Disclaimer: Same old, same old…I still don't own them.

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What Rufus was getting at was becoming clearer to Tseng as his speech went on. 'No Rufus, I haven't had a day when I wanted to make everything go away. Life isn't easy, it's supposed to be challenging. What your father did to you and does to you isn't right, we both know that, but don't give him the satisfaction of giving in. Look, I'm off this weekend and I can easily take tomorrow off. Friday is usually a slow day anyway, they won't miss me. I'm pretty much done here for the night I'm going to Junon tonight Rufus. Promise me you won't do anything before I get there alright?' He was met by silence on the other line. 'Promise me Rufus. Don't do anything, I'll be there in a few hours and we can talk alright? Rufus? Please?'

It seemed like an eternity before the person on the other end of the line replied. 'That might be a promise I can't keep. I'm sorry Tseng. It might be too late by the time you get here. I only called to ask you to take care of Dark Nation and to say goodbye.' Tseng was beside himself, worried about what Rufus meant by that last comment. He's already done something to himself…

'Rufus? You didn't do something already did you? Please tell me you didn't hurt yourself.'

'No Tseng, I didn't hurt myself. I was just a little tired and I couldn't get to sleep so I took whatever sleeping pills I had left. Heh, did you know they put warnings on the packages limiting how many to take in a day for a reason? These things get you really tired pretty quick if you take too many. It's too bad really, I don't know if I had enough of them left to get me to sleep forever. I think I have enough, but I really don't know.'

Damnit, this was the last thing he expected to have happen. The way the conversation had been going, Rufus wanted to die, but seemed like he wanted someone to talk him out of it. Now, Tseng was hearing Rufus give his goodbye after possibly taking enough pills to die. Cell phone still in hand, he made his way to the helicopter pad. Once he got there, he came across one of the newer Turks, Rude's partner Reno. Knowing Reno was a good pilot, Tseng gave him the order to high-tail it to Junon. Seeing that Tseng meant business, Reno took off as quickly as possible towards the city.

'What's the noise Tseng? Everything was quiet now I can barely hear you.' Relieved that he still had Rufus on the phone with him, he decided that the best way Rufus would stay awake would be if he kept talking to him.

'I'm in a helicopter, I told you I was going to Junon tonight. I'm going to be there in about an hour.' Unless this stupid thing can go any faster. 'You didn't believe me did you?'

'No I didn't actually. I thought you were just saying that. An hour huh? Shouldn't take you that long, it's not a terribly long helicopter ride from Midgar to Junon. Since you are coming over, I should tidy up. However, I am a bit too tired at the moment to do so though, so excuse the mess when you come by. Oh, and also please excuse the fact that you may have to let yourself into my apartment. Hopefully I'll be sleeping by then and so I will be unable to answer the door.'

To say Tseng was upset an understatement. He was not upset at what Rufus did, he was dissapointed in that. He was upset and how Rufus was joking around about the situation. 'This isn't funny Rufus and don't you dare fall asleep.' He looked at his watch; There's still about a half-hour to go before we get there, we may be too late.

'I'm sorry Tseng, but I have to be going now. Tell Rude I said goodbye to him too. Say goodbye to that redheaded Turk I met before I left. His name was Reno wasn't it? Yeah, cool guy, tell him I said hi. Well, it's more like goodbye now and thanks for the beer. Tseng? I'm sorry. You'll forgive me someday, won't you? I'd like to know you forgive me before I die.'

Rare was it for Tseng to get scared about anything. Now he was scared he ran out of time to save Rufus from himself. 'I'm not going to answer that question because you are not going to die. Please stay awake for a few more minutes. Please Rufus, stay awake for me.' Pleading was never something Tseng was good at either, but that was the only thing he could do right now.

'I don't think I can Tseng. I'm trying, but I keep falling asleep. I'm sorry. Take good care of Dark Nation for me ok?' The line went quiet for a few moments, Tseng was afraid that he was too late and was going to recover a body, not save a life. After a few moments, a weak voice started talking again. 'Tseng? For what it's worth, thank you. For being a friend when I needed one and a father when I needed one. I hope you forgive me. I didn't mean to hurt you, I just didn't know what else to do.' The last thing Tseng heard on the other end of the line was the phone hitting the floor.

'Rufus? Rufus please answer me.' I'm too late. So much for being there for him. He hung up his phone and continued to stare at the phone in his hand.

'Yo Tseng-san, we're here. So, what floor is Rufus' apartment on?' Reno snapped him out of his daydreaming. Tseng jumped out of the helicopter and ran to the door to the apartment complex's stairwell.

'It's on the 14th. There's 15 stories to this building so taking the stairs is the quickest. By the way, how do you know we're here to see Rufus?'

Reno, who was right behind Tseng, gave a small laugh and replied; 'It really wasn't very hard to figure out Tseng. You used his name a few times and you told him you were coming by. By the look on your face, and the way you were talking to him, something bad happened to him and you think that either he might not be in his apartment or he'll be dead in his apartment. So, which one is it?'

Damn, he's good. Perceptive, and good at figuring things out rather quickly. Hence why he's a Turk I suppose. Once through the door, they went down the stairwell as quickly as they could. 'I believe the latter Reno. I've spent the past hour or so on the phone with a 16 year old who called to make me promise I'd take care of his pet if something happened to him then had him say his goodbyes. Forgive me if I'm light on details at the moment, getting Rufus to a hospital in my main priority at the moment.' Reno nodded in agreement, more to himself then to Tseng since Tseng couldn't see him and followed his boss to Rufus' apartment door. Afraid of what he might see in the apartment, Tseng hesitated for a split second before he began pounding on the door.

'Rufus? Rufus open the door!' When he received no reply he shrugged and pulled out a set of keys from his pocket and unlocked the door. He and Reno quickly made their way into the apartment. Everything looked rather undisturbed, like no one lived in this part of the apartment.

Feeling confident in where he would find Rufus, he made his way to the master bedroom. Reno followed Tseng to the room and both men stood in the doorway temporarily shocked into place. Rufus lay on his bed, still and peaceful, bottle of pills resting on his nightstand, cell phone on the floor and a note that had barely anything written on it in his left hand. Dark Nation was laying across Rufus' legs, seemingly aware that something wasn't normal about the sleep her master was having.

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A/N: Like it? Hate it? Let me know!