LEFT BEHIND

Psycho

June 29 – Reno's Apartment – Noon

Reno frowned at his reflection in the mirror. He kind of regretted getting the rest of his hair cut so short now. He missed his long rat-tail that she cut off, and in a moment of denial and pain, he had told the barber to chop it short. Well, didn't tell the barber really. It was more like he showed him a picture and then pointed to his hair and the old guy did the hair cut.

He still couldn't talk.

There had been extensive damage to his throat but the doctors said that it was healed and that he should be able to talk. They couldn't find anything wrong with it despite how many times they irradiated with x-rays and various other scans.

He still couldn't produce a sound.

He tried. He couldn't even make an involuntary noise! He made Rude punch him to try to get him to make a sound and that didn't work. Why couldn't he talk?

He frowned and ran his fingers through his now short hair. He hated even the way that it felt! It had been a really bad decision to get it so short.

His stomach gurgled. He just woke up ten minutes ago and it was nearly lunch time. He didn't remember if he ate anything for supper the day before.

He found that he slept a lot lately. He knew it wasn't a good sign, but sleep was rather comforting and the only time that his mind was thinking about that god damn basement, the psycho-twins and mini-Sephiroth. The various pills the doctors gave him helped with that as well. He knew he was taking more than they prescribed, but it guaranteed that he was going to stay asleep.

Hell, there was nothing else for him to do.

He closed his eyes and put his hands on the side of his sink.

After he was released from the hospital, he had done the only thing he could think of doing. He went to his little cubby-hole that they called an office and wrote his report. He just wrote down his failure in black and white and handed to a shocked looking Tseng.

"What is this?" Tseng had said as he held the blue folder; Blue folder, because the mission did not get completed.

A failure like he was.

Of course, he couldn't answer and just opened it up to the cover page and pointed out to the due date as well. He wanted to make sure that Tseng knew that he wasn't going to be late for anything ever again. That the report was early and he had handed it in. Two days earlier than it was supposed to be!

The horror on Tseng face had been evident.

It was done, though, and he wouldn't be late with anything ever again.

Tseng told him to go home.

He didn't want to go home. He wanted to work. Rude had to drag him home, force him to take some pills.

Hell, that was even weird. He was pretty sure it was just because Rude didn't know how to deal with his silence, but he talked more than he had ever heard him talk in the past. Reno was pretty sure that his partner felt awkward talking that much and was grateful when the pills knocked him out.

He looked at the clock. He had an hour before his stupid appointment and he doubted that he would have time to eat lunch.

He didn't know why he bothered. It wasn't like he could say anything or had anything to add. He gave the psycho-doc his report and walked out after the first session, but then was forced to go again. Hell, Rude would be here in 15 minutes to make sure that he went.

He didn't want a babysitter.

He went into the shower and let the water wash over him. He couldn't wash his legs. The scars were still there from her knives. He couldn't touch them yet. He knew that was messed up, because they didn't hurt anymore. They were just lines on his legs now, but he still couldn't touch them.

Crap.

He was screwed up.

They psycho-twins had really fucked with his mind. That was the word. Screwed up didn't have to have the same kick as fucked.

He heard a knock at his door through the shower. Rude was early. He wasn't going to get out yet though. The shower felt nice and warm and he didn't want to go to the stuffy psycho-doc's office again.

He heard the door open and knew that Rude had let himself in.

"Reno?"

He would have called out if he had a voice, but didn't even try. He shut off the water and stepped out of the shower. He dried himself off, and just opened the door and gave a small wave to his partner before going into his bedroom and got dressed.

He didn't put on his Turk uniform. He wasn't a Turk when he was like this, so he dressed in some casual clothes. Hell, they were old and he didn't even remember buying them, since he wore his suit all the time anyway, but he wasn't on duty and would most likely not be on duty until he got his voice back.

…if ever.

He walked out and looked at his stoic friend. "Ready to go." Rude said simply, but it was still more than he would have said, if he had his voice.

Reno nodded.

He noted that Rude wasn't wearing his sunglasses.

He stared at him for a moment. "Reno?" Rude was holding the door open. It was odd seeing him without them. He could see the pair tucked in his upper pocket and most likely a spare pair hiding somewhere else in his coat as well, as usual. He must have read the report in the damn blue folder.

He wanted to tell him that it was okay for him to wear the glasses. He wasn't a mako crazed woman with glowing blue eyes that was trying to drive him insane and cut him to pieces. He could handle him wearing his glasses

But he was annoyed and apreciated the effort of his partner at the same time.

He made his feet move. He didn't want to late for his appointment. That was the old Reno. This new Reno would be on time or early from now on.

The drive was brutally quiet and it irked him that he wasn't allowed to drive too! He didn't have a voice, but that mean he couldn't drive. He hated Rude's driving. He drove like a little old lady and obeyed all the traffic laws. His slowness nearly made them late for his damn appointment with the psycho-doc.

It was the type of situation that should have made him curse and yell. Maybe that was why Rude was driving so slowly, but he couldn't even make a peep.

He stormed up to the elevator with his hands pushed tightly in his pants pockets trying to hold back his anger. He was angry a lot now that he couldn't curse, yell, or even talk.

"I will wait for you, here," Rude said and walked over to the coffee shop. He could see his fingers itching for the glasses in his pocket.

He didn't even acknowledge him and just stepped in the elevator and went to the psycho-doc's floor.

Pain

June 29 – Medical Centre – 2 PM

Lore took a deep breath and tried to get his thoughts clear. Seeing his nephew screaming as the pain ripped through him as he visited was getting more and more unsettling. It was so much worse than if it was before. They had done treatments but none of it was working. He wondered if the doctors really knew what they were doing.

And then there was his sister; Lira was turning into a ghost. He had seen her earlier today and tried to get some reason into her head, but she was still mad. In more than one way. She still has delusions of what was going on, even though she herself was slowly dying, never mind how mad she was still about him sedating her.

He was beginning to wonder if he had done the right thing and hated himself for thinking that way. They both were in so much pain. He wished he could call up mom and dad and talk with them, but he didn't dare. They didn't really know how badly Lira had decent into madness and to the extent that she did. He didn't want to worry his parents any further than they already were.

Things were so screwed up.

He stood on the roof of the Medical Center, scared, confused and unsure of what to do next. He had this bit of freedom as long as he reported in a certain times. They were not worried about him running. After all, where was he to go, when those he loved the most were in the care of ShinRa. Errow was out cold from the last painful seizure. They were keeping him in an almost constant state of sedation now and that was painful to see such a little boy so dazed, confused and full of drugs.

He stared out at the city and missed the mountains that were his home. He doubted that he could ever really return. How could he go back home without his sister and nephew? He hid behind an air conditioning unit and stared at the sunny blue sky. It wasn't the same type of sky as home. He thought of that Cloud character and shuttered. The man was ruthless. It was hard not to crack under the guy's stare but he couldn't tell them how he knew the information that he gave them. Cloud was trying to pry it out of him and it was close a few times, but he couldn't betray the trust of his friend. His dead friend. What good would it do to tell them where he got the information from? Tseng surely knew but was looking at him to answer. Or, was Tseng fooled by his own press? Plus, they knew all the information he knew and more. They knew that what caused the degradation in his sister and most likely the pain that was in his nephew, and he didn't know how he was going to make them better. He wished he did. He hoped that they could figure it out so that they both can return to a normal life.

He heard a small laugh behind him. "Ah, I found you." He turned and stood, nearly tripping over his own feet as he did so. An arm wrapped around his waist to keep him from falling. A warm familiar arm that he had missed so much. He gasped at the feeling of the arm and he wanted to turn around to see the owner of the arm around his waist. He was pulled into the chest of the man that he hadn't seen for years. He remembered that feeling and remembered his smell. He started to cry. He tried to turn around but the firm arm restrained him firmly. "I thought you died." He whispered and felt tears coming down his cheeks. "You have been gone for so long." The small laugh sent chills through him. He didn't realize how he had missed it. He heard the familiar phrase being muttered.

Even if the morrow is barren of promises
Nothing shall forestall my return

Prick

June 29 – Medical Centre – 3 PM

Cloud, Reeve and Tseng just had to be standing by the elevator. They must have been having another meeting about the psycho-twins and the mini-Sephiroth.

Reno did not want to deal with them.

The psycho-doc made him write the answers to all the questions that he asked and they were all stupid questions too. He hated that psycho-doc. He really did.

He didn't want to deal with those three. He didn't know why Cloud was even still around. He thought he would have bolted once his muscle was no longer needed, but obviously, the spiky headed hero still was obsessed with Sephiroth; even if it was only the spawn of the silver headed terror.

He could have handled it if it was just Tseng. Tseng would have just nodded at him and asked him how he was doing. He would have nodded and just got Rude to drive him home where he would take a couple of pills and take a drink of something that he shouldn't have and go back to sleep.

Reeve would suddenly become obsessed with his phone and ignore him. He could handle that.

But Cloud. Cloud would stare at him with those damn mako eyes of his and smirk. Being rescued by Cloud, as glad as he was, was not the best situation for a Turk to be in.

It was one thing that he was constantly beat down by the man, but he didn't need to be reminded that it was Cloud that had bust through that door and seem him trussed up like a pig in the corner, helpless and pathetic. And it was Cloud damn glowing eyes that were judging him and reminding him also of the psyco-bitch who had tortured him.

Yeah. Psycho. He just realized that he was applying that word to pretty much everything now. It seemed like a good word to use.

Tseng spotted him before he could hide.

Damn it.

He didn't like how his boss was giving him a pathetic, how-are-you smile and are-you-feeling-better look mixed with he-is-really-messed-up eyes. "Reno," Tseng called and walked towards him.

As predicted, Reeve became very interested in his cell phone. He didn't even it hear it ring as he started to press buttons on it.

Cloud gave him a strange look that he didn't know how to read. Was it pity? Damn it, he didn't want pity. Especially from Cloud of all people!

"You are going home, now, correct," Tseng said as he approached. He knew the words could be a question, but it was more of a command coming from Tseng.

He nodded. He was sure that Tseng was well aware of his sessions. He was a Turk, even though the doctor said that it was all private, he knew better. Tseng would get the file and most likely used it for bed time reading.

"Still can't talk, huh?" Cloud said.

He just glared at Cloud. And what was with the clothes that he was wearing? What happened to all the leather that he used to wear? The man still wore that damn sword dangling off his back but he was just wearing jeans and this sweater that belonged on some GQ model or something. What the hell?

"I guess that is a yes," Cloud said with a smirk and amused look that was even in those glowing eyes.

Reno clenched his fists.

"Hair looks a little thin there," Cloud said.

Okay.

That was a low, low blow.

"Easy now, Reno." Tseng said and put a hand on his arm.

He shook off his bosses touch and gave Cloud the finger. At least he could communicate like that. His message defiantly got across but not now he thought it was going to be received. He though it would piss off the ex-SOLDIER, but it seemed to amuse him more. Damn him.

"It is so quiet around here now. I guess I should have gone for your throat," Cloud said.

Okay. That was it. Reno swung and Cloud easily moved back and… and that damn idiot laughed! Laughed. He really wished he had his weapon so he could give the spiky hair freak a curl to his hair with his EMR!

He swung his leg, trying to take down the man but he easily jumped out of the way.

"Prick."

Tseng made a gasping sound.

Cloud laughed.

He stood there stunned. Did he just say that? He opened his mouth and tried to say it again, but it didn't work. He put his hands on his throat to make sure that it was throat. It was his voice.

"Need me to piss you off again?" Cloud laughed at him.

He talked. He called Cloud a prick! How come he couldn't say it again? He tried but it didn't work out.

"You'll be back to insulting me in no time," Cloud said. "Of course, then I will really go for your throat to shut you up."

"That is enough now," Tseng said regaining his composure. "Reno?"

Reno just blinked and pointed to the elevator. He wanted to say that he was going home now. He tried to make his throat work as he walked to the elevator. Oblivious to how they were looking at him at that point and not caring how others were looking at him.

Reeve was saying something. He really did have something happen to his phone and was showing Tseng the information that was there. Tseng was frowned heavily at whatever it was on the phone and so did Cloud.

He didn't really care.

He talked.

And an insult!

He was starting to feel better!

To Be Continued….

Next Chapter…Breakdown & Rebuild