A/N: Yay! I'm back with Chapter 14! The title of this chapter is in Hebrew, so for your convenience I inserted a definition of the meaning of Daath at the bottom of the chapter XD And I do know what I am talking about so no flames about it please and don't say I'm wrong, because I am studying the Kabbalah and how it is linked to Tarot. I got a 100 on my exam last week for that course! YAY!!! I am so happy on that... I was extremely hyper last night at around 10:00 p.m. my time, so I wrote another Oneshot, if anyone has noticed; called Geostigma. It's Angst... Get 5 glasses of Chocolate milk in me and hey, I can write Angst! XD That was my first Angst fanfic so... tell me how I did! I would really like to know please! XD BTW, I thought the title fit perfectly for this chapter. Have fun and please review! LOVE YA!!!

Disclaimer: Don't own it. Never have. Never will... (sigh)

Disasters

Chapter 14: Daath (Understanding)

Warmth filled every fiber of her being. She didn't know where she was and she didn't care. The important part was; there was no pain. Elena liked this place. It wasn't the Lifestream, but it wasn't hell either. Reno, Rude and Tseng stood outside the ICU, watching Elena and waiting for Rufus. Her life was hanging by a thread when they had brought her in and they almost lost her during the operation to clean her intense wound and stitch it. Reno was wanting to take the blame, but Tseng wouldn't let him because it wasn't his fault. Rufus spotted the 3 Turks standing in the hall, walking over to join them. Tseng and Reno were covered in blood, trying to stop the bleeding, meanwhile Rude didn't have a drop on him.

"How did this happen?" Rufus inquired with a narrow gaze at the 2 blood covered Turks. Reno stepped forward and spoke before Tseng could stop him.

"It was my fault, yo. If I was behind her, I could've watched her back and then this would never have happened..."

"Don't take the blame, Reno. It could've happened anyway, with it being so dark in that building." Tseng pointed out, refusing to let the redhead take blame. Reno shoved his blood caked hands in his pockets and looked to the floor. The pain returned, disturbing Elena's slumber, as she moaned in agony and moved to turn over, only making it worse.

Okay, don't move. She told herself, eyes fluttering open slightly to absorb her surroundings.

In the window, Elena spotted the 3 other Turks with Rufus. All of them looking melancholy. Reno turned to the window, seeing Elena watch him intently.

"She's awake,yo!" Reno pulled the other 3 from their sulking and before they knew it, he was in the room, skidding across the floor and into a chair. Tseng gave the redhead a malevolent glare, because he didn't get first dibs.

"Is that...mine?" Elena asked, nodding to Reno's blood stained shirt.

"You bet it is, yo. Tseng's covered too. We were trying to clot the blood flow..." He explained as Elena eased back into slight slumber.

"You should've seen that explosion, yo!" Reno pointed out, still not being able to get over the excitement of it all.

"I bet... it was great..." She said sleepily.

Tseng waited in the hall, watching Elena closely, as Reno left her side.

"She's sleeping. But, I think she wants to see you, sir." He said to Tseng, whislist leaning in the door jam. Tseng nodded, stepping inside the room and taking Reno's place in the chair next to Elena.
"Tseng..." Her voice was weak and full of drowsiness.

"I'm here, Elena." He said gently, moving closer.

"I...don't feel your hand..." She said quietly enough for only him to hear. They were partners and friends after all. Tseng looked out the window to see Rufus preoccupied in talking with the doctor.

"My hands are dirty, Elena... Caked in your blood."

"That's...no excuse...Tseng..." She said giving a slight laugh at his response, then silenced herself. That wasn't the reason, she felt. It was something else. Perhaps he didn't like her like that...

Then why did he kiss her? Was it all fowl play or was it that she was just in denial.

"I...won't...force you... You...don't...have to..." Sleep was threatening to claim her again, before Tseng could make his decision and take her paled hand in his.

"You're more than just a partner, Elena..." Sleep had already won her over when he said that. Somehow, it was easier to tell her the things he never could in the open, while she was asleep. Tseng took her hand, kissed her knuckles, then left her to sleep.

"I saw that, yo. So did Rufus..." Reno nodded in the president's direction. Tseng swallowed hard. Being with the Turks meant you had no personal life within Shinra. They had a file on you about everything. The only thing private was possibly the only subject about your sex life, but even that could've been on file as well.

"Let's leave Elena to rest. We can visit tomorrow. I want to know how she injured herself, from her memory. Tseng, I need to see you in my office." Rufus said, then turned down the hall. He had begun using a cane now that he was out of a wheelchair for good. It was unlike most, with a silver plated head in the shape of a panther's and the staff being of ebony. It suited him well, in the Turks' opinion.

"I'm heading home, yo. Got to shower and get some dinner." Reno stated walking in the same direction that Rufus went in. Rude followed, no doubt heading back to headquarters. Tseng leaned against the glass window. He turned to look at Elena, taking notes that she wasn't sleeping very well, because of her constant movement and letting out cries of agony as she did so.

He couldn't leave he like this. Tseng sighed heavily, walking into the room and to her bed, rearranging the pillows gently to her wounded body. Elena opened her eyes slowly to Tseng being right over her and blushed. He was so close to her and she couldn't find the words caught in her throat about how much she felt for him.

"Is that better?" He asked calmly taking a seat in the chair again. Elena nodded.

"Yes...thank you..." Tseng sighed heavily, yet again.

"We need to talk..." He stated, watching her reaction.

"If...it's about...the kiss... It's alright... I...understand... You...don't need...to explain..." Elena said quietly, feeling the burning of tears stinging her eyes. She knew how Tseng was. Stoic and expressionless. He hid his feelings about everything, placing barriers so no one would enter. Medicated sleep took her away from the real world again and forcing her into the dream world. Tseng wasn't surprised at Elena's lack of ability to stay awake. She was on Morphine and a good dose of it too.

"You don't understand, Elena... It's not what you think it is... Maybe I could find the courage to tell you face to face..." Tseng then stood up, planted a soft kiss on her forehead and left to clean up and later face the wrath of Rufus Shinra.

Daath: Knowledge/Understanding. The abyss connects the two Sephiroth Kether and Tiphareth on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. Below Daleth: The door; that connects the two Sephiroth Chockmah and Binah.