(no subject)

[balthier-strahl.livejournal.com]

Who: Squall, the Doctor, Rinoa, Loire, Fran, Balthier and Krja
What: Testing cures
Where: Balamb Garden
When: Morning
Rating: R


The doctor was sterilizing several different things while keeping an eye on Balthier. He was still in the Infirmary, though his bruising wasn't growing at all anymore. She was waiting for Squall, keeping a bed ready for the commander. She had a pair of latex gloves ready and she was as nervous as any doctor could be.

Squall entered the room, letting out a heavy sigh. He was nervous, and quite honestly afraid. He took a deep breath, closing the door behind him, forcing a smile. "Hi, Doc."

The doctor smiled back just as strained. "Ready? I'll need you to take off your pants so I can inject it straight into your hip..." She glanced over at the door to the room Rinoa and Loire were in. "Oh, your boy is doing well. He has been cooing and wiggling a lot more."

Squall let out a soft, real smile. "That's great news. He's such a fighter." He replied, unfastening his jeans, pushing them down, actually wearing boxers for once. "I'm ready..."

The woman slipped on the latex gloves and filled the syringe with their cure. She wasn't honestly all that confident in it but Squall and Fran were, which was good enough for her. She reached out and tugged Squall's boxers down enough to expose his hip, pressing the needle in and releasing the liquid into the teen.

Squall winced a little, gritting his teeth in discomfort, hands balling into fists. "Ngh..."

"Well? How does it feel?" She tilted her head, watching his hip as the bruise seemed to be swelling and shrinking slowly, like lava in a lavalamp.

"It... It feels strange, aching..." He murmured, reaching a hand down to rub at his bruise, giving a slight wince.

"Move you hand!" She all but snapped, slapping his fingers lightly. "Watch... it is shrinking. How do you feel, in yourself?"

Squall pouted a little, rolling his hip. "I feel... pretty good actually. It doesn't feel so tight or sore to move it. I feel like I have more energy..."

"Any dizziness, nausea, lack of or blurring of vision?" She asked, getting a little light and inspecting each of Squall's eyes, watching the pupil.

Squall wrinkled his nose a little. "Not that I can feel. I have a bit of a headache, but I think that's from stress."

"Probably, knowing you." She murmured, sticking a thermometer under Squall's tongue and beginning to take his pulse.

Squall held the thermometer in place with his tongue, clicking it against his teeth.

The Doctor took his pulse for rather a long time before inspecting his hip again. At that, she took an empty syringe, drawing some of his blood from his now-clear hip.

Squall looked down at his side, blinking a little. "It... it's flesh coloured..." He whispered, touching it with his fingertips.

"Indeed it is." She swiped the thermometer out and looked at the temperature, nodding once and shaking out the little glass instrument. At that, she moved to her analysing machines, checking Squall's blood for traces of the disease.

Squall pulled his jeans up, fastening them up, moving over to stand at the doctor's side. "Have.... have we done it??"

She swatted at him as she looked over her equipment. "Shush!!" She snapped, moving from machine to screen to another machine. After a few moments, she grinned. "We've done it!! You're cured!" She squeaked, laughing.

Squall smiled bright, letting out a soft laugh. "Really? It worked? You. Are. A. Genius!" He grinned, kissing her forehead. "You better cure yourself too!"

"Me?! You and Fran did most of the work!!" She laughed and took some of the cure, moving to a machine that would recreate it repeatedly. As soon as she had, the doctor took a clean syringe, filled it with the remedy and moved to sit down. She tilted her leg and jabbed the needle into the back of her knee, gritting her teeth.

"No way! You're the one who put all our data together to get a formula!" Squall smiled bright. "Thank you." He moved towards the room where Loire was being kept, turning to look at the doctor. "There's two very special people I need to see, now."

The doctor winced a little more as she removed the needle. "Alright. I shall get in contact with Fran and when she arrives I shall inject Balthier." She called for a SeeD to go and fetch Fran.

Rinoa was sat in her rocking chair, in a room that was done up for her and Loire. It was like a small dorm room and she was seated with Loire in her arms, rocking slowly, breast-feeding the tiny baby.

Squall nodded and smiled at the docotr, before entering the room, disinfecting his hands as he did. At the sight of Rinoa breastfeeding their son, his heart skipped a beat. He truly felt like a proud father. "Shall I come back later?" He asked, his voice all but a whisper.

Rinoa squeaked slightly, pulling a blanket up over Loire. "Don't get anywhere near him! You have that disease!" She squealed, eyes full of worry.

Squall unfastened his jeans, tugging them just past his hip to reveal the normal looking skin. "I'm better. The cure we've been working on worked."

"Oh my god!!" She flailed slightly, wanting to rush over and hug him but totally unable to. "Damnit, come here and kiss me, idiot!!"

Squall fastened his jeans and walked over, dipping his head to press a firm kiss to Rinoa's lips, reaching out a hand to touch Loire's head gently. "He's feeding well, huh?"

Rinoa purred against his lips, soon easing Loire away, covering herself up. "He's greedy." She muttered, chuckling softly. The little baby still had tabs attached to him to monitor his vitals. Even still, she held the baby out to him, smiling. "Hold your son."

Squall swallowed hard, taking hold of Loire as though he was made of glass, holding him oh so gently. He flushed bright, looking down at the infant. "Hey there, son. It's good to finally meet you properly. I'm your dad."

Rinoa sniffled, her eyes filling with tears. "Oh, it's so good to finally see this." She shifted from her seat, wrapping one arm around his waist, brushing Loire's cheek with her free hand's index finger.

Squall smiled, holding Loire close. "Damn. I wish we had the camera. It'd be a great picture."

Rinoa laughed and shuffled across the room, picking up a camera. "Don't worry, I've been taking lots of pictures." She held the camera up, smiling at him. "Smile now!"

Squall gave a soft laugh, a genuine laugh that made his eyes sparkle. "Set the timer and get your butt in this picture, girl."

Rinoa laughed and set the timer, setting the camera down in a place it'd get them all in the picture before pouncing across the room and snuggling into his side, tugging the blanket down enough to show Loire's face before the flash went.

As soon as the photo was taken, Squall leaned in to kiss Rioa again. "I'm sorry I've not been here with you both. I've missed you."

"Oh, don't be silly, Squall. You were ill, you were protecting us." She smiled up at him, stroking Loire's cheek.

Squall held Loire in one arm, threading the fingers of his free hand through Rinoa's hair. "I love you."

Rinoa smiled sweetly up at him. "I love you, too, Squall." She murmured, leaning into his side more.

Squall looked down at Loire, amazed at just how different he looked now to when he was born. "You are beautiful, Loire." He whispered.

"Heh, he has your eyes and my hair. Look how dark it is..." She murmured, petting Loire's thin dark hair.

"He's perfect." Squall smiled, still looking down at the infant proudly. "You want him back?" He asked, not wanting to keep Loire from his mother too long.

"You can cuddle him more. Anytime I hug him, he just wants food." She chuckle, crossing her arms under her breasts.

Squall laughed a little, cradling Loire in his arms, feeling a little more confident at holding him now.

Fran made her way into the Infirmary. Krja was in her pushchair, sleeping soundly. "You sent for me, Doctor?"

Rinoa smiled up at him, soon offering the rocking chair to him. "Sit down. I need to pee anyways..." She mumbled, laughing slightly as she headed to her little bathroom.

The doctor gave a nod, smiling. "Both Squall and I have tested the cure on ourselves. We are free of disease. I thought you would like to be here when I use it on Balthier."

Squall gave a slight laugh. "No change there then." He teased, settling in the rocking chair with his son, rocking him gently.

Fran swallowed hard. "You have found a cure?" She spoke, a ghost of a smile on her lips. "I pray it works."

Rinoa stuck her tongue out before heading away behind a door to relieve herself and freshen up a little after feeding time.

The Doctor gave a nod, smiling and filling a syringe. She moved over to Balthier, brushing a hand over his forehead. "Are you awake?"

The pirate blinked an eye open, frowning up at her. "I am now..." He exhaled, glancing at Fran. "Hello, love." He murmured.

Squall continued to rock the infant, reaching for the camera to take some pictures of them both together, before laying the camera aside again.

Fran took hold of Balthier's hand, smiling soft. "Hello, my dear Hume."

Rinoa finished up and returned, shifting to sit in the chair the Doctor always used, smiling as she watched him.

She smiled at Balthier, chuckling soft. "I have news. Squall and I are now free from the disease. Our cure worked. If you will relax, I can inject you."

Balthier gave a slight nod, weakly squeezing Fran's hand. "Do what you must." He wheezed, closing his eyes again.

Squall smiled at Rinoa, holding out his hand to her. "This is so nice. i feel like we're finally a real family."

Fran kept hold of Balthier's hand. So you shall be cured, love and we can pirate the skies once more."

Rinoa gave a nod, taking his hand. "It does. It feels normal. Like we don't have anything to be afraid of."

The Doctor chuckled lightly before gently easing the needle into Balthier's flesh, injecting him with the cure they had created.

Balthier gave a hiss, his hand tightening on Fran's a little. He felt his skin tingling as the bruising began to fade and soon enough his skin was its usual colour, if not a little pale for his general state of illness. He gave a light smile as he felt very little pain yet a second later, his eyes rolled back and the monitor showed his heart rate accelerate. An instant later, the room was filled with a loud, droning note, echoing through to the room the Leonhart family was in.

Squall's brows furrowed at the sound, his heart giving a painful thud against his chest. He swallowed hard, shifting to stand, handing Loire back to Rinoa. He moved to the room Balthier was in, paling at the the flatline on the screen. "No..."

Fran kept a firm hold of Balthier's hand, squeezing it so tight. "Doctor... Do something... please... fix him..."

Rinoa held Loire close against her chest, coming to the doorway, covering her mouth with one hand as she gasped in shock.

The Doctor swallowed hard, getting a shot of adrenaline and injecting him, seeing it have no effect. With a growl of frustration, she got the shock pads ready. "Let go of his hand, Fran!!" She ordered.

Balthier lay lifeless, the droning noise continuing as he did, not even a twitch nor spasm from any of his muscles.

Squall moved over to Fran, curling his arm around her waist, gently easing her hand from Balthier's, forcing her to take a step back. "Fran... Go take Krja and sit with Rinoa and Loire..." He pleaded.

"I... I cannot leave him..." Fran murmured, eyes fixed on Balthier's lifeless body.

Rinoa carried Loire over to where Krja's pushchair was and wheeled the thing into her room, staying at the doorway but not letting Krja see what was happening.

The Doctor rubbed the pads together to get static and pressed them to Balthier's chest, and side, letting the shock rattle through him. When nothing happened, she turned it up, glaring at his chest as she repeated her action. "Come on!!" She all but shouted.

The pirate jerked up each time the shocks went through him but made no real reaction, still laying unmoving.

Squall gritted his teeth, growlng a little. "Dammit Balthier! Don't you dare fucking die on me! We have a lifetime of kid's parties and dad stuff to do together! Don't you run out on me now!!"

Fran's knees buckled a little, but she caught herself, ears drooping flat to her head.

Rinoa was the first to shed tears, her face soaked as she watched, trembling and holding Loire close. "No..." She exhaled, shaking her head.

The Doctor gritted her teeth hard, turning the power up to full and pressing the pads to his body again, letting a shock ring through him.

The line remained flat for a second more until a weak beeping began, slow at first before gradually growing to a steadier, healthy rhythm. Balthier took in a gasp of air.

Squall let out a shaky sigh, keeping hold of Fran to hold her steady.

Fran shook her head. "I... I am fine... Go to your girl." She murmured, stepping closer to Balthier, watching him.

Squall nodded and moved to Rinoa, pulling her into a gentle hug.

Rinoa trembled against Squall, keeping Loire against her, watching Balthier and Fran.

The Doctor began to run checks, being sure the pirate was alive and nothing was damaged aside from the burns from the pads.

Balthier remained mostly still, aside from twitching his nose, breathing steadily.

Squall rocked Rinoa gently, pressing soft kisses to her forehead, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Once it was safe to do so, Fran moved closer, threading her fingers through Balthier's hair, whispering soft words of love to him.

Rinoa nuzzled into Squall, smiling lightly. "He's alive, it's alright." She murmured, nuzzling his neck.

The Doctor took a sample of Balthier's blood, moving to the systems to scan it over and check it for traces of the disease.

Balthier breathed steadily, his eyes flickering open a little as he looked at Fran, his voice hoarse. "Was I gone long?"

Squall nodded and held Rinoa and Loire closer, rubbing the small of Rinoa's back tenderly. "What's the news, Doc?" He asked, voice croaking from his urge to cry.

Fran toyed with Balthier's fingers. "Too long, love."

Rinoa looked over at the Doctor, frowning a little in anticipation of her words.

The Doctor looked over the machines before slamming her fist angrily on a console. "Damnit!" She brushed a hand through her hair, turning to look at them. "It didn't work. It helped... but he still has the illness..."

Balthier let out a shaking breath, his eyes filling with tears a moment before he shifted to sit up. "Then there is little point in me staying." He murmured, pulling out wires attached to him.

Squall gritted his teeth, wiping at his eyes, trying to stop the tears. "That doesn't make sense! It cured us! Why... Why not him?!"

Fran took hold of both of Balthier's hands, leaning down to kiss him softly. "There is every point. We shall keep searching, kep trying until we find the right cure. We have bought ourselves some more time."

Rinoa nuzzled at Loire, rocking him gently as she watched them all talk about the illness they'd shared.

The Doctor shook her head slightly. "His illness is far too developed for this cure. It is too weak to fully defeat all the cells inside him that are infected."

Balthier returned the kiss only to pull away again. "Of course we shall keep searching. Yet I do not want to lay in this bed the entire time." He reached for the neat pile of clothes on a table nearby, shifting to pull them on. "One good thing has come about this. I ache a little less."

Squall gently nudged Rinoa back into her little room. "You are still at risk, Rin. I won't put you in harm's way." He whispered, kissing her, before kissing Loire's head.

Fran wrinkled her nose. "You should rest, Balthier. At least for today..." She sighed soft. "The cure. Would it work on the young ones?"

Rinoa smiled with a soft chuckle. "Alright, alright, shoving me back in my box..." She smiled up at him, heading for her rocking chair.

The Doctor gave a nod. "Their illness, if it is as you say, is in the early stages. It will be like having a good night's sleep for them." She crossed her arms, sighing softly.

Balthier shook his head. "No... I need to be on the Strahl. I am fine..." He muttered, a little unsteady on his feet and quite tired. "Where is Krja?"

Squall gently pushed Krja's pushchair to Balthier. "One daughter, awake and waiting." He murmured. "I... I'll come over and see you later, okay?"

"Should we bring the young ones to you or simply take a vial of cure with us?" Fran asked.

The Doctor brought two vials and two syringes to Fran. "All prepared and ready." She gave a half smile, tilting her head.

Balthier scooped Krja out of the pushchair and snuggled her up, carrying her along in one arm as he pushed the chair with the other.

Squall smiled softly at the pirate pair, wiping his eyes, before joining Rinoa in her little room.

Fran took the items from the doctor, giving her a most thankful smile. "Thank you. For everything."