A/N: Well, there's only one proper chapter left after this one. The end has really come quickly, hasn't it? Hmm. I always thought it would take a million years to reach the end of this story. At least I still have the sequel to amuse me! ^^
Also, I've added some A/N at the bottom as well because there's some more stuff I want to say but you need to read the chapter first. Enjoy!
The room was silent as Rex sat on his bed and tentatively prodded his stump of a left shoulder. It was still wrapped in bandages although he'd been told that today someone would be coming to take them off since the wound was almost entirely healed now.
It didn't hurt when he touched it, although it made him feel strange. For some reason he felt as though he was dreaming still and that this wasn't even happening to him at all. Thankfully that allowed him to stare at his shoulder and press against it without freaking out, since he half-believed he was going to wake up in a minute and find both his arms in-tact.
The door opened then, catching Rex off-guard, and he looked up like a child caught doing something wrong. A sigh of relief escaped his lips when he saw it was his doctor and not his psychiatrist.
"How are you feeling, today?" the doctor asked, standing in front of the boy with a calm smile on his face.
"Fine," Rex replied with a small shrug.
"That's good. Do you know what's going to be happening today, Rex?"
Rex nodded and glanced down at his left shoulder again. He'd finally get to see what it looked like without anything covering it. The thought made him sick.
"Are you ready?" Rex's doctor asked slowly, watching his patient carefully. "It's okay if you don't want me to do it right away."
"No, it's fine. Just do it." Rex shook his head and looked away from his shoulder again, taking a deep breath to prepare himself. As the doctor waited patiently, Rex then proceeded to take his shirt off. The bandage wound around his chest to keep it in place and would be impossible to get off with his shirt in the way. The doctor slowly nodded and then stepped forward, reaching out to take hold of the bandage and beginning to unravel it. It was a fairly slow process, although it was over in no time at all.
The doctor stepped back. Rex gulped.
There was a moment of absolutely no movement before Rex slowly turned his head to look down at his shoulder. His semi-dreamlike state vanished as his eyes landed on the healed flesh. It was real. He could see it.
He was shocked to see that its shape was almost flawless, curving around perfectly, and wondered for a moment if that was the effect of some materia which had been used. At least he didn't have to look at a deformed shape for the rest of his life.
"What do you think?" his doctor asked quietly.
"Um..."
Cautiously, Rex lifted his right hand and brought it over to trace his fingers over the new skin. It was so strange to be faced with the full reality of his situation and suddenly Rex felt his chest constrict. Letting his arm fall down again, Rex dropped his head and squeezed his eyes shut as the tears came.
"Hey, it's okay," the doctor said, taking a step forward to lay a comforting hand on Rex's right shoulder. "You can do this."
"H-how much do prosthetics cost? Please, just tell me! I have to-"
"Rex," his doctor interrupted. "I have something to tell you."
"What, now there's a law that no one under the age of eighteen can have prosthetics?" Rex asked bitterly, wiping at his face with his hand.
"I spoke to Tseng, the leader of the Turks, yesterday. I spoke to him about you." His doctor paused as Rex slowly lifted his head to look up at him. "I told him I thought you were doing well and that only having one arm would have absolutely no effect on the way you performed, should you still want to become a Turk."
"What did he say?" Rex asked anxiously, although he was trying to hide his emotion.
"He said he trusted my opinion," the doctor continued, now grinning. "He said he'd allow you to continue aiming to become a Turk even though, before our talk, he had been going to say no."
"Are you serious?" Rex gasped. "Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome," his doctor chuckled. "Would you be willing to listen to some advice now before I leave?"
"I guess," Rex shrugged again and waited.
"Well, I'd really like you to try your hardest to accept your situation for now and learn to do things with only one arm. Hear me out, please. Since you can still become a Turk as long as you pass the exams, I suggest you wait until then to think about prosthetics again. Once you're a Turk, ShinRa will pay for your prosthetics and the cost won't matter any more. Until then... Rex, I do believe you can adapt to this."
Rex let his doctors words sink in and looked down at his lap. Could he really wait until he became a Turk to get a prosthetic arm? It seemed like the only thing he could do, though, since the cost was apparently so large. Besides, he could take the Turk exam as soon as he was out of the infirmary! He might not pass straight away, but at least he'd be more prepared for the next time he decided to try.
Perhaps obtaining a prosthetic arm wouldn't be that far off in the future, after all.
Finding himself grinning, Rex looked up at his doctor. "Thank you, I'll try my hardest."
"I'm glad to hear it," came the honest reply. "Can you try to get along with your psychiatrist a bit better as well now, do you think?"
Rex chuckled and nodded, "Yeah, I'll try not to be so annoying."
"Good," his doctor said. "Then if you're alright I have another patient to see to."
"Wait a second," Rex said. "Am I allowed to leave too, now?"
"You'll be allowed to leave tomorrow," his doctor told him. "We just need to keep you here an extra day to see how your shoulder copes with being free from the bandage."
"Oh, okay. Thanks."
Rex shifted up on his bed so that his back was resting against the back wall and he glanced down at the books Davis' had left with him a few days ago as the doctor left. He didn't feel like learning anything now, but if he still had a chance to become a Turk he needed to make the most of the opportunity.
Picking up one of the books, he awkwardly positioned it on his lap and tried to find the page he was up to. It was difficult flicking through with only one hand but he was determined to succeed and managed to find the page fairly quickly.
Starting to read, he got through about ten pages before there was another knock on the door and he looked up, seeing Kayli enter.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" she asked as she approached him.
"I'm fine," Rex said with a smile. "Happy birthday!"
"You remembered!" Kayli laughed and moved to sit on the chair that was in the room, placing it right across from Rex. "Wow, your shoulder looks great. It's healed so well."
"Thanks," Rex swallowed nervously, glancing at his shoulder self-consciously before looking back up at Kayli. She was smiling encouragingly and it made him feel better to know that he had such good friends who didn't care that he only had one arm now. "Did Davis give you the present?" he asked then in order to change the subject.
"Yeah, I love it!" Kayli nodded enthusiastically. "It's so cool!"
"Gemma helped pick it out," Rex grinned. "She and Davis went looking for it the day you left on your mission."
"Really?" Kayli shook her head in amusement and then jumped as she felt something vibrate in her pocket. Pulling out her PHS, her eyebrows shot up and she laughed again. "Speaking of Gemma!"
Rex smiled and settled against the wall to wait as Kayli answered her friend.
"Hello?"
"Kayli! Happy birthday!" Gemma exclaimed and Kayli frowned at the tone of voice she was greeted with. Gemma sounded incredibly tense.
"Thanks. Is something wrong?" Kayli asked.
"Pup! He's going nuts! Is Rex around? Can I speak to him?" Gemma pleaded and then Kayli realised she could actually hear barking from the other end of the phone.
"Why did you call me if you want to talk to Rex?" Kayli asked, shrugging when Rex glanced up at her.
"To say happy birthday! Well also because you're on speed-dial and he isn't yet." Gemma sighed.
"Yet?" Kayli teased.
"Shut up! Is he there or not?" Gemma said, pretending to be angry.
"Yeah, yeah." Kayli passed the PHS to Rex and he took it, lifting it to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Rex! How are you?"
Kayli stood up as Rex said, "I'm alright, what about you?" and gestured to him to let him know she was going to wait outside. He went a bit red but nodded, watching her slip out the door silently.
"So what's up?" Rex asked then after Gemma replied with "Fine!" to his previous question.
"Actually..." Gemma paused and Rex heard barking. "I'm having some problems with Pup."
"What happened? Is he alright?" Rex asked, frowning.
"He's fine! But I don't know what to do with him when I'm not available to take him on walks. I still have other things to do but it's like he requires constant attention! What do I do?" Gemma asked.
"How am I supposed to know?" Rex chuckled.
"Well you gave him to me! Is there anything I can do to make him calm down? I've already taken him for two walks today but he won't stop running around and jumping on the furniture! My parents are going to kill me if I don't stop him somehow!"
"I had him for like, two minutes! I don't have a clue how to stop him!" Rex said, frowning.
"Didn't Zack tell you anything?" Gemma pleaded.
"Nothing." Rex said.
Gemma sighed loudly and then Rex heard a clatter, loud barking and then Gemma's faint voice yelling at Pup to 'stop', 'sit' and 'stay'.
"He doesn't do anything I want him to!" Gemma suddenly complained, voice right at the phone again.
"Well I can't help you!" Rex retorted.
"Have you ever had a dog before? Any of your friends had a dog? You have to know something I can do!" Gemma continued desperately.
"I don't! Okay?" Rex said, becoming frustrated.
"Absolutely noth-"
"Nothing! I'm sorry!" Rex shouted.
There was silence for a moment as they both just thought about what had happened. Gemma was regretting being so forceful and Rex was wishing he hadn't yelled at her. He sighed quietly and the silence stretched on, neither one of them speaking.
Not knowing what to do, Rex found himself looking down at his left shoulder and then remembering everything his doctor had told him about becoming a Turk and getting a prosthetic arm.
"Gemma?" he said softly.
"Yeah?"
"D'youwan'bem'girlfriend?"
Rex felt faint as he waited for an answer and hoped desperately he wouldn't be rejected. This was the first time he'd ever gotten enough courage to ask out someone he really liked. In the past all he really did was observe and appreciate.
"Um," Gemma laughed lightly. "You're gonna have to speak slower than that."
Rex closed his eyes and groaned. "Do you... want to be my girlfriend?"
"Oh my gosh! Yes!" Gemma suddenly screamed before speaking quieter and saying, "Sorry!"
Rex let out a relieved chuckled.
"Wow. I have a boyfriend," Gemma giggled.
"And I've got a girlfriend!" Rex added. "It feels so surreal."
"Tell me about it!" Gemma agreed.
Rex paused then as something came to the front of his mind and he looked down at his lap, frowning slightly.
"You don't mind that I've only got one arm, do you?" he asked, so softly that Gemma had to wait a few more seconds just to let her mind work out what he'd said.
"Of course not!" she said as soon as she realised what he was asking. "Rex, I wouldn't care if you had no arms!"
"Really?" Rex asked, shocked by Gemma's words. When she responded with a confident yes he felt himself relax again and smiled slightly, amazed that his entire day had turned great in such a short amount of time.
The two of them continued talking then and Rex's good mood only continued to improve. Rex managed to think of a few suggestions for Gemma to try in order to calm down Pup and after a few more minutes Gemma told him that there was success! It seemed all Pup had wanted... was to watch TV.
After they spoke a bit longer, Kayli re-entered the room and grinned at Rex, food hanging out of her mouth that told of her visit to the cafeteria. She threw him a bread roll and it landed in his lap. He thanked her with a smile.
"I should go," Gemma sighed. "I'm going to have such a big phone bill at the end of the month."
"Alright," Rex chuckled. "I'll talk to you later then. Do you want to talk to Kayli again before you go?"
Gemma agreed and Rex handed the PHS over to Kayli, who hurriedly swallowed so that she could talk.
"Hey."
"Hey," Gemma said. "Stay out of trouble, okay? If I hear that you've gotten yourself hurt or something I am going to hunt you down just so that I can yell at you."
"Uh, yes Mum." Kayli laughed.
"Seriously though," Gemma said. "Keep safe."
"I will," Kayli promised.
"Good. I'd better go then. Talk to you later!"
"Bye, Gem!"
Hanging up, Kayli put her PHS back in her pocket and then grinned at Rex who was now eating his bread roll.
"You look a lot happier than you did when I left," she commented.
Rex blushed and ducked his head.
"Are you gonna tell me what happened or do I have to sit here, blissfully ignorant?" Kayli asked.
"I asked Gemma out."
"Are you serious?" Kayli squealed, beaming and moving forward to hug Rex before stepping back again. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Thanks," Rex said, still a bit embarrassed.
"I bet that really made your day look up," Kayli said.
"Yeah," Rex nodded. "But guess what else happened today!"
"Other than the unveiling of your shoulder?" Kayli raised an eyebrow and Rex rolled his eyes before nodding.
"My doctor spoke to Tseng, of the Turks!" Rex exclaimed.
"Whoa!" Kayli gasped.
"Yeah!" Rex agreed. "And he said I can still become a Turk! Tseng was going to say no but my doctor told him he thought I could do it and that made Tseng change his mind."
"That's great! Davis mentioned something about you not being able to be a Turk," Kayli said. "I'm glad you can still do it, though!"
"Me too."
Kayli sat down on the chair again, feeling much more than just content. Everything seemed to be working out despite all the problems that had been encountered since joining ShinRa. She felt like leaping around the room and screaming out her happiness but decided against it. She'd probably hurt herself in the process and then Gemma would yell at her.
"Well," she said then. "Are you gonna take the Turk exam as soon as-"
"I get out? Yes." Rex finished, grinning cheekily.
"I'm so excited, now!" Kayli admitted, biting her lip to try and keep her joy contained. Rex just laughed at her and then she poked her tongue out at him.
"I get out tomorrow, actually," he said innocently, pretending he'd only just remembered. Kayli gasped.
"My excitement just doubled!"
"You're nuts, Kayli," Rex shook his head. "Hey, when are you gonna take the SOLDIER exam?"
Kayli frowned, only just thinking about that. The sooner she got in the sooner her brother's dream was fulfilled, but she wanted to make sure she was absolutely ready first.
"Maybe in a few days or something," she shrugged. "I think I'll wait until I've attended a few more lessons before trying."
"Sounds like a good idea," Rex agreed. "Don't worry, you'll get in."
"My dad said that too! But how can you be so sure?" Kayli laughed.
Rex hesitated before shrugging. "You're just so stubborn in everything you do! I mean, to start with you decided to pretend to be a guy just so that you could get into ShinRa. Then when you were captured in Wutai you managed to stay alive. I've seen you in classes and you always work so hard. Trust me, they'll want someone like you as a SOLDIER."
"Wow," Kayli breathed. "Thanks, Rex."
"You're welcome," he grinned. "How do you think I'll go with the Turk exam?"
Laughing, Kayli said, "You'll be great!"
"Are you sure?" Rex said, feigning worry and lifting his right hand to his forehead in pretend distress.
"Of course!" Kayli rolled her eyes. "But we'll miss you when you leave and join the Turk division."
"No you won't," Rex smiled. "The kid with one arm will seem like a distant memory once you're a SOLDIER, going out on a new mission every day."
"Oh, come here you idiot," Kayli shook her head, standing and pulling Rex up as well so she could hug him. "Thanks for being such an awesome friend."
Rex was shocked into stillness for a moment before hugging her back with his one arm, secretly thankful for the show of affection. He needed it after everything that had happened with losing his arm. The mission that it had happened on was so long ago and yet here he was, still trapped in an infirmary room. At least he'd be out the next day.
"You're a great friend, too," he told her honestly.
Just then, the door burst open and Kayli pulled back so that she could turn and see who had entered. Jinx stood there, eyes wide and mouth open so wide Kayli wouldn't be surprised if his jaw broke.
"Jinx, don't be an idiot!" she exclaimed, taking a step towards him. He stepped back quickly and raised his hands in defence.
"What?" Rex asked, confused as to what was going on as he looked from Kayli to Jinx and back again.
"Jinx is convinced that when I touch another guy it means I'm cheating on Davis. But that's not true!" Kayli snapped.
"I never said that!" Jinx retorted.
"No," Kayli agreed. "Jensen did."
"I'm gonna kill him!" Jinx growled.
"Would you relax? Cloud practically forced Jensen to tell. And I'm never going to cheat on Davis! Cloud and Rex are my friends but nothing more, okay?" Kayli folded her arms angrily.
"Are you sure?" Jinx asked, still wary.
"Yes!" Kayli said firmly.
"Does that mean if you and I become closer friends you're gonna touch my arm when we talk? Because I've noticed you do that a lot." Jinx said.
Kayli felt the situation was so hopeless that it was funny and she suddenly found herself laughing. "Jinx, I won't touch you if you don't want me to, okay?"
"Why are you laughing?" he asked, eyes narrowing.
"Because you're hilarious! Anyway, I'm going to go find my boyfriend again now so you can have fun talking to Rex."
Kayli stalked past Jinx, snorting at his lack of a Mohawk as she went, and continued out into the corridor to make her way back to her room before her first class of the day. Which, funnily enough, was swimming.
She smiled as she walked and began to hum. So far her birthday had been great, what with being let out of the infirmary, getting two presents and hearing all of Rex's good news as well. She wondered what the rest of the day would have in store for her and knew that no matter what happened, she was just happy that the beginning of the day had been good.
A/N: Alrighty. Firstly, I just want to say that when I started this chapter I knew it was going to be mainly about Rex so guess what I did? I wrote a whole page of this chapter with only one hand! AND I SERIOUSLY CANNOT BELIEVE I MADE IT THAT FAR! After that I quit because my shoulder was hurting, although I don't know why... sympathy pain? lol.
Anyway, also, when I wrote about Rex opening his book to read it I did also try doing that with one hand to see what it was like. So I completely understand Rex's pain right now (well, not completely... I'm not about to chop my arm off for the sake of getting authenticity into the story...).
Ahem.
The other thing I wanted to say concerns the sequel. See, I don't actually have a name for it yet. And here's my plan. Once the epilogue is posted I am going to be holding a contest for the title of the sequel! More details and stuff will be submitted with the epilogue, but until the contest ends and the title is decided, the sequel will be called 'Untitled' and there will be a link so you can go there and add it to your alert lists right away so that when I put up the first chapter, you'll get it right away! Yay!
If you're confused about anything, feel free to ask me any questions etc.! And a review would make me very very very happy =] No, seriously. It would. I love getting reviews.