A/N: I haven't really felt like writing. I lost my mother unexpectedly in 2017 and ever since everything had just been gathering dust. I had no drive no creativeness. Recently I feel like things are starting to get back to some kind of normalness.
Say Something
"Adiara, I have to leave the room, so the doctor can look at you," Poe said trying to reassure her.
"I don't want you to go," she said grabbing his arm.
"I will be right outside with General Organa. You will be able to see me the whole time out the window," he said placing his hand on her shoulder gently and giving her a soft smile. After a few moments, Adiara gave a slow nod in agreement and Poe gave her hand a gentle squeeze before leaving the Medical Bay.
"What do you think happened to her?" he asked as he leaned against the window, watching the frightened girl within.
"I am not sure; but, we should not push her to tell us. She will tell us in her own time when she is ready to. The next few weeks, maybe even months will be hard on her, physically and mentally," the General said quietly, glancing at Adiara.
"General," Poe started.
"I know. You may delay your mission for a few days, but no longer. Your mission is vital to finding Luke," she responded before he could respond.
"Yes, General," he responded before glancing back at the terrified girl feet away from him.
"I know how you feel about her Poe. It is written on your face whenever you look at her," she said looking at him.
"General," he started but she raised her hand to stop him.
"She feels the same for you. It is nice to see love blooming in a time of war. However, it seems Kylo Ren and Snoke are using her feelings for you, against her, torturing her with it. It means they know you have feelings for her. Should you be captured by The Order, they will do the same to you. They will use her against you," she said calmly. "You must distance yourself from her. Not completely. Do not break her but protect her and protect your mind."
"I am not sure I can, General. The past few days of not knowing have been unbearable," He said looking away from the window and putting his head in his hands.
"Make no mistake, Poe. The Order will use her against her. You must be careful. We all must." She said as she placed her hand on his shoulder. "You have three days, then you must leave."
"Yes, General. Am I dismissed?" he said standing up straight.
"Yes, go to her. I will notify the base that she is awake and to remain undisturbed unless she requests to see them."
"Thank you, ma'am," he said before walking back into the medical bay to talk to the doctor.
"Good news Malek. The doctor says you are physically fine and you might be able to return to your own room tomorrow, with conditions that are," Poe said as he sat on the edge of her bed.
"If I am physically fine, then why tomorrow? Why not today? And what conditions?" She said sharply.
"They want to keep you another night just for observation. The condition is that you speak to the psychiatrist or therapist on base, and come in daily to be double checked for any potential side effect from what happened," he said calmly.
"I just want my own bed, Poe," she said looking at him with tears in her eyes. "And my own clothes."
"Do you want me to grab a few things from your room?" Poe asked gently.
"I would rather go to my room and shower and change," she said trying to get out of bed.
"Malek lay down," Poe said pushing her back down. "You have just been through a lot. You need to rest and trust the medical team."
"I want out of this bed, Dameron. Ask them if I can go to my room to shower, if need be you can accompany to my room and make me come back here," she snapped back forcefully.
"I will ask," Poe said.
"No! Have the doctor come in. I want to speak to him myself. I tend to be more forceful than you," she stated.
"As you wish," he said before exiting to fetch the doctor. As soon as he left her eyesight, Adiara could feel her heart rate rising and she began to panic. She pulled her knees up to her chest and took deep breathes to steady her heart rate before the doctor entered the room.
"Yes, Malek," the doctor said coming to her bedside.
"I would like to go to my own room today. I want to shower and change. And rest in my own bed. I will wear a sensor, and someone can stay with me if you so choose. I do not want to spend another night in this medical bay," she said determined to have her way.
"Adiara," Poe started but stopped when she gave him a look.
"If I agree to this, you will wear a heart monitor, I will release you to someone else's care to watch over you and you must return to the medical first thing in the morning for additional tests," the doctor said reluctantly.
"I can agree to that," she said, nodding her head.
"Ok, I will get the heart monitor. You will have to take it off to shower and then put it back on, immediately. Dameron, I am assuming that I will be releasing her to your care?" the doctor said looking at Poe.
"Yes, sir," he responded nodding his head. "I will make sure she does what you require."
"Very well then," the doctor said, turning to the cart behind him. He opened one of the drawers and pulled out a wristband. "You may only take this off to shower, and that is all. If you do not put this back on within 30 minutes of taking it off, you will be back here for as long as I see fit. Do you understand?" he asked as he placed the wristband on her left wrist. Adiara simply nodded her head yes. "Also, if at any time, Dameron may bring you back here should he feel something is wrong. Dameron, she is now under your care," the doctor said before leaving her bedside.
"Adi, are you sure about this?" Poe asked, giving her a concerned look.
"Yes, Poe. Please take me back to my own room," she said reaching for his hand.
Poe grabbed her hand and gently helped her get out of the bed and stand up. As she placed her weight on to her legs, Adi felt her leg muscles tense and then collapse under the weight. Poe caught her quickly in his arms and gave her a concerned look.
"I will be ok, Poe. I promise," she whispered back to him.
"I am going to carry you," he whispered back. And with one fell swoop, Poe had picked her up in his arms and made his way out of the medical bay.
Adi wrapped her arms around his neck and hid her face in his chest. Her room was on the other side of the base from the medical bay. She knew they would pass a good amount of people on the way and she didn't want to see any of the concern and worry on their faces. Snoke had managed to invade her mind and torture her with ease. If her mind could be invaded so easily, couldn't anyone else's? But Snoke didn't want anyone else. He wanted her and he was prepared to do anything to get her, alive or dead.
"Dameron!' A voice called, and she could hear the sound of running footsteps.
"Not now, Wexley," Poe called back gently.
"It is ok, Poe," Adi said gently as she buried her face as far as she could into his chest and tightened her grip around his neck.
"Is she ok?" Wexley asked quietly.
"She can hear you, you know," Adi said moving her head slightly to see Wexley's face.
"I am sorry, Malek. How are you," Wexley said softly.
"I will be ok, Thank you. I just want to get back to my own room and get cleaned up and rest," she responded with a soft smile. She could see a small sign of relief in his eyes.
"I am glad you are ok, Malek. You had us all worried. I will let you get back to your room to rest. If you ever need to talk, I am here," Malek said softly before giving her a soft smile and then leaving.
"Thank you, Wexley," she called so he could hear her. She returned her face to her previous position and Poe continued to walk on.
"You know I am going to have to tell the General that you returned to your room, right?" Poe said softly after a few minutes.
"I know. The medical bay probably already informed her. I would not be surprised if she was waiting at my door when we get there. You know I could probably walk by now," she said softly.
"Where is the fun in that?" Poe smirked. "Besides, we are almost to your room."
"Have it your way, Dameron. Don't complain to me later when your arms hurt from carrying me across the base," she said as she nuzzled her face in closer to his chest.
"You know for someone who has not showered in a few days, you don't smell that bad," he said trying to get her to laugh.
"Don't be rude, Dameron; or, I will make you carry me back to the medical bay," she said glancing up at him.
"Which is where you should be," a voice came.
"General Organa," Poe said, stopping in his tracks.
"Care to explain?" she asked.
"You know how Malek can get about the medical bay. She tends to be very persuasive."
"I think Malek can speak for herself," Leia said as she gently placed a hand on Adi's shoulder. "Set her down on that bench Poe. I wish to speak to her."
"Yes, General," Poe said with a nod before walking a few paces and placing Adi on a bench. She blinked her eyes rapidly until she got used to the brightness. She could see Leia standing in front of her giving her a stern look.
"I know what you are going to say General, but," she started but Leia held up her hand.
"You do not," she said back. Adi looked down at her hands as Leia sat next to her.
"Adi," Leia said gently as she grabbed her hand. Adi looked at her with tears forming in her eyes. "I want you to know that as much as I do not agree with you leaving the medical bay, I understand. You have been through an ordeal and you need to be surrounded by familiar things and people you love. I will never force you to talk. You may talk to me or anyone when you choose to, on your own terms. Do you understand me?" she said gently. Adi nodded her head and Leia gently pulled her into a hug. "You are like a daughter to me, Adi. You have been with me for many years. Please know that you can come to me with anything. I will help if it is my power to do so."
"Yes, ma'am," Adi said through her tears and hugging her back gently.
"Dameron," Leia called.
"Yes, General?" Poe said as he reappeared.
"I believe our young Malek would like some rest. Please see her to her room and watch over her. I will discuss further things with you tomorrow," she said sternly to him before turning back to Adi. "Get rest my dear." She gave Adi's hand a final squeeze and then stood and walked away.
"Ready?" Poe asked as he offered her his hand.
"Yes," she said taking his hand with a small sigh of relief. And without a word or any warning, Poe swooped her up in his arms and Adi let out a yelp.
"Sorry," he said giving her a concerned look.
"I am ok, Poe. You just startled me that is all. My room is right there, I assumed I would walk the rest," she said.
"Like I said, where is the fun in that?" Poe asked with a smirk. He walked the few paces down the hall to her room, opened the door and walked in, closing the door behind them.
"Poe, I am capable of walking to the bathroom to shower," she said as Poe crossed her room.
"I am going to set you on your bed, then I will turn the shower on and go stand by the door to give your privacy," he said as he crossed to the bed to place her down on her bed.
"You could have at least gone to my dresser first," she said jokingly, as he set her down on her bed. Part of her wished that he hadn't and that she was still in his arms, safe. She knew deep down that Ben was right. She had developed some kind of feelings toward Poe over the years, but there was always that small part of her that would still love Ben and want to save him. Even if he didn't think he was savable. That didn't matter now though. Ben was gone and Kylo Ren stood ready to destroy the one thing she had left to hold dear.
"Adi? Are you ok?" Poe asked grabbing her hands and squatting down to look her in the face.
"I will be," she said softly, wiping away the tears that had slipped out of her eyes.
"The shower is on. I will let you shower and change. If you need me I will be right on the other side of the door," he said pointing to the chair just outside her bedroom door. Adi had a slightly better living quarter than Poe. Since she was connected to Leia, Leia assigned a living quarter close to her. Adi had more of a small apartment than just a room. She had a sitting area and then a pricy screen that separated the living area from her bedroom and bathroom.
"Thank you, Poe," Adi said squeezing his hands and resting her forehead on his.
"Malek, when will you learn that I would do anything for you?" Poe said gently before placing his hands on her face and giving her a small kiss on her forehead. "Get a shower. I will set up some blankets on the couch for me to sleep on." He said walking just outside her bedroom. "If you need me, just call out, its privacy screen not a soundproof barrier," he said jokingly.
"I will, Poe," she responded. He gave her one more look and then hit the button for the privacy screen.