Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Heart's Desires ❯ Chapter 8

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Automatic Disclaimer: We do not own the rights to the following anime series, video games, or any other referenced copy righted material. This is a work is with delusions of grandeur. This will never, ever happen in our lives (damn it) and this basically is a dream we want to share with you.

Extra Disclaimer: The names and even some events mentioned below have no way happened in real life. Any similarities to any person in real life an purely coincidental. These people do not exist.....except in my imagination

Tobias's Note: Well I hope you enjoy this chapter. I've been waiting for this one for awhile. I hope everyone enjoys it.

J’dee’s Note: FYI regardless of circumstance I probably would get fired if I took this much time off just saying. Anything that brings in foot traffic into the store is normally welcomed in my industry especially where I work =.=

Belle's Note: This is a shocking development.


~*~*~*~

Monday

"So…Ru fus told you,” J’dee said and Belle gave her a look.

"He came into my room while I was hung over and told me several things that you should have told me,” Belle stated coolly.

"I know, look girl, I’m sorry…you know how I am…” J’dee sighed and Belle put down her mug of hot chocolate and looked at J’dee.

"I believe in you, you know that right?” Belle stated and J’dee blinked.

"Yeah,” J’dee said and Belle looked away.

"Do you know how much it hurts that you didn’t tell me about Hojo?” Belle asked and J’dee sighed.

"I know, but it’s not like you can do anything,” J’dee stated and Belle glared.

"I have faith, J’dee, I may not believe the same things as you, but I do believe in the power of prayer and faith. I would pray and I would take some of my religious objects from my room and place them around the house to help,” Belle snapped. "Also, since we have Rufus, Kaidan, and Yuna here, I’m way more open about what I can do to help, if we have video game characters living here with us, I’m pretty open to the idea that Hojo’s haunting you.”

"I…I just am used to being on my own with this,” J’dee said and Belle pushed away from the table and glared at J’dee.

"You’re not alone, you haven’t been in months and still, you disregard that I’m here for you! It hurts,” Belle snapped and grabbed her bag. "I’m going to work!” Belle marched out of the house furious.

~*~*~*~

J'dee let out a sigh and she ran her hands through her hair. She was so used to doing things on her own especially when spirits, ghosts and the unknown were involved. She knew she knew her shit so to speak. She had just not expected it to be Hojo. If it had been any other ghost. She would have dealt to it pretty quick smart.

J'dee slipped her sunglasses on her head and walked out to her car. She pulled her keys out and slipped into the driver's seat and she tried to start the car. She heard the engine stutter for a moment and it didn't seem to roll over, it stalled and she let the keys go turning off the engine.

"Oh god please not now.” Her head thumped the wheel and the car horn went off.

She sat up and tried again. More stalling, the engine wasn't turning over.

"Third time lucky.” She begged.

Obviously it didn't turn over and she climbed out of the car and checked her cellphone for the time.

"You come from a car driven culture girl you grew up on the rack track both car and horse think, think.” She grumbled to herself as she popped the hood. She check the oil and water first made sure nothing was leaking underneath the car.

If she had time she could do this. Hell her brother took his car apart and put it back together. He turned his Nissan Skyline GT-R two door from a manual to an automatic and she had helped.

She was under the car checking for anything that looked out of the ordinary. But on first glance.

There was nothing.

"Car trouble?”

The voice made her jump and she hit her head.

"Ow FUCK!” She slipped out from under the car rubbing her head and she looked at Rufus.

Rufus raised a brow at her. "Such lady like manners.”

"Oh just piss off.” She snapped.

Rufus looked at her. "I see. That time already.”

"Rufus not now!” J'dee popped the hood again.

By now she was worked up and aggravated. "Obviously this is more than the car.”

"Belle went off at me this morning. Why did you have to open your mouth?!”

Rufus raised a brow. "Just borrow Toby's truck.”

"No I can do this!” She pointed at him. "I come from a line muso's and mechanics. I can fucken fix a car!”

Rufus grabbed her finger and she shot him a glare.

The clearing of a throat made her look over to see Kaidan and Yuna standing there.

"Are you two having a moment again?” Kaidan asked.

J'dee pulled her finger back. "No moment.”

"Her car isn't starting.” Rufus stated.

"I can fix it damnit!” J'dee shouted.

Kaidan nodded toward Toby's car. "Borrow his.”

"I'll go grab the keys.” Yuna ran inside.

J'dee walked up tot he car and looked at it. "Ugh do I want to be seen driving this?”

Rufus gave her a look. "Really?”

"What I'm image conscious even in my vehicles. I'm sorry if I was brought up with taste.”

Rufus shook her head. "Spoilt brat.”

"Says you.” She snapped.

Yuna came back and handed J'dee the car keys.

J'dee jumped in the neon and tried to start it but there was nothing. "Oh for fuck's sake REALLLLLLLY! Muthafucker.” She climbed out of the car and kicked it.

J'dee let out a breath trying to control her rage. It was just building up. Her manager was away it was her job to make sure things at work went smoothly. But of course today was just starting to be one of those days.

"Give me half an hour an I could fix my fucken car.”

Rufus pushed her away from the car. "You probably can but go get Tobias out of bed borrow the damn truck or you're going to be late.”

J'dee growled at Rufus before stalking inside. "Fine!”

Kaidan raised a brow looking at Rufus, he shrugged. "She's probably going to deny you tonight.”

Rufus looked at him. "Somehow I doubt she could.”

~*~*~*~

"Toby wake up!”

Tobias shot up from a sound sleep as his bedroom door banged open. He scrubbed the sleep from his eyes as he saw J'dee standing in his door. An extremely angry and frustrated J'dee standing in his door glaring at him.

"J'dee, what is it? What's wrong?” He asked, swinging his feet off the bed. He snatched his jeans from yesterday off the floor and slid them on over his boxers as he stood.

"My car won't start and I'm going to be late in ten minutes and Belle's already gone and your piece of shit Neon won't start either and you won't let me drive your truck-” J'dee began working into a full-fledged rant.

"Okay, okay I get it.” Tobias snapped. He muttered to himself as he left without his shirt and followed J'dee down the hall. He paused long enough to slip his sneakers on and followed her into the crisp morning air. He shivered but headed straight for her car. The hood was up and Kaidan was already working on it as Tobias came up next to him.

"It's not the battery or starter.” Kaidan informed Tobias who leaned in to get a better look. "It's got half a tank and it sounds like it wants to start but it's just not catching.”

"Could be any number of things.” Tobias muttered, scratching at his stubble as he thought about it. "No way I can get it running in time.”

"Oh perfect!” J'dee snapped and Tobias sighed.

"You know I never said you couldn't take the truck. You and Belle just jumped to that conclusion after our little trip.” Tobias pointed out. "You can go ahead and take it and I'll work on your car while you're gone.”

"Oh that's so good of you.” J'dee snapped and held up her hands to shake the mentioned keys at him. "I was going to do that anyways! You know this car would last longer if you got that big pile of tarp covered shit out of garage instead of staring at it! Then I could park my car in there!”

Tobias rocked back a bit, a bit stung by her words.

"Hey that's not fair! We're going to fix your car!” Kaidan snapped. J'dee just huffed at them before storming over to the truck. Tobias just sighed as she tore off down the driveway.

"Sorry I should have warned you.” Rufus said coming out of the garage. The other men turned to look at him. "She and Belle got into a bit of fight this morning and it ended when Belle stormed out to go to work.”

"It's alright, she had a point.” Tobias said. "I think maybe I better try to finish that car. I think my Dad would have liked that.”

"So there's a car under that tarp?” Kaidan asked as Tobias turned back to check on J'dee's car.

"Yeah. My Dad bought it for me shortly after I lost my job. I've always wanted a '67 Dodge Charger since I was a boy. He got one for us to restore together. We actually just finished the body work before he died.” Tobias said. He frowned as he saw something near the back of the motor.

"Really?!” Kaidan exclaimed. "I saw one of those in a museum! It was beautiful!”

"Yup. We had everything to finish it. All we needed to do was put the motor back in, finish the wiring and the paint her. We were so close and then-ah ha!” Tobias exclaimed, yanking on something Kaidan and Rufus both blinked when he pulled something off J'dee's motor. "Look her Distributor cap is bad! I think I might have a compatible one in the garage. Let's pop this bitch into neutral and roll her in. I'll replace it, change the spark plugs, give it an oil change and even tune her up. I'm sure J'dee will be happy with that until I can finish the Charger.”

~*~*~*~

"Hey, guys,” Belle sighed as she entered the house after work.

"You seem down,” Kaidan said as he noticed Belle putting her stuff away.

"I had a fight with J’dee this morning. I got upset she didn’t tell me about Hojo’s ghost and…stuff,” she muttered.

"If it makes it easier, it’s purely physical for me right now,” Rufus said and Belle made a face. "I thought that might make it easier, I apologize.”

"It’s not your fault, you didn’t know,” Belle muttered as she looked at the door. "Could you guys give me alone time with J’dee when she gets home. I need to apologize.”

"No problem,” Kaidan said and Belle smiled.

Soon enough the sound of a car pulling in sounded and Kaidan got up and headed out, followed by Rufus and Yuna.

"Thank you,” Belle said as she watched J’dee enter the house. "Hey, I need to apologize.”

"You forgive me and I’ll forgive you,” J’dee replied and Belle nodded.

"I got sensitive about the fact that you are my best friend and you didn’t trust me with this. You’re not alone anymore, J’dee, we’re your friends, we’re like family,” Belle sighed and J’dee nodded.

"I know,” J’dee sighed and the two girls hugged. "I’ll try girl, but this takes time to get used to.”

"I’m sorry,” Belle said. "Now I need to get ready for Kaidan to kick my ass.”

"I hear you,” J’dee added as Belle headed to her room.

~*~*~*~

J'dee fell face first into her bed and she looked to the side at the window. Work hadn't been that bad luckily. Just a queue that went out the door and the usual ranting customer that had to wait behind a couple who wanted to trade. He had the usual rant of how the game was shit. It wouldn't load it was defective and everything else. So she had been forced into the return and he wanted money back but the tills were low on cash. After that she got the normal stupid questions like how much the Wii U console was when the marketing was right behind them in big bold RED letters. Then there was the occasional colored gang member wanting to by an R-rated game for his brother.
And people thought the retail industry of games was stand around and play games all day. Bullpucky.

J'dee got up after he lie down and she shed her jacket, she walked out of her room and walked down the hall, she had better go to the garage and apologize to Toby.

~*~*~*~

"Toby?”

Tobias slid out from under J'dee's car on the creeper board to look up at who had called him. J'dee was there and looked sheepish.

"Hey, you've got good timing!” Tobias said, lying back on the board to slide back under. "I was just checking the u-joints on the car. I'm just finishing greasing them so you should be good to go! I got her running and changed to oil and some other maintenance too.”

"I'm sorry for being such a bitch this morning Toby, I didn't mean to take it out on you.” J'dee said. It was quit for a moment besides the clacking of the grease gun.

"Don't worry about it, you were right. Today I'll ask Belle if you and she can switch on and off using the garage. The over hang on the side of the garage is meant to keep stuff dry, not much else.”

"Still I feel bad. I just woke you up and started in on you.” J'dee said and Tobias sighed. He slid out from under the car and got up. He tossed the grease gun onto a tool bench and shrugged.

"It's okay, no harm done. Do you feel better now?” Tobias asked and J'dee shrugged.

"A little.” she admitted. "How about you? How have you been doing with all of this now?” Tobias blinked at that and shrugged.

"I think I'm doing okay.” Tobias mused. He smiled softly and nodded. "Yeah I think I am. I'm going to have to live with what I did but you know what? I think I can now.”

"That's good.” J'dee said, sighing in relief as Tobias went over the fridge in the corner of the garage. "I was hoping you were getting better. You certainly look better than you have in months.”

"Very much true.” Tobias said, coming back with a couple of beers in hand. He gave J'dee one.

"Thanks.” she said. She blinked in shock when Tobias popped the cap on the other and took a drink. "Toby!”

"What?” he asked puzzled.

"I thought you gave that up!”

"Hey I was one step away, one step! I'm not drinking to forget anymore! Look!” To prove his point he poured the rest of the bottle on the driveway. He tossed the bottle into the trash and spread his hands out to show he was fine. "See?”

"I don't know...”

"Trust me.”

"Fine, fine but you tell Belle!”

~*~*~*~

"Now try this,” Kaidan instructed. "Grab my wrist and then push up and forward with my elbow.”

"This seems too simple,” Belle stated and Kaidan held out his hand. Belle slowly began to offer her hand when Kaidan grabbed her wrist, bending her arm at a 90 degree angle, before shoving her elbow forward. "Ow! Ow! Ow!”

"Simple, but effective,” Kaidan said as Belle bent forward to try and alleviate the pressure on her shoulder.

"Ow! I surrender! You are right! Effective move! Let me go!” She whimpered and Kaidan chuckled as he let her go. "Owww.” She rubbed her arm as she pouted. Kaidan chuckled.

"You were asking for that,” he teased and Belle blushed.

"Yeah, I get that, let me try it,” she muttered.

"This time I’ll let you, but know that there are ways to block for this move,” Kaidan said and Belle opened her eyes wide and blinked slowly.

"You mean, there are ways to circumvent hand-to-hand combat?” Belle asked in a childish voice and Kaidan chuckled.

"Okay stupid thing to say, but it’s the truth,” he laughed. "Now try.”

"Fine,” Belle said as she practiced the move before noticing a car pulling up the driveway. "Okay, let’s see who is coming to visit before we continue beating each other up.”  

~*~*~*~

J'dee was sitting on the hood of her car having her smoke listening to the ministry of sound annual 2013 cd on her car stereo.

Kaidan was showing Belle some hold techniques. She looked at Rufus as he walked up to her holding up a bottle of beer.

"Two in one day expect me to sleep for a week.” She stated.

Rufus looked at her. "Somehow I doubt you could.” He looked at her sitting on the hood of her car.

"Is this a usual thing for you?”

"Yeah me and my brother used to sit on the hood of my mother's car or the boot just listening to music at night when we didn't want to be round the rest of the family. It makes me feel a bit closer to him even though he's so far away.”

Rufus looked at her. "Must have been nice to be able to get along with your brother.”

J'dee looked at Rufus. "Oh sorry... I forgot about... how um... strained you and Lazard were.”

Rufus looked up at the sky. "Yes, strained.”

"And Evan?” She asked.

Rufus turned his head to look at her she could see the almost impressed expression.

"Now you are very well informed aren't you?”

"Dude the information is out there. You just gotta look.”

"Know that if you eve end up in my world and say a word Tseng would probably-”

"Execute on the spot. Ala Verdot and Elfe styles. Gotcha. I'm aware.”

Rufus nodded then motioned to the car in the driveway. "We have a guest.”

J'dee watched as Belle walked up to the car as the man got out of the driver's side.

~*~*~*~

"Hey Toby this guy says you used to work together.” Belle called out from the door. Tobias set his beer aside (his second for the day thank you very much) and stepped away from the dinner table.

"To be continued.” He said to the others as he headed for the door. He ignored the others discussing mana and magic and headed for the front door. When he saw who it was he stopped short.

"Toby.” Brian Gerard said in greeting.

"Brian.” Tobias responded. Not taking his eyes off the man he spoke to Belle. "Brian was my assistant when I was working of DK Engineering.”

"I've been promoted now. They asked me to take your spot a month after your resigned.” Brian explained.

"Good for you.” Tobias said tightly as Belle kept looking back and forth at the two men. "What do you want?”

"We need to talk, privately.” Brian said, glancing at Belle who frowned.

"I don't think that's a good idea.” Belle chimed in.

"It's alright Belle, I got this.” Tobias said. He jerked his head to the hallway. "We can talk in my study.”

"Lead the way.” Brian said. Tobias turned around and swiftly headed for the study.

~*~*~*~

"What’s that about?” J’dee asked as Kaidan came in. Belle poured him a glass of water before pouring herself one.

"A former coworker…I cannot deny that I am super suspicious now,” Belle stated.

"Has Toby had a lot of contact with…” Kaidan began.

"No,” both women responded as they stared at the study door.

"That’s really bad,” J’dee muttered.

"We don’t know that for a fact, but I’ve got a bad feeling, maybe not about this guy, but about this situation,” Belle sighed.

"I hear that,” J’dee nodded.

~*~*~*~

J'dee looked at the door for a moment staring at it. She let out a breath and then flopped to sit back on the couch.

"Whatever it is. It's changing the very energy of the house, meaning this is going to really piss Toby off.”

Rufus looked at her. "And how do you know the energy of the house is changing?”

"Dude I'm sensitive to temperature I can feel when it drops even in just the littlest motion and it changed the moment he stepped through to Toby's office.” J'dee stated.

Rufus raised a brow. "And how do you deal in winter?”

"I don't I fucken hate winter. Don't get me wrong I love snow. But winter or rain or anything cold my entire body clamps up on me I'm thrown into agonizing pain to the point of inability to move.”

Rufus looked at her. "A smart woman would not reveal her weakness.”

"Pssssh like you can control the weather.” J'dee rolled her eyes.

~*~*~*~

"So talk.” Tobias said, sitting down behind his desk. "What do you want? Its not like I can help since they revoke my professional engineering license.”

"I can't talk, I'm still bound my confidentiality agreement Jeff had us all sign.” Brian said. Tobias frowned.

"I don't understand. You can't talk about what you want to talk about so why bother coming to me in the first place?” Tobias asked. Brian sighed and reach into his coat to pull out two flash drives along with a document. He set them on the desk.

"The first paper is an affidavit from me that the contents of those drives are accurate and haven't been altered in anyway. The second is another affidavit that Christine, John, Michelle and I will agree to testify in court and to the police about everything.” Brian said. Tobias blinked in shock at the man.

"What happened? Jesus Christ, Brian what did you do?” Tobias demanded. Brian winced and shook his head.

"We found out something. Toby we found out something so horrible that we just couldn't believe in. So we went digging and found out it was true. Depending on the fallout I could go to jail just for giving those to you.” Brian said pointing at the drives and papers. "I'm not going to just sit idly by and let him get away with it though. Call us when you decide what you're going to do. I'll see myself out.”

Just before Brian walked out of the study, he paused.

"I'm sorry.” he said and hurried out.

Tobias frowned staring at the flash drives on the desk.

"What the hell is going on?” he muttered. He switched on his computer and picked up the drives. He plugged them in as the computer came on. "Let's see what has you so spooked...”

~*~*~*~

"Wait, what was that?” Belle asked and Brian shook his head.

"I can’t talk about it,” he said and Belle hugged him.

"If it helps him, thank you,” she said and Brian pulled away.

"I don’t know if it will…I don’t know what will come of this…but we had to try,” he said and Belle let go. She didn’t move as he left and she looked at J’dee.

"Not to be that chick, but, I hope this doesn’t bite us on the butt,” J’dee said and Belle laughed nervously.

"You totally just jinxed us,” Belle sighed as she rubbed her arms.

"I hope not,” Yuna said.

~*~*~*~

"Yeah I tend to do that. I apparently have the worst luck.” J'dee stated.

Rufus looked at her. "Why do you suppose that is?”

J'dee shrugged. "I don't know but apparently my taste in men is just as bad as my luck.”

Rufus gave her a look.

J'dee just grinned at him and shrugged. "Hey can't help it. You're hot it works for me.”

"I'm going to assume your derogatory talk is for years of feeling like a piece of meat?” Rufus stated.

~*~*~*~

"Son of a bitch!” Toby roared and both women turned to face the door.

"I knew it,” J’dee moaned and the study door flew open.

"I’m going to kill that fucking son of a bitch!” Toby roared and Belle quickly closed the door and moved to block a quick exit.

"What’s going on?” Belle demanded as Toby marched towards her.

"I know the truth!” he snarled.

"Enlighten us on the truth,” Rufus inquired and Tobias glared.

"I didn’t kill them, it wasn’t me. It was never me. That fucker did it. He did it and he pinned it on me!” Toby roared as he aimed toward the door but Belle got in the way.

~*~*~*~

"Toby you need to calm down.” Belle said putting her hands on his shoulders.

"Calm?! How can you tell me to calm down when that fucker is sitting in his house laughing at me?!” Tobias screamed.

"Toby think, just think! You need to calm down and think this through. What can you do?” Belle said. Tobias took a deep breath and let it out.

"He killed them Belle.” Tobias hissed. "If it had been a error it was an accident but he deliberately changed that type of bolts and changed the steel to an inferior grade. He murdered those people and set me up for it!”

"That building you designed? Is that what's this is all about?” Yuna asked, horror rising in her stomach.

"Yes! That fucker, Jeff, my old boss. He logged in and changed the plans and tried to cover it up! But Brian found security footage and computer logs!” Tobias snarled, jabbing a finger at the image on the screen. It showed an image of his smirking boss sitting at a computer terminal. "This is at 1 am the day the plans were submitted for construction!”

"So you've got him Toby! You got him, so call the police.” Belle said, giving him a little shake. Tobias pushed her away.

"No! That's not enough! He murdered children just to set me up! HE DESERVES TO DIE!” Tobias screamed.

"Stop, just stop!” J'dee cried, clapping her hands over her ears.

"Okay, time out!” Kaidan said. He stepped in between everyone and even laid a restrain hand on Tobias's chest. "Let's just take five and calm down. Everyone go somewhere and relax. Then come back in like ten minutes and let's talk this out.”

"Fine.” Tobias snarled storming off. "I'm going to work on something in the garage!”

~*~*~*~

Belle sighed as she sat on the sofa.

"How are you feeling?” Kaidan asked as he sat next to her and she smiled at him.

"Honestly, I’m so happy,” Belle whispered as tears welled in her eyes. "He didn’t kill them. The agony and guilt he has been feeling, it doesn’t belong to him.” She sobbed.

"Hey, hey, that’s a good thing,” Kaidan said as he wrapped an arm around Belle’s shoulders.

"He went through all that suffering for another man’s sins,” Belle sobbed before she heard the sound of a car peeling out of the driveway. "Oh no.”

~*~*~*~

J'dee looked out the window in time to see the piece of shit Neon go down the road.

"Of course he did.” She drawled.

Rufus looked at her. "Junctioning with Ifrit has made him a bit of a hot head hasn't it?”

"No.” Belle shook her head. "No Ifrit needed for this.” She picked up her car keys.

"Do we have to go get him?” J'dee complained.

Belle shot her a look. "You know what he's going to do right?”

"Something stupid.” J'dee replied exasperated.

"Which means?” Belle promted.

Rufus cleared his throat cutting in. "Attracting unwanted attention.”

J'dee pushed herself up off the couch. "Let me get my smokes I'm going to need them.”

~*~*~*~

Tobias was only half aware of the Neon's motor beginning to make a clacking sound as he forced the beat up car faster. All he could think about was the news reports from that day. Body after broken body being pulled out of the rubble. A little hand, a mangled form in a pink dress, weeping mothers and devastated All because Tobias didn't conform to what his saw as normal. The images sharpened his rage and Irifit was roaring in agreement as they tore down his former boss's driveway. He slammed on the brake just in front of the walkway leading to the driveway. He had vague memories of being shown around this place and thinking how he wanted to aspire to be like this man.

This murderer.

Tobias barely slammed the car in drive ignoring the loud crunch the motor gave before it died. The porch lights snapped on and the door slammed open.

"Whose out there? I warn you I'm armed and I've got the police on the phone!” His boss's voice came ringing out.

"It's me Jeff. You remember me don't you murderer?” Tobias snapped, storming down the walk.

"Tobias? What the hell are you doing here?” Jeff said, stepping out of the doorway. A shotgun was in one hand and cordless phone was in the other.

"Brian came to see me today.” Tobias said, beginning to climb the porch steps, his blue eyes focused solely on the killer's wide brown eyes. "Why did you do it, Mr. Chertsey? I never did anything like this to you why did you kill them?!”

"I don't kn-”

"THE FUCK YOU DON'T!” Tobias screamed. Jeff dropped the phone to raise the shotgun. Tobias's Irifit enhanced reflexes kicked in and he moved to the right in a blur as Jeff pulled the trigger. The double-barrel shotgun blasted a hole in the porch and Tobias moved directly in the man's face.

"How-?” Jeff began but Tobias snatched the gun around the barrels and yanked it away. He tossed in away as Jeff's wife began to scream from inside the house. Tobias grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and slammed him against the house.

"TELL ME WHY! TELL ME!” Tobias screamed.

"I have idea what you're talking about!” Jeff screamed back at him. Tobias slammed him against the again and Jeff saw stars as his head hit the siding.

"You killed those children just to make me fail! Why?!”

"Oh that's what you're on about.” Jeff snapped, his head dizzy He laughed cruelly. "So Brian found out about that? That;s too bad I had such high hopes for him. Now I'll have to set him up for something so when he testifies his credibility will be shot.”

"You murdered those people and condemned me to hell on Earth! It's even because of you that my family is dead!” Tobias screamed shaking the man. "If they hadn't been visiting to cheer me up they wouldn't have been in that car accident!”

"So what?” Jeff snapped. "No one will be believe you will they? No matter what evidence you have no one will believe you. You're the Killer Engineer remember? How I loved that when the papers came up with that name! You and your foolish games! You should have been paying attention to what you were doing anyways!”

"You changed it at one in the morning! The plans went out even before I got into the office that day!” Tobias shouted. Nether man noticed the cars pulling into the driveway.

"And it worked perfectly! You're a nothing now, just they way you should have been all along! You everyone like you should stay in your basements playing your silly little games and leave the real world to people like me! And there's nothing you can do about it!” Jeff chortled as car doors slammed.

Tobias snarled and raised his right hand. A burning ball of fire appear in his palm as the Firaga spell began to charge.

"There's one thing I can do about it!”

"TOBY STOP!”

~*~*~*~

Belle looked at her friend as he held the man in one hand and the ball of fire in the other. "I would sit still and be very quiet if I were you.” The man nodded as she looked at Toby.

"He deserves this!” Toby roared as Belle slowly approached the porch.

"No, Tobias, not this,” Belle said as she began to move towards him shaking her head.

"He needs to pay for what he did!” Toby screamed. "He ruined my life.”

"Yes, he did and yes he does,” Belle stated. "But is this what you want? To become what he wanted people to think you were?”

"He ruined my life!” Toby snarled.

"No, he ruined the lives of each of the family members of the people who died that day, but you, he ruined two years of your life, a life you can get back,” Belle said as she looked at Toby. The fireball began to shrink.

"Get back…I won’t get those two years back!” Toby snapped and Belle smiled as she began to cry.

"No, you lost two years, but you can have your life back. We have evidence, we can clear your name, get your certification back, get a job doing what you want to do, what you loved to do,” Belle said as she moved up the steps. Tobias stared at her as she grabbed his wrist, moving her hand into his palm, the flames vanishing before they could burn Belle.

"He deserves to pay,” Toby growled and Belle nodded as she cried.

"And he will, but you’re not going to be the one collecting. He’s going to be in the news, exposed as the monster he is,” Belle said and Toby let the man go. Belle hugged him and pulled him slowly away from the monster.

~*~*~*~

J'dee lit her cigarette after Belle had Toby in her arms. "Can we go now.”

Yuna looked at her. "It's probably a good idea.”

"How about now. I can hear sirens.” J'dee stated.

"You what-?” Kaidan began.

"Sirens I can hear them.” J'dee repeated. "Air element I don't know why but I tend to hear things if I don't see them before they actually happen.”

Rufus stepped up next to her. It was then that the sirens screaming in the distance became fully audible.

"Too late.” J'dee remarked with flat eyes and took a drag of her cigarette.

"How on earth-” Kaidan stated.

"I used to attend illegal drag and drift races with my brother.” She stated.

Rufus rolled his eyes. "Of course you did. So you learned to judge siren distance from that?”

J'dee shrugged. "Only enough to know that they've blocked off any possible escape routes by car. Given I counted the number of possible escape routes on the way here... just in case.”

Rufus gave her a look. "Do I even need to ask.”

"Half of my dad's family grew up in a biker gang and dealing drugs. I had to change my last name so I stopped getting that look when I got pulled over by the police.” She stated. "Even when we weren't driving, we were double questioned.”

"Such a charmed life you lead.” Rufus drawled.

"Led. I cut ties from my old man's family a long time ago.” J'dee nodded her head to the first cop car pulling up to the scene. "Well this is going to be a headsore.”

~*~*~*~

"POLICE! Nobody fucking move! Put your hands on your heads!” a voice boomed from behind them.

"It's him officer!” Jeff screamed pointing at Tobias on the porch steps. "He came here to kill me and my family! His friends even tried to stop him but he wouldn't listen!”

"You on the steps! Drop any weapons you have, put your hands on your head and turn around. Everyone else turn around with your hands on your heads! Dispatch this is car five-four, we are on scene, we need backup, 10-13. I have at least six suspects, over.”

"I'm not armed.” Tobias called out as he put his hands on his head.

"Officer he's lying Tobias didn't-” Belle tried.

"Lady put your hands on your head now!” the second officer screamed. Belle snarled but complied. As everyone but Tobias got on their knees two more police cars came roaring down the drive.

"You on the steps, slowly walk backwards towards the sound of my voice!” The first officer shouted. Tobias complied, keeping his hands firmly on his head. "Stop! Now get on your knees!”

Tobias sighed but complied and wasn't surprised when moments later the cop grabbed him and forced his hands behind his back.

"You're under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future.” The officer said as he led Tobias to his cruiser. "If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you before any questioning, if you wish. If you decide to answer any questions now, without an attorney present, you will still have the right to stop answering at any time until you talk to an attorney. Do you understand these right as I have explained them to you?”

"I understand.” Tobias replied. The officer nodded and yanked the door open.

"In you go.” He said helping Tobias in. "Now, knowing and understanding your rights as I have explained them to you, are you willing to answer my questions without an attorney present?”

"I'm only to say this. Despite whatever else Jeff Chertsey says, those five by cars came here to stop me. That's the only thing I have to say until I see my lawyer.” Tobias said.

"Fair enough.” the officer said and slammed the door shut.

~*~*~*~

"Alright Miss, you have the right to remain silent,” one of the officers said as he grabbed Belle’s wrist.

"Officer, you were called on a man disturbing the peace, that woman was not part of the 911 call also the man making the call even stated we were trying to stop that man,” Kaidan stated and the officer froze.

"That’s right, that ruffian is on a vendetta against me!” the man on the porch said and Belle bit her lip. "That woman talked him down, he was going to burn me alive!” Belle realized how important it was to keep quiet and shot a look over, noticing that Rufus had already pulled J’dee to safety.

"According to state law, only those who were creating a disturbance can be arrested. That woman was clearly ending this conflict,” Kaidan stated and Belle was released.

"We’ve got their names, they are roommates with the suspect, we have their information,” another cop said from next to Rufus, J’dee smoking a cigarette cautiously as she watched. Belle got up and quickly moved to stand next to Kaidan and Yuna.

"We have no grounds for them, let’s take him in and just get this done,” another said and Belle looked at J’dee as the cops collected the two men and headed to the station. "We need to get home.”

"I was thinking the same thing,” J’dee muttered. They quickly piled into the car.

"Wait, shouldn’t we follow Tobias,” Yuna asked and J’dee shook her head.

"We have the evidence at home, we make copies to give to the police and we save Toby,” Belle stated as she began to rush home as fast as legally possible.

~*~*~*~

"Gimmie a sec, keep the car running!” J'dee was out of the car and up the steps in no time.

She made it through the door and into Toby's study.

J'dee grabbed the documents and the flash drive and what else she thought was relevant.

She was back outside and jumped in the car.

"So I got the stuff and whatsit. Where do we take it to that they won't try to cover it up or make it vanish?” She asked as the car was pulled out of the driveway.

"We'll go back to the police station for now.” Belle stated.

~*~*~*~

"Well, well, well, look who we have here. If it isn't the Killer Engineer.” An officer said as he strolled into the interrogation room. Tobias ignored him, firmly keeping his eyes down as he stared at his handcuffs firmly affixed to the claps on the heavy desktop. "My name is detective Anderson and I just wanted to say how much I'm looking forward to this. After tonight maybe those people will finally get what they want. A needle in your arm. Man, I can't wait until my partner gets back from taking Mr. Chertsey's statement. When I left he was just finishing the part where you almost killed him with that shotgun we found. Oh man, I can't wait until we get that confession you made to him in writing! I'm going to print it out and nail it to my wall.”

Tobias kept quiet.

"Nothing to say killer? Too bad, I was hoping you'd give something up on your friends. Too bad Chertsey agreed with you there, I was really sorry to let them go but hey, at least we got you! So tell me what set you off this time? You saw him out at the store or did-” The detective was cut off as the door opened.

"Anderson, a word.”

"Captain I just started!”

"Now Anderson.”

"Be back later, killer.”

"I said now!” Tobias didn't look up as the door closed but he did sigh in relief. His friends were safe. That was all that really mattered.

~*~*~*~

"How long do we wait?” Yuna asked and Belle shook her head as she came back.

"No word, but I’m going to call a friend and find out if I can’t request some back up,” Belle stated and J’dee gave her a look. "A guy I dated, he’s a lawyer, he might know which defender to call.”

"Toby can’t afford a lawyer,” Yuna sighed.

"And he’s too proud to let one of us pay for one,” J’dee added and Belle smirked.

"I never said we would pay, my friend is a public defender, he could pull some strings and get us someone who could use this information,” Belle stated as she went to make her phone call.

~*~*~*~

J'dee saw a female officer as she walked up to them. Belle was still on the phone.

"Given the evidence you have shown us. Before this goes any further. You will need to get a lawyer for your friend.”

J'dee motioned to Belle on the phone. "On it.”

"Now for all of this to be presented legally we need to have proper presentation of the file to the courts. This may take over night.” The female officer explained.

J'dee nodded. "Yeah I know. So Toby does just an overnighter.”

"In an observation room. Nothing more.” She explained.

J'dee looked at Yuna. "Yeah that's fine.”

The female officer looked at her. "We will need to grab a statement of events from you and your friends as well.”

"All of us?” Rufus asked wearily.

J'dee cleared her throat. "Well I think two will suffice, if any of us have forgotten a detail I'm sure another statement can be added. But it does make for more paperwork in the short time frame we have to work with. Especially with James-” She explained.

"Jeff.” Belle corrected while still on the phone.

"Jeff, being on the phone to the 911 dispatch, they record everything right?” J'dee added.

The officer nodded. "Very well come and see me at the desk when you've sorted out the representation for your friend.”

"Of course officer.” J'dee replied.

She watched the police officer walk away.

Rufus looked at her. "Smooth.”

"Statements least where I'm from require I.D and last time we checked I think out of all of us only Belle and I have I.D passable for this world. So we will have to give the statements.” J'dee explained. "They'll probably drag us away when Belle is off the phone so we don't have time to collaborate a story together.”

~*~*~*~

"So?” Kaidan asked as Belle hung up. She smiled.

"My friend didn’t want the case, too high profile for his likes, but he has a friend, John Dalton. I just got a chance to call him, he’s more than willing to get credit for clearing the name of our dear friend, especially since I promised to e-mail him the evidence we have when I get home, letting him know that the police already have a copy,” Belle sighed.

"Nice,” J’dee grinned and Rufus nodded.

"The police said we need to leave,” Yuna huffed, clearly upset.

"Then we go, we’ve set him up to get out of this with just one night in jail. He won’t even have to worry about dropping the soap,” Belle sighed as she headed toward the door.

"You were quick thinking,” Kaidan said.

"You were faster, how did you know the law about who is arrested in a disturbing the peace situation?” Belle asked and Kaidan chuckled.

"I didn’t, I was taking a bet that those cops didn’t know either,” he said and Belle punched his arm.

"You could have gotten us all arrested, you ass,” she scolded.

"It worked out for the best, you are proving to be useful, a friend who is a lawyer, good to know,” Rufus said.

"Hey, I think I’m going to owe him a favor for this,” Belle stated. "I hope he doesn’t want another date.”

"That bad?” Kaidan asked and Belle laughed.

"That good, he’s a lawyer, nearly talked his way into my pants after the second date, I’d be worried about giving him another shot,” she chuckled as they headed home.

~*~*~*~

Tuesday

Tobias jolted awake as the door opened again. He went to rub his eyes and was reminded that he was still cuffed to the table. He frowned when a young woman in a business suit stepped inside followed by a man in a dress shirt and tie and another man in a cheap suit.

"Mr. Fiften my name is Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Milano, this is Captain Edward Stabbler and your public defender John Dalton. Normally at this point we'd be having you booked and through processing however something has come up during the investigation tonight and we would really like you to speak with us as soon as possible.” Jennifer said, setting her brief case down on the table as they all sat in chairs around him. Tobias glanced at court appointed lawyer in suspicion

"Without even letting me talk to my lawyer.” He said skeptically.

"I assure you Mr Fiften, I know exactly what she wants. We already have a good idea what's going on especially with some evidence recently collected.” John assured him. Tobias sighed and shook his head.

"Okay I guess. What do you want to know?” he asked. Jennifer opened her brief case and pulled out some times. Tobias's eyes widened when he saw the papers and flash drives Brian gave him were among them in evidence bags. Then she picked up a legal pad with notes on it.

"After speaking with your friends earlier we believe this is how tonight’s events played out. A Mr. Brian Gerard stopped by to give you evidence of a crime Mr. Jeff Chertsey committed against you and the seventy-three people killed in the building collapse two years ago. After reviewing the evidence you flew into a rage at this revelation and drove over to confront Mr. Chertsey. During that confrontation he called the police and tried to shoot you with an unregistered shotgun on his front porch. A struggle ensued and you took the gun away and threw it into the yard. You and he argued and then your friends arrived who stopped you from assaulting Mr. Chertsey. Am I right so far, Mr. Fiften?” Jennifer asked.

"So far.” Tobias said, surprised. "You guys work fast.”

"You have been in this room since seven thirty pm yesterday Mr. Fiften. It is currently ten in the morning of the following day.” Jennifer said, smirking, Tobias's eyes got wide. "Shall I continue?”

"Please do.” he croaked.

"After our officers arrived and took you into custody our 911 call center contacted us to inform us that they had a murder confession on tape on Mr. Chertsey's 911 call.” Jennifer said. Tobias felt dizzy as the information sank in.

"He dropped the phone.” Tobias whispered. "Oh dear sweet Jesus I forgot that he dropped the phone!”

"The call cut out shortly after your friends arrived.” John cut in. "As Mr. Chertsey is a recently confessed murderer I think we can all agree that all they did was talk my client down from assaulting his framer?” Tobias didn't miss the fact that his attorney was stressing this word The DA and Captain's eyes narrowed and Tobias understood the message.

"Yes, that's what happened. Belle and the others talked some sense into me. After everything that's happened with the courts to me I just wanted to see justice done.” Tobias explained. It was the truth, it just left out what they had talked him out of doing.

"Completely understandable After all, it’s harder to believe confessed murderer who was talking about balls of fire, isn't it?” John said sweetly.

"Fucking hell.” Captain Stabbler muttered and shook his head.

"In any event we now have Mr. Chertsey in custody. I think we can drop the assault and destruction of property charges provided Mr. Fiften agrees not to go anywhere near the defendant?”

"Absolutely.” Tobias blurted out. Jennifer nodded, and began to put everything away.

"Perfect. If Mr. Chertsey doesn't plead guilty I'll contact you about getting you to testify at the trial. I highly doubt it will come to that. His lawyer is already trying to get him a deal with the death penalty off the table.” Jennifer said as the Captain un-did Tobias's handcuffs. "We'll release a statement later today about everything. I think you'll be in the spot light again for awhile.”

"Oh joy.” Tobias muttered.

~*~*~*~

Belle sighed, she would miss Toby getting picked up from jail, but there was wonderful satisfaction in knowing that this morning the story would break and Toby’s name would be clear from two years of false condemnation. She smiled as she prepared a lab only to see the Principal and Dean of Students standing at her door.

"Mr. Collins, Mrs. Manning?” she asked and the two shared a look that screamed of something not good.

"What happened? Is a student hurt?” Belle asked and the two shook their heads.

"No, that’s not that case. We just received a phone call,” Mr. Collins said and Belle knew that the principal was about to tell her bad news. She sat down in an empty desk.

"Who was it?” she asked.

"A reporter from The Plain Dealer, they just found out about your roommate, Mr. Fiften. They called here thinking we were his employers,” Mrs. Manning said and Belle put her head down.

"We understand that you had no part of this, but if the Dealer is calling us, there will be other news outlets looking to get the story,” she said and Belle nodded, not trusting her voice for this discussion.

~*~*~*~

J'dee tapped the dvd player at work.

"Anything?” She called out from the back room.

"Nope, it's just blue screen of doom.” Sam called back.

J'dee climbed down from the ladder out back and walked out to the front and she looked at Sam.

"Guess we have to call head office and order a new one in.” She sighed putting her hands on her hips.

"So we're stuck with no loop DVD?” He asked.

She turned to look at him and grinned. "Seems that way.”

"Rock Paper Scissor to see whose music plays.” Sam offered.

J'dee gave him a look. "Fuck that shit I'm pulling rank bitch.”

Sam gave her a look. "That is not fair.”

J'dee shrugged. "Shotgun shuts his cake hole.” She quoted pointing a finger at him walking out back.

She had her music on most of the day the phone call done and the e-mail sent off to head office.

J'dee was on close and Sam was ready to go home. She looked up seeing the area manager walk intot he store. That made her blink for a moment.

"Jay.” The woman smiled at her. "Has anyone been in here today asking questions.”

"Questions.” J'dee raised a brow and shook her head. "Nope pretty dead really.”

She nodded her head. "I know this isn't a good time but several of our stores in my region have had reporters hit them.”

"Oh.” J'dee didn't like how this was sounding.

"Seems something was leaked to the papers about an incident you were involved in last night.” The area manager let out a sigh.

J'dee pinched the bridge of her nose. "How are they looking for me?”

"Red head, tattoos, female, accent. That's all they have to go on at the moment.”

"Let me guess. You want me to go into hiding?” J'dee asked.

"Just for a few days. I know it's hard given that you're in a tight spot financially at the moment.”

"How many days?” J'dee asked.

"Just a couple of weeks till this dies down. That way they would have overlooked this store and probably will move on to a different story.” She offered.

"Paid?”

The area manager nodded. "Your normal ASM pay will go through. But just in case I'd like Sam to close and for you to go home.”

"Right incase they pop in after you leave.” J'dee stated.

"I'm really sorry.”

J'dee waved her hand. "It's fine not your fault or mine.”

After the area manager left, J'dee pointed at Sam. "Guess you're closing.”

"Awww c'mon that's not fair.” He complained.

"You can play your music at least.” She offered.

"So I'm running the store until the bearded one gets back?”

"Yeah but you need me for anything call okay?” J'dee said.

"Right.” Sam replied. "Enjoy your forced vacation.”

"I'll try. Bet you they're camped out at the house.” She sighed.

~*~*~*~

Tobias looked up from the papers he was reviewing for their trip to Mount Killian’. It was a two day drive up north into Canada but with the recent reports of the ice cap expanding and freak lighting storms heading straight for the mountain Tobias was willing to bet summon creatures were involved. He wanted to get away from all this attention from the press and this was the prefect opportunity. He looked up from his notes as the door leading to garage slammed shut. He winced as Belle stormed in.

"Bad day?” Tobias asked cautiously as Kaidan came in from the kitchen with Yuna following.

"You could say that.” Belle snapped, her voice rough. It was then Tobias noticed she had a large box in her arms, which she set by the couch. "I've been suspended for two weeks.”

"What, why?” Kaidan said alarmed as Tobias began to rub his temples. Tobias had an idea why they gave her two weeks off with our four weeks left in the year.

"Reporters starting calling the school to get an interview with me. They gave me two weeks off with pay to offer-comfort-in-his-time-of-need.” Belle said, her eyes red and wet. "It is easier for the school to function as normal if they send out a statement that I’m out to help you cope in this time of need.”

"They just don't want reporters showing up at the school.” Rufus muttered, coming in from the porch.

"Oh and that's another thing. The reporters are camped out at the end of the drive. They don't dare step foot on the property with the No Trespassing signs up. Who ever put those up is brilliant.” Belle noted as she rubbed her eyes, steps away from crying.

"I know I am.” Rufus drawled.

"I'm sorry Belle.” Tobias said.

~*~*~*~

"It’s not your fault, those damned reporters are hungry for this. This is big news,” Belle said, her voice cracking. She wiped her eyes before letting out a shaky breath. "I just feel like I’m punished because they want some special outlook on you. We really don’t need this focus.”

"Rufus, Kaidan, and Yuna have stayed out of sight,” Tobias said and Belle nodded before heading to her room.

"Is there anything I can do to help?” Toby asked and Belle shook her head.

"I’ll be fine in two weeks,” she muttered before going to her room. She sat on her bed and looked out her window, wiping the first tears to fall.

"Don’t worry about it,” Kaidan said. "You’re not being punished, it is just logistics. You still have your job and hey, we’re going on a trip.” He sat down next to her and Belle began to cry. Kaidan placed an arm around her shoulder and just let her cry.

~*~*~*~

J'dee walked in the door, she had her gears of war cap pulled down and closed the door after her.

"You get snapped?” Kaidan asked.

"A kazillion times. I nearly ran over one of them coming up the drive. Bastard jumped in front of the car. Careless dick.”

"You're home early as well.” Rufus noted.

"Yeah got two weeks paid leave to stop them from camping the stores.” She yawned.

Toby looked at her. "J-chan, I'm sorry.”

She waved her hand. "It's cool you got that summon trip thingie planned, fits in perfectly really. Just a fore warning we're not driving right?”

Toby rubbed behind his head. "Well kinda.”

J'dee let out a breath. "Um hello Cloud's motion sickness, me and cars with long journey's, equals I ruin your upholstery.”

"Take a bucket.” Rufus stated.

J'dee shot Rufus a look. "Yeah and I'll stick it in your lap asshole.”

~*~*~*~

Thursday

"I am so glad to be out of that truck!” Yuna moaned stretching her arms over her head.

"Sorry I guess I shouldn't have insisted we drive threw the night.” Tobias said. Yuna waved it off.

"No it was a good idea, it cut a two day car trip down to one.” Yuna said as the others got out to stretch. "It gives us more time to look.”

"This is a big ass mountain.” Rufus said. Tobias craned up to look. He had to agree with the Shinra executive. Mount Killian’ was one of the biggest mountains in the range and boasted one of the largest ice caps in Canada.

"Well we better get started.” Kaidan said, eying the map. "The latest incident with the lighting strike is about three miles from here on the hiking path. We're definitely camping on the mountain tonight.”

"Oh joy.” J'dee drawled, snuggling deeper into her winter coat.

~*~*~*~

"This is the best path,” Belle stated as she began to lead.

"How do you know?” Yuna asked and Belle pulled out the topographic map, a large red circle was near the center and a few Xs marked various locations.

"I bought this at that last gas station, I had the coordinates of various reports, while we were driving I labeled them,” Belle stated.

"That’s a lot of locations,” J’dee groaned and Belle shrugged.

"We have a weekend to search, hopefully we won’t catch on fire or get struck by lightning,” Belle sighed.

"Or freeze,” Rufus muttered.

"Let’s get going,” Toby said and the group began to walk the trail.

Belle took pictures here and there of various plants and rocks.

"What are you doing?” Kaidan asked.

"Alibi, I’m a science teacher, I’m taking pictures to tell anyone we meet that we’re here on a vacation and I’m using it as a chance to capture the local flora and fauna for educational purposes. Hold on,” Belle quickly leaned against Kaidan, aiming the camera at them. "Smile.” She took the picture. "Authenticity is key.”

"Good thinking,” Kaidan smiled and Belle nodded before looking at him. "What?”

"You are freaking warm,” Belle chuckled. "If I get cold I’m nominating you to be the human space heater.”

"Biotics do run a little warm,” he chuckled.

"I bet,” Belle laughed as they moved up the trail.

~*~*~*~

J'dee let out a breath and pulled her jacket round herself they had only been on the trail a bit over an hour. But her body was reacting bad to the cold. She found herself stopping ever few moment to place a hand over her stomach.

Rufus looked at her. "Hey, you alright?”

She shook her head. "Pain's pretty bad.” She mumbled.

Rufus opened up his long overcoat and pulled her into it rubbing her back.

Belle stopped looking back at her. "J'dee, is it bad?” She asked.

"On a scale of one to ten I'm about at a twelve, I'll be okay though it's when it hits fifteen I won't be able to move.” J'dee replied.

Belle handed her a thermos of hot chocolate. "Drink some warm your insides.”

J'dee took the thermos and sipped at the liquid. "Smart cookie for bringing this.”

"Of course.” Belle beamed. "Just so long as we can make sure you can keep moving.”

J'dee saw Toby turn round and look at her. "I'm sorry J-chan I forgot about that.”

She waved it off. "I should have stayed at home. Infact next I nominate myself for house sitting duty.”

Toby walked back towards her. "Rufus can you take off a glove from her.”

Rufus pulled a glove off her right hand.

"Wait what?” She looked at Toby.

~*~*~*~

"Here.” Tobias said, taking off the glove of his right hand and holding his hand out to J'dee. J'dee look puzzled but took his hand.

"And how will a handshake help warm me up on-” J'dee was cut off as she swayed for a moment. She felt a rush of heat fill her and growl in her head. "You gave me Irifit?”

"I asked him if it was okay if I loaned him to you. He said it was okay so I transferred him to you. The effect he had on me will fade for a few hours and when they're gone you can just transfer him back. He keeps you pretty warm doesn't he?”

"I'll say!” J'dee said hugging herself. "It's like having a space heater under my skin! You feel like this all the time?”

"Nah, he just turns it on when it gets below freezing to keep me alive.” Tobias said.

~*~*~*~

"This is definitely one of the spots,” Toby stated as they entered the clearing where they were going to set up camp for the night. It was abnormally flat for the area with plants that did not look quite right.

"This is suspicious,” Belle stated as she looked at a flower.

"It is a flower,” Rufus said, clearly not amused.

"No, Belle’s right, that doesn’t look like the plants we’ve been walking by, it’s too colorful,” J’dee stated and Belle nodded.

"It looks tropical, see these leaves, you don't get leaves like this on mountains," Belle stated as she pulled out a pocket knife and a plastic sandwich bag. She used the unopened knife like a shovel and dug up the plant, placing it into the bag before putting it into her pack.

"What are you doing?" Kaidan asked and Belle smiled.

"I'm going to bring it back, I have a theory about the summons and I want to test it," Belle replied.

"What's the theory?" Rufus asked and Belle smirked.

"If I'm right, I'll tell you, if I'm wrong, I'm keeping it to myself," she replied as she stood up.

"That is a ridiculously giant pocket knife," Tobias stated and Belle chuckled.

"It's a 'grown up' pocket knife. It's not supposed to be normal size, the knives are all real sized. The biggest one is pretty useful, and I sharpened it before we came," she stated and Toby nodded in approval.

"Hey look, there's a path," J'dee stated and the group followed her pointing finger to a small pathway.

"The trees look like they were planted there," Kaidan muttered.

"That looks like a flashing 'summons this way' sign to me," Tobias said. “We'll go that way in the morning. Let's get camp setup for the night.”

~*~*~*~

Friday

J'dee stopped on the path  as she felt the breeze picked up. She was sure she heard a low growl from inside her head and she touched the side of her head.

It was different from hearing the voices she was used to.

She realized suddenly it was Ifirit and he seemed to be warning her of something.

Toby was walking ahead and Yuna stopped turning round to look at her. Toby seemed to trudge on ahead through the snow.

"J'dee are you cold again?” Yuna asked.

J'dee shook her head. "No I think something's upsetting Ifrit.”

Rufus stopped by her side. "Is he talking to you?”

"More like growling. I don't think he wants us to go this way.” J'dee stated.

"It's fine J-chan don't-” Toby replied.

J'dee heard the grumble of the ground before anything. She hit the ground suddenly.

The sound all to familiar to her after living through several earthquakes.

"Toby!” Yuna shouted.

J'dee looked up in time to see Toby vanish through the ground. She jumped up and ran up to the side of the hole with Belle. But the hole was covered with snow and debris.

J'dee was clutching at her chest. She felt Rufus behind her looking at the ground.

"Toby!” Belle called down.

~*~*~*~

"I'm okay! I think I fell into some sort of cave or something!” Tobias called up to them. He picked himself up and looked around. He yanked out his flash light and switched it on. It didn't look too bad, just pitch black. "Why can't I see where I fell in?”

"I think the entrance collapsed just as you walked over it! You're lucky you weren't buried alive!” Belle called to him. Her voice sounded muffled to Tobias.

"Listen there's little stream running away from me!” Tobias called up as he saw it. "I'm going to follow it and see if it leads to a way out!”

"Toby that's a bad idea!” Yuna said.

"It's the only chance I've got!” Tobias replied looking at the cave-in behind him. "There's no way you're clearing the cave in, some of these rocks are as big as the truck!”

"Good luck, Toby!” J'dee called to him.

"Be careful!” Kaidan called down.

"Always!” Tobias said before heading into the cave.

~*~*~*~

"So, stuff like that happens normally, right?" J'dee said looking at Belle as they stood next to the indent in the path that had collapsed under Tobias and engulfed him.

"Yeah, that doesn't happen normally," Belle replied. "We need to stick next to the hill."

"The path is moving downward further ahead," Yuna pointed out and Belle nodded.

"If he is in the ground in a cave, there may be an entrance over there, I think we all agree this reeks of summons," Belle sighed as they moved further along the path.

"Do you think he will be okay?" Yuna asked and Belle sighed. "I don't know, he has Irifit so it's not like he's helpless should he come across a summons."

"Uh...actually, he loaned me Irifit..." J'dee said and Belle grimaced.

"He has water and a flashlight, if there is a stream, there is a good chance there is a way out," Belle said.

"You hope," Rufus said and J'dee elbowed him. "He has a higher than medium chance of survival."

"Your bedside manner is awful," Kaidan said, shaking his head and Belle began to walk a little faster.

"So, what do you actually think," J'dee whispered and the two women shared a look of deep concern.

"We need to get down there and fast. This reeks of trouble and we don't need any more than we have already dealt with this week," Belle muttered.

"There's a cave entrance," Rufus stated and the girls noticed he was looking down the hill from the path.

"Let's get down there," Belle replied as she quickly slid down the steep hill and pulled out a flashlight of her own. She quickly pulled a small lever from the side and began winding it.

"What's that?" Kaidan asked and Belle smiled.

"LCD flashlight that you hand power, no need for batteries," she said before flicking the flashlight on and pointing it in the cave. Kaidan pulled out a compass and they shared a look.

"What now?" J'dee asked looking between the two.

"This cave isn't going straight, it might not meet up with Tobias at all," Kaidan said and Belle pulled out a small box.

"What's that?" Rufus asked.

"Breadcrumbs," Belle stated as she drew a chalk X on the wall and then an arrow.

"So what if little imps move the tiles?" J'dee joked humorously.

"We spend our last days stomping on them," Belle replied as she made a small mark. "That will always mark the floor, so if someone does screw with us, they'll need to copy that," Belle stated.

"What is that symbol?" Rufus muttered and Belle blushed.

"My initials, you snot," she muttered as they entered the cave.

~*~*~*~

J'dee let out a breath. "You know I feel like watching labyrinth when we get back now.”

"Funnny.” Belle drawled.

J'dee could still feel Ifrit, he was definitely disturbed by something in the area.

"You know the energy of this area is off putting there could be a Taniwha.”

Rufus gave her a look. "What on Gaia are you rambling about.”

"Taniwha.” J'dee stated. "As kids were were always warned about not going places that were tapu, because the mana of the place could not be disturbed and such places had Taniwha. Namely to guard them.” She explained.

Belle gave her a look. "I think you need to speak English.”

"I'm sorry for my broken English.” J'dee apologized with a roll of the eyes.

"So best translation then?” Kaidan asked.

"Tapu is like forbidden, most places that are Tapu have a certain mana surrounding them in unspoken history. Mana is like the spiritual energy. Where as Taniwha is a monster where I come from you can find him in water holes, cracks of dirt. Protecting the area or hunting for it's next meal.” J'dee explained. "Hence the saying in NZ 'don't go there, there's a Taniwha there'.”

Rufus sighed. "Now that wasn't so hard to use the English version.”

~*~*~*~

"Well what do have here?” Tobias muttered. Everything had been going okay, he could even see a bit of light coming from the end of the cave. When he reached it, he found two statues about the size of himself. One was a lion and the other looked like a dragon of English lore. Above them in the cave ceiling was a glowing orb with chains going from it to the necks of the statues. Tobias eyes them carefully and sighed.

"You two must be causing the ice and lighting here.” Tobias muttered. "But how do I get you out?”

Tobias tried every thing he could think of.  Calling to the statues, hitting them, hell he even made up a stupid dance around them. Nothing. Now he was leaning against one while grumbling. He just needed to get one out. If he could do that he could use the summons to get out of this damn cave. In his frustration he pick up a small rock and tossed it at the orb. When the orb was struck the chains rattled and Tobias saw the faces of the statues crack. A light went off in his head and he scooped up a larger rock.

"I hope this works.” Tobias muttered and flung the rock with all his might. The orb shattered and Tobias let out a shout of glee.

And that's when it felt like the world exploded.

~*~*~*~

Belle sighed as she looked up and down the tunnel, J'dee and Yuna needed to go to the bathroom and Rufus had thought he had heard the stream so Kaidan and Rufus had gone on alone. Belle had stayed where the two other women had left them and Kaidan had taken the chalk to chart the path the men were taking.

"You know what's a smart idea, standing alone in an underground tunnel where there could be monster summons," Belle muttered to herself as she crossed one foot behind the other leg and carelessly tossed her weight against the wall. She felt the rock begin to shift and knew there was no way for her to catch herself. The secret panel was hinged in the middle so as she pushed back on the top, the bottom came up and helped to propel her through the passage. Belle was dropped on the other side on her head and shoulders.

"Ow! Shit!" Belle hissed as she rubbed the back of her skull where she had landed. She got up and saw she was lucky enough that her flashlight had made it over. She shone the light on the wall but she didn't see the panel. She tried pushing on the top and the bottom but there was no luck. The wall seemed as solid as ever. "Well, that might be bad." Belle pulled out the pocket knife and looked around.

"This way is a dead end, so let's see who is hiding behind wall panels," she muttered as she began to walk. Unlike the other cave, this was a clear hallway, carvings on the walls were somewhat familiar to Belle, like she had seen the patterns before. While it was clear this was unnatural, the floor was perfectly even, the carvings seemed old, but the designs weren't Native American, besides, Belle had never heard of Native American carving into mountains.

The end of the hall was a massive door. Belle pressed her hand to it and blinked. It was wood. She knocked on the door and winced, the wood was solid, probably very thick. She ran her fingers carefully over the door. It was carved like the walls and for a moment she recognized the image on the door.

"Is that...the three realms of Norse mythology?" she muttered. It wasn't as nice as the carving from the Captain America movie, but it was similar, the top realm was massive, a path moved down to the middle realm where Viking ships were on the bodies of water, and the bottom realm was winter. "Man, the two of them had to have hearts' desires in Final Fantasy worlds, I don't know anything about these damned summons." Belle looked at the door and noticed there was a small puzzle where the handle to the door should have been. Belle smirked as she looked at the puzzle. "I can't go back, so solve a puzzle and possibly win the way out?" She began to solve the puzzle in front of her.

It was relatively easy to figure the puzzle out and as Belle manipulated the last piece into place the doors slid wide open so smoothly Belle had to look behind them first to see if there was a motor. She pushed at one of the doors, it was too heavy to move.

"Definitely a summons nearby," Belle muttered as she looked around the room. There were columns in the room and carvings like the top half of the club symbol on playing cards were on the walls. The best part of the room was the nice large window above a throne. Belle's eyes slowly moved down from the window to the large figure on the throne, it looked like a statue. "Which is just what a summons would want someone desperate to get out of their secret tunnel to think. I know what you are." Belle crossed her arms and looked at the statue, it didn't move and she shone the light around the room. She slowly moved around the columns, ducking between them, but it seemed like the room was honestly empty save for her and the statue on the throne.

"I know you are not just a statue, so don't bother pretending, this room isn't naturally a part of this world," Belle stated.

"It is now, mortal," the statue chuckled and one eye began to glow and Belle's eyes widened as torches around the room lit magically on their own. "You figured out the puzzle on the door. You knew what I truly am. You are more astute than most of your kind."

"You...you look like one of the old gods worshiped in the northern part of the continent east of this one," Belle stated and the statue remained stone, save for that one glowing eyes.

"Which god would that be?" the voice emitting from the statue sounded amused.

"Odin, king of the Norse gods," Belle stated and the statue laughed.

"I am Odin," it chuckled and suddenly a statue was no longer in the throne but a massively huge man. His armor shone in the firelight, the massive horns on his helmet adding even more height. Belle paled as he turned to look at her with one glowing eye. "You amuse me with your mind mortal, I will give you a chance to prove yourself. Fight me and if impressed I will grant you my sword in times of need." Belle stared for a moment before the throne was gone and he was seated on a massive horse with six powerful legs.

"Oh, you are kidding me," Belle stated as she looked at Odin.

"Come mortal, you have a weapon," Odin laughed and Belle held up the pocket knife. "Hurry or I will strike first.

"Oh this is so not fair," Belle muttered as she ran, quickly ducking between the six legs. She moved fast, using the sharpest blade of the knife she quickly sliced the tendons in the horse's first four legs before ducking out under its tail as it collapsed forward, throwing Odin into one of the columns. The summon god laughed and Belle raced at him and quickly wrapped her body around his right arm slipping her hand into his gauntlet. She slid the blade across the back of Odin's hand and he roared, dropping his massive sword, and throwing her across the room.

"I grow bored of you, mortal!" Odin snarled as he reached down for his blade and Belle stared, her knife several feet away. Odin's hand landed on the blade and he looked confused for a moment before he began to laugh. "Oh, clever little mortal, you did not aim to kill."

"Death is the end, it means no more, no more joys, no more sorrows, and no more chance to change one's fate," Belle stated and suddenly the horse was gone and Odin was in front of her, his blade sheathed and Belle's knife being offered to her, hilt first. She stared up at the summon and he chuckled.

"I am sufficiently impressed, you risked all to keep me from being able to swing my blade, instead of trying to maim or kill, you went for a disabling more. Clever, very clever, I prefer my mortals to be clever," he said as Belle cautiously took her knife back.

"What do you mean your mortal?" Belle asked and Odin laughed.

"You have my sword when you are in need," Odin said and Belle's eyes opened.

"Oh no, I don't want a summons, you can stay right here!" she snapped and Odin laughed more.

"Oh no, mortal, you don't understand, I have chosen you, you don't get to collect me, I have collected you," with a loud clap of thunder Belle blinked, she was back in the hallway with her backpack. She looked around in time to see J'dee and Yuna approach.

"What's wrong?" Yuna asked and Belle blinked as she stared in awe at the tunnel. It was like she never went down the passage. She reached back and felt a painful spot that promised to be a goose-egg later. She blinked, had she tripped and just imagined Odin.

"We didn't take that long to pee," J'dee whined.

"I just...I bumped my head, I tripped over a rock, that kind of deal, " Belle said as she got up. "Kaidan and Rufus heard a stream, they were going to see if it led out of this cave." She was about to brush off the idea that Odin was a dream when she noticed that her knife had a dark smear on it. As she began to lead Yuna and J'dee away she touched it. Thick, dark blood covered her thumb. Belle nearly groaned as she realized she knew nothing about Odin the summons, at least she didn't feel like there was an additional presence in her.

~*~*~*~

J'dee was walking behind Belle and she tilted her head curiously. Yuna looked at her.

"Are you okay?” Yuna asked.

"I think so, something doesn't feel right though. The energy in the air is making mee feel ice cold even with Ifrit burning hot inside me.” She replied.

Yuna looked at her. "You know you could have been a summoner in my world.”

J'dee looked to Yuna. "That woulda been awesome. But I don't really have the ability to control summons. I think I've always been kinda partial to Shiva, I think I had a girl crush on her for a while.”

Yuna blinked. "Really?”

"She was just really pretty and so graceful. Everything I'm totally not. I think that's why I liked Aerith too, though hate to say this she reminded me of my mother.” J'dee mused. "The flower thing and the copious amounts of pink.”

Yuna smiled. "You wear a lot of pink.”

"Only started wearing it after my mother died, namely to honor her memory.” J'dee stated. "Just never really stopped wearing it.”

"She must have meant everything to you.” Yuna commented.

J'dee nodded. "As much as Belle and Toby and my bro do. They're the only family I have left.”

~*~*~*~

THANK YOU HUMAN FOR OUR FREEDOM. FOR YOUR REWARD WE SHALL SPARE YOU, FOR NOW.

Tobias's eyes sprang open and he coughed. The cave ceiling and side and been obliterated. Tobias could see the side of the mountain leaning up and away. However the edge of the cavern now sported a sheer cliff of atleast a hundred feet. Tobias coughed waving the dust away from his face as he stood. As the dust cleared he could see the cave tunnel where he had come from was destroyed but the other eixt was still there. A slight gust of wind got rid of the last of the dust and he saw them floating in the air above the cliff. One summons was a giant dragon with black scales and glow red eyes. The other was a lion with wings, fur as black as night, red horns and a white mane. Tobias felt his blood run cold as he recognized the summons. Griever and Tiamat.

"No! No no no no no no No NO NO!” Tobias screamed. He tried to force his magic to come but his head was still ringing from the explosion. Something, anything to stop them but by the time he could get his brian to focus they were already gone.

'Griever, the insane summons and Tiamat the dark god opposite of Bahamut. And I let them loose!' Tobias thought. He screamed in frustration. He'd let two evil summons loose.

"This is all my fault.” he whispered.

"Not so human.”

Tobias whirled around and blinked in shock. Striding toward him from the top fo the mountain, apparently paying no heed to the snowstorm raging around them was a woman of blue skin. She was barely clothed, her blue hair whipping around her, the yellow bands holding her hair into long braids. She walked on the snow, her gaze bright and centered on him.

"This was meant to happen since we imprisoned them on this plane.” she explained as she reached him. "This moment, this place have all been picked for one reason. For you and your companions to stop them for good. For it is here, in this plane of existence that we summons all share one thing. Here we can die.”

"Is that why you junction to us like in Squall's world?” Tobias said. His eyes widened. "You can die there too.”

"No we can not.” Shiva chided and the wind seemed to get just a bit colder. "There we share what we are. Here we become life because your plane can be altered.”

"I don't understand.” Tobias said.

"You will in time, human.” Shiva said, reaching out to caress his cheek. "We have been waiting for your birth since their fall from grace.”

"What do I do?” Tobias asked. Shiva smiled.

"You live, human. You will take me with you and get my brother of fire back. Then you will continue to live. Then when the opportunity presents itself you will destroy them. First the insane lion and then the dragon of hate.”

~*~*~*~

"There you three are, I was worried I didn't make enough marks," Kaidan stated as J'dee, Yuna, and Belle walked around the corner.

"Nah, just having a weird day," Belle muttered as they entered a massive cave the stream entered from another tunnel on the opposite side of the chamber. "I'm glad you didn't go rushing ahead."

"He nearly did when the tremor occurred, I had to remind him that you ladies would be rather upset if we didn't stay here like we promised," Rufus stated.

"Someone didn't want to get his hands dirty," J'dee snickered and Rufus shot her a dirty look. Belle sighed as she walked over to the tunnel and looked at J'dee.

"Tobias!" Belle called and her voice echoed in the darkness.

"Belle?" a response came from far away.

"We're this way," J'dee cried and the women stayed in the entrance, Belle flashing her light before Tobias appeared around a corner down the tunnel and came running.

"Oh man!" he panted. He was dirty and the look on his face said bad things happened.

"Are you okay?" Belle asked and he quickly grabbed J'dee.

"Awww I liked having Irifit," J'dee pouted and Belle shook her head.

"I'll be better when we get home," Toby sighed and everyone nodded.

"Can we go after summons who don't live in caves next time?" J'dee asked and Belle nodded.

"You look a little rough yourself," Tobias muttered and Belle snorted.

"You don't know the half of it," she muttered.

"What happened?" Kaidan asked.

"Well, I kind of met a summons when I was by myself," Belle stated.

"What!" the group cried.

"Which one!" J'dee and Toby demanded.

"A crazy dude named Odin," Belle stated.

"WHAT!" the two cried in unison once more.

~*~*~*~

J'dee motioned at Belle. "Oh that is soooo not fucken fair! Odin is totally like several kinds of just well Awesome. I hate you right now.”

Rufus clipped her over the back of the head. He looked at Belle. "Is he-?”

Belle shrugged. "I'm not hearing anything, or feeling anything.”

"Well Belle gets Odin and Shiva came to me after.” Toby stated.

J'dee gave him a death look. "Man I hate you both, king of awesome and my girl crush. So not fair.”

Toby raised a brow. "Girl crush?”

"Nevermind that.” Yuna stated. "I think we should head back now.”

"I'm summonless can't I just hate on you two for five more minutes?” J'dee complained.

"Need I remind you Kaidan and myself don't have summons.” Rufus pointed out.

"Not the same.” J'dee whined.

~*~*~*~
Sunday

"Is that what you think your heart's desire was?” Belle asked. Tobias looked up from the kitchen table, confused.

"What?”

"On the car ride back yesterday.” Belle clarified. "When you told us what Shiva said. Do you think you're heart's desire was to do something like this? Something important?”

Tobias frowned, thinking on it.

"No, no I don't. I still don't know what my heart wanted but I do know the summons are playing their own game. You have Odin now but it looked like he died in FF8 when Seifer cut him in half. But you have him.” Tobias mused.

"Don't remind me.” Belle muttered.

"So if this plane is the only one where they can die, then they set this up years before our family lines even existed, let alone us. Shiva refuses to answer any more questions about it. All she tells me, I'll know when to act.”

"So what do we do?”

"We keep on living Belle. Its the best we can do.”

~*~*~*~

"Okay time for trainning," Belle stated and Kaidan blinked.

"I am shocked, who are you and what have you done to Belle," he asked.

"I'm on leave until Tobias' story dies down over the next two weeks so, I need something to do since I don't have to grade or prepare for lessons," Belle stated and Kaidan chuckled.

"Should I let the others know you are up for more training?" he asked and Belle laughed.

"Yeah, might as well learn some more staff stuff from Yuna and Rufus...well, he doesn't need to know," Belle laughed.

"So do you need to train your summons?" Kaidan asked and Belle snorted.

"Apparently Odin is very unique in the summons world. He kind of shows up when he wants to show up," Belle stated.

"Ah, too bad," Kaidan said.

"Are you kidding, Toby was creeping me out with the talk about another presence in your head. That's weird crazy stuff. I'm fine with a summons who is not going to be in my head," Belle laughed. "And now we can total play more drinking games with bad movies."

"Oh joy," Kaidan chuckled.

"It will be fun," Belle laughed.

~*~*~*~

J'dee tossed the runes onto thee board as she sat cross legged on the floor and she looked to each of the houses the runes landed in.

"Anything on the next summon location?” Rufus asked from where he sat in her computer chair.

"Just getting a lot of water. I mean lots. Tidal wave worthy.”

Rufus nodded his head. "Are you going to go running off for your own summons?”

J'dee shook her head. "I maybe annoyed I don't have one. It puts me at a disadvantage. Meaning I'm an easy target, but if it's meant to happen it will. For now we just need to find as many as we can because to beat the ones Toby let loose, we need a lot of help.”

She picked up one of the runes and she looked at it, then back to the board.

"So how do you read this?” He asked.

J'dee looked up at Rufus. "It's all in the book.” She handed the blue fabric book up to Rufus. "Look at page 109 and the six pages after. It's Mu, Sma and Aat. Three of the runes of the water sequence.”

Rufus flipped through the book and he looked at the images to the board as J'dee put the rune back in it's place. He didn't understand much about this sort of thing, Tseng was the one who had more of a spiritual understanding of the land. But looking at the board then at the runes, he knew what he was looking at. There was a lot of water to be grouped together in one house.

J'dee looked up at him. "Something popped in your head right now didn't it?”

Rufus blinked looking at her. "I was just thinking on Tseng. This is more up his alley.”

J'dee looked to the ruins then at Rufus. "Tseng. You were thinking on Tseng?”

Rufus glared at her. "Not like that.”

J'dee gave him a look like he was being an idiot. "I'm in spiritual mode not yaoi mode.”

"Meaning?”

"Water, Tseng. Where is he from again?” She was prompting him.

"Wutai don't ask stupid questions.” Rufus shot her a glare. But he saw her look.

"Rufus. Water, Tseng, Wutai, summons. Think.”

Rufus glanced at the board. "Leviathan. Is it telling us where to find a Leviathan?”

J'dee nodded her head. "Yeah. I believe it is.”

~*~*~*~

~*~To Be Continued~*~


Omake: Crashing The Fanfic

"This is all my fault.” Tobias whispered.

"Not so human.”

Tobias whirled around and blinked in shock. Striding toward him from the top fo the mountain, apparently paying no heed to the snowstorm raging around them was a woman of blue skin. She was barely clothed, her blue hair whipping around her, the yellow bands holding her hair into long braids. She walked on the snow, her gaze bright and centered on him.

"This has meant to happen since we imprisoned them on this plane.” she explained as she reached him. "This moment, this place...”

As Shiva began her speech Tobias noticed some one racing down the mountain on a snowboard. They hit a bump and went soaring threw the air.

"Yeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwww!” the person cried out. Shiva stopped and looked up. As she did a little furry creature landed in her arms. It shook itself and whistled at her.

"Ugh.” Shiva said, shivering before dropping the creature. It hopped to it's feet and wolf-whistled after her.

"Hey get your own fanfic, Stitch!” Tobias cried.