Jungle Confessions

by

Kat

Disclaimer: Ain't mine. End of story.

Warnings: Language (one word I think), major OOC, minor angst, LEMON, discussion of rape Pairings: Come on do I really have to say it folks?

Archive: If your crazy enough to want it just let me know.

I got this idea after seeing a picture done by Lady Orla. You can see
it at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WuSal/files/sallywufei_bed.jpg
I will be using it at the very end of the story.

September 9^th A.C. 201.

Soft, natural sounds echoed throughout the picturesque and tranquil setting of the forest. When suddenly, they were interrupted by the forceful sounds of two people.

"Onna! I can't believe you got us lost! Can you not read a map or what, woman?!"

"My name is Sally and of course I can read a map, but it was your shortcut!"

"Which I clearly marked on the map!"

"Oh and it's so easy to read a map on that road! It's like a combination of a roller coaster and an earthquake!"

"You should have studied the map before we left!"

"If you remember correctly there were bullets wizzing through the air, at us, before we left! Or did you forget that little detail!?! Besides you were supposed to fill the tank!"

"We would have had plenty of gas if you had not gotten us lost!"

By the end of their tirade the truck was unpacked and everything they needed to get home was split into two packs.

"Truce. This is getting us nowhere and night is going to fall in a couple of hours, let's just go," Sally said, exhaustedly.

Shouldering their packs, Chang Wufei and Sally Po started through the dense forest and back to HQ. Both were still fuming, but doing it more silently now and each thinking of the hot shower and warm bed that would elude them tonight.

"Listen Wufei, we're both dirty, we haven't slept, and have barely eaten for three days, it's easy to see why we're being a little short with the other," Sally said, resigning her anger. Wufei ignored her, his sour frown remaining right where it had been. Sally sighed and turned her attention back to the trail.

They progressed slowly, having to stop occasionally to take off their packs and crawl through small places where the forest left them no other choice. Wufei often lead with Sally hot on his heals.

And he was still in the lead when they happened upon a fissure. He let out a sharp gasp of surprise when the earth suddenly dropped out from under him. Sally leapt for him screaming, "No! Oh gods, Wufei!"

Just before they clasped the other's wrist they heard a sickening snap and Sally let out a shrill scream. She didn't lose her grip and together they worked to get him back up to the surface. Once on solid ground, Wufei looked behind her at the leg caught in some old tangled vines. Released from the vines Wufei announced, "It's broken."

"No shit!?! Really!?!" Sally screamed, her tone thick with sarcasm. "Now there's a news flash, like we couldn't hear it!" She grit her teeth together and breathed heavily through her teeth. Her eyes were shut tightly under the strain to keep still her body tightening reflexively every once in a while.

Wufei looked at the break and knew it couldn’t have gotten much worse if it tried. The split was at an unnatural angle and knew that that would have to be fixed. He had seen Sally do it to men who lay sobbing before her and realized just how much it hurt. He had never done it himself and wasn't looking forward to Sally being his first patient. Taking a deep breath to steady him-self, "Lay down." Wufei pushed Sally down by putting the slightest amount of pressure on the shoulder closest to him.

A split second later they heard a second snap as Wufei moved the bones back into alignment. Sally clawed the ground on either side of her and arched her back letting her pain and shock out as a scream of pure pain. She dropped back to the ground as tears fell, unbidden, down her cheeks and her breath came in quick, shaky, shallow gasps. Sally continued like this as she waited for the worst of the pain to diminish.

The part of Sally that could still think as a doctor told her that she had to slow her breathing and deepen it or she would pass out. The other part of her was asking why that would be such a bad thing.

After rifling through Sally's pack Wufei produced a syringe, which he used on her, saying only, "Morphine."

Sally nodded then watched as Wufei made a splint out of his katana still in its sheath and her tie and belt. Although she was still in agony she was also thinking practically, "Better make camp quick before this stuff completely kicks in."

Wufei nodded back and wrapped an arm around her so they could backtrack to a clearing they found a few minutes earlier. After another look at Sally's face he changed his mind and bent down to lift her into his arms. 'I'll get the packs later.' He thought. Sally curled her arms to her chest and nuzzled into his neck. "Thank you." It was nothing more than a hot breath across his neck, but Wufei heard it.

Once in the clearing, he sat Sally against a fallen log, "I'll be right back." Wufei returned a minute later with her pack. Sally's head was already starting to bob as she began to succumb to the sedative effects of morphine. Wufei mentally shook his head and unrolled her bedroll and helped her lay down on it. She fell asleep immediately, no longer having to fight the drugs.

Wufei looked down at the unconscious body of his partner and thought, 'Weakling.' Although he couldn't ignore, nor disagree with, the part of him that screamed, 'She did it saving you're life! We don't know how deep that crevice was.'

Sally awoke to the smell of food cooking and opening heavy eyelids she set her gaze on Wufei sitting by the fire, a pan in hand. She feigned sleep as to allow Wufei to keep his pride intact for a while longer. Once he set the pan to the side Wufei stood up and walked to his partner's side and shook her shoulder softly, "Your dinner is ready."

Once their meager dinner was divided equally Wufei took his and sat down on his bedding and began to eat. Sally only ate a little of her own before she lost the battle to remain awake and once again laid down and fell asleep. Wufei took Sally's plate away and looked down at her. The word, 'Weakling' was again right on Wufei's lips, but he just couldn't bring himself to say it, whether Sally was conscious or not. With nothing better to do, even arguing with his opinionated female partner, Wufei too laid down to sleep after stoking their fire one last time.

Wufei's warrior instincts awoke him to a muffled sound and cracking an eye open he found Sally sitting by the fire a few feet from her bedroll. Every once in a while she would throw a wary glance at him, but then dropped her head back into her hands, and continued her soft crying as her entire body trembled. Wufei watched a tear race down her cheek and reflect the firelight in a cruel parody of beauty. He had never seen her act like this before.

"Sally?" Wufei was almost frightened of whatever could drive his strong partner to tears. Sure she was a woman, and that explained a lot in his mind, but this was more than a difference in genders. Somehow he knew it was more, but what?

Sally spun quickly and saw a man walking towards her purposefully, but it wasn't Wufei's face she saw on the tall broad shouldered figure, nor was it his voice she heard. She saw only the Oriental features twisted by the shadows of firelight and made almost evil and that was enough. Quickly Sally began to back away looking all around her as if she were expecting someone else to be there or perhaps a way to escape, but that was impossible given that her broken leg was making even backing away hard.

"Sally, what's the matter?" Wufei was surprised to find his voice shaking with what had to be fear and no small amount of concern.

Her only answer was a soft whimper and more silent tears. With every step he took Sally backed up two and seeing this Wufei drew upon his memories of Quatre's gentle ways and stopped moving towards Sally and raised his hands up, chest high, before him palms to her in surrender. "It's okay, I'm just going to sit down right here." As he said he would Wufei knelt down and waited for a moment as he narrowed his eyes and got a good look at Sally's facial expression.

The emptiness in her usually expressive eyes caused his breath to catch before asking, "Do you even know who I am?" He waited for the smart-ass answer he prayed would come, but instead was met with more silence. "You don't, do you." It was a statement not a question. "Sally, come on, it's Wufei, your partner."

Sally blinked at Wufei a few times then looked away.

"Answer me. Who am I? What's the matter?" They were soft, but urgent demands.

"Wu…Wufei?" A hint of confusion colored her voice.

"Yes." He stood up slowly and walked over to her and knelt at her side. "Come with me." Wufei guided Sally's arm over his shoulder and slipped his arm under her knees then carried her back to her bed.

"Sally…"

"Don't! Don't bother, I already know what you're going to say. 'Weak Onna, trust a woman to get all emotional'."

"No!" Then whispered softer as he looked into the flames, "No." Wufei seemed to be in wonder of the fact that the word weak didn't enter his mind once as her watched her run from him, as best she could. "No, that's not what I was going to say. You seemed terrified of me. Why? I don't think it was me you were seeing. There was no recognition. You know I would never hurt you, right?"

"'It's not honorable'." It was a somewhat mocking tone that Wufei just brushed away for once.

"No, it goes against everything I believe in, everything I am." Wufei noticed Sally trembling and reached behind him to retrieve her bedroll. He knew the violent shaking wasn't from cold given the heat of the jungle, but she might feel better being covered anyhow. When he wrapped the blanket around Sally's shoulders he couldn't seem to let go, instead he put a very slight pressure on her arm to pull her to him. Instead of resisting the gentle suggestion, as he thought her pride would demand, she quickly turned into him. When she clutched both fists in the front of Wufei's traditional white coat he slowly lifted her into his lap, moving on instinct alone to comfort her. Once she was seated comfortably in his lap, Wufei finished pulling the blanket around them both and leaned back against the fallen log behind him.

"Sally what happened, you're in pain." It was the voice of a worried scholar not a warrior.

"It's the broken…"

"No, it's not physical wound. It’s something else that’s hurting you."

"I don't know what you're talking about, nothing's wrong. I'm fine," she answered in a rush, an obvious lie even to her own ears. 'Let it drop.' Her mind begged.

Wufei tilted Sally's head up so their eyes met, "Please don't lie to me."

"Because it's not honorable," Sally finished the sentence with his usual line.

"No, because it hurts me." Sally leaned back a bit and looked up in surprise. "We're both lone wolves Sally, not used to having to depend on anyone, but we've also been partners for five years. I've learned to rely on you and come to expect you to be there to catch me should I fall, no matter how much I act the opposite. I don't like to be wrong, but I was. You're not weak, just the contrary, you are one of the strongest people I've ever met. It's my time to be strong now. Let me be there for you now, you're falling Sally, let me catch you, help me catch you. You have to trust me not to hurt you… as I trust you. Know that I will never hurt you here," Wufei placed his hand lightly on her sternum, which was as close as he would get to her heart. "You mean too much to me and I need your heart too much. I don't know how to use my own, but I'm learning," spoke the scholar.

In tears Sally dropped her head back under Wufei's chin and nuzzled into his chest. It was true, she was tired of being the strong one the only one able to match the justice-ranting Chinese man who was now cradling her in his lap. He had changed completely from the man she was arguing with at the truck. This Chang Wufei was gentle and patient and had just bared his soul to her. "He hurt me." It was a muffled sentence and Wufei felt it more than heard it, as her lips brushed against the skin of his neck, but the words still hung between them.

"Sally…"

"I didn't want to, but he wouldn't stop."

Wufei tipped his head back, closed his eyes tightly, and teeth clenched together hard enough to crack one. He swallowed hard, 'Oh God. Please don't let it be what I'm afraid it is.' Again he tightened his grip, this time for his comfort. Reassuring him-self that Sally was with him and safe in his arms he laid his cheek on her silky hair. "Who did it? Sally, who did this?"

Sally just shook her head against his chest.

"Okay, you're right, that's enough for tonight. Come on it's late let's try to get some sleep."

"No!" Sally, who had relaxed her grip on Wufei when he told her he wouldn't ask anymore questions, clutched Wufei tighter.

"Easy, easy, I'm not going anywhere, just close your eyes."

Sally shook her head into Wufei's broad chest, "No, he'll be there."

"Maybe, but I'm here," he emphasized the statement by holding her more tightly to his chest. Without realizing it Wufei began to rock back and forth as he stroked Sally's hair, quickly putting her to sleep.

In his mind Wufei started to sort out when it happened, 'Okay, she's been acting strangely since I got back from setting up the Australian Preventers, nervous, timid, angry. Often she would come in and barely be able to keep her eyes open, nightmares, I know those well enough to know the signals. She was terrified of me when I walked to her as if she thought…Oh God. lin! Lin if I find out you were partnered…!' Sung Lin was another Chinese Preventer, who since they looked so alike, often used to confuse those who participated in missions that they were both assigned to.

Sally slept soundly through the night waking only when Wufei screamed her name during a nightmare of his own. When she woke him he held her in relief that it was only a nightmare, "You're safe…you're safe." It was more to reassure him-self than Sally.

It was still dark when Sally stirred in Wufei's arms. Wufei woke and looked down into vibrant blue eyes. Sally looked into Wufei's midnight black eyes in confusion. "Uh…I…"

"Do you remember any of last night?"

"I don’t…no." Sally looked away as she did remember.

Wufei brushed some of her loose hairs back, "You confided in me, you were hurt by someone. Sally, was it Lin that hurt you?"

Wufei got his answer in the form of a deep wince and a soft whimper as she got impossibly closer to Wufei.

"It's okay, you're with me."

"I just want to go home." Sally said to herself.

"I know, so do I. Could you start breakfast while…"

"Why because it's 'women's work'!?!" Sally snapped to cover her embarrassment of their positions.

Wufei discreetly took a deep breath and calmly replied, "No, because I cooked last night."

"Oh."

"If I can find the radio maybe we can get a signal now."

Their breakfast of emergency rations was almost ready by the time Wufei cursed, "Che!"

"Nani?"

"The radio's broken, it must have happened when I slipped over the edge. It's going to take a while until I even know if it can be fixed."

Looking at her broken leg Sally sighed, "Doushio?"

Wufei also look at the leg, "Wakarenai. Hope I can fix it?"

"I know a few things about electrical work too." Wufei noticed Sally wince slightly and was already reaching for the morphine as he asked, "Are you in a lot of pain this morning?"

Sally hesitated before answering, "H…Hai."

"I know. It always hurts worse the next day, huh."

It was a fight for Sally to keep her eyes from widening at the roundabout admission of weakness. He leaned forward to administer the injection, but Sally caught his wrist before he could, "No it's okay, no morphine, we have too much to do for me to sleep the day away, I'll deal with it." At Wufei's stern expression she sighed, "Really, I'll be okay "

Wufei's eyes narrowed as he looked at her, making his own judgement, "Very well, but if I notice you getting any worse, I will give you the injection anyhow."

"I know." "Under her breath she finished, "Like I could stop you."

"You couldn't." Wufei had heard her anyhow. After that Wufei laid the pieces of the radio out.

For a moment they both stared at it as if waiting for a miracle to happen at it to be fixed. "If that's what you call broken what's your word for junk?"

After a few more seconds Wufei announced, "Well it's obviously not going to fix itself, let's get to work."

Sally was shocked by the fact that he was willing to work with her after his original statement. Something had changed her dragon and she rather liked it. By lunch it was obvious that they wouldn't finish repairs by nightfall as they had just finished setting out the parts and separating the hopelessly broken parts from the intact and repairable piles. Sally looked at Wufei, who had made them their small lunch, "How are our rations going, I forgot to look?"

"We both have full rations."

"A weeks worth, let's hope it's finished by then."

"I wouldn't mind it being done now."

"Nor I." As they talked while working earlier Sally had started to get accustomed to Wufei's new treatment of her. Although it would take quite a while to fully get used to the change Sally loved the fact that she was no longer 'Onna', but Sally.

Four days passed until they were able to look at what seemed to be only a pile of parts with optimism. "Well, might as well give it a try." Hoping it was tuned to the Preventer emergency channel Wufei called, "Dragon team to Preventer H.Q., respond."

"H.Q. here, Chang Wufei, is that you?"

Sally, who was sitting to Wufei's right, smiled and tipped over so that her left temple was resting on his right shoulder. Wufei in turn put his arm around Sally's waist. "Yes H.Q."

"Good to hear from you, Dragon team. But where are you, Lady Une has not been a fun person to work for since you turned up missing."

"We're partway back from our mission site, but we ran into some problems on our return trip. Sally's been injured and we just need you to send transport."

"Understood Dragon team; do you need medical attention?"

"No just a transport."

"I've locked onto your signal and I'll send Heero Yuy with transport."

"Thank you H.Q."

When Heero landed the chopper the first thing Sally saw was the medical stretcher. Without taking her eyes off it she spoke to her partner, "No stretcher, my own power." She then looked over to Wufei, at her left, to get his reaction.

Wufei looked at her and nodded once before moving closer to her. Sally laid her arm over his shoulders and Wufei reached up and took her left hand in his as he wrapped his right arm around her slender waist to steady her. With Wufei supporting most of her weight she hopped to and into the transport chopper. Once Sally was situated sitting with her back against a wall and her legs laid on the back bench seats, Wufei took the copilot's seat.

When they landed, Wufei took Sally straight to a doctor's office to have her leg examined and set by a professional.

*********

A few weeks later.

A handsome Chinese man made his way through Preventers Hedquaters. As he rounded a corner, he heard his name growled from behind him, "Lin!"

"Wufei, okaeri! I heard you had a few problems getting back. How's Sally doing?"

Wufei didn't respond verbally, just rose his katana.

"Not now buddy, I really don't feel like sparring."

"She will have justice."

Lin took in the clenched jaw, narrowed eyes, razor sharp sword, and Wufei's words and paled about ten shades. "Wu-Wufei, wha-what are you talking about?"

"You raped her! You were her partner! You were there to watch her back! She trusted you and you used that!"

"Wufei, you know me, I wouldn't… Who told you these lies?"

"Sally told me the truth!!! She told me everything you did to her as she lay in my arms crying."

Realizing that there was no way that Wufei was going to take his word over Sally's, Lin knew he had to get away and his one chance to do that was to get Wufei off balance enough to make a run for it. "Your arms eh? She's a good lay isn't she, long legs and all."

Lin had forgotten to watch the gleaming sword in Wufei's hands and paid dearly for it. Wufei brought the blade down and Lin let out a scream that could wake the dead.

Lin was laying on his back in a pool of blood when Lady Une, Noin, and Heero ran to him. Wufei's head was held high as he looked down at him. "Wufei what have you done?" Une demanded.

Wufei just smirked cruelly at Lin, "Made sure he'll never take what's mine again."

A shiver ran through all three of them. Castration could only mean one thing and the answer came quickly to each. The animal laying in his own blood took Sally, the one thing that meant more to Wufei than his own life, from him, probably raped her, and Wufei had found out. Suddenly they couldn't really blame the former Gundam pilot anymore.

As Wufei held the hilt of his sword out to Heero he looked at Une and ordered her, "Sally Po will never be paired with anyone, but me. Understand?"

Slack-jawed, Une nodded dumbly, "Uh-huh."

Satisfied with his answer he turned his back to them and held his hands out behind him waiting to be handcuffed.

Heero looked at Wufei's hands and frowned, "Will you come quietly?"

Wufei realized that his friend was giving him a chance to keep some of his honor intact and took Heero up on it, "You have my word."

Heero nodded, knowing that the Chinese man's word was more binding than any metal could be, and motioned to his car with his head, "Go."

After Wufei was booked at the Preventer jail he made his call to Sally, who came rushing in on crutches. "Wufei are you okay?"

"Yes, of course." There was a hint of surprise in his voice that that would be her first question.

"Why did you do it, you knew you would be caught?"

"I had to know that it was over, that you would be safe from him."

"Wufei that had to be the dumbest thing you have ever done, understandable and deserved, but dumb."

It took weeks just to get a trial date and on the first day of Wufei's trial Sally was rushing to Wufei the second he stepped through the door, unthinking of his reaction. To everyone's surprise Wufei opened his arms and wrapped them tightly around Sally. His left arm circled her waist and his right hand came up the thread its fingers in her hair before cradling her head. At first he closed his eyes then buried his head in Sally's neck then, after a moment looked imploringly at Zechs, who stood and nodded back, promising without words that he would watch over the woman Wufei held in his arms.

Noin and Une, who flanked Zechs, also stood and laid a hand on Zechs shoulder before nodding. They too, promised that they would watch over Sally. With relief Wufei only mouthed, "Thank you."

The trial wasn't as short as they had expected or hoped. For everything the defense proved the prosecution disproved. The prosecution provided witnesses to show Lin's good character and witnesses to show Wufei's complete lack of any. All through it, Wufei and Sally had to deal with the knowledge that Wufei was sitting out of reach in jail while her rapist ran free with only the barrier of a restraining order, a thin piece of paper, to keep Lin away.

As they had promised Zechs, Une, and Noin stayed close, spending most of their time together. Most of the time it would be Zechs that took Sally home after the four of them had had dinner. He would carefully go through her apartment looking for anything amiss as Sally protested that she always had her gun on her and could look after herself and mentally thanked him.

*********

October 13^th A.C. 201.

After weeks of waiting and worrying, the trial was upon them. Sally sat staring blankly at her desk, thinking about Wufei. She pictured him, sitting proudly at the front of the courtroom, awaiting his trial. He was there because of her and that was all she could take. Sally had made up her mind; she was going to him. She was going to end it; the trial, the feelings she’d harbored for him, everything. "No more of this hiding. I’m not going to be afraid anymore," Sally stated resolutely as she stood and marched out of her office.

Walking quickly up to Wufei Sally whispered, "I've had enough, it ends today." She then wrapped a hand around the back of his head and cradled it as she opened her mouth and closed the distance between his lips and her own. When they touched she closed her lips and let them linger for a few seconds before repeating it a few times. With each kiss the tip of Sally's tongue snuck out and lapped the top lip of Wufei's slack jawed mouth. Wufei watched baffled as Sally rushed away. It was obvious to anyone that that had been their first kiss and perhaps his first kiss ever. Wufei's fingertips touched his lips and lingered there before he turned to his lawyer, surprise written all over the Chinese man's face before looking at his fingers and the lipstick on them that he had wiped from his lips. The lipstick was the only evidence Wufei had that the rushed kiss hadn't been another dream.

The courtroom went silent as the doors opened to reveal five women filing in, Sally in the lead. "Your honor it is time for Wufei to get some character witnesses of his own. We are the women who would like to press charges against Sung Lin. Each one of us has been assaulted by Lin. Some harassed others raped and each one of us, was too scared to admit it. There are more out there I'm sure, but I think five counts sexual crimes will do. Rape is something Chang Wufei could never do because it goes against everything he believes in, everything he is." Sally announced.

Wufei gave her a ghost of a smile as he recognized the words as his own, the ones he spoke on the forest floor.

"Six." Came another voice as a brunette stood up.

"Seven."

"Eight."

"Nine."

"Ten."

Slowly women counted off and stood as their boyfriends or husbands stared at them. It was the last voice that shocked the courtroom though, "Eleven." She stood and took a deep shuttering breath, "I'm sorry Sally I should have said something."

"Luk, why didn't you tell me?" Zechs asked his fiancee.

"You have no idea what it's like. What it's like to have everything taken from you. No idea how it feels no idea at all. The embarrassment and guilt."

By the time Noin finished the other five women had joined Sally and the others in the aisle. The judge was an old man and as he looked around the room he saw courage. The faces of the men, blank with shock. The women trembling and looking like they were about to face a firing squad. "You have made your point Miss Po. Now please take your seats again and wait to be called." Sally, who had had her mouth open, ready to argue they should be allowed to speak, closed it and smiled her thanks. She then turned back to sit with Une. With her back to him Sally completely missed seeing Wufei stand and look around the room at the women who were taking their seats again next to their respective men all, but Sally. Sally was about to sit down when Une shook her head and pointed at Wufei who stood looking right at her, raising his hand in offering.

Seeing what Wufei was doing one of the bailiffs threw a glance at the judge, who wasn't looking then hurried over, set an extra chair by Wufei's, and scurried back into place. The judge noticed the movement and seeing what he was doing pointedly turned his head in the opposite direction as if not seeing the breach of protocol. When Sally joined Wufei he pulled her to him in a tight embrace. When he stepped back he then brought their foreheads together and placing his hands on her upper arms he rubbed them hard creating warm friction. When they sat down Wufei made sure to keep one hand on her forearm to remind her that he was there.

One by one the women took the stand and testified to the safety they felt with the stiff, near-sexist Wufei and the uncomfortable feeling they always had with the friendly, likable Lin before that discomfort turned to fear. Sally wasted no time in pointing out that Wufei is a man of honor and a stiff sense of justice. She also pointed out that he disliked women and the weak he couldn't stand by and watch them become prey.

Later that day both parties made their closing statements and sent the jury out.

"We the jury find Chang Wufei guilty of malicious mischief." The juror stopped there although the words, 'No matter how justified.' were written all over their faces. As for the charge of attempted murder, we all agreed that we could find nothing in what any of the witnesses said to substantiate the charge, quite the contrary actually. We the jury also find more than sufficient evidence for the arrest and trial of Sung Lin on eleven counts of sexual crimes including rape."

"Sentencing of Mr. Chang will take place on Tuesday, after the weekend. Court dismissed. Bailiffs, please take Mr. Sung into custody."

As Lin passed by Wufei he stopped to get in a parting shot. Looking a Sally who stood by Wufei, Lin gave her a predatory smile. Sally gasped and took a step back as Wufei sidestepped before her, effectively blocking their line of sight. Wufei was already fighting to stay where he was when Lin spoke to him, "She was good Chang."

"kisama!!!" Wufei lost it and had the two bailiffs not seen trouble coming he would've leapt right on Lin. It was Lin's turn to take a step back when Wufei worked a hand lose and began to throw meaningful glances at his katana which was on the evidence table. Low and dangerous Wufei hissed through a feral smile, "Omae o korosu."

The bailiff still holding Wufei realized what a pitiful struggle Wufei was putting up almost immediately, lots of movement with little resistance. Figuring that Lin deserved the scare tactic he leaned back against the desk behind him and made faces like it was nearly impossible to hold him back. When Lin was rushed to 'safety' the bailiff let go of Wufei and raised his hands to show that while Wufei was still leaning forward and moving as if he were fighting to get free the deadly smile had changed to smug. Before the bailiffs could get a hold of him again Wufei raced around the desk and wrapped his arms tightly around a trembling Sally. Wufei leaned forward and as he whispered he allowed his lips to brush her ear, "Wo ai ni, Sally Po." Leaning back he captured her eyes with his and just stood there.

Tears sprang to Sally's eyes as she froze in shock. His eyes were only echoing his words. The words made it even harder to watch the bailiffs lead Wufei away, forgoing the formality of handcuffs and relying on his honor. She wouldn't see him again until the long weekend was over, four days away. It would be then that he would be sentenced. The courtroom was practically cleared when Noin approached Sally, who was still staring at the door Wufei disappeared through.

"What was that about?" Noin asked bluntly.

Sally turned to look at Noin and blinked a few times her mouth was working, but only soft gasps came out. After another look at the door Sally looked back to Noin, still slack jawed, and shook her head slightly, unable to believe what had just happened. She had no doubt that the admission was true, words like those didn't come easily to the Chinese man's lips, but it was more shock than she was able to handle at the moment.

The four-day weekend gave Sally plenty of time to start to assimilate Wufei's declaration of his love for her. She also knew that if she had been able to get over the shock a little quicker she would have echoed the words to carry his name. Although carrying her gun in the day and keeping it in easy reach at night had become habitual Sally slept better knowing that Lin was in jail.

Tuesday was a nerve-wracking day for all involved in the case. "Chang Wufei, I am of two minds in this case. As a judge I must rule on your crime. As a husband and father of two girls as well as a grandfather of three more girls, I can empathize your position and therefore reluctantly applaud your gall. Lady Une has approached me and insisted that the team of your-self and Miss Po is the best team the Preventers have. The job of the Preventers is to prevent another war like we have just had, hence the name. As their star team you are the best chance the Earth and colonies have. Lady Une has also asked that you be released under her supervision. What this means is that she will be responsible for your actions. Any further charges and sentences she too will be charged with. In an extreme case, if you should be charged with 1^st degree murder and given the death penalty she too will be charged and given the same sentence. It is my belief that the honor every witness spoke of, the one you wrap around yourself like a cloak, will not allow you to let that happen to her. It is the ruling of this court that you be released into Lady Une's supervision. Court adjourned." With the falling of his gavel the nightmare was over.

*********

One week later.

Expecting Wufei to join her for dinner one night, Sally rushed into her apartment to start their meal. No sooner had she cleared the door than she noticed the soft glow from across the room. Two points of light were dancing in the dim light. There was just enough illumination in the room to reveal what the glow was from. In the center of her table were two tall candlesticks. Two chairs were set at opposite ends of the small table and before them was a stunning display of dinnerware. A white china plate sat on top of a larger shining gold plate. Gold silverware sat up in a perfectly folded while napkin set on the plates. Above that were two glasses a plain goblet filled with ice water and beside that an intricately caved crystal wineglass.

Sally was so taken by the site before her she almost missed the movement beside her. Wufei stood silently waiting for her to snap out of her trance, but at the same time immensely pleased by her reaction. When she turned to him any words she had died on her lips. Wufei was standing holding out a single red rose and smiling, "Welcome home." He was dressed in his traditional suit only this one was much more formal. It was black and trimmed with gold. It also had an embroidered golden dragon on the breast. What surprised Sally the most about Wufei was the smile and the fact that he had taken his hair down. They had been partners for five years and she had never once seen him with his hair down. It was longer and thicker than the ponytail lead her to believe and fell a little past his shoulders in waves, crimped by the tight band.

Sally blushed as she took the rose, but felt completely out of place as she was still in her Preventers uniform. "Perhaps you should get dressed for dinner." Wufei suggested. She could only nod dumbly in response before walking lightly to her room. Inside Sally knew exactly what she would wear. She chuckled softly at the empty bud vase filed with water Wufei had sat on her vanity. Walking to her closet Sally pulled out a cheongsam. She had bought it on a whim, but had never worn it, she had yet to remove the tags from the long sleeves. It was a shining jet black with embroidered bright red flowers and true green leaves. After twisting her honey blond hair up in a French twist Sally rejoined Wufei. Sally had never been a woman to go fishing for compliments, but Wufei's silence and slackened jaw as he took in her appearance said more than words ever could about his appreciation.

Setting her hand in Wufei's offered one Wufei lead her to the table where he pulled out her chair and pushed it in after Sally had sat down. Sally was still in shock over what had happened since she unlocked her door. The cashew chicken dinner Wufei made was perfectly cooked and Sally never once thought about teasing him about cooking being 'woman's work'. The seduction scene was perfect and the thought that Wufei had gone to all this trouble where no other man had touched her deeply. Wufei was a man of action not words and this spoke volumes of how he felt about her.

When Wufei stood up to refill Sally's wineglass she just had to say something, "Wufei, this is all so beautiful I…"

Wufei set his fingers gently over her lips and shook his head. Sally smiled behind his fingers and kissed the tips softly. Silently he took her hand and walked over to a clearing and set her right hand on his left shoulder and took her left hand and held it to the side in his right. Sally hadn't even noticed the soft music playing in the background. After a while in his arms Sally rested her head on Wufei's shoulder and nuzzled under his neck.

Wufei took a deep breath and trailed his fingers up her left arm until they could cradle the back of her head. While Wufei did that he was also tightening his arm around Sally's waist and pulling her tightly along the length of his body. Sally looked up and Wufei brushed his lips over hers much like their first kiss.

"I meant what I said in the courtroom." Neither could forget his words, "I have loved you…for a long time." Wufei spoke for the first time in a while and as he did so he slid the comb holding her hair up out and threw it carelessly to the side. He then dipped his head and met Sally's lips again. It didn't take long for him to deepen the kiss as his tongue snaked out and coaxed its way into Sally's mouth before running it along her teeth. It took a moment for Sally to grasp what was happening, but when she did she eagerly returned the embrace and kiss with equal and growing passion. Wufei again broke the kiss only to nibble and lick his way to her neck. Sally then realized that a Mandarin collar wasn't the best thing to be wearing. Wufei remedied this by opening the first two clasps of her dress. This loosened the dress enough to grant him access, but still keep her decent.

"Stay. Stay with me. Stay the night." Sally gasped as she tipped her head back granting him better access.

"Hai." Wufei's lips never left her skin. Wufei smiled wickedly as one hand worked on the clasps of the dress, lips caressing each inch of skin as it was exposed. Sally threw her head back gasping for air and moaning softly. After the dress fell to the floor under its own power Sally guided Wufei back to his feet. As he stood Wufei mentally arched an eyebrow at her choice of underclothes. As partners they had seen each other in their underclothes more than once. She always wore a pair of briefs and a jog bra, now she wore tiny underwear and a matching bra, both black lace. "For me?" he asked, a small feral smile playing across his lips.

Sally blushed and licked her lips, smiling. "Actually, I would really hate to see you in these, they’d be terribly uncomfortable for someone like you…"

Wufei made a face and pulled her against him. "Someone like me? What do you mean?"

Sally felt his arousal pushing against her lower abdomen and her breath caught in her throat. "I… well…"

Wufei chuckled and leaned in to nip at the tight flesh between her collarbone and her neck. "You’re right, they would be uncomfortable right now. Extremely uncomfortable." He sighed and pressed against her again, "In fact it’s because of those… interesting… undergarments that I’m so uncomfortable," he said as he ran his large, warm hand up her side to her breast.

Sally’s breath caught in her throat, memories of Lin’s hands on her coming to her once again. She trembled and moved back slightly.

"What’s wrong, Sally?" Wufei said, perplexed worry written on his handsome face. "Are you alright?"

"I’m sorry, Wufei. I just…" Sally paused, looking away, "I haven’t been with anyone since Lin…"

"Gods, Sally… Forgive me. I wasn’t thinking of…"

"Shhh," Sally said, looking back up into his ebony eyes as she put a finger to his lips. "I didn’t say I don’t want to do this. I did ask you to stay, didn’t I?"

Wufei looked at her, unconvinced. "That’s what you want?"

"No, you’re what I want, Wufei," Sally said, slowly unbuttoning the gold buttons of his black silk jacket.

Wufei groaned deep in his throat as she slid a small, delicate hand inside the garment to his overheated skin. Sally smiled and brought her other hand to caress his cast-iron chest. "Mmmm… Sally…"

Sally leaned in and whispered against his ear, "I want you Wufei, make me yours."

He gazed with unconcealed lust back at her. There, he saw the same look of love and passion reflected in her piercing blue eyes. "Hai," Wufei agreed as he pulled her up into his arms and carried her back to her bedroom. He laid her gently back onto the deep burgundy sheets of her bed and said, "I want you Sally Po; I have for so long."

"Take me Wufei, I am yours," Sally replied, her voice husky and wanting. She pulled him down to her in a kiss that made storybook kisses look weak and mediocre.

Her kiss only served to inflame Wufei more. He needed this woman; he had to possess her the way that she possessed his soul. His hands worked to free her from the confinement of her underwear as she pushed his shirt off.

Soon, the two of them lay skin against skin, in a tangled heap of bronze and ivory. Wufei looked deeply into Sally’s eyes and asked again, "Sally, are you sure?"

Sally let out and exasperated sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, "Hai, Wufei. Make love to me."

That was all the encouragement Wufei needed. He leaned in and penetrated her quickly. Sally threw her head back and moaned. Their bodies rocked against one another, each bringing the other to new heights of ecstasy.

"Oh yes, Wufei! Yes!" Sally screamed as her climax swept over her, making her lose all control she had over her body. Wufei groaned loudly in one, long inarticulate cry as he felt Sally orgasm beneath him. Her cries of release were all he could take as he exploded within her.

The partners collapsed, the aftershocks of their lovemaking still coursing through their veins. Sally turned to Wufei and rolled on top of him, propping herself up with her left hand as she did so. Looking above him Wufei lifted his left hand up and ran his fingers across Sally's pale skin and through honey blond hair. "My God, you're beautiful." Wufei whispered in awe. With her free right hand Sally covered the hand on her cheek and nuzzled into it.

"How long have I loved you?" Sally whispered mostly to herself.

Wufei placed his hand on Sally's bare back, "I knew you were special when I first laid eyes on you, but it was so new to me that I was lost, frightened." He added a little pressure to the hand on her back and she in turn lowered herself to him, laid her chin on the arms she crossed over his powerful chest, and looked up at him.

"Impossible." She teased, "My strong fierce dragon frightened by a mere weak onna?"

With a purring growl Wufei took her shoulders and flipped her over so that he was straddling her hips above her. "Woman, there is nothing weak about you." Wufei's hands were planted on either side of Sally's head and smiling slyly he slowly lowered himself for another kiss.

Unfortunately Sally's vid-phone picked that moment to ring. Pulling back they looked at each other in disappointment. Uncharacteristically Wufei said, "Don't answer it."

Sally threw another glance at it and the caller ID, "No choice, it's Une."

"That woman has the worst timing." With a sighing growl Wufei rolled off her and to the opposite side of the bed as Sally got on her side to shield her bedmate.

Opening the channel Sally forced a yawn, "Morning Lady Une, what can I do for you?"

"I'm looking for Wufei."

Sally paused to pretend to think about it, "Sorry, I can't tell you where he is."

Noin leaned down at join Une's image, "If you two had a lick of sense between you, you'd roll over and wake him up."

"Noin, I…!"

A bronze hand appeared on Sally's shoulder and a familiar voice interrupted her, "No Sally, it's okay." Wufei knew that she wouldn't be ashamed of their relationship and that she was telling half-truths to protect his pride. After gently guiding Sally onto her back as he had been seconds ago he sat up slightly and leaned on an arm. The sheets dropped to his waist showing him bare-chested to Sally's bare shoulders. Sighing he asked, "What's so all fire important?"

Another voice joined the women only softer as if from farther away, "Noin, do I have to put a leash on you? Leave them alone!"

"Do, put a leash on her Zechs. As for further interruptions…Sally and I will be out of communication for the next week so distribute our work out to other teams." With that Wufei allowed them to watch him reach over Sally and his her deeply as a flailing hand struggled to find the correct button to push to cut them off.

Despite being off, one more message came through, written on the screen, "Leashed Noin. Muzzled Both. Take Two Weeks on Us. Have Fun. Zechs."

After they read the message Sally sighed, "Bless that man." She then proceeded to rip the phone line from the wall jack. "But I do hope he'll shut up." Sally pulled Wufei over her again, "Now, where were we?"