Just a Shadow

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

Chapter 22: Waiting

:Evil Grin: It seems that I've fooled the majority of you! You all seem to think this is heading towards a 1/2/5 or a 2/5– but you're wrong! If you look carefully, all couples are still open and NOTHING had been decided!

Wufei and Duo like Heero, but we don't know who Heero likes – for all you know, he may still like Relena! He does like BOTH sexes after all! And who said anything about 1/2/5? Duo was flirting with Wufei because he loves to tease Wufei!

Sorry to say that I deliberately done that as a teaser! I hope you guys aren't too mad! Thanks so much for all your great reviews! I broke the 200 review mark on chapter 20 and that makes me SO happy! So far I think most people want me to continue – but for how long?

On With the Fic!

"Duo"

Someone was calling him, Duo knew that, but all he could see to focus on was the empty room…

"Duo!"

The ruffled up covers and hanging IV drip…

"DUO!"

The open window and the curtains blowing in the wind…

"DUO!"

The braided pilot ran from the room down the hallway and out the hospital door. He just couldn't take the fact that Heero had ran from them. The others watched as Duo ran and looked at each other before joining him.

Before long he made it home and ran inside. Since the others had gone to stay at th hotel, it was empty now. So empty.

Quatre, rowan ad Wufei arrived back at the house not long after their friend and found him huddled on the couch. Quatre slowly approached him and sat beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"Duo?" he asked "What are you doing?"

"Waiting" the chestnut haired pilot replied

"For what?"

"Heero"

"You think he'll come here?"

"I … I don't know"

"Do you think we should look for him?" Wufei asked

"You should know better than that" Duo sighed "If Heero doesn't want to be found, he won't be"

The pilots sighed and settled next to one another.

"I guess we'll just have to wait for him" Quatre sighed

"And we know all about waiting for Heero" Trowa stated

The others shared a sympathetic look. They all knew what the Heavyarms pilot was talking about.

Duo sat still whilst Quatre paced the room and Trowa fiddled with the tip of his bang. Wufei kept twitching. The wait was getting to them and they knew it.

Heero had been rushed to hospital after the airport incident and had been declared clinically dead after several failed attempts at resuscitation, but none of the pilots were ready to accept that.

They had all ran to the hospital Heero had been brought to, which was only 5 minutes away from the airport and upon arriving had seen the declaration. They had all barged past the doctors and nurses trying vainly to revive their friends.

Many people of the security team had tried to remove them and convince them to stop, but they couldn't do that. Wufei and Trowa focused on the abdominal thrusts whereas Quatre watched Duo perform mouth to mouth.

The doctors faces had been priceless when Heero had suddenly gasped for air 15 minutes after his heart had stopped.

They had soon regained their composure though and the pilots had been ushered out of the room to where they were now, waiting for any news on their injured friends condition.

Six hours passed before finally a doctor approached the boys and had given them the news of Heero's condition. The pilots were numb as the doctors listed all of the disabilities Heero would have.

Quatre's POV

It's all my fault. Oh my God, it's all my fault! How cu I let this happen! If only we had stayed a little longer! If e had stayed another day this wouldn't have happened. Heero would still be here with us laughing and joking.

I can't focus. All I can hear is my heartbeat and the blood rushing to my head.

Comatose?

Brain damage?

Motion problems?

Life Support?

Oh God what does he mean!

Heero! I'm so sorry!

Trowa's POV

It really is a miracle he's still breathing. I think I'm the only one stable enough to understand what the doctor is saying.

They've put Heero on life support. He's suffered severe brain damage due to the lack of oxygen to his brain when he was declared clinically dead and he will need constant care for the rest of his life.

I can't help but think of the time when he self destructed back during the war. It seems to long ago now. Heero has changed so much but…

I just can't help thinking…

Would it be fair?

I mean, Heero is trained as a soldier. He can peel away the layers that kept his emotions in, but he will always be a soldier at heart, and whether he is brain damaged of not, I can't help but think he will never feel safe wit any carer, but he will never be able to tell us that.

It's just not right that someone like Heero should wind up like this, ad I can't help but wonder…

I just can't help thinking…

Would it be fair … to keep Heero alive on life support?

Wufei's POV

I can't believe this. I just can't believe it! We should have waited damn it! If we'd have just stuck around a little longer to say our goodbye's none of this would have happened!

I know the people on the plane would have died, but Heero would have been fine and none of this would have happened! Oh God, knowing Yuy, he would have probably done it anyway!

I know I sound selfish, but I just can't hep it! It's the truth anyway! F I could go back right now and choose between saving Heero or the people on that plane, I would choose Heero without a second thought.

I'm confused about the way I feel about him right now. I know I have feelings for him, but I also have feeling for another! I just wish I could have talked to him before … before …

Duo's POV

The only way to describe how I'm feeling is cold and black. The Heero I know, from what the doctor is telling me, is gone forever. But I don't care what the doctor says. Heero always bounces back, not always in one piece, but he always bounces back!

I don't care if it takes 5, 10 or even 50 years! I love the guy and I'm not giving up on him! Ever! Heero's always believed in us so I just need to believe in him now.

The police have already approached us and have come to the conclusion that somehow the terrorists that have been bombing Winner enterprises had hacked into Preventer databases and had found out that we would be on that flight today.

They came for us, but they got Heero instead. Damn it Heero! Why do you always have to go ad be the hero!

I didn't even get the chance to tell you…

I didn't even get the chance to tell you damn it!

Normal

The doctor walked out the door and Quatre collapsed onto the floor in fits of sobs and tears. Trowa was by his side in a heartbeat. Now it was time for them to make a decision.

Whether or not to take Heero off of life support.

After a long discussion and many tears they had made the final decision. They slowly approached the room Heero was in an informed the doctor of their decision. Then they watched as all the wires and tubed were removed from Heero's body and waited for him to die.

They waited … and waited … and waited…

"He didn't die" Duo whispered

"I know" Quatre replied "We gave him the chance for a quick escape, but he chose to live"

"Maybe he's just taking that quick escape now eh?" Wufei smiled "I mean, he must need a break after all of this – he's probably grabbed the quickest flight to Hawaii"

Trowa smiled and turned to Wufei.

"I don't think Heero will ever go near and airport again after what happened"

"I wouldn't blame him either!" Duo replied "Let's just wait for him like we did last time okay guys?"

"Okay" Quatre replied "He'll come – I know he will"

The pilots grouped together and waited … and waited … and waited…

Okay, this is the last update until at least Sunday because I'm off on holiday now! I hope you guys liked this chapter!

Until Next Time!

Clarobell