Disclaimer: I have yet to own FF8.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Caraway and Julia moved stealthily along the hallway, glancing at every corner for the occasional security camera. They had been lucky on their trek so far as no alarms were raised and they met no opponent that had placed an actual threat.
Unfortunately for them, they had been too cocky. They had forgotten one of the most important rules of warfare. Never turn your back on your enemy. They had not seen the shadows that kept reappearing a few steps behind them. They had not paid attention to the soft footsteps that trailed after them.
James Caraway, son of Alessandro Caraway, one of the best agents that had ever walked these halls, stopped short as he reached the elevator, "Shall we just go up and wait for them further on?" He turned to his wife and raised an eyebrow at her curious expression. Her eyes were glazed with fear and he was about to find out why.
"I think you should stay here. We've made accommodations for the great agent Caraway." James turned on his heel to face Seifer Almasy.
***
"He'll be just fine … it's not a serious wound." The doctor informed the anxious mother who had not left her son's side, wincing as the doctor gave the young boy stitches. It seemed to be paining her more than it was hurting him.
The silent Squall leaned on the wall, opposite to the doctor, observing the scene with bitter eyes. His daughter had latched herself onto his pant leg, frightened at the world around her. She whispered to him quietly in fear of angering him, "Daddy … daddy, is Alex going to be ok?"
His eyes fell to his fragile child and he picked her up into his arms, "Yeah, he'll be ok." His gaze softened and he mustered a tiny smile, "Are you ok?" The girl nodded her head, "I'm sorry … we'll go some place far away after this is over. You won't have to worry about anything ever again. I promise."
"It's alright, you know. Grand-pa said that … that whatever doesn't kill you will only make you stronger." She tilted her head to the side a bit, looking at her father's unnaturally glazed eyes.
'So let's hope it doesn't kill us.' Squall thought, his eyes welling with involuntary tears.
***
"You know, I don't think I've ever told you how much respect I hold for you, have I, Mr. Caraway?" Seifer asked sarcastically as Caraway and his wife were being tied up. They sat in a small room with only four chairs and a table. Two guards stood at the door.
"Well, no you haven't but I can just guess by the
hospitality that you're a fan." The older man answered, equally as sarcastic,
"Either way, could you get me some tea?
I'm rather thirsty after all the bustle."
Seifer grinned sardonically, "When I need to piss, I promise that your tea'll
be fucking served." Caraway raised an
eyebrow and decided not to respond to the last comment. "So … how's the family?" He smirked and
turned to Julia, "You've met me before, huh?
Save for business, we've seen each other before." Julia could only glare
in reply.
"Oh, why am I not surprised? Julia always finds out about these things way before I do." Caraway drawled out his conclusion sarcastically, "My daughter picks her boyfriends so intelligently, it's incredible really. But I guess it improves each time, at least Leonheart is mildly sane."
"Yeah, part-asshole, part-dumbass. I can see how her tastes improved." Seifer snapped back, "But don't get me wrong. This isn't my little 'revenge' session. Rinoa … she was great. Honestly, I know this is completely psycho to tell you this, since you are her father, but she was something incredible."
"Great. I honestly needed to know that." Caraway rolled his eyes as his ankles were tied down to the legs of the chair, "Maybe now you can inform me of some other unnecessary, disturbing information?"
"If I think of other things, and they will surely come to me, I'll be sure to tell you." Seifer rapped his knuckles lightly on the table, "Well, I got to go now. Off to drag Rinoa and Squally here. That is, if I can keep from killing Leonheart." He turned on his heel and left the two to their demons.
"WHY THE HELL DO YOU NEVER TELL ME OF RINOA'S PSYCHOTIC
BOYFRIENDS?" Caraway yelled across to his wife angrily, "This is getting
stupid! For how long has she been
dating for? You knew of this, I know
it!"
"Oh, get over it, James! She started
dating at fourteen! She's come one Hell
of a long way, I just never told you because you'd probably kill the poor
boys!" Julia snapped back.
"Had I killed them, we wouldn't be tied up here, would we?"
Caraway retorted, flaming with hot anger, "See! It's all your fault! Had
you put a leash on her, maybe I wouldn't have to deal with Leonheart all the
time! That's all pre-martial sex gives
you … trouble!"
"You're one to speak!" Julia bit back, "You were a freaking MANWHORE at seventeen! I don't even know why I fell for you in the
first place! You were such a
dumbass! I can't believed I married
you! AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE
WAY OUR DAUGHTER WAS RAISED!"
"We will never agree so why don't you just drop it!" Caraway answered in desperation to shut up his wife's tyrannous yells.
***
Zell staggered down the hallways, aimlessly trying to find them. It was useless. The building had extensive floors … sixty of them. They could be anywhere, they could be dead. This was in vain. He crumpled down a wall, leaving a trail of blood. He wiped his lip and groaned in utter discomfort.
"You look like you need the infirmary, my friend." Zell looked up at the potential opponent. His eyes blurred and he was unable to tell who it was, "Mr. Caraway?" He half-guessed, half-hoped.
"Yes. That's right." The man was wearing a business suit with a perfectly straight tie. His beard was grayish-white, his hair was salt and pepper and a big bald spot covered most of his head, "Come on, help yourself up … let's get you some medical attention."
"When did you have chance to change clothes?" Zell asked,
still believing that this man was his employer.
"Well, I changed this morning from my pajamas into my suit." The man replied,
slightly amused, "I think you've mistaken me but I judge it better this
way. Have you got enough sense left in
you to listen what I have to say?" The man held Zell up and focused his eyes
slightly, "Do you?"
Zell nodded slightly, feeling better with the support, "You aren't Caraway."
"That entirely depends on perspective." The old man smiled, "It's been a while since I've seen James. I hope he's not giving Rinoa too much trouble. Wait, what am I saying? I feel more pity for Leonheart more than anyone else. If anyone's getting Hell, it's him. And poor Julia … I don't understand that woman's patience."
"How do you know all of this?" Zell asked, wearily.
The man ignored the question and continued on, "I never even got to see Rinny's
baby. I don't even know what his name
is." He sighed, "I think that'll be the first thing I'll ask him. She did have a boy, correct?"
"And a girl." Zell replied, more bemused as each second
passed.
"Damn, I can see why James is pissed off at Squall. I'm going to beat the shit out of that guy as soon as I get a
hold of him." The man grumbled angrily, "Well … I assume that it doesn't matter
… if they love each other. He does …
love her, doesn't he?"
"More than anything.
I'm not allowed to go near her." Zell was slipping into a drunken state
caused by severe blood loss.
The old man chuckled, "You're here dying while I'm rambling on about my
regrets! Dear me, let's get you to the
infirmary quickly!"
"Wait … I don't trust you." Zell managed to slur his words out, "Who the hell are you? Why're you helping me?"
"Me?" The old man began to walk Zell down the hallway, "My name's Alessandro Caraway."
Sabam: SHOCK, GASP … So Rinny's grand-pa ISN'T REALLY DEAD! OH MY GOD, I'M SO FUCKING ORIGINAL! Anyways … Believe it or not, I AM ALIVE! And well, I've just finished exams. This fanfic WILL BE finished before January 6th. I PROMISE. So read and review or I'll find you and … make you feel … ass-wrenching PAIN!