Take My Breath Away

Niles was hurt that Wesley would assume that. "I wanted to tell you, but you didn't give me a chance!" he protested.

Wesley released his brother and took a few deep breaths to calm himself. After a while, he asked Niles, "So, she's pregnant?"

"Yeah."

"How long?"

"Nine months." Pretty soon, Blair would give birth, and then Wesley could be by her side.

'Nine months! That means she was pregnant when she left me. It's my kid!'

Wesley thought. A myriad of emotions flooded through him. He really hated his brother for keeping it a secret. He cocked his fist, ready to pound Niles' face in. His brother squeezed his eyes shut. Just as Niles thought he was doomed, the fist whizzed past his ear and hit the tree behind him. The tree trembled from the impact.

Wesley couldn't wait to see Blair, so he commandeered a helicopter and flew out to see her. Helicopters aren't known for their range, but in this case it was sufficient for the distance he had to cover.

The helicopter settled onto the helipad at the military base. The moment he alighted, an officer came over and saluted. "Wesley, you're just in time. I have something—"

"Sorry, sir. I have something else to deal with. I'm heading home."

"That's what I wanted to tell you. Remember that criminal cabal you and Carlos rooted out? Well, you didn't get all of them, and they found out where your family lives. You'll want some soldiers as backup. This might get ugly." Wesley stopped in his tracks.

This was something that worried him greatly. After mulling it over for a bit, he brought a few soldiers and drove to where the Li family lived.

However, just as he got out of his car, his battle-honed senses told him something was wrong. He immediately dropped to the ground, and narrowly avoided a bullet. One of the people had been lying in wait. Judging by the fact that what he heard was the gun and not the report, the guy must have installed a suppressor.

Wesley rolled underneath the car, not wanting the sniper to be able to draw a bead on him. A shot hit the ground near him just as he rolled, and he was able to figure out where his attacker was.

He knew it wasn't humanly possible to dodge a bullet. He'd seen the Matrix, and his name wasn't Neo. The best way to avoid a bullet is not to be in the line of fire. If the gun has already fired, it's too late. Bullets travel faster than the sound of a gun. By the time you hear it, you've already been hit.

More soldiers left the car, using it to shield them. Their guns had already been silenced—less muzzle rise, less sound and less concussive effect would make their shots more accurate. They began scanning the area where the shots had originated.

Wesley's plan to draw these gangsters out worked. Nearly a dozen of them walked right into Wesley's trap, some holding guns and others combat knives.

Wesley hid himself behind the car and began to fight back.

He gestured to his men, signaling them to fan out. That was when he noticed three thugs with daggers advancing on his position.

But Wesley was prepared. One of them closed in, knife pointed at the soldier. Wesley turned sideways, trapped the man's knife arm against his chest, and then pounded him into submission. A second gangster thought that was his chance, and Wesley proved him wrong, catching the man's arm before he could strike, and twisting it violently, pulling it practically out of its socket. The third guy came at him, and Wesley tackled him while pushing his knife arm up. An elbow smash to the neck brought him down.

Meanwhile, he had to deal with the gunmen.

They were in front of the Li family's house. A protracted firefight meant that innocents might be hurt. Wesley suddenly rushed out from behind the car and rushed to the forest park not far away.

At that time, there were very few people there. He tried to stay away from the trails zigzagging as he ran, and was rewarded as a hail of bullets zinged through bushes and buried themselves in trees. Fortunately, he hadn't been hit.

And that was when things went south. Blair had been watching, hidden. A gunman managed to take careful aim at Wesley. She saw this, and ran to him. "Wesley! Watch out!" she yelled at the top of her lungs.

Blair was overjoyed to see Wesley. But as soon as she saw he was in danger, her heart sank. And when she saw one of the gunmen confidently aiming in his direction, she pounced on him ignoring her own safety.

"Get away!" Wesley roared. The moment he heard her voice, his heart was in his throat.

But it was too late.

Boom! Blair stiffened, and Wesley knew she'd been hit.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

The women in front of Wesley trembled. "Aaargh..." The pain was hard to bear. She scrunched her eyes shut.

Boom! Another bullet hit her. This time Wesley watched in horror as a chunk was taken out of her, fountaining blood.

Wesley tightly held his wife in his arms. Shocked by this scene, he couldn't breathe. His eyes were full of rage. "Fuck!" he hissed through gritted teeth.

He hauled her to safety behind some trees, and all reason fled him.

Wesley was fuming mad and could barely think. He moved from tree to tree, pausing only to snap off a badly aimed shot before retreating. But some animal instinct inside him guided his aim, as he picked several of them off.

Blair had never seen Wesley lose it like this, but the pain caught her words in her throat.

Then he went to check on his wounded wife, and lost his temper. "Don't you know you're pregnant? Why did you do this? If anything happens to you, I'll kill you myself!

Call an ambulance!" he shouted at his men, who had already brought down the rest of the bad guys.

Blair opened her mouth, trying to say something. But before words came out, a mouthful of blood was spat out.

Wesley panicked, so afraid that she might leave him. He tightly hugged her. "How could you be so selfish? Why didn't you think of the kid?"

"I... I... Boo...hoo..." Blair cried.

Wesley tore his sleeve and pressed it on the wound, trying to prevent more blood loss. The eyes of the man who used to be tough and cold were red and blurry with tears. "Don't speak."

Blair shook her head slowly. "If...I don't...speak now... I may...not get...the chance... Wesley...I miss you... Wesley... I...I've never regretted...meeting you...and falling in love with you...I'm so happy...to have our baby... Mmmph..." She spat out another mouthful of blood.

She'd thought about this for several months. She decided that when she met him again, she would tell him. But she just didn't expect them to meet again like this. He was always saving her. This time she saved him.

Wesley's eyes were red with heartache. "Blair, I told you to shut up!" he ordered.

Blair gave him a smile. "I forgive you...for marrying Patty... I know...she seduced you... You've been with her...for two years, and you...must have slept with her. I forgive you for this. Will you please forgive me... for not saying yes...when you proposed?" It was something she felt guilty about for a long time.

"Fuck! I've never slept with another woman. I only have one woman, and that's you!" Wesley shouted.

Blair was elated when she heard his explanation. "Wesley...if I don't make it...please save our baby... I've never been strong...and it makes no difference if I'm gone... But our baby is different... It's a boy... He'll be a good man like you...Wesley..."

She vomited another mouthful of blood, which stained their clothes red, stinging his eyes.

Wesley looked at the dying Blair, and tears fell for the first time since he could remember. He constantly wiped the blood on Blair's mouth. Tears fell down her face and mingled with the blood. He pressed down on the makeshift bandage to stop the blood that had been pooling there. She cried out sharply.

Blair was shocked to see Wesley cry for the first time. His men were surprised as well.

Blair's heart ached. This man must really love her!

She didn't want him to cry for her. He was a hero, and heroes didn't cry.

"Don't cry," she said weakly.

"Shut up!" he spat. He moved the bandages, tearing off more pieces from his shirt to replace the ones that were now sticky and red.

"One more word, and I'll kiss you. I know you hate public displays of affection. If you talk, I'll kiss you in front of everyone," he threatened.