lavandarlizard2 | ...and more rain... *sigh*

Um... Thank you; you can stop the rain dance now. We're good for now... It's been raining all freaking night; I can hardly wait to see what's slid or sunk or submerged overnight. ~.~

BFB - 086c - Strange Days IV

It wasn’t even lunchtime when Heero showed up again. I’d been awake for about an hour that time and was idly working a jigsaw puzzle. I looked up when the door opened, ready to glower and growl at him, but he strode straight to where I sat and held out his cell phone.

“Teal would like to speak to you,” he said abruptly.

I think my jaw dropped. I really and truly had not even thought about telling Teal yet. I was still trying to get through the part where I tell myself.

“What?! I can’t talk to him yet! Heero -!”

“Tough shit,” he snapped unhelpfully. “I had to talk to him an hour ago; now it’s your turn. He’s been calling for three days and he’s frantic.”

I took the phone and saw that the little red light was on. Oh, crap...

“Um... Teal...?” I began hesitantly.

“Finally! Bloody blast, Duo! Why didn’t you call me?!”

I opened my mouth; closed it. Swallowed, cleared my throat. Started to cry. My uncle, my only male kin...

“Teal...” I whimpered and just wanted to slap myself.

He didn’t make me carry the conversation, though; instead he asked questions and waited patiently for me to answer, and then soothed me with encouraging noises. He didn’t tell me what a fool I was. He never mentioned the forbidden ‘R’ word. He never blamed Heero for any of it.

Through it all, Heero sat in the chair, staring bleakly out the French doors. It’s not his fault; I wish to hell he’d stop acting like he handed me over to the enemy himself.

“Teal,” I managed finally. “You didn’t yell at Heero, did you?” I asked. Heero swiveled around to stare at me.

Teal snorted. “I may have yelled, but not *at* him. Don’t be silly, Duo; it was not his fault that female is deranged. Nor yours either,” he said briskly. “I will come as soon as we can leave here. I want you to obey the healers’ orders; you are not in a position right now to judge your own health.”

I nodded, then realised what I’d done and said quietly, “Okay; I’ll listen.”

“I didn’t say you should *listen*; I said you should *obey*. Don’t try splitting hairs with me, youngster,” he said sternly. I found myself smiling; god, I love him. Why couldn’t he have been my father?

“All right then,” he growled. “Take care, darlin’. Listen to that Dragon; he knows what he’s doing. I love you.”

“I love you, too...” My damn throat closed up and I squeaked to a halt.

“It’ll be all right, sweetheart. See you soon. Goodbye.” He hung up before I could choke out a reply.

I laid the phone down and buried my face in my hands; Heero was beside me in a heartbeat.

“It’s going to be okay, baby,” he whispered and I let him pull me into his arms and onto his lap to be rocked and petted. I couldn’t even be upset at the pet name. He could call me any damn thing he wanted as long as he stayed and put up with me.

I didn’t cry, but I was so emotionally wrung out that I fell asleep in his arms. For once, there were no vile dreams to taunt me.

...tbc...