Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, it belongs to Bandai, Sotsu and associated parties. I just borrow the guys from time to time and return them a whole lot happier. I do own the plot and any other characters, especially the equines, that you will find in this fic. Please do not take them without permission. Written for pleasure not profit.
Pairing: 2x1x2, 3x4, 13x6, H+C
Warnings: Yaoi, lemon, sap, angst, vet themes, AU
Rating: NC 17
Betaed by Karina *snugs*
Summary: Set 2 years after Equus and Heero is doing so well in his own business that he's taken June on as a working pupil. The qualifying shows for the International teams are well underway and it looks like it will be a good year for Heero, his pupils and horses... until Mother Nature steps in.
AN: This fic, although a complete work of fiction is based partially on fact. I will add notes at the end of chapters where necessary to clarify events and provide links where needed.
Dedication: To Leslie and Karina. Leslie for giving me the original idea for Equinity and encouraging and supporting me through the writing of all the fics thus far in the arc. And Karina for not just taking over as my much needed beta, (poor woman needs a medal!), but for also poking and prodding Fred until he went on strike, refusing to work on anything at all until I let him start this. Needless to say, we managed to come to a compromise... Fred gets to write a chapter of this one week... the next week he has to write a chapter of 'Bound'... Did I ever tell you all I hate my muse? :-)
Fic 5 in the Equine Intervention Arc.
Commenced December 2013 – ShenLong
Thank you all for the kind reviews, your feedback means a lot to me and I'm glad you're still following the story and enjoying it. I can promise you all that I'm not going to kill off Zero - if I did that I think I'd have a revolt on my hands! I'm quite stunned and amused at the fan club the equines have all gained during this arc. I'll also try to update a little faster. Thanks for your patience and encouragement. *huggles* Shen :-)
"Rival Riders"
Chapter 33
Cornes shivered with Benson's ominous words. Grabbing another swab, he inserted it into the animal's nostril and rolled it around. As he collected the fresh sample, his mind replayed what he'd seen down that microscope. He'd fully expected to see the cells of the common cold virus, but what greeted his vision was something he'd never seen before. As he'd stared long and hard at the cells, his mind had been in overdrive, desperately trying to put a name to what he was seeing. A small bell had tinkled in the back of his memory, he'd seen a similar picture in one of his text books when completing his veterinary studies several years ago.
"Here, take these samples with you too," Benson said, breaking into the thoughts of his assistant. "I'll do my own checks under the microscope, but the pathology department will have the more concentrated tools to be able to identify this without error."
"Okay," Cornes replied, slipping his own swab into a small capsule and capping it. Taking the offered capsule with their samples in them from his boss, Cornes carefully wrote the details on the labels. Removing his latex gloves, Cornes left the autopsy room and walked as fast as he dared to the pathology department.
With the departure of his assistant, Benson returned to the two slides he'd set up and the thin pieces of tissue they contained. Sitting on his stool, Benson peered down the viewer, turning the knobs on the machine to bring it into focus. The tiny, microscopic world came into view and what Benson saw on those slides only chilled his blood further.
# # #
Having moved all of Orion's feed bins and water bucket to the surgery stables, June fetched her horse and slowly led him between the paddocks and into the surgery stables. "There you go, boy. You'll start to feel much better soon." June unclipped the lead rope and stepped out of the stable. She spotted the small bottle of medicine sitting on the bench as Duo had promised and she walked over to read the instructions.
With bottle in hand, June stepped back into the gelding's stable and poured the recommended dose into the water bucket, using her hand to swish it around and distribute it through the clear liquid. She hoped it didn't give off any sort of odor or taste as horses were fussy animals and if they could detect anything not 'right' with their feed or water, then most times they refused to touch it. With the cough medicine in the water, June headed back to Heero's stables to fetch a warm bran mash for the black.
Fifteen minutes later, Orion was showing a little interest in his food, nibbling away at the mash from time to time. June had managed to locate some tissues and Heero had given her a small jar of vaporub. Carefully she cleaned out as much gunk from Orion's nose as she could and then gently wiped some of the vaporub around the outside of his nostrils and around his throat as Duo had instructed.
"Phew! That's pretty powerful stuff," she muttered as the menthol in the vaporub made its presence known. Her eyes watered a touch and she had to take a step back for a moment. "No wonder Duo said not to get any inside his nose, if my eyes are burning from the smell then I hate to think what it could do to those tissues."
Orion snorted and moved away from his mistress. He wasn't particularly keen on that stuff either! It did make his breathing a little easier though.
With her horse now as comfortable as possible, June closed the stable door and went back to Heero's stables to help with the cleaning and working of the horses.
#
Heero had just finished saddling up Lunar when June returned to the stables. "Get him all settled?" he asked.
"Yes, he's even showing some interest in his feed which is a good sign," June replied as she went to fetch the wheelbarrow, poop scoop and rake.
"Leave the stables for the moment, June," Heero said. "I've brought Sandfire in for you to work." Seeing the look on his pupil's face, Heero elaborated a little. "I want to take Lunar out for a bush ride to give her a break from the schooling. Sandfire could also do with a break and it's more fun to ride with someone as opposed to alone, so I'd like you to accompany me on him."
"No problem, Heero," June replied.
"We can do the stables when we get back. I'd rather get going now whilst it's still cool. I think it's going to get quite warm later."
"I agree," June replied and went to fetch Sandfire's gear.
#
"Did you see the news the other night, Heero?" June asked as they rode side by side down the bush track, giving the horses a breather and allowing them to stretch their necks out.
"What part of the news?" Heero replied.
"There was something on there about a horse having died at the Sydney Royal," June stated.
"Ah, yes. I did see that. Not something you would expect."
"You got that right! I also heard they will be doing an autopsy on the horse to find out what killed it. I hope it wasn't something really bad."
"It could be any one of several things," Heero replied. "I asked Duo about it and he seems to think the most likely cause would be a heart attack."
"Geoff said the same thing. I hope that when they do get the results they let us know in the news."
"Hard to say if they will or not. I have asked Duo to see if he can find out anything if there's nothing more said about it on the news or in the horse magazines."
"If you do find out anything, would you let me know?" June asked.
"As if I would dare not too," Heero chuckled.
"Thanks."
#
Sitting back in his seat, Benson exhaled slowly. He removed his latex gloves and ran a hand over his tired eyes. No matter how many times he'd looked at the slides, the picture was still the same. Benson was pretty sure about his diagnosis, but would need the pathology results to confirm his suspicions. Raising himself from his seat, he walked slowly from the autopsy room, securing the door behind himself and moving along the passageway towards his office. Once inside his office he went directly to the bookshelf that held several veterinary science books and ran his finger along the spines.
Eventually he came to the one he was looking for and pulled the book from the shelf. Carrying the large volume over to his desk, he placed it down before taking a seat and opening the book. Locating the index, he scanned down, finding what he sought and turning to the page in question.
With the book open at the desired page, Benson began to read.
Ten minutes later, Benson reclined back and closed his eyes. This was not looking good at all. He wondered if Cornes had anything for him yet. If it was what he suspected then he would need to get on the phone urgently and notify all the necessary departments. He would also need to find out from the owner of the horse their exact movements since arriving in Australia; what shows they had competed at, where they had been staying, which quarantine station they had spent their time at and so on.
This wasn't just becoming a headache to Benson, it was rapidly approaching migraine status.
#
"Are you sure?" Cornes asked the lab tech. "Not that I'm doubting you or anything, but this is a pretty serious disease."
"I can assure you the findings are correct, Cornes," replied the tech. "It will take another twelve hours for the test results to be finalized on the tissue samples, but I'm completely confident they will return the exact same result."
"I see." Cornes thought long and hard.
"I'd suggest you go back and let your superior know of the results so far. He will need to alert the appropriate authorities. They can be on stand-by for the moment and once we have the results from the tissue samples then whatever action is necessary can be implemented according to the results."
Cornes looked at the tech. "Thanks, I'll get back to the boss now and let him know."
"No problem. I'm just sorry the results are what they are. It's going to be a very serious issue."
"You don't have to tell me that," Cornes sighed. With the result papers in hand, Cornes left the pathology department and headed back to break the bad news to Benson.
Reaching the autopsy lab, Cornes entered and looked around for his boss. "Doctor Benson?" he called out as he gazed around. With no reply forthcoming, Cornes suspected his boss had probably gone back to his office. Noting the body of the horse still on the autopsy table, Cornes left to hunt down his superior.
Knocking on the office door a couple of minutes later, Cornes was relieved to hear his boss bid him to enter.
"Ah, Cornes. What results do you have for me?" Benson asked.
Striding across the room, Cornes stopped at the desk and placed the papers he'd brought with him on the top of said desk. "The lab results are there for the sample I took from the nostrils. The tech said they would have the results from the tissue samples within the next twelve hours. He expects them to match the results from the nasal discharge."
Picking up the paperwork, Benson scanned the printout, his brow furrowing further with each word he read. Tossing the papers to the desk again, he gave a long sigh. "I had really hoped it wasn't this, but it looks like we're all out of luck in that department. I'll need to let the Department of Agricultural know and then go from there. No doubt they will want to speak with the owner as soon as possible in regards to his and the horse's movements since arriving in the country. With any luck, he hasn't been too far or to any other major events."
"And if he has?" Cornes asked.
"Then we'd better start praying for a miracle, Cornes."
# # #
"There you go, Zero," Heero said and unclipped the lead rope. The stallion walked over to his feed bin and pushed his muzzle into the sweet smelling feed. Turning, Heero exited the stable and bolted the door. Hanging the lead rope on the hook next to the door he started to head back out to the paddocks to bring Shini and Wing in.
June led Lunar and Nataku into the stable block and put the chestnut into her stable. Putting Nataku into her stable, June unclipped the lead rope and looked around for Heero. As she exited the mare's stable, Heero walked in with Jester.
"Heero?"
"Hai?" Heero let Jester go once he was safely inside the stable.
"Could you come and check Nataku, please? She doesn't seem quite right to me," June stated.
"What's wrong?" Heero asked, appearing at the mare's door.
"I'm not completely sure, but I think she might also be coming down with a cold."
"Shit!" Heero stepped into the mare's stable with June beside him. The mare stood by her feed bin but wasn't really eating much. Heero went over her, checking her eyes and nose, feeling how warm she was and noting she did appear a little listless.
"What do you think?" June asked once Heero had finished.
"I'd say you're probably right. I'll get Duo to check her over once he's finished evening consults. Damn!"
June raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"I had hoped that by isolating Orion, we would manage to avoid any of the others catching the cold. Looks like we're possibly going to have a few of them come down with it."
"I'm sorry if Orion's caused this-"
"No, June," Heero cut the woman off. "This isn't your fault and neither is it Orion's. Colds in horses can be picked up from anywhere and as Duo said, they're very contagious." Heero added a smile to his words. "It's just one of those things."
"I still feel bad though," June said.
"Don't fret over it, June. These things happen. The colds will run their course and while they do we'll just have to play nursemaids and keep the sick horses as comfortable as possible. Once Duo's looked at Nataku, and if he confirms it's a cold, I'll move her up to the surgery stables too. Orion will have some company that way and hopefully we might stop it spreading to any of the others."
"Okay. Let me know if there's anything I can do."
"I will, June."
# # #
"Boss?"
"Yes, Otto?" Treize dismounted from the bay mare he'd been working and handed her over to Joe to unsaddle. Reaching Romeo's stable door where Otto was standing, he looked to his groom.
"It's Romeo," Otto started. "He's not his usual self."
Treize frowned. "He was fine this morning when I worked him. Has he injured himself?" Treize was opening the bay's stable door as he spoke.
Otto followed his boss inside the stallion's stable. "No, he's not injured, but he's not well either. Looks like he's caught a cold to me."
Treize took hold of the stallion's halter and began to run his eye over the horse. "I think you could be right," Treize replied after a couple of minutes scrutinizing his horse. "I'll go give the vet a call and see if he can come out to take a look at him. I'd rather play it safe, Otto."
"No problem, Boss." Although a cold was a relatively minor thing in a horse, with Treize's equines being very valuable competition horses, it paid to err on the side of caution.
"I'll go place the call now." Treize stepped out of the stable and went to the staff room at the end of the stable block to make his call. Otto exited the stable and bolted the door behind him.
# # #
"Hey, Heero," Catherine greeted as the dark haired rider walked into the reception area. "That's seventy-five dollars, Mr. Tricket."
Heero waited to the side whilst Catherine finished with the client. Once Mr. Tricket had left, he stepped forward. "Could you give Duo a message for me please, Catherine?"
"Sure. Is there a problem? I can get him now if you wish?"
"No, no, it's nothing urgent. Just ask him if he would come down to the stables once he's finished consults, I think Nataku is coming down with the same cold Orion has. I'd feel much happier if he could check her over and confirm it for me."
"Okay, I'll let him know when he comes through for the next client."
"Thanks, Catherine."
Heero left and Catherine returned to her work.
# # #
With a grim look on his face, Benson picked up the phone and dialed a number, moments later the call connected.
"Department of Agriculture, Mr. Coleman's office."
"This is Doctor Benson here from the department's labs. I need to speak with Mr. Coleman in regards to a matter of some urgency."
"If you can hold the line for a moment, Doctor Benson, I'll see if he can take your call now."
"Thanks." The line went silent for a moment.
"Doctor Benson?"
"Yes?"
"I'm putting you through to Mr. Coleman's office now."
"Thank you."
"Benson, Darren Colemen here. What can I do for you?"
"Mr. Coleman, I don't know if you are aware of the recent fatality of a horse at the Sydney Royal Show..." Benson went on to explain the recent events, Coleman listening intently. "My colleague and I have been performing the autopsy on the horse and I'm afraid I have some very bad news. I only have the results from nasal swabs at the moment, but the tech crew expect to have the rest of the results from tissue samples within the next twelve hours. They expect them to confirm the result of the nasal swabs."
"Wouldn't it be better to wait for all the results to come in before we look at what we're dealing with?" Coleman replied.
"Under normal circumstances, I would agree with you. However, in this case I think we need to start investigations immediately."
"Sounds serious," Coleman replied. "Just what exactly are we dealing with here?"
"Mr. Coleman, all results thus far are pointing to one thing." Benson took a deep breath. "This horse died of what is commonly called Equine Influenza. At this stage we believe it to be the Influenza A virus, the virus strain of sub type H3N8."
There was complete silence on the other end of the line and Benson started to worry after nothing had been said for a couple of minutes.
"Are you sure?" came the almost whisper down the line.
"Once we have the results of the tissue samples we will be able to confirm the exact strain," Benson said and waited for a response.
Coleman ran a hand through his hair. "If you're right, this is going to be disastrous for the entire equine sector. We're not just talking show horses here, Benson. There's the multi million dollar racing industry, gallopers and trotters, the recreational horses, breeding stock; and then there's the follow on; trainers, jockeys, grooms, stable hands, feed merchants, farmers, farriers, saddlery stores, and that's only the start of it."
"You don't have to tell me," Benson muttered grimly.
"Are you completely sure about this?"
"I will be able to give confirmation without any doubt once I have the results from the tissue samples."
"Benson," a pause, "We've never had this disease here in Australia before. No horse here has any immunity to it."
"I know."
# # #
"Maxwell Veterinary Practice. How can I help you?" Catherine said as she answered the phone.
"Good evening, Catherine, it's Treize Khushrenada here. I was wondering if it would be possible to have Doctor Merquise call around after consults this evening to look at a horse for me please?"
"Hello, Treize," Catherine replied as she pulled the bookings diary towards herself to check the current list of bookings. "Judging by what we have left to go this evening, Doctor Merquise should be finished around seven. I can get him to call around afterwards which should be about seven-thirty?"
"That would be fine," Treize replied.
"Nothing serious I hope?" Catherine asked.
"No, I don't think so. Romeo is looking a little under the weather tonight. I think he might be coming down with a cold, but I'd like the vet to take a look at him just to be on the safe side."
"Ah, I see. Heero's got one down with a cold and another possible cold. He's just been in to see if Duo can check Nataku out once he's done with consults too," Catherine informed.
"Really? Who is the one with the cold already?"
"Orion, I think."
"Ah." Treize thought for a moment. "I'll be waiting up at the stables for Doctor Merquise around seven-thirty. Thank you, Catherine. Give Heero all my best for his horses and a speedy recovery."
"I will, Treize and I hope it's nothing serious with Romeo too. Bye."
"Bye, Catherine."
Treize hung up the phone, his mind still processing Catherine's information regarding the two horses at Heero's that were down with colds.
#
Catherine passed on Heero's request to Duo for him to check out Nataku, Duo frowning and agreeing he would go direct to the stables once he'd finished. It didn't surprise him though, colds were very easily passed on between equines. He wondered how many more would get it before it ran its course. Just as Duo was picking up his next client file, Zechs came out and Catherine passed on Treize's message to the blonde vet. Duo couldn't help but overhear.
"That's strange," he said. Seeing the blonde looking at him, Duo elaborated. "Orion has a cold too and is currently in the surgery stables. Heero wants me to check Nataku after consults as he thinks she's also coming down with a cold; now Romeo too?"
"You're right, it is strange. All three horses though were together at Werribee for the Nations Cup event. It's possible another horse competing there had a cold and has passed it onto Heero's and Treize's animals," Zechs said.
"You could be right and if that's the case, it's highly likely that Jester and Shini will come down with it too, not to mention any of the others currently in the stables," Duo replied.
"Looks like we might have an epidemic of sorts," Zechs said with a shake of his head.
"Given the rate at which colds spread amongst equines, that's highly probable. Thank goodness it isn't anything more serious." Duo picked up his file and turned to fetch his client. "Let me know what your diagnosis of Romeo is later if you don't mind and I'll fill you in on Nataku and what I find. If it is the same cold then I'd suggest we will need to take preventative measures to ensure the others don't catch it."
"Will do, Duo."
# # #
Zechs hung his stethoscope back around his neck and turned to Treize. "You're right, I'm certain it's a cold Romeo has caught."
"That's a relief," Treize stated. "I mean, it's bad enough that Romeo's sick, but at least it's something easily treated."
"Too true," Zechs replied. "I'll give you some medicine to put in his water to help relieve any congestion he should get in his lungs. It will also help when the cough starts to develop. Meanwhile, rub some vaporub around his throat area and the outside of his nostrils, not the inside as the tissues are too sensitive and it will burn him. Complete rest, soft bran mashes and isolate him from the others. Colds as you know are highly contagious."
"Thanks, Zechs. I understand that Heero has a couple of horses down with colds too?" Treize handed the lead rope to Otto who took it and led the stallion back into the stable down the very end of the block and away from all the other horses.
"Yes, he does," Zechs replied. "Orion and Nataku if I remember correctly." Zechs led the way back to his car to fetch the medicine for Romeo, Treize following beside his lover. "Duo brought up a valid point earlier too."
"Oh? What would that be?" Treize asked, taking the offered bottle Zechs had removed from the car.
"The three horses that have come down with the colds were all together at the Nations Cup in Werribee. We both agree that it's highly possible they contracted the cold from a horse there."
Treize thought on Zechs' words for a moment. "It seems to be the most logical explanation for all three of them to have a cold pretty much at the same time," Treize agreed. "What about Shini and Jester? Have they shown any symptoms as yet?"
"Not that I'm aware of," Zechs replied, "But Orion only came down with his cold yesterday so there's still lots of time for the others to start."
"Yes, you're right." Stepping closer to his boyfriend, Treize lowered his voice. "If you're finished for the evening, would you care to stay for dinner?"
"I'd love to, Treize."
# # #
"Mr. Coleman?"
"Yes, Benson?"
"I have the results from the tissue samples of the deceased horse." Coleman held his breath and prayed. "They confirm the diagnosis. The horse died from Equine Influenza A Virus, sub strain H3N8."
"Oh, hell."
tbc...