And another chapter for you. Some swearing from Cid, so I'm increasing the rating to T atm. Still fairly tame though.

And I still don't own FF7, as much as I would like to. Several lawsuitswill cahnge this, I'm sure cackles madly

A Return to HQ

Later that day, Elena's phone rang again.

"Yes?" She asked, picking it up.

"Ah, Elena, I've got you two some transport." Tseng said.

"Oh, thank you Sir." Elena replied. Reno looked up from the couch he was sitting on.

"Is it the boss?" He asked. Elena nodded.

"don't expect him to be happy about it, though." Tseng warned.

"Sir?" Elena asked, confused.

"You'll know when he arrives." Tseng replied cryptically, hanging up.

"How useful." Elena said sarcastically, snapping her phone shut.

"We got transport?" Reno asked, not moving from his couch.

"Yes." Elena told him "But I don't know what!" Reno smiled.

"Knowing Tseng… something unexpected." He replied. "Come over here." He suggested to Elena. She sighed and walked over to Reno's couch.

"Lazy…" She muttered. Reno laughed.

"I am never lazy." He replied, taking her hand. Elena glanced out of the window. The sky was depressingly transport-free.

"Of course not." Elena muttered sarcastically. Reno shrugged and ran a finger up and down her hand.

"Stop it…" Elena muttered, trying not to laugh.

"Ticklish, are we?" Reno replied, pulling her down to a sitting position.

"Reno, no…" She replied without much conviction. He laughed and kissed her hand. "Stop it…" She mumbled as he ran a finger up her arm. "That tickles…" She told him, trying not to laugh. He smiled at her.

"Knew it!" He declared triumphantly. Elena sighed. Now she'd get no escape… A very loud noise from outside made both of them look up, then rush to the window.

"He didn't…" Elena muttered in fascination.

Parked outside was the Highwind.

"Flipping heck." Reno muttered as they walked up to the ship. Cid was standing by the door.

"Turks…" He muttered. "I'm only doin' this for a favour, you understand?" He told them. They both nodded. "Good. Now get your &£$# bodies in here before I change my mind!" Elena shot a look at Reno.

"Hmm… that's quite uninventive for Cid." Reno muttered. Elena shot him a look that said 'and don't you just know it'. Reno grimaced, remembering some of the more creative words he'd used last night in Wutai inn… they walked inside, on the lookout for any remnants of AVALANCHE, or, God help Reno, Yuffie. Reno felt that being beaten once in a day was enough.

"Right." Cid's voice came over the intercom. "I'm in a fuckin' bad mood so don't come near the bloody Cockpit, you hear?" They both nodded, not that Cid could see them. "Oh, and I've been instructed not to let Reno near the controls…" Cid then muttered something that sounded worryingly like 'not that I'd let that bastard near my precious baby' before continuing. "So don't et any funny ideas, sunshine." The intercom made a crackling noise and disconnected.

"Wow, so polite." Elena said sarcastically.

"You don't know him if you say it sarcastically." Reno muttered, thinking of times when Cid had been with the Shinra and had been having a bad day. Elena wandered over to the nearest window and stared out. The sight of the world rushing past never got old… well, not for her. "Nice view?" Reno asked, wandering over. "Oh… the sea. How interesting." He said sarcastically. Elena shot him a look. Reno smiled at her. "Hey, enjoy what you like." He told her, putting an arm around her shoulder and watching the view with her. He was quite willing to put up with endless sea if it got him some time in Elena's company.

"I always like watching the world go past…" Elena muttered.

"Sure, 'Lena." Reno replied. She smiled at him, happy. Reno was happy because they were finally out of Wutai!

"Home again…" He muttered. She nodded.

"Back to the shed." She replied. It was now, unchangeably, the Shed.

"I've got to have a go at driving this…" Reno muttered, talking to himself. Elena shook her head.

"Oh no. I actually value my life." She told him. Reno looked hurt.

"Are you saying you don't like my driving?" He asked, feigning shock. Elena laughed.

"Not really. Some vehicles shouldn't go that fast." She replied. Reno smiled good-naturedly.

"I try." He told her, and they went back to staring out of the window.

After a while they came to a halt and Cid stormed into the room, a cigarette in his mouth. Elena had a coughing fit.

"Take it… away!" She spluttered. Cid smiled evilly and blew a huge smoke cloud into the room. Reno stepped forwards.

"She asked you nicely." He told him, and unspoken threat in his voice. Cid laughed.

"Pretty pally with her, ain't you?" Cid asked, taking out his cigarette and stumping it out in a nearby ashtray, before sticking it behind the ear that wasn't occupied with the cigarette packet.

"What's it to you?" Reno demanded angrily.

"Please, Reno, don't get into a fight with him." Elena asked, still coughing a little from the smoke. Cid looked over at Elena, before turning back to Reno.

"Get the hell outta my ship." He ordered, walking off muttering swearwords under his breath. Reno waited until he was out of earshot before moving. He muttered something uncomplimentary about Cid before turning to Elena.

"You OK?" He asked. Elena nodded.

"I'm just a little allergic to the smoke." She told Reno, who immediately looked concerned.

"Let's get you off this ship, then." He stated, manoeuvring Elena along the ship with protests of 'no, really, I'm fine' all the way. As soon as they were out of range of the Highwind's engines Cid took off. Reno watched him go with a few comments as to what he thought of him, none of them good.

"He did fly us home." Elena pointed out. Reno shrugged.

"And do you like being here?" Elena shook her head reluctantly.

"More than Wutai for you, I bet." She pointed out. Reno nodded.

"I guess. We've got to see Tseng now, haven't we?" Elena nodded this time, and they walked into the building, to be greeted by a small group of recruits in the hallway, making snide comments. Reno gave them all murderous looks.

"Get the hell out of my way." He suggested. The unfortunate recruits looked up.

"Free country." One of them replied. He obviously had a death wish. Reno's hand strayed to his Nightstick.

"I suggest you consider my request." He muttered evilly. Several of the more intelligent recruits moved hastily out of Reno's way.

"No." Replied the mad recruit. Reno shrugged.

"Fine." He said, and hit the recruit over the head with his Nightstick. He fell to the floor, unconscious. "Idiot." He muttered, stepping over the prone figure and continuing on down the hall. Elena followed after him, shooting an apologetic look to the conscious recruits, who merely started giggling. When she caught up with Reno he was muttering about idiot recruits and what he was going to do with them. Elena sighed.

"You really don't like them, do you?" She asked. Reno shook his head violently, still muttering. They reached the stairs, and Elena noticed Reno was very careful going up them, even if he was still muttering threats. The memory of being stuck must be fresh in his mind… Elena tried hard not to laugh as she remembered. Poor Reno. He'd ruined his jacket! Although the aftermath of the event had been quite nice… Very nice indeed.

When they reached Tseng's office Reno stopped muttering immediately, throwing a look at Elena. She sighed and knocked on the door.

"Come in." Tseng called. Elena opened the door tentatively.

"It's us, Sir." She told him nervously. He smiled as they walked in, making both of them a little less nervous.

"Ah, good. That was rather fast." He commented. Reno shrugged.

"The Highwind's pretty fast, Sir." He replied. Elena just knew he was wondering if it could go any faster. Reno never thought about anything else when a moving machine was involved.

"Oh, so Cid agreed? Wonders will never cease, it seems." Tseng said, looking like he was about to laugh.

"Must've been some pretty important calls, Sir." Elena reasoned.

"Indeed." Tseng replied, not really answering. He glanced down at the papers on his desk. "Well, your mission appears to have achieved mixed success." He muttered to himself.

"The… target teleported, Sir." Reno informed him. "Either that or she wasn't there in the first place." Tseng nodded.

"How many were there?" He asked. Reno added it up in his head.

"Ten, not including the target." He replied. Tseng nodded again.

"So. How many were neutralised?"

"Eight, four by Elena and four by myself, Sir. Two of them were just Sleepeled." Reno replied. Tseng looked at Elena in surprise.

"Four people? You've really come along, Elena." Elena looked at the floor.

"I didn't mean to…" She mumbled. Tseng sighed. Elena's only failing was that she hated killing people. A Turk usually had to kill at some point. It was part of the job.

"Well, it's a start." Tseng sighed. "In general, well done. Rude'll be back soon-"

"Really?" Reno cut in. He'd been missing his partner.

"Yes, Reno, or I wouldn't have started to say it. Anyway, if this mystery woman turns up again I'll send all three of you. Just to be safe, you understand." Tseng explained. Reno and Elena nodded in unison. You didn't argue with the boss. Especially is you'd just interrupted him.

"Whatever you say, Sir." Reno replied. Tseng put his head in his hands.

"I'm surrounded by 'yes' people…" He muttered in despair.

"But Sir, you get mad if we argue." Elena pointed out, feeling brave. Tseng looked up at her, confused.

"Not all the time." He said, a little hurt. "Well, get lost, you two. I have paperwork to do." He glanced at Reno. "And so do you. And…" They had turned to leave. "Please don't hit recruits without warning me first. Dismissed." Reno groaned, and Elena dragged him out by his sleeve.

"How does he know that?" Reno moaned in despair once they were out of the room.

"Cameras." Elena replied. "Now come on!" She dragged him halfway along the corridor before he came to his senses and started walking.

"That's the reason I hate having damn briefings…" He muttered. Elena pushed him along the corridor.

"Come on." She insisted. Reno nodded.

"Yeah…" He replied, walking on ahead of her quickly so she had to jog to catch up. "Want to go out tonight?" He asked her. Elena nodded.

"To stop you drinking!" She replied with a smile. Reno shook his head.

"Just once, I'd like to see you drunk." Reno said. Elena shook her head.

"Oh no. I'm not drinking." She replied definitely. Reno smiled.

"Good. I like a challenge!" he grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the nearest door.

"Reno, I said I was coming!" Elena protested, trying to pull Reno's hand from her arm. He had a very strong grip!

"Don't want you changing your mind!" He replied, teasing her. She gave up and tried walking fast so he wasn't actually pulling on her. He pulled her out and to the nearest car.

"I'm driving." Elena insisted quickly, and got in the seat before Reno could protest.

"Fine, fine." He agreed, before walking round to the other side and getting in. "But you're really slow!" She gave him a look of disbelief before starting up the engine and driving into town.