Disclaimer – If you recognise it… I don't own it.
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Quatre's POV
I froze at the lawyer's words. Only one thought running through my head:
'They had taken Duo from us?'
I turned to face my lover, and saw only the mask he had erected. Cautiously I reached out with my Space Heart. I felt his guilt, his anger, his pain, his grief and his feeling of utter uselessness.
"It was pointed out to me, by the Defence," The Judge spoke up, "That the Prosecution may attempt to bias or lead the witness. The Defence asked that I place the witness into their care."
As one we turned to face the Defence and looked at their proud and smug faces. If they had Duo, then it was all over. We would not allow him to be harmed. And I could see what the others could not. In Trowa's hand he held a zip-lock bag containing a small section of scalp tissue, a lock of hair and one chestnut, plastic locator beacon.
"However, I realized that the same statement could also be true in reverse." The Judge continued, "Therefore I have place Mister Maxwell into UESN care, at an undisclosed location, where he will be receiving all the care needed."
The Conspirators' faces fell. Duo was safe from them. But he was also out of our care.
"I have also taken the liberty of having his medication regime looked at. As it seems that the usual recommended doses have been ignored in his case. Whether by accident or deliberate sabotage for his care, I do not know. And would request a separate investigation after this trial."
That statement riled Sally up, and Wufei had to extend a hand to stop her from jumping to her feet. Sally takes her job very seriously. To imply inadequacy in her treatment, or worse still neglect of her Hippocratic Oath, is a personal insult to her.
Right then, we did not need Sally attacking the Judge.
We sat through the rest of the day's court. We didn't talk to each other. But with every moment that passed, I could feel the tension between us building.
Personally I was amazed that we managed to get all the way back to my place, where we were mainly staying, before Heero blew up.
"You let them take Duo?" He yelled.
"It's not like I had a choice in the matter." Trowa replied.
"You could have done something!"
"What exactly?" Trowa fired back, "Fight?"
"You did during the War!"
"In the War, I could of counted on Duo backing me up." Trowa growled, "In the War, I could have killed them. During the War, I was fully armed. During the War, I didn't try to fight in a hospital, while my friend was lying unconscious in a bed behind me."
"You could have grabbed him and run!"
"How? He had a catheter. I can't remove those. I would do more harm than good. It was safer just to stand aside. Then they detained me, until Duo was half an hour away. I don't even know which direction. They even removed the locator!"
"Shut up!" Sally snapped, "This isn't helping!"
I could feel the frustration pouring off all of us. Heero was furious that once again he hadn't been there to help. Wufei was angry that this had happened. Trowa was guilty that he had let it happen. Sally was enraged that someone had questioned her capabilities and also scared that the new medication regime would be to Duo's detriment.
And I was worried. Without us talking to him… Maybe Duo would decide that he wasn't wanted. Maybe he wouldn't fight.
Before the argument could get physical, as I sensed it soon would have, the vid-phone rang.
"Howard!" I exclaimed, upon seeing the familiar face, "They took Duo."
"I know, boy." Howard replied softly, "But don't you worry. Howie will deal with it."
"It's our problem." Heero snarled, "He's one of us."
"Listen, boys," Howard stayed calm, "During the War, you trusted me with your most precious items. Your weapons. Trust me with this. If you boys start looking for the Kid… You might get him into more trouble. He may be one of you… But he was Sweeper first. And always will be. He's Sweeper. He's Trucker. He's Gundam."
"You don't understand what he means to us!"
"Don't I, boy?" Howard raised an eyebrow, "I've known that you were interested in him, since the second time I met you. I've known that the rest of you cared in some way for him, since I took all of you aboard PeaceMillion that first time. But the Kid… He's been my son… my nephew… my grandson, ever since we first met. So he means just as much to me. He will not be hurt because of me. And I will not let him be hurt because of you… Any of you."
I suppose I should have known that Howard felt that way. In retrospect it was clear to see. Where he had always called us 'boys', only Duo was 'Kid'. And he was the Kid.
How many times had we missed the protective glances? I suppose none of us saw it, because all we ever saw and knew of were coddling or pushy fathers. A father that allowed their child to stand on their own and when they fell, only waited for them to get back up again if they could and helped if they couldn't… A father that didn't push and didn't try to drive his child in the direction that he wanted… That was new to us.
"My heart stopped when he told me that he didn't think there would be a flip-flop for him." Howard carried on, after a short pause, "The only reason I let him stay with you, and didn't come myself was that I know that the Kid only needs you boys to want him back, to fight.
"But right now, you ain't helping the Kid. And if you start looking for him… You'll only make things worse. So right now you are going to continue with the case. You will bring these people to justice. And then… Then the Kid will come back to us. Do you understand me?"
I have only heard that tone of voice once before. And that was just after Rashid had hit me.
Yes, Howard." I responded, without my brain's permission. Much to my surprise the others also chimed in as well.
Some things are automatic… Pre-programmed.
"Now, that's better boys." Howard nodded, "I have got some better news though. You know those chocolate bars you like? What are they called?… Milkybars?"
"Yeah?" I stared at the screen, barely able to make the word pass my lips. Surely Howard wasn't going to say what I thought he was going to say.
"A friend of mine," Howard grinned, "Says he knows where there's a crate or two of them. Only he can't move them right now. Something to do with his job. But he promised me he'd look after them, until you boys could come and claim them.
"He said that someone else had already been sniffing around. Said they were trying to get a-hold of the crates… Without going through the proper channels. Be as good as chucking them into a fire. But don't you worry, my friend'll look after them."
"What's his name?" Heero demanded.
"I'm sure I've mentioned him to you boys before," Howard shrugged, "You know… The guy with heavenly attributes… A Saint."
Howard must have believed that someone was bugging our communications, seeing as how he was dancing around the topic.
"You sure he'll keep a good eye on them?" I asked.
"He's an old friend of Josiah's," Howard replied, "He'll look after them. When this is all over, we'll sit around and share a few bars. You boys look after yourselves. And remember what I said. Don't go causing any more trouble."
"Yes, sir." I answered automatically.
Howard hung up. For a moment we didn't move, we didn't speak.
"Duo's safe." Wufei managed at last.
"But where?" Heero snapped.
"A hospital." Trowa answered. We all turned to look at him, "Where else would have a Saint?"
"He's safe," I breathed, "And if everything goes bad… Howard will get him out of there."
"Can we trust him?" Wufei asked.
"Yes," I looked at him, "Yes, we can. Because he's right. Duo is practically his son. And he would never allow harm to come to him. And right now, what can we do to help? If we located Duo, we'll tip off the Conspirators. As long as neither of us know exactly where he is… He's safe."
"And if anything," Trowa came in, "He's safer if we don't know. They won't try to move or harm him, if they believe we don't know… And that it doesn't look like he's going to wake up any time soon. And even if they bribe his doctors… On our side are the Saints. Or one Saint in particular. They'll keep him safe."
"But why would they?" Heero demanded, "They have no investment in him."
"He's a Legend." Sally stated calmly, "Remember? Truckers who haven't met him would do anything for him."
The discussion ended there. Though we knew very little about Duo's location, we had to be content with what we did know. And Trowa was right. Duo was safer if we didn't know. And safer still if he didn't wake up. As much as it pained me to think about it, the longer Duo stayed in a coma, the less likely he was to be able to make it to Court. Thus he was less likely to be a threat to the Conspirators. With the Preventers watching their every movement, any action against Duo would have to be absolutely necessary. And it would probably be fatal on Duo's part.
No, it was safer if we left everything in Howard's hands. He wouldn't let anyone harm Duo.
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Court was hard the next day. Hard still the next.
Every day that passed without hearing any news about Duo was hard. And the difficulty only increased with each day.
By the time the eighth day had come around, we were irritable to say the least.
"Before either side begins to make their statement this day," The Judge declared at the start of the day, "I would like to ask both the Prosecution and the Defence if they know the location of Mister Duo Maxwell?"
The question was like ice-water down our backs. There would be only one plausible reason why he would be asking. And that would be if Duo was missing.
"The Prosecution has no knowledge," Our lawyer rose to announce, "We would also like it noted that we have also not looked, respecting the decision of his Lordship in this matter."
Sally stifled a snort. The only person's decision we had respected had been Howard's. And he was no Lord.
"However we would also like to know, why his Honour is asking such a thing? Is there some fact that we should be made aware of?"
"The Defence also states ignorance in this matter." The Conspirators' lawyer declared.
It wasn't a lie either; judging by the shock and horror on their faces. Oh, they had known where he had been hidden. But they had also believed that he was still there. Still safely unconscious.
"At one pm, yesterday," The Judge stated, "Mister Maxwell was positively seen in his room at the hospital where he was being treated. His disappearance was noted at six pm, and confirmed before seven pm."
It had taken them six hours to confirm his disappearance? Five to even notice that he was missing? That meant that no one had been watching him… That no one had been looking after him… That he had been left all alone.
And once again, we had left him. We had let him endure that hell… Alone.
I could hear Heero grinding his teeth in anger. Wufei was trying to calm his breathing. Sally was biting her lip. Trowa had reattached his mask of stone. And I had to force my hands to open, as they clenched so tightly that my nails were cutting into my palms.
We tried to contact Howard that night. But he wasn't answering his calls.
He wasn't answering them the next day.
Or the day after that.
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We should have been looking for Duo. I had the Maganacs out hunting… But we had to attend the trial.
It was about eleven o'clock when a beat permeated through the walls. Boom. Boom. Bash. Boom. Boom. Bash.
It was soon joined by singing. Loud singing. Joyous singing. I couldn't make out the words. Though the tune was familiar. But I couldn't place it.
I couldn't place the beat either. Though I noticed that mine wasn't the only foot trying to tap along to it.
Court continued.
Barely ten minutes later the double doors at the back of the court room opened noisily. Letting more of the music wash over us. One door was held open by a broadly grinning Miss Dani Messer, dressed in a semi-formal suit, which she had always looked rather uncomfortable in.
The other door was held open by a man I'd never seen before. He was dressed far more casually than Miss Messer. But seemed far more comfortable in his clothes. Blue jeans, held up by a black belt with a silver and blue buckle. Red shirt, with the sleeves slightly rolled up. Light brown cowboy hat. He had short dark hair and a moustache. A smirk graced his features, even as he leant against the door to prop it open. Around his right upper arm was tied the five-coloured band that some of the protestors outside wore.
But I wasn't paying him much attention.
Instead I was transfixed by the person who stood directly in the centre of the doorway.
Dressed in white, more of an apparition than a person, to my confused mind. I simply could not process what I was seeing. And I do not believe that I was the only one so confused. For not one person spoke. Not one person stood in the figure's way, as it moved down the central aisle.
As it approached, I could see it's mode of dress. More than just the colour. White boots, with silver spurs that jangled. White trousers. White chaps. White shirt, with red at the cuffs and silver buttons that made the light dance. A silver six-pointed-star pinned to his chest on the right side. A red kerchief tied around its neck. A white cowboy hat, with a red band. Twin silver pistols sat in matching white holsters.
The apparition's pace was steady and even as it moved towards us.
No one dared speak. Every eye watched as the figure moved. The silence was overwhelming and deafening.
The apparition stopped just short of the Bar.
"Who are you?" The Judge demanded, "And what is your business here?"
The figure bowed to the Judge, staying low, even as he lifted his head and tapped the hat upwards, so he could regard the Judge.
And then the apparition… the person spoke. Only a handful of sentences, but they were enough to cause uproar. And while the first few were spoken alone, I know that I was not the only one to mouth along with the speaker for the last couple.
"Duo Maxwell. At your service, your Honour. I run. I hide. But I never tell a lie."
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Reviews are my candy. I go on a writing spree with each one. Trying to earn them.
Constructive criticism encouraged.
BlackRose-FlowerofDeath – Glad you enjoyed it.
Arialee – Thanks for the review.
Anonymous Void – Really? Only eight? That's good. Thanks for the psychology report.
Illusion-Factory – I didn't make that connection. It's a good one though.
Peaceful Angel – As my old music teacher used to say: "To make the fortes loud, you have to make the pianos soft."
Kage Elric – I hope I continue to live up to your expectations.
Enigmatek – Yes, little Duo is sort of cute.
Katerina Shinigami – Good luck with the defence of Catopia. And if you do use Relena's eyes for marbles, please do it away from me. I have… issues with other people's blood.
Kay – Nice to know you liked the last chapter.
Katsumadarkness – Thank you. I am humbled and awed by your words. Thank you.
Zuzanny – Keep watching. I've got a few tricks left.
Hellfire – Yes. Find the *&^%£!* who gave me this cold, and make them take it back! My nose is alternating between running and blocked. And the headache comes and goes like a wilful cat!
Juniperjupiter – Glad you enjoyed it. And hope your course goes well.
Wind Dancer1981 – Thank you.
Tora – Dani is a girl. I tried to correct the mistakes, but I'm not sure if I got all of them. Thanks for pointing it out.
Lilly – Sorry, my spelling isn't too great. Thanks for catching that.
Singergirl221 – *Looks around slightly embarrassed*. Yes, I have been watching CSI: NY lately. I only just got the last season on DVD. And I often find it hard to invent characters that aren't Mary-Sues. So I borrow them.
Toraus – I hope I corrected my mistake. Thanks for pointing it out.
Bunch-o-Nuts – Hey, Dani wouldn't shut up. Glad you enjoyed it though.
Silver Eyeshine – Welcome to the story. Nice to know you like it.
Whitetiger1589 – I'll work on the music choices. Some I can't tell you about yet, because I think they might be relevant later on. I'm still working out delivery of plot here.
20eKUraN09 – Nice channelling of Wufei. Glad you like my story.
Once again, thanks to all my reviewers.