The Gift of Life, Chapter 4
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Quistis returned home at the usual 4:30 am the following morning. Her mind was numb; her eyes were blurry, and she could barely make out the familiar shapes in her apartment. She carelessly let her soiled overcoat and shoulderbag tumble to the ground. With that, her legs failed her. From pure exhaustion, she collapsed in the threshold of her front door. Emotionally and physically speaking, the night had drained her.
Grasping the doorknob to regain her balance, she hoisted herself off the floor with some difficulty. Making sure to close and deadbolt the door first, she entered the bathroom.
On any other night, she would have merely thrown herself onto the couch to sleep. But this night, she felt compelled to cleanse her body and mind.
In a daze, she carelessly strewed her clothes onto the bathroom floor. She then turned the cold silver knobs to release the hot water. Stepping in to the shower, she stood and let the water course over her. The droplets took remnants of Seifer's blood and bar smoke with them, swirling down the drain.
Yet, something was not right. Just as the water on her skin, Quistis' guilt washed over her soul. She covered her face with her hands and began to sob. She wasn't ready to deal with all this. Why now? Things were going so well for her, and then it all came crashing down on her.
I knew I couldn't run from it forever.
But why do I have to face it now?
The wounds are still as fresh today as they were four years ago.
I'm not ready.
But, like it or not, she was going to have to face it. Her past. Seifer's reappearance and the phone call from Selphie served her jar her back to her former life as a SeeD. One she had chosen not to face again.
Not to mention the horrible guilt she felt. It was her fault that Seifer was in the hospital. She knew full well that only trouble would ensue from her trip to the bar, yet she went anyway.
Why did I go?
Face it, Quistis. Your curiosity and SeeD instinct made a horrible combination.
She still held strong ties to Seifer. He was her student, her childhood friend, and the one who nearly took her life. Seeing him again reminded he of the pain, guilt, and happiness he made her feel, throughout both their lives.
His multifarious persona attracted her closer, as well. Perhaps because she could identify with him, to an extent. They both had to run from their pasts.
Not to mention that Seifer knew one of her deepest secrets, as well; the fact that she, a civilian, stocked and used magic. It was an offense punishable by serious jail time. Not to mention she would most certainly lose her nursing degree, and all credibility she had earned.
At all costs, I must keep this life I've made for myself.
Her tears stopped flowing as she turned the water off. She grabbed a towel and prepared to go to bed, and get some well-deserved sleep. Starting at 6 that night, she would be on duty for a long 15 hours.
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"Room 200, Quis."
"Thanks, I'm heading over right now." She adjusted the white starched cap perched on her head, and took the clipboard. Grabbing a pen from the raised desktop, she proceeded down the hallway. With her free hand, she adjusted the stethoscope around her neck. Her posture was pole-straight, and her facial expression was bent into a smile, mainly to keep the children in high spirits. It betrayed nothing of what she really felt.
She opened the report and read what the Emergency Room nurse had scrawled. It was up to Quistis to finish the report and submit it. Since she carried him in and provided some information, the Medical Director obviously felt compelled to leave him under her watch.
Tristan Lockheart, aged 22.
Quistis smirked slightly as she read over the name she submitted. It was quite fitting, in her opinion. There was no way she could have given them his real name. Especially since SeeD proclaimed the 10 million gil reward worldwide for Seifer's whereabouts.
At the end of the corridor was room 200, her destination. She rapped the door quickly before she opened the door and entered.
The television was on quietly, and his dinner tray was sitting next to his bed. The food was hardly touched. His eyes were dull and half-open, absently watching the sitcom actors.
Quistis was quite shaken to see Seifer in such a prone state. His skin looked so pale under the fluorescent lights; the white bandages wrapped around his head covered 27 stitches, and his face was swollen; quite frankly, she was surprised to see that he was awake, what with his concussion. His hands rested at his sides, in fists.
"It's rude to stare, ya know."
She started; she hadn't expected him to speak at all, and his deep voice interrupted the low noise level in the room.
Obviously pained, Seifer twisted his mouth into his trademark smirk.
Quistis shook her head, and stepped up to the side of his bed. "Sorry to stare, Seifer. At least now we know you haven't lost any of your memory. But just to make sure, I'm going to conduct a couple tests, okay? I need to make sure you're coherent."
Seifer waved her on, slightly disinterested.
"All right, let's proceed then." She took out some color and number cards from the clipboard, and used them to question him. He passed all tests; colors, numbers, dates, names.
"Excellent job, Seifer," she said, with a little smile.
"Does that mean I can get the hell out of here, then?" he asked.
Quistis shook her head. "There's no way we're sending you home yet. You've got 27 stitches up here," she said, gesturing to her head, "and we need to keep you here to monitor you."
Once again, the wave of guilt washed over Quistis.
It's all my fault. I never should have interfered in Seifer's life.
She quickly shook it off, and turned back to Seifer. She rested the clipboard in her lap. "I have to tell you some important information, and you just remember it all, okay?"
"Fine by me," he said, and folded his arms across his broad chest.
"You're not Seifer Almasy anymore. In the Emergency Room, I submitted your name as Tristan Lockheart. You will answer to that from now on."
Seifer frowned, and his muscles tensed. Unfolding his arms, he said, "Fine, Trepe. You gave me such a wimpy name… always have to have it your way… so how much is that SeeD reward for me, anyway?" he asked, obviously changing the subject.
It was Quistis' turn to tense. "10 million gil," she shortly replied, looking away from his eyes.
"Well, I should be glad that you're the only one who's recognized me so far."
She looked back at him, and his dull, tired eyes were looking directly at her. "As long as you won't go back and tell them all about it."
A burning feeling clutched Quistis' insides, and her breath caught in her throat. He thinks I'm going to turn him in? I spent all this time thinking about him, and he still thinks that I'll turn him in, like a cold, heartless monster?
"I won't tell, Seifer. As long as you don't tell anyone my magic secret. Agreed?" she asked, and extended her hand dubiously.
Two years ago, Quistis never thought she'd see Seifer again, especially after his trial. Things have changed so much, all in the course of a couple days.
Seifer's eyes gleamed as he grasped her warm hand in his own cold hand, and shook.
"Agreed."
And with that, their past, present, and future lives were held by the other, forever entwined. A secret pact, held by two people reunited against all odds.
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A/N:I really hope someone reads this, seeing as it's been practically forever since my last update. Sorry about that, I'll try my best to keep somewhat steady updates from now on. ^_^ Hope you enjoyed, and please drop me a line to tell me how I'm doing! I want to keep everyone in character, so any constructive criticism would be highly appreciated.
Thanks.
~Mari~
