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: Long author note at the end of the chapter.

Reviews, critiques and flames are welcome. I absolutely love all reviews about the story as it gives me motivation, I use good constructive criticism to help my writing improve and I feed the flames to the fires of my imagination.

Thanks to my before posting beta Queen of Jokers and my after posting beta SubZeroChimera!

"Success in life, in anything, depends upon the number of persons that one can make himself agreeable to." –Thomas Carlyle

Chapter 62

Cloud and Zack slept in the back of the truck and the next morning Harding deftly checked Cloud's wound without disturbing Tifa who stayed next to Cloud in case he needed something. Aerith had given Harding the ointment that she put together for Zack's blisters. When he lifted the bandage, he was shocked to find that it was almost completely healed, "What the hell!"

Cloud leaned over and strained to look down, "Well, you don't see that every day."

Zack opened his eyes and grabbed Cloud's arm, "I get goose bumps when I'm cold. It was Jade and she is waiting for us…" Jerking to the side, Zack spoke under his breath, speaking to an unknown entity next to him, "My dreams tell me I'm crazy."

Sephiroth came to the back of the truck, "Did he just say something about Jade?"

Cloud took Zack's hand off his shoulder so he could put on a shirt, "Yeah, he said that it was Jade. I don't know what he means though."

As Zack smoothed the wrinkles out of the back of Cloud's shirt, he said almost as an afterthought, "She said she needs us healthy."

Cloud had a panic shiver through him and he turned to look at Zack, "Zack look at me!" It took a moment, but once Zack found Cloud's face, the blond asked, "Was Jade here last night?"

Zack smiled and nodded his head, "I won money at the Gold Saucer once. Just once… 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2, number 1, no one to help because I'm the last one."

Cloud and Sephiroth looked at each other and Sephiroth said, "I guess she is watching us then."

Tifa mumbled with sarcastic anger, "That's comforting."

"Harding, are you any closer to figuring out how we can fix Zack? I think with Jade on our asses and Zack not getting any better, we're on a tighter time table." Cloud finished lacing up his boots and jumped out of the back of the truck. "Ahh, that still hurts a bit," Cloud pulled his arm over his side as he walked.

Harding followed Cloud out of the back, "I have an idea, but without more information as to what Hojo actually did, I don't know."

Sephiroth looked at Harding, "You were there. Don't you know what he did?" Yuffie, Vincent and Red came up to see how Cloud and Zack were doing.

"Yes I was, but that doesn't mean that I know what the crazy bastard did when I wasn't right there next to him."

Vincent said, "Who is to say that Hojo even knows what Jade is capable of, or even how to fix this situation."

"Can we just get out of these creepy freakin mountains already?" Yuffie danced in place trying to keep warm. Vincent extended his arm around her and she sank into his warmth.

Barret came around from the front of the truck, "Everything is packed and ready to go." Tifa jumped out of the back of the truck and Zack followed her.

Zack walked over to Cloud and Sephiroth and stood right between them, putting his arms around both of them and squeezing them tightly. Yuffie giggled, "It looks like he's feeling better." She then added, "Looks better too. He isn't so damn skinny anymore."

Red stepped forward, "I will stay in the truck with Zack, but I suggest we be on our way soon."

"Red is right, let's go," Cloud walked toward his bike with Tifa behind him. Turning around, he asked her with a terse smile, "Ready?"

Bound to get him in a better mood, Tifa took his collar in her hands and pulled him into a kiss. This kiss was different; she thought she'd lost him. He slipped his hands around her waist and held her tight until he pulled back just enough to say, "Wow, maybe I should almost die more often."

"Alright! Get a room would ya?" Barret yelled from the truck.

Cloud and Tifa stayed face to face and Tifa licked her lips and breathed deeply and with a smile she said, "We will as soon as we can…"

The sound of the helicopter blades chopping through the air was a noise that Reno loved; almost as much as the sound of his own voice. Whenever he had a chance to fly the helicopter he took it. The gentle way his hands caressed the controls would have made him blush if he was able to get embarrassed.

When he saw the town just ahead, he began scouting for a place to land. Rude spoke to him through the headsets, "Over there." He pointed to an empty area just to the north of the rocket.

Reno landed and shut down the engine, "Okay Rude, I bet you we beat them here. You wanna bet?"

Rude looked at him, "No."

"You're no fun. Well let's get some lodging until they get here," Reno grabbed his small bag and began his walk to town, "Do you think that Harding will know what all this crap says?"

"One would hope. If he doesn't, I suppose we could always kidnap a doctor who would," Rude smiled.

"You always know the right things to say to turn me on," Reno smiled and then picked up his pace as he saw a restaurant, "Let's go I'm starving!"

Finally getting to the other side of the mountains, they saw Rocket Town in the distance. It was starting to get dark and they were ready to stop. The events the night before had worn them out and Cloud was not in as much pain, whatever Jade had done, had healed faster than his enhancements could do. Tifa's hold on his waist would still send a shot of pain every so often, but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle.

Pulling up, they stopped in a large parking lot right at the entrance to town. Getting off the bike, they stretched and watched the others pull in behind them. Getting the money, Cloud masked his happiness about what Yuffie did to get the money. If it was, and it most likely it was illegal, he wasn't going to dwell on it.

Sephiroth got off his bike and stretched, "I will be so glad to get a shower."

Yuffie ran up and said, "This is a small town and it only has one Inn. I know where it is if you want me to go get our rooms."

Sephiroth studied her closely and cautiously said, "Okay, but no funny business."

Her face drooped, "Geez, you sound like you don't trust me."

"I'll go with her," Vincent volunteered. They crossed a street and went into a building just out of sight.

Tifa cuddled just under Cloud's chin and he put an arm around her and she whispered, "I hope we don't have to share with anyone else," She smiled.

He rubbed her arm and whispered close to her ear, "Well after what you did to me with your magic hands while driving here, I am all for it," He smiled and sighed at the pleasant memory.

"Is that why you were swerving around like you were drunk?" Sephiroth elbowed Cloud in the arm. Cloud and Tifa both turned bright shades of red. Sephiroth laughed and went back to grab his bag.

Aerith got out of the truck and asked, "Why were they swerving?"

Tifa said quickly, "Nothing."

Red came around the back of the truck with Zack right behind him. Red didn't look happy and Harding was stifling laughter. Aerith went over to Zack to see why Red was angry. Looking at Harding, she asked, "What is going on?"

Harding breathed in, "Zack likes Red's tail and won't let go."

Yuffie came back with three keys, "They only have four rooms and one is already taken."

Barret scoffed, "I guess this is the part where we split up in groups, figures."

Aerith spoke up and said, "I think we should split like we did in Nibelheim. I had fun with just us girls."

Tifa's face dropped and nodded and gave Cloud a kiss, "Sorry."

He smiled a devious smile, "I'll see you at dinner." Tifa winked at him and they split into their groups and went to their rooms.

At dinner time, they all gathered in one room after Aerith, Yuffie and Harding went and picked up some food. The joint hunger kept them all quiet while they ate. Zack was the only one that was talking and his babbling seemed to be getting worse over the last few days. It was pretty late so everyone scattered and Cloud, Sephiroth, Harding and Zack were left in their room. Sephiroth got Zack cleaned up and Cloud got him dressed and in bed. Grabbing Cloud's shirt, Zack began to pull him down to his chest again, but the blond protested, "Oh, no. Not again." He was able to get loose and went in the bathroom for his shower leaving a disappointed look on the brunette's face.

Once Harding went to take his shower, Cloud stood, stretched, cleared his throat and said, "I'm gonna go look around town and see what I can find out."

Zack started babbling again and Sephiroth went over and sat next to him, looked at Cloud and smiled a huge smile, "Sure… You go check things out around town."

Cloud turned red and tried, "No really, I just… Oh never mind." He shut the door behind him and heard the laughter erupt from Sephiroth.

He walked down the street to the large parking lot that held all their vehicles. The parking lot was dark and he looked around nervously. He was alone until he saw Tifa walking toward him. He grabbed her roughly and while still in a passionate kiss, they walked clumsily to the back of the truck. Cloud picked her up and put her up on the tailgate and she crawled through the canvas flap. He jumped in and stuck his head out and looked around outside before he closed the flap, securing it.

When he turned around, she went for the waist band of his pants. Looking up at him from her knees, he bit his bottom lip. The metal braces above his head that held the heavy canvas covering in place was where one of his hands found purchase and he held it tightly. When she made him lose the strength in his legs momentarily, she undressed herself quickly. He reached down to his boots and pulled them off along with his shirt and took his pants the rest of the way off.

Meeting her down on the bed of the truck and with soft caresses, he took her over the edge and she grabbed his neck at her limit and she let out a shaken cry of desire. He went to her lips and wrapped his arm around her waist and her fingers nimbly stroked his back as their legs intertwined. Together they were insatiable and ravenous, an intense climax for both of them brought a passionate blend of their voices…

They lay there in each other's arms and her head lay on his chest as it heaved and his heart beat hard. After quickly kissing the top of her head, the back of his head dropped heavily to the bed of the truck. Her fingers traced the lines of his muscles in his stomach as they contracted with his breaths. He wanted to tell her that he loved her again, but she hadn't said anything else after he said it that one time. Cloud wondered if she felt the same for him. Did she love him as much as he loved her? Rubbing her arm, he said with a hint of sadness, "We've been gone for over an hour. I better get back; there is no telling what Zack is doing now."

She sat up and kissed him, and finished with a smile, "Okay. We have a lot we need to do tomorrow any way." They got up and put their clothes back on and he stole another kiss before he opened the flap to get out.

"I'm impressed Cloud. You've got great stamina," Reno's smile was a grandiose display as he leaned against the side of the truck.

Startled, Cloud very ungracefully fell out of the back of the truck and yelled, "Reno!"

Reno's eyes widened at the sight of Tifa. He held a hand out to Cloud to help him up off the ground, "Now I'm very impressed, a little jealous, but still very impressed!"

"Shut up Reno," Tifa jumped out of the back of the truck.

Pushing the red-head's hand away, Cloud stood and dusted his pants off and tried not to look at him with his bright red face, "What do you want Reno?"

Reno not being able to drop it, "Don't you have a room to go to?"

Tifa pushed at Reno's arm, "Focus Reno. What are you doing here?"

His smile broadened, "You mean besides getting a hard on listening to you two?" Cloud and Tifa both crossed their arms and he finally put his hands up, "Okay, okay. We need to talk to Harding, Sephy, Zack and you too Blondie."

"We? It isn't just you?" Cloud asked.

"No, I'm here too," Rude stepped from the side of the truck.

Cloud raised his arms up and slapped his legs in an exaggerated movement, "Can't we get any privacy around here?!"

Tifa put her arm around his waist and he lifted his arm over her head and onto her shoulders and she said, "Fine. They're in the room."

Walking back toward the Inn, Reno and Rude stayed close behind them.

When Cloud opened the door and walked in, Reno looked over at the bed holding Zack and Sephiroth.

Sephiroth was sitting up reading and Zack lay next to him holding his hands up. Zack's fingers snapped and twitched and his eyes darted around the room as he babbled and mumbled quietly to himself. Reno was shocked at how bad he looked physically. Reno was unable to hide his shock, "What the fuck happened to him?"

Sephiroth swung his legs over to the floor, "Reno? What are you doing here?"

Reno took several steps into the room and Rude shut the door. Reno pointed to Zack, "What happened Seph?" Reno's voice was angry and he couldn't hide it.

Cloud stepped closer to him, "He looks a lot better than when we first found him. We finally caught up to him a few days out of Casa Del Sol."

Reno looked at the man; he couldn't believe that this was the same man whose life was full of laughter. Even though Zack no longer considered him a friend, Reno still cared for him. Zack's eyes weren't the bright and full of life and joy that he remembered, there was an emptiness that sucked the good out of him, "He looked worse than this?!"

Cloud sat down and Tifa sat next to him. Harding got up from the table and went over, "He was in really bad shape. If we hadn't found him when we did, he would have died."

Reno sat down on the bed next to Zack. His eyes still darted around the room and as he mumbled, Reno picked up a few of the mumblings, "Why do bugs crawl on me? I like showers… I like baths… A promise is a promise. I had to, you just don't know… What happened to the cinnamon roll I had for breakfast?"

"Well what did this?" Reno's somber tone was thick and filled the room with its sadness. He looked at Harding, "Will he get better?"

Cloud quietly said, "Jenova happened to him."

"Right now, I just don't have enough information to say. I have some injections to reverse the Jenova effect, but I am afraid to administer them until we know how to help Zack," Harding turned and sat back down at the table.

"Oh! Yeah, that's why we are here," Reno motioned to Rude and Rude pulled some papers out of his jacket, "Here Harding, maybe this can help. This information is what we are after since it was leaked and now we are on a recovery of information mission."

Harding took the papers and unfolded them and began reading. Rude spoke, "If you need anything or anyone, we can help if needed."

Cloud looked up at Rude, "Thanks."

Reno looked up from Zack over to Sephiroth, "There's a man here in town that may be of some use to you. We can talk more tomorrow. I think I've had enough excitement for one night." Reno winked at Cloud and Tifa. Cloud glared at him, which to Reno was the wrong thing to do. Reno got up and started to the door, "Listen, we are in the other room, so if you need anything."

Zack jumped and went to the floor and scurried over to the corner. He put his hands to his head and screamed as he rocked back and forth. Reno watched in puzzlement, "What the fuck?"

"He does this from time to time," Cloud went over to him, "Zack, what is it?"

Zack looked at him and cried, "I don't want to be hers… Hojo said I'm next… I can't snap! It fizzles…" Cloud wrapped his arm around him and Zack rocked back and forth gently then took two handfuls of Cloud's shirt as his sobs were now muffled by Cloud's chest.

Reno lowered his head and opened the door, "Just remember, anything guys." He did one last look at Sephiroth, Cloud, Harding, Tifa and Zack, "See ya in the morning."

A/N: I have gotten a couple of "reviews," (one of them I deleted) that say that this story has self-inserts, that I have a rape fantasy and all the reviews from both signed and unsigned reviews are all from me. Well to all of you, I have a confession… This isn't an easy thing to say and I really didn't want to let anyone into my inner circle unless you are a close personal friend, but with someone calling me out about it, I might as well come right out and let everyone know all at once.

My name is actually Tifa Lockheart. I only inserted myself in this story so that I could make out with Zack Fair and have rough sex with Cloud Strife. I don't have a rape fantasy, but I do like it rough… really rough - but safe. My safety word his troll. I like to read yaoi, non-yaoi, con and non-con sex stories, especially when they involve Seph, Zack and Cloud. Let's face it, they are effing hot and who wouldn't want to self-insert themselves in a story with them? Am I right?! About all the reviews being from me, well, all I can say is since they are all from me, then I guess I'm talking to no one but myself here, so what does it matter in the end?

"Author, how do you feel about that?"

"Oh, Author, I don't know, I guess since the conversation and reviews is about me, from me and to me, then I'm fine with it. You?"

"I guess I'm okay with it as well Author."

I hope that this clears up any questions. This is me signing off,
Sincerely,
Yuffie Kisaragi

(No, Gaia-dammit! I'm Cid Highwind in disguise as Yuffie…)

(… No! Just kidding, I am really Vincent Valentine, former Turk Extraordinaire!)

(No, seriously… I'm Barret. I may be a big guy, but it doesn't mean that I don't have a soft side ;P)

(All joking aside, I'm really a twenty something man of average height with light brown hair who holds a degree as a Physician's Assistant, who just so happened worked for Hojo at one time. Oh, and my name is Jacob Harding...)

[I know I said that I wouldn't do this with the troll anymore, but I just couldn't help myself. It was too good an opportunity to pass up. After all, I have to stretch my sarcasm from time to time so that I don't get rusty or pull a muscle.]

To the reviewer V: (By the way, when I was younger, I used to watch the original show of the same name, "V.") Thank you for your review. I appreciate your concern and the hater doesn't bother me. At my age, all of the nonsense and make-believe drama makes me laugh actually. I have never thought about taking story requests, but I guess I could try sometime. I changed my pen name because I got tired of the unimaginative surban75 and wanted something different and Disturbed Turtle sounded fun and oddly accurate :)