Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Bond of Friendship ❯ Chapter 3

'...' denotes thoughts

~~...~~ flashbacks

The Bond of Friendship
By Mika-chan

Part Three

A single tear slid free from behind the white cloth and treaded its way down Quatre's cheek. 'He said he'd hurry-Why am I still here? I want to go home . . . '

Despite how hard he tried, a soft whimper escaped his lips and he turned his head to the side, body shaking.

A hand fell onto his shoulder and he froze.

"Hey," a voice said. "You want something to eat?"

Quatre didn't move; he was too scared to.

"Hey, come on kid. I said do you want something to eat?"

A long time passed before he nodded his head. The hand disappeared and moved to help him sit upright.

"Hope you like chicken noodle soup. It's all I can cook."

Quatre nodded weakly and moved to take the bowl, but then remember that his hands were tied and that he couldn't even see it.

He felt something near his lips and he instinctively opened them. A warm liquid poured into his mouth and he swallowed eagerly. It'd been such a long time since he'd last eaten.

He finished in no time and was once again lying back on the soft mattress. "Thank you," he said in a hushed voice.

" . . . sure."

He heard the door close and he was alone again.

It was a situation he wasn't too unfamiliar with, being alone that is. He wasn't alone in the sense that no one was ever around him at home. No . . . there were his sisters, when they weren't at college or off living their own lives. Rashid was always there though. Some would think that if he weren't careful enough, he would have considered him more of his father than his biological one. But that would never happen.

Yes, it was true that his father wasn't home a lot of the time. Always out of the country on business trips or in his office. Things like that.

Always . . . away.

It hurt.

It hurt so much sometimes, knowing someone loved you, but never having them there except for a few moments in your life when they were supposed to always be there--physically and spiritually.

Of its own free will, Quatre's eyes welled up with tears, moistening the cloth covering his eyes. He shifted so his face buried itself on the rough pillow beneath his head, shoulders shaking and breath hitching.

'I want to go home,' he cried into the fabric. 'Why am I still here? Doesn't Papa want me? Doesn't he love me--'

He shook his head violently at the thought and at the ones that followed.

~~"Ma loves me in the same way as your father loves you; there's no difference...You're such a smart and nice kid and I'm sure your father is proud of you and cares for you a whole lot..."~~

Duo's voice echoed in his head, soothing his mind, and soon his sobs turned to soft hiccups. Lying there, he tried to think of the happier moments in his life, just so he could be distracted. However, as hard as he tried, his memory seemed cloudy, an odd sensation creeping throughout his body. The energy in his body slowly drained away, so much so that he could barely keep his eyes open.

So he didn't.

* * * * *

"He's at the harbor? You sure?"

All five boys were gathered in Duo's room, seated on the floor. Wufei arrived not long after he was called. Heero arrived a bit later since he lived further away.

"Yes," Trowa responded, confidence in his voice.

Duo rested his head on both his arms. "How can you be so sure?"

"It was something he said," Trowa said as he took hold of Heero's laptop, getting permission first before typing in a few commands. They all sat as Quatre's voice filled the room.

"Papa, I'm scared, please hurry and take me home."

"It's okay Quatre. We're coming."

"Please hurry Papa, not like last time."

"Don't worry Quatre. You'll be home--"

Trowa paused the wav file and rewound it before pressing play again.

"Please hurry Papa, not like last time."

He stopped the recording.

"Hey . . . what did he mean by that?" Duo asked, just realizing what Trowa was pointing out. "I didn't even notice he said that."

"Nor I." Wufei looked directly at Trowa. "But you did."

"Aa," was the calm reply before Trowa's gaze shifted to the braided boy. "Duo, do you remember the time when Quatre had a very bad cold last month?"

"Sure," Duo said automatically. "He was sick for a week."

"I don't know if he ever told you," he started quietly, "but after you and Wufei were driven home by your parents on the day we visited the harbor, it began to rain a little. Quatre and I were waiting for our parents, so I was there when he phoned his dad." Trowa looked down at his hands. "I remember him telling his dad to hurry since it really looked like it was going to rain. My mother came to pick me up and we offered him a ride but he said no since his dad was coming anyway. So I left. I didn't find out until the next day that he was stuck there for another hour when it really started to rain. That's how he got sick and that's why when I heard him on the phone . . . "

"It reminded you of what happened at the harbor," Duo finished, slamming his fist on his bed. "It's a long shot, but it's the best we've got!"

Not a moment later Heero reclaimed his laptop, typing in something. "All right." He turned the computer around so everyone could see. "This is the plan."

* * * * *

"Did he eat it?"

The man with shaggy brown hair with matching mustache nodded, though uneasily. "Ate everything, but was it really necessary Joe. I mean he's just a kid . . . "

Brown eyes hardened. "You're not getting soft on me, are you Lou. Oh, he's just a kid," he mimicked sarcastically, "Well, you knew what we were planning beforehand, so you didn't have to be part of the deal. 'sides, it'll be all worth it in the end. Look at all this f***ing cash, Lou. You ever see so damn much? And lookit, we're going to get even more tonight. We're never going to have to worry about money ever again!" Joe tossed a wad of bills at the other and seated himself down on a metal chair. "I shoulda done this a long~ time ago!"

He tilted back on his chair, folding his arms around his head. "Wasn't it a riot seeing Winner's face when we just took off with the cash? Never thought I'd live to see that dumb looking expression on that bastard's face," he laughed out loud, taking a swig of his beer. "Too bad I won't get to see his face when he sees his little boy's dead body. Now that's a face I would die to see!"

Lou's mouth suddenly went dry. "What are you talking about, Joe?"

"What? You actually thought I'd return the little brat unharmed. No f***ing way! Not after what that asshole of a Winner did to me," he sneered, throwing the glass bottle onto the ground. "No . . . not after what he did."

"Joe, are you crazy?! You said this was just a kidnapping job! You never said anything about murder!"

The man just rested his head on his arms again, a look of innocence on his face. "Must of slipped my mind." He then laughed heartedly. "By 7 o' clock tonight that poison you gave him will shut that little brat up forever."

"You're insane."

"Hmph, that's what I've been told," Joe said, standing up slowly. "You're not getting any ideas are you?"

Lou quickly shook his head. "What? You kidding me . . . I wanted the cash so I'm going to get it. Who cares if a kid dies in the process . . . "

Satisfied, Joe moved towards the door. "Good. I'm goin' out. Don't do anything stupid."

Lou nodded numbly and when his partner was gone, he looked back into the shaded room. He watched as the small body on the bed tossed and turned, sweat soaking blonde bangs.

'Damn.'

* * * * *

Heero shifted his backpack over his shoulder. "Ready?"

The time was 5:00 p.m. It had taken most of the day for the four boys to prepare for what they were about to do, but they were finally ready.

"Aa," Trowa said, zipping up his own black bag and pulling it over his shoulder. All were dressed in black from top to bottom, courtesy of Duo Maxwell's wardrobe.

"Are you sure we shouldn't contact the authorities?" Wufei questioned again.

Duo pulled on his black cap. "Don't worry Fei. Everything's set. 'sides, I wanna see if all of this stuff will work."

"DUO!"

"_Kidding_! I'm kidding. Man, you guys can never loosen up."

Wufei grunted, moving out of the door. "You should learn when to act more seriously."

Duo fumed. "I AM serious."

"Could have fooled me."

"You wanna start something, Fei?"

"My name is WUfei, Maxwell!"

"Well MY name is Duo, FEI!"

The two boys growled at each other, prepared to pounce. With strong hands Trowa moved them apart, looking at each of them squarely in the eye. "Quit. It. There's no time for your petty arguments. Quatre needs us."

Both looked guiltily away.

"Sorry."

"Sorry."

"Come on," Heero said from the sidewalk. "There's no time to waste."

With that said all sprinted in the direction of the ocean.

* * * * *

Quatre let out a soft groan, body shuddering. 'What's . . . happening . . . it hurts . . . so much . . . '

He moved his hands to his stomach, not even knowing when they were untied and clenched his sides.

"For Gods sakes, kid. I didn't know that he was goin-shit."

A hand brushed his soaked forehead and he shivered at the touch. "It hurts . . . it hurts so much . . . w-why? Why does it hurt so much . . . "

He felt the cloth that shielded his eyes being removed and he blinked wearily at the blinding light. He could barely see, his vision all hazy and distorted. He moved his head, dispelling much energy as he did, and peered up at the only person in the room. All he could see was a glint of something; the rest of the image was blurred. He reached out a shaking hand. "I . . . can't . . . see . . . what's wrong with me?" A wave of pain stabbed into his stomach and he wrapped both arms around himself, moaning.

A coughing fit started and continued on for quite some time. His body racked with each cough, sending a violent shiver down his body as he did so. He felt a hand nervously patting his back, and when he finally stopped coughing, he felt something splatter onto his hand and roll down his chin.

"Oh my Jesus-"

*BOOM!!*

Another voice echoed through the room. "What in the hell??!!!"

It was the last thing he heard before he lost consciousness.

* * * * *

"Come on, Heero! Lemme do the next one!" Duo shouted with excitement, trying to grab the black box out of Heero's hands. "You can't have all the fun!"

Heero looked at Duo, then at his box, then at Duo's eager face again. He turned his head away as he handed it over.

Duo squealed in glee and pushed a red button.

*BOOM!!*

"Mwahahaha!!!!" he laughed manically, pushing another red button that set off another explosive in front of the warehouse. Then he pushed another and another. "MWAHAHAHA!!!!! SHINIGAMI LIVES!!!"

Three pairs of eyes stared blankly at him.

Duo blinked. "What? It sounded cool."

Wufei hit himself over the head a couple of times. 'How in the world did I ever become his friend??'

"Duo. I think that's enough," Trowa began blandly. "We're trying to get their attention, not the whole town's."

"Aww~ but can't I do another one?? Can I-Can I? Just one more!!"

Heero snatched the controller out of the too-happy-about-blowing-up-things kid and turned it off before stuffing it back into his backpack. "Come on. Phase two."

"Oh all right . . . "

Four small bodies moved away from the fence and crawled through the tall grass.

* * * * *

"LOU! Where the HELL are you?!" Joe stormed from the bathroom and headed straight for the back room. He found his partner kneeling beside the bed. The kid's hands were untied and the blindfold was gone. "What the f*** are you doing?!"

Lou turned around quickly. "Oh my Jesus, Joe, the kid's dying here."

"No f***ing kidding! That's the whole point!"

*BOOM!!*

Joe ran to the window. "What the HELL is that?

*BOOM!!* *BOOM!!*

"Holy sh-"

*BOOM!!* *BOOM!!* *BOOM!!*

"It looks like a f***ing war zone out there!" he screamed. He hastily grabbed his gun and ran out of the room calling out as he did. "Lou! Pack up the kid! We're gettin' out of here NOW!"

The far door slammed and Lou stared at it for a while before looking at the one beside him.

Sweat continued to pour down Quatre's small face, his features contorted in a painful grimace.

Wrapping a blanket around him, Lou lifted Quatre up.

"Yea, we're getting out of here," he whispered, looking down at the flushed face before moving out of the room. "And to the nearest hospital."

* * * * *

Joe cautiously looked left then right as he stepped out of the abandoned warehouse, gun poised. He took a few looks around him, seeing nothing out of the ordinary, except for the few holes that now polka dotted the terrain.

Something rustled to the left of him and he pointed his gun straight at the noise and fired. "I know you're out there! Who the f*** are you?!"

"In the name of justice(1)."

He whipped his head around just as something hard knocked him over the head. He staggered backwards, dropping his gun.

At the same time, a figure dashed in front of him, giving a high kick into his stomach, making him cry out. The shadow then quickly grabbed the gun and tumbled out of the way.

"OW! F***!" Joe said, tears coming to his eyes.

"Tsk Tsk. You shouldn't say such words, mister."

He blinked his eyes and as his vision cleared he could see two forms, one holding something in his hands.

Duo stood, hands on his hips. "Go on Heero. Let 'im have it."

His eyes widened when he finally recognized what that short kid had in his hands. "Shit," he cursed as he turned around and wobbled away as quickly as he could.

*BANG!!*

"Ooo, good shot Heero. Right in the kisser!"

*BANG*

"Cool! You got the other cheek too!!"

Heero lowered the BB gun and smirked.

Joe fell down on the ground, trying to ignore the pain and crawl away. Four shadows then loomed over him and he covered his head. "Don't hurt me! For God's sake, don't hurt me!"

Trowa nudged the body beneath them with his right foot. "Where is he?"

"Who? The Winner kid?" he replied frantically, not looking up.

Trowa reached down and grabbed his hair, lifting the man's head off of the ground. "Where. Is. He."

"Inside! He's inside!" he shouted, about ready to cry.

Trowa dropped him, disgusted and ran inside, Wufei following after as Heero and Duo stayed by their captive.

Duo knelt down by the cowering man and whispered in his ear. "If you did _anything_ to our friend, finding out how to sit down will be the least of your problems after we get through with you."

"Look, it wasn't my idea! I just wanted the money, but Lou's crazy! I didn't want to kill the kid!"

Duo froze then grabbed the man's shoulders. "What?! What are you blabbing about?!"

The scruffed up man stared imploringly into Duo's eyes. "I didn't want to kill him, but Lou had some grudge against the family. He's insane I tell you!"

Duo couldn't believe what he was hearing. He shook the man harder. "You stinkin' lousy sonuvabitch! I'll kill you!" In a fit of rage he grabbed the man's neck and was squeezing it as hard as he could. Tears started to form in his eyes. 'Quatre . . . Not Quatre . . .'

~~Lively blue eyes stared up at him, hands cupped over his mouth. "Duuuuu-O Come out and Plaaa-AY!"~~

~~"Duo, I thought my hair was suppose to turn red . . . not orange . . . "~~

~~"Duo, we're friends right?"~~

~~"Thank you, Duo."~~

Duo tightened his grip, even after the man fell unconscious, tears spilling from his eyes.

Strong hands came over his, pulling them free from the man's neck. Duo tried to push past Heero, but the latter wouldn't let him. "I'll kill him! Let me GO Heero! I'm going to kill that murdering sonuvabitch! He killed Quatre!" he cried out hysterically.

A hard hand connected with his cheek, stunning him. Duo lifted a shaking hand to his now redden cheek and stared into cobalt eyes. "Heero . . . "

Heero looked at him solemnly and it was all that it took before Duo threw his arms around Heero's waist and cried into his black tank top.

Slowly and hesitantly, Heero lifted his arms and wrapped them around the other.

* * * * *

Trowa and Wufei hurried past the wooden door and across the concrete floor. They spotted a figure running to a side door, something in his arms.

"STOP!"

The unidentifiable form halted and turned around. As he did, both boys recognized the blonde hair coming out from underneath the thin brown blanket.

Quatre.

They closed the distance between them in no time, as the older man made no indication that he was going to move.

Wufei held out his bokken menacingly in front of him, pointing it at the man. "Unhand him!"

Trowa offered his own heated glare at the man and blinked back in surprise when he recognized him.

Brown hair. Mustache. Gold capped front tooth.

~"Go on. Take it. It's the least I could do for ruining your other one."~

It was the same man who knocked into him the other day. Anger began to boil within him as he watched this man who he thought was nice enough, when in actuality was a kidnapper in disguise.

And he hurt Quatre.

"There's no time! We have to get him to a hospital!"

Both faltered slightly. "What?" Wufei managed, his wooden sword slacking a bit.

"He's dying for Christ sake! We have to get him to a hospital!"

Both peered down at the motionless form in the stranger's arms. Quatre's skin seemed much paler than usual and a trail of blood flowed steadily out of the corner of his discolored lips. His shallow breathing, the only indication that the boy was still alive, sounded as if he were fighting to get what little oxygen he could into his shaking body.

The man was right. There wasn't any time for questions.

Lowering his weapon, both Wufei and Trowa nodded and followed the man as he ran out of the room.

Once they did, they heard the sirens and flashing lights.

"Stop right there! This is the police!"

The man continued to run towards the officers. "There isn't any time! You have to get this kid to the hospital!"

Trowa stared after the man. Was he really part of the kidnapping? Maybe . . . maybe he wasn't so bad after all.

Suddenly, both children were steered away from him and Quatre, protesting all the way until they were standing beside both Heero and Duo.

Duo grabbed Trowa's shirt, eyes distinctively red and puffy, asking if Quatre was okay. Trowa didn't answer, his attention focused on the scene in front of him. He watched as a uniformed lady carted Quatre away to the ambulance, the sight alone causing something inside of him to tear painfully.

So many people surrounded their friend as soon as he was lowered into the vehicle, so much so that they could barely see him and only a barrage of hands frantically pulling and probing the unconscious form.

Huddled close together in the coldness of the night, they watched as the ambulance drove away, leaving them all to wonder if anything they had done tonight had any purpose at all.

* * * * *

Notes:

(1) ^___^