Author's note! My most eternal apologies for the recent lack of updating. If you must blame something, blame studying..takes years off your life.
After his initial reaction, Duo began to show more positive signs of activity, it was as if that singular event had triggered something and set it in motion, something now slowly gathering in momentum.
He was reacting when asked, nothing spectacular but all the same it was a small miracle. Heero would straighten up whenever the injured pilot moved in his sleep, watching attentively for any sign of real consciousness, but for now, he was denied that. His almost constant vigil was beginning to take its toll on the Wing pilot, the dark shadows under his eyes told that much.
He was beginning to nod off when the alarm first sounded, a high, piercing sound that bred an instinctive panic, it was the warning attached to the life support machine that sounded if the patient were to arrest. Heero jumped to his feet, the chair backwards unto the floor with a clatter, 'What's going on, what's wrong?', here was the Perfect Soldier ready for action, years of training almost painfully apparent.
The nurse smiled as she walked past him to reset the monitor, Duo wasn't dead, he'd turned over and unwittingly disconnected the monitor which then no longer detected his pulse. Seeing this, Heero bent down sheepishly and picked up the chair,
'Sorry.'
She chuckled, glad to have something to laugh about, 'It's alright hon'.'
Heero glowered inwardly at being called 'hon' but decided he was a little too embarassed to dwell on it. He watched sullenly as she gently turned Duo over until he was lying on his back again, a flicker of pain showed on the pale face as his brow creased briefly. As it turned out, the pilot had broken three ribs during his spell in the deathscythe, not too serious but very uncomfortable, and only now was he beginning to feel it. Along with the new-found activity, the 02 pilot was breathing by himself and they were able to remove the ventilator, something which Heero was thankful for; that thing had had a morbid edge to it that he hadn't liked. So all that remained of it were the little transparent oxygen tubes at his nose.
Heero
I don't like this, he doesn't look right. He shouldn't be here. I know he hates all this stuff that's plugged into him, he can't show it though. Yet. It's wrong seeing him looking like a patient from one of those hospital dramas on the television, the whole image is wrong.
But he's nearly there, I imagine that coming out of a coma is like swimming up from the bottom of a lake, all your movements are slow and laboured, they take up so much energy while all the while your lungs are screaming for air. You want to give up, the effort's too great but the surface is drawing nearer and nearer. To them, I'd say it seems like eternity before they break the surface, that's if they manage to do it at all.
I think that he's just below the surface now, I can see it in the way he's moving, beginning to wake up. Any day now he'll reach up and break the surface, and he'll sit up in this awful hospital bed and demand to leave, he'll say 'I feel fine!' and then maybe something stupid, something funny.
But I know it's not like that, they said that yes, all his basic functions are intact but the scans show that there will be other things that won't be quite so 'intact', they won't know what exactly they are until he regains full consciousness. The damage is there though, they keep reminding us, don't let his progress lull us into a false sense of security. I know it's true, he can hear me, understand me and obey to some extent but I know he's still not fully there, when he opens his eyes, he looks right through me, no recognition, no emotion, just a blank stare, a doll's eyes. And it hurts.
Come on, just one more barrier to break Duo, break the surface of the water. You don't like this place, but when you come out, I'll get you away from here.
I promise.
Wufei
I managed to get Heero out, he needed to get out, to get a rest.
There is a connection between him and Duo, it's always been noticeable to a certain extent, Duo was Heero's exception when it comes to his relationships with us pilots. For us, we are comrades, partners more like; we work well together in battle and we get on well off the battlefield. But the attitude for Heero is 'kill or be killed', if one of us is in trouble, he will help to a certain extent but otherwise let us fend for ourselves because it's his opinion that in the heat of a battle, the weaker will only drag us down if we choose to involve ourselves in their struggle. It sounds heartless but true, we all follow this to some extent, even Quatre, because it is true that helping a fellow gundam could cost you your own life and we gundam pilots (along with our gundams) are in short supply. But with Duo, Heero makes an exception, he has always come to the aid of our shinigami, who similarly returns the favour. I don't even think he realises it though, it's just... instinctive. Often I see them sitting together, Duo talking incessantly and Heero sitting in his usual stoic silence, but he's not ignoring him, he listens. Other times they both just sit in that companionable silence, not a stifling, awkward one, just a happy, content quiet.
Heero's development was stunted by the years of training he endured, it's clear in how dismal his emotional reach and capabilities are in comparison to his fighting skills. But Duo brings out another side to him, he brings out the personality that is missing and the change can be radical, more and more, Heero was becoming less of the dead-eyed soldier figure he once was and instead, he was becoming more human.
It's so clear now just how strong that bond between them has become, Heero's vigil is one of desperation because he needs Duo back. When I came in the room and saw him leaning against the guard rails of the bed, his eyes closed, holding Duo's frail bruised hand in his own. he was such a far cry from the soldier I first met who would have happily killed us all without hesitation if those had been his orders.
I had to be a bit of an asshole with him, I would like to say I was blunt but no, it was the only way to get him to leave with Quatre and get some sleep. It pains me seeing the torn expression on his face when he finally did give in, and the lingering look he gave his stricken friend before he left without looking back. There was no alternative, and besides that, I wanted to spend time with my comrade and let him know that we were all there, not just Heero.
'Heero,' Quatre put a gentle hand on the wing pilot's shoulder to rouse him.
Heero sat up in the bed, almost instantly alert, 'What's wrong?', he glanced at his watch, 'How long have I been asleep?'
Quatre shook his head, 'Heero, Wufei just called; Duo's awake. Get ready and we'll go straight over.'
They arrived in the door breathless, Trowa and Wufei looked up in unison from where they were sitting by the bed, the nurse, who was looking slightly agitated at this point, gestured for them to come in and shut the door.
Heero strode up to the bed, ignoring the greetings of his fellow pilots, in reality, he simply didn't hear them as his mind zoned in the 02 pilot sitting propped up in the bed. Their eyes met, and for the first time, there was recognition in the warm violet eyes, recognition and something else.
Duo said nothing, just gave him a tired smile. Heero stood for a moment, transfixed in disbelief, he studied the pilot for a moment, overcome with emotion that he couldn't comprehend. Then, quite suddenly, he bent over and enveloped him in a fierce hug, still careful not to hurt the body which had become so frail in the last few days.
Heero could feel the laboured rise and fall of Duo's chest against him, his arms encircling the surprisingly small frame easily. His face was buried in thick chestnut hair and he smelled the deep musky scent of it which had been so familiar.
'Heero,' his voice was dry and cracked with misuse.
Heero stood back, smiling, 'We missed you Duo.'
Exhaustion was evident in Duo's features, already he was tired out after emerging from his comatose state. But despite this, he looked puzzled, 'Why?'
Heero's smile faded a little, 'Well...after all that happened,'
Duo looked more puzzled still, he turned his head very slightly so he could look at Wufei 'What happened?'.
Heero interrupted before Wufei could reply, 'Your harness in the Deathscythe snapped.'
'Oh, it snapped?' with difficulty, he drew in a shaky breath, 'Okay.'
'And can you move everything oka-'
'No, he can't.' Wufei spoke over Heero, annoyance clear in his voice, he stood up and gestured to Heero to follow him to the door. Reluctantly, Heero followed, not liking the expression on Wufei's face.
'He's not right at all Heero,' outside in the corridor they spoke in hushed tones, 'You've got to be prepared for that.'
'I know,' Heero frowned, 'I am prepared for it.'
'He's very confused,' Wufei shook his head, 'But it's not just initial confusion, he's been like that since he woke, about an hour ago. His short term memory is gone.'
'What?' Heero felt slightly alarmed,
'I've already told him what happened with the Deathscythe five times, each time it's new to him.'
Heero said nothing.
'His coordination seems to be gone too, he can move but he doesn't seem to have much control over it, if any.' Wufei leaned against the wall and stared at the floor, 'All of this has happened in the past hour and we still don't know the extent of the...damage. On the surface, initially everything seems to be in place, but it's not Heero, not at all. And all we can do is wait and see just how bad it gets.'
The two pilots went back into the room, Heero managing a shaky smile when Duo turned to look at him with his tired but welcoming eyes, once again seeing him for the first time, their embrace forgotten.
Author's note: I'm sooo tired! Now I've finally got this going somewhere, the next chapter will be along soon hopefully. I need a little more action! Let me know what you think :)