CHAPTER 3:

Han Solo opened his eyes, squinting in response to the harsh light overhead. He closed his eyes and groaned, "Someone turn down the lights."

Chewbacca grumbled and slammed his huge hairy hand against the wall. Han sat up and shielded his eyes with his hand, "Chewie? What's going on?"

Han wasn't certain anymore how long they'd been here on Cloud City, but it had to be at least two days. Chewbacca hadn't slept since they've been captured due to the bright lights. The lack of sleep disoriented the large Wookie, and he raged around the cell. It angered Han to know that Chewie was being tortured as well. He had hoped the Imperials would have left his best friend alone. Han knew the Imperials viewed Wookies more as animals than as sentient beings. And since he was sure that no one spoke Shriiywook, there would be no need to torture Chewie. No one would understand any answers Chewie would give during an interrogation session.

Chewbacca howled, shook his arms, and pounded his fists against his head. Han stood up, "Take it easy, Pal."

But the Wookie's sanity was being stretched to its breaking point. Han's mind worked at lightning speed to ease his friend's suffering. Still shielding his eyes with his hand, he glanced around the room. In the far corner Han spotted the box of scraps of what used to be C-3PO.

Chewie, do you think you can repair him? She had such faith in the Wookie's abilities that, to Han, it sounded more as a request than a question of his mechanical prowess. She completely trusted Chewbacca. Did she have such trust in Han?

Lando has people who'll fix him. Lando fixed them all, alright. Maybe he didn't deserve her trust. Please let Leia be all right.

Han pulled out a golden arm, stomped over to the door of their prison, and banged Threepio's limb against it, "Hey! Turn down the lights, will ya'?"

Chewbacca grumbled and roared in Han's direction, but Han kept banging Threepio's arm against the door and yelling, "Come on 'ere! Give us some peace for a bit!"

Then the bright lights abruptly dimmed. Han's mouth and hazel eyes widened for a moment before his countenance settled on smug delight. He looked at the surprised Wookie, "See? All ya' had to do was ask."

Chewie grumbled and rolled his eyes. Han leaned against the door and slid to the cold floor. He stared at gold arm in his hand, "Guess I can't say Threepio is useless anymore."

Chewie couldn't help but laugh. Then his tone turned serious. Han's eyes fell to the floor. "I..." he glanced down at his clothes. They were his and they were dry. How much time had passed? "Her heart stopped."

Chewbacca's back straightened. Han ran his hand through his hair, "I don't know." An image of Leia's limp body in his arms flashed across his eyes. "The...eight minutes passed…the medic, he was calling time of…" Han looked up at his best friend, "Vader did something…brought her back to life."

There was a desperate, hopeful tone in Chewbacca's inquiries about the princess. Han frowned, "Vader threatened his medic. He wants Leia alive." Chewie's steely blue eyes blinked a couple of times before he fully digested Han's words. Then he asked Han's opinion. Han sighed and looked Chewbacca in the eyes. "I don't know," he whispered. "Things were hazy. I didn't see her when I was in the infirmary."

Chewie walked over to his friend and squatted in front of him. "I'm all right," Han assured his best friend. As all right as can be expected. "I was just treated for hypothermia. Nothin' too serious." Not that Han actually had an idea about his own health at the time, but it was better to lessen Chewie's worry and stress. Han knew the loyal Wookie would be obsessing over Leia's condition as it was.

"How are you doin'?" Han looked into Chewie's worn face. The Wookie shook his head side to side and shrugged. "Looks like you could use some sleep."

Han pushed himself to his feet, but he swayed and Chewbacca helped him over to the cold retractable "beds". Han patted Chewie on the shoulder, "Sleep some. You never know when you'll need your strength." Maybe an opportunity of escape would befall them. Han leaned back against the cold wall. Who was he kidding? Things were getting worse as each moment passed. "I'll keep watch," he assured his co-pilot.

Solo stared at the door, willing it to open, hoping that Leia would be returned to them. How did things go so wrong so fast? Lando. The thought of his "friend" made his blood boil over. He should have known better than to trust Lando, but what choice did he have? There really was no other safe place to go. Maybe there was never a safe place to go.

Lando's betrayal burned Han deep in his bones. If this was payback for that fiasco at Yelsia, Lando went well-beyond what Han deserved. It was Bria who betrayed them all, not Han, but that hadn't mattered to any of his former smuggling friends. Han brought Bria into the mix. So Han grudgingly admitted he deserved some payback, and not just Bria breaking his heart. But Chewie and Leia were innocent bystanders. Well, maybe not Chewie so much as Leia herself. Lando had to know that Han wasn't alone.

Solo grimaced as he studied the exposed wires at the end of Threepio's arm. If Vader and his crew arrived before Han and the others, Lando had to know who his passenger was. He probably even knew that Leia was a leader of the rebellion. Lando had every reason to be sore about the rebels. After all, Bria used Han's smuggling friends—Lando included-- to pull off a caper for the rebels, and Bria stiffed them all, giving the smugglers' share of the bounty over to the Alliance.

Leia would have never used Han's friends the way Bria did. No, Leia was a woman of her word, much like Han in a way. She may have been too idealistic in a not-so-very idealistic galaxy, but she was noble and stood by her convictions. Han wondered if Lando would have done things differently had he known Leia.

Yes, Leia made Han want to be a better person. If Lando knew her, he'd certainly feel the same way. And then maybe Lando would have thought twice before betraying them…Han dropped his head against the wall. Could Lando do anything different? If Vader and his minions decided to camp out in his backyard—if Han ever had a backyard—could Han force Vader out?

I had no choice they arrived right before you did. How did Vader know where the Falcon and her crew were headed? Han was certain that they eluded the Imperials. His garbage trick was practically fool-proof. He watched the Star Destroyers jump to hyperspace. There was no way they could have followed the Falcon to Cloud City.

Which only left Boba Fett. Where he came from was an enigma. The ruthless bounty hunter had to be in the right place and the right time to find the Falcon at that particular moment. Han suspected that Fett was collecting a bounty for Vader and not Jabba. The tightness in his chest eased a bit at the thought that perhaps Han wouldn't have to worry about Jabba anymore. No, he'd just have to worry about Vader. He'd probably die at the hands of the dark lord, along with Leia and Chewbacca. Not that this was a pleasant thought in the slightest. But he wouldn't have to leave Leia, and however irrational that thought was, it gave him an inkling of comfort. He glanced at the door again, silently praying that it would slide open and reveal his princess alive and well.

With a swish and a zip their cell door finally did open, but Han was sorely disappointed when Leia wasn't standing there. Instead, several stormtroopers and an Imperial officer glared into the room. Their eyes fell upon the drowsy Wookie. Chewbacca sat up and bared his teeth, but the poor Wookie looked too drained to do any damage. The Imperial officer relaxed and turned his attention to Han.

"You, there," he pointed at Han. "Get up."

Solo remained where he was, "I kinda like it here."

"Get up now, Captain!" The Imperial raised his voice and the stormtroopers aimed their rifles at Chewbacca.

Han exchanged glances with Chewie. Then he slowly climbed to his feet and straightened his jacket. Han held his hands out to the side as he followed his escorts out of the cell. He looked back over his shoulder, "See ya' later, Pal." Han gave Chewie a small, discreet smile. Chewbacca nodded his farewell.

"So where we goin'?" Han asked, but he was met with no answers.

The stormtroopers led Solo through a maze of corridors, and Han tried to keep track of all the twists and turns just in case they had a chance to escape. However, his concerns over Leia and Chewie clouded his mind, and he lost track of from where he had come.

Finally, they stopped in front of double doors. Han had the vague feeling he had been here before, and his heart quickened. He inhaled deeply, preparing himself for the worse. The doors slid open to reveal a sterile environment with rust colored walls and overhead lighting that wasn't shadowed like the lighting in his and Chewie's cell. One of the stormtroopers nudged Solo forward with the nozzle of his rifle. Han walked down the narrow path made by partitions and empty beds. Finally, they stopped in front of a partition made of a gauzy material, and Han could barely make out the figure lying in the bed.

"I don't know why you deserve any special treatment, you rebel scum," the Imperial spat.

Han scowled at his oppressor, "Special treatment? I think I could do without your special treatment."

"Oh?" the Imperial officer's eyebrows rose. Then he caught sight of the swirl of a dark cloak around the bend, and his mien returned to cold business. He pulled aside the partition.

"Leia!" Han smile must have looked goofy to the onlookers, but he didn't care. Leia was there before him, alive and breathing. He rushed to her side and tentatively touched her pallid cheek.

"Han," her voice was weak, but she managed a smile for him. "I was so worried."

"You were worried?" Han carefully sat down on the edge of her bed and placed a kiss on her forehead. "How you feeling?"

"Fine," she quickly answered as her eyes flicked around the room. "Have you seen Chewie?" Han nodded and she sank a little deeper into her bed. "Is he okay?"

"As okay as can be expected," he answered truthfully. "Are they taking good care of you?"

"Unfortunately," Leia huffed. But then she noticed the hurt in Han's eyes. "I didn't mean it like that," she lied, and she knew Han didn't believe her. She pulled her hand out from under the covers and grabbed his hand, "How are you?"

"I've been better," he quipped.

A lull of silence settled in, and neither knew what to say to comfort the other. Perhaps there was no comfort left for any of them. Tentatively, Han pulled back the covers to Leia's midsection. She was wearing her snowsuit minus the vest. He then ran a finger along her hairline the way Vader had done when her heart stopped. Han's finger slid under her chin, and he reached for the zipper at her neck. Han pulled on the zipper, and Leia did not stop him. He pulled the quilted material aside to reveal a deep purple mark over her heart.

He gave her a closed-mouth smile and zipped her snowsuit up. Han pulled the covers up to her chin, "You cold?"

"I don't think I'll ever be warm again," she returned his closed-mouth smile.

"What did they do to Chewie?" Leia asked.

"He's fine."

"Han…" Leia gazed into Han's hazel eyes.

"Sleep deprivation," he looked away.

"Oh." She was quiet for a moment. "We're not going to get out of this one," Leia whispered. Numbness settled in her limbs and chest, a numbness that may have been more psychological than physical. She didn't know how she felt. Or rather, she didn't want to face how she felt.

"Hey, we got off of the Death Star," Han mustered up a cocky grin.

She returned his smile, only hers was worn and weary. Then she closed her eyes, "You shouldn't have come back for me."

"What?"

"On Hoth," Leia clarified, her eyes still shut. "You wouldn't be here if you just left like you planned."

"Hey," Han gently grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. "It's my friend who got us into this mess in the first place."

"I would have been captured on Hoth," Leia shook her head. "You wouldn't be here."

"No," Han shrugged. "I'd be beggin' Jabba for my life, probably going through the same--well, not the same torture. Vader's much more imaginative."

Leia laughed, and Han smiled, "All this…it was worth the extra time I got to spend with you."

Her eyebrows peaked, "How could you say that?"

"I can say that cos it's true," Han lowered his voice and gazed into her large brown eyes. "Leia, I—"

"Sh," she pressed her fingers against his lips and looked away from him. "I don't know if I can do this," she whispered.

"Do what?"

"I'm tired," Leia sighed. "I can't…I just want this to end."

Han's stomach dropped. Was his invincible princess losing hope? Was there anything left to hope for? Han gently laid his head against her chest and listened to her heartbeat, which was surprisingly strong. "You're not alone this time," he offered, hoping that his presence would give her the strength to endure whatever lied ahead.

That's why I want this to end. Leia stroked his hair. "I know," she whispered.

"Time's up," the Imperial officer who had escorted Han to Leia's bedside roughly grabbed Han's arm and pulled him away from the princess.

Han turned around and pulled back his fist.

"Han!" Leia sat up, and her stifled command was strong enough to halt Han's actions.

Han's fist dropped to his side and his shoulders slumped. He gazed into Leia's large brown eyes, and a cold fear traveled down his spine. The determined spark in her beautiful eyes had dimmed, and he had never been so afraid in his life before. Han opened his mouth to bid her farewell, but no words came. He settled for a small nod. Leia lifted her hand and stretched her small fingers out into a stunted wave.

The Imperial officer pushed Solo in front of him, and as they made their way down the narrow path between beds and partitions, a couple of stormtroopers joined them. If they were expecting any trouble from Han, they'd be sorely disappointed. Han had no fight left in him.

As they exited the infirmary, Darth Vader blocked their path.

"Bring me the princess."

"Yes, sir," the Imperial officer almost stumbled over his own feet as he disappeared down the slim walkway.

Han's eyes narrowed on the dark lord, "Why'd ya' do it?"

"Do what, Captain Solo?" Vader asked.

Han's voice lowered, and he clenched his teeth together, "Why'd you revive her?"

"You would have preferred it if I let her die?" Vader folded his arms across his breast plate.

"You were ready to terminate her on the Death Star," he seethed.

"I was not the one who put in the order for her termination," the dark lord watched the muffled surprise on Solo's face.

Han glanced back over his shoulder, "This is cruel, keeping her alive just to hurt her!"

"So I should have let her die," Vader challenged. "Is that what you really wanted?" Han looked away. "I didn't think so."

Vader studied Han for a moment. The man's shoulders slumped under the guilt he felt for even asking Vader about his intentions concerning the princess. Solo wanted Leia to die no more than Vader did, but the smuggler didn't want the princess to suffer. Vader reflected upon this…what could he call it? Dedication? Love? Whatever it was that Solo evinced toward the princess, it caused something to smolder in what was left of Vader's human heart.

Then Darth Vader was distracted from his thoughts as Princess Leia and her escorts approached. He knew what had to be done to achieve his goal.

"Han," Leia called.

Han raised his head, but he didn't look her in the eyes. Instead, he turned his angry eyes upon Darth Vader as he moved toward the princess. Once he reached her, he took hold of her hand. His expression softened when he finally found the courage to gaze upon her. "Your Worshipfulness," he teased.

Leia's eyes narrowed as she glared at him, and Han's heart flipped once at the fiery glint he saw there. He couldn't help but crack half of a smile despite their dire circumstances. He squeezed her hand, and she returned his conspiring smile. She still had some fight left inside her, giving Han the extra boost of strength that he needed to endure.

Leia lifted her chin. However selfish it might be, she was thankful that Han was by her side. She tried to swallow down her guilt as she rubbed her thumb against Han's skin.

"Come with me," Vader ordered, and a stormtrooper prodded Han with the nozzle of his rifle.

"Well, come on, flyboy," Leia sniped, giving his hand a tug. "We don't want to keep Lord Vader." And she looked up at him, her eyes swirling with fear and reservation and something else…Like it or not, despite or in spite of all they had been through, she trusted him completely. Han only hoped he wouldn't let her down…again.