The Price of Love

Chapter Three

Rinoa's POV

Dr. Kadowaki carefully leads me into the room where Squall lays.

The sight of him is almost too much to bear. He'd so pale and lifeless. He's hooked up to numerous machines, including life support. I did this to him. This is all my fault.

I burst out in tears again. Dr. Kadowaki guides me to a comfortable chair next to his bed.

"You can stay here as long as you like. Call me if you need anything." She says, showing me the call button. "And, if any alarms start going off, press this button. Okay?"

"Okay." I choke through tears.

She leaves. Now I'm alone with him. I stroke his cheek, looking at the tube that goes down his throat. The tube that is helping him stay alive.

"Squall, please. I'm so sorry. Please don't leave me. I don't hate you, I never did. I love you more than I can express. I know you didn't know how to love me. We have a future together. I want to get married to you and have a family. We're destined to grow old together. Please. You're too young to die. You don't have to be the hero all of the time, you know. Why did you sacrifice yourself for me?"

I sigh, taking his hand. "No matter what, I promise I won't let you die alone. Not ever. I'll always be here."

He told me to find someone better. He was so sure he was going to die. He didn't even regret it. I know he would've done it again without hesitation if he had to.

"There is nobody like you. Nobody can make me feel like you do. I need you. I need you to protect me and love me. I need your arms around me to comfort me when I'm scared. I need your voice to reassure me. I love every bit of you. Come back to me, Squall. Come back so we can be together. We can be happy together."

I wish he would just open his eyes. I want to see his eyes again. Some sign of life. I hope he can hear me. I really do. He can't die. If he does, I don't know what I'll do. He can't leave me.

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

My eyes flutter open. A doctor is in the room, checking Squall's vital signs and changing his IV bags.

"I'm sorry." She says when she sees me, "I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't." I reply, rubbing my eyes, "What time is it?"

She smiles, "It's Eight."

"In the morning?"

"Yes." She replies, looking at Squall. "He made it through the night."

I sit up, looking at him. He doesn't look any different. Still lifeless and pale.

"Does that mean he'll survive?" I ask.

She looks back at me, "Not necessarily, but it's a good sign. Most people wouldn't have survived as long as he has. He's a fighter. Have hope. Maybe you being here kept him alive."

"Yeah, right. He can't even hear me."

"What?" She exclaims. "Don't even say that. Trust me, I've seen a lot of cases with patients on the verge of death. They can hear their loved ones and feel their presence in the room. Don't doubt that he can hear you. He probably can."

Wow, he can hear me.

I nod, "Thanks."

"Sure."

"What's your name, anyway? You look familiar."

She laughs, "My name is Sidney. You probably know me as the Library Girl."

"How can you be the Library Girl?"

"Only sometimes. I majored in Medicine. The library job just helped support my college time here. I don't work down there much anymore."

"Do you like it up here?" I ask.

"Yeah, I do. It can get really depressing sometimes, though. I hate it when people die. But cases like this make my job worth it."

I laughed.

She smiles at me. "I have a feeling he's going to pull through. But that's not from a medical standpoint. We're always taught to expect the worst. But don't lose hope in him."

"Never."

"Oh! I almost forgot! You've been in here all night, you're probably starving. Would you like me to fetch you something to eat."

"You don't have to."

She rolls her eyes, "Nonsense! I'm on it."

"Thank you." I reply sheepishly.

"No problem."

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

A pair of doctors come in with my breakfast. They're also carrying something else. Some kind of tube.

The first doctor hands me the tray. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." He replies, "I'm Dr. Yankowski, this is Dr. Herk."

"Hi. I know this sounds weird, but what's the tube for?"

Dr. Yankowski looks at his partner, then back at me. "It's a feeding tube. The doctors didn't put one in last night because we weren't sure if he'd pull through. Now, we need to make sure he gets good nutrition."

"How are you going to put it in? His throat's already blocked by the ventilator."

"We insert these through the nose."

"Oh."

Dr. Herk looks at me, "A little uncomfortable, but it'll come out soon. He'll be off the ventilator in a day or so."

"He will?"

Dr. Herk smiles, "Oh yeah. He's breathing almost entirely on his own. He doesn't need it. But we'd rather him be awake before we take it out. It's easier."

I start to eat as they begin to insert the feeding tube.

Bad idea!

It looks so horrible. I can see his body responding to the pain of it. Even on sedatives I know it hurts.

I push my tray away in disgust. Watching the doctors.

He starts coughing and moving around. He looks alive!

"He's waking up!" I cry.

Dr. Herk looks up, "No. His body's just responding to the feeling. His struggling and coughing isn't voluntary."

"Oh."

After they leave, I know I won't be able to eat. Squall looks so miserable. I start to cry again.

"I'm sorry. This is all my fault."

A/N: So, will he pull through? What will Rinoa do? You'll have to wait until the next chappy! Reviews are welcome, really. Please tell me whatcha think.