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After Colony L8 {sometime later}

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"Aaaaahhhhhh!" the terrified young man screamed as Cathrine moved towrds him, then he tried to scramble further away from her, before huddling down on the ground and curling up into a tight protective ball, whimpering pathetically.

Cathrine watched, not only in horror, but in pain as the young man scrambled away from her and then curl into himself, her heart going out to the terrified teen. All she wanted to do was take him in her arms and sooth away what ever was causing his pain filled reaction. She could see moisture on his cheeks that glisten along with the blood.

Coming to her senses, and realizing that the boy needed help, she frantically shouted for the one person who might be able to give it.

"TROWA!!!"

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Trowa, who was still in his trailer, was puttering around, straightening this or cleaning that. Not one for just sitting still, and trying to keep his mine occupide, When he heard Cathrine cry out his name.

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Hearing Cathrines urgent cry, Trowa literally dropped what he was doing, and ran to see what was wrong, breaking the dish that he had been drying in the process.

Cathrine was still desprately trying to calm the young man down, when Trowa came flying around the corner. He had a worried expression on his face, and his gun in hand when he ran up to Cathrine.

"Cathy!....Cathy what is it?....whats wrong?!" Trowa demanded to know as the young woman ran up to him, to stop him.

Trowa was looking the young woman over, making sure she wasn't hurt, he noticed blood on her fingers and his beautiful green eyes widend in fear and anger.

"Cathy!" Trowa started, taking her hand into his and wanting to know if she was alright "What happend?....are you alright? did someone hurt you?" he asked her, his voice was frantic with worry.

"Trowa!...Trowa calm down...I'm fine...it not me...Please Trowa,...you have to calm down or your going to scare him more than he already is" Cathrine told the usually silent green-eyed teen, as she tried to get him calm and in control, at the same time gently pulling him over towards the crates where the the terrified young man was.

Trowa was confuesed to say the least, he looked at his adopted sister with sorrowful, big, green eyes, and a look of total bewilderment splashed across his normally calm, stoic face.

"What?!...scare who?...are your sure your alright Cathy?...you have...your..." He asked her, as he gestured towards her hands and the blood on them.

Cathrine looked at her hands, then realized why Trowa seemed so unusually upset with out knowing what was up.

"Oh Trowa!...No.. I'm fine really...its not my blood its..." her voice trailed off as she turned towards the crates, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. :::oh...should I tell him?....or should I just tell him it was nothing...then after he leaves have one of the roust-abouts escort the young man to a hospital::: She thought to herself, well aware that Trowa was watching her, questions in his beautiful green eyes. :::God...what am I thinking...that poor child needs help...I can't believe how selfish I was thinking of being....all just cause I'm afraid I might loose my little brother again...no...he would never forgive me if anything further were to happen to that young man...I know, he know's Trowa...I've seen him before.:::: Cathrine contemplate, before coming to her senses and turning back towards the handsome, green-eyed teen.

"Cathy?" called the handsome, young circus performer, as he watched her face and wondered what she was thinking and who she had been talking about, as well as where that blood came from.

"Oh Trowa....come quick!" She told him, taking him by the hand and gently, but quickly, dragged him over towards the crates.

Once there, Trowa could hear faint whimpering sounds.

"Here!" Cathrine thrusted her lanturn into his hand then guided him further into the crates. "I...he's...I think he's a friend of your Trowa,....somethings happen...he's terrified and he wont let me near him....he gets hysterical if I try and touch him." Cathrine told the youngman she treats like a brother, seeing his eyes widen in both shock and disbeief, before he turned and made his way between the crates, lanturn in hand, and gun still drawn.

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Trowa's eyes widend when he heard what Cathrine was telling him, as soon as he had heard enough, he spun around, taking the lanturn that Cathrine had handed him and his gun, and aproached the crates, where he could still hear the whimpers.

As he treaded further, Trowa, detection movement, lifted the lanturn to see who or what Cathrine had been talking about.

Sensing that someone was aproching him, the terrified youngman let out a terrified cry and tried to get as far away from who ever was moving towards him.

"Aaahh!" the scared young man cried out, scampering further back into the crates, then curling up into a whimpering, terrified ball.

The young mans actions had startled Trowa a bit, but it didn't stop him from advancing on the scared, huddled figure, who seemed desprate to just hide from him. Trowa put his gun away and continued to move closer to the terrified youngman, raising the lanturn somemore so that he could get a better look at him.

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"Trowa?" Cathrine had called from where she was, watching, waiting, and praying that her brother didn't get hurt. At the same time keeping the gathering crowd, who had also heard Cathrines frantic call to Trowa, back so that they wouldn't scare the other youngman further.

"Cathrine....whats on earth is going on?...is that blood?...are you alright?...did that person in there hurt you?" asked the owner of the circus, who, was like a father to Cathrine and was slowly becoming one to Trowa as well. Concern was paramount in the older mans voice.

"No Messanger....I'm fine really,....he didn't hurt me...honest" Cathrine told her surogant father, trying desprately to reasure him as well as keep him calm.

"Then whats going on...where'd that blood come from?...who is the in there and what dose he want?" demanded the circus owner, now that he knew Cathrine was alright, he could show more anger.

"Messanger...please,...please clam down...getting angry is only going to scare the child more than he already is!...its his blood thats on my hands....not my own...something.::Pauses::..something terrible must have happend...I think he's a friend of Trowa's" Cathrine tried her best to explain at the same time trying to calm the man down.

"Cathrine?!" Messanger started in his sterndest voice, but he knew it wouldn't do any good, not with Cathrine, or with Trowa. "Cathrine....we should have the roust-abouts take care of this....not you or Trowa....what if he gets hurt.

"He won't...its just one boy...he can't be no older than 16 at the most...please...lets just wait and see what Trowa can do...you didn't see that child Messanger....he's covered in cut's and bruises....and is absolutely terrified, especially if someone comes near him...please...please just wait...please" Cathrine begged, knowing that Messanger wouldn't be able to resist, no matter how stern he tries to be, Cathrine turns him into putty, and Trowa's starting to wear down his hard exterior as well.

Messanger looked at Cathrines face, seeling those pleading. Chrystal, grey-blue eyes, and almost trembling lips turned him into mush.

"Alright....we'll wait to we see what Trowa says...o.k." He told her, before he found himself with and arm full of the young woman, hugging him and thanking him, he sighed, he knew he was whipped.

"Thank you!" Cathrine exclaimed, as she threw herself into Messangers arms and hugged him, just like a daughter would a father after the father had given the daughter somthing that she had very much wanted.

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While all that was going on, Trowa had been slowy trying to get closer to the terrified, whimpering, curled up figure.

He was close enough to touch the young man now, raising the lanturn again and trying to get a better look, Trowa could make out the curled up young man, the dark blue coat, black cap, shaking body, and the whimpers. Trowa couldn't see the teen face becuase he was curled away from him.

"Hey?....come on...let me help you" Trowa told the young man, in a gentle, soft, quiet voice as he got closer to him.

All Trowa recived was a whimper and the youngman trying desprately to get farther away from him, but Trowa wasn't goning to give up.

::::I don't like this....Cathrine said she thinks that I know this person, but...I can't tell,....its too dark and he's to scared to talk to me...I wonder who....:::: "Oh God!" Trowa said out loud, breaking his train of thought as it came to him who this could be. He moved closer to the terrified youngman, and reached out to touch him. As soon as he did however, the smaller man let out a terrified scream and tried to move even farther away from him, as his scream died down into another whmper.

"Aaaaahhhh!" screamed the scared young man, after Trowa reached out to touch him, before the scream died down to a terrified whimper.

As the young man tried to move farther way away from Trowa, Trowa was able to get a good look at that terrifed, bruised face, causing him to gasp in shock, as well as horror.

"::gasp:: hhuuhh!....Duo!" Trowa gasped out as he reconized the young man as one of the former gundam pilots and a friend. "Cathy?....wha..." Trowa started as she pulled him over towards the crates, then he heard the whimper coming from them and he turned towards her, hoping she could explain.

Trowa could see the smaller teens face more clearly now, as well as that tell tale braid of his. The smaller ex-pilots face was covered in bruises and cuts, his hair, although was still braided, had fallen out of the braid in both strans and clumps, making him look a little more like a girl. Trowa wasn't sure how Cathrine could tell that Duo was a boy with him looking like this.

"Duo!...Duo its me....its Trowa!" Trowa told him, trying to get the smaller teen to snap out of what was obviously a form of shock. "Duo...please....let me help you...I won't hurt you...I promise" stated the taller teen, as he advanced again towards the smaller boy. Trowa saw Duo start to panic again, but he knew that he had to conviince the terrified youngman that he wasn't going to hrt him. ::::Gods....what the hell happend to him?....Who.....who made him like this?....why is he so terrified?...Oh god please don't let it be what I think it is...please...fate couldn't be that damn crule....could it?" Trowa thought to himself, as he edged cautiously closer towards his friend.

Duo continued to back away from the other youngman, his face showed nothing but fear, his usually bright, cheery eyes, were now haunted and panic stricken. Trowa could tell that the smaller teens heart rate had to be up, and his breathing was fast. Trowa also noticed that Duo was favoring his right arm as he would scramble back away from him.

"Please Duo....its alright...its me....it's Trowa...come on Duo,....you know, deep down, that I am not going to hurt you....please don't keep trying to get away from me....your only going to injure yourself further" Trowa told his scared, braidded haird friend, in a calm, quiet, gentle tone, as he inched his way closer to the terrified young man.

Trowa could see that Duo was watching his every move, and was listening to him too. Terrified violets, met extremely concerned greens as their eyes locked, as Trowa continued to slowly advance towards his friend, noting that Duo didn't try to escape this time.

"Duo?" Trowa asked, his voice gentle and soothing, concern etched through out his voice. "It's o.k. Duo...please....let me help you....you need medical attention, warm, dry clothes, and your probably hungry too.....please Duo...let me help you." Trowa pleaded with his young friend, as he knelt, barely a foot away from the smaller boy. He could see the inner conflict his friend was having with himself, he saw the absolute terror in those violet-blue eye's, the pain that radiated in every move the smaller boy made.

::::Trowa?.....Trowa....he's...he's a friend....he won't hurt me....I know he wont hurt me....is that why I came here?...is he why I knew I'd be safe if I came here?::::: The handsome, violet-eyed, young, ex 02 pilot, contemplated as he watched the tall, handsome, green-eyed ex 03 pilot move closer to him, talking gently as if he was dealing with a enraged lion instead of a 16 year old boy.

Duo was still watching Trowa, his mind was foggy, the fear he felt was overwhelming, but he knew, deep down, that his friend would not, and could not hurt him. His lower lip started to tremble, he still shook uncontrolably, and he whimpered slightly. He could see Trowa, slowly extending his hand out to him, not touching, but offering to comfort him. Tears started to leak from Duo's eyes as he took in the honest concern in the green eye's staring back at him, watching him, feeling for him. Before he knew what he was doing, Duo launched himself at Trowa with a painful, anguished cry and burried himself in the others strong, comforting arms, crying helplessly as he wrapped his own arms, tightly around the taller teen.

"Aaahhmm!" cried the smaller boy as he flung himself into the taller boys arms, and imeadiately started sobbing.

Trowa was a bit stunned at first when Duo hurled himself into his arms and started sobbing mercilessly, but the shock wore off almost as soon as it had started and he wrapped his arms around the trembling teen, running his hand comforting through the long, soft, chestnut colored hair, while his other hand was rubbing the trembling teens back, in soothing circles and whispering soft, carring, comforting words to reasure the smaller boy that he was safe and that no one was going to hurt him again.

"Shhh....its o.k. Duo...everything is going to be alright...I promise...I won't let anyone else hurt you Duo....its going to be alright." Trowa told the terrified young man, as he gently stroked a hand through the chestnut colored hair. His arms wrapped in a comforting, protective embrace, as he rubbed the smaller boys back, and listend to the heart wrenching sobs of the boy in his arms. It was about this time Trowa heard a concerned femine voice.

"Trowa?" Cathrine had called from just a few feet away, in a soft gentle voice.

Trowa had felt Duo's arms tighten around him, when Cathrine had called out to him. He also noticed that he started to shake violently, and tried to burrow himself further in the arms that held him, when Cathrine had spoken.

Furrowing his brow, Trowa continued to talk to Duo, telling him that Cathrine wasn't going to yell at him, and that Cathrine is just as worried about him as he was. That seemed to help, cause the next thing Trowa knew, he could breath again, as Duo loosend his grip on him.

"It's o.k. Duo...Cathy isn't going to yell at you, or hurt you.....she a good person Duo and shes really worried about you,...so am I Duo" Trowa told the violet-eyed beauty, who continue to sob uncontrolably in in his arms.

Cathrine watched the two youngmen quietly, she could tell by the way Trowa was talking to the youngman that they were indeed friends. :::Gods....I wonder what happen to that child?... was he in an accident?....no...no his terrified reaction came from some kind of abuse" she thought as she watched to two younger boys. She thought about how terrified the smaller teen was and then her mind started going over what could have happend to him. "Oh god please....please don't let it be what I think it is!:::: Cathrine thought to herself as she continued watching the two boys, she watched how gentle Trowa was with the smaller boy, she watched the scared young man in her brothers arms start to relax a little, but she could tell that he was far from calming down. Cathrine was brought out of her observation by the sound of Trowa's soft, quiet voice.

"Cathy?" The handsome green-eyed teen called to his surogant sister, as he continued to hold and comfort the scared boy in his arms.

"Humm?" Cathrine said as she was startled out of her reverie.

"Could you please go and get me a blanket, Duo's clothes are soaking wet and I want to get him inside before he comes down with a cold on top of everything else" Trowa asked quietly, afraid that if spoke any louder that he might scare the young man he still held tighly in his arms.

"Hai, I'll be right back...do you need help getting him inside....he dosn't look like he weighs to much, but..." She said to her adopted brother.

"No...thats o.k. Cathy....the state that Duo's in right now....I seriously doubt if he would let anyone else near him." Trowa stated, as he shifted the boy in his arms and prepared to stand.

"I understand...I'll hurry and get the blanket....I'll tell Messanger to make sure everyone stays back too" Cathrine told the handsome green-eyed teen, before she sprinted off to do what Trowa had asked of her.

As Trowa shifted the smaller boys weight so he could stand, he felt Duo tense up and then shudder. When he looked down, he could see that Duo's face was scrunched up in pain, as well as fear.

"Duo?....are you alright?" Trowa asked his violet-eyed friend as he looked down at him.

Duo didn't answer, he just tightend his grip and whimpered a little, his lack of speach was starting to worry Trowa.

"Duo?....Duo please talk to me....tell me what happend, tell me who hurt you?" he asked the smaller boy, but all he got was more heart wrenching sobs, that made him tightend his hold on the younger boy, soothing him with more comforting words. "I'm sorry Duo....I won't ask again until your ready...everything is going to be o.k...once we get you some medical help and checked over to make sure nothing is broken." he told the long haird boy in his arms, noticing for the first time how small the other boy actually was.

Upon hearing the words medical help, Duo tensed up, and became even more frightend, then raised his head to look at Trowa and gave a whimper as tears still continue to stream down his bruised, delicate, heart shaped face. He had started trembling again, and was struggling to pull away from Trowa.

Trowa was surprised when Do seem to be struggling to get out of his arms. He could see that the samller teen was still crying tremendously and suddenly seemed frightend. Then he realized what it was that had scared the former gundam 02 pilot.

"Hey....hey its o.k. Duo....I'm not going to let just anyone tend to your medical needs....I'll call Sally o.k....she's not that far....you trust Sally...don't you?" Trowa told the younger teen, noticing that he had stopped trying to pull out of his arms, but he continued to cry as he burried his head into Trowas chest again. Then Trowa heard Cathrine coming back and he turned in her direction.

"Trowa!.....heres the blanket....Messanger moved everyone back so that you can get by....are you taking him to your trailer or to a hospital?" the bright eyed, pretty woman asked, noticing that the mention of a hospital caused the smaller boy in her brothers arms to shiver and clutch Trowa tighter.

Trowa took the blanket from Cathrine, gently tucking it around Duo'd sore, aching body. He knew that his young friend had to be in a lot of pain, and was obviously suffering from emotional distress as well.

"Thank you Cathy" Trowa said, before continuing. "No...no hospitals Cathy...I don't think that he could bare having people he dosn't know touching him....Once we get him in my trailer, I'm going to call Wufei and Sally...She's a doctor and will be able to help." Trowa told the young woman, as he tightend his hold on the younger teen and got to his feet, shifting Duo so that he was held comfortably in his arms.

Duo whimpered, and then clutched Trowa tighter again, when he had heard Cathrine mention taking him to a hospital. ::::No....no please not a hospital....not with all those people touching me....prodding and probing me...please ...oh gods I can't do this....I have to leave....they can't know what happend....please God....why didn't you just let me die...why!:::: Duo thought to himself, then he heard what Trowa told the lady, that was obviously his friend, she looked familure to Duo, but was to scared at the moment to remember.

Trowa carried the smaller teen out throught the crates, he could feel Duo tighten his hold on him again when the were out in the open and the rest of the Circus performers were there. He could hear the questions, the coments, the gasps, even though no one couldn't really see the boy, what with the blanket wrapped around him. Both boys could hear several people voice their concerns for the violet-eyed young man Trowa held as he mad his way towards his trailer, with Cathrine right behind them.

Once inside, Trowa gently laid Duo on his bed, mindful not to injure the young man any further. He was well aware of the terrified look on the smaller teens face, as well as the violent shaking, and the fact that The ex pilot woldn't let go of his hand.

"Duo?....Duo how badly are you hurt?" The taller teen asked, worry etched all over his face as he leaned forward, slowly so as not to frighten the younger boy some more, then he place his hand on ther other head feeling the heat that radiated from it, he frowned.

Cathrine who had been only a couple of feet away, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth, saw the frown that crossed her brothers handsome features.

"Trowa?...Trowa what is it?" she asked, her voice and eyes held nothing but concern for the smaller boy.

"He's burning up!...I need to get him out of thease wet clothes...but I'm afraid at how he would react" The young green-eyed man told his sister. "He...:::stops...then shakes his head negatively::: Duo" Trowa started as he gestured towards the young man who had been staring up at them, tears still slidging down his face, but the sobbing had died down to ocasional whimpers and sniffles. "He had a bad experience when he was little....living on the streets...he...he had to fend for himself....and there were alot of people who tried to take advatage of him" Trowa explained to Cathrine, watching her expression, her eyes filled with tears, then he saw her look down at the younger boy, who was clutching Trowas hand, as if he was afaid the taller teen would dissapear if he let go.

"The poor child" Cathrine stated in a barely audiable whisper, but she knew Trowa had heard her. "Trowa?...other than what obviously looks like a severe beating...you don't think...I mean....is it possible that..." She started, but the words seem to painful for her to say.

Trowa knew what she was getting at, he too had bee thinking the same thing, judging by Duo's terrified reaction, he might just be right. He looked down at the smaller teen, as the boy continued to clutch his hand, his eye's darting back and forth between the two of them. Duo was obviously in need of sleep, ontop of the medical attention, warm clothing, food, and a bath.

"Its....its a strong possibility Cathy....I just pray that fate isn't that cruel and the Duo had managed to escape before....before who ever did this to him, did anything else......." he said to his sister, as he looked at the tear streaked, bruised and bloodied face of his friend.

The both of them held somber expression on their faces as the thought of what could and probably did happen to the younger teen, flooded their minds. They were brought out of their thoughts however, when the object of their concern let out a painfiled whimper. Sending both Trowa and Cathrine into action.

"Right then!...We need to get him out of those clothes now Trowa!...you talk to him, reasure him that all your going to do his get him comfortable...I'll go see if theres anything of yours he can wear, that wouldn't swallow him whole...as well as get the suplies you'll need to take care of those cuts and bruises...o.k." The energetic, Take charge, no non-sense young woman told her adopted brother.

Trowa gave his sister a faint grin, then he turned his attentions back towards the smaller boy in question as Cathrine went in earch of dry clothing, bandages, as well as somthing to clean him up a bit.

"Yes....thanks Cathy" Trowa said to the young red-brown haird woman, giving her a warm smile before turning to attend to his friends needs.

Then she was off, scampering about looking for this, grabbing that and hoping that they don't traumatize the smaller boy any further than he already was.

Trowa had sat down in the chair next to the bed. He could see the smaller ex-pilot clearer now, taking in the bruises, the cuts, the trembling from both being cold and afraid. Trowa slowly reached out to brush the damp bangs from Duo's forehead. He felt and saw the smaller boy flinch, but made no indication that it was intentional.

"Duo?" Trowa started, still unnerved by the smaller teens lack of chatter, and by the excessive crying. He knew that Duo hardly ever cried and when he did, it was almost never infront of anyone esle. "Duo....I need you to listen to me o.k?." Trowa stated, then smiled warmly as the younger teen slowly nodded his head in comfirmation. "Good...:::takes calming breath::: now Duo...I need to get you out of thease wet clothes....I promise you...thats all I"m going to do K?" He told his friend, not missin the flash of panic that crossed the smaller boys face, and eyes. "Its o.k. Duo...I ment what I said...I'm not going to hurt you....no one will hurt you here....you have my word.....Cathrine....she went to go and get some bandages, and some warm, dry clothes for you to wear o.k" said the green-eyed young man, as he tried to convice the smaller teen that he was safe.

Duo looked at Trowa, he listen to what the handsome, green-eyed youngman was saying to him, he didn't know what to do ::Can I really trust Trowa?:: Duo thought, his mind was a jumble of past hurts as well as very recent ones. ::Heero also said he would never hurt me either...but he did:: The smaller, braided haird teen thought sadly. ::He hurt me in more ways than even he could know...it never would have happend if he hadn't of broken his promise to love me, uncondionally, no matter what....and now, now no one will ever want me....they'll never love me the way I want to be loved....the way I always thought I should be loved, who's going to want me now...no one...not after they find out what happen...they'll all turn away from me...how can I trust Trowa...we've never really been friends, hell...my own would be lover...stole his little toe-headed beauty away from him...how could he want to help me...he should hate me...he probably dose hate me...after all...it was my fault that Heero turned to Quatre...no one elses:: thought the beautiful, violet-eyed young man as fresh tears leaked from his eyes and down his face, causing the taller, green-eyed teen to worry even further.

"Duo?..." Trowa started as he watched the smaller boy pull his hand away from him, new tears streaming down the braided haird youths bruised, heart-shaped face. ::What in the?...what now?:: he thought as he watched the smaller boy turn his head away from him.

Duo just wanted to leave, to get as far away from people, especially people who say they wont hurt him, but do anyway. ::I should have never come here....why did I come here?...why did I think coming to Trowa would be any different?...

*Becuase he is different baka*...huh?...*Trowa is different....out of all of the pilots, he knows better than anyone what your going through...trust him Duo....you have to trust someone...trust him to help you...you know he's not going to hurt you*....but...he wants to tell everyone?....*No....he wants to help you....he's not entirely sure what happend to you...but you know he suspects and he still wants to help you...let him Duo...by letting him help you....maybe....just maybe...you'll be helping him as well*::: the handsome, braided haird pilot conflicted with in himself, searching for answers to questions that he didn't know.

:::but...if I let him help me, he'll find out for sure when he Calls Sally and Wufei...she'll know...she'll do tests and then everyone will know *Their your friends Duo...yes...their bound to find out the total extent of your injuries, of what really happend to you only five short hours ago...but they care about you Duo...you have to know that*...But...I don't want them to know...I don't want anyone to know...I'm so weak...how could I let it happen ... HOW!::: he screamed to himself as his conscience tried to convince himself to let the other ex-gundam pilot help him :::*It wasn't your fault Duo...you couldn't do anything...there were to many of them...your not weak...and I'm sure Trowa wont think that of you...you know he wouldn't think that....and neither will Wufei and Sally Poe*....I know...your right...but...I just...I'm so tired...and I hurt everywhere...why did they do it...why did those men hurt me like that...why?...*Because their sick Duo...they got power out of what they did to you ...and they enjoyed it!...let Trowa help you Duo...he wants to help you....let him...if he's the only one you can trust...then let him!*

....Hai, Trowa wont hurt me...and he wont let anyone else hurt me either::: Duo told himself as tears of sorrow, pain, shame, and guilt streammed down his face. He turned back to look at Trowa, what he saw in the others eyes broke down the last of whatever defenses he had put up and he started to sobbing in earnest again, causing the taller, green-eyed youngman to react and pull the smaller boy into his arms, enveloping him once again in a protective, comforting embrace.

Trowa had been watching the play of emotions that ran across the younger boys face, even with his head and face turned away from him, he could see the war that was raging inside his braided haird friend. When Duo turned to look at him, he almost knew what the smaller boy had been thinking, and when Duo broke down for the second time in an hour, he knew that Duo would trust him completely now, and for some reason, that scares the hell out of him.

"Duo?..." Trowa started, as he held the smaller teen in his arms again. He ran soothing circles over the violet-eyed teens back as he talked gently to the anguished filled ex 02 pilot. "Duo...please...let me help you" Trowa begged his friend, aware that Cathrine had re-entered the room, carrying a t-shirt and a pair if boxer shorts for the smaller pilot to change into, as well as a medical kit and more blankets. Trowa smiled at his adopted sister as she place the items carefully onto the bed.

"Trowa?" the beautiful crystal eyed young woman called quietly as she put the items getnly onto the bed.

"Its alright Cathy...he's just not ready yet" The handsome, green-eyed young man told her, before turning his attention back to the terrified, exhausted, bruised young man in his arms. "Duo?....Duo please...let Cathy and I help you....we just want to get you out of thease dirty, wet clothes....you have a fever that needs to be taken care of and I would like to clean those cuts and scrapes before they get infected, if they arnt already" he told the violet eyed beauty that trembled and sobbed in his arms. Trowa gave his sister a helpless look, he didn't know what to do, Duo was so different from Heero, Quatre and Wufei, they were more sensible. Duo, however, was not and now that Trowa was almost positive as to what had happend to his young friend, he was determined to help him, no matter what.

Cathrine gave her brother a tearful look. The smaller boys continuious sobbing had caused tears to weld up in her own eyes as well, then seeing the look on her brothers face, she didn't know what to do.

Trowa could tell that Cathrine felt just as helpless and useless as he did. He closed his eyes as he waited for the storm of emotions to pass through the smaller teen, hoping and Praying that when it was over, that Duo would let them hlep him.

After what felt like hours, but in reality was only a matter of minutes, Duo had controled his sobbing and looked up at Trowa with, big, beautiful, violet eyes pleading to sincere, gorgeous greens.

"Duo?...are you going to let us help you?" Trowa asked, not entirly certain if the eye's that held his own were saying yes.

Duo looked at Trowa, then at Cathrine. He could see the genuine concern in their eyes and on their faces, he knew now that he could trust them both. Looking into beautiful, carring green eye's Duo shook his head positivly, indicating that he did indeed want them to help him.

Both Trowa and Cathrine were pleased with the smaller boys decsion. Trowa gave Duo a gentle, reasuring squeeze, then he and Cathrine proceeded to help Duo the best they could.

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Space port 6509-orbiting outside of A.C. L8

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Meanwhile, as Trowa and Cathrine took care of Duo. Wufei, Sally and Noin had been frantic trying to find their wayward friend.

"Yes sister...if we hear anything we will contact you imeadiately....I'm sure he's alright...probably got side tracked is all" Lucrenzia Noin stated as she talked to one of the nuns at the orphanage that Duo was supose to have dropped suplies off at.

"Thank you Ms. Noin...everyone here loves that child...we'll be praying for his safe return" stated one of the nuns at the orphange that Duo had visited "I must be going...but please...do let us know if theres any news on Duo"

"Will do sister" reasured the pretty ex-oz soilder as she ended comunications.

Lucrenzia Noin was worried, looking over at her two friends, she could see how worried they were as well.

"Well?" questioned the exotic and very agitated chinese teen.

"Sister Agnes said that Duo left there over five hours ago...they havn't heard anything....I'm getting really worried about him" Noin stated as she walked over towards Sally Poe, seeking comfort in the arms of her lover.

"Damn!...where the hell can he be?" Wufei was worried. "He may seem like an airhead sometimes...but Duo is not irresponcible...he would have checked in if he wasn't going to be back anytime soon" grated the chinese youth as he paced up and down.

"Wufei?...I'm sure he's alright...maybe he.." Sally started when she was suddenly cut off by an incoming transmission.

<>

{{::Urgent sounding::"Trowa Barton to Chang Wufei and Sally Poe...come in *Please*...this is an emergency!"}}

Wufei hurried video comunicator :::Emergency!...from Trowa...it has to be serious:::

"Wufei here....go ahead Trowa!" Stated the handsome, exotic, chinese teen.

{{:::His normally stoic face held a hint of fear in it:::"Wufei....I need you and Sally Poe to come to the Circus right away....its an emergency!"}}

Wufei looked at Trowa, then frowned ::he looks o.k. to me...what could be so important that he needs both Sally and I?:::

"Trowa?...the circus...Why?...we have a small crisis of...." Started the handsome, dark haird chinese boy, before Trowa cut him off.

{{:::sadness, as well as urgentcy in his voice:::"Its Duo....he...hes been hurt and he's here at the circus...*please* Wufei...you and Sally need to hurry...I'l explain everything when you get here"}}

Wufei looked at the screen, then at Sally and Noin, who were already scrambling to gather the suplies Sally would need.

"Were on our way Trowa!" Wufei stated, a hint of fear in his own voice.

{{:::Sounding releived:::"Thanks Wufei"}}

"Trowa?!....how badly is he injured?" the concernd chinese youth needed to know.

Trowa hesitated, looking over at Duo, before turning back to answer Wufei's question.

{{:::Sounding sad and knowing::: "His external injuries are pretty bad....some internal ones...I'm almost positve that there are others...but...:::His voice trails off::"}}

Wufei did not like the sound of that :::Other injuries...gods....what happend to him?...and how did he end up at the circus instead of the hospital?::

"But what Trowa?" Wufei wanted to know, as Sally and Noin stood behind the young chinese man.

{{:::Closes his eyes....when he opens them all his emotions are in those handsome, green orbs:: "*Please* Wufei...when you get here...I'll fill you in on everything that I know...Duo needs Sally now...he's in alot of pain...and...and he needs a *total* examination"}}

Sally looked at the veiw screen, she could tell by the look in Trowa's eyes and the hint of pain in is voice, that whatever happend to their irrepressible Shingami pilot, was not good.

"We'll be there with in an hour Trowa" Sally stated, then she hurried off to gather additional medical suplies for her paitent.

Wufei knew by the tone in Sally's voice that she thought Duo was in serious condition, and oppted to not keep the cheerful, braided pilot waiting.

"You heard Sally, Trowa...we'll be there in an hour...I want ot know what happend and why Duo is there and not in a hospital" Stated the concerned, angry chinese teen.

{{:::resigned::: "Like I said Wufei...I'll tell you everything I know...when you get here...Please hurry....Trowa out!"}}

Trowa cut comunications with Wufei and went back to tending to his other friend. Wufei however, was contemplating his conversation with the normally silent, green-eyed, ex-03 pilot.

:::Trowa seemed so...well...upset....definetly not a traight Trowa has shown alot of...what the hell could have happend to Duo?::: Wufei thought over, his mind playing back the conversation he had with Trowa, then before he could get further sucked into questions, he heard Sally's voice.

"Wufei...lets go!...We need to hurry...I don't like the way Trowa sounded...he was to...vague" Sally stated as she borded the Suttle, followed quickly by Wufei and Noin.

"Right!" Stated both Wufei and Noin as they borded the shuttle headed for AF L8. All three young people held concern looks.

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After Colony L8 {after Trowa's convo}

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Meanwhile, Trowa and Cathrine had mangaged to get Duo cleaned, dry, and comfortable with only a minimal amout of stress to the younger teen.

Then after they had finished, Trowa had told Duo that he would be right back, causing the smaller teen to panic. Cathrine had jumped right in, telling Duo that he was going to be alright and that she was going to stay with him till Trowa got back.

Duo didn't seemed convinced, that is untill Trowa told him that it would be alright and that Cathrine is his sister and would never harm him. That seemed to relax the younger boy enough to where, when Cathrine took his hand and held it, he didn't flinch to badly. Trowa had asured the violet-eyed young ex 02 pilot that he would only be few minutes and then he would be back.

Thats exactly what Trowa did as soon as he ended his urgent message to Sally and Wufei, and he's been by Duo's side ever since.

Cathrine watched her adoptive brother as he sat on the bed, next to the smaller young man, holding his hand as he dozed.

A sad look crossing her beautiful features, as she watched the two youngmen before her. :::the boy is so small....almost as small as that little blonde haird boy that Trowa loved so much...how could anyone hurt a child that way...gods I pray that a beating was all that happend to that child...please....Trowa's right...fate can't be that crule....can it?::: she thought to herself, as she slowly, quietly sat in the chair next to the bed, taking her brothers hand into her own and offering what little comfot she could.

Trowa gave his sister a sad, sweet, gentle smile, before gently squeezing her had to let her know that he knows shes there for him...for both of them. Then he turned his attention back to his unexpected guest, silently praying that he'll be alright and hoping against hope that he's wrong about what he thinks happend to his violet-eyed friend.

To be continued......

Copyright © 2000 by Rebecca Stewart

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Becca~*...:::Blinks...then looks at the audience:: "Um...K...um...so what do y'all think?? ::looks over at her GW Boys...notices that Heero hasn't let Duo go since part two of this ficcie...then notices that Quatre has been glued to Trowa the entire time as well::: Umm...as y'all can see....Heero and Quatre arn't to happy with this ficcie ::Frowns:: even though I told them this was the one and only time that they wouldn't be paried with their chosen mates. ::sighs::

:::looks around the room....notices that Wufei isn't here...then looks at Trowa:::

Becca~*.."Um Trowa...sweetie...have you seen Wufei?"

Trowa~*...:::Blinks...then gently tries to shift Quatre a little so he could breath enough to talk:: He said that he was going out, but didn't say where.

:::Becca frowns....then is about to aske another question when Heero interupts her:::

Heero~*...:::Cuddling Duo close, while clutching the violet-eyed boys braid possesively, his voice is flat as he talks::: "He went out with Relena"

:::Everyone turns to look at the stoic pilot of 01, wing Zero....even Duo, with shocled and bewildered looks on their faces::

Becca~*...:::Blinks owlishly before speaking directly to Heero::: "and *you* know this *how*?"

Heero~*...:::Doing something totally out of character...Heero looks at Becca...then smirks evily:: "I know...because I have a trace on Relena so I know where she is at all times and can avoid being in the same place as her" :::gets up....tugging on Duo's braid and getting a annoyed look from the smaller pilot::: Lets go!" :::Heero pulls Duo to his feet and the two of them leave the room, making a beeling straight to their room, closing the door and locking it:::

:::Becca, Trowa, and Quatre all look in the direction that Heero and Duo went...Becca and Quatre were blushing bright red and Trowa was smirking, then he snuggled his little blonde closer to him on the sofa as they finished watching the movie they were watching:::

Becca~*...::Turns to the audience again:: Um...o'kay...well now...um...I guess I'll see y'all again when I get part 4 out...::giggles:: oh brother....Wufei is not going to like the fact that we all know about his date with Miss Relena ::Grins::...Anyhoo...Bye and please let me know what ya think about the fic!!

<> if you liked Becca's fic then please let her know so that she'll write faster and get the parts out quicker....you have to nag her...or else she forgets ::Whispers:: She has like 10 other ficcies from other fandoms that shes working on....:::Normal TV Voice:: So let her know that you like them....of....word of warning...if you Flame her...She turns from a Sweet, shy, quiet young lady....to a Ticked off female version of Heero Yuy...and SHE WILL WRITE YOU INTO HER NEXT FIC....and IT WONT BE A GOOD THING :::Evil grin...evil Laughter:::: MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Please e-mail Becca at Anime_lover@excite.com .