Guest: Thanks for the hug! Hug back! You really think she made Seph a better man? That's a lot of cussing! :P Haven't decided what to do with Gen yet, we'll see how the story goes and what Eden gets herself into :P Thanks for reviewing!

Kei: Haha! Love that it made you laugh! Everyone seems to hate Elena now, which is funny because everyone was also vouching for Eden to grow up :P I'm so glad Ollie is back too! I really missed writing him, he makes me smile :) The reprimand is coming right up! Thanks again for reviewing! You're one of those people's reviews I look forward to every chapter :P

Chapter 185

"Don't do that again." Reno faced me once he felt we had gone far enough down the hill. "You could've gotten yourself killed. Or us."

Who was he to tell me what to do? "It's not my first rodeo, Reno, I've been in this game nearly as long as you have. I'm not a noob."

"You acted like one. You're in a team now. Got it?"

His current mood was in huge contrast to earlier this evening, and I decided I didn't like it. "I love it when you get all bossy with me, Sir."

"I ain't playin' around," He tried to sound serious, but I noticed the impish smile that was forcing its way onto his face, no matter how he attempted to hide it. "You're gonna make me look bad."

Now, this was better. "I'm not one of you guys, I'm just used to doing things my way." I shrugged. "But if that's what you're asking of me, then fine. I'll try and work as a team. Don't expect me to suddenly be a good girl, though. That's not gonna happen." As soon as those last words left my lips, I knew it was a mistake. I'd already guessed his attitude with me had changed back to the way we were before all this, and I should have known better than to taunt him. He'd always loved to vex me at every chance he got.

"Awesome," The smile finally broke through, turning from impish to wretchedly roguish. "Though on a personal note, watching you go wild out there was kinda hot. You definitely ain't a good girl."

I felt my face flush. "Right," This was my own fault for throwing out the bait. "Thanks, I guess. You're not so bad yourself." I cleared my throat at the self-satisfied look on his face. "I suppose Tseng is going to hear about this from Elena, huh?"

"You can bet on it." It seemed to annoy him more than worry him, and he became a little more serious.

"She was out of line," I reassured him, just to let him know I was on his side. "Besides, she wanted to run right back to Tseng to see if he was okay. If your judgment's clouded, then so is hers."

He gave me a crooked smile. "Yeah, she was outta line... but, don't worry 'bout me, it ain't my first rodeo either. I've handled worse than Elena's anger. Take yours, for example. As long as she doesn't shoot me, it can't get any worse than that."

"She might yet." I shrugged. "So what's this crap about Vincent, huh?" I asked him flat-out. "You really said that to her?"

It seemed he hadn't expected me to have the nerve to confront him about it. His eyes went wide in surprise for a moment, before his blue gaze fell to the ground, searching for something around my feet. "I just figured... ya know. With you bein' so close to him an' all..."

"I'm close to a lot of people." I looked away from him, getting angry over the fact everybody seemed to think I was some kind of cheap thrill. "I was close to Zack, and I'm close to Ollie, even Cloud. Doesn't mean I sleep around with them. How could you think that?" I realized I was actually hurt, that he would think that of me. I wouldn't care as much if everyone else thought so, but it hurt me that he would. The last thing I wanted was for him to think that I had used him for a good time. Though truthfully, that had been all that I had expected, since that might be all I was going to get from him.

"I said it when we parted three years ago, when..." He cleared his throat. "I was angry, said thing I shouldn't have."

"It's not high-school, Reno!" I argued. "I don't do things like that. With anyone."

He looked at me and sighed reluctantly. "I'm sorry about sayin' that, okay? But this doesn't change anything, ya know."

"What doesn't?"

"What happened tonight...with...us. It doesn't mean anythin'."

I felt the blood rise to my face, but refused to look away. My eyebrows rose in shock, a thing that rarely happened to me. Even though I had expected it, it hurt me to find out that I myself had been nothing but a good time. "Doesn't change anything? It doesn't mean anything?" I felt a little awestruck. So, I had just been a cheap alcoholic thrill, one that he didn't get the chance to finish. But if that were so, then it was my own fault. I'd known what I was doing. I'd dived right in knowing that maybe it would only be a one time thing, because we had both wanted it. I took a deep breath to calm myself. I couldn't blame him for this.

"Yeah, we both agreed to stay away from each other." He explained, as if I needed reminding.

No, I didn't blame him, but that plan had failed abysmally. "Uh, right, that was hardly what I would call 'staying away from each other'."

"I thought you just wanted- It's a good thing we were interrupted, then." He said instead, not finishing what he had initially wanted to say. A blush appeared on his cheeks. Apparently, he was sober again and had come to his senses.

The truth was, I had only made this worse for myself. I'd thought that maybe getting rid of this tension would make things easier, but the moment he'd told me it hadn't meant anything, I felt like getting stabbed in the chest. Again, this was my own fault. I would never learn to think passed the next two seconds. The things Reno said were painful, but I couldn't force him to be with me if he didn't want to. He'd told me so many times before now, how could I be so stupid to jump him like that? I had only ended up hurting myself. I would keep my hands to myself from now on. I could only hope he would do the same.

"Well, I got mine anyway, so, who cares?" I crossed my arms over my chest with a smirk, pleased with the incredulous look on his face.

We were distracted by the sound of footsteps coming our way from the darkness.

I took a gun from my holster as a precaution, and was relieved to see it was only Tseng, followed by Vincent, and not far behind, Rufus.

Rufus' white suit was immaculate, his blond hair neat as ever. His double barreled gun was in his hand, as if ready for more battle. At first my eyes were drawn to the arrogant look in his eyes, but then they snapped to his side, where padded a dark, large animal. Its black body was shaped like that of a cat, but as large as a tiger's. The head was a cross between something feline and canine. Instead of a tail at the end of its back, where it was located in most mammals, it protruded from the back of its skull, lazily swishing side to side. It sat itself down beside Rufus as they came to a halt.

"What in the world is that?" I gasped at it, hoping it wouldn't eat me alive.

"Dark Nation," Rufus replied simply. "He's my pet. I expect you to treat him with care and respect. He will be staying inside the house with me."

"Oh, sure," I grumbled at him, not caring he used to be self proclaimed leader of all the world. "I have plenty of rooms anyway, let's all just stay at Hotel Eden." Only then did I notice the grave expression on Tseng's face. "What's going on?"

"Who died?" Reno asked jokingly, seemingly having noticed too, but being less tactical about it.

"No casualties," Tseng replied, serious as ever. "But..."

"What is it?" I whispered, afraid to ask. The atmosphere shifted significantly. "Spit it out."

Vincent stepped up beside him, face blank as always. "... It's Hancock."

I took a step back in shock, the ground disappeared from under my feet. Charly was hurt? This wasn't happening! "...What?"

"Ah, shit." Reno cursed softly.

Now he suddenly cared? Charly had been his mentor, took him off the streets as a young boy and taught him everything he knew. But, nearly three years ago, Reno sold him out to Shinra for being a traitor to the company. Which, to be honest, he was. But, still. This only showed once more how dedicated Reno was to his job.

"What happened?" I demanded.

"He was shot in the back." Tseng explained. "We found him too late to provide proper care. He'd moved in on his own against the Deepground invasion in Edge, before we or Cloud could get to him. They took him to Healin'. I don't know the prognosis, Eden."

"I need to go to him." I said, already starting back to the house.

"You have a job to do here, Fox." Tseng said, coming after me.

"You can manage without me."

"We need you on this one. These are no ordinary men and women we're up against. Cloud barely managed to hold them back in Edge, even with our assistance. You're SOLDIER."

"I'm not," I spun around to face him. "I'm a deserter and a fugitive, remember? Charly is like a father to me, Tseng. I'm not abandoning him. I'm sorry, you can't talk me out of it." I ran up the hill, Reno in hot pursuit.

"Foxy, wait."

"What do you care?" I asked him while marching on, Tseng, Vincent and Rufus left forgotten.

"Wha..? Of course I do- Hey hold on." I felt his fingers close around my wrist and he held me back, forcing me to look at him. What I saw surprised me. There was genuine concern in his beautiful eyes. "He took me in when nobody gave a damn about me. So yeah, I care, and I wanna come with ya, but I need to oversee the extraction and talk to Tseng. In about fifteen minutes, this mountainside is gonna be crawling with suits." For some reason, I always thought Charly cared more for his ex-pupil than the other way around, but it seemed I had been wrong about that. Maybe Reno selling out on Charly had really just been because it was his job. Something he loved hiding behind back then.

I wriggled my wrist out of his grip. "I never asked you to stop doing your job." I replied sincerely. "You do what you have to and I will do the same. That's the way it's always been, hasn't it?"

He shook his head in an amused way and looked at the ground. "Yeah, guess so."

"I'll give him your regards." I told him. "He'll like that. Anything you'd like to add? Hugs, kisses?"

"Get outta here, Foxy." He chuckled before looking at me with a hint of expectancy.

Instead of acknowledging this, I left him standing, but I did notice the flash of disappointment in his eyes. I pushed down the need to analyze his response. Whatever it was that was now going on between us, it would have to wait. There were far more important things going on right now.

The drive to Healin' was a fairly short one, but I was worried enough to chase my bike over the twisting, dark roads, pushing it to its limits. Some of the turns I took were so close to the edge of the ravine that my tires caused a small landslide of rock and dirt. The roads curved through the mountains, leading me passed the Shinra cabin first, where I had spent one night last year. It got confiscated by Shinra when Midgar was no longer an option as base of operations. Over the passed year, they had taken up offices in Edge too, which was now considered the new HQ, meaning they were now stated in Junon, Edge and Healin'. I felt it wouldn't be long before they were stationed all over the planet again. For once, I didn't seem to mind.

Beyond that was the Lodge, built along the mountainside, like my own house in Whiterun, not far from here. This part of Healin' was just an infirmary, once renovated specifically for people with the Stigma. The building had once been a luxury resort for the elite. Since the Stigma was fully cured, the infirmary was used for the more, say, 'privileged' people amongst us, meaning Shinra employees, or other important people. It was a good thing that Charly was now considered important, because there was no other place in the world he would receive the level of care he was getting here. Patients had their own private rooms, visiting hours were all day, and every patient got their own personal nurse. Healers were top of the line and staying at a five star spa was nothing compared to this place.

When I reached the round concrete building perched on the mountainside, I parked my bike at the beginning of the gray gravel path leading to the large front doors. There were patches of grass along the path, wooden tables scattered here and there, abandoned this time of night. I imagined patients sitting outside during the day, enjoying a smoke or simply the sun.

Right now, I was unable to enjoy anything at all, until I knew everything was going to be all right with Charly.

At the desk, the nurse didn't even look up from her work when I asked her what room Charly was in, and I walked up the stairs and down the hall towards his room with lead in my shoes.

Once I reached the door, I closed my eyes for a moment, preparing myself for anything, knowing there were some things you couldn't prepare for. I took a deep breath and knocked, before slowly opening the door.

He was lying on a bed, awake, but weak looking. I had never seen him like this. Jolene was by his side, holding his hand. Her eyes were dry, yet glassy and a little swollen.

His fingers were hooked to sensors and there were pads on his chest, connected to a heart monitor. I had no idea what it all meant, but I was glad they were keeping an eye on him. Seeing him like this made me want to cry, but I grit my teeth and bit the tears back down. This man had been like a father to me over the passed years, had been a shoulder to lean on when I needed him. Unbreakable and proud. Now he seemed little more than a helpless victim. I had to try and be strong for him.

"You scared me there, old man." I smiled at him sadly and sat down beside his bed, opposite Jolene.

"Scared meself too." He grumbled, though his voice was a lot less powerful than it usually was.

"What do the healers say?" I asked him, inwardly bracing for the worst possible outcome.

"Me back be broke'," He said, a little venom in his voice. "I never be walkin' again."

I squeezed my eyes shut and swallowed hard, having to digest that very bitter news. "Maybe Shinra-"

"Don' be wantin' no Shinra," He growled and looked at Jolene. "Don' be needin' 'em ta be helpin' me wit' 'em techs. It be over."

"Charles," Jolene started and reached out to him, putting a hand against his gray cheek. I envied the love they had for each other. It was so obvious by the look in her eyes that she would trade places with him in a heartbeat.

"Jo," He addressed her lovingly. "Can I be havin' a mo or two wit' my second favorite lass in da worl'?"

She stared at him for a while, as if wondering what he was up to, before finally nodding her head of wild red hair. "Of course." She got up from her chair and with one last pleading look at me, she left us alone.

I was about to open my mouth to say something consolidating, but he beat me to it before I even took a breath.

"Imma be needin' ya ta be honest now, ya be hearin' me?" A bit of his former strength seemed to have returned to his voice, and I knew that hope wasn't yet lost for him. He may have said it was over for him, but I didn't believe it one second. I nodded, showing him my sincerity. "Wha' woulds ya be doin' if you was me? Da truth now."

Before answering, I took a moment to mull that over, and wondered what he was trying to say. If I ended up paralyzed from the waist down? I didn't even want to imagine ending up in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I couldn't sit still, I couldn't stop fighting. He was the same, even though he was long passed his retirement age. Even that was evidence that he needed challenge in his life. What would I do if I were him? Would I even want to continue living? "I think..." I started, fearing the words I wanted to say. "I think I might kill myself."

He grunted something unintelligible, looking away from me. "I knew ya be understandin' me...Jo won'. She not be da same as we...I can' be doin' dis, lass. Can I be countin' on ya?"

For a moment, I froze, trying to process what exactly it was he wanted from me. It took almost a full minute of his expectant staring, before it finally dawned on me. "You...want me to kill you..?"

"I be wantin' ya ta puts a bullet through me skull." His face was dead serious, no doubt in his eyes, only determination.

He was asking me to kill someone I cared about like a father? I stared back at his face and then I knew why. There was no one else he would trust with this matter, because he knew I would feel the same if I were in his shoes. He knew I had what it took to do what's necessary. Which I would, if I saw reason in his plead. "Charles, let's not be rash now. This happened only today, who knows how you feel about this tomorrow. I'm not going to shoot you dead here in the hospital. I need you to give this time and not make any hasty decisions." He wanted to open his mouth to argue, but now it was time for me to take care of him for a change. "No, you listen to me. What would happen to Jo? She will love you even if you're in a wheelchair. And I will annoy you even if you're in a wheelchair. Ollie, well, I get you might want to kill yourself to get rid of his obnoxious presence, but you've managed for this long!" I didn't want to shout, and I tried hard to keep my voice level, but I needed to get through to that thick skull of his. Even if he had a point that I might be the same, rushing into things is not something that I have ever been proud of, nor has it ever paid off for me. He of all people should know that. "I'm not doing this, Charly. Give it some time." I said again.

"Goddamn ungrateful..." He looked away from me in anger. "Then get ou'."

I would take him being angry with me, or even hating me over him dying, any day. As far as I remembered, Charly had never actually been pissed with me, but I could tell that this time I had crossed a line with him. On the other hand, he may be more sensitive at the moment, and I may be a little more emotional than usual. I felt sure this would blow over and he would see reason once the dust had settled. "If that's what you want," I got up from the chair to leave. "Reno sends his regards. He wanted to come along, but we had an attack in Whiterun too, so he had a job to do."

"'Course he do," Charly was still looking away from me, his jaw clenched in frustration, angry tears running down his cheek.

"I'm sorry, Charles," I said and leaned down to press a kiss to his forehead. "We'll talk about this later."

When I arrived home very early in the morning, it was still dark. The bodies on the road were gone, and there was no trace on the crossroads of Shinra or Deepground having ever been here, apart from a fresh helicopter that now stood waiting to the side. The trees had been doused of their flames and the only thing that remained was the carcass of the burnt out chopper, adorning my lawn like some macabre science project.

I'd had a very busy night, but barely three hours had passed since I woke up from that sound on the roof. I felt exhausted and emotionally drained, not to mention confused over everything that had happened, including finding myself half naked on a bed with Reno. It amazed me that so much could happen in only three hours.

When I steered my bike up the hill, Reno already came hurrying out of the door, no doubt having heard me coming. He jogged to a halt when I turned off the engine. I felt less embarrassed seeing him than I'd thought I would, and I was glad for it. The less awkward things were between us, the better.

"How's he doin'?" I could sense his urge for good news. He really was concerned for Charly, and I appreciated it. He wasn't wearing his jacket and seemed to be slightly shivering in the chilly night breeze.

"Not good," I replied darkly, rubbing my hands over my face to stay awake.

"Please tell me he ain't dead." He looked as tired as I felt. He'd had a very busy night too, after all.

"Bullet pierced his spine... He'll be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life."

"Ah, dammit." He cursed softly and looked away. "How's he takin' it?"

"He isn't," I said, still sitting on my bike. "He asked me to shoot him."

"What?" Alarm flashed over his features. "Did you?"

"Of course not," I replied, feeling slightly offended. "Told him not to slapdash this. He got pissed with me, but I really don't give a shit. I-" We were interrupted by a car speeding up the hill, coming to a halt behind us. The headlights blinded us both and we held up our arms to shield our eyes. Then the door flung open and out stepped Jolene, her red hair tangled and wild.

"Eden!" She called to me in such blind panic I vaulted off my bike, letting it topple over onto the ground in my haste to get to her. "Oh, Eden!"

"What is it, what's happened?!" We grabbed each other by the upper-arms.

"Eden, please tell me you didn't promise to shoot him. Tell me you didn't! What were you thinking! How could y-!"

"Jo!" I yelled over her. "I never said that! I wouldn't do that!"

"But he said you would!" She sobbed. "He said-"

"I won't, I promise, I won't..." I shook her, trying to make her see sense.

She swallowed hard and looked me in the eyes. "You... didn't?"

"No, I didn't."

"Oh, thank the Gods... that man! He- I... I need to get back to him. I'm sorry, Eden, I thought..." She yanked me into a quick embrace, got back in her car and raced off.

"Uhhh..." Reno sounded slightly uncomfortable. "Who was that?"

"Jolene. She's Charly's...lass." I explained, while deep in thought. Charly was alone at the hospital now and if anyone was as foolhardy as me, it was Charly. Being alone in his current mindset was a bad idea.

"Never knew he had one," He seemed impressed. "Seems like his type."

"I need to go back," I turned to face him, ignoring his statements.

"Huh? Why? You just got back. I really think ya oughta get some rest, babe, you look dead on your feet."

I gave him a knowing look, hoping the Gil would drop. "You know him just as well as I do, Reno. He shouldn't be left alone right now, if he finds his way to a gun-"

Understanding washed over his features before I had even uttered the word 'gun'.

"Lemme get my jacket, I'm comin' with you." He said and dashed back to the house.

"You're needed here." I argued, making him call to me over his shoulder.

"Tseng's here now, I can be missed for a few hours. They'll let us know when we're needed for the briefing." He halted on the porch steps and faced me. "Charly's always been like a father to me too, Foxy."

"I know that, but-"

"Besides, always said I wanted you to take me for a ride on that bike of yours." He pressed, making me half-smile, while he hurried to the door. I hauled my bike back up straight and straddled it once more.

He was back in no-time, seemingly very eager. "Oh, man," He groaned in excitement. "I finally get to be on this mean thing."

I eyed him amusedly.

"I'll be a better passenger than Ollie," He told me, as he took his seat behind me. "I swear I won't hurl when you break the speed-limit."

"Be careful what you wish for." I warned him, making him chortle and readjust a little. After tying my hair to keep it from whipping him in the face, I roared the engine to life. He placed his hands on both sides of my waist, pressing himself into me a little more than necessary. I revved the throttle, making the back-end break out and trace a half-circle mark through the dirt. The only reaction he gave, was his grip tightening on me in surprise. He really was a better passenger than Ollie, who would have either fallen off or would have been screaming bloody murder.

Maybe taking Reno with me wasn't such a bad idea. Maybe he could convince Charly where I couldn't. Reno was much calmer about these kinds of things, probably better at conversations too. He had great people skills, something I felt I lacked. I just pissed people off, apparently.

Hoping to make this right for Charly, we shot off down the hill, leaving behind a large cloud of dust.