hey guys! Sorry i haven't been updating thngs have been pretty crazy i can't promise a consistent update schedule but I will update as often as I can

It's been a few days since the wedding and after being home for about a day Cloud told you what he learned when he was at the Healen Lodge. At first you were upset that he didn't tell you right away but when he explained how he was going to tell you right away but then you being attacked my the mechanics from Kalm and then with everything that happened he decided to tell you after the wedding. You just couldn't stay mad at him but he didn't like your answer.

~days ago~

"I'm going" you told him. Cloud gave you a look, you could tell he didn't want you to, but he remained silent. "Cloud I need to know what happened to me, I feel like something bad happened to me and i need to know what it is" You told him. "please come with me"

Cloud sighed but agreed to take you knowing if he didn't you'd go without him.

~currently~

You moved to look over Cloud's shoulder because in the distance you saw a forest on a rocky cliff. You had never been to the Healen lodge and it was a welcome sight after all most of the landscape on this continent is desert. You absently rested your chin on Cloud's shoulder as he speed across the desert. Cloud glanced at you, "Comfortable?" he asked.

You pulled yourself a bit closer testing your boundaries again, you felt his perfect abs tense as you spoke, "I"m very comfortable, aren't you?" you teased.

He smirked at you before looking back to the road ahead. A few minutes later you stopped in front of on staircase that lead to what you assumed to be various rooms for rent, you were surprised how quiet this place is, you know its a medical center but you thought you'd at least see people around.

You spoke too soon, you sighed in annoyance as Reno approached with Rude in tow. Cloud stood defensively between you and Reno.

"Awe come on buddy, I'm harmless" Reno said as he put up his hands as if to surrender. Then he turned to you, "Hows my favorite girl" he asked you. You rolled your eyes, why cant he ever be normal? "Spending too much time with ole spike here, you're picking up his mannerisms. " Reno joked.

"Better than picking up yours" Rude chimed in which made you giggle, it even got a small chuckle out of Cloud. "The drive wasn't too bad right?" Rude asked you.

"Uneventful" you replied.

"Where's Rufus?" Cloud asked.

"Same room as last time" Rude replied pointing to a room on the second floor.

You and Cloud walked up the stairs followed by Reno and Rude, as you were about halfway up you slowed your pace, you're really dreading seeing Rufus, aside from the fact that he's the one who ordered Reno and Rude to bring you to them, he's also pretty sleazy. Cloud looked back at you curiously for a moment before realization set in, "You don't have to do this, we can go back to 7th heaven." He told you.

You shook your head, "I need to know what happened to me" You told him. He nodded thoughtfully as you continued up the stairs, he fell into step next to you.

Upon entering the room you wondered why all the lights were off except for a desk lamp and the blinds closed. As your eyes adjusted to the lighting you noticed Rufus sitting at the desk.

When he was sure that you saw him Rufus stood with arms open wide. "Ah Autumn, you look just as lovely as i remember you"

"You have geostimga" you told him without skipping a beat.

"Well, even I'm not immune" Rufus said, then turned to Cloud, "Strife" he acknowledged. Cloud just nodded in reply.

"So whats the catch? You don't do anything for free" you said, as much as you want to know what happened to you, you want to find out quickly, you really don't like being around Rufus.

"No catch," Rufus said, He was trying to sound charming, you just thought he sounded sleazy. "I'd do anything for you," You absently took a step closer to Cloud, who instinctively put an arm protectively around you. "Oh now Autumn, I promise I don't bite. There really is no catch, aside from maybe earning your trust." It took everything in your being not roll your eyes.

Rufus handed you a file and one to Cloud, You examined it and found that it had your name on it, you glanced to the other you found that it was significantly thicker and had Cloud's name on it. "These are the files kept on each of you while you were held in the basement of the Shinra mansion."

You opened your file and began reading.

~flashback~

You struggled against the large man's grip, he was clearly a Turk due to his suit, earpiece and the fact that he looks like a tool. You were so upset with yourself, you needed to find Riley but now you've gotten yourself and Ryan captured all because you wanted to find Zack. You couldn't believe you actually believed that Reno would take you to him. You recognized where you were, the basement of the Shinra mansion, and that door! Vincent is behind that door.

As the Turk dragged you along, you took a chance and elbowed the Turk in the groin as hard as you could, he cried out in pain as you rushed back to Vincent's door.

"Vincent! Help me!" You screamed as you tried to open the door, only to find that it was locked. "It's locked?"

"Autumn? why are you here?" Vincent was confused, he struggled to open the door but couldn't. You noticed a new lock, you needed a card key to get into the room.

You felt rough hands grab and drag you away from the door. You screamed, as you could hear Vincent struggling to come to your rescue but he couldn't free himself. You were thrown roughly to the ground and a turk kneeled on your back as he tied your hands together with some rope then hoisted your over he shoulder and continued on. He walked down the long hallway with you struggling the whole time. The Turk opened a door at the end of the hall and practically threw you into the room before closing and locking the door. You tried to get out of the ropes but it was no use.

"Autumn?"

You knew that voice. "Zack?" you looked up to see a familiar and friendly face, he looked and sounded exhausted but he still had his token mischievous grin.

"Oh Autumn" Zack said as he ran to you, he easily broke the ropes and pulled you into a hug. "what are you doing here?" he asked. You were about to answer when he asked. "Where's Jace?"

You pushed Zack away, and covered your face. You could feel tears welling up in your eyes, Zack can't see you like this, how are you suppose to tell him. It had only been a two months since Jace was killed but it felt as if it was yesterday.

"Autumn please" Zack said as he pulled you into his lap and hugged you tightly. "Whatever it is, I'm here for you."

You couldn't contain your emotions, you just cried. You weren't sure how long you cried, Zack just held you, but eventually you were able to mutter that Jace had been killed, along with your parents and most of Hazeltown. Zack just held you tighter. "It was Sephiroth wasn't it?" he asked quietly.

"How did you…" you trailed off. Then Zack told you what had happened in Nieblheim, he told you of Cloud Strife and how he finally defeated Sephiroth and that the two of them have been held prisoner ever since. You wondered where this Cloud Strife was, you, Zack and an unconscious Ryan were the only occupants in this room that looked like a lab of some sort. Zack explained that they took Cloud, that they were experimenting on him. you were shocked.

Two days passed, Ryan woke up and was very hostile towards you and Zack, it hurt knowing that Jace's only family left could be so cruel to you but thankfully Zack has been protecting you. Then Hojo arrived, Rufus had mentioned you would be working with Hojo, they wanted your mother's medical knowledge and experience treating SOLDIERS, you had tried to explain to them that anything special had died along with your mother but they wouldn't take no for an answer. Thats when they began torturing you. You spent your mornings and afternoons in a small dark room with Hojo and whatever method of torture he deemed appropriate for the day, it ranged from waterboarding to blood letting to straight up beatings.

You were thrown to the ground when the turks returned you to the lab where they've been keeping you, Zack and Ryan but this time a tall man with spiky blonde hair was sprawled out on a gurney, at first you thought he was dead but then you noticed the ever so slight rise and fall of his chest with each labored breath. You were mesmerized.

"Autumn, you're bleeding" Zack said as he carefully wiped away the blood on your forehead, "And your eye, god what did they do to you?" he asked as he gently touched your face. You couldn't felt but flinch in pain.

"Back off, you betray my poor dead brother" Ryan spat venomously.

"You know what, fuck you Ryan" Zack snapped, "look at her" He grabbed some medical supplies and began cleaning away the blood, "Jace was my friend, but so is Autumn, they're hurting her and all you care about is isolating her."

You absently sat there as Zack cleaned and dressed your wounds while he argued with Ryan about you. You couldn't stop looking at the man on the table, something is very wrong with him. You felt the need to save him. You were knocked from your thoughts when Zack got very close to your face "Autumn speak to me" he pleaded.

"I'm sorry…what?" you questioned in confusion.

"you've been so out of it, i was calling your name for a while" Zack said, the concern clear on his face. He was? You hadn't noticed. "Maybe you have a concussion." He suggested trying to examine your eyes.

You thought for a moment, no you don't have a concussion, you're too focused to have one. "whose that?" you asked.

Zack looked at you in confusion for a moment before speaking, "Thats Cloud Strife" Zack said as you stood up. "Whoah Autumn, maybe you should sit down for a while."

But you just shook your head as you approached. So this was Cloud Strife, Jace and Zack had told you about their hardworking friend but you never really thought you'd met him..well in the condition he's in you still might not. You pressed two fingers to his throat checking his pulse, his skin was cold and clammy as if he'd been in a cold sweat. He was definitely feverish and his pulse was weak. You looked at his arms, their were bruises where they had destroyed his veins with injections. As gross as it is, a few of the track marks were oozing a blue-green substance. You're eyes widened in realization, you held his arm looking at the track marks, their were hundreds of them. you checked his pulse again and it was weaker than it was a minute ago.

"What is it?" Zack asked. "Is he going to be ok?"

You didn't answer as you lifted Cloud's eyelids, you were shocked at how blue his eyes are, but his pupils were extremely dilated. "He has mako poisoning," you told Zack. "I've seen it in uncle Genesis and Angeal but never this bad."

You walked to the counter where Zack had gotten the medical supplies, you were hoping to find a syringe. Zack realized what you were doing and nearly tore the cabinet apart looking, but finally found one. You took some peroxide and sterilized the needle as best as you could, then tried to find a viable vein on his arm but they seemed to all be destroyed, you pulled up his pant leg and found a viable vein on his calf. You noticed Zack look away when you extracted the blood from Cloud's leg, you were shocked to find that his blood was nearly aqua in color it was so saturated with mako energy.

"Just let him die" Ryan said before turning away.

That pissed you off, "No, I will not!" you told him in determination. Then turned back to Zack, "He needs a blood transfusion, without it he'll overdose on mako, thats why he's not waking up, his body can't handle the mako and he's using all of his energy to try to fight it off" you explained. Zack held his head in pain, you couldn't blame him, this was extremely shocking. "Do you know his blood type?" you asked.

Zack shook his head, you frowned for a moment before realizing it didn't matter. You rushed back to the medical cabinet and began gathering more syringes, a few blood bags. Zack seemed to snap out of whatever trance he was in when you went to extract your own blood.

"Autumn what the hell are you doing?" Zack asked, a panicked expression on his face, as he grabbed your arm.

"I'm a universal donor, I can save him" You told him. Zack's eyes widened in realization, you saw a look of hope flash across his eyes before he frowned

"No, I can't let you" Zack said looking away, "You're already weak, you've been tortured for days, I won't let you hurt yourself."

You pulled away from him and went to Cloud's side. "I need to save him, I have a chance to, I need to take it" you told him with tears in your eyes. Zack shook his head and was about to speak but you cut him off. "I couldn't save Jace but I can save Cloud, I need to try" you told him.

Zack let out a long sigh. "Fine" he said, "But if i think for one second your life is in danger I will stop you"

You smiled and asked Zack to help you. You walked him through the prep for the blood transfusion and he helped you extract twenty vials of Cloud's mako contaminated blood.

"Sure this is what my brother would want you to do, throw your life away" Ryan chimed in. But you ignored him, right now the only thing that matters is saving Cloud.

You took two pints of your own blood, double the normal donation. You were hoping to dilute Cloud's blood enough with your own so that his body could eradicate the rest of the mako energy. Maybe in a few days you could donate more, but you're already feeling the effects of blood loss. You were dizzy but if you waited much longer you worried that Cloud wouldn't make it. You as you finished setting up the saline and the blood bag for the transfusion you pinched the bridge of your nose, you were so dizzy. You closed your eyes for a moment…

"Autumn" Zack nearly cried it out as he caught you, "We're stopping this now, its too much for you" Zack as he worriedly looked between you and Cloud.

"Its done now, we just need to wait for the transfusion to complete" you told him, you were too weak to stand, Zack sunk to the ground and pulled you into his lap. You explained to Zack how to remove the transfusion apparatus, you were worried you wouldn't be able to stay awake, you're so tired.

Zack kept trying to get you to drink something but you couldn't keep it down, you needed sugar or protein, anything to give you some energy, but the turks would only feed you once a day and there was nothing. You closed your eyes again, you thought it was for a moment, you heard Zack calling your name, he sounded so worried, you knew you should open your eyes but you couldn't all you wanted to do was sleep.

Your eyes fluttered open, you realized that you were in Zack's lap and he was absently running his fingers through your hair, when he noticed you were waking up, he helped you sit up, you were still so weak form yesterday.

"How do you feel?" he asked concern clear on his face.

"So dizzy" you told him holding your head in pain. "I'm sorry for worrying you" You said with a frown.

Zack shook his head, "Thank you for saving Cloud" he told you. You frowned again, you may have helped defeat or at least slowed down the mako poisoning but you still weren't sure if Cloud would wake up let alone survive, but you didn't want to tell Zack that. You shifted and carefully stood up, Zack jumped up to help you as you wobbled a bit. It must be very early because the Turks haven't brought your meal yet. You wanted to check on Cloud, first you checked his pulse- it was still weak but stronger than yesterday, he needed an iv but there was none in the lab. You looked his muscular arms the bruises were already starting to heal but it would be a while before his veins heal, you frowned, now that the bruises were lighter you could see just how many injections they performed. You weren't sure whats worse, your daily beating from Hojo or the experimentation Cloud must have endured. You check his pupils again, they were still a bit dilated but visibly better than yesterday. Even his breathing wasn't as labored. "Do you think he'll wake up anytime soon?" Zack asked.

"I'm not sure" you replied quietly, "I'll do everything I can to help him."

The turks brought your food, but they only brought enough for three, they didn't think Cloud would wake up. You put aside some of your food for Cloud just in case he wakes up. Zack saw what you were doing and made you take it back as he put half of his own aside, you were about to argue when Zack just shook his head, "You're not winning this one," Zack said and turned away, "God your big hazel eyes, now I know why Jace wanted to give you the world" Zack mumbled that last part, realizing what he said he looked to you hoping that he didn't upset you, you knew he meant well, and he'd never speak ill of Jace. "You need to eat, you're still weak from yesterday, I don't know the medical jargon but I know you need food for energy" He said, "I know you want to take care of Cloud but you can't do that if you pass out again."

You smiled at him, "I'll try to take care of myself too" you told him, For the first time in a while Zack flashed his trademark grin.

You were startled when the door to the hallway opened and Hojo stood in the doorway. "hmm our test subject made it through the night, it appears you passed my test, you lying minx" Then he motioned for some Turk to grab you, Zack tried his best to defend you but he was exhausted and outnumbered. " maybe you will give up your mother's secrets today."