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[...]

"How bad is it?"

Quatre sighed, rubbing one hand along his forehead. He looked exhausted, from working almost all night to take care of Duo. Wufei had finally managed to convince him to go to bed at around 4:30 in the morning, promising to call him if anything changed. But a couple hours of sleep did not do much good,

"It...required a lot of stitches. There were several deep gashes along the upper back that were much more serious than the rest. The worst one was one across the shoulders. It required sixty-seven stitches."

Heero gasped in shock and surprise that it was actually that bad. After getting the whole story from Trowa, the Japanese pilot felt incredibly guilty for hitting Duo. Even more so because Duo had submitted himself in place of Trowa for what could only be called inhuman torture. And all of this happening right after he had broken it off with Duo.

"Can...can I see him?" He asked hesitantly, knowing that his request could be fully denied, but hoping that Quatre would let him.

"NO!"

That actually wasn't from Quatre, but was from Wufei who had walked into the living room. Onyx eyes blazing with fury, he looked very much like the dragon that the others referred him to.

Quatre started to protest. "Wufei, Heero has-" but was quickly silenced.

"No." Wufei repeated a little more coldly. "He is not going anywhere near Duo. Also its highly unlikely that Duo would want to see him after what he has done." Seeing Heero flinch slightly, he turned to the other. "Go near him and I will kill you. You've caused enough trouble. This is all your fault."

"My fault?" Heero was flabbergasted. What did he do?

"Your fault. It was because of your indifference and you breaking off your relationship that this has happened."

"Are you saying that them going on a mission had something to do with me?"

"No, you fool! Do you really think that Duo would have submitted himself for torture that passively? According to Trowa, he didn't even fight back. Why do you think is that?"

Seeing that Heero really had no idea, Wufei continued. For being so perfect at everything, Heero didn't have a clue about how human minds work. "He didn't have anything waiting back here. So instead of finding another way out, he let the man Cain torture him like that. But I highly doubt that Duo knew that he was going to get raped. But even with just the torture, Duo would have definitely found another way out if things had been different."

"I'm guessing that some part of him thought it was his fault. That Heero had broke it off with him. I think he blamed himself for not loving you enough."

"But that's not true!" Heero protested. Damn if Wufei wasn't making him feel even guiltier.

"But do you think Duo's going to believe it?" Wufei shot back. "Just think for a second, Yuy. You know him better than all of us."

Heero was struck dumb at that. True, he did know Duo better than any of them, and what Wufei was saying made perfect sense.

"What have I done?!?" Heero wailed, dropping his head into his hands. This is all my fault...He thought in despair. If I only I had known sooner.

"There is no point in crying over spilt milk." Wufei said harshly. Then his face softened. "But I have no idea what he's going to be like when he wakes up. There is only so much that one can take before-"

CRASH!

All three pilots jumped at the sudden noise. Even Trowa came out of the kitchen, inquiring. When it became evident that no one there was the cause of the crash, all of them took off running up the stairs, heading towards Duo's room.

They actually didn't have to go that far because they found Duo in the corridor, leaning against a wall for support, a vase lying broken at his feet.

"Duo!" The said pilot lifted wide, fearful eyes from the mess at his feet and looked at them.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean-" he started to apologize quickly as soon as he met Wufei's eyes, thinking that the Chinese pilot was made at the broken vase when it actually was over Duo getting out of him room.

"No, no. Don't worry about it." Quatre soothed, moving forward, carefully overstepping the broken pieces to stand next to Duo. "Are you okay?" Getting a blank stare, he added. "Are you hurt? Did you step on any of them?" He slowly led Duo past the broken pieces and onto safer territory.

"No...no, I didn't step on any of them. I just-Where's Trowa?" He asked looking around frantically.

"I'm right here." Trowa said stepping forward smoothly to take Duo's other arm and wrap it around his shoulders and wrapping his own arm around the smaller pilot's waist for support.

"You're okay?" Duo asked, almost disbelievingly. "You're not hurt? You're alright? What about Heero? Is he okay?"

"He's fine, Duo. I'm fine." Trowa said calmly, though a hint of pain seemed to pass through his voice.

"Really?" Duo looked around to find Heero's eyes. The Japanese pilot nodded confirming it.

"Really, Duo. We're both fine." Trowa repeated. "Is that why you came all the way from your room?"

Duo had the decency to look abashed. Flushing a delicate pink, he averted his eyes to the floor. "Well, yeah..."

"You could have called one of us." Trowa said softly. "Come on, let's get you back to the room."

Together, he and Quatre supported Duo back until they safely deposited him back on his bed. Though Duo tried to protest, the others were firm about this.

"No, Duo. You are going to stay in bed until you recover."

"But I'm fine!"

"No, you are not."

"I am too!"

"Are not."

"AM TOO!

"Are not, and that's the end of that."

"I'm glad."

"Huh?" The change was so sudden that it left everyone baffled. "About what?"

"That's you're not hurt." Duo grinned. "I'm glad."

Trowa's eyes softened and he reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind Duo's ear. "I'm glad too. Thank you, Duo." He whispered, words heavy with emotion.

Duo flinched when that strand of hair was tucked and he couldn't repress a shiver when Trowa thanked him. It brought back the memories of what had happened. Of what he was trying so hard to pretend as though it never did happen.

"Go on. Shoo." He waved them away, voice tight with holding back tears. "Just because I'm awake doesn't mean I need a babysitter. Besides I'm tired. I think I'll take a nap."

"All right. I'll call you for lunch then." Duo nodded in response and turned over to his side, eyes closing. The others quietly stepped out of the room, closing the door quietly.

A moment of silence passed through which no one wished to venture. They all were hurting in their own way.

"He seems all right." Quatre said softly.

"Outwardly." Wufei sighed, shoving his hands into the pockets of his white pants. "Inside...I don't think he's ready to deal with all of that. And the end result is that he ends up pushing it down so far that it seeps into his bones and stays there forever. We can't let that happen."

"I don't know what to do." Heero admitted. That itself was a big confession for the perfect soldier.

"The only thing we can do is to make sure that he doesn't do something drastic." Trowa said quietly. "If he can let himself be tortured willingly..." He shuddered. "I don't know what he will do after this."

"So its agreed then. At least one of us should always be there to keep an eye on him." Wufei stated.

Murmurs and nods in agreement. Wufei smiled grimly and walked towards the stairs. We'll help you get through this, Duo. We will.

[...]

Next chapter: nightmares!! Bwahaha! They are so much fun! Well...not for Duo. But for me!!!

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