A/N: Well, I would like to thank you all, you guys rock! I apologize for the long wiat for the update, but hey I wrote this in one day! Yes, Operation PayBack is coming to a close soon, and I know, I'm upset too. But fear not because I'll be around and maybe, just maybe a sequel?

Disclaimer: I don't know anything, leave me alone.

---xXx---

Shattered Tears

Auron's Point of View

I ran to the edge of the cliff and peered down. "Brooke!" I yelled out again when I saw her lying on the plateau below. When she didn't respond, I started to scale down the mountainside. Upon reaching the platform she was laying I ran over to her. "Yevon… Brooke, no…" I knelt down beside her before resting my head against her chest. She was breathing, but barely.

I placed my hand behind her neck and lifted her head. I took the last potion I had and tipped it into her mouth. Once the contents of the bottle were gone I placed her back down and glanced at her again. It seemed her breathing was no longer erratic, and a few of the smaller cuts had closed, but there was still that abrasion on her shoulder from the bullet, and the gash in her arm and forehead from the fall that were still open, and bleeding. "Crap…"

I glanced down and saw the scarf I had purchased for her in the Calm Lands coming out of my jacket's pocket. I carefully wrapped it around the wound on her arm, which appeared to be the worst of the three. It wasn't much, but it was going to have to do for now.

I looked around. Luckily, the plateau she had landed was outside a small cave. 'Thank Yevon,' I mused as I noticed the setting sun. At least we'd have some protection from the harsh winds tonight. I cradled her in my arms and carried her unconscious form into the depths of the cave. 'Whatever lives here better be out for the night…' Her body shivered as I held her. This was going to be a problem; her body couldn't keep her warm and heal itself at the same time.

Carefully, I placed her back on the ground before I removed my jacket. I meticulously placed the coat on Brooke, before I sat down with my back against the concrete wall. I wished I could start a fire but, without some wood, that wasn't going to be possible. So, with a sigh, I pulled the petite girl onto my lap and hoped my body heat would help keep her warm. After a few minutes, her shivering subsided, which allowed me some comfort as my eyes drooped and I dozed off into a slumber.

---xXx---

Brooke's Point of View.

I groaned as I rolled over and snuggled up with a soft comfortable pillow…? My eyes shot open as I glanced at the satin cased pillow in my hands. "What… the… hell…?" There were a few things wrong with this scene.

The last time I slept on a comfortable bed like this I was like in… Seymour's home. My eyes widened considerably, as a panic began to take over. It quickly settled down once again as I realized that it couldn't possibly be his home, because if I came across him again I'd be in jail, though that didn't make me comfortable with the whole situation.

I raised my hand to my head as I felt an oncoming headache. Though, I stopped as my eyes focused on the jacket I was wearing. It was Auron's long red trench coat thing. My eye widened. "AH! I'M IN AURON!" I shouted out as I leapt from the bed I was laying on and darted in the direction of the mirror hanging on the left wall.

When I reached my destination, I was extremely relieved to find that I wasn't in Auron, merely in his jacket. 'Good job, Brooke… good job…' I shook my head, there was too much happening and I just woke up, this was definitely a sign that I was going to have a bad day. "Wait… if I'm wearing Auron's jacket…" I spun, glancing around the room, and nearly tripping over the long coat. "Where is… Auron?"

I stopped talking and furrowed my brow. "Who cares where Auron is, where the hell am I?" The last thing I remember is being pulled over the edge of a cliff and cursing my karma. I sure as hell didn't remember landing on a soft bed when I got pulled over the cliff, so where am I? For some reason I didn't really want to know the answer because I felt that as soon as I figured that out, I wasn't going to be happy.

Confusion was an understatement as I looked around the room. It was beautiful, fit for a queen. I slowly walked to my left where there was a vanity set. What is this place? I glanced in the mirror on the vanity, cringing at my appearance. I was in desperate need of some kind of shower, or at least a brush. Before I moved my attention elsewhere, from the corner of my eye I spotted a door. I grinned, maybe this would answer some question.

I turned and started for the door, taking large steps as I went. Just as my hand reached out for the door, it owned on its own, almost smacking me in head. "Whoa!" I called out as I jumped back away from the possessed door.

I was staring wide eyed at the door, when a girl popped her head into the room. She had dark black hair that seemed to be streaked with navy blue. Her eyes were a violet color and were currently looking over me in a curious manner. "Are you Brooke?" she asked quietly as she took a step into my room, closing the door behind her. She was wearing a pair of black pants that nearly covered the white sneakers she was wearing. The upper portion of her body was covered by a red tank top that was further covered by a denim jacket.

I nodded slowly, backing away from the stranger. She looked at me with a smile and laughed. "I'm not going to hurt you if that's what you think," she shrugged as she held up her hands and turned around. "I'm not even armed."

I calmed slightly, that was a good thing, because yet again, my daggers were absolutely nowhere to be seen. 'Why is it every time I pass out, my daggers go missing? I think I'm going to have to permanently attach them to myself.' I raised an eyebrow as I inquired, "Who are you?"

She smiled, and a little too broadly for my liking. I narrowed my eyes, why exactly is she so happy? This isn't a happy time; I'm lost! Maybe she was plotting something. I shook my head, 'Wow, way to be overly paranoid.' If I could I would pat myself on the back, but that might look slightly odd.

"My name is Hope," she answered as she walked towards me. I'm guessing she took notice to my incredulous look because she continued to talk. "I'm just here to heal you, you got some pretty bad cuts."

I looked at her suspiciously, "Where's Auron?"

She looked at me, confusion evident on her features. "Who?"

"Auron, big, tall, scary looking guy that doesn't smile, and can't take a joke for his life," I answered. She shook her head, telling me she had no idea what I was talking about. "He has dark brown hair… a scar on his face…" I continued, I was beginning to get worried, what happened to him after I fell?

"I'm sorry… I don't know whom you're talking about…" she said slowly as she tried to convince me to sit.

I pulled away from her as I shook my head. "No, I was with him before I passed out… I need to find him, what if he's hurt… or worse," I raised my hand to my mouth. I couldn't finish the thought, though I think she knew what I was talking about. What if Auron was dead? It would be my entire fault. I took a deep breath as I practically collapsed into the chair. I don't think I could handle it if he died because of me.

"I'm sure he's fine," the girl said as she placed her hands over my head and cast a curative spell over me. I could immediately feel strength reentering my body. I didn't know what to do, I couldn't just run out of here, I didn't even know where here was. She patted my head, signifying she was done. "I'm sure if you asked, the Zanarkand forces would go out and look for him."

"Yeah, I gu-" I stopped short and jerked my head in her direction. What did she say? "Wait… what forces?"

She smiled and took a few steps back. "Did that fall affect your hearing as well?" she questioned in a half joking manner. "I said the Zanarkand Forces, Commander said you're pretty important here. So, I'm sure if you asked them, they wouldn't mind looking for him."

I felt my blood run cold. I couldn't be in Zanarkand, not now. I wasn't armed, I had nothing with me, I had no one with me. And… important! What? I'm supposed to ruin them, how am I important? My breathing became shallow as I felt an oncoming anxiety attack. I didn't like this, and if I didn't feel paranoid before, I felt about fifty times worse now. "I… uhm, have to, uhm… leave…" I stuttered out nodding my head multiple times.

She raised and eyebrow and looked at me curiously, "Are you ok?"

"Yeah," I squeaked out, my throat had tightened making my voice high pitched. "Yes, I'm fine…" I stood from the seat I was in and looked at the girl before me, "I really have to leave."

"Brooke, I think you should rest," she said slowly, like she was talking to a two year old. "I think you are getting a little over worked." She ushered me over to the bed that occupied the left half of the room. "You stay here, I'm going to get someone, ok?"

"No," I shook my head. I didn't want her to get someone of high rank. What would that do? Make them realize they made a mistake and I should be in jail instead of here? I grabbed her hand. "Please, No!"

She pried her hand free from my grip, "Brooke, calm down." She took a few steps away from me. "I'll be right back." She turned her back to me and started walking towards the door. She cast me one last glance and a smile before she opened the door and disappeared into the hallway.

"Shit, crap, vilg, tysh!" I said excitedly as I jumped off the bed and looked around the room. There had to be something here, anything. I ran over to the dresser and pulled it open. There were tons of clothes in there, but nothing I could use as a weapon. I dug deeper into the draw, tossing the clothes to the floor as I did so. "Come on! There has to be something."

Not finding anything I cursed mentally. Shesh, if my dad heard the words I was using today, I would be very sore from the beating I would have received. "I have to get out of here…"

I ran over to the window, this was becoming all too familiar to me. Something happens and I'm ready to jump out a window. I pushed it open and looked out. My stomach dropped, we were really high off the ground. Actually, really high was an understatement, by the looks of it this was one of the Zanarkand skyscrapers I'd heard about and I was near the top. 'SHIT!' I wasn't getting out this way, so the only way out was through the door.

"Frig it, I'll just run. That Hope said I was important… maybe they won't kill me?" Yeah, and maybe Auron is the Easter Bunny and I'm the Queen of the Al Bhed.

I scurried over to the door and threw it open. I ran out into the hallway and glanced around. Why, I don't know, because its not like there was going to be this big gaping sign that would say 'Exit here!' I tried to think of which way would be the best way to go, but I didn't think long because I heard voices coming from my right. "So, left it is." I took off down the hall, not once stopping to check if I was being followed. Personally, I didn't care if I was or not, the only thing I cared about was getting out of that place.

I came to the end of the hallway and found a door labeled 'emergency stairs'. 'I hope this gets me out of here.' As I ran through the doors, my escape was halted as I ran right into something… or I should say someone. I stumbled backwards, tripping over my own two feet and landing promptly on my butt. "Oww…" I glanced up at the man I had run into.

I smiled, jumped up, and wrapped my arms around him. I had never in my life been so relieved to see him. "Tyseuh!"

He laughed softly as he slowly moved her arms around me. "Hi, Brooke, are you ok?" I shook my head as I held him tighter, my emotions were beginning to try and gain control of me and I started to shake. "Hey, hey, calm down," he said as he ran a hand over my head. "Come on, what's wrong?"

I didn't know where to begin. How about the fact that Auron is missing? Or how about that I don't know how my friends are, or that my weapons are missing, or that I'm in Zanarkand and I don't know how I got there, or why I was placed in such a luxurious room? Ok, the room wasn't so bad, but… it still didn't make sense. I had all these questions and problems, and they were all formulated in my mind, but the only thing I could manage to choke out was, "Zanarkand… here… everyone gone…"

He smiled down at me as he held me tighter, "It's ok, Brooke, everything is going to be fine. Trust me." I looked up at him, and I could tell he saw the uncertainty in my eyes. He smirked and placed his hand on my cheek, "Have I let anything happen to thus far?"

I shook my head. He hadn't. If anything, he's saved my life on a number of occasions. He lifted me up off the ground and started walking with me back down the hall I had run down. "Don't worry, you need to calm down before you can do anything," he told me.

I nodded slowly; I had to trust him. He was just looking out for me, and besides what else was I going to do? It's not like I really had much of any choice. I couldn't do this myself, especially unarmed. "Alright… I trust you…" I muttered as I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my head against his.

I was tired, not physically, but emotionally. That revelation took a lot out of me. I mean, how would you feel if you woke up in a strange place only to discover that you're behind enemy lines? I guess it wasn't so bad. So long as no one realized who I was, it was ok… right? Oh man, I hope so…

He placed me down on the ground once we were within the confines of my room. "Good, good. Now… go shower, there is a bathroom right through that door," he pointed to my left. He pushed me forward, a little too forceful, I wasn't expecting and I pretty much tripped over myself and fell on my face. "Brooke!" he jumped down to help me back up, "I'm sorry about that."

I looked at him strangely, that kind of hurt. "It's ok…" I said slowly as I walked towards the room he had pointed to before. "I'll be right out…" I said quietly.

I ran the water so I could take a shower. Tyseuh was right; I just needed to calm down. I needed to relax. Then I could think straight, come up with a plan, finish my business and go back… not home… I don't have a home. But… go back someplace, away from all this 'Chosen One' crap.

After stripping my clothes and stepping into the shower, I almost immediately felt relaxed. I definitely needed this. I washed myself quickly, enjoying the warm water that fell over me. The water helped clear my mind, and allowed me to think straight. Though, I wish it hadn't. A bunch of thoughts rushed to my mind, what happened to Auron, why I was in Zanarkand, why I was important to Zanarkand… why Tyseuh was here in Zanarkand. My eyes shot open as the last thought lingered in my head. "Why the hell is Tyseuh in Zanarkand?"

I almost snapped my neck in my haste to jump out of the shower. Not bothering to actually do the intelligent thing and put clothing on, I cracked open the door and poked my head out. I saw Tyseuh standing in the center of the room speaking with that Hope girl.

"Thank you for coming for me, Hope," Tyseuh said with a bow of his head. "I am most appreciative."

She smiled and shrugged her shoulders, "Hey it was no big deal. I was a little worried about her, she started freakin' out." She ran a hand through her shoulder length hair. "You sure she's ok now?"

"Yes, I calmed her down, she's showering now, all is fine. Everything is slowly falling into place," he said with a grin.

My eyes went wide. I can't believe it. He was against me this whole time! "You son of a bitch!" I yelled stepping out the door, causing all eyes to fall on me. "You were planning this from the beginning, you're part of this whole operation. All that crap about trusting you... All of it… you… BASTARD!"

"Brooke," he said slowly, approaching me with caution. "Calm down, its not what you think."

"NO!" I stepped away from him. "How dare you tell me to calm down! You lying asshole!" I glanced towards Hope, she was looking at me like I had just lost my mind. Maybe I did.

He made a grab for my arm, "Brooke! Stop it!" I jumped back away from him. I felt like a cat backed into a corner. "Please, let me explain, just… stop this."

"Don't come near me!" I shouted as I backed away from him some more. He grabbed my arm and I spazzed. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" I screeched as I frantically tried to pull away from him. He pulled me close to him. "DAMN IT! I SAID GET OFF!" I jammed my elbow into his stomach before I turned and used the base of my hand to smash his nose.

He jumped back as he cried out in pain. This this was my chance. I broke free and jetted out the door. Clinging tightly to the towel that was around me, I ran down the hall I was in, shoving past every person that crossed my path. This must be an interesting sight, some strange girl running down the hall, sopping wet with nothing but a towel on. In retrospect, I kinda wish I had put something on, like… pants.

"BROOKE!" he yelled after me.

'Shit!' I picked up my pace, trying to run as fast as I could. "Leave me alone!" I cried out as I was nearing the door to the stairs. I pushed it open and started down the flight before me. 'Oh Yevon, please let me get out of here…'

But Yevon apparently hates me too, because no sooner did I start down the stairs, did the door swing open behind me again. 'Shit, shit, shit!'

"Brooke, damn it, stop!"

"Go to hell!" I screamed as I leapt down the last five steps. I don't know how I managed to land that without breaking something, but I did. Not that it did me any good, he just jumped down after me, trapping me there. I back into the corner, shaking my head as I muttered, "No… please… no…. just leave me alone… please."

"You don't understand," he said as he stepped forward, grabbing my wrist to keep me from striking him. He pulled me in closer to him and lifted me off the ground once again. "Let me talk."

"No… please…" I pathetically muttered as I tried to hit him, but it was pointless. I could feel the hot tears falling from my eyes. Once they started, there was no stopping them. They just continued to fall as he carried me back up the stairs. I buried my head in shoulder and continued to sob. This was so pathetic I'm so weak. How am I supposed to take this power down if I can't escape one of their buildings?

He carried me down the hall, catching glances from everyone as we passed. "Brooke, let me explain a few things." He ran a hand over my wet hair, letting it rest at my neck. "You took this all wrong," He whispered into my ear.

"No," I muttered, shaking my head. "You lied to me…"

He kicked open the door to the room I had now attempted to escape twice, only to be brought back… the same way each time. He placed me on the ground, and tried to gain eye contact with me. I avoided his gaze at all cost, I didn't want to look at him, I wanted to go home.

He grabbed my chin and forced me to look up at him. "Listen, Brooke," he locked his silver eyes with my blue ones, "When have I lied to you?"

My eyes went wide in anger. Was he kidding me? "You lied this whole time, helping me so I can save Spira?" I smacked his hand away from my chin. "You were with THEM!"

"Damn it, Brooke!" he yelled, causing me to stumble back away from him. "I have never once tried to hurt you. I don't want you to have to fight them." He stepped towards me, only causing me to back up, until my back was pressed against the wall. "I can stop all this… everything…"

"Where's Auron?" I blurted out. I don't know why, but it's the first thing that came to my mind.

He shook his head before bringing his hand up to his head, running his hands through his brown hair. He half laughed before saying, "Auron…" He threw his hands in the air. "Auron! You're asking me about Auron!" He turned his back to me and took a few steps away from me. I looked around the room, what happened to that Hope girl? I didn't have time to think about because he whirled around started in with me again. "I'm asking you to marry me, I'm giving you a chance to get rid of all of this, and you ask me," he altered his voice into a high pitched girly voice, "Where's Auron!"

I winced slightly, I had never seen him like this and, to be quite frank, I didn't like it. It kind of frightened me and I had never been afraid of him before. "I want to go home…" I muttered as I felt my face grow hot. I felt like a little girl again, I was scared and all alone. It also didn't helped that this wasn't even like Tyseuh, not that I knew the real Tyseuh, but this one was so out of character from the one I came to 'know' the one I finally came to trust.

"You don't have a home," he snapped.

What the hell was that? Does he think I don't realize what happened to me? Does he think I forgot why I came? Tears started to pour from my eyes again. I really didn't want to cry, but I couldn't help it. I slid down to the floor, the towel now barely covering me. "I know…" I whispered, so lowly that almost I couldn't even hear it.

"Damn…" he muttered as he knelt down in front me. "Lady Brooke, please forgive me. I didn't mean to be like that."

"Just leave me alone," I choked out in between sobs.

"Not until you listen," he said, his voice much calmer than it had just been. He placed his two hands on my shoulders before continuing. "I made sure you journey here was safe, I knew this was something you had to do for yourself. I never allowed for things to get out of control," he explained as he wiped the tears from my cheeks. "I was with Seymour, to ensure your safety and I'm here now to ensure your safety." He brushed a few strands of hair away from my face and gazed into my eyes, "I ran into Hope while she was running to Yuna. Think about it, if Yuna, the girl that you fought in Besaid… had she come in here, you would have freaked, no?"

I nodded slowly; he was making sense, so far anyway. "But… what about you saying… things are falling into place?"

He grinned sheepishly and he ran one of his hand through his brown hair. "Well… I honestly thought you'd agree to my marriage proposal and this would all end." He hung his head. "I was getting ahead of myself…. I apologize." I didn't know what to do. I couldn't tell if he was lying, but everything he said seemed to be making sense. It explained a lot of things, in my mind anyway. "Can you forgive me?" He lifted his head, his silver eyes pleading with me.

There isn't like I was being left with much of any choice. On one hand I had forgive him and trust him maybe getting out of here, and on the other I had don't forgive and… die. Oh man the choices I had were the greatest, I must say. "Yeah… sure…"

He raised an eyebrow, "I really am sorry, Brooke."

"Yeah, and it's ok," I said with a little more control over my voice, well at least this time it didn't crack. He smiled as he stood, now towering over me. He extended his hand to help me off the ground. I shook my head. "I can do it… don't want to loose the towel," I told him as I stood up.

He nodded before walking over to the pile of clothes I left on the floor from my first attempted escape. He shifted through it a little before pulling out a green halter-top and a pair of satin black pants. "Go get dressed," he instructed as he held out the clothing.

I looked at the articles of clothing in his hands oddly before taking them and walking into the bathroom. As I slipped into them, I was surprised as to how well they fit, though this hadn't been the first time that it had happened.

I glanced in the mirror and sighed. I was so tired of this whole thing; I wanted it all to stop. I just wanted Spira to be ok… I wanted to be ok. I was so happy before all this started. "I don't even care any more… I just want it to end. I want to be done. I have nothing left… I just want to be away from it…" That's when I was hit with an idea, like if it was dangling in front of my face the entire time. He had brought it up so many times and yet it never clicked that that was the opportunity to escape I was looking for. I threw open the door and glanced at Tyseuh who was seated on the bed.

"It'll all stop?" I said as I walked towards him. He looked at me curiously, not quite grasping where I was heading, but silently urging me to continue. "This whole thing… it'll just go away if I marry you?"

---xXx---

A/N: Well there you go, another chapter of Operation:PayBack –dodges rotten fruit chucked at head- yeah yeah I gotcha no more cliffies, whoops? Okies, well shush and review, thanks!