Author's Note: Okay so I am a totally moron and kept spelling Deling, Deiling. I dunno why, I just have been. Sorry if that has pissed anyone off. I know I have problems reading misspelled words and misuse of grammar in people's writings. I didn't used to until college. Damn. Anyways, thank you all for your reviews. I don't reply to them, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate them. Because I do. Anyway I have a paper to write so, here you go.

Disclaimer: The plot isn't mine, neither are the characters. But the words in-between are mine so.


Chapter 2

The door to the old bar pushed open, letting natural light flood the room, making some patrons cower. The man let out a low chuckle and tipped his hat up out of his eyes. Spotting his party, his sauntered over to the end of the bar and slid onto the stool.

"Hey Squall, what's up?" the cowboy asked. Squall didn't respond only continued to drink from his glass. "Com'on stop being a drama queen already. That was one hell of a message you left me, man."

"I gotta favor to ask you," Squall said, placing his glass down, pointing to the bartender, who came over and filled up his glass.

"Ca'I git you an'thin'?" the bartender asked Irvine.

"Whatever he's having."

The old man nodded and set a glass in front of Irvine and poured whiskey into it. Irvine waited for the toothless old man to leave before speaking.

"What do you need, Squall?"

"A name."

"A name huh? What for?"

"A doctor. A uh-special doctor."

"Oh, having troubles down there are you?" Irvine said patting Squall on the back, chuckling. Squall choked on his drink.

"What? No. I need a-uh abortion guy," Squall said quietly.

"No shit, you finally knock Quistis up eh? Ya know they are legal now in this city, why not take her to a clinic?"

"It's not Quistis."

"Really? Then who?"

"This girl I met over the summer at the SeeD ball."

"Well you sure it's yours?"

"Yes I'm sure. She was a virgin."

"She was then, but now? Ya know, after some chicks lose it they give it up more often," Irvine said taking a large swallow of whiskey.

"Hey. She ain't like that okay?" Squall said, smacking Irvine.

"Okay, okay. Hyne calm down. So why don't you just give her fifty bucks and send her to a clinic?"

"It's complicated."

"Ain't it always," Irvine mumbled, finishing off his drink.

"Her dad, I guess, is some politico and it would hurt his career if she was seen going into a place like that. That's why I need some underground guy."

"Okay," Irvine said pulling out a piece of paper and a pen. "Call this guy. He's an unauthorized doctor. He's a real hush, hush guy. Helped me out a lot back when it was illegal."

"Thanks Irvine."

Rinoa stood behind the desk of the empty reception area of the famous Deling City Hotel. She looked at the clock on the wall once more; it hadn't moved.

"Time," she thought leaning her elbows on the desk. "Is a lot like a person; it doesn't like to change when someone's watching."

Idly, she looked around the neatly kept desk for something to keep her mind occupied. She peeled a sticky-note off the pad and began doodling a chocobo on it. As she admired her work, someone stepped in her light, startling her a little. Her eyes narrowed.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"When do you get off?"

"I get lunch in twenty minutes. Why?"

"We need to talk since yesterday didn't go over so well," he replied.

"Well it wasn't my fault, now was it, Squall?"

"Geez, I know that. It's just- can we go somewhere and talk?

"Sure you can buy me lunch," she said.

"Fine, I'll just wait over here, 'til you get off," he said walking over to the sofa in the middle of the room.

"No, wait. It's pretty dead here. I'll see if I can take off early. Excuse me," Rinoa said walking to a room marked, "Employees Only." She returned a minute later with her coat and bag.

"Okay," she told him. "Let's go."

The duo exited the posh hotel and made their way down the crowded streets of Deling, in silence. The stopped into a tiny diner a few blocks from the hotel.

"So what is it that you wanted to talk about?" Rinoa asked as soon as they had sat down.

"I think you know what."

"Talk then," she said motioning her hand to him.

"Well the thing is I- uh,"

"Hi, my name is Xu, and I will be your waitress this afternoon. Can I get you two anything to drink to start out?" asked the brunette waitress.

"Coffee," Squall muttered angrily.

"Me too," Rinoa answered.

"Okay, thanks. I'll be right back with those." As soon as Xu was out of the line of view Squall continued.

"Listen I found the name you were looking for."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, I- uh." Again Xu showed up, interrupting Squall with their drink orders.

"Are we ready to order?"

"N-" Squall began.

"Yes, I will have a scrambled egg and toast," Rinoa said over him.

"Okay," said Xu writing down the order before looking to Squall.

"Cheeseburger and fries, please," he muttered, thrusting his menu at Xu.

"Okay, that'll be right up."

"Thank you," Rinoa said. "Now you were saying?" she asked pouring cream and sugar into her coffee.

"Hm? Oh yeah, I got the name of a doctor," Squall said, pulling a piece of paper from his pocket and placed it in front of Rinoa.

"Odine," she read.

"Yeah, I got a meeting with his associate in an hour."

"Why?"

"He apparently doesn't like to make appointments over the phone. Paranoid the phones are tapped."

"Oh, but why are you going?"

"What? Don't tell me you changed your mind," Squall sighed running a hand through his hair.

"No. It's just I only asked you for a name."

"I know but. I don't want you to go through this alone. I mean it's kinda my fault you're… in this position."

"Oh, well thanks."

Squall smirked at her quickly, before bring his coffee to his mouth. Rinoa smiled back before letting her eyes flow over the almost empty diner. A flick of a lighter brought her attention back to the table.

"May I?" she asked holding her hand out to Squall.

"Do you think that's a good idea?" he replied. She gave him a look to which he replied, "Good point."

He pulled the cigarette from his mouth and handed it to her and lit another one for himself. They sat in silence drink coffee, smoking and avoiding eye contact. Finally the food was placed before them.

"Enjoy," Xu said.

"Thank you," Rinoa replied, a little desperately.

Squall stood alone in a dirty alleyway. The sounds of the city faintly playing in the background seeming farther away than they actually were. He lit another cigarette, and leaned against the wall behind him.
"Damn it smells in here," he thought. "Five more minutes and I am out of here. This is the last time I trust a name Irvine gives me."

Squall looked at his watch again, then back out at the crowd of people walking by without a second glance at each other. He looked back to the wall in front of him to see a rat scurry beneath the news paper and crates scattered on the flood.

"That's it I am out of here. I'll drive her to a private doctor in Dollet. Hell, Esthar even. But I am out of here," his mind said and pushed off the wall. He looked to his left to see a man in a brown trench coat and black hat approaching. Squall slowly moved his had to the gunblade attacked to his belt, suddenly glad he was paranoid enough to bring it.

"You Leonhart?" the man asked.

"Who's asking?" Squall replied, not moving his hand from his weapon.

"I'm Biggs. I'm Odine's associate. We spoke on the phone."

"Then yes, I am Leonhart."

"So Mr. Leonhart, what can we do for you?"

"A friend of mine's… she knocked up and I was told your doctor could fix that."

"Sure, he can fix that. Gonna cost you though."

"How much?" Squall asked.

"One-fifty gil," Biggs replied. Squall took in a sharp in take of breath.

"Okay."

"Alright then Mr. Leonhart. I'll see you and your friend Friday at Five. 1135 West Alexander Street, fifth floor. And I swear to Hyne if you bring the cops you'll regret it," Biggs said pointing a finger and Squall threateningly.

"Got it."

"Need something to write all that down on?"

"No, SeeD never forget," Squall said. The other man paled slightly and backed away from Squall when he saw his hand resting on his gunblade.

"Good, see you then," Biggs said and slinked back out the alley way and into the crowd. Squall chuckled a bit, and then headed back out the same way Biggs had just headed. He walked back toward the hotel.

"Whoa hold on there son," the doorman said, stopping Squall from entering the building. "Weapons are not permitted into the hotel without strict permission of the owner."

"Oh, well can I leave this with you then?" Squall asked. "I will only be a minute."

The old man thought about it. "Alright, but be quick about it. I ain't here to baby-sit your weapon."

"Thank you," Squall said, handing over his gunblade and going inside.

Unlike before, the hotel was now flooded with people. He looked around and saw Rinoa in the back employee room on the telephone. He scanned the area again, and then slipped over to the door.

"Okay," he heard her saying. "Okay. Yes. Thank you. You too. Good bye." Squall heard her hang up the phone and stand up from the chair.

"Rinoa," he called as she left the room. She turned and walked over to where he was standing.

"What do you want now? I'm busy."

"Friday at Five."

"What?"

"Our appointment."

"Our?" she questioned.

"Yeah, I'm not letting you go alone. If anything goes wrong, I want to make sure they don't just leave you there." Squall said. "Not that anything will go wrong," he added after her face contorted in fear.

"O-okay," she said. "I'll take a half day. Meet me here a noon then."

"Alright. Friday then. Don't worry. I'll be there with you, to make sure nothing goes wrong. Okay?"

"Okay, Thanks Squall."

"You're welcome. See you Friday," Squall said, before turning and leaving.