NEVER FORGET

CHAPTER THREE

Sephiroth let out an anguished cry as he saw Cloud fall. Everything seemed to go in slow motion. The Turks turned and left. Someone rushed to Cloud, while someone else said soothingly, "It's all right. She's a doctor." That person led him to Cloud's side, helping him down to his knees. He took Cloud's hand and stared only at Cloud's face. He dared not look at the wound, he knew it would break him. People were crowded around. He heard voices, but no words. Then paramedics came, and took Cloud away. Their landlady arrived; the middle-aged woman was visibly shaken, but she comfoted Sephiroth as best as she could. She took him back to the apartment and helped him pack some things, then took him to the hospital.

Sephiroth numbly filled out some forms. A nurse showed him the room Cloud would be staying in, then took him to the gift shop to get flowers and a teddy bear for Cloud - she even paid for them out of her own pocket.

When they finally brought Cloud into his room, Sephiroth was sitting in a chair by the window, sipping tea and staring bleakly out into the black, black night. His hand shaking, he placed the cup on the window ledge and stood, approaching the bed when Cloud was placed on it.

"How is he?" He finally found his voice and wasn't even embarrassed to hear it shaking.

The doctor admitted that Cloud was very lucky to be alive. He had never seen anyone take a bullet from that close and be able to live to see a day that he could tell about it. Sephiroth didn't take in anymore of the doctor's words, and noticing that Sephiroth wasn't even really listening, the doctor left and closed the door behind him.

Sephiroth looked down at Cloud's face. He was so pale. And hooked up to those machines... Sephiroth closed his eyes tightly against a sudden hot sting of tears. He reached down and held Cloud's hand, which just seemed so very lifeless. "Cloud, I love you," he whispered brokenly. "Fight hard for me. Get strong again soon and then we can go home." Tears streamed openly down his face as he stood for a few minutes, looking down at Cloud. So many questions floated through his mind as time passed. It seemed like days. He was only vaguely aware that the hospital was clearing. But Sephiroth hardly moved. When a nurse came in to tell him he should go, he only raised his head slowly and stared at her, expressionless. She looked back for a few heartbeats until she left. No one came back to tell him to leave.

After standing for a good hour, Sephiroth eventually moved, putting the two chairs in the room close together, facing each other. He took a blanked and pillow down from the closet in the room and settled down next to the bed, drifting into a restless and troubled sleep.

The darkness fell over Icicle Inn. Sephiroth sat apart from the others in the restaurant. He looked only at his food, or at Cloud. Nothing mattered but Cloud. The events of 6 years ago, and of last year, had cost them both much. But the bond and the love they had shared before... how could that be given up so easily? Sephiroth wasn't about to let go of Cloud, or ignore his heart.

Night progressed, and they retired to a sitting area outside their rooms. Cid lit a fire as the others sat - Sephiroth was once again slightly apart. He watched the dancing flames as the others talked - somehow managing to avoid the most obvious topic that hung heavily in the air. But no one bothered to really bring it up. Sephiroth would let out a small sigh of relief each time there was a small gap in the flow of conversation but he wasn't mentionied. He glanced over to where Cloud sat, on a couch with Tifa in his arm. She was staring right at Sephiroth - with an expression that almost made his blood run cold. All the hatred she had for him was stored ion that stare, and Sephiroth hated himself all that much more for it all, for the past. As much as he wanted to, there was no way to turn back time, to erase the mistakes of years gone by.

Finally their day was drawing to a close - not soon enough for Sephiroth. He was the first to his feet, retreating to his room. He noticed his hand trembling as he closed his door, and he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He shed his clothes, throwing them in a clump on a chair, and with great relief he sank into the warm, comfortable bed. Time passed slowly, as he lay on his back, hands on his chest, staring into the darnkess of the lonely room. He couldn't really recall the last time he had been alone in a bed. Immediately, upon that thought, he longed for Cloud... for his touch, his lips, his body.

He stayed like that for at least an hour, reflecting on his time with Cloud. Perhaps it had been inappropriate to have a relationship with him - Cloud had, after all, barelyl been fifteen when they had discovered each other. Sephiroth, however, had felt - and still did - that it was the best thing that could have happened to each of them. When he looked back on what they had shared, he just couldn't imagine it not being a part of his life.

The sound of the door opening and closing quickly brought Sephiroth back to the present. Had his senses not been heightened as they were, he might not have even noticed the soft sound - this intruder was good. However, in the pitch blackness of the room, he saw nothing. His ears only barely registered the sound of light footsteps. Sephiroth kept his breathing steady, staring up into the darnkess, keeping his senses open to whatever might happen.

Moonlight briefly glinted off of steel.

Cloud's sword.

Sephiroth awoke sharply, hearing the sound of Cloud moaning. He threw back his blankets and stood, looking down at Cloud.

"Uhh... Sephiroth..." He stirred slightly.

Sephiroth reached down and took Cloud's hand. "I'm here for you," he said softly. "I'm always here." He brushed the blond bangs back from his forehead with his free hand, feeling mixed emotions of relief, worry, pain and anger flooding through him all at once. He let his finger trail lightly over Cloud's cheek, wondering how and why this had happened, and who had brought the Turks back? And... what had happened to the original Turks? No one actually knew - whether they had fled, or were killed in the destruction of Midgar's large city. If he knew - he would go hurt someone to get some answers.

When Sephiroth felt Cloud's fingers tighten around his hand, a smile of relief crossed his face. "I'm glad you're still with me," he murmured. "Just sleep, sweetheart." He held onto Cloud's hand until he was certain he was asleep again then he went back to his chair and sank into his own less then peacefull sleep.

He didn't move. He managed to keep his breathing steady as he watched the glinting blade above him.

Suddenly the sword came down and in a swift movement, Sephiroth managed to take the blade between his hands and he held it steady. If he could hold it like that - the attacker couldn't possibly be Cloud.

He pulled the sword away and tossed it aside just as his attacker lunged at him. A small but strong body pinned him down, hands tightly gripped his throat.

Tifa. He could vaguely see her face now, glaring in hatred and rage.

Just as deftly as he had stopped the sword, Sephiroth rolled so that he was now pinning Tifa down. "You can't kill me," he said calmly.

"Like hell I can't," she hissed.

"Tifa, I'm not here to cause trouble."

"I don't believe you!"

Sephiroth reached up with one hand and held onto Tifa's throat, a hint of the evil coming back. He leaned his face close. "I could easily snap your neck," he whispered harshly. "But I won't. Because I'm not like that anymore." He carefully got off the bed, picked up the sword and handed it back to her. "But - kill me if you must..."

She stared at him in disbelief. He obviously didn't want to die, but he was putting up no real resistence. She didn't know what to think. All she did was take the sword back and she left the room.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Sephiroth sank back into his bed. He stared into the darkness for a long time again before he finally fell asleep.

"You're a lucky young man," the doctor was telling Cloud when Sephiroth walked into the room a few days later. He set a vase of flowers - from their landlady - down on the table next to the bed, then leaned over and kissed Cloud's cheek. "He certainly is," he said. "Lucky, strong-willed, and too damn stubborn to let one little bullet stop him."

The doctor looked uncomfortable to see the display of affection between two men. He cleared his throat. "The Mako in your system has helped speed your recovery," he continued. "But it could also cause some problems. There have been a few cases of strange things recently happening to the young men and woman who were in Soldier and infused with Mako. I'd like to keep you here two more days, and then keep a slight monitor on you for a few weeks."

Cloud nodded. "That sounds fine.

Sephiroth nodded, and held onto Cloud's hand. "But he will be all right, won't he?" he asked.

"Oh, I'm quite sure," the doctor said. "We've only had for of these cases I mentioned. And about 5 other cases from around the world. Nothing entirely distressing - recurring illnesses, old wounds making nuisances of themselves again. It has been something we can't figure out."

Cloud looked a little nervous, but the doctor shook his head. "Don't worry, Cloud," he said. "Remember - these are only nine cases, and there were, what, a few thousand people in Soldier?" He gave a smile. "I'm sure you'll be fine, but I don't want to take any chances."

Cloud nodded again. "I understand completely."

"Good," the doctor said. "Just take it easy, and if you experience anything out of the ordinary, let me know immediately."

"Will do."

The doctor left the room, closing the door behind him.

Cloud made a face. "Ugh... three more days of hospital food."

With a chuckle, Sephiroth patted Cloud's cheek. "Just remember, sweetie... you're not suffering alone."

"Don't call me that."

One of Sephiroth's eyebrows popped up and a grin tugged at his lips. "But why, sweetie?" he asked, laughter in his voice.

"Whenever you call me 'sweetie', it means you're making fun of me."

Sephiroth chuckled softly, sitting on the edge of the bed, and flashing Cloud an innocent, wide-eyed gaze. "Would I do that?"

Cloud smiled. "Of course you would."

"Aww..." Sephiroth pouted playfully. He glanced down at the bed. "You know... you have a nice little place here," he mused. "Big bed, private room... even a half-decent radio." He smiled wickedly.

Cloud's eyes widened. "You couldn't possibly be thinking..."

Sephiroth started to crawl forward wiht a little growl.

"I ... I just got shot five days ago...!" Cloud protested.

"Just last night," Sephiroth murmured, "you told me you felt like you could run a marathon."

"Yes, but-"

"Hey, dont worry... I'll be gentle."