Falling Apart

Wufei downed his fifth cup of coffee and looked back to the computer screen. He'd read the report three times already and still had no clue what it said. A slight pressure behind his right eye brought his hand up to rub at his temple in a vain attempt to lessen the pulsing pain.

“Headache?”

He jumped and looked to the side. “You scared me to death.”

Heero raised an eyebrow. “You're slipping. I figured you knew I was here.”

Wufei pressed his lips to fine line and looked back to the computer, slightly agitated with himself. He should have known Heero was there. “Didn't get much sleep last night.”

Heero moved into the cubicle and leaned his hip to the desk, folding his arms over his chest. From what he could see, Wufei hadn't had much sleep in weeks. “Maybe you need a vacation.”

He grunted. “Duo's back tonight.”

Heero sighed internally and allowed the change in topic. In the seven years since the Mariemaia incident, they'd all changed. Heero's stern focus had softened and smiles weren't uncommon for him as he'd learned the value of friendship. Trowa's perfect control over his emotions had lessened as he'd learned to open up to the others. Duo's smiles had become more genuine. Heero wasn't sure that Quatre had changed as he'd never worn a mask like the others had. Wufei hadn't changed too much, either. What you saw was what you got with the Chinese Preventer. He still held to his sense of justice, but he was no longer confused as to how to wield it.

Heero pushed his assessments aside. “How'd the mission go?'

Wufei scanned the last paragraph of the report and snorted. “In Duo's words, 'Bad guys had their asses handed to 'em and decided it would be a good idea to 'cooperate'. I'm guessing that means the mission was successful.”

Heero rolled his eyes. “He's looking for editing.”

Wufei nodded and picked up his coffee cup, sighing as he remembered it was empty. He sent the report to Une before making his way to the break room. Heero followed.

“Didn't you forget something?”

Wufei refilled his cup and looked to Heero. “What?”

“You sent it without changing anything.”

He shrugged. “Maybe he'll get a little more serious about it if Une gives him a good lecture.”

Heero laughed. “It's never worked before, why should it work now?”

He downed half the black coffee. “Wildest dreams and hope filled delusions?” he offered.

Cobalt eyes noticed the slight tremor in Wufei's hands. “How much coffee have you had?”

Onyx eyes narrowed in thought before he lifted the mug. “Sixth.”

“Since you've been here or since you woke up?”

Wufei shrugged, saved as the loudspeaker cut off communication for a moment. “Preventers Chang and Yuy, report to my office.”

“She doesn't sound happy.”

“You don't think she'd take out her frustration over Duo's report on us, do you?” Heero asked as they headed for the elevator.

“Anything's possible where she's concerned,” Wufei answered. “It wouldn't be the first time.”

“What'd Duo do now?” Adams called from the other side of the room.

Heero glanced to the older man. “No telling.”

Adams laughed. “Does he realize y'all get in trouble when he does?”

“Like that's enough to stop him,” Mitchell called from her desk.

Talk of the braided Preventer's previous exploits began to fill the room. The last Heero heard before the elevator doors closed was of the time Duo had rigged all the computers to flash to a screen of a rather scantily clad woman doing a very poor imitation of a strip-tease. What had really made Une mad had been the fact that the 'stripper's' face had been covered by an image of hers.

Duo had been yelled at for over an hour, a meeting he had laughed the whole way through. Heero and Wufei had been firmly warned to keep their 'child' under control. Surprising to everyone, Wufei had found the whole instance hilarious and had treated Duo to dinner for his efforts. Une had not found that amusing in the least.

Heero knocked on the door to her office while Wufei finished his coffee. He hoped Une had some made, or that this was a short meeting... Preferably both.

“Come in.”

Wufei was ecstatic to see the freshly brewed coffee and made a beeline for it. “Chang!” His shoulders tensed and he looked to his boss. “How many cups have you had? You're shaking like a leaf.”

He grimaced as Heero supplied the answer. “Six since he's been here and I'm sure a pot at home.”

“This is becoming a bad habit, Chang.”

He pursed his lips, set the cup down, and turned fully to face her. “Did you call us up here to discuss my caffeine intake?”

“I sincerely hope not.”

Wufei started at the new voice in the room and glanced to the corner where Trowa sat, a semi-amused expression on his face. “Why aren't you with Quatre?”

“Because I need him for a mission involving the three of you.”

Wufei's eyes narrowed. “Quatre-”

“Has three bodyguards to replace Barton until he returns.” Her eyes flicked to Wufei's hands. “But now I'm not so sure I should involve you in this mission.”

“I'm fine,” he said shortly. “What's the mission?”

She shook her head. “Go home, get a good night's sleep and cut back on the caffeine. If your hands are steady tomorrow you'll get the mission parameters.”

His face darkened. “Woman, I am perfectly capable of doing my job.”

She stood, pressing her hands flat to her desk. “There's something going on with you, Chang, and I want to know what it is.”

The room was filled with tense silence and the two glared each other down. He raised his chin and headed for the door. “I expect to hear the details tomorrow.” He slammed the door behind himself.

Trowa stared for a moment before looking to Heero. “What was that about?”

He shook his head and fell into a chair. “I have no idea. He's been... off for the last couple of months.”

“And it's getting worse,” Une said as she settled herself back in her chair. “He didn't bother fixing Maxwell's report.”

Heero smirked. “You knew he did that?”

She raised an eyebrow. “If Maxwell ever said something as simple as 'base secured, perpetrators in custody' I'm pretty sure the sky would fall.”

Trowa chuckled softly but quickly returned to the topic at hand. “So, Wufei suddenly adopted a caffeine addiction?”

“He's not sleeping well.”

“When did you get that out of him?” Une asked.

“After I watched him stare at Duo's report for half an hour without a moment of understanding.” He leaned his elbows on his knees. “Worse, he didn't even know I was watching him.”

Trowa pursed his lips. “He's got insomnia?” He glanced to Une. “How serious is this mission? Does Wufei need to take part?”

She leaned back in her chair. “Not sure, yet. Does the name Marcus Knight mean anything to either of you?”

Trowa immediately shook his head but Heero frowned. “It sounds vaguely familiar, like I've heard it in passing, but that's it.”

She nodded. “I want you to find anything you can on him.”

Heero raised an eyebrow. “What am I looking for?”

She leaned over her desk. “A John Doe showed up at my apartment building this morning, moments from death. All he said before he died was: Marcus Knight is going to kill... And then he died.”

“So, some random guy told you someone you've never heard of is going to kill someone else.”

“Yes.”

Trowa cleared his throat. “You're putting your top agents on a case this thin?”

She tapped her nails on her mahogany desk. “Who else could do it? I'd put Maxwell on it, too, but he's not here at the moment. And, after a month in a rain forest, I'm pretty sure he'll be begging for a month off, which I may consider for my own peace of mind.” She shook her head. “This man died to find and tell me the information. After what happened with Winner, I won't take any chances.”

That gave them both pause and they nodded. Heero pushed to his feet. “I'll see what I can find.”

TBC...

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