I'll Be There (KH/FF fanfic)

Chapter 11: Unexpected crisis

Chapter 11:

"_____!!" Tifa yelled as she searched the gardens with Reno. Cloud had agreed to search the other RANGER buildings with help from Zack. Leon decided to search for you in town, just in case you had gone farther out than anyone thought.

"_____! If you ran away because I keep knocking down your door, I'm sorry!! I promise I'll never do it again!" Reno shouted, wading through a flower bed.

Meanwhile, Cloud and Zack checked every room on campus, but had no success in finding you.

"Zack, I just don't understand," Cloud said, shaking his head. "Why would she run off like this?"

"I don't know," Zack answered. "I hope Leon can find her. Tifa and Reno called me. They searched all throughout the gardens and they still can't find her." His brow furrowed in concern.

While the others searched on the RANGER campus, Leon ran through town, searching dark alleys and checking every store. Why couldn't he find you?! And why did you leave? He just couldn't figure it out, no matter how hard he racked his brain.

As the others looked for you, you slowly opened your eyes to find yourself in a completely empty, cold room. A small tube was inserted into your arm and you found yourself hooked up to a bag of liquid. You felt light headed and the moment you tried to get up, you felt dizzy and your vision darkened, causing you to fall to the floor.

"______! Are you okay?" A concerned voice echoed in your ears.

"______, it's Seifer. I'm going to get you out of here." Seifer said as he took the tube out of your arm and swooped you up into his arms. You felt dizzy once more and passed out. Seifer ran back toward a door in the room and dashed into the streets until he bumped into another man.

"Seifer?" Leon said in an incredulous voice. "What're you...why do you have ____? What have you done to her?" he asked, his voice dark and angry.

"Back off Romeo! I never thought I would say this but I'm glad you're here," Seifer began. "I found her in the abandoned lab, the one that..."

"Don't mention his name!" Leon barked. "That traitor---"

"Leon, we have to get her back to RANGER headquarters. I think they took a lot of blood from her," Seifer said with urgency.

Leon nodded and took off, running behind Seifer. He was glad you were safe, but he wondered why Seifer had been the one to save you. Leon loved you and the thought of not being there when you needed him the most made him feel horrible. What if they had killed you? He couldn't bear that...

"I promise I'll be there from now on, _____," he whispered to himself. "I'll be there."

When the two young men had arrived back at RANGER headquarters, Cloud gave out a sigh of relief. Tifa ran toward you and stroked your forehead while Zack took you from Seifer and carried you upstairs to your bed.

"Thank goodness she's okay," Reno said. "Things just wouldn't be the same around here without her. Who else would appreciate my jokes?" Tifa gave him a small smile and Seifer sat down on a chair.

Leon walked to your room and Zack put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "She's alright, man," Zack said with a weak smile before walking out of the room. Leon kneeled at the side of your bed and gripped your hands in his own. He brightened when he saw your eyes gently flutter open.

"Leon," you whispered, a flicker of a smile on your face.

"I'm so sorry, ____. It's my job as a RANGER to protect you, and I...I failed," he said, frowning.

"Just a RANGER?" you inquired, your face falling.

"No, not just as a RANGER. You know you mean more to me than just some girl I was ordered to protect," Leon answered before sitting at the edge of your bed and pulling you into his arms.You felt the warmth of his chest flow through you.

"I'm glad you came," you said, alluding to the song you sang on the balcony the night before. Leon let out a deep chuckle (the first real laugh that ever escaped his mouth) before kissing you on the top of your head. There was no way he would take his eyes off of you after today. He would be there next time.

"How's she doing?" Cloud asked as Leon sauntered down the stairs.

"I think she'll be alright," Leon answered.

"What's with that smile? Haven't seen one of those on your face before _____ got here, ya know," Cloud said with a smirk.

"Whatever, Rai," Leon said, walking away from his friend.

"Hey, you better not have tried anything shady with my little sis!" Cloud shouted to Leon. "If you do, I'll get Tifa to drag you around the campus by your ears!!"