'Nother story written! Man, I start too many fanfics! This one is kinda depressing…anyway, I like it a lot. I hope you do too! E-mail me at dartstripe@yahoo.com ! Tell me what you think…please? Sorry bout the missing note to anyone who read it before!

Disclaimer: Didn't make GW, don't have money, don't sue me.

It's impossible. He was the perfect soldier for goodness sakes! How could this happen? The confusing thoughts raced through Duo's mind, just as his legs flew him through the hospital halls.

He had gotten the call twenty minutes ago. Meran, the girl Heero had been a bodyguard for, had made the call. She had said that Heero was in the hospital. She had also told him, choking on tears as she did so, that something was terribly wrong.

Duo met Meran outside of Heero's room, number 144. She was sobbing with anguish. Instinct swelled up inside him, and he gently laid a hand on her shaking shoulder. The crying girl looked up into his eyes, her face crumpled with sorrow.

"I'm….sorry! I d…didn't mean for him to g…get hurt!" She wailed.

The pilot wanted to stay outside with her, to try to help her. But the urgency and sadness in her voice forced him to open the door to Heero's room. Inside was a sight he thought he'd never see.

Heero was laying on the bed, nothing on him but a light hospital gown. The small but strong boy was sleeping, an expression on his face Duo had never seen. An expression of pain. One of his arms was resting on his chest, the other at his side in a splint. His legs were out straight, also set in splints. However, his legs didn't look like they were broken. They looked much worse.

His legs were all lumpy, like every piece of bone in them was crushed up into a pulp. As a nurse walked in, Duo knew he had to ask her what was wrong with his best friend. He was very afraid of what the answer would be.

"Excuse me, ma'am?"

"Yes?" The young nurse turned toward him.

"What…happened to him?" He asked fearfully.

The nurse looked ready to tell him, then paused. "I think I'll let him tell you, if he can. He needs to eat, so I have to wake him up anyway."

She wheeled a food tray over near the bed, extending it out so Heero would be able to eat without much movement. Leaning over, she nudged the boy carefully. When he didn't wake up, she nudged harder, wishing she didn't have to do this.

Heero woke with a start, the pain on his face totally obvious now. There were tears in his eyes as the nurse helped him sit up. He felt so totally useless, he wanted to die. And all this emotion…he had never had to show pain like this before.

All of a sudden, he realized that someone else was standing in the room other than the nurse. Who was it? They looked familiar…Come on, think! You can remember…you have to remember… the boy thought desperately. He racked his brain, trying to match names to the braided boy in front of him. Finally, after what seemed hours, he whispered out a name,

"D…Duo?" He asked, hoping that he had chosen the right name.

Duo looked up at the mention of his name, somewhat surprised that it had taken Heero this long to say something. He looked at the nurse, who just shook her head. Something was definitely wrong. Why wouldn't anyone tell him?

The nurse was very glad that Heero remembered the young man's name. It meant he might be able to recover. Kneeling down so she was at eye level, she asked him,

"You need to eat Heero. Can you do that? Do you want me to stay in here?" She asked kindly.

"I…I can eat." He muttered, his voice betraying his lack of confidence. "And…no. You can…um…go." I hate this! I can't even talk right! What's wrong with me? He screamed mentally.

The nurse got up and walked over to Duo. "I think he wants to be alone with you. Make sure he eats, and if he needs help, call me, alright?"

Duo nodded. He wasn't exactly sure why Heero would need help eating, but he took her word for it. Pulling up a metal chair, he sat down next to Heero's bed. There was silence for a few moments, as if neither of them knew what to say. Duo realized that he would have to break the ice.

"Hi Heero." He said. Great ice breaker Duo.

"H...hi." Heero stammered. I can't even say anything! Why did he have to come now?

"The nurse said you were supposed to eat." Duo said carefully.

"Yeah, I know." The injured boy replied. Good. A sentence without stammering. But now I have a problem…I don't think I can do this. Heero drew breath sharply and scolded himself, Yes, you can! You're the Perfect soldier, remember?

Slowly, Heero moved his good arm, the left one, out and grabbed onto his spoon. Hoping against all hope that he wouldn't make an idiot out of himself, he scooped up a few peas, and tried to bring them to his mouth. Halfway there, he dropped his spoon, spilling the little green balls everywhere.

You're not worth anything! He screamed at himself. You're a mental nutcase who can't even eat by himself! Perfect Soldier. Yeah right. Heero threw his spoon across the room in anger, and looked away.

Duo was alarmed. Now I know something is wrong. Heero can't even eat. What's happened to him? When the braided boy saw Heero's eyes cloud up in tears, he knew now was not the time for questions, but for helping.

"I'll help you Heero." Duo offered.

"No." Heero refused. If I can't eat on my own, I'm not eating.

"Come on Heero. If you don't let me help you, I have to go get the nurse. You don't want that do you?" This has got to work. I don't want that nurse in here.

"Well…" Having Duo…that's his name, remember it…feed me wouldn't be as bad as that nurse… I guess… "A…all…alright." He stuttered.

Duo let out a long sigh of relief. Getting up from his chair, he retrieved the spoon Heero had thrown, wiping it off on his clothes. That nurse would have a fit if she knew about that one.

Sitting down again, Duo scooped up a few of the remaining peas and put them in Heero's mouth. He watched to make sure Heero had swallowed before he fed him some more.

Meanwhile, Heero was humiliated. I know I have to eat…but he'll think I'm weak. I can't be weak. I have to be strong. Especially when he finds out I'm…

"Heero…what's the matter?" Duo asked, a spoonful of carrots half way to Heero's mouth.

"N…nn…oo…noth…No." He just couldn't get the word out. Nothing, you idiot, say it! Nothing. Come on! Do it! "Nothing."

"Alright, if you say so." Duo proceeded to feed him the rest of his lunch.

It took a long time, but Duo finally got his friend to eat everything. Carefully moving the tray out of his way, he helped Heero lay back down again. The boy shivered. Knowing it was wrong, Duo took off his coat and put it on him. Then he took a blanket from the corner and covered Heero with it.

"Tha...thanks." Heero murmured, closing his eyes. I guess that wasn't so bad…

Duo sat down in his chair, watching Heero closely. Curiosity bubbled up inside him. I want to know what had happened to Heero. But is now a good time? Better ask before he falls asleep.

"Heero, what happened to you anyway?"

The Not-So-Perfect Soldier turned towards him, eyes wide with a kind of eerie fright. Duo regretted disturbing the hurt boy, but he just had to know. Now, he wondered if Heero could even tell him what went wrong…

"It's too…long. Can…can't say that…m…much." Heero stammered. Duo…I wish I could tell you. You'd understand, and you wouldn't blame Meran either…I guess I've got to tell you what's wrong with me…I don't look forward to it…

"I…can…n…tell…you what h…happened." Heck with the complete sentences. It takes too much effort! You'll understand… "Legs…c…crushed. B…broken bones. S…s...some...thing… wrong…i…in my head…I can't…talk well…can't m…move well. H…hard…d to…remember….th…things."

"Man…that must hurt." Great Job Duo, you're really an encourager.

Heero managed a small smile. "You have n…no idea." Yeah, it really hurts…but I can't tell you that. I'll just keep on being cold little me, on the inside at least. I'll try to smile for you, and to get better just for you…I'll try.

Duo put a comforting hand on Heero's shoulder as the boy drifted off into oblivion. Looking at Heero, poor, mangled Heero, suddenly brought tears to Duo's eyes. Soon he was sobbing. He wasn't used to seeing Heero like this! And that part about his mind…he just couldn't take it.

Several hours, the door creaked open and Heero's nurse walked in. She found Duo asleep, his head on Heero's chest, and his hand on Heero's shoulder. Heero was sleeping peacefully, without a frown or a grimace of pain. Maybe that boy should come more often. She thought to herself.

The nurse gently woke up Duo, saying that it was time to leave. Though she clucked her tongue in disapproval at Duo's coat around Heero, she let it stay. The nurse liked this young man so much, she had to forgive him. However, she did warn him that next time he might not be so lucky.

"I'll be back tomorrow!" Duo told her, walking out of the room. Meran is gone. I wonder why. Maybe they made her leave…like they made me leave. I don't want to leave him. I want to stay. I can't stand him being in there. I want him home. Today. With me and the guys, so that…the guys! They must be worried sick! I didn't even tell them…

Duo started running. He ran and ran, out the hospital, out into the cold wind. Man it's cold out here. I wish I could've gotten my coat…Heero deserves it anyway. Good, here's my car. Don't think I could have stood another moment outside. It's way too cold. Reminds me of Heero's heart.

He started his black convertible and backed it out, screeching the tires. Duo took off down the road, pushing the speed limits as much as he dared. It was a ways to the pilots house. Got to get there quick. It's really late. They might think I'm dead. They can't think that. I've got to tell them about Heero. Here it is. I made it. Wow that was quick. Maybe I shouldn't have sped…nah. I'm glad I did.

Duo parked the car and jumped out. Fumbling with the lock, he opened the door to the apartment building where they all lived. Checking the first floor, he found a note;

Duo, when you didn't

come home with Heero,

we ordered out. We are

all upstairs on my floor.

See you soon, I hope

Quatre

Duo folded up the note, and headed toward the stairs.

When the war had ended, the five boys decided that they wanted to remain together. They had fought too many battles, and been in too many tough times to separate. So they went house shopping. The boys had all wanted a house big enough for them all to have room to live in without running all over each other.

Investing in an apartment building had seemed the right thing to do. With all their government money, they had bought a six story apartment building. There was the main floor, which they turned into a kind of "family" floor. The 2nd floor was Heero's, he liked to be near the entrance. Wu Fei's floor was 3rd, Quatre's 4th. Trowa claimed the 5th floor, and Duo himself had taken the 6th floor.

After a minute or so, Duo arrived at Quatre's floor. I can hear laughter and sounds of eating coming from Quatre's livingroom, so that's where they must be. Duo walked into the rich rugged room without knocking.

The boys were surrounded with what looked liked leftover Chinese food. Quatre was sipping some tea, comfortably situated on a plushy chair. Trowa seemed satisfied with the floor, because that's where he lay. Wu Fei was relaxing on Quatre's couch. His shirt was unbuttoned, and he looked for all the world as if he had consumed a bit too much Chinese food.

"Hey guys." Duo greeted, without a smile on his face.

"Where's Heero?" Quatre asked, his voice and face betraying worry.

"All I know is, Maxwell wasn't here to cook his awful food." Wu Fei vouched, the 18-year-old looking up from the sofa.

"Next time, you can make your own food Wuffie." Duo snarled.

"The next time you call me Wuffie…" Wu Fei began.

Trowa decided that it was time to enter into this conversation before it launched into a full scale fight. "That's enough you guys. Sit down Duo. I'll get you some food so you can tell us what happened."

Duo did as he was told, sitting down in a chair next to Quatre. When he shivered, the gracious Arabian boy covered him with a blanket. Trowa soon entered with a plate full of Chinese food he had hidden from Wu Fei earlier. Handing it to the American boy, he muttered one word,

"Talk."

Accepting the plate of food gratefully, Duo quickly ate it up before beginning,

"I got a call from Meran today, you know, that girl Heero was guarding?"

"Yeah…reminded me of Merian." Wu Fei said quietly, a sad look coming on his face.

"Who?" Quatre asked curiously.

"Oh…nobody. Sorry about that, keep going." Wu Fei answered.

"Anyway, she told me that Heero's in the hospital." Duo finished.

"What?!" All three exclaimed.

"What are you waiting for, I want to see him!" Quatre protested.

"Guys, he…" Duo began.

"Tell us in the car." Trowa remarked coldly, tossing Duo a coat.

"Alright." Duo agreed, pulling on the fur lined coat. Weird. I've never seen this coat before. Where did it come from? Maybe Quatre bought it today. He said he was going to do some shopping.

"Hey Maxwell! Can we use your car? It's the fastest." Wu Fei yelled, hopping into the black convertible's driver seat.

"Sure." Duo muttered, jumping in the back with Quatre, while Trowa joined Wu Fei in the front.

"Thanks." Wu Fei smiled, backing quickly out of the apartment, the steel gate shutting with a bang behind them.

Pulling shades over his eyes, Wu Fei sped up. The Chinese boy grinned wickedly, obviously happy with the way the convertible was handling. Pulling out in front of a car, he booked it, bushing the black car to its limit.

"Wu Fei, slow down!" Quatre screamed. The boy didn't listen, but continued to speed down the highway.

"Wuffie, you're gonna ruin my car!" Duo protested, leaning out in front.

Once again, no response. Then Trowa yelled, "Cop!"

Shouting something that wasn't pretty, the Chinese pilot pulled over. Handing the boys shades, he waited for the cop. If he's this slow, why didn't I just keep going? I could have out run him. He thought to himself.

The cop arrived, his sirens all ablaze. After he had parked, the man stepped out of his car. Wearing a stern face and cold eyes, he was a frightening sight indeed. Then he leaned down and peered in the window saying gruffly,

"Did you realize you were speeding?"

"No, the thought never crossed by mind that 173 might be above the speed limit." Wu Fei snapped.

"Rolling his eyes, the cop continued, "Do you have an excuse?"

"No." Wu Fei replied coldly. "One of my best friends is in the hospital. He could be dying right now. Sounds more like a reason to me."

"100 dollars." The cop stated, handing him the tickets.

As he was reaching for his wallet, a thought came to mind. "If someone told you your child was dying right now, would you jump in your car and speed to get there as fast as possible?"

The cop shifted his weight uncomfortably, leaning against the frame. Taking off his cap, the man ran his fingers through his brown hair. This wasn't what he wanted to hear.

"C'mon kid. Make my job easy and just hand over the money."

"Answer the question."

"The money."

"THE QUESTION!!!!"

"THE MONEY!"

"Just give him the money." Trowa nudged the seething boy.

His long fingers ran along the soft leather of his black wallet. Pulling out a standard issue military $1000 check, he muttered,

"Got change?"

Startled the cop pulled out his own wallet, muttering to himself, "The army. No wonder he can't drive." Quickly exchanging $900 for the check, he went back to his car.

"Thank you very much."

Snorting, Wu Fei his the gas, a little more controlled this time. Wu Fei pulled up to the parking lot, careful not to scrape Maxwell's precious car. Why the boy had nicknamed it "The God of Death" he wasn't sure. However, Duo would seriously injure anyone who damaged it. Therefore, not a lot of people dared to drive the stupid thing.

Grey skies met their eyes as the foursome as they stepped out of the "Death" car. All four of them kept their eyes down, none willing to face the grim halls of the hospital. None of them wanted to think about how Heero was doing. Would he be okay?