Quatre hmmed to himself absently leaning forward over his tea, while holding a pen in his mouth and playing with the green highlighter he had poised over some notes. Twirling the highlighter through each finger Quatre picked at some more printouts that were scattered carelessly all across the kitchen table. It was still early morning. The sun in New Los Angeles had yet to rise but pale shades of gray were already beginning to streak across earth's seemingly endless sky. Sadly however the young ex-gundam pilot seemed oblivious to the pinkish almost red rays filtering through the partly opened blinds. The colors growing in intensity almost seeming to take form and drip onto his little table. Not even noticing the sudden music spilling forth from the radio by the sink. So engrossed into his work that Quatre failed to notice Wufei sneaking up behind him. Trowa standing there with a digital camera or Heero casually leaning up against the entrance to the hallway fighting desperately not to show the gathering anticipation nor the uncharacteristic sparkle in his eyes, at Quatre's soon to be response to being doused by the very Cheerios he had soo carelessly left by the microwave.

/ There... hmm now lets see...../ Quatre thought to himself absently chewing on the end of his pen, the highlighter laying forgotten atop a discarded pile of weapons schematics. Currently he was reading a decoded mission's assignment sent to them by Noin when suddenly he noticed the raining cheerio’s.

In a misguided attempt to save his tea Quatre jumped up hitting his head on the over turned box, knocking Wufei back, and sending the evil little box spinning across the room toward Heero. Heero of course managed to deflect the box with his right arm giving himself a rather undignified little bruise in the process but getting the job done none-the-less. Meanwhile Trowa who was still snapping pictures with his digital camera, noted that the offending box had bounced back at the table, and was now going straight for the tea cup.

Quatre and Wufei ended up in a heap sprawled across the kitchen tiles a few muffled curses making way up through the impossible mound on the floor. Teacup flying back toward the window Trowa dropped his camera lunged for the cup and caught it in mid air just before it could shatter the poor window.

While all this was going on the four exploits failed to notice the small girl standing in the middle of the living room. The child was slight, had bright chocolate brown eyes set in a rather small round face, and had big black
pigtails. Currently the child's hair was ridiculously bobbing up and down as the girl giggled uncontrollably.

Four heads turned in unison staring in astonishment at the grinning six year old. She was the embodiment of cute. She had on a flower patterned light blue sun dress a multicolored plastic beaded bracelet set on one wrist and light blue ribbons twined into her hair- tails completing the ensemble. Innocence on a spring day.

"Hi, my name is Mary an’ my mom went to work, she told me not to leave. But uncle David is passed out drunk on the couch, an mom told me to stay but I was soo lonely. An scared too!! And uncle David just swatted at me-" The child's words seeming almost to take on a disparate tone while tears welled in her bright eyes..

Quatre was the first to crumble. He was at the child's side like lightning, comforting her and telling her that everything was going to be alright. Wiping at her tear streaked face with his thumbs he’d even told her that she could stay with them until her mom got home from work. Anything to get the kid to stop from crying.

"Really?" the child asked, tears threatening to break free again.

Quatre bit his lip and inwardly winced as he realized the searing glares his turned back was most likely receiving at this point for being soo weak.

"Really"

Quatre choked out, throwing a questioning glance back over his shoulder. After looking at Wufei’s scowl, Heero’s look of 'I want to kill something', and Trowa’s slightly upturned mouth. Quatre looked back. "Yeah kid but only for a couple hours. We’ve ahh.... got to leave in a few hours." Quatre replied smiling, while absently messing the child's hair.

No one even considering to ask as to *how * the child could have disarmed the light security system, or how the dead bolt and handle locks were picked. A grave oversight that would soon be remedied.

*****

Duo didn't quite know where to go, but he'd defiantly been right. It hadn't been pretty. He was once again in the foyer after retching he had stumbled his way back here.

Now he sat on the floor, knees drawn to his chest, violet eyes seemingly gazing out at nothing. Duo had to think but the pounding in his head had to stop first. Duo took a few deep breaths, trying to clear his mind. It was a futile effort because once the air hit his nostrils he could smell that sickenly sweet smell of blood. Fresh blood.

Still seeing spots he stood up, leaning heavily against the wall and began to make his way toward the stairs. Wincing with each strained step as his head tried to turn itself inside out. If he could just make it to the upstairs bathroom he'd be ok. He just needed his pills. Straining to see straight he found the banister and using it as a guide he began to ascend the stairs.

/Think Duo!!!/ He screamed at himself. He knew this wasn’t the first time he’d ever seen a dead body. He didn’t know how but he just knew. Someone had done a really shitty job at a double set up.

Duo closed his eyes at the all too ready image of Lindsey’s body. There had been so much blood. She hadn’t just been murdered she’d been tortured. Small paper thin cuts had tinted the whole of her body an almost pinkish color. The bruises on the upper part of her torso had been caused by hands, very strong, very angry hands.

Dimly he became aware that he’d made it into the bathroom and was now starring at his image in the mirror. Tears threatened to invade his clearing vision as he searched the cabinets with hands that just wouldn’t stop shaking. /It was a set up./ Lindsey’s body was down stairs covered in blood, but Jarod hadn’t done it.

/ It was a fucking set up! /

What had *really* happened became more, and more obvious as Duo began a once over of the premises. Viscously Duo scrubbed at the tears that threatened to invade his vision and hopelessly bit back sobs in a futile effort to contain his emotions as he moved from room to room with an odd sort of detachment. Vaguely it became more apparent that the raging lick of these confusing emotions wouldn’t break him. He hurt. Oh god it hurt, but ..... It helped to think of it as more of a job, somehow it was just less real that way. It helped to pretend.

As Duo began to pack he also started mulling over the situation, rolling it around in his head until he felt slightly sick. First he’d believed that it had been only a robbery. But.... Somebody’d done a purposely poor job of making it look like Lindsey had simply stumbled in upon *that.* Second it was designed to make it look like murder. A murder carried out by Jarod, Duo had found evidence of that via the trash, and the smell of liquor spilled all over the living room carpet.

/A crime of true passion. / Duo mussed to himself. Jarod would never have killed Lindsey, let alone tortured her. No somebody’d been here and they wanted information. Weather it was about Jarod or himself he just didn’t know.

Duo finished packing. So that the police would not be able to pin his ever packing Duo left clothes all over the floor. Scattering everything as haphazardly as he could. It would be obvious that Duo was missing but if he played this thing right they would never even know he’d made it through the front door.

/Also missing, but not dead./ Duo smiled. Jarod wouldn’t be the only suspect. The problem? they were looking for a man who had forgotten his past and taken on the name Heero. No last name, but it didn’t matter he had a clean slate, the cops would have to settle for a description, a very vague one at that. Then again they *did* have his picture on file. /What else did they have?/ Virtually nothing, they hadn’t been able to track his identity two years ago, why would they be able to do it now? What with everything Duo had read about the war, there were just too many people left unaccounted for. That would help but he had to concentrate on the problem at hand.

There was something about *this* that Duo just didn’t like. /Why on earth would anybody wanna set up Jarod?! And just how the hell do *I* know what I’m doing?.... I don’t! It’s just natural for anybody to wanna get the hell outta here especially when they suspect fowl play./

It was more than obvious that the killers had known what the hell they’d been doing. It would be scenario number two the police would take, it *had* been Jarod’s .38 special used to put that hole in Lindsey’s chest. The very gun Jarod believed Duo knew nothing about. The kitchen knife carvings hadn’t been done out of mutilation, no each cut had been precisely made to cause the utmost pain without bleeding the victim to death. It was a great method of torture because they could have kept her alive for months if need be.

Duo grimaced as he realized that he *could* take on an objective point o view. /Shouldn’t I be upset? Running around in hysterics? / But no. . . he was calm, silent. Almost like death was a second nature to him. And that bothered him, upset him more than anything he’d seen today. That he could take in such a scene and not be completely devastated. /I must be crazy/ he mussed to himself.

The killers were professionals of that much Duo was positive. He smiled grimly at his progress as he made his way to the old POS jeep Jarod had been keeping in the garage forever. The holes in the sides where the rust had eaten away at the metal. The thin white splotches of primer marring the sun-faded attempt at a blue paint job It sure looked like hell but it would run. Jarod had slowly been fixing this thing up he and Duo had gotten it purring like a kitten in the last six months. All that had been left was to make it look good.

Sighing to himself Duo threw the bags in, jumping in himself he gunned the engine and sped off. The sooner he could leave this place the better. He would leave an anonymous tip just as soon as he could get away. As soon as he knew that he was at least somewhat safe.

Duo pulled over on to the highway no less than two miles away from the place Duo’d called home for the last two years. He was sad to see it go but..... he *had* to find Jarod. He had to know the truth. Besides Jarod was the only family he had.

As he drove the more Duo thought about the situation the angrier he became at the killers. They’d used dirty kitchen knives, and then left them right there by the body. And now Jarod was conveniently missing. /Damn it! Where the hell are you Jarod?/ The only other person they could pin this on maybe would be Duo. He didn’t have much of an alibi, and Jarod was missing. He had known ever since he set foot in that old house not less than an hour ago he would be leaving probably for good. He wasn’t trapped in a meaningless life anymore, no. . . now he was trapped in a hell. A hell that hurt far worse than he ever could have imagined. Half of his new family missing, the other half dead. Duo closed his eyes sucking in a deep breath, the horror he could handle, but not the emotions. Tears began to fall free from thick lashes, spilling down Duo’s all too pale face.

He would find Jarod, he knew things would never be ok. If he could only find his adoptive brother, his only living family. He needed something to cling to-- some tiny hope that Jarod was still alive. Duo sighed as a light warm spring drizzle began. Soaking his shirt, making him feel cleaner. The cold beads of water running down his back making his shirt cling to him almost like a second skin. Washing away the tears, reminding Duo that even if things would never again be ok, in a way they would. Resolving that feeling sorry for himself wouldn’t help any Duo leaned back against the cool wet seat. Flipping on the radio, and cranking it as high as he could Duo decided that ‘what would be.... would be’ He smiled at that. The first *real* smile he’d had in a long time. It wasn’t even noon yet and Duo was already ass deep in alligators. This *had* to be some kind of record or something.

Maybe he would find some answers in New LA, maybe not.

*****

Wufei winced as he peeled the clean, sweet smelling sheets back from his small bed breathing in thoughts of a very promising rest. He placed another pillow toward the bottom for his ankle. He’d fumbled his way through a rather uncomfortable shower, ankle protesting with each movement.

/ Damn that Quatre/ He’d had to work serious overtime last night trying to convince the *informant* to help. Then fighting off a gang of would-be rapists only to have his efforts at a get back at Quatre for setting up the whole charade squashed with his undignified fall in the kitchen and a wonderfully twisted ankle.

/Figures/ Wufei mumbled to no one in particular. Now Quatre had taken in that little deviant. /Damn that kid is energetic. / Wufei smiled to himself. She’d kept them busy all morning carelessly flitting to any activity that popped into that quick, little, mind of hers. If Wufei didn’t know better he’d have thought that she was trying to wear them down on purpose.

At first they had all agreed that Quatre should have the burden of watching the little firefly. As a sort of “you took it in... you take care of it.’ That idea quickly wore off however. Heero would never admit it but Wufei thought he had looked slightly entertained when the girl kept pestering him ‘cause he wouldn’t come out an play’ Even Trowa had helped volunteering to make her some hot cocoa. But now the kid was fast asleep atop an endless supply of pillows and blankets that he himself had drug out from the hall closet. He smirked leaning back against the pillows resting his eyes.

Once the kid had finally closed *her* eyes Quatre had filled them all in on their new mission details. Wufei would be leaving with Quatre later this afternoon, while Heero covered their tracks. Trowa would go to set things up in a new district and await further instructions. Then Heero would meet Quatre and Wufei at another designated safe house in the same district. But first Wufei got to sleep.

Still Wufei wasn’t too happy with his latest mission. He hadn't’ been able to obtain any solid confirmation of the Outer Colonies reaching earth but even the space ports were still too close. There had been only a few all?out attacks along the rim in the last few months, but they still didn’t even know what they were fighting. They hadn’t even known *who* until the thought to be lost Outer Colonies started sending transmissions to the farthest spaceports, and a few ships picked up the omissions.

/Hnn... always hunting/ Wufei sighed burrowing deeper into his covers, absently kicking at the ice bag covering his ankle.

Two years. It had only been a little over two years. Wufei bit down hard on the sob that threatened to break through the silent barrier that had settled over his room. / No! For Maxwell no tears shall be shed. I will not weep for Duo! If I could sentence him to a pain worse than death, I’ll be damned if I will do him dishonor with such pitiful displays of weakness!!! /

Wufei closed obsidian eyes, thick, dark lashes catching the teardrops that threatened to annihilate his restrain. Shuttering at the memories of a subdued Duo.

The outer Colonies... salvation... vengeance... revenge... justice. Their only chance for repayment on Duo’s behalf.

Wufei sighed, letting his body claim exhaustion. The last tendrils of consciousness slipping away.

/ If only. . . /

*****

If there was one thing Heero Yuy hated more than living among civilians, it was shopping with them! They were so damned-- Heero couldn’t even think of any words to describe the amount of incompetence.

Heero bit down on a yelp as a rather well endowed woman sporting two very loud children, a purse Heero could have easily hid an uzi in, and the very shopping-cart-from-hell Heero was currently glaring at-- when it threw itself into his side for the third time. The boy behind him cackling menacingly *again*. Heero looked up as the *lady* bid him a rather unsorry like apology and then hastily made her way around to the next aisle holding back what Heero was certain to be a giggle. Heero turned to glare at the boy.

No-- Heero never really liked the whole blending in “we’re working undercover” thing. He much rather preferred the *direct* approach. Heero almost smirked--almost. Throwing in an extra can of chicken and stars soup for Wufei, Heero carefully began to make his way toward the Asian foods aisle. He never quite knew what brand of wako’s he would find each time he visited *that* particular aisle. For all Heero knew some sort of cult had been started on this side of the earth, and they all thought that they needed to loom near the boxes of tea in every grocery store.

This time it was two teenage girls standing at the end of the aisle debating various herbal remedies and their effects. . . Heero mentally sighed as they spotted him approaching--he had half a mind to turn around and tell Quatre to “get his own damn tea” when he noticed the same small boy that he’d seen earlier round the corner attempting to act nonchalant about something and failing miserably.

Aside from the fact that Heero already knew what that *something* was, he found himself walking down toward the tea anyway. The kid couldn’t be more than thirteen. He still had that rounded look of innocence in his face. His clothes were plain just an old t-shirt and a pair of jeans but the silver and gold ring set on the boy’s left hand gave the whole “I’m Innocent” illusion away. The thing that really struck Heero was the chestnut coloring of the boy’s hair, and the length-- it just barely hit his slender shoulders. While it was nothing compared to Duo’s Heero couldn’t help that brief flicker of pain.

Damnit! He couldn’t do this-not now. Biting his lip Heero shifted the basket to his left hand allowing easier access to the .44 he had at the small of his back, if push came to shove he really didn’t want to be playing with the knives he had on his wrists. Too messy. He’d holstered the gun so that it lay just under his light blue jacket. He preferred black, but for some odd reason people tended to trust you less when you were wearing black. They always thought you were hiding something. Go figure.

If this kid was part of the local circle--well at least Heero would get to play “Direct Approach.”

*****

“Pick up pickuppickup! Damnit!!!”

/ JANACE GET YOUR LAZY ASS OUTTA BED!!!! / Duo mentally screamed as the phone mercilessly continued to ring. Duo anxiously twirled the phone chord around one slim digit while scrutinizing his surroundings. The hotel’s muddy parking lot was beginning to harden under the harsh light of the sun while the remainder of the rain reflected up at Duo’s latest headache.

It was still only a dull throb, but if he didn’t get some sleep soon-- he would be throwing up his breakfast/lunch before the hour was out. He grimaced, luckily he’d been able to find an at least somewhat out-of-the-way-hotel.

Nicknamed “The Inn” this one story hotel was far better than the one Duo had woken up in last night. At least what Duo had seen of it so far. He still hadn’t gotten the chance to actually go to his room yet.

He’d started out with a small breakfast of coffee and a bagel. He was surprised that he could even think of food at all after everything he’d seen that morning. But his stomach had been very adamant about his eating something with those pills he had taken.

Finally after about the twelfth painful ring a sleep bogged voice muttering profanities answered with a barely concealed, very annoyed-- “Hello?”

“Janace! Goddamnit! Where have you been?!”

“Heero it’s too early in the fucking day--what do you want now?” Janace drawled on the other end.

Duo grimaced at the ‘now’ part, mostly because he sort of felt sorry for last night. He couldn’t remember *everything* clearly but he vaguely remembered seriously bitching Janace out and her doing the same or maybe it was more her bitching...

“Janace, you’ve got to listen to me-- You and Jarod were lovers right? And from what I’ve gathered you two go way back. Farther than he’ll ever talk about--”

“Heero! What the hell-?!”

“Listen what can you tell me about Jarod that *he* hasn’t Janace? You knew him before I did.” Duo took on a more somber tone, all the anxiety draining out of him and turning into exhaustion.

“Ok Hee-- Wait just a god damned minute. What's going on?” a brief pause and then “You're not even on my caller ID!”

“I blocked it?”

Duo heard a long sigh on the other line along with the sounds of someone making coffee.

“Ok H--or is it Duo again?” Janace asked sounding somewhat skeptical.

“Duo.”

“Duo? Would you care to start out at the beginning?”

“Not really, it’s rather dangerous...”

“Oh hell! Fine! All Jarod ever gave me was a number. It's for some guy called Nick Martinez--said if we was ever in trouble ta call it. . . .”

*****

The last thing Heero Yuy expected when he walked into the kitchen sporting a few groceries, the mail, and a few boxes of ammo was to find Quatre and Trowa sprawled across the kitchen table. Then again the only unusual thing about this was the fact that it was in fact the kitchen table!

“So. . .” Heero looked around. “where's the kid?” Heero asked trying very hard not to laugh at the look on Quatre’s face. If it got any redder Heero wasn’t too sure what would happen. Then again. . .

“We....umm...that is--” Quatre sat up detangling himself blushing furiously.

“Put her in *your* room” Trowa finished for the grinning boy.

“Aa.” Heero nodded and then went about putting the groceries in a line on the counter. All the while blinking back tears of laughter.

Quatre looked down at his hands, kneading them furiously in his lap and trying *really* hard to come up with something to say. He felt guilty. Heero was alone now. Trowa on the other hand didn’t really seem bothered. It wasn’t like they were naked or anything. /Well./ Trowa mussed to himself /not yet anyway. .. .at least not fully./ Trowa groaned as he bent over to pick up the shirt Quatre had thrown down to the floor. When he stood up he smoothed Quatre's hair back and kissed him lightly on the forehead. Slipping the t-shirt over his head Trowa went about helping Heero unload everything.

“There’s more in the car.” Heero instructed. “And I saw some kid from the local Circle.” Indicating that Trowa should wait before heading out to retrieve the bags. “He tried following me while I was shopping. I lost him before I got home. However I still think it would be wise if we got the hell out of here A-sap.”

“You want to leave later this evening then?” Trowa questioned.

“Yeah after Quatre and Wufei leave rent us a hotel room. I need to finish loading some more info before I leave. Besides if you show up early in district 02 there may be a few suspicions."

Trowa nodded and then walked through the kitchen door leaving Heero and Quatre alone. “Umm--” Quatre started to say something but Heero cut him off before he could embarrass himself any more.

“Shouldn’t you be packing? You're due to leave in two hours.”

“Hai. Heero?”

Heero turned to glare at the boy But when he looked at Quatre's face the glare wilted and turned into an understanding small smile.

Quatre’s eyes lit up. He seldom ever got to see Heero smile, really smile. Especially after Duo. Quatre could only remember seeing Heero smile once in the last two years. It was a little unnerving but Quatre smiled back.

As he tentatively made his way back toward his bedroom, Quatre paused at Wufei’s slightly opened door. Pushing it open a little more Quatre peered inside. Wufei lay sprawled across the bed. From the look on his face Quatre could tell that Wufei’s dreams weren’t pleasant. Heero was hardly the only one of them that had been plagued with nightmares for the last two years.

Quatre involuntarily shuddered as he took another step into the room. Noting the neatness, and care Wufei had taken to pass the time. Wufei was like that when something was bothering him, really bothering him. He would slip into a quiet refuge and clean everything in sight. While it proved to be somewhat entertaining at times, Quatre knew that this was defiantly *not* one of the times when the situation was not funny.

He knew he wasn’t the only one to make connections between the Outer Colonies and Duo. They were just all waiting on Heero.

Just then Quatre noticed the warm arms encircling his waist as he was pulled back against Trowa. Quatre was the first one to break the silence.

“He looks soo...soo--”

“Peaceful?” Trowa asked.

Quatre noted the slight pause in Wufei’s breathing as Trowa spoke.

“Welll. . . I was gonna say feminine.” Quatre quipped a grin spreading across his face.

“Winner I heard that.” Wufei rolled over putting his back to them.

“I was just being honest!” Quatre mock protested as Trowa chuckled behind him.

Wufei didn’t even bother to dignify that with a verbal response, instead he flipped them both off and then pulled his blankets up. Settling down to sleep only when he heard the door click shut.

*****

(A few hours later)

Wufei awoke to that wonderful sound of gunshots, someone in the distance swearing, and the faint smell of burning house. He smiled, just a bare curve of lips. Action, something more to do than run errands for idiotic officials that never really got anything done anyway. He’d heard two more shots before he reached under his pillow, grabbing his gun and padding toward the solid oak door. As much as he loved action, there was always, and we’re talking the kind that never fails here, an equal and very opposite reaction. Usually when Wufei and explosives were involved that *reaction* typically proved to be negative.

He moved to the side of the door, and gently tapped the knob. /Cold. / There wasn’t any smoke pooling in through the crack beneath so he had to assume that the fire was, at least for now somewhat contained. Positioning himself against the wall gun at the ready Wufei mentally winced, and bit down hard on his lip as a sharp throb shot up through his foot. Just getting to the door itself had been peachy, but now he’d twisted it wrong again somehow and new pain was raging through all the way up his lower thigh.

When he was done seeing spots, he noted that the house had seemingly gone still, he could hear water running in the bath room but no voices, no signs of life. Wufei held his breath straining to hear even the faintest of movements. After a few more moments his patience was wearing thin, he tapped at the knob again barely giving the chill of the brass time to reach his brain before very quietly opening the door.

Peering into the too silent corridor Wufei for the first time noticed the lack of light, it was defiantly *not* late afternoon, judging from the silvery glow filtering in through the kitchen window down the hall it was past early evening.

"K’so" it was barely a whisper unintelligible beneath the sound of rushing water coming from the bathroom.

Wufei noted the thin slice of light radiating from the partly opened bathroom door as he slid into the hallway. / What in the hell?? /

Ankle protesting with every step Wufei tentatively approached the slight spill of illumination coming from the bathroom. The smell of something burning was defiantly stronger out here, but he still couldn’t detect any signs of smoke or anything else for that matter. Black eyes widening as he realized that he wasn’t alone Wufei barely had time to register the black silhouette out of the corner of his eye. This defiantly ranked somewhere toward the top of his Weird Shit list.