Counting Down Part 4

"Any news?"

Heero looked away from the hideous painting on the waiting room wall. He'd spent the last twenty minutes trying to figure out what it was supposed to depict. "Nothing yet."

"What happened?" Wufei perched in the chair beside him.

"Hell if I know- I wasn't near him when he went down." Guilt surged up in him again and he closed his eyes. "He was in the secure position- with some of the others- they were supposed to be our backup- but-"

"You ended up being theirs."

"Pretty much." Heero opened his eyes and managed a smile. "He can't be that bad, he was ordering everyone around until the medics took him away."

Wufei looked relieved. "Plus you caught the bad guys. Une is pleased."

Heero nodded and rubbed his forehead. "I know, I know- she'll be more pleased when I finish the paperwork- I will- once I find out-"

"Heero," Wufei shook his head. "Relax. No one is pushing for anything. Your partner was injured- you're supposed to be here. It's okay. Lots of the other guys are doing reports- Une isn't demanding yours."

"Not yet."

Wufei smiled. "Not yet," he agreed. He glanced around the waiting room and huffed out a breath. "Since we're alone- mind if I ask you a question?"

"Course not."

Wufei leaned closer, his voice growing softer. "I heard from Donaldson in Personnel that Duo was asking for the forms to change his status."

Heero's eyes widened. "What?"

"You didn't know?" Wufei looked surprised.

"No," Heero felt like someone had punched him in the chest. He took a deep breath. "Is she sure-" he started and then realized what a stupid question it was and closed his mouth.

Wufei nodded. "Yes. She said he wanted to change his status to special assignment only- like Quatre and Trowa have. I thought- I mean- you are his partner-"

"He didn't say anything-" Heero paused. Was this what Duo was counting down towards? It sounded like it. A big change- something that would start lots of other changes...that had to be it. "Not directly."

"What do you mean?"

Heero explained about the count down, the post its, Quatre's pep talk and Duo supposedly needing his support.

"So he's trying to psych himself up for it. Heero- you have to change his mind-"

"No. Not if this is what he wants." Even if he wasn't sure what he was going to do without Duo as his partner, Heero knew that the change would be a good thing for Duo. "He never really wanted to join in the first place- it's just things didn't work out with Hilde at the yard and he needed something."

"He must've found something else." Wufei looked thoughtful. "I wonder what it is."

Sally stepped into the waiting room and smiled cheerily at them. "Duo's going to be fine. We thought he'd broken something, but he's just got some nice deep bruises- and a concussion- and a few little scrapes. Guess something threw him into a wall?"

Heero shrugged, unsure. All he'd heard was the 'man down' part. "Does he need a ride home?"

Sally shook her head. "Not tonight. I want him kept quiet- and I know how he is. We'll free him tomorrow." She gave Wufei a dazzling smile. "Feel like driving me home?"

"Of course."

Heero got to his feet. "I'm headed back to the office."

"I'm sure Une could wait for the report until tomorrow." Sally frowned at him. "You look like you need some rest. Go home and get some. Doctor's orders."

He knew better than to argue with her, but he doubted he was going to get much sleep. "Yes ma'am," he said instead and headed out, figuring what Sally didn't know wouldn't hurt her.

When he got back to his desk, he found his attention drawn to the two remaining post its dangling from Duo's monitor.

I've done this job without him, Heero reminded himself. I can do it again. It's better for him- he'll be happier elsewhere.

Keeping that firmly in mind, Heero started writing his report.

TBC...

 

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