Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Family Ties ❯ Chapter 111 ( Chapter 111 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

“Family Ties”

January 2007 ShenLong

Chapter 111

[Satellite XRB 23]

Zechs watched from inside the cockpit as the Preventer shuttles came  in to land on the satellite surface. Like giant, silver birds they approached, hovered and then gently set themselves down between the transport shuttle and the Dome, careful of any debris scattered around.

“Agent Wind, this is Mercury. All shuttles are safely down.”

“Copy that, Mercury. You and your teams will need a full brief on the situation. Would you care to come here to the transport shuttle or would you prefer it for me to come to you?” Zechs replied.

“We will come to you, Wind. I’ll bring the team leaders with me and once we’re all briefed we can plan out which is the best way to tackle this problem.”

“Roger that, Mercury. I’ll have the hatch open and decompression chamber on stand by for you all.”

“Thanks, Wind. I’ll contact you again when we’re about to head over.”
“Be careful out there, Mercury. We are not completely certain if all non-friendlies are accounted for. There may be some suit pilots still on the surface and despite being injured, they may have enough strength or air left to try and get a shot in at you.”

“Roger, thanks for the heads up. We will use caution during the transfer.”

“I’ll see you shortly, Mercury. Wind out.”

“Mercury, out.”

Zechs sat back in the pilot’s chair and put his hands behind his head, closing his eyes for a moment. He’d love nothing more than to fall into a bunk and sleep for an hour or ten, but he wasn’t going to get that luxury any time soon. With a yawn, he stretched and then reached for the computer console, lowering the hatch and getting the chamber on stand by.

Mercury contacted the other shuttles and once the plan was relayed, all five team leaders put on their respective suits and met up at the ramp to Shuttle 151. With guns drawn and Mercury leading the way, the team traversed the satellite surface towards the damaged transport shuttle.

“Shit, it did take a beating,” Agent Oil whistled as he looked over the scarred hull of the transport.

“You should be able to fix it though?” Mercury questioned.

“We have all the stuff on board that Wind requested, although we will need to make adjustments and such. I sincerely hope what he said about having facilities here is true, we’re gonna need a shit load of welding done.”

“I’m sure Wind will brief you on all of that once we get inside.” They continued to walk carefully across the powdery landscape, moving around pieces of mobile suits as they came across them.

“Looks like they had a right old battle here,” Agent Neptune stated.

“Any survivors?” asked Agent Jupiter.

“From what I know, all able bodied suit pilots high tailed it back inside the Dome. Wind did say there could still be some injured out here and possibly a fully functional pilot or two, but it would all depend on their air supply. We don't know what sort of tanks they were using and how many hours of air were in those tanks,” replied Mercury

“Guess we will find out once we start a search of the area for survivors,” Agent Europa muttered.

Conversation halted as the five reached the extended ramp of the transport shuttle. In single file they entered and stepped into the decompression chamber. The ramp withdrew and the hatch closed, the door to the chamber also closing. There was a soft hiss of air as the pressure equalized with that of the shuttle, then the inner door opened to admit them into the shuttle.

Removing their helmets, the agents left them on the racks just outside the chamber and stepped into the corridor where they were greeted by Agent Wind.

“Agents, it’s good to see you all,” Zechs greeted.

“Likewise, Wind. I’m Mercury.” Mercury stepped forward and shook hands with Zechs. “This is Oil; he’s in charge of mechanics and will be responsible for getting you back up and flying again. His team is one of Preventers best.”

“Good  to meet you, Oil.” Zechs shoot the offered hand.

“This is Agent Europa. His team will scour the satellite surface and bring in any survivors as well as the dead.”

Pleasantries were again exchanged.

“This is Agent Neptune, and Agent Jupiter. They, along with myself will take on the task of recording all the information on the prisoners and transporting the prisoners back to headquarters. Any injured prisoners will be passed over to Europa as he has the full medical team with him on their shuttle.”

“That’s what I like about Une, she’s always prepared and has thought of everything,” Zechs replied with a smirk.

“Agents, if you would care to follow me through tot he galley I will bring you all up to speed on the current situation and answer any questions you may have.”
The team followed Zechs, all eager to learn what had gone on.

*

An hour later, the agents knew more than they cared to and had their answers to their questions. With a plan now formulated, all that was left to do was put it into action. The five left Zechs to organize their teams, Zechs promising Mercury he would join him in the Dome hangar to assist the teams in the collection of the prisoners.

Oil had been briefed on the equipment currently available for him to use in the Dome and he’d returned to mobilize his team and start effecting the repairs to the transport shuttle. With Europa fully aware of the situation on the satellite surface, he’d gone to rally his team to comb the satellite surface and locate injured and dead pilots alike.

Donning his helmet, Zechs double checked he had the sectors written down where the prisoners were being held. Wufei’s palm top rested in the pocket of his flight suit and his gun sat at his hip. The chamber beeped to let him know the pressure had been equalized and Zechs stepped out onto the satellite surface once more.

* * *

[Preventer Shuttle Port - Chopper]

As the chopper started to lift off, Duo’s eyes became glassy. He turned his head to Heero and did his best to smile.

“You will be fine, Duo. Sally’s going to start to treat you,” Heero reassured.

“I don’t feel too good, Heero,” Duo said and shivered.

“Shock,” Trowa muttered.

“Won’t be long, Duo. Hold on for me, my love. You need to be strong, I need you, Keitaro needs you,” Heero murmured, his voice full of worry.

“Keitaro,” Duo mumbled as his eyes slipped shut and he passed out again.

Rummaging around in her bag, Sally produced several items. “Here, hold these,” she barked to Heero who automatically held out his hand and took the offered items. A portable vital signs monitor was produced, Sally connecting the electrodes to Duo’s chest to keep track of his blood pressure, heart and breathing rates. A clip type thermometer was slipped onto a fingertip, the other end connected to the monitor and Sally turned it on. It hummed and beeped, the screen clearing. Sally typed in the necessary information on the small keypad, the computer chip inside the monitor logging in the details and then starting to function. Squiggly lines began to appear on the monitor and Sally watched them carefully.

“How is he doing?” Hawkins asked from the back of the chopper where he was strapped in.

“All things considered, he’s doing bloody well,” Sally replied absently. She wasn’t about to give out too much in the way of details, especially not to someone she’d only just met and didn’t know much about. She looked to Heero who returned her gaze, those blue eyes darkened with worry and fear.

“How is he really?” Heero whispered.

“I won’t lie to you, Heero. His temperature, heart and breathing rates are higher than normal. The temperature is what concerns me more though as it’s indicative of a possible infection starting up. His blood pressure is erratic, but staying on the low side, which is good in one way as it means no internal bleeding going on, but when that knife comes out, it could be an entirely different ball game. Until I have him back at headquarters where I can do a complete ultra sound, I’m pretty much working in the dark here. Then there’s the possibility of his other ‘problem’. It’s a very serious situation, Heero.”

Heero nodded. “I know you will do all you can for him,” he choked out.

Sally rested a hand upon his arm. “I’ll shift heaven and earth if I have to, Heero. He’s important to a lot of us.”

“Arigato.”

“Right. Pass me that strap, please.” Sally slipped the piece of rubber over Duo’s biceps and brought up the vein. With Heero handing over the needle, cannula and surgical tape as she called for them, Sally managed to get a line into Duo’s vein and hook up a saline drip. “That will help a little to keep him hydrated and assist with shock. I’m going to give him a shot of broad spectrum antibiotic, one that should help to take out any infection but won’t harm any delicate organs.” Sally chose her words well, knowing Heero would understand.

“Pain killer?” Heero asked.

“A mild one,” Sally replied as she fished around in her bag again, located the drug and injected it into the line. “Now I’ll check the injuries.” Working her way gently over the unconscious man, Sally compared the injuries to those Trowa had told her about.  The bullet crease to the hip and upper arm weren’t too bad, they would need cleaning out properly and a couple of stitches. ‘That was probably where the infection was starting,’ Sally thought.

Duo’s ribs held a lot of bruising and felt like there were a couple of cracks there too, but that would be confirmed with an ultra sound; no way was Sally going to use an x-ray on the agent. His ankle remained strapped, Sally again preferring to leave that until she could use the machine on it to confirm sprain or break. Carefully she peeled back the packing surrounding the knife, a grim look on her face. From the position of the hilt, she couldn’t really tell what, if any organs had been touched by it. It all came down to the force and angle of penetration.

Given all that, Sally was really worried about exactly where the blade was sitting.

With there not being anything else she could do for Duo until they had him safely back at headquarters, Sally turned her attention to the other four men.

Heero’s bullet graze would need cleaning and stitching, Hawkins would require surgery to remove the bullet from his shoulder. Wufei’s head graze wasn’t very deep and could be cleaned easily enough. Trowa though...

The tall man winced as she poked and prodded him. “Take it easy, Sally,” he growled. “I’m not a piece of meat.”

“Suck it up, Barton,” Sally snipped back.

“I’m fine, just a couple of days rest and some morphine and I’ll be okay.”

“Don’t you dare give him morphine,” Wufei snarled.

Sally spun around. “And why not?” she snapped. “If he’s in pain he has every right to pain medication.”

“I’m not disputing that. Give him pain medication by all means, just not morphine,” Wufei replied tartly.

“What is it with you and morphine?”

“It’s not me, it’s him and that blonde of his,” Wufei huffed.

“Oh.” Sally recalled Quatre and the effects morphine had on the Arabian. “Does Trowa react the same way?”

“No,” Trowa defended himself

“Not quite. He gets... Shall we say, amorous with his words.” Wufei colored a touch.

“I do not.”
“Yes you do. May I remind you of a few? Shnookums, huggle bunny, stud muffin?”

It was Trowa’s turn to go red.

Sally snickered. She could well imagine. “Point taken. I’ll give him something else.”

“It would be appreciated,” Wufei stated.

Luckily, Sally was able to find a pain killer in her bag that did not relate to morphine. “You will need to have that ankle and shoulder x-rayed,” she informed Trowa. “I’m pretty certain the ankle is broken, the shoulder could be fractured or strained, but an x-ray will confirm that. I’ll take a look at that head wound now.”

Trowa flinched a little as Sally removed the temporary dressing and inspected the wound.

“It will need a few stitches,” she informed the Latin.

Trowa sighed.

“Five minutes out,” the chopper pilot said over the intercom.

Heero gave a sigh of relief. They were almost back at headquarters and Duo would get the treatment he so desperately needed. He squeezed Duo’s hand and did his best to give a reassuring smile when he spotted violet eyes partially open. “We will be landing in a couple of minutes,” he informed Duo.

“Good.” Duo couldn’t say any more, he was just too tired and exhausted. With Sally on his case, medical care and safety just a few minutes away, Duo finally let himself relax and give in to his body’s demands. The pain killers were starting to kick in and eased a little of the throbbing ache from his abdomen. But nothing could ease the ache in his heart.

“Making final approach now,” the chopper pilot told them. “Please make sure you are all secure.”

Wufei did a quick check of Barton and Hawkins, making sure their harnesses were in place and tight. He left Yuy to attend to Maxwell and strapped himself in. Heero checked the straps securing Duo and the stretcher; they were still tight. He pulled his own harness back over his shoulders and clipped the buckle into place. Sally did the same on the opposite side of Duo. All safely belted in, Heero again took Duo’s hand in his own as he tried to keep his gut from tying itself in knots.

The chopper pilots eased the machine towards the top of the Preventer building. The red ringed helipad was visible, looking for all the world like a target – which in one way it was. A couple of agents were on the top of the building with communicators and guns in hand, for precaution and assistance. To the side, the door to the concrete roof entrance remained closed.

The chopper slowed and descended, the pilots working the controls to bring the big bird to a steady hover and then drop gently to the ground. Once the chopper was safely settled on the concrete, the rotors were cut, the blades slowing gradually and then coming to a stop.

“All clear,” the pilot informed the people in the back.

* * *

[Preventer Headquarters – Medical Section]

Just inside the door that would take them to the outside and top of the Preventer building, Nurse Brown waited anxiously. She watched the chopper coming in to land and prepared herself.

Once the blades began their shut down, the door to the building on the side was opened up. Nurse Brown appeared along with a couple of orderlies and nurses, a gurney and two wheelchairs. The group ducked their heads and jogged to the side door of the chopper that was beginning to slide open.

“Doctor Po?” Margaret called out over the noise of the slowing rotors.

The chopper door was pushed fully open and Sally appeared in the entrance. “Margaret,” she barked. “Bring the gurney and wheelchairs over here.”

Margaret and the orderlies were quick to obey. Sally disappeared back into the chopper and with Wufei’s help, they brought Hawkins out first, settling the professor into a wheelchair.

“He will require surgery to remove a bullet from the shoulder,” Sally reeled off and handed a clip board with the professor’s details and current medical condition on it to one of the nurses. The nurse took the clipboard, nodded and with the orderly, pushed the wheelchair and professor back towards the door that would permit them entry into the Preventer building.

With Hawkins taken care of, Sally turned to where Wufei was supporting Trowa. The tall Latin was eased into a wheelchair, Sally again handing over a clipboard, this time with Trowa’s details on it. “Take him direct to x-ray and have Doctor Phillips treat him. All the information is on the clipboard,” she told the nurse and orderly.

“Good luck, Heero,” Trowa called out as he was wheeled away. “I’ll be with you as soon as I’m done with the medics.”

From his position in the doorway, Heero nodded.

Margaret, with Wufei’s assistance, rolled the gurney to the hatchway and waited patiently. Wufei disappeared back inside the chopper to give Heero a hand with the stretcher and Maxwell, the pair appearing within seconds and maneuvering the injured agent to the gurney. Once Duo was on and safely secured, they began to move towards the entry door to the building. Wufei paused and thanked the chopper pilot and then jogged to catch up to his friends.

Margaret felt the tears welling in her eyes as she got her first look in weeks at Duo. The man was bruised and battered, hair unkempt and looked like he could do with a good, hot shower followed by some rich, wholesome food and lots of TLC. She made a vow to herself to see he got all that and more once he was finished with whatever was necessary on the medical side. “Operating room three is prepped and ready to go,  the pre-op room is all set complete with ultra sound and any other equipment I thought you might need,” she informed the doctor.

“Thanks, Margaret.”

Nurse Brown took a look at Heero and felt her heart clench. He didn’t look to good either. “Once we have taken care of Duo, I’ll take care of your injuries,” she informed Heero.

“I’m fine,” Heero replied, “Duo is the one that needs help.”

“No, you are not fine, but yes, Duo does need the help more at the moment. Once he’s stable though, I expect you to be treated.” The nurse’s tone brooked no argument.

Heero sighed. “Okay.”

The elevator soon had them on the medical floor and between the four of them, they maneuvered the gurney and patient to the operating theaters, pushing it through and into pre-op room three. Once they were inside, Duo was transferred to another bed and Sally began to bark her orders.

Chang, thank you for your help but this is as far as you can go. Please go back to the nurses station and find where Phillips is. I want an update on Trowa. By the time you have all that we should be ready to go into theater. I’ll need you to come back and take care of Heero for me.”

“I’m staying with Duo,” Heero stated stubbornly.

“You can stay whilst we prep him for surgery and run our tests, but once we’re ready to go in and operate, you will remove yourself and wait with Wufei in the waiting room,” Sally said, her tone short.

Knowing he was defeated, Heero nodded.

Wufei gave a light squeeze to Heero’s shoulder. “He will be okay now, Yuy.”

“Thank you, Chang. Again, I am in your debt.”

“Just get him better and we will call it even.”

Blue locked with black and the emotions flared to the surface. Heero pulled Chang towards him and enveloped the Chinese man in a grateful hug. “You truly are an honorable friend, Wufei.”

Breaking from the embrace a few seconds later, Wufei looked at Heero and nodded, then he spun on his heel and went in search of Doctor Phillips and Trowa.

Heero turned back to his partner and grasped the pale hand, his heart beating wildly in his chest as he hoped and prayed his lover would pull through.

* * *

[Satellite XRB 23 – Dome]

Mercury and the teams wasted no time in following Zechs’ directions to locate and arrest the prisoners in the Dome. Once they had them all assembled, the medical team took over and assessed each prisoner individually. Those that were physically okay were taken back to shuttle 151 and locked inside the shuttle’s cells for transportation back to Earth.

Those that were hurt were also assessed and tagged by level of injuries, the ones with the more life threatening at the top of the list and taken back to Shuttle 381 where medical facilities and treatment awaited them. Those that were slightly injured were imprisoned on shuttle 246 which had a lower level of medical staff and facilities. Any injured that Europa and his team brought back from their scouting of the satellite surface would also be assessed and distributed to the appropriate shuttle.

The dead would be placed in the makeshift morgue on board shuttle 381.

Oil and his team had set to work on the damaged transport shuttle, going over the craft and cross checking against the report they had from Quatre. Oil had also paid a visit to the Dome and checked the facilities, smiling when he saw what he had to work with. His estimated time for repairs shortened by several hours once he saw the machinery at his disposal.

It was decided that the transport shuttle would be moved to the hangar where it would be easier for the maintenance crew to work on her, Zechs giving the okay for that to happen. Oil and his crew checked the skin of the shuttle and determined it safe enough to move and the surface was cleared of any debris and human presence so the shuttle could be taxied across with minimal stress on the engines and outer structures.

It took some time for the prisoners to be assessed and escorted to the relevant shuttle and soon enough they got to Barton himself.

When Mercury got his first look at the man responsible for the chaos and carnage he took a double take. “What the fuck happened to him?” he asked, wide eyes turning to Zechs. “He looks like he’s been put through the mincer.”

“He suffered several injuries during the take down,” Zechs replied, keeping his face neutral.

Mercury glanced back to Barton and then returned his gaze to Zechs. He raised an eyebrow. “Must have been some take down.”

“Barton refused to come quietly and seriously injured Agent Night. Agent Day, Agent Night’s partner in every sense of the word, wasn’t happy.”

“Well, fuck me. I’d heard that Agent Day could be quite protective, and after seeing the state of Barton, I don’t think I’d ever like to cross him.”

“Trust me; you don’t ever want to tangle with him.”

Mercury turned to his medic. “Take him back and do what you can for his injuries. The Commander will want him as healthy as possible for his trial.”

The medic nodded and began his examination, Zechs and Mercury left him to it, making sure to leave a couple of guards there too; not that they thought Barton would be up to inflicting much in the way of damage given his current state of health, but it paid to be sure.

Returning to shuttle 151, Zechs assisted Mercury in logging all the names and details of the prisoners into the ship’s data base to be sent back to Headquarters and enable the legal crew to start compiling their case against them.

Europa and his team finished their scouring of the satellite surface for any suit pilots, returning to their shuttle with just three survivors – and it would be touch and go if they made it.  The morgue was starting to fill up and at last count, Europa tallied fifty-four bodies.

Fifty-four lives sacrificed for a lost cause.

Barton had a lot to answer for and Zechs doubted the man would ever see daylight that didn’t have bars as a center piece for the rest of his natural life.

That’s provided the man didn’t meet his maker sooner than planned.

* * *

[Preventer Hospital]

Carefully, Sally removed the padding and bandages surrounding the knife hilt. Margaret and Heero assisted her in removing Duo’s clothing, the flight suit clinging to his body and having to be cut off in several places. Leaving his boxers on, Sally quickly placed more padding and a bandage around the knife hilt, securing it whilst she did her necessary examinations.

Patterns of blue, black, yellow and green adorned Duo’s upper torso, bruises in their various stages of healing. There were a few scattered lacerations, but nothing that would require stitching. The bullet creases to his hip and biceps would be cleaned out thoroughly once he was under a general anesthetic.

Nurse Brown brought the ultra sound machine across and turned it on. Whilst waiting for the machine to warm up, she applied a little gel to Duo’s ribs and ankle, Sally having indicated she wished to check those first. Passing over the sound head, Margaret watched the screen intently.

Sally pressed the sound head to Duo’s ribs, mindful of any pain she may cause. The head slid easily with the aid of the gel and revealed the secrets inside Duo’s chest. “Just as I presumed,” Sally said as her eyes translated the gray images.

“What?” Heero questioned. Despite having looked at countless ultra sound images when Duo had been carrying Keitaro, he still didn’t have a clue to what they translated to.

“There’s a couple of cracked ribs, nothing broken which is good.” Sally explained. They are knitting back quite nicely by themselves so I’ll do nothing more than strap them for him. Now for the ankle.”

The sound head was wiped along with Duo’s chest and then moved to pass over Duo’s ankle. Sally’s brow furrowed as she studied the images appearing. A soft exhalation passed her lips. “That’s good news too. No fractures. The ligaments and tendons are stretched, but it’s nothing more than a bad strain. I’ll strap it up properly and with a few weeks rest it will be as good as new.”

Heero also breathed a sigh of relief.

Margaret took the sound head and wiped it clean whilst Sally made her notes on Duo’s chart. Picking up the tube of gel, she very carefully spread it around the bandage on Duo’s abdomen.

The coldness of the gel and slight pain brought Duo back to the land of the living again and he gave a soft moan of pain.

“I’m sorry, Duo,” Nurse Brown apologized. “I’ll try to be as gentle as I can.”

“Where are we?” Duo rasped out through a dry mouth. Instantly, Heero’s face flooded his vision.

“We’re at the Preventer hospital, Duo. Sally is just about to check where the knife is sitting,” he replied in a soft tone.

The full realization hit Duo then and the tears began to form in his eyes. “Hold me?” he begged.

Feeling his own heart tearing at the raw emotion and fear in his husband’s tone, Heero came closer and gently put his arm around Duo’s shoulders. His other hand continued to hold Duo’s squeezing gently in reassurance.

Taking a deep breath, Sally poised the sound head above Duo’s abdomen. “I’ll be as careful as I can,” she informed him. “Are you ready?”

Duo nodded, words were not an option right now.

Violet and blue eyes joined Sally’s blue-gray ones in staring at the screen.

The sound head was lowered and Sally gently maneuvered it around. She found Duo’s large intestine and pushed the sound head around the base of the knife hilt. So far the intestine looked intact. Moving  it carefully to the front, she slowed down and studied the screen intently.

The blade of the knife showed up, somehow it had missed Duo’s small intestine too and that gave Sally a huge sense of relief. “Now, let’s see what we – Oh my.” Sally’s voice went soft and then quiet as she stared at the screen.

There, resting beside the blade of the knife lay Duo’s malformed uterus.

“Am I...? Is the...?” Duo whispered, unable to finish what he wanted to say.

Moving the sound head a touch to the left, Duo’s uterus became clearer. Sally’s hand flew to her mouth, Nurse Brown gave a soft gasp as tears welled again in her eyes.

“What is it?” Heero demanded. He could make out the shape of the knife blade on the screen, but that was all.

Slowly, Sally turned her head in Duo’s direction. “Congratulations, your assumption is true. Duo, you are pregnant again,” she said softly.

“The knife?” Duo whispered.

“The blade is resting against the uterus but does not appear to have punctured it. The baby is okay as far as I can tell.”

“Thank god.” Duo’s tears coursed down his cheeks in relief.

Heero collapsed into the chair beside his husband, strangled sobs coming from his throat.

~ * ~

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