They were in the underbelly of the colony, deep in the access tunnels that ran under the streets that kept the colony running. Maxwell and the children led him down two more levels, into tunnels that most likely no human had passed through in years. It was cold, as the heat lamps that provided heat to the "surface" did not reach below ground. It was mostly dark as well, though every so often they would pass an old, flickering light, casting long shadows down dark tunnels. After the colonies had become more automated, there had been no need for simple maintenance, such as light bulb changes, below the surface.

Heero huddled into his jacket, grateful for the little warmth it provided as his breath billowed in a white, puffy cloud before his face. The children didn't seem to mind the chill, though some didn't have so much as a light jacket. Either they were used to such temperatures, or they knew something was wrong and getting to their destination quickly and quietly could be a matter of life and death.

Heero felt a small pang in his chest for these children. He'd had a mostly normal childhood, for an orphan. No child should have to live under such conditions. And yet, all children on L2 were subject to similar conditions, whether they had a home or not. They and their families existed at the whim of corrupt politicians and high profile criminals. And there was little anyone could do about that, at least, not with the current political climate.

He was spared from his current train of thought by Pete's voice drifting from the front of the group. "Duo? Left or right?"

Maxwell moved forward. "Right, then down the stairs."

"We're nearly there?" Heero asked quietly, rubbing his hands together.

"Nearly."

A few minutes later, the group entered a large, almost cavernous room. There was no light, save for the small lantern Pete still carried. The air was warmer, despite the large size of the room, meaning wherever they were must have been more insulated than the tunnels.

Maxwell left Heero's side to see to the children. He instructed them to leave their bags and to sit together in a group while he, Heero, Pete and the two older girls could clean a space for them to sleep.

Maxwell disappeared into the dark, and a moment later, heralded by a loud bang of a heavy switch being thrown that echoed off the walls, light flooded the room. Heero blinked rapidly, trying to adjust his eyes. He looked around, impressed with the place Maxwell had found.

It almost looked like an old subway terminal, though from the layout he could guess that it hadn't been people who had used it. There were two old, rusting train cars sitting on a piece of broken track. The one at the far end of the room, resting against a closed off section of tunnel, looked to be more sound than the other. It had three walls, with an opening in the fourth to load cargo. Heero immediately realized they were in the old colonial transport system, which had carried goods and materials from the 'ports to different parts of the colony, before the system became so old and outdated, it was simply abandoned for newer forms of transportation technology, namely the small colony hoppers that made short space flights from 'port to 'port. They were cheaper and consumed less of the colony's energy than these old "train" cars had.

Maxwell immediately set Pete and the two older girls to cleaning the floor of the car so the smaller children would have some place to sleep. Heero decided to make himself useful, gathering up some bits of paper and other burnables into a steel trash can he found at the far end of the tunnel. While the tunnel was warmer than the access corridors had been, it was still chilly. And the children needed to be warmed.

Warning the kids not to go near the burning barrel, he set it near them and turned to see Maxwell studying him carefully.

"Thanks," the kid said, coming up beside him to warm his hands over the fire.

Heero shrugged. "I was cold."

Maxwell gave him a sidewise smirk. "Sure. Thanks anyway."

"Aa." Heero wasn't quite sure what to say. He didn't want to feel pleased that the kid had noticed his efforts. He didn't want to feel anything for Maxwell's situation or for the children, who had formed their own family when they had none. He wanted to get his job done, take the money he earned and leave his past behind. And yet, here he was, not only helping his quarry but *respecting* him as well. He was beginning to lose focus of his goals, and he didn't like it.

Pete hopped out of the car and walked over to them. "We're done, Duo."

Maxwell moved, almost reluctantly Heero noticed, from the fire and over to the kids. "Come on, guys. Let's bunk down and try to get some sleep."

Heero held back, watching as Maxwell and Pete got the children into the car and settled down, warm under extra clothes and some blankets they'd brought with them. Most were asleep before their heads hit their makeshift pillows. Heero couldn't blame them. It was still the middle of the night, and they'd walked a long way.

He turned his attention back to the fire, letting himself get lost in his thoughts for a while.

He wasn't sure how much time had passed before he heard Maxwell jump down from the car the children were sleeping in. He looked up, watching as the kid strode over to a panel on the wall, pulling a large switch down and plunging the tunnel into darkness. In the train car, someone whimpered. A soft voice from inside soothed the child, then there was nothing but the crackling of the fire to break the silence of the dark.

Maxwell slipped into the dancing shadows to stand next to Heero again. "The kids are down, but it's pretty crowded in there. I thought maybe you and I could sleep in the other one."

Heero grunted. The other car was less sound, missing the back wall and one of the side walls. But it would be better ventilated than the other. They could take the fire with them. The children, sleeping together under various blankets and clothing, would be warm enough, but Heero had planned on colder temperatures and he didn't think Maxwell would be up to sharing body heat…

Heero felt his cheeks grow warm at the thought. Then he frowned. And where had that image come from? He didn't deny the kid was attractive. And had he not been on a job, he would have felt no guilt at trying the kid out for a tumble or two. But the kid *was* his job, and he could not afford to feel attracted to the very person he was supposed to bring in. He was a professional, and he had never failed in his mission.

"Think you can help me move this barrel?" he asked, pushing all inappropriate thoughts out of his mind.

"Hmm, I think I saw a dolly over there somewhere. Wait a sec." The kid disappeared into the dark. How in the hell he could see anything was beyond Heero, but he returned, a few moments later, pushing an old dolly that was in desperate need of some fresh oil. Together they managed to load the burning can onto the dolly without singeing themselves and rolled it to the other train car.

Heero hopped up on the car and turned to help Maxwell lift the dolly. The fire gave them just enough light to see by. Maxwell dumped his bag and began cleaning off the floor of the car as best he could. Heero busied himself in his own bag, looking for a warmer shirt.

He wasn't sure what it was that made him look up at Maxwell – an errant noise perhaps, or maybe it was the way the kid had gone absolutely still. Maxwell stood near the fire, the stolen coat in his hands as if he were about to lay it on the ground. His face had gone slack and even with the red-gold light of the fire dancing reflections across the kid's face, Heero could see how pale he was. His hands were shaking… no, make that his whole body. A soft, strangled sound escaped his lips and Heero leaped toward him, barely catching him before the kid's legs gave out and he hit the floor.

Maxwell was dead weight in his arms. Heero didn't try to fight it. He lowered them both to the ground, his arms locked around the kid's slender body as it shook, almost violently. The kid's breathing was erratic, and his hands were clutching at the front of Heero's shirt. He was cold, despite the physical activity he'd been performing in getting a space for the children to sleep suitable. Heero recognized the symptoms of shock, and was amazed that the kid had gotten this far before giving in to it.

"Maxwell?" He pulled the kid closer, rubbing his hand up and down the kid's arms in an attempt to warm him. "Maxwell? Duo!"

"I…I…" the kid stammered. Heero heard him swallow hard. He gritted his teeth as the kid dug his fingernails harder into his shirt, scraping his skin.

"What's wrong, Duo? Can you tell me?" he asked as gently as possible. Screaming at the kid and telling him to snap out of it probably wouldn't help.

"I… Alex…" He bit back a sob. "I've never… there was so much blood and…"

Ah. Now he understood. "Your first kill."

Duo gave a strangled moan. "No… accident."

"Self defense. In fact, you probably saved *my* life," Heero said, moving his hands to rub the kid's back.

Maxwell sniffed and buried his face into Heero's chest. Heero suddenly felt warm all over. He frowned.

"I didn't mean to kill him," the kid said softly.

"I know. But he was a bad man. He would have hurt you. Vy, too. He would have killed me. It happened."

"Quinze will hunt me down."

"We'll be off colony tomorrow," Heero reminded him.

Duo inhaled deeply. "The kids…."

Heero suddenly felt a twinge of guilt. "They'll be safe here. This place is impossible to find."

"I found it," Duo all but whispered.

"Yes, but from the looks of things, no one has been here in years. They'll be all right."

Duo shook his head. "No, you don't understand. If Quinze can't take his revenge on me, he'll take it out on the kids. He won't stop." His shoulders shook. "It's all my fault."

"It's not…" Heero trailed off, realizing Duo wasn't in any shape to listen to him, really listen. "Look, isn't there someone you can trust to look after them? Or if there's no one you trust, surely you could… hire someone to take care of them?" The conversation was beginning to feel very surreal to Heero. "Surely the money you took could help?"

Duo stopped shaking. "I didn't steal any money. I don't know what that man told you, but I didn't steal anything." He sniffled. "Well, other than enough money to get me off-world. But that was legally mine to begin with."

"Then why…?"

"He'd say anything, I think… to bring me back…" Duo's voice trailed off and his head lolled against Heero's shoulder.

Heero sighed, but shifted the kid into a more comfortable position. There was more to Duo's story than both he and Khushrenada were saying, but it could wait until morning. The events of the day had exhausted his quarry, and Heero felt bone weary as well. Duo needed to sleep away the trauma he'd just experienced.

'When did you start thinking of him as "Duo"?' Heero thought with a start as he tried to arrange the stolen coat around the sleeping kid and himself.

He frowned as he thought about how quickly this job had gone south. There were too many unanswered questions, and this rundown was starting to leave a bad taste in his mouth. 'Tomorrow,' he promised himself as he settled in next to Duo, leaning against the cold, hard wall of the old train car, knowing their body heat and the fire would keep them warm and prevent Duo from slipping further into shock. Tomorrow he would get Duo's side of the story. And then…

Well, and then he'd finish the job he'd been sent to do.