-11-

Healers

"Hey, thought you would like to go to the beach." The blonde smiled brightly at the frowning brunet.

Squall shrugged and sat on the kitchen table. Last night had been rough but the sun called a new day.

Seifer grinned, "Would you like eggs?"

"Hell, no!" Squall looked horrified and stood up, "How about you sit down and let me prepare something for a change?"

The blonde chuckled, "great idea."

The brunet rolled his eyes and went about preparing eggs, a small smile on his lips.

"So, did you sleep well?" Seifer eyed his protector.

Squall shrugged, "Yeah."

"Oh."

The brunet set down Seifer's plate and his own, "This is what I call eggs, Seifer. You would do well to keep that in mind the next time you decide to cook."

The blonde laughed and nodded, "And I thought you liked it."

Grey eyes narrowed, "Yeah, tasted like frog scales."

"Hey, how would you know?"

"Believe me, I'm sure they taste the same." Squall chuckled at Seifer's indignant expression and took a bite of his eggs.

"Wait a minute…since when do frogs have scales!" Seifer muttered.

Squall laughed, "Since you cooked eggs yesterday."

All the blonde could do was stick out his tongue and enjoy the laughter of his protector.

The waves were gentle as the lapped upon the sandy, white shore. Squall smiled at the beauty of the sea and walked over, stepping into the waves.

"Careful, there are sharks." Seifer called from behind him.

The brunet nodded and stared out at the horizon, "At the moment, the prospect of being eaten by one isn't very frightening."

Seifer grinned and spread out their blankets and set their umbrella. "Hey, pretty face, how about you spread sunscreen on my body for me?"

The brunet snorted, "How about you drown?"

"Comon, it'll be fun."

"Like hell."

Seifer came up form behind him, "Are you sure you won't change your mind?"

"Not a chance, freak…drop dead."

Seifer grinned, "Well, don't say I didn't warn you."

Squall yelped as Seifer grabbed him by surprise and hauled him over his shoulder, "Put me down you impulsive freak! I'm not a damned sac of feed! Put me the hell down."

Seifer waded into the water and grinned, "You're so light."

"You're so dead! Put me down!"

"If you say so, princess." Seifer threw Squall into the cold water and laughed as the brunet came out sputtering and muttering curses.

Grey eyes held no hint of amusement when Seifer hummed the shark song and moved in on him. "Stay away from me…don't you dare"

Squall laughed and nervously backed away, unable to stand anymore as the water got deeper.

Seifer laughed, "Why princess? You look delicious at the moment."

"Get lost." Squall cried as the blonde grabbed him and kissed his wet lips.

"Yup, just as good…nah better than I thought." Seifer laughed as Squall tried to drown him.

The burnet was soon laughing too, trying to run for his life as Seifer grabbed his foot under the water. Many turned to look as the newly found friends laughed and ran around like children, splashing water on or tackling each other on the shore…

Squall sat by the shore, the sun setting in the horizon. The gentle waves caressed his feet again and again as they lapped the shore and the gentle breeze played with his soft hair.

"What are you thinking?" Seifer sat beside him.

Squall shrugged, "If only Ellone could see this. It's very pretty and serene here."

"Why don't you"

"She's sick. The salty air isn't good for her."

"You never told me that."

Squall shrugged and stood, "It's almost night…let's head back."

"Where is your sister?"

The brunet shrugged again and started to leave but Seifer caught his trunks, "Squall, I'm talking to you, dammit."

"She's sick. It's none of your business."

"She's sick. Great…that explains a lot. Why are you here, then? You should be by her side, you know. You told me she was young, but how old is she?"

"5." Squall looked away as the blonde glared at him, "Where is she? Your parents died, right? Who takes care of her?"

"She's… in a hospice somewhere around town."

"My God…" Seifer stood up and walked away from the brunet. Squall frowned, "What the hell is your problem? It's none of your business."

"Yeah? Who's business is it? Yours? Apparently you really don't know how to handle it."

"What the hell would you have me do? Give her up for adoption!"

"No…Be there for her. It's been a week…comon, Squall, you can do better than that…acting all cold even with your own sister."

"I'm not acting all cold…I just…"

"We'll visit her tomorrow."

"No." Squall glared at Seifer.

"Why the hell not?"

"Because I promised the next time I go there I would have teddy bears and chocolates for her."

"You're reaching, aren't you? Squall, for heaven's sake…I assure you she would rather you be by her side at the moment. Stop being so damn ignorant. She's your sister!"

"I'm fine on my own, dammit!"

"Yeah…I can see that pretty well…it's damn obvious in the way you're living….great life full of laughter…there had never been a minute you weren't laughing and smiling in." Seifer spat harshly, packing their things into the trunk and turning to open the door for Squall.

The brunet sighed, "Life isn't easy for everyone."

"You don't have to be alone if you can depend on someone."

"Well, are you nominating for the position?" Squall glared.

Seifer grinned, "Well, finally you opened your eyes, just hope they're not as blind as I'm anticipating."

Squall frowned and looked out his window.

"We'll buy the stuff you promised her and go at noon tomorrow, spend the day with her."

"Why do you care?"

"I care about you Squall…about your life and everyone related to it."

"You're crazy…I'm sure you need help."

Seifer chuckled, "It's settled then."

"What happened to the sharks you warned me about?" Squall muttered.

"Huh?"

"They should have eaten you while they had the chance."

Seifer laughed "You would have cried and missed me."

"No, those would have been water droplets from the sea, trust me."

Squall opened his eyes and frowned as Seifer hovered above him, "Seifer, go away. I'm too sleepy for your games."

The blonde just bent and nibbled on the brunet's ear.

"Seifer." Squall moaned and pushed him away, "Stop it, Seifer."

The blonde groaned as he pushed up the brunet's shirt and splayed his hand on Squall's taut navel.

"Seifer, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"I want you…" Seifer whispered before he claimed Squall's lips in a searing kiss that was far hotter than his fever.

Squall pulled away, his body heating and glared the blonde, who looked at him with fevered eyes.

"You're sick." Squall's eyes widened and he felt Seifer's moist forehead, "My God, since when?"

"I've been wanting you since the moment I laid eyes on you." Seifer answered Squalls' misunderstood question.

"Seifer…that" Seifer pushed Squall back unto the covers and sucked on the crook of the brunet's neck, "Please let me love you."

Squall closed his eyes for a minute, letting the blonde caress him as thought there was no worry in the world.

"Do people…die of fever?" the brunet asked no one in particular before his lips were sealed by Seifer's demanding mouth.

Squall opened his eyes and sighed as Seifer nibbled on his ear, whispering hot words of love and desire. There was no phone call to stop the passionate blonde as he tried to drive the brunet out of his mind.

"Stop it, Seifer. You're not…"

"Don't talk, Squall…just feel with me."

Squall groaned as Seifer fondled him through the fabric of his shorts and sucked on his earlobe.

"No, stop." Squall pulled away and got off the bed, "we must do something about your fever."

Seifer had snuggled into the pillows and closed his eyes.

'To think that just minutes before he was planning on making love to me.' Squall shook his head and sighed, walking to the kitchen, determined to nurse his charge back to health.