AH! Summer is over, summer is over! * throws things in the air and panics * Okay, I'm good. . .

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

CHAPTER 14

When Heero arrived home that night, he saw his husband sitting in the center of the couch, with Trowa and Quatre on either side. The looks on their faces did not bode well.

"Is something wrong?" Duo was looking sheepish, so he was sure it was nothing serious.

Quatre smiled, "Hello, Heero. Why don't you sit down." The blond motioned to the love seat directly across from them. Heero considered refusing, but since he was living in their house temporarily, he decided to do as he was told.

"How was your day?" Heero responded vaguely, raising an eyebrow at this strange conversation. Quatre sat there, Trowa seemed content to let the Arabian lead.

"Listen, what is this about?" Heero asked after some time had passed. He had tried to make eye contact with Duo, but he was looking down.

"We know, Heero." It only took Heero a moment to realize what they were talking about, that explained Duo's strangely submissive behavior. "Why didn't you tell us Heero?"

Heero's jaw dropped, was he really going to have to sit through an inquisition for this? "I mean, we'd expect it from Duo, he likes his jokes, but you?"

In astonishment, Heero looked from the unforgiving expression on Quatre's face to the blank one on Trowa's. "I'm sorry, am I in trouble?" Quatre just stared at him. Heero looked to Trowa for support, "Duo didn't want me to tell you."

Duo opened his mouth, though whatever he intended to say was stifled before he even took in a breath by a quick hush from Quatre. "That's no excuse, Heero." Quatre replied sternly. But Heero could see from Trowa's expression that he had found an ally in his stoic friend who had, until recently, been dealing with a pregnant lover.

"I think we can let it go now, Quatre." Trowa said gently. Quatre looked at Trowa suspiciously. "Heero did the best that he could." Taking advantage of the two men's lack of attention, Duo slipped past them and sat next to Heero.

"I'm sorry, Heero." Duo said quietly.

Heero nodded, "Why did you tell them without me?" He asked, a little bit hurt.

"He didn't tell us," Trowa responded.

Quatre nodded, his stern expression softening a bit, "We figured it out after he passed out in Camille's nursery."

Heero looked at Duo with concern in his eyes, "Are you alright?" Duo nodded and muttered some reassurances.

"This time!" Quatre exploded/ "What if we hadn't been around and something had been wrong?" Duo had the grace to look embarrassed. Heero agreed, but Duo had been adamant to the point of tears at one point that they wait.

"It's your fault!" Duo said loudly.

Quatre looked shocked, "What?"

"If you hadn't concealed your pregnancy for so long. . ."

"Duo, we thought there was something seriously wrong with you. I never left you worrying about my health or safety." In response, Duo narrowed his eyes, crossed his arms and sank back into the sofa. Heero and Trowa watched the two 'mothers' glare each other down in amusement. After about five minutes, Duo muttered that he was tired and stalked out of the room.

The next day, Duo apologized to Quatre on his way out the door that morning. He was going in to the shop early, and then when he got home Quatre was going work in his office for a few hours.

After Duo apologized and Quatre graciously accepted, he then proceeded to tell Duo how excited he was for him and insisted on hearing all the details later that night.

As Duo worked through the day, he was getting a little bit worried. Duo didn't recall ever being this tired with Camille. When he was working or had a task to do, he could keep himself moving, but as soon as he had some downtime he felt this exhaustion overtake him and he usually ended up asleep if he sat down for too long. He tried to keep himself busy so that he would stay awake enough to enjoy other people.

He had called Dr. Croats casually about it, but the doctor told him not to expect the same thing from this pregnancy as his last one. He also told him that exhaustion is a very common side effect. He suggested Duo come in and at the time Duo had refused, saying he wouldn't be able to for a few days. That was a week ago.

Around 3 o'clock, Duo put his tools away, grabbing some of the paperwork to bring home with him. Sam and Jerry had definitely been doing the majority of work, but the bills and accounts were as far from a car's engine as it could get for them. For awhile Jerry was doing them, but Duo knew how much the older man hated it, and Duo could do it at home.

He had taken his bike into work today, so he sped toward the mansion. He felt a familiar rushing in his head. Shaking his head to stay awake, Duo began slowing his bike down and pulling to the side; he was the only vehicle on the road.

His vision blurred and vaguely Duo was aware that we was falling, sliding away. As his vision faded, the last thing he saw was his bike crashing off into the distance.

Duo was late. At first Quatre was a little perturbed, but realized that sometimes things happen. As 4 o'clock rolled around, Quatre called his shop. Apparently he had left about an hour ago. Irritation turned to anxiety as he began calling around and time passed.

At five he called Heero, almost frantic. Fortunately he was still with Relena. It took about ten minutes for Heero to be connected.

"What?" The annoyance was clear in that single word.

"Heero?" Quatre asked superfluously, "Do you know where Duo is?"

There was a short pause, and then in a pained voice Heero responded, "I haven't seen him since this morning."

Quatre resisted the urge to apologize for worrying him, but continued, "He's two hours late, he left the shop at three, he's not at the doctor's, not at your house. I don't know where he could be."

"I'll be there soon." 'click' Quatre nodded. One thing taken care of. He couldn't sit here waiting however. Looking at the two girls, one of them waddling around the living room, the other gnawing on a pacifier, he realized he needed a babysitter.

"Rashid!"

Heero only ever drove this fast when Duo was in trouble. That man attracted trouble like a bee to nectar. His eyes were scanning the road for any sign of disturbance. He had started at Duo's shop and driven home from there.

There. He slowed. It looked like something metallic was sticking out of a bush. Heero pulled over and felt an icy recognition overtake him. It was Duo's bike. Jumping out of the car, he began surveying the scene. Duo was not on the bike. The bike had slid off the road into a drainage ditch that extended for several kilometers. The mud had sucked it down, hiding it from view unless you were looking for it.

Refusing to let panic take hold, Heero began searching backwards, along the road and the ditch, hoping to see a braid, a foot, anything. After 300 meters, Heero saw what he had been looking for. Duo's whole form was resting in the muddy ditch, his face just barely raising above the wet soil.

Heero slid down the side and carefully turned Duo over. Pulling out his phone, Heero called Quatre and commanded him to get transportation and gave his location. Abrasions lined one half of Duo's face, fortunately the helmet had saved much of his cheeks, the other half was covered in mud. If there was an injury, Heero couldn't tell, but Duo did not appear to twisted unnaturally anywhere. The early spring weather had assured the mud was cold, and what skin that could be seen was pale.

Hoping he was making the right decision, Heero carefully pulled Duo out of the mud, lying him straight out and the embracing his upper half. It seemed like hours before he heard Quatre calling his name on the street.

Really short, i do have more written – look for it soon once it is completed...

Too tired... school has started... sry it took so long to get out...

doing my best, hope it was good enough...

Annie ...zzZZzzzzz