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Equus	By : Deb Category: Gundam Wing/AC > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 2855 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, it belongs to Bandai, Sotsu and associated parties. I do own the equines though, please do not take them without permission. Written for pleasure not profit.

Chapter List
- 46
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“Equus”
Chapter 47
“Good boy,” Heero said and patted the gray neck.
Shini snorted and shook himself. Of course he was good, he knew all about this showjumping stuff by now and didn't need to practice too much.
Spotting a familiar form leaning against the fence, Heero let the gray stretch out his neck and walk across to the vet. “How did it go?” he asked as he dismounted.
“Okay,” Duo replied.
“That all you're going to tell me?”
“Jay says the same thing as you; I should go to court and fight Stefan all the way.” Duo had attended his appointment with Jay that morning and despite Heero's offer to attend with him, he'd decided he wanted to go alone. Shoving off the fence, Duo fell into step with Heero as he led the gray back to the stables. “Jay feels that although the trial won't be easy for me emotionally, it could help a great deal.”
Heero nodded. He'd thought along similar lines.
“I guess he's right,” Duo said with a shrug. “I'll be honest, I really don’t want to sit in a court room and have all the sordid details brought out into the open for everyone to hear, but on the other hand, Stefan shouldn't be allowed to get away with what he's done either. Jay seems to think that by going through the trial, it will help me to confront my demons and lay them to rest.”
Pausing from removing the saddle, Heero turned to Duo and swept his lover into his arms. “It won't be easy, we both know that, but what Jay says is true. By going through with the trial you're showing Stefan that you're a much stronger and better person than he is.”
“I still think it will be a waste of time,” Duo whispered. “I still say that he will get off.”
“We don’t know that, Duo. All we can do is trust in the DA, the police and all the evidence. In the end, the truth will win out.”
“I hope so.”
Deciding to change the subject, Heero returned to unsaddling Shini. “When do you think Nataku can come back into work?”
“I'll check her over this evening for you. If everything is still looking okay than you could probably start putting her back into light work next week. I wouldn't suggest jumping her though for a while.”
“I don't have any plans to start jumping her for a couple more months yet,” Heero replied.
Duo chuckled. “Yeah, I can see why not, after the display you had with her the first time you tried I'd be thinking it will take a while before she's ready to even look at a jump.”
“Too true,” Heero replied with a smile. “But I plan on settling her down on the flat, making sure she has all the basic education in place before I start to ask her to do anything remotely like jumping. When I do start it will be over the cavaletties and build up to low grids. Once she can handle those okay I'll start to look at trying her over some low fences.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
“You feel like going for a ride?” Heero asked.
“Wouldn't it be a bit risky with Angel in foal again?”
“She's not that far along and some light exercise will do her the world of good,” Heero stated. He didn't voice that he thought a ride would also do wonders for Duo too.
Duo looked a little doubtful.
“I was going to take Orion out for a slow bush ride to break things up for him and I'd appreciate the company,” Heero wheedled.
Duo caved. “Okay. I'll pop up to the cottage and change. Meet you back here in a few?”
“I'll fetch the horses while you're changing.”
* * *
The bush ride did do wonders for Duo's emotional state. The cool air, sounds and smells of the bush combined with the easy gait of the mare soon settled his troubled mind. Angel also appreciated the change of scenery. Orion was a good companion horse to ride out with, relaxed and laid back, taking an interest in the things around him but not being pushy. Both men were able to sit back and relax.
Returning to the stables they found June had put all the feeds in ready for them and was currently leaning on the fence to the schooling paddock watching Frank working Jester. Hearing the sound of hoof beats, she left the paddock and returned to the stables as the pair rode in. Smiling, she gave them both a hand to unsaddle and brush the horses down, despite both Heero and Duo's protests that she take things easy.
Orion and Angel were soon settled and put into their respective stables. Frank rode in just as they were all about to head back out and start to bring the rest of the horses in for the evening. Heero stopped to exchange a few words with the other rider leaving Duo and June to start by themselves.
Walking back out to the paddocks, June glanced out the corner of her eye at Duo and managed to screw up the courage she needed to ask what was on her mind. “Have you heard from the courts yet?”
Turning to look at the woman as they walked, Duo gave a soft sigh. “Yes,” he said and went on to explain what had happened.
June was just as shocked as all Duo's other friends had been with the plea of not guilty and she reaffirmed once again that she would be more than happy to attend court and stand as a witness. Duo was touched once more by the loyalty shown him and thanked June. “I'm sure the DA will be in touch with you should he require you to take the stand in the trial,” he told the woman.
“I'll be there for you, Duo.”
Heero caught up to them and the subject was dropped, friendly bantering taking the place of the more somber words and lightening the mood a lot.
* * *
“You ready, Heero?”
“Just coming.” Heero glanced at himself one last time in the mirror and decided he would have to do. Picking up his wallet he tucked it into his back pocket as he strode out of the bedroom to meet his anxious lover waiting in the kitchen.
“You sure you don't mind coming with me, Heero? It won't upset your training with the horses?”
“Duo, I said I would come with you and I will. The horses won't suffer if they don't get as much work as usual,” Heero replied and wrapped his arms around Duo to pull him close. “Try to settle down a bit,” he soothed and pressed a few kisses to Duo's jaw and neck.
“I'm sorry, I can't help feeling nervous,” Duo replied and hung on tightly to Heero's warmth and strength.
“That's understandable. Just try to remember that I will be with you all the way. You need to be honest and tell the DA everything he needs to know, regardless of how painful it can and probably will be. The more he knows, the better he can prepare the case and bring that bastard to justice.”
“You're starting to sound like Jay,” Duo snickered.
“Then I'll take that as a compliment. I'm in good company,” Heero teased back.
“Come on, we'd better get going before I change my mind.”
Releasing his lover, Heero followed Duo out the cottage and waited whilst his lover locked up. With the cottage secure, Heero slipped behind the wheel of Henrietta and drove them to their appointment with the DA.
*
“Thank you both for coming in. I'm Andrew Morris, the District Attorney and I'll be the one handling the prosecution in this case,” the man stated and offered his hand to Duo.
“Doctor Duo Maxwell, Mr. Morris,” Duo replied as he shook the man's hand. “A pleasure to meet you.”
“Heero Yuy. I'm Doctor Maxwell's partner,” Heero said quietly as he also shook the DA's hand.
Morris smiled warmly at the pair. “Please, be seated.”
Trying to keep his nerves under control, Duo took one of the seats as Heero sank into the other. The DA returned to his seat on the other side of the desk and quickly glanced at some papers he had in front of him. Looking up at the pair, he noted the unease radiating off the vet. “Firstly, I'd like to say that I think you are doing the right thing, Doctor Maxwell and that I admire you for coming forward and pressing these charges. It takes a lot of courage to admit you are a victim of a crime such as this and I fully intend to use everything at my disposal to prosecute this man and get a verdict of guilty from the judge.”
With the words spoken in sincerity, Duo felt himself relax a touch. The DA gave off the aura of being calm and in control, professional in his work and yet was understanding and compassionate towards his client.
“Before we begin, there's one other thing I'd like to say. I've been informed that you are gay, Doctor Maxwell and that Mr. Yuy here is your partner.” Seeing the 'hackles' beginning to rise on both men, he quickly continued. “I want you both to know that personally, I have no problem with that. It does not bother me or concern me, I believe that everyone is entitled to be with whomever it is that makes them happy in life. In my professional capacity it makes me even more determined to have a guilty verdict announced. No one, regardless of their race, color, creed or orientation should be subject to a crime of any type.”
Morris went up several notches on both Heero and Duo's 'respectable' meter.
“Thank you, Mr. Morris you have no idea how much that means to my partner and I,” Duo replied quietly.
“Believe me, I'm more than well acquainted with bigotry and discrimination, Doctor Maxwell.”
“Please, call me Duo.”
The DA nodded. “Call me Andrew. I much prefer to be on a first name basis with my clients if possible, makes it much easier all round, especially as this is such a personal case. Right, I think it best we get started. I have copies here of both your statements to the police, but I'd like to get a bit more background information first. To start with, how did Mr. Graves first come to know you?”
Heero gave the DA a brief run down on his success as a show jumper and ultimately opening his own stable which led to Stefan agisting his horse with Heero. Duo took up the tale from there, explaining how he'd begun to feel uncomfortable in Stefan's presence, the double meanings that Stefan had put into his words and the subtle touches he'd experienced and brushed off as a slip or the like.
Morris was very thorough in his questioning, having both men repeat things from time to time and probing further into other bits of information that were given.
After two hours with Morris, Duo was beginning to feel emotionally exhausted and was more than happy to hear the man call an end to the session.
“Thank you both for all the information so far. I will need to meet with you both again in about a week's time. I have quite a bit here to follow up on and I'll have more questions for you at a later time. Meanwhile, if you remember anything else at all, please let me know. Does either of you have any questions of your own?”
Heero voiced the question he knew they both wanted an answer to. “Does Duo stand a chance of winning this case?”
Morris thought for a moment before replying. “There is always a chance, Heero. We have the forensics reports, the doctor's reports, statements from yourselves and other witnesses. I have a report from Doctor Jamieson which will also go a long way in proving rape. I just wish we had an independent witness or some other form of irrefutable evidence; if we did, that would see this case closed within minutes. Unfortunately we don't have that, but there is more than enough other evidence here.”
“It's still going to come down to his word against mine though, isn't it?” Duo stated flatly.
“I'll be honest, if Mr. Graves engages a good lawyer, it will be difficult – but not impossible. I have faith that with what we have we will see this man pay for his crime against you.”
“Thank you for being honest,” Duo replied.
“No problem. Now, I'm sure you both have better things to do than sit here any longer. If you could come back next Monday at the same time we can go over what I will have prepared thus far in the case.”
Heero and Duo stood, as did Morris. Handshakes were exchanged again and the pair left the office to head back home.
* * *
The next three weeks flew by. Heero was kept busy with the horses and had started to bring Nataku back into work again. Duo was flat out with the practice, trying to catch up on everything as he didn't know how much time off he would need once the case went to court. Hilde, Zechs and Catherine took as much off their boss' shoulders as possible, the other two vets arranging to juggle the shifts that Duo would need off between them.
Wufei, Meiran and June had all been interviewed by Morris and told they would be contacted when they were needed to present to court as witnesses. Sally had removed the strapping from Duo's shoulder and he was now doing the exercises she'd advised to build the injured muscles and tendons back up. The internal tearing he'd suffered at the hands of Stefan had also healed, although the emotional wound was still raw and bleeding.
Heero's hand had also healed well and he was back to normal use with it. Whilst the injuries to both men had finally healed up, Heero had made no further attempt to be intimate with his partner. He did show Duo just how much he loved him though by cuddling and kissing his partner as much as possible. Heero figured that Duo would let him know if and when he was ready for more and until that happened, Heero refused to push his lover. He'd meant every word he'd said when reassuring Duo that he wasn't in this relationship for the sex. Heero didn't care if they never indulged again, to him, having Duo in his life, being able to hold and kiss the vet was more than enough.
Doctor Jamieson had been a godsend to Duo. He'd attended several more sessions with the man and whilst each one had been emotionally draining for him, Duo did feel better after speaking with him. Slowly but steadily Duo was starting to come to terms with his rape and accept that whilst he couldn't change the past, he could cope with it. He also learned that he could have some control over his future. Determined not to be a victim again, Duo had insisted that Heero teach him all he could in the art of self defense.
More than willing to help, Heero had patiently explained and demonstrated different techniques to Duo, the vet picking up things quite easily.
By the time the trial rolled around they had already destroyed two punching bags and were well on their way to demolishing a third.
*
The Sunday morning of the day before the trial saw Heero working his horses and Duo doing his best to work off his nervous energy. Zechs was on call which left Duo at a loose end. Heero had taken off for the stables earlier in the morning, deciding that with the trial the following day, he would give the horses the Monday off instead of the usual Sunday.
With Heero gone from the house, Duo had nothing to distract him and so he decided to do some spring cleaning. Fetching all the cleaning supplies out, Duo began to dust, polish, vacuum, scrub and scour everything he could find. Both men had neat, clean habits anyway and so the cottage didn't get dirty, plus they both cleaned the place each week, but it gave Duo something to put his focus on and work off his nerves.
Heero returned at lunch time to be confronted by his lover wielding a mop, hair tied up in a bun and the stereo system going almost full blast. He paused in the doorway for a moment to take in the scene. His lips quirked up as he observed Duo's hips swaying to the beat, the mop following along and the sound of singing coming from his lover's mouth.
“I set fire, to the rain; watched it pour as I touched your face. Well it burned while I cried, Arrrghhhh! Shit, Heero!” Duo jumped a mile when he caught sight of his lover from the corner of his eye. With a hand over his heart, Duo did his best to calm himself.
Heero narrowly avoided being hit by the mop as Duo suddenly registered his presence. Knowing he'd just scared the living daylights out of his partner, Heero quickly crossed to Duo and enclosed the vet in his warm arms. “Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you,” he apologized.
“Jeeze, I think I just went into cardiac arrest,” Duo managed to get out. “My heart's racing a mile a minute.”
“I thought that was because you spotted me.”
“It is, but not in the nice way. Shit! Can you make some sort of noise next time?”
“I”m sorry, I didn't think,” Heero apologized again.
“Nah, it's okay.” Duo snuggled deeper into the arms that held him. He knew he'd overreacted a touch. He was still very jumpy at times and couldn't help that.
“I think I will make noise next time, I don't fancy wearing a mop,” Heero replied as he placed a kiss to the top of Duo's head.
“What time is it?”
“Just after one. I came up for some lunch but I think I might skip it.” Heero pointedly looked around the kitchen. The chairs were all up on the kitchen table, the stove pulled apart and covered in cleaner solution whilst the fridge stood open, food packed away into bags and a couple of eskies on the bench top – Duo was obviously defrosting the thing.
Duo gave a small grin. “Errr, if you hang on for half an hour I'll have this lot finished and I'll make us a couple of sandwiches.”
“I'll help.”
With Heero's assistance it didn't take long at all to have the fridge wiped out and the food replaced. The stove was also wiped down and put back together. With Duo finishing off his mopping, Heero made them both a sandwich and coffee.
“What are you doing this afternoon?” Duo asked as he finished his sandwich.
“I've just got Nataku and Wing to work before starting on the evening routine,” Heero replied and drained his coffee mug.
“Mind if I come and watch?”
“Of course not. You're always welcome, Duo.”
Duo didn’t want to admit it, but he'd finished pretty much everything he could do in the house and didn't want to be by himself any longer. He'd thought about dragging Jaws out to mow the lawns, but he'd only done them last week and there really wasn't much growth there.
Heero quickly did the dishes while Duo went to change.
*
“Good girl,” Heero praised and brought the mare back to a walk. So far everything was going well with the bay, Nataku, despite having had time off for her injury to recover, hadn't forgotten anything of her earlier lessons with Heero.
“She's going well,” Duo commented and fed the bay a couple of carrot slices when Heero rode over to the fence and brought the mare to a halt.
“That she is. I'm very happy with her progress.”
“What else are you planning on doing with her today?”
“I thought I might start her over some trotting poles,” Heero said and glanced across the paddock to where his jumps and poles all sat.
“Do you want a hand to set them up?”
“If you don't mind I'd appreciate it.”
“Sure, no problem.” Duo climbed through the fence to enter the paddock and began to walk across the grass to where the poles all sat. Heero rode alongside.
“How many do you want?” Duo asked when they reached the pile of poles.
“I think that eight should do to start with.” Heero dismounted to give his partner a hand.
Duo picked up one of the rails and began to walk away from the pile with it when he spotted a couple of figures coming through the gate. “We have company,” he informed Heero.
Turning, Heero looked across to see the pair approaching and as they drew a little closer he recognized them as Wufei and Meiran. The four exchanged greetings before Wufei asked how Nataku was going and what he was planning to do with the poles. Heero explained his working on the flat with the mare and that as she'd been going so well, he'd decided to try her over a few trotting poles.
“The poles on the ground will give me an idea of how far along in her reeducation she is, if she's ready to start pole work and move onto cavaletties. How she reacts to these will give me an indication of what to expect when we start to work towards small jumps,” Heero explained.
“Can we help?” Meiran asked.
“You shouldn't be helping, you're paying clients,” Heero began to object.
“Oh, bosh,” Meiran stated. “Tell us what you want us to do.”
Duo raised an eyebrow at the unusual curse and gave Heero a secret grin. Heero shook his head in reply.
“Okay, if you really insist. I was explaining to Duo that I want eight poles set on the ground in a straight line, roughly four feet apart.”
“Come on, Wufei, we can handle that,” Meiran said and grabbed her husband by the arm.
Wufei rolled his eyes but obediently picked up a pole. “Women,” he muttered to Duo as he passed the vet, carrying the pole to lay it with the others. Duo snickered and continued with his own pole.
Once the poles were laid out and Duo had carefully stepped the distance between them, the three spectators moved away to the side so as not to distract the mare or her rider. Heero pushed Nataku into a trot and circled her a few times until she was balanced and relaxed. With her head and neck lowered, the hind quarters traveling through, Heero turned the mare for the line of poles and continued to ride her forward at a steady gait.
Approaching the poles, Nataku's head slowly started to rise and she gave a couple of snorts. Her tail came up and kinked over her back, the steady rhythm of the trot fell apart as she took a couple of bouncing steps, shortening and then lengthening her stride. Heero sat quietly on her back keeping his hands steady and a light contact with her mouth. He used his seat and leg to push her forward, soothing her with a low voice as she continued to eye off the poles as if they would leap up and bite her.
Nataku stopped dead at the first pole. Heero gave her rein and allowed the bay to stretch and lower her neck to sniff at the pole. He didn't hurry her, simply let her take her time in checking it out. Once Nataku seemed happy enough, Heero took the contact back and asked the bay to walk over the poles. Nataku snorted, stepped over the first pole and proceeded to try and jump the remaining poles.
“Okay, that's not going to work,” Heero muttered to himself and brought the mare to a halt. “Duo? Would you mind putting one pole by itself just to the side of the others, please?”
“Sure.” Duo didn't know what Heero was up to but he grabbed one pole and lay it on the ground several feet away from the other poles.
“Thank you.” Heero picked up his reins and urged the mare back into a trot. He circled again for a few minutes, settling the mare back into her rhythm. When he deemed her calm enough, Heero brought his circle out a bit to encompass the solitary pole. This time he kept her moving forward, not allowing the mare to stop, shy out or otherwise evade the pole.
The first few times Nataku approached the pole with a mix of fear and distrust. Trotting up to it and unable to do anything other than go over it, she lengthened her stride and put in an almighty leap. Heero only just managed to stay with her. Once on the other side of the pole, Nataku did her best to gallop off, knowing there would be pain in her mouth once her rider was settled in the saddle again. Instead of the jab in the mouth though, she was surprised and confused when Heero simply sat deep and applied a steady, gentle pressure, that pressure remaining until she slowed her pace back to a trot again.
Once the mare was back in her trot, Heero ran a soothing hand along her neck. “Let's try that again, shall we?” he said softly.
Another five attempts at the pole all resulted in the same thing, Nataku leaping it as if it were a five foot fence and then trying to tear off around the paddock. She reminded Heero so much of Taurus, only with Taurus it had been over-exuberance, in Nataku's case it was fear.
By the time half an hour had passed, Nataku had given up on her antics and started to trot calmly over the pole. She began to accept it and trust her rider a bit more, especially as she hadn’t been abused or hurt. Trotting calmly over the pole once more, Heero praised and patted the mare, bringing her to a walk and riding over to where the others still stood watching. “That's enough for today,” he said to the horse and spectators.
Wufei gave the mare a few pats and fed her some carrots, carrots that were eagerly accepted. “What was the purpose of that exercise?” he asked.
Heero explained that he was taking the mare right back to the beginning in her education. Poles on the ground were an excellent way to teach a horse striding and keep them calm and relaxed at the same time. He also explained that the poles would have the mare lowering her head and neck, softening the muscles through her back and 'rounding up', meaning all her body muscles, ligaments and tendons were in the right place for her to be able to jump successfully without injury or strain to herself.
Whilst Wufei didn't completely understand, he got the basic idea. The four walked back to the stables as dusk was settling in, Wufei asking more questions of Heero and his training methods while Meiran walked with Duo and couldn't help the smile on her face at her husband's interest.
* * *
That evening they went to bed a little earlier than usual. Lying together with Duo snuggled up against his side, head resting on his chest, Heero gently ran his fingers over the exposed skin of Duo's shoulder and arm. “You okay?” Heero asked.
“Not really,” Duo replied with a sigh. “I guess I won't really be alright until this trial is over with.”
Heero pressed a kiss to Duo's head. “I know. I wish it were all over with too so we can get on with our lives.”
“Amen to that.”
“Duo, once this is finished, how about we go away for a weekend, just the two of us?”
Duo raised his head and frowned. “Not that I don't think that's a good idea, but what about the horses?”
“I'm sure I can get Carl and June to keep an eye on them and feed them for a couple of days.”
“I suppose so.”
“Then regardless of the outcome of the trial, it's a deal?”
“I think I'd like to get away for a couple of days. Yeah, it's a deal, Heero.”
“Good.”
~ * ~
tbc...
AN: The song Duo is singing along to is 'Set Fire to the Rain' by Adele.
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Equus