Disclaimer: I lay claim only to my family, cat, house and car.
Thanks to all of you for reading and an extra special thank you for those who have reviewed and put me on the alerts list. Yay me! You really want to keep reading! This chapter might not be much action wise, but it definitely moves the plot along. That's why I posted chapter three simultaneously. I hope you continue to enjoy the story. And keep letting me know what you think.
Blind
Chapter 2
"I have a new mission for you, Chang."
The ebony-haired man just nodded, keeping his face neutral. He had been preparing for a mission given to him only a few days ago but Lady Une had seen fit to pull him off that mission for a different one. It must be very important for her to pull me from my current mission.
"There's someone that is in dire need of….assistance."
Wufei saw the slightest downturn of his superior's lips and he instantly became suspicious, but kept his features neutral until the woman explained herself further.
Lady Une took a deep breath and leaned forward to rest her arms on her desk.
"I'm assigning you to Heero for at least the next two months. You will reside with him and assist him----"
"What?! You pulled me off of a mission to investigate possible slave traders to baby-sit Heero?! Have you lost your mind?"
Wufei was sitting forward in his chair, hands firmly grasping the arms of the chair, knuckles white with his anger and restraint.
"I thought Heero was your friend. Don't you want to help him in his time of need?"
Wufei scoffed as he stood up and stomped over to the window, eyes closed, arms crossed over his chest.
"It is hardly his time of need. He was injured. A Category 3 may be serious for most people, but for Heero it's nothing. He's been injured worse before and survived on his own just fine. Hire some damn nurse. I refuse this mission."
"Chang---"
Wufei let out a derisive chuckle. "Besides, do you even think he'll accept help? He'll toss whoever's sent out the door. Injured or not."
"He's blind, Chang."
Wufei's eyes shot open and he spun around to face the woman behind the desk. His throat was constricted and he couldn't speak. The shock of her words still had him mute when Lady Une finally spoke again.
"He didn't want anybody to know so we listed him as a Category 3 but he has to face the reality that he needs help this time. And as you pointed out, he would toss a nurse out in a heartbeat. But he wouldn't toss out a friend. Someone he respects and who respects and understands him."
"Blind? How?"
"He was going back to pull one of our own from a burning building. A building containing materials to build fireworks. Just as he got close to the building a large explosion tore the building apart."
"Is it…..?"
Lady Une swiveled in her chair to look out the large windows.
"The doctors don't know. They're hopeful that he will regain some, if not all of his sight."
Wufei took a slow, deep breath and let the tension seep from his body.
"Tell me what to do."
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Lady Une had given Wufei the phone number to the hospital and informed him that Heero had already contacted Duo and gave him instructions for his return.
"I see."
Lady Une heard the hurt in Wufei's voice.
"He didn't tell Duo. The only people who know the truth are you, me and the doctors. The company line is Heero was injured but he'll be fine and he's just taking some vacation time I promised him."
Wufei felt childish for the brief feeling of jealously when he found out that Heero had contacted Duo personally and left Une to speak with him. But they are best friends. He had inquired why he was chosen for the job and not Duo. If he could be pulled from a mission, so could Duo.
"Duo is going to be very upset at being lied to."
"It was Heero's decision not to tell him. And it was his request that you be the one to live with him during his recovery."
That little piece of information had puzzled Wufei. It wasn't that he and Heero didn't get along. On the contrary, they enjoyed a quiet friendship born of mutual trust and respect. But they'd never been close like Heero and Duo, the friends having even lived together for a short while. And even though Wufei and Duo enjoyed a close friendship, as seemed to be the case with most of Duo's friendships, that closeness never spilled over to Heero's and Wufei's friendship.
A beeping noise interrupted his thoughts and Wufei looked down at his wrist. He'd made sure to set an alarm for himself as a reminder that he needed to leave work early. He could get so caught up that he would forget everything else around him.
He grabbed his jacket and headed for his car. As he drove towards the airport where he was to pick-up Heero he thought back to his conversation with Heero's doctor. The doctor was hopeful that the damage to Heero's eyes could be healed and or repaired. There was still a question of how much of his vision would be restored, but again, the doctor was hopeful.
Wufei smirked as he remembered the doctor's repeated use of the word "hopeful".
"Hmph. 'Hope' doesn't heal wounds. Idiot."
The doctor went on to explain that Heero's eyes were tightly bandaged in several layers to protect them from any and all stimulants and irritants. The only time they were to be removed was to administer medicinal eye drops which if Wufei wasn't comfortable doing, they would send a nurse over every other day to administer and re-bandage the eyes.
Wufei had managed to keep his irritation in check and calmly reply that a nurse would not be necessary. Obviously, the doctor was unaware of who he was talking to. The doctor said he would email Heero's medication schedule, check-up schedule and any other special instructions. Wufei already had the packet printed and memorized.
The last step in his preparation for taking care of Heero could not be completed until he spoke with Heero. He already had his clothes and personal items packed and in the trunk. But he would not bring anything into Heero's apartment without discussing the living arrangements first. I hope I can do this. I've dealt with the injured before, but….the blind? What do I know of being blind?
To be continued….