Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Gundam Wing, I only own the plot.

~+~ Chapter 5 Making Final Gifts

Trowa sat in the cockpit of Heavyarms, uploading some of the new battle skills that he could use. They'd been taken from Wing Zero, but the once feared, envied, and revered Gundams was now just a mere cast or shell of what it once was. The four remaining pilots had split up the combative programs amongst themselves and installed them into their own mobile suits. He felt rather guilty for doing such a thing to Heero and Wing Zero, but it couldn't be helped. Not any more. Sighing, he finished programming the last of the programs into Heavyarms and stood, walking from the doorway. He'd probably feel even worse for stripping Zero of its armor and giving it a more simplistic one, using the gundanium to repair his. In truth, he didn't even want to be there, he wanted to check on Heero and Duo, but as always, Duo was putting up a little bit of a fight with Sally and all knew that he was fine. From Wufei's last update, Heero had been back at the base for about three hours and his fever still wasn't going down, he was also extremely exhausted and dehydrated from vomiting so. "Why can't this war just end and leave us in peace, Heavyarms? Why can't they just let us rest? We're tired soldiers who've fought this war for far too long, we deserve to feel and live in peace. One day, we'll be but stories-nothing more than a legend, if that. Sometimes I wish I didn't feel like I do now, that I could ignore and hide away my emotions, yet it kills me to see my friends hurt. No matter what I do, I just keep hurting them. Damn this war..." Leaning against the doorway of the cockpit, he crossed his arms before him and turned his gaze to the form of Wing Zero. They'd moved Heavyarms into the same hanger and Sandrock out, Quatre had finished quickly. "We mean not to bring you down from such great glory Zero, but we're doing this for you and for Heero, we will miss you both in battle." Turning, Trowa only walked back into the cockpit and closed the door, leaving the monitors off as he sat alone and in silence. He was doing this to keep his friends safe, he just had to convince himself of that first.

~+~

Quatre dropped his arm, having re-soaked and wrung out the rag, replacing it on Heero's forehead. His fever was coming down slowly, but coming down none the less. He had fallen asleep again and to make it easier on the both of them, a small bucket sat at the side of his friend's cot, so that the only trips made to the bathroom were made by Quatre as he cleaned it out. Heero couldn't vomit anything more anyway, his stomach was empty but his body tried to tell him otherwise. Most of the time it was just dry heaves as he struggled to breathe and often the young Arabian had to calm him down and get him to take in deep breaths, or even just a small amount of air. Laying back on his bed, Quatre closed his eyes, he was tired but Heero needed him. "Why of all times did something like this have to happen to you Heero?" A soft coughing/gagging had him sitting up and looking down into Heero's pained and tired eyes. "It's okay, I'm right here Heero." Heero didn't have the strength to sit up, yet his stomach began to churn and lurch, sending another overwhelming sense of nausea over him, but there wasn't anything left inside of him. His mind begged and pleaded with his body to stop, but it didn't. His stomach muscles were so sore from throwing up so many times, or at least trying to. "... I don't wanna be sick anymore..." Forcing himself onto his side, he began to cough and gag again, his muscles tensing and forcing him to throw up some of the acid from his stomach, but that was it. Quatre sat by his side, rubbing his back in a soothing motion. "I know Heero, I don't want you to be sick either. It'll all be over soon and you can sleep and feel better in no time. Don't worry, I'm not leaving, I'm right here by your side. There you go..."

Heero closed his eyes, struggling to take in a breath for the air exited his lungs, but new air wouldn't enter. He felt his cheeks grow hot again, he couldn't breathe and he felt like he was ready to pass out. Feeling the blood rush to his head, he tried to take in a breath, but it was still of no use. Tears began to fall from his eyes, rolling down his cheeks. He could tell that Quatre was trying to coax and sooth him, but it wasn't working. Quatre watched Heero, something wasn't right. Usually by now he'd be able to breathe again, but Heero was still trying to take in air. "Oh God..." whispering the words softly to himself, he spoke louder. "Heero, just take in a deep breath, it's okay, there's air all around you and all you have to do is breathe it in. Come on... Heero?" Heero tried, he couldn't possibly try any harder. Yet it was like he'd forgotten how to breathe, oh how he needed air! His lungs yearned for it and were set aflame without it. But there was nothing he could do to stop it, he couldn't breathe. Slowly, the Japanese youth rolled onto his back once again, too tired to try as a blackness clouded his vision and he fell unconscious. Quatre tried to shake Heero awake, but to no avail. Checking his friend's breathing, he found there to be none and that his pulse was fading. Jumping up from the bed, he opened the door and caught some of Sally's men walking down the hall, they were carrying on a conversation but stopped dead in their tracks, startled when seeing the youth. "Hey, go get Sally now! Tell her to come down to Quatre's room, my friend needs help!" One of the men raced off to find Sally, the younger man who only seemed about nineteen or twenty racing down the hall and entering Quatre's room. "What's wrong?" "He's not breathing..." Running back to Heero's side, he found his friend's complexion now ashen and his lips were beginning to turn blue around the very edges. "Come on Heero, you can't do this now." He was sure that if he wasn't panicking a bit right now, he'd have been able to help Heero himself. The young rebel fighter didn't need to be told twice, but instead threw back the blanket and picked up the youth's form, laying him on the cold floor. Tilting back his head, he listened for any sign of breathing but none was heard and his pulse was faint. "Go and watch for Sally kid..." Opening the youth's mouth, he took a deep breath and began to breathe for the teenager. Quatre rose from his seat on the floor and nodded, waiting just outside his door and anxiously looking down the hall. A few minutes later, Sally came running down the corridor as fast as she could. "What's wrong Quatre?" "Heero's not breathing Sally, he was trying to throw up again and he had some trouble trying to breathe before after each time, but he always started after about thirty seconds. He didn't this time and he fell unconscious." Entering the room, he found the other man performing compressions, a set of five before going to breathe again for Heero and then he repeated the process. Sally caught sight of Craig and rushed over to Heero's side, her features set in worry but she kept her cool. "About how long ago did you start the compressions?" Craig began the set of compressions again and spoke. "A minute or so ago. He hasn't been breathing and he just keeps slipping." Sally stopped her subordinate for a minute and checked for a pulse, finding a weak one but a pulse none the less. "Okay, now lets get him to breathe on his own." Placing her mouth over Heero's, she began to breathe for him, nodding to Craig to go ahead and rest. "I want you to get me an IV....." she spoke in between breaths, "... he's dehydrated. They're in the cabinet.... in the supplies office." Seconds before she was going to breathe for him again, she heard him take in a breath on his own. Sitting back on her heels, she smiled and looked to Quatre. "He'll be fine, he's breathing on his own now. Craig, bring in an oxygen mask as well." Taking in a deep breath herself, she looked back at Heero. "He sure knows how to scare the crap out of people, doesn't he?" She tried to lighten the mood as she stood and took Heero in her arms, carrying him back and laying him on the cot once more. Sighing, the platinum blonde shook his head. "*That* he does. Thanks Sally." Taking his seat, he began to wipe the sweat off of Heero's face with a weary hand. "No problem Quatre. How often has he been having problems like this?" "It started about an hour ago. There's not much you can really do, is there?" The kind-hearted youth smiled when he watched his brother's eyes flutter open once more. Heero felt the sweet air enter his lungs once more, the cold rag sweeping softly over his features. Looking about himself, though his vision was still blurred by tears, he found Quatre and Sally looking down at him. "W- what happened?" Smirking, Sally answered. "You gave us a bit of a scare Heero, we're just glad you're breathing on your own. I've got someone bringing in something that will help you breathe a bit easier, okay?" Nodding, he fell into a fit of coughs, but that was it. He was so thirsty but anything in his stomach right now would just come right back up. "I don't like being sick..." Quatre smiled knowingly, taking the rag and dabbing it over his friend's features. Not only did he do this to try and cool Heero down, but he helped in brushing away his tears so that he need not be ashamed before Sally. "I know Heero. No one does, but you're going to be better in no time. Then we'll go ahead and take Faith outside and let her play. We've still got to teach you how to use Wing Zero, do you like flying?" Laughing softly at seeing Heero's small grin and nod, the life was returning back to his eyes, he continued. "Well, we're going to show you how to do that and to use Zero for helping out. Now Zero's going to look a little different, but that's because we had to fix it up. When you're feeling better, we'll go ahead and show you. We're going to have to repaint Zero too, what do you want it to look like?" Heero thought for a minute, closing his eyes and resting. "Can it be a eagle?" With a slight shake of his head, he only laughed softly. "Of course, what color?" Again Heero thought, liking black and a dark brown, but he decided on another. "Gold." "Okay then, that will be our present to you. Just don't tell the others I told you, okay? This will be our little secret." Smiling at his grin, Quatre nodded. "Good. Go ahead and go back to sleep, you need all that you can get." Without being told twice, Heero closed his eyes and began to drift off to sleep, only opening his eyes when he felt the oxygen mask being put on him, but it was so much easier and better to breathe that he didn't care but to fall asleep again. He didn't even feel the IV being put into his arm. "Making a few big promises, aren't we?" Sally inquired, looking back at Heero. "Not much, Trowa told you already, didn't he?" Nodding, Ms Po waited for the intelligent youth to continue. "Wing Zero belongs to Heero, so he's going to be able to keep his gundam. Yet, it would be too recognizable as it is, so we have to-alter a few things." Standing and stretching his arms high above his head, Quatre let a yawn slip past his lips. "Well, the armor would still be recognizable in shape and size, even if it does have a new paint job." "We're stripping down the armor and giving it a simpler design. Zero can just be used as an aerial machine for travel or pleasure, it's strength being used for common but larger jobs. OZ couldn't do anything with it if they took the new Zero into custody anyway, neither could the Alliance. The combative programs have been disabled and programmed into each of our gundams, it'd be useless to find them all again. His gundam only retains the basic and needed programs, nothing more." Nodding in approval, Sally crossed over and sat where Quatre just was. "Well, then you'd better get started; he's bound determined to get well soon and he'll want to start learning right away. You'd better help the others..." Smirking, she only laughed as he stopped dead in his tracks, looking at her like she was right but he didn't want to admit it. "I'll be back later then Sally, take care of him." Turning again, Quatre headed toward the door to his room. As he left, she whispered softly and watched the exhausted youth. "I will, don't worry."

~+~

Trowa exited Heavyarms after about twenty minutes of thinking. He still couldn't convince himself that Heero was going to be all right with Relena and that everything would be fine. "What's wrong with me, it's best for him and that's it." Stubbornly, he pushed the thought from his mind and gave a faint smile at seeing Quatre coming into the hanger. "How is Heero doing?" Quatre looked up, giving a small grin in return. "Let's just say this is probably one of the worst cases of the flu *I've* ever seen." Wufei joined his comrades, nearly completed in repairing Nataku but he was curious by the look in his kind-hearted friend's eyes. "What's wrong?" Sighing, he continued. "Well, his fever is coming down slowly but surly. His body still thinks it should be emptying his stomach, but there isn't anything left in it. Most of the time, he's just been gagging or throwing up some of the acid from it. Each time, he's had a hard time trying to breathe afterwards. Yet, he usually comes out of the small shock and takes in a few deep breaths before trying to sleep again. Well, that didn't happen the last time and he scared the crap out of me." Grabbing a chair, Trowa offered it to Quatre who refused, saying that he'd been sitting down way too much and was sick of it, so offering it to Wufei he got pretty much the same answer, no. Taking it himself, he waited for Quatre to continue, sitting on the chair backwards. "What happened?" Wufei leaned against the railing, seeing the worry in his brother's eyes he began to worry himself. "Tell us what happened to Heero, Quatre. Is he okay?" Quatre nodded, taking in a deep breath. "He's fine now, the last time he tried to throw up, he had trouble breathing again. But usually about the time he comes out of the shock and takes in a few calming breaths, he still couldn't breathe. I wasn't sure what to do, so I tried to calm him down again. It didn't work and he fell unconscious, he wasn't breathing so I ran to look for help. I spotted a couple of Sally's men walking down the hall, one of them went to get her and the other came in and helped me. I sat and watched until Sally came while he breathed for Heero, but when I came back into the room he'd started compressions, he must have lost Heero's pulse. A few minutes after Sally got there, Heero started breathing on his own. He's using an oxygen mask right now to help him out, he's so tired and he's hurting from his nausea. I told him before I left and Sally took over that he had to get well soon, we still had to teach him to use Wing Zero and fly it before we left and we weren't leaving until he knew how to. He deserves it. His eyes actually lit up and he smiled, I think he's feeling a little better about what we're trying to do." Sighing and shaking his head, Wufei looked up from the ground to Quatre. "Well, he's had it really rough. Now if we can find out what design he wants and paint design without tell him." Trowa smirked at catching his friend's averting but amused gaze. "No we don't, it looks like Quatre's already figured it out. How much did you tell him Quatre?" Releasing a small laugh, his statement was only confirmed by Quatre's fidgeting. "Not much, I just asked him what he'd like Wing Zero to look like if he could change anything about it. A golden eagle. What? I didn't tell him guys!" Feigning innocent, he was getting pretty good at it when confronted, he insisted that he hadn't said a thing to Heero about what they were going to do to his gundam. "Sure Quatre, sure." Wufei turned, shaking his head, pretty sure that Quatre had given them away but yet a little uncertain. "Fine, then we'd better get started since we know what he wants. We should be able to strip the armor off today and reshape a lot of it too. We can finish up tomorrow, then determine the paint design. If he goes into "Byrde mode", then it should at least look like an eagle and we go ahead and paint what's left when it's in normal combat mode. Mixing the designs so that they fit both ways. We've got our work cut out for us, so we'd better go ahead and get busy." Receiving a nod of affirmation from each of his comrades, Trowa rose from his chair and put it back, jumping over the railing and landing easily on the lower level so that they could begin.

~+~ All day long, the three boys worked, sweating and bleeding over trying to make their final gifts for their comrade before he awoke. They easily cast the gundanium shield and armor off of the large mobile suit, stripping it down to its bare gears and form. Possibly the hardest part came when they were reshaping the armor, Quatre quickly sketched an outline for the three to follow, but they had to guestimate and take what they already knew about Zero's measurements and fit the pieces together like an extremely long puzzle. It wasn't until dinner that they cleaned up and trudged to the mess hall for their evening meal. Quatre took a seat next to Duo who was allowed to walk about somewhat, as long as he didn't push himself. He seemed only slightly annoyed by his injuries and the fact that he had to keep his right arm in a sling. "Enjoying yourself Duo?" Duo's head shot up, smiling as he was glad to see the others. Sally had gone back in to check on him and told him what had happened to Heero. "Hey guys! How's it goin'?" Wufei sat across from Duo, Trowa dropping in a chair next to him. "Before you start, please don't go getting cocky." "Tired? Man, what have you guys been up to?" Duo finished eating and put his plate off to the side. "We've just finished stripping Wing Zero of its armor and have half of it reshaped and reattached to Zero's frame. We're trying to get this done with the three of us before Heero's well enough to venture out and see for himself. I know you can't help it either, you're hurt and the other men would just get in the way, so it's a little bit harder. We're just a little tired." Laying his head down on his arms, Trowa closed his eyes and sighed, the food smelling good but he was too tired right now to go and get any. He caught fragments of other conversations as well, the men seemed impressed with what they'd completed in half a day. Oh well, they could be impressed, they might have been of use if they had all the plans drawn out but they were running short on time. Quatre yawned, leaning his chin against his left hand. "Any updates on Heero?" Duo smirked. "Yeah, he's been sleeping peacefully except a few coughing fits since the little scare that Sally told me about. That guy is getting over this awfully fast. Then again, he's probably too tired to throw up any more. Wouldn't blame him. Hey, aren't you guys going to eat?" Wufei laid his head upon his arm, slowly opening his eyes to find Duo hiding his laughter. "We would, but I really don't think any of us can get back up. I know I wouldn't even if we were under attack." Closing his eyes, he yawned himself and listened to Duo's laughter. "What do you guys want..." Chuckling softly, Duo stood. He could tell that the others were tired, it was easy to strip a mobile suit of armor or weapons and it was easy to attach them again. Only when the shapes weren't changed, then it gets a little harder. "You don't have to Duo, I'll go get my food when I'm ready. I just need a few minutes." Quatre tried to push himself away from the table and stand but he didn't get too far. "Like I said, what do you guys want?" Laughing at Quatre's defeat, he put a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. "Whatever you feel like. Surprise me..." Wufei didn't even bother to open his eyes. "Same here Duo... thanks." Trowa mumbled as he forced himself to sit up and stay awake. "Hey guys, are we doing any more tonight?" "No, we've put everything away and I don't think any of us has the energy. As soon as I'm done eating, all I want to do is go back to sleep." Quatre shook himself mentally to awaken but it didn't do much. He had to stay awake at least until dinner was over. He jumped when he felt Duo's hand tap his shoulder. "Huh?" "I asked you if you wanted what they did or if you were specific?" Duo only shook his head and smirked. "Thanks Duo, yeah, I'll have whatever you get them." Laying is head down on his arms as well, he couldn't stop himself from closing his eyes. Yet, he forced himself to remain awake even if he was tired. With a last chuckle and smile, Duo headed to retrieve his friends' dinners, but he had a feeling that they'd be asleep before he got back, or pretty close. Returning minutes later with three warm plates, he was rather surprised to see that they were awake, but struggling. "Here ya go guys, I didn't have enough hands to grab any drinks. I can go back if ya want." Handing each of them a plate, he watched them slowly pick at their food, forcing themselves to eat. They looked hungry, but they were more exhausted. "Don't worry about me Duo, I'm fine, really. Thank you again..." Yawning, Quatre began to eat the mashed potatoes and gravy. They weren't the best, he preferred home-cooked style, but they were good. The small pieces of chicken added to the gravy helped to add a bit of a variety of flavor. Wufei looked at his food, then forced himself off of the table. He'd grown somewhat comfortable and he could have fallen asleep if he weren't forcing himself awake. "Thanks...." Slowly he began to pick at his food, laying his head back down on his arm and eating it like that. Trowa caught the smell of the food, but at the time he could really have cared less. He hadn't eaten anything all day except for the ice cream and was hungry, no doubt, but he just didn't want to get up. "Trowa?" Duo sat back down, laughing softly as his friend ignored him. "Trowa." "Huh?" "Hey man, you'd better eat. It ain't half bad." Duo looked up to find Sally heading over toward them, Faith trotting with her tongue lolling out of her mouth. "Just five more minutes guys." Trowa listened to their laughter but didn't care, he may have slept in, but he was still tired. Sally came upon the small group, three of the four boys forcing themselves to stay awake. Well, two of the three for Trowa didn't really seem to care. Duo on the other hand was energetic. "Well, looks like you three have been working pretty hard." Quatre nodded, finishing off his meal and laying is head on his arms so that he could rest. "If we work all day tomorrow, we might be able to get it done. Do you have gold and possibly light brown paint that we could use to redo the paint design on Wing Zero?" Closing his eyes, he reached his hand down to pet the dog before yawning once again and he let his arm fall limp. "Uh, I'm not sure, but I can get some for you guys if we don't. You guys should get to bed." Switching the leash from her left to her right hand, she laughed softly. Pulling up a chair, she carried on a conversation with the others adding from time to time as they finished their dinner, Trowa evidentially figuring that he was hungry enough to eat which he did slowly. Duo looked at his comrades, each having fallen asleep, laying their heads on the table. "Uh, now how do we get them back to their rooms?" Stroking Faith's head, Duo felt the pain starting to return to his shoulder and abdomen, knowing that he'd have to take his medication soon. If he wanted to be comfortable, who really wanted to put up with pain when they didn't have to? Looking about, she caught a few of her men still in the mess hall, carrying on soft conversations. "We'll have to get a little help. It'd be a shame to wake them up now and they're not likely to want to move, let alone walk back to their rooms. Just a minute." Standing, Sally left Faith by Duo's side and walked to a table where four older men sat conversing about their homes and families. "Hey guys, I need a favor." The second eldest, he was only in his mid thirties, turned and smiled, standing and saluting Sally. "Anything Ms Po. What do you need help with?" Shaking her head, she put her hand on his shoulder and made him sit down. "Very funny Jackson. There's no need to salute me, at least not now. I need some help getting those boys back to bed, *without* waking them up. I just need three of you." All four of the men rose, Officer Jackson looking back over at the youthful teenagers in curiosity. "The Gundam Pilots?" Nodding, she smiled. "Really Jackson, where have you been. These guys have been here for two days already. Come on. They need to rest." And heading back to the table, she watched Duo rise silently as three men stepped forward and skillfully took one of the tired boys in their arms. Watching the men cradle the teenagers as if they were their own children, she lead the four men, boys, and dog out of the hall and off toward their quarters. ~+~

Heero opened his eyes to be met with a dark room, the only light coming from the open doorway. Looking about, he found Sally, Faith, and some man holding Quatre. He watched silently as Quatre was lowered onto the bed, his sleeping form unmoving. Then the man left, leaving Sally to cover up his friend. "Is he.... okay?" His throat was sore and he was still low on energy, so he only spoke in a whisper. Sally looked up from her Quatre's peacefully sleeping face as she pulled the covers up to his chin. Nodding, she put her finger against her lips to show him that he was to be quiet, then continued in walking over to him, Faith ambling along by her side. Sitting by his side, she smiled down at him. "Quatre's just fine, he's really tired today and when he was done eating he fell asleep at the table so I had someone help bring him in here. How are you feeling?" "Better.... I don't feel sick anymore," a yawn interrupted his sentence. "Just tired." Giggling softly, Sally graced her fingers along his cheek. His fever had broken and his color, returned to his features. She smiled when he instinctively moved toward her touch, closing his eyes as if all his pain were gone. "Go ahead and go back to sleep, I'll be in here checking up on you from time to time or someone else will be--so if you need something, just say so. I'll be going from room to room, but you'll have someone sitting right outside your door, just in case. If you wake up and someone else comes in, don't be afraid, they're just a friend you don't know and they're just checking on you and Quatre. Okay?" Nodding, Heero let his eyes close, feeling safe and content with Sally next to him. He would be safe, he didn't have to worry anymore. Silently, he fell asleep, once again happy, his exhaustion not really intervening but delivering him into the gentle hands of sleep. Sally watched Heero rest, smiling and waiting for a few minutes after he was asleep to make sure everything was all right before she left, looking back one last time at the door. These weren't just any boys, they were special. Not because they were Gundam Pilots, not because they'd survived the war so far, not for everything that was held accountable in their pasts and with their families. They were special because they cared for each other, complete strangers at first turning into best friends and a small band of brothers, and for everything that they *just* survived and how they can pull together and be strong when no one else can. Because they *were* a family.

Z

Wufei slowly opened his eyes, his entire body sore yet he pushed that to the back of his mind and sat up. Surprised and curiosity filled his mind when he realized that he was in his bed, his body covered with a quilt. He didn't even remember getting up from the table and walking to his room, or maybe he didn't. Forcing back his embarrassment, he scolded himself slightly for being weak and having to have someone carry him into his room, he was stronger than that. Yawning, he threw back the blankets and was only all too gladdened to find that he *was* still in his clothes from the night before. Now *that* would have been embarrassing. Standing, he forced himself to walk into the bathroom, to use it and clean up; they'd start working right away. Actually, they didn't have much of a choice if they wanted to get it done, they'd work all day and Heero would be well in no time, he'd want to see his new gundam. 'There are not enough hours in the night.' Striding from the bathroom, he quickly dressed in a navy blue T-shirt with a pair of black, denim shorts before pulling his pony-tail back and redoing it, then snatched up his shoes and headed from the room. He'd meet the others in the Mess Hall, whenever they woke up and it shouldn't be too long from when he did. If they did sleep in, he'd start himself whenever he was done eating and could find the energy and ambition. Something that he'd have to force upon himself, because he really didn't want to do anything at all today. Quatre turned on his side, in a light sleep as the sunlight drifted over his features. It felt so good to just lay there in warmth and comfort that he didn't want to wake up, yet his mind began to awaken to the new day, calling him to life once more. Sighing, Quatre opened his eyes, knowing that he wasn't going to be able to get to sleep again, he couldn't. They still had so much to do in repairing Wing Zero that it was a waste of a day to sleep any further. In reluctance, the Arabian youth pushed himself with sore arms off of the bed, gazing around to find that Heero was still asleep and at peace. He was doing so much better and the young aristocrat was glad that he could rest today. "Get all the rest you can Heero," he whispered as he climbed out of the bed, "and enjoy the day. You need all the time you can get to recover from yesterday. You have all the time in the world, now." He stripped off his old, dirty shirt, then snagged a new one from the closet and pulled it over his head, a tan T-shirt. Pulling a pair of deep blue, denim shorts from the shelf, he changed in full and tossed his dirty clothes into the small hamper. He was so sore from the day before that he didn't want to move, yet hunger and the thoughts of what needed to be done drove him on. Yawning again, Quatre pulled on his shoes and stepped silently from the room, giving a curt hello and good morning to the officer outside the door and telling her that Heero still slept. With that done, he headed toward the cafeteria to grab something for breakfast. Trowa leaned against his pillows, his shoulders against the headboard of the bed. He'd been up since dawn, his arm paining him again. It was probably from all the work they did the day before. Now he was paying for it, his hand was cramping up so badly on him that he wanted to yell and scream or something! This can't be happening now. Why, of all times.... Cradling his hand to his chest, he felt the muscles tighten even further in rebuttal to the movements and a soft cry escaped his lips; he had to find Quatre and get him to do whatever he'd done yesterday to ease his muscles. He'd tried to massage the tautness out of them, yet he must not have done anything right because it still hurt like hell. Rising, he quickly but carefully threw on another, clean, light blue, plad shirt and strode quickly out of his room and down the hall towards Quatre's, not even bothering to button up his shirt as it flew out somewhat behind him . Reaching the door, he found out that Quatre had already gone down for breakfast a few minutes before, or so the woman said. Grimacing slightly, he strode down the hall to the Mess Hall, jogging slowly when the muscles seemed to turn to pure stone. Quatre sat with the others, Duo being a surprisingly early riser now. Holding the cup of tea in his hands, he felt the comforting warmth beneath his fingers as he nodded. "Today shouldn't be as hard, considering that most of it is done and that was mainly the larger areas of the body. Just to finish the shoulder area and head, along with the design for a helmet- like structure to protect the surveillance area and then to paint it all. Then it's finished." Yawning once again, he watched the others. "What?"

"Do you always use big words this early in the morning? Especially since I'm sitting here? Cut me some slack Quatre, look who you're talking to here buddy-boy." Duo looked at him, understanding a lot of it, yet it took a little while to sink in. He was awake, he wasn't going to stay in that condemned bed, yet that didn't mean he was fully awake. Smirking, Wufei looked at his comrade. "I think I know what to get you for Christmas Duo." "What? You, actually get me something?" "A dictionary." Well, he was somewhat excited, but never mind. "Thanks, how considerate."



Sally listened to the three, smiling and laughing as she tried to drink from her tea. She was really enjoying the boys' visit, she wasn't constantly worried about missions or anything else. Especially since they had to lie low to keep anyone from finding them, even more so since Heero was now ill and--hurt, that and Duo was still healing. "Sometimes I wonder about you three. Trowa isn't up yet?" Wufei shook his head, his and Trowa's rooms were back to back, just as Heero's and Quatre's were a few corridors down. "Not that I heard, he was still worn from yesterday. He didn't sleep in too much more and recover the sleep he lost, that and he was pushing himself a little more than Quatre or I yesterday. Why, I don't have a clue when it comes to him. He's one of the worst to try and understand." "He's not that bad, Wufei." Quatre smirked. "Just a little different in expressing his feelings. With him, it's harder to read between the lines, I must admit." "You sound like you understand everything about him. He's expressing himself more and talking yes, but I still have lots of trouble with him." Duo looked at his comrade with puzzled eyes. "You understand everyone of us, don't you Quatre. More than we understand ourselves, I bet. I wouldn't be surprised." He only shook his head and began to laugh softly at Quatre's sincere nod.

"You guys aren't that hard to understand, just a little harder to predict." The young Arabian replied coolly. "You mean you got into Heero's head when he was, well, the Heero we met in the first place?" The American teen was now quite surprised. "I think so." "Sometimes you really amaze me Quatre, you truly do." Wufei stood, taking his plate and leaving to return it before something caught his eye. Trowa was entering the cafeteria, but something wasn't right by the way he held his right arm to his chest. He set his plate down upon the table when an eerie silence began to fall over the room, motioning towards the others. Without word or hesitation, the young dragon weaved between the tables, walking to his friend's side.

Trowa leaned against the frame of the open door, trying to calm his breathing as he gritted his teeth, trying to throw the light-headedness from his mind as he struggled to stand. Concentrating on the pain was draining his energy, yet his entire right arm was now numb, but the pain continued throughout his shoulders and back. Glancing up, he caught the worried face of Wufei as he made his way toward him, Duo and Quatre following as Sally handed Faith to one of the other officers. When his friend had reached him, he caught his gaze momentarily before he closed his eyes, a searing pain tearing through his shoulders, neck, and back. Crumbling to his knees, he bit his tongue to keep quiet. Trowa knew that every eye in the eating area was on him. Looking up again, he found Wufei staring worriedly at him, yet he kneeled by his side. Wufei placed a hand on Trowa's shoulder, steadying him as the other pilot leaned heavily against the door frame. "Trowa, what happened?" "My hand.... I can't..." Taking in a deep breath, he heard a growl-like sound escape his throat. Quatre kneeled by Trowa's side, worry clouding his features but he knew what was wrong. "You know Trowa, there are now no two ways about it. I'm just going to put this in a splint so it doesn't happen again and we get past this little problem. I should start charging you, you know..." He smiled and tried to lighten the mood, taking Trowa's arm and was surprised to see that his entire hand was nearly a pure white for as long as it'd been clutched, the rest of his arm red as the muscles strained unhealthily. His skin was icy cold to the touch, telling him that blood flow had stopped through the limb. With skillful fingers, he began to rub the tautness from the muscles, starting at his wrist and working his way up slowly, drawing the tension downwards and then soothing it completely until it was gone. He watched the relief flood his friend's eyes before they closed, his breathing calming. "When did this one start?" Trowa took in large breaths, feeling his hand beginning to relax. The numbness was starting to disappear from his arm, telling him that the blood flow was returning. And it would hurt like hell. "Sometime.... last night, again... Sally returned with a couple rolls of wrap and a sling, having run past the others. Well, if something wasn't happening to one of them, it was to another, if it wasn't at the same time. "Like I said, sometimes I wonder about you guys." Wufei and Duo stood off a little ways, Wufei assuring Duo that this had happened before, though never this bad yet it wasn't going to kill him. "Well, if that's so, then you probably lost a lot of sleep too. Don't worry, we can finish what we need to on Wing Zero. You should go back to bed when Quatre's done, Trowa." Trowa only opened his eyes and sat on his own, pushing off of the door frame. "No, I'll be fine. We need to get this done." Sighing, he felt Quatre's movements stop, and upon looking down, he found his entire hand red and his fingers limp. As if on cue, the pain started once again, but this wasn't the pain as before, but the of feeling pins and needles as his muscles constricted again to any movement or pressure. Groaning softly, he shook his head and looked back at Quatre. "Please, just a few minutes. It hurts like hell already." Gritting his teeth, he took in soft but short gasps as he tried to calm his breathing and focus the pain. Quatre held off on wrapping his friend's arm, knowing the sensation of the returning blood flow to a numb limb all too well. One of his more-less intelligent stunts as a child. It felt like needles stabbing right through ones body, a never-ending stream as if you could feel each blood cell traveling through your veins. After receiving a nod, he let Trowa rest his arm in his hand, the platinum blonde wrapping his arm firmly from his elbow down. When done, he placed the strap of the sling over Trowa's head, resting his arm in it carefully. "I wasn't kidding about putting your arm in a splint, at least at night Trowa. This is happening too often, more than it normally seems to, and you're going to hurt yourself severely if this keeps up. That or a cast, but that wouldn't work out too well. At least at night." With a sympathetic gaze, he helped his comrade up along with Wufei. Trowa let himself be led to the table, his steps uncertain as he crossed by the curious spectators. He didn't take notice of their piteous looks, he only took a seat and closed his eyes momentarily, letting the dizziness pass. Opening them, he found everyone else to be sitting down, Wufei grabbing another chair from a different table. All expected an answer. "What?" "If that was happening earlier Trowa, why didn't you come get me?" Quatre took his tea once more, somewhat concerned for his friend. "In the first place, I couldn't really tell it from a dream." Deciding against it, he didn't mention that he was too tired to really move. "Besides the fact that you were tired from the day before and it had gone away for a short time, but came back it and when I did come looking for you, you had already come here." "It appears you were in a lot of pain. You dressed rather hastily and you nearly fell unconscious by the door." Smiling and shaking his head, he only stood to take the cup to the kitchen area, grabbing Wufei's plate along the way before he could argue. Duo, somewhat curious at this, spoke up. "How long has this been going on man?" Shaking his head with a tired smile, he bit his tongue when he watched Quatre return with a plate of food for him and a cup of tea. "Quatre, why..." "Don't argue. Just take it. I was going in there anyway." Laughing, he sat down and handed his friend the plate, setting down the cup. "You should at least rest if you aren't going to go to sleep. Wufei and I can get Heero's mobile suit finished, after the hell you look like you've been through. You don't want to push it." Trowa looked at his food, grateful to Quatre but he didn't want to leave everything up to his friends. It was bad enough with just the three of them, but leaving all that work to two alone? He wasn't that in need of sleep or rest. He'd be fine. "No, I'll be fine for now. If it starts to bother me, I'll rest. But I'm not going to leave all that up to the both of you alone. Forget it." Picking at his food, he finally decided to go ahead and eat the oatmeal, it didn't look the greatest, but it worked and it wasn't half bad.

Sighing, Sally had remained quiet but she only gave a small laugh and stroked Faith's head. "You might just be a bit worse than Duo when it comes to actually doing what you're told Trowa. We almost had to strap Duo down to the bed, we'd probably have to hold you at gun point, with the beam cannon from Wing Zero." This got a laugh out of everyone and a surprised, "Hey!" from Duo when he realized that he'd just been ragged on somewhat. "You might be right on that Sally, but my choice hasn't changed. Sorry guys." Trowa finished his meal, standing and dropping it off with a lot more energy than he had when he woke up. "Coming or am I starting this by myself?" Wufei rose, watching Quatre do as well. "No, but you are at least taking it easier. You were pushing yourself more than you had to yesterday. Don't start Trowa, you know as well as we do that you were." He cut off the other pilot before he could rebel. "Hey Duo, why don't you go and check on Heero for us. He's bound to be low on energy and lonely, you can keep him company." Quatre added thoughtfully, seeing as how he'd probably come by and try to help, then end up hurting himself more. Sure, Heero might not mind them staying longer, and in truth, Quatre wouldn't really mind either. Besides the fact that there were innocents and many others losing their lives as we speak and he wanted to end the war as soon as possibly possible. "Yeah, the poor guy's probably going to be wondering where everyone else is, most likely thinkin' we left him after it seems you guys told him yesterday about the.... the decision. Plus, someone's gotta be there to make him feel better. I'll come check on you guys later with updates and..." He didn't get to finish his statement, instead, his eyes were thrown quickly to the door, another of Sally's rebel force bursting through them. "What the..." Sally stood immediately, the hall had become dead silent once again. "Mason, what's wrong?" The younger man, Aaren Mason, stopped right near the door and caught sight of Ms Po. Things weren't going too great again. "Ms Po, the other pilot, he's awake and something's wrong. Laura tried to calm him down, but when she went in to check on him, he freaked and somehow got a hold of her firearm and no one can get near him, Laura and Bryan are with him now. We're not sure what he'll do." Sally turned to the others, knowing that something had happened to Heero to trigger this, it wasn't like him now. He knew there were going to be others in there to check on him, but it was as if this were all new. Nodding to the others, they all sprinted out the door and down to Quatre's room. Heero held the gun in trembling hands, his back to the wall. Something was wrong, he wasn't at Sally's base anymore, but back in the OZ cell. The same soldiers that had taken their "pleasure" from him had returned, their eyes wanting and their hands greed. "St-stay back! I'll kill you this time! Or I'll die... before you hurt me again!" The young woman that sat outside of Heero's door, Laura, tried to calm him once more. Yet her words didn't seem to be reaching him as he trembled, aiming the gun at her but she didn't back down. "Come on now, just put the gun down sweet-heart. We aren't going to hurt you, OZ is far, far away from here. They're not going to hurt you again. Just drop the gun." Wufei came up to the door first, his eyes catching Heero's terrified and shaking form in the corner on the opposite side of the room. The cot had been turned on its side and an older woman stood by its side, not moving but trying to coax Heero into laying down the gun. "Heero, can you hear me? Go ahead and put the gun down, she's not going to hurt you. We're here." Slowly entering the room, he walked without fear toward the woman's side, but stopped when the gun switched his target and aimed right at the warrior's chest. Heero watched the other soldiers enter, knowing that if he killed the men that had hurt him so many times before that he would only pay by taking his pain from the other men. There were too many. "I-I'm not going to... to let you hurt me again!" With unsteady hands, he turned the gun upon himself, aiming it straight at *his* heart and placing his finger on the trigger once again. He didn't see the others as they were, but other men, other OZ soldiers who wanted a night with him to themselves. He wasn't just some prostitute, and he'd rather die than live it again.

Quatre walked to Wufei's side slowly, nodding for him and the others to back off as he crouched down. "Heero, listen to me. You remember me, right? It's Quatre. No one's going to hurt you, we're here and OZ will never come near you again. Don't do that Heero, you're going to hurt yourself. Heero, please, go ahead and give the gun to me. No one's going to hurt you. Please Heero?" Holding out his hands, palm up, he waited to see what would happen. His friend was shaking so bad that it could be accidental if he shot himself, but he could very well die none the less. Heero still didn't recognize Quatre or the others, but saw them as OZ soldiers in his mind. Instead of his Arabian friend holding out his hands and waiting for the gun, he saw the first soldier that had invaded and abused him, his hands greedy and stretching out to take Heero once more. "No! Stay back!" With an uncertain hand, he began to squeeze the trigger. Quatre shook his head from side to side, knowing that something had to be done or Heero was going to hurt himself. Calling out again, he spoke with a gentle firmness. "Heero, give me the gun. We're not going to let anything happen to you. Heero..." Heero watched the soldiers begin to close in on him, all of them wanting their time with his body while he laid helplessly. Shaking his head, he felt his eyes water as tears began to cloud his vision. He wasn't going to relive it, not again. With one final effort, he pulled the trigger and felt the bullet enter his body, into his chest and further on into his heart. Breath catching in his throat, he let the gun fall from his hands as he sat in shock. The pain was indescribable, but he was more in an unbelievable state at this point. "NO!" Quatre crossed over to Heero's side in haste, pushing aside the gun and holding the bleeding boy in his arms, gently lowering him so that he laid on his lap. Putting his hand over the bullet wound, he searched his friend's eyes frantically. "Heero, come on. Snap out of it, wake up Heero!" Heero closed his eyes for a minute, then opened them in sheer agony. Taking in a deep breath, he looked up to find that Quatre was holding him and he was back at Sally's base. Forcing the words to come, he let his tears fall. "I didn't... want them t-to hurt me...." Now he was just scared, he could feel that he was dying. Leaning into the other boy he let out a soft cry as he gripped Quatre's arm in his hand, he didn't want to die now. Trowa was at Quatre's side in no time, along with the others. He looked down with sorrowful eyes, kneeling by his friend's side and taking Heero's other hand in his. "Don't give up yet Heero, we're not going to let anything happen to you. We're right here and OZ will never hurt you again. Never." Wufei stood back, somewhat shocked. Snapping out of it, he called his commands to the others, they in similar states as he was. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get a room ready, we need to help him now or he'll die!" Looking at the others, he could tell that they were just as scared of the thought he just mentioned. That Heero could die. Placing his hand on Duo's shoulder, he nodded with a confidence and motioned for Trowa to move. Looking down at Quatre who was surprisingly calm but frantic at the same time. "Let me take him Quatre, we're not going to let anything happen to him. We're not going to let anything happen to you Heero, just stay awake for us, okay?" Gently taking the badly bleeding Japanese youth, he stood and watched him nod slightly. His features were deathly pale as blood continued to pour from his chest. Heero leaned into Wufei, crying out when he felt another's hand press against his chest and the wound. Taking in short gasps, the young man watched the room begin to spin and fade, feeling his energy disappear as it flowed from his body with his blood. "Please... I don't want t-to... to die... I-I'm scared...." Closing his eyes, he held onto Wufei's shirt as he felt himself being taken from the room. Crying out again, he felt his body being laid down upon something, his fingers losing their grasp on Wufei's clothing. Looking about, he only saw a blur of shapes as the room began to fade to black once more, his lungs burning as liquid fire entered them, making each breath more of a shallow gasp. Panicking, he felt hands move about, trying to hold him down. They were leaving him again, his friends. "No... p-please don't leave me...." Coughing, a metallic taste entered his mouth, spilling from the sides of his lips as he struggled to empty it from his lungs. He couldn't breathe again, his vision fading as he fought to live. Duo watched from outside the room, through the glass windows in the doors. He caught sight of Heero's panicking features and he knew that his little buddy was afraid. "He's scared, he doesn't want to be in there alone! Let one of us go in there, he shouldn't be by himself." Duo refrained from going in, but paced the floor when he received a shake of the head from Sally. "Why the hell not!?"

Sally calmed her nerves, looking sadly at Duo while holding Quatre's hand in comfort. "Duo, we'd get in the way. I have my best surgeons working on him now, but you've got to wait and let them do what they have to. They were trained for this type of thing, and they can help him. If you're in the way, then they can't work as fast and at this point, ever second counts." Placing her other hand on Quatre's shoulder, she continued to soothe him. Trowa stood and stopped Duo's pacing, taking both of his shoulders in hand, and disregarding the sling, he spoke. "Duo, we've got to trust them. Heero's going to be scared, but we're not leaving him in full and he knows that. When he's safe again, we can be by his side. We each have a place in certain times, ours is to wait and trust in him. We know he is, but we've just got to trust Heero to be strong enough to hang on while the doctors help him." Wufei stood, leaning against the wall with his head hanging, his eyes closed. He didn't speak a word, but felt Heero's fear, his pain, his weakness. The scent of blood drifted to his nose, and looking at his shirt, he realized how much of Heero's innocent blood had been spilled upon him. With a heavy sigh, he began to pray again that his friend would be fine and live through this.

Quatre held onto Sally's hand, still not believing what had just happened. Had Heero truly forgotten them or was he just hallucinating? Either way, he didn't care, he just wanted Heero to live. "Please let him be all right Lord, please." Heero didn't deserve any of this, no one did. Quatre would gladly take the pain and fear from his friend just to see him happy again. But he couldn't all he could do was to be there for his friend. If things like this were going to happen though, how could they leave him with Relena? They weren't going to put him through the torment of battle again and they needed all four of the pilots to finally finish this once and for all, so no one could stay with him. What could they do? It'd be way too risky to leave him with Sally, they tended to move a lot and she was still engaged in this war as well. Quatre's mind was so full of questions and not one answer. Pushing these things away, he began to pray once again.

~+~

Author's Note:

*whimpers* I'm sorry for doing that to Heero, I didn't plan any of it, it just popped into my head! *nods vigorously* Sorry Heero, you're just the victim here, but hey, you've got some ups and good things that come from this... *grins shyly*

~Heero~ ~stares at me in disgust~ Oh, now I REALLY feel special, I'm first tortured and abused, then reverted to helplessness and nightmares, THEN I get shot?! Not only that, but you had me shoot myself?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?!?! ~very "disgruntled" and gives me ultimate death glare~

*laughs* Yep.... hey, I'm normal, you're all weird! *laughs harder and hugs the extremely "reluctant" boy* You know I love you....

~snorts in disgust~ Just end my misery!

*frowns* Sorry, I can't kill you guys off... tried in one story, nearly killed me. Well, enjoy this and looks for the next chapters.... Chapter 6, To Soar Like An Eagle... (wish I could! *whines*)