Hello! It's here! Chapter Nine! Sorry it took so long! I've been busy with graduating and moving and whatnot. But I should be able to update a bit more regularly now. I've got a definite ending for this story, I just need to get it there. Hopefully I won't drag this one out:) Thanks so much for the reviews Cueball and Obsessed Master Jedi! I'm so glad that people are enjoying this story. I was afraid it was getting too depressing. And the critiques are much appreciated! Well, without further ado, I give you chapter nine!


Before she realized it, it was nearly noon. Elena sighed and looked up at the clock. She had kept herself so busy she hadn't had time to dread the lunch date with the President. Or figure out a way to get out of it. Now as it loomed ever closer, a panic started to rise in her chest. The conversation with him yesterday was anything but pleasant and it only lasted a few minutes. Elena was terrified at what could possibly happen during an hour long lunch.

"You're being ridiculous," she whispered to herself as she shook her head and turned back the computer. She took a deep breath and returned to the hollow, numb shell. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, filling the screen with words at a rapid pace.

"My, what a diligent worker you are," someone said from behind her. Elena stopped typing and looked over her shoulder at the president. Any surprise that she felt towards his silent entrance was quickly squelched within her and never surfaced on her face.

"Are you ready, Mr. President?" she asked emotionless. Rufus nodded sadly. He was slightly encouraged by her subtle awkwardness that morning in the hall, but now it appeared that the shell was securely in place. Elena stood, grabbed her purse and looked at the President expectantly.

"Come, this way," he said with a smile, leading her out of the office.

After a silent car ride that seemed to last forever, the duo had arrived at large, sophisticated building. Elena stepped out of the car and looked up, trying to make out where they were.

"Welcome to my home, Elena," Rufus said as he stepped out of the car behind her. Elena looked back to him, curious as to why he brought her here. The panic was starting to rise again in her chest.

"Mr. President, why did you bring me here?" she asked point blank, unsure of whether or not she wanted to hear his answer. Rufus laughed softly and began to lead her into the building.

"Let's wait until we've had something to eat," he said. The two made their way to the lobby. Rufus waved at the security guard seated behind the front desk, walked up to the elevators and pressed the up button, waiting patiently for the silver doors to slide open. Elena struggled to control her breathing as the doors opened and they stepped in to the small box which whisked them up to Rufus' apartment. Something didn't feel right. Presidents of companies did not bring workers to their private homes for personal lunch meetings.

"I hardly find this professional, President Shinra. Perhaps we should leave and go back to the office, a more appropriate setting for discussing reports," she said monotonously, staring at the over-glossed, silver elevator wall in front of her. On the outside, she was a perfect picture of apathetic calmness, but on the inside she was reaching panic level. Rufus looked down at her, amused by her suggestion. He could tell that she was trying very hard to control the situation, a task that she would soon find impossible. He shook his head, not yet willing to think about how she would react once she found that out.

"Please, Elena, call me Rufus. And it's quite all right. My cook has already prepared a meal for us and I assure you, the atmosphere will stay quite professional while we are eating," he said, carefully choosing his words. Elena nodded, feeling his eyes on her. Part of her wanted to look up at him in the hopes it would reveal more behind his intentions for this private lunch meeting, but the other part of her overwhelmed that small part and kept her staring straight ahead. It wasn't long before the elevator slowed to a stop. Elena watched as the doors silently slid open to reveal a large, spacious living room that was sparsely decorated with contemporary furniture and large, boldly colored rugs. Rufus stepped into the room, followed by Elena. The shutting of the elevator doors behind her gave the room a stuffy feeling. Elena felt as though she couldn't breathe. Rufus turned and walked through the large room into an equally spacious dining room where the table was already set.

"Please, have a seat," he said amiably as he pulled out a chair for Elena to sit in. Elena nodded and sat, watching while Rufus walked around to the opposite end of the table and sat across from her. Silently, a tall middle aged woman walked in with a tray and placed a salad in front of both Elena and Rufus.

"Thank you, Marilyn," Rufus said, smiling. The woman nodded and smiled with kind eyes.

"I'll be back with sandwiches momentarily," she said warmly. Rufus nodded and picked up his fork. Elena stared at her salad and looked up at the President.

"What is it that you wished to discuss with me," she asked firmly.

"We'll discuss it after we eat," he said before taking a bite. Elena looked back down at her salad, her appetite completely gone, and then back up at the President. This was too much. She had to end this right now.

"I wish to discuss it now," she said flatly, quite aware that she was talking rather bluntly to her boss, but not really caring. Elena was tired of dealing with all his prying questions and concerned eyes. He had no idea what she was going through. Rufus looked at her a moment and then sighed, setting down his fork.

"Very well. I wish to discuss with you the Gin report," he said. Elena's eyes widened as she took a deep breath, trying to control the panic that was dangerously close to becoming overwhelming. Her heart rate sped up so fast that it felt as though her heart would jump out of her chest.

"I didn't write that report, sir," she said quietly, staring down at her plate.

"I am quite aware of that, but I wanted to hear your take on the matter," he said. "I want to hear from your point of view what happened that night."

"We went to find the headquarters for a terrorist cell, there were some complications and a bomb was detonated shortly before the leader was…killed," she said as professionally as she could muster, her voice getting softer the more she spoke.

"There is something more, isn't there?" Rufus asked, pushing Elena.

"Whatever else you want to know is in the report," she said coldly.

"No, it's not," he replied. Elena sat up and stared at him, frustrated with his line of questioning. She crossed her arms and began tapping her elbow. "Rude and Reno said that you seemed upset before the mission. What happened before you left?" he asked point blankly. Elena glared at him as she fought to force the memories of that day out of her mind.

"That is a personal matter that I'd rather not discuss and has no relevance to that case or this discussion," she said, feeling a headache coming on.

"A personal matter it may be, but it seems to have had an affect on your performance that day, so I find it highly relevant to the case and this current discussion," he said smoothly. Elena looked away, her frail face contorted in pain as she fought down the memories. It killed Rufus to be so harsh, but facing what happened that day head on was the only way that Elena would get passed it.

"It's impossible. We're impossible," echoed through her head.

"No," she whispered, still desperately trying to hold up the walls of her inner prison. "I will not talk about what happened," she said a bit louder, still looking at the ground. Her fair face was flushed as her slight body began to rock back and forth.

"Elena," Rufus said softly as he stood and ran to her. "Look at me," he said, grabbing her upper arms and shaking her out of her agitated reverie. Elena jumped as his touch and glared up at him. She pushed him away and stood, trying to put as much distance between the two of them as she possibly could, all the while struggling to keep control of the situation.

"Don't touch me," she muttered.

"What happened that day?" Rufus asked again. Elena stopped walking and hugged herself. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths, calming herself. The walls of her self-induced prison rose again as she brought her racing pulse down to a more manageable rate. She straightened her shoulders and opened her eyes, fully in control of her emotions. Rufus shook his head, noticing the coldness that suddenly swept through the room.

"Everything that you should know about is in the report. If you insist on knowing more, interrogate Reno and Rude. I'm sure they are more aware of what happened than I am," she said evenly without turning around. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a lot of work that I must attend to." She set off at a brisk walk through the living room, the clacking of her heels resounding off the cold tile.

"Elena," Rufus said quietly. The clacking silenced. "You can't go on like this forever. One day, you will have to face what happened and deal with it." Elena turned slowly, her lifeless, cold eyes falling on the President. There was no reaction in her face to the pleading in his.

"I've already dealt with it, sir. It is none of your concern." With that, she walked to the elevator, entered it and left the apartment. Rufus sighed and ran his hands through his hair.

"This is going to be harder than I thought," he murmured.