It was five am before Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan were back in the room. A'Yanli's red eyes told the whole story. She had hugged her brother, kissed Wei Ying's cheek as he slept and then shown her husband Wei Yuan.

"Has he slept this whole time?" she asked Jiang Cheng.

He nodded. "Maybe he really is Wei Ying's." The siblings shared a smile filled with memories of trying to drag their little brother out of his bed in the morning.

"Who hurt him?" Jin Zixuan was angry. He had known his new nephew wasn't in good shape but knowing and seeing were two different things.

"We believe it was Wen Chao but we have no clarification as yet from A'Yuan." replied Lan Wangji. "He will tell us when he is ready."

A small notification ding came from Nie Huaisang's pocket. He checked it and smiled.

"Wen Chao woke briefly and appears to have been in pain." he said cheerily. "Looks like it's going to be a lovely day!"

Wei Ying softly grunted and tried to stretch but pain in his left side stopped him. He opened his eyes to see Lan Wangji leaning over him.

"Wei Ying? How do you feel?" his voice was laced with concern.

He smiled up at him. "Tired. Hurt but alive." His eyebrows furrowed. "Where is A'Yuan? Is he safe?"

"Yes. He is sleeping still. Would you like water?"

A nod. A straw was held to his lips by Lan Wangji. "Just a little bit, Wei Ying." A few sips and the straw was removed. "Too much may make you nauseous."

Lan Wangji was blocking Wei Ying's view of the room. Still drowsy it never occurred to him they weren't alone.

"You must know this, Wei Ying. Your brother and sister know what happened. They are here. They are safe." Lan Wangji's words were solid and settled like rocks in Wei Ying's belly. His breathing became more rapid and his eyes widened but before he could begin to truly panic, Lan Wangji cupped his face.

"I am here. I will allow no one to harm you. I will allow no one to harm them. They are safe from Madame Yu just as you are. Can you believe that?" he looked deeply into Wei Ying's eyes. "You are safe, Wei Ying."

Wei Ying looked into those brown eyes with gold flecks. He believed. His nod was hesitant, almost fearful, but he believed.

"They want to see you. They have been here all night and they are worried. Will you see them?" Lan Wangji's gaze never faltered.

"They don't hate me?" it was a tiny broken whisper. Tears stood in his eyes. Wei Ying's fear of the answer was obvious.

"No. They love Wei Ying." His voice was firm with conviction.

The rest of the room was silent, watching the two men. Even Jiang Cheng realized there was something between them. Nie Huaisang was smiling to himself and wondering what he should wear to the wedding.

Lan Wangji nodded over his shoulder then returned his gaze to Wei Ying. He delicately pulled his hands away from Wei Ying's face and recaptured the hand he had held most of the night. He wasn't going anywhere.

Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng walked up to the bed across from Lan Wangji as he straightened. Wei Ying couldn't bring himself to look up at them. He was so ashamed. It didn't matter whether he had a choice. What mattered is what he had had to do so many times. How could they come near him? He wasn't clean anymore and never would be again.

"Di-di?" It was Jiang Yanli's voice. The tears began to fall down his cheeks. His grip tightened on Lan Wangji's hand.

"Di-di? This is not your fault. I love you and I always will, little brother." Jiang Yanli's voice was choked on her tears.

No one was really sure who sobbed first but in no time, she was cradling his head against her as she held him secure and safe. ShiJie spoke softly to her youngest brother all the worlds of comfort she knew. Wei Ying's murmured supplication of "I'm so sorry" was finally soothed by her voice and gentle strokes of his hair.

Jiang Cheng joined them, holding both of them in his arms. He leaned his head on to Wei Ying's. "I love you too, little brother." he whispered making Wei Ying cry even harder.

He was afraid. He knew how brutal Madame Yu could be but he was so desperately glad to see his ShiJie and Ge-ge. Knowing they didn't hate him was worth everything.

Lan Wangji watched the trio hold each other as he gently rubbed the back of Wei Ying's hand with his thumb.
-----
Nie Huaisang was smiling at the tableaux before him. He was happy for them. All the re-established connections between the three siblings would help them stand against the onslaught of the days to come. Taking down Madame Yu wouldn't be simple or easy. She would be vicious in her efforts to avoid the consequences of her actions. He paused and sent a quick text to Song Lan, 'How was last night?', then put away his phone.

Wafting his newly delivered fan gently, he glanced at the still sleeping Yu Bin. His hand looked dreadful. Swollen, bruised and a fairly large incision with stitches. He was pretty sure Yu Bin hadn't noticed them last night or he might have been even more determined to get his hand free.

His phone rang. It was his brother.

"Wei?"

"The background checks are done. All of the cops, nurses and the two orderlies are long time employees with no marks on their records. All have recommendations from both professionals as well as private individuals. Private lives are clean. Only one was listed in your collection, an orderly, and that was as a victim of one of Wen Chao's rackets. I've already sent the pictures over to Charlie. She said Xin Di was out so there will be two different deliveries of books. There are six known associates books and she will have two pass books ready before dawn as requested. They should be delivered shortly. The other four books will arrive later in the day. You owe her big time, brother."

"I do indeed. She and Xin Di have already made their requests." The Spider laughed. "One will be harder to get though. He's on location currently..."

"What are you talking about?" Nie Mingjue asked.

"Nothing. Talking to myself. Thank you, Ge-ge, and give Ouyang Zizhen my thanks as well. How did the search warrants come out?"

"I woke a judge which pissed her off so she's stalling." He was clearly annoyed.

"Which one?" Nie Huaisang started tapping his chin with his fan.

"Jia Shu Yi.**"

"Ahhh... If you don't have the search warrants in the next hour, let me know. I already have a thumb drive prepared for her but none of her cases dealt directly with Wen Chao so it hasn't been delivered. Perhaps when this is done, I should hold a Spring Cleaning of the judicial branch in Beijing... What do you think, brother?"

Nie Mingjue laughed. "May the Gods help them if you do, Di-di!"

"It's good to look ahead, Ge-ge." There was a muted noise from Yu Bin as if he was trying to wake up. "I have to let you go. Call when the hour's up which ever way it goes."

"I will. Take care. There's a good chance someone will try something to take out your witnesses."

"I agree. We'll be on alert for anything and everything." There was a click as Nie Mingjue hung up.

Nie Huaisang watched Yu Bin's eyebrows wiggle a bit as if he was trying to get his eyes open. He smiled.

"Sleep, A'Bin. Shhh..." he soothed but Yu Bin seemed to be determined to wake up.

"Hurts, A'Sang." he mumbled and tried to pull his hand again.

"You can't move your hand." He softly caressed Yu Bin's cheek. "They have it strapped to a board that is attached to the bed. You'll only hurt yourself. Relax. You're okay."

Yu Bin managed to get his eyes to open. A small smile. "Hello, A'Sang. I told you I would be right back."

Nie Huaisang smiled. "You did. How do you feel?"

"My hand and arm hurt." He looked over and his eyes widened. "I-is it supposed to look like that, A'Sang? It looks like Frankenstein's hand." his voice was low and stressed.

"Hey, look at me. Yu Bin?" Nie Huaisang gently took Yu Bin's chin and turned his face toward him. "Yu Qing said it looks good. It's the swelling and the bruising. It will go down and it will look much better. Okay?"

Yu Bin nodded but his head was already drifting back toward his arm. Nie Huaisang took his chin and gently pulled it back toward him. He looked at Yu Bin and the worry in his eyes.

"Can I still be a cop?" he whispered. He had tears in his eyes as he looked for comfort from Nie Huaisang.

"If I can be a cop after being shot in the chest, you can be a cop after being stabbed through the hand. We'll work on it together. Yes?" Nie Huaisang was cheerful but he was watching carefully. He knew what he had gone through after his injuries. He wouldn't allow Yu Bin to fall into the same mental and emotional traps. Not if he could help it.

"You got shot in the chest?" It wasn't what Nie Huaisang had intended when he mentioned it but if it distracted Yu Bin, well, he wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. He shifted the neckline of his scrub shirt to the left to reveal a mass of scarring before covering it again.

"You can do it, Yu Bin. I have faith in you." Nie Huaisang placed a tiny kiss on Yu Bin's lips then smiled. The smile was answered but was quickly covered with a frown.

"Who shot you?" Just the idea that someone would shoot A'Sang flat out pissed Yu Bin off.

"Wen Chao." The answer was matter of fact and Yu Bin's mouth fell open.

"No wonder you hate him."

"When did you know I hate him?" Nie Huaisang cocked his head to the side.

"The way you said his name the first time we came to your office." Yu Bin answered. "It made the hair on my neck stand up."

"That's only part of why I hate him and not even the large part but we'll talk about that later. When you're feeling better. Do you need anything?" Nie Huaisang smoothed Yu Bin's hair into place.

"Is my Jie-Jie coming back?"

"She didn't leave. She's asleep on the sofa." Nie Huaisang replied. "Do you need me to wake her?"

"No. If she's sleeping, let her sleep."

It was at this point, Lan Wangji stood up. He patted Wei Ying's hand and whispered he'd be right back.

He walked around Yu Bin's bed so he was facing the damaged left hand. He bowed at ninety degrees and held it.

"I owe you an apology and a debt. It is my fault that you were hurt. I did not secure the knife as I should have. Consequently, it was available for Wen Chao to use against you. You are my partner and my mistake caused you injury. If you had not been there, it would mostly likely have been my back that would have taken the knife so I thank you for my life. I will pay this debt whenever and however you see fit."

After the statement, he straightened and looked Yu Bin in the eyes. "I am so sorry, Yu Bin."

Yu Bin and Nie Huaisang both had open mouths. Neither knew how Wen Chao had gotten a knife. Even if they had, neither would have blamed Lan Wangji. Believing he had knocked Wen Chao out of the fight, he had been focused on trying to save a life.

"Wen Chao chose to use the knife. You saved Yiling and I will heal." Yu Bin's smile was a little shaky. The apology had tears standing in his eyes. "You are my partner. My job is to cover your back."

Lan Wangji's eyes were now tear filled. He carefully patted Yu Bin's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you but I will pay the debt in anyway you see fit."

"Would you teach me tai chi?" Yu Bin glanced down at his hand. "When I can?"

"Of course. Whenever you are ready." Lan Wangji smiled. A full and complete smile. It was a rare event and Yu Bin knew it. His answering smile was just as big.

Nie Huaisang slowly fanned himself and smiled.
~♡~♡~♡~

Jia Shu Yi played Madame Mo.

As there was a request for fluff, I've included bits that are fluffy. 😊 There will be more as time goes on. Promise, ManuAndhale and NebulusCharlie !! ❤️❤️❤️

Take a deep breath and, for just a moment, believe.

❤️🍫🫖❤️