Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine!

Notes: This is one of my earliest works.please be gentle.

_italics_

/thoughts/



Chapter Two

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Heero

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I literally ripped Quatre's clothes off of his limp body. Duo was rushing away to get some water and the first aid kid while Wufei brought over a blanket. Quatre's lips and fingers had turned a light blue colour and the rest of his body was soon following, at least where you couldn't see blood, which was only the neck up, except for the tips of his blonde hair which had been dyed a dark red.

Glass, somehow had been blown into his body, hitting him in the chest and stomach. Not to mention in his left arm and both legs. The shards had moved as well, probably by the movements he had made with his body. Long deep cuts were spewing blood.

Duo brought over the first aid kit, along with some warm water. Together we carefully cleaned the wounds, then picked the glass out of them. We cleaned them again, and stopped the bleeding. I stitched them up while Duo cleaned the rest of his body. By this time Quatre had warmed slightly, but now his body was unthawing, causing him to shiver more and jerk his body. He moaned now and then.

While this was happening, I kept cursing at him, calling him a baka, among other things, all the while wondering why he didn't tell us. Finally Duo and I had finished and we carefully wrapped the boy in a few of the blankets.

I used one of mine and Duo gave me one of his. Trowa also volunteered his extra blanket and because everyone else did Wufei did too. Even with the six blankets Quatre still shivered violently. I wrapped my arms around the blankets and held him as close as I could. I didn't look at the others, I couldn't.

Duo warmed up soup and by the time it was done the four of us were warm. He handed out the soup and left some in the pot for Quatre. I left mine beside me. "Heero, you have to eat." Duo warned. "You not eating won't make Quatre any better."

I ignored him.

"Yes, and he thinks I'm the baka." Duo rolled his eyes as he mumbled to himself but made sure he was loud enough for everyone to hear, including myself.

"Eat Heero." A new voice said suddenly and I looked down at the bundle in my arms. Quatre's blue eyes stared up at me. Innocence, like a newborn baby twinkled at me. His voice was a hushed whisper and it seemed to be difficult for him to speak. When I didn't reply he spoke again, "Do I have to feed it to you myself?" His voice had grown some strength, but he seemed to use it all up in his threat. He whimpered after he had spoken and he closed his eyes tightly in pain.

I didn't reply at first, then I looked at the soup sitting on the floor. "Only if you eat first." I replied softly, unable to find my full voice. I looked at him and he smiled, then nodded slightly.

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Quatre

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I was sitting against Heero, as funny as that seemed. Hey I was naked too. Talk about uncomfortable. The five of us sat around the fire. I tried to eat, but we soon found that it was impossible for me to feed myself. My hands shook too much and my fingers were still frozen and I was extremely dizzy. So, since I was totally and utterly useless Duo switched places with Heero. He held my hands within his own to try to warm them up. While Duo did that, and let me use him as a leaning post, Heero fed me. I felt embarrassed at first, but I was too hungry to care after awhile.

And like he had promised, when I had finished, Heero ate as well. When he had finished they talking about sleeping arrangements. Wufei was stuck with Duo while Trowa took a bed of his own. I was still cold and would be sleeping by the fire and Heero wasn't going to leave me.

Of course, I missed a lot because I kept slipping in and out of consciousness.

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Heero (the rest of the story will be)

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I watched him sleep. That was all I could do. I wanted to touch him, to caress his soft skin. But no, I was Heero Yuy, Mr. No-Show as Duo had called me once. I didn't show emotions, at least, I tried not to. And when I did I always did something wrong. Like when the five of us had been trying to get to the safe house. I had snapped at Quatre and had made him feel unimportant to me which was completely the opposite of what I truly felt.

Duo was beside me, another reason for me to keep my hands to myself. He was as worried as I was, he and Quatre had gotten closer in friendship and I couldn't help but feel jealousy. They got along so well.

"He's cold." Duo's voice woke me from my thoughts. I looked over at the sleeping boy and saw that he was shivering. How could he still be cold? He had six blankets, no make that seven, I had given him both of mine. Not to mention he was lying in front of a blazing fire that was beginning to get too warm for me and he had been for almost five hours.

/He's sensitive, he still feels./ A voice inside my head mentioned.

"Heero, I'm going to give you a piece of advice." Duo said, "Life's short, live it up as much as you can." He said.

"And you're telling me this why exactly?" I asked, annoyed with his voice.

"Hold him Heero. You know you want to. And besides, it'll keep him warm." Duo shrugged.

I was stunned, how did he know?

The look on my face must have shown my surprise, "Oh come off it man, we all know. Trowa knows, I know, even Wufei knows." He said as if it weren't a big deal.

"Quatre." I faltered.

"You know Cat, as blind as a bat." Duo grinned.

"Bats aren't blind." I heard my own voice state matter of factly.

Duo frowned, "Okay, okay. He's blonde. Does that make it better?" He asked jokingly, I could see that he was trying to make me admit that I liked the boy.

"No, now you're just insulting him." I said, not giving up just yet.

"Ah, I wouldn't insult Quatre! You know, out of all the Gundam pilots, I think he's the cutest!" Duo whispered and I couldn't help it. I blushed. Duo laughed, knowing he had me. "Tell him while you still can Heero, war is unpredictable. And right now he's sick." He sighed, getting up, "One of you may not be there in the morning." He left the room, leaving me with my thoughts and a still shivering pilot.

I slowly unwrapped the blankets from the body, then I crawled under myself and wrapped the remaining blankets around the both of us. I could feel the cold from Quatre's skin and in scared me. He had lost a lot of blood, if I could I would have given him my own. But the types probably wouldn't match and there was no equipment.

I hesitated before wrapping my arms around him, but when I did the feeling was immediate. I felt calm and at peace. Quatre shivered again, this time whimpering as he moved closer to me. He was looking for heat, that's all it was. At least that's what my mind said. I looked down at his pale face. Pain showed on his soft features. His eyes were shut tightly sometimes and he seemed to be gasping for breath. Sweat, despite his shivering had started dripping from his hair. He was now in a feverish sleep.

I couldn't help myself; I gently kissed his cheek. He tasted sweet, like candy and I memorized the feel of his skin against mine and the taste of him for I'd never have it again.

"Heero." Quatre's voice whimpered.

I gasped, had he been awake? I felt like pulling away from the trembling body, but found I couldn't. I couldn't leave him, and I wouldn't, ever.

"I'm sorry Heero." Quatre whimpered again and I realized he had been talking in his sleep.

Unknown on what to do I took a breath, "Sorry about what Quatre?" I whispered, hoping the other pilots were asleep. I could hear Duo's snoring already, but both Wufei and Trowa were silent.

"I disappointed you." He whispered.

"You've never disappointed me Quatre, now sleep." I said and going against everything I had been taught, I kissed him again, this time on his nose. He was silent at least and hopefully sleeping peacefully.

I sighed and settled down myself to try and get some sleep. It seemed nearly impossible, but I always was able to do the impossible. I fell asleep. But when I woke up, Quatre was gone.