The Bodyguard
A/N: Time for Chapter 2! Introducing the other characters involved now...hope you like the first chapter. Give me hints...anyway, onward!
Chapter 2-Miracles
Irvine had been watching Rinoa and her band playing from the wings of the stage when he had heard the deafening bang from the crowd and the ear splitting screams. Members of the band had heard it and immediately ran for the safety of the wings, but Rinoa hadn't been quick enough. He saw her fall and dived onto the stage beside her. She had been shot in the chest.
"Rinoa!...guys, get an ambulance, hurry! Rinoa, can you hear me? Please don't be dead, please God, just hold on, you can't..." Irvines cries for help had become feeble mumbles of desperation, as he held Rinoas head close to his. Her eyes opened a little and he smiled uncertainly, stroking her hair. "...You'll be fine, I promise."
The ambulance arrived after a few minutes, and the paramedics ran through to the stage and managed to separate Rinoa from Irvines tight grasp.
"Don't worry, sir, we'll do our best..." they said to him as they gently but hurriedly carried Rinoa onto a stretcher and through the corridors to the ambulance, already tending to her wound. Irvine struggled to keep up with their hurried pace as they reached the vehicle and proceeded to leave.
"Let me go with her!" Selphie appeared; almost from nowhere by Irvines side and now looked distraught and panicked. "Please, I'm her friend! Come on man! I have to go with her in case she wakes up!"
"I'm going too!" Irvine demanded, taking Selphies hand as tears fell down her moon shaped face. She glanced at him and silently squeezed his hand back in gratitude.
The paramedic reluctantly agreed and led them into the back of the ambulance, where Rinoa lay. Three paramedics surrounded her like vultures-poking and prodding her body with needles and inserting tubes into her wrists. Selphie grimaced and burst into sobs, her breathing becoming sharp and shallow. Irvine sat in shock as he watched his closest friend, drifting somewhere between life and death...
"I-Irvine..." Selphie managed to whisper, interrupting his train of thought. "I-Is s-s-she gonna...?" she paused, not wanting to say the dreaded words.
"I...I don't know, hun."
Selphie sobbed even harder as she couldn't take her eyes away from Rinoa. Irvine watched her and softly pulled her into his arms. The paramedics were silent, occasionally adjusting the tubes attached to Rinoa, and every now and then exchanging apprehensive looks as a machine next to them beeped. The driver had begun to move and they sped across the road so fast Irvine was sure they were going to crash. He could still hear the crowds shrieks and wails from here; he wondered how they would feel if she didn't make it. He instantly regretted such a thought as a rush of terror set inside his heart. No, she will make it; she can't die, not now...
After what seemed like hours, the driver announced "We're here." The paramedics instantly reached out over to the doors and opened them, and carefully brought out Rinoa tied firmly to the stretcher and into the hospital emergency room. Irvine and Selphie jumped out, holding on to each other frantically and followed the men into the building.
"Right," one of the paramedics stayed behind slightly to speak to Irvine. "We must examine her now. If you will please sit over there and I will let you know if the, er, situation develops."
He rushed off to join the others, who were now encircled by doctors muttering to each other as they went into the emergency operating room.
Irvine obediently sat down, quickly followed by Selphie. They gave each other a helpless glance, and knew they would have to wait for a miracle to happen.
"Attention SEEDS! This is your headmaster Cid speaking. Will Squall Leonhart and Zell Dincht please report to my office immediately! I repeat..."
"Alright alright, I hear you..." the young man named Squall murmured, rubbing his tired blue eyes as he got out of bed. He shook his head sleepily, making his light brown hair fall delicately into his face. He stood tall, stretching as he looked back at the clock by his bed. 7.01 am. Bit early to be going to Cid's office, he thought to himself. Must be about the new mission. He got dressed as quickly as his worn and exhausted body would allow, and then left his dorm as Cids voice droned on and on through the corridors.
Suddenly, as he was walking around to the elevator that led to Cids office, a bright blonde individual jumped in his path. "HIYA SQUALL!" he boomed at the top of his voice, making Squall wince.
"Hi." Squall replied unenthusiastically, and continued walking, a small frown of annoyance on his face. Zell clenched his fists tightly, flexing his muscles proudly before catching up with Squall, ignoring the uncomfortable silence.
"What d'ya think this is all about?"
Squall sighed. "There's only one thing it can be about, Zell." He said impatiently, making a left down to the elevator. Students passed them busily and other SEEDS like Squall, making their way to classes or to the training centre for fighting practice.
"Ahem...yeah?" Zell said blankly, looking confused. Squall shook his head in aggravation and sighed at him once more. He pressed the 'up' button as they reached the elevator wordlessly, Zell still pursuing him like a lost puppy dog. "A new mission."
Zell grinned emphatically and punched the air in apparent triumph. "Oh...YEAH!" he jumped into the air and brought his fist down onto the floor with a crash, making the entire elevator wobble. "Uh...sorry 'bout that. What do ya think it is?"
"I don't know." Squall said flatly, although he was struggling to keep an angry tone from his voice. How was he supposed to know? Just because he was the leader of the last mission in Dollet, doesn't mean he had all the answers, he thought as the elevator continued to rumble.
After a few moments of silence they had reached the headmasters office, where Cid opened the door abruptly, causing Squall and Zell to jump in surprise.
"Ah, good morning. Please come in." he said n an unusually stern voice. Cid regularly wore a friendly expression on his aged and wrinkled face, and his eyes normally held a welcoming air, but Squall noticed that he looked more stressed than usual, and very clearly exhausted.
The two SEEDS followed their headmaster into his office, where once again Squall noted a change. The place was a mess, papers strewn all over the room, and books were scattered across the large desk in the centre of the office.
"Why are we here, sir?" Squall asked politely, although he already knew. Cid smiled at him as he sat behind his desk, objects flying onto the floor as he did so.
"Always to the point, Squall!" he alleged, as Squall frowned and leant up against the wall. "Yes, well perhaps it is best for me to explain..."
He paused and looked troubled for a few minutes, seemingly on how to begin. Then he relaxed and started again, clasping his hands firmly. "Well...I assume you don't know, but a few days ago, a famous singer named Rinoa Heartilly-"
"I know her! Rinoa Heartilly! She recently had a concert in Esthar, not too long ago. Man, I wish I had been there!" Zell interrupted, but Cid gave him a faint smile.
"Yes, she is rather popular nowadays. Anyway...she was attacked and suffered a bullet to the chest. I believe someone in the audience of this said concert pulled out a gun before the guards even knew what had happened, or so the police say. But thankfully, she survived. She's leaving the hospital today, in fact. Extremely lucky. However, this is the least of my worries. The bullet they found lodged in her chest had the word 'REVENGE' engraved into it. Nevertheless, Rinoa seems determined to continue and perform her next few concerts all over the world. I'm a personal friend of Rinoas, and all I want I for her to be safe. God knows it's my responsibility, after her father...ahem, never mind. So, basically, I have offered Rinoa my assistance, which brings in you two. You are te most experienced SEEDS I can offer, and I wish for you both to protect Rinoa for me, keep her alive and out of trouble. That's all I ask." Cid paused for someone to comment.
Squall felt shocked by Cids words. Be a bodyguard? "Sir..." he began to protest.
"It is a real mission, Squall. It will be taken quite seriously, and I promise you will find it as fulfilling as your other missions. The police believe there is someone out there who wants to harm Rinoa. You two are also going to help investigate. But you must stick to your main aim, guarding Rinoa from danger. Now, I have signed you over to her manager Mr Irvine Kinneas...he will tell you more of what's involved. Any more questions?"
Zell seemed extremely excited. He was shaking in his seat. Cid glanced at him knowingly and Zell stopped for a moment. Nervously, Zell muttered, "So...we are actually working with THE Rinoa Heartilly?"
"Zell, I think Rinoa will like you more if you just call her Rinoa. I trust you won't have any problems with her fame, Squall?" Cid asked with a smirk.
"No." said Squall defiantly. "I've never even heard of her."
Zell looked aghast. "Wait...what? You DON'T know who she is? Rinoa Heartilly! She visited Balamb once! Shiny hair, brown eyes, really good bod-...uh sorry, sir." Zell gushed, flustered as Cid eyes him.
"Alright. Now, go to the car park and you will meet Irvine. He should be there soon. First, go and get your things ready. I don't expect this mission will last longer than a few months."
"Months?" Squall exclaimed. He had never been away from Balamb Garden, his home, for so long.
"Yes But you will come back here often. I made Rinoa promise me she would visit in between concerts. Now, off you go!" He motioned for Zell and Squall to leave, getting up to escort them out. "I will meet you shortly."
"What? I thought we were going alone." Squall said. Cid hit his forehead lightly and straightened his glasses on the bridge of his nose.
"I forgot to mention...I shall be going with you, just to visit Rinoa, and then you two are on your own. Now, go and prepare, and meet in the car park in 20 minutes." He said quickly, shutting the door on them without even a goodbye. Squall and Zell glanced at each other and moved simultaneously for the elevator door.
"Wow...this should be fun!" Zell said ecstatically, grinning widely. Squall felt pushed to the limit hanging around with Zell.
"This is a serious mission, Zell! There's an attempted murder to deal with! It's not fun, it's dangerous. Can't you just be serious for one minute?" Squall raged as the elevator came to a sudden stop. He stormed out before Zell could say anything, and he darted along the corridor as fast as he could walk. He entered his dorm furiously, his face red with irritation. Suddenly, he noticed there was a blonde girl lying casually on his bed, also wearing a SEEDs uniform like his.
"Quistis?" he said in a surprised voice. She giggled, making Squall roll his eyes uncomfortably.
"I have to talk to you." She slurred happily. Squall sure didn't feel like talking.
"Couldn't you just talk to me later on? I'm kind of busy right now."
"I know...so am I. I'm on this mission too, part of the surveillance crew. So...we can be together again, just like old times..."she whispered to herself, although Squall heard her. Oh great he thought, now I have my ex and Zell on this mission.
Squall felt his anger boiling inside of him once more. She always tried to get back with him and be his girlfriend again, and he was sick of it, and he was sick of her.
"Quistis. There is no more 'us', ok? I'm fed up with this. We've been through it almost every week, and you still don't listen. I don't want to be your boyfriend again, alright! Just leave me alone." He said firmly, searching around the room for his suitcase.
Quistis leapt up and strode dramatically to the door, turning back o face Squall with a hateful glare. "You need someone to look after you, Squall. You can't make it on your own." She said spitefully. "You need me. And if you're not careful Squall, you're gonna lose me." She slammed the door without another word.
Squall watched her leave in fury and threw his new found suitcase across the room.
Stop this, Quistis. You don't own me. I can look after myself...he thought, his heart beating furiously. His breathing quickened, and he waited for a few moments until it slowed before he calmly retrieved his suitcase and began to pick up clothes and other belongings, losing himself as he drowned in his thoughts once more.
A/N: So, what do you think? It's not that great a chapter, but I had to introduce Squall and the rest somehow. Chapter 3 currently underway. R&R..