Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Undercover Lovers ❯ Flying spiders ( Chapter 56 )

Chapter 56: Flying spiders

 

Squall spun around to look at the frightened woman on the couch and his equally terrified brothers and sister. He immediately regretted hitting his father in front of them. Spinning back around to face his father he saw that he was recovering form the staggering blow and appeared to be getting ready for the next round.

 

Laguna opened his mouth to retaliate to what his son had done, but stopped when Squall grabbed him in a tight hug and said softly, “Enough dad.” He indicated with a slight cocking of his head to the couch. “Enough, look at them dad. Look at Shauna and the children. They're scared dad, and we're not helping.”

 

Laguna struggled in his son's firm embrace trying without success to free himself, he was still boiling mad, he was the victim here and he felt that he had every right to be angry. The sane part of him peeked through the clouds of his rage when he snapped his head around to glare at the woman and children on the couch. But when he saw his lovely Shauna and there children huddling in the corner of the couch the self-imposed wrath he had brought on himself melted away. Every cruel, hurtful, and hateful thing he had said to her flooded over him and those horrible words he had flung at his beautiful son came back to haunt him. Managing to break free from his son he fell to his knees and howled. When the wail came out it was long and gut wrenching, like a man that had lost all hope.

 

Squall dropped down in front of his father and drew him into his arms again and held him while he wailed out his grief. Looking over his father's shoulder he saw that Shauna had started to rise from the couch but he shook his head no, and indicated with a slight tilt of it for Carrie to go and see to her comfort.

 

Squall knew that there was something seriously wrong with his father, but he had no idea what it was. If he didn't know better he'd swear that his dad was on something. He continued to give his father the solace that he needed he said sotto voc, “Dad tell me what's wrong? Tell me and I will do everything I can to help fix it.”

 

“What have I done?” Laguna cried. “What have I done?”

 

Squall grabbed his father's chin and forced his head back up to meet his eyes and saw that the pupils were pinpoints. He also noticed that the skin around the nostrils were red and inflamed. He knew in that instant that his father was loaded. The worry and concern filtered out in his question, “What are you on dad?”

 

Laguna tried to jerk away again. He knew that he was hopelessly addicted to the narcotic painkiller, but he would be damned if he admitted it to someone else. Oh he was fairly certain that Shauna had her suspicions, but that's all she had. She had no real proof. He had found that eating them just didn't have the same effect anymore, so he started to grind them up and snort them, that didn't make him a junkie. Right? He shook off Squall's hand and glared at him, “What makes you think I'm on something?”

 

Squall snapped, “Cut the crap dad. I know that you're high and you have all the signs of a habitual user.”

 

Laguna was instantly on guard and he ground out, “I use Vicaden every now and then for pain, but that's it.”

 

Squall said condescendingly, “Really? When was the time you used?”

 

“Laguna please tell him the truth. You tell him the truth or I will.” Shauna said softly from the couch.

 

Laguna looked over at the couch again and saw the silent plea in his wife's big doe brown eyes and saw the tears of misery that were falling down her mocha brown cheeks. He drew in a deep hitching breath, exhaled and said, “About half an hour ago, and before that it was an hour or so.” Then broke down and started sobbing, “Help me Squall. Please help me my son.”

 

Squall smiled sadly at his father and said, “I will dad. I'll do everything in my power to help you. But I can't do it on my own. You need to check into rehab to get that help, but we will be there for you dad all of us.”

 

“I don't think I need rehab.” Laguna protested.

 

“Yes you do.”

 

Laguna gave one last feeble attempt at trying to keep what he felt was left of his dignity, “And if I refuse.”

 

Squall let out an exasperated breath, “We can do this one of two ways father, you can go in voluntarily or I will have you taken in on a POH.”

 

That comment brought Laguna up short and he asked in a broken voice, “Will you take me?”

 

“Yes. I'll take you.” Squall soothed his emotionally distraught father, regaining his feet he held out a smooth sun-browned hand to him.

 

Laguna reached up and took his son's hand and pulled shakily to his feet. His voice hitched as he said, “Please take care of my Shauna and our babies.”

 

“I will dad. The only thing that you need to worry about now is getting better.” Then placed a comforting arm around his father's shoulders led him over to where Shauna was now standing.

 

Laguna gathered his wife to his chest and hugged her crying softly, “I'm so very sorry Shauna. So sorry for being so evil to you and our little ones, I love you so much.”

 

Shauna returned her husbands embrace and offered words of comfort, “I know Laguna and I do forgive you. I love you too.”

 

Laguna felt three little sets of arms tighten around his legs and looking down saw his youngest children, kneeling down he gave them hugs and apologized to them as well and told them that he loved them.

 

After I love you daddies were given and hugs returned, Laguna rose shakily to his feet, turning to his eldest daughter he held out his hand to her.

 

Carrie walked over to her father and hugged him, “I love you daddy.” She said softly tears falling silently down her cheeks.

 

Laguna grasp his daughter close and hiccoughed out, “I'm so sorry Carrie. I just don't know what's wrong with me anymore.”

 

Carrie rested her head on her father's shoulder and whispered, “I forgive you daddy everything's going to be fine.”

 

His cruel words and actions came back to torment him once more as he looked over his daughters shoulder at the intense silver haired young man who had came to her defense. In that moment Laguna saw that the young man would protect his daughter no matter who the adversary was and he regretted his hasty assumption thinking that he was a just a punk.

 

Kadaj had watched silently as the events unfolded around him. He no longer held any animosity towards Laguna Loire, when it became apparent that the older man was addicted to painkillers. Although there was part of him that wondered how somebody could let that happen, he had made a vow to himself a long time ago that he would never let drugs or alcohol control his life. Unlike some of his friends he had never drank or done drugs of any kind. He had seen what they had done to his father. Although he really couldn't consider the man who had helped sire him a father, because he wasn't. He was a sperm donor nothing more nothing less, and there was no way that he wanted to ever become like that man.

 

Before Laguna could offer an apology, Kadaj waved it away and said, “Mr. Loire I know that you feel the need to apologize but none is needed.”

 

Laguna's opinion of the young man rose considerably, on both occasions that he had been in his company he had treated, what the hell was his name? Oh yes Kadaj. He had treated Kadaj like he was beneath his contempt, yet here it seemed like the young man didn't hold a grudge against him.

 

“Dad any more apologizes that you feel need to be given can wait until you are better. Now come along we need to go.” Squall said to his father and grasped him firmly by the elbow and started to lead him to the door.

 

“What about Shauna and our babies?” Laguna said.

 

Squall replied, “Don't worry about them right now dad, I'll take care of it.” This was something that he didn't need right now. He and Seifer were hip deep in a case, plus the fucking investigation that IA was doing on him, and oh yes, mustn't forget the fact that he had an impending sexual harassment suit. He needed a stress release and unfortunately he couldn't have Seifer help relieve his tension. So he was going to do the next best thing, after he dropped his father off at treatment, he was going to go out for a nice long fast drive in the McLaren. Looking across the room to where Cloud was he said, “I need you to move your truck.”

 

Cloud knew what Squall was going to do and said a silent prayer that god would be his co-pilot or at least his wingman. He smiled at Squall and replied, “Not a problem Heartbreaker.”

 

Even though they had only been involved for a short while Seifer knew why Squall was going to be taking the sports car. He would have preferred helping his lover relax and it didn't involve going 200 mph, although the first time would be fast and furious, he knew that their nocturnal activities would be put on temporary hold. He strolled over to where he was standing with his father and drew the brunet into his arms. A quizzical looked crossed his handsome face he had wondered something since that day that they had gone to Monterey, “You know what I don't understand Sweet Cheeks, is that if you like going that fast why you aren't a fighter pilot?”

 

Squall looked up at Seifer and replied, “Because I'm afraid of heights.”

 

“You're kidding right?” Seifer said the shock apparent in his voice.

 

“No I'm not. I am afraid of heights. Whenever I have to fly somewhere, I go to my doctor and get a prescription for a mild tranquilizer and spend the flight in blissful oblivion.”

 

Seifer knew that his lover wasn't joking and he was actually a little relieved that his boyfriend was scared of something. He asked jokingly, “So is there anything else that you're afraid of?”

 

Squall replied seriously, “Yes! Spiders they creep me out.”