Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I love reviews!
I must announce that this is the last chapter. I hope everyone likes it. I've had fun writing this story. I might make a sequel chapter, but I'm not positive yet.
Anyway, on with the chapter!
I do NOT own Gundam Wing or its characters. I do own Lian, however.
Gift From the Sea
Chapter Thirteen
"Chang," a prison guard said as he made his rounds handing out items to the prisoners. He handed Wufei a large stuffed toy frog. Wufei got a few odd stares as he reached out from the bars and took it.
He climbed up on his bunk and lay back on his pillow with the frog lying on his stomach. The day before, he had asked the guard to get it for him. He paid for it, of course, with the money he had been saving up. It was a gift for Lian.
One of his cell mates reached out to grab the toy, but before he could react, Wufei had jumped off the bunk and threw the bigger man against the wall. "Don't ever think about touching anything of mine again!" Wufei hissed dangerously. "If you do I swear to every god in existence that I willmake you regret it!"
The man swallowed hard and nodded, knowing Wufei was serious. He had witnessed him go off on another man who dared to cross him.Wufei didn't get in trouble as it was in self-defense.
Wufei let him go roughly and got back on his bed.
Sally came to visit him the day before the trial.
"Will you give this to Lian?"Wufei asked handing her the toy frog. "I bought it for her earlier this week."
"She'll love it!" Sally assured taking the frog from him and putting it in her lap, smiling brightly.
He smiled softly. "Lian's going through a frog phase," he said fondly. "But of course you know that. She's been wanting everything to do with frogs for the last few months. A few days before..." he broke off and sighed. "...Before all this happened, she asked for a pet tree frog..."
She saw the distant look in his eye and smiled gently and reached over and hugged him. He just sat there without any response for a bit, but soon he turned and buried his face in her shoulder, fighting off the tears.
"It's going to be alright," Sally said stroking his hair softly. "You'll see."
He shook his head. "It might not...I might never get to see her again..." He took a deep breath and looked up at her with tears brimming his eyes. "Sally, I'm scared..."
Never had she ever seen him so vulnerable. It was a bit unnerving, but she was determined not to show it."I know," she said gently. "But we have to hope for the best."
Later that day Sally went to visit Lian at the foster home to give her Wufei's gift.
"Sally!" Lian cried from the stairs when the woman entered. The girl was wearing jeans and a light green t-shirt with a kitten on it. He hair was put up in pigtails.
Lian took a suicidal leap from the eighth step and ran to her. She hugged her tightly. "Mr. Quan said that I can see Daddy tomorrow if I'm good!" she said with uncontainable excitement.
Sally smiled brightly. "Are you being good, then?"
She grinned and nodded vigorously. "I've cleaned my room, and ate all my food, and I even helped dust!"
"Good! Your father will be proud to hear it."
"Will I get to go home tomorrow?" Lian asked hopefully.
"Maybe," she answered and the girl's face fell a bit. Sally held up the toy frog then. "But here, look. Your father bought this for you. Do you like it?"
Lian grabbed it and hugged it tight. "I love it! I'll name him Legs," she said seriously, her huge black eyes looking up at her.
Sally smiled at her cuteness. She stayed a while longer before leaving despite Lian's tears.
Chang, let's go," the prison guard said the next morning. It was the morning of the trial. Wufei, who hadn't gotten any sleep the night before, got up and left his cell not saying a word to anyone. Once out, he was handcuffed and led outside to a cop car.
Wufei stopped and looked around him, taking a deep breath. He had never guessed how wonderful it felt to walk outside without a gate surrounding him. He was put into the car and was driven off to the courthouse.
As he rode, Wufei wondered if Lian would be allowed to go to the trial. He hoped so. He hadn't seen her in two weeks; longer than he had ever gone without seeing her before. Besides, if he lost the case, he wanted to see her one last time.
Once inside the courthouse, after fighting through several news reporters, he was met by his lawyer, Lia. He was uncuffed and led into an empty hall with a door at the end of it. The noise of many people talking were heard.
"Are there many people in there?" Wufei asked quietly. He was starting to feel even more nervous than he already was.
Lia nodded. "The whole courtroom is full. This story has been leaked into the media and now everyone wants to see how it turns out."
"...God..." he said swallowing hard.
She patted his back gently. "Relax. If you're worked up when we get in there, you won't be able to defend yourself properly. It's going to be ok."
"Are you sure?"
"...No, but you have to keep positive thoughts," she said apologetically. "Alright, let's go."
They walked through the double wooden doors into the noisy courtroom. Two policemen were standing guard at the door. Lia hadn't been lying. The courtroom was packed full. He instantly spotted Sally, Duo, Heero, and Quatre, but didn't see Trowa or Lian anywhere.
He had decided that Lian wasn't there when suddenly her voice cried out over the crowd. "Daddy!" she cried. "Daddy!"
Wufei's head shot towards her voice and saw Lian standing up on a bench waving madly with both arms. She was holding the toy frog he had given her in one hand. A man was holding her, seeming to be trying to get her to sit.
Wufei smiled brightly at his daughter and felt his eyes sting with tears. He looked down and blinked several times refusing to cry.
Lia opened the gate at the end of the aisle and let him into the defendant's box first. She entered after him. They sat and waited for the judge to come in.
Quatre, who was sitting directly behind Wufei, spoke. "Good luck!" he said. "By the way, Trowa's sick so he couldn't come, but he's watching it on TV!"
"TV?" Wufei asked. He wondered just how many stations this trial would be on.
Lia shook her head. "You're not allowed to talk to anyone in the audience," she said.
He nodded, then noticed the several newsreporters around. He groaned and put his head wearily on the table. He couldn't figure out why the media had taken interest in his case. Kidnapping wasn't uncommon.
A few minutes later a cop entered. "All rise for the honourable Judge Wan."
Everyone got silent and stood as a man around forty came in and sat at the judge's stand. He dropped the gavelin(1), calling the court to session. Everyone sat.
"Court is now in session!" the cop said.
Judge Wan read over his information. "Trial number 3289. The Prefecture of Providence against Chang Wufei for kidnapping in the first degree." He looked at Wufei with piercing eyes. "How do you plead?"
Lia stood, speaking for Wufei. Suddenly the world seemed to be in slow motion as she opened her mouth to speak...
(1) I'm not sure what the proper word for the hammer the judge has is. I think it's a gavelin...
The End! That's it! How did you guys like it? I know, I'm evil for ending the story with a cliffhanger! As I said before, though. I might make a sequel chapter. Maybe.
I'm not entirely happy with this chapter, but I did my best with it. I hope you guys like it at least. Also, sorry the chapter was so short. I tried to make it longer, I promise.
R&R please! Constructive criticism is always welcome.
