Rebirth

Chapter 31 - Friends

The sun rose over the canyon the next morning to find four sleeping forms lying around a
dieing fire. Vincent was the first to wake and he sat on the edge of the ledge overlooking
the canyon, watching the colors change on the walls opposite him. Behind him Barret
and Cid both snored loudly, and Red lay on his back with his paws in the air, his hind leg
twitching with some sort of dream that Vincent really didn't want to know about.

He looked around him at the sleeping trio with a bemused expression on his face. At that
moment, Cloud walked out of the den, bare-chested, wearing only his still damp trousers.
He stood and looked at the site of his friends, caught a look from Vincent, and stifled a
chuckle.

"That's the first time in days I've had occasion to laugh," he said to Vincent, a smile
growing on his face.

"That's a good thing. How is she?" asked Vincent.

"She's still sleeping, thank God," Cloud responded, walking over to sit by his friend. "I
am so hungry I could eat a horse."

"Well, I'm not sure if there are any of those around here, but how about this?" said
Vincent, pulling a nutria-bar out of his pack and throwing it over to Cloud. Cloud caught
it and ripped it open, biting off a big chunk.

"Is there any more of that water around?" he asked around a mouthful of food. Vincent
sighed and threw the water skin at him as well. Cloud grinned and said "thanks, Mom."

"Hey, ya got any more of those things?" said a sleepy Cid, rolling over to sit up straight.
Vincent threw the whole pack at Cid, hitting him in the head and knocking him back on
top of Barret, who promptly rolled over, threw a sleepy arm over his neck, and continued
to snore. At this, both Cloud and Vincent burst into laughter, Cloud's nutria-bar spurting
out of his mouth.

"Hey, what's all the commotion out here?" asked Tifa, walking unsteadily towards them,
wearing Cloud's sweater and a blanket wrapped around her waist. Even beat up and
pregnant, she looked beautiful, thought Cloud. Her thick dark brown hair fell across her
strong shoulders and down her back as she approached them. She stumbled as the sun hit
her eyes, blinding her momentarily. Cloud jumped up and caught her just before she hit
the ground.

"Goddammit, Tifa, you're going to give me a heart attack. Sit down and eat something,
please." He helped her walk past Red and Barret, who were stirring now, and sat her
down between Vincent and himself.

"Hey, what the hell, Cid!" said Barret, waking to find himself hugging the man.

The four men and Red sat and talked quietly amongst themselves, eating the rest of
Vincent's Nutria-bars and drinking the water from Red's stream. Tifa sat in silence
listening to their banter and chewing on the food Vincent gave her, feeling her strength
return. The voices of the Others had receded deep into her subconscious and she knew
her baby slept. She leaned against Cloud's shoulder and closed her eyes, letting the sun
bake into her aching muscles. It felt like days since she had felt the warm sun on her skin
and for now she just wanted to sit there and soak it up while the voices inside her were
calm and quiet.

Red walked over to Tifa and sat down in front of her, looking into her eyes.

"How are you, young lady?" he asked. She smiled at his tone and replied that she felt
fine.

"We need to think about what to do next. You are obviously close to delivering that
baby, and I don't think four men and a dog can help you with that. Also, we must assume
that Jenova will make another appearance soon." Tifa nodded her head and said nothing.

Red continued, "we were talking last night, and . . . well I was thinking that perhaps there
might be someone who could help you." At that, Tifa looked up at the animal, hope in
her eyes. She had not wanted to think that far ahead to the birth of her baby, but she
knew he was right.

"Do you remember where you found Cloud after the incident at Nibelheim? I believe
there was a doctor there that helped Cloud recover his senses after he had been given the
Jenova serum. We were thinking that perhaps he could help you."

Tifa's eyes clouded over as Red's words brought her back to that time years ago when
she had searched for Cloud. It's true, she had found him in a hospital and had stayed
with him while he recovered.

"It was in Mideel, before Meteor struck. There was a hospital there. I don't remember
the man's name, but he was very kind. I believe he used to work for ShinRa at one point.
He seemed to know a lot about Jenova." She dropped her gaze to her hands and
examined their bruised and broken knuckles. "I doubt that the place still stands now,"
she added quietly.

"Mideel . . . ," said Cloud. He looked up at Tifa. "I thought it was Midgar." She smiled
and said, "No, Mideel. You were very sick at the time."

"Then we must go to Mideel and find this man," said Red, rising to his feet. "Cid?"

"Already done. The ship will be here within the hour."