Disclaimer: Well of course I don't own Gundam Wing or any of its delectable characters...
Author's Note: Thanks to all who have reviewed and commented so far, I seriously appreciate it. The plot's taking a big change, an unexpected development for me, let me know what you think.
Heero
PTA - Post Traumatic Amnesia
Duo has PTA, apparently, that's what's to blame for his short-term memory loss. Supposedly, it's expected that people with severe head injuries develop PTA and thankfully, it's only temporary, though the amount of time it stays depends on how bad said injury is and in Duo's case, it could be a pretty long time. A month or two even.
I don't mind.
Sally-Po gave us an explanation of the symptoms but in a way, it was more like some sort of warning; in other words, this isn't going to be pretty, leave now if you're out. Of course, we all stayed. Duo is one of us.
The brain cannot cope with the complicated thought processes which it normally experiences while it is recovering and so everything's stripped back to the bare minimum. Therefore PTA patients often don't have much of an attention span, their ability to concentrate can be almost nil, and their emotions become very basic. Often, someone with PTA cannot tell the difference between reality and what's going on in their heads.
Duo can't understand what's happening to him, at times he refuses to believe the place is a hospital and insists we should be at the Preventers HQ for our next mission. We were told not to try and explain to him what was wrong with him, the distress could be too much. Too much of anything it seemed (or stimuli as Doctor Hill calls it) can cause relapses, like seizures. I didn't realise it was all so delicate; Duo's regressed in a way, his thinking pattern has simplified to a point where he feels one thing or another and nothing else. One minute he could be angry or distressed and causing havoc, the next he could be docile, even overly-affectionate.
He's going to need someone there all the time, and despite how frustrating it may be to sit with someone who could ask you the same question twenty times because they keep forgetting they ever asked in the first place, I don't mind. At all.
He's still with us, so far that's enough for me. He may not be the same person he was but given time that will change. Even if it doesn't, there's something about Duo that will always draw me to him, no matter what kind of person he turns into. I promised him I'd take him out of here and I'll keep my word. Once he's able to leave, I'll help him, we can work through it together, that is, if he wants that. I think I've been given a second chance to tell him how I feel; before I was kicking myself for leaving it until it was too late, now I can act from my mistakes. It will be strange, the Perfect Soldier being void of emotion according to the general opinion, falling for his comrade, his loud and obnoxious comrade who hasn't showed so much as an inkling of feelings for him.
I have no idea what he thinks of me, I suppose back in the early days I didn't really care. But it's been three years now, we all stuck together in the Preventers. I still never questioned our friendship. I wonder is that all I'm seen as, a friend? A comrade? A last-chance alternative to silence? Or just a partner in business.
I really don't know. And I'm afraid of the answer.
'Aw Heero I missed you.' Duo's characteristic lop-sided grin lit up his face as he gazed at the dark-haired boy sitting by the bed.
Heero smiled, pleased with the reaction, and leaned over the rail of the bed, 'I was just outside the door for a few minutes.'
Duo's smile remained as he surveyed Heero with eyes that were a little too bright.
It was now a week since it all happened. The bruises that patched his small frame were beginning to turn a purplish red colour that made Heero flinch inwardly; he still had the small oxygen tubes at his nose to help with his breathing which had become very weak after one of his ribs had pierced a lung. So far today, he'd pulled them off twice along with the two drips he was connected to in a fit of distress. Duo didn't like hospitals at all, Heero had been right about suspecting that but so far his escape plans were on hold since he couldn't walk very well at all, he only tried that once. But in Heero's opinion, being a nuisance was healthy, there was no mistaking the old Duo there, being mischievous to the point of outright annoying. Now Heero smiled at the comical sight of the amount of surgical tape the poor nurse had had to use to stop him pulling everything out again.
'Why would you miss something like me anyway?'
'What time is it Heero?'
'Just after three in the afternoon, why?'
'Shouldn't we be at the office?'
Heero closed his eyes for a moment, 'No.'
'Why not?'
'We have some time off.' Heero felt a knot in his stomach, this was constantly being brought up by the Deathscythe pilot and Heero tried to think of ways to get his mind away from the potentially worrying subject. At a loss, he reached out impulsively and pushed a few stray hairs out of the other boy's eyes.
'Hey.' He swatted Heero's hand away and made a face, 'You're not allowed to do that without permission.' His coordination had improved to point where he was able to move his hands properly again, except the left one at times began to shake uncontrollably.
'...Okay.'
Duo pulled the end of his braid round and studied it with eyes that were beginning to close, Heero noticed how he got tired out very easily now, it was probably partially due to the pain medication he was on. He started to cough, there had been blood left in his lung after the rib had punctured it, although they had managed to fix the damage when he first came in, blood residue still remained and whenever he coughed he brought some of it up. As Heero watched, a fine trickle of blood made its way down his chin, Duo didn't seem to realise it and Heero decided not to say anything lest the sight of it alarm him. He didn't feel too much pain due to the medication, except at one point yesterday when he sneezed, it's the worst thing someone could do with a head injury. The pain had been so bad that he'd cried.
'Heero?' His voice was very low,
'Hn?'
'Make these-' he pointed at the railings on the side of the bed '-go away.'
'Why? They stop you from falling out.'
'I don't like them and I'd have to be a complete tool to fall out of this anyway.'
'Are you going to try and get out?'
'No.'
'Promise me, otherwise I'll get in trouble.'
''Promise.'
'I'll have to put them back up before the nurse comes in though,' Heero lowered them with a jolt, 'Better?'
'Yea,' Duo smiled, but it was weak, 'They make me feel caged in when I lie down.'
Heero sighed silently, this was such a difference to the active, hyper individual he knew, yet at the same time, his obvious vulnerability drew Heero to him.
I can protect him.
Duo raised his left hand to eye level and bit his lip as he watched the fingers twitch involuntarily, the frustration was clear in his voice when he looked at Heero with somethin akin to despair in his feverishly bright eyes, 'Why is it doing that?!'
Heero hesitated for a moment before moving foward and sitting down on the bed, he took hold of Duo's hand, feeling the small convulsions jerking his wrist, 'Look,' he held it steady, and both boys watched as the spasms began to subside, 'It will stop in time, Duo, just give it a little time.'
Duo looked at him wordlessly for a moment, his violet eyes slowly moving over Heero's face.
'I'm sorry Heero.'
'Sorry for what?'
'This. For all of this,' he made a gesture towards the bed, 'For whatever I've done.' his voice was small, resigned.
Heero blinked at him in surprise and then put his hands on the shoulder of the other, bringing him closer so he could look him properly in the eye, his face completely serious, 'You do not have to apologise for anything Duo.' After a moment's hesitation, he pulled him into a rough embrace, his awkwardness would have been comical in any other situation but this, Heero Yuy did not give hugs.
Duo held him too, his face buried in Heero's shoulder. Neither said anything, silence was enough.
The door clicked open softly, Heero turned his head a little to see Wufei who nodded his head in silent greeting, his cold onyx eyes taking in the picture of the two pilots.
Duo pulled away and sat up, 'Hey 'Fei,' he smiled blearily and yawned.
Wufei came over and sat down on the opposite side of the bed, 'Hello Duo, how are you feeling?' His eyes settled on the little rivulet of blood in Duo's chin and then moved over to Heero.
'Fine I guess, oh! Heero!'
'What's wrong?' Heero's gaze snapped away from Wufei as he jumped to attention.
'What time is it?'
'...Half three in the afternoon.'
Duo's eyes widened, 'Sally's going to go mad if we're not-'
'We have time off Duo. There aren't any new missions.'
'Oh. Okay.'
'Am I right Wufei?'
Wufei confirmed that he was with a nod of his head, and this seemed to convince Duo who sat back and yawned. Heero asked how the others were, Quatre and Trowa had been in earlier that day but had reluctantly left to go to the Preventer's HQ to sort out what exactly had gone wrong with the Deathscythe, Sally had originally asked Heero but he had pointedly refused to leave, even though it was only for the day. According to Wufei, they'd be back by evening.
While they spoke, less and less input to the conversion was made by the normally loud 02 pilot who had quietly nodded off. Heero looked over at him, got up and wiped the blood off the inert boy's chin.
'You've grown very close.'
Heero turned to meet the stony gaze of the chinese pilot, thrown by the comment, 'He's my friend.'
'Let's not be stupid Heero,' did he detect a slight sneer in Wufei's voice? 'We're all your friends, this is something different isn't it?'
Heero didn't speak for a moment, eyeing his fellow pilot warily, 'What are you implying?'
Wufei watched him steadily, 'Me and him-' he nodded his head towards Duo, '-have come to know each other well in the past few years, I find it means alot to me. I want to look out for him after what happened.' his gaze hardened considerably, 'Don't you dare take advantage of him when he's in a state like this.' Wufei stood up to leave, his face set in stone.
Heero said nothing but glared back. He was shocked yes, but the Perfect Soldier was unmatched when it came to not letting it show.
Author's note: My plot is twisting and changing like a...a rabid snake. Now Wufei's come to the fore, and I'm thinking there may be more than friendship making him act if you know what I mean? I always feel so sorry for poor Fei, he never gets any love! Now methinks... could be different. But I still don't know, could just be Wufei being all cute and protective of his friends. It can go either way at this stage, what do you guys think? Let me know, I never ignore good advice and so far you guys have been great.