Chapter 3: Revelations

 Selphie found herself pushed into a cushy chair in Doctor Kadawaki's office.

 She shivered in her thin cotton bra and panties 
although she knew the infirmary was always well heated. Miserably she faced 
the doctor, Quistis and Fujin trying to read the 
looks on their faces. Quistis looked sympathetic, Fujin looked annoyed and 
Doctor Kadawaki looked neutral.
 "Do you know how you got the bruises Selphie? You can tell me
honestly. 
Really. Does Irvine hurt you? It's ok to tell us 
because we're here to help you." Doctor Kadawaki asked her.
 Selphie was perplexed, "No never! Irvine never hurts me. Why're you
acting 
like it's his fault? It's not! I don't know where I 
got the bruises! It's just in January I started feeling tired and achy all the

time. And then recently I started noticing dark bruises 
all over and I hurt so much all the time. I cry myself to sleep at night 
because I hurt so much. It's like my bones are hurting. I 
don't know. But I didn't want to tell anyone. I mean I'm a SeeD! I can take 
care of myself right? So I didn't want anyone to 
know and worry about me. Irvine doesn't know. I hide the bruises from him. At

first I covered them with make-up but lately 
they've gotten so bad that I had to wear the clothes to cover them up. I'm sick

and weak all the time now. I can't eat. I just 
throw it up. I can't sleep because I hurt and magic isn't helping me anymore. 

I don't know what to do! But I didn't tell anyone I 
was sick because I'm not a little girl and I didn't think it was anything to 
worry about!"
 Selphie burst into tears and Quistis walked over and put her arm around her

friend, "Oh Selphie... you should have told 
someone. You can't go on in pain like this. It's not good for you. What if no

one had ever found out about the bruises? What if 
you'd never said a thing and this illness turned out to be serious? What if it

killed you and none of us had ever known?"
 Selphie simply sobbed harder and Quistis put a hand on her forehead,
"Dr. 
Kadowaki! She's burning up! I think we ought to 
take her temperature."
 The Doctor nodded and procured a thermometer, "Open wide Selphie and
stick 
this under your tongue. Fujin, I hear a lot of 
noise in the hall would you mind taking care of it?" Fujin immediately
exited 
and just then the thermometer beeped.
 Doctor Kadowaki pulled the thermometer from Selphie's mouth. She looked at

it in surprise and shook her head. "105 degrees 
fahrenheit. This is serious! Quistis, I think she'll need to see other doctors

then I. A hospital, I expect. She'll need to be taken to 
Deling City. That's the closest hospital I surmise seeing as the one in Balamb

is still under construction. Quistis, please escort 
Selphie to her room and then I want you to go and see the headmaster and begin 
making plans."
 Quistis went into the hallway and came back with Selphie's clothing. She 
helped the frail young woman dress and then she 
helped her to the dormitories, "Selphie I want you to rest and pack some
things 
up for your trip."
 After she'd left Selphie, Quistis made her way to the elevator and hit the 
button for the third floor. She was a bit nervous as 
she had never met the new headmaster. She realized that she did not even know 
his name. Quistis reached the third floor and 
knocked hesitantly on the door to his office. "Come inside please." A
soft male 
voice invited her.
 She walked inside and found herself face to face with a bald man of perhaps

40. He looked at her with bright blue eyes 
rimmed with the most beautiful eyelashes she had ever seen. Quistis cleared her

throat, "Sir I am Instructor Quistis Trepe. I have 
come on the behalf of Dr. Kadawaki to report on a student."
 The man nodded, "Quistis... I heard about you from Cid Kramer. I've
been 
wanting to meet you. I'm called Tallin Rizel."
 She realized with some shock that he had an incredibly sexy voice. She 
tried to push the thought out of her head. She was 
here for Selphie and besides this man was at least 20 years older then her. So

it didn't matter that she found herself inexplicably 
attracted to him, "One of the SeeDs is seriously ill and the doctor
believes she 
may need to go to the hospital."
 "Of course... And she will need an instructor to accompany her on the 
journey." He agreed.
 "I'd like to do it. If I may. She and I are friends." Quistis
looked into 
his eyes.
 Tallin smiled, "Yes then. I give my permission. We can't have one of
our 
SeeDs ill. All must be done to see that she gets 
better."
 She bowed, "Thank you very much sir. Good day then."
 "Good bye Quistis. I hope to see you again."
 She exited the office and stood in the hallway waiting for the stilling of 
her rapidly beating heart. She couldn't be attracted to 
this old man. It was simply unreasonable.
 Meanwhile, Irvine had heard rumors about Rinoa's fight and Selphie's 
bruised and he decided to find his girlfriend and 
straighted things out. He found her sitting on the window seat in her room. 
She was wearing her yellow dress and a red hooded 
sweatshirt and he tried not to wince as he saw the bruises on her bare legs. 
"Hey babydoll." He said quietly.
 "Irvine." She acknowledged him, "You must be angry with
me."
 He couldn't lie, "A little. Selphie, why couldn't you trust me? All I
ever 
wanted was for you to trust me with your problems. It 
really hurts that you didn't feel like you could tell me. If you're in pain or

anything I'm here for you. I wish you could feel like you 
could open up to me."
 Selphie sighed and looked at her feet, "I didn't want you to
worry..."
 Irvine sat down next to her and wrapped his arms around her, "But I
have 
been worried... Selphie, I love you. I hope you know 
that. I want you to be happy. If you're sick, I want to know about it rather 
then having to hear rumors in the hallways."
 "I know... I'm sorry. I have to go to the hospital. Irvine, I'm
scared. 
What if I'm dying?" She started crying again; fresh tears 
spilling down her cheeks. 
 Irvine kissed her tears away, tasting the bitter salt in his mouth,
"Shh 
it's ok. I'm gonna be there for you. It's going to be 
allright. The doctors will take good care of you and you'll be better in no 
time."
 She smiled weakly, "I hope so. I wanna be there at your SeeD
graduation. 
Yours and Rinoa."
 "Well we haven't quite made SeeD yet. We have to pass the exam. I
would 
have been SeeD last year in Galbadia if Martine 
hadn't sent me on the sorceress mission with all of you."
 She leaned her head back on his chest, "But you will make SeeD Irvine. 
I 
know it. Do you remember that mission? It was the 
first time we met."
 Irvine kissed the top of her head, "How could I forget babydoll?"
 Later on Quistis came in and found them still sitting in the window seat. 
Selphie had fallen asleep in his arms and Irvine turned 
to look at Quistis.
 "You'll have to wake her up Irvine." Quistis said softly.
 "I know but she looks like an angel," Irvine said reluctantly but
he kissed 
her on the cheek, "Wake up babydoll. Quistis is here 
to take you to the hospital."
 Selphie sleepily blinked her eyes but she stood up weakly and picked up a 
blue back pack off the floor, "Ok I guess I'm ready to 
go. I don't wanna though."
 Quistis took her hand like she would that of a small child and Irvine 
watched them leave. He sat and despondently stared at 
Selphie's room. He whispered, "Bye babydoll."