Chapter 24
Lucrecia pushed herself out of the chair seeing the familiar green glow of Mako. "Wha, What is that doing here?"
Hojo tapped the needle and prepared for an injection. "What does it look like, Honestas? This is part of the treatment. It is proven that Jenova only grows stronger when in contact of Mako."
"I never agree to that. I even regret the Jenova injections."
Hojo gave her a scrutinizing glare. "I am very disappointed in you. I thought you wanted to keep your career. If you back out of this now, I doubt I will be able to protect your creditability infront of the department."
Lucrecia swallowed. "How much?"
Hojo looked at the needle. "Only 10 ccs with one percent of it being actual mako. The rest is Jenova cell solution."
Lucrecia found she did not have the courage or the ability to walk out the door. For all she knew, Hojo would turn Vincent against her at her attempt to leave.
"Honestly, Doctor, I do not know about this." Her pale hands squeezed the vinyl material of the chair. Hojo watched her for a moment and set the needle down. 'Damn, this is not boding well. I need to persuade her otherwise since this useless chatter is getting me nowhere.' Hojo walked over to the sink and picked up a cup and poured a small amount of liquid into the bottom and then filled the glass with water.
"Here." He held the glass of water out to her.
Struck by his thoughtfulness, she accepted his drink and sipped at it. She paused and looked at the water. "This tastes a little odd..." She was unsure what was causing the water to taste a little off. Hojo hovered closer.
"It's winter and the water tables are a little heavy with minerals. And of course, this is an old house, Honestas."
Encouraged to drink more, she found the water soothing and helped to settle her quaking stomach. Once finished, she set the glass down and went to stand up and found her legs did not want to cooperate. Lucrecia blinked looking suddenly dazed. Hojo walked up offering concern and as he had timed he caught her just as she crumple under the sedative he slipped into her drink.
"This...is much better." Hojo groaned under her weight as he dragged her back to the seat and left her slumped to one side.
------------
"Lucrecia?" Vincent pushed past the door and at first it seemed the room was empty. On the large round table sat her work. His brown eyes scanned the room once more until he saw a chair tipped over on its side. Unconsciously, he reached for his gun thinking until he found her laying face down on the floor.
He ran over and knelt down next to her body. Vincent rolled her over to her back. He brushed her bangs back and found her face was warm, almost too warm while it seemed the rest of her body was cold.
"Hey, wake up." But she remained still. Swallowing, he fought the fear that seemed to quickly take over his body. For the first time, he did not know what to do or to say. "Please wake up..." He whispered. Lucrecia seemed too pale and strained. He reached over and grabbed one of her hands. Finding it cold, he held it tighter. Feeling Lucrecia's hand twitch so slightly, he looked back at her face and found there was some movement underneath her eyelids. Slowly, Lucrecia opened them. At first seemed almost panicked and then confused.
"How long have I been out?" She finally asked.
Vincent shook his head. "I found you face down on the floor."
Lucrecia slowly pushed herself up into a seated position and then touched her forehead. "I suppose I would find a more comfortable nap on a bed then the floor. I guess I didn't make it." She tried for a little humor despite the sense of horror of passing out. It seemed that the spells were not only becoming more frequent, but it seemed she was out longer. Lucrecia swallowed, her eyes hung on the image of the rug she laid on. "Vincent, I think I am in trouble." It took all of her strength to admit the gravity of her situation. She waited for him to either scold her or remain impassive as he had been for the past couple of months, but instead he gently placed his arms around her. Lucrecia slipped her arms around him and rested her chin and his shoulder and closed her eyes.
"All you needed to do was ask." Vincent murmured.
Lucrecia squeezed her eyes hard as a tear rolled free.
"I know."
She did not know how long they sat on the floor before Vincent pulled away and stood up. Helping Lucrecia to her feet, they walked over to one of the beds and he sat sat her down.
"You can't stay here." Vincent stated as he pulled a red blanket around her shoulders.
"Where? I can't go back to the mansion and then there is the snow..." Her voice trailed off as though she was already defeated. Vincent paced over to the window and pushed the curtains aside with a finger.
'I'll carry you on my back if I have to. I can no longer turn a blind eye to all of this.' "We will have to travel by chocobo."
Lucrecia searched her mind, trying to push past the fog that always seemed to hang over her thoughts. 'Where would we go? There is no way we could make to Midgar. I doubt I could make it if we even got a boat over.'
"Didn't Gast mention he had a colleague in Cosmo Canyon? Someone who could help?" The Turk remained standing in front the window.
Lucrecia pulled at the blanket fighting a wave of chills that threatened to wash over her body. She knew it had to be the Mako that Hojo had injected into her. She knew how to deal with indirect and direct poisoning, but never once did she encounter anyone who had it in his or her blood, not like this. The hallucinations and the voices...
"Yes..." It could not help but to feel her voice felt so distant and weak.
"Are you well? You look like you are going to be sick." She looked up and found him standing infront of her. He bent down to her eye level and looked at her face. Lucrecia tried to swallow and found her mouth dry.
"Never felt better." She mustered a slight smile.
It seemed to give him a mild sense of comfort she was still there. "If anything, I could use some water."
Vincent nodded and left the room.
Lucrecia looked down at her feet and sigh. The thought leaving Nibelhiem brought both joy and fear. Fear that something could go wrong. 'I can't afford to be scared. If we need to travel, I will need my strength. I need to be strong.' She almost laughed. Strength was something that seemed to elude her anymore. She had almost tumbled down the stairs several times. Lucrecia moved her hand and touched her stomach. It gurgled once and then again. At first she feared it would be another adventure to the bathroom, but realized it was gurgling for a different reason.
'Good question, when was the last time I actually had something to eat. Must have been this morning; I had some crackers...Maybe I just need to eat something. The trick will be keeping it down.'
Lucrecia mused. She could almost hear her mother explain how hard her pregnancy was when she carried Lucrecia.
. 'I worried your father sick. Though it was certainly no picnic for me either. I suppose that is what I get for marrying a doctor. He always fussed over me, always trying to find something to help me keep my weight on and my food down.'
The door opened and Vincent entered carrying a small tray. Standing up and she walked over to the large table and sat down in one of the chairs, all the while still clutching at the blanket. He had brought up a glass of water as well a small ceramic bowl from which wisps of steam rose. There were also a few wedges of fresh, crusty bread.
"Thought you could use something warm to eat." Vincent explained.
Lucrecia reached out and cradled the bowl in her hands. The warmth was welcome to her cold hands. Smiling, she closed her eyes and let the vapors rise to her cheeks. It was a simple broth soup consisting of a simple meat broth and a few root vegetables. Lucrecia wanted desperately to eat it, but hesitated briefly considering that the soup might not remain down long enough to make it worthwhile. Lifting up the bowl, she brought it to her lips and sipped. She remained quiet and waited. Seeing that it would stay continued to enjoy the soup.
She then stopped. Raising her eyes up, she found Vincent was still standing, watching her every move with his intense, dark eyes.
Lucrecia sighed and set the half emptied bowl. "Certainly I am alright for the moment. I think it would be perfectly fine if you sat down and quit watching me like that. You make me feel like... ' Like you're watching a caged animal...'..Weird. Why don't you have something to eat?"
Vincent slowly took his seat next to her. "I do not have much of an appetite."
Lucrecia frowned.
Vincent shifted in his seat. "We will need to leave as soon as it is possible. If we travel hard, we can make it in a half-day." Not that he was thrilled about riding a chocobo. He hated them, but in the end he would be willing to do anything to help Lucrecia, which seemed to include him riding a chocobo down to Cosmo.
Lucrecia stared at the remnants of the soup at the bottom of the bowl. "I need something from the lab." She got up and went to the stack of files and notes and began to sort through them. "I need to treat myself before we leave. I don't know if it will work, but if I don't I doubt I can survive the trip." Lucrecia paused and closed her eyes as her vision slide to one side and her balance with it. After the dizzy spell passed, she withdrew the paper with the mako poisoning notes and handed it to the Turk. Looking it over, he then looked up at Lucrecia.
"I will return. I suggest you get ready and rest." He folded the paper and left the inn room.
Shivering, Lucrecia pulled at the blanket and turned on her side. Her eyes shot open in cold realization. Looking fervently, she found the clock and found the six hours had past since she had spoken to Vincent. She fought the panic that surged up her throat.
'Maybe he is going to wait until morning. It is late and I doubt he wants to attempt night travel. I can't say I blame him.' She got up from the bed and walked over to the inn window and found it was snowing again. Lucrecia frowned as her hand drifted to her swelling belly.
Someone knocked twice on the door. Startled from her reverie, Lucrecia felt relief wash over her mind thinking it had to be the Turk returning for her. Rushing over to the door, she opened it and frowned. Instead of seeing a blue suit, she saw a white lab coat. She could not help but to be uttered dismayed by Hojo's presence.
"Were you expecting someone else, perhaps? You seem a little shocked."
Lucrecia's mouth opened momentarily only to have it shut. "Of course not."
Hojo looked past here. "Good, it's time for another treatment."
Swallowing, Lucrecia stepped away from the door. "I don't feel well." Her bright purple blue eyes shifted to the floor.
Hojo snorted. "Of course, but it would only get worse if you avoid another treatment." He reached out and slipped his hand around her arm and urged her away from the room. She took enough time to shut and lock the room before being led out of the inn and back to the mansion.
A bitter wind blew down from the mountains as the snow continued to fall making the existing blanket heavier and distant. It was now dark leaving only vague hazy shadows.
Hojo did not allow Lucrecia to leave his sight. It many ways she could sense a great deal of anger from the man, especially how his grip became more fierce and painful. She could not help but wonder at the extent of his man's hate for humanity.
They paused infront of the lab doors. Lucrecia wanted to know what happened to Vincent, but hesitated to bring up the subject around Hojo. Reaching into his lab coat pocket, he unlocked the side storage door. The cold, stagnant air suddenly hit Lucrecia. She could smell must and something else, like blood.
"I need to get something out of here first. Just wait right there." He gestured her to stand just within the doorway. Hojo went about rummaging through some boxes. Her eyes struggled to discern the darkness of the room until they settled on a strange, long box. 'Is that a coffin?' But it was more then a plan wood box, but there were something like jewels attached along the outside. She moved closer to look at the green glowing stones. 'Those look like Mako crystals…'
Hojo looked up and watched Lucrecia. He crossed his arms. "Those are Materia." Hojo's tone seemed to only mock her questioning expression.
She glanced up quizzically and stopped in mid-step. Hojo could not help but smirk. He was bound to teach her lesson for trying to disobey him and even trying to compromise his experiment. "Do you want to see what the Materia guards inside? It's something extra special."
Lucrecia swallowed, suddenly she wanted to run out of the room, but she knew Hojo would not let her until he was done with what he was planning. Hojo walked over to the box and removed the two latches the locked the lid. His hands paused.
"Come closer. You won't see anything back there."
Feeling she had to obey, she stepped forward until she within a hand's reach of the box. Seeing she was there, he threw back the lid. Lucrecia remained silent unsure what to make of the contents of the box. She clenched her fists forced herself to take deep breaths. 'That bastard! That horrible, terrible bastard!' Lucrecia clenched her jaw as she saw the very man that promised her safety lying inside with a bloody suit and pale face. At first it seemed the Vincent was merely sleeping, but with the blood stained closes and skin, it appeared it was a sleep from which he would never return.
Lucrecia turned away and closed her eyes. She was determined not to give the satisfaction of her tears to Hojo.
"What's wrong, Lucrecia? Don't like what you see? That's too bad. I thought after the Turk had caused you so much trouble, you would like that." He let the lid close again.
Seeing him dead and the smell of blood caused her stomach to feel sour. "Don't ever call me by my first name, doctor. You have no right." She warned coolly. "If you will excuse me, I don't feel well. I think it's the smell. There's something rotten in here." Lucrecia pushed past him and up the stairs.
There was some truth to her claim, but she also needed some privacy. There was going to be no escape to Cosmo, no peace from Hojo, nothing. Finally reaching the bathroom, she closed the door and let herself rest again it.
"Damn you!" She picked up a brush and threw it across the room where it clattered to the bottom of the tub once it hit the wall. Lucrecia's hands went up her mouth as she slid down the door until she came to rest on the floor. Her hands muffling her mouth, she began to cry.
Hojo listened as Lucrecia went upstairs. He felt he had successfully got his point across, but at the same time he felt she did not quite understand that Turk was merely in stasis. But who cares about technicalities? The scientist turned back to the box and smiled. Walking over and placed his hands on the lid and laid his ear against the wood.
"Hello my friend, you didn't see that coming did you? Of course not, you were too busy meddling in affairs that did not concern you! But oh, I will fix you good, won't I? Hmmm, nnnyes, you think you can be cold and withdrawn and yet still have place in your heart for her, huh? I don't think so. You are a Turk, Shinra's miserable dog, a coolly trained monster with an expensive suit. Once a cold monster, always a monster- Right Mr...Valiant. Or was it Violent? Verdant, perhaps?" Hojo remained silent for a moment as though he was listening. "Nnnyes, of course! How could I forget, Mr. Valentine. I have to attend to my precious specimen right now, mmkay? I will return to you later and finish my adjustments. I hope you don't have a problem with ice picks."
Hojo smiled before leaving the storage room and closed the door on the materia sealed coffin.'Who did he think he was to march in here being self righteous and claiming he would put me out of work and all that? I showed that little twit what I think about threats. No one threatens me or my experiment.' Hojo had been down in the lab working when Vincent attempted to sneak in and retrieve the required materials to treat Lucrecia. It was only then confrontation took place. Vincent bluffed that Lucrecia had been taken away to place where Hojo would not find her. Hojo at first laughed and attempted to call the Turk a liar. That is when it became clear that Hojo's specimen could be lost forever to him just because that bitch decided to slight him of his work. The next thing Hojo knew, he had drawn the gun from his coat and shot the Turk without a second thought. Shot him, as he should have with the dog back at the reactor. Shot the Turk like the dog that he was.
Hojo had taken care of the situation and the ball was now in his court. The scientist smiled now having regained his initial hard work and even gained a new project in the process. 'I never knew Stop Materia could come in so handy.' The storage room door shut and the locked clicked into place.
A pair of red eyes opened and radiated in the darkness of the coffin. They sagged wearily before disappearing again.
----------------------------
Author's note: I suppose there is not much I can say other then I am happy to finally reach the end of this story. You will have to forgive my deviance from the canon once again, if you choose to view it as such. It just seems weird that a Turk would stand by for 9 months and not do anything. The main reason I wrote this as I did was that I simply did not want to figure out how to write to those months without cheating and summing it up in one paragraph. And yes I did skip the fight between Hojo and Vincent. I have yet to really find a satisfying answer to what they would be arguing and why Hojo would get away with shooting Vincent without him in return drawing a gun.
Just so all will know, I will be working on some alternate concepts reverting to older character concepts to see if some of the situations in Vincent's back-story would work out better. Though I am not sure when that will happen.
Now there is one concept I thought it would be fun to imply with. Recalling the note that Hojo wrote about how to find the "meddling Turk", it is never mentions why Hojo would do that other the play games with people. Thought it was interesting to play with the idea that Hojo may have wrote that originally for Lucrecia in case she decided she wanted to come back to find the Turk. However, he never realizes how much he broke her spirit when Hojo showed her Vincent in the coffin the first time.
For the interest of keeping things from getting too long and drawn out, I left out some scenes; concepts or I simply addressed stuff in simple detail. I may post some of those scenes as one shots.