*Grins* Some of you may have read this, but I noticed we
now have 11 people on the list, so I thought I'd post this
as a little welcoming gift!

It's pure sap... Hope you enjoy!

Snowstorm
A Wufei and Sally short fic
By Orla
***

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and the characters are not mine
(damn it!), they belong to Sunrise and Bandai.

***

Through the long-range binoculars the base appeared to be
quiet, only a few people moving about in the freezing air.
But the weapons those few carried were a bad sign and the
blue eyes behind the binoculars darkened with concern.

No one at the base could see the two figures perched on the
cliffs above the base. They blended into the snow in their
white clothes and fur-trimmed hoods. Both were crouched
low, one keeping an eye on any possible encroachers while
the other viewed the base below.

Sally Po frowned and lowered the binoculars. Her partner's
hand fell onto her shoulders causing her to look up. His
dark eyes met hers and she nodded at the unspoken message
she saw. She shifted over and he settled down beside her.

"Well?" Chang Wufei asked softly, his breath puffing a
small white cloud into the cold air.

"Take a look at the weapons." Sally said passing him the
binoculars.

Wufei viewed the scene below and frowned. "Hmmm... That's
more of an arsenal than we thought."

Sally smirked. "Well, that's why we do these little
scouting missions to find this sort of stuff out." She
said. "You'd _never_ get me out to this frozen wasteland
otherwise!" She stuffed her hands inside her jacket. "I
hate the cold!"

Wufei snorted. "Don't complain so, Woman!" He said. "This
is a mission..."

"And such discomforts that there are must be endured!"
Sally finished his sentence with a snap. "Can't you change
the record, Wu? I've _heard_ that one about five times!
Anyway, I wasn't complain, I was making a observation!"

Wufei glowered. "You and your idle chitchat." He muttered.

Sally resisted the urge to push him off the cliff.

"If we have the data we need," Wufei said. "Then there is
no reason to stay here."

"No," Sally agreed. "Let's get back to the cabin and the
jeep." *And then back to the Preventer base where a HOT
shower and a nice WARM bed awaits!* She did a quick scan
below, checking that no one would see them, and then
started her descent.

Wufei put the binoculars in his pack and then secured it on
his back. A few snowflakes drifted in front of his eyes,
causing him to look up and frown. "It's starting to snow."
He said.

Sally was already halfway down, but she heard him speak and
looked back. "What was that?" She asked stepping forward.

"I said..." Wufei was cut off, as there was a sharp cry
from Sally and a thud. "Sally?" He hurried carefully down
the rocky slope and rounded a corner.

Sally was sitting on the ground, her eyes wide and she was
gasping a little. Wufei crouched down in front of her.
"What happened?" He asked.

Sally blinked and grimaced. "I wasn't looking and I put my
foot down on an unstable piece of rock." She explained.

Wufei raised an eyebrow and Sally scowled. "Don't you say a
word!" She warned and pushed herself to her feet. "I'm
feeling foolish enough as it is without you... ah!" Sally
let out a yelp as pain shot through her left ankle.

Wufei stood up and steadied her as she wobbled. "Looks like
you have more than just bruises." He said.

Sally looked sharply at him. Wufei's expression was
unreadable, but she could see a gleam of amusement in his
dark eyes. She threw off his hand and leant against the
rockface. Gingerly she put her left foot down and assessed
the extent of the damage.

"It's... just a light sprain..." She said trying to ignore
the pain. "Not totally... dehabilitating."

"This will slow our progress back." Wufei remarked.

"Well, -pardon- me!" Snapped Sally. "I'm so -sorry- for my
accident!" She straightened. "I will be fine, it will hurt,
but I can walk!" Sally assured him, and to prove her words
she started walking down the slope.

Wufei watched her for a while and then shook his head.
"Such a stubborn woman." He muttered as he followed her.

***

Sally gritted her teeth as she stumbled down the slope. The
medic in her was shrieking to stop or slow down and rest or
bind her ankle, especially since the uneven path she had to
take was not going to stop anytime soon. In order to keep
the evidence of their presence down to a minimum, Wufei and
Sally had decided to avoid the smooth snowy slopes and to
keep to the rocky walls of the valley.

"This," Sally muttered ruefully. "Is going to hurt."

"Then accept some help." Said Wufei's voice in her ear.
Before she could say anything, his arm slipped around her
waist and he steadied her. "Lean on me." He offered.

Startled, Sally looked at him. However, she didn't throw
off his arm, sometimes pride -had- to take a backseat to
practicality.

"We should get out of here before the snow thickens." Wufei
said as they made their way over the rocks.

Sally realized that the snowflakes were falling more
heavily. She risked a brief look up at the sky. The clouds
were a dark, dark gray and looked ominously heavy. "That
doesn't look good." She remarked.

"Precisely why we need to move quickly." Said Wufei.

"Being caught outside in a snowstorm is -not- my idea of
fun!" Sally agreed. She paused. "Uh... Wufei?"

"What now Woman?" He asked in an irritated tone. "We need
to keep moving, not stand around -chattering- all day!"

Sally let out an exasperated sigh. "I was just going to
-thank- you!" She said wearily.

Wufei blinked. "Oh..." He said nothing, but continued to
walk with her, supporting Sally's weight. Eventually his
eyes slid over to look briefly at her face. "Think nothing
of it," he said stiffly. "You would have only aggravated
your injury if I left you to your own devices."

Sally smiled. Beneath Wufei's arrogant words she could hear
his apology and his appreciation, and her anger at him
melted away. It always pleased her when his mask cracked,
even if it was only a tiny bit, and he showed his true self
buried underneath the traditional training. She resisted
the urge to hug Wufei and continued to walk, leaning on
him.

***

The snow was falling quite heavily by the time they reached
the tiny mountain climbers cabin and the jeep.

"I don't think we should try to drive in this." Sally said
as she eyed the black clouds boiling over the ranges and
felt the sting of the cold snowflakes on her face.

Wufei looked at the snow-covered jeep. "It wouldn't take
much to get the snow off it..." He began.

Sally pulled on his arm. "Don't be foolish, by the time
we're half-way it will be dark and I think there's a good
chance that this snowstorm is going to get worse!"

"Woman, the longer we stay here, the more we risk being
discovered!" Wufei argued.

Sally pushed open the door to the cabin. "It's -highly-
unlikely that anyone is going to be out here looking for
-anything-." She said dryly. "Besides, mountain climbers
use this place all the time and we brought all the right
gear just in case someone looked in here." She yanked him
inside with her. "Face it Wufei, we're just going to have
to wait the storm out. With any luck it'll be over by
tomorrow."

Wufei shut the door and regarded the interior of the cabin
as Sally limped over to the table by the fireplace and sat
down. She pushed her hood off her head, leaned down and
started to take off her boots.

Wufei brushed the snow from his coat and took it off. He
immediately regretted this as the air inside the cabin was
almost as frozen as the air outside. He noticed Sally was
shivering as she pulled off her boots and frowned. "I'll
light the fire," he said, crossing over to the deep-set,
open fireplace and kneeling in front of it. "You rest." He
told Sally as he pulled wood from the pile by the fireplace
and began putting the material together.

Sally sat up and grinned at him. "It's okay, Wufei. I can
hop around and sort out something to eat."

Sally put her boots down and wriggled her toes in her thick
socks. Her ankle still hurt, but it wasn't as bad as
before. She stood up, putting her weight on to her right
side and considered her next move. There wasn't very much
space for her to hop around -in-, Sally noted. The cabin
was tiny, one room with a smaller room serving as the
bathroom. The only furnishings were the table, two chairs,
a sink, a double bed and two cupboards - one by the bed and
the other next to the fireplace.

Sally looked over at the bed. It was covered with a white
dustsheet, which she pulled off and folded. The bed itself
consisted of a thin looking mattress and two lumpy looking
pillows. Sally's stomach rumbled quietly and she grinned,
it was more important to think about food she decided and
limped over to the cupboard by the fireplace. Upon opening
it she found several cans, a large iron pot, some plates
and cutlery, two oil lamps and some matches.

Sally smirked. "Well Wufei, which do you prefer? Baked
beans or spaghetti with sausages?"

Wufei turned and looked at her. "Neither sounds appealing."
He said crossly. "Is that -all- there is?"

Sally looked a bit more. "Ummm... there's some canned soup,
vegetable I think it is, and some sweetcorn as well." She
pulled out the oil lamps and the matches. "I think that's
our lot!" She said as she lit the lamps and set them on the
table.

Wufei grimaced at her list and stood up. "The fire's done,"
he said. "But the wood pile is quite low, we have enough to
see us through... if we don't keep the fire lit during the
night."

Sally frowned. "Then it -will- get very cold in here..."
She said and glanced over at the bed. "Hmmm..."

Wufei followed her gaze and looked properly at the bed for
the first time. His eyes widened.

Sally shrugged and turned her attention back to sorting out
dinner. "Oh well," she said, picking up the can opener.
"There's not much we can do about it."

"Sally..." Wufei's voice was strangled.

"Yes?"

"There's only one bed."

Sally blinked. "Yes, I am aware of that, Wufei."

"But... there's only -one- bed!"

"I -know- that, Wufei!" Sally looked at him in
exasperation. "What is your point?"

"There is -two- of us!" Wufei turned and frowned at her.

"Well, we'll just have to deal with it." Sally said.
"Besides, the body heat will keep us from noticing the
cold."

Wufei stared at her. "Are you saying..." he swallowed.
"That we sleep... there... -together-?!"

"Well, what else do you suggest?" Sally asked. "It's going
to be -much- too cold to sleep on the floor."

Wufei's eyes flashed. "The cold doesn't bother -me-,
Woman!" He snapped.

"Well, it bothers -me-!" Sally argued. "And I am -not-
going to sleep in the bed while you -nobly- freeze your
butt off on the floor!"

Wufei gritted his teeth. "Stubborn woman!" He growled.

#WHAM!# Sally slammed her hand down on the table. "Wufei!
This is no time to argue! There is nothing wrong with the
two of us sleeping in the same bed in order to keep warm!"

Wufei's scowl deepened. "It's -your- reputation that I'm
concerned about!" He yelled at her.

"Oh for..." Sally glared back at him. "Who's going to know
except you and me? -I- certainly won't say anything!" She
took a deep breath, yelling at Wufei would not mend
matters, she told herself sternly, not matter -how-
satisfying it was. No, she needed to be... sneaky...

"Wufei..." Sally tempered her tone to a more reasonable
level. "I understand that you are nervous about this
situation and I -quite- understand that your fear is..."

"FEAR?!" Wufei exploded. "I'm not frightened of -you-,
Woman!" He folded his arms and gazed arrogantly at her. "I
am not afraid to share a bed with you and I -will- do it!"

Sally opened her eyes very wide. "Are you sure?" She asked
hesitantly.

"YES!" Wufei cried.

Sally made a helpless gesture with her hands. "Well, I
guess I can't argue with you." She said resignedly and
turned away from him to start opening the cans of food.

"Of course not," said Wufei, picking up a log and throwing
it on the fire. "I am right, as usual. You..." He paused as
his anger died and the conversation trickled through his
mind. He straightened abruptly and stared at Sally who was
emptying some baked beans into the iron pot. I've been
suckered... he realized half-furious and half-admiring.
However, there was nothing he could say, because that would
acknowledge Sally's victory.

Sally peeked at Wufei under her lashes. She saw the
realization dawn on his face and smiled inwardly.

***

Wufei poked the dying fire and tried not to shiver.
Although the fire had only started it's descent into ashes
the air inside the cabin was already getting chillier. He
glanced over at the bed, which was made up, piled with all
the blankets from the nearby cupboard and their two
sleeping bags. Wufei swallowed and then frowned at his
nervousness. Surely he, a warrior, was not -afraid- of
sharing a bed with his partner? Surely it didn't matter
that she was a woman? This was -Sally-, the woman who had
fought beside him for three years! He shook his head.

"Don't be so foolish!" He scolded himself in a harsh
whisper.

"What?" Sally emerged from the bathroom. "Did you say
something?"

Wufei blinked. "No." He stood up. "You took your time,
Woman!" He chided her.

She made a face at him. "Hey, I was washing in -cold-
melted snow! It wasn't pleasant!" She moved into the light
and picked up one of the oil lamps and blew it out, leaving
one lit.

Wufei looked at her. She was dressed in black sweat-pants
and a white thermal long-sleeved top. Her hair was unbound
and fell about her shoulders. He found himself staring at
the long honey-coloured tresses and observing the way they
framed and softened her fine features. Wufei shook his head
again and fought off the odd constricting feeling in his
chest.

"Get into bed." He said gruffly. "Keep warm."

"I plan to!" Sally smiled at him. She picked up the last
lamp and took it over to the bed and put it on top of the
cupboard, turning it to a low setting.

Wufei nodded curtly. He pushed his treacherous thoughts
about Sally aside and stalked into the bathroom to change.

***

Sally lay on her side and listened to Wufei open and close
the bathroom door, then he walked softly over to the other
side of the bed and hesitated. She suppressed a sigh of
exasperation. Eventually the mattress moved and the springs
creaked as he climbed into bed. Sally bit her lip and
wondered if she should turn around and meet him halfway.
No, she decided, he's nervous enough as it is, let him make
the move.

Then Sally frowned. Wufei had not come near her and she was
getting -colder-. She raised her head and twisted around to
look at him. She blinked and then rolled her eyes.
"Wufei..."

He was on the very edge of the bed, on his side. His whole
body posture was stiff and defensive. He was also
shivering.

"Wufei," Sally spoke louder. "The point is to keep each
other warm." She shook her head. "It really doesn't help if
we don't lie... together."

Wufei remained silent.

Sally scooted over to his side and laid a hand on his
shoulder. "Wufei, please..."

"Agh!" He jerked in surprise at her touch and tumbled out
of the bed.

Sally winced as he hit the floor with a loud thump. "Are
you alright?" She enquired as he picked himself up.

Wufei glared at her. "Woman! I was asleep and you so rudely
woke me!" He blustered trying to cover his nervousness.

Sally lifted an eyebrow. If he was asleep then he's the
-tensest- sleeper I know! She thought. Aloud she said. "I'm
sorry, but... when I said that we had to keep each other
warm I meant that we have to be lying -next- to each other.
Sleeping at opposite ends doesn't build up the warmth that
body-heat can provide." She remarked gently.

Wufei looked away from her. "I will be fine." He said.

Sally swallowed an acerbic comment. It was painfully
obvious that reason was not going to work here, no, she
would have to trick him... again.

"Wufei..." She looked at him appealingly and shivered as
she spoke. "I'm sure you -will- be fine, but... I'm so
cold..." She shivered more. It wasn't a lie really, she
-was- freezing!

Wufei looked down at her and she hoped her expression was
as pitiful as she could make it. Wufei grunted. "I forgot
that women are more susceptible to the cold."

Sally clenched her fist under the covers. Sometimes I
wonder -why- I put up with him, she thought. You know why,
a little voice whispered though her mind, because you can
see what others can't and it's worth the wait. Calmly she
answered him. "Yes Wufei, I'm -very- susceptible to the
cold. So..." She lay down. "Are you going to help me or
not?" She asked irritably.

She closed her eyes and waited.

There was a long silence. Then, the mattress moved again as
Wufei once more got onto the bed. He pulled the covers over
himself and moved, slowly, over to Sally. His breath wafted
onto her cheek as he settled himself down beside her and
she could feel the heat from his body.

"Are you happy now, Woman?" Wufei asked her, his voice
sounding strained to her ears.

Sally opened her eyes. He had forgotten to turn off the oil
lamp so there was still some light in the room. She turned
her head and looked at him. He was on his back, his eyes
closed. Sally smiled at the profile he presented and
sighed. "Yes, Wufei, I'm feeling warmer now," She
hesitated. Her inner voice was urging her forward, but...
Sally shook off her doubts. "But, we'd be warmer if I do
this..." She moved closer and deftly slipped one arm around
his waist, their bodies touched and she rested her head
against his shoulder.

Wufei's eyes flew open and he stiffened as she touched him,
but he made no sound nor did he pull away. Sally continued
to hold him and his body slowly relaxed. She smiled and
closed her eyes, letting the exhausting events of the day
pull her into sleep.

***

Every fibre of Wufei's body was aware of Sally's proximity.
Her arm around his waist, her breath tickling his throat
and the soft touch of her body on his side. He lay in the
dim light, staring at the ceiling and wondering at this
sudden turmoil in his mind.

Sally... his partner... his... friend. A woman who had his
utmost respect. He remembered their first meeting with
complete clarity; he recalled his behaviour and her
forbearance. He frowned, she was a strong woman, no, a
strong -person- that fought well and used her head in a
crisis. Often she exasperated him with her stubbornness and
her irreverent humour, but her company was...

"Good." Wufei whispered the realization hitting him like a
blow to the stomach. He turned his head and looked at
Sally.

She was sleeping on her side, her free hand tucked under
her chin. Wufei's mouth stretched into an involuntary
smile. Sally looked so relaxed and peaceful... and
beautiful. The dim lamplight cast a golden glow on her face
and traced the smile on her lips. Carefully, making sure
not to move her, Wufei twisted around so that he was face
to face with her. He moved forward and encircled her in his
arms, pulling her gently so that they were only an inch
apart. He could smell the scent of her hair and the plain
soap on her skin, and her body was warm against his.

What am I doing? He asked himself. I swore never to feel...
these feelings again. But this is different... contentment?
The sense that this is -right-? Is that it?

Wufei gently removed strands of blond hair from Sally's
face and his fingers lightly traced the contours of her
features. An over-whelming urge to trace her lips with his
own pulled at him and he moved his head forward, closing
the inch wide gap between them. Delicately he kissed her
mouth and then he deepened the kiss, tracing her mouth
before moving to her cheek and up to place a kiss on her
soft hair.

Wufei sighed. "I'm going to regret this." he whispered to
himself.

But he didn't really believe it.

And Sally breathed in his warm scent and felt his kisses
burn on her mouth and cheek. Enclosed in his arms she was
no longer aware of the hiss of the snow outside or the
cold, she was warm and happier than she could remember. A
single phrase formed in her mind... she couldn't speak it,
not yet, but...

Wufei... I love you...

THE END.

Ja ne,

Orla

=====
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