Go Canada.
www.sympatico.ca
What About Me?
Chapter Two
Notes: Unfortunately (for everyone), time is a very important factor in this fic. I have a whole timeline planned out in my notes. It might be bothersome, but I would try to check the previous chapter to see how far time has jumped ahead.
***
Nov. 7th, A.C. 202 (Roughly seven months later)
I've often wondered about the benefits of 1st person narration against 3rd. While 3rd is less personal, nevertheless it allows one to tell the emotions of all characters involved. However, sometimes things just need to be told in 1st person to fully appreciate the information given.
Like now.
I roll over in bed and squint blearily at my clock. Upon reading the time, I drop my head back into my pillow with a tired sigh. 3 o'clock in the morning. Right on time.
The clear howl that woke me from my sleep fades away suddenly. I wait intently, hoping it's over so that I can go back to sleep. As abruptly as it ended the wail starts up again. Apparently it only stopped for breath. I reluctantly heave myself out of my nice warm cocoon, cursing my neighbors, their dog, and sickness.
It figures the neighbors would take a vacation the same week Vicki gets a horrible cold.
Although the cold woke her every night with throat racking coughs, I wasn't really concerned that anything bad would happen. I mused silently on that as I moved down the cold hallway to Vicki's room. I suppose it's because she's Heero and Relena's daughter. If anyone is invincible, those two are. Heero has fallen down mountains and off gundams, landing on his head, and still survived mostly sane. Relena's dodged so many assassination attempts it's not even funny. I highly doubt a head cold will kill Vicki.
Still... I come into the white washed room with the hunter green carpet and stare for a moment at the fussing baby in her crib. I suppose, as a father, I can't help but worry- just a little. Those coughs are so hard on her poor little baby throat... I pick Vicki up and move to the rocking chair that looks like it's going to be a permanent placement by the crib. I sit down and immediately Vicki's wails decrease, though she still whimpers loudly. I smile softy and begin to rock, quietly singing her a lullaby. She loves it when I sing.
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,
You make me happy, when skies are gray...
It's true, I guess... I never realized how depressed I was until I had to take care of this baby. I couldn't laze around feeling sorry for myself anymore. Things had to be done, this little scrap of humanity had to be taken care of. She depended on me (me!) for survival. And that feeling of responsibility felt... good. I liked, needed people to depend on me. It made me feel good about myself.
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you...
She won't either. She couldn't possibly. I don't even know how deep my feelings run, but it feels like they could go on forever. I don't think I've ever felt this deeply for anybody. Passionate love, brotherly love, the love for a parent, yes, but this... this love is different. Do you understand? I know it sounds confusing but, then again, hasn't love always been that way?
Oh, please don't take my sunshine away...
I feel my eyes harden at the thought of anybody taking this baby, my baby, away from me. I wouldn't give her back for anything, for anybody. Not Zechs, not Une, not Relena, not even Heero. She's mine, damnit, and if you want her you can see me in court!
I let out a little breath as I realize how vehement I'm getting. Tension radiates off my body in waves. I glance down at the now sleeping baby and amaze that she hasn't woken up from them. I rise and place her back in her crib, then head back to my own room, which is right next to Vicki's. I crawl happily back into my bed and almost fall out in surprise when I glance at the clock. 4:13? I was in there for over an hour?!
I shake my head at myself as I go back to sleep. You're getting too attached, Maxwell, I say to myself. Remember, never get too close to anyone, because then it only hurts more when they get taken away...
***
"Duo!"
Another pillow assaults my face when I finally relent and raise my head. I bravely face 125 pounds of pissed off Hilde and 18 pounds of happily squirming baby.
"Wha~at?" I whine.
"You've got to get up, dunderbrain! It's 8! Your doctor appointment is in less than an hour!"
My eyes widen and I scramble out of bed as "Oh shit!" flies from my mouth. I pause for a second to kiss the giggling Vicki on the nose and tell her, "You didn't hear that," before racing off to my closet. I hurriedly pull on some black jeans and a navy blue shirt with the name of some old band on it- Linkin Park I think the name is.
When I jog downstairs after brushing my hair and my teeth, Hilde's there waiting with a bagel and a thermos of coffee. She shoves them at me as I run through the door, tossing back a muffled thanks. Vicki waves, which equals "bye bye." I jump into my detailed '98 * Jeep Cherokee with DTH AGL (meaning death angel) for a license plate and roar down the driveway seconds later.
It takes me about 15 minutes to get to town, and I coast down the main street, obeying the 25 mph speed limit. People wave to me as I head to the doctors; I've fixed almost every car in town. Mrs. Burke calls out thanks enthusiastically and asks if she can bring some cookies over for "your little darling baby." I chuckle as I give an okay. What can I say? I'm loved!
I pull into the physicians parking lot and peer with trepidation at the large imposing sign overhead. I have a bad feeling, but I walk inside with my customary cheer and head over to the receptionist's desk. I recognize Dawn Hudson, the cheery 18 year old who works here. She smiles charmingly as I walk up and apologize for being late.
"Oh, you're not late at all, Mr. Maxwell!" she says. "You're actually a coupla minutes early, but I'm sure Doc can see you now." I head with a nod to the door she points at. "Wait a sec, Mr. Maxwell?" At my questioning look, she nervously starts to speak. "Well, um, I was wondering if you could fix my car?" she blurts out. "It kinda broke down the other day, but um... I don't have much money... I thought maybe I could baby-sit Vicki one day or something?" She gives me a hesitant lopsided grin.
I laugh and shake my head as I walk through the door. "No need for that, Dawn. I'll be happy to fix your car." Her thanks echo down the hall.
I step quietly into the room I was in just last week when Vicki first got her cold. Doc Patterson peers up at me from where he sits at a table in the room. Actual first name too. Freaky. "Hello, Duo, good to see you again. How is Vicki?" he inquires kindly.
"Oh, she's still a little sick, but kicking." I give him a smile and he nods and stands up, preparing to leave. Before he leaves, I stop him. "Hey Doc...? Thanks for keeping this a secret."
He shakes his head bemusedly and says, "No thanks needed, Duo. I understand. I'll go get him now." I smile at his back as he retreats. I think Doc's the only one in town whose car I haven't fixed yet. Well, besides Dawn's, but that's soon to be remedied. I hoist myself up onto that little table covered with paper that have been around for millennia and wait. Professor G shuffles in after a moment and closes the door.
"Hello, Duo," he says calmly, and I nod stiffly, my shoulders hunched. I hate that I have to trust this all to him, but he had to know about my condition before I became a gundam pilot. Besides, I'd hate to tell everyone now and have them look at me with pity. I sigh and avidly watch G lift some papers out of a folder. His shoulders are tense and he moves jerkily. He's nervous. I swallow. That's not good.
"Well?" I ask tightly. My anxiety shows in my voice.
"Well," G repeats, and shuffles the paper some more. "It was convenient for Vicki to get sick right when you needed these tests, hm? Otherwise this double visit would have seemed mighty odd." He laughs his rasping chuckle, and I try to curb my impatience. He's going to draw this out as long as he can. "I know you want this to be kept a secret." He studies me from under his mushroom cap of hair. God, I can't help it - he's hideous. Unlike Michael Jackson, 15 nose surgeries couldn't possibly make him look any worse. And that wart on the end of his nose- ugh! He looks like a wicked witch.
I sigh. He's not that bad, really. He's keeping my secret exactly that, even though he doesn't have to. And he came all the way from the little meteoroid he's living on by L1 to do these tests at my request. He doesn't have to. But I know in his own demented way, he cares about me... almost like his own bloodchild, which is a really scary train of thought I'm going to end right now.
I wait nervously, though I'm sure that to G, I** appear the picture of calm patience. After a moment, he shifts through the stack of paper in his hands. I glimpse pictures and a whole lotta numbers and assume that the sheets of paper are the results of my numerous scans. Finally G raises his head and regards me solemnly.
"I'm so sorry, Duo," and my heart plummets to my toes, "but your cancer has not been cured."
***
* '98 Jeep Cherokee- Duo means A.C.198, not 1998. ^^;;;
** G.I. Joe, American Hero! *bwhahahaha*
www.sympatico.ca
What About Me?
Chapter Two
Notes: Unfortunately (for everyone), time is a very important factor in this fic. I have a whole timeline planned out in my notes. It might be bothersome, but I would try to check the previous chapter to see how far time has jumped ahead.
***
Nov. 7th, A.C. 202 (Roughly seven months later)
I've often wondered about the benefits of 1st person narration against 3rd. While 3rd is less personal, nevertheless it allows one to tell the emotions of all characters involved. However, sometimes things just need to be told in 1st person to fully appreciate the information given.
Like now.
I roll over in bed and squint blearily at my clock. Upon reading the time, I drop my head back into my pillow with a tired sigh. 3 o'clock in the morning. Right on time.
The clear howl that woke me from my sleep fades away suddenly. I wait intently, hoping it's over so that I can go back to sleep. As abruptly as it ended the wail starts up again. Apparently it only stopped for breath. I reluctantly heave myself out of my nice warm cocoon, cursing my neighbors, their dog, and sickness.
It figures the neighbors would take a vacation the same week Vicki gets a horrible cold.
Although the cold woke her every night with throat racking coughs, I wasn't really concerned that anything bad would happen. I mused silently on that as I moved down the cold hallway to Vicki's room. I suppose it's because she's Heero and Relena's daughter. If anyone is invincible, those two are. Heero has fallen down mountains and off gundams, landing on his head, and still survived mostly sane. Relena's dodged so many assassination attempts it's not even funny. I highly doubt a head cold will kill Vicki.
Still... I come into the white washed room with the hunter green carpet and stare for a moment at the fussing baby in her crib. I suppose, as a father, I can't help but worry- just a little. Those coughs are so hard on her poor little baby throat... I pick Vicki up and move to the rocking chair that looks like it's going to be a permanent placement by the crib. I sit down and immediately Vicki's wails decrease, though she still whimpers loudly. I smile softy and begin to rock, quietly singing her a lullaby. She loves it when I sing.
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,
You make me happy, when skies are gray...
It's true, I guess... I never realized how depressed I was until I had to take care of this baby. I couldn't laze around feeling sorry for myself anymore. Things had to be done, this little scrap of humanity had to be taken care of. She depended on me (me!) for survival. And that feeling of responsibility felt... good. I liked, needed people to depend on me. It made me feel good about myself.
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you...
She won't either. She couldn't possibly. I don't even know how deep my feelings run, but it feels like they could go on forever. I don't think I've ever felt this deeply for anybody. Passionate love, brotherly love, the love for a parent, yes, but this... this love is different. Do you understand? I know it sounds confusing but, then again, hasn't love always been that way?
Oh, please don't take my sunshine away...
I feel my eyes harden at the thought of anybody taking this baby, my baby, away from me. I wouldn't give her back for anything, for anybody. Not Zechs, not Une, not Relena, not even Heero. She's mine, damnit, and if you want her you can see me in court!
I let out a little breath as I realize how vehement I'm getting. Tension radiates off my body in waves. I glance down at the now sleeping baby and amaze that she hasn't woken up from them. I rise and place her back in her crib, then head back to my own room, which is right next to Vicki's. I crawl happily back into my bed and almost fall out in surprise when I glance at the clock. 4:13? I was in there for over an hour?!
I shake my head at myself as I go back to sleep. You're getting too attached, Maxwell, I say to myself. Remember, never get too close to anyone, because then it only hurts more when they get taken away...
***
"Duo!"
Another pillow assaults my face when I finally relent and raise my head. I bravely face 125 pounds of pissed off Hilde and 18 pounds of happily squirming baby.
"Wha~at?" I whine.
"You've got to get up, dunderbrain! It's 8! Your doctor appointment is in less than an hour!"
My eyes widen and I scramble out of bed as "Oh shit!" flies from my mouth. I pause for a second to kiss the giggling Vicki on the nose and tell her, "You didn't hear that," before racing off to my closet. I hurriedly pull on some black jeans and a navy blue shirt with the name of some old band on it- Linkin Park I think the name is.
When I jog downstairs after brushing my hair and my teeth, Hilde's there waiting with a bagel and a thermos of coffee. She shoves them at me as I run through the door, tossing back a muffled thanks. Vicki waves, which equals "bye bye." I jump into my detailed '98 * Jeep Cherokee with DTH AGL (meaning death angel) for a license plate and roar down the driveway seconds later.
It takes me about 15 minutes to get to town, and I coast down the main street, obeying the 25 mph speed limit. People wave to me as I head to the doctors; I've fixed almost every car in town. Mrs. Burke calls out thanks enthusiastically and asks if she can bring some cookies over for "your little darling baby." I chuckle as I give an okay. What can I say? I'm loved!
I pull into the physicians parking lot and peer with trepidation at the large imposing sign overhead. I have a bad feeling, but I walk inside with my customary cheer and head over to the receptionist's desk. I recognize Dawn Hudson, the cheery 18 year old who works here. She smiles charmingly as I walk up and apologize for being late.
"Oh, you're not late at all, Mr. Maxwell!" she says. "You're actually a coupla minutes early, but I'm sure Doc can see you now." I head with a nod to the door she points at. "Wait a sec, Mr. Maxwell?" At my questioning look, she nervously starts to speak. "Well, um, I was wondering if you could fix my car?" she blurts out. "It kinda broke down the other day, but um... I don't have much money... I thought maybe I could baby-sit Vicki one day or something?" She gives me a hesitant lopsided grin.
I laugh and shake my head as I walk through the door. "No need for that, Dawn. I'll be happy to fix your car." Her thanks echo down the hall.
I step quietly into the room I was in just last week when Vicki first got her cold. Doc Patterson peers up at me from where he sits at a table in the room. Actual first name too. Freaky. "Hello, Duo, good to see you again. How is Vicki?" he inquires kindly.
"Oh, she's still a little sick, but kicking." I give him a smile and he nods and stands up, preparing to leave. Before he leaves, I stop him. "Hey Doc...? Thanks for keeping this a secret."
He shakes his head bemusedly and says, "No thanks needed, Duo. I understand. I'll go get him now." I smile at his back as he retreats. I think Doc's the only one in town whose car I haven't fixed yet. Well, besides Dawn's, but that's soon to be remedied. I hoist myself up onto that little table covered with paper that have been around for millennia and wait. Professor G shuffles in after a moment and closes the door.
"Hello, Duo," he says calmly, and I nod stiffly, my shoulders hunched. I hate that I have to trust this all to him, but he had to know about my condition before I became a gundam pilot. Besides, I'd hate to tell everyone now and have them look at me with pity. I sigh and avidly watch G lift some papers out of a folder. His shoulders are tense and he moves jerkily. He's nervous. I swallow. That's not good.
"Well?" I ask tightly. My anxiety shows in my voice.
"Well," G repeats, and shuffles the paper some more. "It was convenient for Vicki to get sick right when you needed these tests, hm? Otherwise this double visit would have seemed mighty odd." He laughs his rasping chuckle, and I try to curb my impatience. He's going to draw this out as long as he can. "I know you want this to be kept a secret." He studies me from under his mushroom cap of hair. God, I can't help it - he's hideous. Unlike Michael Jackson, 15 nose surgeries couldn't possibly make him look any worse. And that wart on the end of his nose- ugh! He looks like a wicked witch.
I sigh. He's not that bad, really. He's keeping my secret exactly that, even though he doesn't have to. And he came all the way from the little meteoroid he's living on by L1 to do these tests at my request. He doesn't have to. But I know in his own demented way, he cares about me... almost like his own bloodchild, which is a really scary train of thought I'm going to end right now.
I wait nervously, though I'm sure that to G, I** appear the picture of calm patience. After a moment, he shifts through the stack of paper in his hands. I glimpse pictures and a whole lotta numbers and assume that the sheets of paper are the results of my numerous scans. Finally G raises his head and regards me solemnly.
"I'm so sorry, Duo," and my heart plummets to my toes, "but your cancer has not been cured."
***
* '98 Jeep Cherokee- Duo means A.C.198, not 1998. ^^;;;
** G.I. Joe, American Hero! *bwhahahaha*