Disclaimer:...uhhh what am I supposed to be doing here? ~.^

Sorry for the late update. It took me quite awhile to write this one. Because of you guys giving me 100+ reviews I have given you 3,000+ words this time! XD ...though it doesn't seem like a whole lot... anyways Once I got this written it took quite some time for the Beta reader to get through it (duh I mean it would take me forever if I were correcting it!)

Hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Let me know what you think!

Zack looked up to see that bat-like thing. All around it was pitch black with a spot light coming from nowhere shinning on it. The thing was now a giant compared to Zack, seeming to hover in midair. The webbing that had captured it the last time had gaping holes in it. Its hand had gotten free and was reaching down for Zack. His stomach seemed to drop to the ground.

"Stay away. I don't want to hurt you," Zack said as he started to back away.

He turned around to run, but he was too late. The thing's claws caught him within its grasp. Flashes came of a time of torture. Images of being strapped down and cut into. Pain racked his body, but he had to hide it from the crazed man in the once pristine white coat.

"Fair, calm down." A voice broke through the visions of torture, of the prison pit.

Zack tore away from the pit to the present. The Turk's presence proved that he was out of that madman's hands. Now this Turk was going to take him back.

"No, I am not going back," Zack pleaded, eyes locked on with the Turk's. "Please, let me go."

"I'm not trying to take you back, Zack." The Turk pulled off his sunglasses, revealing his eyes' Mako shine. "I'm trying to lead you home, to safety."

"Who…" Zack held his head as his face constricted with pain.

Flashes of a young infantryman with sky blue eyes and blond unruly hair burst into his consciousness. Zack saw the young man in a snowfall, then lying face down on a metal floor. The image showed the blond in the same prison that Zack was. The next one showed him with dark clouds behind him. More flashes came, but they were too fast for Zack to actually see them. A hand grabbed him. The flashes stopped but the craziness didn't end. Zack switched between the Turk and the bat thing, reality and… dreams? Both held on tight to him. Zack started to lash out trying to get away, but to no avail. Pain racked his body as the sense of falling following.

"Stop!" Zack yelled at the disgusting creature. "Let me go!"

"Zack, you're just dreaming." A soft voice and a touch to the shoulder pulled him to safety.

Sky blue eyes shattered the rest of Zack's living nightmare. He stared up into those innocent, honest sky eyes. His fear and confusion melted away. "It hurts. Everything hurts. Save me, please Cloud.

"You're okay," Cloud's calm voice replied as the edges of Zack's vision turned black.

/ / / /

"Zack?" Although it was distant, Angeal's voice painfully echoed in his foggy head.

Zack groaned, but didn't move. His body still ached. He was grateful that it wasn't the hot pain that he felt earlier, just sore muscles. He opened his eyes to see Angeal standing in the doorway.

"Hey Angeal," Zack said softly.

Zack looked around, he was in his bedroom and Angeal was there. Okay that was logical…but something seemed off. Where was…who was he thinking of? A face appeared in his mind. It was a boyish face, soft blue eyes, and spiky hair. He knew this person. Zack tried to push back the fog that consumed his mind, which only increased the pain. Zack winced and brought a hand to his head.

"Zack, what happened?" Angeal laid a hand on Zack's forehead.

"I don't…" Zack said. He scowled as his voice yelled in his head. Note to self, when you push on the fog, it will come back with vengeance.

"Do you have a headache?" Angeal inquired as he sat and ran his hand in his student's hair. Angeal usually didn't worry about a simple headache, but this was not a usual situation.

Zack winced, expecting pain to follow the simple touch of Angeal's hand, but only relief to his pain came. He leaned into the touch. He had missed this. The little touches of concern, the worry that claimed his mentor's voice, the simple things that you didn't realize meant the world to you until they stopped.

Wait, it was only this morning that Angeal had shuffled his hair over something Zack had said. Flashes of pictures claimed his vision, causing stabs of white pain to consume all of his senses; sound, smell, touch, sights, and even taste. Everything hurt.

"The eyes!...Mm-hmm…but not scary at all!"

"You're a little more important than my sword…just a little."

"Well I'm a country boy too."

"Even if the morrow is barren of promises, nothing shall forestall my return."

"The truth lies within each person."

"My mother's name is Jenova…Why am I talking about this?"

"Zack?" Angeal asked.

Zack's hands came up to his head to cradle it, pushing Angeal's away. His knees came up to his face. He wanted to curl into a ball and never feel again.

"I can make that happen," a voice cooed.

"Who are you?" Zack asked as he opened his eyes.

"I am your mother," the bat-like thing answered, both of its hands now wrapped around Zack's waist clutching him like an adult with a small child's doll.

"No." Zack tried to wiggle out of the death grip that the thing had him in.

"Now, now, don't struggle my pet. " the thing purred as it tightened its grip.

"Help," Zack choked out, as pain wracked his body again.

"All right, I'll be right back," Angeal said while the extra pressure on the bed lifted.

Zack quickly reached up and grabbed Angeal. "Don't leave me alone with… it, please Angeal."

"Okay, try to relax then," Angeal said softly stroking Zack's hair. Then he raised his voice slightly and called for Sephiroth.

"What's wrong?" Sephiroth's calmed voice came from behind Zack a few moments later.

Zack winced as the quite voice ricocheted through his mind leaving stabs of pain wherever it hit. This is going to be a long night.

"He has a migraine. Can you get the painkillers from the medicine cupboard?" Angeal asked softly.

Zack heard the rustle of fabric that indicated Sephiroth's leave. Flames erupted in his mind's eye, bringing more pain. Zack watched in horror as Sephiroth turned into the flames with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

"Zack, try to relax," Angeal's voice started to draw Zack away from the flames.

Ignoring his mentor's call, Zack pushed through the flames and followed Sephiroth up a path of flames.

"Come back my pet," the vile creature called from behind Zack. "Nothing but pain awaits you up there."

Zack pushed forward harder. He wanted nothing to do with that thing, even though every step he took further away brought a new burst of pain. Zack soon found himself on the ground curled into a tight ball trying to seek shelter from flames as well as the pain.

"Zack, you need to relax," Angeal's voice sliced through the flames like Masamune. "Look at me."

Zack looked up at Angeal, who gave him a small smile. "I hurt,'Geal, everywhere."

"You're okay. Take a deep breath in," Angeal coaxed as Zack took a shallow breath. "Good, try again."

Zack focused on Angeal's eyes and tried to breathe through the pain. His eyes widened as ghostly white wings spouted from Angeal's back. Pain erupted through his senses again.

"Just come here and I shall take your pain away."

"Fan outta mo intinn! (Get outta my mind!)" Zack shouted as he cradled his head again.

"Is this what you asked for?" Sephiroth asked. Zack wasn't sure when he had come back into the room for his eye were shut in an effort to drive the thing out of his mind.

"Then I shall go to my son who wants me."

"You can't have him," Zack growled.

"And who says that I don't already?"

Zack's eyes shot to Sephiroth. The breath caught in Zack's throat as he saw silver ghostly wings on Sephiroth's back. Am I going insane? I can't, not yet. I have things to do. I have something important. I have to save…

"—ack, Zack." Zack focused his gaze on Angeal's face, trying to ignore the ghostly images. "Here, take these."

"Wha…?" Zack asked as he held out his hand and took the pills.

"They're pain killers. Here is some water," Angeal said helping Zack drink from the cup. "There, now just relax the best you can. Count your breathing."

Zack took deep, measured breaths trying to count them all; there were several times he had to start over because the pain got too or the creature tried talking to him. Despite everything, Zack was able to calm down enough with the drug's help to drift to sleep.

/ / / /

"He's sleeping again," Angeal said as he walked into the living room.

"Then the medicine helped?" Sephiroth said more than he asked.

"Most likely." Angeal ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know what to do Sephiroth. Something has happened since we got back from Junon and it happened while we've been here. This is supposed to be base, a haven. I think I am losing faith in Shinra. I know it is not honorable, but the events of late are starting to spread doubts."

"What do you mean?" Sephiroth asked with concern for his friend. People as powerful and useful to Shinra as they were can't just quit. Once you started, you stayed with them until they didn't want you and got rid of you. Hopefully, it was retirement to somewhere nice. It wasn't a great policy, but you learned to live with it.

"Why did Genesis leave us?" Angeal asked rhetorically as he slumped down on the couch. "Seph, I am coming undone at the seams. What is happening? Zack has been hurt—I can't decide if it's just mental or not; Genesis left us without a single word… what is going on?"

Silence followed. Angeal was lost in thoughts of different scenarios of what was happening, while Sephiroth was reviewing the last month's events. Angeal and Zack came home from a successful mission. The following morning Zack protected a cadet.

"Angeal, Strife has spiky blond hair, correct?" Sephiroth asked.

"Yes…though I haven't seen him since this whole mess started," Angeal answered.

"Hm..." Sephiroth started to pace. The stranger he faced to rescue Zack had had blond spiky hair. Could they be one and the same? Angeal has shared his concern about Strife and Zack. Could something have happened to Strife as well as Zack?

"Why do you want him back so much? So you can screw with his genetics and body again?" the stranger demanded.

"Where did you hear such a lie?" Sephiroth demanded.

"It is no lie," Cloud said. "I witnessed it with my own eyes. I heard his screams as the scientist cut him open."

"Fair has been through no such thing," Sephiroth tried to reason with the boy.

"Strife might know what is going on," Sephiroth stated.

"Strife?" Angeal asked.

"When I brought Zack back it wasn't by coincidence. It was reported that someone had kidnapped him. I was sent to look. When I found him, it appeared that a blond boy had done the kidnapping. The blond refused to let me take Zack back so he attacked. He was good. When the fight started to get dangerous, Zack interrupted us. He did not recognize the boy. The blond seemed devastated, then left. However, now that I reflect on it, I believe the boy might have been Strife. This whole situation is quite odd," Sephiroth concluded as he sat down next to Angeal.

"Cloud is only fifteen, yet you say he was keeping up with you?" Angeal asked in bewilderment.

"I shall see if Veld knows anything," Sephiroth said as he stood and headed towards the door.

"If he doesn't maybe he could look—" Angeal was interrupted by a figure coming out of the shadows.

"As much as Director Veld might want to, he can't tell you anything." Angeal studied that man in front of him.

The Turk had red hair drawn back into a ponytail. His suit was a little dusty but tucked in. Angeal's eyes widened as he recognized him. It was the same Turk from the tracks two weeks ago.

"He doesn't know a lot and what he does know he can't discuss," the Turk added.

"Who are you?" Angeal asked standing up and shifting into a defensive position.

"A friend," the Turk supplied as he studied Angeal.

"What is your name and what do you know?" Sephiroth demanded as he edged closer.

"If you want to help your student and Genesis—" the Turk started to say.

"You will answer my question." Sephiroth stated.

"Ask your mother about Jenova," the Turk finished, staring at Angeal and ignoring Sephiroth.

"What does my mother have to do with this situation?" Sephiroth asked, stalking closer to the Turk.

"Why?" Angeal asked trying to get answers from the Turk before Sephiroth got too defensive. Does the kid have a death wish? "What do our mothers have to do with this?"

To Angeal's and Sephiroth's disbelief the Turk chuckled.

"Jenova is no one's mother. She- it… well even if I told you, you wouldn't believe me." The redhead said shaking his head. "A wise man once said that all stories are worth hearing. To answer your questions, if I told you the reason behind your mother's involvement, would you believe me?"

Taking the silence as an answer, the Turk threw something on the ground and a bright flash of light blinded the two Firsts. Angeal stood still blinking the spots out of his eyes. He sighed in frustration when he saw that the Turk was gone. Angeal looked around, the front door and window were opened. The redhead could have taken either one.

"He ignored me," Sephiroth declared in bewilderment.

Torn away from looking for the Turk, Angeal twisted around and looked at his friend. To an outsider, Sephiroth appeared to have his usual stoic persona, but Angeal was no stranger. Sephiroth's eyes had more of a cat-slit, his brows were slightly drawn together, and his hands softly clenched at his sides. However, his voice gave away his true emotions. He wasn't mad, per-say, nor was he confused, he was a combination of the two. He was astonished.

"No one has ever ignored me…" Sephiroth looked Angeal in the eye. "Is it normal to be ignored?"

"Yes, everyone gets ignored once in a while," Angeal said with a soft smile before it turned into a frown. "Though, it is rather rude to ignore people."

"What does my dead mother have to do with what is going on?" Sephiroth asked after a moment of silence.

"I'm not sure, but I will be finding out," Angeal replied. "I will request vacation time. Will you stay here and keep an eye on Zack for me?"

"I wish to go with you, but I shall stay. Maybe this new Turk can answer some questions for me," Sephiroth stated. "I believe I shall track him down."

"Sephiroth," Angeal stopped Sephiroth before he could slip out of the door. "Please be careful."

/ / / / /

Soldier feet echoed in the hallways. He needed to hide. He looked around for the perfect place. Spotting one, he tried to hurry, but his movements were sluggish and slow. His breathing quickened, he was taking too long to get to his hiding spot. They would come in and find him. Then they would drag him back to that pit or kill him. He had too many things to be accomplished before he died. And if they caught him…well he would do anything in his power to escape or be killed. He was not going back to that pit alive.

Relief washed over his senses as he settled in his haven. With the adrenaline leaving, he felt groggy, his eyes were drooping, his head throbbed, and his muscles ached...What is happening to me?

He stayed awake for as long as he could, but eventually sleep's pull won over. He drifted into a restful, dreamless sleep.

/ / / / /

Angeal knocked lightly on Zack's door before entering. He decided to check on his mentee before starting breakfast; last night was not a good night. He opened the door to see that the bed was empty and unmade. Where had Zack gone and why? Angeal pulled out his phone, pinching the bridge of his nose while he dialed Zack's number; hoping that wherever his student went to this time he remembered to take his phone. Angeal turned with a start as the bed jumped a good foot off the ground.

"Ow!" Zack's muffled voice came for underneath as a shuffling noise was made, indicating that he was coming out.

"Zack, what were you doing under the bed?" Angeal probed as he walked towards his student.

"I don't know," Zack responded as he sat up and shook his head. "The last thing I remember was crawling through the air ducts."

"So that's how you got in…hmm," Angeal said lost in thought.

"'Hmm'? 'Hmm' doesn't sound good." Zack stood up and looked his mentor in the eye. "Did something happen last night?"

"You don't remember?" Angeal pondered aloud. "Maybe it is like when you have a fever…That does seem logical."

"Like I said, the last thing I remember was crawling through the air ducts," Zack answered as he studied his mentor.

"Hmm, how are you feeling?" Angeal asked.

"Confused. Angeal, what is going on?" Zack asked as worry tiptoed into his voice.

"You had a severe headache last night," Angeal said. "Dr. Daniel will be stopping by this morning to give you a check-up. Are you hungry?"

Angeal watched Zack closely as his student sat down on the bed and ran a hand through his hair. Zack was keeping something from Angeal. He knew it, but was Zack doing it on purpose or was he just as oblivious to it as Sephiroth and Angeal were to the whole situation? Angeal was about to mention it when Zack's brows were drawn forward and he got up with a determined look. What is he planning now? A smile stripped away Angeal's worry as his student started to do squats.

"How do egg sandwiches sound to you?" Angeal asked as he watched Zack's steady rhythm of ups and downs.

"That sounds…good to …me," Zack said around his exercise.

Angeal chuckled as he left his student to his antics to start making breakfast.

So... Whatcha think? Any quesses about the plot that you want to send my way. (hint hint) Love reviews. I love getting responces. That way I can change somehting if it needs it... or keep doing whatever I am doing good.

BTW It might take me longer to post... yah family interventions, school, writer's block, (anything else I can think of... nope :D that's it!) Know that I WILL not pull the plug on this, it'll just take a little more time. :)