I apologize for the fast paced-ness of this chapter. I hope you enjoy it, as it is one of the last in this story.

The lights of Midgar could be seen winking in the distance, cold and sharp in the oncoming darkness. The air seemed to get thicker, foggier as they got nearer, even now, still a day's

reach of the city.

They'd travelled all day with the Chocobos, and were so close to their destination they could taste the city's stale air and smell the toxic fumes belching out of the reactors.

Even if it was a putrid smell, to Zack, it was one of the best in the world at that moment. It meant they were on the last stretch home.

_____________

Zack looked warily out towards the city, stopping his Chocobo and dismounting. Flint pulled up beside him, reining Fifer and giving Zack a questioning glance.

"Flint, you should leave." Zack said as they looked out towards the lights. "You know as well as I do, once you enter Midgar, there's no getting out."

Flint hesitated, but nodded. "I kept my promise." He said quietly, as if to reinsure himself.

Zack handed him the package, containing the vial of Black Mako. "You know what to do with this." Flint nodded, tucking the package away.

It was quiet for a moment.

"Well then, guess this is goodbye." He said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly, reminding Zack very much of a certain someone.

Zack gave him one of his genuine smiles, and to Flint's surprise, pulled him into a bear hug.

"Thanks for everything Flint."

Flint nodded. "I kept my promise to him." He repeated to Zack as he mounted Fifer.

"You know Zack, Angeal taught you well, but you're still just a puppy."

Zack smiled, almost blushing. "What about Fenrir?"

Flint smiled, Bringing Fifer up beside Fenrir and scratching the Chocobo's head.

"I was going to ask you to take him with you, but I have a feeling he'd only be a hindrance."

Zack nodded slowly.

"We need to continue on foot from here. We'd draw too much attention on a Chocobo." He handed Flint Fenrir's reins.

"Take Fifer wherever you're going, and set him free. He's seen enough of war."

Flint nodded slowly. He raised his hand in a two fingered salute.

"Goodbye Zack, take care of Cloud, and for Gaia's sake, be careful."

He said with a ghost of a smile, and took off, disappearing into the oncoming darkness.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Zack trudged along the road, stopping in the shade of a tall rock jutting out of the desert's surface.

It was probably the only place left to rest before continuing tomorrow by daylight.

He set Cloud down beside him under the cover of the rocks, leaning against him to share his body heat as the cold night crept across the sky.

He looked at Cloud, who looked thin and exhausted.

The poisoning was getting worse, and needed treatment badly. Cloud was growing sicker and sicker; the mako Zack had administered on the ship would only last so long, and the next

time, Zack knew from experience, his reaction would be worse.

____

It was quieter than usual without Flint there to keep him company, even though the man was stoic and distant at times, he'd always manage to crack a joke or two and keep the

conversation going.

"Even though I've got you for company, you don't talk much." Zack mumbled to Cloud who was snoring softly, his head lolling against Zack's shoulder.

He smiled gently at the blonde, shifting to lie in a more comfortable position on the hard ground.

Zack carefully lay Cloud on the ground beside him, using the pack as the blonde's pillow, and pulling his shivering body close to his.

He smirked again at the thought of an awkward Cloud lying with him in this position, though reasoning if he knew how low the temperature got in the surrounding plains of Midgar, Cloud

probably wouldn't have cared that they were curled up together like lovers.

Zack closed his eyes with a smile on his face, and let sleep take him, wondering why he couldn't get rid of the unnerving feeling biting at his fingers.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tifa looked up from the mug she was cleaning to watch the small TV above the bar. She'd closed up for the night, and had just finished cleaning up the remnants of a shattered glass and

a wasted drink.

A news reporter flashed on the screen, a grave expression plastered on her face.

"Six bodies were found yesterday in a small mountainside cave about two miles from North Corel. The bodies were said to be several days old, and have been identified all as SOLDIERS

that were patrolling the area in search of two escaped fugitives and one supposed accomplice."

Tifa perked up – Could one of those SOLDIERS be Cloud?

"Shinra refuses to identify the two criminals, but urges anyone who has seen anything overly suspicious to contact Shinra SOLDIER police squad immediately."

"This footage is not suitable for persons under eighteen years of age." Stated a deeper voice, and the screen switched to a line up of bodies, each covered in a white bloodstained sheet,

only the tops of their foreheads and hair showing.

Tifa scanned them all, looking for a shock of spiked blonde- but she didn't see one.

"The Second Class SOLDIERS were said to have suffered large lacerations over their abdomens and one body had a large hole-" Tifa shut off the TV.

Cloud is safe. She thought, letting out bated breath.

She looked outside where a searchlight flashed over buildings.

There had been several warnings of the criminals over the radio, and she'd closed the bar early, as an officer had stopped by, suggesting everyone turn in. Until the escapees were

caught they had issued a six o' clock curfew for everyone to return home for the night.

She put the mug away, taking off her cleaning apron and shutting off the lights.

She could hear the broken generator grumbling from the basement, and the steady drip of the leaky faucet.

She closed her eyes and sighed.

Tomorrow would be another long day.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

When Zack awoke, the stars were just fading from the dawn sky, and the sun was peeking over the horizon, soon to disappear amongst the storm clouds that had gathered in the once

clear skies.

He picked up Cloud, not even bothering to wake him, and they set off again, heading towards the dark shape of Midgar, hidden somewhere amongst the endless blanket of fog.

_________

Each step felt like a lifetime as he carried on, Cloud's arm slung around his shoulder, his feet dragging behind them.

After about two hours of walking, the sound of an oncoming truck accompanied their ragged breathing. He put his free hand on the hilt of his Buster Sword and turned, hoping to Gaia it

didn't belong to Shinra.

It looked like any old farm truck, with a small cab and an open back.

It slowed down as it came near, its ancient tires expelling a formidable squeal as they came to a stop. An aged man hung out the open window, a cigarette hanging off his lip.

"You an' yer friend wanna ride tuh Midgar?"

he asked, and Zack nodded his thanks, putting Cloud in the back of the truck and hopping in himself.

Zack sighed, propping Cloud up against the side of the truck and leaning against the cab.

"Hey, what're you doing once we reach Midgar?" Zack asked Cloud, listening as the driver fiddled with the radio station.

"Well first of all, we need to get you better." He said, folding his hands behind his head.

"Then we can settle down and start a business to get some money." He turned to the cab, where the driver had finally made up his mind on a station.

"Hey old man, what kind of business does well in Midgar?" The man turned to look at Zack in the rear-view mirror.

"You have to try everything while you're still young kid, there are so many things to do with your life."

Zack smiled, turning back to Cloud. "Okay, I'll have a business that does everything! No matter how dangerous or troublesome, I'll do it all, depending on the reward." Zack ruffled Cloud's

hair.

"Just joking. I wouldn't do a thing like abandon you." He looked at Cloud's dead eyes.

"We're friends right?"

He turned to the driver. "Hey old man, aren't we there yet? This old piece of-"

Chink.

Zack looked up, his heightened hearing picking up the sound of a trigger.

"Cloud!"

Zack pushed Cloud down just in time as a led bullet glanced off the truck's bottom. Wasting no time, Zack slung Cloud's arm around his shoulder and leapt out.

He gave a quick nod in thanks to the frantic driver, and watched as the truck sped away, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake.

Zack took the opportunity to jump behind a small cluster of boulders, dragging Cloud beside him and propping him up against the dusty surface. He could hear the steady beat of the

helicopter blades above, and he shielded his eyes from the dust it was whipping up as it flew by. The words SHINRA ELECTRIC were painted on its flank, and soon it was joined by

another, and ranks upon ranks of SOLDIERS popped up from behind the cliffs, readying their weapons.

Zack turned back to Cloud smiling reassuringly at the blond, watching as the corners of his mouth twitched, as if trying to return it. Zack gave a small laugh, despite the nervousness that

had begun to build in his gut.

That had been a Shinra helicopter that had shot at them. It could've belonged to the Turks even- people he'd once considered his friends. He took a glance from behind the rock where

hundreds of SOLDIERs were waiting.

Obviously, someone had known they were coming.

He thought back to those he'd met on the journey.

Barret, Nanaki, Cid, Shera, Denzel, Sen- none of which would've betrayed him.

He scanned his memories quickly, thinking back- I must've slipped- made a mistake somewhere...

His head snapped up as he heard another helicopter soar overhead to join the others, full of a squad of SOLDIERs, all equipped with the standard rifle.

One that he himself had taken up before wielding the Buster Sword.

He remembered now.

The SOLDIER he'd knocked unconscious on the ship- he must've warned someone- probably Heidegger, and then the president.

Though, despite the circumstances he was in now, he didn't regret letting the boy live.

He was only fulfilling his duty as SOLDIER, protecting his allegiance to Shinra. Any other honorable SOLDIER would've done the same. He reasoned, turning back to Cloud and watching him

sadly.

He ruffled Cloud's hair gently and turned away, walking out to meet the assembly of SOLDIERS that waited solemnly on the hill, their weapons aimed to kill.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Happy Thanksgiving everyone :)