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Nightmares
by Marie
~07/19/01~
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Author's Notes: First things first, the title is a working title
and is subject to change. This is also a Sally and Wufei fic I
started writing before my fic "Twilight"... and the
difference is is I meant this one to have a little tiny bit of
romance in it. However I don't know if it will get there or not.
^_~
I also tried to do my homework with this fic! (i.e. actually watch ALL of the series first. *grins*) However this was written without knowledge of the events portrayed in the Preventer 5 short in the Episode Zero official manga nor anything that comes after. ^_^ I wrote it to take place after the events in Endless Waltz...
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Part 1
Sometime during AC 198...
The terrorist activity had been rather active during the last few months; but on this particular day the number of terrorist attacks and incidents had reached an all time high. The Preventer named Sally Po rubbed her forehead wearily as yet another printed message came through the machine, picking it up and glancing over the information much more slowly than she usually did. She was exhausted, and that caused the words that reported the details of the wheres, whats and hows of the attack to fade into gibberish if she tried to read it too fast.
She put the paper down with a sigh, rubbing her temples in a slow circular motion. It was way past the time that both her and her work partner Chang Wufei should have been heading home for the night... Wufei especially. She knew for a fact that her young partner was tired and agitated and more than a bit irritated. And an irritated Wufei was very much like a ticking time bomb, ready to go off at any second...
"Why don't you watch what you're doing!!"
Like that. Sally winced and shut her eyes as she heard the strong voice of her work partner carry clear across the room to her. As far as she could tell from the stuttered apologies she could hear, he was chewing out the offices' relatively new secretary, and *she* sounded like she was absolutely terrified. Which only seemed to irritate him more. His voice rose in volume, causing Sally to wince yet again.
She glanced up from her desk, watching as a fast agitated hand motion from Wufei caught the papers and computer pads in her arms, causing them to go flying. The young girl went after them, her cheeks flushed. She was still sprewing out apologies as she knelt to gather her armful, which only caused her younger partner to cock his jaw upwards arrogantly. Sally just knew another string of insults were about to issue forth from his mouth when she stood abruptly. It was definitely time to stop him before the whole situation got more than out of hand.
"Wufei," She called out casually, walking across the room towards him. He stiffened at her approach, but snapped his mouth shut, saving the flustered secretary from any more abuse. Sally reached him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's been a long day and it's late. Why don't you head home for the night?" she suggested gently.
Wufei gritted his teeth, shrugging off her hand. "I am fine."
Sally was silent for a moment as the secretary finished gathering up her arm full and stood unsteadily. Sally nodded at her. "You may go home now Reyes. We'll see you tomorrow."
Absolute relief shone in the girl's eyes as she fled from the room.
Sally waited until she was gone before she continued. "It wasn't a suggestion." She returned. The tone of her voice indicated that there was no room for protest or argument.
Wufei turned, and flashing dark eyes met hers for an instant before Wufei looked away. His shoulder slumped forwards slightly, defeatedly.
"I'll go." He muttered. Sally watched silently as the boy trekked over to his workspace, closing his computer forcefully, shoving a stack of papers away with quick efficiency. He didn't look at her at all as he walked by her again, grabbing his Preventer's jacket before heading out the door.
Sally sighed.
~~~
Popping back the Tylenol, Sally grimaced, sighing as she inspected the shower curtain with bland disinterest. She was so tired that even the small task which was usually a pleasure of taking a shower seemed like a struggle. She just really wanted to curl up *anywhere* and sleep. Ah well. Muttering slightly she slumped lazily against the wall, reaching down to begin unbuttoning her top.
A faint cry from another room caught her ears, stopping her. She paused, looking up.
Wufei.
Her hands dropped, her head lolling forward slightly. Not again...
Wufei had nightmares every once and a while, as she was sure most of the ex - Gundam pilots did. However Wufei's nightmares were becoming more consistent lately, and she was becoming a little bit worried. Though perhaps it had only been because of the increased stress at work... and the constant rebel activity presently...
Pushing off from the bathroom counter she tread lightly down the hall towards his room.
"Wufei?" she questioned softly, knocking quietly at his closed door. When no sound came except for the occasional groan or rustle of an 18 year old boy who was caught in the throes of a nightmare, she cautiously opened the door and slipped inside his room.
He was laying how he usually did, out on his back, but in his struggles the sheets which usually resided tucked neatly under his arms has slipped to around his mid-waist, his shirt bunched at points about his upper body. As she watched he jerked his head to the side again, face bathed in a light sheen of sweat, bit of his loose hair sticking to his forehead and cheek.
Sally sighed. Ignoring the fact that her own head was pounding and all her body seemed to want to do was shut down, she stepped forward carefully. "Wufei," she whispered soothingly, approaching the bed. "Hey... It's okay, all right? There's nothing here, Wufei, nothing to worry about..." She didn't wake him when she spoke but for some reason just the sound of her voice seemed to calm him. It was a familiar routine... one that Wufei didn't know about, nor did she intend to let him know about in extensive detail. The once or twice he *had* waken up, she had quickly explained away her nocturnal visit as concern and beat a hasty retreat.
Reaching down, she gently pulled the sheets back up to around his chest, continuing to speak softly as she did so. Slowly Wufei's face cleared, the furrow quickly disappearing from between his worried brows. She smiled slightly, patting the sheets into place...
And then he gasped. Startled, Sally jerked her head up to look at his face, causing a small land mine to erupt between her temples at the same time. She winced slightly, and stared. Wufei was still fast asleep but he was... crying? *That* wasn't something that Sally was used to. A little bit surprised, she reached out and carefully touched a damp cheek. A choked sob met her efforts. And another. And another.
"Ah, Wufei..." This is going to take longer than I thought... Giving up, Sally untucked the sheets again and lifted them, slipping carefully into the bed next to him. If he wakes up I'll just tell him that it's my house I can do what I want... or somethin'... she rationalized wearily. In the meantime she drew the sweat soaked form to her. He didn't resist... and actually began to calm once again, so she took that at a good sign. "Hey, it's okay..." she continued, yawning, stroking his cheek gently as a few last tremors coursed through his slender frame. "Everything's gonna be..." she yawned again, making the infernal mistake of closing her eyes.
~~~