Chapter One

Heero woke slowly, his head was banging and pain was shooting round his body every time he moved. He opened his eyes before shutting them quickly, the white light was blinding and made his head ache ten times worst.

"Take it easy Heero." A calm voice said gently as a cold hand was laid across Heero's forehead.

The gentleness and softness of both voice and hand made Heero think it was Duo that was looking after him.

"Duo." Heero whispered and then the mission began to replay itself in Heero's head until the time the base blew up and he was knocked out, Knowing that no one could survive something like that Heero sighed inwards and prayed that once again his partner had beaten the odds.

"No Heero. It's Quatre." The soft voice said again and Heero opened his eyes again and glared round the room hoping to see the braided baka smiling at him with a golden glow in his violet eyes which made Heero feel feelings that the perfect soldier shouldn't have... but he didn't, not this time.

Quatre was right by the bedside, Trowa was a few feet behind Quatre and Wufei was sitting head down in the corner of the room.

"Where's Duo?" Heero asked his voice was husky and dry.

Quatre looked away from Heero's graze. Trowa looked at his feet and Wufei raised his face and looked at Heero.

"His body was never found. By Oz or us."

"We're been looking Duo since the battle but no sign."

"How long?" Heero didn't want to know the answer but knew that it was better then not knowing.

"Three weeks."

"He's dead." Heero said out loud and then turned away in the bed so that his back was to the other three pilots. He heard Quatre sob gently before leaving the room and then Trowa left so only Wufei was in the room.

Wufei walked up to the bed and placed a hand, like Duo used to do when Heero was hurt in battle, on the side of Heero's face that he could see.

"I've looked everywhere for him. He meant a lot to me and I loved him more then I let on Heero. But I knew that his heart was with someone else and now the heart he wanted bleeds with grief and pain and regret for not telling him when it had the chance. I know this because mine is in the same state. If you need any thing I'll be here to help and listen to you. Let it out and then come to me."

Wufei then left the room. The door clicked shut and Heero gave shudder as he sat up and looked round the room that he had once shared with Duo. The baka's clothes were on his bed, which was still unmade.

Standing up Heero crossed the room and laid down on the bed and closed his eyes taking in the unique smell that was Duo. It was fading but it was enough to comfort Heero's breaking heart.

What had Wufei mean when he said Duo wanted the heart that now bleeds?

The tears came by themselves and Heero cried himself to sleep.

TBC…