~Watch Me ~

Lab Rat

Hojo's tests were more than Rose imagined they'd be. He had said he'd wanted to do her Mako infusion that night, but before that, he had some tasks for her to complete. First he recorded her vitals. This was done in the standard way, and then again whilst he had her shifting blindly from spot to spot. After this, he had her call her blade to her hand, like she had done with Angeal the night she arrived in Midgar. It troubled Rose how Hojo knew about this, but she consented regardless, eager to move things along quickly, and remove herself from his company. Finally he had her try to re-enact the accident that happened at the warehouse (this time using a plastic barrel as the target). Rose attempted to remember the emotions and the physical feelings of that moment, but when she tried to force it, all she managed was a small flash of green light in her palm, and the sensation immediately fizzled out.

She shrugged, and Hojo gave her a disappointed tut, and updated the small touchscreen in his hands.

"Shower and change into the hospital gown." He said disinterestedly, barely looking up from his recordings.

Rose frowned, wary. "What? Why?"

Another irritated tut. "It's for your Mako infusion. The bathroom is through there." He indicated a doorway to the edge of the ward. "The gowns inside. Would you like me to draw you a map?"

Rose glared but proceeded. She hadn't moved two steps before Hojo stopped her again.

"And you can leave that, my dear." His eyes drawing hungrily across her blade. "You won't be needing it for a while."

Rose regarded him in silence, protective of her sword and what he intended to do with it. Also, what did he mean by her not needing it for a while?

She sighed.

"Fine." She assented, moving it grudgingly off of her back. She placed it against the wall. "Try not to do anything weird to it, won't you?"

She stormed into the bathroom before Hojo could reply.

The shower was cold, and there were no toiletries, but Rose made do and got out as quickly as she could. She dried herself off, and stepped lightly into the hospital gown, fighting a grimace as she pulled it resignedly over damp skin.

It was paper thin, but at least it didn't gap too much at the back.

Hair still dripping icy droplets down her back, Rose returned to the ward. Without looking up from his screen Hojo directed her to the corner of the room.

"Bed."

Swallowing nervously, she did as she was told, heading to the bed at the end of the room. She sat on it's edge, feeling the mattress dip subtly under her weight. She peered out of the window behind her into the main laboratory, surprised to find that Sephiroth had remained despite the creeping twilight hours.

It must be passed midnight, surely?

Yet relief washed through her as she observed him, his attention held by a small computer screen nearby. She tried to see what he was reading, moving slightly in an effort to get a glimpse, but no sooner than she'd started, Hojo appeared once again at her side, a tall IV held firmly in his grasp.

He smiled. "Lie down, my dear."

Rose hesitated, but consented, the hidden fever in his voice sending a worrying shiver across her skin. She looked up at the bag hanging ominously from the IV.

"What's in it?"

"A very light level of Mako." He replied, sounding bored again, as he prepared her hand for the cannula. "It's not necessary for you to be exposed to high amounts, but it is needed when introducing the stabiliser."

Rose frowned, wincing as she felt a sharp scratch pierce her skin. "But if I don't need the Mako, why do I need the stabiliser?"

"I told you, it's the missing piece to your formula. Don't you want to be like all the other SOLDIERs?"

Rose said nothing, but she didn't miss his mocking tone. Hojo's explanation was rocky at best, at worst it was a downright lie that made no sense whatsoever. The IV was inserted smoothly into her cannula, and her heart leapt nervously into her throat. She swallowed hard, and Hojo made to retrieve something from the fridge nearby.

Her chest fluttered fearfully when she saw what it was.

"What's that?" She breathed, watching the needle in his hand with open mistrust.

The liquid inside was a violent plum colour. It swirled angrily with onyx, and appeared to almost glow in the dim light of the ward. Suddenly, Rose knew without any hesitation, that she did not want that stuff anywhere near her, let alone inside of her, and she fearfully began to shake her head.

"No. No, I've changed my mind, I don't want it." She rushed, hating the pleading tone that followed.

When Hojo proceeded to ignore, a taut leer marring his twisted features, she tried to push herself up, to at least snap the cannula out of her arm before he could do anything, but the feat was impossible, she couldn't move.

Fear widened her eyes. What had he done?

"A slight paralysing agent." He smirked, inserting the needle cleanly into the IV tube. "I sensed your candour might fade at this point, and I think I've mentioned to you before my distaste for female theatrics? Of course, a SOLDIER would normally be asleep during this process, but I was so interested to see how it's genetics would interact with your own. I'm afraid I couldn't help myself." Hojo's smile widened as he watched her eyes follow the slow liquid fearfully down the IV. "Hopefully it won't be too painful, hm?"

Rose felt the tears well up in her eyes, but she would not let them fall. A strong urge to cry out for help was the thing that forced her to stay silent, fearful that once she opened her mouth, heart wrenching pleas would take her, and she refused to give Hojo the satisfaction.

Rose looked away, unable to watch the mixture's descent. At the window she found Sephiroth watching them from afar, his expression as always unreadable. She wondered naively whether he would step in to stop this, whether he could even if he wanted to?

Was this just another test? Another push of her boundaries to see if she had what it took?

The thought worried her, just as much as the flash of concern in his eyes warmed her, and she found herself wondering what it all meant.

Until the pain, of course.

A burning fire that soared through her arm, and tore unforgivingly through the rest of her. Her limbs, her chest, her head, everything was devoured. It was agony beyond anything she had ever experienced, and Rose screamed, she screamed louder than she'd ever screamed in her life, her pride long forgotten. She begged for it to end, for her to blackout, to die. Around her, lights went haywire, screens flickered from one blurred image to the next, alien sounds soared and died.

And suddenly it was all too much, she could take no more, and merciful light flooded her vision.

Silence.

Rose had no idea where or when she was, but it was finally over, and so, closing her eyes, she slept.

XXXXXXX

"…"

"Huh?"

"..."

"Is someone there?"

"..."

Rose had no idea where she was, only of the light surrounding her, and a vague awareness that she wasn't on her own. She looked around, no one, but looks could be deceiving. Even when she glanced down, she could not see herself, only the never ending light.

Rose closed her eyes. Perhaps she'd sleep some more?

(Beep, Beep)

Now what's that sound? I'm trying to sleep.

(Beep, Beep)

Shut up!

(…)

"The procedure failed, the cells died on contact with the host."

"That's... that's not possible."

"Yes, Hollander, I am quite aware. But still, it is an interesting development, is it not?"

"Quite... but then, what shall we tell Lazard?"

"Nothing. The fool has gone over my head to the President. The girl is to be taken down to the main hospital ward, and I am to be given limited access."

"Then, it is all to end here?"

"For now. Time will tell."

"But Hojo..."

…...

….

Rose was in the light again, but at last she was no longer floating. She was on the ground, or at least, what felt like ground.

What is this place?

"Everything."

Huh?

"This is everything."

Who are you?

"Time to wake up."

What?

"Wake up, Rose."

But...

Air soared into her lungs, she gasped. Her vision blurred, and she lurched forward, painful ties tugged unforgivingly at her skin. She groped blindly to remove them, hard wires inserted into unwanted orifices. She swiped at everything, but unhelpful hands knocked her own away, she growled, trying to fight them, but they pushed her down, pinning her shoulders against something soft.

"Will you listen to me for one second. You need the things you're tugging at, they're keeping you alive!"

Rose blinked, her body stilled. She looked up. "...Angeal?"

"Finally, some recognition. Comes to something when you don't even recognise your own brother."

"I..." She looked back down at her arms, hospital lines were stuck in both. Oxygen was being pumped sparingly into her nostrils, and machines to her right were recording her stats. She grimaced. "Why am I..."

And then Rose remembered. Hojo and his little purple needle of doom. The urge to tear violently from the bed consumed her.

Presumably sensing something, Angeal pressed a little firmer on her shoulders. "Rose..."

"I'm gonna kill him." She growled, her voice husky from under use. "I'm going to shift him into a god-damn fricken' reactor. That insane, messed up, creepy, whack-job!"

Rose made to throw herself out of the bed, but Angeal held her firm, desperate to keep her from tearing at her wires.

"Rose, stop." He ordered, only a faint hint of worry flecking his otherwise firm speech pattern. "You need to have someone look at you before you go anywhere."

She laughed darkly. "No way! No one in a lab coat is coming anywhere near me, not now, not ever!" She shoved her hand forward, surprised to find the small action produced a familiar pulse of light, and sent Angeal flying back unceremoniously into hospital equipment.

Huh. So that's the feeling that makes that happen. Mental note made.

Unfortunately, the effort of producing such an effect was a bit much for her in her current state, and breathing heavily, Rose collapsed back against her pillows, giving Angeal a resigned sigh.

"Sorry."

"Forgiven." He murmured, straightening himself and the items he'd knocked over. "So that's the trick that's had everyone talking."

Rose closed her eyes, she could feel a headache coming on. "It's not a trick."

"If you say so."

She sighed."Aren't you supposed to be fighting in a war or something?"

He laughed. "Or something."

"I hope you're not back on my account."

"When your sister spends a month in a coma, it does tend to coincide with some leave, yes."

Rose opened her eyes. She blinked. "Excuse me? Did you just say..."

"A month, Rose. You've been gone a month."

R&R!

Bit of a longer chapter. I hope you enjoyed. Please let me know, and as always, thank you for the reviews, favs and follows! I always reply to reviews, so if you want to say anything, or have any questions, just drop something in the box below. Take care! X X X