Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, please don't sue me or flame me if you don't like the content of this chapter.
Chapter 19
She slowly rocketed over and landed, jumping out and running to the pile of Gundanium a few feet away. She climbed up onto Deathscythe's leg, stumbling along to get to the cockpit door, calling out the whole way, "Duo, Quatre, you guys alright in there!" She jumped down and crawled across Sandrock's chest plate, getting to Quatre's cockpit door first. She pushed the release button and the door creaked but jammed halfway open. She tugged at the hatch, trying to get it open a little more. She heard a moan inside and wiggled in, finding Quatre lying sideways in his seat, blood running down his head and his arm tangled in the unbuckled safety harness. She gasped and reached down to him, touching his shoulder.
Quatre, hey man, you alright over there! Hello! Duo's voice rung in Rachel's ear and she said, "Duo, he's hurt bad and I can't get him out, the hatch is jammed. Are you okay over there?"
I'm fine, what happened! Duo said, sounding concerned.
"I don't think he got in his harness before you crashed into him, can you get out?"
No, my door is against his armor and I'm out of fuel, I can't move.
"Alright, I'll see what I can do." Rachel said, looking down at Quatre, saying, "Quatre, can you hear me?" He looked up painfully and said, "I guess. . .I'm it, huh?"
"Yeah. Hold on, I'll get in my gundam and pull Duo off of you so I can get you out, okay? Will you be alright?"
"I. . .I think so." She smiled and said, "Good, hold on a second, I'll be right back." She wiggled out and jumped down, running quickly to her Gundam and jumping in. She walked over and grabbed Deathscythe's arm, pulling him carefully over and letting it tumble to the side face up. She stopped and jumped out again, just in time to see the others making their way down to help out. She jumped onto Sandrock and crawled back into the hatchway, saying, "Okay, help is on the way, just stay still and relax." He tried to smile but cringed, closing his eyes and twitching. She heard footsteps and crawled out, looking up at Heero and Trowa.
"What happened, is he alright?" Trowa asked, looking worried.
"the hatch is jammed, I can't get it open and Quatre's badly hurt." They stepped up and started pulling at the hatch door, forcing it open. As soon as it was open enough, she crawled in and her and Relena pulled Quatre out, laying him on the chest plate.
"Oh my goodness. . ."Relena gasped at the gash on Quatre's head.
"It doesn't hurt too bad, r-really." Quatre muttered, trying to reassure Relena.
"Guys, go get Duo out of his gundam, it doesn't have any fuel so he can't open his hatch from the inside." Rachel said over her shoulder. They nodded and ran off to help Duo out, Chang following close behind to assist them. Rachel looked back down at Quatre and gently brushed aside his bangs, saying in a soothing voice, "Just relax, you'll be all better in a minute." She closed her eyes and healed the gash in his head, pulling back to heal his broken arm. He cringed when she touched it and healed it, staring up at her as she wobbled a bit and fell forward. He reached up and stopped her, saying, "Rachel! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, just a little. . .tired. . ." He sat up, still holding onto her and he let her lean against his shoulder, his arms around her. Duo came scrambling over to them, saying, "Quatre, I'm so sorry! I was too close and I ran out of fuel and-"
"It's okay, Duo, I'm fine." Quatre said calmly, looking up at him. Duo slowed down and knelt by them, saying, "I guess she healed you, huh?"
"Yeah." They looked up together and met gazes, smiling in apology to each other.
"Let's head back up to camp, I think we've had enough fun for today." Duo said, looking up at the three boys who walked up behind them. Quatre helped the drowsy Rachel to her feet and Duo helped him get her to the ground. Together, they walked her over to the elevator, climbing in and heading to the top. The others joined them shortly and they all hung out for a while. Later on in the day, the sky got dark and rain began to pour down, soaking the forest but not the group. Rachel woke to find Duo smiling down at her from her bedside. He slowly stroked her hair and said, "How are you feeling?"
"Better. I'm still a little tired, though." She sat up and leaned against Duo's shoulder, saying, "Thank you for taking care of me."
"Eh, I didn't have anything else to do. Besides, who wouldn't want to watch an angel sleep?" Duo commented with a grin. She hugged his arm and said, "Yeah right, angel. . ."
"My angel." Duo said, hugging her back. She heard the patter of rain and said, "Is it raining?"
"Yeah, it started about 15 minutes ago, it's really coming down out there." She pulled back and stood up, walking over to the door and leaning against the frame, looking out at the fogged up world. Duo stepped up behind her, putting his arms around her waist and leaning his head on her shoulder. She looked over at him and said, "Are you getting taller? I don't remember you being this tall."
"I dunno, haven't really noticed." His head now came up to about her eyebrows, almost able to lean his chin on her shoulder. She turned and said, "I think you are taller. That's strange, I didn't think you'd grow anymore. . ." He frowned and said, "I don't wanna be a midget for the rest of my life!"
"Don't worry, I'm sure you won't." She smiled and hugged him, nuzzling his nose with hers. He chuckled and kissed her, pulling her close and resting his head against hers.
"This is fun, I wish we could stay here forever." Duo whispered.
"Me too." Leaning back, she looked up at the trees.
"What?"
"I wanna go for a walk, care to join me?"
"Up there? No way, you can have fun killing yourself." He said, walking away. She grabbed his arm and pulled him back, pleading, "Awe, come ooooonnnn. . .please?"
"I don't like climbing trees, you can have fun, I'll wait for you down here."
"Oh fine, be that way. See ya later!" She climbed up onto the hut and jumped up, grabbing a branch and pulling herself up into the tree. Duo watched her disappear into the leaves and thought to himself, Maybe I should have gone with her, she might get hurt. He sighed and walked off to his hut. Rachel popped up above the trees and looked around, seeing the rain coming down everywhere. Her head got soaked and she pulled it back in.
How beautiful, I never thought I'd see something like this. Rachel thought as she climbed to an opening in the canopy and let the rain drench her.
"You know, it's not good to get wet like that, you might catch a cold." Rachel spun around and almost lost her balance. Quickly, Trowa grabbed her and held her tightly, staring deep into her eyes as she froze in surprise.
"Trowa!" Rachel gasped in fear. He pulled her closer and said, "Why are you all alone up here? Don't you know it's not safe to be out without someone to protect you?"
"Let me go or I'll scream." Rachel threatened.
"Scream all you want, they won't hear you over the rain and lightning." Trowa pressed his body against hers and tightly wrapped his arms around her to keep her from running away, leaning his face close to hers. Her heart pounding, she tried to lean back away from him but he was too strong. He reached up a hand and ran it up through her hair, pulling her head closer to his as he kissed her. She melted in his embrace, thinking, This isn't happening. . .this has to be a dream. I'll wake up any time now and see Duo smiling at me and Trowa won't be anywhere in sight. As Trowa parted her lips with his tongue, her eyes grew large.
This is NOT a dream! I have to get away from him, but he's too strong! I. . .I can't fight him. . .if I try to use my powers to stop him I won't have enough energy to climb back down. Oh God, please help me. . .Rachel closed her eyes as tears ran down her cheeks, her heart pounding harder. He ran his hand up her back under her shirt, slowly caressing her damp skin with his fingers. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. She bit down on his tongue and he pulled away, screaming. She took the brief moment of freedom and slapped him hard, screaming at him, "JERK!" She kicked him in the knee and jumped down, swinging quickly through the branches to get back to camp. Trowa touched his tongue his fingers, pulling back and looking at the blood that slowly washed away with the rain. He spit out the blood pooling in his mouth and painfully moaned, rubbing his knee as he cursed under his breath.
How could he! That idiot! Rachel's mind was screaming as she dropped out of the tree onto the hut. She reached up to her lips and wiped away the blood left by Trowa when he pulled away, spitting and shaking her head, screaming briefly before jumping down. She started running down the walkway, calling out Duo's name as she did, tears flying from her eyes. Duo stepped out of his hut and stared at her, starting toward her as she ran up to him. She flew into his arms and held on tightly, sobbing violently into his shoulder. He held her protectively as he said, "Rachel, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" The others heard the commotion and slowly emerged from their huts, watching the two teens talking.
"He surprised me, I couldn't get away!" Rachel cried, clenching Duo's clothes in her hands as she pressed her face in deeper.
"Who did!"
"TROWA!" She sobbed and lost control. She got louder and Duo stared blankly at the wood walkway, shocked out of his mind. Heat prickled at the back of his neck as his heart pounded, rage boiling up inside him as he imagined what happened.
"What did he do to you? Tell me, Rachel!" Duo said, pulling her back to look into her eyes. She shook her head and said, "NO!" She pulled at his sleeves, begging for him to just hold her. Finally, he pulled her back and held her tightly, feeling her shaking from the cold and sobs she let out. Chang stepped up next to Heero who was also watching as he said quietly, "This is wrong, no female should be treated this way without her permission. Guys who make women cry are dishonorable scum." Heero crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe as he stared at the heartbroken girl.
"But what did he do to her?" Heero muttered, puzzled by her reaction. Relena stepped up next to Heero from inside the hut and grabbed his arm softly, startling him. She looked scared as she said, "Heero, what's going on? Why's she crying?" He relaxed and said, "Trowa did something, that's all I know." She scrunched up next to him and said, "Why. . .she's so nice." Tears came to her eyes, feeling the pain that Rachel was feeling. Heero unfolded his arms and pulled Relena against him, his arm around her back as she rested her head against his shoulder and sniffed. Chang looked up and said, "I wonder where he is."
"Who cares, the longer he stays away the longer he has to think about what he's done before justice comes to him." Heero said, looking slightly angered. They watched as Duo comforted Rachel, anger radiating from his body as he pulled her closer and grit his teeth.
I'll kill him. Duo thought, his face flaming with the hatred he was feeling for Trowa, his eyes flashing wildly. He looked down at her and said, "Rachel, come inside so I can get you dried off." She trembled, not able to move. He bent down and placed his arm behind her legs, lifting her into the air in his arms and carrying her slowly inside, her arms wrapped around his neck as she stared over his shoulder at the small crowd several feet away. He kicked the door shut and sat down on his bed, resting her on his lap. He stroked her hair away from her face and said, "You should get those wet clothes off, you're probably freezing. Are you?" She nodded her head as she shivered, still frozen in fear. Duo lifted her shirt, gently pulling it off and over her head, dropping it to the floor as he reached for his sheet. He wrapped it around her, rubbing her shoulders to dry her skin. She stared at him, her eyes blank with shock and her face pale and clammy. He reached up a corner of his sheet to her face and stroked her cheek, softly touching it to her lips as he noticed a little blood still at the corner of her mouth. He blinked and said, "Is this your blood?"
"No, I bit his tongue." His eyes widened and he said quietly, "He Frenched you?" She nodded slowly and he hugged her again. Rubbing her back, he said, "I'm so sorry, I should have gone with you! This is all my fault."
"He tried to undo my bra, I felt him fumbling with the hooks." Rachel said monotonely, still shaking. Duo growled and said, "I'll kill him. How dare he do that to you, after all you've done for that ungrateful-"
"Duo, please don't, I don't like curse words."
"I'm sorry, I'll try to stop. You can't blame me for being mad."
"I know." He leaned back and looked at her, saying, "Should I put your shirt back on then?" She just stared at him, lost in her memories of what happened. He put his arms around her, resting her head on his shoulder as he rocked slowly back and forth, trying to bring Rachel out of her shock while rubbing her to get her warmed up. He heard a knock at the door and his heart skipped a beat.
"Duo, it's Heero. Can I come in?"
"Sure." Heero opened the door, looking in and saying quietly, "Is she okay?"
"I don't think she will be. Have you seen Trowa yet?" She twitched at the mention of his name and Duo calmed her down with soft whispers.
"No, he hasn't shown his face. What happened." Duo looked up and said, "Can we talk about it later, she's really shook up about it." Heero nodded and said, "Should I leave then?"
"Heero. . ." Rachel whispered. Heero walked over to them and sat on the far side of Duo, looking into Rachel's blank expression.
"I'm here."
"It's so. . .cold. . ." She whispered. He touched her cheek and felt how icy it was.
"Duo, her skin feels like ice and her lips are slightly blue, you have to do something to get her warm." Heero said, letting his hand warm her cheek.
"I don't know what to do, I can't think straight knowing what happened to her." Duo said, sounding frustrated.
"Take her clothes off and get in bed with her, your body heat will warm her up."
"But, I can't!"
"Duo, what's more important right now, keeping her alive or being a gentleman?" Heero said sternly. Duo swallowed hard and said, "I. . .I can't undress a girl. . .I don't feel right doing it."
"Shall I do it for you?"
"NO! Don't you dare touch her." Duo protectively held her.
"She'll get pneumonia if you don't get her dried off! Stop being stubborn and just do it before she gets any worse." Reluctantly, Duo reached down to unbutton her capris.
"I'm sorry, Rachel, but it's for your own good." Duo whispered, pulling down the zipper. Heero offered to take them off if Duo didn't feel comfortable doing so and did, gathering up the wet clothes and walking out, saying, "Now don't leave her until she's better, you hear me?" Duo nodded, pulling Rachel into the bed and curling up with her.
"Please don't die on me, Rachel, I love you too much to bare losing you." Duo whispered in her ear as she trembled in his arms. Heero started wringing out her white tank top over the railing as Relena walked up to him.
"Those are her clothes. . .Heero. . ." Relena said as he spread the damp shirt over the railing.
"She's getting sick, her skin is ice cold and she could get pneumonia if she doesn't get warm soon." Heero said as he started on the capris.
"Oh no, is there anything we can do?" Relena said, getting worried.
"No, we're out in the middle of nowhere and if we try to take her to a hospital she could die. All that we can do is keep her warm and hope she gets better overnight." Heero said, finishing with the pants and laying them next to the tank top.
"I feel so helpless, I want to do something to help." Relena said, clenching her fists against her chest, looking frustrated with concern. Heero turned to her and said, "Get the sheets from your room, she can use more covering." Excitedly, she nodded her head and raced off to retrieve the bedding from her hut. Quatre came running up from Chang's hut and said, "I just heard about Rachel, is she okay?"
"She's getting sick, I don't know if she'll make it." Heero answered, looking at the hut. Relena came running back quickly and Quatre looked at her, saying, "Let me take those in, go steal Heero's sheets too." Heero nodded to Relena and she dumped the bed sheets into Quatre's arms, running off to get more. He walked over to the hut and opened the door, peeking in to see Duo curled around Rachel's pale body.
"Duo, I have some more sheets for her." Quatre whispered. Duo looked up at him, tears in his eyes.
"Thank you, can you put them over her?" Duo said quietly. He obeyed and evenly covered the unconscious girl, making sure she was completely tucked in. He looked down sadly and said, "I wish I could help, I feel like I owe it to her to do something."
"You can help me keep her warm, I can't keep her warm by myself." Duo admitted. Blinking, Quatre said, "You. . .you don't mind?"
"If it'll keep her alive, I don't care." Quatre nodded just as Relena came running in.
"I stole Chang's and Trowa's sheets too, here." Relena said, handing the sheets to Quatre.
"Thank you." Quatre said with a weak smile. She nodded and left, closing the door behind her. Quatre placed the sheets over her and laid next to her, helping to keep her warm too. Relena looked down sadly as she whispered, "Heero, I'm so scared for her." Heero stepped up and pulled her into his arms, giving her a comforting hug.
"Come help me do some research to pass the time, I still haven't found out what happened at your mansion." Heero said. Relena nodded and they walked away, heading back to Heero's hut.
