Reckless Part 10
I got out of the hospital a day or so later. I was under strict orders to stay at home and not move around much. You can imagine how well I took that order. But Sally was firm. There was no way I was going back to work, even if it was just to sit at a desk. She laughed and said that Heero could go in since he'd need a break from me. I threw a pillow at her. Heero said he didn't mind staying, but I was right in that instance. Heero and I still had cases we were working on- we couldn't both be gone, and I told him so. Before he got mad at me again, Quatre stepped in.
So I got babysitters. It was humiliating. Quatre set up a freaking schedule. I was not going to be left alone for a minute. When I complained, Quatre just laughed at me. "Deal with it." Was his response and so I threw a pillow at him too. Did I mention that I'm a lousy patient?
The first morning after I got home, Heero helped me get up, showered and dressed. Then he got ready for work, ignoring my monologue about how I wasn't a child for goodness sakes. When Trowa showed up, Heero merely kissed me goodbye and told Trowa that I was obviously feeling better since I hadn't shut up all morning. I would've thrown a pillow at him too, but I didn't have one on the sofa to throw. So I contented myself by simply making a face at him. He surprised me when he stuck out his tongue in retaliation and then told Trowa that Wufei would be there at noon.
"You've definitely had an effect on that boy," Trowa told me as the door shut behind Heero.
"You think so?" I asked, diverted for a moment.
"Obviously Duo," Trowa rolled his eyes at me as he sat down next to the couch. "So what will Sally let you do? Are you allowed to play cards? Or is that too stressful?"
"Only if I lose," I grinned back at him.
"I'm not letting you win," he replied, and picked up the deck from the coffee table. "Gin? 21? Poker?"
"Ah, poker's fine." Trowa shuffled the deck and dealt the cards.
"I wanted to apologize Duo," he said as we were arranging our hands. "I was way out of line at the hospital the other day."
"It's okay," I shrugged. "Quatre explained- and uh- it was kind of stupid of me. I just couldn't leave her there..."
"No, you couldn't. You did the right thing Duo. I just felt guilty."
"No need to," I gave him a sly smile. "Think about it this way. You left the Preventers and got Quatre. Because you left the Preventers I got Heero as my partner. And since I got Heero as my partner..."
"You got Heero." He grinned. "I get it." He discarded a few cards and picked up new ones. "Are you ever going to tell me how that all came about?"
"You really want to know?"
"I wouldn't have asked." I thought about it for a minute. I'd have to explain my 'last words' file to Trowa in the process- it was a big part of that story. I shifted in a bit and my side ached sharply. Well, Heero reading his letter early hadn't hurt anything. It didn't mean I'd have to give Trowa his after all.
"Well, okay. It was right after I got back from that mission from hell..." Trowa listened quietly as we played several hands of poker. By the end of the story, he was smiling.
"You'd better send Relena some flowers," he told me when I finished. "She played a big part in getting you two together."
"Ha ha," I replied.
"You know, Duo, there's just one thing I want you to think about."
"Hm?"
"This last word file of yours-" oh of course, he'd have to focus on that! "It's a good idea- it really is- to leave something for the people you leave behind. But, you might want to tell them those things as well."
"Why?"
"What if you're not the first to go?" I thought that over for a minute. "I'm going to make lunch," Trowa got to his feet. "Fei will be here in about half an hour and you don't want to eat his cooking."
"That's for sure," I agreed.
Fei did arrive a half an hour later, and he was relieved that I had already eaten lunch. He is a lousy cook. Trowa grinned as he told me to 'be good for Uncle Fei'. Did I mention they hadn't left me any pillows to throw?
"Hey Tro," I called as he opened up the front door.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks man. You're a good friend." Trowa smiled back.
"You are too, Duo."
Fei and I had a brief debate over whether or not I needed to take my pain pills. He won. I think he just wanted me knocked out for the afternoon so that he could read in peace. I didn't wake up until Heero got home. Fei told him that I had been 'good' and he hoped that I behaved for him as well. Sadistic bastard. Wait until he was the one Sally imprisoned like this.
Heero came to join me on the sofa after Wufei left. "Have a good day?" He asked.
"You heard Fei," I complained.
"He said you behaved, I asked how you felt." He told me as he pulled me against him.
"I'm fine. I slept practically the whole time Fei was here."
"Took your pills?"
"That's why I slept." I rolled my eyes. "At least Trowa didn't make me take them. He and I played poker and talked."
"Hn." Heero made his usual noncommittal grunt. "He apologized?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"He said he was going to when he called to apologize to me. He and I..."
"Quatre told me." I shook my head. "Only the two of you would blame each other for me getting myself into trouble."
"I..." Heero paused.
"Look," I told him, turning my head to meet his gaze full on. "I can't tell you that I'll never do it again. Our job is dangerous. But Heero, you have to realize that I'm not doing it on purpose. Not anymore." I took a breath. "I told you guys that day in the cafeteria that I didn't have anything more important to me than my job. You have to realize that's changed now."
"Has it?" He wasn't being sarcastic. He sounded- hopeful.
"You know it has." I put my head on his shoulder and got close. "I have you to come home to." He took a deep breath then, and leaned his head against mine. "No more reckless behavior, Heero, I promise." He snorted and kissed me.
"I'm afraid any time you go off on a mission by yourself I'm going to think that, love," he told me honestly. "But I promise to try and keep in mind that you aren't doing it on purpose."
"I won't be. I'll be trying to get back to you in one piece." He laughed then.
"You haven't managed that yet! If you ever do- I'll throw you a party."
"I'm holding you to that," I laughed with him.
It's been a year since then, and no, I still haven't managed to come back from a solo mission in one piece, but that's because I haven't been sent on any. I suspect Heero had a talk with our good commander, but I won't call him on it. I'd rather have him with me anyway. He's not the only one that worries about losing what we have.
OWARI
End note: And that's the end of Reckless. (I think. My muse keeps suggesting possible sequels. I have too many fics already! ARGH!) Thanks for reading!!!!
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