Chapter 14
Sirens
Tifa had been kept in the dark she didn't know where she was exactly she knew thought she hadn't left the stables though and she was not sitting in a dark room with no idea what was going on. She had heard the last shot go off, from the minute the first shot was fired fear filled her heart and she had to hold onto the false hope that Cloud hadn't been shot and that it is Rufus that is lying on the floor bleeding.
Tifa ran to the door and banged on it and after only a few seconds Rude opened it, looking up into the bright light her eyes finally adjusted and saw Rude standing there and Reno just a few feet away on talking on a cell phone. Rude unlocked and opened the door to the room that Cloud was being held in and allowed Tifa to enter first and then he followed in behind leaving the door ajar. Light poured in from the open door providing the only light in the room. Tifa saw Cloud lying on the floor surrounded by a pool of by the looks of it ever growing blood, she ran to him and lifted his head into her lap and caressed his blood stained face and tears started welling up in her eyes and slowly the tears began to roll river like down her cheeks landing on Cloud's face.
"Oh Cloud I'm really sorry" she sobbed
"Teef hush now it doesn't matter what does is that both Rufus and Hojo are going to get what they deserve" Cloud weakly whispered
"No it does I can't lose you promise me you will stay with me" Tifa sobbed
"Teef I promise" Cloud weakly agreed and slowly and wincing in pain he lifted his arm towards Tifa's head and pulled her closer, their lips met and Tifa's tears became heavier, she was so scared that this kiss was going to be his kiss goodbye, his last kiss and as they broke away, Cloud's eyes closed and his breathing slowed but a smile graced his lips.
"Cloud!" Tifa shouted through her tears, he didn't response but his little smile grew a little bigger, Tifa relaxed a little and then Reno entered the room.
"Right the ambulances are on their way" he declared
"Well then go look out for them!" Rude shouted, Tifa had forgotten about him until now and looked over to him to find him kneeling over Rufus's bloody body, Rufus though wasn't as hurt as Cloud was, sure he had been hit in the shoulder or was it his chest, Tifa wasn't overly sure from his position he was in where exactly had been hurt but with the way he held his hand over his left side of his body she figured it was there.
"Sing to me" Cloud whispered softly.
"What?" Tifa asked
"Sing that song from that book you told me about" Cloud weakly said and then coughed
"You mean the meadow song?" Tifa cried and Cloud nodded slightly
"Deep in the meadow, under the willow
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow
Lay down your head, and close your eyes
And when they open, the sun will rise
Here it's safe, and here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet
and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.
Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray
Forget your woes and let your troubles lay
And when again it's morning, they'll wash away
Here it's safe, and here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet
and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.
Here is the place where I love you" Tifa sang through her tears that continued to flow from her eyes. The room had fallen silent as she sung she had the voice of an angel, and as the seconds ticked by the room remained silent besides the sound of both Cloud and Rufus' laboured breathing.
"IN HERE!" Reno's voice called from a little way down the corridor and the sound of several pairs of feet where heard making their way toward the room that Cloud and Tifa were held in. When Reno and the paramedics entered Tifa was begging them to save Cloud.
"Teef, listen it's alright they'll look after me" Cloud whispered reaching his hand out to Tifa, Tifa took a hold and grasped his hand like it was the only thing that would keep Cloud with her.
An oxygen mask was placed over Cloud's mouth and he was carefully lifted onto a stretcher and his wounds had been cleaned and had dressings on them to help with the bleeding. Once he had been carried out the room, Tifa followed and left the injured Rufus behind her hoping that she would one day block the events of this day out of her mind forever.
Zack and Aerith had been standing at the entrance of the stables by the ambulances that had been called praying they weren't for either Cloud nor Tifa, but when Cloud was led out on the stretcher they gasped, they knew he had been shot, the shots had echoed around the stables no doubt startling some of the horses as well as people.
"Zack" Cloud called weakly
"Yeah what is it buddy?" Zack walking along side his stretcher
"Go to Tifa's house... and you know... the potted plant... near her... bedroom well there's... something there I... want... it may be hidden but... I need it" Cloud breathed, Zack nodded and taking an upset Aerith's hand he lead her back into the stables to find Barret.
Tifa sat in the back of the ambulance clutching Cloud's slightly extended hand singing to him as many songs she knew over and over even when they arrived at the hospital she stayed by his side singing until she no longer was able to stay by his side.
Tifa's wait in reception was dreadful and after 5 minutes Rufus was wheeled passed her, his eyes had seek out hers and when they met Rufus smiled and it chilled Tifa to the bone and she didn't realise she had been holding her breath until someone tap her on the shoulder.
"Tifa how is he?" Reno asked looking at Tifa with downcast eyes
"I don't know they won't tell me" Tifa sighed keeping her eyes on the floor, Reno felt dreadful he didn't know that Rufus was so twisted and he was guilt ridden from following his orders.
"Excuse me are you Tifa Lockhart?" a feminine voice asked, Tifa looked up to see an auburn haired women in a police uniform looking down at her.
"Yes?" Tifa whispered
"I'm Cissnei Shuriken; can I speak to you about the events of tonight?" Cissnei greeted, Tifa nodded and stood up and followed Cissnei towards an office that had the name Cid Highwind printed on. Cissnei closed the door behind Tifa and directed to take a seat, Tifa sat herself down in a large leather chair and twiddling her thumbs until Cissnei began her questioning.
"So Tifa is it true that you have found information on Rufus Shinra's dealing with the scientist Hojo is that correct" Cissnei began.
"Yes I found documents a few years ago" Tifa explained
"A few years ago then why didn't you do anything about it then?" Cissnei raised an eyebrow
"Because just after I had found the documents he had come into his office and attempted to rape me" Tifa added as fresh tears began to form in her eyes.
"Then why did you not come to the police force when that happened"
"Because I had just lost my father who was killed in the Sephiroth incident back then and I just couldn't go back to the station, the last time I was there was when I had just been told my father had been killed and I was really left homeless that the main reason why" Tifa sobbed
"Alright I buy it so what happened after you had made the announcement and had been dragged away?" Cissnei questioned
"Well I was pulled away from Cloud, tied and taken to a room and once there untied and left in the dark" Tifa began
"And what happened after that?"
"I heard Cloud call my name and I called out to him, he was in the room next to me and then I heard gun shots, I had been told around a week ago if I didn't break up with Cloud he would kill him and since I told everyone which I had been told not to do, he of course shot him" Tifa was rambling now and had a steady flow of tears running down her face.
"Alright Miss Lockhart, you're free to go" Cissnei sighed opening the door.
Tifa made her way back to reception and she had been hoping for some news but she still got nothing from any doctor but she did have several pairs of arms waiting for her and the first set of arms she ran to was Zack. Zack blushed and smirked his usual way to try and break the tension.
"Have you heard anything" Barret asked placing a hand on Tifa's shoulder
"No they've been keeping me in the dark I haven't been anything" Tifa sighed
"Right that's it" Barret said and walked off
Minutes later Barret had returned with a doctor in tow.
"This is doctor Cid Highwind and he is caring for Cloud now Cid tell Tifa here what is happening with Cloud" Barret grumbled
"Well Cloud is in a rather critical condition and he is being prepped for surgery" Cid declared
"Anything else?" Barret raised an eyebrow
"I'm afraid that's all I can give you for now" Dr Cid said and left
Poor Cloud any guess to what Cloud has asked Zack to get from the plant? I love the Hunger Games I really do saw the movie this week twice and loved every second of it even though there where a few things wrong but they were little things anyway I added Rue's lullaby the Meadow song from the Hunger Games as that is a very emotional sence I was in buckets when I read and saw it so it felt right to place it into this chapter after all you can't not feel the love that Cloti have for each other - Yay for Dr Cid and Cissnei oh god it's funny to think of the foul mouth poilt a Dr but I wanted to have some fun with the roles of the characters as well as have a serious side too.
I want to thank all of you that have read and most of all reviewed this it really does mean a lot to me as I always feel I have really nothing to be proud of but you guys out there have made me very proud of myself for a once in my life I have very few things to be proud of and I can't thank you enough for making this one of them