It was eleven thirty. Rude struggled as much as his wound would allow against his captor. Reno writhed on the floor. The wound in his shoulder had already weakened his system so the symptoms had come on fast. Rude knew he was trying with all his might not to show the pain, but his thin body was beyond his control, tears ran freely from Reno's eyes and he gasped for every breath.

The men had found the serum fairly quickly, it hadn't been hidden after all, but they just stood watching in sadistic pleasure as Reno's body moved uncontrollably.

"His heart will stop." Rude said, his voice faint. He himself was barely holding on, his wound had drained a lot out of him.

"Then tell us what we want to know."

"Fuck y–"

Reno screamed so loud everyone stopped and watched as his back arched off the ground. It didn't end either, after he ran out of breath he just gasped and kept going.

"Ivan...I don't think he'll last," someone warned.

"TELL US!" Ivan screamed at Rude who swore and tried vainly to break free.

"Reno!"

Rude heard his weak voice echoed by another much stronger and clearer and everyone turned to the door.

No one could move faster than the petite blond woman who stood in mako-enhanced fury, eyes blazing blue with rage and hate and vengeance. In one swift motion her gun swept the room, dropping each man, Ivan last.

Rude rolled free of his captor's hold and fell painfully on his stomach. He couldn't move, he could barely see, but high heeled shoes swept past his face and he watched their saviour rush to his partner's side.

"Reno." Eve repeated much quieter now that the room was silent save for Reno's cries and laboured breathing. She scooped up the syringe and knelt as she had those other times, straddling his flailing body.

He only saw her when her weight had settled on him and he took a last gasp. He didn't feel the needle plunge into his heart, he didn't feel anything but cold darkness and then he was still.


Reno sat up gasping when he woke. He looked around confused. It wasn't his apartment, it was the medical room. It was mostly trashed, but a few instruments still whirred. He was on a cold metal table, his bare back sticking to it with his sweat. He lifted a hand to his chest, and felt the raised bruise from where the needle had been driven between ribs. But he noticed a second mark, still burning, in his left arm.

"Adrenaline." Someone said and his eyes worked their way up to that beautiful, familiar face.

"Eve..." he breathed, eyes locking on hers while his whole body froze in shock.

"I had to wake you up. Too much is happening, I couldn't keep carrying you around."

"Eve." he just repeated. "Eve!" Reno shot off the table and pulled her into him.

"Not now, Reno." she pulled back, though she couldn't hide her smile. "We have work to do." she pressed something cool and metal into his palm. He looked down at the gun.

"What's going on? What happened to Rude?"

"The other Turk was alive when I left him in that room."

"We have to help him."

"No Reno, he'll survive, but only if you help me."

"What?"

"Those men that had you, they were the ones that took you back at my place, Froshi's men."

"I know."

"And now they want to take down Shinra."

"So what are you doing here?"

"I had nothing when your boss dropped me in that village. I needed my men back, but I had no means, so I kept tabs on Froshi and when I heard they were breaking in here, I tagged along– not that they knew that."

"To get your men?"

"Yes. They made a clean break."

"Then what are you still doing here?"

She paused, then stared at him seriously. "I heard you screaming."

He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. Before he could think of anything, the double doors to the med lab burst open and they were forced to duck for cover behind the table.

"The whole place is locked down." Eve hissed to him. "If we want out, and you want to save your friend, then we need to kill Froshi and his lieutenants. It won't be easy."

"What about the Turks and the Soldiers?"

"You have no idea how large Froshi's organization has become. I had no idea– until tonight. He thought of everything. I'd doubt if anyone is left other than us."

"Wh-what?" His eyes flashed panic and she quickly gripped his shoulder.

"Stay with me Reno. You can do this."

He watched her stand fearlessly and fire at the enemy. After a moment, she lowered her arm.

"Come on, Reno." She offered a hand. He stared up unmoving so she knelt back on the floor before him and brushed his sweat slicked hair behind his ear. "Reno, I said, come on." Gripping his hand, she pulled him to his feet. She watched the competing feelings flash through his eyes– fear and pain, but equally the desire the save his friends, and those old Turk instincts to fight. Eve just waited and then felt his hand tighten in hers.

"Okay. Let's go."


"Rude..." someone dropped heavily beside the prostrate Turk and his eyes fluttered open. He had no idea how long he'd been out.

When he opened his eyes he felt a sort of deja vue, nearly seven months ago the same face had looked down on him in the desert. But it had not been covered in sweat; blond tresses had not been drenched in crimson. Cloud was on his knees, his sleeveless sweater unzipped and it was clear it had been thrown on last minute before dragging himself here and after he received the several cuts and gashes on his torso.

"Cloud..." Rude tried to sit but couldn't.

"Here." Cloud pulled him upright, hurting both of them in the process. Rude could see Cloud's right arm had been badly injured, shot at least twice. But he'd bandaged it up with something. Cloud got Rude propped up against the couch and now the Turk could see Tifa as well, but she lay unmoving

"What happened, what time is it?"

"It must be around two in the morning. I don't really know. I kept fighting them, but there were so many and Tifa was dying."

Rude's eyes widened and he looked at the girl on the floor again.

"Is she...?"

"No, but she's barely alive. She needs help but the whole place is locked down and full of those people."

Rude nodded. "They want to take the element and crush Shinra once and for all."

Cloud looked around the room.

"Reno?"

"I...I don't know, it's a blur. They wouldn't give him the serum. I thought we were both dead...but they must have taken him."

Cloud nodded. "Can you hold a gun?"

"Yeah."

Cloud reached for one of the guns left strewn among the bodies and handed it to him. Then he reached for Tifa and slid her as gently as he could up to Rude. He placed her head in his lap and Rude draped one arm around her protectively, the other resting on top to keep the gun steadily trained on the door.

"They already checked these rooms, all they saw were bodies and they left so they assume this wing is clear." Cloud explained. "Stay conscious and keep your finger on the trigger."

Rude nodded. "What's your plan?"

"I'm going to end this, and get her help." He stood, his sword dragging along the carpet until it was straight and he leaned on it for support. "Where d'you think the boss'll be? Rufus's office?"

"No. They're looking for the element."

"And?"

"Third sub-level lab. There's a secure elevator in the north wing but they've probably got it covered. Use the back entrance– four rooms further, in the closet of the bedroom there's a stairway. It leads straight to the high security section of the lab– where the element is being tested."

"Okay Rude."

"And Cloud."

"Yeah."

"Cut through the courtyard, the dark'll keep you covered and less chance of running into enemies that way."

"Okay, thanks Rude and I'll be back."

"Keep your eyes open for Reno."

"Will do."

Cloud took a moment to zip his sweater and glanced one last time at Tifa's pale form in Rude's arms before moving to the patio and slipping silently into the night.


"Its Cloud, he's alive." Reno breathed, looking at the wall of monitors over the shoulders of two dead infiltrators.

"Strife? I thought he would be the first one they'd want eliminated."

"Well it looks like they gave it one hell of a shot." Reno pointed to a screen and she saw the warrior sliding through a broken window from the courtyard. His sword seemed to be weighing him down and he half stumbled when he landed in the hallway.

"Well I guess he won't be much help."

"Oh, I don't know." Reno began with a smile. "He has been known to save the planet from total destruction once or twice before..."

Eve raised and eyebrow but returned his smile.

"Come on." he took her hand again and she lead him from the room but it was him who lead her down the hall. "The elevator?" She whispered but he shook his head.

"No, I'm sure they've found that, its not hidden or anything. But the lab is sectioned in two. The element can only be reached from one side."

"Then lead on."

They snuck down the dark hallway in complete silence. There were guards on the elevator but they never noticed the pair that slid easily into a room and shut the door.

"Over here." Reno motioned, Eve still had her gun on the door, in case they'd been spotted, but now she watched Reno move behind the desk and open a closet door.

"What is it?"

"This is the way down, look."

She approached and saw the spiralling metal stairs leading down deep, reminiscent of those in the old facilities in Midgar. But Reno must have been reminded too, because all of a sudden he stopped and looked at her, his eyes edging on panic when they had just been confident and caught up in an adrenaline high.

"What is it Reno?"

"You did this didn't you?" His voice was barely audible but filled with a devastating note of horror and betrayal.

Eve remained steady and calm. "What do you mean?"

"When we first met. You made me think you were my doctor. Then, all those months, getting me to trust you, then getting caught by the Turks so they could find me. You did this to me! You planned this so you could come back here and get me to lead you straight to what you want!" He slammed the door shut and fell back against it, gasping and clutching his stomach.

"Reno, don't be ridiculous. It's been months, I couldn't possibly create something that elaborate."

"No, its not ridiculous, it's the truth isn't it? These are your men aren't they?" He was screaming. Their cover was blown, men burst through the doors, but a second later they fell dead. Behind them the blond boy from Nibelheim panted heavily before shutting the door again.

"It's not ridiculous." Cloud said approaching and holding out his freshly blood-stained sword. "It sounds exactly like you. You broke him down so you could use him. You sick bitch."

Eve stood between them, frozen by Reno breaking into a full-on panic attack on one side and Cloud holding the deadly sword on her other.

"It's true...it's true..." Reno gasped and repeated. His breath was shallow and quick.

"He's having a panic attack, he needs help." Eve urged Cloud.

"He'll live. You won't." Blue-green mako flashed in Clouds's eyes behind the blood red bangs and he attacked. Eve fired.

The battle was quick. Eve's bullet sang against metal and ricocheted into a wall. But she threw her gun down and to Cloud's confusion only met his blows defensively. He saw the flash of mako in her too, and she matched his speed, in fact, she was faster. His wounds were a huge disadvantage and she had been untouched. Even if she had no sword, it only took a few hits to his wounded arm to loosen his grip and then he was on his back, his own weapon at his throat.

Cloud stared up at her, trying to read the woman about to kill him but he never expected her to toss his sword aside and turn her back on him. She hurried back to Reno and Cloud sat up and watched her cradle him in her arms.

"This proves nothing!" Cloud declared when he collected himself and his sword and came to stand over her. But she now had Reno pulled tight against her and ignored his anger. "You need his help, you would never get it by killing me."

"I don't care what you think." she responded. He wanted to retort but watched Reno's hands tighten around her even as he sobbed that she had done this, that she was behind all of it.

"Shhhh Reno, its not true." She whispered, pressing her cheek against the top of his head. "Think about it...think about all that time and tell me again that I'm behind all this."

He was struggling for breath against her but she forced his head back to look her in the eyes.

Cloud watched, torn. He wanted to rip her off of him but the way she stroked his hair and rubbed his back seemed to be helping him slow his breath. So he just waited.

"Did you have Len killed?" Reno gasped.

"I asked you a question first, Reno. Do you think I would have killed him?"

"I don't know."

"Yes you do, Reno. You know more than you think. You are stronger than you believe. And no matter what you think, you are a Turk. So tell me what you know. Am I Len's murderer? Did I do this to you on purpose? Or is it possible that I really did just hear your scream and when my men were running for freedom, I stopped and came back for you. Is it possible that I got myself trapped in here saving you and now you and I and what's left of the swordsman are all that are left to stop Froshi and get out of this place? Tell me Reno."

His breath had calmed now and he looked to Cloud for help but she wouldn't let him take his eyes off of her. "No, decide for yourself, Reno." She ordered.

After a silence, he answered. "Yes, you did this to me." She said nothing but her shoulders dropped slightly and he chest fell. "Things changed after you took me to your home. I know you never meant for anything that happened after that. But you did make me into this." He raised his shaking hands as evidence as if she didn't already know what he meant. "But no, you didn't kill Len. Yes, you saved me from Froshi's men. Yes, you developed feelings for me. No, you didn't want me to be agoraphobic or have anxiety problems or become a hermit, but yes, you were ultimately responsible. No, you didn't organize what happened tonight. But yes, you would take the opportunity to get the element."

"Would I risk your life to get it?"

Reno watched her. "No."

"Then you have it perfectly right, Reno. You think you are lost but you aren't. That mind of yours is as sharp as ever."

She stood, Cloud tensed but waited. Reno rose as well. "Are you sure?" Cloud asked.

"If I can't trust myself on this, then everything I said about dying is true, Cloud. But if we make it out of this, if I made the right decision just now, then believe me, I don't want to die. I want to live everyday to make up for what's happened in the past, but I don't want to lay down and give up. So please...trust me too."

Cloud relented after a heavy sigh. "Tifa is dying. She needs help fast."

"Then we'll get it to her as soon as we take care of the Bastards downstairs." Reno turned to the door once more and opened it. One by one, they slipped onto the metal stairs and made their way down.


Fewf, emotional, well, at least for me, haha! Just 2 chapters left! I'm getting really sad that its almost over :( This was probably the hardest scene for me to write in the whole story because I wanted to get Reno's thought processes and reactions just right (and everyone else too!)

Thanks for reading and let me know what you thought,

Riza.