| I AM DUO? As the car turned into the drive way and came to a stop, Duo saw out of the corner of his eye that this was not a hospital, nor were the people really doctors. But still, he didn't care. Nor did he move or give any implication that he could comprehend anything more than the back of the seat in front of him. The door to his right opened and two strong but gentle hands were helping out of the car and into a wheelchair that had been pulled from the trunk. The hands were guiding him to sit down and remain calm. To him, they felt familiar, but he couldn't see their owner's face. "I have his room ready and I'm running a bath for him. How is he? Did he speak at all or do anything?" Another familiar voice spoke up. It was coming from the doorway of this big white building that he was getting dangerously close to. "No change, " the one pushing him stated, flatly. "I'll give him a bath and then bring him down for something to eat." With that, he was turned around and pulled up a board laying over the stairs to make a ramp. When they were all in the house, Gentle and thin arms wrapped around him and lifted him from the wheelchair. Each time he inhaled, he took in a scent of a sweet and somewhat musky cologne. Underneath that scent was a clean scent of soap and warmth. Heero held Duo's legs in one arm and cradled his back in the other. He paused briefly to get accustomed to having Duo so close to him. He liked the feeling he felt as Duo rested his sleepy head on his shoulder. Carrying the limp boy up the steps, he could hear a low moan, almost in pain come from deep inside Duo. "I have laid out towels and soaps and things for you. I tried not to make the water so hot. Dinner will be ready soon. Oh, and there are some clean clothes for him lying on his bed." Quatre said, his voice just above a whisper. He stepped aside and let Heero carry Duo into the bathroom and set him down on the toilet seat. Duo was left alone for a moment while the other two went out into the hallway and shut the door so they could talk more privately. As he sat there, flashes of memories came back and attacked him. Pictures of his past and his beloved DeathScythe and the other Gundam Pilots. And most of all, pictures of his wife and child danced briefly in front of his eyes, then vanished. Sensing his tears but not being able to move to wipe them away, he let them trickle down his face and drop onto his limp hands that were resting on his lap. When the door opened again, Duo fought back a shutter and gasp for air. The hands were on him again, but this time they were more gentle. Wiping away his tears and stroking his soft cheeks. The voice was talking to him, again. Telling him what was going on, and not to be afraid. He was being undressed, slowly, discreetly. He was given time to adjust and take in what was going on. Heero gingerly lifted Duo off the seat and rested him on his shoulder as he pushed Duo's sweatpants and boxers down to his knees. He noticed that Duo stiffened as Heero moved down and lifted his legs out of the pants and boxers. When he stood up again, he leaned forward and whispered to Duo, "I'm going to remove your shirt now. Just relax." He lifted one of Duo's arms and slipped it out of the short sleeved, white shirt. As he did so with the other one, he felt Duo give way and sit back down on the seat. Catching him, and guiding him down to the seat, Heero slipped the shirt off of Duo and tossed it onto the floor where the gray sweatpants were. "Are you ready? Before your bath water gets cold, I'll get you clean and fed. Duo? I'm going to pick you up and set you into the bath. But first, I am going to undo your braid. We'll get it back in, I just want to wash your hair for you, ok?" Heero spoke in a soft, cool voice that Duo could just barely make out. As Heero lifted him up and over the side of the tub, he knelt down and set him into the warm water. Propping him up against the cool wall, he felt Duo shutter slightly as his bare skin brushed the cool tile. "There." Heero sighed and knelt down beside Duo. He grabbed a large, soft sponge and placed it into the water. Then, he grabbed a white squeeze bottle that contained the body soap and poured a small amount onto the sponge. As he washed Duo off and rinsed him, he glanced into the once vibrant blue eyes and saw only gray blank eyes staring back. Tipping a cup into the water and pouring it over Duo's head, he reached for the shampoo. A strong sent of fresh mango filled the air. Working it into Duo's hair, he thought about what it would be like if Duo knew what was going on. And how he might react, if he had been coherent. Rinsing and repeating the same thing with the mango conditioner, he asked Duo if he knew what was going on. Getting no response, he rinsed the conditioner out and reached to pull the drainplug. As Heero put clean underwear and clothes on Duo and carried him down stairs, he smiled as he realized that Duo's head once again rested on his shoulder. At the dinner table.... Duo was placed at the end of a cushioned booth. To his right, sat Wufei, then Trowa. Quatre sat in a chair across from him and Heero sat in the chair beside him. In front of him, on the table was a bowl filled with a creamy white soup one of them called, nipfla. Heero fed him and wiped his mouth when he dribbled. Wufei helped him to take a drink of water and Trowa and Quatre cleared the dishes. "Sally will be here in the morning to check him over. He needs rest. I'm sure a new setting and strange people is taking its toll on him." Trowa stated as he set the dishes into the dishwasher. "Strange people? We've known him for this long and now we're strangers again? Gah, Baka!" Wufei flared his tone before storming out of the kitchen. Trowa and Quatre both looked at each other and sighed in unison. Heero gathered Duo up in his arms again and informed the others that he was taking Duo up to bed and that he would stay with him through the night. With that, he carried Duo up to the bedroom that had been designated for Duo. Setting him on the edge of the bed and pulled back the bulky covers, ready to slip Duo under them. Tucking him in, and turning to reach for a chair to sit in, Heero felt a tug on his hand. Duo had grabbed it and tugged it to suggest that Heero stay beside him. "Okay, Duo. I'll stay. I'm going to go around to the other side and lie down with you, all right?" He did so, as Duo released him. Crawling in beside Duo and rolling onto his side so that he could watch Duo, he brushed away the bangs from Duo's forehead and kissed it. Staying like that, they fell asleep. Once again I'll state, Gundam Wing does not belong to me. Never has, never will. I write this strictly for entertainment and wondering. No harm intended nor money exchanged. Please do not sue me. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |