Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine

Author notes: I felt bad haha I've been paying attention to my Wolf's Rain fics so here is an update! Enjoy!

Shattered Dreams

Part 3

Poking his feet out from under his covers, Duo gently lowered himself out of his bed. It was late in the day now though the sun was trapped behind the thick blanket-curtains he had pinned up. The American felt sick today, his stomach was churning and a lump was settling in his throat.

"Ugh what's wrong?!" Duo growled and wondered out into the dark living room, flicking on the lights Duo gasped at seeing something tall in the corner but then proceeded to smack himself as it was just a stack of boxes he had placed there awhile back. Still groggy he rubbed his eyes and went to the door to see if the mail had come. Upon opening it there was a small letter laying on his mat, it was an eerie bone white with no writing on it and startled him a little.

Picking it up Duo felt a shiver go up along his spin and he quickly shut the door and locked it. He looked at the envelope for a minute then tore it open, trembling fingers snatched a small cluster of photos out from the shards of paper. Duo stood stark still, his eyes tracing back and forth over the material. Pictures of himself tied up and gagged; naked on his bed in a fetal position with blood streaked all over him, you could also see the covers of his bed had raspberry stained patches painted around him. His hair was undone and tangled around his face which was bruised with his eyes clenched shut.

A cry escaped from the broken man's lips and he let the photos spill onto the floor. He then took off into his bedroom and slammed the door shut backing up till he felt his back against the cool wall. That lump in his throat was almost to his mouth and he desperately wanted to go to the bathroom but the fright kept him pinned against the wall. Why couldn't Heero just let him be?! Duo hadn't pressed charges against him either in hopes it wouldn't drudge Heero back up into his life again but it didn't seem to be working.

Duo went over to his window and ripped the curtains down, dusk was quivering around the edges of the buildings, eating up the last of the sunshine. Thrusting the window open Duo peeked out of it feeling the burst of cool summer air against his face. He backed away and rummaged for some clean clothes in his drawers, then tore through his closet finding an old pair of flip-flops. When he had the shoes and new clothes on he leaned out of window and climbed down the emergency fire escape and jumped down three more sets of stairs and landed safe on the damp ash fault.

Duo then ran down the street and into a crowd of people, he was heading for the last place he could go. Perhaps he would let him stay there for awhile, he had to...he wouldn't turn him away....would he?

Three knocks echoed out along the cold street late that night, followed then by a horrible silence which seemed to last forever. After awhile though the door opened a crack and an almond shaped eye peeked out from the thin strip of light.

"Duo?" The door opened all the way now and the American breathed a sigh of relieve.

"Wufei!" The Chinese man moved aside and let the tired Duo come into his house. "I'm really sorry just coming over like this but I don't have anywhere else to go." Wufei gestured to the sofa which Duo happily sat down on and relaxed.

"Are you okay?"

"Huh? Yea I'm fine, just tired!" Duo tried smiling but gave up and just sighed happily at being able to rest his feet. Wufei's home was so clean and well kept; it also smelled of sweet spicy incense. There was a lot of Asian influence in the house's decorations but it made Duo feel safe and comfy.

"I see," Wufei eyed Duo for a second. He wasn't really buying Duo's excuse but he figured Duo would tell him in time and on his own.

"Well...I was fixing dinner. I'll make you a plate."

"Oh, no Wu, no need-"

"Quiet Duo, you're my guest." Wufei then left to go into the kitchen. When the American thought Wufei couldn't see him he got up and went to check the front door, making sure it was bolted. However Wufei was watching him out of the corner of his eye and sighed softly, whatever was wrong with Duo he was going to have to find out soon.

Wufei handed Duo a bowl of rice and a fork while he sat down the main dishes on his little coffee table. Duo started gobbling down the food but stopped suddenly and looked at Wufei with pieces of rice scattered all over his face.

"Eh....I'm sorry Wufei." But the Chinese man just smiled.

"Ah Duo, you apologize for what? You've always eaten this way in front of me." Duo smiled sheepishly and continued to eat. He really was hungry and was quite happy to have some real food. When everything had been eaten Wufei gently took the dishes back to the kitchen with a full Duo tagging after him.

"So can I stay here tonight Wu...I mean Wufei?"

"Duo..." sighing softly Wufei put a hand on the young man's shoulder and locked eyes with him. "You are always welcome here. I know you think I'm just annoyed by you but you are my friend...." Duo suddenly felt warm inside and smiled.

"So that's a yes?!" Duo laughed and pulled gently on Wufei's rat tail.

"Don't push it Maxwell." Wufei grinned. "But...I need to know something before you stay the night."

"......Go ahead..." The fragile man eyed his friend with suspicion now, should he answer him truthfully? He doubted Wufei would turn into another Quatre, hovering over him all the time....but still he was unsure.

"What happened between you and Heero...its no mystery that you two were together...I mean are you still together? Did you just have a fight or-" Suddenly Duo shot a finger into Wufei's face only inches from his nose.

"Let me make this clear....we were never together, Wufei...."

"I see....so...what is it then?" Duo gulped back a sob in his throat and lowered his finger which was now shaking.

"Heero...he...Heero...ra-"

"I see, Maxwell...I see. You're welcome to stay here as long as you like." With that the conversation was over and Duo was a little stunned that Wufei had finished the sentence in his head and not let him finish. Though it was quite a relief

Wufei showed Duo his spare room, it was small and simple. A twin size bed with yellow sheets and pillow cases, a small desk that had a lamp and some reading material on it and a bookcase filled with huge books, some in Chinese.

"Here." Wufei handed Duo a large shirt of his and a pair of boxers. "They are clean." Wufei smirked; he knew very well Duo would have made some wise remark about that. Duo only laughed and took them,

"Shay Shay." Duo smiled as Wufei turned to him in surprise then laughed quietly.

"You're welcome."

That night Duo found a serene sleep in Wufei's house. He felt protected and he knew if Heero were to come here that Wufei would be able to fight him. His stomach was full and his body relaxed but slowly a nightmare began to creep into his mind, imposing on his quiet slumber. Abruptly Duo sat straight up in bed and screamed,

"WUFEI!!!"

TO BE CONTINUED

Don't worry this is not really a cliffhanger just a little insight into the next chapter, and he just yelled out to Wufei because of his dream, so don't flame me about a cliffhanger haha please? Oh and I hope my English spelling for Chinese was okay 0o I asked my Taiwanese hubby and he said that looked right haha! ANYWAYS HOPE YOU ENJOYED! Please review Luv The SCANTY fan