Author's Note: As one chapter ends, another begins. We're getting into the final stretch guys. That's right, next chapter marks the beginning of the final arc of this fic and it shouldn't disappoint, hopefully. Still, I have to make you all put up with a wrap out chapter. It just wouldn't be one of my fics without one of those. Still, it should set things up so be ready for when the real game begins. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing

Warning: language, shounen ai

On the Road Again

Could this day get any better?

First he gets that damn lighter back and then school gets canceled because the roads are nearly flooded. In fact, it was still raining right now. That meant he got to spend more quality time with Duo in the privacy of his room and not among the public ranks of their school.

So as he power-walked down the hallway wearing nothing but a robe and a large grin, Solo could not wait to get back. His hand held onto the lighter tightly, as if afraid that letting it go he would lose it and never see it again until it popped up again to ruin his life.

Though, Mueller did look a bit disgruntled about having to be up at this time of the day, driving through the harsh rain, to give him back the lighter and Alex looked as if he could have cared less. There was something that bothered him. What did he mean that he owed Dorothy one? It was impossible that he could get into her debt. What did she do anyway?

Oh well, that was a question for heads wiser than his at the moment. He had more important things to do.

"What are you doing up so early?"

And that was not one of them.

"I could ask you the same question Q," he retorted as soon as he regained his wits from the unexpected surprise.

"I was just getting a drink of water before I went back to bed," Quatre answered casually and without hesitation. "What about you? What are you doing that has you up so early in the morning willingly?"

"Just taking care of some business, that's all," Solo replied, fingers playing with the lighter. "Now that it's taken care of, it's smooth sailing from here on in."

"What about Wufei and his 'ultimatum?'"

"Let's just say that it's meaningless now that the only thing he could use against me is beyond his reach. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a bed and Duo to get back to. See you later."

--

"You can't be serious!" an enraged Heero Yuy bellowed over the phone. "How could you lose that thing?!"

"It was stolen from me!" Wufei defended as he held an icepack against the back of his head. "I don't know how but somehow someone got into my room and got the jump on me."

"But what about the plan? Don't we have anything else we can use?" Heero demanded, desperate to get his shot at Maxwell.

"I only had the lighter, it was the only thing I could get my hands on that could link Winner to the fire," Wufei stated as he pressed the icepack harder against his head. "Believe me, I tried to find something, anything, to use as a back up but it just wasn't possible. That lighter was the only surviving piece of evidence—"

"And now you've lost it," Heero snarled. "Damn it Wufei! How could you?!"

"I just told you!" Wufei hissed. "Someone attacked me from behind and knocked me unconscious! There's no other way to explain what happened!"

"How the hell could somebody sneak up on you?!" Heero demanded.

"I don't know!" Wufei yelled into the receiver as his temper was beginning to get out of control. "Look, as long as Winner doesn't know that the lighter's gone, we're still good. I'm going to call him today and get his answer, one way or another."

"You be sure to call me back," Heero grumbled on the other end before hanging up.

Turning the phone off, the Chinese let out a few well placed expletives and guttural noises before managing to calm down just enough to get his head back. Right, he needed to call the Winner residence and get in touch with Solo. Not a problem. He can do this.

Quickly, he dialed in the number and inwardly crowed when he heard the first ring. He was taken by surprise, though, when immediately after the first ring, someone picked up.

"Hello?" a groggy voice answered. It took Wufei a couple of seconds before he was able to recognize the voice. It was Solo, he was positive. This made things so much easier now.

"Good morning Winner," he greeted. "As much as I would not like to, lets skip the pleasantries and get down to business."

"Huh? Why?" Winner seemed out of it and Wufei couldn't help but enjoy what he was about to do. "What do you have to say this early in the morning anyway? Can't it wait?"

"I'm afraid it can't," Wufei replied smugly. "You see I want, no, need an answer from you concerning our little deal in the restroom and I need it now so no more procrastinating. What is your answer?"

Silence greeted him from the other end. Ah yes, he had him just where he wanted him. This was just too good…

"I'm gonna have to say no, Chang," Winner answered dryly, much to Wufei's shock.

"W-what?!" he sputtered.

"You heard me," Winner stated, this time being the one smug. "I said no. Does that answer your question?"

"You can't really be serious?!" Wufei exclaimed, baffled. "You're willing to go to jail for that rat?"

"Why would that matter to you?" Solo retorted. "Anyway, you got my answer? Can I hang up now?"

"You wouldn't or have you forgotten about that lighter?" Wufei said. Okay, he was back in control of this.

"You know, it's kinda hard threatening me with that when it's clear you're bluffing."

"What makes you say that? How do you know I'm not holding the lighter right now?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm looking right at it?"

"I can't believe it," Wufei gasped. "It was you who attacked me last night!"

"Impossible. I was here in my uncle's house all day and night yesterday."

"Well, well I don't need the lighter!" Wufei bluffed. "I have plenty of other evidence to use against you."

Winner snorted. "As if that means anything. The only thing of value was the lighter. Anything else is circumstantial and wouldn't hold up in a court of law. Face it Chang. You lose."

Before Wufei could say anything else, Winner hung up abruptly, ending the call once and for all.

Wufei glared at the phone, his grip tightening on it before he threw it at his wall, the phone shattering into pieces upon contact.

--

"Who was that?" a sleepy voice asked the blond.

Setting the phone aside, Solo looked down at Duo who was snuggled up against him like a cat, his head pillowed on his chest.

"Nobody important," Solo told him as he gently squeezed the braided one. "C'mon, let's go back to sleep, okay?"

"'kay," Duo mumbled as he let loose a cute yawn.

"Precious," Solo whispered as he snuggled back into the bed.

--

There was this noise…this annoying noise that had pulled Solo out of his precious sleep and back into groggy reality. Blinking owlishly, he noticed that Duo was still curled up to him but that didn't explain what that noise was.

"Solo? Are you up?"

Oh wait, somebody was at the door and from the sounds of it, it was Quatre. What could be going on inside that guy's head? Didn't he know that nobody woke him up this early in the morning? Why it was…noon? Man, it was still early!

"Make it stop…" Duo grumbled, his head twisting around in an attempt to find some spot where the knocking wouldn't disturb him.

Okay, that was it. No one bothered his Duo like that. In a sour mood, he removed himself from his bed and marched up to his bedroom door, willing to maim his cousin for life for this travesty.

Shoving his door open, he growled "What?" at his antagonist, on the verge of murder at that moment.

Unfazed by such a greeting, Quatre simply stated, "You have some visitors. Your friends want to have a word with you as soon as possible."

What the hell was Quatre talking about, standing there in his neat clothes and looking all preppy. He didn't have any…oh yeah, them. Guess a little humility was going to be needed but that just wasn't his bag. Still, it was his responsibility in getting rid of them so he might as well just get it over with.

"I'll be down in a minute," he grumbled as he closed the door.

Okay, he was going to have to get dressed. But what was he going to wear? And why was he concerned about what he was going to wear? This was all fucked up here.

Catching sight of Duo curled up in his bed, Solo was sorely tempted to just say fuck it and jumped back under the covers.

Sadly, the world was going to be against him just this one time and he knew he still had to get ready. Stupid ass friends of his, just having to tear him away from his little…sigh…

Mere minutes later, he was marching down the hallway in a huff, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible. He had better things to do anyway.

Entering the nearest living room where he suspected Quatre had led his four friends to wait, he was not disappointed as five different pairs of eyes caught his entrance. Wait, five? Oh, Quatre was there, never mind.

"Hey," he greeted, arms crossed over his chest, staring at the four interlopers who had dared to make him get up.

"So Sleeping Beauty has finally decided to grace us with his presence," sneered Mueller.

"Shut it Mueller," Sylvia snapped. "We're not here to start up bullshit like that."

"So what are you here for?" Solo asked, hoping that his irritation was not showing. "You leaving soon or something?"

"Funny you should say that," Sylvia said dryly. "That's exactly what's going on."

"Yeah, and we came over to see you one more time," added Hilde. "By the way, can I also see Duo too?"

"Don't know, he's still asleep."

"Oh, busy night eh?"

"I don't think anybody wants to know that," muttered Alex.

"Too much information," Mueller agreed.

"Getting back on topic," Sylvia interrupted, "Can you guess the reason why we're here?"

"Is it about the stuff Mueller's been yelling about the last couple days?" Solo guessed.

"Hey!" Mueller objected.

"Something like that," Sylvia answered, ignoring Mueller. "To tell the truth, we're only here because Mueller dragged us along, screaming about how you haven't called and whatnot."

Solo blinked. "You mean," he said, "that's what this has all been about? I haven't talked to you over the phone and that's why you're pissed?"

"No, that's why Mueller's pissed," Sylvia clarified. "I came just to skip school."

"Me too!" Hilde chimed in.

"Well, I have to say that this trip of yours was a waste of time," Solo stated. "I didn't call you guys when I was back home."

Quatre stared at him incredulously, surprised at the admission, but remained silent.

"That's what I said but you know Mueller," Sylvia said.

"Christ Mueller," Solo groaned. "Don't you ever think?"

"Of course I do!" Mueller defended.

"Yeah, when it's about conspiracy theories and all that other bullshit," Solo snapped.

"At least I can think about things more important!" Mueller snarled. "You, I bet you can't even think further than how to get into that short kid's pants, assrammer."

"Want to repeat that?" Solo growled, fists clenched tightly.

"Why can't you just clamp up for once?" Hilde complained, whacking Mueller on the back of his head. "I didn't come all this way just to hear you two fight and I don't feel like leaving with bad memories. So kiss and make up or do whatever it is that guys do. I want to go home and I'm tired of sleeping in a motel!"

"Can't argue with that," Solo shrugged.

Mueller glared and was about to open his mouth to speak but was prevented when he was hit on the back of his head again, this time not by Hilde.

"What was that for?" he demanded as he turned his glare to the offender.

"You were gonna fuck up again and say something," Alex answered. "Don't say anything as long as we're still here, okay?" he continued just as Mueller was about to retort. Raising his hand up warningly, Mueller closed his mouth but continued to glower.

Returning his attention back to Sylvia, Solo asked, "What about you? You have anything more to say or that's it?"

"I see you haven't changed much," Sylvia commented wryly. "I guess then you're more straight to the point with these things still. Well, see you later, we gotta be leaving soon with Hilde driving."

"So he still sucks at driving, eh?"

"He got us lost on our way here and I don't trust him to get me back in one piece."

"Always thinking of yourself, huh?"

"Damn straight."

"Aren't you gonna say good bye to me?" Hilde pouted.

"Yeah, yeah, hold your horses. I'll get to you when I'm good and ready," Solo grumbled, turning away from Sylvia and towards the short haired girl. "You need me to take you by the hand and lead you to the car or something?"

Giggling, Hilde gave the blond a small hug. "You sure are lucky, having Duo at your beck and call," she said wistfully. "You better take care of him though, else I'll swipe him from you when you are looking!"

"I'll keep that in mind," Solo muttered, turning now towards Alex.

No words were needed between these two. Just simple nods of the head and all was understood.

Mueller, had already stomped off by then so Solo wasn't able to give him any final words, not that he cared anyway. It was just like old times…

"Guess I'll see you guys around," Solo said, standing back as the three remaining teens began to exit the room.

"Right," Sylvia replied sardonically, but leaving nonetheless.

The moment the coast was clear and both the Winners were sure that they were alone, Quatre piped up, "That was—"

"Not another word," Solo growled. "This thing is over and done with, yes that's how we act with each other, now let's just leave it as is and go about our business, okay? Does that answer all your questions?"

"For the time being," Quatre answered.

"Good," Solo said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to bed. Don't wake me up if you value your life, okay?"

--

"Ezekiel? This is Raberba."

"Hey! How's everything going?"

"This isn't a friendly call, I'm afraid. I need you down here, stat."

"Is it Solomon?"

"No, it's not him. Romafellor is sending their representative and I'm going to need all the support I can get."

"Right. I'm on my way."

"When should I expect you?"

"If I leave now, sometime later tonight."

"I'll have a room prepared for you."

"I'll talk to you when I get there, okay?"

"Understood. Be careful when you're driving."

"I will brother, I will."