Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Emerge ❯ Prognosis ( Chapter 4 )

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Chapter 4: Prognosis

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Vincent was dozing when he felt someone plop next to him on the couch. His claret eyes snapped open to see amused gray eyes staring back.

"Hey Vinnie, how ya doing?" She asked giving him a half hug.

He looked around and saw his fellow Avalanche members taking seats around the waiting room then looked back to the little ninja. "I am fine."

Reeve sat next to Yuffie on the couch and she hopped on his lap. "How is she doing?" Reeve asked.

"The doctor hasn't come out yet." The gunman said.

Yuffie looked at the dark man with concern. "How long has she been in surgery?"

"Since midnight."

Barret scratched his head. "Spike only said that Tifa was hurt, He didn't really say what happened."

Vincent told the group what happened on the on the trail. Cid, Barret, Cloud and even Reeve had murderous sneers on their faces as murmured ways they would have killed the man if he were still alive. He also told them about the police investigation in which he was cleared of any wrongdoing and the recovery of Thomas' body.

When Vincent finished telling his story, the doctor entered the waiting room from the surgery suite. "Mr. Valentine?"

Vincent sat up and nodded before the doctor continued. "I've come to give you an update." He looked at the others in the room. "You are Tifa's friends from Avalanche, are you not?"

Everyone nodded.

The doctor took a vacant chair. "As Mr. Valentine told you, Tifa was shot, in the lower part of her abdomen. The bullet did some damage to her large intestine after the bullet ricocheted off her hip bone, causing a fracture to form. Her left leg was broken in the fall but it was not as severe as we first believed.

"All of the damage has been repaired and considering the severity of her injuries, she is doing quite well. We've use the properties of the Full Cure materia to speed up her healing time. She will have pain for the next two weeks while her bones fully heal, but the internal injuries should be completely healed within 4 days, baring no complications. Tifa will have to stay in the hospital at least that long. We will provide her with a wheelchair to use when she is well enough to go home."

Cloud ran his hand through his hair. "Is she awake?"

The doctor brightened slightly. "Yes, she's been awake since she came out of surgery. That was two hours ago. Mr. Valentine, she wishes to see you. The rest of you can see her in a moment."

Vincent stood and followed the doctor through the double door.

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Vincent walked into Tifa's room and paused at her bedside. Relief washed over him as he looked down at her serene form. She was alive and at the moment, it was all that mattered to him. Not wanting to wake her, he quietly made his way back to the door.

"Vincent…"

He returned to her bedside at the sound of her whisper. Looking down at her, Vincent saw her eyes open lazily and a slight smile spread across her face at the sight of him. He placed his hand over hers. "How are you feeling Tifa?"

"Fine. I just want to get out of here…I don't like hospitals." She said with a shaky voice.

"Tifa, lying is not your one of your stronger attributes. Are you in any pain?"

She shook her head slowly. "No pain…I feel numb. The nurse said it's the pain medication… Vincent, I can't stay in here…I have to get out." She said as she began to struggle to sit up. She let out a whimper when a wave of pain snuck past the effects of the pain medication.

Vincent laid her back down. "You cannot leave yet, you are not well. Why do you wish to leave?" He asked as he sat on the edge of her bed.

A tear escaped her eye and she took a deep breath. "My mother died in the hospital at Rocket Town. I have been afraid of them ever since."

"Tifa, there is nothing for you to fear here. The doctors are here to help you and you also have the support of the others and myself. You only have to stay for four days."

She was silent for a moment. "Thank you for saving my life Vincent."

The crimson-eyed man shook his head. "There is no need to thank me."

"Yes there is. I do have a question for you though."

He nodded and waited silently for her to continue.

"Why were you in the mountains?" Tifa asked, the curiosity clearly evident in her voice.

"Reeve asked me to travel to the reactor and check on the progress of its dismantling. He was detained in Junon and needed its status. I was coming back when I heard a scream." He didn't need to continue. Tifa nodded her head weakly.

Tifa's hand rose gently squeezed Vincent's arm as he looked into her eyes seeing the gratitude within. He nodded and sat with her in silence each drawing on the other's strength. Tifa and Vincent glanced up when there was a knock on the door.

Vincent stood before calling to the visitor. "Come."

The same nurse who admitted Tifa to the emergency room, entered. "Miss Lockheart, there's a group wishing to visit, should I send them in?"

Tifa nodded and rest her head back on the pillow as her friends came in, offering their support and wishes for a speedy recovery.

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See Chapter 1 for disclaimer and the epilogue for the AN's

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