Category: Angst, sad Pairings: 1+2 Rating: PG Disclaimer: Standard. You know them all by now so I won't bore you with a repeat. Archive: any one that wants it Never Parted 1 By SilverLady Heero sat quietly, holding Duo’s hand. He tried to ignore how thin it was, just as he ignored the tube taped to the back of it. The tube was just one of many that festooned Duo’s body, giving and taking away fluids and other necessities for living. There were also just as many wires connected to him, linking him with the many machines that kept constant vigil. The doctor had given Heero a long speech on Duo’s condition, full of big medical term. All the fancy talk boiled down into one fact: his partner was dying and there was nothing that could be done to save him. Partner. There was a word he had never really thought he’d apply to Duo. Sure, they had teamed up on missions during the war. But Heero had considered Duo more of a compatriot than a partner, then. Heero smiled slightly, remembering the first time he’d seen the longhaired American. He wasn’t really surprised that Duo had shot him. He probably would have done the same thing if their positions had been reversed. What had always amazed him was that Duo had risked his life to save him from that military hospital. Every time he’d asked Duo why, he’d been given the same answer. “It was my fault you were in there, it was my responsibility to get you out.” For Duo it had been that simple, but it still didn’t make that much sense to Heero. He didn’t honestly think he could have done the same thing. It would have risked the mission and that was something he just couldn’t do. Maybe it was a good thing their positions hadn’t been reversed. He sighed as he gently stroked the back of Duo’s hand. If someone had told him then that Duo would become his lifemate he would have shot them for being crazy. He could barely tolerate the loud, long-winded, energetic boy. The thought of spending a lifetime with him had been ludicrous. But, somehow, his feelings had changed. It had been a long, difficult process but it had happened. Now he was facing the prospect of losing Duo and it was something he could not bear to contemplate. Here was a battle the Perfect Solider wanted desperately to win; yet he was powerless to do so. The life of his love was in someone else’s hands now. Another memory rose in Heero’s mind, one that happened several years after the war. It was of Duo, standing tall and proud as he received his college diploma. It had been a hard struggle, but Duo had succeeded. There had been a great many doubts on Duo’s part, but Heero had stood by him, ready to accept whatever decision Duo made. Even when Duo had come home so discouraged he’d been ready to quit, Heero had simply taken him into his arms and told him he would always stand by him. Just then there was a soft knock on the door, interrupting Heero’s thoughts. Before he could answer, a brown haired man stuck his head in. “Dad?” Heero smiled at the man. Gavin was one of eighteen young men and women that called him “Dad”. They were all children that Duo had taken permanently under his wing. There were many more that had stayed for varying amounts of time and still kept in touch. But the eighteen that had stayed were special, to both him and Duo. “You can come in. He’s asleep.” Gavin walked quietly into the room. “I came as fast as I could.” Heero nodded. “You’re the first one to arrive.” Gavin looked at the man he’d gladly called Dad from the time he was fourteen. “Have you talked to the doctor?” “Hai.” “And?” “There’s nothing he can do but make him comfortable.” “What?! He’s just going to give up. Where is that quack? I’ll....” Heero stood up and placed his hand on Gavin’s shoulder. “Don’t you think that if there was anything that could be done, I would have them do it?" “But...” “He’s getting old. His body is tire and is simply shutting down. There’s nothing that can be done to stop it.” Gavin’s eyes blazed angrily. “He’s not old! He’s only....” Gavin paused and his shoulder’s slumped. Heero smiled gently. “Neither on of us ever thought we’d live this long. He’s had a good life, but now it’s time for him to rest.” “How can you take this so calmly?” “Because there is no use getting worked up over something you can’t change.” Gavin stared at Heero in shock. He couldn’t believe how Heero was behaving. Then Gavin looked into Heero’s eyes and understood. This calm, seemingly uncaring, mask was the only way Heero could keep from falling apart. “Did he say how much longer?” Heero shook his head. “It’s hard to say. It could be a few hours or several days.” Gavin nodded. “I’ll go wait for the others.” “That would be fine. Break it to them gently.” Gavin gave a weak laugh. “You’re asking me to be gentle. The human bulldozer.” Gavin’s voice cracked a little on the last word. It was the nickname Duo had given him shortly after his arrival at his new home. Heero smiled again. “It will be all right. You’ll do fine.” “Yeah, right.” Gavin turned to the door and paused. “If he wakes up before I get back, tell him thanks. I don’t know what would have happened to me without you both.” “You would have survived.” “But in what form?” Gavin swallowed heavily. “I love you both, you know that. I owe you so much.” “Which you’ve paid back many times over.” Gavin looked back at Heero. There was a sheen of unshed tears in his eyes. “Tell him we all love him.” “I will.” Gavin gave him a weak smile then slipped quietly from the room. Heero returned to his seat and once again took up his silent vigil. He closed his eyes and simply sat there, dreading the thought of what was to come. Ten minutes had passed when Duo’s eyes opened. “Hi,” he whispered, his voice just a shadow of its former self. Heero smiled at him. “Hi yourself.” “Shouldn’t you be out blowing up a building or something?” “Can’t. My partner’s laid up at the moment.” Duo sighed. Slowly he reached up to run his fingers through Heero’s hair. He’d often teased Heero about the silver streaked black hair, asking him if he couldn’t make up his mind about going gray or not. Duo’s own hair, still as long as ever, had turned a soft silver color. “You’re not going to pretend there’s nothing wrong, are you?” Duo whispered, his fingers moving restlessly. “No.” “It will be soon, won’t it?” Heero swallowed the lump in his throat. “Hai.” Duo smiled. “I always figured I’d see Shinigami long before this.” “I know.” Duo’s hand dropped back to the bed. “It’s not so bad, really.” “I know.” Heero brushed a stray lock of hair from Duo’s eyes. “Gavin was here.” Duo smiled again. “Really?” “He said to tell you thanks. And that he loves you. That they all love you.” “I know. I’ll miss them.” Duo was quiet for a moment. “Heero?” “Hai?” “Would you kiss me?” Heero leaned over and placed gentle lips on Duo’s. The kiss spoke of things left unsaid. After a moment Heero ended the kiss, pulling slowly away. “Heero?” Duo’s voice was weaker. “Hai?” “Do you love me?” “For always.” “Good.” Duo closed his eyes. “I wouldn’t want it to be one sided.” Heero held Duo’s hand as Duo sighed one last time and then was still. Then he laid his head on Duo’s still chest and closed his eyes. “Never parted,” he whispered. After a moment, he too was still.