Eternal Flame

Disclaimer: I don\'t own the G Boys, I just borrow them from time to time and return them a whole lot happier ne? :) I do however own Shane, Paul, Colin, Mickey, Benny, Toby, Fayah and any other unfamiliar characters that crop up. I also own the plot if you can call it that.

Rating: NC 17

Warnings: Sap, angst, OC, Lemon, Lime, abuse, violence, language.

Pairings: 1x2x1, 3x4x3, 5xS, OC x OC and maybe some more... check each part to be sure ;)

Archive: http://gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com
http://sweetlysour.net
http://www.adult-fanfiction.org
http://www.theforsakenwk.com/

Status: Work in progress.

Beta: DBZVelena... *huggles*

Author: ShenLong

Authors notes: *sigh* Well here I am again caving into pressure. I know it has taken a while to get to this and for that I apologize but I could not come up with a plot I deemed worthy enough.... until now. This is yet another sequel... this time to United Hearts. I did promise I would write the wedding for you all and I intend to do that. For those that haven\'t read United or Lost Souls I recommend that you do, otherwise this sequel will not make much sense. All of your favorite characters are back and up to as much mischief as possible.
This is set fourteen months after the end of United and all the children are older now. The Gundam Pilots are all 20yrs, Shane and Fayah are 16, Paul is 15, Colin is 14, Mickey is 12, Benny i 1/2 1/2 and not forgetting that little rascal Toby who is 10.
Thank you to all those who supported me through the writing of United, I hope you enjoy this just as much.


\"Eternal Flame\"

Started April 2003 ShenLong.


Chapter 6

Wufei groaned and blinked. He opened his eyes slowly only to shut them again. \"Someone turn off the sun.\" he muttered. His head felt fuzzy and ached as if a Gundam was tap dancing inside. His throat was full of cotton and his stomach queasy. He rolled over and moaned as the movement sent pain lancing through his head.

\"Good morning Fairy princess.\" a voice chirped from the doorway.

\"Unless you come bearing pain killers and a blindfold I suggest you leave now.\" Wufei replied. Hang on a minute... Fairy princess? Wufei\'s brain logged the information. \"What the heck are you talking about?\" he muttered as he tried to force his eyes to open and accommodate the sunlight without his brain retreating to his feet in shock.

Sally chuckled and approached the bed. She held out her hand on which sat two innocent white tablets. \"Here, take these. They will make you feel better.\" She passed Wufei a glass of water with which to wash the pills down.

Wufei managed to draw himself up into a sort of half sitting half lying position and took the pills wordlessly. He had an idea that somehow he had ended up drunk and was now paying for that misadventure with this unforgiving hangover. He didn\'t question what Sally had given him, he knew whatever it was that Sally deemed it for the best.

\"I take it you don\'t remember much about last night?\" Sally asked as she took the glass back and watched Wufei settled once more into the bed.

\"No I don\'t.\" came the sullen reply. \"All I can remember is being at the club and having a couple of orange juices. We talked and Maxwell danced with Yuy and then...\" his brow crinkled as he fought with his mind that was reluctant to give up its secrets. \"I can\'t remember any more.\"

\"Probably for the best I\'d say.\" Sally gave him a secretive smile.

\"What are you talking about onna?! \" \'Ohh bad move Wufei, don\'t raise your voice above a whisper when suffering with a hangover.\' he thought to himself as he raised a hand to rub his temple.

\"Ohh you will find out soon enough.\" Sally continued cryptically.

Wufei was suddenly aware of one thing. He needed to go to the bathroom... badly. His bladder felt like it was about to explode. \"I need the bathroom.\" he said quietly.

Sally nodded and with a suspicious smirk left his room.

Wufei groaned as he pulled the blanket back and went to swing his legs over the edge of the bed. Something sharp pulled between his cheeks and he halted. Looking down he nearly fainted. Where the hell was his underwear?!! And what in the name of Nataku was this? His fingers plucked at the tiny scrap of pink fabric and the realization dawned on him. He was wearing a tiny thong... and he was... Shaved? His face flushed red but he didn\'t have time to think as his bladder reinforced its need to be emptied and emptied now or he would end up further embarrassing himself.

He managed to stand up without doing further damage to his lower regions and retrieved his bathrobe from the closet. Moments later he was relieving himself. Washing his hands he again wondered just what had happened to his underwear... and the rest of his clothes for that matter.

He returned to the bedroom and dug around in the draw to locate a pair of boxers. He removed the thong, wincing a little as he did so and tossed the scrap of material to the floor in disgust. His stomach lurched as he noticed again the lack of body hair and checked the rest of himself. Save for the hair on his head he was completely hairless. He pulled on the boxers and thought he may as well get dressed and find out just *exactly* what he had been involved in last night. Moving around to the other side of his bed he spotted a pink tutu folded neatly on the bedside chair. A tutu? Wufei groaned. He beg beginning to rue ever agreeing to a bucks night, he had a feeling he was going to regret this even more come Monday and he returned to the office for a couple of days work before the wedding.

Paul looked up fthe the table as Wufei entered the kitchen, aside from the slight pallor to the skin and a hint of darkness under his eyes Wufei didn\'t look too bad. Paul grinned. \"Morning Wufei.\"

Wufei turned to look at Paul and couldn\'t help but notice the slight smirk. \"Good morning Paul. How was your date with Leith?\"

Paul grinned. \"It was fine thanks. We saw a really good movie and then Leith took me fer a soda afta. The best part was watchin yer threaten him with the fairy wand though.\"

Wufei stopped in in his tracks and turned around. \"I beg your pardon?\"

Paul continued to grin. \"Yer don\'t remember does ya?\"

\"Fairy wand? What on earth would I be doing with a fairy wand?\" Wufei looked at Paul with a please explain expression, but then again, given that he had a pink tutu in his room he wasn\'t too sure he really wanted to know.

Sally entered and went to put the kettle on, she caught the tail end of the conversation and smiled. \"Come on Wufei, you can\'t tell me you don\'t remember promising Leith a very interesting death by way of the five pointed star wand now can you?\"

Wufei glared and drew himself upright. He turned to the pair that were teasing him and replied haughtily, \"As amusing as this may seem to both of you I do not recall a great deal of last evenings activities, and judging by the way you are carrying on I don\'t think I want to either.\" Wufei turned and exited the kitchen, the sounds of laughter following him as he went. He had a sudden urge to return to bed and crawl under the covers until this whole ridiculous incident had blown over. Then he could hunt down and dismember a certain braided demon.

~ * ~

Duo stirred slightly as a weight settled over his hip bone. He nuzzled his pillow and let a soft sigh pass between his lips as a warm sensation began to wash over him.

Heero snuggled a little closer to his lover, pressing his hips to the American\'s backside as he draped a hand across Duo\'s hip, fingers brushing lazily across the front of Duo\'s boxers.

Duo\'s mind began to rise slowly from the depths of sleep as his body began to respond to the gentle caresses it was receiving. His hips began to push forward seeking more of the feather touch that teased his groin, inviting it to explore further.

Heero\'s fingers continued to tease, sweeping lightly back and forth as he felt the flesh hardening beneath his ministrations. His own cock was rigid with need and he continued to thrust lazily against Duo\'s cheeks.

Duo raised his mind from the depths of dreams to the pleasant sensation of Heero\'s cock rubbing against his ass and delicious light friction against his own arousal. His eyes opened slowly and a smile played over his lips. He rubbed his hips back against Heero and barely contained the moan that rose in his throat.

\"Morning koi.\" Heero whispered as his lips ghosted over the skin of Duo\'s neck and his hand reached inside the flap of Duo\'s boxers to trace along the firm flesh of his erection.

\"Mmmmm. Morning Heero. I see yer *up* before me.\" Duo snickered softly as he pushed his ass back again.

Heero smiled against the warm skin of Duo\'s neck. \"Hai. You could say that.\" He continued to place feather kisses and the occasional nip to Duo\'s throat while his hand worked on the hardened shaft of Duo\'s cock.

Duo began to roll over and stared into the Prussian depths of his lover and mate. He reached for Heero\'s lips and kissed him. Lips meeting and parting, allowing tongues to explore lazily while fingers continued to roam over the flesh they knew so well.

Heero tugged gently at Duo\'s boxers and Duo lifted slightly to allow Heero to remove them, the silky material slipping easily over his heated skin to be lost amongst the bed clothes. Heero removed his own boxers and moaned as Duo\'s fis brs brushed lightly over the head of his cock, causing the sensitive organ to swell further. He placed his own hand on Duo\'s back and began to stroke the skin, working his way lower until his fingers traced the cleft of the pert rear and dipped between the cheeks to rub lightly over the hidden entrance.

Duo moaned into Heero\'s mouth as his ass was gently caressed. He pushed back a little and wriggled his hips trying to lure that tormenting digit inside. He groaned as the tip of the finger penetrated him and played with the tight muscle, encouraging it to loosen.

Heero\'s hips thrust lazily into the hand that held him as he continued to kiss Duo and work the tip of his finger around the small entrance. His other hand wormed its way under the pillow to find the well used tube and draw it out. He paused in his ministrations for a moment and coated his fingers, all the time fully aware of Duo\'s hand upon his own aching length.

As the slick finger penetrated further this time, so Duo sighed in contentment. He loved the weekend mornings, to lie in their warm bed and just explore the territory of each others bodies. There was no rush to get up and have to go to work, they could just lie in comfort and pleasure each other for as long as they wished. He pushed back on Heero\'s finger attempting to draw it deeper inside while he slipped his own hand from Heero\'s length to gently massage the heavy sac hanging beneath.

Heero slipped a second finger inside and stretched the passage, Duo\'s heat surrounded him and it never ceased to amaze him just how tight and hot the American\'s body always was. He groaned as Duo continued to awaken his own desire and he knew he wasn\'t going to last much longer. Reluctantly he pulled his fingers from the channel and reached for the tube once more only to find that Duo had already snaffled it and was busy squeezing some of the gel into his hand to coat Heero\'s cock.

Duo smiled as he spread the slippery substance over Heero\'s length, once done he turned around and still lying on his side raised his leg to give Heero better access to his body. \"Make love to me Heero.\" he whispered in a husky tone.

Heero needed no second invitation. He slid across the sheets to spoon against Duo\'s back. Taking the base of his cock in his fingers, he guided the head to the waiting opening and slowly pushed forwards. The tip breached the tight hole as Duo\'s body surrendered to his invasion and with a continuous steady pressure he slid deeper inside until his entire length was swallowed. Then he paused for a moment to give Duo time to adjust and to regain control of his own need.

Duo relaxed as he felt the familiar length enter him, regardless of how well Heero prepared him there was always that first stab of burning pain as his ring was stretched but he knew it only lasted a few minutes and the pleasure he received after, more than made up for the initial shock of penetration. He flexed his muscles around the shaft that filled him, enjoying the sensations, and chuckled at the gasp that Heero let slip as the muscles tightened around his cock.

Heero felt the passage tighten around him and clenched his eyes shut as he continued to try to control his body. All he wanted to do was pound into Duo, he could never get enough of his koi and was ever grateful he had managed to find the man and bring him back all those years ago. Taking the wriggle of Duo\'s hips as he cue he began his withdrawal only to plunge deep once again.

Duo tried to meet Heero\'s thrusts with his own, which wasn\'t easy given his current position. He did manage some movement though and whimpered as Heero thrust deep to connect with his sweet spot. Lights burst in his head as the pleasure built and he wildly fisted the sheets as he craved more of the touch that sent him spiraling higher and higher.

Heero reached around to tease one of Duo\'s nipples as he established a rhythm, each roll of his hips sending delicious friction along the length of his aching shaft. Duo\'s insides molded perfectly around him, the hot moistness caressed him and the muscle spasmed from time to time to add to his torment. A light sheen of sweat broke over his skin as he continued his advance and retreat. He reached forwards and began to kiss along the shoulder of creamy skin that shuddered with pleasure under his treatment.

Duo\'s mind was in heaven, his body on fire with sensation and his hormones in hell with the torment. He ached for Heero\'s hand to touch him where he wanted it most and yet he longed for the torture to continue as long as possible. He mewled in delight as the head of Heero\'s cock brushed his prostate again and he felt the tide rise a little further.

Heero left the stiff pink nipples and circled lower over Duo\'s abdomen, the muscles shivering under his touch as he sought out Duo\'s straining manhood. He skimmed over the weeping head, spreading the droplets to ease the passage of his hand over the silky hardness.

\"Ohhh Heero...\" Duo murmured. \"That\'s it baby, touch me.\"

Heero\'s thrusts sped up, his own inevitable climax drawing closer and he wanted to take Duo over the edge with him. His hand tightened into a fist around Duo\'s cock and he began to pump the shaft innestnest.

Duo\'s vision began to blur as the fire consumed him. Sweat ran off his skin as the flush spread throughout his system. His hips pushed of their own violation, impaling himself deeper on the shaft that speared him and then into the tunnel that owned him. With a keening cry he felt the hot sticky fluid pulse from his tip to coat Heero\'s hand, his own length, stomach, and drip onto the sheets below. His muscles clamped down hard on the shaft penetrating him and he was vaguely aware of Heero\'s soft cries as he too found his release.

With Duo\'s orgasm and the resulting spasms of his body around his throbbing length, Heero fell over the edge to join his partner in nirvana. His seed spurted from his cock to flood Duo\'s passage as Heero slumped against his partners back, body twitching as he rode the last of the euphoria. Several minutes later he found enough strength to pull back and gently slide from Duo\'s warmth.

Duo whimpered as he felt Heero leave his body, the warm fluid leaking out of his rear to trail down his thigh. This was the worst part of making love, when they pulled apart, their intimate join severed. It always left Duo bereft for a while and Heero, knowing this, cuddled Duo close to his chest and placed tender kisses to his skin.

\"Mmmm nice Hee-chan.\" Duo murmured.

\"Ai shiteru Duo.\"

\"Loves yer too Heero.\" Duo replied as he rolled over once more to partake of a kiss.

They lay entwined in each others arms for a while, still feeling warm with the afterglow and reluctant to break the intimacy they shared. With a sigh Heero pulled away. \"Better get showered.\" he said as he sat on the edge of the bed and gazed back fondly at his koi.

\"Yeah.\" Duo sighed and stretched. He slipped from the other side and walked in all his naked glory to the bathroom door, opened it and stepped inside. He tossed Heero a look and asked, \"Yer coming Heero?\"

\"Already did that.\" Heero replied with a smirk but stood to follow the long haired man into the bathroom.

Duo laughed. \"Always knew yer had a sense of humor in there somewhere Yuy.\"

~ * ~

\"So how did the Bucks night go?\" Toby asked as he sprinkled sugar over his cornflakes.

\"Very well.\" Trowa replied as he spread strawberry jam over his toast and then looked up as Quatre entered the dining room. He tried hard to hold the smile but failed.

Toby and Benny both picked up on the smile and gave each other a knowing look as they turned to gaze at their other adopted father.

Quatre sat down at the table. \"Would you care for some eggs sir?\" Kent asked.

Quatre closed his eyes briefly and swallowed. His skin had a rather pale look about it and if Toby and Benny were correct there was a greenish tinge there as well. \"No thank you Kent. Just some coffee please.... black.\"

\"Are you sure sir? I mean coffee? You usually take tea.\"

\"I\'m sure Kent. Coffee will be fine and no I am not hungry at the moment.\" Quatre sighed as he tried to stop his eyeballs from leaving their sockets.

\"Very well sir.\" Kent went to fetch the coffee and returned moments later with the steaming cup in hand. \"There you are sir. Will there be anything else?\"

\"You wouldn\'t by chance have a dozen strong pain killers and the number of the truck that ran over me would you?\" Quatre said as he led led the cup in his hands.

Kent\'s brow furrowed. \"Pardon sir?\"

\"Don\'t worry about it Kent.\" Trowa said, his lips curved into an amused smile. \"Mr Winner over indulged a little last night.\"

\"Ah. I see sir.\" Kent smiled and left the room only to return a few moments later and place two white tablets by Quatre\'s empty plate. \"Pain killers sir.\" he said quietly and left again.

\"Yer feeling all right Quatre?\" Benny snickered.

\"Yer looks like hell.\" Toby offered.

\"Language Toby.\" Quatre reprimanded as he swallowed the tablets. \"I have a bit of a headache Benny, that\'s all.\"

\"So the night was okay then?\" Benny asked as he scraped his spoon around his bowl.

Quatre winced a little at the noise. \"I think so.\"

Both Benny and Toby looked at the Arabian, confusion on their faces.

\"It was a most pleasant evening.\" Trowa said as he wiped his mouth on his napkin. \"We all had some drinks and shared old times.\"

\"Why do I keep remembering the color pink?\" Quatre asked, his brows knitted in confusion.

Trowa placed an hand on his arm. \"I\'m sure it will all come back to you.\" he said soothingly.

Benny and Toby snickered to each other. They were sure they would find out all the details later when they were next in touch with Paul. \"We\'s finished. Can we go out ta play now?\" Toby asked as he swung his feet under the table.

\"Yes you may, but let now now where you\'re going first.\" Trowa answered.

\"We thoughts we would go over ta see Mickey and Colin an have a game of footy wiv \'em.\" Benny said as he folded up his napkin.

\"Just don\'t go making a nuisance of yourselves and be back for lunch okay.\"

\"We will and we promises ta behave.\" Toby said as he got down from the table.

\"Clean your teeth before you go.\" Quatre added as the two small boys exited the room in a flurry of energy.

\"We will!\" The laughter echoed back as they disappeared.

Quatre slumped and cradled his head in his hands. \"Please remind me again why I don\'t drink.\" he moaned.

Trowa chuckled. \"I tried to warn you but you didn\'t want to listen. At least you didn\'t have as much as Wufei.\"

\"Wufei drank?\" Quatre\'s eyes stared at Trowa through his fingers.

\"Let\'s just say that Duo bought him a few not so innocent orange juices.\"

Quatre snickered. \"Oh my.\" Then he upriupright and uncovered his face. \"Just what did we do to him last night?\"

Trowa took a sip from his own coffee cup and thought for a moment. \"You remember your pink tutu?\"

\"We didn\'t?\"

\"We did.\"

\"Anything else I should know before I contact my lawyers?\"

\"We left him in the city.... handcuffed.\"

\"Where?\"

\"To the railings outside the courthouse. With a wand and a tiara.\"

\"Oh shit.\"

Trowa returned to his coffee while Quatre buried his head in his hands. Trowa looked up a moment later to see Quatre\'s shoulders shaking slightly. Concerned, he placed a hand on his loves shoulder. \"Are you okay?\"

Quatre raised his head, his face was split into a wide grin. \"I wish I could remember what he looked like.\" he snickered.

\"Heero took pictures.\"

\"Oh my.\"

~ * ~

It was Monday morning when Duo bounced into the office he shared with Heero and draped himself over his lovers shoulders. \"What\'cha doing Hee-chan?\"

Heero quickly finished off his typing and closed the window on the computer. \"Hn. Nothing much.\" he replied with a mysterious smirk.

\"Oh?\"

\"Let\'s go grab some coffee.\"

The pair went to the staff room for morning tea, the usual group of officers were there and they shared idle chit chat, discussing their various weekends when the air was split by the force of the door opening and a loud yell.

\"MAXWELL!!!\"

Duo whi aro around to see Wufei poised in the doorway, his face looked like thunder. \"What Wuffie?\" Duo asked innocently. He hadn\'t seen their companion since the bucks night.

\"Don\'t give me the innocent expression. You know damn well what you\'ve done.\"

\"Look Wuffles, if yer still pissed over the other night It was all a bit of harmless fun, I mean everyone goes through a bit of embarrassment on their bucks night, it\'s traditional.\"

Wufei placed his hands on his hips and glared. Most of the other officers in the room slunk out while they still had the chance, they saw enough carnage in their day to day job without needing to witness it in the lunch room as well.

\"I\'m not talking about the bucks night, although that was bad enough being tricked into getting drunk and then what you did to me.\" Wufei\'s eyes glittered. \"I will pay you back for that, trust me. But I thought even you had enough honor to keep that incident between just us.\"

Duo swallowed. \"I dunno what yer talking about Wuffie, I ain\'t told anyone else about it... well I might have slipped a couple of times but I swear... Oh shit!\" Duo dodged as Wufei launched himself to attack. Duo slipped past and ducked under the table, Wufei landed and spun around. Seeing the braid disappearing under the table he gave chase.

\"Come back here Maxwell and take your punishment like a man.\"

\"No way Wuffie, I might be crazy but I ain\'t insane.\uo euo emerged from the opposite side of the table and dived behind the water cooler.

Wufei followed. \"I though you would have kept this to yourself.\"

\"I did.\" Duo yelped as he did a round of the coffee machine sprinted across to the \'fridge and then leaping over a couple of chairs just managed to avoid capture.

\"Then why does the entire Preventer building have a picture of my humiliation in their in-box?\" Wufei roared as he hurdled the chairs.

\"Huh? Ooof.\" The air shot out of Duo\'s lungs as Wufei barreled into him and knocked him to the ground. \"I swear Wuffie, I didn\'t do it.\" Duo yelled as he tried to evade Wufei\'s hands in their attempt to pin him to the floor.

\"Don\'t bullshit me Maxwell. It\'s just the sort of stunt you would pull!\" Wufei snarled.

\"I didn\'t, yer gotta believe me, I didn\'t have any pictures... Heero was the.... Oh fuck. Heero?\" Duo stopped struggling and whipped his head around to look for his partner. Heero still sat at the table a small smirk on his face. \"So that\'s what yer was doing yer sneaky rat.\" Duo sniggered.

Wufei also stilled and turned to face the Japanese Preventer. \"Yuy?\"

Heero nodded.

\"You were the one that sent those pictures?\"

Heero nodded again.

In a flash Wufei was up off Duo and aiming for Heero but Heero was long gone, just the trail of his laughter as he disappeared down the hallway. Duo picked himself up off the floor and dusted himself off. A grin spread over his face. \"Heero.\" he said out aloud. \"Who would have thought yer had it in yer? I\'m proud of yer koi.\" Duo punched the air as he went back to his office to check out the picture that Heero had scanned into the computer system and distributed to each terminal in the entire Preventer office.

~ * ~

Shand waited impatiently. He looked at his watch again, the tiny hands glowing fluorescent green in the darkness. His contact was late. He rubbed his arms and then drew his jacket around himself a little tighter. A noise to his right made him jump and he cursed under his breath as an owl hooted. \"Gotta calm down. I\'m getting too old for this shit.\" he muttered to himself. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a packet of cigarettes and withdrew one. He dropped the packet back into his pocket and grabbed his lighter. The small unit flared and the end of the cigarette glowed as the tobacco ignited. Shand exhaled. The smoke spiraled upwards to be lost in the night sky.

The distant sweep of headlights drew his attention back to the track he had traversed not fifteen minutes ago and he took another long drag of the cigarette, the nicotine flooding his system and calming his nerves a little. He watched in silence as the sounds of the nocturnal creatures stilled to be replaced with the low hum of the vehicle. The car pulled closer and the ts dts dimmed as the vehicle slid to a stop.

Shand blinked as the lights went out and the area was reduced to darkness once again. It took a few moments for his eyes to adjust to the dimness, the moonlight being the only form of illumination. He raised the filter to his lips and took one last pull before dropping the finished butt to the ground and crushing it under his heel. He turned his attention back to the figure that had stepped out of the car and approached him.

\"You got the chips?\"

Shand fumbled in his coat pocket and withdrew a small package. \"Yeah but this is the last lot. Heats getting too much and the bosses are starting to get suspicious.\" He handed over the package and waited while the other man explored the contents.

\"You\'re five short.\"

\"Can\'t help it. Like I said, the big boss is making inquiries. That\'s all I could get so take it or leave it.\" Shand shifted uncomfortably. He really needed to stop this shit. Subconsciously his fingers went for the pack of cigarettes again.

\"The contract was for fifty chips in total. You have only delivered forty five. Not good enough.\"

Shand shrugged his shoulders. \"I really don\'t care mate. Look just tell your boss I\'m sorry but I can\'t get anymore. It aint worth the risk.\" His fingers shook as they placed the cigarette between his lips and attempted to light it.

\"Smoking is bad for your health.\" The voice was deadly calm.

\"Like I give a fuck.\" Shand drew back and inhaled deeply. \"Where\'s the payment?\"

Fielding pulled out a wad of credits and handed them over. \"The boss isn\'t going to be happy.\"

\"Tell your boss to take a hike. I aint getting anymore.ShanShand pocketed the credits and turned around. He walked back towards his car. He\'d had enough. He would go into work tomorrow and put in his notice, then take a long break, somewhere remote. L1 sounded nice, he hadn\'t been there before. Suddenly he stumbled forwards as a searing pain pierced his chest. He gasped and clutched wildly at his breast as he fell to the ground, the air bubbling with his blood as it rushed from his lungs. He went to raise his hands and noticed they were covered in blood... his blood. He looked to his chest where a neat hole now sat, crowned by an increasing circle of red. A rustle to his left and the figure of Fielding came into his line of sight.

Fielding pulled the small gun from his pocket and checked the silencer. He aimed and pulled the trigger. There was a small sound as the bullet departed and attached itself to its target, passing neatly through and continuing on out the other side to lodge in the trunk of a tree. The body fell to the ground and Fielding approached with caution. He gazed down at the dying man.

\"Why?\" The question was wheezed out through blood and mucus.

\"You were five short.\" Fielding stooped and reached into the pocket of his victim, removing the credits as well as the packet of cigarettes. He went back to his car and opened the boot. Taking out a small container he returned to his victim and proceeded to pour the contents of the container over Shand. Shand was helpless to do anything as his life blood seeped slowly from his body. He smelt petrol.

Fielding returned the empty container to the boot of his car and then sauntered back to Shand. Shaking the packet of cigarettes he removed one and lit it up. \"I told you these would kill you.\" he said quietly as he drew in a lungful of smoke, only to exhale it a moment later.

\"Please... no...\" Shand\'s glazed eyes begged for the garbled words to be understood and the small mercy granted him.

Fielding sneered and began to walk away, Shand felt a momentary wash of relief which was suddenly replaced with terror as Fielding stopped and flicked the cigarette butt at him. \"No one short changes the boss.\"

The butt connected with Shand\'s trouser leg, instantly the petrol caught fire and engulfed the man. Fielding laughed as he slid into the drivers seat and turned the key. He drove off as the screams died in the distance.

~ * ~

Leith picked up the phone and dialed Paul\'s number. He listened patiently to the tone while he waited for someone to pick up. After five rings the screen flickered into life and he recognized Wufei\'s face. \"Good evening Wufei. May I speak with Paul please?\"

Wufei grunted. \"I\'ll see if I can locate him for you.\"

\"Thank you, oh and it\'s good to see you back in normal clothes again.\" Leith couldn\'t help the jibe.

Wufei\'s form stilled for a moment and then he turned back to the screen. He lowered his voice as his eyes darted from side to side. \"I ... I wish to apologize for my standard of attire and my behavior towards you the other night.\" he began.

Leith stilled his apology though. \"It\'s okay Wufei. I understand you weren\'t exactly yourself so no hard feelings. I must say though, it\'s the first time I have ever been threatened by a fairy complete with wand.\"

Wufei\'s cheeks reddened a little but he managed a curt nod before going in search of his adopted son. Leith couldn\'t help the smile, from what he knew of Wufei it had taken a lot for the proud man to admit to his past state and so he decided not to torment him anymore, besides if he wanted to continue to date Paul it wasn\'t a good idea to piss off the parents.

Paul bounded up to the vid phone, a grin on his handsome face. \"Hey Leith.\" he said softly.

\"Hey yourself, beautiful.\" Leith smiled as he took in the sight of the boy that had captured his heart.

Paul blushed at the compliment. \"How was yer day?\"

\"Busy as usual. Is there any chance I can see you before the wedding?\" Leith had thoroughly enjoyed his date with Paul and had been unable to see the teen since due to both Paul\'s and his own commitments.

Paul\'s face dropped a little. \"I\'m afraid I ain\'t allowed out on school nights Leith.\"

\"That\'s okay. What about Friday? I know it\'s the night before the wedding and all but we don\'t have to go out anywhere, we can stay at your place and I\'ll bring over some discs to watch.\" Leith\'s eyes begged Paul to say yes.

\"I can\'t see why not but I\'ll hafta check first.\" Paul replied and disappeared to locate Wufei and Sally. Moments later he returned. \"They said it\'s okay but yer can\'t stay too late. Wufei will be going ta Duo\'s ta stay, somethin about traditions again.\" Paul rolled his eyes. He was really fed up with this whole wedding business. Frankly, he couldn\'t see the reason to have such a *show.* What did it really matter all this pomp and ceremony when the end result was still the same?

Leith laughed. \"I know what you\'re saying, tradition seems to stick with most people. It\'s cool though. I\'ll come over around seven and bring pizza.\"

\"Great!\" Paul enthused. They talked for a little while longer and when the call was severed Paul found himself deliciously happy. With a smile on his face he went back to his room and attacked his homework with a vengeance. He wanted to have it all finished, including the assignment before Friday so as he could spend all his time with Leith.

~ * ~

Leith shoved another slice of toast into his mouth as he tried to force his boots on. He was running late. He looked up as his father entered the tiny kitchen.

\"Late again Leith?\" Bob Martins chastised his son as he made himself a cup of coffee.

\"Alarm didn\'t go off.\" Leith muttered around his toast. He forgot to add that he hadn\'t turned it on. He swallowed the last crust and dived into the \'fridge to retrieve his lunch. \"I\'m going out tonight dad so don\'t bother with tea for me okay?\"

Bob turned around and placed his mug on the table. \"Okay son. Don\'t be too late home. I might stay back a bit tonight and catch up on some paperwork.\"

\"Okay dad. I\'ll be quiet when I come in. Oh, I won\'t be here tomorrow either, I gotta drive one of the Limo\'s, Fred\'s sick and there\'s a wedding booked.\" Leith paused at the door, he wasn\'t sure if his sometimes *absent minded* father had heard him or not.

\"Right.\" Bob continued to rifle through his briefcase, part of his mind on what his son had said but not really comprehending it.

Leith grinned. \"I think I might go dancing naked down main street tomorrow night and see if I can get arrested.\"

\"Okay Leith, just be careful then.\"

Leith shook his head and snickered. Fathers... gotta love them. \"See you later dad.\" and Leith exited the house. He climbed into his car and buckled up as he turned the key and allowed the engine to warm slightly before slipping in the clutch and engaging the gears. As he drove to his job he thought about his father and smiled fondly. His dad was always so caught up in his work that at times it was a miracle that he even remembered he had a son. But Leith d hid his father deeply. His mother had been killed during the wars and Leith\'s father had been away, fighting for the peace, so Leith believed. No one had really told him where his father had been during the war and at the time Leith had been too young to understand much of what was going on. When his mother had been killed he had been placed in temporary foster care until the end of the wars and his father had come to claim him. With the war over and his dad back it didn\'t seem important to know where he had been or what he had been doing. Leith was just happy to have one parent to look after him.

They had settled into a comfortable arrangement. With all the cleaning up to be done after the wars, not to mention the need for new programming, Bob Martins\' skills had been in demand. He took a job with a large company and enrolled Leith in school. Leith was used to looking after himself which was just as well, because while his father may have been a genius with his chosen profession, he was sadly lacking in parental skills. Leith had no doubts that his dad would have starved had Leith not been there to make sure he at least ate dinner. With the thoughts of his father and his quirks still in his head Leith arrived at work and parked his car. He jogged into the workshop and reached for his timecard to clock on. He was lucky, he made it with a minute to spare.

~ * ~

The curl of smoke that rose from the chair was the only indication that someone was in the room. The intercom beeped and the chair swiveled, a hand reaching out to press the button. \"Yes?\"

\"Mr Davis to see you sir.\"

\"Send him in.\"

\"Yes sir.\"

The large doors opened and a figure entered, crossing the space to stand on the other side of the large mahogany desk. The chair pushed back a little as the occupant reached for the ashtray and crushed the glowing stub out. \"Tonight.\"

\"As we planned?\"

\"Yes.\"

\"It will be done.\"

\"Davis?\"

\"Yes sir?\"

\"No witnesses.\"

\"Yes sir.\"

\"Report back to me when you have him.\"

\"Is that all sir?\"

\"Yes.\"

Mark Davis turned and exited the room. Roland Grant leaned back into his chair and steepled his fingers under his chin as he thought. Tonight they would pick up the last piece of their puzzle and then there would be no stopping them. A wry smile crossed his lips as he pondered that thought. He might be five short but that was no bother, he could get by with mock ups. He stood and pushed the intercom.

\"Yes sir?\"

\"I\'m leaving for the day.\"

\"Yes sir.\"

Grant retrieved his jacket and exited the building.

~ * ~

Bob Martins rubbed a hand across his forehead as he dropped the last sheet into the out tray and sighed. He hated the paperwork side of things, he was far happier tinkering around with the computer and creating new programs but unfortunately it was a necessary evil. He glanced at the clock. Nine forty five. Now what was it that Leith had said? Oh yes, he was going out on a date. Picking up his briefcase Martins slipped the paperwork he needed inside and decided to stop off at a diner on the way home. If he ate now he could spend all his time at home working on this new program he was developing.

He caught the elevator to the ground floor and nodded to the security guard on his way out. \"Evening Farley.\"

\"Good evening Mr Martins. Working late again?\"

\"All finished thanks.\"

\"You have a good evening sir.\"

\"You too Farley.\"

Martins left the building and walked along the street. He turned left to walk down the ramp to the undercover parking area and reached his car. He fisin hin his pocket for his keys and was inserting the key into the lock when a pair of strong arms caught him from behind. His briefcase dropped to the floor in the ensuing scuffle and Bob Martins found himself pushed face first against his car, one arm twisted painfully up his back while a cloth was held over his mouth and nose. His last coherent thought before blackness invaded his mind was that Leith had mentioned something about going naked down the main street.

~ oOo ~

tbc......