Fic is influenced by cold. Be warned.
And this Heero... well, like I said before, I think he's been warned by the others...
Stay Part 4
I'm sure the expression on my face must be interesting- if the expressions on the other three are anything to go by. Heero simply looks amused, damn him.
Trowa, of course, recovers first. "I don't know, Heero. If I were in Duo's place I'd hold out for more than a kiss or two."
Heero rolls his eyes. "If you were in Duo's place, it wouldn't be me making the offer- and Quatre would just have the Magunacs break your legs." His gaze flickers over my knees thoughtfully and I quickly swing my legs up on the couch and glare at him.
"Don't be ridiculous," Quatre snorts. "I'd do it myself."
"Still, he has a point." Heero's lips curve in a faint smile. "Why don't the three of you go and talk to Une? Get some breakfast?"
"Leave the negotiating to you?" Quatre's eyebrow lifts slightly, but he's smiling. "All right." He gets up from the couch and narrows his eyes at me. "We'll see you later, Duo."
It's a promise, not a goodbye, not the way he says it. Collecting the other two, he takes his leave and I collapse back against the sofa cushions with a sigh.
Heero, still looking amused, sits down beside me. "Why did you do that?" I ask him.
"You looked like you were going to run just to get away from them."
I can't deny it. "It was tempting."
"I know-, which wasn't the point. I wanted you to see that you need to stay- that I'm not the only one that wants you here. They did make you see that, right? Rushing over here before six am? Waking Une up? Ready to work out a deal of some sort? Just to make sure you don't slip away?"
I hadn't really thought of it that way, but he's right. Guilt wells up. "I didn't mean to cause so much trouble, I just- I thought-"
"You wanted some time away. You can still have that. Hell, I think we all need a vacation." Heero's smile dims a little. "But no running away. Not because of me." Leaning close, he brushes his lips over my jaw line. "I meant it- if you want me- if you'll stay- I'll try this-" His mouth touches mine again- and this time it's no brief touch. This time he lingers, warming and arousing, before pulling away with a faint sigh.
"Heero?"
"I mean- I'll try this if you truly want to after I tell you..." His voice trails off.
"Heero?" I prompt after a moment. "After you tell me what?"
He pulls away, his eyes not meeting mine. "Promise to stay- or at least take a leave and stay in contact like Chang asked- and I'll tell you."
Gods, what is so awful that he thinks that it will change my mind about him? We all did terrible things during the war, we all have secret stains... What is his?
"I promise."
Much to my surprise, he stands up, reaching out a hand to me. "Come on."
"What-?" I thought he was going to start talking. "Where-?"
"It's easier to explain elsewhere," he says. "Take a shower and get dressed. Then we'll head down to the Med Center."
The Med Center?
I hurry through my shower, then twist my still damp hair into a braid before grabbing fresh clothes, my mind racing. The Med Center? Why there?
What's wrong with Heero? Why hasn't he said anything before this?
Heero's on the phone when I walk out into the front room. "I appreciate it, Sally," he says as I join him. "We'll be there in ten."
He hangs up his phone, sliding it into his pocket and looks at me. "Ready to go?"
"Yes. Sally-?"
Heero grabs his keys, takes my elbow and heads towards the door. "She's providing the visuals. Luckily she's on shift this morning."
Visuals? This is sounding worse by the moment. "Heero-" I try as we slide in the car. "Can you sort of start before we get there?"
He starts the car and shakes his head. "Not really. It's... a little complicated." The corner of his mouth quirks. "I haven't really ever told anyone before. Sally knows because... well, because she's helping me, and Une knows because I made her read Sally's files before hiring me."
"No one else?"
"Didn't dare."
It's tempting to lean over and shake him to get the answers I need, but we're not that far from the Med Center. It's probably best to let him tell it his way- despite the fact that my stomach seems to be twisting more with every moment.
Sally's waiting for us at the desk. "Good morning, Heero. Good to see you, Duo." The way she eyes me lets me know all too well that someone let something slip. "This way."
She shows us into a small private examination room, equipped with a med computer and a small x ray scanner. She leans over the terminal and types in a few commands. "Your files are up- and you know how to work the scan?"
"Yes, thanks." Heero sits down on the table.
"I'll be in my office when you finish."
She leaves after shooting an unreadable look in my direction. Heero lifts up the scanner and holds it out to me. "Here."
I take it from him and try to smile. "I already know you broke a few bones," I try and he smiles back.
"Only a few." He extends his right arm out and taps his bicep. "Run the scanner over the top here."
Slowly, I do as he asks. It's not hard to see what he wants me to find. "Med cylinders," I say when the familiar-looking tubes come in view. Placed in a patient, they can take readings, dispense medications- they're only used for serious illnesses... when the patient needs to be monitored every minute. Cancer, blood diseases, heart problems...
My throat closes up.
"Yes." Heero takes the scanner from me and gives me a gentle nudge. "Sally pulled my file up. Go read it."
For a moment I want to protest- I don't want to know... as if my knowing can make whatever it is not exist. But it won't.
So I go and sit in front of the screen, casting one look back over my shoulder at Heero. He's seated on the edge of the table, a shaft of sunlight from the window lighting up his hair, making his skin glow. His fingers are clenched on the edge of the table and I wonder what it's cost him to share this secret with me.
He gives me an encouraging nod. "Go ahead. It's okay."
So I turn to the screen and start to read. It doesn't take long. Sally's notes are crisp and concise- the information well outlined, the diagnosis plain.
Damn it. I can see why he'd want to hide this- but...
When I turn around, I find Heero watching me, his expression carefully blank. "So now you know." He says and I get to my feet.
"I do. But it doesn't change anything." Surprise widens his eyes and I manage a smile. "You can't think a little thing like this would change my mind? I'm a stubborn bastard, remember?"
TBC...
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