A quick note about numbering. I know that the site says this is chapter 4, and that I say it's chapter 3. It is chapter 3, and it is chapter 4. What the site called chapter 1, I called the Prologue. That explains everything, right? ;)

Thanks again to my betas-jublke and StatsGrandma57-your help is invaluable. Thanks, too, to everyone who is reading and following this story!

Supply Run

Chapter Three

Though Han would never say it, traveling through hyperspace could be boring. Chewie could always find some way to spend the time: reading, watching a holovid, or tinkering with something in the Falcon; the co-pilot always had an improvement or two in mind. But Han was more restless; he much preferred hands-on piloting to the errant nothingness of lightspeed. This trip, with all of the added risks involved—and the frightening new thoughts planted in his brain by a meddlesome Alderaanian general—didn't help his mood any. He prowled the ship like a sand panther, shifting from task to task, but never settling at one for very long.

Luke, intent on his lightsaber practice, didn't appear to notice. The remote shot bolt after bolt at the young man, who managed to parry most of them. The kid was getting better at it, Han realized. Who'd have ever thought it? There might be hope for the erstwhile Jedi yet!

Han flicked a few switches on the engineering console, pleased to see the hyperdrive systems were all reading normal.

"Chewie, I'm going up front."

The Wookiee looked up and growled inquiringly.

"No, the system's good," Han answered. "I'm just gonna check a few subroutines. You know, while we have the time."

Chewie chuckled understandingly at Han's retreating form. Some things never change, he thought.

And some things did change. His furry eyebrows rose as he watched Leia follow Han down the access corridor.

####

"Is everything okay?" Leia asked the back of Han's head.

His hands didn't falter as he worked the controls of the particle sensor array, but Leia saw his eyebrows raise as she looked at his reflection on the forward canopy.

"The ship's fine," Han responded, his voice carefully neutral. He turned to look at her when she sat in Chewie's oversized seat. "No reason it shouldn't be."

"Except for the hole in the hull," she pointed out. She smiled tartly when he started to object. "I know, it's just a small hole."

"It's nothing to worry about." His hands were still on the control panel. He turned to look back at the distorted mosaic of hyperspace. "How come you're not back there watching Luke do his Jedi practice?"

Leia's slim shoulders twitched up in a shrug. "He gets a little intense sometimes," she explained. "It's kind of hard to take." Then Leia smiled. "And it gets warm back there with all the bolts flying around, even if they are only stunners."

Han barked a surprised laugh. "You've got a point! I don't know how Chewie can stand staying back there with him."

"I suspect Chewie's learned to put up with quite a lot over the years, traveling with you," Leia countered, a sweet smile on her face. Her eyes, however, glittered with mischief.

"Nice, your Worship," Han said, without rancor. He took a deep breath. "Are you okay with this trip?" he asked, his eyes searching her face. Her spine stiffened, but her eyes went dark and far away.

"I have to be, don't I?" she answered defiantly.

Han arched a brow in her direction, sensing her discomfort with the mission. "Come on, Leia, I've seen you." He was one of the few people who'd witnessed just how much she still grieved for her home and family.

"I have to be," she repeated, but she sank a little deeper into the seat. "That doesn't make it any easier, though," she admitted.

He nodded in understanding. "Whose idea was this little adventure, anyway?" he asked. His restless hands moved over the Falcon's control yoke, even though there was nothing for him to control. "Dodonna? Or Mon Mothma? It sounds like her," he sniped.

"Actually, it was my idea." Leia gazed steadily at him. "We have to get that money before someone else does."

"Your idea? Are you crazy?" Han leapt from his seat, stalked the three steps to the cockpit hatch, then turned to face the princess. "You know the place is crawling with Black Sun don't you? I'm sure they'll be happy to take any credits you can get your hands on! And maybe they'll turn you in to the nearest Imperial garrison, too—if the stormtroopers don't find you themselves, first!"

By the time he was finished, Han was shouting.

"Han!" Leia hollered right back. She stood to face him. "Han," she said again, this time in a more normal voice. "I know all that. One of the intelligence agents in the capital has heard rumors that Black Sun has been trying to get access to the account. That's why we have to get it ourselves, as soon as possible."

"Kriffing terrific," Han remarked acidly.

"I know it's not ideal," the princess continued, "that's why I asked General Rieekan to relieve Luke of his duties with Rogue Squadron. So he could come with us."

"You asked for the kid to come with us?" Han bellowed, with a surprising amount of heat.

"Do you have a problem with that?" The princess's heat matched his. She dropped back into the seat with an angry huff, and turned her face to look out the canopy. "I didn't want you taking the risks all alone."

"Yeah, I do have a problem with it! You don't have to worry about me, sweetheart, I've been taking care of myself for years!" Han paused for breath, holding up a hand before Leia could interrupt. "It's you and Luke I'm thinking of. I've got enough trouble looking out for you, now I gotta look out for Luke, too!"

"Captain, I don't need anyone to look out for me, either. I'm perfectly able to take care of myself." Leia's tone rocketed from fire to ice. "And Luke certainly has shown he's able to do the same."

"Listen, sister," Han's voice was low and menacing, "I've pulled the kid's butt, and yours, outta the line of fire more times than I can count." Bracing one hand on the console, the other on the back of the co-pilot's seat, Han leaned down until his face was mere inches from Leia's, forcing her to look at him. "The last thing I need is someone deciding what I need and what I don't need—because I don't need anything from anybody!" His noisy exhalation lifted the fine hairs around Leia's face.

"Yes, you've made that perfectly clear, any number of times." Leia slipped neatly out from underneath Han's extended arms. "But, unless you're planning to shove Luke out an airlock, he's coming with us now." Head held high, she marched stiffly to the hatch. "I'm going to go and watch Luke practice, after all. The air in here is a little too heated for me." The hatch slid open to reveal Chewbacca's tall figure, his face reflecting curiosity and the tiniest bit of trepidation.

"Sorry, Chewie," she said as she pushed past him, "I need some air."

The Wookiee watched her stalk down the access corridor before he entered the cockpit.

Han stood in the middle of the small space, staring out the hatchway. Chewie warbled a question.

"No, nothing's wrong," Han said, watching the retreating princess. "Why do you think something's wrong?"

Chewbacca looked at his friend's face for a long time. Finally he shrugged and moved to his seat.

"Don't look at me that way!" Han continued. He flung his hands in the air. "There are too many people on my ship. I'm going to my quarters."

Contemplatively, the Wookiee cocked his head to one side as he watched the Corellian deliberately swagger away.

####

"Is everything okay? I thought I heard shouting."

Luke looked across the holotable as Leia seated herself. His face was flushed and his undershirt was damp with sweat. As far as she could tell, though, he didn't have any burn marks on him from his latest practice session. He was getting better with his lightsaber, Leia thought, at least when he was fighting against a remote.

"Of course you heard shouting, we're dealing with Han Solo." Leia's eyebrows drew together.

Luke opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again when he looked at Leia's angry countenance. That was a wise choice. It would have just been his standard I don't know why you two don't get along better speech, and Leia didn't want to hear it right now. She didn't know why they didn't get along. Because they did, at least most of the time. She actually hadn't disliked Han since…since when? At least since he came back to help Luke with the Death Star; maybe even before then. It was just that it seemed as if the only way they could communicate was by provoking one another. There was something about the man that just made her react! She'd never known another being who could cause her to feel the way he did.

"Are you okay?" Luke asked, staring at her unsettled features.

"Yes," she reassured him. "I was just thinking."

"You know, I think Han's worried about this mission," Luke continued. "Ord Mantell is a pretty dangerous place."

"I know it is." Leia responded. "That's why I wanted you to come along, too."

Luke's small frame seemed to expand exponentially. "You asked for me to come? Because it's dangerous?" His proud grin lit the entire lounge area.

"I wanted to be sure that Han had enough back-up." The words came out of Leia's mouth before she had a chance to think about them. After, she wasn't sure who was more shocked at that statement, Luke or herself. "General Rieekan agreed with me," she continued quickly.

The grin dimmed as Luke processed this information. "So, you're worried about Han?" Leia saw that the concept seemed to surprise him.

"Yes, er, I'm worried about the mission." Leia looked at Luke's uncertain face, and found herself wondering if Han Solo's complete lack of diplomacy was rubbing off on her. "I think you're the best person to help with this," she added, hoping to boost his morale. "I can't think of a better one." She smiled at him, resting her hand lightly on his arm.

Luke seemed to accept the unspoken apology. "Well, I'm glad you asked for me," he responded. His smile returned, though it seemed a little more wary than before. He looked over at the chrono at the engineering console. "We've still got some time. How about a game of dejarik?"

Leia nodded, and Luke activated the board. The holo pieces took their places. It wasn't Leia's favorite pastime, but there didn't seem to be anything else to do. Besides, it would give her time to think. Suddenly, she realized, she had a lot to think about.

####

This is stupid, he thought. I'm hiding in my own ship!

Han lay on his bunk, glaring at the ceiling and wondering how he'd gotten to this point. Not only was it stupid, it was embarrassing!

What he'd said to Chewie was the truth, sort of. There were too many people on his ship; if one stubborn Alderaanian princess could be considered too many. How dare she bring Luke along because she thought he needed help! He didn't need help. From anyone. The fact that he'd actually talked to Luke about the dangers they would face on Ord Mantell himself didn't figure into the equation at all.

I didn't want you taking the risks all alone. That statement threw everything out of balance. The fact that Leia actually seemed to be concerned over his well-being was a completely unexpected variable. Not that she needed to worry about him, of course. Still…was it possible that the ice princess was thawing, just a little? Han felt his face relax into a smile. That might not be so bad, he thought. He had to admit that he found the princess intriguing. There was more spirit in that little body than he'd seen in any other being. And she was pretty kriffing attractive, too.

Whoa! Han leapt up so fast he nearly banged his head on a nearby shelf. What had happened to no attachments and no commitments? And where had keeping things simple disappeared to? Was it possible that Carlist Rieekan had been right? Gods! And if he was, then what?

Standing stunned in the middle of his utilitarian quarters, Han was forced to admit it to himself—of course it was possible! From the day he'd met her, he'd been drawn to Princess Leia Organa. Her fearless spirit, her devotion to her cause—though he'd never admit that one to her—her cute little…

He sank back down onto the edge of his bunk with a sheepish grin; he probably wasn't the only one who was attracted to that last feature. But the rest of it? That was another story entirely. He'd known many women in his lifetime—he'd liked most of them a lot, he thought fondly—but he'd never felt about a single one of them the way he felt about Leia. Even Bria Tharen, whom he believed to be the love of his life, had never affected him this way.

Hells! Han ran his hand along the back of his neck. Now what did he do? Did he make his move, as Rieekan had suggested, or did he wait to see how her Worship behaved? Han had a suspicion—a feeling, he cringed—that Leia was experiencing the same emotions that he was.

A discreet chime and a blinking light interrupted the tangled knots of Han's thoughts. The monitor panel built into the wall indicated that they were finally reaching Ord Mantell. With a sigh of relief, Han left his cabin and headed toward the cockpit; at least now he had something to do.

"C'mon, Chewie," he called out as he walked past the main hold, "we're coming out of hyperspace."

The Wookiee rose to follow his captain with an affirmative grunt. Luke and Leia rose from the holotable to come along as well.

Han was acutely aware of their presence as he took his position at the Falcon's controls. Even if he was unsure about his newly discovered feelings for the princess, he was certain of one thing—he needed to make sure he kept them all alive.

Han had a very bad feeling about this mission to Ord Mantell.