Note: I guess I'm updating Saturdays and snow days. I just... I really like snow days and they make me want to celebrate somehow. Anyway, I woke up to snow so here's a new chapter before I head out and start my day.

Chapter Three: Run

Duo waited a full 30 seconds for Quatre to return and then sank into his bed, exhausted.

He was once again breathing heavily, the tightness in his chest begging for this day to be over. If he wasn't feeling so numb he might cry. Quatre didn't deserve to be treated like that no matter how awful he'd made Duo feel for so many years. But when cornered and desperate to gain the upper hand in a potential fight all Duo could do was use anger to fuel himself forward. It wasn't even a conscious decision. But for that short meeting anger was all he had to hold onto and all that kept him from falling apart.

The problem with that sort of rage was how it was impossible to sustain, and as it rapidly faded a panic took its place and made itself at home. Quatre would be back. With the others. And that meant Duo needed to get moving. He grabbed the hospital phone sitting on an otherwise empty table beside is bed and dialed a familiar number. The call was answered in two rings.

"Commander I need an extraction"

There was nothing in her soothing tone to calm Duo's agitation. "Agent Ghost, you're safely anonymous at—"

"Don't feed me that line, Une!" He spat the words with renewed venom. "Quatre Winner was just in my room. I need an extraction now. You told me there were provisions for this sorta thing!"

Her voice took on a hint of something Duo couldn't quite place and wasn't particularly keen on figuring out at that moment. "It's been years. Did you consider this may be for the best? They're your frie—"

She couldn't get the last word out in full. The primal fury in Duo's reply caused Une to pull her earbud out and flinch, which was a tall order for anyone to manage. "Are you reneging on our deal? We had conditions for my employment!"

"Maxwe—"

"DO NOT CALL ME BY THAT NAME!" He outright yelled. Through the phone it became clear to Une that her agent would soon be on the move. Rustling noises signaled a man readying to flee. Then his voice eased back down in volume but did not change in tone or urgency. This was a rage she'd seen before only a handful of times. "You are duty bound to keep me anonymous and use my alias." A slight grunt informed her that Maxwell was finished unhooking himself from whatever monitors the hospital staff attached him to and was now standing on his feet with some effort. "And you are contractually bound to extract my ass from this mess you've made."

She sighed. "But don't you think—"

"Are you extracting me or not?"

A faint hesitation was the only clue she gave to her uncertainty before she answered firmly "No. It's time you face your friends and stop hiding. I won't stand b—"

"You're a stone cold bitch and this is worse than that time you tried to publicly execute me. At least that time you were fulfilling your duties!"

Duo didn't bother to hang up and instead just threw the phone handset into the wall, receiver flying off the table when the cord over-stretched. If it was broken it was the hospital's damn fault. A corded phone was laughably outdated at best, though it was a creative way to ensure no one would want to steal the device. And if it broke what could it possibly cost the Preventers to replace? The real issue was getting the hell out of that hospital room.

As he searched for his clothing it didn't escape him how pathetic his situation was: He was an elite agent afforded no backup in the field, getting no backup in the hospital while his doctors largely ignored him. If time wasn't of the essence he would have stopped to laugh at himself but as it was he was half dressed and trying to put on a t-shirt when he became acutely aware that every movement of his upper body made the chest pain that landed him here more acute. He could no longer tell if it felt like unrelenting pressure or like a stabbing pain, but he wouldn't be here to tell the next doctor who'd eventually come to check on him.

He wasn't entirely sure about the doctor's diagnosis of a muscular-skeletal problem but it was unlikely he'd get anyone to seriously take a look into his symptoms when he wouldn't play along with their stupid pain scales. Quickly stretching his left arm to pull his shirt the rest of the way on triggered instant, cutting pain. A shaking right hand reached up to the middle of his chest and he slowly let out all his remaining breath. He glared at his jacket as if that would make putting the garment on easier.

He just needed breathe. In and out. Breathe. If he could breathe he could escape.

With any luck it would take Quatre some extra time to find his way back. The plan was simple enough: avoid populated areas and don't draw attention. Duo knew he was in a wing for decorated agents and VIP only and that meant a secondary way out. Though he wasn't sure which room he was in it wasn't his first time at Noventa Memorial. He'd scoped out exits before. No matter where Quatre had gone off to he'd be approaching from the right, which meant Duo would turn left and find the secret stairwell he knew was somewhere down this hall hidden inside a janitor's closet and take it to the first floor. The idea of taking stairs while in so much pain wasn't appealing but it was better than taking an elevator and being spotted. Once downstairs he could slip out a side door and walk to a taxi station just one block away.

Maybe he could catch a ride to his apartment and disappear within the hour.

Wufei's grip tightened around the phone receiver in his hand when he recognized the voice on the other line. His eyes snapped up to Trowa, still standing in the doorway. "Commander Une," he said, and Trowa took off after Heero. "Please explain yourself. Now."

Her voice betrayed some surprise as she sweetly replied "Agent Chang. You'll need to clarify what you're asking."

"You know where Duo is. You've known this whole time."

"What do you need from me, Agent Chang?"

Wufei frowned. She didn't seem apologetic at all. "Duo fled the hospital. Where's he going? If he's running he'll be headed back to his place. That'd be protocol given we've no idea where he lives so presumably it's safe to retreat and grab what he needs before disappearing again."

"You were always quick on the uptake, Chang."

Wufei gave Quatre a look to convey his impatience. "We're running down the clock, Commander."

Her tone suddenly changed from professional to casual. "I've been encouraging him to contact you all for some time. Please don't be too angry with him, he's scared, hurt, and alone."

Confused, Wufei began to ask what she meant but she cut him off.

"Do I have your word that you'll treat this more as a reunion and perhaps intervention rather than a confrontation?"

Wufei couldn't help be feel nervous at those words. A motion at the door caught his eye as Trowa returned with an upset Heero in tow. He steeled himself and confirmed "You have my word."

"Good. Don't let me down. I'll text his address to your phone." The call disconnected, and not two seconds later Wufei's phone received a location by text.

It would take approximately 30 seconds to grab his go bag, toss the envelope for his doorman on the coffee table, and be on his way out of the building, out of the city, and into a new identity. He knew this because he'd timed the sequence when he first moved here. He wasn't followed out of the hospital and he was confident the others would not find his address in time to stop him. The pain slowed him down, nearly doubling the time it took to move, and still he was sure he'd make it. Hauling a worn black bag over his shoulder, Duo didn't even take the time to give his home of three years a last look before opening the front door and freezing at the sight of Heero, Trowa, Wufei, and Quatre crowded in the hallway on the other side.

He could almost feel his thoughts come to a halt. A second ago he was barreling forward at mach 3 and now he was at a dead stop. His ears vaguely heard his name being called but his brain wasn't registering any of the other sounds as one by one the others pushed their way into his home. He could only form a singular thought: Une. If they were here there was no doubt she tipped them off. She really was trying to kill him.

Trowa took him by an arm and escorted him out of the doorway and into his living room. As the taller man let go Duo's senses came back to him and he nervously looked for Heero only to recognize the expression on his face. That was a look he hadn't missed. Fury.

He blinked as his brain processed Wufei's voice and turned to look at the Chinese man as he repeated "Were you really running again?"

Duo swallowed, his throat suddenly dry but the pain in his chest thankfully sidelined itself. He nodded once in admission.

"How long have you lived here?"

Of course Quatre would ask the question that would get Duo in the most trouble but it was time for him to find his voice. "A while."

"Be more specific."

Heero. Duo nearly sighed at the sound of his voice. Even when angry his voice was appealing. "In this location? Three years."

The others made sounds of surprise and anger but Duo wasn't focused on them. As Heero spoke next Duo knew from his tone this was the calm before the storm. "And how long in this city?"

There was no going back from this answer once given and Duo knew he couldn't skirt around the subject or give any half answers. It was time to collect himself and put on a show. He needed to face this ambush head on and hopefully get them to leave quickly. It wasn't that he didn't have the strength to do it. He was, however, tired. Very tired. But just like he did countless times before he pulled energy from somewhere within himself and felt that electric surge telling him he was ready to push through the obstacle in his way. Relaxing his posture he lightly replied "About four years though I travel a lot so it's not like I've been around this whole time."

It wasn't hard to see the gears turning in everyone's heads as they processed that for nearly all the time they thought Duo missing he was based in the same city as them. He prepared himself for a lot of anger and was surprised when Wufei simply stated "So you've been here, working for Preventers."

Duo eyed him, unsure of what game the usually feisty Chinese man was playing. "Yeah. I mean what else was I gonna do with all my talents?"

Trowa frowned at that. "Une told us four years ago that you'd abandoned your role at Preventers."

With an easy grin Duo quipped "She was right. I abandoned that role in Cybersecurity and negotiated another."

"You haven't put down your duffel."

As his hand subconsciously tightened its grip on the strap of his bag Duo realized that Heero was right. He'd not put down his duffel. It was still slung over one shoulder like he was ready to book it at the next opportunity. Slowly he let the bag slide off and land with a soft thud on the floor and quickly adjusted his collar. Then for good measure, and as a quiet fuck you to Heero for that subtle suggestion he'd be running away right now with everyone here, the American turned, took four steps into the apartment, and hoisted himself up onto his kitchen counter. Now that he was looking down at everyone from his new position Duo felt more in control. To hide his smile he reached into a bowl and popped a piece of gum into his mouth.

Heero looked no less agitated and his voice was harsh as he all but barked out "So you're still a Preventer?"

Duo cocked his head to one side. "You signed up to be Preventers. I left that and signed up to be a ghost."

Quatre frowned. "What does that mean?"

"It means I'm off the books and on my own. No backup, no official identification, no help if I get caught. Une said the work was suited to me given my stealth expertise but half the time I think it's another attempt on her part to execute my sorry ass." By the time he got through his short explanation there was no hiding the mirthful smile on his face.

Wufei took a minute to process the information. His mind was stuck buffering on no backup. "And if you are caught?"

Duo nonchalantly waved a hand in the air to dismiss the thought. "I escape on my own terms or not." He began to blow a bubble with the gum in his mouth.

Heero's voice cut through harshly "so the Preventers just leave you to die?"

Duo simply stared at Heero as the bubble he was blowing slowly grew before popping. He knew exactly how irritating this would be to the Japanese man. Once he was chewing again he replied "well, yeah. That's the job. So I spent a whole lotta time learning better tactics. I don't have any particular death wish so it's kinda important to put in the work." He could tell Heero was seething and it fueled him onward with an edge to his voice that signaled he wanted to bait the others into exploding at him. "Yanno those drills they gave Winner? Those war games to see how he'd make decisions? That was my idea. The missions weren't hypothetical. They were mine. But I didn't feel I had a solid plan on 'em. So I'd see what Winner would do and I learned." He chuckled.

Tension in the room was palpable as he continued, "The first few months? Aw man, like half the missions were close calls. I've always been a solid strategist but the shit they gave me was complicated. Way better to get a second opinion. But hey! I learned and got better at my job. Now Winner's not as useful as before." He shot Quatre a challenging look. "I got his job down for the most part." He extended a finger and pointed to his head, tapping it a few times to indicate he was capable of learning.

Quatre paled. "Those are missions you plan to go on?"

"Well…" he leaned back a bit a placed the hand that was still up at his temple behind his head. The gesture might look bashful on someone else but everyone present knew better than to be fooled. "I did all of them already. Haven't sent ya anything in a few months so…" He drew out the last word before adding "missions accomplished."

Anger flared in Quatre's eyes and his hands formed fists as his sides, his knuckles white and nails digging into his palm. "I distinctly recall labeling two of those missions as too dangerous to undertake! And you're telling me you don't have a death wish?"

The black clad figure hopped off the kitchen counter with two hands raised in the air, palms out as though surrendering. "Hey now, ya just didn't see every option is all!" Quatre glared at him with a look no one had seen since the war but it didn't dissuade Duo, who was wholly focused on taking his unwelcome house guests down a few notches. "Okay, you saw every option at the time. But later the intel changed enough to make the missions at least possible. I'm here, aren't I? No lie: those ones weren't easy. But I'm still here after all that. And I've several times extracted lover boy over there" he jerked her head in Trowa's direction "from situations these fools" he gave a small wave of a hand in the direction of Heero and Wufei "couldn't get him out of or got stuck in themselves. Gimme some credit over here."

"You interfered with our missions."

Duo's entire body snapped to attention in the direction of the last comment. "No, Heero. I saved your asses." Violet eyes were enraged. "You think all that distracting gunfire and explosions just magically appeared when you needed it? Or the blackout that reset security in holding cells was a coincidence? You remember that guard at the old Reynolds base? Big guy who would not leave his post and pinned you in location because getting in and out quietly was key and you couldn't shoot him? He didn't just wander off. That fucker fractured my arm. Didn't look agile but he was quick."

"You went on our missions?"

"How'd ya think I ended up in the same hospital as you, Chang? Did LaSalle's charges magically set themselves or did someone else do it?" It took willpower for Duo not to cringe at the return of his pain. This was taking too long and the energy he summoned was going to run out at some point. A fleeting thought about how this unwelcome visit was going to kill him crossed his mind before his entire person screamed for him to toss them all into the hallway and barricade the door behind them. With nearly everything he had left Duo took a couple steps to the door and declared "It's been real fun but I need you all to leave now."

Wufei grabbed Heero by the arm when he moved to advance on Duo but Heero still yelled. "Are you running the instant we're gone, Duo?"

Nothing could've prepared Duo for how his heart constricted hearing his name on Heero's lips once more. It brought back a flood of memories, some wonderful and some he'd rather forget. But if he wanted everyone out of his apartment he needed to swallow those emotions. He took a deep breath and gestured towards his door. "No reason to run when you'll just get Une to tell you where I am again. But I'd like for you to leave now."

"And we'll see you again?"

With the way Wufei was holding Heero back and beginning to pull him towards the door Duo sensed appeasing him was the path to getting what he wanted. "You got it, Chang."

And then Duo witnessed a miracle. Chang Wufei, who was likely to be as unreasonable and angry as Heero, ushered everyone out of his apartment like a shepherd relocating his flock. There was resistance but he didn't budge and in short order three former Gundam pilots were in the hallway and Wufei turned over his shoulder to say "I'm holding you to your word, Maxwell" before he closed the door behind himself and Duo was alone once more.