Chapter 9
All Yours
Without the Rogues, the Frosty Mug was relatively quiet, and Don chose to sit alone at the bar and take it slowly. He'd be taking the b-wing out for a spin tomorrow and had no intention of getting bleary eyed drunk. Don took a swig of his ale to take his mind off the blond who was sure to drive him to the insane asylum. He missed his best friend, Jeb. He could almost hear his voice in his head. "Go after her, man. If she's who you want, give it all you got 'cause you might not get another chance."
A voluptuous short-skirted brunette poured herself into the seat beside him. She tapped her fingers impatiently on the bar and leaned towards him. "Would you mind getting the bartender for me?" she asked. "He seems to be ignoring me."
Don eyed her. She certainly had the look of a woman on the prowl. It was a shame that he wasn't in the mood to be prey for the night. He faintly wondered if he ever would be again. Still, he was not one to turn away a woman in need and motioned for the bartender while he continued to drink his ale.
After ordering her drink, the woman took out a smoke and held it in the air. Don ignored her and she practically waved it in his face. A brown hand came down between them, lighter in hand, and lit her cigarette with a flourish.
"Good evening. I'm General Lando Calrissian." He continued to address the woman. "Are you with this gentleman?"
She eyed Don, "I'm not sure. Am I?"
The man's name sounded vaguely familiar to Don and it took a moment before he remembered where he had heard it. "You're Han Solo's friend, Lando. Aren't you?"
Lando flashed his highest priced smile and answered, "Yes, I am. How do you know Han?"
Don thrust his hand out. "I'm Major Don West. I, uh, just arrived here, but I've gotten to know Han and he's mentioned your name. In fact, Luke said that you were someone who might be able to help me out."
"You're throwing those big names around pretty casually."
"I am, aren't I? You know, I've only been here for a couple of days, but it feels like months."
Smoke was blown directly into his face and Don turned away.
"How about if we continue this conversation tomorrow, say with Han?" Lando said as he turned his attention back to the female. "There are more pressing matters to attend to right now."
"Noon. Lunch on the Jupiter. It's parked right next to the Falcon. You, me and Han."
"What about this lovely creature?"
"She's not invited. By the way, she's all yours."
An incessant beeping sound woke Leia. She groaned and hit the alarm. Han mumbled in his sleep and pulled her closer. She sighed and wished she could stay the day with him, but the provisional council would be voting on their next military strike and she had a proposal to make. She slid out of Han's arms and made her way to the shower. As the warm water cascaded down her back, she threw he head into the stream with her eyes closed, visualizing Han's hands roaming over her body. Han peeked in and watched the water glisten down her mane. "Hey," he said, "let me wash your hair."
"Wash my hair?"
"Yeah." He stepped into the shower and stood behind her. She poured cleanser into the palm of his hands and he started at the crown of her head and slowly, sensuously messaged his way down to the nape of her neck. Leia moaned at his touch. He worked his way through to the ends of her hair and then rinsed it through with water again, and again, and again. She leaned back against him and they clung together for several moments while the water ran between them. Cleansed and satisfied, Leia stepped out to start her day.
Don beat Judy to the coffee pot and the rich aroma coaxed Judy out of her sleep. She was reluctant to face Don, but she thought about her father's words of the night before and knew she owed him an apology. Judy shuffled into the galley and mumbled a brief good morning. She sat across from him and sipped at the brew while she mustered the courage to apologize to him.
"I'm sorry about what I said last night."
"Did your father tell you to say that?"
"Why you ungrateful… Do you know how hard it was for me to apologize?"
"No, tell me."
She stared at him and remembered the words he had told her so long ago. "Like pulling steel needles through my cheeks."
He smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I know what that's like." He extended his hand and said, "Truce?"
She hesitated, but took it… He held her gaze, and she waited for the innuendo that never came. Her stomach fluttered, but she wrote it off as hunger pangs.
"So, what are you up to today?" he asked.
"I'm actually going to meet with a human and volunteer my services in the medical facilities. You know, I can't believe that they have robots doing so much of the medical work? I hate feeling that I could be so easily replaced."
"I'd prefer your human hands over a robot's any day."
She arched her eyebrows.
"I'm not hitting on you! That's just my opinion of your medical skills. Besides, you know how I feel about robots… Don't trust the damn things."
"How about you?"
"I get to take a b-wing out today. I've been told they're tough to handle, so I'm anxious to get out there. I have a feeling that it won't be too long before we'll be mobilized. By the way, I'm meeting Han and his friend Lando for lunch here on the Jupiter about finding a way to get a bacta tank for you. Want to join us?"
"I can't. I'm meeting Luke."
"Oh." He sipped at his mug. "Nice guy, Luke."
"Yes he is… perceptive and a gentleman." She paused, but Don made no retort. "So, how did you meet Lando?"
"Last night. I ran down to the Frosty Mug after your… frosty comment."
There it was. "I guess I deserved that."
"Yeah, you did. Anyway, we met by accident. He saved me from a pretty brunette."
"What do you mean 'saved' you?"
He hesitated, wanting to tell her the story, but simply replied, "Ah, nothing… Gotta go."
