Disclaimer: Nobody really dies in this story, they just get really big booboos… Oh, and I don't own Gundam Wing, in case I haven't said it enough yet.

Chapter 11

Two officers carried Heero to a prison cell with another guard behind them with a gun and one in front to unlock the door. The front guard opened the door and as they attempted to toss in the "unconscious" Heero, he stole the guard next to him's gun and kicked the rear officer in the gut. Shooting both his captures, he knocked out the door guard and turned to run back down the hall when he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. He collapsed against the wall and looked up to see Zechs again.

"Trying to escape; I knew four guards weren't enough for you." Zechs said, his gun aimed at Heero's head again.

"Haven't we been in this scenario before? How about we change the ending this time." Heero said, still holding the gun as he held his shoulder and leaned all his weight on his good leg and the wall.

"I have an idea, how about this time you get in the cell like a good little rebel boy and stay alive for a few more hours till Treize decides your fate."

"Do you always do what Treize tells you? You his little sidekick? Did he even give you a cute codename and everything?" Heero mocked. Zechs grinned and said, "So much life and fire in those blue eyes of yours, like small pools of deceit and deception drowning any pathetic being faint-hearted enough to fall for them. Too bad, such a waste to see those youthful eyes dead with your body."

"Such poetic words for a military man."

"You have no idea." Zechs grinned again as he nodded to the gun in Heero's hand, "Drop it and kick it away from yourself." Heero reluctantly did so and Zechs said, "Put your hands where I can see them and walk into the cell." Heero painfully stretched his arms out and walked to the cell, stepping in and stopping. Zechs shut the door behind him and locked it, saying, "Behave yourself this time." Heero let out a low growl.

That's Heero's Gundam, he must be inside by now. Rachel thought as she landed her gundam. She set the controls to stealth mode and jumped out, racing to the security door and testing the knob.

Darn, it's locked. I wish I had asked Siah to teach me how to pick locks while he was still around. Rachel grumbled mentally. Just then, the door beeped and she dove behind it as it opened. She waited as a guard stepped out and slipped in just before the door closed. Her heart pounding in her chest, she looked around and thought, Well, only one hallway but a million doors. She quietly ran down the hall and ducked behind walls when someone appeared and disappeared through doors. She peeked around a corner briefly and ducked back as her heart raced.

Oh no, it's Zechs! What do I do now! She thought as she grit her teeth. With a gulp, she jumped around the corner and screamed, "Hey, Zechs, over here!" The officer turned around and stared at her shortly before yelling, "Who are you? Where'd you come from!" She took off down the hall she was in and Zechs started after her, yelling, "Stop! Come back here!" As she raced down the hall, she prayed to God that he wouldn't decide to shoot her down as he rapidly gained on her. She looked back to see how close he was and didn't see the guard in front of her that had just walked out of a doorway. They collided and went sprawling across the floor. Scrambling to get to her feet, Rachel started to run again but Zechs was too close. He grabbed her wrist and wrenched her back, causing her to scream in pain as she fell against his chest. He grabbed her shoulder with his other hand as she screamed and thrashed around, screaming, "Let me GO!" In the process of fighting, she managed to knock his helmet off, revealing his icy blue eyes that seemed to burn into her like a fire. She froze in his stare, her eyes wide with fear as he said, "Are you an ally of the boy I found running through here?" She couldn't think with his eyes on her, she felt like she was melting in his arms.

His eyes are. . .more beautiful. . .than on the show. So. . .hot. . .wow. . . Her legs began to wobble as she almost passed out, but she shook off the shock of being held by Zechs, saying, "Let-let me go, or else!"

"Or else what?" Zechs said, looking at her like she was crazy.

"Or. . .or else I'll. . ." She didn't know.

Or else I might go gaga over you and kiss you! Come on, Rachel, so what if he's a total babe in person, do something! She shut her eyes tightly and said, "Or else I'll make you let me go!"

"What?" He seemed confused by her almost harmless threats. She reached up with her free hand and touched his chest, a ring of light appearing around it. He blinked and released her, stepping back with wide eyes. She stretched out her hand and put it in his face, saying, "I command you to take me to my friend right now!" His widened eyes sagged and he said in a mechanical voice, "Right away." He turned and walked back the way he had come with Rachel cautiously following.

I hope Heero's alright. . .Rachel thought. Zechs stopped in front of the cell door and didn't move. She stopped behind him and said, "Uh, o-open the door." Zechs reached into his pocket and took out a ring of keys, placing the correct one in the lock and opening the door. Rachel peeked around Zechs' arm and saw Heero hunched over in the back of the cell, looking down at the ground. He looked up as the light outside hit him. He blinked as he saw Rachel's face staring at him from behind Zechs.

"How did you. . ." Heero said as she stepped inside and said to him, "Come on, we gotta get out of here before someone catches us!" She offered a hand to Heero and he stared at it reluctantly for a second. She sighed and said, "Come on, we don't have time to waste!" He finally reached up with his good hand and took hers, letting her pull him to his feet. He stumbled a bit and she put a supporting hand on his waist, saying, "Lean on me, okay?" He didn't argue as she pulled his arm around her shoulders and slipped her arm around his back to help hold him up. He limped with her out of the cell as he said, "But, Zechs. . ."

"Don't worry about him." She said, turning to Zechs, "Show us the way out, Zechs." He quietly turned and walked back down the hallway. They followed him as alarms blared overhead again.

"Sounds like they found Wufei." Rachel said, looking up at the spinning red lights. Heero seemed to put more weight on her as they walked and she said, "Hey, are you gonna make it?"

"Just. . .keep. . .walking." Heero said slowly, not showing any signs of pain outwardly. She frowned sadly and did as he said. They made their way out of the building and Zechs stopped again.

"Go back inside and forget that anything happened." Rachel said to Zechs. He returned to his duties just as Shenlong exploded out of the building, landing nearby. Rachel took off with Heero as fast as he could move over to Wing Gundam and stopped at its feet.

"Let go, I can get in on my own." Heero said, starting to climb into the gundam. She didn't want to let him but he was already halfway up. She watched to make sure he made it before running off to her own Gundam and getting in.

"I suggest you two get your butts moving because this place is going to blow in 10 seconds!" Wufei yelled over the comlink.

What! No, but Zechs- Rachel began to sweat.

Get moving! Heero said. Reluctantly she followed the other two Gundams as they flew away from the base. Suddenly, as they got about 100 feet away, the base shook and exploded in a huge ball of fire that towered into the sky and scattered bits of it across the forest.

Zechs. . .Rachel thought as a tear rolled down her cheek. The Gundams landed by the planes and their pilots climbed down to join the others.

"Heero, are you okay, man?" Duo said as he ran up to Heero and Rachel. Leaning a little harder on Rachel now and bleeding more, Heero said, "I'm. . .fine."

"Liar." Rachel said then turned to Wufei, "Do you have a mode of transport, Chang?"

"Yes, a plane a short distance from here." Wufei responded.

"I'll send my Gundam with you if you don't mind carrying it as well." Rachel said.

"Send it? What do you mean?" Chang asked, sounding confused.

"It has an auto pilot feature, it will follow your gundam and do as I program it to." Blinking, Chang said, "Fine. I'm leaving now."

"Alright. Quatre take Heero into the plane, I'll be with you in a moment." Rachel said. Quatre stepped up and took Heero's arm, helping him slowly over to the plane. Rachel ran to her Gundam and programmed it to go with Chang, then jumped down to join Quatre and Heero in their plane. The group waited for Wufei to leave before taking off, then circled till Chang joined them in the sky before heading off to the next city nearby, about 2 hours away.

"Heero, stop, let me." Rachel walked over to Heero who was attempting to tend to his wounds. She batted away his hands and knelt by his leg.

"Ra-" Heero tried to protest.

"Just sit back and relax, this may feel a little weird." Rachel said. Heero didn't have the strength to argue so he obeyed, painfully reclining in his seat. Rachel rested her hand over his bleeding calf, closing her eyes as Heero watched. Suddenly, Heero clenched the armrests as his eyes grew large, staring at Rachel's hand as the bullet shot out and into her hand. She held it up to Heero and said, "Hold this." Unclenching a hand, he took the bullet and stared at the red stained ball of metal, his eyes still huge with agitation. She placed her hand back over the still bleeding hole, closing her eyes again as Heero twitched, finding her healing disconcerting and unnerving. Finally, she pulled her hand away and revealed perfectly healed skin visible through the hole left by the bullet's entry. Heero seemed shocked beyond wonder at her working as she moved up to his shoulder. He leaned away a bit as she approached his wound, saying, "I can-"

"I don't care." Rachel said, staring deep into his eyes. He blinked and didn't move. She touched his shoulder and began to remove the bullet. Heero quickly looked away as strange tingles of pain and cold rushed up and down his spine, making him incredibly uncomfortable.

"There, you're all patched up. Now I suggest you rest until your body has recovered from the blood loss." Rachel said, reaching over and putting her hand on his balled up fist. He shot a glare at her and she said softly, "Can I take the bullet or would you rather keep it as a momento?" He looked down at his hand and opened it, tilting his hand to let the round ball fall into Rachel's waiting palm. She took it and stood up, walking over to the cockpit door and opening it.

"Where are you going?" Quatre said over his shoulder.

"I'm going to put these somewhere out of the way. I'll be right back." And she exited the cockpit. Quatre looked over at Heero as he settled back into his seat and slowly reached to touch his shoulder with a blank look on his face.

"Are you okay? You looked scared, Heero." Quatre said in a concerned tone. Heero glared at him and said, "I don't have fear."

"It's not a bad thing to be scared now and then, it's part of being human."

"Then I guess I'm not human." Heero rested in his seat and closed his eyes, trying to drown out the lingering chills by running through training techniques he'd been taught. Quatre sighed and thought, You have no idea. . .

"Do you think Heero killed Rachel?" Duo said suddenly. Trowa looked over at him and said, "Where'd that come from?"

"I was just thinking. . .would he kill her?"

"In his condition I doubt it. Don't worry, your girlfriend is safe." Trowa said, rolling his eyes.

"She's not my girlfriend! Geez, why does everyone keep saying that." Duo said, hiding a slight blush appearing on his cheeks.

"Well, the moves you were putting on her earlier might be a clue."

"I. . .eh. . ." He couldn't deny it since Trowa walked by when it happened. Trowa looked over at him and Duo gulped, staring out the window.

"Don't. . .tell anyone." Duo said through his clenched jaw.

"What's your problem with letting people know you and her are. . .you know."

"Because we're not, okay? I don't even know if she likes me!"

"Hmm." Trowa looked back out at the sky, "Why don't you ask her?"

"Huh? What!" Duo looked at Trowa with nervously wide blue eyes.

"Ask her if she likes you. If not, then at least you don't have to worry anymore."

"I can't ask her! I. . .well, what if she says no." Duo said, looking away.

"Then she says no. She's not the last girl on the Earth you know."

"Oh you just want me to make a fool of myself so you can get in good with her!" Duo said, trying to get the attention off of his feelings.

"I don't even think of her that way, Duo, don't try to make me look like the bad guy just because you're too chicken to ask her." Trowa said coolly.

"I'm not chicken! FINE, I'll ask her!" Duo said, frowning angrily as he gripped the steering wheel and flew faster. Trowa rolled his eyes and thought, He won't do it, he's scared.

"Alright, at least this city's still safe." Quatre said as he landed the plane in the loading dock. He unbuckled and stood up, stretching and yawning.

"Heero's still asleep, should we leave him here while we get supplies?" Rachel said, looking at the peaceful looking soldier boy slumbering in the chair next to her.

"I thought he was looking for something that he couldn't find at the last city we stopped at." Quatre said as he walked over to her.

"Oh, but he looks so content." Rachel said. Quatre sighed and smiled, saying, "I guess we can leave him here. Maybe he'll wake up on his own."

"Yeah, I'm sure he will eventually. Come on, I'm starved, let's find a restaurant!" Rachel said, grabbing Quatre's hand and pulling him out of the cockpit. They ran down the ramp together and stopped when they saw Duo and Trowa getting out.

"Hey Duo, we're going to get a bite to eat while Heero's still sleeping, wanna come?" Rachel said, waving to Duo and Trowa.

"Uh, sure." Duo said, staring at Rachel and Quatre's hands. Trowa cocked an eyebrow and whispered, "Looks like Quatre beat you to her. Tough luck." Trowa walked down the ramp as Duo grit his teeth.

Better not have. . .or else that skinny little punk's butt is mine. Duo thought as he tried to hide his jealousy from Rachel. He joined the group and said, "So where to? Fast food, Italian, Chinese?"

"Chinese." Wufei said as he walked up to them.

"I love Chinese! Let's go!" Rachel said. She reached over and grabbed Duo's hand as she smiled at him. He blinked and smiled back, trying not to show his confusion. She took off running and the boys kept up with her as Trowa and Chang took up the rear, talking quietly amongst themselves about various subjects. As the three teens ran down the sidewalk, Rachel stopped and said, "Ah, Chinese!"

"Are you sure that's Chinese and not Japanese?" Duo said, "Cause I hate sushi."

"Me too, I've never liked it much." Quatre agreed as he tried to figure out what the restaurant served. Chang and Trowa finally caught up to the three and Chang said, "Are you three just going to stand there or are we going in sometime this century?"

"Is it Chinese? I can't read your alphabet." Rachel said.

"No, it's Korean." Wufei said with an irritated eye roll, "Move it."

"Well fine, you don't have to be rude about it." Duo said as they walked into the restaurant together. Chang got them all a table and they sat down. But that's when the troubles began.

"Um. . .Chang?" Rachel said, blankly staring at the menu.

"What." Chang said, scanning the menu for a meal.

"I. . .um. . .don't know what it says."

"Huh?"

"I think she's trying to say that she can't read Chinese. . .and neither can we." Duo said, Quatre nodding in agreement. Chang rolled his eyes and muttered something about them being weak bakas as he told them what was on the menu.

"Wow, that says egg roll?" Duo said, scratching his head at the symbols Chang easily read off.

"Who would of thought. . ." Quatre said, staring as well. While Chang fused at them over their ignorance, Rachel figured out what to order, still with an air of confusion about her. Trowa blinked and leaned over, whispering, "Need help?"

"Huh? You understand this?" Rachel whispered back.

"Do you like fried rice with pork and egg rolls?" He asked.

"Yes."

"Than just tell them you want the same as me, it'll be easier." She smiled and said, " 'Kay." as she folded her menu up. The three other boys quieted down when the waiter came and Chang ordered first, then Trowa did.

"I'll have the same." Rachel said with a smile to the waiter.

How does she know what he's having? Or is she just ordering because. . .gasp She LIKES him! Duo thought, clearing his throat and taking a gulp of his water. The other two ordered and the waiter left. For a few moments, the table was quiet except for the occasional sounds of water being drunk, causing a few of the occupants to shift in their seat nervously, itching to start a conversation but not wanting to get killed by the menacing Wufei and his trusty katana within inches of his hand. Rachel finally couldn't stand the silence anymore. She pushed her chair back and said, "Excuse me, my hair's most likely a horrid mess, I'll be right back!" She walked a ways away from the table, looking back and forth and around.

"It's that way." Chang said, pointing in the direction of a door in the far corner of the restaurant.

"Oh, heh, I knew that." Rachel giggled as she hurried to the bathroom. Everyone seemed to let out a soft sigh as Chang took a sip of tea. Looking across the table, Duo said, "So. . .Trowa. . .how's, uh, your head. . .feeling." Trowa looked up from his napkin, which had been turned into an origami swan, and said, "Fine."

"That's good." Quatre looked back and forth at the boys, feeling a little out of place in the group as he poured himself some tea. Duo opened his napkin and took out his silverware, placing them aside as he attempted to make something out of origami as well. Quatre looked over at the fervently working pilot and said, "What are you making?" Duo finished and said, "A dog."

"Looks more like something a dog would emit." Chang mused with a slight grin. Duo frowned and muttered under his breath, "Looks like your face."

"What did you say?" Chang said, getting slightly defensive as a vein protruded from his left temple.

"This is a nice place. . ." Duo said, looking around, trying to act innocent. Chang grit his teeth and said, "That's not what you said."

"You're just imagining things because you think everyone's against you."

"What?"

"Nevermind. Chill out, Wu-man." The vein was now ten times bigger as Chang's eye began to twitch and his hand went for his katana.

"Duo, he doesn't like being called that." Quatre hissed in a low whisper.

"So? What's he gonna do, kill me?" Duo said, not looking very concerned. Suddenly Chang pulled the sword out and took on a fighting stance.

"Outside, Baka, RIGHT now!" Chang exclaimed in anger. Duo began to sweat as he stared at the gleaming blade in the angry Chinese boy's hands.

"What's going on?" Rachel said as she came running out of the bathroom.

"Duo called Chang something he didn't like." Trowa said calmly, being careful not to get attacked as well.

"And he wants to kill him because of that?" Rachel frowned and looked at Chang. Suddenly, the manager came running over jabbering in Chinese while waving his arms frantically. Chang spoke to him and finally sighed, putting his sword away and waving off the jumpy man, sitting back down in his seat and taking a lengthy sip of his tea as the others stood like statues staring at him nervously. Chang looked up with an annoyed glance and said, "I'll kill you later." They all let out a heavy sigh that they had been holding in as they settled back into their seats and waited again for the food to come.