Guilt's Cost: Part 194

Relief

By Kristen Williams

 

            By the time that Vincent's surgery was only two weeks away, Angel was starting to show her pregnancy.  She still wore her normal clothes, but they were getting noticeably tighter around her belly.  Vincent watched how Reno treated Angel closely.  Although he had always been good to Angel before, now quite out of character, Reno was actually doting on her.  She never had to lift anything, bend over to retrieve anything, or ever ask for anything more than once.  He hovered over her constantly like a hawk and Vincent had to admit to himself that he was more than pleased with how his daughter was being treated by her husband.

            A lot of Vincent's free time now was spent in the lab, having various brain wave recordings done by Quigley and Porter.  They wanted to make sure that they had every possible brain function recorded of Vincent's so during his healing, they could test his cognitive functions even before he was able to move again.  During these tests, Tifa always sat close by, knowing that he hated being subjected to any sort of testing.  All she could do now was offer him her support, and that is exactly what she did. 

            Vincent took notice of the fact that Tifa seemed to be growing increasingly tired as the surgery day approached, and he knew very well that it was due to her inability to sleep at night.  All too often he would awake, to find her sitting on the edge of the bed in the middle of the night.  She was so anxious about what was to happen that she couldn't get any rest and she was too determined to be strong for Vincent as to ask the doctor about any possible sleeping aids.

            During one of the last EEG's that Quigley was going to run, Reno strolled into the lab looking for Tifa and Vincent.  Despite outward appearances, Reno was more intuitive than most gave him credit for, and although he hadn't spoken much with Tifa over the last several days, he knew what kind of strain she was under, and he also knew how to help.  He went to where she was sitting and knelt down.  "Hey Tifa, how you holdin' up?"

            What was perhaps the most insincere smile ever forced graced her lips.  "Oh, I'm doing just fine."

            Reno cocked his head to the side and grinned back at her.  "Pretty rough, huh?"

            She lowered her voice, not wanting to draw Vincent's attention while his tests were being run.  "Yeah."

            "It's going to get worse before it gets better, but I guess I don't have to tell you that, do I?"  Reno reached out and took her hand.

            Tifa was touched by the compassion Reno was showing at the moment.  Tears burned in her eyes, and she just nodded.

            Reno frowned for a second, not liking it when women cried, but soon his smile came back.  "I know how to help you feel better though, and I've already taken care of somethin' for you."

            Tifa raised an eyebrow and just stared at him.

            "I called Cid this morning.  His stupid plane is on the fritz so he can't get here himself but I sent the airship to pick him up, since it was passing near Rocket on its way back here," Reno said.

            Tifa's tears immediately turned to ones of happiness.  "You did?"

            "Sure did."

            She threw her arms around his neck and whispered into his ear, "Thank you!"

            He stood back up after a second.  "No problem.  I can't stand to see you women folk all mopey and sad.  I figured the old bastard could at least keep ya' occupied."

            "Reno, you're wonderful."  Tifa grinned up at him.

            "Yeah, I know.  All the ladies love me."  With that, he turned and walked out of the room.

            Quigley eventually finished his tests and pulled off the electrodes that had been taped to Vincent's head.  Finally able to get up, Vincent walked over to where Tifa was still sitting.  "What did Reno want?"

            "He said that Cid is on his way back."  Her excitement was obvious.

            Vincent was relieved at this break in her recent somber mood and smiled.  "That's good.  I'm glad that he can be here for you."

            Tifa got up and embraced her husband.  "But everything's going to be all right, so I don't have anything to worry about, right?"

            "Right."  Vincent kissed the top of her head.  "Everything will be just fine."

            Porter came over to them, his dog as usual by his side.  "Quig and I have looked over these last tests, and we think that we've got enough data collected now."  He pointed over to the acceleration chamber, Vincent's new body suspended within.  "We just need to do a few final tests on that and I think we're ready to go next Tuesday."

            Vincent let go of Tifa and went to the acceleration chamber.  Within the past few weeks, Quigley and Porter had been kind enough to place a hospital gown upon his new body, making Vincent feel a little less conscientious when he was in the lab, despite the fact that few people ever saw his new body, clothed or not.  He reached out and placed a hand upon the glass, feeling it's warmth, despite the fact his hand was currently robotic.  Vincent closed his eyes and sighed deeply, wondering what it was going to be like to be out of his present ruined body and into this new, complete one.

            Tifa came up behind him and slipped her arms around his waist.  She was trying so hard to keep up her brave front for him.  No matter how much he reassured her that everything was going to be fine, she couldn't help but fear the worst.  How could it possibly be that fate was going to actually let Vincent Valentine catch a break and have a happy ending?  If there had ever been anyone smacked around by the universe more than her husband, she was at a loss to think of who it could have been.  Aside from his marriage with her and the happy reunion with his family, his life had been one tragic, cruel joke after another.  It seemed to her that Vincent was just daring fate to throw anything else at him.  Yet, throughout all of this, he remained so unwavering, so certain that this was going to work that Tifa couldn't help but draw what little strength she had left from him.

            Sensing Tifa's thoughts, Vincent turned in her embrace and smiled down at her.  "No man could ever have expected as much of their mate as you have given me."

            She wasn't quite sure how to respond to that and just stared back up at him.  How he could be so damn calm during this time was beyond her.

            "I'm going to go to the infirmary for a minute.  I need to see Doctor Arlin about a few things.  Do me a favor and go to our room, okay?" Vincent asked.

            "Okay."  Tifa supposed that he wanted to make sure that Janice had her surgical teams all ready for the upcoming procedure and didn't question it in the least.

            Vincent gave her a quick kiss and the walked out.  He went straight to Dr. Arlin's office within the infirmary, pleased to find her there.

            Janice looked up from her paperwork and smiled at her visitor.  "So, the big day is coming, huh?"

            He nodded.  "It is."

            She folded her arms upon her desk's surface.  "What can I help you with?"

            Vincent went and sat in one of the chairs before her desk and leaned toward her.  "I'm not here about me, it's Tifa."

            "Oh really?"  Janice knit her brow in concern.

            "Yes, she hasn't been sleeping at night for a while now, and I'm worried that she's going to get sick if she keeps up being so stressed.  Now, Cid is coming soon and I know that will help her a little, but I was wondering if there was anything you could do?"  Vincent was looking for any help he could get for his wife.

            Janice nodded knowingly.  "Sedatives?"

            "Just something to help her sleep…" Vincent felt a little odd about asking for this.  "I know she'd feel a lot better if she could just rest at night."

            "You're right about that."  Janice got up.  "Just a second, I'll be right back."

            Vincent sat as she left the room briefly.  He could see that the top of the doctor's desk was littered with post-it's regarding the upcoming surgery.  There were also eight neurology books stacked on her file cabinets.  Although she was going to have several neurosurgeons on the team, she still wanted to know as much as possible.  Hard copies of the research that Quigley had smuggled out of Hojo's lab were also laying about, detailing the stem cell graft techniques they were going to need to make the operation a success.

            Soon, Janice returned with a bottle of pills that she handed to Vincent.  "I printed the instructions on the label.  Two of those about an hour before she goes to bed and she should do just fine."

            Vincent stood up and placed the medication in his pocket.  "Thank you, Dr. Arlin."

            He went back to the room he and Tifa shared.  He didn't see her, but he could hear the shower running so he went into the bathroom.  Vincent saw her form through the frosted glass and knocked on it. 

            The door cracked open and she peeked out.  "Hey Vincent.  What's going on?"

            Despite himself, he smiled at seeing her in she shower.  "I got something for you."

            She raised her eyebrows.  "What is it?"

            From his pocket he pulled out the pill vial and held it out so that she could see the label.

            Tifa immediately recognized the medication's name, as it had been one of the sleeping pills that Cloud had once been prescribed.  She smiled and looked at Vincent.  "It's that obvious, huh?"

            "I just don't want you to get too exhausted from all that's going on.  I've seen you sitting up all night lately, and I wanted to help."  Vincent set the pills on the bathroom counter.

            Tifa wasn't offended in the least that he had gotten sedatives on her part.  She knew that he had only done it out of genuine concern for her well being and it made her feel better.  "Vincent?"

            He braced for a possible negative response.  "Yes?"

            "I love you."  She smiled.

            Relieved, Vincent replied, "I love you, too."