Once a Lifetime

Chapter Twelve; Duo POV:

I awoke late the next morning. Heero was already up and about, doing lord know what. He always did do the strangest things when I was asleep. I really did wonder what he could be up to half the time. I sit up slowly and brush my bangs from my eyes, finally feeling slightly better. Heero knew now. He knew and he hadn't run off into the night. That was a positive thing wasn't it?

I casually took in the room and found Heero once again sitting at the blasted laptop of his. What ever it was that that blasted thing held that kept his interest, it must have been important. He was almost never seen without being on it for at least an hour a day, if not more. It was really bothersome, to say the least.

"Heero. . .I need to get up," I call in a rather tired-sounding voice. I am tired still. There isn't much for a recuperating invalid to do but sleep. Heero glanced my way, his ever-present mask back in place with pinpoint accuracy. I sigh, so much for bonding this day. He comes over and silently helps me into the bathroom, knowing without the words what I wanted. For that I was grateful. I think for the first time in my lifetime, I couldn't find the will to be overly cheerful and bubbly. I wanted to be but I couldn't bring myself to be that way. Things had become too serious last night and Heero's real reaction to it was still a mystery to me.

I took care of business. I made quick work of the facilities and took a quick sponge bath on my own and took care of my hair. All the while Heero was back in the other room; probably back on that infernal laptop. I'd like to send that to hell with me one day. Then maybe I could find out whatever it was he was always typing on that thing. That's what it would take for me to find out, I knew it. Heero would never volunteer it that was certain.

"Heero, I'm finished in here!" I call out after I get my hair back into a braid. It isn't as neat and tight as I normally have it, but with an injured arm it was the best I could do. I refused to look at Heero as he once again picked me up and deposited me onto the bed. If I had to deal with this the rest of the time I was convalescing, I'd go crazy. Oh wait, I already was. (Insert my own personal smirk here)

"Duo! Heero! Is everything all right?" a soft, caring voice called from the other side of the main door. I smiled to myself. Oh good. Quatre and the others had arrived. This would promise to keep me out of having to remember what's going on. Maybe a good bout of justice ranting with Wufei would get me back to my old self. I watched as Heero went over to let them in before returning to the computer. I waved from the bed as I saw them, watching as aqua, forest green, and ebony eyes all looked toward me in concern.

"What happened, Duo?! You're hurt!" Quatre called as he noticed the bandage around my thigh and upper arm. Wufei took in the placement of the injures and smirked.

"Did Yuy finally get tired of that mouth of yours Maxwell?" I smirked. He had just given me the perfect opportunity. I think that's why I like him so much, he's always leaving a place for me to rib him, and even he realizes it.

"I'm cool Q-bean, just a little injury while saving Relena. As to your comment Wuffles, be thankful it wasn't you there. We'd have had to carry you out in a body bag." Wufei's ebony eyes narrowed, although his concern for me still showed.

"Injustice, Maxwell!" He shouted, to which I simply grinned. Trowa seemed to laugh with me, knowing I had been waiting to hear that. A day without hearing him say that at least three times wasn't a good day.

"Yeah, Wufei, and you'll kill me when this is all over, right? I remember." Wufei couldn't keep his dark look this time as I gently rubbed a hand over my shorts covered thigh. It was the only thing I could wear to where I didn't have extra pressure on the wound.

"Are you really all right?" Wufei asked lightly. I smiled. He cared, and perhaps that's what bothered him the most. He didn't want to care about me. He enjoyed thinking I was beneath him in a lot of ways. Yet, he also knew that I cared deeply about everything that went on. He knew I would gladly die for any of them. They were my fellow pilots and dearest friends. My life this time around wasn't a very happy one, but my friends more than made up for it. Heero was simply my icing on my otherwise plain cake. He was what made me continue to get up in the mornings.

"Yeah, Wuffles thanks for asking. I knew you cared about me." Once again his eyes glared at me and I began laughing before he could even begin.

"Injustice!" Quatre laughed softly and moved toward Heero. He spoke quietly to him while I teased Wufei and gained his dark glares and shouted words of retribution. I really did love these times. Even injured as I was, I was cared for. I knew it as deeply as ever. While Wufei went off to grab some new bandages for my leg, which had began to seep with blood, Trowa moved toward me. His normally silent presence made everyone of us comfortable. He was our rock when we needed to know we had one. For that, I thanked him dearly. Quatre was our mother, our worrier. He worried whenever one of us was hurt and played leader when none of us really knew what to do. He was good at that, as well as great at getting peace to settle down around us when we got a little over eager to cause trouble.

"You look pale," Trowa observed. I knew he wasn't just meaning my complexion.

"As opposed to how pale I normally am, right?" I asked, pretending to not follow his meaning. He nodded.

"You've been fighting too much, Duo." I smiled softly. Trowa always did have an insight into people that amazed me. I used to think animals were what he was best at reading. I watched Quatre rub his chest lightly as he spoke to Heero and knew he was picking up on my worry and pain about what all had happened with Heero. I was sad that he didn't return my love, but I was also hopeful that the next time around we'd have a better chance.

"Hmm, what else is new Tro-man? We've all been fighting too much lately." He shook his head.

"But not as much as you have been fighting on the inside," he answered quietly. I was stunned. Wufei came back and re-bandaged the wound before moving toward the door with Quatre and Trowa. I never got a chance to ask how Trowa could tell when I never showed what I really felt, but I didn't have the time.

"Take care of Duo for us Heero. We'll be back as soon as we can get this mission taken care of." Heero nodded his head and went right back to his laptop. Quatre gave me a grin and Trowa even smiled softly. Wufei cast one last worried glare my way and then they were gone, almost as quickly as they had come. Only Wufei could look upset at you and worried over you in one look. It was sweet.

"Heero, I'm gonna rest a little more. Would you wake me when lunch is ready?" He nodded once again and never glanced my way. I sighed softly, almost dejectedly. So much for hoping we could continue our conversation from last night. I settled down and after realizing I had been given the pain pills by Trowa while I had been arguing with Wufei I soon succumbed to the sweet oblivion on darkness.