Wings and Horns

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"Duo?"

Duo woke up to the sound of Quatre's voice. Rubbing his eyes, the braided teen tried to focus on the blonde in front of him. Quatre was trying to sit up, but seemed to struggle from all the pain he was in. Duo got up on the couch and wrapped Quatre in his arms.

"You shouldn't be moving."

"You…shouldn't worry…about me either. Where's Trowa?"

"I haven't seen him today." Duo felt Quatre's forehead. "Geez, you're burning up. Let me go get you a cold rag and some water."

"No, wait. I had…a dream."

"What about?"

Quatre snuggled closer to Duo. He was shivering uncontrollably, even with a blanket wrapped around him. Closing his eyes, Quatre tried to remember the exact details of his dream. "It was in the middle of a battle. During the war, I think. I couldn't move to fight back. It was like I was paralyzed. No matter how hard I struggled, I just couldn't do anything. I began having flashbacks; at least that's what I think they were."

"What were those about?"

"When my dad first moved my three youngest sisters and I to the mansion before the war. I remember the first thing I saw, was this chocolate Labrador. I swear this dog had to be ancient. The person that looked after the house didn't have any idea what the dogs name was or who it belonged to. I grew attached to that dog right away. Even though he was so old, he still loved running around and playing like a puppy."

Duo looked at his friend as Quatre remembered the flashback from his childhood. Quatre was smiling as he retold this story to Duo. "One day after school, I came home and found out that Hershey had been hit by a truck. He was still alive, but barely. I prayed to Allah for minutes or possibly even a few hours for him to spare Hershey."

"Hershey? How'd you come up with that name?"

"It came to me one night in a dream."

"He lived?"

"Yeah. He's still alive as far as I know. I haven't been back to see him since I ran off in Sandrock."

"What else happened in the dream?"

Quatre closed his eyes and shivered some more. Duo was really starting to worry about his friend. He knew that Trowa would absolutely die without Quatre around. Duo also knew that if Quatre died right here and now in his arms, Trowa would kill him for letting the blonde pass away. Duo looked up to see Wufei coming in from his morning walk. Catching the Chinese boy's attention, he mouthed for Wufei to call Sally.

"I began having another flashback. This time I was shown a car wreck or something. It wasn't any of us driving. Some how though, I knew that person. I'd seen him from somewhere before."

"I think you're going crazy, Quatre. Why don't you try resting some more?"

"Duo, I don't have time to rest. I have to talk to Trowa."

"I don't think so. You need to rest, Sally's orders."

Quatre winced in pain. Grabbing for his chest, he looked up at Duo with pleading eyes. "Duo, I don't have that much longer. I have no idea why, but you seem to be fine. Maybe they plan to get rid of me first."

Duo looked at Quatre questionably. "Who are they Quatre? What aren't you telling me?"

"Them, he, she, it…I don't know!" Quatre began coughing. Covering his mouth, he could feel something warm on his hand. Holding his hand out, both he and Duo looked at it. Duo's eyes widened even more as he stared at his friend's blood soaked hand. "Oh my…"

"Duo… don't say it. You'll be punished. Just go get…me a towel. I'll get cleaned up…then I'll go talk to Trowa. We won't tell him what just happened…alright?"

"Quatre, I can't do that! He needs to know how bad you are!"

"Fine…I'll get the towel…myself."

Quatre struggled to get up. Duo tried to help him, but the blonde brushed Duo's hand away. Duo watched as Quatre worked his way across the room, almost losing his balance more than once. He knew he had to tell Trowa about Quatre. That's what he'd want Trowa to do if it came down to Duo ending up in Quatre's position. "He's going to hate me for this." Duo got up and made his way up to where Trowa was staying. "I'd rather be killed by Quatre, than see Trowa suffer from not knowing this though."

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Alex opened his eyes. Looking around the room, his memory slowly came back to him. Quatre is coughing up blood now. His time is almost up. I can't let that happen to him. No matter what that outside force does, Quatre can not…will not die under my watch. Alex positioned himself so that he was sitting upright. The room was solid white; white walls, white bed sheets, white floor tiles.

"You should stay lying down."

Alex looked around trying to find the voice. Where is it coming from? I don't even recognize that voice. "Of course you don't recognize my voice, Alex. I'm not…from around here."

"Enough with the games. Come out so that we can talk face to face."

"I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"I'm not allowed to reveal myself to any angel while I'm in heaven."

Alex closed his eyes and put his head in his hands. His trip to talk to Trowa really wore him out. Lifting his head a little, he murmured to the voice. "What are you, a demon?"

"You could say that."

"If that's the case, how'd you manage to get your filthy self up here?"

"That's not important. I came to talk to you about that human."

"What human?"

"Don't play dumb with me, angel boy. Quatre of course."

"What about him?"

"What business do you with him?"

"Why do you want to know? I don't think it's any of your business."

The voice was silent as he thought this over. Alex was beginning to think the voice had left when it spoke up again. "You'll be sorry for ever getting involved with that human."

"I don't think so."

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Well, here's another chapter. Thanks for the reviews so far. You guys are awesome! I'm always excited when someone sends me a review, it lets me know that someone out there is reading my stuff -)