Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing and I don't claim that Trowa can or can't carry Quatre as a man. . .but being so muscular and hot has its advantages so I'm quite sure he can. . .. Plus, I created the character Lieutenant Caster so I can make him as much of an idiot and pain in the butt and I want to, HA!

Chapter 39

"There, how does that feel?" Chang asked, leaning back from Quatre and taking a breath, feeling a little dizzy. Slowly, Quatre pulled the rag off his forehead and let his hand fall limply above his head as he breathed heavily, reaching up to his chest as his lungs felt constricted.

"Considering everything, I feel like dying." Quatre gasped, still sweating. He sighed and looked toward the Gundams, saying, "Where's. . .Trowa?" Chang looked up too and said, "I'm not sure, he said he was going to speak to someone about something but hasn't come back yet."

"Trowa. . ." Quatre whispered, closing his eyes. Chang frowned slightly, perking his ears to the sound of rock crunching underfoot. He looking over his shoulder and raised his eyebrows, saying, "Trowa, you look. . ."

"Different?" Trowa walked up slowly, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his new black leather coat. It came down to his knees as it brushed against his black and red striped pants. His green turtleneck peeked out over his collar, most likely a bit tighter than before underneath the form fitting, button up coat. He stopped by Quatre's cot, saying, "We should be going before it's too late, can you stand, Quatre?" Quatre looked up at him in surprise.

"Trowa. . .you. . ."

"I know, come on." Trowa knelt to help Quatre to his feet as Chang stared at him, saying, "Where's your wings?"

"She took care of that. We'll take one of the cargo planes hidden outside and head to the nearest city with a hospital."

"Be careful and stay sharp, we can't afford to lose anyone at this point in the game." Trowa looked up in acknowledgement and quickly pulled Quatre to his feet, settling him on his back and making his way to the entrance of the cave. As they approached the mouth of the cave, Heero appeared in front of them, his wings stretched out to their fullest to block their path.

"Where are you going?" Heero asked, his sharp blue eyes staring intently at them. He gave Trowa a quick look over as Trowa responded in his deep voice, "That's my business, please move."

"You're going to take him to a hospital, a public place; you should know better."

"I have no choice." Trowa shifted Quatre's weight on his back, not used to carrying and supporting his increased mass.

"Yes you do."

"No, I don't. Now please, move before I have to get a little rough." Trowa said, his voice growing stern.

"And risk hurting Quatre?" Trowa glanced at the mess of damp blonde hair resting against his shoulder. He shifted his weight again, disturbing Quatre's stupor. Glancing up, Quatre said, "Are we. . .there yet?"

"No, Quatre, we'll be there soon. Do you think you'll make it?" Trowa asked softly. He moaned and his head fell limp again, leaning against Trowa's cheek. His cold expression softened as he glanced at Heero, saying, "His face is burning from his fever and cold rags aren't helping, he needs medical-"

"He'll recover, Rachel was fine even after getting pneumonia."

"He's not like her, Heero, get a clue already! None of us will ever be like her, no matter whether she gives us powers or not, it's just a copy! I'm sick of you people taking risks on his life just because you think some stupid unnatural freak accident will somehow keep him alive. Now get out of my way before I hurt you!" Trowa growled out sharply, trying not to yell in Quatre's ear. Heero didn't falter in his glare, saying, "If he can't heal himself then just ask Rachel to-"

"This is my last warning, move or else." Trowa hissed. Just as Heero was about to disagree again, Relena popped up next to Heero and said, "Heero, let him go. Wouldn't you do the same thing for me if I was terribly ill?" He looked down at her, not sure if it would be smart to say no. . .if he wanted to have a future with her at all. Finally, he conceded, with a sigh and stepped aside, lowering his wings and saying, "Stay in contact, if I don't hear from you every 45 minutes I'm coming after you."

45 minutes! Well, at least I'm getting him out of here, might as well take what I get. . .Trowa thought as he nodded to them and started walking again toward his destination.

Godspeed, Trowa. . .Relena thought as she slowly wrapped her arm around Heero's, leaning her head against his shoulder. He looked down at her and said, "You knew I wouldn't say no, didn't you?"

"Of course, because you looove me." Relena cooed almost mockingly, tipping his chin with her finger as she grinned.

"Have you been talking to Rachel?" Heero asked with an annoyed tone, remembering Rachel using her flirting to manipulate him before.

"Hehe, yes." Relena giggled, smiling contently.

"We're 20 minutes from our destination point, sir, should we send a scout group ahead of us to survey the area?" One of the cadets at the controls announced, turning to the lieutenant in command. Caster looked thoughtfully out the viewing window, fiddling with his mustache subconsciously.

"Send out two Aries to scout the cliffs around the mountain, we don't have an endless supply of mobile suits to waste if we're ambushed so tell them to be cautious." Caster said slowly and thoughtfully, tilting his head up to look superior. The young cadet saluted and began relaying the orders. The cockpit entrance door opened slowly and Otto entered the room, saying, "Lieutenant Caster, sir, the Aries aren't ready for launch yet, for some reason they keep malfunctioning on ignition."

"Well you're the chief mechanic, what do you think OZ is paying you for! Get to work immediately or I'll have you court marshaled!" Caster yelled, growling his orders to him.

"With all due respect, sir, I can't fix them if I don't know what's wrong." Otto responded calmly. Caster's eyes narrowed as he said, "Then what are you doing here? Go figure it out already!"

"Yes, sir." Otto saluted and turned sharply, heading quickly to the door.

"And lieutenant. . .work on that attitude." Caster said after him.

Same to you, sir. Otto thought mockingly as he shut the door behind himself.

Rachel slowly strolled out to the open area past the kitchen and walked up to Duo, saying, "I'm getting bored, can we go out? Please?" He looked at his back, saying, "Know any all angel nightclubs?"

"Well now. . ." She patted him on the back and said, "Why would we go there?" He blinked, seeing that his wings were gone.

"Okay then. . ." He said with a grin. He pulled her into his arms and looked down, smiling sweetly. She rested her head against his chest and said softly, "Wanna go outside and enjoy the fresh air?"

"Sure. . .as long as we're alone." He grinned. She frowned slyly, saying, "I don't know, is that really safe to be alone? You know, in case danger happens to just. . .pop up out of nowhere?" Flexing his arm, he said in a macho tone, "Don't worry, little lady, with me by your side you have nothing to fear!"

"Except you." She grinned, poking his chest. He looked indignantly at her and said as he tickled her, "Oh, you think you're soooo funny, don't you?" Laughing insanely, she hollered, "Yes, unlike you!"

"Oh, you're getting it now! Come here!" Pushing away, she ran for her life, racing around the sleeping tent and weaving through the cots to avoid Duo's happy hands.

"Slow poke! I see you didn't get any faster, maybe your expanding ego's slowing you down more!" Rachel taunted over her shoulder, laughing happily.

"And you're getting clumsier!" Duo shouted. Staring at him as she ran, she said, "What are you talking ab-" Suddenly, her foot caught on a cot that seemed to pop up out of nowhere and she went flying. Closing her eyes, she braced for impact. But she hit something soft that wrapped around her and held her up. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked up to see duo smiling down.

"I always heard of people falling head over heels for someone but I didn't think it would ever really happen." Duo joked, pulling her gently over the cot and holding her in his arms. She pursed her lips and looked down at the cot, saying, "That wasn't there before." He pulled her chin up with his finger, saying as he leaned in to kiss her, "Neither was I. . ." Just as he was going to press his lips against hers, she quickly turned her head and he met her cheek instead. Slowly, he kissed her and sighed, pulling her head against his chest to rest there and hear his heart beating quickly. She closed her eyes and said quietly, "Why's your heart pounding?"

"It always does when you're in my arms, I can't help feeling so happy because you chose to be with me this minute. . ."

"Duo. . ." She said in embarrassment, looking down as her cheeks began to burn. He rested his hand on the back of her head, leaning his head forward to kiss hers. She snuggled into him and buried her face in his jacket, breathing in the smell of the leather. . .his cologne. . .everything. He rested his head against hers, closing his eyes and sighing, "Have I told you lately that I love you?"

"Nope. . .sounds like a song cue." Rachel smiled softly. Duo chuckled and nuzzled his nose in her soft hair.

"Well. . .I do, just for the record."

"We're on our way, just relax and try to rest." Trowa said quietly to Quatre who was sitting next to him in the cockpit of their plane. He didn't respond.

Must be asleep already. Trowa figured, reclining in his seat and slowly steering the plane. A few minutes into their flight, a faint blip on the radar caught his attention and he checked it out on the view screen. Blinking, he said to himself, "Military planes? OZ. . ." He quickly punched the comlink button and called Shenlong.

Come on, Chang, answer! Trowa screamed in his mind as the link beeped over and over.

"Do you hear a beeping noise?" Rachel asked, leaning back and looking around Duo. He looked over his shoulder and said, "Yeah, sounds like it's coming from Chang's gundam."

"Does he know it's calling him?"

"Let's find out. Hey, WU-MAN!" Duo yelled out, knowing Chang would at least come to pummel him. As if on cue, Chang came stomping up to them, yelling, "What did you call me, MAXWELL!" Rachel slapped her hand over Duo's mouth as she said with a nervous laugh, "Heh, that was me, I was, uh. . .practicing my ventriloquism! Yeah! You know, throwing your voice, mimicking others, stuff like that! It's a valuable technique to learn, being in our present situations, I could use it to our advantage! Your Gundam's beeping." She changed the subject quickly as Chang began to look confused. Blinking, Chang said, "My gundam?"

"Yeah! You might wanna check that out, could be important!" She gave him a huge grin as her eyes plainly looked unconvincing. He narrowed his eyes for a minute of thought before slowly walking away to check out the noise. Finally, satisfied with the distance between them and Chang's katana, Rachel let go of Duo. He gasped loudly and stared wide-eyed at her, saying, "What the heck, you almost suffocated me!"

"Sorry, better to have almost killed you than gone all the way."

"All the way?" He cocked an eyebrow. She frowned and leaned back in disgust, saying as she put her hand in his face, "One track mind!" She began to walk away as he said, "Hey, now I didn't think about that! Well, maybe a little bit but I'm a guy, I can't help it! It's like you girls and constantly thinking about shoes or clothes or-"

"You girls? Oh, you better just stop before you dig a grave where you're standing!" Rachel said with an attitude not to be messed with. He cringed and backed off, sulking away to his cot like a punished little boy sent to the corner. Rachel stormed off to the kitchen muttering about egotistical gasbags and wanting a Reality Check pin (used mainly for popping inflated male minds and the occasional stubborn black head).

This is Chang, what do you want? Chang not so politely answered the call.

"This is Trowa, you have a fleet of OZ soldiers heading your way, about 15 minutes from rendezvous with the cave. I suggest you get out of there or at least do something quick before they attack you." Trowa said, keeping an eye on the blip on the radar to make sure they hadn't seen him as he left.

OZ! Crud, I'll tell the others but what about you, did they see you?

"Negative, I'm in the clear so far."

Report back if you're followed, I'll send out aid.

"That's another negative, I don't need assistance."

But you don't have your gundam with you, neither of you do!

"I'm aware of that, but you need all the firepower you can get to fight them off. Besides, if I brought one aboard and tried to dock at a city I'd be in more trouble then if I just went unarmed."

I still don't think it's safe but it's your choice.

"Chang, go, you don't have any time to waste talking about a lost cause."

Right, Chang out! He ended the transmission and ran off to warn everyone of the oncoming onslaught.

I hope I got to them in time. . .Trowa thought as he sighed, looking over at the innocent looking man sleeping nearby.

"Everybody, come here! We have trouble!" Chang yelled from his gundam as he jumped down. He ran midway to the sleep area and stopped as the group slowly came to him.

"Chang, what is it?" Milliardo asked, slowly walking up with Noin who was awake but still a little groggy.

"We have to get prepared for battle, now!" Chang said simply as Heero and Relena came running into the room.

"Wufei, what's all the commotion about!" Heero asked as he approached.

"OZ has sent a unit out and they'll be here in 13 minutes, that is if they don't send a scout party ahead of them."

"What! No, Trowa's out there!" Duo said, looking worried.

"He's the one who warned me, don't worry he said no one had spotted him yet, most likely too preoccupied with their mission."

"This doesn't give us much time to prepare, and we have one extra gundam so who'll pilot it?" Noin asked, joining the conversation.

"We have two extra Gundams, remember Quatre and Trowa are out." Heero stated.

"Quatre too? What's going on!" Duo asked, getting antsy to get out there and blow up some OZ mobile suits.

"Nevermind. Look, we have two extra people here that can pilot the suits." Rachel said.

"No, Relena doesn't know how to fly one, we can't just send her out there without training, she'll get killed." Heero said, looking down at Relena.

"I can try! To fly, that is." Relena looked down shyly, feeling sad about her lack of experience.

"Look, Relena can pilot my gundam, I'll just set it to follow my commands and all Relena has to do is sit in it and enjoy the ride. I can fly in either of the other Gundams, whichever Noin doesn't choose." Rachel suggested.

"I'm not sure, Heavyarms relies mainly on fire power, that takes a lot of concentration and I'm not sure if I'm to the point of conceiving too much beyond flying right now." Noin commented.

"Alright, you can have Sandrock, I'll pilot Heavyarms." Rachel settled it.

"Rachel, that's a lot for one person to do, are you sure you can do this? You're going to be piloting two suits at once, how can you keep track of them both?" Heero asked, looking a little unsure of her decision.

"Heero, it's okay, I can do this. If it starts to get to be too much to handle I'll let Verein take over."

"What?"

"I can tell her exactly what to do until I or Relena give her further instructions, now stop worrying and let's get out there before we're trapped inside!" Rachel said, feeling time being wasted on a pointless argument.

"She's right, we have 11 minutes now to get ready." Chang put in.

"Okay, let's go!" Duo shouted, running toward his gundam. Relena looked a little nervous as she followed Rachel over to her gundam. Everyone else went to their suits or borrowed one and got in, firing up the engines and preparing for take off.

"Alright, now Verein, this is Relena, she'll be copiloting you for this trip and I'll be giving you orders over the comlink, is that clear?" Rachel said to her suit as Relena made her way up and into it.

Affirmative, Rachel. Where will you be?

"I'll be in Heavyarms, the red, orange, and white Gundam."

Affirmative. Awaiting further instructions.

"Good. Now, Relena, just sit back and relax, I'll take care of the driving for you." Rachel shouted up to Relena as she opened the hatch. Relena nodded down to her and hopped in, getting comfy in the seat. Rachel raced over to Heavyarms and quickly got in and settled as the others were ready to go.

"Alright, Verein, can you hear me?" Rachel asked, establishing a comlink connection to her gundam.

Affirmative.

"Relena?"

Yes, I can hear you. Relena replied, sounding a bit nervous.

"Okay, don't worry, Verein's an excellent gundam and easy to pilot, as long as you know her secrets."

Secrets? She has secrets? But. . .I don't know them! Relena said, sounding worried.

"Here's a few tips: If she tries to activate the automatic controls, tell her to deactivate them as quickly as you can or the same thing will happen to that did to Trowa a while back. And be precise with your commands, don't just say 'go over there and blast that one' cause she won't understand and will start flying everywhere and blasting everything. It would be helpful to have her targeting system on so you can see which suits she's aiming for."

Thanks for the tips, I think I'm a little more at ease. But I'd still prefer you doing the driving, as long as it didn't interfere with your own.

"Of course, don't worry. And if you get into a bit of trouble, I'm sure Heero will be more than happy to jump in and get you out." Rachel winked. Relena smiled and said, I can hope so.

Are you two women done chatting yet? In case you weren't aware we have a battle to attend to so if you don't mind, can we go now! Chang asked obnoxiously over the comlink. Rachel rolled her eyes and said, "Yes, Chang, we can go."

You sure? I wouldn't want to break up anything important like a discussion about the coolest shoes you saw at the mall.

"Chang. . .shut up and fly." Rachel narrowed her eyes at him. The cavern echoed with the roar of the 7 mobile suits as they took off, flying through the passageways and out into the open where they met their opponent on the horizon.