Ill Wind

As Rufus had predicted, activity from GALEFORCE, while it didn't come to a standstill, at least slowed to a crawl in the months following Darkin's death. According to all intelligence reports, the members of the group were fighting amongst themselves concerning the choice of a new leader. There were a few isolated attacks on Shin-Ra personnel, and on the Turks, but no fatalities. Because of the lull in attacks, all the Turks, not only Kerri, found themselves spending more time in their offices. So, while she might be bored, at least she wasn't bored alone.

As the weeks wore on and Kerri's pregnancy began to show, Reno was the cause of much amusement to his fellow Turks. From his attitude, one would have thought that he was the first man in the world to get a woman pregnant. Even after Rude compared his behavior to that of a male chocobo, it didn't dampen the redhead's spirits in the least. When Dr. Edra told them they were going to have a son, Reno was absolutely thrilled at the idea. He couldn't wait for the baby to be born, though he wasn't quite as enthusiastic about the actual birthing process.

One night when Reno and Kerri were laying in bed talking after making love, Reno's hand resting on her stomach, he felt the baby kick for the first time. “Holy shit,” he breathed. “There's really something in there, huh?”

“I really hope so,” Kerri replied, smiling at the expression on his face. She had been feeling the movements for quite some time now, but this was the first time it had been strong enough for someone else to feel.

Reno was quiet for a few minutes, stroking her belly and hoping to feel the baby move again. Without looking at her, he said, “I want to tell you something, babe.”

“Go ahead,” she answered.

Still, he hesitated. Since the night he'd made her admit that she loved him, he hadn't brought it up again, and he knew Kerri thought he'd forgotten. Far from it. He'd merely been trying to gather the courage to tell her how he felt, and now he figured it was way past time she knew. “I love you, Kerri,” he said, and was surprised to hear her soft laughter. “What? What's funny?” he asked.

“I've known that for a while now,” she said.

“How?”

Kerri raised her hand and caressed his face, trailing a finger over one of his tattoos. “You talk in your sleep, Reno.”

“I've said that in my sleep?” he wanted to know.

“A lot,” Kerri confirmed, and he laughed.

“And you never said anything. Why not?” Reno asked.

Kerri shrugged. “I knew you'd say it while you were awake when you were ready.”



To Kerri's surprise, Rude was quite happy about the baby as well. He thought of Reno as a brother, after all, and he liked Kerri very much. Reno suggested that they ask the quiet man to be their son's godfather, and Kerri was in complete agreement. Rude was deeply touched when Reno asked him, and agreed at once. “Why me?” he asked.

Reno grinned. “Who's kept me in line all these years if not you?”

“You have a point,” Rude agreed.



Rufus had chosen Reno and Tseng to accompany him on a business trip, leaving Kerri home alone. Or so she thought. Rude had actually been an almost constant visitor for the past two days. Normally, Kerri loved his company, considering that they shared a passion for reading. However, she was entering her sixth month of pregnancy and felt heavy, tired, and moody, and couldn't seem to keep from lashing out at her friends. The fact that they all seemed so understanding irritated her even more for some reason.

"Bad mood?" Rude asked.

"What do you think?" Kerri snapped as she continued slamming plates down. Dammit, she wasn't dying! Reno wouldn't allow her to lift a finger, Rufus had put her on office duty as soon as he found out, Tseng informed Rufus and Reno if he saw her "exerting herself too much," Elena all but cooed over her, and now this. Reno had apparently enlisted Rude to babysit her while he was away.

She winced and put a hand on her stomach. "Kerri?" Rude said, concerned.

"I'm fine! The baby just kicked." She looked at Rude and was immediately ashamed of herself. There was such a look of tender curiosity on his face that she smiled. Sometimes she forgot that Rude loved Reno like a brother.

She went to him and took his hand, placing it on her taut, rounded stomach, ignoring his blush. "Hey, little guy. This is your Uncle Rude." At that moment the baby kicked again, and for the first time Kerri saw a delighted smile spread over Rude's face.



Nearly seven months along now, Kerri had been forced to stay home more often due to the simple fact that she felt too clumsy to drive. She had to slide the seat far back to fit her belly behind the wheel, and then she couldn't reach the pedals easily. She hadn't been out in several days, and when Elena asked her to come with her to go out to lunch and shopping, Kerri jumped at the chance. When she asked Reno if he minded, he told her he thought it would be fun for her. It was a decision the three of them would bitterly regret.

Reno accompanied the women down to the lobby, where he kissed Kerri goodbye and joked about how he and Rude could watch the cycle races in peace now. Kerri scowled and pretended to punch him in the face, and he laughed, catching her fist and kissing it. He stood watching, waving as Elena's car passed by the doors. He started to turn back toward the elevators when all hell broke loose.



The GALEFORCE terrorist looked into the strained but merciless face of the bald Turk and knew he was going to die. He only hoped it would be quick. The black haired man behind him tightened his grip as the other one walked towards him.

"You placed a bomb in one of the Shin-Ra cars." Rude said. The man said nothing. Rude leaned down. "You killed my godson."

"No!" the terrorist said. "I saw it pass by! There were two female Turks in it, no child!"

Rude backhanded him, nearly knocking him out of Tseng's grip.

"One of them was pregnant! If your bomb hadn't been faulty, they all would have died." Tseng spat as he pulled him back up.

Rude tightened his gloves; Tseng tightened his grip. This piece of shit was going to die, but not quickly. Rude could no more grant him the mercy of a quick death than he could forget the agony on Reno's face when the doctor told him that Kerri had lost their unborn child.



“Dead?” Rufus Shinra asked the two Turks as soon as they walked into the hospital room where the two women lay unconscious. The doctors had been disapproving but Rufus was adamant. They would not be split up, half of the group in one room and half in another.

“Of course, sir,” Tseng answered. Rude said nothing, but wore a look of grim satisfaction that faded as he looked at Reno. The redhead sat as he had when they left, next to Kerri's bed with her hand enfolded in his burned ones, and his eyes fixed on her face. He gave no sign that he had heard, but went on speaking to her in a low, gentle voice. He'd been murmuring to her since she was brought to the room, hoping that she could somehow hear him and be comforted by knowing he was there.

“Good,” Rufus said. His expression was sad but his tone was vicious. “Did he suffer?”

“Like the damned,” Rude said, and Rufus nodded. If Rude said it was so, then it was. Besides, he missed very little, and he knew how Rude had felt about the couple's expected child. Only Reno and Kerri themselves would have taken a more bitter revenge.

Tseng meanwhile had crossed to the chair beside Elena's bed and sat down. His position mirrored Reno's as he took her hand. His lips thinned as he looked at her bruised and bandaged face. This was the second time he had almost lost her, the first being when they had been tortured by the Remnants of Sephiroth. He hadn't been able to tell her then that he loved her, but he promised himself that this time he would. This had brought home to him how uncertain was their way of life, and he didn't want to waste a moment more of the time they had.



The bomb had been placed beneath the engine. If it had worked the way it was intended, the entire car would have been blown up and both women would be dead along with the child. Thankfully it had been faulty, but had enough force to shatter the motor. It had exploded just as the car reached the entry gates of the Shin-Ra building. Shrapnel had flown through the windshield and firewall, leaving gashes and bruises over most of their bodies, the concussion along with the injuries rendering them unconscious. Additionally, a larger piece of debris had struck Kerri in the abdomen. By the time the doctors had gotten there, it was too late to save the child. She had miscarried on the way to the hospital, only two months away from her due date. Neither she nor Elena had awoken since.

Reno had walked Kerri and Elena to the front doors that morning, hanging around to wave goodbye to them. Thus he had been nearest when the explosion happened, and had been the first to reach them. By the time the rest of the Turks had gotten there, he had already pulled them both out of the car, sustaining severe burns on his hands in the process. Tseng had called for the ambulance on his phone while he and Rude were running to the scene. Reno had been raving, and when Tseng bent over to help carry the women away from the burning wreck, the younger man had turned and knocked him down. Tseng believed Reno was still unaware of doing so.

Before the ambulance arrived, President Rufus himself had joined them, and it had taken all three men to hold Reno back from getting in the ambulance with Kerri. By then, it had been obvious that Kerri was losing the baby, and none of them wanted the father to see it happen. It had been Rude's calm voice that had gotten through to the frantic Turk, Rude who had made him see that he needed to be strong for Kerri, even though Rude's own heart was breaking at the knowledge that Reno's son would not live.

The doctor had told Reno about the miscarriage once they arrived at the hospital, while Rufus was ordering that both women be in the same room, and he had staggered as if from a physical blow. The agony on his face at that moment would stay with Rude forever, but all his friend had said was, “Find them, Rude. Find the monsters who killed my son. I need to be with Kerri when she wakes up.” He had been at her side ever since.



Elena stirred, and Tseng's eyes widened and he squeezed her hand. She opened her eyes and looked at him, puzzled, then closed them again as the pain registered. “Tseng? What has happened? Kerri and I were going shopping. Why do I hurt so much?”

Rufus and Rude hastily drew near at the sound of her voice, and even Reno looked over for a moment with relief in his eyes. “What do you remember, Elena?” asked Rufus.

“I remember leaving the garage. After that, there's nothing. Did I wreck?” She gasped suddenly. “Kerri!”

Tseng stroked her hair tenderly. “Kerri is in the bed beside you. She's alive.” He couldn't bring himself to tell her yet that the baby was gone, but it was a wasted gesture.

“I want to see. Help me sit up,” she insisted.

“No, Elena, you're not able...” Tseng protested, not wanting her to see Kerri just yet, not wanting her to realize.

“I said help me up! She's my friend, I have to see for myself.” she demanded. Well, obviously her stubbornness hadn't been injured. Tseng looked helplessly at Rufus, who shrugged and nodded. Tseng put his arm carefully under the blond's shoulders and helped her slowly to a sitting position. Elena looked over at her friend and hissed at the sight of the wounds on her face. “Is she going to live?” she whispered.

“Yes,” Rufus said. “The doctors have assured us that both of you will be fine.” He cut his eyes towards Rude, who also had an expression of dread on his face.

“Oh, thank heaven,” Elena sighed. She looked again at Kerri's face, and raised a hand to her own. “I suppose I look just as bad,” she remarked. “What exactly hap...” Her words cut off abruptly and the men surrounding her knew she had caught sight of Kerri's now flat stomach. “Oh, no, no, no,” she moaned, tears standing in her eyes. “Not the baby, please, not the baby!”

“Shhh, Elena.” Tseng sat down on the bed beside her and put his arms around her as she began to weep. “Please, don't cry. You need to stay calm.”

“It's all my fault,” she answered. “I was driving, it's my fault.” She was approaching hysteria, and Tseng was feeling utterly helpless, when Rufus's voice cut harshly across her words.

“It was not your fault, Elena. A bomb was planted in the car. It went off just as you reached the gates. The culprit has been dealt with, permanently.”

His sharp tone actually seemed to calm her. “The person who did it...they're dead?” she asked.

It was Rude who answered. “More than dead. In pieces. An inch at a time,” he said viciously, and a matching expression crossed Elena's face. “Thank you, Rude,” she told him, understanding that it was he who was responsible. She looked towards the other bed again. “Reno,” she called softly, and he looked at her. “I'm so very sorry, Reno. I should have told her no when she asked if she could go with me. I shouldn't have taken her, I...”

“Hush, Lei Lei,” he said, not unkindly, using his pet name for her, and she did. “Didn't you hear the boss? It's not your fault.” He tried to smile at her, but wasn't able to manage it. “She was bored. Hadn't been anywhere in days, sitting around the house. She was bored, she wanted to go with you...just bored and...” His eerie calm began to shatter, and Rude turned, put a hand on his shoulder. “She was just fucking bored!” Reno cried. “She only wanted to get out of the apartment for a while! She just wanted to go somewhere with a friend and for that they tried to kill her and Lei Lei? For that they killed our baby? FUCK!” he screamed. He released Kerri's hand and put his own to his face, sobbing. Rude dropped to his knees beside the chair and pulled him into a rough embrace. Reno clutched at him like a drowning man.

Tears were streaming down Elena's face now, and she squeezed Tseng's hand almost to the point of pain. She could hear Reno muttering incoherently against Rude's shoulder, could hear Rude's low, soothing voice, though not what he was saying. She supposed that the words themselves weren't important, it was the tone Rude was using, the one he always used when trying to calm the volatile redhead, albeit more tender than she had ever heard before. And it seemed to be getting through this time as well. Little by little Reno regained control, finally raising his head and wiping at his swollen eyes. She noticed his hands for the first time then, and wished she could embrace him herself. There was only one way he could have gotten those burns, and that was from pulling them from the car. Reno had saved their lives, and his payment had been the death of his unborn son. Elena dropped her head to Tseng's shoulder and began to weep softly. The big man lowered his lips to her hair, tears standing in his own eyes.



Rude had escorted Rufus home for the night, while Reno and Tseng remained at the hospital. A meal had been brought for the two of them, which neither of them wanted but ate merely to keep their strength up. Elena looked on a bit jealously since she was restricted to a liquid diet. She had fallen asleep soon afterwards from the pain medication.

Kerri still had not awoken, and Reno was sick with worry, visions of her slipping into a coma flooding his mind. The doctors kept assuring him that it was unlikely, but it did little to stop the fear. He kept up a constant stream of talk, hoping like mad that she would hear and respond, would come back to him.

“Do you think she's in pain, Tseng?” Reno asked, voicing one of his biggest fears.

“Tseng looked at Reno in the darkened room., shaking his head. “No. I think she's below it right now. She's not in a coma, she's unconscious. But I think you're in pain. You should let a doctor treat those burns, Reno.”

So far he'd not allowed them to so much as look at his hands, had barely even felt the injuries. Now, though, after the first burst of adrenalin and shock had worn off, it was beginning to register. It was a distraction he didn't need at this point. He nodded. “Maybe you're right. Can you go get someone to do it? I won't leave Kerri,” he said as if Tseng had ordered him to do so.

Without a word Tseng rose from the chair and crossed to the door. “And no bandages, yo.” Reno added. “She won't be able to feel my hands through bandages.” His voice hitched at these last words and he turned his face away from his superior.

After Tseng left, Reno lay his head on the bed and closed his eyes, one hand resting on Kerri's blanket covered legs. He was so tired, so heartsore. “Come back to me, babe,” he whispered. “I need you so much.”



Kerri turned her head to the side and opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Reno's bright hair spread on the blanket beside her, and she smiled painfully. She had no idea what had happened. Her last memory was of opening the car door while laughing at something Elena had said. After that it was all darkness. Obviously she'd been in an accident. Her first thought was of her baby, but she simply didn't have the courage to turn her head, to look down at her stomach. Instead, she raised her hand and stroked his mussed hair.

His eyes flew open at her touch. “Kerri!” he cried softly, grabbing her hand. “Thank heaven, you're awake!” He leaned over, placing gentle kisses all over her swollen face. “How do you feel, babe?”

“Like Rude used me for a trampoline,” she answered, and he smiled. “What happened to me? And where's Elena?” she asked fearfully.

He leaned back a bit and gestured towards the other bed. “Oh, no. Is she...” Kerri began.

“She's going to be fine,” Reno said. “She's just sleeping now. She woke up earlier.” He caressed her arm. “You always do like to sleep late, don't you, yo?” he teased. She smiled wanly.

“The doctors gave you something for pain. Are you hurting anywhere? Tseng went to find someone to take care of my hands...don't worry, they don't hurt that much...” He was dreading the moment when she would ask the inevitable question. She took one of his hands and looked at it, wincing.

“What happened?” she whispered, her eyes full of fear.

He sighed. “Someone planted a bomb in the car you and Lei Lei used. It went off, but it was faulty. I saw it from inside and I ran to you and pulled you both out...that's what happened to my hands...I don't even feel it that much, yo.” He was babbling and Kerri was so terrified that she knew why.

She looked into his eyes then, and he knew what came next. “The baby? Our son, Reno?”

He opened his mouth but could say nothing. His throat felt blocked against the words he didn't want to speak. He closed his mouth, shut his eyes, and shook his head. “I'm sorry, babe.” he mouthed.

*****

Down the hall Tseng heard Kerri's heartbroken wail and took off running towards the room, followed by the doctor. He burst in to find her cradled in Reno's arms, clutching at her belly, still screaming. Reno was trying his best to keep her from injuring herself, but having a hard time. The doctor pulled out a hypodermic and started towards her. “A sedative...” he muttered softly, but Reno caught sight of the needle.

“I'll fucking kill you if you stick her with that thing,” he said, and the flat shine of murder in his eyes showed that he meant it. The man looked scared, but continued advancing towards Kerri. “Tseng! You better stop him, because I'm serious!”

Tseng asked no questions, but reached out and grabbed the man's collar, yanking him back, not doing it gently, either. The doctor squawked indignantly. “She needs to be sedated. She'll injure herself, and she'll disturb other patients.”

“I'll keep her from hurting herself, and I don't give a shit if she disturbs all of Edge. You're not putting her under! She has a right to grieve for our son, and you are going to let her grieve for our son, you asshole!” Reno snarled.

“Sedate her and I'll kill you myself,” a soft voice said, and Tseng looked over to see that Kerri's screams had awoken Elena. She looked furious. And in spite of the cuts, the bruises, the swollen face, she also looked beautiful to Tseng. “The way I feel, you won't die easily.”

“Three Turks against one doctor,” Tseng said, mildly amused in spite of the situation, and the now very frightened man looked wildly at him. “What do you think of your odds?”



Epilogues

Reno found it hard to believe that the former members of AVALANCHE were once his enemies. It had been Vincent who helped Rude and Tseng track down the terrorist responsible for placing the car bomb. Cloud had stopped by the hospital to express his condolences. Tifa had brought flowers from Aeris's garden for Kerri, and she had also been the one with whom Rude had shared his own grief for his godson. Yuffie had visited several times, and her bubbly nature had helped to bring Kerri out of her depression a bit. Barrett and Cid had both been obviously ill at ease, but just as obviously determined to express their sympathy. Reno sincerely hoped that they never got on Rufus's bad side again. He didn't think he'd ever be able to raise a weapon against any of them if they did.



Kerri sat reading while Reno anxiously paced the floor of their apartment, glaring at her every so often. How can she be so calm? he thought. “Is it time yet?” he finally snapped.

Kerri glanced at the clock and nodded. She got up and went into the bathroom while Reno hovered around the door. “Well?” he asked.

She turned, holding the white pregnancy test strip in her hand, smiling at him. “Well what, Daddy?” she said.

Reno whooped, and before she knew what happened she was in his arms as he twirled her around the living room. “I knew it!” he yelled. Kerri could only laugh. She'd been sure for some time. She'd never forgotten how she had felt when she was pregnant with the child that was taken from them.



Elena narrowed her eyes at Reno as he once again walked into her office without knocking. “Hasn't Kerri managed to teach you any manners yet?” she asked. Looking at his wide smile, she asked, “And why are you so cheerful this early in the morning?”

Reno pulled a cigar from his pocket and flipped it to her. She caught it by reflex, realization dawning in her eyes as she looked at it. “Oh, Reno!” she said. “Kerri's pregnant?”

“Yep,” he said, perching on the edge of her desk. “We found out this morning.”

Elena jumped to her feet and threw her arms around him, almost tumbling him over. Laughing, he returned her hug. “I'm so happy for you both,” she said, and added silently, I pray you aren't cheated out of it this time.



Reno looked back as soon as he heard the door leading onto the roof open. "Hey, partner. I thought you might be Kerri, yo."

"She asked me to look for you," Rude admitted. Kerri had told him that Reno seemed depressed, but he didn't look that way to Rude. A bit sad, pensive even, but not depressed. He joined his friend at the ledge that ran around the edge of the roof. "Is there a problem?" he asked.

Reno shook his head. "Nah. The healers told us today. We're having a little girl."

"Are you disappointed it isn't a boy?" Rude questioned.

Reno looked at him. "Are you nuts? I don't care what the baby is as long as..." He dropped his head again and took a deep breath before continuing. "As long as we get to have it this time. I'm just scared, man."

Rude understood. He couldn't tell Reno that it would be all right. With their way of life, such statements were meaningless. Instead he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, lending him the silent comfort of his presence.