Gundam Wing Tapestry Chapter 30, a gundam wing/ac fanfic

Tapestry, Chapter 30

Dreaming, dreaming, I was always dreaming. Tonight had been no different, but my dreams had been so muddled, so unfocused, that I couldn't remember any of them. Even now as I was waking, something nagged at me, told me that what I dreamed last night had been real -

- something happened last night, my mind whispered.. Something's ... different.

Where was I?

Cautiously, carefully, I slit one eye open, just a millimeter, and was shocked to discover I was in my room. My room, in my bed. Alone. Pleasantly exhausted, true, but completely relaxed. I laced my fingers above my head, stretched my arms, then collapsed and burrowed my face in the pillow. There was no knot between my shoulders, no shooting pain down my back; no cramped muscles, no upset stomach, no pounding headache. I was mildly shocked to realize that for the first time in a long time, I felt well. Fine, both mentally and physically. Happy, if there was such a thing in my world.

Yikes. Don't think too hard about that, Sally Po.

Mmmmmhmmm.... breathe in ... breathe out ...

Breathing was just something you did, automatically, whether you were happy or not. It was easier, though, when you were happy. You didn't think about it, your stomach didn't tie itself in knots or get that horrible, sinking feeling, and you just did it. You breathed. You knew where you were. You were safe, protected, cared for, and you breathed because you could.

My brain, though, wasn't buying it. What are you THINKING? Happier? Safer? Are you insane? You're making all of this up - you're only fooling yourself. Open your eyes and see where you are, idiot. Whose bed do you think you're sleeping in? Yours? Do you own it?

I rolled over, still smiling at the ceiling, my eyes still closed as I argued with myself. Oh, come on. Just shut up. I feel great, I'm comfortable, and I'm not getting up.

But you have to open your eyes and see the truth sometime, and it should be sooner than later. You can't hide behind your eyelids forever.

I sighed. Acknowledge when you're beaten, Po. Beaten by your own logic. Now get up.

Carefully, carefully, I opened my eyes. To my everlasting delight, nothing jumped, growled, or raked blood-soaked claws across my body; in fact, a quick glance showed everything looked exactly as it had yesterday. My dresser was undisturbed, the French doors were open to the sea, my clothes were tucked across the back of the chair - everything was unscathed. Even the faint sound of the surf was comforting in its numbing sameness.

So much for my brain's doomsday moaning. Hah.

Something lightly floral and very pleasant tickled my nose, something that reminded me of home, and blossoms, and the outdoors. I wasn't sure where it was coming from, but liked it. Time for a shower, I decided, rolling on my side, stretching and squeezing my muscles again. Then I would get dressed, find Wufei, get something to eat, and start another day. Life was certainly good.

Whistling, I tossed back the covers and slid out of bed. The floor was freezing; I quickly padded to the bathroom, grabbing my robe from the chair. Nothing, not even the cold floor tiles, could mar my feeling of goodwill today. I wouldn't let anything kill this feeling - I hadn't felt this good in weeks.

Practically dancing, I stripped out of my clothes as fast as I could - it was cold in the bathroom, too! - and blasted the hot water for the shower. Once under the spray, though, I closed my eyes and twisted my neck to the side, enjoying the water pounding across my shoulders and down my body. Today, every sensation made my skin tingle. Water shimmied around my forearms and thighs, poured over my fingers, skimmed lightly across my arches, spun between my toes, then spiraling into the drain. Steam drifted from the base of the tub, fragrant with the scent of violets. It rose past my waist, barely touching my breasts, and frosted the inside of the shower door. . Mmmmm, it was just so nice ...

I leaned against the side of the shower, my eyelashes damp and heavy with mist, limp, relaxed, and totally suggestible. A familiar voice murmured in the back my mind. I'm sorry, Sally, but I must. You have to remember.

Without warning, in no particular order, memories of last night flooded into my mind and spilled in front of my eyes. Suddenly there was Steve's unconscious, bloody face against the steering wheel; then an incongruous moment of us at the museum, and another of us at dinner, laughing and talking. Skip to the world spinning wildly on its axis, totally out of control, and me with that heavy, leaden feeling of fear and hopelessness, weighing down my arms and legs; fast forward to the sickening, abrupt crunch into the telephone pole, ending with ... silence. Complete and utter, silence, only broken by Steve's rasping, wet gasps for air - that, and the feeling of abject resignation wrapped around my heart when I realized I had to call Treize.

I staggered and groped for something, anything to hold, to keep my balance, to not slip and fall and crack my head against the tiles. That vision was so strong .... so strong ... Only my elbow, hooked around the towel bar on the inside of the shower, kept me from slipping and smashing my head open.

Abruptly the vision changed. Treize's face and presence replaced Steve's with such force that my knees buckled and I swung from the bar by my elbow, the other hand helplessly grabbing at the bar, water splattering across my cheeks. The visions came faster - and I didn't understand how, but these visions were much more intense.

Now I was in an elevator with Treize and he was speaking to me, leaning down, and my heart thudding in my chest with some force; no, wait, not an elevator but a helicopter; but, no, that wasn't right either - I was really in front of a fire, sitting in a chair, kissing ... Treize?... no, impossible! ... no, wait, being kissed by .... good gods, not just being kissed, but being kissed into oblivion by Treize; and Treize's voice was inside my head, speaking to me, low, intimate, knowing, knowing all about me ... someone woke you up ... such a sweet soul ... give me yourself, Sally Po ... how long have you been able to see?

I was shrieking without a sound, my body shaking in the spray. Gaaaaah! ......too much, too much ...

The visions stopped as abruptly as they had begun.

My brain was going to explode, I was sure of it. I pulled myself to my feet and stood under the full force of the shower for a moment, then blindly reached to turn off the water. "T-Trowa?" I whispered, trying to be stoic, but it was hard, so hard. I was still panting and shaking; water dripped into my open and staring eyes. "T-Trowa. Did - did you - why - did you do that? Bring all my memories back - like - like that?"

I had to, Sally, or else you wouldn't have remembered what happened for a long time. Treize affects humans that way - especially where you met him.

... oh.... I pushed the shower door open and fumbled for the towel hanging on the shower door, my hands still shaking with reaction. I stepped outside the tub, wrapped the thick towel around my body and took a deep breath, blinking.

Trowa ...

Yes, Sally?

About - last night. I felt my way, trying to choose my words with care. I wasn't going to make any more mistakes. I realized I was dealing with something far beyond my understanding. Friendly feelings aside, Trowa showed me a less than empathetic side of himself, and I wasn't about to forget it. I was still reeling from the shock. I needed to be careful; it could happen again.

You said ... that Treize tasted me.

Yes, that is true. He touched your soul. Trowa hesitated slightly, then continued. In doing that, he did taste your essence.

My ... essence. I started to towel myself off, slowly at first, then a little more briskly, pushing my mind to accept something that had obviously happened. It was fact. I could not allow myself to shy away from it. Treize had done it - I felt it, I experienced it, it wasn't hypnosis, it was REAL. I had argued strenuously for years, as had my parents, that because scientific proof did not exist that one could not possibly conclude that souls existed. I had to allow that this - whatever it was - had happened to me.

One part of my brain was laughing. Listen closely, Sally. Do you hear that tinkling sound, like breaking glass? Those are your illusions being shattered. Get used to it.

I hated my brain. Hate, hate, hate.

Now I had to ask. Um .. Trowa. You also said that - had I permitted it ... he would have 'shared essence.' Why - would he do that?

He was silent for so long I thought he'd left. Because he finds you fascinating. He finds all humanity fascinating, but he finds you beautiful because you are rare. Because of that, he wishes to touch you. It is perhaps akin to sexual desire - but as he is not human, he does not have that. He simply wishes to touch and own your soul.

I stopped drying myself and stayed very still, looking at the far wall. But - but he can't DO that, Trowa. He can't own me unless I permit it. No one can do that.

Of course he could, Sally Po. He could, but he would not enjoy it. Willing involvement is something he finds beautiful, so ... he will not.

Gads. This was awful. I didn't know what to think. My head was starting to hurt.

He - what? I didn't want to think about it. He didn't hurt me. He isn't all evil, Trowa. It would be much easier if he was ... Shrugging into my robe, I tugged the belt tight at the waist, tossing my wet hair over my shoulder, rationalizing to myself. I mean, really - he takes care of me, feeds me - all I need to do is look around this bathroom to see what he does for me, gives me ...

Correct - but this makes him no less a danger. Or did you forget that he failed to have the same pain over the deaths of hundreds of thousands of humans he's caused?

I sighed. Feh, feh, feh. No ... no, of course I didn't forget. My hairbrush felt heavy and flat in my hand. Running the bristles through my hair, against my scalp, helped bring some reality back to me. But it would be much easier, Trowa, if he was completely evil. Then there would be no question about what we had to do -

Why? Tell me, Sally - would you only defend those who were completely good?

Ah. This was the crux of the matter. No, Trowa. I wouldn't. So ... I suppose I shouldn't expect to only fight people that are completely evil, should I?

Correct. Treize was created to serve man, Sally - to be part of the greatest creation of Jouten. Why would he be completely evil? Not even those who hate men are entirely evil.

I rubbed my head, it ached so much. He ... wouldn't. Not at all.

I suspect you may be attributing altruistic motives to Treize's behavior. Do not do this. He has many reasons for his actions, most of which are unknowable to you.

I felt like a fool. That was exactly what I had been doing. Yesterday, I thought Treize did something nice for me, but that 'something nice' turned out to have a hidden blade - Steve, the guy with the crush on me, the man whose code I hacked. Now poor Steve was banished to Italy for the rest of his professional life, and I was still here with Treize and Wufei. How terribly nice and devious.

He will do kind things to you and for you; he likes you. But that does not make him kind, Sally. Even evil men can be good to their pets.

I frowned. That bothered me on several levels. Pet? I am no pet, Trowa -

Not in that way, no. He values you more than he does a pet, although less in some ways.

...what?

I will try to explain. If you were killed, he would grow angry, but he would not necessarily grieve.

I thought for a moment. Oh. Because ... he has more invested with the dogs, as he helped create them ... and they love him unconditionally.

Correct. You, however, are much more complicated. There are things to both like and dislike about you.

I nodded, rubbing my forehead again, feeling weary. Trowa. I'm - not up to thinking about this any longer. I think I'm going to get dressed, go find Wufei, and then go for a walk.

Feel free. Just be warned - your hyper-relaxed state will affect your reflexes.

I was already in my room, choosing my clothes from the wardrobe. Ah ... what .. exactly do you mean? That I'm slower than normal?

Trowa sounded gravely amused. Of course. You cannot help that. Merely recall Wufei's condition two weeks ago, after the dragon was almost awakened.

Gads, I hadn't even considered that. Wufei acted like he was sleepwalking that morning; which, actually, was the way I felt now. Eh ... all right, Trowa. Perhaps I'll just read this morning after breakfast, then. That may be a better choice than walking.

Do whatever you like. I am downstairs, in the hallway.

I yawned and nodded again, belatedly realizing he couldn't really SEE me nod.

All right, Trowa. I'll see you in a few moments.

I walked down the stairs, pausing at the bottom to peer into the hallway. Sure enough, there was Trowa by Treize's office door, looking officious and grim. The door was slightly open, but not wide enough for me to see inside.

I started toward him. Trowa - why are you there?

I was called to escort Lady Une to Treize's office.

That stopped me. Lady Une is in there?

Yes.

Where's Wufei? Is he there, too?

Not yet.

I turned and looked back up the stairs, then decided and walked past Treize's office, to the library on the other side. There, at least, I could sit in relative peace and watch any comings and goings without being seen.

Plus, it was the library I used the other night. The one with the dog in it that almost killed me.

As I walked into the room, sudden barking from the hallway made me shrink back from the doorway and whirl around, my breath whistling through my teeth, every muscle tense. It wasn't until I realized that it sounded like puppies - NOT adult dogs - that I relaxed. Quickly, I grabbed the nearest book off the shelf, sank down into the chair and tried to relax, all the while peeking around the side, watching the corridor.

In a few moments Wufei walked by with another man I didn't recognize. This man was carrying a large, cardboard box, and the puppy sounds were coming from there. Wufei and the man were deep in conversation, both occasionally glancing into the box.

But that man, if that's what he was ... gads ... The moment I looked at him, I knew he was about as human as my book. Whatever he was, he was evil; that much I knew. His aura was dark and spiky, uneven lances that thrust into the air at odd angles.

I shrank back into the chair as they passed. Trowa - you never told me the dogs were inside the house -

These are puppies, Sally. The dog breeder brought them at Treize's request.

Oh, that made perfect sense. Hellhounds bred by a hell monster.

What you see is a demon, Sally. Technically, Treize is also a demon, but he is a Truedemon - a fallen angel. One of the most powerful demons, in fact, in this world. Very few can match him.

The barking continued. High-pitched puppy yapping, that happy, eager barking puppies make when they find a new playmate. Nice, that. The dogs play, not knowing they were abominations. Demons? Truedemons? Sure, why not. We had everything else in this world, we might as well have those things, too.

Gods. I exhaled, not realizing I had been holding my breath.

Oh. I - never believed in any of this Trowa. Never. Not in demons, not in angels ... certainly not in anything supernatural. Not at all. Not even a little bit. Now, though, I don't have any choice ... do I ...

Trowa sifted and evaluated what I said. That makes this much harder for you, doesn't it?

It does. I have no frame of reference. There are times when it's assumed I know something because of religious or cultural folklore, and ... I just don't.

Ah. I understand. He paused for a moment. You might want to see this. Come.

Mystified, I rose from the chair and went to the doorway of the library, gazing down the hall toward Treize's office. Wufei was standing in the doorway; Trowa was still standing outside the office, staring at the opposite wall, not even looking at him. Wufei glared at Trowa and looked like he was going to say something cutting; then without warning, the expression on his face changed from sullen anger to complete delight. He gasped and literally dove into Treize's office, leaving me even more puzzled than before.

Soft laughter filtered into the hallway. I sighed, realizing that I had no choice at this point; I had to see what was happening. Quietly padding down the corridor, I walked to the office door and peeked into the room.

Four people were there; the dog breeder, Wufei, Treize and Une. Wufei was on the floor, covered with puppies; the breeder stood with his back to the wall, looking slightly protective of his puppies; Treize leaned on his desk with his arms crossed, watching Wufei with a grin; and Une stood next to the bookshelves, watching everything, looking as if all the blood had been drained from her body.

I swallowed. If there was such a thing as thinking quietly, I was doing it. Une just found out she was displaced by Wufei, didn't she?

No, she -

Immediately the dog breeder stiffened, straightened and turned, his face scrunched into an unpleasant scowl. He stared past me into the hallway, and I could see that the irises of his eyes were just as yellow as the dog's. He wasn't looking at Trowa per se, but he certainly was looking in his direction.

"Something wrong, Ruskin?" Treize sounded casual and friendly.

I moved slightly, pretending to get a better puppy view, but actually tried to block the demon's view of Trowa.

Gads. He could hear Trowa? That wasn't right. Trowa had been speaking directly to me, not broadcasting all over the place. Treize couldn't even hear Trowa when he spoke to me. This was too strange.

"Nnnn, nothin'. They suit ya?" he grunted with a strange, thick brogue, nodding at the dogs.

"Well, let me see ..." Treize bent down and held out his hand to the puppies. They immediately bounded over to him, cute little bundles of muscles and sinew, licking and gnawing at his hand, wagging their tails.

As I watched Treize play with the puppies, Trowa spoke to me again, softer than previously. Une was not asked to 'know' the dogs, and they were not introduced to her; however, Wufei was. She was not displaced, but dishonored.

The demon's head snapped up. His dark, greasy hair swung over his eyes as he pushed his way across the room and into the corridor, unceremoniously shoving me out of his way.

"Ruskin!"

He took no notice, swiveling his head this way and that, looking for something in the corridor, something he felt but couldn't see. Trowa's face was set, eyes flinty, staring straight ahead. The breeder stared at Trowa, then lowered he gaze and peered down the hallway, snorting in disgust.

Treize strode over and caught my arm as I stumbled away from the door. "I'm so sorry, Sally. He knows better." I had the distinct impression that Treize didn't like him at all.

"Are you finished?" Treize asked, his voice chill.

"Yah," the demon drawled, his eyes narrowed. "I am now. An' the dogs?"

"They'll do."

"Try not t'lose these 'uns. Ya know how hard 'tis to breed th' mongrels?"

"Considering I devised the technique, Ruskin, I believe I do," Treize responded, his voice dry. "Now. If there is nothing else ...?"

The demon leaned in the doorway with an odd, calculating expression in his eyes. The way his gaze slipped over me and then Wufei made my skin crawl. I found myself drawing closer to Treize; strangely enough, I felt safer there. I knew instinctively that Treize would never allow that creature to lay a hand on either one of us.

Yellow eyes shining with lust, Ruskin sneered, "Ya don't change, do ya, Treize? Always with the pretty ones."

I stiffened, glaring, wishing I could kill him. I knew he wasn't just referring to me. Treize patted my arm without looking down; just that reassurance, though, kept me from leaping at Ruskin.

Treize ignored the jibe. "The usual method of payment?"

"Eh? Aye, sure."

Wufei, surrounded by squirming puppies, was totally unaware of Ruskin's comments. Une, though, wasn't. Her eyes widened appreciably, obviously not believing what she had heard, and looked back and forth between Ruskin and Wufei.

"Then good evening, Ruskin. DO let yourself out."

The demon snorted. "I always do." He nodded perfunctorily at Treize, obviously not wishing to be rude. He made a point to leer at Wufei and me, his yellow eyes and decaying teeth glinting as his gaze raked over both of us. Grinning, he turned his back and left, sauntering down the hallway.

I shuddered. I couldn't help it. That horrid abomination made me want to claw him in two and see what spewed out of the broken halves. Part of me, though, was afraid of the dark morass I imagined was there.

"Gods. I could strangle that man sometimes. Are you all right?"

I nodded. "I - I'm fine, thank you. He is absolutely awful, though -"

"Oh, I know. Unfortunately, he's the only one with the patience and interest to do what I need. Most other ... men ... are simply too flighty to breed dogs the way they ought to be bred."

I turned, looking back into the office, to see Wufei playing tug-of-war with part of his overshirt and two of the puppies, and thought about Ruskin's yellow eyes. "Ooh ... that's a shame," I replied, feeling the blood drain from my face. The puppies looked cute now, but they were going to grow up to be like the beasts that almost killed me.

Yeah. Cute.

"Don't let them bite you, Wufei," Treize said casually. "They need discipline."

"I wasn't -" Wufei started.

"They bite?" I interrupted, shocked.

"Well, all puppies bite, Sally. I just don't particularly care to have them associate the taste of blood with Wufei." Treize gave me a warm smile, as if he just made a little joke. "And how are you? You slept so soundly on the ride home, I was afraid to wake you."

I smiled back at him and blushed, a little unsure. "Ah ... well ... I actually feel wonderful, thank you. No aches or pains anywhere."

"Excellent." His gaze shifted to Une. As I watched, Treize's smile became a little colder, a bit more formal. "Is there anything else, Lady Une?" There was the tiniest bit of disapproval in his manner; not much, but it was there.

Une felt it; she acted as if he spit on her, keeping her gaze locked on the floor. "N - no, General. Nothing else."

Here was an Une I'd never seen - one who seemed cowed and beaten, not sure of herself at all. Not that I felt sorry for her. She was the person who set the dogs loose in the house.

Treize looked concerned. "Lady - if you DO wish for the day off -"

"No, no, sir. I will be fine." Her voice was muffled, but didn't waver or catch. She would take whatever he gave her, without complaint.

"Very well, Lady Une. Dismissed."

"General." She bowed stiffly, then left the room. I watched her walk away, her gray aura swirling unevenly, mottled with dark, bruised blotches.

Good. See ya, bitch.

"What's wrong with her?" Wufei glanced up, shrugging.

"I think she's unwell," I replied, looking down at Wufei and the puppies. A wave of tiredness washed over my body, and I sighed. Sitting down somewhere else sounded like a good idea. "Erm ... excuse me, Treize - Wufei - I believe I'm going to the library and read for a while. I'm feeling rather tired." I nodded to both of them, smiled a little, then headed down the corridor toward the sanctuary of the library.

Treize nodded and gave me a faint smile, his eyes gleaming, and let me go without saying a word. Wufei only grunted, too preoccupied with the puppies to respond.

I smiled in relief as I walked down the corridor and into the library. My chair was waiting for me, inviting me to sit. I collapsed into it, boneless, closed my eyes and thought of nothing, my arms drooping towards the floor. Energy drained out of my hands, feeling as if it was pooling under my fingertips and soaking into the carpet.

About five minutes later, I heard tiny, tiny snuffling sounds from the doorway. I squinted and peered around the edge of the chair toward the door, but couldn't see anything making that sound in the room.

"You're hearing things again, Sally Po," I murmured aloud, flopping back into the chair, closing my eyes. Be paranoid, but don't let anyone see you sweat. At least not now.

But the little snuffling sound grew louder, accompanied by a short, scrabbling sound, an animal's nails on smooth tiles. I peeked around the side of the chair again, and there in the doorway stood one of the cutest little puppies imaginable. He was dark, like the large hounds, all big eyes and large ears, staring right back at me. He barked a couple of times, several little high-pitched yips, then stopped. It was as if he expected me to reply; he was waiting for me to say something, to keep up my end of the conversation.

I stared. Dogs never talked to me. In fact, dogs didn't like me. We had a mutual thing - I left them alone, they left me alone. Period.

"What? What do you want?" I asked, suspicious.

The puppy yipped again, pranced a little in place, then stopped and cocked his head, looking totally adorable.

Curious, shifting my shoulders, I pushed up in the chair and turned all the way toward the door. At the same time, the puppy was scooped off the floor, panting and squirming, by Treize. He cradled him in one hand, scratching, and looked at me, a speculative gleam in his eyes.

This was not reassuring. I raised an eyebrow, trying to deflect him. "It followed me ..."

"...can you keep it?" he finished with a tiny smile.

Gods, no. That is not where you want to go at all. I just kept my mouth closed and looked at him pleasantly, praying he would leave. The puppy was squirming, trying to get down, but Treize kept rubbing its back and head, trying to calm it, keeping it with him.

Good - good - that's a good sign, a very good sign, my mind babbled. Maybe he'll leave ...

But he kept looking at me with those piercing blue eyes, eyes that seemed to see just what I was thinking -

Bad. Bad for me, not good at all. DO something, Po. My mind was working overtime. Make small talk, or ... or, gads, do something, and do it quickly.

I smiled a little, trying to appear friendly. "It's ... cute." Yeah. Cute, in a yellow-eyed, please-don't-bite-me kind of way. "How many dogs are there? About six?"

"Six," Treize replied, nodding. "Plus the adult, making a good, healthy seven." He was still scratching the puppy, but now his look was more meditative than predatory, if that makes sense.
Right. There was a short silence, while I gathered my scattered wits to figure out what ELSE to say - preferably something that wouldn't make me appear too stupid or dull. "Umm ... they get pretty large, too ... don't they ..." I was feeling increasingly uneasy. Treize never did anything without a reason, and I didn't know why he was standing there with that strange expression for such a long time. I didn't like it at all.

Finally he tilted his head and smiled, but the light in his eyes wasn't very nice. "Would you like to meet the dogs, Sally?"

I looked at Treize, then at the puppy in his hands, and swallowed. Gads. I certainly wasn't expecting him to say that.

"Come along."

Treize led me down the hall, past Trowa and into his office. I glanced at Trowa as I followed Treize. Outwardly, he looked stoic and calm. I had the distinct impression that he was nervous, though, that there was something wrong.

Flux. Change. Anankha changing the written - consorting - so many together - I cannot see -

And that was the only impression I received from Trowa, as Treize ushered me quickly into his office. I walked into the middle of the room and stopped, confused. A sea of puppies stared up at me with bright, dark eyes and wagging tails, looking terribly cute, with tongues lolling out of one side of their mouths. Wufei wasn't in sight. The puppies weren't whining, exactly, but they were making cute puppy noises.

I looked back at Treize, hoping this was as far as he wanted me to go.

He smiled, gently handed me the puppy he was holding and gestured to the floor. "Here you are. Have a seat, Sally."

"Umm ... well ... all right. Thank you." The wee small animal lay in my hands and I looked down at it, blinking. The puppy was so tiny that he easily fit into my palm, but he wiggled about so much that I needed to keep both hands around him to make sure he didn't fall. Tucking him close to my body, I took a deep breath, shifting him? her? I didn't know - so he was in a more comfortable position, and sank to my knees in the middle of the floor, all the while praying that the puppies didn't attack en masse like the adult dogs did.

Fortunately, they didn't; in fact, they stayed in place, staring and panting. I was surprised; puppies were like children, and I had expected them to leap all over the place, to be undisciplined and unruly. But these puppies were waiting for something, I realized, when I felt Treize put his hand on my shoulder. He knelt down next to me, smiled reassuringly, and turned his attention to the puppies.

"This is Sally," he said, enunciating clearly, his hand on my shoulder, nodding at me while gazing at each of the puppies, "a friend. Treat her as such." The puppies stared at him for a moment, then as one they leaped forward, trying to scramble over each other in their eagerness to get to me. The puppy in my hand turned completely around and leaped up my chest in his bid to get to my face first. All the puppies decided they needed to lick every inch of exposed skin on my face, arms and chest at once.

"I - wait, please - oh, no, please - wait!" I cried, laughing, surprised, trying to get my bearings as I was suddenly bowled over by sheer puppy enthusiasm. They were everywhere at once, licking and jumping and yipping and gnawing a little, being very cute and adorable. I was knocked over with a whump, giggling, puppies all over me.

"Don't let them bite, Sally," Treize said gently, amused. "I'm trying to train them."

I looked up at him, sprawled on the floor, my face being washed by six tiny tongues, feeling rather undignified. "All right, Treize ... but how- ?" and I had to gently remove one of the more adventurous puppies from my neck and face, "- how do I stop them?"

"You tell them not to, and you pull away. Swat them lightly if they don't let go. Don't let them break the skin."

"Okay." I was able to dislodge one puppy from my wrist, and another from my opposite hand with a firm, "Let go, now." Surprisingly enough, they did - as if they understood exactly what I said.

I scratched them, murmuring praise. "Ah! What good dogs. Excellent!" I couldn't believe how quickly the puppies obeyed. I was smiling and talking to them, scratching them on their bellies and behind their ears. "Oooo, you're just so cute, aren't you? What are your names? Do you have names?"

"They haven't been given names yet. If you wish to name one or two, you certainly may."

I looked up at Treize, beaming. "Really? Oh, I'd like that."

He smiled back. "I did say so."

The puppy I had been holding crawled up on my lap again, begging for more attention. I laughed and picked him up. "Let's see .... what should we name you? How about .... Jack?"

Treize chuckled. "Jack works. He'll answer to that." Raising his voice a little, he called, "Jack!"

The puppy looked up, obviously responding to his name. I was amazed. "Jack, you're just too cute, aren't you," I cooed, scratching behind his ears. For an answer, Jack barked and wriggled, clearly enjoying himself. I laughed, rubbing his head; he really was too cute. Other puppies wriggled over me, wagging their tails, churning their bodies across my legs and into my lap, happily licking and gnawing me.

"No!" I gently removed one little female that was relentless in her attempt to nibble at my wrist. "No biting," I said, my voice stern, eyeing the puppy. "You know that."

Her ears drooped and she looked guilty for a moment; then her tail started to wag again, hesitantly at first, then with more enthusiasm. She hopped at me, her paws patting at my arm, begging to be petted, making the most adorable face I had ever seen.

"Oh ... all right." I gave in, put Jack down on the floor and picked her up, grinning. "Now, let's see ... I think your name is - Amelia. Yes?" I held her up and showed her to Treize, smiling.

He nodded. "Amelia is fine." The puppy barked at him, responding to her name immediately, wriggling in my hands.

I was delighted. "Ooooo, you're just too cute, too, aren't you?" I cuddled Amelia, scratching vigorously behind her ears and down her back, giving her all my attention. Jack clamored for attention as well, as did all the other puppies. It was so relaxing that I lost all track of time and just played with the dogs. I glanced in Treize's direction several times; he was leaning against his desk, watching me with an enigmatic smile, very obviously pleased about something.

He CHANGED the written. I can see NOTHING, nothing at ALL -

Trowa caught me off guard again. This time, though, I was lucky; I wasn't looking straight at Treize - Amelia and Jack were licking my face and hands as I was playing with them. Otherwise, Treize would have known for certain that something was wrong. I saw my hands shake before my vision blurred.

Trowa, what are you saying? What's wrong? I've never heard you so distraught -

It has all changed; it is changing now, as I look. The tapestry is unraveling, reweaving... . I know nothing, can see nothing surrounding you or anyone else, nothing at all ...

"Are you all right, Sally?"

I slowly withdrew my hand from the puppies and looked up at Treize, not having to feign the confusion I felt. "I'm - not sure. All of a sudden I'm feeling ... so tired ..."

Concern flickered across his features, but not before I caught the hint of smug satisfaction. "Perhaps you are ill. Come." Treize leaned down and gently took my arm, helping me to stand.

I leaned on him as I rose, brushing off the puppies that tried to cling to me. "Down, Jack," I said, chucking the dog under the chin, then pushing him down.

The puppy immediately responded. His tail thumping back and forth, he obediently jumped to the floor, panting. I swore he was smiling, too.

"You are pale," Treize said, guiding me away from the dogs. "Come. Perhaps you wish to lie down in the sun? Or inside?" He was supporting me gently, leading me out of the room and into the hall.

"Ah .. yes, that sounds very nice," I said, feeling grateful. Now that I was on my feet, I realized I did need to lean on him. My knees were wobbly, and I felt dizzy. "I felt wonderful this morning, but .. I feel so strange now ..."

"That's to be expected. But where would you like to lie down, Sally? Outside, or inside?" Treize sounded amused at something.

Color rose in my cheeks as I realized I hadn't told him where I wanted to go. "Oh - outside, please, Treize."

"Of course, my dear," he murmured, chuckling, pulling me closer to his body as we walked toward the French doors to the patio. I didn't object when he did that at all. In fact, it felt comfortable, and right, and I relaxed into him, right under his arm and next to his hip.

We walked in silence for a few minutes. It felt natural. Protected. Nice. I liked it. Part of my mind shrieked in outraged, terrified protest, shocked beyond belief that I would even consider being comfortable around him.

Yes, well, too bad. I couldn't explain it, but there it was. Life was full of contradictions. I hated myself for it ... but I couldn't fight it, either. It was so hard to explain, and I was much too tired to start. Feh, feh, feh.

"Here you are, Sally. You can use this deck chair."

"Ah .. thank you, Treize -"

I heard sniffing beside me. Before I had a chance to look down, Treize smiled and said, "Eh - I forgot. Korosu, this is Sally, a friend." Treize took my hand and held it out to the only adult dog left on the island, the dog that very nearly ended my life. Korosu sniffed at my proffered hand and gave it a large, sloppy lick. I almost died right there.

"Good boy," Treize murmured in approval. He still held my hand firmly in place, and would not let me pull back until the dog stopped sniffing my fingers on his own.

Everything has changed, Trowa moaned. Everything ... everything ... I cannot see -

"Hi - Korosu." I managed a weak smile and swallowed, thinking of huge, yellow eyed dogs with enormous teeth, and how enemies can suddenly become friends.

Korosu woofed, a rumbling, basso sound and wagged his tail in greeting. Then, his duty done, he turned and trotted off, going to patrol.

"There we go. That's all of them." Treize smiled as he released my arm settled me in the deck chair, brushing stray strands of hair off my cheek. "Do you need anything?" He leaned over me, the sunlight turning the edges of his hair golden. "A drink? An umbrella?"

"Ah ... no, I don't think so." I blinked, looking up at him, trying to keep my eyes open against overwhelming sleepiness. "Thank you so much, Treize."

"Rest well, Sally." He touched the side of my face gently with the back of his hand again, a fond gesture. "I must get back to work."

I nodded, my eyes closing, the sunlight making my skin tingle. His footsteps echoed on the flagstones as he walked across the courtyard into the house, leaving me alone.

Turning my head to the side, I let the warm sunlight sink straight through my pores, into my muscles and bones. I dozed. That was the last thing I remembered until something large, wet and cold pressed into my hand and a heavy weight thumped on my stomach.

"Ooof!" I groaned. I opened my eyes to see Korosu, his snout resting on my stomach, giving me this terribly pitiful look that dogs manage when they want someone to pet them. The dog and I eyed each other for several long moments, sizing each other up. Then Korosu opened his mouth and yawned, showing me ALL of his teeth, nuzzled my hand so that it would flop on top of his head, and made sad, pitiful whining sounds. I sighed. There was no way out.

"Oh ... geez, all right, Korosu," I muttered, rolling my eyes and reaching to scratch him behind his ears. He opened his muzzle again, exposing his long canines, but only panted and moved his snout closer to my face so I could reach farther behind his ears. Obviously, he was a pro at getting his ears scratched. I chucked to myself. Nice. The old guy's showing the new girl the ropes.

We stayed like that for a while, he with his head on my stomach, me with my face to the sun, fingers busily scratching behind his ears. After a while, Korosu managed to 'walk' his way up my chest so that his head was pretty close to mine, his muzzle resting comfortably on my collarbone. It was pleasant. Restful. Incredibly, it was everything a lazy morning should be.

I had no inkling of trouble until Korosu growled, a deep throated, threatening sound, and raised his head off my chest, staring across the courtyard. I had only heard that growl once before in my life, and I never wanted to hear it again.

Immediately, fear thrummed along my nerves. "Korosu - what's the matter, boy, what's wrong?" The dog's eyes had narrowed and his lips were curled back, exposing his teeth in a totally different way than he had for me, frightening to see so close. Korosu growled again; this time, the sound was forceful, deeper in his chest, louder, reverberating off the flagstones.

"What the hell -"

I sat up in time to see a man, about fifteen to twenty meters away from me, wearing a wetsuit and carrying a large, black submachine gun running toward the house, his eyes huge and crazed. Korosu snarled, a bloodcurdling sound, and charged.

As Korosu leaped over me, I rolled off the chaise lounge and onto the ground, looking for cover. The hound was in full voice as he charged, barking and snarling viciously. The man met Korosu, leveled his gun at him and screamed, "Kushrenada killed my family - by God, I'm gonna kill everything and everybody here that I can!"

Then he started firing, and chaos erupted.

Guards appeared out of nowhere, firing back and shouting at the intruder. He continued firing, rolling and running around the courtyard, dodging behind the table. Somehow, no one hit him yet, and he was still firing.

I almost made it to the house when a burning, streaking pain ripped into my back and through my side. Gasping, I stumbled and fell - and gods, there was a lot of pain. So much pain - I didn't even feel it when I hit the ground. It hurt to breathe - I couldn't move - and it was hard, so hard to think.

A long time passed, and I lay on the ground, bleeding. I knew I was bleeding. It felt wet around my back. Strange feeling, that. I couldn't reach it, either.

"Don't try to talk, Sally. We're going to get you to a hospital."

" .... Wufei ....?"

"Shhh. He's fine. Be quiet, Sally. Listen to me and do what you're told, for once."

I closed my eyes and felt the world fade away, thinking Treize sounded a little too amused considering I had just been shot.

Floating ... floating ... somewhere ...

" ... but Daddy - Daddy, I can move in dreams ... I'll come visit you!
I visit other people too, Daddy, lots of people. I see them
when I dream."

"I know you will, princess -"

"Treize, she's still bleeding. Where are the damn MEDICS?"

"Wufei. Calm down. They're coming. Move over here and let DiMencio through. He can't help if you're in the way."

" - shouldn't allow that child anywhere NEAR Beijing, and you know it!
If the two of you want to throw your lives away and rot in that hole
you call a hospital, go ahead; but she's bright and capable enough
that she shouldn't be forced to do it, too. Send her to L3, at least,
Angli; I'll take care of the rest, if you won't. She deserves a
chance."

"If anything happens to her ... I should have been with her, I could have killed him, GODS, I am so fucking STUPID -"

"WUFEI -"

Sudden massive jostling PAINGODSPAIN someone's screaming -

"Strap her DOWN DiMencio! Start the IV now!"

"Treize, let me GO!"

"WUFEI."

I was moving somewhere, being carried. I blinked. Blurry - things were so blurry - was that Wufei? His face was scrunched as if someone punched him.

"...Wu ... fei ..."

It WAS Wufei. He gasped and looked right at me, close enough for me to touch. If I had the strength.

"Sally Po, didn't I tell you not to talk?" Treize's voice hovered over my ear, gentle, calming. "Save your strength, dear. Wufei won't leave you. He's right here."

Go to sleep, Sally. You must rest, so you can heal. Wufei is upset. He needs you, Sally. Rest.

... I ... will. But - pain -

The pain will fade, Sally. Rest, now. Rest.

Wufei's face was close to mine. "Woman. Don't be stubborn. Do what I tell you. Don't you DARE die, do you hear me?"

Overwhelming tiredness. Eyes closing. " ..'kay ...'fei... won't. Promise ..."

Breath whispered between my lips as the world softly turned black.

"Take her down and prep her for surgery, please. General, the bullet grazed her lung and pierced her liver. Fortunately, we will be able to remove it, but there could be complications...."

"Wufei. Stay here, please. I want you listening to Sally's prognosis."

Moving again, smoothly this time. I was hovering between the gray of almost awake and the comforting darkness of sleep.

"......doesn't look so dangerous now, does she? Some freedom fighter SHE
turned out to be, shot in the back. Bet she was running away."

" Right. And hey - see the way the General had to pry that gundam pilot
off her before we brought her down here? I thought he was going to jump
on the gurney, he was so insistent."

"- yeah, I did. But did you see the way the General was looking at the
pilot? Oooh, what I wouldn't give to have him look at ME that way -"

"I know, I know, and what a waste - that guy didn't even NOTICE! Here,
this vein's pretty good -"

"Mmmm, thanks. And geez, you're right - some people have no idea how
lucky they ARE. A rehabilitated gundam pilot, living with the leader of
OZ, who looks at him like that? Really. I'd trade places with that kid
any time. What is wrong with him? You know, seriously, that man would
probably give anything to -"

Their voices faded as I was gently pulled into the darkness.

... beep, beep ... beep, beep ... beep, beep ... beep, beep ...

I stirred, groggy, hearing the alarm.

Alarm? As in ... time to get up?

... beep, beep ... beep, beep ... beep, beep ... beep, beep ...

Get up? Gods, I had to get moving. I couldn't lay here. I had to be with Wufei. It was my job to protect him, to keep him safe.

... beep, beep ... beep, beep ... beep, beep ... beep, beep ...

The alarm had an urgent sound to it, the beeps coming closer together, the entire cadence speeding up. Strange - that's how I felt. Close to panicking, but not quite there. I was late - I was late, and I had to get up, force my eyes open, get out of bed, get moving, get to Wufei. Something terrible, something enormous had happened to him, I knew it, I could feel it, and it was dreadful. I had to be there for him, had to find him, had to -

Hello.

A large presence gently pushed itself into my thoughts and stayed there, forcing me to stop my pinwheeling, out-of-control panic and focus on it alone.

...Trowa? Is that you?

Yes, Sally.

I waited a moment, gathering my scattered thoughts, shocked. He waited with me, quiet, steadfast.

The beeping you hear is not an alarm. Open your eyes and look to your right before you start asking questions.

I gently opened my eyes to a blurry, white room, dominated by machines of all types. Shifting my gaze to the right, I saw a high meal tray with a vase of slightly wilted, cut flowers and another machine monitoring something ... Ah. My vital signs. Right, right - that was the one making all the noise.

Oh... Pieces of memory floated to me. I'm in the hospital. Someone shot me.

Yes, that's correct.

My mind was not working very well. I couldn't remember. What else happened, Trowa? How long have I been here? Please - tell me everything -

There was silence for a moment; then I felt a change in my mind. Trowa must have decided to tell me everything. Very well. This is your fourth day in the hospital; you have been unconscious three of those four days. Une is alive, but barely. She attempted suicide after the intruder was subdued, blaming herself for the poor security on the island.

I was horrified. Une tried to kill herself? But how -

Yes. She attempted to shoot herself in the head, but at the last moment was distracted and shot herself in the throat. An assassin found the island, tried to kill Treize and failed. Three men are dead, including the assassin. Treize called the dragon. He is premature. Have you any more questions?

Now I lay there, staring at one of the machines. No. I could not have heard him correctly. Wha - what did you say? Would you repeat that, starting at "Three men are dead ... ?"

Of course. Three men are dead, including the assassin. Treize called the dragon. He is premature. Have you any questions?

The muscles connecting my jaw and neck went slack. There was no mistake. I heard correctly the first time. I found I was staring at nothing in particular while a numb, tingling sensation crept across my face and down my body. I was in total shock.

... when ...

Last night. Your third night away from the island.

... oh. I ... see.

No questions sprang to mind. Gads, what was there to say? I lay there, breathing faster, feeling strangely disconnected. I had failed Wufei, and it was over. That was that. I had promised the dragon god Seiryuu that I would protect Wufei, his Child, and did I? Oh, no, no, not hardly. Treize got to him when I wasn't there. It didn't matter that I was shot - it didn't matter why it happened - it just mattered that it happened.

No, Sally, you are wrong. I saw in the written that Treize would call the dragon. But it is not over - you will be leaving the island soon.

There was no mercy for those who failed at this magnitude. Oh, I'm sure I will be. Trowa. My presence isn't needed there anymore. In fact ... I'm not there now ... am I ...

It felt as if Trowa paused. That is not correct. And when I said you would be leaving, that included you and Wufei.

A deep breath, painful, helped me focus. Both - of us? You - you see that?

Yes. However, you must go back to the island first. I told you this so that you were prepared.

I closed my eyes, thinking what an appalling shock that would have been had he not told me before I saw Wufei. Ah. Then - thank you. When am I supposed to go back?

In an hour. Treize has not forgotten you, per se, but he nearly has. You will have more freedom, but less leeway.

I ... don't understand. What do you mean?

He will pay you less attention on the whole, so you don't need to worry so much about getting caught. However - if you ARE caught, the penalties will be severe. He will not have as much mercy. His attentions are elsewhere, as you can well guess. Be warned - he is behaving almost drunkenly.

Gods. That was not good, not good at all. Drunken meant unstable, and an unstable Treize was something I didn't even want to consider.

I need to contact Duo and Heero. Was my phone left with my clothes?

No. It was taken away this morning, by Treize.

I blinked, and realized my mouth was suddenly dry.

He - he actually wants to keep me on that island with Wufei?

Oh, yes, absolutely. You are a necessary part of the equation, something required for Wufei's emotional, mental and physical balance; plus, he enjoys you. You are as unique in your line as Wufei is in his. Because of the dragon, though, he is not thinking as clearly as he ought.

My mind finally started working. So. If we're going to go, this would be the time ...

He is drunk enough. He would let you go.

... and Wufei with me?

Yes. He believes Wufei is indelibly his, and to some extent, that is true.

Oh gods. Here it was. I looked around the room, knowing I was alone and this was probably the only chance I would have. My jaw tightened and I closed my eyes. I knew this was going to hurt, no matter how it was done. Might as well get it over with as soon as possible.

Trowa. Show me what happened to Wufei. Show me how Treize called the dragon.

I was standing in the hospital corridor, completely dressed and cured, with Trowa standing next to me. I turned to him, puzzled.

You're not here. This has already happened. You can change nothing that you see, and the people around you can neither see nor hear you.

Oh.

Wufei trudged down the corridor, Treize next to him, his arm across Wufei's shoulders. Wufei hardly seemed to notice; his head was down, his shoulders were hunched and he had a pained, pinched expression, one I'd never seen before. His entire demeanor was depressed.

They walked past us to the elevator, silent, and took the car to the helicopter pad on the roof of the building. Wufei looked more dejected with every step he took.

Abruptly, I found myself sitting inside the helicopter with Trowa, across from Wufei and Treize. Treize's hand was on Wufei's arm; Wufei did not seem to be aware of it. Trowa looked at me calmly.

Do not worry. As I said, this already occurred. I will not include spots within the narrative I consider 'redundant.'

Oh, I thought as I stared back, blinking. I see.

Wufei started speaking. It sounded as if he hadn't meant to say anything at all; apparently, his feelings of loneliness and despair simply caught up with him. He looked straight ahead, his gaze fixed on the seat in front of him, and spoke tonelessly.

"Strong women DIE around me, Treize. First my wife, and now Sally. It's my fault. I should have been there for her."

Probably seeing me lying in bed with all that machinery surrounding me and not being able to do anything to help made him feel even worse. I longed to reach out and touch him, to reassure him that I was fine, would be fine.

Treize's eyes glittered under lowered lids. "Nonsense, Wufei. You cannot control someone else's fate. You understand, even though you protest against it. Sally is fortunate to have you as her protector, someone who cares enough to insure her well being. You have done that time and time again, even asking me to preserve her life as I do yours."

"...yes. I did." Wufei darted a quick, guarded look at Treize, suspicious and disturbed.

"You heard the surgeon. The operation was a huge success, and Sally will be back with us by the end of the week. Her prognosis is excellent."

They were silent for the duration of the trip to the island. Treize kept his hand on Wufei's arm; and Wufei did not shake it off. Wufei's aura, black and red streaked with purple bruising, swirled in confusion and moved toward Treize.

I swallowed, saddened. In the next moment, Trowa and I were standing just to the left of the dining table, watching Wufei and Treize at dinner. Wufei was hardly eating at all. Treize was watching him closely.

"Wufei. Your friends are fortunate to have such a person as you in their lives. I wonder, at times, if they realize that."

Wufei glanced across the table. "Really? I don't think they would consider themselves 'fortunate' to know me."

"Ah, Wufei. After all you've done for them? ... I'm surprised. Perhaps that's because you've neglected to tell them about the small favors you've requested on their behalf."

Treize stopped speaking and sat back, watching the impact of his words. Wufei replaced his silverware very carefully on the table and blotted his lips with his napkin before looking up. His face was an expressionless mask, but his dusky complexion had turned several shades paler.

"Explain - please - what you mean." Wufei had not asked in a belligerent, angry manner - rather, he had asked as one seeking information, staring at Treize, inquisitive, polite. Quite a change from the gundam pilot brought to Treize several months ago.

Treize's lips quirked into not quite a smile. "Of course. On several different occasions, you promised to do various things or carry out various tasks if I, in turn, did something for your friends. You recall the agreements we were able to reach regarding Heero, Duo, and Relena, don't you?"

"Yes, of course." Wufei's answer was brusque. "However, I don't understand -"

"But then perhaps you will recall several requests with regards to Sally. Initially, I agreed to have her transferred here gratis, did I not? And I kept to that agreement, even after the small incident during her initial recovery."

A slow flush worked its way up from Wufei's neck to his cheekbones at the mention of my 'first' recovery. Treize's eyebrow went up, and he nodded.

"Yes. I see you remember. Perhaps you will also remember, then, the other instance when you asked me to preserve her life."

Even though Wufei's demeanor was stoic, it was appalling to see his face turn pale almost immediately. The control that Treize exerted over Wufei's emotions was frightening.

"Indeed, Wufei," Treize said softly. "And do you recall what you promised in return for my preserving Ms. Po's life?"

There was a short silence. Wufei clenched his jaw and dropped his gaze to the table. "I - promised to do something for you. At some other time."

"Yes, you did." The general looked at him, his smile gentle. "That time is now. I would like to see you at my quarters at seven AM tomorrow morning, please. Be prompt."

"Yes, sir," Wufei muttered, still staring at the table. He did not look up when Treize caressed his cheek with his thumb, only shuddered and clasped his hands in his lap.

"Good evening, Wufei. Seven AM sharp."

I looked over at Trowa, defeated. He inclined his head to the right, motioning me to look. We had transported from the dining room to Treize's quarters, and were standing just inside Treize's bedroom. Inhaling sharply, I stared at the huge bed that appeared to dominate the entire room, then out the bedroom door at Treize's back. Horror and misery mixed in equal parts as I turned on Trowa, furious, nearly crying.

GODS. This isn't necessary - what the hell are we doing here, Trowa? Do you think I need to see them fuck - WANT to see them fuck? That's what Treize is going to do, isn't it? Do you think I need to see how Treize takes advantage of a fifteen year old boy? That I need to see two males have sex? Why, Trowa? WHY?

Sally. This is how the dragon is called - or rather, how the dragon is awakened. It is, perhaps, the most intense experience a mortal could ever see or experience. As his Guardian, you should know and understand all aspects of the dragon that you possibly can.

The longer I stared at Trowa, openmouthed, the more I understood. He just didn't get it. He wasn't a person - he wasn't human. He didn't have emotions or feelings; he was driven by logic, or something else, and it was logical to him that I should see something so personal and integral to Wufei's nature. The hell with how it would affect me; that didn't have any place in the scheme of things. I was Wufei's Guardian, whatever that was. I needed to know something, so here was the information. I should just stuff whatever I thought about it somewhere else and go on with my life.

My soul was crying. I didn't want to do this. I didn't want to know this. It hurt too much. But there was no reasonable way out.

We will not see the entire day, Sally. It took over twelve hours to call the dragon. As I said before, I will not include spots within the narrative I consider 'redundant.'

Wasn't that just dandy. I braced myself.

The bell chimed promptly at seven AM. Treize opened the door, and Wufei walked in as if he was walking to his own funeral.

"Wufei," Treize smiled. "No need to be so gloomy. I have breakfast prepared for you. Come over here, please."

Scowling, suspicious, Wufei walked through the foyer to the dining area where a servant was busily making breakfast. Treize's quarters were on the third story of the mansion, and could have been called a luxury apartment in its own right.

"What kind would you like?" Treize had already chosen his ingredients and was watching the chef cook his omelet with a small smile. "All the ingredients are out on that table."

Blinking in surprise, Wufei looked at Treize, then the chef. He walked over to the other table, mulling over breakfast choices. After choosing his ingredients he watched the chef prepare his omelet; then, as there was no other choice, he sullenly accepted his food and sat down across from Treize, silent and stiff.

All kinds of fruits and juices were available, plus grains and cereals - in fact, it was a breakfast that was the same as any other they usually had together in the other part of the mansion. Wufei visibly relaxed during the meal; and as he did, Treize became more ... predatory.

The servants, as always, were practically invisible. They were in the background, clearing dishes, moving food platters, cleaning up. This time, however, the last of the servants left at a discreet signal from Treize, closing the door softly as he walked out of the suite.

"Bring your tea and come into the sitting room, Wufei. There's a marvelous view of the sea from here."

Nodding stiffly, Wufei scooped up his tea and left the table. He walked across the room to the French doors that opened to the patio and sighed, looking at the water.

"Here, Wufei. Sit here, please."

His shoulders tensed. Turning, his eyes dark and full of foreboding, Wufei walked back to the couch and sat where Treize indicated, facing the sea, taut as a bowstring.

Treize sat down next to him, his left arm resting lightly behind Wufei's shoulders on the back of the divan. "Wufei," he murmured, "I have not seen the likes of you in ... oh ... three thousand years. Did you know that?"

His eyes narrowed and his lips compressed into a thin line; his breathing, though, gave him away, as it became a little more ragged, more forced. "I have no idea what you're talking about. And I have no idea what you want. But the breakfast was good." Wufei refused to look at Treize and kept his face calm and composed. Instead, he took a sip of tea, his chin jutting out, defiant.

Treize smiled, a slow, knowing smile. "Indeed. It is possible you don't know what I'm talking about, but I'm sure that you do know ... something. Don't you ... we've discussed it before." And with that, he allowed his fingers to dip down to Wufei's shoulder, tracing the lines of his muscles gently through the fabric, watching his reaction.

Small shivers ran up and down Wufei's arms, tremors that rattled the teacup on its saucer. He breathed in quickly and his eyes widened, involuntarily looking at Treize, most of his composure gone. Trying to cover his shaking hands, he leaned forward to put his tea on the small table in front of the couch.

"I ... I ..."

"Here - allow me," Treize murmured, his voice sonorous and rich. He leaned forward, his right hand brushing Wufei's shaking hand with his own, taking the cup and saucer from Wufei and gently placing it on the table. At the same time, his left arm quietly wrapped around Wufei's shoulders, pulling the boy closer to him as he captured Wufei's lips in a gentle, exploring kiss.

Wufei gasped and struggled briefly, but had no defense against Treize's superior strength and experience.

As his fingers explored Wufei's face, mapping out sensitive spots wherever he could reach. Treize murmured against Wufei's lips, "I will not hurt you, Wufei. You are precious to me. Beautiful. Exquisite and rare. Something to be treasured, never abused. I will never hurt you, Wufei. Believe me."

I watched, breathing faster, my throat tight. Remember when he did that to you? my mind whispered to me. Remember? Now he's doing it to Wufei. And this is real.

Gently, gently, Treize continued assaulting Wufei's body with his hands, all the while claiming his lips, his jaw and his neck with relentless, insistent kisses. Wufei's will was crumbling in the wave of this assault. His head fell back against Treize's shoulder, giving Treize unwilling access to his neck, melting under Treize's spell. His eyes were closed, but thin, wet tracks of tears shone against his cheeks and his body was limp in Treize's embrace.

The general smiled, a predator's smile, then bent his head and continued his offensive. By this time, Treize had opened Wufei's shirt and exposed his chest, and now was removing the boy's trousers. He laid Wufei back on the couch tenderly, hovering over him as he continued to touch and fondle his body.

"Ohh ... " Wufei moaned as Treize stroked his nipples, then slowly moved his hands down his chest and dipped lower, across his belly. Moving his hands toward Wufei's thighs, then ghosting them across his loins, Treize muffled Wufei's moans with his mouth. Intensifying his play, Treize left a trail of wet, suckling kisses down the side of the pilot's jaw to his neck, then from his neck to his chest. His tongue flickered teasingly across Wufei's chest as his head moved along the length of the pilot's body to join his hands, now focused intimately on Wufei.

Wufei gasped and moaned, writhing in Treize's embrace. Treize's expression was nothing less than blissful.

Turning my back on the scene, my arms tightly wrapped around me, my insides raw and bleeding, I couldn't drag my gaze away from the floor. I don't need to see any more, Trowa. I don't want to see any more. I understand what happened. Take me back.

Sally. Please. Look at Wufei's aura. Do not focus on the act; rather, focus on its result.

Gods, he really didn't get humans at ALL; either that, or my feelings made no difference. Reluctantly I turned back, focusing only on Wufei's head, trying to ignore every other sight and sound in the room. What I saw was strange - really strange.

Wufei's aura, normally red and black, looked as if it was turning a dark orange as well. It was swirling about his body like a blazing hurricane, with most of the disturbance centered around his head. Suddenly Wufei's face twisted into a grimace of ecstasy and he cried out, his entire body arching upward, and for a moment - a single, solitary moment - there was a flash of red and gold around his head, something incandescent, nearly too bright to see.

I blinked - did I see that? Looking closely again, I saw only Wufei, his aura still whirling about his body, now being lovingly tucked under Treize's arm. His eyes were closed and his body limp, and he appeared to be happily asleep.

That was the dragon, Sally. You saw a flash of the dragon being born. Only an instant, true, but a small part of the process.

Without warning, Trowa and I moved from room to room with Wufei and Treize, at least four to five more times. Trowa was as good as his word; he didn't show anything he considered redundant, so I was spared seeing other more personal, intimate moments between them. However, every time Wufei climaxed, we were there. I kept my gaze focused on Wufei's head. Each experience seemed a little more intense for him, and each time more of the dragon's colors flashed for a longer period of time.

Treize was extremely gentle with Wufei, but insistent at the same time. He took care of all Wufei's needs, only permitting small rest periods in between the times he stimulated him. He made sure Wufei ate, bathed him, always touched him, petted him. His expression as he looked at Wufei was exultant.

This will be the last time, Sally. We were standing in the corner of Treize's bedroom. I didn't want to look anywhere else except at Trowa, for fear of what I was going to see. I could already hear them, and this ... sounded quite different than what they had been doing before.

Oh. All right. I can do this. I thought my emotions were stupefied to the whole process. Once I turned and looked at the bed, though, I realized I was wrong.

It was immediately apparent how this time was different from the previous times. I choked and spun around, going for the doorway.

Trowa, HOW COULD YOU? I am NOT WATCHING THIS -

Sally, turn around now. The dragon is being born. It is the manifestation of Wufei's soul. A human has never witnessed this event. You MUST witness for him.

I stopped, hearing the gasps and moans behind me, now with the added punctuation of Treize's deeper cries. Slowly, I turned around. For ... Wufei.

Their bodies were intertwined; Treize was above Wufei, and the pace he set was fierce. Wufei's cries became more guttural, more frenetic. His aura looked like a supernova, flashing red and gold almost continuously, merging with his black and red and coalescing at his head. Treize had stopped masking his true essence, and the room was flooded with bronze light. He threw back his head and roared as both he and Wufei climaxed together, shaking the bed to its foundations. At the same time, brilliant flashes of red and gold spiked throughout the room, faster and faster, until one neon bright burst of light burnt my eyes.

When I could finally see again, there was Wufei - a shaking, dazed, utterly exhausted Wufei, cradled in Treize's arms - and above Wufei's head was the most fantastic thing I'd ever seen. It was a thin, translucent, orange and red dragon, hardly wider than my arm, large head blindly nosing for Treize. Treize had a huge, insanely happy grin on his face, as if he had just produced something extraordinary. He pulled Wufei into a warm, protective embrace, nuzzling and petting him constantly, never taking his hands off him for a second. They were both wrapped in the bedsheets; Treize kept one hand on the dragon and used the other to tenderly tuck the blankets and sheets around Wufei. .

The next thing I knew I was looking at my hospital room, at the banks of monitors and machines surrounding my bed. I blinked, shuddered, and tried to move my head. Yes, I was here, in my bed.

Trowa's voice was very soft. That is all, Sally. That is how the dragon is called. Treize's people will come to collect you in approximately forty minutes. You have some time to yourself.

Tears were running down my face unchecked. I didn't acknowledge what Trowa said, because I couldn't stop weeping.

"Ms. Po? Can you hear me?"

I opened my eyes to see a corpsman leaning down to speak to me. His tone was surprisingly gentle.

"We've come to fetch you. The doctor said you can come home, and the General sent us to get you. Are you ready to travel?"

Not trusting my voice, I nodded, closing my eyes briefly, then pushed myself up to a sitting position, ignoring the spiking pain in my back and side. I didn't care. I was going back to the island to see Wufei. Then we were going to leave. Period.

The weather was beautiful on the island - a clear, cool, sunny day. I wasn't allowed to walk out of the helicopter, though. In fact, when I tried to get up out of my seat, the Special's lips twitched a little as his arm gently forced me back against the cushions.

"Ms. Po. You know better," he admonished, raising his eyebrow. "No walking on your own until the General permits it. The wheelchair is waiting outside."

Gods. I shot him a look of pure venom before I remembered I was trying to be agreeable. "Sorry," I mumbled, apologetic. "I'd rather walk myself. It's habit."

"I understand, but I have my orders."

He scooped me up without another word and carried me as easily as a child, walking through the helicopter and down the steps. As he settled me in the wheelchair, I looked up to see Wufei and Treize waiting at the edge of the landing pad.

Treize looked absolutely thrilled with the world; Wufei, on the other hand, did not. The dragon - that small, thin, translucent little thing - was wound in and around Wufei, just as the older dragon had wound in and around Seiryuu. This little one, though, had turned its head and was cringing down slightly, away from Treize.

I looked closely at Wufei's dragon. The major difference that I could see between this creature and Seiryuu's, other than size, was that this wee little one was an infant. Not only was this one small, but it was definitely ... unfinished. It didn't even have scales.

Trowa's voice spoke softly in my head. Exactly right, Sally. Wufei's dragon is at least three years premature. Had Treize tried to call the dragon six months prior to this, he could have killed Wufei.

I blinked, startled. Premature? My mind just started to wrap around that concept when another, more immediate idea presented itself and completely astonished me.

"Sally -" Wufei said, starting toward me.

Treize put a hand on Wufei's shoulder, stopping him without a word.

Immediately, Wufei stopped speaking and halted in place. At the same time, the little dragon turned its head around to look at Treize's hand, threw its head back, opened its mouth and made a soft, high, unhappy keening sound.

But Wufei's face showed no change of expression; not a flicker of emotion, no response at all. The dragon, however, tried to push Treize's hand off Wufei's shoulder with its small translucent nose.

Treize's features softened as he looked at the tiny creature wrapped around Wufei. "Saaa ..." he murmured, reaching up with his fingers to caress the dragon. Immediately, the infant stilled under his touch. At the same time, Wufei shuddered and closed his eyes, swaying a bit on his feet.

The Specials wheeled me over to them. "Ms. Po's medical information, sir," said one of the soldiers, saluting, handing Treize a thick folder. Treize stopped petting the dragon to accept the packet with both hands, opening and scanning the material inside.

Once Treize's hand was off the dragon Wufei went back to his old self. He peered at me discreetly, concerned.

I smiled at him, not looking at Treize. "Hi, Wufei," I murmured.

Relief washed across his face, and he gave me a small smile. I felt relieved as well; he looked so much healthier when he smiled. My smile grew a little larger and I gazed at him until I realized that Treize had been talking to me for a few moments. I blinked and turned my head, my attention on Treize.

" - see that you're doing so well. Let's go inside now, shall we?"

So saying, Treize draped his arm across Wufei's shoulders and guided him toward the house, apparently expecting everyone else to follow him. My escort shrugged, then pushed me several paces after them, following the couple into the house and down the hallway.

We're going to his office, I thought, despair starting to creep through me again as I watched Treize lightly knead Wufei's shoulders. And he doesn't even care if we follow him or not. He's not aware of anyone or anything now except Wufei.

Once inside, the Specials backed my chair into position in Treize's office, fussed around a little more making sure everything else was in order, saluted Treize and left. Korosu was laying on the sofa, his side swathed in large bandages. He woofed at me once, a low sound of greeting, then put his head on his paws and looked at me with sad, miserable dog eyes.

Treize swept around his desk and sat down, motioning Wufei to stand next to him at the side of the desk. "Would you like to lie down, Sally?"

"Oh, no thank you, Treize. I actually feel better being up for a while."

He nodded at me. "Ah. Then, the library, perhaps?"

I had the feeling he was constantly in motion, never stopping long enough to complete one thought or think through an entire task. That was odd, totally out of character for Treize.

"Erm ... would you like me to go to the library, Treize?"

Treize laughed. "Sally, I would like you to be comfortable. You have been through quite enough, don't you think?"

"Well, yes, I think so. But I'd rather look at the positive side now, ne?"

"Quite, quite ..." I could tell I was fading from his consciousness already. "Let me know if you want to do something. Wufei - "

"Un."

" - the blueprints we discussed the other night - let's continue working on those, shall we?"

"Hai." After a few moments, Wufei spread the drawings out on the desk and sat down next to Treize, keeping his gaze on the paper. The dragon, though, was looking directly at me, not at the desk. Only the vaguest shadows of large, green eyes stared back.

Trowa murmured very quietly in my mind. What you see the dragon doing is what Wufei is actually thinking and feeling. Remember, the dragon is the manifestation of his soul - and his soul is not human.

Both Treize and Wufei were bent over the drawings. Treize glanced at the dragon, followed its gaze, and shot one intense, irritated look in my direction. Immediately, however, he went back to pointing out various features on the drawing to Wufei, features that someone in his position would normally go over with an aide.

Sitting quietly in front of them, I sighed. This performance wasn't for my benefit - not really. Treize simply didn't care if I was there or not. He could not keep his gaze from wandering over Wufei again and again. Any personal space Wufei might have had was gone; Treize pulled his chair so close to Wufei that he was practically leaning on his shoulder, nearly breathing in his ear. Wufei was flushing badly. His expression was stoic, as always, but he looked as though he wanted the floor to open so he could sink into it and never come up again.

I averted my eyes. It was one thing when both people were involved with each other, but ... they weren't. Gods, I certainly didn't need to see this or cause poor Wufei any more embarrassment. Treize's looks were already growing longer and more intense. If I didn't get out of there now, who knew what Treize would do to him in front of me ...

"Ah ... Treize? Wufei? Pardon me, but I think I would prefer to move around a little myself, if you wouldn't mind. If I could just have some assistance here -"

"Oh, of course, of course, Sally." Treize leaned across his desk and hit a button on the intercom. "Send someone to my office, please, to escort Ms. Po out." He looked at me and smiled again, but it was obvious that he had no idea I was sitting there. Stretching a little, he moved his arm behind Wufei, resting it on the back of Wufei's chair.

Wufei continued to look at the drawings, ignoring Treize's arm but clenching his fists. The dragon, though, wasn't as circumspect; it glared at Treize, waving away from the general as far as it could get.

Sharp rapping drew my attention to the door. Trowa walked in, snapped to attention, saluted Treize then stood in front of his desk, waiting for orders.

"Sir?"

"Wheel her out of here, would you? The library would be good, or wherever she wants to go."

"Hai, General." Trowa saluted again, then took the handles of my wheelchair, unfastened the brakes and backed me out of the room.

But not fast enough that I didn't see the last thing Treize did to Wufei. As we were leaving, Treize leaned over and kissed Wufei full on the lips. Wufei struggled for several moments, his body stiffening.

Treize looked like he was stroking the air with one hand, but I could see that what he was really doing was petting the dragon, smoothing his fingers down the creature's spine. Instantly, any resistance on Wufei's part evaporated and he relaxed into Treize's caress, melting against Treize's chest. The dragon quieted as well, appearing to arch into Treize's hand. Waves of invisible power throbbed through the door and into the hallway, crashing against me. It was horrible, frightening, suffocating - I couldn't breathe.

"Take me to my room, Trowa," I whispered, closing my eyes and feeling my chest tighten again. "Please."

Trowa was silent as he pushed me the entire way to my room. He chose to stop the wheelchair in front of the open French doors, then came around and inspected my face without touching me.

"You are crying," he said, very matter-of-fact.

"Yes. I am."

"Why?"

I gave him a tired glare, blinking back tears. Breathing was easier, but that enormous, pulsing power was still in the background, the one generated by Treize and Wufei. Gads. For a Fate, Trowa was terribly dense. He had no concept, no clue?

"I - I have no effect on events here, Trowa. I can't help Wufei. I can't get us out of here. I - I am - hurting. Very much so. And there is nothing to do about it. So I am not - happy." Period. I looked away, down at the floor, somewhere else other than at him.

He was quiet for a long moment. I could just see him studying me, a slight frown puckering his forehead. "Untrue. Wufei would not leave if not for you. You are the only reason he has not simply given up completely. Do not assume."

It sounded as though he was finished speaking - actually, I thought he was - but then he leaned down and looked straight into my eyes. He did not touch me, but his gaze was penetrating and incisive enough that it felt as if he had opened my mind.

"Humans are so strange," he murmured. "I never know what is going to bring you hurt. I am sorry, Sally."

I smiled a little. That was the nicest acknowledgment I'd ever received from a non-human. Or a human, for that matter.

"Thank you, Trowa."

It was a lovely day in spite of everything. I sat in front of the open French doors, listening to the sea for a long, long time, until the sun started to set.

My bedroom door opened behind me. Soft rapping on the doorframe, with an equally soft, "Sally ...?" floated over to me.

Turning, I saw Wufei standing uncertainly in the doorway, one hand on the doorknob. "Wufei!" I exclaimed, happy. "Please - please, do come in."

His head bent, Wufei shuffled in and closed the door, very obviously not looking at me. He was wearing different clothes than he had worn a few hours ago, and his manner was hesitant.

"Um ... if you're busy I ... I can come back. Or ..."

"Wufei," I started gently, "I have nothing but time. I would be honored to spend it with you."

The dragon, poor little thing, was hardly peeking over Wufei's shoulder.

"If you're - sure ..."

"Of course I'm sure. I'd come over to the door, but it's hard for me now. Won't you come in? Please?"

"...you don't need to ask." Uncertainly, Wufei walked in and closed the door, the dragon still peeking over his shoulder. "You ... it's good to see that you're all right. I was worried."

Trowa broke into my mind. Be warned. He is upset. He is projecting.

...oh ... okay ... I wasn't sure what he meant, but I would be careful. I smiled. "Oh, I'm pretty tough, Wufei. It takes a lot to bring me down."

Finally, Wufei met my gaze; huge, soulful eyes with a demeanor that was so subdued, so unlike his normal self that it was shocking. The dragon was still hiding around Wufei's neck, as if mortified to show himself, radiating shame and remorse. I wanted to coax him out, hug him, tell him that none of this was his fault even though he was blaming himself. That he was simply too talented, too beautiful and desirable for someone like Treize to see and not have. Treize simply took him because he wanted him and because he could.

I couldn't, though - it would do no good, and it would not help him preserve what little dignity he had left.

But there was another way I could help him. "Um .. here, Wufei - would you help me? I'd like to move from the chair to the bed, with my back to the wall, but I know I can't make it myself ..."

Immediately, Wufei was at my side, practically lifting me off the floor, he was so strong. "Just relax, Sally. I've got you." He carried me from the chair to the bed and set me down very gently, taking care not to touch my bandaged side. As he carried me, I felt the dragon, for a brief moment, wrap around me as if giving me a hug. Wow, what an incredible feeling -

"Wufei - sit here, beside me, please."

Trowa - that was true, wasn't it? He wanted to HUG me?

Yes, Sally. He feels real affection for you. He loves you, as you love him.

Suddenly, Wufei grew in stature before my eyes. I smiled at him and felt my heart swell. Then realized HE was speaking to me, and now he was back to looking guilty and frowning again.

" - things - happened - when you were in the hospital - "

He needed a hug in the worst way, I decided. And then I saw the little dragon trying to hide around his shoulders, looking as if it was confused and consumed with shame and grief. I wanted to comfort him if I could.

You can touch the dragon, Sally. You and Treize are the only ones within 1,000 kilometers who can.

"Wufei." I put my hand over his and stopped him. He swallowed, inhaling softly, all the while obviously in pain, trying to be stoic, holding his emotions in check.

Wufei closed his eyes for a moment. His voice was hoarse, pained. "Sally ..." Without warning, tears dripped from under his eyelids and slithered down the side of his face. The dragon opened its mouth and wailed; that sound, that keening sound was so non-human and so anguished that it tore at my heart.

Oh, Wufei .. Wufei ...

I reached over and took him into my arms, hugging him fiercely. He was shaking, trembling; he collapsed against me, fists clenched and eyes squeezed shut, crying. The dragon, too, was still keening, its sorrow coming from the depths of Wufei's soul. The little creature, wrapped around me diagonally, was clinging for dear life.

We hung on to each other and slowly lay down on my bed. Wufei pressed his head against my breasts and wept, that awful, gut-wrenching, broken sobbing when you know nothing you can do will ever make anything right again.

Smoothing his hair back from his face, I soothed him as best as I could. "Wufei - Wufei," I whispered into his ear, "Wufei, we're going to leave this place, you and I, we're going to leave here soon. Duo's going to come and get us, and we're going to get out of here."

After a few moments, Wufei was able to get his breathing and himself under control enough to respond. "Why? It's too late. I don't ... I - I can't -"

"It is NOT too late, Chang Wufei!"

- literally, for one, weird, moment, I was transported into another room I didn't recognize. It was lit by candles and warm, just so warm -

"...f-failed. I - I - "

Then whoosh! - I was back to reality, lying on the bed with Wufei. What happened - what was that?

"No." I stopped him, putting a finger to his lips, shushing him for a moment. "You did NOT fail. We are leaving, and we will start over. You did NOT fail. You were overcome by -"

- another sudden flash in my mind of Treize's quarters, the smell of peaches, and Wufei reclining on the sofa with very little on -

"I did," he said miserably, pushing his head against my shoulder. "I failed. You don't KNOW, Sally. You don't know what I -"

"Hush. It doesn't matter, Wufei," I broke in, keeping my voice soft, holding him close. "I don't care. You are important to me. I love you, no matter what."

Images flew across my mind, harder and faster. Wufei's caramel skin against buff satin sheets; It was increasingly difficult to concentrate - this, apparently, was what Trowa meant when he said Wufei was 'projecting' - but I pulled back slightly so I could see his face, look into his eyes. "Wufei - "

"No, Sally, you don't understand. I am such a fool. I FAILED, Sally, I -"

"Wufei. Stop. In my eyes, you did not fail and you are not a fool. I don't suffer fools around me at all. You know me well enough by now to know that. Look into my eyes, Wufei, and tell me I don't love you." I put both hands on either side of his face and forced him to look at me, wiping away his tears with my thumbs. "You have saved me countless times, Chang Wufei. We fought OZ together, remember? We will get through this together. I will not leave you."

Wufei wouldn't meet my gaze. The dragon hid its reddish gold face in Wufei's neck, almost like a small child.

"I'm ... I'm dirty," he whispered. "I shouldn't be touching you at all."

He tore at my heart. "No. Wufei, please, please - please, look." I reached out and touched the dragon, stroking its head gently with my finger, rhythmically.

Wufei's eyes, dark and slightly unfocused, peered right at me. The dragon pressed its head against my hand, asking for more.

"I love you," I said slowly, enunciating each word. "I believe in you. You are important to me, and I need you."

Wufei's eyes flickered shut for a moment; he looked young, vulnerable. Frowning a little, I finally realized that petting the dragon shut down all conscious thought for Wufei, and I couldn't do that. No matter that the dragon wanted it - and he did, poor baby, nosing at me for more attention - I slowly withdrew my hand and just held Wufei in my arms.

Recovering slowly, Wufei pressed his face to my chest and refused to look at me. "I don't know why you think that, woman. You're weird." His voice was plaintive and muffled, but his words were understandable.

I chuckled. "Ah. Yes. That's very true."

We lay in silence for a while, holding onto each other. Wufei's breathing finally became regular and even and he fell asleep, curled next to me, totally worn out. The dragon looked truly miserable. He rested, head down, chin on me, and seemed to sigh.

Trowa's voice whispered in my mind. Sally. Treize has left the island. It appears as though, humanly speaking, he will not return until tomorrow afternoon.

I looked over Wufei's shoulder to the doorway of the room, feeling both extreme relief and bitterness. Good. Good. Then I'll call Duo from here, Trowa, and tell him to come get us. I don't care if the phone's tapped. We'll be gone before he gets back. He'll never find us. We'll be as far across the universe as we can possibly get.

Indeed. Trowa paused for a long moment. Sally - Treize woke the dragon - something that is intended for a life mate. Erasing that bond will be difficult, if not impossible.

I was aghast, and clutched Wufei even tighter. Gads, there was no WAY I was going to let him go now. What are you telling me, Trowa? That - that Treize, whatever he is, is NOW Wufei's life mate? WHAT?

That horrible, lecherous, whatever-he-was was going to claim Wufei as a mate? Not while I had breath in my body. I'd die before I let that happen.

It felt as if Trowa sighed. Your phone is about to ring.

That stopped me cold. My - phone? But - but you said Treize took my phone ...

He did. I put it back when it became clear you would be leaving soon. Otherwise, Treize would catch you - and if he did, he would have no mercy.

Gods ...

The phone vibrated. Trowa was right - he did put the phone back, right where I always kept it. Wufei stirred, but only because now he was in a position to feel it. I shushed him with one hand, using the other to pull out the phone and flip the lid open. "Hello?" I whispered.

"Unn?" Wufei opened his eyes blearily and blinked at the phone in my hand, then stared as he realized what he was seeing.

"Hey - woo, first ring! Glad I got hold of you. See, there's this -"

"Just a sec, Duo -" I held the phone between us, so Wufei could hear Duo as well as I could. His eyes widened. "Okay. We're ready. Go ahead."

"That's - that's Maxwell?" Wufei whispered, sounding amazed.

" ... Whoa. Do I hear Wufei? Man ..."

"Yes, it's Wufei. Listen, Duo. We're in big trouble. When can you come get us?"

There was a pause. "Eh? Um ... okay. THAT's spooky. I was thinking of - like - seeing if I could try in a week, or something. Give you time to convince Wufei -"

"I'll go," he broke in. I stared at Wufei. He stared back, completely serious.

"Okay. Did you hear that, Duo? He said he'd go. So come now - we're ready ."

".... he .... what ..? Wait. Treize released him from his promises?"

"No." Wufei swallowed, looking pained. "But - I never promised that I wouldn't be rescued."

The line was silent for a long moment. "Something bad happened, didn't it ...?" Duo finally asked, his voice hardly audible.

"Come get us, Duo," I said, feeling stretched and tight. "The sooner the better. Treize isn't on the island now - he's due back sometime tomorrow, so this would be perfect. Come now."

"WHAT? Oh, man - okay, okay. Tonight. I'll be there tonight. Be outside - Wu, you know where. If you can be there around 11 PM, do it. I'll wait as long as I can -"

"We'll be there, Duo."

" -if not, that's okay - we'll try again tomorrow."

"Don't leave us here, Duo," I whispered. "If we don't get out of here now, we never will."

"....I gotta run. This is gonna take some doing. See you."

We heard the dial tone as Duo hung up. Wufei was pensive, silent, staring at nothing. I rolled on my side, away from him, and put the phone away as discreetly as I could. Then I rolled back and took him in my arms again.

"I didn't promise that."

"I know, Wufei." Poor boy sounded as if he was trying to convince himself. "You are doing nothing wrong. You aren't leaving; someone else is taking you from the island."

We lay together on the bed, children trying to comfort each other in the dark. I was thinking about the trip off the island. "We won't have any trouble leaving the house tonight, or any problem with the dogs since Treize introduced both of us to them."

Wufei was very quiet. "He'll never do that again, to either of us. I'm breaking his trust."

I blinked. "What?" Never DO that again? We're never going to SEE him again...

He sighed and shook his head. The dragon actually hid his head against my neck. "We should rest. There's nothing here I need to bring."

This was feeling weirder, and a little more frightening, by the moment. "Um .. Wufei. We brought nothing with us. We should take nothing away."

After a few moments, Wufei spoke again. "He won't trust me next time," he said softly. "I suppose it's only right ..."

"What are you talking about - next time? When do you think the 'next time' is going to be?" This conversation was taking a nasty turn, one I really didn't want to consider.

"When he catch ... takes me again. He will."

"No, he won't. We're getting you out of here, away from him. Period. End of discussion."

"Yes - for now. I am buying my freedom with dishonor."

"No, you aren't. You just said that -"

Trowa interrupted my thoughts. Problem. Treize is on the island.

I stopped speaking immediately, my eyes widening in fear. WHAT?

His transport is in Naples. He is supposedly in the hotel, resting, but he is here.

Ohgodsohgods ... "Wufei. I - I believe - we have a slight ... difficulty ..."

He is coming to your room.

GAAAAHHH...............

"Sit - sit up, Wufei. We both need to - that's right, that's good ... sit in the chair next to the bed, right there, Wufei ..."

Wufei complied, but looked puzzled, especially at my hands that had just started to shake. "Sally ...?"

There was a gentle knock on the door. My head shot up and I stayed quite still, not moving toward the door at all. I just stared at it as if it had burst into flame. I'm sure Wufei thought I lost my mind.

" ...Sally? What's wrong?"

Treize is here, and he knows. Ruskin let him know. My cover is blown.

Another gentle knock on my door, this one more insistent. Wufei stopped asking; one look at my face was all he needed to realize who was on the other side. He sat, rigid, his eyes huge, the dragon hunched around his shoulders and looking scared. If he had spines, they would have been sticking straight up in the air.

Briefly, I wondered what would happen if I didn't answer the door. A vision of the door melting in place, or Treize simply materializing on our side popped into my head - and rather than have either one happen, I decided that I should simply open the door. It would be more ... dignified, at any rate. Taking a deep breath, keeping my chin up, I grabbed the doorknob and opened the door.

Treize was there. He was leaning against the doorjamb, smiling down at me, with the type of smile that only a large cat playing with his food can make. His head was tilted slightly to the side, as if he was puzzled about something, but that smile was wicked and his eyes were fiendishly bright.

"Sally - it's so good to see that you're mobile so soon!" His gaze was intense and it pierced me, cutting me to shreds, not allowing me to breathe.

I was shrieking at myself, frozen inside, staring up at him. Damn, damn, DAMN, "mobil so SOON?" What kind of a moron was I, letting him see me like this?

"May I come in?"

For a millisecond, I debated whether or not I should say "no!" and slam the door. Good sense prevailed, though, so I glared at him sullenly, opened the door wider and said, "Come in," with as much enthusiasm as I usually muster for my trips to the dentist.

"Thank you," he said, and strode past me toward Wufei. Wufei was being his sullen and unreadable best; the dragon, though, was not. That little creature was all but cringing when it spotted Treize.

"I thought you left," Wufei muttered, glaring and scowling.

"I did - but I forgot a few things." Treize halted in front of him and looked hard at Wufei, studying him for a long moment.

He is trying to decide whether or not to take Wufei to Naples.

Take Wufei WITH him ..? Without thinking about the consequences, I swept around Treize and stood next to Wufei, shielding him partially with my body, glaring up at him with all the anger I could muster.

Treize raised his eyebrow, studying me for a moment, wearing that slight smile.

I glowered back.

"Do you really want to play this game, Sally?" he asked, his tone gentle. "The penalties are ... considerably higher than you think they are."

"What do you mean?"

Treize turned his attention back to Wufei. "Perhaps I should take you to Naples with me, Wufei. What do you think? A trip - a vacation off the island. Hm? Would you like to go?"

Wufei snorted. "It's not safe for me off the island. You've made that clear."

"Saa, this wouldn't be in public," he murmured, reaching out as if to rest his hand on Wufei's shoulder.

The dragon hissed at him, drawing back. It was a tiny hiss, not very threatening, but it certainly got the point across. I moved closer to Wufei, still glaring.

Treize grinned broadly, pulling his hand back. "Indeed?"

"I would rather not go," Wufei said, his eyes narrowing.

"Really?" He looked back and forth between us, looking increasingly amused. "You have something planned? It's not like you to refuse me without a reason, Wufei."

"You asked," I interrupted coldly. "He said no."

Treize turned his full attention on me. My heart beat faster. "It's not really his choice, now, is it, Ms. Po? As kind as I have been - and I think you must admit, I have been kind - both of you are my prisoners. Perhaps I should simply ... insist."

So saying, Treize reached across and started to pet the dragon before either one of us could react, before the dragon had the chance to hiss at him again - and he did it while he was looking right at me. Daring me to say something to him, to stop him.

Wufei wobbled in his seat. My heart was pounding in my chest as I stared at Treize. "I thought free will was something you valued, Treize -"

"Oh, it is," he said, his voice soft and gentle, "but if if that privilege is abused ... whatever are you planning tonight, Sally Po? Nothing of which I would ... disapprove, I trust?"

"Of course not!" I retorted.

Treize turned to look at Wufei. Wufei blinked, then dropped his gaze to the floor.

Trowa's voice was soft in my mind. Flux ... all is on his decision ...

Very softly, Treize's voice was in my mind as well. I would appreciate if you would stop interfering in my affairs, Taru. Saa ... you HAVE been pushing the rules lately, haven't you?

Gods, oh gods ... did he know I could hear him? I swallowed and glanced up at Treize; he was studying Wufei's averted face, apparently coming to a decision.

"Sally," he murmured.

"Yes?"

"Perhaps," he started gently, "some things need to be stated clearly ... before any action is taken."

That sounded like the beginning of a threat. I swallowed but tried to project calm, saying nothing, just watching him. Calm, stay calm, Sally.

Don't do anything, Trowa whispered mentally. Do not react - he wants a reaction. This is a test. If you pass this test, he will let you and Wufei go. You must be still, at all costs.

Faster than my eye could follow, Treize bent down, caught Wufei's chin with one hand and forced a kiss on him, petting the dragon with the other hand. Wufei's spine stiffened when Treize first touched him; but when Treize touched the dragon, Wufei relaxed into the kiss and responded.

Treize did - something - and quite suddenly the dragon flared, its crimson color filling the room, so bright I couldn't see. As the brightness died down, I saw Wufei, limp against the back of the chair, an expression of ecstasy on his face, obviously forgetting everything and everyone else in the room.

"The first thing, Sally, that you must understand ..." Treize spoke softly, nodding his head at Wufei and the dragon. " ... is that this - " and he pet the dragon, causing Wufei to shudder, "- is mine."

He looked up at me to emphasize his point. I started breathing faster - I wasn't sure, it could have been the fading light from the dragon, but Treize's eyes did not appear to be completely blue.

Ohgods.

Treize straightened, took off his jacket and casually draped it over Wufei's lap - for modesty, you know, my brain babbled at me - then walked right over to me, leaving me no personal space whatsoever. I thought my heart was going to leap right out of my chest, it was beating so fast.

Don't move don't move don't move ....

"And second ... you are mine, too." He slid an arm around my waist and pulled me against him, looking deep into my eyes. "But, Sally - I don't want you like that." He caressed my cheek, watching my body respond to him as it always did with his predatory smile. "I would enjoy you very much, you know ... but you would break. I simply couldn't play with you as I'd like. And now," he said, pulling me closer, whispering in my ear, "you're trying to leave, unless I miss my guess, and I rarely do. Did you convince him, Sally? Or did he have this idea on his own?"

Don't ... say ... a word .... Trowa's voice was so quiet, barely a whisper in the back of my mind. I didn't dare breathe; I stared straight ahead, looking at Treize's broad shoulders.

I heard Treize chuckle. He lifted my chin so I had no choice, I had to look right into his eyes. Treize brushed his lips across mine and murmured, "Nothing to say, Sally? Not one word for me?"

My heart was pounding like a drum. He was so close, so close, and his eyes were so large, so blue ... I felt as if I was drowning, drowning in him. My knees were locked to keep my legs from shaking underneath me.

" ... don't ... don't, Treize ..."

Treize gave me a soft smile, caressing the side of my face with the back of his hand again. "Saaa ... I DO like you, Sally." His fingers moved through my hair to the nape of my neck, then he pulled my head forward gently and kissed me.

"Treize! Please, Treize -"

Goodbye, Sally .... Treize murmured quietly in my mind as he let me go and turned to Wufei.

"Please what, Wufei?"

His voice was slightly hoarse. "... don't ... don't do that to her. Please ..."

Gods. I realized at that moment that Wufei thought Treize was going to use me the same way Treize used him. My heart turned over in my chest.

Kneeling in front of Wufei, Treize bent his head at an angle and looked at him. "And ... why not, Wufei?" he asked softly, amused.

Wufei was tense, working on this problem, very focused. "Because ... I don't want you to."

"Indeed? And is that enough?"

".....PLEASE, Treize!"

Smiling, chuckling, Treize brushed Wufei's face with his fingertips. "If you wish it, dragon. If you wish it, I will not. For you - hm? I promise ..."

Wufei blinked back at him, looking, in turn, guilty and relieved.

Treize continued, eyeing him, " ... in spite of your own."

Wide eyed, Wufei stared at him, not breathing at all.

"I know this isn't your choice, little one," Treize said gently. "You're forgiven." He stood in one smooth motion, patting Wufei on the shoulder, then sketched a bow to me. "Until we meet again," he said, raising his eyebrow, then turned on his heel and left the room, leaving the door open.

I stared after him, not daring to move, hardly daring to breathe. Wufei was shaking as if he had palsy. The dragon was making quick, darting movements, looking side to side, panicking.

"We - he - he's going to let us leave, Wufei." I whispered, not quite believing what I was saying.

It is true, Sally. He is going to let you go - and he has left you something. A present, of sorts.

Hearing soft scratching and whining at the door, I looked over, feeling as if I was in a trance, and saw Koroso holding Jack by the scruff of his neck. He trotted into the room, looking at both Wufei and me, his eyes large and sad. After taking stock, Koroso sat down in the middle of the floor with a whump, Jack still dangling from his mouth.

Both Wufei and I stared at the dogs. "What - what are you doing, Korosu? What are you doing with Jack?" I said, my voice quavering.

Korosu only looked back with his huge, sad eyes. Unlocking my knees, I hobbled over to them and took Jack out of the older dog's mouth, ruffling Korosu's fur at the same time.

Korosu woofed. Telling me I did the right thing, I mused.

You are correct. Jack is your present.

Wha - what?

The puppy. Korosu delivered him because he wanted to say goodbye. He knows you are leaving. The dogs will not recognize you as a friend if you return, except for the one you take with you.

Sudden tears stung my eyes. The dog did take a bullet for me, after all. I knelt down and ruffled Korosu's fur again with my free hand. "Take care of yourself, old man," I whispered. Korosu gave my face a big, sloppy lick, then nosed me once more. He trotted over to Wufei and barked at him once; Wufei, however, was not up to responding. Delicately taking Treize's jacket in his teeth, Korosu bobbed his head one last time and trotted out the door, his tail wagging.

I took a shaky breath, walked over to the door and closed it, the tumblers clicking in place.

"He's - allowing us to leave, Wufei. You know that." I leaned on the door, holding Jack in my hands, rubbing his head, feeling anything but calm.

"Yes." Wufei's voice was hoarse. "He said I was forgiven. I ... but ... he knows I'm ... " He stopped and stared at me with an intense look as something else fell into place. "He thinks you're to blame for this!"

"Ah .. yes. He does." I shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. Oh, yeah, a demon thinks I'm taking his favorite toy away from him, no big deal ... "He blames me. I don't think it would be a good idea for us to be here when he gets back."

"....we won't be. If we were, after he made it so clear ... he would consider it a weakness, and be - displeased - with us."

And the way Wufei said THAT ... well. I didn't want to be around to find out what Treize was like when he was 'displeased.'

"Right. I - I know, Wufei. But look - Treize gave me Jack as a going away present." I showed him the puppy. Jack wiggled adorably for Wufei and gave him his best puppy smile.

"He ... did ...?"

"Oh, yes, he did. Right, Jack?"

The puppy barked, a happy dog hearing his name.

Yes, he did. And I must be terribly careful now. He knows I have taken human form, so I can be destroyed or subdued. I will find you later. I am taking my own route away from here.

Within moments, sirens of all kinds went off around the complex. I stared, whirling around wide-eyed, clutching Jack.

"What the hell was THAT?" Leaping at the window, Wufei plastered himself against the pane and watched swarms of Specials running everywhere. "Sally - look! Someone's stealing a helicopter!"

"What?"

It was the sleek black turbo machine, the fastest one on the base. It soared into the air, looking like a great black bird of prey, dipped toward the ground once then rocketed into the sky.

...Trowa?...

Yes, Sally. Farewell for now.

Jack was barking and wiggling, trying to bound out of my arms and chase the helicopter.

"Jack! Stop! Calm down, Jack, calm down!" I rubbed his head and watched the aircraft until it was out of sight. "That was Trowa in that helicopter, Wufei. He got away. We have to leave, too. I don't think we have as much time as we thought." Another thought struck me, and I gasped at him in alarm. "Wufei - I can't hold a gun, or any kind of weapon because of this." I brandished my left wrist at him; that plain gray band that Treize put on me when I tried to kill him.

Wufei frowned a little in concentration and looked over at me. "That's all right - I don't expect you to. I'm trying to remember where we need to meet Maxwell." The dragon mimicked Wufei's expression, curling around his neck and furrowing its small brow. "We'll have to get wet - and be careful with the dog."

"That's all right," I said, nodding. "I can swim. I'm sure he can, too."

"No, no. You won't need to swim. He might, though. He's too small."

I looked at Jack. He yawned, showing all his wicked looking teeth at once. Even for a puppy, those teeth were pretty scary.

"He'll be fine." I scratched Jack's head and back, giving him a fond look.

"Let's go now," Wufei said, his voice soft, "and just ... wait. I'll tell the guards that I'm teaching you meditation techniques. And I will."

I blinked. "Well ... okay. You will?"

Wufei nodded, still looking outside. "Of course. We need an excuse to be standing in knee deep water. I have gone out there before, so they are used to it."

"Um .. okay," I said, doubtful.

Turning, Wufei looked at me closely. "You need to wear something you don't mind getting soaked." Reaching at his waist, Wufei dragged his shirt over his head, leaving his tank top on, then sat on the bed and started to remove his shoes.

Following his example, I put Jack on the bed, sternly saying, "Now, stay there, Jack - don't hop off."

Jack whuffed, wagged his tail and sat down obediently. He looked like he was smiling at me.

Suppressing an incredulous stare - good heavens, the dog understood me completely - I poked through my drawers to find something suitable for wading through knee high water at night. Yanking out a pair of dark cotton pants, I shucked off my old pants and pulled those on, not caring that Wufei was there. I had to be careful of my bandage on my side as well. I was still pretty stiff and sore, and there was a little blood on my dressing.

Be careful, Po. The last thing you want to do is break your stitches.

I left my tee shirt on and pulled the drawstring loosely on my pants. I slipped on a zippered sweatshirt, opened my arms and quietly murmured, "Come here, Jack. It's time to go."

Jack jumped into my arms and happily licked my face.

"Let's go, Wufei."

Sand was swirling under my feet as the tide tugged at my ankles, trying to pull me out with the water as we marched along a sandbar on the opposite side of the island. Even though I had lived on this island several months and explored every inch - or so I thought - I never realized this sandbar existed. Apparently, though, Wufei met Duo here every now and then.

This sandbar was long, running at least a half kilometer from the main body of the island. Wufei led the way out, splashing lightly in the surf.

"It used to be part of the mainland thousands of years ago," he explained, nodding to the shoal, water rippling around his legs.

" - and it turned into a land bridge?" I asked, curious in spite of my enormous haste. I wanted to be off the island and out of there NOW. There was nothing that could be soon enough for me.

"Not a complete one, no. It stops two kilometers out. Ships have to sail all the way around it."

"Ah. A nice, natural, protective shield."

"Of course."

We walked in silence for several minutes, Jack's panting and the surf the only other sounds around us. The sun set in a blaze of red and golds while we slogged in the water. I felt the need to say something, to keep talking. Anything except thinking about what just happened and why we were there.

"Are we meeting Duo at the end, or will he pick us up anywhere along here?"

Wufei didn't answer. I sighed and kept trudging, figuring that he'd answer when he was ready, and steadfastly refused to dwell on anything else.

Fifteen minutes later, Wufei finally spoke. "Here - we are at the end. At least, as deep as I'm willing to go. We can still sit here. The sandbar continues out farther, but by the end, the water is up to your neck while you are standing. When you sit here - " and Wufei demonstrated, sitting down, "- as you can see, the water only comes up to my chest. Possibly a little higher on you, but not much."

I sat down, and found that the water came up to my collarbone. "Well ... this is okay," I said. "But Jack is all wet."

Jack wriggled and did not look happy. The poor little puppy was trying to be a good sport about the situation, but he couldn't help whining and shivering, at least a little. He was totally immersed in water except for his head, and he did get dunked several times - and when that happened, the only thing I could do was try and dry him off with my cheek.

We waited for what seemed like hours. It wasn't - not really - but sitting in water that turned progressively colder made it feel that way. The sun was setting when we left the mansion, and by the time I thought Duo should have shown up, the moon was high in the sky and the sea was cold.

"He is coming."

Wufei whispered the words to me, but even without them, I could tell. The surging of the water had changed; it was lapping harder against my shoulders, making little splashes with waves from the opposite direction.

"Ready, Jack?"

I carefully unfolded my legs and pushed myself up, snuggled Jack against my chest, and followed Wufei over to a large, dark object that silently thrust out of the water not four meters away from us. It was quite a shock, too - there had been no warning at all, just the slight flaring of the dragon and its head position, from looking listlessly to the left to suddenly, purposefully staring at its left land side.

It was hard walking for the first couple of strides; I had to be careful that I didn't drop Jack and that I kept my footing without shoes. Then I saw the mini-sub, and the feeling of incredible, heartfelt relief that swept over me nearly knocked me off my feet once again.

The hatch was shoved open and Duo's head popped out.

"Shhh .... hurry, hurry, HURRY, both of you! We don't got TIME!"

As if to emphasize his point, faint barking floated over to us from the island, puppy and adult dog barking combined. The alarm had been sounded.

"Heero's gonna -"

And then a sudden explosion shook the ground, rumbling the depths of the sea around us, causing a bright orange fireball to blossom in the sky, black smoke drifting around it.

" - blow." Duo sighed, a true, long suffering exhale.

I stumbled forward. "What the hell -"

"What, you think we'd leave without dropping a going away present for your friends? Come ON, guys!"

" ... I ... I ... " Wufei stammered, staying where he was.

Ohgods. "Wufei - we have to leave -" I grabbed one arm and started to yank him toward the minisub, Jack in my other arm, " - right now." Floundering together through waist high water, Wufei and I lurched toward the minisub. He wasn't pulling away from me, but he wasn't charging toward the sub, either. I knew what was happening, but I saw that Duo was trying to work it out by the incredulous look on his face.

"Didn't say he couldn't be ... oh, geez - for the love of HELL, Wu - are you fucking kidding me?"

"Duo, grab his arms and pull him IN!"

Hooking his feet on the edge of the sub's ladder, Duo leaned out as far as he possibly could. "Criminey, Wu, move it a little faster, the entire PLACE is on fire! Good, good - "

I pushed and Duo pulled - and that was the only way Wufei tumbled into the top of the minisub. He took his promises very seriously, and would not help in his own rescue, acting instead like a limp rag doll his rescuers had to physically toss into the sub.

Duo whistled, a low, clear sound, lifting his head and looking toward the island after Wufei was inside. "Man.... Heero really did the job. C'mon, Sally, your turn."

I was on the side of the minisub, handing Jack to Duo, and turned to look at the island one last time. It was quite a sight.

The mansion and all the buildings that I could see were completely involved in flames. Bright plumes of orange flame blazed in the night, with large, thick clouds of smoke rising into the air, forming what looked like a huge mushroom cloud painted against the night sky, blocking out the stars. And against that noxious cloud - against that cloud of boiling, hot gases and ash - was Treize.

I stared and stared, and felt all the blood rush away from my face. I knew Duo wasn't seeing this.

This was not the Treize I saw a few hours ago. This was the Treize that Trowa had shown to me in that vision, the Treize that was immortal. This Treize was bronze, and had wings, and in the sky above that mushroom cloud, laughing at me. I could see him clearly - I shouldn't have been able to see him that clearly, not at that distance, but I could - and he was smiling, and laughing, and letting us get away.

Letting us get away?

That was it. All the shocks and surprises of the past day caught up with me, and I had reached my limit. My self-control was stripped away as my jaw dropped in pure horror and I shrieked at Duo, scrabbling for a handhold, trying to launch myself headfirst into the sub.

"Get us OUT of here - get us OUT of here, NOW!"

Once I was inside, I stood on the deck next to Duo, staring without seeing anything around me, urgently needed to get to Wufei.

"Gods, Sal, you're shaking -"

"Wufei - where's Wufei, where is he, where is he, where IS he?"

"Calm down, Sal, he's here, you saw him get in, we'll find him. Come on, Sal, watch your step -".

Things started to blur together from this point. The inside of minisubs were small and cramped, necessarily so; I turned and saw Wufei and Heero staring at each other across a space no larger than a meter, eyeing each other as if they were strangers. Heero's face didn't change - there was no indication that he was going to do anything at all - but without warning, Heero swung and hit Wufei full in the mouth.

Wufei saw it coming. He could have defended himself, but he chose not to. Instead, he let Heero hit him, and lurched into the side of the vessel, then slid to the floor.

"NO!" I screamed, grabbing for Heero, "what are you -" But that was the last thing I clearly remember, because I slipped and fell heavily on my side - the side where I was shot - and incredible pain blocked every other sensation from my mind.

"What the fuck are you people DOING? COME ON! We've got to get OUT of here!" Duo shouted at Heero and Wufei, scowling at both of them.

I groaned and tried to push myself up, only to find that Duo was there first.

"Come on," he said, "let's get you taken care of, too." His frown deepened when he saw my side. "What's that?"

"She was shot," Wufei snapped, glaring at Duo, right at my side.

"Shit - doesn't anyone tell me ANYthing? Here - Wu - help me with her - " Duo and Wufei dragged me over to a gurney, strapped me on it and hooked me up to an IV drip bag immediately. Duo checked my side quickly, made sure the gurney was secure, then moved forward to his position to pilot the sub. Wufei sat next to me and closed his eyes, exhausted.

I lay there for a few moments, feeling nothing but exhausted, relieved, and ... afraid.

My voice was hoarse. "Duo," I called. "Duo. Where are we?"

"Getting the hell out of here. How's that?'

Heh. I started to feel a little easier. "That's ... yeah. Good. As far as possible. To the ends of the earth would be great."

He chuckled. "Oh, yeah. Gonna do you one better. We're not gonna be anywhere NEAR the Earth when this is done."

He gunned the motor. I felt the ship veer off in one direction, and then the auxiliary rotors came online. Gads, this was one powerful little sub. With any luck, we'd be putting hundreds of kilometers between us and that island in a matter of minutes.

I was fading fast. He must have put something else in that drip other than medication. "What ... what do you mean?"

"How do the colonies sound to you, Sally Po?"

I smiled a little as I fell asleep, knowing Wufei was next to me. "They sound just fine, Duo. Just fine."