~ Watch Me ~

Visitors

Being in a coma for just over a month sure had it's disadvantages, and Rose had come to learn about them quickly. The main one being of course, that everyone treated you like you could turn to dust at any minute. Despite her sorry set up, Rose felt fine – great even – and yet the doctors, and even Lazard, had insisted she stayed on the ward for yet another week, like she hadn't done enough lying down, and made sure she was strong enough to return to training.

Rose wasn't happy.

"But I feel fine. You said yourselves my vitals are good." She'd pressed to the doctors, when they'd come to give her this unwanted information.

The problem was – according to Angeal at least – no one had ever reacted to the infusion like Rose had. Sure, she'd been awake when others hadn't, but her actual biological reaction was unheard of too. It was like her body had gone into battle mode, like it was facing some terrible disease. Everything just shut down. And then, when the supposed threat had been defeated, it all started up again, happy as anything. It was a miracle she was even still alive.

And yet, Hojo had not been fired.

"Because that makes sense, why?" She had pressed to Lazard, when he'd confirmed this awful nugget of knowledge. "Sir, he's a sadistic psychopath."

"He's Shinra's lead scientist."

"He belongs in a cell."

"Rose, it isn't my decision."

Give him his due, Lazard had sounded genuinely sorry, but it did nothing to calm Rose's complete indignation of the whole thing. The professor had basically used her as a human guinea pig, and gotten some kind of sick pleasure out of it too, and what was his punishment? He wasn't allowed to play with her any more.

Big whoop.

Rose would have to find some other way of evening the scales...

Other than that, she was glad that the week passed relatively quickly. She had visitors, mainly Zack, Kunsel and Angeal, who distracted her from her boredom. After she'd been de-comatose for a few days, she received a Moogle card signed 'Finally awake then, Princess?' with a phone number attached. She didn't have to guess who that was from. Kunsel had been the first to spot it, of course, and Angeal had given the card a judging 'Hm', when the plucky Third Class had pointed it out.

"The guy just doesn't know how to take the word 'no' for an answer." Kunsel scoffed, flinging the card back down with open distaste. "It's like he's never heard it before."

"With that ego, I doubt that he has." Rose giggled, turning to observe her brother's stiff expression with amusement. "And you can stop that. It's none of your business who I date."

"I didn't say anything."

"Before you do."

"What!?" Kunsel spun towards her in a panicked frenzy. "Tell me you're not going to call him? He's a Turk, Rose! It's like... fraternising with the enemy!"

She rolled her eyes. "That's a little dramatic."

He looked at her seriously. "Look, I know you've been in a coma, but there's no need to lower your standards."

"I'm not lowering anything." She laughed, giving him a judging shake of her head. "When's Zack coming by? You're both annoying me."

"Later." Angeal answered. "He has some training to complete."

And that was pretty much her week. A week of people. All the people, except one, The only one, she really had thought she would see.

Sephiroth.

Rose had heard nothing. Not from him, not from others, his name hadn't come up at all. So where was he? Surely Angeal had known that Sephiroth was there when it happened - when Hojo had carried out his little experiment - so why hadn't he said anything? Rose had questions, questions she'd preferred were answered by the silver-haired SOLDIER himself, but she'd take what she could get. Questions like:

What happened?

Had Sephiroth tried to stop Hojo?

Had he left to get Lazard?

Did he simply stand by?

She needed to know. She wasn't entirely sure why it mattered, but it did.

He hadn't even come by to see her. Everyone else had. Even Reno had sent what she was sure he thought was a "cute" gesture, but the man who had promised to stand by her side in her brother's absence? Nothing.

Maybe because Angeal's back now, he feels that it isn't his place any more? She bit her lip. Was that all it was? Another duty to tick off the list?

Rose felt her heart sink, but she shook her head, her thoughts were getting the better of her.

You hardly know him. He hardly knows you. You had a few training sessions together, and some chance meetings, but that's it. He owes you nothing.

She looked across at her phone on the night stand. Still. He could have called. It's polite. I could have died.

Feeling a surge of throwaway confidence, she swiped her cell from her bedside. Punching the screen to bring up her contacts list, she checked the time. 6:00pm, it's not like he should be busy.

Rose hit Sephiroth's number and brought the phone up to her ear. The number rung for several seconds, and continued on to a point that Rose thought he was never going to answer. She was about to hang up, when she heard an answering click from the other side.

"...Rose?"

Her breath caught in her throat. She hadn't thought this through.

She had no idea what to say.

"I'm not dead." It wasn't the best opening sentence, but she had nothing else.

A pause. "...I'm glad to hear it."

She nodded, forgetting he couldn't see. More silence. "Erm, Sephiroth?"

"Yes?"

"What..." Rose trailed off, suddenly feeling very foolish. He owes you nothing. She sighed. "It doesn't matter. Sorry, I shouldn't have bothered you."

More silence, and she was about to hang up with defeated acceptance, when...

"We'll talk when I return. Currently I'm deployed in Wutai, but I should be back soon. It's a minor matter."

Rose blinked, surprised. "Oh. Okay." She wasn't sure what had put her off guard more, the knowledge he was in Wutai, or the fact he'd suggested a non-formal meeting.

"And, Rose?"

"Yes?"

"I really am glad you're awake."

Heat flooded her cheeks, and suddenly, she was all too grateful he wasn't there. "Thank you." She said thickly, pathetically flustered. It was time to end the call. "Erm, be careful, okay?"

"I'll try." He said, and she could hear the smirk in his voice. So cocky.

Rose hung up the phone, already feeling like she'd handled the whole conversation like a complete idiot. At least she knew why he hadn't come to see her, and they would talk about what happened that night, just not now. It probably wasn't the best conversation for a phone call, she relented, casting the cell aside. She could wait.

To her surprise, the thing rang again.

"Er, hello?" She hadn't recognised the number.

"Rose? Rose is that you?"

She knew the voice, but she couldn't quite place it.

"Um, yeah?"

"Sorry you probably don't remember me, but I – "

And then it hit her. "Barbara! Hi!" She gushed, genuinely happy to have recalled her. She frowned. "Wait, how did you get this number?"

"Yes, so sorry about that. You wouldn't believe the contacts the fan clubs have."

Rose almost laughed. "Of course. I'll let the stalker-ry-ness slide this time. What's up?"

"I'm sorry." She said again, her voice filled with emotion. "I know we don't really know each other, but I really need your help."

"Oh, erm, sure?"

Rose just wasn't prepared for what she heard next...

R&R!

Hey guys! So many more readers have come on board! Thank you. I hope you're still enjoying. Thanks again for the reviews/favs/and follows. I will reply to all reviews – pinky swear. And if you have any questions, you're welcome to PM.

Anyway, take care. If you liked this, let me know. And hopefully there should be a new chapter up by Wednesday :)