Disclaimer: I do not now or before and most likely not in the future, own Final Fantasy, Square Enix or any of the characters.

A/N: I want to clear some stuff up so that there isn't too much confusion. First of all, I've taken about 30,000 words out of the part of the story when they were on the run, (the last two or three chapters). I did that for varying reasons, partly because I felt it was slowing the story down and partly so that it didn't end up sounding like other stories.

Now, for me as the author, I know what it's supposed to say, so what is written now makes sense to me, but to everyone else it is a mess since I took so much of it out. I will try to let you in on what is supposed to be happening without telling too much. I will be going back through and redoing a few chapters, and I will notify you in an author's note when I do, so that if you want to, you can go back and re-read those select chapters.

Possible spoilers in the rest of this author's note, (kind of): This is about why the guys seem to be more OOC.

I didn't go into the feelings of Zack on the ship too much because I was afraid it would give too much away that is a development of the plot later in the story. With Seph going into giggles, while Cloud was watching a funny movie and Seph finding Zack's appearance amusing, it all compounded on him and he had the overwhelming feelings of laughter, like when Cloud was being assaulted and he felt that. I know that it is OOC for him, but that is part of the emotional aspect of the connections that they have, they all have aspects of each other's personalities bleeding over into their own personalities. Example, when Zack accuses Seph of calling him Zackary because he knows that he hates it, Seph does the "innocent" look that Zack always did, but neither of them caught on to the subtly of Seph doing it.

They are all OOC at times throughout the story. Example, if Cloud gets mad and acts out, he is picking up some of Seph's anger or self-hatred.

Now about Zack not bathing Cloud, especially on the ship, Seph is picking up a little of Zack's "mother hen" personality. I wanted them all to have a strong bond of friendship and trust with one another. I wanted them all to be best friends with one another. With Zack being so sick on the ship (If you can guess why, I'll give you a cookie! However, the guys don't know why), Seph had to take over as the main caregiver to Cloud. Now, the guys all know that Seph is able to pick up on some of Cloud's feelings and a little bit of Seph's feelings being picked up by Cloud, but none of them know that they are picking up on any of Zack's because there is no precedent for it that they've seen so far, but later in the story, it will be explained. My main goal is that the reader is as "confused" as the characters so that when the big reveal comes, it is a surprise to the characters as well as the readers. Again, this is part of what I need to rectify with re-doing the last few chapters. Thank you for being patient and reading through the entire author's note.

Don't forget about the poll on my profile, please take some time and vote!

Thanks to my beta Queen of Jokers! My other beta is unavailable for now, so it is all falling on QoJ.

"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will." –Vince Lombardi

Chapter 26

Sephiroth reached the gates to Midgar, wearing the wig, he was hoping that he remained unrecognizable. It had taken him a while, but he was finally able get the wig off and on without help. A braid was no longer necessary, as he had gotten rather adept and quick about placing his simple disguise. Walking through the slums, he eventually made his way up to the plate.

He was trying to listen to conversations going on around him without being obvious. From what he could tell, a sizable part of the army was out looking for them. He asked very few questions, but he still found out that they had deployed a few weeks ago.

Being the former General of the Shinra Army had its advantages, it gave him an insight into what the military would do, and what he would have ordered of his men. More than likely, the army would be under orders to bring them in dead or alive, it didn't matter which to Shinra at this point.

The slums seemed like the best place to hide. It seemed that the sentiment for Shinra and everything they stood for was not very popular. Being a thorn in the side of Shinra would keep them relatively safe. They would still need to carefully watch themselves, but it was a place to try to start a new life.

Satisfied, the former General, feeling so much out of his element in the upper Midgar before Nibelheim, he decided that the more comfortable solution was to blend in down in lower Midgar. Feeling oddly at ease with that decision, he needed to get back and retrieve his friends and if he wanted to get back by dawn, he was going to have to leave before it got much later.

Zack watched Sephiroth walk toward Midgar until he couldn't see him anymore. It was getting darker so he took Cloud over to an area that was off and out-of-the-way if they had company. Zack sat down next to him, "What do you want to do, once we get there?" Zack nudged him with his shoulder, "Why don't we do something together, all three of us? What do you think?" Zack thought of all the things he and Sephiroth would have to do, like finding a place that they could hide and keep Cloud without raising any suspicions. Would they be able to leave Cloud in an apartment by himself? Maybe they could stay with Aerith for a few days. Would her mom even allow that? Zack leaned his head back on the rock, "Once Seph gets back we can figure something out."

While Zack wondered out loud and watched a dance of light that the setting sun showed off, Cloud was looking at his fingers again, he could wiggle them and it was much more than before. His arm twitched and he moved his head slightly to look at Zack sitting next to him, but the brunette wasn't looking at him; preoccupied within his own thoughts. As he listened to Zack talk, filling the silence that the ever talkative man always felt uncomfortable around, Cloud discovered that waking up this time was different; he wasn't able to jump up like he did at the workshop. He did what Jenova had wanted so why was she only letting go of him a little at a time?

During the night, Cloud propped his head on Zack's shoulder and they both dozed off and on. The blond hoped that within the span of the night, he would be able to move and talk to his friends, walk next to them and share in their triumph of making it to freedom.

When the sun was beginning to rise, Zack woke silently, stood up and stretched and Cloud enjoyed watching his friend as the former Soldier watched the sun rise with a comfortable smile on his face, "Aerith, I'm here."

Cloud's eyes roamed over Zack's large back, muscular shoulders, and the immense buster sword as it hung heavy on its magnetic cradle, his raven black hair standing proudly in the infamous spikes, and his confident stance. Zack reached his arms up and stretched again, like the tireless puppy that he's nicknamed after.

Opening his mouth, trying to say something, he wanted to get Zack's attention, but nothing was happening. Cloud's frustration level rose with his inability to move or talk, he wanted to jump up and talk to his friend. Cloud thought to himself, 'I may even hug him. Wouldn't that surprise him?' Able to feel his lips move in the curvature of the grin he wanted so badly for Zack to see, he yelled without making a sound, "Damn it Zack! Look at me!"

Freezing all movement, Cloud thought he heard what could only be helicopters approaching from in the distance. A sickening feeling of his stomach dropping made him gasp in fear. The sound of small rocks rolling down one of the higher places on the cliff drew his attention away from the sounds of mechanized military moving toward them. Zack seemed to have heard it also, as he jerked down to a crouch near the blond. He turned quickly to look at Cloud, "Hey, you stay here. I'm gonna go check this out," Zack ruffled Cloud's hair, paused with a subtly saddened smile, then turned and walked with confidence toward the noise.

Just as Cloud was able to lift his arm and reach for him; that was when Zack was walking away. Yes, he was actually able to really see him, the same as yesterday and he knew then that it was actually him and not an illusion brought on by Jenova. He didn't want him to go, "Wait Zack! Wait for me! Please don't go!" He screamed in his head. His ears perked at the sounds of helicopters again, they were closer. Cloud had been able to hear things before, he had been able to "peek" through sometimes but this was still different. He cursed Jenova for the slow recovery when he knew she was capable of so much more. Dread crept into his heart at what the helicopters meant, they had found them, "Zack!" He screamed in his head again, hoping that he would hear him.

Zack walked around the large cluster of boulders and came face to face with an army and their rifles pointed right at him. He was gently shocked, but figured that with this kind of turnout, they were there to kill them, not capture. He wasn't ready to die yet; he still had so much more he wanted to do, a life that he still wanted to lead, Aerith to have a family with, his parents to go see.

If he died now, Cloud would surely die, and he couldn't let that happen, not after everything that they'd been through. Maybe if he could hold them off until Sephiroth got there they would be home free.

Hurt filled his heart at the thought, 'What if they already got to Sephiroth?'

No, he couldn't rely on Sephiroth to show, he had to assume that he was on his own, that him and Cloud were on their own. He had to do this and he knew he could do this, his and Cloud's lives were at stake. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Recalling his entire Soldier training, he remembered why he was here at this very moment. Cloud, his friend, hadn't deserved anything that'd been done to him.

He wasn't prepared to die, but the love that he held for his friends held him firm in his decision to stand his ground.

Straightening his spine, he drew his sword with slow deliberation. Helicopters, fully loaded with machine guns and rocket launchers, hundreds of soldiers stood at the ready, waiting to start their assault. Zack's jack hammer heart beat loudly and shook his chest. Adrenaline and mako coursed through his veins and spilled to his muscles and the mako glowed brightly in his eyes. With a tight grip on his sword, he recited what Angeal had always told him, "Never forget your dreams and honor!"

Cloud could hear Zack's battle cry and he could hear what was happening, 'Why can't I move? Zack needs me, I want to help him!' The sounds of battle, gunfire, screams of dying soldiers, rockets exploding, bullets hitting the rocks around him, orders being yelled, Cloud could visualize what was happening. Bullets knocking small rocks loose from the boulders around him pelted his limp shoulders, head and face.

When it started to rain and still the sounds continued, Cloud tried to will his body into movement, Zack needed his help, 'Where the hell is Sephiroth?' Being able to move was a matter of life and death, but it was of no use, the most he could move was his fingers, a flail of his arms and a few jerks of his head.

Cloud cried out in frustration at hearing the ongoing battle, his friend needed him and he was a useless pile of flesh that sat in the mud, covered in dirt and grime. Triumphantly, he was able to get out a quiet squeak, of his name, "Zack!" and the sounds of battle seemed to go on forever. The cold winter rain fell through his hair and dripped down his face, trickled down his back and it felt like ice scratching softly down his spine. Hearing the sounds diminishing, Cloud relaxed a little; that meant that Zack was still alive and fighting, but how much longer could the former Soldier hold out, how much longer would the battle go on? Would they survive?

Cloud tried his arms again and as he concentrated on trying to move his body, a sound snapped his attention back to the quieted battle. A few singled out gunshots rang out and a sound that would haunt him forever, Zack screaming out in pain, "NO! Zack!" The footsteps sloshing through the mud came closer and he figured that he was next, the only thing he could do was go limp and lay there, playing dead.

"What about this guy?"

"Oh, he looks like he is already dying, we'll just leave him. The elements can take care of the rest," The last of the three infantry soldiers walked away from him, leaving him alone.

Trying his hands, he could move them more at will, finally, trying his arms, they moved at will as well, so he raised his head and tried to stand, but nothing happened so he tried crawling as the rain continued to fall and soaked him further. He had to get to Zack, get him some help, if it wasn't too late.

Pins and needles covered his body in a layer of prickly pain. Extremely slow progress around the rocks coerced a level of frustrated anger that Cloud hadn't ever felt as intensely as he did at that instant. The pins and needles screamed louder in his skin, his muscles and joints, but he ignored them.

The rain continued to pelt his hair, back and hands as his fingers squished down into the cold thick mud, slowing his already extraordinarily slow progress. The mud pulled at his hands and relinquished its hold only with Cloud's will and effort. His knees slid and elbows sunk down, the suction held strong, but he found more strength in his anxiety to get to his fallen friend.

Cloud stopped and a gasp escaped when he finally found his friend. A squeak of, "Zack...hold on Zack," Crawling closer to him, Zack was so still and so quiet, it was not like him, it couldn't be him, Zack was always so full of life and laughs, so to see him lying there, with muddy dirt stained red, Cloud choked back a sob.

Guns, swords, bodies and impact craters littered his path to his friend, "Too long, it is taking too long." He had to hurry, Zack needed him.

Mud slicked and finally getting to Zack's side he looked at his face, it was pale and covered in crimson. The brilliant illumination of Zack's eyes that normally held all attention of everyone that knew him, was growing dim. Cloud leaned over him and was able to whisper, "Zack?" This had to have been a dream that Jenova was putting him through. Zack couldn't die, he was the hero, the heroes weren't supposed to die. Zack's beautiful and unique violet colored eyes focused on something high up, and unseen by Cloud.

At the sound of Cloud's voice, Zack took a labored breath. The pain that wracked his body made a shiver engulf his muscles with a wince. The light of his life flickered faintly in his eyes and then they focused on Cloud's face. Pausing for a moment, he inhaled harshly, "Don't be… sad."

Cloud didn't want to believe that this was happening, "Save your strength, Zack, I'll get you help," Why was all this happening to them? "You can't die Zack… please."

Taking another labored breath, "Cloud… Go, find your path." Zack's eyes were seeing deep in Cloud's soul.

Cloud could feel his emotions fill his chest. His heart beat hard with panic, "Please Zack, I need you." Tears found their way to his eyes and threatened to fall.

With an intense look, Zack urged, "I knew you were strong. I never gave up on you," The Soldier lifted his left hand to the back of Cloud's neck and pulled him down to his chest, "Live… free," Zack's warmth and life blood flowed from him and he felt it cover his face. He could feel Zack's heart beat as though it were his own, he could feel his life fading as though he too were fading.

His friend, the lively man he knew, the best person, the hero who graced Gaia, and who saw the good in everything, was dying, and Cloud couldn't comprehend what was happening. Zack's arm fell to his side with a splash in the bloody mud. Cloud sat back up slowly and looked over his friend's limp body, he didn't understand why Zack wouldn't have just run, but that wouldn't have been Zack's style.

With his remaining strength, he lifted his heavy sword as it lay in his right hand and held it out for Cloud to take, "Live… for the… both of us."

Reluctantly, Cloud took the grip of the sword in his hands, Zack's arm dropped to the ground, "I will. For the both of us, I promise," Cloud said quietly, barely restraining his tears as his heart slowed, just like Zack's heart slowed. Smiling a small smile, the greatest hero Cloud had known closed his eyes.

One last breath left him and Cloud's memories of his friend flooded over him in an outpouring of emotion. Zack had been the only person who appreciated him for just being Cloud. Zack was the friend that saw something in him that he didn't even see. The friend that helped him, even when he didn't know that he even needed help; his best friend was gone. A scream of anguish built up and filled his lungs and burst out of him with a fury that he felt would never be extinguished. His heart ached and it felt as though it would fall and never find a place to land. The emptiness that Zack's absence left in Cloud filled with a burning ache…

He sat there looking at his friend, not wanting to leave him there. The rain stopped at last, "Thank you Zack." He looked at the sky and the sun shone through the clouds, bright rays of light broke into separate beams that glowed like a heavenly scene. Having strength in his legs now, he stood slowly and looked once again at his best friend's face, still holding the small content smile, "I won't forget my promise… Zack."

Knowing that it would be safe to go into Midgar slums, he embarked on the walk back to Zack and Cloud. His brisk walk held a determination to get back to them. It seemed that he had become dependent on them on a certain level. He enjoyed their company and the thought of their continued friendship made a smile rise.

Walking overnight, and as the morning sun crested, his enhanced hearing picked up the sounds of battle and it snatched him out of his revelry, "Gaia, they've been found."

Running toward them, he started to lose hope since he was still far away and on the bottom side of the cliff. As he ran, rain began to pelt his face and the sounds of battle continued and he hoped he wouldn't be too late.

When he heard the sounds of fighting slow and finally stop, a faint scream echoed and it sounded like Zack. Quickening his pace further, he heard another scream several minutes later. It was much louder, "That was Cloud." He ran faster than he had ever run before. As he ran, his heart began to ache and he suddenly felt empty and out of breath. Tears and a burning ache in his chest made a panic rise and he quickened his pace…

Finally reaching where he had left them, the center of the battle wasn't far from there. It took him too long to get there and his heart deeply sank when he saw what was left. Since the rain had stopped before he was able to make it there, he was able to survey the carnage with no filter.

Zack had destroyed so much and so many in defense of their freedom. He finally spotted Zack, the bottom fell out and his chest filled with regret, anger and sadness, "No…" Running for him, he fell to his knees and punched the ground, he didn't see Cloud anywhere. Sephiroth bowed his head and put his hand on Zack's forehead, "Farewell, my friend." A single tear fell and hit Zack's cheek.

Sephiroth was unable to look away from his face, the face of the man who was able to keep it together in the hell of the labs still held a small smile of contentment. The same man who helped to break down his walls so he could begin to try to have a normal life again. Zack made it okay for him to make himself vulnerable, for a friend. Sephiroth learned from Zack that being human was also being flawed and that it was okay, "Damn it Zack, why?"

Hearing a helicopter in the distance, as it got closer, he knew that Cloud's safety was his new priority, "Zack I promise I will find him and keep him safe… for you." Slowly removing his hand from Zack's forehead, he retreated to a safe distance and waited.

The helicopter landed not far from Zack's body and some Turks emerged. He recognized Reno, Rude and Tseng, and they were talking, he held his breath so he wouldn't miss anything that they said. Reno sadly exasperated, "Fuck! I knew the army was going after them, but shit!"

Tseng very calmly said, "Look, I know your upset, but we still have a job to do," The Turk leader put a hand up to Reno.

"Damn right I'm fucking upset!" Reno's eyes burned in anger, "Why didn't they just let us handle this?" Reno kicked a helmet and it hit a boulder close to where Sephiroth was hidden.

Rude adjusted his sunglasses, "Now it just seems like a recovery mission. All I see is Commander Fair though."

Tseng, bowing his head said sadly, "At least he can get a proper funeral."

Going over to Zack, Reno and Rude picked him up and placed him gently into the helicopter. Tseng took out his phone, "Yes sir, we have retrieved Zack Fair… Yes sir… We will be there shortly… No sir." Shutting his phone, he put it in his inner jacket pocket.

"What about Sephiroth and the blond guy?" Reno inquired bitingly as he lit a cigarette.

"Cloud Strife," With a sigh, Tseng continued as he was getting into the helicopter, "They are still unaccounted for. Hopefully we can find them before Hojo finds them. I don't want them to suffer the same fate as Zack. If the army catches them…"

Sephiroth could not hear the rest of what he said as the helicopter's rotors started up and the aircraft took off, heading back to Midgar. Well at least he knew that Cloud had not been captured. All Sephiroth could figure, was that he must have woken up and found Zack, and as close as they were, it might have traumatized him and he could also be injured so the silver-haired man had to find him quickly; he had a promise to keep.

A/N: Thanks to everyone who reads, favorites, subscribes and/or reviews, I appreciate your time and I dedicate all of this to you. To quote another author, "Getting reviews makes me feel all warm and squishy."

Please send me your reviews if you want. It is really easy. Just click your arrow in the little box, write what you thought or felt about the chapter and then click right down there, just below the box. A little lower… a little to the right… yeah, right there! Click it! *grinning*