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Baldy jerked once, twice, his hand still firmly clasping Duo's neck. Wufei landed with a hard thud onto the ground, the wind
knocked out of him. He ignored his need for breath and shot again, then once more. Still Baldy held onto Duo, though it was
becoming apparent that it was because his hand was trapped in that grip. Baldy was already dead.
Wufei struggled up to get Duo out of the dead man's grip and stumbled. He tasted blood in his mouth, spat it out. His legs
protested sharply to his movement. His ribs grated until he wanted to scream. The pain had doubled at his poor landing, and
the adrenaline was fading.
But he couldn't be too late now!
With the last of his strength, he pulled himself from the ground. He wavered drunkenly; his eyes watered slightly. Duo became
a fuzzy wall hanging in his vision.
“Duo,” he whispered, and pulled himself forward.
“Wufei!”
If Wufei ever cried, he might have then, in relief. “Yuy!” he shouted back. “Help Maxwell!” He gave
up the reins to his partner completely and let himself fall back to the ground.
There was a curse and footsteps that weren't trying for stealth. There was a gasp soon after, a whispered plea. Wufei saw
Heero break the dead man's wrist and pull Duo into his arms. Trowa blocked his vision then and carefully assessed his injuries.
Wufei stubbornly fought him. “Maxwell?” he asked.
Trowa managed a tiny chuckle. “Heero has him. He's breathing.”
Wufei nodded slightly, satisfied. “You, Yuy and Winner go on ahead.”
Trowa immediately protested with a finger in his ribs. Wufei winced. “Quatre will stay here with you. Heero and I will
go.”
Wufei only nodded and slipped into unconsciousness.
<<<<<*>>>>>
Heero only partly listened to his partner, but was still concerned when Wufei didn't continue arguing with the Heavyarms pilot.
Still, his attention was solely on the man in his arms, the man taking ragged breaths but not saying a word.
“Duo?” he called softly, trying to get the braided idiot to speak. His heart jackhammered at the lack of response.
“Duo! Answer me, dammit!”
There was still no sound. Heero saw the bruises on Duo's neck deepen right before his eyes. He couldn't see all the broken
bones and bruises and cuts on Duo's body. He could feel Duo's ribs moving almost like liquid underneath his fingers. The arm
that had already been shot seemed to have a fracture, his other a fracture or two. His head was caked with blood that seeped
out of his old wound. He looked... dead.
Desperately Heero felt for Duo's pulse, took solace in the sound of that weak beat struggling to make its way through Duo's
system. Duo's breath was weak, as well.
“Duo, don't die on me. Don't die.”
No response.
Footsteps came up from behind Heero, but he knew who they were. Trowa wouldn't have allowed any visitor other than Quatre.
Quatre's gasp was soft, but full of meaning. He had expected Duo to be dead.
“What do you feel?” Heero asked dully.
Quatre took a moment, as if fully concentrating. “Hardly anything,” he admitted. “He needs to get to a hospital.
Quickly.”
“We can't leave.” Heero's voice was full of anguish. “Even in Jocker weren't such a threat... even if Diane
Paisley wasn't in danger... if we leave, Jocker will only come after us. We have to finish this now.”
Still, the thought of leaving Duo even for an instant, leaving him without medical aid but for the little each pilot had been
taught...
He leaned in to Duo's ear, praying desperately that what he was about to do wouldn't lead to Duo's death. He couldn't let
himself think like that, or else... “Please, love, hold on. Please. I swear I'll tell you everything, if only you live.
I swear... so please...” Unable to continue, he stood and turned to Trowa. “Let's go.” He turned to Quatre,
but he was already sealing off the entrances to the floor. Quatre didn't plan on going anywhere.
For one instant, Heero saw Quatre and Trowa lock gazes. Their eyes seemed to be saying something. Heero looked away, unable
to watch. His thoughts fell on Duo.
The sooner they killed Jocker and rescued Diane, the sooner Duo could get medical attention.
Whatever he had to do, he swore. He would do it. To protect he who gave him more. He who was everything.
<*>
It was disgustingly easy to get to the top floor, despite the guards posted along the way. They obviously hadn't expected
anyone to get through the clones. And yet... the guard was still weak.
Heero was just starting to seriously consider a trap when he heard screams from beyond a doorway. He recognized Diane's voice.
There was no guard in front, which only confused Heero for one short instant before he heard Diane cry out again, screaming.
“No! Please, no! NO!”
Heero gritted his teeth. Apparently a threat to his base of operations wasn't enough to stop him from having his fun. The
people here put too much stock in the capabilities of those five clones.
Of course, Heero conceded silently, if all five of the acclaimed gundam pilots hadn't come... there would probably be no need
to worry.
With a few quick signals, Heero and Trowa moved into position. Diane's screams got more desperate - “No! Not that –
not that!” - and Heero knew time was almost up in that score. He busted down the door.
The scene they entered into was... nasty. Limp, dried-up dicks lay around the floor of the spacious, carpeted room. Diane
was trussed up against what looked to be a horse – the type gymnasts launched off of – her legs spread and arms
tied behind her. Tears were streaming down her face, but one look to the door brought a glint of hope to her eyes.
Heero thought of Duo downstairs, how desperate he'd been to help this woman. Finally, finally, Heero could see why. Duo had
seen that hope.
Jocker was at a huge disadvantage, being totally naked and wielding nothing more than a limp, useless dick. Plus the fact
that he'd been taken just a bit by surprise. Heero was in a bad enough mood to actually delight in his look of consternation
and fear.
Jocker reacted quickly, though, dodging and rolling madly to evade their bullets. Heero kept two in his clip, seeing that
the man knew how to move just wildly enough to not be hit. He heard Trowa do the same.
“You survive the clones,” Jocker noted, his voice a deep tenor and full of ego. “Or did you sacrifice your
teammates to get this far?”
Heero thought of Duo again and began to snarl, but Trowa cut him off with a dry chuckle. “Not quite. Maybe we're just
better than you?”
It was Jocker who snarled now, not Heero. “Doubtful.”
“Wrong again,” Heero managed. The talking was taking too long.
“Ah, I see.” Here Jocker seemed to relax, despite the guns trained on him. The urge to pull the trigger tripled.
“You're the originals. Impressive that you killed those supposedly better than you. I wonder what went wrong?”
Trowa shrugged, still holding his gun straight at Jocker's heart. “The scientists, for all their gifts, never understood
what made a soldier truly strong.”
Jocker smirked. “Oh?”
“You wouldn't understand, either,” Trowa calmly informed him.
The man was naked, still hard. Heero could easily see every single nasty little crevice of the bastard's body. Every. Single.
Crevice. So when the man pulled out a butterfly knife and whipped out the blade, Heero had no idea where it came from. Trowa,
too, was startled, but Trowa added a sharp intake. Heero could only guess that Trowa had seen where he'd pulled the weapon
from.
The knife went sailing to Diane's naked breast.
Without thought, Heero turned his weapon on the knife and shot, his heart hammering. He'd still been surprised – his
shots may miss.
It took both of his bullets and one of Trowa's, but the knife was deflected away from Diane.
Heero turned back to Jocker to find him a mere foot away.
Out of bullets, he could only roll into the room, dodging the attack. Trowa moved away, as well. Heero pulled his last magazine
out as Trowa jumped forward to engage Jocker with his fists and last bullet. Heero managed to get his mag in. He shot a bullet
to get Jocker's attention. Trowa jumped back. Jocker looked pissed to be getting thwarted like this and went after Trowa as
he took out his mag.
Heero raced forward, shooting another bullet. Jocker dodged this one, as well, but ignored Heero for Trowa.
Big mistake.
Heero pushed his foot off the ground and flipped over Jocker's head, landing on his opposite side. Jocker turned too slow,
and Heero's punch sent him next to Diane. Heero let loose another bullet and heard Trowa's magazine snap into place.
<*>
Quatre couldn't do enough to keep Duo with him. His breathing steadily declined, by tiny degrees but declining nonetheless.
Desperate, he smacked Duo. Hard.
Duo's eyes only barely fluttered open before starting to close again. “No! Duo, don't you dare leave me again! Stay
awake!”
With a monumental amount of effort that Quatre honestly couldn't believe possible, Duo kept his eyes trained on him. Quatre
kept talking, praying Duo's indomitable strength would last him just a while longer.
“Stay with me, dammit.” Quatre felt tears in his eyes as he realized that Duo was about to fall unconscious with
his eyes closed. “Don't leave me! Don't you dare run off on me again! Do you hear me?!”
Duo's eyes blinked. Quatre thought Duo could see his tears. If that kept Duo with him, he would cry the earth a new ocean.
“Stay, Duo, please stay. Please hold on. Just a bit longer. Hold on just a bit longer, Duo! Stay – for me. For
Diane Paisley.”
He thought he saw Duo's eyes sharpen just the tiniest bit.
“That's right. We need you aware. You need to stay awake. You know the others-” he was careful not to say Heero's
name “-can't soothe her. They'll only make things worse. You need to stay.”
Duo's lips moved slightly. 'You.'
Quatre shook his head. “No. If you die, I...” He thought quickly, hoping Duo was too incoherent to see the lie
he knew would be printed all over his face. “I'll be in too much pain because of my Universe Heart. I won't be able
to help her.”
Duo's eyes were desperate suddenly. 'Heero.'
And Quatre knew what he had to do. “Oh, Duo... he's...” And Quatre let his eyes brim with tears again. When he
Felt Duo begin pulling away from him in grief, he quickly said, “he's so hurt... I don't know if he'll be able to survive
the fight...”
Duo's eyes widened, suddenly a lot clearer. Quatre's tears were real, then, and even more bitter. He knew Duo would fight
to stay awake – would fight to get up those steps. And if it meant Duo's living, Quatre would help him.
Quatre went over to wake Wufei. His plan would need some help... and it would be good for Duo to see how hurt Wufei was...
because Duo's kind heart would make him try to help.
<*>
Jocker, the rat bastard, had managed to pick up his butterfly with his left hand. Heero's shot had been dodged enough for
his right shoulder to be hit and not his heart. Heero didn't think the arm was out of commission, which meant he still had
to be on full alert.
He had to waste a bullet keeping Jocker away from Diane when he tried to run to her. Heero quickly ran over to stand before
her. Trowa used a couple bullets keeping Jocker's attention away from Heero until it was too late.
“You can't beat me,” Jocker snarled. “You want me alive, and I won't let you take me.”
“You got us all wrong,
Heero growled, and took the man by surprise. “I want you dead.” For Duo... for Diane. For peace... for me.Heero
ran at the man then. Trowa quickly shot at Jocker, carefully keeping him from escaping Heero's attack. Heero's gun's muzzle
smacked into Jocker's throat as Jocker's knife plunged into his stomach. Heero's fingers never hesitated – he emptied
his magazine into the man's throat.
“Heero!” Diane cried, seeing the knife protruding from Heero's stomach, but Heero was unconcerned. He knew he'd
altered his stance enough to avoid any organs.
Trowa came up to him quickly, ripping his shirt. Heero allowed him to bandage him up before untying Diane. Her hands fluttered
over him, seemingly unaware of how immodest she was. Heero and Trowa probably helped with that, though, since they never once
looked at her naked form with any sort of lust in their eyes. Heero tossed her a blanket, at which point she blushed and quickly
covered herself. Trowa, meanwhile, was calling an ambulance and police, informing the operator that there may still be a few
men that needed to be dealt with.
Trowa's sudden silence made Heero listen in. “Lady Une?” A pause, then a dry chuckle. “Ah – Commander
Une.” Another pause, longer this time. “Thank you.” Pause. “Three injured. Two down.” Heero
could Une barking orders and asking questions at the same time. “The suspect is dead, the witness alive with minor injuries.”
Indeed, Heero noted with relief, they'd managed to get to Diane before Jocker could do anything worse than give her bruises
on her breasts. Heero knew that was nothing compared to what he'd had planned for her – the least serious of which would
have been death.
Diane, too, seemed extremely pleased about this.
“Mr. Yuy,” Diane said softly, gaining his attention again. “Where... are Mr. Chang and... Mr. Maxwell?”
Heero's heart skipped over itself. “They... they've both been injured,” Heero said finally.
“Please,” Diane said, tears forming in her eyes, “please tell me neither is dead. Duo... Mr. Maxwell...
I saw him fall before I was taken. Is he...?”
Heero clenched his eyes shut, not knowing what to say. He couldn't say Duo wasn't dead... because... he might be wrong.
“Come on,” Trowa said, suddenly beside him. “Let's go see them.”
Diane, hopeful, followed behind them as they trailed down the steps. Heero ignored the faint feeling he had due to the loss
of blood, ignored the pain in his abdomen and the weird feeling of the knife in his stomach. When they got to the bottom of
the steps, though, Heero lagged enough to get the knife out. Then he ran ahead of everyone.
What he saw staggered him. Duo was leaning heavily on Quatre's shoulder, breathing heavily and swaying dangerously. Quatre
had tears running heavy on his cheeks, but he was helping Duo stand.
“Duo,” Heero snapped, “what the hell are you doing?”
Duo's eyes snapped up, seemingly desperate. The gaze fell to his stomach and widened. Then those violet eyes came back up
to meet his and Heero's anger fled as he saw how... dilated, how... dead... those eyes were.
His gaze snapped to Quatre, who quickly mouthed an explanation. 'He was dying... this was the only way to get adrenaline in
him. If I hadn't...'
Heero's heart twisted.
Duo seemed to finally realize that the wound wasn't terrible and collapsed in Quatre's arms. Quatre stumbled, but Trowa was
there to catch him and place him down. Heero's eyes left Duo just long enough to see Wufei's black eyes glitter as he watched
them, still lying inert on the floor. There was a message for him in those eyes that he couldn't bear to read right then.
Heero heard police sirens in the distance, followed by the wail of an ambulance. Only a little bit longer...
Quatre's choked cry, though, told Heero that even so little time might be too much.
Heero ran up to Duo's side, not able to see what might happen, not able to bear the thought of finding his love dead.
Somehow, seeing that he was still alive was so much worse. Duo's breathing wasn't ragged anymore. He wasn't breathing enough
to make any such sounds at all. His chest didn't even move.
“Duo,” he breathed, wishing he could take back his angry shout. The thought of Duo leaving now... now, when they
were so close to the end... he couldn't hear the sirens anymore, couldn't hear anything. Duo was absolutely silent. He would
give his soul now to hear Duo laugh.
He grabbed Duo's blood-soaked shirt in his hands and bent his head to Duo's chest. “Duo – Duo, don't leave me.
Duo. Duo!”
He heard movement on the stairs, heard someone moving behind him... heard Duo's heart stop beating.
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