Rude peeked around the doorframe.
"Mr. President, Sir?"
The blonde man jumped, startled out of his reverie.
"What, Rude?"
"There's some paperwork the doctors want you to sign." He bald man said, entering the room.
"Ah, yes, of course." Rufus stood up and walked to the door.
He turned around. "Keep an eye on him." He said, gesturing towards the inanimate body.
Rude nodded shortly.
The President left, and Rude eyed the chair, before settling on the end of the bed.
"Hey, man. What's up?" he asked.
Needless to say, Reno did not answer.
Rude wiped away a small tear.
Rude had just been pulling out of the company parking lot when he heard the sirens.
He pulled over to avoid the ambulances, and watched as they parked beside the building. Several men in white uniforms ran inside.
A few moments later, they returned, carrying a body on a stretcher. The body's face was covered by an oxygen mask, and Rude couldn't tell if it was male or female.
He drove away.
Probably an intern, he thought. Poor kid.
When he got home there was a message waiting on his answering machine.
"Um…Hello, Rude. It's President Shinra. I…something happened to…to Reno. I'd really appreciate it if you'd…if you'd call me back as soon as you got this." His voice cracked on the last sentence, and the message ended.
Rude dialed his bosses phone number, a feeling of dread growing in his stomach. The phone rang twice, then someone picked up on the other end.
"Hello?" It was Rufus.
"Sir?"
He sighed. "Oh, Rude. It's you."
"Sir, what's wrong?"
The President took a deep breath.
"Rude, Reno tried to commit suicide."
The bald man dropped the phone. Twenty minutes later, he drove to the hospital. He had slept over for the last few nights, and his best friend still hadn't woken up.