Here's the next chapter. I was planning on releasing 3 chapters at once, but I had computer problems so here's two only sorry. Please review people.

Chapter 9: The Family Man

Unbeknownst to Rufus Shinra two pairs of focused eyes watched him carefully from a few yards away. For the past week Shelke and Red 13 had been on a stakeout observing the actions of Rufus Shinra. As Shelke sat on the edge of the cliff overlooking Rufus' office she sighed as she laid down her binoculars. For the past week there had been nothing, no activity, no sigh of wrong doing, all Rufus did was sit at his desk sighing papers. The worst thing Shelke had observed him doing was the one time he picked his nose. Red 13 yawned as he laid curled up in a sleeping position next to Shelke he had long since given up on watching the activities of the seemingly innocent Rufus. Shelke checked her watch, the time had come for her next report to Denzel to be sent in.

"Denzel come in, this is Shelke reporting in!" whispered Shelke into her communicator

"Yeah Shelke I'm here! What's the situation?" asked Denzel on the other end

"There's still no activity, we've been monitoring him ever since the NECRO WEAPON incident and there is still no sigh of involvement." Replied Shelke

"Very well spend just one more hour……then report back in to headquarters." Sighed Denzel

Denzel rubbed his temples as Shelke signed out and went back to her observations. He had been head of the WRO for only two days, but everything already seemed to be falling apart. The pieces of the NECRO WEAPON puzzle still didn't fit, everyday Rufus seemed to become more and more of a saint, and to top it off his brother and the reclusive John Valentine were still missing. Denzel didn't know what to do, he sighed once more as he went over the NECRO WEAPON reports for the hundredth time.

Everything seemed to point to accident as Rufus alluded to, however two things still stuck out, still not making sense. One the excavated manufactured mastered materia from Mt. Nibel remained unexplained and there was still no cause or reason for the incident at Lucrecia's cave. Denzel mulled over these facts once again what did these two things have to do with NECRO WEAPON? Denzel rubbed his temples once more as he stared at his desk clock it was about 8:00 p.m. Denzel looked out of his office window at the twilight almost looming toward the darkness of night. Denzel started to close up shop as he packed away the case files into his brief case, he looked over some of the notes on his desk, he groaned. He still had about a hundred financial records to go through tomorrow. Denzel rolled down his sleeves slipped on his suit jacket and headed out the door for the parking lot.

It was about half an hour later when Denzel got home, he opened the door quietly so as not to disturb his wife should she be asleep.Denzel placed his brief case in the hallway then headed for the kitchen, on the counter were some pork chops and mashed potatoes. Denzel put them in the microwave then grabbed a beer from the fridge. He sighed heavily as he took a few sips of beer, his eye then caught notice of the answering machine that signaled he had two unanswered messages. Denzel pressed the button as he took another sip of beer.

"Denzel! It's Reeve I just wanted to know how you were doing. I've heard that you're doing a great job of being the head of the WRO. If there is any you need or any questions you might have call me. See later!" stated Reeve cheerfully

"Denzel It's Mom, I just wanted to say that I'm so proud of you honey and keep up the good work. Anyways…….Your brother is still missing, your father has looked every where. Lucy keeps stopping by to ask questions and look around for him…..the poor dear she so worried about him…..and with her brother missing she's going through a tough time. Please honey if there's anything you know about Alex please call us, we're worried, bye!" Stated Tifa sadly

Denzel sighed once more as he gulped down the last of his beer, he tossed the bottle into the trash then lowered his head as he stood over the counter solemnly. Suddenly Denzel felt two warm slender arms wrap around his waist lovingly from behind. Denzel grinned slightly as he turned around to stare directly into the eye of his beautiful wife Marlene.

"I thought you were asleep?" chuckled Denzel

"I was….until I realized you were home. Penny for your thoughts?" said Marlene lovingly

"Everything is just getting so stressful, the WRO is in a panic and to top it off my brother and his friend John are still missing." Sighed Denzel

"Don't worry about I'm sure their okay…they just need to….work things out." Replied Marlene warmly

Denzel stared deeply into Marlene's eyes as his head lowered towards hers for a passionate kiss. He then wrapped his arms around her pulling her close and she melted into his hug. He may have and one crazy day, but coming home to her made everything worth wild. Denzel lovingly lifted her into his arms as she started giggling wildly. He gave her one more kiss as he ascended the stairs toward their bedroom.

"Are you sure you can carry me up the stairs?" laughed Marlene

"Baby do you know who I am? I'm Denzel Strife." Stated Denzel coyly

"But I'm five months pregnant!" protested Marlene

"Yeah but you feel light as a feather in my arms!" replied Denzel as he kissed Marlene once more

The two then ascended the stairs laughing, Denzel forgetting all his problems at least for the moment. The next day Denzel was once again at his desk swamped by a mountain of paperwork, suddenly the intercom on his desk crackled as his secretary alerted him to his father awaiting him. Denzel gave the signal to let him in as he put down his pen. Cloud walked into the room and hugged his son as Denzel stood up to greet his father.

"How's my boy?" asked Cloud happily as he took a seat in front of Denzel's desk

"Not that great Dad. It's…..really stressful." Replied Denzel

"I'm sorry to hear that is there anything I can do to help?"

"Not really Dad, I got things handled….for the moment…….I think."

:Is there any word about Alex?"

"No….nothing I've sent people out to look for him, Lucy's been frantically searching everywhere….but you know how crafty he is."

"Yeah…I know, who do you think taught him?" smirked Cloud

"I know exactly who taught him…I was there."

"I know you were…..I'm worried about you….Your mother is worried about you."

"Seriously I got it dad, it's just…….I got a lot of things on my mind."

"Oh! Like what?"

"Dad….How did you do it? How did you manage to be, you know……A dad?"

"Wondering if you're going to be a good dad huh?"

"Exactly, I just can't help but wonder. In a few months Marlene's going to give birth to a new life… a child…..my child…our child. I have no doubt that Marlene will be the perfect mother, but what kind of dad will I be? How did you do it?"

"I don't know if I'm exactly the person you should be asking Denzel, no offense, but parenthood kind of fell into my lap…and I didn't really respond to it in the right way at first. The way things have turned out with Alex I might just have to consider myself a failure as a dad."

"You were a great dad….Alex just has some things he has to work out."

"Well, Denzel I guess your right, but to the best of my knowledge no one really knows exactly what kind of parent they'll turn out to be. All you gotta do is your best, and hope that things work out."

"Thanks Dad!"

"Anytime!"

The two men chuckled lightly as they looked at one another.

"Keep doing a good job, son!"

"I'll try….I'll try."

An hour later Cloud had left his son's office, Denzel had put aside his mountain of paperwork to focus on finding his missing brother. Denzel had made phone call after phone call, but yet no leads had turned up. Denzel sighed as he hung up the phone for the last time.

"Having a little trouble are we?" came a familiar voice from behind him

"I don't remember inviting you in Rufus." Stated Denzel boldly

"Tsk tsk, I'm offended really after all I haven't been spying on you for at least two weeks." Stated Rufus smoothly as he walked in Turks at his side

"So you knew, did you set yourself up to luck perfect because you knew we were watching?" retorted Denzel

"Oh please you give yourself too much credit. We only found out yesterday when Michael here caught that girl and dog spying on us from the hill near our building."

"So why are you here?"

"I just wanted to let you know about the new kids program I'm setting up….I just thought you'd like to know."

"Funny Rufus, but don't take me for a fool."

"Fine, fine young Strife I just wanted to tell you face to face, man to man that I have nothing to hide."

"Is that all?"

"I only thought it honorable that at least one of us be upfront about our motives, good day." Retorted Rufus as he sat up and walked over to his Turks

"Hey Rufus where did you find these bunch of goons?" smirked Denzel as the silent Turks gave him a death glare

"Now, now be kind good help is so hard to find sometime you just have to make your own opportunities." Replied Rufus

"Whatever!" snorted Denzel

After Rufus had left Denzel sat in his seat for a while mulling over Rufus' words, something just didn't sit right. Suddenly Denzel smiled as he hatched a brilliant idea. He pressed down on the intercom as he signaled to his secretary.

"Can you please get me Reno's number?" smiled Denzel

An hour later Denzel was sitting at a booth at a nearby diner, It was right around lunch time so the place was fairly packed. Denzel had just ordered himself an ice tea when he saw the familiar red haired ex-Turk walk his way and sit down in front of him. Reno slumped down into his seat as he smirked at Denzel.

"So kid, to what do I owe this little get together?" smirked Reno

"I just wanted to talk to you Reno….how ya doing?" asked Denzel casually

"Cut the bull, what's this about. I know you wouldn't call me unless you wanted something." Retorted Reno

"Fine….I'll get to the point. What do you know about Rufus' new Turks?"

"Oh THOSE guys! We serve Rufus faithfully for years and just about two years ago he fires us all and hires these new guys with not one bit of warning."

"Do you know anything about them?"

"Heh, no one dose. They just came out of no where, we tried to do some digging on them, but there was nothing, It's like they never existed before two years ago."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah!"

"Any ideas where they came from?"

"No clue?"

"Thanks for your time."

"Sure thing……….Oh and one more thing."

"What?"

"I heard some rumors of this really pissy emo guy hanging around the bar in Costa Del Sol, just knocking back the beers and getting into all sorts of fights."

"Is it Alex?"

"Naw, I think it's the other one…..that Valentine kid, you wanna…….I don't know check it out."

"Thanks, see ya!"

"Yeah see ya around."

Reno then got up and headed out the door as Denzel sighed and pulled out his cell phone and quickly dialed in a number.

"Lucy it's Denzel….I think I know where John is." Stated Denzel

Meanwhile as Reno left the diner he walked out into the parking lot unaware that one of Rufus' new Turks was watching his every move. The Turk picked up his phone and called Rufus.

"Sure Reno has just left the diner where he just finished talking to the Strife kid." Stated the Turk gruffly

"Deal with him." Replied Rufus on the other end

The Turk nodded in agreement as he began to follow Reno in secret. An hour later Denzel found himself in Edge City as he swung by the Seventh Heaven Bar, there he was greeted with a hug by his mother who welcomed him into the bar. Denzel was surprised to find Shelke and Red 13 in the corner booth as his mother went to fix up some snacks and drinks Denzel sat by them.

"Have you found out anything?" asked Red 13

"Yeah, Rufus' new Turks have a…..questionable past, apparently they came out of nowhere." Replied Denzel

"Then we must investigate." Stated Shelke

"It's no use, there's no info on them. What we need to focus on is…putting the piece we do have together. What do the mastered materia, Lucrecia's cave and these mysterious Turks have in common?"

"That's the real question." Stated Red

"Oh Denzel one more thing." Stated Shelke

"What?" asked Denzel

"I don't know if this helps, but Alex has been sighted in the area near the old abandoned church." Stated Shelke

"Really? Don't tell my mother let me deal with this one…on my own….please?" asked Denzel

"Sure!" smiled Shelke

Denzel quietly slipped out of the bar as he jumped into his car and headed for the old church. He got out then slowly made his way inside, much to his disappointment it was deserted. Denzel investigate the church for any signs, but came up with nothing. He slumped down on to one of the rotting pews and sighed, suddenly Denzel noticed something in the corner of his eye as he reached down to grab it he noticed that it was an old photograph. The photo was of Denzel, Alex, Cloud and Tifa together as a family when they were younger. Denzel reminisced over the good time his family had shared, Denzel folded up the photo and placed it in his pocket as he smiled and ran out of the church toward his car. As he drove away the ghostly figure of Aerith smiled at him as he headed off in search of his missing brother.

Next Chapter: The Aviators