Woke Up One Morning... Part 49
A constant, steady beeping is the first thing that I recognize when consciousness pulls me out of what I am assuming has been a pretty deep sleep. I almost don't want to come out of it, leaving the peacefulness behind.
Something brushes over my forehead and a gentle voice breaks through. "Duo?" There's a thick hint of worry, almost desperation in that tone that has me confused as to who it even belongs to. After a pause, that voice tries again, "Duo? Duo, please wake up."
I can feel my hand being squeezed, making me suddenly recognize who was calling for me. It's all I need to force my eyes to blink open, holding off that welcoming, tempting world of quiet oblivion.
The bright light of the room I am in has me wincing a bit until my vision focuses on my husband's face just a few inches away from my own.
He has dark circles under his reddened eyes and his hair is even more unruly than usual. But when our eyes meet, there is such a wide, beautiful smile of relief on his face that it takes my breath away.
"H-Heero?" I whisper hoarsely, too focused on him to pay too much mind to how sore my throat is from using my voice.
Swallowing roughly, he raises his hand to brush it through my bangs again and breathes, "Hey."
His hand starts to tremble a bit and he quickly pulls it away as small tears begin to fill his eyes. With a light sniffle, he leans in to presses his lips firmly against mine and holds them there for a blissful moment before pulling back.
Only then do I really look around to see that we're in a single-bedded medical room. Why do all medical rooms have mostly white walls and ceilings?
I hold my breath and peer down at my blanket-covered body to see if everything is still there after I nearly froze to death. Two arms- one which is hooked to a heart monitor and an IV- two hands with each finger still in tact, two legs...
My partner chuckles and reassures, "Both feet and all toes are accounted for, too." Stretching his hand out for the table beside my bed, he takes up a glass of water sitting there and hands it over while sighing, "You were... extremely lucky."
The way that he said that, reminding me how close I came to dying out there, sends a chill up my spine that makes me shudder a bit as I set the now emptied cup back onto the table. Frowning deeply in concern when he feels the tremor through my hand that he's holding, 'Ro asks, "Are you cold?"
Just as he moves to pull the blanket up to cover more of me, I shake my head and insist gently, "No, I'm okay." Thankfully, that water helped take off some of the pain in my throat so I can talk normally again.
Nodding at that, Heero sits back down in his chair and wraps both of his hands around mine. When those cobalt eyes begin to water again, he lowers his head and takes a deep, shaky breath. "Jesus, Duo," he breathes, "I've... never been so scared in my life as when I thought... I-I thought..."
I bite my lip as my own eyes begin to sting. After his own near-death experience, I know all too well what he had gone though... thinking the worst. Squeezing his hands, I whimper, "I'm so sorry that I scared you like that, 'Ro." The beep from the heart monitor is starting to go up as I fight back the tears.
Raising his head, my husband cups the side of my face and soothes, "Shh. It's alright. I know you didn't mean for that." He smiles lovingly when my heavy breathing and elevated heart rate come back down to normal.
"You're okay now," he comments as he wipes away the stray tear that's running down his face. "That's all that matters."
Easing deeper into my back-raised mattress, I hear myself mutter, "You helped me get through the night out there." When his back straightens and wide eyes blink on me, I know I'm going to have to explain that one.
My shoulders hiking in a shrug, I smirk, "I started to lose my head for a while and at one point I remembered a conversation we had back during the war. After you saved my ass and you kept me awake just outside of the Sanq kingdom. You remember that night?"
Heero's smile grows as he nods firmly, "Yes. I do." Rubbing the top of my head, he tells me, "And I'm so glad that you fought to stay alive this time, too."
"I had to. I knew that you would find me," the words just come out of me, making him blink in surprise before he gives a tiny laugh and rests his forehead against mine.
Our little moment is broken when the door to the room slides open to reveal Sally in her white coat over her suit. Clipboard in hand, she gives me a brilliant grin and enters. "I had a feeling you were awake when your heart readings went up for a minute," she winks.
Turning her gaze over to my partner, she commands, "As for you, go on back to your room and get some real rest, Heero. I can take it from here."
An indignant look crossing his face, he retorts matter-of-factly, "Absolutely not. I'm not going anywhere." Try as he might, the glare he's giving her doesn't have its usual effect since he is so obviously exhausted. Somehow, it even makes those dark circles under his eyes a few shades darker.
I squeeze the hand still holding mine and whisper, "Heero." Reluctantly, he turns his head to face me as I smile and reassure, "I'm fine. And I'll feel better knowing you're getting some sleep since it looks like you've been up for days."
That's a thought that I haven't really considered until my husband just now winced at my comment. Blinking in surprise, I peer from one face to the other as I frown, "How long have I been out, anyway?"
Heero clears his throat and answers in a mumble, "Three days."
Shit! Three days?! And here I've been thinking I was only out for a couple hours!
My initial shock over the news quickly turns into worry for 'Ro. "You've been up for three days?!" I exclaim. Slightly ducking his head, he nods. Sal giggles in amusement, but makes no move to intervene.
With a deep sigh, I lift my lover's head from under his chin and short of begging, request when our eyes meet, "Go get some sleep, Heero." Tilting my head, I use his puppy-eye trick and ask, "Please?"
Luckily, the eyes do the trick and he smiles sadly in defeat, "Alright, alright." Getting to his feet, he bends at his waist and presses another lingering kiss against my mouth. "I'll see you soon," he promises, running his fingers over my jaw line.
Turning my head to kiss his palm, I grin up at him and watch as he walks off. On his way past her, Sally pats his back and he passes through the door as it opens to him.
When the door slides closed again, my doctor friend snickers, "You guys are just too cute for words." I roll my eyes with a snort while she takes a seat on the edge of my bed.
Flashing a small light in my eyes to check my pupils, she informs, "I had to medically induce you to stay asleep when we brought you back up to a normal temperature. You were in and out of consciousness when you arrived here and the pain that you would have endured while warming back up would have put you into shock."
Sal lowers her little flashlight and smirks, "I told Heero you would be out for at least a couple of days, but he refused to leave your side until you were awake."
Her smile fades as her head lowers a bit. "Before your call managed to get through, I thought for sure that he was going to lose his mind. He was inconsolable."
Taking a deep breath, she smiles sadly, "So for God's sake, don't you ever leave him."
My heart actually warms up at that, hearing from a third party how much I mean to Heero. Returning her smile, I respond quietly, "Leaving him has never really been an option as far as I'm concerned." The doc chuckles quietly and nods, clearly happy with that answer.
"So, I finally did get through to Peacemillion after all?" I inquire.
Chewing on the inside of her cheek, Sally frowns, "Not exactly. Heero insisted on going with the search party that was being sent after you as well as the others that had gone down during the fight when the lab was captured." Before I can ask, she throws in, "Ten total were lost. Five injured, but they'll make full recoveries."
With a deep breath, she goes back to her original topic, "Anyway, the line to Peacemillion was opened on the shuttle that Danielle took in. Several passes were made over the woods and no one was responding to their calls."
A rough swallow moves down her neck as she continues, "After hours, the team was about ready to give up... except for that husband of yours. He demanded another pass be made. And on that last pass, they were close enough to pick up on your last radio call for help."
I... I'm a little more than stunned by that bit of information. If that call had never been picked up, I would have been left behind and surely died. Heero is the reason that never happened. He never gave up on me.
Sal clears her throat and places her hand over mine to squeeze it. "Like I said," she breathes, "don't you ever leave him." Leaning in, she kisses my cheek which snaps me back from my thoughts and gets back onto her feet.
Her hand removes a pen from her jacket breast pocket and she writes notes onto the paper on her clipboard while announcing, "Everything looks good for you to be released from here later this evening. When you are ready to go, your leg will be in a brace so that you can manage around without the need for crutches until the discomfort in walking subsides."
Grinning at me, she nods, "Just a few hours of observation to satisfy me that all is well and you're a free man. I'm sure that the Commander will be stopping by to fill you on the details of the mission you were on. Until then, rest up."
Well, that's something I can certainly stand for. I give her a bright smile and sigh, "Thank you, Sal. For everything."
"My pleasure," the good doctor winks. "I'll be sure to get word to the others that you're awake and well. You really have quite the fan base that has been anxious to hear that." Turning on her heels, she steps out of the room and the door closes behind her.
I sigh deeply again and sag deeper back into my mattress. Peering out of my window that overlooks the stars and a certain while globe, I smile.
Been a long time since I've seen the moon like this. And for the first time being this close... I'm not thinking of it like some kind of grave yard and just appreciate it for the beautiful sight it is instead.
* * * * * *
As expected, Une did make a visit to me before anyone else. Entering with a brilliant smile and tight hug for me, she sat down and relayed all of the details on the successful mission.
Twelve scientists were captured along with the entire database of information they had been storing and tried to destroy when they were under attack. Heather and her team are working on deciphering everything that was recovered while Zechs, Noin and the others are having fun interrogating the people they had captured.
Of course, Ivanov was nowhere to be found but we're getting close. Very close now.
Wherever the bastard is, I wish to hell that I could have been there to see his face when he realized his main lab of operation has been taken. He would have to know all about it by now and is watching his back even more carefully.
Trowa, Quatre, Wufei and even Zechs and Noin have all come around to visit with me. Most of what they had to say was similar to Sally's relaying of the events that happened while I was out of the picture. It was nice to finally have some details of the exciting fight we all had managed to survive and win.
And though I would never want Heero to suffer in anyway, there's a little part of me that will never get tired of hearing how much he obviously cares for me.
We certainly have come a long way in this relationship. To think that I actually was suggesting getting a divorce when we woke up married months ago. If we had gone through with that, we would have missed out on all of this.
Ever true to her word, Sal stopped back in my room just after dinner to remove a bandage at the left side of my face and granted me my release.
I moved to get out of my green medical gown and into the sweatpants, T-shirt, socks and sneakers that she had brought along and patiently go over her instructions of how to set my metal brace over my right leg. The metal hinges are new enough that they don't make much of a sound at all when I walk, much to my relief.
Cleaning up my braid and inspecting the bathroom mirror, I wince at the sight of the long cut running along my left temple. At least it wasn't enough to need stitches. I'm sure I looked a hell of a lot worse three days ago.
On my way to my quarters, I smiled and greeted Rose, Kathie and other familiar faces that paused to talk to me.
Grateful as I am to all of them, getting back to my husband was my big priority. He had been notably absent since this morning which meant he was most likely still getting some much needed sleep.
And that meant that it was now my watch to look after him.
Finally reaching the door to our room, I grin to myself and get close enough for it to slide open to me.
Just as expected, the inside is dark and I can hear the light, even breathing of my partner from the bed across the way. Floating into the room, I kick off my sneakers and quickly close the door behind me to keep the light from the hallway out.
My eyes quickly adjust to the dimness around and I drift for the bed. I reach down to unhook my brace and set it aside. Lifting the edge of the blanket, I slip inside and slide up next to Heero as he sleeps soundly on his back.
The second that my side brushes up against his, he mumbles something in his sleep and turns his body to face me, instinctively draping his arm around my waist to hold me close.
Biting my lip, my eyes begin to water up as he nuzzles his head in the nook of my shoulder and whispers in a sleep slur, "Love you." I laugh quietly, hold him in return and kiss the top of his head as he sighs in his continued state of rest.
"Love you, too, 'Ro," I manage brokenly while allowing a couple of tears to slip down my face. Content that he's doing just fine now, I let down my guard enough to close my eyes and follow him into a deep sleep.
Yea. We really have come a long way in this relationship.
* * * * * *
Just when I didn't think I could have a better showing of support since returning to Peacemillion, when I woke along with Heero after my release from the medical ward, we found that Relena had arrived on the ship along with Scott Daily. The moment she first spotted me, the Vice-Foreign Minister nearly tackled me with a tight hug.
Of course before being introduced to the new Assembly member, I quickly whispered to my husband to be nice to him for 'Lena's sake. I could tell that 'Ro wanted to give him a hard time, being that protective 'brother' and all, but he has been on his best behavior for which I will reward him later.
Seated together with all of our friends in one of the break rooms for breakfast, I tell the new lovebirds huddled close together, "I really appreciate your coming out to check on me, guys. You didn't have to go out of your way like that."
"What are friends for? I'm just relieved that you're alright," Relena grins widely. Her face reddening a bit, she lowers it and shrugs, "We would have been here sooner if we hadn't been difficult to reach for the last couple few days." Scott's eyes widen as he quickly drops his own head.
Heero smirks darkly and opens his mouth to make some comment that I would have inspired when I kick him in the shin and glare in warning as he bites back his surprised yelp.
Wufei, Trowa and Quatre are having a little more difficulty holding back their snickers of amusement.
Quickly recovering from his embarrassment, Daily raises his head again and requests, "If it wouldn't be too much trouble, I actually wouldn't mind staying to offer whatever help I can with your investigation. We have a few weeks before our next Assembly meeting and I purposely freed my schedule to be able to stick around if permission were granted."
Smiling, I speak up for the others and nod, "Hey, the more the merrier." I hold my hand out, which he takes with a wide grin to shake it firmly. "Welcome, officially, to the family," I snicker, just to make him and Relena blush again. Unable to contain themselves, Heero and the others outright laugh.
We may be a little dysfunctional at times, but I think we have a lot of families beat on the sticking together bit.
TBC...
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