Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Lost Souls ❯ Chapter 12

Disclaimer: I don't own the G boys, I just borrow them to play with from time to time and return them relatively undamaged... honest... :)

Rating: NC 17, Angst, Yaoi, Sap, masturbation, sad in parts, LEMON.

Pairings: 3x4, 2xH, 5+S, OCx2, eventual 1x2x1

Notes: Set 2 years after Endless Waltz. The pilots have all gone their separate ways but still keep in touch. Duo is with Hilde on L2 but cannot forget Heero.

" Lost Souls "

May 2002 ShenLong

Chapter 12

Heero exited his room, hair still damp from his shower and ran immediately into Toby. Scooping the small boy up into his arms he swung him around before settling him back onto his feet. "Hey short stuff."

Toby squealed in delight. "Hiya Heero, 'ow's Duo doin?"

"He's stable at the moment Toby."

Toby looked a little puzzled, Heero smiled. "Come on, lets go get something to eat and I will tell you all what is happening with Duo."

"We betta hurry then, or the other's will eat it all an there won't be nufin left for us." Toby said as he grabbed Heero's hand and pulled the man along.

Heero allowed himself to be tugged downstairs to the dining room where the rest of the boys were waiting. He nodded to them all before sliding into a seat next to Trowa. He glanced quickly around the table.

Nine faces looked at him expectantly.

Quatre broke the silence. "Lets eat before it gets cold. We can talk afterwards."

Heero shot him a look of gratitude and began the mechanical task of taking the food from his plate to his mouth. He was on edge and just wanted to get back to Duo's side. It wasn't that he distrusted Sally, there was no one he trusted more than the woman when it came to medicine but what if Duo woke up and he wasn't there? Swallowing automatically his stomach gave him a grateful burp of thanks. It had been a while since he last ate and while the thought never crossed his mind to eat his stomach tried its best to remind him. Not that it did much good, over the years Heero had become an expert at ignoring his bodies demands.

Wufei watched in amusement as the boys tackled the meal in front of them with gusto. He had no idea that such small frames could hold such large volumes of food. Then again, he reminded himself, Maxwell also came from L2 and he was a human vacuum when it came to food. Maybe it was something to do with the colonies air.

Quatre and Trowa also watched the youngsters clean their plates with relish, noting that even though they had spent a large portion of their lives on the streets they boys all still held a certain amount of table manners.

The meal ended after second helpings for Paul and Mickey and Toby only having to be reprimanded once by Shane for attempting to lick his dessert bowl clean.

"But it's so good I dun wanna waste any of it." the little boy protested weakly.

"That may be the case but it's not good manners ta lick your bowl Toby." scolded Shane.

"Yeah, what are yer, a dog or somefin?" giggled Benny.

"If he is then we ad better put im in the kennels wiv the other dogs." chipped in Colin.

Toby's eyes widened and his lip began to quiver, "Yer wouldn't put me wiv the dogs..... would ya?" he asked, voice trembling.

Quatre laughed, "No Toby I wouldn't do that, but Shane is right, it's not polite to lick your bowl."

Toby gave a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry, I won't do it again but it was jus'so good."

Even Heero had to smile at the expression on the little boy's face.

The dishes were cleared and each boy found himself with a mug of cocoa while the older ones sipped coffee. Swallowing hard Heero knew it was time to let them all know of Duo's condition. He began to recite to them what Sally had told him but was pulled up short by Trowa.

"Heero, how about you try to explain this in more simple terms. The boys don't understand all the medical jargon and to be honest neither do we." he smiled.

"Hai. I guess I forgot." He ran his hands through his messy chocolate hair and began again, only this time he kept his words simple. He explained about the virus and what it was doing to Duo's system, he briefly told them that Duo would need a small operation but declined to elaborate. He figured that they didn't need all the gory details. When he had finished he dragged his eyes from the now cold cup of coffee he held and passed them over each child's face trying to gauge their reaction to the news he had just delivered.

"But 'es gonna be 'kay ain't he?" said Mickey in a small voice.

"Yes Mickey he will be fine now he's getting the right drugs." replied Quatre.

Shane slumped in his seat, he was so relieved that his friend would live.

Understanding the burden that Shane had carried for so long and the relief he must be feeling Heero flashed the teen a quick smile. Shane saw and returned one of his own.

"Can we see 'im?" asked Colin.

"Hai. I will take you up in a moment but you need to remember he needs quiet and you can only go in to see him in pairs." said Heero.

"We'll be quiet as mice." responded Benny.

Paul laughed.

"What! I can be quiet Paul." huffed the little boy as he folded his arms defiantly across his chest.

Paul waved his hand nonchalantly in the air, "Sure yer can."

"I can too!"

"Enough!" Wufei's deep voice boomed out. "Unless you show a little more restraint then I suggest you wait to visit Maxwell."

Silence followed and Benny hung his head.

"Good. Now let us go and see the man." and Wufei stood up.

They filtered out of the room silently and followed Wufei up the stairs.

Heero fell into step beside Shane and took the young teen's hand in his own. He gave it a squeeze and spoke softly. "Shane I want you to know that what you did for Duo probably saved his life."

Shane's eyes pooled, "I only did what I could. He's a good person. I... I..." he trailed off.

Heero pulled up short and stared deep into Shane's brown eyes. "He is a good person Shane, his heart holds more love than I ever thought was possible for one person to have. I love him with every fiber of my body and I have you to thank for bringing him home to me." Reading further into Shane's depths he continued, "I see that you also care for him, if you didn't then you would have left him to die. Trust me Shane, once he is well he wont love you any less for what has happened, if anything he will love you more for what you have done for him."

Shane nodded, the powers of speech having left him for the moment. He realized then that although he loved Duo himself the love he felt wasn't a sexual love, it was more a brotherly love. Happy with this Shane continued up the stairs with Heero to see his friend.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Duo was walking through a mist, he sensed figures around him but he couldn't make out their forms. An overwhelming feeling of peace and serenity came over him as blindly he continued to move through the swirling clouds. Strange though, his clothes remained perfectly dry. He could hear voices but not understand what they were saying. He stopped as a figure began to materialize just ahead of him.

The figure made it's way towards him and as it drew closer he managed to make out the features a little clearer. The figure seemed to move and sway with the mist, giving it a continuous movement as if it were a part of the surrounding fog. "Father Maxwell?"

"Yes Duo, it is I."

"What... what are you doing here?..... Where am I?"

"You are here and yet you are not here."

"What does that mean damnit!"

"Language Duo."

"Sorry." Duo hung his head.

"Where here is is not important, what is important is that you do not belong here yet. You still have much to do my son."

"But it's peaceful here, I feel relaxed and happy... why can't I stay?"

"You have to go back Duo, people love you and care for you. There is still a lot you need to do for them."

"But why? Why can't someone else? I'm tired.... tired of existing the way I do."

"It is not for me to say why or what it is you have yet to fulfill, all I can tell you is that you must return. One day Duo, when the time is right we will be reunited but now is not that time so go... go and do what you do best, make people happy."

The figure began to fade at the edges and with a swirl of smoke it was gone. Duo stared at the spot and felt a sensation of emptiness run through him, turning, he ran... Tears blinded his vision as he ran back the way he had come through the mist and then he was falling... falling into a black void.

Violet eyes snapped open and a scream tore from the throat as Duo once more returned to consciousness.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

The group all stopped outside the closed door of Duo's room and waited for Heero to catch up to them.

"Okay I will check with Sally first then come back and take you in two at a time." Heero said and then turning the knob he entered the room.

Sally looked up as she heard the door open, nodding to Heero she moved across the room.

"Any change?"

"No."

"The boys wanted to come and see him for a moment."

"Okay, bring them in but only let them stay a short while."

"Hai. I will let them in two at a time."

Heero opened the door once more and nodded to the group, Benny and Toby stepped forward into the antiseptic smelling room. Immediately they went to the bed and Toby began to cry softly. Heero hunched down next to the boy and took him gently in his arms. The sight of Duo lying so still and pale with tubes and wires connected to his body was more than the little boy could stand.

"He... he is gonna be 'kay aint he?" the boy hiccupped.

"Hai Toby, he's on the mend already. Don't be scared of all those wires and tubes, they are there to monitor him and feed the medicines into his body."

A machine beeped as if in confirmation of Heero's statement.

Toby gazed through sad blue eyes at the man he had come to adore. He hoped with all his heart that Duo was going to be all right.

Letting the two out of the room Heero allowed the rest of the group to come in and spend a few minutes at Duo's bedside. When they had all satisfied themselves that Duo was still alive Trowa took them back down to the family room to watch some television.

Shane waited until the rest had left before sitting next to Duo.

Heero and Sally discreetly left the boy alone, opting to move into the adjoining room where they could still watch for any signs from Duo.

Picking up Duo's hand Shane stroked the back of it gently and began to speak in a soft whisper. "Duo... I don't know if yer can hear me but I need to say this to yer. You need to get better, so many people here care about yer and want yer well again. I don't know if yer can remember what 'append to ya but I'm sorry I 'ad to rat on ya. I only did it help you. Heero here really cares 'bout you so you need to get well for 'im. I love yer Duo, yer bin like a brother to me an a father to the rest of the kids so please hurry an get better... we need ya and miss you so much." The tears ran down his cheeks as he raised Duo's hand and kissed it softly.

Heero watched the tender touch and felt a lump in his throat. He slid silently back into the room and clasped Shane's shoulder gently.

Looking up into Heero's prussian depths he realized that Heero did indeed love the other man, with all his heart and soul. He was glad... Duo deserved someone like Heero and knowing the man would always be there made Shane happy for the first time in ages. He stood and released Duo's hand. Smiling at Heero he nodded to Sally and went to leave the room. As the door clicked shut so a scream echoed from the room he had just left.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Heero and Sally were at Duo's side in an instant. The violet eyes snapped open as the scream tore from the slender throat.

"Duo!... Duo!...." called Heero as he attempted to wrap his arms around Duo's trembling frame.

Sally pushed Heero to one side and began to scan the monitors, twisting a couple of dials she stared back at the youth who was shaking and whimpering on the bed.

Heero gently moved back in and held the American tight. His hand caressed Duo's head in an attempt to soothe him.

Duo's eyes began to focus and his brain registered that the black void had gone. He was also aware of two other things. His body still ached and pain was everywhere, and someone was holding him close. The scent wasn't one he could immediately place and so he warily opened his eyes once more. A concerned face hovered within centimeters of his own. "Heero?" he croaked out.

"Hai Duo, I'm here."

"Where am I?"

"You're at Quatre's." Heero replied patiently. Sally's words about Duo's possible state of memory came back to him.

"What happened to me?"

"Duo you're sick. You have a very nasty virus in your system but we are helping you to fight it." Sally said as she checked his blood pressure once more.

"I don't remember much."

"At this stage that's probably a good thing. You need to rest and get well Duo." Heero said softly.

"Why can't I remember?"

Heero looked to Sally for help. He didn't want to lie to Duo but he didn't want him to know all the facts just yet. In the man's current state of health it could do more harm than good.

Seeing the look Sally cleared her throat. "Part of the virus I'm afraid Duo, it can affect your short term memory, add to that the fever you have been running and I'm surprised you can even remember your name."

Duo closed his eyes wearily. "Will I ever remember?"

'There is a good chance you will. I think it best though that for now you work on getting better, Later when you are stronger we will help you to remember." Sally promised.

"Thank you." he murmured, and then turning his attention to Heero he spoke quietly, "I was falling Heero. There was this mist and I saw Father Maxwell again an he said I still had things to do, people that loved me..... Heero I don't understand."

Heero embraced the braided man tighter. "Duo it was a dream but he was right. You do still have a lot to do here and there are people that love you...."

Duo's mind began to work sluggishly, somewhere he heard a bell tinkle. He began to search, it was important he found what it was his mind was trying to hide from him. Staring into Heero's cobalt eyes he could read something there.... was it concern?..... compassion?..... no wait....

With a gasp Duo's mind suddenly unlocked one of its doors and allowed a memory to escape. Heero.... Heero had told him that he cared for him... that he loved him.

Feeling Duo's body suddenly tense Heero pulled back a little to watch his loves eyes. He was startled at the deep purple hue that shone from them as he watched the emotion pass inside. Then he saw the spark, the spark that was ultimately Duo beginning to ignite and burn stronger. He felt Duo's arms reach to encircle him and with a shiver he realized that Duo remembered. Just how much though he wasn't sure and he found himself suddenly scared.

"Heero?"

"Yes Duo?"

"I can remember something......"

"Then that's good." He mumbled not sure if it was or not.

"I remember you .... you said some things to me...."

"Hai Duo, I said a lot of things to you."

"Heero.... Why aren't you with Relena?"

"You needed me more."

Duo thought hard, he had a hazy recollection of Heero asking him to promise to fight the disease and something more.... something about caring. "Who brought me here?"

"I did."

"Heero?"

"Hai Duo?"

"I can't remember a lot but I need to know this...."

"Hai?"

Duo licked his dry lips, "It's still all a bit muzzy but I think I remember you telling me you felt something for me... Is that true?"

Heero thought long and deep before replying.

"It's okay Heero, I thought it was just a part of the fever."

Heero let Duo slide back to the bed but kept his hands on the American's arms. He realized that he had to tell Duo the truth, now, while the baka was still lucid enough to understand.

Sally discreetly left the room so as Heero and Duo could have the privacy they needed.

Violet clashed with cobalt as each tried to search the others soul for answers, finally Heero looked away.

"Duo I need you to try to understand what I am about to say." He held up his hand as Duo went to speak. "No, say nothing until I am finished... please."

Duo nodded, he could feel the fingers of sleep closing around the edges of his mind but he fought them off.

Swallowing Heero took the plunge.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~