Cid sat at the communication panel in Balamb Garden's main control center. He had insisted that everyone leave except for the crew on duty. He was anxiously awaiting a report from Nida. He had been sitting here for over an hour and nothing. Nida should have contacted him by now. Should have…

The chime of an incoming message made Cid jump. His hands shaking he switched the signal to his headset. Nida's voice sounded tinny in the headset.

"Balamb Control this is Ragnarok. We are entering extreme approach range and requesting instructions."

"Ragnarok this is Headmaster Cid. You are cleared for approach. Requesting final mission status." Cid replied.

"Certainly Headmaster." Nida said.

Cid's hands clenched around the headset and his face grew pale as he received the report.

"Ragnarok your ETA is three zero minutes. You are cleared to land. Welcome home."

Cid got up before Nida could answer and beckoned to the young SEED standing by the door.

"You may have your seat back Miss Nielson." Sid smiled.

"Thank you headmaster." The young girl sat down and slipped her headset on. Guiding the Ragnarok into Balamb's hangar.

Cid quickly bustled to his office and dialed the Infirmary. "Dr. Kadowski. Ragnarok is on final approach with injured aboard. A medical team is needed in the main hanger."

"Certainly headmaster. We will be there shortly." The doctor answered and hung up.

Cid stood and straightened his vest. Now for the hard part.

Rinoa sat in the cafeteria with Selphie, Quistis and Angela (the library girl with pigtails a.k.a. Zell's girl.) The four were eating lunch and chatting amiably. Quistis was doing her best to keep the topic of conversation on something cheerful but it was difficult. Everything she brought up seemed to remind the other three of their SEED on a mission. Each of the girls currently seemed lost in their own world and Quistis was on the verge of giving up.

Headmaster Cid stepped through the door to the cafeteria and took a deep breath. He straightened his vest one more time and tried to make his stride look slow and easy as he walked toward the four downcast girls. As he approached Quistis looked up at him.

"Hello Headmaster." She said in faux cheerful voice."

Almost as one the heads of the three girls snapped up to focus on him.

"Hello instructor, ladies." Cid replied with a smile. I have good news. The Ragnarok is on final approach. She should be touching down in…

"YIPPEEEEEE." Selphie squealed as she bolted out of her seat and nearly tackled Cid. "How long how long how long?"

"Selphie let the headmaster breathe." Quistis quietly admonished. Selphie let go with a slightly sheepish look and took a step back. Cid straightened his glasses and smiled.

"The Ragnarok should be touching down in the main hangar in about ten minutes. Rinoa. If you could spare a moment I would like to speak with you."

If Rinoa heard his request she gave no sign as She, Selphie and Angela bolted from the cafeteria and headed for the Hangar.

Quistis placed a hand on Cid's shoulder. "Is something wrong headmaster?"

Cid nodded. "There were complications during the mission. Squall was seriously wounded. I wanted to give Rinoa warning."

"Quistis' face paled slightly. "How bad is it?"

Cid shook his head. "It is bad. Not fatal but bad enough to warrant a medical team. I may need your help if Rinoa tries to board the ship before the team does. Squall is apparently in a light coma. Now let us go. I have a feeling we will both be needed in a minute.

Cid and Quistis entered the hangar as the Ragnarok made her final approach and slowly moved through the hangar doors. The noise was near deafening and Rinoa flashed Cid a worried look and her eyes shifted to the waiting medical team.

Ragnarok touched down and the engines slowly powered down. The medical team immediately made its way to the front of the ship as the main ramp slowly lowered. The three girls hot on their heals.

As the ramp touched the ground two figures were seen. Both immediately recognizable. One by his tattered cowboy hat. The other by his spiky hairstyle and distinctive tattoo. Both men beckoned the medical team up the ramp.

Rinoa stood rooted to her place, her face a deathly pallor. Both Zell and Irvine exchanged words with Doctor Kadowaki and then slowly walked down the ramp. Both men were limping slightly from their recently healed wounds.

Selphie and Angela screamed in joy and charged their men. Zell swayed hard but stayed on his feet but Irvine was knocked on his back by the force of Selphie's charge.

Rinoa swayed slowly on her feet and jumped when Quistis placed a hand on her shoulder.

"He is alright Rinoa." Quistis said softly.

"How can you be so sure?" Rinoa asked tearfully.

At that moment the medical team re-appeared at the top of the ramp. Zell and Irvine quickly moved out of the way and headed toward the headmaster. Cid waved them on with cheerful orders to go to their quarters and not come out for at least twelve hours. Both men left the hangar with smiles on their faces.

The Medical team slowly carried a stretcher down the ramp. The form on the stretcher was completely still and a bandage was wrapped around both of his eyes.

Rinoa let out a choked sob and tried to run forward but came to an abrupt halt, finding herself being held back by Quistis.

"Let me go Quistis. I have to see him. LET ME GO."

Quistis held on resolutely. "Calm down Rinoa. Please for his sake." As the team reached the bottom of the ramp Quistis let Rinoa get closer. Still holding her arm firmly.

Squall's face had not borne the brunt of his injures well. The entire right side of his face was swollen and bruised. The left side was pale as wax, the rest of his body was covered by a sheet.

Rinoa tried to ask the doctor what was wrong with him but she pushed by her and led the team at a brisk pace to the infirmary. Quistis gently took Rinoa by the shoulder and led her behind the medical team to the waiting room where Rinoa broke down in sobs. Quistis tried her best to comfort her but it was little use to Rinoa.

Several hours later Dr. Kadowaki opened the door to the waiting room. Rinoa was sleeping against Quistis who looked like she was trying her hardest to stay awake. Dr. Kadowaki stepped into the room and pulled a chair around to face the two women. Quistis nudged Rinoa who sat up and stiffened when she saw Dr. Kadowaki.

"He is alright." Dr. Kadowaki assured her. But he is badly hurt."

"How badly?" Quistis asked.

"He has lost a lot of blood. He has second degree burns over every one of his ribs and a third degree burn on the arch of his right foot." The Doctor took a deep breath and looked directly at Rinoa. He has also lost his right eye and right eyelid."

"Wha…how…what happened?" Rinoa stammered.

He is in no condition to tell anyone anything but his eye socket was burned badly. If I had to say anything I would say torture.

Silence met her statement so the Doctor continued. "He is in what seems to be a minor coma. His vital signs are weaker than I would like but stable. You can see him now."

Trembling, Rinoa stood and slowly walked into the dark room. The only sounds came from the beeping monitors next to Squall's bed. Squall himself was covered from the neck down by a sheet and his face mostly covered by a bandage, his breath was coming at a slow but regular interval.

Rinoa sat in the chair by the bed and took Squall's hand in hers. Overcome by the day's events she lowered her face to the mattress and quietly wept.

Dr. Kadaowaki walked in an hour later to find Rinoa sleep, still clutching Squall's hand. She took a blanket from the rack by the wall and draped it around her. Then silently left the room.

A/N

Hi all. I bet you thought I had given up on the story. Well I hadn't. However this part has been very very hard to write. Still I apologize for taking so long to update. Especially for updating with such a short crappy chapter. I hate this one. I have pretty much decided that I will not be doing a whole lot of dialogue from the POV for Quistis, Rinoa or Selphie. Ok that being said. I need some help here. First thing you can do is review. I don't care if it is just to say that you hate this chapter too. However the more feedback I get the more inclined I am to write. Simple as that. Second. You guys will love this part. I need ideas. Short term ideas. Stuff to fill in some blanks I have. Email me with any you might have. I will gladly give you credit for whatever you suggest if I decide to use it. Finally. If anybody can give me some tips on how to write a dialogue that does not suck. I would love you for….five minutes. Maybe ten.

I have something of an Idea for my next chapter but ideas are welcome for it too.

Oh yes and finally.

Thanks to Hassun, Dante, SDL and Steve for reviewing the last chapter. Especially Hassun for his input on every chapter I write and Steve for badgering me to update. (Yes that works. If you badger me I will write. Promise)

Until then remember that when in doubt simply threaten the nearest person to you with a painful death.

Note the author does not actually want you to threaten people. That leads to bad things as the author knows first hand.