Just a Shadow

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

Chapter 24: Back Together Again

I have my job now, so updates might take a little bit longer. I apologise for the wait, but thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews! If there are any Dragonball Z fans out there, you should check out my site! It's in work at the moment, but I hope to make it great very soon! You can find the address in my bio!

I won't keep you any longer!

On with the Fic!

Duo gasped as those eyes he had longed to see clear for so long, fixed on his own. The fire that had been extinguished in them for so long shone bright and clear and from the looks of it would be for a long time.

A gentle sob escaped Quatre's lips as those eyes turned to him and then Trowa and then Wufei. Volumes of emotions passed between them all without a word being spoken.

Duo bravely shifted his weight, signalling that he wanted to stand up and Heero complied, moving off of him so that he could. All of the other pilots except Heero followed suit and stood looking down at their comrade.

"Heero?" Duo asked "Is it really, really you?"

Heero opened his mouth to speak and then frowned before closing it again and then opening it and closing it. The other pilots hopes starting falling fast, watching their friend struggle to speak.

"We knew there was a chance it wouldn't work completely" Wufei soothed as he rubbed his American friends back reassuringly "We can always try again"

Words of comfort passed between the four pilots as they all huddled together sorrowfully. Heero frowned – what were they on about? A determined look crossed his face and all eyes widened as he spoke clearly and loudly, without fault.

"I guess I never really was a good public speaker eh?"

Duo sighed frustrated as another slop of mashed up food hit the floor. This was his first attempt at feeding Heero and it was proving more difficult than he had first anticipated.

Heero seemed to have a problem getting the food into his mouth and then didn't seem to know quite how to chew it and ended up choking because he couldn't swallow properly. The injuries weren't helping either.

Duo rested the jar of 'healthy' food on the table in front of Heero and stood up from his crouching position. This was a lot harder than he had first thought and he was starting to have second thoughts.

He spun around when he heard his friend grunt and his eyes widened when he saw Heero had tipped over the food and was rubbing his undamaged hand in it. He rushed to clean it up before his friend could make it worse and that's when it happened.

Heero shoved his mush-covered hand into Duo's hair and ran it down his braid in an attempt to feel the soft hair. The American man's eyes darkened and he glared at his injured friend.

"You idiot!" he shouted "Look what you've done! Now I'll have to wash it extra tonight!"

Heero recoiled and fell from the chair he was in. Duo wasn't fast enough to catch him and he hit the floor with a sickening crunch followed by the 'thud' of his head making contact with the rug.

Duo watched with wide eyes as his former partner whimpered pathetically on the ground, just a shadow of his former self and slowly they filled with tears. One after another the tears came and fell, making wet streaks across the Americans face.

The phone started to ring, but Duo didn't move. What had he been thinking? With a deep breath, Duo got to his feet and pulled the now calm Heero up with him, gently cradling him in his arms.

After making sure he was comfortable and calm, Duo cleaned Heero up and lifted a spoonful of food to his face.

"Let's try this again okay?"

Heero jumped and recoiled into the sofa as Duo shouted one thing after another at him. His blue eyes widened in a mixture of fear and shock. He hadn't expected his friends to be angry at him – what had he done?

He listened and pieced together why they were so angry, but t wasn't his fault! He opened his mouth to explain, but closed it as he knew he wouldn't be heard over their shouting.

After a few minutes they finally calmed and took in Heero's appearance. Guilt slowly crept up when they looked at their friend. He was sat pushed as far into the sofa as he could go with his head lowered and hands clasped in his lap tightly. His legs were bent to his side as he seemed to curl into himself.

"Heero?" Quatre called quietly "We're sorry for shouting"

"We were worried about you!" Wufei explained "You scared us so much by just running off like that!"

A long silence passed and Heero didn't move. The pilots exchanged a worried glance before finally their friend spoke up.

"I'm … I'm sorry" he stated "I just … when I woke up … I was confused … couldn't remember … anything really … from the last years …"

"What do you mean?" Trowa asked "Temporary amnesia?"

"Maybe" Heero agreed "But … I remembered the war … and then I ran, thinking I had been captured of something … and then it all started coming back …"

"Where did you go?" asked Duo worriedly "Are you hurt?"

"No … I … I don't know where I went … it's kind of … hard to talk right now, I … I get confused because … because it's been a long time and … and I …"

"It's okay Heero" Wufei soothed "Take your time"

Heero took a deep breath and looked up into his friends eyes and tears fell from his. Their eyes widened and they moved to comfort their friend as he continued.

"I was afraid" he admitted "I started to remember everything, and all the feelings, they … they hit me all at once … and the memories of the war … they were mixing with reality … and I got so confused I just … I don't even remember what I did … but I knew …"

"You knew what?" Duo asked

"I knew … I needed to come back … to here … with you guys … I knew I would feel safe with you"

"Is it still happening now Heero?" Quatre asked concerned

"No" Heero replied relieved "I think I needed a little more rest … and I got it"

"Which reminds me" Wufei smirked "Just how did you manage to get into that position without waking nay of us?"

"What?" Heero asked as he blinked in confusion "It was easy"

"How?"

"Well … I shook you all trying to wake you up, but then you wouldn't so … so I curled up next to Duo and tried to sleep, but … the snoring was too loud and … and so I curled up tight enough to try and block it all out" Heero explained

The pilots blushed before realising they had just had their first conversation with Heero since the accident so long ago and moved in for a hug. Heero gladly accepted the affection, glad for once he could return it.

"I think we're going to be okay guys" Trowa whispered

"Me too" Heero agreed as he hugged his friends tighter "I missed this so much!"

"Thank you Heero" Quatre whispered "I've wanted to say that for so long! Thank you for saving my life that day"

Heero smiled and pulled them all back into a hug. He was sure they were going to be okay. Things would all be fine from now on.

The pilots had been so caught up with their reunion, they had failed to notice their visitors.

"Are we disturbing something?" Zechs asked mischievously

The pilots shot apart blushing.

"How sweet" Noin smiled "It's good to see you back on your feet again Heero"

"I'm not on my feet" Heero replied a she blushed shyly

Noin smiled at Heero's joke as the rest of the group walked in the door. A yawn escaped the Japanese mans lips and before he knew it he was being whisked off to bed.

Things were going to e just fine.

Not the end yet! One more chapter to go I think! I hope you enjoyed this one!

Until Next Time!

Clarobell