Author: Crazy

Pairings: none

Warnings: language, mention of minor character death

Disclaimers: I don`t own them, though I would LOVE to take a couple of them home with me. And I`m not making any money off them, just expanding my meager skills.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 2

Foot tapping with nervous energy, Duo raked his fingers through unruly bangs. It had only been twenty minutes since he had made his decision to leave. It didn't take long after that for the doubts to begin plaguing him.

Never before had he worried about being alone, but now.... He leaned back to stare at the ceiling. Who was he kidding? It had been so long since he had been on his own. ~I don't think I have the courage to do this anymore.~ A sarcastic sound escaped him.

"Duo?"

~ All I can do is try. How hard would it be to disappear once we get to the shuttle port? ~ He laced his fingers behind his head. ~ Yeah, I could jump another shuttle heading somewhere they'd never find me. I think I should stay on earth. L2 is the first place they'll look. ~ A Picture of Hilde flashed through his memory. ~ Uh...I don't think I could go back there anyway.... ~ He squeezed his brimming eyes shut.

"Duo."

~ There has * got * to be a place .... New York, Paris, London. ~ He listed off places using the fingers of one hand. ~ Um .... Naples, Rome. Nope. None of those will do. ~  He sighed softly when he realized those were all places that THEY would look in. He could just hear Quatre saying they are so 'Duo-like'. ~ Guess I should try something new. Something smaller, Like..Um ... ~

"DUO!"

The braided Preventer started violently. Eyes wide, he looked around feeling like the proverbial 'deer caught in headlights.'

Finally his eyes came to rest on the features of a concerned Arab.  "Hey Quatre!" He drawled, trying to vie for time to let his heart to slow down. "Don't get your panties in a bundle." Tiredly, he rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. "What do ya need?"

"Re-entry." Quatre enlightened. "Time to buckle up."

Duo ducked his head in acknowledgement. "Thanks." He murmured as memories flooded him again.


"What happened?" Hilde asked with concern.

"Baka." Heero snorted as he helped Duo into
a chair.

"What? Tell me!" Hilde urged, bringing a
first aid kit over.

"Heero was driving." Wufei supplied, coming
in the front door, carrying an armload of
groceries.

Hilde threw a glare at the messy haired man.

"That's right. It was HIS fault!" Duo whined.

"No Duo, it is YOUR fault." Quatre provided,
following the Asian.

"Quatre! Whose side are you on anyway?" Duo
barked incredulous. "He was the one driving!
Doesn't he know how to STOP? Oh no! He just
decides to go right through any obstacle.
Passengers-be-damned!"

"YOU were warned." Was all the Arab would say
in his defense.

"If you had worn your seatbelt, you would be
just fine." Wufei pointed out, as he headed back
out the door, passing a chuckling Trowa.

"But, Bu....HE... Who's idea was it to let the
maniac drive anyway?" Duo pouted.

Heero purposefully bumped his wounded leg.

"OW!"


That had been a good day for them. Despite the bickering, they had all had a good laugh in the end. And Hilde had been alive.... It always came back to Hilde.

Duo pulled the straps tighter, before wiping the stray tear that slipped down his cheek. He remained unaware of the hard blue eyes that studied him through the reflection of the cockpit window.

* * *

Heero`s brow creased a moment when he saw the tear. He was having such a hard time controlling his emotions, and it pained him to see the others struggling as well. His hands clenched in his lap, turning his knuckles white. He had not been close to Hilde, but she
had been a part of their family, a part that had slid into his little world without him noticing. Perhaps he would have never noticed, except now she was gone, leaving a gaping hole that was rendering his world vulnerable.

He still had some grieving to do himself, but Duo concerned him more. The American was so distant now. He stared down at his fists. It was almost as if he were slipping away....

~"I...run and...hide..."~

Startled at the thought, Heero brought his head up and stared at the sad face in the window reflection. ~ Duo, don't run from us. If not for yourself, please do it for us....Do it for me. ~   He continued to watch as the braided man wrapped his arms around himself. ~ It's time to stop the running, Duo. ~

With a sigh, he turned his attention to the task at hand. As much as he wanted to get up and shake some sense into Duo, now was not the time.

"Head Quarters, this is P shuttle 2 asking for re-entry clearance."  Heero monotoned into a com unit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~