I don't own Gundam Wing.

The sirens blared around them. Duo Maxwell saw the one of the terrorists aim at his partner. She hadn't seen him yet, her attention captured by another enemy. His pistol clicked empty and he knew he wouldn't be able to get another clip loaded before the enemy fired on his partner. He dashed forward and shoved her out of the way. Searing pain shot up through his arm and he could feel the trickle of warm blood flowing down his arm.

The other Preventers swarmed in and put a quick stop to the shoot out. "Oh my god, Duo, you've been shot! It's all my fault; I'm so sorry!" Shelly cried, hovering around Duo in a frenzy. Duo's right hand was pressed against the wound on his left arm.

"I'm fine, Shelly!" he finally yelled at her. "It's not serious."

"But -" Duo tuned his partner out as she followed him out of the building and towards their vehicle. "You're not going to drive are you?" Shelly demanded as he pulled his keys out. He flung them at her and walked towards the passenger side.

"No you are. Now hurry up." They got in the car and Duo slumped in his seat, hand still firmly pressed against the sluggishly bleeding wound. He watched as the scenery past by. The next thing he knew, Shelly was shouting to someone in a panicked voice. He opened his eyes and looked around. They were in the parking garage at Preventers Headquarters. He saw the medics rushing towards him and sighed. "I'm ok guys, really," he protested, getting out of the car. Trent Carson was with the medic team and he waved the other members off, sending them back to the infirmary.

"You're partner will be fine," he consoled her. "I'll patch him up and send him back to you, don't worry. In the meantime you should submit your report to Lady Une. She will be interested in the mission details." Shelly cast a glance at Duo who was making his way around the car to them and nodded. Trent shoed her off and crossed the rest of the distance to Duo.

"Really Maxwell, you shouldn't scare your partner like that," Trent scolded. "She was in such hysterics when you two arrived, I thought you had died on us. Come'on," Trent said, recognizing the look on Duo's face. "Let's get you patched up."

xxx xxx xxx

"Maxwell, how did this happen?" Wufei demanded, arms crossed over his chest, eyes scrutinizing and leaning against the door to one of the rooms on the medical floor. His partner, Heero Yuy was standing next to him, a slight smirk edging the corners of his mouth.

"It wasn't my fault," Duo growled out as Trent wrapped his left arm in gauze to hold the sterilized gauze pad in place over his wound. Wufei raised an eyebrow in response and Duo huffed. "Shelly tripped an alarm at the building alerting the gang we were there. They open fired on us and I got shot."

"And how did Shelly, a rookie, come out of all that unscathed?"

"Because I saved her sorry ass, that's why! That's it, man, I'm done with this partner crap. I'm better off alone."

"Une will never go for it. You know Preventer procedures."

"No ones capable of keeping up with us. That's why you two were partnered together. Maybe I should have stuck with the scrap yard."

"Duo, you don't mean that," Heero interrupted. "I'll talk to Une. Maybe she'll make an exception."

"Don't encourage him, Yuy. He needs a partner to keep him under control."

"Thanks for you vote of confidence, Chang," Duo spat.

"You need someone to watch your back, Maxwell."

Duo looked about to argue when Trent interrupted. "All done. Keep to light activities with this arm until it's healed. I won't bother prescribing pain meds to you; I know you won't take them. Take it easy with the arm."

"Thanks Trent," Duo muttered, grabbing his jacket and heading out the door. He pushed past both Wufei and Heero, glaring at the Chinese Preventer before heading to the elevator. Both Asian men followed, Heero's smirk replaced by a slight frown of concern for Duo.

"Maxwell, be reasonable," Wufei argued as they made their way to the elevator.

"Look either she goes or I go. End of discussion. I'm not partnering up with an agent that isn't up to par!"

"I don't care what Yuy says," Wufei growled, glaring at his partner. "You're not working solo!"

"Then convince Trowa or Quatre to join."

Wufei let out an exasperated sigh. They had had this conversation before many times and it always led to the same thing. Une had already propositioned both ex-pilots previously and was turned down. Quatre was running his family business and Trowa was touring with the circus. Neither wanted to leave their loved ones behind for a dangerous and stressful job. But Heero had joined for the same reason he had. They were both restless and needed action. And then Maxwell joined the Preventer team after selling off his share of the scrapyard to Hilde Schbeiker, the German girl that had risked her life to help Duo escape from Oz. But Wufei and Heero were already partnered together and so Duo had been left with a string of less than adequate partners.

In reviewing the list of partners Duo had had over the past year, Wufei couldn't help but feel sorry for the American. His first partner was an older man, in his early thirties. He was brilliant and well-trained but couldn't handle being partnered with someone who was younger and better than him. As soon as he got the chance he transferred to another unit. Duo's second partner couldn't stand his care free attitude and joker's mask. She filed a harassment claim against Duo when he played a practical joke on her. She was quietly let go with a nice settlement shortly after her claim.

Duo's third partner treated him like shit when he found out Duo was from L2; he deliberately got him caught by a terrorist group while on a Preventer raid. Duo had been wounded from a bullet and several severe beatings. He and Yuy had rescued their comrade and taken care of his partner.

His last and most recent partner had constantly questioned his sanity and his ability to be a Preventer Agent. He had argued with Maxwell on every decision and had accused him of being unfit for duty. After their last mission his partner had demanded that Une suspend Maxwell and had received a transfer to a desk for his trouble.

And his new partner didn't seem to be any better. According to her file she was straight out of the academy and had graduated at the top of her class. According to her professors she was a genius and had a lot of potential to become part of the Specials. But Wufei couldn't see where this woman's potential was and he knew if Maxwell couldn't praise her then she wasn't as good as everyone said.

"Get some rest tonight, Maxwell. Things will be better in the morning."

"Yeah, right." Duo muttered. The elevator reached his floor and binged. "Wished she'd mysteriously disappear." The doors opened and Maxwell stalked away to his office. Wufei sighed and turned to Yuy. His partner had a concerned look on his face but he didn't question. Yuy would tell him in time.

xxx xxx xxx

When Duo returned to his office, Shelly had already left for the day. He closed the door behind him and tossed his jacket on his chair. He walked over to her desk. It was spotless, the latest case placed neatly in her inbox. He pulled open a drawer and dug through it but found nothing; no family pictures and no personal items. Duo thought that weird for someone as social as Shelly Stevens. He kept digging, keeping his ears open for any footsteps out in the hallway. He didn't want anyone to catch him snooping through her desk. When he found absolutely nothing in his search of her desk, he sat down at his and assessed his new partner.

She was a social butterfly or seemed easily able to socialize with just about anyone. She wasn't very bright but had somehow made it into the Preventers. This little tidbit was what piqued Duo's curiosity about who his partner really was. If she was really smart and showed it he could live with that and enjoy working with her. But she acted dumb even for a rookie, doing things that would have gotten her kicked out of the academy for. He had to wonder what exactly she did to get in; and why in the universe would Une assign her as his partner? Something about her just nagged at the back of his mind. Something wasn't right with this one. There was something going on with his partner and Une knew what it was.s

"Agent Maxwell," Une's secretary greeted the Preventer with a smile.

"Its nice to see you, Glaydis. Is the General in? I need to speak with her."

"Yes but she doesn't want to be disturbed right now. You'll have to come back tomorrow morning.."

"I can't wait til then."

"Patience is a virtue, Duo."

"I'm not so virtuous."

"What's this about?" Gladys sighed.

"Shelly Stevens."

"You're partner?" Duo nodded. "Wait here." Gladys disappeared into Une's office and Duo raised his brows in curiosity. "She'll see you now," Gladys interrupted Duo's thoughts.

"Thanks Gladys."

"Duo Maxwell," General Une greeted standing. Duo saluted and returned her greeting.

"General."

Une saluted and sat down, allowing herself to relax into a more comfortable position. "At ease, Maxwell."

"Shelly Stevens, who is she really?"

"Have a seat, Duo."

Is Maxwell's new partner everything she seems to be? Will Maxwell uncover the truth about his partner before all hell breaks loose?

In the next chapter of Betrayal,,,,