Chapter 17-

Time to Do Something Impractical

"I don't mind

I don't mind no I

Laugh enough

Just dreaming about it…"

~Give You Back, Vertical Horizon

Darryn caught on quickly, but it was already too late. Cid didn't protest when the burly Hunter grabbed him by the throat and hauled him away from the controls. He'd done what he needed to do.

On the radar screen, illuminated by the glow of his flashlight, the Apocalypse was slowly moving away from Gongaga, heading south- toward the ocean. Darryn watched for a moment in speechless shock, but when the course became clear he turned to Cid, backhanding the pilot across the mouth.

"What the hell did you do!"

Cid glared, shining his flashlight on the Hunter to make his point. "Hit me again and you'll regret the day you were born."

Mainly because he hadn't wanted to waste all of his lighter fluid, Cid had reluctantly pried open an emergency cabinet and gotten flashlights. He hated assisting the Hunters, but hated the idea of being stuck alone in the dark with Darryn even more.

The stocky man clenched his fist so tightly his knuckles turned white, but he spoke relatively calmly. "Don't screw with me, Highwind. Why are we going south?"

Cid shrugged, lighting up another cigarette. "I never liked Gongaga. Too damn depressing."

"Turn this ship around!" Darryn yelled, turning red with rage.

Cid laughed. "What're you gonna do?"

The door suddenly burst open and Rude rushed in, practically shouting. "Cid! What happened? Why'd the power go?" He was clearly agitated, for it was unusual for Rude to say seven words in a row, especially with so much emotion.

"You! How'd you escape?!" Darryn lunged, but Rude was faster, slamming the Hunter in the gut before throwing him to the floorThe only other Hunter in the room, the one who'd stolen Cid's Venus Gospel, started for him, but Rude shot him in the stomach. He was dead before he hit the ground.

Darryn slowly got to his feet. "I really hate Turks," he complained to himself, rubbing his head. For a moment, the man didn't seem half as threatening as usual, while he stood trying to figure out what to do. At last, he apparently decided to ignore Rude, turning back to Cid. "What did you do?"

"There, you see?" Cid commented as he puffed on his cigarette. "It's not so bad to say something without trying to strangle me at the same time, is it?"

Predictably, Darryn lost control. "What did you do!" Rude, however, reacted before the Hunter could move and cocked his gun.

"Not a step," the stern Turk warned. "Stay where you are."

Although he looked immensely frustrated at this turn of events, Darryn stayed still. Cid let him stew a few minutes more before answering, running a hand languidly over the controls of his beloved ship. Then he sighed and spoke.

"It's this simple: I'm willing to do anything to get rid of you and your gang. Even give up my airship." Even give up Shera.

"What are you getting at?"

"We're heading for the ocean. I've set the controls on autocourse."

Rude jerked in surprise, but said nothing.

Darryn's eyes were slits. "You'll die as well as us."

Cid smiled coldly. "Well, unfortunately for you, we've got nothing to lose."

Darryn swore and jumped for the consel, slamming the controls furiously. Rude took a step toward him, but Cid waved him back, grinning. When it became clear that the Hunter wasn't doing a thing to change direction, Darryn at last turned and looked at the pilot accusingly.

"Did you fix this?"

Cid waved a hand innocently. "I put a lock on the controls. I'm the only one who can take it off."

"Then take it off!"

He arched an eyebrow. "I don't think you're in much of a position to be making demands." He bent down and snatched his Venus Gospel from the unconscious Hunter's grasp. "Let's go, Rude."

"To where?" Rude lowered the gun, his eyes still on Darryn.

"We're going to find the others." Cid glanced back to the leader of the Hunters, who hadn't moved. "Enjoy yourself trying to break that lock."

"I'll kill you!" Darryn screamed desperately. "I'll kill all of you!"

Cid shrugged as he led the way out the door. "Well, we're all gonna die anyway. Yell all you want, but you're history, pal."

"Don't follow us," Rude ordered. He tapped the gun meaningfully. He seemed to be enjoying this whole thing.

Cid wasn't. But then, he wasn't a Turk.

* * * * * *

Barret sighed and put the PHS back on the bar counter. They were in a no-win situation. Reno hadn't given details before hanging up, but he and the others were in serious trouble. And Barret could do nothing to help, because Cid's townspeople were morons.

He glanced around at the others. Vincent sat a table, drumming his fingers on its wooden surface. He was restless and edgy. Barret could tell, just by looking at him. The man was staring at Rick murderously with those creepy red eyes of his. If only looks could kill.

Dale was behind the counter, fiddling with his ledger book. Yuffie leaned against the wall, studying her fingernails. Marlene was on the floor, hugging his leg. Barret mussed her hair affectionately and she smiled.

Suddenly he frowned. Someone was missing. "Yuffie?"

She glanced up, her eyes questioning.

"Where's Adine?"

She shook her head. "Isn't she with you?"

Marlene tugged on his hand. "I don't know where she is, either."

Rick jumped up. "She can't leave this town."

"Just shu'up," Barret barked. There was an awkward moment of silence, which was broken by a terrible scream. Everyone's heads snapped up. Marlene gasped and Barret stood up quickly.

"That's Adine!" Yuffie cried.

It was coming from outside. Barret leaped to the door, kicking it open.

The child was on the ground in front of the steps, curled in a fetal position, with her arms around her knees and her head tucked in. She wasn't screaming anymore, but looked unconscious.

Barret knelt to pick her up but Marlene gave a whining cry and clung to him, not wanting to be put down. Vincent saw him hesitate and stepped in front of him to silently gather the girl in his arms.

Dale was pushing to get a better look. "What's wrong with her? Is she okay? What-"

Barret silenced him with a glare as they went back into the inn. Once inside, Vincent placed Adine on the counter, She was breathing rapidly and her skin looked unnaturally pale. Marlene squirmed in Barret's grasp, afraid for her friend.

"Daddy, what's the matter with Adine?"

"She's fine," Barret assured her, although he wasn't at all certain if that was true. She just-" His eyes fell on her left hand.

A red hourglass shape.

Adine had the Sresla.

Yuffie and Vincent both saw it at the same instant. Yuffie began to cry quietly.

"Not Adine," she whispered brokenly. "Please, not Adine."

Vincent, very slowly and rather timidly, put a hand on her shoulder in a consoling manner. Yuffie lost control completely and was suddenly enclosed in his arms, sobbing. Vincent looked intensely uncomfortable and held her gently, as though fearing she would break.

Marlene began to cry, too. Barret placed her down, not wanting her to see what he was about to do. Then he turned and slammed Rick against the wall. Dale stood by, wringing his hands, but didn't try to stop him.

"Are you happy now, you son of a bitch?" Barret snarled. "Isn't this what ya wanted all along?"

Rick stumbled over his words as he feebly tried to argue. "I…only wanted…to…"

"To what? To kill us all?" Barret slammed his gun-arm into the wall close to Rick's head. Rick flinched, but Barret didn't let him move. "You were threatenin' to shoot her less than a half-hour ago!"

Rick turned his face away, unwilling to answer. Disgusted, Barret shoved him aside and turned to Vincent, who still held Yuffie. As though she'd suddenly realized what she was doing, Yuffie leapt away from him like he was a live wire. Barret ignored this and addressed both of them.

"We're leaving," he said quietly. "Vincent, you get Adine."

The former Turk nodded and scooped up the child. Yuffie looked questioningly at Barret.

"Barret…?" She glanced at Rick, staring at the floor, and Dale, who was watching closely. "Can we…with them…?"

"They ain't gonna bother us," he growled. Although he spoke to Yuffie, he was glaring at Dale. The man visibly cringed and waved a hand in a weary gesture of defeat.

As they made it out the door, Barret was surprised at how dark it was. The night had worn on for hours. It would be dawn soon.

Cid's airship could be anywhere.

"What are we going to do?" Yuffie asked, rubbing her hands over her arms to warm them.

Barret started for Cid's house. "If our resident fly-boy doesn't have a plane or something in his backyard, I'll-" He broke off, having about to say, "I'll strangle him." Cid may be already dead.

It was pure luck that led them to the Kjata. It was a small, light blue plane obviously modeled after the Tiny Bronco. It was perfect, except for one thing…

"There are two seats," Yuffie said tersely. "How do you fit five people in two seats?"

Barret shrugged, thinking. Cloud was better at this sort of thing than him. "Well, I guess I'd better have my own. I can hold Marlene and Adine wit' me. Vincent, you take the back seat. As for Yuffie…"

"Yes?" she said through grit teeth. "What about me?"

He hid a smile, forced the sudden hysterical laugh down his throat. "Well, uh, I guess you'll hafta sit in Vincent's lap."

"What!" Both of them yelled it at the same time, which was odd, because Vincent never raised his voice. Barret found it interesting the way they each turned a different color; Yuffie flushed a deep red, and Vincent went dead white.

"Barret, really," Vincent said, his voice only a little higher than usual. "Let's try to be practical. How about if-?"

"If what?" Barret countered. "If you or Yuffie rode on one of the wings? Now that's impractical."

Vincent fell silent. Yuffie folded her arms, eyes flashing.

"You have got to be kidding."

Barret sighed, losing patience. "Yuffie, if you'd rather sit on my lap-"

That did it. Yuffie glared at him, utterly speechless. Then she lifted her hand in an obscene gesture and started for the plane.

"If we're going to go, then let's go already!" she yelled over her shoulder.

Barret was fighting not to laugh as they climbed inside. For a moment, he realized, he'd sounded exactly like Reno.

* * * * * *

Reno raced along the steel grating like a blind man. A wounded blind man, actually- his damned shoulder was acting up.

It was too dark. Reno hated this, wandering around in the dark like a fool. He should be doing something. He almost hoped he'd run into more Hunters, just so he wouldn't feel so isolated.

Then, the flashlight beam in his hand found a wall. Reno swore and turned to go back, but something about the wall caught his attention. There was a strange shape to part of it, as though it was…

"A door!" He spoke aloud, just to hear something besides his footsteps. He started forward hopefully, first walking, then running, not even aware of his frantic mutterings: "Please, oh please, let it be a door! Let it be a door!" When he finally reached it and ran his hands over it, he gave out a whoop of triumph. It really was a door.

"Yes!" He thought of what he'd do first once he got out of here. Find Rude and Cid, kill Darryn, grab his nightstick from wherever those bastards had stashed it-

It was locked.

He yanked on the handle again, then again. Finally he kicked it in frustration. "Someone's got a nasty sense of humor," he mumbled to himself. He'd been searching for a door for what seemed like hours. And now that he'd found one, it was locked.

As he turned to go the door swung open. But it opened outwards, away from him. He'd been pulling when he should've been pushing. Reno put a hand over his face.

"Why," he asked aloud, "am I so friggin' stupid?"

"I don't know either, man."

Reno moved his hand to see Rude standing in the doorway, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. Cid was behind him, armed with his spear.

Reno laughed with relief. "Am I glad to see you guys."

They each had a flashlight, although only Cid's was on. Rude never bothered to do that sort of thing, preferring to work with his gun without distractions. He tossed Reno his nightstick. "Where's Elena?"

"Hm?" Reno shoved his gun in his holster, stroking the nightstick like it was a long-lost child. "Oh, I'm not really sure."

Rude gave him a deadpan look. "What do you mean, 'you're not really sure'?"

Reno shrugged. "Well, last I knew, she was fifty feet above my head."

"Reno…" Rude dragged out the word impatiently. Cid started to yell.

"The hell you mean? You mean you lost her?"

"I mean what I said!" Reno snapped, not happy that he'd lost Elena either. "She was in the catwalks when I fell from them. That's all I know."

Rude rolled his eyes while Cid simply looked incredulous.

"Okay, I'll ignore the fact that you fell fifty feet onto steel and survived," he said slowly. "But don't tell me she's up there alone. Those bastards are all over the place. She could-"

"Cid, she's a Turk," Reno pointed out. "She's fine. Besides, she's not alone, Shera's with her."

Cid said a word that sounded like a melding of all the swears he knew. Then he sighed wearily and stepped out from the doorway. "You're sure they're alright?"

Reno spoke with blunt honesty. "No, I'm not sure. But I think so."

Cid nodded. "Well, let's go."

"Huh?" Reno looked from him to the door. "Shouldn't we try to regain control over the airship or something?"

Cid smiled and jerked his head to the doorway. "You try to go up there, Kid, it'll be your ass. There're Hunters swarming everywhere."

Reno thought for a moment, then paled. "Wait a minute…if you're here, then who's flying the ship?"

"The Apocalypse is flying itself," Cid grinned. Then his smile faded. "I set us on a crash course to the ocean. It'll kill us as well as them, but…look, you knew weren't getting outta this alive, right?"

Reno nodded slowly, although he was thinking, Well, that was kinda the idea. He should've known it from the beginning, but he'd been so preoccupied with everything else he hadn't actually considered that there may not be a way out. If he'd looked at the whole picture, this wouldn't have come as a surprise to him.

But despite all his training as a Turk, despite his occasional depression, Reno desperately wanted to live.

"Yeah." He forced out a smile. He wasn't about to start whining. He'd go down like a man. "Yeah, go down with the airship. Just like one of those kamikaze pilots."

"That's the spirit." Cid's smile looked forced as well. "S'long as they go down with us."

Reno suddenly realized how hard it must have been for Cid to make that decision, to condemn all his friends to death. The man had guts. For all his bluster and cursing, he was a damned good leader.

"C'mon!" Cid snapped, clearly impatient to find Shera. "You coming or not?"

Rude, silent all this time, looked at Reno and gave a slight nod. It was the only good-bye Rude would make, he knew. Like himself, Rude felt more comfortable pushing thoughts of the inevitable to the back of his mind. Besides, it was a stupid thing to do, to admit defeat. Once you admit defeat, you're already half dead.

"I'm coming." Reno switched his nightstick on, felt it come to life in his hand.

"Okay, here's the plan," Cid said. "I'll try to get the power back on. You guys cover me. I'll help if I can, but three's a crowd when it comes to messing around in the dark, you know what I'm saying?"

"Right." Reno sighed and led them down the path he'd come. "The fusebox is this way. Look out for dead bodies."

* * * * * *

Vincent rolled his eyes as the plane climbed ever higher. Barret had no idea what he was doing, but his desperation was strong enough to make him blindly figure out the controls of an unfamiliar machine. He was determined, Vincent had to give him that. But a part of him was still certain Barret would find a way to crash the Kjata.

Yuffie sighed in her sleep and stirred against him. Vincent tensed. He'd thought this part of him was dead; that simply too much time had passed. But now, the closeness of her was awakening forgotten feelings and desires, so strongly it nearly frightened him. She was, after all, more girl than woman.

And yet, this was the first time he'd held a woman- Girl! he corrected himself sharply- in his arms since Lucrecia.

As soon as the thought struck him he shuddered, slamming a door shut on unwanted memories. He didn't need to think of Lucrecia. Not now. Not when he wanted this girl this badly.

She stirred again, mumbling something about Wutai. Vincent was glad she was sleeping. The poor soul had been through too much. Despite what she might say, the death of her father had traumatized her, leaving her as defenseless and vulnerable as a newborn kitten. Her reaction to Adine's sickness was proof of that. One too many blows could finish this helpless child.

He couldn't help himself. Tenderly he ran a finger down the side of her face. Her skin felt the way he'd imagined in his mind- smooth and velvety soft.

Abruptly he pulled his hand away. Lucrecia's pain-filled eyes still burned into his mind. He'd ruined that woman's life, with his foolish, tainted love. He wouldn't ruin's another's.

Yet, in his heart, he was glad the plane was so small. It meant he could hold her. If only for a little while.

* * * * * *

Elena stood over the dead Hunter's body, breathing raggedly. She still had her gun trained on the man at her feet.

"Elena." Shera put a hand on her shoulder. "You can't keep this up."

She nodded, finally lowering the gun. She blinked slowly, then rubbed her eyes with the back of her wrist. It was late, so late it was early. Elena suspected it was close to dawn. She was nearly burned out.

"What else can we do?" she snapped. "I…I can't…" She was on the brink of losing control. Reno was gone. Cid was playing chauffeur for Darryn. And Rude…she didn't even know what had happened to him.

Shera remained silent, looking back at Elena calmly. Elena switched off her flashlight, not wanting to have to face the mechanic's placid gaze, then switched it back on.

Pull yourself together! she ordered herself. At a loss, she ran a hand though her hair. It was matted and stiff with sweat and dried blood. The last Hunter had nearly done her in before she shot him down.

"Okay," she said at last. "Shera, we need the power back on. I almost shot myself a few minutes ago because I couldn't see. Can you fix it?"

Shera gave a nod, the ghost of smile flitting across her lips. "That's what I'm here for."

"All right then." Elena set her mouth in a resolute line. "Let's find that fusebox."

* * * * * *

After about an hour's search, he'd finally found it. The ship was going at a good pace, but the smaller, maneuverable Kjata kept up easily. Barret sped along the belly of the Apocalypse, indecisive. Now that he had found Cid and the others: What next?

He spotted the gleam of a small silver hatch, almost obscured by one of the ship's support wings. With a grunt of effort he yanked the clutch and banked straight up, going at the bottom of the airship. He heard Marlene, sitting on his knee, give a scream of terror as she almost lost her hold on the limp form of Adine.

Barret turned just in time to avoid a head-on collision, scraping only the tip of the left wing. When he judged his position fairly safe, he half-turned in his seat to look at Vincent.

"Go through the hatch," he yelled over the roar of the wind. "Find the others and get back out here. I'll be waiting!"

Vincent started to stand, but Yuffie instinctively grabbed at his arm. She gasped when her fingers encountered the metal claw but didn't let go.

"I'm coming with you!" Barret heard her yell.

Vincent leaned toward her and spoke firmly, coldly. Barret couldn't quite make out what he said, but Yuffie released his arm. Without another word he leaped, catching the wing of the Apocalypse with his hand. Barret watched as Vincent swung, kicked open the hatch, and dropped inside, disappearing from view. A few seconds later the hatch slid closed.

Barret's hand found Marlene's and gripped it tightly, steering with his gun-arm. He looked down at Adine's pale face, her eyes closed. He would've thought she was dead if it wasn't for the rise and fall of her chest.

Hurry up, Vincent! he thought wildly. Find the others and get out of there!

* * * * * *

Elena crept along the gangplank, one hand out for balance, the other clutching the flashlight, although it wasn't on. She'd heard voices, and wanted to take Darryn's men by surprise.

The grating hurt her stockinged feet, but she ignored it, as she ignored her fear of falling. If only she had light! Shera was working on that, but she was taking her sweet time with it.

She stopped at the top of a metal ladder that led down to the lower level. The voices were right beneath her. At least these Hunters were smart enough to put their flashlights away.

As soon as they started up the ladder, Elena dove for them, slamming the top man bodily to the floor. A hand reached for her but missed. She rolled off the men- two, from the sounds of it- and jumped to her feet.

The larger of the two made a grab for her, but she grasped his hand and twisted it, forcing him to let go. The other, cursing wildly, tried to stand. Quickly she jumped on him again to keep him down, using her legs to pin his arms against his sides. As she fumbled with her gun he surprised her by head-butting her in the face. She paused for a moment, trying to regain her wits. He shoved her off him and got to his feet.

That was it. Elena was mad. She tackled the man in the legs, sending him sprawling. Again she tried to get her gun, but the other, larger Hunter seized her by the hair with one hand and held both her wrists in the other. Furious at her inability to free herself, Elena finally just kneed him in the crotch, then slapped him in the face twice. There was a groan of pain as the Hunter slid off her.

Then the other punched her in the gut. Elena dropped to her knees as he snatched for her gun. Desperate for him not to get it, Elena tossed it some ways away. Although his probing hands searched her everywhere, they did not find the gun. Of course, now she had also lost her weapon.

Angrier than ever, Elena waited for the right moment, then kicked him off her. He clamped a hand on her arm, taking her down with him. As Elena struggled to disentangle her arms and legs from his, the lights flared on. Shera had fixed the power.

She blinked for a moment, trying to shield her eyes from the brightness. Then she looked down at the man under her.

"Hey, Elena." Reno grinned.

Elena paled. Reno? Then she grinned herself. "Reno!" She hugged him tight enough to make him gasp for air. "I thought you were dead!"

"It wouldn't be the first time," he gagged. "Although I may be if you don't let me breathe soon."

She stood, allowing Reno to get up as well. It was then she looked to the side.

Sprawled on his side, dark glasses knocked askew, was Rude. He lifted his head to give her a weak smile. "Hi," he said.

"Rude!" She pulled him up and hugged him, too. Strangely enough, she felt like crying. Maybe she was going soft. "Rude, I'm so sorry! I didn't know it was you!"

He rubbed his head and gave a sheepish grin. "That's okay. I didn't know it was you, either."

"I did," Reno said.

They both turned to look at him. "You what?!"

He shrugged. "C'mon. How many Hunters have breasts?"

Elena was turning a dangerous shade of red. "Oh, so that's why you were feeling me up back there?"

"I just had to make sure it was really you!" he protested, trying and failing miserably to keep a smug smirk off his face. "Don't be mad, 'Lena. You thought I was dead, remember?"

She didn't tone down the glare. Rude shrugged helplessly. "Reno, she held her own in a fight against two of us. I wouldn't recommend pissing her off now."

At a loss, Reno smiled hopefully and held up two black objects. "See? I found your shoes."

Elena couldn't help herself and burst out laughing. Grabbing her shoes, she sat down right there and pulled them off. She couldn't help forgiving her friend. Reno was simply Reno.

Cid, his usual cigarette dangling from his mouth, suddenly appeared. "Only three Turks would be dumb enough to frickin' fight each other on an airship fulla enemies."

"Cid!" It was Shera. Just as the pilot turned in surprise, she flew down the ladder and into his arms.

"C'mon, smoochy-smoochy!" Reno encouraged them. Elena silenced him with a whack.

"There you are." Vincent shook his head. "I've been looking all over for you five."

There was a moment of shocked silence. Then, Reno asked what they were all thinking. "Where the hell did you come from?"

Vincent explained the whole story hastily, knowing time was short. When he mentioned Adine's sickness, Shera gave a gasp and hid her face on Cid's shoulder. Vincent could only think of how similar her reaction had been to Yuffie's. Her words in the plane had scared him.

I'm coming with you!

He hadn't been able to stand another tortured moment with her and had coldly rebuffed her.

If I want a child's help, I'll bring Barret's daughter.

It had hurt him to slight her so, but he couldn't allow himself to fall in love with the girl. He wouldn't allow himself to.

"So how're we all gonna fit in this tiny plane?" Elena asked, interrupting his thoughts.

Vincent surprised himself by smiling. It was a small, sad smile, but a smile. "I'm afraid we're going to have to do something impractical."

* * * * * *

Cid let out a whoop as the Kjata sailed away from the Apocalypse. He didn't seem to mind clinging to the wing of the plane. Beside him, Vincent was silent. Elena had her eyes closed and was refusing to open them. She'd had enough wild trips on flying machines.

On the opposite wing, Reno seemed to have forgotten his last terrible experience on the Apocalypse. "See you in hell, Darryn!" he shouted, laughing hysterically and trying to stand up. Rude swore at him and pulled him back down.

In the backseat behind Barret, Yuffie groaned and hid her face under Shera's arm. "I don't feel so good…"

Shera looked helplessly at Cid. "Cid! We need to stop somewhere soon!"

Cid agreed. Although, like all of his aircraft, the Kjata was strong and sturdy, the plane was definitely not built for this kind of weight. "Barret!" he shouted. "Pull over and get the hell outta my seat!"

"I'm stopping in Nibelheim!" the big man yelled back. "It's right below us!"

Cid looked at him impatiently. "Then why aren't we dropping altitude?"

"I don't know how to!"

Cursing, Cid clambered over the plane and pulled himself alongside Barret. "Get out of my way!"

Shrugging, Barret grabbed Marlene and Adine and leaned back. Cid shoved him aside to get at the clutch. He pulled it back.

"Hold onto your drawers, boys and girls!" he shouted, remembering the last time he'd done this, a long time ago when he'd first met Cloud. "An' don't piss in 'em!"

His only answer was the others' screams as the plane spiraled downward.

The concussion was brutal; the plane slamming into the ground nose-first. Fortunately, Cid's frantic steering caused the Kjata to crash at an angle, bouncing off its side and finally landing upside down, balancing on one wing. The other had been torn off, taking Reno and Rude with it.

Cid, who'd been thrown from the plane, staggered to his feet. They'd crashed a few hundred yards from Nibelheim. Pieces of wreckage were scattered about. There was no question of the Kjata ever flying again.

"Hey!" he called. "Is everyone okay?"

Reno, flat on his back some distance away, let out a weary moan. "Cid, I think you're determined to kill us all, one way or another."

Yuffie sported a sprained wrist and complained about it a good deal, but nobody was seriously injured. Barret ranted a lot about endangering the kids, managing to call Cid a whole list of vile names. Cid merely shrugged.

"Well, we made it, didn't we?" he countered. He noticed the limp little form in Barret's arms. "How is she?"

"Not good," Barret muttered. "She seems to be waking up a little, though." At his words, Adine's eyes fluttered.

"Tifa…" she whispered. Then, "Mommy…"

Cid shook his head. "Let's get her to town. Cloud and the others should arrive soon."

~Author's Note~

I know, a long chapter, but I had to get this part done so I can move on to Cloud's party. Why Cloud's party? *Grin* I can't tell you. To quote Elena, it's a S-E-C-R-E-T. Here's a hint: I made a promise to Zelda6, who should be expecting an email from me soon.

Man, Vincent/Yuffie? If you're wondering where that came from, well, I like Vincent, I like Yuffie, and I don't have matches lined up for them. Voila. (That's probably misspelled, I know. I suck at French in all its forms)

I actually had a lotta fun with this chapter, especially our little Turk brawl. You can thank Aurora for that one. It was her idea.

Please read and review! Bye!

~Lila