Just a Shadow

Disclaimer: - I don't own Gundam Wing or any of its characters!

Chapter 7: Heero's Nightmare

Thanks so much for all your great reviews and votes for the genre of the fic. The fics new genre will be drama/humour. I agree with the votes that though what happened to Heero was a tragedy, he did not die.

Ms Son: Thanks for the great review as always. I know I can always count on you to review my fics!

Christina: Thanks for your review and your vote. I hope you continue to read!

Mieka: Thanks so much for the compliments, they really mean a lot to me! It's okay that you didn't review the other chapters, you took the time to review the last one. It means a lot to me.

Krage: Thanks for the vote. I tried not to make Heero majorly OOC, but it has been five years and I wanted to have a little pity factor for the poor guy! I'm glad you liked the chapter! Thank you for taking the time to review!

Nolwe the Lady Dragon: I'm glad I got the pity factor right. I wanted people to feel sorry for Heero, but don't worry! Things will get better soon! I'm happy you liked the chapter! Thanks for reviewing!

I'm really happy I got a better turn out for the last chapter, because it means I can update sooner! I hope the readers continue to update!- You've all made me very happy!

Normal – Present day

Bold Italics – Past/Flashbacks

Normal Italics – Flashback whilst in the past

Heero yawned as he lazily flicked through the channels. Though he was tired, he couldn't go back to sleep, not after that nightmare. He'd been having it for around 4 months now and it was stealing his much needed sleep away almost every night.

Heero had hoped that now that his friends were in the house with him he would be able to sleep without torment, but after what they said, it's no surprise that he didn't.

"But Heero" Quatre said "We all have our businesses and homes to tend to"

"Plus" Duo added "I know this might seem harsh Heero, but it's been 5 years man, we've all got families and loved ones back home waiting for us"

Heero cringed as the memory flashed through his mind. He knew they were angry with him for leaving, but he had his reasons. Heero sighed and continued to fick through the channels. He would not fall asleep.

Heero's POV

My eyelids are heavy and my body is aching. The lack of sleep is really getting to me, but I just can't go back to sleep, I know the nightmares are waiting for me. I really shouldn't be afraid; it's not even a scary dream, not like the ones I used to have during the war.

The dream starts like any other day. I wake up and go about my routine, but then there's a knock at the door. When I answer it I see them. Duo, Trowa, Quatre, Wufei and all of the others. They're standing at my door.

At first I'm happy to see them, but then the insults start. They tell me how much they hate me and that they never want to see me.

After that the beatings start. They all kick and punch – even Relena! That's when I realised it was a dream the first time I had it, I know she would never hurt anyone.

As the beatings continue, my eyesight blurs and when it comes back into focus, instead of my friends being there, it's Dr J.

I usually wake up at that point, so I don't know what happens next. I hope it stays that way.

The thought of this afternoon keep circling in my mind. I know I was selfish to want them to stay with me, after all, I was the one that left them. I shouldn't have showed how dejected I was either, now they'll probably stay out of pity. I hate pity. God I'm so selfish.

I can feel myself slipping now. I knew I shouldn't have put it on the news, but I thought it would keep me awake. I should have watched a documentary or even cartoons would have been better.

It's too late now anyway, my eyes are already closed and I'm too tired to fight off sleep anymore. I'll deal with the nightmare if it comes to that.

Normal

The pilots watched Heero as he slowly drifted off to sleep. He was curled up n the couch and when they were sure he was asleep they approached. They were surprised when he didn't wake up, but tried not to think too much on it.

"He looks exhausted" Quatre whispered as he eyes the bags under the Japanese mans eyes "I think he's been having nightmares"

"And by the looks of it bad ones" Duo replied "He seems to be okay now though"

"Yuy's loosing his touch" Wufei whispered "Even I heard him get up and I'm down the other end f the hall"

"Maybe he wanted us to hear him get up" Trowa replied

"Do you think we should take him back to bed?" Quatre asked "That couch, though I'm sure is very nice, doesn't look very comfortable to sleep on"

"Quat, you don't have to be so polite here" Duo replied "Heero won't mind if you think his couch is lousy, but I think your right … who's gonna risk lifting him?"

Nobody replied and Wufei sighed frustrated.

"Weaklings" he muttered as he gently lifted Heero.

The messy haired boy stirred slightly, but did not wake. He mumbled something in his sleep before snuggling into Wufei's grip.

"Phew" Duo breathed "That was close"

"Heero actually looks kind of cute … don't you think guys?" Quatre asked

"He's underweight" Wufei stated seriously "I can feel it"

They made their way upstairs and Wufei kicked the door to Heero's room open. They lay him on his bed and looked around.

"There's … nothing" Quatre whispered "But it doesn't make sense!"

"Why would he take all the time to fix our rooms and not his own?" Duo asked

"Maybe he didn't have time" Trowa guessed "The pant still smells fairly fresh in my room"

"Mine too" Wufei agreed "We should talk with him in the morning"

"Come on Duo" Quatre nudged as the other 2 started leaving the room "Let's go to bed, it's been a long day"

"Nah, I think I'm gonna stay here with my bud" Duo replied, sitting next to the bed "You can go though"

"Actually, I think I'll stay here too" Quatre agreed, sitting next to Duo "Trowa?"

Trowa nodded and sat on the other side of the bed. Wufei smirked before joining his uni-banged friend.

The next morning, Heero awoke slowly. He blinked his eyes several times trying to wake up and stretched on the bed. He glanced around the room and his eyes widened as he saw his friends sleeping next to his bed.

At that time, Duo started to wake, which caused a chain reaction with all of the other pilots.

"Hey sleepy!" Duo yawned "You didn't look so good last night so I thought I'd stay with you to keep and eye on you"

"And how were you going to do that with both eyes closed?" Heero smirked

"Hehehe … I … uhh … aww shut up!"

The other pilots grinned and Heero moved to the edge of the bed and started to sand up. The other pilots quickly stopped him and pushed him back down onto the mattress.

"What are you doing?" Heero asked shocked at their actions

"I think the question is what are you doing?"

"I'm getting ready to take you to the airport"

"What? Don't you want us to stay?"

"Of course I do!" Heero shouted "I mean, you know … if you wanted to"

"Well, me and the guys were talking last night and we realised that we've still got a month of our built up vacation time … so, you know, we can stay a while if you wanted"

Duo's grin widened as a large smile spread across Heero's face. It seemed contagious as the other boys smiled too.

"That would be great" Heero whispered

"So what's up with your room man?" Duo asked

"What do you mean?"

"It's not been decorated" Duo explained "How come?"

"Well, for one I haven't had time to do t and for another I was kind of hoping maybe … we could … do it … together?"

"I think that would be fun" Quatre smiled

The room fell silent and the boys shuffled uneasily in the awkward moment.

"So what do you guys want to do?" Heero asked "I'm not really in a talking mood so can we go somewhere?"

"Sure Yuy" Wufei agreed "What good places are there around here?"

"Well we could go to the zoo or the cinema"

"How about the zoo and then the cinema?"

"And then if you want we can go to a restaurant?"

"Sure" Duo grinned "How far away is the city?"

"Oh, it's about a 20 minute walk or 7 minute drive down the road"

The pilots faces vaulted and Heero smirked.

"You mean we were only 20 minutes away from the airport?"

"Yeah"

"Why didn't you tell us!"

"You looked tired, so I thought I'd keep it quiet – if you knew, you would have just ran off"

"No we wouldn't have!"

"Yes you would"

"We wouldn't!"

"Would"

"Wouldn't!"

"You're acting childish" Heero reprimanded "Would"

The other men looked up shocked and then smirked as Heero got up to get ready.

"You guys go get ready and I'll cook breakfast"

"Woah! Woah! Woah!" Duo refused "You get ready, and we'll cook breakfast!"

"My cooking's not that bad!"

"Oh yes it is!"

"Fine"

Heero left the room and the boys started cooking breakfast. Before long they had all finished and were on their way out the door.

Three days had passed since the arrival of the pilots, and they were starting to settle into a routine for caring for Heero until the end of the week when the machine would be ready.

"I was so surprised at how much Heero had changed" Quatre smiled "And he surprised us so much when he took us into town!"

"Yeah" Duo agreed "And soon we can have that fun all over again – right Heero?"

Duo turned towards his friend and smiled as he saw the other man sleeping.

"We'll set things right again" Duo swore "I promise you"