Disclaimer: Same as the other chapters. There not mine…

A/N: Nothing really, other then saying that writing about a dying man and someone's reaction to watching them dying isn't easy. I'm sorry in advance if it's a bit cheesy (again). Btw: A lot of the quotes are the ones from Chapter 7 when Rufus "woke up" and heard people talking.

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'I'm sorry sir, but you can't go in there.'

Tseng stared in disbelief at the head nurse. 'Excuse me? I can't what? In case you didn't notice who the individual was, I have to ensure his safety.'

The nurse stood her ground. 'If you go in there you will be in their way and they will not be able to save him. I'm sorry, but for his benefit, you can't go in there. You can see him just fine from the door.'

'Just tell me how he's doing.'

'He's in critical condition sir, but he does seem to be stable for the moment. Now if you'll excuse me, I have someone to look after.' She didn't wait Tseng to reply, she ran back to the doctor's side, handing him the tools he needed to stop the gash that was still bleeding.

Tseng stood immobile at the threshold, watching the doctors running and shouting for various tools and readouts. He was oblivious to everything around him, thinking only of Rufus and hoping against all odds for his survival. When he felt a hand brush up against his arm, he couldn't help but jump at the unexpected touch.

'How is he sir?'

Tseng looked at Elena, shaking his head, 'I don't know, Elena. He didn't have the smoothest ride here, but he managed to pull through.'

'So boss, why are you out here instead of in there?'

'Because they don't want me to get in their way, Reno. They've been running around ever since he was brought in.'

'Is he stable?'

'The medic in the transport said he was stabilizing and the nurse just told me that he was critical but stable.'

'I don't know about that, boss.' Reno started, 'With the way those docs are running around it doesn't seem like they think he's very stable.'

'Reno! How can you say that!' Elena screeched, slapping the redhead's arm.

'I didn't say he was going to die.' Reno retorted, 'I just said it doesn't seem like he's stable.'

'Both of you quiet down. We're in a hospital for planet's sake!' Tseng's admonishment was cut short by a shrilling beep in the emergency room.

'What is that?'

'His heart stopped.' Rude said, while pointing the doctor pressing the paddles to Rufus' chest.

'Straight to the point eh, Rude?'

Tseng ignored the rambling Turks behind him and ran into the room. 'What's going on? You said he was stable! Do something! Don't you dare let him die.'

He heard a doctor shouting and felt two sets of hands on his shoulders, dragging him out of the room.

'Do we have to keep a grip on you boss, or will you stay here out of their way?' Reno asked, no hints of joking in his voice.

'Let me go.'

Rude shook his head. 'Not if you're going to go back in there. You'll get in their way and he'll die. His heart stopped and they're trying to save him, they're doing their best to not let him die.' Rude sighed, 'But you saw how injured he was, I don't know if he's going to make it.'

'You mean to tell me that you think he's going to die.' Tseng glared at Rude, 'That's it? No hope that he will live, you're just going to say he's going to die and that's that.'

'That's not what he's saying sir.' Elena added as gently as she could. 'He's simply saying to not discount the fact that he might. He has enough serious injuries that he could die. You know that just as well as we do.'

Tseng sighed, defeated. 'Let me go, I will not run back into the room and get in their way. But he will not die. He's too stubborn to do that.'

The shrill of the flat line was replace but steady beeping as Rufus' heart started beating again. The four Turks remained in the doorway, quietly watching the doctors do their final tests and scans on the blond.

'It would be such a shame for him to die this way.' One of the nurses said.

'Tell me about it. He's so young; he had a lot of promise.' Another nurse replied, adjusting Rufus' IV. 'He would have turned the company around I'm sure. Shinra could have used some new blood at the helm. Now it won't happen.'

The more he heard the nurses, the more upset Reno became. He let go of Tseng's arm, entered the room and glared at the nurses. 'What the hell is wrong with you people!? You're talking as if he was already dead. In case you didn't notice he's right here and he's not dead. You hear that sound? That's proof that he's still alive.'

The nurses stopped their gossiping and rushed to get out of the room and as far from Reno as they could. Tseng followed behind him soon after and put a hand on the redhead's shoulder, lightly squeezing it, silently advising the Turk to calm down.

Looking over the people in the room, he stared at Rufus for a few moments, then addressed the physician. 'Doctor, could you please give us a rundown of the President's injuries?'

'Yes of course. He has severe smoke inhalation as well as internal bleeding, which, in addition to his back injury, has caused a significant amount of blood loss, which was the cause of the sudden drop in blood pressure and his heart failure. He also has a severe concussion and the x-rays indicate that his back is broken in two places in addition to a few crushing injuries in his legs. He is very lucky to be alive.'

The Turks fell silent, quietly absorbing the news. They knew that he was injured, but they didn't expect a list that included so many potentially fatal injuries.

Tseng sighed, 'What's his prognosis?'

'Given the severity of his injuries and his weakened state, he has about a 40 percent chance to make it through the night. If he manages to survive 8 hours, he would have a 70 percent chance of survival.'

'40 percent?' Reno shook his head, 'That's it!? He has to have better odds then that.'

'Unfortunately not, sir. If his heart wouldn't have stopped they may be higher, but with his heart and the rest of him this weak, those I the best odds. If his heart stops again, I can't guarantee that we'll be able to restart it again. We were almost unable to start it again this time.'

'How long before he wakes up?' Elena asked.

'He's in a coma right now. It could be days, weeks, months...it is possible that he will stay in a coma for a while. I'm sorry that I am unable to give you a more definite answer. It really is unknown at this point how long he will be in a coma or even if he will recover.'

Tseng sighed and slowly made his way to his charge's side. Taking Rufus' hand into his own, he rubbed it gently. 'I know you'll make it through this, Rufus.' He started, doing his best to keep his emotions under control. 'You're tough, you'll make it through. No matter what happens to you, I know you'll keep fighting.'