Secrets Part 6
When Heero awoke about eight hours later, Duo wasn't beside him. It wasn't possible for Duo to have slipped out in space, he reminded himself, but he still hastily pulled on his clothes and went looking for the other man.
"There you are," he said as he looked into the galley.
"Here I am?" Duo repeated, turning away from the machine on the wall and giving him a grin. "I just woke up about five minutes ago. I wasn't missing that long."
"Hungry?"
"Very. I was hoping to raid the fridge, but it only has water. I was hoping this did something..." His voice rose hopefully. "It looks like a food synth machine, but-"
"It is- it's just Quatre's version." Heero reached beneath the small table and pulled out the code book. "Pick a meal."
"Why do I have a feeling this isn't going to be like the ones on L2?"
"Because you know Quatre wouldn't put one of those on this ship without tweaking it. Go ahead, pick anything."
"Anything?" Duo's eyebrows rose as he perused the pages of the code book. "There's a lot here- most of the ones I've seen can only do a few- and you can't be picky about taste..."
"Anything. No, never mind, I know what you want." Heero plucked the code book from Duo's hands, flipped a few pages and tapped the selection into the machine. "It will take a few minutes- the machine needs to assemble the proteins and all that, but it shouldn't be too long."
"As long as it's not liver or something like that."
Heero turned the book around to show Duo his selection. "Look okay?"
"Yes! You remembered."
"Of course. Sit down." Heero didn't like the way Duo still seemed to be so unsteady on his feet. He pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge and put it in front of Duo. "Is this okay? The machine can make other drinks..."
"No, this is fine. Thanks." Duo slid carefully into a chair and smiled warmly. "Sleep okay?"
"Fine. How are you feeling?"
Duo shrugged. "Sore. But better than I was." He eyed Heero for a moment and then shook his head. "No."
"No what?"
"I know what you're going to say. I can't involve you, Heero- I told you why."
Heero sighed internally. It was hard to start an argument with someone who cut you off before you started. "You really are a stubborn bastard."
"I know." Duo's voice turned wistful. "Still going to feed me?"
"It's the only way you'll let me help you- of course I will. I'll even punch up a sandwich for one of your pockets if you'll let me when we get to Earth."
"How far out are we?"
Heero glanced at his watch. "I'll have to go take the controls in about half an hour- we should land about an hour and half after that." The synth machine dinged and Heero pulled out a plate of food, setting it before Duo, before turning to punch up his own meal. "You have time to eat- even take another shower if you want- before you have to strap in."
"Don't tempt me. This is way better than the machines on L2." Duo said around a mouthful of food. "Quatre needs to spread his invention out a little."
"I know he's trying. L4 has a lot of these." Heero joined Duo at the table with his own plate. "You know, you haven't asked me where on Earth I'm landing."
"I know where you're landing," Duo countered with a faint smile. "Where you always land- Quatre's port in the north hemisphere." His smile widened at Heero's surprise. "Is it bad to admit I was keeping tabs on the guys? I knew when you contacted Quatre and started working for him."
"I was keeping tabs on them too," Heero admitted. "And I was looking for you."
He caught the look of surprise on Duo's face before the other pilot dropped his head and hunched over his plate. "I really am sorry..."
"Sorry enough to let me help you?"
Duo shook his head. "I can't. After... after I finish this, I'll come back and tell you everything. But I can't now..." His voice trailed off.
"You think you'll be able to come back?"
"I'm going to try."
"Promise me that you'll try hard."
"I will. I really will."
Sighing, Heero nudged him with an elbow. "Finish your food. Let me at least feel like I'm helping a little, okay?"
"Okay."
They finished the meal in silence and Heero left the galley, Duo a silent shadow behind him. He was less unsteady on his feet, and Heero hoped that the food had helped a little. Who knew when was the last time Duo had eaten? Or when he'd eat again, or rest...
"Your clothes should be finished," he said aloud. "I don't think my shoes will fit you, but you're welcome to keep the clothes if yours are too far gone." He half-turned and gestured at the door beside his bedroom. "You'll find all of it there- and if you want another shower..."
"You'd never get me off your ship if I got in that decadent thing again," Duo managed with a half-smile and headed towards the cleaner.
Heero went to the bridge. Sitting down in his chair, he quickly pulled up his program- no new reports- just variations of the old ones. Preventer dead in an alley, no identification yet, police and preventers pursuing leads.
Cast a quick look towards the door, he pulled up the scanning program. Sure enough, the tracer he'd stuck in Duo's boot registered just fine- in fact it was moving...
Quickly, he shut off that program, half-expecting Duo to come in, tracer in hand, demanding an apology.
But he didn't.
"Getting closer?" Duo asked, sitting down in the co-pilot's chair.
"Just about. Making calculations for entry." Heero gave him a quick scan. Duo had put on the clothes he was wearing before- his cap pulled low over his eyes, braid tucked in the back of the jacket.
"Need some help?"
"You remember how to do this?"
"Course I do, flyboy. Strap yourself in."
Reentry went smoothly. As they prepared to land on Quatre's port, Heero wondered if he shouldn't try one more time...
He parked the ship in his usual hangar and turned to look at Duo.
Who wasn't there.
"Sorry," said a voice in his ear and then there was a quick sharp poke on the side of his neck. Heero tried to turn, but blackness began to swirl at the edges of his vision. "I'm so sorry. I'll come back if I can. I love you."
Heero wanted to reply- but the blackness rose up in front of his eyes and he went under....
TBC...
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