This fic came to me while I was sitting in church this morning. Read and Review.

Chapter 1: New Name

"Squall Leonhart, as your injuries are too great we hereby relieve you of your duties as a member of SeeD, until if and when you can be medically cleared to continue with your duties."

This is it. My life is over. I have just been medically discharged from SeeD. I can't believe this. Dammit.

"Sorry dude. We'll miss you." It was Zell. The blonde looked worried. "I never thought I'd see the day you would have to leave SeeD for any reason other than death."

I grumbled. "I'll be back." I looked down at my arm in the sling. I just noticed that it matched my uniform. "I'm never out for long."

"You really think so?"

I could hear laughter from behind me. "You think he'll be back? That's laughable. That attack did a number on not only your body, but your eyes, didn't it Leonhart? Without passing eyesight levels they won't even let you back into SeeD with an office job!"

I knew that voice anywhere. It belonged to none other than Seifer Almasy.

"Shut it Seifer." Zell shouted back. His fists balled.

I just gave Zell the look I always gave him as a leader. He knew better than to argue back with Seifer. It would inevitably lead to a fight. An unnecessary one.

I stood up, nodding to the both of them, and left to head back to my room. I had to finish packing to go back to my home in Radiant Garden. I hadn't been there since I was 15. I've been here in Balamb since then training and then becoming a SeeD.

"Squall!" Of course, I can't just walk to the dorms without being stopped. It was Quistis. I could make out her bright red hair coming my way.

The beautiful red head stopped in front of me. "I heard what happened. I'm… I'm sorry." I was tired of hearing apologies. No one could possibly fix this.

"I glanced to her face. "Yeah." I left her staring over her shoulder.

I finally made it to my room. Luckily, there wasn't much left to pack. Zell had helped out a lot last night. I found the rest of my clothes in the closet and tossed them in one of the last plastic containers that SeeD had provided for me to pack with. I backed up to sit on my bed, when suddenly my eyes went blurry and started burning. The pain and pressure was unbearable. I managed to slide against the closet door to the floor holding my eyes shut and putting my one good arm over them as well.

"Squall do you…" I recognized his voice but sure as hell couldn't see him. "Oh god! Squall!" He rushed over to me and managed to get me to my bed. "Hang in there bud. I'll be back."

Before I knew it I heard Dr. Kadowaki in my room and a nervous Zell behind her panicking. He had been the only one there at the time of the accident. He had hurt his foot and I made him stay on my left flank. He would have been hurt if he'd been leading with me. My eyes were still burning so bad that I couldn't bear to have them open.

When the Doctor finally managed to pull my arm from my face I felt cold drops being put in my eyes as she gently pulled them open. She then put a cold cloth to my forehead.

"Mr. Leonhart, can you hear me."

"Yes." I groaned, still in pain.

"Good. You'll be alright for now. I'm going to write you a prescription for some of these eye drops and a recommendation for an optometrist when you return to Radiant Garden. You're going to need to get some glasses. Eye strain will only increase the pain and pressure in your eyes from your injuries."

I sat up and managed to open my eyes. "I don't need glasses." I could see Dr. Kadowaki, but she was blurry.

"You may think that Mr. Leonhart, but you suffered substantial damage from that accident. If you don't follow my advice you could lose more vision than you have or even go blind."

I was angry. I could see just fine. I glared at her as she left the room.

"Squall?" It was Zell.

"I'm fine. Can you go get a cart so we can get my stuff moved outside so I can get out of this place as soon as Selphie gets here?"

The rest of my moving was done in silence. Zell knew I was pissed. He'd learned that when I got angry it was best to just leave me alone. I was ready to leave. To get away from the apologies. I was relieved when she arrived. She'd retired from SeeD after her four year term. I have to say I missed having her in my unit for the past three years. She was the first friend I made here in Balamb when I got here all those years ago.

"Hey Squall." She smiled. It was bittersweet. She was happy to see me. But I knew she was upset about the circumstances. She knew better than to apologize. I was glad.

"Hey." I responded as I threw my stuff in the trunk and back seat.

There were no words spoken as I got into the passenger's side and leaned the seat back. Selphie knew I needed time alone. For that I was thankful. I turned and watched as we exited Balamb to drive to the port to get on the boat. It was a long journey back to Radiant Garden. I pulled my dog tags off from around my neck.

Squall Leonhart

Rank 30 Elite

SeeD Spec.: Special Opps, Gunblade

Unit 1

Rank 30. I'd almost done it. I'd almost made it to Rank A. I would have been a commander in SeeD. When I come back I'll have to start all over with the tests and training. I sighed. Squall. I need to find a way to separate myself from SeeD for a while. A new name. A name that gives me an identity separate from what I've always known.

I heard Selphie park the car on the boat. I can't believe we'd made it to the port already.

"Squall?"

I sat up. "It's Leon. Call me… Leon."