Sorry to take so long in between updates on this one! I've got the next few chapters mapped out, and there's going to be some dark, angsty stuff coming. :) Lemons will come...eventually! But I've got a bit of background to flesh out first. Next chapter will likely be a little citrusy though, so...stay tuned!

Please read and review, hope you enjoy! xoxoxxo

On the 64th floor of the ShinRa building, a solitary figure flitted back and forth through the water, their sleek form lit only by the moonlight shining through a narrow-paned window. It was well after midnight, and nobody else was around; the silence was nearly palpable.

Tseng, riding up in the elevator, was furtively glancing at his tracking device, noting that there was still activity on the 64th floor. He was determined to find out whether or not this was the missing-in-action Elena.

The elevator finally stopped at the 64th floor with a soft ding. Tseng quietly cursed the sound, hoping it didn't alert the individual, whoever it was (Elena?), that he was following on the tracker. Tseng got out, quickly glanced around, and stealthily stuck to the walls, all the while monitoring the movement on the tracker. It's coming from the natatorium, he noted silently. Serpentine-like, Tseng clung to the walls, moving fluidly, and silently, as he headed toward the natatorium. Cocking his ear toward the door, he picked up the sound of lightly splashing water. Obviously, someone was in the pool.

Tseng thought for a moment; clearly whoever was up there, did not want to be disturbed. Should I proceed further? Or leave well enough alone, he pondered. Tseng noted, upon entering, that the overhead lights were turned off; the only light coming in was from the side windows of the natatorium, as well as the underwater lights surrounding the perimeter of the pool.

Curiosity got the better of Tseng, and he ventured further inside. I'll just see whether or not it's Elena, and then quietly leave. Suddenly, Tseng heard a loud splash, and saw a figure jump off of the diving board, into the dimly lit waters below. Tseng took cover behind a large potted ficus just near the doorway. How pedestrian, thought Tseng wryly. Hiding behind a potted plant.

Tseng's attention was redirected when he saw the figure – clearly a female - emerging from the pool, and climbing up the ladder. Water dripped off of her in silvery rivulets, glistening in the moonlight.

It was Elena. Definitely Elena. Stark naked, dripping wet, Elena. She paused to slick her hair back, at which point Tseng noticed her lack of clothing. She is….beautiful, Tseng thought, gaping. Forgetting where he was, and nearly forgetting who he was, at that moment - Tseng gasped, thereby completely blowing his cover.

Elena froze where she stood, but only for a moment. She rapidly dropped to the ground and rolled herself over to the side, where her clothing lay in a neat pile, and quickly located her duty revolver. "Who's there!" she shouted. "I warn you, I am armed, identify yourself immediately, or I will shoot!"

Tseng knew damned well, since he himself had trained Elena, that she wasn't bluffing. Resignedly, he stepped from behind the ficus, and said, "Elena. Put down your weapon, it's me…Tseng." He met Elena's angry gaze, trying to focus on that, just focus on her eyes, and not her naked, dripping wet body…

"Tseng!" barked Elena. "What is the meaning of this?" she demanded, as she put down her weapon, and went to gather up her clothing. Tseng noted, with some admiration, that Elena didn't seem in any hurry to cover herself up; she was, oddly, not embarrassed by her boss seeing her completely naked. Rather…she seemed more annoyed and angry by Tseng's intrusion. And rightly so, thought Tseng guiltily. I should not have done this…should not have come up here…

"Elena. Let me explain," began Tseng. "Or try to. I've been concerned about you…you haven't been yourself lately…burying yourself in work, and I've been worried about your morale...as your supervisor, and…as your friend," he concluded.

"Hmpf," snorted Elena, as she pulled her shirt over her head. Tseng's eyes seemed to move of their own accord as they traveled down Elena's lean torso. His eyes stopped at Elena's lower abdomen, where he saw a gigantic mass of scars, marring the otherwise unblemished skin. It looks as if…someone had tried to disembowel her, thought Tseng. This puzzled Tseng. He thought he knew everything about the Turks under his command; indeed, he had background checks on all of them. Extremely thorough background checks, Tseng pondered. And no record of an injury with this severity?

Elena saw where Tseng's gaze at traveled to, and grimaced. "Stop staring!" she shrieked, hurriedly yanking on her jean shorts. "Isn't it bad enough that you're spying on me? I know you're my boss and all," Elena continued, "but seriously? What were you thinking?" Her blonde hair had fallen into her eyes, and she angrily brushed it aside.

"I just…well, obviously, I went about this poorly," admitted Tseng. "I apologize, Elena. It was never my intent to spy on you. I thought you might be back here at headquarters, and then I noticed some…activity on my tracker here, so I decided to investigate," he said, indicating the tracking device he held in his hand.

"Ooh, what is that?" Elena asked, suddenly interested, and moving in closer to take a look. "New from the Weapons Department? I haven't seen one of these before," she remarked, taking the tracker from Tseng as he offered it to her to look over.

"No," Tseng admitted, "not from the Weapons Department, actually…it's a prototype I've been working on. Nobody else knows about this, Elena – not even Reno or Rude."

Elena smiled. "Nice stuff, Tseng," she said admiringly. "You make this?"

"I did," Tseng grinned. "In fact, I've used it from time to time to catch Reno and Rude goofing off when they were supposed to be on the clock."

Elena eyed Tseng warily. "So, you're in the habit of following all of your employees?" she asked him haughtily. "Hmpf. And here I thought I was special," she said sarcastically.

Tseng sighed wearily. "It's not like that, Elena. Reno and Rude – well, I kind of knew they were up to no good in the first place. Utilizing the tracker merely confirmed my suspicions."

"So why, then?" demanded Elena. "Why did you track me, Tseng? Did you just want to get a peek at me without my clothes on?" she asked angrily, the fire returning to her brown eyes.

"No!" Tseng exclaimed. "No, Elena! I wasn't spying on you hoping to catch you in the nude, for gods' sake!" He was becoming uncharacteristically agitated. "I've noticed you've been unhappy lately, and I…care about your well-being," Tseng sighed. "Obviously, I should have just asked you, instead of resorting to this."

"Yeah, maybe you should have," Elena replied bitterly. "Or maybe you should have minded your own business. What I'm going through has not affected my performance as a Turk, has it?" she snapped.

"No," Tseng admitted quietly. "It hasn't. Elena, I merely—"

"Save it, Tseng," Elena retorted. "I'd like to forget about all of this. See you in the office tomorrow morning." She turned away from Tseng, heading toward the door to exit the natatorium.

"Elena—wait," called Tseng. "Please. I just have one question. And you certainly don't have to answer it if you don't want to, but—"

"What is it, Tseng," Elena replied wearily. "Please make it quick, I'm getting tired…"

"I couldn't help but notice, Elena, your abdomen…is so horribly scarred. I've never seen injuries that severe that weren't…ultimately fatal. I'm sorry, I realize it's none of my business, but…I care about you, and…" Tseng faltered.

Tseng cares about me? thought Elena. Well….that's…interesting, I guess. Nah...he must only care about the overall morale of all the Turks, she reasoned. That's it...nothing more. Still, it seemed to Elena that Tseng was going above and beyond in ensuring the morale of his employees...

"That's…a painful reminder from my past," Elena replied slowly. "And pretty much the reason I've been withdrawn lately. Tseng?"

"Yes, Elena?" he answered.

"Can we…just grab a quick cup of coffee in your office?" Elena asked. "I don't think I can tell this to anyone but you…and it's eating me up inside." She cast her eyes downward as she spoke. "You're right…something has been on my mind, something I've kept bottled up inside…and honestly, you're the only one I feel I can trust with this."

Tseng raised an eyebrow at this, but nodded in silent agreement. "Let's go, Elena," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder to lead her out. Elena felt as though she would melt under his touch – her skin was still cooled from being in the water, and Tseng's touch was blisteringly hot by comparison. Got to keep it together, she told herself. She steadied herself, and gave Tseng a slight smile.

"That's fine, Elena," Tseng replied. "A coffee sounds good...let's head back, shall we?" Tseng and Elena marched in silence over to the elevators, pressed the button, and waited for one to arrive.

What can it be is it that's bothering her so, Tseng mused. I'm glad she still feels she can confide in me…even after tonight's unfortunate incident.

Elena's thoughts were all over the place, as she rode up in silence in the elevator with Tseng. Okay, Elena pondered, I bought his explanation for the tracker – and damn, I hope he makes me one, because that thing is cool – but why in hell did he feel the need to comb the building for me? I know Turks are loyal to each other, but this was going way above and beyond.

Unless….thought Elena, ….unless he feels for me the way I feel for him.

Does he?