The Price of Love

Chapter Two

Squall's POV

I can't believe I even said those words. The moment they left my mouth I regretted them. I wish she understood.

It doesn't matter anyway. I should never have let it happen.

But, I'm glad I did. I love her. I just don't know how to say it.

Don't think about it, Squall. You have to stay professional tonight.

****************************************

I hate parties with a passion. I don't even know why I need to be here. I'm not making a speech. Why should it be my job to babysit these little brats?

Did I mention that I hate parties?

She's coming in. Gosh, she's so beautiful. I just want to run to her, throw my arms around her, and apologize. But I can't…

She looks so happy with Selphie and the others. Then, she notices me looking at her. She shoots me a glare that pierces even the deepest layers of my soul. She might as well have thrown a knife through me. I blew it. She hates me. I lost the only chance I had to be happy.

I wish I could just die, right here.

As I look away, movement in the rafters catches my eye. A man, with a gun. He's aiming for Rinoa.

No!

*******************************************

Rinoa's POV

I hear Squall yell my name. I don't want to talk to him.

Then, I feel someone throw me to the ground.

I am angry at first, until I hear the gunshot.

As we land, I realize it is Squall who jumped on me. He must've seen the sniper.

The whole party stops as screams erupt in the ballroom.

Squall rolls off of me, his back turned to me.

I sit up, "T…Thank you."

"Y…You…You're Welcome." He stammers.

He's struggling to talk. What's wrong?

I roll him over gently, "You okay?"

Then I see it. Blood. His blood. All over his hands and uniform. It's coming out of his chest.

"No! Squall!"

He looks at me, "R…Rinoa."

My eyes lock with his. "Help is coming. Quistis is calling them, don't worry."

"I love you. I'm sorry…" He chokes, "Don't…don't let anyone…treat you…like I did. Find…find someone…who will care…for you…like you…deserve."

"No, Squall. Don't say goodbye. You'll be okay!"

He puts a hand on my cheek, "I'll…always love you. Don't…forget me."

"No, Squall! No!" I cry.

Dr. Kadowaki and her crew push me off of him. They throw him on a gurney and rush him to the infirmary as fast as they can.

***********************************

Dr. Kadowaki's POV

He's lost too much blood.

We rush the Commander to the Infirmary, which has been upgraded to a Level Four Trauma Center. The project is newly finished. Good timing.

"Doctor, he's got to be bleeding internally."

"Take him to the OR, and hurry!" I order.

We all rush upstairs and prepare for surgery. I've never operated on Squall. Never thought I'd need to.

As I cut him open, blood pours out of the wound like a river.

"Get me blood bags, lots of them! Now!"

What's bleeding?

As I root around, I realize it has to be an artery or an organ. We'll have to get in deeper.

"Get me a bone saw and a pair of rib spreaders!"

The sound of the saw tearing apart his ribcage is sickening. But we have to do this.

I realize, to my horror, that his Aorta has been punctured by the bullet.

We clamp off the artery and repair it as fast as we can, but it may already be too late for him.

******************************************************

Rinoa's POV

I pace back and forth in the waiting room with the others. This is so tense. He can't die, he's too young.

Dr. Kadowaki enters, looking exhausted. She has blood all over her.

"How bad is it?" I ask.

She sits down, "The bullet hit his Aorta. It's a main blood supply to he heart. He lost an enormous amount of blood. He's stable now."

The others look at one another.

"Will he live?" Zell asks.

"Honestly, I'd be surprised if he survived through the night."

I burst out in tears, weeping terribly.

"I want to be with him."

She looks at me, "Sweetheart, he's on a ventilator in ICU. Are you sure?"

I nod. "I have to be with him. It's really important."

Dr. Kadowaki nods and leads me out of the room, dressing me in hospital clothing.

"Why do you feel you need to do this?" She asks.

I sigh, "We had a huge fight. I told him I hated him. Once, when I got him to talk to me, he told me his worst fear."

"Which was?"

"Dying alone. He said he never wanted to die alone. I have to stay with him. Even if he dies tonight. I can't let him die alone, or thinking I hate him."