"Kaiyah, please don't..." Rosco whispered as he held his best warrior in his arms. She raised a bloodied hand and put a surprisingly strong finger to his lips, silencing him. Their eyes locked and there passed a moment of understanding as between two brothers in arms. Rosco held back tears and tried to swallow the growing lump in his throat as he took Kaiyah's hand in his own trembling one. He looked up at the group of friends surrounding him and Kaiyah, met each one's gaze and saw his own sadness reflected in their eyes, only he knew that it couldn't be even grazing the surface of the pain he felt looking down at Kaiyah's battered body. Rosco tore his gaze from her injuries back to her face. She looked so different now, he thought; wounds covered her body, and he was surprised and impressed she had survived this long. In addition to the many new gashes, the claw-mark scars that covered the diagonal length of her face had been torn through again with the paw of the same creature that had maimed her before. Rosco stiffened and scowled at the thought of that evil bastard, and promised himself right then and there if he ever got his hands on him, he would make the man wish he was never born. A tiny groan from Kaiyah told Rosco that he was holding her too tight and relaxed, releasing her hand as well and letting it fall gently to her side. He brought his now free hand up to stroke the side if her face and tuck a stray lock of hair behind ear. "I'm sorry Rosco," she murmured softly, "I've failed the squad." "You've done nothing of the sort," Rosco replied firmly but gently. Kaiyah smiled weakly -but before she could respond- coughed and took a ragged breath, and her eyes fluttered closed. Her breathing shallowed and her head lolled to the side. Rosco bent his upper body over her, mentally begging her to stay alive, whispering near inaudibly to her, no longer trying to hold back the tears. He felt a hand on his shoulder but didn't look up. He heard Lux's voice, "Come on, we need to leave." "She'll be fine Rosco, I'm sure the meds will make sure she'll recover." Ahsoka added. Rosco innerly agreed with her, he knew Kaiyah was a strong young woman. The young couple turned and walked towards their ship. Rosco slowly rose from the ground with Kaiyah held close to his chest, her head resting in his shoulder and her left arm dangling limply to the side. He gently kissed her forehead at the least bloodiest part and headed to the Stormsong with the others not far behind.
Rosco was silent and let no one take Kaiyah from his arms until they reached the med bay where he had no choice but to place her on a cot to be treated. He held her hand then and stayed beside her throughout her different healing processes, with the exception of the bacta tank. He did not leave her side for days, holding her hand and speaking to her softly now and then. A few times Kaiyah stirred but soon fell back under anesthesia again and again. The med droids came in constantly, but Rosco always had the same answer for them; she had not awakened.