Life... Really Part 22
The prolonged drone of the high-pitched, sustained beep of the heart monitor bearing the flat line continued to fill the small observation room as Jacob pulled the longest of the syringes from his bag. Removing the stopper to the epinephrine, the young scientist forced his trembling hands to steady. Quickly moving the braided neko to lie in its back, he tore its shirt down the middle. With a grunt of effort, he jabbed the long needle into his pale chest.
Once all of the fluid was pumped out, Jacob removed the syringe. Sweat dripped down his face as he watched the heart monitor. "Come on. Come on," he whispered urgently.
After a few seconds that seemed an eternity, the line on the screen jumped and the drone bleeped with every bounce then followed to reveal a slow, but steady pulse. With a deep sigh and a near sob of relief, the brunette man sagged heavily.
Slowly, the braided neko's chest rose and fell again. Back in the living world, his face crunched in pain in his unconscious state. Not allowing himself more than a moment to rest, Jacob quickly went about using everything he had to reverse the effects that had brought on his experiment's organs.
The door slammed open and Dekim entered, his footsteps urgent as he glared, "What the hell happened? I heard the sirens from the monitor room." Kneeling at the other side of the unconscious neko, he looked him over. The creature had a thin coat of cold sweat over his pale form. Those exposed part of his chest where the shirt had been torn revealed the edges of his ribs began to show.
Looking up as he continued to sort though his syringes, Jacob replied with a grim frown, "We just found out how far we can push him." With a silent curse, Dekim ran a hand through his hair. They could not afford to lose their prize now. They were so close. Gesturing to the now erratic pulsing on the monitor, the younger scientist commented, "We're not quite out of the woods with him yet."
With a firm nod, Dekim's face etched determination. There was not time to lose his temper now. Removing his white coat, he told his associate, "I want you to tell me everything that you had used before his heart stopped. We have to work together on this to stabilize him." Returning the nod, Jacob went down his tally of events and tests that he had run before everything went wrong.
Nearly two hours later, both Dekim and Jacob stepped from the cell; their hair slightly disheveled from sweating and both looking weary from their efforts. Thankfully for them, they were able to stabilize the neko. The strain on his body would render him unconscious for a time, but he would live. They had been lucky. Very lucky.
Gesturing to monitors in the observation room, the older of the two suggested, "We both better keep a close watch on him until the morning. It would best not to take any chances considering our close call. I want the medical reports updated with everything that we came to find from what happened." Jacob nodded his agreement and they both took their stations as they prepared themselves for a long night.
* * * * * *
As she buttoned up the front of her tan suit coat under the light of a street lamp, Danielle turned to Noin and Zechs. It had taken several hours, but everything was now in order. No stone had been left unturned and it was finally time to take action, knowing that every precaution had been taken.
"Now remember," Danielle began in a firm voice, "When we see Duo, save your reactions for when we have him alone. As much as I know you would like to have words with Dekim, and more than that, there will be time for that later. Don't even make eye contact with him. That way he would never be able to say that you made any threatening gestured towards him."
Looking up to the tall building of government science, the red-haired woman stated, "I want to be in and out as quickly as possible. This is just the first step in what we have to do, and I don't want to give Dekim any more ammo to use against us in the next move than what he already has." Taking matters into her own hands, Danielle coached the young couple as she would coach any of her witnesses before taking that stand. In reality, this matter was more vital than any case that she had worked.
Both the chauffer and maid nodded firmly, the resolve clear in their eyes. "We understand," Zechs replied firmly. Satisfied with that, Danielle turned on her high-heeled shoes, pulling the folder in her right arm closer to her side. The young couple followed on her heels, their hands joined and offering a tight squeeze for support.
When she reached the large, locked glass double doors, the young lawyer pressed the white com button to announce that there was a guest. The inside was as dark as he sky had become in the late hour. Still, she knew that someone would be inside. He would want to be close to his subject at all times-as long as that subject was still alive. She looked up when the hum of a security camera moved to aim at her. With a smile, she waved up to the lens.
Several minutes passed before the lights in the main lobby were turned on. Dekim approached, tall and confident as ever in his white lab coat. Keeping her expression from showing more than a professional smile, Danielle suppressed a sigh of relief. If Dekim was here, that meant Duo was still alive. The old man would not be here in this late evening otherwise.
After unlocking one of the double doors, Dekim pulled it open enough to allow the three guests inside. He smiled kindly, "Danielle, this is a pleasant surprise to find such a lovely young woman as yourself paying me a visit." His feet shifted uncomfortably, the redhead noticed, but he covered his confusion and concern well.
With a gracious bow of her head, Danielle replied, "It is good to always see a familiar client of mine, Dekim." Noin and Zechs stayed close, but made no move to do more than look around the old scientist as they took in the impressive surroundings. The young lawyer was quite impressed with how well they were handling themselves. Looked around the empty lobby, she commented, "I see that your business has flourished quite a bit since I was last here."
A slight bite reached Dekim's voice, showing that he was obviously not in the mood for her game. "Why don't we just cut to the chase, Danielle. Why are you here?" he snapped, his eyes narrowing a bit.
Without flinching, Danielle held up the leather folder in her possession and replied simply, "I am here to retrieve the boy that you abducted. He is to be returned to his sole guardians immediately."
Dekim laughed, "Abduction? I have no idea how you got-" The laughter and words fell short when the young woman glared fiercely at him. Slowly, Danielle forced a smile and removed the pictures that had been sent to her from her folder, handing them over.
Taking the photos of Heero and that long-haired creature in his hands, Dekim swallowed hard. So she had put all of the pieces together. She saw though his own game as he had seen through hers. "Where is the boy, Dekim?" Danielle asked calmly, but her tone left no room for further denial on the old man's part.
His own eyes narrowing heatedly, he shouted, "That thing has no soul guardians! He is nothing more than an experiment that I alone have the right to keep in my possession to control! You cannot come in here claiming he is not mine!"
A smirk tugged at Danielle's lips as she opened her folder again. Removing a long, typed out document, she held it up for him to see. "This is your copy of Judge Thompson's announcement that this lovely couple, here," she gestured to Zechs and Noin, "are the proud guardians of the boy until we meet in court to settle the matter in a month. Where he stays will be decided then."
Nearly ripping the paper from her hand, Dekim read over the Judge's decree. His signature joined that of the young couple in their agreement to be his lab rat's temporary providers in a temporary state until the Supreme justices heard both sides of the case to decide the outcome of what was to become of him. His face reddening, the old man hissed at the young woman, "How dare you."
"This decree in your hand is as good as law and you know it, Dekim," Danielle stated in a warning tone. She frowned dramatically, "I would hate to have to get the authorities involved now if you do not comply in taking us to the boy." She raised a red eyebrow and added, "That would be quite damaging against you in court."
Running a hand through his white hair, Dekim bit his tongue. He was backed against a wall with no way around it. He would just have to prepare himself for what he needed to do, when it came time to fight for what he owned. No need in giving a hard time now that could cost him his chance. Taking a deep breath, he spoke through gritted teeth, "This way."
With a bright smile, Danielle smiled and nodded as he led the way through the building. As they followed, Noin bit her lip and squeezed Zechs' hand. Her lover returned the gesture, giving her a subtle wink when their gazes met. After a month of looking and hoping, they would finally be reunited with the braided youth that they could now truly call their son, even if it was temporary for the time being.
Stepping into the large observation room, Dekim waved a hand at Jacob when the young man sat up with an alarmed look on his face. Shaking his head, the old man silently ordered him to keep his mouth closed. The white-haired scientist went to the metal cell door and pushed it open, holding an arm out for the trio to enter before him.
The first to enter, Danielle had to place a hand over her mouth to keep from crying out as he wide eyes took in the sight of the frail youth on the ground. His shirt still torn, revealing the bruises and bones showing through his pale skin, due laid with the rising and falling the only proof that he was still alive. He was in worse shape than the young woman had imagined him to be in.
Zechs and Noin's eyes were wide, their backs stiff, but they showed no further reaction. Again, Danielle was more than thrilled with their performance. She knew this must have hurt them to see the boy in such poor condition.
With a nod to the tall blonde, the lawyer gestured to the braided youth. Snapping from his state, Zechs moved quickly to lift the limp form into his arms. Duo's head fell back and the chauffer frowned deeply in concern as he peered down at him.
When they stepped from the room, Danielle turned back to the two scientists and stated, "I am also to have the boy's medical history during his time here. If he is to be treated properly, we need to know everything that has been performed on him." It was a struggle to keep her voice calm despite the rage that was raging in her.
Jacob looked to his associate with wide eyes. When Dekim nodded to him, he reluctantly gathered all of the medical files they had just finished updating and handed them over. With a nod, the lawyer took them. Meeting the old man's gaze, she warned, "I need not tell you what will happen to you should anything happen to the child between now and the trial." Dekim grunted an affirmative.
"We know the way out. Until we meet in court, then," Danielle concluded in a cheerful voice. At that, she turned on her heels and ushered the young couple out of the room. When they were in the lobby, they hurried in their steps and moved outside.
The first to reach the stretch limo, Zechs carefully lowered the limp form in his arms to lie along one of the stretched seats. As her lover stepped out to take the driver's seat, Noin stifled a cry as she sat beside her son, tears coursing down her cheeks. Gently brushing hack his damp bangs, she whispered brokenly, "You're safe now, Duo. We're going to have you home real soon."
Closing the door after her, Danielle took the seat across from them and removed her cell phone, looking up the line she needed. Placing it to her are as she placed a call, she waited a couple of rings before a familiar voice answered the line. "Sally, we will be at the house in twenty minutes," she announced.
"Got it," the nurse replied, the relief clear in her voice. "We're all set up and ready in Heero's room. I'll let the others know to keep the path clear for when you get in. If we need to get Duo to the hospital, we'll be able to move him quickly." Exchanging a word of thanks, Danielle ended the call.
As the rush of the evening's events caught up with her, the red-headed lawyer sunk into her seat with a deep sigh. Washing her face with her hands, she calmed her churning stomach. This was a new situation for her and she just hoped that in the end, she would be able to keep Duo safe. Lowering her hands, she watched as Noin continued took her son's hand in hers to squeeze it.
Tears sprung up in Danielle's cobalt eyes. The braided youth was so pale and sickly looking. To think of what he had to endure the last four weeks made her ill. She had never wished anything like this on the child, not even when she was so blind against trying to get to know and understand him. And yet, she had been the reason he ran off, stumbling into the terror that he had run away from. A small sob bubbled out and she covered her mouth.
Sitting there, Danielle swore that she was going to make up for everything that she had done to hurt that poor boy. If was the last thing that she ever did, she would make it right.
* * * * * *
In the living room of the Yuy household, Heero paced anxiously across the floor. Ever since Sally's announcement that his mother, Zechs and Noin were returning with Duo, it was the only think he could do. Sitting at the couches and chairs, Trowa, Quatre, Wufei and Relena waited with bouncing legs, fidgeting hands and other nervous gestures as they waited in silence.
At the sight of headlights panning though the windows, everyone jumped in alert. Car doors slammed and footsteps ran up the front porch. Those seated quickly rose to their feet as they all moved to the doorway of the living room.
The front door flew opened as the electronic voice greeted Danielle. The young woman held the door opened for Zechs as the tall man entered, moving quickly to the stairs with a very pale and slack form in his arms.
His cobalt eyes widening, Heero gasped sharply. Beside him, Relena whimpered as a hand covered her mouth. Trowa swallowed hard. Wufei growled deeply as his hands clenched into tight fists at his side. Quatre's head lowered as his eyes closed as he whispered a prayer. In that brief glimpse that they had of the braided youth as he was carried upstairs, everything seemed to stop in realization of the hell that he had been through.
Both Noin and Danielle rushed upstairs after Zechs, both carrying a stack of folders in their hands. Upstairs, the voices of Sally and the two doctors assisting her could be heard as they began assessing their patient. What they said could not be made out, but there was no hiding the urgency in their words.
Suddenly feeling his knees nearly giving out, Heero found himself having to grab a hold of the doorframe for support. With a hand gently guiding him by the arm, he allowed Trowa to urge him to sit at the couch. The tall teenager ran a hand through his brown hair with a deep sigh as the others returned to the room.
Relena wiped at her shimmering eyes as Quatre wrapped a supportive arm around her shoulders. Wufei moved to gaze out the window as he lost himself in his own thoughts. Heero hunched forward, covering his face with his hands as the image of his frail lover haunted him again.
Gently resting a hand on his friend's shoulder to squeeze it in support, Trowa said reassuringly, "Duo's in good hands now, Heero. He'll be all right." Unable to look up to the tall teenager standing over him, Heero lowered his hands and gave a small nod.
Everyone looked up when footsteps approached the room. Danielle entered; her concerned gaze on Heero. Shakily rising to his feet, the Japanese teenager wrapped his arms tightly his mother when she approached. The young woman returned the embrace as she whispered, "It's going to be all right, son." With a nod against her shoulder, Heero sniffled quietly as he pulled back to wipe his eyes. Smiling sadly, his mother gently caressed a damp cheek.
As she turned to her young guests, Danielle suggested, "Why don't you all head off to bed? It's late and it will be some time before Sally and the doctors helping her will be finished." At the hesitancy in the eyes watching her, she smiled kindly, "I will be sure to let you all know the moment I know anything."
That seemed to take some of the apprehension out of the band of teenagers as they slowly departed with words of gratitude and 'good nights.' When they were alone, Heero told his mother in a tired voice, "I would rather stay awake until I know how Duo is."
Nodding, his mother smirked, "I figured as much." She gestured with her head to the doors that led to the dining room. "I was going to make some herbal tea to help settle my stomach. I could go for some conversation as well. Care to join me?" she asked as she gently ran a hand through her son's unruly hair.
A genuine, surprised smile tugged at Heero's lips. In all the time that he knew her, his mother never offered to just sit and talk. He nodded with a whispered, "I'd like that."
* * * * * *
"My God," Sally whispered with a small gasp as she looked over the last of the medical reports. Scanning over the words, she read, "Body temperature rapidly decreased and signs of kidney failure also logged. The heart stopped and epinephrine had to be used to revive it." She turned to her two college colleagues that were interning at the local hospital as they both showed their shock in hearing the braided nurse's findings.
Shaking her head, Heather finished injecting the last of the medication into the IV that was sticking from the unconscious teenager's arm. "With everything they put his body through the last four weeks, I am amazed that there is no permanent damage to his organs," the blonde student commented.
Jason ran a hand through his dark hair with a deep frown, replying, "They certainly were capable of creating a human capable of tremendous stress. A normal human would not have lasted two days with the tests that they ran on him."
No longer needing the assistance of the heart monitor and other equipment that they brought over to fit in the room, the young man helped Sally turn off the machines. "Luckily for him, they created him in a way that once the effects of the poisons that they used were reversed, his body healed remarkably quickly."
Gently brushing a few stray chestnut hairs being a furry cat ear with a smile of awe on her face, Heather giggled quietly when a deep purr rose from the sleeping patient. "He's amazing," she breathed.
With a warm smile, Sally's eyes fell on her braided friend as she replied quietly, "Yes, he is." Sighing deeply, the young nurse said sincerely, "I can't thank the two of you enough for helping me with this."
As he approached, Jason smirked, "What are friends for?" Gesturing to the braided youth on the bed, he stated, "Besides, we had the privilege of being the first people ever to treat a mutated human like this. It's been an honor." Heather smiled from where she sat beside the bed and nodded her agreement to the sentiment.
Stepping into the living room moments later, Sally found Heero, Danielle, Noin and Zechs all sitting in silence with concern on their faces. The first to look up, the Japanese teenager was on his feet instantly as he quickly closed the distance between him and the nurse. The others gathered around close. "How is he?" he asked.
"Duo's going to be fine," Sally assured him with a warm smile. "His body had been through a severe amount of trauma, but the way his body was enhanced, it is healing itself. Right now, he works a lot worse that he actually is, and it will take time for his physical wounds to completely heal, but that is to be expected. He should be awake again in a matter of hours." The four people physically eased, Heero looking as though he were about to collapse in relief following his deep concern and exhaustion.
Once the equipment was finally packed away, Sally thanked her two friends once more as they departed. Heero, Danielle, Noin and Zechs exchanged their own heartfelt gratitude to the young interns. Sighing deeply, the braided nurse looked to her watch to see that it was nearly three in the morning. She and her colleagues had been working on Duo for over three hours. Only then did her fatigue catch up.
Danielle smiled, "Sally, there are still two spare bedrooms. Please take one of them so that you can get some rest."
Nodding, Sally replied, "Thank you. I think I'll take that up. At least that way I would be close to Duo then. He was very dehydrated when he was brought in, so I want the IV in him to stay in until I can check on him when he wakes."
The braided nurse smirked to the Japanese teenager, "I am sure that I can trust you to keep a vigil over him until that happens. I want to be informed right away once he's up." At that, Heero smiled gratefully and nodded, quickly making his way upstairs.
Closing the bedroom door behind him, Heero walked over to the chair at the side of the bed. Small tears filled his eyes as he took in the pale, sickly thin form of his lover. Biting his lip, he gently brushed back the long bangs from the peaceful face.
In his sleep, Duo gave a small whimper, obviously lost in his own nightmares and unable to wake from them. "Heero," his strained, weak voice whispered pleadingly.
A lump formed in Heero's throat at the sound of his voice. How many times had Duo called for him to help him while he was in Dekim's hands? With a small whimper of his own and with tears fell from his cobalt eyes, the Japanese teenager took the limp hand belonging to the arm with the IV. "I'm here, Duo," he breathed as he squeezed his hand.
Leaning forward, Heero brushed a soft kiss against his love's temple, closing his eyes for a moment. Rising from his seat, he slipped into the other side of the bed and wrapped an arm around the thin torso of the other teenager. He had to fight back another sob when Duo's head turned to rest on his shoulder, his tail wrapping around his waist in an embrace that his braided friend could not offer.
As he held his lover like that, Heero remained in silent vigil through the remainder of the morning. Offering gentle caresses, and occasional kisses, he watched Duo sleep. He whispered words of encouragement whenever the braided teenager stirred and whimpered against the attack of another nightmare until Duo fell into peaceful slumber again. Before long, the sun began to rise, its rays peeking through the partially drawn blinds of the bedroom and filling the space.
Yet another hour passed, but Heero continued to watch over the boy in his arms. Finally, he heard a deep sigh from the cat-eared boy. Holding his breath as he sat up, the Japanese youth watched as his lover's beautiful violet eyes blinked open.
With a sharp gasp, Duo's eyes widened when they gained focus on the face smiling down on him. "H-Heero?" he whispered brokenly, his voice strained from what must have been the result of screaming previously.
Gently brushing a hand down the side of his best friend's face, Heero nodded. The cat-eared teenager sat up slightly, his head still spinning as he took in the surroundings of the bedroom. His gaze fell to the inside of his left arm where the IV punctured into his veins. Looking back to his lover, he lifted a trembling hand, he cupped the side of his face. When Heero did not disappear from his touch, Duo gave a small cry as he wrapped his free arm tightly around his neck.
Returning the fierce embrace, Heero kissed his love's cheek as the boy in his arm trembled almost violently. Sobbing into a firm shoulder, Duo whispered, "I'm not dreaming this time?"
"No, love," Heero whispered hoarsely. "You're home now."
Home. The words rang through Duo's mind, filling him with a sense of protection and warmth that had been taken from him.
When he pulled back, he wiped the tears away from the braided teenager's face. Cupping his heart-shaped face in his hands, he pulled him back towards him to press their lips together. A small whimper broke from Duo as he returned the kiss, opening his mouth to deepen it.
* * * * * *
Working at her laptop, Danielle began making preparations for what would prove to be one of her most difficult cases. She never had to defend anyone before the Supreme Justices before. Given the nature of the case, dealing with a creature that had been created to aid the government, there was no way around it. With only a month to prepare, there was a great deal of work that needed to be done.
Zechs and Noin, also unable to sleep, occupied themselves with a quiet game of chess. All eyes looked up as Sally entered the living room "Duo is awake. Other than being very hungry and tired, he is just fine," she informed.
All but jumping from her seat, Noin smiled widely, "I'll start breakfast right away, then." Quickly, she made her way from the living room. Both Zechs and Danielle shared a smile at having some sense of normalcy back in their lives, even if it would only last for a fleeting time.
Before long, nothing would ever be the same again.
TBC...
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