Chapter 7

Heero and Duo spent the entire day driving from Pennsylvania to Alabama. The radio played but neither men spoke a word. Heero could easily see Duo's uneasiness the nearer they got to Alabama. They put aside the map and turned on Heero's GPS to get to Alabama quicker. At some point in their journey, Heero reached over and took Duo's hand. Duo gripped it tightly, but loose enough to not hurt the other man.

Throughout the ride, Duo was impossibly quiet. Heero had grown used to Duo's constant chatter, be it talking, reading or singing, to hear Duo not saying anything was uneasy.

Heero guessed he shouldn't have been surprised by Duo's sudden silence. Duo obviously clearly loved his uncle as any father figure. Heero's own father wasn't a very good role model. He had always been gone, leaving Heero into the care of his uncle Jay, until when Heero was fifteen and he never came back. Not a month later, Jay left Heero and he had been in the foster care system ever since. Not that Heero cared. Jay left Heero alone most of the time and never helped whenever Heero asked for it. He had never had a positive father figure. He supposed that was why he was so serious in almos t everything he does.

They were halfway through Kentucky before Heero made his first stop at a gas station. It also had a diner attatched to it. Other than needing gas, they had been on the road for five hours and knew that Duo would need to stretch his legs, if not use the restroom. Plus it was past lunch and all they had were the snacks Duo had bought the day before.

"What did we stop for," asked Duo as Heero parked the car by a gas pump.

"Well, for one, we need gas," said Heero. "And two, bathroom break, leg stretch, food, anything else we might think of."

"But, what about my dad," asked Duo.

"Don't worry, if he gets worse, you know that your cousin will call you. And besides, what would he say if you crashed because your driver got a cramp?"

For the first time since the new about his uncle, Duo laughed. It was only a chuckle, but it lifted Heero's spirits and hoped it did with Duo.

"Fine, but twenty minutes, no more," he said and walked toward the station.

Heero started putting gas in the car. Ten minutes later, Duo walked out with a bag that smelled of hamburgers and french fries and a case of cold soda. By then Heero had finished filling up the tank and had parked in front of the building. Heero went into the station for his own bathroom break and came back outside to see Duo in the driver's seat.

"I'm driving," he said in a no questions ask tone.

Heero tossed him the keys and got in the passenger side. He ate the sandwich Duo got him as Duo drove. Once again, both rode in deafening silence with only the radio playing. They stopped for gas once more before they got into Alabama, Duo still driving. Heero took a quick look at the sign as they passed it by. Huntsville, Alabama. It was a nice looking town. Heero could really see Duo growing up here. He wondered where Duo's old restaurant was. He could see Duo behind a stove cooking up a feast for his friends and family. One of the previous topics during their travels had been food and Heero remembered hearing the passion and excitement behind Duo's voice, and none of the food places they stopped at to eat had been a fast food place. Each one had been a fresh food establishment where they would wait ten to twenty minutes for food and each serving was delicious. Duo had an eye for food.

As Heero sat thinking, he was surprised to see them pull up in the hospital parking lot. He opened the door and when he didn't hear the driver's side open. He turned to see Duo frozen in his seat, eyes staring up at the building in fear. Heero reached over and placed a hand on one of Duo's that still clutched the wheel. Duo turned to look at Heero, eyes still in fear.

"He's fine, Duo," he said. "I know it."

"Come in with me," Duo pleaded. Heero nodded.

"Not going anywhere."

Duo smiled at him gratefully before gettingout of the car. Heero followed a step behind, but when Duo reached behind himself, Heero immediately took the other man's hand. They walked into the hospital side-by-side and walked to the front desk.

"Eric Maxwell," said Duo, his voice shaking but strong. "He came in because of a heart attack a couple days ago."

"Relation?" asked the nurse, typing on the computer.

"I'm his son."

"ICU room 213," said the nurse.

"Thank you," said Duo.

They walked down the hall until they came to the right room, and was surprised to find people already inside. Two women and three men stood in various corners of the room around an elderly man that lay on the bed. One woman looked to be in her late thirties and next to her was a man approximately the same age, the other woman had greying blonde hair, grey conservative clothes and seemed to be reading a book on religion. The two men looked like they had stepped out of a biker bar, both wearing biker jackets, black jeans and rock band logo shirts. One had red hair with a spike eyebrow stud and silver earring on his right ear and was chewing on a toothpcik, and the other had brown hair with a silver ring on his left ear. Both were handsome stood slightly apart from the rest of the group.

"Duo!" said the brunette in both shock and glee. She ran up and hugged Duo tightly. "I'm so glad you came. I didn't know if you were coming."

"I'm sorry, Helen," said Duo hugging her back. "I should have been here."

"Nonsense," said Helen letting him go, but kept a hand on his arm. "You couldn't have known this would happen, and Dad supported your leaving. Have you found what you were looking for?"

"Not yet," said Duo glancing at Heero before turning his gaze back to Helen, "but I'm getting there. Has he woken up yet?"

Helen shook her head.

"No, he just got out of surgery and they doctors say he should rest. You're in luck. Visiting hours are almost over and I'm glad you could make it."

"Me too," said Duo.

"Eric, you're being rude," said the second woman, glaring at Duo. "Who's your...friend?"

"Oh, everyone, this is Heero," said Duo. "He picked me up and helped me get here. Heero, this is Helen, her husband, Duane, my cousin Solo, and I'm guessing his boyfriend Lee, and my aunt Sophie."

"Pleasure to meet you," said Heero.

Duo walked over to the bed as Helen walked up and shook Heero's hand and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you for bringing my brother here," she said. "I hope it wasn't too much out of your way."

"It wasn't. I was heading for New York for somethin, but it got cancelled. When Duo told me what happened, I knew I had to get him here."

"My father would say you were a godsend," said Helen. "And I believe that now too. Thank you, Heero."

"You're welcome."

Heero watched as Duo spoke softly to his uncle before walking over to Solo. He shook Lee's hand before speaking softly to both men and they laughed softly. The whole time, Sophie gave them disapproving looks before turning her gaze to Heero and gave him a scrutinizing look. Heero suddenly felt very out of place. Here he was in a roomful of family members and he wasn't one of them.

"Can you tell Duo that I'm outside," he said to Helen.

"Are you leaving," asked Helen. She sounded a little worried, which surprised Heero, and he shook his head.

"No, I just have a phone call I have to make. I'll be right back."

Helen nodded and she walked over to her husband who had joined the conversation between the three young men. Sophie still gave them scrutinizing looks over the top of her book and Heero could feel her penetrating gaze on his back as he walked out. As he walked out of the hospital, he pulled out his phone and dialed Wufei. He realized that he hadn't called Wufei since he had set out on this endeavor and wanted to update his friend on what was happening.

"Hello?"said Wufei.

"It's me," said Heero.

"About time you called, Yuy. Are you in New York yet?"

"No. In fact, there's been a change in plans."

"What do you mean?"

Heero went into the long tale of meeting Duo, Relena's sudden Parisian trip and his current destination. Wufei listened with rapt attention until Heero came to the end.

"Sounds like you've had the adventure," said Wufei when Heero was done.

"Yeah, but driving has given me time to think. About my relationship with Relena and what we want in life. I don't really think we want the same things. She left without telling me, and now she's in Paris. Why would she do something like that?"

"I can't answer that, Yuy, but you know I'll stand by you with whatever decision you make."

"I know," said Heero. "I'm going to stay here a few more days. Duo could use a friend."

"I understand, Yuy. I'm sure Meilin will make your favorite when you get back. You know she looks for any excuse to have you over for dinner."

"Tell her thank you. Bye."

"Bye."

Heero hung up and turned to go back to into the hospital, and paused in surprise when he saw Solo walking toward him.

"You smoke?" he asked holding out a pack.

Heero shook his head. Solo shrugged and light one up. They were silent for a bit before Solo spoke.

"Was that your boyfriend on the phone?" asked Solo. Heero looked in surprise before shaking his head.

"No, a friend. He's married."

Solo shrugged and took a drag from his cigarette. They were silent again for a minute before Solo spoke again.

"I supposed Duo told you a bit about what happened?" he said. Heero nodded.

"A bit."

Solo scoffed a laugh.

"I knew it. Duo's a lot of things, but an open book isn't one of them."

Heero looked at him in surprise.

"Then how did you know he told me?"

"By the way you two act. Awfully close for two people who have just met."

Heero glared at him. He didn't like being called a liar, and for some reason, he didn't like Duo being called a liar.

"It's the truth," he said.

"I know," said Solo with a smile. "Duo's a lot of things, but a liar isn't one of them. He has had too many people lie to him, so he doesn't lie to anyone. He's been like that since he was a kid." He laughs. "It's funny. Kid never lies, and usually it's like trying to pry open a vault to get him to talk about his past or feelings, but with you..."

He turns to Heero and gives him a studious look.

"With you, he's an open book. Why?"

Heero thought about that. Duo had told him a lot about himself since they met two days ago. Why was Duo so open to him? Was it because they were alike? Both of them on a journey to find something that could turn their lives toward where it was supposed to go. Was that why they became so close in such a short amount of time.

"I never did like Alex," said Solo. "He always acted nice and innocent, but something was off about him. Always acting questions about Duo. Personal questions like if he had any pets or what his mother's maiden name was. When I told Duo about it, he said that Alex was probably getting him something for his birthday or anniversary, but I never bought it."

"Why?" asked Hero.

"I'm a cop. It's my job to be suspicious, especially when it comes to Duo. He's like a brother to me. I don't want him to get hurt, again."

"And Lee?"

"Lawyer."

Heero laughed. He didn't see either of them as a cop or a lawyer, but what did he know on first impressions. Anyone looking at him or Wufei would think they were push over suits, but no one would think that they both had multiple blackbelts. Or that Heero was a boxing champion.

"When I first met Alex, I knew the bastard was full of shit," said Solo. "Pardon my language."

Heero just waved it off.

"I'm a lawyer," he said. "I've heard it all."

Solo laughed.

"Should talk to Lee. You can swap stories," he said. "I wasn't around much at the time. Mommy-dearest didn't want anything to do with me and so she left me out of a lot of family affairs, but Helen kept me up to date. When it all went down, I was doing a twenty hour shift in Shreveport. I don't need to tell you how fast I got here."

Heero could hazard a guess. He saw how close the family was, except for aunt Sophie, and didn't doubt that he would have been on the first plane, train or bus, or more likely bike, toward Alabama.

"What did you do?" asked Heero.

"I hunted the fucker down, beat the shit out of him and arrested him."

Heero nodded satisfactory. He had no doubt Solo would do that after minutes of meeting him. Solo grounded the butt of his cigarette into the sidewalk before picking it up and throwing it in a nearby trashcan.

"Come on," he said. "They'll be wondering where we are by now. Visitng hours are almost done."

Nodding, Heero walked back into the hospital with Solo.

TBC