Chapter XV

By: DrunkpoOdle

~~~

recap: Reno rushes out on a hunch leaving Casca at his place worrying after being attacked by Cole and his little monsters.

After two hours of trying to make himself useful, Rude got up and set his collection of printed sheets on the desk next to the laser printer. He could tell Elena had really tried to make him feel included in her work on Hojo's files but she gradually began to explain less and less until she quit talking altogether...to him, that is. Listening halfheartedly to her mumbled thoughts, he reexamined the room's furnishings for the fiftieth time. He had been ready to stand and familiarize himself with her kitchen when Pickle hopped off of a nearby bookshelf and onto Rude's lap.

The spoiled kitty made a show of purring and rubbing against Rude's arm. After looking to Elena for help, and seeing that she wasn't even paying attention, he picked up the cat and pet her head a few times. Pickle purred with renewed vigor at Rude's show of affection. Soon Rude was beginning to wonder why he never kept any pets of his own...that is, until Pickle became overly interested in the shiny black things on Rude's face.

"No, you can't have those," he reprimanded, forgetting himself and setting the shades on the desk. He continued to pamper the cat until Elena shut off the computer and stood up with a yawn. She collected her work and opened her mouth to inform Rude that she was finished. She stopped, however, mouth gaping for Rude was standing there bare-eyed for the first time since she'd met him. They were an exquisite amber, relaxed at first glance but upon keener observation she could discern an ever-present seriousness that she assumed would never go away.

It took him mere seconds to feel her eyes on him and he looked up slowly. Somehow she'd managed to close her mouth but she was still staring into his eyes. And Elena got the feeling she would be staring until he finally recovered and put his shades back on.

Rude's mouth became mysteriously dry in a matter of seconds and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't swallow. It was as if his own body wouldn't respond to his mental screaming and the only thought that was allowed to develop was 'Elena'.

No. It couldn't be him that she was looking at. She'd made it pretty clear she wasn't ready to look at him like that.

Then why did her eyes not leave his? Why did her breath just catch in her throat and why did she slowly start coming towards him?

* * * * * *

Reno had been jogging for what seemed like forever through the rundown maze of dilapidated buildings and pothole-ridden streets. He'd left his car parked assuredly in a lot outside a gas station. He smirked knowing nothing would happen to it even years after ShinRa and all its glory had been brought to the ground.

He jogged on down the narrow alley between two truck garages and stopped. Up until then he'd let his feet do all the work. He knew where he would eventually end up but not how his feet intended to get him there. He'd only been there once after the accident but somehow he'd committed the route to memory.

He stood there catching his breath in the dusty complex. He though of Casca back at his apartment and frowned. She was probably worried to death. She'd practically begged him not to go, not to leave her there. But then again, she'd only expressed her fears about her attackers returning to take her away. She really didn't make that big a fuss about him leaving, did she?

There he went getting those damn hopes up. Why the hell should she be worried about him when he only knew her for a few days.. He'd worked for the very company that hunted her people down for research against their will. She would be damned foolish to worry.

Reno, don't even kid yourself.

He exited the alley into a dirt intersection where the stale, but bittersweet, scent of sawdust tickled his nose.

Well, it looked like his feet hadn't lost their touch.

He followed the scent until the menacing face of the old warehouse came into vision. Looming behind a rusted caged of barbed wire and mesh fencing, the warehouse sent chills down his spine to the fingertips resting on the fence in front of him.

Without a second thought he proceeded through the long broken lock of the gate's entrance. After no more than two steps toward the warehouse, a familiar pain resurfaced in his abdomen pulling him into an inky blackness.

* * * * * *

Rude was still unable to speak and couldn't remember ever feeling that powerless in his whole life. She was inches away from him, and as if he could sense the magic of the situation Pickle remained still and quiet.

Elena couldn't remember ever being this close to his in the entire time she'd known him. Sure there were times they been practically smashed together in confined places for cover before taking out a target but this was different...completely different. She could always stand this close to him physically and not feel the connection she was feeling now.

No, her mind screamed at her. Tseng. Were all of the things she'd felt for him gone forever? Did one look into Rude's eyes erase all of her stale yearnings for her lost love?

Elens had been completely unaware of just how close their faces were until her PHS, startling all three out of their hypnotism, came alive with its insistent beeping.

They both looked around dumbfounded for a moment before it registered that it was a PHS that had just rang and it was Elena's. She fumbled with it with shaky hands before hitting the TALK button.

"Yeah?"

"This is Casca...You know, from the hospital."

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

"I...I don't think he wanted me to say anything. He was pretty set on solving this himse--"

" Who's 'He'?" Elena interrupted, already beginning to worry.

"Um...Reno. He left about and hour and a half ago on a hunch. I tried to tell myself he'd be ok but I feel something's wrong. I understand if you think I sound crazy but I just know something awful's going to happen."

Rude watched as Elena's brows creased in concern.

"Do you have any idea where he went?"

"No. He wouldn't tell me. He just told me not leave the apartment or let anyone in, and the he'd be back. But that was a while ago and..."

Elena could tell she was trying to control her tears.

"Well, we'll be over in a little while."

"Wait. There was something else. On the way here we got attacked."

"Was anybody hurt?" she asked immediately. Rude tensed.

"Reno was hurt pretty bad but I...I healed him. I didn't get a real good look because Reno made sure I got here safe before he fought them."

"Damn. We'll be there soon, and still don't let anyone in, ok? I'll call before I come up."

"Ok."

When Elena put her PHS back inside her jacket she realized quite disappointedly that Rude had put his shades back on.

"What happened?"

"I'll explain in the car."

* * * * * *

Lao-Anne rubbed the bridge of her nose wearily. All this time and she still didn't have the Ancient in her possession. Giovanna had finally fallen asleep after another episode of screams and wails, however fitfully. From the looks of things she definitely wouldn't see the project to its end. That fact just made Lao-Anne wish the Cetra was here even more so that she could use Specimen B before it was too late.

*crunch crunch*

She groaned in frustration. How was she ever going to find that girl now? Cole hadn't seen which way she went. She couldn't have gone back to HQ, that would be too obvious.

*crunch*

How in the world did Laenin ever manage to acquire everything he needed for his projects?

*crunch crun--*

"Cole!" He stopped in mid crunch. "Will you thrown those damned things away or eat them some place else!"

He looked from her to his can of chips with an almost hurt expression on his face.

"Your Planet-forsaken Jingles are driving me insane!"

"...Pringles," he corrected quietly.

"I don't care what they're called! If I hear them again I'll make it my last feat to turn you into one."

Begrudgingly, he placed the round plastic top back on his snack and set it down on the table. Peace finally restored, Loa-Anne returned to her thoughts.

Now how can I get my hands on this Cetra?

Surely her brother didn't chase every specimen of his down. He must have...

Her eyes lit up for the first time in weeks.

He must have had them brought to him! Immediately a plan took form in her overworked brain.

"C'mon Cole, we have work to do." She snatched her coat and was out the door before Cole could even get over her change in attitude. Finally outside, he was only able to catch up with her because she'd stopped.

"Where are we...what?" he asked after noticing her gaze. Her only answer was to slowly begin in the direction of the unconscious figure on the ground at the gate.

* * * * * *

A.N:

"Once you pop, the fun don't stop!"

*Damn* it's been forever since my last update on this story but i finally got one out. I'm really sorry for those of you who were still waiting but like i mentioned on the review page, things were seriously working against me. Every time i got a healthy bit of chapter finished my comp crashed or refused to function. The solution...A NEW PUTER!!! I've been restarting chapters ever since i got this new comp and i finally posted sumthin!

I'll try to get the next chapter out before the end of the month but i have soooo many pieces to catch up on it's frightening.

Oh, and for Firestarter, the first chapter is now called "A New Start"

Again, thanx to all my reviewers for reminding me that i still have readers out there.

Until next time!

Xie Xie Ni!!

~DP