Chapter 17 / 20
Written by Jessi Maxwell - send C&C to Megami_no_Remon@hotmail.com
It had been three months since the happenings at the Guenivere base. Quatre had bounced back to his feet like a flower springs up after the rain, and was once again ready for the world. He still had the occasional nightmare, but he had recovered remarkably well.
Duo didn't spring back quite so readily. He had become very quiet and withdrawn, which was so very opposite his former nature. His eyes were wide and haunted, and he rarely slept. The very few times his insomnia had broken, he had awoken screaming from the nightmares that plagued him. He had already attempted suicide.
No more than an hour after he had been released from the hospital, Duo had practically run for the bathroom. He turned on the shower. The other four were sitting in the living room, playing a game of cards that Quatre had suggested. If cards made the blonde happy, well, they would play cards!
After ten minutes had passed, Quatre looked extremely edgy. "Anou...Quatre, what's wrong?" Wufei inquired quietly.
Quatre shook his head hard. "Duo...something's wrong, I don't...I don't know..."
Wufei stood up. "If it will make you feel better, I can go check on him." At the look of relief on Quatre's face, Wufei smiled slightly and headed for the bathroom. He paused at the door, listening to the water pounding down, and then tapped lightly with his knuckles.
"Du-chan? Are you alright in there?" he asked. His small smile faded when he got no reply. "Duo?" he asked, knocking again. When he still didn't get an answer, a coil of dread curled up from his stomach. Wufei's hand flew for the doorknob and twisted. It was locked. With a vicious curse, Wufei raised his foot and kicked at the door. The commotion caused the other pilots to leap up and run down the hall to see just what was wrong.
Wufei stared in horror. Duo lay in the tub, the water beating down on him and leaving a stained red as it rolled off his body. Wufei wondered how Duo had managed to slit his wrists; he had personally removed all the dangerous objects he could find. His answer came when he noticed the broken light bulb on the floor. Wufei cursed as he hauled Duo from the tub. Quatre made a small choked noise and his hands flew to cover his mouth, his turquoise eyes widening in horror.
Heero was on top of the situation, and had already retrieved a roll of bandages from their first aid kit. With the expertise of long practice, he and Wufei had rapidly bound Duo's wounds.
Luckily, that suicide attempt had failed, and since that incident, someone had always been with Duo to make sure he didn't try again. It hurt Wufei's heart to see Duo this way...the braided boy would try to smile for them, but it was never genuine. The small smile that Duo struggled to put up was over-ridden by the pain in his eyes, and he would cry at night when he thought no one was watching.
But Wufei saw. He saw it all and it hurt him badly to see this beautiful, violet-eyed angel suffering so much. If he could have only one wish, it would be to end Duo's pain.
But no one offered him a wish, so Wufei did the best he could to try and help Duo cope. Heero and Trowa were taking the vast majority of the missions, leaving Wufei with Quatre and Duo. Quatre wasn't fooled by Duo's smile either.
Something needed to give.