Well – midterms last week! Sorry that is why I didn't post! :bows: sumimasen!
Enjoy!
CHAPTER 7
"Sanq has suddenly ceased it's streak of attacks against Tricla. Rumors of a temporary truce have yet to be confirmed. Meanwhile, Vice-Minister Darlian continues her peace talks with Triclan politicians and . . ."
Duo turned away from the news, tired of stories of the war. He watched, hoping to see something with Heero in it, but Heero wasn't going to pull himself into the public eye like that. He could have some consideration and call him once in a while. Duo sighed and stirred his coffee. It was black, there was nothing to stir, but it passed the time. Cammi and Quatre were napping, and his leg was still pretty much out of commission. It had only been a week since he'd left Heero. He had most of his strength back, with the exception of his leg. It took more than a week for all those muscles to repair themselves. He couldn't drive anywhere either, because it was his right leg that had been shot. Trowa had helped him set up a temporary nursery downstairs, and Quatre spent a lot of time with him. They were probably worried he would go after Heero again, but he wouldn't. He had given Heero six weeks. And though it felt like an eternity had passed, it was still five weeks from completion.
There was a beautiful thunder storm raging outside. So far Cammi had proven herself to be quite up to the task of dealing with the thunder. . . or rather not noticing it. She had definitely inherited Duo's hardcore sleeping habits. Quatre seemed to be sleeping like the dead too.
A particularly strong thunder shock shook the whole house. Duo winced as he heard the plates in the cupboard rattle. Duo heard Cammi's keening wail. He stood and began to shuffle to her room. If she was going to go back to sleep, she would do it before he made it to her crib. Her cries continued though and so he walked in, a big smile on his face and picked her up. It was so dark that Cammi's sensored night light was glowing in the corner. Duo grabbed on of her blankets, his favorite actually. It was a bright, vibrant red, with her name embroidered in the corner. Wrapping Cammi in it, he carefully moved to the rocking chair and sat with her. She calmed down, but didn't fall back asleep, so he pulled out some of her favorite chewing toys and let her try to devour them.
A lightning strike lit up the room. When the flash passed, Duo watched the night light turn off and the humming of the house in the background cease. Duo muttered in annoyance. Cammi had begun to sniffle again, so he picked her up and headed for the living room. Once there, he set her in her play center and began looking for the mini lantern they had somewhere.
A noise behind him startled him. "Duo?" Duo relaxed, when he realized it was Quatre.
"The power went out from the storm, don't worry about it." He turned, holding the lantern in one hand and a flashlight in the other. Quatre's face looked worried though. "What's wrong, Quat?"
"I think – that is to say. . ." His face winced, and he fumbled for a chair. "It hurts," He said, clutching his stomach.
"Oh shit."
XxXxX
Trowa picked up his phone and called Duo's house. The storm was crazy here. Even driving on the roads was hazardous. The trees were swaying and branches were dropping from the sky onto the road. A large branch skidded off his windshield, as he hit the brakes. Duo's phone was disconnected. He threw his cell on the seat next to him, cursing the vid phones. If the power was out, he wouldn't be able to get a hold of them.
It wasn't a huge deal – it was just going to take him forever to get home at this rate. At least Quatre was with someone, he reasoned. He would be more worried if Quatre was alone on a day like today. Even though they were both partially invalid, they could take care of each other if need be.
XxXxX
"Okay, deep breaths, Quat." Duo said supportingly. "Just keep breathing." Duo picked up the phone and threw it down in disgust. Of course it wouldn't work with no power.
"The phone is out, Quatre." Duo thought, "I have an idea though. Just sit here, stay calm and I will be right back." Duo had an old-fashioned phone in the basement somewhere. He loved that phone, but Heero insisted on the vid phone. However, the old fashioned one didn't need electricity to work. Duo looked at the basement steps in dismay. He hadn't been up or down steps yet. Now was as good a time as any to try them. He gritted his teeth and set down the stairs, wincing every time he bent his injured leg. At least he knew where the phone was, it was in one of the boxes Duo had it stored at his shop when Heero's house burned down. So the box wasn't hard to find.
Duo struggled up the stairs again. Quatre was still breathing deeply. But he was also doubled over on the chair. "Duo?" He called out uncertainly.
"It's okay, Quatre. Keep calm. I'm going to call Trowa." Duo slid down the wall next to the phone outlet and began transferring wires.
"What if something is wrong, Duo?" Quatre moaned, "It's too early, isn't it?"
"No, it's alright. You are only three weeks early. That's perfectly normal. It's okay." Duo kept reciting all the supportive comments he knew while he set up the phone. "Alright, I'm calling Trowa now." Duo reported.
He dialed in Trowa's number and waited.
"Hello?"
"Trowa, it's Duo. Where are you?"
"I'm on my way home, just this storm is making it hard for me to get there." Suddenly, Quatre cried out, a yelp of pain that he bit back as soon as he could. "What was that?" Trowa asked.
"It's Quatre. I think he's in labor."
Trowa cursed, "Okay. I'll be there in twenty minutes." He paused, "Call Dr. Croats and then call me back."
Duo agreed and hung up. He looked at Quatre, worried. Why did these things always have to be complicated. Women around the world had babies all the time, without a problem. What was it with men that created so much stress and anxiety?
XxXxX
Trowa pulled into the driveway and ran inside. He found Quatre on the couch, panting. Duo slouched on the floor next to him, stroking his hair and muttering comforting words. Trowa touched Duo's shoulder and the braided man moved away. Trowa looked at his lover. Underneath his flushed cheeks, Quatre looked very pale. His heart clenched. He picked Quatre up and headed for the car. Duo followed, clutching Cammi to his chest.
"I'm coming with you."
"We need to leave now!"
"Quatre made me promise." From Trowa's arms, Quatre asked Trowa to let Duo come. Trowa tenderly set Quatre in the car and then ran back inside and got Camille's carrier. Duo took it from him and installed it as quick as he could and sat Camille inside. Quatre sat in the front, with the seat pushed as far back as it would go. Camille and Duo took up residence in the back. Trowa pulled out of the driveway and sped to the hospital. . .
XxXxX
Duo really hated hospitals. They were so . . . white, and boring, and. . . white. Duo had left Quatre's room for awhile because Camille was upset and she had been in the nursery, but she just needed her daddy for a little while.
She finally calmed down and fell asleep. Duo set her carefully in her carrier with the blanket over the top. He tip-toed out of the sleeping room and headed back to Quatre's. He could hear Quatre before he even got there.
It was really taking it out of him, this baby. His skin was covered in a thin sheen of sweat and he managed to be flushed and pale at the same time. Trowa was nervous, Duo could tell. Luckily, Dr. Croats was getting ready to give Quatre some serious painkillers. There was only one other person assisting, (as this was a male pregnancy, the hospital was paid to give them a room and they would provide the doctors.) One of the nurses from Dr. Croats office was tending to Quatre, while Trowa held his hand and Duo tried to answer any of Quatre's frantic questions. Mostly though, Quatre just wanted to be reassured. Duo tried not to show any nervousness in front of him, even though he was getting anxious as well.
Dr. Croats finally appeared and applied the anesthesia to Quatre. That helped calm him down, but he was still very pale. Duo could only guess it was because his body wasn't made for something like this, and it was a heavy burden to carry. Duo could relate.
Finally, the doctor shooed everyone away except Trowa, who remained resolutely at Quatre's side. Duo felt himself getting nervous. He didn't know why, but seeing what was happening to Quatre made him nervous about something in his life that had already passed. Maybe it was because when it was him – he was the one suffering. To see one of his friends in pain, it made him want to take it away and he couldn't do anything about it.
The operation didn't take long. As soon as the child was free the nurse wrapped it up and set the child on Quatre. Quatre laughed. His blond hair was stuck to his forehead and Trowa pushed it away. Dr. Croats stitched Quatre up. Duo moved forward to get a good look at the little bundle of joy.
"It's a girl!" Trowa announced triumphantly. Quatre smiled and a shaking hand came up and rested on the little infant's back.
Duo was the first to notice Quatre's eyes drooping. At first he thought it was exhaustion, but then Duo realized he was also trying to say something. Trowa had noticed to.
"Quatre?" Trowa leaned over. The nurse wisely picked up the baby, and took her over and began to wash her. Dr. Croats had noticed as well. He pushed Duo away and began urging Quatre to stay awake. Quatre's eyes slid shut.
Trowa, stoically began panicking. His hands shook and he rubbed Quatre's hand urgently. Quatre's eyes didn't open again.
Duo just watched helplessly, he stared at Quatre, his eyes flickered between the crying newborn and the silent father. Dr. Croats was calling things out, and suddenly Duo found himself holding a crying newborn, as the nurse rushed to follow the doctor's commands.
Duo felt like he was intruding on something special – like he was opening someone else's birthday presents. He tried to comfort the child as best he could, and she began to settle down against his chest. When the nurse ended up pushing Trowa aside, Duo gently laid Trowa's daughter into his arms. The mood in the room had changed, rather than expectant it had become nothing short of terrified.
As if knowing something was going wrong, the infant wailed.
tsutsuku. . .
XxXxX
WooHoo! Done! :pumps fist in victory: Midterm season is over, so no more excuses 'til finals. . . hehehe. . . gross – finals. (just so everyone appreciates this – it is 7:10 in the morning when I am finishing this. . . hehehe :falls asleep: )
Let me know what you think!
Annie