Ladies and Gentlemen…welcome to chapter 8…Please enjoy, and remember reviewing is polite.

Enlighten Me

Chapter 8: Eyes full of Panic

Basch cursed under his breath. They were in a hell of a mess now, and his mind was desperately trying to think of a plan. Balthier didn't look like he was going to be able to get up, much less help fight. He could take a few of the wolves himself, but he couldn't take them all, and he couldn't protect the pirate while fighting them off.

Balthier was fighting to keep his eyes open; it was a battle he wasn't winning. Basch was still crouched beside him, his hazel eyes full of panic. The pirate followed the older man's gaze.

"Fuck," he muttered upon seeing the glaring pack of hungry animals, "That's not good."

"Do you think you can get up?"

Balthier didn't even try to lie, "I'm not sure I can hang on to consciousness much longer. Just…just get out of here. Don't worry about me."

"Shut the fuck up Balthier, you should know better than that."

The older man stood, unsheathing his sword and putting himself between the half conscious pirate and the wolves. Balthier tried to move, he fought against the blackness with everything he had, but just as the first wolf launched itself at Basch's throat…darkness claimed him.

"Didn't I tell you to study for this last night?" Cid asked as he eyed the paper in his hand.

"Yes father," Ffamran muttered quietly.

"And did you?"

"No Sir."

Cid sighed and adjusted his glasses, "I'm disappointed Ffamran. You knew you were not going to be able to pass this test today, why would you not study?"

Ffamran didn't answer. He was shaking slightly, hoping his father didn't notice. He had beaten him black and blue for a lot less than a failed test, and although he would never admit it he was scared shitless. He didn't look up as he heard his father stand up and walk toward him. He still didn't look up when saw his father's feet stop in front of him.

"Look at me Ffamran," Cid commanded.

Ffamran slowly raised his eyes to meet his father's.

"Are you afraid of me?"

The boy didn't know how to answer; it seemed like a trick question

"Answer me Ffamran. Are you afraid of me?"

Finally he nodded silently, letting his gaze fall to the floor once again. He braced himself, waiting for his father's harsh punishment with tightly closed eyes. But the hit never came. To his surprise his father put his arms around him and drew him into a tight embrace. Ffamran wasn't sure what to do, so he just stood there, his head cradled against his father's chest.

"I'm sorry Ffamran," whispered Cid as he gently stroked the boy's hair. Overwhelmed by the loving gesture, the like of which he hadn't seen in ten years, Ffamran began to sob. He would never know what caused the momentary lapse of insanity in his father, but it was the very last time his father would ever be kind to him again.

Basch didn't have too much trouble slaying the first wolf, but by the time the third jumped him he was exhausted. He tried to keep the pack off Balthier, but every time he turned his attention to his attacker the rest of the pack returned to snipping at the injured pirate. Suddenly, an arrow struck the wolf in front of him, killing the creature instantly. He turned around, beyond relieved to see Fran already sending another arrow whizzing past him. With the others there it didn't take long to finish off the pack.

"We figured when you guys didn't show up in Rabanastre something might have happened to you," said Vaan as he and the others watched Fran administer several complex healing spells to Balthier.

"I'm glad you did. I am not sure how much longer I could have held them off."

After a few moments Balthier opened his eyes, "Am I dead?"

"No," said Basch, "but you almost were. Both of us actually. You're a damn stubborn man Balthier. What the hell were you thinking hiding an injury like that from me?"

The pirate sighed and sat up, "Calm down captain. Everything worked out in the end."

"We need to get moving," said Ashe, eyeing the horizon for any more fiends, "We have a lot of work to do before we can even think about facing Vayne."

Balthier was still weak from the blood he had lost, but he was able to walk on his own for the most part, having to lean a little on Basch's shoulder from time to time. He was unsure if Basch was really mad at him or not, but he didn't really care either way. Everything had worked out ok, although he knew that it had been nothing short of a miracle that the others had shown up when they had. By the time they reached the Strahl, the pirate was so weak and tired he could barely stand. It was Fran who helped him to his room.

"You are a fool Balthier," she said as she undid the clasps of the pirate's vest, "You should have waited for us in the cave."

The pirate, with Fran's help, removed his vest and nearly collapsed onto the bed. He sighed and closed his eyes briefly, fighting off the headache that was looming at the base of his skull.

"You have not been yourself lately," she said, crossing her arms, "Is it because of your father?"

He eyed her warily, "I'm fine."

"I have been with you long enough to know when you are lying."

He didn't say anything for a moment, but Fran wasn't about to leave until she got the truth.

"You're not going to leave until I tell you are you?" he asked.

"No."

"Fine," he muttered, "I may have been having some rather disturbing dreams of late."

"About Cid?"

Balthier glared at her angrily, "Yes."

"I'll not force you to speak of it if it upsets you this much," she said, turning to leave, "but you should Balthier. It may help."

He watched her leave, but didn't say anything. Deciding a shower would improve his mood he left his room and made his way down the hall. Once under the spray of hot water, his muscles relaxed a little and his spirits lifted a tiny bit. Fran was right; he had not been feeling like his old self since his father's death. At first he had been sure that he didn't care, but as his memories continued to haunt him he became less and less sure. He rested his forehead on the tile wall in front of him, letting the hot water pour over his head.

"I'm sorry Ffamran…"

It was that happy memory that hurt the most. It was easy to hate Cid when he remembered all the bad things, but that moment of sanity he'd seen his father experience broke his heart.

To be continued…

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