Memento [Part Five]

It was downright ridiculous. Why they had to bring an inexperienced civilian was beyond him. Their newest charge was not only untrained but also apparently unhealthy. The situation was dangerous not only for him but also for them. There was truly only one word for it.

"Utter crap!"

Trowa took it back. Duo certainly expressed everything in those two words. It had been two weeks since they'd acquired their newest assignment and they still had to get used to him.

"Shut up zero-two unless you want to get caught."

"No way am I shutting up zero-five. How on earth did out little doctor get pneumonia in the middle of a stakeout?"

Trowa heard a groan from his earpiece, most likely coming from Wufei. He tried not to sigh in frustration. As much as he wanted to get all four of them and leave at once, he was still precariously balancing himself on a thin ledge. If he got caught now, there was no telling what would happen next.

"Zero-two, just make sure he doesn't make too much noise," Wufei's voice said. "Zero-three, you think we could handle this without zero-two? Zero-one's signaled that he's ready."

"Affirmative," Trowa answered.

"Hey, hold on a minute! Don't tell me you're leaving this to me. I already did the baby-sitting last time," Duo protested.

Before Wufei could even voice out his retort, a voice quickly cut in.

"I'm not feeling that sick, really. Zero-two could leave me alone and I'll be fine," Quatre said, his voice sounding a little more sick than he wanted to admit.

Trowa let out his breath and shook his head, continuing to hold his palms out to the only supporting wall behind him. Quatre always had the effect of making him feel guilty even if he didn't mean to do so. The situation may have been frustrating but it was still forgivable. The last thing he wanted was for his conscience to bother him for the rest of the day.

"Fine, we're taking you to that special doctor of yours after we're done here," he said. "Zero-five, we might as well do this while we haven't been discovered yet."

"Fine."

The next few minutes found Trowa jumping down to the next level from his perch. That was when all the commotion started. He knew that he should have been concentrating on his job but he couldn't help but listen to the snippets of conversation coming in through his earpiece.

"Geez," he heard Duo say. "Don't you ever get tired of being sick? What has zero-five been feeding you, pneumonia on a stick?"

"I heard that," Wufei responded while immobilizing his opponent. "At least I don't smother him like you and your woman do."

Trowa had to smile at that. Duo and Hilde were certainly the best caretakers the way they took care of Quatre. He almost laughed at the thought but remembered that he was still facing his opponent who was now insulted by his lack of concentration. The punches aimed at him were meant solely for his grinning face.

"Leave it for now," Heero's voice suddenly cut in. "Zero-three needs to concentrate on what he's doing."

Trowa could just imagine Heero's face as he said it, probably dead set on strangling the two and hauling Quatre up and delivering him to the nearest clinic. This reminded him, if Heero was present then that meant that they were almost done. He hoped that it wouldn't get any more complicated so they could leave right away.

"Oops."

"What is it zero-two?" Heero asked in irritation.

"I've got a leech stuck on our baby and it looks to me like he wants to keep him."

"Damn it!" Wufei hissed.

"Don't come closer or he gets it," said a stranger's voice from the earpiece.

Trowa didn't hear a reaction from Quatre and just assumed that he had passed out already from both the sickness and probably from the fright. It happened a number of times during the week and it was now an ordinary event. At least he would be a bit easier to retrieve. The quieter they were, the less likely they were to protest.

"Push the baby down the ledge," Trowa commanded and Duo did it without further prompting. The stranger didn't know what was happening because within the next few minutes, he found his hostage thrown from their high perch, almost as if they meant to drop him and found himself beaten, restrained and in the mercy of his opponent.

"You better have caught him zero-three," Duo said with warning, holding down the man.

Trowa didn't answer.

"Damn it zero-three, you could have warned me that you meant for me to catch him," Heero answered for him. "Why didn't you tell me he was landing my way?"

Trowa shrugged although he knew that none of them saw the reaction.

"You have good reflexes," he said. "I trusted that you wouldn't drop him. Besides, I would have killed you anyway if anything happened."

"We're not done yet," Wufei's voice cut in. "Zero-one, get him out of here. Call for backup. We'll handle the rest."

Heero didn't need another warning because he was out before Trowa could even turn to check. Meanwhile, Duo was still on the same spot he was earlier, giving the fallen man a good lecture on hostage taking methods.

"Zero-two, leave the man alone. We need help down here."

It wasn't long before Duo came down to join them and finish off the rest of the job. All Trowa could think of was the good meal awaiting them afterwards. Another thought came to mind as well. He still wondered what the reasons were for Lady Une's overwhelming amounts of burden on them. Not only did they have to take on the customary assignments but they also had to deal with their newest charge at the same time. It almost seemed as if she was enjoying their suffering. He wasn't really upset, only a little puzzled as to why she would take the dangerous approach when she had never done so before.

"Zero-three," Duo called out in a sing-song voice. "Are you daydreaming again?"

Trowa shook his head and cleared his thoughts. It was not the time for him to think of such things. Maybe he would get the opportunity to think about it thoroughly when he wasn't in any danger. For now, he had to finish up and look forward to dinner.

"I need food soon," he heard Wufei mumble while running for cover. He had to agree. He was hungry too. Hopefully, dinner at Duo's place that night was going to be enough to fill him up.

===

Bloody - that was the only word he could come up with. The large piece of bloody meat was making its way to the inside of the beast's mouth. It was one unholy mouth too with the way it tore at the tender pieces. Trowa thought it was a hideous sight but then so did everybody else within the vicinity.

"Heero you savage!" Hilde finally commented.

The accused looked up from his meal and then shrugged. It must have been one tasty meal because he began devouring the rare steak again.

"You should complain," Wufei said. "Who was the one who cooked him that abomination in the first place?"

He cringed before looking away.

"C'mon, lighten up people," Duo perked up. "It isn't like this is the first time we've seen the almighty pilot of zero-one in one of his more carnivorous moods."

Trowa looked away quickly. There were just some things he could never get used to and one of those was Heero's love for the partly raw variety. At least he was holding up pretty well despite the circumstances. It was the new guy who did eventually give in. He was looking rather pale.

"I need to use the bathroom," Quatre said quickly, his hand almost immediately going for his mouth.

"What's wrong love?" Hilde asked with concern. "Maybe I should come with you just in case you feel sick."

The two were gone within seconds and the three were left to deal with Heero's display.

"That's my Hilde!" Duo said with pride as he let out a loud burp and pat his stomach down. "Isn't she the sweetest?" he asked and then winked.

"Disgusting," Wufei said, also looking away from Heero. "Every time we come here for dinner we have nothing but grease all over the place, loud belches from you and savage displays by..." he said and looked at Heero in disgust. " I'm surprised our baby-sitting duty didn't leave any earlier."

"Are you saying you don't like coming over to my place Wu?" Duo asked, batting his eyelashes as best as he could.

"I'm only putting up with you people in respect for Hilde," he answered.

"So does that mean you're taking up my offer on a threesome?"

Trowa pulled on Duo's arm, being the closest to him. It wouldn't do to start a petty argument in the middle of his meal. He wanted to enjoy the rest of his food but Heero was just too distracting. He berated himself for not evading the problem earlier by choosing the seat furthest away from him. At least he got a better seat than last time. Their poor charge had the misfortune of positioning himself in front of Heero. He was getting a little concerned since it took them a little while to get back but pushed the worry back in favor of a more decent eating experience.

"You might as well check on them," Wufei said, helping himself to an ear of corn. "It's taking them a while. Besides, you're already done and I don't want to have to deal with you for the rest of my meal."

Duo did his best rendition of Quatre's large teary eyes and then left the table without another word. It wasn't long after Duo's departure that the questioning started. Trowa had a feeling it was going to happen, just not as soon as he expected.

"Aren't you concerned?"

Trowa looked up from his meal, assuming that the question was directed toward him. He shrugged and then took a sip of his drink. That night it was red wine to complement their meal.

"Aren't you wondering why he's sick half the time and close to exhaustion the other half of the time?" Wufei continued.

Trowa shrugged again. He knew it must have been annoying but he was in no mood for another discussion about the different peculiarities and sicknesses of the new guy.

"It's authentic."

Both of them were surprised to find Heero done with his meal, having a serious look of contemplation in his eyes. On his plate was a large bone, the remnants of an already forgotten meal.

"It's authentic," Heero said again. "If he's sick all the time then it's because of the way his body is built. I doubt that he's a con-artist and I don't see any hidden motives. He has nothing to hide."

"Why not check his DNA?"

Trowa looked toward the entrance of the dining room to find their newest company. Hilde must have left Quatre to Duo's care. Otherwise, she would not have come. He started to wonder why he even bothered staying when he never really contributed to any of the conversations.

"We need written consent from him," Wufei responded. "He doesn't like the idea. We can't very well pluck hair out of him and bring it to some laboratory. We wouldn't even know where to start."

Despite his concern, Trowa didn't care to go through another discussion about the said topic. He hadn't figured it out yet but there was still something nagging him about their situation. The truth of Quatre's true identity was now the least of his worries.

"Where are those crazy scientists when you need them?" Hilde said and then laughed, trying to break the somber mood. "Like Duo said, lighten up guys. I doubt that Trowa likes where this discussion is going."

Trowa didn't look up and instead studied the lip marks and fingerprints on his slender wine glass.

"So, whose turn is it to take him home?"

Trowa didn't make a move to volunteer so it was Heero who eventually did.

"He'll be staying with me," he said. "Wufei had him last week and you two this week. Trowa's still moving to his new place so it will be more convenient to keep him with me."

"Trowa, Duo never told me you were moving," Hilde said.

"His place is too dangerous to live in. He's got assassins all over the place."

Trowa put his napkin down and thought about it. Perhaps the reason for his dark mood was just that. He was moving out of the home he built with Quatre. For the longest time he wanted to leave and move on but when it was time to do so, he felt as if he were betraying his missing spouse by giving it all up. Although the new Quatre resembled him in some ways, there was still something not right about it. It was like cheating. He was like a replacement.

He stood up from his seat and walked away from the table, not really caring that the rest of his companions were looking at him in question. He walked around the place and eventually ended up in one of the guest rooms, the room where Quatre stayed the past week. The door was slightly open so he decided to peer in. As he suspected, Duo was still with Quatre. The two looked to be in a serious conversation, just like the one he left earlier.

"He hates me. I can see it every time he looks at me."

"You're whining again," Duo said in response. "Look, Trowa's a serious kind of guy. If you think he hates you just because of the way he looks then that means he hates everything else. I'm surprised you haven't figured that out yet. It's been two weeks."

Trowa watched as Quatre reached for a napkin to blow his nose. If he was down with something then it was probably the flu. It was going to be a problem to bring him along missions if he was sniffling along the way.

"I know," he answered, looking at Duo through his flu induced haze. "But he's been avoiding me like the plague and he told me that I reminded him of someone, probably someone he loathes."

"You, my friend, are horribly incorrect," Duo said, rubbing Quatre's back as he coughed. "First of all, you are the plague. You've been catching every type of disease they have out there. Second of all, that someone you resemble is more than you think. Just trust me on it when I tell you that he doesn't hate you for it. He just needs a little time to get used to you."

"I guess," Quatre said, sniffling and reclining on the bed pillows. "Thanks for listening to me whine."

"Anytime," Duo responded. "Now, can I take out that shirt of yours?"

"No you pervert!" Quatre protested. "Why do you want my shirt off anyway?"

"Well let's see," Duo said while rubbing his chin. "I can't really tell you so I'll keep it a secret for now."

Duo grinned and then gave Quatre a devious look. It looked as if he was up to something.

"Ignore him. He's just a pervert," Heero said, coming into the room. Trowa didn't even notice his presence but he didn't feel the least bit guilty for spying on two and being discovered.

"Let's go. I'm taking you home," Heero said, sounding like he was giving more of a command than a request.

"Aww, can I keep him another day?" Duo said and put his hands together as if begging Heero. "He's still sick you know. We can't move him yet."

Heero declined the request and instead hauled Quatre up and placed him over his shoulder. It wasn't surprising since the man didn't weigh a thing.

"It's not safe for him to stay too long in one place," he responded, walking out.

"Heero, no manhandling," Trowa warned from the doorway, finally making his presence known.

"Who's manhandling?"

"Oh, I forgot to warn you Quat," Duo called out to Quatre's upside down and dangling form. "Heero sleeps in the buff. Keep your eyes closed until you're sure he's put something on."

Trowa cringed not because of Heero's choice of sleepwear but because of Duo's new nickname for their charge. If Duo was calling him by that name then it meant that he was well transitioned into their new arrangement. The new Quatre may not have done anything wrong but still, Trowa had to place the blame on him. It was as if he was trying to replace an essential piece. If he wasn't the real thing then he had no right.

"You look pissed off Tro," Duo said and he was immediately broken out of his thoughts. "Mind telling me what's bothering you?"

"I'm just tired," Trowa said. "I'm going home, to bed. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Are you sure? Wufei tells me that you haven't moved all the furniture in yet, including the bed. Don't you want to sleep over instead?"

Trowa stopped for a moment to think about it. He thought about how convenient it would be to just stay over but then remembered that he would be occupying the same space Quatre had occupied in the last week that he stayed with Duo. It felt wrong somehow but his curiosity was bothering him. He wanted very much to see if the sheets smelled like his Quatre. It may have been absurd but he was willing to give in. It didn't matter if he was just obsessing. At least he could let himself give in another day.

"I'll need to pick up my things first," Trowa answered.

"And one more thing," Duo said before moving to leave the room. "Didn't you promise that you'd take him to that doctor of his tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"Then you better pick him up at Heero's place tomorrow. The rest of us have the write-ups to do. We'll cover for you. Good luck and remember, be nice."

Trowa stared at Duo's retreating figure. So, he was going to be alone with Quatre the next morning. The thought alone was enough to make him feel uneasy.