Chapter Two:

Han opened his eyes to the sound of a tool set being used on the ship near his cabin. Stretching, he glanced at the chrono. When he realized what time it was, Han bolted out of bed.

"It's almost four in the evening!" Han shouted incredulously. "How could I have slept so late?"

His answer came when he looked in the mirror on the refresher wall. He had the beginnings of dark circles under his eyes, and he looked ragged and worn. Han sighed, rubbing a hand along his chin. He decided it wouldn't hurt to shave before he officially greeted the day.

Half an hour later, a fully dressed and much more chipper Han strolled of the Millennium Falcon.

I'd better check in and make sure I haven't missed any important meetings. Han thought.

"Han!"

He turned on his heel to see Princess Leia Organa striding over to him. She looked radiant in a sea-green dress that accented her long locks of cinnamon hair and deep brown eyes.

"Morning Sweetheart." Han greeted with a smile.

Leia smirked at him. "Is it that time?"

"Any time you wake up is technically morning." Han declared.

"I guess so." Leia shook her head. "Obviously you needed it."

"Yeah." Han said slowly.

"You disagree?" Leia asked, glancing at him curiously.

"It's not that…," Han said thoughtfully. "It's just… I don't remember how I got to sleep last night."

"Maybe your body finally called it quits on your mind." Leia offered as they walked leisurely.

Han shook his head: he had the distinct feeling that he was missing something.

"No… well okay maybe, but that's only part of it." Han bit his lip as he raked his memory.

Memory…

Han stopped so suddenly that Leia didn't notice until she was several paces ahead. She quickly trotted back toward him.

"What is it, Han?"

Han looked at her with faraway eyes. "I can't recall one time I thought about…"

He broke off abruptly, the answer coming to him in a sudden flash of insight. And with the new-found knowledge came an enormous wave of guilt and shame.

Luke.

Even after Han had told him off, insulted him, and thrown his parentage in his face, Luke had still helped him without his knowing it.

Like the better man that he is. Han knew. Stang Solo, you really did it this time.

Han took off at a quick jog, ignoring Leia's attempts to call him back. He had to make things right between them.

He flew through the corridors of the ship, Leia hot on his heels until he came to Luke's cabin. He skidded to a halt, breathing hard, and pounded the door.

No answer came. Han lifted his hand to knock again when small fingers encircled his wrist.

"He's not here." Leia informed him.

Han spun to face her. "Where is he?"

"According to Madine, Luke volunteered as escort for the supply run that left in the middle of the night." Leia frowned. "Why do you ask?"

Han dodged the question with one of his own.

"Where'd he go?"

Leia frowned. "Why is this so important to you?"

Han closed his eyes, breathing deeply. "He's gone because of me."

"What are you talking about?" Leia pressed worriedly.

Han opened his mouth to respond when Leia suddenly jerked as if stung. It was his turn to be worried… especially when she got a faraway look. He'd seen that gaze when she told him Luke made it off the Death Star.

Dread curdled his stomach.

"Leia?"

She gasped, swaying slightly until Han steadied her.

"It's Luke; I think he's in trouble."

Han grabbed her shoulders urgently. "Where?"

Leia's comlink decided that was the moment to go off. She whipped it out instantly.

"Organa here."

"Princess Leia," General Rieekan responded. "We've just received word from the freighter Unordinary; it contacted us after a short hyperspace jump from Bothawui. They were attacked by a Star Destroyer."

Leia and Han shared an alarmed look.

"Any word on Commander Skywalker?" Leia asked.

"None since he let them leave." Rieekan sounded grim. "They said he told them to make the jump without him."

"We're going!" Han shouted at the comlink.

Han released her and raced back to the Falcon, with Leia again trailing him. Even without Luke's Force, Han could hear her communicating with Rieekan.

As he ran through the bay, Han whipped out his own comlink. "Solo to hangar three control."

"Control; go ahead General."

"I need immediate clearance for my ship." Han ordered. "Please." He added as an afterthought.

There was silence a moment as control checked their logs.

"Control to General Solo, you are cleared for immediate departure."

Han was already running up the Falcon's ramp. "Chewie we're leaving!"

"I'm going with you." Leia stated, strapping herself in before Han could argue.

"Fine." Han allowed as the Wookiee appeared.

[What's going on, Han?]

"Luke needs us." Han said as he lifted the ship off the deck and guided her out of the hangar.

As soon as he was clear of the shields, Han punched in the sublight engines.

"Got those coordinates, Leia?" he asked over his shoulder.

"One more moment." she said as she worked. "Okay, we're all set."

Han wasted no more time in pulling back the hyperspace levers.

00000

A few hours after their entry to hyperspace, Han stole away to his cabin. He knelt before his bunk, leaning his head against it.

"If anything happens to Luke because I chased him off, I'll never forgive myself." Han hissed softly. "What was I thinking, talking to him like I did?"

[He helped you sleep, Han.]

The smuggler lifted his head, unsurprised that his co-pilot and friend had followed him.

[After your fight, Luke came onboard and went into your cabin. When he came out I talked to him.] Chewie went on. [He helped you even after your harsh treatment of him.]

"What did he do to me, exactly?" Han asked.

[He chased away the memories that were plaguing you.]

Han peered at Chewie. "You knew, all this time, didn't you? About my dreams."

[Yes.]

"I…," Han swallowed. "Chewie, I really screwed up this time. And now Luke is probably hurt because I was careless and harsh."

[We do not know what we'll find.] The Wookiee reminded him.

A cry from the fore of the ship sent Han running back to the cockpit.

"Leia!"

He found her hunched over in her seat, tears streaming down her face. Han dropped to his knee beside her.

"Leia, what is it?" Han demanded.

She raised her red face to meet his eyes. "I… I felt Luke… he was in pain…," she looked away. "I don't know how to control my abilities, Han. I hope I'm wrong, but it felt so… so real."

Han found that he was having trouble breathing.

No… he thought in despair. NO!

He turned around and punched the consol… or tried to. A huge hairy paw stopped him as Chewie reprimanded him.

[Do not hurt the ship, Han, or we will not be able to help the Cub at all.]

Han blew out a breath. "You're right… thanks Pal."

At that moment the alert went off that they were arriving at their destination. Han gladly took the helm as Chewie resumed his own station. The counter reached zero, and Han reverted the Falcon to realspace.

Instantly alarms filled the cockpit.

"What's wrong?" Leia called. "I can't find any ships on the scope."

"Ah, we came out of lightspeed into some sort of debris field." Han complained. "Chewie, make sure shields are at full capacity."

Han and Chewie maneuvered the ship through the debris until they came to the edge of the cloud of flotsam.

"Wait!" Leia said distantly. "Turn the ship around to look at the debris."

Han and Chewie glanced at her, and then each other. Han shrugged and did as she asked.

"What is it?" Han inquired when the debris was in full view.

"There's something about it…" Leia said. "Do you recognize anything?"

"No." Han said slowly as he studied the larger scraps of junk.

Chewie howled abruptly, pointing out the viewport. Han and Leia both followed his line-of-sight, and gasped when the S-foil of an X-wing came into view.