Till Death Do Us Part...

Chapter One

By Aryn

 

 

                "Mei!"

            "I see him!"

            Mei Chang bolted down the street of the L-5 Colony after a retreating drug dealer. Wufei had posed as a buyer and Mei had moved in to make the arrest. She hadn't counted on him noticing her in the shadows. Definitely something she needed to work on.

            "Do you want the car?" Wufei's voice crackled in her earpiece.

            "No. It'll be easier on foot."

            "Direction?"

            "South of Locus. Just passed the corner of twelfth and Cricket.”

                “Be there soon.”

            Mei followed the culprit down alleyway after dark alleyway. Sometimes she hated these night jobs. But when she was honest with herself, she would never give it up. The thrill of the case and the satisfaction of arresting another lawbreaker. It gave her a sense of purpose in her life. Even as her muscles screamed in protest and sweat soaked her clothes, Mei knew that she would be more than happy to give her life in this line of work.

            A bullet whistled by her ear. She inclined her head away from it as it thudded into one of the metal walls on either side of her. She was ready to give her life for safer streets, just not yet.

            The dealer hit a dead end and frantically searched for a way around. Mei grinned. She had him now. Too bad Wufei wasn’t here to see her take him down. She was sure Wufei wanted to get his own hits in to repay the man for the black eye he had given her husband. Mei pulled out her gun and aimed it at the dealer. Before she could get off her shot, his gun fired and Mei felt a hot pain slice through her shoulder. The dealer took his chance and made his escape. Mei grabbed her shoulder and emitting a hiss of pain, resumed the chase.

            “Mei?”

            “Hit in the shoulder. I’ll live.”

            “Wait. I’m almost there.”

            Mei skidded around a corner and found the guy halfway down the street. She would never forgive herself if this guy got away. There were too many people on the street so shooting him was out of the question. Grunting, she sprinted once more. The dealer bolted across an intersection as soon as the light had provided him the opportunity. Mei shoved her gun into the waistband of her jeans and pulled out her police badge. The light would have changed by the time she got up there. And it had.

            The first car noticed the movement and stopped. The one next to it never saw her coming.

 

_____________________________

 

            Wufei gripped the small shoulder of his wife as she lay on the stretcher. It was the only thing that he noticed. Sounds drifted in and out of his hearing, but he couldn’t concentrate on the words. He couldn’t tear his gaze off her face.

            “Minor body injuries…”

            “Shattered knee, that’s it.”

            “Severe head trauma.”

            “Get the doctor in here.”

            “I need oxygen up, and order an MRI.”

            “Sir, her name?”

Wufei remained fixed on her face. She looked so pale compared to the crimson patch on the side of her face.

            “Sir?”

            Someone shook him.

            “Sir, her name?”

            “Mei.”

            “Is she allergic to anything?”

            “No.”

            Was that his voice? It sounded so…weak.

            “Sir, you’re going to have to wait out here.”

            Something was pulling him away from the stretcher. He pushed against it, only to be pulled farther back. He lost his grip on her shoulder and she disappeared behind the swinging doors of the ER.

            “Sir.”

            Wufei looked down at the nurse that came up to his shoulder. She was Mei’s height.

            “Sir, we’ll give you updates on your wife’s condition. Please, just wait here.”

            The nurse disappeared behind the doors along with everyone else. Wufei found the chair that was closest to the doors and sat down. He couldn’t lose Mei. Not now. Not ever. He had already lost one wife. He couldn’t lose another one. His head dropped into his hands. Could he?

 

__________________________________

 

            Michi Ling, nanny of the two Chang children, answered the phone when it rang at 10:30 that night. Five-year-old Li and eight-year-old Hana were already in bed asleep. Normally she would have picked it up on the first ring as to not disturb the children’s rest. But for some reason, she didn’t want to pick up the phone. On the third ring, she finally did.

            “Changs, may I help you?” the elderly Chinese woman greeted.

            “Hey Michi, this is Ed Harris from the Bonds office.”

            Michi closed her eyes and prayed. “Is there something wrong, Mister Harris?”

            “I’m afraid so, Michi. Mei was hurt tonight. I’m not sure how badly, Wufei didn’t really make any sense and the line cut off on me. She’s at the hospital now and I’m headed over there to be with Wufei. Could call one of their of comrades. From the sounds in the background when he did call, they’re going to need some friends.”

            “I will do that. Thank you going over there.”

            “I would go over regardless. They’re more than just employees to me.”

            “I’ll make the calls.”

            “Thanks. I’ll call you back when I know something.”

            “Thank you.”

            Michi hung up the phone and just stared at it. How many times had she pleaded with Mei to stay at home? It was her duty as a wife and mother. When Deshi had died, then it was acceptable for her to enter the work force. But now that she was married again, it was just unacceptable. However Mei wasn’t exactly a stay at home person. Even as a child, Mei had reminded Michi of a songbird that would cease singing if confined. And for a while she had ceased her song. Till Wufei came along. The song was struck up again and continued till now. Michi picked up the phone. She hoped it would continue still.

            “Nana?”

            The older woman looked over at the voice. Hana stood in the doorway of the living room, hair mussed up from a few hours worth of sleep. But the child’s eyes were bright and alert.

            “Yes, Hana. What do you need dear?”

            “Who was that on the phone?”

            “It was Mr. Harris.”

            “What’s happened?”

            “I’ll tell you in the morning, child. Go back to sleep.”

            Hana remained where she was, torn between obedience and gut instinct. Taking a deep breath, she braved a question.

            “Tell me now, please.”

            “Not until the morning.”

            “It’s Mom, isn’t it? She’s hurt or…”

            “Your mother is still alive.” Michi sighed. “But she is hurt. Your father and Mr. Harris are at the hospital now.”

            Hana ran over to her grandmother and grabbed the woman’s wrinkled hand. “We have to go too. Let’s go, Nana.”

            “No, child. We need to stay here and carry on with life so your mother doesn’t think anything is wrong when she comes home.”

            Hana’s tugging stopped as she thought about her grandmother’s words. Michi noticed the thoughtful look on the girl’s face and realized how much she looked like Mei. She gathered the child into her arms and hugged her tightly.

            “Your mother is the strongest person I know. She’ll be all right.”

            “Okay, Nana. If you say so.”

            “Now, go back to bed. I have to make a few calls.”

            “Call the Yuys first. Mrs. Yuy will want to know right away.”

            Michi smoothed some of the wild hair. “I will call the Yuys first. Now you go back to bed. And we won’t tell Li until the morning.”

            “Okay. Good night, Nana.”

            “Good night, my orange blossom.”

 

            You found this fanfic at Gundam Wing: Alternate Universe.  Please visit again for the cotinuation of this story as well as more great stories for your reading enjoyment.