Sequel to Mercy's Sacrifice Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or any of the characters or props affiliated with them. I do, however, own the plot.

~*~ Chapter 6 ~*~ Alas, To be Rescued...

Sitting and shivering in Sally's embrace, Trowa looked back to find a confused Duo and a weary Wufei. "He's still alive Duo, you were right. We can't give up on him yet."

At this point, Duo was extremely confused. "But I heard..."

"I threw my aim to the wall at the last minute." Closing his eyes and sighing, Trowa took in a deep, cold breath. "He's awake right now." The image of Quatre in the lake flashed before his eyes, then his pale form lying limp and still on the snow, to his gratitude when his life was restored, to just moments ago. He was sorry for ever thinking such a thing. Standing, he smiled at Duo and nodded, showing that it was okay for him to enter. Quatre was stronger than he was giving his friend credit for.

Duo stood, heading into Quatre's room to find him just as confused. Silently he thanked God.

Quatre watched Duo for a moment longer before he was thrown into another fit of coughs. It was sheer torment on his body, his throat was swollen and inflamed. He felt as if he were constantly breathing in fire. Blood filled his mouth again as he turned onto his side and spit the bitter liquid onto the floor. He was, but wasn't glad that Trowa changed his mind. In one way, there was still hope, yet he was in anguish until then.

Wufei helped Trowa into a chair as Sally went once again into Quatre's room. "Don't worry Trowa, you did what you believed was best."

"Did I? What if my intentions were wrong and he suffers and we aren't rescued?" Trowa looked back with sorrow filled eyes toward his friend. A movement caught his eye as Keiha walked once again to the door, scratching at it as she stood on her hind legs. She whined softly, then sat down and howled before returning to Heero's side.

The young wolf knew something, or someone was coming. The dreary atmosphere in the cabin told her that something was wrong. Death mingled in the air. Sitting by her "pup's" side, she whined again before standing and taking the young man's arm gently in her teeth and pulling him towards the door.

Trowa stood tiredly, curiously following the large canine. "What is it Keiha?"

"What's she doing Trowa?" Wufei watched as well.

"She wants to show me something. I'm not sure what she's trying to say." Trowa opened the door and watched Keiha jump up on the ice block. She only whined and scratched it, looking back at him, and did the same thing, scratching near the top. "Keiha, it's too thick and we're stuck in here." Yet the wolf persisted, pushing him near the ice wall and baring her teeth at him and snarling when he tried to move away. "I don't know what you want Keiha, I..." he tried to go around her but she snapped out and sank her teeth deep into the flesh of his left arm. Grimacing and groaning in pain, he felt her teeth still embedded in his arm as he collapsed to his knees.

"Trowa!" Wufei was ready to help his friend but at receiving a shake of the head, he stood where he was.

Trowa tried to calm his breathing, his left arm limp in the wolf's jaws. Looking back into her eyes, he didn't see anger or hunger, yet a sorry but determined gaze. "What are you... umn... trying to tell me Keiha?"

Wufei watched blood drip from Trowa's arm, thinking he was crazy for asking the dangerous animal that. Yet, he waved Duo and Sally back as they exited Quatre's room.

Trowa felt Keiha's teeth rub against the bone, pulling her head up and showing him to rise. The confused youth did so, stifling another groan as she pulled him toward the ice block once again. He wasn't understanding her actions. Yet the wolf rose slowly on her haunches, his arm still in her jaws, yet he watched her press her ear next to the block. Her gaze penetrated his. "I think I understand now." Her grip loosened somewhat but did not let go just yet. Pressing his right hand to the ice block, he felt the vibration. A small smile graced his lips as he listened to the ice, having pressed his ear to the frozen water. There was a faint pounding nearing them, it had to be OZ. They could deal with capture. After a few moments hesitation, Trowa collapsed to his knees and groaned, leaning heavily against the ice barricade. He felt Keiha slowly release his arm and lie it on his lap. "Thank you Keiha..." Closing his eyes, he listened to her scamper to a corner as another moved swiftly to his side.

Wufei glared at Keiha, then returned his focus to Trowa who was shivering and paling. "Trowa, come on. Wake up." Quickly taking off his black cloth belt, he wrapped it momentarily around Trowa's arm to stop the surprisingly heavy bleeding. "Trowa?"

Letting his eyes flutter open, Trowa looked tiredly at Wufei. "I wouldn't listen and didn't understand, so she did what she had to. OZ is coming, all we have to do is flag them down. It's... it's the only way we're getting out of here. That's what she tried to... to show me..." Letting his eyes close again, he listened to Sally and Duo near. Groaning, he felt Sally take his arm in her hands. He was still oh so tired, but a hope filled him. "..D-Duo, go and tell Quatre that he is going to... to be helped soon. OZ will care for him, they wouldn't be that stupid. Wufei... wake Heero and tell him what's going to happen, yet not to rebel. We'll play OZ until escape. We need to find someplace for you... to hide Sally. They won't care as much, but see you... as a traitor. They'll kill Keiha, so she'll have to stay with you." Forcing his eyes open, he released a soft cry at feeling the bandages being wrapped firmly around his open wound. Sally sat before him, Wufei and Duo doing as they were asked, Keiha watching worriedly in the corner. Blood, his blood, stained the white fur around her mouth but she did not try and wash it clean. Instead, she whined softly, panting from time to time.

Sally finished, draping Trowa's right arm over her shoulders as she helped him up. "There aren't many hiding places here, and don't worry about me. Save your strength."

Looking back up at her, he looked from the kitchenette table to where Heero rested. A shadow caught his eyes. "There... move the couch."

Confused, Sally nodded to Wufei who mumbled something to Heero then moved the couch. The rug had a slight rectangular shape cut into it, though it was hard to see. Leaving the youth's side and crouching next to the rectangular area, she dug her fingers into the carpet and felt a slightly raised, wooden plank. Pulling it up with a little effort, she realized that there was an area dug underground, small in height but enough for them to stay there. "Well, as long as OZ doesn't stay here, it should all work."

"They won't.... when they've found us. They'll have to dig open the entrance, so after we flag them down... nmph... it should give you enough time to get down there with Keiha. She's not bad," he assured his comrades' wary looks, "but if we missed this, then we're stuck.... and I wouldn't listen." Standing, he swayed on his feet. Trowa shook his head to clear the dizziness from his vision.

"Trowa, sit down and tell us what's running through your mind, we'll get it." Wufei helped Heero sit up but kept his eye on the other, young pilot.

"No, we need to signal them now or we'll never get out of here. We need to get another, bigger fire going. It's about our.... only hope." Trowa leaned against Sally for a moment, then let her make a temporary sling for his arm. "We need to find something... that's highly flammable. I've got one bullet left... it's the only thing we've got left to spark a fire." Feeling is legs give out, he closed his eyes and awaited the floor but arms encircled him. His arm was still bleeding fairly well, the white cloth was now a deep red.

Duo slowly lowered Trowa to the floor, letting his weakened body lay in his arms. "Can someone hand me a blanket?"

Heero focused his vision on Trowa, taking a blanket from off his legs and tossing it pathetically to Duo. "What-what happened to him?" He caught sight of the blood on Trowa's arm, then the blood on the wolf.

"When Trowa tried to get past her, she latched onto his arm and drug him somewhat back to the door. He wasn't understanding her, to sum it up in the least." Wufei rummaged through the house. Taking anything that was flammable, he tossed it in the fire place. The fire couldn't go for too long or they'd run out of air again.

Duo covered Trowa's shivering form and held him, knowing that this was their last and only hope. "I just pray this works."

After a few more minutes, Duo shook Trowa awake, they'd gotten all they could find. They'd found a small amount of lighter fluid, that's all they had to light the fire.

Trowa staggered to his feet, his vision hazy and his stomach nauseas. "Most of this... unh... shouldn't be burned, so it will have some bad fumes. Get back... we've only got one chance at this." Raising his firearm, he concentrated. He wasn't normally this tired or he wouldn't be this bad at aiming. Slowly, he pulled the trigger and fired. The spark of the bullet hitting the stone of the hearth created a fire, along with the heat of the impact. Fumes immediately spread throughout the cabin, or at least the first room. Now, it was all a matter of time.

~Lady Stardancer

A/N: Well, told you I'd be writing over the summer and pumping out chapters for you, and here we are! Sorry this one is so short. I've written three for this story, this one the first. I worked on the fourth, but got writers block and I've got one more little "vacation" coming up. Band camp. I'm trying to memorize a 1st Clarinet (the highest and hardest part in clarinet) for March Slave (pronounced: March Schlov) and the first two movements of Swan Lake. ~sighs, and looks reluctantly at music~ I'll be writing if I can find the strength over the week that I'm there. You march all day, then play, then march and play, then have social hour, then a couple hours before lights out. If you can find the strength to do anything else! ~gives "eek" look~ Okay, I'm going to type up the next chapters, please enjoy and review. The ending to the sequel will be.... good and interesting, or so I've planned. If I can write/type it right. Have fun... ~devilish grin~ Oh, I'm going to be in a really good mood too. Just a little more of my social life. I got my first car!!!! ~cheers and jumps up and down~ Long story made short, I complained a lot and my parents kept telling me not till I moved back home and I'd be driving something around the age of 19 and I'm going on 16 now, so that'd suck. Then my mom bought me a car from my older brother, $100.00 flat! She told me and I was so ticked and happy that I started crying for no reason! I didn't think I'd get one till I was old enough to drink! ~giggles and beams~ Thanks for listening to my rambling. Enjoy the story! ~skips away happily~