©April 25, 2002
Disclaimer: I do not own the Gundam Pilots or anything else that is affiliated with them. Pretty much anything you recognize. =) I do own the plot. The names I use that don't seem familiar, you can give the credit to my best friends.
Author's Note: Hey, it seems that I haven't been getting a lot of reviews, I thought I'd just give some insight to those who might be interested. New posting: Love's Last Whispers. It's a Songfic, but I was told by my friends that it was good and the only way an epilogue comes out is if I get enough reviews. It's written [epilogue], just not posted. You're call, my readers. Just thought I'd give you a lil' heads up. ^_~
Special Dedication:
I dedicate this chapter to all of my friends, the many that I have, new and old.(all who are reading this are considered friends, every one of my readers/reviewers) To those who gave me an extra boost to reach my goals, who helped me believe in my dreams. And especially to one who I have greatly wronged, to Heather H. I'm sorry Heather, I truly am.
To every one of my friends: I am very grateful for everything you've done, and for standing by my side. I am forever in your debt, and will always remember you. You will forever have a place in my heart.
~*~Chapter 10~*~
A Time for Grieving
Duo burst through the back door, a thick cloud of smoke greeting him with an ominous heat. Coughing, the young American called out to his friend. "... H-Heero! Answer me.... Heero!" Staggering into the kitchen, he looked around the area to find the living room a wall of flames, the hallway to the rooms as well. Squinting against burning heat and gray haze, he barely caught sight of the large pile of wooden planks and tile. Something pulled him to it, and he walked to the pile, disregarding the threatening boards overhead. His heart stopped upon seeing a hand protruding from under the fallen ceiling. "...HEERO!"
Hilde sat with the others, tears threatening to overflow as she looked on, hoping both Duo and Heero were all right. "Oh God, please let them be all right, please let them be all right, please God, please!" Clasping her hands together and holding them in front of her mouth, she prayed with her heart and soul.
Relena looked on, saddened and frantic as to why Duo had gone back into the house. "Hilde? Hilde, why did Duo go back inside? Surly you can replace material possessions, why risk it?" Relena implored her friend.
Hilde couldn't fight it any more, she let the tears fall from her eyes. "Oh God Relena, I'm so sorry. This wasn't supposed to happen! It wasn't supposed to happen!"
Relena looked on. "Wh-what do you mean."
Milliardo, holding Lucretzia in his arms, looked up at his sister. "Relena, Hilde and Duo have been harboring Heero here and caring for him for the past few days. That's why we're here, and we brought you along. In hopes that you could forgive him for he wants to be with you just as much as you want to be with him." Milliardo looked on in regret and grief.
Relena's breath caught in her throat. "Wh-what? He's in there?" Her mind didn't want to acknowledge such a fact. "No, it can't be true. It can't! Tell my you're lying to me Milliardo! Please, tell me!" Collapsing to her knees, Relena began to scream and cry, not paying any attention to Hilde's comforting motions as she held her in a friendly hug. "No! Heero, no!" She couldn't lose him, and she hated herself now for everything that she'd done to hurt him, especially when they last spoke.
Duo threw back the last remaining planks and completely uncovered Heero's limp form. ".... H-Heero.... c'mon...." Coughing, he tried to shake Heero awake, but his brother didn't move.
A loud snap above Duo's head sounded just moments before it fell. The fiery plank crashed down toward the two young men, threatening to end their lives.
Without a second thought, Duo held up his arm to block the wooden board, feeling the fire scorch and sear his skin. Crying out in pain, he slowly threw the board aside, looking down at his right arm to find a large black area of pain spanning the entire of the back of his arm from his wrist to his elbow. Pushing past the pain, he quickly reached down to pick up his friend, for the building was ready to collapse. "Come on.... Heero.... it's going... to be... all right...."
Heero was still unconscious, his body showing no sign of movement or response. His complexion was extremely pale or at least what you could see under the areas of charred wood and ash. His lips, their healthy pink color gone, was replaced by a pale blue and purple around the edges. He did not breathe, his lungs having given up when he could no longer get any oxygen.
Duo stumbled to his feet, then quickly raced out of the kitchen moments before the entire house collapsed on itself, sending the two young men sprawling in the grass of the backyard. Rolling a short ways and giving a stifled cry, he felt the heat of the flames. Screams of fear and hysterical cries along with sirens filled the air around him, and Duo knew that Hilde was expecting the worst. Pushing himself off of the ground, he crawled quickly over to Heero's limp form, checking his breathing and heart beat. He found there to be neither, and at this his heart sped up greatly in fear. Picking up his brother and tramping through the littered lawn and around the side of the house, he was met with joyous outcries and relieved eyes. "...H..he's not b-breathing.... please.... help.. him..." Coughing and struggling to stand, he handed over his brother to a firefighter and then fell to his knees, weakened by the day's events.
Relena pushed herself off of the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks as she ran in a frantic frenzy over to the ambulance where they were working on her beloved prince. "Heero! No, Heero, you can't leave me! You can't leave me!" The medics were already performing CPR and if they had to do that, then he'd already given up and his heart wasn't beating. Her brother's arms encircled her, holding her securely at a distance so as to keep out of the E.M.S.'s way. "You can't leave me! Dang you Heero, you can't leave me!" Screaming out, she no longer cared if she was a royal princess, a diplomat, or anything else. She didn't acknowledge the piteous stares that she received, all of this was ignored as she fought against the restraining arms. "Let_me_go! Heero!"
Hilde held onto Duo, tears falling from her eyes. They held joy for the two young men were out of the house, but they also held fear and sadness for the possible loss of Heero and Duo's pain. "Oh, Duo."
Duo leaned into Hilde, eyes closed in pain and grief. "He's my brother, I can't lose him." Feeling Hilde's arms hug him closer, he listened to the silence of the crowd and Relena's hysterical cries. "God, please don't take him."
Milliardo tried to hold onto his sister gently, trying to calm her. "It's going to be all right Relena. It's going to be okay." At this, he felt his younger sister fall into his embrace, her tears soaking his shirt as she cried. He let her take out her anger upon him, her weak fists pounding into his shoulders as she continued to cry. "We'll get through this together Relena, we'll get through this together."
With a last effort, the E.M.S. tried to shock the young man's heart back into beating. It would be their last try, for now things were looking hopeless and their efforts seemed to be futile.
*Beep.... beep.... beep.... beep....* The heart monitor sounded with a faint pulse, but it was there none the less.
Relena stopped, hearing the beeping and looked back at Heero who was slowly breathing in the pure oxygen . "H-Heero's alive! He's alive!" New tears flowed from her eyes as she burst from Milliardo's grasp, rushing to her prince's side without hesitation. Standing by his side, the young princess took the Perfect Soldier's hand in hers, kissing it and crying in joy. He was going to live.
Hilde's ears caught the sound of the heart monitor as well. "Duo! Duo, Heero's alive! He's alive, listen!" She could feel him tense and moments later he was sitting up and looking on with watering eyes toward his brother.
"Thank you, God, thank you." Duo praised the Lord with every ounce of sincerity in his body, slowly rising with Hilde at his side as Lucretiza smiled and led the two over to the ambulance.
Noin had already brushed away her tears, now concerned about Duo's arm after she'd found out that Heero was going to be all right. "You're hurt, Duo. Come on," and pushing past the firefighters, she took the two young adults over to seek medical attention as the masses of people cheered and celebrated the miracle of Heero's life being returned to him.
~*~
Duo rose from the bed, his arm paining him greatly now that the adrenaline rush had worn off. The burning plank that had fallen from the ceiling and landed on his arm as he tried to shield himself left a third degree burn in the entire area that it touched. "Where's my brother?" Resting his right arm in a sling, he watched with tired eyes as Hilde crossed over to his side wearily.
Hilde leaned against Duo and began to cry softly, feeling his left arm wrap around her back and hug her close. She'd just come from Heero's room, and things didn't look too good for him. "Oh God, Duo. None of this was supposed to happen. It wasn't supposed to happen."
Holding her closer still, Duo leaned down and kissed her forehead. Sighing, the young man spoke softly to her. "I know, Hilde. But everything's going to be all right, I swear it." Closing his eyes, he prayed that his words would prove to be true. "Hilde, please tell me, how is Heero doing?"
Hilde pulled away, but couldn't even look Duo in the eyes. If she hadn't tried to play matchmaker, to be so secretive, none of this would have happened! She would have been home to stop the fire, or to at least get Heero out of the house. That or Duo could have done it, for it was she who sent him out to get Relena, Milliardo, and Lucretzia from the airport. "I'm so sorry Duo. If I hadn't tried to play cupid, then none of this would have happened! It's my fault, and I'm so sorry...." Looking into his hurt eyes, she broke down again and began to cry without the ability to restrain her emotions.
Duo watched her cry, disbelief and pain in his eyes. "Oh God, no. No! It isn't your fault Hilde, you were only doing what you could to help these guys out! None of this is anyone's fault, we couldn't have predicted this. It's not your fault, and I love you so much. God Hilde, don't blame yourself for something you couldn't control. Shh, it's okay, everything's going to be all right...." Taking her back into his embrace, he disregarded the tears that soaked through his shirt as he held onto her, whispering soft assurances to the distraught young woman.
Trowa jumped out of the cab, running into the front doors of the hospital. Since there last show was actually on Earth and they were only about twenty miles from Duo and Hilde's home, Trowa was going to stop by and surprise them. Especially since Heero was with them. Lucretzia had gotten in touch with his sister, Cathy, and told her about what had happened only an hour before. Cathy had immediately relayed the information to Trowa and he was on his way in seconds, Maria staying back with Cathy and the manager giving him consent to leave. Sprinting to the front desk, Trowa stopped and looked at the startled, middle aged woman in urgency. "I'm looking for my friends, Duo Maxwell and Heero Yuy? They just came in about an hour or so ago, a house fire?"
The nurse's gaze turned to one of pity. "Mr. Maxwell is being treated in Room 5, just down the hall. Mr. Yuy is in the intensive care unit, the next floor up. He's in Room 132 A."
Dr. McGowan, called in because of the house fire, trudged into the nurse's station with weary steps. Heero had come in quite often, he was actually a frequent visitor against his own will and a mystery to all of the doctors and nurses in the region. Yet, they'd never expected something like this to happen to the young man, nothing this severe. All he hoped now was that he would pull through it as he had done with his other illnesses. Hearing a young man call urgently across the front desk perked his curiosity and upon hearing Heero's name, he was compelled to enter. "Can I help you sir?"
Trowa didn't want to have to wait. "I'm looking for my friends, Duo Maxwell and Heero Yuy, they..." he was cut off with a nod from the doctor.
"I know who you are talking about, come, this way.." and he led the young adult to Duo's room.
Duo looked up upon hearing footsteps stop outside of the door, he found them to belong to a tired Dr. McGowan and a very worried Trowa. Smiling slightly, he motioned for Trowa to enter as the doctor left. "Hey Trowa. Whatcha doin' here?"
"Is everyone all right Duo? What happened?"
"I don't know, it's kind of a long story, I'll explain it all later. We were gonna go up and see how Heero's fairing." Letting Hilde pull away from him and dry her tears, he smiled at her. "It's going to be okay, I swear it will. No matter what, we've pulled through everything together, and we will again."
~*~
Relena sat at Heero's bedside, holding his hand and looking into his pale face. Her tears had long since run dry, the awful truth replaced by a useless hope. "Everything's going to be all right, my love. Everything's going to be all right..."
Milliardo watched his sister in pity, for she didn't want to acknowledge the truth, and so she stayed in a world of her own. Letting his gaze fall to the once invincible pilot, he took in what had actually happened. Bandages covered his eyes, his arms wrapped in the white cloth, his form, so weak and fragile. A large tube ran in through his mouth, snaking it's way down his throat and into his lungs so as to help him breathe, numerous I.V.'s running up and down his arms. A heart monitor beeped rhythmically by his side, his pulse soft but true with the help of the other numerous machines surrounding him. "God, please let him be all right, for Relena's sake." He prayed silently for a miracle, for Heero's unresponsiveness had given the doctors only one prognosis, he'd fallen into a coma. By the looks of it, this was going to last longer than a few days. Footsteps coming down the hallway made Milliardo turn, his eyes catching sight of Duo, Hilde, and Trowa. Giving them a small smile, he left the doorway of Heero's room and walked toward them.
Duo looked at Milliardo's weary form, knowing that something wasn't right. "What's wrong?" Wrapping his arm around Hilde's waist, he looked into Milliardo's blue eyes, for they held a great regret.
"Sit down." He only motioned for the others to take a seat in the chairs next to Noin's sleeping form. She had fallen asleep on a small couch, his coat covering over her shoulders. When Duo and the others had taken a seat, Milliardo began to speak softly. "He's not in the best of shape and Relena's sitting with him right now."
"What's wrong with Heero?" Trowa awaited somewhat impatiently for an answer, but knew the others were tired and worn from the day. Yet, he was worried about his friends.
Sighing, the Prince of the Cinq Kingdom continued. "He's got a lot of burns covering his arms and legs, but nothing too major. The worst are a couple of second degree burns. He's on a ventilator now, a lot of smoke invaded his lungs and he was having a lot of trouble breathing on his own, besides the fact that some of the cilia in his throat have been damaged. He's suffered from a minor concussion, though surprisingly it wasn't something more. The doctors aren't sure yet, but there's been some damage to his eyes and he may lose his eyesight." Milliardo sat down in a chair across from the three, the two young men looking on in disbelief and Hilde lowering her gaze in knowing the harsh truth.
Duo stared at the prince, letting everything slowly sink in. What had Heero ever done to deserve this? "There's something your not telling us."
Trowa thought for a moment, then tried to dispel the truth from his mind. No, this couldn't be happening, not to his friends. The war was over, everything was supposed to be fine! "Just tell us, Milliardo. We'll find out sooner or later." His voice spoke softly as he lowered his gaze to his hands.
Nodding solemnly, he continued on. "There is one more thing. The doctors don't know how long it will last, but it looks like it's going to last longer that just a few days. He's not only on the ventilator for having trouble breathing, it's breathing for him in full. They said that on the way to the hospital, he gave up again. He....he's fallen into a coma." An eerie silence fell on the four.
Duo's jaw nearly dropped to the floor, his eyes wide in disbelief. "N- no... no, they've got to be wrong. That can't happen to him.... there's gotta be some mistake!"
Trowa closed his eyes, accepting the harsh reality rather ironically compared to Duo's defiance. "Oh God..." he whispered, clasping his hands together and praying silently for a miracle. The war was over, the tragedies were supposed to stay there, not follow them through the rest of life.
"You might want to go in and see him now, but don't say anything about this to Relena. She's taking it hard enough as it is, and when I tried to explain it to her, she just thought I was joking and returned to gazing at Heero. She's in her own mind now, in her own world. I don't want to hurt her right now, so I think it would be best if she stayed in her own little world for the time being." Milliardo stood with some effort, his legs tired and each step he took was sluggish. But he couldn't sleep now, he had to watch over his sister. And still, to make things worse, his ribs, still bruised, were beginning to bother him. Yes, whoever said that being born of nobility was a privilege was absolutely wrong and should be shot.
~*~
Quatre entered the hospital, the first rays of morning just beginning to peek out over the horizon. He'd come as soon as Trowa had gotten a hold of him. In truth, the young aristocrat had thought that there must be some mistake and that it was a lie, but his heart told him that he was needed. Nearing the front desk, he found Wufei waiting, his black eyes holding regret and sadness. "Where is everyone, Wufei?"
The proud warrior now filled with grief, looked at his kind-hearted friend. "They're upstairs with Heero, follow me." Turning, he headed toward the elevator, too tired to take the stairs which were faster. He'd gotten there around midnight and had just finished another eight hour watch before that on the preventer surveillance craft. Sally stayed to cover his shifts, Lady Une having given him leave.
Quatre followed, his heart sinking upon seeing the sign in the hallway leading to Heero's room. In bold letters it read, 'Intensive Care Unit'. "Wufei, is everyone all right?"
"Heero was injured the worst, and from what Trowa's told me, he's got numerous burns, a minor concussion, possible loss of his eyesight, and he's fallen into a coma." Wufei stopped at hearing Quatre's steps stop abruptly.
Quatre stood in the hallway in disbelief. His breath caught in his throat, his mind not wanting to take in what Wufei had just told him. "Wh-what?"
Wufei took his friend's shoulders into his hands, steadying him as he began to sway on his feet. "Come on Quatre, it's just down here."
Walking along the rest of the length of the hallway to the room, his mind was in a whirlwind of thoughts. "There's got to be some mistake." Letting his friend lead him down the hall, he came upon Heero's room and gazed in. He nearly screamed out in incredulity as he found Heero lying in the bed, various machines connected to him as numerous I.V.'s ran into his arms. His eyes were covered with bandages as were his arms. "My Lord...." Looking around the rest of the room, Trowa was crossing over to them, Relena sat next to Heero's still form, Hilde was leaning against Duo as the two slept, though Duo's arm was in a sling, and Milliardo held Lucretzia as they slept in a couple of chairs positioned in the opposite corner of the room.
Trowa nodded to Wufei to take the chair he'd been sitting in as he neared the two. "You just get in Quatre?"
Wufei sighed and took it, his legs ready to give out on him. He wanted to go to sleep, his eyelids heavy, but he forced himself to remain awake. "Do either of you know what time it is?"
Quatre looked down wearily at his watch. "It's nearly 6:30 in the morning." Giving a soft smile at hearing Wufei's exasperated groan. "You guys seem to have been up longer than I have and are more tired as well. Even the both of you can't hide it. Get some sleep, I can watch over Heero and Relena."
Wufei didn't argue, but instead closed his eyes. He only planned on closing them for a minute, but when he tried to open them once more, he couldn't. Within moments, the proud warrior was asleep at last.
Quatre gave an approving smile as he watched Wufei fall asleep, for he was extremely tired and deserved to rest. "You should get some sleep too, Trowa."
Shaking his head, Trowa walked with his friend over to Relena's side. "I already tried, and still to no avail. God, this scene looks so familiar." Chuckling softly to himself, Trowa remembered the time when he and Heero had first met. Heero'd self-detonated Wing and nearly killed himself, but Trowa was there and took him into his care, mostly to put Quatre at ease and to help his kind friend. He and Quatre met and became friends after nearly becoming involved in a battle that could have destroyed Trowa, for he was a bit out-numbered.
Quatre gave a small chuckle as well, looking over Heero's unconscious form. "Yah, I guess it does. How's he been Relena."
Relena looked up with innocent eyes, still in a world of her own. "Everything's going to be fine. He's sleeping right now, he's really tired. When he wakes up, everything is going to be all right again. He's going to be happy to see you, he misses you guys." With a child-like smile, Relena gazed up at Trowa and Quatre.
Trowa nodded. "That's good, Relena. Tell him to take all the time he needs so that he can rest, okay?" He felt weird speaking to her as if she were a little girl, but right now, that's pretty much what she was.
Quatre looked at the once sophisticated princess with depressed gaze. She wasn't herself, but so much more like a vulnerable child. "Take care of him, okay?" Giving her a small smile upon receiving a vigorous nod from the princess, Quatre looked sadly over Heero's form once more before heading over to the window. Looking out upon the snowy ground as the sun's rays danced over the flakes, making them glimmer in the morning air, he sighed. He sincerely hoped that everything would be all right.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~Lady Stardancer
Author's Note:
Hey all, sorry this is kinda melancholy and everything, but I wrote this chapter with my heart. I tried to show the true strength of friendship, and the goodness and compassion in everyone's heart. This one is for my friends, I could never have done anything without you, you always believed in me and never let me give up, even when I wanted to. I'm grateful for all of you and everything you've ever done for me. Thanks!
Look for Chapter 11, Wondrous Miracle or Tormenting Curse? Please review and tell me how you liked this, the cliffhanger has been resolved!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Gundam Pilots or anything else that is affiliated with them. Pretty much anything you recognize. =) I do own the plot. The names I use that don't seem familiar, you can give the credit to my best friends.
Author's Note: Hey, it seems that I haven't been getting a lot of reviews, I thought I'd just give some insight to those who might be interested. New posting: Love's Last Whispers. It's a Songfic, but I was told by my friends that it was good and the only way an epilogue comes out is if I get enough reviews. It's written [epilogue], just not posted. You're call, my readers. Just thought I'd give you a lil' heads up. ^_~
Special Dedication:
I dedicate this chapter to all of my friends, the many that I have, new and old.(all who are reading this are considered friends, every one of my readers/reviewers) To those who gave me an extra boost to reach my goals, who helped me believe in my dreams. And especially to one who I have greatly wronged, to Heather H. I'm sorry Heather, I truly am.
To every one of my friends: I am very grateful for everything you've done, and for standing by my side. I am forever in your debt, and will always remember you. You will forever have a place in my heart.
~*~Chapter 10~*~
A Time for Grieving
Duo burst through the back door, a thick cloud of smoke greeting him with an ominous heat. Coughing, the young American called out to his friend. "... H-Heero! Answer me.... Heero!" Staggering into the kitchen, he looked around the area to find the living room a wall of flames, the hallway to the rooms as well. Squinting against burning heat and gray haze, he barely caught sight of the large pile of wooden planks and tile. Something pulled him to it, and he walked to the pile, disregarding the threatening boards overhead. His heart stopped upon seeing a hand protruding from under the fallen ceiling. "...HEERO!"
Hilde sat with the others, tears threatening to overflow as she looked on, hoping both Duo and Heero were all right. "Oh God, please let them be all right, please let them be all right, please God, please!" Clasping her hands together and holding them in front of her mouth, she prayed with her heart and soul.
Relena looked on, saddened and frantic as to why Duo had gone back into the house. "Hilde? Hilde, why did Duo go back inside? Surly you can replace material possessions, why risk it?" Relena implored her friend.
Hilde couldn't fight it any more, she let the tears fall from her eyes. "Oh God Relena, I'm so sorry. This wasn't supposed to happen! It wasn't supposed to happen!"
Relena looked on. "Wh-what do you mean."
Milliardo, holding Lucretzia in his arms, looked up at his sister. "Relena, Hilde and Duo have been harboring Heero here and caring for him for the past few days. That's why we're here, and we brought you along. In hopes that you could forgive him for he wants to be with you just as much as you want to be with him." Milliardo looked on in regret and grief.
Relena's breath caught in her throat. "Wh-what? He's in there?" Her mind didn't want to acknowledge such a fact. "No, it can't be true. It can't! Tell my you're lying to me Milliardo! Please, tell me!" Collapsing to her knees, Relena began to scream and cry, not paying any attention to Hilde's comforting motions as she held her in a friendly hug. "No! Heero, no!" She couldn't lose him, and she hated herself now for everything that she'd done to hurt him, especially when they last spoke.
Duo threw back the last remaining planks and completely uncovered Heero's limp form. ".... H-Heero.... c'mon...." Coughing, he tried to shake Heero awake, but his brother didn't move.
A loud snap above Duo's head sounded just moments before it fell. The fiery plank crashed down toward the two young men, threatening to end their lives.
Without a second thought, Duo held up his arm to block the wooden board, feeling the fire scorch and sear his skin. Crying out in pain, he slowly threw the board aside, looking down at his right arm to find a large black area of pain spanning the entire of the back of his arm from his wrist to his elbow. Pushing past the pain, he quickly reached down to pick up his friend, for the building was ready to collapse. "Come on.... Heero.... it's going... to be... all right...."
Heero was still unconscious, his body showing no sign of movement or response. His complexion was extremely pale or at least what you could see under the areas of charred wood and ash. His lips, their healthy pink color gone, was replaced by a pale blue and purple around the edges. He did not breathe, his lungs having given up when he could no longer get any oxygen.
Duo stumbled to his feet, then quickly raced out of the kitchen moments before the entire house collapsed on itself, sending the two young men sprawling in the grass of the backyard. Rolling a short ways and giving a stifled cry, he felt the heat of the flames. Screams of fear and hysterical cries along with sirens filled the air around him, and Duo knew that Hilde was expecting the worst. Pushing himself off of the ground, he crawled quickly over to Heero's limp form, checking his breathing and heart beat. He found there to be neither, and at this his heart sped up greatly in fear. Picking up his brother and tramping through the littered lawn and around the side of the house, he was met with joyous outcries and relieved eyes. "...H..he's not b-breathing.... please.... help.. him..." Coughing and struggling to stand, he handed over his brother to a firefighter and then fell to his knees, weakened by the day's events.
Relena pushed herself off of the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks as she ran in a frantic frenzy over to the ambulance where they were working on her beloved prince. "Heero! No, Heero, you can't leave me! You can't leave me!" The medics were already performing CPR and if they had to do that, then he'd already given up and his heart wasn't beating. Her brother's arms encircled her, holding her securely at a distance so as to keep out of the E.M.S.'s way. "You can't leave me! Dang you Heero, you can't leave me!" Screaming out, she no longer cared if she was a royal princess, a diplomat, or anything else. She didn't acknowledge the piteous stares that she received, all of this was ignored as she fought against the restraining arms. "Let_me_go! Heero!"
Hilde held onto Duo, tears falling from her eyes. They held joy for the two young men were out of the house, but they also held fear and sadness for the possible loss of Heero and Duo's pain. "Oh, Duo."
Duo leaned into Hilde, eyes closed in pain and grief. "He's my brother, I can't lose him." Feeling Hilde's arms hug him closer, he listened to the silence of the crowd and Relena's hysterical cries. "God, please don't take him."
Milliardo tried to hold onto his sister gently, trying to calm her. "It's going to be all right Relena. It's going to be okay." At this, he felt his younger sister fall into his embrace, her tears soaking his shirt as she cried. He let her take out her anger upon him, her weak fists pounding into his shoulders as she continued to cry. "We'll get through this together Relena, we'll get through this together."
With a last effort, the E.M.S. tried to shock the young man's heart back into beating. It would be their last try, for now things were looking hopeless and their efforts seemed to be futile.
*Beep.... beep.... beep.... beep....* The heart monitor sounded with a faint pulse, but it was there none the less.
Relena stopped, hearing the beeping and looked back at Heero who was slowly breathing in the pure oxygen . "H-Heero's alive! He's alive!" New tears flowed from her eyes as she burst from Milliardo's grasp, rushing to her prince's side without hesitation. Standing by his side, the young princess took the Perfect Soldier's hand in hers, kissing it and crying in joy. He was going to live.
Hilde's ears caught the sound of the heart monitor as well. "Duo! Duo, Heero's alive! He's alive, listen!" She could feel him tense and moments later he was sitting up and looking on with watering eyes toward his brother.
"Thank you, God, thank you." Duo praised the Lord with every ounce of sincerity in his body, slowly rising with Hilde at his side as Lucretiza smiled and led the two over to the ambulance.
Noin had already brushed away her tears, now concerned about Duo's arm after she'd found out that Heero was going to be all right. "You're hurt, Duo. Come on," and pushing past the firefighters, she took the two young adults over to seek medical attention as the masses of people cheered and celebrated the miracle of Heero's life being returned to him.
~*~
Duo rose from the bed, his arm paining him greatly now that the adrenaline rush had worn off. The burning plank that had fallen from the ceiling and landed on his arm as he tried to shield himself left a third degree burn in the entire area that it touched. "Where's my brother?" Resting his right arm in a sling, he watched with tired eyes as Hilde crossed over to his side wearily.
Hilde leaned against Duo and began to cry softly, feeling his left arm wrap around her back and hug her close. She'd just come from Heero's room, and things didn't look too good for him. "Oh God, Duo. None of this was supposed to happen. It wasn't supposed to happen."
Holding her closer still, Duo leaned down and kissed her forehead. Sighing, the young man spoke softly to her. "I know, Hilde. But everything's going to be all right, I swear it." Closing his eyes, he prayed that his words would prove to be true. "Hilde, please tell me, how is Heero doing?"
Hilde pulled away, but couldn't even look Duo in the eyes. If she hadn't tried to play matchmaker, to be so secretive, none of this would have happened! She would have been home to stop the fire, or to at least get Heero out of the house. That or Duo could have done it, for it was she who sent him out to get Relena, Milliardo, and Lucretzia from the airport. "I'm so sorry Duo. If I hadn't tried to play cupid, then none of this would have happened! It's my fault, and I'm so sorry...." Looking into his hurt eyes, she broke down again and began to cry without the ability to restrain her emotions.
Duo watched her cry, disbelief and pain in his eyes. "Oh God, no. No! It isn't your fault Hilde, you were only doing what you could to help these guys out! None of this is anyone's fault, we couldn't have predicted this. It's not your fault, and I love you so much. God Hilde, don't blame yourself for something you couldn't control. Shh, it's okay, everything's going to be all right...." Taking her back into his embrace, he disregarded the tears that soaked through his shirt as he held onto her, whispering soft assurances to the distraught young woman.
Trowa jumped out of the cab, running into the front doors of the hospital. Since there last show was actually on Earth and they were only about twenty miles from Duo and Hilde's home, Trowa was going to stop by and surprise them. Especially since Heero was with them. Lucretzia had gotten in touch with his sister, Cathy, and told her about what had happened only an hour before. Cathy had immediately relayed the information to Trowa and he was on his way in seconds, Maria staying back with Cathy and the manager giving him consent to leave. Sprinting to the front desk, Trowa stopped and looked at the startled, middle aged woman in urgency. "I'm looking for my friends, Duo Maxwell and Heero Yuy? They just came in about an hour or so ago, a house fire?"
The nurse's gaze turned to one of pity. "Mr. Maxwell is being treated in Room 5, just down the hall. Mr. Yuy is in the intensive care unit, the next floor up. He's in Room 132 A."
Dr. McGowan, called in because of the house fire, trudged into the nurse's station with weary steps. Heero had come in quite often, he was actually a frequent visitor against his own will and a mystery to all of the doctors and nurses in the region. Yet, they'd never expected something like this to happen to the young man, nothing this severe. All he hoped now was that he would pull through it as he had done with his other illnesses. Hearing a young man call urgently across the front desk perked his curiosity and upon hearing Heero's name, he was compelled to enter. "Can I help you sir?"
Trowa didn't want to have to wait. "I'm looking for my friends, Duo Maxwell and Heero Yuy, they..." he was cut off with a nod from the doctor.
"I know who you are talking about, come, this way.." and he led the young adult to Duo's room.
Duo looked up upon hearing footsteps stop outside of the door, he found them to belong to a tired Dr. McGowan and a very worried Trowa. Smiling slightly, he motioned for Trowa to enter as the doctor left. "Hey Trowa. Whatcha doin' here?"
"Is everyone all right Duo? What happened?"
"I don't know, it's kind of a long story, I'll explain it all later. We were gonna go up and see how Heero's fairing." Letting Hilde pull away from him and dry her tears, he smiled at her. "It's going to be okay, I swear it will. No matter what, we've pulled through everything together, and we will again."
~*~
Relena sat at Heero's bedside, holding his hand and looking into his pale face. Her tears had long since run dry, the awful truth replaced by a useless hope. "Everything's going to be all right, my love. Everything's going to be all right..."
Milliardo watched his sister in pity, for she didn't want to acknowledge the truth, and so she stayed in a world of her own. Letting his gaze fall to the once invincible pilot, he took in what had actually happened. Bandages covered his eyes, his arms wrapped in the white cloth, his form, so weak and fragile. A large tube ran in through his mouth, snaking it's way down his throat and into his lungs so as to help him breathe, numerous I.V.'s running up and down his arms. A heart monitor beeped rhythmically by his side, his pulse soft but true with the help of the other numerous machines surrounding him. "God, please let him be all right, for Relena's sake." He prayed silently for a miracle, for Heero's unresponsiveness had given the doctors only one prognosis, he'd fallen into a coma. By the looks of it, this was going to last longer than a few days. Footsteps coming down the hallway made Milliardo turn, his eyes catching sight of Duo, Hilde, and Trowa. Giving them a small smile, he left the doorway of Heero's room and walked toward them.
Duo looked at Milliardo's weary form, knowing that something wasn't right. "What's wrong?" Wrapping his arm around Hilde's waist, he looked into Milliardo's blue eyes, for they held a great regret.
"Sit down." He only motioned for the others to take a seat in the chairs next to Noin's sleeping form. She had fallen asleep on a small couch, his coat covering over her shoulders. When Duo and the others had taken a seat, Milliardo began to speak softly. "He's not in the best of shape and Relena's sitting with him right now."
"What's wrong with Heero?" Trowa awaited somewhat impatiently for an answer, but knew the others were tired and worn from the day. Yet, he was worried about his friends.
Sighing, the Prince of the Cinq Kingdom continued. "He's got a lot of burns covering his arms and legs, but nothing too major. The worst are a couple of second degree burns. He's on a ventilator now, a lot of smoke invaded his lungs and he was having a lot of trouble breathing on his own, besides the fact that some of the cilia in his throat have been damaged. He's suffered from a minor concussion, though surprisingly it wasn't something more. The doctors aren't sure yet, but there's been some damage to his eyes and he may lose his eyesight." Milliardo sat down in a chair across from the three, the two young men looking on in disbelief and Hilde lowering her gaze in knowing the harsh truth.
Duo stared at the prince, letting everything slowly sink in. What had Heero ever done to deserve this? "There's something your not telling us."
Trowa thought for a moment, then tried to dispel the truth from his mind. No, this couldn't be happening, not to his friends. The war was over, everything was supposed to be fine! "Just tell us, Milliardo. We'll find out sooner or later." His voice spoke softly as he lowered his gaze to his hands.
Nodding solemnly, he continued on. "There is one more thing. The doctors don't know how long it will last, but it looks like it's going to last longer that just a few days. He's not only on the ventilator for having trouble breathing, it's breathing for him in full. They said that on the way to the hospital, he gave up again. He....he's fallen into a coma." An eerie silence fell on the four.
Duo's jaw nearly dropped to the floor, his eyes wide in disbelief. "N- no... no, they've got to be wrong. That can't happen to him.... there's gotta be some mistake!"
Trowa closed his eyes, accepting the harsh reality rather ironically compared to Duo's defiance. "Oh God..." he whispered, clasping his hands together and praying silently for a miracle. The war was over, the tragedies were supposed to stay there, not follow them through the rest of life.
"You might want to go in and see him now, but don't say anything about this to Relena. She's taking it hard enough as it is, and when I tried to explain it to her, she just thought I was joking and returned to gazing at Heero. She's in her own mind now, in her own world. I don't want to hurt her right now, so I think it would be best if she stayed in her own little world for the time being." Milliardo stood with some effort, his legs tired and each step he took was sluggish. But he couldn't sleep now, he had to watch over his sister. And still, to make things worse, his ribs, still bruised, were beginning to bother him. Yes, whoever said that being born of nobility was a privilege was absolutely wrong and should be shot.
~*~
Quatre entered the hospital, the first rays of morning just beginning to peek out over the horizon. He'd come as soon as Trowa had gotten a hold of him. In truth, the young aristocrat had thought that there must be some mistake and that it was a lie, but his heart told him that he was needed. Nearing the front desk, he found Wufei waiting, his black eyes holding regret and sadness. "Where is everyone, Wufei?"
The proud warrior now filled with grief, looked at his kind-hearted friend. "They're upstairs with Heero, follow me." Turning, he headed toward the elevator, too tired to take the stairs which were faster. He'd gotten there around midnight and had just finished another eight hour watch before that on the preventer surveillance craft. Sally stayed to cover his shifts, Lady Une having given him leave.
Quatre followed, his heart sinking upon seeing the sign in the hallway leading to Heero's room. In bold letters it read, 'Intensive Care Unit'. "Wufei, is everyone all right?"
"Heero was injured the worst, and from what Trowa's told me, he's got numerous burns, a minor concussion, possible loss of his eyesight, and he's fallen into a coma." Wufei stopped at hearing Quatre's steps stop abruptly.
Quatre stood in the hallway in disbelief. His breath caught in his throat, his mind not wanting to take in what Wufei had just told him. "Wh-what?"
Wufei took his friend's shoulders into his hands, steadying him as he began to sway on his feet. "Come on Quatre, it's just down here."
Walking along the rest of the length of the hallway to the room, his mind was in a whirlwind of thoughts. "There's got to be some mistake." Letting his friend lead him down the hall, he came upon Heero's room and gazed in. He nearly screamed out in incredulity as he found Heero lying in the bed, various machines connected to him as numerous I.V.'s ran into his arms. His eyes were covered with bandages as were his arms. "My Lord...." Looking around the rest of the room, Trowa was crossing over to them, Relena sat next to Heero's still form, Hilde was leaning against Duo as the two slept, though Duo's arm was in a sling, and Milliardo held Lucretzia as they slept in a couple of chairs positioned in the opposite corner of the room.
Trowa nodded to Wufei to take the chair he'd been sitting in as he neared the two. "You just get in Quatre?"
Wufei sighed and took it, his legs ready to give out on him. He wanted to go to sleep, his eyelids heavy, but he forced himself to remain awake. "Do either of you know what time it is?"
Quatre looked down wearily at his watch. "It's nearly 6:30 in the morning." Giving a soft smile at hearing Wufei's exasperated groan. "You guys seem to have been up longer than I have and are more tired as well. Even the both of you can't hide it. Get some sleep, I can watch over Heero and Relena."
Wufei didn't argue, but instead closed his eyes. He only planned on closing them for a minute, but when he tried to open them once more, he couldn't. Within moments, the proud warrior was asleep at last.
Quatre gave an approving smile as he watched Wufei fall asleep, for he was extremely tired and deserved to rest. "You should get some sleep too, Trowa."
Shaking his head, Trowa walked with his friend over to Relena's side. "I already tried, and still to no avail. God, this scene looks so familiar." Chuckling softly to himself, Trowa remembered the time when he and Heero had first met. Heero'd self-detonated Wing and nearly killed himself, but Trowa was there and took him into his care, mostly to put Quatre at ease and to help his kind friend. He and Quatre met and became friends after nearly becoming involved in a battle that could have destroyed Trowa, for he was a bit out-numbered.
Quatre gave a small chuckle as well, looking over Heero's unconscious form. "Yah, I guess it does. How's he been Relena."
Relena looked up with innocent eyes, still in a world of her own. "Everything's going to be fine. He's sleeping right now, he's really tired. When he wakes up, everything is going to be all right again. He's going to be happy to see you, he misses you guys." With a child-like smile, Relena gazed up at Trowa and Quatre.
Trowa nodded. "That's good, Relena. Tell him to take all the time he needs so that he can rest, okay?" He felt weird speaking to her as if she were a little girl, but right now, that's pretty much what she was.
Quatre looked at the once sophisticated princess with depressed gaze. She wasn't herself, but so much more like a vulnerable child. "Take care of him, okay?" Giving her a small smile upon receiving a vigorous nod from the princess, Quatre looked sadly over Heero's form once more before heading over to the window. Looking out upon the snowy ground as the sun's rays danced over the flakes, making them glimmer in the morning air, he sighed. He sincerely hoped that everything would be all right.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~Lady Stardancer
Author's Note:
Hey all, sorry this is kinda melancholy and everything, but I wrote this chapter with my heart. I tried to show the true strength of friendship, and the goodness and compassion in everyone's heart. This one is for my friends, I could never have done anything without you, you always believed in me and never let me give up, even when I wanted to. I'm grateful for all of you and everything you've ever done for me. Thanks!
Look for Chapter 11, Wondrous Miracle or Tormenting Curse? Please review and tell me how you liked this, the cliffhanger has been resolved!