Chapter 49! Whew I had a bit of trouble getting this chapter to come together but I truly hope it does the Turks justice. Please let me know what you think of my characterization of Rude. Thanks for continuing to come back and read this story.

Disclaimer: Square Enix owns everything to do with Final Fantasy.


Reno stood silent at the cave entrance. The Turks weren't sure if there would be any difference security wise since it was daylight though it had been clear when Yuffie had infiltrated the other evening that security was pretty much non existent. But then again if there had been someone guarding the entrance they would have been discovered long ago. It had been a reasonable risk to take and it was a perfect set up; a in a cave in the Wutai mountains. According to the WRO it had originally been what appeared to be an old secret shelter of some sort but they still didn't know if the Wutai people or some other people such as the Cetra had made it and for what said people would have needed the shelter for. Reno frowned, how many secrets did the planet still have waiting to be unlocked?

Elena moved toward the small bolder Yuffie had observed being lifted the other evening and uses the password in the key pad behind. A green light illuminated from the key pad and they felt a rumble around them. What appeared to be a solid cave wall started to slide out of the way. Tseng went in first and steps onto a lift, and once no apparent booby traps went off Elena and Reno move on to the lift as well.

Tseng then pulled out the blueprints courtesy of Yuffie and began to study them. The plan was simple, split up; one taking the main floor, finish downloading all research and information that wasn't able to be extracted before and dispose any Jenova's Hope members left . The other two would go to the lowest floor to rescue Rude.

As the lift stops on the main floor Tseng gives a nod and heads off. Elena and Reno continue down until the reach the lowest floor. Reno instinctively grips his rod weapon a little tighter and Elena puts the silencer on her tranquilizer gun. Reno can't help but smirk on how things have changed. Turks now go for capture instead of the kill.

Elena headed south and Reno headed north. It is becoming harder for Reno to keep his nerves in check. The area was damp and poorly lit with rats and insects crawling around. The hallway if you can call it that had different rooms with nothing but a bed, bed pans and bars to hold them in...terrible conditions for anyone to be in. Reno wondered if this was made originally to hold those who caused trouble in the shelter all that time ago. He moved on as stealthily as possible until he observes a man sitting outside one of the rooms at the end reading what appeared to be a magazine. Reno's heart began to pound so hard that he was sure the guy would hear it.

Reno carefully casted sleep and was to the guy before he fell of the chair. He moved him to a spot semi hidden and then tied him up and gagged him just in case the spell wore off too early. Reno glanced around and found the keys half out of his pocket. He grabbed them and turned back around to face the room the guy had been guarding.

Reno let in a short quiet gasp upon seeing his friend and partner. Rude was laying on the bed. The sheets were filthy and the room smelled of urine and blood. Rude's face showed a swollen right eye, bruises all over it...all different colors giving away that he had been beaten more than once. His face also revealed another truth, it was noticeably thinner from the last time Reno had saw him. His cheeks were sunken in a bit and his neck did not appear as thick as it usually was.

Reno felt like he had just been punched in the gut, and in a way he had been. Reno had allowed himself to be happy with Tifa, had been able to enjoy all the perks there were to be Tifa's lover...and seeing Rude like this confirmed one of his biggest fears, while he had been in heaven...Rude had been in hell.

So many emotions, rage, fear, sadness, disbelief, it all came crashing on him at once, his hands were shaking so bad when he tried to open the door he actually dropped the keys.

"Son of a bitch!" Reno yelled, angry at himself for allowing his emotions to show.

"Is there really a need for name calling?" Reno froze at the sound of the deep though hoarse voice he knew all too well.

The relief to hear his partner's voice, confirming he was alive crashed over Reno like a wave.

"Rude..."

Reno finally got the door open and ran to his friend, catching him just in time as he tried to get up on his own. Deep down Reno didn't know how he should behave. Should he be serious? Should he crack a lame joke? For having envisioned this moment over and over again, he was at a complete loss on what to do or say.

"Easy partner, I've got you." Reno said soothingly.

Rude let out a slight grunt momentarily hinting at his discomfort. Reno would put money that he had broken ribs.

As he lead Rude out of the room he made the decision to try and distract him as much as he could from his friend's pain and discomfort.

"You know buddy, I figured you for some kinky shit but maybe next time we find you a nice girl and skip the full on torture and being a lab guinea pig" Reno said coolly.

"Bite me." Rude's voice was completely monotone.

"Nah people would talk and I have to do all I can to protect your reputation." Reno said smugly.

"Sometimes I really hate you" Rude said warily.

"Oh please you know you missed me. I mean who else would be willing to help carry your smelly, heavy ass out of this god forsaken place."

"Elena" Rude said without missing a beat.

"Laney? Please she would not want your sweat all over her designer blouse, plus let's be real you'd smoosh her like a bug. Face it your the not so fair...dick in distress and I'm your -"

"Very lacking in charm wannabe prince."

"What do you mean I'm lacking in charm...I AM charm baby, charm and charisma...oh speaking for royalty...Yuffie actually became the princess of Wutai officially. Can you believe that shit?" It was technically a cover to draw out Jenova's Hope but still; I know it's hard to picture that sassy pain in the ass as a princess but it happened."

Reno stopped his babbling for a moment and he could hear Rude's labored breathing. It was taking everything he had to walk with Reno out of this place. Hold on Rude, almost there.

"You know." Rude said gruffly, "I am beginning to think the torture of this place was less painful than having to listen to your motormouth."

Before Reno could retort both he and Rude heard "RUDE!"

Reno looked up to see their blond headed coworker and friend running towards them.

"Oh my god Rude thank goodness you're alive we have all been so worried!" Elena said excitedly.

Rude could only glance up as Elena took his other arm and put it around her shoulder.

Once again Rude grimaced for a moment but then seemed to be relieved to not have to work as hard to get out of there.

Elena began again. "Rude it's Elena."

"I know. I'm afraid the blond hair and boobs were a dead giveaway."

Elena looked over at Reno smirking a little, "Well that snark confirms he's fully conscious."

"It was touch and go there for a moment", Rude wheezed. "I thought Reno may put me in a coma with his incessant babble."

Elena snorted out a laugh.

"Oh screw you Rude..you know Elena I think I am about to feel a sudden wave of fatigue and will have to abandon the cargo."

Elena continued to laugh, "Man I have missed this."

Reno gave Elena a smile, she had taken the words right out of his mouth. Even though the circumstances were shit...this was how it should be, the Turks together helping each other with whatever mission they were on at the time. This was where he belonged. He just prayed that he wouldn't have to give up Tifa to keep them.

No, somehow he would find a way for it all to work. The people he needed in his life, it would not be an either/or thing.

"Enjoying ourselves?" Elena and Reno jerked up to see Tseng calmly standing at the lift, his hands behind his back staring at them with no expression.

"Sir!" They all exclaimed as that stopped in front of him. Tseng walked up to Rude, and then they all witnessed something extraordinary...a big smile and what appeared to be genuine relief.

"It is damn good to see you Rude." There was just a hint of emotion in his voice.

"Likewise sir" Rude forced out. You could tell it was beginning to hit him that he was truly rescued...truly back with his friends.

"Let's get you out of here, Rufus has just arrived with a chopper to fly you to the nearest hospital till you can be moved back closer to the WRO." Tseng stated.

Tseng came over to Reno so he could take over.

"Reno will join us as soon as he can, but first he has some unfinished business to attend to."

Reno just nodded, his demeanor immediately turning from elated to sullen. Professor Iotola.

Rude looked up at Reno knowing exactly what Tseng meant. "Hey, give him hell for me too."

"You got it partner."

As the lift started back up Rude spoke again.

"Reno, I knew you'd find me."

The three then disappeared out of sight and for a moment Reno almost broke down, genuinely touched by Rude's faith in him. But now was not the time to feel, it was time to begin the final part of the mission...show Iotola exactly what happens when you cross the Turks.