Just a Shadow
Disclaimer: - I don't own Gundam Wing or any of its characters!
Chapter 20: Operation and Goodbye's
Well, maybe this is the chapter you've all been waiting for, I really don't know, I guess I'll decide as I go along. I hope it doesn't disappoint.
Thanks to everybody who reviewed!
"Mr Maxwell is it?" the receptionist asked as the group waited for Heero to be checked in
"Yeah, that's right" Duo replied nervously
Shortly after they had been signed in, they were escorted to a private room where Heero would be staying after his operation. Once the Japanese pilot was settled in the room, the other four scouted the room to make sure it was 'secure'.
The others raised eyebrows curiously and Quatre stopped his scout when he noticed they were being stared at.
"Sorry guys" Quatre apologised "Old habits die hard and besides, Heero won't settle unless we do this"
All eyes turned to Heero who was carefully watching the other pilots and quite a few sighed. Once the scout was done and all tings were checked, Heero leaned back on the bed and his eyes fell half closed.
"We're going to go out now to leave some time alone with Yuy before the operation" Zechs stated "Relena had to leave earlier to attend a meeting, but she will be back when the operation is over"
Everybody said their goodbye's to the pilots and walked out of the room. The pilots huddled around Heero who hadn't moved since he had relaxed onto the bed.
"Heero?" Duo called and waved a hand in front of his friends face. When he got no response, he smiled sadly.
"Nobody's home" The braided pilot joked and the other pilots smiled
"He's probably just ignoring us for bringing him to a hospital" said Trowa
"Is that true Heero?" Quatre asked his dazed friend
Heero nodded slowly and the other pilots smiled.
"Aw c'mon man – you're not mad are you?" Duo asked "You know we're only doing it for you right?"
Heero nodded again and turned to ace his American friend.
"Duu … o?" he called
"Yeah?"
"Woo?"
"Yes?" Wufei answered
"Weak … if scared?"
The two men looked at each other and their eyes softened before turning back to Heero.
"No Heero" Wufei replied "It's not weak to be afraid"
Heero looked as if he was concentrating for a moment before he spoke again.
"'M scared" Heero admitted as he leaned his head on Duo's shoulder
"Me too buddy" Duo admitted "We all are"
There was a soft knock on the door and one of the hospitals doctors walked in. He walked over to the pilots and cleared his throat to get their attention.
"Good morning Mr Yuy" the doctor greeted "Are you friends? I'm afraid only family is allowed in here right now"
"We are family" Quatre stated "We're brothers"
"I see" the doctor replied as he looked through Heero's notes "May I ask you a few questions about your sibling?"
"Go ahead" Duo replied
The doctor asked a number of health and personal questions question's, most of which the boys could answer, but then a question came up that none of them could answer.
"Now I know this may seem personal, but it's necessary to know whether we should check for any STD's"
"STDs?" Duo asked "As in sexually transmitted diseases?"
"Yes sir" the doctor replied "that won't be a problem will it?"
"No" Duo stated "Fire away!"
"Well, what sexual preferences does Mr Yuy have?"
"Huh?"
the pilots looked at each other dumbstruck and then turned back to the doctor.
"We … don't know" Quatre replied
Suddenly a voice spoke up and all eyes turned to the source.
"Mr Yuy?" the doctor asked "Did you say something?"
"Both" Heero repeated
"Both what?" Duo asked
"Answer question" Heero spoke
A short silence followed where they tried to work out what Heero was trying to say until Duo shouted out.
"I got it!" Duo shouted "Heero's likes both sexes! Am I right?"
Heero nodded and the doctor wrote it down.
"Mr Yuy, in the last five years have you been in sexual relations with another person?"
"No" Heero replied
"Then I don't think we have anything to worry about" the doctor stated with a smile "The surgeons the Preventers arranged to have operate on your brother will be arriving within the hour"
Duo squeezed Heero in a hug and waited for the doctor to leave. As soon as the door closed the door he let the Japanese man go and looked him in the eyes.
"You didn't tell me you were bisexual!"
Heero smiled shyly
"Phew!" Duo sighed as he flopped onto Heero's bed "That was exhausting!"
"You can say that again!" Wufei and Heero agreed as they flopped next to Duo
A few seconds later they were joined by Trowa and Quatre. All of the boys looked around the room at their work and smiled. They were in Heero's room and had spent all of the morning decorating it before they had to leave for the airport.
The room's walls were now covered in photos and pictures of the pilots and all their friends. Heero smiled as he glanced around the room. The four plush's of his friends were leaning against one of the walls and the plush of Heero was going to be taken by the other pilots to their homes with them.
"C'mon guys" Heero said "Let's go change and get ready to leave, or you'll miss your flight"
The other pilots pulled themselves up from Heero's bed and made their way to their rooms. Before long they were ready to go and loading their bags into the car and the next thing they knew, they were on their way to the airport.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us Heero?" Quatre asked "I mean we can easily get you a ticket"
"I'm sure Quatre" Heero replied "This is my home now, and if I'm going to meet the others again I'd want it to be in my own home – I'd fee more confident there, besides, who would look after the pets?"
Quatre sighed and looked at the others.
"I tried" he whispered and the others smiled reassuringly, but the young blonde could tell it was forced.
"So" Heero started "What do they need you for?"
"There's been a number of death threats and terrorist attacks on Winner enterprises in the last week" Quatre explained "The Preventers have tried to handle it on their own, but they just can't do it without us"
"But I thought you didn't work with the Preventers" Heero stated
"I don't" Quatre replied But whoever is sending these threats and carrying out these attacks wants me dead – they're all directed at me"
"But what about Trowa?" Heero asked "I thought he worked in the circus?"
"I do" Trowa replied "But when things get too tough in Preventers, I volunteer and lend a hand"
"Oh"
The drive continued in silence until they reached the airport. Before long they were all seated in the waiting area, waiting to board their plane. Their attention was drawn to Quatre when his mobile rang.
"Hello?" Quatre spoke as he answered the phone "Yes ma'am … we're waiting for it now … no … no … yes … we will … thank you … goodbye"
Quatre closed the phone and the pilots returned to silence. Suddenly their boarding number was called over the speakers and the pilots all looked at each other. They picked up their bags and walked together to their boarding gate. When they got there, they all shared one more group hug before Heero was left alone once again.
Duo watched as Heero's eyes slowly fell closed as the anaesthesia set in. A couple of seconds later he was whisked off into the operating theatre where the surgeons would perform surgery on Heero before using the technology they had acquired to repair any brain damage.
Heero paced the room, and as the hours ticked by he was joined by the other pilots. It was quite a funny sight to see five grown men walking around the room in a circle.
Five hours passed before finally a doctor approached them.
"So?" Duo snapped "How did it go?"
"It went well" the doctor replied
"So Heero's okay now?"
"We don't know" the doctor admitted "We won't know until My Yuy wakes up and then he will have to undergo a number of tests"
"I see" Quatre replied "What kind of tests?"
"Quite a few kinds" the doctor replied "You see, even if Heero were regain total speech abilities, his memory, or intelligence may still e affected and inaccessible"
"So then what?" Trowa asked
"When we are aware of Mr Yuy's state of mind, we will decide where to go from there – he will be unconscious for a while, so I suggest you get some sleep"
"Thank you" Quatre replied
Well the operation is over and now all we have to do it wait! I hope you aren't disappointed with what I decide to do (I don't know what I'm going to do yet).
Until Next Time
Clarobell