Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Reputations ❯ part 9 ( Chapter 9 )

REPUTATIONS

PART NINE

* * *

For a building that served a whole county, Morison hospital was rather quiet. The ER, usually a place bursting with activity, was nearly abandoned. Only a few nursed could be seen walking here and there, behind glass doors. The yellow plastic chairs in the waiting room were unoccupied, except for one.

A lonesome figure sat in the corner of the large hall, sitting curled within herself. A few stitches were on her forehead, her arms bandaged. A few scratches were seen here and there, but other than that, there were no injures. The figure, a young teenage boy, was sitting with his knees on the chair, his arms wrapped around them. His chin was resting on his kneecaps, his head buried behind a thick mop of dark hair.

The automatic doors slid open with a light hiss, and a pair of high heels echoed throughout the empty hall. The steps came closer and closer, until they stopped, right in front of the boy.

The dark head moved a bit as a pair of cobalt blue eyes fluttered opened, staring down at the high-heeled shoes in front of him.

Slowly, the boy lifted his head and looked up.

Tears filled his eyes as he looked at the woman's face, her sharp green eyes looking down at him. He swallowed, but kept looking up. He noticed a few hairs had cut loose from the woman's ponytail, which gave the impression that she had been running. Her makeup was smudged, her eyeliner ruined from tears.

They kept looking at one another in complete silence.

Heero searched for words of apology, to ask for forgiveness, but none came to him. All he could do was stare, his eyes shimmering with tears.

He gasped as he felt a hand reach down, and gently wipe away his tears. He looked at her, eyes wide with shock.

The woman's features softened and she slowly sat down, wrapping her arms around Heero. Acting on pure need and impulse, Heero wrapped his arms around her as well. He leaned his head on her shoulder, his own body quaking with sobs. He felt the woman's embrace tighten as he continued crying, sobbing brokenly, burying his face between her neck and shoulder.

Joanna closed her eyes slowly and held the trembling boy as hard as she could. She leaned her chin on his head and petted him gently, rocking him from side to side, trying to soothe his crying.

"I'm so sorry... miss... I'm--- Joanna... so sorry..."

* * *

Hours later, they were still sitting there. The waiting room was dim and quiet, and only the faint and distant sounds of the hospital life disturbed the silence. The television was on, displaying some game show or another useless piece of entertainment.

Joanna leaned back in her chair and sighed deeply. She looked down, and her eyes filled with compassion.

Heero was lying against her, his head on her lap and he is sleeping. Tears still stained his pale features, and his eyes were all red and puffy from crying. He had cried for hours, until he had run out of strength to cry. She just kept holding him, promising him everything will be all right.

She reached down and ran her hand through his thick and smooth hair, guarding his sleep.

The game show ended and the opening theme for the nightly newscast began.

Joanna looked up at the screen, her hand still stroking Heero's hair.

It didn't take long for the correspondents to report about that day's incident. No matter what station you turned to, the same images displayed. A crowded street, students running all around, some shocked, some indifferent, some even excited by the presence of the cameras.

"As the ambulance came, we began to interview a few of the witnesses. Lets see what this young man had to say..."

They showed the ambulance as it parked right in front of the camera, and a few policemen tried to keep the students away while the paramedics wheeled the gurney into the vehicle.

Joanna looked away from the screen as a closer image was shown, revealing the boy lying bleeding on the gurney, his long blood-soaked braid dangling down the portable bed, swinging from side to side as he was wheeled into the ambulance.

She sighed and looked down, at the boy who was resting against her. She kept running her hand through his soft hair, gently soothing him while he slept.

Duo had been in surgery for nearly three hours now. The doctors promised to let her know the minute he was out, but all she could now is wait, and pray. The doctors had informed her that her adopted son was stabbed in his back, right above the kidneys. They were hoping that no major damage had occurred, but they will know for sure during surgery.

She didn't even have the chance to see him before he was rushed into the OR. She received the call to work, from one hysteric and shocked Reed, and just left everything and drove to the hospital. She called her friend from the car phone and asked her to take care of Tracy. She arrived to the hospital completely out of breath, wanting nothing but to pin some doctor against the wall and bark at him until he will give her some answers.

But then, she saw Heero. The poor boy looked so lost and frightened, sitting curled up in a chair in the corner of the room. When he looked at her, when those tearful baby-blue eyes looked up at her, all she could think of was comforting the boy. His guilt, pain and torment clearly showed, and no matter what she said to him, he kept saying that this was his fault. Her heart went out for this young boy, and she held the fragile looking body until he had fallen asleep.

She could see why Duo had gone so far to protect him. She understood why Duo acted the way he did for the last few days. She understood. And, she was proud. She was proud of her son for giving so much to someone other than himself.

Raising Duo had not been an easy task. Ever since he was a little boy, he was nothing but trouble. She and her ex-husband had had dozens of fight over him. He didn't want to keep the boy who did nothing but to get under his skin. A boy who had a serious problem with authority, and did everything he could to make their lives miserable.

But she knew it was all a test. He was trying to test them, to see how far they would go to have him. He wanted to try them to the limit, to see when he will cross the line and would be sent back to the orphanage. If he was her real child, she couldn't give him away because he was making too much trouble. And since he was adopted, the boy had wanted to see when would he stop being their son, when will they give up and send him back. He had little trust in them, and Joe knew that he wanted to go back to the orphanage. To his best friend, and the one who had raised him on the streets.

But she wanted Duo. She wanted a child. At the time, she had had trouble on conceiving a child, and thus trued to adoption. Only some years later she and Nathan were able to give life to Tracy. She was the one who had convinced her husband of adopting a child, and the minute she saw that little fella at the orphanage, her heart was stolen. Stolen by a little boy with a long braid and a cheeky face. A boy with amazingly expressive violet eyes that held such a dark past in them, it broke her heart. She did her best, trying to give him a good life. She wanted him to have a good home and a family. But the child was too distrustful. He had been hurt before and was obviously afraid of being hurt again.

However, no matter what he did, Joanna didn't give up on him. He cost her her marriage, her husband and dear friend, but she didn't give up. Duo had probably felt that the troubles at home, between Nathan and herself, were his fault. He became so bitter then, so full of anger and resentment. He had started hanging out on the streets again, and slowly turned to gang life.

She had nearly given up on him, and now... now he did this. His actions had surprised her greatly. She didn't expect Duo to care so much about someone so different from him. But maybe, maybe they weren't so different at all.

Joanna sighed and looked up at the television.

"...The man, a fifty-five year-old scientist, was taken into custody. By witness account, one of the victims had blamed Dr. Jay Cage for killing his parents, nearly eight years ago."

An image was shown on the screen, displaying a young couple.

"The couple, Lucy and Kenji Yuy, was killed in a car accident, eight years ago. Back then, the police had suspected foul play, but nothing could be proved. After today's incident, the case was reopened. This is what we heard from one of the students who was at the scene:"

"And then suddenly he fell down to the floor, and he started screaming. Like a mad man or something. I didn't get all of it, because he was crying a lot, but I remember he said that the accident wasn't his fault, but that that other dude, the one with the glasses, he killed Heero's parents."

"And what did you..."

Joanna looked down at the boy sleeping against her, her face compassionate. She ran her hand through his hair again, smiling sadly as the boy sighed pleasantly at the touch. She was sure he wasn't used to be touched like this.

"Duo..." The boy suddenly murmured, shifting a little in his sleep. He whimpered sadly, his fists clenched. "No... no... Duo..."

"Shhhhh..." Joe whispered, trying to calm the boy. "It's okay, Heero. It's okay..."

The boy whimpered again, but came still. Tears were trickling at the corner of his eyes and slowly sliding down his cheeks.

"Duo... gomen... Duo..."

"Shhhh... He'll be all right, Heero. He'll be all right..." Joanna repeated over and over, using the same words she repeated in her head. Duo is going to be all right. He had to be all right. He'll be all right... he has to...

* * *

"Miss Harrison?"

At the sound of the doctor's voice, Heero stirred awake. His eyes fluttered open and he was surprised to find himself lying against Joanna. He blushed and hurried to get up, murmuring a soft apology.

He looked up at the doctor, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"Yes?" Joe's voice was stiff with dread, and it sounded like she was choking the words out. Her face was a stone mask, but her fear and distress reflected in her eyes.

The doctor smiled kindly and took a step forward. "The operation was a success." He stated, and allowed the two a moment to respond.

Heero's heart leaped in joy and a small smile crept up to his lips. He straightened in his chair, anxious to go and see Duo. He gasped and looked down as he felt Joanna take his hand in hers, and squeeze it lightly. He looked up and saw the woman sigh in relief, closing her eyes and bowing her head briefly. He squeezed her hand back.

"You can go and see him if you like," The doctor continued, sitting down in the chairs across of the two. "But he is still under the affects of the anesthetics." He leaned forward, looking up at the young woman, eyes serious. "Your son was very lucky, Miss Harrison. The knife had missed the spinal cord and only grazed his left kidney. There was some internal bleeding, but it was successfully stopped. Your son is very, VERY, lucky."

Joe closed her eyes again, and leaned her head back against the wall. She sighed deeply, a small smile on her lips. She squeezed Heero's hand again. "I know."

* * *

"Is he still asleep?" Heero whispered uncertainly as the doctor opened the door to Duo's room. He was walking behind Joe, keeping close to her as they walked. Hospitals made him nervous and fearful, even more than the school halls did. Just walking down the ER made chills run down his spine, remembering a time, an eternity ago, right after the accident. The ER was the last place he had seen his parents. They were taken up to the OR, and never came back.

Heero looked away from the elevator leading up to the operating rooms and swallowed. He looked back up at the doctor.

The doctor smiled kindly at him, for the boy's fear didn't go unnoticed. "Yes, he'll wake up soon. Since he's out of danger, we put him in a private room so he can sleep peacefully." He opened the door and moved so the two could enter. "The nurse station is right down the hall if you need anything." He informed Joe. The woman thanked him and he left.

Heero peeked from behind the door, his eyes shimmering in the dim orange light that flooded the small room. He spotted Duo lying on a bed in the middle of the room, a thick blue-wool blanket covering him tightly.

Joe took his hand again, and he jumped, startled. She guided him into the room, and Heero closed the door behind them. He wasn't sure if Joanna wanted him to enter, he was afraid to become an unwanted nuisance, but the fact that she guided him into the room made him feel more at ease.

They both walked to the bed and just stood there, looking down at the sleeping boy.

Duo looked horrible. His features were worn and haggard, pale and sickly colored. His eyes seemed to be sunken deeper into his skull, black marks surrounding them. His hair was everywhere; messy bangs covering his face, being teased by his steady breathing. The trademark braid was taken apart, and the silky chestnut strings lay loose, sprawled on the bed. His hair was washed and cleaned, not a trace of blood on it. It surrounded his form like a second blanket, giving him a somewhat serene look as he slept.

Joe chuckled and took hold of the waterfall of hair, gathering it in her hands. "I never got why he liked to keep it so long..." She muttered, reaching up to release her own hair form the band that held it together. "It always gets in the way and it's nothing but trouble taking care of it."

Heero watched her as she braided Duo's hair, carefully and tenderly. She then reached down a hand to pet Duo's cheek, a small smile on her lips.

"But it wouldn't be Duo without it, you know?"

Heero smiled shyly. He nodded his head, blushing under the dim light.

"I remember we used to have such big fights over it..." She now cried, sniffling and wiping her tears away. "I kept telling him to cut if off, and he would yell at me to fuck off."

Heero smiled again. It was so... Duo.

Joanna calmed down, taking deep breaths. She sat down in a chair by the bed, her hand playing with the tip of Duo's braid. "He used to say that he'll keep growing his hair until it will be longer than mine." She looked down at her own long hair, now loose and engulfing her body. She snorted. "By the time he was twelve, it was already longer then mine. And he still didn't stop."

Heero chuckled.

"'I said I will cut it until it's longer than yours, I didn't say how much longer'..." She chuckled again. "He's so stubborn... And now he and Tracy are competing in the same stupid game. She says she won't allow him to have hair longer than hers, cause she's a girl and all."

"Does he get along with Tracy?" Heero dared to ask, slowly sitting down at the edge of the bed, a few inches away from Duo's feet.

Joanna shrugged and sighed. "She loves him, and I suppose it goes both ways. He complains a lot, and they fight a lot, but that's how siblings are. Sure, they have been having a lot of differences since Nathan and I separated, but he still looks after her. Why a couple of months ago, when kids picked on her at school, he came and beat them up."

Heero smiled sadly, looking down at Duo. "He protected her..."

"And he protected you." Joe added, looking up at Heero, eyes serious.

They looked at each other for a while, sitting in silence, until Heero bowed his head and looked away.

"I'm sorry." He whispered, closing his eyes. "I didn't mean for him to get hurt..."

"That's not what I meant." Joanna replied quietly, reaching her hand for Heero's. She took his hand in hers, and Heero looked down at he, confused. Joe smiled at him. "Heero, I'm not angry with you, and I have no reason to. You bring out the best in Duo, and, you made him happy. You gave him something that I couldn't. You showed him what really matters. I don't know if it was intentional or not, but you brought out that side of Duo I haven't seen in a long, LONG, time. And for that," She squeezed his hand gently, smiling at him. "I should be grateful."

Heero smiled, blushing. He looked away, too embarrassed to say or do anything else.

And then, suddenly, Duo moaned.

"Duo!" Both called in joy and jumped out of their seats. They came to stand by the bed, looking down anxiously.

Duo moaned again, stirring in his bed. He opened one eye halfway, and then closed it. He groaned a little, and then the eye opened again, peeking out from behind messy long bangs. Soon after, another eyes joined in and Duo blinked a few times. Finally adjusting his vision, Duo looked up at the two faces hovering above him. He blinked again.

"J--Joe?" He croaked, and then coughed. "Wha... what's the... time?"

Both Joe and Heero chuckled.

"Time to wake up, sleepy head." Joanna let out with a smile, reaching down to push the hair out of his eyes.

"I can't go to school..." He mumbled, reaching a hand up to scratch his nose. "I don't feel so good..." He slurred, turning over to lie on his side. He prepared to go back to sleep.

Joanna couldn't help it and she let out a choked chuckle, which sounded a lot like a whimper. Her eyes filled with tears and she covered her mouth with her hand, trying hard not to cry. "Oh Duo..." She whispered, leaning down towards the slumbering teen. She kissed his forehead lightly, tears running down her cheeks.

Duo moaned again, shifting a little in his bed. "Ssss... sorry Joe... didn't... mean... it..." He whispered in his sleep, voice haunted. "So... sorry..." He cried, tears sliding down his cheeks.

"Shhhh... Shhhhhhh... It's all right." She soothed, stroking his hair. She kissed his soft cheek again, and then whispered in his ear: "I'm proud of you, Duo. I really am."

In his sleep, Duo smiled.

Somewhere in the back of his mind he could register that someone else was taking his hand in theirs. The soft and warm touch was immediately recognized. Duo sighed pleasantly in his sleep and turned in the direction of the soft touch.

"Heero..."

* * *

The next morning, Joe walked into the room, carrying a cup of steaming coffee. The window was wide open, letting in warm rays of early morning sunshine. The bright light reflected off the bright blue blanket, and made Duo's hair seem like it was shining. The whole thing made Duo's form glow, like he was surrounded by some magical aura.

Next to him, on the chair by the bed, was Heero. He was still holding Duo's hand in his, and he was leaning against the bed, his head resting on Duo's chest. He was obviously asleep, like he had been for the last four hours.

Quietly, Joanna closed the door behind her and tiptoed into the room. She went over to her chair by the window, and placed her coffee on the windowsill. She then carefully walked over to Heero, and bent down to pick a blanket off the floor.

She had covered Heero with this blanket when he fell asleep, but it probably slid off while she was out of the room. Heero moaned quietly as she covered him, and he shifted a little in the uncomfortable chair.

Joe just smiled and ruffled his hair gently. She walked back to her own chair and sat down. While sipping her coffee, the tenth cup she had in the last twenty-four hours, she kept watching the two teens. Her gaze locked on their joint hands, Duo's fingers curled tightly around Heero's palm. Looking up at his face, she could see that Duo was smiling, his features more relaxed.

She leaned back in her chair, sipping the coffee. She looked at Heero's features, now content and relaxed. She looked down at their hands again and sighed, shaking her head and smiling to herself.

"Oh Duo..."

* * *

Later that day, Duo finally opened his eyes, and was coherent enough to understand where he was. He looked around, confused. He recognized that he was in a hospital bed, and he also recognized that he was alone.

Frightened and worried, he tried to sit up, but it was too painful for him to move. He groaned in pain and slumped back down into the pillow.

Just then, the door opened and Joanna walked in.

"Duo!" She called the minute she saw him open his eyes and look at her, puzzled. "Oh Duo!" She ran to him and embraced him in a tight hug.

"Wow... wow, Joe, watched it..." Duo chocked as she smothered him. "Remember it's an injured man you're holding..." He reminded her harshly, though his eyes were sparkling with mischief.

Joe backed up a little, face radiant. "I gather you're feeling better?"

Duo yawned and then nodded. "Lots. Though I think I can drink a whole FACTORY of coka cola..."

Joe chuckled. "Well, you'll have to settle for some water." She helped him sit up and arranged his pillows.

Slowly and carefully, Duo leaned back into the soft cushions, wincing a little as his back made contact with them.

Joanna looked at him worriedly, a glass of water in her hand.

Duo sent her a smile, trying to reassure her that he was okay. He took the glass and emptied it quickly. When he was done, he looked around the room, face worried.

He turned back to Joe. "Where's Heero? Is he all right? He didn't get hurt now did he?" Is he here?"

Joanna couldn't help but smile at the string of questions. She sat down in the chair, looking up at Duo. "Don't worry. He's fine. He only suffered some superficial injuries. I sent him down to the cafeteria. He didn't eat the whole day!" She chuckled again, bowing her head to keep Duo from seeing that she was blushing. "He wouldn't leave your side."

Now calm, Duo sunk into the cushions and sighed, closing his eyes. Heero was okay, He was safe. They were both safe. He didn't know what happened to Jack, Jay and the others, but right now, he really didn't care. As long as Heero and he could be together, he didn't care.

"Duo,"

Joanna's voice pulled him out of his thoughts and he turned to look at her, arching an eyebrow in question. Joe smiled gently at him, reaching for his hand.

"I'm proud of you." She whispered, and Duo's eyes widened. "And I am very, VERY, sorry for being such a bitch lately. I know I've been taking a lot out on you, with the divorce and all, and I'm sorry." She squeezed his hand.

Duo looked at her, stunned. He looked down at their hands, and tears filled his eyes. He looked up at Joe again, eyes shimmering with tears. He squeezed her hand as well. A mischievous smile crept to his lips.

"I'll forgive you if you'll forgive me..."

Joanna chuckled. "Deal."

Duo's smile broadened. "So what was that thing about being proud of me? I would like to hear more about that..."

"Humph! Don't let it go to your head..." Joe teased back. She leaned down and kissed his forehead again.

Duo made a face. "Hey, not in front of everyone..." He whined, voice hoarse.

Joanna smiled and stroked his hair. "Brat."

Duo smiled up at her.

The door opened and Heero slowly walked into the room. Once he saw the two were sharing a rather, erm, private moment, his face turned crimson. "Umm... sorry. I'll... I'll wait outside..." He mumbled and hurried to close the door behind him.

"No, Heero, it's all right." Joe assured him. She got up and gave Duo one final pet on the cheek. "I'll leave you two alone." She winked down at Duo. "Play nice."

Duo rolled his eyes and Joanna left the room.

Hesitant, Heero kept standing by the closed door, looking down at his shoes. He couldn't bring himself to look up at the injured boy. Not while knowing the reason the boy was injured.

"Heero," Duo began softly, and Heero flinched.

"I'm so sorry, Duo!" He cried, looking at him with wild eyes. "You did so much for me already, and now... now you're... you're injured and... and..."

"Heero,"

"It's all my fault! I'll understand if you don't want to see me anymore or... or if you want to---"

"Heero!"

Heero's head snapped up and he looked at Duo, face fearful.

Duo sighed and shook his head. He tapped on the bed. "Come over here, silly boy. I can't come to you, so you'll have to come here so I can smack you over that silly head of yours."

Heero smiled sheepishly and came to sit on the bed by Duo. "You're not mad at me?"

Still smiling, Duo shook his head. "Why should I be mad?"

Heero let his gaze down in shame. He felt Duo take his hand, and then the braided boy reached another hand, placing it gently under Heero's chin. He pulled Heero's head up to look at him and Heero found himself drowning in pools of warm violet compassion.

"Silly boy." Duo whispered and leaned forward, pressing his lips against Heero's. He kissed him lightly on the mouth, and then slowly withdrew, still smiling.

Heero blushed, raising his hand up and brushing it against his lips, relishing their first, real, kiss. He looked at Duo, again meeting those warm and kind eyes, and he couldn't help but smile back at him.

"Does this look like I'm mad?" Duo asked in amusement, holding Heero's hand.

The Japanese boy blushed again and shook his head.

"Good." Duo spoke again. "Then it's settled." He slowly leaned towards Heero again, and this time the boy responded by wrapping his arms around him. They kissed, just this gentle little kiss, no tongue. Heero tasted sweet and Duo found that his whole numb body was waking up to the electrifying touch. He moaned and pushed himself higher, wanting to get more of Heero. He wrapped his hands around the boy's slim waist, pulling him closer. Heero tighten his own grip around Duo and leaned down to deepen their kiss.

* * *

"One... two... three... go!"

SNAP!

"Ouch!"

"Oohhhh... you should have been faster."

"No fair! You cheated!"

"Did not!"

"Did to!"

"Not!"

"To!"

"Fine! We'll let Heero decide."

Two pairs of eyes whirled around to look at the Japanese boy who was sitting on a chair by the bed.

Duo cleared his throat and gestured down at the cards lying sprawled on the bed. "Heero, did I cheat?" He asked in the most innocent voice ever heard. He battered his eyelashes in a mocking attempt of seduction.

Heero chuckled and shook his head. "Hn. Baka." He turned to the other figure, sitting on the bed, across of Duo, looking at him with large brown eyes. He smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Tracy, but you just weren't fast enough."

"Ha! Take that Princess Whining!" Duo called victoriously. "The house wins!!!" He announced, gathering all the cards and cackling like a mad man.

The little girl pouted, crossing her arms across her chest. "No fair! I NEVER lost a game of Snap! You cheated."

"Did not." Duo growled, still collecting the cards.

"Did to!"

"Did NOT!"

"Did to! Did to! Did to! To! To!" The little girl insisted, shaking her head from side to side, causing her pigtails to swing from left to right. "But I'll let you THINK that you did, cuz you're in a hospital and all." She then announced, a wicked smile on her face.

Duo snorted. "Gee, thanks a lot, brat. Now get off my bed." He shooed her away with his hand.

The girl stuck her tongue out at him and jumped off the tall hospital bed. "Beeee da!" She chuckled and ran out of the room.

Duo blinked, taken aback. "Be da?!" He arched and eyebrow and slowly turned to face the giggling boy on the chair. "Have you been teaching my little sister a few things I would rather have her live without?"

Heero chuckled again.

"Baaaaaaakkkkkkkkaaaaaaaaa!" An annoying voice called from down the hall.

Duo glared at Heero. "You didn't!"

Heero just kept laughing. "I guess she picked it up along the way."

"Duo no baka! Duo no baka!" The voice kept chanting, and Duo could see Tracy skip up and down the hall as she continued chanting. "Duuuuoooo noooo baaaakaaaa!!!!"

Duo groaned and shook his head in defeat.

Heero smiled and went to close the door. The little girl could still be heard, but it was ignorable. He walked back to Duo and sat down on the bed. He looked at the small nightstand stationed by the bed, and smiled slightly as he saw the flowers resting on it. It was a large garland, with a single 'Get Well' card. There were many flowers around the room; most of them form Duo's classmates. The largest bouquet was from Nelly, who had come to visit a few days ago. What was even more surprising was that the principal herself, Miss Cold-Hearted Reed, had come to visit. And she actually looked sincere when she wished Duo get well soon, and also gave him some flowers.

It was odd, and after the woman left, Duo had muttered something about melting and ice-queens. He still didn't like Reed, but he guessed that she was beginning to change, and that was a good thing.

"Hey, Heero, are you up to another match?" Duo asked, preparing the cards.

"I think you smacked my hands enough for one day."

"Well, it's a good thing we're in a hospital, no?"

Heero rolled his eyes. "All right. One game and that's it."

"Oohh... you're so sexy when you're authorative."

"Ecchi!" Heero chuckled and smacked Duo's hand.

Suddenly, the door opened and Joanna burst into the room, panting and out of breath. Her eyes were tearful and her hair was so messy, it looked like she had been running frantically. Her eyes shifted wildly form Duo to Heero, and she took a deep breath before speaking. "Duo! Heero! I've got news!"

Epilogue.

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