A/N: I'm so sorry for the long wait but I was at a loss as to how to continue this after having suffered from a severe bad mood after my teachers frigged up my report card. They gave me a 2.88 and expect to get some sort of praise. The bitches…..

Anyway, at least I'm trying something here. Now, in this chapter, Duo wakes up and everything goes haywire in the pilots' inner circle. How will this all pan out? Even I'm psyched. I can't wait!

CHAPTER SEVEN

The stoic threesome were alone in the hospital room with the fallen agent, their calm masks now contorted into mixed expressions of relief, misery and regret. It hurt them all to see the ball of energy they once knew so devoid of whatever it was that fueled that spontaneity.

Heero and Wufei sat on either side of the bed, each holding a deathly pale hand that had not yet regained its natural color after so much blood was lost. Trowa sat at the foot of the bed, looking at the pallid angel that lay atop the sheets. He had called Wufei and Heero first, since they were closest to him; and because their numbers were the ones he could riddle off the fastest. His devastation and panic must've been apparent since they had arrived to the hospital in almost no time flat. Trowa had unconsciously wondered how many traffic laws they'd broken and old ladies they'd run over to get there. But that thought was quickly pushed aside when they'd asked what had happened.

……………………………

I'd explained everything to them. And in all honesty, it was all a blur after I'd taken my chance at that bastard. The only thing that snapped me back to the future was the sound of two shots and a pained groan had risen above them all, the sound all too familiar. I'd sort of snapped out of the rage I was in and saw Duo tumble to the ground, unmoving. Almost immediately, a pool of blood began to form around him and I called for help. His vitals were deteriorating rather quickly and it was beginning to seem impossible to save him.

I'd already lost Catherine to that bastard. I couldn't afford to lose Duo to the same fate. And no sooner than I'd rooted my resolve, he'd stopped breathing. Nearly in synch, it felt as if my heart did the same. Suddenly, the whole world seemed to cave in on me. But I was not going to give him up. Shinigami had pulled his ass out of worse. Why'd he decide to abandon him then? But even if he did, I didn't. I couldn't. I wouldn't.

And there he was. Hooked up to any and everything that kept alive; even if for a few more hours. It was the second time in just a few weeks I'd let my mask slip and tears to fall through. Duo would probably make up some weird joke if he ever found out that I thought he was going to die. I almost could've laughed at the thought then; but it wouldn't be right. But it was nice to think of Duo in a brighter light at that moment. I did me some good.

I just hoped Heero and Wufei come up with some form of comfort. It would prove helpful to their psyche at the moment.++

………………………….

It was a few days later that Duo had managed to open his eyes and explore his surroundings. He was surrounded by white with gray borders.

So much for breaking the monotony, he thought before he could figure out what he was doing. He realized he was laying on his side.

Looking around, he saw that he was alone in the room, nothing but various monitors and the sounds of their beeping being there to keep him company. He felt numb. He chest felt tight and his breathing was constricted somewhat. That's when memory decided to replay the events before his mind's eye. He shuddered instinctively and closed his eyes. Who knew it would've been Trowa? Well he couldn't put it past him. He did ruin his chances of getting together with Wufei and Heero. After that anything could be possible.

Turning his head, he looked out at the bright sky and the birds flying around. He heaved a wistful sigh, immediately regretting it when the dull ache decided to let him know it was still there. Putting the burning sensation out of his mind, he wondered what it would be like to be one of those birds. To be out there. Free and without a care in the world; just the sole mission to avoid getting eaten by larger animals and humans.

He was hauled out of his wishful thoughts when the door to his private room was opened. In walked a nurse. She was young, and pretty. A blond with big, bright blue eyes. Just like Quatre. The nurse looked up to see that she was being watched. Immediately she blushed at the sight before her. The patient might have been injured but he was still soothing to the eyes. Eyes widening at the thought, she hurried to his side and began to check his vitals.

Looking down at him she plastered on a smile. "You finally decide to rejoin us in the land of the conscious, Mr. Maxwell?"

Duo looked at her and managed a small smile of his own. "Nah, they decided to drag me back kicking and screaming."

The nurse's smile widened and she gave a small chuckle. "I'll get Sally for you so she can run a thorough inspection. Do you want anything before I leave?"

"A glass of water would be awesome right now," Duo replied, now noticing how tight his throat felt.

After settling back down, the nurse left, leaving Duo alone to the room and his thoughts. He was about to doze when the door reopened to let in Sally Po. His eyes lit up at a familiar face and he smiled for her.

She smiled in return. "Morning, sunshine. How do you feel?" She walked over to the monitors and looked them over.

"My throat's a bit tight, my chest's sore and my leg has practically no feeling in it at all." Duo winced as his throat protested to so many words, leaving him near breathless. Sally noticed and put a comforting hand on his head.

"Don't talk so much, Duo. That bullet you took to the chest has your breathing restricted. Take it easy." She sighed and brushed the bangs out of the braided Preventer's eyes. "You're pretty lucky Maxwell. Any other person would've died at the scene with those injuries. A bullet to the leg and chest; and a knife lodged in your back perfectly parallel with the chest wound. That's quite the situation there."

Sally had continued her ministrations, asking Duo questions as she did so. When she was done she deemed it okay to let Duo lie on his back, seeing that the wound had healed nicely. She pumped the painkillers into Duo before leaving him to himself.

………………………………….

Quatre looked up when Sally walked down the hall in his direction. When he'd heard about Duo, he'd caught the next available shuttle to Earth. The fact that Wufei told him that Duo might not make it tore through him. It was a huge relief to hear that he had come out of surgery just fine. Now all he had to do was wake up.

"How is he?" he asked, nervousness etched into his angelic visage. The smile Sally offered eased his tension somewhat.

"He's fine Quatre. You can go see him if you like. Just don't have him talk too much, okay? He just woke up."

The blond Arabian looked as if he was going to float midair. He gave her one of his megawatt smiles and headed for Duo's room.

When he walked in, he met Duo engrossed in what looked like…the newspaper? There was no pencil present so he definitely wasn't doing any puzzles. Duo felt his questioning gaze and looked up. He immediately beamed.

"Hello Duo," said Quatre, giving the braided agent a gentle hug, mindful of the other's injuries.

Duo was pleased to see an even more familiar face, even though this particular face wasn't around much for him to see. They had chatted amiably, Duo having to stop for a breath a few times. Soon, the patient's eyes began to droop and Quatre saw that as his cue to be leaving. But it was really good to see the energetic young man awake and functioning properly. When Quatre had closed the door behind him, he got a sweet idea. He spotted Sally at the receptionist's desk.

…………………………………

Trowa sat beside the bed in one of the guest bedrooms in one of Quatre's lavish homes. The blond billionaire had somehow coerced Sally into letting Duo out of the hospital and staying here under their care and the Maganacs. Trowa didn't want to think how. The guy was a politician. He could make things happen.

And Trowa was forever grateful for it. Leaning over, he brushed the bangs from Duo's closed eyes as the young man slept on. Trowa sighed and looked at the beauty before him wistfully. That moment, pale eyelids fluttered and parted to reveal sleep misted violet. When they finally focused, they travelled around the room and finally came to rest on the former acrobat.

Immediately they widened and the injured teen backed away. Trowa frowned and tried to calm Duo down. Duo only curled into a tighter ball flinching away from the European. Fear was written all over the widened amethyst orbs. Trowa tried again.

"Duo…"

"Don't…" Duo whispered, his voice trembling. "Get away from me."

……………………………..

A/N: I know, I know. It could've been longer but I wanted to leave it there because it left you people hanging. And…this may now appeal to you but there's school on Monday coming and I won't be able to post for a while. Maybe in the next two to three weeks if I'm lucky. If my mom doesn't take the Pc. Then I'd be able to type as much as I possibly can. Then have it to you via school exploitation ^_^.

NEXT CHAPPIE:

WAR ZONE PT. 2

I don't have a summary for that one but I may have it in the note before the chapter. Once again I am sorry for the delay. I'm forever grateful for your support.

'Till next time: Kenny.