Long time no see you crazy people...

Chapter 1:

Feeling a hand being placed on her back, Yuna just winced internally as she continued to spit into the toilet. She wasn't sure how she was expected to go on. But at the same time she knew that she didn't have a choice. No matter how many times it had ended like it did. She still had to continue on with this arduous process.

"Yuna. We've been going at this for nine months... we are scarcely a quarter of the way done." The blonde head psychiatrist spoke as Yuna simply rested her head on her arms. "I know... it is dreadful... I actually broke doctor-patient confidentiality last one just so I could tell Cecil and cry in the shower for her. But she lived all of this. Even if she doesn't remember it all... she still lived through it."

Sighing as she wiped the vomit from the side of her mouth, Yuna simply lulled her head backwards as she looked at her boss. "How old do you think she was... she couldn't have been more than seven... and they filmed her being raped... and then stabbing her to rape those holes. And even though that was the least awful thing we've seen on those tapes... and the terrifying thing is... every single worse one she remembers... and this was all to get her father to pay an amount that Lightning has confessed if the same amount was lost it would be nothing but a bad minute... and there are still over twelve thousand hours left... and there is still something that even her mind blocks out..." Yuna began as she just took a deep breath. "I'm pretty sure what respect and hope I had for Lightning's father not being a complete monster... is beyond eroded and as this goes on... I'm positive where ever he ended up in hell is still too good for him."

Taking a deep breath as she began to take a seat on the tiled floor, Rosa just began to lull her head back as she just tried her hardest to think about how she was meant to phrase her point. "Yuna. I know. I even knew the Farron family is filled with monsters... but just the fact that he kept those tapes... some according to Serah had been so worn down that it was actually difficult to match the segment to file... but just the fact that Lightning every single day despite all that has been able to maintain what sanity she has... it gives me more hope than you can imagine that everyone can be healed." Rosa spoke as she just sighed gently.

"She remembers being electrocuted... she remembers being drowned... being waterboarded... being gangraped by no less than fifty different men and women and even several animals... she remembers at least partially now of being forcibly injected with paralytics so that she couldn't fight them off to the point she is actually allergic to literally all we use due to exposure to it. And despite all that in which before we watched what we did... I wouldn't have actually felt anything but happy if she killed herself due to all that... but she has been able to get up every day. She is still able to continue on living with nothing more than PTSD and auditory hallucinations. If I ever have a daughter that was a tenth of how strong Lightning is mentally... I don't think anything will be able to keep her down."

"I'd say if i had a daughter even a hundredth of that level of mental strength... I'd be an ecstatic mother. Hell I'd be a happy person if Lightning just decided to give up and wanted to become a permanent resident here... I do know that if anyone ever wants to commit suicide and the didn't go through anything like what Lightning has they've lost all respect from me and deserve medieval level of punishments for doing that." Rosa said as Yuna just smiled a little and nodded her head in agreement.

"Can we please just stop this for the night? I know you want to break the two and a half hour mark... but any more and I just know I'll end up here as a patient."

"Sad thing is... you are right. I'm ready to break doctor patient confidentiality again... because everything is beyond fucked up and it is frankly doing nothing but giving me more and more respect for Lightning and finding it harder and harder to believe she actually found people she is fine letting into her personal space under any circumstance." Rosa said as she stood up and began to help Yuna into a standing position. "You okay getting home?"

"Yeah... I'll call Tidus. I may need to take the morning off because I plan to just stay curled up in a ball in my shower with a cheese grater to scrub this disgust off."

"I understand... but I think it is best we still don't tell Tidus. He isn't a doctor. And Cecil isn't even sure if I'm being truthful even though I've never lied to him before. Even when we were children."

"It is because if I didn't watch these things... and if Lightning hadn't verified them all unprompted by me... I'd say they are made up. No parent should be able to sit through that... and even fewer should willingly give their child to that when it would have cost them the equivalent of a penny from one of us..." Yuna said as she pressed the plunger down to let her bile spin in the bowl of the toilet. "Just... it makes me really glad for my parents."

"You aren't the only one and mine was a war criminal for the kingdom of Barron. Somehow I get that my father was a lot warmer of a person even though I've witnessed him trying to drown Cecil for not wanting to kill children... just... compared to what Lightning had... hell compared to any other father... short of the father murdering them..."

Wincing a little as she took a seat in front of the pink haired woman looking at her with a sense of exasperation. "Claire... I know it is stupid of me to ask this... especially because of how seldom we've gotten these...but can you just not get better? I swear if I hear another person asking if they can bulldoze an orphanage so they can start a mine... I'm going to scream. I've had to say no to that seventeen times since I got up this morning to different firms and their arguments are always about how it will further our family's wealth." Serah said as Lightning just chuckled softly as she leaned down to rest her head against the table.

"I am getting better... despite how hard it has been to get Rosa or Yuna to acknowledge my schedule... just because they are still on the videos... acting like they've never seen someone being electrocuted before... or force fed their own waste." Lightning said as she just took a deep breath. "Right. It is getting a bit ridiculous. But I wouldn't go that far."

"Claire. Please share it with the group. I still can't hear what your brain says." Serah said as Lightning just took a sharp inhale as she matched her sister's gaze.

"It was just saying that they are being childish to the point that their prestige should be stripped from them. All because I lived through it and they are only at like hour one hundred." Lightning said as Serah just matched her sister's gaze.

"Claire... if they made it that far... I wouldn't say that. But by my count... they have to be closer to the five hundred hour mark. I couldn't even get more than a minute... and Mom got barely more... and I still haven't been able to fully bounce back. And that was nearly a year ago." Serah said softly before she just took a deep breath and matched her sister's gaze. "And the fact you constantly say it got worse. I don't think I could watch more... let alone think about the fact you lived it... it is best I just imagine it as a nightmare that went wrong. At least that is according to Yuna." Serah said as Lightning just rolled her eyes. "Claire... I'm being serious. That was all kinds of messed up and I saw a tiny part."

"Serah. It is nothing. Most of those people are now dead. I'm meanwhile... how did you used to say it? Alive and here. And that does make a lot of difference for me. If it wasn't for you... or Mom... or Vanille... I don't think I could stay sane in here. Even with the daily walks Vanille and I take. Just the fact that I get to talk to you face to face... it does a lot for me." Lightning said as she pushed off the table before she just laughed a little at her sister who shook her head. "Serah... just keep telling yourself that they're dead and your big sister is here."

"But you went through things you didn't need to..."

"Our Father was a monster. That is something that isn't a very closely guarded secret. The only person who it was a guarded secret to is you. Everyone that knew him already knew that he was."

"But why me... there is next to no difference between me and you besides age and the fact you are dating a girl. Meanwhile I'm single."

Laughing softly Lightning just stared at her sister. "Serah. We are from a family that can state for a fact we predate Cocoon. We are the first family that is mentioned by name that still exists. And we are a family that up until us, there wasn't a female head. And before me... it always went to the first born. So if I died, you would have learned first hand what I learned." Lightning said as she could see Serah shivering a little. "That is one of the reasons I refused to die. I couldn't stand to imagine you going through anything like what I did." Lightning said as Serah took a deep breath.

"And I'm thankful for that... for all kinds of reasons." Serah began as she looked up. "And what is he doing here?" Serah asked and before Lightning could respond she could feel her blood running cold as she felt someone wrapping her in a tight hug.

Freeing an arm, Lightning quickly brought it over her shoulder shortly followed by the rest of the man as she quickly slammed her elbow into the shoulder blade to cause as much pain as possibly without breaking anything.

"Claire... listen to me. That is Prince Notcis." Serah said standing up taking a few steps backwards wondering how her sister could do such a fluid motion to cause the person pain but at the same time she knew from what she witnessed on the video she wouldn't think less of her. "He is one of our old friends that Mom would make us go on playdates with." Serah continued as she could see a large man in nothing but a waistcoat about to place a hand onto Lightning's shoulder. "I also really wouldn't do that if I were you."

Ignoring what Serah had said the man placed his hand on Lightning's shoulder to try and force her off the crowned prince. Bringing her foot backwards to kick the man's legs out from under him as Lightning grabbed his hand and quickly danced around him to pin his own knuckles against his spine and neck as she slammed their heads together.

"I warned you not to." Serah said in a defeated tone as she looked towards the doors to see Doctor Rosa storming into the room. "Noct, are you conscious?" Serah asked as she could see the man starting to sit up rubbing his forehead. "Claire does not like people surprising her like that any more. And she could have seriously killed you. What would Luna say?"

"Get the number of the truck that just hit me." Noctis said softly as he started to crack his back as he started to rub her shoulder. "Gladio... you alright? Noctis asked as Lightning started to look around with panic starting to seemingly set in as Rosa walked up to her as she held her hands out to show that she was unarmed to Lightning.

"Lightning... what happened?" Rosa asked softly as she got closer as Lightning seemed to force the man's head lower.

"One just hugged me from behind and this guy started placing his hands on me..." Lightning hissed as she started to scan the room.

"Serah... do you mind? I kind of need her to not kill my bodyguard." Noctis whispered as Serah tensed her fist as she had to resist the urge to punch the man for causing her time with her sister to be cut short.

"I can't. I told him not to. You two are the dumbasses that decided to poke a sleeping dragon. Did it not occur to you as to why the rightful head to the Farron household is in a place like this with the current head!?" Serah yelled as she quickly looked towards her sister. "Claire... can you just let the man go..." Serah said as she started to carefully walk around the other side of the table. Being a lot quicker to advance to Lightning than Rosa.

"They touched me... not again..." Lightning whispered as Serah could feel her heart shattering as she could see Rosa being taken aback.

Gently placing a hand onto her sister's arm, Serah just breathed a tense breath she wasn't even aware she had been holding as she wasn't the third victim within ten minutes. "They won't Claire. Just let this man go. Please. For me... for Mom..." Serah started before she whispered the next part. "For Vanille."

"Not again." Lightning said as Rosa had finally regained her composure and gently placed a hand on Lightning's other arm.

"Not again. Let's just go to Doctor Yuna's office" Rosa said as she felt Lightning releasing the man. "Sazh is just going to get these people to leave and I'm sure your sister is going to scream at them." Rosa continued as she could see Lightning just starting to wrap her arms around herself.

"Not again..." was all Serah could hear as the door closed and the taller man started to stand up Serah had to take constant deep breaths.

Seeing it close as the head orderly started to walk towards them, Serah spun around to glare daggers at Noctis and the man with her. "I should have you both killed and the city of Insomnia wiped from the map!" Serah yelled as her glare harshened. "I've gotten exactly twenty minutes with my sister in the last four months! I was hoping to get more but no. You two had to be complete and utter morons and ignore a warning and your common sense!"

"Serah... how was I mea-"

"COMMON SENSE! IS THAT SO HARD!" Serah screamed before she took a deep breath and began to relax her bawled up hands. "Seriously for a king that will be dealing with me if she isn't discharged by the time Regis passes on, you are incredibly stupid. You know she was a survivor of the Purge. And you assume the smart thing to do is to randomly hug a woman you hadn't seen in over a decade that you know has been used as a hostage and propaganda tool by a war criminal. Tell your father his next request is denied because you are incredibly stupid. Seriously chances are I won't see my sister again until Christmas."

"Serah... honestly... don't take my actions out on my Father. Or our people."

"Someone needs to pay the piper. Just because we are Farrons doesn't mean we are going to foot the bill. So either you are going to or Regis is."

'That went... well...'

The voice spoke as Lightning just took a deep breath as she rested her back against the padded cell. "I'm sorry Light." Yuna said as she could see Lightning just taking a deep breath. "It is only one night."

"But they..."

"I know Light. But I also know how you react when you harm someone. That is why it is only for a night." Yuna said softly as she bent down to match Lightning's eye level as she had to resist the urge to vomit at just the part of the video she had watched the previous night with Rosa. Just the sight of Lightning never giving them a single tear as they all did unmentionable things to her. "I'll even let Vanille come down and you two can talk through the door. But this isn't a punishment. This is for your safety." Yuna continued as Lightning just took a deep breath and braced herself against her legs.

"But..."

'Light, last time you wound up in the hospital after you accidentally smacked your mother's head against her knee because she surprise hugged you causing you to damn nearly break your own arm again. This time you actually seriously wounded two people. At least gave the two of them concussions. They are kind of right to put you in here.'

Sighing as she knew that the voice was right. At least to this point. "Promise I'll get to spend some time with Vanille? Because I hate being in these rooms. If I wasn't already insane..." Lightning said as Yuna simply shook her head.

"Light... with what I watched last night... and I know I say this every time... but it is already a miracle you are as sane as you are." Yuna said as she stood up and just sighed gently. "Provided you promise me on your sister's life that you aren't going to use it to hurt yourself tonight, I'll bring a book down for you to read."

"I promise... can you actually bring um... Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche? It is in my room on my nightstand. My Mom brought it for me last time she visited."

"Bit heavy for my liking, but okay. As long as you keep that promise."

"I will."

'Bit heavy for her? That shit is super heavy for me... but as long as you stay sane. While some things are leaving it is still getting cramped up here.'

"Shut up."

Author's Note:

And done. Nice start to the second story. At least for me.