Painful Choices

by seiyo

Sally and Wufei goes on a mission with a slight twist to it. new chapter up

2. two: confrontations

A/N: Okay, chapter 2 here. enjoy yourself. I really do hope you'd like it.

Disclaimer: The usual I don't own Gundam Wing stuff

Painful Choices

by Seiyo

Chapter 2

Sally pounded at the corridors of Preventers Headquarters, folder in hand. With a certain destination at her mind, she continued onwards, not paying any attention to the confused looks the other people were giving her.

"That guy is so…" Sally muttered to herself, clenching her fists, trying to find the right word to describe the alleged person, "ARGHHHHH!!!" she slowed her pace and screamed in frustration, gaining more attention from her unsuspecting officemates.

One new recruit had the guts (or shall we say stupidity) to approach her and ask. "Uh, Lt. Po, are you okay?" and was rewarded with a half shouted "I'm FINE!" that sent him and the other preventers scurrying away.

As Sally watched the backs of the fleeing recruits, she heaved a huge sigh and continued on her way while trying to calm herself. It took much effort to hold her annoyance earlier in the office, and right now, she needed an outlet. And she needed it FAST.

Stopping in front of another room, she composed herself and was about to knock when the door was opened by a flaxen haired man, talking to someone inside.

"So what should I- Oh, hi Sally," Zechs Merquise, or rather Milliardo Peacecraft, the acclaimed lightning baron who came back from the dead greeted Sally.

"Morning, is Noin in?"

"Lu!" Milliardo called to someone inside, "Sally's here," turning back to Sally, "Come in."

A woman with raven locks came out of what was supposed to be the bathroom. Although she is still called Noin by most people out of habit, she technically doesn't own the last name since she got married and became a legal Peacecraft three years ago.

"Hey there," Noin gave Sally a scrutinizing look and then turned to Milliardo, "Zechs, could you please get me some cream-filled donuts, a box of Twinkies, almond ice cream and garlic peanuts for me to munch on?"

Milliardo groaned, "At 8:30 in the morning?"

Noin glared lovingly (is that possible?) at him, "Yes," glancing quickly at Sally.

Milliardo quickly understood and nodded, "Fine. I'll leave you ladies to socialize, " he gave Noin a quick peck on the cheek and walked out.

"How can you eat all those?" Sally crinkled her nose, "No wonder you're putting on weight, not to mention becoming a slave driver."

"Well at least what I eat are real food," Noin reasoned out, "I heard Relena's getting cravings for peanut butter and mint cookies plus tomato ketchup sandwiches."

"Ewww," Sally crinkled her nose further.

"Besides," Noin continued, "It's one of the perks of being pregnant. You get to boss your husband and they can't say one word about it."

"Where's your toddler?" Sally asked as she sat on one of the comfortable couches.

"Visiting his Unca Heewo and Auntie Lena," Noin explained, "After the racket he's done here last week, I resolved not to bring him too often. Two-year olds could be a nuisance you know," Noin pause, then offered, "Want some coffee?"

"Nah. Let's talk."

Noin sat herself across Sally and smirked at her, "Wufei?"

Sally raised an eyebrow, "How did you know?"

Noin shrugged, "Intuition."

Sally just looked at her.

Relenting, Noin answered the question, "Honestly Sal, you're one of my closest friends and you always come to me when you have problems and about ninety percent of them are caused by or related to Wufei."

"That's because that egoistic creep always pisses me off," Sally complained.

"Well, that's about all you ever do to each other," Noin commented teasingly.

"I can never agree with you more," Sally sighed, "I could handle operation meteor and a dozen other missions, but when it comes to him, I always lose it. He makes my blood boil."

"So what happened?"

"We were given a new mission," Sally gave a short answer.

"Oh," Noin nodded as if Sally's statement explained it all, "THAT mission."

Sally's eyes widened at Noin's reaction, "LUCREZIA PEACECRAFT! YOU KNEW ALL ALONG AND YOU NEVER EVEN TOLD ME!?!"

Noin's only answer was a guilty look on her face.

"How could you?" Sally added accusingly.

"Oh please," Noin rolled her eyes, "It's not as if you could do anything about it if I told you." And besides, Noin added silently to herself, seeing your reaction proved to be worth it.

"I could have PREPARED!" Sally glared at her.

"Sal, It's done already. Now tell me why you're so upset."

Sally settled herself and started, "Oh, it's nothing THAT serious. Just that when Lady Une broke the news, my arrogant partner started reasoning to her about why should we be the ones to go, why not go separately, yadda, yadda, yadda, and all the other stuff that could he could possibly think of. It couldn't have been more obvious than simply saying that he didn't want to work with me in that arrangement. Sheesh, it's not as if we really have to get married. Well, to make the story short, I was annoyed by his bickering," Sally finished and sat back.

"Is that all?" Noin inquired.

"Yes."

Noin reached over to grasp Sally's hand, "Sal, are you sure you were annoyed by all his complaints and that you're not upset because it seemed that he didn't want to work on this assignment with you?"

Caught off guard by the question, Sally was unable to answer. When she did recover, she replied, "Yes."

Noin looked at her earnestly, "I don't think so."

Sally turned away and reached over to get her folder, trying to avoid the confrontation looming ahead of them, "Let's see what new personality Lady Une has in store for me," she looked up and gave Noin a small smile, trying to make her understand that she doesn't want to talk right now.

"By the way, how come you knew about the mission before I did?" Sally asked while opening the folder.

"We were supposed to do it, but due to some pregnancy issues…"

"What is THIS?" Sally stared at opened folder in front of her.

Noin quickly looked over Sally's shoulder and laughed at the first line she read in the profile, "Former beauty queen? Une has really done it this time."

Sally sagged into the couch and turned to Noin, "I think I'm gonna need some help."

@@@

Back in the office, Wufei sat in front of the computer, trying to concentrate on his work… and hopelessly failing. Wufei grumbled on his seat, muttering to himself.

"That baka onna…" (or something close to that)

'What happened out there?' he asked himself, 'I don't remember doing anything to her. Well, neither did she do anything to me. She didn't blow her head or something. She just told me off coolly and she was… different. And that's exactly what's bothering me.' Wufei reasoned out with himself silently. He went over the scene in his mind. And he distinctly remembered Sally speaking only after he had protested against the mission, 'could that be the reason why?'

"Yeah right, fat chance Chang Wufei," he scolded himself, 'but you could never know…' his mind nagged at him.

"But it was true. Deep inside, he somehow wanted her to disagree with him, to convince him that they had to do the mission. Sally Po was one of the women whom he respects. She's levelheaded and logical unlike most women who'd lose their head in some situations. And, even if Wufei hated to admit it, she was… strong, just like some other women he met during the war.

"Now where the hell did that come from?" Wufei frowned, 'you're finally admitting that you like her,' a voice answered at the back of his mind.

"No. I will not let this happen. I will never have feelings for anyone. Emotions are weaknesses."

'You're just afraid to get hurt'

"Maybe, but I still won't let it happen."

"Hey Wufei!" a cheerful voice rang out as Duo Maxwell strutted into the room, "Who are you talkin' to?"

"None of your business Maxwell," Wufei answered in a stern voice.

Author's notes: like it? Hate it? Please do tell me. I did this chapter to just to show how they're feelin' about the mission. 'Just had to add the beauty queen thingie. I think Ms. Congeniality's rubbing on me a little. It doesn't mean that Sally's got no class or something, cause I do think she looks good. It's just that in the series I usually see her wearing that vest and pants attire or sometimes something with her preventer jacket but definitely always wearing pants so I decided to make her wear something else and show more of her feminine side. Besides, I thought the idea would be interesting. And by the way, about the title. I don't know but it might be subject to change. When I started this fic, I had something dramatic in mind especially for the last few chapters but honestly, it's turning out to be something else. Anyway, please mail me at seiyo@hotmail.com.