Disclaimer: I claim no ownership over the characters, just the demons inside my head that made me post this.

A Part of Me

Chapter 25

"So what did Chang want? And why didn't you tell me you two were back together?"

Jason just stared at Dorothy, confused.

"What are you talking about?"

Dorothy's smile faltered and she looked down the hallway as if expecting to see Wufei standing there and then back to Jason.

"He was here. I took him to the nap room myself."

Jason felt a nervous flutter ignite inside.

"He never woke me up. I never saw him."

"I wonder why he would do that."

The flutter became more insistent as Dorothy's smile melted away in her confusion.

"Did he say why he was here?"

"No, but he didn't look good. I didn't want to say anything to him but he was a bit thin and looked like he hadn't slept in days."

The flutter was now a nervous spike of pain in his gut as he tried to think of any reason for Wufei's actions.

"Well….when was he here?"

Dorothy checked her watch and frowned.

"Hm. I'd say over three hours ago."

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As Jason drove to Wufei's apartment heedless of the speed limit, his mind raced as fast as his car. He tried calling Wufei after speaking with Dorothy but got his voicemail. For the rest of his shift his mind kept wandering to Wufei and what motivated him to show up at the hospital and yet not speak to him.

What brought him to the hospital? Is something wrong? Why didn't he call me?

Dorothy said she left him in the room. Why didn't he wake me up?

He parked his car and headed into the building, worried and nervous. It's a bit late to be stopping by but I have to know what's going on.

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Wufei heard the insistent knocking and he frowned as he shuffled to answer the door. He didn't bother to turn on any lights and his robe fell limply around him, making a high-pitched noise of satin against satin as he walked. This better be good. Wufei opened the door to see Jason standing there, obviously worried.

"Jason? What're you-?"

"Dorothy said you were at the hospital but you didn't wake me up. Is everything all right? Why didn't you wake me?"

Wufei felt his cheeks warm and he gripped the door tightly as he looked away, his gaze flicking to Jason's hand before settling on his visitor's knees.

"I shouldn't have bothered you at work. Especially when you were trying to rest."

"You're never a bother. Never."

Wufei was beginning to sweat despite the thin clothing he was wearing. There's passion behind his words, I can feel it. And those eyes…..But why? And where's the ring I saw him wearing earlier? Did he take it off again to spare my feelings?

"Please tell me. Why did you come to the hospital?"

"I…" Wufei looked up, unsure if he could hold the gaze of the glittering green eyes, but found he couldn't look away. How could you be with someone so soon after our breakup? Weren't you miserable like me? "I just wanted….."

Jason waited for Wufei to continue but the man seemed to have suddenly been struck speechless.

"You just wanted what?"

"Just….i-it doesn't matter. It's late and you should-"

Jason was becoming desperate and he stepped into Wufei and reached out for his hand, entwining their fingers tightly. Wufei looked down at their hands and his skin burned with the contact.

"Tell me, damn it."

"I-I came for you." The admission was barely audible and Jason wasn't sure if he heard right. "It's my fault and this is what I deserve for pushing you away but….h-how can you….? Weren't you miserable? Didn't it hurt even a little?"

"Wufei, Wufei, look at me. What's going on? What are you talking about?"

"How could you come here and help me? Why did you…after I…after we…was it so easy to leave those feelings behind?"

Suddenly Jason reached out and held Wufei's face within his shaking hands. Is he saying what I think he's saying? Jason let his forehead rest against Wufei's and he spoke softly and calmly.

"Wufei, when we broke up I was a mess. John suspended me and-"

Wufei grabbed Jason's wrists as his head shot up and he gazed with wide eyes at the man so close.

"You were suspended? What the hell hap—"

"It doesn't matter anymore. I told you before we worked out a reasonable schedule and I took cooking classes and even bought you…." Jason shook his head and took a step back, letting go of Wufei and running his fingers through his hair. "This isn't how I wanted to do this."

"Do what? Jason, what-"

Jason looked to Wufei, a sheepish smile curving his lips and a soft rosy hue coloring his cheeks and at that moment he could have asked for anything and Wufei would have given it to him.

"May I come in please?"

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Jason sat in the chair leaning forward, elbows on his knees, head bowed. Wufei sat on the sofa and waited for Jason to speak up.

"You had every right to send me away. My schedule was ridiculous and even though I tried to make things up to you, they were empty gestures compared to how much I was hurting you. And I'm sorry, Wufei. I wish I could take it all back, but I can't."

Jason looked up to see Wufei gazing at him expectantly and he was relieved. He's not mad. Good. Jason sighed and continued, making sure to hold Wufei's gaze.

"You're not the first person to get fed up with me and my work schedule. And every time I just let them go. But I can't do that this time. This is different. I love you and-"

"You didn't even put up a fight. You just…left."

"I know, I know, but I did it because that's what you wanted and I didn't want to cause you anymore trouble. It hurt like hell to let you go, but I did it for you."

Wufei recalled the quietly whispered words in the dark when Jason thought he was sleeping. "I think I may have loved you before we even had our first date."

"Why didn't you say something sooner? If you had come to me, I would have-"

"You deserve better, Wufei. So I made changes."

Wufei began to slowly shake his head back and forth but Jason continued. I won't let him reject me until I tell him everything.

"Are you mad? This is your career you're throwing away!"

"Nothing matters if I don't have you!"

Wufei's eyes went wide at the forcefulness in Jason's voice. Not once in their time together had he seen the genial man truly angry.

Jason took a deep breath. He didn't come here to yell. Beg, plead, cajole, yes. But not yell. I can't even remember the last time I was so upset I yelled.

"Surgery is what I worked for and what I enjoy doing, not managing a large-scale research project."

Wufei felt his stomach twisting and the nervousness in his chest was making it difficult to breathe. Is he serious? He's willing to step back in his career for me? But….why? When he told me before I was so angry and thought he'd just given up.

Jason watched as Wufei's face became flush and his forehead became shiny with sweat. He hasn't blinked yet. Is he going into shock?

Jason went down on his knees in front of Wufei and grabbed his hands, startling him out of his frozen state. He was relieved to see the black eyes focus once again. It's now or never.

"I was trying to figure out how and when to do this. I wanted to give you time to grieve, but…well, at this point there's no turning back so please just listen to what I have to say."

Jason let go of Wufei's hands and reached into his pockets and held out both hands balled into fists. He opened his right hand revealing a key. Then he opened his left hand revealing a ring. It was gold with a band of onyx in the middle. He looked up at the sound of Wufei's gasp but Wufei's eyes were fixed on the object in his hand.

"I brought back the key to your apartment, the last thing linking us together. It's yours if you want it. But I also brought you a ring. And if you…" Jason's throat closed up and he bowed his head as he cleared his throat. "If you want this ring, then I swear I will love you always and never leave your side. These…..these are what I have to offer you, Wufei. It's your decision and I will honor whichever one you choose."

Wufei was shaking and he wasn't even sure he was breathing. Since Jason had started pleading his case for a second chance Wufei's mind and body had been in turmoil. They were right. He loves me and…he's making sacrifices to be with me; his job and…cooking classes. This is what I went to the hospital to find out. Now I know and yet…I can't speak!

Jason dared to look up and met Wufei's gaze. He saw watery onyx leaking a steady stream down Wufei's cheeks. What he didn't realize was his face was a mirror of Wufei's. He was too focused on Wufei to notice anything about himself. But Wufei saw and his heart constricted. He gazed into the green eyes and recalled an overly friendly doctor upon waking in the hospital. He saw a warm smile and heard his name being whispered tenderly.

Wufei looked down at Jason's hands and reached a shaking hand out and green eyes watched in horror as it came closer and closer to his right hand.

Please, Wufei, no! No! Don't send me away!

Wufei's fingertip touched Jason's hand and it involuntarily flinched away. Jason closed his eyes and hung his head.

I've lost him for good. He truly doesn't want me.

Suddenly his fingers started to curl, being guided by a warm, shaking force. His eyes popped open and he saw Wufei's hand closing over what was now a fist. Jason was panting and he looked up to Wufei, confused.

"I already have my own key."

"Wu.." Jason took a deep breath and tried again. "Does this mean…..? Will you give me another chance?"

"You never really lost the first one."

Jason lunged forward and grabbed Wufei's face, kissing him desperately as they fell back onto the sofa. Wufei reached up, wrapping his arms around Jason and holding on as if for dear life. I'll never let him go again.

"….do yourself a favor and give the man a fair shake…."

"The precious ones are always worth that extra effort."

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"Ah ha! Found it!"

Jason emerged from the pile of sofa cushions triumphant, a small gold and black band clasped between thumb and index finger. Jason and Wufei became so enthralled with their reunion, neither gave the ring a thought and it subsequently vanished. When things calmed down and Wufei inquired about the ring, Jason pushed Wufei off the sofa in a panic and began tearing the piece of furniture apart while Wufei stood by, amused.

Now Jason turned around, still on his knees and slipped the ring on Wufei's middle finger.

"I am completely in love with you, Chang Wufei. And I want to spend the rest of my days with you."

Wufei's smile trembled and he looked down at the ring on his finger. It was shiny and simple and beautiful.

"Does it have a match?"

"No."

Wufei looked to Jason, confused.

"The ring is my pledge to you. But I would never be so arrogant as to buy my own ring and make that presumption. If and when you want to give me a ring, I will gratefully accept it."

Wufei leaned over and kissed Jason tenderly, whispering against his lips.

"We'll go first thing tomorrow morning. I won't let you go this time."

The End.

A/N – Ok, yeah I know what you're thinking: weak ending. I had another ending but to get to it I had to drag things out even more. And I'm sure you'll all agree I've let things go long enough. But there was one scene I wanted to include from the "drawn out" version so you get an epilogue. Yay!