Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Fallen Angels, Broken Hearts ❯ Ch 8 ( Chapter 8 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: dark_liandrin 
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Action / Romance / Suspense / Angst / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 07.10.2006 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.4K | Visits: 151 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Action / Romance / Suspense / Angst / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 07.10.2006 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.4K | Visits: 151 | Status: Work In Progress
"Excuse me?" Kara gave Li a withering look, "You are in my boyfriend’s apartment, with weapons, and it looks like you were stealing his things. I think that merits an explanation."
Duo dialed Heero again, but didn't get an answer. "Damn it Heero! Pick up your phone!"
Lou sighed as she glanced up at Wufei, who was gradually fading out.
"Quatre, I need serious advice. What do we do?" For once she looked at a loss for answers and help.
"Our first priority at the moment is making sure we take care of Wufei. You're the one who always said we all come back alive," Quatre laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Alive. Right." She took a steadying breath and then looked around. "They got him pretty good and deep. We need to get him somewhere stable. I think Duo may be able to handle Heero, but Trowa, go see if you can catch up with him. Quatre and I can handle Wufei for now. He is less resistant when he is unconscious."
Duo quickly wrote a note to Ryo and contacted Lady Une about what was going on.
"You know I do not advise you going after Heero," she said over the phone.
"I know, but what if Li, Cody, and Kara, by some freak miracle all end up at his apartment at the same time? Do you have any idea what could happen?" Duo replied.
"Yes, but you have a duty to Ryo and-"
"Finding her sister, SAFELY, is part of it."
"-and the baby. Duo, you're going to be a father in less than two months. Ryo and the baby, need you, remember?"
"I'll be back, Lady, in less than twenty-four hours. I swear."
Lady sighed. "Do whatever. I can't control any of you anyway..."
"You never did Lady." Duo smiled as he clicked his phone shut, only for it to ring again. "Hello?"
"Bub, if you have to restrain Cody, tell her Wufei is in trouble. He, uh, just sort of stopped breathing for a minute. But-" Lou stopped talking to listen to something in the background, "I don't think he is good. The terrorists or whoever the curse word is after us is after us good. I think that bullet was laced with poison or something. Nothing takes Wufei like this, and this fast."
"oh, great, just what we need." Duo sighed, "Take good care of him, Lou, losing Wufei is the last thing Cody or any of us need at the moment. I have to go, the quicker I get to the colony the better."
Lou agreed, "Of course. Heero won't be able to handle this alone, he isn't thinking straight. He'll need all the help he can get, no matter how much he doesn't want it. Bye."
"Bye." Duo hung up the phone and gathered what he needed, then headed out the door.
Heero hurried toward the transport station, only thought in his mind making it there before the three bombs waiting to explode could beat him.
He didn't realize Trowa was about three meters behind him.
Heero made it into the last seat on the transport, leaving a disgruntled Trowa to find his way on the next one.
"God... Li, you had better not taken any of my new things..." he muttered closing his eyes, thinking about the new state of the art guns Lady Une had recently had shipped in for him. Not only were they expensive, they were both rare and hard to get. She was sure to grab those first. He rubbed his temples unhappily.
His mind strayed to his girlfriend, who was supposed to have been checking up on his apartment. "Please don't let Kara catch you... She is so protective."
At the thought of Kara his emotions whirled, bringing on a new onslaught of confusion. He just couldn't figure out what he wanted. Li had left suddenly, leaving so much left unspoken between them, so many things hanging undealt with. He didn't know what to think of it, and something inside of his chest ached as he attempted to sort through his feelings for an answer. He had to decide what it was he wanted before he saw her. Or Kara, for that matter. If he didn't it wouldn't be fair to either of them . . . "Damn it. Li, why couldn't you have just stayed and worked it out?" His thoughts continued the whole flight.
Trowa cursed loudly, loudly enough to draw a lot of curious attention.
"Damnit damnit damnit. Always. And they leave me to chase you." He got on the next transport grumbling still. "This had better be real good Yuy."
Duo's transport was delayed an hour. He was finally asked by a flight attendant to stop cursing because there were children on board. He stopped, but only out loud.
Ryo awoke to find Duo's letter.
Hey honey. I'm sorry to leave so suddenly, but with everyone else gone Lady needed someone to do a mission. It's small and I'll be back in 24 hours. I promise.Love you for eternity and take care of my little boy and yourselfLoveDuo
She sighed and laid back on the bed. "Everyone gets to go have fun..."
Once everyone sufficiently cursed, Heero had landed and was in route to the apartment and Duo and Trowa ran into each other at the same time.
As Heero hailed a taxi he quickly dialed Kara's number, praying she wasn't at the apartment yet.
"I'll call Cody, see if she has Li." Duo said to Trowa as they went through customs. He dialed.
Li ignored the angry Kara as she felt her phone vibrate, signaling a new text message. her eyes quickly scanned the words from Duo. She was at a loss for words, he had never before been like this. Something inside of her felt ready to break as her mind tried to encompass everything that had happened in the last few years. Cody saw the look on Li's face and frowned.
"What's wrong?" The words had barely left her mouth when both Kara's and her cell phones began to ring. They answered them.
"Hello? Duo?"
"Hello? Oh, hey honey." Kara's voice was immediately warm.
Li turned off her phone, heart going cold at the new events. Things were obviously going from bad to worse.
Cody nodded, looking at Li, "Yeah, Duo, she's here. So is Kara. We're having a few . . . issues . . . right now. . . "
Kara was in a similar position, "I'm a little confused, I got here and Cody was here with another woman. I think she was taking your stuff, Heero. She won't answer my questions, though, and Cody won't either." There was silence as she listened, "Yeah, she has black hair though. And blue eyes, but I remember now. It's the same girl from your Preventors picture. Yeah, I'm sure. Of course I'll stay put, what else would I do? I'm not going to leave them here."
In the midst of the commotion a distant sound was the only thing that reached Li's ears. The sound of pounding footsteps in the hall. She froze, reality sinking in. This was turning out to be a really shitty day. She was able to get a warning to them.
"Everyone, we have to get out, now!"
And then all hell broke loose.
There was two loud pounding noises as someone rammed the apartment door, then a resounding crash as it gave way and admitted the threat.
Kara dropped her phone in shock, and Cody's was shoved quickly into her pocket as she dove for the newly established pile of weapons. "Li, quick!"
Li snatched the gun that was thrown to her, then grabbed her automatic rifle that lay on the chair beside them. She managed to shove Kara towards the next room despite her protests, and dove in after Cody, slamming the door as a wave of bullets ripped through the room from the armed men that flooded through the open door.
Duo cursed yet again "Trowa, Cody just hung up, but I heard Li yell something and there were gunshots. I think they're in trouble."
"Kara! Kara, pick up! What happened? Kara!" There was no answer as Heero frantically yelled into the phone. He felt fear clutch his heart as his mind raced. Kara had screamed in the middle of the call, and he had heard Li's voice. Then there had been gunshots, and they were still echoing in the phone along with mens shouts and curses. Heero hung up his cell and urged the taxi driver to speed up, praying he wouldn't be too late.
Trowa picked up his phone and called Heero.
"Yuy, where are you, and are they there?"
"They're there," Heero replied, and Trowa detected an edge of worry in his tone, "But they were attacked. I don't know what happened, but Kara isn't answering her phone. I think something may be gravely wrong . . ."
Trowa contemplated this, "Duo and I aren't that far behind you, but you're still the closest to them. The best thing you can do is get there as fast as you can. Godspeed, Yuy."
"Thanks."
As Li locked the door behind them Cody sank to the floor, grasping her leg and breathing hard. Blood streamed in a steady flow from between her fingers. Li glanced at her, concern etched across her features. "Hey, Cody, can you walk?"
Cody nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, i don't think they hit any major arteries. What about you?" She cast Li an equally skeptical look.
Only then did Li notice the sharp pain in her arm. She must have taken a bullet when she delayed as she tried to get Kara to safety. She shrugged, "I'm okay, it's just a flesh wound. You, on the other hand, are worse. As soon as we get out of here we're going to need to have a doctor take a look at your leg."
Cody snorted, "Whatever. Right now we need to concentrate on getting out alive."
There was a slight whimper behind them, and they both turned, noticing for the first time Kara, huddled against the wall. She was obviously in shock. After all, it wasn't everyday that a group of men tried to shoot you. Li felt both guilt and sympathy overcome her for Kara, but neither of those emotions were going to keep her alive.
"Are you wounded anywhere?" Li asked. Kara shook her head meekly. "Then get up. We have to get out of here and crying and shaking isn't going to help."
Cody shook her head in disgust as the girl managed to get to her feet, trembling. "Sometimes I really don't like civilians . . . " She muttered, low enough for only Li to hear.
"Stop complaining," Li replied. She managed to cross to the window. "Think we can make it?" She gestured toward it.
"Slim chance. Damn Heero for not thinking ahead. How are we supposed to jump four stories?" Cody sighed, "Oh well, we've done worse before. But what about her?" She spared a glance for Kara. Kara's eyes had grown wide at the mention of escaping through the window, and now she seemed terrified.
"One of us will have to go down with her. it's a handful but it's the only way."
Cody cursed.
Lou sat with a sweaty shaking Wufei, his head in her lap.
"Quat, this really doesn't look good. I have never seen something work like this before." Her voice was clipped and edgy, showing her worry in a harsh way.
Quatre nodded and dapped the Chinese man's forehead with a cool washcloth they had found. Miraculously the trio had managed to get a motel room, dingy and cheap, but a motel none the less.
"He needs something to make it stop." Lou looked at his wound, which the area around was slowly turning bluish purple. "We have to stop the blood flow to that part of his arm."
Kara whimpered more at Cody's cursing, and amazingly Li took a small bit of pity for the girl.
"Kara, look. This sucks, we know. This is horrifying, we know. But we have to do some seemingly stupid and crazy things to stay alive. Be strong and just trust us, okay?"
The poor girl nodded and stood next to Li.
"Hello?" Duo answered his phone as the transport was ready to land.
"Duo, honey, where are you really going?" Ryo's voice seemed to be dripping with sweetness.
"On a missi-"
"Don't lie to me, Maxwell," her voice was cold in a moment.
"I'm helping Heero," he sighed.
"What does Heero need help with?"
"Li, Cody and Kara are in trouble. Heero said they were attacked while he called Kara."
"Get Heero and bring him back here. Leave Li alone. She is a big girl and she knows how to handle herself." Ryo's voice was cool now.
There was a long pause.
"I mean it Duo Maxwell."
"Alright." He sighed and shook his head, "I love you angel."
:I love you too." Ryo's voice was still coolly emphasizing her point. "Bye."
Duo looked almost helplessly at Trowa.
Lou called Ryo. "Honey, I need you to do something for me. Hack into my files and look in poison control. Quickly now."
Ryo bit her lip, "You are lucky I've done it before or it could take me a while." Ryo searched through Lou's files quickly. "Okay, got it, now what?"
"Find the section on bullet lacing poisons. I need you to read each name and symptoms of each. Stop when you find one that includes heavy sweating, purple bruising, tremors, fever, and hallucinations. Alright? Be through sweetheart, this is important."
Ryo began listing off things finally she came to the one Lou was looking for.
"Stop there. Read it off again." she said.
"Magnesium Chloric Plutonium Arsenic. New age, used by up to date scientists to help blow apart large masses in space area. If ingested 96.22 fatal in all tests. Symptoms include fever and sweating, hallucinations, gangrene in wounded area, loss of blood flow, accelerated heart rate, epileptic tremors, and comatose state leading to death. Most victims die within 48 hours without treatment, and until then suffer serve pain and lash out harshly. If survived, mental and physical retardation result." Ryo read it all and then asked the fate bearing question. "Why?"
Lou sighed, "Wufei was poisoned with it. Is there an antidote?"
Ryo swallowed and read quickly, "No. Not any antidotes, only some stopping medications. Available only in specialized labs."
"Ryo, find a way to get us some. Now."
Ryo typed furiously as she broke passwords, firewalls and kept under the security. "Uh... Lou, I found it, at Headquarters. I'll call Lady Une and tell her the situation. We'll get it sent to you ASAP."
Duo and Trowa took a Preventors car that was waiting for them to Heero's apartment. Upon arriving they knew there had been trouble because the door to the apartment hung at an odd angle. Steel doors don't do that in the wind. The place was dead silent.
"Yuy, it's Maxwell and Barton. We're coming in." Duo shouted to the apartment.
When an answer didn't come they walked in cautiously. After searching each room, they found Heero in the kitchen, looking at two blood stains on the floor.
"Yuy, hey man, are you okay?" Duo stood in the doorway.
Heero looked at him. "They escaped out the window. I'm pretty sure Cody was hit and most likely Li. Kara wouldn't have been able to escape if she had been hit. They have probably a two hour start on us, but I'm sure we can find them." He tried pushing past Duo.
Duo placed a firm hand on his chest. "No, you're coming with me."
"Maxwell what do you mean? We have a job to do."
"No we don't. Li gave Ryo her word that she would be back before the baby was born. If Kara is with Li and Cody, which I have no doubt she is, then she is safe. Ryo has asked that you come to the safe house. I thinks she wants to talk to you. I'm sure she'll request the rest of the group to join us once Wufei is stable."
Heero struggled against Duo's restraining arms, but Trowa gave him a slight look and then Duo only held stronger.
"Yuy. Look at it this way. Your current girlfriend, who you don’t know how you feel about, is with your ex-girlfriend and her cousin, both of whom are hurt. All three are safe because Li and Cody are there, regardless. Wufei was shot for you, and possibly poisoned. Last time Ryo called he wasn't doing good and Lady had an emergency transport out there making way with an antibiotic. If it doesn't take, he dies. Now, since we know Ryo wants to see you and that you get a little crazy with the emotions, why don't you just come back calmly. Now." This was the most Trowa had ever said to them in one sitting.
Ryo smiled at Heero as he, Duo and Trowa walked into the safe house. "How nice of you to come see me, Heero. Please, take a seat."
He opened his mouth to protest but the fierce glare Ryo gave him shut it quickly. "God she is so much like her sister..." he thought.
"Duo, honey, could you go get something for everyone to drink and eat?" she smiled at him. After both men left Ryo turned back to Heero. "Now, tell me why you are racing around after a group of girls?"
Trowa stood, "I'll go with him."
"Thank you, Trowa."
"I don't have to justify my actions to you Ryo. My girlfriend is in that group, as well as someone with all the answers." He glared hard and closed himself off, it had been a long transport ride back with Duo and Trowa both not trusting him to do anything but sit in silence between then with no weapons and hands always in sight. Duo hadn't even fallen asleep.
"Do NOT give ME attitude, Heero Yuy." Ryo crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. "I don't give a rats --- about how you feel. If you really care about your 'girlfriend' then you are going to sit here and talk to me."
Heero sat silently, choosing to be silent rather than speak.
About that time a razzled Leigh Lou walked in, carrying an unconscious Wufei, Quatre walking behind holding multiple IV drips.
"When Lady wants you somewhere she is a speed demon." Lou smiled lightly at Ryo until her eyes rested on Heero, then they hardened in hated pity. "Ah, I see someone stopped his hideous tirade. Amazingly."
"He's on house arrest until he can be an adult and talk to me. Lou, you and Quatre can leave Wufei with us and go help Duo and Trowa with dinner, okay?"
"Sadly I can't leave him, since he now has the tendencies to go into epileptic shock." Lou glared, "I am taking and putting him to bed. Kill him Ryo."
Ryo smirked. "Heero, look at me." He continued looking in another direction. She got up and crossed to the couch he sat on. "LOOK at me." She held his chin in her hand. "May I ask you a question? What would you have done if you had showed up during the middle of that fight? You would have been unprotected and the center of their attention. You could have distracted Li and Cody and there would have been more blood. It's by sheer grace you were too late."
Duo dialed Heero again, but didn't get an answer. "Damn it Heero! Pick up your phone!"
Lou sighed as she glanced up at Wufei, who was gradually fading out.
"Quatre, I need serious advice. What do we do?" For once she looked at a loss for answers and help.
"Our first priority at the moment is making sure we take care of Wufei. You're the one who always said we all come back alive," Quatre laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Alive. Right." She took a steadying breath and then looked around. "They got him pretty good and deep. We need to get him somewhere stable. I think Duo may be able to handle Heero, but Trowa, go see if you can catch up with him. Quatre and I can handle Wufei for now. He is less resistant when he is unconscious."
Duo quickly wrote a note to Ryo and contacted Lady Une about what was going on.
"You know I do not advise you going after Heero," she said over the phone.
"I know, but what if Li, Cody, and Kara, by some freak miracle all end up at his apartment at the same time? Do you have any idea what could happen?" Duo replied.
"Yes, but you have a duty to Ryo and-"
"Finding her sister, SAFELY, is part of it."
"-and the baby. Duo, you're going to be a father in less than two months. Ryo and the baby, need you, remember?"
"I'll be back, Lady, in less than twenty-four hours. I swear."
Lady sighed. "Do whatever. I can't control any of you anyway..."
"You never did Lady." Duo smiled as he clicked his phone shut, only for it to ring again. "Hello?"
"Bub, if you have to restrain Cody, tell her Wufei is in trouble. He, uh, just sort of stopped breathing for a minute. But-" Lou stopped talking to listen to something in the background, "I don't think he is good. The terrorists or whoever the curse word is after us is after us good. I think that bullet was laced with poison or something. Nothing takes Wufei like this, and this fast."
"oh, great, just what we need." Duo sighed, "Take good care of him, Lou, losing Wufei is the last thing Cody or any of us need at the moment. I have to go, the quicker I get to the colony the better."
Lou agreed, "Of course. Heero won't be able to handle this alone, he isn't thinking straight. He'll need all the help he can get, no matter how much he doesn't want it. Bye."
"Bye." Duo hung up the phone and gathered what he needed, then headed out the door.
Heero hurried toward the transport station, only thought in his mind making it there before the three bombs waiting to explode could beat him.
He didn't realize Trowa was about three meters behind him.
Heero made it into the last seat on the transport, leaving a disgruntled Trowa to find his way on the next one.
"God... Li, you had better not taken any of my new things..." he muttered closing his eyes, thinking about the new state of the art guns Lady Une had recently had shipped in for him. Not only were they expensive, they were both rare and hard to get. She was sure to grab those first. He rubbed his temples unhappily.
His mind strayed to his girlfriend, who was supposed to have been checking up on his apartment. "Please don't let Kara catch you... She is so protective."
At the thought of Kara his emotions whirled, bringing on a new onslaught of confusion. He just couldn't figure out what he wanted. Li had left suddenly, leaving so much left unspoken between them, so many things hanging undealt with. He didn't know what to think of it, and something inside of his chest ached as he attempted to sort through his feelings for an answer. He had to decide what it was he wanted before he saw her. Or Kara, for that matter. If he didn't it wouldn't be fair to either of them . . . "Damn it. Li, why couldn't you have just stayed and worked it out?" His thoughts continued the whole flight.
Trowa cursed loudly, loudly enough to draw a lot of curious attention.
"Damnit damnit damnit. Always. And they leave me to chase you." He got on the next transport grumbling still. "This had better be real good Yuy."
Duo's transport was delayed an hour. He was finally asked by a flight attendant to stop cursing because there were children on board. He stopped, but only out loud.
Ryo awoke to find Duo's letter.
Hey honey. I'm sorry to leave so suddenly, but with everyone else gone Lady needed someone to do a mission. It's small and I'll be back in 24 hours. I promise.Love you for eternity and take care of my little boy and yourselfLoveDuo
She sighed and laid back on the bed. "Everyone gets to go have fun..."
Once everyone sufficiently cursed, Heero had landed and was in route to the apartment and Duo and Trowa ran into each other at the same time.
As Heero hailed a taxi he quickly dialed Kara's number, praying she wasn't at the apartment yet.
"I'll call Cody, see if she has Li." Duo said to Trowa as they went through customs. He dialed.
Li ignored the angry Kara as she felt her phone vibrate, signaling a new text message. her eyes quickly scanned the words from Duo. She was at a loss for words, he had never before been like this. Something inside of her felt ready to break as her mind tried to encompass everything that had happened in the last few years. Cody saw the look on Li's face and frowned.
"What's wrong?" The words had barely left her mouth when both Kara's and her cell phones began to ring. They answered them.
"Hello? Duo?"
"Hello? Oh, hey honey." Kara's voice was immediately warm.
Li turned off her phone, heart going cold at the new events. Things were obviously going from bad to worse.
Cody nodded, looking at Li, "Yeah, Duo, she's here. So is Kara. We're having a few . . . issues . . . right now. . . "
Kara was in a similar position, "I'm a little confused, I got here and Cody was here with another woman. I think she was taking your stuff, Heero. She won't answer my questions, though, and Cody won't either." There was silence as she listened, "Yeah, she has black hair though. And blue eyes, but I remember now. It's the same girl from your Preventors picture. Yeah, I'm sure. Of course I'll stay put, what else would I do? I'm not going to leave them here."
In the midst of the commotion a distant sound was the only thing that reached Li's ears. The sound of pounding footsteps in the hall. She froze, reality sinking in. This was turning out to be a really shitty day. She was able to get a warning to them.
"Everyone, we have to get out, now!"
And then all hell broke loose.
There was two loud pounding noises as someone rammed the apartment door, then a resounding crash as it gave way and admitted the threat.
Kara dropped her phone in shock, and Cody's was shoved quickly into her pocket as she dove for the newly established pile of weapons. "Li, quick!"
Li snatched the gun that was thrown to her, then grabbed her automatic rifle that lay on the chair beside them. She managed to shove Kara towards the next room despite her protests, and dove in after Cody, slamming the door as a wave of bullets ripped through the room from the armed men that flooded through the open door.
Duo cursed yet again "Trowa, Cody just hung up, but I heard Li yell something and there were gunshots. I think they're in trouble."
"Kara! Kara, pick up! What happened? Kara!" There was no answer as Heero frantically yelled into the phone. He felt fear clutch his heart as his mind raced. Kara had screamed in the middle of the call, and he had heard Li's voice. Then there had been gunshots, and they were still echoing in the phone along with mens shouts and curses. Heero hung up his cell and urged the taxi driver to speed up, praying he wouldn't be too late.
Trowa picked up his phone and called Heero.
"Yuy, where are you, and are they there?"
"They're there," Heero replied, and Trowa detected an edge of worry in his tone, "But they were attacked. I don't know what happened, but Kara isn't answering her phone. I think something may be gravely wrong . . ."
Trowa contemplated this, "Duo and I aren't that far behind you, but you're still the closest to them. The best thing you can do is get there as fast as you can. Godspeed, Yuy."
"Thanks."
As Li locked the door behind them Cody sank to the floor, grasping her leg and breathing hard. Blood streamed in a steady flow from between her fingers. Li glanced at her, concern etched across her features. "Hey, Cody, can you walk?"
Cody nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, i don't think they hit any major arteries. What about you?" She cast Li an equally skeptical look.
Only then did Li notice the sharp pain in her arm. She must have taken a bullet when she delayed as she tried to get Kara to safety. She shrugged, "I'm okay, it's just a flesh wound. You, on the other hand, are worse. As soon as we get out of here we're going to need to have a doctor take a look at your leg."
Cody snorted, "Whatever. Right now we need to concentrate on getting out alive."
There was a slight whimper behind them, and they both turned, noticing for the first time Kara, huddled against the wall. She was obviously in shock. After all, it wasn't everyday that a group of men tried to shoot you. Li felt both guilt and sympathy overcome her for Kara, but neither of those emotions were going to keep her alive.
"Are you wounded anywhere?" Li asked. Kara shook her head meekly. "Then get up. We have to get out of here and crying and shaking isn't going to help."
Cody shook her head in disgust as the girl managed to get to her feet, trembling. "Sometimes I really don't like civilians . . . " She muttered, low enough for only Li to hear.
"Stop complaining," Li replied. She managed to cross to the window. "Think we can make it?" She gestured toward it.
"Slim chance. Damn Heero for not thinking ahead. How are we supposed to jump four stories?" Cody sighed, "Oh well, we've done worse before. But what about her?" She spared a glance for Kara. Kara's eyes had grown wide at the mention of escaping through the window, and now she seemed terrified.
"One of us will have to go down with her. it's a handful but it's the only way."
Cody cursed.
Lou sat with a sweaty shaking Wufei, his head in her lap.
"Quat, this really doesn't look good. I have never seen something work like this before." Her voice was clipped and edgy, showing her worry in a harsh way.
Quatre nodded and dapped the Chinese man's forehead with a cool washcloth they had found. Miraculously the trio had managed to get a motel room, dingy and cheap, but a motel none the less.
"He needs something to make it stop." Lou looked at his wound, which the area around was slowly turning bluish purple. "We have to stop the blood flow to that part of his arm."
Kara whimpered more at Cody's cursing, and amazingly Li took a small bit of pity for the girl.
"Kara, look. This sucks, we know. This is horrifying, we know. But we have to do some seemingly stupid and crazy things to stay alive. Be strong and just trust us, okay?"
The poor girl nodded and stood next to Li.
"Hello?" Duo answered his phone as the transport was ready to land.
"Duo, honey, where are you really going?" Ryo's voice seemed to be dripping with sweetness.
"On a missi-"
"Don't lie to me, Maxwell," her voice was cold in a moment.
"I'm helping Heero," he sighed.
"What does Heero need help with?"
"Li, Cody and Kara are in trouble. Heero said they were attacked while he called Kara."
"Get Heero and bring him back here. Leave Li alone. She is a big girl and she knows how to handle herself." Ryo's voice was cool now.
There was a long pause.
"I mean it Duo Maxwell."
"Alright." He sighed and shook his head, "I love you angel."
:I love you too." Ryo's voice was still coolly emphasizing her point. "Bye."
Duo looked almost helplessly at Trowa.
Lou called Ryo. "Honey, I need you to do something for me. Hack into my files and look in poison control. Quickly now."
Ryo bit her lip, "You are lucky I've done it before or it could take me a while." Ryo searched through Lou's files quickly. "Okay, got it, now what?"
"Find the section on bullet lacing poisons. I need you to read each name and symptoms of each. Stop when you find one that includes heavy sweating, purple bruising, tremors, fever, and hallucinations. Alright? Be through sweetheart, this is important."
Ryo began listing off things finally she came to the one Lou was looking for.
"Stop there. Read it off again." she said.
"Magnesium Chloric Plutonium Arsenic. New age, used by up to date scientists to help blow apart large masses in space area. If ingested 96.22 fatal in all tests. Symptoms include fever and sweating, hallucinations, gangrene in wounded area, loss of blood flow, accelerated heart rate, epileptic tremors, and comatose state leading to death. Most victims die within 48 hours without treatment, and until then suffer serve pain and lash out harshly. If survived, mental and physical retardation result." Ryo read it all and then asked the fate bearing question. "Why?"
Lou sighed, "Wufei was poisoned with it. Is there an antidote?"
Ryo swallowed and read quickly, "No. Not any antidotes, only some stopping medications. Available only in specialized labs."
"Ryo, find a way to get us some. Now."
Ryo typed furiously as she broke passwords, firewalls and kept under the security. "Uh... Lou, I found it, at Headquarters. I'll call Lady Une and tell her the situation. We'll get it sent to you ASAP."
Duo and Trowa took a Preventors car that was waiting for them to Heero's apartment. Upon arriving they knew there had been trouble because the door to the apartment hung at an odd angle. Steel doors don't do that in the wind. The place was dead silent.
"Yuy, it's Maxwell and Barton. We're coming in." Duo shouted to the apartment.
When an answer didn't come they walked in cautiously. After searching each room, they found Heero in the kitchen, looking at two blood stains on the floor.
"Yuy, hey man, are you okay?" Duo stood in the doorway.
Heero looked at him. "They escaped out the window. I'm pretty sure Cody was hit and most likely Li. Kara wouldn't have been able to escape if she had been hit. They have probably a two hour start on us, but I'm sure we can find them." He tried pushing past Duo.
Duo placed a firm hand on his chest. "No, you're coming with me."
"Maxwell what do you mean? We have a job to do."
"No we don't. Li gave Ryo her word that she would be back before the baby was born. If Kara is with Li and Cody, which I have no doubt she is, then she is safe. Ryo has asked that you come to the safe house. I thinks she wants to talk to you. I'm sure she'll request the rest of the group to join us once Wufei is stable."
Heero struggled against Duo's restraining arms, but Trowa gave him a slight look and then Duo only held stronger.
"Yuy. Look at it this way. Your current girlfriend, who you don’t know how you feel about, is with your ex-girlfriend and her cousin, both of whom are hurt. All three are safe because Li and Cody are there, regardless. Wufei was shot for you, and possibly poisoned. Last time Ryo called he wasn't doing good and Lady had an emergency transport out there making way with an antibiotic. If it doesn't take, he dies. Now, since we know Ryo wants to see you and that you get a little crazy with the emotions, why don't you just come back calmly. Now." This was the most Trowa had ever said to them in one sitting.
Ryo smiled at Heero as he, Duo and Trowa walked into the safe house. "How nice of you to come see me, Heero. Please, take a seat."
He opened his mouth to protest but the fierce glare Ryo gave him shut it quickly. "God she is so much like her sister..." he thought.
"Duo, honey, could you go get something for everyone to drink and eat?" she smiled at him. After both men left Ryo turned back to Heero. "Now, tell me why you are racing around after a group of girls?"
Trowa stood, "I'll go with him."
"Thank you, Trowa."
"I don't have to justify my actions to you Ryo. My girlfriend is in that group, as well as someone with all the answers." He glared hard and closed himself off, it had been a long transport ride back with Duo and Trowa both not trusting him to do anything but sit in silence between then with no weapons and hands always in sight. Duo hadn't even fallen asleep.
"Do NOT give ME attitude, Heero Yuy." Ryo crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. "I don't give a rats --- about how you feel. If you really care about your 'girlfriend' then you are going to sit here and talk to me."
Heero sat silently, choosing to be silent rather than speak.
About that time a razzled Leigh Lou walked in, carrying an unconscious Wufei, Quatre walking behind holding multiple IV drips.
"When Lady wants you somewhere she is a speed demon." Lou smiled lightly at Ryo until her eyes rested on Heero, then they hardened in hated pity. "Ah, I see someone stopped his hideous tirade. Amazingly."
"He's on house arrest until he can be an adult and talk to me. Lou, you and Quatre can leave Wufei with us and go help Duo and Trowa with dinner, okay?"
"Sadly I can't leave him, since he now has the tendencies to go into epileptic shock." Lou glared, "I am taking and putting him to bed. Kill him Ryo."
Ryo smirked. "Heero, look at me." He continued looking in another direction. She got up and crossed to the couch he sat on. "LOOK at me." She held his chin in her hand. "May I ask you a question? What would you have done if you had showed up during the middle of that fight? You would have been unprotected and the center of their attention. You could have distracted Li and Cody and there would have been more blood. It's by sheer grace you were too late."