A helicopter ride wasn't something he enjoyed even at the best of times. Adding a heavy dose of nausea and nerves just made it worse. But no matter how bad it got Wufei couldn't let it keep him from helping his friends.
Right now he was keeping pressure on hole in Heero's shoulder while Sally started an IV. The solution was only a stalling measure, for Heero to have any chance of survival he needed blood and he needed it as soon as possible. The Japanese man had slipped into unconsciousness shortly after takeoff. He looked so frail right now, skin whiter than the pillow beneath his head.
At least Duo was no longer feeling the pain of each contraction. He lay there cradled by Zechs' strong arms, rubbing at the clenching muscles of his stomach. While Sally's medicine had deadened his physical pain she could do nothing for his mental. He kept asking if Heero would make it, praying for Heero not to die, and promising dire retribution to the third patient in the aircraft.
His dear Beathan was having the worst time of them all. Relena was conscious. One minute she was struggling to reach Heero to comfort him the next she was trying to kill Duo for making her hurt her fiancee. He couldn't get a firm hold on her flailing arms, blood from her wounds having slicked her skin. Relena refused to allow Sally to treat her injuries, demanding the braided physician retrieve her children from quote 'that worthless slut' unquote. Luckily years of intense field work had rendered the red-head more than capable of overpowering even one who's strength was augmented by madness.
"Wufei, watch his breathing." Sally instructed. "Let me know the second it changes."
"Right."
Straitforward reply. This was no time for his usual game of teasing.
Quatre and Trowa would be meeting them at the hospital and he hoped their arrival would be greeted with good news.
"LET ME GO!! HHEEERROOOO!!" Relena screeched at the top of lungs. She flailed about, kicking and scratching at the one who was keeping her from her beloved Heero.
"STOP THAT DAMMIT!" Beathan cursed as he lost his grip on one arm, which promptly smacked him. "You need to stay still! You're only making your injuries worse!"
Cold eyes, lacking any shred of sanity, narrowed in rage. "Get your rancid paws off me, you stinking peasant!! Don't you know who I am?"
"Sure, you're the deluded little snot who couldn't accept reality and hurt my family because of it. And as for me being a peasant, I'll have you know that I am a direct descendant of the ancient royalty of Scotland, a line far older and more distinguished than yours."
That probably wasn't the best thing to say to someone in Relena's condition, especially wearing that smile. It only served to make the girl even more livid. Just when it looked like Beathan might have to resort to violence to subdue her Sally managed to inject Relena with a sedative. A strong one, too, judging by how fast it worked.
The red head let out a sigh of relief as he released Relena's now limp wrists. "Thank you Sally. For a moment there I thought I was going to have to hit her. Not that I would've minded that one bit."
Sally's answering smile was both pleasant and mischievous. "If I wasn't a doctor I might have joined you."
The helicopter settled onto the hospital's landing pad. As soon as the craft had touched down the medical staff were running forwards with gurneys for the wounded. Sally began barking orders immediately, directing what treatments were needed and where they were to go. One doctor would be taking Heero directly to surgery, while another would be seeing to Relena's wounds and making sure the dangerously deranged girl was properly confined. Sally herself would be assisting in the delivery of Duo's twins. Three gurneys were wheeled away to their destinations while Wufei and Beathan were escorted to the waiting lounge.
Duo lay on the operating table, sterile drapes obscuring what Sally and the other doctor were doing. His husband Zechs was setting on a stool by his head, covered from head to toe in surgical garb, holding his hand and whispering words of comfort. He didn't feel anything, the anesthesiologist having already given him a spinal. The surgery was already underway. He couldn't feel the pain but Duo did feel the shift as the scalpel cut through the layers of muscle to reach the artificial womb and it's precious cargo.
"Duo, we're about to deliver the first baby. Do you want to watch?" Sally said from behind her mask.
"Yes!" Duo replied eagerly.
The drape was dropped and he could see Sally's hand began to ease a bloody little body from his stomach.
The doctor suctioned the squirming infant's mouth and nose while Sally tied and cut the cord. Duo's heart nearly burst with happiness as his daughter announced her arrival into the world with a loud wail.
"Is she all right?" Zechs asked.
"She's perfect! Absolutely perfect." Sally handed Zechs the wrapped bundle. "See for yourself."
He held his newborn child as if she were made of the most fragile china. He was afraid to even breathe least he damage her in some way. She was the most beautiful little thing he'd ever seen and she was his and Duo's; their sweet little girl. One hand waved about. Zechs couldn't believe how small it was! And those tiny fingers and their even tinier nails! Her head was covered with a thick crop of platinum hair just like his. Little eyelids popped open revealing a pair of rich violet eyes just like her mother's.
"She's beautiful." He whispered reverently. "Thank you Duo, thank you for our children."
Tears were running from Duo's eyes as he drank in the sight of his child.
"And here's baby number two!" The Doctor lifted the second infant who started crying immediately. "Congratulations gentlemen, you have a son!"
"A boy and a girl, Zechs!" Sally added her own congratulations before returning to the task of clearing out the placentas and closing Duo up.
"Oh, oh Zechs! They're so..so beautiful!" Duo wept and laughed as the nurse laid the little boy down beside him. He too was graced with a full head of platinum hair and violet eyes. They were going to be absolutely breathtaking when they grew up. Right now however all both parents were thinking about was this wonderful moment in their lives and how blessed they were to have been given such a precious pair to love and raise.
Doctor Lillian Sedon shook her head in disgust. The newest patient to the hospital's psychiatric ward was already showing signs of being a problematic case. The moment she came around from the sedative Doctor Po had given her during transit she tried to escape. It had taken three orderlies to restrain her as she screamed something about stolen babies and her fiancee needing her.
"Trouble?"
She turned to greet her co-worker Kaylie. "We're really gonna have it with this one."
"Oh oh! You got that right. That's Relena Peacecraft!"
"Oh hell!" Lillian rubbed her forehead, she could feel a headache coming on. "Another celebrity patient. When the press hears about this the hospital will be swamped with reporters."
"Only if they hear about it Lillie, only if they hear about it." She studied Relena's chart. "She's getting prepped from reconstructive surgery right? Well, that means lots of concealing bandages. If we can keep the staff from blabbing we might be able to keep this secret long enough to get her transferred to one of the mainland facilities."
"Which one you think would be best?"
Kaylie whistled low as she read further. "According to Doctor Po's note here we've got one sick puppy, here. She kidnapped her brother-in-law and was going to cut out his unborn kids. When her brother and his friends tried to stop her she ended up shooting her own fiancee and getting mauled by the family dog."
"That's horrible!"
"I agree. With a case like this the only thing to do is send her to Ledgehorn. It's got the highest level of security."
"Ledgehorn it is then, I'll arrange for the transfer as soon as she's able to be moved."
Four young men paced and fidgeted as they waited to hear about their friends. It had been over an hour since they'd taken Heero and Duo into surgery and since then not a single word had been heard. Beathan was setting on the couch with Wufei in his lap, his arms firmly wrapped around his husband. The Chinese youth needed the reassurance that Beathan was providing and it kept him from pacing like Trowa and Quatre were doing and wearing himself out.
"Do you think they're all right?" Wufei asked no one in particular.
"I can't feel anything much," Quatre stopped to stare at the sealed doors. "Heero's still unconscious. There's too much interference to get a clear reading from either of them."
"They will be fine, have faith in their strength and Sally's skills." Trowa took his sweet lover into his arms.
All four jumped as the door burst open and Sally, still wearing her surgical scrubs, came striding out.
She held up her hand to call for silence before the barrage of questions could start. "Everything went smoothly. Duo and Zechs are now the proud parents of one boy and one girl. Mother and children are doing just fine."
Cheers and prayers of thanks erupted from four mouths. Sally was surrounded by laughing faces, accepting their hugs and kisses. "You'll be able to see Duo and the kids in about ten minutes, just as soon as they're settled into their room."
Wufei was the first to remember the other one they waited for news of. "And Heero?"
The braided woman's face took on a more somber expression. "I won't lie to you. Heero's lost a lot of blood, add to that his poor physical condition and the odds aren't good. But if there's anybody who could overcome such odds, it's Heero Yui."
"We need to know Sally." Quatre pleaded. "I can't feel him, I can't tell how he is. Please, can you find out something?"
"Just wait here, I'll be right back." She patted the blonde's shoulder before returning to the surgery ward.
Five minutes later she returned to the four nervous youths. They all gave a massive sigh of relief when they saw her wide smile. "The surgery's went well, they're stitching him up right now. He'll have to stay here for a week but barring any complications Heero's going to be just fine."
"Thank Allah!" Quatre breathed. A sentiiment which was echoed by the others. "Sally, could you see that Heero's placed in the same room as Duo? It would be best for both of them if they could see each other."
"Already done." Sally replied with a wink.
The Arabian chuckled. He should've known Sally would've arranged for the two ex-pilots to share a room. Not that it was any guarantee either young man would stay put, but it was better than nothing. At the very least it meant the staff had only to keep watch on that one room with it's single exit rather than two rooms.
"Are you sure they're all right Doc?" Duo asked for the hundredth time.
"They're fine young man, just fine." Doctor Clay replied calmly. These constant repeating questions weren't new to the physician. All new parents worried about their newborn's health, especially under circumstances such as these. He'd be upset if Duo didn't ask.
"Twins sometimes come early due to the lack of room in the womb. You were past the 37 week mark so they're not considered premature babies."
The door opened and the nurse came in wheeling two babies in.
"Oh God Zechs, just look at them!" Duo felt the tears beginning all over again.
"I'm looking my love, I'm looking." Zecsh wasn't too far behind his husband in the tear department.
"Here's your Mommy little one." The nurse cooed as she gently laid his daughter into Duo's waiting arms.
Now cleaned, dressed and wrapped in a soft pink blanket she looked even more beautiful than she had just minutes old.
"And here Daddy, you get to hold your son."
Zechs accepted the blue bundle and cradled him lovingly to his chest. He just couldn't believe this was real. That he was really here, Duo was okay, and they were holding their children.
"My name's Violet and I'm the nurse on duty right now, if there's anything you need you just hit the call button and I'll be right here." The kindly nurse smiled at the new family.
"Thanks Violet." Duo replied without looking up, being far too absorbed in stroking his child's soft cheek with one finger. Violet wasn't offended by this, she'd seen this kind of reaction more times than she could count.
"What about feeding them Doc? When do you think they'll get hungry?"
"Pretty soon, being born is hard work even for babies delivered by c-section. Just watch them, they'll let you know when they're hungry. I know most men don't like to hear this but it's best if you let them have breast milk for their first meal. It contains the colostrum they need to help fight off diseases they might be exposed to. It carries the antibodies you yourself have developed over the years. After this you can switch to bottle feeding, which is what I recommend. Since you have twins, trying to feed both over a period of time would only wear you down."
Duo cringed slightly at the thought of breastfeeding, but it was this one time, and like the Doctor said the babies needed it. Quatre had done it. The blonde had fed Calida her first meal from his body and she was as healthy as they come. He wanted the same for his children.
In his arms his daughter turned her face towards his chest, her little mouth opening and closing as she rooted for her mother's nipple.
"I guess that means you want to eat." Duo chuckled. Violet helped him open his nightshirt to expose one pert little breast. He'd been warned he would develop breasts while on the hormone treatments but Sally promised they'd return to their previous shape soon after he stopped the shots. "I'm only doing this for you and your brother. This is a one time deal, after this it's bottle time."
His daughter didn't make reply, she was too busy latching onto the offered nipple.
It was probably one of the strangest feelings that Duo had ever experienced in his life. It wasn't unpleasent. Quite the opposite in fact. He felt he was again connected intimately to his child. His body was nurturing her, protecting her. All his attention was fixed on the suckling infant at his breast so he didn't hear the others come in.
Quatre was glad he had the good sense to grab his camcorder before they left as he stood there filming this special one of a kind moment for Duo and his children. This would be something both parents would treasure down the years, something to show the twins when they were older.
It didn't take long for her little tummy to fill up. She released her mother's nipple and gave a delicate burp as befitted a lady then drifted off to sleep. Duo cooed and placed a feather soft kiss on her forehead.
When he looked up to ask Zechs if their son was hungry he saw his family and Sally standing around him.
"Any news on Heero?"
"He's in recovery. As soon as he's ready they'll be bringing him up here. Sally arranged for you and Heero to share a room." Beathan answered in a soft voice so as not to awaken the sleeping angel in Zechs' arms.
Duo felt the last weight lift from his shoulders. Heero was going to be fine. They still had a chance. Now all that remained was...
The American's voice hardened. "And Relena?"
Sally was the one with that answer. "She's being transferred to a high security institute just as soon as possible. She's just too violent to house here for any length of time. Relena's a danger to everyone around her, patients and staff alike."
"Can she get free? Is it safe for Duo and the children to be here?" Zechs hated to ask that. Hated the fact that his own sister had tried to murder his husband and steal their children. Hated the fact that in all likelihood Relena would be spending many a coming year in some sterile ward wrapped in a straitjacket, raving at people who weren't there. But the safety of his family came first.
"She's strapped down, even Heero would have a hard time getting out of those restraints. And she's sedated too, just in case someone decided to listen to her. Relena's too persuasive to be allowed to sway some sympathetic orderly into releasing her."
That was enough to satisfy both new parents.
"So Duo, Zechs, what are these two lovely's names?"
"Everyone, I'd like you to meet our children, Alessandra and Darius."