What's Going On? Chapter 1: Separation Revised, a gundam wing/ac fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the character except those I made up. Even those I don't own. They are their own individuals, afterall.

What's going on?

Chapter 1

It was another day at the Preventers' Headquarter. Except that it wasn't just another day for Sally Po. Today was their five year anniversary. Five years, that was how long she and Wufei have worked together as a team. They've always celebrated by going to a local sushi bar, but where was Wufei? Off on a mission, without her. For the first time. Instead he had a new partner. Well not truly a new partner, but it sure felt that way. He was on a training mission with a new, YOUNGER, girl. That's right, a girl. One who had specially requested to be trained by Wufei.

**Flashback**

"Can I ask you something?" Ling ling asked after an intense drill. Sally gave her a nod of approval. "Are you & Wufei together?"

"No, why do you ask?" Sally replied, a little too quickly perhaps. Sally was still unsure of her feelings toward Wufei. There was definitely respect and she did like the boy, no a man now. However, she could not be sure that it involved anything romantic. It was something she adamantly refused to consider or think about.

"Oh, well I requested Wufei to be my trainer for our training missions. Its just that he is really cute. I mean he is always so quiet but that just makes him so much more mysterious. Even though he says that women are weak, I think he secretly admires us. Not to mention the stories I've heard about him. He has displayed such loyalty and is always honorable. If I brought him home, I know my family would be so proud. Even though his clan was banished," Ling replied. Blushing with a shy smile at her implication of marrying Wufei to his partner.

Sally wanted to wipe that smile off the little girl's face. The feeling that bubbled inside her was fearsome even to herself. How could she react so strongly to someone expressing interest in Wufei? Yet it did not stop such thoughts. How did this girl expect Wufei to just speak about his own family & be so willing to meet hers? It had taken Sally a whole yaer to even speak about his own clan and himself. But none of these thoughts were reflected externally as Sally replied with a noncomittal "Uh-hum."

**End Flashback**

God why Wufei did you have to leave now? Couldn't this mission wait just a few days longer.

**Flashback**

"What do you mean, you have to go!" an angry Sally screamed at Wufei as he was packing his bag. By all outward appearance they might have been a married couple, fighting.

"I mean, I have signed Ling and myself to start our mission tomorrow. We've already delayed it far too many times because of our mission. Right now, we are at a stand still in our investigation so its a good time as any to start Ling's training. What does it matter if it be tomorrow or two days later?" Wufei asked.

"But what about our …" Sally started but then stopped. She remembered how Wufei was about her womanly tendencies to attach emotional values to dates.

"Our what?" Wufei asked. When Sally didn't answer, "WOMAN! What are you talking about?"

"Nothing, never mind. I had better let you pack." Sally walked out the door but not before hearing Wufei muttering about 'women' and 'oddities.'

**End Flashback**

"Sally! Get up here now, we need you to help out too!" Lady Une ordered through the intercom, jostling Sally from her thoughts. Ever since Treize* came back she has been more and more strict.

"Coming!" Sally replied as she walked out of her office. But before she could make it to Une's office a few few levels up, Une already was approaching her. Standing next to her was a man that Sally has never seen around Preventer's Headquarter.

"Sally, I want you to meet Charlie, he is here from one of our branches out in space. He's here to recruit a team for the protection of the President when he goes for his space travels. I recommended you."

"Oh." Sally replied then turned to fully face Charlie. He was so different from Wufei; he wore a friendly smile on his face and was had the trademark American good looks, with blond hair and blue eyes. "Charlie," Sally greeted him casually. One major change since Treize came back was the relaxation at Preventer's. Une had done away with most titles but the ranks were still present.

"And you must be Water!" Charlie saluted, still wearing his smile. Sally couldn't help but smile back.

--While with Wufei—

"Come on Ling, stay quiet!" Wufei ordered.

"Coming!" Ling replied as she crept after Wufei. What a cute butt.

Wufei felt a little self-conscious with Ling behind him. Maybe he was paranoid, but he felt as if Ling was staring at HIM and not the path ahead. Added to that was the fact that even his mind was not focused on the mission. He could not help the fact that it constantly wandered to Sally and what she was doing today, on their five year anniversary. It wasn't that he had forgotten, for he sure as hell would never allow himself to forget anything. But he had been so focused on watching all the other trainers present their students to Une that his competitive nature kicked in. He refused to be left behind. So he had pushed up the training date for Ling's first mission, figuring he'd be done in a day. Afterall this was suppose to be easy, Ling seemed to be hell bent on staying longer. He did not remember her being so bad during training at Headquarters.

Finally they made it back to their cabin, after half a day of training in the jungle, he called Headquarters to report.

"Wufei reporting. We have completed the jungle training but will be delayed in coming home. Cadet Ling still has three more scenarios to complete." Wufei briefed Une on how Ling had performed.

"Thank you Wufei," Une replied. Just as she was about to hang up, she added, "Sally wanted me to tell you good luck and Happy Anniversary. I'm afraid she is not able to talk with you currently."

"Why?" Wufei asked, a tinge of worry noticable in his tone.

"Since her & your mission is at a standstill, I recommended she work with Charlie to guard the President while in space."

"Oh, when will she be back?" Wufei inquired.

Though Une would normally reprimand her soldiers for demanding answers from her, she always did have a weak spot for the Gundam Boys, as she still so fondly referred to them. "I believe i should not be very long. The President is only there to oversee the signing of peace agreement."

Well there will be no point in hurrying home. Wufei thanked Lady Une before closing communications.

**Flashback**

"What do you mean, you have to go!" an angry Sally screamed at Wufei as he was packing his bag.

"But what about our …" Sally started but then stopped.

"Our what?" Wufei asked. He could not remember anything special planned for the next few days. When Sally still didn't answer, "WOMAN! What are you talking about?"

"Nothing, never mind. I had better let you pack." Sally walked out the door. Wufei couldn't stop his frustrated muttering from slipping. 'Damn woman and her odd mood swings.'

**End Flashback**

"What did Une say?" Ling asked.

"Nothing. You had better rest, we still have a few more scenarios before we'd done." Wufei replied.

"Wufei, can I sleep with you?" Ling asked. Wufei stared at her in surprise, shocked by the words that came out of her mouth. "I didn't mean it that way. It's just that I get so cold here at night and I was wondering if we can share the warmth."

Giving her a confused look, Wufei replied, "the weather is simulated to help with the training. You know this. Though it was moments like this that he realized how young Ling was. She was not ready for a life in the Preventer's. Maybe he should not pass her, but those worries were soon surpassed with worries for someone else.

**Flashback**

"You're lucky Wufei. Brand, spanking new to the Preventers and already working with one of the most beautiful women here. At least one of the most beautiful, SINGLE women. " Charlie congratulated Wufei when he first arrived at the Preventers' Headquarter.

Wufei nodded, before turning away and walking off. "Hey, Wufei! That woman is a handful, but if you do not want her. Know that I'm always willing!" Charlie called after him. Wufei supressed the urge to do something untoward to Charlie. He knew how men were around women, besides Sally would never give his man the time of the day. She was better than that. Plus it would not be honorable to hurt a commanding officer on his first day. Besides, it was none of his business anyways.

**End Flashback**

Yet he could not prevent himself from listening to the grape vine to determine what could have been going on between Charlie & Sally. It did not take long to realize that there was nothing, especially since Sally did not seem to even know about Charlie's existence. However, he was now a bit concerned. There was no doubt Sally could take care of herself in any dangerous situation, but in all the time he's known her, she has never gone out on a real date. Would she be able to handle Charlie? Especially if the gossips about HIM were true.

*To understand where Treize came from read Past Returns (not by me).