Trickle - 19 - Clean

"The cool breeze flew through my hair, and made me feel young again."

.

"Deling City Hospital?"

I nodded.

"What's he doing way out there?"

I was in Squall's room again; surrounded by the people I grew up with. Normally, I would be sitting in my room, sleeping, or looking at the bloodstains that were still on my rug, but I couldn't stand to be alone right now.

Selphie questioned me, with intent eyes, trying to get every single piece of information out of me. It reminded me of talking to the sheriff.

I stayed silent.

"He's out there, because he needed to be stitched up, and they didn't have the tools to do it, in the infirmary." Squall answered for me, holding out his hand, to Rinoa who was wrapping a white bandage around his knuckles.

So far, she hasn't said a word about Seifer...was she breaking down on the inside, or does she not care?

Zell sat there silently, his legs pulled up to his chest.

"I can't believe Seifer is in the hospital. Usually he's so strong; he'd break Raijin in half. How come he has to be in the hospital, when he finally starts being nicer to me?"

"He's going to be out soon, and you guys can go back to being buddy-buddy with each other." Irvine playfully punched Zell in the arm. "So cheer up man!"

Zell's face stayed expressionless.

The room got still.

"This room has too many negative feelings in it, I say we go out and do something."

Selphie said standing up, and smoothing the wrinkles out of her bright lemon-colored dress.

"What do you have in mind?" Rinoa asked, setting the rest of the unused bandage on a nearby shelf.

"Movies? We could leave Balamb and go to the movies...or...hey! We could go to Deling City, and just hang out! They always have something cool going on down there. Ooh! We could visit Seifer, Quistis!"

She came behind me, grabbed my shoulders, and began shaking me, trying to get me as excited as she was.

I smiled at the thought of that.

"Ah, got her to smile again."

Irvine came, and poked me in the stomach.

"So...you guys want to go to Deling City?"

Squall asked retrieving his jacket from his closet.

Yeah...of course I do.

.

When we reached the "City of Light", it was already dark. The air was a bit colder than it usually was, and it seemed to make the multicolored lights look brighter.

We all walked in a group, silently...passing the happy kids, running by holding balloons, and screaming.

I wanted to find the little "Infirmary" hidden in this glowing palace, and see Seifer, right away.

"Hey!! Candy Apples!"

Selphie pointed happily to a man in a red and white striped shirt, handing out candy apples to small raging hands.

"Let's go get some!" Rinoa added in cheerfully, running to the cart with Selphie, and standing in line behind Zell, who rushed over without saying anything.

I turned to Squall and Irvine, hugging myself, to keep the cold air from biting my arms.

"I'm going to find the little hospital...thing."

Squall stared at me for awhile.

"Alright, well...we'll meet you at the hotel when you're done talking to him."

"The hotel?"

"Yeah, well...it's Saturday, we might as well hand over some money, and spend the night here...the garden is too...I don't know...I don't feel safe there anymore."

I thought I was the only one who felt that way.

I smiled.

"Okay"

"Alright, now go find Seifer you love Goddess, you."

Irvine patted my bottom, and I jumped.

"Irvine, stop!"

"Whoa...sorry...sorry." He held up his hands innocently, and Squall laughed.

"See you later Quistis."

They waved, and walked over to the bright sugar cart.

.

I walked through the crowds of happy couples, holding myself tighter, and tighter everytime I saw a smile go by, or heard someone say, "This is so much fun!"

I cringed at the sound of flesh touching flesh, and tried not to notice the entire hugging and kissing going on around me.

Ultimately, I made it to the bright neon green sign that read "CLINIC". The glistening letters made the building look more like a casino, then a place holding suffering bodies, but on the inside...things looked normal.

Casually walking up to the desk, I approached an old nurse, whose eyebrows were over-plucked, and lips looked like they were being pressed tight. She looked up from the magazine she was reading.

"May I help you?"

"Yeah, um... I'm here to see Seifer Almasy, he was checked in last night."

She stared blankly at me, through her black oval glasses.

"You know, he has a big scar... on his forehead?"

I ran my finger between my eyebrows to show where it was.

"Oh...right...the tough guy. Room 4049." She pointed to a dim lit hall.

Tough Guy?

"Thanks."

"No problem honey."

.

After passing what seems like 500 empty stretchers, and wheelchairs in the hall, I reached room 4049.

I didn't want to go in, and find him asleep...with wires in his veins, to help him breathe because of the blood loss, I didn't want to walk in, and find him dying.

Hesitating, I turned the knob.

Inside, I found Seifer sitting on his bed. No tubes, no needles punched into his veins. His normal clothes were stripped away, and he was stuck wearing a white hospital gown.

His face was covered, as I've seen him do, when he was upset, and frustrated.

He didn't look up, from the sound of the door opening.

"Seifer?"

I stepped closer to him.

He looked up at me, with an angry look, but his eyes lost the rage when he saw me standing there.

.

"How's it going?"

I sat on a vacant spot on the bed. I could see him breathe. What a beautiful sight it was. The cut on his forehead was cleaned, but it was still visible. The blood that streamed down his chin was wiped away, but the gash on the corner of his mouth made it obvious that he was thrown to the ground 10,000 times.

"They said I'm going to be able to leave tonight. A doctor offered to drive me back to Balamb Garden, but a certain nurse is REFUSING TO GIVE MY CLOTHES BACK!"

He yelled through the door, hoping the female medic heard him.

"Where are your clothes?"

"They put it in some bin or something, said they needed to be washed."

I smiled, and grabbed his hand.

"Do you want to get out of here, right now...with me?"

His eyes searched mine, for more of a response.

"Of course I do."

He pulled me to him, and kissed me. I thought I'd never feel those lips on mine, again. I

Never thought I'd be able to breathe in his scent, or feel his hands on me.

"Wait here, I'll go get your clothes."

I stood up, but he pulled me back, and kissed me once more. I moved my hand down his chest, and lower and he suddenly flinched in pain. I then remembered the damage done to his stomach.

.

After he was dressed, he grabbed his hand in mine, and I was surprised to see that he was able to run.

We pushed through the infirmary's clear double doors, and I laughed happily, as he picked me up with his remaining strength, and twirled me in the air.

The cool breeze flew through my hair, and made me feel young again. Everything that happened last night seemed like a nightmare, which was already forgotten. I could now see 100 lovely lights, spinning around me, and could detect Seifer's laughter, and his voice, as he thanked me for retrieving him from the unbalanced circle, which was the Clinic's cold dark room.

.

"A million miles we fall from Grace. Thank God, we missed the ground." -Live

Notes: How many of you are happy to see Seifer in this condition? I bet lots of you are! He's doing great...he's able to run, and lift Quistis up! But...Is he able to breathe without knowing that the poison could kick in any minute? Wait for the next chapter!

Thanks for the reviews! *High Five!* You guys are excellent! ^_^