NIGHTMARE
Wufei drove like a madman, fury and fear warring in his chest, taking his breath, clouding his vision, bringing a snarl to his lips at anyone who dared to bar his way. Fury at himself and others burning through him, and mind numbing fear for Duo crushing him. Over and over , he heard repeated in his mind Trowa's broken voice. "Wufei! Wufei it's - Duo. We're going to St. Mary's Wufei. Hurry."
God. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel remembering Quatre's voice in the background, piping in: "It was a stupid photographer Wufei He cut off another car. It swerved, clipping Duo's bike. He flew so –"
Quatre's voice cut off then, as Trowa said, " St. Mary's Wufei. Be careful getting there. Please."
Wufei didn't remember dropping the phone. Falling into the chair. He didn't remember the alarm of those near him, at his reaction. Didn't remember running to his car, voices crying out behind him. He'd only come to himself just a few moments ago recognizing that he was near the hospital. He pulled into the ER drive, the tires of the Porsche squealing as he lurched to a stop partly over the sidewalk.
"hey! You can't park there" a deep voice called out. Wufei ignored it, rushing inside to almost collide with a compact, blonde young man. "Fei!" Quatre stood in his way, grabbing his arms.
"Move!" Wufei growled,
"Fei! He's in surgery. Look at me." Wufei snarled down at Quatre, fully intending to shove him aside when he felt a strong hand on his shoulder.
"Wufei." Trowa said. That voice again, Wufei snapped his head to the left, glimpsing one solemn,emerald eye regarding him from behind a mess of bangs, just as the security goon came in barking, "Look you! You can't park there."
Quatre unclenched Wufei's right fist. "It's ok officer." He soothed, "I'll move the car."
"Hmph! Well. Someone better." The man led the way back out through the double doors indifferent to the pain and fear radiating from Wufei. Wufei watched him go, still dazed, still not having responded to Trowa.
As the guard and Quatre went out the door, Wufei caught the flash of a camera. Eyes widened, muscles locked then... rippled... as a shudder rocked him. Camera flash! Wufei shoved Trowa aside as he lunged toward that light. "Fei!" Trowa cried, "Wait!"
Wufei heard nothing but Quatre's voice again *** "a photographer, cut off another car, clipped his bike" *** Wufei saw nothing, blind in his fury.
Deaf and blind to anything but the cameras across the drive from the entrance. "You!" he roared. "YOU did this! Which of you was it? Which one?" he felt arms snap around his chest and holding him back. He heard his name "Fei! Fei! Stop! Wait!"
He struggled, livid, unable to speak, wanting nothing more than to smash every camera there, destroy every flash. "Wufei." a calm voice penetrated his rage. "Wufei. If you continue they are going to arrest or sedate you. Or both. And then you won't be here for Duo."
It was like a bucket of ice water poured over him. He froze, completely still. He took in the wide, panicked eyes of the man in front of him, just out of reach, the dead silence broken only by his own harsh panting, and the heavy breathing of Heero behind him.
Treize's calm, but pain tightened voice, cut through the ice from just behind on the right. "Come. Leave these vultures. We will deal with them, but Duo needs you first. Come inside."
Wufei's tunnel vision began to clear, letting him take in the radio raised security guard near his Porsche, Quatre still standing wide eyed in the driver's door. Both he and the guard seeming unsure if they should move.
Wufei turned his head and found Zechs and Treize on his right, felt the death grip Heero held him in from behind. Then suddenly Heero's grip wasn't holding him back, but holding him up.
"Fei!" Heero, caught off guard, almost dropped himself, caught under Wufei's sudden sinking weight. Trowa rushed forward from Wufei's left, lending support.
"Come inside Wufei." Heero's voice spoke in his ear. "He's in surgery Wufei. He's going to be ok. He'll survive. It's not as bad as we'd thought. He'll be ok."
Heero tightened his grip, holding for a moment until he felt Wufei get his feet under him. Wufei shook, trembling so hard he almost couldn't see. He took a deep breath and turned to Heero, desperate panic in his wide eyes. "Ok?... you... You know this?... Ok?"
"yes Wufei. I swear. I don't know everything, but they told us it's not as bad as we first thought. It's not going to be overnight, but he will be ok. Let's go in, talk to the doctors, huh?"
"Yes Wufei " Again, Treize's calm, but hard, cold voice, cut in. Wufei turned and took in Treize and Zechs next to him. Zechs' face, pain there, and anger as deep as his own.
He took in Treize's supportive arm around Zechs' waist as though he lent his own strength to hold Zechs up, his own face cold, eyes glaring ice. Zechs saw the lucidity return to Wufei's eyes and smiled.
A small warm smile that turned as cold and hard as the tone that crept into his voice as he turned to the watching reporters, standing transfixed, cameras forgotten as they took in the rage and pain that was Wufei.
Zechs' cold smile seemed to frighten those closest to the front of the pack as he addressed them, and they stepped back, just slightly. "Gentlemen. As you are obviously aware, Duo Maxwell was injured tonight in a wreck. While right now we are not sure if the one responsible is among you, rest assured we will find out. You have taken an occasion of joy and" his voice broke, just for a fraction, "turned it into misery."
He stopped, swallowed, and took a deep breath. He glared flat out. No ice now, not a cold glare, but boiling rage to match Wufei's own. "Leave. Us. Alone. LEAVE. Go away. Come back tomorrow."
His glare dropped back to the ice, another deep breath. "Come back tomorrow. But for now, we are done with you."
Zechs turned and took Wufei's arm. Heero kept hold of the other and together they guided Wufei back into the hospital. Quatre, having parked the Porsche, met them at the door and shielded Wufei's back as the group of reporters shook off their stupor and a few again raised their cameras, catching a glimpse of the fear that began to overwhelm the group as they re-entered the hospital. The determination and fear on the faces of the men that supported and surrounded Wufei as they prepared to learn the fate of the one that meant so much to them.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
As the group entered under the concerned, quickly averted gazes of the other families waiting in the emergency room, Luc and Mei stepped forward. Relena remained quietly in the background near the complimentary coffee.
Quatre made his way over, putting an arm around Relena's waist, taking a cup of coffee with a soft smile as Wufei brought a pale, shaking, red eyed Mei into his arms. He buried his face into the top of her head as the conversation continued around them.
"Anything?" Heero asked Luc quietly. "No" he sighed, a hand raking through his hair. "They told me it'd be best to take Mei home and keep an eye on her but-"
He was cut off as Wufei's head snapped up and his glare paralyzed any further words in Luc's throat. "Mei?" he snapped, his hold tightening around her as her trembling increased, "what's wrong with Mei?" Wufei rasped.
Trowa's hand came to rest on Wufei's shoulder. "She's fine Wufei he said calmly as Luc nodded, "She went into a little shock at the scene. We..." Trowa's voice cracked, and he cleared his throat before going on, "we all saw the – the crash."
Wufei's eyes flew wide and he looked around to the faces surrounding him, "you... you saw?" he whispered. Mei's shaking had slowed, and at the raw pain in Wufei's voice at the question, her arms came up until she held his biceps. She leaned back a bit, causing Wufei to look down into her eyes, streaming as she cried silently.
"Wufei "she whispered, "Duo... Duo was..." she shook her head. "they wouldn't let me see" her eyes got a faraway look as she went on. "After the... car, I – I was afraid he... but, he's gonna be ok" her gaze refocused on Wufei's if a little frantically.
"The nurse, she ... she helped me, she brought me coffee, and blankets, and... She said, she said he'll be ok. He's hurt Wufei but, he's gonna be ok" she leaned into his chest again, wrapping her arms tightly about his waist, "he flew so far Wufei she sobbed now, "god! I was so scared... and he was so still... so quiet. Even when Quatre tied the belt on his leg-"
Zechs stepped forward now. All eyes were on Wufei who'd gone impossibly pale and was now shaking himself. "Mei," Zechs said quietly, easing Wufei's hold on her, focusing her attention on his own face, desperate to get her to stop talking, "Shh Mei. It's ok." He spoke calmly, slowly. "Luc's gonna take you home now sweetheart. The medicine they gave you is gonna make you tired. You know Duo's gonna recover, so you go on home with Luc and let him take care of you. We'll call as soon as we know something."
Zechs raised pleading eyes to Luc. Knowing he would want to be there to hear for himself Duo's condition, but determined to get her out of here, right now.
Luc nodded and stepped forward. "Mei love, come on. Let me take you home. Get you warm. After you've slept a bit we'll come back, ok? Come on" he coaxed her from Wufei's unresisting embrace, concerned as much for the ashen faced Asian as for his own little princess.
Zechs stepped forward to take Wufei's hands into his own, forcing Wufei to look at him. "Wufei" he said firmly as Luc led a subdued, pliant Mei away. "Wufei. I swear. It sounds bad, and I won't lie, he's hurt. But... it's fixable. They wouldn't lie about that. Do you hear me Wufei"
Zechs searched Wufei's face for clarity. Trowa and Heero stepped up from each side, and Treize came up behind to form a cocoon around Wufei. Finally the warmth penetrated and Wufei searched out Zechs' eyes. "Zechs?" he asked quietly.
"I promise Wufei. Fixable. The doctors should be coming soon. At this point, no news is good news. If, if it were too desperate they would have asked for decisions before now."
Wufei nodded, taking a deep breath, running his hands over his face. Quatre came forward then. "Here Wufei." He placed a warm cup into Wufei's hands, "Sit down, take a deep breath. I'll see if I can get something out of the nurses. I already got some of the paperwork started."
Wufei glanced up at Quatre as he sat on the bench they lowered him to "Thank you Quatre." He said quietly.
Quatre nodded and made his way to the admissions desk to turn in the first portion of the endless paperwork. After a few moments, enough time that Wufei had finished his coffee, just as Quatre had returned from the desk near the entrance, the double doors at the end of the room opened. A haggard looking man came into the room, mask dangling from his neck, scrubs rumpled and smeared with blood, hair net hat in one hand. "Family of Maxwell?" he asked, scanning the room.
On petite blonde woman and six men stood as one as a few gasps of recognition sounded around the room. The other patrons seeming to realize and recognize the group that they'd instinctively given the privacy of sufferers moments before.
The doctor's eyes lit upon the group and a light of recognition made him step forward. "Mr. Barton? Mister Yuy?" he asked. As Trowa stepped to the forefront, a soft voice was heard from across the room, "It IS GUNDAM..." someone whispered.
"Gentlemen." The doctor intoned solemnly. "You came in with Mr. Maxwell, did you not?" Wufei's blood ran ice cold in his veins at the obvious fatigue and air of ... warning, that emanated from the doctor. "Duo" Wufei rasped, unable to stop himself. "please... doctor"
The doctor turned his gaze to Wufei "and you are?" he asked quietly. "Wufei -" Wufei began but Zechs stepped in.
"This is Wufei Duo's partner. If you check your database you'll find a few names listed as next of kin, emergency contacts. Aside from Wufei you'll find Duo's bandmates," he gestured to the men anxiously surrounding them, "and myself, Zechs Marquis, now Kruschenada. Trowa Barton and Heero Yuy gave information to the EMTs on scene, and Quatre WInner filled out some paperwork already. We understand the EMTs may have been overly cautious in their prognosis due to the excessive bleeding at the scene"
Wufei moaned, "please doctor. Tell us something... please, say Duo's alright."
The doctor glanced around the avid faces of the group, then glanced around the room now obviously aware of the conversation. He sighed. "Given the severity and nature of Mr. Maxwell's injuries, and the sensitive nature of his... employment, perhaps we should take this elsewhere, somewhere more discreet." He stopped. "I believe there were others with your group?" He asked.
Trowa answered, "The others have gone home. We all... witnessed the injury. A young woman with us was overcome. She's been taken home to rest."
"Very well." The doctor said. "Follow me." He turned back to the double doors but was stopped by Wufei's hand shooting out to grab his arm. "Wait" Wufei's breathless cry tore from his heart. "Wait, please. Just... Please."
He took a deep breath, ranei his other hand through his hair and visibly collected himself. "Please." His voice was slightly more steady now. "Just tell me he'll be ok. Just... tell me you're not taking us back there to..."
The doctor recognized the early shock, the grief threatening to overwhelm Wufei. His compassion welled and compelled him to step forward. He took Wufei by the shoulders. "Mr. Maxwell is out of danger now. He is seriously injured, but he is in recovery and will not awaken for some time. At least a few hours. Let us take this apart from here and discuss the details of his injuries."
He turned away and the group followed quietly, Zechs and Trowa each with a hand on Wufei's arms. Wufei worked to get a grip on his terror, the numbness beginning to take over now. But, it didn't escape his attention, nor Zechs', that the Dr. didn't say "he'll be ok" he only said, "out of danger"
Wufei began to steel himself for whatever the man was going to tell them. They entered a small quiet room with a medium sized table in the center of the room, soft chairs lined the walls, decorated in soothing shades of blue and grey. Thick, sound muffling carpet of a dark grey completed the look, and boxes of tissues were placed in strategic locations around the room.
Wufei took a deep breath and immediately wished he hadn't. The hospital smells invaded his senses, bringing too many memories to mind. He stiffened, then shuddered
"ok?" Zechs asked quietly, still holding Wufei's upper arm. He steered Wufei toward the table and seated him at the chair the end of the side closest to the door. The Dr stood behind the seat at the end of the table, better to face the group.
Zechs sat next to Wufei sliding his hand down to grip Wufei's tightly without being asked. Treize sat at Zechs' left. Trowa sat across from Wufei with Heero at his side. Quatre and Relena sat in the two chairs on the wall, close behind Zechs and Treize.
A young nurse, petite with jet black hair, had led the group to the consultation room and now hovered in the doorway. "Nurse Jameson," the doctor said, "Unless Mr. Maxwell awakes or there is some urgent problem, please do not disturb us." He glanced around and turned back to her, "I would recommend preparations be made as well as we discussed earlier. I have noted transfer details in Mr. Maxwell's chart."
"Very well doctor." She nodded and left, closing the door quietly. The doctor seated himself and took a deep breath and a sip from the water bottle the nurse had placed at his seat before leaving. As the doctor consulted the folder in front of him Wufei again felt that nameless dread filling him.
"Something is wrong" he whispered to Zechs, unconsciously gripping his hand tighter. "There's something he's not saying."
Wufei kept his eyes locked on the doctor's face. Dread growing, he could wait no longer, and leaned forward, "something is wrong," he repeated louder, "What is it doctor? Something..." he snarled, eyes going cold, "tell me." He demanded, "what is it?"
The doctor sighed and locked his gaze to Wufei's. "The EMTs were somewhat more dire than perhaps was warranted, given the amount of blood however, I understand their caution." He ran a hand over his face, and looked around.
"Mr. Maxwell was thrown from his motorcycle" his voice hardened on the word motorcycle, "luckily he landed on the hood of the car that clipped him before he fell to the pavement. Also, luckily, Mr. Maxwell had he sense to wear a helmet. Unluckily, his helmet strap apparently broke when he hit the hood, catching on some piece of metal or something. It didn't tear completely loose, but appears that it was askew when he struck the pavement. This misalignment caused the edge of the helmet to cut into the back of his head. There was excessive bleeding below his right ear, as head wounds are want to do, and a loss of consciousness. A blessing given the several broken bones on his left side."
The doctor stopped as a collective gasp/hiss filled the room. The doctor closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "forgive me. That came out worse than it could have."
He opened his eyes and began again. "Mr. Maxwell is seriously injured, but it could have been much, much worse." He focused on Wufei's pale, stoic face. "He had a dislocated left shoulder, that has been remedied. He has four broken ribs on the left side, and a broken clavicle. His knee was wrenched, but not torn or dislocated, only a severe sprain. His left lower leg and ankle are broken. Fortunately, the riding boots he wore effectively immobilized the joint with the swelling."
He paused, "we had to cut the boot off. In my experience with bikers, this will not please him. However, he should be grateful. Due to the joint being immobilized within the boot, the injury was less severe than it could have been. His lower leg is very badly bruised, aside from the break. Had he not been wearing some effective protective gear he well could have lost the leg between knee and ankle. There was one very serious laceration just below the knee that would have continued further down the leg had those boots not been as high as they were. Bye the way, the quick thinking of whichever of you applied the belt may well have saved his life. The artery was not severed, but it was nicked. This also was repaired in surgery."
A breath, a sip from the water, and the doctor continued into the silence. "We surgically repaired the break, it will be a while, but he will regain full use of his leg, and he will walk again."
Wufei's eyes widened and he leaned forward, paler even than before. "The injury is that severe, he could have-"
"It very well could have been. But, again, Mr. Maxwell was very, very fortunate. He has no spinal injuries, and no neurological impairment of any serious significance." He paused here and let that sink in.
Then he leaned forward, intent. "Before you ask, let me allay your fears. There is a possibility of neurological damage, of a relatively minor nature. We know there is no visual impairment, or speech. There is fluid and swelling, caused by the impact. Concussion, obviously. This may impact balance and or coordination for a time.
But again, the bed rest that will be implicit with the fractures, and the obvious need for assistance for a time, should resolve this before it can actually be an issue."
He stopped, taking a drink from his water bottle, letting the young men watching him so intently digest the injuries he'd covered so far.
His gaze again settled on Wufei who'd never taken his eyes off the doctor. Wufei knew, there was more...
"Tell me doctor." Wufei's voice was hoarse in the quiet. "I know there is something else... Tell me, please. No. Tell US. Whatever it is, tell us. We are all the family Duo has. We need to know."
The doctor sighed and rubbed his temples, obviously tired. He took a moment to look at each face, "there is... the possibility... of some memory loss. This is not uncommon following a head trauma. However, from my observation, this scenario may be a little more serious than not knowing what day it is, or what city you're in. At this point it appears there is some amnesia. How severe, or the permanency is impossible to judge at this time. Obviously, he has not had much time awake when he was not in severe pain and disoriented. However, there was a period of time that he was aware in the trauma room before he was taken into surgery. One of the orderlies recognized him and mentioned his singing for a band, GUNDAM."
He paused here, waiting for the others to nod, then he continued, quietly. "He did not seem to understand and appeared confused. He corrected the orderly that while he sings in a band with friends, it wasn't called GUNDAM."
The gasps from Zechs, Trowa, Quatre and Heero were loud and sharp. "Wh – what?" Heero asked.
"Again, his confusion may resolve quickly, but I wanted to prepare you should he not recognize some of you when he wakes." The doctor trailed off, taking in the shocked faces.
Again he focused on Wufei who had gone yet even more pale, his grip on Zechs' hand so tight his knuckles were white. He trembled, eyes huge, swallowing repeatedly, but unable to speak.
The doctor's gaze softened. "If I may ask a few questions." He said softly. Wufei nodded, sharply, once. "You are his partner?" again Wufei nodded, completely unable to speak around the ice gripping his heart.
"Your name is Wufei" the doctor turned to Zechs now, "and your name?" he asked.
"Zechs." Zechs answered. "ah, Zechs?"
"y –yes" Zechs sputtered, "why?"
"That is the name Mr. Maxwell called out during his moments of lucidity, Zechs. A few times he asked us to call Zechs. You are a friend of some duration?"
"yes," Zechs answered. "Duo and I have been friends since childhood.
"very well," the doctor nodded. "Given the length of your friendship and his obviously knowing who you are, I would suggest you be the first to see him.
Wufei's breath hitched, and the doctor returned his eyes to Wufei. He reached over to touch Wufei's hand. "Wufei the trauma could very well have caused Duo to temporarily regress. It is not uncommon for adults to call for their parents in such a situation. If he and Zechs have known each other for so long, it is not surprising he would call for him. If he has forgotten his current band, or where in time he is, it does not mean he has forgotten you. And, again, this is likely temporary in any case."
Zechs cleared his throat, and the room's attention focused on him. "This group is the only band Duo's ever been with. They just weren't always called GUNDAM..." Zechs sighed. "They went by various names, unable to settle on one that captured them. A while ago, God, a few months after high school, a friend of ours was killed. Jason GUNDAM. It was... it doesn't matter now. Anyway, the group chose his name in memoriam, and it was shortly after that decision that things began to develop for the band. If Duo has... regressed, to a point that the group is not called GUNDAM, he's gone back at least seven years."
Zechs' grip on Wufei's hand flexed as he glanced to Wufei then back to the doctor. "This was ... before Wufei." he said quietly.
The doctor sat back, taking in Wufei's obvious distress. "You have been together for some time? Exclusive?" at Wufei's shaky nod the doctor sighed and shook his head.
"I am sure there will be no getting you, any of you most likely, to leave. Mr. Maxwell is being relocated to a private room once he is stable. Given his celebrity status, it is best that he be kept from the general rooms. We often deal with people of notoriety, and we prefer peace when possible during recovery. Given the likelihood of visitors being recognized, and harassed, when dealing with high profile patients, those patients are located in a secluded wing, with access from the garage parking area. This should reduce press interference.
I have arranged an empty room next door to Mr. Maxwell to accommodate your group. I'm afraid there are only two beds and a roll out cot, but I am sure you can come to some arrangement. I have also had a roll cot and a recliner placed in Mr. Maxwell's room. Closeness is essential at this stage for his recovery, and I imagine for your peace of mind as well."
The doctor stood. "I will have Nurse Jameson escort you to the fourth floor where Mr. Maxwell will be placed soon. You can wait here. He is medicated for now, purposely, and will not awaken for" he glanced at his watch, "at least another four hours. I suggest you get what rest you can. Perhaps some can gather items of comfort and, I assume given who he is, someone will arrange for a press conference."
"I'll handle that" Relena spoke for the first time. "I'll set up a conference where you can tell them he's alive, and recovering, and NOTHING else." Relena's voice hardened. "Then, I'll make sure they stay away."
Trowa spoke up. "I'll talk to you about that Relena." He stood as well, reaching to shake the doctor's hand. "Thank you doctor. For everything."
The doctor shook Trowa's hand and gave Wufei another long look. "Very well gentlemen. My name is Dr. Brice. I will be in charge of Mr. Maxwell's care for the duration of his stay. When you are ready for the press, please have the nurse's desk contact me. I assume it will be handled this morning?" he glanced between Relena and Trowa.
Trowa nodded, "Yeah, it's, God, close to dawn now... say about... two hours? Does that work for your schedule?"
"Barring any emergencies, that is fine. Less disruption for the hospital. After morning rounds then. Say, 7:30? I'll complete my rounds and meet you in the press area. I'll have the charge nurse show you. Until then."
He stepped toward the door. "Nurse Jameson will be here shortly to escort you to the fourth floor rooms." He left the room, the soft click of the door's latch echoing as they sat there...
Trowa pushed his chair back, "Come on Relena, let's walk a bit, get some coffee, and we'll discuss that conference."
"Trowa. Wait" Wufei's flat voice filled the room. "Have you spoken with the police? Do... do we know who the reporter was, or who they worked for? Anything?"
"No Wufei" Trowa sighed, controlling his anger. "Not yet. They're supposed to interview some other witnesses, and some who called in too, and get back to me. Don't worry. We've seen the Nissan before. We'll catch the bastards. The press conference will be with the cops, and channel 8 and 10 only. I'm not about to allow any of those idiots to profit from this if at all possible."
Trowa paused, then reached out to clasp Wufei's shoulder. "We'll get through this Wufei. We're family. Take care of him Zechs." Trowa nodded to Zechs and Treize. "You guys take care of Wufei and Duo. Let us take care of the rest."
Heero stood then, "Wufei." he said quietly, waiting for Wufei to raise his head. "I'm gonna go by your place, get some things, okay? I'll swing by Gage's too, while I'm out. I'll get you a change of clothes, maybe... maybe some... pictures? Or something?"
"That's a good idea Heero. Really" Zechs answered for Wufei who, while he looked at Heero, seemed unable to respond. "Wufei" Zechs asked quietly, "Are there any certain photos or things you want?"
"I-" Wufei stopped, cleared his throat and took a deep, breath. Then another. "I can't think Heero. I'm sorry" he looked up. Then to Quatre. "You have my keys?" he asked Quatre, who nodded. "Ok. Maybe, maybe the picture of all of us from the tour bus. That one in the front room. And, maybe the one of Duo and I from Christmas? The one in the hall? And... the" he cleared his throat, blushed lightly, and held Heero's gaze, "there's a picture on Duo's nightstand. Of me. He," Wufei closed his eyes, "he loves that stupid picture."
"I got it Wufei. We'll be back" Heero leaned over and kissed Trowa quickly, then looked to Quatre who stood and followed him from the room. Trowa and Relena left then as well, Relena already opening her cell.
The three who remained, Wufei Zechs, and Treize, sat quietly for a moment before Wufei's hands came to cover his face as he started to rock back and forth and the harsh sobs tore from him. Zechs reached and pulled Wufei into his side, Treize coming around to the other side to envelope both men in his warm, strong arms.
"He'll be ok. He will" Zechs soothed. "Duo's strong. And he loves you Wufei. With a love so strong. He won't forget you. Not completely. I swear. It may take a while to get things on track, but you are a part of his soul. It's going to be ok Wufei."
After a time Wufei was able to bring himself under control. Exhausted, he slumped against Zechs. "God Zechs." He rasped, "I... I don't know what to do."
"We're here Wufei. All of us. We'll carry you through this. Together, we'll all carry each other through." Wufei sat up, glancing up at Treize who held out a damp cloth and a cup of coffee. Wufei washed his face and took a sip of the coffee.
As he sat back, the door opened. "Gentlemen," the petite nurse from earlier entered the room. "If you'll follow me, Mr. Maxwell has been relocated to his room."
The three stood, and fortifying themselves, followed her down the hall...