Chapter Eleven
Heero paced back and forth in the living room re-reading the note for the tenth time. Trowa sat in the corner with his head bowed, thinking while Duo fussed in the kitchen trying to keep his hands busy. Wufei sat on the couch with his head buried in his hands, swaying back and forth. It had been four hours since they found the note and they couldn't find Quatre anywhere. Finally Hero stopped pacing and turned to face the others. He placed the note on the table and sighed.
"Well, at least we know he's alive."
Duo paused and looked up. "What makes you think that?"
"Because he wouldn't leave us a note saying he's been taken if he weren't. If all he wanted to do was kill us we would have found Quatre's body by now." He explained calmly.
Duo nodded and turned back to drying dishes (even though they weren't wet). Trowa looked up and frowned.
"He must be up to something. Why alert us to Quatre's capture if he wasn't?"
Heero nodded. "I agree. But there's nothing we can do now." He looked over to Wufei and frowned. "You should have stayed with him."
Wufei nodded but didn't look up. He knew it was his fault that Quatre had been taken. He should have known better than to leave him alone. Quatre may have the most intelligence out of all of them but he certainly wasn't the strongest. Why did he have to leave him?
Heero sighed and sat down on the chair closest to him. "There's no point is focusing on blame."
Wufei looked up. "We must find him."
Heero nodded. "I agree. But we have nothing to go off of. I suggest we…"
A knock on the door interrupted Heero and all four men turned to stare at the door. Heero turned to Wufei who nodded and the two stood and slowly approached the door. They stood on either end with Duo and Trowa ready to pounce on whoever might come in. Wufei opened the door quickly but no one was there. They looked around but they couldn't see any footprints anywhere. On the ground, near the water was another note. Wufei picked it up and they re-secured the door. This time the note was longer but it gave Wufei the same chill as before.
I'm sure you're worried about you're little friend. Well, don't. He's just fine. I will return him to you within a week on one condition: You keep this to yourselves. If I hear one phone conversation, see one vehicle, then you're little blond is dead. I do hope you understand because I would hate to make a mess of my new home.
Wufei passed the note around to his friends and collapsed on the couch.
"Why that Bastard!" Duo shouted when he finished reading.
"He has nothing to gain by simply returning Quatre to us. He's going to do something to him." Trowa said.
Heero nodded. "I have a feeling this man is more upset than we thought he was." He turned and began to walk into the kitchen.
"Where are you going Heero?" Duo asked.
"To make every antidote I can with our supplies. I have a feeling Quatre is going to come back very, very sick." He said before disappearing into the other room.
The following week was very tense. Wufei kept a constant vigil at the door, waiting to hear the slightest sound that would alert him to Quatre's presence. Heero had made a variety of antidotes that he had learned over the year and they were all sitting in small glasses around the house, ready to be poured down Quatre's throat if they needed to be. Duo and Trowa had taken up the task of housework though nether spoke much.
Duo had begun to feel guilty that he was so concerned with his relationship with Catherine. Why hadn't he been more focused about the task? Too many years without the war had softened him and he didn't like it. He wanted to call Sally and tell her to find Quatre but he was afraid of what might happen to his friend. The note they had found suggested that Reigo had been monitoring their phone calls and actions from the beginning and that thought scared Duo. There wasn't much that could scare him these days, but this was one of them.
Trowa had a different reaction to Quatre's disappearance. Yes, he was worried about his dearest friend, but his logical brain couldn't help but wonder what would happen next.
What if Quatre is hurt? What if he can never tell Wufei about his feelings? What if the same happens to me?...or to Duo before I can tell him? Trowa was having a revelation. He couldn't continue to put on his confession to Duo. Life can change at the blink of an eye. He had to be up front before he lost his chance. He stood up and turned to Duo. He opened his mouth to speak with a loud thump could be heard on the other side of the door.
Wufei was outside before the others had time to blink. Lying unconscious on the beach was Quatre. His hair was tussled and tangled and his body was dirty. His clothes were ripped and badly soiled. He moaned softly in his unconscious state and he was running a high fever. Wufei lifted him into his arms and carried him into the house. Duo quickly closed the emergency door and joined them. Heero and Trowa carried in Heero's antidotes and set them on the table. Wufei was busily checking Quatre's body for abnormalities. When he found none that he could see, he moved to look at Quatre's face.
"Quatre? Can you hear me?" He asked, his voice soft and welcoming.
The small blond's eyes flittered and slowly opened. He seemed confused of his surroundings for a moment but then he sat up and nearly knocked heads with Wufei.
"Wufei!" He shouted and looked at the others. "What…what happened?"
Wufei couldn't hide the sigh of relief that Quatre was alright and Duo nearly pounced on the boy.
"You're alive!" Duo exclaimed and embraced him.
Heero and Trowa laughed at Quatre's stunned look.
"Alive? Why wouldn't I be?" He asked.
Wufei frowned. "You don't remember anything?"
The blond shook his head. "I…I remember you and I were out looking for food and I was collecting shell fish…but then…nothing."
Heero huffed and sat across from Quatre. "You don't seem to be poisoned…" He observed.
Quatre opened his mouth to question him when Trowa laid a hand on his shoulder. "You were kidnapped by Reigo."
Quatre's eye widened and he nearly passed out again. "I…was what?"
Wufei placed a hand on the man's knee and frowned. "You seem to be alright." He turned to Heero. "Why would he take Quatre and then return him without change?"
Heero shook his head. "I don't think he would…perhaps it's something that won't appear until later…"
"Sh-should we tell Sally?" Duo asked.
Heero stood and shook his head. "Not until we know what we're up against." He turned and walked out of the room.
Trowa watched him leave with a frown. He turned to his friend and smiled warmly. "Maybe you should get some rest."
Quatre smiled back, still slightly confused, but nodded just the same. "Alright." He stood and Wufei quickly joined him.
"I'll go with you." He said and before the others could question him, he escorted Quatre into the bedroom and shut the door.
Wufei forced Quatre to lay down and then he sat next to him on the bed. "Are…you sure that you feel nothing…out of the ordinary?" He asked him.
Quatre looked at his body for a moment and then shook his head. "Nothing seems different…" He looked up at Wufei and frowned. "Except that I can't remember anything since you and I were searching for food."
Wufei nodded and looked at the sheets. His mind was a flurry of voices, most of which were screaming at him to admit his feelings. "Quatre…there is something I must say now before I loose my chance later."
Quatre furrowed his brow and sat up, leaning against the pillows. "Alright. What is it?"
Wufei looked up from the bed sheets and looked into Quatre's soft blue eyes. "I…I was going to tell you this while we were looking for food…but…" He shook his head and moved closer to Quatre. "Quatre…I…" He suddenly found that the words he needed to say, alluded him. Frustrated with himself, he just leaned forward and kissed Quatre's soft lips.
Quatre's eyes widened for a moment but soon he found he was enjoying it. Unfortunately, no sooner than he started, Wufei pulled away and seemed like he was about to run away. Quatre reached forward and pulled him back onto the bed and looked into his eyes.
"That…was amazing…" The small blond whispered.
Wufei gawked. He hadn't really expected Quatre to be so welcome to the idea of his feelings. "It…was?"
Quatre smiled and nodded. "Yes. I…I've been wanting to do that for a long time."
Wufei felt his ears turn red and he chuckled. "Really?"
Quatre nodded and moved his head closer to Wufei's. "I…I feel the same way."
Wufei smiled and wrapped his arms around the boy. "I must admit…I didn't expect this…" He nuzzled his nose against Quatre's. "But I'm glad." He said and kissed Quatre again.
After Quatre's return, the others began to think that perhaps Reigo was just trying to scare them by taking Quatre, because the blond man seemed to be in perfect health. It wasn't until three days had passed that they began to notice a difference. Quatre seemed to be getting weaker and he was having continual stomach aches. Wufei was with him every moment of every day, but he just seemed to be getting worse. In a month's time, Quatre was reduced to the bed and could barely manage to hold hid head up. Wufei often paced in their room at the foot of the bed, just wishing there was something he could do.
One morning, while Heero was making breakfast, a loud thump sounded on the front door. Duo looked up from his book and glared while Trowa approached the door. Placing his ear against it, he found that he couldn't hear anything unusual, so he opened it carefully. Just outside was a knife sticking in the door with a note attached to it. Trowa frowned, picked up the knife and took it and the note inside, securing the door shut.
"What's it say?" Duo asked, joining the tall French-man.
Trowa shrugged and opened the note.
I'm sure you've noticed by now that your little blond friend isn't doing so well. You may be surprised to find out that his condition is nothing that can be cured. Currently, residing in his body, are pieces of three of you that I took the liberty of stealing. Why not four you ask? Well, because my work has already been done for the fourth of you and all I have to do is wait for the results. As for the blond, these pieces are sapping his energy so they can grow and soon there will be nothing left of him. Oh, and by the way, feel free to call a doctor. You'll need one.
Duo furrowed his brow. "Pieces of three of us?"
"But the fourth isn't needed…" Trowa finished.
A loud crash from the kitchen made Trowa and Duo look up. Heero was standing in the door way with a panicked look on his face.
"Pieces…but the fourth is taken care of?" He asked.
When Trowa and Duo nodded, he bolted into the bedroom and Quatre and Wufei, much to their surprise, and ran to the ill man in bed. Trowa and Duo followed, shoving the note under Wufei's nose. After the Chinese man read it he gasped and looked up to Heero.
"Quatre's….pregnant?" He exclaimed.
Quatre's eyes widened and he nearly passed out while Trowa had to catch Duo from doing the same.
"Relena…" Heero panted. "She's in danger!"
Well, there's chapter 11. I know, it took forever. My appologies. bows Well, I hope to get the next chapter out soon (but I seem to have less time during the summer than I do during the school year!). Anyway, hope you all enjoy! Happy Reading!
