A/N: Hehehe, I bet you all thought I was gone. Didn't you? Well, no. I was never gone. I was just really freaking busy. With college and other fics. But, I realize that I needed a little bit more of Quall so. . . .
I also want to thank every single on of you who reviewed. I will dedicate a whole chapter to you soon. And I won't stop writing this story. Hell, I'll probably update it later this week.
Warning: This is not a gushy chapter, it's more of what I call a set up chapter, but I hope you like it nonetheless.
...
In Secret
Chapter Four
"Are you okay? You look sick." Zell stated as Squall sat down at his table. It was the truth. He hadn't looked well in days. Ever since he got back from his mission, Squall acted quiet, even more than usual. Except last night at the party, which he looked like he was about ready to explode.
"I'm fine." his voice was small. Looking around, Squall seemed to be searching for someone. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"So, what did you want to talk to Quistis about?" Zell asked as he observed the man fidget with anything in sight. At the mention of Quistis's name, Squall's head whipped around so fast Zell was worried he'd hurt himself.
"Why?" Squall's tone sound rough and blunt.
"Didn't you say that you wanted to talk to her? Before she left? You acted all upset when she left on her mission. She's back. What did you tell her?" Zell continued briskly. He wasn't sure why, but she had touched a nerve with Squall, making him desperately troublesome.
"Oh, uh I don't remember." He was lying. Zell knew that much. He resumed looking around the room for someone.
"You don't remember?"
"Yeah, it was stupid. I haven't talked to her since she got back." It occurred to Zell that the reason Squall was looking around, was that he was avoiding meeting his eyes.
"So you didn't talk to her when you danced with her last night?" Squall immediately stopped gazing around the room. For the first time since this morning, he stared Zell right in the face.
"Look," he lowered his voice and brought his face close to Zell. "I can't tell you. It's top secret. It has to do with me evaluating her since she got back."
"Are you serious!?" Zell hushed. He couldn't believe it. What had they been working on?
"Yeah. The reason I was looking for her before she left was that I had to interview her." Squall sat back and stared at the table.
"What about?" Zell asked, his curiosity growing.
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you." he said it very seriously. Zell didn't know whether to laugh or whimper. Either way, he shut up. "Do you know where Rinoa is?" Squall asked suddenly, gazing around the room once more.
"Oh!" that's who he'd been looking for. "No." and with that he left.
Just then Irvine came by and joined Zell at the table. His eye was dark and puffy with small nick of a ring around the bottom of his cheek.
"What the hell happened to you?" Irvine pulled his hat down over his face.
"I don't want to talk about it."
...
Squall walked down the hallway lost in thought. The Garden seemed to whisper with every step he took. Quistis had disappeared when he awoke this morning. The window had been pushed open and a large imprint in the mud indicated that she had climbed out of his room, fallen down, and searched to find another way around into the Main Hall.
Now he couldn't find her anywhere. It was like she was still gone and had never returned from battle. He felt that their passionate night had all been a dream. Heaven knows that Squall had enough of those dreams before they were married. But had night really happened? Or had he gotten wasted at the bar, passed out, and dreamed it? He shook his head to gather his thoughts. Of course it wasn't a dream. He had talked to Selphie this morning about Quistis. Also, she had left some underwear in his room this morning.
Squall couldn't help the grin that spread across his face.
"What are you smiling about?" said a soft voice behind him. He spun around to find Rinoa sitting on the Garden steps.
"Am I not allowed to smile?" Squall returned quickly. Rinoa let out a small giggle.
"No, it's not your style." She stood up and smoothed out her dress. "You usually don't wear grins like that. And when you do, you're always drunk." Squall let out an irritated grunt.
"Whatever."
"Ah! See! That's more like it! That style suits you much better." She burst out in another fit of giggles. "I haven't seen you smile like that since we were-" she stopped laughing.
The air was dead between them. Not awkward. Not stiff. Not even thick. Just dead. At least for him anyway.
"Look," her mood switched dramatically. "I've been looking for you. We have a bit of a situation." Squall turned to look at her.
"What kind of situation?" He eyed her up and down. "It looks like you were sitting on steps rather than looking for me. It can't be that important."
"Well," she started. "It kinda is. You see, as you already know, all the automatic doors have been shutdown due to the storm. We can't get the power back on." She brushed her black wispy bangs out of her eyes.
"And that means what to me?" Rinoa's eyes narrowed at him.
"Most people are stuck in their wings, or in their rooms. And in case you haven't noticed, the elevator is the only way to get to each floor in the entire Garden!" She took in a deep breath, and when she spoke, it was much more calm. "Quistis and Irvine have been going around and prying the doors open with a crowbar. But we have a few people who were in the lift last night and, uh, well. . ."
"They got stuck in there!?" Squall shouted horrified. Rinoa nodded. "For how long?" She shrugged.
"Probably all night. Quistis is there right now trying to get them out."
"Why didn't any of you inform me immediately?"
"I wanted to, but Quistis told me not to disturb you. She said that you were probably really tired. Are you really tired?" Squall bunched his fists in annoyance. Turning his neck slightly, he could feel all the muscles in his back and throat tighten in pain.
"What!? No, of course not." But that was a huge lie. He was exhausted. Not only had he slept terribly for the last six weeks, but last night with Quistis had been. . .
"Good. Then you can help us. I've been looking for you everywhere, and I got tired of looking so I sat down to rest. And you just popped right up. It's all so magical!" she sighed jokingly.
The two started off toward the elevator. As they twisted down the hall, Squall pretended he didn't see Rinoa's sideway glances.
...
"Hey Irvine, you're not afraid of heights, are you?" Quistis asked at him as he stood behind her. Her eyes glued to the elevator doors.
"Why?" Quistis turned to face him and gave him a charming smile. Batting her eyes playfully, she opened her full lips to speak.
"Well, you are such a brave, strong man. I know you would have no problem climbing in the elevator shaft to get them out."
"You are crazy! I'm not squirming my way in there for anybody." Quistis's eyes switched from flirtatious to pestered. Rolling her eyes, she gazed back at the doors.
"Come on! As much as I believe in girl power, I can't pull the screen of the elevator off myself. I'm not strong enough. I need a man to go in there." Irvine opened his mouth. "And don't tell me use dynamite!" she cut him off. "Although that would work, I don't think us blowing up hostages is the answer."
Irvine stared at her shocked.
"How did you know I was going to suggest dynamite?" Quistis shut her eyes tightly.
"I just knew."
"If you want a strong man to pull the screen off the head of the elevator, why don't you get your hubby Squall?" Irvine beamed at her. Quistis spun around to face him.
"Say it a bit louder. I don't think the people in the lift heard you."
"Why are you two keeping this a secret? I mean, if it were me, I'd be shouting it off the top of the roof." Irvine spread his hands and stepped away from Quistis. "If I were you, I'd be screaming 'I'm in love!' at the top of my lungs. I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love" he did large twirl, his arms outstretched like wings.
Quistis cackled at his impression of her declaring her love for Squall. For some odd reason, it didn't quite fit. Irvine began to reel faster and faster until he looked nothing like a big blur. His red hair dancing like fire, and almost smacking her in the face. To top it off, he did a little butt shake every time he shouted the word love.
Just then, Quistis saw Rinoa appear around the corner. Squall soon came into view. Both stopped when they saw Irvine. However, Irvine did not see them.
"Irvine stop." Quistis whispered. Her hands out before her, trying to signal for him to cease his spinning. He payed no heed.
"Oh! I'M IN LOVE!!!" Irvine roared. "HE'S THE GREATEST GUY! I LOVE HIM, I LOVE HIM, I LOVE HIM. WEEEEE!" he gave one last fantastic whirl still shouting.
Suddenly, a strong, yet business-like voice muttered softly: "Well, that's all very sweet. But we need to get going." said Squall, clearly trying to hide his amusement.
Irvine stopped.
His jaw open as if he had just been given a wedgie in front of his mom. He stared at Quistis. She unconsciously had clapped her smooth hands over her mouth. She stared back, her body shaking with silent giggles. His head whipped around at Rinoa and Squall. Rinoa's face was snowy white. Her expression of disgust and confusion. That was probably the most disturbing thing she had seen in her entire life. Squall, however, looked like he was about to lose it. He composed himself carefully.
"I found him." Rinoa pointed at Squall and stepped aside. Her face completely blank.
Irvine stared back and Quistis. His face bright red with rage, or embarrassment. It was hard to tell.
"I tried to tell ya." Quistis smiled slyly at him.
"It's okay Irvine." Squall said and walked up to him. "I think I understand what you were talking about."
"You do?" Irvine looked at him, looking for any kind of sympathy. Squall nodded.
"Yeah." A moment of silenced passed between all of them. "So Irvine, who's the lucky guy?"
Quistis let out a noise as though she were snoring backwards. She made no effort to hide her laughter. Rinoa's head snapped up to look at Squall. She stared at him like she had never seen him before. She obviously didn't understand that Squall was able to lash his tongue out when the right moment slipped into his palm. Even so, Quistis had heard him make plenty of wisecracks. A tiny twinge of triumph rang in her heart. Quistis: 1, Rinoa: 0.
"Did you say that Squall?" she asked. Squall rubbed his hands quickly over his mouth. His grin had vanished like a magic act. First you see it, then you don't.
"Never mind." He rumbled darkly. Glancing down at the floor, he let out a flat grunt. However, when he caught Quistis's eye, she saw them ignite with fever. A fast jolt of electricity passed between them like a phantom. So strong it made her woozy. And that made her smile.
"So," Irvine spoke, trying to recover gracefully from his earlier embarrassment. "How are we going to get those people out of the elevator?"
A surge of pain crept its way behind Quistis's eyes. She pinched the bridge of her noise to relieve the pain. It didn't work.
"I don't know. But we have to act soon. We can't leave them in there forever. Or even until next week. I really don't want to have the Garden smell of rotting flesh." Rinoa muttered. Her mouth was tugged down into a large scowl. It was simple to tell that this was the last place she wanted to be.
They all wanted to be somewhere else. Especially Quistis.
"Well, I guess we could get a ladder and try to pry the doors open." Quistis suggested. "Or we could have one of you men climb in the shaft and pull of the screen off the top of the elevator roof."
"Yeah, that sounds like a great idea." Irvine squeaked. He clapped Squall on the shoulder. "And I know just the man who can take care of that."
Squall gazed up and down the elevator doors.
"Okay, so how do I get in there?"
"We have air-ducts that lead to the elevator shaft. You could go from there." Quistis stared at Irvine, as if trying to will him to volunteer for the task. He did not get the hint. Another flash of pain prickled from her eyes and down her back. She winced.
"Are you okay?" Rinoa asked. She was eyeing her up and down suspiciously. Quistis nodded and gave her a weak pat on the hand.
"Yeah. I'm fine." But she wasn't fine. The exact opposite. Her whole body felt off. Her stomach perceived to be one thousand pounds. And her arms weighted twice as much. All of her energy had flowed out of her during the night, and now she believed herself to be nothing more than pile of stone. She wasn't kidding when she told Irvine that she didn't have the strength to go into that elevator to free those students. No, she was anything but fine.
"Are you sure?" Irvine interrupted her thoughts. "You look really pale." Rinoa nodded her head in agreement.
Squall, on the other hand, kept silent. His dark eyes traveled up and down her body. Holding the slightest hint of distress. She could tell he was remembering her coughing fit the night before. Her hand almost reached out to touch him. But she thought better of it and averted her eyes back to the object of their mission.
"Yeah. Look I was gone for about three weeks. I probably picked up a cold or something. Not a big deal." Every word that fell from her lips seemed to increase the pain that was now spreading throughout her body.
"Maybe you should see the doctor." Squall sighed. His head bent low, but his eyes staring at her with such anxiety that Quistis thought she would faint.
"I'm not going to see Kadowaki." she spat suddenly. She immediately could feel icy guilt stabbing her in the pit of her stomach when Squall took a sudden step back away from her in alarm. His action felt worse than the pain. "I'm sorry."
She didn't think when her hand brushed his gently. Squall's eyes shot to meet hers. There was panic in his cool eyes, yet he didn't pull away. Instead when she pulled her hand away, he caught it and ran his thumb over her knuckles. Shooting a sideways glance to make sure that Irvine and Rinoa weren't watching, Quistis let herself playfully bat her eyelashes at him. Quickly, he let her had drop.
"Please. . ." he whispered. 'Comfort a worried husband' she finished in her mind.
Pain.
"Okay." she whispered back.
Blood inside.
"Quistis! So you're going to the doctor then huh?" Irvine laughed at her. She spun around to look at him.
"Yeah," she replied. "After we get those kids out of the lift."
Her lungs were filling with liquid.
"You okay?"
Voice far off.
"Quistis?"
She couldn't breathe. Millions of little dust bites were filling in her chest by the second. The only way to get them to leave was to scream. Beads of sweat began to fall from her brow. Bugs were crawling around on her skin. She had to get away.
"I can't breathe." she sighed.
"Quistis!!" Squall's sounded scared. His voice echoing around her.
She was on fire. Quistis began to feel her skin flaking off. Itchiness was overtaking her. Her fingers flew to her buttons on her blouse. Buttons flying off, much as they did the night before, her hands lurched to her chest.
I'm going to explode. . .
Nails raking over her chest, she scratched just above her breasts. Her bra straps were making it difficult to get away from the heat. Squalls hand's gripped her and pulled them away. He was shouting something. She couldn't understand. He was far away, and yet so close.
I'm going to die. . .
Suddenly, piercing coughs flared from her chest. At first she thought her body was combusting. However she soon understood that it was merely her body convulsing. The harder she tried to take in a breath of fresh air, the more her lungs burned. Something warm was flowing up her throat. The familiar taste sent alarm bells ringing in her head.
It was blood.
The room spun, faster and faster until Quistis's stomach rose inside her. At first it was hazy, then quickly becoming darker.
"Quistis!" His voice. So soft. So soothing.
Darker.
His sweaty hands were slipping from hers.
"She's gonna fall!" Rinoa, why was she screaming?
Darker.
Squall's hands were gone. He was shouting in terror. She had never heard him sound like that before. She never wished to hear it again. Quistis was falling. Her body seemed suspended in air. Everything was light.
I love you. . .Squ-
Blackness.
...
Kadowaki stared down at Quistis's as her body lay on the gurney. She had smacked her head pretty damn hard. A trail of blood that led from the corner of her hairline, over her eye, and down to her chin was now dried and brown. There was not much to do about her head. Perhaps wrapping her brow with a bandage would do the trick.
"Is she going to be alright?" The worried young man asked as he sat next to her.
Kadowaki thought it odd that Squall would be so worried about this lady. When everyone else was told to leave the room, he was the only one who protested to stay behind. He had claimed that since he was her commander, it was vital that he stay with her and make sure she was in steady condition. But when the door shut, his face slacked with unmistakable woe. More than a commander should have anyway.
"I'm not sure about her head. I did a blood test on her and there were traces of Paramox in her system." Squall stared at the doctor.
"Paramox?" He shook his head making his wild hair fly in his eyes.
"Yes, it's a bacterium. Don't worry it's not contagious. She probably got it in battle. Did she have any wounds on her body?" Squall nodded.
"Yeah, she had some cuts on her lower bac-" he suddenly stopped. Slowly grunting, his face turned beet red. "I don't know. How would I? It's not like I've seen her naked." Kadowaki raised an eyebrow at Squall. He shifted in his seat and then blurted: "Why don't you check her or something?"
"Okay . . . " Kadowaki stretched. "Look, I'm guessing that she sustained a cut on a rusty blade or piece of glass. I have medicine that can cure her. As far as I know, the infection is mostly in her lungs."
Squall stopped holding his breath and heaved out hot air. Upon seeing the doctor's reactions, he rapidly covered it up with a cough.
"Mmmm, perhaps you did catch it." Kadowaki gave him a soft smile. Squall swallowed. "I'm gonna go run some more testes just to make sure. You stay here and watch her incase she wakes up."
When shutting the door, the doctor suddenly heard the boy mutter:
"Quistis, I want to hear your voice."
To be continued. . .
A/N: That's all for now. I'll update very soon. I have almost the whole story in my head, it's just a fact of writing it down and articulating it that's the tough part. I hope you liked it. I really do. It's not fluffy like my other chapters, but it's an important chapter so, please please review. I need something to look forward too.
Oh! And I had a typo in another chapter. About Selphie and wanting to watch Squall and Quistis get is on. She didn't. That was a typo. I'm not a pervert.
Is Kadowaki a guy or a girl? I couldn't figure that the hell out. Someone tell me do I can write the word s/he. It was really hard to write that scene without using that word.
Peace out!