Story Title: Lucky

Series Title: Unlikely Brothers

Author: Obi the Kid

POV: Dashen (Tanner is 10, Dashen is 16)

Series Summary: A series of non-chronological stories taking place in the world of my new original characters Dashen and Tannerlin.

Chapter Summary: Dashen survives an explosion.

Rating: PG

Characters: Dashen Lesedi, Tannerlin Vai (Jedi) and Virgil Colton

A gray nothing filled with smoke…or was it dust? I couldn't see a damn thing. And the ringing, oh, the ringing in my ears was excruciating. Worse still were the screams the echoed past the ringing. People were fleeing. People were hurt. People were dying. All around. My head hurt and pounded in time with the incessant ringing. I had a feeling I should be dead right now. Was I just lucky to be alive?

Something big had happened. I was in the building, having just taken payment from a client, then a cracking noise and then giant booms all around. Explosions? Collapse? An attack? All of the above?

I heard sirens in the distance now. At least I thought they were sirens. Hard to tell the difference between that and the impounded ringing. Should I go toward the sirens? Probably. If only…ah, I couldn't see a damn thing. Moving was just about impossible, but I did it. My face was covered in dirt and dust and blood. Wiping at my eyes, I thought maybe it would help my vision. It did, if just a bit. There was a door frame a few feet in front of me. The stairwell? To my right, crushed under fallen beams, was the lobby desk that I'd stopped at moments before to ask directions to my client's office. The creature working the desk, some sort of half-breed Wookie, wasn't to be seen. I hoped that meant she'd gotten away safely.

The stairwell seemed solid. It was only one flight I had to navigate. Couldn't be all that tough, right? I mean, buildings get blown up every day. Well, not so much around here, but they do, and people deal. Or die.

I was against the whole dying thing, so I tried dealing.

An hour later, I was still dealing. I couldn't find a way out. Several others were tracking along with me. The smoke and dust had cleared some now, but in a way it made things worse. Now we could actually see what we couldn't get around. We did our best to help those we could and at least get them out from under debris. Some we couldn't help and they would have to wait for bigger equipment and uninjured rescuers. Others were long past any assistance at all.

I threw up several times during that hour. The smells, sights, inhalation of who knew what, and just the thought of what had happened had my stomach turning flips. I only wanted to get the hell out of here and I couldn't for the life of me find a way out.

Then a shout from nearby; someone had found a hole to the outside. It was small and jagged, but as luck would have it, it was large enough for us to barely squeeze through. And we did; one by one. My slide through was painful and I felt flesh rip near my ribcage. But if I'd survived a building collapsing on top of me I could survive a simple flesh wound, right?

Outside, the view wasn't much better, but at least it was outside. Flashing lights were everywhere. Authorities were barking orders. Rescue personnel were running from there to here and back again. Equipment was being moved into place. It was an organized chaos and I trusted that those left inside and alive were in good hands now.

I, myself, staggered around for several minutes. I was looking for something. Someone? A couple people tried to direct me towards the healer tents that had been set up, but no, there was something I was after. My head still hurt though and my ears were still ringing and I was having difficulty remembering what it was…until I heard it. No, not it. Him. His voice.

I followed the sound as best I could. He kept screaming for me, my brother. And as long as he didn't stop, I'd find him.

Then I did. He was there, standing just on the outside of the rumble. Tannerlin yelled incessantly into the dust and smoke and crowds, calling for me. Behind him, thankfully, with hands holding his shoulders tight was Colton, keeping the kid from hurling himself into the chaos to try and find me. I'd found him first.

He saw me and Colton released him. Tanner ran and hurtled chunks of debris to get to me. When he did, I think it was the best damn feeling in the world. Pushing into my chest, he wrapped his ten year old arms around me and held on. I could feel him crying into my half-shredded tunic and all I could do was to hold tight.

Wrapping a dirty hand around his hair, with my voice raspy, I managed to say, "It's okay, Mouse. I'm okay."

Other than the arms getting tighter around me, there wasn't a response and the next thing I felt were larger arms pulling around the both of us and then Colton's voice. "You stupid idiot. You ever scare the kid like that again and I swear I'll kick your moronic self from here to Hoth. Do you understand me?"

I laughed of all things. This hell around us wasn't any laughing matter, but I couldn't help it. Colton wasn't a man to toss his emotions around freely, so his words, with their hidden meaning, were just what I needed. He really did give a crap about me…not that he'd ever admit it publicly of course.

Long minutes passed. Sirens continued. Orders were still being shouted about. And I needed to get the hell out of ground zero. My legs were wobbly now, working hard to buckle under me. Whatever luck had kept me vertical this far was running out. Tanner let go so that Colton could keep me upright.

"The healer tent isn't far, Dash. Come on, now."

"Do you guys hear that ringing sound?" I asked as we hobbled toward the tent.

"No, it's your head. Word is there were several explosions."

"I think one went off in my head. I don't feel too well, Colt."

Then I fell. And the ringing stopped. And the head pounding stopped. It all stopped and the last thing I remember was Tanner squeezing my hand and begging me not to die.

Damn that kid.

Pain hurts. It sucks too. I think I was alive though. I suppose this was considered living. My surroundings weren't familiar. They looked sterile and white. There were voices nearby. None that I knew, but they were rapidly snapping out orders. Then warm hands settled on either side of my face, checked under my eyelids, felt my forehead, rubbed my jaw line towards my ears and then massaged through my hair. Okay so it wasn't a massage, but it felt nice. The hands came away with pretty red colors on them. That had to be bad.

Ms. Warm Hands had a voice and it spoke. "Mr. Lesedi? I am Healer Eras. Your injuries are not serious, but substantial enough that you should stay horizontal for several days. I gave instructions to your brother and your uncle."

Uncle? I didn't have an unc…ooooooooh, yes I did. A fake one. Colton's cover when it came to us. My head was fuzzy. My brain wasn't working.

I was about to talk back to her when I realized I couldn't.

"You have dust in your lungs. It will expel itself, but may take a few days to completely clear. Speaking will be difficult for a time. Try not to do it."

Yes ma'am! I did love to talk though and was sure I would disobey her orders. For now I just pointed – to my ears and head. She understood.

"You were very fortunate, Mr. Lesedi. Most likely, you were in close proximity to one of the explosions. Although, the fact that you are alive counters that belief." Funny lady. Just hilarious. "Concussion is why your head feels like it does. The sound affected your ears. The ringing will stop completely within 48-72 hours. You will get a hypo-spray of antibiotics to take home. The wound on your side is deep and it was cleaned, but it still could become infected from the debris that was forged inside. Instructions are with your family. Your regular healer should check your wound in two days and it should be freshly wrapped daily. And that's it. Once your uncle returns, he can take you home. We will need to free up this bed." That worked for me and I did, like a fool, try and move before "Uncle Colton" arrived. And then sure enough, only nano-seconds later, I regretted that action. Healer Eras pushed me onto my back again. Flat. "When he arrives, I said. No sooner. Stay still. I must see to other patients now."

Uncle and brother popped up soon after she left. I'd never been so happy to see familiar faces. Tanner immediately bent down and hugged me awkwardly. It hurt some, but the kid looked distraught as all get out, so I allowed it. Colton knew better than to be all mushy in public, so instead he gave me my marching orders.

"My driver is waiting outside the perimeter fence. You ready?"

I nodded and drew blood on my bottom lip to keep the pain in. Our journey to Colton's speeder was short and our ride was comfy; an entire backseat all to myself. Well, almost. I was using Tanner's lap as a pillow since the kid refused to step one foot away from me. I was okay with that and to be honest, I needed it right now. I felt like crap both physically and emotionally, and still didn't know all that had happened.

Tanner curled his left hand around my shoulder to lie across my chest and grip my right hand. I felt something then. Something…weird. A faint and strange sensation tingling through my chest. Or maybe I was just imaging it. But no, there it was again. No, no imagination involved. It was there. What the hell?

My 'not-brother' brother had gone and grown up on me at the grand old age of ten and it was his turn to be the comforter. He knew I felt whatever he'd just done and he looked down at me.

"The Force can comfort even non Force users. Master Ayden used to tell me that and taught me how it worked. It can be settling. I don't have a lot of power behind my control, but if you let it help, you'll feel it."

The Force, huh? So that's what it felt like? Or what a ten year old, partially trained version of it felt like. Not so bad. Relaxing really, in a way. Tingly, but calming…once I got over the freaking me out part. I kept still and let the waves wash from the kid to me. Before I knew it, I was dead to the world. Out cold and when I finally opened my eyes, I was home, in my own bed and it was almost twenty-four hours later. Wow! The Force works in mysterious ways? Or was I just exhausted from almost being blown up and buried alive? A little of both I suppose.

The first thing I heard was Colton telling me, "About damn time you woke up. The kid's been worried sick and no offense, but I didn't sign up for adult diaper duty." What was he talking about…oh, ah, um. Whoops. "You've been bathed twice. Next time, you go vertical and make it to the bathroom."

Flinching slightly, I nodded my agreement, unsure about testing my voice. Colton shoved a cup into my hand after he propped me up on two pillows. Things were still ringing and pounding, but the volume was down some. Guess that healer lady was right.

"Drink it then talk. The kid says it's good for sore throats. The Jedi healers used to give it to them when they were sick."

I sipped. I spit it out.

"He also said, let's see, how did he phrase it? Oh, it's disgustingly nasty and he'd rather drink swamp mud."

I gave Colton a look but forced myself to take another swig and then another. As nasty as it was (and it was swampy disgustingly so), there did seem to be a coating effect and things didn't feel as on fire as they did moments ago. So, I rasped out, "Where…Tan?"

"Sleeping. At least he was when I left him. Worried himself into a fit and then exhaustion. He's a devoted one, that's for certain. Whatever he did, wiped him out. What'd he do to you anyway?"

"Force stuff."

"Ah, so that's what he was babbling about. Kept saying he hoped none of this was his fault, your sleeping so long. Makes sense now."

Another taste of disgusto-drink and I was ready for another sentence. "Do…know wha…happen?"

"The building? Well, not a bomb. A build up of natural chemicals underground. Chemicals that don't like to play nice with each other when exposed to air. Some moron, who is now either dead or fired – or perhaps both - drilled in the wrong place at the wrong time. Then, boom. And boom. And a third boom. Ten dead at least, fifty or so injured, including you. You are one lucky fool. Not sure how he found out, but Tannerlin came running home from school yelling for you. He knew you were supposed to be in that building today. I grabbed him and we went to the site. Kid was full on prepared to rush in there and find you. Mighty little thing when he's determined too. Thankfully he's young and small, and I'm not. So I could keep a hold on him. He just kept yelling for you. I thought he might scream himself hoarse. I swear, Dash, you ever die and this kid is gonna lose it."

That worried me, but didn't surprise me. One year as fake brothers and we were effectively real ones. I was just glad it wasn't my time to go yet, for both our sakes.

And speaking of, at just that moment, Tanner came staggering into the room. So much for sleeping. And I told him as much…softly.

"Should be…sleeping." Another revolting sip of the galaxy's most sordid drink (only because it was helpful) as I patted the kid's hand. He was thinking about trying his Force stuff on me again, I knew it. I could see it in his tired face. "No…more, Mouse." I managed.

"But it can help you rest. It did help you rest."

I nodded. "Did good. Made you tired. No more. Not now. Just…sit with me. 'k?"

Tanner sat close and wrapped his hand in mine. "Thank you for not dying."

"Did my best," I grinned.

"You can't die, Dash. Not ever."

Wellllllll, that wasn't gonna happen, no matter how hard I tried. Hadn't yet figured out the whole immortality thing. But Tanner had seen death before; death of insurmountable evil and devastating loss. After that, there wasn't much he had, except me. And even that was a work in progress for a while. I would do what I could to not die before him.

I didn't respond to his demand, not verbally. Instead I gripped his hand tighter, took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

Tanner finally said, "I'll stay with you so you can sleep, Dash."

Yeah, he was a good kid. I couldn't ask for better. It's no wonder his master had gone to extremes to keep him alive. The galaxy needed that kind of good. There was far too little of it left anymore.

My weary eyes opened and I squinted up at him as I gave in and relented. "Okay. Go ahead. Do your Force stuff. Just promise me you'll sleep after."

"I will," he smiled. And the next thing I knew, his hand was on my chest again and I felt that tingling sensation once more. I was beginning to think I'd turned into a full-fledged guinea pig for his Force studies. My eyes went shut again and I let go of the tension from my injuries to allow the kid to work his beginner's magic.

This time I slept for another twenty-four hours and when I woke,, Tanner was sleeping, as promised. Only this time he was tucked up next to me in the bed, curled on his side…quiet as a mouse. In the doorway, Colton was there shaking his blond head and grinning.

Seems Tanner had had a little bit of help finding just the right place to settle in for a snooze.

"What?" Colton said in his defense. "He fell asleep right after he put you to sleep. I'd have woken him if I had to move him into his room. So, I improvised. He's ten, he's small and he doesn't take up a lot of room. And let's face it, right now, attached to you is where he needs to be. So suck it up and deal, damn it."

Colton was right and I did suck it up. It wasn't so bad I guess; being scrunched into a bed made for one person. I was only two days removed from almost being crushed to death by an angry building. People had died. Others had been more severely injured than me. If this was the worst I'd have to endure during the rest of my recovery – a newly acquired little brother who loves the hell out of me taking up a chunk of my personal space during my convalescence – I think I'd be okay.

Actually I was more than okay. I was pretty damned lucky.

The end