Chapter Forty-Two: Tutors
Wufei looked around to see what was still out. It looked tidy enough. He sighed and looked over to the couch where Duo and Sakura sprawled out in sleep. He smiled softly at the sight of his daughter and love. Two of the most important people in his life.
He looked up from the eye candy as Katey came into the apartment with Trowa. She looked like she had gone through hell. But she was glowing with delight as she babbled about what she had done. She looked to be completely unaware of her whereabouts. Trowa was smiling and asking questions that caused more babbling.
Wufei looked at Trowa with a raised eyebrow. He wondered what could cause this verbal borage.
"She is exactly like Duo when it comes to helping." Trowa murmured with a slight smile.
Wufei's lips quirked. "Katey why don't you go clean up and get changed. The people for the interviews will be here soon."
Angel stepped into the living room and looked at Katey questioningly.
"I helped give first aid to the men in the explosion." Katey told her friend proudly.
Angel looked at her with wide eyes. "Really?" She asked as she turned and followed Katey upstairs.
Wufei rolled his eyes as Quatre watched Angel change direction so quickly.
"What was that about?" Quatre demanded in outrage.
"Katey had a Duo itch. So I let Trowa handle it." Wufei called to the perturbed blond.
"She did an amazing job." Trowa commented quietly as he headed for the kitchen and the fridge.
"What do you mean a Duo itch?"
"She gets an itch to help people who are hurt." A tired voice muttered from the couch. "I think we should encourage it. She needs to help people like I do. Like you do too Quat. Though I think that she will want to be able to do what I do more than what you do."
Wufei smiled down at his love as he detoured around the coffee table. It was time to wake Sakura and get her changed.
"Hey munchkin," Duo cooed to the black haired imp resting on his hip. "Time to get up and change to the clothes we chose earlier."
"I don't wanta." The sweet toned voice grumbled into Duo's hip.
Wufei sighed. "Little one you have to make a good impression with these people. That way we can chose the right one for your teacher. Okay?" He implored and teased as he pushed the silky bangs from her forehead.
"Ohhh, alright." Sakura grumbled and pushed up from her spot.
Duo let a slight hiss out but otherwise no sign that Sakura had caused him any pain when she pressed down on.
Wufei heard the slight hiss and hurriedly lifted his daughter away from his fiancé. He made as if she was flying through the air and set her down with a pat to the bottom to send her on her way to her room Brussels following at her heels.
Duo caught Wufei's hand as he went to follow her. He pulled him down for a sweet luscious kiss. Wufei surrendered happily. Duo slid his tongue teasingly along his dragon's lips and plunged pass them for a taste behind the lips.
Wufei grunted as something tackled his legs.
"Baba stop kissing Duo-Daddy. You gotta help me get dressed." Sakura chortled as her fathers scowled at her.
"I'm coming." Wufei sighed and pressed a kiss firmly to Duo's lips. "I'm coming. Children." He muttered as he straightened and followed his daughter.
Quatre and Trowa roared with laughter as Duo muttered a quiet expletive.
"I'm home. I'm just going to go get change." Damian's voice called from the stairwell.
Heero soon appeared shaking his head. He headed straight to his lovers and collected a kiss as he headed for the kitchen and the fridge.
"Had to remind him, hunh?" Duo called after the quiet man.
"Yes. He was enjoying himself immensely." Heero called as he searched the fridge for something. He closed the door and popped the top of a can of pepsi. "Miles had also seemed unaware of time as well. I will have to speak to mother about that."
Duo sighed and tried to lift himself into a sitting position. Quatre was suddenly at his side and helping him up. He sighed in frustration. He knew that it was going to take a while to heal but it was taking forever in his books. The sound of a gong going off sounded in the room. Duo winced as his body jumped in startlement.
Quatre rushed to the door as Katey, Angel, and Damian tumbled into the room.
Katey rushed over to settle in beside Duo for comforting reassurance as Quatre let the first person into the room. Damian settled into a chair close to Duo and Angel curled herself against Trowa as they watched a group of people enter the room.
Quatre looked at the people entering in disbelief.
Zechs' and Noin seemed to herd them into the apartment. "Lady Une thought the kids should meet them all at once and then work it out so that they got some alone time with one of them with one of you for a little while."
Noin tossed him a smile and a wink as she ushered people in carrying a folder with her. She handed it to Duo as she settled on a couch opposite of the one he was on.
Duo blinked and opened the folder to find resumes of the people in it. He sorted through it quickly and offered copies of resumes to Trowa, Heero, Wufei, and Quatre when they joined him. Wufei settled on the couch beside Katey and pulled Sakura into his lap.
Quatre pulled his glasses from a pocket perused the documents he had. Wufei mirroring the image.
"We will start with introductions then get down to business." Heero stated in his reporting for duty voice. "I am Agent Heero Yuy. I am one of the higher ups of Preventers."
"I am Lieutenant Trowa Barton of the NYFD. I am also on the reserve list for Preventers." Trowa stated from his spot leaning against a column to the kitchen.
"I am Dr. Quatre Raberba Winner, I work in the ER of NYG. But I am also on the reserves for Preventers. The young lady who is glued to Trowa is his foster sister Angel Barton. Unfortunately our son Alex is still hospitalized at the moment." Quatre looked up at the people with a dancing light in his eyes. "We are a very unusual family you will find out about if you come to work here."
"I am Chang Wufei. I am a lawyer for Preventers and on the reserve list as well." Wufei told them in his calm precise mode. "My fiancé is Lieutenant Duo Maxwell of the NYEMS. He is also on the reserve list for Preventers and happens to be the adopted brother of Lady Une who is the Head of Preventers. He is also the man who has started an important project in this neighborhood." He motioned to Damian. "This is Damian Maxwell. He is Duo's adopted brother. This is my adopted sister Chang Katey, and our daughter Chang Sakura." He looked up at the interested group of about sixteen people sitting around the room. "We are looking for tutors for all of these children because they have not had a proper education because of unfortunate events. Duo will be the one who will go over lesson plans with you. He knows what comes to close to home and what doesn't." He looked around the room catching all of the eyes for a moment. "We are all same sex couples here. At least everyone twenty-one and over is. I have no problem with looking else where if anyone has a problem with this."
"We were already told this." A calm voice came from an older red head. "We were warned and informed about all the things that have happened and going on around here."
"And you are?" Quatre asked looking over the top of his glasses.
"Dr. Violet Prenski." Violet told him serenely. "I am doing this because I was informed that these children needed a proper education. I have a few medical degrees and enjoy that side of life. Though my hands," She lifted severely scarred hands into view. "Don't allow me to practice anymore." Her eyes turned to Katey. "I saw what you did after the explosion. I can get you into the finest schools imaginable. You will get the education that you want badly."
Duo watched the exchange and listened carefully. His eyes widened suddenly. "Vio!" He grinned. "It's good to see that you found a new outlet."
Katey looked up at Duo in question.
"I was the paramedic that got Violet out of the fire that she was stuck in. She lost her husband in it. She loves kids and use to work in pediatrics. I think that she would be a great teacher for you. She was around on my RN internship." He told her calmly. "I think that she would be great for you to learn from."
"Okay Dr. Prenski is hired to be Katey's tutor." Quatre murmured as he placed her resume to the side.
"Katey why don't you go over to the dining room and talk with Vio. Don't worry we will be right here if you don't feel safe." Duo murmured quietly to the girl curled into his side protectively. "Offer her a drink. There are straws in the cupboard under the island. Jerry Lee will go with you and make sure nothing happens to you." Duo urged the girl at his side. Katey looked at him one last time before doing what he asked.
Quatre looked at the resume at the top of his pile. "Jim Corisca." He looked up to see a gray haired man lifting a hand. "You taught in an elementary school."
"Yes I was also principal as well. I taught all grades to grade eight." He stated in rich soothing tones.
Wufei looked over at the man. Sakura was curled with her face in his chest. Something about this man was off and he didn't like the way he was looking at anyone in the room. He looked over at Heero and made a motion with his hand.
Heero registered the movement and went to work on his laptop.
Quatre went to the next name on the list. "Amiee Beauchamp." A woman sitting at the back of the group raised her hand shyly. "You have a doctorate in zoology. As well as teaching."
"Yes. I also counsel woman and men through…" She paused hesitantly. "Hard situations. I have also volunteered for the projects here. I work on the side as a vet. But I also love working with anyone of any age group." She looked over as she slowly stood up. She was a tiny little thing with asian background written on her features. "I know that I don't have much experience teaching but I do tutor small groups more than working in a classroom environment. I find that it works better for some people."
Quatre looked over to where Angel was watching the woman with interest. Angel was a least a few inches taller than the woman. "Would you care to talk with Angel and Trowa?"
She nodded and moved over to the quiet individuals.
"Zechs," Heero's voice interrupted. "How far did Une go into checks with these people?"
"Not far enough I take it." Zechs' voice slid over skin like melting butter. He moved to where Heero was and looked over the man's shoulder. Zechs' eyes hardened in anger. "Mr. Corsica would you like to come have a talk with myself and my wife."
Noin looked up with a frown and went to read what Heero had found. Her eyes narrowed in anger. "Yes Jim let us have a nice little conversation."
Heero looked up and nodded. "The rest are alright."
Thirteen people blinked in different states of emotion.
Quatre rolled his eyes and blew a kiss to his love. "Roaul DeSantez." He looked over to the hispanic man. He was young and looked like he wasn't out of school yet. But his resume was quite full. He was rubbing at Brussels ears in affection as he sat to one side of the group watching. Quatre had gone looking for the man's resume. Anyone who could get the attention of that dog might be the tutor for Sakura.
Wufei gently turned Sakura's attention to what her pal was doing.
"I taught a few different groups of problem children. I taught kindergarten through grade four and tutoring turned out to be a more genuine career for me. It was more fulfilling." He told Quatre with a heavy accent. "I have also studied several lines of asian history. I have found it fascinating and enjoyable."
Wufei smiled as Sakura crawled from his lap to play with her pal. He watched with a slight smile as Duo uncurled and followed her as she went over to Brussels. Wufei motioned for Damian to take Duo's place on the couch.
He wanted to keep the boy close just in case. The rest of the possible tutors seemed alright but they had to find the one that would be good for both Alex and Damian.
Quatre looked up from a resume that had a lot of interesting fields in it. "Johnny Cantry."
Heero choked on the pop he had just taken a swallow of . "Any relation to Miles Cantry?" He finally managed.
"Yes. I'm his nephew. I like to teach but my hobbies are with woodcraft." He growled in a ruff voice. He had bright reddish orange hair. "Miles thought I should work with Damian. He seems to have a love for it that will make him a well known master carpenter."
Wufei chuckled. "It seems Miles wants the best there is for you Damian."
"I hate to say this but I think that we found all we need to for now. But we do need one more person to tutor my son. I would like Alicia Basine, Cory Thoman, and Ursula Namor to come to Preventers Hospital tomorrow morning at 10:30 am." Quatre asked as he shuffled the resumes. "I thank everyone else for their time." Quatre and Heero stood to shake hands.
Chapter Forty-Two: Tutors 1
Katey stood shyly beside the woman as she moved to the kitchen. "If you would take a seat." Katey motioned to the barstool chairs. "We have spring water, filtered water, pepsi, diet-pepsi, orange and apple juice, milk and beer. But I don't think I should offer you that."
Violet laughed. "No you shouldn't." She looked at the young lady before her calmly. "I watched my husband burn to death before my very eyes." She told Katey quietly. "Anything you tell me will be in confidence. I'll have a diet-pepsi."
Katey turned and looked the woman in the eyes. "The world is not a pretty place. I know about that personally." She told the woman as she set the diet-pepsi on the counter in front of her. "I want to make it better. What Duo is doing is a start. What he does for a living is something that I want a lot."
"Well I am here to help you get there. I am also going to help with this project as much as possible as well. I guess we have to start with the basics." Violet said with a shrug. "We'll just base it in the medical field so that you will be ahead of the par when you actually apply to university." Violet grinned at the girl standing before her with a small grin.
"I would like that. I am sorry that you lost your husband." Katey murmured sadly.
"I am living with it. Believe it or not what Duo does is just as important as being a doctor like myself or Quatre. He keeps people alive until doctors can save them and start the healing process. I think people forget about that side of the medical profession. I think that you will be a welcome addition to the field." Violet looked over at Katey as she sipped her pop. "I saw you working after the explosion. You will make a welcome edition to the paramedic core. In fact Lieutenant Copling, one of the head scene commanders, seems to think so as well. He said that if you want to join the junior group he would put in the good word for you."
Katey settled on a chair beside the woman. She looked at the hands and reached out hesitantly to touch them. "The fire may have hurt you but the memories are more hurtful than it ever was." Katey looked up into surprised gray eyes. "Sorry." She muttered letting go of the crippled hands. "Damian and Duo are like this as well. We have a tendency to say things that mean something but are a little to close to the matter."
Violet looked down at her hands. "Doctors do too. Don't worry about it. I think that we will get a long just fine. We seem to understand each other quite well."
Katey grinned as she scratched Jerry Lee's ears.
Chapter Forty-Two: Tutors 2 & 3
"Dr. Beauchamp." Trowa greeted the asian woman quietly.
"Lieutenant Barton, it's a pleasure to actually meet you." Dr. Beauchamp murmured. "Miss Barton."
Angel looked up with interest. "Quatre said you have a doctorate in zoology."
"Yes. I love animals. But I also love humans." Amiee said with a grin. "I love to see people grow into who they are."
Trowa blinked. "People like that are hard to find in this day and age. They usually only think of themselves."
"That is odd." Aimee murmured. "I thought I just met a whole family of people who care."
"Yes well we are a unique family." Angel said with a giggle. "It's rare that you find men that have seen the worst of life that still want to live the lives that they do."
Amiee blinked. "You do have a point."
Duo settled into a chair by Roaul. He watched as Sakura stood before the man.
"His name is Brussels." Sakura said in her Dad's pompous voice.
Duo hid a grin at the sight of her using Wufei's words and stance. He looked up into laughing black/brown eyes.
"Really?" The man murmured at the pompousness of the young lady.
"People say she has my energy and mischief. But," Duo looked down at Sakura. "She is very much like her father. Though she is a quick learner."
"Duo-Daddy." Sakura stomped her foot. "You 'eren't suppos' to tell him that." She scowled at Duo in anger.
"Sakura I have told you before there is no foot stomping in this house." Duo said in deceptively soft tones.
Sakura's eyes widened. "I'm sorry Duo-Daddy I didn't mean too." She shouted and threw herself into Duo's lap.
Duo winced in pain and sighed. "I know munchkin. But you have to remember that you can't stomp your feet in an apartment. It is very loud for the people down stairs and they are working with things that could hurt them. It may startle them and cause them to hurt themselves."
"I'll try not to do it again Duo-Daddy." Sakura whispered into his chest.
"Sakura what is your favorite game? Do you think we could play it?" Roaul asked her as he watched her with Duo. He saw a very loving father.
Duo grinned. "Why don't you go and get the snakes and ladders and show Mr. DeSantez how good you are with your numbers?"
Sakura made an abrupt mood change and charged into her room for the game.
"She is incorrigible and has more energy than you can imagine. She has a tongue in her mouth like her father. Loves a good joke like me. And unfortunately her mother's combative nature." Duo grinned unrepentantly at the man. "You will have your hands full. But she is the sweetest little thing I have ever seen in all my travels and I have traveled all over the place." Duo's grin slowly disappeared. "I remember you. You were a good man to have at your side during the war. I also saw you save a lot of children from a fate that most people would ignore. Welcome to this home. You do anything that hurts her I will hurt you worse than you can imagine. That is if Wufei doesn't get to you first."
Roaul gave a slight smile. "I love to teach like you love to save life. I don't think you will have a problem."
"I'm glad we understand each other." Duo said with a grin as Sakura set up the game to play with Roaul.
Chapter Forty-Two: Tutors 4
Wufei settled back on the couch with Damian as Johnny Cantry settled in the chair that Damian had recently vacated. Wufei looked at the man who looked nothing like his uncle.
"I know that I don't look like Miles. I look like my mother's family." He told the two with a grin. "But I can teach you everything that you need as well as anything about how to work with wood as well. Miles will also be able to help with that as well. He promises that he will fill the afternoons with all the carpentry that you need." He looked down at his hands. "I think that with both me and my uncle teaching you everything that we know you will make an amazing carpenter when we are through or anything else you want to be."
Wufei gave a slight smile. "I would think he wants to when his girlfriend's son is practically a brother to him. But I understand that he is a very giving man that wants to see the world get better. Duo's project slammed into are lives and made the impossible into the possible. None of us would be together right now if not for him."
Johnny looked at him with interest. "Why do you say that?"
"Duo got to know Wufei because of the project. The project got them to find out about my problem which got me out of it and we are becoming a big dysfunctional happy family." Damian informed his new tutor with a grin.
"It is true." Wufei murmured. "It is why we are all living here so happily."
"So I guess we have to start with the basics and go from there." He looked at Damian calmly. "Don't worry about it. There are a lot of people that don't know this because of the war."
"Yeah well the war seems to be around still." Duo muttered as he joined the two on the couch. "It just seems to be targeting me at the moment."
Wufei growled and pulled his love close carefully. "No it just seems that way. What do you think of Roaul?"
"He should work well with Sakura. She'll have him eating out of her hand soon."
Wufei chuckled. They had found tutors for the children now it was only a matter of getting everything running on schedule.