Witness Protection Part 31
Rocking the Boat
"So how come I can't go?" Duo was saying, rather petulantly the next morning over breakfast.
"There's no security for you out in the middle of the lake," I pointed out, gathering surveillance gear to place at strategic points around the shore. "Once I have the cameras in place, Winner and Barton can take you out with them."
"Why can't Chang go with them and you stay here?"
"Chang doesn't know how to set up my gear. It's not exactly department issued."
Duo's eyes narrowed. "Spy stuff, Yuy? Just who the fuck are you anyway?"
I sighed deeply. "I'm Detective Heero Yuy. Nothing more."
"Detectives don't have sophisticated shit like that," he pointed out.
"Well, I do."
Maxwell shoved his bowl of cereal away, scowling deeply. "If you're such hot shit, how come you can't protect me on one silly boat ride, hm?"
"He said you can go another time," Quatre reminded him. "I think it's wise to let him put precautions in place."
"Besides," Wufei cut in. "You can't swim, Maxwell. If you go overboard, what will keep you from sinking to the bottom of the lake like a rock?"
"A life jacket," Trowa said blandly, reaching over to push Duo's food back in front of him.
"Yeah!" Duo agreed. "And Tro' and Quat won't let me drown anyway. Not like you two pricks waiting forever to haul me out of that river!"
"It was ten fucking seconds," I said impatiently.
"Ten of the longest seconds of my life," he retorted. His expression turned pleading. "Yuy, don't leave me here with him-please!"
My partner looked affronted. "Maxwell, I don't bite, for Heaven's sake! You'll be fine here with me for a few hours."
"I'll be bored out of my mind." Duo took a reluctant bite of his cereal and got an encouraging smile from Trowa.
"You can--sketch," Wufei suggested. "And I'll let you watch whatever garbage you want on television." He looked at me and rolled his eyes. "God, Yuy! I sound like I'm bargaining with a five year old."
The indigo eyes flashed at the unfavorable comparison. "Yeah, well, I feel like I'm bargaining with a fucking parole officer." He looked at Winner pleadingly. "C'mon, Quat--"
"Sorry Duo. I have to side with Yuy and Chang on this one."
Maxwell got up in a huff and stalked up the stairs to his room, slamming the door resoundingly.
"Well, that went well," Quatre sighed.
"Maybe I should stay here," Barton offered.
"No!" Winner protested vehemently. "I really want to show you the lake, Trowa. It's such pretty scenery. And then maybe we can go canoeing by moonlight some night." His hand crept over so their fingers were nearly touching across the table.
"But if Duo's upset--"
"Maxwell's just being petulant again," Wufei assured him, his dark gaze shifting uneasily away from their hands. "After his unsettled night, he's probably overtired. You needn't worry about him. I promise to be at my most tolerant today."
"You do sound like you're talking about a five year old," I had to point out. "Seriously. He's just overtired?"
"You won't get far treating him like a child," Barton said darkly. "For fuck's sake, Chang, he's been through gang wars and street fights--don't belittle him like that!"
Wufei nodded. "You have a point," he conceded. "I'll try to give him the opportunity to demonstrate his--maturity."
"How d'you plan to do that?" I asked with a smirk.
"I thought I might see if he wanted to learn some meditation techniques," he said with a shrug. "It might help with the nightmares--or at least the fatigue."
"You're gonna teach him to meditate?" asked Quatre.
Chang nodded.
Trowa gave a wry chuckle. "Fuck, detective, if you just let him have a joint or two he'd mellow out more than all the meditation in the world would make him do."
"No pot!" I growled quickly, heading off Chang's tirade.
But amazingly he just shrugged. "We've nothing of the sort here, Barton, as you know. Dare we trust that you got rid of all that you brought?"
"Of course. Quatre said to, and Duo and I did," replied the stripper.
Chang gave a curt nod. "Even if we did have any, it would be illegal and hypocritical of me to offer it to him. Besides, I can teach him to relax without it...and without sex, for that matter."
Barton laughed aloud. "Duo? Without sex?" He shook his head, bemused. "What a waste that'd be!"
Amen to that!
"He survived without it until you got here," Chang pointed out, in his ignorance.
Trowa gave him a stern, narrow-eyed look. "I didn't fuck him last night, Chang. Or the night before. I'm his friend--not that it's any of your business." His glance slid towards Winner as if to acknowledge that it was his business.
"Is that what you call it?" Wufei said with a trace of a sneer. "The way you peeled off his clothes the other night...well can you blame me for expecting you to finish what you started?"
I shook my head, dismissing the entire conversation. While secretly relieved that my partner seemed totally unaware of the fact that something had happened between Duo and me, I didn't care to listen to the ongoing debate over Barton and his relationship, especially since I knew the truth.
I stood up and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Quatre asked quietly.
"To talk to Duo--to make sure he'll be all right with Wufei."
A smile quirked the lawyer's lips. "That's very sweet of you."
I gave one of my terse grunts and strode out before he could expand our conversation to include the others. Sweet, indeed!
"Duo--let me in, please." I tapped lightly on the door.
"'S open," came a muffled grunt.
I walked in to see Maxwell sprawled across his bed, glaring up at me like the petulant child Chang had described. He was--adorable.
"What're you smiling about?" he asked, pushing himself up onto an elbow.
I shook my head. "Tell me it's not amusing to see a former gang-banger slash stripper slash drug lord's lover pouting on his bed like a little kid."
His lower lip started to move in a definite pout, and then he pressed his mouth shut stubbornly, though I could see he was fighting a smirk. "Not pouting," he finally managed to mumble. "Sulking."
I grinned. "Close enough." Speaking of which, I didn't dare get closer to him--it was just too tempting seeing him stretched across that mattress, his shirt riding up to expose a strip of flesh above his jeans. "I just want you to understand, I wouldn't leave you alone with Chang on a whim, Duo. I really need to place surveillance across the lake, and I think Barton and Winner want to be together away from my partner's scowling disapproval. Don't you agree?"
He rolled onto his back, folding his arms across his chest, and my gaze slid down to his now-exposed navel. "His disapproval didn't keep 'em out of the hot tub last night."
"He was asleep."
"Tro' and Quat have nothing to hide. They can do what they want regardless of Chang's opinion. Unlike you."
"All right. Yes, you're right," I admitted in frustration.
"You haven't given me a good reason I can't go," he pointed out, warming to his argument.
"Isn't my fear for your life reason enough?"
"Don't you mean fear for your bargaining chip?"
"No, I don't."
He gave me a skeptical look. "What was in your coffee this morning, Yuy? Last night you were a total ass to me."
"Last night I was--" What to say? Jealous? Tense? Exhausted? "I was judging you unfairly. I thought you were after Winner, rather than trying to fix him up with Barton. I was wrong. And I'm sorry."
"Now I know you aren't Yuy." He pushed himself up off the bed, giving me a wary, sidelong glance. "I'm going out to the kitchen where there are no pod people."
"Duo--"
"See? There you go again!" he snapped, now looking a bit irritated. "Where d'you get off calling me Duo? I was always Maxwell to you. Why the sudden change?"
I fumbled for a logical reason to give him for my change in attitude. "Can't I just be nice for a change?"
"No! Not you," he insisted. "What's going on anyway? Did Po change her mind about protecting me? Is that it? You're going to take me back and let me deal with Khushrenada on my own, aren't you?"
"What? No!" I shook my head. "Where'd you get an idiotic notion like that?"
"Then what are you up to? Why are you trying to be so fuckin' human all of a sudden?"
"I have no idea," I sighed, weary of the pointless discussion. "I have to go."
He looked dismayed and I realized that the dialogue he'd suckered me into was nothing more than a stalling tactic. He really didn't want to be alone with my partner.
I turned for the door, glancing back over my shoulder. "Bye, Maxwell. Have a nice day with Chang."
He gave a frustrated huff, and scowled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Fine. Go. You and the two loverboys can have a nice goddamned day for all I care. Maybe Tro' will give me a sympathy fuck when he gets back."
I winced at that, though he couldn't see it while I had my back to him. "Thought you gave him up to Winner," I said, aiming for nonchalance in my voice and instead coming out with a rather surly growl.
"That was before I knew I'd need some serious stress relief after you stuck me with Chang all day." He pushed past me with none of the usual teasing in his gestures, and stalked back downstairs.
When I got to the kitchen, he was sitting on Trowa's lap, facing the exotic dancer with his arms wrapped around his neck, and leaning in to whisper in his ear.
I glared at Barton, wanting him to disentangle himself--wanting him to prove he'd been serious about not fucking Duo. But instead, his arms slid around the slender waist, and he nuzzled Duo's hair, murmuring a husky reply.
Duo leaned into him, turning his face towards Quatre. "Y'wouldn't mind, would you?"
Mind what?
"Of course not."
I gaped at the attorney, wondering what he'd just agreed to. From where I was standing, it looked like Duo had asked for that "sympathy fuck" and been given permission--by both Barton and Winner.
"Jesus fucking Christ!" I spat, walking over to grab a rifle, binoculars, and my case of electronic equipment. "Can we just get the hell out of here?"
I fumed all the way to the boat, as the others tagged along, including Maxwell, who kept himself plastered to Barton's side, touching and teasing incessantly.
He sure knew how to play to an audience--the little brat. I didn't know if he was shooting for making me jealous (face it, he knew I wanted him, no matter how much I'd been fighting it) or making Chang uncomfortable about being alone with him (yeah, he knew the bigger the demonstration of physical affection, the more my partner would squirm). But I didn't care.
"Behave," I snarled curtly, stepping into the boat as Winner prepared to start the engine and Barton tossed in some life jackets.
"Of course I will," Duo shot back. "Badly."
"We'll be fine," Wufei assured me, stepping up alongside our edgy witness and gesturing towards the house. "Come on, Maxwell. It's time to get you out of the open. You can help me with the breakfast dishes."
"Dishes--?" I heard Duo wail in horror, just before Quatre started the engine and I cast off the line.
Then we were maneuvering away from the dock and turning towards the wide expanse of the lake. My last view of Maxwell he was arguing with Chang, waving his arms theatrically, and receiving only a bland, unruffled stare in return.
~*~
Racing across the lake in Winner's sleek speedboat was an experience I wouldn't soon forget. It wasn't a large boat, but was comfortably roomy and zipped across the lake with smooth power.
Yes, I knew Duo would have loved it. Anyone as addicted to adrenaline as he seemed would definitely find the whipping wind and throaty roar of the engine totally exhilarating.
As for me, my enjoyment of the ride was tempered by irritation at the way Barton had played along with Maxwell. He knew how I felt--he'd fucking encouraged it--and yet he allowed his former lover to hang all over him. And if he'd promised him a "sympathy fuck," I was going to call him on it. After all his adamant denials that there was still a physical relationship there, I expected him to at least try to resist temptation.
Possessive much, Yuy?
Yes!
When we'd crossed a huge expanse of water, and were cruising an open stretch, Winner shut the motor off, allowing us to drift along the smooth surface of the lake in total, blissful silence.
"Wow!" breathed Barton, eyes wide as he took in the pristine landscape. "Quatre, this is incredible!" His smile had a wistful edge. "We've gotta bring Duo out here. He's never gotten to enjoy something like this!"
Duo again! Why did he always have to think about Duo first and foremost? Goddamnit, I was jealous! I suddenly recalled I'd meant to share the loon's call with my city-born witness. But that had never transpired, since we'd ended up at odds over finding out about the phone call he'd made.
"It's not safe to have Maxwell out here," I said a bit more harshly than necessary. "Look how exposed we are. Anyone on that shore--"
"There's no one!" Barton snapped back, glaring. "Jesus, Yuy, we're really in the wilderness here."
"No, we're not. We're at a Winner family estate. And I'm not careless enough to assume Khushrenada won't be trying to track down each and every one!"
"That could take ages. Why not let Duo enjoy it while he can?"
"Because my job is keeping him alive!"
"Right...and mine's fucking him, according to you," the stripper shot back. "I think we've both got the wrong job description right now."
"Guys!" Quatre's voice was stern and yet vaguely plaintive. "Please, let's just take a moment to regroup. Certainly it's natural that Trowa wants Duo to get to enjoy the lake, however briefly. And likewise, Heero, you want to keep him safe. I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. Perhaps those surveillance devices you're installing will provide sufficient security in the cove by the cottage, hm?"
"Maybe. Once I get them appropriately placed."
"Then let's get to it." Quatre moved to restart the engine. But before he could, our lazy drifting ground to a sudden halt, throwing all three of us to the floor of the boat.
"What the--?" Trowa blurted.
"Shit!" Quatre scrambled up and looked ruefully over the side of the boat. "Damn it! I forgot about that."
"What?" I demanded, getting up and rubbing a bruised hip I'd banged on one of the seats.
"There's a big flat rock out here in the middle of the lake. When it's been particularly dry, sometimes the water level drops enough to expose it."
"I don't see a rock," Trowa noted.
"It's just below the surface. Just close enough to ground the boat."
Sure enough, we were tilted slightly, stranded high and dry on that blasted rock. If I squinted into the darkness of the water, I could just make out the uneven stone surface.
"Lucky we were just drifting," Quatre commented, hopping over the side into water that was less than knee-deep. "We're just stuck. If we'd been under power, we might've ripped a hole in the boat." He leaned his back against the side of the boat and heaved mightily, but it didn't budge.
"Hn," I muttered, looking over at him. "We're stuck pretty solidly," I pointed out. "Let me help." I joined him over the side, placing my shoulder against the boat. "On three?"
"Careful," he cautioned. "The rock ends suddenly...step too far and you'll be right in over your head."
"I can swim."
"Okay then." He looked up at Barton. "Be ready to help us back in. Once the boat's afloat, we'll need a hand over the side."
"You've got it!"
With Winner and I both heaving against the heavy boat, it rocked a bit, slipping partway off the rock. On our second heave, it slid free about the time I think I pulled something in my back.
"Ow, shit!" I growled, stumbling and nearly falling into the deeper water.
"You okay?"
"Pulled a muscle," I replied, rubbing my shoulder and wriggling to try to ease the pain. "Nothing drastic."
"A good soak in the hot tub might help," Barton teased, as he held out a hand to assist Quatre into the boat.
"Not with you two," I said quickly.
They both blushed at once. "Wh-what do you mean?" Quatre stuttered.
"I mean, Duo came in well before you last night. I have no interest in sharing a hot tub with two guys who want to make out," I said, without telling them I'd seen their little tryst the night before.
"Oh."
Barton eyed me challengingly. "You could invite Duo in."
I glared back. "If you don't beat me to it," I replied, knowing there wasn't much point in dancing around my sexual orientation in front of Winner. He knew. Of that I was sure.
"I told you..."
"Yes, and then this morning you offered him a sympathy fuck," I grumbled, hauling myself over the side before he could try to assist.
"What? When?"
"He was sitting on your lap, whispering his request in your ear."
Barton laughed aloud. "He wanted us to watch another movie tonight when we got back," he told me.
I glanced between him and Winner, recalling the lawyer "not minding" whatever it was Duo had requested. Shit! Once again, I'd jumped to exactly the wrong conclusion. Granted, this time I'd had help--Duo had clearly set me up.
Trowa shook his head. "Yuy, you have got to stop doubting me. I told you I'm not fucking him and I meant it. Why do you think I get so annoyed that you seemed to think that's why I came?"
"Well, why did you?"
He shook his head. "I came to be his friend. And because I wanted to be near Quatre and have a chance to get...closer." He gave a shy smile to his new lover.
Quatre beamed back. "I'm glad you did," he said dreamily.
Sorry I asked.
I refrained from gagging as I took my now-soggy shoes off and set them on one of the seats to dry. "Could we just get back to work, please? I've got a lot of surveillance to set up before I'll be remotely at ease allowing Duo onto the lake."
"Then let's get to it!" urged the lawyer, giving Barton's hand a squeeze as he passed him on the way to restart the boat.
"Wait a sec!" I interrupted, suddenly recalling Winner's promise of discussing backup plans for Duo's safety. "You mentioned some contingency plans. Would now be the time to discuss them?"
"It's as good as any," he shrugged, settling onto the seat and letting the boat continue to drift on the tranquil water. "As you said before, Treize will eventually track down this location. It only stands to reason, because of its proximity to the hunting lodge. If he knew you lost the SUV, he'd also know you couldn't have gotten too far."
I grunted my acknowledgement, none too pleased at having to admit my greatest fear.
"So...obviously you, Chang and Duo need to plan your next move."
I gave a curt nod, letting my gaze follow a hawk, gliding peacefully on a thermal.
"Trowa is the one who provided a solution."
I looked rather sullenly at the green-eyed man. "Of course," I said snidely.
He ignored my irritability. "There's some property up along the coast, owned by the circus I work for part-time. While they're traveling, it's unoccupied--a big farmhouse and a couple of barns--even some pens for the animals in the off season. Right now, my friend Catherine is there. She broke her ankle and has to stay out for the season. Rather than haul her around as dead weight, they put her up there to rest and look after any animals that get sick or injured and need down time."
"You want us to stay at a circus-owned farm?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "You really think Ma--Duo will go along with that?"
"I know he will," Barton assured me. "He's met Catherine before, so he'll at least have a familiar face there to reassure him."
"You aren't planning on coming?" I asked, glancing between him and Quatre.
The lawyer shook his head. "That's part B of the plan...Trowa and I will play 'decoy,' and go in the opposite direction.
"Decoy?" I asked suspiciously. "How?"
"I'll dye my hair dark to match yours, and Trowa will wear a hair extension--a braid..."
"No!" I snapped, standing up so quickly the boat rocked from side to side. "It's out of the question!"
"But Yuy--"
"No!" I glared at them both, knowing the fury in my eyes was enough to intimidate the most dauntless soul. "You have no idea what you're contemplating! Those were real fucking bullets they shot at us. You saw your cabin, Winner! Jesus Christ, you can't be serious!"
"We'd only try to confuse the trail," Barton spoke up carefully. "It's not like we'd actually try to draw fire."
I turned my most heated glare on him. "But you would," I snarled. "You'd very possibly be followed from the moment you left this property. And you'd almost certainly be shot at, or have some kind of attempt made on your lives!"
"We're aware of the danger," Quatre began diplomatically.
"No, you're not!" I insisted. "You weren't there while we were dodging bullets and tear gas! This isn't a game, counselor; it's life and death!"
"All the more reason for you to accept our help--" Trowa intervened.
I turned on him sharply. "You can help by taking care of Maxwell. You aren't here to get shot at. Duo would have a fit if he knew you were trying to talk me into letting you risk your lives."
"I don't care!" Barton snapped back. "If it's for Duo, I'll do anything--!"
"Even risk Quatre?" I asked, knowing I was playing a trump card the minute Barton's gaze turned agonized and slid over to the lawyer.
"Shit..."
"Trowa, it's okay!" Quatre said hastily, shooting me a scowl. "I accept the risk!"
"But I can't," Trowa conceded, giving me a resigned look, and then focusing on his lover again. "God, Quat, he's right. I fuckin' love Duo like a brother--but you--? If anything happened to you, I don't think I could go on."
"Oh, Trowa."
Then they were in each other's arms again, clinging desperately and murmuring endearments. Only this time I didn't feel like puking. I felt--a bit envious. I wanted someone to care that much about me.
And not just any "someone."
"I'm sorry," I said quietly. "I know you both want to help. But the last thing Duo would want is for you to get hurt trying. You know that as well as I do."
Winner turned a resigned face my way. "Yes, of course," he sighed. "It was--a good plan. But you're right--he'd never agree to it."
"Of course not. You know how he is about his friends. It was Barton's mention of the orphanage that swayed him to testify in the first place. You two are the last people he'd want in the line of fire." I managed a wry smile. "Chang and I, on the other hand..."
Winner shot me a stern look. "Don't sell yourself short, detective," he urged. "I already told you Duo trusts you two. And honestly, I'd have to say he likes you both. In spite of his smart mouth and his sniping about cops, he wouldn't want either one of you to die for him."
"It's my job," I said dismissively.
Winner shook his head. "Your job is to keep him alive, Heero--not to die for him."
"No," agreed Barton. "On the contrary, I'm sure he'd rather you live for him."
I wasn't sure if he was sliding a double meaning in there on purpose, though I knew him well enough by this time to suspect he was. "I have every intention of surviving this assignment," I said stiffly. "And of keeping Duo alive. The circus place you mentioned sounds promising, Barton, and I will have you give me directions to it and contact information. But that's as far as your contingency plan goes. We'll all go into hiding together, if need be. Or you two will go somewhere safe by yourselves. But there'll be no playing decoy--no endangering your lives needlessly. Am I clear?"
"Crystal," came Trowa's rather disgruntled reply.
I was spared further debate when Quatre started up the motor and set the boat into motion again, speeding us on our way across the lake to set up my surveillance.
~*~
We began our project at the farthest point I thought my equipment could transmit back to the laptop. While it was state of the art stuff, it had limits. I'd tested it to a full mile, but this time I'd be placing the mini cam a solid two miles from the cabin. I wasn't at all sure the signal would reach.
Nonetheless, I had Winner slow the boat near a tree-lined section of shore, planning to hop out into the shallows and wade to where I wanted the first unit placed.
"There's a dock just around the next bend," he told me, smirking a little as I swung a leg over the side.
I turned back to face him. "A dock?"
He nodded. "My sister and her husband enjoy riding their ATV's out here," he explained. "There's a dock and a garage."
"And how many ATV's?" Barton asked, looking intrigued.
"Four. In case of guests," Quatre told him. "Want to go riding?"
"Maybe another time," he suggested. "When we don't have a chaperone, or people to get back to."
"Don't let me hold you back," I advised, as Winner idled the engine, slowly maneuvering the boat around the peninsula and into the cove he'd mentioned.
Sure enough, there was a dock and a garage, and soon we had the boat tied up, and were hiking to high ground to set up my observation camera.
"You aren't holding us back," Trowa told me. "I just don't want to leave Duo with your anal partner any longer than necessary."
"Chang will behave," I assured him. "He promised. And one thing he does is keep his promises."
"Well that's good to know," Winner replied, gesturing me to a stand of trees near the water. "You might find a spot there for your camera."
"Hn." I eyed the view critically, hoping for a more or less direct line of sight towards the lake house. Electronics often transmit better in straight lines.
"You look less than enthusiastic," Barton commented, as I strapped the unit to a sturdy tree trunk.
"I'm just not sure how far this will transmit," I admitted. "And I hate to waste it if it's useless to us."
"You won't," Quatre assured me. "We can come back out tomorrow to make adjustments if you need to." He raised a pale blonde eyebrow. "Perhaps Duo could join us."
"We'll see."
I kept at my work, ignoring the hand-holding and murmured endearments going on behind me all day long. Oh sure, Trowa helped out now and then, especially once when I wanted a sensor placed fairly high in a tree.
Honestly, watching the muscular legs and ass flex as he climbed the tree made me begin to see what both Duo and Quatre had found so attractive about him; I mean, beyond the killer smile and the positively sexy green eyes.
And no, there's no need to point out I'd noticed his animal magnetism back at The Jungle, long before I knew a thing about his relationship with Duo. The guy was hot; there was just no denying that.
"Delicious, isn't he?" Winner asked, sidling up beside me to enjoy the view.
"I--wouldn't know," I said stiffly, tearing my eyes away.
"Take my word for it then," smirked the lawyer.
"So--you're serious about him?"
"Very."
I gave a curt nod. "I think he's serious about you as well."
I got a curious look and a raised eyebrow. "Really? Who told you that?"
"I might've overheard a conversation or two," I admitted.
"Eavesdropping again?"
"Being observant," I corrected him.
He smirked enigmatically. "Two can play at that game. Don't think your attraction to Duo has gone unnoticed."
"Who wouldn't be attracted?" I shrugged. "Even you are...or were."
"Wondering about competition?" he teased. "Don't worry. He's only got eyes for you, apparently."
"Oh?" Why did my pulse flutter at that innocuous statement? "So have you been eavesdropping, too?"
"He told me," came an answer so guileless and straightforward that I nearly choked.
I turned a disbelieving look to Winner. "What did he tell you?"
"I think his exact words were that he had it bad for 'the really hot detective,'" he said frankly. His aquamarine eyes pinned me with a knowing gaze. "I know this isn't an ideal situation, Yuy. But whether you know it or not, you're kind of an anchor for Duo--someone solid and dependable, to protect him and care for him."
"I thought that's what Barton was."
"Trowa's someone for Duo to lean on and confide in--a friend. But you--you're someone he's clearly drawn to."
I rubbed a hand across my face. "Look, counselor, stop pushing, all right? Anything that might happen--it's between me and Duo. Besides," I added, turning away before I had to meet those discerning blue eyes, "it'll be over the minute he steps into the relocation program anyway." Goddamnit!
I was lousy company the rest of the morning, effectively shutting out both Winner and Barton any time they tried to start a dialogue. I'd already dealt with the realization that I felt something for Duo--I sure as hell didn't need to dwell on it, and what would happen when I had to let him go.
I was going to live for that "moment" he'd talked about, and try to enjoy what time I had with him...find out his likes and dislikes (those he hadn't already made abundantly clear)...learn about his hopes and dreams...and maybe even open up and tell him some of mine. But I'd do it in my own time--not Barton's, and not Winner's.
Hell, it could take weeks or even months for the trial date to be set. And as long as Chang and I kept Maxwell safe, there'd be time for all I wanted to know. If I could just be discrete enough to keep my partner from dwelling on his suspicions about my sexual orientation, I might make it through the assignment after all. I might even gain something precious out of it. A memory, if nothing else.
God, I was getting sappier than the two lovers making eyes at each other behind me. I needed to focus on my work and try to shut out their obviously contagious dreaminess.
By early afternoon, I'd set up as many cameras and sensors as I felt I could spare, and the three of us broke out some bottles of water and juice, and sandwiches Winner had made.
We were almost done eating when my cell phone rang, nearly startling me into falling overboard. "What the fuck?" No one had that number--except Po and Chang. Shit! "Yuy here!"
"Get back to the house, now," came Wufei's tense voice.
I thought I heard the sound of breaking glass and yelling in the background, but I couldn't be sure. "Are you under attack?" Even as I asked, I was waving Quatre to get the boat moving.
"No attack," Chang answered curtly. "But there was something on the news--Maxwell's gone off the deep end--"
And then the roar of the engine drowned out everything else.
"On our way!" I shouted into the phone, before shutting it and stuffing it back into my pocket.
We made record time across that lake. If I thought Winner had been showing off his boat's speed before, I was way off base. The swift flight across that expanse of water proved to me there was a state of the art engine propelling us along.
Even as we neared the dock, I could see Duo running down the hill from the house, with Wufei clinging to one arm trying to hold him back--or at least slow him down.
Barton leapt from the boat a good three feet from the dock, sprinting to meet his ex-lover with me at his heels.
"Tro'!" came a broken, hoarse voice, as Duo threw himself into his arms. "Dead! They're all dead!"
"Who's dead?" I demanded, looking first at Maxwell and then at Chang.
My partner shook his head sadly. "There was a gas line explosion at an orphanage," he said in a rather ragged whisper.
"Oh fuck."
TBC...
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