Chapter III: Kissed a Freight Train

Reno's eyes opened to blinding light and he groaned. The room slowly came into focus and he recognized the familiar surroundings of the medical facility ShinRa owned near Costa Del Sol. He also noticed the petite red head sitting in the chair next to his bed and smiled faintly.

"Cissnei?"

Cissnei popped her head up from the paper she was reading, folding it up neatly and placing it on the table between Reno's bed and her chair. "Reno?"

"Yeah. What the hell happened? How'd I end up here?"

"I called Tseng from the night club's kitchen. He came and picked up Tannon. Prostitution of his workers was enough to hold him for 'questioning'."

"Ugh. It feels like I kissed a freight train."

Cissnei laughed. Despite what happened, Reno was still Reno. "I think that might have hurt less. They beat you up pretty badly." Cissnei had moved to sit on the bed, closer to Reno. "Why did you do that, Reno? If I didn't call Tseng, who knows what could've happened. That was so reckless. You endangered the mission and yourself."

"I never expected to get this lecture from you, Cissnei. You must be taking lessons from Tseng."

Cissnei tried not to smile at his comment. She was furious with him. He jeopardized everything. Tseng had to cover up the mess. If he had just kept his cool, she could've taken care of Sal on her own. "I could've taken care of Sal on my own, Reno."

"Yeah? Is that before or after he raped you?"

"Reno, I'm a Turk! We're trained to handle this sort of thing."

"Cissnei, I couldn't let that happen. I know what I did was wrong. I know I fucked up the mission but I couldn't just let him treat you that way." Reno's face was now red from yelling and Cissnei took his hand to calm him down.

"Still, I'm glad you did what you did," Cissnei admitted. "Tseng wasn't too happy about having to take care of all of them but he did what he had to."

Reno smiled at Cissnei. "Glad Tseng took care of things. I'll have to thank him later."

"Save it, Reno. I doubt he'll want to hear it anyway. Besides, he's already back in Midgar. You and I are the only Turks left in Costa Del Sol."

"We are? Why did you stay, Cissnei?"

"Because…I thought you could use a familiar face to wake up to," Cissnei said, blushing slightly and trying to hid it. "Besides," she continued, regaining her composure. "everyone else had missions to attend to. Tseng wanted us both to take some time off."

Reno nodded, trying to sit up and being stopped abruptly by the pain in his sides.

"D-don't! You have three broken ribs, Reno. Sal saw to that."

"Heh only a pathetic man kicks someone when they're down." "Don't worry. Tseng flashed his ShinRa ID card and he ran like the coward he is. ShinRa now watches his every move. He won't be a problem anymore."

"Tseng didn't kill him?"

"No. He's too high profile for all that and that place was far too public. He's being watched…for now."

"Good. Hey, you think I could get out of here? I hate hospitals."

"Yeah. Tseng set us up at a hotel nearby. I'll have the nurse come in and help you get discharged."

Cissnei called for the nurse and she and Cissnei managed to get him into a wheel chair and down to the lobby. Everyone waved farewell to the Turks as Cissnei pushed him down the sidewalk. She hails a taxi cab and manages to get him into the back seat. The cab drives them to a five star hotel right on the beach of Costa Del Sol. She gets him back out of the cab and wheels him inside.

The room was the best suite in the entire hotel. Two bedrooms, a living room and a hot tub on the terrace. Cissnei didn't want to know how much this room would cost if it wasn't connected to ShinRa and she was confident it was.

She helped Reno to the bed and helped him lay down. She plopped a bottle of pain pills next to him on the night stand. "If you need anything, Reno, let me know. I'll be right in the next room."

Reno nodded, grabbing her hand before she walked away. Cissnei looked at him funny but said nothing. His eyes were fixed on her, intensity behind the gaze and it made her feel uncomfortable. Maybe it was the medication, but Reno was acting funny.

"Re…"

Cissnei was about to question him, protest his actions when he interrupted her. "You know, you looked really sexy in that dress."

"Reno, are you feeling okay?"

Reno shook his head, trying to shut her up. "You talk too much, Ciss. Can't you ever just take a compliment?"

"Ren…" Cissnei began but he placed a finger over her lips to stop her.

"You look good in that dress too," he said, noting the dark purple dress clung to her gentle curves. "I guess I just noticed that you're a good looking girl." Reno looked over at Cissnei again and noticed a red flush on her cheeks. Thinking he made her angry, he quickly apologized, saying he was just trying to be funny and laughed it off.

Reno released Cissnei's hand and she turned, cheeks still flushed from Reno's comments. She knew he was serious about him finding her attractive. His lame cover up attempt was proof enough of that. Not knowing what to think or feel, she walked away from him, making her way into the other bedroom and laying down.