Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or anything remotely related to it unless I made it up. This chapter's rather confusing for those who don't think like me so. . .that would mean pretty much everyone would be bewildered by my elucidation of this interval in their lives. (Like my big words there? See, no one can understand my thinking. . .)

Chapter 35

A low rumble echoed through the cave, startling the couples out of their own little worlds. Sitting up, Duo looked out into the darkness, saying, "What was that?"

"I don't know, maybe your stomach?" Rachel joked. But Duo didn't smile. Getting to his feet, Duo stared at the sky and the stars. The glowing lights seemed to be growing larger and brighter suddenly and Duo gasped.

"What's going on?" Milliardo asked as he ran up with Noin by his side. Duo pointed out into the night and said, "See those stars? Well. . .they're getting brighter."

"I don't think those are stars, Duo. We've been found!" Noin said, turning to run back and warn the others.

"Wait, don't, I can take care of this!" Rachel said, looking serious in what she had said.

"What are you talking about, you can't even teleport without passing out! How do you expect to fight a fleet of mobile suits!" Duo said, looking at her with wide eyes.

"Trust me, I can do this." Rachel said. She turned toward the opening and put her hand up. Duo quickly grabbed it and pulled it down, saying, "No, I can't watch you do this to yourself again! We'll just fight them, it shouldn't be that hard."

"Duo, listen to me, this is my choice and if I choose to save you no matter what happens to me then I will. My love for my friends comes first, even over my own life."

"But Rachel. . ." Duo looked concerned and saddened by her decision. She kissed him on the lips and let her hand slide slowly down his cheek as she gave him a sympathetic smile, whispering, "Don't worry, I won't hurt myself." Duo let out a quiet whine as his eyes pleaded with her to reconsider, but she shook her head. Looking back at the sky, she saw the stars had turned into faint spotlights as they drew closer to their location. Raising her hand again, Rachel closed her eyes and stood still. The group around her waited in anxious silence as the lights came closer and closer to them. Finally, the suits were in view. It was a group of five Leo model suits, most likely a scout team sent out to search the area. Duo held his breath as they landed by the cave and several of the soldiers came out to search the area. Guns in hand, they came toward the cave, looking cautiously around and staring at the opening. Duo started to reach for his gun but paused as Rachel slowly shook her head. He blinked and watched as the pilots stopped just 5 feet from them, looking around as if they couldn't come any closer. They patrolled the parameter of the mouth of the cave and finally left a few minutes later. As they reentered their suits and flew off into the night sky, everyone seemed to let out a soft sigh of relief. The scout team no longer in sight, everyone turned to Rachel as she lowered her hand and sighed, wobbling a bit as she opened her eyes and smiled at Duo.

"What just happened?" Milliardo asked, looking shocked.

"I made an illusion that there was a rock slide covering the opening so they couldn't come in, so they figure if they can't get in then we can't either." Rachel said, leaning against Duo slightly in exhaustion. Duo held her in his arms and said, "Well, does that mean they won't be back?"

"Maybe, Treize might think that we could have sealed the cave so that no one would think we are inside and send another team out to excavate the site." Rachel said sullenly.

"That's true, so we should expect another disturbance in at least two or three days." Milliardo said.

"Should we leave then?" Noin asked.

"No, it's okay, I can finish my business here before then and they won't know what hit them." Rachel said quietly.

"Business? What are you talking about?" Duo asked, looking confused.

"Chang knows. . .after all, it was his idea. . ." Rachel grinned wryly. She closed her eyes and let Duo carry her back into the cave as the group retreated to their encampment for the night. Duo laid Rachel down on a cot and sat next to her, watching her stomach slowly rise and sink in her sleep. He had a blank expression on his face as he thought about what she had said. Heero walked up and said in his usual monotone voice, "What happened outside, I felt a tremor like incoming engines."

"It was a scout team sent by Treize, but Rachel convinced them that the entrance to the cave was blocked by a rockslide. She figures they'll be back in a few days to excavate the cave and see what's inside. Hmm. . ."

"What." Heero knew he was thinking about something when he said "hmm".

"Well, she said something about having enough time to finish her business here. I don't know what she's talking about but she said Chang would know and smiled kinda funny after she said that. Do you know what she's talking about?" Heero frowned and said, "Possibly. Excuse me." He walked away, leaving Duo with even more to ponder over. Searching for his Chinese friend, Heero wandered toward the Gundams again where they had met last to talk.

"Chang, come out here, I have something to ask you." Heero said, figuring Chang was somewhere within hearing range. Like a cat, Chang appeared out of nowhere and said, "Have you changed your mind yet?"

"You went to Rachel about this, didn't you." Heero asked sternly, glaring at Chang.

"What are you talking about, I haven't been alone with her for. . .well, I never have so when would I have time?"

"Duo just told me that Rachel mentioned something about having some business to take care of and you would know about it. Is there something you'd like to tell me?" Heero crossed his arms.

"I never spoke a word to her about this, honest. For all I know she could have read my mind, despite how disturbing that sounds." Chang said, frowning.

"But if she did, why does she seem to agree with you? This could kill her and yet. . .she seems determined to do it. Why would she put her life at stake just to give a bunch of people she really doesn't know power to destroy anything in sight?"

"Perhaps she sees the big picture whereas you can't see what's really at stake here."

"Don't criticize me, Wufei, I'm not in a good mood tonight." Heero threatened, narrowing his eyes as he stared at Chang.

"Are you ever? I'll ask her about her business to make certain it's my idea she's referring to." Chang started to walk toward the tent when Heero said, "Don't interfere with her plans, her business is none of yours so stay away from her."

"You're so protective of her, Heero. If I didn't know you any better, I'd think that you had a thing for her."

"I will protect what I feel is necessary for the future of the world, just as I protect Relena for her lineage I will protect Rachel for her potential in destroying any hope of a future."

"So you're guarding the good and the bad? Interesting."

"I can't allow the world of tyrants out there to find out about her, this could be very serious if word ever got out about her powers, especially after what happened with Quatre."

"True, I can understand your reasoning. But still, perhaps it would be better that we all shared in her gift so that we could guard each other's backs."

"I don't think so, if even one of us got captured then we're messed over for sure. Think about what you plan for the future of us all before you put your ideas into action, Chang, it could end up getting us all killed." Heero walked away, his face sinking back into a blank expression as he hid his anger inside.

"You'll soon be on my side, Heero, you'll see." Chang said, disappearing back into the darkness.

"Quatre, how are you feeling?" Noin asked as she knelt by his cot. He sleepily looked up at her and said in a quiet voice, "I'm not feeling well, I think I might be sick." Placing her hand on Quatre's forehead, Noin took his temperature, saying, "You do feel a bit warm, maybe you're just reacting to the new presence in your body."

"New presence?" Quatre asked, sounding confused.

"Your powers?"

"Oh, right. . .that's possible. Hey, how's Rachel doing?" Quatre groggily sat up and yawned, getting dizzy and touching his head as he moaned.

"She's alright, but I think she's off limits to you for now or until she's completely conscious."

"Why? I thought she took care of what was driving me crazy in the first place."

"Well, Duo just keeps watching you now and then and Heero has been keeping his eye on you for as long as you've been here. I'm just going by the actions of the people around you." Quatre sighed and said, "So what's the point of staying if no one trusts me anymore, I can do more for this world on my own and with my people so why don't I leave?"

"But you'd do so much more with us, with them. I know things are a bit awkward right now but I'm sure they'll get over it and regain their trust in you, you just have to be patient."

"I don't know. . ." He glanced over his shoulder at Duo and caught him watching him. He sighed and looked down in his lap, muttering, "I don't think I could live with this rejection until they trust me again, I just couldn't."

"Well, I think Rachel might trust you. Just wait until she's better and go see if you can ask her what she thinks of you, maybe it will make you feel better." Noin tried to cheer him up.

"But between Heero and Duo, I couldn't get within 30 feet of her without being stopped so how can I get close enough to ask if we could have a minute to chat?" Quatre said sarcastically, leaning his chin on the heel of his palm, sighing in defeat.

"Don't give up yet, you haven't even tried to talk to her and you're already planning out your demise."

"That's because I know it will happen!"

"Heero's nowhere in sight, would you stop exaggerating?"

"Right, if you think that's exaggerating, I predict the second I get within 10 feet of her he'll appear to stop me and send me back." Quatre said, standing up. Noin stood as well and said, "You're too pessimistic, Quatre." He just grunted and walked toward Rachel and Duo. The second he got within 15 feet of her, Heero appeared and said, "Can I talk to you, Quatre?" Quatre stopped and looked over his shoulder at Noin with a look of "I told you so" on his face as Heero dragged him off out of the tent. Noin sighed in sympathy for Quatre as she said to herself, "Poor Quatre, I guess they really don't trust him anymore."

"You don't have to lecture me about talking to Rachel, Heero, I was just trying to prove my point to Noin." Quatre said quietly. Heero stopped pulling him and stared at him, saying, "What's that?"

"That no one trusts me anymore, no matter what I say won't change what I've done in my past and so I'm an outcast now and there's nothing I can do." Heero let him go and stared at him, thinking, Why should I punish him for being like me? I know how it feels to be an outcast, so. . .what right do I have to lecture him for just wanting to be accepted? Heero looked away into the darkness and said, "Sorry, I've been protecting her too much lately from more than just yourself so I guess I didn't think that you'd be over your obsession now. If you want to talk to her and do just that, then go ahead, I won't get in your way." Quatre looked surprised as he said, "Thank you." Heero just grunted and walked away to avoid the touching moment. Quatre smiled and turned back to return to his journey over to Rachel. He blinked as he looked at an empty cot.

Where'd they go? Quatre thought as he searched for them, looking back and forth. He glanced in the direction of the food prep area and saw Rachel starting on a meal, Duo by her side trying to convince her to rest more and let Trowa do it. She waved him off and went in search of some supplies with Duo trailing behind in defeat. Quatre chuckled and started across the tent to join them by the kitchen.

"Rachel, you really should just let Trowa fix lunch, please?" Duo pleaded.

"Duo Maxwell, are you trying to say that I can't cook?" Rachel glared at him, a spatula clenched in her fist. She was secretly amused by his concern but she wasn't about to let him know that, not before she had a bit of fun with him. He grit his teeth as he said, "No, not at all!"

"Then excuse me, I have a meal to prepare." Rachel elbowed him out of the way and hurried off to find some more rations. Duo sighed and frowned, feeling ignored. He glanced over at Trowa who was sitting nearby, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched the two bicker. Narrowing his eyes, Duo growled, "What are you staring at!"

"This new sitcom, it's rather fascinating." Trowa said drolly, not smiling but having a jolly air to his voice.

"Well the TV is off now, go fix your gundam or something." Duo said, waving Trowa away as he watched Rachel coming toward the kitchen carrying a heavy crate. He jumped up and ran over to her, trying to take it from her. As they bickered more and danced around, Rachel trying to avoid Duo's grabbing hands as she scurried over to the kitchen, Trowa stifled a smile as he cocked an eyebrow at the display they were putting on. Quatre walked up to Trowa and watched as well. Looking up at Quatre, Trowa stated the obvious, "You're up."

"Yeah, I wanted to apologize to Rachel but she seems to be busy. What's going on?" Quatre responded. Trowa looked back at the kitchen as Rachel dropped the crate and it landed on Duo's foot, causing him to yelp in pain. She blinked and started asking him what was wrong as he jumped around the kitchen holding his foot and holding back curses.

"That. . .crate. . .my foot. . .I wanna kick its. . .you dropped that. . .GRAAGGGHHH!" Duo screamed, finally sitting on the ground and crossing his arms, pouting like a 5-year-old. Rachel looked even more confused by his patchy explanation as she scratched her head and said, "Um, ok then." She turned back to continue with her cooking as Duo rubbed his squashed foot loathsomely. Quatre choked back a laugh at them and crouched by Trowa's chair to hide out of sight as Duo fiercely looked in his direction after hearing the giggle.

"Are you laughing at me, Trowa!" Duo yelled.

"Do I laugh?" Trowa raised his eyebrows.

"There's always a first for everything." Duo grumbled. Rachel looked over her shoulder and said, "Duo, be a dear and get the table set up for lunch. You two can help him if you don't mind being a bit helpful." Quatre looked up at Trowa and they shrugged, getting up to help Duo set up the dining area while Rachel began cooking. Duo gave Quatre a side-glance as he said, "Quatre."

"Duo." Quatre said quietly in return.

"And I'm Trowa. What's with you two; stop being children and grow up." Trowa commented monotonely. Quatre and Duo stared at him as he went about his work quietly.

"Who's being childish? I was merely acknowledging his presence. Ignoring him would be childish." Duo commented back, setting chairs around the newly formed table with a slight bit of distaste in his movements.

"You're pretending that nothing is wrong when there's a serious issue in need of acknowledgement."

"Would you rather we duked it out right here?"

"Violence wasn't in the equation, a simple Q and A session is enough to clear the air."

"Well since we're going to be so honest with each other why don't you act a little more mature and acknowledge your issues, Mr. Hypocrite." Duo paused to glare at Trowa for more affect. Trowa blinked and said, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh please, it's so obvious! Why can't you just give up the game and stop playing around like nothing's wrong!"

"Nothing is wrong, it's just your imagination."

"Was my imagination so incorrect about Quatre and Rachel?"

"Duo, I'm so-" Quatre looked sad yet upset that Duo was still holding onto the past.

"Forget it, Quatre."

"No, this is what Trowa's talking about! You don't want to talk about your problems with people, you just hide it inside behind your anger or humor and change the subject all the time to avoid opening old wounds that haven't healed right."

"I don't need this." Duo started to walk away.

"What are you scared of, that you might get hurt? Hasn't stopped you before." Trowa taunted his back. Duo whirled around and pointed at Trowa, shouting in a controlled voice, "You just shutup, because you don't know me! You don't know what I have had to go through! My way of dealing with things has gotten me this far and I'm not giving up on a good thing just because someone wants to have some stupid sharing fest! I don't care if you're tired of your mask," Duo pointed at his own face, "Mine's not coming off, end of discussion."

"So you admit that you're hiding."

"Duh, if it wasn't obvious enough the first time I explained it to you then let me say this: You can go-"

"Duo, now you just close that mouth of yours before I do it for you! I swear, you finish that sentence you'll be eating those words for lunch!" Rachel yelled, storming toward him. He stared at her in surprise and blinked, shocked speechless.

"She swears? More like he does. . ." Quatre mumbled.

"Quatre, Trowa, you two have no place to talk either! The three of you are making me sick with your bickering! To think that you would have the nerve to call each other hypocrites when your eyes are full of planks of your own pretense! When you are without blame yourselves go ahead and pick on each other's faults but until then keep your contradictory mouths shut! NOW, I have a meal to prepare and I'm wasting my time fussing children out for their quarreling and I'm sure you're old enough that I don't have to put you in time out so if you could PLEASE finishing setting up the dining area without talking or giving looks I would greatly appreciate it!" Rachel turned sharply and stalked back to the kitchen to continue cooking, leaving the boys wide eyed and awestruck by her exclamation.

Holy crud, that was scary. . .if this is how she reacts when we do a bit of kibitzing what will she do if I REALLY tick her off? Duo shuttered at the thought and quickly started setting up chairs again.

I was just trying to make a point, it's not my fault that Duo's so touchy about his feelings. Trowa thought, slowly scooting a chair up to the table.

What did she mean by planks in our eyes? I'm so confused. . .Quatre thought, his head spinning around as he tried to find the dishes and silverware to set the table.