So I found this little piece that I typed up a while ago. Sorry I've gone all MIA on you guys. I'm such a terrible person... Anyways, a tad bit of blood, and some bare back, but nothing a T reader can't handle :) Hope it's okay, I love you all to the end of the world and back. -Jay

Colette leaned back on her heels and examined the two lightsabers in her hands. One was small and sleek, with her hand wrapped uncomfortably around the hilt. The other was too big and slightly heavy, a complete opposition to her original.

She was outgrowing her old lightsaber, she realized that for months now, and she found it slightly heartbreaking without her old weapon for reassurance. Even through all these years, she kept both of them safe, the only link to her old padawan life back on Coruscant. It was a miracle she had been able to keep them hidden through her months captive in the Slaver's Camp beyond the White River. She had gone through four months of being sold and traded between smaller bands of slavers before she finally reached their headquarters out in the mountains. The lightsabers had stayed safe, with her hiding them under rocks and in logs during the night and slipping them into her tattered robes during the day. The lightsabers' miraculous survivals acted like a sign, and she never gave up hope of having her old life back.

She collected them both in one hand and slipped them back into the trunk at the end of her bed. The mirror shard was next to her, and staring back was a puffy-eyed, tear-stained, 15 year old girl. Her hair was messed up from unsuccessfully being able to dodge the electrowhip, with black strands poking out from her usually perfect braid. She pulled the leather band from the end of it, and her hair pooled around her shoulders, oddly soothing the streaks of torn and angered skin of her bare shoulders and back.

She found a clean shirt at the bottom on her trunk and threw it on, grunting as pain seared down to her hands. She was able to splint her left wrist, which had been hurt when she jumped across the trees, and clean up some of her back. Despite the fact that the electrowhip was meant to only brush across one's back, it still sometimes split the skin, leaving a sickly tingling feeling. And when it came to Taaryn, he never let anyone off easy.

There was a knock on the door, and Colette quickly shut the trunk lid and answered it. Keetho smiled back at her, his eyes sparkling as he glanced once down the hall towards the diner then back at her. Colette stood aside silently, letting him pass through.

"So you'll never guess who I found wandering around the streets. Well… actually he found me, but that's not the point. He's a- Colette?"

The girl had sat down on the bed, not in the least listening to him. Keetho sat down next to her and put a hand gently on her shoulder, which she quickly shook off and winced.

"Did Taaryn…?"

A nod.

Keetho sighed. Sometimes he just wanted to-

"Turn around." He mumbled softly.

Colette pulled her long charcoal hair to the side and turned her back towards him. Crossing her legs, she tapped her fingers together in her lap. She felt the bed lift as he stood up, and heard the lid of her trunk open as he gathered some of scraps of cloth. He disappeared, the door opening and closing as he left, then opening and closing again as he came back. The bed dipped as he sat down, and she felt him fingering the hem of her shirt.

"Can I?" He asked cautiously.

Colette nodded, trying to hide a sniffle as tears one again threatened to pool over her eyelids. She helped him lift her shirt, slipping it over her head then quickly covering her chest.

"Did he find out?" Keetho asked timidly, dipping a length of cloth in the bowl of water he had gotten from the refresher.

"N-No." Colette stammered. Her voice was hoarse, and she shook her head. "I told him I wasn't feeling well. But h-he was still upset."

Keetho dabbed at one of the welts criss-crossing her lithe back. She arched away from him, crying out in pain.

"I'm sorry, Colette, just stick with me."

"No, it's not you fault." She said, clenching her hands in the bunched up fabric over her chest.

"I could've said something. I should've been here."

"It's fine, Keetho, really." She said through gritted teeth as he dabbed once more at her back. His hand grabbed her shoulder, holding her still. "S-So who is it that you've met?"

From a glance over her shoulder, she saw Keetho's face light up slightly. "A jedi." He said casually. "Just visiting the planet."

"What?"

"A jedi." Keetho repeated, nodding. "He's pretty cool. He's staying in my barn."

"Keetho, you could get killed if the Separatists find out he's there." Colette scolded. "What were you thinking?"

"Hey, I hang out with you, don't I?" He said slyly and squeezing her shoulder playfully.

"Yeah, but I've kept it secret for years, Keetho. What if some one saw you with him?"

"Relax." He laughed. "I'll be fine. I'm more worried about you right now."

"I'm fine." Colette said. Keetho quirked an eyebrow and brushed a finger against her back. When Colette hissed in pain, he smirked.

"Yeah, you're fine, alright."

"Other than that." she snapped. "I'm fine other than that."

Keetho resumed to washing off her back, and Colette bowed her head.

"I think you should meet him." The boy said quietly.

Colette shook her head. "No." she said. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?" He pulled away, the bloody cloth hovering between her back and the water bowl. "He's a jedi, you're a jedi." He said simply, as if that answered everything. "You need to meet him, Colette."

"No." She shook her head again. "Trust me, I want that life back, but I live here now; I'm too out of practice." She held up her injured wrist. "A jedi wouldn't have let something like this happen."

"Don't sell yourself short. You kicked my butt today in the clearing. And I've seen you practicing in the stables."

Colette glanced over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean you've seen me?"

Keetho looked away, blushing. "I… uh, I've seen you before. Practicing with the broom." He looked up and smiled, and it was Colette's turn to blush and look away.

"Yeah, well that's all I had at the time." She defended.

"And there's nothing wrong with it. Colette, it's been three years. You haven't had a master for three years and yet you're still practicing what they taught you at the Temple. Trust me, you need to meet the jedi."

Colette sighed. "I'll think about, Keetho, if that makes you happy. But don't be surprised if I say no."

"That's all I'm asking." He said, trying to suppress a smile. He dabbed at the blood on her back again, his head bent low with his black hair covering his sparkling eyes. He knew Colette would give in to him; She was naturally curious. She wouldn't let this kind of opportunity slip by.

"So what's his name?" She asked suddenly, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Err…" Keetho smiled abashedly. "I never asked him."

He could feel Colette smirking, so he swiped his fingers across one of the long welts again.

"Keetho." She wined, arching her back once more.

He smiled, tightening his grip on her shoulder. He finished cleaning off the dried droplets of blood and quickly rung out the rag in the dirty water. He stood up, his back to her.

Colette slipped her shirt back over her and tightened the belt before standing up. She timidly stretched, wincing slightly as her muscles tensed and the fabric scratched against her sore back. She watched Keetho close the trunk's lid and place the bowl of water on top. He smiled momentarily.

"Better?"

"Thanks." She said, full of sincerity. The tingling in her arms was finally starting to go away, and she could now swing her arms back and forth without too much discomfort.

At least the fabric was mostly soft, she thought, glancing subconsciously down at her tattered clothing. Her shirt criss-crossed in the front, held together by the belt wrapped around her waist. Trousers cut off just below her knees, and underneath that she had scraps of cloth wrapped around her legs for warmth. Matching scraps wrapped around her wrists -with the exception of her left one, which was now attached to a splint- and worn boots pulled the entirely light and shabby outfit together. It was better than what some of the slaves wore, for example Rora, the older, blonde-haired teen who wore skimpy shorts and a cut off tank.

She saw Keetho staring at her, and when his eyes caught her amused, brown ones, he quickly looked away, the back of his neck turning slightly red.

"I'm gonna dump this water. I think you should maybe… get back out there. Taaryn might notice you disappearance." He said glumly.

Colette scowled. The last thing she wanted right now was to be working. If only she could just lay down, maybe relax… Her back could heal properly, the stiffness would leave her limbs...

"Colette?"

"Hmm?" She replied absentmindedly.

Keetho raised an eyebrow at her. He was standing in the doorway, holding the door open for her. Colette hadn't even noticed him move in the first place. Her thoughts disintegrated, and reality hit her.

"Yeah, I guess I should."

The boy attempted a smile at her, but it turned out as more of a sloppy grimace. Colette stepped forward and moved around him, and when he closed the door, he fell into step beside her.

"So Rora can't cover you or anything?"

Colette shook her head. "If I didn't know any better I'd think she was the one to turn me in in the first place. Taaryn's never noticed my absence before."

Keetho shrugged. "Maybe. She wouldn't do that though."

Colette agreed silently. It was her fault she got caught. She was reckless; She should have watched her time. Even better, she shouldn't have even left in the first place.

Keetho dumped the bloody water in the refresher, then met her once again in the hall.

"Go." He said. "I'll see you later." He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, then headed out the back door.

Colette sighed. All she had to do was get through the rest of day. How hard could that be?