| I AM DUO? The next morning, Heero awoke to find Duo not in the bed. Startled, he shot up to a sitting position and looked around. He glanced over the side of the bed and found a sleeping Duo, who was curled in a fetal position with no covers or pillow. Heero slid closer to him and pulled the blanket over to cover him up. "At least he slept." He said, under his breath as he got out of bed and went to open the door. Turning around, Heero looked one last time at Duo. Downstairs, Trowa and Quatre were making pancakes for breakfast. Wufei, on the other hand, was sitting in the cornerbooth reading a book on the "Human Psyche". The ages of the book turned faster and faster, as Wufei searched for a way to bring Duo out of his daze. "How is he?" Quatre's question surprised Heero for a moment. "He is still asleep. Somehow, he managed to be on the floor when I woke up. Sally is examining him now." Heero sighed and sat down in the chair across from Wufei. Taking the brown leather wallet from his backpocket, he started to flip through it. "I wonder why or what made Duo close himself up like this." Wiping his hands on a dish towel, Trowa walked up and stood behind Heero and looked over his shoulder. The pictures he saw, of Duo, made him wonder too. The man in the pictures was not the shell Heero and Wufei had brought home. Trowa looked more closely at Duo's expressions in them. Each one seemed to have his smile shadow something that could have crushed Duo emotionally. Just then, Sally came in and walked directly to the fridge for a can of soda. Not saying a word or having any expression on her face, she caused the others to take immediate notice. "He spoke." Was all she said, as she opened the can and took a sip. Heero jumped up. "What did he say? Is he okay?" "He just said a name. And, I'm guessing, it has something to do with his oblivious condition." "Who's name did he say?" Quatre turned around from the griddle. Before she could say the name, Heero ran from the room and darted up the stairs. Trying not to, but did anyway, Heero threw open the door and flung himself to Duo's side. He grabbed Duo's hand and held it gently, stroking the back of it softly. Duo was sitting up with his back propped up against a long pillow that was wedged between him and the wall. The lamp to his left gave off a dim amount of light; perfect for shining its radiance off of Duo's smooth and clean face. "Duo? Can you hear me? It's Heero......" He whispered softly, but got no response from the paralyzed man next to him. "Duo, will you repeat the name you told Sally, to me? Please." Again, nothing. Feeling unwanted, Heero focused on the floor and slowly turned to go back downstairs. As he reached the door, Heero heard a soft moan come from behind him. "Alyzabith." Duo had said the name again. "Ohhhhhh sshhhh." Heero turned to see Duo's face pale and damp with streaming tears. Rushing back to Duo's side, he wrapped his arms around the frail and sobbing man and held him cosely, letting Duo pour himself out onto Heero's shoulder. After a long few minutes, Duo stopped sobbing and sat back against the wall. It felt like hours that the two had been sitting there in silence. Duo stared forward and Heero sat on the side of the bed and looked at the floor. "So, Who is Alyzabith?" Heero somehow found the courage to ask, still staring at the floor. Duo sniffled and let two tears fall from his eyes and land on his arns that were loosely resting on his thin stomache. "She was my wife. Five years we were together, and then one day...... poof...... they were gone." His voice was soft, emotionless. "They?" Heero choked out as he looked over his shoulder to a pale Duo. Duo sat there, weighing the outcome of telling Heero that he had a son. But, he still didn't look anywhere but at the wall in front of him. "M-m-my son, Jonathon. He would be 8 now. I came home one day, and they were gone. Her ring and a note was all that was left in the house. And a box......." Heero looked puzzled. "What box? What was in the box, Duo?" Duo turned away from Heero and curled himself into a fetal position. How could he tell Heero that he kept the box of pictures from when he and Heero were together? Duo had been told to destroy the pictures before he left L1. "Duo,........" Heero grabbed Duo's arm and turned him around to face him. "What box?" "Heero,....... go away. Please, I don't want to talk about it." With a look of uncertainty, Heero reluctantly walked back down stairs. Brushing past Quatre and Trowa on the staircase, and bumping shoulders with Wufei, Heero remained quiet and in thought for the rest of the day. That night, the others gathered around the table and sat down to start eating dinner. Heero was asked by Quatre and Sally if Duo had decided to pass on dinner. Heero shrugged. "He won't answer me." Was his only reply. As they took their first bites and chewed them slowly, no one noticed the soft padding down the steps or the fingers brushing lightly on the wall and banister. It was, however, Wufei the first to notice Duo's slight shadow standing in the doorway. Duo looked hungry, but embarrassed. He didn't meet anyone's gaze at first, but then eventually looked at Quatre and Wufei for guidance. "Duo, please, come and sit down. Have some food." Quatre spoke in a soft slow voice. At the same momet he said the word "food", Heero turned and sat in silent shock that Duo had pulled himself out of bed and stupor and was now sitting beside him, holding out a shaky plate in hand for some roast beef and potatos. After dinner, Heero was standing on the porch, staring at the stars and listening to the hum of passing cars. He didn't notice Duo open the door and walk out towards him. A hand brushed his shoulder, and soft lips caressed his cheek. "I never knew you were married, after......." Heero's sentence trailed off, his sight remained focused forward. "Well, I figured you would go back to what's-her-name, and forget all about me. So, when I met Alyzabith, I took a chance and fell in love. But, then it came down to the fact that...... first loves are harder to get over. And she couldn't understand that." Duo looked at Heero and then got down on his knees as a tear strolled in hurried fashion down his pale cheek. "Heero, please. I- I went insane after I lost her, and couldn't find you." Heero turned and looked down at him. His expression changed from angry to hurt to ashamed in a matter of seconds. Stroking Duo's tear-damp cheek, and gazing into heavy blue eyes, he nodded and whispered "ok". Pulling Duo to his feet and hugging him close, they began to simultanaeously cry on each other's shoulders before eventually going back inside and up to bed. Finis I know, it's not what you thought it would be. But, hey, give a poor girl a break! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |