New Haven

Chapter Thirty-Five: Shopping Fun (Boys)
Duo sighed and slid his hand over the fur of Deathscythe and watched as Quatre and Damian herded the group out of yet another shop. He smiled as he remembered Deathscythe’s reaction to going with Zechs. He had completely refused. He had managed to convince the other dogs to go but Deathscythe had his own idea.
Quatre stopped to look behind him and grinned as he watched Duo trudge along behind them. He stopped grinning when he saw the pained expression and the way Deathscythe was herding him to a bench.
“Damian,” He called to the older boy. “Why don’t we take the boys and go over to the food court and take a break.” He tilted his head in Duo’s direction as he rolled his eyes.
Damian turned and swore at how far back Duo seemed to be from them. Deathscythe was not having an easy job trying to steer him to a spot to sit down. “Hey Gerald, Damarus, come on time for a break.”
Two boys halted their steps and turned to Damian. They promptly swung each other around and ran back to Quatre and Damian still holding hands.
Duo sighed and looked up to find Damian and Quatre waiting for him. He smiled weakly and motioned that he was coming.
“We thought it would be time for a break. We are almost done but the boys need a snack.” Quatre told Duo quietly when he arrived.
“Nice try Quat but yeah I could use a break.” Duo told him quietly not joking like he usually would. “I do need a break. It you take me over to the McDan’s house I think they have a play area that the boys can play and you can take Damian to get clothes that suit him.” Duo looked over to the teenager and grinned wryly. “You got the debit card Wufei insisted you use?”
Damian nodded and waited for Quatre’s verdict.
“That may be a good idea. I don’t think that the boys would enjoy helping find clothes for Damian. All the other clothes is going to be delivered.” Quatre looked over to see if there was something or someone to ask where McDan’s was.
A young woman at the booth behind the men grinned. “Go to your left at the next turn. You can’t miss it.” She looked at them apologetically. “Sorry about listening in. I just had to see what a group of gorgeous hunks were doing.” She blushed and turned back to a customer.
Quatre chuckled. “Thank you. We appreciate it.” He received a nod and began to herd the boys, the teen, Duo and the dog in the direction she had mentioned.
He chuckled as the boys got to their destination ahead of them. He supported Duo as they walked.
Duo sighed and motioned the younger people ahead of them through the door. Quatre helped him inside and motioned that they should find chairs before anyone ordered. He eased into a seat that was close to the play area and watched as the boys stared in awe at the play structure.
“Get me a salad and shake. The boys should have the chicken strips. Get them fries and a bunch of dips for them as well. You and Damian can eat when you get back from your shopping.” He muttered to Damian. “Damarus, Gerald, why don’t you watch how the other kids are playing and then try what they are doing?” He called to the boys as they stared in awe at the other children. “Ohh, and juice for them as well.”
Quatre nodded and didn’t tease the adultness that had taken over his friend. He could see how tired his friend was.
Duo sighed and watched the boys as Deathscythe sat at his feet also watching the boys. “Hey Scythe, do you think that Fei would forgive me if I didn’t let Quat know that I was tired?” Deathscythe wuffled and nudged his hand. Duo rubbed the silky ears. It was soothing Duo’s frayed nerves. His eyelids drooped but he didn’t allow himself to fall asleep like he wanted.
A tray being set on the table distracted him from the children he was watching. His hand reached out for the shake and took a sip. It was strawberry/chocolate. The coldness helped semi revive him as he sipped at it.
“Duo are you sure that you will be alright here?” Quatre asked in obvious concern for his friend. “We can always do the shopping for Damian at another time.”
“Not likely Quat. This is probably the only chance that we’ll have in a while.” He told his friend softly. “We got to take the time while we have the time.” He told his friend softly. “Get out of here and do the shopping that you need to do.”
Quatre surveyed Duo’s face and sighed at the stubbornness that he was portraying. “Alright but we will only be an hour or a little more. I know what stores that we are going to go to. It should help us a lot that way.” He murmured. “Damarus, Gerald,” He called to the boys still staring at the other children and play structure in awe. “Come eat and then you can play.”
Duo grinned as he watched Quatre herding Damian out of the dining area of the restaurant. He noticed him looking back and smiled at his friend reassuringly as he teased the boys and told them about all the wonderful things they could do on the play structure.
Duo didn’t know how long it had been but a sudden tenseness in the air and looked up to survey his surroundings. He growled in dismay at the sight of a man holding a gun to the head of a woman at the cash registers.
“Damarus, Gerald, I want you to get to the top of the structure and hide there till I say to come down. I want you there in ten seconds. Move!”
The boys darted into the play structure and seemed to be ordering the other children to hide as well.
“Why is it always during my watch that this happens?” He muttered to himself as he made his way to the cash registers and motioned people to get under the tables as he slid quietly to where the man was threatening to kill the woman if they didn’t give all the cash in the tills.
“I’m warning you…” He shouted as he waved his gun in the air. “I’ll kill her!!!”
Duo felt Deathscythe moving through the shadows of the tables beside him till he could find a good position. He groaned as he remembered that he hadn’t brought a weapon with him. He hadn’t thought that he would need one for a simple shopping expedition. He crouched down behind a cupboard and surveyed the scene. Something about it was off.
The man stood a few feet away from the counter and held the gun to the woman’s head as he gave his demands to the workers behind the counter. They had chosen a good time to do it. All the cashes were open for use.
Duo looked more closely at the hostage taker and woman he held. He couldn’t place his finger on what was wrong but there was something. “Preventers.” He shouted. “Throw down your weapon and let go of the woman.” It dawned on him what was wrong. The woman wasn’t as scared as she should be for being taken hostage. “I want both yours and the woman’s hands in the air where I can see them.”
Duo ducked down as the gun swung to were he crouched. The bullet whizzed by him as he whimpered and pressed his head to the cupboard as his side protested the movement violently. He didn’t notice Deathscythe moving till he heard the shrill scream. He popped up and dived for the gun now that it was no longer in the man’s hand.
Deathscythe had sprinted forward and launched himself at the man and wrapped his teeth around his wrist causing the man to drop his weapon in pain. His weight threw the man to the ground and stood threateningly over the man.
Duo managed to just wrap his fingers around the handle of the gun before the woman could get her hands on it. “I don’t think so sweetheart.” He told her softly as he aimed the gun up at her. “Hands where I can see them.” She snarled and did as he had told her. He moved carefully to a sitting position. “Somebody get security and the police here now.” He ordered as he surveyed the two offenders. “Good boy Deathscythe. Guard him.”
It seemed like forever to the Preventer/Paramedic. He sighed in relief as security swarmed into the restaurant. “I am Agent/Lieutenant Duo Maxwell for the Preventers and NYEMS. I apprehended these two as they attempted to rob this place.” He informed them and looked down when he felt a trickle down his side. “Fei and Quat are going to kill me.” He muttered as he pressed his hand to his side. He had opened the wound in his side when he had dove for the gun.
“Let me in.” A voice roared at the door into the mall.
Duo winced at the tone in the voice he heard.

Quatre frowned as he waited for Damian to finish changing. The underlying feeling of something happening, something bad, to one of his friends.
“Damian hurry up.” He called to the teen. A sudden flash filled his head. He leaned over and gasped in pain that he knew. He seemed to know where it was coming from.
“Quatre are you okay?” Damian asked when he found the doctor bent in half gasping in pain.
“Oh God!” Quatre managed to rasp out. “Duo!!!” He turned to the sales lady and tossed his card to her. “I have to run. Everything that he said he wanted is in his arms I told him to leave anything he didn’t want in the dressing room. Charge me and send it to the address on the card.” He sprinted from the store shouting his last words.
Damian handed his things to the sales woman and dashed after him trying to keep up with the blond doctor.
They arrived at the doors of the restaurant to find the shopping center’s security forces blocking the entrance.
“Let me in!” Quatre shouted at them in anger. “I am Agent/Doctor Quatre Raberba Winner. If you don’t let me in I will have to call Director Lady Anne Une. She will not be pleased as she out shopping with my niece, sisters, her wife, and a friend.” He pulled id from his pocket. He hated to use it.

Duo looked up as Quatre entered the restaurant Damian at his heels. He grinned wryly at them as he pressed his arm against his side in an attempt to stop the blood from flowing. He grimaced in pain as is shoulder throbbed viciously. “I didn’t plan this. Honestly, I was minding my own business…” He trailed off and grimaced in pain.
Quatre sighed and pulled his phone from his pocket. “Hi Anne can I speak to Sally please.”
“Damian can you go get the boys. Tell them that Duo said it was time to come out of hiding.” Duo told the teenager as he tried to get to his feet.
“Duo sit right back down now.” Quatre ordered. “Sally, Duo was in an attempt of robbery. He strained his shoulder and reopened his abdominal wound. We’re at the McDan’s in the George Washington Shopping Complex.” Quatre listened for a moment. “Yes I know you were probably having fun but this just seemed to happen. Okay I’ll tell the paramedics when they get here. See you soon.”
Duo looked up at him dryly. “You might as well call Fei. He’s going to be really pissed with me now.” He added the last with a frown. “I just couldn’t let them rob the place.”
Quatre shook his head as he crouched in front of Duo moving his arm to slip a wad of napkins over the wound site. “I will. But lets get some pressure on this before you bleed anymore.”
Chapter Thirty-Five: Shopping Fun (Girls)
Anne watched as Sakura dashed after Katey and grabbed her hand for assurance. She shook her head at the sight of the six year old. “How Wufei could have fathered such a child is beyond my comprehension.” She muttered as she lengthened her strides to catch up with the group. They had already gotten clothes for the younger girls. They were now looking at clothes for the older girls now.
“Because Wufei is the father. From what I have heard about his wife. Sakura is a lot more like her mother energy wise. Which is good for Wufei. He needs energetic people to liven up his life. Look at how loose he has become since Duo entered his life.” Sally told her softly. “I think that she will have her Baba wrapped around her finger in no time. It’s her Duo-Daddy that is going to lay down the law.”
Anne laughed softly as Noin lead the girls into the store they had become interested in. She followed as she caught her wife’s hand and tugged her along with her. “Just imagine teenage years in that house.” She murmured with a tiny smile as she watched the girls ooh and aah over the clothes they were looking at.
Sally giggled.
Sakura let go of Katey’s hand and grabbed a hat from the stand and put it on. She looked up in delight as it feel over her eyes and the older girls chortled at her antics. She pulled it off and looked for another one to show off in. She looked up when a hat plopped down on her head.
“I think this one is just right.” Sally murmured as she dropped the hat on Sakura’s head. It was a white camp hat with the front rim pinned up by a wide variety of purple colors through its flower with green leaves surrounding it. It set off Sakura’s face to perfection.
“I think Baba and Duo-Daddy would love to see you in it.” Katey said in admiration as she looked down at her niece.
“Really Auntie Katey?” Sakura looked up at her hopefully. She looked over at a mirror on the column to admire the hat.
“Yup. I think that it is perfect and they would love to see you in it.” Katey assured her as she grinned at the girl preening herself in front of the mirror. She pressed a hand to her mouth to stop the giggle she wanted to let out from getting out.
Sakura stood before the mirror trying different poses. She didn’t notice the adults trying not to laugh as she modeled for the hat.
“Aren’t you the sweetest thing!” A deeply masculine voice called out to her. “Would you like to be a model and act on Vid?”
Three Woman, two teenagers and two little girls turned to look at the man who had asked them the question. Sakura darted over and pressed her face into her Aunt Anne’s legs. The man had scared her.
Anne, Noin, and Sally gave him frosty looks. But he persisted.
“Ohh, you’re shy. I think we could cure that.” He was an average height man wearing a casual business suit that was charcoal gray with pin strips of a slightly lighter gray running through it.
“You would have to ask her fathers.” Anne told him frostily as she attempted to sooth the child pressed into the back of her legs. “I highly doubt they would be interested in allowing her to do so.” She glared as the man tried to get around her to look at Sakura. She pivoted with him making sure to hold the girl to her so she wouldn’t fall. “They are not to found of any type of camera.”
“I’m sure that I could change their mind if given a chance.” He murmured his sable eyes twinkling at the woman who he was trying to placate.
Noin had had enough. “You’re getting on my nerves. Don’t make me get the store to call security and have you removed.” She hissed as she turned to pick up the seven year old girl that Zech’s and herself had adopted was clinging to her and to reassure the young ladies.
Katey was not pleased with how the man was acting. “My niece is not interested in whatever you are offering.” She told him icily her hazel eyes flashing in disgust as she scooped Sakura up in her arms. Sakura curled herself around Katey protectively as Katey glared menacingly at the man.
He smiled gratingly at her as he attempted to get Sakura’s attention. “Don’t you want to show the world how beautiful you are?”
Sakura whimpered at the man’s words. They were like the mean man’s words at the base.
Katey bristled like a cat and hissed at the man.
“If you do not leave now. I will be forced to bodily harm you.” Anne whispered softly as she watched him through narrow eyes. “And I can get away with it.”
“Oh on,” Noin shook her head. “Let me take care of this piece of garbage Lady Une. I would love to throw him out.”
The man paled at Noin’s words. “Lady Une?” He whispered/questioned he knew that name.
“Yes and you are trying to solicit Prosecutor Chang’s daughter.” Sally added as she wrapped an arm reassuringly around Katey and placed a soothing hand on Sakura’s back. “I don’t think he would appreciate anyone trying to do so.”
He stepped back and blanched as he really took in the group before him. He whimpered and darted away. He left the woman alone without a backward glance.
“‘Good riddance to bad rubbish’ as they say.” Anne muttered as she turned back to Katey and Sakura. “He’s gone now. Your safe from the bad man.” She told Sakura in soothing tones.
Sakura whimpered and slowly looked around to see if it was the truth. When she didn’t find the man she held out her arms to her Aunt Anne in supplication.
Anne stared in amazement. Children did not usually turn to her when they wanted reassurance. She hesitantly wrapped her arms around the child and held her close as the women attempted to get the children back into the shopping mood. “Do you still want the hat?” She looked over to the head resting happily on her shoulder. “I still think that your Baba and Duo-Daddy would think you are beautiful in it. And that is all that really matters.”
Sakura lifted her head slightly and nodded before settling her head back on her Auntie’s shoulder. She was to tired to think right now. She needed to have a nap. Her eyes drifted shut as she felt Anne moving somewhere. She trusted her to take good care of her.
Anne looked back at the little girl’s head resting on her shoulder. It felt right to have her like this in her arms. She made her way to the cash to buy the hat that Sakura was wearing.
The woman behind the cash smiled at the sight of child and who she assumed was mother. “Just let me get the tag from the hat she’s wearing and we’ll take care of it.” She murmured as she moved from behind the counter. “You have a beautiful daughter.”
“She’s my niece. But thank you for the compliment. I will be sure to tell her fathers that you said so.” Anne told her quietly as she watched the woman carefully.
“Oh,” The woman blinked at Anne’s words. “I’m sorry I should have known by the asian features.” She moved back behind the counter. “I still think she is beautiful. My wife and I have two boys. We told the geneticist that we didn’t care what we had. But this time I think we’re going to have a girl. We really want one.” She told Anne as she totaled the price.
Anne smiled in understanding.
*BRINNNG*BRINNNG*
Anne frowned in distaste as her phone rang. She shifted in an attempt to get it. She looked up in dismay. “Do you think you could get the phone from my pocket? Sakura is settled just above it and I’m afraid of dropping her.”
The sales woman got it out and handed it to Une.
“What now?” She answered with a growl. “Just one second Quatre.” She turned to see where the others were. She motioned for Sally to come over. “It’s Quatre. He does not sound happy.” She told her as she got nearer.
The blonde took the phone with a frown. “Hello.” Sally listened with dismay as Quatre spoke. “Tell the paramedics to take him to Preventer’s Hospital. I will meet them there. We were almost done our shopping anyway.” She growled and hung up the phone. “Why won’t God give Maxwell a break?” She muttered the rhetorical question.
“Sally?”
“Maxwell attempted to stop a robbery and opened his wound and strained his shoulder. I have to get to the hospital and patch him up again.” She told everyone as they had joined her, Anne, and Sakura as she had talked to Quatre.
“Lets roll ladies.” Noin ordered. She turned to the sales woman. She put the items that had already been selected onto the counter. “We would like these items. This is my card and these,” She wrote on a slip of paper. “Are the addresses that the clothing needs to be sent to. My address is on the back of the card please send it to Preventers’ HQ.” She turned and herder the group without protest from the store. “At least he had good enough timing as to wait until we were almost done shopping.” She joked as they settled into the van Quatre had let them use.
Anne smiled as she settled a sleeping Sakura into her booster seat. “He has always had good timing. Whether it was for a joke or to eliminate his target. That is what made him the best.”