Rikku didn't know how long she sat there in the sand or what she had really been doing as she sat there-everything had just become a blur. She felt like she was in some fantasy world so isolated from reality. Gippal didn't move, nor did the ghastly fiend. Shade, may he burn in the farplane.

Slowly, Rikku became aware of the setting sun, her aching body, how dirty and alone she felt, and the sound of a distant humming motor.

Gradually, the sound grew louder, stopped and she heard a distant mumble of voices, but she couldn't quite bring herself to care until she felt a hand resting on her shoulder. She turned her head and looked up to see Paine's crimson eyes staring into hers. A tear escaped Rikku's eyes, sliding down her cheek. Finally it hit her-it was all over, she would live to see tomorrow, she was safe.

"You really had us worried," Paine said stiffly but Rikku could hear the sincerity in her voice.

Suddenly Yuna was by Paine side. "Oh, you're okay!...oh," Yuna voice drifted as she saw Gippal lying in Rikku's lap.

A moment of emptiness passed and then two workers from the fraction came up, followed by her father.

"Come on, Rikku, can you stand? Larif, Chac, why don't you take Gippal and see how to treat him," Cid said.

Rikku couldn't bring herself to ask how Gippal would be as his weight was lifted away from her and she stood up. Her father wrapped his arms around her and she was sure she saw a tear, showing her how much he cared for her. Rikku couldn't cry anymore though, she was spent.

"Where's your brother? Buddy? Are they okay?" He asked after a moment.

Rikku nodded. "I think so…" she managed to say and her voice cracked and shook a little. "They're down there…Westaire too," Rikku said and pointed to the small spic that was the heap of the broken pieces of the cabin.

Cid squeezed her tight. "Gippal will make it out of this, don't worry. You're okay. Let's get you home." Cid managed to say reassuringly though it sounded strange with his gruff voice.

Rikku nodded and Paine and Yuna led her to the hover craft.

The ride back to the Bikanel camp site was hazy. She might have fallen asleep but Rikku couldn't quite remember. The only thing she could recall was Yuna and Paine taking her to a healing room and falling into a soft comfortable bed.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Rikku opened her eyes, bright light shinning in her face. Quickly she closed her eyes. Blackness welcomed her and she absorbed it. She couldn't live with the morning; too much had happened in the night. Drained, physically and mentally, she couldn't bring herself to face any unwanted outcomes.

Was Gippal still okay? How were Brother and Buddy? All she knew was that she was tired and ached all over.

She opened her eyes again as she hear a door being slowly opened. Yuna's shuffling feet reached the bed Rikku was lying on. Rikku stared into Yuna's eyes, too many emotions flying in her blue-green eyes.

"Rikku, I'm so glad you're safe. It'll take awhile, but I know you're going to feel so much better soon. I am so relieved it's all over." Yuna told Rikku, tears in her eyes.

Rikku sat there for a moment. Gippal was the only thing she could think about but couldn't bring herself to ask. She opened and closed her mouth trying to get the words out but unable to. Yuna seemed to understand.

"Gippal is still alright. His legs were severely damaged so he probably won't be able to walk for awhile but with some healing, he'll be back to himself in no time. Right now though, he's still sleeping.

"I want to go see him." Rikku demanded.

Yuna looked conflicted at the idea. "Rikku, you've been through so much, and we don't even know half of it. You need to rest and heal, that's what Gippal would want. Gippal's not even awake yet and he going to recover. You'll have plenty of time to be with him."

Rikku faced crumbled and tears swelled in her eyes as everything from the day before came back.

"Yunie, it was so hard," Rikku bawled.

Yunie rushed over to Rikku and wrapped her arms around her as Rikku cried.

"Rikku…why don't you tell me everything," Yuna suggested in a soft soothing voice. "I think it'll help."

Rikku nodded and after several attempts to explain without bursting into tears that she was incoherent, she began…

(A/N: I know this is a really short chapter and not much happened but I wanted to get something up this week because that was what I had planned. Next chapter, I'll wrap it up and then I'll be finished. I hope you liked everything, review and tell me what you think! Thanks to everyone that has read my story and those that have reviewed.)