Zell hummed tunelessly as he wandered the halls Balamb Garden. Angela had left for the library an hour ago and he was slowly making his way to the cafeteria. He grinned to himself as he remembered her frantic attempts to get dressed before she was late. How that shirt had gotten tangled in the ceiling fan, he didn't even want to know. His smile died as the memories from the past two days came back. On a whim he turned the corner into the clinic.

Dr. Kadowaki looked up from her papers as the doors to the waiting room hissed open. A smile lit her face as Zell walked into the room.

"Good morning Mr. Dincht. I trust you are not here to have another Grat vine removed from your legs." She teased.

Zell scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "Geez Doc. That only happened once."

"True but very few people ever manage to get caught in a dead Grat's vines and progressively hogtie themselves trying to get loose." She retorted.

Zell Grinned. "That's true enough." His smile faded and his eyes shifted around the room. "So how is he?" He asked. He tried to make the question sound nonchalant but the doctor knew the question was laced with worry.

"Much better than I would have expected. Most of his burns seem to be healing much faster than I expected. There is also a remarkable lack of infection." Her voice took on a sadder edge." There is nothing I could do for his eye though. The socket was too battered to consider a false eye. The best I could do was to graft a new eyelid and sew it shut for him."

Zell winced and screwed his eyes shut at the memory of Squall's hollow eye socket. "I have no idea how he managed to keep up with us." He said more to himself than to her. "I mean I know is strong and stubborn but that defies all reason." His brow furrowed as a memory returned. "There was something else doc."

Dr. Kadowaki motioned for him to continue.

"He talked to himself." Zell said. "He tried to hide it but I noticed and I am pretty sure Irvine did too. It wasn't just ramblings. He was asking and answering questions, but not answering them. It was as if there was someone else in his head too. It was weird doc…"

The doctor thought for a moment and looked up. "I would chock it up to stress Zell but I will watch him closely when he awakens. Thank you for telling me."

"No prob Doc." Zell replied cheerfully.

"Would you be willing to do a favor for me Zell?" The doctor asked.

"Sure doc. Name it."

"Rinoa has been in with him since his arrival. She has not left his side. I want you to take her to get some food. Try to keep her mind away from the subject. I know it will be hard but she is tearing herself apart inside and I am worried."

"Sure thing doc." Zell replied. "Should I get her or…?"

"No. I will do it." The doctor said as she stood. "If you will wait outside it will just be a minute." Zell nodded and stepped outside the clinic.

Dr. Kadowaki stepped into the dark room. She immediately noticed that the beeping from the machine monitoring Squall's vital signs was faster than last night. "A definite plus." She said softly.

Rinoa was still facedown on the side of the bed, Squall's hand in hers. Dr. Kadowaki gently shook her shoulder. "Rinoa. Rinoa wake up." She said softly. Rinoa groaned softly and slowly sat up. Dr. Kadowaki winced as her neck and back popped. Rinoa's eyes finally focused on her.

"Good morning." Rinoa said sleepily. "What is it?"

"Rinoa I want you to go and eat. Zell is waiting for you. I need to run some tests anyway."

"No." Rinoa said defiantly. "I am not leaving him. He needs me."

"Rinoa he needs you well rested and healthy." Dr. Kadowaki said sternly. "Now you can either go and get some breakfast with Zell or I can place you under sedation and feed you through an IV. It's up to you."

Rinoa scowled and stood. "Fine."

The doctor smiled. "It is the best thing to do Rinoa. He will be just fine. His vitals are much stronger than last night."

Rinoa brightened a bit. "Ok." She said simply and walked out of the room.

Dr. Kadowaki sighed and turned to Squall and began her examinations. "You had better wake up soon." She said. "Otherwise I am going to have to start sedating everyone that walks in." She smiled "Actually…the idea has merit even if you do wake up."

Zell looked up as the doors hissed open and Rinoa stepped out. "Hey Rin." He said cheerfully. "Hungry?"

Rinoa smiled. She couldn't help but not smile. Zell just did that to people. "I guess I could eat." She replied.

"Alright!" Zell cried in triumph. "Let's hurry and see if we can't score some hot dogs." He grabbed her hand and all but dragged her to the cafeteria.

"Zell slow down." Rinoa protested as she tried to tug out of his grip. Zell finally released her at the entrance to the Cafeteria.

"Sorry." He said, scratching the back of his head. "I got a bit excited. I'm gonna jump in the hot dog line. See ya in a few." He jogged over to the long line of students and instructors.

Rinoa turned and headed to the shorter but still fairly long breakfast line. The wait gave her time to think and her thoughts invariably turned back to Squall. Now that she was less worried about his survival and more worried about what had happened to him. The doctor had said she thought it was torture. She felt nauseous at the thought. Someone tapped her on the shoulder and she looked up. The line had moved forward while she was lost in thought. Mumbling an apology she stepped forward and ordered her food.

She stepped away from the counter with her plate of eggs, waffles drenched in syrup and butter, bacon and a bowl of oatmeal. The woman behind the counter had commented that she looked thin and need to "fatten up" and had put nearly twice what she put on the other plates. Rinoa retrieved a glass of juice from the dispenser and made her way over to Zell, who was gleefully stuffing his face with hot dogs. She sat down and quietly began to eat. Her thoughts would never settle on any one thing, but all her thoughts were revolving around the same subject again and again. Squall.

Zell looked up from his feeding frenzy and noticed that Rinoa had barely touched her food. He sighed and set down his fourth hot dog.

"Ok Rin. Spill. What's on your mind? It's sumthin about Squall right?"

Rinoa nodded and looked up at Zell. "Zell what happened out there? Cid said it might be dangerous and just before you guys left I got this really bad feeling that something was going to happen. But nothing like this."

Zell opened his mouth, and then closed it again. "I dunno Rin. Things were going well at first. We infiltrated. Got information with minimal fuss. The Squall started actin all weird."

"How?" Rinoa interrupted.

"That's…That's not my place to say Rin. Sorry. You will have to talk about it with him when he wakes up."

"Zell…. no you can't just stop there. I need to know. This is important to me."

"Sorry Rinoa. I said more than I should have already." Zell was cut off by Rinoa grabbing her tray and angrily storming off.

"Shit." Zell cursed softly. "I screwed that up pretty bad." He regarded his last hotdog with distaste. Then stood up, dumped the rest of his food in the garbage and walked out of the cafeteria.

Zell shuffled into the library. At the desk Angela's eyes brightened and she smiled brightly when he came in. Then her smile faded when she saw how dour he looked.

"Zell sweetie, what's wrong?" She asked.

Zell plopped down on a chair and rested his head on his hands. "I think I screwed up bad. Doc Kadowaki told me to take Rinoa to breakfast and get her mind off Squall. But when I saw how bummed out she was I asked her what was wrong. Then she asks me what happened…and I started to tell her. When I realized I shouldn't, I stopped. But I am pretty sure that I just made her even more worried."

Angela got up from her desk and went around to hug Zell. "Sweetie I know you didn't mean any harm. Just give her some space until Squall comes around. She will forgive you soon enough."

Zell perked. "Ya think so?"

"I know so." Angela smiled. "Now get out of here you goof.

Zell grinned and kissed her cheek before he headed out of the library with a definite bounce in his step. Angela sighed happily then went back to work.

A low groan coming from Squall's room startled Dr. Kadowaki out of her paperwork. She rushed into the room to find Squall wide awake and gazing around the room.

"Welcome back to the land of the living Commander. How are you feeling?"

Squall considered this for a second. "My head hurts." He replied in a dry tone.

Dr. Kadowaki couldn't help but grin. "If I recall commander you used that exact phrase the last time you came into my office for treatment."

Squall smirked. "I think it hurts a bit more than last time Doc." He started to sit up.

"Oh no you don't." The doctor pushed him back. You are not going anywhere Mister. Not until I have a chance to give you a full look-over.

"Whatever."

"That's better." She replied. "Now hold still. I want to check those burns of yours."

Squall laid back and the doctor slowly peeled away the bandages over his chest, then gasped loudly and backed away. "Ya..your…your burns." She stammered.

"What is it?" Squall looked down at his chest and saw what startled her so much. His burns were completely gone with light scars the only thing that indicated they were even there.

"How can this be?" The Doctor asked, more to herself than anyone else. Burns like these should have taken at least two weeks to heal the far. She looked up at Squall. Did you use any healing magic on yourself?

"She musssssnt know of our bond." Alistair hissed in his head.

Squall shook his head. "No." He said.

"This is very odd. I'd like to run some more tests." The doctor replied.

"I'd rather not. I need to give the headmaster my report and I would like to see Rinoa." Squall said in his usual monotone.

Dr. Kadowaki sighed. "Well there is no reason I can't release you. Your clothes are on the shelf. However if you change your mind I would like to run some tests."

"I don't think so." Squall said.

"Very well Squall." She walked out of the room.

"She isss sussspiciousss." Alistar hissed in his head.

"You can read thoughts?" Squall asked as he stripped off his hospital gown. He looked at the mirror. Surprise marred his features as he realized that except for his eye he was fully healed.

"No. It isss her emotionsssss I ssssee. Like vibrant colorssss they dance around each persssson you sssspeak with.

"Doesn't that get annoying?"

"It hassss itssss usssessss. But it can become irkssssome if I let it. I ssssimply choossse not to let it become sssso.

Squall dressed himself in his usual attire and stepped out into the waiting room. "Thank you Doctor. You patched me up nicely as always." A smile crept to Squall's lips.

Dr. Kadowaki, who rarely saw Squall smile was too astonished to reply and just smiled back and waved as he walked out.

You let your moodsss change so eassssily. Why? On the battlefield you are like granite. Yet in thissss place you will be cold one moment and warm the other?

"For years I was cold about everything. But over time I learned that I could not stay that way all the time. So instead I learned when it was best to be cold and when to let my emotions show. The battlefield is no place for emotions as you know. But we are not in battle now are we my friend?"

Alistar was silent for several seconds. It sssseemsss I have asss much to learn from you asss you from me.

Squall nodded and continued around the path the to SEED dormitories.

A/N Hi all. I feel shitty for leaving the story hanging like this. The one time I manage to update on time and what happens. I gotta cut it off. Well I have a legit reason. In. seven hours. I will be leaving for Yuma Arizona for some temporary duty. Whoopee huh? Well that is why I cut it off here. However there is good news. I am brining the computer. Hopefully I will have means to update. If not. I do swear on my FF8 disc (which I value very much) That I will have at least an additional 15-20 thousand words for you guys. It is uplifting to see every single review be a positive one. However I need to see those guys. Please please review. I can check those while I am gone. My offer from the last chapter carries forward as well. Ideas tips etc. Give them. Critiques. I want somebody to find something wrong with my story. Please. I know I am not dead on. Tell me what you think. All who help will get my personal thanks and a make believe cookie. So how does this sound. If you guys give me 15 reviews. Or 6 good long ones with critiques. I will shoot for 25,000 words. But this offer will not last forever. I will only be gone till the beginning of May.

Do we have a deal? I hope so.

Also thanks to everybody who reviewed. Forgive me for not listing this time but I am tired and need to submit or you guys wont see this.

History shall be kind to me for I intend to write it. (Winston Churchill)