Hey everyone! I'm hoping that not too many people are mad at me for leaving the last chapter the way I did. So, to make up for my cliffhanger, I'm posting this chapter sooner than I usually would. Oh, to mention one more thing, the G-boys were never Gundam Pilots.
Maoz- Oh yes! I've made $600! I rule! *does a little victory dance*
Um, excuse me, don't I get any of this money?
Maoz-*blinks* Now why would I do something like that?
Does anyone have any suggestions for me?
Disclaimer-same old, same old, I don't own anything
One Fateful Night
Duo was awakened by a piercing scream. Justin sat straight up in bed. "You heard it too right?" he asked worriedly. Duo reached over and turned on his bedside light. Then he nodded to Justin. Footsteps could be heard running down the hall. Urgent voices drifted in through the half open door.
"We've got a code blue in room 209! Get medical personal right away!" Duo turned to Justin for an explanation. Justin was shaking.
"A code blue means someone has died. Room 209 is Jade's and Rose's room" Justin explained tearfully. Duo couldn't believe his ears. Either Rose or Jade had died.
Justin quickly hoisted himself out of bed and into his chair. Duo did the same even though his muscles were screaming in agony. More footsteps echoed down the hallway. Justin, being the quicker of the two, reached the doorway first. Everything was strangely silent now; like it had all been a dream. Duo painfully rolled over to Justin, who was still shaking.
Suddenly, a stretcher was rolled out of room 209, just 3 doors down from where Justin and Duo were watching. On the stretcher, was a black bag. The one sure sign that someone had indeed died. Taking a deep breath, Justin pushed himself out of the doorway and down the dark, forbidding hall.
"Just one more room to go" Duo thought nervously as they approached the room. He didn't want either one of them to be dead. They were both his friends. Justin had stopped in the doorway. Duo could hear someone crying softly.
"It can't be" Justin murmured. One of the beds was empty, the one closest to the window, Rose's bed. Silent tears started to run down Justin's cheeks. Rose, she just couldn't me dead. Choking out a sob, Justin turned around and headed in the other direction, away from the room. Duo, fearing the worst, stuck his head in.
Damio was there, crying into her hands. Jade was sitting on her bed, just staring at the empty one across from her, Rose's bed. Duo stifled a cry. Rose was the one who had died. Silently, Duo wheeled himself over to Jade.
"She's gone" Jade whispered emotionlessly. "She wanted to live so badly. She was going to leave next week. After 15 damn hell filled months, she was finally going home. And now, who knows where she is!" Jade's voice escalated, making Dami look up. Duo, sharing her pain, reached up and wrapped his arms around her. He turned his cobalt eyes on Dami. She nodded and joined in the hug. Duo stayed with Dami and Jade for the rest of the night, knowing that it would be better to stay together then apart in during this devastating time.
A few days had passed and Jade had spent them in silence. Damio had tried coaxing her out of her room but Jade refused to budge. Justin tried to pretend nothing was wrong but he woke up at night, with wet cheeks and a broken heart. Duo didn't know what to do. He didn't feel sad or upset. He felt as though nothing had happened but something had. To replace the sadness, guilt came into play. Duo couldn't help feeling guilty about Rose's death. It wasn't right that he didn't feel sad. Everyone else was affected by her death. Her funeral had been the day before and everyone was invited but of course, everyone couldn't go. Everybody had written a little message or given Damio a flower to toss onto Rose's grave for them.
Duo entered his bathroom and pulled off his baseball cap. Dark brown fuzz covered Duo's scared head. He reached up and touched it. It felt so soft. Duo had put on some much-needed weight but he was still very pale. He wheeled out over to the window. Crystallized water droplets had started to fall. (in other words, snowflakes). "The first snow of the season. I bet the others are out having fun snowboarding" Duo thought, he started to smile as the image of Quatre's first time on skis popped into his head. The Arabian boy had been extremely nervous, being used to sand instead of snow.
*Flashback*
"I'm not so sure about this Duo" Quatre said nervously, tugging on his zipper.
"Don't worry about it Quatre! You'll do fine," Duo said reassuringly, breathing in the fresh winter air. "Come on. Take a couple of deep breaths and you'll feel better". Quatre tried doing that, but inhaled too deeply and started coughing. Duo started patting Quatre on the back. This simple action knocked Quatre off balanced and he started to slide down the hill.
"Duo! Help!" Quatre cried frantically as he picked up speed. Quatre gulped as he saw a tree in his path.
"Lean to the left!" Duo cried out, starting down the hill. Quatre closed his eyes and leaned to the left. He managed to avoid the tree but not the huge snowbank. He plowed right into it and disappeared. Duo quickly slid to a stop. "Quatre, are you okay?" Duo asked worriedly. Something that seemed to resemble Quatre's head popped out and groaned. Then came a hand. Duo reached out and grabbed that hand; trying very hard not to laugh as a snow covered Quatre came out. He wiped the snow from his eyes and groaned again.
"Are you okay buddy?" Duo asked worriedly. Quatre shook his head.
"I've got snow down my pants" he muttered angrily. Duo couldn't help himself this time. He started to laugh. Quatre looked hurt until he realized how funny the situation actually was. He started to laugh too.
*end flashback*
"Duo, Duo". Dami was waving hand infront of Duo's eyes. He jumped in surprise. He hadn't even heard Dami come in. "It's time for lights out" she explained softly. Duo glanced over at Justin's bed. He was already asleep. Duo wordlessly climbed into bed and turned out his light. He fell asleep instantly.
An: the next part that happens is during a dream...*
Duo was standing on top of the mountain. He breathed in the fresh mountain air and looked down over the little village. "Wow, I'm really high up" Duo said out loud. He grabbed his throat. "I'm talking" he whispered, then he looked down at his legs. "I'm standing," he said in disbelief. Then scene suddenly changed.
Duo was now standing in the house he shared with Heero, Trowa, Wufei and the girls. He walked down the familiar hall to his bedroom. He slowly opened the door and went to sit down on his bed. He looked around the room with tears of happiness in his eyes. He had wanted this for so long.
"So, this is what your room looks like Duo" a female voice said from behind him. Duo turned around quickly to see a very familiar person with hair spun like gold. "Hiya, it's me Rose! Betcha you would have never thought me to be a blond" Rose said happily.
"Now I know I'm dreaming" Duo muttered, then realized he could speak again.
"Of course you're dreaming. We just decided to have some fun and invade them. We're real but everything else is a dream" an all too familiar male voice said from behind Rose.
"Quatre?" Duo breathed. Quatre stepped out from behind the other blond, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"It's me! Rose and I have become good friends" Quatre explained, coming to sit beside Duo.
"Yeah, I'm trying to get him to loosen up a bit more" Rose commented nonchalantly, also coming over to sit down. Quatre stuck his tongue out at her.
"Well, I hope you have better luck than I did" Duo commented. He was a bit jealous about Rose being such good friends with Quatre but he buried it in his heart. Rose grinned.
"It's going to be a challenge" she replied knowingly. She then put an arm around Duo. "I need you to do a favor for me though".
"Sure, what is it?" Duo asked politely. Rose's mood darkened.
"It's Jade. She's taking this really hard if you haven't noticed. I haven't been able to reach her and I think I might have scared her that night, right before it happened. But you can't allow her to shut herself off from the world. She had a wonderful mind and soul that is needed" Rose explained tearfully.
"I'll do my best but it's going to be hard. I still can't talk" Duo reminded them sadly.
"I know you'll get the message through somehow. We all have faith in you" Quatre said warmly. Duo noticed something bizarre. Rose and Quatre seemed to be flickering in and out of focus. Quatre noticed this and motioned for Rose to stand up. "We've got to go now Duo".
"So soon?" Duo asked sadly. Quatre smiled.
"I'm afraid so buddy. Take care" he said gently. Rose winked at Duo.
"I've got an acting lesson to go to. With Shakespeare. I can't be late for that," Rose said, her eyes twinkling.
"Just remember that we'll always be watching over you 2. You can get through to Jade. We have faith in you" Quatre's fading voice called out and with that, the dream ended.
Duo woke up to the sound of birds twittering. "Dumb birds" he thought sleepily and almost turned over to go back to sleep when something stopped him. A pair of misty gray eyes stopped him and made him sit up in surprise.
"Jade! What are you doing here?" Duo cried silently in surprise. Jade didn't answer him. She just stared. At this exact moment, Duo's dream came flooding back to him. He grabbed his dry erase board and started writing.
"Jade, I just had a very strange dream. But parts of it were real. I was visited by Quatre and Rose. Rose is very concerned about you. She said that she couldn't reach you so she had to trust me with this message. She said that you needed to move on in life. She also said you have a beautiful mind and soul that can't be wasted and she wants you to forgive her for scaring you". Jade read this silently. A single salty tear ran down her cheek.
"I forgive you Rose" Jade croaked before the rest of the tears came.
"It's going to be alright Jade" Duo said silently, patting her hand. He then erased what he had written and wrote a new sentence.
"What happened that night?" Jade shuddered and drew in a breath.
"Rose and I both weren't feeling well so we decided to go to bed early. Her calling my name awakened me. I sat up and she was holding her head in pain" Jade whispered.
*flashback *
"Rose, what's wrong? Do you want me to go get Dami?" Jade asked worriedly. Rose shook her head.
"I'm dying Jade. There's something wrong with my head. I can feel something cutting off my circulation. It's too late now" Rose explained grimly.
"Rose! You can't leave!" Jade cried frantically, moving to get out of bed.
"Stay put. You're my best friend in the whole wide world Jade but nothing can stop this from happening. It's just fate. If god wants me to die, then so be it. No one can over power him" Rose said sadly. Jade shook her head, tears streaming down her fiery red cheeks.
"I don't want you to die," she cried.
"You have a wonderful mind Jade. Put it to good use!" Rose said gently, drawing her final breath. "How ironic. To think that I was going to be allowed to go home next week. Good bye my friend Jade, take care of your self". And with that, Rose's eyes closed for the final time.
"No!" Jade screamed.
*end flashback *
"That's what happened" Jade finished softly. The story had brought a tear to Duo's eye. Jade lifted her head but there was something different about her this time. A determined look replaced the sad and distant one in her eyes. "But I'm not going to let it bother me anymore.
Jade glanced over at Justin who was tossing and turning. She then turned back to Duo. "Come with me". Duo struggled to get out of bed and into his chair. He then followed Jade down the semi lit hallway to an alcove.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Duo asked silently. Jade was just staring out the window.
"I'm going home today" she whispered.
"What?" Duo cried soundlessly. Jade turned and looked him in the eye.
"I get to go home today, just in time for Christmas. I was technically allowed to go home a few weeks ago but I had to wait for the modifications on the house to be completed. There was no hope from the beginning with me. I knew I was never going to be able to walk again" Jade explained sadly.
"I hope you have a good Christmas then," Duo thought. He was so frustrated with himself that he couldn't talk. Jade noticed his angry face and smiled.
"I know someone that will understand what you're going through" she commented nonchalantly.
"Really, who?" Duo asked curiously. Jade's smile widened.
"Damio".
&*&*&*
"Bye Jade. Good luck! Come back and visit" Dami called out. Jade turned around and waved, then pushed herself out the door with her dad following, carrying her suitcase. Dami sighed and turned back to Duo who was ready to corner her.
"It's sad whenever someone leaves. Especially when they can't walk out of here" Damio said sadly. Duo held up his dry erase board for Dami to read.
"I need to ask you something".
"Sure Duo, but let's go to the caf so I can sit down" Dami replied good naturally. As soon as Dami sat down, Duo furiously scribbled another message.
"Jade told me to talk to you. She said you would understand my frustration with not being able to talk". Dami face paled.
"Oh that Jade! I suppose I can tell you what happened but only if you really want to hear it" Dami said stubbornly. Duo nodded and leaned back in his chair.
"Well, John, my brother, was in a horrible accident when he was twelve. I was only 7 at the time and I was very close to him. He fell off the highest diving board and broke his legs in 12 places each. I just stopped talking. I swore that I wouldn't start talking again till he was better. He was in a coma for several weeks and the doctors didn't know if he was ever going to wake up. He had 10 surgeries and when he did finally wake up, he was faced with another challenge. He had to learn how to walk again. I still refused to talk and even John couldn't change my mind. It took him nearly 4 years to learn how to walk again. By then, even when I tried, I couldn't talk. I went through the rest of my teen years not being able to talk. I got this job 3 years ago part time and full time for the last year. I met a certain person while I was working part time here and she was determined to get me to talk again. I thought it was crazy until she actually started to teach me again. I didn't know where she learned how but I'm sure glad she was so stubborn. I wouldn't be talking today if it wasn't for her. I then took a course on how to help people learn how to talk again. I still have a bit of trouble if you haven't noticed, when I get upset or I start talking very fast, I tend to slur my words but hopefully this will disappear in time" Damio explained. Duo was amazed by this story.
"I want to meet this girl". Damio smiled.
"But Duo, you already have" she replied mysteriously. This confused Duo even more.
"Who is she?" Dami leaned forward.
"Jade".
&*&*&*&*&*&*&
Several weeks had passed and Christmas was only 2 days away. Heero had visited the day before yesterday and brought Duo some Christmas presents from everyone. From Wufei, he received a package of hair elastics and note saying, "now you won't have to steal mine". From Trowa he received 5 comic brand new comic books. From all the girls, including Hilde, he got black hand knitted mitts, a black hat and a black scarf. Heero gave him a box of chocolate bars and several other comic books plus a journal to write in. In his own hand, Heero had written " just believe, hope and pray". Duo was very confused by these words.
Justin noticed Duo sitting alone, thinking yet again. "That boy thinks too much" Justin thought amusedly, going over to bring Duo back to the Christmas party. Justin had finally gotten over Rose's death and now had a new outlook on life.
"Duo, come back and join the party! They're giving out chocolate cupcakes now" Justin bribed. Duo shook his head clear and followed Justin over to the festive table. The whole caf had been decorated in green and red. Mistletoe hung from the 3 doorways and red and green streamers hung loosely off the high, white roof. Duo had been working with Damio for several hours a day and was now regaining all of his strength back but he still couldn't talk. Duo had now removed his baseball cap. He could run his fingers through his hair but it wouldn't be the real him till he could put it back into a braid.
Damio came wandering over and offered Duo a cupcake with red and green icing. "Here you go Duo! Happy Holidays!" she said cheerfully. Duo tried to say thank you but air was the only thing that came out of his mouth. He sighed and started to eat his cupcake. Damio sighed. She wandered back over to where her brother was standing, chatting to Paddy.
"Why so glum?" Paddy asked cheerfully as Damio approached them.
"It's Christmas, you're not allowed to be upset" John ordered jokingly. Dami smiled sadly.
"I'm just concerned about Duo. He seems to be losing hope" she explained. John glanced over to where Duo was. He did indeed seem to be becoming sadder and sadder.
"There's nothing we can really do" John said disappointedly. But Paddy knew there was something they could do.
"Duo should be ready to go home soon, right?" he asked curiously. Damio looked up in surprise.
"Well, he still has a long way to go but if you consider 6 months to be soon then the answer is yes" she explained. "What are you up too Paddy?" Paddy couldn't help laughing a bit.
"You'll see. I have to talk somethings over with Justin and them" and with that, he rolled off.
"I didn't like the look in his eyes" John commented nervously. Damio shrugged.
"There's not much he can do. He's going home in the next couple of months" she replied. "But I have a funny feeling that that fact isn't going to stop him".
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
It was December 25th and Duo woke up gasping for breath. He had just relived the crash yet again. He looked over at Justin's bed. It was empty. Sun was streaming in through the half open curtains. Duo had obviously slept in. Since it was Christmas, Damio and the other therapists had decided to give them a day of rest. He was about to get up when he noticed something floating down from the ceiling, fluttering from side to side. He reached up and grabbed it. It was a note.
It read: Merry Christmas Duo! From Rose and Quatre.
Duo started to grin. Quatre and Rose did remember him! It had been so long since he had heard from them.
"Knock, knock, can I come in?" a voice called from the doorway. Duo looked up. It was Jade! "Hey Duo. I came to give you your Christmas present" Jade said cheerfully, wheeling into the room.
"What is it?" Duo asked silently. Jade's smile brightened.
"It's something that I think you'll appreciate. A private lesson to help you talk again, with me" Jade replied.
Duo couldn't believe his ears! Jade was going to help him learn how to talk again!
"Okay, where do we start?" Duo thought excitedly. Jade laughed.
"First things first. You get dressed and I'll meet you down in the caf" Jade ordered and left the room. Duo moved to get out of bed. He couldn't wait to get started.
At the end of the day, Duo had made little progress. He was obviously frustrated which made him try too hard. Jade had one more trick up her sleeve. "You're obviously never going to talk again. I don't know why I wasted my time on you" Jade said angrily, preparing to leave. Duo was disappointed. He didn't want to make Jade angry. He was angry too. He had been trying his hardest and Jade was yelling at him.
"…………" Duo tried to talk but still nothing came out. Jade looked at him.
"Call me when you actually want to try to learn" she said, looking disgusted. She started to wheel away.
Duo was so angry. He was having a hard time focusing. His ears seemed to go deaf. He was angry at the world, angry with himself and angry at Jade. He was so angry, he couldn't take it anymore.
"I HATE YOU TOO" he yelled out loud, then realized what he had done. He had talked. Jade turned around and grinned.
"It always works" she replied and came back. Duo was in complete and total shock. He had talked. His throat felt sore and scratchy but he didn't care. He could talk!! He turned to the grinning Jade and smiled back.
"Than—kk yyyyouu" Duo managed to get out.
"Now we can get down to the more serious matters" Jade replied, cracking her fingers. Duo nodded.
"I'm reah, reah, ready".
&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
Oh boy, what a long chapter this was! Oh well, I hoped everyone liked it.I'm kinda getting the impression that nobody really likes this anymore. Maybe I should discontinue it….
Wishful Thinker