And back again! Don't have very much to say about this chapter...perhaps that I like Cait...and Vincent...and Cid of course. Gotta love Cid. And internet cafes...yes. Internet cafes are good. Updates might take a little longer from now on due to the fact that I just found out that we didn't have a flat rate internet service where I'm staying. My friend told me that I did not want to see the phone bill...so I'm just going to stop using the internet there, and drag my lazy ass all the way to town everytime I wish to update. "Excellent"...quote Reeve.

Enjoy, drop a note and Cheers!

Kyyrin

Chapter Fourteen

Reeve's room was a mess.

There was no way to put it nicely. It seemed like the Deepground forces had unleashed their fury at not finding anything of use in the Commissioner's quarters. Everything was in shambles, but surprisingly, it was not as disheartening as Shalua's room. Here, there were still a few things intact.

Vincent gazed around momentarily, and spied something he could use. In the corner was a large, dirty black backpack that Deepground had obviouslyoverseen. He stalked over, and hurriedly picked it up. Next, he made his way to the almost intact closet, throwing it open and searching for anything Reeve might still be able to wear. Some clothes were burned, but others could still be used.

The next fifteen minutes were spent stuffing various objects of necessity into the backpack, and once Vincent believed there to be nothing more worth salvaging, he shouldered the bag and walked past a large pile of rubble to the exit.

Suddenly, his attuned ears picked up rustling noises from the debris he'd just passed. Whipping around, in one fluid motion, he drew and cocked Cerberus pointing it at the pile. The movements died down as he moved closer, still pointing his gun at the spot that the sounds were coming from.

It was then that he heard a tiny, heart-wrenching whimper from beneath the many ruins.

"R-Reeve?……s'that y-you? Number two……set to go….."

Vincent holstered his gun immediately, but didn't answer. He knew that voice…….

"N-N-Not Reeve? O-Oh Planet………p-please…..I-I'm begging you……k-kill me instead of R-Reeve…….."

Yes, he knew that voice. It was……

"Cait?", he muttered softly, just loud enough for the robot to hear. Reaching over to the mound of scraps, he carefully removed the debris where he had heard the voice. When the dust cleared, he realized his assumptions had been correct.

There sat Cait Sith, curled up in fear against the wall with his hands covering his head. His fur had ripped in a few places, revealing the mechanisms underneath. The robot's foot was twisted in a funny angle as well. Number two, had he said? Vincent thought for a moment. If this was number two, than that meant that this was the second original Cait. That meant…….This was the Cait that Reeve had slaved over endlessly to make more human than robot. This was the Cait through which Reeve had cast sleep on him to cure his insomnia. To get rid of his nightmares. Now it seemed the poor little cat was living a nightmare of its own.

Very slowly, the tiny creation uncurled himself from the ball he had formed, and stared at Vincent with a look of uttered disbelief on his face that looked pretty believable. Even for a robot.

"V-Vincent?", came the whimper. And then, "A-Are you……f-for real, lad?"

Vincent squatted down to face the cat and answered.

"Yes, I'm really here, Cait. Are you…..alright?"

But Vincent didn't get an answer to his question. Instead, he got more questions.

"A-Are they…..are they gone, lad?", came the first one. "And R-Reeve? Please tell me he didn't……."

"Cait, relax", Vincent murmured, giving the obviously terrified cat a half smile. Cait was so like Reeve at times. Always worrying about others before thinking of himself. He was beginning to think that his friend had truly included a part of his own personality in his creations. "Deepground is gone, and Reeve is safe. But…..there are other things. I suppose Reeve will tell you once we get back."

Vincent hesitated momentarily, and then tentatively opened his arms as an invitation for the creation to come to him.

Cait wasted no time, and scampered, as fast as he could with his battered body, towards Vincent. He cuddled to the gunman's chest and Vincent wrapped his arms around the tiny creature. He raised an eyebrow. Vincent could physically feel the cats violent trembling. But he didn't think much of it. Everyone was shaken up by the attack, so why shouldn't Cait be? Reeve had made him, after all, susceptible to various human emotions.

Standing slowly, Vincent cradled the cat in his arms. He wondered fleetingly if Cait was in pain. He fervently hoped Reeve hadn't included that feeling in the cat's programming. But it was better to be safe than sorry…….

"I will repeat my question, Cait. Are you all right? Are you injured?….In pain?"

The small head turned to look up at him.

"N-No, lad. Nothing that Reeve can't fix……I am having a tad of trouble walking, though….."

Vincent glanced down at the cat's mangled leg. Well that was no surprise……

"It's fine. I'll carry you, Cait. Then I'll take you to Reeve who will probably fix you up……once he's up to it", Vincent turned began to walk towards the door. But before he reached it, he spotted an envelope lying near the crushed bed.

Raising an eyebrow, Vincent walked over and crouched down to look closer. Reeve's name was handwritten on it. Carefully removing one arm from Cait, Vincent reached down and scooped the envelope up into his claw. It was obviously important, whatever it was, so he safely stowed it away with the photograph he had found in Shalua's room. Before he could begin to wonder who it was from, another soft whimper came from the ball of fur in his arms.

"Reeve…..he'll be……alright….w-won't he……?"

Vincent dismissed the subject of the envelope and continued walking, but hesitated in answering the question. Of course Reeve would be all right. His injuries would heal with time, as would his grief and anguish over Shalua. His mental state would return to normal and he would resume the task of being the WRO's Commissioner.

Wouldn't he?

"He'll be fine, Cait".

But Vincent wasn't so sure.

He desperately tried to push all doubt from his mind, but some fragments remained. Vincent didn't think he could stand losing another loved one. He raced through the halls, trying not to think of what could happen. Trying hard not to think negatively. He attempted to think positively. Like Reeve did. Had.

Vincent cursed. This positive thinking method was so damn difficult when the circumstances weren't to one's advantage.

Before he knew it, he had reached the demolished entrance doors, and hurried outside where the Shera waited. Cid had landed the airship in front of the headquarters, waiting for everyone to salvage any of their belongings and climb aboard.

"Cait?", he inquired softly. "We're outside…….I'll bring you to Reeve……."

When he received no response, Vincent looked down at the small cat in his arms and saw, to his amazement, that Reeve's creation had fallen asleep. Vincent couldn't help himself. He gave a snort of laughter. So like Reeve. The man didn't give his creation the ability to feel pain, but he had programmed the thing to be able to sleep? Vincent sighed. He supposed it was for the best. After all, Cait had seemed extremely nervous and terrified by the chain of events.

Keeping a tight grip on the cat, Vincent made his way up into the Shera. The first person he met was (naturally) Cid, who greeted him in his usual loud and cocky manner, and with an air of disbelief.

"Vincent? S'that really you?", when Vincent nodded, Cid continued. "Heeeey! Long time, buddy! Where the 'ell have ya been at?"

But Cid trailed off when he saw the look on Vincent's face.

"Cid", Vincent remarked in a dead serious tone. "Good to see you as well, but now's not the time. Where is Reeve?"

Cid looked at him blankly for a moment, a look of remembrance crossing his features afterwards.

"Reeve? Yeah, well the old geek's inside already", Vincent winched inwardly at the term Cid had used to describe his friend. Cid would really have to learn some manners. "Yuffie helped 'im into my baby. Didn't look too good though, poor bastard. Looked like he'd drop dead any second……Just jokin'", Cid added quickly when Vincent gave him a withering look.

"Which room did you put him in, Cid", Vincent inquired briskly, hoping that Reeve was at least comfortable.

"Oh…..'bout that…..", Cid rubbed the back of his head with his hand, looking slightly ashamed. "Well, as big as the Shera is, we've got a hell of a lota people to accommodate. It just so seems that……we haven't found a room for him yet…..and I'm not too sure if we still will. Every ship in this fleet is packed full with survivors and soldiers and the med ward's full too. Sorry, Vince. But you're room's still free. I mean, ya'are part of AVALANCHE and all."

Vincent's face took on an expression that made Cid step back a few paces and gulp. He had seen Vincent angry before, but he had never seen a look of venom such as this on his face.

"Cid", Vincent's voice came out as a low, menacing growl. "He's injured. How could you possibly disregard his condition like that? And is he not as much a member of AVALANCHE as you or I? Who controlled Cait three years ago?"

"I…I", was all Cid managed before Vincent cut him off once more.

"You must have noticed he was injured, Cid. You should have given him my room!", Vincent finished off furiously, still glaring at the now terrified looking pilot.

"I-I…..I didn't think of it that way, Vince. I'm sorry. Guess I'm not used to the fact that he's one of us yet. Just give me some time, gawd!", Cid mustered up the courage to challenge Vincent, hoping that the gunman wouldn't get any crazy ideas involving his triple barreled gun.

Vincent became aware that he had been glaring daggers at Cid, and composed himself rather quickly. He averted his eyes in shame. He didn't have the right to lash out at his comrade like that.

"I…..I'm sorry. Forgive me, Cid…..I didn't mean…."

"Hey, no worries, buddy. I understand…",Cid waved the outburst of anger off quickly, knowing that Vincent was probably more stressed out than he was.

"Well I'll be. Who the 'ell's that?"

Cid looked down into Vincent's arms, and noticed Cait's sleeping form cuddled there.

"'s he alright?", came the rather worried question.

Vincent nodded slowly.

"He will be fine, yes. I found him in Reeve's room. He's……shaken up. And could use some repairs."

"Aw……poor little guy", Cid muttered, absently stroking Cait's soft fur. Vincent let his eyes smile a little. It seemed that Cait had truly grown on everyone during their travels. He was almost too adorable to ignore.

Vincent adored cats, actually. He viewed them as beautiful creatures that used their silent stealth to their advantage, and were smart to boot. And although Cait was far from a normal, quiet cat, Vincent had instantly taken a liking to his amiable, trusting nature. He was exactly like his master.

Speaking of Reeve…….

"Cid. If Reeve doesn't have a room, then where did you put him?", Vincent probed, hoping that Reeve was at least sitting. His leg, though bandaged and basically tended too, hadn't looked as if it could support him at all.

"He was sittin' in one of the rooms upstairs, last time I saw him. Gave him somethin' ta drink. Looked pretty pale now that I think of it. Room's pretty damn sweet looking, though. Got a ceiling that changes color, with cool shapes and…..Vince?"

But "upstairs" and "colorful ceiling" had been all that Vincent had needed to know. He was already several strides away before Cid called after him.

"Hey Vince! Wait a sec! Wait, wait….whoa, whoooooa", Cid puffed as he caught up with Vincent, trying to keep up with the gunman's brisk pace. The latter turned his head slightly to indicate that he was listening.

Vincent vaguely wondered if he should tell Cid to lay off the smoking for a while. The pilot could barely keep up with him, even when he was only walking. Well, not that anyone else ever could, but still.

"Well, hell, Vince. If yer gonna go see Reeve, then you might as well let me repair Cait!"

Vincent paused momentarily in his brisk walk to stop and look at Cid.

"What? I mean it. Gawd, it doesn't take a genius like Reeve to fix a few functions on a robot. I mean, I won't mess with the programming an' shit, but I can fix up the leg and the scrapes pretty quick……And I'm not as stupid as I look, Vince", Cid added for good measure, hoping that his speech had convinced Vincent to leave the little cat in his hands. Cid was good with things like that. And fact was, that he didn't even think Reeve could lift any tools in the shape he was in at the moment.

Vincent considered Cid's offer. Reeve hadn't looked like he could fix up his creation any time soon when Vincent had last seen him. And they might be in need of Cait's help during the siege. Looking down at Cait, he found himself to be a bit reluctant to let go of the soft, sleeping cat in his arms. Cait was one of the few people that trusted him completely. But he knew Cid was right. He had made valid enough points for Vincent to give in.

"Hm. Alright Cid. I'll go check on Reeve. Put Cait in my room once you're finished. Tell him……I'll come find him and take him to Reeve."

Every so gently, Vincent passed Cait into Cid's open arms. Cid cradled the cat like a tiny baby, obviously afraid he might wake it. The pilot made to leave, but before he did, Vincent thought it best to remind the man to be careful with Reeve's masterpiece.

"Cid. Wait."

The pilot slowly turned to face him again.

"Cid. I………If anything happens to Cait, you will not only have to answer to Reeve, but to myself as well. Is that clear?"

He noticed Cid flinch slightly. The pilot knew well enough the wrath that Vincent could let loose, and seemed to have no desire to feel it. He nodded quickly, and turning, hurried away.

Vincent stared after Cid a moment, and then turned his attention back to Reeve's location.

A little bit o' Cait never hurt anyone...(smile)...Cheers!