Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 58
Between the discomforts of not actually being in a bed, the occasional change in sounds from the machines around him and the nurses coming in periodically to check on Marcus, Duo had known of much better nights for sleep. When his son woke up after sunrise, the running back's braid was a bit disheveled and there were dark circles under his eyes.
Yawning as his eyes blinked open, the teenager took his guardian in and smirked, "You look like hell, Dad." Head falling back, the athlete laughed. Soon after, the nurse arrived with breakfast for her patient. Gathering up his own meal from the cafeteria, Duo and Marcus spent their meal in quiet conversation.
Lightly knocking on the door about an hour later, a familiar face peered into the room. Brightening at the sight of him, Marcus gasped, "Heero." Duo snapped his head to the door to take his lover in. Smiling, he leaned in as the team captain neared and bent down to kiss his forehead.
"I'm here to relieve you," Heero said quietly. Reaching over to squeeze the boy's good shoulder, he greeted, "Good to see you, Marcus." He decided not to dwell on the incident, knowing that the youth was going to be dealing enough with that on his own. Relief and appreciation filled the child's eyes as he grinned widely.
At the thought of leaving his son behind, Duo frowned in worry, "I can stick around for a while longer, 'Ro. There's no rush for me to leave yet."
Folding his arms, the quarterback stood in defiance and stated, "You need rest. Don't try telling me that you got more than an hour's sleep last night." The corner of his mouth curled up as he added, "You also need a shower."
The running back gave an undignified look while Marcus laughed. Wincing after a couple good pulls at his chest from the laughter, the boy smiled to his father, "He's right, Dad. You're starting to smell a little."
Duo huffed and folded his arms. Sticking his nose in the air, he sighed, "Well, I never." He tried to keep up his frustrated look despite the small hint of a smile. Heero and Marcus snickered.
Lightly kissing his partner's head, the team captain reminded, "You also have your other children anxious to see you. They've been asking when you would be around."
That, more than anything, was enough to motivate his lover to hand over the reigns. Duo turned his wide, violet eyes to his charge in a silent request for approval. Without hesitating, Marcus smiled and nodded, "I'll be fine. Get going. Give the others a hug for me."
"Will do," the running back promised before leaning in to gently embrace his kid as carefully as possible. Turning to hug his teammate tightly, he whispered, "Thank you." They shared a quick and chaste kiss before the braided American left with a wave to the pair.
Marcus focused on the black box that had been under his visitor's arm and asked, "What's that?"
Smirking, Heero set the empty breakfast tray from the table over the bed and lowered the box to sit there in its place. "I picked this up on the way over to keep us occupied," he explained as he opened the top lid. Removing the chess pieces and board, his grin widened at the teenager's lit up face.
While the quarterback set the game up, Marcus bit his lip and asked quietly, "So are you in love with my Dad, Heero?"
Instantly recalling the last time that the boy had asked him the same question months before when he and his family first arrived to his estate, the Japanese athlete chuckled deeply. That time that they had spent just talking on his back porch was one of his favorite memories.
From that time to now, the answer had changed. Smiling, he replied, "Very much."
A bright grin brightening his face, Marcus said quietly, "Cool." With the use of his good arm, he assisted the quarterback in setting the chess game up.
* * * * * *
There was a changing of the guards a few hours later when Hilde went to stay with her nephew. Returning to the apartment after their 'hand off', Heero went in search of his lover. He had hoped to find Duo catching up on some much needed sleep, but heard his voice in the kitchen. Greeting the children that he passed along the way, he followed the sound.
Braid tip in one hand and cell phone pressed against his ear with the other, the running back was pacing back and forth. "Thank you, your honor," he sighed in relief. "I appreciate your taking the time to oversee this on such short notice. We'll see you soon." Closing the flip he turned and had a start in finding his partner standing in the doorway.
Quickly shaking off his momentary fright, Duo raised his cell phone and informed, "That was Judge Toplin. He's been the one in charge of looking over everything in preparation for the adoption. Under extreme circumstances like this, I have the right to call for an emergency hearing to have the kids moved to a safer location before I have sole custody. Quatre's sister, Iria has been my lawyer and she told me my chances of winning are pretty good."
Cobalt eyes widening, Heero breathed, "That's great news, Duo."
Biting his lip, the American frowned, "All that's left is naming where they'll be staying for the next few months. You've already done so much for them, I feel guilty asking if... if they could..." His words for halted when his lover closed the distance to kiss his lips gently.
"You don't even need to ask," the quarterback smiled lovingly. "Of course they can stay at my estate with us." Unable to trust his voice, Duo's eyes shimmered with unshed tears; but a glowing smile lit his own face. Gently brushing back a few long bangs from the smaller athlete's gaze, Heero asked, "So when is the hearing?"
His smile fading quickly at the inquiry, Duo answered, "Monday. It was too short of notice to be squeezed today, just before the weekend."
Monday... a day after their next scheduled game. There was no question that Duo would be staying behind for the weekend. Between preparing for the hearing and Marcus's being in the hospital, there was nowhere else he planned on being without his having to say as much.
Had it been a year prior, Heero would never have dreamed of missing such a vital skirmish. Now, however, he knew that there were far more important things in life.
Nodding firmly, the he insisted, "Then I'll stay here with you. Austin and Fellows can take over for us this next game. There's just no way I'm heading back to Pittsburgh without you or the kids."
Eyes sparkling, Duo gave a relieved smile. "Okay," he nodded in response. Opening his cell phone, he thought aloud, "I'll give Dorothy and Zechs a call so that they know not to expect us for-" Once again, he was cut off. This time it was with his teammate's strong arms wrapped tightly around him.
There were no words. Just a simple embrace of support.
Blinking in surprise, Duo reached up to loop his own arms around the taller athlete's neck. He buried his face in a strong shoulder and took in the comfort being offered. A hand rubbed the back of his braided hear as a few tears spilled from his violet eyes.
For a long time, they just stood in the middle of the kitchen like that. During that time, the running back realized just how badly he needed to just be held... to be loved and to know that he wasn't alone in the turmoil that was his life at that moment.
Heero somehow understood that and offered everything that he needed through that sweet gesture.
After a long, silent moment, the quarterback loosened his grip enough so that their eyes met. Tenderly wiping away the wet traces from the heart-shaped face, he suggested quietly, "You need to rest first. Everything else can wait." Raising an eyebrow, he smirked, "And you can't tell me you managed to get more than a few minutes to sleep when you got back here."
Sheepishly, Duo admitted, "Well, I did managed to take a shower, but then I wanted to spend time with the kids. Then Iria called after Quatre got a hold of her and..." A finger fell over his lips to still them.
"Come on," Heero urged with a light tug on a hand. Leading the way through the hall, he guided his lover up the stairs and to their room. Closing the door behind them, he slowly began undressing Duo and himself until they were down to their boxers.
All the while, too tired to fight and appreciating being taken care of for a change, the running back remained still. He allowed himself to be taken to the bed when the blankets were pulled back for their bodies to curl up together. Sinking into a warm embrace once more, he rested his head on a shoulder and closed his eyes.
Gently kissing his teammate's forehead, Heero whispered, "I'm here. Just rest, love." Lulled by those words, Duo finally allowed the call of slumber to claim him. Not until he heard the even breathing did his partner join him.
* * * * * *
The atmosphere in the house was very different that night compared to how it had been the evening before. There was laughter once more. With Marcus scheduled to be moved from ICU the next day, things were looking much brighter for the family.
Duo informed his charges of the upcoming hearing since their presence was required, but was careful not to get their hopes over the prospect of moving in with Heero. Nothing was a guarantee where the case was concerned. Following dinner, an expected new arrival entered the apartment building along with Solo.
"Aunt Iria!" the children cheered at the sight of the tall young woman. Smiling brightly, Quatre's sister knelt down to scoop up the smallest of the lot and kiss their heads. Like any good aunt, she took her time reuniting with each of her nieces and nephews before hugging her braided client and dear friend.
Grinning widely, Iria told him quietly, "It's so good to see you again, Duo."
The running back pecked her cheek and replied, "Same to you, hon." He took a moment to introduce Heero.
* * * * * *
Always the gentleman, following their handshake and polite hellos, the quarterback took up the lawyer's bags and showed her to her room. Iria followed after with an impressed look on her face in light of his polite manners.
Not long after, Solo returned from the last 'shift' in watching Marcus. Lounging in the living, everyone caught up with their guest. The youngest of the children were sent to bed for the night and the last round of tea was finished before it was decided that it was time to get to business.
In the dining room, Heero and Duo sat across from Iria as she opened up her briefcase to remove a few files. Setting the paperwork on the table, the lawyer peered to the team captain and told him, "As the one that will be opening his doors to the children, Heero, I just want you to be aware that you be asked by the judge to stand and attest that as your intention. It's not much, a simple question and answer bit with him, but I don't want you to be caught off guard when that does happen."
Heero nodded firmly, "All right." The warning certainly was much appreciated. Her prep work of her clients so that there were no surprises in the courtroom was a sure sign of just how good she was at her craft.
Opening one of her files, Iria turned her attention to her braided friend. "Now, our only challenge in this hearing will be the social workers. We don't know what stance they are going to take in this. By the law, they must have the children stay here before the adoption is finished since you are both gay and not of age to take them in yet. Then again, they may very well turned around and be in support of getting them out of here. It just depends what they believe to be in the better interest of the children."
His throat turning dry, Duo swallowed roughly and asked, "What happens if they think they need to stay here? They're the ones that Judge Tipton has been siding with since day one because of the damn law."
Iria smiled reassuringly, "That's what we're going to prepare for now. I'm already been building a strong case in your defense. As their caring parent-to-be, you're not the danger to the children. That's what I'm going to prove to the courts with the help of the witnesses that I have managed to pull together who are willing to testify on your behalf."
Relaxing quite a bit at that bit of good news, Duo released the breath he had been holding. Iria opened up the file on the top of her short pile and advised, "I believe it would be best for us to begin discussing our course of action and response to an argument against your moving your family."
Tightly dripping his lover's hand, the running back nodded firmly, "All right. Let's get started, then."
* * * * * *
Early the following morning...
Karen was working in her office on a story that she had been working on for the last few days when her door slid open. Turning, her brown eyes widened at the sight of an elated Nathan all but running in while shouting, "You will never believe what I've got on Maxwell!"
The young woman blinked in surprise and heard herself remark, "Maxwell? I thought that you were dropping the whole search on him."
Chuckling deeply, Gallow pulled up a chair to sit before her desk. "No, you were the one that decided to put it to rest when you came up short on finding anything on him." He waved a raised finger and smirked, "You should have been more tenacious, my dear. We would have missed a gold mine if I did not stick it out."
Her breath hitching in her throat, Karen was almost afraid to ask what had been discovered. She asked anyway. Grinning widely, Nathan folded his arms behind his head and answered, "He's about to become an adoptive father of eight. Thursday night, he and Yuy rushed to Chicago because one of them had been injured in a drive by shooting."
"My God," his assistant breathed her skin paling. Gripping her armrests, she sputtered, "A-are they all right?"
Waving his hand nonchalantly, Gallow rolled his eyes and answered, "He's fine. He'll be out of the hospital in less than a week." A sly smirk tugged his lips as he commented, "But imagine the things that I can make this story to be. Negligence. Abuse. Hell, I'll even throw in a suspicion of child molestation if I feel up to it! Just say that the information came from a 'reliable source' and that bastard will never be able to show his face anywhere!"
Karen's eyes grew wide as she struggled to catch her breath. "But, without solid proof," she began, "No one would believe a word of it!"
Smirk growing, her colleague held up a printed image that peered into a hospital room. Sleeping soundly in the bed was an African American boy in his early teens. Beside him, the braided running back lay with his head on the side of the mattress.
Gallow pulled the picture from his stunned associate's face and explained, "Taken by one of the nurses on staff that night. For a good lump sum, he took the shot from his cell phone. And it was worth every penny."
Forcing herself to appear happy over the find, Karen snickered, "You sneaky little bastard." In her head, the tone was much snider.
Nathan smiled and bowed his head. "Thank you," he replied. Sighing deeply, he gazed on the picture and informed, "I'm not going to have this hit the press until tomorrow. I want this on the cover of all of our papers and website articles Monday morning when we have the highest volume of purchases. It will be talk at every office, home and venue by the end of the day."
Rising from his seat, the dark-haired journalist winked, "And now, my dear, I bid you adieu." He tapped the photo in his hand and said, "I have a lot of work ahead of me on this one." Turning on his heels, he headed for the door.
With a smile, Karen waved him off, "Have fun." Her hand came up to cover her mouth when the door slid closed after Gallow. "Oh my God," she muttered. Just when she had thought that she managed to protect those children, something far worse than anything she could have imagined was beginning to brew.
Now that Nathan knew Maxwell's secret, it was only a matter of time before the world knew a skewed version of it. The way that those children greeted the running back with such excitement and the way that he held and kissed each of them in greeting that Thanksgiving morning, Karen knew that they were in good care with him.
And now her partner in crime was about to ruin all of that.
Pulling herself to her feet, Karen began pacing back and forth anxiously. Time to keep that from happening was already slipping away. Even if there was something that she could do, should she act and risk losing her career by going behind Gallow's back?
She froze in the middle of her office, contemplating her options. Eyes narrowing in grit determination, the reporter stormed to her desk and picked up the receiver to her telephone. Dialing for the front desk receptionist on staff that weekend morning, she waited for the pleasant, "Yes, Miss Clarkson? How can I help you?"
Her hand gripping the receiver where she had I placed against her ear, Karen replied, "Leona, this is to stay only between you and me."
"Of course," the receptionist responded without hesitation. It was a well known fact that no one went against Clarkson's wishes. The woman had a way of making life miserable for anyone who crossed her.
Swallowing roughly, Karen said, "I need your help tracking someone down. Before either one of us leave this building today, I need to talk to Dorothy Catalonia."
TBC...
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