Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Price They Paid ❯ It Walks ( Chapter 27 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The Price: chapter 27: It Walks.

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Betaed by Skippyscatt

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Authors notes: I'm a yogini (I practice Iyengar style yoga) and I have included the names of the
poses in both English and Sanskrit where available. I don't know the English names of some.
Also one style will call a pose something completely different and the same name is used for
different poses in different styles. If I sound confused, I am. If you want to see them, I'm trying
to find pictures which will be available on my website.

~ * ~
Duo was tired, greasy, sweaty and in general filthy and Heero wasn't much better. So when they
got home they headed straight for their rooms and the bathroom.

The sounds they heard from one particular suite made them stop. The last scream was the tie
breaker so they opened the door and rushed in, only to hear.

"Like that?"

"Umm. Like."

Duo started to say something but Heero put his hand over Duo's mouth and pulled him out of the
room.

"We can say our piece tomorrow. Come on."

Duo followed rather sullenly. He was going to make sure that Zechs knew exactly what would
happen to him if he hurt Wufei. He didn't doubt that Heero would have a similar talk with
Wufei. He knew that Heero loved 'Fei, in a brotherly fashion, but he'd definitely taken Zechs
under his protection. And if you were under the 'Gundanium Shield' nothing was allowed to do
you any harm whatsoever. Not even another person under that same shield. Duo didn't think
they would have any problems but a little gentle reminder couldn't hurt.

"Shower, now." Duo snarled as he got his feet tangled in his jeans, he'd forgotten to take his
boots off first.

Heero scooped Duo up in his arms and twirled around and around until he had to lean against the
bathroom doorframe.

Duo laughed and unwrapped his braid, which had wrapped around both their necks, binding
them together like some sweaty Siamese twin joined at the neck.
"Ooooo, dizzy. Heero you're getting silly. I like it." Duo kissed Heero on the tip of his nose.

Heero crossed his eyes at Duo who just laughed harder.

They managed to get into and out of the shower with a minimum of groping and grabbing. Heero
helped Duo with his hair and managed to get it brushed, braided and tied before Duo dragged
him to the bed. Not that he protested too much.

~ * ~

Duo yawned and looked at his watch. "How the hell did it get to be 9 pm. I'm bushed."

Heero pulled Duo's braid gently. "We worked on the walking disaster until 7, picked up snacks
in the kitchen, and spent nearly an hour in the bathroom."

Duo yawned again and rolled into Heero, sound asleep before he finished putting his head on
Heero's shoulder. Heero was asleep soon after.

Heero woke to something tickling his nose. He didn't even bother to open his eyes.

"Duo, stop that."

"Sorry, 'Ro. You do look cute sleeping like that, but we got to get up."

Heero opened one outraged eye and grumbled wordlessly, then he snuggled back down to try to
go back to sleep.

Duo quashed that idea quickly. "Nu-uh. Sorry pal. Up and at 'em. We got to harass Zechs and
Wu', do something vaguely resembling a work out and then . . ." Heero exploded from the bed
and tackled Duo, kissing him into silence.

"I like sleeping late on Sunday. Pest . . . ." He stretched, a full body catlike expression of grace
and strength that left Duo drooling. "Well come on. Let's go pester the newbies."

Heero slipped into the bed behind Wufei and Duo matched him with Zechs.

"Awww Ro. Don't they look sweet? So cute, all cuddled up together like that. Don'cha think?"

Zechs grumbled, Duo could be really annoying first thing in the morning. No one should be that
cheerful in his bed . . . ???

Zechs came away with two jerks and Wufei. Wufei was snarling softly.

"If you two start anything, I'll make you rue the day."

Duo blew into Wufei's face. "I'll never understand what an herb has to do with anything."

Wufei rolled his eyes. "Barbarian."

Zechs took matters, and Heero and Duo, into his own hands. He kicked his legs out and wrapped
them around a startled Heero then snatched Duo into his arms. Heero just grunted, but Duo
yelped and started struggling. So Wufei took advantage of their helplessness and tickled Duo
until he begged for mercy while Heero put up a half-hearted struggle.

They wound up in a pile of struggling, giggling bodies and finally slid completely off the bed
onto the floor.

The thumps and resultant scrabbling noises sounded so ridiculous that they all started laughing
again.

Zechs was the first to gain control of himself. "Ok you two, I'm sure you have something to say
to me. So say it and get it over with so we can move on. I'm sure you have lots to do today. " He
eyed his hands with disgust, they were still tender. "I'd help but I'm not sure what I could do,
without having Chang all over me. And not in a good way." He realized what he'd just said and
flushed heavily.

Duo whooped with laughter and Heero finally had to lie on his back and simply howl.

Wufei eyed them all with disgust. "You are undoubtedly the most immature idiots I have ever
encountered." He got to his feet and headed for the shower. "I expect you in the smaller gym in
not less than three quarters of an hour. No breakfast, if you please."

Duo groaned but realized that eating wasn't a good idea. The last time he had, the results had
been less than happy.

Heero called firsts on the shower leaving Duo alone with Zechs.

Duo simply looked at Zechs for a second.

"Ok best said straight on. If you hurt Wufei intentionally, in any way, I'll gut you like a fish. Got
me?" Zechs just nodded solemnly. "Good. When he's out of the shower you should ask him if
you can join us. It would make him really happy." Duo rubbed the back of his head. "Um m m . .
. . about that warning. I don't mean . . . you know . . . lovers' quarrels and that . . . see . . ."

Zechs held up one hand in a silencing motion. "I know exactly what you mean. I know that we'll
have quarrels. All lovers do. But . . . I will never do anything intentionally to hurt him in any
way. Word of honor." He smiled gently at Duo. "Satisfied?" Duo just grinned and nodded.

Zechs watched as Duo sauntered out the door, his pj bottoms barely winning the struggle not to
part ways with his hips. Zechs decided he was much luckier than he deserved to be.

He waited until Wufei was out of the shower. He'd planned something different, but the mood
was spoiled now. Not that it mattered much, they had plenty of time to discover everything about
each other. Zechs had to admit that his plans were probably a bad idea when he started to get up.

His body informed him that it hurt, in places it hadn't for quite a while. He sighed and ambled
carefully into the bathroom to meet Wufei standing in the middle of the room with something in
his hand.

Zechs shook his head, he knew exactly what it was and he was having no part of it.

"No, I thank you. I don't. . . "

Wufei silenced him with a snort. "If you choose to suffer that is your business. I, on the other
hand, choose that you do not. Now stop arguing with me and bend over the counter." Zechs eyed
Wufei for a second, then started backing toward the door. "NOW!" Zechs gave up and obeyed
his commanding little lover.

As he bent over the counter to allow Wufei to insert the medical suppository, he realized that
Treize had never cared if he hurt or not. He flinched slightly as Wufei inserted the object.

"I'm sorry. I was much too rough with you. I'll be more careful."

"That's ok. I liked it. I like it rough."

Wufei snorted again. "That is neither here nor there. I do not like leaving my partner in pain. I
was too rough. There is a difference between being rough enough and excessively so. I'll learn
your preferences in time, as you will learn mine." Wufei rubbed the small of Zechs' back for a
moment then told him to straighten up. "Shower and then we'll have breakfast."

Zechs did as he was told but turned and smiled at Wufei. "You're going to use the gym before
breakfast? Can I come? Unless you'd rather I not."

Wufei beamed at Zechs. "If you'd like, you are more than welcome. We'll be taking it easy this
morning. Just some stretching and whatnot. Limber Duo up after all the strain he's been under
the last few days. Keep him out of that warehouse for a little. He's going to work himself into a
collapse. I know his way. Shower. Meet us in the smaller gym. I'll have them started by the time
you get there. That'll give me time to assess you."

Zechs obediently and amusedly got into the shower, winding his braid around his head and
fixing it into place with several old fashioned tortoise shell hair pins. They had been his mothers,
Relena had sent them to him a week ago.

He showered and headed for the gym.

As he approached the door, he heard a soft sound. He looked in the door and saw Wufei leading
Heero and Duo through a yoga routine, the sound he'd heard was the soft grunt of exertion Duo
gave as he raised himself into Padma Mayurasana. Zechs blinked, he hadn't thought the brash
young American would be a yogi.

Then he smiled, Heero had followed suit, as had Wufei after checking the other two for proper
form. He stood and watched for a moment as they went from one asana to another, Wufei
leading the other two.

Wufei finally turned to the door and motioned Zechs in. "Either come in or go away. That is
distracting."

Zechs entered and settled into doing a slow sun salutation. It had been at least two years since
he'd done yoga, so he had to be careful to warm up thoroughly.

Wufei checked on Zechs several times, turning his head to make sure that he didn't need help.
He didn't, in fact he was doing quite well. Wufei smirked to himself, Zechs was truly beautiful.
He was stretched out in Virabhadrasana II. Wufei could see why some called it Proud Warrior II.
He had to force himself to turn his attention back to Heero.

Heero was doing a handstand and beginning to bend backwards into Vrschikasana II. Wufei
carefully spoke to him before he took his ankle to guide his foot to the top of his head.

"Duo, I don't want you to try this yet. Your balance is off just a hair. Please do Lagu Vajrasana
instead."

Duo settled into the 'head on the feet wheel' pose that Wufei requested, bending backwards from
a kneeling position and settling into the pose. Wufei was pleased to see that he was breathing
comfortably and not forcing the position. He turned to check on Heero who was beginning to
labor a bit.

"Stop now, Heero. If you force it too much you'll only hurt yourself and be stiff."

Heero didn't argue with Wufei he just released the pose and settled into a full Forward Bend and
relaxed again.

Wufei went to Zechs and bowed slightly. "May I touch you?" Zechs blinked from his position in
Bridge Pose, but said yes.

"I'll always ask if I may touch you. It's polite and warns you that I'm here. You're half way
between Bridge and Modified Bow. You're going to strain something in a minute."

Wufei gently guided Zechs into the proper position then told him to hold it no more than one
minute. Zechs groaned, a minute in this pose and he'd be flat on his back.

Wufei watched Heero drop into Corpse Pose. He hated that name and preferred its Sanskrit one
of Savasana although it meant the same thing. Duo followed Heero into the relaxing final pose
with a soft sigh. Wufei guided Zechs into the same pose and covered him with a light blanket as
he was sweating.

Wufei settled into his own relax and let his mind drift.

After a while Duo rustled around and settled into lotus followed shortly by Heero. Wufei waited
until he heard Zechs stir, then he got up and touched him on the foot.

"They will meditate for a while. Do you want to meditate or go on to breakfast?"

Zechs cupped Wufei's cheek in one gentle palm. "I don't care. If you want to meditate that's
fine, I'll just sit and relax until you're done."

Wufei glanced at Duo and Heero. Duo was sitting with his face scrunched up in the funniest
way, his usual meditative expression, believe it or not. Heero was blank faced, but relaxed.

"I'd like to meditate for a while. So, if you don't mind, I'll sit."

Zechs settled onto a cushion to wait for the three to finish.

Thirty minutes later Duo's nose began to twitch. At first it wasn't much, just a tiny thing, then a
bit more, finally his nose was twitching like a rabbits. Heero calmly opened his eyes and turned
to look at Duo. He smiled and patted Duo gently on the knee.

"Come on. Give it up. You're starting to wriggle. Let's go find breakfast and figure out what
we're going to do with that monster you've saddled us with."

Duo hopped up and headed for the door, dragging Heero behind him. But Wufei stopped them
before they could get too far.

"Yuy, I've had it. Off with that."

Heero looked blank, he'd worn the first thing he'd laid hands on. The ubiquitous black bike
shorts and green tank that he'd worn for years. "Well, what am I supposed to wear."

Wufei shook his head, "I don't care." Suddenly he pounced.

Zechs didn't know exactly what was up but a chance to wrestle Heero into submission was too
good to miss. Even if it took all three of them to do it.

They wrestled around on the floor and finally pinned Heero to the floor. Zechs had him in a full
nelson and was on top of him, Wufei had pinned his legs by laying across them. Duo was flat on
his back, giggling like a girl.

"OK! Guys now that we have him how are we gonna strip him. Ya let go an' he's gone. This is
nice." Duo went back to giggling and Heero glared at him. "Don't give me that high BTU glare.
I'm kinda tired of that outfit too." Duo got a sly look on his face.

Heero struggled slightly, but there was no way to get free without seriously hurting either Wufei
or Zechs, so Heero gave up entirely. He knew they wouldn't hurt him, so he just waited to see
what they would do next.

Duo dipped his fingers into his braid and brought out an object that turned out to be a short,
guardless knife in a sheath. He bit into the end of the sheath and bared the blade. Heero
snickered.

"What are you going to do, cut them off me?"

Duo smirked "Yeah. Sick of the sight of them"

And Duo did. He cut the shorts down the side seams and found that Heero did indeed have
nothing on underneath, he also cut the tank at the shoulder straps and down the sides cutting it
completely in half. He tossed the rags aside and gazed at Heero for a moment.

"Maxwell, you're staring. Find him something to wear." Wufei placidly ignored Heero's nudity
while Zechs tried not to stare.

Heero was all muscle, compact and hard. In this light the scars all over his body showed plainly.
He'd paid quite a price for freedom for others. Too bad he was denied it, for now.

Duo came back with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, obviously he'd planned this. Heero dressed
calmly and started for the door.

"I'm starving. I'm going up to see what Cook has set out. Duo?"

"I'm headed up now. See you there?" Duo went out the door ahead of Heero and pattered away.

Wufei took Zechs by the arm and they followed.

Heero stopped Wufei at the door.

"Zechs, will you go see if the cook will make some of the blueberry scones Duo likes?"

Zechs gave Heero an odd look but agreed to do that and headed for the kitchen.

Wufei looked at Heero and waited.

"Wufei, I love you like a brother, but if you hurt Zechs . . . I'm not going to be happy. Ok?"

Wufei just nodded slightly then said. "I won't hurt him more than he likes and you know I
certainly won't do him any harm."

Heero just gave a jerky nod, turned and went to find Duo.

Wufei watched him walk away with a speculative expression, then hurried after him as he
realized breakfast was in that general direction.

~ * ~

Breakfast was, as Duo put it, down and dirty. Cook, realizing that they were going to eat and run,
had made breakfast sandwiches. Croissants and biscuits, split and toasted, with plates of sausage
patties, fried eggs, and slices of cheese, laid out ready for them to make their own. There was
also orange juice and coffee in carry out cups.

As Duo made his breakfast, he detailed what they had to do today in order to get the Leo walking
before Mick 'bought the farm'.

"He's real bad. I talked to his son yesterday afternoon when I took a break. He's just . . . slowing
down. He's getting weaker and weaker. So we gotta get that disaster walking this week or he
won't be strong enough to do it. But, I'm running out of me. And Heero has to do the hydraulics.
I'm not that good with them and he's the best there is. But we need hoses and not one of those
guys can cut a metal clad hose without leaving the woven exterior in shreds. Can't attach a
coupler if the cut isn't perfect. So . . . once I get done with the last of the servos, I've got to start
cutting hose. Anyone can run the hoses. All you have to do is link the new hose and the old one
and pull the new one into place. Easy as pie." Duo stuffed one biscuit into his mouth, effectively
silencing himself until he could chew and swallow.

Heero sipped at his coffee, thinking.

Zechs shrugged. "I can cut hose. If I wear gloves, which I would have to do anyway, I won't
aggravate my hands." Zechs glanced at Wufei who smiled at him encouragingly. "Wufei can
start pulling the hoses and that leaves Heero to work on the pumps, actuators, remotes and
reservoir." Zechs realized what he'd just detailed and groaned. "Fuck. We're going to be another
three or four days at this, and Relena has invited us all to that damn ball of hers."

Duo gave Zechs a deer in the headlights kind of look and Heero just shuddered. Wufei sighed
this was not going to be pretty.

Heero just shook his head. "Let's worry about that after we figure out who's really doing what."

Duo had his mouth full so he just raised an eyebrow at Heero.

"Ok, Zechs, you start cutting hose. Wufei, put on the couplers. I'll start on the pumps and when
Duo gets done with the last of the servos he can start on the remotes. After the pumps I'll do the
actuators and Duo can replace the reservoir in under thirty minutes. That leaves us time to test
every thing and make sure it really works before we get mick here to walk it. Any suggestions,
remarks, emendations or bitches?" No one said anything. "OK. Let's go make that bitch walk."

When they got to the warehouse, the only person there was Bill, who was sweeping up for the
lack of anything better to do.

Duo sighed. "Hey, where's everybody?"

Bill leaned on his broom. "There's a big thing over in the industrial district. WEI warehouses are
being gutted by someone, completely emptied of everything. So the entire squad was called up to
guard them. You don't know? I thought . . . but . . . well shit."

The look on Duo and Wufei's faces was enough to tell Bill that he had put his foot in it
somehow.

Duo was dialing his phone, while Wufei swore and dialed his.

They both got the same story, 'it wasn't that big a deal, it wasn't worth bothering them with.'
Duo looked at Wufei and snarled.

Wufei called Quatre and got a message that he was 'out of contact due to time lag, please leave a
message' he snarled again and snapped his phone closed.

Duo mean while had gotten hold of Mr. Lyons and was reassured that it really wasn't that big a
deal, it just needed a lot of man power. Mr. Lyons also told Duo that he had a full report in his
email. Duo groaned, he hadn't checked his email in three or four days.

"This is my fault. Dammit! I've been slacking off, messing around with this Leo. I've got to go
into the office next week and catch back up. Fuck! Ask for a responsible job then . . . son of a
bitch."

Duo picked up a wrench and threw it at the Leo. It didn't do any harm to it. Hitting a mecha built
to withstand anything up to and including a bazooka with a wrench just made Duo feel a little
better.

Heero walked over and put his arms around Duo. "I'm sorry. It's mostly my fault. I just . . .
sorry."

Duo hugged Heero back. "No, it's not your fault. I was so glad to have you back that I took two
months vacation. But they need me around and I'm done slacking off. Even if Q did understand.
I have a job I'm supposed to be doing and I'm not. We get this bitch walking and I'm gonna
have to put in some serious time in the office and on the training grounds."

Zechs didn't make any remarks, he just started cutting hose. Wufei joined him, checking the
computer screen to see which ends went on the hose Zechs was cutting. This was why the
computer had been so critical. It had all the specifications for hydraulic hoses and pressure
requirements for the pumps.

"Zechs?"

"Umm"

"I have to go back to work too. I took off as well. You . . . want . . . um?"

Zechs didn't turn his head. Cutting a woven metal clad hose was nothing to look away from.
"Say whatever it is and be done with it."

"I'll talk to Quatre if you like. He'll be glad to have you aboard."

Zechs grunted as the hose parted cleanly. "Don't need charity."

Wufei picked out the proper end and started attaching it. "Not charity. You have skills we could
use. Duo's right. We've been slacking off. You saw the quality of recruits we're getting.
Pathetic."

Zechs clamped the proper place on the mother hose and started the next cut. "What the hell is
Winner up to anyway?"

"Creating his own police force. Without borders to complicate moving stolen goods, thieves are
taking over the whole of ESUN. They're gutting commerce. WEI is losing up to fifteen percent
of its manufactured goods and computer theft is through the roof too. So . . . instead of relying
on over worked and, frankly, ignorant police forces, Quatre is creating his own security force.
Under Duo's and my tutelage.

"When Heero was released, we went a little foolish. We both immediately took off for an
extended sabbatical, as Quatre called it. But we've messed around too long. We're losing control
of things. If we let the old school creep in behind our backs, we might as well take up knitting or
something. All Quatre's good work will be wasted. We have to get back. Soon."

Zechs nearly cut himself when he realized that the offer was serious and Quatre was effectively
making his company a political entity.

"Shit."

Wufei looked up quickly. "Cut yourself?"

"No. Talk to Quatre for me, please. I want in."

"Ok. You done with that section yet?"

Wufei waited until he had several lengths done, then he went through them and sorted them.
They were cut according to lengths. So many of this length with this coupler, then so many of
another and so on. But they went into different parts of the suit, so he was sorting them
according to where they went as they got them made. It would make installing them much easier.

Bill came over to ask if there was anything they needed. He cast an envious look at Wufei, but
didn't say anything. By now he had realized that working on even a low level mecha, like a Leo,
was a lot harder and more complicated than he'd realized.

Wufei straightened up and realized that it was almost noon.

"Yes, we all need something to eat. And not that garbage from the lunch wagon." He dug into a
pocket and handed Bill some money. "Go to that Chinese place in the alley behind the yards and
order a dinner for eight. I'd call on the phone but that's guaranteed to foul up things. Make sure
they understand that we want these dishes; a chicken, a beef, a seafood, a tofu, a vegetable and a
pork. Also plenty of pot stickers and egg foo young. Triple rice. And three thermos bottles of tea.
If you try to get all that over the phone, they're sure to get confused. Ride back with the delivery
man. Ok? Got everything?"

Bill nodded. He'd taken a piece of scrap paper out of the trash and written everything down. He
showed the paper to Wufei who nodded his approval and even complemented him on his writing.

Bill glowed with pleasure and headed off to walk the several blocks to the restaurant.

While Bill was gone, they all sat down to rest and visit. Duo explained the whole situation to
Zechs while Wufei interjected a comment from time to time. Heero knew most of it from
exchanged emails but some of the information was new. He realized that Duo and Wufei had
been dealing with a very sensitive situation. Quatre was indeed up to something big.

Zechs sighed. "So you need Mr. Lyons as a liaison between you and adults outside the
company?"

Duo nodded. "Wufei uses him to, from time to time. It sucks, but most of the people in the
company know better than to put up a fuss for working with us." Heero smirked at Duo. "Ok,
asshole. I know I look at least four years younger than I really am but . . .never mind. That omae
o korosu look of yours is enough to ensure cooperation from anyone."

Heero snorted. "Not. Have trouble all the time. It's just that I don't need cooperation. All I ever
needed in prison was to be left alone. That's easy to accomplish. Just snub people often enough
and they go away. You need active cooperation and that's a lot harder to get. Especially when
you look twelve."

Duo smacked Heero on the shoulder. Heero jumped up and ran into the warehouse with Duo
after him, yelling like a banshee. They ran around yelling and laughing with Zechs and Wufei
calling encouragement to both of them. Finally two things happened. Duo got Heero in a
headlock and Bill came back with the food.

There was every thing that Wufei had asked for and two extra dishes. The delivery man even
brought real dishes and a cardboard box to return them in. After he laid out the food he bowed to
Wufei and remarked that his 'boy' drove a hard bargain.

Bill checked everything over then announce. "All right. Come n' get it."

Wufei examined the table and realized that Bill had somehow convinced the restaurateur to send
Thai noodles and spring rolls.

"Very good. You did an excellent job. Please, go first." Wufei motioned with one hand to
indicate that Bill should go first.

Bill looked at Wufei then started filling his plate. Duo and Heero joined them and Zechs brought
up the rear.

As they filled their plates, they discussed how they were going to proceed with the repairs.

Duo was nearing his limits and Heero wanted to have Wufei and Zechs work on the more
complicated task of replacing the hydriodic fluid reservoir. Tracking hoses was grunt work.

All of a sudden Bill found himself pinned by four sets of sharp eyes.

"What? Did I do something wrong? I'll punch that . . ."

Heero was shaking his head. "No, you didn't do anything wrong. You want to work on a mecha,
we have a job you can do. Maybe."

Bill perked up, this was more like it. "I want to do it. I might not be able, but I sure want to try.
What do I have to do?"

So Duo explained what was involved in pulling hoses. "All you have to do is hook the new hose
to the old one and pull the old one out. That'll track the new one right into place. If it hangs, get
one of us. I'll write numbers on the couplers in a special marker. You check with the computer.
It'll show you exactly where the hose is. The old couplers will be engraved with the proper
numbers. You think you can do that?"

Bill thought. "Yeah, if I need help I'm smart enough to yell. I don't get my balls involved in a
job. That's one of the reasons I get so mad at Mom. I'm not like my dad. He wouldn't ask for
help if his ass was on fire. Soon as I'm done eating, I'll get started."

~ * ~

Bill hooked up another hose and started to carefully pull it out of the finger of the suite. He
hadn't realized that there was so much hose and so many different sizes. There was hose for the
fingers, wrists and ankles. Then a different larger size for the arms and still larger for the legs.
Each piece was connected to a reducer or secondary pump. The thought of the miles of hose in
the suit made him cringe. And it all had to be replaced.

He'd already had to call for help three times, each time the hose had hung because it was so
worn the covering had shredded and the loose strands of the covering had caught on something.
He was definitely beginning to regret being so sure that he was capable of doing what the so-
called G-boys had. This was hard, dirty, and complicated.

Duo watch Bill for a few seconds. The guy was all right, he was working as hard as the rest of
them and doing a thankless, mindless job without too much complaining. Not any more than
they were doing at any rate.

"Done with those servos?" Heero leaned into Duo's back carefully.

"Yeah, finally. They all check and double check. I think I'll go ahead and change out that tank.
I'll also go ahead and fill it and connect the nurse hose."

Heero nodded his acceptance. "Ok, won't do for the tank to go dry before the hoses fill. Air
bubbles won't make any difference here on earth and they'd bleed into the vents sooner or later,
but better safe than sorry. I'll start on the actuators."

The both started off with matching sighs. This had turned into a whole lot more work than any of
them had expected. But Heero knew that trying to get Duo to quit now was like trying to reverse
the earth in its orbit.

~ * ~

Late afternoon saw them done with most of the job. Heero straightened up and leaned from side
to side, trying to work the kinks out of his back. Duo was still messing about with something in
the ankle of the Leo. But aside from testing, everything seemed to be done.

Zechs was pulling off his gloves while Wufei pulled something out of his braid. Wufei made a
face and tossed the sliver of metal into the trash.

They met at the big table they had set lunch out on.

Heero settled into a seat and poured himself a cup of tea from one of the thermos bottles. Wufei
took it right out of his hand, so he poured enough cups for everyone.

"We got it done. All we have to do is test it. Bill, I'll call you a cab. Take the dishes back to the
restaurant and go home. If you could come back tomorrow, it would be a real help. And . . .
thanks."

Bill smiled, "Sure. I'll get the dishes back. I promised, after all. And I'll be back tomorrow. We
going to walk that baby?"

Duo nodded wearily. "Heero, will walk her to be sure everything works like it should and get all
the kinks out of the bitch."

Zechs dialed his phone and called for a cab. Then they all helped Bill clean up the dishes.
There wasn't any food left one them, but they needed a quick wipe so they wouldn't stick
together. They packed them in the box and Bill went to the door to wait for the cab.

Duo put his head down on the table and mumbled something about resting his eyes.

"Heero, I need to talk to you." Zechs didn't think Heero was going to make too much of a fuss.
"We have to let Duo rest tomorrow morning. Can you keep him sleeping for a while longer?"

Heero smiled. "If I just lie still, he'll sleep like the dead. He's worn himself out over this and I
don't like it. After all he's been through lately he shouldn't have taken this on. But tell him no. I
dare you. On second thought don't."

Zechs smirked at Heero. "I think it would be about as useless as telling my little dragon no.
Don't you think?"

Heero smirked back. "Worse. Believe me, I know. You can reason with Chang. Give him three
good reasons and he's with you. Duo? Three dozen good reasons won't make an iota of
difference." Heero and Zechs exchanged knowing glances.

Wufei was watching them and wondering what they were whispering about.

Zechs motioned him over and put an arm around his shoulders. Wufei snuggled up to his chest
and sighed wearily.

"What are we going to do about Duo? He's sound asleep at the table." Wufei eyed his friend and
worried at his bottom lip.

Zechs shrugged. "I'll carry him back to the house." He looked at Heero. "If he'll sleep through
it."

Heero shook his head. "You touch him and he'll gut you before he realizes who it is. I'll carry
him. He'll sleep through that. Come on."

Heero hauled Duo to his feet causing him to snuffle a little. When Heero took him into a
fireman's carry, Duo just grumbled something that sounded like 'not now' and 'too rough' then
went back to sleep.

Zechs sighed, he hurt in places he had forgotten he had. Wufei seconded the sigh and raised him
a grumble.

When they got back to the house it was still fairly early, but they were all so tired that it didn't
make much difference. Zechs directed the housekeeper to send meals to their rooms and they all
headed upstairs.

Zechs collapsed across the bed with his arms spread, he was truly exhausted. He wanted a bath
but felt too lethargic to get up and do anything about it. Wufei dragged him off the bed and
ordered him into the bathroom where he proceeded to strip the man naked, shove him into the
shower and follow him as quickly as he could.

After a quick but thorough shower they went back into the sitting room and ate the food that was
there on the coffee table. Zechs stretched and grumbled. "It's too early to go to bed just yet.
Would you like to listen to some music?"

Wufei nodded and handed Zechs the book he'd been reading, then found his own.

They settled down in a companionable way to read for a while before retiring to bed to sleep the
sleep of the 'just'.

~ * ~

Heero put Duo down on the bed and sighed. Duo was greasy, sweaty and smelly. He didn't fancy
sleeping with anyone who smelled like that, so he stripped Duo where he lay then just picked
him up in his arms and carried him into the bathroom.

Heero set Duo down on the small stool in front of the closet and pealed himself out of his
clothing. It was as bad as Duo's.

"Wakie, wakie. Shower time."

Duo opened one outraged eye and snorted. "'m awake. Shower? Mmmm, good. Wake me when
we're done. 'M 'k?"

Heero laughed softly. He was so glad to be back with Duo, he'd have given him a sponge bath if
he'd asked. Instead, he turned on the shower and waited until it was just right, then he got Duo's
arms around his neck and walked him into the shower.

When they were done and dry, Heero enfolded Duo in one of the cushy terrycloth robes Zechs
had provided them and poked and prodded until Duo shambled into the sitting area and plopped
onto the couch.

"There's food here. Eat some and then we'll go to bed. Ok?"

Duo just went 'Hn' and held out his hand for the plate Heero was loading. Heero watched as
Duo just ate what was on the plate.

Heero waited until he was sure Duo was done then he took the drooping plate from Duo and
steered him into the bed. He gently covered Duo with the sheet and folded the blanket just right
so that Duo wouldn't have to struggle if he had to pull it up.

Then he went to Duo's computer and opened his email files. Heero finished the food as he
caught up on Duo's duties. Then he hacked into Wufei's email files and read those.

~ * ~

Heero tickled Duo's nose with the end of his braid. He was always surprised at how soft the hair
was. He was also dismayed at how heavy it could be. Especially when it was wet.

Duo scrunched up his nose and wriggled it. Then he swatted at the annoyance and grumbled.

"Duo. You have to wake up now. Come on. You've slept long enough. Lunch is ready."

Duo yelped and sat up so fast that he bounced on the bed.

"Heero Yuy-Winner. You were supposed to have kicked me out of bed hours ago."

Heero clutched at his chest dramatically. "I've been middle-named. The shame of it all."

Duo snickered and swatted him. "Truth hurts. Dammit. I've still got all the testing to do. And I
wanted to walk that monster today."

Heero handed Duo a glass of orange juice and waited while he gulped it down. "It's been done.
Wufei and Zechs left early this morning to take care of that. Bill was there, so we took it out for
a short walk. Works like brand new." Heero aborted Duo's fit. "I know you wanted to be there,
but you're so tired that you wouldn't have been able to keep awake for the fun part. Zechs and
Wufei are taking a nap right now and I haven't even started to reach the end of my reserves. So .
. . don't fuss . . . please?"

Duo gave up, when Heero gave him that particularly sweet look, all he could do was cave in.

"Ok. I won't fuss. Can I have pancakes?"

Heero shuddered but allowed that Cook would fix him anything he wanted.

Cook fussed, made pancakes and delivered them to the conservatory. The table set up in the
middle of the room by the fountain had already become a favorite place for the two. Duo had
surprised Heero by shyly admitting that he liked the orchids and the lush foliage.

Duo looked up from the plate in delight. "You even put on the peanut butter right. Thanks. This
looks great. OhboyOhboyOhboyOhboy" Duo dug in, cutting off a big bite and stuffing it into his
mouth.

Heero just hoped the jug on the tray contained milk, otherwise Duo was going to choke.

Zechs and Wufei wandered in about the time Duo was half way through his second plate.

Wufei settled in one of the Papa San chairs, accepted a cup of tea from Zechs, and eyed Duo's
plate with revulsion. Zechs got himself a cup and sat down with Heero and Duo.

After eyeing the plate for a moment he made a face. "What is that? Peanut butter? Ugh. That's
just plain nasty. I think I'll sit over there with Minglong."

Wufei smiled into his cup. "Sorry, Bihai. I knew you wouldn't believe it unless you saw it . . .
never . . . I repeat never get close enough to smell it."

"You, sir, are just plain cruel. That was enough to throw me off pancakes for months."

"Well, you'll just have to eat waffles instead."

Duo started to say something, but Heero kicked him firmly under the table and he stuffed a fork
full of pancakes into his mouth instead. For which they were all grateful. Zechs warily wondered
what Duo ate on waffles, then decided he didn't want to know.

Duo finally swallowed the last bite of pancake and gulp of milk. He wiped his mouth on the
napkin and stood up.

"Ok guys, let's get this show on the road. I'll go see if Mick can make it today."

Heero patted Duo on the shoulder. "I already took care of that. He's on the way. We're going to
walk it at 2pm, so we have time to get there, set up, and be ready"

Duo relaxed against Heero, he'd been so alone during most of his life that he sometimes had
trouble remembering that he had friends now. Friends who would help him do what he needed
to.

~ * ~

It didn't take them long to get to the warehouse. Zechs had had enough of 'tramping through the
woods', as he put it, so they took a car. Zechs drove, with Wufei beside him, and Heero necked
with Duo in the backseat.

"Don't encourage them. They're bad enough in bed." Wufei realized what he'd said two seconds
before Duo swatted him on the back of the head. Heero and Zechs both nearly died laughing,
Zechs even pulled over for a moment so he wouldn't have a wreck.

The warehouse didn't look much different from the day before, but there was a certain
something in the air. An excitement that wasn't there before.

Mick arrived and Duo was glad they'd gotten 'the bitch' walking in time. He looked like hell
warmed over, so thin his skin hung in folds around his neck and pale. The disease was wasting
him away to nothing.

"Hey, Mick. We got it going."

Mick nodded wisely. "Yeah, my Sheila is a good girl. She'll do anything I ask her to do." Mick
shambled towards the lift cable, but Duo took him gently by the arm.

"Mick, you're a war hero. We don't use lift cables any more. Got a real nice cherry picker right
here. Come on. Right in and we'll go up and you can walk her around. See if we did a good job.
Whaddaya say"

Mick smiled happily. "A new lift system. I always said that there ought to be a better way. But
the cable is good. Don't have to wait for some ground pounder to line up the stairs or what not."

Duo helped Mick get into the chair and guided his shaking hands to the controls.

"Mick, who's Sheila?" Duo had wondered who the girl was for days, now he was going to find
out.

"The Leo. She's Sheila. My pretty gal. My Sheila. Give a guy a minute can't ya"

Mick wasn't being hateful, he just knew he was going to cry and wanted to do it alone. Duo
realized it too, so he just said 'sure' in a cocky tone of voice, told Mick to start her up when he
was ready and left Mick alone with his 'girl'.

It didn't take long for Mick to pull himself together and walk the suit. The sight of a Leo
walking around the WEI training grounds soon brought vid casters by the score to find out what
was going on.

Mick saw them and showed off a little, putting the Leo through its paces and generally making
them all oooo and aaahh.

When he finally brought Sheila back into the warehouse, the news people all tried to rush the
place to find out what was going on.

Zechs took the situation in hand before they could mob the suit and get hurt.

He explained what was going on. That Mick was very sick and this was practically a dying wish.
Cameras made camera noises and reporters shoved microphones in his face. He sorted the
reporters by offensiveness. The most offensive to the back the kinder, gentler ones to the front.
His imposing height, reputation, and status, made his decisions stick. Not to mention the twin
buster rifle glares of Wufei and Heero.

Mick came down in the cherry picker and gazed at the reporters with a baffled expression. Duo
explained that seeing the Leo had caused a commotion and they were here to report on what was
going on.

"You wanna talk to them? Or shall I tell 'em to fuck off? Up to you."

Mick decided he'd talk. "I'll give t' drongos someat t' 'ear. But they ain't gonna like it. Don't
care for all this argy-bargy."

Duo smirked, Mick was tired and had descended into Aussie slang with a vengeance. He had
half a mind to let him go on like this but he knew the reporters would make fun of him.

"Mick, cool the Aussie a little. Ya sound demented."

Mick snorted. "I speak the king's English as good as you, boy, and don't you forget it. Bunch a
wankers. Pushin' n' shovin' like they're in a ration line." Mick took a deep breath. "Well, come
on boy, don't just stand there with your dick in your hand."

Duo cracked up. "Ok, ok, old man. I'm comin'. Don't get your knickers in a twist."

They walked over to Zechs with Mick in the front. He stood up tall and straight saluted Zechs
and said. "Mick MacAuckland at your service, sir."

Zechs gave him a casual salute and ordered him a chair, to be put on a dais, which was actually
the back of a flat bed truck draped with a piece of black canvas. Mick settled into the chair and
waited.

Duo brought him some water and Wufei and Heero kept the crowd under control as Zechs
fielded questions of doubtful intelligence.

Mick finally cleared his throat. "I got summat to say an' if you numbnuts don't shut it. I carn't
say nothin'."

There was some jockeying and pushing. Heero threw two teams out entirely. Mick waited
patiently until the uproar was under control again, then he started talking.

"I'm an old man. I spent most of my life in space, trying to make freedom for all the people.
Somehow or other I got some sort of space plague. I'm dyin' as I stand here. These boys here
worked real hard to get my Sheila workin' again so I could walk 'er one more time. I'm thankful
for the life I had, it was good. I got no complaints. Except that, these boys, all Gundam pilots got
the dirty end of the stick. They went through more in eighteen months than I did in all my life
an' their trainin' would a' killed a strong man. Never mind some skinny kid. So, the price I paid
isn't nothin' compared with what they paid. So I got benefits and free health care and a place to
stay. With my nevvy, but nemmie mind that. It's good. No worries. What did they get? Prison
an' humiliation an' all bad stuff. Shame on all a' you. And onya ta them. I salute them all."

And Mick did, standing proud and snapping his salute like a man half his age.

Then he sat down again and whispered to Duo. "I'm all done in now. Can you get rid a that
bunch a' dingo bait?"

Duo nodded "Sure thing Mick. And onya ta you too. Thanks."

The reporters recorded, commented and marveled for a while but were persuaded to leave by the
simple expedite of Wufei getting on the PA system and telling them to get out or get arrested by
the security.

Duo watched Mick climb into his nephew's car, then collapsed into Heero's arms sobbing like
his heart would break. Mick really wasn't long for this world.

~ * ~
The Aussie slang was snatched from various places on the 'net, and my memories of a friend
from childhood. If anything is glaringly wrong, please tell me and I'll fix it.

I know more about hydraulic repairs than most, because I usually wind up working on stuff
myself. I can do just as good a job as some repair 'man' and I'm cheap (free). If you're
interested in more explanations than are in the chapter I'll be glad to bore you for 20 or so pages.
*snerk*