A/N – This is a rather emotional fic for me to write as I have recently lost someone close to me to the disease mentioned within.  I am well aware that there are many illness fics about but hopefully this is a new twist.  Comments/critism welcome.

Warnings – Shounen ai, Heero torture (figuratively speaking)

Disclaimer – Not mine.  Not mine.  Not mine.

1.

          Pain, intense and burning, ripped it's way through Heero's abdomen.  The slight narrowing of shocking blue eyes was the only indication of discomfort, years of training would do that to you.  Even now the ex-Gundam pilot was loathe to show any pain or weakness on his part and as such it went unnoticed by the four ex-pilots he shared a house with.  Even his lover, Duo Maxwell, was blissfully unaware of the migraines and stomach cramps which were making increasing visits, for what good would it do?  Although Heero was skilled at hiding discomfort and was unable to drop his charade he was not stupid.  His appetite had taken a considerable dive and he found himself able to consume only small amounts of liquid.  His condition was getting no better and as such he made an appointment to see the doctor at his local practise.  He had no trouble leaving undetected, the former pilots were used to his sudden disappearances and let him be as long as he called in every night. 

          Heero entered the surgery and checked in with the nurse.  He sat down warily in the crowded waiting room, eyes scanning the area for emergency exit points.  He knew this wasn't normal behaviour but he couldn't, wouldn't let go of all his soldiers instincts, he knew the others acted in similar manners.  Small children ran screaming through the room as they immersed themselves in some make believe scenario to lift their boredom.  Several tired looking parents sat flipping through magazines.  A young woman sat by the door, her body language tense, ready to bolt.  She was a survivor, Heero could spot a fellow warrior a mile off. 

          "Mr Yuy?" the nurse called.  Heero stood and marched swiftly to the doctor's office.  The doctor was friendly enough but he was young and naïve, fresh out of med school.  He reminded Heero of Quatre when they first met.  Without wasting breath on small talk he reeled of his symptoms as he would a mission report leaving the doctor somewhat bemused.  After a quick examination the doctor settled back into his chair and smiled warmly.

          "All you've got is major-indigestion, have you been eating any unusual foods lately?" he asked in his business voice.  Heero considered the question for a moment before replying with a slight smirk on his face.

          "I live with four men who think they are culinary geniuses, I eat something unusual every night," The doctor laughed quietly at the response.

          "Well no more of that," he said while writing a prescription.  "Stick to plain simple foods for a while.  I've prescribed some medication for the indigestion and also something to help with the migraines, although the best thing you can do is go and lie in a quite, dark room when they come on," Thanking the doctor Heero took his leave and went to pick up his medication before heading back to his home.

*        *        *

          One week later and Heero's situation was rapidly deteriorating in spite of the pills he was taking religiously twice a day.  He was unable to eat the smallest amount of food and the amount he could drink could be contained in a shot glass.  The lack of sustenance was making him weak and tired to the point that the others, especially Duo, were becoming increasingly concerned.  Mind made up Heero rang the surgery to make an emergency appointment.  He wanted the doctor to send him for tests.  Unluckily fortune was not in his favour and he found that they were fully booked for the next week.  However they agreed to send someone out to him.  Now Heero may have been able to sneak out of the house unnoticed but the arrival of a doctor would not escape the vigilant eyes of his housemates.  All were put on edge by Heero's sudden announcement of illness, knowing the intense training the man had endured to ensure he would have no problem coping with injury and dealing with pain.  Duo hovered around his lover, trying to force him to drink, alternating between his "Joker" and "Shinigami" personalities . 

          The call-out doctor arrived at their home and was unnerved at first by the young men with the old eyes but soon settled once she began her examination.  Her patient reeled of information as if he were talking about someone else's body.  He proclaimed to feel intense pain but spoke calmly and with a blank face.  However her talented hands felt a blockage within his system and hurriedly explained that she would find a bed in hospital for him within the next few days.  She removed herself from the house as soon as she could and hoped she would never come across the ambassadors of righteousness, nobility, strength, death and suffering ever again.

          Four days passed before the phone rang shrilly and a detached voice on the other end of the line informed them that a bed was now available.  Heero had always been slender but now his body was almost painful to behold after nearly three weeks without eating.  He slept almost constantly, attempting to conserve energy.  Duo entered their room and gently roused the sleeping figure, informing him of the news.  The two slowly made their way down the stairs to the hallway where the others were waiting.  Painfully embarrassed at having to use his lover as a crutch the Japanese man shook off Duo's hold and walked steadily outside and into the pouring rain.  He paused for a moment, tilting his head skyward as the rain beat down steadily, soaking through his clothes immediately.  A blanket was placed around his shoulders and he was ushered into a car, which peeled out of the driveway, heading for the hospital. 

          Once they arrived Duo took his hand and lead him into the building, the others following in silence.  Heero glanced down at their intertwined hands and decided to allow this small gesture of affection as the American seemed overly distressed.  Wufei went ahead to alert the staff to his arrival.  A nurse and orderly greeted the company as they entered reception.  Heero found himself being torn away from Duo's comforting presence, forced to sit in a wheelchair while the nurse cheerfully told him that he would be able to have visitors later.  His head snapped around trying to spot his friends amid the vast crowd of people.  This was the first time he had visited a hospital under his own volition.  The white corridors and sterile smell held dark connotations for a boy who had spend a large part of his life within laboratories.  His fear was hidden with practised ease and he complied with the demands of doctors and nurses who took control of his very existence. 

          He lay still on a bed as an IV was slipped into his arm, intense eyes cast upwards to the unfamiliar ceiling.  A doctor was talking to him.  They wanted to look at his insides.  They wanted to know if he thought he could swallow a tube with a camera attached to the end or if he wished for anaesthetic.  Resisting the urge to snicker at their ignorance he simply lay back and opened his mouth.  It always felt strange to have an unnatural object pass so deeply into him but he made no sign of discomfort, shutting down his impulse to gag.  The people around him made various noises of surprise or understanding, speaking in a quiet jargon that their patient had no inclination to try and understand.  Eventually they finished their task and removed the equipment from his throat leaving Heero's oesphagus burning in response.  He dozed feverishly on the bed, pain preventing him from falling into deeper slumber but unwilling to take sedatives which would mean that he lost control over his body.

          Four distinctive footsteps awoke him as his friends pulled up chairs around his bed.  He did his best to sway their worries, seeing concern in multicoloured eyes.   They stayed with him until he passed into sleep once more, quiet voices lulling him to rest.  The next three days passed in this manner, the doctors visited many tests upon him but his friends were always there to greet him afterwards.  Duo refused to leave the hospital and eventually charmed one of the nurses into setting up a cot for him in Heero's room.  The five ex-pilots were sitting in the room, Duo perched on the edge of Heero's bed, Wufei and Quatre in chairs and Trowa elegantly sprawled over Duo's bed.  A knock came at the door and a doctor walked in, a serious expression on his face.  He calmly asked the others to leave but Heero pinned him with a harsh look.

          "Whatever you tell me, I will only tell them later.  Better to inform all now and save my throat the discomfort," Caving to logic the doctor agreed.

          "We have your test results and I must admit we were all more than a little shocked at what was found," Trowa sat up on the bed and all listened intently to the doctors words.  "All the tests indicate that Mr. Yuy has cancer."  Heero, Duo and Trowa looked at the man blankly, the word holding no meaning for them.  Quatre, however, paled in response and clamped a hand to his mouth in shock even as Wufei jumped to his feet in heated denial.

          "That is not possible!  There hasn't been a case of cancer since the colonies were built!"  The doctor swallowed nervously in the face of the dark fire and held up his hands placating. 

          "Actually a gentleman was bought in a week ago whose test results also indicate to this disease."  Wufei stepped back, astounded by this fact.  In his youth he had briefly studied the mysterious disease called cancer, it's cause never determined, it's cure never found, the reason it died out unexplained.  That it had sudden sprung back into existence was a sobering pill to take.

          "Who?" Heero asked quietly from his bed, though he already had his suspicions.  He had never heard of this monster, which was killing him from inside, but he could tell by the expressions on Quatre's and Wufei's faces suggested it was serious and the fact that it was so rare meant that it was probably terminal.  The doctor was shaking his head, unable to reveal the patients name due to confidentiality clauses.  Heero narrowed his eyes dangerously, the need to have his thoughts confirmed becoming all consuming.  Trowa however beat him to the chase.  Rising languidly he strode forward until he was toe to toe with the doctor. 

          "I suggest that you tell us his name, or I shall be forced to do something drastic," he murmured quietly and smiled as a beast bares its fangs.  Faced with the five intense young men the doctor decided that if he wanted to maintain his own health he had better help them.

          "M-Milliardo Peacecraft," he stuttered and fled the room after quickly divulging that someone should be along shortly to fully explain the meaning of the disease.  Silence prevailed in the small room for a moment.

          "Small world, isn't it?" Duo remarked in a half-hearted attempt at humour.  Heero slumped back on the bed as his fears were confirmed.  Prussian blue eyes peered worriedly at his friends for now he knew the cause of his suffering and hoped it would spare his friends and love.

          /Zero . . ./

To be Continued . . .