I had planned for this to be one long chapter, but it turned out to be too long. So this is technically part one of what became a three part chapter.

I should probably someday fix my posting schedule, because posting at 1am is not the best idea or practice I have ever done. (And now I hear thunder, better hope this posts quick)

Disclaimer: Still own nothing

Warning: I have extremely limited knowledge of medicine and warp what I do know to my purposes to keep up with my timeline.


Chapter 4

The first thing Cloud notices after feeling nothing for a while is the growing pain.

He quickly feels like he has been hit by a truck, again. Only his memory of that incident tells him that the truck hurt a whole lot less than how he feels now.

He groans inwardly.

He remembers everything that happened. He remembers his delivery assignment, the school, and the silver-haired Alpha who used their Voice.

After that, he has no idea of what happened next.

A faint beeping sound starts making its way into his consciousness.

Cloud can vaguely tell that he is somewhere unfamiliar, but at the same time he cannot seem to make himself care. Wherever he is, he feels warm and safe, and most of all he feels normal.

It feels nice to feel normal; it is not something that happens often. Usually it means –

The last thought has Cloud's eyes shooting open at the revelation. He takes in his new surroundings carefully, a sense of panic slowly raising with each new sight.

Faintly cream-colored walls, and a white curtain catch his attention first. The wires connecting him to various beeping and humming machines the second things noticed. And finally, the underlying scent of excessively used cleaners fill his lungs and make him want to throw up.

Cloud hates being in hospitals with every fiber of his being.

He knows that they exist to help people, and that is something he will never put against them. However, he knows how the system works, especially in a city as large as Midgar. Every bit of information that a hospital records about you will eventually be found by the organizations and groups struggling to control the city and its inhabitants. Information such as blood work, medical history, and dynamic that is important for treating people effectively is also good information if you are trying to control or find someone, or those close to them. It is also an effective filter should anyone be looking for someone that fits specified criteria.

That being said, this has happened to Cloud before, and he knows that in a city this size he might have a little more time than before. In the worse case scenario he figures that the first to send someone after him will be in about two days. In the best-case scenario, he has a week before he needs to be long gone from the city.

He can hear footsteps approaching and he sees a nurse enter. He watches closely as they wordlessly add a vial of liquid into the IV that he is hooked to. He catches her eye quickly, and seeing the faint blush dusting her cheeks and smelling the faint scent of alpha escape from behind her perfume, he looks away, not needing to ask what he has just been given.

That explains the normal feeling. Hormones are both his friend and his enemy.

Taking that into account he now figures that he has five days, if he is lucky.

He can sense the nurse beside him taking his vitals; occasionally she asks him questions relating to how he is feeling, and how bad his pain is. Thankfully she keeps everything professional, which is more than Cloud could have hoped for in this situation.

He can feel his thoughts clearing. The added hormones are doing what they are supposed to by kick starting his system from what he has been putting himself through.

History can be a hard thing to hide from, and it is not always the healthiest thing to do.

The nurse leaves, and he thinks he can have a moment to think his next actions through carefully.

And then Zack practically runs into the room, crushing that moment.

As the Alpha makes his way over, Cloud can tell that there is something off about the older male. His smiles does not quite meet his eyes like it normally does, he seems overly tired, and he does not have is usual swagger when he walks, now it seems straighter, more formal. But the biggest thing that Cloud notices is that the usual makeup Zack wears when they meet, which Cloud assumes is to "hide" his true identity, is missing, letting him see and interact with the face of one of Midgar's most recognized and exploited Gifted.

These factors alone tell Cloud a few important things, but as the Alpha sits next to him, he detects a slight scent that tells him all he needs to know.

Zack has been interacting with Denzel.

And Denzel never leaves the apartment complex.

Which leaves only one option: Zack somehow now knows the truth about him. He does not know how or why, but that no longer matters.

The question now remains: what will Zack do with this knowledge?

Cloud does not believe that Zack is the type of person who would use this knowledge against him, but it will undoubtedly change their relationship, and the question is not when, for that much is already apparent, but how?

"—And then I ran – Are you even listening to me Spike?"

Zack's voice breaks through Cloud's chaotic thoughts. He refocuses his attention on the raven sitting next to him. "I'm sorry, I was thinking."

Zack lets out a strained laugh. "You need to be careful about doing that too much. One day your thoughts might just run away. Then where would you be? I might be able to be your knight in shining armor every once in a while, but I can't save you from your own thoughts."

Cloud tries to smile, but his mind is still trying to process everything. "Then I should make sure to not be a damsel in distress anymore. But then the knight will be out of work."

Zack lets out a real smile. "Oh there is always work for me to do, there are damsels in distress everyday in a city this size. Some are just more fun to rescue than others."

"Then I'll just have to make sure to point them out to you. With your sense of direction, you're sure to walk right past them." Cloud is finding the banter relaxing, and it is helping him become at ease with Zack once again.

"Awww that's not fair Spike! I managed to get you here, didn't I? And I didn't even have to stop for directions." Cloud can sense that Zack is becoming more at ease as well, but he can also tell that the Alpha is trying to tread carefully with his words now.

Cloud wheezes out a laugh. "Alert the presses, Zack failed to get lost going in a straight line."

"You are a terrible patient. Aren't people in hospitals supposed to be sick and quiet? Not loud and making fun of their best friend?" Zack fakes looking shocked and repulsed.

Cloud reaches over to swat him with his least bandaged hand. Zack catches it and holds it for a moment before releasing it.

He mulls over his thoughts for a minute before shifting into a more serious tone of voice. "They said you have a concussion. I know that in a place like this, now that your up and talking, they'll probably send you home soon with instructions about how to take care of yourself, or have someone take care of you until the danger is past for that. Do you have someone back home who can be there for you like that for the next few days?"

Cloud is a bit taken aback with the question. His mouth opens to answer that he does, his mind automatically thinking of Denzel, but he stops, his thoughts jumping ahead for him.

He needs somewhere safe to recover for a few days, but each day that he remains in the city puts him at a greater risk. And the greatest risk comes from people as powerful as Zack, or those that control a person like Zack.

What better way to hide from those in power than by hiding with someone who they would automatically dismiss because they are already known?

Cloud opens his mouth again, trying his best to sound defeated. "No, I guess I don't. I'll figure something out though, so don't worry about it."

Zack rolls his eyes. "It's precisely because of that that I do worry about you. How about this, while you are supposed to be under watch, you can stay at my place. You can relax and recover like you are supposed to and not try to head back to work right away like I know you will." Cloud tries to look innocent at the accusation. "I've got a great movie collection if I do say so myself, so you can be a couch potato and we can have Wutai food for dinner, the good stuff mind you, not that terrible stuff you usually get."

"You just want an excuse to act like a kid again and stay up all night watching scary movies like its some sort of sleepover."

Zack grins, knowing he has won this battle. "If someone isn't a kid at heart, they're just a boring old adult who doesn't understand the simple joys in life."

"And you are just a giant kid with a fancy job and a nice apartment." Cloud smiles before turning to look towards the single window in the room, the sun starting to brighten the sky for the day. "Zack, how long was I out?"

Zack looks around for a clock before finally pulling out his PHS. Ignoring the notices of multiple missed messages, he finally finds the time glaring at him from the screen. "Looks like it is nearly six in the morning. Almost breakfast time."

"I didn't ask your stomach what time it is. But I guess that does tell me what I want to know. I was out for almost half a day, wasn't I? But at least I can leave later today, if they let me. I would rather sleep off the pain meds somewhere else."

Zack laughs. "Tell you what, when we get to my place I'll switch out the sheets and you can have the bed for the duration of your stay. I swear that thing is like sleeping on a cloud. And the couch, well that is nothing to overlook either, I made sure both were optimal for such an activity."

"I can't take your bed. I'll just sleep on the couch like any normal guest." Cloud is trying to imagine just what kind of place a person like Zack would live in. He figures with a company like Shinra behind him, Zack probably has a pretty nice place.

"Oh no you don't. The last thing I want you doing is rolling over and off the couch and then making your head injury worse. You take the nice comfy bed, and I'll take the nice comfy couch. We both win and you don't have to put up with my snoring."

"Fine, but I get to get some of my stuff from home first. I just really don't feel the need to be borrowing your underwear too."

Zack grins, his normal self slowly returning. "If you do that, you will find all of your own strung to the most public place I can find, my friend."

A doctor knocks on the frame of the room. "Am I interrupting something?"

Cloud lets out a laugh, and quickly grabs his sides as the pain flairs. The doctor walks over, shaking a disapproving head at Zack. "Please try to not make our patients be in more pain than they already are." He looks over Cloud's paperwork again before making eye contact with the blond. "While we would prefer for you to remain here until your injuries are more stable, you are free to leave when you wish. You are incredibly lucky to have this young man rush you here like he did."

Cloud turns to Zack. "Yeah, I am."

The doctor leaves a packet of papers for Cloud with all of the information he needs to make sure he takes care of himself like he is supposed to. Buried within the information are papers on the possible side affects he could expect from being off of his suppressants.

He resists the urge to let his gaze flicker over to Zack. He knows that the conversation the two of them need to have is growing longer with each moment.

Cloud sends Zack off to sign him out of the hospital, and to have him send in someone who can unhook him from all of the beeping machines. Zack gives a firm nod before wandering out of the room.

It only takes a couple of minutes before a nurse comes in and begins to help Cloud prepare to leave. The disconnecting from the machines is the easy part; the getting dressed without putting extra pressure on his ribs is the hard part.

Cloud can feel other eyes on his back as the nurse helps ease a shirt over his head as he sits on the bed; the same one he was wearing yesterday, but with much less blood and dirt after a thorough cleaning. He knows exactly what those eyes are staring at, but he makes no movement to acknowledge the gaze, knowing that this too will have to be added to his explanation.

Once the shirt is on, and he is helped to his feet, Cloud turns to catch Zack quickly backing away from the window. In a moment the raven bursts into the room acting like he was not just staring inside a few moments ago. "Good news Spike! You are now a free man. What do you say about making a quick stop for breakfast? I'm sure Tifa would just love to dote on you in your condition."

Cloud tries to crack a smile. "As tempting as that sounds, how about we go and grab my stuff and then we see about breakfast. I think I still have some cereal left in the cupboard."

"You would choose cereal over pancakes? You must have hit your head harder than I thought!"

"Ok I see your point. But still, stuff first, then food." Cloud eases his way over to Zack, trying to hide the wince that threatens to break through with each step.

"You drive a hard bargain, but we can try it your way, this time." Zack flashes a winning smile. "Besides, I get to drive this time, so you pick breakfast and we'll call it even."

They slowly but steadily make it out of the hospital and across the parking lot. Parked in the furthest back corner all by itself is a simple but sporty silver coup. Cloud takes a moment to study the slim, but intricate curves of the car, and internally wonders if the looks are just for show.

Zack guides him into the car and quickly jumps in the other side, easing out of the parking lot and down the road without another thought.

Cloud looks at the black leather interior of the vehicle and struggles against the urge to touch everything.

However, a bright yellow paper sticking out of the passenger side cup holder does require his attention. He grabs it and scans it quickly before speaking up. "Whose car is this?"

Zack makes a startled sound before refocusing his attention on the road. "What makes you ask that?"

Cloud takes the paper and shoves it in Zack's face. "Says here this vehicle belongs to one Angeal Hewley, and that it was also recently towed off of the main interstate, and cleaned." He can see Zack grow slightly pale. "First of all, why would a famous Gifted like Angeal Hewley randomly leave their vehicle on the side of a road? And second, how in the world do you know him well enough that he trusts you with his car?" He pauses when Zack does not give an immediate response. "You didn't steal the car did you? You didn't steal the car of one of the most famous Gifted in all Midgar, did you?"

"No! No I didn't steal the car! What kind of person do you take me for Spike?" Zack runs a nervous hand through his hair. "I didn't steal his car, I simply borrowed it without him knowing, alright? It will be back in place before he gets back, I'll have the bills on it paid and he'll never know. That's all that matters."

Cloud stares at him, expecting more of a response.

Zack looks away, but he can feel the pressure of that gaze. After a few minutes he breaks. "Fine, you want to know the truth? Remember when I said I have a mentor who I can't talk about? Well I've been working with Angeal Hewley for a while now and he's been like a mentor to me. But I just can't go around telling people that. He's really a private guy, so I don't want to hurt him like that." He pauses, letting out a loud breath. "Don't tell anyone I told you this, it probably wouldn't be a good idea."

Cloud laughs. "Who is going to believe that I, Cloud Strife, of all people knows someone who has a boss that high up, and that I rode in his stolen car?" He laughs again. "No one! People would think I'm crazy."

"I DID NOT STEAL THE CAR!"

Silence fills the car for the rest of the drive, though it is occasionally broken by a stifled laugh from Cloud. Zack tries to glare at the blond, but finds it hard too.

Soon they pull into the parking lot in front of Cloud's apartment building. Zack gets out and helps Cloud ease his way out of the car. The two quietly making their way into the lobby of the building.

Zack notes that Cloud doesn't search for a key and enters easily through the door that had him previously stumped.

As they enter Cloud can hear muffled footsteps rushing towards them. He sees Denzel race down the hall before the kid stops in front of them. His large blue eyes seem to hold their own light in the darkness as he takes in Cloud's condition.

"What happened Cloud? First Red sends two guys to find you and then you come back looking like this?" He trails off, not knowing what to say while he analyzes the unspoken words Cloud is trying to send him.

"Let's just say I got a bad job, and will be taking some time off. I've already talked with Red and he was cool about it as usual, but I got some help to grab some of my stuff. Doctor's orders that I take care of myself properly. We'll be leaving in a few minutes." He starts walking towards the elevator he hates using. Before he goes to far he turns back. "If you see Tifa let her know I probably won't be able to help out on Thursday night like I usually do."

"Ok Cloud, I'll let Tifa know if I see her. Just remember that when she finds you she's going to demand the full answer, and I'm sure she wont' like what ever you tell her." Denzel turns and starts heading back down the hall. "Take care of yourself and come back soon Cloud."

"I always do. You take care as well." Cloud gives the child a lingering look, knowing that Denzel will take care of everything, just like he normally does.

Cloud concentrates once again on making his way to the elevator, feeling Zack hover closer than usual behind him. He hits the button calling for the car, wincing when sounds of scraping metal grow closer. When the elevator arrives the two enter, and soon they are on their way.

Cloud feels his heart in his throat as the metallic screaming is louder in the box, and it shudders and shakes as it moves. The moment the doors open for his floor he nearly runs of the contraption, ignoring the flaring pain, and wishing he did not have to go back down in it later.

Cloud makes his way down the hall and digs in his pant pockets for the keys he put in there before leaving the hospital. Upon finding them, he quickly unlocks the door, opens it, and proceeds inside.

Once inside he makes his way over to the bedroom, motioning for Zack to stay in the small living area.

He calls back over his shoulder, "You know Zack, I never told you where I live or how to get here."

Zack tries not to balk at that. He honestly had not thought of that when they left the hospital, all he was thinking about was getting Cloud what he needed before heading to his own apartment with the blond. "You gave me a business card when we first met, remember? You had your home address on it."

Cloud appears out of the bedroom, his arms crossed carefully over his chest and his gaze hard. "No I didn't. But you did pick one out of my wallet when you thought I wasn't paying attention."

Zack can feel himself pale and take an involuntary step back.

"Zack Fair, revered Gifted of Midgar, we need to talk."


Well there we go, things will be explained soon! And soon Sephiroth will return!

Please feel free to leave a comment, question, or review below!