Wufei sat calmly in the living room whilst Duo and Heero had yet another argument. He seriously doubted Duo's sanity in staying with Heero. Heero did nothing but mope around all day and jump every time the phone or doorbell rang.

Come to think of it, Duo wasn't much better. From what Wufei could gather Duo was missing Quatre, but at the same time glad to be rid of him. Duo had been smothered for far too long and was now exercising his free will by leaving everything in a mess. This was something that Quatre would never allow. It was also something that Heero couldn't stand.

Wufei sighed. He got up and walked over to where the mail had just come through the door. He picked it up and walked over to the two boys, who had finished arguing. They were now in what Wufei termed the final stage of disagreement. Both were ignoring the other as best they could, but occasionally stealing glances at each other to see if the other was about to apologise. Normally this went on for some time. This time they were standing next to each other, but looking at the floor.

"Post." Wufei said simply, sifting through the papers. He handed Heero four envelopes addressed to him and then passed a fifth to Duo. Duo was already receiving mail at Heero's, but Wufei supposed that they had been living with Heero for nearly three weeks, so Duo must have given out his address to someone.

Wufei took the newspaper at sat at the table to read it. Heero sat down next to him and opened the mail slowly, reading each piece thoughtfully. Duo ripped open the letter and threw it away.

"Hilde again." He said, to no one in particular. "She wants me to go and stay with her for a couple of weeks."

"You do need a break." Heero said, their argument forgotten.

"Are you saying I can't cope?" Duo asked hotly, trying to turn the passing comment into a full-blown argument.

"Oh for goodness sake guys, just leave it!" Wufei sighed. He turned the page of the newspaper and stared at the advertisements section. "Hey Duo, Quatre put in another missing person advert about you."

Duo leaned over and looked at the picture of himself, along with the plea from Quatre for someone to tell him where Duo was. "That's a better picture of me." He said finally. "The last one made me look fat."

"That's the third advert this week Duo." Heero said. "Quatre must be worried sick."

"Yeah Duo." Wufei agreed. "He might think that you are hurt or dead. At least give him a call and tell him that you are OK and to stop worrying."

"He'll trace the call, I know he will." Duo said.

"Call from a payphone." Heero suggested. "Take the bus to the next town so if he does trace the call he ends up in the wrong place."

"I suppose." Duo agreed. He reached across Heero for the paper and pulled it towards him. But Heero grabbed his wrist when the newspaper was under his nose. "Hey, I just wanna get the number!" Duo protested.

"No!" Heero gasped. "Trowa."

Duo and Wufei looked at Heero then at the newspaper. They saw the article that had caught Heero's eye. 'Circus Lion Goes Wild.'

Duo quickly read the article. It was about a circus lion that for some unknown reason attacked a clown it was performing with. The clown, it seemed, was in hospital with severe injuries and loss of blood. There were three pictures on the page. One of the lion in question, the other of the circus tent. But the last picture showed the face of a clown, smiling from beneath a mask. Underneath the caption read, 'Trowa Barton is still fighting for his life in hospital.'

"I.I have to go to him!" Heero gasped, leaping to his feet and heading for the door.

"Hold it Heero!" Duo said. "We are all coming with you. Trowa is our friend too."

"But first we have to find out where the hospital is, work out how to get there and pack whatever we need." Wufei stepped forward to offer practical advice.

Heero gave in without a fight. In less than an hour they were packing the boot of their hired car with their suitcases and climbing in. Wufei took the wheel and they drove off, with Duo giving directions and occasionally changing the radio station whenever a news report came on. Heero looked to be shocked enough without hearing more reports about the accident.

After about an hour Duo picked up Heero's mobile phone and dialled a number. Wufei cast a sideways glance at him but said nothing. He heard a voice at the other end of the phone. Duo gulped.

"Quatre, it's me." He said finally.

"Duo?" Quatre asked faintly. "Oh my God, where are you. Are you hurt? I really miss you, please come back!"

"Shut up Quatre." Duo said, a little too sternly. "Sorry. Listen, I don't know if you read the papers but Trowa's hurt. Badly. And listen."

AN - ohh, a sort of cliffhanger. Everyone will meet up at the hospital. Will Duo and Quatre or Trowa and Heero get back together? Will Trowa survive, and what will they all do with the nurses? Find out next chapter!