05-Mar-2002
Title: Death & the Phoenix
Author: Ebonydove
Pairings: 1x2, 3+4
Warnings: Holy cheese warning! Don't worry it's just about done. Until
then watch for falling Gouda!
Disclaimers: At this point I would love to keep them in my back pocket for
use at a whim, but I still don't own them. Drats.
Trowa turned to Howard who was staring at the smashed computer monitor on the floor of his office.
"Anything is possible." Was the solemn reply. Trowa and Wufei led Heero out of the room leaving Howard to yank broken cords from the wall and set about finding another monitor and to await for the lab notes from G. "If anyone can rise from the ashes it's that kid." Howard smiled as he tugged another wire free.
"Quatre, I believe he's stable now. I'm going to find the others and update them on Duo's progress. Stay here with him, okay?" Sally seemed tired from trying to get Duo's fever down and keep him from having any seizures. It was a delicate balance, but it looked like Duo had finally turned the corner.
"No problem. I'll stay here until you all get back." Quatre watched her leave then turned back to Duo who was resting peacefully. He poured a glass of water for himself from the pitcher on the table by Duo's bedside and pulled a chair up close to the edge so he could hold on to Duo's hand. When he took the cool fingers in his own he saw Duo stir and try to open his eyes. "Duo? Can you hear me?"
Duo slowly opened his weary eyes and tried to focus on Quatre's voice. "Uh huh."
"Oh god Duo, you had us worried. Let me go get the others!" Quatre quickly rose to run for the door when he felt Duo's grip tightened in his own.
"Wait." Duo whispered harshly and tugged with as much strength as he could manage to get Quatre to stay where he was. "Don't."
"Don't what?" Quatre sat back down and lifted the glass he had put down on the table to Duo's lips. He helped Duo drink a few sips and then again made to leave the room.
"No. Don't." Duo whispered again, this time trying to sit up causing Quatre to rush to help him lay back down.
"Duo don't move. You're very ill. Sally has you stabilized but I don't know if your body can take another seizure." Quatre's voice was bordering on hysterical and Duo smiled at the genuine concern that Quatre was showing.
"I need you to do something for me." Duo whispered as he smiled, seeing Quatre relax a bit more.
"Anything, Duo. But first let me go get Sally."
"No. I need you to unhook these." Duo slowly lifted the tubes that fed air into his oxygen deprived lungs with two shaking fingers.
"Duo what are you talking about?" Quatre's eyes filled up with tears as he watched Duo try to tug the IV out of his arm. "Stop, what are you doing?"
"Don't... want them... to see me this way." The machines began to buzz alarms as Duo's heartrate and air pressure increased with his efforts at removing the apparatus.
"Duo, you're hurting yourself, please let go of me and let me get Sally and Heero." Quatre's voice shook as his breath began coming in small pants. His growing panic was only building watching Duo successfully pull the tube from his arm, causing a dribble of blood to spill on the pristine sheets.
Duo met Quatre's tear filled eyes with his own shining indigo ones. "If you care for me even a little, don't let Heero see me this way. I want you to clear the hall for me."
Quatre shook his head back and forth in an attempt to keep Duo's eyes from burning through him. "I... I can't."
"You're the only one who can. The others would never let me go. I need to do this Quatre. Please." Duo swallowed and tried to raise the volume of his voice enough to let Quatre know how much he wanted this.
"But... why?" Tears started to roll down Quatre's face as he gazed at the pale face of the Deathscythe pilot.
"There are some things I have to take care of." Duo took a deep breath and began to slowly swing his legs to the side of the bed and leaned forward into a sitting position. "Help me dress?"
Quatre let out an explosive sigh and released his grip on Duo's hand to help him sit. Then he went to the door and peeked his head out into the hall. There were a few people milling about the hallway, but none of the others were anywhere to be seen. He quietly closed the door and made his way to another chair on the opposite side of Duo's bed to retrieve Duo's folded clothing. "They'll never forgive me." He sniffed as he helped to get Duo dressed.
"They'll understand in time." Duo slipped on his shirt and pants and let Quatre put on his socks and lace up his boots. He looked down at the golden haired boy as Quatre sniffed and occasionally wiped the tears from his chin where they had run down his cheeks and dripped to the floor. "You are a good friend, Q."
Quatre looked up at Duo from his crouch at the base of the bed. "Please don't go, Duo. There has to be some other way. Let us help you."
"I have to do this my own way, Quatre." Duo took a few deep breaths and stood shakily. Quatre helped him to stand and then let go as Duo got his balance. "Tell Heero... tell him I'm going to keep my promise."
"Oh, Duo." Fresh tears came as Quatre made his way to a small closet. He opened it and fished around until he brought forth a small canvas bag. "If you're going to be stupid, at least take a few of these things with you." Quatre shoved some of the smaller medical supplies into the bag along with some pain pills that Sally had left in case Duo did wake up and needed them. He shoved the bag at duo and went to the door. Opening it in a rush, he casually checked the hall and waved the all clear behind his back at Duo.
Duo slowly slipped by him, pausing to give Quatre a small squeeze on the shoulder before walking down the hall towards the hanger where Deathscythe and Wing had been stashed. Quatre backed up into the room once again and closed the door. Then sank to his knees on the floor near Duo's discarded paper gown.
Duo stalked down the hallway trying to look as casual as possible as he made his way to the hanger Deathscythe was in. His world was spinning and his vision was slightly blurred, and he had to on more than one occasion stop and lean against the wall to catch his breath. It wouldn't be long before Heero and the others realized he'd taken off, so time was of the essence.
He had only encountered one member of the Peacemillion's crew and he was so busy going over his fuel charts that he didn't even notice Duo enter the bay and head for the black mecha. Duo stopped and looked up at Wing. The proud white Gundam stood like a giant metal angel almost making the tears that Duo had held in check tumble from his eyes. He ran his fingers across the smooth surface of Wings' leg and punched in Heero's code. Unfolding the page from the book the Priest had lent him he stuck it securely to the repel line before re-entering the code and sending it back up. Then with a last look he went past and punched the code to release the hatch to Deathscythe and send down his own line.
Once it dangled down in front of him, he gripped it firmly and ascended into the black Gundam. He heaved a sigh of relief as he strapped himself in and prepared to fire up the engines. Once engaged, everyone would know what he was doing so he'd have to be adamant about his departure. He almost thought he'd collapse before he ever reached his beloved Shinigami and would rot away in front of Heero's eyes in a hospital bed or worse yet on Peacemillion in front of Howard, and the Sweepers and everyone else he had grown to respect and care for.
"Well ol' buddy. Time we met the reaper, don't you think?" He grinned and set the sequence to fire the aft burners in motion. He'd engage the clocking device as soon as he cleared Peacemillion's bay and then it was off to pay a visit to an old friend. He had a date with his maker after all.
End Part 17
(:./ebony/death17)
