Part 4.

IIII

Squall opened his eyes realizing that he must have fallen asleep at least for a minute. He looked around, confused at first and then he remembered. Irvine. He was in his Irvine's room, in his bed. He could hear voices coming from the living room. He pushed back the covers and managed to get to his feet. He felt a lot steadier then he had yesterday. He walked along the side of the room, hugging the wall. There was a broom that he didn't notice until he jogged it and it fell, making a loud sound. He winced.

The voices hushed suddenly and Irvine came towards him. "You're awake." He said and then frowned. "Why are you out of bed? Did we wake you?"

Squall shook his head.

The cowboy came towards. "Well now that you're up, you can come and say hello."

Squall raised an eyebrow.

"Well you can wave then." The cowboy smiled, moving to put an arm around Squall's waist to offer support instead of the wall.

They walked together through the doorway and into the living room.

The others all stood up from their seats staring at him. There was Rinoa, Selphie, Quistis and Zell all standing up. He noticed Seifer was there but he didn't bother to stand up. There was a balloon next to Zell, a blue one with silver writing on it. 'Get well soon'.

He nodded at him. Irvine put him in the last arm chair, handing him his pad of paper and pen and then perched on the arm.

He waved at them.

They all started talking at once.

"Are you okay?" Quistis said.

"How do you feel now?" Selphie added.

"I'm so glad you're alright!" Rinoa almost shouted in relief.

"Did the doctor say how long you'll be mute for? 'Cause that's got to be shit." Zell said, scratching round his cast.

Seifer just looked across the room at him then he turned to Zell. "Okay, we've seen him he's fine. Can we go now?" He whined.

"No." Zell hit him in the arm, barely looking at him at all.

Squall was writing something. He turned the paper around but they were all squinting to see it. "What's it say?" Selphie said. "I can't see it."

Irvine took the paper pad and read it out.

"I'm fine, stop fussing like a..." He laughed. "Like a bunch of old ladies."

"He did not say that." Selphie said.

Squall nodded.

Rinoa put her hands on her hips. "I've just worried about you that's all. I was worried about all of you.... until Zell's whining got too much."

"I don't whine!"

"Shut up and.... give him the balloon." Rinoa whispered, loudly.

Zell got up and handed it over. "We got you this." He said. "It's got a weight on the end so it won't fly away."

Squall took the light blue ribbon that it was attached to and nodded his thanks at his friends, looking up at how the balloon swayed in the light breeze.

"Sooooo....." Selphie started to say. "Do you need anything? Want anything?"

He shook his head.

She paused in thought for something else to say.

"Can I go now?" Seifer said again.

Squall gave him a look and started writing, handing it to Irvine. "He says: Why are you even here Seifer?"

The blonde shrugged. "It's something to do; everyone else came in here so..."

Squall raised an eyebrow at Irvine. Since when was Seifer part of the group? He thought.

"We should do movie night tonight!" Selphie suggested. "I know it's not the weekend but it'll be good for Squall."

"Oh yeah." Rinoa said. "That's a great idea!"

Irvine winced. "I don't know guys, he's supposed to rest and the doctor would kill me if..."

Rinoa rolled her eyes. "It's okay nurse Irvine we'll be gentle with him."

"Well the TV's in the bedroom."

"Even better!" She cheered. "That way Squall can go to sleep if he wants."

Irvine glanced at Squall who just shrugged at him, looking willing to go along with the girls.

"Tonight?" Zell said, looking nervously and glancing back at Seifer. "Actually I might not be there I err have.... plans."

They all looked at him like they all knew exactly what his plans entailed. Quistis turned back to Squall. "Well the rest of us will be here at.... seven?" She glanced at the other girls, they nodded in agreement. She nodded. "Seven it is then."

IIII

Squall sat up against come pillows that Irvine had propped up, the cowboy had brought in loads of pillows, cushions, blankets. He had three chairs around the bed for the girls to sit on. The brunette had raised an eyebrow when Irvine had set three pillows behind him, sitting him on and then added more and more soft things for the bed.

"You don't have to do all this." He wrote, watching the cowboy fuss about.

"Maybe not for you but I like my comfort." He said. "Do you want a drink?"

"I could do with a beer." He wrote, knowing he wasn't allowed any.

The cowboy raised an eyebrow. "I'll get you some water."

The brunette sighed, watching his friend place a large bowl of popcorn on one of chairs.

"Do I get popcorn?"

"I don't know, the doctor said no junk food."

"Popcorn doesn't count."

Irvine shrugged. "A handful or two can't hurt can it?" He grinned, holding out the bowl.

Squall took two handfuls, making a pile on top of the duvet. "I'll save it for the movies."

Someone knocked on the door and Irvine left the room to answer it. Squall pushed himself up on one arm, trying to see who it was. He soon heard female voices and giggling and then Selphie, followed by Rinoa and finally Quistis came into the room.

"Squall!" They waved at him and he waved back.

"How come we get dining room chairs and he gets all the pillows in the world?" Selphie asked.

"He's injured." Irvine said. "You almost die and then we'll see." He said.

Rinoa leaned in close to Selphie to whisper to her but Squall still heard. "I think he would give Squall special treatment whether he was injured or not."

She nodded along with that.

"Eat your popcorn and shut up." The cowboy said, hovering in front of the TV/DVD player. "Now what do you lot want to watch?"

Squall started writing. "Nothing girly or silly or animated."

"But Squall that's the best kind." Rinoa protested. "No cowboy movies." She said when she saw Irvine start to suggest something.

"We could watch Gladiator." Squall suggested.

"Again?" Rinoa asked.

"What's wrong with Gladiator?" The brunette glared at her.

"Nothing but.... let's watch something different."

Irvine was studying his large DVD collection, Selphie got up to help. "Ooh how about Roger Rabbit?"

"No!" Quistis said.

"You have Roger Rabbit in your collection?" Squall aimed his paper at Irvine.

"It was a gift from Selphie." He explained.

"How about finding Nemo?" Selphie said.

"Yeah, I love that film and Quistis has never seen it." Rinoa said.

Squall frowned and underlined where he had previously written. "No animated movies!"

"If we can watch finding Nemo then we'll put on Gladiator afterwards." Selphie suggested.

Squall paused and then nodded. "Fine."

Irvine put the DVD in and then leapt on the bed, getting under the covers and leaning against the pillow mountain next to Squall. He picked up the remote and skipped to the start of the movie. Squall ate some popcorn and offered some of his little pile to the cowboy.

Irvine glanced over at the girls seeing that they were engrossed he raised an arm slowly and quietly. "Come here." He muttered quietly, motioning for Squall to cuddle up next to him.

The brunette glanced over at the others to check they weren't watching and then carefully slid over to the middle of the bed, sitting next to the cowboy. He looked back at the girls, they hadn't flinched, so he cuddled up, putting his head on Irvine's chest and feeling the other man's arm curl around his back.

"Aww." Rinoa cooed as soon as they were settled.

Squall shot her an evil look and probably would be moved away again if it weren't for Irvine holding him in place.

"Don't worry about them." Irvine whispered into his ear, lips brushing his skin and placing a kiss on his temple.

Squall turned his head slightly so he could see the TV. He could hear Irvine's heartbeat he noticed. The cowboy was solid warmth against his side and under his head and it was oddly comforting to be in his arms. He watched the cartoon fish on the screen absently not really paying attention, he suddenly felt very tired and he was warm and comfortable. He shut his eyes.... just for a minute.

Irvine laughed at something on the screen, glancing down to see if Squall appreciated it but the brunette was asleep. He brushed some of hair out of Squall's eyes.

"He's asleep." He said.

Rinoa started cooing at them again.

Irvine moved the arm that was around Squall and held a finger to his lips. "Shh." He said, smiling at them. "He needs the sleep."

"Aww but he's so cute when he's asleep." She leaned on the bed slightly, being carefully as to not move the mattress too much and wake Squall.

"Get back over there." Irvine tried to shoo her with his free arm.

"I was just-" She froze suddenly.

The cowboy looked down and smiled in amusement. One stormy eye glared at the brunette who was disturbing his sleep.

Rinoa slowly backed up and went back to her seat. The eye closed again and Squall turned to face the other way, away from the girls and leaning more across Irvine's chest before going still once more.

IIII

TBC