TADAIMA!!

oi, it's been a while, neh? But I finally got a burst of inspiration - not to mention a concussion from said burst - that came when I was digging through some old comics and reading about varioous mind trips the 'paths all do every now and then. *shrugs* Blame Noying for the psychotic parts, and George for the sad parts. *sniffles* See? *grins* I'm starting to be like Enigma - blaming my muses! *bows down to the wonder that is Engima* You are truly wise for sharing with your fellow authors, the way of transferring the anger from irate readers when they read of the fave couples in sad/bad/angsty situations. (BTW - looooooooved Southern Comfort - great stuff!!)

Anyhoo - enough rambling - we all know what you're here for!

Noying: Money!

Stormy: What's that? No - they're here for the fic!

Noying: *mutters* That's what YOU think...

BTW - a little information. At the end of chapter 8 (probably about 2-3 parts), this will end the first story arc of Heart of Darkness. This however, is not the end of the series.

Noying: Because you left so many plot threads hanging.

Stormy: True. The end is near, but with it comes a new beginning - the HOD AU! there's going to be some one-shots, some mini-series, all taking palce within this AU, specially because the boys don't have a ride home yet! So look for a bunch of ficlets coming your way!

See 'Drea? You inspired me for this!

Thanks to everyone who's sent C&C, and fic ideas - Blue - just wait and see how many of your ideas get put to paper!

ENOUGH RAMBLING! ON WITH THE FIC!!

Title: Heart of Darkness
Part: 8A
Author: Stormy
Archiving: If I haven't already said yes, just ask me. And I know who I've said yes to!
Warnings: Light angst, some fluff, some sadness *hands out box of tissues*

Enjoy!

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Chapter 8A

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Jean shivered and rubbed her arms in an effort to warm away the goosebumps that had popped up. The snow was falling in soft flakes that tried to melt away the instant they hit the ground, but there were too many of them to succeed. Drifts piled up here and there across the deserted street, and Jean squinted, trying hard to see in the dim glow of the fading streetlights.

'This was Duo's mindscape?' she wondered briefly, her heart twinging at the dismal surroundings. All of the buildings were dark, and a chill went through as the air passed by. She walked slowly, listening for a hint of sound, something to show her where Duo was. 'Did he live here at one time?' It was such a sad-looking place, but Jean knew this had to be a reflection of some place that Duo knew.

A giggle sounded to her left and she turned her head sharply, catching sight of a small figure dashing into an alleyway.

" Duo?" Jean called out hesitantly as she hurried towards the elusive sound. Reaching the alleyway, she peered around carefully, and saw nothing except some old beat up garbage cans, some of the trash long since spilling over on to the ground.

" Mrroowww..."

Jean gasped as a lop-eared tabbey cat crouched onto the rickity fence lining the alleyway, its yellow eyes glaring balefully at her. She took a step back and the cat suddenly yowled at her and ran away. " What-"

" You don't belong here."

Jean cried out and whirled around, falling into a defensive stance. A strand of red hair fell into her eyes and she brushed it away automatically. " Duo?"

A young boy, almost anorexically thin, perched on a cement block in front of the streetlight. It's fading light cast the front of the child in shadows but Jean had no trouble seeing his eyes. Violet beams drilled into her, mentally taking inventory of her, who she was, what she wanted. Long, chestnut hair straggled down the slender form, the light wind whipping clumps of it over and around his face but those eyes never wavered. The child couldn't have been more then seven or eight, but the voice that answered her gentle query sounded years older.

" So?"

Jean swallowed and took a step forward. Young Duo growled, and she stopped.

" I'm a friend," she said gently, meeting his gaze openly. Her mind exuded thoughts of peace and goodwill, but the boy's muscles remained as taut as pulled wire.

" No friend of mine," the child finally spoke, crossing his arms defiantly. Jean almost smiled and she crouched down, meeting his gaze on an even level.

" You're right - you don't know me. But I know you." She cocked her head to one side. " And I know your friends."

" Friends?" The defiant gaze almost dropped as a curious lilt entered chibi-Duo's voice.

" The friends you'll have when you're bigger." Jean stood up slowly. " I know you're protecting the real Duo, but I'm only here to help. Can I talk to him?"

Young Duo's cocky brashness dropped away as he too stood slowly. He regarded her slowly, nodding to himself as he came to a realization.

" You're real."

" Yes I am," Jean nodded. " And you are not."

The child smirked at her, then shivered as the wind howled its way along the alley again. Jeans hands found her arms again.

" Duo? May I change the scenery?" she asked, not wanting to overstep her bounds. Some telepaths might have just forced the child to reveal Duo's location and by-pass the acting, but when dealing with the subconscious, irrepareable damage to the persons psyche could be easily avoided by playing along. Jean knew that Duo was hurt enough without forcing her way through his barriers. But the child was giving her a puzzled look, and she frowned.

" What's wrong?"

" Change the scenery?" Duo's young voice sounded unsure. Jean raised her hand, open-palmed.

" May I?"

Curious, young Duo nodded. With a wave of her hand, the snow and wind disappeared, the sun reappearing as if by magic. Gentle warm beams surrounded them, the houses losing their dark appearance. Children's laughing voices could be heard in the background, the rumble of your everyday, typical neighbourhood. Jean was smiling as she turned to look at Duo's mind guardian - and found him pressed back against the fence, eyes wide with shock and fright.

" Turn it back!!" he begged, squeezing his eyes shut. " Don't show me!"

Confused, and slightly alarmed, Jean changed the scenery back to the winter wasteland. Chibi-Duo slowly unfurled himself from the fence, watching her intently, the mistrust back in his eyes. Jean sighed as she took in the defensive nature of the child's stance.

" What happened there?" she asked gently.

" It was happy," the chibi answered quietly, eyes now a dark purple as he stared at her accusingly. " It's not supposed to be happy. 'Cause it'll hurt more when its gone."

Jean sucked in her breath as she realized what the child was telling her. The old adage, 'you can't miss what you don't have' danced through her mind and she blinked back tears of sorrow for the poor child.

" I'm sorry," she whispered. The boy nodded once and stood up in preparation to leave.

" Wait!"

" You can't come with me," the child informed her. Jean's eyes widened as a set of red eyes appeared in the background, watching her, watching Duo.

" Duo?"

" He doesn't trust you," the child intoned, backing away even more. " He doesn't know you and he'll hurt you for sure."

Jean reached out but the child leaped nimbly away. She rushed forward to follow when she bounced off a barrier. Pulsing red translucense, she ran her hands over it and knew that she couldn't get through without applying damaging force. Only trust would willingly weaken the barrier, and she closed her eyes, sensing for the key. She got a faint image of white wings, spread gloriously to the heavens, and a pair of cobalt blue eyes that pierced her to the core. Opening her eyes, she smiled.

" Okay Duo," she whispered, stroking the barrier softly as one would a kitten. " I understand. You're frightened and you don't want to be hurt. Sinister hurt you, didn't he? And you're trying to hide now, using your injury as an excuse." She smiled gently; it was so like Morph it was scary. " I'm leaving now Duo, but I'll come back okay? And I'll bring your friend with me so you don't have to be scared."

Jean stepped back and concentrated. A minute later, her physical body trembled, and her eyes opened to see a worried Heero staring at her intensely. Hank stood next to the professor who also opened his eyes, releasing his hold on the link he'd helped Jean establish.

" It's okay," she said, reinforcing her words with a little mental nudge. " I'm fine."

" Is Duo?" Heero growled, trying unsuccessfully to banish the concern from his voice. Jean shrugged.

" I don't know," she said, her smile fading. " I couldn't find him - he didn't know me, so he wouldn't let me in." Her expression changed, sadness stealing over her features. " It was so dark and lonely...."

" Did his subconscious stop you?" asked Hank with interest. Jean nodded and looked at the Professor.

" You handled it well Jean," said Charles. " To force your way in would have caused more damage then necessary."

Heero was fuming. " What happened? Force your way where?"

Jean turned her attention back to the Wing pilot.

" Duo's mind had a barrier around it. Everyone's does, but thanks to Sinister, his was a little stronger then mosts. I could have gotten through easily if I so chose, but to tear away at the layers of a person's mind could reduce them to the state of a vegetable, if it shatters."

Heero froze, his mind going over the possiblity. " But nothing like that happened?"

" No," Jean said forcefuly. " I would never enter a mind against a person's will. You have to be invited."

" Well, how do you do that?" Heero asked brusquely. "The sooner we do, the sooner we can find out if he's still under some kind of mind control."

Jean smiled at him. In fact, they all did. Heero's eyes narrowed as he realized they were all staring at him as though they had something in mind.

" What?"

" You're going to come with me," Jean said, still smiling.

* * * * * * * *

Wufei followed the sounds of muffled sobs. Inwardly he winced, knowing he was the cause of them, thanks to his callous words back in the kitchen. No doubt, Quatre had been prepared to give him a good tongue-lashing for his rudeness, when Jubilee had beat him to the punch. He cringed as he realized that having left Quatre and Trowa alone back in the kitchen, the Arabian might still get in a tonge-lashing of his own. He shuddered, shoving those thoughts out of his mind and focusing on the task at hand: apologizing to one Jubilation Lee. He shuddered again - it was like re-living life with Meiran.

" Jubilee?" He called out softly as he entered the large living room.The choked sobs instantly cut off as he said her name and he saw the young girl standing at the window, arms folded tightly against her chest, her back half to him.

" What's up?" she asked roughly, keeping her eyes staring steadily out the window.

" Look, I said I was sorry, okay? You didn't have to come out here and--"

" I came to apologize," Wufei interrupted smoothly. " I was extremely rude in saying you had no knowledge of our pain when in fact you experience it just as much. I had no right to say what I did to you and I'm sorry."

Astounded, Jubilee turned and stared at him, jaw dropping open. " You are?"

Wufei rankled slightly - was he really so hard to believe? " Yes, I am," he said testily, and Jubilee grinned at him.

" Sorry - it's just that it's usually me that has to apologize," she admitted with a smirk. " Come to think of it, since for once it's not my fault, let's see you do some grovelling!"

Wufei growled and turned to leave. He'd made his apologies, justice had been restored, his part was done. He was stopped from leaving by Jubilee's plaintive voice.

" Wait!" She tugged his arm enough to turn him to face her again. " Look, I'm sorry - I'm not sure how to act around you so I joked." She stared at him levelly. " You really hurt me, Chang."

" I know," Wufei said. " It was unintentional."

" We've both got our fair share of pain," she continued. " But that just means we may understand each other better right? Can we start over? I really want to be your friend Wufei." She stuck her hand out at him.

Wufei stared at the outstreched hand and smiled inwardly. Solemnly reaching out, he grasped her small hand in his and shook it firmly. Raising his eyes to meet hers, he was rewarded with a genuine smile from the Chinese girl.

" Wufei Chang," he said. " It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lee."

" Likewise," she said as she flung her arms around him in an exuberant hug. Wufei's eyes nearly popped out of his head but before he could even think of raising his arms to return the embrace, she had already danced out of reach, reaching back to snag the strap of his dark tanktop and pulling him back to the kitchen. " C'mon Chang!"

Poor Wufei was dragged out of the living room at high speed and into the kitchen in time to see Jubilee let loose a tiny plasma burst at the intertwined couple on the kitchen seats. Quatre and Trowa both eeped as they were shocked apart.

" J-Jubilee?" Quatre stammered as he tried to calm his racing heartbeat. Beside him, Trowa was flaming fire-red. Quatre also noticed Wufei standing slightly behind the Chinese girl, seeming once again at ease. " I see you two made up?"

Jubilee winked.

" Kinda like you two, neh Quatre?"

Quatre's eyes widened and he suddenly grinned at her, while Wufei joined Trowa in turning an even more brilliant shade of scarlet.

" You fast worker you," Quatre cooed, shooting a sly grin at Wufei. " I didn't think Wufei had it in him."

" Kisama!" sputtered Wufei as he tried to hide his face by thunking it on the table top.

Outside the kitchen, Wolverine listened casually as the tension was completely dissolved. Only his trust that the young ones would work it out themselves had prevented him from introducing that Wufei kid to his claws for making his Jubilee cry. He snorted silently - all of those kids were okay in his book, having seen the way they worked together in taking care of the machines, or how Wufei and Heero had handled both Shinigami and the other X-men back at the warehouse. Turning away, he caught site of the Cajun as Remy sauntered his way towards him.

" Remy."

" Logan." Gambit returned the curt greeting. He heard the laughter emanating from the kitchen and he raised an eyebrow. Wolverine shrugged.

" Goin' downstairs?"

" Just checkin' on how Madmoiselle Grey is doin' wit de kid," Remy shrugged. " Rogue be talkin' wit' Moira by now probably - de woman may be flyin' here to help Le Bete in figurin' out a way to get dem kids home."

" Wonderful," Logan growled. " The madwoman that hates my cigars and follows me around wherever she happens to be, to turn the sprinklers on me when I light up." He scowled at the memory of the last time the X-Men vacationed on Muir Island. Remy burst out laughing as the memory of a soaking wet, bedraggled looking Wolverine stomping through the hallways, drenched stogie still clenched between his teeth.

" Be a pity for you, homme," he chuckled. Wolverine glared at him and looked at his pocket where he knew the Cajun kept his cigarrettes.

" I wouldn't laugh if I were you, *homme*," he said pointedly. Remy stopped laughing as the implications hti him. Clutching his cigarrettes protectively, Remy moved past the smirking Wolverine.

" I t'ink I check on the 'paths now," he muttered, even as his mind began trying to figure out a way to protect his beloved nicotene. Moira was a sadist - and a practical joker at heart. She would find him too. " Bet Roguie'd be happy 'bout dat."

Logan heard his mutter and laughed out loud before disappearing outside. It was a beautiful day.

* * * * * * * * *

Heero was positive he hadn't heard the woman correctly. " I'm going with you?" he asked again. Jean nodded.

" Yup."

" I'm not a telepath," Heero pointed out calmly, stealing a look at the near comatose boy on the sterile bed. " And even if I were, I wouldn't be as strong as you - how could I get past a barrier that *you* can't?"

" Because Duo knows and trusts you," Jean answered just as calmly, one hand idly stroking the chestnut hair that fell along Duo's bed. Heero's eyes zeroed in on her movements and she stopped, smiling inwardly at the fierce protectiveness she was registering. " He'll let you into his mind, and me along with you. Then we can see what's wrong."

" But.." Heero's voice trailed off. he had to admit that it made sense, but that didn't mean he had to like it. Quite the contrary - he hated it. For all his exuberance and vitality, Duo Maxwell was a very private person. The thought of just entering Duo's head and seeing all his secrets made him feel disloyal to the boy he called his partner. There was something just morally wrong about it. " There must be a reason that he's blocking us out."

" There is," Jean said gently. " And we have to know if its Shinigami or Duo keeping us from entering."

The woman's words hit home. An image of the snarling, blood-soaked Shinigami entered his mind and he shuddered in revulsion. That wasn't Duo. They had to make sure.

" Mission accepted," he said tonelesly, eyes going blank and emotionless. Jean frowned as she scanned his projected thoughts.

//Treat it like a mission, like any other mission..//

She shook her head and looked at the Professor. " Sir?"

" Ready when you are, Jean." Charles Xavier closed his mind as he felt Jean re-open the link and anchored himself firmly to his own mind, fastening a similar anchor to Jean and Heero. Jean smiled and closed her eyes, the only signal that Heero was given.

Heero had been sitting when he was suddenly pulled into a vortex within his own mind, and he cried out instinctively. Suddenly he was back on firm ground and he blinked rapidly, noting Jean's steadying presence at his side. He shook his head and looked around, shivering in spite of himself as the winds howled around them.

" Are we in Duo's mind?" he asked in surprise. This was not what he was expecting from the mind of the crazy bouncing American. " This?"

He gestured to the desolate scene stretched before them, and Jean nodded sadly.

" This is what his mind projects," she confirmed. " Sad, isn't it?"

Heero nodded absently as he took in his surroundings. It was so gloomy, and cold. A wave of loneliness washed over him and he started at the feel of it, wondering if that was Duo's emotions he felt, or his own.

" Both."

Heero and Jean both turned at the spoken word and Heero gasped. Chbi-Duo stood in front of them, arms crossed in that familiar, defiant pose. Jean smiled and gestured to Heero.

" Hello again, Duo. Do you know who this is?" she asked carefully.

Young Duo nodded.

" He's allowed," was all he said as he backed away, motioning for Heero to follow him. Heero was vaguely aware of Jean following close behind and he ignored her. He could still feel a faint sense of unease that was growing, and with a start, he realized what it was. He glanced at Jean out of the corner of his eye.

Jean passed him and showed him the barrier. Solid to her touch, he had a pliant, moveable feel to Heero and Jean smiled.

" He knows it's you, Heero," she said joyfully. Heero snorted and looked at her.

" Now what?" Even as he spoke, a section of the wall melted away. Just a bit, but more then enough. Jean clapped her hands and started for the hole. In a flash though, Heero passed her and entered the wall quickly, turning and helping it seal behind him. He heard Jean cry out and he shrugged, only partly apologetic.

Outside, Jean hit the wall futiley, and debated whether or not she should force her way in. Heero was no telepath and there was no telling what could happen to him within the depths of a person's mind. he could be killed, his mind destroyed, and his boy remaining in a coma-state.

:: Professor? Should I go in? ::

//NO!//

Heero's voice echoed around her and she jumped back from the wall in surprise.

:: Heero? ::

//Stay out// came the terse reply, and Jean felt the professor nod mentally.

:: It's up to Heero now, Jean :: he thought calmly.

* * * * * * * * *

Heero waited until he was sure Jean wouldn't follow him. The sense of unease that had plagued him since his arrival in Duo's mind abated somewhat and he knew he'd done the right thing. If they wanted to find out what was wrong, he'd do what he could. But this was still Duo's mind - he obviously had a reason for not letting Jean in. Heero didn't see any way that he had the right to circumvent Duo's reasoning and had entered before Jean could. Now if only he knew what to do. He stepped forward, looking around carefully.

He looked like he was inside the burnt out remains of what used to be a church. Everything was bathed in shades of red and black, and he realized with a start that the walls were dripping with blood. A curled-up form drew his attention and he focused on it.

" Duo?"

No answer. He took another step forward, feeling as though something were watching him.

" Duo, is that you?"

" ...y-you shouldn't have come, Heero..." came the faint reply. Heero gasped as the slender form raised its head, revealing pain-filled violet eyes.

" Why not?" he asked carefully, keeping his voice even even as he felt excitement at finally seeing Duo, *his* Duo. He stepped forward hesitantly. Duo shuddered and curled up even tighter.

" Because *he's* in control right now...."

" He?" Even as he spoke the word aloud, the hairs on the back of his neck rose and he jumped away just as a shining silver blade sliced the air where he'd been standing.

" What the--"

" Crashing MY party?" came a hissing laugh as a familiar, black-clad figure crouched before him. Fire danced in gleaming eyes, the burn of insanity reaching out and attacking Heero with its intensity. Heero took a step backwards as he recognized the growling figure.

" Shinigami..."

TBC....

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*cackles dementedly* I try to be evil.....*Stormy appears in robes, carrying a large sign* " The end is near! The end is near!" *ahem*

Feed the author, onegai!!!

Stormy