Just a Shadow
Disclaimer: - I don't own Gundam Wing or any of its characters!
Chapter 21: What Happened That Day
Okay, so here we are – this could be the chapter everybody's been waiting for. I hope it doesn't disappoint.
Thanks so much to everybody who took the time to review!
Duo sighed and turned over in his bed. The pilots had been given a room with four beds down the hall from Heero's room whilst they waited for their friend to wake up. It had been two hours since the operation and the braided pilots patience was running thin.
"Hey Quat?" he whispered to the blonde man in the bed next to his "You awake?"
"We all are Duo" Quatre replied "We're too nervous to sleep"
Duo rolled over so that he could face the others and found that they had done the same. Wufei was the farthest away from Duo and was sitting on his bed with his back up against the wall.
Trowa was leaning against the wall next to his bed between Quatre and Wufei. He looked towards Duo and allowed a small sympathetic smile to grace his face before nodding to his friend.
Quatre was lying on his bed the same as Duo and smiled at the braided man when he turned to him.
"I know how you feel guys" Duo stated "I tried to sleep, but I just couldn't!"
"When do you think Yuy will wake up?" Wufei asked "I mean, the doctors said he'd be asleep for about 6 – 10 hours, but we all know him better than that"
"Well, it's been two hours so far" Quatre mumbled
"And knowing Heero" Duo smiled "He'll be up in another two"
"I'd have to agree with Maxwell" Wufei smirked "Medication just doesn't work like normal on Yuy"
A short silence followed where all of the pilots were lost in their thoughts. Half an hour after the operation, Zechs, Relena and the rest of the gang had come back to check on Heero's progress, but had then left again to return to the 'Ov air bouked' hotel, where they had finally got accommodation.
"Hey guys?" Duo asked "What … what are we going to do if this … you know … doesn't work?"
"I guess we'll just have to wait and try again at a later date" Wufei replied
"Like the doctor said" Trowa reminded the pilots "Even if Heero does regain his speech and motion abilities, other parts of his mind may still remain impaired"
"But what are you guys going to do?" Duo asked
"What do you mean?" Quatre questioned
"I mean are you going to stay, or are you going back home?"
"Duo" Quatre replied "This is our home now"
"I guess you've got a point there – so does this mean you're keeping your promise to Heero?"
"Of course" Trowa smiled "We're staying with Heero now"
"Trowa and I are planning on having our wedding here"
"What?" Duo asked grinning "Really? Heero would love that!"
"Yeah, and all the little Duo and Wufei juniors can carry the pillow with the rings on down the alter eh?" Wufei laughed
Laughter filled th4e air and for a moment the pilots forgot their worries. Another silence filled the air until Quatre spoke up.
"Um … Duo? Wufei?"
"Yeah?" both pilots replied
"Did you two ever get around to … you know … talking about that … thing?"
Wufei and Duo looked at each other before both sighing and turning back to Quatre.
"Yes" they replied
"Oh God Fei" Duo whined "Look at him – he looks miserable!"
"I know" Wufei replied as he settled into the plane seat next to Duo "I hate to leave him like this"
Wufei quickly realised what he had said and covered his mouth with his hand. Duo smiled at the action and waved it off.
"It's okay Fei" he laughed "We can't help our feelings – besides, a bit of healthy competition is good – I mean we don't even know how he feels!"
Wufei relaxed and leaned back in his chair again. A week or so ago, both pilots had found out that the other had feeling for Heero and since then it had been awkward. They hadn't let it show in front of Heero, but when they were alone it was difficult.
Quatre had been hounding the both of them to talk about their feelings for the Japanese boy for days, but neither wanted to make the first move. Now that they were on the plane sitting next to each other alone (no doubt the Sandrock pilot's doing), it was the perfect opportunity to work things out.
"So" Wufei started "What exactly are we gong to do?"
"I don't know" Duo replied "Maybe we could share him?"
Wufei snorted and folded his arms.
"Maxwell" he asked "You and I hate each other! We are constantly bickering and forever at each others neck!"
"Yeah, but you know what they say about people who fight! The more they fight, the more they care about each other!" Duo argued "And when it really comes down to it, I don't mind being at your neck very much"
Wufei blushed and then blinked before looking at Duo.
"A-are you flirting with me?" he asked in disbelief
"And if I am?"
Wufei started stuttering and stuttering things that quite frankly didn't make sense and after a few seconds, Duo stopped him.
"Fei! Calm down!" the braided American laughed "We can ask Heero what he feels about us when we come back in 1-2 years or so"
The Chinese man took a deep breath and calmed himself before nodding and closing his eyes. Duo smiled at his friend and turned to look out the window.
The plane was small and so there were two rows of seats on either side of the plane, that could fit two seats next to each other on either side. The maximum on board was 100 people and Trowa and Quatre were seated behind Duo and Wufei.
Wufei looked up when Duo muttered Heero's name and his eyes widened at what he saw. Before long, Trowa and Quatre were also out of their seats, staring out the window helplessly watching things unfold.
"And what did you decide?" Quatre asked anxiously
"We decided to let Heero decide when we returned, but, you know…" Duo replied
"…the accident" Wufei finished
"Why do we call it an accident?" Trowa asked suddenly "I mean we all know that it wasn't"
"I guess, it's just more convenient and doesn't hurt as much as the truth" Duo replied
Silence followed for a short while before a grin spread over Duo's face. They had talked for a couple of hours now, trying to keep their minds off of the wait for their friend to awake, and the American had just come up with an idea.
"Hey guys?" he asked "What do you say we go and wait in Heero's room for him to wake up?"
"What?" Quatre asked "Why?"
"Well, knowing our buddy, he's gonna freak when he wakes up, and besides, I want to be there when he does"
"Sure" they all replied "Let's go
The pilot stood up and walked to the door and out into the hallway. Before long, they reached Heero's door and opened it.
Heero slowly turned around as the pilots left with his shoulders slumped. Suddenly, a man with a long trench coat on pushed past him and walked into a door that read 'staff only'.
Heero glared angrily at the man. He already felt bad without him making it worse, when all of a sudden his glare turned into a look of curiosity. He studied the figure as it slipped round the door with concentration until finally his eyes widened and he jumped up to follow the man.
Several staff members tried to stop him from getting through the door, but Heero easily pushed past them and ran down the hallway that lead to the run way. The cloaked figure turned around slightly, and as soon as he saw Heero behind him, began to flee.
Heero sped up and soon both he and the man were running openly on the runway. The man seemed to be running towards a plane and when Heero looked closer he saw it was the plane him comrades had boarded.
"No!" he shouted and ran faster
The man's trench coat was whipping back in the wind, revealing the explosives strapped to his body. Heero's eyes widened in fear, but not for himself, from the thought of losing his loved ones.
A quick glance to the plane window showed the Japanese man his friends had seen him, but he coouldn't hear anything through the reinforced windows.
"DUO! QUATRE! GUYS! GET OUT OF THERE DAMN IT!" Heero yelled as he chased the man heading towards the plane.
"HEERO!" Duo yelled back as he saw his fellow pilot tackle the man to the ground "BE CAREFUL!"
"YUY!" Wufei added as he ran frantically from one window to another, trying to get a better view of their situation "DON'T BE A FOOL! WAIT FOR BACKUP!"
But Heero couldn't hear their cries through the reinforced windows of the plane. He dragged the cloaked figure as far away from the plane as he could.
Duo barely had time to scream to his best friend before-
The explosion rocked the plane and it tipped roughly onto its side. Wufei, Duo, Quatre and Trowa barged the plane door open and leapt from the plane in a futile attempt to get to their friend.
By now, paramedics had arrived and were holding the pilots back.
"Please sirs!" one cried "We need you to stay back so that we can help your friend!"
"HEERO!" Duo screamed "NO! LET ME GO! HE NEEDS ME!"
"HEERO!" cried Wufei "Please let us through! HEERO!"
"No" Quatre sobbed before letting out a heart clenching scream "NO!"
Trowa remained silent as ever, watching in shock as his friend was carried into the ambulance which soon disappeared into the distance. He hardly noticed as the sobs escaped his parted lips.
Duo opened the door quietly and peeked inside before swinging the door open.
"Oh God" he muttered "He's gone"
The rooms window was left wide open.
Whoa. I need your opinion on the 'accident' that wasn't an accident. Was it okay? Also, do you guys want me to continue with this fic with Heero's recovery and the relationships etc?
Until Next Time
Clarobell