Chapter 19

"So you don't think he did it?"

Laguna scratched the back of his neck thoughtfully and glanced at his son. "Oh, he did it. He just didn't act alone. Someone paid him to do it. But he either doesn't know who it was, or they've leaned on him enough to keep him quiet."

"I think he genuinely doesn't know." Irvine lounged casually on Laguna's couch, one arm draped over the back. "Selphie worked on him for over an hour, and he wouldn't budge from his story that he never saw them or got their name. All he can tell us is that it was a woman."

Kylah was seated on a large rubber ball in the center of the room, slowly rocking her hips back and forth. "I think it's pretty safe to say that it's probably not a jealous ex-lover of Laguna's out to seek revenge."

He glared and playfully tossed a throw pillow at her. "It could be!"

She raised her brow skeptically.

Laguna grunted. "What is that thing, anyway?" he asked, pointing to her makeshift chair.

"It's supposed to help get hip muscles ready for birth. Even if it doesn't, it makes my back feel awesome."

He fixed a speculative gaze on the ball and then glanced over his shoulder at his back.

Squall snorted. "I don't think it will have quite the same effect on the non-pregnant, old man."

Laguna grinned sheepishly and cleared his throat. "So we're pretty much back to square one," he said, pulling them back to the subject at hand. "And we're running out of options."

"Yes, you are." Brenna stepped into the room and leaned against the doorway. She glanced at Kylah and smiled slightly. "She's not going to be able to continue covering your duties for much longer."

Irvine sank into his chair and lowered his hat over his eyes. "Who's after Kylah in the line of succession?"

"Kiros." Kylah stretched her arms out in front of her. "And then Ward. But either of them would rather have a root canal than take over."

"They won't have to." Laguna's tone was firm, decisive. "I'm fine, and perfectly capable of taking the reins. Let Kylah go on maternity leave and me get back to work."

"You're not 'fine,'" Brenna argued, and then sighed. "But you are well enough to go back to work. I don't have a reason to hold you back anymore."

He flashed her a triumphant grin.

"Wait, hold on." Kylah hauled herself to her feet. "While I realize I'm ready to expel another human being from my body any minute, are we sure this is a good idea? It seems like turning Laguna loose into public life is just asking for someone to shoot at him."

Brenna's brief flinch wasn't lost on Laguna. He shot his daughter-in-law a censoring look. "It's not like I'm going to head up a parade through downtown Deling City." He frowned, mentally scanning his schedule. "It's pretty slow right now, so I'd be sticking to the palace. He shrugged, arms wide. "Realistically? The biggest risk I'm taking is cabin fever. Which, by the way, is definitely going to happen if I stay cooped up here playing video games with Zell too many more days."

A silent battle of wills passed between Kylah and Laguna for several seconds, before she huffed with annoyance. "I guess the only public appearance you'd have coming up is the groundbreaking for the new hospital in FH."

"When is that?" Squall asked.

"Three days." Brenna held up her fingers. "It's supposed to be a short ceremony and reception."

"We could provide security," Irvine put in. "But I'd recommend cutting the reception. Under the circumstances, I'm sure ol' Dobe would understand."

"I suppose…" Kylah still appeared unsure.

"Look." Laguna was frustrated. He sprang up and began restlessly pacing the living room. "I'm tired of sitting up here like a captive in my own home while someone out there has me in their crosshairs. If they want to come after me then fine – let them. We have enough fire power to handle whatever they want to throw at us. But for Hyne's sake, let's find some sort of normal again around here and stop hiding like a bunch of cowards."

"Laguna's right." Squall stood and folded his arms over his chest. "If we let them push us into hiding, we're letting them win. We can handle this."

"Fine, fine." Kylah threw her hands in the air in defeat. "But if anything happens to you, Loire…"

He smiled sweetly at her. "You'll never forgive me?"

She narrowed her eyes and rested a palm on her swollen belly. "I'll let Dobe officiate your funeral."

"Ouch."

"You've been quiet all evening."

Brenna glanced over at Laguna as she pulled a sleep shirt down over her head. "Have I?" she asked. "I didn't mean to be. Just…thinking."

He watched her as she pulled her hair into a band and removed her earrings to lay them on the dresser. Her expression was pensive, her brow furrowed and lips tight. Laguna sighed, walked around the bed, and slipped his arms around her waist from behind. "I'm going to be fine," he said, softy.

She closed her eyes. "I know you will, really I do." Turning in his embrace, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Kylah warned me that this was a danger of your job."

He nodded. "Not the first time some idiot has tried to kill me. Probably won't be the last."

Brenna turned a bemused smile up at him. "I assumed I'd have a little more time to adjust to the other intricacies of your occupation before I was confronted with this particular challenge."

Laguna closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. "If this is too much for you, Bren, then it's not too late…"

She pulled back slightly. "I haven't gone this far, Laguna, only to back out now. I'm in this for the long-haul, death threats and all."

"And you're really okay with me going back to work tomorrow?"

Idly Brenna ran her fingers through his hair. "I really can't hold you back from it any longer. I expect a call any time that Kylah has gone into labor." Stretching up onto her toes, Brenna kissed him gently. "Besides, Esthar needs her president back where he belongs."

"So tomorrow it's back to paperwork and meetings and public appearances." Laguna blew his hair out of his eyes. "Back to being an adult. Or at least as close to it as I get."

She trailed her palm down his t-shirt covered chest and abdomen, and then hooked a finger in the waistband of his pants. "You still have tonight." Her eyes twinkled with mischief.

A slow grin spread over Laguna's lips. "Yes, ma'am, I do."

Afterwards, the two lay tangled together with the lights of the city dancing over them through the window. Brenna's cheek lay against Laguna's bare shoulder, and his arm was tucked comfortably around her.

Warm and content, Brenna was on the brink of sleep. She yawned and tucked an arm around his waist as she snuggled closer. Her mind began to drift and her thoughts grew fuzzy as she began to slip under the darkness of sleep.

And then, unbidden, the image of Laguna still and pale in the hospital bed flashed through her mind.

She inhaled sharply and tightened her arm around his waist. He murmured softly and ran his hand soothingly up and down her arm. "I'll be okay, Brenna. I promise."

"I want to believe that."

He tucked a knuckle under her chin and gently lifted her face to look at him. "You've never seen Squall and crew in action. They'll take care of it. Trust them."

"So what can you tell me about Mayor Dobe?"

Laguna, Kiros, and Ward exchanged glances and snickered. They were seated on the train along with Brenna speeding towards Fisherman's Horizon. Tension was heavy in the air. The groundbreaking ceremony for the hospital in FH was slated to begin in just a half an hour. Brenna fiddled with a slim silver bracelet on her wrist. Every so often she glanced back Squall, Irvine, Quistis, Zell, and Selphie who were tucked into the rear of the compartment, quietly reviewing security protocol.

"Dobe," Laguna mused. He glanced at Kiros. "He's… eccentric?"

"Weird is the word I'd use, man."

"Odd."

"Challenging."

"…"

Kiros snorted. "Ward says he's an annoying twit."

Brenna chuckled. "So why are we helping them again?"

"FH was started by residents of Esthar." Laguna leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "I sort of see FH as Esthar's little sister. They're fiercely independent and generally don't appreciate us sticking our nose in their business, but even Dobe had to admit that a hospital in FH itself is needed." He frowned. "There was an accident a few months ago involving a young child. If he'd had faster medical attention, it may have turned out differently. As it was…" He trailed off and glanced out the window.

Brenna inhaled. "How awful."

"After that, we offered to provide the materials and manpower to build a hospital," Kiros put in. "Dobe accepted, with our promise that we would basically build it and then get out."

Zell stuck his head between Kiros and Ward. "Show time." He punched his right hand into his left palm.

Brenna pressed her hand to her roiling stomach. "I suppose it's now or never."

Ward patted her shoulder reassuringly. "…"

"Ward says not to worry," Kiros said with a grin. "It'll all be fine."

A small crowd was gathered when they disembarked. Brenna scanned the faces, expressions ranging from mildly interested to cautious to outright hostile. "They don't seem precisely thrilled to see us," she murmured to Kiros.

"Most of them probably aren't," he whispered back. "That they're even letting us in at all is huge."

Laguna stepped forward and offered his hand to a grey-haired man clad in an oversized tropical-print shirt, shorts, and sandals. "Dobe," he greeted warmly. "It's good to see you again!"

He's a good actor. Brenna smiled inwardly.

Dobe managed a small smiled. "Mr. President." He shook Laguna's hand hesitantly. "It's a pleasure to see you. Thank you so much for your kind offer of assistance to FH."

Squall stepped over to stand next to Brenna. "It's killing him to have to say that," he muttered. Kiros fought a grin.

Laguna took Brenna by the hand and gently pulled her forward. "I'd like to introduce you both to our new Palace Physician, Dr. Brenna Cormac. Brenna, this is Fisherman's Horizon's Mayor, Dobe."

She smiled genially and shook Dobe's proffered hand. "It's a pleasure. I'm looking forward to working with your physician's to finalize the design of the hospital."

"I'm sure you'll bring many new ideas to the table, doctor," Dobe said in such a way that Brenna wasn't entirely sure it was a compliment or an insult. He rested a hand on the small of the back of the woman next to him. "I'd like you to meet my wife, Flo."

"President Loire," Flo said with a nod. She scarcely touched his hand when she shook it, and then stepped forward to greet Brenna. "Dr. Cormac. I've read quite a bit about you in the papers."

A flush rose in Brenna's cheeks. "Yes, well. I'm sure it wasn't very interesting reading."

Briefly, Flo cast a speculative glance at Laguna. "Quite the contrary."

The president cleared his throat nervously. "I'm sure you both remember Esthar's SeeD commander, Squall Leonhart."

Flo passed by to shake hands with Squall, and as she did so the scent of her perfume teased Brenna's nose. The familiarity of the fragrance set her on edge. She had smelled it recently. Her brow furrowed as she gazed thoughtfully at the back of Flo's head, her mind churning as she tried to place where she had encountered it.

Her eyes widened slightly and she smothered a gasp. Brenna fought down a bubble of panic and swallowed hard. She craned her neck, desperate to catch Squall's eye. After what felt like an eternity, the commander glanced over at her and then did a double-take when he realized she was seeking his attention.

"Patchouli," she mouthed.

For a moment he eyed her with confusion. Brenna glanced pointedly at the back of Flo's head and waited as he processed the information. Realization was quickly followed by a flash of anger in his eyes. He took a slow, careful step back and sent a signal to the rest of the SeeD crew that was so subtle that Brenna would have missed it if she hadn't been watching him closely.

Irvine casually sauntered over and stood closer to Laguna, who was still oblivious that anything was amiss. Quistis rested her palm on the handle of her whip and flanked Brenna. Zell and Selphie brought up the rear while giving the appearance of being in an animated debate over a movie they had both recently seen.

Whether she saw their movement or simply sensed the heightened tension in the air, they would never know. Flo took an instinctive step backwards and uttered a shrill cry of frustration that so startled her husband that he jumped and toppled to the ground. Before anyone could react, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small handgun, training it on Laguna.

A collective gasp raised from the crowd. Those on the outer edges of the spectators began to run, anxious to be clear of the area before violence broke out. Squall instantly withdrew Lionheart, which his fellow SeeD took as a cue to draw their own weapons.

"Flo," the commander said in a tone that sent chills dancing down Brenna's spine. "You don't want to do this."

"The hell I don't," she spat back. "You just couldn't stay out, could you Loire? You couldn't leave well enough alone and let FH stand on its own principles."

"Flo, what-?" Dobe sputtered as he pushed himself to his feet.

"Shut up." She spared her husband a glance. "This is your fault. You should have told them no, we didn't need their hospital. But you welcomed them with open arms and told them to come right in. Sure, Loire, we'll help you set up shop in our town."

"People were dying!" Dobe retorted.

"And more people will die now!" she shot back. "Look at them, standing there so arrogant alongside SeeD. SeeD!" Flo's gun remained fixed on Laguna as she glanced venomously at Squall. "Don't you remember what happened the last time, Dobe? SeeD will bring nothing but violence to this place."

"Lady, the only one I see being violent is you." Irvine's tone was calm, almost charming. "So why don't you put that itty-bitty little piece down and let's talk about this before someone gets hurt."

Laguna held up his hands. "Irvine's right. Let's just talk about this–"

"No! I don't want to talk this time! I don't want to discuss it. I want–"

Irvine and Zell descended on her from either side, intent on disarming the woman before the situation escalated. Flo shrieked in protest and squeezed the trigger on her gun, firing a wild shot towards Laguna. Brenna's hands clapped over her mouth and gasped in horror as he grunted and crumpled to the ground.

Triumph flashed in Flo's eyes.

Irvine grit is teeth and grasped her by the wrist. "Give me the damned gun!"

She smiled coldly. "Take it from me," she dared him. With a quick turn of her hand she turned her weapon on the gunslinger and pulled the trigger.

Irvine froze and stared at Flo in shock. He staggered back once, his hand resting on his side. As if moving in slow motion, he pulled his hand away and stared at the crimson that coated his gloved hand. He let out a strangled gasp and then he too fell to the ground.

"Take her down before someone else gets hurt!" Squall snapped as he dropped to his knees next to his father. Quistis growled in frustration and snapped her whip out, wrapped it around Flo's wrist, and gave it a hard yank. Flo stumbled, and Zell took the opportunity to gain advantage, knocked her down. Pushing her face against the ground, he yanked the gun from her grasp, and used Quistis' whip to tie her wrists together.

And for good measure, he sat on her.