Chapter 11

Lightning turned her eyes away from the goofy smiles on Fang and Vanille's face, unable to take the awkward silence amongst them any longer. As soon as she did, she spotted the head doctor in charge of taking care of Hope walk down the hallway. His face was flushed as his short, black, hair flew up in every direction - he looked fervent as he approached the group.

The group got up off their seats as soon as they saw the doctor enter the room - expecting the worst, but hoping for the best. He gave them each a curt nod and then turned to Lightning. He gave her a relieved smile as his eyes crinkled at the sides as a sign of his old age. After what felt like centuries, but was really only a few seconds, the doctor spoke. "Hope is going to be just fine," he simply said happily as Fang and Vanille joyously hugged at each other in celebration and Serah gasped happily, knowing Hope was well. Lightning felt her heart burst with relief at the good news and shakily exhaled the breath she was holding in. Hope was going to be okay - her prayers had been answered. She asked the doctor if they could pay Hope a visit, and he said of course.

They proceeded through the hospital to Hope's room as they followed the doctor. He opened the door and held out a hand to permit them inside. Lightning was the first to enter and could see immediately that Hope was awake with a happy grin on his face.

"Light, Serah, Fang, and Vanille, you guys came to visit me?" he said softly, his voice still somewhat weak.

Fang plopped herself on the edge of Hope's hospital bed and ruffled his snowflake colored hair. "Of course, silly! You are a hero after all," Fang laughed. Vanille sat on the other side of Hope's bed and agreed, "Hope, you took a bullet for Lightning - you are a hero."

Hope's face blushed slightly at the title Fang and Vanille had given him. "Nah, I'm no hero," he said almost inaudibly.

"What? Don't be silly," Serah chimed in. "Of course you're a hero - you saved Lightning," Serah said warmly as she entwined an arm around Lightning's.

Lightning still hadn't said anything and could feel everyone staring at her - waiting for her response to Hope's selfless act. She stared into Hope's quavering eyes and choked up. She said the first thing she could think of, "You really shouldn't have followed us," she said, more coldly than she intended to. As soon as she had said it, she regretted it. Everyone was taken aback by Lightning's lack of gratitude as Hope looked at her then down at the bed in shame.

Serah lightly slapped Lightning's arm. "W-what?" Lightning said, as Serah gave her a stern look that Lightning knew she only gave when she meant business.

"That's all you've got to say?" Serah asked Lightning incredulously. "You shouldn't have followed us?" She repeated Lightning's callous statement.

Lightning wasn't used to being grateful towards anyone, especially for something as big as saving her life. She struggled to find the right words to say as everyone continued to stare at her. Lightning rubbed at the back of her head and found it difficult to look up at Hope, so she stared down at the tiles of the hospital floor as she spoke. "Um, what I really meant to say was…," she hesitated and felt Serah squeeze her arm encouragingly which gave her the strength to continue. "If you weren't there…who knows what might have happened to me… so th-thank you, Hope," she mumbled and looked at Hope's face for the first time since she spoke to see a small smile tugging at the edges of his mouth. His eyes had become slightly watery as they were illuminated underneath the hospital's fluorescent lights.

Hope fiddled with his fingers uncomfortably and whispered, "You really don't have to thank me."

Fang and Vanille sighed and awed at the moment between Lightning and Hope as they pulled everybody into a group hug - nearly crushing Hope in the process.

Lightning couldn't help but smile at the love she felt emitting amongst the group of friends she had been fortunate enough of meeting in her life. She then felt a light peck on her cheek and turned to see Serah smiling sweetly at her. She hugged her tightly and heard her own heart beating fast against Serah's chest - Lightning knew at that moment exactly what everyone meant when they said love was the only thing you need to feel whole.

The group hug was interrupted when the news came on from the television in the corner and mentioned Snow. They all turned their attentions to the screen to see a jail photo of Snow looking disheveled and broken - his eyes bloodshot and hair looking unkempt. The reporter was a man in a blue suit with coifed brown hair. He spoke in a deep voice seemingly made for reporting the news, "Snow Villiers has been captured and now in custody as he is now awaiting trial for attempted murder in what appears to be a crime of passion in a love triangle gone horribly awry. More about the crime after this commercial break," and just like that, the handsome reporter faded out to commercial.

The room was silent as nobody could find the right words to say after hearing such grim news - their brief moment of joy now dissipated. "Y-you think Snow will be executed?" Hope timidly asked aloud after some time.

Lightning turned to him and contemplated. "I doubt it - it was only attempted murder. He didn't actually murder me," she thought out loud, but wavered in the confidence of her answer.

Serah was grasping onto her arm somewhat tightly as she asked, "But doesn't Bodhum have zero tolerance when it comes to violence?" Serah questioned, but feared the answer. Serah could never forgive Snow for trying to kill Lightning, but she wasn't sure if she wished death upon anyone.

Hope stared down at his hands and felt slight sympathy for Snow despite the fact that it was his fault he was now incapacitated in the hospital. Snow's action was irreprehensible, but Hope only wanted him to pay for his crime by doing time, not by being executed.

Fang and Vanille were quiet for once and only looked like they were both deep in thought, but most likely thinking the same thing as the rest of them - Snow deserved to be punished, but not with his life.

Lightning placed a palm on her face and thought as the group looked towards her for an answer. She detested Snow - this much could not be more true, but her nagging conscience was telling her to not stoop down to his level. Lightning knew the decision on whether or not Snow will be executed was ultimately up to the court, but she had to do something to prevent their decision from swaying to a death penalty. She removed the palm from her face and shrugged her shoulders. "I guess, we'll have to go put a word in to try and help the blundering idiot," Lightning said.

Everyone looked at each other and then back at Lightning and nodded in agreement. Snow's fate rested on what everyone had to say about him in court, and Lightning sighed exhaustedly as she was starting to get tired of dealing with Snow, but she knew it was something she had to do whether she liked it or not.