I was getting tired of the drugs in my system. More specifically, I was getting tired of the long lapses in consciousness these drugs caused. When I went to sleep, the doctor had yet to decide if he would allow Duo to travel, and by the time I woke up he had already been loaded into the plane. We still had about an hour to takeoff, and the doctor said that they wanted to make sure Duo would stabilize before they took off, but it still unnerved me that all this had happened while I was asleep. I couldn't help but wonder what else I had missed.

Of course, Wufei was back as well, but I had known he was coming, so it wasn't such a shock. I was glad to note, as they wheeled me on the shuttle and secured me next to Duo, that Wufei seemed to be lending Master the support he needed. I was not able to help him myself, and was glad to see that someone else had stepped in to fill the job.

Liftoff was rough, and Duo's vitals became somewhat unstable, but quickly settled as we moved out of the satellite's gravity. It was Master who I thought might need medical attention, for he nearly had a melt down when Duo's monitors went off. Sometimes, I wondered if he didn't care too much, but it was better to have a Master who cared too much that one that didn't care at all.

Sometime during the long ride from the satellite to Earth, Duo woke up. I saw his eyes open and mover leerily around the cabin, then to finally settled on me. He relaxed the tiniest bit, and extended his fingers, the only thing he could move, out to me. His neck was swollen from the strangulation he'd had, and there was a tube in his throat to keep him breathing, so he could not call out to me. Still, his eyes called to me, and I took his hand in mine. He smiled, then closed his eyes in sleep. I rubbed his fingers, held gently in my own, and contemplated his face, before finally noticing Master standing behind me, smiling sagely at our actions. Somehow, Master was always three steps ahead of me, even when it came to puzzles within myself.

I couldn't be with Duo all the time, though. Even I knew that I'd have to leave to use the bathroom, but Master was adamant that there was someone watching him at all times, so Wufei, Quatre, and Trowa took shifts. Master forbid me from watching Duo alone because I was just out of the hospital, and I didn't push him when he commented that he was three steps from assigning someone to watch me. And, of course, Master had been adamant that he take the longest shift, but Wufei had put his foot down and sent him off to bed.

"You're no good to any of us if you're too tired to be lucid!" he huffed, physically pushing Master toward the ship's small quarters which contained six narrow bunk-beds. But I had little doubted Master would have trouble sleeping, for he was practically dead on his feet. I was glad that Wufei had managed to get Master to take care of himself.

I was less than thrilled, however, when Wufei came back and demanded that I and the other two also go to sleep. Quatre, who had earlier slept late because, much to his consternation, Trowa refused to wake him, managed to wheedle Wufei into letting him stay up, but Trowa and I were sternly ushered into sleeping quarters and I was warned not to come out in the next six hours.

But I could really only huff, because I knew Wufei was right. I myself still felt the strain of injuries on my body, and I had been assured that they would looked worse than the felt. I caught Trowa smirking as I glared at the door and had the sudden inclination that he wouldn't be in here long after I was asleep. He probably only came in to be sure I went to sleep.

But how could I really get angry with them? After all, they were doing more work so that I would be better taken care of. How could I get mad at any of them? And, knowing that I couldn't get mad, I sighed, changed my clothes, and went to bed. Before my head his the pillow, I was out.

I didn't wake again until a few hours before landing, which meant I probably slept nearly twenty hours. But this, of course, was due mainly to the fact that my body was still dealing with the drugs injected into me just the day before, along with the trauma I suffered. Which is why it worried me so to find Master still sound asleep.

"Hasn't he woke up at all?" I asked anxiously, concerned that the stress might have done something to him.

"No, but I wouldn't worry," Quatre told me. "Wufei slipped him a sleeping pill, just a mild one of course, but we think it might have been unnecessary. And so, he sleeps. Still, I'm sure he could use the rest. He was looking pretty awful near the end of our stay."

I nodded in agreement, then took up a chair on the other side of Duo's bed. Quatre told me that Duo had been sleeping soundly off and on for the past few hours, and had even woken up enough to look around the room.

"He'll get the very best care once we're on the ground," Quatre assured, though I already knew it. "I just know he'll be better in no time."

I could only hope for the same.

Master woke up half an hour before descent, looking refreshed and better than he had in days. He was in bright spirits, and tousled Quatre's hair before going to the helm to see how the flight was progressing.

I was about to ask Quatre for something to eat, when I noticed Duo's eyes were open and staring at me, his hand once again outstretched. I smiled at him, hoping to chase the fear from his eyes, and took his hand, sitting down beside him in the seat Trowa vacated for me.

"Hey Duo," I said softly, stroking his bangs from his forehead. "We'll be on the ground in a little while, and you'll be back to the hospital where you belong."

I could only assume Duo heard me, but he did smile as he closed his eyes and went back to sleep, so I was pretty sure it was more than just wistful thinking.

Quatre brought me a sandwich, and I ate it without ever realizing what kind it was. There was a drink, too, and I think it might have been some kind of soda, because I vaguely remember the fizz. I'm pretty sure a good amount of time passed in silence, but it went like a blur. Master returned, still in high spirits, and sat down beside me. Then, the next thing I knew, we were descending.

I gripped Duo's hand in my own, not because I was scared, but because I was afraid he'd become frightened and have some sort of attack. But, for or despite my help, Duo remained calmly asleep as we headed downward and even as we depressurized. It was only when we began to move him onto the moving bed that he awoke. I think he must have been confused and tried to call out to me, because he suddenly started shaking and reached his hand toward his throat. I went for him, but Master was faster, and quickly unstrapped him and turned him to his side, then held him steady as his breathing slowly regulated. When Master turned him back, he was pale and sweaty, his eyes muddled and confused. I took his hand, hoping to console him, but had to step back as Master and the others worked to transfer him to the other bed. Then they wheeled him out of the shuttle, hurrying to get him to the hospital, and into an ambulance. I made to follow, but Master stepped in my path.

"You and the others will ride in the van," he instructed, pointing to a plain black van.

"Where will we meet you?" I asked, knowing Master would ride with Duo in the ambulance.

"I'll meet up with you at the house later. Wufei has my cell number. Call if you need anything."

"But..."

"I have to go, Heero," Master said, already heading toward the ambulance. "You'll be fine, and I'll keep an eye on Duo. Don't fight over the rooms. Goodbye," he said, just before the ambulance door was slammed shut. In the next moment, they were speeding away.

I think, if I had been alone, I might have cried. The emotions Master had allowed me to get in touch with permitted that, but common sense would not allow me to be so weak in front of others who I did not yet trust completely. So, instead, I hardened my heart and climbed silently into the van, uncertain if I would ever see Duo again. I know Quatre tried to make small talk with me, but I ignore him, unable to focus on his words, only thinking of Duo and if he was alright. What if he panicked again? Who would calm him? Who would hold his hand?

But there was nothing I could do. We were quickly approaching our new "home" and, with no way to return, I had no choice but to wait for Master and news of Duo.