Note: A reminder that there will occasionally be phrases used by characters that are not spoken in English. I'll include those translations in a footnote for the chapter, but you don't need to scroll down early. I've written it to flow with context, and recommend waiting until the end to get those translations if you need them.

Chapter Seventeen: Quatre and the Cabin Part 2

Duo startled awake before dawn and fell out of his chair onto the cold floor. His back was killing him, and it took a few seconds for him to realize where he was. Once he did he laid perfectly still and listened to his surroundings. Did something wake him? There was no noise coming from upstairs. Nothing on the main floor other than the hum of the heating system. Slowly, he dragged himself to his feet. One leg was asleep. He swayed before finding his balance. And then he listened.

With nothing alarming registering in his ears he scanned the first floor without moving. Both points of entry appeared undisturbed. The house seemed to be in order. The clock read 6:17 so he must've been out for just under 3 hours. It was unacceptable. He hobbled to each door and checked the locks. They were secured. He then made his way up the stairs, gingerly stepping around creaky boards and wincing as fiery pins and needles shot through him. By the time he reached the upper floor the feeling in his leg and foot were almost back to normal. With all the stealth he used during the wars, Duo opened Quatre's door and stalked his way towards the bed until he could hear the blonde man's even breathing.

Retracing his steps, Duo exited the room and shut the door. He'd fallen asleep but everything was fine. He wouldn't let it happen again.

By the time Quatre woke and came downstairs Duo was back in his chair watching the sun rise in the distance. When afternoon arrived, he was beginning to suspect that Trowa was punishing him.

The awkwardness between himself and Duo was bad enough but the cabin location was an absolute bore. With nowhere to hike to and no activities nearby he was slowly going crazy. His phone only occupied him for so long. The book he brought wasn't overly engaging. He wasn't about to ask Duo to play a game of chess or backgammon, and he was tired of screens in general. The only saving grace was knowing that in 24 hours they'd be leaving this place and he would have Trowa mostly off his back.

Still, he didn't feel right about how he left things yesterday with Duo. Steeling himself for what was sure to be another rough talk, he found Duo in the kitchen making a sandwich. The braided man looked up at him through long bangs that obscured his face.

"You want one?"

Quatre was taken aback. "What?"

"A sandwich." Duo's voice was so casual it unnerved him.

"Uh, sure. Do you want any help?"

Working hands stopped and hovered over ingredients laid out on a cutting board as Duo lifted his head in full to look at Quatre. "It's sandwiches. I think I can handle it."

"Right." Once again awkwardness settled between them. "Uh, Duo. I'm. You're." He wasn't sure where to start. "You're right that I used you."

Duo grabbed a knife and started to slice tomatoes. "Guess even a stray dog has uses."

Those words sent a jolt through Quatre. "So you did hear."

"Ya weren't exactly hiding it when you explained my existence to your rich friends."

"Duo, I..." He lost his voice when violet eyes looked up from their task and fixed him with an intense stare. He felt like a child waiting for an adult to punish him.

"Just shut up." Quatre deflated at those words. "If you were really a bad person it would show in other ways, but you're not. That's what I hated about you. So fuckin genuine and kind to everyone except me." Duo topped off the sandwiches and wrapped them in foil, tucking them tightly. "So make some effort, Winner. Shape the hell up." He picked up one of the sandwiches and tossed it towards Quatre, who caught it easily. "Put a little effort into not being an asshole to this stray dog, and I'll do what I can to forgive you and meet ya halfway."

Duo looked unmistakably tired in that moment. His braid was disheveled with wisps of hair sticking out all the way up and down. Sunken eyes without any spark were hardly reminiscent of the person Quatre remembered. And it occurred to Quatre, looking at the sad sight before him, that since they got to the cabin his companion had hardly eaten or slept. All he could do in that moment was nod and take his sandwich into the other room.

Things got quiet again between them.

Though it was only the end of their third day at the cabin Duo missed Heero. It was stupid. Heero barely spoke with him and he hadn't even seen him since the glimpse he caught at the disastrous holiday party. And yet Duo missed him anyway. He missed Wufei and Sally, too. Six months ago he had no one at all. It was common for him to go several months without meaningful human contact. Now he was missing people after a few short days. Maybe it was because his current company was such a downer. Maybe this strained relationship reminded him of better ones.

When Quatre came downstairs at 22:00 for his nightly tea, he handed a cup to Duo before heading upstairs. It appeared to be some peace offering. Duo accepted the mug, though the gesture only served to make him miss Heero more.

A long time ago it was the Wing pilot who brought him tea.

He lost himself in the memories for some time, sipping the warm beverage and absently rubbing his thumb across the face of his phone as he considered texting the subject of his thoughts. Duo was redeveloping an old habit of longingly holding his phone and then not texting Heero. He chose not to think too hard about whether this change in behavior was good or bad. Annoyed with himself, he downed the tea in a few quick gulps. If he couldn't control his emotions he could at least finish his tea while it was hot for once.

Duo remained in that limbo, allowing his mind to wander but keeping a sharp eye outside, until it was past midnight. He was once again feeling the edges of exhaustion and he couldn't quite figure out why. The quiet night didn't help. While he was focused he ignored the small but gnawing need for sleep. A lot of the decisions made surrounding this trip bothered him, but they were out of his control. The one thing he could control was himself.

Stay awake. Stay alert.

He hoped everything would remain quiet until they left in 12 hours

It would not.

Outside of the window, in the distance in the dark, he caught a movement. This was what he'd been waiting for since their arrival.

It was go time.

He shot to his feet, only for the room to spin out from under him. Confused at the sudden onset of total drowsiness, he tried to walk and stumbled, catching himself on the chair he just vacated. His vision blurred and he hauled himself haphazardly towards the stairs, crawling up on all fours. "Winner!'

Quatre came bolting out of his room to find Duo struggling to right himself near the top of the stairs. He leaned on a wall, glaring in Quatre's general direction. As disoriented as he was Duo managed to inject vitriol into his voice. "The tea." Quatre blanched. "You drugged me!"

"Duo!" Quatre tried to help him up but the American jerked away and nearly fell down the stairs.

"I… I'm sorry! You just looked so tired. You weren't sleeping and I—"

"SHUT UP!" As Duo lost balance Quatre grabbed him and started to walk him up the last few stairs and into his room. Duo seemed to be rambling. "Call Trowa. Right now! He needs… Tell him. Agent incapa… incapaci… incapacitated. Send backup."

Duo wasn't making sense. "What are you talking about? Backup?" As Quatre dragged him into the chair where he'd spent his afternoon reading, Duo tried to breathe slowly and stop his sudden vertigo. "Duo, what did you mean?"

Through labored breathing the American answered while fumbling his phone, unable to make heads or tails of the screen, "This is a mission. Trowa and his team are, uh, six. Six minutes out. We need an extraction."

Quatre was stunned. "What?"

"Someone's tryin to kill you, Winner! You d-drugged your bodyguard." He gave up on his own mobile device and shoved it into his pocket. "Call Trowa NOW!"

After a second's hesitation Quatre pulled his phone out of his pocked and dialed Trowa. The call was answered on the second ring. "Trowa what's going on? Duo says we need an extraction—" Quatre could hear commotion on the other side of the line. Trowa must have gestured for his team to get moving. But none of it made sense. "Trowa what's—"

"I'll see you in six. Follow Duo's instructions. I love you."

The line went dead.

"Duo—"

"Inca… Incapacitated. You were supposed to say incapaaahforgetit. Extraction's not. Not the same."

"Duo what's—"

"We baited them. Tonight's the last night."

"Baited? What—"

"SHHHHHH!"

Quatre froze. Duo was holding his head with one hand, eyes shut tightly. His other hand was in the air giving the gesture Quatre knew from the war meant to freeze in place or else. Duo listened intently until he heard what he feared: a squeaky board. Through his brain fog he couldn't quite remember which squeak that was but he did know it was downstairs. He reached for the gun he kept hidden on his person and Quatre was stunned when he pulled it out of seemingly nowhere. It was a handy trick he learned from Heero in the years after the wars.

He gestured for Quatre to head to the master closet and followed him on unsteady feet. When Quatre opened the door Duo handed him the gun and whispered "Get inside. Shelter in place. Shoot anyone who opens that door."

"Duo! What are you—"

"Do as I say! L-lemme do my job."

"But you're—"

Duo pulled a large knife from his boot and shut the door on the protesting blonde, leaning on the wood with all his weight. "Lemme do my job" he whispered through the closed door. "Just shelter in place."

He took the knife and slashed his own leg.

The pain helped him focus and the adrenaline gave him a fighting chance against his disorientation. Time was slipping and he couldn't tell how much went by and what Trowa's ETA would be. But the sound from the staircase told him there was little if any time left to prepare and no time at all to dwell on what happened the last time he told someone to shelter in place.

The master bedroom had a short hallway leading from the door into the main room. The hall had a large linen closet on one side and the door to the en-suite on the opposite one. Duo had only enough time to position himself along the wall where the room opened up. Whoever was here would not see him as they walked down the short hallway and Duo might catch them by surprise from the side when they entered the main room. It wasn't a perfect plan but it was the best he could do with limited options.

He heard someone turn towards the master bedroom after reaching the top of the stairs, and slashed his hip one more time to focus before the assailant was on top of him.

A gun barrel was the first thing Duo saw peeking out from the short hallway. As soon as a hand followed he leapt into action. Everything felt slow. He tried to twist the gun from the hand holding it but instead he lost some balance and ended up pulled into the hallway, his body slamming backward into the gunman's torso. They hit one wall and then immediately the gunman pushed off and Duo crashed into the other side face first.

Taking a chance Duo tightened his grip on the gunman's arm, attempting to slash at the assailant with the knife that was somehow still in his other hand. He barely cut his attacker but it was startling enough for the man to twist away and send them topping to the floor with Duo on top, but unarmed. The knife fell from his grip, and though it was within reach he couldn't let go of his attacker without fully losing this fight.

Thankfully when Duo slammed against the floor he hit is injured hip, and the sharp and burning pain gave him another rush of focus. It was enough to notice the gunman's eyes dart somewhere behind Duo, and with a quick glance over his shoulder he saw a second enemy approach. Without thinking he twisted the gun towards himself and forcibly pulled the trigger. A searing pain ripped through his side but the bullet lodged in the chest of the man behind him, knocking him to the floor.

The shot was deafening in a confined space.

Before he knew what was happening, a figure emerged from inside the bedroom and a second shot cracked in the air. The gunman underneath him stopped moving and Duo could feel the man's blood splattered onto his face. He slumped towards the nearest wall, breathing heavily. While he was still figuring out how to stop the walls from spinning two hands reached under his arms and dragged him into the bedroom.

He was laid out flat. He focused long enough to see Quatre jump up and check something in the hallway. It was only logical for him to secure the area before rushing back to grab a towel from somewhere, probably the linen closet, and kneel beside Duo pressing the cloth into his bleeding side.

"Stupid!"

Duo just looked at former Sandrock pilot with a neutral expression. He was still trying to focus on breathing and staying awake.

"What the hell were you thinking? You're crazy!"

Quatre fumbled for his phone and put the line on speaker. When it was answered in one ring he spoke before Trowa could say a word. "Duo's been shot! It's bad. The house is secure. I think. Get the fuck over here and I'll yell at you later!"

"Are you hurt?"

Fury filled Quatre's voice. "Did I say I was hurt? No! But Duo's losing a lot of blood. Tell me you have medical provisions."

Duo was smiling a dopey and easy grin. It was surreal to be fussed over, especially by someone he was so sure hated him until just a day ago. He looked around the room, then to Quatre's panicked face. From there his eyes traveled down the man's arms towards the towel being held against his wound. It was already soaked through.

"Estoy jodido."

Quatre looked up from the wound and turned directly to face Duo, ignoring Trowa's reply coming through the phone as he asked "What?"

Duo didn't seem to notice. He closed his eyes for a moment before being slapped across the face by Quatre's wet hand.

"Hey! 02! Stay awake!"

Slowly Duo lifted a hand to touch his stinging cheek and pulled it away to see red. It was then he realized the wetness Quatre's hand smeared across his face with the slap was his own blood. He spoke softly."Yanno… It'd be easier ta stay awake ifya hadn't drugged me."

Regret flashed in Quatre's eyes and he added pressure to Duo's side. The injured man winced but otherwise didn't react. It was a sign of shock. "Trowa!" he barked for the phone. "ETA!"

"Under four minutes. We can load him into a truck and have him in the medivac in another five. Make that three if we drive like hell."

"You have a medivac on standby out here?"

"You were in danger. We spared no expense. But I did bill it to Winner Enterprises."

"Trowa I don't know if he's got that kind of time."

There was a pause then as the words sank in and Trowa processed what that implied. "We have a couple units of O-neg on the chopper. If he doesn't bleed out before then they can at least keep him alive for the flight back."

Quatre shook Duo in order to get glazed over violet eyes to focus on him. "Hey, you hear that? You just need to not die for another eight minutes."

Duo smiled weakly. "Donworry. Can't die. Still gotta yellatcha." At that Quatre began to cry.

Trowa and his team arrived in under three minutes but as far as Quatre was concerned it felt like hours before hands grabbed him and lifted him away from Duo while others quickly packed bandages on the injured man's side, secured him on a gurney, and ran him out of the house. Quatre struggled against the hands holding him and ran after the medics. He ignored the agents still securing the house and hopped into the back of the large SUV being used as an ambulance. He was followed by the person who tried to hold him, and they were racing down the mountain only to find the nearby medivac chopper moved from their hiding place and landed in the middle of the road. It took them only 2 minutes to reach the new rendezvous location.

There was no room in the chopper for anyone other than the medical team and Duo. As the chopper lifted into the air to begin the 30 minute flight to town the arms that previously held Quatre reappeared. Eventually he realized it was Trowa's voice in his ear and he turned and wrapped his arms tightly around the taller man.

"Trowa." His voice was full of pain. "We gotta go. Now. He can't be in that hospital alone."

A shaky voice replied "Okay, love" as Trowa gestured for a team member to toss him the keys to the SUV they just vacated. When he caught the keys he directed the agent to "Call Chang" and the words seemed to snap Quatre out of shock. He pushed away and quickly climbed into the passenger seat.

When Trowa opened the driver's door he saw an angry Quatre glaring his way as he spat out "And you're telling me everything on the drive."

TRANSLATION FOOTNOTES

Estoy jodido – means "I'm fucked" in Spanish.