Safe with Me

Shai is whisked back to memories still in their fragile first weeks, beginning with her interview with Professor Hojo. She is being informed her prospective client is none other than General Sephiroth. She remembers her initial shock to the news being based on reiterated facts from scattered media sources and a great deal of hearsay from everyone else. Signing the contract, she enters her new employment with expectations later proven to be simultaneously spot on and woefully inaccurate. Yes, he is a SOLDIER, and his military discipline pervades his daily routine, but a few weeks into her job will squash any remaining assumptions she may have had. In the span of one week, the general's imposing character and emotional nuances will reveal a man who is much more than his rank, wartime deeds, and his reputation. Shai sees sides of him she never expected: kicking back on the sofa every evening with a book in hand; catching him in deep reflection as she is leaving the condo; being the brunt of his playful nature while in the midst of an apology; standing frozen in place as he strides by in angry silence the day of his dinner engagement, slamming doors in his wake. Shai never did find out what had angered him so that Thursday afternoon, but it is this memory that has surfaced in her thoughts the strongest, bringing with it a terrifying image she had repressed until now. An image she caught a glimpse of before he disappeared into his bedroom. An image doubtlessly met by his enemies before meeting their end on the blade of Masamune: the blazing ferocity of his eyes. Now, standing in nothing but his pyjama bottoms, the general directs that same emerald fire towards the two health aides, the stout one practically cowering in fear as his co-worker remains twisted in pain a few meters away.

"General, please! We have been sent to escort you back to the lab! This woman is preventing us from doing our job!" says the stout aide.

"And you think this gives you the right to lay hands on her?!" Sephiroth emphasizes his last word with added pressure placed on the arm of the aide in his grasp. The man sucks in air through clenched teeth to prevent from crying out again, tears welling in his eyes.

"We are only responding to hostility she instigated, sir!" Shai whirls on the stout aide and begins to sign so fast, Sephiroth has to pay close attention to decipher what she is saying. The aide looks at her as if she has lost her senses. When she finishes, she does her best to massage the soreness from her arm, aggravated by her emphatic gesturing.

"She says she only needed to resort to such measures because you and your colleague ignored her wishes and treated her with contempt. Is this true?" Shai turns to the aide to await his answer. She stands close enough to see thin rivulets of sweat stream from his hairline and a slight tremble in his lower lip, His eyes avoid looking at her, his fellow co-worker, and the general and seem to concentrate on the wood grain's intricate pattern on the door nearest to him. Shai thinks to herself he is either terrified to tell the truth to the general or he's afraid of the humiliation they'll face telling Professor Hojo of their failure to bring back his patient because a mute girl barred them entrance. She knows the longer he takes to reply, the worse off he will be. Glancing at the general, Shai can tell he is losing his patience.

"Why are you slow to answer? Surely, it is not with the intent of lying to me?" The aide practically snaps to attention.

"No. sir!"

"Then answer me. Is what Shai stated true? And I would advise you to choose what you say next with great care." The aide's posture slumps in defeat, eyes downcast.

"Yes, general. It is true. She told us not to disturb you and report back to the professor that you would need your rest today. We did not listen and insisted on entering the premises by any means necessary." Sephiroth stares at the man, weighing the worth of his words. The aide keeps his eyes lowered, his body seeming to shrink under the general's scrutiny. Moments pass and the general's attention diverts to Shai gingerly cradling her sore arm. She follows his gaze and realizes the fury burning in his eyes will not ease until he is convinced she is alright. Shai lets him know with as few movements as possible.

I am fine. There is a flicker in intensity, but not enough to lessen the brilliance shining out at her. It is enough, however, for him to release the taller aide, shoving him towards the shorter man, the two men crashing into one another and nearly toppling over onto the tile. They regain their composure and face the general, side by side, the stout aide still avoiding eye contact while the taller clutches his injured arm to his side.

"Tell Hojo I will be up when I am ready."

"Yes, sir!"

"Now, get out!"

"Yes, general!" The stout aide is the first out the door, the taller aide exiting on his heels with his head hanging low. Sephiroth wastes no time shutting the door behind them. He looks over at Shai, standing beside the chair at the head of the dining table, still massaging the forearm that bore the shock from the slammed door. High on her arm, red blotches have appeared on her pale skin that in a day or two will be nasty bluish-purple bruises. She watches his eyes as they observe her, lightning driven skies slowly dimming to calm green fields. Sephiroth walks towards Shai.

"Are you sure you're alright?" He stops a step from her.

Yes. Twenty minutes of icing and a few painkillers and I will be right as rain. She winces as she signs.

"I will hold you to it."

Ok. She smiles softly, warmed by his concern, but the moment flips quickly from happiness to worry as the general's eyes close and his head droops forward. The situation turns to panic when he suddenly grips the dining chair seconds before his legs buckle beneath him. The chair's feet offer no purchase on the smooth carpet and it slides from the added weight, the upholstered back hitting the table top. It teeters precariously on two legs before giving way. Shai reacts instantly and tries to prevent his fall, but his forward momentum strikes her off balance and they land hard on the floor, her body cushioning his impact. She gasps for breath as the air is forced from her lungs, Sephiroth releases a low moan. She lies flat on her back, one arm wrapped around his shoulder, while the other hand is clasping his head to her chest, just below her chin. She wasn't thinking about her head hitting the floor, only protecting his from doing the same. She tries to shift her weight, but is met with pain so intense in her lower back, that it takes her breath away. Without thinking, she tightens her grip on the general's shoulder, while her other hand drops to the carpet, her fingers digging into the thick woven pile. The pressure on his shoulder causes Sephiroth to stir, freeing another moan from deep in his throat. He sluggishly moves his arms to plant a hand firmly on either side of Shai, but can only manage to lift himself high enough to rest his forehead on her breastbone. He can feel and hear the ragged motion of her breathing and the quickened pace of her heart.

"Shai?" She releases her grip on the carpet and slides her hand over the soft threads until it makes contact with his. She covers his hand with hers and gives it a gentle squeeze. Sephiroth takes a deep breath and pushes himself up and off of her, locking his arms to prevent from collapsing again, then draws his knees up under him. With more effort than he expected, he shuffles backwards on his hands and knees until he has completely cleared her legs. He uses his last vestiges of strength to crawl along the carpet before his limbs betray him once again. He falls alongside Shai, his body facing her. Now, he can get a better look at what condition she is in. She is lying very still. Her breathing has slowed and he can no longer hear the rapid beating of her heart.

"You were hyperventilating and your heart rate was elevated. Where is your injury?" Shai turns her head towards the general. His face is partially obscured by layers of rogue fringe crossed over his brow and brushing against his nose and cheeks. Despite the obstruction, however, Shai can see his eyes fixed on her. She hopes he can understand her signing from a side angle.

My lower back.

"Damn it, Shai! What were you thinking?!" Here it comes, she thinks. Game on. Anchoring her fingers in the carpet weave, Shai lifts and strains to pull herself up to a seated position, panting at the extreme effort it takes on account of the pain blossoming from her lower back to rocket up her spine and down her legs. She'll be damned, though, if she is going to hold a conversation with him lying down.

"What are you doing?! Are you trying to injure yourself further?!" Sephiroth struggles to sit upright, cursing under his breath, his words aimed at his weakened state, the draining effect the treatments have on his accelerated healing, and the bastard who inflicts this suffering on him. He succeeds, seated less than an arm's length from Shai. She's holding her posture erect with her hands braced behind her, taking deep, deliberate breaths to manage the pain. Her eyes are closed tightly and her eyebrows are drawn together.

"Stubborn woman." Wincing, Shai turns her body to face him, eyes open, bright and fierce.

What was I supposed to do?! Let you fall?!

"Yes!"

No! Not a chance! Not after your body fought so hard against the fever during the night. Not after you used all your strength subduing the aides this morning. What kind of caregiver would I be if I stopped caring and let you get hurt? Stunned by her own words, Shai drops her hands to the floor as if she has lost all motor function in her upper limbs. Her eyes fall as quickly, searching for something, anything to draw her attention away from the general, fearful of what may come: a disapproving scowl, eyes burning with anger, harsh words. The silence between them, though, is telling her more than any expression or reprimand. She said too much.

"You were hired as my housecleaner, Shai. Not to be my caregiver." His words are not a scolding, simply a statement of fact. If events had gone according to plan, she would have remained blissfully unaware that he was recuperating at home. He would have rested in his bed until early morning, then returned to the lab before Shai had even rubbed the sleep from her eyes. But Sephiroth underestimated the severity of the treatment's side effects. Shai did find him at home and he was in need of her care. Instead of pointing out the obvious, he should be thanking her again and again rather than making her feel as if she has done something to violate her contract. He should be complimenting her on a job well done instead of making her feel like she has behaved inappropriately and displeased him. He prepares to clarify his thoughts to her and undo any damage, but he is one second too late. Shai lets him have it with both barrels.

I will ask again, general. What should I have done? Left you lying on the bathroom floor with a raging fever? Shut the door to your bedroom and pretend I did not see anything? Tell me! What should I have done?! Angry tears spring from her eyes and stream down her cheeks. Sephiroth has never had an encounter with a woman so visibly upset with him, not even with Sybelline. Shai is genuinely pleading to him for answers to ease the confusion he's thrown at her. He needs to make his thoughts clear, to tell her she reacted appropriately, that she acted with common sense and good judgment. He's about to tell Shai all that and more when the doorbell rings. Sephiroth remains silent, waiting for the visitor to identify themselves, mentally preparing himself in case Hojo defied his countermand and sent more than aides to "escort" him to the lab. When the door goes unanswered, the bell rings again. This time he does respond.

"Who is it?!"

"Sephiroth? What are you still doing home?" The doorknob turns, the door opens, and in walks Dr. Moreau. She stops short when she sees the condo's two occupants sitting on the floor next to an overturned dining chair. Before the doctor notices, Shai quickly wipes her tears on the bottom hem of her T-shirt, exposing her stomach, momentarily forgetting she's in mixed company with a man whose eyes miss nothing.

"What has happened?!"

"To summarize, Hojo sent goons to retrieve me. There was an altercation involving Shai. I intervened. The goons left. I collapsed on top of her." Moreau kneels next to them and places her hand softly on Shai's shoulder while giving her head and body a once-over.

"Dear gods! Shai, are you alright?"

"No, she is not. Acute pain in her lower spine."

It is nothing.

"It's not nothing! You need to be examined by a doctor."

I am not the only one. Shai points at the general and Sybelline takes the hint. She leans over toward Sephiroth and places her hand on his forehead.

"How long ago did your fever break?"

"Ask my caregiver. She spent the night nursing me back to health." Sybelline's eyes widen, her attention bouncing from Sephiroth to Shai and back to Sephiroth. She knew his plan to recover in his own bed was too risky. Too many variables existed. It was haphazard and not worthy of the greatest strategic mind on Gaia, but he was determined to return to the condo. Sybelline wonders when it all went wrong. Shai must have questions about how Sephiroth became so ill and why he was not under the care of doctors and nurses in the clinic. How confused she must have been when the health aides arrived this morning looking for him. Did they inadvertently reveal information regarding Sephiroth's treatment? Sybelline must find out the whole story if she is to continue helping him with this charade. In the meantime, she needs her question answered.

"Shai?"

Maybe three hours ago. I am not entirely sure. I fell asleep, by accident. Sybelline only picks up the words " fell asleep."

"I didn't get all of that. You fell asleep? Where?"

"Curled up next to me." Shai feels heat flush her cheeks like she's consumed several glasses of wine, but without the enjoyment of savouring its taste and aroma or experiencing its euphoric effects. He did wake while she was sleeping! She braves a look his way and he flashes a devilish smirk at her. Sybelline places her hand over her mouth to hide a smile.

"Really? You slept in Sephiroth's bed?"

I could not get comfortable on the floor! And I was not right next to him! Sybelline looks to Sephiroth for a translation.

"She tried the floor, but it was too uncomfortable." Shai waits for him to go on, but he leaves the rest of her words unsaid. Frowning, she silently unloads unflattering names at him. He must be regaining his strength if he has the energy to tease her.

"Well, then, it's understandable why she would choose the bed. Heaven knows it is large enough for you two to share." says Sybelline. Shai feels like enough time has been spent on this topic and fears where it will lead should they continue to talk about it. Besides, a tingling sensation is spreading throughout her lower extremities. Pins and needles prickle at her toes. Sitting in this awkward position must be compressing her nerves and stifling blood flow to her legs. She tries to shift her body, but the pain returns with a vengeance, forcing her to draw breath through clenched teeth.

"Shai! What are you doing?!" exclaims Sybelline.

My legs are going numb. I need to move. Sephiroth is quick to translate.

"She has paresthesia."

"She's likely damaged or bruised her sacrum when she struck the floor. We won't know without an examination. You landing on her could not have helped."

"If she had not tried to arrest my fall-"

You would have been hurt!

"I heal at a far greater rate than you do!"

This pain is nothing I cannot handle!

"If you possessed a modicum of common sense, you would not have put yourself in a position to sustain an injury to begin with!"

"Children! Enough!" Sybelline wonders if this is their first argument.

"Now is not the time. We need to get you both to the clinic. Sephiroth, you have a physical to complete. And Shai, you may need x-rays." Shai averts her attention from the doctor and the general as she recalls fragments from her interaction with the aides: orders from Professor Hojo...return him to the lab...complete his treatment. Why didn't they mention the health clinic and the physical? And why would Professor Hojo be involved? Doesn't his work revolve around research? Red flags wave in every direction her thoughts take her. The general and Dr. Moreau, they are not hiding something from her, are they? Should she mention what the aides said to her this morning? If she does, would they clear up this discrepancy? Or is all of this a simple matter of indulging her curiosity? Shai's involvement in the general's life is limited to what he would like for dinner and how he likes his sock drawer arranged. Anything more is up to his discretion. To expect more than that is stepping over boundaries marked by her contract as well as the general himself. No, she's going to chalk up this inconsistency to semantics. As for last night, it must have been an unforeseen development, a one-time occurrence. She'll never be asked to assume the role of caregiver again. Shai clears her mind of her distracting thoughts in time to notice that Dr. Moreau has helped the general to stand.

"Can you manage getting yourself into some casuals?"

"I'm not so feeble to be unable to clothe myself, Sybelline."

"Forgive me, your silverness. I had a senior moment." Sephiroth goes into his bedroom and shuts the door.

"Now, how about you, young lady? Should I call the clinic and have a stretcher brought down?" Moreau pulls her cell from her lab coat pocket, but before she can even swipe the lock screen, Shai grabs her wrist to stop her, shaking her head, her eyes pleading.

"Shai, you may have a fractured coccyx. You need to stay off your tailbone."

I can stand and walk. Sybelline sighs.

"I'm sorry. I only understood 'walk.' Are you saying you want to walk to the clinic?"

Yes.

"Alright. Let's get you off the floor as painlessly as possible." Sybelline clasps Shai's hands and, together, gingerly pull her up to a standing position. Unfortunately, it was not as painless as the doctor hoped. Shai's face contorted into a grimace, her breath hitching with each spasm until the pain subsided.

"Shai, what was going through that pretty head of yours? Didn't you think of the risk to yourself?"

No. After caring for him through the night, all I could think of was how I did not want him to go through anymore pain. If I could prevent that, then any risk to me was worth it. It occurs to Shai that Moreau probably has no idea what she said, save for a few words. She points to the notebook and pen on the dining table and Sybelline hands them to her. Once written down, she gives the book back to the doctor. Moreau reads Shai's words, sets the notebook on the table, and smiles at her.

"Thank you for being there for him." Shai smiles back. At that moment, the general's bedroom door opens. He walks out wearing an outfit similar to last night's except without the sweater. With everyone prepared to leave except her, Shai takes a few tentative steps towards the hallway, surprised the pain in her back is less intense while upright. She gestures towards her room, then points to her feet.

Shoes. Moreau nods in understanding and watches Shai take baby steps to her bedroom. When she is out of sight, Sybelline lifts the notebook, and hands it to Sephiroth to read.

"I asked her why she risked hurting herself. This is her answer."

"Stubborn woman," he says softly, tearing the page from the book. For a moment, Sybelline thinks he is going to toss it into the trash, but her smile returns as she watches him fold it in thirds and slide it into the front pocket of his jeans. She hates to kill the mood, but they have bigger problems that need their immediate attention.

"Sephiroth, how are we going to get you back to the lab if Shai believes you are going to the clinic with her?" Sybelline says in a low tone.

"Simple. I'll leave now. You delay Shai until I have ascended in the elevator, then proceed to the clinic."

"And how am I to explain your absence?" Sephiroth opens the door and turns to Moreau.

"I'm sure you'll think of something."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Sephiroth steps into the elevator, swipes his security ID, and presses number 68. The ride is all too short and the doors slide open to a stark white hallway. Stationed at intervals the length of the hall, standing at attention, are a squad of SOLDIERS he personally trained to subdue any threats on this floor, principally him. He walks down to the double doors, his hand in his pocket closed over the torn page, and enters. Hojo is on the attack immediately.

"Where the hell have you been?! Your late arrival has thrown us off schedule!" Sephiroth glares at him, a look worthy of dealing a killing blow.

"I told your minions to pass on my message. Did you not receive it?"

"I did! What are you doing out of the lab and off the floor anyway! Do I need to engage the SCU's defense system to keep you in place?!" Sephiroth strides towards the professor, his team scurrying like rats on a sinking ship to clear his way. He stops a hairsbreadth from Hojo.

"Try it, old man," he seethes, "That system was designed years ago. Shinra has not updated it since it was installed. Do you really believe it can contain me now? Do not mistake my compliance for obedience." Hojo takes a step back and adjusts his spectacles.

"If you are finished with your threats, general, shall we begin?" Hojo's team scatter to their work stations. The professor stands at the examination table, staring daggers at Sephiroth's back as he walks to a locker near the SCU. He pauses before getting undressed. Shielded by his body, he pulls the page from his jeans and unfolds it.

...I did not want him to go through anymore pain...

"Forgive me, Shai," he whispers, as he returns the note to his pocket.