Summary in previous chapters!

Disclaimer: I don't own – you probably guessed, but just in case you didn't know. . .

Thank you so much to my lovely reviewers for reading this little piece of fanfic. . .

XxXxX

CHAPTER 4

Duo went home first, no matter how hard his stomach was clenching for Heero, it didn't change the fact that he had a daughter whom he loved very much at home. Duo pulled into the driveway and walked into the house quietly.

He heard Quatre and Trowa talking in the living room so he walked in there. They both looked up when he entered. From the serious look on their faces Duo knew immediately that they knew what he hadn't.

Quatre cleared his throat nervously, "So did you have fun last night?" He attempted to smile.

"Cut the crap, Quat, I know," He didn't really want to chat, so he headed upstairs instead.

He entered the nursery where Camille was sleeping, he stood and watched her, thinking about how beautiful she was. Her brown hair was thick and soft, with a slight bald spot on the back where she lay. Her hazel eyes turned golden when she was really angry, it always made Heero laugh.

Heero was missing this, a chance to play with his beautiful daughter and take her on walks and picnics. Why was he missing it? Because some stupid politician had decided that war was a good idea. Duo wanted to blame Heero, but he had a feeling that he would also fight to stop a war that was going to destroy their fragile peace.

Camille began to stir, and her face screwed up as she prepared to wail, but Duo picked her up and began dancing around the nursery. "Shh, its alright Cammi." Stepping lightly and holding his daughter close, he began talking to her. "I'm going to be leaving for a little while now alright? I need to go find Papa, he left and forgot to say goodbye. Yes, yes he did." Camille, though calm, was still awake and looking at him with innocent eyes, obviously not understanding, just trusting that things would be alright. "I'll be back soon, so be a good girl for Uncle Quatre and Uncle Trowa."

Duo stayed with Camille for another hour until she began to settle down and drift off to sleep. Carefully he set her back in her crib and walked downstairs again. Quatre and Trowa were still there.

"I'm going after Heero."

"Duo!" Quatre stood, teetering a little and Trowa stood to support him. "You can't leave, what about Camille?"

"He didn't tell me, Quat." Duo said, looking his friend in the eye. "Heero didn't tell me he was leaving. I had to nearly break into Relena's house to find out what was going on."

"Still – " Quatre tried to protest.

Duo's hands slammed on the table, "He didn't tell me! He was too much of a coward to tell me to my face!" He took a deep breath, "I need you two to watch Camille for me, not for long, just a little while. I won't stay if I can't find him, but I need to try." He paused and looked down. In a quieter, pleading voice he added, "Please understand. There is something very important I needed to tell him. . ."

Slowly, Quatre nodded while Trowa gave a grunt of agreement.

XxXxX

A lone motorcycle sped down a highway. The roads were empty. News of war spread fast, apparently Duo had been the last one to know. He was bent forward, nearly parallel to the ground as the scenery blurred around him.

It was a long ride, but he made it to Preen before midnight. It looked as if half of the city was already cut off. Duo headed for the nearest hotel, finding only a sleazy joint with grime covered walls and heavy dirt infested carpets.

He was tempted to take his motorcycle into the room with him, but thought that perhaps the management wouldn't approve. Removing anything that could be removed from his bike, he moved into the room and sat on the grimy bed. He would shower in the morning, what would be the point of doing so before getting into the potentially unclean bed. Duo kicked off his shoes, turned up the heat and lay on top of the covers.

His mind was too busy to fall asleep. This was the first time he had spent more than one evening away from Camille with the exception of their honeymoon. But they were with her all day and Uncle Quatre put her to bed. In fact, sometimes Duo thought half the reason he could get Heero home was because he insisted that it be important that Cammi saw them consistently. She needed structure in her life. Duo felt guilt gnawing at him. If he didn't find Heero in three days, he would return home. And if – WHEN Heero returned, he would get what was coming to him. Anger simmered just under the surface. It threatened to consume Duo, but he things more important than anger – soft, fluffy, cheesy things that he couldn't mention even to himself for fear of threatening his masculinity – kept him sane.

Laughing grimly at himself, he rolled over and closed his eyes, determined to fall asleep.

XxXxX

Heero was lonely. Not alone, their were still others whom he hadn't separated from yet, but he was lonely. It hadn't been this way before. Before he didn't know what he was missing. Still, he knew he couldn't not get involved. Not when people he cared for lives could be in danger.

He left the base, no one questioned his actions. They knew who he was, and no one even considered doubting his judgment. The air was brisk, but not unseasonably cold. As soon as he was in the open he had a new plan. He was here as an independent agent. He did not follow orders, he could create orders, but he took care of himself. Right now everyone was excited, waiting for things to unfold. Half of them hadn't fought in the last war.

Dawn would be approaching in just a couple more hours. Heero decided to take advantage of this darkness to scout ahead. See what was going on and what could be stopped. His "stroll" had taken him very near where the enemies base in the city was thought to be. He pulled out his hand gun and moved in closer, moving silently, making noises in time with the night. The shadows hid him, allowed him to move past ridiculously incapable guards. He moved towards the light. The first building appeared to be some barracks of sort, and he passed it by. The second building looked far more important. He crept up to and quickly peered through a window. There were people talking, but he couldn't hear. It appeared there was a ventilation shaft on the ceiling that was open. Heero crept around the building 'til he found a fence that he could climb. From there he should be able to get onto the roof no problem.

Silently, he ascended to the roof. Then crawling as carefully as possible he approached the ventilation shaft where it protruded from the roof. The sounds were muffled, so he slowly lifted it higher, opening it more. He lay his head near the opening and listened.

It was boring. He could think of no use for the information he was taking in, but he filed it away into the 'it may be useful one day' category and kept listening. Their topics moved from supplies and rations, to criticizing officers who weren't present, and then to the enemy. Listening even more closely (if that was possible) Heero heard that they already knew where they were hiding. For a group of people so poorly guarded, their intelligence was quite successful. Either that or he had not put the fear of the Perfect Soldier into his allies yet. Even worse, it seemed as if they were planning on taking out Heero's base within the week.

Heero listened until they said their good nights, but nothing else important was said. Just as silently as he arrived, he left. Barely noticeable, the moon had begun to set and the other side of the sky was beginning to brighten. Heero easily made it past the guards. One of them appeared to be sleeping. Unwilling to give away the fact that he had been there, Heero let the opportunity to teach these soldiers a lesson slip away.

The trip back seemed to take less time. He was nearly there when he heard someone behind him. He turned in a random direction. The sound did not let up. Heero saw an alleyway not far in front of him. Easing his gun out, he kept it hidden in front of him and casually walked into the alley. He turned, gun pointing at whoever his follower might be. He was the sort to shoot first and ask questions second. He cocked the gun and held his finger on the trigger. . .

XxXxX

Duo hadn't been able to sleep very long. After a few short hours of restless sleep he rolled out of bed. He had taken his bike as far into the city as he could get with it before hiding it between two abandoned buildings. It was outrageous how quickly this town had emptied. It had never been a really thriving town before, if Duo remembered correctly, but still. The emptiness was extreme.

Duo was a quiet walker at times. He often chose to make the noise he did. He wanted everyone to know he was coming. In a city like this however, silence seemed more appropriate. It was nearing dawn, and Duo wondered if the city livened up at all once it was daytime.

Duo saw someone up ahead. He was a bit away, so he couldn't see anything about. Something about that walk though. . . Duo sped up to follow him, his hopes rising. For a moment he thought he had lost him when he unexpectedly turned a corner, but he found him again. There was no doubt now. Duo knew that it was Heero. When Heero turned again, Duo smiled. He jogged a little to catch up, then slowed and turned around into the alley.

He had only a moment, a brief moment to see Heero's face. It was stony. The eyes were cold and empty. There was no twinkle. The lips were tight, there was no emotion. Anger would have been better than that. It frightened him. It frightened him even more than the gun Heero had pointed at him.

Duo would admit later though, when Heero shot the gun, that was the most frightening of all. . .

Tsutsuku

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I feel an evil laugh coming on. . . bwhahahaha ahem sorry. . .

Wow, another chapter! Woohoo! Finally complete! Dun, dun, dun! Cliffie. . . I am a fan of random character torture so . . . just so you know. . .

REVIEW please!

Annie