Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Bounty Hunters Case #678832-02 ❯ Chapter 2

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

Bounty Hunters part 2
Bounty Hunters Case #678823-02


Duo fiddled nervously with his papers. He felt like he was going to be sick. It was too much like
his mock trial from the war. Heero petted him a bit then whispered, "Can you do this? Or do you
want me to take over?"

Duo sighed. "You can't. I have to do it myself." He took a deep breath to steady himself. "Oh,
look. They're about to open the doors. Let the observers in. All ... three of them." Only there
weren't three of them. More like three hundred. The auditorium was completely packed, standing
room only. Heero smirked a bit, Duo started sweating.

The student council filed in and settled in their seats. The head of the council called the meeting
to order and asked where Mr. Long was. He wasn't there. Duo leaned over to ask Heero what that
meant to them. Heero just shrugged. "Dunno."

The council held a quick conference then announced that they would have a ten minute recess
while they waited for Mr. Long to appear. If he didn't appear after that time, Duo would be
allowed to submit all his evidence into the records and the council would make their decision
based solely on his evidence. Mr. Long's failure to appear would be taken as agreement with the
presentation. Duo rubbed his face with both hands and grumbled, "Trust the fucker to put me to
all this trouble and not show. Jackass!" Heero retreated to a sole grunt in reply.

Ten minutes passed quickly with the audience murmuring in the back ground. Duo fiddled with
his braid. Heero just sat with his arms crossed, staring blankly at the wall.

"Attention. The court will now come to order." The bailiff wasn't a police officer, he was just
another student. He called for order again and the audience fell silent. Duo was called to present
his evidence so he stood up and started.

He explained his problem, the fact that Mr. Long had been allowed to cover a complaint against
himself. And his findings that the three professors who's classes were being pushed where his
brother-in-law, a cousin, and his uncle's lover. All three were classes that had been on the verge
of being cancelled three years ago.

After Duo was through speaking, one of the council members recused himself as he'd been
victimized himself. The remaining council members called for remarks from the floor. Heero
raised his hand and was recognized.

"I'd like to call for a show of hands from the observers." The council members showed their
approval by nods of their heads, they all nodded. "How many of the people in the audience have
had one or more of the same problems as Mr. Maxwell? Raise your hands." nearly every hand in
the place shot up. Heero sat down.

The council announced that anyone in the room that had a complaint was to see their student
advisor within the next week, fill out papers and make sure that their complaint was filed
properly. The administration, in the person of one of the board members attending the meeting,
announced that they were going to review the entire enrollment of those three classes for the last
two years and they were suspended until further notice. Duo wondered what was going to happen
next, so he asked.

"Excuse me. But what about my refund. It's been proven to your satisfaction that I don't need,
nor do I want, two of my classes. I want to withdraw and get my money back. What about it?"

Heero winced slightly. The administrator examined the page that the bailiff gave him. Duo
expected to hear something on the lines of the administration would take his request under
advisement' or something. Instead the man just sighed and said. "Well, Mr. Maxwell, you've
proven that you're entitled to a full refund on these two classes. And we thank you for bringing
this to our attention. You'll be receiving a check in the mail. Or an electronic refund. Whichever
you prefer."

Duo thanked the man with grave dignity and sat back down. He quivered with suppressed
delight, waiting until a better time to express it.

They stayed seated until the auditorium was almost empty then slipped out a side door.

"Man, I did it. I got them to listen. We did good, partner. What a rush."

Heero just grinned and hugged Duo.

x.

Duo checked his revised class schedule the next morning and found that he had only three classes
now. His practicum on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A law class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
And a self-defence and apprehension class on the same days.

He grinned. "This is great. And I can test out of some of the required non-course related stuff.
You know, the general education classes. So ... and I bet I can already pass the shooting. If I can
get in enough rounds quickly, it'll take more load off me."

Heero was busy examining the course requirements. "I really would like to sit in on Skip Tracing
Tactics. The instructor is an idiot. I know him slightly and he couldn't find his ass with both
hands if he was sitting on it. And this. Phone Techniques? What the hell is that? I didn't take it."

"A time waster if you ask me. But what can I do? I want my certificate so we can work together. I
got to have those classes. Gimmie." Duo held out his hand for the book. Heero handed it over
with a sigh. "And don't do that. You sound like you got a leak in your radiator." Heero snickered
a bit at that one.

Duo looked at his watch. "Man, it's later than I thought it would be. I'm starving. Let's go eat."

Heero realized that it was almost 2 P.M. and they were both really hungry. Duo had been too
nervous to do more than nibble at a piece of toast. Heero had eaten but he could always eat again
and he liked his meals closer together than eight hours. He followed Duo out the door.

They wound up in a small Greek restaurant about ten blocks from the house. It was free standing,
rather than stuck in a strip mall and Duo fell in love with it at once. It was small, neat, clean and
decorated in a tidy style without the usual tourist crap' as Duo called it. They settled at a table
near the kitchen and picked up the menus.

"I want gyros, souvlaki, and those meat balls wrapped in grape leaves. What the hell are they
called?"

"Dolmades. Order a double? I really like them too."

Duo nodded. "Sure. And ... calamari? If it's not frozen."

"Done." Heero put his menu down. "I've been looking at the required courses and some of them
are useless as tits on a boar hog. Others are sound choices. I'd like to revamp your classes if you
don't mind. No sense in you wasting valuable time on nonsense."

Duo sipped at his water then smiled at Heero. "Sure thing. I just took what Long advised. Some
advisor, huh."

Heero snorted in disgust and said frankly, "I'd like two minutes in a locked room. Not only for
you but for all the innocent kids he cheated and lied to." Duo started to say something but Heero
cut him off. "And I know you're not innocent but most of the others were. Or were intimidated.
So ... but we fixed him, didn't we?"

Duo puffed out his chest a little. "Yeah, we did good, didn't we?"

"We did"

Then the waiter came up and they turned to ordering their food. They passed on the calamari as it
was frozen. The waiter smiled at Heero, who had pronounced all the dishes properly and hustled
away to turn in their order.

He brought back a large plate of appetizers and cups of coffee. Heero glanced at them and then
said, in his best Greek, "I'm sorry. There's been some mistake. We didn't order this."

The waiter nearly swooned. "I'm callin' Mom. You sound just like Uncle Nestor. She'll love it.
Please? If you don't mind."

Heero couldn't help but smile, the boy seemed so eager and pleased. "Sure. But my Greek isn't
up to more than complicated conversation."

The boy just grinned. "Not like Mama is going to want to talk rocket science or something."

He hurried away and came back in just a few minutes with a nicely groomed woman of about 50.
She was fussing at him about bothering customers. He just told her, "Sit, sit. I'll get you some
coffee." She sat and Heero greeted her. She introduced herself as Hypatia and said that Heero's
Greek was very good. Duo smiled and introduced himself, his Greek was not very good but he
could manage a few civilities and follow the general conversation enough that no one felt he was
left out.

They all gossiped about current events and colonial news. Heero told a few jokes he'd learned
from somewhere. Duo understood well enough to laugh along. When the food came Hypatia got
up and announced she had things to do in the office. She thanked them for letting her sit with
them and asked when they would be back. Duo grinned at her and said, "Soon, lady, soon."

Their food was delivered with smiles and thanks from the boy, who introduced himself as
Anakos and admitted that he was third generation, nineteen and that Heero, no, Duo's Greek was
better than his. He bowed slightly and left.

Duo picked up a Dolmades and bit into it. His expression of ecstacy was enough for Heero he
took several and put them on his plate beside his gyros. The sandwich was well made, full of
meat, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and tzatziki sauce. The French fries were crisp outside and tender
inside. Not greasy or limp. And the salad was full of feta and olives. The dressing rich with
herbs. It was all delicious and they gobbled up every bite.

Anakos returned twice to fill their water glasses and ask if everything was alright. He laughed
when Heero said affirmative' with the blandest expression on his face. Duo had just bitten into
his gyros and the gymnastics his face went through while he tried not to choke on the bite and
laugh made Anakos and the rest of the Greek crew laugh as well.

They finished their food in record time. When Heero started to ask for the check, Anakos nodded
but came back with Baklava and more coffee. "On the house." Duo objected this time and was
told that Alice was a family friend and they should enjoy as, "Papa was a regular tight ass and
rarely comped anyone for anything.' They just settled to do exactly that.

The baklava was rich with nuts, honey and rose water. The coffee was strong enough to dissolve
the spoons. Duo loved every bite of it. Heero enjoyed the baklava but the coffee almost did him
in. He preferred tea and only drank coffee when he couldn't get the tea. Or when he was working
He wondered if they'd be mortally insulted if he asked for some hot water to dilute it down to a
consistency some what less than varnish. But Duo liked it so he kept his mouth shut.

When they asked for the bill this time, they got one. The appetizer was free as were the baklava
and coffee. The rest was very reasonable, especially for the quality and quantity. Duo glanced
around the homey, family style place and announced, "I like it here. Place is great. Can we come
back?"

Heero nodded as he fished his wallet out of his pocket. "Sure, I like the place too. Rather have
tea than that coffee but whatever."

The person at the register looked up from counting change out to her present customer, then
thanked the man and wished him a good evening.

"I'm sorry. Did you order tea and get coffee?"

Heero shook his head. "No, it was free. Very kind of you by the way. But I really don't care for
coffee much and coffee that strong will keep me up at night. I'll probably be awake until 1 or 2
now. I really prefer tea. But I'm grateful for your generosity."

The girl smiled. "You're the guy who was with the guy who saved Alice. She's my BFF and my
G. She was so scared and that guy with the braid was just the best. He's a real HOTP. And a bod
from what I heard. And we saw some footage from the on site camera ... OMG. WAB! And ..."

"Child. Stop chattering at the man. What with all those letters and how fast you're talking, how's
he supposed to understand a thing."

The poor girl turned red at the reprimand and her lip quivered a bit. Duo bounced up having
deserted Hypatia to rush to the rescue.

"Hey, I understood every word and I'm sure Heero did to. He's even more net savvy than I am.
BFF .. Best friend forever. G ... girl. In girlfriend. And HOTP I don't know that one. But OMG is
oh my god and WAB is what a bod."

Heero smirked at Duo. "HOTP is hero of the people."

Duo slapped his forehead and groaned. "Man, please tell me I'm not plastered all over the news."

Heero just pointed at a screen in one corner, neatly hidden behind a short divider.

The checker and the host turned to watch the news. Heero glanced at the bill, pealed off enough
bills to cover it and a small tip and pulled Duo out the door.

x.

They got home just in time for the ESUN-CNN news. Duo was given a 30 second bit before the
first commercial. He groaned. Heero grinned.

Heero insisted they sit through the entire news segment, made sure the recorder was on and
recorded the whole thing claiming it was for posterity. Duo made a rude noise and said, "You
mean for posterior. You just want to drool over my ass."

Heero grabbed him, flipped him over on his stomach and bit him on the left cheek. It didn't hurt
because Duo was wearing jeans and Heero didn't bite all that hard. Duo yelled, kicked around
and they both fell off the couch onto the hard wood floor. Heero oomphed and Duo whimpered.
He'd wrenched his knee in the fall.

"Damn! Duo, are you alright?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll be ok. Just wrenched my knee. Get me some ice will ya?"

Heero went into the kitchen and got out a zip lock bag. He turned the fridge ice maker to crushed
and half filled the bag with ice. He added a bit of water and wrapped it in a towel. Taking it to
Duo he apologized and handed him the ice. Duo plopped it on his knee and huffed in disgust.

"And that's what we get for horsin' around. This'll hurt, swell and keep me off my feet all week
end. Fuck!"

Heero settled in his corner of the couch and tugged Duo around until his feet were in his lap.
Heero rubbed Duo's feet and turned slightly to see the tv better. They spent the rest of the
evening watching Television and talking.

x.

Duo got up late the next morning and found that Heero was sitting in the kitchen with a man he
didn't know. He couldn't help his reaction. He ducked behind the door frame for a second. Heero
called his name, so he entered the kitchen.

"Duo, this is Buck. He's a bail bonds man. I usually work for him and a couple of others. He also
gets me jobs from his contacts. Sit down. Coffee?"

Duo accepted the coffee and sipped happily.

Buck eyed Duo for a second then opined. "You feed that boy? Bit on the skinny side if you ask
me. Could do with a good feed or two."

Duo wasn't offended, Buck reminded him of Howard. "He feeds me. I just can't eat too much at
one meal or I get sick. I'm getting better. You should have seen what I ate last night." He shifted
and winced slightly. "Damn. Heero, more ice, please?"

Heero hadn't waited for Duo to ask. The minute he'd seen Duo wince he'd gotten another bag
out. He was standing at the fridge, filling it even as Duo spoke.

Duo accepted the bag and plopped it on his knee. He knew he needed heat soon.

"We got a hot water bottle? I don't remember."

Buck snickered softly. "Yuy, you sound like a mother hen."

Heero snorted. "You should hear him, when he gets started ... well, it's something. I remember
one time I got shot. He hauled my ass three miles, bitching all the way. Then he sewed me up."

Buck blinked then asked, "Bullet?"

"Through and through. He bled like a stuck pig. All down my side. I was so scared that he'd bled
out on me before I could get him to the safe house. Idiot."

Buck shook his head in wonder. "Skinny little thing like you, carrying his heavy ass three miles?
I'd have to call you a liar except I know Yuy. You been sick or something?"

Duo gave him a sad sort of look. "Or something."

"Well, I ain't one to pry. Here. Take a look." Buck slid a folder across the table to Duo. Duo took
it and started reading, absently taking the hot water bottle from Heero and exchanging it for the
ice. He sipped his coffee and read.

After he was done, he looked at Heero. "You read this?"

"Yeah, what do you think?"

"He's a freak. We need to get him off the street. Now."

"Yeah, I hate to put you on him so soon, but we need to do it."

"Yeah, and I've been meaning to bust your chops over some of the targets I've been getting.
They're all cry babies, wimps and losers."

"And you aren't going to get any big boys, except for this one, until you get some experience
under your belt. I'm not breaking centuries of tradition just to coddle your pride. I won't get you
killed by jumping the gun. We both had enough of that in Operation Meteor, just dump five
fifteen-year-olds on Earth and let them go at it. You know damn good and well that training
missions and simulators didn't really leave us prepared to handle the job right." Heero gave Duo
a look of mingled disgust and fury.

Duo made a face but shrugged. "Ok, don't glare at me like that. I'll bait him."

Buck looked from Duo to Heero then back. "You ... what? Gonna turn him out? Make him bait?
You sure?"

Heero nodded. "That guy's gonna kill someone next time maybe. We can get him."

Buck grumbled. "Well, yeah, but I don't have to like it. What if he gets hurt? He's not licensed
yet. Needs his certificate and his on the job' my insurance agent will have a fit if he finds out."

Duo stretched. "We'll just have to make sure he doesn't find out then. I'll see what I've got in my
closet. We might have to go to a used clothing store or something."

Buck shrugged easily. "I've got some shit at the office and my daughter dresses like a slut, I
swear. You can have any of her rags you want."

Duo shuddered. "No thanks. Get between a lady and her wardrobe? Not me. I gave up suicidal
for Lent."

Buck laughed then asked. "You Catholic?"

Duo thought about it for a second. "Nominally, but I haven't been to confession since I was ...
nine? Whatever."

Heero smiled at Duo and caressed his cheek with the backs of his fingers. "How about that pair
of leather pants you said shrank when you sweated them? And there's a black, sparkly t-shirt
Wufei gave me as a gag gift. Combat boots?"

Duo nodded, thinking carefully. "Yeah, he likes those. Then all I have to do is sashay my ass by
him a few times. He'll follow like a dog after a bitch. I'll duck into the ... where ever you set up,
and you can snatch him up. How's that?"

Buck examined the plan from every angle. He couldn't find anything wrong with it but he was
still worried. "Don't know. Something. Can't put my finger on exactly what."

Duo scampered upstairs to change into the leather pants, t-shirt and boots. He rummaged in
Heero's disguise kit for some eye brow pencil or something else suitable for eyeliner. He found
an unused kohl pencil in a deep purple, so deep it was almost black. He lined his eyes and put a
beauty mark just under the curve of his lower lip.

When Buck saw him all he could do was stare. "Damn, boy. All of a sudden you look like sex on
two feet. We'll catch that pervert for sure."

x.

Duo got out on the street corner about a block and a half away from where their target usually
hung out. He sashayed along, taking a slow gait to spare his knee, stopping to look in windows.
He took his time, attracting all kinds of attention.

Some of which was really annoying. Like the Holy Roller who tried to redeem' him by wanting
a blow job, and the reformist who lectured him for ten minutes on how he was going to hell if he
didn't change his ways. He gave the Holy Roller a price that no one in their right mind would pay
and just stood and rolled his eyes at the reformist. He could see Heero and Buck in the
nondescript boxy bodied van, they were laughing their heads off.

"I'll get you two, sooner or later. Just you wait and see," Duo muttered into his wire. Putting that
on had been interesting. Duo had worn wires before, during the war. But this one was so small
and so powerful that they'd just stuck it in his braid, running the antenna down it. It picked up
everything. And a few locks of artfully disarranged hair hid the earpiece completely.

"Sorry, love. It's just that the phrase Demon brat' just got me somehow or other. And, cushioned
in the arms of lust? Please."

Duo snickered softly, swished his ass and ambled on. It took him two trips around the small park
before he captured the interest of their target.

Heero watched through field glasses while Duo cut through the small park followed by their
target. A bi-partisan rapist who didn't care about gender only appearance. He liked long haired,
big eyed, slender types. Androgynous was the word Buck used.

Duo was usually very masculine, no matter his looks. But he could and had put on a persona that
was ... femmi' was Duo's word. "This guy" Meaning his character. "is so swish you can feel the
breeze ten feet away." Duo had told Buck. Now he was proving it.

He wandered along, luring his target. The target followed him into a dead end alley and found
that his helpless' quarry wasn't helpless at all. He grabbed Duo, Duo grabbed back. Duo
dumped him on his butt and Heero appeared in the mouth of the alley ready for bear' as the
saying goes. The pick up took one look at Heero's cold feral expression and totally lost it. He
managed to punch Duo in his sore knee, tipping him off balance as he flinched away from the
blow. He scrambled to his feet and took off running. Heero followed, leaving a trail of profanity
in his wake.

Duo hopped on his good leg for a second, gritted his teeth and took off after him. He barely heard
the screech of tires as Buck accelerated the van to follow all three of them. Lester' ran down the
alley, slammed his shoulder into a small door and shoved his way inside. Heero finished the
demolition of the door with his booted foot and followed. Duo nearly trod on his heels.

"Where'd he go?"

Heero glanced around. One of the men sitting at a card table glared at him but pointed.

"Through there. He owes me for that door." He went back to his cards with a grunt. The other
men in the group ignored them completely. In this neighborhood this attitude wasn't that
unusual. Duo made it to the door first by the simple expedient of rolling over the small bar
between him and the door. He yelped as he hurt his knee but kept going.

Heero jumped onto the bar to give himself a high point. He nodded to Duo who opened the door
and pivoted out of the way, hopefully not giving their perp a chance to target him.

The man was trying to crawl out a small window but wasn't having much luck as Buck had
managed to figure out where he was going to exit and was doing his best to stuff him back in the
room. Heero jumped off the bar and made it across the room in one bound. He grabbed their man
by the seat of his pants and jerked. The man flew across the room and landed in the middle of the
floor. He bounced like a ball but he didn't give up just yet.

Instead of doing the sensible thing and giving up, he grabbed for Duo. Duo kicked him in the
head with his bad leg and gritted his teeth as the impact sent a jolt of pain up his leg. The rising
spin kick put the man flat and Heero pounced on him. He got a grip on his shirt collar and
slugged him in the face, stunned, the man finally gave up. He flopped onto his back and just lay
there.

Buck showed up just as Heero was checking for weapons. "Boy, don't you have any brains at all.
Put on some gloves. That creep is filthy. He stinks."

Duo handed one of the pairs of gloves Buck tossed him to Heero who pulled them on without
comment. Buck snapped the wrist of one he had on, grinning.

"I'm not filthy. I'm just over heated." Their perp actually managed to look indignant.

Buck told him to shut up while Duo snorted in disgust and Heero just produced handcuffs and
told Buck, "Grab him and roll him over. I'll hook him up."

Duo did a little victory dance, crowing. "Cuffed and stuffed." Then the over strained leather
pants split clear around the crotch. He yelped then started laughing hysterically. Buck guffawed.
Heero dragged their perp to his feet, noticed exactly what had happened and started laughing too.
The perp demanded indignantly to know what they thought was so funny.

Heero jerked Lester the Molester' by one arm told him to get over himself and dragged him off
to the van.

Duo followed with Bucks light jacked wrapped around his waist. He changed into a pair of sweat
pants Buck had in the van. They were a bit large and an odd shade of blue, but Duo was glad to
have them none the less. They were much better than wandering around in a pair of pants with no
crotch.

x.

The trip to the lockup was interesting because the idiot, whose name turned out to actually be
Lester, made a pass at Duo. Duo just looked at him. Buck was driving so Lester was treated to
one of Heero's most steely, ice coated glares. Duo cracked up and advised the man to shut up
before he froze to death.

Buck pulled up at the nondescript door and let Heero out. He dragged Lester out of the van and
frog marched him up to the door. Duo followed at Buck's direction. Buck told Duo that he
needed to go through check in to learn the procedures and introduce himself to the staff.

Duo nodded and trotted after Heero, catching up just in time to be buzzed in.

The desk Sergeant was a tiny woman of about 40. She smiled at Heero and glowered at Lester.

"Well, I see you got him. How'd you do that?"

Duo stepped up to the counter and remarked, rather smugly, "Followed my hot ass into an alley
way. Numb-nuts here has no self control at all."

Lester whined about entrapment and police brutality. Bonnie just told him to shut up.

"Hey, cutie, that was quite a chance you took there. You don't know his rap sheet. He could have
really hurt you."

Duo eyed the fat slob and shook his head, shoulders shaking with suppressed mirth. "Don't think
so. Unless he fell on me. Then he might have had a chance." Heero snorted his opinion of that bit
of silliness. "Well, he might."

Bonnie eyed Heero and quipped, "There's a story behind this, isn't there?"

"Duo Maxwell, meet Bonnie Fallon. Desk Sergeant extraordinaire, and a beautiful lady." she
blushed and Heero said in an aside, stage whisper. "See, I can too pay compliments."

Duo gave him the raspberry and Bonnie laughed. "Ok, ok. Maxwell? Name sounds familiar and
the face rings a bell." She didn't even realize that she was running Duo until the data came up on
her screen. Duo just posed for her and Heero rolled his eyes in mock disgust.

"I'm so pretty. Yes, I know." Duo did a little jig, hyped on adrenaline, and Bonnie laughed.
When she looked at her screen her jaw dropped to her knees.

"Holy crap. You're that Maxwell. I see you and Heero teamed in the war. Now you're teamed
again. That's ... good?"

Duo nodded. "Yeah, real good. I'm happy. This is my first job as a bounty hunter."

Bonnie snapped her fingers. "Sure it is. What about day before yesterday. It was all over the
news."

"That was an accident. Right place, right time sort of thing. Idiot walked in, held up the place and
ran into me. Tough on him."

Just then Lester demanded to be processed so he could call his lawyer. Bonnie grumbled spoil
sport', but took the blood sample and retinal print, processed their prize and paid the bounty into
their account. Duo watched with bright, interested eyes as she did the intake paperwork, ran
Heero's bank card and handed him the receipt. Heero tucked it into his wallet, motioned to a
hovering officer to take Lester and headed for the door. Duo followed waving over his shoulder
to Bonnie and telling her he'd be back, with bounties of his own. She waved back then turned
back to her computer to finish signing Lester in.

x.


Buck drove them home and let them out with a cheery, "See you when you get your license, boy.
Study hard."

Duo hollered back, "Don't be a stranger."

Heero opened the door and they went inside. Duo made a bee line for the bathroom, announcing,
"I feel filthy. That perv had his hands, eyes and thoughts on me. Yuck!"

Heero didn't follow him, instead he went into the kitchen and started making stir fry. He knew
Duo well and knew that he probably had an upset stomach. Due to years of near starvation and a
round of water torture, Duo had a delicate stomach. Or, as he put it, I'm pukey as a cat.'

So he was going to make a simple ginger chicken stir fry and ginger-peach tea. Both had plenty
of ginger in them, the chicken spicy with fresh ginger and the tea mellow with both dried and
candied ginger in it. He hummed as he chopped and sliced. He decided to go up stairs and ask
Duo if he wanted water chestnuts in it.

He found Duo standing in the shower, crying his eyes out.

"Hey! Come here." Heero snatched up a towel and pulled Duo out of the shower. Wrapping him
in the towel he took Duo into the bedroom dripping hair and all. Sitting Duo on the bed Heero
hurried back into the bathroom and gathered up more towels. He returned to Duo and wrapped
two towels around his hair then used another to dry him.

While Heero was drying him Duo struggled to compose himself. He finally succeeded just about
the time Heero got him dry. Not his hair, just him. The Hair, as Heero thought of it, took nearly
an hour to dry with a blow drier. Then he sat down next to him and rubbed his back for a few
moments.

"Better? I'm sorry. Do you want to talk about it?"

Duo heaved a hitching sigh and moved to sit against the head board. He started blotting at his
hair with the towel it was wrapped in. Heero waited patiently, Duo would talk once he got his
thoughts in order.

"I don't talk much about my ... early life. Not something I want to remember, or burden my
friends with. But ... damn this is really harder than it should be."

Heero scooted up to sit next to Duo. He took the now wet towel from him exchanging it for a dry
one. Duo pulled the towel from his head and tossed it on the floor with the first one. Heero just
pulled him around so that he could comb Duo's hair for him.

Finally Duo heaved another sigh and started talking. "When I lived on the streets ... Solo was sort
of a big brother to me and the rest of the gang I ran with. He always said, Kid, never sell your
body. The type that'll buy it ll eat ya alive. Lie, cheat, steal, but never, ever sell your self.' and I
never did. Came damn close to bein' raped a few times but I never sold myself. And that creep ...
he made me realize that Solo was right. Deep down in my soul. It kinda freaked me out. Sorry to
be such a girl."

Heero just pulled Duo close and kissed him. "Never be ashamed of an honest emotional
response. Ever." Duo nodded against Heero's chest and shuddered. "Ok? What's wrong?"

Duo chuckled a bit. "My still wet ass is freezin'. I better get up and put on my bathrobe. What are
you cooking?"

"Ginger chicken. You want water chestnuts?" Heero gave him a hopeful look.

"Oh, all right." Duo's much put upon expression made Heero laugh. He knew very well that if
Duo didn't want them he'd just pick them out.

"I'll go back down and start. Ginger-peach tea. The expensive kind you like best." Heero
waggled his eyebrows at Duo in a manner guaranteed to make him laugh.

Duo did laugh, a soft chuckle that relieved Heero's mind.

x.

Duo came downstairs just as Heero was starting the stir fry. He picked up the kettle and filled it
with water, plugging it in, he settled at the table to watch Heero.

Heero glanced over his shoulder at Duo and nodded to himself. Duo was filling out nicely,
gaining weight and muscle tone. He filled the robe out neatly, not too bulky and not rail thin
anymore. Heero smiled into the wok. Duo had great legs. Long, slender and elegant with well
filled out calves and firm thighs. Very firm thighs. And his feet were great too. High arched and
long toed. Heero dragged his thoughts from Duo's legs back to his cooking.

Duo jumped slightly when the kettle started to whistle, he noticed that Heero did the same. Their
eyes met and they both snickered a bit. Duo picked up the kettle, scalded the pot, dropped the tea
into the pot and poured the boiling water in. He put the pot on a small tray and covered it with a
cozy.

"Heero?"

"Hn."

"Baka." Duo's voice held a world of amusement. "Why do you have a cozy shaped like a hand
grenade?"

"One of Quat's sisters thought it would be amusing. I do think it is. Don't you?"

"Hysterical. Time to dish the rice?"

Heero eyed the stir fry. "Yeah, by the time you're done dancing around, it'll be done. Pour my
tea?"

"Sure." Duo started dishing rice and pouring tea. He put the bowls on the table then asked,
"Bowl or plate?"

"Bowl. Is there anything for desert?"

Duo flushed a bit. "No, I ate the last of the ice cream yesterday."

"Don't flush like that. Why shouldn't you eat it if you want it?"

Duo eased up behind Heero to hug him. "Sister Helen always said it was bad to take the last of
something without letting someone know. I never figured that out."

Heero thought about that as he split the food into two servings. He put one bowl in front of his
place and handed the other to Duo, sitting across the table from him. He ate in silence for a few
bites then said, "Maybe ... because that way they'd add whatever it was to the shopping list?"

Duo mulled that over then shrugged. "Well, might be. But I don't ever remember a shopping list.
There wasn't very much money and we just about lived on donations from restaurants. We got a
lot of the last of something." Heero paused in his meal, the chopsticks still in his mouth and gave
Duo a questioning look. "You know, the stuff they cooked and didn't sell? We'd get it after
closing. Sometimes we didn't get supper until after midnight. But at least we ate."

Heero nodded. "I really hated having to get into a dumpster to get something. Never knew if it'd
been dosed with bleach or something. Or if it was rotten. Until I smelled it. Gag. We should
change the subject before we're both to grossed out to eat."

Duo gave Heero an understanding nod and changed the subject to how his knee was much better
and his new class schedule.

x.

Duo was rather proud of his schedule as he'd managed to replace the two classes he didn't need
with two he did. He'd exchanged for Principles of Criminal Culpability and Escalation and De-
escalation, the Use of Force. Both were classes that were very important. He'd also managed to
add Criminal Codes, Statutes to Aid and Block Acquisitions. And Seizure and Entry.

There'd been some back and forth by fax and phone but he'd managed to convince the new
councilor that he could handle it. He was sure he could because they were all lecture classes with
no workshops except for S & E and E & D, Use of Force. He couldn't wait. He'd also managed
to get them all on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with the workshops on Tuesday and
Thursday.

That meant that he had Tuesday and Thursday afternoons off. He intended to use the time to
shoot off his required ammo. He figured that it would only take him two weeks to do it, that
would leave him most of the day to work on homework or just slack off. Saturday and Sunday
were family' time. He insisted, arguing that it was the only time he and Heero would have
together until he finished his certificate. He did allow that, if the bounty was big enough, they'd
work an acquisition.

x.

Heero didn't drop Duo off the next day. He parked and went with him to his first class. Heero
dropped him off at the door and gave him a quick peck on the cheek in farewell. Duo smiled after
him as he strode away.

He went in and sat down. It didn't take him long to realize that at least half the people in the
room were giving him quick sneak peeks, side long glances when they thought he wasn't
looking. He began to feel a bit paranoid. What were they looking at? He didn't have a hickey and
he knew his face was clean. He began an inventory of sorts, trying to figure out what they were
staring at. Nothing came to mind so he began to fidget.

The professor came in and immediately noticed something off in the room. Being an intelligent
man he realized that nothing was going to get done until he got the atmosphere cleared.

"Ok, people, someone want to tell me what is going on? Anyone?"

Duo held up his hand, stood up and announced. "Ok. So I'm a paranoid asshole, but every one
keeps staring at me when they think I'm not looking. I feel their eyes on me. And it's frankly
freakin' me out. So what's up with that?"

"All right, Mr. Maxwell, with your past history I'm sure you know when you're being surveiled.
Any one want to explain why they, personally have been staring?"

A pretty girl held up her hand. Professor Sharp glanced at his seating chart. "Miss. Feeny?"

"Well ... um ... I saw that guy you came in with. Who's he? Is he dating anyone? Do you have his
number?"

Duo laughed softly. "Ok, questions in order. Heero Yuy. No. Yes, but he's not dating because we
live together. Not available. Hands off." But he eased the sharpness of his remarks with a grin,
"Sorry. Mine."

She snapped her fingers and grouched. "Well, shit. All the good one's are taken."

The class all laughed at that. Then Professor Sharp moved on to another hand.

"Mr. Jackson? You have a pertinent comment."

"Yeah. Just ... um ... thanks. Really. I got enough back on three classes that I didn't need that I
can almost pay for next semester. Anyone else in class in the same boat?"

His question made almost every one who'd been staring, raise their hand.

"Well, how about a round of well earned applause and we get back to work." Professor Sharp got
the class back to business with this remark. After the applause, he began his lecture.

When the seemingly interminable lecture finally dragged to its end, Duo dumped his notebook
and pen into his backpack and escaped before anyone could corner him. He felt a bit off balance
the applause had left him feeling exposed. He wasn't happy with all the attention he'd
attracted.

The other two classes were nearly the same. Staring, congratulations, lecture. The only difference
being that he was given catch up notes and the content of the lecture he'd missed. It wasn't going
to be easy to catch up on three classes, but since he'd only missed the first two days, he wasn't
going to sweat it. It wasn't as if his life depended on remembering every detail. He'd prepared for
extremely complicated missions, absorbing ten times the data, in less time than he had to catch
up on the information. The professors had all warned him that he had less than ten days till he'd
be tested. Ten whole days. It seemed like an eternity compared to the time he sometimes had.

He met Heero at the student union and settled in the place saved for him.

"How the hell did you manage to save a whole table? Usually people just plop down and you're
stuck."

Just then someone started to do exactly that. Heero just looked up, glared and announced.
"Saved. Study group. Sorry." But the sorry didn't sound much like sorry. It sounded more like
fuck off!' The kid made a sound like a stepped on mouse and backed away.

"Ok. Got that in one. Are you really saving the table for the study group?"

Heero shook his head. "No, but if any of them show, they can sit. I'm starving. You stay here, I'll
go get us something to eat. Salad?"

Duo shook his head. He was starving too. "No, they've got chicken and dumplings. I'd like some
of that. Ok? And apple pie."

"That's good. Milk? Or tea."

Duo thought for a second. "Milk if they've got skim, whole upsets my stomach. If not, then tea."

Heero sauntered off to get their food and Duo stuck his nose in one set of lecture notes. He
looked up just in time to fend off a group of rowdy footballers. They took it a bit amiss until Duo
invited Shinigami out to play.

"Excuse me. I said all the seats are taken. You want to take this outside, I guarantee that you
won't like it." The look on his face scared the much bigger boys off. They left grumbling about
psycho midgets' but they left.

Heero plopped the tray in front of Duo, remarking. "What was that about my expression? You
always look like you're an inch away from shooting someone."

Duo snorted. "And you look like you're trying to decide where to shoot them first."

"I rest my case."

They both laughed and settled in to eat their food.

x.

Duo checked his schedule and sighed. He was done with classes for the day. He decided to go to
the shooting range and get in some practice. He was going to have to hustle to get in his required
practice time.

" Ro, I've got some major practice to get in. I just looked at the requirements for passing
Firearms. I've got to shoot a case of ammo. Then I've got to get a combined total of ... um ...
6,000 points. Just punching paper but I can't combine the two. So. I'm going to be at the firing
range for hours. I'll try to get it over with as soon as I can but it's going to be at least a month of
two hours a day to do it and everything else. What is it? These guys think their class is the only
one I'm taking?"

Heero rubbed the back of his neck "I think so. Look, if you take all Saturday morning, from
seven til noon, will that help?"

"Yeah, but it'll eat into our time. You know."

Heero sighed. "I'm sorry to say that I've reached the point where I can't turn down a bounty for
any reason for a while. I've got a bunch right here in the city but I need to get them all soon, or
my bonds men will be finding someone else to do the job. Sorry."

Duo sighed, he'd known this was coming, just not quite this soon. "That's ok, Ro. I know
you've been putting them off for weeks. While I was visibly sick they didn't get on you. But I'm
well now, and just getting back to normal. What ever that is for us. So they want you back on the
job. I don't blame them a bit. You do what you need to do. I'm going to the range right now and
get in an afternoon's practice. Ok?"

Heero kissed Duo and then nodded, "Sure, I'll be on the streets. Buck is going to have a list for
me at one." He glanced at his watch. "I better get going. It's almost one now. I'll be late as it is.
Bye."

Duo waved as Heero took off. He headed for the range with a sour expression on his usually
cheerful face. He wanted to be on the streets with Heero, not stuck in a firing range doing
something as stupid as proving that he, an ex-gundam pilot, ex-terrorist who'd practically cut his
teeth on guns, that he wasn't going to shoot himself in the foot. But his appeal had been refused,
the councillor had admitted that insurance wouldn't let them give any passes on the Pracitum

Duo checked in, got his piece and descended into the firing range to rack off his daily allotment
of gunpowder.

x.

Heero settled across from Buck with a pile of files at his elbow. He was going to have to work
fast, he wanted to be back at the campus when Duo got out of the range. So he settled into what
Duo called mission mode and started flipping through files.

"Slow down, boy, you'll miss something."

Heero tossed the file to Buck. "Pick a page, paragraph and line. Don't care where, I'm done with
that one."

"Ok ... um ... page six, paragraph four, line ... three."

Heero closed his eyes, a luxury he'd been denied in his training, and started quoting. "The girl
friend quote Mary Torson endquote is well known for carrying a knife and ..."

Buck snarled then laughed. "All right, all right. You got me. How the hell do you do that?"

Heero looked Buck in the eye. "Got it beaten into me early. Oden Lowe wouldn't tolerate a
mistake. And ... you know ... this is just like an assassination except I don't have to kill my target
just acquire it and catch it."

"Son, do the letters TMI mean anything to you?"

Heero made a sound somewhere between a chuckle and a snort. "Yeah. But I trust you. Besides,
statute of limitations covers most of what I did when I was under sixteen and my others are
covered by winning side is right'. So, we gonna do this or what?"

"We're gonna do this. First acquisition is this ... Frank Miller. I swear, I wish I could ... never
mind. We got an address that's good. Girlfriend actually called me early this morning. He's
hanging around her place, she can't get him out because he's on the lease. She's moving
tomorrow and wants him in jail until she can get out. Don't blame her either. Guys a real prize.
Drugs, guns, assault. Bond revoked due to failure to appear."

Heero closed his eyes again and did some quick figuring. "The address he's supposed to be at is
near, within three blocks one way or another, to three other bounties. If we work it right we can
get all of them. Bet you a fiver that they're all hanging together. Birds and all that."

Buck shook his head in disgust. "They never learn. We'll take the big van. Just in case. Let's go."

So they picked up the rest of the crew from the lobby, briefed them on the targets and headed out.

It didn't take them long to get to the first address, in fact, just in time to hear a woman start to
scream. Heero bolted from the van and made it to the door first. The rest of the men followed,
yelling, "Fugitive Recovery Team. Out of the way."

Heero hit the door like a bomb. The door obediently collapsed in a pile of fragments and Heero
grabbed the man who was in the process of smacking his girlfriend' around. She dropped, rolled
and got out of the way.

The next two men in the door grabbed their target and with Heero's superior strength, dumped
him on the floor, wrestled him into submission and got him cuffed. Heero turned to the girl
friend to see that Buck was holding her in his arms in a fatherly embrace and offering her some
tissues.

"There, there, pretty girl. Here, blow your nose. We got him and I guarantee that he's going away
for at least ninety days. You do your move. Never get in contact with him again and have a nice
life."

She blew her nose, handed Buck a legal document and announced. "I'd like you to serve him
with this. He says it's not legal unless an officer of the court gives it to him."

"That's not true, but I'll do it. That way he doesn't have any excuses. You best put some ice on
that eye."

Heero held their perp as Buck handed, or rather tucked the papers in his waist band, and
explained that, as an officer of the court, he was serving these papers. "An' mister, if you violate
them, I'll let Yuy have you. Take im out." Heero turned him over to two of the other officers
and looked around the tiny apartment.

"Looks like she doesn't have much. We got ten minutes?"

Buck looked doubtful. "Maybe."

"My name's Sherry. Thanks for haulin' that ass off a me. Look, I got a brother comin' in about
fifteen minutes and I got to pack up my stuff. You go along off now. If you hurry. You can get to
Sullivan's before the rest of that pack takes off."

Heero gave her a solemn nod then asked if she needed any help to pack. She shook her head
while stuffing things into a duffle.

"Nope, I got some clothing and a few nick knacks. Other than that, the apartment is completely
furnished. My bro' is just comin' to pick me up and carry this." She gave the duffel a tug.

"Would you like me to carry it down stairs for you? You go get yourself some ice like Buck said,
and I'll take this down for you. Is there any food in the fridge?"

Sherry shook her head. "Naw, asshole ate it all. And some of it wasn't really fresh. Had some
Chinese in there that I forgot about. Wound up behind something else. Best watch him. He'll
probably puke. I'm gone."

She nodded to Heero to take her duffel, put the ice bag she'd made while she was talking on her
eye and followed him down the stairs.

x.

It didn't take long to find Sullivan's Bar and Grill. It turned out to be more bar than grill, no
surprise there. Heero wandered in wearing well worn jeans, t-shirt and flannel over shirt. He
looked around and identified their targets, all four of them. They were right there at a table in the
rear.

It wasn't hard to slip right through the crowded bar, out the back door and into the alley. Heero
looked up and down the alley way and made sure that there were no exits other than the front and
back doors. There weren't, not even a way up to the second floor. He saw a narrow doorway off
to one side, behind a dumpster. That had to be the door up.

Deciding that it wasn't a threat, Heero made the call to do the take down.

It was going to be a bit of a problem, the rest of the men in the bar were sure to start trouble, just
on general principles. But Buck had a way around that. He just walked in the door, held up his
badge and announced, "Fugitive Recovery agent, if you don't have a problem with me, I don't
have a problem with you. Start something and I'll take you all down town."

No one wanted to be the one to start something. You wouldn't think it would have worked but
the criminal mind is a strange thing. They wouldn't stand up for each other. All they would do
was start a mob. When they were personally threatened they caved.

Heero sneered, he'd heard the whole thing from his post by the alley door. He was there, waiting
for someone to do a rabbit. The rest of the crew was picking up their targets and getting them out
of the bar as quickly as possible to avoid anyone working up the nerve to start something.

There was no trouble on this pickup and they took the five men down to the jail and left one of
the crew to do the paper work and collect the bounties. He would meet up with them as soon as
he was done.

Heero settled in the passenger's seat next to Buck. Buck turned his head to look at Heero. Heero,
in mission mode, scared the shit out of him. If Heero ever pointed that, cold, dead gaze at him, he
was shooting first and asking questions later. Granted he'd shoot Heero in the leg or somewhere
else non lethal.

"Ok, now where. Heero, check the files and figure out another hit like that last one. Great idea."

Heero settled back in the seat and went through every file he'd looked at. He asked for a map of
the city. Buck handed him a well worn one from the door pocket. Heero unfolded it and sat
staring at it for a few minutes. Everyone just waited patiently. The ones that had worked with
Heero before knew what he was up to, the rest trusted Buck.

Heero gave Buck an address then said, "Take us there. We should pick up at least two men there.
They may know were other's are. Why do these idiots run in packs like that. They know they'll
only get in more trouble for fraternization."

Buck sighed softly. "Sorry state of affairs. They got no good friends, they're not allowed to be
with the friends they do have. So they stick together anyway and get themselves into trouble for
hanging with the only support system they've got. And all it does is go round and round." He put
the van in gear and pulled out. "Well, let's get this freak show on the road."

The silence was broken by a rather uncomfortable titter from the back. Heero snorted and settled
back to look out the door and think of Duo.

x.

Duo glanced around the front end, found the range officer and signaled him. He was a man Duo
didn't know, which made Duo a bit uncomfortable. But the man was easy going and just
motioned to Duo to get his ammo and pick a bay.

Duo went to the window and asked for two boxes. The clerk just shrugged. "It's your hands,
buddy. Sign here." He handed Duo a clipboard. Duo signed in, made note of the caliber of his
piece and waited as the man checked the info. He turned around, pulled two boxes off a shelf and
set them in a small plastic tub. "Got an ammo catcher?"

Duo nodded, "Yeah, don't fancy crawling all over the floor to pick it all up." He craned his neck
to see the man's name badge. "Lonnie."

Lonnie gave Duo a quick grin. "You wouldn't believe the idiots that think we some how
magically deal with getting the empties back. We do reload and that brass doesn't need to be
stepped on. Don't bother to re-rack them. They all have to be tumbled before we reload them."

Duo accepted the tub and checked to see if the back lane was empty. It was, so he headed that
way. He liked that lane and was going to use it whenever possible. It was the last lane, farthest
from the entry. And near the emergency exit. He felt comfortable with its positioning

Duo opened his shooting bag and got out his clips. He spent a while loading them, all six of
them. And checking to see that his targets were ready.

Then he picked up his piece and started shooting.

He was nearly done with the first box when the range officer came over to check on him.

"How ya doin', son? Need anything?"

Duo took off his headset and leaned against the shooting bench. "Fine. Don't need anything.
Think I'll take a rest and get a drink. Want to safety me?"

The RO looked at him for a second. "No, wouldn't insult your intelligence or mine. I know who
you are."

Duo blinked for a second. "Going to be a problem?"

"No. Just wonder what the hell you're doing here."

Duo thought for a second, realized there was no need for secrecy and replied. "Getting a recovery
agent certificate. Heero and I are setting up in business."

"I see. Good luck. If you have trouble with anything or anyone, let me know. I mean it. Ok?"
Duo nodded and said ok' but his puzzlement showed. The RO refrained from further comment,
safetied him, checking to see that his piece was cleared of live rounds and let him go.

Duo went to the small cafeteria, just a room with some vending machines really, and got a
package of chips and a soda. He settled himself in a corner with his back to the wall, facing the
door. The back of his neck was crawling.

It turned out that it was with good reason. Two men came in about ten minutes after Duo. They
bought coffee and sat on either side of the table, supposedly trapping Duo in the corner. Duo just
watched them, calmly crunching chips. It didn't take long.

"You're quite the smart ass ain't ya?"

Duo just nibbled on a chip.

The other man chimed up with, "Gonna just sit there?"

Duo glanced from the red-headed man to the chubby blond. He decided to think of them as Red
and Chubs. Just for something to call them that wasn't Fatso and Stupid.

"Planned on it." Duo eased his chair back from the table a bit. He was constrained by the corner
behind him and cursed himself for not leaving more room.

"You know, you're nothing but a trouble maker. We both had good guns, but after your little visit
with the smith, we got red tagged."

"Yeah, now we have to rent guns from the school until we can get something the smith will
pass."
Duo glanced from one man to the other, sort of like watching a tennis match, while they took
turns bitching. He sighed, thinking, When am I gonna catch a break?'

"Look. I don't have any influence with the smith. If you got red tagged, it's because your pieces
were crap, not because of anything I did. We just shot the shit a little."

"Yeah, sure. I believe that. You're just jealous because we're going to be better than you."

Duo blinked then just waited while they harangued him from both sides. Obviously they'd
convinced themselves that Duo was at fault somehow and nothing was going to change their
minds.

After a few minutes of listening, Duo interrupted them. "Won't say its been fun, cause it hasn't
been. I'm leaving now. But I'd suggest that you leave me alone. You've had your say, stupid
though it is, and I've listened. And, you know that can of patience I just opened on your behalf?
Well, it's empty now."

Red sputtered in indignation. Chubs reached for Duo. Duo slapped his hand away and decided
he'd had enough. He needed room so he just tipped the table out of his way. The noise brought
the RO and another man running. But by the time they got to them it was all over.

Duo set himself the second the table was out of the way. Chubs charged him first and grabbed at
him. Duo let him grasp his wrist then twisted his own grasp around to catch the wrist of the hand
that had grabbed him. He tucked his hip in Chubs groin and flipped him neatly into the wall. He
hit with a loud thud and slid down to rest on his side, groaning.

Red took his shot while he thought Duo was distracted by Chubs. He jumped right on Duo's
back. Which didn't do him any good at all. Duo just bent over and flipped him onto his back on
the floor. He punched Red in the throat hard enough to make him choke.

When he heard the noise behind him, Duo whirled, taking up a defensive stance.

"Easy there, we saw enough to know that those two were the aggressors. What was their
problem?" The RO eased into the room, careful not to set Duo off. "Will you let us in?"

Duo realized that the RO knew who he was and was being very careful not to look threatening.
He released his stance, allowing his hands to drop to his sides. Smiling, he jerked his chin
towards Chubs. "Ya wanna pick up the trash? Fine by me. I'm going out." Everyone scrambled a
bit to get out of Duo's way.

Duo walked into the hall and glanced up then down. He didn't want to return to the range, he was
feeling a bit insecure about exposing his back. He stood still long enough that one of the
bystanders felt safe speaking to him.

"Look, I know you're probably feeling ... creeped out. Would you like to come into my office?
It's right here." He motioned to the door right behind him and stepped out of Duo's way.

Duo glanced into the room and nodded. "Be fine. Nice office. What do you do?"

Duo settled onto the couch against the wall. It was situated so that he could see the door, the desk
and out the windows. The little standup on the desk said, Michael O'Keef, Range Master'. Duo
smiled at that, no wonder he had such a nice office.

"I'll let you stay here until the police come. I'm afraid they'll want to interview you. Would you
like some coffee?"

Duo did a quick mental inventory' and decided against anything with caffeine in it. "No thanks.
Don't need it. Got the shakes a bit. Any kind of tea?"

"I've got a personal stash of bagged. I think there's some with catnip in it. Or chamomile?"

Duo shrugged. "I'm sure either will be fine. Thanks."

x.

Duo sat, waiting for the police to come, until he decided that he was fed up with waiting. He
stuck his head out the door and found that the police were still questioning Red and Chubs. He
asked, as politely as he could manage when someone was going to talk to him.

"We thought we'd give you time to finish your tea and get ... um ... settled? You know."

Duo couldn't help but smile at the officer. She was a uniform, a sergeant and looked like
someone's mom.

"Oh, ok. I've calmed down as much as I'm gonna. Why don't we get this over with so I can go
home?"

"Sure thing, Mr. Maxwell. I'll just tell my partner and get my book." she turned back to the room
and Duo returned to the couch.

Mr. O'Keef had told Duo to make himself at home and use the tea kettle and bagged tea again if
he liked. He did like and offered the uniform a cup. She accepted and, as she said, parked her
weary butt' in the wing back chair set at an angle to the couch. Another on the other side of the
coffee table completed the comfortable sitting area.

"Ok. What the hell went on? And ... shit ... what's your full name. All I got out of that couple of
idiots was Gundam fucker. What is wrong with them? The gundam pilots gave us peace and
freedom. Stupid assholes." she flushed and apologized, Duo just flapped his hand saying. "Don't
sweat it."

They settled with their tea and the officer finally introduced herself. "Sorry about all the
confusion. My name is Shelly Graves." She rose to shake Duo's hand, juggling her notebook and
tea. Duo shook, careful not to crush her hand. He didn't have Heero's gorilla grip but his was
more than adequate.

They settled back in their respective seats and Shelly began her interview.

She asked intelligent questions and Duo answered as best he could. They finally came to the only
conclusion possible. The two men knew who Duo was, had a grudge and used any excuse they
could come up with to attack him. She flipped her book shut and stood up.

"Thank you for your time. I'll write up my report and send you a copy, shall I?"

Duo nodded. "Might need it if those two decide to go civil on me. Thanks." He held out his hand.
She shook it again, turned and motioned to her partner. They left with no fanfare, following the
other team with Red and Chubs in tow.

He turned just in time, Heero came busting down the hall at a dead trot, with Buck right behind
him.

"Are you alright? What happened? I'm so sorry we couldn't get here faster. Traffic is a bitch and
we were clear across town."

Duo sighed and relaxed completely in Heero's embrace. He grumbled, "You won't believe it.
Just take me out of here. I just want to sit down somewhere and ... just out, ok?"

Heero didn't argue, he just hauled Duo out the door and into the van. One of the men there
instantly demanded, "Is he ok? What the hell happened? Who do we get to snatch up?

Heero urged Duo into the empty middle seat and climbed in after him. "We'll find out in a
minute? Duo?"

So Duo told the whole story again, this time with all his observations and conclusions. He
sighed, "They got a bug up their ass about me being a Gundam pilot and the fact that my piece is
better than their junk. Buy a hand gun off the street? Suicidal ring a bell? So they jumped me.
Tough luck on them. But I'm a bit shaky and really tired. Adrenaline rush will do that. And I'm
hungry."

The last was said in a childish whine that made Heero snicker and the rest of the men groan. Duo
just laughed, although a bit weakly.

Heero poked Buck on the shoulder, rolled the door shut and they were off to the nearest drive
through to get them all something to eat.

None of them noticed that Duo was still wearing his weapon, holstered on his thigh.
x.

Buck pulled up in the parking lot of the burger joint. Turning around, he announced, "Ok guys,
who wants what?"

The men took turns giving their orders which one of the younger guys wrote down on a scrap of
paper. They played rock/paper/scissors to see who would go in. Duo didn't know the guy who
lost but he was good natured about it, only remarking that someone had to come with to help
with the drinks as he wasn't juggling sacks and two trays of drinks. Duo thought he ought to
offer buy Heero squeezed him gently so he kept his mouth shut. Besides, he didn't really feel like
it. He just wanted to stay here and relax, he could still feel his nerves twanging.

Heero ducked his head and whispered in Duo's ear, "How you doing? Ok?"

Duo turned his head on Heero's shoulder. "I'm ok. Just a bit shaken. Seems odd, being what we
are, but I didn't expect it. Not at a school. Bastards! What if it was some kid that wasn't capable
of handling it? They could have really hurt him, or her. Wonder if they would have picked on a
girl."

Heero sighed, Duo would be fine soon. When he started wondering about stuff like that he was
fine.

They were still waiting for the food when a police car eased through the parking lot. The car
stopped near the van and one officer got out. He glanced at the van, the armed men standing
around it and circled back to his car. Buck followed him carefully.

"Excuse me officer. Is there a problem?"

The cop looked at Buck and then glanced at the group near the van. "Not sure. What's going
on?"

"Just stopping to get some lunch. We all got papers, need to see them?"

The officer leaned against the side of the car so he could talk to his partner without turning his
back on the group. His partner said, loud enough for Buck to hear, "Boss said to check papers
and, if they check out, just let em go." Buck relaxed.

So the cops lined them up, good naturedly telling them to produce or perish. Duo lined up with
the rest of the guys without thinking a thing about the fact that he didn't have his certificate or a
permit yet.

Duo stood at the end of the line, white faced and worried. It had finally dawned on him that there
might be a problem. Heero stood next to him, not noticing his discomfort until it was too late.

"Papers."

Duo bit his lip then admitted, "I don't have any. I'm still working on my certificate."

Heero turned to look at Duo. "What difference does that ..." Then he noticed Duo's weapon.
"Oh, shit!"

Buck just walked over, demanding, "What the hell?" He got a good look at Duo and started
yelling. "Damn it, boy, didn't I tell you to put that thing back in your locker at the range before
you came out?"

Duo got the hint, hung his head and mumbled, "Forgot. M sorry."

The cop just rolled his eyes. "Shit, kid. You're in for it now."

Duo shrugged sullenly. "But it's not loaded. I cleared it before I left the range then I forgot to
leave it because I didn't go to my locker. I'm sorry."

The cop just rubbed the back of his neck, looking into the van he brightened. "You got a
weapons locker in there?" Buck nodded. "Just take it and stick it in there."

Duo obediently took off his belt and handed it to Buck, who took it remarking, "...And you're
grounded for the week end."

Duo grumbled. "Well fuck." Buck just put his belt in the safe and shut it.

The cop turned to see the last two men coming back with the food. Neither one said a word, just
handing over their papers without being asked. The cop checked them, glanced around then told
them to carry on' causing Heero to snicker a bit. The cop gave him a saucy grin and returned to
his partner. They drove away, leaving the bounty hunters to eat their lunch in peace.

x.

The minute the cruiser turned the corner Duo begin chastising himself, snarling, "Stupid, stupid,
stupid. I'd never have done something like this even a year ago. I don't know where my head is."

Heero reached out and caught Duo in a hug. "Hush, love, this isn't the wars anymore. You're
entitled to make a mistake now and then. It's ok. Just let it go. You've had a hard enough day
without this." He petted Duo until he calmed down then handed him his food which wasn't even
cold, due to the packaging not being opened yet.

Duo unwrapped his burger and took a bite. "Man, that's good. I'm so hungry my stomach thinks
my throat's been cut. And ... Dad " His voice took on a definite whine. "I'm grounded all
weekend?" Everyone laughed and the tension was broken.

"Yeah. Well maybe that was a bit over the top. But, boy, you gotta be careful. You get into
trouble with that an' you'll have trouble gettin' your license. An' I don't need that. Yuy'll sulk
for weeks."

Heero snorted around a mouthful of fries. He swallowed quickly to blurt, "Will not. I don't sulk."
The look on his face was priceless. A combination of indignation and surprise.

Buck crowed. "Gotcha!" And tossed a wadded up napkin at him.

Heero mumbled, "I don't sulk," into his soda while everyone else chuckled at the look on his
face. Duo grinned like a loon.

While they were bantering back and forth they finished eating. Buck decided to call it a day as
everyone was tired after wrestling with the perps they'd already picked up. Heero wanted to get
Duo home and the rest just wanted to go home too.

Buck drove them back to the office. Everyone bailed out of the van and headed for their personal
vehicles. Duo and Heero followed Buck into the office to pick up Duo's hand gun before they
headed for home.

Duo expected to get a lecture from Buck for forgetting to locker his piece. Buck just handed over
the belt, holster and pistol without comment.

"Thanks, Buck. Both for the out and not lecturing me."

Buck just grinned at Duo. "Don't need to lecture someone who made an honest mistake. And ...
why the hell they don't just let you opt out of half these classes, I surely don't know."

Duo brightened, "Opt out? What's that?"

Buck grumbled as he realized that Long had screwed Duo over in more ways than one.

"If you're knowledgeable in a subject you can take the final and test, or opt, out of the course.
You still have to pay for the hours but you don't have to sit in the damn class. Waste of time
doing a course you already know. Now, what I'd suggest is you go on line and test out of
everything you can. That'll take a real load off. Get you your certificate sooner, then you still
have to pass a test for your license. Damn waste of time all those tests. Ought to just let you go
out with me a few times and have me critique you. Used to do that all the time. Then the do-
gooders got hold of it." Buck continued to grumble while Duo and Heero looked at each other.
Duo just grabbed Heero's hand and dragged him out the door while buck was still talking. He
just laughed and got ready to go home himself.

x.

Heero let Duo drive home as he was still a bit twitchy and the concentration needed to drive
usually helped him center himself again. So Heero let him drive and worried.

"What's got that frown on your face, love." Duo turned his head for a second to look at Heero.

"You really alright? How do you feel?" Heero worried at things like a dog with a rag and Duo
told him so.

"And you better relax or you'll have an ulcer or something. Ok? I'm fine. By the time I get us
home I'll be ready for supper." Duo grinned at the thought of the steaks put in the fridge to thaw.

"Supper? Duo, you just ate lunch." Heero couldn't help the grin he turned on Duo.

"I know, but by the time they're finished thawing, it'll be time for supper. And baked potatoes.
And salad and ... Heero? Do we have anything for desert?"

Heero thought for a moment then shook his head. "Don't think so. We ate the last of the ice
cream last night and there's no fresh fruit or anything."

Duo sighed and took the next exit. He wanted pie for desert and he wasn't taking no for an
answer. Heero refrained from comment knowing that, in this mood, Duo would only dig in his
heels.

"I'll just stop at the fruit market. I can get some apples and make a flan or something."

Heero thought for a few minutes then asked, "Why not make one of those peasant tart things. It's
just pie crust and fruit, right?"

Duo nodded, licking his lips in anticipation. "Yeah, all I have to do is make the crust and peal the
apples. No pie pan, just flop it on a cookie sheet and bake it. It'll go the same time as the potatoes
and the same temp. Yay, got it in one. Love you, Ro."

Heero didn't bother to try to keep the affection out of his voice. "Love you, too, Duo."

x.

Duo held up his knife and announced. "This is a knife, it is a tool. Used to peal apples, cut them
up and make a pie. It is also a weapon. One used to protect the peace of the world and colonies.
And when will we ever get the benefit of it."

Heero gazed at Duo with some dismay. "What brought that on?"

"Those guys today. Called me gundam fucker. I don't know what I ever did to them and I don't
really care. There's never going to be real peace. You know that, don't you?"

Heero sat down to help Duo peal the apples for their pie. "Yeah, I know, human nature being
what it is. That's one of the reasons I like being a bounty hunter. I can get some of those idiots
off the streets. At least for a little while."

Duo sighed wearily. "I'm just really tired. I'm getting better aren't I? A little?"

Heero nodded. "Yeah, and it's time for you to start going to the gym with me. We'll start
tomorrow. Before your first class."

Duo nodded. "That's the reason I made sure that my first class wasn't until ten. If we get up at
seven, have breakfast and get to the gym on time, I'll have plenty of time to make it to my first
class."

Heero finished with the apple he was pealing. He cut it up and added it to the bowl of bite sized
pieces. "There, all done. I'm going to look into testing out of some of your required classes. If
you can test out of two or three, it'll only take you two semesters to get your certificate."

Duo got up to make his tart.

He made his crust while Heero added butter, sugar and cinnamon to the apples. "I need to add
some flour to this?" Duo looked up, examined the apples and nodded. Heero got out the flour and
sifted some into the bowl.

Duo couldn't help the snicker. "We're so damn domestic. It's nice, isn't it?"

Heero nodded gazing at Duo with a rather silly fond expression. "It is. There were times I wasn't
sure I was going to survive the night and others I really didn't want to."

Duo shuddered. "Me too. I thought sure I was going to get executed that time. I ever remember to
thank you for that rescue?"

Heero put the apples aside and went to wrap his arms around Duo. "Several times. My pleasure."

"You looked really pissed at the time."

"I was. You looked like they'd run you through a meat grinder. I still don't know how grown
men could have done that. Bastards."

Duo finished forming his crust with Heero's arms firmly around his waist. He got the tart in the
oven, along with the potatoes.

Heero went out to the upper balcony, through the sliding glass doors right beside the kitchen. He
lit the grill and then leaned on the railing to watch the boats on the bay.

Duo made a soft noise in his throat so that Heero would know it was him. "Hey, didn't mean to
spoil the mood, sorry."

Heero pulled him close. Duo leaned on the railing too. "Boats are neat."

"Want one?"

Duo snorted. "Can't swim. Don't see me and boats getting along too good."

Heero hugged him with one arm. "Me neither. Don't trust em much."

"Yeah, what with the sinking and all. Now a good motorcycle, that's a thing of beauty. Seen the
new Viking? Runs on an ethanol/nitro fuel."

Heero nodded eagerly. "Really nice piece of machinery. Looks like an antique 20th century
Harley. V-twin, four stroke. Great brakes too."

Duo sighed wistfully. "Be nice to get matching bikes and leathers. What color would you like?"

Heero thought for a moment. "There's a custom shop over in Baytown. Black and silver. Maybe
someday. Graduation present maybe. Where's the time right now?"

Duo grunted and dropped the subject. "Bring out the steaks?"

"Grill's hot. Better."

x.

Heero burped and pushed back from the table. "I'm stuffed. All I want to do is fall on the couch
and watch the news. Help with the dishes?"

Duo just picked up his things and headed for the sink. "I'll scrape. You stick em in the washer?"

"Sure. I'll put on the kettle for tea."

They settled on the couch shoulder to shoulder and watched the news. The attack at the school
actually made the evening slot. But it came on after sports and weather. Duo snorted. Heero
hugged him and pulled him closer.

They spent some time necking and things took their natural course from there.

Much later, Laying sated and lethargic, Duo announced his plans to find out which courses he
could test out of and which he had to actually take. "If I know the materials and I'm willing to
pay the fees, what's the problem? I can get my papers that much sooner. I'm just not cut out to be
a school kid."

Heero just hummed in agreement and rolled over. He grumbled a bit as he'd wound up in the wet
spot.

x.

Heero woke with the sun in his eyes, a thing that didn't happen often. He rolled over, realized
that he had a towel bunched up under his hip and grinned. Trust Duo to see that he didn't sleep
uncomfortably all night.

He got up and wandered into the bathroom, taking a detour to drop the towel in the hamper in the
closet and get some clean clothing to wear. He showered, checking the towels to see if Duo had
already done so. The towels on Duo's rack were damp so Heero knew that Duo had taken care of
things. He wondered where Duo was. He couldn't have left the house as neither one of them
would do so without telling the other.

Heero took his time, shampooing his hair twice and conditioning it while he washed. He rinsed
the conditioner out and turned the shower off. Reaching out to get a towel for his hair, Heero
realized that he was dripping all over the floor so, after drying off, he used one of the wet towels
to dry the floor. He grimaced at the dirt that he picked up. He was going to have to make a note
to mop the floors.

Heero slouched his way down the stairs and into the kitchen, he'd found that he really wanted
either coffee or tea, or any other form of caffeine first thing in the morning. The coffee pot was
half full so he helped himself to pure, unadulterated coffee. He sipped a bit, shuddered at the
strength and added a bit of water from the kettle, it was hot and he wondered why.

Absently scratching his ass, he opened the sliding glass doors to see if Duo was on the terrace
watching the boats. He wasn't so Heero grumbled a little about the hide and seek his lover was
inadvertently playing with him. Where the hell was Duo?

He finally decided to check the office on the ground floor. It was empty but there was a note on
the blotter. "Down stairs in the real office. Bring coffee or die."

Heero snorted into his coffee cup, making him realize that it was almost empty. He went back
into the kitchen and started a new pot. After some rummaging he found a thermal pot. He rinsed
it with hot water and turned to get the pot of coffee. It wasn't quite done so he leaned against the
counter, arms crossed one foot on the floor the other across that ankle. He wondered what Duo
could possibly be doing in the office this early in the day. Especially since Duo had gotten up
before he had. He yawned and scratched his stomach, he was going to have to get rid of these
sweats, the elastic was irritating.

He poured the finished coffee in the pot, gathered up creamer, sugar and a spoon. He knew there
was a coffee bar down stairs but Duo's bring coffee' jump started his brain enough to realize
that they'd never stocked it. "Shit" he dumped his load of stuff on the table to make a note on the
shopping list on the fridge. Stock for office coffee bar'

He slapped the magnet back on the note and headed for the downstairs office.

x.

"Here, coffee, so you don't have to kill me."

Duo looked up from his computer and grinned at Heero. "I've been downloading all the old
lecture notes for all my classes. And I do mean all. I can't test out of more than three classes a
semester, so I'm trying to decide which one's to take and which one's to test. What do you
think?"

Heero stretched, displaying his hard abs to Duo. Duo snorted. "And don't try to distract me with
sex. Think."

"Ok, not that I was really trying to distract you. Got a hitch in my shoulder. But ..." Duo got up to
stand behind Heero. "You can't test out of anything with a lab, or practicum. They won't let you.
So that means you're stuck with Entry and Force. The rest you can test out. And Firearms. Stuck
with that. Sorry." Duo just shrugged and continued his massage. "Mmmmmm! I'll give you a
week to stop that."

Duo just continued his massage until he had the knots out of Heero's shoulders. "I put a towel in
the bed when I got up to piss. Did you find it? I figured that it would be down at the foot of the
bed by the time you got up."

Heero took one of Duo's hands and kissed the tips of his fingers. Duo curled that hand around
Heero's mouth so that he could kiss the palm too. He did so then rubbed his cheek in it. "It was
bunched up under me. Thanks though." He reached over to turn Duo's monitor toward his chair.

Duo pointed. "Already got all the data loaded so you can access from your computer. Go take a
look, ok?"

Heero settled in his chair and started going over Duo's projected schedule. He was contemplating
testing out of every subject that didn't have a workshop, laboratory, practicum; whatever you
called them. Heero wondered how Duo was planning on doing that. It had been nearly a year
since either one of them had a mission no, more like nearly two years. He wondered if Duo
could pull it off. If he couldn't he'd be miserable. Duo hated failure nearly as much as Heero did.

"I'm gonna start with one class and stick with it until I can pass the final, then move on. I'll keep
up with the labs fairly easily. I'll just stay in the classes I have, but I'll start by testing out of them
first. What do you think?"

Heero brightened. "If you work on one at a time, we can do this."

"We?"

Heero gave Duo a smug little grin. "I'm a qualified bounty hunter. Think I haven't covered all
this shit. You know J. So what do you want to start on?"

Duo eyed the list with a sour expression. "How bout Signing In, it's paired with Jail Procedures
and Relations. What's that?"

Heero nearly hurt himself laughing. "They have an actual class in that? Damn waste of money,
that. All it is, is how to fill out the paper work for a pick up. The bail bondsman usually does
that. And how to fill out paper work to make sure you've got the right guy, sign him in and
collect your bounty. The second half is just how to avoid pissing off the desk sergeant and the jail
personnel."

Duo frowned. "And it's not a practicum, why?"

"Most jails won't let anyone in that isn't already qualified. If you were as busy as those guys are,
would you want a bunch of snot nosed newbies all up in your face?"

Duo admitted that he wouldn't. "So, I guess I'm going to have to actually take that one. Shit!"

Heero shook his head slowly. "Maybe not. I think ... yeah, here it is. Right at the bottom of the
last page here. Says if you've ever actually done it and a call to the jail proves that they accept
you into the fellowship of officers' idiots, who thinks up the phraseology in these? Anyway, you
can pass easy."

"Yeah?" Duo got up to get more coffee.

"Sure, we'll just pick up someone. You come along on a ride along. I can do that without any
problems. You're my significant other so no one will think a thing of it. I'll see Buck later today
and arrange that for tomorrow. We'll head down early enough that Buck can show you how to do
the pickup papers and we'll just do it. Then all you have to do is get this ..." Heero reached over
to the printer to take out a check sheet. "Signed and initialed by all our contacts and ... hey!
Presto... pass." Heero grinned at Duo who grinned back with a slightly evil glint in his eye.

"Super. That's one down and ..." he eyed the list. "... Six to go. Two of them practicals. Damn.
But it could be worse. I could want to be a brain surgeon or something."

Heero snorted his coffee up his nose.

x.

Buck settled back in his chair and grinned, thinking, Trust Yuy to figure out how to get around
anything he considers inconvenient. Sly dog. Well, I'll be glad to help the boy. He needs that
partner of his on the streets with him. Not lollygagging around in a class room somewhere.'

Buck checked the files, he wanted to give them an easy pickup, not someone that they'd have to
chase all over. Duo was learning about the paper work this time. When it was time for him to do
a hard pickup, Buck was sure that he'd find some asshole to fill the bill. He sighed and rubbed
his face. He was getting too old for the business, the physical demands were beginning to really
wear on him. He was hoping that Heero and Duo would take over the recovery side of the
business for him and leave him to the bonding side. Things were looking up.

Buck sat out all the things he'd need to show Duo how to fill out the papers needed to get a court
order for the arrest. It was a simple form and all he'd have to do was fax it over to the court. A
judge would review it and issue the order, which would be faxed back.

He poured some coffee and settled back to wait until his' boys came in.

It didn't take long for Duo and Heero to arrive. They thundered in the door like a herd of buffalo.
Buck shouted them into chairs and laughed at them. Heero was so eager to take Duo out on an
authorized bust and Duo was just as eager to go. But Duo was also eager to learn.

Buck settled in to show Duo how to fill out the paperwork. Duo didn't have any trouble filling
out the form. All it wanted was the name of the pick up, id number, and reason for revocation of
bail. Duo filled it out and faxed it to the court. It came back in thirty minutes, approved of course.

Duo whipped the page out of the machine, folded it properly and tucked it into a folder.

"Ok, now what?"

Heero eased out of his chair, "We go pick up..." he glanced at the papers. "... Jessie Adams.
Buck, you got any intel?"

Buck just handed over a small file. "This is all I got. Not much, but the address is current."

"You sure?"

Buck eyed Duo for a second then realized that Duo didn't know him well enough to realize that
that was an insult. "Yeah, I am. Bonder is his girl ... ex-girl friend. He messed up by screwing
around on her. Pissed her off. So she pulled the bond. Said it was because of something else but
that's what it's really about. Doesn't make any difference, a bonder is entitled to pull their bond
for any reason at any time. So go, bring me back a body."

Duo stood up, gave Buck a jaunty salute and announced, "You got it, boss. On our way."

Heero smacked him in the back of the head and announced, "Come on, mace only."

Duo nodded, "I'm not sure about that. I'm not certified with it."

Heero just laughed. "Don't have to be. This stuff's not lethal so you don't."

Buck just gave one quick short nod. "Off you go, guys. See you on the flip."

Heero handed Duo a can of mace, explaining as they left. "You know how this stuff works.
We've used it before. This is the foam type. You drive, I'll navigate."

Duo scrambled into the drivers seat and started the engine. Heero punched the address into the
GPS system and they were on their way. As Duo drove toward their destination, Heero went over
what was going to happen on their pickup. Duo listened carefully so that, if there was a problem,
he wouldn't be the one who caused it.

They pulled into a parking lot at a small apartment complex. Duo realized that Heero had guided
them to the lot on the back side of the building their target was in. He had to grin, Heero was
avoiding all the triggers that would have set them running only two short years ago.

They cut through the open walkway between the two halves of the building and climbed the
stairs to the second level. Heero checked the arrest warrant and pointed to the apartment. He
always checked and double checked, it wouldn't do to break in on some old lady or innocent
family and scare them half to death.

Duo nodded. He was ready.

Heero pounded on the door with his fist, "Jessie Adams! Fugitive Recovery! Open the door!"

They heard a shrill scream in the apartment so Heero slammed his foot into the door beside the
lock. The cheap door and lock didn't have a chance against his steel-bending strength, it popped
open like a can of soda.

The little girl who'd screamed, wailed again then started to cry. Her mother darted out of the
kitchen where she'd been standing, frozen in startlement, and scooped her up. She scrambled
back into the kitchen, yelling, "Jessie, you get your worthless butt out here. They're scaring
Angelina."

Heero and Duo prepared to do battle but all that happened was anticlimactic at best. Jessie
wandered out of the bedroom, pulling on a t-shirt.

"All right, all right. Geeze, gimme a chance. What'm I supposed to do, Francine?"

Francine glared then snarled. "How bout, stay out of trouble. Moron!" Angelina hid behind
Francine, staring at the two bounty hunters with wide eyes.

Heero handed Duo a pair of handcuffs and started the procedures. "Turn around, hands on the
wall." Jessie turned, put his hands on the wall and spread his legs. Heero kicked them wider
apart. "You don't have anything in your pockets that's going to hurt me, do you? No needles,
knives, blades. No dope, no alcohol?" Jessie shook his head. "Nothing in your shoes?"

Francine called from the kitchen, "If he does, he's dead. I don't allow that around Angel. And
you just tell him, he comes back, I'll put him in jail again. I'm gettin' an order. He can't come
back here."

Jessie started to whine. "Aww! Francie, I ain't done nothing. Why you wanna be that way?"

"Because you're a ... bum. I don't want you around any more. You drink, you smoke junk and
you haven't had a job in I don't know when. You're a drain on my budget that I don't need. I got
to take care of Angel. See what you done now!"

Francine pushed a still weeping Angelina into the living room. Duo felt sorry for the little girl.
She was obviously scared and didn't need to be shoved into the middle of this mess. But she was
a brave little thing for all the noise had scared her.

She looked up at Duo. "You gonna take him away, mister? You gonna make him stay away?
Please? I don't like his friends, they look at me funny. And he smokes stuff that makes me feel
sick. Please? Make him go."

Jessie started to sputter but Heero smacked him and told him to shut up. Then he called Duo
over. "Ok, cuff him. Then search him good. After what the lady said, I wouldn't put it past him to
pull some stunt or other."

Jessie shook his head the best he could while pinned against the wall by Duo. "No, man, I'm not
causin' any trouble. I swear, I'm not. All I want to do is get this over. I know I'm goin' back in.
But ... well, I stuck my foot in it, didn't I? So ... you know? Just don't hurt me, ok?"

Duo cuffed him while he was babbling. "No, man, I don't know. I'm not going to hurt you if you
don't start anything. You be cool, I'll be cool. Come on."

While Duo was cuffing an unresisting Jessie, Heero was checking to make sure that Francine and
Angelina were all right.

He knelt in front of the little girl and peered into her eyes. "You ok? We didn't mean to scare
you. I'm really very sorry, forgive me?"

Angelina looked him over carefully then nodded. "Un-huh. If you promise to take him away and
make him stay. I don't like him. And his friends are creepy."

"We'll take him away. And your mommy is going to get a thing called a court order to make him
stay. How'd you like that?"

The little girl gave him one of those looks that only a small child can manage, full of innocent
contempt. "A court order is just a piece of paper. How can a piece of paper make him stay away
if he doesn't want to? That's just stupid. An' if you call the cops are they gonna come before he
does something bad? An' his friends will come and hurt us. He said so."

Francine finally managed to put something Angelina said together with this remark.

"Oh, god. Oh, baby, his friends didn't touch you did they? Did they?" she was rapidly getting
hysterical.

Then Jessie chimed in. "Hey! None of my friends are perverts! They wouldn't do that. They
wouldn't."

Duo gave him a hard shake. "Be very sure of that. I'll bust your head for you."

Angelina was shaking her head vigorously. "No! Nonono. No one did bad things to me. I think
they might though. They look at me an' it gives me shivers. An' they say stuff. That's all. So
far."

Francine just gave Jessie a look, the sort of look that promises doom and disaster to anyone
who'd dare touch her child. "If you so much as show up in the complex and I find out about it,
I'll have you locked up. You go away and stay away and you tell your worthless friends that if I
see them I'll have them arrested too. You understand me? Do you?"

Jessie cringed away from the angry woman, hiding behind Duo. Duo pushed him into the middle
of the room.

"Look, sweetie, Mommy paid to bail him out of jail, now he's going back because he did a bad
thing. Ok? And that piece of paper gives Mommy some protection. We'll be keeping an eye on
him too. Ok?"

Angelina examined Duo for a minute. "Ok, I guess. But ... if he comes back, will you step on him
with your gundam? Please?"

Duo had to laugh. "Sorry, angel-face, the gundams are gone. But I'll send Heero over to talk to
him."

Francine and Jessie finally made the connections that Angelina had made. Jessie just groaned,
"Oh, fuck, I'm dead."While Francine got a hopeful look in her eye, maybe these young men
could keep Jessie away.

Jessie gave up entirely. "Ok, look, I don't got much. You put it in storage and pay for it. I'll pay
you back when I get out. Ok?"

Francine just wrapped her arms around her daughter and snorted. "Ok. Paint stupid on my
forehead. You want your shit ..." Angelina exclaimed indignantly. "Mommy! Language."
Francine sighed. "Ok. Stuff. If you want your stuff you better arrange for one of your useless
friends to come get it. It'll be packed up and beside the door, inside, for exactly 48 hours. Then
it's in the dumpsters. Do you understand?"

"You are one cold hearted woman. I'll see if my brother won't come to get it. And my tv."

"It's not your tv, it's Angels. You gave it to her for her birthday. Will you please get that moron
out of my house?"

Duo smiled at Angelina then Francine. "Sure thing. Sorry about scaring you." He started out the
door, which was hanging rather forlornly from on hinge. "Um ... and the door. Come on you." He
took Jessie by the arm and tugged.

Heero ducked his head at Francine and touched Angelina gently on the shoulder. "Sorry, little
one. Ma'am. I'll call the super and see about getting that door fixed. Bye."

They frog marched Jessie down to the van and stuffed him in. To the applause of half the
complex.

x.

It didn't take them long to get to the jail. Duo helped Jessie out of the van and led him to the
single, nondescript door. He buzzed to be let in and heard a disembodied voice.

"How can I help you?"

"Duo Maxwell and Heero Yuy. Recovery Agents. We're here to turn in Jessie Adams."

"Fine. I'll buzz you in. Go straight ahead to the sign in desk."

Heero opened the door when it buzzed and held it until Jessie was through. He took the man by
one arm and started for the desk. Duo trailed behind looking around.

All he saw at first was a short featureless hall. This let into a room about 10x20 divided across
the short section by a counter. The fore end of the room was not more that eight to ten feet deep
with an equal amount of room behind the counter. The visitor's side was bare of much more than
a bench bolted to the floor and a door in the side opposite of the hall.

Heero motioned Jessie to sit on the bench, he did and Heero pulled a chain from a small
receptacle in the side of the bench and hooked it to the cuffs. Then he went to the desk.

Duo was already standing at the desk talking to the Booking Officer.

"Ok, so I'm so green, my name should be grass. I have no clue. So help a fellow out?" Duo
turned to smile at Heero. "Officer Grady here was just saying he'd never seen me before but he
was sure he knew me. Good eye, don't you think?"

Heero smirked at Grady, who had taken three weeks to figure out who Heero actually was. A lot
of the old wanted posters didn't have their names on them just a description. "You'll figure it
out. And, Duo, you're not allowed to tell. Swear."

Duo shrugged, bent his right little finger into a curve and kissed it. "Pinky swear. Now, what do I
do?"

Officer Grady gave Duo a fatherly smile. "Well, the first thing you do is give me the warrant.
Then I enter the case number into the computer. I get an acknowledgment that the warrant is
valid. Then we id the perp. I need blood, cheek cells or a hair with a follicle and a retinal scan.
Not that hard to get. Most guys give up by the time they're in here. If they don't we just go with
the DNA and add a charge of resisting arrest and one of assault on an officer of the court. And, if
they fight the jailors, a charge of assault on a police officer. Isn't worth it. So. Warrant please."

Duo handed over the papers and waited while Officer Grady checked the ID number. It came up
valid so they did the next step.

Jessie wasn't in the mood to fight so it didn't take long to verify his identity. He obediently
opened his mouth for the oral swab that Duo did. He also leaned over the counter enough that the
retinal scanner could be applied to his eye.

Officer Grady verified his identity and nodded in satisfaction. "Well, he's your guy. Now all I
have to do is find out what he's worth. I'll call the jailors and have them come get him while we
wait for the paperwork to come through."

Duo grinned at the man and tugged on Heero's belt to get his attention. " Ro, you'll have to give
him your credentials."

Heero jumped a bit, he'd been contemplating Duo's figure. He gave Duo a sheepish glance as
he handed his badge wallet over to Officer Grady. Grady snickered as he punched in Heero's ID
number and pulled up the pertinent information.

"Ok, here we are. I'll deposit the money in your account." He tapped at the keyboard, clattering
in the data. "And ... here we are. Now, Duo, you keep this ... stick it in a file. When your bank
statement comes in, you check the transaction number, here, against the statement. The number
will be ... somewhere in the transaction line. Heero will show you. I'm not sure exactly as I've
never been on that end of the thing."

Duo nodded, took the slip of paper and handed it to Heero. "I'll let him keep that. He's got a file
somewhere, so he's better off with it." He produced the check sheet. "I need you to sigh here to
show that I did the work. Thanks." he grinned at the man who grinned back. "Now what?"

The desk officer smiled a bit grimly. "Now we wrestle our perp into the back and do our thing.
See ya."

Duo blinked for a second. "We don't help?"

Heero smirked happily from where he was taking the cuffs off Jessie. "No, all I have to do with
him, is claim my cuffs and off we go." he pushed Jessie in the general direction of the jailors,
who had just come through the locked door in the corner. Jessie didn't show any indication that
he was going to put up a fight. He didn't and the jailors led him away without more comment
than, "damn, Jessie, I was hoping not to see you quite this soon." Jessie just hung his head and
went.

They left and climbed back in the van. Duo just sat for a moment. Then, he whooped with glee.

"Whoo-hooo! I did it! We did it! I got signed off and everything. You think I got a good
relationship with him? I hope. And what was that with the don't tell him who I am?"

"He has one of those memories that ... he can remember people he sees, just sometimes not the
name, the rap sheet yeah. And it took him three weeks of fussing to remember me. I'm hoping
it'll take him longer to remember you. Just to aggravate him. When he remembers, I'll take him
in a pie. He likes cherry."

Duo bit at his lip, finally he said a bit doubtfully, "Should you do that? Won't it piss him off?"

Heero chuckled as he pulled into traffic. "Piss him off more if I tell him. Don't worry about it.
And the story will get around as he tries to figure out who you are. If someone else does it first ...
well, he'll throw a piss fit then laugh his ass off."

"Ok, if you're sure." Duo leaned back, the tension of his first pickup making him sleepy. He
grumbled, "Damn, coming down's a bitch." Heero just mumbled some agreement or other and
paid attention to his driving.

x.

Duo faxed the check sheet in to the college and waited for their reply. It didn't take long to show
up. Within fifteen minutes they got a fax that he'd gotten and A' on the course final and they
owed the class fees, to be paid within ten days. Duo made the arrangements to pay and leaned
back in his chair.

"Ok, what next? Which class do I shoot down now?"

Heero shrugged. "Why not kill one of the ones you're taking that you don't like?"

Duo fiddled with a pencil for a moment. "I don't like any of them. They're all stupid."

Heero gave a stoic twitch to one shoulder that should have been a shrug, if he'd bothered to work
on it. "I know. Classes don't prepare you for the real world. But, if you want your certs you're
going to have to have them. Buck and I will teach you the stuff you really need to know. So ...
which class next?"

Duo thought about it. "Well, there's a lecture class that I'm in. Soporific doesn't even begin to
describe it. I'll check the prospectus and see what the requirements are. I wish I knew what was
going to be on the final. I could... what?"

Heero was smirking in a fashion that Duo would have called evil, if he wanted to be mean. "You
can't find out exactly what will be on the test, but you can get copies of old tests and there are
some example tests on the college web site. I'll down load them and you can take one. We'll see
what you don't know that might be on the test. If we keep doing that, you should be able to pass
the test in ... two weeks. What do you think?"

Duo just picked up the book and waved it. "Reading. See me reading my book. Go away and let
me read." he grinned over the top of the book. "I'll pass that test first time, you'll see."

Heero didn't bother Duo anymore, he just got up and settled in front of his computer to start
downloading practice tests and anything else he could find that would help Duo pass the tests. He
wasn't worried about that, he was worried about Duo taking the practicum classes.

Heero decided to sit in on a few of Duo's classes. It wouldn't be easy to organize, even if he
could arrange it. But he was going to try, something still bothered him and he couldn't put his
finger on it.

x.

Duo spent most of the morning studying for a practice test in Law and the Bounty Hunter. It was
the class that he'd said was boring. It was, but only because the professor was a terrible lecturer.
his voice was a monotone worse than Heero at his stiffest, and he managed to turn a fairly
interesting subject into something dull as a butter knife'. Duo decided that he was going to be
glad to test out of it.

Heero meanwhile was fussing at himself. They'd decided to go to the gym every morning to
build Duo's muscles up again but, due to one thing and another, they hadn't been yet. He decided
to remedy the situation that afternoon. Duo was going to need to work out a bit to relieve the
tension of all that book work.

So just before lunch, Heero knocked on the door to the upstairs office. Duo had taken it over for
study as it was closer to Heero, and the kitchen. The downstairs offices were for business.

"Duo? How far are you in that book. I have some practice tests downloaded, but I think we need
to go to the gym. We were supposed to start going three days ago, but shit came up."

Duo looked up from the book, grinned and tossed it onto the desk. "I'm dyin' here. This is the
most boring stuff in the world. Interesting in a lot of ways and useful but dry. Gym, here I come."

Heero chased Duo up the stairs, into their bedroom and fought with him for the doorknob to the
closet. Duo won by a fingers width. He pulled the door open and found their gym bags. He tossed
Heero's to him and held his own up in one hand. "Ok, got it. Let's go."

x.

They got to the gym at a decent time. The staff was all back from lunch and settled in for the
afternoon.

Heero checked them in at the desk and got their room assignment. This gym was very expensive
and provided small workout rooms with machines for every imaginable exercise, along with a
personal trainer. He knew he was qualified to do the job but didn't want to as it sometimes
caused problems in a relationship. He didn't want any problems with Duo and he didn't want to
have to push him as much as might be necessary to get him back in shape.

He had forgotten how hard Duo could push himself.

The trainer was a bouncy little thing with the silly name of Fanny Bright. Duo snorted and Heero
gave her a grin.

"Ok, ok, it's a stupid name. But I'm not. So have you filled out a personal interview? No? Ok,
you need to do that and list all ..." she eyed the two as both of them shook their heads slowly.

Duo just announced stubbornly. "No, not gonna happen. I just have enough time today for a good
workout and I'm not wastin' time with paperwork. You want it filled out you do it yourself."

Heero meanwhile had taken the data pad from her and started filling out the form himself.

"Hey! You can't do that. What if you answer a question wrong?"

Heero snorted and pinned her with an arctic glare. "I know him as well as I know myself. If I
don't know the answer or have any doubts, I'll ask him."

Duo had settled himself at a machine while Heero and Fanny were arguing and had started his
workout. Heero snickered at the amount of weight Duo had on the machine, weight that he could
handle, even in his weakened state.

Fanny noticed and yelled, "Hey! That's too heavy for a beginner. What do you think you're made
of, steel?"

Duo grunted as he pushed the weight to the top of the pushup machine. "No, that's him. I'm just
crazy."

Heero snorted again at that. "How many broken bones have you had?"

Duo thought through three reps, Heero waited patiently. Finally, Duo came up with, "Not really
sure. But while I was a pilot, left tibia, right fibula, two ribs left side, three right, right clavicle,
you need me to list the hand by bones or is right wrist and six fingers good enough."

Heero considered for a moment, long enough for Fanny to exclaim, "Jesus, I hope who ever did
all this is under the prison. Bastard."

Duo gave Heero a puzzled look which he returned. "Excuse me?"

Fanny growled a bit. "Well, if someone was abusing you that badly, surely someone reported
them."

Duo just gave her an owl-like stare, while Heero imitated a carp. "Abuse? Um...no." Duo shook
of his shock. "I'd like to see some one try it. Even when I was too small to fight, I could run like
a rabbit. I may run, I may hide, but I'll never tell a lie. That's my motto. Now."

Fanny turned a rather frightening shade of red. "Oh, my god. You're ... you're ... oh, wow.
You're ... and he's..." she couldn't seem to find a thought and stick to it. She gulped then hurried
out the door, calling over her shoulder. "I'll be right back."

She came back in about three minutes with a huge man, drill Sergeant material, if Heero'd ever
seen it and pointed to Duo. "He's all yours, cute butt and all. I'm not going to try to figure out
what's good for a gundam pilot."

The man just sighed, rubbed his face and announced, "Do you need me? If you don't, I'll go."

Heero completed another line on the data pad, Duo finished with the set he was working on and
the trainer waited patiently.

"I could use some help. Heero won't do it so we don't get in a fight. What next?"

"Ok. Fine. My name is Waldo. And I don't want any jokes, ok? Now which ones' are you? I
never put faces to numbers. Wasn't in my line."

"Alliance or Resistance?"

"Resistance. Liaison. Easy with my job. Just come to the gym and accidentally drop some
innocuous something or other. Would it make any difference?"

Duo grunted in exertion.

"Not really. Makes more difference to them than to us. As long as there wasn't any actual
personal contact, who cares?"

"Exactly ... are you done with that form yet?"

Heero eyed the readout. "Nearly. There's a couple of questions that I don't think are pertinent but
the system insists that they be answered."

Waldo took the device from Heero and glanced at it. "Now why the hell? ... bugger! I'll be right
back. I have to go to the front desk and fix this. Duo, you just go on with your workout. The
machines will record your levels and I'll be able to set up a regimen for you."

Duo took a moment to wipe sweat off his neck. "What questions? Why don't I just answer
them?"

Heero smirked at Duo. "Ok. Let me see ... um ... have you ever been pregnant? Have irregular
menses?" Duo smacked him in the face with the sweaty towel, throwing it just hard enough to
make him duck. "Well, you asked." Heero managed to sound indignant as well as amused.

"Ass." Duo moved on to the next machine. "I think I should have warmed up a little more."

"I'll give you a massage when we get home." Heero waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"You just want to get into my pants." Duo turned his head to look at Heero.

"Don't turn your head. You'll hurt your shoulders. And always."

Duo laughed softly and went back to his exercising.

Waldo came back in and announced "Now that that silliness is over, how are you doing?"

Duo just grunted. Heero went over to the small desk inset into the wall and checked the readout.
"Not to bad. He's still really weak."

Waldo just blinked at the information on the display and mumbled, "Weak? Ok, what's his stats
when he's up to strength."

Heero took him seriously and announced in his perfect soldier' voice. "About half again that.
He's nearly as strong as I am. And a lot more flexible and nimble as a monkey. Good partner."

Duo overheard him and felt his heart swell. He wasn't used to getting any sort of compliment,
never mind one from Heero. He felt the glow clear down to his toes.

When he was done talking to Waldo, Heero started his own workout. He started with the
machine that Duo had just finished with. He put on more weight and started pumping iron'.

"Duo?"

"Hmmm?"

"Why do they call it pumping iron? I never could figure that out."

"Old days term. Back when, they used free weights and had to have spotters to keep them from
killing themselves. They called it pumping iron because the weights were in plates and actually
made from iron. Dangerous."

Heero grunted softly as he hoisted the weight bar again. "Oh. Well, I see. Thanks. And remind
me never to play Trivial Pursuits with you."

"Don't play Trivial Persuits with me."

"Idiot."

Duo just snickered and went back to his workout.

While this had been going on, Waldo was checking Heero's stats. All he could do was shake his
head and shudder. This kid was a demon. He could bench press four times what a person his size
should be able to. And he had a feeling that Heero was slacking off today. He wasn't sweating
much at all.

"Ok. Here we go. I've got an idea of Mr. Maxwell's current levels and an idea of where he wants
to be." Waldo turned around to see both Duo and Heero regarding him with an intensity that
made him uncomfortable but he pushed on. Turning to speak directly to Duo, he outlined his
plan.

"You're under weight by about 8% and with your level of activity, that's not good. I think your
strength will improve without much real work, but your endurance is way down. You're already
sweating way more than I like. So ... here's the plan. Take a few minutes to look it over, then
we'll talk about it. I'll go get you some water and some juice. Be back in ... ten?" he glanced
from Heero to Duo then back. They both nodded, faces intent, attention on the small computer
screen. He left to get the drinks.

While he was gone, Heero and Duo looked over the plan. It was good. It set out a rather strict
diet and exercise program but it wasn't nearly as strict as the ones they'd endured as pilots. Duo
smiled happily, the program included daily health' shakes. He liked milk shakes and malts and
he knew several recipes that were very good and delicious. He poked Heero and announced, "I
think I'm gonna like that diet. Fresh fruit, chicken, fish, lots of veggies. Could do without them
but I guess needs must."

Heero tapped a key that brought up a more detailed diet plan. He made a mental note of things
they didn't have on hand and nodded. "We'll both eat the same. Except for the shakes,
everything on the list is something I'll eat myself. No special cooking. And there's a health food
store right here in the mall. Just down the way."

Waldo returned with the drinks and told Duo to be sure to drink a whole half liter of water then
follow it with some juice. Heero took another bottle and downed half of it in two gulps. Waldo
watched in fascination as Heero's Adams apple jumped. Duo noticed but didn't say much,
everyone stared at Heero.

"Ok, Mr. Maxwell, if you're done with the machines, we'll move on to the treadmill. You need
to work up to a mile at a hard jog." Heero was smirking and shaking his head. "No? Why not?"

Duo shrugged depreciatingly. "I can already do that. I used to be able to run flat out for more than
three miles. And jog five with a full pack. Or Yuy's heavy ass on my shoulder."

Heero smirked. "I can still do six with you and a pack. Don't get cocky."

Duo stuck his tongue out at Heero, who remarked mildly. "Well, I wouldn't want that thing in
my mouth either."

Duo returned. "Ok, no frenchie for you tonight."

Heero moaned softly when he realized his mistake then snickered. "Well, making up is just so
much fun."

Waldo sighed. All the good ones were taken.

x.

After they finished in the machine room, Waldo took them to the treadmill area. Treadmills were
still situated in a large open area, unless the client asked for a portable to be brought to the
machine room. Since running on a treadmill didn't require counting it was thought to be less
boring to do the machine in the company of others.

Heero set his treadmill for his usual workout. This included changes in incline and speed to keep
him from zoning out. Duo checked the workout that Waldo had set up for him. It was fairly
straight forward. He was going to go through an evaluation which included starting out at a fairly
slow speed and increasing speed until he couldn't keep up anymore. After that the incline was
going to increase while he ran at a steady speed. Waldo was sure Duo was going to do fairly well.
He just needed the data for his records and to help him finish arranging Duo's workout.

Duo sighed. "I hate treadmills. Boring. But, at least you're here. We can talk and stuff, right?"

Heero started his mill and straddled the belt. "Sure," he stepped on the slowly moving belt and
continued. "As long as you have breath for it."

Waldo motioned to Duo to step astraddle of the moving treadmill. "Be careful. Step on and get
yourself used to the speed then we'll start."

Duo didn't say anything about Waldo treating him like he didn't know how to use a treadmill, it
was just common sense to make sure that your client didn't kill themselves, bad for business.

"Ok, ready, go." Duo stepped onto the belt and settled into a slow walk.

Heero was jogging along at an easy pace, at least for him. Duo was now walking quickly and
showing no signs of distress. Waldo made a note in his PDA and then checked on Heero too.

It took thirty minutes and a speed that made Waldo wince to wear Duo down. He leaned against
the front brace and panted softly. Heero turned his head in concern. "You ok?"

Duo nodded jerkily, "Yeah, I'm good. Just a bit winded. I could have gone on if I had to but,
since this isn't life or death, I decided to give myself a break."

Waldo shook his head, if this was giving himself a break he didn't want to see it if Duo pushed
himself. "Ok, as soon as you get your breath back. You can do the second part of the test."

Heero, who was trotting up a six degree slope at the time, grumbled. "It doesn't seem fair that
you're going to do the second test right now."

"Factored into the results." Waldo turned to Duo. "I need to take your pulse and count
respirations. We should have put you on a harness but they're all in use."

Duo glanced at Heero. "We ought to get our own."

Heero grunted. "Ya." and continued to trot.

Waldo set the treadmill for the second part of the test. He set it to a slow jog, not wanting to over
stress Duo until he was positive he had a handle on Duo's physical state.

Duo jogged along happily until the treadmill reached such an angle that he actually couldn't keep
his footing anymore. Waldo turned the treadmill to ease down so that Duo wouldn't have to
handle the shock of it stopping too suddenly.

"How do you feel?" Waldo handed Duo a towel and a bottle of water.

Duo wiped his face with the towel. "Not too bad. I'm in worse shape than I thought, but I don't
feel shaky and sick anymore. Thanks." Duo took up the bottle of water and chugged some.

Heero finished his run and flopped down on the bench beside Duo. He was sweating lightly and
accepted the other half of the water Duo had been drinking. Waldo now knew that Heero was
doing a light workout today. Probably just here to keep Duo company.

Waldo checked his PDA for a final diagnosis and exercise program. He blinked for a moment
then announced in amazement, "Ok, the computer says that you're in excellent health and
recommends a maintenance program. I understand that what you want is a program that will
bring you close to your partner's condition?" Waldo made the last sentence a question.

"Yeah, if I'm going to work with him, I'm not going to endanger his life by not being 100% so I
need to be up to my old levels a-sap."

"Ok, I'll compare his levels to yours and see what I can do manually. It'll take me a couple of
days but I'll email it to you for your ok. How's that?"

Heero nodded and Duo just grinned. "Thanks man. I know I'm a pain in the ass. I really
appreciate it."

Waldo just sighed. "Well, no one is going to believe this unless you sign off on it. So will you
please sign here?" He handed Duo the PDA and pointed.

Duo signed without comment and grinned Heero into motion.

x.

They returned home and settled in to a meal of take away and beer.

After eating Duo settled back at the desk in the upstairs office and stuck his nose in a book again.
Heero joined him, sitting on a small loveseat in the conversation area. He put his feet up on the
coffee table and started to read an instruction manual.

They read until late then wandered their way up the stairs, most of their clothing wound up either
on the stairs or on the hall floor. Duo giggled when Heero picked him up and tossed him onto the
bed then jumped on after him.

"We'll break the bed."

"Fuck the bed."

"Rather you fucked me."

"Ok."

Gentle touches turned firmer. Kisses and nips turned into full on open mouthed near assaults and
firm bites. Heero moaned as Duo paid his nipples their due. Duo whimpered as Heero grasped
his erection and drove him out of his mind.

"Slow down. I'm not gonna last if you keep that up."

Heero eeled around until he could reach Duo with his mouth. All Duo could do was cry out and
arch his back.

"Oh, my god. Heero! Oh!"

Duo shuddered and quaked under the force of his orgasm, Heero held him until he caught his
breath, kissing him gently. Then he turned him on the bed, carefully arranging his limp body.
"There, love. Go to sleep now."

"No, you're not ... I want ... you, in me. You're not doing without."

"Ok. I'll just take it easy. I'm not in a hurry."

Duo snickered tiredly. "Unlike me. Oh, feels so good. Yeah."

Heero eased into Duo, careful not to hurt him. He was well aware that he could easily use too
much force and do Duo harm. But it felt so good just the way it was now.

As Heero moved Duo kept up a soft flow of encouragement. "Yeah, just there. Don't worry,
you're not hurting me. Harder." Heero obliged Duo and applied more force. Exactly three foot
pounds per inch in fact.

"Duo, I'm ready. I'm ... yeah." Heero's wail of completion made Duo grin into the pillow. "Oh,
good!" Heero collapsed into the mattress and groaned.

Duo poked Heero none to gently. "Wet spot. Up. Now." Heero helped Duo off the bed and into
the bathroom. Not that he really needed it but it was touching and it was nice.

Duo turned on the shower and set the temperature while Heero got towels and such out of the
linen closet.

Their shower was quick but full of tender touches and some gentle after play. They made their
way back to bed and were asleep in only a few minutes.

x.

Heero woke first the next morning and leaned on his elbow to watch Duo sleep. This attention
soon woke the other man.

"Heero, you ok? What's up?"

"Nothing except me. Just looking."

"At me? Why?"

"Because I like to. Come on, get up. I'm hungry."

Duo pried himself out of the bed with a few grumbles and a wince. Heero pounced on that wince.

"Duo, did I hurt you? Do you need some ..."

Duo cut him off. "Stop it, mom. I slept on my shoulder wrong. I've got a cramp in it."

Heero moved to rub out the soreness while Duo hummed his appreciation. It didn't take long to
get Duo moving more comfortably.

"Thanks. I better get going. I'm due at the college in ... Damn! Forty-five minutes. Fuck!"

"Don't rush too much. I'll drive you. I want to sit in on that class. Law and the Bounty Hunter,
isn't it?"

Duo glanced at the scrap of paper magneted to the fridge. "Yeah, and I've only managed one
class. He was absent twice and I missed one for court. This is not going to be fun."

"Did you read all the materials? Including that uber boring book?"

Duo grumbled. "I did. And uber is right. Nearly put me to sleep. That professor wrote it himself."

"Well, he's in for a nasty surprise. Most of it's wrong."

Duo snorted. "Figures. That's just peachy."

Heero shrugged. "You passed the sample test last night, didn't you?"

Duo snatched his toast out of the toaster and headed for the door. "Yeah, why?"

Heero smirked at Duo. "Wasn't a practice test. It was the real deal. You're out of the class the
minute you hand him this." Heero handed Duo a print out.

Duo let out a crow of delight then sagged slightly. "But what am I going to do. You said that the
info was mostly wrong. Damn! All that studying for nothing."

"Not really. It won't take you long to learn the real stuff. I've got two books that explain it all and
a piece of advice I got from Buck. Get a lawyer on retainer and let him handle all the important
stuff. I also have a legal pocket reference that I keep on my person when I'm working. If I have a
doubt, I look it up. Come on"

Duo followed Heero out the door, a piece of toast dangling from between his teeth as he
struggled to stuff his backpack into the back seat of the SUV.

He finished his toast as Heero drove.

x.

The professor was waiting for the class, watching as the students wandered in, found seats and
did whatever it was they did before a class. Duo watched with some interest as the man made
notes. He leaned over and whispered, "Wonder what that's all about?"

Heero just eased back in his seat, crossed his arms over his chest and gave a soft hn'. Duo
leaned back too. This was going to be interesting. Heero obviously didn't like the man for some
reason.

The professor cleared his throat with an annoying barking sound.

"Attention. Mr. Maxwell, Miss Frankenbooth and Mr. Henz you have all missed the first two
classes. Due to extenuating circumstances in all three cases. Therefore, I'm going to allow a
make up. No points will be taken for the missed classes. And, Mr. Maxwell, I understand that
you've managed to test out. If you will turn in your paperwork now, I'll be glad to process it
immediately. But I would appreciate it if you'd stay for this class. It would be to your benefit to
be able to say that you'd attended at least one of my lectures. And ... I can't quite see ... who is
your guest."

Duo stood up and walked down the tiers of the lecture auditorium to hand in his papers. The
professor took them and dropped the two pieces of paper into a recorder. Things like this were
still done with paper as a hard copy protected against electronic data loss. The recorder sucked
the papers in, beeped and spat them back out. The professor typed a bit then nodded to Duo.

"Please return to your seat. And introduce your friend. I don't mind people auditing a class or
two but ... well, he probably isn't going to actually take this class, is he?"

Duo settled back beside Heero and shook his head. "No, he was just wondering how you taught
the class. Don't mind us. Just go do your thing."

The professor made a rather sour face at that but started his lecture.

Heero listened and waited. When he finally struck the professor didn't know what hit him.

Heero held up his hand and the professor pointed to him. "Yes?"

"Did you know that that particular Statute was changed two months ago?"

"No, was it? And how was I supposed to know that? If I might ask?"

Heero pinned the man with a look that said, could you be any more stupid?'

"You most certainly may. You are supposed to know any statute, law, limitation, exception or
ordinance that influences, affects or inhibits your acquisition of target. That's why I always carry
this." Heero produced his Legal Reference Electronic Library. "I up date it every time I go out. It
beeps if there have been any pertinent changes. I advise one ... highly."

The uproar in the class room was everything Heero had hoped it would be. This class should be
teaching the students how to research law not the law itself. Law was always in flux.

Duo grabbed Heero and dragged him out of the auditorium giggling like an idiot.

"Heero, that was just plan mean. That guy is just ... ripping people off. What is it with this
place?"'

Heero sighed. "I don't really think they are trying to rip people off. It's called Ivory Tower
Syndrome. They just don't live in the real world."

Duo hugged Heero then rested his cheek on his shoulder. "I'm tired of this already. I want my
license. How many of these classes can I test out of?"

"The student handbook says any class that isn't a laboratory, practicum or other hands
on/experience based subject."

Duo pushed away from Heero announcing, "Ok, I'm going to start by testing out of anything that
I'm actually taking. ... didn't we go over this once already?"

Heero nodded. "I think so. I'll download another class tonight."

Duo grinned. "I bet no one tests out of as many classes as I am. What do you want to bet?"

Heero, remembering a certain night in Canada and a bottle of tequila, shook his head. "Not a
chance in heaven, hell or space. You should take at least three days to study before you take an
actual test."

"I know. It's not like the old days when we had two or three hours to prepare for a mission and
our lives depended on remembering shit."

Duo pulled Heero after him in the general direction of the Student Union. Heero didn't resist
much.

"Um ... Duo? About that study group. Shouldn't you be making some sort of arrangements with
them?"

Duo moaned softly. "Oh, fuck. I forgot all about them. I'm so bad. I'll have to make it up to them
somehow."

"If you even find them."

"They'll be at the union about now. I'll leave a note on the bulletin board if nothing else."

"Ok." Heero scanned the union for any sign of the rest of Duo's study group. He finally saw them
in the corner behind the end of the cafeteria line.

They were sitting with books and notes scattered all over the table, arguing about something.
Gloria was grumbling about something and the two men were teasing her. The argument was
friendly and low key.

Lance looked up and smiled at Duo. "Hey, kid, we thought you'd abandoned us for better
company."

"How could I do that, when there's no better around?" Duo flopped down in the offered seat with
Heero beside him. Heero accepted a cup of coffee from Frank and nodded to Gloria.

"I heard you tested out of L&BH, prick."

Duo laughed. "Yeah, then Heero put Professor Boring in his place. I don't think he liked it much.
But what the hey. So what's on the agenda for today?"

Lance handed Duo the study guide for the day and Duo just grimaced. "Ok, next most boring
class in existence. Notes?"

Heero snuck a peek at the paper to see what class they were studying for. He sighed, it was titled,
rather ostentatiously, Criminal Codes; statutes to aid and block Acquisitions. In other words it
was an in depth coverage of all the laws that could aid a bounty hunter or block him, keep him
from getting his target. Heero wondered why they were teaching Law and the Bounty Hunter and
Criminal Codes. They seemed to be nearly the same thing. He decided to take an active part in
the discussions at hand.

After about ten minutes Gloria threw down her pen and demanded. "Why the hell do we have to
take all this shit. This is almost the same as L&BH. It doesn't make sense."

Duo rubbed the back of his neck. "As near as I can figure, the L&BH class is more about statutes
that cover our levels of authority, how to get papers and that sort of stuff. This is more about
rights and who has what sort. Be careful to get it clear, or you could get sued. Not good. You
don't want some bank owning your house."

Frank grimaced. "No, I don't. I get it sort of. But it's just plain boring. Damn, more coffee
anyone."

Duo shook his head. "No, I'm coffeed out. I'm going to take all this shit home and see if I can't
test out. Anyone?"

Lance brightened but Gloria and Frank looked a bit skeptical. Heero just announced, "I'll do all
the research and have some practice tests made up by tonight at about ... seven?"

Gloria shrugged, "Sure, why not?" Frank and Lance seconded her and they went their separate
ways.

Duo glanced at his watch and sighed. "I have to go right now or I'm going to be late for my next
class. I have to see if any of the old farts have an hours requirement. Some of them want you to
have so many hours of class time before they'll let you test out. See ya."

He sauntered off with his braid swinging, Heero watched after him wishing he could magically
transport him back home. He sighed and got up. He could go over to the firing range and get in
some practice. He was a member there as well as at another range that Buck liked.

So while Duo headed out for another class, Heero went to the firing range.

x.

The range was full to capacity and one of the range officers hadn't come in. The two that were
there were overloaded with beginner shooters and looked harassed. Heero settled back against the
forward section wall to watch.

He finally had to interfere. One of the younger men on the line nearly shot the man in the next
lane over. The only reason he didn't was because Heero walked over and took the pistol out of
his hand before he accidentally pulled the trigger while he was clearing the live round that
jammed.

"Damn, you fool. You really want to shoot someone? Give me that."

Heero took the pistol from the boy's unresisting hand and cleared it. He disassembled it to check
for damage to the receiver or slide. Finding none he reassembled it and handed it back.

"Thanks. I guess I'm not really cut out for this. Being a bounty hunter isn't all it's cracked up to
be."

Heero snorted. "It's everything it's cracked up to be. If you want to do something useful, keep
bad guys off the streets, yada, yada, yada. But if you want to be some sort of romantic cowboy
girl magnet, try being a stripper. Now what's the problem. I noticed that it keeps jamming. Let
me look at your ammo."

The boy showed Heero the ammo, which was student issue. Then Heero examined his pistol. Or
rather the magazine. It had a bent lip. The lip wasn't bent very much, just enough to misdirect a
round every now and then. He showed it to the boy and told him to get a new one.

"Oh, ok. I didn't think that tiny little nick would cause a problem. I'll get the smith to look at it.
But I'll take your advice and get a new one too. Thanks a lot."

"Welcome." Heero returned to the wall to lean again. He wondered when he'd get a lane. He was
getting really bored.

x.

The range master noticed what Heero had done and made a mental note to check the boy's pistol
out too. He also made a note to find out more about Heero Yuy. While the name wasn't
extremely common, it wasn't that uncommon either.

He was stunned by what he found. This Heero Yuy was the real' one. Which meant that his
partner had to be the pilot known as 02. He shook his head.

"Well, shit"

He closed his connection and rubbed his face. There was going to be more trouble over this or his
name wasn't George.

x.

Heero finally got his lane and set out his things. The RO came by and stopped to see if he could
help.

"Need any help? If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. The stupidest question around
is the one you don't ask that gets someone hurt. Got me?"

Heero nodded, frowning slightly in concentration. "I do like that stupid question quote. If I need
you, I'll be sure to call. Thank you." The RO nodded and walked on down the line.

Heero set up a target and loaded a magazine. He slapped the magazine in place and flicked off
the safety. He eyed the target for a second then raised his hand, narrowing his concentration he
began to fire. He emptied the magazine and, when the slide locked back, flicked the safety back
on. He ran the target up to the firing bench and examined it. It was good, all the shots well with
in the ten. He smiled and ran the target back out.

He repeated loading a magazine, shooting, checking his target and sending it back several times.
Finally the curious RO stopped to check with Heero.

"How you doing? I noticed that you keep using the same target. What's wrong?"

Heero shook his head. "Nothing. Want to see it?" he ran the target back in and waited as the RO
examined the target. Each ring of the target had a neat circle of punches around the middle of it.

Heero had shot out the ten and made a ring around each circle of the paper. The RO blinked and
then sighed. "Damn, I wish you were going into the business."

Heero shook his head. "I'm getting out of it. Tired of all the killing. I'm a bounty hunter now.
I'm just hanging around until my partner gets his paper. Thanks."

"I see. That's too bad. We really need new blood. But you said you were getting out? At your
age?"

Heero fell back on the same explanation that Duo did. "I'm colonial. We got conscripted at an
early age, or joined. I ... sort of fell into it. Now I'm out and I'm not going back. Too much blood
on my hands as it is. Excuse me." Heero glanced at his watch. "My friend is getting out of class
just about now and I promised to meet him. I wish he could test out of this practicum. He needs
the time to study for other classes."

The RO was touched by Heero's words and announced that he'd see if there wasn't some way. If
there was, he'd leave a note in Duo's locker. Heero thanked him gravely, packed his shooting bag
and left.

X.

Duo looked up then down the sidewalk. Heero was just one minute late. That could be attributed
to differences in watch and clocks. If he was more than five minutes late, the world was coming
to an end. He nearly gasped in relief when he saw Heero jogging towards him.

"You all right? You look pale. You're not getting sick again, are you?" Heero reached out to
touch Duo on the forehead, checking for fever.

"No, I'm not getting sick. You're late." Duo clasped Heero's hand in his and turned to go to the
SUV.

"Sorry. Got held up a bit by the RO. He wanted me to go into police work. But he said he might
be able to find a way to get you out of the arms practicum. I hope so. It'd give us time to work on
some of your other classes."

Duo sighed, "Be nice. I'd really like to test out of this last class. Criminal Codes. The man has
the most annoying monotone I've ever heard." Heero made a funny noise. "Bar none. Asshole."

Heero snorted. "I'd like to know where they get the names of some of those classes. Pretentious
isn't the word for it. Like that class you just got out of. Criminal Codes? Statutes to Aid and
Block acquisitions? What about just Criminal Codes pertaining to Bounty Hunting. To the point
plain English."

"But then the prof wouldn't have anything to baffle the beauties with. This guy sure isn't going
to get any on looks. Bandy little geek."

Heero tossed his bag into the back and settled in the driver's seat. "Look who's talking."

Duo clutched his chest in mock dismay. "But I've been sick!" His quavering tones made Heero's
eyes twinkle.

He pulled out into traffic and headed down town. Duo noticed immediately and questioned his
decision.

"We going down town for something specific or do you just feel like it?"

Heero shrugged. "We've been eating our own cooking long enough. I'm in the mood for
something special. That ok?"

Duo absently checked the rearview mirror on his side. "Sure. Fine with me. Where we going?"

"Nakamura"

Duo turned his head to blink at Heero for a second. "Um ... when did you make reservations?"

Heero definitely smirked. "Didn't."

Duo just drawled, Ooookkkk.' and dropped the subject. Heero would tell all in his own time,
nagging him could extend that time. He'd do it just to annoy Duo. Duo pouted slightly,
wondering why Heero could choose to be so stubborn. The make up sex was great but still. Then
Duo realized exactly why Heero did it. He couldn't help the silly grin that came to his face.
Heero noticed and wondered a bit but had to keep his attention on his driving.

They got to the parking lot and had to wait a bit to get to the valet. Heero got out, leaving the
engine running. He waited until the valet handed him a swipe card with nothing on it but a
number then led Duo across the street.

Duo hadn't been here before, all he'd done was hear about it. It was so exclusive that he'd heard
it took weeks to get a reservation. And Heero just took the notion to come down and was sure
they'd get a table.

"How come you're so sure we'll get a table."

Heero smirked at Duo, a twinkle in his eye. "Because I know the chef. It's a surprise. You know
the restaurant is a fusion. The chef combined Chinese and Japanese in a very original way.
Excellent food. Very nice ambiance."

"Ok. Sounds interesting. So, we're just going to walk in?"

Heero nodded. "Yup. Top floor, private parties only." He pulled the door open and waited for
Duo to go in first.

Duo glanced around the restaurant and startled Chang Wufei was standing behind a Japanese
style grill with a decided smirk on his face. Duo immediately bit back what he'd been about to
say. It was obvious that Chang was on an assignment. He'd always scoffed at fusion saying that
Japanese and Chinese foods were just fine as they were.

"Hello. Thank you for letting us come without a reservation." Duo managed a creditable bow in
Wufei's direction. He turned to say something to Heero but he wasn't there. Duo glanced around
trying to find him.

"Your companion felt a sudden need for the facilities. Please. Sit. Tea?"

Duo took the menu Wufei offered him. "Yes, please. And for my companion as well."

Wufei bowed, making a hidden sign as he did so. Ears' which meant that they were wired.
Someone unfriendly was listening in.

Suddenly an awful screech sounded over the soft music from the hidden sound system. Duo
yelped and clapped his hands over his ears. Wufei did the same thing.

Heero came from the hall behind the grill. Duo wondered how he'd gotten in there without being
seen by either of them. Wufei raised an eyebrow at Heero who gave him a smile that Duo could
only categorize as evil.

"That should take care of that. Feed back's a bitch. You know?"

Wufei sat down in the chair his hand had been resting on. "Thank goodness. I'm so tired of
watching every single word. Damn."

Duo grinned. "Wufei. How are you? I haven't seen you in ... I don't remember when."

"Six months ago. Moon base three. You were just getting ready to take off in that rattle trap you
called a ship. Sorry to hear that she's been repoed. But you look good. Heero called me and had
me make up some herbals for you. How are they doing?"

Duo grimaced. "Taste like shit. But they're doing their job. You know you've got some sort of
cousin here in San Jose? He made them up for me."

Heero settled beside Duo and glanced at the menu. "Very nice man. You should visit him when
your assignment is over. What are you working on, by the way?"

Wufei leaned back in his chair and let his head drop back on his neck. "Remember that Japanese
diplomat that was playing both ends against the middle? Well, we got a tip that he's smuggling
drugs now. They're coming down from L5-3429. Tiny scientific station that declared their
independence during the war. No police to speak of. Most of them get themselves offed. The
one's that don't are corrupt. So ... the drugs are coming in at San Francisco but they're being
distributed from here. I'm just a listening post. The smugglers tend to like places like this for
their meetings. We're hoping that they'll mess up. They've been in here three or four times
already. But no intel. I don't know who's idea this was but when I get back to Central I'm going
to kill them. I swear, why they put an agent of my stature on a job like this, I'll never know. So
anyway. What would you like?"

Duo eyed the menu with distaste. "What the hell is ... this." Duo pointed to an item with an
unpronounceable name in Chinese. "Sounds really chi-chi. Not something you'd make."

Wufei eyed the menu with distain. "That's a bastard Happy Family. You want it?"

Heero made a rude noise. "This menu is nonsense."

"Don't I know it. But the jet set that buys the designer drug is into stuff like that. Disgusting if
you ask me." Wufei shrugged irritably. "What do you want to eat?"

Duo looked at Heero. Heero shrugged, "I don't care. You order."

Duo tossed the menu onto the table and shook his head. "None of that crap, that's for sure. How
about just sukiyaki and some sort of noodles. Or Mongolian beef? And none of those over sweet
sauces thank you."

Wufei sighed. "Maxwell, you're brilliant. One Mongolian Beef. One Sukiyaki. And a side of
fried noodles. Coming right up."

Duo put on his best pleading eyes. "And can I have some of that shrimp stuff you made for
Christmas that time."

Wufei blinked once then frowned. "Maxwell, I don't believe you remember that. That must have
been ... four years ago?"

Duo nodded. "Probably. But ... it was the first Christmas. I ever had that I actually got a present
that was all my own. And got anything really special to eat. Sister Helen used to try but what
with the war and everything. She usually barely managed to get a turkey."

Wufei looked at Duo, a bit stunned. "Oh, well. But I thought you weren't at Maxwell Home for
very long."

"Eighteen months. Two Christmases. It was nice. And ... but we're getting really maudlin.
Change the subject. Shrimp. Yes or no?"

Wufei gave Duo a somewhat strained smile. "Shrimp, yes. It won't take long. I'll order more tea
and the shrimp and start the beef. Want to come sit at the grill or would you rather stay here."

Heero announced in a firm tone. "Grill. I want to see how you do."

"Ok. The shrimp will be ready first. Someone in the kitchen will deep fry the shrimp then I'll
combine the mayonnaise, honey, lemon juice, and coconut milk. Then all you have to do is toss it
and sprinkle on the walnuts. I hope the second cook remembers to toast them properly." Wufei
levered himself to his feet and sighed. "At least you two have proper tastes. Some of that stuff is
just awful. And you wouldn't believe how snobbish some of these people can be. Come to the
grill."

They settled on the customer side of the grill while Wufei took his place at the back. He spoke
into a small microphone, placing the order for the shrimp and tea. He tossed the sliced beef onto
the grill and tossed it about with the spatula. He made a great show of it until Heero growled,
"Relax Chang. I'm hungry. I don't need a show."

Duo mock pouted, "But Heeeeroooo!" Wufei snorted at Heero's wince.

"Shut it, Maxwell, you sound like Relena."

Duo laughed. "Ouch! Low blow, Chang." Heero snickered softly and sipped at his tea.

They watched Wufei for a few moments more, then a tiny girl came in with some deep fried
shrimp on a plate, still steaming from the hot oil. She also had a smaller bowl of walnuts and
several tiny bowls of ingredients. All on a huge tray that looked like she should have been carried
on it not been carrying it.

Wufei took the things off the tray, thanked her and dismissed her. She left with a backward
glance that made Duo snicker. Wufei simply dumped all the ingredients into a clean bowl and
mixed them he then tossed in the shrimp and swirled them in the mayonnaise mixture to coat
them. He used chopsticks to divide them equally between two small plates and sprinkled on the
nuts. He used the spatula to put the plates in front of Heero then Duo. Duo grinned.

"It looks just like I remember. Thanks Wufei." he picked up a shrimp and popped it into his
mouth. "Mmmmm. Oh, man, so good."

Heero took a bite and nodded to Wufei. They ate in silence, watching Wufei as he made the beef
dishes. All he really had to do was put onions, celery, and mushrooms on the grill and let them
cook. He made a simple sauce in a small pan on the grill.

Duo nearly drooled as Wufei put the grilled vegetables onto plates and topped them with slices of
tender beef. He set the plates before them along with bowls of rice and the sauce in small
pitchers. He refreshed their tea from a small pot he'd kept on the side of the grill.

"How is it? It's been so long since I got to make something simple and wholesome, I'm afraid
I've nearly forgotten how."

Duo mumbled something around a mouthful of beef. Heero nodded and stuffed another clump of
onions into his mouth.

Wufei smiled indulgently. "I take it that means you like it. Slow down, no one is going to take it
away. I've got my katana after all."

The back door opened again and the little girl was back with another tray. This time there was a
bowl of cooked noodles and more bits of this and that.

"I decided on okonomiyaki. You've never had this, Duo. I think you'll like it."

Duo eyed the ingredients with interest and smiled. It did look good.

Wufei took a bowl of flour, added water and two eggs. He whipped it with three pairs of
chopsticks held in one hand. He tossed some cabbage onto the grill and flipped it over. Then he
divided it into two flat piles. He poured half the batter onto each pile and scooped the batter back
into a pancake form until it set enough to hold its shape.

He eased up one side of each cake, checking to make sure it was done enough. After a bit he
piled the noodles, some mushrooms, peas and diced carrots onto the still soft upper side. Then he
flipped the whole thing over.

Duo, by now, had finished his share of the two beef dishes and was watching with impatience.
He was still hungry.

Wufei smiled and checked the okonomiyaki, they were done. He flipped each one onto a plate
and drizzled wasabi mayonnaise and Wufei's special house sauce onto each one in a cross hatch.
Duo whimpered softly. Heero smiled at Wufei who just eased the plates onto the bar and watched
as Duo stuffed a bite into his mouth.

"Oh, man. That is so good. Can I have a recipe? Please?"

"Don't talk with your mouth full, you'll choke. And all I really have is a recipe for the batter. The
rest is just what ever suits'. Clean out the fridge. Use up leftovers. I like left over beef or chicken
and onions, cabbage. Napa is best, and mushrooms, peas, carrots. See? What ever I've got in the
fridge."

Duo nodded happily. "Ok. Great. Heero?"

Heero mumbled around a mouthful. "I've always liked it. Fei makes a killer okonomiyaki. Don't
you think?"

"Mmm. Yup."

Wufei just snorted although the expression on his face showed that he was pleased.
They finished eating in near silence, the only sounds those of tapping chopsticks and chewing.

Suddenly the side door, the one from the main restaurant opened and slammed back against the
wall with a loud bang. Heero had his side arm out before the door could rebound onto the
drunken group of men and women. Duo had snatched up a cleaver and Wufei held his knife by
the tip, ready to throw.

Wufei glared and snapped. "Private party! Out! You know the rules, if you don't you don't
belong here."

One of the men began to bluster. "Look here, little boy. Don't you know who I am?"

Wufei crossed his arms and looked the man up then down. "Yes, I do." The man began to nod in
a very self satisfied way, but Wufei's next words took the wind out of his pride. "You're the
obnoxious idiot that's getting himself and his entire party banned in perpetuity. Go. Now."

One of the women began to whine. "But I want to eat in the little room. I don't like it out there.
We have to wait forever. Why can't we just sit here. There's plenty of seats."

A younger man turned to her and snapped. "Shut up. I told you it wouldn't work. And I don't
want to be banned. Come on. If we go without arguing, Mr. Yamaguchi might lift the ban. At lest
for us." he grabbed the girl, who was obviously his date and dragged her toward the door. She
went, whining all the way.

The older man, the one who'd gotten smart, grabbed his date and headed for the door too. His
date was even more feather headed than the other. They could hear her asking, what's
perpetuity?' as they went back into the main dining room. Mr. Obnoxious just snarled, "For
god's sake, just shut up.'

Heero tucked his weapon away, Wufei put down the knife and Duo offered Wufei the cleaver
with a small shame faced smile.

"Well, that was interesting. And, Wufei? What the hell are you doing with a cleaver?"

Wufei smirked slightly. "I use it for window dressing. Makes a real impression, a little shouting
in Chinese, wave it around a bit. Impresses the hell out of the ignorant."

They all laughed. Wufei made more tea and they settled to gossip for a while before Duo and
Heero left.

x

When they got back to the parking lot, Heero looked for the SUV but didn't see it. He asked the
valet about it but the boy didn't know anything. He wasn't the same valet that had parked the
vehicle. Heero scowled hard enough to really scare the man.

"Look, I don't know anything about it. I'll call the boss, ok? And ... well, ... um" Heero's even
more heated glower shut him up. He went into the little booth to call the boss. Duo stood looking
around, something was itching at the back of his mind.

"Heero? I hate to be a thrill kill, but what about the locker?"

Heero shook his head. "You could bomb the hell out of the SUV but the locker won't open. It's
made of some new alloy that Q's people came up with. And the locks were made by me.
Personally."

"Ok. I'm happy."

They didn't have long to wait until the boss showed up. The man came from between two
buildings at one side of the lot. He hustled up to the valet and started yelling. Heero winced, Duo
just stared. The valet stood and listened for about two minutes then took off his badge.

"Look. I don't have to put up with this crap. I park cars. I'm not a punching bag. You hired the
little prick, you deal with it. I quit. Murphy's has been after me to work for them for months."

He tossed his badge on the ground and stalked off. Duo gave Heero one glance and a quick nod
and followed him.

Heero waited for the boss to get around to him. He finally had to walk up to him and literally
take the phone out of his hand.

"Yuy. I want to know what you're doing about getting my vehicle back. If I don't get results in
five minutes, I'm calling the police. Got me?"

The man whirled around, snatched at his phone, which Heero held behind his back, and snarled.
"Look you little shit. I'll get it back. Just give me a few minutes. I just need to find out ... um..."

Heero's glare was, by now, incandescent "You don't want trouble with me. Really, you don't.
I'm a recovery agent. Bounty hunter to you. And if you don't find my SUV in five minutes I'll
find it myself. Then I'll charge you my usual finders fee of 50% of current value plus damages
plus mileage. Got me?" Heero stuck his badge underneath the man's nose.

He managed to focus on the badge, yelped and stuck his phone in his pocket. "Mr. Yuy. I'm the
owner, Mark Bangart. If you'll just give me a few moments. I'm trying to find ... Yancy. That
little shit."

Heero eyed his watch. "Three minutes."

x.

"Look, I'm not with the boss. That's my friend's bus. Come on, man. Give a guy a break. I'll buy
you a beer." The man looked at Duo for a second. Duo put on his best coaxing look, doing his
best to look harmless. He succeeded.

"Well, ok. Not like I have to get home or anything. And I could use a drink. That guy is a real
prick. Come on. I know a place that's good, and cheap. And you don't have to worry about
getting rolled or mugged. It's right down here."

Duo followed the man down a side street and into a lively bar/club called Murphy's. He was
greeted by a man who called out, "Hey, Andrew, when are you going to quit working for Bangart
and come to work for me?"

Andrew just hollered back, "Right about now. I'll be in tomorrow, if that's ok."

Murphy hollered back. "See you at seven then. And a free round for you and your friend."

They settled at a table for two near the bar and Duo leaned back in his chair. "Ok. Who took our
bus?"

Andrew downed a draft of his beer and sighed. "Mr. Bangart's nephew. He was the other valet on
with me tonight. He's been taking out vehicles and driving them around. So far, he hasn't gotten
caught. Most people are in there for at least six hours. You guys were only in there four. He'll be
back at about one am. Or I miss my guess. Little prick. I told him he was going to get caught.
That's one of the reasons I finally quit. Bangart has insurance. I need insurance for my daughter,
but I got a record. Juvie, but it's grand theft auto. So who do you think is going to take the fall
when Bangart tries to get his nephew off? Murphy's doesn't have insurance but I'm safer here. I
don't have to worry about getting in trouble here. So ... good luck on getting that SUV back."

Duo just pulled his phone out of his pocket. " Ro, Bangart's nephew has a habit of driving
vehicles off the lot and cruising them. Pin him down about it. Ok? I'm here with the valet that
quit." Duo listened for a moment. "Don't worry about him, he already has a new job. I'm
drinkin' a beer with him, then I'll be back."

They sat drinking beer and nibbling on snacks from a bowl on the table. Finally Duo finished his
beer, stood up and offered his hand. "I'll be going now. I got to catch up to my partner. See you
around maybe."

"Sure." Andrew stood up to shake Duo's hand. "I know you from somewhere. Can't remember,
sorry. If you eat anywhere around here. Be sure to park in Murphy's garage. It's free to anyone
who eats here, everyone else pays. Hope to see you. Bye."

Duo grinned. "You'll remember who I am about the time I hit the door. Bye." Duo walked off,
braid swinging. Andrew saw the braid and muttered, "well, fuck me." then went back to his beer.


X.

Heero, meanwhile, was just standing waiting for Mr. Bangart to get off the phone again. He was
yelling at someone he kept calling you little shit' ... counterproductive in Heero's opinion.

"Mr. Banghart, I'd like to speak to who ever that is."

The man handed over his phone with a sour expression and a be my guest'. Heero took the
phone.

"Yancy? My name is Heero Yuy. I'm the owner of that SUV and if you don't bring it back at
once, I'll come find you. I guarantee you won't like it. And if there's one scratch on it, I'll take it
out of your hide."

Heero snapped the phone closed and handed it back to Mr. Bangart. He looked truly pissed.

"Tell me, does Yancy have suicidal tendencies? Because he's just about to get on my kill on sight
list."

"Look. I know the little shit is ... exactly that. But he's my sister's kid. And he doesn't have a
dad. He got killed in the resistance. So he's a little fucked up. But if he gets arrested, it'll ruin
him. I don't know what to do. So gimme a break."

Heero thought about it. "All right. If you go along with me, I'll give you a break. I just need to
get hold of my partner."

The man just gave a jerky nod and went back to making calls. Heero didn't know what he was
doing and didn't much care. He was flaming pissed and intended to put the scare of his stupid
life into Yancy.

Duo hurried up to Heero. "What's up? Have you found anything?"

"No, not yet. But it's pretty clear that Yancy, the other valet, and Mr. Bangart's nephew, has our
SUV. He's just cruising in it. But here's what I want to do." Heero talked, Duo listened, smiling
wider and wider as he went along.

x.

It was another hour before Yancy turned up with the SUV, and a girl. Duo covered his eyes with
one hand. Heero was livid and didn't care who knew it.

When the SUV finally pulled into the lot, Heero was the first one to it, with Duo right behind
him. Heero waited until he was sure Yancy had the vehicle in park before he did anything.

After he was sure the SUV was parked properly and wouldn't roll he dragged Yancy out of it by
the collar and slammed him up against the side of it. He kicked his feet out and smacked him on
the back of the head when he tried to push away and stand up.

"Stay there. You're under arrest. Officer of the court. In other words, asshole, you stole my SUV.
I'm a bounty hunter and you fucked up. Stand still."

Yancy froze against the SUV, this guy wasn't like anyone he'd ever dealt with before. Usually
his uncle managed to calm the customer down, explain that no real harm was done and offer
some sort of perk. It was plain that this wasn't going to work this time.

While Heero was handling Yancy, Duo was handling the girl friend. He helped her out of the
SUV and politely asked her if she knew it was stolen. She paled and started to cry.

"No! He told me it was all right. Everybody did this. I wasn't sure. But why would he take a
chance on getting me into trouble. I'm gonna be grounded until I'm thirty. I'm in so much
trouble. Please ... I don't want to be arrested. I swear if I'd known it was wrong I'd have told. I
swear. Please?"

Duo used the crook of one index finger to raise her face so he could look into her eyes. He was
sure she was telling the truth.

"Ok, pretty girl. I believe you. Come over here so I can talk to you without brainless hearing.
And if you could cry a little louder?"

She sniffled loudly and let out a dramatic sobbing wail. Yancy visibly flinched. Heero jerked him
around and started reciting his rights. Now, everyone knows that a bounty hunter doesn't have to
recite the Miranda but Heero usually did. Now, Yancy had to listen to his girlfriend cry while
someone recited the Miranda to him in a flat monotone.

"Do you understand these rights as I've read them to you?"

"No ... I mean, yes. Look, Cheryl didn't know. I told her it was all right. That everyone did it. I
didn't think it was really that big a deal. Please. Don't arrest her. I'll confess. Whatever you
want. Ok?"

Cheryl wailed again. Heero even winced a bit. He wondered what Duo was doing to the girl.

Duo had his back to the two men, watching as Cheryl acted her little heart out. She'd quickly
explained that she was in Paint N' Patches, the local amateur theater group and was a principle
player. Duo had just stepped back and gotten out of her way. Now she was pulling out all the
stops and sounding more and more hysterical. Duo had to keep his back turned to Yancy so he
wouldn't see the maniac grin. Cheryl used Duo's body to hide her own grin.

"Please, don't arrest me. He's my boyfriend so I believed him. Oh, please, sir."

Duo managed to sound official when all he really wanted to do was laugh his head off. "I'm very
sorry, ma'am. It's completely up to the owner of the vehicle."

Yancy turned to Heero. "Look. I swear, I never thought it was that big a deal. I put a few miles on
some rich guys ride, so what? I never put a scratch on any of them. Just ... I'll confess to
whatever you want. Just let Cheryl go, her Dad's going to kill me as it is. If she gets in real
trouble, I'll ruin her chances of getting into a good school. Please?"

Heero frowned at him then shrugged, "You should have thought of that before you started
borrowing' peoples cars."

By now Yancy was nearly in tears himself and Cheryl was reduced' to sobbing on Duo shoulder.

Duo petted and soothed, rather loudly. Yancy begged until he did start to cry. Heero pulled out
his cuffs and snapped them on Yancy. He didn't bother with proper cuffing techniques. Yancy
wasn't going to fight, he was too scared.

Heero stuffed Yancy in the back seat with a leg iron around one ankle, the other end anchored in
the floor. He went to see what was going on with Cheryl.

Duo glanced at him then pulled Cheryl into his arms announcing loudly, "Ok, young lady, that's
quite enough. Come with me. We'll see about getting you home."

Yancy nearly collapsed. This was good, at least Cheryl wasn't in trouble. He knew he was toast.
The owner of this SUV looked like a kid, until you looked into his eyes. Then he looked like a
stone cold killer. He looked familiar too. But he was going to let Cheryl go, so he couldn't be all
bad.

Heero escorted Duo and Cheryl to the little booth that was the check-in station. He tugged at
Duo's braid and asked, "Ok what's going on? You know I wasn't going to arrest her, she didn't
do anything and you can see she's a good girl."

Cheryl spoke up for her self. "I know that. The minute I started to cry, mr. ... um... I never caught
your name."

Duo grinned at her. "Heero and Duo." he pointed to Heero then himself. "Pleased ta meetcha."

Cheryl looked at Heero for a moment then at Duo. "Oh, man, I know exactly who you are. My
dad would just kill to meet you. Will you please ... I know it's an imposition but please take me
home so my dad can meet you. Please?"

Heero groaned. "Damn, Duo, two seconds in your company and she's got the puppy dog eyes of
doom down pat. Ok. We'll take you home and meet your dad. But what was all that weeping and
wailing about. And the crocodile tears."

Cheryl shrugged. "Serves him right. I really did think it was ok for him to drive those cars. He
told me that some people wanted them driven out on the highway to clear the engines out. I don't
know about stuff like that. I'm a drama major." Heero blinked at her then grinned. "No, really.
I'm in a little theater group and taking acting and drama in college. So ... well, it just seemed like
a really good opportunity to get some practice, teach him a lesson and all that. It is all right if I
talk to him for a minute?"

Heero glanced at Duo. Duo shrugged so Heero said, "I don't see why not, just don't let him get to
you. He'll say anything to stay out of trouble at this rate. He's not, but we want him to think so
for a while longer. Maybe this'll scare him into turning his attitude."

Cheryl looked from one man to the other then shrugged. "Maybe you'll understand and maybe
you won't, but I have a personal set of rules. One of them is, if you get me into trouble, you're
out. I'm breaking up with Yancy tonight. That's the other reason I want you to take me home. So
.. Can I talk to Yancy or do I have to break up with him tomorrow. I'd really rather do it tonight."

Duo laughed softly. "Kinda cold there, but I understand. I'd feel that way too, if I was a girl. He
can't love you if he lies to you then you get into trouble because of the lie. Come on."

Heero just followed them, ready to interfere if Yancy got too out of hand. He was also going to
talk to the uncle about keeping Yancy away from Cheryl. He motioned the man over as he
walked out of the booth.

He stopped Mr. Bangart far enough from the SUV that he couldn't hear what was going on but
close enough that he could get there if something went wrong. "We're just about done with him.
I'm going to present you with a bill for use of my vehicle, I'd suggest you make him pay it off.
And not by parking cars. Got me?"

Mr. Bangart nodded. "Yeah, I do. And I talked to my sister. Yelled really. That boy's got to get
himself together, no more slacking off and fucking up. I've had it. I told her, this is the last time,
next time he can go to jail. What's Cheryl doing?"

Heero couldn't help the sympathetic face he made. "Breaking up with him. I do believe it's
permanent too. She said she had a personal rule about not staying with someone if they got her
into trouble. I don't think I blame her either. I better get over there. I doesn't look like he's letting
her get in a word edgeways and Duo's looking pissed. It wouldn't do for Yancy to meet
Shinigami. That ... well, let's just say, that's soooo not good it even scares me."

Heero hurried to the SUV, getting there just in time to hear Duo tell Yancy to shut up before he
wound up with a shoe in his mouth. Cheryl was looking really mad too.

Heero walked up just in time to hear her say, "Why a shoe, why not a sock, right in the mouth.
Yancy, I'm not going to argue with you. I don't want to see you again. You lied to me. And that
got me in a lot of trouble. My dad's going to ground me forever. It's grand theft auto, anyone in
the car can be charged too. Idiot. You're really stupid. Yeh, I was impressed with the cars but I
was more impressed with the thought that people trusted you with such expensive things. It
looked like you were trustworthy. Now I can see that you're not. Do not call me, it won't work
and it'll just piss my dad off. Good-bye."

She turned around and flounced off with Duo right behind her. He called over his shoulder, "I'm
taking her to the diner around the corner. I'll call you-know-who from there an tell him what's
going on. When you're done with our junior highjacker, come get us."

Heero just sighed, he was going to get the rough side of Wufei's tongue. He was sure to have
heard about the mess. Heero rubbed his forehead, he was beginning to get a headache.

Heero settled down on the tail gate of the SUV to figure out his charges. Mr. Bangart leaned
against the side to watch. They both ignored Yancey, who was now complaining loudly.

"Let me see. Um ... 10% finders fee. Milage, wear and tear. Gas. That makes it ... yeah." Heero
showed the man the total. All he could do was whistle.

Yancey continued to complain until Heero told him to shut up, adding a fierce glare that got
through even his thick skull.

"Here's the deal. Your uncle agreed to pay my fees and let you work it off, if I wouldn't press
charges. I'm not going to .. This time. But he's had it with you and so has your mom. Here's the
total."

Heero held the paper in front of Yancy who turned an odd ashen color and choked. "Jesus, I
don't want to buy the damn thing."

Heero told him the purchase price of the SUV then nailed him. "And, since I'm a bounty hunter,
I've got a weapons locker in the back that has enough weapons in it to put you under the jail.
What with your record and one thing and another, the cops really wouldn't be thrilled to find out
your evenings activities. ... now, your uncle is going to pay this for you and you're going to pay
him back every penny. Washing dishes, I hope. Because I'll be keeping an eye out on all his valet
lots. If I see you even looking like you're thinking of parking cars again, you won't like what
happens. Do you understand me?"

Yancy nodded, just whimpering. "I don't think you're being very nice about this."

Heero nearly hurt himself he laughed so hard. "I'm not a nice person. Just ask Oz. In case you
were wondering, I'm ex-resistance. Think about it for a while. If you can't figure it out, look up
some old wanted posters. From about two years ago." Heero watched Yancey for a second then
shrugged. "I'm going to uncuff you and turn you over to your uncle. He's going to cut me a
check and put it in the mail. You'll pay him back every penny. Right?"

Yancey nodded and hustled out of the SUV the minuet Heero got the ankle bracelet off him. His
uncle smacked him in the head and pointed to a small car. "You get in that car and don't even
look like you're going to mouth your mom. I'll be by later to talk to you. Go." Yancy got.
.

Duo was sitting in a booth with Cheryl drinking hot chocolate when Heero found them. She was
still on the phone and she didn't sound happy.

When she hung up she sighed and ran a rather shaky hand through her hair. Heero, who had
shoved Duo over and plopped down beside him, asked, "Your father mad?"

Cheryl shook her head. "Oh, no, more like insane. He was going to come get me but I told him
that the guy who arrested Yancey wanted to talk to him. I hope I can talk him out of being mad
enough to ground me for the new performance. I'm an understudy and, if I get grounded, I won't
get credit for it. It would be a great extra credit towards my acting classes. ... oh, well, that's what
I get for not asking Daddy about it. Shit!"

Heero rubbed his face. "I'll talk to him, if you like. How old are you? I thought you said you
were in college? But Yancy said he didn't want to ruin your chances of getting into a good
school."

"That's sort of right. I'm only 18, so I'm still in high school. But I'm in some college classes too.
Accelerated education is so cool. If you test out of some classes you can take college classes too.
So, I'm in Drama in college and still taking the rest of my general education classes in high
school. Math is such a bitch. I'm going to fail that Advanced Algebra for sure. And I'll have to
take it again. Oh, well, with no boyfriend, maybe I'll pass it. Can we go now? Daddy's going to
be livid as it is."

Duo finished his chocolate and bumped Heero with his hip. "Scoot. I'm done. We better get her
home."

Cheryl scooted out of her side of the booth, accepting Heero's offered hand with a tiny smile.

They got into the SUV with Cheryl in the middle seat. Heero kept the back seat down unless it
was actually needed which gave him a large storage area. The weapons safe was in the trunk
under the floor there. Heero had checked it the moment Yancy had been cuffed and stuffed'.

Heero followed the directions from the GPS system and drove to Cheryl's home. He checked one
other thing from the system. Cheryl's last name, Gryphon, he didn't recognize it and it didn't
show up on any wants or warrants. Duo peeked to see what Heero was doing and snorted softly,
trust Heero to do something like that. Duo was a bit pissed that he hadn't thought of it first.

When they pulled up in the driveway, Heero got out to open the door for Cheryl while Duo
walked up the short path to the front porch to knock on the door.

The door opened before he could do so and he was left in the awkward position of having to jerk
his hand back before he smacked the large man on the chin.

"Oh, shit! Sorry, man. Um ... we brought Cheryl back home." Duo blinked at the man, he knew
him from somewhere. He didn't get that crawling between the shoulder blades that he got when it
was someone Oz or Alliance, but he defiantly knew this man from the war.

"Maxwell. How are you? You don't remember me, do you?"

Duo grinned a bit shame faced, "I recognize your face, but I can't place you for the life of me.
Sorry."

Heero came up just then and had a smile for the man. "Hello, Mr. Gryphon. Not the name I know
you by but it'll do. Duo, this is Harmony. I recognized him at once. I don't think you met him
more than once. But he was one of my best controllers."

Duo nodded. "Now I remember. But, why would you ..." he trailed off as the man started
grinning at him.

"Why don't we bring all this into the house. The neighbors will think I'm the most inhospitable
asshole in creation if I keep you standing on the steps much longer. Come in, come in. Cheryl."

Cheryl just sighed and followed them all into the homey kitchen, her attempt to sneak up the
stairs thwarted by that simple word.

When they were all settled around the table with cups of coffee and tea, Mr. Gryphon announced
that they could all call him Bud and please explain what the hell two gundam pilots were doing
bringing his daughter home. And what the bloody' hell Yancy had gotten her involved in.

Cheryl was wide eyed at the realization that her stuffy dad had been something big in the
resistance. She'd been kept away from all of that and never realized that the office job her father
worked had been, until the end of the war, a cover for some pretty hard core activities.

Heero snorted softly, sipped his coffee then grinned at Bud. "Didn't know you had a daughter. If
I'd known she was yours, I'd have been rougher on Yancy."

"And why weren't you?"

Duo snickered. "Because he really does care for her. He begged us not to get her in trouble. I'm
just glad she didn't smack him." Then he went on to explain exactly what had been going on.
Heero interjected his bit from time to time.

When they were through, Bud turned to Cheryl and asked one question. "Well, young lady, are
you through with him, or what?"

Cheryl turned her nose up in disgust. "Daddy, I swear, you never listen to me. I said, a long time
ago, any guy who touches me when I say no, gives me the blue balls story, or gets me in trouble,
is out. Absolutely, positively out. Yancy lied to me. I especially asked him if it was alright for
him to be driving customers cars. He said that some people wanted them driven out on the
highway to blow the carbon out of the engines. I believed him. Maybe it was stupid, naive.
Maybe I just wanted to believe him. But, he was supposed to love me, why would he lie like
that." She ended on a rather pathetic sniffle.

Bud sighed then patted her, a bit awkwardly, on one shoulder. "I'm sorry, sweetie, I wish I could
fix it."

She managed a rather watery smile. "Well, I fixed him. I played the weeping drama queen for all
it was worth. And Mr. Yuy must have done something more to him than just read him the
Miranda. He nearly pissed himself. I could tell."

Duo laughed softly. "Which glare did you use on him?"

Heero sighed then chuckled. "I've got a new one. The your mom nearly lost her house' one."

"Yuy, what the hell are you doing now, anyway?"

Cheryl squeaked. "Daddy! Rude much?"

Duo snorted. "Not really. We're bounty hunters, or rather, Heero is. I'm still going for my certs.
When I get my license, we're going to be partners. The guy I'm working for likes all his guys
partnered up."

"I see. Well, thanks for taking care of my little girl. And thanks for coming by. I always
wondered what happened to you. Glad to see you're doing well. And, Mr. Maxwell, nice to see
you too."

They told some lies, finished their drinks and said good-bye. Mr. Gryphon saw them to the door,
thanked them again and watched them leave.

Heero sighed softly. "I'm tired. Home?"

Duo shrugged. "I guess. I'm tired too. I feel sorry for Cheryl."

"Me too. And no more valet parking for me."

"Ok. A little walking won't hurt either one of us."