Rating: R (I tried to keep it lower, but it just wasn't destined to happen - unlike other things [which are responsible for the rating])

Disclaimer: SG characters are (c) MGM (thankie to Morrigan for that :p).  FF8 characters are (c) Squaresoft, original characters are mine – ask nicely and I might let you play with them, s'long's you don't break them...

Warnings: SxS - Yaoi (guyxguy) later - if u don't like, don't read.  Character death.  Maybe angst (I do like to torture my characters sometimes :p), language (prob nothin u aint heard b4, but still...)

~Chapter Eighteen: A Twist of Fate~

Squall felt Seifer relax into him, and for a moment his heart leaped in hope, but when he looked he could see that the blond had fallen asleep, exhausted by his struggles.  Reflecting that this was as close as he was likely to get, especially after Seifer recovered - he never even entertained the thought that Seifer might not recover - Squall didn't release his grip.  There was a feeling of comfort, of security, that was reassuring as he held the frail Seifer - truly a fraction of his former self - in his arms.  He'd lost him once, had blamed himself - even though everyone said it wasn't his fault - for not telling Seifer how he felt and letting Ultemecia take him, and had then been forced to fight him.  Squall was determined, if it was at all possible, that he was not going to lose him a second time round, that he was not going to throw it all away by hiding from the truth he was too scared to face.

Even as he felt Seifer suddenly wake in his arms, Squall too became aware of something, someone, outside the cabin.  Normally his instinct would have made him grab lionheart and investigate, but there was no way he was leaving Seifer alone in this condition.  His grip on Seifer loosened, ready to jump up and run for his gunblade if someone came in.  But the moment, the person, passed by the cabin, obviously thinking it not worth investigating.  He sighed in relief, but his determination to move was hardened.  If one person had passed so could another, and the next time they might not be so lucky.

Eden...  He called gently to his GF in his mind, not wishing to summon the fearsome creature, but wishing to attract its attention.  The junction, so flawless as to be invisible to even the strongest sorceress or deepest scan, pulsed with a stronger flow of energy.  It was how Eden communicated, the energy of the junction.  A difficult understanding to master, but so much more meaningful than words or images could ever be, even combined.

I need to get to...  He pictured the guest room in the Estharian Presidential Residence.  There was a long pause as Eden calculated.  Squall rarely asked the GF for such aid, even though Eden was quite capable of manipulating space, and even time.  Finally the reply came.  It could be done, but another powerful GF would be needed, maybe two, as Eden wasn't certain how the earth and air elements would react as it attempted to swap Squall and Seifer for equivalent airspace.

Hoping Seifer's GF - who's orb was swirling with brown shot with silver streaks - would be both powerful enough and knowledgeable enough to compensate for two more GFs, Squall junctioned it.  The junction instantly merged with Eden's, becoming almost seamless, although he'd never junctioned the GF before.

At Eden's warning, Squall hauled Seifer to his feet, supporting his limp weight by looping one of Seifer's arms over his shoulder, and one of his own arms around Seifer's chest.  Quickly, or as quickly as he could with Seifer's dead weight hampering him, Squall made it to the table and grabbed both gunblades, knocking the letter to the floor in the process. 

There was no time to pick it up.  Squall felt the junction in his mind strain, drawing on his own energy, then everything went black.

AN: don't u just hate fate?  If Seifer hadn't been ill, Squall would've investigated and found Kiros, and Kiros wouldn't have died at Harena's hands, and Rinoa might've lived to see the next day *sighs* n'mind *cackles evilly*

Lady Yuskreven: The GF isn't really an integral part of the plot, so I'll let on that it's Hades from Death's Angel (I like my original GF :p) and if u've read that fic then you'll get the earth/air ref :)