Witness Protection Part 14
One Toke Over the Line
As I stalked across the parking lot, the cool air helped relieve the buildup of heat Maxwell had caused with his antics. I wasn't attracted to him. I wasn't! And I kept telling myself that. It wasn't attraction. It was--reaction. Like watching a porn movie. You might have a physical reaction to porn, but it didn't mean you wanted to fuck the star of the film.
Right?
God, what was it about him? Yeah, I already admitted he was good-looking; that wasn't even in question. But his personality--! He was rude, outspoken, brassy and snide. He was also shrewd, calculating and sly--nothing I found remotely appealing in a guy.
Come to think of it, I wasn't sure exactly what I looked for in a guy. Growing up in a family where my father was a cop who came from a long line of them, I didn't dare admit my sexual orientation. In college, I'd had a couple of short term relationships with guys who weren't studying criminology like I was. One had been an artist, and another a philosophy major. Both had quickly decided I was far too focused on my studies and career and moved on to other things.
Obviously they hadn't been wrong. I was still focused on my job--still letting it fill my days and nights to the point where it took over my life. And, dammit, I'd made a difference. I'd taken a lot of scum off the streets, and had the best conviction rate in the department--though that last bit was largely due to Wufei's meticulous attention to details and regulations.
If I could bring down Treize Khushrenada, it would be the achievement of a lifetime. It would literally make my career, and open any doors I wanted it to--I could probably end up a Captain on that kind of success. And if I'd been the type to go into politics, I could have bartered it into any office I chose.
I found myself smirking at the thought. Me? A politician? Right.
While I was waiting for our food to be ready, I decided to take a chance on calling Captain Po on my cell phone. It wasn't the type with a tracking device, and I thought I might still have enough of a signal to get reception. As long as I was careful what was broadcast over open airwaves, I could risk checking in.
"Central Precinct, Captain Po's office..."
I recognized the voice at once. "Relena? I need you to put me through to Captain Po."
"Heero? Where are you? Are you okay?"
"Fine. We're--I'm fine. Could I speak to the Captain?"
"Yes, but, where are you?"
"I can't tell you that, Relena."
There was a pause. "So she did send you and Wufei off with that witness in the Khushrenada case, didn't she?"
I had an urge to reach through the phone and throttle the girl. "Put her on the phone now!" I barked out sharply, hearing a hiss of indrawn breath.
A moment later, the Captain's voice came through the phone. "Po here. Is everything all right?"
"Affirmative," I said, offering nothing in the way of information that anyone might overhear or tap into. "But you need to inform your secretary to mind her own business and obey security protocols."
"I will," came the firm voice. I knew the Captain would follow through. "If everything is fine, why are you calling?"
"This is probably the last time I can check in until we reach our destination. I expect to lose cell phone reception at some point."
"I see. At what point should I worry if I haven't heard from you?"
"Twenty-four hours. After that, if I fail to contact you via e-mail or phone, you can assume something has gone wrong."
I just hoped the "something" wasn't that Maxwell took off again and succeeded in escaping this time.
"Dare I ask how smoothly things are going?"
I gave a wry chuckle, impressed by her intuition. "They could be better--but we're going to have a--dialogue--shortly. To establish some--boundaries."
It was her turn to laugh, which was unusual in and of itself. My boss rarely loosened up that much. "I had a long talk with a mutual friend who saw you off on your trip. He said you might encounter some--challenges."
"He was making an understatement," I said vaguely. "But it's nothing I can't handle."
"Glad to hear that. And there's one more thing--."
"Yes?"
"Behave yourself. And pass the word along."
"Yes Captain," I muttered grudgingly, wishing I could elaborate on our willful charge's behavior--or lack thereof. But over an open phone line, I wasn't about to be specific.
"I'll be waiting for your next report. And I'll answer my own phone from now on."
"Thank you."
I hung up, feeling relieved. While neither Captain Po nor I had mentioned names, or cases, or even how many of us there were and what we were up to--Relena had blurted out enough to clue an eavesdropper that there were two detectives with a protected witness. And while she might have no idea where we were, she knew enough about us and the case to be a serious security risk. I was glad the Captain was going to keep her out of the loop.
By the time I finished the call, our takeout meals were ready, and I had the clerk load them in a paper bag so I could carry them out to the car.
Chang was sitting on the hood of the vehicle, calmly inspecting his fingernails, but I could hear Maxwell's voice cussing him out through the closed windows.
"What now?" I asked wearily.
"I refused to take the cuffs off until your return, and he threw a tantrum."
"So you came out here for peace and quiet?" I asked. "How come he didn't follow you?"
"As antiquated as this car is, it has child safety locks," replied my smug partner. "I engaged them, and he can't open the back doors of the car."
"Jesus Christ!" I growled, shoving the bag into Wufei's hand and going to the car, pulling open the front passenger door.
Maxwell had maneuvered himself almost into the front seat, even with his hands cuffed behind his back, and he glared at me so hard it's a wonder I didn't spontaneously combust. "They come off--now--," he snarled, "--or kiss my testimony goodbye."
I bent so I was even with him. "I'll be happy to take them off," I said calmly, feeling more put out with Chang than with him for the moment. "Just promise you won't run again."
He opened his mouth--probably to spit in my face--and I stepped back and shut the door, folding my arms across my chest.
After a long moment of struggling into a sitting position on the seat, he scowled at me through the closed door, and then nodded.
I immediately opened the door, pulling the key for the restraints out of my pocket, and he eagerly turned his back so I could reach them. The instant they came loose, he jerked his hands away and dove for the driver's side door.
I thought he was going to run again, his promise forgotten. But he merely leapt out of the car and went around to the front to accost Chang. "Listen, you fucking arrogant piece of shit! You lock me in like that again, and I'll kick your ass!"
"What was I supposed to do--listen to you bitch and moan about wearing the cuffs for five more minutes?"
"You were supposed to take 'em off! I know the key's the same for all of 'em--and you have a set."
"If I had my way, you'd wear them until we reach our destination."
Maxwell's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You want me in cuffs, detective, you better be fuckin' me at the time. Otherwise, they're not my kind of jewelry!"
Goddamn it! Did he have to use sex in everything he said? I wasn't into leather and chains--but the thought of him handcuffed to the headboard of a bed wormed its way into my mind anyway. And it was damned erotic.
Well, it was to me. Chang, on the other hand, turned an interesting shade of red. "Goddamnit, Maxwell, I don't want to hear about your kinks!"
The indigo eyes were alight with anger; but at the same time I could see Maxwell processing new information. And a very slight, very malicious smirk found its way to his lips. "For a prude, Chang, you sure are quick to slap a guy in handcuffs."
"I think Yuy did the handcuffing," Wufei pointed out, quickly regaining his poise.
"So he did." Those calculating eyes turned back to me, and Maxwell very deliberately winked, mouthing the words "our little secret," before grabbing the take-out bag from Wufei's hands.
We settled in to eat at a picnic table beside the parking lot, watching the straggling flow of traffic on the nearby highway while we wolfed down another hasty meal of burgers and--yes--fries.
I didn't even look at Maxwell throughout the whole meal. I was still flustered enough about the shit he pulled in the car; I certainly didn't need to watch him play with his food.
"Hey--Yuy?"
"Hm?" I asked disinterestedly, my attention mostly focused on our surroundings.
"When we get where we're going, I want to call Quatre."
I shot him a look, gauging his mood, which didn't seem especially sullen, all things considered. "Backing out?"
"No." He pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Probably not." He shrugged casually. "Like you pointed out, Treize tried to kill me. I'm not stupid enough to think he'll stop."
"You can talk to Winner once we have a few rules hashed out," I said firmly.
I watched his face tighten a little in anger, though he made no outburst. "What kind of rules?"
"First, you need to start listening to Chang and me. When we tell you to do something, it's not out of spite or maliciousness; there's a reason. And generally that reason is to protect your life. Hiding the braid and the tattoo is just self-preservation for you. Y'got that?"
"I'm not stupid," he pointed out. "I know why I need to hide 'em...I'm just not used to it. It's like...someone telling you to hide those big baby blues, Yuy. You forget they're there...but to anyone seeing 'em, they're pretty unforgettable."
I felt heat on my face, and had to look away from the intensity of those teasing indigo eyes. "Next rule. You don't go anywhere without either Chang or me at your back."
He made a rude noise. "Fancy that," he sneered. "Cops watchin' my back?" He darted a narrow look at my partner. "Must gall the living shit out of you to have to do that, Chang."
"You've no idea," snarled Wufei.
Maxwell gave a satisfied smirk. "In that case, I guess I kinda like it."
I sighed. "Another rule, Maxwell--no talking to strangers."
"Yes, mother."
"Seriously!" I snapped, scowling at him. "You almost told Rhonda where we were from and your real name!"
"Do you honestly think some two-bit hit man is gonna chat up a waitress in some hole-in-the-wall diner on the off chance she saw me?" he asked in exasperation.
"Whether I think it or not, it's a possibility we have to consider," I retorted. "You can't take anything for granted, Maxwell. There's just no room for error...and no room for... goofing around." Or taunting your caretakers... I wanted to add.
"All about the mission," he sighed. "Yeah, Yuy. You just keep doing what you do best."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
He shook his head, glancing around restlessly. "You about done laying down the law, detective? Or should I start taking notes?"
I crumpled up my empty food wrapper. "There'll be more to discuss once we reach the safe house," I told him frankly, ignoring his snide comment.
"I'm sure there will," he muttered, standing and gathering some of the trash from the table.
Within moments, we'd cleaned up our area, visited the restroom, and were back on the road.
"We've got about six exits to go," I told my partner, glancing over the map one more time. "Then we get off the highway and onto secondaries."
He nodded agreement. "Shall we stop to refuel at that final rest area then?"
"Yeah, and we can buy a few bottled drinks and snacks to tide us over if there aren't many stores or diners along the back roads."
I looked in the rear view mirror and noticed Maxwell seemed particularly tense, a scowl furrowing his brow as he looked out the window.
"Problem?" I asked.
He glanced up at me and shrugged a little, his face troubled. "Just--I've never been out of the city," he admitted a bit sheepishly. "How far are we going?"
Chang gave an evil chuckle. "Did you bring the bear repellent, Yuy?"
"Bears?" demanded Maxwell, his worried gaze darting from my partner to me.
"Chang--," I said warningly. "Don't toy with him." I looked back at Maxwell. "Don't worry about bears," I chided. "I'm not about to let our star witness get eaten by bears."
He didn't look very reassured. "Are you saying there are bears?"
I rolled my eyes, remembering Winner's warning to keep the garbage cans inside the garage so as not to attract the occasional black bear. "Not enough to bother with," I said vaguely.
"That's not comforting," he grumbled.
"Relax, Maxwell--what bears there are won't come near the cabin," Chang said soothingly. I could tell he was up to something, and I shot him a warning look. "The wolves keep them away."
"Chang!" I snarled.
"Wolves?"
"Jesus fuckin' Christ!" I blurted. "Stop baiting him, Chang! And Maxwell--grow up! We're going to a Winner family hunting lodge. It's probably built to withstand a siege, for God's sake. You've got nothing to worry about."
I heard a huff of breath, and glanced back to see our nervous witness digging in his backpack--probably for another cigarette. He looked up briefly, muttering about needing to calm himself down, and resumed his search.
A moment later, he was lighting up in the back seat, and Chang darted him a glare. "Window, Maxwell!" he cautioned.
"Yeah, whatever." Cracking the window open an inch or so, Maxwell edged closer to it and took a long drag on his--. Shit! That was no cigarette!
Oh dear God, tell me he did not just light up a joint!
Even as the distinctive smell of marijuana wafted over the seat, I heard Chang curse loudly in Chinese. Then he switched back to English. "Goddamnit, Maxwell! That's illegal!" he stormed, reaching over the seat without taking his eyes off the road, and snatching the offending joint from Maxwell's hand.
"Hey! That stuff ain't cheap!" protested our witness, making a grab for it.
But Chang was faster, opening his window and flipping it out.
"Chang! You asshole!" snapped Maxwell. "It was one fucking joint for chrissakes!"
Wufei locked up the brakes, pulling the car swiftly into the breakdown lane and throwing it into park. Then he leaned menacingly over the seat to glare at Maxwell. "I don't care if it was one half," he snarled. "You will not use illegal substances in my presence!"
"I need it to mellow out enough to put up with your shit!" retorted Maxwell, reaching for his backpack.
"You have more?" Chang demanded, jumping out of the car and yanking open the back door. "Give it to me--now!"
"Fuck you!"
I swear, it occurred to me to shoot them both and drive off. They were worse than kids!
"Chang--," I began.
He turned a furious look towards me. "Don't make excuses for him, Yuy!"
"I'm not. But we're on the side of a highway, for Christ's sake!" He'd said it himself barely an hour ago--the last thing we needed was to draw attention to ourselves.
Wufei ignored me, methodically pulling Maxwell's belongings out of the car and starting to rummage through them.
"Goddamnit, Chang! That's mine!" Maxwell snapped, actually getting into a tug of war over the backpack.
At that point I'd had enough. "Chang--give it back and get in the car, or so help me, I'll call Po tonight and have you pulled from the case!"
He paused, glaring at me.
"I mean it, Wufei," I warned, using his first name to soften him up a bit. "This is not the place for this. When we get to the cabin, you can search Maxwell's stuff to your heart's content."
"No, he can't!" Maxwell protested. "Goddamnit, Yuy! Cut me some slack here. I gotta put up with crap from both of you. The least you can do is let me have a measly little ounce of relief."
"Actually, I can't," I sighed. "Honestly, Maxwell--we've got rules to obey, too."
"Jesus fuckin' Christ!" he blurted in frustration, pulling a small plastic baggie from his belongings and flinging it out the door at Chang. "There! Happy?"
Wufei took the baggie and very deliberately dumped the contents into the dirt, grinding it under his heel. Then he shoved the luggage back in, shut the door, and went back to the driver's seat.
Maxwell was busy lighting a cigarette as my partner got in and pulled the car back onto the road.
I thought perhaps we'd get the silent treatment for a few hours. But moments after we resumed our journey, Maxwell sat up and fixed a curious look on Chang.
"What kind of name is Woofie?"
"Wufei," snarled my partner, his tone clearly conveying how much he hated having his name butchered.
Oh God no. Don't show him any sign of weakness, you fool!
"It's Chinese," he added icily.
Sure enough, like a shark smelling blood in the water, Maxwell went for the kill. "Woooo--fay?"
Chang didn't even dignify that with a response, though I thought I heard a low growl of frustration.
"Woooo--fay Chang," Maxwell continued, mouthing the name as if tasting it. "Hm, how 'bout 'Fei-fei?"
"Let it go, Maxwell," I mumbled in an undertone, sure that at any instant he'd be treated to a lecture on the correct order in which to say the names.
He grinned nastily. "No way in Hell, Yuy." His gleaming eyes fixed on my hapless partner again. "As long as Wuffers is gonna be such a prick, he's gonna suffer the consequences."
"Don't say a word, Chang," I warned, glaring him into silence. I turned my attention back to Maxwell. "Do you really want to antagonize someone who has black belts in half a dozen martial arts?"
"Does he now?" crooned Maxwell, eyeing Chang speculatively. He slid a hand towards Wufei's bicep, as if he were going to feel his muscles.
"I'll fucking break that hand if it touches me!" snapped my partner without taking his eyes off the road.
My respect for Maxwell's sense of self-preservation went up several notches when he withdrew.
"Sheesh," he muttered under his breath. "Fuckin' homophobe."
"I don't fear them," came Chang's cold response. "I merely despise them."
Ouch.
"D'you even know any?" challenged Maxwell. "Besides me, anyway." He slid me a glance that made me want to slump in my seat and cover my face. But I didn't.
"Your friend Barton."
"He doesn't count. You don't know him."
"And I have no desire to."
"Your loss," shrugged our passenger. His sly gaze turned my way. "So--how 'bout you? Are you a homophobe, too?"
"No." I was pretty sure he'd already guessed that...and probably a great deal more. He'd have had to be blind not to notice my reaction to his previous come-on.
"How come you're not as small-minded as your partner?" he pushed.
I shrugged. "Different upbringing, I suppose."
"I am not small-minded!" Wufei protested. "Yuy--you hate junkies, pimps and hookers as much as I do. Don't gays fall into the same category?"
I thought perhaps it was time to try to expand my partner's horizons a bit...carefully. "I think Mister Winner would disagree with you," I pointed out.
"Winner's gay?" demanded Wufei, his jaw dropping.
I resisted the impulse to roll my eyes. "You never noticed? Shit, Chang, you're a detective. And weren't you there when he said if Maxwell wasn't his client he'd be tempted--?" Oh shit.
Maxwell's eyes lit up, and he hung over the seat again. "Really?" he asked gleefully. "Quat thinks I'm hot?"
I sighed. "No, Maxwell--he just made an observation the night you were walking out of the station."
"So he was 'observing' my ass?" smirked the braided man. "It is one of my best features." He shifted on the seat and patted one side of his butt affectionately. "Don't you think?" he added slyly.
I pulled my gaze away from where it had strayed. "That's--none of my business," I said firmly.
He leaned closer. "I could make it your business," he purred suggestively.
"Maxwell--stop drooling!" Chang snarled, shoving the braided man back into the rear of the car. "Yuy doesn't need to put up with your antics any more than I do!"
Maxwell only subsided for a moment. Then he sat up, cocking his head. "Yuy? So what's your first name, hm?"
Well, shit.
"What's it to you?" Chang snarled. "You'll probably just butcher it as well."
"Heero," I said quickly, to forestall another Chang/Maxwell debate.
Maxwell grinned widely. "Really?" He batted his lashes at me. "My Heero," he cooed teasingly. "Hell--that name is just perfect!"
I glared sternly at him. "So is Duo," I pointed out, thinking how smoothly he could switch from being a clown and a tease, to being a cop-hating, angry young hoodlum.
He paused, the smile fading as he looked squarely back at me. "You have no idea," he said with a sobering of tone that left me wanting him to elaborate.
But once again, the moment I began wanting him to talk, he clammed up, rummaging through the luggage until he found a heavier shirt to throw on over his tee-shirt, and then settling back down as if he were going to sleep again. And since that meant peace and quiet for awhile, I decided it might not be a bad thing at all.
~*~
Around ten o'clock I spotted the sign for our exit, and Chang pulled the car into one of those plazas off the highway, where you can get gas, food, souvenirs, or tourist maps.
"Well, so much for smooth roads and easy travel," sighed my partner, shutting off the car at one of the pumps. "Mind if I visit the restroom first, and you and Maxwell go after?"
"Take him with you," I suggested. "I'm going to fill the car and buy the supplies."
Chang sighed. "Flip a coin?"
"Jesus, Wuffers, I don't bite!" Duo snapped, throwing open his door and climbing out of the car, his braid already tucked down the back of his jacket. Then the indigo eyes met mine over the roof of the car. "--much," he added with a wicked smirk.
I was grateful it was dark enough to hide the color that rose to my cheeks. "Just behave yourself," I said firmly, turning to the pump as my two companions strode off.
It took me no time at all to top off the tank, and I headed into the convenience store for the snacks and drinks. Just inside the door, I noticed a rack of batteries and electronics, and was struck with sudden inspiration, picking up something I was sure would come in handy. A few minutes later, with one large and one small bag in my hands, I headed off to visit the bathroom before returning to the car.
When I got back there, Chang and Maxwell were already settled in--the latter smoking a cigarette, and the former leaning his head out of the window.
I exchanged a look with my partner. "No problems?"
"None beyond the usual."
I got into the driver's seat and dangled the smaller paper bag over the back. "Maxwell."
Giving me a puzzled look, he tossed out his cigarette and accepted the bag, then managed a cocky smirk. "Y'replacing my stash of weed, Yuy?"
"Hardly." I made a show of concentrating on buckling my seatbelt, suddenly a little uncomfortable with what might be taken as a friendly gesture. I didn't watch as he opened the bag and peeked inside.
"Hey--nice!" he said with a grin I could hear in his voice. "What's the occasion?"
I glanced back to see him happily ripping open the plastic container and examining the little portable cd player. Then I caught Chang's searching gaze and raised eyebrow, and my defensive instincts kicked in. "It's so you can listen to what you want without subjecting Chang and me to your--particular--taste in music," I told Maxwell.
That explanation seemed to satisfy my partner, who promptly ejected the disc from the car radio and handed it over the seat. "I'd have said peculiar, rather than particular. But so long as my ears are spared, I'm grateful, Yuy."
"Yeah, me too," Maxwell piped up, having finished putting batteries into the machine. "It's pretty cool." He deftly slid the cd in and put the little headset on, settling comfortably into his seat. "Thanks, Yuy."
"You're welcome." I couldn't help but feel a small upwelling of satisfaction. Maxwell was quiet, occupied, and seemed genuinely happy with his gift--and Chang had a hint of a smile on his lips for the first time in hours.
Yes! I'd found the perfect solution to the power struggles and sniping! Chang and Maxwell would have no need to interact at all until we reached our destination, where there'd be enough room to allow some space between them.
Feeling inordinately proud of myself, I started up the car and pulled back out onto the road. Of course, now that we were off the highway, our progress was slower--but we were also nearing our destination, far from anyone who'd ever heard of Treize Khushrenada and the Oz syndicate, or so I hoped.
I drove until two in the morning, and then switched off with Chang, promptly falling asleep to the steady motion of the car and the muted sound of Maxwell's music I could barely hear from the earphones.
TBC...
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