Chapter 29. Disclosure part 3.

Medina's POV

I had to sedate Elie so she could have some sleep.

After that scene with the General right there in the PORTAL's outer-compartment, she remained in silence until we reached my apartment.

I had to admit I had never had so many women in my apartment. Aerith stayed in the guest's room, so Stevens would stay with mine.

And I would take the couch until this mess was sorted out.

Elie sat by the bed, in silence, for ages. She didn't say a thing, she only stared at nothingness. Aerith asked me what had happened and I couldn't tell her much - except that things had gotten tricky in the other side. Worried with Elie's sanity, Aerith decided to stay with her that night.

I didn't know what they talked about, but both women looked miserable. The tension was huge and so unbearable that I decided to leave them alone, and I would stay at the HD.

I couldn't deal with that.

Really, I couldn't. It was too much - too much grief, too much pain.

I needed the calm and sterility the labs offered me. The silence and the neutrality of those white walls and the soft purr of the machines felt blessing.

I'd slept few but at ease in the couch of the lab. We were now moving to another area of the building, considering my laboratory had been destroyed.

The area had a couple of offices and some rooms where most of the machines and lab stuff that had survived the slaughter had been taken to.

At least I knew I would build a new reality for me again - and I had the serious task of recruiting new technicians.

I woke up early next morning. It was 6 a.m. and I was already getting through applications, forms and several bureaucracies.

The phone rang, loud in the silence that reigned.

"Medina."

"Good morning, Doctor."

I rose my eyebrows at his voice. The General? So early in the morning? Didn't this man sleep?

"Morning."

"We have a meeting in 29 minutes. My office. Don't be late."

I sighed at his words, closing my eyes out of despair. Man, when was this going to end!?

"I'll be there."

I hung up, knowing what would happen in that meeting. The President would be there. And the General would disclose everything that had happened to him.

So I'd better be there to make sure the story would be told accordingly.

Sephiroth's POV

I couldn't sleep.

The adrenaline of the latest events, the ones that had taken place hours ago stole all my relaxation capacity.

I had killed Zack Fair.

And I had brought Stevens back, destroyed - a shell of a human being.

I didn't know what bothered me the most. I knew I had done what I had to - my job, my obligation, but the consequences had been devastating.

I had lost one of my best men, the one with more potential - to a fate I was supposed to bear. I was the one that should have gotten possessed and killed.

I was the one that was supposed to be the bearer of Jenova's spirit.

Nothing happened like that, and not like Stevens wanted to. Her main goal - avoid casualties, had failed and had brought a immense wave of hurt and guilt.

I knew how she felt. She felt responsible for Zack's fate and for every life he had taken since the moment Jenova possessed him.

And no matter what anybody said, she would still feel that way.

Stubborn woman.

I had considered thoroughly my next step. An urgent meeting with the President was mandatory.

He needed to know what had happened and Stevens' origins had to be disclosed. Enough of secrets. I managed to schedule a meeting early in the morning, and decided to join Medina as well. He had a part in this whole thing and he understood Stevens way better than me. So, he would be vital into getting her into some kind of protection program. As well as the Ancient was concerned.

After the assault on Medina's lab, it was a fact the HD weren't necessarily a safer place for the Ancient to remain. She could perfectly stay at her home, supervised accordingly. After all, we had the means to do it. Turks were perfect for the job and Tseng assured me the Ancient would be under their protection 24/7.

Stevens was a different matter though. She had no home, nothing familiar here to hold on to, a life to live.

So, I politely suggested we granted her that. A job, a place of her own. Distractions. And also narrow surveillance, of course.

The President agreed to my propositions. Tseng didn't say a word against and Medina remained pensive.

I wondered why. What would he be thinking, what were his plans concerning Stevens? The good Doctor eventually agreed with my suggestion and we decided each one of us would be responsible for the details on what would follow. Tseng would manage the surveillance. I would find a solution to Stevens. And Medina would go back to his former life, in his new lab.

The President gave us two days to take care of everything, scheduling a meeting to talk things out with Stevens.

He wanted to meet her, talk to her properly. As he had said, he wanted to know the one that contributed to save the Planet.

We were all dismissed around 8 a.m. John looked tired and I wondered what would have happened last night after he took Stevens with him.

"Where did you take her to?" I asked him, as we walked by the lobby. The day was luminous and finally I was starting to feel a little of that typical, tiring sensation.

"Who?" He asked, his eyes on mine.

"Stevens."

"She's at my home. Along with the Ancient."

His tone was wary, as if afraid to tell me where they both were. No wonder, considering the last course of events.

"Who else knows that?" I asked, curious.

"You. And Tseng."

I considered Medina's answer and did the math.

"I will arrange a safe place for them." I declared, "Separated, preferably. I think Miss Gainsborough can go home as soon as Tseng orders. There's no need to keep her hidden anymore."

John nodded, his hand massaging his forehead. He was tired of all this, I could tell.

"What about Stevens?" He asked, as we passed by the doors that led outside. The sun burned our faces, massacred our tired eyes.

"A total different matter." I stated, waiting for John's suggestion. I sensed he wanted her near him, what pushed my nerves a little bit.

"Look…" John started, his eyes finding mine. "My lab is a wreck. Hell, the whole wing was destroyed. I'm in the middle of relocation but Stevens might eventually return to the lab once it's-."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

No, of course I didn't. Enough of her staying 24/7 under Medina's guard. It was time for her to refresh. Besides, the Science Division wasn't the best place for her to wander, and not because of Medina. My worries lingered somewhere in the lower levels - where Hojo worked.

Despising creature.

"Why?"

John really wasn't getting it.

"Because she'd be an easy target."

"To whom?"

"Other scientists." I stated, avoiding first names. "Don't make that face, Medina, you know who I am talking about."

But Medina snorted, his face a mirror of disgust.

"You're using that excuse to have her away from me, aren't you?"

I locked my jaw in anger. Why did he have to insist in such silly things? But, on second thought, that made me want to push his buttons. It was obvious he cared for her in a not to naïve way.

"Do you have feelings for her, Doctor?"

"I should ask you the same question."

I eyed the man in front of me with surprise, not expecting his reaction. Really, was he serious? Feelings? Me? Didn't he know those were two words that didn't match? I merely ignored his question.

"I just intend to have Stevens blending in." I clarified, my tone even. "With the adequate escort, of course."

"I still think she would be safer in our facilities."

I sighed, a little impatient now.

"No, Medina. She won't."

"So, what's the verdict?"

"I'll contact you once it's all arranged. In a couple of days, maybe."

John nodded, not pleased one bit with my suggestion. I didn't know what bothered him the most -if the thought of Stevens out of his sight or the fact that I was the one arranging everything for her new life.

Sensing the conversation was over, I started walking in long strides, preparing to go home and finally rest something. However, John's words made me stop just two meters from him.

"I'm worried."

I stood, calm, half-turning slowly and eyeing John over my shoulder.

"Concerning what?"

"She's different."

I blinked at him, a little out of words to say. What did he want me do, then?

"That's not necessarily bad."

Medina sighed, a little restrained.

"That's not what I meant. She's… Something's wrong."

I didn't like his tone. Somehow, John informing me Stevens was not okay was something that tickled my nerves. Which meant I would have to do something about it then.

"I'll visit her tonight."

John reacted at once - and not very nicely.

"I'm not sure if that's what she needs right now."

That overprotective reaction concerning Stevens bothered me. What was his problem anyway? First, he informed me something was wrong with her; then, when I offered to check out on her, he avoided it like the plague. It looked like he didn't want me around her. Which I kind of got, actually. It was pretty obvious he was developing feelings for her and didn't want me in the way.

As if I cared.

"Oh, aren't you sure? What do you want me to do then, tell you how you should fix her?"

I was being unpleasant on purpose and Medina caught my provocation easily - but didn't answer accordingly. He preferred to change subject instead.

"What really happened while you were there, General?" He asked, serious. "What happened to change her that way? She's… devastated."

What, now he suspected I had hidden facts? Was he kidding me?

"You know everything that happened. Zack almost killed her. She saw me killing Zack. He died in her arms." My words were paused and a little ironic. "Her behavior is normal all things considered."

John didn't seem much convinced with my speech, so I decided to be honest with him. Stevens was everything but fragile, she would surpass this phase, I was sure of it.

"She'll recover eventually." I declared, with a fierce tone. "She's strong enough."

John nodded, as if my words had provided some sort of comfort, which was strange. I was never the comforting type - never had been.

"I'll be there by night time."

I said, as I turned to leave. I needed to sleep - definitely. And I didn't hear John whisper "Fine."

Elie's POV.

I wish I could stop having nightmares.

Every night I dreamed about Zack's death, every night I revived the whole scene over and over again, like a broken record.

I woke up most of the times in tears - because Zack talked to me the whole time. There were times he told me it hurt. There were times he simply asked 'why did you do this to me?'

How I wish I didn't.

If I knew things would develop this way, I would have gone there myself and take care of the whole thing. I wouldn't have sent him. I wouldn't have told him a thing.

And today, he would still be alive. With Aerith, making her company and proposing, like it was supposed to.

Sinking in the reality I had created gave me nausea. I had been the only responsible for leading Zack into his own death and there was nothing that could convince me otherwise. Everything, every part of the story bothered me, disgusted me terribly.

Hiding Zack in my house, inside that freezer, had been... hell, I had to words for it. And, then again, there was the General.

Always alerting me, telling me things that were true - and he was right all the time. I couldn't think properly. He could. He had been cold blooded enough to lead, think about the consequences and convince me of the right thing to do.

After all, there was something I had achieved with so much disgrace. He - Sephiroth -, was alive. Sane.

Safe and sound.

My watery eyes met the ceiling of John's bedroom. Silence was upon us - it was night time, and Aerith had left home last night.

How she cried when she grabbed my hand and saw what happened. Her Zack was dead. Her sweet, cute Zack was gone. Forever. Trapped in a place where his soul couldn't rest, trapped with Jenova in a dark place where there was nothing.

Her thick tears made my chest hurt.

'There was nothing you could do about it.' She had said, sadness in her eyes. But, deep down inside my mind, I wondered… if that would be true.

Could I… have done something to prevent Zack from this fate?

I didn't know. All I knew was… I had longed to avoid something terrible from happening… and ended up creating a different kind of Hell.

I sighed, as I tried to go back to sleep. But damn, all I could see was Zack's teary face on my lap, hurtful words coming out of his bloody mouth.

Oh, the things he said to me. The very thought of it made me want to get up and go for him, bring him here.

Although I knew it wouldn't happen, because Jenova lingered there as well and it was a risk no one was willing to take. For now.

Eventually, sleep won me over.

And when I woke up, it was to the voice of two men. I recognized them perfectly. Namely one of them. His voice produced shivers all over my body.

Embarrassment took me over as I closed my eyes, realizing he was here to see me. Yes, the General was here - albeit I didn't know which was his purpose. Why would he want to see me after what happened? It all felt too dysfunctional to simply consider.

"She's in there."

John's voice was now clearer and I felt they approached the bedroom. I stayed at John's for what it seemed like forever, barely talking to him and behaving like an anti-social monkey.

I heard knocking at the door first.

So, they were here. I closed my eyes out of despair and sighed, tried to focus and just… behave.

What do you want from me, damn it? My mind was rude and impatient, I simply didn't want them inside, didn't want to talk to anybody, didn't want to SEE a soul! All I wanted was to be alone!

Eventually I sat on the bed, my arms around my knees. I didn't even bother in arranging my hair or the clothes I had on. A large t-shirt that John had lent me was my pajama, and Aerith had been kind enough to give me some of her unused lingerie.

I heard the door open slowly, John half-showing first. His eyes met mine and after a moment, he spoke.

"The General is here to see you."

I opened my mouth to speak, to ask 'Why' or to simply say 'I don't want to see him', but nothing but a deep breath came out. My heartbeat accelerated at the thought of seeing him - a reaction I hated. He had this effect on me and I didn't like it. It was like he ruled my physiology, my gut.

The door opened completely, disclosing a very imposing Sephiroth right next to John. He was very much himself, just like I was used to. So smug, so arrogant and confident.

All of it thanks to me.

My mind was being rude at him. And as our stare locked, all I could think was he was alive, sane and handsome as usual… because of me.

"Leave us alone, please."

His words took me by surprise, and Medina stared at him displeased. It was a fact John didn't like - in fact, he actually abhorred the idea of having me and the general alone in a room, much less his own bedroom.

It must have felt like treason to him.

But as expected, John didn't say a word against and excused himself, closing the door behind the General.

Revolted, I avoided the General's stare. Hell, I didn't want him here. What was he doing here, with all his superiority and smugness?

I had nothing to offer him, now. NOTHING!

The General walked towards me, seemingly impassive to my mental ranting, so angry and revolted. For moments I wished he could read my mind so he could know how I felt about him being here, invading my privacy, how dare he?

As he approached the edge of the bed, I saw him hesitate. But then, he talked.

"Look at me, Stevens."

His tone was so commanding, I almost gave in to the temptation of telling him to 'fuck off' but I restrained my will.

He sat on the bed, by the opposite corner, so we could be face to face. Eventually my eyes found his, and his voice was heard.

"First of all…" His hesitation almost reduced me to tears as I sensed he was going to mention Zack. "Let me assure you everything concerning Zack is highly secretive. Besides Medina, only a couple of elements know the truth. Tseng and the President included."

Somehow, that didn't make me feel any better.

"The place where Zack rests is perfectly secure. We've run some tests to be sure and If you'd like to know the details Medina can inform you on that anytime."

My God. How could he say that? Zack had been shoved inside my freezer and he assured me it was perfectly secure? Good grief!

"I get it." I sighed, my stare on my hands now. I tried not to be rude at his words. I didn't care it was secure, I didn't care at all, all I knew was it made me feel sick to the bone.

I gulped dry, fighting nausea. Man, how I hated to feel like I was going to throw up bile or something. Anxiety did that to me.

"I know now why you did what you did." I closed my eyes at his statement. "I understand it, and…" His hesitation had me feeling butterflies in my stomach. What? "I owe you a sincere apology for being unfair at your intentions most of the times."

And that earned a sincere stare from me. My eyes met his and I couldn't just believe he was apologizing for… for being a jerk most of the times. My mouth half-opened but no words came out of it.

"My position in the company does not contemplate understanding or pity. So, I tend to be impartial towards everybody. And you weren't exception."

I nodded, locking my jaw at him. Of course I wasn't. I so knew that.

"I know you tried to do the best you could with the information you had. Your priority was avoiding that I would… turn into what Zack became." I narrowed my eyes at him, dreading to hear what he had to say. "You did the right thing."

And in that moment I couldn't just stay put anymore.

"Zack is dead. How can it be, in any way, the right thing?"

My voice came out raspy, feeble. I wanted to sound angry, but I couldn't.

"Fate has its own way of… working." The General said. "And no one, not even you, could have changed that."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly, I let my forehead rest on my knees. I felt so useless it hurt. The whole death scene in my apartment replayed in my mind again. The thought of Zack impaled with Sephiroth's sword, blood spraying all over me… brought fresh tears to my eyes again.

Out of nothing, I felt the bed shift. There was movement and a long, leathery arm enveloped me. A warm hand followed, resting in my forearm.

I didn't have time to react. Before I knew it my left half-body rested against his - and my head enchased on his neck. Kind of.

It felt weird to cuddle like this. Namely, because I hadn't asked for anything and he - Sephiroth - had been the one holding me, allowing this… proximity.

He smelled like himself, the way I remembered for the scarce times I had been close enough to him to actually know how he smelled.

His action actually made me feel touchy, sensible - and about to break. I didn't want to cry openly in front of him, afraid he would consider me 'a weak and stupid woman'. My right hand traveled to my face and I tried to hide my crying face with it.

I felt him squeeze slightly against him - which felt comforting. Maybe exceedingly soothing and kind for my own benefit.

"Don't blame yourself for Zack's death. It was not of your making, and you know it." I heard his voice resonate, as I gulped down silent tears. "You changed a reality and created another." He paused and took a deep breath. "Embrace it."

"Yeah." My tone was weak, as I made a consistent effort to sound firm. So unlike I felt.

"If you need further knowledge on-"

No!

"I don't."

Sephiroth paused, taking a couple of steady breaths before speaking again. Silence was comforting and the contact felt more soothing than it should.

"I was going to say… I'm here, alive." His tone was soft - in a way I'd never heard, ever. "And I would not like to become the Planet's worst nightmare."

Hearing him say the words I had said so many months ago made the little hairs of my neck rise. It felt like electricity, excitement and anticipation, all mixed in a moment that was already gone.

"I need you to tell me everything about Jenova and me." He asked, with a serious tone. "I need to know and I have the right to know, Stevens."

Yeah. I so knew that too. But now it wasn't definitely the right moment and I was glad he sensed it.

"When you feel capacitated, ask for me…" He stated, "…and we'll finally have that conversation."

The tears had stopped for a while now and I hadn't even noticed. I just drunk him in, his words, how strangely tender this moment had been, and how I, deep down inside my weak and hormonal body… wanted more of this.

Physical contact with Sephiroth had more to it than any mortal could know.

But, as fast as it started… it ended.

In a sudden move he got up, a veil of cold wrapping me as I saw him walk towards the bedroom door.

He's leaving. My mind, stupidly, stated the obvious.

And, before I knew it, my mouth let some words out.

"It's Rufus Shinra."

I saw him stop with his left hand on the handle, half-turning as his stare met mine over his shoulder.

"I beg your pardon?" His tone was one of astonishment.

I could tell he was having a bad time believing in me. But that was how things worked. I knew things that would shock him, no matter what.

"Rufus. Shinra." I repeated, my eyes on his. "Your traitor."

Sephiroth took his time processing my words, and before he would ask me if I was sure, I stepped in.

"Now go and tell the President before Veld does."

I saw him turn and leave, closing the door behind him.

Oddly, I felt a little better.

A/N: Will things fall into place? Is there any possibility of harmony after what happened?

Only the future will tell :)

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and prepare for what'll come ahead. It's the calm before the storm…

Read & Review dear readers and please let me know what you think of the story and the direction it is taking.

And for those who are worried about Vincent - he's allright and will make an appearance.