A/N: SO sorry about the delay, I was busy doing other things. but now you have it. This was origanlly supposed to be two chapteres, but i decided to merge them together.

Disclaimer: I don't Own Crisis Core, only my OC and the plot line.

Genesis, Angeal and Sephiroth all sat outside of Hollander's office. Actually, Genesis was pacing, Angeal was trying to figure out how she had lived and Sephiroth had been replaying every detail of the incident. "You all can come in now," all heads snapped up at Hollander's voice.

They walked in and Hollander sighed, "How did she survive?" Angeal asked.

"The Mako at the bottom of the reactor was coming up at tremendous speed. Combining that with the speed of Kaci's momentum and her Mako reacting with what it had already touched, the Mako at the bottom acted as a cushion. Had she not been infused with Mako she would've died," Hollander explained.

"What are her injuries?" Sephiroth asked.

"Bruising, no broken bones, maybe a few ribs, but if so they must've already healed. And of course, Mako poisoning."

"Mako poisoning?" Genesis questioned.

"Yes, some of the Mako in the reactor sealed within her body and has overflowed the veins the Mako has made previously. We have her on antibiotics to help the extra Mako leave her system. When you do see her, don't be alarmed that some the prominent veins in her elbow, wrist, and ankles may look a brighter shade of bluish green, its temporary." The three Firsts nodded and were led into a room.

Hollander left them as their eyes scanned the bed. Kaci looked so tiny bundled under the blankets. The dark purple bruising was evident on the sides of her face and on her arm. The arm not under the blanket had an IV drip attached and the veins all long her arm stood out against the skin. The three took seats around room and waited. What they were waiting for we could guess.

Sephiroth closed his eyes and the feeling of her hands slipping from his was all he could feel. All he could think about. He knew he couldn't fix anything know but maybe there was some sort of noise that could've alerted him to the presence. But there was nothing.

"It's no wonder your mother left you." The last words he spoke to her. And know Kaci lay possibly dying and Genesis was miserable. She was right, I am arrogant. Why didn't I just accept her apology? When she wakes up I'll make it up to her. Genesis determined. He would make it up to her; Kaci had to wake up now.

Angeal didn't know what to feel. He wanted her to wake up as much as the others, but he didn't have one feeling to hold on to. Instead he went through everything they'd been to. He remembered when he had met Kaci.

She and the other Thirds were just about to get their Mako injection. As Firsts, Genesis, Sephiroth, and he had to be present. They witness the screaming of the boys and watched them stagger out. One caught his eyes, having blond hair pulled into a ponytail, he looked at the figure and that determined it was a girl. He questioned that a girl could ever be in SOLDIER but she must've been pretty good to get in. when she was called for the injection Angeal braced himself for the female screams. Instead all that was heard was a small cry of pain. When the blonde girl came out her hand rested on the doorframe before she pushed herself off. She then ran into Angeal, "Oh, my apologies, sir," Angeal thought he recognized something about her eyes.

"It's alright, cadet." He told her. The girl nodded and went to sit down.

Angeal prayed that Kaci recovered. She couldn't give up know, he knew how painful the Mako injection was and the girl who only gave a small cry couldn't die now.

The three looked up at the sound of the door. Rufus Shinra entered and stared at his daughter for three seconds. He stood in the doorway for three seconds before leaving. Something in each of them felt awful for Kaci. Her own father hadn't stayed. He hadn't even seen her up close.

Each one was determined to stay with her until she woke up.

Neither of the Firsts knew that they would spend three weeks in the room. A few conversations were struck up, all about Kaci, but mostly silence. They would leave to sleep, rarely, or eat, but one was always with her. All were reluctant to leave her.

Lazard stepped into the room, "How is she?" the Director had come to see the Kaci a few times before.

"The Mako poisoning is better, but still no change," Sephiroth answered.

"Hmm. Nevertheless we need this done."

"Need what done?" Angeal asked.

"I need two of you to go on a mission for me. Angeal and Genesis, can you be spared?"

You could see the reluctance in each; "Of course Director," apparently Angeal's honor over ruled his personal feelings again.

"Good. Genesis?" Lazard turned to the red head.

"Why not. She'll be fine with Sephiroth." Genesis turned to the general, "Watch her won't you?"

"I doubt I could be dragged away from her Genesis," Sephiroth answered. Lazard chuckled, but the other two knew just how right he was.

As the night progressed no change occurred in Kaci. Sephiroth alternated between watching her and watching the IV drip. The nurse entered the room to re-fill the IV, "I'm going on my break, if she wakes up and has any loss of memory or headache come let me know. She shouldn't because the concussion should be gone, but in case." Sephiroth had heard the drill before. Whenever the nurse was on break she told them the same thing, and yet nothing ever changed.

Sephiroth moved over to the window, he remembered Kaci had told him she did this whenever she was upset. He could see the appeal; one could forget their troubles for a few moments and only focus on what was outside.

Until a small moan took his thoughts away. Turning sharply he watching as Kaci moved her head and groaned again. Seph made his way to her bedside just as she opened her eyes. She squinted, "Hey," her voice was hoarse but it was a wonderful sound.

"Hey Kaci," Sephiroth answered smiling.

"Do me a favor? Go turn the light down or something," Kaci requested.

Sephiroth dimmed the light so only a white-ish glow filled the room. "Better?"

"Yeah," Sephiroth went back to her bedside.

Her head was turned to him and she smiled, "Where are the others?"

"Lazard had them go on a mission."

Kaci nodded. Her head turned more and her eyes rested on Sephiroth's hand resting on the table. Cautiously she placed her own over it. Sephiroth's hand recoiled slightly under hers but she held it tightly. "You know the last time I asked a favor from you…" she started.

"I'm sorry for that Kaci," Sephiroth said.

"I'm joking, you wouldn't have. I know that," her blue eyes met his and she smiled. Her hand tightened around his and he recoiled at her touch. Kaci shifted on her side so she was staring at her hand over his, "Stop it, Sephiroth," she whispered. "You're scared of me. You're scared of admitting to caring for me."

Sephiroth tried not to let her see that she was right. He was the highest ranking SOLDIER and yet, he cared for this girl. "Why would that make me scared of you?"

"You don't want to admit caring for me, in fear of it becoming more." How long has she been able to read minds? Sephiroth asked himself.

"You have some crazy theories Kaci," Sephiroth pulled his hand away.

She nodded, "I know that. Thank you."

"For what?"

"Not letting go," Sephiroth was utterly confused, "You were still holding my hands all the way down. You still are." Sephiroth smiled and brushed a piece of hair away from her eyes.

Kaci yawned, "Tired?"

She nodded, "I don't know why I've been asleep for… how long?"

"Three weeks," Kaci nodded. "I'll call Genesis and Angeal to tell them." Sephiroth left the room to make the call.

"Sephiroth, tell them I want to see them when I wake up tomorrow morning," Kaci requested.

"I think they'd be here whether I told them or not." Sephiroth left the room. He knew what had said was true. Any of them would've been.

Kaci opened her eyes and the white light blinded her for only a moment. Before all she could make out were three fuzzy figures around her bed. As they became clearer Kaci saw Angeal and Genesis smiling. "Angeal!" Kaci wrapped her arms around her former mentor. "Hey, Genesis," she hugged Genesis.

"How do you feel Kaci?" Angeal asked.

"Better know that you're all here," she smiled.

"Kaci," Genesis started, "Forgive me? I meant nothing of what I said."

Kaci smiled at the sincerity in his eyes, "Genesis, you're a jerk. And I forgive you." Genesis wrapped her into another hug.

"I'll make it you to you Kaci."

"How?"

"You've always bugged me to take you to see LOVELESS, might as well do it now."

"I should've almost died sooner," Kaci joked earning a chuckle from her friends.

"I think that now was in plenty of time, Kaci," Angeal said. Kaci smiled. The door opened and President Rufus Shinra stood in the doorway. The three SOLDIERS left leaving Kaci with her father. They were, however, watching from the hall.

"You're awake," Rufus said.

"Mhmm," before Kace knew it her father was sitting on her bed and hugging her. Kaci smiled as she buried her head into his chest.

"I'm glad you're ok, Kaci," her father placed a kiss in her hair.

"I'm glad I'm ok too," Kaci said. Rufus Shinra pulled away.

"What are you doing here?" Kaci asked.

"Lazard told me you're awake," Rufus answered.

"Thank you. I take it you didn't come see me much?" she asked.

"Once the first day, not long either."

Kaci nodded, she would've thought it was a little scary if her father had come more than that, that's not who he was. "As long as you came once."

Rufus nodded, "I'll see you later Kaci."

"Bye, father," Kaci smiled. Rufus Shinra left the recovery area and went back to his 70th floor office.

Genesis had vowed to make it up to her and now he would. Sephiroth made a decision to never let her go again. And Angeal wouldn't let her get hurt again.

Reviews make me write faster.