She came into the room all smiles. For about three minutes, she stayed that way, signing papers, shaking hands, beaming at the unfortunates who had lost money because of her. Then she saw him.

Tseng and Elena's eyes locked, and her face paled, smile fading from the corners of her mouth. Tseng stepped forward, but she lurched backwards, and turned quickly to the girl from the betting booth, who had come out to join the revelry. Tseng saw Elena whisper something in the girl's ear, and the girl nodded.

"Racer seven's done for today, guys!" The girl announced. "Sorry, everybody! Come back tomorrow for the next race!"

There were groans and disappointed mumbles from the crowd, especially from those farther back in line, as the fans began to disperse back through the doors and passageways to other parts of the Gold Saucer. Reno glanced around, uncertain.

"Hey, boss," he started. Tseng gestured at him to stay put.

Elena had turned around and was starting to make her retreat.

"Wait!" Tseng called out. She didn't stop, but pushed through the double doors towards the racetrack. Tseng started forward towards where she had gone, but the doors shut in his face. He started at them resignedly for a moment, then, disappointed, turned away.

"She'll be back tomorrow," the booth girl offered, as she followed Elena out the doors.

"Thanks," Tseng muttered.

He trudged back to Reno, who was looking dejectedly at the blank monitors across the room.

"She didn't even want to talk to us?" He asked. "Maybe we should wait here, maybe she'll come back."

Tseng disagreed. "You saw her," he said. "She doesn't want to talk."

Reno frowned. "So…what, now? We just leave?" He gestured at the blank monitors. "Looks like she's doing well enough for herself, at least."

Tseng looked thoughtful. "Let's get a room for the night," he offered. "We'll see how things progress in the morning. I'm hesitant to leave her here in this…" he waved a hand vaguely around the room. "This publicity disaster."

The two of them crossed to the door and left the racing square. Tseng had a lot on his mind, and Reno recognized the pensive look in his eyes, keeping respectfully silent until they reached the hotel.

Tseng was furious with himself. He knew he should have anticipated that sneaking up on Elena like they had done was probably not the safest and wisest of moves. Of course she'd be startled, after six years of zero contact, if they suddenly imposed themselves on her. But he knew that, no matter how generally tactless his approach had been, she was acting too foolishly to be left alone. Headstrong, and slightly desperate, he thought. Elena, after all, might not be the type to move on well from her sole traumatic year in the Turks.

Ultimately, Reno found it necessary to break Tseng's reverie.

"Hey," he said gently, "look, why don't you quite your worrying and get some sleep. There's a damn black cloud over your head, I can see it from here. Go relax."

Tseng nodded, and took Reno's advice.

Climbing the stairs, Tseng seated himself on the bed in their rented room. There was a television across from the bed, and Tseng switched it on, hoping for some sort of more pleasant diversion. The images flashed and flickered for a moment before coming entirely into focus.

He'd turned on a news show, it seemed, some sort of local "highlights at midnight." He reached forward to change the channel, but was stopped by the images on the screen. Next to the newscaster's podium was a depiction of a violent blaze engulfing a familiar looking bar, surrounded by the slum scenery of Midgar's fourth sector.

"Shit," Tseng breathed, closing his eyes.

When Reno came in a few moments later, the lights and the television were off.

The next morning, Tseng opened his eyes to find Reno sitting up in bed, his eyes on the door.

"I swear, somebody's trying to get in," Reno said, jerking his head towards the window. "They were trying the window first."

Quietly, the two men rose from bed and slipped over to the door. Reno peered through the crack, one hand braced lightly against the wall as he leaned forward to look. Almost immediately, he stepped back.

"It's me, Reno," came the voice from outside. "May I come in?"

Reno jerked the door open to reveal Elena standing in a nightgown, hands clasped in front of her as she nervously eyed the two men standing in the doorway.

"Hi," she murmured. "Why don't we close the door before we're noticed."

Tseng reached around her to close the door, and Elena sat down on the bed with a tired little sigh. Reno and Tseng stood awkwardly in front of her, shifting on their feet as they waited for her eyes to meet theirs.

"How'd you find me?" she asked.

Tseng stared at her. "How could we have missed you, I think, is the better question. What were you thinking?"

"Tseng…" Elena started, but Tseng didn't let her finish.

"You're going to get yourself killed," he continued. "I thought you, you, one of us, one of the Turks, would have more sense, would have a vestige left of her common sense and survival skills. Have you seen the news lately?"

Elena nodded. "I've seen the news."

Reno glanced between them, catching the foreboding air. "Hey," he said, "hold on, what news?"

Tseng looked at him, then looked away. "Tell you later, Reno," he said. Turning to Elena, he extended a hand. "You're going to have to come with us. It's too late to salvage this, now."

Elena smiled. "So that's why you came, huh?" She paused. "To be my knights in shining armor? Are you gonna pull me from my tower, boys?" She shook her head. "I missed you."

Reno nodded. "It'll be like old times, you, and me, and Tseng, on the run from the man, on a mission, you know?"

Elena rose from the bed, and shook her head again. "I want you two to go home, now," she said. The two men stared at her.

"Haven't you heard anything I've-!" Tseng began.

"Every word," Elena replied. "But Tseng, I'm happy, here. For once, for real." She paused. "There's nobody here who's afraid of me. They love me, here." She smiled, again. "So I'll take my chances."

Tseng started forward. "You're acting like an idiot," he cried, frustration bubbling up against his usually calm exterior. "You can't do this."

Elena turned away. "It was nice to see you," she said, with emotion in her voice. "Honestly, it was."

The door closed behind her as she left.