The Long Wait

"Turks…"

Punch!!

"…can do…"

Punch!!

"…whatever…"

Punch!!

"…they…"

Punch!!

"…want!!"

Crack!!

Reno wasn't sure if the last punch cracked the man's jaw, his own knuckles, or both. He didn't care, and it didn't matter. Tseng was lying either broken or intact somewhere twenty meters below the bridge's street level. He could've already drowned for all Reno knew. He hastily shackled the man and shoved him into the car's secured back seat with one-way locks. He ran back to the edge of the bridge and leaned over the side.

Tseng was down there, his back to the river current. His lower body was still in the water, and his arms were draped onto the concrete bridge footing as it rose up out of the water to hold up the bridge column. There was no way to tell how strong his grip was, so Reno hardly gave it a thought as he vaulted over the railing and plunged into the cold waters below.

The current swept him towards the bridge footing without much effort. Reno didn't even have time to shake the wet hair away from his eyes. He looped an arm around Tseng's body and braced his own body against the concrete. His left shoe slipped a few times on the algae coated surface, but with all his might, he pushed Tseng up onto the slope of concrete on top of the footing, which was exposed during low tide.

Reno pressed his fingers into the concrete and lifted himself out of the water and onto to slope next to the senior Turk. Tseng was perched like a rag doll, arms limply to his sides, head rolled over onto his left shoulder. Reno leaned his back against the vertical support and threw his arm across Tseng's shoulders, pressing the other hand into his boss's chest.

Tseng's eyes opened loosely, and Reno could feel shallow breathing moving his chest. He briskly rubbed his hand against the soaked material over Tseng's chest. "Tseng… Are you okay?"

Tseng's eyes closed. "Save yourself…" came the hoarse reply, followed by violent coughing as his lungs fought to expel water that had been inhaled.

Reno held on tight so that Tseng wouldn't fall back into the water. He roughly pat the older man's back to help him bring some of the water up. Finally, Tseng's respiratory distress leveled down to light coughing.

Reno brushed a hand over his head, plastering the wet red hair against his scalp. He'd lost his sunglasses in his dive into the water, but it didn't matter to him. He reached over to Tseng and lifted the man's water-heavy black hair off his back and squeezed it. Afterwards, he reached into his pocket and retrieved his cell phone, only to see trickles of water coming out of the holes in the case. Surely it wouldn't function any more. He stuffed it away and wrapped both arms around his superior.

"Stupid, Reno…" Tseng muttered.

"Hmm?"

"Why'd you come down here?"

"To save your life! Why else!?"

"I didn't need saving…" Tseng said, looking away as if humiliated.

"Please calm down, sir. Rude or Elena will be by to pick us up." Which was a lie, as with no phone, Reno had no way of calling for assistance.

"Can't wait that long…" Tseng tried to stand, but even his arms were too weak to lift him. Reno also did a good job restraining him. "…Damn!"

"It's all right…" said Reno. "We've just gotta keep warm until we're dried off, or until someone comes for us."

A tiny wave lapped at Tseng's feet as they hung close to the edge where the river met the bridge column. "What happens if high tide comes?"

Reno could see that even mild conversation was draining his senior officer. He pulled Tseng closer to him, his hand gently guiding Tseng's head against his shoulder. Reno pressed his cheek against the top of Tseng's head. The air was not quite cool, but not totally warm. With the sun setting, it would only get colder. The breeze off the water was a bit too cold for their wet bodies. Reno tried to use his own body heat to help sustain Tseng better.

They sat like that for an hour, more and more waves lapping at their feet. Reno had drawn his feet in, but Tseng was too weak, and the waves began splashing over his entire shoe.

Reno nudged Tseng, who'd fallen asleep in that time. "Water's rising…" Reno said plainly.

"Where's Rude…?" Tseng muttered into the damp collar of Reno's jacket.

"He's coming…" Reno lied again. He pushed Tseng away from himself slightly so to get the man's head to flop the other way. He reached underneath the man's drying hair and held a warm hand against the back of Tseng's neck. He massaged gently, eliciting a sigh from the older man.

With that, he dug deeper, pressing his fingers against Tseng's spine and kneading small circles in his neck and shoulder muscles. Tseng moved slightly with the sensation, eyes closed and breathing coming easier. Reno brought his other hand to Tseng's front and massaged the fronts and backs of each shoulder individually.

By the time he was done, Tseng was very relaxed. Unfortunately, both his feet were covered with the river's water as the threatening tide rose higher.

Reno tugged at his belt buckle, realizing that he'd have to start consciously surpressing the feelings that he had to take a whizz. He hoped Tseng wasn't feeling the same way. He looked up at the span above, and for the first time in a while, he thought about the captive trapped in the back of the car.

Bastard… Reno thought to himself. I will make him pay ten times more for every day Tseng is sick in bed after this. Or maybe just for kicks anyway!

"Why hasn't Rude found us yet?" Tseng asked weakly, another wave of fatigue sweeping through his consciousness.

"Don't worry about that. He will…" Reno mentally scolded himself for his false claims.

Over the next several minutes, Tseng drifted off again. Reno took the liberty of taking care of nature, just hoping no one else took note. Damn, if there was anyone around, they'd better stop gawking and get over with a rescue boat. They were far too mid-span under the bridge for Reno to even think about battling the swift waters to swim the both of them back to shore. Not with Tseng less able-bodied.

The water was up to their knees by the time a boat came for them. Reno immediately borrowed the boater's cell phone to call Rude and advise him of the situation. By the time they were ashore at a dock, a Shinra helicopter landed nearby to pick the stranded Turks up. The boat pilot was handsomely rewarded for his assistance.

The aircraft flew Reno back to the span to pick up the car with its trapped prisoner inside. He insisted that, despite the ordeal, he was well enough to drive back to base. Tseng was transported to the center of the city by air.

Reno declined to change into clean clothes after dropping the prisoner off at the main building. He continued right on to the hospital where Rude and Elena were already waiting.

Elena's petite form was under one of Rude's muscular arms as the silent Turk spared a moment to try to comfort her. Tseng was in with the doctors getting tests performed, including CAT scans and x-rays. Only after the tests were done were they allowed in to see him.

"You should really let someone check you out, too, Reno," said Elena. "Tseng is suffering from mild hypothermia, and you were soaking wet, too."

Reno just shook his head. "I'll be fine. Most that may happen is I catch a cold within the next day or two."

Tseng was in bed under warm blankets. He had no injuries aside from a few bruises, and he was really only suffering from mild dehydration, hypothermia, and fatigue. There was still a possibility that he'd wind up sick with a cold or bronchial infection, or possibly even pneumonia. For that, he was going to be watched by physicians for the next few days while he recovered.

Tseng groaned upon seeing his colleagues surround his bed. "Sorry you have to see me like this," he said, mostly to Elena.

Elena put a palm on his forehead, brushing a few dry locks of uncombed hair back. "Better we see you here than identifying you at the morgue."

"Elena…" Rude said in a low voice, mildly scolding her ill-timed humor.

"You gawk at me like this is life threatening or something."

Reno pushed past Elena and leaned on the side of Tseng's bed. "Would you have preferred that I'd left you lying on that concrete at the mercy of high tide?"

"You didn't have to do that, Reno."

"Oh, you were out of it, boss-man! If I didn't hold you up while you slept, you'd've fallen in the drink. And the sleep you got probably helped keep your body from totally going into shock."

"Out of here!! All of you!!" Tseng snapped furiously.

A nurse encouraged them to comply with the patient's request, citing that it's not good for him to get stressed at the current moment.

"Except you, Reno…" Tseng said softly just as the nurse was about to usher him out behind the other two. Tseng waved a hand at the woman. "You, too girl. I wanna be alone with him."

The room was private, and the door closed. Reno wondered why, after being the one to aggravate Tseng, he'd be the one called back. Softening his demeanor, Reno returned to Tseng's bedside. When he got there, he noted a small glistening pool in the corner of the senior Turk's eye. He tried his best not to let on that he noticed it.

"I'm sorry…" Tseng's voice was a shy hush.

Reno pulled up a chair and sat fairly level with the bed. "What's important is that you rest. This will blow over soon."

Tseng turned his head away. "I hate being so weak."

Reno reached over his boss's body and put his hands on Tseng's shoulders. "You have to be weak now in order for your body to be strong later. It's only for a little while." His serious tone was comforting.

"I always thought I was stronger than you, Reno. But…you endured better than I did tonight."

Reno's hands rubbed lazy circles over Tseng's collarbones. "You were knocked around a lot harder before going over the edge. I jumped in voluntarily." He surveyed his bruised knuckles from slamming the prisoner so violently. They'd be sore in the morning, but nothing else seemed to be harmed.

"Yeah well…" Tseng trailed off, looking away from his friend. "Thank you…" He looked back. "…for staying with me, and using your body to keep me warm."

"Who? Skinny ol' me?" Reno grinned a little.

As Tseng smiled, the small tear was released from the corner of his eye. It rolled halfway down his cheek. He brought his right hand out from under the heavy blanket and met Reno's. He gripped the paler hand firmly as if to prove how much of his strength had already returned.

Reno covered Tseng's hand with both of his. Warmth had already returned to Tseng's fingertips, and just his being there with him was enough to bring warmness back into Tseng's core.

Reno ran one hand down Tseng's arm, riding it up to the man's shoulder, where it rubbed gentle circles over the ball of the joint. The hand slid down the shoulder blade, and Reno leaned forward and softly kissed Tseng on the lips.

Tseng's hand tensed up just a little bit as Reno continued to hold it. The finger tips lost a little temperature as surely the blood was rushing to his mind. As Reno drew back, he wished the affection had gone on a little longer, as if he hadn't had time to cherish the brief kiss, or to return the favor.

Tseng gripped the hand harder. "I know now more than ever that I can trust you with my life everyday."

"I trust you with mine, too. Admit it. You would've done the same for me."

Tseng closed his eyes. "Yes. Without a doubt. I'm sorry that I acted so hostile…"

"It was the sickness talking. Just take a day or two to rest, and you'll be your old self again."

"Just…" Tseng hesitated. "…Don't tell anyone."

Reno looked quizzical. "Tell them…?"

Tseng slid his hand out of the grip with Reno's. It took some strength, but he raised his hand up towards Reno's face, not quite able to reach the soft pale skin of Reno's cheek.

Reno took Tseng's hand and raised it to his lips. He kissed the back of the hand a few times, his soft lips tickling the tiny hairs of the skin.

Tseng closed his eyes peacefully, a smiling aura present on his face. Reno knew he had wordless approval. He continued to kiss the hand and wrist softly, occasionally rubbing the back of Tseng's hand against his cheek, then going back to the kisses.

He put Tseng's hand down and leaned over him slightly. Tseng tilted his head up, his lips anxiously broadcasting an invitation which Reno did not decline.

The younger Turk held a hand behind Tseng's neck as he leaned in to take the lips. Reno kissed deep, yet maintaining a softness to the attack. He let his tongue probe into the patient's warm, moist mouth.

Tseng broke it off gently. "You're gonna get sick…" he warned.

"We're probably both gonna be sick no matter what. Why should it matter?" Reno leaned back down and resumed kissing, receiving a few laps from Tseng's tongue as well.

The door behind him opened unexpectedly, and Reno let go of Tseng so fast, he was almost concerned he'd shaken the patient up too much. A nurse had practically burst in.

"I'm sorry, but we were watching his heart rate monitor, and his pulse is rising rapidly."

Reno tried not to look shy, hoping she hadn't noticed his quickness to wipe his mouth on his sleeve before she'd fully stepped into the room. "He's okay," he said. "He's just gotten a little emotional."

Tseng nodded. "Sorry… I'm fine. Really."

The nurse wouldn't abandon her duty as a health care professional. She checked Tseng's blood pressure while the patient apologetically rolled his eyes at Reno. Reno understood and maintained their innocence. At least it was fun while it lasted.

Satisfied that his vitals were still at healthy levels, the nurse backed away, leaving Reno and Tseng alone once again.

"Sorry…" said Reno. "We can continue this…some other time?"

Tseng nodded. "I'd like that very much. Now go on. Tell the others I'm fine. Just get out of here before my blood pressure really starts rising."

Reno bowed to the senior Turk and backed away. He'd never forget the kiss, and he vowed to make it even better the next time.

THE END

Author’s note: The characters in this story are copyrighted material belonging to Squaresoft, Ltd. and are used without permission. This original story is © 2000 by Zeng Li (pen name) and is not used for making money. It is intended only for the entertainment of yaoi fans over the age of 18. Comments? Feedback? tseng588@earthlink.net