Chapter 54

Elena sat with Tseng while Reno searched the rest of the building. She couldn't keep her hands to herself and instead found herself combing her fingers gently through Tseng's dark hair. He was hurt, and, from what she could tell, quite badly. With one eye on the doors she had locked, Elena waited for Reno to return. The guy by the door was dead, as was another lying nearby. She was taking the lack of noise or movement to mean that at least the other one ShinRa employee that had been here earlier was also dead or unconscious. This would certainly put a halt to their plan to open a recruiting centre. Certainly in this area.

When Reno returned a few moments later, Elena looked up at him. He looked slightly dazed and she wondered if he was injured himself.

"Are you alright?" she asked and he nodded. "The other…"

"In the hallway." He replied simply. "Breathing."

"Okay…" She blinked, "There are none of them…"

"Yeah, I noticed that." His tone was dark and his eyes moved toward the door again. "How'd they get the jump on us?"

"I don't know." She replied, looking back to Tseng. "Reno… is he…?" She stroked Tseng's hair again as Reno came closer and sank down beside her. She watched as the redhead reached out to the older man and checked him over.

"He's fine. Zena will take care of him."

Elena just nodded, trying to swallow as relief washed through her. Unable to make a sound, she simply nodded again, remaining silent. Reno moved away again and Elena took hold of one of Tseng's hands. How would Tseng be when he woke up? Elena wondered if he would be alright with her sitting with him? Would he allow it, or would he tell her to leave? She supposed she would just have to wait and find out.

Aura had just finished fixing up the infirmary at Healen to Zena's specifications when they arrived. The other woman had been called to some scene of an attack to help some ShinRa employees who had been injured and had informed Aura that she would need beds made up and certain equipment laid out. Aura pushed a trolley into position beside one of the beds, and then spun toward the doors when they opened and Zena came in, Rude being carried behind her. Aura's eyes widened and she moved quickly out of the way as Rude was placed on the closest bed. She looked Reno over quickly, and determined that he was alright, before turning to Zena.

"What can I do?"

"Clean Tseng up so that he's ready once I'm done here." The doctor's eyes moved to the third person being brought into the room. "And see to … what's his name?"

"Topher." Reno said flatly.

"Yeah, see to Topher."

"Sure, yo." Aura's eyes moved over Elena who was standing beside Tseng on the next bed, and she knew there was no way the woman was going to get out of her way. "… Elena…"

"I can help." Elena said flatly.

"Alright." She directed Elena to collect several items and set about cleaning up any wound on Tseng that she was able to find. Doing her best to stem the bleeding until Zena could stitch him up, Aura kept one eye on Elena who looked as if she were only several seconds from losing her shit. She had no idea what she would tell the woman if that happened. There wasn't anything that she could say that would be helpful. They would just be silly words. Being silly didn't mean they shouldn't be said, however. "Elena… it's going to be fine. He'll be okay."

"Yeah…" Elena's voice was strained and her eyes didn't leave Tseng for a second.

Aura worked silently, watching Elena for a few moments here and there, and by the time Zena made it across the room to them Elena had just about pulled herself together. They both stepped back out of the way to let the doctor do her thing and Aura glanced around at Elena when the younger woman staggered toward a chair by the wall. Elena's dark eyes never left Tseng and Aura felt a stab of pity for the girl. Turning, Aura went to the third bed and checked on Topher. As far as she could tell he'd taken a blow to the head but had no other injuries.

A hand descending on Aura's shoulder made her look up and around to find Reno standing behind her and, turning, Aura brought her own hands up to his face, looking him over. "Reno…?" she pushed at his jacket, "are you alright?"

"Yeah." His hand slid across her back, drawing her to himself as he pressed his lips to her forehead for a moment. "I'll survive." Aura wrapped her arms around Reno's waist and pressed her face into his shoulder.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Someone didn't like the recruitment office." His voice was low and Aura could feel it reverberate through his chest. She tightened her arms.

"Was it Cadan?"

"I don't know." Aura looked up at him and he carefully stroked her hair. "I don't know, Aur."

Gently, Aura touched his cheek again, taking in the bruise along his jaw. "You got lucky…" she breathed and he nodded.

"It could have been worse." He replied, and Aura felt him twirling her hair around a finger, "They all could have died…" his green eyes shifted to Rude, "… I… could have lost them all…"

"But you didn't."

"This time." He pressed a kiss to her forehead again and then moved back. "I have to go and report to the President."

"Okay." She let him go with a gentle squeeze of his hand. "I'll see you later though?"

"Later." He nodded and turned and strode from the infirmary. Aura moved toward Elena once more, slipping an arm around the woman's shoulders as Elena continued to watch Zena working on Tseng.

Rufus folded his arms and Reno eyed the man silently. "Well?" The President's voice was icy and hard, his pale eyes icier.

"Tseng, Rude, Elena and Topher…"

"Is that it?"

Shame flooded Reno. Guilt at not being more ready for what had happened washed though him and he nodded. "Elena and I had just returned from Patrol and walked in on it…"

"And the rest of them are dead…"

"Yes." Reno could see the judgement in Rufus' eyes and he looked away. "Tseng, Rude and Topher are unconscious." He said softly, "Zena is seeing to them now. Elena took a hit, but is fine."

"As are you, it seems."

"…Yes."

Rufus clasped his hands together, looking at Reno once more. "Who was it?"

"I don't know."

"Don't you?" the tone was almost mocking and Reno shifted in his chair.

"I don't… I can only guess…"

"You're going to need to do more than guess, Reno."

Reno blinked, not knowing what that meant. "… Sir."

"In order for you to fix this… before you lose anyone else…"

"I…"

"Who do you think would be next?" Rufus went on, "Elena? What if she's killed because you don't know who is coming at us? What if I am? Well, I suppose then you'd be out of a job… What if it's sweet Aura?"

Reno tried to swallow a snarl. "No…"

"Maybe you should take a second to think about what your ignorance could cost."

Reno sat rigid in the chair, facing Rufus Shinra's desk. He struggled to draw a complete breath. If he had have anticipated that something would be attempted so soon after the opening of the recruitment centre, this would not have happened. Rude wouldn't be inches from death upstairs right now. He had never seen Tseng out of it like that before, he'd barely even thought it was possible.

"With Tseng out of action, this falls on you." Rufus went on. "Whatever happens will be on you."