| Sugoi, this has to be the most feedback I�ve ever gotten for a story! And the nicest too! So you asked, so shall ye receive�. Short again but what the hell, it�s the thought that counts, ne? ::coughs:: Demo, I regret to say I�m not much better but if it helps me write, then I don�t mind so much. For those who ask, yes I believe this will be a 1x2 but my stories are infamous for deciding their own endings�. ::sweatdrops:: Ano, on with the fic! I�ve got a sick bishounen to torture; Du-koi is so pissed that he�s not gonna get to say anything for a bit! I took a bit a poetic license in the medical jargon but 90% is correct and the rest is for dramatic purposes. Much thanks to my muses, the nice people who to the time to comment and wish me well and those sadists who call themselves �doctors� and �nurses�. This one�s for you! Title: A Gesture of Kindness 2/? Author: Lady DarkAngel [email protected] Archive: Lady DarkAngel's Gundam Wing Fanfiction Library http://ladydarkangel_1.homestead.com/Main.html, Darkflame�s (if she�ll take it�.) and anywhere else is fine, just ask me first Category: Yaoi, angst Pairing(s): So far 3x4, possible 1x2 Disclaimers: Gundam Wing or Shinkidousenki Gundam Wing is copyrighted and trademarked by Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency and associated parties with all rights and privileges. The characters were used without permission for the purposes of entertainment only. This is not meant for sale of profit. Any characters not created by those listed above are mine and hereby considered the sole property and copyright of the author. Anyway, I�m just a poor college student. So can I play with them? I promise I won�t break them�..much. Rating: PG Warnings: Angst, severe illness, minor gross factor Feedback: Kami-sama, YES!!! [email protected]; any and all comments are welcome like the sweet ego-sustainers they are. Heero dipped the washcloth in the bowl, ignoring the icy water that flowed over his hands. The coldness was necessary as they had precious few drugs to spare. <Better to try this first and then proceed to more aggressive methods later if required.> Duo�s temperature was far too high and needed to brought down immediately. He wrung the cheap material and turned back towards the bed. He brushed aside the messy chestnut bangs and laid the dampened cloth down on the fevered skin. A soft moan came from the too-pale lips and Duo shifted in his oblivious state. The Japanese boy frowned. The Deathscythe pilot was seriously ill. His best guess was bronchitis, both lungs fully involved from the sound of it. He sat still for a moment, trying to remember everything Dr. J had told him to learn about the disease. To further his training and prepare him for any and all situations he might have to encounter, Heero had been required to learn about the various illnesses he would undoubtedly run across and/or contract as well as techniques well beyond the bounds of first aid. <Bronchitis. Infectious and extremely contagious. May be viral or bacterial. Most likely the viral type in this case. Fatigue, chills, back and muscles aches, sore throat and runny nose at onset. The baka exhibited all these symptoms earlier. Later stage begins with the cough. Dry at first, but soon turns into yellow-green or white sputum. Airways obstructed, leading to shortness of breath, wheezing and/or respiratory distress. Blood may be coughed up if lung damage is incurred. High fever in severe cases, lasting from 3 to 7 days. Delirium may occur. Pneumonia may develop if untreated. Usually non-fatal but not unheard of�.> The sound of hacking brought Heero back to reality. The figure on the bed was curled up in a fetal position and was coughing like there was no tomorrow. The Wing Zero pilot reached over lift up and to steady the trembling boy and was rewarded with a hand coated in phlegm. Stoically controlling his disgust and urge to wipe it off on his spandex-shorts, he instead turned Duo towards him. While still unconscious, the boy was in the midst of a bout of severe respiratory distress. From the flushed, slightly blue tinge of his face, Heero could tell Duo wasn�t getting enough air. Heero was unsure of what to do. His partner was aspirating and he really didn�t know how to help. He was aware that the aspirating person should be rolled on their side but after that�.. <Yamero. No time for that now. Help him or he won�t be able to breathe much longer!> Moving Duo into position, Heero uncertainly began rubbing the ill boy�s back in an attempt to ease his breathing. The painful sounding coughs were bringing up mucus with every spasm and Heero was damn sure that it should not be that sickly yellowish-green color. Continuing to massage the tense muscles, he could feel Duo�s lithe body shake beneath his hands. After a few tense minutes, the coughing fit finally began to subside. Wheezing could clearly be heard from the bed-ridden figure, like he was struggling for the oxygen in each shallow breath he drew. Watching and waiting for a time to see if the attack would resume, Heero then decided to do something about the fever he�d been tending to earlier. He thought for a moment before a simple tactic occurred to him. Scowling at Duo�s customary garb, he methodically began stripping the pilot of the superfluous clothing that was now adding to his troubles. <Baka. No wonder he�s so hot; he�s wearing two layers of thick black clothe! It�s been keeping his body heat in and making everything worse. That and the night he spent in that damp cave. What in the hell was he thinking?!> Filing that though away for later perusal, he focused on the task at hand. Getting the priest�s outfit off Duo was a challenge. Still totally limp and out of it, the insensate boy was absolutely no help whatsoever. Heero was more then strong enough to lift Duo easily, but doing so resulted in the braided boy moaning in pain the slight movement. The Japanese boy grit his teeth and swiftly completed his task. He didn�t want to cause Duo any unnecessary pain or any at all for that matter. Besides, the whole idea of undressing Duo made him feel�..uncomfortable? <Is that it? I�m not sure what I feel but I have no time to figure it out now. Duo needs my help.> Leaving a naked and now shivering Duo on the bed, the Wing Zero pilot got up to search for some lighter clothes. A few minutes of searching revealed a ratty over-sized T-shirt and a thin pair of boxers. Scowling even more then usual, he looked for some better alternatives but found none. He even toyed with the idea of lending Duo his spare tank-top and shorts but came to the conclusion binding clothing is not good for someone so ill. <Then it has to be the ones I found. Ch�, they�re nothing more then rags but I guess they�ll have to due. At least they�re airy�.> Returning to his partner�s side, Heero was treated to a full view of Duo in his birthday suit. He knew he shouldn�t look but he couldn�t help himself. A quick peek and he was blushing before he even realized it. <Soldiers do not blush! What the hell�s wrong with you, Yuy?! He�s a guy, you�re a guy, it�s not like there�s something you haven�t seen before! Will you quit gawking and get on with the mission?! Why are you looking in the first place?!> Shaking his head in a futile attempt to clear the last lingering traces of red from his cheeks and embarrassment from his mind, he began to dress Duo. Quite a difficult feat, seeing as how he refused to even look at his partner during the entire process. Like before, the American made weak protesting noises at being moved that provoked a reaction in Heero that he was unable to name. Though the procedure caused him pain, Duo was obviously to deeply unconscious to respond. He stayed down. When that little bit of excitement was over, Heero once again dared to look at Duo. He was still sweating, but much less noticeably now that the heavy black outfit had been removed. He was shivering a little and Heero attributed that to the fever that still raged. Carefully lifting him up, the Japanese boy shifted Duo to lie on his back and rearranged him to make him more comfortable. Reaching for the wet cloth, he wiped Duo�s face clean of the phlegm he coughed up as well as the bed. Rising it out, he returned the rag to Duo�s forehead. Gathering the blankets, he drew them up to the braided boy�s chin and made sure they were loose enough to allow air circulation and movement. He then got up to get some fresh cold water. Pausing in the doorway to the bathroom, Heero was struck by just how sick Duo really was. The normally animated face was slack. The brightness of his skin was dulled to a pale grayish color. His hair was becoming unraveled from its braid and the loose strands were flung wildly about the still face. And those unusual violet eyes of his were closed instead of gazing about the world with mischief and delight. Tremors were running though the small frame, visible even from a distance. Limbs were limply positioned, with no life of their own. The only sounds in the room where the wheezes that came with each breath. <He looks so fragile�.. Like the slightest thing will break him. Iie, he�s stronger then that. He�ll get well soon. Besides, I won�t let anything happen to him�..> I think I�ll stop it there for now�� (TBC) ^_~ Lady DarkAngel ---------- Chibi Duo's Babysitter Moderator of Duo's Sugar Intake Keeper of Duo's Nice Rear-end Co-Keeper of Shinigami's Wings (with Meela) Keeper of Heero's Homicidal Intentions Keeper of Quatre's Teacup Keeper of Trowa's Mask Keeper of Wufei's Sense of Honor Co-Keeper of Duo's Chatter (with Tomanaiya) Co-Keeper of Heero's "Hn" (with Tomanaiya) Co-Writer of Wufei's Rants (with Tomanaiya) Leader of the Inspirationally-challenged Muses: Alisande, Rynvi, and Kiagara Co-Keeper of a real-life hamster named Heero Yuy (Hee-chan)(with Tomanaiya) Keeper of the Hit List Acting GOD in Charge of The Anime Muse Adopiton Center and WSCT of the AMAC Proud member of SDDI, the Society of Defending Duo's Intelligence Member of the Society Against the Complete Bastardization of Heero Yuy Occupant of the Happy Hentai House Master Hacker of the Shinigami Organization Assisstant Mob Psychologist for the Shinigami Organization Happy to be a member of the DuoML Member of 1x2, 2x1 Fan Club and ML Lady DarkAngel's Gundam Wing Fanfiction Library http://ladydarkangel_1.homestead.com/Main.html |