Hey all! I would really like to thank everyone who's stuck with this fic
while it's been on vacation, and for being patient enough to wait for an
update! I had had this chapter all set and ready to go this weekend, then
my computer crashed and I lost all the new stuff I'd written. *glares* Some
Greater Being really doesn't seem to want me to update or something...but
yes! So I scrambled the past two days to get everything re-written! o.o;;
Also, I'm going to try a kinda different layout suggested by one of my
lovely reviewers, so all my review replies and -really- annoying authoress
notes will be put at the bottom from now, so you don't have to look all
over the place for the start of the chapter! ^__^;
Anywho, no more delay, eh? On with the show!
***
After Duo had divulged in great detail to Heero the past two days, Wufei found himself under the close observation of the Wing pilot's cobalt gaze. His own glower had long been forgotten when Duo and Quatre pulled him back into the conversation, making him put his plans about how he would verbally attack the Perfect Soldier once they were alone on hold. Wufei had the sneaking suspicion that the blonde had done it purposefully.
In an attempt to ignore Heero's scrutiny, Wufei returned his attention to Duo and Quatre's playful argument over him forgetting to bring ice cream. Trowa glanced over at him from his position behind the empath and gave him the same satisfied smirk that he had had after calling Heero, as if knowing the tirade building up in his mind and silently cheering him on to go for it.
'Not in front of Duo though,' Wufei decided before speaking out loud, "Why don't I just end this by going and getting it? Besides, I need a nice strong cup of coffee, and I certainly don't trust whatever they have here," he grimaced. "I want to be able to sleep for the next week, not go into a caffeine fit."
"Are ya sure it's not 'cause you wanna stay and sleep with me again tonight?" Duo grinned slyly.
"Keep it up and I'll bring you back nothing but healthy food instead of supporting Quatre's ploy of spoiling you," Wufei remarked casually as he got up to stretch, mentally congratulating himself as he didn't blush or stutter like before.
"Hey!" he pretended to look affronted, crossing his arms. "You're evil, you know that 'Fei?"
"Of course I am, I learned from the best," Wufei smirked, going to the door and heading out into the hall. Out in the lobby, he came upon Doctor Woods bidding a forlorn woman goodbye at the entrance; his trained eyes reading the regret in the older man's slightly stooped stature.
The psychiatrist's equally trained ears heard his soft footsteps approaching.
"Good afternoon, Mister Chang," Doctor Woods greeted without having to turn around. "Have a nice catnap last night?"
Wufei stopped mid-stride, taken off guard. "I- uh, yes- I sincerely apologize if I caused you any inconveniences about that. Duo had asked me to stay with him until he fell asleep, but I stayed longer then intended..."
"It wasn't an inconvenience," he replied lightly, facing the Chinese Preventer with a smile. "As I told you before, you are a good influence on Mister Maxwell. I've seen immense improvement in his condition since you have begun spending time with him, and I'm sure you all are positively anxious about getting him out of here as soon as possible."
"Naturally," Wufei said amusedly. "In fact, I'm on a life-or-death mission now to retrieve the ice cream Quatre had promised Duo..." His expression clouded over, growing serious. "He won't have to be here much longer, will he? I mean, I know it's hardly been a week, and we've only been here two days, it's just..."
"I understand," Doctor Woods answered reassuringly. "I have another appointment soon, though I dare say that when you complete this 'life-or- death mission' I should be available to accompany you to Mister Maxwell's room to evaluate the situation."
Sighing with suppressed relief, a genuine smile graced Wufei's features. "Thank you, really."
"No, really I should thank you," he dismissed with a wave of his hand. "I have the distinct impression that receiving an apology -and- gratitude within a five minute time span is more my privilege, you don't seem the type to give them freely."
"Yes, well, I'm trying to work on that particular character flaw," Wufei muttered self-consciously, looking away.
The psychiatrist surveyed him closely. These Gundam pilots were becoming quite the enigmas to him the more he was able to speak to them, one minute they were carefree teenagers, then the next they were ancient, battle- hardened warriors. What was the world coming to?
"And you've certainly gotten a lot accomplished so far in fixing the flaw. Now, if you excuse me, I have some paperwork to take care of before my next appointment, so I will see you later for Mister Maxwell's evaluation."
Watching him walk away, Wufei sighed again and was starting to go through the double doors when a familiar voice came from behind.
"You care about him more than as a close friend, don't you?"
"What are you doing out here Heero?" he replied somewhat stiffly, turning around to the Japanese ex-pilot. "You should still be in the room with Quatre and Trowa."
"I was sent out here to tell you to make sure you get chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream," Heero shrugged indifferently. "And don't act like you didn't hear me. You would have to deaf and blind if you can't perceive how different you are around Duo."
"At least I've been here," Wufei retorted, his temper flaring up. "Unlike -you-, who once he got all the information he wanted, up and left on the first shuttle to the colonies to be with Relena instead of the friend who needed him more!"
"I realized that, and you're right."
"You shouldn't have had to 'realize' it! You shouldn't have left in the first place! What exactly was so threatening to the Vice Foreign Minister that I wouldn't already know about, being a top Preventers' agent, anyway? Nothing."
"As Trowa so blatantly pointed out in his message...I -know- I was mistaken to leave," Heero said flatly, his Prussian gaze narrowly in irritation.
"So now you have it pointed out to you face-to-face, and not in a message," Wufei shot back caustically. "You should never have left, I don't know -what- possessed you to think that everything was perfectly fine, especially not after hearing that recording. What more proof would you have needed? To actually have seen Duo when they had him manacled to the bed like a prisoner in a drugged stupor? Obviously something is wrong with -you- if sitting around doing nothing in a conference is more of a priority than your ill best friend!"
"And you're overreacting to the whole situation for our 'best friend'," he remarked impassively, though a small smirk curled the corners of his lips. "So I believe I'll point this out to -you- again. You care about Duo as more than a close friend, do you not?"
Wufei could only stare stupidly, his angry outburst losing all its steam. "I- I don't know what you're implying, Yuy. Duo's a close friend, that's all."
His smirk became unmistakable. "If you say so Wufei." Heero headed off back towards Duo's room, leaving him in the lobby.
'What the hell is -his- problem?' he thought irritably, fuming as he pulled out of the parking lot. 'What does he mean with 'you care about him more then as a friend'? And I was being completely rational, if I had been overreacting, then Trowa would be too. But he said nothing about Trowa overreacting. He deserved what he got!'
Wufei ignored the skittish cashier woman at the nearby café as she practically threw his change at him. Of course, he also didn't realize that he was sending everything in his way a wicked don't-you-dare-bother-me-or- I'll-kill-you glare while musing over Heero's words.
The answer still hadn't come to him as he drove back to the institution with his 'mission' accomplished (and in spite of Quatre's plans of spoiling, he had gotten some healthy things along with the ice cream). As promised, Doctor Woods was waiting for him in the foyer, taking in the half- full styrofoam coffee cup and grocery bag he was carrying with amusement.
"You look like a husband indulging the hormonal whims of his pregnant wife," he greeted amiably. "Some cold coffee, ice cream, and is that strawberries?"
"I'm not about to let Duo recover on sugar and junk," Wufei replied, grimacing. "He may not be fond of 'rabbit food', but I think I can persuade him."
'Wait...did he just tell me I look like -Duo's- husband?'
He froze suddenly, the meaning of what exactly Heero had said crashing through his mind like a freight train at the thought of the psychiatrist's comment.
And if it were true, what then?
***
*falls over* It wasn't too horrible, was it? o.; It'll get better, I swear, I'm slowly busting out of this wretched writer's block, but it's a painful process on my poor abused mind. I've got the next chapter to 'Sweet Revenge on the way, it's mostly completely, just some touch up stuff, ya know all the fun that goes on after you get the insanity of a chapter written out. o.O;; But yes, to my long neglected reviewers...
I must give out much appreciation to Makoto, Nelia, Duo Lover 1x2, Kurai Kaiba, and Seraphina DW for taking the time to reply to my Apologies and letting me know that people still care about lil' ole me and the poor neglected G-boys that I torture with my fics. ^_^; And I apologise to ya LittleShadow, the fic isn't dead, so please stop crying! *huggle*
And now the part everyone loves...Click! Review! Flame (I know you want to)...
Anywho, no more delay, eh? On with the show!
***
After Duo had divulged in great detail to Heero the past two days, Wufei found himself under the close observation of the Wing pilot's cobalt gaze. His own glower had long been forgotten when Duo and Quatre pulled him back into the conversation, making him put his plans about how he would verbally attack the Perfect Soldier once they were alone on hold. Wufei had the sneaking suspicion that the blonde had done it purposefully.
In an attempt to ignore Heero's scrutiny, Wufei returned his attention to Duo and Quatre's playful argument over him forgetting to bring ice cream. Trowa glanced over at him from his position behind the empath and gave him the same satisfied smirk that he had had after calling Heero, as if knowing the tirade building up in his mind and silently cheering him on to go for it.
'Not in front of Duo though,' Wufei decided before speaking out loud, "Why don't I just end this by going and getting it? Besides, I need a nice strong cup of coffee, and I certainly don't trust whatever they have here," he grimaced. "I want to be able to sleep for the next week, not go into a caffeine fit."
"Are ya sure it's not 'cause you wanna stay and sleep with me again tonight?" Duo grinned slyly.
"Keep it up and I'll bring you back nothing but healthy food instead of supporting Quatre's ploy of spoiling you," Wufei remarked casually as he got up to stretch, mentally congratulating himself as he didn't blush or stutter like before.
"Hey!" he pretended to look affronted, crossing his arms. "You're evil, you know that 'Fei?"
"Of course I am, I learned from the best," Wufei smirked, going to the door and heading out into the hall. Out in the lobby, he came upon Doctor Woods bidding a forlorn woman goodbye at the entrance; his trained eyes reading the regret in the older man's slightly stooped stature.
The psychiatrist's equally trained ears heard his soft footsteps approaching.
"Good afternoon, Mister Chang," Doctor Woods greeted without having to turn around. "Have a nice catnap last night?"
Wufei stopped mid-stride, taken off guard. "I- uh, yes- I sincerely apologize if I caused you any inconveniences about that. Duo had asked me to stay with him until he fell asleep, but I stayed longer then intended..."
"It wasn't an inconvenience," he replied lightly, facing the Chinese Preventer with a smile. "As I told you before, you are a good influence on Mister Maxwell. I've seen immense improvement in his condition since you have begun spending time with him, and I'm sure you all are positively anxious about getting him out of here as soon as possible."
"Naturally," Wufei said amusedly. "In fact, I'm on a life-or-death mission now to retrieve the ice cream Quatre had promised Duo..." His expression clouded over, growing serious. "He won't have to be here much longer, will he? I mean, I know it's hardly been a week, and we've only been here two days, it's just..."
"I understand," Doctor Woods answered reassuringly. "I have another appointment soon, though I dare say that when you complete this 'life-or- death mission' I should be available to accompany you to Mister Maxwell's room to evaluate the situation."
Sighing with suppressed relief, a genuine smile graced Wufei's features. "Thank you, really."
"No, really I should thank you," he dismissed with a wave of his hand. "I have the distinct impression that receiving an apology -and- gratitude within a five minute time span is more my privilege, you don't seem the type to give them freely."
"Yes, well, I'm trying to work on that particular character flaw," Wufei muttered self-consciously, looking away.
The psychiatrist surveyed him closely. These Gundam pilots were becoming quite the enigmas to him the more he was able to speak to them, one minute they were carefree teenagers, then the next they were ancient, battle- hardened warriors. What was the world coming to?
"And you've certainly gotten a lot accomplished so far in fixing the flaw. Now, if you excuse me, I have some paperwork to take care of before my next appointment, so I will see you later for Mister Maxwell's evaluation."
Watching him walk away, Wufei sighed again and was starting to go through the double doors when a familiar voice came from behind.
"You care about him more than as a close friend, don't you?"
"What are you doing out here Heero?" he replied somewhat stiffly, turning around to the Japanese ex-pilot. "You should still be in the room with Quatre and Trowa."
"I was sent out here to tell you to make sure you get chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream," Heero shrugged indifferently. "And don't act like you didn't hear me. You would have to deaf and blind if you can't perceive how different you are around Duo."
"At least I've been here," Wufei retorted, his temper flaring up. "Unlike -you-, who once he got all the information he wanted, up and left on the first shuttle to the colonies to be with Relena instead of the friend who needed him more!"
"I realized that, and you're right."
"You shouldn't have had to 'realize' it! You shouldn't have left in the first place! What exactly was so threatening to the Vice Foreign Minister that I wouldn't already know about, being a top Preventers' agent, anyway? Nothing."
"As Trowa so blatantly pointed out in his message...I -know- I was mistaken to leave," Heero said flatly, his Prussian gaze narrowly in irritation.
"So now you have it pointed out to you face-to-face, and not in a message," Wufei shot back caustically. "You should never have left, I don't know -what- possessed you to think that everything was perfectly fine, especially not after hearing that recording. What more proof would you have needed? To actually have seen Duo when they had him manacled to the bed like a prisoner in a drugged stupor? Obviously something is wrong with -you- if sitting around doing nothing in a conference is more of a priority than your ill best friend!"
"And you're overreacting to the whole situation for our 'best friend'," he remarked impassively, though a small smirk curled the corners of his lips. "So I believe I'll point this out to -you- again. You care about Duo as more than a close friend, do you not?"
Wufei could only stare stupidly, his angry outburst losing all its steam. "I- I don't know what you're implying, Yuy. Duo's a close friend, that's all."
His smirk became unmistakable. "If you say so Wufei." Heero headed off back towards Duo's room, leaving him in the lobby.
'What the hell is -his- problem?' he thought irritably, fuming as he pulled out of the parking lot. 'What does he mean with 'you care about him more then as a friend'? And I was being completely rational, if I had been overreacting, then Trowa would be too. But he said nothing about Trowa overreacting. He deserved what he got!'
Wufei ignored the skittish cashier woman at the nearby café as she practically threw his change at him. Of course, he also didn't realize that he was sending everything in his way a wicked don't-you-dare-bother-me-or- I'll-kill-you glare while musing over Heero's words.
The answer still hadn't come to him as he drove back to the institution with his 'mission' accomplished (and in spite of Quatre's plans of spoiling, he had gotten some healthy things along with the ice cream). As promised, Doctor Woods was waiting for him in the foyer, taking in the half- full styrofoam coffee cup and grocery bag he was carrying with amusement.
"You look like a husband indulging the hormonal whims of his pregnant wife," he greeted amiably. "Some cold coffee, ice cream, and is that strawberries?"
"I'm not about to let Duo recover on sugar and junk," Wufei replied, grimacing. "He may not be fond of 'rabbit food', but I think I can persuade him."
'Wait...did he just tell me I look like -Duo's- husband?'
He froze suddenly, the meaning of what exactly Heero had said crashing through his mind like a freight train at the thought of the psychiatrist's comment.
And if it were true, what then?
***
*falls over* It wasn't too horrible, was it? o.; It'll get better, I swear, I'm slowly busting out of this wretched writer's block, but it's a painful process on my poor abused mind. I've got the next chapter to 'Sweet Revenge on the way, it's mostly completely, just some touch up stuff, ya know all the fun that goes on after you get the insanity of a chapter written out. o.O;; But yes, to my long neglected reviewers...
I must give out much appreciation to Makoto, Nelia, Duo Lover 1x2, Kurai Kaiba, and Seraphina DW for taking the time to reply to my Apologies and letting me know that people still care about lil' ole me and the poor neglected G-boys that I torture with my fics. ^_^; And I apologise to ya LittleShadow, the fic isn't dead, so please stop crying! *huggle*
And now the part everyone loves...Click! Review! Flame (I know you want to)...