- Chimera of Life -

Story Four: Uneasy Alliances

Chapter Six

by Heartfire

***

{Heartfire’s note: Potassium Warning: For anyone who loves to eat banana, or simply eats bananas, this chapter might not be to your best liking. You might want to skip some chapters.}

 

Two weeks in the same camp have turned his men into heart-shape eyed mush ready to lift tent flaps to small rocks at the women’s request. Then again-

Wilmore snapped in attention as Wufei passed him.

His men were still the obedient, albeit surprisingly more energized during their workouts. Maybe living with the women community does have its accompanying ups, and downs. ‘Hmm…’

He must admit, the women’s team does make a satisfying sweep of their assigned land. He should know, he combed half of what they did months ago and found nothing, just like they said.

One of the women he passed gave him a salute. ‘Dawn.’ At least, he thinks that’s her name. Everyone was on a first name basis except for him and Ping and everyone else to him. It was causing him to feel a bit… left out…

‘Wonder what she’s doing right now…’ He found himself thinking about the woman he’s about to see in a few more minutes. He’d seen her sweaty, muddy, and even oily when the IA had accidentally found a pit of oil. Though how the Colonel got in it was a mystery. Every night, when they finally rendezvous, she always has a smile on her face, joked around with both men and women over the fireplace, and was ever patient during their nightly meetings to discuss whatever they found… He knew she was being patient. The mere fact that he’d been disagreeable- worked hard on being one- and she had never even snapped back at him was already a complete surprise. Especially knowing her combustibility rate.

Now, he’s about to see that silent, patient face with a-bit-of sunburned nose upon that sprinkle of barely there freckles… Wufei shook his head. Where are those thoughts coming from?!

He stopped in front of her tent and wondered what she was thinking of at that moment. Wufei closed his eyes in irritation and an image of a bare, curving back filled his mind. He opened his eyes quickly. It had been weeks since he last remembered her like that! Okay… maybe not weeks, but still!

‘Okay… Alright, Chang… Don’t get your nerves all worked up because of this…’ He breathed in deeply while he tried to understand that confusing stir in his stomach. ‘She is an attractive woman. You saw her naked… there’s nothing wrong with a little appreciation on your part… it’s only normal…’ Wufei gritted his teeth and mentally cursed. The thing was… it wasn’t normal. Chang Wufei might have looked at women, passed an imaginary thought or two about them, but then, after that, they were out of his mind. He couldn’t even remember those images! Why was it that he couldn’t get this one out of his mind?!

“Commander Chang?”

The voice that spoke behind him nearly made him stumble in surprise. How long had he stood in front of Rossi’s tent? Slowly, Wufei turned and faced… Christine… Yes, he’s sure that’s her name. He wished he could call her by her last name and position, though. “What is it?”

Christine bit her lower lip, that everlasting frown on Wufei’s forehead already telling her to run for it. “Are you looking for Colonel Rossi?”

Wufei grunted and Christine took that as a yes. She cleared her throat and thanked the Gods up there that she didn’t waver. “She’s in tent 5, sir. She’s using her fifteen minutes on the WARC.”

“Fifteen minutes?” Wufei’s frown became more pronounced. What did she mean?

She did an inaudible gulp before she talked. “We’re allowed to use the WARC for 15 minutes a month, sir. She thought it would help with our morale.” Suddenly, she remembered something Ping said nearly two weeks ago… “I thought she extended that privilege to you and your team as well, sir?”

Wufei remembered that night two days after the ‘games’. She did say something about it but he was… too distracted. His back straightened. “I’ll go and check on her.”

Christine nearly flinched at the snap. “Yes sir.” She tried to gather in more of her courage and silently praised her friend and commander for putting up with this man. “Dinner will be served in a little while…”

Wufei nodded, turned, and walked on to tent five to demand for their meeting. He stopped, just as he had done so outside her tent, and found himself wondering what he would say.

“Nat! Hey! I miss you so much!”

Rossi’s excited voice reminded him of a kid about to get a cotton candy in a circus… a memory… something he saw when Relena gave a speech at one of Trowa’s circus friends’ performance for charity… a memory that reminded him of something in his own colony…

“Hey, beautiful! How have you been?”

Wufei suddenly felt his temperature rise, and it had nothing to do with heat, either… Who’s this Nat guy?!

“Where’s Lauren?”

He felt his anger cool a bit as knowledge that she wouldn’t be talking to that guy seeped. His curiosity, and something else, was pricked.

“I’ll go call her for you.”

Wufei checked how far away that log on the tent’s side was, walked to it and started to listen.

…

 Ping waited for her childhood friend to show up and when the brown-eyed beauty finally did, she flashed her smile and nearly hugged the screen while she said her greetings.

“Yeah, yeah. Sure you do.” Lauren’s sarcastic tone suddenly made her homesick. “What do you want, Ping? I have a class to teach in ten minutes.”

The twinkle in Lauren’s eyes belied her bored face and Ping nearly laughed. She had missed her friend. She should have called her before but life had been busy. “I’m sorry. I meant to call before I left.”

“Yeah, yeah. Excuses.” Lauren made a face as she pushed a lock of brown hair away from her face with the back of her hand, holding something akin to a clear, rubber balloon. “Everything all right though?”

Ping nodded then looked down at the bruises on her hands. She had just finished her nightly date with Erica’s punching bag to let off steam before she faced her adversary. She finished early tonight, so she thought she’d give her friend a call… She needed to hear her soothing voice so hard. Why was her feelings so convoluted with anger, anyway? Anger she never truly had any trouble controlling before, but with this man- one word, AAAARRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!

“Hey, minxie…” Lauren’s pouty face became that of concern. “Why the frown?”

“Nothing.” A sigh escaped her lips as she dropped her left elbow on the table and propped her chin on her palm. She will not give her friend something to worry about. The noise outside filtered in the tent and she smiled a little bit. Her team and the Preventers were getting along fine… It’s just the commander and herself who were having problems.

“You sure? You’re in… India, right?” Lauren saw her friend nod and could tell that she was still bothered. “How’s that part the government is trying to clean up? Is it fine? You think it’s livable again?”

Ping grinned as she thought of the beautiful meadows she had seen… Of the winding rivers, some man made, others natural, clear and sparkling. “I’m in it right now and it’s beautiful… I’d say that the government outdid themselves on this one. The waters are drinkable, and there are all types of plants that you wouldn’t see thriving in this part of Asia years ago! It’s just too bad that an epidemic had to start it all off…”

Ping grimaced as she remembered news clippings when she just started her IA training. The grounds were burned with thousands of bodies in it… Almost two thirds of India was declared off limits until the final stages of cleansing, and then years and years of importing soil, plants, and installing pipes with filters for rivers and streams…. then the animals… an extensive project. The government was still very cautious of the land, and protective. No wonder.

“Ack!!! You’re there?!”

Ping could understand Lauren’s excitement. Her friend loves to travel. She chuckled as Lauren’s face drew nearer to her own monitor. The rubber balloon and banana she clutched on both hands were so near that it took only a second for Ping to remember where she’d seen one of those balloons before…

“Lauren…” Ping eyed the items in her friend’s hands cautiously. “Why do you have a banana and a condom in your hands?”

“They’re props for my next class.”

“Props?” Ping’s eyebrow shot up, still confused. “Please explain.”

Lauren bit her lower lip then shook her head, knowing how her friend loves fruits. “No… you wouldn’t like it anymore if I tell you.”

Now, her curiosity got the better of her. “C’mon! Tell me, please?”

Never one for arguments, Lauren shrugged. “Well, we practice putting condoms on bananas.”

Ping blinked, unable to comprehend, and then she started laughing. Lauren was always the one for a good laugh! “You’re pulling my leg… Why would you want to do that?!”

“I see that you want to know the disgusting part… Now don’t blame me if you never look at a banana the same way again!”

Ping smiled as her chest rocked with controlled laughter. “Shoot away! I don’t think I’d ever stop eating a banana- especially that one tiny banana I had in East Asia… I think it was called senyorita… and then this concoction they had called maruya, or something.”

Lauren rolled her eyes. “You’re always thinking about food! Okay, fine. I’ll tell you. Just don’t say I never warned you!”

“Well, I just don’t see why it has to be a banana! Why can’t it be a radish, or a carrot, or an eggplant?”

Lauren gave a sigh. “A banana resembles a phallus more, especially when it is aroused.”

From outside, Wufei’s eyes widened. Now that was a surprise… He never really thought of it that way! He was a bit embarrassed and angered that those two were talking so lightly about a subject like that! Suddenly, rich laughter reached Wufei’s ears.

Ping broke in uncontrollable spasms of laughter. Her hands clutched at her stomach as she continued to laugh for God knew how long! Lauren, on the screen could hardly keep her mouth from smiling at her friend’s reaction. “Y-y-you k-k-know what’s m-m-mak-king me laugh so ha-hard…?”  Her mind was running off!!! She couldn’t believe she just had that thought in her mind but it was so good that she had to tell her friend!

“Oh please… enlighten me.” Lauren leaned forward conspiringly, thinking that nothing her friend could say would be able to shake her. She’d been in and out of emergency rooms, seen too many naked bodies, and had her share of troubles.

In between laughter, Ping tried. “I know what you mean about not wanting to look at a banana the same way… but I’m thinking of… of… wh-wha-what’s gonna happen… t-t-to me… ch-cho-choke because of laughter when I BITE into a banana.” Ping fell off her chair and rolled on the ground as she curled up. Her stomach was aching so much!

Lauren, on the screen, had her jaw on the table before she herself fell down in laughter!

Outside, Wufei’s jaw had hit the ground in- he wasn’t sure if it was disgust, surprise, or… awareness. His damn body was certainly giving his suddenly malicious mind a bad image- regarding that of a… banana and a certain someone…

“Oh my God! I did not expect that!!!” Lauren’s voice spoke over the speakers as Ping hiccupped and tried to gulp in air.

The bad thing was, her mind kept on giving her these ideas! “Lauren… Since people eat banana, does that mean they’re already practicing for…” Another set of laughter finished off her sentence…

Lauren’s peal of laughter told her she got it. “That implication is so bad!!! Where are you getting these ideas?!” Celibate Ping with these sexual ideas?! What’s happening to her friend?!

“I-I don’t know!” Ping hiccupped as she tried to crawl back onto the chair with her aching stomach. “I’ve been insane lately…” She had been.

“If anyone ever finds out about this conversation…” Lauren couldn’t finish because of laughter.

Ping’s eyes widened as another idea set her through another spasmodic laughter. “If I see a person biting into a banana, it’ll be too soon! I’m gonna be snorting in laughter!”  Suddenly, her eyes widened. “Oh my God!!! What if it’s a guy!!!?”

Lauren’s brown eyes clashed with hers for a fraction of a second and then they were both on the ground- suffering with lack of air from mirth.

“I don’t need that image!!! I have a class!!! Why do you always do this to me right before my classes?!”

Outside, that lone figure upon the tree trunk had turned red… Neither did he! He did not want that image! He couldn’t imagine… How could she think… God! He couldn’t believe what he just heard!!!

“My stomach’s aching, Lauren!!!” Ping gasped as she tried to peek at the visual. She was glad her friend was as red as she from hilarity.

“Ping… Everyone here thinks I’ve gone loco… You are so gonna pay for this when you get home.”

Ping only nodded, too busy trying to catch her breath. She was sweating just as hard as she had when she was pouring her frustration on that poor punching bag.

“I…” Lauren hiccupped then chuckled. “I have to go… my class.”

“Yeah… Don’t bite into any bananas now…” That good bye sent the two in another fit of laughter as they signed off. She needed a good laugh… She had been so drained that talking to Lauren, even if they hadn’t gone through this whole ‘banana’ thing was just like water to a thirsty person. She lay on the ground, satisfied and with the knowledge that would keep her smiling for the days to come- bananas. Her body rocked once again and she laughed.

Wufei, shaken by the vulgar conversation between two women, was finally able to dislodge himself from the log… For a moment, he didn’t know where to go… Then, he just let his feet do the walking and he nearly bumped into one of his men, carrying something on his shoulders.

“Sir!”

Wufei just nodded, still shocked at what he had heard.

The soldier, wanting to try a friendly gesture with the commander, dropped the burden he was carrying, and offered one of it. “Would you like a banana, sir?”

Wufei jerked, his eyes widening as he stared at the banana as though it were a snake about to bite him. “NO!” With a disgusted look at the fruit, he turned. He will not be able to go through dinner if there’s going to be a banana on the table! “Tell Hackett to bring my dinner to my tent!”

“Y-y-yes sir…” His head nearly got bitten off! That’s the last time he’s gonna offer something to the Commander!

Inside his tent, Wufei forced himself to finish dinner. He could just imagine one of his men, and one of Ping’s women, handing out dessert… When he heard Ping’s burst of laughter, he knew what the dessert was… With a groan, he walked over to his sleeping bag and tried to drown out that merry sound of laughter. To think that he once thought her innocent!

“Women!”

…

He wasn’t able to sleep. Not a single wink without seeing a banana flitter around like a sheep jumping over a fence… or a whole bunch of it running after him! Wufei shivered inwardly. Nightmares. Damn it all!

He must meditate… Concentrate… Try to block those gross thoughts out of his mind. It was dumb of him to stay there and listen to the conversation, but even when he had wanted to go, he seemed to have lost control over his locomotive skills and he couldn’t move in shock.

With deep, calculated breaths, he finally started to feel at ease. On the first steps of his forms, he felt eyes on him… He checked, from the corner of his eyes, and sure enough, the reason for his sleepless night was there, walking out of the trees…

He waited for her greeting, but none came as she stopped just in front of the stream, sat down with that smile on her face and propped her chin on one of her knees while the other lay, bent on the grass. She wasn’t wearing shoes again. Geeze!

Wufei did his steps and waited… Waited… and waited until- he twisted around to face her, irritated that she hadn’t interrupted him yet. “Well?! Aren’t you going to say anything?!”

Ping blinked in surprise. Now what’s gotten him angry so early in the morning? The start of a wonderful new day? “Well… Good morning to you, too.”

Wufei was taken aback by her smile, noticing how her unruly set of curls framed her face. “What?! That’s it?! Aren’t you going to come over here and talk then demand my attention?” Now why’d he say that?

Ping just shook her head. What’s wrong with this man? Is he looking for a fight? “Nope. Sorry to disappoint you, Commander. The last time I did that, we nearly got into a bad fight and I don’t feel like fighting.” She leaned back and looked at him lazily. He looked utterly adorable with that pouty expression!!!

“Yeah?” Wufei crossed his arms over his chest, aware that he was being impossible. “And what does the Colonel feel like doing today?”

He was being sarcastic but she let it go. She had such a wonderful night talking to her friend, a beautiful sleep, and she just knew it was going to be a glorious day. “I feel like being friendly, Commander.”

Once again, he was hit from the blind side. His hands nearly fell limply by his sides- not to mention that his jaw nearly fell on the ground.

She tried to read the expression on his face then gave up and decided to wield her plan to be on Commander Chang’s good side. He’s an infuriating man with a smug smile but, she could be quite sure that he only does that to exert his command… maybe even protect himself from pain? Ahh… what one night of restful slumber does to the brain. “Commander Chang… I don’t think I know the forms you were doing a little while ago, and I know I’m knowledgeable with martial arts.”

Wufei worked his jaw and was a bit glad that he was able to talk. “It’s mine.”

The growl didn’t scare her. Rather, her eyes widened and excitement filled her eyes. It was his? “Really? It’s beautiful!”

Now he feels like a heel… Not to mention, embarrassed. Was she complimenting him or his forms? Yeah… his forms.

“Would you mind if I try it along with you?” Ping asked as she stood up and rubbed the grass from her bottom and legs.

Wufei’s right eyebrow rose in confusion. Try? Her? This? Should he let her? Instead of voicing his thoughts, he just snorted. “If you can keep up.”

 Ping grinned as she accepted the challenge. “You’re on.” She leaped over the spring and positioned herself south east of him, ready to follow, and… to admire his bare back…

His attention was divided between trying to concentrate and wondering what she was doing… Halfway through, he glanced at her and saw that she had a frown and was trying to concentrate. “Wrong.” His eyes caught her mistake instantly.

“Huh?” Ping looked down at herself and tried to picture her mistake.

“If you’re going to do this, at least do it right.” His voice was like that of a frustrated teacher as he walked to her, dropped to one knee and held her foot to the right position, his finger lightly scraping against her instep.

Ping’s eyes widened at the sudden zap that went through her while Wufei tried to understand why his hands felt like shaking. Trying to forget about it, his left hand moved to the back of her knee and pushed it to a bent stance. He had the sudden thought of rubbing that soft spot while Ping bit her lower lip and tried to keep her muscles relaxed.

Wufei quickly stood up before he could be given another thought of kissing the back of her knee and hastily moved to his old position. He did not just think of that! No! He didn’t!

She never even noticed that his actions became jerky and frustrated, so busy she was with trying to explain what was happening to her. She was so lost in thought that when she did the next step, she wasn’t able to control her shout- “Ow!!!” She quickly jerked her foot from the ground and nearly fell in the process. Wufei quickly turned around and was instantly beside her, giving her support while she bent her leg to look at her foot.

“You’re bleeding.” Wufei noted as he stared at the underside of her foot.

“No duh, Einstein.” Ping muttered at she pressed her hands on the wound to make it bleed some more. One cannot be sure if the object that pierced her could cause tetanus, or whatever other diseases.

“I told you to wear proper clothing! That includes boots!” Wufei muttered angrily as he saw her grimace.

“Well, sorry if I love the feel of nature under my feet!” Ping snapped back. How could she have thought that today was a glorious day?! If her wound gets infected… What if they have to amputate?! “Oh God, no!”

She had grown white, and, Wufei was quite sure, near to fainting. “You’re not afraid of a little blood, are you?” The question came out in half awe. She couldn’t be afraid of blood.

“No! I’m not! My stupid brain is just giving me images of possible future amputation!” She barked back while she tried not to think about it and to move away from Wufei’s warm, half embrace. But she couldn’t move. He wouldn’t let her…! Before she could ask why, she suddenly felt her breath leave her and she was lifted up. Her hands went from her foot to instinctively cling at his shoulders. When she finally realized that he had her in his arms, she quickly dropped her hands. “Wufei! What are you doing?”

“You’re not going to limp back to camp. That wound will get more infected if you do so.” Wufei answered, trying not to think of the possibility that he might actually… care for her. Did she just call him by his first name? “It’s only logical.”

She bit her lower lip. Yeah… logical… Darn, but the multitude of butterflies in her stomach wasn’t, though! And he smelled… fresh…

He felt her nose bump against his chest, just near his left nipple and he tensed.

“Do you take morning baths? You smell good.” Ping asked, unable to resist another scent. What’s happening to her?! Why does she suddenly feel giddy and lightheaded?

Wufei’s eyes widened. She’s smelling him?!

“Wufei. You’re tense!” His muscles were firm and she could feel his apprehension! Was she the one doing that to him? She grinned merrily, liking that thought.

“I’m not!” Wufei muttered as he tried to relax.

“Okay. If you say so…” Suddenly she realized something. “Whoops! I’m sorry! I’ve been using your first name, Commander”

And he liked the way it sounded, rolling off her tongue with that sweet, soft accent of hers. “Forget it.”

“Okay…” Ping agreed as she tried another tactic when she felt him relax, just to test her theory. She snuggled in closer to his chest.

Wufei’s lips formed a thin line as unexplainable awareness tumbled through him.

The moment she felt his muscles tighten, she bit back a victorious chuckle. Oh yes, she does… She does that to him… ‘Maybe that’s why he’d been so insufferable…’ She looked up at him from beneath her lashes. ‘And he is attractive…’

They entered the camp and she saw her troops, and Wufei’s, give them incredulous stares. By the time they reached her tent, Wufei turned around and saw everyone standing still. “Give me a first aid kit! Heat up some water! NOW!”

At his bellow, everyone started to move. Wufei nodded to himself then entered her tent. He must to let go of her before he does something stupid… like kissing the hell out of her!

“Commander Chang… You can leave now. I mean… I can do it myself.” Ping whispered as she was set down on her bag.

He wanted to be sarcastic, but what he said didn’t sound like that at all, not to mention that he didn’t want to say it. “Whatever happened to Wufei?”

Ping blushed. She was on a roller coaster of emotions with this man… First, victorious and powerful, now, inside the tent, vulnerable and shy… She was about to answer when he spoke for both of them.

“Forget it.” He checked the wound again and gave her his usual scowl. That one, she knew how to handle. “Next time, wear your boots!”

Ping chewed on her lower lip while she tried to stop the sudden mushiness in her stomach. “I will…”

“Sir!”

The voice outside the tent told him that the items he wanted were there. “Come in!”

Hackett came in, carrying a bowl of water, while Christine clutched the first aid kit in her hands.

Ping eyed the water. “That isn’t the one for coffee… is it?”

“We’ll make another batch, Colonel.” Christine answered as she looked at her friend inquiringly.

Ping only shook her head.

“Get the troops ready, both of you. This won’t take long.” Wufei muttered as he placed the bowl under her foot. He heard the tent flaps swish back before he faced her. “Ready?”

Ping nodded. She was ready for the heat… what she wasn’t ready for was… Wufei’s soft ministering. If she had felt butterflies before, now it was earthquakes and avalanches.

Wufei tended to her as carefully as he could but she’s too damn- “Ping… you’re too tense.”

She was startled when he called her first name. She nearly didn’t react, so unfamiliar she was at how her name would sound with his voice. “Oh! Oh… didn’t mean to…” She forced herself to relax, and thankfully, she was able to. Just so she wouldn’t keep on thinking about how wonderful his hands felt under her feet, she started fiddling with whatever medication she thought he would need, laying it out in an orderly row.

He didn’t need to keep on cleaning her wound with water… he did a good job already, but he couldn’t seem to stop until he forced himself to stop. “Antiseptics.”

“Ready.” Ping had the things ready for him as he held out his hands.

He did it as fast as he could. He must get away from her and let out some of the energy he could feel bubbling inside him. Restless energy. “The wound was deeper than we thought. Are you sure you can walk, Colonel?”

There was that usual challenging tone, but it was soft. “Positive, Commander. I don’t back down that quickly.”

“Fine. We’ll do as we planned for this week. Get yourself ready.”  With those last words, Wufei walked out of her tent and Ping finally let herself fall back on her bag and press her hand against her rebellious stomach. Outside, Wufei motioned for Ping’s second.

Half afraid and half curious, Dawn moved forward. “Yes sir?”

“If she starts limping, bring back the troops.”

His tone was soft but threatening. Dawn could only gape. Ping would never allow it! “But sir-”

“If we’re talking about ranks, I pull a higher rank than either of you.”

Dawn flinched at his narrowed eyes. He was right… “Yes sir…”

Wufei nodded. He moved away, checked his troops, and gave his final orders before he walked back into his tent to get ready.

…

It was an hour past seven and everyone was on the edge. They had dinner ready, and for the first time in weeks since their camp converged, they did it without the men’s help. They were even able to wash clothes, unpack, take a bath and yet… still there was nothing. Not a single sign that the men were coming back. No lights, not a flutter of wind. Everything was eerily quiet…

“Ping…?”

She stopped in mid-pace. Half of her troops were in front of her with worried faces. “What is it?”

“I don’t like this…” Sam was the first to talk and Ping could only nod.

“Neither do I…”

“Maybe we should go and look for them…?” Lynn suggested as she looked at the dark forest that surrounded them.

Ping shook her head. She’s scared but she has confidence in the man who commands the Preventer’s troops. Besides… she has a feeling that Wufei never leaves a job unfinished. “No… We’ll wait.”

She kept on pacing, shook her feet off her stiff boots, and paced again. They waited as if forever. She could tell that her friends cared for those men out there, even if they started out as just interested in play… “Wufei… where are you?” The muttered plea left her lips when one of her girls shouted-

“They’re here!!!”

She stopped her pacing when their look out flagged a light signal. Hannah’s figure slowly emerged as she ran back to the camp. The deathly silent camp bustled with life as they waited anxiously for them. Two minutes later, shadows of weary men came to view. 

Ping’s eyes tried to zero in to that one person but it was too dark… She wasn’t able to see him until he stepped into the dim light of their huge campfire and she couldn’t stifle the gasp that tore at her throat. She could be quite sure that the question in her mind was deeply echoed in her troops. ‘What happened to them?’

Wufei motioned with his hands and his men gave a silent sigh as they all but crumpled to the ground. His eyes searched the crowd of women in front and met the one he was looking for.

Ping nodded, understanding what he told her with his eyes. She faced her troops and glared at them. “Well?! What are you waiting for?!”

It was all the prompting they needed as they rushed to get their own kits and then to the men. For a moment, she was able to tell who was interested in whom. She glanced back at Wufei, saw him amble towards the fire, sit in front of the log, and just stare. Her mind made up, she walked inside her tent and fetched the kit they used earlier that morning.

A few minutes later, a shadow fell over Wufei and he looked up. Her green eyes were the only ones illuminated by the fire while her other features were hidden by shadows.

“Hey.”

Wufei nodded.

“Care to tell me what happened?”

Her voice was soothing and Wufei let his head fall against the log and closed his eyes. He let his guard down, too tired, and talked. “Traps. Guess the government didn’t do too well with their securities and some dumb assholes thought they could catch some wild animals.”

Ping felt a surge of anger for whoever set those traps. “Let me guess the rest of the story.”

“Suit yourself.” Wufei answered then jerked when he felt Ping’s hand over his.

“I’m just going to tend your wounds, Wufei.” Ping whispered, her concern overriding the fact that she called him his name, again.

“I can do it myself.” His skin had crawled at her touch and there was something in him that was just telling him not to let her.

Ping breathed in deeply. She knew it was going to take some work to get him to cooperate, knowing how self-reliant he was. “I know.” Their eyes met and stayed.

He saw her determination, and too tired to argue, he shrugged. “Good.”

Ping felt slightly victorious and smiled softly. “Anyway… tell me if I’m even close to…” Her voice trailed off as she saw the wounds when she rolled up his sleeve. Some of them, the blood had dried and had stuck the cloth to his skin!

Wufei checked her expression and only found steadiness.

“I’m going to get some warm water…” She quickly turned away, suddenly aware that her eyes held some tears. Must be because they were too near the fire… Smoke got into her eyes… She passed some of the men being administered by her troops and saw that none of them were even near to how badly Wufei was wounded. “Hannah,” she patted at the one nearest to their ‘kitchen’ section, and was finishing up with her patient. “Get some more water heated up.”

She grabbed the last bowl and thermos and went back to Wufei’s side. He looked as if he was sleeping, but she knew he wasn’t. When she poured the water into the bowl, she remembered that she forgot to get an extra cloth. Without thinking about it, she tugged at her own shirt and started to tear a small piece.

Wufei opened his eyes slightly and frowned when he saw what she was doing. “You don’t have to do that.”

His stubbornness was still there and Ping gave him a hard look. She wants to clean him up already and this was what she’s getting?! No wonder she wasn’t a nurse! “Why don’t you just shut up, lie down, and let me take care of it?!”

Wufei blinked in surprise.

“Take off your jacket.” Ping ordered as she unbuttoned it. She didn’t wait for his answer as she started to push it off his shoulders. He could only comply. The scrapes and cuts she saw were all over his arms… Her glance slowly went over his body and took in the battered, holed pants. “Dammit Wufei! What did you do to yourself?!”

Her angry mutter was a contrast to the soft touch as she checked his arms, and then his legs, that he knew she wasn’t really angry with him.

“Get up and take a quick shower!” Ping pulled his arm to make him stand.

Wufei bit back a cry of pain. “I don’t take orders-”

“It isn’t an order!” Ping stopped him in mid-bark. “I just forgot to say please!” She let go of Wufei and breathed in deeply while Wufei stared at her. “Please…”

That look in her eyes… he couldn’t quite understand it… Nobody but his mentor, Sally, and Relena had ever given him that look… He turned away, as usual, unable to meet it, and snorted his answer while he walked to the manmade showers.

“I’ll ask someone to bring you your things.” Ping added before she turned and walked into Wufei’s tent. Everything was so organized it wasn’t hard to find just a pair of sleeveless shirt and shorts, towels and soap. She didn’t ask anyone to bring it to him, she just decided to take it herself.

She could hear his grumble even before she reached the showers and gave him a warning before she slipped him the soap. Everything went smoothly after that and she just waited for his hand, gave him the towel and then his clothes.

Once he stepped outside, he looked a tad better. Nobody spoke as they walked back to his tent and Wufei could only wonder why she’d care so much as she taped bandages over countless of scratches, scrapes, a deep wound on his upper left arm, and others. He found the silence too comforting that he became a bit… disconcerted.

“So… you said you have a theory about what happened.”

Ping looked up from his leg wound, a scratch obviously made by a sharp object.  A knife maybe? “Yes… How about, you encountered the first booby trap, got out of it with your first few wounds, met a few more traps, and you decided to clean those up before anyone else get hurt- animal or people- in that part of your terrain while you did your hunt…?”

Wufei shrugged as he closed his eyes… She came in close. He couldn’t bear to imagine any animals suffering in those traps. “Near enough.” He was, if he were truthful, scared for his troops… When Janus nearly fell into that pit with the stakes and he barely caught him, scraping his elbow and knees in the process… then the arrows that came cruising by… If they didn’t have knowledge that Southern India was supposed to be deserted, he’d have thought there were savages on their trail! This was one of the things he hates about being a commander… he had to keep an eye out for his soldiers, keep them safe no matter the consequence. Then again, if it wasn’t for his troops, he would have been left to die when he wasn’t able to dodge that one arrow… good thing it wasn’t a deep wound.

A slight breeze swished inside his tent and he knew someone came in.

“Over here, Katie.” Ping’s voice was soothing and then the tantalizing smell of food reached his nose.

Wufei opened his eyes only to see his tent flap swish back to place and when he turned his head, Ping held a huge mug of steaming soup right in front of his eyes.

“Here… Eat this.”

Who was he to complain? His stomach was growling, he was tired, but he wasn’t too tired not to eat. Against his will, he muttered his thanks. Ping’s smile softened and their fingers touched as he took the mug.

“You’re welcome.” Why does she always waver when there’s someone who needs help at her door?! Just like him right now… Okay. Maybe he didn’t knock at her door. He just stumbled in and even when he barred his fangs, she still wanted to take care of him- all too much. Funny thing was, she could sit all night beside him and watch him drink off from that mug he’s holding… and that, she never did to anyone.

Wufei knew that she was watching him and he nearly burned his tongue as he gulped down those last few drops. He was uneasy. Why was he feeling that way?

Ping nodded as she took his cup. This time, she made sure that their fingers didn’t touch. Then, she took the warm mug on the tray and gave it to him, half praying that he would never figure out that she dropped some sleeping pills in it. He chugged it down rather too quickly that she was surprised he didn’t choke!

The pills took effect almost instantly! Wufei’s eyelids grew heavy and he kept on shaking his head to try and stay awake while she finished with the last few wounds. “Lie down, Wufei…” Ping whispered as she pushed his upper torso on to his bag.

Wufei didn’t struggle… he couldn’t. Everything was too… dizzying. “You’re almost as good as… Sally… patch… wounds…” Were those words coming out of his lips? Couldn’t be…

“Thank you.” Ping answered, feeling a slight pang of jealousy towards whoever this Sally person was. If Wufei trusted her enough with his wounds without the hardships she endured…

“Know what’s different?” Wufei asked, his words very slurred as he tried to focus on her.

“What?” She was patting the covers over him when she felt his arms go around her waist and, for a man who was supposed to be near to sleep, pulled her down to him with unquestionable strength. “Wufei!” Her breasts meshed against his hard chest and she could only stare at his lost look while his fingers grazed over her face.

“I think I want to… kiss you…”

Ping’s eyes widened and she nearly grew cross-eyed while she stared at his lips. Her throat became dry as the dessert sands when she realized that… she would like that too…

Slowly, their faces inched forward… Her eyes closed and she tilted her chin… She waited for their lips to meet. To explore and to quench a growing curiosity about him…

She waited until the seconds turned to a minute too long and she opened her eyes only to find the big, stupid man with his mouth slightly open- fast asleep!

Her hands crumpled a handful of his shirt, tempted to slap him awake, and demand to be satisfied! “You jerk…”

Still debating whether to physically injure him some more, he stirred under her and she quickly moved away. She watched as Wufei curled, almost in a half-fetal position.

“I’m happy… they did not get hurt… bad…”

The sleepy mumble reached her ears clearly and her anger subsided. He does care a lot for his men… She let her hand push back a stray of damp hair away from his face, feeling protective about him. And then with a sigh, she picked up his tray and walked out of his tent to check up on the others.