Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Preventors' Case #84309: Splicers ❯ Chapter 12
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: bikkothewriter 
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Hentai / Romance | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 12.16.2008 | Updated On: 09.27.2010 | Pages: 6 | Words: 4.5K | Visits: 555 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Hentai / Romance | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 12.16.2008 | Updated On: 09.27.2010 | Pages: 6 | Words: 4.5K | Visits: 555 | Status: Work In Progress
Preventors' Case #84309: Splicers
Pairings: Main 1x2, others may show up
Warnings: Yaoi, Language, blood, gore, lemon, lime, angst
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Splicing idea taken from a Batman Beyond episode.
Summary: Heero is working for the Preventors on a case dealing with genetic mutations gone wrong. When he finally manages to make a break in the case he finds Duo, whose been missing for four years, right in the middle of it. Where has Duo been and what has he done to himself?
***
"This is a terribly inefficient office. Much too cluttered. How does the man find anything in here?"
Heero shook his head as he watched Gervais meander around Dr. Anderson's office inside the Preventors' clinic. While it was procedure to take a suspect into custody and have them await sentencing in the hold, Gervais had insisted that he had to stay close to Duo in case he was needed. Why he might be needed, the doctor was close-lipped about. After seeing Duo, laying on the stretcher pale and unresponsive, as he'd been wheeled out of the lab Heero had conceded, afraid to take any chances with Duo's life.
After winning that victory, the doctor insisted that he needed to pack both a bag of equipment and chemicals and another with clothes and amenities for Duo. Again Heero conceded, but watched the man closely as he talked and packed to make sure that nothing troublesome, like a bomb, wound up in either bag and quickly confiscated the two as they left the lab.
"I want to know what you've done to Duo."
"Manners, boy. You can't go around barking orders at people and expect results," Gervais said disapprovingly, waving his finger at Heero although his back was turned to him. The more the man talked the more Heero disliked him.
"What is wrong with him? What sort of illness does he have?"
"Illness? Duo isn't sick, my boy. I told you before he's perfectly healthy."
"Then why was he in that tank? What sort of procedures were you performing on him?"
"My dear boy, all you need to know is that Duo is perfectly fine and I have done nothing untoward to him."
"No, what I want to know is what you did to him and Kitten."
"Kitten?"
"Yes. Duo's son. You gave him to Janet Hughes for safekeeping."
"How is my dear Janet?"
"She's in jail, waiting for you to come and keep her company."
"That was a tasteless joke, son."
"It wasn't a joke," Heero deadpanned.
"When Duo wakes up and tells you that he's fine, I do hope you have enough grace to come and apologize to me."
"You haven't answered any of my questions."
"Again, manners, son. You came into my home, interrupted my work, and locked me in another's man office and now you insist on asking me all these questions. Manners dictate that you could at least offer me something to drink now that you've taken me hostage."
The first drink to come to Heero's mind was a cup of bleach but he refrained from offering it to the doctor.
"You weren't taken hostage; you were arrested."
"It's the same principle, my boy. You've taken me against my will and locked me away."
Heero rolled his eyes. "Dr Gervais-" he started as the door to the office opened suddenly admitted Trowa.
"Heero, its Lucy. She's coding."
Heero blinked, shocked. He knew that she didn't have long but he didn't imagine that it would happen so soon. That she would die before they even had a chance to try to save her.
"Lucy? Is that the poor girl who was spliced with an octopus?"
"How do you know about that?" Heero asked.
"You should tell your agents to keep their thoughts to themselves, young man," Gervais answered moving towards them. "Now you go and fetch my bag and you," he said addressing Trowa, "show me to the girl's room."
"What exactly do you think you're doing?" Heero said following the man out of the room.
"I think I'm going to save her life and prove to you, my little skeptic, that I'm not the mad scientist you think I am."
"I don't think so," he snarled grabbing the man's arm.
"We have nothing to lose by letting him try, Heero," Trowa said.
He looked to the other man ready to argue but understood that Trowa was just as worried about Lucy as he was and unwilling to give up without putting up some kind of fight.
"Fine, show him the way I'll grab the bag," he said, dropping the man's arm.
Trowa and the doctor moved away and Heero quickly ran to the office on the opposite side of the hall to retrieve the doctor's bag and make his way to Lucy's room. Dr Anderson and several nurses worked over Lucy's body as the many machines attached to her body beeped and squealed in alarm.
"What is you name, son?"
"Trowa."
"Trowa be a good lad and pull the bed away from the wall."
"Who is he and what is he doing?" Dr. Anderson called looking at Heero.
"My name is Dr. Eric Gervais and I will be saving her life. Trowa, the bed please."
Trowa moved into position at the end of the bed pulling the bed away from the wall, jostling the medical staff and machinery.
"My bag Heero," he said holding his hand out. He placed the bag on a nearby cart, opening it to search through his equipment. "Heero if you would climb onto the head of the bed and keep Ms. Lucy's head and shoulders steady."
"What are you planning on doing?" Dr Anderson asked. "I won't be held accountable for this, Commander."
"I understand, Doctor, I'll take responsibility for his actions," Heero said moving into position. He climbed onto the using his thighs to hold Lucy's head with his hands pressing down on her seizing and bucking shoulders, holding her as still as possible.
"See that you do, Commander."
"What's wrong with her?" he asked, grunting as he held onto Lucy.
"The second heart started to beat. It's overloading her system," the doctor answered.
"Could I borrow your stethoscope? I was in a bit of a rush today and forgot mine," Gervais said ignoring the conversation, but Dr Anderson handed over his stethoscope all the same. He pushed the folds of the gown aside, leaving her breasts covered but exposing the center of her chest to place the chest piece against to listen to the two hearts.
He made a questioning sound before moving away.
"Trowa if you could straddle her legs and help keep her still. Doctor," he said touching Dr. Anderson's arm, "If you and one of these wonderful nurses could please keep her arms still."
Dr. Anderson pressed his hands into Lucy's right arm while the lone male nurse took charge of her left. Gervais went back to his bag pulling a large and dubious looking syringe out along with a vile of clear fluid. Injecting the needle into the top of the glass bottle, he pulled back on the plunger with his thumb transferring the liquid from the vial to the syringe.
He turned back to the assembled group with a large smile on his face wielding the syringe like a knife, "Gentlemen, did you know that octopi have three hearts?"
Heero looked at Trowa, where he rested on Lucy's legs on the other side of the bed. They shook their heads at each other; the man was incorrigible.
"Now I need all of you to hold her as still as possible, I don't relish the thought of missing," he said, using the fingers of his left hand to gently move her breast to the side, positioning the needle over her chest. He raised his arm high into the air and brought it down in frightful stab that pierced through her chest making a sharp, sickening sound. Everyone in the room froze as Lucy bucked and gasped around the ventilator and the tubes running down her throat, and Dr Gervais depressed the plunger injecting the liquid into her chest. He pulled the needle away, leaving the bed to throw the syringe into a sharps container.
"She's flat-lining," Dr Anderson said as the machines all gave a single flat note and Lucy fell limp into the mattress.
"She'll be fine in a moment, give it time," Gervais said amiably.
The next few moments were tense, with everyone but Dr Gervais staring at Lucy, waiting for something to happen. Heero looked down at her, willing her to breathe and her heart to beat. He couldn't stand for the bright light of his team to die under his hands.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
"There now, a heart beat. Now let's remove these damnable tubes and let her breathe on her own," Gervais said reaching towards Lucy's face as the steady sound of her heartbeat filled the room. "Heero, son, if you would tilt her head back."
He did as he was told, assisting Gervais as he could as the doctor untapped the tubes from her mouth to begin to pull them out. The ends of the tubes were covered in ink and for a moment, Gervais was lost as to what to do with them until a female nurse came bearing a towel to wrap them in before disposing of them.
"Thank you, my dear."
"She's breathing," Dr Anderson said astonished.
"Of course she is. Now if one of you could please remove that tube from her chest," he said pointing at the tube that carried away the ink from her body which now ran clear.
"How did you do it?" Anderson asked. "Nothing we've tried helped her."
Gervais looked at Heero smugly, "I'm an expert in splicing and a very good doctor. Now if I could get a scalpel, I need to take a sample of these marvelous tentacles if I'm going to rid our dear Lucy of them."
"You're sure that you can do that?" Heero asked from atop the bed.
"Positive, although it would be much easier to do if I were allowed to take both Lucy and Duo back to my lab."
"No," he said carefully climbing off the bed.
"You are a very stubborn man, Heero."
"Thank you."
Gervais laughed, "My boy, if you're not careful I might begin to like you."
"Joy," he said flatly. He turned to Trowa where he was climbing off the bed, "Take him to the clinic's lab and keep an eye on him."
"Understood," he said and Heero ignored the doctor as he flirted with the nurses, pulling glass slides from his bag and left the room relieved that Lucy was still alive.
He walked the hallways of the clinic heading towards Duo's room. By now, Sally should have finished her exam of Duo and he was eager to find out if he was awake as well as what exactly Gervais had done to him. As he passed through the lobby, he ran into Weber, Hayers and Price.
Both Hayers and Price sported scratches across their faces and hands, as well as what looked like a bite mark on Hayers right cheek. Weber carried Kitten under one arm, held close to his body as the boy thrashed and kicked.
"I wanna see my Daddy!"
"What's going on?"
"An hour before you called us to let us know that you'd found Duo, this little guy starts kicking and screaming about his Dad. We've had a hard time keeping him still," Weber explained.
"He bit me," Hayers said angrily. "I think I need a rabies shot."
"He isn't rabid," Price said, "But am I to believe that he can either smell a person from almost twenty-five miles away or that he has ESP?"
"Both," came Gervais' cheerful voice as he passed behind Heero with several glass slides delicately held between his fingers with Trowa following close behind carrying his bag, before disappearing down the hall and out of sight.
Heero sighed and shook his head. He would deal with the mystery surrounding Gervais later. One problem at a time, he thought.
"Kitten, I'll take you to see your father if you behave."
Kitten looked up at Heero, red faced and glaring, before going limp under Weber's arm, "I'll be good."
"Good," Heero said reaching out to take Kitten from Weber into his own arms. "Go and check on Lucy. She should be doing better," he told the others.
"Really?"
"Yes she's off of the life support machines and Dr. Gervais is working on a way to reverse the splicing."
"You're really going to trust him?" Hayers asked.
"No but if he can help her, I'll allow it. Let me know if there are any changes in her condition."
"Yes, Commander."
He left the three agents, carrying Kitten, who was rambling in his ear, "I was looking for you."
"I know."
"But I got lost."
"I know."
"I wanna see my Daddy."
"I know."
Heero paused outside of the door to Duo's room knocking before he pushed the door open. Sally was there to meet him, stepping out into the hallway to speak with him.
"Hi, Ms. Sally."
"Hi, Kitten," she said smiling at the toddler.
"How is he?"
"He's still asleep, but fine. There isn't a single mark on him. Besides the obvious I can't tell if anything has been done to him that we should worry about."
"Can I take Kitten in to see him?"
"I don't see why not. Let me know if he wakes up, I want to make sure that the sensory deprivation hasn't done any damage to him."
"Alright."
Moving past Sally, Heero and Kitten entered the room where Duo lay sound asleep. The artificial sunlight filtered through the blinds landing on Duo's face highlighting the hair falling around him. The 'obvious' Sally spoke of were the two cat-ears laying flat against the top of his head unmoving, as if they too were asleep.
"That's my Daddy," Kitten whispered in Heero's ear and Heero smiled saying, "I know."
They crossed the room and Heero gently sat Kitten on the bed where he immediately lay across his father's chest hugging him. He sat up his hands on Duo's chest and began to shake the sleeping man.
"Wake up, Daddy. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up," he called.
"Kitten, he's tired."
"But he has to play with me. He promised," the boy said putting his hands on Duo's face shaking his head. Heero moved to intervene but stopped short seeing Duo's eyelids flutter.
"Daddy!" Kitten cried as Duo's eyes opened and focused on him.
"Daddy?" Duo asked looking at Kitten as if he'd never seen him before. "Who are you?"
Heero felt his heart freeze in his chest as Duo looked around the room confused. Could this be what Sally had been so worried about? Had Gervais stolen Duo's life by stealing his memories?
"Where am I?" he asked gripping the bed's safety rails. "Where am I?"
"Daddy," Kitten pleaded.
"Duo," Heero said drawing Duo's attention.
"Who are you? Where am I?" he asked panicked, trying to rise from the bed.
"Duo, it's alright," Heero said moving closer to the bed leaning over Duo to keep him still and in the bed. He felt a tug on his neck and looked down to see Duo's hand wrapped around his tie drawing him closer. He looked back to Duo's face to see a familiar smile spread there as well as a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Gotcha," he said before licking Heero from the bottom of his chin across his lips and up
the underside of his nose in one quick swipe. Heero jerked away in shock and his tie slipped through Duo's hand.
"Daddy, do you remember me?" Kitten asked his ears flat against his head the saddest expression on his face.
Duo laughed taking Kitten's head into both of his hands, "How could I forget that handsome face," he said giving Kitten a kiss on the lips.
Kitten laughed, hugging his father's neck, kissing him back. Heero watched the father and son interact as they laughed and talked animatedly to each other before Kitten turned to Heero pointing, "This is my friend Mr. Heero."
"Well, hello Mr. Heero," Duo said holding his hand out to Heero. He took the long slender fingered hand in his, feeling the smooth soft skin sliding over his palm. No calluses, he thought absently.
"Duo," he whispered staring into Duo's bright violet eyes finding himself rewarded with a wide warm smile. Tired and pale he was just as beautiful as Heero remembered him to, and along with that thought came the uneasy feeling of self-reproach. Duo was his friend, his best friend. The feelings that he had, although jumbled and confused would only mar whatever happy reunion they sought to have.
"Me and Mr. Heero play toys and he beat up the bad men who stole me."
"What?" Duo questioned, looking to Heero.
"It's a long story," Heero said in reply, shaking his head at Kitten's choice of words, "I'll tell you about later."
"You've been getting into a lot of trouble haven't you?" Duo asked tapping the boy's nose with one of his long elegant fingers.
"I don't mean to," Kitten said pouting.
"I know you don't," he said sitting up in the bed, smiling down at the boy indulgently.
"Duo, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, though I could use a shower."
"No, I mean," Heero said at a loss for words. "You've been missing for four years. I've been looking for you. What happened?"
"It's…a long story," he said avoiding answering, petting the top of Kitten's head.
"Duo," he started touching the other man's arm. He needed answers. He needed to know what had happened all those years ago and how Duo had ended up in Gervais' care, spliced with a three-year-old son.
"Commander," Weber called from the doorway interrupting him, "It's Lucy. She's awake and asking for you."
Heero looked between Duo and Weber torn. He wanted to talk to Duo but he wanted to see Lucy as well.
"Go," Duo urged, "We'll talk when you get back."
"Do you promise?" Heero asked suddenly needing the reassurance that Duo would indeed be there when he returned and that the other man would explain exactly what was going on.
"Yeah, I promise."
***
"Lucy," Heero breathed looking at the woman's pale and tired face.
"Hi, Commander," she said smiling. One of her arms moved as if to wave underneath the sheet that covered her from the neck down. She looked disturbed for a moment before giving a wan smile. "It's weird when they move. Makes me sick."
"It's alright," Weber said leaning close to her, "the commander's got a guy working on it."
"Really?" she said looking hopeful.
"Yes," Heero confirmed although he thoroughly wished that it wasn't Dr. Gervais that they were turning to for help. The short man was annoyingly arrogant and Heero hated to admit that he had indeed saved Lucy's life.
"I'm sorry about what happened, Commander. It's my fault Dr. M got away."
"You didn't do anything wrong, Lucy," he said concerned that the woman blamed herself for Dr. M's escape.
"No one else was hit with the recombinant," she said looking miserable.
"I was almost hit in the face three times," he explained, trying to convey that it was simply bad luck that she had been hit.
"Almost," she emphasized.
"Don't feel bad," Wu Fei said coming into the room with Sally, "Heero gravitates to being shot and blown up."
"Is that true?" she asked chuckling.
"No," Heero said glaring at the smug Chinese man.
"Yes," Sally said, "Don't forget that I treated some of those wounds."
"What are you doing here?" he asked the two ignoring Sally's comment.
"We heard that Gervais was working miracles," Wu Fei answered.
"Is that the doctor who saved me?"
"Yeah," Weber answered, "he's a weird, bossy little guy. He's got everyone running errands for him."
That explained why Hayers and Price were nowhere to be seen and it made Heero upset to know that the man was running his team and the other staff ragged.
They spent some time talking before Lucy's eyelids began to droop and Dr. Anderson stopped the visit, forcing everyone to exit the room.
"Is Duo awake?" Sally asked as they walked down the hall towards the lobby.
"Yes," Heero answered. "He seems fine. He remembered me and Kitten."
"That's good, but I think that we should keep a close eye on him all the same."
"I agree," Wu Fei added, "And while I'm happy that Agent Gemmell is alive, we shouldn't let him think that he can do whatever he wants."
"Trowa is watching him. He won't let anything happen," Heero said.
"Hm," Wu Fei said nodding, "Sally and I are headed to the main building to interrogate the lab assistants. If one of them talks you'll have something to use against Gervais."
"Thank you."
"Don't let him fool you," Sally said touching Heero's shoulder, "it was my idea. Now go and rescue Duo before Kitten talks him to death."
"I think between the two of them they'll talk each other into submission," Wu Fei said smirking and Heero laughed walking away.
He knocked on the door to Duo's room and hearing Duo call for him to come in he opened the door pulling up short at the sight that greeted him.
Duo stood, easily taller than six feet, dressed in nothing but a pair of short black briefs that left nothing to the imagination. He held his damp hair tight in his left hand above his head while he brushed the under side with his right. His chestnut tail swept gracefully left and right as he talked to Kitten who stood in the chair before him. Heero found his eyes roving over Duo's perfect, creamy skin, taking in his long legs, taut stomach and hairless chest before dropping back to the briefs. He swallowed roughly, wondering why he suddenly thought that Duo was sex.
"How's Lucy?" Duo asked, smiling at him.
"She's fine," he said hoarsely, closing the door behind him.
"That's good," Duo answered dropping his hair over his shoulder to continue brushing.
"My little guy's been filling me in on everything that's been going on. Thank you for saving him."
"It was nothing."
"Sure, superman," he said smiling at Heero. "Next you'll tell me saving the world's nothing."
"No," he said, "That required a little effort."
Duo laughed at that, tossing his head back.
"I don't get it. What's so funny?" Kitten asked, looking between the two of them and Duo only laughed harder.
"Has Kitten told you the trouble he's caused us in the last few days?"
"Kitten?" Duo asked looking confused.
"Yes. Kitten," Heero said pointing to the boy.
"His name isn't Kitten," he said looking to the boy who looked away feigning innocence.
"He told us his name was Kitten."
"My Nana calls me Kitten," the boy clarified.
"And what does your Daddy call you?" Duo asked tapping the boy on the head with the brush.
"Rhys. R-h-y-s," he spelled, "Rhys."
"That's right."
"Why did you tell me it was Kitten and not Rhys?"
"Cause I'mma kitten," he said, rolling his eyes as if Heero should have known the answer all along.
"Why Rhys?" he asked Duo.
"Cause calling him Cromm Cruach would give the kid a complex," Duo said as if that explained everything. The two are definitely related, Heero thought as Duo took the brush, using one hand to hold Kitten's head still, and began to tame the mess atop the boy's head.
"Duo, you said we would talk," Heero said as a lead off to the conversation he was dying to have.
"We are talking," Duo told him.
"I'm serious, Duo."
"So am I. Ask me something."
"What's going on here? Where have you been for the last four years? When did you have a son? Why are the both of you spliced? Why are you with Gervais? What is he up to? Did he kidnap you? Do you work for him?" Heero asked in a sudden explosion of words not able to stop himself once he'd started.
"Whoa," Duo said, blinking at him.
"That's too many questions, Mr. Heero!"
"I'm sorry," Heero apologized surprised at himself.
"Hold that," Duo said to Kitten passing the brush to the boy. He crossed the distance between them in two strides to wrap his arms around Heero's shoulders and Heero was struck by how tall Duo had gotten. "Heero," Duo whispered into Heero's ear, making him shiver, "I missed you, too.”
Pairings: Main 1x2, others may show up
Warnings: Yaoi, Language, blood, gore, lemon, lime, angst
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Splicing idea taken from a Batman Beyond episode.
Summary: Heero is working for the Preventors on a case dealing with genetic mutations gone wrong. When he finally manages to make a break in the case he finds Duo, whose been missing for four years, right in the middle of it. Where has Duo been and what has he done to himself?
***
"This is a terribly inefficient office. Much too cluttered. How does the man find anything in here?"
Heero shook his head as he watched Gervais meander around Dr. Anderson's office inside the Preventors' clinic. While it was procedure to take a suspect into custody and have them await sentencing in the hold, Gervais had insisted that he had to stay close to Duo in case he was needed. Why he might be needed, the doctor was close-lipped about. After seeing Duo, laying on the stretcher pale and unresponsive, as he'd been wheeled out of the lab Heero had conceded, afraid to take any chances with Duo's life.
After winning that victory, the doctor insisted that he needed to pack both a bag of equipment and chemicals and another with clothes and amenities for Duo. Again Heero conceded, but watched the man closely as he talked and packed to make sure that nothing troublesome, like a bomb, wound up in either bag and quickly confiscated the two as they left the lab.
"I want to know what you've done to Duo."
"Manners, boy. You can't go around barking orders at people and expect results," Gervais said disapprovingly, waving his finger at Heero although his back was turned to him. The more the man talked the more Heero disliked him.
"What is wrong with him? What sort of illness does he have?"
"Illness? Duo isn't sick, my boy. I told you before he's perfectly healthy."
"Then why was he in that tank? What sort of procedures were you performing on him?"
"My dear boy, all you need to know is that Duo is perfectly fine and I have done nothing untoward to him."
"No, what I want to know is what you did to him and Kitten."
"Kitten?"
"Yes. Duo's son. You gave him to Janet Hughes for safekeeping."
"How is my dear Janet?"
"She's in jail, waiting for you to come and keep her company."
"That was a tasteless joke, son."
"It wasn't a joke," Heero deadpanned.
"When Duo wakes up and tells you that he's fine, I do hope you have enough grace to come and apologize to me."
"You haven't answered any of my questions."
"Again, manners, son. You came into my home, interrupted my work, and locked me in another's man office and now you insist on asking me all these questions. Manners dictate that you could at least offer me something to drink now that you've taken me hostage."
The first drink to come to Heero's mind was a cup of bleach but he refrained from offering it to the doctor.
"You weren't taken hostage; you were arrested."
"It's the same principle, my boy. You've taken me against my will and locked me away."
Heero rolled his eyes. "Dr Gervais-" he started as the door to the office opened suddenly admitted Trowa.
"Heero, its Lucy. She's coding."
Heero blinked, shocked. He knew that she didn't have long but he didn't imagine that it would happen so soon. That she would die before they even had a chance to try to save her.
"Lucy? Is that the poor girl who was spliced with an octopus?"
"How do you know about that?" Heero asked.
"You should tell your agents to keep their thoughts to themselves, young man," Gervais answered moving towards them. "Now you go and fetch my bag and you," he said addressing Trowa, "show me to the girl's room."
"What exactly do you think you're doing?" Heero said following the man out of the room.
"I think I'm going to save her life and prove to you, my little skeptic, that I'm not the mad scientist you think I am."
"I don't think so," he snarled grabbing the man's arm.
"We have nothing to lose by letting him try, Heero," Trowa said.
He looked to the other man ready to argue but understood that Trowa was just as worried about Lucy as he was and unwilling to give up without putting up some kind of fight.
"Fine, show him the way I'll grab the bag," he said, dropping the man's arm.
Trowa and the doctor moved away and Heero quickly ran to the office on the opposite side of the hall to retrieve the doctor's bag and make his way to Lucy's room. Dr Anderson and several nurses worked over Lucy's body as the many machines attached to her body beeped and squealed in alarm.
"What is you name, son?"
"Trowa."
"Trowa be a good lad and pull the bed away from the wall."
"Who is he and what is he doing?" Dr. Anderson called looking at Heero.
"My name is Dr. Eric Gervais and I will be saving her life. Trowa, the bed please."
Trowa moved into position at the end of the bed pulling the bed away from the wall, jostling the medical staff and machinery.
"My bag Heero," he said holding his hand out. He placed the bag on a nearby cart, opening it to search through his equipment. "Heero if you would climb onto the head of the bed and keep Ms. Lucy's head and shoulders steady."
"What are you planning on doing?" Dr Anderson asked. "I won't be held accountable for this, Commander."
"I understand, Doctor, I'll take responsibility for his actions," Heero said moving into position. He climbed onto the using his thighs to hold Lucy's head with his hands pressing down on her seizing and bucking shoulders, holding her as still as possible.
"See that you do, Commander."
"What's wrong with her?" he asked, grunting as he held onto Lucy.
"The second heart started to beat. It's overloading her system," the doctor answered.
"Could I borrow your stethoscope? I was in a bit of a rush today and forgot mine," Gervais said ignoring the conversation, but Dr Anderson handed over his stethoscope all the same. He pushed the folds of the gown aside, leaving her breasts covered but exposing the center of her chest to place the chest piece against to listen to the two hearts.
He made a questioning sound before moving away.
"Trowa if you could straddle her legs and help keep her still. Doctor," he said touching Dr. Anderson's arm, "If you and one of these wonderful nurses could please keep her arms still."
Dr. Anderson pressed his hands into Lucy's right arm while the lone male nurse took charge of her left. Gervais went back to his bag pulling a large and dubious looking syringe out along with a vile of clear fluid. Injecting the needle into the top of the glass bottle, he pulled back on the plunger with his thumb transferring the liquid from the vial to the syringe.
He turned back to the assembled group with a large smile on his face wielding the syringe like a knife, "Gentlemen, did you know that octopi have three hearts?"
Heero looked at Trowa, where he rested on Lucy's legs on the other side of the bed. They shook their heads at each other; the man was incorrigible.
"Now I need all of you to hold her as still as possible, I don't relish the thought of missing," he said, using the fingers of his left hand to gently move her breast to the side, positioning the needle over her chest. He raised his arm high into the air and brought it down in frightful stab that pierced through her chest making a sharp, sickening sound. Everyone in the room froze as Lucy bucked and gasped around the ventilator and the tubes running down her throat, and Dr Gervais depressed the plunger injecting the liquid into her chest. He pulled the needle away, leaving the bed to throw the syringe into a sharps container.
"She's flat-lining," Dr Anderson said as the machines all gave a single flat note and Lucy fell limp into the mattress.
"She'll be fine in a moment, give it time," Gervais said amiably.
The next few moments were tense, with everyone but Dr Gervais staring at Lucy, waiting for something to happen. Heero looked down at her, willing her to breathe and her heart to beat. He couldn't stand for the bright light of his team to die under his hands.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
"There now, a heart beat. Now let's remove these damnable tubes and let her breathe on her own," Gervais said reaching towards Lucy's face as the steady sound of her heartbeat filled the room. "Heero, son, if you would tilt her head back."
He did as he was told, assisting Gervais as he could as the doctor untapped the tubes from her mouth to begin to pull them out. The ends of the tubes were covered in ink and for a moment, Gervais was lost as to what to do with them until a female nurse came bearing a towel to wrap them in before disposing of them.
"Thank you, my dear."
"She's breathing," Dr Anderson said astonished.
"Of course she is. Now if one of you could please remove that tube from her chest," he said pointing at the tube that carried away the ink from her body which now ran clear.
"How did you do it?" Anderson asked. "Nothing we've tried helped her."
Gervais looked at Heero smugly, "I'm an expert in splicing and a very good doctor. Now if I could get a scalpel, I need to take a sample of these marvelous tentacles if I'm going to rid our dear Lucy of them."
"You're sure that you can do that?" Heero asked from atop the bed.
"Positive, although it would be much easier to do if I were allowed to take both Lucy and Duo back to my lab."
"No," he said carefully climbing off the bed.
"You are a very stubborn man, Heero."
"Thank you."
Gervais laughed, "My boy, if you're not careful I might begin to like you."
"Joy," he said flatly. He turned to Trowa where he was climbing off the bed, "Take him to the clinic's lab and keep an eye on him."
"Understood," he said and Heero ignored the doctor as he flirted with the nurses, pulling glass slides from his bag and left the room relieved that Lucy was still alive.
He walked the hallways of the clinic heading towards Duo's room. By now, Sally should have finished her exam of Duo and he was eager to find out if he was awake as well as what exactly Gervais had done to him. As he passed through the lobby, he ran into Weber, Hayers and Price.
Both Hayers and Price sported scratches across their faces and hands, as well as what looked like a bite mark on Hayers right cheek. Weber carried Kitten under one arm, held close to his body as the boy thrashed and kicked.
"I wanna see my Daddy!"
"What's going on?"
"An hour before you called us to let us know that you'd found Duo, this little guy starts kicking and screaming about his Dad. We've had a hard time keeping him still," Weber explained.
"He bit me," Hayers said angrily. "I think I need a rabies shot."
"He isn't rabid," Price said, "But am I to believe that he can either smell a person from almost twenty-five miles away or that he has ESP?"
"Both," came Gervais' cheerful voice as he passed behind Heero with several glass slides delicately held between his fingers with Trowa following close behind carrying his bag, before disappearing down the hall and out of sight.
Heero sighed and shook his head. He would deal with the mystery surrounding Gervais later. One problem at a time, he thought.
"Kitten, I'll take you to see your father if you behave."
Kitten looked up at Heero, red faced and glaring, before going limp under Weber's arm, "I'll be good."
"Good," Heero said reaching out to take Kitten from Weber into his own arms. "Go and check on Lucy. She should be doing better," he told the others.
"Really?"
"Yes she's off of the life support machines and Dr. Gervais is working on a way to reverse the splicing."
"You're really going to trust him?" Hayers asked.
"No but if he can help her, I'll allow it. Let me know if there are any changes in her condition."
"Yes, Commander."
He left the three agents, carrying Kitten, who was rambling in his ear, "I was looking for you."
"I know."
"But I got lost."
"I know."
"I wanna see my Daddy."
"I know."
Heero paused outside of the door to Duo's room knocking before he pushed the door open. Sally was there to meet him, stepping out into the hallway to speak with him.
"Hi, Ms. Sally."
"Hi, Kitten," she said smiling at the toddler.
"How is he?"
"He's still asleep, but fine. There isn't a single mark on him. Besides the obvious I can't tell if anything has been done to him that we should worry about."
"Can I take Kitten in to see him?"
"I don't see why not. Let me know if he wakes up, I want to make sure that the sensory deprivation hasn't done any damage to him."
"Alright."
Moving past Sally, Heero and Kitten entered the room where Duo lay sound asleep. The artificial sunlight filtered through the blinds landing on Duo's face highlighting the hair falling around him. The 'obvious' Sally spoke of were the two cat-ears laying flat against the top of his head unmoving, as if they too were asleep.
"That's my Daddy," Kitten whispered in Heero's ear and Heero smiled saying, "I know."
They crossed the room and Heero gently sat Kitten on the bed where he immediately lay across his father's chest hugging him. He sat up his hands on Duo's chest and began to shake the sleeping man.
"Wake up, Daddy. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up," he called.
"Kitten, he's tired."
"But he has to play with me. He promised," the boy said putting his hands on Duo's face shaking his head. Heero moved to intervene but stopped short seeing Duo's eyelids flutter.
"Daddy!" Kitten cried as Duo's eyes opened and focused on him.
"Daddy?" Duo asked looking at Kitten as if he'd never seen him before. "Who are you?"
Heero felt his heart freeze in his chest as Duo looked around the room confused. Could this be what Sally had been so worried about? Had Gervais stolen Duo's life by stealing his memories?
"Where am I?" he asked gripping the bed's safety rails. "Where am I?"
"Daddy," Kitten pleaded.
"Duo," Heero said drawing Duo's attention.
"Who are you? Where am I?" he asked panicked, trying to rise from the bed.
"Duo, it's alright," Heero said moving closer to the bed leaning over Duo to keep him still and in the bed. He felt a tug on his neck and looked down to see Duo's hand wrapped around his tie drawing him closer. He looked back to Duo's face to see a familiar smile spread there as well as a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Gotcha," he said before licking Heero from the bottom of his chin across his lips and up
the underside of his nose in one quick swipe. Heero jerked away in shock and his tie slipped through Duo's hand.
"Daddy, do you remember me?" Kitten asked his ears flat against his head the saddest expression on his face.
Duo laughed taking Kitten's head into both of his hands, "How could I forget that handsome face," he said giving Kitten a kiss on the lips.
Kitten laughed, hugging his father's neck, kissing him back. Heero watched the father and son interact as they laughed and talked animatedly to each other before Kitten turned to Heero pointing, "This is my friend Mr. Heero."
"Well, hello Mr. Heero," Duo said holding his hand out to Heero. He took the long slender fingered hand in his, feeling the smooth soft skin sliding over his palm. No calluses, he thought absently.
"Duo," he whispered staring into Duo's bright violet eyes finding himself rewarded with a wide warm smile. Tired and pale he was just as beautiful as Heero remembered him to, and along with that thought came the uneasy feeling of self-reproach. Duo was his friend, his best friend. The feelings that he had, although jumbled and confused would only mar whatever happy reunion they sought to have.
"Me and Mr. Heero play toys and he beat up the bad men who stole me."
"What?" Duo questioned, looking to Heero.
"It's a long story," Heero said in reply, shaking his head at Kitten's choice of words, "I'll tell you about later."
"You've been getting into a lot of trouble haven't you?" Duo asked tapping the boy's nose with one of his long elegant fingers.
"I don't mean to," Kitten said pouting.
"I know you don't," he said sitting up in the bed, smiling down at the boy indulgently.
"Duo, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, though I could use a shower."
"No, I mean," Heero said at a loss for words. "You've been missing for four years. I've been looking for you. What happened?"
"It's…a long story," he said avoiding answering, petting the top of Kitten's head.
"Duo," he started touching the other man's arm. He needed answers. He needed to know what had happened all those years ago and how Duo had ended up in Gervais' care, spliced with a three-year-old son.
"Commander," Weber called from the doorway interrupting him, "It's Lucy. She's awake and asking for you."
Heero looked between Duo and Weber torn. He wanted to talk to Duo but he wanted to see Lucy as well.
"Go," Duo urged, "We'll talk when you get back."
"Do you promise?" Heero asked suddenly needing the reassurance that Duo would indeed be there when he returned and that the other man would explain exactly what was going on.
"Yeah, I promise."
***
"Lucy," Heero breathed looking at the woman's pale and tired face.
"Hi, Commander," she said smiling. One of her arms moved as if to wave underneath the sheet that covered her from the neck down. She looked disturbed for a moment before giving a wan smile. "It's weird when they move. Makes me sick."
"It's alright," Weber said leaning close to her, "the commander's got a guy working on it."
"Really?" she said looking hopeful.
"Yes," Heero confirmed although he thoroughly wished that it wasn't Dr. Gervais that they were turning to for help. The short man was annoyingly arrogant and Heero hated to admit that he had indeed saved Lucy's life.
"I'm sorry about what happened, Commander. It's my fault Dr. M got away."
"You didn't do anything wrong, Lucy," he said concerned that the woman blamed herself for Dr. M's escape.
"No one else was hit with the recombinant," she said looking miserable.
"I was almost hit in the face three times," he explained, trying to convey that it was simply bad luck that she had been hit.
"Almost," she emphasized.
"Don't feel bad," Wu Fei said coming into the room with Sally, "Heero gravitates to being shot and blown up."
"Is that true?" she asked chuckling.
"No," Heero said glaring at the smug Chinese man.
"Yes," Sally said, "Don't forget that I treated some of those wounds."
"What are you doing here?" he asked the two ignoring Sally's comment.
"We heard that Gervais was working miracles," Wu Fei answered.
"Is that the doctor who saved me?"
"Yeah," Weber answered, "he's a weird, bossy little guy. He's got everyone running errands for him."
That explained why Hayers and Price were nowhere to be seen and it made Heero upset to know that the man was running his team and the other staff ragged.
They spent some time talking before Lucy's eyelids began to droop and Dr. Anderson stopped the visit, forcing everyone to exit the room.
"Is Duo awake?" Sally asked as they walked down the hall towards the lobby.
"Yes," Heero answered. "He seems fine. He remembered me and Kitten."
"That's good, but I think that we should keep a close eye on him all the same."
"I agree," Wu Fei added, "And while I'm happy that Agent Gemmell is alive, we shouldn't let him think that he can do whatever he wants."
"Trowa is watching him. He won't let anything happen," Heero said.
"Hm," Wu Fei said nodding, "Sally and I are headed to the main building to interrogate the lab assistants. If one of them talks you'll have something to use against Gervais."
"Thank you."
"Don't let him fool you," Sally said touching Heero's shoulder, "it was my idea. Now go and rescue Duo before Kitten talks him to death."
"I think between the two of them they'll talk each other into submission," Wu Fei said smirking and Heero laughed walking away.
He knocked on the door to Duo's room and hearing Duo call for him to come in he opened the door pulling up short at the sight that greeted him.
Duo stood, easily taller than six feet, dressed in nothing but a pair of short black briefs that left nothing to the imagination. He held his damp hair tight in his left hand above his head while he brushed the under side with his right. His chestnut tail swept gracefully left and right as he talked to Kitten who stood in the chair before him. Heero found his eyes roving over Duo's perfect, creamy skin, taking in his long legs, taut stomach and hairless chest before dropping back to the briefs. He swallowed roughly, wondering why he suddenly thought that Duo was sex.
"How's Lucy?" Duo asked, smiling at him.
"She's fine," he said hoarsely, closing the door behind him.
"That's good," Duo answered dropping his hair over his shoulder to continue brushing.
"My little guy's been filling me in on everything that's been going on. Thank you for saving him."
"It was nothing."
"Sure, superman," he said smiling at Heero. "Next you'll tell me saving the world's nothing."
"No," he said, "That required a little effort."
Duo laughed at that, tossing his head back.
"I don't get it. What's so funny?" Kitten asked, looking between the two of them and Duo only laughed harder.
"Has Kitten told you the trouble he's caused us in the last few days?"
"Kitten?" Duo asked looking confused.
"Yes. Kitten," Heero said pointing to the boy.
"His name isn't Kitten," he said looking to the boy who looked away feigning innocence.
"He told us his name was Kitten."
"My Nana calls me Kitten," the boy clarified.
"And what does your Daddy call you?" Duo asked tapping the boy on the head with the brush.
"Rhys. R-h-y-s," he spelled, "Rhys."
"That's right."
"Why did you tell me it was Kitten and not Rhys?"
"Cause I'mma kitten," he said, rolling his eyes as if Heero should have known the answer all along.
"Why Rhys?" he asked Duo.
"Cause calling him Cromm Cruach would give the kid a complex," Duo said as if that explained everything. The two are definitely related, Heero thought as Duo took the brush, using one hand to hold Kitten's head still, and began to tame the mess atop the boy's head.
"Duo, you said we would talk," Heero said as a lead off to the conversation he was dying to have.
"We are talking," Duo told him.
"I'm serious, Duo."
"So am I. Ask me something."
"What's going on here? Where have you been for the last four years? When did you have a son? Why are the both of you spliced? Why are you with Gervais? What is he up to? Did he kidnap you? Do you work for him?" Heero asked in a sudden explosion of words not able to stop himself once he'd started.
"Whoa," Duo said, blinking at him.
"That's too many questions, Mr. Heero!"
"I'm sorry," Heero apologized surprised at himself.
"Hold that," Duo said to Kitten passing the brush to the boy. He crossed the distance between them in two strides to wrap his arms around Heero's shoulders and Heero was struck by how tall Duo had gotten. "Heero," Duo whispered into Heero's ear, making him shiver, "I missed you, too.”