Hopefully you'll see the next three clichés coming into play here... *evil grin*
Here We Go Again Part 3
At first I wondered if I was seeing things. How many times had I come home late and found Heero curled up on the sofa asleep?
But the hospital attire didn't fit the picture.
I tiptoed closer, reaching out a cautious hand to touch Heero's shoulder, half-expecting him to be an illusion, to have my fingers touch empty air. I was dead tired after all. Sleepy minds play tricks...
His skin was warm under my fingers.
He was real.
How the hell had he gotten here?
I let my fingers wander down his arm unthinkingly, and then nearly fell over backwards when his eyes opened.
"Duo?" He blinked at me. "Where have you been?"
I gaped at him. He yawned and sat up. "What's wrong? Where have you been?"
"Where have I been?" I managed after a moment. "Where have you been? You were in the hospital and then you vanished! How did you get here?"
Heero frowned. "Hospital?" I gestured at his attire and he looked down at himself, blinking.
"Don't you remember the mission? Dr. J?"
His eyes widened and I saw a flash of fear. His eyes moved quickly around the room, almost like he was reassuring himself that he was back in our apartment, before he focused on me again. "How did I get out?" He whispered. "I wasn't supposed to get out..."
"I went in and got you." His expression shifted, now he looked angry.
"I told Une not to let you! It was too dangerous!"
"It was fine! Everyone was asleep! Your tranq worked perfectly."
Heero shook his head, looking confused. "I didn't use a tranq. I didn't have time."
What?
"Heero, everyone was out cold when I walked in. There was a tranquilizer in the air- released through the vents. I thought you had done it to gain us some time.
I pulled you out and we took you to the hospital. Then I went to go talk to J and you vanished out of your bed. You must've woken up there... do you remember leaving the hospital?"
He looked down at himself. "I don't remember. I know I woke up someplace that smelled sterile... there were needles in my arms and I thought J had done something..." He frowned. "I just wanted to go home."
That made some kind of sense. If Heero had woken up disoriented, and thought he was still in enemy hands...
"Do you know how you got here? Trowa and Wufei said they heard a small explosion."
Heero shook his head. "No. I just remember wanting to be home and then I was."
I frowned and sat down on the sofa beside him. He must've gotten himself out somehow... Heero could escape a hospital easily enough, and considering his condition...
Alarmed by the thought, I turned to him. "How are you feeling?"
He shrugged. "Fine. A little tired, but fine."
Sally had said he wouldn't wake up, and yet he was obviously awake and said he felt fine. Had he managed to beat whatever J had put in his system?
I rubbed my forehead. It was starting to hurt a little, and being sleep-fogged wasn't helping. This was too confusing. I'd have to call the guys and the commander, tell them Heero was here. Maybe they could figure this out.
His hand touched my shoulder. "Duo- you okay?"
"It's been a hell of a day or so."
"You don't look like you got much sleep," Heero's hand tightened. "I'm sorry. It was because of me wasn't it?"
"Don't apologize." I reached up and patted his hand. "I'm just glad you're okay. I have to call the others and tell them you're here."
I reached for the phone beside the couch and dialed Une's number. She answered on the second ring.
"Une."
"Commander, it's me."
"Maxwell, I told you to get some rest..."
"Heero is here. At our apartment. I came home and found him on the couch."
Dead silence for a moment.
"What did you say?"
"I said Heero's here. At home. I came in and found him."
"Duo, I know you're really tired and I know how badly you want to find Heero, but terminally ill patients..."
I passed the phone to Heero. "Commander," he said into the mouthpiece and then I had to bite my lip as he explained that no he didn't know how he had gotten here, and yes, he felt just fine.
I put my head back on the cushions and closed my eyes. Damn, I was tired. I really wanted to sleep.
But if I nodded off, Heero might vanish on me again.
"I won't vanish on you," Heero said. I opened my eyes in surprise. He was still on the phone with the commander, but he had placed his hand over the mouthpiece of the phone and was looking at me.
Had I said that out loud? Damn, I must be more tired than I thought.
"Get some rest Duo. I'll be right here." Heero whispered at me. "Yes, Commander, of course..." he said into the mouthpiece, turning back to the conversation again. "I assure you that I'm feeling no ill effects."
I watched him for a moment. He sure looked okay. He didn't seem to be in pain, his color was normal... and yet a few hours ago Sally had told us he was dying.
Maybe I was dreaming. I sure felt tired enough to be sleeping. Maybe I had come home and fallen asleep on my way to the bedroom. Which meant that I hadn't really found Heero at all.
I started to struggle to my feet, wondering if I could wake myself up, and Heero reached out, pushing me back into the sofa.
"Commander, I will come in for any tests Dr. Po would like to perform, but it will have to wait a bit. Duo's exhausted. He needs to sleep and I'm sure the rest of the team does too."
Heero's hand was on my chest, holding me in place. I tried to squirm out from under it, realized I couldn't, then realized that a dream shouldn't be able to hold me in place if I didn't want it to.
"Yes Commander. Very well. Yes ma'am. Goodbye." Heero hung up the phone and looked at me, his eyebrow raised slightly.
"I'm not a dream or a hallucination. If you think so, then you really need to get some sleep. Now. Do you want to crash here or should I carry you to the bedroom?" He bent over my knees and started untying my shoelaces.
Oh, I wanted Heero to carry me to the bedroom- and stay with me there.
But I couldn't tell him that.
Or wait, could I tell him that now? After the phone call? He had said that he loved me after all.
Heero straightened up a little, and I noticed his cheeks were red. How funny, I'd never seen him blush before.
"Duo, you're babbling," he said shortly as he tugged off my boots.
Was I? I didn't think I'd said anything out loud...
"I'm sorry," I told him, grabbing the nearest excuse. "I'm just glad to see you."
"Are you?" He turned his head and met my eyes. "Even after that phone call?" I saw the worry in his eyes and realized that despite my earlier pledge I had neglected to carry out the one thing I had sworn to do if I got a chance.
I smiled. "Of course. I love you too."
Suddenly Heero was on my lap, his mouth on mine, his touch sending jolts through my tired body. I hadn't even seen him move, but hell if I cared. Tired or not, I was not giving up the chance to enjoy this...
He pulled away moments? minutes? later and placed his forehead against mine.
"How long?"
"Years."
"You never said anything."
"How long?"
"Since I met you."
"I shot you!"
"So?"
I laughed. Typical Heero.
He sighed against my skin. "We wasted so much time."
"We'll make up for it."
"Speaking of time," he raised his head and looked at the clock. "Une and Sally are on their way. The guys too- I think. I'd better get dressed." He kissed me briefly. "Curl up here and sleep."
He slid off my lap and I put my head down on the cushions again. "Don't wander far," I told him and he smiled.
"I won't." He headed off towards his bedroom, his hospital gown gaping just enough in the back to give me a peek. Too bad he had to change out of it...
"I heard that Duo!" He laughed. "Pervert."
I closed my eyes and shook my head. Damn, I was sure I hadn't said that out loud. I really needed some sleep...
TBC...
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