This is the revised "happy" ending to Sergeant Phoenix's, "One Day At A Time" Zell fanfic. If you have noticed, she took down her original "happy" ending, and is now allowing me to finish it. Working together we think we can turn this into an ending just as powerful as the original. Hope you enjoy. Please review.
Chapter 11-Only One Chance Left
"Zell.....put the gun down," Squall pleaded, approaching his friend slowly. Zell backed away from him, holding the barrel shakily to his temple. His other hand held onto the railing to keep himself up. His legs were trembling from the pills. He could hardly keep from falling to the floor.
"G'get away from me!!" he yelled, pressing the weapon firmly to his temple, tears streaming down his cheeks. He wiped at his eyes, sobbing.
"Please put the gun down, Zell," Squall said to him. He knew he had to stay calm and speak softly, choosing his words carefully. (I've gotta get that gun from him somehow......God, how did he even get one....?)
"I'is Selphie okay...? I'I didn't mean to hurt her, Squall.....I'm sorry....." he cried, wiping at his eyes again. "I didn't mean to......"
"Selphie's alright, Zell. You didn't hurt her. She's fine," Squall replied, taking a small step forward. Zell immediately took the gun from his head and pointed it at Squall with his trembling hand.
"Get *away* from me!!"
"Zell, just put the gun down and we'll talk......*just* you and me, okay....?"
"I don't wanna talk anymore...." he sobbed, putting the gun back to his head. "I always end up hurting somebody when I talk....You promised they wouldn't find out, Squall, you promised....."
"I *know* I promised, Zell.....You don't know how sorry I am....It was an accident, Zell, I'm sorry...."
"I *trusted* you...." Zell whispered in return. The tears kept coming and Zell kept wiping them away. "I trusted you......"
"I know....I'm sorry, Zell....Just please put the gun down, I wanna help you," Squall said softly. "I wanna help you so much, it's eating a hole in me....Remember last night...? You told me you didn't wanna die, remember....? Do you remember telling me that...?"
"I don't care! I was too scared to do this before, Squall, but I can do it now! I'll save everyone from ever having to put up with me again!" Zell cried. "I know what this revolver tastes like now, Squall.......I need this...."
Zell swallowed hard. His cheeks were wet, despite his attempts to keep them dry. He sobbed, still wiping at his eyes furiously.
"It's okay...." Squall told him. "It's okay to cry when you're hurting inside. It's good to cry,
sometimes.......but you don't need this.....you don't. Just please put the gun down, Zell, *please*. I don't wanna see you get hurt, please..."
"I can't...." Zell sobbed. "I need it, Squall, I can't take this anymore....."
"Neither can I.......I can't take seeing you like this," Squall answered, tears of his own beginning to fall from his soft, hazel eyes. "You can't do this, Zell.....you can't. If you'd jump off this balcony, I'd jump right after you.............If you.....pull that trigger, than I'll have to pull it on myself....."
"Shut up!" Zell yelled at him. "Don't.....say that. You couldn't...."
"Why not? Loosing you would be like loosing a part of me.......how could I live without seeing that smiling face of yours everyday.........without knowing you'd be there........"
"But........no! They need you......" Zell whispered back. "Rinoa needs you........she'd miss you....."
"She'd miss *you*..........we all would. We love you, Zell, we need *you*...."
"Nobody needs me!" Zell shouted. "I only hurt people.....myself.....you don't love me.......you put up with me!"
"No, Zell, you're wrong....." Squall looked to him with pleading eyes, his gaze lingering on the gun still pressed to his friend's temple. Then suddenly an idea struck him, and he slowly turned his head to look out over the balcony.
"I'll prove it to you...."
Zell looked on in disbelief as Squall swung his legs over the balcony, grasping the railing as he hung himself over the edge. A fall from this height would easily kill him. Zell knew that.
"Squall...."
"If you think you have nothing to live for...." Squall began. "....that we don't love you, then understand this; I love you, Zell, and I can't stand by and let you do this. If you pull that trigger, than I let go,"
"Stop it!" Zell screamed, more tears streaming down his already stained cheeks. "You can't.....stop saying that you will, I know you can't! You won't!"
"I will.....to prove how much I love you I'd do anything." Squall answered. "Zell, you can't give up......things aren't as hopeless as they feel. You have us, you have me, and we all love you. So....if you truly see no other way out, though I swear to you there is, than pull the trigger, and know I'll be following you...."
"Stop it, please...." Zell cried. He was trembling uncontrollably now as the pills took more and more affect. Squall knew this had to end soon, one way or the other, if he was going to save his friend.
"I don't wanna die, Zell.......and I know you don't either. Please...."
Seifer had been standing just outside the balcony all this time. He was only support for Squall if he was needed, that's it. He knew to let Squall handle everything else. But, the way things were turning out, Seifer didn't know what to think. Would Squall keep his word?
Seifer's main reason for coming back to the Garden had been to redeem himself. He figured that if he could somehow play a part in saving Zell, that he would be accepted back into the Garden. Now, however, he was beginning to realize how much he'd miss the little, runt. He did care what happened to Zell. He cared what happened to Squall. He didn't want to see either of them get hurt.
(Please let this work...) Seifer thought silently. (Please...)
"Please....Zell....." Squall whispered again.
Zell's mind was a torrent of emotion and confusion. Could what Squall was telling him be the truth? Did they really love him? Was he really needed? Could there really be a way out of this.....?
"I don't wanna die......" Zell said at last, barely audible. "Help me, Squall...." The gun dropped from his hand, clattering to the floor, and he nearly went with it. His other hand gripping the railing was all that kept him standing.
Inside, Squall's mind breathed a deep sigh of relief. (Thank you, God, thank you.......)
"Just give me your hand, Zell.......I'll climb back over, and we'll deal with this....together, ok?"
Zell nodded slowly as the tears kept pouring down his face. He extended a shaky hand out to Squall, and Squall turned slightly to grasp it. His sudden movement on the ledge he had been balancing on, however, caused his feet to slip out from under him suddenly, and he went flying backwards over the edge.
Panic coursed through Squall's veins immediately, gripping him with fear. He most certainly would have plunged to his death..........if a strong hand hadn't gripped his own just in time.
As far gone as Zell had been, with the pills, the trauma of all he felt, he still had reacted instantly to save Squall when he saw him slip.
"Zell...." Squall whispered fearfully.
"Hang on..............I won't let go.........." Zell said in return. But, as much as he struggled to do just that, he knew he was too weak right now to pull Squall back over.
"*We* won't let go..."
Seifer had been watching the entire time, and had seen when Squall had fallen over the edge. Out of his hiding place at last, he now stood next to Zell as he extended his own arm over the railing to grasp Squall's hand as well. Together they were able to pull Squall back over unto the balcony.
"Seifer..." Squall began, once he had gotten his breath back. "Thank you......I...."
"Nothin' needs to be said, alright?" Seifer cut him off. "You were in trouble, I was backup, that's all. You being ok is all that matters,"
Squall nodded, and they shared the closest thing they could to a warm smile.
"What about you, Zell?" Squall asked, turning to his still trembling friend. "Are you alright?"
"I....I think I'll be ok." Zell answered, though he certainly didn't look it. His face was deathly pale, still streaked by dried tears, and he was shaking uncontrollably from the cold and the affect of the pills.
"We'd better get him to the Infirmary quick." Seifer stated. "Gotta get those pills out of his system." Seifer gently took hold of Zell's left arm, lifting it over his shoulder to help support him. "Mind if I lend a hand?" he asked.
Zell smiled weakly. "I think I need alot more then just a hand."
"Then how 'bout two?" Squall said, taking Zell's right arm and supporting him on the other side. They left the balcony then, escaping into the warmth of the ballroom.
"You're going be ok, Zell...." Squall whispered as they walked. "I promise."
"I know, Squall.......I know...."
Well, there's the first chapter, or......the revised 11th, I guess. When I finish the next one, I'll post it pronto. Please review.
Chapter 11-Only One Chance Left
"Zell.....put the gun down," Squall pleaded, approaching his friend slowly. Zell backed away from him, holding the barrel shakily to his temple. His other hand held onto the railing to keep himself up. His legs were trembling from the pills. He could hardly keep from falling to the floor.
"G'get away from me!!" he yelled, pressing the weapon firmly to his temple, tears streaming down his cheeks. He wiped at his eyes, sobbing.
"Please put the gun down, Zell," Squall said to him. He knew he had to stay calm and speak softly, choosing his words carefully. (I've gotta get that gun from him somehow......God, how did he even get one....?)
"I'is Selphie okay...? I'I didn't mean to hurt her, Squall.....I'm sorry....." he cried, wiping at his eyes again. "I didn't mean to......"
"Selphie's alright, Zell. You didn't hurt her. She's fine," Squall replied, taking a small step forward. Zell immediately took the gun from his head and pointed it at Squall with his trembling hand.
"Get *away* from me!!"
"Zell, just put the gun down and we'll talk......*just* you and me, okay....?"
"I don't wanna talk anymore...." he sobbed, putting the gun back to his head. "I always end up hurting somebody when I talk....You promised they wouldn't find out, Squall, you promised....."
"I *know* I promised, Zell.....You don't know how sorry I am....It was an accident, Zell, I'm sorry...."
"I *trusted* you...." Zell whispered in return. The tears kept coming and Zell kept wiping them away. "I trusted you......"
"I know....I'm sorry, Zell....Just please put the gun down, I wanna help you," Squall said softly. "I wanna help you so much, it's eating a hole in me....Remember last night...? You told me you didn't wanna die, remember....? Do you remember telling me that...?"
"I don't care! I was too scared to do this before, Squall, but I can do it now! I'll save everyone from ever having to put up with me again!" Zell cried. "I know what this revolver tastes like now, Squall.......I need this...."
Zell swallowed hard. His cheeks were wet, despite his attempts to keep them dry. He sobbed, still wiping at his eyes furiously.
"It's okay...." Squall told him. "It's okay to cry when you're hurting inside. It's good to cry,
sometimes.......but you don't need this.....you don't. Just please put the gun down, Zell, *please*. I don't wanna see you get hurt, please..."
"I can't...." Zell sobbed. "I need it, Squall, I can't take this anymore....."
"Neither can I.......I can't take seeing you like this," Squall answered, tears of his own beginning to fall from his soft, hazel eyes. "You can't do this, Zell.....you can't. If you'd jump off this balcony, I'd jump right after you.............If you.....pull that trigger, than I'll have to pull it on myself....."
"Shut up!" Zell yelled at him. "Don't.....say that. You couldn't...."
"Why not? Loosing you would be like loosing a part of me.......how could I live without seeing that smiling face of yours everyday.........without knowing you'd be there........"
"But........no! They need you......" Zell whispered back. "Rinoa needs you........she'd miss you....."
"She'd miss *you*..........we all would. We love you, Zell, we need *you*...."
"Nobody needs me!" Zell shouted. "I only hurt people.....myself.....you don't love me.......you put up with me!"
"No, Zell, you're wrong....." Squall looked to him with pleading eyes, his gaze lingering on the gun still pressed to his friend's temple. Then suddenly an idea struck him, and he slowly turned his head to look out over the balcony.
"I'll prove it to you...."
Zell looked on in disbelief as Squall swung his legs over the balcony, grasping the railing as he hung himself over the edge. A fall from this height would easily kill him. Zell knew that.
"Squall...."
"If you think you have nothing to live for...." Squall began. "....that we don't love you, then understand this; I love you, Zell, and I can't stand by and let you do this. If you pull that trigger, than I let go,"
"Stop it!" Zell screamed, more tears streaming down his already stained cheeks. "You can't.....stop saying that you will, I know you can't! You won't!"
"I will.....to prove how much I love you I'd do anything." Squall answered. "Zell, you can't give up......things aren't as hopeless as they feel. You have us, you have me, and we all love you. So....if you truly see no other way out, though I swear to you there is, than pull the trigger, and know I'll be following you...."
"Stop it, please...." Zell cried. He was trembling uncontrollably now as the pills took more and more affect. Squall knew this had to end soon, one way or the other, if he was going to save his friend.
"I don't wanna die, Zell.......and I know you don't either. Please...."
Seifer had been standing just outside the balcony all this time. He was only support for Squall if he was needed, that's it. He knew to let Squall handle everything else. But, the way things were turning out, Seifer didn't know what to think. Would Squall keep his word?
Seifer's main reason for coming back to the Garden had been to redeem himself. He figured that if he could somehow play a part in saving Zell, that he would be accepted back into the Garden. Now, however, he was beginning to realize how much he'd miss the little, runt. He did care what happened to Zell. He cared what happened to Squall. He didn't want to see either of them get hurt.
(Please let this work...) Seifer thought silently. (Please...)
"Please....Zell....." Squall whispered again.
Zell's mind was a torrent of emotion and confusion. Could what Squall was telling him be the truth? Did they really love him? Was he really needed? Could there really be a way out of this.....?
"I don't wanna die......" Zell said at last, barely audible. "Help me, Squall...." The gun dropped from his hand, clattering to the floor, and he nearly went with it. His other hand gripping the railing was all that kept him standing.
Inside, Squall's mind breathed a deep sigh of relief. (Thank you, God, thank you.......)
"Just give me your hand, Zell.......I'll climb back over, and we'll deal with this....together, ok?"
Zell nodded slowly as the tears kept pouring down his face. He extended a shaky hand out to Squall, and Squall turned slightly to grasp it. His sudden movement on the ledge he had been balancing on, however, caused his feet to slip out from under him suddenly, and he went flying backwards over the edge.
Panic coursed through Squall's veins immediately, gripping him with fear. He most certainly would have plunged to his death..........if a strong hand hadn't gripped his own just in time.
As far gone as Zell had been, with the pills, the trauma of all he felt, he still had reacted instantly to save Squall when he saw him slip.
"Zell...." Squall whispered fearfully.
"Hang on..............I won't let go.........." Zell said in return. But, as much as he struggled to do just that, he knew he was too weak right now to pull Squall back over.
"*We* won't let go..."
Seifer had been watching the entire time, and had seen when Squall had fallen over the edge. Out of his hiding place at last, he now stood next to Zell as he extended his own arm over the railing to grasp Squall's hand as well. Together they were able to pull Squall back over unto the balcony.
"Seifer..." Squall began, once he had gotten his breath back. "Thank you......I...."
"Nothin' needs to be said, alright?" Seifer cut him off. "You were in trouble, I was backup, that's all. You being ok is all that matters,"
Squall nodded, and they shared the closest thing they could to a warm smile.
"What about you, Zell?" Squall asked, turning to his still trembling friend. "Are you alright?"
"I....I think I'll be ok." Zell answered, though he certainly didn't look it. His face was deathly pale, still streaked by dried tears, and he was shaking uncontrollably from the cold and the affect of the pills.
"We'd better get him to the Infirmary quick." Seifer stated. "Gotta get those pills out of his system." Seifer gently took hold of Zell's left arm, lifting it over his shoulder to help support him. "Mind if I lend a hand?" he asked.
Zell smiled weakly. "I think I need alot more then just a hand."
"Then how 'bout two?" Squall said, taking Zell's right arm and supporting him on the other side. They left the balcony then, escaping into the warmth of the ballroom.
"You're going be ok, Zell...." Squall whispered as they walked. "I promise."
"I know, Squall.......I know...."
Well, there's the first chapter, or......the revised 11th, I guess. When I finish the next one, I'll post it pronto. Please review.