Chapter 2: Open Secrets

Rumours in Balamb could spread like wildfire, so by next morning everyone knew what had happened.

Everyone asked the same questions. Why did Selphie collapse? Would she ever wake up? But gossip could twist simple truths into Horror Fiction and that was exactly what happened once the student body found out. There were stories about Hazmat suits, sterilization procedures and experimentation that grew more and more concerning as the speculations continued. Instead of help everyone cope with the situation, all it did was stir up fear.

This wouldn't have happened in G-Garden, thanks to a strict rule that prevented all talk in the halls. He had always believed it to be more than a little excessive though now it was one of the things he missed from his home Garden. He felt better knowing that he was not alone. While Squall had disappeared since that first day, the rest of his friends were around enough to make up for the loss.

At first, visits with Selphie were kept short as per regulations. However, her team were given the all clear after two days in quarantine, thus people got to spend longer bedside. The only thing that would have made it even better was if the spunky brunette bounced back from whatever this was.

But the only change happened to those around him. It happened so quickly. Everyone returned to their everyday lives, like there was nothing wrong with the world. The gossip in the halls turned to other mundane matters and he soon found himself the only one who consistently visited. Somehow, in the back of his mind, Irvine had expected this to happen, but he had expected his family to care more. He saw less and less of them as they went about their daily routine.

Selphie was unconscious for almost a week when Irvine decided that enough was enough. He woke up early and made his way to the third floor. Once Garden had become mobile, the lock on the administrative level had been ignored, as it allowed for a convenience and transparency Garden had lacked with NORG's presence. He continued along the red carpet that pushed past the double doors and waited by his chosen office for its occupant to arrive.

Eventually Squall came into view but stopped short as he saw Irvine. The brunet continued his approach as he fished in his jacket pocket for the key-card that would unlock his door. "I didn't realize I had a meeting."

"Need ta talk ta ya 'bout somthan." Irvine's tone was flat as he forced a neutral expression.

Squall found the card and flashed it against the lock. The door slid open and offered them entrance. "I gathered that much. You wouldn't be here this early otherwise."

"Selphie."

Squall did not pause in his stride. It was almost like he had expected this. "We are investigating the situation. Under the circumstances we're doing the best we can."

"Look, I know ya hate politics and all that, but damned if that didn't sound rehearsed." Irvine followed Squall into the office, his arms folded as he scowled in disgust. He expected some sort of defence or denial to his claims. He was afforded neither as Squall took his place behind his desk. It made his blood burn. "And ta be frank, I ain't jes talkin' 'bout doin' sumthan 'bout it. No one seems ta care anymore, like it's just how she is. Makes me wonder just how hard ya'll are workin' ta fix her."

"Selphie's condition isn't the only thing going on in Garden. She's not being ignored."

"Then would ya kindly explain why I ain't seen yer hide anywhere since that first day? Tha others at least made an appearance or two during them first few days but now it's all 'business as usual'. I'd expect that from most people, but not from her damn family!"

Another heavy sigh. "Irvine-"

"Nah, ya need ta hear me!" Suddenly all the bitter resentment that had built over the week boiled to the surface. He lacked the will to force it back, so instead embraced the emotions. "Now I undastand that ya'll are busy with yer lives, but five minutes sure as shit won't kill ya! And as far as I'm concerned, I'll look inta this on mah own cuz ya'll sure don't seem ta be in a hurry ta figurin' it out!"

Once he'd been shut down Squall remained silent, his expression unreadable. Arms folded across his chest as he waited for an opening. When Irvine did not follow up he finally spoke, his tone even and quiet. "Can I talk now?"

Irvine would've slugged him if those four words hadn't floored him.

Squall took his silence as an affirmation. "I'm not going to make excuses. We probably could have visited more. I could have. But Selphie wouldn't have wanted anyone – least of all any of us – to drop everything and stand by her side day in and day out. She wouldn't have wanted us to mourn her just so that we could spare her feelings."

"You sonova-"

"No. Now you need to here this." Squall raised his hand. "As much as you don't want to hear it, Selphie wouldn't want to see Garden run into the ground because we were all worried about her. She'd want us to stand up and do something. As far as the investigation, it's only been a week. These things take time. We can't just snap our fingers and find a solution in an instant."

Irvine's anger began to ebb away as he processed Squall's words and had to admit he was right. "So what've y'all managed to find out so far? Aside from it not being contagious?"

"I can't tell you."

"Really?!" A click sounded from behind him. He turned around and saw that the panel beside the door had shifted from green to red. The door was locked. He couldn't get out now if he wanted to.

"Officially, I can't tell you because the affected mission is still classified," Squall continued. "Not everyone who was involved has been debriefed. To tell you anything would disclose classified information. I could lose my rank as Commander, or be terminated from SeeD. Garden could charge me with treason if they saw fit."

Squall was not one to dance around a subject so Irvine paid close attention and tried not to flinch from the touch of venom injected into the spoken title. Squall hated his job, it was no secret to those closest to him, but he continued to do it out of obligation. In order to stay in the loop – to be in the know about instances such as this – he had to remain compliant. Squall's message was simple: if Irvine wanted to know anything Squall had to be sure what was said remained in this room. Irvine didn't see any signs that would suggest outside observations. Slowly, he nodded his consent.

Squall nodded back. "Have a seat." It was only when they both had sat down that Squall proceeded. "The team was sent to Timber to assist with a murder investigation. The suspect was easy to track down and the officials proceeded with arrest procedures. The suspect ran. Selphie was separated from her team at one point: when they found her, she was unconscious and their suspect was dead. They were recalled the moment Garden was notified."

"Ya know fer sure they got the killer?"

"Garden kept in touch with Timber after the team left. The murders have not continued and SeeD has since considered the case closed. The only loose end is Selphie's condition and how to reverse it."

"So whatcha reckon happened?"

"We don't have anything concrete. Just theories. There were some signs of a struggle, but not enough to explain this."

"What about a tox screen?" Irvine recalled that the doctor had run one.

"It came back clean. No drugs or poisons. And we've determined it's not caused by anything pre-conditioned. You mentioned she was fine before the mission."

"So what yer sayin' is y'all got nuthin', so y'all've stopped looking."

"I haven't."

Irvine looked back up in disbelief but there was no lie in Squall's features. Then the sharpshooter thought about the brunet's abrupt disappearance over the last week and wondered just what he had been up to. "Ya haven't been avoidin' Sefie at all, have ya?"

He already knew the answer even as Squall leaned back in his chair. "I've been doing some research in my off hours. Xu and Cid believe there's nothing we can do at this point. I'm not as convinced."

"Have ya found anythan?"

"Only more questions, but I'm not giving up. You'll hear about it when I can find anything concrete."

The sharpshooter opened his mouth to say something, reconsidered and then snapped it shut. He had felt so alone that it was hard to grasp someone else was on his side. He hadn't stopped to consider that maybe someone else worked the angles and attacking this problem head on instead of waiting for something to happen. Squall had been like that as long as Irvine had known him. If there was any kind of problem Squall would deal with was such a far cry from that little boy who used to hide when Ellone wasn't around.

"Why?" Irvine breathed, unable to get past his disbelief.

Squall arched an eyebrow. "Why?"

It was too late the shrug it off or pretend that Irvine hadn't said anything. "Why?"

"Because I know how it feels to watch someone you care about lay lifelessly in a hospital bed." Squall's expression was suddenly haunted, as though he recalled an unpleasant memory. "Not knowing why or how it happened, and feeling helpless to change it. Never knowing if they'll ever come out of it, or if this is how they will stay, how they will die. Whether you're crazy asking yourself the same questions over and over and over again, wondering if you really want to know the answers after all."

When he thought back to the war Irvine felt like an idiot. More than that was the guilt that crept up with the memories of the Infirmary. Amongst the dead and injured there was someone in a coma for no rhyme or reason. Beside her was someone else so desperate to see her return to consciousness he had shirked everything, including his own comfort and sanity. But he had done so alone.

Squall pulled out a file to begin the day's work and said nothing. There was no accusation in the brunet's gaze, only a desire to explain. How could Squall not resent them all for moving on while he had suffered alone?

"Thank you." At first Irvine wasn't sure Squall had heard him. When he didn't respond the sharpshooter rose to his feet. His business concluded, he no longer needed to be here.

He heard the click as he reached the door and noted that the panel beside it had shifted back to green. When he turned around he saw that Squall watched him, papers still in hand. "Get some rest, Irvine." As always his features were impassive and impossible to read.

With the first smile Irvine had in a week, he decided that was an order he would gladly obey.