They arrived in the living room of the main house, but in spite of the hour of night, Jason and Zin were still up waiting. Both jumped to their feet when Cole and Wyatt appeared. Zin was beside herself with joy and relief, when she spotted Ming on Mr. Turner's arm.
She hurried to Mr. Turner's side and pulled Ming into a tight embrace. She noticed how shaken her great niece looked and also her dishevelled condition, but didn't ask any questions. Ming was safe and alive. That was the most important thing.
It surely wasn't the right moment to talk about what had happened. Ming looked like she needed a rest. Zin threw also a disgusted glance at her nephew.
"What is he doing her?" she addressed Mr. Turner. He was the head of the other family in her opinion. Jason came over and hugged Ming too.
"We are going to bind his powers, but until the potion is ready, we have to watch him", Cole explained. "Wyatt will see to it. Don't be afraid he can handle it." He assuaged when Zin grimaced in fear.
Jason fetched something from the other room. He gave some ropes to Wyatt. "You better tie him up. Just to be on the save side."
Wyatt nodded and bound Wu Wei's arms behind his back. Wu Wei wasn't saying a single word, nor did he fight Wyatt in any way. He just glowered at his family members.
"I don't want him in the house", Zin said, "please move him to the guest house, will you Mr. Turner?" She asked Cole.
Cole nodded, "Of course. I show you where it is Wyatt", he told his nephew and wanted to step away when Ming pulled on his arm and stopped him.
"You come back?" she asked him with puppy eyes.
"Sure, I don't leave as long as he is here", Cole promised sincerely and squeezed her hand reassuring. Then he left the room with Wyatt and Wu Wei.
Wu Wei had been tied up and Wyatt watched him in the guest house. They had to wait for Grace to prepare the potion. So the Changs all went to sleep to wait until Grace came back.
Cole was guarding Ming's sleep. He sat in the far corner of her room on a chair, his head leant against the wall. He watched her still form breathing deep and steadily on her bed. Her fingers wrapped around her thumb, where she still wore his ring. Zin had made her a sedative tea, so that she could find some rest.
Ming looked totally innocent but nonetheless very attractive while sleeping. Cole felt drawn to her side. But he resisted the impulse to go over to her and sweep this little strand out of her face. There was no point in doing so. She was too precious, too fragile to just use her to fight his own loneliness. He wasn't the type to impose him upon her.
Ming refused to be alone as long as her father was still around. Cole found her attitude rather reasonable. She insisted on him watching her, contrary on what her family thought. They didn't like the thought that the demon was in Ming's sleeping room. Even if it was him who had rescued her. Cole grinned to himself. If only they knew that Ming had been at his bedroom before. He got enwrapped in thoughts of their magical night together.
It was early morning just at dawn when Cole almost fell asleep. He had been on his feet since they had discovered that Ming had been abducted. But he was wide-awake the moment the door to Ming's room opened silently. He doubted that any of the family would sneak in at this hour.
He recognized the figure, it was Wu Wei. How had he escaped Wyatt? Cole hoped his nephew was ok. Wu Wei seemed to have more things up his sleeve than Cole had granted him. Cole didn't call out to Wu Wei though. He watched him watchfully, not making any noise, as Wu Wei neared his daughter cautiously. When Wu Wei was only a few metres away he pulled out a knife from his trousers. Cole wasn't surprised he had expected something like that. He had judged Wu Wei to be the rather vindictive type of man.
Seeing the knife, Cole speculated Wu Wei had the power of conjuring. How else could he come up with these knives ever so easily? He decided he wasn't taking any prisoners this time. It had been Wu Wei's decision to come up to his daughter's room, he would have to take the consequences for that. Cole wanted to be sure of the intention of the man, but got ready to throw an energy ball anyway.
Wu Wei's eyes were trained to Ming's sleeping form and he didn't notice Cole back at the corner. Probably he didn't expect Cole to be in Ming's room. Good that Cole hadn't listened to Zin, when she had tried to keep him out of Ming's bedroom.
The Moment Wu Wei lifted the blade ready to strike above Ming's body, Cole let the energy ball form in his palm. And just a second before Wu Wei's hand jerked down to stab his daughter, Cole threw it. The energy ball hit Wu Wei straight in the back before he could finish his strike. Screaming Wu Wei was thrown forward against the wall and slumped down on the floor. He looked like a puppet whose strings were cut. His eyes starring into the void, dead.
Ming awoke with a start looking around her frightened. She sat up and her first glance flickered to the place where she knew Cole was. She relaxed a little as she found him there, smiling reassuringly at her. Feeling her need for him to be closer, he stood up and came towards her.
"What happened?" she asked him sleepily, "I thought I heard a scream."
Cole pondered the option of not telling her for a moment. But it wouldn't make any sense. She needed to know anyway.
"You did", Cole said and motioned with his head in the direction of Wu Wei's body.
Ming shrieked a little at seeing her father in a heap on the floor. Motionless. Quickly she turned her head away again and clasped her hand over her mouth. With big shocked eyes she looked at Mr. Turner.
"He tried to kill you. Again". Cole sat down next to her on the bed watching her reaction to this.
Ming shook her head slightly. "I can't believe it. He was such a good father. Once…" Her voice trailed of. She dared to look in Wu Wei's direction again. "Is he …. dead?"
"Yes", Cole confirmed not an ounce of regret in his voice. "I'm sorry for you that it turned out this way." He wasn't sorry that he had killed the man, but he felt bad that Ming had to witness it.
"Don't be", Ming turned her glance towards Cole, her voice trembling a little but gaining strength and determination, "I'm not."
Ming put her head in her hands, feeling nothing but a great exhaustion. She was too shocked to feel any sorrow, fury, loss or pain at the moment. She just didn't want to be alone and think about what had happened in just 2 days.
Lifting her glance a bit she looked at Cole shyly, "Do you remember what you offered me last night? I could use it now."
Cole looked at her quizzically an eyebrow raised and Ming went on, "to take me in your arms?"
"Sure", a kind smile softened his features when Cole opened his arms for her.
Ming fled into his embrace, holding onto him tightly hiding her face in the crock of his neck. He felt something moistening the collar of his shirt. Protectively he encircled her and stroked her small back soothingly.
Over her shoulder he returned the glance of Wu Wei's broken eyes. He should get rid of the corpse. It wasn't good for Ming if he left the corpse of her father laying around in her bedroom.
In this moment the door burst open. Jason was standing in the doorframe, Zin on his heels. "We heard a scream", he said looking uneasy at the scene before him. Ming clinging closely to Cole and Wu Wei laying on the floor. Obviously dead.
"What happened?" Jason asked stepping into the room, his wife following him.
Cole was with his back to Jason but answered shortly. "He tried to kill her. I was faster."
"My God", Zin breathed touching laying her hand on her heart, "are you ok Ming?" She felt inconvenient standing in the middle of Ming's bedroom while Ming made no impression of getting ready to let go off Mr. Turner in the near future.
Ming simply turned her head a bit so that she could see her great aunt. "I'm fine aunt Zin, my Gong Bao is here." She smiled valiantly.
"Gong Bao?" Zin repeated astonished.
"What is that?" Cole asked and tried to look at Ming, but she didn't lift her head from his shoulder. His questioning glance swept towards Zin.
"It is a protective spirit", Zin said still looking flabbergasted at Ming, "every family has one. But it is just a superstition. I never heard from someone who met a Gong Bao ever."
"And you think that's me?" Cole was amused about the idea.
"Yes, you are", Ming insisted firmly. "You are my Gong Bao. If you weren't before, you are now. I will tell my kids about you and they will tell their kids and so on."
Ming didn't want to leave Mr. Turner's embrace, but she finally gave into her aunts reproachful staring. She entangled herself from Mr. Turner reluctantly and he let her go without resistance. Cole couldn't help noticing that Zin and Jason didn't seem to like him hugging their niece
"I better get rid of him and look for Wyatt", Cole stood up briskly and stepped next to Wu Wei. "You should file him missing, so that the authorities don't get suspicious." Cole was about to pick the corpse up when Jason stopped him.
"Cole, give me a second to tell you something. My family is forever in your debt. You saved our niece twice today. Whatever help you or one of your family needs, please let me know. I'm not magically but I have good connections and influence all over the world."
"I appreciate your gesture, Jason", Cole answered, "but as I said before. Nobody of you owes me anything." The men shook hands.
Jason wondered how he could like a man who had just killed his nephew in law. Probably because Cole was the good guy despite being the demon. Magic could really muddle your interpretation of good and evil.
"May I offer you something?" Zin came to stand besides her husband, "If you are not accepting my husband's gratitude, maybe this can show you our eternal thank. You will for all time be welcome at this property and the pond of heavenly peace. I know you preserver a particular affection for it. All descendents of this family will know what you did for us and will welcome you at their home anytime."
Zin looked at Ming nodding towards her. "Ming was right. You will always be honoured as her …as our Gong Bao."
Cole bowed his head slightly in Zin's direction. "To allow me to visit your pond is a very generous gift. I couldn't have wished for more." He would come back to her offer surely. Nowhere had he felt more at peace, nowhere away from Phoebe to be exact.
"This sounds like goodbye", Ming observed her voice slightly sad. She didn't want Mr. Turner to go, she felt safe when he was around.
"It is", Cole confirmed turning to her, "you are safe and I have to move on. Actually I have to explain to my daughter why she doesn't need to finish a particular potion."
"Do I see you again?" Ming stood up and hesitantly stepped close to him.
For a moment it looked like she would throw herself into his arms. But she stopped right in front of Cole, only slightly invading his personal space. She lifted her head to be able to look right into his mesmerizing blue eyes.
"Who knows?" Cole answered smoothly. Ming had somehow made her way under his skin. "Maybe we meet one day at the pond".
Ming nodded and cast her eyes down not really consoled by his answer. She pulled his ring from her thumb and looked at it a last time. "This is yours. Thank you for giving it to me. Thank you for saving my life and conserving my dignity". She placed the ring in Cole's palm.
"I have to thank you, Ming," Cole answered and put the ring on its rightful place on his finger. He touched her chin with his hand and lifted her head so she had to look at him again.
"You gave me the most precious gift of all. Whenever you need magical help, let me know. Jason knows how to contact the Halliwells. They will know how to find me if necessary."
Ming had presented him with the gift to be with Phoebe again, to talk to her again, to feel her again. There was no greater deed someone could do for him. He would forever be in her debt.
Ming lifted her hand to touch his that lingered on her cheek, not willing to finally let go. This time he touched her, not his wife. She felt it. She gave him a shy smile. They locked eyes for a long moment. Ming knew this was farewell.
Mr. Turner would go and she would probably never see him again. She wondered why she had these confusing feelings towards him. Was it because he had been her first man or because he had rescued her from a grave experience? Or had she fallen for him?
Ming only knew he was dear to her, more than was reasonable for the short time they knew each other. But whatever she felt didn't matter. He was only true to one woman. Phoebe. She had experienced it. She could ask him to stay but knew he would refuse. The only thing she could gained by this was her own embarrassment. So Ming stayed quiet pressing her lips together.
Zin and Jason exchanged a look. They didn't know what gift Ming and Cole talked about, but they seemed closer than it was called for under these circumstances. Zin decided to investigate this matter in the morning.
Cole broke their eye contact and pulled his hand away from Ming's face. He stepped next to Wu Wei, bent down and threw the corpse over his shoulder unceremoniously. He fixed him on his shoulder with one arm. Straightening up he threw one last look at the people around him.
It was hard for him to leave this place. Normally he didn't warm up for people easily. But Zin with her mothering and caring nature and Ming with her loveable mixture of innocence and passion had gotten to him.
"Be well", he nodded curtly at Zin and Jason, "and be happy", he sent Ming a warm look and shimmered out.
"You too", Ming whispered to the now empty place, "you too."
The End
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So now I can tell you, for Ming I imagined Zhang Ziyi from tiger and dragon, isn't she just perfect for Ming?
I know I needed really long for finishing the story, still a litte review would be sooo great!