Reno's search for alcohol hadn't been successful. He'd complained about it at length until Rude had returned from receiving treatment. That was when Cloud had finally stormed off and left them to it. Tifa had a feeling he'd been unwilling to leave her on her own with Reno.

He'd barely spoken two words. Even Reno had given up taunting him.

She'd made herself comfortable at a window seat in the airy room and was now sipping idly at a cup of tea. The Turks were deep in conversation, analysing the papers they'd spread out on the table between them in the centre of the room. They'd been at it for an hour now, having pointedly negotiated their currently privacy with one of the hospital staff. With the light breeze ruffling her hair it was almost peaceful.

She pictured the burning wreck of the helicopter. Almost.

It occurred to her that she'd never seen Reno work. She'd seen him fight plenty of times—actively fought him on a few occasions—but she understood now that the Turks were more than just Shinra's hired muscle. The sarcastic smiles and witty banter had been replaced by a determination to work out what the hell was going on; strategies were agreed on, notes were made, orders were given.

She'd heard people refer to him as sir before and had thought it odd, amused that the man could possibly be in charge. Seeing him now she realised he was more than capable when required. There was clearly a reason he was second in command.

"We need to get forensics down here to look at the chopper," he continued, frowning at the papers that were scattered over the table in front of them. "Need to know if it was a timer or a remote."

"I'll call it in," Rude replied.

"A remote's a warning. If it's a timer we're just fucking lucky."

"Security detail's on route. E.T.A ninety minutes."

"Good… Set up a perimeter sweep first and then I want patrols starting here and here…" He grabbed a pen and scribbled something on the map in the centre of the table. "Three men to a team. Four hours on, two hours off. And slug-rays in this area."

"Think they'll try again?"

Reno shrugged. "I would. We use the slugs to keep this section cut off and that can be our base for now. If she comes back it's a bonus. We'll be ready for her."

For all their joking around at the helicopter it appeared they were taking the threat of another attack far more seriously. She felt apprehensive. So far they'd been vicious and erratic, apparently lacking any pattern or warning signs. How was it possible to defend yourself when the threat could come from any angle?

She supposed that was why they cracked jokes and taunted each other. Cid used to do it too, when he was preparing for a battle. It was a barrier to the uncertainty of knowing this could be your last fight.

Rude flexed his fingers carefully. The nurses had gotten him fixed up pretty quickly; although his jacket and shirt were beyond repair. Both men were sitting in their shirt sleeves, and Tifa could see the white bandage wrapped around his arm, just visible beneath the charred hole in his black shirt.

"The Director's not going to let anybody near Elena…" Reno said, deep in thought. "If Valentine brings Wallace back here we can set up a proper base. We'll sweep the President's cabin. Use his terminal to access the databanks at HQ. It's a pretty sweet set up when you think about it."

"I'll get somebody on it. You think Valentine will cooperate?"

"He was a Turk," Reno replied grimly. "We can't split between the bar and HQ. Too many chances. He'll get it."

"What about the cabins?"

"We'll take these four. And I want another team patrolling this path here." He tapped a point with his pen. "We can keep an eye on things then."

Rude scrutinised the map and frowned. "Strife won't like this."

"Strife can bite me. We don't leave until we have a location on Erin. Draw her here."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Yeah…"

"What about the President?"

"I don't know." Reno shrugged. "He's in the photos."

"He could be a target."

"I'll speak to Tseng. See what he thinks."

Reno stretched, yawning widely. The movement exposed the hard planes of his stomach beneath his untucked shirt. Her eyes were drawn to the chiselled lines of his abs, tapering tantalisingly towards his waistband.

When she tore her eyes away she realised he was watching her. He raised his eyebrows, grinning suggestively. She looked away quickly, face burning.

She thought of the kiss; so brief and arrogant. She should've been offended by the assumption he'd made. She wasn't; he'd just left her craving more.

She turned her attention back to the window, smiling into her teacup. A familiar head of blond hair caught her attention, down on the path below.

Distracted from more dangerous thoughts of Reno's physique, she headed out of the canteen and into the grounds. It didn't take her long to catch up to him.

"There you are." She stood beside him on the path.

He turned away from the view, leaning against the railing with his arms crossed. Tifa could tell by the grim set of his jaw that he was still angry. His eyes were cold.

"Talk to me," she said quietly.

"No."

"Is this because of Reno? You need to learn to ignore him."

"Not happening."

She sighed. "Why do you hate him so much?"

"Why don't you?" he countered darkly.

"People change."

She turned and leaned on the railing, staring out at the landscape below them. The treetops rippled lazily in the breeze and there was a definite chill in the air. She shivered and folded her arms, tucking her hands against her body for warmth.

It was a while before he spoke again. "He won't."

"You haven't given him a chance," she countered.

"He doesn't deserve one."

"He's trying to help us."

"You can't trust him," he muttered.

"I'm not having this conversation again," she said firmly. "We're on the same side."

She looked up at him. His eyes were hard; his brow drawn into a scowl. His lips parted as though he was going to speak but he sighed instead, turning his body to lean on the railing beside her. They stared in silence at the pretty scenery, the small distance between them feeling like a chasm.

"What's happening to us?" The tremor in her voice betrayed her.

"I don't know," he said quietly.

"I think you do. You just don't want to tell me."

A wry quirk of his lip reassured her slightly. Hope wasn't completely lost.

She tentatively leaned her head against him and wasn't surprised to feel his arm stiffen at the contact. The pain she usually felt when he shut her out had dulled to an ache; like applying pressure to a bruise. She waited, patient as always, until the tension drained out of his arm.

"Are you happy?" he asked.

The question surprised her. She inhaled slowly, thinking it over.

She imagined Reno's lips pressed against her skin; his needy kisses and wandering hands. It had been a long time since she'd felt wanted like that; not overlooked or treated like a second thought but wanted.

She ached to feel it again.

"I wasn't," she murmured. "I think I could be though."

"Do I make you unhappy?"

All the nights spent wondering where he was; all the mornings waking up to his empty bed. Smiles not given, touches not returned, and words not spoken. She'd honestly believed that he was her future; that if she just waited long enough he'd realise she was there. He'd broken her heart a thousand times and she'd just kept smiling and searching for the pieces.

Do I make you unhappy?

The words died on her lips. She'd allow him this immunity from what he'd done, knowing full well that the road ahead of her would hurt him more than her words ever could. Guilt swayed her, blurring her resolve.

She watched the shadows in the trees, thinking of blue eyes and needy kisses.

Her resolve strengthened.

"I miss this," she said, gesturing at the verdant landscape in front of them. "I miss the trees. The travelling. I can't just take off when I've had a bad day or disappear for weeks when things get difficult."

He stared at his hands.

"Barret's fighting so hard for this perfect world for Marlene," she continued. "I can't just walk away when there's homework to help with and meals to cook. Everyone else is out living their lives and I'm stuck here waiting."

"I didn't know."

"I didn't tell you." She'd allowed this to happen, always being the one trying to keep the peace. "People are used to me being there. And then they're angry when I'm not."

"I'll talk to Barret."

"No. I'll speak to him." She needed Barret to understand things from her perspective. "We've got a lot to talk about."

"It wasn't fair. What he said at the hospital."

"No it wasn't." She picked idly at a knot in the wood beneath her fingers. "But life isn't always fair."

Silence resumed, as uncomfortable as it was unwelcome. She wondered whether this had been a mistake. Perhaps she should have left him to work it out by himself.

The ends of her hair whipped in the breeze. It was picking up now, shaking the trees beneath them and bearing the promise of a storm.

"I did this."

"No you didn't."

"I promised I'd be there when you needed me."

The spite in his tone cut at her. Was that the only reason he kept coming back? A promise made when he was barely a teenager? They'd both been through so much since then; it should have only made them stronger. Instead it was breaking them apart.

"And you were," she said softly. "When it really mattered you were there."

"Are you saying this doesn't matter?"

"Of course it does," she cried, exasperated. "But you can't always fix everything."

"I can try."

"Maybe." Her smile faltered on her lips when she saw the pain in his eyes. "I've gotten a new perspective recently. Sometimes you've got to look out for yourself, you know?"

"You shouldn't have to," he muttered.

"No. But that's how it is."

"I did this," he repeated, angrier this time. His knuckles were white on the railing. "I pushed you away."

"I'm still here Cloud. But we're not kids anymore. You can't protect me forever."

"I can."

"I don't want you to," she said. "People change. I've changed."

"I care about you."

His words came quickly, an exhalation of breath.

"If you cared why didn't you stay?"

"Tifa… I lo—"

"Don't," she said; voice hollow. "Don't you dare."

She felt the icy fingers grip her heart. Words she'd waited so long to hear, falling on deaf ears. She wanted to run but her feet were frozen in place.

He reached out to touch her and she stumbled backwards.

"I saw you with him," he said quietly. "In the photos at the cabin."

Realisation hit her like cold water.

Suddenly it made sense; his temper, his cold eyes. His sudden ability to find the words she'd craved for so long. He didn't mean any of it; he just didn't want Reno to have her.

Anger bit through her.

"Do you care about him?"

"I don't know," she replied defiantly. "Maybe."

"Don't do this." His voice was flat. "Not with him."

"I haven't done anything."

"You kissed him!"

"He wanted me!" She was shouting but she didn't care. "I kissed him because he wanted me!"

The words were like a bullet; she may as well have struck him. He backed away from her, eyes cold.

"I'm done."

"No Cloud," she said; voice far calmer than she felt. "I'm done."

She headed for the hospital, leaving him alone.