When Lina finally opened her eyes a few hours later, she found herself in the Infirmary, Zell, Chichiri, Dan, and Karen sitting beside her. Karen was first to speak, "Well, you did it again!" she said happily.
"Did what?" Lina asked her, sitting up tiredly. Karen gargle out a laugh and smirked with satisfaction as Lina waited for her answer.
"Got yourself into trouble!" Karen laughed and Lina smiled weakly; wasn't that just her point in leaving in the first place? Apparently, trouble followed her wherever she went; the ultimate stalker. Lina rolled her eyes and Karen continued to chortle with laughter.
"Oh, did they get Miaka?" Lina asked; it seemed as if she cared more about Miaka than herself, but that was just Lina's general disposition: her uncanny selflessness that put the safety of others before her own. Chichiri nodded.
"Why don't you get more rest," Zell said, looking at her with gentle eyes. Lina gazed at him dreamily. She had missed him so much. Lina nodded lightly, unable to look at him for long; it was much too painful for the both of them. Zell seemed flustered immediately and averted his attention to something else quickly. He didn't know what else to say. He still loved her and it was no doubt she felt the same, but they were just in such an awkward position being as they were surrounded by others.
"Hey, Lina...what was that thing about Lutrisius?" Dan asked. The others also listened intently for an answer, but Lina gave none. Instead, she looked down at her hands and sighed deeply. Suddenly, the day felt old and unbearable. Her silence was eerie as was everything else about the scene, until finally, Squall rushed into the room and tore the silence to shreds.
"Lina! You're awake," he yelled. Lina nodded and faced him, weary already--their conversation, she knew, would not be a happy one. "Why didn't you come to me first when you found out? How could you release that information in public?"
"Squall, I didn't know everyone was there! Inside that box, I couldn't see anything. It was like a scene from the Farplane, how was I supposed to know!?" Lina argued. "What was I supposed to say to you, Squall? 'Guess what I'm doomed to a destiny I don't really want, what should I do?' Get real!"
"We have students talking and press calling for questions," Squall yelled. "what do you expect me to do? What do you expect me to think?"
"Think for yourself, Squall! It's not politics! It's morality!" Lina was already hopping out of her seat and while everyone else around her was completely clueless to the entire conversation they could still sense the tension.
"Lina, all of us here are going to have to work our asses off for your benefit. Just because you accidentally slipped up in front of the ENTIRE Garden--" Lina cut him off and strained her voice so that she made her point.
"I was born to die for people like you. Don't you dare talk to me about my benefits, Commander," Lina stood up completely and clenched her fingers into fists. Squall backed off immediately. Maybe he could tell just how selfish he was being. "Why don't you just tell the press that it was my fault. That this slip up was all my fault."
"Now, we can't have you doing that, can we?" Everyone suddenly stood up straight and saluted in their SeeD stances are President Laguna Loire waltzed into the room after Lina's remark. "No one is to blame for this mishap. It was simply...a mistake...misunderstanding. Whatever you want to call it. Either way, I'm sure Commander Leonhart here will be kind enough censor the information output for the sake of humanity." Lina bowed to Laguna gratefully and did not so much as glance in Squall's direction. "Please, Ms. Heartilly, it is an honor to meet you." Lina looked up, shocked.
"Laguna, no doubt you've met me before! Um...well...thank you for your help," Lina said. She didn't know what exactly to say, but she stopped him before he could bow to her too. It was just too awkward--Lina wasn't ready for that.
"Now I suggest you get out of here before the press comes, but when they do, I will take care of it," Laguna said. Lina nodded, thanked him again and they lot of them headed for the front gate. Lina called Angel for a quick escape and had her wait a moment at the gate while she turned around and said her goodbyes to her friends as she knew she was off once again.
"Dan, keep up the work, okay? Karen, don't kill Dan," the lot of them laughed--except Dan--that surprised him more than President Laguna's visit! "Zell..." Lina hugged him. "Thanks." Zell would have asked for what, but that was all he needed. "I'll see you guys soon, hopefully." She turned from them, obviously pained and climbed onto Angel's back with great ease. Chichiri followed, nervous as hell since this was his first time using a bird as a ride.
"Bye, Lina," Zell said as Angel took one swoop and they were in the air. "Don't be long."