Chapter 4 Consult with a physician is symptoms persist.
Elena awoke in an unfamiliar bed. Making a brief check she determined she wasn't tied up strapped down or drugged in the least. She was however missing her uniform and wearing a hospital robe. A small crumpled tissue bounced off her nose. Sitting up she was surprised by the identity of the pitcher.
"Reno?"
"In the flesh or not."
Her companion was similarly dressed, wrapped in bandages. The swathe went from his hands to his elbows and she could almost see some under the blue dressing gown.
Looking him over she was slightly worried.
"What happened to you?"He only grinned.
"You should see the other guy."
"The wrapped up Turk swung his legs over the bed and slid to the floor. As he moved she could see the fact his knees were bound too.
"Why is he just as bad?"
"Nah he's worse"
She moved across the bed dragging her sheet with her. She wasn't going to flash anyone, not if she could help it. Draping the fabric closely about herself to preserve her modesty she continued with the Junon inquisition
"How did this happen?"
Reno tipped his head and winked at her.
"How does everything happen?"
He followed up the answer, by changing the topic.
"I heard you fainted again."
Put off by his statement she looked out the window. Confused, she the checked the clock..
A poke at her ribs pronounced the fact Reno felt ignored.
"I did not faint".
"So you decide to take a nap?"
She frowned at him, and folded her arms.
"I was under a lot of stress."
She ignored his look of disbelief so he continued.
"So did the doc say what was wrong with you?"
She sputtered for a moment before answering.
"Yeah, too much stress, not enough sleep, too much caffeine and too few vegetables. Same stuff they always say."
Just by watching her, he got the feeling she was hiding something. She was really a poor liar. But he wasn't going to press. It was the fact that she was hiding something that irritated him more then what ever she might be hiding.
"Since you're felling better, why don't we take a walk?"
She shot him an incredulous look.
"Take a walk? Where are we going to go?"
"How about to see the other guy? In any case I know he'd love to see you."
Catching her arm he proceeded to drag her down the hall. They passed few people on the way, mostly nurse and doctors. Thankfully no one bothered to stop them. Either they were too busy or didn't care. Turning down a hallway he stopped short just before the end of the corridor.
" Here we are.'
Releasing her hand he stepped inside, leaving the choice to come in or not to her.
Moving slowly she stepped into the doorway of the room.
To her surprise she discovered the resident of the bed was her Superior officer.
With white linen covered his chest and upper arms; Tseng was leaning back across the pillows. He seemed to be deep in discussion with his current visitor. The one and only President Rufus Shin-ra.
She stared at the enigmatic blonde seated to the invalid's right. In the crisp white suit he cut a fine picture, of masculine pride and distinction. She'd have been foolish to say he wasn't gorgeous as well. Looking to the door his eyes lingered on those in to entryway.
"Visiting hours are over Reno"
She suddenly knew why he was president at such a young age and what kept him there.
He was charismatic and he knew it, His voice was like honey, smooth and sweet.
She was distracted by any further thoughts, when she suddenly felt cold. A quick glance confirmed she had dropped her sheet. Reno whistled as Rufus arched an eyebrow. Tseng resisted the urge tostifle himself with a pillow as Elena stomped on Reno's foot.
"I heard what happen today" Rufus began "And frankly I'm not impressed."
"At least you aren't surprised. And just so you know Tseng started it." Reno explained.
Rufus turned to address the man lying on the bed.
"Ah yes Tseng, I would have expected you to end the altercation by shooting Reno for insubordination."
"The thought had crossed my mind Sir"
"I wasn't being insubordinate."
" You threw a full coffee cup" muttered Tseng
"It was empty when it landed."
"Were you told to throw the cup?"
"Nope, I just felt like it." He shrugged.
"That's insubordination: Indulging in actions not expressly ordered to while on company time" Elena insisted firmly.
"Elena. Shut up" Reno replied.
Rufus cleared his throat and all fell silent..
"Do you have anything to say for yourself."
"Yeah, one thing"
Dropping onto the edge of the bed he grinned at the two men.
"Hey Tseng, Does your ass hurt?"
"Stuff it," the irritated wutaian man snapped back.
"If you say so"
"Children please" chided Rufus. "The office repairs will come out of you paycheck."
"I'm getting paid?"
Tseng groaned and Elena laughed.
Rising from the chair Rufus smoothed out his hair.
"I do not expect to see this sort of incident again."
The young president glanced at Tseng.
"Try to stay out of the infirmary, if you're here any longer you'll have to pay rent."
Reno snickered, an action, which earned him the leader's attention.
"Stop aggravating your superior officers to the point of violence."
"I'll try" he replied offhandedly.
Despite the lack of sincerity, Rufus was satisfied. Reno fucking insane, but he did his job. He did it well, no questions asked; no intelligent questions asked anyway. The blonde allowed an amused smile to grace his features. He was entertaining to say the least.
Continuing to the door, he paused to address the female among the Turks. She wasn't the only one,but he had to admit he was impressed.
"I heard about your mission. Not bad. I look forward to seeing you action."
"Yes sir" she replied, unsure whether she should salute or not.
With that president Rufus swept out of the room. They fell into silence at his departure.
Still reeling from the compliment Elena crossed the room and dropped into the previously occupied chair. Reno leaned back across the bed much to Tseng displeasure.
Ignoring Reno he turned to Elena.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine" she replied quietly still in shock.
"Definitely fine "
"Shut up Reno" She blushed and retrieved her sheet.
"You know" he continued, "This would be a fine time to kill us all."
The sheer irrationality in your statement is overwhelming Reno"
"No it isn't…thinking about it. Tactically speaking, it wouldn't be impossible to kill the three invalids."
"Three?"
"The bedridden, the mummy and the rookie."
"I am not invalid!"
"No offense, but Tseng and I could do more damage in our respective conditions than you could with a broken nail "
The blonde leaped to her feet moving towards Reno
" Of all the misogynistic imbecilic things you could say.."
"Are visiting hours over?"
Rude slipped through the doorway bearing bags in each hand. He tossed on to Reno offered one to Elena and handed another to Tseng.
Still fuming the lady Turk was surprised when Rude put a hand on her shoulder. He didn't say a word but she understood clearly.
" I'm okay, thanks."
Behind them Reno cheered loudly.
"Hey Rude you brought pudding!"
"Pudding?" Elena questioned
" The bag " Tseng supplied helpfully.
"Pudding for the invalid!" added Reno between bites.
Rude claimed a position by the bed watching the door.
Elena peered down into the plastic bag.
Sure enough settled in the bottom of the bag was a small cup of Chocolate pudding.
"But?"
"It's kind of a tradition"
"Tradition?"
"Anytime a someone gets hospitalized by their own stupidity or not; they get pudding."
She was skeptical despite the explanation.
"What kind of tradition is that?"
"A Turk one."
With a pudding cup in hand, the elfin woman flung her arms around the nearest person and tried not to cry. Reno on the other hand was caught off guard and nearly lost his own dessert.
Now she was crying. It was bad that she was being emotional, it was worse that she was being emotional on him; but by far the most horrible part of the situation was that's she was being emotional on him with Tseng and Rude in the room, over pudding.
"What is with you?" he demanded irritably.
The team managed to make out the words in-between sobs.
"considered….an invalid, …. got…. pudding."
The rest of her words were lost into Reno's shirt.
"Of course you're a Turk" Reno insisted attempting to placate her.
"You've been one since you put on that suit" continued Rude
"And just now have you started acting like it" finished Tseng after a mouthful of vanilla pudding. She released Reno and managed a smile.
"Now stop crying and finish your pudding"
Nodding she saluted to her superior.
"Yes Sir"
Five minutes later found the team licking spoons and discussing injuries sustained during various encounters. Reno was only too happy to show his map of scars. For Elena it was a breakthrough, they were actually opening up around her.
Either that or the massive amounts of painkillers they were on. She wasn't about to push her luck. At that moment however the loudspeaker cracked to life.
"Turk Marshall, please report to the medical office immediately."
The blonde held back a curse and stood.
"I think that's my cue, I knew they weren't going to let me off the hook. At least not without a shot anyway."
Tseng winced in sympathy. She smiled and wave to the team.
"I'll see you later"
As she crossed the threshold, she ignored Reno's whistle. She did however turn at his parting remark.
"Hate to see you leave, but love to watch you go"
That was the last straw.
Whirling she brandished the most effective weapon she had on hand. The empty pudding cup bounced off of Reno head.
"Hey!"
"Well, her aim's gotten better" observed Tseng with a smile
"Quite, I'd say that was worth two points because of the target" answered
"Only two?" demanded the target in question
"I'll aim for a vital point next time"
"What?"
"Later" she called and disappeared into the hallway.
Reno glared and frowned irritably.
"I hate you"
Even rushing she knew they'd complain of her late arrival, so she didn't bother to fetch her clothing or shoes. She was in a much better mood all-round. All from a cup of pudding or rather what it meant.
She arrived in the office and found herself bustled to another room.
She waited patiently as they asked personal questions and jabbed her with more needles. She smiled and generally played nice, knowing it would be over quicker if she did.
They were only looking out for her well being after all
The door opened admitting another man into the room.
He shuffled forward his glass glinting under the fluorescent lights.
His long hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail, a few escaping strands hung over his face. His sour expression and beady eyes only served to perpetuate his ghoulish facade.
Only the starched white lab coat and clipboard in hand revealed his true nature.
Professor Hojo head of the Science department.
She glared at him wishing he'd just turn back around and walk right back out that door.
Doctors were one thing and he was another.
She absolutely disliked him and she hated dealing with him, even if she had to.
"What's he doing here?" she demanded of a nearby nurse.
The men and women gathered in the room looked at her as she'd grown a new head.
He moved closer and began to speak.
"On the contrary my dear it was I who had them bring you here."
He'd wanted to see her? What for?
The professor wasn't one to deal with anything unless it involved to his work.
The thought immediately worried her. Squashing her callous remarks, she assumed a professional air.
"Is that so?"
When no reply came she forced herself to look at him. The man was no longer looking at her rather than looking over her. Inspecting her as a project or some sort of experiment.
He even scribbled down a few notes down on the clipboard.. The whole thing made her uneasy
"With all due respect. Why?"
He chuckled to himself at her question.
"What's so funny?"
With a cruel smile he moved closer to the bed.
"Not that it concerns you .I intend to complete my research with the samples provided to me."
His words sent a chill down her back and put her on edge.
'What does that have to do with me? I was never part of you research"
He scoffed and continued writing note on the clipboard.
"Bah, of course not, you were too young to have mattered then."
"What?"
He continued on as if she hadn't said anything at all.
"The child of yours will be culmination of years of research. Years of waiting and planning couldn't have resulted in such perfect sample. The specimen will undoubtedly become greater than even it's illustrious father."
"Father?" she echoed.
It was official she was in shock. He knew about the child's father, the only person it could have been.
Dropping off the bed she seized him by the jacket.
"Just what are you getting at?
He chuckled again and swept her hands away.
"How could you believe I wouldn't know? Foolish girl. To think I would not recognize the mark of my greatest creation."
It struck her suddenly, the fear and anxiety over the little person growing within her.
She hadn't been sure before; but some long suppress maternal instinct had awoken within her and she was sure now, whether she realized or not.
"You will not touch my child nor will you use him for your twisted research!"
He laughed again, a sinister smile crossing his features.
A few people we surprised by her outburst and began to watch the heated exchange.
"Don't be ridiculous," he chided her "It won't be the only one. I'm sure you'll prove to be a useful sample yourself."
She stared back at him, shock written across her face.
"I will not!"
In that moment Elena was more afraid for her life than she had ever been in her career Shin-ra Electric Power Company. With what she'd heard about this man and his experiments she had good reason to be. She stumbled back away from him, desperately looking for a way out.
She was already in a bad situation and she knew it. The problem was how to get out of it.
He was not by means just going to let her out.
The other people we just as useless, they were probably used to seeing that sort of occurrence. In any case they were probably not going to help her leave.
She was definitely in over her head, with out weapons or the ability to call for back up.
She took another step back, wanting to put as much distant between her and that man as she could. There was not telling what he was going to do. She'd just have to be ready to fight and not to give up until she was free, or unconscious.
Being left in the hands of a mad man.
That thought worried her more than dying ever did.
"Not so fast my dear."
A hand caught her arm preventing any further movement..
"We're no quite done yet."
She reacted with a fury borne of instinct and fear.
She was not going to allow him to take this any further.
She had something to protect.
He casually avoided the clumsy attack with a superior smile.
"Now, now, mind you manners dear lady, before I'm forced to take matter to correct you inappropriate behavior."
However prepared for the current situation, he could not have predicted her unprofessional course of action. He had automatically assumed she'd fall back on her training. He was quite surprised she instead relied on her instincts.
She turned her arm back twisting out of his grasp, and slapped him.
He pause momentarily stunned. She took advantage of the moment to strike again.
Bringing her leg up she managed to remind the good doctor just how much of a man her was.
The force of the strike left him breathless and rasping. She smirked defiantly at him and held her ground. The exchange had drawn the attention of everyone else in her room.
They stared at their superior and the young woman he'd been speaking with, unsure of what to do. Upon regaining his voice, albeit at a higher pitch; Hojo called for immediate assistance.
"Some one sedate this woman! She's hysterical, stop her, but do not cause any harm the child she carries!"
The ensuing fight left cuts and bruises on all present, except the blonde Turk they were trying to catch. She fought valiantly, lashing out at anyone who was within reach.
She however did not escape. She was finally put down when a nurse managed to inject a sedative into her system. Shaking his head the doctor resolved to use more care in the future. This sort of incident was not on he had been expecting.
"Take her to another room and keep her guarded. She is to have no visitors in her condition. It's too unstable. I want her monitored constantly. Inform me when she wakes up."
He watched with detached interest "I'll see to her treatment myself.
The moved quickly following his orders with out question; carefully wheeling the sleeping woman out of the room. Chuckling to himself the doctor walked away, pleased with the turn of events.
"You've really done it this time, Sephiroth. But this time I will havetrue perfection."
Pudding for the invalid is owned by me and my good Friends Tsumi,Sukui and offcourse Muzai
Don't take without asking or giving credit
Please Read and Review
Yuuzai