Part three
Reno was running through every room of the lab, trying to find out where the creepy scientist called Hojo was hiding. The maze of this floor wasn't helping. He finally found the man in the experimentation room, scribbling on a clipboard.
- Professor!, the Turk called, you have to go check on Sephiroth, Tseng say he's having an attack!
The scientist turned sharply and bolted off the room, leaving a young blond boy on a steel table, wired to almost more machine than the General. Although he was sleeping, the boy looked fine. After several seconds of staring, Reno followed Hojo. When they stepped in, Tseng was trying to revive Sephiroth. He had his hands placed firmly on his chest, pushing in rhythm, hoping to stop the incessant flat tone of the cardiac monitor. Hojo rushed to the monitor, inserting a medical bolt materia in one round slot.
- Step back…
The materia lit up, sending a sparkle in a little wire connected to an electrode. After several sparkles, the flat tone subsided to a regular beeping.
- You two are going to stay here and cool him down. All I need is few hours. I will have what he needs to recover then.
******
Two hours and a half later
- What are you doing to HIM?, yelled Zack, Why can't he wake up?
- Because I don't want him to wake up!, retorted Hojo, His body needs to be in a perfect condition to produce the antibodies I need to cure the General!
- Then tell me why he is whriting in pain???
- I had to inject him JENOVA cells and a sample of the new virus. That way, he can produce the remedy. Of course, it doesn't go without minor complications...
- MINOR COMPLICATIONS?!?
Zack was now pacing the lab furiously, watching his friend fight back the deadly infection. He had developed a fever and was twitching on the table. The incessant beeping was interrupted when a computer connected to a bloodstream analyser announced:
- Synthesis complete. Presence of hybrid A detected.
Hojo took a step back, clipboard in hand, noted few data and shut himself from the world by taping on his laptop. Zack sighed. Let's hope it's for the best…
******
- Reno… Reno, wake up…
The redhead opened his eyes and frowned at the sheets Tseng was handing him.
- It's your turn. Go warm them up.
Reno stood and stretched before taking care of the bundle of sheets. Why did they put the dryer so far… Hell it's boring. He listened to the humming sound of the dryer, twirling his ponytail with his fingers. At least it was giving something to do. As he was to retrieved his 'laundry' he saw a dark-haired man carry the blond boy who was with Hojo some hours ago. He quickly made his way back to where the General rested and with Tseng's help, they spread the warm blankets over the man.
- Tseng, you think he will go through this?
Tseng was about to answer when Hojo broke in, looking quite worn out. Reno stepped out of his way, letting him install another perfusion into the General's wrist. The clear liquid made his way through his wrecked body, diffusing the antibodies in the bloodstream. Hojo checked the readings, tubes and electrode that covered his patient. Tseng remarked the weariness of the scientist, he surely had no rest for a very long time… Why is he so concerned, anyway? His question should never be answered as Hojo left them alone again.
******
- Zack?
Cloud looked around him in a confused way, he couldn't see anything. He noticed it was warm on his back, not lying on a cold metal table anymore, guessing that Hojo shouldn't be around. The damn freak seems to like the fact I'm terrorised by needles… he thought.
- Zack? He called again.
- Mmmm…
- Zack!
- Itai!!!
Zack swatted Cloud's hand away from his hair, rubbing his scalp. Cloud spooned closer. He was feeling weak, emptied from his energy. Zack softened a bit as Cloud nuzzled his chest.
- Don't strain you too much… Hojo almost sucked you dry. You want something to eat?
- No… I just want my share of the blanket. Did it worked?
- What?
- Sephiroth… Is he ok? Last time, when you were in hospital, Hojo said I had developed the antibodies against the virus… Hojo did it again, he made me developed them again? Did it worked?
Zack pulled him closer and drew the blanket over him. Cloud was already drifting back to sleep, worn out by a lack resistance.
- I don't know… maybe we'll have news tomorrow.
He watched the sleeping form in his arms few minutes more, listening to his calm breathing, wishing that Sephiroth was better. Don't you dare getting worse after what Cloud endured for you…
******
Few days later, Tseng and Reno were still stuck in that room, but now Tseng was looking like the usually ruffled Reno and Reno, well, looked like himself three times worse. They were spread on the floor, sleeping (well three days of guard duty tended to make you sleepy). A deafen moan woke up Tseng who stood up and walked to Sephiroth's bed. He was twitching in his sleep, perhaps even dreaming… The Turk removed the breathing mask from his face, and he became still again. Welcome back to the living world, Sephiroth…
He kicked Reno a little and the redhead groaned in protest. Tseng sighed and headed out to find Hojo. The scientist was asleep against a metal table, still clutching a clipboard with his left hand. Reluctantly, Tseng shook him lightly. Hojo jerked awake and glared at the Turk, demanding explanations.
- Sir, sorry to disturb you, but the General, sir, the General is breathing again…
- Unng… It's about time, the scientist grunted picking up a sampler kit, I will run some tests…
Hojo leaded the way back to Sephiroth's room. Reno was still on the floor, mumbling some curses when Tseng kicked him again. The professor rummaged around the bed, removing all that wasn't necessary anymore and picked a blood sample. And then, all of a sudden, he looked at the two Turks and /smiled/, not his usual predatory smirk, but a genuine one.
- You can take him to his quarters, now. He's confined to bed, though, so find me the SOLDIER who first came with that thing to take care of whatever he needs.
Reno stepped out of the Professor's way as he brushed past them. He was about to ask his boss why in hell Hojo, of all people, had just /smiled/ at them like that when he noticed that something was happening. Tseng was staring right in front of him, something that looked like a goofed smile plastered on his face. Reno's eyes widened when he saw Sephiroth propped himself on his elbows to ask in pure confusion:
- What are you staring at?
End of part 3
Author's note
YAAAAAAYYYYYYY!!! Seph's awake!!! ……… Cloud is in one piece!!! Welllllllllll, I'm wondering… Should I write a lemon for the next part, or would you like more a sweet shonen-ai instead? Such a beautiful threesome… Well, tell me what you want to read, I'll work on it! ^_^