Tengoko: Sorry for taking so long. I really got stuck on this chapter. Wasn't sure how to start or how to finish. Fortunately, I did know what I wanted in the middle, so I wound up writing that first, and then worked my way around it. Well, same old schpiel. I'd love reviews. They always motivate me. Also, I've planned a plot should I decide to write a Rude/Lavinia story. I can't tell you too much about it as it might spoil the end of this story, but, if you are interested in reading a sequel, let me know. Well, I'll shut up now and let you read. Enjoy.
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Rated M for language and romance
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Chapter 20: Luck
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"I've just called the president," Tseng said, as he jumped into the chopper. Rude and Reno turned to look at him, impatience ever present in their eyes. Tseng took a seat, ignoring that for now, and continued. "He wants me to order you to stay behind, Rude. Said that you were in no condition to fight. Also mentioned that if I fail to give you such orders, it'd result in my suspension." He laughed at that. He knew that Rufus wouldn't suspend him. There was too much work to be done, and Tseng was his most trusted employee. He might be a pain in the ass, but the president wasn't a stupid man.

"So, then what?" Rude asked, slightly annoyed. "I'm not leaving." He said it as though challenging his boss. His shoulders went rigid and, his eyebrows shot up.

Tseng chuckled. "I told you your orders, just as he commanded me to. However, he didn't exactly say what would happen if you refused to follow them. As long as my ass is covered, I really don't give a damn what you choose to do. But, if you're going to change your mind any time soon, you'd better do it within the next three seconds. Reno, take off."

Those words had been what Reno was waiting to hear. "About damn time," he mumbled. In moments, the chopper was off the ground, slowly ascending above Midgar. "Where exactly are we headed, Tseng?" Reno asked, glancing behind him. "I really would hate to think we're going on a wild goose chase."

Tseng smiled nervously. "Actually…"

"Damn it, Tseng!" he shouted, "you said that you had everything under control."

"And I do," he assured him. "You may depend on that. It's just, we'll have to hunt for a little bit before we actually…you know…get them."

"Great. Just when I thought my day couldn't get any better," Rude said, fingering the bandages at his side. It really didn't hurt anymore. Rude figured it had a lot to do with the healing power of the water, but at the same time, couldn't help but think it had something to do with Lavinia. He smiled against his will as he remembered the feel of her satin lips against his own. But, he quickly snapped out of it and looked at Reno. "Let's just hurry up and find him."

"Rude…" Reno began hesitantly.

Rude seemed to know where this was going, and curtly he said, "No, Reno. I know you want a piece of him, but I do believe I have more right than anybody to have the delight of killing him." Reno groaned, thinking to himself that if he found him first, he wouldn't leave him for Rude. He'd tried to kill Elena. If he ever got the chance, he was going to make Justus suffer.

"Why do you act like you've had a terrible day?" Tseng teased Rude.

"Well, hell, I don't know," Rude snarled. "Perhaps it's because I just got shot!"

"Are you going to keep holding that over our heads?" Reno asked, smiling slightly.

"I'm not holding it over your head, Reno. But, it's not like he just shot a pebble at me with a slingshot. It's a big deal."

"You've been shot before."

"Never in the chest, you ass!"

"Yes. It's all really sad," Tseng waved off, "but on the lighter side of things…you got a date…" He knew he'd embarrassed him. Rude's cheeks suddenly turned crimson, but before Tseng could capitalize on it, his cell phone rang.

"Damn, I don't know what's up with Tseng recently," Reno smirked. "He's been less…what's the word…anal." Rude laughed at that, but couldn't help but notice, that Tseng's demeanor abruptly changed. His face had paled, and his dark eyes darted towards Reno, his jaw agape.

"How long ago was this?" he asked, unaware that Rude was now listening to him. "Damn it! I told you to keep that fucking door locked!" he shouted.

"What?" Reno shouted, turning to face his boss. "She got out?"

"How the hell did that happen?" Rude asked.

Tseng ignored them, too taken off guard to worry about them just now. To the person on the phone he said, "well, I suggest you get your troops together and go after her. Keep me informed." He hung up the phone and slipped it into his pocket. "Turn the chopper around, Reno. It seems our littlest Turk has decided to take a little joy-ride via grand theft auto." Reno didn't say a word. He immediately turned around, but he couldn't help but notice that his hands were shaking. "I'm going to call Elena. She's not stupid enough to ignore a call from me."

Reno barely heard him. Oh Gods. She was going to find Justus. What if she got there before the rest of them? What if something happened, and he wasn't there to protect her? She could be killed. He felt as though he was going to be sick with the thought. What if she did die? Alone and afraid.

Rude's eyes traveled over in Reno's direction. And he saw something that he'd never seen before. Fear. The man had literally gone white, his face looked gaunt, and he could actually see him trembling. He couldn't believe he hadn't realized it 'til now. Sure, he knew Reno loved Elena. But this much? Nobody could have known.

"We'll find her," Rude promised, putting his hand on his best friend's shoulder. "She'll be just fine. Come on, Elena's been in worse situations before."

"Yes," Reno agreed, nodding slowly. "But…we've always been there to save her."

"And we'll be there again," Tseng said, putting the phone to his ear. "If she refuses to go back, Reno, I'll just have her rendezvous with us. We'll deal with her when we meet up with her. All right? Don't worry. Everything will be fine."

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Damn, her wrists were stinging. Looking at them, she still couldn't believe that she'd been able to free herself. Only a few months ago, she couldn't bear the sight of her own blood. Other people's didn't trouble her so much. There was just something about seeing the thick, scarlet colored liquid on her skin, drying into a maroon that served as a harsh reminder of her own humanity.

She smiled when she felt her phone vibrate in her jacket. She was wondering how long it'd take them to get a hold of her. However, when she looked at the caller ID, she became a little disappointed to see that it was Tseng who'd called her. Not Reno. Oh well. She really should have expected it. The troopers called Tseng. They'd have no reason to call Reno. He was second in command. He'd only have been contacted if they couldn't get a hold of Tseng.

"Hello?" she said into the speaker, her voice purposely innocent.

"Elena…you are one tough woman to keep in one place, aren't you?" he joked. She could just imagine him standing in front of her, his hands behind his back and his head shaking. "Next time I think I'm going to have to put you in a a cell."

"Hi there, Tseng. So, who's idea was it to keep me in that miserable motel room? Was it yours?"

"Actually," he said thoughtfully. "It was Rufus' idea. It seems your inclination to go against orders is a little too predictable. Even our president is well aware of your tendencies. Though, I must admit, you've outdone yourself on this one. One of these days, you're going to have to tell us how you managed it."

Elena laughed, surprised that he was taking all this so well. "I'll be sure to do that, Tseng. Maybe tonight, after all of this is over."

There was a brief pause, and then she heard him sigh. "So, I guess asking you to go back would be a waste of breath?"

"You guess correctly," she laughed again. "But, the thought was there, and I appreciate it."

"Damn it, Elena. This is not a laughing matter." Even he was amazed at his abrupt change. One moment joking, the next scolding. But, he really did have a point. Even she knew as much. Still, she wasn't going to let him get angry just yet.

"Then quit making me laugh, sir," she said, not able to wipe the smile off of her face. "Listen, these are the choices that I'm giving you. Either, you let me meet up with you guys and we go fight Justus and Havre together. Or, you tell me to get my ass back to the motel, I ignore you, and find them on my own."

"Rude was right about you. Too damn lippy. Can you believe this?" Elena rolled her eyes, knowing that he was now talking to somebody else. "She's giving me an ultimatum. She's growing too damn bold. I blame you, Reno. She wasn't like this before." She heard a low voice, a voice she was very familiar with, and smiled. His voice warmed her heart, and she smiled just thinking about him. "All right, Elena. You leave me with little choice. Where are you?"

"It doesn't matter. Just tell me where to meet up with you, and I'll get there."

Another pause. Probably asking Reno and Rude where they thought they should meet up. "Elena. Go back to Reno's apartment. We'll meet you on the roof."

"Why there?" she asked, now mapping out in her mind the quickest route.

"Justus doesn't know where he lives," Tseng answered quickly. "So, If, in the unlikely event, you manage to beat us there, we don't have to worry about you being in danger."

"Aw, Tseng. You do care."

"Shut up, Elena," he muttered. "Just get there."

"Oh, Tseng…do me a favor."

"What's that?" he asked, his voice getting smug again.

"Tell Reno that I'm sorry. And that…I do believe him. Tell him, that I love him."

Tseng chuckled and then sighed. "Okay. I'll do that. As long as you don't ask me to give him a kiss for you, too."

"Well…" she thought aloud.

"I draw the line there," he snapped, thinking she was serious. Chagrined, Elena's laughter filled his ear.

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Ten Minutes Later
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He knew it was only a matter of time. Even as he watched her now, he couldn't believe how easy it had been. And she was alone. No Reno. Nobody to save her…again. For a moment, it seemed too good to be true. Why would Shin-Ra let her be by herself? But, after inconspicuously following her for the past five minutes, he'd determined that, yes, she was very alone. And very, very vulnerable.

"Are you sure this isn't a trap?" his partner asked, eyeing her warily. He'd asked that question at least four times now. Each time just as annoying as the time before. "I mean, I've said it before. Turks rarely ever travel alone."

"No," he shook his head. "She's alone. Stupidly so, but alone nonetheless."

"Then, what are we waiting for?" Havre asked, watching as Elena walked towards the entrance doors and disappeared into the building. Just seeing her made his blood boil. She'd been allowed to live too long. After everything that she'd done, the fact that she was still going unpunished irritated the hell out of him.

"We aren't," Justus answered, getting out of the car he'd parked across the street. "Come on, Havre. Hurry!"

He wasted no time. Halting the car in the road, he ran in front of it, and with extraordinary speed, made his way up the stairs, passed the revolving doors, and through the lobby. He saw her, standing in the elevator, looking down at her feet, completely oblivious to everything around her. Stupid. As a Turk, she should have known better. The door started closing. He ran faster. Elena looked up, a look of horror took her face.

But it was too late to do anything about it. He put his hand in front of the door, causing it to open back up. And then he entered, backing the petite blonde into a corner, a glint of triumph present in his eyes. Behind him, he heard somebody else enter the elevator, and then the door closed.

"Hello, Elena. Sorry to have missed you earlier."

"Justus," she gasped. Oh Gods. How the hell had this happened. They were supposed to find him. He wasn't supposed to find her. She closed her eyes, trying to supress the anger she was feeling. Her battle was about to end before she'd even begun to fight it. It couldn't end this way. Not yet. Not when she was just beginning to enjoy living again. "How did you…?"

"It was luck," he smiled, putting a rough hand behind her neck. She struggled against him, but he was too strong. She cursed. How was it that, lately, all these men were making her feel so damn weak? "Havre, stop the elevator. We have much to discuss with Elena."

The car stopped with a jolt, causing Elena to stumble forward into his arms. "Please," she pleaded, trying to push away from him, but he held her against him.

"Now, this is familiar," he said, running his fingers through her hair. "You know, if nothing else comes of this, Laney, at least it's good to know I took something from you that you could never get back." His cruel laugh turned her stomach as unwanted images of him and her returned. "And, believe it or not, it will always hang over Reno's head. He'll never forget it. My memory will prevent whatever happily ever after you've dreamed up."

"Your memory?" she spat. "Don't, for one second, think that you have that much influence on Reno. Or me. A memory is all you'll ever be. And soon, I'm sure I'll be able to completely forget about you."

"Yes," he nodded. "I've no doubt. Dead people tend to do that."

"Well, get on with it then," she said sadly, her thoughts now on Reno. Tears came to her eyes, but she refused to cry. Not in front of him. he'd probably take too much pleasure from it. "Kill me."

Justus chuckled and shook his head. "I'm not stupid, Laney. I know what will happen when I kill you. Reno and the whole of Shin-Ra will make it their personal mission to avenge your death. And while Shin-Ra doesn't scare me…"

"Reno does," she smiled with pride. "Yes. It scares you because he loves me. you know if you kill me, it seals your own fate."

"He certainly does pose a problem," he agreed, his smile gone. "So, I've got one choice, Elena. So, it seems you get to live a little while longer. I can't kill you…until I kill Reno first."