Chapter 5 – How many scientists does it take….

Vincent turned his glass around and watched the ripples move from side to side. Tifa had long since fallen asleep on one of the couches with a small pile of scattered papers laying on the coffee table. A question lurked in the back recesses of his mind. Vincent a great deal of questions, but there was in particular that concerned Reeve. He just did not know whether to address. Finally, curious gain the better of him.

"How did you keep Hojo from finding out?"

Reeve shrugged and filled a small mug with coffee. "It was quite simple. Mobile phone."

Vincent blinked. "Mobile phone?"

Reeve nodded. "Mobile phone. When I was talking through Cait Sith, I used my mobile phone."

Vincent raised an eyebrow. "I sense there is a little more to that."

Reeve shrugged. "Well, it worked until the silly thing rang in my ear while Hojo was nearby." What made matters ever worse was that the phone vibrated and then let off a high-pitched ring in his ear. "I very nearly escaped that on. After that I kept a good distance between me and Dr. Moreau." Never mind Reeve had to babble something about being late for a meeting to make his way past Hojo.

"You were lucky he did not catch on and lock you in a bottle." Vincent took a drink of his water soothing his tired, sore throat.

Reeve poured some creamer into his drink. "I think he would probe me first and then stick me in a jar." Perfectly mimicking Vincent's voice and tone. Vincent nearly choked on his water in response.

Reeve merely smirked. "Like it? It can really bring the life to a simple office party, I tell you. Though it seems to creep some people out a tad." He reached into his pocket and produced a small yellow materia stone.

Vincent slowly picked it up and examined it.

"It's like mime, but better. Though, don't tell anyone about it."

Vincent looked up at him and handed the materia to him. "You have my word."

Reeve struggled to understand whether it was sarcasm or that Vincent was actually serious. He slipped the stone back into his pocket.

"You would not believe how tempting it was to make that man dance." Reeve stated referring back Hojo. "The way he would shuffle around terrorizing people's assistants, people and their pets. It was hard to resist. Though I kinda felt bad about that one woman's pet Chihuahua. Does Hojo have a thing for dogs or something?"

Vincent shrugged, his eyes still focused on the stone bar top. Reeve looked down at his coffee and grinned.

"I am sure people would have paid good money to see Hojo moonwalk." Reeve glanced up in time to see a brief glimpse of a grin on Vincent's face. He knew for a moment he was amused. "Though I know as soon as I was done, I would be toast. It is so hard to manipulate people and not have them know it."

Vincent's red eyes locked at Reeve's face. "I wouldn't know."

Reeve had completely forgotten about having to manipulate Vincent back the clinic. He let the subject drop.

After a moment of prolonged silence, Reeve finished his coffee and set his mug next to the sink. "Well, I think I am going to call it a night." Running his fingers through his dark hair. He looked back at his friend who remained sitting silently on the barstool. Reeve walked down the hallway and went into his bedroom and shut the door.

Vincent remained seated, his eyes moving up from his glass to the darkness of the now empty kitchen. Blinking, he looked to his right and found the small Cait Sith doll sitting next to him.

"What do you want?" Vincent grumbled.

The doll stood up. "You seem sad."

Vincent narrowed his eyes. "I am not about to confess myself to a talking stuffed animal."

The doll hopped up and down. "But I'm more then that!"

Vincent almost rolled his eyes. Instead he turned his attention back to the kitchen. "Do everyone a favor and check out the garbage compactor. I think it's malfunctioning."

The cat listened. "I don't hear anything."

Vincent tapped the glass with his fingertips. "Perhaps I can help."

The doll went limp for a moment. "Now that's not very nice, Mr. Valentine. That would be considered animal cruelty. "

Vincent sighed. "Since when are you an animal...?" He paused in mid-sentence. "…I am not going to start arguing philosophy with a doll." He pushed himself away from the counter and began to walk down the hallway to the den room. Cait Sith trotted behind the gunman. He slipped past the door as Vincent closed it. There was a growl and the door opened again, this time Cait Sith was thrown against the opposite wall.

"If you try coming in here again, we can find out if you still squeak as I put a few bullets in you." The door shut leaving Cait lying in the hallway. The doll giggled and skipped down back into the main room. There the cat doll took its place on one of the couches near the door.

Author's note: I thought I would keep this chapter short and sweet. The next chapter will begin a new day and more antics when Vincent discovers the wonders of the popcorn button and the pantry door.