Hello! Sorry it took me a while to update, but I hope you like the final chapter!

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Chapter 3 – New Beginning

Kanan sat, his elbows resting on his knees, watching and waiting. His padawan lied in his bed, his breathing steady and his eyes closed. Kanan had thought he heard Ezra moan, but it may just have been his mind playing tricks on him. Two rotations without sleep could do that to someone.

When Kanan had woken, Hera had told him what had happened. At first, he was furious at the kid. Ezra had known the risks of entering someone else's mind. Kanan explained it to him every time before meditation. Minds are delicate things, and if you mess with them too much, you could get hurt.

Those were his exact words to the boy, and yet he had ignored him.

After a while, he had cooled down. Kanan would have done the same thing for him. Bu as he sat before his unconscious padawan, he began to recall what had happened.

Kanan dreamt that there was no bridge to catch the kid when he fell. It was one of his worst nightmares, losing his padawan, having to feel a bond break again. It had almost killed him the first time, and he had no idea what he would do if it happened again.

All this had happened because he had been unable to get over his fears. It was somehow different this time. Kanan rubbed his eyes, leaning back into his chair. He heard the door open, but made no move to look at who was entering. He already knew.

"Hera, I'm not going to lie down. I can't sleep anyway."

"I know, Kanan," Hera said, pulling up another chair next to his. "I didn't come here to lecture you. I came to listen." Kanan gave Hera a confusing glare before turning back to his padawan. Ezra's eyes were still shut, his chest rising and falling at a steady pace. Kanan sighed.

"What do you want to know?" Hera looked at him, gathering her thoughts.

"I want to know why this happened, and why you don't want to talk about it." Kanan grimaced. Of course Hera would know exactly what to ask. He took a deep breath, and spoke.

"I….I've been having flashbacks." Kanan twisted his hands together in his lap, feeling uncomfortable talking about his emotions. He was closed off for so long, he forgot what it was like. When Hera did not speak up, Kanan continued. "Every time I closed my eyes, I'm in the interrogation room, strapped down and…dying. But lately… they've been changing. Things that didn't happen are happening. They're becoming…nightmares. And Ezra came crashing right into one."

"Is that why you forced him out?" Hera asked, and Kanan nodded.

"If someone enters another person's mind, whatever happens can hurt them physically." Kanan paused, the hum of the ship filling the empty air.

"So how did Ezra get hurt?" Hera questioned.

"I dreamt… that there was no bridge there to catch him…." Kanan looked away, his blurred vision staring at the floor. He felt Hera's hand on his shoulder, comforting him. He appreciated the gesture, but he wished he did not need it. He had to look after the crew, not the other way around. He had to stay strong, for their sake. It was not easy fighting the Empire, and it defiantly took its toll. It was his job to protect them.

"Kanan, I know what you're thinking," Hera said, rubbing her hand along his sore back muscles. "This isn't your fault. Don't blame yourself."

"No, Hera. It is. If I was able to get over it sooner, then-" Hera cut him off as she spun him around in his seat. She looked him straight in his eyes and spoke.

"Kanan Jarrus, don't you ever blame yourself for something you can't control." Kanan looked at Hera, surprised by her outburst.

"Hera, I-"

"Kanan, I'm serious. You sacrificed yourself to save us, and you were in the Empire's hands. I cannot begin to imagine what they did to you." Kanan looked away, but Hera touched his cheek and guided his sight back to her. "I want to help you, but I can't do that if you don't let me in."

Kanan looked into Hera's eyes, and his emotions busted open like a dam. Kanan did nothing to stop the tears from streaming down his face. Hera held him closer, running her hands through his hair, whispering comforting words.

He told Hera everything that had happened. All the pain he went through, all the torture, everything. Hera listened intently, giving Kanan the support to go on.

When he had finished, his throat was burning but his tears had dried. Kanan felt better, having the weight of his pain off of his chest. Not completely better, but it was a start. He rubbed his eyes, drying away the remaining tears on his face. Hera handed him a piece of cloth, which he accepted.

"Thank you," Hera said.

"Thank you? What for?' Kanan asked, setting the cloth aside.

"For opening up to me." Hera smiled at him, and Kanan could not help but give a small smile back. She glanced at Ezra, who still lied in the same position. "How badly do you think he's hurt?" she asked, her voice soft.

"I..I don't know. It all depends on if I was able to wake up before he…." The word hung in the air, both knowing what it as but neither wanting to say it. Kanan began twisting his fingers in his hand again. "After he fell, I forced myself to wake up. But by then, I didn't know how far he had fallen."

Hera nodded, resting her hand on Kanan's shoulder. "Well, there are no physical injuries. That's a good sign, right?" she said, her voice full of optimism.

"There are no injuries as far as we can tell. If Ezra wakes up, he'll be able to tell is something hurts."

"When Ezra wakes up," Hera corrected. Kanan looked up at her, staring into her green eyes. He was still amazed at how much hope that she held in them, even when it seemed like there was none left. Hera leaned closer to Kanan, her aroma of oil filling his senses.

"Ugh…" Kanan and Hera froze, their gaze whipping to the teenager. "Get a room."

"Ezra!" Hera exclaimed, choosing to ignore the remark. "How are you feeling?" Ezra's blue eyes darted over to Kanan.

"Like I got punched in the gut. Twice." Kanan winced slightly, but covered it up.

"Yeah, sorry about that kid. But while we're on the topic, you shouldn't have entered my subconscious. Minds-"

"Are delicate things, and if you mess with others too much, you could get hurt. Yeah, Kanan, I know." Ezra's eyes moved towards the ground. "But…everyone was panicking, and I…I didn't know what else to do."

Kanan nodded, not needing the force to see that Ezra was afraid. And for him, it was an emotion he did not see often. 'I'm not afraid' was one of his padawan's favorite phrases.

"I'm sorry. I…" Kanan looked to Hera, who nodded in encouragement. "I was beating myself up for the…fear that I can't control. I never expected this to happen."

"It's okay," Ezra said, brushing off the emotions. "So…how long have I been out?"

"About three days," Hera answered. Ezra's eyes widened. "It's okay, Ezra. Your mind needed time to adjust," Hera stole a quick glance to Kanan, who nodded. "Now, I'm sure you must be starving. I'll go get you something to eat." Ezra nodded, the fear in his eyes washing away. He would never deny food.

When the door closed behind her swinging leku, Kanan turned back to Ezra.

"How are you feeling – really?" Ezra smiled.

"Never better."

"Stand up for me." When Ezra opened his mouth to protest, Kanan cut him off. "I just want to be sure." Sighing, the teen agreed. He threw the blanket off and his legs swung over the side of the bunk. Kanan noticed the hesitation that flickered through their bond. "Ezra?" he asked.

Sucking in a deep breath, Ezra pushed his body up. He stood with his back straight, but Kanan still looked at him with concern. Trying to prove his master wrong, Ezra took a step forward. He quickly found that Kanan's concern was well-founded.

His knees buckled, sending the floor hurdling towards him. Two large arms engulfed him before he collided with the metal floor.

"I've got you," Kanan said, easing Ezra back to the bed. And Kanan meant what he said.

He would always be there when Ezra needed him, and the kid had proven that he would do the same. Their bond was strong, which made them strong. Kanan's nightmares occurred less and less. Ezra grew back his strength, and was back to driving his master up the walls in no time.

The events that happened by accident turned a sore spot into a new beginning.

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Fin

R & R

~ Kavella ~