Tengoko: Sorry it's been so long since I've last updated. I faced extreme writer's block on this chapter. I must have written four different versions before deciding on this one. But, I have a feeling it'll go smoothly from here. Reviews. I'd love them as always. They are the best cure for writer's block.

Disclaimer: hmpf.
Rated M for language and romance

Chapter 14: In the Den

Sleep? How could they suggest such a thing? Sleep was out of the question. Anything was out of the question until her children were found. And the worst part was, she couldn't help look for them. Reno insisted on it. Said that she was too easy a target. And he left Yuffie and Shera with her to make sure she didn't try to go against his wishes.

Yuffie sat next to Tifa on the couch and turned the TV off with the remote. They'd been watching the news, hoping to hear an update. But after two weeks of nothing, it was no surprise that the same old thing was said. They kept replaying the interviews with Rufus Shinra and her husband. But nothing had turned up.

"I hate this," Tifa cried. "I hate just sitting here while my children are alone and scared. They need me. And I'm stuck here."

Yuffie frowned and put her arm around her best friend. She didn't know what to tell her though. In all honesty, she wished she could be out there with Reno, Vincent, and Cid. She wanted to look for them. She cared about them, had watched them grow up.

"I've got tea," Shera said, coming in from the kitchen with a tray and three cups full of the steaming liquid. "This will cheer you up a bit. It always works for me."

"Have you ever had any of your children stolen from you?" Tifa asked contemptuously. "Until you have, don't presume that a cup of tea is going to put a smile back on my face."

Shera merely kept smiling and set the tray down on the coffee table. She then took her seat in the armchair and looked at both women on the couch. "You worry too much," Shera said. "I don't honestly think that Gordon Manning is going to kill your children."

"Then you obviously have never met Gordon Manning," Tifa said. "You don't know how many people have died as a direct result of his experiments."

"Well, Reno will find them before it comes to that. I mean, he found you, didn't he?"

"Reno knew where to look when it was Tifa who'd been taken," Yuffie said. "He was the one that pointed us in the right direction. But Manning didn't give him anything to go on this time. He's left to only guess and search until something gives them a lead."

"I hope he kills him," Tifa snarled. "I'm tired of Gordon Manning haunting my life. This needs to be finished."

Tifa took a sip of her tea and then sank back into the couch. It was too true what she'd said. Manning had been in her dreams ever since he'd tortured her. And now, he was back in her life for real, attacking her in the worst way possible. Through her children. The man deserved to die. And Reno deserved to kill him.

"Somebody will get him eventually," Yuffie said, sitting up erect. "If not, I'll hunt him down myself. I hate that he thinks he can get away with messing with you. Damn it, I hate not being out there either! I want to get my hands on the little creep and tear him apart. Nobody messes with my friends, and especially not their children."

"You're not helping, Yuffie," Shera scolded. "We must not feel hatred. It's not becoming."

"Come on, Shera. You know if he was in front of you, you'd give him a good, hard slap."

Shera smiled and leaned forward, setting her own cup on the table. "Yuffie, darling, I'm married to Cid Highwind. Gods know that I'd give him a lot more than a hard slap if I ever got the chance."

Yuffie laughed. Tifa smiled, but that was all she could manage to do. She couldn't stop thinking about her children, which was natural. They meant the world to her and now they were both gone. She looked down at her hands and began to remember a day, thirteen years ago when they'd been holding her son, her Wesley. She'd never been happier before, and had only been just as happy twice after. And it scared her that she might never get to put her arms around him again.

She felt Yuffie nudge her shoulder, and she looked up into her eyes. Yuffie smiled and rubbed her shoulder. "Teefs, everything will be okay." Tifa could only hope that she was right.

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Wesley knew why he hadn't lost his mind yet. Amidst the beatings, the Hypnopaedia, and then, even more intense measures of pain, he was still within himself. And it was because of his hatred that was far from distilled. His enmity kept him sane. His desire to be the one to kill Gordon Manning kept him going.

He looked down at his chest and stomach. What a bloody mess. And yet, he didn't feel any of it anymore. Almost as if he'd grown immune to pain in the two weeks of his captivity. The only thing that made him aware we was getting beaten anymore was the loud crack of the whips or things like that.

Today was Tuesday. That meant that it was Hypnopaedia today, which Wesley knew the attendants would have to unstrap him for. And he waited, patiently, perfecting his plan to escape this place and find Lena Mae. It'd be much more foolproof if he actually knew the building in its entirety and knew where they were keeping his little sister.

There were usually two of them. So, whatever he did, it had to be quick. Hesitation could mean failure. He was willing to fail. The stakes were to high. This was now life and death. And he'd be damned if he'd let his sister die. Not when he could do something about it now.

He heard the familiar sound of a door unlocking. The doctor was ready for him. And he was ready for his assistants. Letting his head fall to the side, he closed his eyes and pretended to be in a troubled sleep. If they thought he was asleep, they'd be more careless in getting him into the hand and leg shackles.

He heard their footsteps getting nearer. And before he knew it, one foot was free, and then the other. Then his right hand. "Vermin," said a voice. "I can't get this one to unlock."

"Turn the key, you moron," was his reply.

"I'm trying, but it won't turn."

"I have to do everything for you, don't I? Kristoff, I swear," Wesley could tell by his voice that he was walking around the table. "I don't know why Manning keeps you around. You don't do anything right and the only thing you can be counted on doing is messing everything up."

His right hand was free now. Wasting no time, he bolted off of the table and towards the door. The fools had left it unlocked, just as they always did, and now Wesley was racing down the hall ignoring the shouts behind him.

Suddenly, the alarm went off. Wesley suddenly panicked. He hadn't know they'd had one of those. The building seemed pretty old and an alarm system seemed too modern. Oh well, he'd just have to be resourceful and make it up as he went along now. And then, he saw a shadow coming towards him. Getting bigger and bigger.

Wesley disappeared into an empty room and closed the door quietly, turning the lock and then making his way further into the room. It occurred to him right away where he was. Judging my the desk, the papers, and some of the pictures, he was in Manning's office. And since he'd be searching for Wesley as well, this was the safest place to be. After all, why would an escaped prisoner hide in the office of the man he was trying to get away from?

Well, since he was in his office, he was going to take advantage of what he could learn there. He started sifting through drawers, moving papers around, until he came across what he was looking for. Blueprints. Blueprints of the entire building. And according to notes written on the side of it, Manning was only using one floor for experimentation. Which meant that wherever Lena Mae was, it was close by.

Looking down at the bottom of the blueprints, Wesley was relieved to find an address. Now, not only did he know the layout of the building, he knew where they were. Which meant, once he got Lena Mae and himself out, he'd know how to get home.

It was one of the dilapidated buildings in Sector Three. And, from what Wesley assumed, from the outside, it wouldn't look like the place a mad scientist would want to conduct deranged experiments on unwilling patients.

Wesley looked up and as he looked upon the items on Manning's desk, a new plan entered his head. It'd get him caught, but as long as he used the time he had wisely, it'd get him rescued as well. Moving forward, he carefully put the blueprints where he'd found them, so not to let Manning know he now knew where he was, and then he grabbed the phone from Manning's desk and hoped beyond hope that it had a dial tone. Pressing down on a random line, he breathed a heavy sigh to discover that it did.

But he quickly had to hang it up. The door opened, an Wesley was lucky enough to have enough time to scramble behind a filing cabinet before the lights flickered on. He heard footsteps hurry in, and then just as quickly go out.

Still, even as he heard the door close, he didn't move. For all he knew, it was a trap. A trap to see if he was hiding in here, and now they meant to lure him out. But, he wasn't going to move for a while. He was going to make sure that there was nobody there. Even if it meant crouching in this uncomfortable position for an hour. He hoped it wouldn't be that long.

He was glad that he thought to do that. About three minutes later, he heard footsteps again. Inside the office no less. It was a good thing he hadn't come out. But this time, when the door closed, Wesley had a good feeling that it was okay to come out of hiding. He'd been right. Nobody was there. It's just, now the lights were on. So, that meant that the next time somebody came in, he'd have no time to run for cover.

So he had to do this right. Running for the phone, he picked it up, chose a line, and then dialed. Four rings. Nobody picked up. Cursing under his breath, he tried again and again. Still, nothing. It probably meant one thing. He was already on the phone and it was too important a call to switch over. So, he'd wait. He'd go back his hiding spot and wait a few more minutes before trying again.