Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Bounty Hunters Case #678832-02 ❯ Chapter 1

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Bounty hunters part 1

Bounty Hunters Case #678823-02

x.

Duo leaned over the railing of the third floor terrace and gazed at the ocean. He felt better than he
had in several months. He still got tired quicker than he really liked and caught cold easily. In
fact he felt another coming on right now. The cold, damp fog prevalent around here this time of
year was miserable. But San Jose was nice for all that.

He sighed, he was hungry again. After months of living on ration bars and protein drinks, or pick
up bar food he was making up for lost time, or so Heero said. So he wandered into the
kitchen/dining room/ living room which Heero referred to as a great room and Duo could see
why. It took up most of the ground floor of Heero's ultra modern house. This floor consisted of
the great room and a library/office, as well as the garage/ open car port. The next floor up
contained four bedroom suits, consisting of a small sitting room, bath room and bed chamber as
well as a large walk-in closet.

The floor below the ground floor contained a full shop and a game room complex, the floor
below that was a dojo, gym and armory. The bottom floor was a hodge-podge of office, storage
and junk room, Duo longed to delve into that but Heero had told him to stay out until he felt
better. Duo didn't want to agree but he had to. He'd had a major collapse about three days after
they'd gotten home, passing out in the shower. Heero had been in the bedroom and heard his
head hit the wall. This had scared both of them.

Duo ran one hand over the top rail, smiling to himself. Home this was his home. He'd argued
with Heero about that but Heero had snorted and announced that if Duo wanted to be perverse
he'd pay rent and like it. So Duo had agreed, feeling that paying his way here was important.
Heero had said that paying half the utilities was agreeable with him. He realized that Duo needed
to feel like he was contributing to the household instead of accepting charity. But before he'd
told Duo how much his rent would be he'd made Duo promise to pay it no matter how much it
was and no arguments. Duo had cross my heart' sworn then sworn again when Heero announced
that his rent was one dollar a month. Duo had tried to argue with Heero but Heero had announced
that Duo had given his word not to argue, so was he going to break that word? Duo had given up,
only saying that since it was his home too now, he wanted a bar-b-cue grill. Heero had dissolved
in snickers and taken him down to the next level. The grill on the terrace there was everything
Duo could have wanted.

Duo rummaged in the kitchen looking for something to eat. Heero had left early, telling Duo that
he had a bounty to catch. It was local so Duo was expecting him home before dark. He hated it
that he couldn't go with Heero, but the doctor had said that Duo was on the verge of a complete
physical collapse and had to take it easy for at least six weeks. Maybe longer. Duo had wanted to
argue, his pride made him feel it was necessary, but he also knew that the doctor was right. He
cast his pride out the window when Heero had given him a sad look and asked if Duo thought he,
Heero, couldn't take good care of him. Duo had given him a small smile and said, "Couldn't do
much worse than I have, buddy. I give. Rest it is."

So he was resting, working out carefully, eating right and worrying. Heero went out at least twice
a week on a bounty. Duo knew that Heero was turning down jobs with distressing regularity.
Anything that would take him out of town for more than two days was refused. Duo worried that
Heero would ruin his reputation and not get the best jobs anymore. All it would take was a
couple of months like this. But Heero had said that there wasn't much to worry about just yet.

After making a huge salad, Duo sat down at the dining room table to eat and watch the bay.
Heero had fussed the first time Duo had said, "I'll just throw together a salad. I'm not very
hungry."

The salad had made Heero's eyes pop. Duo's idea of a salad was some iceberg lettuce, a huge
handful of spring greens, another of baby spinach and baby romaine, onions, shredded cheddar
cheese, shredded carrots, croutons, bacon bits, chopped ham, chopped turkey, hard boiled eggs
and plenty of dressing. Heero had started out glaring and ended up hanging onto the counter to
keep from falling down laughing. He'd helped himself to a carrot and announced, "I'd hate to see
a big salad."

Duo nibbled his way through the salad and glanced at the clock. Heero had said he would be
home by three pm or call. It was a quarter to and no call, so Duo was expecting Heero any
moment. He was always at least ten minutes early, he said it was so Duo wouldn't worry but Duo
thought it was just because he was sure Duo was doing something he shouldn't and wanted to
catch him out. Duo wasn't sure if it made him mad or just annoyed. He decided to go work out a
bit. He was up to twenty minutes twice a day and felt stronger than he had in months.

X>^.^<

A door closing alerted him to Heero's return home. Duo hurried up the stairs and took Heero's
briefcase before he could toss it in a corner. He helped Heero off with his coat, vest and harness,
draping the articles over his arm he headed for Heero's bedroom to put the stuff away.

"Duo, you aren't a hausfrau to be picking up after me."

Duo turned to grin over his shoulder. "Well, I can't go with you just yet, so I might as well make
myself useful somehow or other. I'm not a charity case or a leech. Ok?"

Heero grinned back. "Never mind, I really give up this time. If you feel like that, I'll just shut up
and enjoy it. When does my turn come?"

Duo hollered from the upstairs hall. "When I get sick. Sit down at the table. Lunch is on in a few
minutes."

Heero settled at the table and sniffed. The smell was delicious, pot roast, potatoes and root
vegetables, celery. He wasn't sure what else, but it made his mouth water.

He waited patiently and it didn't take long for Duo to come back into the kitchen.

"I'm going to pop the rolls in, they're only brown and serve but you liked them the last time I
fixed them. And there's pie. Bought not home made. I've got to get apples as I don't trust
cherries not to have a pit and peaches aren't in season yet."

Heero sighed. "Duo, you don't have to do all this. We could go out. You'll ..."

Duo shut Heero up by glaring at him. "No, I don't. You'd let me live off you forever. But do I
want that kind of life? I'm not a gigolo, or something. I want to make a life with you. Room
mates share chores. You want me to work with you, right? So, until I can, I'll carry my own
weight by cooking, cleaning, and shopping. See? Then, when I can go on pickups with you, we'll
figure out something else. Now, shut up."

Heero shut. He'd never thought of it like that. Duo wasn't able to go out on pickups yet. His
health wasn't quite up to it. But when he was well, they were going to be partners. Heero gave
this a bit more thought and decided that he'd better let Duo have his way. Not that he really
objected to Duo doing chores, it was just that Duo wouldn't let him help. Now that he thought
about it, it was fair. He went out, Duo stayed in. They both contributed to the welfare of the
house. He decided to relax and let things take their natural course.

"Ok, ok. I have to go out tomorrow again. Do you want to give me a list or go yourself?"

Duo stuck the rolls into the oven, checked the roast and then settled at the table. "I'm going to
start setting up that office you said I could have. It'd be nice if you took a list. I'll be worn out by
noon. I hate this. I'm so fucking weak. I feel like all I do is eat and sleep."

Heero reached over to pat Duo's hand. "Don't worry. You're a lot better than you were when you
first got here. And it's only been ... what, three weeks? You're making impressive progress.

Duo snorted. "Yeah, sure. I've had two colds in three weeks. I'm a disease looking for a place to
happen."

"Well, the doctor said that your immune system was compromised by malnutrition and over
work. He said six weeks or more. Just let it happen. I'm in no hurry. I can get by on local jobs for
some time. But there's a job you can help with. And not even leave the house."

Duo brightened. "Ok, sure. What do I need to do?"

Heero smirked. "I'm going to have a round up. There's three bail bondsmen who have a bunch of
skips. What we're going to do is set up a ... something. I'm not sure what. Like they've won
something, like a cruise or tv or something, tell them they've won and have to come somewhere
to collect and then snatch them up. I want you to make the arrangements and compose the flyers,
all that kind of thing. Ok?"

Duo nodded, getting a far way look in his eyes. "Yeah, I can do that. Ice cubes and eskimos, ya
know."

Heero laughed, "I sure do. Now, food?"

After opening the oven again to check on the rolls, Duo handed the table settings to Heero to put
out. He got butter and steak sauce out of the refrigerator and handed them over. Heero efficiently
set the table then smirked, he didn't remember having a bottle of that particular steak sauce. It
was his favorite but he'd run out just three days ago. There hadn't been an occasion to use it until
just now.

Duo pulled the roast out of the oven, remarking, "I'll tent that and let it rest while I finish up the
veggies and rolls. On the table in ..." He consulted his watch. "Five minutes. Put on some music,
will ya?"

"Ok, what would you like? Classic? Or R and B?"

"Pot roast means jazz. How about some Count Basie? ... I've got the rolls out and I'm just about
to slice the roast. Thick or thin?"

Heero glanced up from the song list he was examining, "Up to you. I don't even know what kind
of roast it is." he decided on the music and cued it up, the sounds of Jumpin' At the Woodside
filled the room.

"Great choice. I'll just ..." Duo's voice trailed away. Heero looked in his direction and grinned.
Duo was slicing the roast, rump from the look of it, with the tip of his tongue poking out of the
corner of his mouth. When he was finished, he looked up to see that Heero had dished up the
vegetables from the roasting pan and put the casserole dish on the table. He'd also put the rolls in
the basket, carefully tucking the warming stone under the napkin.

"Ok, music, check. Veggies, check. Condiments, check. Meat, check. Table settings, check.
What have I forgotten?"

Heero turned from the cupboard he'd just opened. "Wine. Chianti, or Cabernet?"

Duo laughed softly, he couldn't believe a boy who would drink dirty water from a ditch had
turned out to be a wine snob. "Your choice. Whatever you chose is fine by me."

Heero decided on a bottle, opened it and poured a bit into his glass. He sipped it and swirled the
wine in his glass, examining it critically. "Well, not the best but good enough. I should have
opened it a little earlier, it won't have time to breath properly, but with this quality it really
doesn't matter that much."

Duo couldn't help but roll his eyes. "That's enough. Just pour the damn stuff and sit down. It'll
get cold."

They settled in their places and dug in with all the appetite that two twenty year olds can muster.
It didn't take them long to clean their plates and vanquish all the vegetables. There was nearly
half the roast left and Heero eyed it for a moment. "What are you going to do with the rest of that
roast?"

"I'll make roast beef sandwiches tomorrow and if there's any left after that. Hash? Or stew."

"Stew. I hate hash. Looks like cat puke."

Duo rolled his eyes and shuddered. "Not the mental picture I really wanted. Graphic, yuck!"

Heero blushed and ducked his head. "Sorry. But really, it's all gray and brown and slimy."

Duo gave up. "Ok, ok. No hash. I swear, you never used to be picky. Not that I'm really
complaining."

"Well, during the war, I ate what was available. Fuel for the body. But now that I'm not in the
middle of a life or death conflict, I'd really like appetizing food. So, I'm a bit picky."

Heero helped Duo gather up the dishes and put away the leftovers. He efficiently wiped down the
counter tops and table. Duo put dishes in the dishwasher and started it. Then he made coffee.

As he was filling the pot, Duo sneezed twice. He managed to stifle them by holding his nose but
that made his ears pop unpleasantly. He finished fixing the coffee tray and went to blow his nose.
He just knew he was catching another cold.

When he came out of the bathroom Heero was just carrying the tray onto the what ever it was.

"Heero, what the hell is this?"

Heero set the tray on the glass topped table and turned to frown at him. "What is what?"

"This." Duo waved his hand around. "What we're standing on."

"Oh. Um ... I'm not sure. Balcony? Terrace? The bottom level is definitely a lanai, the rest?
Veranda?" Heero shrugged. "I don't think it makes a lot of difference. It's my house call them
what you want."

Duo nibbled at his lip for a moment. "But what if it's the wrong thing? What if people laugh at
us?"

"Do you really think people are going to laugh at us? I mean, really?"

Duo looked up to be smacked in the face by Heero's impressive glare. He grinned. "Well, if you
put it that way. No. Too bad I don't have a glare like that."

Heero snorted. "Yours is more icy. Sort of like sticking your head in glacier water." Heero
shivered to illustrate the feeling.

Duo cast a rather blank look at Heero then just said, "Oh. Well." and poured the coffee.

x.

The next morning Heero left to see a bail bondsman about a pickup and Duo started setting up
his office. He had smiled to himself when he realized that the upstairs office was mostly for
show, the real offices were downstairs on the last level. Heero had offered him his choice of
office space, telling him to make whatever arrangements he wanted. Duo intended to take Heero
up on that. He hated the office that Heero had set up for himself. It was in the smallest room on
the level, windowless and little more than a glorified closet.

Duo intended to set up a much better office. One that was inviting, light and airy. Not cramped,
airless and dungeon like.

The first thing he did was decide which room to use. There were several, meant to be bedrooms,
but Heero had decided that they were office space and storage, so they were. Duo decided that he
was going to tear out a wall between two of the rooms to enlarge it. This would make it possible
to get everything he wanted in one room. He was also going to turn one of the inside rooms into a
radio room/computer lab. He leaned against the open sliding glass door and smiled at the lanai.
There was a Jacuzzi, small bar-be-cue, and several chairs and tables. It was cozy and convenient
to the supposed guest rooms. It would be nice to fix lunch there. He sighed happily.

When he booted up Heero's computer, he had to snarl a bit. It was password protected. This in a
house that the man lived in by himself. Duo could see protecting the laptop that he carried with
him on his jobs. But his PC? Duo muttered, Well, fuck.' and went to work. He couldn't call
Heero to ask for fear of distracting him at the wrong moment.

He tried all the obvious ones just to clear his mind, none of them worked, of course. He settled
down to try to figure out what the password could be. He fiddled and cussed for over an hour,
finally giving up, he texted Heero, hoping for an answer before he started banging his aching
head on the desk. His reply came almost instantly. It just said Duo=love. Duo blinked at the
phone for a moment, battling tears. He won but not by much.

So, Duo spent most of the morning working on plans for the new office. He found out that the
builders of the house were still in business after over a hundred years. (Although the house
wasn't quite that old) and would be happy to do the renovations. They even offered to draw up
what ever sketches he could work out. He just told the architect he spoke with that he'd send
over his blue prints as soon as he was done with them. This didn't take him long as Heero had a
multi use CAD program in his computer that worked just fine for Duo's purposes. He worked on
the blue prints for nearly two hours feeling worse by the second. When he was done with the
actual blue prints and had emailed them to the architect he decided that he'd better go eat
something.

Duo struggled up the stairs, breath wheezing in his chest. He grumbled softly, "Dammit, I can't
be sick again, I just can't. This is such a bitch, not fair at all. I want to go with Heero. I want to
get my license. Fuck!"

He opened the fridge and looked at all the different foods in it. Nothing seemed to hit the spot but
he knew he needed to eat something. He wished Heero was there with him then passed out.

x.

Heero called Duo twice and, when he didn't get an answer the second time, told his client that he
was going home. The old man grinned at him, "Duo need you?"

Heero punched the send button again. "Don't know. He's not answering his phone. Could be he's
just put it down and can't hear it. But he was looking a bit off this morning.

"I didn't want to say anything because he's a little sensitive about how weak he is right now. He
catches everything going around just now and will until his immune system strengthens." Heero
listened to the phone ring until the machine picked up. Duo's cheerful voice announced that he
was either busy or the phone was off and please leave a message after the gong. Heero hung up.

"I'm going home. Sorry about the bounty. As soon as I can, I'll get him for you." Heero looked
up at Buck. "If you still want me to, that is."

Buck just shrugged. "That boy'll keep until you take care of Duo. He's got one more court
appearance, but he won't make it. The judge'll issue a bench warrant and then you can hunt him
down. It'll wait. Go, take care of your friend."

Heero gave Buck a grateful smile and hurried to his vehicle.

He worried all the way home and was nearly in a wreck, avoiding it only due to his superior
reflexes and strength. When he pulled into the drive way, he jammed the SUV into gear and
stomped the emergency brake. Hurrying into the house he anxiously called Duo. When he didn't
get an answer he started to search the house. He only had to go around the breakfast bar to see
Duo collapsed on the floor between the fridge and the center island. He froze for a second then
hurried to check his lover for broken bones. When he didn't find any he took a moment to call
Duo's doctor.

The doctor told Heero that he was on his way and instructed him to get Duo to bed if he was sure
there were no broken bones. Heero was sure so he picked Duo up and carried him to their
bedroom. They'd started out in separate rooms but that had quickly ended when Duo's
nightmares and Heero's had found one or the other in the wrong' bed.

Heero put Duo down on the bed then turned to get the extra blanket to cover Duo. He wasn't
going to try to turn down the bed. He didn't have enough arms and he wasn't going to wrestle
with it.

He pulled Duo's shoes off and felt his feet, they were cold. Heero sighed, Duo hadn't eaten
properly in so long that sometimes he forgot to eat at all. He thought it was a longer standing
problem than just from this last disaster in his life. Duo had gone hungry so many times in his
short life and he was so use to it that he sometimes didn't notice. With his health so
unpredictable this wasn't good.

The ring of the door bell alerted him to the doctor's presence on the front porch. He opened the
door and let the man in.

"Well, what is it this time? A faint? Or something worse?"

Heero shook his head. The doctor only lived a block or so away, so he'd gotten there before
Heero had a chance to really assess Duo's condition.

"Not sure, you got here really fast. Come on up."

"I was in my car on the way home and practically in front when the service called. I'll just give
him a quick once over."

"Good, you got here quickly enough that I haven't had time to assess his condition. He's
unconscious, his feet are cold, but he feels hot to the touch elsewhere. He may have forgotten to
eat. I'm not sure."

Heero followed Dr. James into the room and watched as he examined Duo, who was responsive
x1. In other words, he was grumpy, disoriented and uncooperative, but not combative. He reacted
rather badly to the finger stick, swearing and trying to jerk away. Heero's grip on his wrist
forestalled this so the doctor got his sugar level, which turned out to be good. Getting his
temperature wasn't that hard, all Dr. James had to do was stick a small one shot patch to his
forehead for a few seconds. Duo blinked owlishly at him while they waited for it to register. His
temp was a much too high 104° which explained the faint easily.

"Well, damn. I was just hoping that he'd gotten back his health. I'll call in a prescription and
have it delivered." He turned just in time to catch the expression on Heero's face. "Oh, don't
look like that. He'll be fine in time. I think he really needs to start exercising more. It'll help
bolster his immune system. Just don't expect him to keep up with you."

Heero sighed. "That's just it. He used to and still expects to be able to. He gets so frustrated that
he works out too hard and does more harm than good."

"Take him to the gym with you and oversee every second of his workouts." Dr. James looked at
Duo. "He used to keep up with you? He seems so ... small."

Heero gave the doctor one of his scary grins. "Shinigami Duo Maxwell. He's just as good as I am
and a great deal more human."

The doctor shook his head. "That's Shinigami? Wow. As to human? You're human as they
come. Just a bit repressed. Well, I better get out of here. He's just got the flu, so there's no real
need for concern. Give him the medicine as per instructions on the bottles. Keep track of his
temp, alcohol rubs to take down the fever, make him more comfortable. Food as tolerated and
don't worry. Call me if he gets worse."

"What about the cold feet?"

"No idea. If they don't warm up when his fever breaks, give me a call."

Heero let the doctor see himself out. He went into the bathroom and gathered the things he
wanted, alcohol, several towels, a small plastic basin, and a washcloth. He brought the things
back to the bed and gently rolled an unresisting Duo over. This allowed him to pull that side of
the covers back, then he rolled Duo the other way and repeated the procedure spreading a towel
on the bottom sheet to keep it dry. Several more rolls back and forth got Duo undressed and
situated on a pad of towels, covered with a sheet.

He spent the next ten minutes running the washcloth dampened in alcohol over Duo's fevered
body. He noted that Duo had gained several pounds and seemed in better shape than when he'd
first found him. The scars on Duo's arms still stood out pink against the golden tan he'd acquired
in the few days he'd been in San Jose. Heero chastised himself, he should have known that Duo
would never self-injure. His job as a welder's assistant had been rough and left its scars.

Heero carefully checked Duo's temp and realized that the fever had broken, at least for a while.
He covered Duo and went downstairs to call the pharmacy. A knock on the door startled him a
bit, but a quick peek through the dead eye showed him the delivery man.

He opened the door, thanked the man and took the bag of medicines. "Thank you. It's on my
bill?"

"Yes, sir. Sorry your friend is sick again. Would you like me to set up a delivery for groceries?
We're starting to offer the service, short term, so that you don't have to go out while you're
sick."

Heero shook his head. "I've already got an arrangement with the grocery store. But thank you for
mentioning it. Hang on a sec." Heero reached behind him to the door side table and fished out a
bill. "Here. Have a nice day." Heero gently but firmly edged the man out the door and shut it
firmly, right in his face.

He hurried back up stairs to check on Duo, who was sleeping soundly, covers kicked down
around his ankles. Heero recovered him and settled in a comfortable chair in the corner by the
foot of their bed. He was well aware that having a reclining chair in a bedroom was a little
unusual, but both of them had trouble sleeping from time to time so it was handy. Duo had
suggested it saying it made it easy to sit up and read, listen to music or use a lap top without
disturbing the sleeper. Heero knew it was for his convenience when Duo was sick, so he didn't
have to stay in bed with a restless, ill, Duo, or sleep elsewhere.

He picked up the first file from the chair side table and started to read. He glanced up from time
to time to check on Duo. Duo's health continued to improve over the rest of the evening. The
alcohol rub had broken his fever but he was going to wake stuffy headed and miserable. Heero
shuddered, it wasn't that Duo was a bad patient, he was achingly grateful for everything Heero
did. It was just that, every time Duo got sick, Heero felt this great ache in his chest, he was still
just a bit unsure of his reactions, was this good? He decided not to worry about it.

Heero finished the pile of files and got up to put them away. "Heero? M thirsty. S there any
water?"

Heero sat on the edge of the bed and touched Duo's cheek. He felt a bit warm still but his skin
was dry. "Sure. Ice? Or would you rather have some juice?"

"Water, juice probably won't stay down." Duo caught Heero's hand. "Man, I'm sorry. I know
I'm turnin' inta a real pain."

"Not either. You're my friend and ... lover. I want you to get better and you won't if you keep
worrying about being a pest. Now, I'm going to get you some water and some pills. You'll take
the pills ... without that face, if you please."

Duo smoothed out the grimace he was making. "Or even if I don't, right?"

"Exactly. I know they're a nuisance. Especially if your stomach is upset. But you need the
medication. You know how you get if you can't breath. Now I'm going."

Duo sighed. He really panicked if he couldn't breath, a result of nearly suffocating. His stuffy
nose didn't bother him, except for the normal reaction to having it, when he was awake, but
when he fell asleep, he'd wake up in a panic. So he had to take an antihistamine which made him
sleepy, only he didn't like sleeping during the day because he'd be awake all night. Heero had
tried to get him to take a sleeping pill but he hated the muzzy feeling he got the next day. He
knew he was a terrible patient but he couldn't help it. He pulled the covers up to his chin and
sighed again.

Heero came back with the meds just as Duo pulled up the covers. He set the glass of water on the
bedside table and put the pills in their little glass cup beside it.

"What's wrong? Do you hurt? Do you need something else?"

Duo groaned. "Yeah, I need to be well. This catching every damn thing is gettin' on my nerves
big time." He flopped his head back on the pillow. "When am I gonna be better?"

"Soon. Don't worry so. It's not good for you. Here." Heero helped Duo sit up and handed him
the glass of water. "Take this, and this. The blue one is the cold pill and the white one is a
sleeping pill. Don't say a word! You'll take it. You need to sleep and you're not. The doctor said
you need a lot of sleep to get better. Now, here. And this is cough medicine. It's cherry."

Duo decided to just take the damn pills rather than argue with Heero. It was sort of like trying to
argue with a Pit Bull over a rag. Not much fun and completely futile. So Duo took the pills and
drank the cloying cherry flavored syrup. Heero gave him the water and sat back down in the
chair.

"I feel like crap. Damn, I wish ... I just ... fuck!"

Heero sighed. "Not now. And I know. I really do. I'm sorry you're sick again. But the doc says
you'll get better, you just have to be patient."

Duo made a sour face. "Yeah, patient. That is not my middle name, in case you've forgotten. I
know I'll be better, some day. But I want some day to be now!" Duo smashed both fists into the
bed beside his hips and then rolled over. Heero just gave him a sympathetic look and settled back
to try to sleep some himself.

x

Heero woke to the coughing, that phlegmy hacking that made his skin crawl. Duo sounded like
he was trying to cough up a lung and succeeding. And all the doctor did was say it would take
time. He decided it was time to take things into his own hands, so he called Wufei.

He spoke for perhaps half an hour and had Wufei send him several compounds via email. He'd
take them to China Town and find the herbalist that Wufei recommended to have the
prescriptions made up. He shook Duo awake, explained what he was going to do and left. Duo
flopped back on the bed with a groan. Wufei's compounds, while very effective, were foul at
best.

Heero's parting shot of, "Yeah? They taste like shit, I'll admit. But they do work." made him
laugh then start coughing again.

Heero slid into the SUV and drove off, muttering to himself.

It took him an hour to get to China Town and twenty minutes more to find the address, or rather a
parking place near it. The herbalists shop was actually down a very narrow alley way.

He opened the door to the merry jingle of a small shop bell hung on a spring over the door. The
voice of an elderly man called, "Come in, come in. Are you Mr. Yuy? Chang Wufei described
you to me."

Heero approached the counter that stretched from one side of the tiny shop to the other and
nodded. "I'm Yuy. Wufei sent me some compounds for you to make up. How soon can you have
it done? I need to get back to Duo as soon as possible. He'll be up and wandering around, making
himself worse, if I don't practically sit on him."

The old man laughed softly. "My name is Chang also. I'm some sort of cousin to Chang Wufei.
He called me and asked me to have the compounds ready. The ingredients are for your files. You
hung up on him before he could say." Mr. Chang put several small packets on the counter.
"Now" he sorted quickly. "This is for cough. This one for lung congestion. This one for fever.
This one will strengthen his immune system and this one his body. You know how to brew
them?" Heero just nodded. "You have a brewer?"

"No, I'll need two. That much tea to be made will take too long otherwise. Is there any way to
improve the taste of any of them?"

"No, sorry to say, there's not. Although three of them have either star anise seed or licorice root
in them. Add some honey if you like, it's also good for the immune system."

Heero paid the man and carried his packages back to the SUV. He glanced around and started. A
bounty was standing right on the corner. He casually opened the back of the SUV put his things
in and got out his kit. It only took him seconds to put on his vest and hang his badge around his
neck. He opened his phone and punched number one on his speed dial. Duo answered the phone
with a rather bemused Huh?'

"I've just spotted a bounty, he's a good one so I'm going to pick him up. Stay in bed until I get
home. Promise. Or I'll let him slide."

Duo sighed loudly. "Ok, mom. I promise. I'll stay in bed, unless I gotta go. Satisfied?"

"Yes." Heero snapped his phone closed and stuck it in its pouch on his shoulder.

He turned around and pinned his target again. The man hadn't moved very far, only to the other
side of the street. He was looking in a shop window.

Heero just walked up behind him, put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Justin Thompkins,
you're under arrest for bail jumping, missing a court date, and parole violation. Come with me."

The man just turned around and shrugged. "Ok. I give. Glad to have it over actually."

Heero shook the man down and didn't find so much as a nail file. He cuffed him and led him to
the SUV.

"I'm going to put you in the front seat. You try anything and I won't be happy. You understand?"

Justin just nodded. "Yeah, man, I got it. I won't be any trouble. I'm tired. You got no idea what
it's like, runnin' all the time."

Heero didn't turn his head to talk to the man. He didn't need to see him to talk to him and he
knew to the last digit how many accidents were caused by turning away from the road. "I do. I've
spent quite some time running myself."

"Yeah? You're way too young. And what the hell is your name, hun?"

"Yuy, Heero Yuy. Gundam 01."

Justin's eyes got big. "Well, fuck me sideways."

Heero couldn't help chuckling. "No thanks." He turned into the parking lot of the police station.
"We're here. It shouldn't take too long. But if you've got a really good excuse for missing your
court date, cough it up quick."

Justin banged his head against the head rest. "Girlfriend. She couldn't understand that I had to
go. She tossed the letters so I didn't know until someone peached on me and the cops showed up.
So now I'm fucked."

Heero bit at his lip for a moment. "Will she testify to that, or will she say she never touched the
letters."

"Stupid bitch will probably brag about it. But what judge will believe that story."

"Happens more often than you'd think. Well, come on. Let's get this over with. I got to get back
to my partner. He's sick and I was getting him medicine. Move out."

Heero took Justin into the station through the booking door and handcuffed him to a bench. He
spoke to the desk Sergeant and then went back to the SUV to get his paper work. He took a
moment to call Duo and tell him that Justin hadn't put up any resistance. "I'll be home in about
an hour. I'm sorry it's taking so long but the bounty is good and it was just too juicy to pass up."

" s ok, Heero. I'm going back to sleep in a minute. I'll have to get up before you get back to take
my pills. They're in the kitchen, right?"

"Yes, they're right on the counter by the sink. One blue one, two pink one's and a capsule. And
two table spoons of the liquid."

"Ok. I remember. Thanks. Love you."

"Love you too. I'll be back soon."

Heero hung up and then realized that Duo had just told him I love you' over the phone. He
couldn't help his grin.

.x

It didn't take Heero long to book Justin in and collect his bounty. Not that dramatic a thing really.
The desk Sergeant asked Justin Thompkins his full name, took a cheek swab for DNA and a
retinal scan. He pointed to a holding cell. "Stick him in there."

Heero took Thompkins to the cell, shut the door on him and waited while he stuck his hands
through the slot so Heero could collect his cuffs.

After he reminded Thompkins to tell the judge about his girlfriend, he returned to the Booking
Desk.

"Got it. He's a good catch. Gimmie your bank card and I'll get you paid."

Heero gave his bank card to the Desk Sergeant. The DS swiped it through a machine, punched in
some numbers and handed Heero a cash register type receipt with the deposit amount and other
pertinent information on it. He smiled, announced that that was it and Heero left.

He drove carefully. He wanted to speed, run red lights and in general bend every law there was.
Instead he was careful, getting arrested wasn't going to do either him or Duo any good.

He parked and headed into the house with his arms full of packages, he didn't quite make it. Duo
met him in the middle of the garage and took the string tied parcel dangling from his middle
finger.

"Here, let me have that."

"Ok, but be careful. It's fragile. Put it on the kitchen table and I'll unwrap it in a second."

Duo was happily poking the packets. Heero laughed softly. Duo loved opening things. Heero
could remember during the war that he had begged them all into letting him open stuff for them.
"Unless you can contain yourself enough not to break it."

Duo picked up a butter knife and took it to the table. He carefully untied the string then slit the
paper tape the box was sealed with. He gently lifted out the steeper, gave it a puzzled look and
set it aside. When he saw that the other object in the box was a similar china steeper he turned to
Heero. "Ok, I give. What is it? Or are they?"

"Both are correct. And they are steepers. For making medicinal teas. The herbologist made
several teas for you and they all have to be steeped in one of those. I got two so that I won't have
to mess around too much to get your medicine made."

Duo sniffed at one of the packets "Yeah, and I'm drinking all that stuff? Ya think? This one
stinks. Smells like dirty socks."

Heero smirked at Duo. "And it tastes even worse. But you're going to drink it three times a day
for two weeks. And no arguments. Wufei suggested it."

Duo made a face. "Oh, damn. I'm doomed." The expression on Duo's face made Heero snicker.
"And stop that. When you get sick, I'm gonna make you drink it."

"I don't get sick. You know that. Now, here. Let me get the first two batches brewing."

Duo settled at the table and watched as Heero picked the first brewer up, unwrapped it and cut
the shipping tape off. The thing separated into three parts. One was a straight sided, solid bottom
cylinder, then there was an identical cylinder except that the bottom was pierced by holes, then
there was a simple knobbed top. The other was identical except it had bamboo painted on it
instead of cranes. Heero put a wire mesh in the bottom of the pierced cylinders added herbs and
then poured hot water into it. The water would slowly drip from the top into the bottom, brewing
exactly the proper strength of tea.

Duo sniffed at the tea and groaned. "Dammit, why does it all have to smell like ... boiled grass
and taste like rotten hay?"

"And you know how rotten hay tastes because?"

"Slept in hay a few times. You know how it is."

Heero nodded. He did indeed know how it was. During the war they'd slept where and when they
could. Which was often in barns and sheds. Heero wondered if that hadn't caused part of Duo's
present health problems. He knew that Duo's early life hadn't helped matters any. He was
determined to bring Duo to full health as quickly as possible. He needed a healthy partner, in life
as well as bounty hunting.

"Duo?"

"Mmm?" Duo managed the querying sound around a mouth full of tea.

"I know I should have asked earlier but, are you sure you want to work with me? You could do
something else. If you want." Heero ducked his head, hiding behind his messy bangs.

"Heero, look at me." Duo's quiet voice carried a weight of command that made Heero look
despite his intentions. "I want to work with you. Not only because it's something I'm well trained
for, but also because you're my best friend. I'm not qualified for anything much. I can't pilot
because I'm just too young, I don't understand some of the legal stuff I should, I get taken
advantage of because I'm ignorant. I'm going to change that but I have to have money to go to
school with. And I think we'd make a killer combination. And, I notice, you don't use guns just
because. I like that. So ... done rambling now. Got me?"

Heero couldn't help the enormous grin that split his face. "I got it. Thanks. I was worried that I
was pushing you into something you didn't really want. But I know you're right, we do make a
killer combo. And with our training it's easy to do the job without guns. You'll have to go to
school, you have to have a certificate and you can't get one without going through classes. But
they're easy. I've still got all my books and you can take classes from a guy I know ..." Heero
looked at Duo's face. "No, I can't give you the classes, I'm not qualified to teach. But I'll help
with the homework. I know it all, already." Duo snorted and Heero gave him a stern look out of
sparkling blue eyes. "Well, I do. Eidetic memory remember?"

Duo snickered. "Me too incase you've forgotten." They both burst into laughter. The laughing
made Duo have a coughing fit so Heero presented him with a cup of the tea for his cough. Duo
took the cup and sipped at it.

"Well, this one isn't too horribly awful. Tastes like horehound, you put honey in it?"

Heero nodded. "You sat right there and watched me. Or did you drift off?"

Duo put his head down on the table. "Kinda drifted off for a bit. I felt pretty good when you got
home but now I feel like shit again. I'm goin' back to bed. I'm startin' to shiver."

Heero poured boiling water into the brewing chamber of the brewer he'd just finished setting up
and put the cover on. "Head for bed. I'll be there in a moment. I've got some stuff the herbalist
stuck in the bag. I read the label. Should be good for chest congestion."

Duo just groaned softly. No matter that the stuff probably stank like a three day dead cat, he'd
wind up with it smeared all over his chest.

"Stop that. It smells like eucalypts and menthol." Heero gave the tin an experimental sniff, the
stuff was so strong it made his eyes water. "Wow! It's really good stuff."

Duo crawled onto the bed and unbuttoned his pyjama top. He had decided to just give up
protesting, it didn't do any good and wore him out.

Heero tossed the tin to Duo and went into the bathroom, returning a moment later with a hand
towel. He settled on the bed and took the tin from a supine Duo and scooped out a glob of the
cream. He held it for a second or two then smeared it on the middle of Duo's chest. Duo
grimaced at the greasy feel of it and then nearly choked. The stuff was potent and the fumes sent
a spasm through his congested lungs.

"Ack! Damn. That stuff really stinks and I have to cough really ...." Duo rolled onto his side
before Heero could do anything. He started coughing hard.

When Duo finally finished coughing, Heero helped him roll rather limply back onto his back. He
finished smearing the Tiger Balm Cough Salve, which had miraculously not gotten all over the
bed spread, over Duo and covered it with the hand towel. He buttoned up the pyjama top to hold
the whole mess in place and tucked Duo in, covering him carefully.

"Better? You're not panting anymore."

"Dude, that stuff is just foul. But it seems to be working. I think."

Duo sighed and shifted against the pillow. He looked worn out from the coughing fit and pale.
Heero worried at his lip and mentally catalogued the list of symptoms again, trying to figure out
if he'd forgotten anything.

"Heero, what are you worrying at? Tell."

"Just wondering if I've missed any symptom. Anything I should have told Wufei and didn't. I
want you well. I need a partner and I want that partner to be you. So ... will you please hurry up
and get well?" Heero smiled at Duo and Duo couldn't help but respond to it. Heero did have the
sweetest smile, when he wasn't glaring.

"Man, I'm tryin' I swear. But the doctor did say six weeks at the outside, the last time he was
here. Which was ... yesterday? So, gimmie another month before ya start diggin' a grave, ok?"

Heero started to protest that that wasn't what he'd meant, then realized that, not only was Duo
joking, he was fast asleep. Heero pulled the covers up to Duo's chin and settled back into his
chair to work on plans for the master pick up he'd asked Duo to do. Duo was in no shape to fool
with stuff like this just now.

Duo opened one eye, announced muzzily, "You better not be doin' my work. Gonna do that ..."
and drifted off again. Heero decided not to do anymore, all he'd done was a rough outline of
what needed doing. Duo was going to go Shinigami on his butt' if he took the job over. He
decided not to push his luck with his ill lover. Duo needed to feel useful and Heero thought he'd
feel worse and make himself more ill being left out than doing the planning. Duo could do all the
plans from his sick bed after all. It was all on computer and didn't require a bunch of running
around. Whatever running around that needed doing, Heero would do.

x.

Duo slept most of the day and all night, only waking when Heero nudged him awake enough to
drink one of the teas. Heero had called Wufei to ask if he could combine them and been told not
to. Wufei had said that Heero should give Duo each tea separately, allowing thirty minutes
between the teas. That meant that Duo had to wake up drink tea, doze off then wake for more tea
four times starting at midnight. He grumbled sourly at this then apologized when he realized that
Heero was getting even less sleep than he was. Heero had to get up an hour earlier to make the
tea, as it was no good after only a half hour or so.

Heero didn't mind, he could do on very little sleep when he had to. He liked his eight hours as
much as anyone else did, but he could manage for a week or more on two hours a night. As he
was getting three hours twice a night and could cat nap during the day, he was fine. Duo accepted
this explanation as he'd seen Heero stay up for 48 hours straight and still be coherent.

Duo on the other hand was not doing that well. He needed six hours straight or he was grumpy
and two three-hour naps divided by two hours of twenty minute dozes and he was really cranky.

Case in point; Duo woke at midnight and accepted the first cup of tea, drained it obediently then
threw the empty cup at the wall. Heero didn't have to duck as Duo didn't throw it at him, just the
wall.

"Sorry."

"Don't be. I know what it tastes like. Wufei dosed me with it right after I came back."

"Why?"

"Don't know. He said to take it and I did."

"Idiot."

"Yeah, I know. But he had such a hopeful look on his face when he offered it to me I didn't have
the heart to turn it down."

"Oh. Going back to sleep now."

"Ok. I'll wake you up for the next cup in thirty minutes."

"Fuck." Duo pulled the covers over his head and whined. "I hate this. I hate being sick. I hate
being weak. Damn it!"

Heero refrained from comment as anything he could think of to say would probably make the
situation worse.

When he woke Duo for the next dose of tea Duo snarled at him, then snapped, "Give me the
fucking tea and go away." He swallowed the tea with ill grace and then flopped down on the bed
again. He smacked the pillow over his face and went back to sleep again. Heero just took the cup
to the kitchen and stuck it in the dish washer. He found it amusing that the usually vocal Duo
turned mute when he was sick.

x.

Duo was sick for three days. Three days of hell for Duo and three days of loving labor for Heero.

Duo tried hard not to be snarky and managed to be only' grumpy. Heero just put up with it,
smiling from time to time as Duo apologized then snapped again.

"Here, last cup."

"In forever or just until next time."

"Forever."

"Thank god. My kidneys will never be the same."

Heero just took the cup away and cleaned the brewers for the last time, this time. He was well
aware that Duo would probably get sick again. Duo was too but they both ignored that.

Heero cleaned the kitchen and decided to call out for Chinese. Duo loved Chinese and teased
Wufei continuously about his cooking. Wufei could boil rice and that was about all. Or was all
during the war. Nothing pointed out that Chang Wufei was a member of a very rich, influential
family more than his inability to cook and Wufie had resented their teasing very much. Heero
shook his head at the memories.

"You're shaking your head. What's wrong now?"

Heero turned to see Duo standing in the archway from the stairs in his bathrobe and slippers.

"Nothing. Just memories." Heero handed Duo a cup of coffee. "Here, no more tea for a while. Do
you remember Wufei's first attempt to cook?"

Duo snorted in his coffee. "Oh, man. Scorched rice and smoked ... ossified, more like, fish. But
we ate it. Damn, I was hungry. But, you know? I nearly turned it down. But he had that ...
hopeful look on his face so I choked it down. But we teased him half to death later."

"I think that was one of the reasons he turned down half a dozen missions with one or the other
of us. We really hurt his feelings." Heero settled with his own cup of coffee. "He's a really, really
good cook now. You should taste his Happy Family. And he makes a Lobster In a Pot that'll
knock you over."

Duo grinned. "Well, that's good. But, now I really feel bad. I didn't mean to hurt him, you
know."

Heero sighed. "Neither did I. He's over it now. Only tried to poison me once."

"And how did he do that?"

"I don't like Fugu. He put some on a plate of assorted fish. Bleh!" Heero made a disgusted face.

"Isn't Fugu poison? Or parts of it?" Duo gave Heero a doubtful look. He wasn't sure that he liked
the idea of eating a poisonous fish.

"Yes and no. Parts of it are deadly poison. If you prepare it right, it's fine. Wrong and you're
dead. Wufei is an expert at it but I still get the heebie-jeebies about it. I just don't ... can't get to
like the idea."

Duo nodded his understanding, coughed and made a face. "Got it. I'm not sure I could manage to
put one bite in my mouth. Wufei or no." He hacked again, rose to spit in the trash and cleared his
throat experimentally. "Agh! I wish I had some of those old fashioned cough drops Quatre used
to give me. They really worked." He slapped the empty coffee cup into the sink, frowning sourly.
"Damn I'm tired of being sick."

"Duo, have patience. You'll be well soon. Really. Do you want something to eat? You really
should try." Heero glanced at Duo anxiously.

"Heero, stop that. I'm not going to ... well, I ... shit. I've been a real prick lately, haven't I?"

"Sort of. But I don't mind. I know you're sick. But if you'd eat ... something, maybe you'll feel
better?"

Duo settled back in his chair. "Yeah, maybe." He got a considering look on his face. Heero
cringed a bit internally. What if Duo wanted something he didn't know how to cook or couldn't
order.

"I thought about ordering in Chinese. That's what made me think of Wufei and shake my head.
You like?"

Duo nodded. "Hot and Sour Soup. With Cloud Ears and Tofu. And rice, pot stickers; chicken,
not pork, and those garlic green beans that I can never remember the name of."

Heero just placed the call, ordering Shrimp and Snow Peas for himself and double pot stickers
and triple soup.

The food arrived in just a few minutes. Heero set it out on the table and they settled to eat. Heero
was glad to see that Duo's apatite seemed to have returned with a vengeance. He smiled around
his hashi.

"You want that last egg roll?" Duo already had it in his fingers but he offered it to Heero, holding
it out between them.

"Half of it." Heero leaned over and neatly bit off exactly half the roll.

Duo blinked then smiled. He stuffed his half into his mouth and grinned around it.

" Ro, you're something." Duo plunked his elbows on the table, propped his chin on his upraised
hands and examined Heero for a moment. "Look, I still feel punk but I'm well enough to be on
the computer for a while. You left a list of what you want on there, didn't you?"

Heero nodded knowing what was coming next. "Tomorrow you can be up for long enough to
start the arrangements. I'll get you the file of addresses for the ..." he cleared his throat with a
grin, "...winners. All we really need is somewhere that looks like a small banquet room,
someplace we can secure. Stagger the appointment times so we don't have a huge influx of
people all at once. Some decorations to keep them off guard. Anything else?"

Duo thought. "Yeah. A host. Someone to actually get them inside the capture area. Like me. Hale
fellow, well met. That sort of shit. Separate them from anyone who's come with. Keep the actual
warm bodies to a minimum. They have to fill out paper work, everyone else celebrate over there.
That'll keep the fighting down."

Heero grinned at Duo. Even sick he was sharp. "Good idea. I like it."

"How many people can you get for the crew?" Duo closed his eyes, his way of shutting out
distractions, like Heero's chest.

"Since the list is a combined one from four agencies, everyone from all of them." he thought for
a moment. "About twenty people all told. Some are clerk types. Not certified, but they could be
waiters and check in girls and that sort of thing."

Duo nodded. "Yeah. I like it. We don't even need a caterer. All we need are some home made
goodies, like ... cookies and punch. Maybe some little nibbles of some sort. Bet we can get stuff
like that at that outlet store. Frozen thingies, like cheese puffs and spanikopita. What about it?"

"Sure, sounds good to me. I can get Doug or someone to pick up a bunch. Just make sure the
place has a kitchen of some sort."

"Right." Duo rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm tired all ready. Think I'll go back to bed. No tea?
Please say no."

"No, no tea. But I think you ought to let me rub that Tiger Balm on you again."

Duo shrugged making his robe fall off one shoulder. He wasn't wearing a pyjama top. "Ok. I'll
admit that it really does make me breathe better."

Duo retreated to their bed and, after being greased like a pig' slept the night through much to
Heero's delight. Heero slept very well too.

x.

The next three days were spent lazing around the house and planning the sting. Duo went over
every thing with the other agencies people and found that all of the people knew him as Heero's
new partner. This made him happy and a happy Duo was something like a grinning tornado.
Heero worried that he'd wear himself out before the big event.

"Heero, we're going to do the sting tomorrow. I've got all the emails sent out and got replies
from 80% of the invitees. That's good, don't you think? I think about a quarter of those will crap
out at the last minute, but we're going to have a great catch."

Heero smiled gently at Duo's excitement, he was feeling well enough to work up some interest in
something. Heero had hated to see someone usually so energetic so tired all the time.

"I think you're right. And it's mostly thanks to you. That email was priceless. And the hall looks
good. We ought to get there at least three hours early. I want to look the place over, get
everything just right so we don't have a problem later."

Duo nodded absently. "Yeah, I'd really like to go there today, scope the place out. Oh, and
remind me to check for where the emergency exits are. Wouldn't do to have someone make it out
one. Have to put a warm body on them. I know there's got to be at least one someplace we don't
want it. Shit. Now where the hell did I put that print out of the floor plan. I know I printed one
out when I started considering the place. And speaking of which. I sent in a renovation plan for
the office space to the architects. I got sick right after. Wonder if they sent back anything? I'll
have to remember to check my email box and the answering machine. Just as soon as I'm done
finding those exits."

Heero had forgotten all about Duo wanting to redo the office' floor. He wondered what Duo had
in mind for that. He was satisfied with his office, but he knew Duo wanted something better.
Something big enough for both of them with room for file cabinets and such. Heero couldn't
have cared less. He just wanted Duo to be happy. He still got the odd sensation that duo might
disappear over night or walk out or something.

Heero stretched, treating Duo to an expanse of abs that he frankly stared at. "I'll go check your
personal email for you, if you like. Which one is it? If there's no reply there, I'll check the
answering machine. Ok?"

Duo mumbled some sort of assent, swallowing in an audible gulp. Heero smirked slightly and
went to check for an answer from the architect. There was one in the email box, saying that
they'd like to meet with Duo to set up a time to do the work. They also said that no changes to
the provided blue prints were necessary. Heero typed up a reply, saying that anytime after the
date of the sting was acceptable. He also changed the reply address to the box Duo was using for
the sting with a cc to his box. That would make sure that both of them got the messages.

x.

Duo grumbled his way through lunch and then announced that he was going to have to go to the
venue himself to set things up. The contact wasn't very cooperative and was not answering his
questions. It was too late to change the arrangements because Duo had already sent out the
invitations. Changing anything now would scare off at least half of the skips.

"Heero, I have to go see that shit head myself. All he or she is doing is running me around in
circles. I can't do this, we have to do that. The room is not available, but this one is. Only I don't
want one on the second floor. Too much to go wrong. I want the one right off the lobby. I don't
know what that jackasses malfunction is but I'm gonna find out. You coming?"

Heero shrugged into his jacket, it was a bit warm for one but he needed it to cover his firearm.
Just because he didn't use it, didn't mean he felt comfortable without it. "Wouldn't miss it for
the world. How do you feel?"

Duo stood in the door for a moment. "Good. Could be better, my nose is still runny but other
than that? Not bad. Come on."

It didn't take them long to get to the hotel, the traffic was light this time of day. Heero parked the
SUV and locked it.

He watched as duo entered the hotel lobby, asked for the Event Coordinator and glared as he was
told the woman was busy and couldn't see him just now. Would he like to wait? Hell, no. Duo
demanded to see the hotel manager and got the same reply.

"Ok, what are they both doing that's keeping them so busy? There's no event going on right now.
So, what? They're holed up in a supply closet, or what?"

The receptionist turned red and stuttered. "No, I don't think. They're just both really busy.
There's some sort of thing being planned for day after tomorrow and they ... well, shall I see if
they'll see you. Or ... you could go sit in the bar for a while, drinks on us. I'll ... just call up, shall
I?"

Heero couldn't help the snicker that rumbled in his chest. Duo had turned on the glare that froze
even Une. The receptionist stammered a bit more then, just pointed to the bar.

"We'll wait exactly ten minutes, then we're out of here and I'll find a different venue. No matter
that it's damned inconvenient. And you can be sure that I'll inform my friends that you people
can't get it together."

Heero followed Duo into the bar giving the poor receptionist a glare of his own.

The bar was dark and deserted except for a bored bartender and one tired looking waitress. Duo
glanced around frowning. "Well, not so good. But the flyers were so nice. I should have checked
first. Oh, well, we'll make it work."

Heero led the way to a table for six in the far back behind some potted plants. Duo nodded at the
waitress who wandered over to take their order.

"Kitchen isn't open yet. You want a drink?"

Duo turned on the charm. "Not really. Don't drink this early in the day. You know where the
Event Coordinator and the Manager are?"

"Yeah, upstairs panicking. Heard that two of the Gundam pilots are planning an event right here
in our little part of the world. They don't know what's going on so they're trying to find out. All
they can get is, some sort of lottery or something. Winners are invited to pick up their winnings
here. I don't get that at all. Something's up. They think it's some sort of scam. But if it's for real,
we're going to be one of the most popular places in town. Wish I could meet one of them."

Heero looked Duo right in the eye, Duo started snickering and Heero followed. They were soon
in whoops with the waitress chuckling just because Duo's laugh was so infectious.

Duo finally got control of himself enough to wipe his eyes on a napkin from the holder on the
table.

"Ok, it's this way. Would you know any of the pilots if you saw him?" Duo got a look at her
name badge. "Connie."

"No, honey, I wouldn't know one of them if he kissed me. Might be nice though. Why?"

Duo sighed, glanced at Heero then shrugged. "Duo Maxwell here. O2 was my designation.
That's Heero Yuy, 01. Pleased ta meetcha." Duo held out his hand.

Connie just blinked for a second then called over her shoulder. "Hey, George, come here."

The bartender came out from behind the bar and headed their way, a slightly irritated expression
on his face. He didn't need trouble this early in the day.

"George, you're crazy about all that Gundam stuff, right?" George just nodded, he wasn't even to
the table yet and Connie was already firing questions at him. He relaxed a bit, he was the resident
expert on all questions Gundam related and was often called on to settle arguments. "You'd
recognize one of them if you saw him, wouldn't you?"

"Yeah, I would. You wouldn't believe how young they were. Operation Meteor they were all
fifteen. Be about ... twenty, at the oldest. Why?"

Connie just pointed to Heero and Duo. George stood for a second then his jaw dropped with a
nearly audible click.

"Oh, fuck me. It's 01 and 02." He said Zero one and Zero two, just like the dispatchers did.
"What are you two doing here? Do you want a drink? It's a bit early but I can mix you anything
you want. If I don't know it, I'll look it up."

Duo just grinned at the man. "I'll have a Cosmo, minus the vodka. Heero?"

Heero shrugged. "Screwdriver leave out the screw."

George just nodded and grinned. "Sure thing. Comin' right up. Connie, call the boss."

Connie blinked, followed George toward the bar, exclaiming. "Jayses, they're for real? You're
kiddin' me."

George's answer was lost in the depths of the bar as he began mixing the drinks. Connie grabbed
the phone.

After her call, it didn't take long for the Event Coordinator and the hotel Manager to show up.

Both were apologetic in the extreme. The manager explained that they hadn't known what to
make of Duo. He sounded so young but acted like he expected them to take his word that he was
who he said he was. And he sounded sick, so they were suspicious of the whole deal. They'd
been trying to put him off long enough to check him out but not endanger the reservation. Now
that they were at the hotel, would they please explain what was going on?

Duo settled back in his chair, smiled at George as he placed drinks in front of all of them and
started talking. He explained about the sting and exactly what they needed from the hotel. The
manager wasn't too pleased when he understood that the hotel was going to be full of criminals
but the event coordinator was thrilled, saying that the publicity would be good for them. She was
all for it, the manager was doubtful and Heero was tired of all the dancing around.

"So, is the answer yes, or no. I don't care. I just need to know soon. If it's no, we have to send
out emails to everyone changing the date and place. If it's yes, we need to start putting our
security in place. I want an answer ... now. So make up your fuckin' mind." His glare said they'd
better get it together.

"Um ... well, I don't know. It's just that ... we're not set up for this sort of thing. Our security
team consists of two guys who walk the halls at night. They do more getting drunks to their room
and letting in locked out business men than anything else."

Duo rolled his eyes and glanced at the event coordinator who just shrugged in a see what I'm
dealing with' sort of way. "Look, pal, you don't get it at all. All you have to do is provide a place.
The rest is up to us. We got the bods, we got the tools, we got the ... everything. That's what I'm
doing here now. I want to check out the exits and access. We need a kitchen of our own. One we
can close off, so if someone takes a runner they can't get out through them. And we'll provide
our own waiters and bartenders. None of your people will be involved at all. Got it?"

The manager still looked doubtful but said he'd leave the final decision up to Dolly, the event
coordinator, as she was the one who'd have to deal with it all. He got up and left still shaking his
head and mumbling to himself. Dolly just sighed.

"Look, I'm really sorry about this. That man couldn't make up his mind if a gun was pressed to
his forehead. I've been trying to convince him to finalize the arrangements for two days. So ...
what do I need to do to make you happy?"

Duo finished his Virgin Cosmo and shrugged. "Not much. I just need to see the rooms and find
the soft points. I'd like to meet with your security. Even though they aren't going to be involved,
it's a nicety that I'm not comfortable skipping. It's their playground. See?"

Dolly did and said that she'd have the two men come to the venue to meet with Duo and Heero.
She called them on her cell as she led the two bounty hunters to the banquet hall. Heero followed
Duo admiring his easy walk. Duo moved like a cat and Heero loved to watch him.

Heero snorted at the rooms they were led to. Duo didn't do more than glance at them

"Not gonna work. Look. Those arches lead to where?"

"Out into a very nice courtyard and from there into the ... oh, the street. That's not so good, is it?"

Duo shook his head. "Look, here's the pamphlet that I picked up. Where's this room?"

Dolly took the folder from Duo. He'd produced it from the small brief case he'd brought with
him. Heero wondered why he hadn't noticed it before then he realized that he'd been much too
busy watching Duo to pay much attention to what he was holding. He sighed, he'd have to get
over that.

"Oh, that one. It's in the back of the annex, we don't use it very much, mostly for teen age parties
and small receptions. Bar and bat mitzvas, baby showers, that sort of thing. But ... it might be just
what you want. It's in the back, only one drive way in, no rooms around. The rooms are across
the parking lot. And it has a small kitchen, ice maker, wet bar in one corner and you can pull a
sort of curtain across half of it. Divides the room in two parts."

Duo grinned. "Sounds perfect. Let's take a gander, shall we?"

So Dolly led them out a side door and across a rather large parking lot to the annex. There was
only one way in, a double driveway which provided four lanes of access. There were pylons on
each side of both drives with chains attached. Duo made note of that and told Heero to make sure
that one lane was blocked off with the chain to provide only two lanes, one in, one out.

The building itself was a 40 by 80 metal building, nicely insulated and surrounded with
landscaping that hid its true nature. One corner was chopped off to provide a sheltered entry way.
Heero nodded his pleasure. "Nice, easy to control all we have to do is keep all the doors locked
except one. We'll put some sort of pot plants in front of the doors that are locked. Make it look
like it's planned to make it more ... intimate? Duo?"

Dolly eyed the doors for a second and Duo did too. "Don't know about that. Heero? Give the
doors a good once over. If someone heavy enough or really determined rams them, they'll pop
open in a heart beat."

Dolly thought while Heero found out for himself that Duo was right. She came up with the
perfect solution.

"Look over there. We have some concrete planters that we moved from one of the gardens. If we
finish out the corner with them, it'll block the doors without it looking quite so ... like a trap.
What do you think?"

Heero eyed the planters then the door. He paced off the confines the planters would provide and
said that it was a good idea, just make sure the planters had actual plant in them. Dolly made a
call immediately, telling someone what needed doing. She hung up and said that the garden staff
was on the job as they spoke. Duo made a note in a small note book and then went to the doors.

They waited while Dolly unlocked the doors and let them in. She found the switch box and
turned on the over head lighting, illuminating the rather common looking room.

The tile floors were industrial grade and putty colored. Duo mumbled, that color has been
around for a thousand years. Think they could have figured out something new by now.' Heero
just snorted. The whole room was industrial convention {pale brown} a color that had been
around as long as conventions.

"Ok, not bad. Show me the kitchen first. No sense in looking at anything else until it passes
muster."

Dolly led, they followed. The kitchen was small but well appointed and certainly up to heating
frozen snacks, making punch and arranging trays of cookies. The exit was behind the ice maker
and easy to block off without compromising the safety of the kitchen crew.

"Good, good. Now the main room. I want to pull the curtain. That ok?"

Dolly just hustled into the room to do it herself. It was easy to handle, hanging from the ceiling
on a track and motorized. She punched a button and the curtain started to move.

"You can stop it any place you like. All you have to do it push the button again. If you need to
change it. You just push the button, it cycles through reverse, forward and stop. So, what do you
think?"

Duo was busy finding the exits and checking for problem spots. Heero just shrugged. "It's up to
my partner, but I don't see any problems that we can't find a way around. I don't like the piles of
extra chairs. They're a weapon in the right hands but you can move them out can't you?"

Dolly nodded. "Yes, I thought we'd set up all the tables and chairs that you want and then take
the rest out to the storage in the main building. We've been using this annex as storage for stuff
we don't need in the main building. But I see your point I wouldn't want someone throwing one
of those chairs at me. Leave a hell of a bruise." Duo came up just then and Dolly turned to him.
"Oh, Mr. Maxwell, what do you think? Mr. Yuy and I were just discussing the need to move out
some of the excess furniture."

Duo glanced around at the piles of stacking chairs and the folding tables leaning against the
walls. "Yeah, lot of this stuff has to go out. No sense in taking chances. I like the exits. They're
accessible but hidden. We can put up some curtains to make the place look a little less industrial,
ease the suspicious minds. If it was me ... well, I would take one look and take off like a bat out
of hell. But most of these people are in trouble because they're greedy. So ... most of the exits
can be hidden behind curtains. Can they be double locked so they don't open or ... city
ordinances? Find out. Heero?"

Heero just gave one jerk of his head. "Got it. Minute." He bent over his cell, texting to his
contact in the City Clerks office, it didn't take long. "Can't double lock them, against city
ordinances. We'll just have to put a body on the ones we can't hide. Next."

Duo glanced around. "I think that's really all. We can set the refreshments up in this side. That'll
put a table between the crowd and two of the exits. A couple of clerk types up front and a couple
of big guys as gofers ought to take care of anyone trying to make a run from this end. A guy or
two in the entry way out side. And the arrest crew behind the curtain. Anything I missed?

Heero noticed that Duo glanced at Dolly as well as giving her time to think. Heero thought too.

"Not that I can think of. If I think of anything between now and then, I'll tell you. Dolly?"

Dolly glanced around one more time. "Nothing. I'll do the same as Mr. Yuy. Call me if you need
anything. I'll have the set up completed a-sap. And I'll make sure all the extras are out of the
room. You want a table set up by the front door for name tags and people greeting. Another long
table at the back ostensibly for refreshments. Make sure it's placed to block the emergency exit in
the back side wall and the back one as well. Pull the curtain three quarters of the way and have
the back ... or would you rather set up the back yourself?"

Duo thought for a moment then glanced at Heero. Heero took that decision on himself. "We'll set
up the back room. There's an emergency exit that I'm a bit concerned about. But I know a hard
body that can handle it. And we don't need much just a table right in the opening that looks
official the rest I'll do."

Duo and Heero shook hands with Dolly, got her phone number and left. Dolly heaved a sigh of
relief. She'd been really worried that the manager was going to lose them the job. It was going to
be the saving of the hotel if she could pull it off. She didn't see any reason they couldn't, all they
had to do was open the doors, set up some stuff and get out of the way.

x.

Duo leaned back in the SUV going over the plans in his head for the second time.

"Duo? We're there."

"Huh? There where?"

Duo looked around, confused. He didn't recognize the area at all.

"My office. You didn't hear a word I said, did you?"

Duo gave Heero a shame faced grimace. "No, I guess I didn't. What's going on?"

"I want to introduce you to some of the people you'll be working with. I called Buck while you
were futzing with Dolly. He called ... well, everyone or I miss my guess."

Duo turned a bit red. "Everyone. How many people are we talking?"

"About thirty. Don't worry. They're all in the business and looking forward to working with
you."

"Um ... ok? Why? I'm not certified yet, so ... should I even be doing this?"

Heero shrugged. "You're secondary personnel for now. You can do everything you've been
doing. And no one in there is going to say that you don't have the right to do what ever needs
doing. Just keep it out of the public eye until you've got paper. See?"

Duo did and said so. Then he asked, rather plaintively, "Are you sure they'll like me. You guys,
you know. Not at first."

Heero cringed, he knew that his initial standoffishness had hurt Duo. He'd never realized how
badly until recently.

"I didn't like anyone. Neither did Trowa nor Wufei. Quatre likes everyone until they give him a
reason not to. I'm sorry I hurt your feelings. But, it took months of intensive therapy to get me to
admit that I needed help. J was very thorough."

Duo grimaced. "Too bad that old fart is dead. I'd kill him myself. Real slow. Dammit."

"Forget him. I am. We've got a lot to live for and I don't intend for him to have much influence
on it. Now. Just be yourself and enjoy. If Margie backs you into a corner, relax. She's harmless.
If a little red headed woman that looks like she's twelve gets anywhere near you, run like hell.
She's matrimony bound and she doesn't care who she catches. Now come on."

Heero dragged Duo ruthlessly from the SUV and hauled him across the sidewalk, through the
front door and up to a desk.

"Hi, Ellie, this is Duo. Guys all here?"

Ellie just pointed to a door behind her desk. "In there. Don't just throw that pretty to those
wolves either. They're all droolin' at the chops to see him. I'll bring coffee."

Heero snorted and pulled Duo through the door. Duo nearly hid behind Heero. The room was
packed to the rafters, as the saying went, and every eye was glued to him. Heero tugged him to
the fore and whispered, Don't worry. They'll all love you. Or I'll shoot them." This last said
loud enough so that the men in front heard him.

There was some laughter and one big man hollered from the back of the room. "Hey, Yuy, don't
piss in the fire. Poor kid looks scared half to death."

Heero just laughed and called back, "Anyone would be, faced with a pack of wild dogs like you."

Then he started at the front row and introduced Duo to every one in the room. Duo struggled a bit
to put names and faces together then realized that no one expected him to remember. If he forgot
he'd just admit it and ask. If they got mad, tough.

All the men smiled at him, shook his hand, welcomed him into the brotherhood. Heero grinned at
them and joked with them. Duo sighed softly, this was nice. He knew he'd make good friends
here. None of them the equal of the other Gundam pilots but good nonetheless.

Heero caught sight of Duo in the crowd. He was talking with several of the men who'd been
Alliance during the war. Sharing stories Heero decided from the animated way he was waving
one hand. But he looked tired and a bit gray. Heero decided that he better get Duo home before
he had a relapse.

He started to break in but one of the men, he recognized him as Awk, called to him. "Yuy, you
better get him home, he's lookin' awful grey around the gills." He turned to Duo. "You sick?
You don't look good."

Duo made a face. "Not really sick anymore, just not really well either. I get tired easy and it's
been a busy day. Too much runnin' around, not enough food. Heero, I'm really hungry. Can we
stop somewhere and get a burger?"

Heero gave Awk a grateful look. "Sure Duo, we can drive through Tops if you like. Thanks Awk.
He's getting better every day but he always was one to push his luck. We all ran on the edge of
exhaustion for months. And he was trying to run a salvage ship all by himself." Heero gave Duo
a fond smile. "Baka."

Duo grinned tiredly and stuck his tongue out. "Feed me. I'm weak with hunger."

Heero put one arm around Duo's waist and hugged him gently. "Ok, ok. Come on. We'll drive
through Tops on the way home, but you have to have a salad on the side."

Duo promptly began to whine. "But Heero, a greasy burger isn't any good without fries. And
that's a vegetable, right?" He looked around pitifully. "Potatoes are vegetables aren't they?"

He got no sympathy from anyone. Not that he really expected any. Buck spoke for all of them. "If
Heero says no, no it is. I'm not tempting that glare of doom, even for your pretty ass. Go home.
You look like you're about to fall over."

Duo mock sulked and announced. "Well, see if I ... eek!" Heero settled the argument, cutting
Duo off by tossing him over one shoulder and heading for the door. They were followed by
whistles and cat calls. Duo grinned impudently and waved as he was carried out the door.

x.

Heero put Duo down at the door to the SUV. He grinned and gave Duo a toe curling kiss.

"See, the guys are alright. They all like you. Now, in the truck. We'll go through Tops and get
you that burger and fries. Salad for later. Ok?"

Duo nodded. "Thanks, man. I've been dreaming of a burger for two days. And salad later sounds
good too. But not one of those iceberg horrors that Tops will have. I want greens, you know what
I mean. And dried cranberries and pecans and cheese and carrots and cucumbers and. .. Man,
now I'm really hungry."

Heero had to laugh, he knew Duo would eat right. He just seemed to go by some internal
cravings rather than a balanced diet. Heero didn't care, he was just glad to see Duo's apatite
returning.

They drove through the drive through of the nearest Tops and Duo ordered a double
cheeseburger, bacon, lettuce, onion, pickle, mustard and a double order of fries. Heero ordered a
single plain. Duo snorted his disgust at this but accepted the bag eagerly.

"Where can we get salad?"

Duo pointed to a small Chinese market. "There. I've been having them deliver greens." Heero
raised an eyebrow in interrogation. "I found em on the net. Nice people."

Heero parked and went in, telling Duo that if the people saw his face they'd just call a medic.
Duo didn't argue a symptom of how tired he really was.

Heero looked around the market, noticing how clean it was.

"Hello? Any one?"

A voice called from the back. "Out in a sec. Got some fresh produce, I'll bring it right out."

"Ok. I'll just look around a bit. But could you hurry some? My partner is in the truck, he isn't
feeling the best and I'd like to get him home."

The man came into the front just then, carrying a box of something. "Sorry. I'll let it wait until
later, unless there's something you need."

Heero glared a bit. The whole place was packed with produce, freezers and shelves. Every square
inch was utilized. It was confusing.

"Duo likes salad and he wants baby greens, spinach, cucumbers ..."

The man interrupted Heero. "Duo Maxwell? He's one of my best customers. He outside? Can I
meet him? It'll just take me a minute to fill his usual order. That ok?"

Heero couldn't help his smile. Duo strikes again. He made friends like a puppy. "Sure thing.
He'll be delighted. He insisted on a burger and fries for supper. And a salad later. I just hope that
damn burger doesn't upset his stomach."

"I'll include some stomach tea. It's in bags so don't brew it too long or it'll be so bitter he won't
be able to choke it down. Now ... greens ... tomatoes, cherry ... and ...." the man trailed off as he
moved around the store, picking out Duo's usual order in a very short time. "Ok. Here you go."
He told Heero the price, Heero paid and they went out to the truck.

"Duo, look who's here. Mr. ... damn. I didn't get your name. Sorry."

The man just laughed. "Lin Wen." Heero had to grin at him. Duo looked puzzled. "Ok, I'll bite
what's so funny."

Wen shrugged, looking a bit embarrassed. "Well, it's ... my name is sort of the Chinese
equivalent of John Smith."

Duo grinned at that but both men could see that he was tired. Heero put the groceries in the back
seat and got in behind the wheel.

"It was nice to meet you, Duo. You go home, eat your burger and rest. Ok? Heero, you take care
of him. Bye." Wen thumped the side of the truck gently and went back into the store waiving
over his shoulder.

Duo eased back in his seat looking even more tired than before.

"Heero, would you mind if I went ahead and ate? I'm really hungry."

Heero shook his head, never taking his eyes off the road. "Not at all. I'll eat when you're done.
You can unwrap it for me. Hand me some fries will you?"

Duo gave Heero a few fries then unwrapped his sandwich. He bit into it and moaned in pleasure.
He'd wanted a burger for several days but didn't feel that his stomach was up to it. This was
heaven. A burger, fries and his best buddy, lover, business partner right beside him.

"More fries? I ordered a double, so there's plenty."

Heero accepted more fries, nibbling on them as he drove. "I really shouldn't. I don't need the
distraction. The traffic is getting bad. Don't give me anymore."

"Ok. I'll hold your burger too."

"Fine. I'll eat it when I get home."

"It'll be cold by then. Why don't you just pull over and switch with me. Or even just park and eat
it."

Heero decided to park and eat the burger now. He didn't care if it was hot or cold but he knew
that Duo would worry. He didn't want Duo worrying, it wasn't good for him.

x.

Finding a place to park wasn't hard. All he had to do was drive into one of the strip malls that
lined the street. He picked a spot and pulled in. He turned off the engine and set the parking
brake. That was all the time it took for Duo to have his burger unwrapped and ready, fries on the
paper at his side.

"Thanks. I'll admit I'm getting a bit hungry." Heero took a bite. "Mmmm, s good. I'm hungrier
than I thought."

Heero finished his sandwich in record time and the fries in three bites. He flipped the key and
started the engine. Duo was asleep before he got back on the road.

Duo slept all the way home. Heero woke him after he parked in the car port. He laughed softly as
Duo staggered in the front door, flopped onto the couch in front of the window, his favorite
place, and fell right back to sleep.

Heero gave him one fond head shaking look and went to put the groceries away.

When he was finished with that he settled to check his email and phone messages. There wasn't
much, most of the people who would have messaged him were involved in the sting. But there
was one message from the firm who were working on the renovations to the lower level. They
wanted to know if they could start work on the same day as the sting. Heero messaged them to
say that it was inconvenient and they should put off the preparations one more day.

Almost immediately he got a message back apologizing and saying that if they couldn't do it that
day they'd have to wait another month. Heero decided to wake Duo and let him make the
decision.

"Duo, wake up. I need your input."

"Hmmm? ... Ro?" Duo stretched and rubbed his eyes.

"The architectural firm messaged. They have to do the work the same day as the sting or we'll
have to wait a month. What do you want to do?"

Duo didn't hesitate or stutter. "We'll wait. I want it done right and doing it all in one day ain't
gonna cut it. And you said you need me on the sting. So ... we wait."

"Ok. I'll send the email. Why don't you take a shower and go on to bed. You look beat."

Duo gave Heero a sleepy, cheeky grin. "Naw. Remember when I nearly got executed? Now that's
beat."

Heero cringed, he hated remembering things like that. Duo gave him a sorrowful look. "Sorry. I
just ... it's easier to handle the memories ... I'll try not to make jokes like that."

Heero shook his head. "No, if it helps you handle things joke away. Just don't be insulted if I
don't always laugh."

"Ok. Got it. And, you're right. I think I will take a shower and hit the sack. Night."

Heero paused in his typing. "I'll be up real soon. Night." he returned to typing up his email.

x.

The actual sting went very well. Duo greeted the sucker at the door, exclaiming how happy he
was that they had won the unnamed' grand prize. Thankfully most of them showed up without
much more than a significant other.

Duo's door technique was perfect, he bounced up to the person, asked their name and consulted
the master list. If the name was on the list he pointed them over to the sign in table.

After they signed in they were directed to the curtain and the table behind it. That was where the
real fun began. The client' was identified and checked against another list. This list contained all
the information needed to make a safe arrest, whether the person was violent, knew martial arts,
carried guns or knives and anything else deemed important.

Then they were led farther into the back of the room and arrested. They were told the charges and
who was taking them in for bail jumping. Pictures were taken and DNA and retinal scans as well.
It wasn't unknown for someone to be arrested under a false name, especially in a situation like
this. A prize attracted all sorts of fraud.

Most of the people didn't fight it. There were just too many very large men around to handle
fights. In fact, a lot of them admitted that it was sort of a relief. Running was hard work. Both
Duo and Heero were sympathetic.

One man was interesting. He was huge, at least six and a half feet tall and built like a fire plug.
He came in hesitantly and greeted Duo with a small frown. He looked like he knew Duo or at
least thought he did. He checked in and was pointed toward the curtain. He asked if he could
have some punch first and Heero came on line'. He eased closer, ready to interfere if things went
bad.

Duo followed the man to the snack table. "Hey, Henry, you ok, man? You look like you just lost
your best friend. You just won a prize, so what put that look on your face?"

Henry just gazed at Duo for a moment. "You're no queer little suck up. I know you. You're Duo
Maxwell not ..." he looked at the fake name badge Duo was wearing. "Edward. So what's going
on?"

Duo tried to tap dance around the question, but Henry was too smart for that he just repeated his
question then drank punch until Duo made up his mind. Duo thought quickly and decided that
the best thing was to just tell the truth.

"Ok, Henry, this is the deal. It's a sting and you walked right into it. You're getting arrested for
bail jumping and violation of parole. I'm really sorry, dude."

Henry just sipped his punch and waited. He didn't resist when Heero took his arm to lead him to
the back. He just smiled a bit sadly at Duo then looked at the snack table.

"That's ok. I just would have liked to have some of that spanikopita I really like it."

Duo just shrugged. "Swear you're not gonna bolt and I'll fix you up some."

"I double pinky swear, I'm not gonna bolt."

Heero just nodded to the man he handed Henry over to. "I'll bring you some in just a sec. Bob,
make sure he's treated right. Got me?"

Bob just nodded and led the big man farther into the depths of the room. Henry didn't give any
trouble, had his snacks and thanked Duo for being so nice.

Another capture was just plain fun. The man was as small as Duo and about ten pounds heavier.
No one thought a thing about him when they saw him. When he checked in at the first station, the
clerk flinched and gave the signal for violent' and martial arts' Duo closed in carefully, Heero
right behind him.

"Hey, friend, you sneaked right past me. How's everything. Punch? Got some nice hot snacks.
What about it?"

The man turned and Duo nearly flinched. He looked so much like Wufei it was frightening and a
bit disturbing.

"I don't care for any, thank you. I'm here to claim my prize. I'd like to take it and go as soon as
possible."

Duo touched the man on the arm, it felt like an iron bar. "Sure thing. Just tell the lady your real
name and we'll take it from there."

"My name is Chang ..." Duo flinched, if he said Wufei there was going to be some real trouble.
"David Chang. Something?"

Mary checked her list again and found the name. She sighed, there was sure to be a fight. This
man just wouldn't submit, he had to be fought into unconsciousness. She just got up and backed
away clearing the area. Fortunately there were no other captures in the room. Duo had done a
good job of spacing them out.

Duo just shrugged. "Yeah, David, you're under arrest, man. Come along quietly and all that shit.
Ok?"

David shook his head. "I can't. You wouldn't understand. It's dishonorable to just ... give up. If
you can take me, I ... won't fight after I'm cuffed. I swear. But I just can't. I ..."

Duo just sucker punched him right in the jaw. Heero jumped him from behind and they dog piled
him. He didn't have a chance to fight and no one was hurt too badly.

They rolled him over and Heero bent his arms behind him. "Don't struggle. I'll have to hurt you
and I don't want to. Easy." David didn't struggle as Heero had hold of his thumb and was using it
to bend his arm. Struggling was painful and he could dislocate either his thumb or his shoulder.
He relaxed and let them get it done.

Duo helped Heero pull David to his feet. "I'm really sorry about that, man. But, see, I do
understand. You're some sort of cousin of a friend of mine or I miss my guess. Chang Wufei?"

David managed a dignified bow despite the fact that his hands were cuffed behind his back. "I
am honored to meet you. Yes, Chang Wufei is a second cousin. My entire family was off colony
when it exploded. Please, could you tell me your real name?"

"Maxwell, that's Yuy. We both do get the can't surrender' thing. Now, you want something to
drink? Or some ice? I'm gonna send you to the back with this ... here, Mary, you take him, ok?"

Mary looked scared, she was just a booking clerk that had volunteered to help out her husband,
who ran one of the bonds companies. "Ok, I guess?"

David turned to her. "I would never hurt a woman. Please don't be afraid." he hung his head for a
moment. "I'm well and truly caught, I'll behave myself."

Mary nodded. "Ok. Swear?" David gave her a piercing look, realized that she didn't mean any
insult and just nodded. "Ok, look, that's going to be quite some bruise. I'll get an ice pack and
hold it on for a bit. Come on." David went without complaint and was booked and removed to
jail without a fight.

The only real fight was with a woman. She came in with an attitude and not a good one.

She acted like she owned the world and didn't like it. Duo bounced up to her and was greeted
with a scowl and a sharp, "What did I win?" Duo fawned and smoozed her, asking if she'd like a
snack or some punch. She didn't want it and turned it down rudely. Duo finally managed to talk
her into signing in, but only by telling her she had to give her name so they'd know what prize
she'd won. This was the only thing that finally, after ten minutes of discussion, got her to sign in.

"Doris Martin. See that you spell it right. And now I want to know what I've won."

Mary was back at the table and in a bad mood. Poor David had been so polite to her and
apologized for putting her to the trouble of taking care of his bruised chin. Now this woman was
nothing but nasty.

"I'm not exactly sure. You've won prize number three. Please go through that door. Your prize
will be awarded behind the curtain."

"Hmph. This is a lot of running around for something I'm sure is not as advertised. I think I'll
just take a pass and leave."

Duo got between Doris and the door, telling her that, since she'd come this far why didn't she see
what she'd won. She slapped him right in the face. He blinked for a second, trying to decide how
rough to get. Mary didn't give him a chance to worry long.

"Ok, that's it! I've had it. The big guys knuckle under, the little guys fight and you're just rude."

Mary jumped on Doris and two other women, bonds people' posing as staff, followed her. And
the fight was on. Doris grabbed Mary by the hair but Mary's tight bun left her with nothing much
to hold onto so her grip slipped. Heero tried to interfere and got a foot in the gut for his trouble.
Duo hauled him off, telling him, "Let em do it. I don't fight girls. Only that heifer is no girl by
any stretch of the imagination." Heero backed off and left the ladies to their business.

The other two women were tough ladies. Both bail bonds women in the tradition of Beth
Chapman, no nonsense, in your face and ready to take care of business. The fight didn't really
take as long as you'd have thought.

Doris was large, but soft and cowardly. She went down hard and stayed there. Three determined
women who were trained were more than a match for one paper hanger. And that was all she was
wanted for, she wrote 20,000 euros worth of bad checks, jumped bail and beat up her boy friend.

She cried when she was handcuffed then fought as Mary and one of the other women hauled her
toward the back. They finally wound up hog tying her and getting two of the men to carry her
back by the tie and her knees. Not real dignified, especially as she was wearing a summer tank
top dress. Duo made a yuck face and turned his back as did most of the other men. The only
one's who actually watched were the bondsman who was responsible for her and Mary's
husband.

Getting Doris's DNA was interesting, she finally spit at someone and they got enough of a
sample from that, but a retinal scan was impossible. They'd have to get one at the jail. ID was
confirmed with DNA and finger prints which was enough. They were all glad to get her out of
the building especially as they managed before the next client came in.

The last one was Duo's favorite, he'd evidently been smart enough to watch for a while. He
stopped at the entry to smell the flowers in the heavy boxes. When he entered he greeted Duo
with grave dignity and followed him to the check in table. He requested cup of coffee and a
cookie. Even Heero felt that this man was no threat to anyone.

"Well, boys, what now? We all know why we're here, don't we? Fact is, I'm old and tired and I
want to stop running."

Heero went to fetch him the coffee he'd requested, Duo went with him to the sign in table. He
gave his name as well as several aliases and waited while Mary checked her list. She checked
carefully and had a happy smile on her face.

"Oh, this is nice. See here, Mr. Newman? You've been cleared of all the charges against you.
Your brother confessed two years ago. Your bondsman has been searching for you ever since.
You're even cleared for the bail jump as the bondsman won't press charges, and the court
decided to give you a pass because it was ... um ... it says egregious miscarriage of justice."
Congratulations!"

Mr. Newman just stared at her for a moment then he staggered slightly. Duo grabbed his arm and
helped him stand until Heero could bring a chair for him to sit in. They got him settled and Heero
handed him the cup of coffee he'd handed off to one of the others. Mr. Newman sipped at the
coffee and sighed. When Duo handed him a small paper plate with a cookie and two hot hors
d'oeuvres' he smiled softly.

"Something?"

"You remind me of my son. I haven't seen him in ... oh, it must be three years. When all this
started he was ... very young, only fifteen. He just couldn't understand that the law had made a
mistake. I'd very much like to see him. Does he know that I've been proven innocent?"

Duo shrugged. "Don't know, man. We got a good phone number on him, I think. Why don't you
take this and call him? See if he can't come and pick you up or something?"

"I'd appreciate that very much. Thank you."

Mr. Newman accepted the phone and called his now nineteen year old son. The son was living
about thirty minutes away and said that he'd be there as soon as traffic allowed. He then asked to
speak to someone in charge. Mr. Newman returned the phone to Duo who put it to his ear.

Duo listened for a moment then said. "You got it. I swear by Shinigami that he'll be here even if
I have to chain him to the flower pot. Just don't get yourself arrested for speeding or something,
ok?"

It took the boy forty-five minutes to get there, minutes during which Mr. Newman had coffee,
cookies and snacks. He was treated with respect by everyone there. Men who'd worn themselves
out arresting all sorts of people were glad to see one good thing happen this dreary day.

Duo did the host thing one last time. They'd locked the door after Mr. Newman, Sr. came in.
There were always a few idiots who heard about the sting from one or another of the clients and
decided to try to claim one of the prizes for themselves. Heero was of the opinion that they ought
to arrest them for attempted fraud. Instead they just locked the doors on them.

When young Mr. Newman, Jr. came to the door there was no doubt who he was, he looked like a
younger version of his father. Duo realized that Mr. Newman, Sr. couldn't be as old as he
seemed, he checked and found that he was only 41. Duo opened the door to the son and just
pointed.

"Daddy! Oh, Daddy, I'm so sorry. I'm such a fool. I wish I'd believed you. I do."

The younger Newman fell on his father with hugs and unashamed kisses on the cheeks. Mr.
Newman Sr. just held his son and wept. Some of the crew had already left, going home to
spouses, families, significant others; but a few were still there. There wasn't a dry eye in the
place.

Heero waited until they got themselves together a bit then he approached offering tissues and
gentle comfort.

"Here. Dry off. Now that you're back together, do you need anything? We'll be happy to get you
home?"

"Excuse me. I'm Alex. I think I'll be alright in a bit. It's just ... I've missed him so much. And
Mom, she couldn't come, she kinda fell apart. She'll kill me if I'm not home with him soon."
Young Alex turned to his father, delight shining in his eyes. "She's waited four years for this.
And we go soon? Please? I want to get you home. We kept all your stuff. Mom's been running
the business by herself, I've been helping lately, since I've gotten big enough. Come on. Can we
go?"

The two men thanked Heero and Duo for all their help, thanked the remaining crew and left.
Heero watched through the window with Duo tucked under his arm. "Well, that was a nice end to
the day. Can we go home, too, now? I'm beat."

Heero allowed as how they could so they left, leaving the last of the clean up to the hotel staff.

x.

They got home and collapsed in the great room. Duo on the couch and Heero in a Papa-san with
his feet on a poof.

"Damn that was hard work. You ok?"

Duo moaned. "No, I'm dead. One more cheery bounce would have been my last. Next time you
be the door greeter and I'll be the muscle."

Heero snorted softly. "When were you ever muscle?"

"Hey!" Duo exclaimed indignantly. "I'm muscular. Um ... when I weigh enough, that is. And
speaking of weight, I'm hungry. Carry in?"

Heero waved a hand to indicate that he didn't care. "I'll call in a sec."

Duo pulled his cell from his pocket, just bending sideways to get to it. "I'll call that Greek place.
They deliver. And, after smelling that cheap frozen spanikopita, I want Gyros. With all the
trimmings and a big salad instead of fries. You?"

Heero didn't even open his eyes. "Sounds great. How long?"

Duo talked to the restaurant. "About twenty minutes. And I ordered drinks. M not movin' from
here until the food comes."

And neither one of them did.

When the doorbell rang, Heero got up to answer it, took the food, paid, and brought it back to the
living room.

"We should get up and eat at the table. What if one of us spills something?"

"It'll clean." Heero handed Duo his food.

Duo opened his Gyros, which was dripping with tatziki. "What if it doesn't?" He took a bite,
moaning with pleasure as the taste danced through his mouth.

"If it doesn't clean, we'll have it reupholstered." Duo started to say something else, but Heero
glared him into silence. "If that doesn't work we'll throw it out."

Duo sputtered around his straw. "But Heero, this furniture is expensive."

Heero eyed Duo. "Lover, I'm rich. I'm no damn Q. But I've got way more money than anyone
thinks I do."

Duo shrugged. "Well, ok."

He didn't ask where most of Heero's money came from and Heero didn't volunteer. They just
finished eating, talking quietly about the various events of the day and went to bed.

x.

A week later Heero had all the arrangements in line for Duo to begin classes to become a
certified bounty hunter. Duo was nervous but ready to start. After all he was a Gundam pilot and
after Operation Meteor how nervous could he get over starting a class. Surprisingly, very.

"God, Heero, I think I'm gonna puke. This is ridiculous, I'm a fuckin' Gundam pilot, why am I
so nervous?"

Heero smirked a bit. "Think maybe you're reading more into this than necessary. Buck likes you.
Alvin does too. Mary thinks you're the cutest thing since puppies. The rest of the guys all are
ready to help any way they can. Granted, it's because of me, but you'll win them over just by
being yourself. Now come on."

Duo followed Heero to the SUV and settled in the passenger seat. One of the things they'd have
to do soon was get him a drivers license. They were waiting until he felt up to spending a full
day standing around in lines. He still tired a bit more easily than they liked but he was going to
start going to the gym with Heero every day starting on Monday. Now he was freaking over his
first class. Law and the Bounty 101, oh, fuck.

He was silent during the drive, worrying at his lower lip. Heero respected the silence and drove
to the campus to let Duo out for his first law class. The class was being held in the nearby
community college, established in 120AC. Its reputation was good and the teacher for that class
was known to Heero.

Duo gathered his books and checked to see that he had a pencil, kissed Heero and headed off for
his first class.

It didn't take him long to find the lecture hall. He settled in near the back wall subconsciously
putting his back to the wall. He looked around finding the exits and then laughed at himself. If he
needed to leave, all he had to do was get up and walk out. And no one was going to be looking
for him except Heero, and he wasn't going to shoot at him.

Duo relaxed and watched the rest of the students enter the hall and find seats. There was a lot of
shuffling around and talking and laughing. He remembered a mission in a prep school and
sighed.

"Hey, that's a heavy sigh for so early in the class." Duo glanced at the man who held out a hand,
remarking, "I'm Lance. Lancelot La Grange. And please, no jokes ok?"

Duo shook his head. "Well, ok. But I assure you my jokes are always original. And ... what the
hell was your mother thinking?"

Lancelot just shook his head. "Who knows. She's a romantic. So what's your name?"

Duo flushed slightly. "Duo Maxwell, sorry. I should have introduced myself. So what are you
majoring in and damn that was too trite for words."

Lance snorted softly. "Well since I'm straight, don't worry. It's a rather natural question
considering where we are. I'm majoring in business and need one criminal law class. This one
seemed fairly easy."

"I'm going to be a bounty hunter. I need this class for my certificate."

Lancelot, call me Lance, blinked once. "Ok, I thought all bounty hunters were ... big guys. Are
you sure that's what you want to do? Not that I'm trying to mind your business or anything."

Duo realized that rather than resenting Lance, Duo felt pleasure that he was concerned.

"There's more to me than a pretty face. I can handle it. Me n Heero. We ... well, lets just say we
have done a lot."

Lance looked at Duo in amusement. "Hero? You call your friend hero? That's ... different."

Duo gave him a blank look then grinned. "Hero with two e's. or two i's. It's Japanese."

"Oh, sorry."

"Don't be." A noise at the front caught his attention. "Oh, here's the teacher."

Lance blinked, no one was at the front. Then a door opened at the far back of the stage and the
professor came in. Lance hissed, "How the hell did you know?"

"Heard him walking down the hall. Hush."

They both sat back to see what the teacher had to say for himself.

After messing with the microphone and clearing his throat, the professor announced, "As this is a
theory class there's no hands on, obviously. Now, I have a TA, that's a teaching assistant to you
freshmen, he'll be handing out your prospectus and outline. There's also a required reading list.
Don't have a heart attack, it's sort of like a Chinese menu. Read one from column a, two from
column b, and four from column c. book reports must be at least twenty pages. No groaning." It
was to late for that comment to have any effect as every one in the room had groaned at the
number of pages required. "Well, anyway. I'll be lecturing for at least forty-five minutes of the
hour the rest will be devoted to question and answer. The requirements for submissions of all
kinds are in the prospectus. Do not, I repeat not, turn in a book report of less than twenty pages,
do not staple it together, put it in a binder. That said, I'll call roll. I hope you like the seat you're
in, it's yours for the duration."

With that he handed a pile of folders to a young man and started calling names. As each person
answered he wrote the name on a layout of the hall. When he called Duo's name, Duo answered
without thinking. "Zed two, present"

"Excuse me, Mr. Maxwell?"

Duo flushed. "Sorry. Maxwell here."

The professor just grunted and went on. But Duo got some odd looks from some of his older
classmates. He just kept his head down and his mouth shut.

When he got his prospectus Duo just sighed. He recognized some of the required reading. Lance
glanced over at him and whispered, "What?"

Duo rubbed his face with both hands. "I've already read some of these books. They're shit.
Really."

The professor over heard somehow and announced. "If you've already read some of the required
reading go ahead and do a report on them. In your prospectus you're given some questions to
answer and asked for your opinion of the book. You're required to support your opinion with
facts. Be prepared. And that'll be all for the day. Thank your lucky stars. This is the last break
you'll get. Dismissed."

Duo stood up and stuffed the folder into his briefcase. "This is so not going to be fun. Book
reports? Rather do a damn mission report, with a broken thumb."

Lance grinned. "You sound like my dad. He was in specials. Um ... OZ?" He flinched slightly.
"If you'd rather I moved, I'll talk to the professor."

Duo shook his head. "No, you're not your father. Is he out, or in?"

Lance settled back in his seat. "Out. On probation. He was ... some sort of test pilot/mechanic on
an ... Aries? I think. He never talked much about it. Said he wanted to leave work at work. We
ok?"

Duo nodded. "As far as I'm concerned, yeah. Your dad might have different ideas. It'll work out
or it won't."

The TA came around to see if there was a problem, when he found out they were just talking, he
suggested that they make friends. "You've got to organize a study group. You need two more
people at least. And believe me you need the group. Now, you better leave. The next class is due
any second and you have about 10 minutes to find your next class."

Duo glanced at his schedule. "It's a practicum. Fire arms safety." Duo laughed, "Like I need
that. But what can you do."

The TA shook his head. "You really need safety. You have no idea how destructive a firearm
cam be."

Duo snorted a bit bitterly. "Buddy, you have no idea. I know more about firearms than anyone
my age should. Well, I'm off."

Lance grinned and said. "In more ways than one."

Duo returned over his shoulder. "Man, you don't know the half of it. See ya."

X.

The weapons practicum was the only other class Duo had that day. He had Defense and Arrest
techniques and Booking procedures the next day. Heero had insisted that he only take four
classes the first semester as he was still not totally recovered. He was also required to provide
proof of attendance at a gym for at least four hours a week. This was going to be easy as they
were going to Heero's gym, where he'd bought Duo a membership, after classes every day.

The only problem with this class was that it was rather awkward, you couldn't have a fire arm in
your possession without a carry permit. You couldn't get a carry permit without passing this
class. And you couldn't pass this class without a firearm. Heero had snorted and told Duo to
leave the arrangements up to him.

Duo glanced around the entry way. It was simple but effective. The doors opened into a confined
area, bound on three sides by an arc shaped check in desk. The fourth side was the door. The
desk held two check in stations split by a heavy, chest high electronic gate. The desk was topped
by a Plexiglass curtain attached to the ceiling. The gap between the top of the desk and the
bottom of the Plexiglass was about eight inches. Plenty of room to do business but not enough to
allow anyone to get in. Duo nodded his approval.

"Hello? Anyone?"

"Hey! Hi! Runnin' a bit late. Sorry. Name?"

Duo gave his name, admitted that he had no idea what to do and waited for the girl to tell him.

"That's ok. Maxwell." she ran one finger down a list on a screen inset into the counter top. "Ok
got it. You're new here. Oooo, sponsored by Mr Yuy. And ... um ... yeah, he dropped your piece
off just this morning. Got a practicum I see. Well, you better look out cause the guy in charge of
this one is ex-military and he's a real pill. But he's one of the best and if you want to pass you
better listen. Now. You press your thumb here, that'll give me an exemplary. Then, every time
you come in, you print here to get in. Then you print at your locker. That keeps unauthorized
people from handling your piece. And we have a good gunsmith. But you should learn to do
minor stuff yourself. That's something the teacher won't tell you. Now. I'll buzz you through and
show you your locker."

Duo opened the gate when the lock buzzed. He couldn't help checking it out. He sighed,
mumbled, cracker box' and followed the girl to his gun safe. Which was also a cracker box.

Duo shook his head in disgust, this was really bad. "Look, I hate to be ... disrespectful, but this is
just not acceptable. This thing ... I could open it before I was twelve. Don't you have anything
better?"

She didn't even blink, just shrugged and said, "We do but they're expensive. I just put your piece
here until you could either approve it or ask for something better. Mr. Yuy didn't like it either.
He ... let me check." she consulted a hand held and nodded to herself. "Yes. He said that you
should pick what you like. He said for me to show you his locker and ... there's three empty ones,
one beside it, one across the aisle and one a couple down. Come on."

Duo hoped that he wasn't going to be late to class but this was important so he followed the girl
deeper into the locker rooms. He chose the locker next to Heero's opened it and smiled, there
was room in it for four long guns and six hand guns. Plus room to hang a jacket and a suit bag. It
looked like one of the lockers in Preventer HQ. Duo stuck his book bag in it and accepted his gun
case from the girl. She'd snorted when she'd said, "I have to take it from here to there, so you can
print the lock. No sense in printing both of them."

He printed the lock and the clerk checked that it had activated properly. She left and Duo donned
his holster and holstered his piece. He didn't load it as he wasn't sure of the rules of the range
yet. It wouldn't do to show up with a loaded piece if it wasn't allowed, but showing up with an
unloaded one when it was allowed was a sign of courtesy in the range. He'd rather err on the side
of caution, rather than piss off the range officer. He felt like he'd learned a few things during the
war.

X.

Duo entered the range, realizing he was more than a bit early. The walk across campus hadn't
taken as long as he'd thought it would. He didn't realize that his idea of a stroll, even in his
weakened state, was everyone else's idea of a jog.

He started to explore. The range had six lanes, somewhat like a bowling alley. Each lane had a
bench across it flanked by high free standing walls. The overhead track held a slender rod of
gundanium with a clip at the end. The paper targets were fairly rigid cardboard with a target on it.
Some had silhouettes others bulls eyes. The track was motorized so that the target could be
moved from within a few feet to the far end at 200 yards. Duo fiddled with the control for a
moment watching the holder whiz backward and forward.

"Hello." Duo nearly jumped out of his skin, hitting the floor with his 9mm in one hand, the other
braced on the floor. "Um ... I'm the range officer. Could you not point that at me?"

Duo flushed heavily and stood up. He holstered his piece and sighed. "Damn, man, you nearly
gave me a heart attack. I didn't hear you over the motor. Sorry about that. I'm a little flinchy."

"I can see that. You're a bit young to have reflexes like that. Where were you stationed?"

Duo frowned, trying to decide what to say. The instructor just stood, waiting.

"I'm colony. Um ... I was one of the Gundam pilots. Duo Maxwell, 02."

"Well, I can see why you're a bit jumpy. I was an arms instructor. Oz, 12th Battalion. Pleased to
meet you. Name's Gerard. Instructor Gerard." he grinned at Duo, holding up one hand. "And, no,
I won't tell you my first name. It's too awful to contemplate. Go on. Pick a lane."

Duo decided to stay on the one he was at. Instructor Gerard greeted the rest of the students as
they came in, assigning each one a lane and telling them to place their piece on the range bench
in front of them. Duo had already done so out of habit.

Instructor Gerard called roll, checked off the names and put his PDA away. "Very well,
everyone's here." he started pacing in the large front end of the range. "First I'll explain the
various areas of the range, so that there won't be any misunderstandings. Every range names
things their own way, so, for some of you this is necessary. And I won't hurt any of you. Where
we're standing now is the front end. The cubicles where you stand are bays, and the place where
the targets are is called the back end, each individual shooting line is called a lane. If I tell you to
enter the back end stay in your lane unless other wise instructed. Never go into the back end
without making sure that no one else is shooting. If something goes wrong with the target holder,
yup that's what it's called, do not, I repeat NOT enter the back end without consulting me first.
I'll stop the practice and everyone will enter the front end. If I tell you jump you don't ask how
high, you just jump and hope it's high enough. Any questions?"

There didn't seem to be any, so Gerard instructed every one to enter their bay.

"Do not touch your piece. I will issue you your ammunition, scores are partially based on how
much you shoot. You will be issued ammunition in boxes of five hundred, turn in any unused
ammo at the end of your session. The number of shots you've taken will be recorded for you. Do
not take ammo out of the building. Anyone caught doing so will be expelled, not from the class,
from school altogether. And getting it past the metal detector is impossible. All papers will be
turned in at the same time you turn in unexpended rounds. They will be scored. Don't worry
about that just now. You're learning to aim. The papers will be used to help you get a handle on
aiming. Later the scores will contribute to your overall."

He activated something in the back of the room beside the entry way. A chart descended from the
ceiling.

"This is a round of ammo. This is NOT a bullet. You will lose 20 points every time I hear you
refer to a live round of ammunition as a bullet." Duo couldn't suppress a slight snicker.
"Something funny, Maxwell." Duo shook his head, grinning. Gerard grinned back. "Didn't think
so." Gerard went on to explain that the brass part was referred to as brass, empties, expended
shells or popped ones. The live stuff was called live rounds, ammo, shells etc. He'd ended by
saying, "the thing in the end that goes out of the gun is a bullet. Don't forget it."

Duo had to grin again, the explanation was the same one he'd heard several times before,
different words, same information. The bit about the bullet was priceless. Gerard had broken the
tension without breaking the mood.

"I'll walk around and show those of you who are inexperienced how to load and where the safety
is. Maxwell, you're on your own. Go get your ammo at the window, the rest of you don't go until
after I speak to you."

Duo went to the window got a thousand round and returned to his place. He loaded a magazine,
picked up his piece, and snapped the magazine in place. He was glad to notice that there was
already a target in place. His lane had one on the clip and several in a holder under the shooting
bench. Using the control on the wall, Duo ran the holder down the rail watching the digital
readout until it said 75 feet. He'd start there until he got used to the pistol. He was well aware
that this was a great deal farther than most people ever shot a pistol of any kind that was street
legal. Twenty to twenty-five yards was the maximum for most. He wasn't as good as Heero but
he was so much better than almost anyone else that he was in a completely different class.
Olympic shooters weren't as good as he was. Of course their lives never depended on their
shooting.

Duo took two shots, grimaced and fished a small screw driver out of his kit. The sights were just
a click off. He made his adjustment and tried another two shots. These were right on so he
continued to shoot until Instructor Gerard got to him.

"Well, how are you doing?" Gerard examined the targets Duo had already shot. "Nice papers. Be
sure to turn them in. Any questions? Problems?" Duo shook his head to both questions. "Um ...
I've been thinking. I was Oz, you were Alliance. That going to be a problem?"

Duo shrugged slightly. "Only if you make it one. Advice?"

"Talk."

"How many rounds a day is gonna get me an A? I really need all the A's I can get. Some of the
standard classes are going to give me fits."

Instructor Gerard looked puzzled. "Standard classes? Not sure what you mean."

Duo's gaze caught him straight on. "English, math, that sort of thing. Math not so much, but
basic stuff, I didn't get much of it."

Gerard shook his head in wonder. "Man, you don't have to take any of that stuff, unless you want
to. Certificates don't require academics other than what applies to the subject of the certificate. If
anyone talked you in to English Lit 101 or any of that shit, just go to the office and drop it. Waste
of time."

Duo waited until the instructor was at the next station then did a little dance of joy, braid
swinging jauntily from side to side. He'd been dreading the only two classes that he'd been
talked into that weren't on the certificate list. He'd never understood why he'd needed History of
the Colonial Age or Business Writing for his certificate. He was going to drop them like a hot
rivet. As soon as class was over.

He managed to get through 500 shells before the end of the class period. Two hours, 500 shells,
not a problem it was less than four shots a minute. That gave him 14.4+ seconds to cycle. Very
doable. He did the math to get through a thousand. 7.2 seconds per shot was still possible but he
worried about overheating the barrel. Shooting that fast didn't allow time for cooling. He thought
he could keep up that rate of fire for a while, changing magazines being an issue but was it really
necessary.

"Maxwell, problem?"

Duo turned around and explained his thought process to Gerard. He shook his head in
amazement or amusement, the expression on his face a combination of the two.

"Well, it's doable. But why? You're right. You'll over heat something awful. You'd need a max
capacity magazine or a ton of standards. We expect you to come in and shoot at other times
besides classes. I figure if you can get through a box in three hours you're doing good. Ok?"

Duo grinned. "Very ok. That takes a load off my mind I was really wondering how some of these
others were going to get in their daily average."

Instructor Gerard called the class to attention, dismissed them, and made sure that each person
knew what to do with their piece. At this time they were to turn it in to the gun smith for cleaning
and inspection, he would return each pistol to the proper locker after he was done.

Duo pulled up short. "Instructor, I'm qualified to clean my own and I'd rather. What now?"

"Just take it to the gun smith yourself. He'll watch you clean it and sign you off on the module."

Duo nodded, not noticing the expressions on the faces of two of his classmates.

x.

Duo knocked on the door jamb of the smithy and waited to be invited in. It was, technically
speaking, public rooms, but anyone who dared step into a smithy without the express invitation
of the smith was just plain foolish.

"Well, come in. Don't just stand there blocking sunlight. What can I do ya for?"

Duo explained what he wanted and handed the smith the sign off sheet. The smith just pointed to
a work space and said, "Fine, show me what ya got."

Duo stripped down the semi-auto, cleaned it and reassembled it. He took his time and did the job
right.

The smith nodded his head, signed the paper and leaned back. "Ok, where'd you learn that. Only
place I ever saw anyone remove an OS clip like that was Alliance."

Duo settled in for a bit of gossip. "I was Alliance. Learned it at my Daddy's knee. Sort of."

"I see. Resistance. They took in a lot of youngsters. Hard life."

Duo accepted the cup of coffee the smith offered. "What's your name."

"You laugh and I'll whack ya. John Smith."

Duo knew better than to even crack a smile. "Well, John. You saw my name on the sheet. No
comment?"

John shook his head. "Not my place, even if I did have an opinion. Stick around a while."

Duo did, sipping coffee and swapping lies while the man cleaned an assortment of junk
belonging to his class mates.

"Where do they come up with some of this shit? I swear I could buy better on a street corner."

The smith just grunted as he pulled the barrel off a .380 pearl handled, chrome plated knock off.
"Don't know. Pawn shops mostly, I'd guess. Don't know why they cut corners like that. Look
here. Slides so worn it won't hardly stay seated. Got to red tag this one."

"Red tag?"

"Not fit for service. Whoever this belongs to will have to get a better weapon or drop out. And
I'm sure to hear about it."

He red tagged two more pieces then started putting each one back in it's carry case, checking
serial numbers to be sure he got each one back in the proper case. When he was finished, he said
good-bye to Duo and went to return all the guns to the proper lockers, Duo let him take his as
well, having fiddled around a bit too long gossiping.

"I'm headed to the enrollment office to drop a couple of classes I found out I don't have to take.
See you."

The smith just nodded and left.

x.

"Look, I don't need my money back, give me a credit on next semesters classes. But you finagled
me into taking classes I don't need and I'm not takin' em. It's too big a load. No one told me
that 18 hours was a heavy load."

The clerk looked smug. "Well, Mr. Maxwell, it's not my fault that you didn't take the advice of
your councilor. I know they all tell you freshmen not to take more than 12. But do you listen? Of
course not. You'll just have to keep up or drop out."

Duo gave the man a narrow eyed look that boded no good for him or the college. "Ok, so first
you talk me into doing something that any high school councilor would tell me not to do. Then
it's my fault I trusted you. And I can't get a credit or anything. I see. You're a real smart ass, ya
know?"

"Now see here, I don't like your inferences..." the clerk started to sputter.

"I'm not inferin' nothin'. I'm sayin' it right out loud. You screwed me. So, you got two choices.
Give me a refund or I'll report ya to the administration. Get over yourself."

Duo's temper was beginning to get the better of him. The man was pulling one of the oldest
college scams in the universe. The college itself wasn't guilty of anything, but the clerk was
padding the college's bank accounts by over enrolling students. They then had to either carry the
load or drop classes and lose their money. Duo wasn't about to join the ranks of the ignorant and
cheated.

"You don't know what you're talking about. I'd suggest that you go on your way before I have
you expelled for ..."

Duo just snorted. "You can't have me expelled for a billing grievance. I'm not as stupid as you
think. So, here's the deal. I'm sick of messing with you so I'll go. Expect to hear from me very
soon."

Duo picked up his paper work, surreptitiously picking up his folder at the same time. He
distracted the man with a little temper tantrum and got out of the office. He called Heero to tell
him he was ready to be picked up then settled on a bench to read the files he'd snatched.

x

Heero pulled up and beeped his horn to attract Duo's attention. Duo looked up, grinned and
hurried to scramble into the passenger seat.

"Heero, man, I'm glad to see you. Debrief?"

Heero nodded his head, keeping his eyes on the traffic. "Please."

"Ok. Here's the low down." Duo proceeded to tell Heero all about his day, ending, "and I want
my money back but the idiot says I can't have it. Not even as a credit against next semesters
expenses. So, now what?"

Heero frowned as he turned into their driveway. "Well, let me see what I can do. If that doesn't
work. I'm not sure. We'll just have to see. Maybe a call to Buck. He's good at this kind of stuff. I
hate red tape."

Duo climbed out and leaned into the truck to get his backpack. "Me too. Makes me want a really
big knife."

Heero turned to look at him. Duo handed him his most innocent expression. "What? To cut the
red tape with. What did you think?"

"That a pair of scissors would work better. Come on. I'm hungry, you cook, I'll start seeing what
I can do about this mess."

"Ok." Duo agreed readily, he liked cooking. Heero was a good cook, but didn't like it much. Duo
liked cooking and wasn't that happy with laundry, Heero did laundry without even thinking about
it. "Bring the laptop to the kitchen table?"

"Sure. I'll be back in a sec." Heero went to fetch his computer from the fancy upstairs office.
"Oh, the architect called today. They're going to be ready to do the job next week. They put it off
again so they would have a crew big enough to do it in one day."

Duo shook his head. This was the second time they'd put the renovations off. The first time was
for the sting, then the flu had gotten to the crew, the architects had sheepishly admitted that they
couldn't do the job. Neither Heero nor Duo was in that big a hurry to get the job done. They
wanted it done right, so they'd agreed with the firm to put it off again. This put off was just
another annoyance in a string of them.

Heero settled at the table with his computer. He entered Duo's student ID number from memory
and waited while the college site did its search.

"Spaghetti all right?" Duo raised his head from rummaging in the cabinets. "Not much else right
now. There's burger, sauce and noodles, Capelleni. Plenty of Parmesan. And greens for a salad.
Bottled dressing, either buttermilk ranch or Itallian. And, you pick the wine."

Heero nodded. "Sure. I think ... yeah, here we are." Heero read for a moment then asked with
unusual sarcasm. "So you got a brain fart? Or what? How the hell did you get talked in to taking
this shit."

Duo sighed. "I didn't think. He's supposed to be a councilor not a pimp. But he pimped me. He
said I had to have the credits to get my certificate. I should have read the requirements more
carefully. I should have been able to trust him. So ... fix it. Or I will. Any how, the one's I really
feel sorry for are all the kids who really can't afford it who got talked into taking classes they
don't need and can't afford. Someone needs to complain. ... oh, I guess that'd be me."

Heero just grunted absently as he read the TOS. "Well, let me see. First we need to fill out a
complaint against him. Then a request to drop, a request for refund with reason for same. Then
we ... you have to appear before a student court. To support your complaint with facts. This is so
not going to be fun."

Duo banged a frying pan down on the stove top, turned on the heat and began to chop garlic.
"Fuck! That's stupid. I feel like going down there, pulling a gun and demanding my money."

"What good would that do. You'd be in jail and still wouldn't attract the kind of attention this
will."

Duo sighed, tossed the hamburger into the now hot skillet and remarked. "I know. Just because I
feel like it doesn't mean I'll do it. I do have some impulse control, ya know." he stirred the meat
around then added the garlic.

"Yeah, I do. I really feel like going down there and beating that bastard senseless."

"Don't bother. He's already stupid." Duo dumped the sauce into the pan and checked to see if the
pasta water was boiling yet. "Water's not quite boiling yet so we've got about ... fifteen minutes."

Heero looked up and smiled. "Question."

"Sure."

"How the hell did I manage to get this lucky. I figured that you'd hate me."

"Fuck, Heero. You came when I needed you the most. Suits me."

"Ok."

Duo turned back to the stove like they hadn't had the most important conversation of their
relationship, to date.

"You want garlic bread? There's half a loaf of French bread. A bit stale but ..." Duo turned back
to glance at Heero with a tiny smile. Heero grinned back and made a motion to indicate he didn't
care. Duo started slicing the bread.

While he made garlic bread, Heero found and printed out the forms that Duo needed to fill out
for the complaint, the drop and the refund. He eyed the pile of paper. "Duo, you're filling this all
out yourself. There must be ... fifteen pages here."

Duo's expression left little doubt of his feelings. "Damn, I hate paper work. Oh, well." he poked
the contents of the skillet. "Sauce is done. Pasta?" he picked a piece off the fork and tested it.
"Not quite. The bread won't be done in time. I didn't start it quite soon enough. Make the salad
real quick, will you?"

Heero just got up and started getting the salad fixings out of the fridge.

It didn't take him long to throw together a simple salad of greens, sliced cucumber and cherry
tomatoes, with a few croutons tossed on the top. He put the salads on the table, checked the
garlic bread, which was done, and danced out of the way as Duo eased by with the plates of
spaghetti.

While they ate Duo went over the papers. It was just as Duo had feared, round and round with no
end in sight. He checked twice. "Heero? You realize that at least half of these questions are
repetitious? I could ... well, wouldn't do much good. They do prize their paperwork, don't they?"

Heero mumbled something around a mouthful of spaghetti. Duo snorted sourly, "what ever!"
then went into a rant about bombing the place.

"Wouldn't do any good. They've got double redundancy backup systems. The secondary backup
is stored off campus. But it would be nice. I do so love a good explosion."

"Me too. But times change and we do too. More salad?" Duo started to rise.

"Sit. No more salad. And don't try to get out of it. Fill. I'll wash the dishes."

Duo started to protest then realized that he had to fill out the forms so he'd know what was in
them for the student court. "Well, fuck."

He started writing.

x.

It didn't take long for the administration to get back to them. Two days later Duo had an
appointment with the person in charge of handling his complaint. Mr. Long, the clerk who'd
started this whole mess.

"Oh, this is just peachy. Who the hell put you in charge of investigating your own fraudulent
behavior. Jesus!"

"Now see here, buster. I'm entitled to confront my accusers."

"Yeah?" Duo ran a hand through his bangs. "Not really. This isn't a criminal case. It's civil. Or
ought to be. I'm going over your head. Either tell me who your boss, the idiot, is, or I'm calling
the real law. Got me?"

Mr. Long puffed up. "Sit down! I won't have you making a scandal. We'll figure out something."

Duo just walked to the door. "No we won't. You're in so deep you're shuckin' and jivin' just to
cover your ass. You never thought about all those students you cheated. Just making money for
the college. What? You get a percent cut? Pig. I'm so gone." He looked at his watch. "I've got a
class in twenty minutes. One of those one's I don't need."

"I'll get you expelled." Mr. Long smirked like he'd played a trump card.

"Yeah? Then I'll get my refund. It hasn't been ten days yet. See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya." Duo
left, letting Mr Long stew for a few moments. He knew he was in big trouble but he thought he
had a way out. He turned to his computer.

Duo sat through his history class in a blue funk. This was not going to go well. He knew how
bureaucracy worked, he just hated dealing with it. One of the reasons he hadn't wanted to work
for Preventers was the paper work, red tape, and political maneuvering. Not for him, thank you.

"Mr. Maxwell, are you listening?"

Duo blinked at the professor. "Not particularly. All the facts are wrong."

"And how do you know that?"

Duo flipped the book open. "Well, let me see. The book says that Maxwell Church was
destroyed, true. It says that there were no survivors, false. I survived, and I can prove it. It says
that the plague killed 3% of the population of L2-117, false. It killed more than 15%, but most of
those killed were street people or poor. The death certificates are there, just, there's no one to
insist that they be counted. Want me to go on?"

Dou gave the professor a bleak look and shut the book. The professor looked profoundly
disturbed. "I see. Well, that just goes to prove the old saw. The winners write the history books,
the losers know the truth. I think I'll dismiss class a bit early. Please read. ... um ... the news
paper. We'll be discussing current events for the next week"

the class filed out silently, every student thinking about what Duo and the proffessor had said.

x.

Duo glanced at his schedule and realized that he had two hours between this class and the next
one. He idly wondered exactly what Business Writing was all about.

He took his time and wandered across the campus to the student union. He'd never been in one
before.

He looked around the huge room. There was a buffet bar across the back with kitchens behind.
Over the back of the bar was a huge menu billboard with every thing from hamburgers and fries
to Pad Thai noodles. He grinned, this might turn out to be his favorite room.

He examined the floor and looked for exits. The entire floor was divided into cubicles by lines of
bench seats. Tables were situated along them with chairs on the outsides. There must have been
seating for at least 300 people and the noise indicated that there were probably that many people
in the room now.

He went through the service line, picking a burger, fries and chocolate shake. He paid after
showing his student ID and looked for a place to sit. It was then that he realized that he hadn't
seen an empty table anywhere in the room. "Well, shit."

The boy behind him nudged him with the edge of his tray. "Come sit with us. My girl is holding
a table. My name is Charlie Parkinson. We're trying to find a study buddy. Want to sit in?"

Duo looked the boy over for a second. He looked harmless so Duo just nodded. "Sure. Lead on."

They wound through the tables, chairs and wandering bodies until they got to a table. Charlie
introduced Duo to his girlfriend by announcing, "Pammie, I found another victim. Hey, what the
hell is your name and what's your major."

Duo put his tray down and settled next to the girl who was seated on the bench. He wasn't about
to have his back to a whole room of strangers. "Duo Maxwell. Major, fugitive retrieval. And
applied law. What's yours?"

Charlie laughed, "Accounting. And Pammy... Um ... hon, what's your major this week?"

Pammy sniffed and turned her shoulder to Charlie who rolled his eyes and glanced at Duo. Duo
kept his face blandly blank, he'd got himself into this, he could get himself out of it.

"My major is now settled Mr. Smartypants. I'm taking corporate purchasing."

Duo bit into his burger, wondering if this was going to work. He didn't think he wanted to be in a
study group with an accountant and a purchasing agent. He decided to stick it out for a while.
Lance was a good choice, but these two? He wasn't so sure about them.

"I'm gonna call this guy who's in one of my classes. Maybe he's free now and can come to see
you guys. Ok?"

Pammy sniffed again and shrugged her shoulder rather sullenly. "Guess."

Charlie made a what can you do' sort of face and nodded. "You do that." He turned to Pammy.

"Come on, hon, don't be like that. Kissie? Make up? Ok?"

Duo turned his back and decide he was really glad he was gay. He couldn't imagine Heero
pulling that sort of crap. Or being stupid enough to say something like that. Neither one of them
was that immature, and what did that say? He wasn't sure. He made his call, got Lance and found
out that he was not only free but had two people lined up for study buddies. Duo told him to
come to the SU but make it kind of quick as he had class in an hour and a half. Lance agreed to
be there in fifteen minutes or less.

He showed up with a man and a woman in their late twenties or early thirties. The woman was a
Valkyrie and the man was huge. Duo just grinned at them.

"Hi, Duo Maxwell, Charlie Parkinson and Pammy. No last name." Duo pointed at each person as
he introduced them.

Lance did the same, "Hi back. Lancelot La Grange, Gloria Marks, and Frank Jones. We're all in
the fugitive retrieval program."

They all took seats, Lance and Gloria taking empty chairs from other tables. They put their heads
together and started comparing course requirements. Pammy and Charlie soon realized that the
only class they had in common was Business Writing. They cheerfully excused themselves and
took off to look for more compatible study buddies.

Duo settled back, looked at his watch and announced. "Ok, we've all agreed that taking a
combined major of Fugitive recovery and Private Investigation is a good idea. And that we've all
been roped into taking unnecessary courses. So, I suggest that we meet back here after Business
Writing. Which three of us have in .... fuck! Ten minutes. We better run."

The four, Frank, Lance, Gloria and Duo, headed out, backpacks on their backs, at a quick trot. It
took them three minutes to get there.
.

The Business Writing class was as useless as Duo had thought it would be. All they were really
learning to do was fill out forms and write the sort of reports he already knew how to compose.
Duo finished his work in about five minutes then sat back to watch. He wondered why the class
was so full, then it hit him. He thought frantically, making notes in one of his binders.

"Well, Mr. Maxwell, why don't you share whatever it is that is keeping you from doing your
class work?"

Duo just held up the papers allowing the teacher to pluck them from his lose hold. He continued
to scribble as the teacher looked over the forms.

"Very well done. I'm a bit surprised that someone of your age could fill out a request form
properly, or at all."

Duo shrugged. "Man, you know what kind of paper work I had to fill out to get a new vernier?
Killed a whole tree." Duo didn't even realize what he'd said until the teacher gasped. "What?"

"Paper work for a vernier engine? How did you get into the military? No, it's impossible."

Duo trotted out the same old saw that he always did. "I'm colonial. We inducted lots of really
young guys, and gals too. And I'm older than I look."

"I see. Well, continue. Doing other homework?"

Duo just closed his book. "Yeah, but I'm done now. Um ... class is nearly done. Do I have to
stay?"

The teacher, who'd actually forgotten to introduce himself or even write his name on the dry
board, shook his head. "I'd rather not set the precedent. Just read something."

Duo shrugged and settled back in his chair to wait out the last fifteen minutes of class. He spent it
day dreaming of Heero.

x.

When class let out Duo took a few minutes to get phone numbers and make a study date. Then he
headed for the gate where he was too meet Heero.

He didn't have to wait long. Heero drove up in the SUV, opened the door and whistled. Duo
laughed and ran to the vehicle. He hopped in and settled in his seat, kissed Heero and fastened
his seat belt.

"I decided on a second major. Private Investigation. About a third of the classes are for both
majors. What do you think?"

Heero smiled. "I think you're wonderful. I think the moon is ..." Duo tossed a ball of paper at
him making him duck and laugh.

"Do not start with me. And I had an idea. We need to see if we can't figure out which classes are
being pushed and if there's any connection between Mr. Long and the teachers there of. So ...
hmmm... ask around campus seems to be the ticket. What do you think?"

Heero nibbled at his very kissable lower lip, making Duo lose his train of thought for a moment.
"I think I could run their enrollment data against the requirements for all classes and see ....
hmmm .... not too easy but fairly simple. I'll need some ... dammit!" Heero jerked the wheel to
avoid a bicyclist and announced that he'd think about it after they got home. Duo just grunted
and agreed. He really didn't want to be in a car wreck.

x.

Heero pushed the door open and dumped Duo's pack on the floor. Duo had his arms full of
grocery bags and staggered, rather dramatically, to the kitchen area to dump them on the table.
He started putting groceries away while Heero set up his lap top. Then he realized that it was his
turn to cook supper. He gave the computer one longing look but got up to start his prep.
While he was chopping onions for his stir fry, Heero was thinking about parameters for his
search, arms suddenly circling his waist made him flinch slightly.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you." Duo rubbed his chest.

" S ok. I was thinking about search parameters." Heero patted the hands at his waist. "We've got
to put the pressure on the administration too. If they don't know what is going on, they should
have. We need to file a protest about having someone investigate the allegations of fraud against
themselves. Someone was taking their stupid pills."

Duo nibbled on the back of Heero's neck. "Really? Ya think?" He moved a bit lower and bit
lightly over one of Heero's shoulder blades. Heero moved to dump the stir fry onto a platter. Duo
went with him, clinging like a limpet.

Heero took the top off the rice cooker and checked to see that the rice was really done,
sometimes the cooker would ding, but the rice was still a bit hard. It was done so he spooned
portions into bowls.

They settled to eat, but Duo was feeling playful so they wound up feeding each other. Heero
picked out the broccoli as he knew Duo liked it and Duo was careful to feed Heero all his water
chestnuts, he didn't care for them that much and Heero loved the crunch. They fiddled around,
feeding each other and getting playful' as Duo put it. Heero finally gave a chuckle.

"If you're going to put your foot there, we might as well give up on the dishes. Come on. Bed."

Duo laughed, got up from the table and started putting the dishes in the washer. Heero just took
the bowl out of his hands tossed him over one shoulder and headed up the stairs, careful not to
bump Duo's head on anything. Duo laughed until Heero gave a few jerky hops, shutting him up
for lack of breath. Heero's shoulder in his stomach took care of it.

Heero dropped Duo on the bed and attacked his boots. He pulled them off and tossed them into
one corner. Duo used his toes to pull off his socks while Heero tugged off his own foot wear.
They proceeded to strip themselves and each other with swift efficiency.

Tumbling on the bed wasn't such a good idea, they bounced then rolled off onto the floor. Duo
landed on top of Heero squashing the breath out of him. Heero kissed Duo and pushed him back
to his feet. They tried again and this time they managed to stay on the bed.

Then it was a storm of kiss, lick, nibble, stroke, touch. Duo whimpered, "In me. Heero, now!"

Heero knew he wouldn't hurt Duo, but he took some time in his preparation anyway. He eased
his way with gentle care and plenty of slick. Duo moaned and grumbled that it was taking way
too long.

When Heero finally entered him Duo moaned and jerked. Heero stopped moving, a tiny frown
between his eyes. "Ok?"

"No, I'm not ok. Move already. I'm dyin' here."

Heero laughed and continued his motions, pumping in and out of Duo, making sure to hit the
sweet spot as often as he could. His aim was as good in this as it was with a fire arm. Duo came
with a scream like a scalded cat. Heero howled like a wolf as he followed two strokes later.

"Damn! That was good." Duo flopped back, lowering his legs with a thump. "I'm limp."

"In more ways that one." Heero chuckled. "I am too. Sleep?"

Duo wrinkled his nose. "Shower. And clean sheets. I'm not sleepin' in a wet spot."

Heero grunted. "Sleep in your room."

Duo shook his head. "No. The bed's a full size. Too small. One of us is sure to wind up on the
floor...again."

So they showered, fooled around a bit then changed the bed and fell back into it to sleep the night
away."

x.

Breakfast was interesting as both of them were distracted. Duo by his continued war with Mr.
Long and Heero by the search for his new bounty. They sat across the table from each other
eating eggs and toast and typing on their respective lap tops in companionable silence.

Then the inevitable happened. Duo got up to get some more coffee and caught the cord of his
laptop with his foot. It pulled the computer off the table and, despite Heero's lightning reflexes,
the computer hit the floor with a resounding crack.

"Fuck! Dammit, now I'll have to recover the damn hard drive and that'll put me behind. Shit! We
need to get that office done. A-sap. And I mean now. I'll call the architect. Weren't they
supposed to be here? Like last week?"

Heero checked his schedule. "No, next week. But call them and see what you can do if you like."

Duo muttered, "Either they get here today or I'll do it my fuckin' self. Been put off one time too
many if you ask me."

Heero grinned at Duo. "Didn't ask you but ... me too. Call already."

So Duo called the firm and asked when they were going to come do the renovations. They said
that they could actually come today as their job had cancelled. Duo thanked them politely, hung
up and whooped with triumph.

"They'll be here in two hours. All I've got today is a practicum so I can stay here and oversee the
whole thing. You be here?"

Heero gave Duo a broad wink. "Wouldn't miss it for the world." His memories of Duo
overseeing repairs to his Gundam danced behind his eyes.

Duo pointed a sour glare Heero's way, making him smirk. "I bet"
x.

"Well, I've looked at the blue prints and the original floor plan and I don't see why we can't get
the job done in one day. All we're really doing is taking down a floating wall and dropping
electric and internet lines from the ceiling. Not like we're messing with load bearing walls or
anything. And you want built in bookcases? Or will these do?" the foreman handed Duo a flyer
for a well known company that manufactured excellent quality office furniture. "If you want built
in, it's going to be more expensive and it limits you later. If you want to move them you have to
have them torn out."

Duo glanced through the flyer then looked at Heero. "What do you think? They look good to me
and if we want the built in look, I think ... well, I don't know."

Heero checked the flyer, liked what he saw and handed it to Duo. "I like these. The blond ones
will look great in here and built in or not. I don't care. I just want to make sure they don't topple
over if we have a quake." He shifted his attention to the foreman, making him squirm a bit.
Heero's intense gaze was sometimes hard to tell from his I'm going to kill you' glare. "I just
want it done quickly. We've got a busy life style and he's" Heero pointed to Duo. "in college, so
we don't have a lot of time to fool with this."

The foreman just shrugged. "We can get it done today if you'll accept the ready made. They're
very good quality. Frankly, better than we can do on this short notice." He held up a hand. "I
know we've been messing around with this for weeks. But there's a lot of confusion right now,
the secretary in charge of your account got fired ... last month, I think it was. So we didn't get the
paperwork we should have. That made it short notice for us. So, I like them, I'd put them in my
house. Let me measure up and give you the quote, Ok?"

Heero nodded, one jerk of his head. "Fine. I'll inspect them after you've got them up. If you like
them, I'm sure they're going to be fine. Now. I have a bounty to pick up, so I'll be gone. See Duo
for instructions."

Duo just sighed. "Ok. I knew this was coming. You don't love me any more." He pressed the
back of one wrist to his forehead dramatically and swooned against the wall behind him. The
foreman snickered and started measuring the wall they wanted the cases on.

"I'm really sorry, but this one is just too good to pass up. He's an easy pickup and the bounty is
huge. Ok, so I'm a greedy bastard. You'll manage. If you need me, I've got my phone on vibrate.
I really shouldn't be gone more than ... three or four hours. If the little prick is where he's
supposed to be. Bye, love."

Duo gave Heero a quick passionate kiss, much to the foreman's amusement and Heero took off.

Duo turned to the foreman, read his name, embroidered over his pocket and announced. "Well,
Harry, the first thing we need to do is get this furniture out of here. I'll start. .."

Harry just chuckled. "Look, I got a crew of six coming in about ten minutes. Meet them at the
door and bring em down here. We got a contract that says we do it all, and I mean all. You don't
lift a lily white finger. I don't care if you're King Kong. Little bitty guy like you, you'll strain
your milk."

Duo nearly fell over laughing. Here was a guy who, well, did construction, telling a man who
worked on Gundams by himself that he might hurt himself lifting boxes.

"And I don't care who you used to be or what you used to do. This is now, that was then. I do my
job right. Now scat."

Duo blinked at him for a moment, trying to figure out exactly what Harry meant by that. He
decided it didn't make any difference and went up stairs to wait for the crew.

It didn't take them long to arrive. They came in a pickup and a large flat bed. The flat bed was
loaded with all the materials they needed to do the job. Duo showed them the back way, down
the outside stairs and in through the lanai. They were glad for this as it kept them from tracking
construction filth through the house proper. Duo was glad too as he knew who was going to wind
up cleaning up the mess. And his name wasn't Heero.

It didn't take the men long to get all the materials down to the bottom floor. They started moving
the stuff in the two rooms into one of the small rooms Heero had designated as storage. One of
the men called Duo into the room and said, "Look, I know I'm minding your business but why
don't you have some shelves set up around the perimeter of the room and start stowing all this
stuff on them. Clear the floor and keep the mess down to a minimum."

Duo eyed the room and decided that was a good idea, all the stuff piled in the middle of the room
was unsafe and neither of them could find anything. He nodded to the man, announcing. "Good
idea. I'll go tell the foreman. He's going to have to send one of you to get bookcases anyway.
You might as well get the shelves and put them together too."

The crew man nodded and pulled out a tape. "If I measure right and we get the right kind of
shelves I think we could put a row down the middle of the room. It'd be a bit tight but if all
you're going to store is papers, might work. I'll see."

Duo thought carefully. "I think I'd rather have a table in the middle of the room. Make it easier to
find stuff. Put the box on the table to go through it. Ya think?"

The man nodded. "Good idea. I'll measure to see what size table will fit. Need to leave 36 inches
or more all the way around or you're going to have problems moving around." he plied his tape,
making notes in a small note book.

Duo left him to his mutterings and went to see the foreman. Duo told him about the crewman's
idea and told him to get with the man and add the expense to the bill. The foreman frowned a bit
but went to see what was up.

Duo happened to over hear their conversation.

"Look, we gotta be careful. This job has a damn jinx on it."

"Yeah? So?"

"If we over run too much, those kids are so young, they might not have enough money to cover
it. We don't need the grief."

"Ok. But I'll do what the kid said, he ought to know how much money they have for the job. We
give him an estimate, he can say no. Just make sure he realizes that. K?"

The foreman heaved a heavy sigh. "Why do I hate it so much when I know you're right?"

"Cause I'm the little brother? Go talk to the kid."

So Duo was ready for Harry when he came to talk to him.

Duo settled the man at the small table in the lanai and offered him some coffee. Harry accepted
the cup, black, and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Look, I'm mindin' your business again but I don't want any misunderstandings or anything."

Duo just nodded waiting for the man to go on. "See, you're makin' additions to the job. The built
in bookcases were last minute. And now you want a whole room full of shelving. And a table.
It's adding to the invoice. See?"

Duo smiled at Harry, a cheerful friendly sort of smile that made Harry smile back. "Yeah. I get it.
You're afraid that you'll run us out of money. Don't worry about it. We can afford it. Heero's
rich and I'm not far behind. We just ... well, we got money from ... government pensions. And ...
stuff." Duo wasn't about to tell Harry that they both had Oz money stashed away. "Plenty of
money."

"Ok. I see ... I think. Just as long as we don't run up the tab to more than you can afford to pay."

"Thanks, really. I appreciate it a lot. Coffee?" Duo picked up the thermal pot and offered Harry a
refill on his coffee.

"No, better not. I got to get back to the crew. That bunch could fuck up a two car funeral if I
don't keep an eye on em."

Duo laughed at the old saying and settled back to finish his cup. "I'll be right here for a while.
I'm gonna finish my coffee. Then I've got homework to do."

Harry gave him a disbelieving glance then turned away. Duo just laughed and opened his book.

X.

Then next time Duo saw Harry, Harry was wanting him to examine the blue prints and tell him
where the internet wiring was. Duo sighed, this came up from time to time.

"There isn't any, it's all wireless. We have a hub in the room in the back of this level. It's all
broadcast from there. Every computer in the house is set up for it. All we need is power."

Harry just nodded. "Ok. I'll run power to the desks ... somehow. We've got a problem. The floor
on this level is concrete. So we got two options. Cut a grove in the floor, or bring it down from
over head. What'll it be?"

Duo thought for a moment. "I better call Heero. He might not be too thrilled with the idea of
cutting the floor. Be a few. Just hold on, ok?"

Harry shrugged and smiled slightly. "We're just about ready to break for lunch. Might as well go
on and do it. You better eat something too. You're too skinny. A heavy breeze will blow you
away."

Duo dialed Heero told him what was going on and got the answer he'd expected. He laughed a
bit at Heero's, "Sure, let's just cut a chunk out of the floor so it'll crack like glass during the next
quake. You know better."

Duo had replied. "I do but I thought I'd better check with you. Besides, I miss you and wanted to
hear your sarcastic ass. Love ya, bye."

Heero had just snorted and hung up. Duo made a moue of amusement and shut his phone.

"We're going to that pizza place about three blocks away. Want to go?"

Duo accepted their invitation with relief. He hadn't been looking forward to eating alone today.

They all decided to walk as there wasn't enough room in one vehicle and they all were more than
able to make it.

The men all laughed and joked as they walked. Duo was a little more circumspect, he was getting
some odd vibes from some of the men and he was a bit cautious. But they all seemed ok, so he
decided he was just being paranoid.

x.

At the parlor they were seated in a small room near the front of the dinning room. It wasn't
actually a room but a sort of off set behind the register. A half wall with fancy pillars separated it
from the main dining room

They ordered and settled back to gossip until the pies came.

Duo was surprised when one of the men poked another in the side and demanded. "Ok, tell. You
promised."

The man grumbled, "Well, shit, I figured I was safe. You never managed more than a month
before."

"Well, I managed this time and I've quit for good. You promised us a war story if I quit for six
months. So I want my story."

"Ok, ok. You know I was a specials foot soldier during the war. Got a pardon because I was
taken in a sweep. So ... what do you want to hear about."

One of the men called out. "Gundams ... tell us about the gundam."

Duo shifted uncomfortably in his seat. This might not turn out well at all.

"Want a gundam story do you. Well. ... I was stationed in Africa and ... man, you should have
seen it. Huge. Bigger than an Aries by a factor of ... oh, two or three."

Duo mumbled. "One point five", but not very loudly. He was getting interested now.

"Did you hate them? Were they out to get you?"

The man shook his head. "No, I didn't hate them. You never saw one of the pilots. They were
just little kids. Fifteen, is what I heard. And they weren't out to get us. None of them ever tried to
step on us or anything, in fact, they stepped over tents an' such whenever they could. Good
fighters too. You didn't see the one guy. The pilot of the big black one. Deathscythe." Duo nearly
fell out of his chair. "I wouldn't recognize him now if he was sitting beside me." Duo was sitting
across from him.

"Why? We never saw all the footage the local station censored a lot of it. Edited out most of the
close-ups."

"Well, I can surely see why. They nearly beat that kid to death. Dragged him all over like some
kind of dog or something. Little-bitty thing too. Long hair. Looked like a girl until you saw his
eyes. And I'll never forget them. Like looking into hell itself. Glare like a buster rifle blast.
Course I don't blame him. I'd glare too if they were going to execute me in public like that."

Duo felt very uncomfortable, he hated thinking about that. He still had scars.

"So, how did he get away?"

"One of the other pilots rescued him. Got a lot of us thinking about things. We all ... sort of
walked off. Got sent to a POW camp and sat the rest of the war out there. Nice place. If you don't
mind barbwire. Which I didn't. Frankly, I was glad to see the end of it all. Stupid waste of
resources. But any who. He never did stop spitting like a cornered wild cat. And I actually saw
that Chinese boy close up. He came into the POW camp with an offer. Special privileges if we'd
work on his suit. I volunteered. He was good to us. Got us special food and better beds. Not that
they were cruel to us or anything. Just, it was a prison and they didn't waste any resources on us.
Food was good, clean and plentiful but not anything to write home about. So he saw that we had
steaks and beer and apples. I craved apples. And oranges. So we worked on his suit. But he didn't
just stand around and issue orders. He was right there with us in the thick of it. Lifting heavy
stuff and crawling around in its guts. Wiring and things. When we were done he bowed to us and
thanked us. Tiny little thing, tough as boot leather."

Duo, by now was practically squirming off his chair. He was really glad to see the pizzas arrive at
the table.

They ate in silence, except for demands for pizza, and things to be passed, for several minutes.
Then someone noticed that Duo was really quiet and remarked on it. Duo just shrugged and said,
"War stories just aren't my cup of tea. Squicks me, ya know?"

"Yeah, well what would you know about it anyway?" The ex-smoker managed to sound both
challenging and sullen. Duo just shrugged and stuffed his mouth full of pizza. And that was what
did it. With his cheek bulged out with pizza he looked enough like the pictures the colony had
broadcast before his near execution that the man recognized him

"Oh, fuck! It's you! You're that kid pilot. The one ... the kid. Holy hell."

Duo choked on his pizza and had to take a gulp of his soda or strangle. He managed to force the
soda and pizza down his throat. Then he looked for a line of retreat. No go, he was trapped in this
room with six big guys at least two of which had been Oz. Not good.

Another of the men yelped and exclaimed. "Where, where. Who? Which one?" Frantic pointing
dragged all their attention to Duo who was sitting with an oh, my god, now what?' expression
on his face and a glass of soda in his hand.

"Him? You're kidding. He's so little. Sorry, no offence."

Duo shook his head making his braid swing. "None taken. So ... um ... no one wants to fight me?
I hope."

Shaking heads from around the table eased his fears. "So what then?"

"Nothing. We'd like a story, but if you're not up to it, no biggie."

Duo bit his lip, he didn't like talking about the wars much. He didn't feel his face freeze into the
maniacal grin and wide blank eyed glare of Shinigami. He looked up to see all six men and Harry
backing away looking decidedly pale.

"Look, Commander Maxwell, if you don't want to that's ok. Just ... we don't want any trouble.
Ok?"

Duo felt like he'd somehow missed out on something. "I don't want any trouble either. And you
guys have to come home with me and finish the job. So ... um ... what?"

Harry decided to seize the bull by the horns. "Well, that glare could freeze hell over. And ... we
... didn't think ... we didn't mean to offend you."

Duo shrugged. "I was thinking. Don't mind me. Sit down, eat. We'll stuff our faces and go back
to work. We should maybe change the subject."

"Ok. How bout those Mets?" the question was rhetorical as the Mets had disappeared nearly a
hundred years ago but the change the subject because this is awkward' phrase had managed to
remain.

Duo just leaned back and listened as the men discussed a base ball game. He didn't feel like
talking right then, old bad memories had come back to torment him.

x.

After the last bite of the pizzas was gone, the last drop of soda sipped. They settled the matter of
the bill by drawing straws made of lengths of soda straw. Harry got the long piece and
whimpered, "Man, I'm gonna be so broke, you guys eat like L2 orphans. Shit!" they all turned
wide eyes to Duo who just grinned.

He burped and announced. "You ain't seen nothin' yet. I took it easy on you all. You guys need
to keep up your strength." You could almost hear the sighs of relief.

They trailed up to the register to pay the bill, standing around while Harry paid. Duo announced
that his soda wanted out' and left the group, telling them he'd catch up.

When he'd completed his business he washed his hands and started out of the restroom. He froze
when he heard, "Money! Give me the damn money!"

He sighed, "Well, fuck. Here we go."

He walked out of the short hall that contained the restrooms and looked for a weapon. He didn't
find one but did see the mirror on the wall. It was situated in such a way that he could see the
register. The robber only had a knife. He was waving it around like some kind of lunatic, which
Duo decided he had to be. He leaned over the counter and took a swipe at the terrified girl at the
register.

Duo sauntered out of the hall. "Now that's just rude. Where's your manners, man?" his sharp
eyes noted the needle marks on his skinny arm and the shaking hand that held a dull and rusty
knife.

"Money! Give me the money and no one gets hurt."

Duo grimaced, the guys were coming back, most likely to see what was holding him up.

He moved to put himself between the door and his man. The poor hostess had managed to duck
down behind the counter beyond arms reach. Duo was glad to see this, now he didn't have to
worry about her getting hurt.

He feinted toward the man then backed away as he followed Duo into the open space in front of
the register. Duo still between him and the door. He heard the door open and someone, he wasn't
sure who, say. "What the hell?"

The junkie jumped Duo, who'd been expecting it. He kicked out and caught the man right in the
solar plexus. The junkie wheezed like a ruptured accordion and bent double. Duo followed his
kick with a round house right, brought up from the floor and powered by the follow through of
his kick. The junkie went down like a sack of nails. Then the foyer was inundated in a flood of
bodies.

Duo took charge without argument.

"Harry, call the cops. You," he pointed to a fatherly looking man, "take care of the hostess.
Someone got something to tie this joker up with?"

Someone produced a handful of long zip ties. Duo took three of them and fastened two around
the junkies wrists, loose enough not to cut off the circulation. Then he ran the third one through
each tie and zipped it just enough to keep him confined.

"That ought to hold the prick. Imagine coming into a family restaurant and holding up the damn
place. Idiot!"

The siren let everyone know that the police were coming.

Duo nearly had a heart attack when they came in. One cop just wandered in, thumbs in his belt.
The other one was still on the radio to dispatch, trying to find out what was going on. Duo
covered his eyes with both hands and shook his head, moaning, "Fuck me. When did they
graduate? Yesterday? Hell on a hockey stick."

"Ok, what's the problem here?" The cop looked around, saw the junkie and froze. "Shit. What'd
he do now?"

Duo exploded, went quietly Shinigami and snarled, "Tried to hold the place up. Tried to cut that
little girl over there. And assaulted me. I took him out, tied him up and now you come wandering
in here like a lost pup. You're gonna get yourself or someone else killed. Pay attention here! Get
him up, take him in. Do your damn job."

The cop got pissed and told his dispatch that the problem was taken care of. Then he turned to
Duo. "You arrested him, wise guy. You take him in. Citizen arrest? You deal."

Duo threw up his hands and announced. "Ok. Fine, I'll handle it."

He sorted his crew again. "Ok, Harry, you go on back to the house. Finish your job. I got to stay
here and deal with this crap. Can I keep that guy with the hostess?"

Harry told the crew to head back for the house, accepted the keys from Duo and said that, of
course, Duo could keep Andy.

Duo told Andy to get hold of Alice's significant other, parent or whatever and have her taken to
the hospital. The manager of the restaurant had managed to keep all the customers out of the
mess and now he was sending them on their way with comps and smiles. He called Alice's
mother and told her to get to the restaurant, now. She was on her way before she hung up. Andy
just sat at a table with Alice, talking to her calmly and patting her hand.

Duo called Heero and told him what had happened. Heero nearly exploded. Duo told him to yell
later, get there now. It took Heero about ten minutes to get there.

x.

"Duo, what the hell? Duo? Dammit." Heero got a really good look at Duo and swore some more.
Duo was completely in combat mode.

Duo turned to see Heero and went sort of limp for a second. Then he straightened his shoulders
and smiled for Heero. "Hey! There you are. Pick up this sack of shit and process him in will you.
I have to get back to the house to supervise the crew. Not that they aren't a great bunch of guys
but they think they need me there."

Heero dragged the junkie off the floor and shook him. "Name!"

The junkie mumbled something that sounded vaguely like tom' something. Heero shook him
again. "I said, what's your name! Don't mumble on me. Speak up."

"Tom Adams."

Heero glanced at his PDA and blinked. "Well, well, Duo, It looks like you picked up a good one.
Seems our little junkie has a bounty of 30,000 euros on his head. I'll take him in, collect the
money and be home in ... two hours."

Duo was sipping a soda the manager had given him. "Did you get your guy?"

Heero smirked at Duo in a very satisfied manner. "I sure did. He was worth 20,000 euros. Your
bounty is bigger than mine. Great going." Heero didn't seem in the least upset that Duo had done
better than he had. Duo's grin was more a grimace but he managed.

"That's great. But, if I don't have a certificate, will you get in trouble?"

Heero shook his head. "Nope, you just performed a citizens arrest. I took the bod off your hands.
So ... see you in a few." Heero hauled Tom to his feet and hustled him out the door. Duo waved
as Heero drove off, getting a quick beep of the horn in return.

Duo jogged back to the house, using the time to get himself back in civilian' mode.

x.

The guys met him at the door. He was chivied to the couch, given a hot cup of tea and covered
with an afghan. He sighed, who'd have thought a bunch of construction workers would turn out
to be a clutch of mother hens.

Harry scolded Duo softly. "Boy, you're crazy. Whatever possessed you to pull a damn fool stunt
like that. You could have gotten yourself killed. That crazy junkie would have stabbed you in a
heart beat. Idiot."

Duo gulped his tea, winced at how sweet it was and replied. "Gundam pilot, remember. I've
fought guys your size and won. That guy wasn't that much bigger than me. And I've had hours of
martial arts training. Relax. And thanks for the tea an' stuff."

Harry went back to work but over the next two hours each man took the opportunity to fuss at
Duo for taking such a stupid risk. Duo finally muttered rather mutinously, "Yeah and those cops
were so good at their job. Not!"

Heero arrived to find Duo still seated on the couch, wrapped in his afghan and sulking.

He hurried over to sit beside him, asking worriedly, "What is it, love? What's wrong?"

"Those guys." Heero stiffened and went on the defense. "No! Not anything bad, really. Just, they
act like I should be traumatized or something. I just got a little spell of combat shakes and they
act like I'm gonna die or something."

Heero rubbed Duo's shoulders gently. "Oh. I think it's kind of nice myself. I remember when I
was training, if I got the shakes I got punished. Wouldn't do for the perfect soldier to get shaky."

Duo laid his head on Heero's shoulder and sighed. "I'd still like to get my hands on J. Just for a
second or two. It's a wonder you're not completely psycho."

Heero chuckled deep in his chest, making his whole body tremble with his mirth. "I have it on
good authority that I'm a sociopath not a psychopath."

Duo pulled back, an indignant expression on his face and demanded, "Who said that? I'll give
them a piece of my mind."

"J. And keep your piece of your mind, you need all of them you've got." he gave a grumbling
Duo a quick hug, checked his tea cup and headed for the kitchen. "Is there more tea? I could go
for some myself. I'll get a cup and tell you all about the bounties. We really cleaned up today. I
can't wait until you get your certificate. Buck has agreed to take you on as a journeyman. I can't
do it as we're together. Conflict of interests and all that shit."

He came back with his tea and endured an interruption as Harry came back to check on Duo.
"Oh, glad to see you back. You need to have a talk with him. Might have been a gundam pilot
but a high wind would blow him away. Piloting a mecha isn't the same as gettin' down and dirty.
Right?"

Heero nearly choked on his tea. Piloting a gundam, especially in zero-G combat was as hard as it
got. "No, it isn't." Harry gave Duo a see, I told you' look. Heero continued. "It's harder to a
power of ten. I got more broken bones getting slammed around in my harness than I did in hand
to hand combat with OZ specials." Harry was giving Heero a doubtful, rather confused look.
"Yuy, Heero Yuy. Pleased to meet you. And thanks for taking care of Mr. I'm-Made-Of-Iron."

Duo punched him in the back. "Yeah? Look who's talking. I-set-my-own-bones Yuy. Asshole."

Heero obligingly cringed a bit then laughed. "Well, you got me there. Idiot."

Harry grinned at that and just went back to work, reassured that Duo was going to be fine.

x.

Heero drank some of his tea, realized that it was too hot for him and set the cup on the coffee
table.

"What a day. Mission report or verbal?"

Duo poked Heero with his foot. They had settled in the corners of the couch sardine style, legs
entwined. "Verbal. I'm gonna have to write enough mission report stupidity in that Business
Writing class. Don't need it at home too."

So Heero told Duo all about his day.

His first stop had been at the bail bonds man's office to get the paper work, a picture and some
info on where he might be. Then he started checking all the known hangouts for his target.

It took most of the morning to run him down in a small greasy spoon a few blocks from where he
lived in a nasty dive of a motel. No-tell' Heero remarked in an aside.

He wasn't completely successful in keeping the pick up low key. "The fuck wad saw me and
recognized me. He did a runner." So Heero had to chase him two blocks, the only reason it had
taken him that long was he didn't want to knock anyone down so he'd had to dodge pedestrians
all the way. "So when I get the idiot and start cuffing him I find out that he didn't know I was a
bounty hunter, he thought I was after him for his activities during the war. Turns out he was a
really low level Oz foot soldier. Got delusions of his own worth and scarpered because of that. I
really wanted to smack him some, but I just turned him in. The reward was 20,000euros. Buck
hated to tell his Mom that she was that close to losing her house. I don't think he's going to get
out on bond again. His Mom was there, at the jail, and she smacked him a good one. I just let her
have at him. Imagine, letting your mother nearly lose her home. Ass. The cops made her quit
after the second slap. I'd have let her do her thing until she got tired. Then she falls on my chest,
cries and tells me I'm a good boy."

Duo snorted into his tea, nearly getting it up his nose. "And what did you say?"

Heero shrugged trying for casual and failing. "I just said Yes, Ma'am.' what was I supposed to
do. She was happy, let her be. She looked like she hadn't had many happy days in a while. I hope
they never let the little prick out."

Duo nodded over his cup. "Shouldn't. I never did understand why they let someone known to be
a runner out again. But, bureaucracy, what can ya do?"

"Beats me. So anyway. Then I get a call from you and nearly have a heart attack. I heard about
something on the radio and was headed this way to check on you and you call telling me you've
got a pick up? Dammit! I nearly hit the back of a BMW."

Duo snickered into his cup. "Well, shit, Yuy. It's not like I'm some incompetent, or something.
I've been in ... did you take a really good look at that guy? He's a junkie, strung out and starving.
What the hell did he do, anyway?"

Heero settled back against the couch and ran his foot over Duo's calf. "He's one of three men
who robbed some quick stop or something. Killed everyone in there. Four innocent bystanders
who just wanted a soda or something."

Duo snarled softly. "So, you see? You're just as guilty of misjudgment as those guys down stairs.
He really could ... well, seeing as it was you, probably not. But he had a knife."

Duo shook his head. "Didn't know how to do it. I bet he was just a hanger on in that murder. But
why was he out? That's the question I want an answer to. Who went his bail?"

Heero picked up his cup, checked to see if the tea was cool enough and grumbled, "Don't know.
Don't care. Shouldn't have been out but he was. We got a good bounty out of it. The jail was
really glad to get him back, I can tell you. Maybe he got out by mistake or something. But next
time you get a bounty, get a clean one. I'm gonna have to fumigate my truck. He really stank."

Duo bit back another snicker. He knew how sensitive Heero was to smells. One of the things J
had messed with. "Poor baby. Was it really bad?"

Heero waved a hand in front of his face to illustrate how bad it was. "Nearly choked me to death.
Guy hadn't had a wash in at least a week. I believe Quatre would have said, and I quote,
Eeeeuuuwww! Man!'" Duo just snorted into his tea again.

Duo shrugged off the afghan and folded it, tossing it across the back of the couch, he ambled into
the kitchen to get rid of his cup. "You done? I need to get back down stairs and see what's going
on. Don't want them to do something we don't like and have to do it over. You coming?"

Heero finished his tea and brought the cup to Duo to put in the washer. "Yeah, I want to see what
your design looks like in real life."

x.

When they got to the office the first thing that happened was Andy pointed to the fax and
announced. "The second I hooked that devil up, it started printing out."

Duo made a face and, mumbling, "What the hell now?" went to take the sheets out of the printer
tray. He read, handed Heero most of the sheets telling him they were info on the two captures of
the day, then went rigid. "Damn them. I've got student court tomorrow. Fuckers think they're
going to catch me out? Got another think coming. Don't think on my feet like a track star for
nothing and I've already got all the papers they want together. They're in the upstairs office in the
second drawer down on the left. Heero, will you put all this shit there too. I don't want to mess
with it right now. I'll work on it tonight, when we've got time to do it together. Ok?"

Duo turned to look at Heero who was looking like he wanted to shoot someone. "Sure. Why
don't I go on up and start reviewing it all. I like everything you've done here. But ... bookcases?"

"We decided on high quality prefab. We can anchor them to the wall to keep the tip hazard to a
minimum, but that means we can still move them if we want. That ok?"

Heero didn't even think about it. "Sure, if you think it's a better idea, go for it. I'll be upstairs if
you want me."

Duo nodded. "Ok. Thanks, Heero, I really appreciate a second opinion on my defense."

The crew, who had been working and eavesdropping, pounced the minute Heero was gone. Duo
explained his trouble and got some unexpected help. One of the men said that his niece and
daughter had the same problem. Duo stood in the middle of the floor, rubbing the back of his
neck and thinking.

"Look, you guys know what a daisy chain is?" Heads shook all over the room. "Well, it works
this way. I call someone I know who has something I want, or whatever, they call anyone they
know that might have it or ... so ... could I call your daughter and niece or have you do it and
have them call anyone they know who has the same problem I do and they call anyone they know
and have them all meet at the student court at..." he consulted his schedule. "10:30 am
tomorrow? That'd really get some attention from the administration, if I could get even fifteen
people. Please?"

"Sure, I'll call her. That way she'll know it's legit. And I think she knows at least two others, my
daughter, that is. Nancy I don't know about. I know she had problems last year. This year, she's a
sophomore and knows better. I'll see if one of them won't put up an announcement on the All
About U. Web site. That might get some more. How's that?"

Duo bounced on his toes, making his braid swing and making him look about 8. "Thanks. That's
great. The more attention I get, the more attention the administration will pay. The better it is for
all the students. Maybe we can get this shit stopped. I'm gonna go up and tell Heero what's up.
And, guys, the room looks perfect. Thanks again." He waved over his shoulder and headed up to
talk to Heero.

x.

When he got up the stairs, Duo found Heero in the, what he called fancy office, with all his
papers spread over the desk. He was reading one and making notes on a legal pad. Duo plopped
into one of the visitor's chairs and sighed. Heero glanced up, picked up another piece of paper
and continued with his work.

When he finally finished, Duo had made more tea and some sandwiches. "Here. Eat. Talk."

Heero knew Duo was worried. He got very terse when he was. The incredible babble machine, as
Wufei called it, turned off completely when Duo really got down to business.

"Well, as far as I can see, what Mr. Long is doing is against policy. And how he ever managed to
get assigned to investigate a complaint against himself is something I'd really like an answer to.
His own behavior is ... I've got some ideas and I'm not to happy with them. He seems to be
directing all his efforts to three classes. And they're all supposed to be electives. But they have a
huge enrolment. I think I'd really like some time on line to see if I can't find a connection
between him and the professors in question. I ... here, take this and see what you can find out
about Professor Parks. He's History of the Children's Crusade for god's sake. What use is that?
But Long has been forcing kids into it for two - three years now."

Duo took the sheet of paper and glanced over the data. He grumbled at the percent of enrollees
that took the class and wondered if he could get hold of any of them before tomorrow.

Then the phone started to ring, and ring, and ring. Every ring was another student who'd been
enrolled without their permission, coerced into enrolling, or denied refund for one of the three
classes that Mr. Long seemed to be pimping. Duo started taking names and other pertinent info
on the first person. By the time Heero was done going over the papers, Duo had collected over
two hundred names and they were still calling.

x.

"Here, read this. I'll answer the phone for a while."

Duo picked up the tablet and started to read. Heero had summed up the complaint and noted all
the important points in Duo's defense of his position. Duo hadn't realized until now that student
court was more a debate than a real trial. Each side tried to convince the tribunal of seven of their
point. The administration tended to go along with student court when the matter concerned
students and classes. Matters of law, like drunkenness on campus and such the administration
bowed to the local police advocate. This might just bring the advocate into play, if fraud could be
proven. Duo decided they better be sure to have all their ducks in a row.

He asked Heero a few questions about some of the data and made some notes of his own. Then
they went back to check on the construction again.

It was almost done. All the men had to do was clean up a bit and make sure the bookcases were
solid.

Duo and Heero examined the results of the revamp. The room was now twice the old size, a wall
knocked out between two smaller rooms. Their desks were in the middle with a conduit dropped
from the ceiling to provide power for their computers and other equipment. The men had boxed
the conduit in with some very nice paneling and sealed the edges with half round edging. A side
table behind each desk provided extra work space and room for files to be sorted and collated.
File cabinets in each corner gave plenty of space to store work in progress' older files would be
stored in the refurbished storage room. The rest of the space was taken up with pot plants and a
small coffee kitchen' composed of a sink and a small surround to hold the pot with room under
for storage of coffee, filters and other necessities. There was also a tea kettle. The bookcases took
up the wall between the two doors, one on each end of the room.

Duo looked around and smiled. "Very nice. Heero?"

Heero ducked his head. He wasn't good at compliments. "Acceptable."

The crew all smiled, Heero was obviously pleased and just as obviously uncomfortable trying to
say something nice. Most of them sympathized. Duo grinned at them from behind Heero's back.

"Why do I get the feeling that you're doing something evil back there?" Heero turned to glare at
Duo.

Duo shivered dramatically. "Oooo, don't hurt me mister. Just check the storage will you? I'll
finish checking around in here. It looks perfect though."

Heero left to look at the storage and Duo finished checking out the office. The sliding doors from
one of the rooms had been replaced with a deep bay window. The other ones, the ones that
opened into the middle of the lanai were still in place. Duo examined the bay window. The men
had tiled it with small Italian tile. Very easy to keep clean. They'd lined the window side with
seating with padded cushions. It was a nice place to sit and drink coffee or just think.

Heero returned to tell Duo that the room was more than acceptable. The crew had put in shelving
all around the perimeter of the room and file cabinets down the middle leaving enough room on
each end that it was easy to walk around. They'd put a large counter top on top of the cabinets to
make a table. Heero approved. His small nod pleased the men as they knew how hard it was for
him to show his emotions to strangers. Duo was beginning to realize that a lot of men were
nearly as terse as Heero, at least with strangers.

Heero thanked the men again and asked them to come to the office up stairs. They did and he
thanked them for being nice to Duo and taking care of him during his reaction. He gave them
each a bonus and snarled at them when they tried to refuse. Harry laughed, ". That won't work
we got your number." Heero managed a small smile in return.

He watched as they all filed out the door, climbed into their trucks and drove away.