OhMY! Last Chapter of all Desert Race! * Happy dances around computer in joy.* I'm kinda sad too. I really enjoyed writing this! I hope all you lovely neckos out there did too! * I'm gonna cry now.* See ya next story. That is if you want too! I'm happy to have made you smile, and I hope I did.







Time was approaching quickly for the attack. Quatre had disposed of the horrid disguise and donned light weight pants and shirt that clung lovingly to his lithe frame. He and Abdul had finally gotten rid of the captain and sealed off his tent from the others. Most of the people were at one side of the camp while the soldiers were secluded unknowingly at the other end. Quatre was currently sitting with a comm attached to his ear to mouth and gazing intensely at the laptop screen in front of him that was feeding him images of the camp. Gentle fingers brought up diagrams and schematics and sent them to the rest of the waiting Gundam pilots. Abdul sat at the tents flap, gun in hand, waiting for the trap to be sprung and ready to protect Quatre come anything.

" Four minutes thirty seconds." Quatres voice spoke up behind him. He tensed slightly and checked the bullets in his gun once more, hoping he wouldn't have to use them. Or if he did he could he could make sure that captain never had kids.

" Is everything ready Master Quatre?"

" Yep, everything's set. Miss Une and a team of Preventers are on directly in front of us. Rasid and the others on to our right , and the guys are to our left. As one they'll come from those sides and trap the men in camp as the nomads escape to the temporary Magaunac base."

" So we're holding down this side huh?"

" Yep! Let 'em try and break through!"

" I'd rather not." He looked concernedly at Quatres drawn face as the young man turned back to planning the attack. Fatigue was beginning to edge his features and show in his eyes. His legs were splinted as best they could be and set free of the blankets that had been wrapped tightly around them. Through all this he had persevered and stayed by them, never giving up his hope and faith in them. That increased Abduls respect and love for the kid ten fold. Dark eyes glinted behind his shades and he turned back toward the coming dawn.

" It's time."

" We're ready."

"We will not fail."

" We're coming for you buddy."

"I'm with you."

Four figures strode to the top of the sand dune. The wind whispered around them and five sets of foot prints were left in the sand.

The captain turned as his men called him. His eyes widened at the sight he saw. Highlighted in the rising sun were four men, heads held high. Side by side they stared difiantly at him, seeming to pierce his soul with their gaze. As the morning sun broke the horizen completely it shone in a blast of light five figures standing in the sky.

" The Gundam pilots!"



The signal had been sent in a breath taking view of the young men who had time and again protected the people. Everyone moved at once descending on the small camp of soldiers. Things moved so quickly that the men barely had time to draw their guns before they were surrounded. In a clear moment of panic the captain realized that the nomads were all gone and that it had been a trap.

" Throw down your weapons!" The men turned toward the commanding voice and came face to face with a beautiful face of determination. " NOW!" Lady Unes cry shook them out of their revery and a wavery stand off began to topple. At least thirty-eight very mad Arab men created a half circle around them. In their midst the mens stomachs tightened as the caught glimpses of more Preventers, and before them stood four guns that broke their last defense.

The captain saw his mens distress turned to slip away through the unprotected back of the camp. He stopped in his tracks and gasped in surprise.

Quatre stood leaning heavily, yet seeming not to at all, on Abdul. His eyes were burning with an inner light that seemed to rival and mix with that of the rising sun, and they were directed straight at the captain. A soft wind blew his hair in a playful manner and seemed to caress the boy as he stared defiantly ahead.

The captain stared wide eyed. He was sure that it had been the girl for a moment. His eyes traveled the lithe form that so resembled the women in the tent up to the fine gold hair to rest on the breathtaking clearness of the so blue to green eyes that reflected the boys soul. Yes, it was the same person just out of a carefully planned dusguise. Though he realized not much had needed to be added to the disguise anyway, the beauty came purely from this boy himself.

" Going somewhere?" His voice broke the spell that his appearance had cast and the men gave in, laying down their arms and allowing them to be taken away. The captain stared at the image before him for a few precious seconds before he felt his hands being cuffed behind him and turned to go without struggle. Quate smiled. " It's over." Four smiles answered his and he let his head fall gently onto his friend shoulder as he drifted off into a gentle sleep.



Quatre woke to the gentle rocking of a moving vehicle. Sunlight streamed into his half open eyes through a green tarp that covered what he recognized as the back of a truck. He blinked slightly as the sound of voices reached his ears. They stopped suddenly and someone took his right hand, squeezing gentlly.

" Hey Quat. 'Bout time you woke up!" Duo floated into his view, his voice soft and a warm sound to his heart and ears. Quatre opened his eyes fully as another hand ran through his hair lovingly, the touch of a fatherly love.

" Rasid." Quatres left hand raised slightly above his head, searching for the warmth of the older mans. Rasid took the small, slim hand and held it comfortingly. Quatre smiled in contentment and almost let himself drift back into slumber when he realized that the others weren't with them in the spacious truck. " Duo?" He turned his worried eyes to Duo who saw his unasked question easily.

" They stayed with the Lady to clean out the base under the town. Don't worry about them. Our team of indestructos will make it back alright. Thanks to you everything worked out great and we were able to ....more than enough information out of your not so secret admirer captain." Both men laughed as Quatre groaned. His face fell as more thoughts came to his fatigued mind.

" All my fault your even out here I.."

" Ack! Stop right there Quatre Raberba Winner! We came out here because we care about you, so if you insist on blaming yourself the Great Destroyer is gonna have a nervous break down!" Duo laughed gently as he said these last words and buried his head on Quatres chest. Quatre giggled and patted his head. Behind him Rasid began speaking soothingly and kept up the gentle caress until both boys lay sleeping as the truck plodded along at a much easier speed that it had come at.



The three teens watched with satisfaction with the rest of the crowd as the rest of the rouge group was led away through the middle of town. They were now face to face with more of the people who had hurt so many people hatefully without caring who or why they were personally. They could finally see all the men that had stood against them for a cause they were beginning to think the men didn't even fully understand. All the men looked like they had been apart of the same group for a long time. Perhaps the same station during the war. For some reason they seemed to Trowa they didn't seemed to embrace differences. Trowa looked thoughtfully at his companions then back to the crowd. It had started him thinking how close they had become for some reason. Each boy was from a different place and had a different way of life at home, yet here they stood banded together in a close bond. They had fought for right and peace together, not even seeing any difference beyond those of their sometimes conflicting personalities and homes. Homes that were that to each of them now homes. He shook his head happily, he didn't need to see anything else. They were a family either way, one that had withstood yet another hard time.

Trowa snapped out of his reverie and realized that the trucks transporting the rouges were leaving and the crowd moving on. He looked over as Une approached them.

" Thank you boys for all the help. I'm giving you all your months vacation now so you can relax." She smiled as they all visibly relaxed. " I trust Quatre is in good hands?"

" Yeah, we left him with Maxwell." Wufei replyed, then seemed to catch what he had just said. " We left him with Maxwell!!"

Une laughed at the obvious teasing in Wufeis voice.

" Their both with the Maguanacs, we're going to join them now." Heero spoke up, his lips twitching in laughter at Wufeis revelation.

" I wish you a good rest then. You all deserve it. Let us take care of the rest of the group. Oh, and tell Duo he might want to take another month or so off, just while me and my other personality cool off." With that Une turned and jumped into a waiting jeep that quickly pulled out after the trucks. Wufei and Trowa were laughing and Heero was shaking his head muttering ' I said I didn't want to know'.

" Come on guys lets go." Heero walked over to a neglected Preventer jeep and turned the keys. Trowa quickly jumped in the passengers seat, Wufei making himself comfortable in the back. Seeing everyone was ready they drove off in their ' borrowed' jeep. Hearing shouting behind them Trowa swivled in his seat. Three Preventer officers were shouting after the rapidly retreating jeep.

" Hmmm, wonder what their problem is?" Trowa mused, Wufei merely shrugged a small smile playing at the edge of his lips.



The large house that had teased them from a distance was now upon them. The sleek Preventer jeep pulled into the drive and a hyper active Duo bounded down to stand on the steps of the veranda, long braid flying. Behind him Quatre sat sipping tea in a large rocking chair, legs carefully propped up. Trowa didn't wait for Heero to stop but jumped from the jeep and up the stairs, allowing Duo to smush him in a hug before taking a seat next to a widely smiling Quatre. Heero barley waited for the jeep to stop himself before, slightly slower then Trowa, making his way up to the veranda. He stopped suddenly and looked back at the jeep. Wufei had gotten down from the jeep but remained where he was at the front of the vehicle staring at them curiously.

Wufei stopped and watched all his friends. For some reason things seemed so much clearer now then they had been. For so long he had felt alone and had never really realized what he had had all along. So here they stood his new family in a new life. A new end to a new beginning.

" Yo Wufei, that pony tail finally got to tight didn't it? Circulation cut!" Duo teased. Wufei shook his head and smiled.

" Maybe you just need a shave(2). I'd be happy to comply." They shared a smile as Wufei move forward at last. And for the first time in maybe forever they just sat and talked. The Desert Race was through, they were home.



2: His braid. Though I'm sure you knew that!