Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Missing Piece ❯ Chapter 52

Title: The Missing Piece

Author: Skeren Dreamera, with Bagelbunion co-writing

Archive: http://www.gundam-wing-fanfiction.net/, www.Mediaminer.org, www.nfiction.com, (All under Skeren Dreamera), http://www.afallenangel.net/makotosagara/frames/fanfiction.html

Categ ory: Sci Fi additions, Yaoi/Shounen Ai

Pairings: 5x2, 3x1, 4x1, 3x4, 3x4x1 2+6, 4+6, 1+6, 1+2 only kinda

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, so please, don't sue me, it would be pointless!

Rating: NC-17

Spoilers: Heero's Zero stuff, A bit of Trowa's, Sanq stuff.

Warnings: Just the OOC warning that applies to the whole thing.

Contact: Mickeofas@yahoo.com, bagelbunion@cox.net

Notes: *thoughts* Revelations!!! Not the bible kind, the story kind. ::makes sure there are no bits of confusion about that::

.

Begin part fifty two

Trowa smiled and got up, moving across the room as he decided he wanted to lie down on the carpet to admire the patterns on the ceiling.

Heero turned around to see what was going on considering the fact that everyone but Zechs had abruptly fallen silent. "Trowa? Why are you on the floor?"

Trowa pointed to the ceiling. "It's pretty," he said softly, a happy smile on his face.

"Trowa, what have you been doing since you left this morning?" Heero quickly tapped the closing code to his program and spun around.

"Watching the ceiling." Trowa replied, putting his arms behind his head, to rest it on his hands.

"Why are you watching the ceiling?" Heero wasn't in the mood for this.

"Pretty." Trowa purred.

Heero rose from his chair, ignoring Duo's almost gleefully amused look. "Trowa, what have you eaten?"

"I ate... that muffin, and then the apple Duo gave me." Trowa pointed to the table and then to Duo.

Duo raised his hands when Heero looked at him. "They were clean!"

Heero moved to Trowa, pushing him with his foot. "Get up."

"No." Trowa grumbled. "I'm fine right here."

Heero narrowed his eyes. "Off the floor, this isn't the time to be playing around."

"I'm not playing" Trowa countered still smiling idiotically.

"You are. Up." Heero leaned over, forcibly sitting Trowa up.

Trowa giggled again. "Yeah, I suppose I am. What do you need?" He wiggled his eyebrows at Heero in a manner that was trying to be provocative, and failed miserably.

"Off the floor" Heero growled a little, and Duo was hard pressed not to laugh. Zechs was busy on his calls.

"No. I want to sit down." Trowa crossed his arms over his chest.

Heero muttered something unsavory, bringing Trowa to his feet. "You don't want to even remove yourself from the floor? Let's go see Quatre." Heero headed for the door with Trowa.

Duo took a deep breath. "I'll come with."

"Yay! Let's go see Quatre!" Trowa cheered and now he pulled Heero out the door.

Zechs lifted his head with a little wave.

Duo took a few deep breaths, then opened the door and moved out into the hall.

Heero noticed Duo's stiff carriage but said nothing about it. "Lets go Trowa, walk on your own hmm?"

"Okay!" He said, but didn't let go of Heero's hand. "We're going to see Quatre!" he sing-songed as he pulled Heero along.

Heero sighed a little, heading for the hanger. Duo was ahead of him, trying to keep himself from running. "No need to sing it Trowa."

"But I'm excited." Trowa nearly pouted. "C'mon." He tugged Heero's hand tighter. "Hurry, Duo will beat us there."

"I think he's doing his best not to run." Heero's voice was a mutter, but he sped his steps.

Duo came into the hanger, eyes darting around in repressed nerves. He'd dodged everyone who wanted to speak to him, and his luck was holding that nobody outside the pilots had touched him. Duo's steps slowed as he came into the cockpit, and he climbed up Wufei's gundam to check on him, blinking a few times as he saw Quatre there. "Is he okay?"

Quatre was holding Wufei close to him as he slept cuddled around blond in Nataku's cockpit. Quatre sighed and just continued to rub his back soothingly. He shivered as more images flew through his mind. Quatre jumped in surprise as much as much as his position would allow as he realized Duo had spoken. "Shh. He's sleeping peacefully." Quatre's voice came out sounding extremely pained and harsh.

"He never buzzed me..." Duo moved forwards, his steps light as he settled next to Wufei, running his fingers over Wufei's back as much to comfort himself as Wufei. He didn't even realize he was trembling.

Quatre shivered and his arms closed a little tighter over Wufei. "He wanted to..." he whispered, his eyes closed, and forehead creased.

Duo rested both his hands against Wufei, taking deep slow breaths to press back his own problems. The hangar seemed to be empty. "Why didn't he?"

"I think he was afraid you'd scold him." Quatre whispered again, his voice still coming out ragged and tense.

Duo shook his head, then leaned forward to rest his forehead against Wufei's back, his weight on his knees. He felt like he was going to shake apart if he didn't focus. Focus on Wufei.

"He's not ready to wake up yet..." Quatre said softly, more to himself than to Duo.

Duo quirked his lips. "I'm not waking him up." Duo was just resting a slight amount of his weight on Wufei, trying to conceal his own agitation from Quatre in the process.

Quatre shivered again, whimpering softly as Wufei stirred a little.

Duo took another deep breath, opening his fingers a bit so his palms and fingers were lightly pressed flat against Wufei's back.

Several minutes later, Quatre opened his eyes and his grip loosened on Wufei. "He's waking up now." His voice had returned to normal.

Duo lifted his head and gave Quatre a shaky smile. "Okay."

Quatre pulled his arms away from Wufei as the Asian groggily woke up.

Wufei pushed himself away from Quatre and looked up to blink at him. Quatre just blinked back. "I fell asleep..." he said softly and pulled away from Quatre to sit down.

Duo made a small eep, tenuous balance ruined as Wufei pushed backwards and he landed hard on his backside. He immediately crossed his arms to hide the trembles that refused to go away.

"You okay?" Quatre turned towards Duo.

Duo quirked his lips. "What else would I be?" It was a little strained, but he was good at dodging questions.

Wufei shook his head lightly back and forth. It hadn't registered that Duo was even in the cockpit. *I slept... peacefully? I don't remember any dreams...* He looked down at his hands as if they would have an answer.

Quatre stood up decided to leave them alone, he figured Duo would probably be pretty mad at him for cuddling Wufei.

"Wait." Wufei turned to stop Quatre from leaving. "Don't go." His voice was incredibly soft.

Duo wasn't upset, just traumatized. He looked to Wufei curiously, then got to his feet. "I need to see if Heero got here in one piece, Trowa's acting funny again." His voice was quiet, and he moved quickly, Wufei wouldn't be any comfort at the moment, he needed to find another source to calm his nerves.

"Duo... don't go..." Wufei whispered, his eyes dropping to the floor.

Duo paused just outside the cockpit. "I'm not going to be leaving the hanger for a while Fei. Sides, you seem fine with Q." There was a resigned quality to his voice before he stepped fully out of sight.

"He left..." Wufei whimpered and hugged himself. Quatre kneeled down next to him. "Why'd he leave?" Wufei whispered, his voice cracking.

Quatre hugged him. "Shh… it's alright Wufei." Quatre scowled at the now empty cockpit. *Damn it Duo! All he wanted was you here!*

Duo glanced over at Heero and Trowa but didn't approach, instead heading straight for his gundam and climbing into the cockpit, closing it after him before he finally broke down, drawing his knees to his chest and just shaking. "Damn it, damn it damn it." It was a whisper, and he rested his forehead on his knees, just sitting in the dark.

"Quatre! I'm here!" Trowa yelled happily into the hanger

*Trowa! You idiot! Shut up!* Quatre cursed to Trowa in his mind, as Wufei continued to whimper in his arms. "Shh… Wufei it's alright. Let's get back to work okay?" He rubbed Wufei's back softly.

Heero winced, trying to disentangle his hand from Trowa. "Let go now please."

"No." Trowa giggled and continued to pull Heero over to where he thought Quatre was.

"Go ahead and find Quatre, I am going to Wing." Heero removed his hand forcibly, then turned and moved off to his gundam.

"Quatre!" Trowa called again. He had no idea where Quatre was and wasn't really keen to stop yelling since he was so excited about the thought of talking to the blond boy.

Duo heard Trowa's shouting and flinched, moving from the pilot's seat into the corner of Deathscythe's cockpit as he tried to shore up his failing mental walls. The voices came anyway. *They'll take what they want. Too many to fight, but try, try!* Duo wouldn't be visible even if the cockpit door opened at the moment he was so curled up.

"Trowa, I'm in here!" Quatre called softly, just wanting Trowa to shut up.

Heero wasn't working on Wing yet, instead straddling a finger as he watched Trowa run around crazily.

Trowa hopped up into Nataku excitedly, but paused, immediately sobering as he saw Wufei. "Wufei?" he asked and sat down.

Heero saw Trowa's destination and frowned, following the high boy up the Gundam and peering in to see Wufei, but no Duo.

Wufei was still whimpering softly, but not yet crying as Quatre held him.

Heero looked at Quatre in confusion. "I missed something?"

Quatre shook his head, before mouthing at Heero, 'I'll tell you later.'

Heero nodded a little. "Trowa, c'mon, leave them be."

"You can stay." Wufei whispered. "I don't want to be alone..."

Heero leaned up against the inside of the cockpit, looking around it again. Heero then looked to Quatre. 'Where is Duo?' He mouthed it, knowing saying it out loud wouldn't be right.

Quatre shrugged again. 'He came in here, but then left. I'm afraid he wasn't happy with this'. Quatre indicated the Wufei in his arms, still trembling softly.

Heero shook his head. 'He was on the verge of breaking down before he got here, I didn't see him come out.'

Quatre suddenly became nervous. 'We should find him. You stay here with Wufei.' "Wufei, I need to go okay, but Heero will stay with you, okay?" Quatre said softly as he rubbed Wufei's back.

Heero gave Quatre a look but knelt down by Wufei. "Yeah, I'll stay here."

Wufei nodded and pulled away as Quatre got up and left.

Heero tried a smile, settling down next to Wufei on the floor of the cockpit. "Were you redoing your system?"

Wufei nodded as he changed his position and sat, wrapping his arms around his knees and leaning forward to rest his head on them.

Duo was slowly unraveling into a full blown panic attack, but nobody was around to see it just yet. His thoughts were starting to overwhelm his good sense.

Quatre knocked on the cockpit door. "Duo?"

Duo didn't answer, drawing his knees closer. *Don't let them hear you, they'll find you again if you aren't good enough to hide...*

*Maybe... it's not locked...* Quatre tried the quick release lever and the cockpit opened. "Duo?" he whispered quietly, his voice gentle. "It's Quatre."

Duo froze in place as the light spilled in; his shaking halted as well. If he was to just hold still...

"Duo... are you in here?" Quatre asked softly again, moving into the cockpit slowly. *What is going on? Where is Duo?*

Duo saw Quatre come into the cockpit and moved back, the quietest of rustles the only sound he made.

"Duo, please answer, are you in here?" Quatre tried again, moving over next to Duo's chair. He saw Duo in the corner, but wanted him to notice him first, on his own terms. He could tell something wasn't right and that Duo was afraid.

Duo tucked himself firmly into a corner and closed his eyes, head ducking against his knees. *Quatre, it's Quatre, so calm down, calm down...* Duo shuddered again, but said nothing.

"Duo?" Quatre called again, still softly.

Duo finally managed to get his mind in some semblance of order. *Never ever show a weakness...* It was the code of the streets and Duo steeled himself as he lifted his head, eyes opening. He was trembling still, but he couldn't do much about that, and he forced a smile. "Q?" He nearly flinched at how shaky his voice came out.

"Yes?" Quatre answered turning towards Duo and, moving to him slowly. He stopped before he got to close.

Duo slowly unfurled, peering around the pilot's seat with that patently false smile. "Q." Not a question this time. Confirmation. He took a deep breath, forcing his voice to be steady. "Didja need somethin?"

"The others and I just wanted to see if you wanted to join us... you know work together?" Quatre tried to smile back, his own fake smile meeting Duo's.

Duo drew back slowly, crawling backwards a bit as he started to shake harder. *Mustn't show these things Duo, you know better!* "Us?"

"Yes. Heero, Trowa, Wufei and I. We can work on Wufei's gundam together." Quatre took a deep breath. He didn't like the emotions coming from Duo.

"That's it? Just you four?" Duo widened his grin a bit, using it as a bit flashing sign that would have convinced anyone who didn't knew him that he was fine, the trembling had to be from the cold! But Quatre did know him, and it was a patently false facade hiding his incredible amount of fear.

"Yes. The four of us. Our family remember?" Quatre spoke again. *Milliardo better be resting not out hanging out in the hangar!*

Duo bobbed his head. "Sure buddy, lead the way." Duo stood, even as he chanted in his head. *Hide it, hide it.*

"Alright, Follow me." Quatre turned, decided to save the conversation he needed to have with Duo until Duo was himself again.

Duo climbed after Quatre, shaky hands solid enough he didn't slip before touching ground.

Quatre waited for him; still smiling just softly and then walked over to Wufei's gundam and hoisted himself back up.

Duo followed silently, his gaze flitting around quickly, more so than was normal for him. He dropped into the cockpit, nearly collapsing when he touched down as his knees tried to give.

"Duo!" Quatre turned and rushed to his side to prop him up if need be.

Duo recoiled before Quatre could touch him as he caught the quick movement out of the corner of his eye. "Hey Q! I'm good, just landed wrong."

"Good. I'm just glad you are alright." Quatre tried not to be hurt as he moved away and went back to sit down next to Trowa, who was surprisingly quiet.

Duo nodded a little and moved to sit away from the others, by Wufei and Heero, but out of any immediate reach of anyone. Basically about where he had been in his own Gundam. "So what part did you need my genius on?"

"Earlier, Wufei and I were working on his system trying to figure out the best possible cloaking system..." Quatre trailed off, *Then that was when Wufei started to shake… badly... then...* Quatre shook his head roughly. *It's not worth it to think about it.*

"This baby doesn't do cloaking. That's my Scythes deal. Nice idea though. No I think it'd be something along the lines of flexibility and increased range." Duo moved forward, peering into the control panel as Heero scooted aside. "Increased reaction times and that would be perfect with Fei baby's skills."

"No." Wufei spoke very softly. "I want the ability to hide." He didn't look at anyone as he spoke.

"That isn't you Wufei. I run and hide, not you. This machine was made for you. I can only work with what you have. I told Q I couldn't do it in the room. If I get the reaction times just so, hmmm, that's an idea!" Duo leaned forward abruptly falling silent as he grinned. "Combining speed with a jammer system will make you seem like a ghost, not invisible, but they couldn't catch you either."

"No Duo. Quatre and I discussed it already. I want invisibility." Wufei's voice was quietly stubborn.

Duo pulled back and looked Wufei in the face. "Then I guess I can't help you any."

Wufei looked down at his feet again; looking like a puppy that had just been kicked.

"If you don't want me to do what I can, then don't ask." Duo rose to his feet after his quiet words to get past Heero and tucked himself deeply into a corner, his brief bit of distraction decimated.

"I didn't." Wufei whispered and buried his face into his knees again. He softly began to cry.

Quatre got up and went to sit by Wufei to rub his back softly. "It's alright Wufei," he whispered, as he smiled trying to get Wufei to look at him.

Duo sighed softly, moving forward in a moment to gather Wufei up against him, his always shocking speed springing him forward and he glared at Quatre, warning him off as he cuddled Wufei. "Why the tears?"

"I'm not crying." Wufei said forcefully and pushed Duo away.

Duo released Wufei then, letting himself fall back. "Okay, I get it. I'm headed back to the room guys. I can tell when my presence it no longer needed."

"NO. I want you to stay." Wufei protested. "I just don't want…"

Heero watched the scene play out, keeping his stoic look up so he wouldn't seem to be taking sides.

"You don't want me near you." Duo's voice was flat. He didn't relish the idea of going back out into the crowd so soon after calming down, but he would.

Wufei nodded, and then averted his eyes down to the ground again.

Quatre scooted closer and put his arm around Wufei's shoulders as he watched Duo.

"Since you don't want me here, I'm going elsewhere." Duo moved around the others and paused in the hatch. "I don't blame you either, if you knew what I won't tell you." Then he was gone out the hatch, touching lightly down on the ground outside Shenlong before going to the doors. He refused to hurry again. Time to say hi.

*What the hell? These people are really killing my buzz!* "So...what now?" Trowa asked.

Jamal was in the hallway outside the hanger when he saw what he thought was Duo further down. "Duo-sama?"

Duo spun around with a wide smile. He'd see just how long he could last with the boys. "Jama! How you doin man?" He didn't approach, but it was a genuine greeting and he was waiting for him to catch up.

"I'm just great Duo-sama! How are you on this lovely day?" Jamal yelled happily as he came up closer to Duo, giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder.

Duo barely restrained a flinch. "I'm doing pretty good, managed to out code Heero!" He widened his grin. "Got something to eat around here?"

"Of course Duo-sama! My brothers and I were just about to have some lunch in the main dining room, would you like to come? I think we'll be having some taboli today." Jamal slowly started to lead the way, smiling and talking animatedly.

"Sounds like fun, I haven't seem most of em in months!" Duo widened his grin. This really was going to be interesting.

"They'll be so happy to see you! Since you have arrived, everyone's been so holed up in Quatre-sama's chambers, and everyone seems so sad..." Jamal trailed off as they reached the doors and Jamal pushed them open and grinned at Duo before walking in.

Duo laughed, pulling himself firmly into his happy mask. "Awww man, they just feel guilty about me and the Wu-man getting caught and not being able to find us... Then again, what with Heero acting crazy, it's a sight to see." Duo walked in, looking around without looking like he was being hunted, he had to congratulate himself on that.

"Duo-sama!"

"Are you going to eat with us?"

"I want to sit next to him!"

"Duo-sama, let me tell you about this rock I found!" Nearly every Maguanac in the place wanted Duo's attention.

Duo widened his grin, and strode forward, holding onto his facade tightly with tooth and nail. "C'mon guys, no need to push!"

Many of the Maguanacs just laughed and proceeded on with their dinner, still shouting out things and a few were even having an arm wresting match at another table in the corner.

Duo chuckled quietly, quickly finding a chair as his knees gave out, though it just looked like he sat quickly. *There hadn't been a hug rush, just shouting, so far so good.*

Meanwhile, back in the hanger Wufei was slowly rocking back and forth. "Someone should go find Duo." he whispered.

Heero looked over to Wufei. "He said he was headed back to the room."

"I'll go back to the room and get him, alright Wufei?" Wufei nodded. "You and Trowa stay with Wufei, okay?" Quatre tossed a small look to Trowa and a little glare as he got to his feet.

Heero simply nodded, finders redoing the communications system in Shenlong as he kept an eye on Wufei. Wufei, he was sure, would normally protest, but he was a tad distracted.

Wufei watched Heero with a nervous eye. He didn't care at the moment, but he wouldn't let Heero get too touchy with his Gundam.

Heero noted it, and didn't let his hands stray beyond the communications area.

Zechs was the only one in the bedroom when Quatre got there, and he was laughing in front of the vid-phone. "Surely you aren't referring to me! I've never, nor would I ever consider playing a woman for anyone!"

Quatre took a step back, puzzled. *What...* "Where's Duo?" he asked out loud, but not too loud, he didn't want to disturb Zechs.

Zechs held up a hand to the phone as he heard Quatre. "Just a moment Lysander." Zechs looked up to Duo, still chuckling. "He hasn't been by here since he left."

Quatre nodded and left the room puzzled. *Shit... there's nearly a million places where Duo could be!* "ARGH!" He yelled out loud frustrated. *That boy needs to learn to control his thrice-damned temper!*

Duo was far from being in a temper at the moment, since the men weren't trying to touch him or anything he was nearing a quivering mass of fear, not that his smile dropped even once. He needed to get out of there though, but his voice wouldn't turn off the good natured jibes long enough to say he needed to be excused.

"No Duo-sama! Please stay. I didn't tell you about the camel races I won last week!"

"Duo-sama, you can't leave now! I was just about to show off the yak-cheese I made for the contest!" Other assorted cries of disappointment came from the forty men as Duo tried to leave.

Duo nodded a little and he laughed a bit. He felt himself falling apart and he started to curse inwardly. He hadn't gotten past pushing his chair back. "No really..." It sounded feeble to his own ears, and could easily be taken for weak protest that he had to go. *Shit.*

"Awww... Duo-sama!" Was the disappointed wail that came from many of the Maguanacs.

Duo shook his head, shakily pushing himself to his feet. *As long as nobody notices and tries to help...* Duo stumbled almost instantly, his shaky legs unwilling to support him.

"Duo-sama, what's wrong?" Jamal got to his feet and went over to Duo to support him, and grabbed his arms.

Duo hissed a little then, eyes growing wide. *No no no.* "Lemme go!"

Jamal immediately dropped his hand. The rest of the Maguanacs drew silent and turned to Duo. "Duo-sama? What's wrong?" Jamal was puzzled. *Duo had always loved hugs before...*

Duo shook his head, backing quickly away from them all as he broke down before their eyes. He had a distinctly wild look, but it was clear he wasn't in the same place he was a few moments before. "Don't touch me! Nobody touch me! No more, no more no more!" Duo's back hit the wall and he slid down it, his knees buckling with the jolt. There was not one whit of recognition in his gaze either.

Many of the Maguanacs looked back and forth not knowing what to do. They'd never seen one of the pilots like this before.

Duo glared at them all in a sort of panicked fury, working himself back to his feet as he kept his back firmly to the wall. He moved until he was firmly in a corner before sinking back down to the ground again, drawing his knees up to his chest. Something whispered at the back of his mind, but couldn't seem to break through. *These people won't hurt you...*

"What do we do?" Jamal whispered to Fakheem.

"I don't know... should we try to hug him?"

"I think that would make it worse." Auda whispered to Fakheem. He hadn't seen anything quite like this, but he'd had to calm someone down before who had that look to them.

Duo growled softly, eyes narrowing on the people who were whispering as he heard what they were saying. His mind was babbling at him, but that's all it was, babble. Though the babble was distinct thoughts. *Stop this! Just get up and be normal! They don't mean harm!* There was more along those lines, but it was a gundanium wall.

Quatre threw open the doors, "DUO?" He yelled. The Maguanacs blank faces stared back at him. "Duo?" He turned seeing Duo huddled in a corner in the wall.

Duo turned his attention to Quatre while the blond came in with a flurry of loud movement to the silent room causing him to push himself further into the corner.

"Duo?" Quatre cringed as he saw Duo pull away even more into himself. Quatre walked slowly up to Duo, while the Maguanacs just watched.

Duo growled. Not a sound any human throat should ever be able to make. It was like Quatre had tried to approach a tiger. Nails extended as Duo raised his hands, defensively; the echo of his growl still fading at his shiny violet eyes focused on Quatre. Once Quatre managed to get a look at his face he could see they were feline slits.

Quatre paled and took a deep breath. He stopped. *This was not good.* He blinked and then backed up towards the door and ran back out, but not from fear. He ran back down the hall and towards the hangar. "Heero!" He yelled. "Bring Wufei. NOW!" Quatre ran back up the hallway towards the dining hall. He wasn't too worried about the Maguanacs; they could take care of themselves. *This is the last thing that will work!*

Duo's eyes traced Quatre's escape, but he felt no need to move, his gaze turning back to the Maguanacs who'd fallen silent, gauging how well his threat was understood.

Two or three of the Maguanacs left, following after Quatre to see if he needed any help. The rest stayed to watch Duo... Most of them were extremely worried and didn't have the faintest clue as to what was going on with their beloved Duo-sama.

Duo was breathing too quickly, and mild tremors were shaking his frame, but the threat in his eyes just dared anyone to approach him.

Quatre came back opening the door slowly and holding it open, he hoped that Heero and Wufei were right behind him.

Duo's gaze immediately flicked to the door, his hands raising. The big men weren't trying to come closer, but the people who came through the door... There were different altogether.

Quatre paused. *Damn it Heero!* He cursed and looked down the hallway again.

Heero was hung up with Wufei, trying to figure out how to get the boy to follow. "Did you hear Quatre? Duo needs you."

Wufei shivered and nodded and slowly got to his feet. He really didn't want to go anywhere.

Heero took a deep breath and nodded. "Just come on, Quatre wouldn't have asked you to come if it wasn't urgent."

Wufei nodded slowly again and started to walk out of the cockpit and then turned back to Heero, looking worried.

Heero just shook his head and started to walk faster. "I have a bad feeling here."

Duo was staring intently at where Quatre was standing in the doorway, and started working his way along the base of the wall away from that particular door.

*Heero! Hurry!* Quatre pleaded silently.

Wufei walked slowly down the hall, shuffling his feet and taking his time.

Heero looked to Wufei, then ahead to where Quatre had disappeared. "This isn't a good place for Duo to go on a hiding spree in..."

Wufei just nodded, remaining silent and looked towards the door where Heero was standing.

Duo took advantage of the slow progress to duck out of a door on the opposite side of the room, making a run for it as soon as he hit the clear expanse of hall. Wufei entered the room a moment later still looking at the ground.

Heero looked around, then at Quatre. "Where is he?"

"Shit!" Quatre cursed and stamped his foot on the floor. The Maguanacs all looked up hearing him speak. "Someone find him!" he yelled.

Duo twitched hearing the yell, and sped his steps, memory aiding him to find a good hiding place. Kaousha: The Maguanacs took off into small groups and left the dining hall. If anyone could find Duo it would be them.

Wufei sank to the floor silently, still not looking at anyone.

Heero cursed quietly then looked at Quatre. "What happened?"

"I looked away then I looked back and he was gone. Shit... He was having a major panic attack..." Quatre trailed off looking at Wufei sitting on the floor, non-responsive.

Heero pushed his hair back out of his face. "Well, you deal with Wufei then, I'm going to go get Zechs, he might be able to lure him out since Duo is now avoiding Wufei."

Wufei only whimpered softly from the floor. *He doesn't...* Wufei shivered and only slouched his shoulders more.

Quatre felt like pulling out his hair. *Why does this have to be so damn difficult!?!* He nodded at Heero.

Heero drew a deep breath. "If the damn Baka wasn't so sensitive! This wouldn't have happened if he'd just stayed." Heero left the room then, going to get Zechs. Seems the man would have a chance to leave the room after all.

Quatre sighed and sat down beside Wufei and put his arms around him. "It's alright Wufei." He soothed.

Duo finally chose his hiding place, out in the grounds, a small garden area he'd discovered by accident, and then he went up a tree, settling amid the branches before finally allowing himself to relax. Duo then commenced climbing out of everything but his shorts and belt before going to sleep, his clothes and shoes draped over a branch while he lay over another. He finally felt safe enough to pass out.

"No..." Wufei whispered. "It's all my fault..." He leaned into Quatre, hiding his face in Quatre's shirt. He wasn't quite acting like himself, but something just told him that Quatre was ...safe, and could take the bad things away.

Zechs looked up sharply as Heero hurried into the room and halted mid-action in dialing the final number he was going to call. "What is it?"

"Duo, panic attack... He ran." Heero waved a hand, moving to the bed to pull Zechs out of it.

Quatre sighed loudly, wrapping his arms tighter around Wufei, who wouldn't stop shaking and whimpering "It's all my fault... it's all my fault." Quatre was trying his best to console him. Quatre picked him up and carried him back to his quarters and set Wufei carefully on the bed since he was unable to stop the self-accusations of the other boy.

Zechs had just left the room before the two arrived, and he closed his eyes, considering what little he'd established about Duo so far, and he shooed Heero back to the room. He didn't need an escort to follow his own two feet.

Heero looked around, finding his charge missing and cursed before moving back tot he room and peeking inside. "How's Wufei doing?"

"Not so good." Quatre replied. Wufei refused to let go of him and kept mumbling random things.

"Ah... I kinda umm... Lost Miri..." Heero edged around the room, sitting in the computer chair but not turning to the systems, waiting for the pending explosion.

"As long as he comes back with Duo, I won't kill you. Or him." Quatre added, gave up the struggle to get away from Wufei and then climbed onto the bed, while Wufei continued to cling to him.

Heero visibly relaxed, then settled in for the wait.

Zechs found Duo within the first two hours, and he climbed up the tree after him, the only problem was they didn't come down for another two hours after that.

Trowa opened the door and came into the room suddenly sober and a somber expression on his face.

Heero looked over at Trowa. "Trowa."

"Heero." Trowa returned the greeting with a nod.

Heero released a small sigh. He'd been sitting here for hours. "If you're sober, you can help me look for Zechs and Duo."

"Where are they?" Trowa asked looking around. His eyes fell on Quatre and Wufei sitting on the bed holding each other, Quatre making little soothing actions and whispering words in Wufei's ears. *That's a change!* "Duo and Wufei not together?" He asked.

Wufei broke down into sobs and clung even closer to Quatre upon hearing this, and led to Quatre glaring at Trowa.

"No. Duo left when Wufei pulled away from him. Then he freaked out. Then I managed to lose Miri once he got out of the room. So, We need to find the long haired ones." Heero looked over at Quatre. "So Quatre has no reason to kill me."

Heero pushed at Trowa, making him go back out the door and closing it behind them before Quatre could get angrier. Quatre glared at him again. 'You come back to this room without either of them and I'll shoot you on sight.' he mouthed quickly before Heero could get out.

Heero winced. "Yes, we need to find them. Let's check with the Maguanacs to see where they've searched."

"Yes. Let's. I have to ask Jamal something." Trowa sighed.

Heero nodded, gesturing for Trowa to lead the way.

"Alright. Follow me." Trowa broke into a short run and headed for the main hall and sitting area, hoping to find some Maguanacs in there.

Heero followed wordlessly; hopefully they'd found the pair already...

Trowa pushed open the door. There was indeed a group of Maguanacs sitting there with some radio equipment. "Find them?" he asked, walking up behind them.

Heero moved into the room himself, and then a different question occurred to him. "Any idea what set him off?"

"No Heero-sama, we were having dinner and talking and laughing and telling stories, when Duo said he had to leave, then he started to panic. We didn't know what to do, and getting closer to him only made him worse. Then Quatre-sama came in, Duo-sama growled and he backed off, then you and Chang-sama came in and Duo-sama was gone."

Heero frowned a little. "I'll have to ask him more about what happened now..."

"I think I missed something." Trowa confessed running a nervous hand through his bangs, fluffing them.

"You have, I think I might understand what's going on..." Heero spoke up then, so the others could hear him. "Where have none of you searched on the estate, outside as well as indoors."

"Yes. We have several teams out there right now, once we cleared the base."

Heero nodded and grabbed Trowa's arm, a destination now in mind. "I have an idea."

"Oh?" Trowa asked and let himself be pulled.

"Yes." Heero waited until he was out of earshot. "I've noticed he's had problems being around the Maguanacs since he got here, and from what little he told us, it's with good cause, not to them, but to people in general."

Trowa nodded. This was news to him. "And what about Wufei? Has he been alone long? He doesn't have the same reaction does he?"

"No. He wouldn't have the same reaction though, You didn't see Duo the in the morning when his memories came crashing in. He doesn't want us to tell Wufei a damn thing either." Heero paused with a shudder. "He only hinted, but I think I have a good idea what may have happened."

Trowa took a deep breath through his nose and looked away. "So… now what?" He sighed loudly.

"Now we find them so Quatre doesn't shoot me. Duo... Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you happened to him? Can you tell me what I'm trying to make you understand?"

"No… I'm afraid I wasn't… here… for most of." Trowa whispered quietly as he looked around.

"Genetically modified, raped, beaten. I'm not sure if all of it is true, but that's what it comes down to." Heero's voice was icy, and they finally came out into the waning sunlight.

Trowa shivered as a cold feeling sunk to his gut. He took another deep breath and paused. "You think the same happened to Wufei? He's clingy... but he seems fine... genetically at least."

"No, Duo was protecting Wufei. I'm sure he saved him from at least part of it." Heero was only running off his own observations, but none of it was concrete.

Trowa followed dropping into a run and hurrying after Heero. "Have you seen or heard anything from Wufei? What can you gather there?"

"They touched him. He wanted them to spare Duo. I found that out first hand, it was rather disturbing for me and Duo since he just went into this trance." Heero shook his head then, trying to clear the images.

"Anything else? When was this?" Trowa put his hands on Heero's shoulders and studied his face carefully.

Heero halted, looking at Trowa. "The first morning in the last safe house, when Duo came to talk to me."

Trowa nodded very slowly, and stared at Heero unblinking for a few moments. He pulled away nervously and turned his back to Heero.

Heero gazed at Trowa's back before tugging at Trowa. "Come on, we need to talk to Quatre, he might have an idea where to find them."

"Yeah." Trowa turned and started to walk back the hall towards Quatre's room.

Heero lagged behind a bit, but pushed the door open. "We decided to ask you if you had any ideas before we got very far."

Quatre's eyes narrowed and he looked down at Wufei who was just starting to drift off into sleep. "You should've asked me sooner." He whispered and nodded his head towards Wufei, indicating for them to be quiet.

Heero nodded a bit. He decided speaking aloud might not work in their favor. 'Trowa didn't know about what happened to Duo.'

'Just a minute, he's almost out.' he mouthed back. He leaned back and set Wufei down and covered him up. Wufei didn't stir, he was asleep now. Quatre sighed; he knew that wasn't going to make Wufei feel any better, and just might make him worse. "Let's go in the conference room, I don't want Wufei to overhear... anything..."

Heero nodded, backing out of the room again and pushing Trowa ahead of him. He waited until Quatre closed the door before answering. "Duo doesn't want him to know either. You heard what he said."

"Wufei doesn't want Duo to know either. In fact, he doesn't even want himself to know." Quatre sighed and slowly began to cry. He pushed open a door across the hall and stepped in waiting for them to follow him.

"So they're hiding things from each other. Duo just doesn't have the option of not knowing." Heero sighed softly then gestured for Quatre to go to the conference room.

Quatre took a seat at the table and huffed loudly his chin resting in his hands while he waited for Trowa and Heero to sit.

Heero followed Quatre's example, perching on the edge of his seat. He finally decided to break the silence. "Duo prides himself on speaking 'Heero-ese' as he like to call it, but if that's so, I speak Duo-ese."

Quatre allowed himself to smile a little as he fully settled. Trowa took a seat next to Quatre to rub his back softly.

"I've picked apart what I could those times he's talked to me since they've returned, and I'm not liking the picture it's painting." Heero looked quite displeased over his findings.

"Tell me." Quatre said, his voice becoming strained. He closed his eyes. "I can tell you what's true..."

"Genetic modifications, clearly. Outside and inside conditioning. Rape, training measures. Beatings. I'm not certain about a few things, but others are clear to me." Heero wasn't happy sharing, but he knew they had to figure out what happened.

Quatre nodded. It meshed with what he knew. "I saw it all..." He whispered slowly, tense. He began to cry, harsher now, and he shivered. He ran a hand over his face, stretching out his features before the hand returned to his lap.

Heero looked at his hands for a moment. "Duo had things happen that he concealed from Wufei as well. I don't think he's realized how well he's let me get to know him."

"What things?" Quatre asked. Trowa pulled Quatre into his lap and wrapped his arms around him, rubbing his back soothingly.

Heero shook his head. "I don't think Wufei knows the extent of Duo's physical abuse. I know he doesn't know the extent of the mental and genetic." Heero turned his hands over. "I keep catching the two alone. So I seem to be getting a front row view. Duo conditioned Wufei while the other people were, and he was using my poem and himself to do so. How much of that could you manage to get from observation?"

"Very little." Trowa replied. "The only thing I could gather was the first morning after we changed safe houses. Wufei panicked when he realized that Duo was not in the kitchen." Trowa shivered. "I don't like seeing it. I don't like seeing Wufei so afraid... Then the other day, Wufei was just acting strange and Duo... I don't know... he's not fond of me..." Trowa shook his head, his thoughts were getting away from him. Trowa's arms tightened around Quatre's waist.

"You managed to screw up worse than I did. I just stole parts, you outright decimated Deathscythe. Makes sense. Duo's terrified of crowds now though." Heero sighed. "He loves people."

"Wufei's afraid to be alone." Quatre put in. "He used to love to be alone..." he said sadly.

"That was many months ago..." Trowa whispered. "I had to... I would've blown my cover..."

Heero gave a slightly bitter laugh. "They took away what they most liked about interacting with others." Heero then looked to Trowa. "And I stole the parts even earlier."

Trowa sighed loudly and leaned his head back onto the back of the chair. "Bastards... when I get my hands on them..."

"Duo said something about suggestions. I think the mad five were involved in the modifications to our fellow pilots." Heero looked up. "I think Miri had a special drug of some kind in his system on top of everything, because whenever Duo tells him to do something, he does it, not a word of protest."

"I think you are right. After seeing that joker on your screen in the forest..." Trowa trailed off.

Heero lifted a hand to his face, brushing his hair back. "Where are the most trees?"

"Near the oasis..." Quatre whispered.

"Lets go then, they should be there." Heero stood, expression flat.

"Wait." Quatre looked at Heero.

Heero glanced to Quatre, sinking back into his seat. "Waiting."

"Wufei... he... Earlier today," Quatre took a deep breath, his tears stopping for the moment, alternatively glancing from Trowa to Heero. "I found Wufei in the hangar. He seemed to be doing fine for a while. We were talking about nothing in particular... suddenly Wufei began to have a panic attack. I tried to calm him down. It wasn't working. He kept screaming for Duo, and I wanted to kill Duo for leaving him alone, so I just pulled him into a hug and rocked him steadily. I couldn't leave him to get Duo, so I just held him and kept whispering 'it's alright, it's alright. It's me, Quatre.' He was terrified that I was going to hurt Duo. After a while, he calmed down a bit and just got quiet, and I thought he was better, he was still panicking, I could feel it, but he... he wasn't all there... I can't explain it. I tried to reach out for his feelings, but it was like he wasn't there at all. Wufei then began mumbling and trying to crawl into my skin, so I just held him tighter. He kept saying 'make it go away, make it go away." Quatre shivered and began to cry again. "I wanted to make it go away! I didn't know what to do! So I just said 'I'll make it go away'. I hoped that it would make him feel better. Then Wufei passed out. He started to dream, and I saw everything... everything." Quatre repeated again, as Trowa drew his arms around Quatre squeezing him in a hug. "Wufei in a cell, Wufei screaming... I felt it… I heard it... all as if it were happening to me. I could see his dreams in my head, everything. The needles in his arms, I could feel his feelings, the pain, and the anger... it never stopped. They kept doing it. But it didn't work... they got meaner, they forced Wufei to watch when they tortured Duo. I could feel it, I could feel Wufei break down, He confessed, he told them everything he knew, but they weren't happy, they only made it worse, they'd give Wufei drugs. Then they'd torture him, psychologically. Make him say things and do things. They made him do things to Duo. And then I felt Wufei's relief when he was in the cell with Duo. It was the only time he was safe." Quatre paused as a bad sob shook his body. "They. Broke. Him. He couldn't take it. And when they didn't make Wufei watch, they did even worse things to him when he couldn't see Duo. They raped him. Repeatedly. I saw it all... every bad memory ran through my head. Wufei gave it to me... so he didn't have to remember. So he can be safe as long as he doesn't remember..." Quatre collapsed to the table, and would've passed out if Trowa hadn't caught him.

Heero nodded slightly then tipped his head down. "I'm going to get Duo now. I think I'm glad Zechs was spared what they went through." Heero rose to his feet, moving to Quatre and kissing his forehead before leaving the room.

"C'mon. Let's get you to bed." Trowa said gently as he picked Quatre up, still bawling and carried them back across the room and settled them back in bed. Wufei immediately curled up towards them in his sleep. Quatre fell asleep immediately and Trowa just lay waiting for the others to return, occasionally rubbing Quatre's back and then Wufei's.

Heero wandered around outside for a time, finally finding one of Duo's shoes before peering up into the tree to see one figure leaning against the trunk awake petting another resting against his legs and spread over the branch. The one lying out was purring deeply, so it had to be Duo. Neither looked like they wanted to come down.

Zechs tilted his head down to look at Heero, lips moving into a slight smile as he continued to stroke Duo's back and braid. "He's awake."

"Hmm, hey a Heero, come on up eh?" Duo turned his head cracking open one slitted violet eye as he peered through the branches.

Heero climbed up the tree, straddling a branch near the pair, his hand coming out to rest on Duo's back as the striped boy gazed at him in amusement. "Are you better now?"

Zechs tilted his head, continuing to run his hands down Duo's hair. "I've been talking to him."

"I'm better. I just need to keep someone to keep me calm when I go into the public for a while." Duo rubbed his cheek against Zechs' leg a bit. "He's been telling me about his childhood. He and I actually have things in common if you can believe that."

Heero smirked a little. "I believe it. He has a stalker like I do, why couldn't he have something in common with you too?"

Zechs huffed a little. "No need to make it sound so shocking you two."

"Heh, I'm gonna start callin you Miri now ya know, if that was your name. Sides, that's what you told Heero to call ya." Duo reached out a hand, running his fingers over Heero's arm.

"As long at Barton doesn't start teasing me about it again." Zechs, AKA Miri, looked from one to the other. "I was supposed to bring you inside hours ago Duo."

Heero nodded, drawing his hand back and reaching over to gather up Duo's things. "Quatre... He lived what Wufei did, Duo. He's deeply upset and worried about you."

Duo's eyes widened. "You're not joking. Shit. Inside we go." Duo sat up, then stood, walking backwards on the branch for about a foot before jumping to a lower one. "C'mon you two, I have people to check on."

To be continued.