Title: Holding Out for a Heero 8?
Author: Gaia
Pairings: 1+2, 3+4, 5+OC
Rating: PG-13-R
Warnings: slight language, slight sexual content, self-insertion, slight OOC, AU
Disclaimers: While I would love to own the Gundam pilots, I don't, so don't sue me. I'm just a jobless college student! Also, any songs mentioned are not my own, although I would love to own them because they are very good songs. Wanna give them to me for my birthday? The only things I own happen to be anyone mentioned that is NOT a gundam pilot or from the gundam series.
Notes: Please don't judge me too harshly… it's my first long fic! Feedback is always appreciated! I know I didn't put descriptions in last time, but this time, at least two more people will be described, I promise! Also, I'm very sorry I haven't updated in so long, but it's been…weird… I'M REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY SORRY!
Part Eight: Trials and Tribulations
Lissa and Quatre stared in shock as Aaron hit Duo and Duo fell to the ground. When he didn't move, they both raced over to where the others were standing in time to watch Sara and Heero race away, Heero cradling Duo gently in his arms.
Chaos reigned for the next minute and a half as everyone rushed to their cars to head to the hospital.
In the hospital waiting room, thirteen people sat tapping their feet, tapping their fingers, pacing, or being all around jittery. They hadn't had any word from a doctor or Heero and Sara and all of them were beginning to get extremely worried.
Lissa sat next to Kaie, squeezing his hand for reassurance. Next to her, Dakin sat wringing his hands. He moved as if to tap Lissa on the shoulder, but hesitated and ran his hand through his brown hair instead. He looked as if he was arguing with himself for a few minutes and finally, making a decision; he cleared his throat and tapped Lissa on the shoulder.
"What's wrong?" Lissa's gaze flicked from where her hands were linked with Kaie's to Dakin's face.
"Um… I know this is a bad time and all… and I know that this is going to sound stupid considering everything, but…um…" Dakin trailed off and focused his gaze on his hands.
"What is it, Dakin?" Lissa asked patiently.
"It's just that… when I first got to the field this morning, the first person I noticed was Sara… and I couldn't stop watching her all day. Is she… is she with anyone? Like the guy who got hurt… Duo was his name, right?"
Lissa smiled softly. If she hadn't already found Kaie, she would probably be attracted to him. He was tall, at least two inches taller than Kaie, with straight brown hair that fell past his ears and vibrantly green eyes set in an angular face. He was well muscled without being too built and was exactly the kind of guy that Sara would like.
"She's single and most definitely looking for a relationship, if that's what you're asking."
Dakin's eyes jerked up from his hands to settle on her eyes before a slow grin spread across his face.
"Thank you. That is definitely what I needed to hear."
Sara and Heero stood outside the door of the emergency room, waiting for word on Duo's condition.
"Hey, Heero? I have a couple of questions I would like you to answer for me if you would." Sara looked at him patiently out of the corner of her eye.
"Hn."
"Since I'm assuming you mean I can go ahead and ask you, I'm going to. I heard all about last night and this morning from Duo, so don't deny the facts. Why did you dance with him so willingly last night and then act like he betrayed you this morning?"
"I… I don't know what came over me last night… or this morning. It's just… with all the emotions and the music last night, I felt like I could act like I wanted to. This morning… I didn't know how Duo or any of you would react if you had seen us… together. I reacted badly to the situation." Heero turned his head away, ashamed at how he had acted.
"Heero, do you know why he left my house today and went to take a shower?" Sara looked at him steadily, waiting for him to make eye contact.
"Did he leave because of me?"
"He needed to get away for a little while so that he could calm down. He was sobbing when I went over to check on him and wasn't paying attention. He really did slip on a puddle and knock himself out. And don't worry, I didn't see anything. He was covered by the towel." Sara said the last bit because Heero had started glaring at her when she mentioned him being in the shower.
"He got hurt because he was upset about what I'd done. Why does this not surprise me? Every time I make a mistake, people get hurt." Heero dropped his head to his chest and sighed. "As soon as we can get in to see him, I'm apologizing and seeing if Duo will accept that apology."
"That's a good idea. I'm glad we had this talk, but we really need to talk more Heero. You're always talking to Lissa. You can talk to me too, ya know." Sara elbowed him gently and was rewarded with a light punch to her upper arm.
At that moment, a doctor walked out of the emergency room.
"Family for Duo Maxwell?" He looked at them with a quirked eyebrow.
"Yes, that's us." Sara and Heero pushed away from the wall and waited patiently for the doctor to continue.
He consulted his notes and looked back at him. "Duo Maxwell has suffered a massive concussion and minor contusions to his ribs. Other than that, he's fine. He just needs to stay overnight so we can observe him and make sure there are no ill effects from the concussion. We're moving him to his own room in about ten minutes. You can follow and then visit him." The doctor smiled and went back into the emergency room.
Sara smiled softly at the look of relief on Heero's face.
"Hey, Heero. After they lead us to his room, we should probably find the others and let them know the news."
Heero nodded vaguely, not paying any attention to her and staring intently at the door, waiting for his first glimpse of Duo.
True to his word, the doctor wheeled Duo out of the emergency room with the help of nurses within ten minutes.
Duo waved wearily at the two of them and let his hand drop back onto the bed. He turned his head to the side so he could see them as they moved.
Sara reached out and grabbed Duo's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. She then grabbed Heero's hand and, before he could pull away, placed his hand in Duo's. Duo looked up at her with a shocked expression as she pushed Heero closer and walked on the other side.
Upon reaching the room in which Duo would be staying, Sara tapped Heero on the shoulder.
"I'm going to go find the others and let them know where the three of us are. I'll be back with whoever's here in about five minutes." She looked pointedly at Heero and walked out.
"Duo, I want to apologize for my behavior over the last two days. It was wrong of me to dance with you like that last night and then treat you so horribly today." Heero looked down at his hands as he made this speech.
"He… Heero… I… I want to apologize too…"
"No. You have nothing to apologize about, Duo. I was the one who was so willing to dance with you last night. It's just… this morning, self doubt set in and I began to think that you were just caught up in the mood of the club or something. I began to think that others would see us together and be disgusted by it and I didn't know what to do. I know it was not the right thing to do and I know I can never make it up to you, but I want you to know that I am sorry." Heero turned to walk out and was stopped by Duo's hand grabbing the back of his shirt.
"Heero, don't leave. Please." Duo looked at Heero plaintively.
Heero looked into those beautiful violet eyes and nodded, unable to refuse Duo anything.
Lissa looked up as the doors to the waiting room swung open to reveal Sara. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a slight smile spread across Dakin's face.
"Sara!" She jumped out and flung herself across the room, gripping Sara's arms. "How's Duo? Is he okay?"
"Yes. He'll be fine. They just want him to stay over for the night to make sure he really is okay."
"Oh good." Lissa coughed and whispered in Sara's ear. "We need to talk when you have a free second."
Sara quirked an eyebrow at her and then looked up as the others came up to her to inquire about Duo.
After learning that Duo was going to be okay; Josh, John, Dave, Ian, Ryan, Aneliya, Wufei, Quatre, and Trowa stopped in to see Duo and then went home, leaving Sara, Lissa, Dakin, Kaie, Aaron, and Heero to stay by his side.
Everyone who stayed filed slowly into Duo's room, except Heero who was already in the room, taking up every available space. Duo blinked at them wearily. They could all see the lump forming on the side of his head.
"How are you feeling, Duo?" Lissa squeezed in between the small table and the bed to be able to hold Duo's hand and brush his bangs out of his face.
"As well as I can feel with this egg on my head." Duo brushed over it gently with the tips of his fingers and winced.
"Duo, love, don't touch it. You'll only make it hurt more." Aaron squeezed past Heero and took hold of Duo's hand.
Sara sighed and shook her head as Duo looked at Aaron in shock and Heero glared at the back of his head, fists clenched, looking intent to kill.
Everyone was saved from seeing Aaron get ripped to shreds by a nurse sticking her head in the door.
"I'm very sorry to inform you, but visiting hours are over."
The group said their goodbyes. Sara and Lissa all but dragged Aaron out of the room, followed closely by Kaie and Dakin, leaving Heero alone with Duo.
"Thank you for coming here, Heero. You don't know how much it meant to me."
"You're welcome, Duo…" Heero slid his hand Duo's hands together. "I'll be back to pick you up tomorrow, alright?"
"Alright." Duo smiled at him as he walked out the door.
Sara and Lissa stood right outside the door, not acknowledging that they heard anything. They had sent Aaron, Kaie, and Dakin ahead to get them all sodas from the vending machine.
Heero walked through the door and stopped, eyeing the two girls suspiciously. They just grinned at him and started walking.
After getting their sodas from the boys, they each got into their cars. Kaie led the way with Dakin in his black Jeep. Aaron followed them in his red Ferrari and Sara brought up the rear in her black Corvette with Lissa and Heero as her passengers.
"So, Lissa, what did you have to tell me before?" Sara's eyes were focused on the road, but her mind was replaying Lissa's words from earlier.
Lissa giggled. "You know how you're always lamenting your single status?"
"Yes…? What does that have to do with anything?" Sara's eyebrow quirked.
"You know Dakin? Mr. Tall, Dark, and Sexy?"
Sara nodded slowly, her fingers gripping the wheel so tightly that they were white.
"Well, he's interested."
"What do you mean, interested?"
"Oh, I don't know." Lissa grinned.
"Stop teasing me! Tell me what he said or I'll start weaving this car around so bad that you'll throw up." Sara growled and then started hyperventilating.
"NO! Don't do that… Alright, I'll tell you, but you have to pay attention to the road. You're not allowed to faint. You're driving and I don't want to die."
"Yeah, yeah, sure! Just tell me what he said!"
Lissa sucked in a deep breath and dug through her bad for her ever-present smelling salts… just in case.
"Okay. Here it goes…" And so, Lissa told her story of her conversation with Dakin in the hospital waiting room.
Sara went sheet white in the beginning of the story. As Lissa continued, a small grin spread across Sara's face. She started shaking just a little, but nothing bad enough for her not to be able to control the car.
"So, he's interested…"
"Yes, Sara, he's interested."
"Lissa? What do I do? How do I go about letting him know I'm interested? I've never done this before. You know what I should do, right?" Sara was glancing frantically back and forth between the road and Lissa.
"Sara, chill. Breathe. I'm going to help you. You just need to calm down and get us home." Lissa was gripping the 'oh shit' handle tightly.
Sara slowed her breathing and concentrated on driving. In no time, she was parking the car, having gotten them home in one piece.
"Lissa, whose Jeep is that?" Sara asked nervously.
"That would be Kaie's."
"Oh no! Do you think he brought Dakin? Because I don't know what to do yet! What am I going to do?" Sara closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the headrest.
"Sara, act normally and you'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" At Lissa's nod, Sara smiled and got out of the car. "Now, I'm going to go take a shower." With that, she bolted into the house and up the stairs, avoiding everyone that was already in the house.
Lissa grinned and got out of the car.
"Are you getting out of the car, or are you going to stay there all night, Heero?"
"If he is here, I'll stay in the car or go back to my own house." Heero growled.
"He? He-who...? OH! As in Aaron?" Lissa grabbed Heero's arm. "Even if he is here, come inside. Please."
Heero growled, but got out of the car and followed her into the house.
Aaron was indeed sitting on the couch in the living room, talking animatedly to a bored looking Trowa. Heero studied him carefully. He seemed to be Duo's type. He had shining blonde hair that reminded Heero of a halo… one that was held up by horns. His dull blue eyes were cold as he looked towards the door where Heero and Dweia were standing.
"…and then Duo told me that he would always love me and I was in pure heaven. Oh, hello Heero." Aaron sneered in Heero's direction.
Lissa watched Heero's face carefully and saw it go sheet white. He stalked out of the room a second later.
Trowa had lost the bored look and was looking at Aaron like he wanted to murder him.
"Everyone who is currently in this room knows that that never happened. Why don't you take your lying ass out of here and leave Duo and Heero alone?" Trowa snapped.
"But I'm not lying. Duo said he loved me. I'm coming back tomorrow to see him. I don't care what you think of me, but I love Duo and I won't let anyone stand in the way of the two of us being together." With that, Aaron stalked out of the house, got in his car, and drove away.
Lissa sighed and went to go find Kaie and Dakin. She passed by the kitchen, but stopped when she noticed activity. Quatre, Dakin, and Kaie were in the process of making soup and sandwiches for everyone.
"Hey guys. Thank you so much. I was going to do that as soon as I found out where everyone went."
"It's no problem. And if you happened to notice the lack of Wufei and Aneliya… Well, we don't know what to tell you. They said something about talking privately for a little while. That was about… half an hour ago?" Quatre said, a small smirk spreading across his face.
Upstairs, after an insanely quick shower, Sara was walking down the hall in a towel when something caught her eye. The quest bedroom, which they had given to Aneliya, was occupied.
Sara peered around the door jam and smiled happily. Wufei and Aneliya were sitting on the bed, talking quietly while holding hands.
She smiled and moved on to her room to change and get ready to see Dakin.
End Part 8
Note: Sorry it's shorter than the others, but I also knew that I hadn't updated in awhile… so I wanted to put something up… Can you blame me?