Chapter 8
Lao Anne had just finished drawing blood from Giovanna when Reno came in holding a white paper bag. Giovanna smiled at Reno and propped herself up in bed. She took her vile and hurried away leaving Reno to glare at her a bit suspiciously.
"What did *she* want?" Reno asked incredulously.
"Just to take some of blood. Don't worry hun...one little needle isn't going to hurt me."
"Yeah..." he replied still a bit suspicious. The black-haired woman wasn't one of the nurses from last night. But he tried to dismiss it as him being overprotective.
Giovanna changed the subject. "So what's in the bag?"
"Oh just a little breakfast for you, " he answered with a sly grin.
She took the bag and peered inside. She gasped as a heartfelt smile spread across her face.
"These ar...were your favorite muffins since you were three."
"Banana nut raspberry."
"Banana nut raspberry," they both exclaimed with some excitement.
"They're still my favorite, mom."
Giovanna was surprised that her son had changed so much since she'd last laid eyes on him but something so trivial was still the same. They talked as she ate the muffins.
"How did you sleep last night?" he asked.
"Just fine knowing my baby was ok after all."
Reno blushed a bit. He hadn't been referred to as *a* baby in ages. The whores he fooled around with had called him baby out of the moment or while trying to earn a wild night.
She continued after swallowing, "I can't believe they sent you to that horrible orphanage for all those years. I'll make all of this up to you, I promise, Reno."
"The only thing I want you to do is get well so we can pick up where we left off." He sat down on the edge of her bed slowly. "Besides, a real son wouldn't have given up on you, " he added, sort of under his breath. But his mother heard it and frowned.
"We'll make this work, sweetie. It will take some getting used to on both of our parts but it will work." Another warm smile appeared on her face again as she took hold of his hand. "Rule number one: never mutter under your breath to your mother...they always hear you."
This brought a real smile to his face. For the time being Reno actually felt as if this *was* going to work.
A little while later Dr. Naid came in with Giovanna's progress reports. He explained that she had been in stable condition since last night and hadn't found any long lasting affects.
"We want to keep you another night just to be on the safe side but if all is well, you can go home tomorrow morning."
He took one last look at the monitors and went next door to give Casca her update. Reno kissed his mother goodbye on the cheek and left to go find Rude and Elena.
He found them in Reeve's office discussing the equipment found in the underground lab. Elena and Rude turned when Reno came in. They both held the same question in their eyes.
"How is she doing?" they both voiced simultaneously.
"Whoa whoa! How about 'good morning Reno. Did you sleep well?" he replied sarcastically.
"Well it's a good question, Reno, "Reeve spoke.
Reno took a seat on a small sofa against the wall.
"The doc said she's stable and doing good so...tomorrow morning she can probably come home."
"That's great news, "Reeve stated.
"Yeah, great. But what "home" are we talking about?" Elena asked.
Reno shrugged indifferently. "Well, I figured she could move in with me considering..."
"You've got to be kidding Reno! That apartment isn't fit for a Bandersnatch, not to mention your own MOTHER!!"
"Listen Elly, my place isn't that bad. It may be a little...confused, but I can fix it up by tomorrow morning."
"Reno's right, Elena. Cut him some slack," Rude said.
"All my 'partment needs is a little Mr. Clean."
"Yeah ok. We'll see tomorrow morning, " Elena challenged.
"You're on..."
"Guys, there are more important things at hand, "Reeve intervened. "Rude and Elena are going back down to get some info. You want to help?"
"Nah. According to Elena my apartment isn't "fit" for my mom. I have some work to do. I should be back in a few hours though."
"You mean a few days, " Elena muttered under her breath.
Reno pretended not to hear. "Good luck down there. I'll see ya in a few."
Reno made one last stop with his mother to let her know he'd be gone and drove home.
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Cloud and Tifa looked up from their places on the sides of Casca's bed. At her request, they had been telling her all they knew about Aeris and what kind of a person she was. This was the only way that she could know Aeris although it hurt. Cloud and Tifa mentioned a Elmyra Gainsboro. If she had taken care of Aeris as a child then Casca just had to meet her, and thank her for taking care of her niece.
Dr. Naid came in with a report similar to Giovanna's.
"Good morning, folks. Miss Ristine, you've been doing really well. Blood pressure's normal, life signs are strong and stable. Just like Miss Hstadin next door, we'll keep you one more night to be safe and if all is well you can go home tomorrow morning."
Casca let a sad smile grace her features. It was good that she could go home but where was "home"? If what they said about her being underground for twenty years was true, her home probably wasn't even there anymore.
After the doctor left Casca voiced her thoughts. "I know this is a lot to ask after all you've done, but could you guys put me up at an inn until I get back on my feet again. I really have no where else to go."
"Nonsense," Tifa waved it off dismissively. "No relative of Aeris is staying at an inn while our doors are always open to her. We don't have much room but you can stay with us and when you're ready we'll take you to see Elmyra."
Cloud nodded in agreement.
"Thank you so much. Aeris has chosen her friends very well."
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Reno closed the door to his apartment and surveyed the mess. It wasn't all that bad. Nothing Reno couldn't handle. He took off the jacket to his uniform and hung it on the doorknob. With a sigh he trudged into his living room. The carpet was pretty dusty and dirty magazines littered the couch. As he took another step forward he heard the cackle of a crushed beer can.
Looking around there were smudges on the pale blue walls, some clothes on the floor near the TV, and a box of condemns on the coffee table. It would be a good idea to star here and work his way to the other rooms.
He went to the kitchen for a garbage bag. After collecting the beer cans and bottles he tied up the full bag. He stacked all of his precious magazines into a cardboard box and placed it on the shelf in the hallway closet. He got another bag for the paper and empty bags of chips. With a damp sponge he wiped the smudges from the walls and windows. Finally, he brandished a Dirt Devil and vacuumed every inch of carpet.
Now that wasn't so hard. But his bedroom was next.
He started by changing the royal blue sheets on his bed to a pear green. After gathering all the loose clothes in his room in a hamper he trashed and miscellaneous junk. The shower in his bathroom was a bit grimy. Grey soap scum hugged the crevices between the baby blue tiles. Reno turned his nose up in digust.
Grudgingly he grabbed a sponge from beneath the sink and some powder detergent and went to work. By the time he cleaned the whole bathroom it was well past two o'clock. He hadn't even cleaned out the spare room for his mother yet!
He took a quick beer brake and headed to the back of his apartment to a pine colored door. This room was what he usually used for a storage area. Most of his junk was here with years of collected weapons. There were boxes of anonymous items he didn't even remember where he'd acquired half of this junk. Well, it was back to the kitchen for more trash bags. He ended up trashing everything except his weapons, which he also stored in the hall closet next to his box of magazines. He also vacuumed this room and when he finished it was goo as new. Only there was one problem: no furniture.
He hated decorating. But he had to make this room livable.
/Maybe Elena can help me... /
That thought ended when the thought of her sneering at him for not being able to do it himself. No. Elena would be the very last person he asked for help. Rude might be an option but he was helping Elena back at headquarters. Not that Rude had any interior design skills anyway. He had seen his apartment...everything was either white or black.
He guffawed as Cloud's name entered his mind.
/Yeah right. /
Well, Tifa was the only reasonable choice. He didn't mind her company and she probably had some taste. Reno grabbed his PHS.
"Hello?"
"Hey Tifa..."
"Reno!? What do you want?" she asked a bit annoyed.
"I need your help with a little something."
"And what might that be?" she sounded suspicious. "If it's the least bit perverted I'm hanging up and changing my PHS number."
"No no, nothing like that...sheesh. My mom's comin home tomorrow and I need help with her room."
"I'm not your private interior decorator, Reno."
"I know...just help me. I figured you'd know somthin',"
"Cloud and I are kind of busy helping Reeve."
"Please, Tifa? C'mon," he pleaded with her.
She let out a defeated sigh, "Ok, I'll help you."
"Thanks Tif."
When Tifa came to his apartment she was stunned at the order of it all. She went to the back room turned to Reno with aggravation.
"Where's the furniture Reno?"
"That's why I need your help."
"I'm not doing all of the work for you. I just thought you needed some advice." She turned and left the room.
"Where are you going?"
"WE are going to Andy's Department Store to get your mom some furniture."
Reno followed her out with a grin.
/She's actually going to help me. /
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