Duo: Good Lord woman! What's wrong with you?

Annie: Umm, I like to torture you? * hides behind Heero *

Duo: That is not okay! Heero – don't defend her!

Heero: . . .

Annie: Nyah nyah! I'm the author, I can pretty much do whatever I want. . .

Heero: Don't you have to listen to your readers?

Annie: Ummm, I don't hear anyone arguing against torturing you. . .

Duo: Fine, I will review and tell you not to torture me.

Annie: You are a fictional character, they don't let you have accounts.

Duo: poo. . . :(

Annie: * pats Duo on back * It will be okay Duo. . .

Disclaimer: Don't own, just borrow the boys for a little torture now and again... or now and always.

CHAPTER 12

Heero gently lifted Camille out of her car seat and headed in to Duo's shop. Heero wanted to take Camille in for a follow up visit with Dr. Croats and he wanted Duo to come along. He had a feeling Duo wouldn't go to the doctor's on his own.

There were no open hoods in the garage, so Heero headed toward the office, calling Duo's name as he did. He saw the door leaning against the wall and felt a chill go up his spine. A part of him was glad he hadn't experienced the accident, and at the same time he felt guilty that Duo had to experience that terror on his own.

Peeking into the office, he realized the desk was empty and as his eyes swept the room, he saw Duo's prone figure on the ground – face into the carpet. Cursing, Heero moved forward. Cradling Camille in one arm, Heero turned Duo over.

"Duo?" He patted his cheeks gently, Duo didn't stir. Heero tried again with no results and after a brief moment of indecision, he hurried back to the car, efficiently strapping Camille into her car seat. He returned for Duo who still hadn't moved. His breathing was even, but his face was pale. Hurriedly, Heero strapped him into the seat and sped toward the doctor's office. He spent the whole time talking to Duo, hoping he would wake up. His knuckles were white as he concentrated on driving and not the still form of the braided man next to him.

When Heero pulled up to the curb, he saw the doctor walking down the street. Heero opened the door quickly, causing an oncoming car to swerve. Heero called the doctor's name.

Dr. Croats turned and when he saw who it was he turned from his car and headed back towards Heero. The smile of greeting fell from his face when he saw Heero's expression. When Heero pulled Duo's inert form out of the car, Dr. Croats began running toward him.

"What happened?" He asked concerned.

Heero shook his head. "We need to go inside, get Camille from the backseat." He ordered and headed toward the building. He found the door locked and impatiently waited for the doctor to arrive with the key. He heard Duo sigh and looked down. He seemed to be stirring.

Dr. Croats opened the door and they both rushed inside. Heero set Duo down on the loveseat in the waiting room.

"Duo? Wake up?" Heero stroked Duo's hand, while Dr. Croats set Camille's car seat down. Finally, Duo opened his eyes. Duo blinked a few times.

"Wha..." He muttered and then closed his eyes again. Heero persisted in calling his name though, and Duo opened them again.

"What?" He muttered irritably. Duo pulled his hand away from Heero and then tried to sit up. He groaned. "Did I get hit by a car?" Heero smiled, certain that Duo wouldn't be this annoyed if something was really wrong.

After Heero forced him to remain lying down, Duo looked around and noticed Dr. Croats. "Why am I at the doctor's?"

Dr. Croats stepped forward. "Is everything all right Duo?" He asked, taking Heero's place, he lifted Duo's eyelids and placed a hand on his forehead. "What happened?"

"I was. . ." Duo paused, what had he been doing? "I was at work, cleaning up. . ." He trailed off. "I don't really know what happened."

Heero interjected, "I came into the office and you were passed out on the floor."

Dr. Croats nodded, "Have you been sick at all recently Duo?" Duo caught Heero's eyes, a little bit panicked. Heero realized that, of course, the doctor still didn't know. Seeing the worry in Duo's eyes, Heero stood and asked Dr. Croats if they could speak privately.

Dr. Croats looked worried, "Is there something the matter?"

Before answering, Heero closed the door, "Actually, we think Duo might be pregnant."

Dr. Croats stumbled back and sat down in a chair. "How. . .?" he put his head in his hands, "I told him to be careful! I warned him of the dangers. . ."

Heero knelt in front of the doctor, "What are you talking about?" He was trying to keep himself from panicking; the words 'warn' and 'danger' when they applied to Duo were not comforting.

Dr. Croats looked up at Heero, "You were gone, but there was another – a fatality and after Quatre I told Duo that it was too dangerous for men to have children."

Heero frowned, had Duo knowingly. . . "Doctor, its been three months. He hadn't been warned then. He might not have even known yet." Heero felt a little better, at least Duo wasn't intentionally endangering himself. "Besides, Quatre survived, Duo survived. I'm sure everything will be alright." Heero wondered who he was reassuring, the doctor or himself.

The doctor looked at him balefully, "You just brought him here unconscious. . ."

"But that happened last time he was pregnant too, he passed out a few times." Heero insisted. Duo would be fine, everything would be fine.

Dr. Croats sighed and stood. "That's true." He headed for the door, "Let's give him his first check-up, shall we?"

Duo was worried. He was worried that Heero was worried. The worst was that Heero was pretending NOT to be worried. Heero was a horrible liar. He could withhold truths, but at least you knew he was withholding it. Since his acting skills were... sub par, Duo was left trying to figure out what his husband felt he couldn't know about.

Duo decided to employ some covert methods to discover just what was wrong. "Heero," Duo sidled over to him on the couch. "What's bothering you?"

Heero just grunted noncommittally in response. Duo frowned. Okay, so maybe that wasn't exactly subtle, asking outright, but he wasn't good at keeping secrets, so it was difficult for him to understand why someone else might want to keep one.

"Come on, Heero, I can tell something is wrong, tell me so I can help."

Heero grabbed Duo's roving hand and held onto it tightly, "Nothing is the matter Duo." Duo could tell he was lying, and fully intended to call Heero on it, but he was distracted by Heero's lips. Duo knew it was all a ruse, to keep him from asking anymore questions, but it was working.

That was two nights ago. Duo had convinced Heero that they needed a night out. Camille was at Quatre and Trowa's for the evening. So now, Duo was changing. He was taking Heero out dancing tonight, but he was having a problem.

"Is something the matter?" Heero asked with a laugh, seeing Duo's perplexed expression. Duo looked mournfully up at Heero.

"I don't fit in my black pants." Duo was a firm believer that there was no better combination than black on black. Classic.

Heero stifled his laugh, remembering how sensitive Duo could get about that sort of thing, "It's only natural Duo, don't worry about it."

Duo's shoulders slumped, "With Camille, you couldn't even tell yet." He moaned as he took off the pants and began rifling through his clothes. He pulled out some dark jeans and then grabbed a black button up shirt. 50% black - not counting his boxers. He would survive.

"What are you wearing Heero?" Duo checked himself out in the mirror to make sure he looked good. Heero didn't know why he bothered, something about Duo made everything he did and wore seem natural and perfect. "Please tell me you are planning on changing out of that awful green tank."

Heero frowned as he looked at one of his oldest and probably most worn shirt. "What's wrong with this?"

"Well, nothing – but I want everyone to be jealous of me tonight, and to ensure that, we need to dress you right." Heero shrugged and submitted himself to Duo's makeover.

At the club, Heero couldn't help but observe that he, rather than Duo, would be the envy of all the other dancers. Heero had learned a lot from Duo, but the reason he went dancing, was to see Duo dance. His lithe figure moved in perfect time with the rhythm and he was so full of life. Heero saw the appreciative glances others were giving Duo, with a possessive growl, he pulled him closer. It felt so right to be here with Duo. He felt his worries disappearing, locking themselves away for another time.

Duo laughed throatily, throwing back his head at Heero's possessive gesture, grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the center of the dance floor. Energized by the atmosphere, Duo didn't realize how long they had been dancing, but eventually Heero led him off the dance floor, insisting he needed to take a break. Duo conceded and sat at a booth breathing heavily, exhilarated. Heero went and got some drinks. He brought back two sodas.

"Don't look now, but I think that girl wants to dance with you Heero." Duo said as he gulped down his soda. Heero reddened and resisted the urge to look around.

"I would be more inclined to believe that they want to dance with you Duo."

Duo raised his eyebrows as he watched the aforementioned girl, "Nope, pretty positive she is pointing at you." Curiosity got the better of him and he turned to see a tall, lean woman with long blond hair tied together in a loose ponytail at her nape. She was definitely pointing at him. When he looked at her, she headed over to him.

"Hey handsome," She cooed into his ear, gently stroking his shoulder. Heero looked worriedly at Duo, who simply raised an eyebrow and smiled in amusement. "How about you show me your dance moves." Heero heard Duo snort into his cup.

Ready to refuse, Heero opened his mouth but was interrupted by Duo, "Yes, Heero, show her your moves." His grin could only be called evil. The woman laughed seductively as she pulled him off the booth. Duo turned to watch them, his eyes shining with suppressed laughter.

Heero would kill Duo. Heero didn't dance. He only danced when it was with Duo. Duo knew that. Perhaps this was some sort of cruel retribution for. . . shooting him, or disappearing or something. More than likely, it just seemed like it would be hilarious, and Duo was always up for a joke. He could suffer through one dance though. Give Duo a break, and then take him back onto the dance floor.

This song had a fast beat, and the girl had Heero by the arms, making him keep up. Duo definitely led when they danced, but he never actually tried to control his body. Heero slipped his hands out of her grasp as gently as possible. When he did, she moved in close and pushed her body up against his. Heero began to pull away, but stopped when she pushed something into his stomach.

"Move an inch away, and I shoot you and then your date." Heero froze. He looked at her again, trying to decide if he recognized her from somewhere. He couldn't place her face, and the only thing odd about her was the gun she had thrust into his gut. He calculated. He could probably overpower her, but did she have other people with her. If he took her down, would Duo be in danger?

She started laughing coyly, tossing her head, as if she was doing nothing more than flirt with him. She brought her lips up to his ears, "Now, you will lead me to the back room, open the door and don't try anything."

Deciding it would be better to get her out of there, he took her by the elbow and stiffly walked toward the door behind the deejay. Once through the door, he allowed her to begin leading him away. He wasn't worried for himself, he just hoped Duo would wait and not come after him.

Duo watched Heero go backstage. Duo had been entertained throughout the entire dance, but at some point, when the woman sidled up close to Heero, he had stiffened and then lead her away. Setting his drink down, Duo slowly began to follow Heero. He stopped at the door and listened, but he couldn't hear anything. Duo opened the door and then stood to the side. When nothing disastrous happened, Duo peaked down the corridor. He saw a figure disappear around the corner.

Duo followed, at the corner, he heard low voices talking. Duo could tell one was Heero, and the other, he assumed, was the woman. A hand grabbed his shoulder. Instinctively, Duo violently moved away, grabbing the hand and chicken winging it behind his assailant. Duo tried to get a hand over his mouth in time, but he wasn't fast enough. The man let out a strangled cry.

The voices around the corner stopped. Duo moved so that he was behind the man and then he pushed him around the corner, keeping a tight grip on the man's fingers and wrist. He saw fear in Heero's eyes, and shock in the woman's. She held up a gun. Duo's eyes widened and he ducked behind the man. Without hesitation, the woman shot the man, sending him and Duo crashing to the floor.

Heero's heart clenched, and then, with mechanical efficiency, he stole the gun from her hand and cuffed her on the back of her head. She went down and Heero turned to Duo.

Duo was struggling out from under the injured man, his stomach was covered in blood. Heero's pulse raced, he couldn't tell if it was Duo's or the man's.

"Duo?" Heero asked questioningly as he knelt next to him, afraid to move him if he was hurt.

There was panic in Duo's eyes as he squeezed Heero's hand, "I'm alright, just a little shaken."

Heero let out a shaky breath of relief, "Thank God." He pulled Duo in for a hug.

Duo's shield groaned on the floor. "You need to help him, Heero." Duo stood up, "We're only okay because of him."

Heero wanted to argue that logic, but the expression in Duo's eyes, as his hand covered his stomach, stifled his protests. Duo stood back, and Heero pulled off his shirt and wrapped it into a ball, trying to stanch the bleeding. It was bad, but if they got him to a hospital he would survive. Heero smiled grimly, he would survive to be taken into custody.

Heero heard Duo gasp, and turned just in time to see him punch the woman in the face, knocking her to the floor. Heero looked at Duo in astonishment. "That's for shooting at me," When it didn't appear she was completely out, Duo bent over and dislocated her jaw. "That was for making the moves on my husband."

Duo pulled up to Winner mansion's front door, turned off the car and headed inside. Heero had stayed at the club to take their attackers in for questioning and medical care. Duo approached the front door, knocked and entered.

As he wound his way back to the family room, he was intercepted from the kitchen by Quatre. "Oh my God, Duo?" He cried in concern, rushing forward.

Duo had almost forgotten he was covered in blood. Almost. It was sticky and warm and a reminder of what had almost happened. He shivered at the thought. He might have survived, but there was no way the baby would have, not where that bullet was aimed.

Duo rubbed his eyes wearily, the exhilaration of being shot at and punching that woman's lights out had faded, now he was just tired. "There was a. . . situation at the club." Quatre's eyes remained wide they flickered from Duo's face to Duo's bloodstained clothes. "I'm fine, this isn't my blood." That didn't seem to reassure Quatre, so Duo promised to tell him the whole story if he would lend him a change of clothes.

"Then the authorities arrived, but Heero insisted on staying – to find out what their motives were." Duo ended his story while looking doubtfully at the pants Quatre had lent him, on a normal day they probably would work, but he didn't think he could squeeze into them now. "Do you mind if Cammi and I spend the night?" Duo asked through the bathroom door. When Quatre assented, "And do you have any sweatpants I can borrow?"

tsutsuku

Quick shout-out to InuyashaLover45 for her reviews, she pretty much kicked me into gear. It's so friggin hot out, I have no drive to write. I sit and stare at the screen. . . I can't be the only one. . .

Please review, they give me the motivation to write! I just accepted a second job, so hopefully. . .

You review, I write. Yay!

Annie