A/N: How long has it been? Somebody tell me please. Anyway, I wrote this chapter in about ninety minutes, so I hope you enjoy it. There's a couple of twists here because that's how wicked I am. Kit-Cat-Caitlin (and friend): Thanks for reading. I'm happy their back together too. They were miserable without one another. grEMLin eVil: Here's another update for you. CarmenTakoshi: Yup and I think that's a lesson well learnt. LilAngel12558: Haha. And they deserve you're love too. More Kai in this chapter. shadowcat: It was. Except I had a more emotional Tyson in the chapter that I lost, but no matter. I'm glad you enjoyed it and here's the update.

Chapter Twenty-Three

For the first time in many years, perhaps in most of his own life, Kai actually smiled. It wasn't at anyone in particular, but more to himself and it wasn't a smirk, nor a sneer, but one that was actually quite genuine. This occurred that very morning just before the officers were due to let them out for breakfast. Kai had woken up slightly early and was currently lying awake in his bed, his hands tucked comfortably beneath his head as he reviewed what had and was presently happening.

Tyson and Max had gone missing in yesterday's fire drill. He hadn't cared too much, reckoning that whatever they did was there own business. He didn't owe them any favours to look out for them and he most certainly didn't owe the people who kept him behind bars. Not to mention, that for once, the room was quiet for once. Tyson had a really bad habit of starting to snore and picking up volume as he did so and Max couldn't keep himself still for more than five seconds. The thing that got Kai, however, was that the fire drill had been placed just before lock up. Not only was it incorrectly placed, but very unconventional for someone such as Jurgen. It was obviously staged by someone else.

At the time nonetheless, Kai had been with Rei. And this time of his own accord. He'd wanted to be with Rei that day. He was in fact, starting to enjoy the other's company. He could have a conversation with him that didn't bore him after three seconds and the Chineseman was the reason behind his smile. But it wasn't right. His expression suddenly became serious. What would become of his plan now? It had been running smoothly up until a few days ago when he had revealed to Rei his connections to the other three Russians.

He didn't have to, but he knew that if he kept giving Rei the cold shoulder, his scheme, for which he had been working on for months now, would perish. But he had revealed more than he had bargained for. As he began the story, he had a brief encounter of it mapped out, but then he'd found that he couldn't stop and all of it, their sad history working under Voltaire, had been delivered. He had never told anyone else his story before. But why Rei? And why now? Surely, it made him look vulnerable and Kai had promised himself that he'd never let himself look that way again.

He wondered if Rei felt sorry for him. He didn't want his pity, but these days, he couldn't get Rei out of his mind. But Rei was just a pawn. Most of Rei's so-called friends in this place were still in awe of Kai. The only one who wasn't - and the most important one at that – was Lee. But Kai didn't need the other Chineseman now. He would be all set to go. The other inmates would be glad to help him escape, hoping that maybe they to could go down in history having helped a legend such as Kai escape. Then Rei would be ditched at the last minute and he'd make it over the walls.

So why didn't it feel right anymore? In the first few weeks of his arrival when he had been mapping the preliminary plans before the escape, it had all been clear. It had all made sense. He'd been doing it for freedom. Paying himself back for all those years out of the run, wondering if Tala and the others were all right. And they were all right. Tala and Bryan were doing just fine without him and Ian had his own little business. They hadn't needed Kai to save the day. He should have known that and got on with his life. Changed his name. Moved to a remote destination. But he had sworn he'd come back for them. And for what?

And then there was Rei. The adolescent had been an easy target. Easy-going, innocent, confused within himself. He was perfect for the taking. Yet, now Kai was beginning to actually think him perfect in a different aspect. Rei was honest and genuine - much better than Tala had been – and Kai found himself not wanting to leave him.

He could take him with him.

But Rei would never go against the law.

But what about freedom?

What about Rei?

Kai stared his garnet eyes at the wooden ceiling before him and he was certain he could see Rei's tanned face smiling back at him. He closed his eyes trying to block out his lover, but even his mind's eye could see him. Rei. His lover. The smile returned.

He'd never meant this to happen. He'd never meant to get attached. There was supposed to be no connection whatsoever. But he had failed. He knew he could never so now. Not now and most indefinitely, not without Rei.

-

"This is risky!" Came a voice as the door to a small room, plastered with grey walls and grey floors closed shut. "The officers are outside. They'll probably be listening in and I'll get fired for this"

Inside this room, stood a small table and two black chairs upon opposing sides so that the two individuals occupying them would face one another. There were no windows, save for the door that had allowed them entry and would again allow them an exit.

"You're way too paranoid, Kane," Came the response. "Relax!"

There was a sly smirk.

"How can I relax?" Though his face was obscured by shades, his voice demonstrated his anxiety. "I can't do this for you anymore. Their getting suspicious anyway"

"Kane, Kane, Kane. All I'm asking is for one more favour,"

"That's what you always say,"

"You owe me big time," The reply from the other held a sharpness to it now. "If it wasn't for me, your little secret would have been found out long ago. You were lucky to get just a transfer"

"But I'm off them now," Came Kane's plea. "I've turned over a new leaf. You have nothing on me now"

"You're forgetting our little operation. If it wasn't for you and your friends, I wouldn't have had my business and after all, it was you guys who got me into this situation"

"For the last time. That mistake had nothing to do with us. Someone else must have intervened…"

"…And I know who it is,"

"You do?"

"Douglas sang everything to Lee and they paired up and messed me about. I want you to repay them back personally"

"You're not serious. They transferred me off that wing. What makes you think I can get back on it?"

"You'll find a way. You always comes through."

A sigh.

"Don't worry Kane. If this works than you may no longer have to work for me"

"What about your partner?" A sigh.

"Ian? He'll do fine in without me because who knows? I might not be returning to G Wing. It doesn't mean I won't continue elsewhere. So, just because you might not be working for me, doesn't mean you can't give me contacts to your friends"

"They're not my friends,"

A snigger.

"Oh and one last thing. I want you to slip something to Jurgen."

"What?"

"That asshole deserves it. He's been a thorn in my side for years now."

"He's a senior governor…I…I can't…"

"You will!" Came the interruption.

"And how do you suppose I go about that?" A sarcastic remark.

"Well…

-

He was crumbling and ever so quickly too. He had no idea what to do and what to expect and ever since his partner's departure, he was a bit of a wreck. He couldn't find a suitable replacement. Everyone liked to keep their heads down now and ever since Kevin was carted off, all the potential candidates had changed their minds. Ian scoffed at that thought. In reality, they'd seen a downside and ran off with their tails between their legs. But he supposed they were right. Kevin had been the one who's had things under control from the beginning and Ian had come later, but though they had been partners, Ian's position compared to Kevin's had been comfortable. He received half the payment without having to worry about when or where the goods came from. He sighed. In a way, he missed it.

Not only the business, but he just heard news that Tyson and Max had rekindled their relationship. He wouldn't have cared so much had it not have been something to do with Oliver ad Enrique. They had stuck their ores in and although, they weren't trusted so much anymore, individuals found it almost heroic (though they had forgotten that it had been those two who had caused the break up in the first place – or that was how Ian had made it look) and they were no able to walk about the wing freely. Oliver was back to his normal self, instead of crumbling under to pressure of not being popular and Enrique's smug look had returned. Ian grumbled, smacking his fist onto the railings. It infuriated him. Just when he thought things were running smoothly too. But he hadn't finished with them yet. Not by a long shot.

Along the threes that afternoon, he had just returned from someone's dorm. A lifer, he had been and Ian had asked for some advice, but it had been a waist of time. The man had been getting on in his years anyway and as Kevin would say, he had nothing left. He had missed lunch too preoccupied to worry about it, but now his hunger was kicking in and he wished he hadn't. Later on, he'd be sure to find the others and gamble a few items at a game of cards.

As he wondered along the top floor however, he was certain that he was approaching raised voices from inside one of the cells. They got slightly louder as he approached one of the doors and he came to realise that he now standing outside of the room that belonged to Chan and Kon. He could hear their voices as clear as day from outside even though the door was firmly shut. They appeared to be arguing about something…

"…isn't right!" Lee shouted.

"Why don't you give him a chance?"

"Because I can't," Lee replied. "It's against the ways things are supposed to be and you know it! How could you Rei? Are you forgetting where we're from?"

"No I have not!" Rei's voiced had risen an octave. "I know what we were taught, but can't you let the traditions go for just once?"

"I don't believe I'm hearing this," Lee's voice rose again. "You were always the one everybody liked, everybody thought was so great and now look at you, Rei. You're disrespecting our home. Disrespecting our culture, our traditions and now you're disrespecting yourself all because of temptation."

"At least I'm being truthful to myself,"

"And what about my cousin, Rei? How do you think Mariah will take this?"

There was no reply as Lee continued.

"Have you forgotten in all your time with Kai that you were betrothed to someone else?"

From outside, Ian's mouth had dropped.

"And how long would she have to wait?" Rei responded. "It would have been better she find someone else then wait for my release."

"She loves you!"

"Don't you think I know that?"

"Obviously not!"

"Mariah is like a sister to me. I could never marry her. Not now!"

"You're making a big mistake!"

"I don't love her!"

"And I suppose you love Kai?"

There was either no reply or Ian didn't catch it in time because he had moved away from the door now, a huge spiteful grin on his face. The news he had just overheard was priceless. So Rei wasn't a total do-gooder after all. He had his secrets just like everybody else in there. And his secret was going to help Ian.

TBC…