"I dare you to try and move him," Heero whispered warningly at the irritated nurse.

"He's lying on your IV lines." Yet the nurse didn't make any move to come near enough to help free them. Her expression was one of disgust.

Heero lifted Duo's slack arm and freed them himself, wincing at the pain of his injuries.

"He's not a relation sir," the nurse tried again. "Only relatives are allowed to stay the night, and then only with a doctor's permission."

Heero glared at her. "I don't think I have to tell you who he is," he replied angrily. "We have papers on file. If you're going to make an issue of it, I suggest that you file an objection to the law, which states that domestic partners are not to be discriminated against."

The drugs were trying their best to pull Heero into unconsciousness, but he fought them, determined not to have Duo disturbed. The man had stayed, by his side, until he had left critical condition. Shadowed under his eyes, and his body, which was never still, as heavy as death itself, it showed how utterly exhausted Duo was. Collapsing on top of him, after a long reassurance that Heero was all right, had been both frightening and comforting at the same time. Frightening, in that Heero was afraid now for Duo's health, and comforting, in that it was what Heero needed just then, his lover near his heart and in the protective circle of his arms.

"Something wrong, nurse?" A young doctor came into the room, electronic clipboard in hand. He looked at Heero and Duo and smiled as he asked, "How are we feeling, Mr. Yuy?"

"Better than my car," Heero replied, ready to fight on two fronts now, to keep Duo with him.

"I saw it on the news," the doctor told him as he moved forward and checked over Heero's monitors and IVs. He worked around Duo, but he wasn't ignoring him. "It looked like a crushed can. You're lucky to be alive. Someone running a stop light, I believe?"

Heero tried to remember. "I think so, I... Things are a little confusing, right now."

"Of course," the doctor said in sympathy. "That's to be expected." He suddenly tucked his clipboard under his arm and shifted Duo all the way onto the bed with a grunt. He arranged Duo so that he wasn't disturbing Heero's wounds and then briefly checked his vitals.

"This man is suffering from exhaustion, nurse," the doctor told the agitated and surprised woman. "Have him admitted and get a second bed in here. No reason to waste space with another room."

It took Heero a moment to understand and then he smiled gratefully. "Thank you doctor."

"Part of my job to know these things," the doctor said with a return smile, "Well, everything looks all right, Mr. Yuy. Get some rest, both of you."

Heero watched the doctor leave, taking the nurse, and then he wrapped his arms more securely around Duo. He could sleep now. He was safe and he had Duo safe, and nothing was more important than that.