Author's Note: I'm going to say this at the beginning of the next few chapters, and then not repeat it again, okay? Just for the record, I DON'T do death fics. Please keep that in mind.
Witness Protection Part 52
R&R
I tried to keep talking to Duo, if only to maintain consciousness--but it was a losing battle. By the time Chang took the driver's seat, and Catherine climbed in beside him, I could feel myself fading.
I was dimly aware of the motion of the car from time to time, and the steady throb of my shoulder. But even that eventually faded into oblivion, and I must've slept.
~*~
I woke slowly to near-darkness, feeling the motion of the car, and hearing the steady thwap of windshield wipers and rain drumming on the roof. My head was resting on something warm and yielding--and when fingers brushed lightly across my forehead as if checking for fever, I guessed it was Duo's lap.
"...how's he doing?"
"Okay, I think." The fingers traced lightly down my face, and his hand settled on my chest. "Goddamnit, Chang--this wasn't supposed to happen!"
"I know, Maxwell. But considering the situation, and the opposition we face, it's not exactly surprising."
"I don't want you guys to die for me!" Duo said fiercely.
"And we won't," my partner soothed. "But neither will we let you die. Remember, our job is to keep you alive."
"What's the point, if Heero--?" Duo sighed in a frustrated huff of breath. "Look, Chang--I know you guys have done your best. Honestly. You've gone above and beyond."
"So have you, Maxwell. So have you. You've been calmer under fire and more capable than ninety percent of protected witnesses. You've made it through some very tough circumstances."
"Only because you two busted your asses," Duo replied firmly. "So if anything goes wrong--"
"It won't."
"But if it does--I need you to do me a favor."
"Maxwell--"
"'Fei--just listen to the favor before you argue with me. If something happens, or even if it doesn't--if they succeed in shipping me off into relocation--would you--take care of Heero for me?"
"Jesus," muttered my partner.
"Please."
"You don't have to beg," came the quick, firm reply. "He's my partner, and my friend. I'd take care of him whether you asked me to or not."
"I know," Duo sighed. "I just needed to hear you say it--that you'll be there for him, an' make sure he's okay, no matter what happens."
"I will. And I'd do the same for you, Maxwell."
I heard a quick, indrawn breath. "Y'mean that, Chang?"
"I wouldn't say it if I didn't."
"But--we haven't exactly been--pals--you an' me."
"Oh, Maxwell." My partner chuckled warmly. "Maybe not--but we're getting there."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Duo's fingers were lightly rubbing along the edge of my collar, and I decided their little chit-chat was winding down. So I shifted slightly and made noise to indicate I was waking up.
"Hey, lover," came a whisper of warm breath in my ear. "You back with us?"
"Hn," I grunted noncommittally, wincing as I moved my injured arm.
"Careful," he soothed. "Right now it's not bleeding. Y'don't want to start it up again."
"Yuy? You awake?" came Chang's voice, with an undercurrent of concern I knew well.
"Unfortunately," I quipped dryly.
"We stopped at a pharmacy and picked up supplies. When we've traded vehicles and found a place to rest, Catherine will get that bullet out and bind the wound properly."
"Swell." I didn't even want to think about how much that was going to hurt. So my mind moved on to other concerns. "Trade vehicles? How?"
"Barton's on his way to meet us. We decided this car probably has a GPS unit, and that our enemies will pinpoint its location as soon as they discover we've taken it."
That made sense--unpleasant and inconvenient sense.
"But if Barton's driving it, he'll be in harm's way--"
"Tro' has a plan," Duo assured me. "We're meeting him near a freight yard, and he's gonna put the SUV on a train headed west and hitch a ride somewhere Quatre will be waiting to pick him up."
I blinked sleepily. "Too complicated," I muttered, raising my good hand and rubbing at my eyes. "Can't think that well."
Duo chuckled quietly. "Then don't. Just rest, love, and put yourself in our capable hands, hm?"
I nodded, already drifting again, and let myself ease back into the painless oblivion of sleep.
~*~
The next time I awakened it was to a cool rush of air as the car door was opened and hands lifted me from the seat.
"Careful--"
"Watch the shoulder--"
"Shh--try not to wake him--"
"--blankets and heater on--brought forceps and needles--plus a disposable cell phone."
"You're the best, Tro'."
"--just glad you're all okay. And Cathy--"
"I'm fine!"
"I know--just--when I heard you were with them--"
"--not her idea."
"When I think what could've happened to her--to all of you--"
"--didn't."
"Thank God. Quatre's frantic--"
The voices went on conversing in fragmented whispers around me as I was bundled into a different vehicle, wrapped in warm blankets, and tucked in with my head once again pillowed in Duo's lap.
At least I hoped it was his--as I didn't relish the thought of resting my head on my still mildly homophobic partner's crotch.
The thought made me chuckle weakly, and gentle fingers immediately ran through my hair in a soothing gesture.
"Shh, love. We're almost there. Just have to find the hotel where Cathy booked a room."
"Huh?"
"She checked the map and called a place further down the coast. We've got a room reserved, and she'll get you all patched up."
"Safe?"
"It'll be very safe," he promised. "We're in a new car--not traceable or trackable. And no one knows where we're headed except you, me, Cathy an' Wufei. Not even Trowa."
"Gotta get you to court--" I recalled, wondering if I'd lost more than a day in my haze of pain.
"Plenty of time. Would you just stand the fuck down and let us handle it?"
I managed a ghost of a smile at Duo's exasperated tone. "My job--" I reminded him. "And my love."
His rebuttal was cut short, and I heard a soft groan of longing. "Yeah, and you're mine." Soft lips brushed my forehead and then my lips. "Promise me forever?"
"Forever," I agreed promptly.
And then just as promptly, I dozed off again, lulled by the motion of the car as it pulled away from the curb and onto the smooth highway.
~*~
The next time I woke, I felt more alert than the previous times. Once again the vehicle was stopped, and I heard voices and doors opening and closing.
"Which cabin--?"
"Twelve--off by itself--"
"Perfect."
The car was set into motion again, though only for a short distance, and then pulled onto a bumpy surface--grass I guessed--and came to a stop before the engine was shut off.
"Home, sweet home," Wufei said wearily. I could hear the yawn in his voice. "I could sleep for a week."
"If you'd let me do some driving--" Duo began.
"And have me take a turn as Yuy's pillow? I think not."
"Cathy could've--"
"Not on my watch."
"Jesus, Chang--he's gay. He wouldn't give a shit if he was fuckin' face down in her lap--"
"Stop now!"
"Man. Touchy."
I heard Catherine's soft laugh, and something about how endearing it was that Wufei was possessive. Or maybe she said "possessed;" I was delirious with pain, so I couldn't tell for sure.
I must have groaned aloud, still feeling the ache from being bounced by the uneven driveway, because Duo's voice promptly spoke in my ear. "Sorry. No more jostling as soon as we get you inside and into bed."
I forced myself to sit up, determined not to be carried again. "I can make it," I lied boldly.
Duo's wide eyes studied my face, apparently not liking what he saw. "You're white as a sheet. Let Chang and me carry you."
"You can help me," I conceded. "But I'm walking."
"Fuckin' stubborn cop," he muttered, pulling away and swinging the door wide so that he and my partner could help me out.
I almost succeeded in walking, except that my knees didn't seem to want to support me. So it ended up with Wufei bracing me up on one side, and Duo on the other--essentially carrying me upright into the cottage and depositing me on a soft, downy mattress.
God, it felt Heavenly compared to a vinyl car seat.
While I savored the warmth and softness of my new resting place, the others moved around the small cabin, bringing in our belongings and getting us settled in.
Duo headed for the kitchenette, asking which kind of soup Catherine thought would be best for me, and she called back 'chicken' and something about boiling some water to sterilize forceps.
Oh, shit. There was still that damned bullet to deal with.
At my quiet groan, Duo appeared by my side, brushing my hair back and leaning in to kiss my forehead. "Hang on," he urged. "We're almost set up. Cathy will tend that wound, and then I've got some soup heating up so we can get a bit of nutrition into you."
"Mother hen," I scolded teasingly.
"You bet your ass."
I closed my eyes and just listened to the soft murmur of voices, resigning myself to being useless until I was properly bandaged and fed. But after that, I was going to be firmly in charge again.
~*~
It didn't seem like long before Duo was at my side again. On Catherine's orders, he put a folded towel under my injured shoulder, and brought a table lamp over to shine brightly while the girl worked.
She cut away my shirt with practiced ease, using a warm, wet cloth to soak it enough to loosen the dried blood. And then she nodded to Wufei, who eased up to the side away from Duo.
"You don't need to hold me down," I said through gritted teeth. "I'm not a fucking baby."
"No--but you might jerk involuntarily--and that could cause me to injure you more," Catherine explained gently. "The forceps are going to be very uncomfortable when I go fishing for that bullet."
"Just do it," I growled.
She glanced at Chang for permission, and he gave a tight nod.
I had to admit, the girl was no liar. When she started poking around in my wounded shoulder with those goddamned forceps, it felt like a hot knife sliding into the flesh.
I'd like to say I didn't so much as whimper--but I'm fairly sure I did. I might even have let slip a whine or two, as she pried the first fragment of metal out and dropped it into a dish with a solid clunk.
I know I had a death grip on one of Duo's hands; it's a wonder I didn't break it. But he kept up a steady, soothing monologue--prattling on about the beautiful scenery around the cottage, and how he'd take me out to see it as soon as Catherine said it was okay.
And amazingly, his soft, beloved voice did help distract me from the positively excruciating pain as the girl from the circus dug out the second, and final, piece of bullet.
Then she was packing the wound with antibiotic ointment and wrapping it tightly, while Duo used a damp cloth to wipe the sweat off my forehead, and Wufei fetched a cup of cool water, so I could wash down a couple of pain pills as well as slake my suddenly-acute thirst.
"Takes a lot outta ya, doesn't it?" Duo asked gently, mopping my face with the towel and gazing lovingly at me with those warm indigo eyes. "I know my stitches were nowhere near as awful--"
"Don't belittle what you went through," I managed, feeling an easing of pain already, and the beginnings of exhaustion setting in. "Your injury was just as bad. We were just able to tend it a bit quicker."
He smiled wryly. "Tough guy."
"You know it." I mustered up what must have been a weak smile, hoping to allay his concern. "Now what was that you said about soup?"
"Comin' right up!"
As embarrassing as it is to admit, Duo had to spoon feed me that damned soup, as my limbs seemed suddenly too heavy to lift. But with the patience of a saint, he poured in one mouthful at a time until he'd emptied the bowl he brought.
"Good boy," he said teasingly, leaning to kiss me and then lick the taste of chicken soup off my lips. "Mmm--yummy, too."
"Need sleep," I admitted ruefully, finding I was too worn out to even get aroused by his sensual eating habits.
"Wow--guess you do," he admitted, sitting back and removing the hand that had slipped unnoticed down to my groin.
"Dun w'rry," I mumbled, my eyelids drooping. "M'lest you later..."
"Promises, promises," he chuckled, dropping one final kiss on my forehead before getting up and heading back to the kitchenette.
I was asleep before the feeling of his lips on my forehead faded away.
~*~
When the bright sunlight streaming through the window hit my face the next morning, I finally returned to the Land of the Living. I mean really returned.
I woke up clear-headed, if a bit stiff and sore, to find Duo curled up in bed beside me--but conspicuously not draped over me.
He looked--haggard. In the harsh morning light, it was easy to see the dark circles under his eyes, and the tight lines around his mouth, and I felt a pang of guilt for making him worry so much.
When I gently kissed his cheek, the indigo eyes fluttered open, and then crinkled at the corners as Duo smiled widely. "Feelin' better?"
"Much," I assured him.
He snuggled closer, sliding a careful arm across my stomach, and tucking his head against my uninjured shoulder. "You scared the shit out of me yesterday, y'know. You were so--out of it."
"I'm right back 'in it,'" I promised. "A little rest and food was all I needed, once Catherine got the bullet out."
He nodded, leaning up to kiss my jaw and the corner of my mouth. "Don't rush it, though. You need even more rest, before you'll be ready to jump back into action."
"If I could have a hot cup of coffee and an even hotter shower, I think I'd be functional again," I hazarded.
The amused eyes half-closed, giving me a sultry look from under heavy lids. "You won't be able to reach your back--not with that shoulder. Can I help?"
"I insist."
He grinned wickedly, and slid out from under the covers, padding across the room and throwing on his clothes. "I'll go brew up that coffee, and make you something to eat. You're gonna need your strength in that shower."
I smirked back, and then out of habit looked for my partner, to see if he was awake and scowling disapprovingly at my lover's suggestive commentary.
"Where are Chang and Catherine?" I asked, realizing the little bedroom had only the one bed in it.
"They, um, agreed that being mature adults they could share the other bedroom without any--impropriety."
I could tell he was quoting Chang, and found myself smirking. "Chang Wufei shared a room with an unmarried woman?"
"I'm pretty sure he was planning to sleep on the floor," Duo shrugged. "Wanna take bets on whether he really did?"
"Leave him be, Duo," I cautioned. "It's taken weeks to break down his rigid inhibitions. Weeks--and a very capable woman. There's no need to aggravate them again."
He pouted adorably. "I can't even tease them about what might have happened?"
"Not a word."
"You're a romantic sap, Yuy. You know that?"
"If I am, it's entirely your fault."
He rolled his eyes, and tossed his braid over his shoulder. "Fine. I'll let 'em be, even if they do deserve some teasing for all the dancing around each other they did."
The soft smile on his lips as he headed for the door assured me that he'd never really intended to harass them. Even he had enough of a sense of romance to not want to spoil what Wufei and Catherine had started together.
I hoped it lasted, and that Catherine made my partner feel the way Duo made me feel.
He returned with my cup of coffee before I'd mustered the resolve to sit up. I knew my shoulder was going to be stiff as hell, and that I'd be wobbly on my feet.
I think Duo did as well, for he sat on the edge of the bed and helped me sit up, propping pillows behind me to keep me upright.
"Here's your caffeine fix. Can you manage it on your own while I make breakfast?"
"Sure. And by the time you're done, I can probably stagger out to eat at the table."
"Not until Cathy wakes up and checks you out," he warned. "I'll bring your meal in here, and as soon as she clears you to get out of bed, I'll jump your bones in the shower--er--help you to the shower."
"I liked your first idea better," I assured him. "Though it might have to wait until I can stand unassisted."
Mischief entered the deep eyes. "Y'don't have to be standing."
Oooh...wasn't that the truth?
~*~
In spite of his bold words, by the time I'd eaten breakfast and procured Catherine's permission to wobble my way to the shower, Duo was too busy fussing over me to even think about sex in the shower.
He worried about the throw rug having a rubber backing on it so I wouldn't slip and fall. He was even more paranoid about an accident in the shower, going so far as to check for those little sticky things that added traction to the bottom of the tub. And although he climbed under the hot water with me, his hands were quick and gentle, rather than teasing and seductive. He washed my hair for me, scrubbed my back, and rinsed me off, almost before the feel of his hands on my skin had gotten me aroused.
Almost.
I caught him as he reached for the spigot. "I'm not done!"
He turned to give me a puzzled look, and then his gaze slid down my body, coming to rest on my groin, and the slight 'problem' he'd caused just by his naked presence.
"Seriously?" he asked, looking searchingly at me.
"Hey, if I'm strong enough to get an erection--I think I'll survive putting it to good use." I tugged him up against me, reveling in the feel of slippery skin against my body, and started kissing everything I could reach.
He melted into my arms, groaning and returning my ardor. And if it hadn't been for my recent ordeal catching up with me, we'd have had some of the hottest, steamiest shower sex ever.
But when I spun to push him up against the tiled wall, a bit of vertigo made me pause and catch myself, and in the next instant he was shutting off the water and grabbing a thick towel to wrap around me.
"You are not strong enough for this yet!" he said accusingly, bundling me into the towel and leading me out of the shower.
"I am," I insisted. "Just--maybe we should take it to the bed."
He gave a chiding snort, toweling me off with ruthless efficiency and then ushering me back to bed and stuffing me under the covers.
By the time he'd removed the soggy bandage from my shoulder and wrapped a clean, dry one in its place, I'd just about given up on the notion of having sex right then.
But he leaned over and kissed me deeply and thoroughly, promptly reawakening my erection. "I'll be right back," he promised. "Gotta wring out the braid or it'll soak us both."
He slipped back into the bathroom, and I settled against the pillows, feeling wonderfully clean and comfortable. "It's okay," I called to him. "You don't have to--"
He came back out, still naked, and stalked slowly across the room. "Don't have to what?"
My throat went a little dry at the sultry look he gave me, and I swallowed a groan. "God, you're gorgeous--" It never ceased to amaze me how much he turned me on.
He sank to his knees on the edge of the bed, and drew back the covers. "Just sit back and relax, lover. I'll take good care of you."
Any reply I might've made was lost in the groan that I couldn't stifle when he ran his tongue along the tip of my erection. And before I could argue that he was being one-sided about this, he deep-throated me and as usual, all coherent thought fled my mind.
I just lay back and lost myself to the incredible sensations of his throat around my cock, and his soft chestnut bangs brushing along my thigh...not to mention the gentle hand that massaged my balls and teased at my entrance.
As I felt my excitement rising to the point of no return, I tried to pull back. "Duo--God, if you keep that up--"
I caught a quick glimpse of mischievous indigo eyes, and then he groaned deep in his throat, the vibrations causing a tidal wave of sensation that had me exploding into his mouth before I could even summon the breath to warn him.
But he swallowed obligingly, the soft constriction of his throat just adding to the euphoric feeling. And then he rose up on hands and knees, straddling me and crawling up towards my chest with an adorably smug look on his face.
"Was it good for you?" he asked slyly.
"Good?" I echoed in a hoarse whisper. "Try spectacular."
"Knee-melting?"
Knee-melting indeed! Duo's skill at blow jobs was nothing short of phenomenal.
"Not just knees--I think you melted every inch of my body."
"Aw, you're just sayin' that," he chided.
"You know by now I don't give empty compliments," I reminded him, running a hand over his cheek and smiling at the way he leaned into the touch. "Now--how 'bout I return the favor? So long as you don't expect me to be half as talented as you are."
He shook his head, brushing the still-damp hair from my forehead. "You just rest, love." His voice was warm and soothing--almost hypnotic.
"But what about you--?"
He gave a smile and a shake of his head. "Lover--making you feel good is as satisfying as any sex could ever be. I can wait until you're back to a hundred percent. Right now, it'd really make me happy if you just lie back, rest and sleep."
I'd have argued--pointing out that tasting his skin would be as pleasurable for me as it was for him--but when I opened my mouth, I yawned loudly, unable to hide my fatigue.
He tucked me back in, curling up against me and wrapping an arm around my waist, and before I could protest that we needed to start planning our return to civilization and how we'd avoid the resistance we were sure to face, I was drifting off to sleep--lulled by the warmth of his embrace and the soft whisper of his breath against my neck.
~*~
The next time I woke up, I was alone, though from the lingering warmth of the sheets next to me, Duo hadn't been gone long.
And sure enough, he slipped in the door a moment later, clad in those alluringly clinging faded jeans and a loose tee shirt, and carrying a tray. He padded over to set it on the night stand.
"Lunch?" I guessed.
"Yep. More soup. And a sandwich this time. Cathy wants you back on solids."
I sat up a bit, and he helped prop me on the pillows, before setting a folded towel in my lap and placing the tray on it. "Thanks." I stirred my soup restlessly before taking a spoonful, and then watched Duo settle into a chair. "We need to discuss how we're going to get you into the courthouse," I told him firmly.
He nodded. "I know, Yuy. Chang's been working on it since the amusement park."
"Did he come up with anything?"
He shrugged noncommittally.
I heard a snort from the doorway, and looked up to see Chang leaning in it, with Catherine just behind him. "Afraid to tell him, Maxwell?"
Duo shot him a glare. "I am not!" he said hotly. "But since you guys dreamed it up, I think you oughta be the ones to sell him on it."
"Sell me--?" I asked, not liking that phrase. "How risky is it?"
My partner gave a brief smile. "No riskier than anything else we've done."
"'Anything else' has nearly gotten us killed a few times," I said dryly. "But run it past me, and I'll judge whether it's an acceptable risk."
"I see you're all business again," he noted. "Good. I take it you're feeling better?"
"I'm fine," I said with a scowl, noticing Duo still looked displeased with whatever the subject matter was that no one had told me yet. "Let's just get on with the planning."
"First I need to check that shoulder!" Catherine pushed past Wufei and took Duo's place at my side, checking the bandage and feeling around it for tenderness or signs of infection.
She smiled and nodded, apparently pleased with my recuperative abilities. "You're very lucky," she pointed out. "Despite all the soft tissue damage and bleeding, it managed to miss the most vital arteries and ligaments. You should be back to normal in a couple of weeks."
I nodded, carefully putting my tray aside and fixing an expectant look on my partner. "Now--how about an update, Chang? What happened while I was out, and what's the master plan for getting Duo to the courthouse?"
He pulled up a chair and settled in next to Catherine, so close that their shoulders were brushing. "Very well. I made the decision to call Barton and have him bring us a replacement vehicle, which he did. He disposed of the SUV, which undoubtedly had a GPS unit--and then he had Winner pick him up. They've both returned to Winner's estate for safekeeping."
"Excellent." I turned my gaze to Catherine. "Obviously you were drafted for medical duty again. Thanks for patching me up."
She blushed and ducked her head a bit. "You're welcome," she said warmly. "I'm just glad I could help."
"You did more than help," I pointed out. "I seem to recall a last gunman at the amusement park that might have finished off my partner without your quick thinking and skill. Thank you for that, too."
I hadn't realized how very much that woman could blush, but she was nearly beet red by that time. So I let her off the hook.
"Now that I'm functional again, we need to move ahead. With an untraceable car, we should have no trouble getting back to the city and arriving at the courthouse--but it's pretty obvious that the minute we show up there, someone will make another try at silencing Duo."
"No shit," muttered my lover, sounding a bit disgruntled.
"So--" I continued. "We'll need a plan--a way to slip into the courthouse without anyone knowing you're there."
"Actually, um, Trowa had a pretty good idea," Catherine said hesitantly.
Duo shot her a scathing look. "No, Cath--it was a suck-ass idea!"
"But one with a reasonable chance of success," Wufei noted.
"All right--out with it!" I ordered. "What's the plan?"
Duo scowled, crossing his arms and looking petulantly down at the floor.
"Catherine?"
"Well, there was this one time Duo dressed up in ladies' clothing--"
"That was 'cause I lost a bet!" Duo snapped. "Don't make it sound like I liked it!"
"You made a bet that involved wearing a dress?" I asked in disbelief.
Duo nodded, turning his face away.
"And you lost," I concluded.
He made a disgusted face and nodded again. "Tro' made me wear an evening gown and feathered boa, and do a striptease to 'Dude Looks Like a Lady.'"
"He said they went wild at The Jungle," Catherine put in helpfully. "First they booed what they thought was a gorgeous female on stage in a gay bar--and then when they saw the braid and realized it was their own Shinigami, they about brought the house down."
"It was mortifying!" Duo blurted.
I blinked in surprise. Somehow I'd thought that with his lack of inhibitions, Duo wouldn't be put off by a little cross-dressing. But then, as obviously masculine as he acted, maybe being what most would call "pretty" made him a bit defensive.
"I'll bet you were hot," I said soothingly.
He turned on me with narrowed eyes. "Hot? In a dress? Yuy--hot is leather an' ropes an' tiger stripes--not sequins, lace and feathers!"
"Depends on who's wearing them," I shrugged.
"Oh, you did not just say that!" he growled. "I'm not wearin' shit like that for you or anyone, Yuy--y'got that?"
"No one's asking you to wear such a frivolous outfit," Chang cut in reasonably. "But if Catherine curls and styles your hair, and you wear a nice, mid-length skirt and blouse, you could pass for female long enough to enter the courthouse unnoticed through the main gate."
I looked at my partner in surprise. "That's Barton's plan?"
"It was a group effort," he admitted, looking a bit uncomfortable.
I guessed the idea of cross-dressing hadn't come easy to him, either.
"There will be spectators at the trial," he continued, outlining the basic premise of their strategy. "The papers said that video feeds will be available in rooms for public viewing, since there are no reporters allowed in the courtroom. It's expected that quite a crowd will turn out for parts of the trial, especially the first day or two of testimony. We figured that Catherine and Duo could pose as curious citizens, going in through the public entrance, while you and I show up at the security gate and tell Captain Po that Maxwell chickened out and gave us the slip."
I felt my eyes widen with surprise. It was actually a pretty good plan. Considering the near-misses, it was totally plausible that Duo might decide not to risk testifying. And it was even more plausible that he'd ditch his police escort and run for the hills.
"So--we check in with the Captain, and then what--?"
"Meet Maxwell and Catherine at a pre-designated location, with a change of clothes, and then walk him right into the courtroom as Duo Maxwell--star witness."
"Wow." I was genuinely impressed. "Maybe I should get shot more often. You really rise to an occasion, don't you?"
My partner smiled and gave a modest shrug. "As I said--a group effort. Barton thought up the change of clothing, Catherine decided her presence would help solidify the disguise, and Maxwell dreamed up the story that he'd run off."
I eyed my lover suspiciously. "Could that be because it crossed your mind?"
"Many times," he answered honestly. "Back at the beginning. And maybe once more when you got shot, and I started thinking it's not worth you two dying just to protect me."
I caught his hand and brought it to my lips. "You are worth any risk, Duo. Whether you testify or not, your life has value, to you and to others. Don't ever forget that."
He blushed and ducked his head. "I know, 'Ro. But I'm gonna testify. How else can I make up for all you've gone through--both of you? And you, Cathy. After all that, I damned well have to show Khushrenada that he can't fuck with my friends and my life and expect to get away with it."
I pulled him into my arms, smiling proudly. "You're even willing to wear a dress to get the job done?"
"Yeah, I guess I am," he sighed.
He turned a slightly mournful look on Catherine. "Just--no heels, okay? I can't stand wearin' spiked heels!"
She laughed merrily, leaning back against Wufei in a very comfortable way. "No heels," she promised. "We'll buy you a nice pair of pumps instead."
TBC...
Back to Snowdragonct's Fanfictions Page