Chapter Nine

A Helping Hand

For the first time in days, Zechs emerged from his room. Duo and Trowa were feeding their children in the dinning/living room while Wufei assisted Jun with her soup on the couch. Heero was typing away on his laptop and Quatre was reading a book. When Zechs stalked downstairs, everyone looked up.

"Well, it's about time the hero emerges." Duo teased.

Zechs collapsed into the large arm chair opposite of Wufei and Jun.

"I've been communicating with every contact I have to find out who attacked you and why." He explained. He looked drained.

"And?" Heero asked.

Zechs sighed and shook his head. "Nothing. Everyone is just as surprised as we are." He rubbed his temples, fighting off the coming migraine.

"Could Heero be right? Is OZ reforming?" Wufei asked.

Zechs shrugged. "I wish I knew. It's been ten years and not a single mobile suit survived the decommissioning in 197, and then all the sudden we get attacked by three right in the place we happen to be celebrating ten years of peace." He shook his head. "I don't understand."

"None of us do." Trowa said sadly. "I'm afraid to think that it may lead to another war."

Duo nodded, his features darkening. "I don't like it, but if we're right, and that really was OZ…I don't think we have a choice. We have to fight."

They all nodded.

"No one is as experienced in war as we are." Quatre said sadly.

It was sad but true. Out of all the people in the war, no one had suffered as much as the Gundam pilots.

"And I refuse to put another six souls through that." Wufei declared.

"No one deserves what we've seen." Heero muttered. "No one deserves to go through what we went though…see what we've seen…felt what we've…felt." He stood up and slammed his laptop closed. "I refuse to let OZ take over again. Not again." He shouted and stormed out of the house.

The remaining friends exchanged worried glances with each other.

"What was that about?" Zechs asked.

No one spoke. Duo knew, but remained silent. He had to talk to Heero. It wasn't healthy to bury something that serious so deep down inside. He cleared his throat and stood.

"I'll talk to him…" He said and left the room.

Adianna and Ryo made to follow him but Trowa stopped them. "No Little Ones, your father must speak with Heero alone." Then he smiled. "Why don't we all play a game?"

The children cheered and dragged Trowa to the backroom. Quatre laughed and shook his head. He missed not being around children. Before he took over his family's business, he had always been around his nieces and nephews; but now he didn't have time. He turned to Wufei and Jun and smiled.

"I'm glad you're feeling better." He said to Jun.

She bowed her head and smiled. "Thank you. I, too, am happy."

Wufei smiled and set the empty soup bowl on the coffee table. "I still wish she could see a doctor. I am skilled in healing, but there may be something I'm missing."

Jun smirked at him. "You worry too much."

Quatre chuckled. "That's our Wufei."

Wufei glared but then smiled sheepishly. "I suppose I do."

"Wufei, if you're so worried about Jun, why don't we just give Sally a call? I'm sure she could get here undetected." Quatre suggested.

Wufei's face fell and his eyes narrowed. Jun's eyes widened for a second before she turned her head away and stood up. "I am tired…I will sleep now." She muttered and left the room.

Quatre looked back and forth between the Chang's and frowned. He turned to Wufei. "What is it?"

Wufei sighed and leaned back against the couch. "Sally…Sally is missing."

Quatre's eyes widened. "Missing? For how long? What happened?"

"It has been three years…" Wufei said and looked up at his blond friend. "We were sent on a mission for the Preventors and she was wounded upon our escape. We were separated and…" He paused, collecting himself. "I have not seen her since."

Quatre looked down at the floor. "Oh, I'm very sorry." He tried to smile. "I'm sure she's alive. Maybe just laying low."

Wufei nodded. That was what he had missed most about Quatre…his optimism. "I am sure you are right, Winner. I have been trying to find her for the past three years but still…nothing." He sighed and then smiled. "Perhaps I will never find her; but at least I know that I tried."

Quatre smiled as well and nodded "Yes. You tried."

Duo followed Heero outside and found him sitting underneath the large oak tree in the backyard. His eyes were fixed on something and following his gaze, Duo found two small chipmunks. One of them was hurt (probably a broken leg, Duo thought) and the other was helping it back to the tree. Duo sighed and sat next to Heero. They sat and watched the chipmunks as they slowly made their way through the thick grass. They paused two feet from the tree trunk and then the healthy one ran quickly up the tree. Heero chuckled low in his throat and Duo recognized it as the same laugh he often gave his enemy when they tried to threaten him.

"See, even the chipmunks know when to give up." He said.

Duo sighed and followed the tree trunk up with his eyes. When he smirked, Heero turned to look at him. "What?"

Duo just pointed to the top of the tree. Running back down the trunk at record speeds was the chipmunk and this time, he had three others with him. They all ran passed the two humans and met the injured creature in the grass. Together they began pulling and escorted the little one into a hollowed out section of the tree. Duo smirked and turned to Heero.

"I have no doubt that Chipmunks know when to quit, but they also know when to ask for help." Duo said.

Heero stared at Duo, unblinking and Duo fought the urge to squirm. How dare him! What right did Duo have to tell Heero how to live his life? Heero's eyes narrowed into a deadly glare even as his conscience argued that Duo was only trying to help. Before Heero could attack with a verbal assault, Duo cleared his throat.

"Heero, before you give me a tongue lashing just listen." When Heero didn't speak, Duo took that as the sign to continue, "Heero, I don't know what happened between us the other night, but whatever it was I don't want it to affect whatever friendship we have left."

Heero blinked. Whatever friendship they had left? Why did that statement trouble him? What was wrong with his friendship with Duo? Yes, they had been apart for ten years, but Heero never thought their friendship would be affected.

Of course it's been affected, baka (1). Heero cursed himself. It's been ten years! Did you really think you should show up at that reunion and things would be just like they always were? Duo following you around like a lost little puppy?

Heero froze. Yes, he did think that; or rather, he hoped that would be the case. How could he be so stupid? Oblivious to Heero's inner suffering, Duo continued.

"I know that it's been a long time, and we've grown into different people, but I know what you were like during the war. I know that you…that you never handled feelings very well, so you locked them up inside."

Heero's eyes met caring violet ones. How did Duo know him so well?

"And something tells me that you're doing it again." Duo sighed and looked down. "Heero, I don't know what you're thinking. And I won't presume to know what you're going through." He looked back up and locked eyes with his old friend. "But I do know, that I'm here for you…if you decide you need me." Without waiting for Heero's response, Duo stood up and walked away.

Heero sat dumbfounded, watching Duo disappear into the house. Duo was there for him? Did he want Duo to be there for him? What did it matter if he was? Heero could take care of himself. He stood and turned away from the house when a thought struck him. He may be able to care for himself, but did he want to? He remembered quite clearly the closeness he shared with Relena before her death. She loved to cook for them and got mad when Heero told her to relax. Heero never understood why she wanted to pamper him so much, but he enjoyed it. The idea that someone else would always be there was intriguing to him and he couldn't help but want more of it. When Relena was killed, he lost that feeling. Was Duo offering the one thing Heero longed for? Heero glared at the ground. He realized that he may have actually jeopardized anything that might grow between he and Duo.

"Chikusyo! (2)" He shouted and stormed off into the surrounding forest.

(1) Baka: Japanese for "Idiot"

(2) Chikusyo: Japanese for "Damn it"

Well, there it is, chapter 9. I hope you're all enjoying it. And thanks a bunch to my reviewers: anissa32 and AutomatedRose. I appreciate your comments. I'll try to get the next chapter out soon and I hope that everyone is enjoying the story!