Author's Note: Okay...had to double up on the update, cuz this is one of my favorite chapters, and I can't wait. Hope you like it, too!
Boot Camp Part 35
Reunion
By midday on Wednesday, Duo had badgered Doctor Po so much about his release that she threw up her hands in defeat, and called in Captain Chang to talk sense to the boy.
Duo was sitting on the edge of his bed, fingers nervously drumming against the mattress, when Wufei arrived.
"Doctor Po tells me you want out," Wufei said quietly, dark eyes assessing the boy's mood carefully.
"Damn straight," Duo blurted, shifting restlessly.
"You think you're ready to rejoin your team?"
"Yeah...why not?" There was a defiant edge to the young man's voice, as if daring the soldier to try to deny his request.
"Why not?" Wufei echoed. "You're barely healed from your injuries. A couple more days in the infirmary would do you some good."
"Lying around in a bed staring at the walls won't do shit for me," Duo disagreed.
"Neither will pushing yourself beyond your limits."
Duo gave him a slightly perplexed look. "I don't plan to jump right back into action," he said evenly. "I'll take it easy." He stretched his arms out and wiggled his legs experimentally. "See, Wuffers? Everything works fine. I'm fine."
Wuffers?! WUFFERS?! Well, that slip-up could be dealt with later...first there was the matter of Duo's health, which was vastly more important than an inane nickname.
"Physically, you are."
The indigo eyes narrowed dangerously. "Meaning?"
Wufei sighed, forcing himself to maintain eye contact. "You were raped, Maxwell," he said bluntly. "That sort of treatment has a psychological impact, whether you want to admit it or not."
Duo scowled viciously at that. "I thought medical information was confidential," he spat coldly.
"Doctor Po didn't have to tell me," Wufei shrugged.
"Then how'd you know?"
"I'm not stupid," retorted the Chinese man. "I could see how injured you were when I arrived at the cell. And I know the mindset of these neanderthals." He looked down, inspecting his fingernails casually. "Besides, I beat a confession out of the guard who did it."
Duo gaped at him. "Wha--? How'd you--?"
Wufei waved a hand dismissively, trying not to look too pleased with himself. He'd not only wrung a confession from the offender; he'd personally signed the order to have him taken to a maximum security facility awaiting trial. "That's not important, Maxwell. Your mental well-being is."
"Yeah? Because you want me to help your 'golden boy' get into the Academy."
"No, because I want you both to get in," Wufei said frankly.
Duo's head shot up, and his eyes narrowed in disbelief.
"Seriously," Wufei told him. "It was about Yuy to begin with...but I've come to see the same qualities in you and his other teammates that I see in him. I want you all to succeed. For yourselves."
The boy dropped his gaze to the floor, visibly shedding his shell of indifference. "I don't know why you'd want a screw-up like me in your Academy, Cap'n," he mumbled wearily.
"You're not a 'screw-up,' Maxwell. And what happened to you wasn't your fault...any of it." Wufei walked over and sat beside the boy. "I'd like you to talk to the psychologist before I send you back to the barracks. You like to play the tough guy, and you may think you're ready to face the rest of the inmates, but it'll be rough going for awhile."
"Does everyone know?" Duo whispered dispiritedly.
"Guards talk...inmates talk...I'd guess at least a few people have a fair idea of what went on."
"Fuck." Duo sighed. His jaw clenched in anger. "I don't want anyone's pity," he growled under his breath. "That's why I kept my mouth shut about this." A wry smile quirked one corner of his mouth. "For once in my life I kept my mouth shut. For all the good it did me..."
"If Heero and the others know, they won't pity you, they'll support you," Wufei told him. "As for the rest, well, you might have to endure some taunting...some of it could be pretty cruel. Do you really feel up to that? If it were me, I'd talk to the psychologist first. Get a handle on your own issues, and you'll be better equipped to deal with the others."
"If I talk to the psych can I go back to the barracks after?"
"If you still want to, yes."
"Promise?"
"I swear on my honor," Wufei said gravely.
Duo nodded. "Okay. We'll do it your way. I'll go see the psychologist."
"I thought you would," Wufei said with a smile. "He's waiting for you. C'mon."
The boy stood up and stretched, rubbing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Then he followed the young Captain out of the infirmary. As they walked down the hallway, side by side, Duo glanced at Wufei questioningly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Did you really beat it out of him?"
"Soundly," said the Chinese man, with smug satisfaction in his voice.
"Good."
A smile spread across Wufei's face. He hadn't bothered to tell Duo that the hapless guard was now in the general population of a maximum security facility which housed numerous inmates who'd certainly remember the man from their juvenile days. If things went the way the Captain presumed they would, the guard would find out firsthand how it felt to be brutalized the way the boy had been.
Duo eyed Wufei warily. "What's that smile for?"
"Oh, nothing." Wufei glanced at the sun shining in a barred window as they passed. "It's a lovely day," he commented mildly...a lovely day for Justice to be served.
~*~
Duo was relieved to find that the other boys were at afternoon calisthenics when he got back to the barracks. Not that he wasn't glad to be back, but he wasn't quite ready to face them. As Wufei had pointed out, gossip tended to spread in a detention center, and it was entirely possible they knew what had happened to him. He'd really meant it when he told Wufei he didn't want sympathy or special treatment. In fact, he was eager to put the incident as far behind him as possible.
Since he had the rest of the afternoon free until dinner, he picked up a stack of letters that had arrived from Hilde and Howard while he was in the infirmary and stretched out on his bunk to read, figuring that it would be the best way to keep his mind occupied. And it was.
When Quatre walked in the door a couple of hours later, Duo was still deeply ensconced in his reading.
"Duo! You're back!" Quatre rushed over to him, a wide smile on his slightly too-pretty face. "Gods, you don't know how I missed you!"
"It was all of five days, Quat," Duo grinned back, leaning over the edge of the bunk to pat the blonde on top of the head. Five days that had seemed like an eternity...from the river to solitary to the infirmary...and now the damned barracks felt like home.
Quatre took his arm and pulled. "Uh-uh. You don't get off that easy, Maxwell. C'mon down here and gimme a hug."
Duo complied, letting his friend hug him tightly. "Aw, don't get all mushy, Winner. Sheesh." He pushed him back to arm's length. "Admit it, anyway, you weren't sure I was innocent, were you?" His face was impassive, the same joking smirk in place, but his eyes held a twinge of pain that Quatre couldn't miss.
"I owe you an apology," Quatre said quietly. "Yeah, for a second there, I had doubts. But only for a second. You weren't even out of sight before I realized you'd never endanger someone like that." He looked up shyly. "I should've said something to let you know that before they hauled you off."
Duo gave a genuine smile. It was impossible to doubt Quatre's sincerity. "Water under the bridge, buddy." He hugged Quatre again, patting him on the back.
"Maxwell?" came a voice at the door. He looked up to see Heero leaning in the doorway with arms crossed. Trowa was right behind him, smirking. "I thought I was the only blue-eyed hunk in your life," teased the Japanese boy.
Duo blushed hotly at that. So he covered his embarrassment with humor. "Quatre's cuter than a teddy bear, Heero. Ya just gotta hug the stuffin' out of him."
It was Quatre's turn to blush, and he disentangled himself from Duo's arms. "Boys aren't supposed to be 'cute,' Duo."
"I beg to differ," grinned the braided boy. "I'm downright adorable." He winked slyly. "You are too." Heero walked closer, and Duo eyed him daringly. "You come for a hug too? I know you don't like to shake hands."
"Baka."
"I'll take that as a 'yes.'" Duo pulled Heero into an embrace before he could lose his nerve. When Heero's arms wrapped around his waist, the braided boy sighed contentedly. It was just amazing how perfectly they seemed to fit each other. And the feel of Heero's hand rubbing soothingly up and down his back made Duo want to just stay right there forever.
Trowa made a snide sound from behind them, and Duo looked up over Heero's shoulder, sticking out his tongue. "Jealous, Barton?"
"Not only am I not," Trowa drawled wryly, "but you try that on me, and I'll break both your arms."
"Sweet talker."
Heero smiled in relief, glad that Duo had regained his smart mouth and sense of humor. He pushed the boy to arm's length, looking at the fading bruises on the heart shaped face. "You're looking better," he said, trying for gruffness, although his hands remained on Duo's arms.
"Well there was no place to go but up," Duo shrugged, the warm feeling subsiding as he recalled more than he wanted to.
"Tomorrow we've got the obstacle course. Are you going to be up to it?"
Duo straightened, giving Heero his best 'tough guy' look. "Sure, 01...you just see if you can keep up." He gave a cocky salute.
"That's my baka," murmured Heero in an undertone.
~*~
The boys were getting ready for bed when there was a quiet knock on the door. Quatre opened it to find Doctor Po there.
"Could I speak to Duo?" she asked, glancing past to see the braided boy stretched out on his bunk reading.
"Sure." Quatre stepped back, allowing the doctor in.
She smiled at Duo's wary look. "I'm not here to poke or prod, Maxwell. This is a social call."
He raised an eyebrow, rolling onto his side and resting a hand on his hip. "Sorry, doc, but you're not my type."
She rolled her eyes. "Always with the wisecracks, eh? How are you feeling, Duo?"
"I'm fine," he said firmly.
She walked closer, eyeing him searchingly. "Did you have supper?"
"We made sure of that," Heero spoke up. "Soup...sandwich...fruit...jello...and a full glass of milk. We brought it back here for him so he could keep resting as long as possible."
Duo smirked at Doctor Po. "See? I'm in good hands, doc." Yeah, he didn't mind being in Heero's capable hands at all.
"I see that," she replied, noticing Quatre hovering close by, and Trowa's concerned look. "Well, I spoke to Doctor G, and he seemed satisfied with your visit." She reached up to fondly brush the bangs out of Duo's eyes, so she could see them. "If you need anything--something to help you sleep, pain pills, or just to talk--feel free to stop by the infirmary--day or night, Duo. Understood?"
"Yes ma'am," he sighed, glancing warily at the others.
She looked around to include his teammates. "The same goes for you. Any time you kids need something, don't be afraid to stop by--wake me, if necessary."
Heero gave her a knowing look from his deep blue eyes. "We'll take good care of Duo, ma'am. And we'll make sure he comes to you if he needs to. Thank you."
She smiled back warmly. "You boys have a good night. I'm going to finish up my filing and turn in." With a last reassuring glance at Duo, she left.
Quatre smirked at his friend. "Doctor's pet," he teased.
Duo grinned smugly. "And proud of it," he gloated. Then his eyes widened. "Hey! Speaking of pets, wasn't Nanashi supposed to leave the other day?" He looked quickly at Trowa.
The auburn-haired boy nodded. "Catherine took him Sunday."
"Aw--I didn't get to say 'goodbye,'" Duo lamented. "Can she bring him on visiting days?"
"No!" Trowa said sharply. He bit his lip. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap, but I don't ever want him back here, Duo. Kushrenada almost put him down, remember?"
"Oh, yeah...better if he's somewhere else." Duo rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling for a moment, and then he turned to look back at Trowa. "Hey, Tro'? If we get out of here, could I maybe come see him at the circus?"
Trowa winced slightly. "Sure, Duo."
"He was a great dog," Duo said wistfully.
Trowa gritted his teeth, wanting to blurt out that it was because of the dog that Duo had gone through Hell. But it wasn't Nanashi's fault. Trowa knew, deep down, that it was his own fault for not being able to find another way to save the dog. The auburn-haired boy rolled over so he was facing the wall. "Good night," he said firmly.
It wasn't until just before he'd drifted off to sleep that Duo realized Trowa had called him by his first name all evening. Well, that was kind of nice...
~*~
The distressed sounds from the top bunk woke Heero sometime in the middle of the night. It didn't take him more than a second to realize who it was and what it meant. He stood up, glancing over to see that Quatre and Trowa were still asleep.
"Duo," he hissed in an undertone. "Wake up! It's just a dream."
Duo tossed restlessly, mumbling incoherent protests and gasping for air.
"Wake up 02," Heero said in a slightly louder voice.
Duo sat up sharply, sucking in a deep breath as if he were going to scream. But then his eyes focused on Heero, and he merely let out a gust of air in a distressed moan. "Ah, shit..."
"It's okay. Take a few deep breaths," Heero suggested. Though his voice was steady--calm even--his fists were clenched at his sides as he thought of what had happened to Duo. "You want a light on?"
"No," Duo said quickly, glancing warily at the other two boys. "Don't wake them. It's embarrassing enough that you woke up."
Heero relaxed at that, his anger towards the guard who'd hurt Duo slowly seeping away. "Hey, I'm team leader. That's my job," he said with an attempt at a reassuring smile.
Duo chuckled quietly, shaking his head. "An' Quatre said boys aren't cute," he drawled. "You should smile more often, Yuy."
Heero shrugged slightly. "You want to talk about what woke you?" he asked quietly.
Duo winced. "You read the medical report the other night, didn't you?" He scowled at his teammate. "After you got all high and mighty with me snooping through the foot lockers, you went right ahead and broke into a locked file cabinet to read confidential medical records."
"Hai," Heero said, acknowledging the obvious.
"Well I don't want to talk about it, okay?" Duo said in a quiet hiss. "Chang made me see the psychologist before he let me come back to the barracks. So I've had all the therapy I need, thank you very much!"
"I wasn't offering therapy, Maxwell."
"What then?"
"Friendship...a shoulder to lean on," Heero shrugged.
"I don't need to cry on anyone's shoulder..."
"I said 'lean.' I'm not here to make you spill your guts, or get all emotional. I'm just here...because I know what you're going through."
Duo's eyes widened, and his mouth fell open. He gaped silently for several moments, and then forced his jaw shut. "When?" he asked in a whisper.
"Most of my childhood," Heero admitted.
Duo swallowed, shaking his head ruefully. "I'm sorry." He twisted the edge of his blanket between his hands. "Who was it?"
"My guardian."
Indigo eyes flashed as Duo looked at Heero. "What kind of sick bastard--?" He shook his head again, as if to erase an unpleasant image. He drew a deep, shaky breath. "I hope he gets what's coming to him."
Although Heero wasn't sure if Duo was referring to the prison guard, or his own sadistic guardian, he replied matter of factly. "He did. I beat him into a coma."
Duo regarded Heero for a long moment. "So, that's why you're here." He shook his head. "That sounds like self defense, Yuy."
"It depends on your perspective."
Duo sighed, and then patted the mattress beside him. "C'mon up here an' talk to me."
Heero climbed up beside the other boy, and Duo scooted over to the wall to make room. He threw half of his blanket over Heero, and shoved his pillow into the middle, so they could both lean on it. Though their bare shoulders brushed together, neither boy was thinking about intimacy.
"So...why d'you think it wasn't self defense?" Duo asked quietly, knowing he'd have to pry answers out of his stoic roommate.
"I waited until he'd passed out drunk."
"Ah." Duo looked up at the ceiling, frowning. "Tell me something. How many pounds did he outweigh you by?"
"At least a hundred."
"And for how many years did he...mistreat you?" Duo winced slightly as he neared uncomfortable subject matter.
"Seven."
"You so don't belong here, Yuy."
The other boy made a snide sound. "A jury thought I did."
"Yeah, but I'll bet you didn't tell them everything."
"No, I didn't," Heero admitted.
"Why not?"
"Because when I realized what I'd done, I was afraid...of myself," Heero admitted with difficulty. "I didn't know I was capable of that much hatred...violence. It was a very calculated crime, Duo. I knew exactly what I was doing." He swallowed uneasily. "And what really scared me is that part of me enjoyed it."
Duo looked warily at Heero, his expression questioning. "D'you think it's wrong that I'd like to see that bastard guard beaten into a pulp? That I'd like to be the one to do it?"
"Of course not, Duo! The sonofabitch ra--" Heero stopped himself sharply as Duo grimaced. "After what he did...he deserves it."
"So...if you wouldn't think less of me for wanting him hurt bad..." Duo let his sentence trail off, a sly glance on the other boy.
"I see what you mean," Heero replied, not really convinced.
"And you had a lot more reason to hate your guardian." Duo turned his gaze back to the ceiling. "Captain Chang said he beat a confession out of the guard."
Heero smiled again, this time a broad, genuine one. "Wufei's the best."
"I'm starting to get that idea," Duo admitted. "How long have you known him?" At Heero's questioning look, he cocked an eyebrow. "C'mon. It's obvious you two have history."
"We were in school together...up until high school. Wufei went off to the military academy, and within two years graduated with high honors and a commission. He's kind of new to being a Captain, but I'm not surprised by how fast he's climbed the ranks."
"You should have gone to the Academy with him," Duo pointed out.
"I couldn't leave. There were kids in our apartment complex...and I was afraid if I was gone, he might..."
"Ah, shit man," Duo said, looking sick at the thought. "Yuy...that's crazy! If you'd gone to the cops, they'd have put a stop to him."
"He was a cop," Heero said quietly.
Duo let out a whoosh of air as if he'd been sucker punched. And when he regained his breath, all he could come up with was a string of expletives.
"You want to know the rest?" Heero asked, interrupting the colorful tirade.
"Not really, but go ahead and tell me," Duo croaked a little feebly.
"What finally pushed me over the edge..." Heero said, his usually calm voice a little strained, "...they found a little girl from the complex dead...raped and strangled."
"Oh God."
"Yeah...it was him. I knew it was him." Heero shook his head. "And I tried to tell them. But no one would believe me."
His voice cracked on the last sentence, and Duo slipped his arms around him, pulling Heero up against him, the tousled head resting on his shoulder. "Goddammit, Heero. I'm sorry."
The other boy was trembling slightly, but he returned the embrace, closing his eyes and burying his face in the braid that lay across Duo's shoulder. "Why are you sorry?" he mumbled into the hair.
"Because...because..." Duo fumbled for a reason, finding none. "I'm just sorry the world sucks so much."
Heero managed a muffled chuckle at that, though it almost sounded like a sob. "Me, too," he replied.
After their outburst of emotion, both boys were exhausted, and the warmth of another person and the thick blanket was swiftly lulling them to sleep.
"Heero?"
"Hn?"
"Thanks."
"Any time, Duo."
"What? I'm not 'baka' any more?" came a soft, chiding whisper.
"You wanna be?"
"I've kind of gotten used to it."
"Baka."
Duo grinned into the darkness, and when he fell back asleep, he didn't have any more nightmares.
~*~
"It's just adorable..." Trowa's voice murmured, vastly amused.
"Seems like a shame to wake them..." Quatre chimed in.
"Yeah, but morning calisthenics..."
"Aw, they really are cute...like two puppies curled up asleep..."
"I'm awake, assholes," came a grumpy snarl. "You can stop now."
"But Heero's not--"
"Yes, I am. I was awake before you two children came over to leer at us." Heero opened surly blue eyes to fix a glare on the intruders.
"Care to explain, Yuy?" Trowa asked with a smirk.
Duo leaned across Heero's body, resting his elbows on the edge of the bunk. "What's to explain?" he asked, giving his teammates an inscrutable grin. "It should be obvious. I'm irresistible." He winked slyly. "Right, Yuy?"
Heero wore a slightly strained expression on his face, realizing that having Duo's bare, lean stomach draped across his was amazingly erotic.
"I said," Duo commented pointedly, "right, Yuy?"
Heero realized Duo was looking expectantly at him. "Hn," came what Heero hoped was a noncommittal grunt. But to his own ears it came out sounding more like a groan.
Duo glanced questioningly at him, and then the indigo eyes widened with realization. "Oh...ah...yeah, right. We, um, should probably get up."
Trowa chuckled in a rare show of emotion. "Didn't you forget a word in there, Maxwell?"
"Trowa!" Quatre gasped in mock horror. "You have a filthy mind!"
"Takes one to know one, Winner," Trowa grinned back, a teasing gleam in his green eyes.
"He's got you there, Quat," Duo said with a knowing smirk. "You knew exactly what he meant."
"So did you!"
"But I never claimed not to be a pervert, now did I?"
"You...you..." Quatre sputtered, finally throwing his hands up in defeat and stalking over to his bunk to grab his towel and shower kit. As he turned towards the door, he glanced back at his grinning teammates, unable to keep a smile off his own face. "It's good to have you back, Duo."
"Good to be back," Duo agreed. Not to mention to be lying across Heero Yuy's rock hard abs, after having said hunk curled up next to him all night keeping the bad dreams away. Yeah, life might be good after all.
Heero shifted restlessly, certain that if Duo stayed across him like that much longer, it'd be impossible to hide the reaction it caused. "Baka, time to hit the showers and get ready for morning roll call."
Duo grinned down at him. "Admit it, Yuy. You're liking this."
Heero rolled sharply, almost sending Duo over the edge of the bunk. But at the last second, he caught his waist, holding him dangling over the edge. "I admit nothing, Maxwell. You're lucky you're hurt, baka, or next stop would have been the floor."
Duo wriggled around and swung his legs under him so Heero could let go. "You're a compassionate bastard, Yuy," he said snidely. He glanced at Trowa and then winked conspiratorially at Heero. "Thanks for last night, 01."
Heero groaned, rolling his face down into the pillow. "Trowa...stop thinking what you're thinking...and Duo, hurry up and go watch Quatre's back!"
Duo realized Quatre was still standing by the door, waiting. "Oh, yeah. Going!" Duo dashed for the bathroom, emerging moments later to grab his stuff and race after the blonde.
They were out the door even before Heero's feet hit the floor.
"So what's up with Maxwell?" Trowa asked, giving Heero a frank look. "Nightmares?"
"Yeah. But I think he's past the worst."
"And I'm sure, um, comforting him was just a miserable chore for you," smirked the auburn-haired boy.
He was rewarded by a faint blush as Heero stalked past him to the bathroom. "Quatre's right...you have a filthy mind, Barton."
"Ditto." Trowa leaned against the wall, towel in hand, waiting for Heero so they could continue their practice of never leaving a teammate alone.
TBC...
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