A Hero's Journey -- Part 13

Thanking the nurse, Quatre held the small bouquet a little tighter and headed down the right hallway. He had been dreading this encounter ever since he had received the news. However, he needed to be here, to see the result of his inaction.

With a deep breath, he knocked softly on the door. There was no window in the door, and he could hear no movement inside. When there was still no answer, he slowly opened the door and peered inside.

“I’ll get them for you,” a low voice vowed. “I swear it, if it’s the last thing I do.”

Quatre swallowed at the bitterness and the fury the words held. ‘If you had contacted them earlier, this wouldn’t have happened,’ the Arabian t thought sadly. With his head slightly bowed, he entered the room.

“Duo?”

The former Deathsycthe pilot looked up at his visitor. With a brief glance at Quatre, he returned his attention back to the bed and the small woman laying in it. Closing his eyes, he rubbed the hand he held with both of his.

Blinking away tears, the Arabian quietly put the flowers in a vase. The only sound in the room was the rhythmic beeping of the machines and the soft hiss of the respirator. With a sigh, Quatre placed a gentle hand on Duo’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Duo.”

The American shook his head. “You know I didn’t wake up when she left the bed. She had been having some problems sleeping recently. She must had gotten up to do some paperwork like she usually did. I didn’t wake up until she screamed and the gunfire started.”

“You can’t blame yourself for this, Duo.”

“I failed to protect her!” Duo cried, turning to face Quatre.

The dark stubble along his jaw added to the crazed look in the American’s violet eyes. Quatre couldn’t imagine watching someone you loved in such a state, least of all your wife of seven years. Again he wished that he had acted sooner.

“You didn’t fail her, Duo,” Quatre said softly. “I failed. I failed all of us.”

Duo glanced down at Hilde’s hand. She had been his savior, a beacon of normalcy in the aftermath of the battles. He thought that he had finally escaped his curse. However, Hilde was now suffering, suffering because of her involvement with him.

“Find out who did this, Quatre,” Duo ordered, his violet flashing dangerously. “I have a promise to keep.”

With a weak nod and a final squeeze of Duo’s shoulder, Quatre left the room.


Part XIII Thanking the nurse, Quatre held the small bouquet a little tighter and headed down the right hallway. He had been dreading this encounter ever since he had received the news. However, he needed to be here, to see the result of his inaction. With a deep breath, he knocked softly on the door. There was no window in the door, and he could hear no movement inside. When there was still no answer, he slowly opened the door and peered inside. “I’ll get them for you,” a low voice vowed. “I swear it, if it’s the last thing I do.” Quatre swallowed at the bitterness and the fury the words held. ‘If you had contacted them earlier, this wouldn’t have happened,’ the Arabian t thought sadly. With his head slightly bowed, he entered the room. “Duo?” The former Deathsycthe pilot looked up at his visitor. With a brief glance at Quatre, he returned his attention back to the bed and the small woman laying in it. Closing his eyes, he rubbed the hand he held with both of his. Blinking away tears, the Arabian quietly put the flowers in a vase. The only sound in the room was the rhythmic beeping of the machines and the soft hiss of the respirator. With a sigh, Quatre placed a gentle hand on Duo’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Duo.” The American shook his head. “You know I didn’t wake up when she left the bed. She had been having some problems sleeping recently. She must had gotten up to do some paperwork like she usually did. I didn’t wake up until she screamed and the gunfire started.” “You can’t blame yourself for this, Duo.” “I failed to protect her!” Duo cried, turning to face Quatre. The dark stubble along his jaw added to the crazed look in the American’s violet eyes. Quatre couldn’t imagine watching someone you loved in such a state, least of all your wife of seven years. Again he wished that he had acted sooner. “You didn’t fail her, Duo,” Quatre said softly. “I failed. I failed all of us.” Duo glanced down at Hilde’s hand. She had been his savior, a beacon of normalcy in the aftermath of the battles. He thought that he had finally escaped his curse. However, Hilde was now suffering, suffering because of her involvement with him. “Find out who did this, Quatre,” Duo ordered, his violet flashing dangerously. “I have a promise to keep.” With a weak nod and a final squeeze of Duo’s shoulder, Quatre left the room.


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