Gomen! I am so sorry it took so long to get out! I was having some major issues with it. I apologize. I will have the next chapter out in a week!


Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue


Chapter dedicated to mE who decided to review like every chapter of near everything I have written and for which I am flattered! Arigatou! You are so cool (hehe, added that)



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"ahem ..."


CHAPTER 5


Duo awoke once more, this time with a headache and no idea where he was. He flicked his eyes around, looking for any sign of life other than his own. He saw none, next to his bed was a rolling chair but it was unoccupied. He tried to sit up, but it hurt too much. He couldn't remember much after . . . after the mission. Internally he berated himself, he remembered Quatre finding him, and he knew Quatre would have told someone. He didn't want anyone to know, but what could he do about it now. The rooms silence felt condemning, he couldn't handle it! Despite the intense pain, he sat up in his bed. His face writhed into a painfilled grimace. He threw off his sheets with a herculean effort and slid his legs off the bed. He was brutally reminded of the bullet wound there. For some reason, it hurt more now than he remembered it hurting before. He looked around, he couldn't walk out, he hurt to much. His eyes rested on the rolling chair.


With a determined glint in his eyes, he stood, leaning precariously on the chair, daring it to roll without warning. He stood, making a small groan in the back of his throat. He began pushing towards the door, using the chair for near complete support. Luckily the chair was a bit rusty and didn't have much give. Once he was at the door he looked in dismay at the staircase. Great.


He looked around once more, if he could get his voice to work, maybe someone would help him. As degrading as it felt, he didn't like the silence, or being alone. He remembered some disturbing dreams and the the silence wasn't comforting. He continued on his trek towards the stairs and upon reaching them, sat down on the top step to begin his descent.


Every step he went down, no matter how carefully, sent a jarring thud through his injured body. He couldn't help but laugh at himself, he must look pathetic. A small wry smile lit his features, even as they concentrated into the center of his forehead. Making it to the bottom, he struggled to his feet, pushing against the wall as hard as he could.


He was spent, he just didn't feel like walking any farther. Looking around, wearily, he decided the couch was the closest comfortable resting spot, and went to lie down. It took him a few minutes to get there, but once he did and settled in, he tuned his ears for sounds of the others. They had probably left, on missions or personal errands. It was around noon so it wasn't likely any of them were around. He sighed, leaning back in his self appointed resting spot, completely ready to sleep until someone returned.


~*~*~


Heero walked in, he was tired sore, and ready for bed, but he needed to write up the mission report first and then he wanted to check on Duo.


Duo.


When he left, Duo had developed a fever from infection, it was very dangerous ... especially in Duo's condition. He hadn't wanted to leave truthfully, but he told himself it was because he didn't like leaving business unfinished. Duo was business, of sort. He was a Gundam Pilot and at the moment they couldn't afford to lose his life for no reason. That was all he was to him, a tool, necessary for his big mission. That was all.


He walked up the steps, he had seen Trowa in the hangar, but none of the others seemed to be hanging about. He would have to find out where Quatre and Wufei were later. He turned down the hallway to Duo's room. He peeked around the doorway, glancing in, just to be reassured that Duo was still breathing. He frowned. There seemed to be a problem.


Duo wasn't there.


Heero's eye twitched, imperceptibly (and how do I know it twitched then? Cause I am the author ... I am allowed to know these things.) He turned on his heel hastily walking straight back out to the hangar.


"Trowa!" Trowa turned, balancing himself precariously on his Gundam, Heavyarms. "Where's Duo?!"


"What do you mean? He's in his room! Isn't he?" Trowa voice was once as usual low and monotonous.

"No! He wasn't there! He couldn't have moved yet, Quatre and Wufei are both out." Trowa muttered under his breath. He began his descent from his Gundam. He jumped when he was far enough and took off for Duo's room. When he was certain that Heero wasn't playing a joke on him [1] he turned to Heero. "Maybe he got up on his own. His fever broke yesterday, Sally left the day before. He shouldn't have been able to move, but he isn't exactly a typical soldier."


They began a search for Duo, but it didn't take long. The chair at the top of the stairs explained some of it and Duo lying snoring on the couch. His head was damp, his hair greasy from not being washed in a week or two. In fact there was probably still some lingering traces of blood. Quatre had tried to clean it, but it was impossible without moving him, so he did what he could in a bowl next to his bed.


Trowa moved to him, concealing a sigh of relief, straightening out Duo's body. He laid a nearby blanket on him. When he turned, Heero was gone. . . .


~*~*~


Heero stared at the laptop. He was supposedly writing up his mission report but that wasn't working out to well. Instead his mind was holding a debate with his heart and he didn't like either sides responses. He shouldn't care about Duo, he was merely another soldier, to be killed if needed, to be preserved if beneficial.


Wasn't he?


~*~*~


Trowa laughed at himself. He was becoming sentimental. He tended not to trust anyone, growing up with the mercenaries. But the panic he had felt when Heero had told him that Duo was missing was insane. Not only was he worried, but he feared rejection from the others, since he was the one who was supposed to be watching him. But, when he found Duo again, he realized the relief was because he had found a friend, perhaps more than a casual 'Good morning, how are you?' friend too. When he thought it over, he realized that if something were to happen to Duo he would lose one more person he had come to trust. Upon further analyzation he found the same true for all of them, perhaps not as strong with one as the other, but there was a bond there that he hadn't felt in his entire lifetime. So perhaps he was becoming sentimental, but he found that solitude was less and less attractive and company was more so. Perhaps . . .


tbc ....


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Thank You's


TaraSaturn: Glad you don't mind as TaraSaturn is much easier to write, Thanks for listening to me ramble all the time. ::glomps:: YAY!


Midnight-Kisses: I laughed .... that's all I have to say.


Pandora-Chan: I know you knew ... next chapter I will try to think of something you will know. OH and you were right btw.


Morganeth Taren'drel: You are special . . . glad to have made your day. Your review really meant a lot to me, sorry it took so long to update! ::bows::


Akuma Senshi: I am certain you have it figured it out .... ^^* If you want I can take that duct tape off for you! ^^*


Luna Seraph: Wow I am honored that you would read my fic! Arigatou!


Shinigami's Voice: Of course I remember you! I love your fic, as I said the last time you asked me if I remembered you! ^^* thanks so much for your review and I hope to read some more GW of yours soon! ::hugs Duo for you::


Wufei: Hmm, your mother practices cannabilism? Joking! Thanks so much for your review!


mE: Thanks for your review! I agree, very long and very sweet . . . Sorry it was so short and I know you won't really read this but . . . Arigatou! ::glomps::


Wolfqueen821: I realize it wasn't soon and I am sorry! ::bows:: forgive?


Tica: I am sorry my chappie won't come up, I don't mind emailing chapters so if you can't get it feel free to email me, otherwise goodluck and thanks for reviewing!


Thanks so much to all who reviewed! I totally appreciate it! ::glomps all:: I need sleep, took me 5 or 6 hours to write this little chapter ... wow. I will also edit again later ... doubt I caught it in my half wake state! ^^*


~Emuri