the ride

Standard disclaimers apply: you know the drill.

 
 
The Ride

 
Chapter 5

 
 
 
Trowa looked at his partner . “What do you mean? We need to get a room?”
Quatre cocked an eyebrow at him. “That’s where they took Duo. To the motel. ” He said as he fumbled around, the cab , looking for something. After a few minutes he cried, “Ah ha! I found it!” He cried as he held up a small piece of plastic. “I always knew this card would come in handy.”
Trowa rolled his eyes and looked over at Hilde.
“What card,” she questioned.
“The Winner Corporation Credit card!”
Hilde’s hand shot to her mouth. “You’re Quatre Winner!?”
“Yep.” He said as he nodded. “ I have a plan, Trowa. “
Trowa looked at the girl beside him then over to his partner. “Plan? What kind of plan?”
Quatre looked over to Hilde. “We have to get him away from these guys before that Yuy guy gets here right?”
She nodded silently, not sure what he was planning.
“We’re gonna need some help.”
Trowa nodded as he slipped out of the truck. “I’ll see what I can do.” Trowa disappeared into the darkness toward the truck stop.
Quatre turned to Hilde, “Now we need to get you a room and remove Duo’s truck from the premises or hide it. Once we get him back , you and him will stay holed up in the room until we can come up with a plan.”
She swallowed, “Wouldn’t just be easier to give me back to Heero, and get Duo back that way?”
“Would he do that? Do you want to go back there?”
She sighed, “No, I guess your right.”
He turned to the door. “ I thought so. You stay in here until I get back. If Trowa can recruit some help this will all be over in an hour. No one messes with our own.”
She nodded as she watched him climb out of the truck and disappear into the night. She peered out into the darkness and worried about how Duo was, her heart aching. She had no idea what this feeling was or why it hit her so hard but she knew she had never felt anything like this before . She had a sneaking suspicion she was in love with that handsome braided man but she wasn’t sure why. No one fell in love on first sight , did they? She sighed as she leaned back in the seat, and rubbed her hands over her eyes.
She wondered what would have happened if she had stayed. She shivered at the thought of her father laughing as he killed her, just like he did her mother. It had been a reoccurring nightmare for her for years. And now Heero Yuy was after her. She was a good as dead, as well as all those around her. She sat curled up in he seat debating weather she should run and save these men who were helping her, or leave them to fate. She shook her head, no, she would stay and sit it out. Heero would show no mercy to anyone who helped her. Hopefully Quatre had a good plan.

 
 
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Duo looked at his captors and said nothing as he sat on the bed. He wasn’t telling them a thing and if he had to wait for this Yuy fellow he would.
The one called Max Turned and looked at him. “You know it would be in your best interest to talk to us.”
Duo remained silent.
Phil stepped up to the bed and back handed him, sending his head into the head board.
Duo still said nothing, just glared at the man. Phil growled and grabbed Duo’s shirt , pulling toward him. “Talk, or I’ll beat you to a bloody mess.”
“Fuck off.” Duo replied.
“Son of A b…” He cocked back his arm and aimed it at Duo’s face.
Duo closed his eyes and turned his head, waiting for the blow. It never came. He opened his eyes to see Max and the others restraining Phil.
“Put the killer instinct to rest, will ya , Phil. Yuy will kill you if you kill him before he talks to him.”
“Come on, buddy, Tell what you know.” One of the other men whined, the fear showing on his face.
Duo said nothing as he wiped the blood from his mouth. He winced as his hand brushed over the broken and bruised skin. He would have smiled but it caused too much pain. He hoped Hilde was far away from here by now. Putting her in Quatre and Trowa’s care had been the smartest thing he had done so far.
Max walked overstate bed and pulled Duo’s shirt open. “You know I could leave this open and bleeding, but Mr. Yuy told me to take care of it.” He glanced over at Phil and glared at him. “If you weren’t god-damned trigger happy none of this would have happened. Yuy will not be pleased. Josh, bring me that fist aid stuff.” He took the bag with the purchased first aid items and emptied it on the bed. He looked at Duo. “ Look we’re going to have to be together for a few hours, what’ s your name?”
Duo shrugged. “Duo Maxwell.”
“Good , I rather use your name then call you buddy.” Max replied, “I’m Max. You’ll talk to me.”
He continued as he opened Duo’s shirt to look at the wound. “Shit. The bullet is still in there.” He turned around. “We got any whisky? Peroxide?”
Heads shook all round.
Max rolled his eyes , “Jesus, I’m surrounded by idiots.” He smiled slightly when he heard Duo snicker. “Some one go get some, Will ya , and get a pocket knife while your at it. The bullet’s got to comt.” t.” He pushed Duo down on to the bed. “Now How are we gonna put you under.” He smiled as a strange glint came to his eyes. He doubled up his fist and slugged Duo in the wounded shoulder. He smiled with satisfaction as Duo passed out with a small groan.

 
 
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“This will be for a few days sir? “
He nodded. “Yes 3 for sure , I’ll let you know after that. “
“How many in the room? Single or double bed? “
Quatre smiled . “Two and double bed, Miss. “
“Smoking, non?”
“Non.”
“Ok,” She said as she reached for a key and pressed the enter button. His receipt began to print out. “You have room 134 it’s on the ground floor around to the back.” She pulled the receipt free and handed it to him, “ that will be $159. 43.”
He put the card on the desk and let her take it. “Oh!” She said in surprise as she swiped the card.
“Miss, I would appreciate if you told no one about this. There will be a tip in it for you.”
She nodded as he signed the paper and reached for his billfold to replace the card, and to pull out 2 crisp $100 bills. She stared at the money and smiled. “I haven’t seen you.”
“Thank you.” He replied as she smiled back.
“Oh, Mr. Winner? What about the signature?”
He turned back to her and asked, “How’s it look?”
“Like a scribbled line.”
He looked the desk at it, “if anyone asks, it was one of my 29 sisters, ok?”
Her eyes got wide, “29 sisters, sir?”
He smiled. “It’s a long story.”
As he headed for the exit, he heard her mumble, “29 sisters, wow.”
he smiled as she pushed the door open and went to find the room. When he found it he opened the door and looked around. He nodded to himself as he noted the microwave , the small apartment sized frig, the DVD player and the TV. He nodded to himself as he closed the door and went to get Hilde from the truck.

 
 
 
~~~~~~~~


Trowa slipped into the truck stop and went to find a few truckers he knew . When he told them of the situation , they were quick to help. As they got ready to follow him out , he stopped and pointed to the two men in the convenience store.
“Those two have Duo.” He said, softly.
A bigger man named Gus stepped up close to Trowa and asked softly, “Do you want us to take them now?”
“No. Let’s follow them.”
“Why the hell are they getting thtufftuff?” Asked another.
“Duo has been shot. I’ll bet the bullet is still in his shoulder. They are going to take it out.”
“Damn it. Why’d they do that?” Gus groaned.
Trowa shrugged, unsure how to answer.
They followed the two men at a safe distance and watched them enter one of the rooms on the ground floor.
“Did ya see the number?” Asked one of the men.
Trowa nodded.
“When are we going to go in?”
“When Quatre gets here.”
There were nods and soft ok’s from all of them.
It didn’t take long for Quatre to arrive. He had Hilde in tow. He raised a finger and continued to pull Hilde along. As soon as they disappeared around the corner , one of the men asked, “Who’s the chick…. I thought you guys….”
“Duo’s.” Came the reply.
“Maxwell? Well, I’ll be damned. I always thought he…”
“No, He just had his heart broken once and well ….. needed to heal.”
There were nods and uh huhs from most of the men.
“Here come Quatre. Shall we boys?”


to be continued