Grrr. I'm late. Again. And for a nother short chapter too. Grrrrrrrr. First, I don't own Gundam Wing. Second, I'm still lacking in reveiws so I can blame lateness on that. That and ff.net was down Monday. Third, I want to state again that I don't think Treize is actually as mean as I make him out to be. But he makes such a good villain. All right, anyway, this is the next chappie.

Warnings: a lesson on trust (I feel so moral-y), some cursing, I think, and we're starting to get into the yaoi-ful goodness a bit more. ^_^ enjoy!

**

Ternash groaned loudly as he woke from his nightmares. He took stock of his surroundings and groaned again as he realised the events of that day had not been part of the horrible dreams. He was in a forest somewhere, seated at the base of a huge ash tree, his hands still bound tightly behind him. Heero and Trowa were a short distance away, talking with a very out of breath Duo.

"It's confirmed, they practically destroyed the safe house."

Heero frowned, "We just contacted the scientiss. They're setting up another place for us, they'll tell us as soon as it's ready."

Duo nodded. "What are we going to do about Ternash?"

"He's awake." Trowa leveled his gaze on the neko, face set in an angry scowl.

Ternash gulped, his headache suddenly back at double the strength. The pilots turned away, dropping thier voices to continiue thier conversation. Heero made a motion for his gun, and for a terrible moment, Ternash thought he was going to be shot right then. But the Japanese pilot only fingered the piece of metal, didn't even draw it. They turned back to him, identical pissed expressions on each face.

Duo strode to his side and backhanded the neko. "That was for WuFei, you bastard!"

He was about to strike again, but Trowa caught his hand. The silent boy turned to Ternash. "What else did you tell him, or I let Duo go."

Ternash looked away, shaking his head. "I swear, I wouldn't betray you."

"Liar! You've been caught, you may as well admit it!" Duo faught to break free of Trowa's grip.

The taller boy dragged him out of range and Quatre approached the neko, showing himself for the first time. He reached forward and cupped his jaw tightly. Ternash tensed up, expecting his very near end. The blonde was motionless for a moment before standing and going to the others. "Duo, please try and calm down. I don't think he betrayed anyone."

Duo was practically in tears again. "How can you protect him, Q? Fei is probably dead because of him!"

Quatre shook his head. "I'm not saying he's not to blame. But have you even smelled his breath? If he told Treize anything, he was drunk when it happened."

Duo took a moment to calm down then turned to the neko. "Is that true?"

Ternash faught to remember what had actually happened at the general's home. He shook his head, "I don't know." He stiffened as the braided boy approached him again, leaning right into his face.

Duo pulled back suddenly. "Man, you do reek." He plopped onto the ground in quiet thought (Wow, a Duo first!), the target of his fury taken away. "Well, what are we going to do now?"

Heero hadn't taken his eyes off of Ternash. Finally, he spoke again. "I'd be willing to bet that WuFei is still alive. But we have no idea where he is."

Duo made a choked noise. "Not helping, buddy."

Heero's gaze hardened, but didn't shift. "Treize would know."

Quatre nodded, suddeny happy again. "Ternash, could you make Treize think you were still on his side?"

Heero nodded. "Exactly. Find out where Fei is and contact us. Can you do it?"

Ternash took a shaky breath as a half memory of Treize's lips on his skin came to mind. He shivered and nodded. "I'm sure I can make him trust me. I have to help Fei, any way I can."

Heero produced a small radio and tucked it into Ternash's pocket. "Call as soon as you know anything." He paused, looking thoughtful. "Treize would never believe you got away so clean. Sorry, cat." The next thing Ternash saw was Heero's fist, close up. He growled slightly at the pilot as his handcuffs were finally released. He ran into the forest, cursing Heero Yuy and swearing that he would make things right again.

**

From one set of guns to another. It had taken more than an hour to find his way back to Teize's home and once there, Ternash was immediately greeted by hostile looking guards. With really big guns. They didn't tie him up at all, but three of these guards were escorting him up the walk of the house. Ternash glanced at the two guards behind him nervously. Anything would be better than this; what if Treize didn't trust him and he'd just fled to his executioner? Duo would have probably thought his tears were good showmanship, to bad they were involuntary.

A flicker of movement caught the neko's eye and he paused in mid step. There, surrounded once again in the roses of the side garden, stood Treize. Ternash consciously made himself look releived. He broke from the guards and ran straight into the general's chest, giving himself over to the tears. Treize waved off the armed escort and wrapped his arms around the neko as he muttered calming words to him. Despite everything, it felt good to be held like this. It felt wonderful to be safe.

Except, of course, that he was anything but safe.

Treize led his guest inside and immediately up to his bedroom. I guess he's had enough playing hard to get. It was more than clear to Ternash what the older man wanted. Treize sat the boy on the edge of the bed and knelt in front of him. "You look horrible, what happened?"

You know damned well what happened, you jerk! "The pilots, they . . ." He didn't finish, not quite sure how to put it to make himself seem the victim.

But Treize seemed to understand anyway; after all, the only reason he let Ternash leave at all was so that the pilots would do exactly what they did. He rose and strode to the adjoining bath room. "Perhaps you should get cleaned up. At least wash yourself off."

Ternash stood and followed into the large, porcelin coated room. "Yes, a nice bath would be wonderful right now." Ternash removed his bandanna as Treize started the water. He wasn't lying, a bath was exactly what he needed to calm his nerves. He thanked Treize as the other man stepped out of the room, and continiued to undress and then slide into the steamy water.

He didn't spend too long boiling the dirt off, just enough that he was clean again and a little more relaxed. He pulled the drain on the tub and stood to towel himself off. He cast a glance to where he had left his clothes piled on the floor and froze. His clothes were gone. Treize must have slipped in without the neko realizing it. In their place was a small, soft robe. It appeared to be made of some sort of satin the color of deep red roses, and trimmed in fluffy feather looking pink stuff along the sleeve cuffs and the neck line. Nothing else to wear, Ternash hesitantly put the skimpy garment on. It fell just above his knees, and barely closed enough in front to hide his chest. Ternash gulped, realizeing that he had been manipuated by the smooth talking general. Again.

He towel dried his hair as best he could and then put it up in the towel. It was strange how, when dry, his covered ears could hear so much better than when wet. Just another factor that gave the general that much more of an advantadge. It was time to face Treize. Ternash took a step towards the door and grimaced as the robe brushed across his groin. Treize had certainly choosen this particular garment for a reason. He continued, trying to find a way to walk without his senses being stimulated in such a – given the circumstances – unpleasant way. This mission was not going his way at all.

Treize was waiting by the window for the neko. He had changed as well though he was still properly dressed. It simply wasn't quite as formal as his normal crisp uniform. He turned, brushing a stereo system as he did so and filling the room with soft, tasteful music. "Ah, you look wonderful like that. I hope you don't mind, your clothes were just as dirty as you were. That's all I could find for you."

Ternash highly doubted that, but didn't comment. "It's nice, a little . . . um, small . . . but nice."

Treize had his most charming smile fixed in place as he approached Ternash. "The next song is one of my favorites, would you care to join me?" He caught up both of the slight boy's hands, giving him no choice but to begin the slow waltz as the song shifted. "I'm glad you came back, you know."

Ternash nodded, feeling his cheeks burn being so close to the general with so little between them. "I learned that they were not truly my friends. Not like you." This was his time to shine, Ternash had rehearsed this little speech all the way over here. "They practically attacked me, they did attack me and I still don't know why. Just because I came to see you, I suppose."

He could hear Treize chuckle, no doubt happy that his scheme had worked. "Well, a true friend would be there for you no matter who else you saught comfort from. I certainly don't hold your friendship with them against you."

"Ex-friendship," Ternash corrected. At least this was going well. "I hope I never see them again." He paused, resting his head on Treize's chest and seemingly allowing himself to calm down. "Well, that's not true."

"Oh? You do want to see them?" He stroked Ternsh's hair gently.

"Well, not them, exactly. WuFei. He was always kind to me despite everything and I feel I owe him a goodbye."

He waited, forcing himself to breath, to see if Treize would take the bait. "I'm sorry." Ternash let out a sigh despite himself. "WuFei is a prisoner now, I simply can't let anyone know where he's being held or it might get back to the others."

Ternash looked up into the man's eyes. "You think I would tell them? You don't trust me?"

Treize bent down to meet Ternash's lips with his own. "I can't simply tell you. But . . . perhaps like our first meeting, we could work out a trade."

Ternash blinked up at him. "What kind of trade?"

Treize released one of Ternash's wrists. He reached up and tugged gently on the towel, causing it to fall over the neko's eyes and then caught up his wrist again. He was silent for a while, forcing Ternash to continue dancing blind. Finally the song came to an end and so did the two men. Treize leaned over, resting his chin on the smaller boy's shoulder. He breathed against his neck, sending shivers down his spine. "You know what I want, little one."

Abruptly, the general was gone and Ternash reached a shaky hand up to shift the troublesome towel, letting it simply fall to the ground around his ankels. Treize was walking away to come to sit on his bed. Ternash gulped, staring at the clearly seductive pose. He knew his body was reacting, even if his mind was screaming at him to run away. He gulped again, suddenly finding the floor fascinating. How could he do something like this? Even to help WuFei, it was too much.

**

Will he do it? Will he save Fei? Or is his pride too high? Or maybe, I'm just really evil to leave off right here. Anyway, shock of shocks, Duo was being stupid and Q-chan figured it out. I feel bad for Ternash, I'm getting into the really torture-y-ness of this fic. I promise an extra long chapter next time, mostly because there's no good spot to cut it short. I'll see you then.

Oh, and I'd BETTER get some reveiws on this. Ja matta ne! ^_^