embrace. With a content sigh Duo let his sense shut down against the delirium and pain and drifted off into a perfect state of serenity.
*********
Heero dared to lean over far enough to look over the edge. All he could see were puffs of smoke, lingering flickers of fire and jagged metal spiking out in all directions. "How in hell am I going to get Duo down from here?" The question nagged at his mind.
Duo must have sensed their dilemma even through the drowsy curtain shrouding his brain. "We are not going to give up now."
But before Heero could give any further consideration to the problem of his and his soul mate's dangerous descent an unexpected breeze stirred the smog. A rhythmic thump, thump, thump bounced off the tower's deformed framework.
Heero shielded his eyes squinting up through the parting haze. The Lone Dragon's familiar shape cast cooling shadows over the two battered but victorious teammates huddled among the tower's squalor.
The side hatch slid back. Trowa, with Quatre squatting beside him, peered down from their lofty perch. "We thought you two might like a ride." he shouted over the rotor's whine and the whipping wind.
Heero, pleased to see all his Strike Force partners in one piece, waved back signaling his and Duo's readiness to leave their hellish surroundings and join their friends.
"I'm going to lower a rescue basket." Trowa instructed as he activated the towline winch.
Duo glanced up at the helicopter then gave Heero a weak smile. "Let's go home."
*********
It was decided that Duo would be more comfortable lying in the basket. Only when Quatre was sure that Duo had drank enough water to be properly hydrated did he allow his friend to dose off.
Heero sat by the window holding Duo's hand as he slept so soundly that he didn't stir when Trowa began to bandage his arm. While Wufei skillfully guided the "copter" away from the toppled tower Heero's stomach knotted as he saw just how close that he and Duo had come to dying.
The blackened patch of crumpling concrete that they had just vacated was no more than ten feet wide and less than that in length. A pair of spindly columns was all that supported the tiny piece of ramp. Spires of misshapen metal and hundreds of twisted reinforcing rods snarled into a maze that would have been impossible to maneuver especially with Duo injuries.
Tightening his hold on his lover's hand, Heero whispered a thankful entreatment for his and Duo's deliverance then rested his head on the seat, closed his eyes and drifted into a dreamscape of endless sunrises and sunsets with Duo by his side.
TBC...
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