Disclaimers: Gundam Wing was created by Sotsu

No monetary profit is being made by my fanfic.

Summary: In a harrowing battle, Quatre is badly wounded and rescued by Zechs.

Rating PG (Shounen-ai) Very subtle 6 * 4

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHEN ALL SEEMS LOST

Sandrock reeled back from yet another violent assault. Quatre’s seat jarred uncomfortably as he fired at the new mobile dolls.

“I’ve never seen dolls move like that,” he said to himself.

Sandrock threw his heat swords, destroying two of the dolls, but there were many, many more where those had come from. Quatre fired again and swerved blasts, only to be blasted in the back. With a frown, he struggled to keep Sandrock upright, swerved and fired again. He could not count all the dolls, but he was sure there were over three hundred. The new dolls concentrated their firepower on Sandrock and let loose. Quatre tried to dodge and defend himself, but it availed him not.

“There are ... too many of them ...” He flicked the communications switch. “This is Quatre. I’m under attack by the new Sagittarius Mobile dolls ... Under heavy fire... Too many to handle alone ... More powerful than any dolls I’ve seen ... We have to upgrade ... Gundams ...”

Sandrock was blasted in his side. Rapid fire followed and Quatre noted with dismay his communications array was shot. “I hope I got through ...”

Amid more blasts, Quatre was determined to try again, only to receive a nasty electric shock. Sandrock seemed contrite.

“It’s not your fault, Sandrock ... “ Quatre said, but he was still determined to try. “If anyone can hear me ... We must upgrade our Gundams to combat this new threat...”

Quatre jerked back thanks to another blast, receiving a nasty whiplash. He steadied himself and swerved Sandrock around, blasting two of the mobile dolls to kingdom come, though it took quite a lot of firepower. Though as many as he destroyed, many more took their place.

The dolls concentrated their firepower on Sandrock’s cockpit. Quatre fired in defence, though their firepower was greater. Their blasts pierced the cockpit. Glass pierced Quatre’s shoulder and side. The Gundam pilot winced with pain, but he refused to cry out.

“Stay with me Sandrock ... We have to get through this.”

Sandrock spasmed. Quatre desperately tried to regain control. He braced himself as the mighty Gundam fell to the ground. The crash did nothing to help Quatre’s wounds.

“Sandrock ... I’m sorry ... Don’t blame yourself...”

Quatre jumped out of the cockpit and landed painfully on the ground. He ran as fast as his wounded self could into some short shrubs as the mobile dolls concentrated their firepower. Sandrock’s chest exploded. The dolls, seemingly satisfied with their work, left the site.

Quatre waited a while before approaching his fallen Gundam. He touched Sandrock’s battered arm.

“I’m sorry, My Dear Friend ... There was nothing I could do.”

The Gundam pilot could not keep himself upright and collapsed next to his mobile suit. He did not want to know how much blood he had lost and tried not to focus on the pain as he lay there, gazing at the stars, hoping his message got through to the others.

It seemed an age before Quatre saw a light approaching. As it got closer he made it out to be another Gundam and he sighed with relief.

//They did get my message ...//

The Gundam came closer and Quatre recognised at as the Tallgeese.

//Zechs .... But ...// Had the others got his message?

The Tallgeese landed near the fallen Sandrock.

Inside the cockpit of his Gundam, Zechs looked around.

“I can’t believe dolls did that much damage to a Gundam...” he said in awe. “The pilot ... is he ...”

The white haired pilot saw Quatre lying on the grass before Sandrock.

“He’s alive, but barely ...”

Zechs disengaged and leapt out of Tallgeese, landing lightly on the ground.

Quatre could barely move. If this was the end for him he accepted it, but his main concern was getting the information to the other Gundam pilots.

Zechs stopped short of Quatre and looked down. The young pilot had lost quite a lot of blood. Quatre’s strength was fading fast. He looked at Zechs with pleading eyes before falling unconscious.

Zechs knelt down and looked Quatre over. The long haired pilot gently lifted the younger one up and took him aboard the Tallgeese.

It was not long before Zechs arrived at his destination. He landed the Tallgeese aboard the platform and controlled it to descend.

Zechs gently laid Quatre down on the medical bed. He tore off the younger man’s shirt and pants and began to clear up the blood. The older pilot began stitching up the wound, hoping it would hold. When he had finished he placed some pain killing gel over the wound sites on Quatre’s shoulder and side and bandaged them.

He dressed Quatre in a loose white shirt before he carried him to another room and gently laid him down to rest, while he waited patiently in the other room.

Slowly the young Gundam pilot opened his eyes and looked around him. “Wh... Whe ..”

“Don’t strain yourself,” Zechs said, coming into the room.

Quatre looked at him. “You brought me here?”

“Yes. You were badly wounded if you recall.”

Quatre paused for a few seconds. “The battle! I have to get to the others ...” He began to climb out of bed.

“Hang on a minute,” Zechs said. “You’re not going anywhere with those injuries.”

Quatre noticed his shoulder and side had been bandaged.

“The lacerations were quite deep,” Zechs said. “You lost quite a lot of blood. I managed to sew them together with some rudimentary stitching, but you should get them looked at.”

Quatre nodded. “I will, but first I must contact the others.”

“I’ve let them know where you are,” Zechs said. “They should be along to collect you soon.”

“Thank you. “

“Now get some rest,” Zechs said with a small smile.

“I feel fine,” Quatre said.

“That’s because the pain killers are at work. You’ve had one hell of an ordeal, Quatre. If you don’t allow yourself to recuperate, you’ll only end up doing more damage. Trust me on that.”

“What if the others are attacked by the Sagittarius dolls on the way here?” Quatre asked. “It’ll be my fault.”

“I’m sure they can handle it. There are four of them.”

“You saw what they did to my poor Sandrock.”

“They nearly did that to you by the looks of you when I found you.”

Quatre nodded. “Thank you, Zechs. I wasn’t expecting to be rescued.”

“My pleasure ... You didn’t think I would leave you out there, did you?”

“I’m afraid I didn’t know what to think.”

“Well you’re here now in my secret bunker and you need some rest.”

“I only hope the others get here unscathed.” The blonde haired pilot rested his head on the pillow. He did not want to rest, but his body demanded it.

At some point during the night, Quatre awoke with a sharp pain in his side. He placed his hand over it and gasped, stifling what would have been a cry of pain. A red ooze began to emerge from the bandages. Quatre touched the wet spot and his eyes widened when his fingers became covered with blood.

Zechs, having heard Quatre’s gasp of pain, rushed into the room. Ever so gently He picked him up and rushed him as carefully as he could to the medical bay.

“Lie back,” he told Quatre.

The Gundam pilot winced.

“Easy does it. Some of your sticthing’s come undone. It’s not as bad as it looks. “I’m going to put this over your face.” Zechs picked up a clear mask. “It’ll render you unconscious.”

Quatre nodded as the other placed it over his head.

When the young pilot was out, Zechs carefully removed the bandages and mopped up the blood, which he was grateful was starting to clot. He carefully undid the pervious stitches, silently cursing himself for not making them strong enough. He began to sew new ones, double strength. He did not want Quatre to suffer any more pain or discomfort. He placed some more of the pain killing gel over the wound. Carefully, he wiped the wound site clean and bandaged it again. He carried Quatre back to the other room and let his sleep off the anaesthetic.

Quatre sat up in bed.

“Feeling better?” Zechs asked, coming to him.

“Yes, thank you.”

“No strenuous movements now,” the other said.

Quatre smiled. “I’m not planning any.”

Zechs left for a moment and brought back two steaming cups. “Decaffeinated hot chocolate chai,” he said.

“Sounds delicious,“ Quatre said, taking it from him. He was pleasantly surprised to find the drink was not too hot.

“It’s one of my favourites, Zechs admitted.

“I can see why,” Quatre said with a smile. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. You look tired. I’ll leave you to rest. Press the green button if you need me.”

“I will, thanks ... Funny, isn’t it? I just got up and I’m tired again.”

“You have a good excuse,” Zechs said with a smile, finishing his chocolate chai.

Quatre laid his heavy head on the pillow and closed his tired eyes. It seemed like an age since he slept, he was that tired. He was asleep in the next instant.

Zechs pulled the covers over Quatre’s sleeping form and left the room in silence to work on Tallgeese’s defences.

* * *

The five Gundams were already on their way.

“Do you think it’s true?” Duo asked. “About those new mobile dolls?”

“Quatre’s message was cut off,” Trowa said. “He wanted to tell us something.”

“Look down there!” Wufei exclaimed.

The three other pilots looked down to see a mutilated Sandrock.

“Oh my God …”Duo gasped.

The pilots landed.

“Thank the stars Quatre escaped,” Trowa said.

“Do you think Zechs could have done this?” Wufei asked. “I mean if he did, that means that he probably killed-“

“I don't know,” Heero said. “But if he did do this, I’ll kill him.”

The Gundams took off for Zechs’ base.

* * *

Quatre awoke, though he still felt somewhat tired. He didn’t know if it was morning, noon or night. He pressed the green button and Zechs was by his side in an instant.

“I’m sorry, Quatre said. “It’s nothing urgent. The others’ll be here soon and I wanted to thank you again.”

“It’s quite all right,” Zechs said. “I couldn’t leave you to die in pain.”

Quatre smiled. “Thank you, Zechs and I’m sorry I doubted you.”

Zechs smiled back. “I don't blame you. Compassion is one of my lesser known qualities. I only hope the stitching holds until your friends can take you to a hospice.”

“It will,” Quatre said. “I’m not feeling any pain.”

Zechs sat down on the bed next to Quatre. “You feeling all right?”

Quatre sat up slowly, and nodded, taking a sip of the water Zechs had left for him. Gently he took the other’s hand.

“Thank you,” he said, his eyes sincere.

“My pleasure.” Zechs held Quatre’s hand.

Gently, he brushed some blonde hair out of the Gundam pilot’s eyes

* * *

The following morning, Quatre sat in the bed, breathing slowly. Zechs entered the room.

“Quatre?” he said gently.

“It still hurts a little," he said.

The longhaired man nodded. “Understandable. You took quite a blast. Take it easy.”

“I am, but I must get back to-“

“You’re not going anywhere yet,” Zechs said.

He sat on the bed. “Sometimes you Gundam pilots push yourself too hard.”

“Sometimes we have to.”

“I know.”

Zechs combed his hand through Quatre’s short blonde hair. “You must rest.”

“Thank you, without you, Zechs, I’d be dead.”

“My pleasure, Quatre.”

Quatre kissed his cheek, then lay down, Zechs gently held his hand, then kissed his forehead.

Zechs left the room and dimmed the lights, allowing Quatre to rest. Quatre smiled warmly at Zechs before placing his head on the pillow and closing his eyes.

The next morning Zechs brought him some fruit, all of which Quatre ate quite heartily.

“Good to see you’ve got your appetite back.”

“I feel like I haven’t eaten in an age.”

After Quatre had finished, Zechs cleared away the tray and utensils and the Gundam pilot thanked him.

Zechs gave a smile. “Don’t mention it.”

A loud bang was heard. Both Zechs and Quatre jumped.

“It seems your friends have arrived,” Zechs said wryly.

He and Quatre parted. Zechs stood as Duo burst into the room.

“Where’s Quatre?!” he demanded, a gun trained on Zechs. “If you’ve hurt him I swear I’ll empty this entire magazine into you!

“Of that I have no doubt.” Zechs moved away form the bed.

“It’s all right, Duo,” Quatre said, touched by his friend’s concern. “Zechs saved my life.”

“He did? He did?!”
“Yes. If it wasn’t for him I would have bled to death out there, but unfortunately I can’t say the same or Sandrock. He’s gone.”

Duo looked sad. “I know what its like to lose a Gundam.”

“Now would you mind getting that pistol out of my face?” Zechs demanded.

Duo lowered him gun. “I fully intended to use this,” he said. “I ... Uhm ... sorry, Zechs, I ...”

The white haired pilot gave a smile. The other Gundam pilots weren’t long to follow, looking ready for a fight.

“Sorry to disappoint you,” Zechs said, arms open, “but I have no intention of fighting. I’ve kept Quatre’s wounds together with some rudimentary stitching, but they need to be seen to.”

Heero nodded, holstering his gun.

“You got the message about the Sagittarius mobile dolls?” Quatre asked, anxious.

“Yes, and the scientists are going to work to upgrade the Gundams, including repairing Sandrock,” Heero said.

Quatre looked relieved.

“You’ll be taking him now?” Zechs asked.

”Yes, he needs medical attention,” Heero said. “Thank you, Zechs ... I never thought I’d say that.”

“There’s a first time for everything,” Zechs said. “And it was my pleasure to help Quatre.”

Heero nodded. ”Sorry we doubted you.”

“Perhaps next time you won’t.”

Zechs and the Gundam pilots helped Quatre out of bed.

"If I may have a moment alone with Zechs, please?” Quatre said.

In respect the other pilots left.

“Thank you,” Quatre said, “for saving my life and giving me the opportunity to reunite me with my friends. There are pressing matters head of us, But I feel I must thank you again.”

Zechs smiled warmly. ”I said before it was my pleasure. I couldn’t just leave you to die out there.”

“I don't know how to thank you.”

Zechs’ blue eyes smiled. “You don’t have to.”

“I’m in your debt.”

“You owe me nothing,” Zechs said.

The two shared an embrace and a gentle kiss before parting.

“I hope we can meet again sometime, Quatre Raberba Winner.”

“And I too, Zechs Merquise.”

“Goodbye, Quatre. Let us hope our next meeting is not too far off in the future.”

Quatre placed his arms around Zechs and held him. Zechs returned the gentle embrace, before carrying Quatre out to his friends.

*

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