AUTHORS NOTE - Well this was like pulling teeth I have to say. I just couldn't get down what I wanted to say, not without sounding like a bad tv movie anyway. I think I avoided it but who knows? I should warn you this installment does contain a character death. Someone had to be sacrificed to get the plot going. Hopefully in the next chapter the we will actually get somewhere! As always review! I do love attention so...
DISCLAIMER - Squaresoft own them. I just borrowed them.
Squall was sleeping peacefully alone in bed. Rinoa was away visiting her father in Deling but was due back the next day. It was the knowledge of her impending return that allowed Squall to sleep so soundly, as normally with her away he felt uneasy and found it hard to sleep without her warm body next to his. Since letting her into his life so completely he found it difficult to be without her.
As the sun began to rise, casting a dim light through the gap around the blind covering the window opposite the bed, Squalls sleep became less sound, as he began to toss and turn as if in pain. The struggling stopped just as abruptly as it had begun however as his eyes snapped open and he focused on the grey ceiling above.
Something was wrong. Something was wrong with Rinoa, what he didn't know, but something was wrong. He knew this because of the bond between him and her as sorceress and knight. This bond didn't allow him to know exactly what was wrong, just that something was wrong and that the sorceress needed her knight.
Sitting bolt up right Squall reached for the phone beside his bed and dialled the number for Rinoa's cell phone. The phone she never turned off, and almost always answered.
When Squall dialled this time however it didn't ring, just went straight to voicemail. This unusual occurrence made the panic in Squall's chest rise further. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. He tried her cell again, and again it did not ring.
Jumping out of bed Squall pulled on the clothes that were laid out for the next morning. Shrugging into his jacket he left his dorm and headed down the hall towards Quitsis' door. Banging on the door it was promptly answered by a rather dishevelled Quitsis. Though an early riser it was early even for her.
'Squall? What are you doing here? Its on 5:30' Quitsis questioned brushing the normally immaculately coiffured hair out of her face.
'Something is wrong with Rinoa, I have to go to Deling. Now'
'Why? What's happening? Did she call?'
'No, she didn't. I don't know what has happened, I just know that something has and that she needs me. I have to go now, I just wanted to let you know and ask for you to cover for me at the morning meeting'
Quitsis stared at Squall, disbelief evident on her face, 'Squall you can't go running off to Deling on a hunch. Rinoa is probably fine. Go back to bed and...'
Squall interrupted before Quitsis could finish her sentence, 'I'm going. I've wasted too much time already. I'll let you know what is happening as soon as I find out what is going on.'
Turning on his heel Squall started to walk swiftly down the corridor, 'Wait!' called Quitsis but it was too late. He had turned the corner and probably wouldn't have listened even if he was still in ear shot, 'Be safe Squall', she murmured under her breathe 'Be safe.'
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It was late afternoon as Squall finally made his way up towards the door of Caraways mansion in Deling, and still he had heard nothing. The feeling in his chest had been growing heavier though, and there was no doubt in his mind now that something was defiantly wrong.
Knocking on the door Squall was answered by a butler or a domestic of some description, 'Is Rinoa or the General here? Its vitally important I speak to Rinoa'
'Commander Leonhart, has no one informed you?' the domestic said with a tone of grief in his voice 'There was an accident last night, Miss Rinoa's car was run off the road'
The colour drained from Squalls face 'Where is she?'
'She is at Deling City General. I can't understand why the General hasn't contacted you.'
Squall didn't bid the bearer of such bad news any kind of thank you or good bye but turned and sprinted down the drive and towards his rented car. He had to get to that hospital. Rinoa needed him.
Arriving at the hospital Squall was promptly directed to Rinoa's room by the young woman at reception. Exiting the elevator and turning the corner Squall was faced with a private room, through the windows of which he could see Rinoa in a bed.
Her face was pale, far too pale and her hair lay limply around her face. Yet a look of serenity graced her features as she slept. As Squall stood staring through the window of the room General Caraway left Rinoa's bedside, and stopped at his side.
'The prognosis isn't good. They say she hasn't long left'
Many questions whizzed around Squalls head, what had happened? Why hadn't the General contacted him? All of this was unimportant right now, he had to get to Rinoa. She needed him. Entering the room he took a seat next to the bed and held on to the hand closest to him. It was cold.
'Rinoa?' he whispered gently. She stirred slightly, repeating her name her eyes slowly flickered open and locked onto his.
'Squall?' she croaked. 'You came. I called to you, I wanted to see you one last time.'
'Don't say things like that Rinoa. Your going to be fine and...'
Closing her eyes she shook her head. 'I know I don't have long left, I can feel it. The power is pulling inside me, trying to pull away. I needed to see you one more time, to tell you something.' Opening her eyes once more she looked deep into Squalls eyes, and saw the pain there. Also the ice, the ice that had began to reform to protect him against the impending loss.
'Live Squall. For me. You are not alone. Never think that you are.'
She grew quiet, as her eyes fluttered shut. Squalls head started to hurt, as the buzzing that had been there since early that morning began to reach a fever pitch. Squall leant closer as she tried to form more words.
'I love you.'
As Squall tried to form a response the buzzing got louder still, and as alarms began to go off all around the room, the world went black.