Reno awoke to an empty bed and an aching arm. It hurt worse that it had yesterday. Sort of like how one only 'feels the burn' the morning after a good workout. Reno smelled fresh-brewed coffee coming from the hallway. Melina came towards him with a small tray of food for the injured man.

"Mmm, coffee." Reno would've much rather had a beer but he knew he shouldn't complain.

"And it's all for you. Here. Why don't you sit up so I can set this on your lap." Melina set the tray on his lamp table and moved over to him. Reno was attempting to sit up. He was in a lot of pain, but with Melina's help he was able to sit upright. "Oh Reno. You have bruises on your body." Reno's shirt was unbuttoned and she could see that his flesh was a canvas of blues and purples.

"Yeah." Reno sighed. Melina touched the purple on his chest.

"Do you have something in your medicine cabinet that I can put on this?" Melina moved her hand over to his left shoulder. Reno winced. Melina pulled her hand back.

"You've done enough. Don't worry about it." He smiled at her. Melina smiled back. Reno pushed some of her deep blue hair behind her ear. Then he noticed the bruise on her cheek. "What's this?"

"It's nothing." Melina shook his hand off.

"No. It's something alright. Did they do this to you?" He felt her cheek.

"Yes." Melina looked defeated. Reno lightly ran his fingers through her hair.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It's no big deal." Melina took his hand in hers. She squeezed it. Then they both heard Elsie's cries. "Oh dear. I'll be right back. Don't move." Melina ran to the other room and picked up Elsie and cradled her. The rash was still on her leg. Melina couldn't help wonder what the trio wanted Elsie for. And what did Kadaj mean when he said the girl would feel the earth tremble where ever she was? Did he have something to do with the rash? But how? It didn't make any sense. Melina knew she needed help. She knew she couldn't take care of two people, so she called Caroline.

"What happened? I haven't heard from you in a while." Cloud was on the phone with Reno. Reno told him about Melina and her situation with Elsie, but he failed to mention the trio. "Have you found out who the real mother is?"

"Nah. If Lina wants to tell me, she will. I'm not gonna ask." Reno had Cloud on speaker.

"I guess you're right." There was a long pause. "Oh you know who I meet up with the other day?"

"No. Who?"

"Guess."

"Look buddy. I'm injured here, don't make me play games." Caroline giggled. She could hear their conversation from the bathroom. She was looking for some ointment for Reno. Melina had left Elsie sleeping to see if she could find out more about Elsie's ailment.

"I've got a better idea. I'll bring her to your house this evening."

"Her?"

"Yeah. Reno, I gotta go. Talk to you later." And with that, Cloud hung up.

"Did he say who he's bringing?" Caroline spoke from the bathroom.

"Well you were listening to our convo. You tell me." Reno joked.

"Don't mess with me, mister. I have a jar of pain in my hands and I know how to use it."

"Oh great. You found it." Reno looked thrilled. "And he didn't say." Caroline gently removed Reno's shirt.

"The cuts are still open. Someone probably should've put some ointment on this yesterday."

"Well the only someone was Lina and she had her own patient." Reno grumbled.

"Oh Reno. Don't be jealous, hun. She has to look after the girl." Caroline tried to comfort him.

"She shouldn't have to. Elsie's not even hers." He sighed. "I wish we could find Elsie's mother. Then Melina and I could be together." Reno spoke to himself.

"Be together huh? The two of you? I knew there was something there. I've seen the way she looks at you. She admires what you've done for her."

"I don't want her to admire me. I want…well…I don't know what I want."

"I think you already made it clear, honey pie. You want to be together."

"No I mean. Well, Caroline, you know that I usually just want girls for a few weeks and then I'm bored."

"Yes, I do know that. And it's a bad habit. You'd better not treat Melina that way."

"That's exactly it. I don't feel that way about her. I want to be with her and spend more quality time with her. You know what I mean? How could you? I don't even know what I mean."

"I know what you mean. Now don't scream, I'm gonna rub this stuff into your shoulder."

"Rub what? Aagh! Geez! That fricking burns."

"I know baby, I know." Caroline patted him.