Author: Merula
Pairings: 1x2
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Yaoi, Preventers...
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine.
Coming Home Part 1
The waiting room is full, every chair taken, but I still spot the one person I need to see as soon as I walk through the doors. He is hunched up in a chair, one hand shielding his eyes. "What happened?" I demand.
Trowa blinks up at me in shock. "Heero? Where the hell did you come from?"
"I saw it on the news. Is he all right?"
"He should be fine," Trowa lifts himself up off the waiting room chair and takes my arm. "Come walk with me and I'll tell you about it. I'm going to go crazy if I sit here much longer. You got here fast..." His tone is faintly questioning and I hide a smile.
"I live about three blocks away- it wasn't that far." We go out into the hospital corridor and head for the front doors.
"You live here?" Trowa looks astonished. "We've never been able to track you-"
"I didn't know you were looking."
He rolls his eyes. "Of course we were looking. The Preventers needed you."
Right. "That's not what Une said."
"She was upset." Trowa smiles a little. "Though to be honest- I think I would've left too after that mess."
'Mess' describes it pretty well. "I was always willing to do what I needed to preserve the peace- I just didn't feel that was needed."
"It wasn't." Trowa's smile vanishes. "Still, we were worried."
"I am sorry." We walk in silence for a moment. "Duo?" I prompt.
"Shot in the leg- which he then broke when he went over the edge. Banged up a few ribs- maybe some internal bleeding. The docs are looking into that now."
"What the hell were you two doing?"
"It was supposed to be a 'fact finding mission'."
Right, I know what that means. "So the breaking and entering didn't go so well?"
"It went fine- right up until Duo discovered the 'merchandise' the bad guys were selling were kids." Trowa shakes his head. "We couldn't just leave them there-"
"Did you get them all out okay?"
"Of course," he sighs. "Just didn't get my partner out in time."
"I'm sure you did your best."
Trowa runs his fingers through his hair and shrugs. "I'm not so sure I did. I'm kind of glad you decided to drop in- maybe you can figure out what's wrong with Duo."
There's something wrong with Duo? "What do you mean?"
"I mean this isn't the only time he's gotten hurt in the last year- this is just the first one to make the news."
"What?" Crap. What have I missed? "Is Une sending him out on bad missions?" She better not be-
"No, it's not that. It's just- Duo's gotten reckless lately. We can't figure out why. Quatre's talked to him, Wufei's talked to him, hell, even Howard's noticed. He keeps telling us we're seeing things."
"Are you?"
"Have I ever struck you as the imaginative type?"
"Damn." We head back towards the waiting room. Quatre is there, leaning over the nurses' desk. His eyes widen at the sight of us.
"What's the news?" I ask when he joins us.
"Hello Heero, good to see you too."
"Sorry," I say and he rolls his eyes.
"I see the years haven't changed you any. Duo should be fine. No internal bleeding. He's sleeping now but they want someone with him in case he wakes up badly..." Quatre doesn't need to say more. We know what that means. "But Une wants you back at the station for a report," he adds to Trowa.
"I'll go- if one of you can stay?"
"I'll sit with him," I volunteer and Quatre nods.
"As long as you don't wander off again-"
"I'll wait for one of you to relieve me before I do."
"Easy enough." Quatre glances at his watch. "I can be back here tonight."
"So can I," Trowa adds. "So first watch is yours. I'd better go see Une. Want me to tell her you've been living in the city- three blocks away from the hospital?"
"It's twelve blocks from the Preventers HQ," I counter.
"You've been here?!" Quatre's mouth drops open. "In this city?"
"Of course. I knew you'd never look for me here."
He rubs his forehead and groans. "I'm never going to live this down."
A nurse appears beside his elbow. "Mr. Maxwell's friends?"
"That's us," Trowa replies and she smiles at him.
"We have him in a room now, if one of you will come with me?"
"I will," I tell her and turn to go. Trowa touches my shoulder.
"Keep a good eye on him."
As if I need to be told? I lift an eyebrow at him. "Of course."
Duo's room is the only one with a closed door. I don't need to ask why. The nurse opens the door and I slip inside, trying to give her a reassuring smile. She doesn't look too reassured and I wonder if Duo's been one of her patients before.
He's asleep; his face nearly the color of the pillow, and my heart does that odd skip it always does when I see him. Funny really. I thought going away would help with that, make that odd skip go away.
If anything, I think its stronger now. Damn it.
Pulling a chair up beside the bed, I sit down and watch his chest rise and fall, let the sight of his breathing ease the tension that's been knotting my stomach since I saw the news reports.
Two years, an infinite amount of time spent making sure my cover was perfect, that there was no way the Preventers would find me- and I toss it all away because the news said Preventer Maxwell had been badly injured in the line of duty.
I'd laugh at myself if I could, but I don't want to disturb Duo. Besides, I'd do it again in a minute.
Carefully I reach out and brush Duo's hair out of his eyes, let my fingers linger on his skin, let myself feel that he is alive and warm under my touch. Surely a friend would be allowed to do this much? To touch him just a little?
Duo is always affectionate with his friends. Always touching- a pat, a hug, a slap on the back- surely he wouldn't mind this... after all, it's not like he knows. I went out of my way to hide how I felt about him.
Sitting beside him, I watch as the sunlight moves over the bed. Two years of not seeing him, of forcing myself not to check up on him, of trying to cut that feeling for him out of my heart.
It didn't work.
What have these years done to Duo? Is he truly being reckless, as Trowa says, or is there something else? Sighing, I realize that I've decided to at least stick around long enough to find out what's going on.
Not that I really have much of a choice. I know this is a small respite; that the others will be here soon. Then it will be more questions- and maybe a talk with the Commander, since I'm sure they've told her I'm here.
The nurse comes in again, assures me that all is going well, and is on her way out when Duo's eyes open. I don't call her back, unsure if Duo is waking up, or if it's something else-
But then I see the way his eyes widen at the sight of me. "Heero?" He croaks.
"Glad to see you awake," I tell him as I reach for the water glass. He takes the offered sip and blinks at me several times. I can practically see his mind whirring away in there and I nearly grin.
"Kids get out okay?" Somehow I knew that would be the first thing.
"Yes. Trowa will be here tonight, he can give you details."
"Good." He gives me a tentative smile. "If I'd have known you were planning on showing up today, I would've tried to dodge better."
"I didn't know I was going to show up- until I saw the news reports." Shaking my head at him, I continue: "of course, it wasn't until I was here that I heard this wasn't the first accident of yours this year."
He lifts his shoulder in a shrug and winces. Must've bruised it. "Goes with the job."
Before I can deny that statement, he gives me a narrowed eyed stare. "Speaking of years- where have you been for the last two?"
"Twenty-first Street."
"What?!" He gapes at me. "That's only a few blocks away!"
"Three."
"You were here?!"
"Didn't think anyone would look for me here."
He reaches up and socks my arm. "Bastard! We were looking everywhere for you! You didn't have to run away like that!"
I catch his hand in mine. "Stop that, you'll rip out the IV. And yes I did. You know what Une said to me."
"Yeah, but we would've done something-"
"And you all would've been in trouble. It was better my way."
He frowns at me. "If you've been following the news, then you know that Relena-"
"I know."
"But you didn't come back."
"Relena may have forgiven me, but I wasn't sure Une had." That wasn't the only reason, but it was a pretty good one.
Pulling his hand free of mine, he sighs. "Okay, good point. But then why come back now?"
I gesture at the hospital room. "The news said you were badly injured. I was worried. I didn't know you made this a habit."
"It's not a habit," he rolls his eyes. "The other guys just have a different perspective is all."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if you know about Relena- then you know about Fei?"
I nod. "Of course."
"And Trowa and Quatre are still together."
"That's good to know, but what does that have to do with you?"
His expression changes a little- somehow he looks almost sad. "It's changed their perspective. They have someone else to worry about. If they get hurt, it hurts someone else. I don't have that, so they don't see it the same way as I do-"
"What are you talking about? You have friends who care a lot-"
He shakes his head. "I don't mean friends. Sure, I know the guys care and all, but if I died it wouldn't be... well it's not the same."
I really don't like the turn this conversation is taking. "That still doesn't make sense! You had- have still I'm sure- dozens of girlfriends." There always seemed to be one or two underfoot all the time.
"That's not the same. They don't feel that way about me. I'm just one of dozens to them too, you know." His expression darkens and I wonder how long he's thought this way. "They don't love me. Not like that. I'll never have that."
"Idiot." I snap, worried at the way he seems to be slipping away from me. "I feel that way."
Surprise. Total slack jawed surprise. If I ever worried Duo knew how I felt, I know now that it was a silly thing to do. He didn't have a clue.
"I've loved you since the damn war. If you get yourself killed it's going to kill me. Is that enough to keep you from doing stupid things?"
He finally finds his voice. "You- you don't mean-"
"Of course I do. Why the hell would I give up my perfect cover that I spent two years maintaining and come racing here when I heard you were hurt? I was scared to death!"
Duo blinks at me. "But... you never. I don't..." He's stammering and turning red and I finally realize what I've done. "I never..."
I know what he's trying to say. "I know. You never thought of me that way. It's okay. I never expected you to- and we don't have to talk about it again."
At that very moment, the door opens and Trowa comes in. "Ready to go home Heero?"
"I think so," I get to my feet and look down at Duo. He's staring at the sheets and I know he's wishing I would leave. "He just woke up, so he should have someone come and look at him."
"I'll call the nurse." Trowa joins me beside the bed and smiles at Duo. "Kids got out okay."
"Good." Duo lifts his head smiles back. His face is still light pink, but his voice is steady again. "Thanks."
"Couldn't let my partner down." Trowa glances at me. "The Commander wants to talk to you tomorrow morning."
"I'm busy tomorrow morning," I tell him and the corner of his mouth curves.
"I'll tell her it's not a good time."
"Please do." Duo's watching me carefully, and I smile for him. "Take care of yourself."
His hand catches my sleeve. "You aren't disappearing again, are you?"
"You know Quatre is already having his staff compile a list of addresses three blocks away from here." Trowa adds.
"Of course he is. Should I wait for him to find me? Or wreck his fun and give it to you?"
"Tell us," Duo twists my sleeve a little. "Please."
Before I can speak, the door opens again and a doctor steps in, smiling and looking a little anxious. "Nice to see you again, Mr. Maxwell."
"Hey Dr. Stephen." Duo gives him a half wave and the doctor seems reassured. The anxious look vanishes and he steps closer to the bed.
I really do have to wonder what Duo did that made the staff this jumpy around him.
"Do I want to know what you did this time?"
"Fell off a building."
"Were explosives involved?"
"No."
"Well that's an improvement at least. Have you had pain meds yet?"
Duo looks sheepish. "No."
The doctor sighs and fiddles with the IV. "Let's fix that."
I catch Trowa's eye and we go stand out in the hallway.
"Do I want to ask about the explosives?"
"No," Trowa leans against the wall and sighs. "It's not one of my favorite memories."
"Great."
"Still, it beats the nearly drowned memory- and the car crash one too."
"Why hasn't Une done anything?"
"She's tried. She's made him see shrinks, written him up- but he's still one of her best agents and she needs him out there, so..." He trails off and I frown.
"You're still here!" Quatre's voice echoes down the hall and we turn to greet him.
"I said I would stay," I remind him.
"How's Duo?"
"The doctor is looking him over right now."
Quatre moves past us and opens the door. "Then we need to hear what he's telling Duo."
In response to my puzzled glance, Trowa rolls his eyes. "Duo has a tendency to understate his condition."
No surprise there.
The doctor is scribbling on Duo's chart when we reenter the room. He looks up and smiles at us. "Ah good. I was just telling Mr. Maxwell that he could leave tomorrow morning- if someone would be willing to keep an eye on him. He needs to stay off his leg and quiet for a bit, and I'm not sure that I trust him to do that."
"Hey!" Duo protests and Quatre laughs.
"He knows you too well. I'm more than willing to take him home with me. My staff is available to keep an eye on him." He lifts an eyebrow at Duo. "But no scaring them off this time, all right?"
"I didn't mean it last time." Duo huffs. "I'll be fine on my own. Really. I don't want to cause any trouble."
"Duo, my staff is paid to deal with trouble, all right? That's their job."
"And they always get a bonus when you're around," Trowa teases.
"I'm really okay. I hate having them hover over me all the time." Duo crunches himself up under the covers. I can tell he doesn't want to go.
"You need someone to help you," Quatre is frowning now. "It's really not a problem, though we can always assign one of them to assist you at your apartment. Or maybe Wufei can take you in for a bit."
The expression on Duo's face tells me he doesn't like any of those ideas. I wouldn't like to feel like a nuisance either. "You can come stay with me." I offer without thinking.
I can't read Duo's expression, and I realize that after what I said earlier- this offer must put me in a very bad light. Why didn't I keep my mouth shut?
"I wouldn't be in the way?" Duo asks softly, much to my surprise.
"Nope." He must really hate staying at Quatre's if he's considering my offer.
Before I have a chance to think of another option, Quatre steps in.
"Can you keep an eye on him all the time?"
"I work from home."
"Perfect!" And before I can blink, it's arranged that I'll be picking Duo up at the hospital the next morning.
It's not that I mind looking after Duo- I'll be much happier if he's where I can be sure he's okay. But Duo more than likely will be uncomfortable after what I said earlier.
What should I do?
Quatre and Trowa accompany the doctor out into the hallway and I smile at Duo nervously. He looks sleepy and I remember that the doc gave him pain meds. They must be kicking in.
"Thanks Heero," Duo yawns, confirming my theory. "I didn't really want to go to Quatre's again."
"I could tell." I lean over him and help pull the blankets up over his shoulder. "Thank you for trusting me enough."
His smile is warm. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Well, after what I said..."
"I was glad you said it." He yawns again. "I love you too y'know. So no running off again, okay?"
My knees suddenly don't work and I'm glad the chair is close. He what?
Duo's eyes are closed; his breathing is even and deep. He's asleep.
Sighing, I shake my head. I think we'll have a lot to talk about the next few weeks.
TBC...
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