Enjoy! I don't own Ice Age.

"You sure you don't want me to come?" Peaches asked. "Cuz-"

"Relax, Fruit Slice." Squint soothed from his place standing on her trunk. "We'll be fine. And someone's gotta stay and watch 'er." He secretly wanted to stay. More than anything, he wanted to stay behind and watch over her, maybe catch up if she wanted to talk. But he and Gupta knew the sea better than anyone, not counting the other pirates, so it only made sense they go.

And Peaches wasn't ready for something like this. It took a lot to suddenly change environments, and all the salt wouldn't be good for her young, still developing body. Not to mention storms, which were highly dangerous. Manny would stomp him flat if he even considered letting Peaches tag along. And he had no desire to be squished again.

He wasn't too fond of Peaches' father. He was far from kind to him, constantly sending him cold glares and untrusting looks when Peaches wasn't looking. He made it clear he would never, ever, ever forgive him for assisting in almost getting his wife and daughter killed.

He hadn't really had much of a choice though. He'd admit, back then, he was up to anything that would qualify as revenge, even if it meant ending innocent lives. But he couldn't help it. It was how he'd been taught, trained to hate all that weren't one of them.

He and Shira, surprisingly, got along greatly. They'd never been close on the ship, not at all. He resented her. She had come to their crew last, and had won the title of First Mate in a day. They were all immensely angered by it, but he the most. How could someone so new just win over the captain's approval and favoritism in a day? They'd been their longer, and yet were just pushed aside when she showed up. It was infuriating.

Now, however, that there wasn't a Captain Gutt for them to constantly try and outdo each other to impress, they actually got along fine. She was nice, very talkative and kind of playful in a teasing way, now that she didn't have to always appear calm and collected and in charge, as expected of a First Mate.

Shyra, Shora, and Shera were something he wasn't sure about. One minute their sweet and talkative, the next their angry and threatening to slit their throat. They got their mother's temper. They were so much like both of their parents, and yet so unlike them, it shouldn't have been possible. The little white saber cubs loved playing with him; he was the only one with enough energy to keep up with them for more than forty five minutes.

Diego wasn't his biggest fan, but he tolerated him because of his wife and triplet daughters friendship with him. He and Shira had hit off faster and better then Squint had ever thought they would. Shira was never one to be open and/or express her feelings, and Diego seemed equally stubborn. He didn't know how it happened, honestly.

Sid was just plain annoying. He had way too big a mouth, talked too much, ate too much, he was far too lazy, and his smell was so utterly repulsing it made him want to hurl his insides out. He wondered if that's how Raz felt, being so sick.

That was another thing that troubled him. He should've been there for her; he felt so incredibly guilty. He'd had plenty of opportunities where he could've gone to look for them, just to peek in on them to see how they were doing. But he didn't.

Speaking of Raz, she was back in a secret underground he and Peaches had accidentally discovered, resting. She was unaware of what dangerous journey her two friends were about to embark on.

"Promise me you'll come back?" Peaches asked him.

"I… I'll do my best."

She sighed. She supposed that was better than nothing. "Ok…" she tossed him up for a moment and cocooned him in her trunk for a hug, pressing him to her forehead. He struggled, not liking the close contact, but soon gave in and hugged back for a moment. "Bye." She spoke nearly silently. "Come back soon."

It wasn't just a request. They had to return within the week, or it would be too late. They'd lose Raz to the forever lasting sleep that would result in her being laid down in an earthen bed. "See ya Peaches." He rarely called her by her full name; if he wasn't using the nickname he'd given her, which was rare by itself, it was usually just Peach. He only called him Peaches when it was really serious. "Tell Raz t' hold on. Ok?"

"Got it."

"If you so much as…" Gupta let the threat hang in the air. Normally, he would sooner walk the plank into narwhal infested waters before he left their marsupial companion in the hands of their worst enemies, but she needed him to go find that medicine. After she was better, they'd waste no time extracting revenge, no doubt. She'd have a thirst for it, especially if/when she found out it was Peaches that was caring for her.

That would anger her immensely. She hated sympathy, it made her feel weak and like she needed looking after. He almost, almost, felt bad for the teenager. Making Raz mad was practically suicidal. And trying to care for her all sweet and gentle like, the way she no doubt planned, would enflame her temper. Severely.

"Don't worry." She tried to soothe him. "I'll take care of her." She put Squint down to stand beside him. "Just get back as soon as you can with that flower. Ok?"

"Sure thing." And they were gone, Peaches waving. She wasn't going to see them off on the iceberg they'd reported finding; she didn't trust herself not to have an emotional breakdown, while there was someone that needed her.

She took one last sad look at them and turned to go, heading for the natural caves.

Raz still laid where she'd been put, on a soft bed of leaves and grass, a pile of cotton behind her head, a series of large leaves tied together with vines for a set of blankets. Despite this, however, she still shivered. When Peaches laid her trunk across her forehead, she discovered with dismay an extreme fever. Not like a hundred three extreme, but so hot she felt like she'd just come out of a bonfire. And Peaches knew how hot those were.

She soaked a sea sponge she'd picked up from the beach with water from the natural spring in the huge cavern, ringing it out only slightly before wiping her forehead and cheeks with it. She must not have been as careful as she thought, because the glazed set of golden eyes slowly opened.

Raz could barely see a thing; her vision seemed to be damaged. Everything was watery and disproportionally sized, like she was staring at it through oily watery. The colors were smeared and faded. All in all, she may as well not have been looking at all.

She stared at the brown blur through heavy, half closed eyes for a moment. "Who're you?" she managed in a weak whisper.

"Doesn't matter." The stranger replied gently. "Only that I get you better."

"Where're" she coughed, groaning in pain. "Where're th' boys?"

Peaches winced. She didn't want to talk about her friend's departure, but she figured Raz deserved it. "The, um… they left."

Her expression melted into hurt and confusion, eyes closing and blowing out a slow breath. "They… they did, eh?" her face hardened again. "Ah guess they 'ave th' righ."

"Oh no!" Peaches exclaimed, guilty she'd made her feel that way. "No! Not like that!"

She tilted her head ever so slightly. "Whaddaya mean Sheila?"

"They went to find something- something they need for your medicine."

"They- They did?" she looked pleased and touched. "Thas'… thas' the nicest thing any'ns eva done fer me." Peaches was confused by this but decided not to ask upon her upset face. She was in enough pain as I was; she didn't need unhappy memories making her feel worse.

"What's your name?" she figured it'd be better if she asked instead of just right out saying it; that would look suspicious if she just somehow knew her name. She may have been very sick, but she wasn't stupid. Peaches could tell from the look on her face, she recognized her voice. Should she reveal that she knew her name and part of her previous crew, Raz would eventually put the pieces together.

"Th' names Raz." She responded, and Peaches managed a smile. At least she was willing to talk while she didn't know Peaches was the enemy. But she'd find soon enough, if- no, when the boys got back with that flower. Perhaps she could change her mind, convince they could get along, and that killing each other wasn't necessary. "So whas yers?" she asked again. She was pretty talkative, in a way, depending on how you look at it, considering she was on her death bed. Quite literally.

"Doesn't matter." She responded.

"Course it…" she trailed off and her whole body shuddered, fatigue washing over her. Peaches watched tensely, but her face didn't seem pained. Her breathing, though, was another story. It suddenly quickened, and the teenager surged forward worriedly as she began to cough violently. She was gasping and choking now, and Peaches backed away, unsure and frightened. What was she to do? She glanced at the entrance, considering getting help, but quickly dismissed the thought. Should Raz hear someone from her herd's voice…

It slowly stopped, returning to normal, and she let go of the bed she'd been puncturing with her claws. She now breathed tiredly, breathing rasping and labored again. Peaches was unsure which one she liked less.

Seeing her moan tiredly, she pulled the top blanket up closer to her chin. "You should get some sleep."

She didn't argue. Just closed her eyes with a miserable sigh. "Sheila…" she murmured.

"Huh? Yeah? What?"

"If Ah don' git betta-"

"Don't say that!"

She shivered and curled up tighter. "Lemme fin'sh, wouldja?"

"Sorry."

"S'okay Sheila. If Ah don' ge' betta… tell th' boys Ah'm sorr'eh."

"For what?"

"Don't mattah." She managed a weak smirk, knowing she'd turned her words against her. "Just tell em. They'll know wha' I mean."

"Ok…" the Australian pirate stifled a yawn. "Go to sleep." Peaches said gently.

"Mah pleas'r." she was snoring softly within a quarter minute.

Peaches felt and dampened her forehead again, hoping not to disturb her. She didn't so much as stir. "Night Raz." She spoke softly. "Sweet dreams." She covered her with another blanket. "I promise I'll help you get better. I promise." And she truly meant it.

So… what'd you think? Decent?