Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Wilderness ❯ Hypothermia Can be a Good Thing ( Chapter 11 )

 

Wilderness

By Dentelle_Noir

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, duh. Don't you find this as redundant as I? I hope so.

 

Warning: Eventual yaoi. Man bashing.

 

NOTE: I'm giving Wilderness a bit of a re-haul and edit! Mostly from the middle on arethe larger changes, but the earlier chapters have more format and minor wording changes. Look for new chapters soon, though!

 

 

Chapter Eleven: Hypothermia can be a Good Thing

 

Trowa was watching the raft ahead of him absently, just keeping his paddling calm and relaxing. They were taking it easy right off the bat until they made their chute and took it away from the group. Easy paddling suited him better than he wanted to admit.

 

He was still sore from where he rolled off the back a speeding jeep driven by Alex, crooning at how they were going to be rewarded for bringing him in alive for questioning, falling into the god damned brush filled forest with his hands and feet tied and then had to get the hell away before they caught him. It was entirely the stupid Bat's fault. God damned screaming flying rat. It was its fault he got caught. But, optimistically, it was because they had driven him miles away from where he was supposed to be without his pack or a way to get help that he had met a cute little blonde. And watching said cute little blonde in the tour raft ahead brought a smile back to his face.

 

But then, to his horror, he saw out of the corner of his eye something small, barely noticeable, shoot out from the covered opposite bank, and then one of the rafts bucked. The entire back and left jumped up into the air and flung someone out and into the Eddie line four feet away. Others fell and tumbled, and the right side was plunged into the icy water.

 

Seconds later, the boat stabilized, people grasping to the sides and being helped back in.

 

With breath caught and heart stopped, Trowa scanned frantically for blonde, knowing in his heart he was one who went under. Then he saw the blonde bobbing up.

 

In the Eddie! And racing towards the rocky sieve and the slight falls beyond it!

 

Trowa knew these waters well, and he knew that beyond what they could see was a grater of rocks with the current going so fast with the run-off that he'd be racked across it and ripped apart.

 

"DRAGON!!!' Treize bellowed from behind Trowa, his canoe mate rocking the boat by jumping to his feet.

 

"FUCK! He got tossed four feet into the Eddie line! We have to get there!" Treize cried, immediately plunging down into his seat and digging furiously into the water with his paddle to get to his love.

 

Trowa was surprised they weren't spinning, and then realized he was digging in just as frantically, knowing Quatre was in danger.

 

They caught up in seconds, Heero and Duo's canoe going to help some of the stragglers into the now equalized raft. But Treize and Trowa glided towards the sweep boat that was making its way down the falls and to a set of large rocks, about the size of a kitchen table and tall enough to get completely out of the water. Across it lay a branch, the roundness of a margarine container and spanning across the raging and surging water beneath.

 

Treize breathed a prayer of thankfulness when Wufei appeared out of the water and wrapped himself around the bow, putting it between him and the way the current wanted to take him. As long as he held himself up, there was no way he was going down river. Treize had taught him well.

 

But Trowa was not calmed yet. He hadn't seen Quatre's tell-tale blonde poke from the surface in a few seconds, although their vantage point was lacking.

 

The he heard Wufei calling to Quatre, and then in his grasp came a slim incredibly pale arm. Even at that distance, Trowa did not like the feel of the situation. Then Quatre got himself up, argued with Wufei about who would go first. Trowa was wishing Quatre would go first, since Wufei was a much more experience swimmer and was more knowledgeable about survival techniques, but he saw the obvious as well. And Wufei grudgingly began to crawl up onto the rock.

 

Then almost as all his nerves tensed immediately, Trowa knew something had happened. Wufei began to yell and scamper towards the log.

 

Trowa began to paddle, sending Treize off balance with the speed. Trowa flashed his eyes toward the log just into to see it fold and plunge Quatre back into the freezing, rushing water and down the stream.

 

.

 

The boy bobbed to the surface, staying still like Wufei had told him and tried to move his legs with the current, keeping his body together, like the safety talk had told him to do. But even as he tried, the rocks were weaved close and hard, not being able to see one until you were right at it. And the current was so strong and fast that he could barely move.

 

With a clunk and pain shooting up his entire side, Quatre felt his breath knocked from him as he impacted against the side of a rock, his eyes staring then going black.

 

.

 

Trowa watch in horror as Quatre barely missed one rock to slam side to side with another just behind. His body pitched up and hit against the side, and then, limply, he flopped away, splashing into the water and continuing down the run, his body pliant and listless.

 

Gulping down panic, Trowa rowed faster, then warning Treize, jumped the boat to the chute, following close behind the blonde.

 

Quatre had made it past the worst of the rocks and was now just shooting limply towards the main river, or the even more dangerous falls!

 

Between the two lay a large shallow; a take-out that if Quatre could get there, it would be over. As it was, Quatre had been in the ice cold water for over fifteen minutes since the raft flipped, and with Quatre's thin and light structure water as cold as it was in the morning was very dangerous. He had to get out soon.

 

Seeing that the current would not be so kind as to float the blonde to the shallow, Trowa pulled in his paddle and locked eyes with Treize in silent communication. Immediately, Treize pulled his paddle from one side and plunged it in to the other, single handedly taking up the paddling. Pulling strong and hard, Treize lifted it again and with a figure eight move, he began to stroke both sides keeping the blistering time with the current.

 

Trowa gripped the side of the canoe, and within seconds of dropping his paddle vaulted up and over the side, diving deep into the rushing current and punching the water with his feet

 

The difference between Trowa's dive and Quatre's fall was that Trowa was an expert swimmer and he knew where the rapids were heading.

 

Letting the current do most of the work, Trowa guided himself to Quatre, catching up with only a few strokes.

 

Wrapping his arms around the blonde's limp form, he turned and began to kick and pull towards the sheltered inlet, the shallow coming up close. He had to get them over fast or have to fight the current to get back.

 

Almost missing it, Trowa kicked and pumped his arms harder, keeping Quatre above the water and pushing against the silt at the bottom when it came to meet his feet.

 

Practically tumbling up and onto the dry land, Trowa pitched forward, Quatre still in hand and fell to the dry sand. Gasping for air himself and every muscle protesting its sudden exertion, Trowa ignored his own body and hauled himself up and over Quatre's prone form.

 

He was incredibly pale, his lips bluish and his whole body trembled in shivers. But that meant he was still alive. Within seconds, Quatre pitched over to the side, his cheek against the sandy dirt, and began to heave up water in chocking sobs and sputters. Trowa, elated in joy, padded his back, helping his purge the last of the water and the rest of his breakfast onto the ground, thankful he was alive.

 

Quatre rolled onto his back, away from the mess and starred at the sky, then to the grinning boy splayed soaking wet and glistening beside him. Perhaps he had died and went to heaven after all. He felt so hazy and exhausted he was sure he was dead, or dying.

 

The canoe holding Treize beached with a scraping sound, the sounds of splashing and running coming. Treize descended on top of Trowa and Quatre, checking them for consciousness. Trowa just nodded at his canoe mate's look, telling him he was fine. Then Treize kneeled down to Quatre, his hands immediately digging into Quatre hair painfully, and pulling around.

 

"OW! What are you doing?” Quatre demanded his voice weaker than he had wanted and his body trembling and shivering uncontrollably in waves of intense cold.

 

Treize didn't answer, instead starring directly into Quatre's eyes, holding them open and apart roughly. He let go seconds later, Quatre blinking and trying to stop tears from wetting his eyes again. His whole body felt like .he'd been thrashed through a freezing cold river. Who'd a thought?

 

Another wave of shivers shook him, nothing focusing in his mind except the sheer cold he felt and the trembling that racked his slim body.

 

"He doesn't have a concussion. But he's borderline hypothermic. We need to warm him up, now. I don't have a warm air heater and we can't just leave him while we boil water." Treize explained calmly. In the background, Quatre though he heard the sounds of another small boat pulling into the sand.

 

Then Duo's voice, "Here's our two-man sleeping bag. Strip him down and wrap him up."

 

Seconds later, Quatre felt his shoes being thrown from his feet, another wave of shivers, this time more violent than the last, and he could hear the sound of the sleeping bag being unfurled.

 

Then his shirt was thrown off and his pants were being tugged off. Quatre baled up the energy to look and see who was striping him.

 

It was Heero rolling Quatre's pants off of him. He felt almost disappointed that it wasn't Trowa. Not that it wouldn't be ten times more embarrassing for Trowa to see him so weak. But still. At least Trowa wasn't a stranger. Quatre would've helped, but he was having enough trouble just keeping his eyes focused.

 

Then, letting his eyes roll to the side, he caught sight of Trowa, stripping down to his boxer quickly. Quatre's eyes went wide, digesting the well toned and rippling muscle that was Trowa. He couldn't see one ounce of fat on his body. Then, Trowa turned towards him, letting Quatre get a view of his pecks and tight abs as he walked toward the now pulled out sleeping bag. He found himself drawn to the width of his shoulders, large enough to completely wrap around his own small form and just hold him close. The thought was enough to make him blush, if he hadn't been shivering so badly!

 

At the same time, Quatre felt himself be hauled up, Heero wrapping his arms under his knees and around his back.

 

Again, Quatre wished it was Trowa. The thought of the knight in shining armor rescuer carrying him like a damsel in distress was terribly romantic. But right then the numbness and cold he felt seeping into his thoughts was enough to make him not really care, because at least Heero was a bit warmer than the outside.

 

Heero deposited Quatre down onto something fluffy, but not really warm. He missed Heero's heat immediately. But once he was down for a second, he could feel something else warm right beside him. Desperate for heat, he curled around the body, arms wringing around bare wide shoulders and mostly naked body fusing to another equally undressed one.

 

Before he could pull away realizing what he had done, the other side of the sleeping bag was thrown over the two and zipped up pinning the two together.

 

Quatre desperately wanted to stay where he was, but his head was screaming at him to at least apologize! "Troooowwwa?" his voice was trembling, shivering and his head was hurting just to focus long enough to string words together. He was trying to apologize for practically taping himself to the forest ranger and he couldn't even manage his name!

 

A bit more movement, and Quatre felt Trowa's arm snake around underneath him and around, the other making its way to join the one rubbing his back from on top. Quatre just melted into the warmth, letting his body soak it all up and let Trowa's strong arms around him fill all his senses. After a bit of hesitation, Trowa leant down, just a bit, to tuck Quatre's head just under his chin, the blonde now thoroughly glued to him and curled around as if they were lovers.

 

God, it was a fantasy come true. Quatre knew he had to be dreaming. The indescribable comfort and protection felt too right to be real.

 

But soon the sheer comfort, just taking in the sweet pine and vanilla scent of Trowa, loosing himself in the lulling rise and fall of his chest, while soaking up all the warmth around him was broken by loud voices and the scraping sound of another boat being pulled in, then another and more voices. The sheer volume was making his head pound. But he had a feeling they weren't really that loud. He must've knocked his head good. He hated the outdoors! Well, except its scent on Trowa. It was fitting on him.

 

“I demand to know the meaning of THIS!" Quatre's father bellowed, his noise far too close to Quatre for comfort. But he just didn't have the energy to open his eyes to see him and let him yell at him. Another wave of intense shivers overtook him, rocking him to the core.

 

He'd pretend to be asleep! Good Idea. Avoidance solved everything!

 

God! No wonder he was picked on. Talk about anti-confrontational!

 

"I ordered it." To Quatre's surprise, Treize spoke up forcefully, placing himself between the sleeping bag and Mr. Winner.

 

"Your son is borderline hypothermic from being in the water so long. He needed to be warmed up immediately; the quickest way is from within, like a hot drink, but we don't have the time to boil something up. The next best is skin to skin warming. Trowa is a certified forest ranger and knows how to monitor Quatre's vital signs while he is with him so your son doesn't go into shock. He needs to stay there until he is warm enough and ready to come out. You pulled in here so your raft can be repaired anyway, so I suggest you just stay with the group and we'll tell you when your son is given a good bill of health."

 

"And who appointed YOU a Doctor? I think this is a crock!" Omar Winner raved. Obviously he was in one of those moods. Quatre shivered again, half from cold, half from fear of his father's voice. That scream scarred the hell out of him. Trowa nuzzled him closer, increasing his rubbing on his back that was making tingly pinprick sensations embrace him. He didn't know his back muscles could fall asleep like his feet did.

 

Milly stomped to the scene, eyes burning and ready to kill. "Look, Mr. Winner." He ground out, “Treize is a licensed paramedic! He knows what he is talking about. I would've ordered the same thing. Now please, take yourself over with the rest of the group. Now." And with a surprised Omar Winner in tow, Milly walked back to the group, painting on a carefree smile and told them they were going to stay there for a bit. Then he directed one of the guides to get out the fishing gear and take the group out.

 

Within a bit, most of the group went fishing and left only Trowa's group, Milly, and Wufei (who disappeared before they left and re-appeared after he couldn't be made to fish). Milly, Treize, Heero and Duo were all flipping over the raft and searching for the hole to fix it.

 

Quatre moved under Trowa's chin, just enough to look at him and still lay comfortably on his shoulder, cradled in strong arms. He wanted to thank him, to say something, but before he could, he noticed Heero coming towards them and crouching down.

 

Heero looked at Trowa, serious and grim.

 

"What was it?" Trowa asked, straight to the point. Heero moved his eyes slightly over the sleeping bag, making it obvious about Quatre being there.

 

“I'm cold. And I'm not moving." Quatre told Heero with a voice practically whispered despite his want to scream it, boldened by his pain. "I won't tell what ever it is you're talking about. Who would I tell anyway?" Quatre muttered the last bit, subconsciously leaning more into Trowa for support.

 

Heero's eyes narrowed dangerously, appraising the blonde differently than before. Trowa nodded, and clutched Quatre close, telling Heero to continue.

 

A bit indignant, Heero huffed, and then rolled his eyes. He held up his hand, a slim needle like point between his thumb and index for Trowa's inspection. "We found a dart point in the raft. It was punctured purposely. I don't know why the company is after them. It's us who they want out of the way." Heero said coldly.

 

'That's probably why." Quatre said quietly from Trowa's arms. Both looked at him strangely, wondering what the hell he was talking about.

 

"If they want to harm you, they wouldn't want witnesses. With us in front of you, they couldn't do anything to you without us seeing and helping. So they took us out of the picture, probably assuming you would go on your way and out of our sights when we stopped to fix our raft. The best thing you did was stopping, probably." Quatre deduced.

 

Boldened by his splitting headache and knowing he could blame misjudgment on his condition, he decided to just out and ask, "What is going on. And more importantly, why are people trying to hurt you?"