Chapter 11

It seemed that for the past several months, Seifer's day always ended with him sulking at a bar. Tonight he ended up in a bar in Galbadia. He had searched every school in every city, hoping that she might have wanted to continue teaching. He knew she loved teaching, but he also knew that if she was trying to hide and cut loose all ties from her past, she would find something completely different and out of the ordinary. The question he had to ask himself was how much out of the ordinary would Quistis go in order to change her identity? In addition to searching schools, he searched almost every possible job he could imagine Quistis working in. He had even looked in clubs, since every other idea that came to him was fruitless.

He was starting to question the reason for his search, if this search for Quistis was worth it. For all he knew, Quistis might have moved on or even gotten married from the past seven months since he'd last seen her. He stuck his hand into his pocket and pulled out a photo.

The photo that he held in his hand was a candid photo of Quistis that was taken during one of the graduations. She was in her black SeeD uniform standing in the balcony alone. He didn't know who took the picture. He guessed it was most likely Selphie or Zell, since those were two click happy when a camera was placed in their hands.

Seifer remembered the day that he swiped the photo off Quistis's desk when she wasn't looking. He was sure she knew he took the picture, but she didn't bother to pursue. Nothing ever escaped Quistis's attention. A smile crept its way across his lips as he remembered the days when he would raise hell in her class by throwing bits of paper at Squall. Quistis would always pause a moment in her lectures, look at him at her over the top her glasses, and raise an eyebrow to get him to stop. That of course never got him to stop. Even when he was no longer a student and a full fledged SeeD, he still managed to get Quistis to roll her eyes at him every day.

In the picture, Quistis's hair was up in her usually way with her long golden hair cascading around her flawless face smiling beautifully. Seifer's gaze remained on her sad blue eyes. The photo didn't do justice to her beauty.

Each time he started to doubt his quest in finding her. This picture reminded him that it was worth it.

Seifer placed the picture on the table as he ordered another drink from the bartender.

"I know that girl," the man next to him said.

"Excuse me?" Seifer looked at the man skeptically.

"That girl in the picture, I seen her before. At least the she looks a lot like a girl that came to work for my mother, a couple days before I left to come here."

"Where was this?" Seifer asked.

"A small bookstore in Winhill," he young man said.

"Winhill?" Seifer wanted to kick himself. Winhill was one of the last places on his list. "Thanks." Seifer quickly stuffed the picture back in his pocket.

Now he had a clue and a destination. He was getting closer to finding her. He tossed a couple bills on the bar. "Your drink is on me. Enjoy." The young man was surprised at his generosity and thanked Seifer as he walked away.

Seifer pulled his coat tighter around himself as he walked out of the bar. The streets were empty from the late night. Seifer turned into the alley where his car was parked.

"Long time no see, Seth," a hoarse mysterious voice said out of the darkness.

Seifer gave a sidelong glance to the direction of the voice, "Seth? I think you've got the wrong guy."

"Seth or should I say Seifer Almasy? Do you really think that one little spy like you can crush our resistance group?" the voice said.

"Resistance group? Are you guys from Darkness? I heard that your little boss Raven is in custody now," Seifer said still pretending he didn't know what they were talking about.

"That is what you think," a familiar female voice emerged from the dark shadow in the alley.

"Why am I not surprised? So what are you going to do about it? Fight me?" Seifer said holding his hands out.

"You ruined my perfect plan to bring Darkness out of the dark," Raven said bitterly. "And you said so yourself. I'm a woman who knows what she wants, and I want revenge."

"So you brought your band of thugs to beat the living snot out of me?" Seifer asked as a statement more than a question.

"Precisely," the leader said. As more men stepped out of the darkness for Seifer to see.

Seifer cursed under his breath. He was immensely out numbered, and he didn't have his weapon with him. The one day he left his gunblade in the car was the one day he needed it most. From the look of these guys, they were out for blood, and Seifer knew it. He quickly surveyed his surroundings for a way of escape, but he found none.

"Is the great Seifer Almasy looking a way to escape?" Raven said in a mocking tone.

Seifer smirked, "If you know I'm so great, then why are you challenging me?"

"Because greatness doesn't last," she said and signaled her men to encircle Seifer.

The crowd of thugs encircling Seifer and drew in closer to him.

"Looks like you won't have any backup to help you out this time."

Seifer took a deep breath and squeezed his hands into fists. There was no way he could defeat this group of thugs alone. He was at a huge disadvantage. Right now all he hoped was that he would make it out of this fight alive. If he was going to go down, Seifer planned to take some of these guys down with him.

"So what are you guys waiting for?" Seifer challenged them back.

With a wave of the leader's hand, the thugs all charged at Seifer.

Seifer's fists were able to connect with several thug's faces and stomachs before they had a chance to land some punches at him. With his expertise and training as a SeeD, Seifer's street fighting skills were better than the thugs, and he was able to best several of them. But there were at least fifteen people in this crowd, and eventually Seifer's adrenaline was going to wear out and he wasn't going to be able to fight them all and survive.

Seifer threw another hard punch at a guy charging at him with a crowbar. His hands were hurting and he was starting to get tired, and the thugs could see it. They took this as an opportunity to all attack him at once. One of the thugs kicked him in the leg causing him to lose his balance. Seifer tried with all his might to not fall. He knew if he fell, this fight was over and his only hope was that Hyne would be kind and let him live. Seifer felt another very hard kick to his leg. He heard the bone crack as he felt to the ground. Seifer had a sick feeling as the punches and kicks rained down on him. Seifer tried his best to cover his face with his hand. He could taste his own blood in his mouth. The last thing he remembered before passing out in pain were sirens.

Quistis sat at the bookstore counter attempting to knit a blanket for her new baby. After she had finally told Lynnette that she was pregnant, Lynnette had been fussing around Quistis to make sure she didn't put her self under too much stress or do any strenuous tasks. Now that her belly was getting bigger, Lynette insisted that she should just sit and man the counter, while the shelving and things could be done by her or Paul. Since school was out for the summer, Paul was a frequent visitor to the store.

Quistis still felt guilty that she couldn't reciprocate the feelings that Paul showed her, but she was relieves that Paul didn't ask for her reciprocation, instead he was just happy that she accepted him as a friend and let him take care of her.

"I think your getting better at his," Lynnette said holding the knitted blanket in her hands.

Quistis smiled, "I'm still amazed how just simply looping a single strand of yarn together over and over again can produce these amazing patterns."

"The simple things in life are just amazing isn't it," Lynnette pulled a chair to sit next to Quistis. "So how is Paul?"

"Paul? He's fine. You saw him yesterday," Quistis said as she looped the yarn around one of her needles.

"Paul is a very good man," Lynnette said.

"Yes, he is and he is going to make some lucky woman proud one day," Quistis said trying to push away Lynnette's hinting.

"You know, being a single mother isn't easy. It's nice to have someone else there to help out. After my husband died, it was very difficult raising Rodney on my own," Lynnette said.

"I know, but you still managed." Quistis said and stopped knitting to looked at Lynnette. "I know you mean well, Lynnette, but this is my choice and I've talked to Paul about it already and we've come to a…understanding."

"Have you tried to find your baby's father?" Lynnette suddenly asked.

"I have," Quistis sighed, "but I don't know where he's gone to. I can't seem to find him."

"Do you really want to find him?" Lynnette asked.

"I've spent the last several months thinking about this and Paul was right. The father has a right to know" Quistis hesitated. "Even if he doesn't want the baby, I think he should know."

"I hope everything turns out well for you," Lynnette said with a sigh and patted Quistis's hand as she picked up to read the newspaper.

"My goodness, every day there is violence and killing in the streets," Lynnette said as she read the headlines. "I worry about Rodney being out there in the nasty city streets of the big cities. Look, another poor man beaten nearly to death by a bunch of thugs. But you shouldn't worry about that here. Winhill is the safest place for you to raise your baby." Lynnette placed the newspaper down on the counter and went to get something in the backroom.

Quistis continued to knit as she glanced over on the paper's headline. Former SeeD Seifer Almasy Attacked by Recently Crushed Resistance in Galbadia. Quistis's heart stopped. She quickly scanned to article to see if he was all right. She came across the words "beaten badly" and "broken bones" and "Galbadia General Hospital." This did not sound good. She needed to go and see him.

Quistis quickly blinked back her tears and tried to steady her voice, when Lynnette came back.

"Lynnette, I was wondering would it be all right if I took a couple days off, since it hasn't been too busy lately."

"Sure, you have any plans?" Lynnette asked, folding the newspaper back up.

"Actually I've wanted to visit an old friend of mine back at home," Quistis said making up a vague excuse on the spot.

"Is Paul going with you?"

"No, I'll be fine. I promise you I'll be careful."

Lynnette looked at Quistis skeptically. "All right, if you need anything remember to call."

"Thank you, Lynnette."

Galbadia General Hospital was like any hospital. It had the stark white feeling of sterile-ness. Quistis had been in going to hospitals so often, coming here almost felt like a regular check up. But this time it wasn't a check up.

She stepped out of the elevator to the fifth floor and headed to the counter.

"Hi, I'm looking for Seifer Almasy's room," she asked the nurse at the counter.

The nurse typed something into the keyboard and smiled. "He's in room 512. Just go straight along that corridor and turn to your right," she instructed Quistis.

Quistis thanked the nurse and followed her direction. She found his room relatively easily, and walked in slowly afraid to disturb him and she found he wasn't alone.

The doctor checking up on Seifer's vitals chart looked up and smile at Quistis.

"Hi, visitor?" Quistis nodded. The doctor looked at Quistis's growing belly. "Wife?"

Quistis didn't answer. "How is he?" She asked instead.

The doctor replaced the clipboard on the foot of Seifer's bed. "He was beaten up pretty badly, but he's out of the critical state. He's got a couple broken bones, internal bleeding, but he's strong. He'll live. I'm sure with you here. He'll make a speedy recover. I'll leave you two alone," the doctor said.

"Thank you," Quistis said as the doctor left.

Tears stung Quistis's eyes when she saw the sight before her. Seifer's leg was cast and propped up. His head was wrapped in a bandage. His face bruised and swollen. She could barely recognize him, if it wasn't for his scar.

Quistis carefully took his bandaged hands into her hands as tears streamed down her face. It pained her to see him like this. She could only imagine what had happen for him to be beaten to this state. She assumed he had to be outnumbered. Thinking about what the resistance thugs did only angered her. She hated being helpless, but now she could do nothing but pray for Seifer's speedy recovery.

She suddenly felt Seifer's hand squeeze hers. She looked through her tear filled eye at his face. She saw his eyes open a tiny slit. Then close again.

"Seifer? I'm sorry," she said squeezing his hand slightly and let go of his hand and rushed out of the room before anyone else she know saw her.

"Quistis?" Seifer said hoarsely as he tried to open his swollen eyes.

"He's awake," he heard a female voice say in relief. "Seifer can you hear me?" The voice was familiar, but it wasn't the voice he wanted to hear.

"Where's Trepe?" he tried again.

"Seifer? Did you just say Trepe?" the female voice asked again. "I'm sorry but Quistis isn't here. We still have found her yet."

Seifer painfully turned his head towards the woman and saw Edea and Rinoa standing beside him. At the foot of his bed he saw Squall and the Headmaster as well. All these people here were visiting him, and none of them were the ones he wanted to see.

Seifer shook his head. He knew he saw her. She was here. He remembered feeling her hands in his. He remembered he saw her crying. Seifer closed his eyes in frustration. He still felt nauseated from all the morphine they gave him for the pain.

"We should let him rest." Edea said. Everyone around nodded in agreement and left Seifer to rest.

Seifer was relieved to open his eyes to an empty room again. Fate was too cruel. He finally knew where he could find Quistis, and now he was bedridden for Hyne knows how long.