Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Family Ties ❯ Chapter 28 ( Chapter 28 )

Disclaimer: I don't own the G Boys, I just borrow them from time to time and return them a whole lot happier. I do own the plot line and any other characters that appear here that are not in the Gundam Wing Universe; please do not take them without permission. Written for pleasure not profit.

 

Warnings: Angst, sap, fluff, violence, Mpreg.

 

Rating: NC 17

 

Pairings: 1x2x1, 3x4x3, 5xS, HxOC

 

Summary: Sequel to Chimaera. Life in the Maxwell -Yuy household has undergone some big changes when Duo brings Keitaro home from the hospital. Hilde's wedding is approaching and the guys find there's more to this baby business than they thought. Struggling to raise a child, work at Preventer and keep the home happy is certainly a trial for both guys. Add an assassin's threats to prominent government officials' lives and both men find their lives are suddenly changed. Just how far will one go to protect the ones he loves?

 

Dedication: to all my lovely readers out there who enjoyed Chimaera and have since begged, threatened, pleaded, bribed and blackmailed me for a sequel. ^_^

 

 

 

 

"Family Ties"

 

January. 2007 ShenLong

 

 

Chapter 28

 

Heero stood staring at the blank vid screen for a moment, his mind trying to come up with a logical explanation for Duo's whereabouts. His eyes fixated on the screen, a sudden thought hit him.

 

“Duo's cell!” Heero didn't know why he hadn't thought of it before. He could call Duo and see where his husband was. Eagerly, Heero dived into his pocket and pulled his cell phone out. Flipping it open, he hit the speed dial for his husband and waited. It rang twice before diverting to Duo's message bank.

 

“Hi, you've called the God of Death. I'm a little busy doing some soul searching right now so please leave a message and I'll get back to you.”

 

Heero frowned, then spoke. “Duo, it's me. Can you please call me?” Pocketing the cell, Heero left the study and returned to the bedroom to double check he hadn't missed anything. He scanned over the dresser, the bed and Duo's side table. Nothing, no note, no clue as to where Duo could possibly be. The Preventer uniform lay where Duo had left it. Heero moved to the bathroom on the off chance Duo may have left something in there to alert him to where he was. At that point, Heero heard the unmistakable sound of Duo's cell phone ringing. The 'death march' played out, a little muffled and Heero charged back into the bedroom to try and locate the cell. The sound went off, but not before Heero had managed to pin point the location. He dug through Duo's pants pocket and unearthed the cell.

 

That would explain why Duo hadn't picked up.

 

Heero was starting to get even more worried. Rarely did Duo go anywhere without his cell; he even took it on missions, even if he put it on 'silent' he still carried it with him. Putting the thoughts of his missing husband aside for the moment, Heero pulled his cell back out of his pocket, deciding to try and call Nurse Brown; maybe she could shed some light on Duo's whereabouts.

 

The call connected - and rang out.

 

Heero was beginning to go into full on panic mode. Nothing added up. Leaving the bedroom, Heero headed back downstairs to scour the lower levels once more.

 

* * *

 

Seething with anger, Duo allowed himself to be pushed along the hallway and into what appeared to have once been a kitchen. The man called Nolen was sitting, drinking a cup of coffee. When Duo came through the door, Nolen placed his cup back on the table and gestured for Duo to take a seat.

 

Scowling, Duo sat and waited.

 

Nolen watched Duo carefully and finished his coffee. Once he was done, he pushed his seat back a little, crossed his arms over his chest and cleared his throat.

 

Violet eyes narrowed.

 

“I suppose you want to know what it is you're doing here? Why we have gone to such extraordinary lengths to secure you and your cooperation?”

 

“It would be a start,” Duo replied. “I prefer those I'm going to kill to know why they're dead men.”

 

Nolen gave a laugh, albeit a slightly shaky one. “You are from L2, correct?”

 

“So what if I am?”

 

“You also work for Preventers.”

 

Duo shrugged. “So do a lot of people.”

 

“I'm also pretty certain you were a Gundam pilot.”

 

“Cut the crap and get to the point,” Duo snarled. He saw no reason to confirm the guy's guess; let him continue to think what he wanted.

 

“As a fellow L2 native, I'm sure you are aware of all the rebuilding projects currently taking place on the colonies, or in L2's case; the lack of.”

 

Duo kept his face neutral, he wasn't about to give anything at all away regarding his own suspicions, let this guy talk, maybe Duo could pick up something to aid in his own search for the truth.

 

“We are concerned that L2 is missing out on its fair share of the funding.”

 

“Really? And how do you come to that conclusion?” Duo snapped.

 

Nolen sighed. “Look, I don't intend to reveal to you all the details of our information source, but we have enough evidence to confirm our suspicions that a lot of the funding that should be going to L2, isn't.”

 

“Wouldn't be the first time L2 citizens have been promised things that have never materialized.”

 

“Precisely, and this is why the ESUN needs to know that L2 is not longer going to sit back and take this sort of treatment.”

 

“And just how do you propose to do that?” Duo had a feeling the answer would involve the reason for his being there - and he wasn't too sure he was going to like it.

 

“That's where you come in, my friend.”

 

“Then I suggest you should pick your friends a little better.” Duo's eyes glinted dangerously.

 

“We've been watching you, we know quite a bit about you, Duo. What we want from you shouldn't be difficult at all for a man of your skills.”

 

Duo raised an eyebrow. “I don't know what it is you're smoking, but I'd suggest asking for a refund, it's obviously frying your brain.”

 

A whack to the back of his head had Duo spinning in his seat, one hand reaching for a non existent gun, the other snaking out and grabbing the offender's wrist.

 

Duric glared. “Show some respect,” he snarled. “And let go of my wrist.” Duric could feel the bones beginning to grate together and a small tremor of fear passed through him. The speed at which the man had reacted had Duric questioning their boss' sanity in acquiring this man's services.

 

Eyes locked for a moment, each man staring the other down.

 

Duric was the first to look away.

 

“If you two have quite finished, I'd like to get back to business.” Nolen's voice broke the standoff.

 

Duo released the wrist.

 

“I'll get to the point,” Nolen began. “We need for the ESUN to stand up and take notice that L2 exists, that it deserves to be re-built, to have the same amount of aid and assistance afforded to other colonies. To make them take notice, we need to do something drastic. It is our intention to assassinate the L1 ambassador...”

 

* * *

 

Wufei arrived at the Yuy-Maxwell residence within twenty minutes of Heero calling. He parked his car, locked it and pushed the door bell. The door was opened before his finger even left the small button.

 

“Chang.”

 

“Any progress?” Wufei asked as stepped inside.

 

“No.” Heero closed the door and motioned for Wufei to follow him through to the kitchen where he'd just made a pot of green tea to try and help soothe his frayed nerves. He poured them both a cup and sat down, sipping on the hot liquid.

 

“Start at the beginning, there has to be something we can work with.” The thought that Duo could be playing a practical joke had crossed the Chinese man's mind and he vowed if that was the case he would personally string the long haired man up by the balls. One look at Yuy's face though had convinced Wufei that there was something definitely wrong and this was no practical joke.

 

Heero told his story, from the moment he'd entered the house and found the security system turned off to his call to Chang.

 

Frowning, Wufei studied his tea cup for a moment. “I believe you when you say this is out of character for Maxwell. I have also tried his cell and gotten no answer other than his message bank.”

 

“His cell is here.”

 

“Ah. You say the security system was off?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“And his knives are gone?”

 

“Most of them.”

 

“I think it's safe to say he wasn't forcibly removed from the premises then.”

 

“Tell me something I don't know,” Heero replied running his fingers through his bangs in a frustrated fashion.

 

“You say the nurse and child are also absent?” Wufei pressed on regardless, something was niggling at his mind.

 

“Nurse Brown hasn't returned yet. I'm sure she went shopping; and before you ask, I've tried her cell too and it just rings out. Something's just not right here, Chang. Nurse Brown always has her cell on her and never fails to pick up.”

 

The pair went silent for a moment, each locked in thought before Wufei spoke. “Are you sure she went shopping?”

 

“Where the fuck else would she be?!” Heero snapped. “Barney confirmed she's gone shopping, but why she hasn't returned yet... Oh god, you don't think?” Heero felt as if a bucket of iced water had been poured over him.

 

“Shit!” Wufei realized where Yuy's thoughts had gone.

 

“If anything has happened to my son...”

 

“I'm sure that everyone is fine, Heero.” Wufei didn't get a chance to continue, Heero suddenly broke down.

 

“Oh god, Wufei. What if Nurse Brown or Keitaro has had an accident? That has to be it. They've had an accident and are in hospital. That's why Duo would have taken off without leaving a note or taking his cell... What if they're...?” Heero couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.

 

Wufei was out of his chair and placed a comforting arm around Heero's shoulders. “Yuy, listen to me. If it were anything along those lines, I'm sure Maxwell would have called you before going himself.”

 

“What if he didn't have time? What if it was so urgent he had to go straight away?”

 

Wufei had to think on that one. On the one hand it would make logical sense that something like an accident would cause Duo to simply drop everything and head off. But why would he take the time to grab his knives but not his cell? And if he was at a hospital, why hadn't he called already to let Heero know? “Yuy, let's call the major hospitals around the area and see if they have had a nanny and infant admitted anywhere in the last six hours.”

 

Heero nodded. “That makes sense,” he replied, gaining a little control over his panicked mind.

 

“You make a fresh pot of tea and I'll start making the calls, okay?”

 

“Hai.”

 

With something to temporarily occupy Yuy, Wufei went through to the office and began to call around the local hospitals.

 

* * *

 

Nolen waited for the words to sink in.

 

“And just how do you think that assassinating the L1 ambassador will help L2?” Duo sneered.

 

“Assassinating the L1 ambassador will only be the beginning. Once we have disposed of him, we will proceed to a second target, eliminate them and then maybe the ESUN will be ready to listen to our demands for L2's aid. If they don't, or start to pussyfoot around, we will assassinate another ambassador and another until they do take us seriously,” Nolen stated, his voice calm.

 

It was completely clear to Duo now just what it was they wanted from him. “No.”

 

“I don't think you are in a position to refuse.”

 

“This is peace time, there is no need to kill to get a point across.”

 

“I beg to differ,” Nolen stated.

 

“Ever heard of negotiation?”

 

“Face it, Maxwell. No one has listened to the L2 citizens before, why should now be any different? The proof is there, you should know seeing as how you have experienced it first hand, living on the streets, surviving by eating out of dumpsters. L2 has always been forgotten, the last to receive any assistance. Out of sight, out of mind.”

 

“This time it's different. There is aid going to the colony...”

 

“Bullshit!” Nolen cut Duo off. “I know what I'm talking about. Ever since this aid was promised at the end of the war we've been waiting for it to happen. Yes, I'll agree there is some aid coming through, but nowhere near what was promised. All the other colonies are re-building and recovering just fine with the assistance they're getting, but as usual, L2 is left in the dust.”

 

“Look, I'll speak with the ESUN...”

 

“NO! It's the ESUN's fault that the aid isn't getting to L2.”

 

“I take it you have proof?” Duo's eyes narrowed. Nolen fell silent. “You don't have proof and yet you want me to go in and assassinate innocent people for you to prove a point based on hearsay. I won't do it.”

 

“It's not hearsay and we have enough proof.”

 

The penny began to drop in Duo's head. “That guy, the one that was found dead in the ESUN mainframe room, he was a part of your group,” Duo whispered. One look at Nolen's face told Duo he'd hit the nail on the head.

 

“We have enough proof,” Nolen repeated, refusing to verbally confirm or deny Duo's guess. “And you will cooperate.”

 

“I refuse to kill innocents.”

 

“You will do as you're told,” Nolen snarled. “You forget we have something of yours as surety. If you don't cooperate, try to escape or attempt to alert anyone to our whereabouts, plans or anything else, I will not hesitate to eliminate the nanny or the child, or both.”

 

Duo's blood ran cold in his veins. His eyes narrowed as he fixed Nolen with a steely gaze. “You touch the nanny again and they will be scraping your remains off the floor. Touch one hair on that child's head and there won't be enough left of any of you to identify as ever being human.”

 

Nolen smirked. “I don't think you're in the position to bargain. You leave in two hours.” Nolen stood up indicating the meeting was over and left.

 

Duo remained sitting for a moment before a shove to his shoulder forced him to move.

 

“Back to the basement. I'll come for you in two hours and brief you on the way to the target,” Duric said as he pointed the gun at Duo.

 

Mind still moving rapidly with the information overload, Duo stood and walked numbly back to the basement. Somehow he had to let Heero know where he was and the gravity of the situation.

 

* * *

 

“I see. Thank you.” Wufei cut the call and slumped back in the seat. He looked up a moment later as Yuy entered with two mugs in his hands.

 

“Any luck?” Heero's hand shook a little as he passed over the mug.

 

“No. None of the hospitals within a fifty kilometer radius has had anyone fitting Nurse Brown's or Keitaro's descriptions admitted in the past six hours.”

 

Heero heaved a sigh of relief. “That's good news I suppose, although it still doesn't help us much.”

 

“True,” Wufei replied. They sat in silence for a moment, each pondering their thoughts when the vid phone suddenly went off causing Chang to jump and spill some of his tea. “Shit!”

 

Heero pushed the receive button, the screen fuzzed for a moment and then cleared. “Quatre?”

 

Quatre's face appeared on the screen looking a little haggard. “Heero? Is Duo there?”

 

“No, he's - I don't know where he is,” Heero choked out.

 

“Oh, Allah,” Quatre whispered.

 

“Winner?” Wufei moved to see the screen properly and noticed Barton standing just behind the blonde.

 

“Wufei, is everything okay down there?” Trowa began. “Quatre, well, you know how his empathy can be. He's been feeling something's wrong which is why we're calling.”

 

All the pilots were well aware of Quatre's empathy and his sensing when something was wrong and on many occasions he'd proven correct. When Quatre 'felt' something, everyone took notice.

 

“Maxwell is missing. So is Nurse Brown and Keitaro.” Wufei spoke quietly in Heero's stead, the Japanese man was having trouble speaking right now.

 

“Brief us,” Trowa said simply.

 

Wufei patiently filled them in on all they currently had, Heero adding bits every now and then.

 

“Accident?” Trowa asked.

 

“No. All hospitals in the vicinity have checked out clear.”

 

“Any clues at all?”

 

“Nothing at this stage.”

 

“Wufei? You stay with Heero. We're on our way,” Quatre said and then went silent.

 

“ETA?” Wufei asked.

 

Quatre turned and did something off screen, then faced Wufei again. “Twelve hours. We will come direct to the mansion.”

 

“Arigato, Quatre,” Heero said.

 

“No thanks needed, Heero. We're family, remember?”

 

Heero nodded.

 

“See you soon.”

 

With the call cut, Wufei and Heero faced each other.

 

“We can't file a missing persons report until the person has been missing for twenty-four hours,” Wufei said.

 

“I think we need to notify Une,” Heero replied.

 

“I agree.” Wufei pulled out his cell and punched in the commander's number.

 

* * *

 

Quatre leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes and rubbed a hand across his chest. Relaxing, he let his empathy come forth, reaching out and searching. He gave a slight gasp and opened his eyes.

 

“Quatre?” Trowa stood beside his husband, concern in his green eyes.

 

“I can feel him, Trowa. He's okay physically, but mentally...” Quatre paused for a moment. “There's something terribly wrong, Trowa. I can feel pain, confusion and a little fear. There's something else too; anger, rage and... Oh, Allah.”

 

“What is it, Quatre?”

 

“Shinigami, Trowa. Shinigami is lurking.”

 

* * *

 

Deep inside Duo's body another change was occurring. While Shinigami waited on the fringes of Duo's psyche, so another union was taking place.

 

A bunch of cells were multiplying rapidly.

 

~ * ~

 

tbc...