Hello all! It's the weekend so I thought I'd crank out another chapter here. Thank you for those of you have recently reviewed. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it as well as enjoy hearing from you all! You make my day, really! I'm sorry this one is a bit shorter, still I hope you enjoy!
-B
Vincent's eyes narrowed as he thoroughly sized up the doctor in front of him. His posture, the look on his face and his demeanor said it all. He recalled having a conversation months ago with Yuffie regarding this particular Doctor, and the feeling he was getting now was simply not good.
Yuffie's posture told him everything he needed to know. She was closed off, arms folded securely over her chest and her shoulders were slouched downward. Her normal chipper smile and twinkling eye were replaced by tightly closed lips, a tightened jaw and eyes that didn't want to travel in Genesis' direction at all.
"No problem here, Mr. Chairman." Genesis scoffed, the smug look on his face never once seemed to change.
"There had better not be, let me make that very clear to you." Vincent had, unknowingly, pushed Yuffie protectively behind him. "If she is uncomfortable around you, if I hear that you've been doing or saying inappropriate things to the other hospital staff you can guarantee that you won't last very long as a resident."
"Oh my, it seems I've stepped on some very important toes." He replied with a half hearted chuckle. "Forgive me, Chairman. Have a pleasant day." Genesis waved a hand over his shoulder dismissively and carried on toward his office, clearly amused by the entire situation.
"What happened?" Vincent turned around to face Yuffie who was busy pushing the button for the elevator frantically. "Yuffie, he's gone."
She let out a breath she hadn't even realized she was holding and suddenly hugged the tall man beside her. "Thank God you showed up."
"Did he try anything with you?" Vincent placed a hand behind Yuffie's head while the other gently rubbed her back.
"He's just so persistent." At the toll of the elevator bell, Yuffie released Vincent and walked into the elevator with him. "He keeps asking me to dinner, and endlessly flirting with me. I keep telling him I have a boyfriend but it doesn't seem to stop him."
Vincent's jaw tightened, picturing the man's arrogant expression and snide remarks. He thought he wasn't quite the jealous type, but here he was, boiling over with envy. And maybe it wasn't so much envy as it was anger. Clearly Yuffie was doing her part. However, another man was continuously pursuing his woman and he did not like that at all. Simply because he wouldn't seem to take 'no' for an answer.
"I'll have him fired by tomorrow morning." Vincent resolved. The sooner he get rid of the pest, the better.
"No, Vincent. He's a good doctor." Yuffie sighed. She hated to have someone fired just for something silly like this, besides he was a good doctor and he helped out a lot.
"Then I'll have to keep an eye on him. If he does anything like this again I want to know about it."
Tifa felt as though she were looking at Sephiroth for the first time in a whole new light. She wondered to herself how he could be so selfish. There was no risk, his job would be safe. The responsibility would fall on Mr. Shinra should anything happen yet, here he was refusing to help her father because of his integrity. Had it been any one other than her father Tifa might actually praise Sephiroth for standing up for his beliefs, but not today.
She wanted to say something more, she wanted to fight tooth and nail for her father but it was absolutely clear that Sephiroth was not going to change his mind. There wasn't even an ounce of sympathy or concern behind his eyes. His expression was stern and unmoving, arrogance and stubbornness radiating off of him like a thick fog.
Profanities and nasty comments were dancing on the tip of her tongue, screaming desperately to escape and tear into his flesh, but Tifa kept her mouth shut. He didn't even deserve her breath anymore. So, she kept her head up high, turned on her heel and walked to the elevator.
To her surprise, Yuffie and Vincent were inside when the doors rolled open. Vincent's arm was draped over Yuffie's dainty shoulders and Yuffie seemed to be a little distraught. And Tifa could tell that Vincent was writhing with anger, simply by the look in his eye and his tense body posture.
She joined the pair in silence and the door slowly closed, and she watched Sephiroth disappear, neither one of them willing to look away until the door shut completely.
"Hey, is your dad okay?" Yuffie asked as she reached out and touched Tifa's shoulder.
It was then that Tifa broke down. She was safe with them, and the tears rolled down her cheeks as she explained to her companions everything that had happened. Yuffie provided Vincent with a rough translation when things got iffy between her sobs.
Vincent pulled a red silk handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to his cousin to dry her tears while Yuffie gently rubbed her back, and before they knew it they were on the first floor.
With Vincent's help, Yuffie escorted Tifa out of the elevator and to a bistro table at the cafe. "Tifa, I'm so sorry." She said as she reached across the table and took her friends hands in her own.
"I don't know what else to do, Yuffie. How could he do this? Why?" Tifa choked out. Everything she thought she knew about Sephiroth was shaping out to be a lie, or at least she felt as though she couldn't trust what she knew.
"Surgeons think they're God. They really do." Yuffie rolled her dark eyes. It was true. Surgeons always had a horrific arrogance about them, almost like they enjoyed toying with people. This was a prime example.
"Tifa, I'm going to make a few phone calls." Vincent said as he rose to his feet. He then knelt down and kissed the top of her head. A rare display of affection coming from him.
"Vinnie will take care of this, Tifa. He always does." Yuffie wasn't too sure he would actually help, because she knew he had a hand in removing her father from the hospital staff in the first place. But she had faith in him, that he would do the right thing.
Vincent knocked on Rufus' office door briskly, before hearing his voice calling out for him to enter.
"Ah, Vincent. What brings you by?" Rufus swiveled his chair in order to look at the man in the doorway.
"You approved a surgery that would be considered high risk, not to mention you went above the transplant list, and put Nagano Lockhart at the very top?" Vincent asked, looking at Rufus with half sustain and half confusion.
"Yes I did. Tifa's," he paused. "Doctor Lockhart's father is in need, to the point where he doesn't have much time at all. From what I understand, it's a matter of days now." Rufus was not threatened by Vincent in any way. There wasn't any possibility of him being removed from his position, not even Vincent Valentine could do that.
"Why did you authorize that, Rufus? Do you not know the protocol with patients with a history of drug use?" Vincent was now standing in front of the large monogamy desk, scrutinizing Rufus' every single movement.
Rufus was always excellent under pressure, in fact he may go as far as to say that he even flourished under pressure. "I certainly do. However, I am the Chief of Medicine and I have my reasons for authorizing this. If this is all you came to talk about, then you are dismissed." He waved his hand, as if to shoo Vincent away.
"No, it is not all I wish to discuss. Sephiroth is refusing to perform the surgery despite your authorization. I'd like to call in a thoracic cardiovascular surgeon in so that we can perform the surgery."
"That's quite a shock," Rufus smirked in amusement. "I thought you hated Nagano."
"It's true, I'm not that fond of him, however he's Tifa's father and she's experienced enough loss." Vincent explained.
"I happen to know an excellent cardiovascular surgeon by the name of Doctor Tuesti. I'll give him a ring immediately." Rufus had endless connections, which gave him an advantage in many things. However, the most interesting part of this equation was the fact that Tifa's very own lover had betrayed her. And Rufus, would once again come to her rescue.
"That's not all," Vincent said, looking down at Rufus as he sighed and placed the phone back down on the receiver.
"Go on."
"Doctor Raphsodos has to go."
"That was a shitty thing to do, Sephiroth." One of the nurse anesthetists mumbled to him before walking off in another direction.
The crowd that had formed to watch Tifa and Sephiroth duke it out had gone back to their work and Sephiroth remained in his place, looking at the elevator and wondering what it was that he had done. Certainly Tifa would come around to understanding why he chose to turn down the surgery. She knew the oath they took as doctors.
She would come to terms with his choice, surely she would. He loved Tifa, and admired her dearly. Their relationship was strong, so he thought. He did many things for her, he doted upon her with lavish gifts and romantic gestures. Any time she needed him he was there. She had to see that.
He was also angry, angry that she would ask him to do something so personal, and accuse him of being responsible if her father didn't make it. The audacity of her action truly irritated him. Tifa was stubborn, and Sephiroth was twice that.
Suddenly though, an overwhelming sense of doubt began to settle on him and he wasn't ready to lose Tifa yet.
"Doctor, there's a consult request for you in room 115."
"You should be with your dad, Tifa while you can." Yuffie had sat with Tifa for the last twenty minutes, offering comforting encouragements and an ear to listen. She'd never seen Tifa like this, in fact it was a bit alarming.
"You're right Yuffie, thank you." Tifa said before hugging her friend once more and standing to her feet. I'll call you if anything happens. And thank you so much for all your hard work today. I'm so proud of you." Tifa gushed and managed a thoughtful smile.
"Oh Tifa, I was just doing my job." Yuffie shrugged off the complement.
"No, Yuffie. You went above and beyond. I owe you for that and believe me I will make up for it." She smiled once more before making her way to be at her father's side.
Yuffie watched Tifa leave with a sad sigh. She was thankful that Tifa had recognized her hard work, but still overwhelmingly sad for her friend. Yuffie couldn't even wrap her head around the thought that Sephiroth would actually flat out refuse the surgery, especially to Tifa's face. He was asking to be forcefully removed from Tifa's life if you asked Yuffie.
"You wanna get some dinner?" Vincent's voice came and shook Yuffie from her gaze.
Yuffie stood from her seat at the cafe and greeted him with a smile and a nod. "What did Rufus say?" She asked as she linked hands with him and headed to the doors.
"He knows a thoracic cardiovascular surgeon and he's going to try and get him to come down to perform the surgery. For Tifa's sake, I hope he does." Vincent helped her into her coat before walking outside in the bitter winter cold with her.
They scurried across the parking lot and into his car with haste, desperate to get out of the harshness of the season. "I hope so too," Yuffie replied between the chattering of her teeth.
Vincent started up the vehicle and turned the warm air on and within a few moments the pair was warm again. "Shall we get something quick and get the rest of your boxes from your apartment? We can christen the house tonight?"
Yuffie giggled cutely and nodded her dark hair. "Okay handsome, let's do it!" And she meant that quite literally.
They pulled through the fast food joint and Yuffie rattled off her order to Vincent a few times until he finally got it right and they paid a few moments later.
Vincent handed her the paper bag and warned her not to steal his French fries with a chuckle, knowing that she would disobey his request.
And she did. She stole a few as they drove and she looked out the window at the night sky, the stars shone brighter in the clear winter air, that's one thing she liked about winter. Perhaps the only thing.
The two ate on the living room floor on top of a blanket, surrounded by boxes and packing paper. Even though it was strange, it was romantic in a special way. This was the starting point to the next step in their relationship. Yuffie was saying goodbye to one chapter of her life and ready to begin the newest chapter with a man that she cared for so deeply. Even if he was stingy with is French fries.
"Tifa." Nagano whispered breathily as he took hold of his daughters petite hand gently.
"Hi daddy," Tifa put on a brave face, looking down at her sickly father.
"You know that I'm proud of you sweetie, you know that right?" He asked as stroked her hand.
The fact that she was losing her father really sunk in right in that moment. Nagano had always been a little disappointed in her career choice, so for him to come out and say that he was proud of her was big. This was him making his peace with her, because he too knew the seriousness of his condition.
"You need to know something, kiddo. I didn't steal those drugs. I promise Tifa." He looked her square in they eye, not once did he waver in his gaze.
Tifa looked down at him and furrowed her brow, she could not tell if it was true or not but his expression seemed to point in that direction.
Before she had the chance to ask more about what he had meant, a tall and unfamiliar man walked in, clad in his light green scrubs. He had thick, dark hair that was combed back nearly, and facial hair that framed his mouth tastefully. His eyes were sparkly and charming and he had pearly white teeth that stood out handsomely.
"If it isn't old Nagano. That old ticker giving you troubles huh?"
"Reeve," Nagano smiled weakly at his old colleague.
The man extended his hand to Tifa gently and she shook it. "I'm doctor Tuesti, but you can call me Reeve. I'm an old friend of your dad's. I've heard so much about you Tifa."
"Oh, thank you." Tifa blinked in confusion. "What are you doing here?" She inquired, trying to piece together what was unfolding in front of her.
"He's a.."
"Let's get you a new heart, hm?" Reeve winked at Tifa and smiled. "We'll take good care of him kid."
