Author's note: Now I cannot fully recall what inspired this bit of insanity, but part of it was the realization that Vincent would have a big problem with going to the doctor's office (white lab coats and needles…). However, the more I discussed it with a friend, the more it became a story in which Vincent has a reality check and realizes he is no long in the same time he knew. I wanted to see how he would react to new technologies and how he would cope with the new challenges. The big one being how would he support himself once the hero business was done. Since I have not seen Advent Children and Dirge of Cerberus has yet to be released, they will not affect this story line.

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Chapter 1- Middle of Nowhere

Staring out the car window, Tifa watched the landscape outside rolled away in a blinding whirl of blurred trees and patches of green fields. Everything of the previous year seemed nothing like but a wild blur not a dream but a terrible nightmare. However, she was alive and had her health, which was something she could not say for another person.

Huddled in the backseat of the car, Vincent remained sunken behind the deep collar of his cape. He coughed several times before he sunk down against the side of the car. Sighing, Tifi glanced over at Reeve as he drove the car. It took a little deception, but it was only for his good. All she could figure is it started when Jenova finally died and the brief visit to Wutai to drop Yuffie off. Of all the things Vincent and the group had faced; the irony was that he was slowly being taken down by a common childhood illness. 'I guess after thirty years of isolation, disease would become your worst enemy.' The clincher it seemed after Jenova was destroyed so was the support system "she" gave him.

After Vincent's initial reaction to the suggestion of a doctor, Reeve suggested another option. Sure, it was no problem to get the man into the car, but it would be an even harder ordeal to get him into a doctor's office.

Vincent closed his eyes trying to sleep despite feeling like the lining of his throat was going to peel away. 'Like I need to speak to shoot anyways. All I need is a little sleep.' Reeve and Tifa urged him that he needed to get his strep throat treated, but he merely shrugged it off. ' As if I am going to set foot anywhere close an office or a needle! If it wasn't for that stupid wutai kid who coughed on me, this wouldn't be an issue.' He glanced over and saw the slacken form of Cait sith next to him. 'Not too bad for being an oversized stuffed animal, it did a lot of damage.'

"How are we doing back there?" Reeve inquired while looking into the rearview mirror. Vincent scowled behind the deep collar.

"Fine." He squeaked in response before he closed his eyes. Reeve looked over at Tifa briefly before returning his attention back to the narrow two-lane road.

Reeves pulled the parking break and sat for a moment behind the steering wheel.

"Well, here we are, Tifa. You ready for this?" He whispered. She glanced over at him and nodded her head.

"We have faced far worse before. If we could take down Sephiroth, then certainly we can handle this."

"Is he disarmed?"

"Yep." Reeve then smiled." If you grabbed his other hand, Caith Sith will grab his claw and we should be able drag him in from there."

Quietly they opened the their doors and stepped out into the parking lot. Reeves opted to take a place that hid the office front until at the door. Tifa knocked on the back window and waited for a moment. A pair of red eyes looked back at her from behind the high red collar of his cloak. Vincent opened his door and stepped out. He shuddered finding the air outside quite a bit cooler then where he was in the backseat. With his unarmored hand, he pulled at the edges of cape hoping to retain what little warmth he had left. Reeve was already on the sidewalk waiting. He hated the idea of putting Cait Sith in the way of Vincent's claw, but he rather have Cait Sith be destuffed then he or Tifa.

The gunman stiffened up and peered at Tifa and then at Reeves. "Why are we here? And how come you're not armed…?" Before Vincent could say anymore, Cait Sith came up from behind and bear hugged the man. Vincent yelped and tried to fight free from the hold, but only ended up in a fit of coughing.

Reeves winced knowing he will have to clean the mog after this.

Sulking in the chair, Vincent glared at Reeve and Tifa. She only offered a weak smile and shrugged.

"It could be worse." Cait Sith offered.

Vincent growled. He felt he had been deceived in the worst way. Of all the places he hated to be, it was a clinic. It was not just the florescent lights, but also the smell and the white uniforms and coats. Vincent glanced back at the glass front entrance of the clinic and began complicating thoughts of escape. Glancing back, he found Reeve had gone to the counter and was talking with the secretary.

'Here's my chance.' Vincent had only lifted an inch from the chair when he felt himself turn back around and seat himself back down.

Reeve smiled finding that he could easily manipulate the gunman to behave himself, but it was not necessarily easy to hold it though. Taking the blue clipboard the woman gave him, Reeve returned and handed it to Vincent.

"They need your information."

Vincent only glared, not even bothering to take the clipboard and pen.

: You are going to take the board and fill it out:

Vincent complied without resistance despite part of him rebelling. Taking a few minutes, he filled out the form and handed it back to Reeve. Taking it back to the desk, Reeve glanced over it and stopped. Did he read the date right? Reeve almost laughed seeing the date Vincent had put down. 'Still stuck in the past are we?' He passed the board to the secretary.

"You will have to forgive my friend, he's suffering from some serious jetlag."

She raised an eyebrow and shook her head. Reeve came back and sat down.

"This is going far too easy." Tifa mumbled.

After a brief while of waiting, a young nurse dressed in black slacks and white lab coast came out into the waiting room. Her dark hair was tied back in a casual ponytail while her bangs were swept to one side. She flipped through a few sheets before looking back up.

"Vincent?" She called out. He peered over the top of his collar and saw the nurse. In a brief moment of delirium, he mistook the woman for someone he knew all too well.

"I'm here!" He croaked as he rose out of his chair. The woman gave him a cautious overlook and then checked the board. Vincent tried to swallow and quickly realized it wasn't who it he thought he saw. His eyes then fell on someone who paused a short distance behind her and just about made him jump from his skin. Seeing the short black hair, round glasses and coat, Vincent had only one impulse and that involved him running to the front door.

Cait Sith hopped over and stood between the gunman and the door. The little cat doll crossed its arms and shook it's head. Vincent snarled threatening to force his way through only to stagger backwards as a wave of dizziness washed over him.

"He doesn't get out often, does he?" The nurse commented as they watched Vincent. Reeve sighed and shook his head.

"This is the most he has been out in the past thirty years."

The nurse chuckled and walked down the hallway mistaking Reeve's comment as an actual joke. Reeve turned his attention to how he was going to get Vincent into the exam room.