A/N: This was another gift for Traxits, placed between "Secret Keepers" and "Catch Me (As I Fall)" continuing to explore the idea that Reeve is an Inspire capable of giving life to inanimate things and maintaining psychic bonds with them.

Reeve didn't get sick very often, maybe a passing cold once a year if that, so the days he did wake up feeling less than well were an unwelcome surprise. He woke to a vague, overall sick feeling, body aching and feeling slightly clammy when he left the warmth of his sheets to see about a shower.

By the time he'd gotten himself dressed for the day, he could already tell it was going to be a day running on willpower. He really did need to be there, they were still working on getting the auto-checkers hooked up to all of the reactors and finally completed. It would never be as good as going out to see them himself, he wouldn't replace his yearly checks, but it was an important step forward. He could only be in one place at a time, after all.

There was also a budget meeting before he'd even get into work properly, and he'd had dinner plans with Rufus that he hesitated to cancel. Maybe he'd be able to shake this off… there was plenty of time yet to see. He took a minute to consider packing a lunch before deciding this once that he might just order something in depending on what happened.

The morning meeting was really not as important as it should have been. It was a budget meeting, which was important, but nothing happened. There was no change in funds. The financial reports were blander than Palmer's suit. Really, it could have been an email and saved them all two hours. Not that he'd say as much out loud, but he knew he wasn't the only one thinking it.

It didn't help that he was starting to feel worse. Body aches increased, as well as a shivery, feverish feeling and a general sense of wrong that he couldn't quite shake. Still, he smiled when he was addressed, managing something close to his normal polite, amicable standard and some mindless small talk before excusing himself back to his office. He was sorely tempted to nudge up the thermostat when he returned, the air conditioning feeling like just a little too much even with his jacket on, but it had been locked for a reason and it was better not to make a big deal out of this. He was probably just coming down with something, it would pass. Maybe some coffee would help warm him up…

A quick investigation of the pot on his own floor registered a particular scent that he knew not to touch; he still wasn't sure what, exactly, went into the 'Diesel Juice' blend that his engineers had taken to brewing whenever there was a big project in the works, but it wasn't something he wanted to drink on a good day. Exposing himself to those levels of caffeine when he'd ideally like to be able to clock out at a reasonable hour and get some much-needed rest was unwise.

The executive lounge was empty when he arrived, allowing him to get down the Mideel press and start up some coffee without the interruption of having to socialize. He almost considered making tea for a moment as the water heated, but the better caffeine boost from the coffee would hopefully help stop the slight headache he could feel building from progressing. In short order, he had himself a steaming cup of fresh coffee, everything cleaned and put away for later and was ready to head back to his office.

It wasn't a terribly long trip, but everything felt like it was dragging out. He knew it was an illusion from not feeling well, and nothing to be done for it, but it was still frustrating. Hopefully he'd be able to lose himself in his work for a while and let the day pass by faster.

"Reeve?" Chelle caught his attention as he came in, waving. "Hey, the auto-checker is down. We've got some people working on it, but for now we're going to have to go back to call-ins to check on the reactors."

Reeve blew out a breath, frowning and looking back towards the room where the monitoring equipment was. "Do we know which end the problem's on?"

"We think it's something here, since it's affecting most of them," Chelle said. "So it should be ironed out before the day is over. Or at least properly diagnosed and on its way."

"Alright. Let me know how progress goes after an hour." That would be long enough to see if it was something simple or something that he might need to look into himself. It was, after all, one of his personal designs; most things dealing with the reactors were these days. There was a moment of odd pressure in his chest, almost like a pending cough, and he cleared his throat. "Anything else?"

"Nothing's coming to mind, that was the only thing really off schedule today," Chelle said, watching him a moment. "Are you alright?"

"Mm? Oh, fine." He offered a small, warm smile for her concern. It was clear she was skeptical, but she wouldn't press. "I'll be in my office."

"Alright." She waved him off, going back to her work.

Reeve ducked into his office, pulling his door shut with a quiet click and heading to his desk. For a moment he just looked at his inbox and the stack of folders and papers before sighing quietly. Well… better to start, he supposed. One page at a time. He'd worked feeling worse than this, it had just been long enough that his system was blowing things out of proportion. He couldn't possibly be as tired from this as he felt, he was just dragging.

There was a rhythm to everything in Midgar, even doing paperwork, and he fell into it easily enough for the hour before Chelle called him to let him know that no, they hadn't figured out the problem with the auto-checker yet. Sighing, he finished his coffee and set it aside, going to go take a look at it himself. They had progressed to getting readings from Midgar and Fort Condor, but nothing off-continent or from Junon.

Unfortunately, those three had always been the hardest to keep monitors on due to environmental factors. That, and Nibelheim desperately needed an overhaul, if he could just get Science to quit fussing about it. Twelve reactors, and they had to cling to the oldest, most distant of them like it was some sort of prize. He never knew what to make of it; nostalgia wasn't Hojo's usual motivation.

Sighing, he caught himself rubbing at his chest and frowned. There was a low ache, the beginnings of a promising case of heartburn, and he resisted making a face at it. Apparently the coffee had not been a good idea after all. Wonderful.

"You alright, director?" One of the techs asked, catching the gesture.

Reeve dropped his hand with a practiced, easy smile. "Fine, thank you. Let's get a look at what readings we are getting and see about verifying them first. Then we can see if the issue really is local or if something else is throwing it off."

"Yessir!"

Reeve checked the hardware one more time, then got back up at the console to see what software checks he could run, trying to ignore the burn any time he swallowed, an aching knot in his chest with every breath. He drummed his fingers lightly, trying to focus on the screen. He didn't have the connection to the computers that he did with the reactors, didn't dare, so there was no willing it to work or feeling it out. Just waiting and dealing with cold code in the meantime, which really didn't care one way or the other how badly he wanted to be done and go rest in his office.

"Reeve?" Chelle poked her head in, knocking lightly on the doorway. "Tseng is here to see you."

"Mm? Oh, just one moment." If there had to be a visitor, at least it was someone he could summon a genuine smile for. "I'll be back as soon as I'm finished. See about Junon next."

"Got it."

He nodded and headed out of the monitor room, greeting Tseng with a faint smile and waving him to his office. "What can I do for you, Tseng?"

Tseng closed the door quietly behind himself, then took a moment to look at Reeve thoughtfully. "Perhaps I should be asking you that."

Too late, Reeve realized he'd been rubbing at his chest again. He offered a chagrined smile, shaking his head. "It's nothing."

Tseng had a particular way of looking at him, something that demanded honesty, or at least the courtesy of a more plausible lie. "Nothing?"

"A touch of heartburn," Reeve admitted. "Really, it's nothing worth concern."

He didn't look particularly convinced. "You seemed… unwell, during the meeting."

Reeve sighed, a wry smile twisting his lips. No use arguing it, if Tseng was concerned enough to bring it up to begin with. "I may be coming down with something."

"I see." Tseng didn't quite frown, but his brows knit together in concern anyway. "I suppose it would be wasted breath to ask if you've taken anything."

"And hypocritical." Reeve smiled at the chuckle that earned him, more than familiar with Tseng's dislike of most medicines. "Really, Tseng, it's fine. Now, what was it you needed?"

"I had a few things to drop off," he said, handing over the file he'd had tucked under his arm before reaching into his jacket for an additional pair of envelopes, one of which had Rufus' familiar script across the front. "Will you still be meeting with Rufus this evening?"

"That's the plan," Reeve said, giving the folder a quick look before setting it down, envelopes kept in hand. "I'll call if I have to cancel."

"Very well." Tseng nodded. "I'll let him know."

Oh I'm sure you will. He'd likely tell Rufus more detail than Reeve cared to have shared at the moment, but there was nothing to be done for it. Instead, he nodded with a small, warm smile. It was nice he cared. "Please do."

"I'll see myself out then," Tseng said, smiling because he was well aware Reeve could predict that much, and still fully planned on doing it. Head of the Turks or not, some things never changed. "Feel better."

"Thank you." Reeve watched him go, before letting a hand press to his chest again. Odin's lance, that hurt. Maybe he would see about taking something and sitting for a bit before he did anything else. A quick examination of his desk turned up nothing, unfortunately, and he wasn't about to go down to medical no matter how painful the heartburn got. Maybe he could get a glass of milk from the executive lounge? Normally if he was up there, it was for coffee and all he needed was creamer and sugar, but he was almost positive he'd seen actual milk in the fridge. It was worth a look.

Getting up, he winced as his head gave a low thump, a reminder of the headache that had been beating at the edge of his senses. It wasn't the worst he'd had even in recent memory, but added to everything else it just made him miserable. He indulged in a moment of just staring blankly, braced a little against his desk, before squaring his shoulders. It wasn't far. He could do this.

"Reeve?" Chelle paused in her typing, looking at him with clear concern. "Hey, are you alright?"

"Heartburn," he explained, smiling faintly. "Just going to see about some milk or something from the lounge. I'll be right back."

"No offense, but you don't look like you should be going anywhere," she said, getting up. "Why don't you let me order something in?"

"I didn't think I looked that bad," Reeve said, arching a brow. Enough to concern Tseng, sure, but not so much that he'd tried to push about him taking off early. Then again, they'd known each other a long time, and he well knew that was a losing battle this early in the month; there was just too much to do with reactor checks and -

The pain increased, and his breath caught in a shallow hitch, hand moving reflexively to press to his chest. Reeve swallowed, and swore for a moment he could taste tangerines, the scent of mako brief and sharp in his nostrils.

"Reeve?"

"I…" He wavered slightly, suddenly unsteady as the pressure in his head increased, grabbing for the doorway just in time to hear alarms going off down the hall. Realization hit like a lead ball in his gut. "The reactor…"

Chelle hesitated, torn between checking on the sudden burst of alarmed sound coming from down the hall and helping him when he could barely keep on his feet. "What?"

"Director!" The answer came down the hall in the form of one of the techs. "We've got a meltdown in - sir?"

Everything went black.