[I really love to be alone
without all the ache and pain and the April showers.
But it ain't long before I long for you
like a ray of hope coming through the blue]
--- Lyrics to 'Lifted' performed by The Lighthouse Family
Ray of Hope Part 21
Removing his trim uniform hat, Wufei stepped into the main headquarters of his department. His right hand clenched tightly around the small note that he made for himself the night before. With a few nods of his head to the other officers that greeted him on his way, already he moved with sure steps to his partner's enclosed workplace.
"Well, we're smiling before our first ticket handout of the day. That's a new one for you. The weekend must have treated you well," Treize grinned as he straightened in his seat when his Chinese colleague reached his office. "You look like the cat that just ate the prize canary," he commented as he reached for his steaming cup of coffee.
Before his old friend could reach his morning beverage, Wufei threw the crumpled note onto his desk. "No, but I did get a lead on our mysterious sailor's identity," he smirked. "I have a few assignments that are going to have me tied up, so I need you to get that to Une so we can update our search."
Treize took up the small paper and opened it to reveal the name that the other officer had scratched there. Raising a long eyebrow as he looked up to his partner, he asked, "Do I even want to know how you managed to get this information?"
At that, the Chinese young man's dark eyes narrowed as he shrugged, "It really doesn't matter how in the end, does it?"
Rolling his eyes, the older patrolman sighed deeply, "I thought not. Well, just so long as you didn't steal it." When his partner's dark eyes looked away at the statement, Treize's own gaze widened as he rose from his seat, shouting, "You stole it!"
Quickly raising a finger to his lips, Wufei glared fiercely at his colleague and warned, "Shh!" Out in the hall, a few passing policemen peered into the glass windows of the office. With a forced smile, he and Treize waved at them until they finally went back about their business.
When the hallway was cleared again, the raven-haired officer ran a hand over his dark hair to calm his nerves. In all honesty, Wufei felt terribly guilty for the way that he went about obtaining Heero's actual name. But when all was said and done, he was only doing what he thought was right to solve a case that he was on. Just as every case he was given, he would see it through until it was solved, regardless of what measures he had to take to solve it.
When Sally found out what he did, he would deal with that when the time came... He just hoped that she would understand.
Sighing deeply, Wufei finally stated, "Look, I didn't steal the information." He paused and bit his lip before frowning, "...per say."
The panic growing on Treize's face, he asked, "Is this anything that I am going to get in trouble for?"
"Of course not!" Wufei shouted, his dark eyes narrowed in frustration. "I wouldn't have given you the name if I thought that you would."
Instantly, the older officer's face calmed as he sagged back in his seat. "Oh," he replied simply. Breaking out into a wide grin, he nodded, "We're okay then." As he looked back to the name, he thought aloud, "Odin, huh?"
With resolve in his blue eyes, Treize lowered the paper and nodded up to his friend, "All right. You know that it'll be quite some time before we hear anything, but I'll see that Une looks into this when she gets in." In mentioning the young woman's name, his sly smile returned. "You know I am always looking for an excuse to talk with her, anyway," he chuckled deeply as he reached for his cup once more.
It was Wufei's turn to roll his eyes as he sighed deeply, "Yes, I know how much you love 'talking' with her. Just please don't try 'talking' on the photocopier again. You're lucky that I thought of a believable excuse to how the glass broke."
Raising his coffee mug after taking a sip, Treize smirked, "Which is one of the many reasons why you are going to be the best man when I finally decide to get over testosterone-driven ways and commit." With a wink, he took another swig from his coffee.
His Chinese friend snorted and shook his head, "I'll be sure not to hold my breath for that day." Gesturing to the paper on the desk, he told the tall officer, "Just make sure that you take care of that." As he held his cap in both hands, he turned on his heels and made his way to the office door.
Just as his partner was about to step out, Treize called after him, "Hey, Wufei." When the other young man turned to face him, he held up the crumpled paper and asked, "What is it that you have against this guy, anyway? Ever since he crashed on this island, you've made it your mission to find out everything you can on him." He tilted his head and shrugged, "Maybe he's not meant to remember his past so he can focus on starting a new life here."
Blinking his widened dark eyes, Wufei considered the unexpected question and insightful remark. He truly did like Heero after meeting him, so he was not trying to be vindictive. Still, the fact that the sailor was obviously running from something weighed heavily on him. Finally, he answered, "I just don't like not knowing who I am dealing with."
He didn't wait for his partner's reaction as he turned and stepped from the office. On his way down the hall, Wufei reached up to wipe the sweat that, until then, he was unaware had been beading on his brow.
* * * * * *
Three weeks later...
The sound of several men grunting approached the car that Heero was working on. Rolling out from under the vehicle on the rolling bed he was laying on, he sat up to watch one Trowa and the four of his mechanics pushing a rusty Olds Mobile into the shop. The red paint was flaking off and the bumpers were bent and twisted. Overall, the car certainly had seen better days. Despite the poor shape that it was in now, the Japanese young man knew that in its heyday, it would have been a beauty.
His cobalt eyes widening, the sailor quickly rose to his feet and assisted the team in pushing the rundown car to the back of the work station with Trowa maneuvering it. "Right there," he called as he raised a hand from the opened driver seat door that he used to push. Its wheels squeaking to its halt, the rust and red vehicle almost sighed as it sank on its flat tires.
As the four that he originally gathered walked off to return to their other projects, the shop owner grinned as Heero ran his hands over the round edges of the car in his inspection. "Like it?" Trowa asked as he slapped the sailor on the shoulder when he finally made his way to him.
Nodding, Heero kept his eyes on the car. "It was put together well. Too bad that no one took the time to care for it. This thing would have run forever if they had. "
"If you can get it running, it's yours," Trowa smiled. His friend's head snapped to gaze at him with a slacked jaw and wide, disbelieving eyes. Laughing, the Latin mechanic patted his shoulder again and stated, "It's what I do for everyone that works for me as a way of thanking them. All of the cars that the others, here, drive are ones that I found abandoned that they fixed and rebuilt for themselves. Whenever we hit a lull in work, you can use the time to work on it and use the resources here."
With a wide grin tugging at his lips, Heero sputtered, "I-I don't know what to say." the excitement of having his own car sparkling in his cobalt eyes, he walked around the car once more, examining it more closely.
The vehicle certainly had a great deal of potential and he thought of the many possibilities that it presented. When he made his way all the way around, he took Trowa's hand into his own to shake it firmly. "Thank you," he said sincerely with a firm nod.
Chuckling deeply, Trowa shook his head, "You've been here over two months now. I figured you could use something to get you from point A to point B without having to rely on someone else to drive you around." He turned to the clock. With a low whistle, he shook his head, "Damn, this day flew by. As he what you were working on so that we can call it a day."
Heero nodded and followed as he looked back over his shoulder to the car that he could now call his own. The smile on his face was almost hurting his cheeks, but he paid no mind.
* * * * * *
Thirty minutes later, Trowa and Hilde dropped Heero off back at the cabin in the late afternoon. After an exchange of farewells until the next day, the excited sailor ran up towards the house. His smile never left his face ever since he learned of his surprise.
Opening the front door, he called, "Duo!" At the entranceway, he kicked off his sneakers and lowered his toolbox. Stepping into the hallway, he called again, "Duo!"
"Hey!" Duo smiled as he ran into the hall from the kitchen. His violet eyes widened when he was pulled into a fierce kiss. He didn't even have a moment to return the kiss before his boyfriend pulled back with an elated grin. Blinking in shock, he chuckled deeply, "What's gotten into you?"
Even in the midst of his excitement, Heero could not help but appraise the braided young man in his arms. The last three weeks of having his family and loved ones close had worked wonders on Duo. His flu had finally subsided completely and his usually pale complexion was replaced with a healthy glow.
Gone were the traces of any dark circles under the violet eyes that sparkled brilliantly in a way that the sailor had never seen before. The much needed sleep and better eating habits certainly worked their wonders on the lighthouse keeper.
While he always thought Duo to be an attractive person, Heero was breathless at how beautiful and radiant he had become. It never ceased to amaze him that he was fortunate enough to be with such a gorgeous creature.
Breaking from his thoughts, he remembered his boyfriend's question. Grinning widely, Heero answered, "Trowa gave me a car! All I have to do is fix it up."
His eyes widening, Duo beamed, "That's great!" Leaning in quickly, he kissed his partner's lips fully before taking his hand and pulling him into the kitchen, laughing, "Come on. Let's get some wine from the cellar that we can have at dinner to celebrate!"
With their celebration dinner and cake that Noin made especially for the happy announcement finished, the family filed out from the dining room. Between their full bellies and the soft buzz from the wine that they drank, everyone was moving pretty slowly, but they were happy.
Sighing deeply, Duo appraised the reddening sky through the living room window. "Well, I better get ready to light the-" His words were cut off by a soft knock on the door. With a small frown, he thought aloud, "I wasn't expecting anyone over tonight." He headed for the entranceway with Heero close behind.
When he opened the door, the lighthouse keeper's eyes widened at the sight before him. Her arms wrapped tightly around her waist, Sally bit her lip when her bloodshot eyes met his. "Duo, I'm sorry to bother you like this," she managed in little more than a whisper.
Quickly opening the door completely, Duo stepped out onto the porch to take hold of her shoulders. "What is it, Sal?" he asked quietly.
Moaning quietly, Sally swallowed hard before whispering, "It's Septum... H-he died this afternoon."
TBC...
Back to SkyLark's Fanfictions Page