[FIC] That Which Mends 45/?
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundam Wing, or its characters. I just love playing with them.
That Which Mends
Part 45
Pairings: 2x1x2, past 2xOC, 5xOC, 3x4
Warnings for Overall Series: Angst, Violence, Sap, Lemons/Limes
New AU
BY: SkyLark
Betaed by ShenLong Deb *hugs*
Archives: http://www.gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com/gw/SkyLark/gwSkyLark.htm and http://www.mizunoamy.bravepages.com/skylark/skylarkfics.html
[And they say that a hero can save us.
I'm not gonna stand here and wait.
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles.
Watch as we all fly away.
-Lyrics to 'Hero' performed by Chad Kroeger featuring Joey Scott
[Flashback]
One of Sally Po's first assignments as the newly enlisted physician of the Preventers was to oversee the progress of Agent Fire's physical therapy. Today, after months of rebuilding weakened muscles and strengthening balance, the redhead's leg braces were coming off.
"That should do it," the braided doctor murmured as she removed the last bolt at the base of her patient's left leg support. Carefully pulling back on the long poles that framed either side of both legs, she set the braces aside and appraised the alignment of the bones that had finally healed.
Biting her lip, Anna experimentally kicked her legs back and forth. In the physician's office doorway, Wufei looked on with the same anticipation he could feel radiating from his girlfriend. Of course, he wasn't about to let on to his nerves lest he risk hovering over her.
Sally kicked her wheeled stool back and climbed to her feet as she urged, "Alright, dear. Take your time getting up and take a few steps forward to test out how much weight you can handle putting on those stems of yours."
Downs nodded and slowly stood under her own power for the first time in many weeks. Feeling a slight wobble in her legs from the full pressure of holding her up without support, she took a deep breath and righted herself.
Once she managed to regain her balance, Fire took one step forward and paused for a breath before taking the next. And every consecutive footfall after that became more sure and steady as her pace picked up until she made a slight stumble just as she was about to reach the door.
Catching her before she completely fell over by wrapping his arms around her waist, Wolf held her upright while she leaned up against him with a brilliant smile on her lips when their eyes met. Relieved beyond belief over the successful attempt, the pair laughed and hugged each other tightly as their eyes misted over.
Slowly nearing them, Po grinned to her charge, "You should expect some unsteadiness along the way at first, but I'm more than happy to sign off that you're fully recovered. And considering where you started, I'm most impressed with how strong you are. Yes, you were very lucky to not have suffered any further damage than what you had. However, you had the hard work of coming back from that."
Cheeks blushing, the weapons expert replied sincerely, "Thank you, Sally." Winking, the doctor squeezed her shoulder and the agents offered their goodbyes to walk out into the hallway.
As soon as they were beyond anyone else's sight, Wufei scooped his partner up and spun her around before he cut off her laughter with a sound kiss. "Come on," he smirked, resting their foreheads together, "we have an engagement party to get ready for."
Their arms linking, the elated pair headed for the elevator without the constant click of the braces that they had heard for months leading up to then.
[End Flashback]
* * * *
The upcoming weekend was a big one for Chang and Downs as it was to be the time of the big move. Standing side-by-side at the his and her sinks in the master bathroom, the Preventers brushed their teeth and fixed their sleep-mussed hair in preparation for another hectic day at the office.
"Still not getting cold feet about tomorrow?" the team leader teased, a lopsided smirk curling his mouth as he peered over at his lover from the corner of his eye.
Having caught his reflection to read his lips, the weapons analyst lowered her toothbrush into its holder and chirped brightly, "Nope. In fact, it's not getting here soon enough if you ask me." She was pulled into a fiery kiss that caught her by surprise momentarily until she got her bearings enough to return the gesture.
When they broke apart and finished changing, they descended to the ground level of the house and were on their way for the door when Wufei's cell phone chimed that a new text had just come in. Since Anna's back was to him, she hadn't heard the notification and continued to head out to the front porch unaware of his reaching into his pocket to turn the device on.
Quickly reading the message that appeared on his screen, Agent Wolf smiled in recognizing the number that belonged to his Downs' father.
'Your family and I will be arriving at the Central Wisconsin Airport at the same time and will be meeting you at Anna's at about 0730, Wufei. See you then.'
Chang quickly typed and fired off the response, 'Sounds great. Safe travels.' Stuffing his cell phone back into his pocket, he continued to hold the grin on his face as he hurried off after his girlfriend and closed up the house behind him.
* * * *
On his second morning of waking up in Duo's arms in the Preventer's apartment, Heero was quickly certain that he could get used to it.
And every morning after for the remainder of that week, he never slept in the guest room.
Sitting at the dining room table for breakfast that Friday, the couple caught up on the scholar's schedule. He had a light class day, opening up his day so he could continue to help where he could in the case.
"I hate digital trails," Duo grumbled as he finished his omelet. "They're tedious and in situations like the one we're dealing with in screening through Sweeney's computer, connecting the pieces to create the whole puzzle we're trying to solve is a pain in the ass."
Perched across from him, Heero shrugged, "We're making some headway. From what Trowa was saying yesterday, he thinks we should finally be able to find out a common factor in what we have to pick out a good lead."
Wiping his mouth after devouring the last piece of his toast, the scholar commented, "To be honest, I haven't had a lot of experience with computers and tech work before working on this mission and so it's still new enough that it's interesting to me."
"I will say you're picking things up fast," Maxwell replied. "Tro's mentioned a couple of times this week that you've made leaps and bounds in deciphering to keep us ahead of what he originally thought the process would take." Raising an eyebrow, he smirked, "So, you sure you're studying for the right profession? We could still use a damned good profiler."
The intern laughed, "Nice try. As far as my improving technical skills, it's just beginner's luck. And no, I'm not becoming a Preventer. How all of you can do what you do on a daily basis is still beyond me. My nerves are getting shot with this investigation as it is."
It was Scythe's turn to shrug as he commented, "After a while, you just kinda get used to the stressful aspects of the job." Swirling around his cup of orange juice and staring down at it, he muttered, "You almost have to get a little numb to survive. Well, that and remember why we do what we do."
Wing tilted his head a bit, inquiring, "Has it ever gotten to you?"
Giving him a half-hearted glare, the braided young man snorted, "This isn't going to turn into a counseling session, is it?" The intern smirked and raised his hands in the air, leaving the floor open to his lover if he so chose to go on.
There was a pause during which Duo chewed on the inside of his cheek in consideration before he sighed, "The cases with kids are always the roughest. We had one particularly bad one not long after Annie and I started that damn near broke the both of us enough that we privately discussed pulling ourselves off the team once the mission was over."
Heero instantly recalled his session with Wufei during which he had first heard of that case. Chang had mentioned how Anna had been burning the candle at both ends by working around the clock as they all had. But the counselor doubted the team leader was aware of how close the weapons expert was to leaving the Preventers behind because of how the situation affected her...
..just as Yuy hadn't expected to hear that his partner had been contemplating the same.
"What made you change your minds?" the scholar heard himself ask quietly.
His violet eyes losing their light as he lost himself to his memories, Maxwell's lips curled up into a wistful smile.
* * * *
[Flashback]
"What the hell is this?!" the plump woman in a shabby nightgown that fell to her knees bellowed as she stepped out onto the front porch of her rundown home in the middle of the night.
Raising a hand to shield her eyes against the glare of flashing red, blue and white lights from the black vehicles that had peeled into onto her lot, her rage erupted when six young agents bearing bulletproof vests poured from their rides with their guns raised at her. "My husband and I cooperated with the police and were cleared!" she shrieked. "You have no right doing this!"
Wufei closed in on her first in long strides as he kept his weapon trained on his target's head. "Where is your husband now?" he growled under his breath when he reached the top of the porch.
Her blue eyes widening, the woman stammered, "H-he's working a late shift."
Snapping his head to the profiler of the team, Chang ordered, "Agent Talon, take over here while the rest of us search the grounds."
Not needing to be told twice, Long scaled the steps as she removed her handcuffs with a low, "Gladly." Locking the suddenly quiet lady's wrists behind her back, the Preventer went through the reading of her rights.
Meanwhile, Agent Wolf told the others, "Agent Scythe and Fire, check out the shed. Night, you stay out here with Talon to make sure no one makes a run for it if Rock and I flush them out from inside."
His pack nodded in agreement and split up as they had been told in the next blink of an eye.
Quatre was right behind Wufei as they charged inside to clear the place room by room while Trowa rushed to the back where he would keep watch and wait for any signs of life or his next order that would come through his earpiece. By the time Barton was gone, Meiran had finished shoving the lady of the house into the back of their van and kept a close eye on the front of the estate.
Meanwhile, Duo and Anna worked off the satellite images they had studied that revealed a small shed hidden amongst the overgrown grass, vines and low hanging branches that flanked the residence. If it hadn't been for those pictures, there would have been no way of knowing that there was another building on the premises.
Using the bright beams of the flashlights that had been snapped onto the top of their pistols, the newest agents carefully stepped over raised tree roots and other snarls throughout their run. Finally, they spotted the outline of the misshapen roof and warped structure that they were searching for.
The windows were boarded off and there was only one clear doorway, making that their point of attack. Exchanging glances for a silent discussion, Scythe and Fire descended quickly upon the shed and each took to one of the two doors.
Maxwell nodded firmly to Downs and in one swift spin that they mirrored, they kicked in the barrier and raised their guns as the braided agent shouted, "Preventers! Freeze!"
The glow of their lights fell on a the tall, lanky man of the household deep inside the building that was draped with chains, shackles and a horrifying variety of tools from saws to bottles of acid.
But what drew the officers' focus was the sniffling three-year-old boy that was locked in their perp's right arm with a pistol pressed against his temple. Off in the furthest corner, six other children of various ages were huddled as close together as they could manage in their chains as their cries and wails were muffled by the gags in their mouths.
"Drop. Your. Gun," Anna demanded in a hiss, her right blue eye narrowing to lock in her mark. "This isn't up for debate, so you better make the right call and quick."
Crooked, yellowed teeth shone in the wake of a vicious smile as the middle-aged man snorted, "And you'd put this little dear in danger by taking a shot at me?" He roughly pulled his prey closer again his chest and dug the barrel of his gun harder against the temple it was already touching.
At the boy's pained yelp, Duo cried, "Last chance, you sick freak! Drop the weapon! Now!" When there was no immediate reaction, he raised his own hands in the air and asked lowly, "You got him, Annie?"
Remaining still as stone for all but her mouth, the redhead deadpanned, "What do you think?"
Grey eyes growing, the captor barked out, "Wait! You wouldn't-!" He was silenced by the blast of a bullet that tore through his brow between his eyes and shot out the back of his head. Blood pouring from the entrance and exit holes, he fell back to collapse lifelessly onto the straw-covered ground.
Lowering her pistol, Anna snarled down at his body, "Yea. I would."
Momentarily gawking at Fire over the impressive shot she had taken, Maxwell snapped back into the present with her and they rushed to the kids.
Dropping to her knees to scoop the youngest of the survivors that had just narrowly escaped with his life, Downs held him close as she soothed softly, "Shh. We've got you now." Whimpering, the boy threw his arms around her neck and buried his face in her shoulder. Biting her quivering lip, the weapons expert fought her own tears as she squeezed him.
"Guys, the second threat has been taken out," Scythe announced into his mouthpiece. Spotting the keys to the shackles around the other kids' necks, he unlocked their binds and removed their gags as he went on, "We have survivors here. Get medical in to look at them asap."
No sooner had the little ones been released did they fall upon Duo to latch onto him while he lowered himself onto his knees. The weeks of searching, following every lead and the losses suffered of those they hadn't gotten to in time along the way, came to a head right then for the new recruit. Trembling as he held onto the rescued youngsters, his relieved tears flowed freely.
~ ~ ~ ~
Back at the nearest police headquarters for the area, the Preventers were treated to witnessing the elated reunions of the parents and the children they had wondered if they would ever see alive again. Each agent, including Lady Une, had a little one attached at their hip the entire time until their families arrived.
"I have no idea how to even begin to thank all of you," one of the emotional mothers breathed as she pulled back from the fierce hug she had given the Commander. Looking to the Preventers standing by, she shook her head in awe. "And you're all so young, yourselves. I'm so sorry any of us ever doubted you when it was announced you were taking over the case."
She was rewarded with five smiles.
Middie cleared her throat and smirked to her crew. "Everyone played a vital part in seeing that this investigation was closed and I'm damned proud of all of them," she said sincerely. "They haven't been together long, but they're already exceeding every expectation I've had when I assembled them."
Clearing his throat, Wufei raised his hand as he commented, "Actually, Agents Scythe and Fire deserve most of the credit. The hours and efforts they put in brought us the most breaks and they kept one of the threats from taking another life tonight."
At that, Meiran, Trowa and Quatre craned their heads around to the newest recruits to grin their silent backing of the sentiment. It was a profound acknowledgment for Duo and Anna as they blinked widely and returned the smiles to their comrades.
Somehow, all of the stresses and fears over the course of the last few weeks evaporated in the wake of their acceptance into the pack. They had their first big, successful case together and managed to bring some innocent lives back home. And by their own 'conversation, when their eyes met, they both knew that they were also where they belonged.
[End Flashback]
* * * *
"I still remember what it was like to see those little faces and to have those kids hugging onto me," Maxwell murmured, still drawn back to that night when everything had changed for him. Shaking his braided head and blinking to focus back on his lover, he shrugged, "We can't save everyone, but the challenges that come with the job are more than worth it when we do rescue the ones we can."
Unable to help the grin that spread across his face, Yuy nodded, "I can definitely see how that's a strong motivator to stay on."
Rising from his seat with his empty glass and plate, he stated, "It was a very lucky thing for those kids that you got to them when you did."
Duo shrugged nonchalantly and followed him into the kitchen where they worked together to clean the dishes without putting a lot of conscious thought into what they were doing as though they were used to the routine. Only when the last piece of silverwear was put away did Heero notice the subtle transitions that they were making as a pair.
As they finished up, Scythe stated, "That mission was the first time any of us got to see Annie in action. I about fell over with how perfect a shot she'd made with a moving target with only a small light beam to set her mark from." He snickered, "Which I almost forgot... you're going to be training with her pretty soon here."
Wing groaned, "Yea. Thanks for reminding me. I'm still not thrilled about having to be armed and potentially using a weapon."
A hand waving in the air, the braided agent assured, "Don't worry about it. Like I've told you, you're in the best possible hands when it comes to who's going to show you the ropes. It's not often someone gets to learn self-defense tactics from one of the best. Besides that, your mentor's a tight friend that'll make sure you're comfortable with everything."
"I suppose I can't argue with that," the counselor sighed reluctantly.
Chuckling deeply, Duo draped an arm around his lover's shoulders and urged, "Come on. Let's just get through today to end the week and take it from there. They must teach you that in psychology, that taking one day at a time advice, right?"
Heero raised an eyebrow, smirking, "Well, you wouldn't know for sure what advice I offer unless you came into my office for a session." He laughed when his partner gave him a half-hearted glare and grinned, "But in this case, I'll take your suggestion since I can't begin training with Anna until next week anyway."
Beaming, the officer gave him a sharp pat on the back with a smiled, "There you go. And I won't even charge you anything for that counsel."
Head shaking in amusement, the intern laughed along with the agent as they separated and headed out to get through whatever the rest of the day had in store for them.
* * * *
"Okay. I just need to calibrate the sensitivity on the computer and you'll be ready to go," Sally murmured more to herself than to her patient after setting in the second of two nearly invisible digital hearing aids. Leaning back, she rolled the stool she was sitting on away from the redhead to come to a stop before the laptop on the adjacent table.
Standing by, Wufei, Quatre and Trowa looked on as Downs kicked her legs from where they fell over the edge of the table she was perched on. "I'm actually going to miss her yelling at us," Rock sniggered. "It was kinda cute." His fiancé nodded with a hummed affirmative.
There was a series of soft beeps that the weapons expert picked up on that she raised her hand to, as she had been instructed. Bowing her head at each gesture, Po typed away at her computer to make what adjustments were needed for the devices in her charge's ears.
Still clicking at the keyboard, the braided doctor peered over her shoulder to inform the Preventers in the doorway, "in just a moment, I'll be using you boys to run a test to see if Anna can hear you from across the room at normal volumes." Meanwhile, the redhead sat, completely oblivious of what she had just said.
At their nods, she focused back on her screen and held her right hand up, "And start saying something.... now."
Diving in first, Trowa asked, "Hey, Anna, would you be my maid of honor at my wedding?"
Her back turning rigid, Downs gasped sharply. Snapping her head the smirking sniper's face, her wide blue eyes misted over and her teammates chuckled deeply. "I take it you heard that," Barton said with a wink one second before he was assaulted by a fierce hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Yes I'd be honored!" the weapons analysis cheered tearfully as she continued to hold onto him. "Thank you so much, Trowa." Pulling her close, Night kissed the top of her head and whispered his own 'thank you' by her ear.
Quatre wiped a stray tear from his cheek as Wufei looked on with a warm smile on his face.
"You're all too much," Sally giggled while she waved at her eyes and sealed up her laptop to seal it in her briefcase and rose to her feet. "Never a dull moment."
When she walked towards her patient, the physician raised a finger in the air as she warned, "lady Une informed me you're going to be draining Heero with handguns. Make sure you're using protective gear to prevent further damage to your eardrums. Those digital aids are good band aids to help you hear at normally, but the damage inside is still there until it mends over these next couple of months before I'll remove the implants."
Saluting smartly, Anna grinned widely, "Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Sally." Po winked and patted the redhead's shoulder as she saw herself out of the room.
Chang closed the distance between himself and his girlfriend to kiss her temple in a rare open display of affection while they were at the office. "Alright, everyone, back to work," he ordered with a sharp clap of his hands.
On their way out of the Downs' room, they found Duo rounding the elevator column at his arrival. "'Morning, lady and germs," he greeted as he fell into the chair of his work station. "Ready for another fun-filled day of slamming our heads on our desks and swearing like sailors at this data deciphering?"
Anna rolled her eyes, snorting, "You mean like every other day this week so far? Sure. Why not?"
Violet eyes widening, Maxwell spun himself around to face her. "Hey, you caught all of that and you're not yelling my head off. I take the implants are working?"
"Yep," Anna giggled as she took to her own desk linked to his. "So now the rest of you can't get away with talking about me right behind my back since I don't need to read lips anymore." Her teammates chuckled as they buried themselves back into their work.
From his station, Wufei couldn't take his eyes the redhead as smiled to himself and shook his head. Glancing over at the clock on his monitor, he sighed and forced himself to tear his eyes away from it for the remainder of the day to make it go faster so that the weekend would finally arrive.
Over by the glass wipe board, Trowa and Quatre were in the middle of comparing their printed notes with the names etched on the display in different colored marker ink to see if any of their new findings had been missed. What was more, for every time a name that was already on the board was seen, a hash mark was added beside it.
It was a new tactic that the Preventers were using in this particular dissecting of information. The more times a name was used on Sweeney's computer, the safer it was to assume their significance in their current case. So far, there were a couple of identities in the lead, but there was also a great deal more files that needed to be looked through.
"This whole thing is becoming one hell of a who's who amongst some of the lowest of creeps," Winner grumbled under his breath while he added on another name to the wipe board in green marker. "I'm starting to recognize a few of these names from old cases we'd worked on."
Barton sifted through his reports, nodding, "Yes, but they're also connected with particularly bad gangs and other covert circles that would make them possible recruits for whoever's behind the case we're on. Just having them mentioned for now doesn't mean they're actually involved until we get enough hits on them."
From his desk, Maxwell's fingers clicked tirelessly against his keyboard as he snorted, "This is why I hate this part of the investigation so damned much. It feels like we're sitting on our hands when we should be knocking some heads in or blowing shit up until we get to the bottom of this."
Chang shrugged, "Yea, but look at it this way- we're also covering a hell of a lot of ground work that we can pass off to the other bureaus to clean up the trouble we're not currently focused on." Gesturing to the board, he stated, "Every one of those bastards up there are going to see the day that they're taken off the street for a very long time."
"I guess," Scythe sighed in reluctant agreement. Much as he hated to admit it, every mission they had been assigned came across snares and walls for them to deal with like this. And every future case they would take on would have the same.
With a small grin, Downs told her former lover, "One day at a time, right, Duo?"
His violet eyes blinking in surprise at hearing his own advice, the braided agent turned his head around to take in his female partner in crime. Their gazes locking, Anna giggled, "As for the knocking heads in, you take care of that and let me handle blowing shit up when the time comes."
Grinning back at her, Scythe nodded firmly, "Deal." her smile growing, the redhead went back to her research.
"Son of a bitch!" Wufei snapped out of the blue, bringing on the attention of all of his teammates. Bolting up out of his chair, the pack leader faced them to inform, "There was a quick glimpse of the last person in the Washington Airport's private hanger just before the security feed went out."
Instantly springing from their posts, the other agents huddled around him to peer over his shoulders to get a good look at the pixelated image displayed on the team leader's screen.
The video was recorded in night vision green and yellows, but there was a very clear face framed by the hood of a thick sweater. The features were blurred, but they were staring right up at the camera that had taken the shot from several feet away and high above.
At the sight of the dark-clad figure with a duffel bag hanging at his side, the Preventers straightened rigidly. "Allah... He's standing right next to the jet that...," Quatre breathed, unable to finish his thought, but knowing that it wasn't necessary.
"Do you think that'll be enough to get a composite so we can get an ID?" Trowa asked Agent Wolf urgently.
Taking a breath, Chang answered, "I don't know. But I'm forwarding it on through the database to be scanned and compared to everything we have to see if we get any matches... Let's all cross our fingers."
A few keystrokes later, the picture was forwarded to be cleaned up sent through their database.
TBC
My most sincere apologies for this delayed update. After a long bout with bronchitis, an insane work schedule and juggling two little ones on top of it all, I finally feel like I am getting my groove back. I do hope to kick back into regular weekly updates going forward.