Thank yous – Duo/folken/Tk, Dark Crystal, MegHead88 (hehe, breathe!), CJ (I c where you're coming from and for the most part I agree but I wanted to show that Heero's managed to get over that part of him, almost!), Elle-FeTe2x1, AtomicBlue (^_^ Definantly enjoyed writing Quatre's the most!) and Kate.
And a special thank you to those people who have put me on there faves list! Yay!
Reviews? Yes please!
5.
"Where the hell is he?" a harsh voice that was barely recognisable as Duo's echoed through the sparse corridors of the hospital. After spending an hour sitting on the edge of the roof, contemplating the hand dealt to him and his comrades, his friends, he had managed to bring himself down from hysteria and decided to spend whatever time he could with them. He quickly glanced at his watch and figured that the doctor must have finished breaking the news and the pilots would reconvene in Heero's room. Circumstances however were not so straight forward. When he reached his destination instead of finding all of his family together he found no one, not even his lover; the bed was empty. As he stood still and silent the others were engaged elsewhere.
* * *
"Excuse me Mr Chang," a professionally cheerful voice interrupted Wufei's dark thoughts. "We're ready for you now," Wufei stood with a shaky sigh and allowed the nurse to lead him into a small private room. There had been a sudden cancellation, the operation theatre, surgeon and anaesthetist were all prepped and ready to go, but the patient had died. A quick bit of talking on doctor Cantrell's part had managed to get Wufei the spot. He was due to go under the knife in less than an hour. As the nurse turned to leave, his hand snaked out and caught her elbow.
"Could you notify Yuy, Maxwell, Barton and Winner? Tell them what is happening?" He asked, trying and succeeding in keeping the panic from his voice. He had stopped by Heero's room as soon as he had been informed but it had been deserted.
"I have better things to do than play the messenger girl!" she informed him firmly. She made to leave and once more was stopped. She met dark eyes and read the plea which was unable to make it past stubborn lips. She gave an exaggerated sigh and relented. "I suppose I could put an announcement over the speaker. What were the names again?"
* * *
"Could Mr.'s Yuy, Maxwell, Barton and Winner, please make their way to room 101 immediately. Thank you,"
"Where the hell is he?! What do you mean you don't know? I don't fucking believe you people! How could you not notice him leave! I don't fucking believe this!" The loud yells from a braided youth and the answering shouts from professionals who's nerves were too frayed by there five intense people to remain impassive and emotionless drowned out the crackle of the tanoy announcement.
* * *
Trowa sat lost in his thoughts in quiet haven of the hospitals small, but beautifully maintained, garden. He tensed as the door opened and another presence invaded the sanctuary. He found his hand moving to draw a gun he no longer carried and when a hand gently brushed his shoulder he automatically gripped the limb in a bruising grip and in one fluid movement had it twisted up and behind his attackers back. Just a bit more pressure and the bone would break.
"I thought we were past all this," a calm voice stated softly, sadly. Recognising the voice immediately Trowa released the man whose arm he had been about to shatter as if he had been scalded. Quatre looked at him with a rueful smile as he ran a hand over the pale skin which was already beginning to darken.
"So did I," Trowa admitted quietly as he sank back into his previous position. Quatre took the seat next to him. He had been intending to find Duo and help his friend through his problems but it seemed that would have to be postponed. As he gently nudged, prodded and cajoled the uni-banged boy into talking about what had sent him so far into soldier mode the blond felt a small stirring of resentment. Sometimes he wished someone would ask him how he was coping.
"Could Mr.'s Yuy, Maxwell, Barton and Winner, please make their way to room 101 immediately. Thank you,"
"Did you say my name?" Quatre inquired through the deep and thoughtful silence that had descended. Trowa dismissed the question with a sharp shake of his head, his mind to distracted by the implications and concerns that screamed at him. Quatre glanced around before turning back to the brunette with a shrug. It seemed he was hearing things.
* * *
"Miss Relena!" a familiar voice hailed across the buzzing cafeteria. A woman with short blue hair, looking smart and intimidating in her Preventers uniform strode confidently towards the girl she respected and cared for. The girl in question looked up with red-rimmed eyes as former Lieutenant Noin reached her side. A beat passed between them as they regarded each other then Relena threw herself into the older woman's' arms and proceeded to sob into her shoulder. For her part Noin felt a growing fear unfurl deep inside her. The fear only grew and intensified as she sat her friend down and with hitching breaths Relena informed her of Millardo's condition and of his suicide attempt. Eyes that had been brimming with tears hardened into unforgiving ice as the full tale was revealed.
"Where is he?"
People dodged out of the way as a formidable woman marched swiftly through corridors. Lucrezia Noin was on the warpath.
* * *
"I'm warning all of you right now, if you don't tell me where the hell he is you're all gonna face Shinigami's wrath! You're all gonna burn in hell fire! Don't tell me to calm down! I am calm!"
* * *
"It has been a pleasure knowing you Preventer Wind, Milliardo Peacecraft, Lightning Count, Zechs Marquis," the prussian eyed boy admitted.
"Let's get this over with," Zech's ordered as he braced himself. Heero raised the gun.
"So be it," Heero declared as he settled his aim. Trigger finger slowly increased pressure as two chips of ice regarded him, a sense of peace and tranquillity radiated from their depths.
Nails scraped along metal as a hand gripped the doorknob. With hands that moved quicker than the human eye could follow Heero had the safety on and the gun tucked beneath the pillow of his wheelchair before the door even opened. The peace and tranquillity morphed into sickness and disbelief as another chance was lost. The expression was hidden as his lover and sister stormed into the room. All hell broke lose.
"Could Mr.'s Yuy, Maxwell, Barton and Winner, please make their way to room 101 immediately. Thank you,"
Through the shouts and screams, which filled the room, Heero scarcely heard the announcement. He thought for a second then dismissed it. He would go in a minute, things were just getting interested and he could see Zech's determination begin to waver in the face of the two passionate women. Noin vaulted herself onto the bed and straddled the Lightning Count. Her breath and heartbeat were frantic from the adrenaline rush her fear for the man had launched her into.
"How many times must I tell you?" she asked, her voice softening. "Where ever you go, I follow." Her voice was pitched low and serious so there could be misunderstanding her meaning. Heero raised a sardonic eyebrow and caught Zech's eye as his right hand moved slowly and deliberately to the cold metal beneath him. The older man's eyes widened and shook his head once sharply. No. With a mocking salute Heero wheeled himself from the room.
* * *
Wufei glared at the back of the nurse leaving his room after injecting him with that substance which soldiers such as himself regarded as dangerous as poison. Already he could feel the drug travelling through his system. Through the descending haze he could still feel the stinging disappointment at the abandonment of his friends. It always seemed to be this way. Quatre went to Trowa. Duo went to Heero. Wufei stayed alone and while most of the time that was just fine by him there were times, such as this, when the loneliness was biting. His eyes fluttered shut then jerked open as the door opened. Instead of the worn and familiar faces of the men who he had fought by for so long Dr. Cantrell strode in, clipboard in arm. Defeated, Wufei allowed unconsciousness to take hold and prayed that his instincts regarding this female weren't wrong.
* * *
"Heero Yuy!" the boy in question repressed a grimace as his lover's voice boomed accusingly down the hallway. He halted himself, hating the burning of pain in arms which had once been strong enough to bend steel. Duo caught up to his runaway charge and well and truly glomped him before turning the relieved grin to a lecturing frown. He launched into an animated rant full of the tired clichés that only a worried parent could pull off, Duo managed well enough. A quick glance up and down the passage assured Heero they were alone. He pulled his lover in close by his shirt, effectively silencing his rant and pressed the cold butt of the gun into his lovers' hand. Duo accepted it automatically and tucked it into the back of his black trousers where it was hidden by his loose shirt. He regarded the man before him in concern.
"I had a choice today," Heero told him quietly. Duo stiffened as he realised exactly what that choice was. Heero gave him a small smile. "I think I made the right decision," As the braided man knelt before him and sealed his lips against his Heero knew for certain. If there was a choice between death and Shinigami, Duo would win every time.
* * *
Quatre and Trowa made there way indoors to be greeted by the welcome sight of two of their friends. Duo was running flat out down the corridor towards them, before him he pushed Heero in a wheel chair. The Perfect Soldiers face had gone white and his nails gripped for dear life as his lover skidded to a halt and as a result nearly sent him on a flying lesson.
"They should have laws to stop that happening to people," Heero grunted as he pushed down his brakes before the mischievous one could get any more brilliant ideas. The four broke into amicable chatter, each and everyone of them avoiding topic that dominated their thoughts. As they stood basking in the warmth of the sun which streamed in through the window two orderlies shouldered past them wheeling along a stretcher. Duo turned to snap a biting comment but stopped as he caught sight of the young man lying silent and still on the bed, his dark hair spread across the pillow.
"'Fei?"
To be Continued . . .