Chapter Two: We are building it bigger

She couldn't remember dragging Heero back to their dorm room. That should have worried her more than it didn't. Under normal circumstances, Duo would have been extremely concerned and frantic that her body was reacting on its own, but the circumstances weren't normal. One moment Duo had been admiring the stars flat on her back, clutching Heero's unconscious body, waiting for explosion to stop rattling in her ears and the next moment she was in their dorm room looking for a place to set Heero.

She finally decided on the bed. She arranged the girl comfortably and after staring at her for a long dazed moment, went to the bathroom to do what she should have done to begin with, short of contacting CDC. She turned the faucets to start a cold shower.

A hot shower would open Heero's pores allowing her to absorb the virus. Something dangerous since Duo had to keep the virus from entering Heero's bloodstream as much as possible. She came back and found the take-out bag. Duo promptly went about stripping Heero of her drenched clothes and stuffing them in the plastic bag.

Heero looked less human bare than she did clothed and Duo had to shake herself. She looks like an angel. Duo observed the girl, allowing the memory of her failure to crash around her before she shook herself again. Where was her head today? Could she do nothing fucking right? She couldn't – shouldn't –do this right now. Heero wasn't dead. And Duo couldn't treat her like she was. Because Heero can't die. How many times has she tried and how many times has she failed? God doesn't want you, Heero. You can't die.

Why was it every time she turned around, she made less sense?

A noise from Wing's pilot broke through Duo's thoughts. Checking on the girl, Duo estimated that Heero was only partially awake. Her azure eyes opened slightly. She was maybe mobile enough, however, to make Duo's job of washing the girl easier.

Would leaving my clothes on be counterproductive? Duo considered the question seriously and then began peeling off her clothes leaving only leaving her underwear. Her outer clothes were contaminated with the virus and she didn't want to chance making Heero uncomfortable by getting in the shower naked.

Then again, when had Heero ever cared about modesty?

She stuffed the clothing in the bag and tied the plastic bag closed. Duo put the bag in the small trashcan next to Heero's desk and tied that bag closed as well. She would have to dispose of it later, along with the blankets and sheets Heero was laying on, but for now that had to enough. She would have to remember to flip the mattress.

"I really hope you don't end up hating me for this," Duo mumbled to the other girl.

The girl moaned slightly.

Picking up the naked girl, Duo carried her to the cold shower. Heero gently batted at her hands forcing Duo to strengthen her grip. Even when Heero was weak she was considerably stronger due to her unique genetics. Duo wasn't sure how she could wash off the virus for sure, or if her idea would even work. She never had to possess the knowledge before. But she had to try.

"Heero? Can you stand up for me?" Duo asked the girl.

Duo allowed the girl to stand on her two feet for a moment, but she swayed dangerously, deciding Duo's actions. Duo climbed into the shower first and helped the short haired girl with the ledge. Holding Heero in the slippery water was tough but turning Heero to face the wall, Duo was able to catch her balance. She guided Heero's hands to the wall so she could hold herself up while Duo went about getting the soap ready.

Taking the body wash, Duo furiously began washing the girl. She was extremely attentive to the spots the virus had touched and even washed Heero's hair. Normally, Duo would have been blushing like crazy despite her crude manner of acting, but the weakness in the other girl reminded her that Heero could die if she wasn't careful to wash away the virus.

After fifteen minutes, Duo had to pull the other girl out. It wouldn't help if the other girl to get a cold. That would only weaken Heero's immune system. She took one of the fluffy towels and Heero's tired eyes watched her as she patted her dry. Duo blushed slightly when it came to the other girl's privates, but Heero's gaze never changed or indicated she was uncomfortable.

Then again, dummy, you did just give her a shower in your underwear. Of course Heero wouldn't care you're drying her. You've already seen her at her worst!

When the girl was dry, Duo wrapped Heero in the clean comforter. Heero's behavior was strangely docile and Duo pushed her fears away. Running a quick hand throw the chocolate brown hair, Duo smiled down at her and checked the blankets to make sure the girl wouldn't get too cold.

"I'll be right back," Duo told her. "I'm going to wash up."

Duo waited for Heero's nod of comprehension and then went to finish her shower.

She scrubbed her skin and hair until her skin was red and her hair felt coarse. The soap was lemon scented and in her misery, Duo wished she had badgered Heero into getting a sweeter one. Vanilla would have been soothing on her frayed nerves right about now.

Leaving the shower before a chill could enter her bones, Duo dried off and got dressed in loose fitting clothes. She resisted the temptation to leave her hair in a wet and tangled mess and roughly ran a brush through the long strands. She uncaring pulled out multiply hairs and when her hair was smooth enough, she braided it rapidly. Tying the end off, Duo went to cheek on Heero.

Heero's eyes were closed and an unhealthy flush settled on her cheeks. The slight sheen of sweat was also on her face. Putting the back of her hand the girl's forehead and cheeks, Duo's worry reared its ugly head again. It felt like the girl had a fever.

She got the full dose; she was contaminated by the virus in its purest form.

Chewing the wet tail of her braid, Duo began to make plans on contacting Quatre and getting the vials to her as soon as possible as well as "borrowing" things to help Heero's fever.

A tall order for the girl who didn't want to leave Heero alone for a moment.

She eyed Heero's precious laptop, and after seeing azure eyes still closed, she grabbed it. It was the in predawn hours and she couldn't afford the suspicions visiting the computer terminal would create. God only knew how long they would be stuck here while Heero recovered. They couldn't afford to move her to a safe house with the other pilots. That would only contaminate the others and they were still at war, even if one of their own were down.

Logging on to the proper channels, Duo went about sending a message to Quatre. She didn't skimp on the details and told the blonde exactly how compromised they were. Sending all the information Heero had gathered on the portable, Duo could only thank her lucky stars that the device wasn't damaged from the moisture or explosion.

Next, Duo sent a message to Dr. J and Dr. G informing them the two would be out of commission until further notice. She left out the details in those particular messages. Sensing more than anything that they would order Duo to leave Heero behind and get out of the city. As much as the doctors seemed to trust Heero's abilities, Duo didn't think they understood that the girl was still human.

But Duo did. The reminder was the frail body being consumed by a fever.

"I'm gonna be right back, okay Heero?" Duo asked Heero, mostly to fill the silence than to inform the girl of anything. "I've gotta get rid of these blankets and clothes."

When the girl didn't say anything back, Duo bundled the blankets up in a way so that none of the damp spots would touch her skin or clothing. She grabbed the plastic bag of contaminated clothing and threw them out the window, easily following. She disposed of the bedding and clothing in at an apartment complex, a good eight blocks from the school. She refused to leave any sort of trail for OZ to link back to them. Heero's safety was the utmost importance as of now. No trails. Absolutely nothing could betray their presence in the city.

She re-entered the dorm room through the window and locked it. A cursory glance at Heero proved to Duo nothing had changed while she took care of things.

Turning off the lights, so Heero could be more comfortable, Duo kept a silent watch over the room and her partner.

The sun drifted up, reminding Duo she forgot to close the blinds. The sun felt warm on her face, an angel's touch. An undeserving moment of peace.

Changing from her loose clothing, Duo prepared for her day of errands. Today was unfortunately a Thursday. A Thursday wasn't as bad as say, a Monday, but they weren't the prime day of the week for skipping class and running personal errands. Only one thing truly concerned her: Heero.

I can only hope Heero will be okay for an hour…

"Heero," Duo said to the sick girl in the most soothing tone she could manage. "I've gotta go mail some stuff to Quatre, completing the mission, ya know? And then I'm gonna pick up some meds to help bring down your fever. I'm gonna leave some water on the nightstand. I'm gonna try being back as soon as I possibly can."

Duo smoothed Heero's sweaty hair, scratching the scalp gently. It had been a long time since Duo had been sick enough to need someone, but when she had been, Sister Helen had been there. She remembered the kind woman holding her at night, soothing away her fever with kind words and excess water. The scalp rub was one of the many things Duo remembered Sister Helen doing to ease Duo back into sleep and Duo could only hope that it was doing the same for Heero.

Heero didn't respond to Duo's chatter, not that Duo had expected her to. The somewhat conscious Heero from the previous night had vanished leaving an unresponsive doppelganger in her place.

Recalling more of Sister Helen's actions, Duo kissed the girl on the forehead.

"I'll see you later, Heero!" Duo called over her shoulder with some forced cheer.

If Heero could hear her, which was a pretty big if, Duo didn't want the other girl to worry because Duo was worried. For all she knew, she could be worrying over nothing.

But that isn't likely, now is it? Her treacherous mind reminded her.

She closed their door and bent to lock it, wary of another unscheduled appearance by Ren. She didn't trust the boy's intentions one bit and in Heero's weakened state, she couldn't fight back. Slipping the key into a pocket, Duo turned and began walking down the hallway.

First she had to inform the nurse that Duo and Heero would be unable to attend class for the next two days due to illness. Something that wasn't a lie. Duo had no illusions about her vulnerability. The virus had taken hold of her. She could feel it in her body, like a snake coiling and waiting to strike.

It was only a matter of when. She could only pray to a God she didn't believe in and deity known for taking away souls she would be well enough to care for Heero until then.

"Nurse Reid?" Duo ventured.

A woman in a white coat and flat blonde hair looked up, circles under her eyes. She was wearing a blue face mask over her nose and mouth and Duo had a sinking feeling in her gut.

"Yes?" Nurse Reid prompted, her tone hurried.

"My roommate and I have come down with the flu." Duo began. Thankfully she didn't have to go any further.

"Yes, of course. Everyone seems to have gotten. It's those damn finals. I told the school that scheduling them all on the same day was asking for trouble." Nurse Reid nodded, obviously distracted. "Take the next two days and the weekend to rest. If the symptoms aren't cleared up by Monday, come and visit me. I'll inform your teachers."

"Thank you," Duo beamed, but not too much. She just told the nurse she was sick. She didn't want to appear like a child trying to ditch class by giving off too much energy.

She was waved away by the nurse and Duo hurried her way from the small office. The nurse's distracted manner belied more than a simple over worked school nurse. Narrowing her eyes in thought, Duo considered the possible reasons. One of the solutions she came up with was not pleasant.

The scientists at the lab couldn't have infected children, could they? They would have no way of knowing if the children would be visiting the colonies. Unless, OZ had been willing to sacrifice the residents of the city to test out their virus, to test its effectiveness. It would explain why the lab had been forcing their employees to take the 'vaccine.'

Duo sighed and let the dark thoughts leave her with her exhaled breath. She had a mission to complete. Hopefully by finishing it, Heero would be able to relax into a more fitful slumber.

The trip to the post office had been rapid and smooth. The package full of the virus and formula schematics would be in Quatre's hands within twenty-four hours. Duo tried not to put all her hope into the blonde finding a cure. It would take months for such a thing to happen. The only thing Duo could hope for was to escape the disease with her life. She had done it once, she could do it again.

On her way to a popular drug store, Duo acquired some cash from careless pedestrians. Her original plan had been to merely steal the items she required, but the trip to the nurse's office encouraged her otherwise.

The store had the classic fluorescent lights that made Duo squint her eyes before she became acquainted with the dim lights compared to the sunshine outside. She quickly walked towards the right side of the store, the side of the store that held up signs declaring medication and toothbrushes were located in aisle thirteen.

I promised Heero I'd be back soon, Duo worried. I hope she's okay.

She zeroed on the colorful boxes. She carefully read the back of each box claiming to help relieve fevers before simply deciding to get two boxes along with some pills also claiming to help fevers. She hesitated over the cough drops, unsure if Heero's illness could progress that way and decided to get the lemon and cherry cough drops. If she didn't need them, well, it wasn't her money, now was it?

Her next stop at the store was to pick a thermometer, a cold compress and orange juice. Hadn't she read somewhere orange juice was supposed to be good for sick people? With that in mind, she grabbed two cartons. Duo would have liked to get her partner soup or something else easy to eat, but they didn't have a microwave in their room. Recalling what Sister Helen stuffed her with, Duo did pick out different flavors of applesauce, oatmeal (it could easily be made with hot water from the sink) and crackers. Changing her mind about the soup while she eyed a bowl and silverware set, she grabbed that too. The very last thing she grabbed, mindful of how heavy the bags would be, was straws.

When she reached the register, an older man smiled. Tentatively, she smiled back.

"Someone at your house sick?" he asked.

"One of my friends," Duo confirmed, mindful not to lie. "I'm in charge of making sure she gets better."

Which is true, she thought ruefully. I'm all Heero's got right now.

"Well, then, I hope she gets better." The cashier smiled and then told her total which she paid evenly.

"Thank you." Duo nodded with a polite smile.

She grabbed the five bags and she brushed off the cashier's surprised expression. If it had been possible to hide her true strength, she would have but Heero had been left alone for nearly two hours and she was anxious to get back to the dorms to check on her.

The walk back to the dorms was an easy one and she slipped her groceries and body through the window, not wanting to deal with the other students in corridor. Besides, what begged more questions than a bunch of oddly protruding plastic bags?

"Hey, Heero." Duo greeted cheerfully. "Told ya I'd be back, didn't I?"

A glance at the bed informed Duo Heero must've moved. The blankets were ruffled and the glass on the bedside table was empty. "Thirsty?"

Duo placed her bags on the cleared desk. She unbagged them and put her efforts in a loosely organized manner on the table. She put the plastic bags in a drawer for some undefined purpose that belonged in the future. Next, she went about refilling Heero's water glass and inserting a straw for easier access.

Having done all that, Duo grabbed two white pills and brought them to Heero.

It was a happy surprise to see Heero's eyes open, slits but open. Duo beamed at her and winced when she felt her smile come on a little too strongly. "Time for your pills, Hee-chan."

The look Heero gave her was more expression than the other girl usually wore. It gave Duo a warm sense of accomplishment. Then again, it could the disease using Heero's body as playground that brought forth such a might expression, but Duo was an optimist.

Chuckling slightly, Duo helped Heero sit up slightly so she could swallow the pills without choking. Only after the brunette had swallowed both pills and drank the entire glass of water did she allow her to rest back against the pillow.

"When you wake up next, we'll take your temperature." Duo informed her.

Heero sent her baleful glare and the shroud of worry Duo had previously wrapped herself in seemed pretty silly. If Heero was able to glare at her, then she okay. Maybe not optimal but okay.

"Go to sleep Hee-chan," Duo ordered.

The glaring girl glared for a few seconds more, as if to prove she could and was choosing to sleep rather than being order, and settled down and closed her eyes.

The fierceness Duo had noticed was lurking in the other girl – dormant for now – but still there. It gave Duo a thin sliver of hope to cling to.

Settling herself on the chair next to Heero's bed, Duo took up watch once more.

Quat, I hope you can work fucking miracles. If you can, I'll do anything you want.

Anything.


The house sandwiched between three large trees on Hamilton Drive had been empty for three years. The neighbors on both sides would sigh at the eyesore periodically, but the asking price for the house was too steep, scaring away most potential buyers. Mrs. Adder liked the house's two story build and ivy growing on the outside. She often jogged past the house to admire the ivy, wishing she could grow some herself.

Today's jog around the neighborhood was different.

Her eyebrows raised, Mrs. Adder watched a large moving truck park outside the empty house. The moving men that had come with the truck, and the ones who arrived a little later in white vans, began to unload the truck rapidly. Most of what was being unloaded was computers and whiteboards. The Middle Eastern packers also moved in a lot of steel tables and chairs. The new neighbor must be one of those fad lovers, Mrs. Adder thought distastefully. When would everyone learn steel did not make homely furniture?

Disgusted with the latest fashion trends, Mrs. Adder continued her jog. She never got to see the lovely young woman stepping out of a car with blonde, almost white hair or the large Middle Easter man with her. If she had, Mrs. Adder would have stopped for a chat, hoping to charm the obviously wealthy woman. As it was, Quatre Winner entered her new home with a hint of a frown.

"Not what you were expecting, Miss Winner?" The man questioned his mistress.

"No," Quatre shook her head. "It's exactly what I was expecting. It's just, it's kind of big."

The man chuckled and looked over the young woman he had been guarding for the past few years. She was of medium height like her late mother with blonde hair to her chin. She had the regal beauty of both her parents and not for the first time, the man wondered if his mistress was a descendant of royalty. It would certainly explain why the blonde was so fearless when it came to fighting in the war.

"I believed Miss Trowa would be joining us." He said.

Rashid had been with the girl since she was twelve, almost three years now. He had mistakenly taught her how to use a gun and her hands to defend herself, so when a scientist with the promise of freeing the colonies found her, Quatre Winner was already capable of defending herself. Although, he would admit, she got all the more dangerous after the scientist was through with her. Her heart was still unbelievably kind and for that, he would defend her and her cause with his life. As he knew the others would.

Even if it meant allowing that Trowa near her.

"You really think so?" Quatre perked up.

"Yes," Rashid chuckled. "Miss Trowa never can seem to stay away for long, even if it is just to stop by."

He was a sap, and he loved seeing the girl happy.

"Then I would be glad for her company," Quatre said with a warm smile. "Now, let's get the lab set up. The reports coming out of Cacao are concerning me and Duo put finding a vaccine on a 'rush' order."

The two disappeared into the house, presumably to assemble the lab and house.

A couple of days later, a tall brunette moved into the house, grimly holding a newspaper. Hours after that, a Chinese woman hurried into the house frowning heavily, clutching the a similar newspaper.


Events are finally a rolling! XD Reviews are nice to have. Unbetaed, mention any typos to me.