disclaimer: the boys aren't mine. i just manipulate them for my own personal enjoyment.
rating: *this fic is not yet rated*
feedback: it's necessary to live...so, yes!
warnings for entire fic: shounen-ai/yaoi, angst, duo/heero torture, language, small lemon-ish spots(?), AU (AC 200)
spoilers: none
pairings: odd....can't explain but it involves heero and duo and 3X4 implied.
notes: another one that came to me in dreamscape. yes, i know, i have weird dreams. you should see what happens after i eat pepperoni pizza ^_~
//heero's thoughts//
:: duo's thoughts ::
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momentary lapse of reason
part 8
The young man shifted his weight to move toward the edge of the bed and brought himself to a semi-seated position, gripping tightly at the metal rails that prevented him from reaching his intended goal.
"Do you plan on helping me or are you just going to stand there?" he asked curtly.
Crossing the room, Heero bent to release the locks holding the guardrail in place. Lowering the metal gate, Heero offered his hand to the injured young man, unable to meet his glance.
"Woah! What exactly do you think you're doing?" a stern warning came.
Heero paused and the two looked up, the harsh voice startling them.
Dr. Skinert made her way across the room and Heero stepped back and away, allowing her to stand beside Duo. Pushing him gently back to lie down, Dr. Skinert brought his leg up, lowering it back down onto the mattress. "I'm glad to see you've woken up..." she started, "but I don't think you're ready to get out of bed just yet."
Heero stood quietly several feet from the bed, observing the interaction between Doctor and patient. The two voices eventually faded into background noise and Heero stepped backward, both hands holding onto the seat of the chair as he lowered himself down onto it.
Initially thrilled to find that Duo had woken, Heero quickly found himself answering his friend's need for assistance. The shock of that was now wearing off and Heero found it being replaced by something he found to be absolutely terrifying. Duo had not an inkling of who he was.
++++++
Heero had no idea of how long he had been sitting there, barely acknowledging the rooms flurry of activity as he remained lost in his thoughts. He had done some research and he knew that the chance of Duo awakening in this state was a strong possibility. It did nothing however to soften the blow.
He looked up as a warm hand gripped his shoulder. "Heero?"
Dr. Skinert's voice was soft and Heero looked beyond her to focus briefly on Duo before looking up at her. There were two nurses surrounding the bed, each busy with a different task as they tended to Duo's needs. Easily reading the confusion and sadness in the young man's blue eyes, Dr. Skinert took Heero's hand and pulling him upright, wrapped her arm around his waist and guided him from the room.
++++++
Seated once again across the huge desk from the red-haired Doctor, Heero dropped his hands into his lap and looked up toward her. "What now?" he asked.
There were always times when being a physician was emotionally challenging. Deep blue eyes looked expectantly up at her and Dr. Skinert inwardly recoiled at the pain she found within them. While this was certainly not the worst news she had delivered, her heart went out to the handsome young man seated before her.
"It's medically known as retrograde amnesia...." she began, Heero's nod allowing her to dispense with any further technical explanation of his friends condition. "It's not a surprising side effect of the head trauma he received. I realize that doesn't make this any easier on you or your friends, Heero."
"How long?" Heero asked.
"That varies. I am fairly confident that Duo will fully regain his memory. It's difficult to say how long……a few months perhaps. It will be a slow process, certain events triggering his recall of the past." she told him.
"When can I take him home?"
Dr. Skinert looked up at Heero, his question somewhat surprising her. "I understand that you are anxious to help your friend regain his memory and his health, but I think it would be best for him to remain here for a while." Heero's confusion clearly visible, she continued "It's going to take time for you to reestablish some sort a relationship with him... to regain his friendship and trust."
Heero nodded as she spoke, the scenario becoming clearer. "How do you go about restoring someone's memory in a situation like this?"
"That depends." She looked up at him smiling. "I think in this case, it would be a good idea for you to approach him, talk with him and see how he reacts to you. He will make it clear if he wishes you to start feeding him information."
Her tone became a bit more serious as she watched Heero's reactions. "Heero...there is a possibility that Duo might not want you to be the one to give him the information he requires. It may be that one of your other friends might be more suited to the task... that Duo might feel more comfortable taking his memories from them."
Heero looked at up at her. "Why would you say that?"
"I've seen it happen before. The relationship you had with Duo before has no bearing on how he feels about you now. He is not the same person. Try not to take it personally if he rejects your offer of friendship.... okay?"
Heero sighed. He didn't like her response, but he could certainly see how it was entirely possible. "Is that all? I should just go in there and talk with him?"
"Yes. And please keep in mind that Duo is working with a clean slate, Heero. There is no past for the two of you. Do you understand?" she asked.
Heero nodded.
Dr. Skinert had politely excused herself from the room shortly after their discussion ended; leaving Heero alone to digest the wealth of information she had just presented him with.
//Do you understand?// Heero's eyes shut tight as he replayed the Doctor's words, his expression shifting to a grimace.
Heero not only understood, he fully acknowledged this as the unprecedented second opportunity of a lifetime to make Duo Maxwell his.
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