Author's Note: Getting closer to the action, I sort of feeling bad about hurting Heero so much. Little foreshadowing Duo may get beat around a bit but by who? And why? You'll have to tune in only 6 more chapters to go kids. For now however enjoy Heero and Duo once more reunited.

Second Chance

Part 10 – Down With the Sickness

"Come on get up, get down with the sickness,"

Heero winced, groaning aloud followed by a hacking cough. "You ok sir?" Trying to smile he felt his cracked lips, that he had pull and bleed. "S'ok" he slurred it was hard to talk with half a mouth, and a raging fever. Heero had come down with walking phenomena or so the medic had told him as his men finally dragged him into the tent. He'd been sick for two weeks now, thankfully their mission had finally wrapped up after almost four months the last two weeks Heero could barely remember it was all a hazy blur.

Currently they where headed back to Earth, and the ship was so blessedly warm after what felt like four months of non-stop cold. As the heat seeped into his body his circulation began again, and it was painful. Unfortunately for Heero the heat was making his lungs hurt, and he coughed hacking, lungfuls of fluid. He felt utterly miserable and terrible. He was going home, and the thought of seeing Duo again keeping him going.

The ship landed and Heero struggled to his feet leaning against the hall breathing ragged and strained. "Come on sir," Two of his men wrapped arms around him supporting his weight as they lead him out of the ship and down the gangplank where the doctors where standing by with a wheelchair. "Don't need that," Heero slurred his breathing more rapid and shallow, each gasp was a painful rattle that gurgled. Doctor Preston felt his lips thin to a harsh line, the ship had called ahead to prepare them. He had not believed it to this bad, Heero looked terrible he had lost weight. His single blue eye was hazing and unfocused his skin chalk white with an angry red cheeks. His was slurring words worse then usual and could barely stand on his own.

The pair settled him in the wheel chair and Doctor Preston and his team got him post haste to the lab. It would take several hours for them to get him filled with fluids and settled. They took his vitals pumped him full of antibiotics, resting comfortably they pulled his data. Running through the information there was collective rumblings from around the room, the heart rate was so incredibly low. The cold was still affecting him more so then usual, Doctor Preston looked over to his colleague Doctor Benson, "The limbs are running at optimal usage, but the skin and his reactor are not responding as they should to cold." They where silent a moment before one of the others pointed to the numbers scrolling across, "The skin is an easy fix if we temper our synthetics to bring the point of freezing lower," he started and was irrupted, "It will melt in heat!" argued the other. So the debate was on, and as they came up with ideas they ran with them working and reworking until late in the evening when Duo was finally called and told to come collect Heero.

He had rushed over furious at not being called earlier, and frantic with worry when they had said he had pneumonia. He paused outside the door taking a breath, they had said be prepared for the worst. He entered the room the doctors where in the other part talking, more like arguing. He moved to the bed a sense of déjà vu on him once more. Heero laying still on the bed, this time there where no wires feeding his limbs. An IV and EKG was all, but Duo could tell he'd lost weight, he was skinny and pale, his cheek flushed with fever. The longhaired brunette settled beside him, taking his real hand mindful of the needle in it and kissing it tenderly. "Hey you," came the soft slightly slurred words, Heero had problems when he spoke with half his lips.

"Hey yourself," Duo whispered, a small smile on his face worried by what he was seeing but glad Heero was able to speak and knew who he was. "What you do to yourself now," he whispered trying to keep his smile in place he was so worried but the doctors had assured him he was fine. Heero laughed a little his mirth trailing off as a fit of coughing racked his already painfully sore chest. Turning to the side he leaned on his Gundam elbow closing his one eye in pain.

The fit subsided, and Heero once more laid back rubbing his chin wincing at the bloody sputum that was there. "Hurts," he rasped Duo having watched the whole production felt like crying. "Oh Heero," he leaned forward kissing Heero's face. His cheek, his forehead, his lips. "What happened?" he muttered sitting back wiping briskly at his leaking eye, "The cold did it," Doctor Preston stepped into the room, "In a nut shell it was the cold, his skin was not meant to be exposed for such long periods of time. His reactor while we reformatted it to work in water, is still susceptible to the below freezing temperatures." He sighed looking worn out, "His poor circulation made him more susceptible to viruses."

Duo looked up at him nervous, "Will be ok?" Dr. P smiled, "Oh yeah, he's going to be fine he was just worn out, some rest antibiotics and he'll feel much better." Heero looked hopeful from where he'd been drifting in and out of sleep. "Can I go home and rest?" he mumbled, sounding like his tongued was as thick as it felt. Preston looked to Duo, "I see no problem with it, as long as someone is there to watch him?" A single violet eye looked to where a still slightly feverish blue eye looked at him with hope. "Of course, been very quite around the office." Nodding briskly the doctor moved waving for Duo to follow, "I'll explain what kind of meds he's going to need and how often." Duo nodded continuously making sure to note down what pills and when as the doctor explained and put them all into a bag for him.

One of the assistants came in holding what looked like a partial mask, "We have a spare" he said with a smile. "At least until we can get the new skin worked out." Preston nodded, "At least lets help him out bit." The Doctors and assistants surrounded Heero then applying the synthetic skin, taking out his IV, refitting his eye cover. When they stepped away Heero was sitting up head hanging between his hands arms resting on his knees. Duo moved forward Heero looked up a tired half crooked smile gracing his now complete features. His skin was back, his lips once more full and inviting clear blue eyes looked at him steadily. "Ready to go home," he rasped throat raw from coughing.

The rest departed the room, leaving Duo to help Heero into some comfy sweats, and flip flops. The pair headed out, Heero moving slowly, but surely under his own power his Gundam foot clanking on the floor rhythmically with his movements. Duo wrapped an arm around his waist, comforting, and supportive as they headed for Duo's jeep leaving the base, and eventually the city as they headed to their home on the lake.

-#-#-#-

Heero and Duo sat on their comfy couch watching a movie on the big screen. Heero was propped up on the side arm of the couch he was unable to lie down properly and still breath so he sat up dozing in and out of consciousness simply enjoying the quiet, the warmth and comfort he was wrapped in the comforter from the bed and Duo was under as well his warmth serving to make Heero drowsy and content.

Duo held the blanket under his chin they where watching horror movies tonight, Heero's favorite Duo wasn't as fond of them but he did enjoy the odd scare. He liked being scared, but he didn't want to admit that to Heero. He had found a box set of old horror movie classics from years ago, they where watching the original Nightmare on Elm Street. A young Jonny Depp had just been sucked into his bed, the hole spewing blood when Duo noting the time on the clock and pausing the movie in mid gush. He went into the kitchen getting the three pills, glass of water and measuring out the small cup of liquid medicine he had to take. He returned to the living room gentle waking Heero presenting him with the pills and water. He downed them without complaint followed by the small measure of the thick chalky looking liquid. He winced but swallowed the vile tasting substance. "Gross," he mumbled finishing the water, Duo put the cup and small measure cup away in the bag of meds.

He returned to the living room settling back on the couch in Heero's 'nest' as he called it. Heero's long legs where curled up to fit on the couch and Duo was sitting in the gap left by his legs. He felt blue eyes on him and he turned a questioning look to Duo, "We never really got to talk," Heero whispered his throat was raw still, but feeling better. The longhaired man nodded slowly, as if thinking about what he wasn't to say. "I signed on with the Preventers for another 5 years," Duo whispered, "Our contract was up while you where gone." Heero nodded slowly, smiling softly "Me too." He rasped, Duo blinked in surprise "You did?" he asked looking at him an unasked question in his violet eye. He knew Duo too well by at this point, "I love what I do, and so do you." He whispered smiling crookedly, "I give them the information to let people have a new lease on life." Duo reached out to take his hand holding it tight. "Then no point to worrying about it," Heero said looking at their joined hands, "As long as I'm with you."

That beautiful smile blossomed across usually deadpan features, reaching out with his prostatic hand he gently cupped the smooth beautiful face watching fascinated as metal and skin meshed. "You still love me, with all this metal?" Heero teased gently caressing the face he held. Duo shuddered feeling strangely turned on by the feel of the cool metal against his heated skin. "Loved you always Heero," Duo sighed, "Sound like a chick flick," he muttered violet eye looking away as a blush heated his face. Heero grinned widely at that uncaring his lips spilt again and bleed, his voice raw he laughed aloud a weight lifted from him, feeling better then he had in months, despite the frozen four months away. His laughter turned to coughing and Duo reached forward hand on his chest gently easing him back rubbing his chest and shoulders gently whispering quite words easing him down.

Settled he sighed wishing he felt better if he did he'd be kissing him, running his hands…he stopped that train of thought his worn out body good for nothing except sleeping. Duo leaned forward kissing his lips softly, slowly before pulling away and brushing shaggy brown hair back from his still heated and pale face. "Don't worry, you'll get better," he whispered as if reading his mind. Turning he cuddled up against Heero's chest hitting play again, he sighed contended warm against Heero feeling his heart beat slowly, and regularly under his cheek, his breathing a little raspy and labored but he was alive and well. "This movie sucks, can't believe they made so many sequels." Heero mumbled tiredly, there was a chuckle form the area of his chest.

TBC…