"The Little Things"

We're in...

"What are you doing?" asked a quiet, calm voice.

Zhao opened his eyes and saw Shen Wei staring at him. He immediately straightened and smiled sheepishly. "Um... just checking if you're all right.?" He saw bemusement in the other man's eyes. And something more... affection?

"Can you stand up?" asked Zhao, but Shen Wei lay motionless. "Professor Shen, can you move?" There was more urgency to the question, fear rising again.

"Zhao Yunlan," Shen Wei said quietly, and the fondness in his voice made Zhao's heart skip a beat. "I think we can say that we have won that bet?" Yunlan's eyes widen, and he unceremoniously pulled Shen Wei up to a sitting position by the jacket and into a tight hug. He felt Shen Wei's arms embrace him, and he lowered his head, his eyes beginning to burn. After a long time, they separated, and Yunlan helped Shen Wei to his feet. He touched his face gently but lowered his hand when he saw that Wei's eyes shifted from him and were looking at the empty place where Ye Zun had been.

"Where..." Zhao lowered his head. "Oh. I see." Shen Wei's face filled with sorrow. "He... gave me all of his life energy. All of my memories are back because of him. And I couldn't even-" he paused, and a single tear ran down his face. "It was my fault that he had become like that."

"What?" Yunlan looked at him incredulously. "Don't be ridiculous. How could it be your fault?"

"He was told I had abandoned him. And I didn't look for him hard enough."

"Bullshit! He should've trusted you no matter what! I know I would."

Shen Wei finally shifted his gaze. "Chief Zhao, in how many cases, was I your suspect?" he jested.

"That was different," Zhao felt the need to defend himself, his finger raised for emphasis. "I didn't know you back then. You were acting shady, and I was staying professional. HE was your BROTHER!" Yunlan stepped closer, put a hand on Wei's shoulder and looked solemnly into his eyes. "I will never doubt you again." He promised emphatically. He waited for those words to sink in, and only after he saw understanding and acceptance in Shen Wei's eyes did he nod. "All right. Let's get out of here. Old Chu and Xiao Guo must be quite worried." He picked up the backpack that had fallen to the ground and moved to the exit. "Come on."

They walked to the tunnel entrance and saw it blocked again.

"Now really, is this the way to treat me? Open up." Zhao said, patting the roots and, they subsided. On the other side, two men stood up in unison, alarmed.

"Chief, are you all right? What happened there?" asked Guo.

"Never better. You two, OK? Then come on, let's get out of here." Zhao turned his flashlight on and started walking, but Chu stopped him.

"The other way is blocked. We won't be able to get through."

"This way was blocked too, and look, we passed. I know what I'm doing," he cleared his throat. "Take us to the surface," he said louder, and a rumble echoed again. The ground moved noticeably, and Guo grabbed Old Chu's robe. The man pushed him away, but only after it ceased.

"What was that?" Shen Wei asked.

"That was Mountain Kun Lun letting us go. When we went through that wall in the cave, we were, somehow, transported here."

"But why?" asked Chu.

Zhao took out a lollipop and put it in his mouth. "I promise to tell you guys all I was able to piece together once we're back in the camp. Now, we've wasted enough time. Let's just follow the tunnel." He felt their confused looks on his back as he started walking. After an hour, they felt the first breeze of air. After a couple more minutes, the air got much fresher and colder. Soon they were able to see a bright light at the end of the tunnel. Zhao checked his watch. "It's morning already. We spent here almost 20 hours."

Their last couple of steps took them to a ledge. Zhao swore.

"What is it?" Guo moved forward and looked at the view. It was magnificent. Snow-covered mountains glistened in the morning sun, far below sparse vegetation tried to survive in harsh mountainous conditions.

"Damn it!" Zhao hit the stone wall with his fist. "We're in fucking Tibet!"