I called Trowa first. He answered on the first buzz, his face appearing on the screen. He gave a twitch of a smile.

"Wufei," he said.

"Hello, Barton," I said, mimicking his smile.

"How have you been?"

I hesitated and then spoke. "Bored. There's nothing to do. They're pulling Preventer's on and off the field constantly."

"I feel sorry for you."

"And yourself?"

"The shop has me busy. We're opening in about a week, getting everything ready."

"Is Maxwell annoying yet?"

Trowa didn't comment, but gave a telling smile. "When will we see you again?"

"Soon," I responded vaguely.

"I'll be waiting."

"Goodbye."

Quatre was next, he was happy as usual, asked where I was at the moment, how work was, how Sally was, then we signed off. Sally entered the room just as I disconnected with Heero… or Duo. It was hard to tell which would be considered the conversationalist, the one sitting at the monitor or the idiot blathering on and on in the background. Hilde managed to restrain him… for the most part.

"Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt," she said, turning back towards the door.

"I was done," I said, shutting the communications line down. "The others say hello."

"Right back at them," Sally said, crossing her arms and leaning back against the wall to do the same with her ankles.

We said nothing for a while as I finished what I was doing and then shut down the computer before me. I pivoted in my chair to face her and she smiled, her cherry-red lips pulling up into a cupids-bow.

"So, vacation time. Finally, huh?" she commented.

I took a second, before answering. She was a few inches shorter than me now, had been for five years. Her form was pleasing, soft and smooth, but she was stronger than she appeared and it was only when you saw her training in hand-to-hand combat that you truly realized it. Her face was soft, intelligence written clearly over her pretty features, which made it easy for her to comfort patients and relatives alike when she doctored. She had kind blue eyes and an enchanting mouth. She styled her hair differently now, leaving it in loose waves, cascading over her shoulders instead of the two twists she'd worn before. I had seen men drool over her, her not noticing, and then glare at me for having the privilege to stand beside her. It was a fun game I played with myself. I never told strangers I was nothing more than her friend and partner on the force.

"Things are too slow. Three whole months of vacation for both of us at once? It's a leave, not a vacation," I answered.

"What the matter, Wufei?" she teased gently. "Are you some kind of workaholic?"

I glowered at her. "No, I just think that three months of uselessness is a bit too much. Not that you do."

"No, I don't." She smirked.

"What do you have planned?" I asked.

She shrugged and played with a fingernail. "Nothing really. I guess I'll just… I don't know. Figure it out later, I guess. You?"

"I'm going home," I responded.

"That's sweet," Sally commented. She undid herself from her position on the wall and headed for the door. "Say hi to everyone for me and that I miss them."

"They don't really know I'm coming."

"Well, when they find out."

She reached for the slid button on the door.

"Do you…" I said, halting her with my voice. She turned to me, listening. "Would you like to come?"

She was surprised, though she hid it well, and pleased. "I don't want to get in the way."

"They'd be happy to see you."

"Yes, but I don't really have money to put myself up in a hotel for three months."

I snorted and rose, grabbing my coat. "You're coming. Let's go eat."

"Wufei, where would I stay?"

I looked at her as if she was ignorant. "With me of course."

She gave a slow smile. I rolled my eyes and headed out the door. She followed. We passed by her own quarters and she grabbed a coat as well. We headed towards a good restaurant down the street. It was packed, but they seated two quickly and in the back corner, facing the door, just where I liked it. Sally let me choose my seat, which she did now out of habit. In the beginning she'd said I was ridiculous, one seat was as good as the other, but she'd gotten used to it, just as I had gotten used to, even liked, the way she always tried a bit of my meal and gave me a bit of hers.

We ordered and our food was brought quickly. I sat back, waiting as she cut off a forkful of my steak and exchanged it with a piece of jerked chicken. I watched as she took a few bites of her chicken first and then chewed the steak carefully. A smile spread across her lips.

"It's good, try it," she urged.

I picked up my silverware, ate the bit of chicken first, nodded complacently, and then bit into my steak. It was perfect. I offered a little more with a nod. She shook her head politely.

"That was really sweet of you," Sally said after we'd been eating for a while. "Thanks for inviting me. I was about preparing myself to go out of my mind with boredom."

I nodded and finished my steak. The server came up.

"A dessert to share?" he asked.

I didn't bother to correct him on the nature of our relationship. He didn't really care or need to know.

"Sure," I answered and pointed. Sally grinned happily.

"Marry me," she said.

"Marry the chocolate cake," I told her. "It's the one you love, not me."

She gave a playful look. "I'm not so sure. Can chocolate glare the way you do?"

"You'll never know until you spend time with it."

"You're not as fun to tease ever since you got a sense of humor, no matter how dry it is," she pouted and took a spoonful of cake.