The ride to the hospital was long and very quiet. It gave Zack to much time to reflect on his life and it made him depressed. That's why he hated silence and being alone. He wasn't alone of course but Cloud had passed out almost as soon as the journey began so it was like being alone. All Zack could think about all the things that went wrong in his life; Angeal dying, Sephiroth going crazy, getting experimented on, Aerith dying... Plus a load more stuff Zack preferred to shove to the back of his mind and not even start thinking about. He was always so cheerful, but inside he was hurting and only Cloud truly understood. Cloud had been there the whole time to comfort Zack and share in his pain. And Zack would do the same for Cloud. Now Cloud needed Zacks help and he would do everything in his power to make sure his chocobo was okay.
Once at the hospital Zack parked as close as he could, locked up his bike and picked Cloud up gently. The hospital was almost empty which made Zack sigh with relief.
Everywhere Zack and Cloud went they would be stared at with awe and constantly asked for pictures and autographs. They were the ones that saved the world from Sephiroth and Meteor and that made them celebrities. At first Zack loved it. He was finally a hero and that was his childhood dream. But after a while it became tiring, constantly being swooned over and not often having privacy.
Zack took Cloud to a small room exactly the same as the ones they were in on their last visit. Almost instantly a tall doctor with black hair that looked a lot like Hojo. But he was to young and kind to be said scientist. He was the doctor who treated both Cloud and Zack should they ever need to come here. His name was Dr. Jones but everyone just called him by his first name, Rick. Without a word Rick went over to Cloud and thoroughly examined him.
"Oh gaia..." Rick said filled with worry.
"Is it that bad?" Zack knew almost nothing worried Rick this badly, he had seen it all. But nothing this bad.
"Yeah...its amazing he's alive, even for someone of his strength. Want to hear the verdict?"
"Yeah"
"Well... Both his legs and one arm are broken, He has internal bleeding in his abdomen, he is missing a kidney, his skull is fractured in 3 places and he is covered in deep gashes, some of which are infected." Rick said sadly. He had grown attached to Cloud and Zack. "I really hate to say it Zack and it sounds horrible, but Cloud is in so much pain and his injuries are so bad he may have been better off dead..." Rick trailed off.
"I see..." Zack could feel pricking in the back of his eyes.
"I will try my best, as always, to save him. But I can't promise anything..."
"Okay...can I talk to Cloud before you take him for surgery?"
"Of course" Rick said as he stepped out the room and closed the door. Zack sat next to Clouds bed on a small wooden chair and held the blondes hair.
"Z...Zack..." Cloud said trying to hide the intense pain he was going through.
"Its okay Spike I'm here" Zack said gently squeezing Clouds hand. Cloud nodded weakly in response.
"I know your in a lot of pain, it will be over soon. I just wanted to talk to you before Rick took you away" Zack could feel tears filling his eyes. Cloud looked over to Zack. Cloud wanted so badly to ask Zack why he was so worried but the pain was to bad to talk.
"I know I wouldn't usually make a big deal about this sort of thing, But Rick wasn't sure you would survive this..." Zack trailed off. Cloud understood now why Zack was so scared. He wanted to comfort his raven haired friend, to tell him that he would be okay and that he would never leave Zack. Cloud felt tears now forming in his own eyes.
"I love you Spike" Zack hugged Cloud gently trying not to hurt him more. Cloud snuggled his face into Zacks shoulder and they both shed tears on one another.
"I...love you...Zack" Cloud managed to say between huge throbs of pain.
Rick quietly entered the room. "Could I take Cloud now please?" Zack gave a nod and watched as Cloud was taken away, Knowing this may be the last time they saw each other...