Chapter 14: Seventh Heaven
She wasn't sure how she managed to get Cloud home. But she did, staggering under his weight as she jiggled the key in the lock until it opened and then almost falling in the door with him. She didn't know what was wrong but Cloud's skin was on fire and his eyes were – she thought – as crazy as it sounded, his eyes were glowing. And she kept thinking they looked – green at random moments. They were also absolutely unfocused and if he recognized her he hadn't given any sign. He was mobile – thank God – but only just and he'd almost tipped them both into ditches and walls quite a few times on the way home. He screamed 'easy prey' but for some reason the creatures that roamed between the sectors had avoided them and Tifa's literal snarl had kept most of the humans from bothering them. He also had – he had the oddest smell to him. Trash and sweat and sickness – Tifa was used to those. But – under that – he smelled like –
She thought he smelled like lightening.
"Almost there." She had been talking to him the entire trip and she wasn't sure if it was for herself or for him. With a heel she pushed the door shut and all but dragged him across the floor. "Just – " She looked upward as they reached the foot of the stairs in despair. But the only thing that was on the ground floor was the bar itself and the kitchen.
"One step at a time" she told them both and eventually they made it up the stairs even though they had to pause three times.
"Come on. My room's right here."
She'd originally chosen the room closest to the stairs because it meant that anything coming up them had to deal with her before it could reach the rest of her family but now she was just glad it was close enough to be convenient. Cloud was no lightweight and she could already feel her muscles trembling. Coughing came down the hall and her father's voice, rusty and aggravated, called her name.
"In a minute, dad." For possibly the first time ever, Tifa was glad he was bed ridden. She couldn't begin to imagine how she would explain this. With a last effort, she got Cloud into her bedroom and together they fell onto her bed. For a very long time, she just laid there, half on him, arms still around him. Physically shaking from the effort it had taken to get him here. And what seeing him – being afraid for him the way she still was – had done to her.
She'd have to call Yuffie.
But there were more immediate things and she started to straighten up only to find his arms were around her and – holding her. Despite herself, she buried her nose in his shirt for a minute longer. Then she drew an inhale of that strange, sharp lightening smell and wiggled out of his embrace feeling stronger somehow. His fingers trailed against her, unwilling to let go and under her his blank eyes blinked without sight.
"It's all right" she told him, resting her fingertips on his forehead. "It's all right now, Cloud. You're safe with me and I'm going to take care of you now. I'm just going to go get some water to clean you off a little."
He blinked again but if there was real comprehension she didn't see it. Leaving him there, she slipped in to check on her father. He complained because he'd called for her and she hadn't answered, ignoring the obvious clue of the fact she was still wearing her jacket. She apologized, got him something to drink, helped him prop up his pillows a bit more and then promised she was going to get him something to eat before going back to her own bedroom with a quick stop in the bathroom. Cloud was sprawled out the way she'd left him and she set down the basin of water and soap and towels, moving over to kneel down next to the bed.
She knew what a sick person looked like and it filled her with the old irrational terror. Sick meant you died. Not always but – in her chest – sick meant you died. Shaking her head at herself, she took off Cloud's boots. He was dressed like a Shinra trooper, except for the helmet and instead of the gun and baton, he had a huge sword strapped across his back – which had caused enough of its own problems when it came to maneuvering. She was sure she should probably understand something from that but at the moment she had other things to concentrate on.
He was starting to shake by the time she got most of his outerwear off of him and his sword was set against the wall – oh, Denzel was going to have a field day with that if she wasn't careful. Cloud's blue, sometimes almost green eyes had gone pale and hazy. She noticed scars on his chest. She noticed old needle tracks on his arms. They gave her a bolt of utter despair because she hadn't taken him as an addict but – they weren't new. Was he going through withdrawal? Should she have brought him home?
Except – she couldn't have left him there. Even the thought was almost impossible to form.
As best as she could she bathed his chest and shoulders, his face and arms. By the time she was done, he was burning up again and restless in her bed. Eyes burning aqua again and his fingers closed and opened convulsively on the bed covers.
"It's all right, Cloud" Tifa pulled the blanket up over him and settled herself on the edge of the bed, sitting next to him the way she did with her own brother. "It's all right. You're home now. With me. Tifa. I'm going to take care of you." His fingers paused in their motions and she reached over to smooth the shaggy blond hair back from his burning forehead. "I'm going to take care of you and you're going to get better. Better than better. You'll see. You're going to be just fine." He stilled as she talked and even though his eyes stayed sightless on the ceiling above, he seemed to relax just a little. Hesitant, she laid her hand over his and his fingers closed over hers in automatic reaction. A long exhale left him and his eyelids fluttered shut. But his hand stayed tight over hers and Tifa sat next to him and didn't try to leave.
She must have dozed at some point, sitting there just watching him because the next thing she remembered clearly was the downstairs door slamming shut and footsteps pounding up the stairs, her name being called excitedly. Sometimes it was impossible for children not to be children, even raised in a family with a dying man.
"Here" she called, glancing down at Cloud to find his eyes were still closed and he'd turned on his side at some point. Her hand, still in his, had become the center of the curve he was forming with his body. Automatic she reached out to test his forehead with her free hand as Marlene burst into the room.
"Tifa – " Marlene cut herself off, new book in her hand forgotten as she took in what was in front of her. Needlessly, because Cloud hadn't even stirred with all the noise she'd made, Tifa gestured Marlene to be quiet. The little girl approached the bed cautiously. Tifa was there so there was no fear in Marlene's eyes. It allowed the curiosity to shine through clear. Intent, Marlene studied Cloud's unconscious face as Tifa pressed a replacement damp cloth to his forehead and set the other one, now hot, into the water bowl next to the bed.
"That's Clash" Marlene stated and Tifa had to stifle a chuckle.
"Not exactly" she began and then Denzel was coming up the stairs, his own tread more measured.
"Tifa. Your cell phone has a message on it." Just as he stated it the cell phone began ringing. Her father yelled from down the hall about the noise and Denzel paused in the doorway in surprise as he stepped into Tifa's room.
"Toss it" Tifa told him and in automatic response he tossed her cell phone. She caught it with her free hand and flicked it open, noticing there were already several messages on it.
"hello?" she asked, at an utter loss who would be calling her and vaguely hoping it was Yuffie to explain things. It wasn't.
"Tifa?"
"Leon?" It wasn't his day to call and he sounded – winded.
"Tifa. I can't explain. Do you know a safe place in Sector Six below the Plates in Midgar? It's an emergency and we need somewhere quiet. I know this is crazy and I haven't got a right ask but – please."
Automatically, Tifa tried to cradle the phone against her ear with both hands but Cloud wouldn't let go of the one in his possession. Denzel and Marlene had both crept close but they were watching her instead of the sleeping man in the bed. Tifa looked at them – and made a decision.
"Sector Six is the Don's territory. Can you make it to Sector Seven?"
A short pause and she heard noise in the background. Unfriendly noise.
"Yeah. I think."
"Sector Seven. Three blocks in from Sector Six. The road with the orange stacked trailers. Half way down. There's a bar called Seventh Heaven. Brown building with a flat stone walk to its door. Its closed but the door will be unlocked. Go there."
"You're a life saver, Tifa. I think I just might owe you my soul. I'll call when I can."
The phone line went dead as quickly as it had begun and Tifa raised her head to look at her brother and sister.
"Denzel, go unlock the door to the bar but leave the 'closed' sign up. Marlene, there's soup in the ice box. Go bring it to dad. He was sitting up earlier and he should be able to feed himself. Then I want both of you to go to your rooms and make sure you've got everything you need in your emergency bags. Get them and bring them in here. Okay?"
They were too well trained to question the tone of voice she was using and instead they both nodded in tandem and bolted from the room. Tifa looked down at Cloud, her brows knitting. It wasn't the first time she'd made Seventh Heaven a safe house of sorts. It was just – she'd never had it happen so quickly before.
Quick she checked her messages and they were all from Leon. Hang ups. She needed to call Yuffie but the scrap of paper the girl had written her phone number on was on Tifa's desk under a pile of paper work. Tifa gave her hand an experimental tug but Cloud wasn't letting go. His grip was just short of bruising. Then it occurred to her to check him for a cell phone. Surely he'd have Yuffie's number in that. It felt – awkward patting down an unconscious man. Her search didn't find a phone.
She could hear one or more of her siblings in their room. The thumping of drawers gave them away. Pressing her lips together she looked down at Cloud and gently smoothed a hand over his forehead.
"You have to let go of my hand now, Cloud," she told him softly, stroking his brow. "I need to get my family ready. And call your sister. But I can't do that if you don't let go of my hand."
His eyes were shut but she watched them move under his eyelids and his pale brows stayed knit over them. His fingers tightened around hers for a long minute. Leaning down, she pressed a kiss to his hot forehead the way she had for numerous sick family members in the past.
"Let go, Cloud. I promise I'll come back."
She didn't know if he understood but his fingers reluctantly freed hers. She left her lips against his forehead a moment longer. Feeling – so strangely protective of him.
"Promise" she murmured against his skin and then straightened up. Denzel was standing in the doorway of her bedroom with large eyes, both his and Marlene's 'emergency' duffle bags in his hand. 'Emergency' bags Tifa had long ago insisted they fill up with everything they might need if the family had to leave in an instant. Life was – unpredictable down here and Tifa wasn't going to risk her brother and sister on optimism or naivety. Tifa leaned down as she walked past her brother and kissed his forehead too.
"Watch Cloud for me" she told Denzel gently. "Remember what I've told you. Anything goes wrong I'll scream and you take Marlene and go out the window and across the roof. She'll be your responsibility and you'll have to look out for her until I come get you at Aerith's church. Right?"
He nodded solemnly. Marlene was Tifa's ace of cards. If it wasn't for her, she was pretty sure nothing on earth would make Denzel leave if he thought Tifa was in trouble. She ruffled his hair just as Marlene came out of their father's room, looking worried. Tifa gave her an encouraging smile as the younger girl darted over to join them and put her arms around Tifa's waist. Tifa returned the hug.
"Watch after Cloud for me. Make sure the cloth on his head stays cool and he doesn't toss off the covers. Talk to him, he'll like that." Marlene was the worrier and so Tifa gave her something 'safe' to worry about. "If anything happens, do what Denzel says." Then she turned to her brother and told him firmly:
"Leave the sword alone."
It immediately drew his attention to the giant weapon he hadn't noticed before but Tifa thought that was a good distraction. She should call Yuffie now but she'd have to dig out the number and she wasn't sure she'd have time. Cloud would have to wait a little longer. Tifa's family came first. She shut the door to the room, creating the illusion of a safe haven at least.
She had less time then she'd thought because she was only halfway down the stairs to the bar when the front door jerked open and Tifa froze on the steps as three people stumbled in. One of the three was Leon and he shut the door immediately and locked it, stepping to the side to peer out a nearby window. The other two, a man and a woman, stumbled toward the corner of the bar. The woman wasn't walking under her own power. Without thinking about it, Tifa moved forward to slid a shoulder under the woman's other arm and help move her. The man all but carrying her jerked in surprise and the look in his eyes was just starting to shift to violent when Tifa stated:
"I'm a friend of Leon's."
It stalled the man long enough for him to shoot a glance at Leon who nodded even though he was frowning. Tifa ignored them both and got the woman settled on one of the benches. When she pulled back, Tifa found blood on her hands and arms.
"Monsters or guns?" she asked and the other man shook his head.
"Sword."
Tifa's thought immediately flew to one specific sword but she pushed the thought away.
"I'll get the first aid kit" she stated and strode to the kitchen. A first aid kit down here consisted of a great deal more than just band aids. Tifa also grabbed a bottle of hard liquor – the cheap kind – on her way out of the bar itself.
The woman's companion had her laid out and her jacket off. Blood soaked through the torn fabric of her shirt on her back and Tifa saw the dark crimson of deep wounds and the hint of white – possible bone. A gory gash ran from her hip to her opposite shoulder and Tifa was amazed the woman was even still breathing. Ignoring the men, Tifa tore open the back of the shirt. The blood was starting to dry and it made the fabric stick but Tifa soaked it with water and made sure she'd peeled all the fabric out of the wound.
"Hold her down," she instructed and two pairs of hands closed over the woman. Tifa handed one of them a piece of leather belt. "Put it in her mouth so she doesn't bite her tongue or teeth and cover her mouth so when she screams it can't be heard. This is going to hurt."
Leon did the job and his face was pale and set. And splashed with blood as well, Tifa noticed. But he wasn't dying and it was possible that the woman in front of her was so she focused on that. She'd have plenty of questions later though.
'Hurt' was an understatement.
Tifa uncorked the bottle and simply poured it over the wound. The woman wrenched, arched, and probably screamed.
"Do you have any healing materia?" Tifa asked and got silent head shakes in answer. Tifa had two. She hadn't gotten them legally. Or even possibly morally. But she had two.
And they were for Marlene and Denzel. End of story.
Once she'd finished pouring the bottle, while the wound was still numb from the shock of the pain, Tifa quickly threaded a needle she'd sterilized and sewed up the wound as best she could. It would scar. Tifa couldn't afford to take the time to do it neatly or with tiny stitches. But it would hold the wound together and that was what really mattered. Then she doused it again and the woman's response was much weaker. Tifa finished by slathering a thick, greasy salve over the wound and then pressed bandages down on it, wrapping them in place with others. She didn't think she breathed until she finally sat back on her heels and exhaled. The two men were staring at her.
"She needs to be kept warm. Not moved. I'll make some broth that will help her a little. She's going to get feverish and you have to make sure the wound stays clean or she'll go septic."
"You do this a lot?" Leon finally asked and Tifa found herself coughing on a laugh.
"I live right next to Sector Six." With a grunt, she pushed herself to her feet. Really feeling today catching up to her. Her eyes locked with Leon's.
"Are they going to follow you here?" At the moment it didn't even matter who 'they' were. Just if Tifa needed to get her family to safety or not. Leon shook his head.
"We gave them plenty to keep them busy."
Tifa really looked at him then and stepped forward to touch his cheek gently.
"You're cut," she told him and he raised a hand to his forehead. Drew his fingers back and grimaced.
"Yeah."
"Let me look at it" Tifa went back for the kit and moved to the kitchen to rinse off her hands. Leon followed her.
"Am I going to need the belt?" he asked with weary humor.
