Title: Afterimage 5/?
Author: Caroline (chibirei @ hotmail.com)
Rating: this part - PG, NC-17 overall (Big surprise)
Pairing: eventual 1x2
Warnings: AU, OOC, murder, bastardization of some characters, death
of some characters (but not Heero or Duo :), maybe rape/torture...
don't know how squicky I can get til I write it...
Spoilers: none
Comments: please
Archive: if i've said yes, then yes.
Disclaimers: don't own 'em.  never will.  'nuff said.



-+Five+-

Wufei looked at Heero, ignoring the smirk on the other man's
face. "You're sure about this?"

"Yes," the Japanese detective answered.

"And the priest and the nun? They backed up his story and would be
willing to testify in court about the kid's whereabouts if needed?"

Heero held up some papers. "I have their statements here. There's no
better character witness than respected members of the clergy," he
said, openly grinning.

"Damn. I felt sure he had something to do with it," Wufei grumbled,
taking the papers and thumbing through them.

Heero looked horrified. "Don't tell me you *wanted* that kid to be
guilty?"

Wufei sighed and rubbed his eyes, suddenly looking very tired. "I
just want this case to be over, Heero. I wake up every day feeling
guilty. I start every morning wondering if there's been another
victim in the night - wondering if another young man or woman is dead
because I haven't been smart enough to catch this bastard. I say the
names of every victim before I go to bed at night, praying for their
forgiveness. I'm tired, Heero. I just want this nightmare to be
over."

"Wufei," Heero murmured, laying a hand on his colleague's
shoulder. "Are you getting enough sleep at night?"

The Chinese detective smiled ruefully. "I don't think I've slept
since this began." He stepped away from Heero to pick a file off his
desk. "I've already cleared this with the Captain. I'd like you and
Barton to take a look at the Peacecraft murder again. Something about
that case isn't adding up. Maybe a fresh pair of eyes will help."

Heero looked down at the file, somewhat amazed that Wufei was asking
for help. "We'd be glad to. What with all the media attention on
this 'Teardrop Killer', seems like all the other sickos in this city
are laying low. We don't have anything pressing at the moment."

"I appreciate you help."

Heero nodded. "Now, about Duo Maxwell. May I go down and release
him?"

Wufei hesitated. "I don't know. I still think that kid knows more
than he's telling."

"But his alibi checks out. He couldn't have committed those murders.
And you don't have a shred of physical evidence to prove he was
involved in any way. You have no reason to hold him."

"Very well," the dark-eyed detective said reluctantly. "But tell him
not to leave town. I want him around in case I have more questions
for him."

Heero smiled. "Thanks, Chang. You won't regret it."

"I'd better not."





The clanking of the cell door being slid open jolted Duo from his
uneasy sleep. He'd lain awake on the uncomfortable cot until the
first rays of dawn began peeking through the tiny window near the
ceiling of his cell. He'd finally drifted off into a restless slumber
just after full dawn, dreaming of Heero's cobalt blue eyes. Those
eyes were the first thing he saw when he looked up to see who was
opening the door.

"Heero! I mean… Detective Yuy," he cried, jumping up, trying to
straighten his wrinkled clothing. He looked up at the officer, hope
gleaming in his eyes. "Did you get what you needed?"

"Yes. You're free to go," Heero said, feeling warm at the sound of
Duo saying his name. All other thoughts were then shoved from his
mind as he suddenly found himself with an armful of braided energy.

"Thank you! I knew I could trust you."

Heero swallowed as he looked down at the boy in his arms, wanting to
hold him back but knowing it wouldn't be appropriate.

"Uh, you're welcome, Duo. Is there anyone I can call to come pick you
up?"

Duo stepped regretfully away from the dark-haired detective's
embrace. He shook his head. "Both Quatre and Iria will be on duty at
the clinic this morning. And neither Father Maxwell nor Sister Helen
have a car."

"What about your other friends or your parents?"

Duo shifted uncomfortably. "Don't have any," he mumbled, looking
away.

Heero stared at him for a long while, wondering how anyone as
beautiful and charismatic as Duo Maxwell could go through life
without friends. And no parents? He could see the boy didn't want to
talk about it so let it go.

"Well can I drop you off somewhere?"

Duo looked back at him, surprised. "You… wouldn't mind?"

"Well as long as you don't want to drive all the way to Los Angeles,
I don't mind," he replied, smiling.

"Can you drop me off at Quatre's clinic?"

"I can."

Duo's face lit up. "Then let's go. I want to get as far away from
this place," he said, waving his hand at the now empty cell, "as I
can. I need a shower, but first I need to show Quatre I'm okay."

"If that's what you want. My car's out back. Shall we go?"

"You bet!"

Duo bounded along beside the detective, watching him out of the
corner of his eye. He didn't quite know what to make of the man. He
was definitely attracted to the detective, and he was sure Heero was
sending hints of his own. But what if he was wrong? What if he asked
Heero out only to have the man laugh in his face? Or worse, recoil
from him in disgust? Duo sighed. Dating was confusing, and more often
than not, heartbreaking. No, better to admire the man from afar than
to risk hurting what seemed to be a newfound friendship.

Heero opened the car door for him. Duo smiled in thanks and slipped
inside. When the door shut behind him, he was almost immediately
overwhelmed by Heero's scent. The unique blend of sandalwood and musk
permeated the air in the vehicle. Duo closed his eyes and shivered.

Neither one talked much during the ride. Both kept casting longing
glances at the other while the other was not looking. Duo turned to
look out the window, wishing the ride to Quatre's clinic was longer,
wishing he had the courage to say something.

They pulled into a parking space on the street in front of the clinic
a few minutes later. Duo jumped out of the car and into the building,
hollering for Quatre. The blonde doctor poked his head out of one of
the examining rooms, eyes widening in surprise at seeing Duo there.

"Duo! Thank Allah! I was so worried. What happened? I wanted to wait
for you after they'd finished taking my statement but they made me go
home. Are you okay?" the little blonde gushed, catching Duo in his
arms and squeezing tightly.

"I'm okay Quat. They thought I was the murderer and locked me in
jail."

"What? Why didn't you call me? I could have sent my lawyer down to
help you."

"They didn't exactly let me make any phone calls," Duo replied,
trying to squirm out of his friend's embrace.

"They wouldn't let you contact a lawyer?" Quatre's eyes narrowed
dangerously.

"He was never formally charged. It was not necessary," Heero said as
he came in the door behind Duo.

"Quatre, this is Detective Yuy. He got me out of the big house," Duo
said, grinning.

Heero rolled his eyes. "I merely checked out your alibis, Duo."

"Yeah, but they wanted to hold me until the full twenty-four hours
didn't they? You convinced them to let me go early."

"Duo!" A tall blonde woman raced around the corner and swooped down
on the short young man. Duo squeaked as she wrapped her arms around
him and swung him around. "I was so worried! Quatre told me about
having to leave you at the precinct and then when you didn't answer
your phone last night we were so worried!"

"Iria!" came Duo's muffled voice against the woman's shoulder. "I'm
fine… can't… breathe."

Iria stepped back, giving him one last squeeze. She looked him up and
down before remarking, "No offense Duo but you look like hell."

"I spent all night in prison." Heero rolled his eyes again. "I need a
shower and a change of clothes and a snack and a nap and not
necessarily in that order."

"Can I drive you home, Duo?" Heero asked. He didn't want the young
man walking home in his semi-exhausted condition.

Duo grinned. "I am home. I live in one of the apartments upstairs.
But thank you, Detective Yuy. For everything."

"In that case, may I ask a favor of you?"

"What is it?"

"Will you meet me later? To talk about your visions. I'm really
curious about them. Maybe there's something that will help us solve
this case."

Duo felt his heart leap into his throat. He started to accept when
Quatre grabbed his arm and dragged him away.

"Excuse us just a minute, please," the blonde doctor called out to
Heero.

"Quatre? What are you *doing*?" Duo asked.

"Look Duo. I don't think it's a good idea for you to get involved in
this thing further. You found the body for them. You've done your
job, and look where it got you. They thought *you* were the one
responsible for all those murders. I just don't think you should
involve yourself anymore."

"I appreciate your concern, Quatre, but I *am* an adult now. I can
make my own decisions. And I want to help Heero… Detective Yuy as
much as I can."

Quatre's eyes widened. "You like him," he accused the braided teen.

Duo blushed. "Yeah, I do. So what? I *do* want to help him." He
grabbed his friend's hand. "Look, I promise I'll be careful. But I
want to… no, I feel like I *have* to do this."

Quatre hesitated before reluctantly nodding. "All right. But if they
start interrogating you again, refuse to answer any questions until
you get a lawyer. Then call me. I'll be there before you can blink."

Duo gave his friend an unexpected hug. "Thanks Quat. And I promise."

He walked back to Heero. "Sorry about that. My friends are just a
tad… overprotective. Where do you want to meet?"

"Why don't I buy you dinner while we talk? It's the least I can do
for your… 'unfortunate incarceration.'"

Duo giggled, trying hard not to sound like a love-struck
schoolgirl. "Uh, sure. That'd be great. Where?"

Heero drew out a card from his pocket. On the back he wrote down the
name and address of a local bar and grill he and the other cops liked
to frequent. "Meet me here, around seven?"

Duo looked at the name of the restaurant. "I know where this is. And
seven is fine."

"Great. Oh, and my home phone number is on the other side… in
case
you need anything. Don't hesitate to call. Dr. Winner, it was nice to
meet you." He looked at Duo and gave the boy a small smile. "I'll see
you at seven."

Duo clutched the card to his chest as he watched Heero leave. As the
handsome detective pulled away, he collapsed dramatically into a
nearby chair. "Oooh, I think I'm in love!"

Quatre sighed dramatically. "He just wants to talk about the case,
Duo. He also wants to talk about your visions. Are you okay with
that?"

Duo paused. He'd never liked talking about his gift before. But he
hadn't hesitated when Heero had asked him. He shrugged. "I don't
mind. There's not much to tell anyway." He glanced at the clock on
the wall. "Holy crap! I only have eight hours to get ready for
dinner!"

He bounded out of the chair, heading for the stairs at the back of
the clinic that lead to his apartment. Quatre rolled his eyes as he
watched the braided teen rush up the stairs two at a time. Duo would
never change, and quite frankly, he didn't want him too. He was too
sweet and innocent, and he never wanted the boy to lose that.

'I only hope you know what you're getting yourself into, Duo,' he
thought before returning to his patients.