Who's a Weak Onna?
Chapter 8
3+4 does not equal 5
(AN: I appreciate all the reviews. I'd like more, because this is my first long GW fic, my others have been short stories and one shots. Please, review! I know that the Wufei/Sally pairing isn't a lot of people's favorite. At some GW sites, Wufei just doesn't get equal billing with some of the other characters. One web mistress even admitted that she doesn't like him (she blames his seeming misogynist tendencies, which I have a theory about; that psych background comes in handy at last!). Poor Wuffers! I'm odd, I suppose, I find him fascinating. But, I like challenging characters, and that's true in real life, too.)
"So, today is the big day, Mr. Chang," said Lisa Johnson brightly, opening the blinds in his hospital room. "You get to go home at last."
He was already awake. "Yes, I'm looking forward to it," he said politely, although cheerful people early in the morning were not on his list of favorite things.
Sally came into the room as Lisa was clearing away the remnants of breakfast.
"You didn't eat much," she commented, as Lisa left the room.
"Not hungry," he said shortly, folding his arms.
"I know hospital food is pretty bland," she said, "but it's also necessary for you to eat well to heal. You've had 2 surgeries in the past 3 weeks."
"Don't nag me," he said, turning his head away.
"I'm not 'nagging'," she replied coolly, "I'm giving you instructions as your doctor."
"It's not the food," he said, "Believe me, I've eaten much worse. Don't forget I spent a little time as a prisoner of OZ."
"Oh, so that's the only comparison that comes to mind about your stay here?" she grinned faintly.
"It's the closest one that comes to mind," he said, but he turned back to face her.
"Well then, looking forward to being sprung?" she said, coming over and sitting next to him on the bed.
"I think so," he said, exhaling. "To be honest, I'd rather be going home able-bodied and ready to go back to work, instead of being an invalid guest of the Winner-Barton household."
"But, it's better than nothing," she finished for him.
He nodded, "I suppose."
"I'm going to be smothered by those two, you realize that, don't you?" sighed Wufei.
"I did get that impression, yes," said Sally, smiling again.
"You're enjoying the prospect of watching me squirm under their overbearing attentions, aren't you?" he said, watching her through his eyelashes.
"It'll be good for you, Dragon," she purred, then laughed as she folded his arms and scowled at her.
"I couldn't ask for you to be better taken care of unless I did it myself."
"The prospect of being bathed by you is infinitely more appealing than it being done by the two of them again."
He looked at her and then turned slightly pink under his caramel colored skin when he realized what he'd just said.
"Um, I didn't mean that the way it sounded."
"What did you mean, then," she asked, trying not to giggle.
"Nothing, um, nothing."
"Right." She graciously let it drop. She was always surprised that he was so easily embarrassed about some things. After all, he'd seen and done things as a soldier that would horrify most people.
"Would you like to hear some good news?" she asked him.
"Of course," he replied. "Especially if it's about my leg."
" It is," she answered him. "According to the latest CAT scans, you've gained back 76% of normal bone mass in your left femur. That's about 25% more than we anticipated."
"What does that mean in plain English. Or Chinese, for that matter," he asked, frowning.
"It means you're ready for physical therapy and crutches," she said smiling at him. "In a week or so, nor more wheelchair!"
"Really?" he asked grabbing her arms eagerly and looking into her eyes.
"I wouldn't lie about something like that," she replied. "But, you're going to have to take it slowly. You've been on your back for almost 2 months and standing upright is going to be an adjustment at first. And, you're going to have to go home in a wheelchair, hospital rules."
He smiled. It was a genuine smile of pure happiness and the next thing she knew she was being caught in a fierce embrace.
"That's the best news I've heard in weeks."
She was so overwhelmed that she couldn't speak. She felt heat going to places it had no business going as she slowly returned the embrace.
She took a deep breath and it was full of that warm clean masculine scent laced with sandalwood that she had come to associate with him.
She exhaled slowly, not wanting to let go of it.
"Are you all right?" he asked politely, looking down into her face, which was against his shoulder.
"I'm fine," she whispered. "I'm wonderful."
"Sally?" he said, "What is it?"
He tightened his arms around her.
"I'm just enjoying this," she admitted, taking her head off of his shoulder and returning his steady gaze.
Her bright blue almond eyes were wide and she was breathing hard with her mouth slightly opened. It seemed like an invitation and so he tilted his head down to brush his lips lightly against hers.
"Please," she whispered, "Again."
He obliged, taking his time and deepening the kiss, which she began to return, moving her lips to press against his. He felt her tongue brush against his lower lip and he opened his mouth to do the same. A little whimper came involuntarily from her mouth as he broke away to take a deep breath.
"Sorry, I think I got a little carried away," he said, gently pushing her away.
"Don't apologize," she said, sliding her hands down his arms and then taking both of his hands. "I've been wanting you to do that for years."
He raised his eyebrows at her. "Why didn't you tell me, then? I've been right here, all this time."
"I don't know, I just thought, well, that you were still mourning Meiran."
"Meiran?" he repeated. "I see." He nodded his head. "Because I told you she was my reason to live, to fight."
"Yes." Sally looked at him. "I didn't think I could compete with that."
"You can't." he said. He looked away and didn't see her eyes slowly fill up with tears.
"I don't expect anyone to compete with my memories of Meiran," he said, turning back around to face her. "But they're just memories, now. I can't live on memories. No one can."
"I've upset you, I'm sorry," he said, tilting up her chin and seeing the tears in her eyes.
"You hate crying, it's weak," she said.
"I've never seen you cry before, Sally," he said, "And you're not weak. I don't know anyone else as strong as you are. It's your strength I've come to rely on."
He pressed his lips against her closed eyelids, tasting the tears that now overflowed onto her cheeks.
"There's no reason to cry," he said, trailing kisses down her cheek and finally taking her lips again in a soft kiss.
"Happy tears, now," she said. "I was just afraid you were going to push me away again. Don't ever do that, please."
"I won't," he said. "I don't want you to go away."
He pulled her against him again, burying his face in the soft golden brown hair at her neck.
"Ahem," a voice said loudly from the doorway.
"Quatre! Trowa!" said Sally, pulling away quickly and scooting over to the edge of the bed.
"Sorry about the interruption," said Quatre, grinning widely.
"We're here to collect our house guest," he said, coming over. Trowa was behind him, a smirk on his face.
"I lost track of the time," said Sally, jumping up and looking quickly at her watch. Her lips were slightly swollen, her hair was mussed and she had drying tear streaks on her cheeks.
"I noticed," said Trowa, dryly, as Quatre bit his lip to keep from laughing.
"I'll call for a wheelchair," said Sally, picking up the phone.
"Come on, Trowa, lets get his stuff together," said Quatre, beginning to open drawers. Trowa produced a dufflebag and they proceeded to stuff it neatly with Wufei's few belongings.
"This is going to be so much fun!" Quatre smiled at Wufei.
Wufei sighed and nodded reluctantly. "I suppose so."
Trowa caught Wufei's eye over Quatre's head and shrugged.
"You know how he gets," Trowa said, pulling Quatre close to him from behind and kissing him on the hair.
"I know, I'm too sentimental," said Quatre, hugging Trowa's arms.
"I think you're perfect, mon amour," said Trowa, nuzzling Quatre on the back of the neck.
"Get a room, you two!" said Duo, coming up behind them with Hilde in tow.
"We're just taking our cue from Sally and Wufei," said Quatre evilly, grinning at Duo.
"Oh no, what'd I miss?" said Duo, looking from one face to another. "Sumthin juicy?"
"Nothing that's any of your business, Maxwell," growled Wufei, glaring at the braided young man.
"Don't be so nosey, Liebhan," said Hilde, cuffing him lightly on the back of the head.
"OW!" said Duo, loudly, although she'd barely touched him.
"Thank you," said Wufei. "I've been wanting to do that for 6 weeks."
Everyone laughed, even Duo.
"You'll pay for that later, wench," vowed Duo, reaching around and giving Hilde a slight pinch on her firm derriere.
She squealed and slapped him lightly on the head again.
"Don't you two ever stop?" said a monotone voice behind them.
"Heero!" said Quatre, turning around. "And Relena, too. We're honored."
"I'm sorry I haven't been able to come more often," said Relena, coming into the room. "I have so many responsibilities. It's ridiculously time consuming."
She smiled graciously and went over to the bed and offered Wufei her hand, which he took in a light grasp.
"I'm pleased you could take time to come," said Wufei, bowing his head slightly over her offered hand.
"I couldn't miss your finally going home," she said, as Heero came up and stood beside her. "I know that Quatre and Trowa will take excellent care of you until you're fully recovered."
"I'm sure they will too, Relena," Wufei nodded.
"I hate to spoil this family reunion," said Sally, "But we're all going to have to leave for a few minutes so that Wufei can change and get ready to leave."
"Sure," said Duo, "Unless you want me to hang around and give him a hand." He gave an evil chuckle.
"I'd rather have an ice pick shoved under my fingernail than be dressed by you, Maxwell," said Wufei, giving him a forbidding look.
"Aw, I was sort of looking forward to playing dress up with the Wu-man," said Duo, sticking out his tongue. "Trowa and Q-man get all the fun," he pouted.
"I think Wufei can handle it by himself now," said Sally, ushering them all out the door. "We'll be back in about 15 minutes," she said to Wufei.
"Are you sure you don't need some help?" asked Quatre as he was about to leave.
"I'm sure," said Wufei, making vague shooing motions with his hands.
He sighed. "Like drowning in a vat of honey," he said to himself as he slowly got dressed.
"
"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 8
3+4 does not equal 5
(AN: I appreciate all the reviews. I'd like more, because this is my first long GW fic, my others have been short stories and one shots. Please, review! I know that the Wufei/Sally pairing isn't a lot of people's favorite. At some GW sites, Wufei just doesn't get equal billing with some of the other characters. One web mistress even admitted that she doesn't like him (she blames his seeming misogynist tendencies, which I have a theory about; that psych background comes in handy at last!). Poor Wuffers! I'm odd, I suppose, I find him fascinating. But, I like challenging characters, and that's true in real life, too.)
"So, today is the big day, Mr. Chang," said Lisa Johnson brightly, opening the blinds in his hospital room. "You get to go home at last."
He was already awake. "Yes, I'm looking forward to it," he said politely, although cheerful people early in the morning were not on his list of favorite things.
Sally came into the room as Lisa was clearing away the remnants of breakfast.
"You didn't eat much," she commented, as Lisa left the room.
"Not hungry," he said shortly, folding his arms.
"I know hospital food is pretty bland," she said, "but it's also necessary for you to eat well to heal. You've had 2 surgeries in the past 3 weeks."
"Don't nag me," he said, turning his head away.
"I'm not 'nagging'," she replied coolly, "I'm giving you instructions as your doctor."
"It's not the food," he said, "Believe me, I've eaten much worse. Don't forget I spent a little time as a prisoner of OZ."
"Oh, so that's the only comparison that comes to mind about your stay here?" she grinned faintly.
"It's the closest one that comes to mind," he said, but he turned back to face her.
"Well then, looking forward to being sprung?" she said, coming over and sitting next to him on the bed.
"I think so," he said, exhaling. "To be honest, I'd rather be going home able-bodied and ready to go back to work, instead of being an invalid guest of the Winner-Barton household."
"But, it's better than nothing," she finished for him.
He nodded, "I suppose."
"I'm going to be smothered by those two, you realize that, don't you?" sighed Wufei.
"I did get that impression, yes," said Sally, smiling again.
"You're enjoying the prospect of watching me squirm under their overbearing attentions, aren't you?" he said, watching her through his eyelashes.
"It'll be good for you, Dragon," she purred, then laughed as she folded his arms and scowled at her.
"I couldn't ask for you to be better taken care of unless I did it myself."
"The prospect of being bathed by you is infinitely more appealing than it being done by the two of them again."
He looked at her and then turned slightly pink under his caramel colored skin when he realized what he'd just said.
"Um, I didn't mean that the way it sounded."
"What did you mean, then," she asked, trying not to giggle.
"Nothing, um, nothing."
"Right." She graciously let it drop. She was always surprised that he was so easily embarrassed about some things. After all, he'd seen and done things as a soldier that would horrify most people.
"Would you like to hear some good news?" she asked him.
"Of course," he replied. "Especially if it's about my leg."
" It is," she answered him. "According to the latest CAT scans, you've gained back 76% of normal bone mass in your left femur. That's about 25% more than we anticipated."
"What does that mean in plain English. Or Chinese, for that matter," he asked, frowning.
"It means you're ready for physical therapy and crutches," she said smiling at him. "In a week or so, nor more wheelchair!"
"Really?" he asked grabbing her arms eagerly and looking into her eyes.
"I wouldn't lie about something like that," she replied. "But, you're going to have to take it slowly. You've been on your back for almost 2 months and standing upright is going to be an adjustment at first. And, you're going to have to go home in a wheelchair, hospital rules."
He smiled. It was a genuine smile of pure happiness and the next thing she knew she was being caught in a fierce embrace.
"That's the best news I've heard in weeks."
She was so overwhelmed that she couldn't speak. She felt heat going to places it had no business going as she slowly returned the embrace.
She took a deep breath and it was full of that warm clean masculine scent laced with sandalwood that she had come to associate with him.
She exhaled slowly, not wanting to let go of it.
"Are you all right?" he asked politely, looking down into her face, which was against his shoulder.
"I'm fine," she whispered. "I'm wonderful."
"Sally?" he said, "What is it?"
He tightened his arms around her.
"I'm just enjoying this," she admitted, taking her head off of his shoulder and returning his steady gaze.
Her bright blue almond eyes were wide and she was breathing hard with her mouth slightly opened. It seemed like an invitation and so he tilted his head down to brush his lips lightly against hers.
"Please," she whispered, "Again."
He obliged, taking his time and deepening the kiss, which she began to return, moving her lips to press against his. He felt her tongue brush against his lower lip and he opened his mouth to do the same. A little whimper came involuntarily from her mouth as he broke away to take a deep breath.
"Sorry, I think I got a little carried away," he said, gently pushing her away.
"Don't apologize," she said, sliding her hands down his arms and then taking both of his hands. "I've been wanting you to do that for years."
He raised his eyebrows at her. "Why didn't you tell me, then? I've been right here, all this time."
"I don't know, I just thought, well, that you were still mourning Meiran."
"Meiran?" he repeated. "I see." He nodded his head. "Because I told you she was my reason to live, to fight."
"Yes." Sally looked at him. "I didn't think I could compete with that."
"You can't." he said. He looked away and didn't see her eyes slowly fill up with tears.
"I don't expect anyone to compete with my memories of Meiran," he said, turning back around to face her. "But they're just memories, now. I can't live on memories. No one can."
"I've upset you, I'm sorry," he said, tilting up her chin and seeing the tears in her eyes.
"You hate crying, it's weak," she said.
"I've never seen you cry before, Sally," he said, "And you're not weak. I don't know anyone else as strong as you are. It's your strength I've come to rely on."
He pressed his lips against her closed eyelids, tasting the tears that now overflowed onto her cheeks.
"There's no reason to cry," he said, trailing kisses down her cheek and finally taking her lips again in a soft kiss.
"Happy tears, now," she said. "I was just afraid you were going to push me away again. Don't ever do that, please."
"I won't," he said. "I don't want you to go away."
He pulled her against him again, burying his face in the soft golden brown hair at her neck.
"Ahem," a voice said loudly from the doorway.
"Quatre! Trowa!" said Sally, pulling away quickly and scooting over to the edge of the bed.
"Sorry about the interruption," said Quatre, grinning widely.
"We're here to collect our house guest," he said, coming over. Trowa was behind him, a smirk on his face.
"I lost track of the time," said Sally, jumping up and looking quickly at her watch. Her lips were slightly swollen, her hair was mussed and she had drying tear streaks on her cheeks.
"I noticed," said Trowa, dryly, as Quatre bit his lip to keep from laughing.
"I'll call for a wheelchair," said Sally, picking up the phone.
"Come on, Trowa, lets get his stuff together," said Quatre, beginning to open drawers. Trowa produced a dufflebag and they proceeded to stuff it neatly with Wufei's few belongings.
"This is going to be so much fun!" Quatre smiled at Wufei.
Wufei sighed and nodded reluctantly. "I suppose so."
Trowa caught Wufei's eye over Quatre's head and shrugged.
"You know how he gets," Trowa said, pulling Quatre close to him from behind and kissing him on the hair.
"I know, I'm too sentimental," said Quatre, hugging Trowa's arms.
"I think you're perfect, mon amour," said Trowa, nuzzling Quatre on the back of the neck.
"Get a room, you two!" said Duo, coming up behind them with Hilde in tow.
"We're just taking our cue from Sally and Wufei," said Quatre evilly, grinning at Duo.
"Oh no, what'd I miss?" said Duo, looking from one face to another. "Sumthin juicy?"
"Nothing that's any of your business, Maxwell," growled Wufei, glaring at the braided young man.
"Don't be so nosey, Liebhan," said Hilde, cuffing him lightly on the back of the head.
"OW!" said Duo, loudly, although she'd barely touched him.
"Thank you," said Wufei. "I've been wanting to do that for 6 weeks."
Everyone laughed, even Duo.
"You'll pay for that later, wench," vowed Duo, reaching around and giving Hilde a slight pinch on her firm derriere.
She squealed and slapped him lightly on the head again.
"Don't you two ever stop?" said a monotone voice behind them.
"Heero!" said Quatre, turning around. "And Relena, too. We're honored."
"I'm sorry I haven't been able to come more often," said Relena, coming into the room. "I have so many responsibilities. It's ridiculously time consuming."
She smiled graciously and went over to the bed and offered Wufei her hand, which he took in a light grasp.
"I'm pleased you could take time to come," said Wufei, bowing his head slightly over her offered hand.
"I couldn't miss your finally going home," she said, as Heero came up and stood beside her. "I know that Quatre and Trowa will take excellent care of you until you're fully recovered."
"I'm sure they will too, Relena," Wufei nodded.
"I hate to spoil this family reunion," said Sally, "But we're all going to have to leave for a few minutes so that Wufei can change and get ready to leave."
"Sure," said Duo, "Unless you want me to hang around and give him a hand." He gave an evil chuckle.
"I'd rather have an ice pick shoved under my fingernail than be dressed by you, Maxwell," said Wufei, giving him a forbidding look.
"Aw, I was sort of looking forward to playing dress up with the Wu-man," said Duo, sticking out his tongue. "Trowa and Q-man get all the fun," he pouted.
"I think Wufei can handle it by himself now," said Sally, ushering them all out the door. "We'll be back in about 15 minutes," she said to Wufei.
"Are you sure you don't need some help?" asked Quatre as he was about to leave.
"I'm sure," said Wufei, making vague shooing motions with his hands.
He sighed. "Like drowning in a vat of honey," he said to himself as he slowly got dressed.
"
"
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