Ji saw the malevolent glowing eyes appear behind Angel but only had time to raise his hand before it clamped down on her left shoulder with a fierce bite. A short cry flew from her lips as he and Buck bolted into action. Buck's blaster discharged several shots into it, causing it to release her while Ji leaped forward and wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her away. The creature hissed at him loudly as he whipped out his own blaster and fired a shot into its skull. The light in its eyes blinked out as it crumbled, joining the rest of the rakghoul bodies on the ground.

"You alright missy?" Ji met her eyes and winced at the pain he saw in them though she kept her composure.

"Yes," her voice shook slightly as she reached up with her right hand and flinched at the multiple puncture wounds, "Not my first encounter with these creatures. Probably won't be my last." Ji stripped off his gauntlet and dropped his hand to his belt to pull out a small stim.

"Not sure when that the last time was, but here." He pressed the inoculation into her arm as she hissed in pain, "Rakghoul bites ain't no joke, better safe than sorry." He turned her slightly, cursing at the arc of deep punctures bleeding heavily through her torn shirt.

"Bu'nas'a," he muttered as he took his knife from his boot, "Sorry about your top missy, but can't be helped." He slid the blade under the wrist of her sleeve and split the fabric up her arm to her neck exposing her wounds, then sliced off the excess to press it against them.

"What do you think you're doing?" Buck sounded incensed but Ji wasn't about to let the Chiss get to him.

"I'm patching her up," he snapped back, "If you've got any extra kolto toss it to me and keep watch in case more rakghouls are drawn by the smell of blood."

Buck grimaced briefly then took a bottle of kolto from his belt and handed it to Ji. He went back to keeping watch but Ji hid a smile at the small glares Buck kept shooting his way as he tended to Angel. Moving the fabric he'd held to her shoulder, he looked at the nasty bite. The wounds travelled in a curve just above her collarbone then arcing back over her shoulder blade. Ji shook his head as he smoothed the balm across them and Angel glanced over at her shoulder, then rolled her eyes with a deep sigh. In that moment it seemed like she was more annoyed than hurt.

"What was that look for missy?" he asked as he kept applying kolto, using it to staunch some of the bleeding. She winced again with another sigh of aggravation.

"Not a fan of rakghouls," she muttered, "Seems like they always end up with a piece of me." Her free hand lifted to her cheek confirming to Ji that she'd been scarred by the creatures before.

"It's 'cause you're so sweet," he kidded, "I can't blame them for wanting a nibble." The giggle he heard was what he'd hoped for but then she looked up and their eyes locked.

Pain from the injury still filled her eyes, but there was also humor and something that beckoned him, something that bordered on wonder and got brighter the longer he looked. It made him feel like he'd fallen from his speeder and was tumbling over the ground trying to get his bearings. One of his hands slid across her shoulder and the slick balm under his fingers jarred him back into reality, forcing him to tear his gaze away. It didn't help that he heard her swallow and she shivered lightly under his touch.

"Usually I heal myself," she said softly and figured she was talking about her abilities.

"No harm in letting someone help," he murmured, "You're doing good missy. Any deeper and those teeth would have scraped bone. You want a stim for the pain?" This time she shook her head as she turned to face him.

"Should stay alert." There was still pain coloring her voice but she held it well. "We just need to get to the post, right?" He nodded and gave her a quick grin.

"Least it wasn't your saber arm," he joked, enjoying that she was able to give him a smile back, "If you're good to move we can get out of here."

He tied her sleeve around her shoulder the best he could just to keep the wounds covered then tugged lightly at her waist. Buck still had his blaster out, alert to any more ambushes but he looked at Angel with concern.

"How are you doing Angel?" he asked. Ji noted the apprehension in the Chiss's eyes, then relief as she gave him a small nod and smile.

"I'll make it," she assured him giving his arm a quick pat. They hurried as best they could to the speeders, Buck covering the three of them while Ji kept an eye on Angel. Occasionally a rakghoul would pop its ugly head up and make a charge at them, only to be dropped by a few shots from Buck's blasters. Least he's good for something, Ji thought smiling, appreciating that Buck was keeping their way clear.

Before mounting his speeder, Ji walked over to Angel to inspect her shoulder. "Let me get a look at that bite," he said shifting her bandage carefully. The circle of punctures were deep but clean with no angry red of infection or rakghoul virus, "They're looking alright but why don't you keep riding in front of me so you don't have to hold on?" The question seemed innocent enough but for some reason it made Buck look up sharply.

"I think she should ride with me," he said, "I know the route to the Pup base better." Angel looked at each man and Ji could see a slight strain around her eyes that he attributed to pain.

"He's right Buck," she sighed, "He'd be less conspicuous if we're spotted." The Chiss looked chagrined but nodded as she walked to him and put her uninjured arm around him. He embraced her firmly but gently, looking relaxed for this first time since Ji had met him and the Mando averted his eyes allowing them to have their moment. When he looked back he could see the genuine care they shared on their faces, right before Buck gave her a smug grin and leaned down like he was trying for a kiss. She smacked his chest playfully, giggling, then got up on her toes to kiss his cheek.

"Thank you Buck, you did all you could," she spoke softly, "I'll com you when I get back to Serendipity."

"You had better, take care little Jedi," Buck shot Ji a superior look, but he and Ji exchanged nods before the tall Chiss climbed on his speeder and raced off.

Settling on his own speeder Ji sat back to let Angel on and she leaned back into him as he gripped the handlebars and sped towards the direction of the Pub outpost. He moved at a more sedate pace than before trying to keep the ride as smooth as possible. Angel shifted slightly to the right and Ji found himself glancing down at her shoulder. Green kolto streaked across her skin past the makeshift bandage, but he still noticed how silky the brown skin leading up her neck to her ear looked. His hands clenched as he was hit by an almost uncontrollable yearning to press his lips to the expanse to test if it was as soft as it seemed.

Bu'nas'a, he thought, where did that come from? But even while he pondered the origin of the wayward urge, he couldn't help but slide an arm around her waist to pull her tighter to him. She shifted again her body nestling into his chest plate like she belonged there and he swallowed hard.

Watch yourself son, he reminded himself, you barely know this girl. Ahh but what you know you like, a little devilish voice popped up in head, she was funny, resourceful, strong... beautiful. With that impish smile and sweet eyes; those slim curves and rich toned skin that made him want to... Bu'san'a son! he cursed again, you do have it bad. He grinned as he recognized the voice; it was the same one that had told him to jump into places he didn't belong, like nexu dens.

Nope not smart falling for this one he thought, you'd be choosing a complicated route. She was a Jedi, her type didn't pair up from what he'd heard and even if she did she wouldn't want to go traipsing from planet to planet with him, looking for the next target. His only source of creds were the bounties he did in keeping with the family tradition, not what you'd call a stable sort of life. He tried focusing on navigating the rugged terrain instead of the woman in his arms and felt both relieved and disappointed when the Pub post came into view. The first faint tendrils of dawn lightened the sky as he pulled into the treeline across from the base and stopped the speeder.

Angel moved slowly and Ji thought it might be from pain until she looked at him and he saw her features were soft and dozy. She'd fallen asleep he realized with a smile, feeling touched that she trusted him to that degree. She glided off the seat, stretching her lithe form carefully as she gave him an appreciative smile.

He motioned to the base with a nod. "There's the post missy," he said, "You going to be alright from here?" She kept smiling at him as she adjusted her bandage.

"I should be able to make it," she glanced at the foreboding turrets, "Hopefully they'll recognize me as a Jedi and not rain fire down on me." Ji knew she was joking but that wasn't an image he wanted to picture. Turning back to him, she leaned in and gave him a hug with her good arm.

"Thanks again Ji," she said, "For all of your help." He eased his arms around her returning her hug, trying not to jar her and aggravate her wounds. Squeezing slightly he turned his head and couldn't help brushing his lips softly to her temple before pulling back. Wondering how'd she react he looked into her eyes, she looked thoughtful but a smile danced in their bright depths.

"So how do I get in touch with you?" he asked boldly, "You know, to check how you're healing." As he watched the dancing light grew brighter and he felt relieved that she liked the idea. She unclipped a comm unit from her belt and after pressing a few buttons handed it to him.

"The frequency is set to a corresponding unit on my ship so I can contact you too," she stated, "It won't be long before I return to it and this way you can check on your patient." When she handed the comm to him he grasped her hand with both of his giving her a grin.

"So you're fine with associating with a scraggly Mando?" he raised his brows at her and got to hear her giggle again.

"Only if it's you Ji," she looked him over and gave him a wink, "Who else is going to find me that uj cake you Mandalorians are so fond of?" She squeezed his hand and trotted gracefully to the road then darted across, Ji watching as she signaled the guards at the turrets and they let her pass.

It was only when she'd disappeared into the post that he released a breath he didn't know he was holding, and the exhale surprised him. He shook his head again realizing he was gazing at the post like a moon-struck nerf when he heard a rustle in the undergrowth that sparked a memory. Playing on his hunch, he drew his blaster and aimed it where he figured an invisible Imperial stood.

"You can come out, Cipher," he drawled, "She made it in safe." The tall Chiss dropped his stealth field just to the right of where Ji was aiming and gave him an irritated look.

"You're as bad as she is," he said, his faint Ziost accent making him sound even more arrogant, "She always seems to know where I am." Ji nodded as he lowered his blaster.

"So why is she getting help from you? I mean Cathar are friendly to Pubs, why didn't she just hop a transport?" Buck gave him a dry look.

"Not my place to tell you," he said, looking haughty again, "Just know this, she's trying to redeem the memory of someone and doesn't have approval to do so. I help her and make sure she doesn't run into more trouble than she can handle. She's strong but..."the Chiss stopped himself and his eyes narrowed, "She and I have unfinished business. You should step back Ji, maybe forget you met her." The Chiss Agent didn't give Ji time to retort, activating his stealth field and disappearing. Ji listened closely and after a moment he heard Buck's speeder rev up

In the following silence he looked back at the Pub post and visualized Angel. He could picture her getting to the med bay, having her wounds treated, and being taken care of even if she felt she could take care of herself. Then he started remembering how well she handled herself in battle, her smile, and those clear eyes. Ain't happening Buck, Ji thought as he shook his head, I'm definitely not forgetting Angel. That girl burned too bright for him to not be drawn to her, and take off. now he just had to figure out how to stay in her light.