Chapter Six

Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Not the character. Not the universe they're in. Not even the chair I'm sitting in. Nothing!

A/N: I've had people ask if this will be slash. I can honestly say…I don't know. It may lead to romance, it may not. However I will say there will be love between male characters. It might not be romantic, but it will become prevalent. I will also say that if I do go that route, there will be NO SEX between characters in this story. Either way I go, there will be FLIRTING.

A/N 2: I don't like a mopey, whiny Cloud. If I start going too far in that direction, let me know so I can kick him in the butt.

…

Cloud ran into a cavernous room. It was completely demolished. Half the walls and ceiling were missing. Letting in the frigid breeze and dying sunlight. The remaining concrete walls and dirt floor had huge gouges cut into it. Broken wooded beams and tattered fabric were scattered everywhere. It created a horrid canvas for the battle that took place there. A mess of white feathers circled the two figures in the epicenter of the destruction. Cloud barely paid it any attention.

Zack was kneeling over the body of his dying mentor in the middle of it all. Cloud could see his whole body trembling from across the room. They were both cloaked in dust, and Zack's face was covered in blood. Angeal was ghostly white, he didn't have minutes left. As quickly as he could, Cloud made his way to their sides, and pulled the remaining cylinder from its pocket.

Without any hesitation, Cloud pushed Zack aside just before Angeal tried to hand him the Buster Sword. He grabbed the Sword and stabbed it into the ground next to Angeal's head. As he knelt beside Angeal he un-linked a green materia from his bracer. It wasn't one of those Shinra manufactured ones, no it was a natural stone. Fusion materia was nice and all but it couldn't compete with the raw power of the natural stones. They would need they would need that power for this was to work.

"He wouldn't listen to me." Zack said shakily to him from where he fell. Grief lined his tear and blood stained face. "Why wouldn't you listen to me Angeal?!"

"Here" Cloud pressed the green material into Zack's hand "the second I inject him with this I need you to cast the strongest Haste spell you can, and keep casting it until I tell you to stop. Can you do that for me Zack?"

Zack nodded grimly. He climbed to his feet and linked the Time materia into his bracer as Cloud popped open the metal canister and shook out the vial and syringe.

"Who are you?" Angeal gasped.

"I'm the person that's going to save you." Cloud said harshly as he prepared the serum for injection. "Do you want to know why? It's not because you're important." Cloud's anger increased with every word "You are of no use to me. You have no further part to play in this story. There is just one reason, and one reason only that I'm saving you. Do you want to know what that reason is?" Cloud almost hissed the question at Angeal. His rage had contorted his face.

"Yes." Angeal whispered.

"Because Zack wants you to live."

Cloud stabbed the syringe into Angeal's heart and emptied the plunger.

"Now Zack!" He commanded and ripped the needle out.

Zack cast the spell with a shout, and Angeal started convulsing wildly. Cloud unleashed his own cure on top of it to heal the damage Zack's blade had done. It wouldn't do to fix the degradation only to die of his wounds. Not that he cared at this point. This man had just hurt Zack far worse than any torture Hojo ever did on them.

It was bad enough that he had suicided before when he believed there was no cure but to still do it and still use Zack, well that was unforgivable in Cloud's book.

"Cloud what's happening?" Zack cried out and started easing up his spell.

"Don't stop!" he told him as he cast another cure on Angeal.

The antidote needed to work all the way through him if it was to save his life at such a late stage. There wasn't anything else he could do for the man at this stage. The Haste was speeding the antidote through Angeal's body and Cloud's cures had healed any physical damage.

After several intense minutes, Angeal's spasms slowed then stopped. Already some color was coming back into Angeal's features though he still looked worn. Cloud moved over to Zack and gently pushed his arm down. He pulled an ether out of his side pocket and pressed it into Zack's hand taking the materia back at the same time. Zack took it numbly but didn't drink it.

"It's alright now Zack, you can stop." He said softly, trying to calm his friend down.

It couldn't have been easy seeing someone you care for suffering like that, even if it was to save them. Angeal was resting now. It wasn't peaceful, but he was healing and he couldn't feel any of Jenova's cells in him anymore. The curing waters worked almost instantly and the rest would heal in time. The question now was just how much time would Angeal need.

Zack kept staring down at Angeal in shock. Cloud cast a light cura over Zack to heal the worst of his injuries and forced the ether down his throat. He then gently took Zack by the arm and carefully guided him to a broken boulder a few feet away and helped him sit. He knelt in front of Zack and watched him with concern.

"Cloud, what was that?" Zack asked vaguely. He was clearly still in shock from everything that happened.

Before Cloud could answer him, the sudden sound of wings and a heavy thud from behind distracted them. Cloud pivoted and drew his sword to face the intruder before he finished processing the information. Zack was just a second behind him. His listlessness had disappeared completely. Genesis had landed near Angeal and was crouched down next to him. His wing was hovering protectively over Angeal's still form. Cloud shifted to an equally protective stance in front of Zack.

"That's a very good question Pup." He said menacingly "Well Delivery Man? I thought you said this would fix our problems, not create more."

"Glad you could join us." Cloud said without relaxing his stance.

"Now is not the time for games Delivery Man."

"It did its job. Angeal will be fine when he wakes up." Cloud said.

He still didn't relax his stance and watched Zack move carefully to his right. It would give them both room to act if Genesis decided to attack. Genesis was once someone he could almost call a friend but Cloud had no real attachment to him. If he had to kill him here so be it. Like Angeal, he didn't bring anything in the future that Cloud needed.

"His reaction, while shocking, was well within the acceptable parameters." Cloud continued.

Genesis drew his sword and pointed it at Angeal, "You call that acceptable?" Both Cloud and Zack tensed. Zack moved forward and raised his own blade, but Cloud quickly waved him back down. This was nothing more than Genesis' dramatics. He could no more harm Angeal than he could harm his Goddess.

"Yes."

"The fates are cruel, there are no dreams, no honor remains" Genesis sneered "If I were to use your cure, the same would happen to me I presume."

"It would. You would convulse as your body tried to fight it and then slip into a coma while the serum goes to work. When you wake, you will be cured." Cloud didn't know for sure if that would happen. He was just going on what went on here.

"And how long does this comatose state last?"

"Unknown, it's never been used for degradation. It was created for something much worse." Cloud confessed "And the cure worked instantly."

"Come on Genesis!" Zack interrupted "Enough already. Where's your Honor?"

Genesis opened his mouth to retort, but before he could say anything he spasmed as lightning crawled over him then collapsed onto Angeal. A redhead in a messy suit with a shock stick stood behind him with a grin. With him was a bald man wearing shades in a proper suit and Tseng were just a few feet back looking a little worse for wear.

"H'ya, Zack. Miss me Yo?" Reno smirked at them. Cloud wanted to groan.

"Reno! Man am I glad to see you." Zack's cheer was already in full force with the Turks present. It pained Cloud to see it when he knew how much Zack was hurting. "How did you get here so fast?"

"The distress beacon activated when we crashed." Tseng answered instead. He limped towards the two downed Firsts "It appears your mission was moderately successful Zack. Well done."

"Did you find Hollander?" Cloud asked.

"He's in custody." Tseng confirmed.

Cloud nodded and put his sword away. He caught the Turk eyeing it as he did. Zack looked between them then put his own away too. Cloud eyed Tseng up and down noting every injury. Without thinking to ask he cast a strong cura on him. Reno and Rude just about rushed him before Tseng waved them back.

"Thank you for that Strife." Tseng said dryly as the near invisible pain left his eyes.

Cloud nodded in acknowledgment while silently cursing his stupidity. Tseng wasn't his ally here. He hadn't managed to earn the Turk's trust yet and casting a spell on the wary man could have caused him a lot of trouble. He was lucky Tseng didn't just shoot him over it, it wouldn't have killed him and it wouldn't have been the first time he'd had to dig Tseng's bullets out of his flesh for his brashness.

A Pair of Soldier Thirds marched into the room and headed to Tseng for orders. It annoyed Cloud that they went to Tseng instead of Zack. Officially the Turks had no business commanding Soldiers. Apparently it was a different story unofficially as Zack didn't seem to notice or care as to who held the power here.

"Get them onto the second helicopter and off to Midgar." He commanded them. He turned to Cloud "I have new orders for you from the Professor."

Good, Hojo was able to follow through. He didn't doubt the scientist was capable of arranging the new mission but he had some hesitation on whether or not he would actually do it. There was only one person on the planet that he hated more than Vincent. Cloud wouldn't have put it past him to sabotage the trip out of spite.

"What does he want me to do." Cloud asked calmly.

"He wants us to take you to procure something."

"…Us?"

Tseng smiled slightly at him.

"Us."

Well shit…

…..

A new mission already? That didn't make a lot of sense. Soldiers were super strong and tough but as a consequence of the mako they needed a lot of down time between missions to keep from getting burnout. The higher up you were, the more R and R you were required to have. Sephiroth only did one or two missions a year anymore and if Cloud's levels were anything like what he was displaying than there was no way he should be going out on back to back jobs. Not without any proper support.

Zack was torn as he watched the Thirds strap Angeal and Genesis onto boards and carry them off. He wanted to leave with his mentor but he didn't want to leave Cloud alone with the Turks. Not when they were taking him off to some other, probably dangerous, mission so soon after the near disaster of this one.

Also he didn't want to face Angeal, not after what he said and tried to do. Angeal's words hurt him far more than any of the wounds he laid. He really thought he could reach him, that he would be enough for Angeal to come in for. Not even telling him that he had a cure made any difference. He'd never realized how little faith Angeal had in him.

"Where am I going?" Cloud asked the Turks breaking into Zack's thoughts.

Cloud's face had completely frozen over; Zack couldn't read him at all. It was unsettling after how expressive Cloud had been just moments before. He was acting like he had on the flight over. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

"Nibelheim." Tseng told him, Cloud just nodded.

"Nibelheim!" Zack exclaimed "Isn't that where you're from?"

Tseng turned to acknowledge Zack "You better hurry if you want to make your ride back to Midgar."

Zack hesitated for half a second, as he thought of the long uncomfortable flight back to Midgar and what he could expect when he got there, then decided. "No. Spike here helped me out big time on my mission. It's only fair that I help him on his." Zack crossed his arms and nodded decisively.

He saw Cloud quirk an eyebrow and mouth out the nickname. Zack grinned at him. Cloud smiled softly and relaxed a little. It was confirmed then, he was going whether Tseng liked it or not.

"I'm sure you want to help Zack, however corporal Strife's mission is classified. I can't let you go."

That wasn't right! His mission was classified too and they sent a stranger along with. Granted that stranger was going to become his new best friend and a poor experiment by that twisted professor, but that was beside the point. He was a First! He had more than enough clearance for any mission. This is part of what Soldiers were for! Not a good part but still a part all the same.

Zack was set to argue with him when Cloud turned to face Tseng and stated coldly "He can come."

"Strife I cannot allow that." Tseng was almost visibly twitching away from Cloud. Zack had never seen the reserved man react that way towards anyone. By Reno and Rude's reactions, they haven't either. Both Turks moved closer to their boss, prepared to defend him from Cloud. He couldn't quite see Cloud's face but it couldn't have been that scary. Cloud didn't even blink an eye at them.

"I know what the Doc wants me to fetch and I was expecting this to happen. I could use the assistance of a First to help should it prove to be…unwilling."

Zack watched anxiously as Cloud and Tseng stared each other down. He desperately wanted to know what was going on and what or should he say 'who' the creepy professor wanted his new friend to pick up, and for what purpose. When it came to Hojo it could be anything. Zack couldn't recall the number of monsters he'd been assigned to bring back alive for him.

To Zack's surprise Tseng was the one to back down. Whatever was driving Cloud forward it had to be big to get the Turk to relent. Just how much authority was Hojo using to pull this off?

"The fallout if this goes wrong will solely be on you." Tseng finally snapped. Another first from the Turk that Zack was aware of. Tseng was mild mannered and polite at all times regardless of the situation. He'd never seen him be less than civil, even when killing someone. Something about Cloud really got under Tseng's skin. Zack wasn't sure he wanted to find out why. Some things were best left a mystery, like how they get the fortunes inside the cookies.

"Alrigh' kittens! Let's get this show on th' road!" Reno called out breaking the tension and sauntered towards the remaining helicopter. Rude and then Tseng followed after.

"What's going on Cloud?" Zack whispered when they were alone.

Cloud moved so close to him they were almost touching and whispered back "I can't tell you yet, I'm sorry. I promise, I will tell you everything as soon as it's safe."

"Safe! What the hell is happening Cloud?"

What was Hojo up to? What was Cloud caught up in?

"As soon as it's safe." Cloud repeated "I'm not going to leave you in the dark. Not if you really want to know." Cloud then walked out.

Zack stood alone for a second in the expanse of the wreckage that he and Angeal created. He pondered everything that has happened lately. Genesis, Angeal, Sephiroth, the degradation, the copies, Aerith, the Turks, and now Cloud. Everything was spinning out of control and Zack didn't know where to look anymore. Nothing had made any sense lately. Things were happening all too fast and it seemed it was picking up again. Any second he was going to slip and fall over a cliff and he didn't think he would survive if that happened.

"Zack, are…you coming?" a hesitant voice called out stopping his panic attack dead.

Zack looked up and saw Cloud standing there looking concerned. Cloud who looked and acted like he hated Angeal and yet saved him…for Zack. Who showed so much concern for him, when they only met a few hours ago. Who came back for him. Zack shook off his dark thoughts and smiled his biggest smile as he made his way to Cloud's side grabbing Angeal's Buster Sword along the way.

"Come on Spike" he said putting his arm around his new friend "We got a job to do."

He will figure it out, eventually. He'll deal with Angeal when it's time. He'll figure out what had been done to his new friend and if he needed saving then that's what he'll have to do. He had all the time in the world.

Zack rushed to the helicopter and jumped into the opening, sliding into his seat. Cloud and Tseng also settled back with him leaving Reno and Rude to fly the bird. If nothing else happened right, at least he knew they wouldn't crash again.