Author's Note: This is the end of this little 5 part mini-fic. I hope you enjoyed it - I had a blast writing it!

Part 5

Morning came quietly for Rex as he watched Ashoka sleep. Keeping an eye out for any trouble and determined to protect her should it come to that, he barely moved through the night. He got up several times, each to check the locks on the viewport and main door, and during the first of those, spread a blanket over the shivering Togruta.

It wasn't until Ahsoka stirred, visibly coming to wakefulness, that Rex relaxed his vigilance and focused on her again. Her eyes opened, blurred and unfocused, from across the room, and she winced. One hand came up to her forehead and her eyes snapped shut again on a soft groan.

"How's the head?"

Her eyes shot open in surprise, zeroing in to focus on him for a split second before she collapsed back to the mattress and tossed one arm across her face. "I feel like I lost ten rounds with a Gundark."

"You might have looked it too if we hadn't iced your head last night." Sliding out of the chair, he approached the bed and collected the painkillers from the night stand. Shaking out a couple, he extended them to her. "Here."

Her arm lifted and she peaked at him.

"Painkillers." Rex offered her the pills again, which she took with her free hand, and he smiled faintly when she simply knocked them back dry again. "I can understand doing that in the field with water as an issue," he chided, offering her a glass, "but when it's available?"

Her arm covered her eyes completely again. "Drinking means I have to sit up," she grumbled.

"Shall I see if they have a straw?"

"Ha ha." She made a face. "When you stop the room from spinning, Rex, I'll sit up."

Not exactly something within his power, but Rex had an idea or two how to entice her to anyway. He changed the subject. "When was the last time you ate?"

"The morning before the final farce of a trial," her mutter this time was dark. "Nutrient paste and ration cubes, of all things. You'd think a detention center on Coruscant would be able to feed its prisoners a little better."

Rex had no opinion to voice on the matter. "Cold steak must be more to your liking."

She seemed to perk up. "Cold… steak?"

"Roast, but cut like steak." He crossed to the cart and picked up both covered trays. He'd peaked at their contents last night, but not bothered to eat anything. Better they ate at the same time, it make her feel obligated to. Turning back to her, he proffered one of the dishes despite the fact she couldn't see him. "Hungry?"

"Starving."

"Then sit up or I'll eat it all myself."

"You wouldn't." Her eye peaked out again as she frowned suspiciously. "Would you?"

"You're not the only one who hasn't eaten since yesterday." His mild rebuttal had the response he'd hoped for. Pulling her arm away from her eyes, Ahsoka slowly, almost painfully, lifted herself into a sitting position. The look she shot him was sour. "You'd steal food from an invalid?"

Rex arched his eyebrows, not answering her, and placed the dishes back on the cart before pushing it towards the chair he'd spent the night in.

"You're a heartless man, Rex," Ahsoka accused, her voice changing as he made no move to turn back her way. "I'm up! I'm up. Give me my food already."

"If I'm heartless, you're demanding," he planted one of the dishes on her lap with a quick pivot and drop, the other going on the bed beside her legs. Leaving it there, he went to collect his chair to return it to her bedside. "You're never been a good patient."

"I don't like standing still," she agreed. "This one's mine?"

With a nod, he set the chair down beside the bed and picked up the dish he'd chosen for his own. Ahsoka checked the container and then grinned. "I thought you said a cold breakfast?"

"They've been on that thing since before you passed out. Cold is putting it nicely."

Turning the dish, Ahsoka pointed to a series of cleverly disguised pin pads on the side of the dish near the bottom. "These are warming dishes, Rex. Here. Watch."

She selected a setting and waited, so Rex watched, taking in her appearance and considering her injuries. After several hours of real sleep, she looked halfway normal even with the bacta patches. Ahsoka wasn't exactly a stranger to injury but having seen what she'd been through the day before, Rex wasn't about to take any chances with her. Especially now that they were on their own and didn't have the seemingly endless resources of the GAR at their back.

A ding! sounded and his gaze went back to the tray as Ahsoka pulled the lid off a now steaming meal that looked every bit as good warm - better even - than it had cold. He arched his eyebrows. Interesting. They had self-heating rations on occasion for the field, but these were something else.

"See? Warming dishes."

He was grateful when she didn't offer to do his and instead showed him how to set the dish controls. Within moments his was vibrating softly in his hands as it did its magic. "You don't have to wait for me."

"I prefer to," she countered. "Is there caf to go with this?"

Rex shook his head. "Not that I saw."

"Did you check the cupboards?" She pointed across the room. "Most lodgings have complimentary caf or something. Something that's not water."

Pushing to his feet with a chuckle, he handed her his still heating food and went to check as she'd directed. Ahsoka had become more and more a fan of caf as the war had progressed, not that he could blame her. He was also partial to a cup whenever he could get his hands on one.

Sure enough, there in the cupboard was a pair of mugs and several packages of instant caf along with a kettle. Not bothering to ask, he pulled everything from the shelf, filled the kettle and set it to boil. Instant was all he'd ever really drunk, so Rex thought nothing of it as the water began to heat and he prepared the cups.

"Find anything?"

"Instant caf."

"You're my hero, Rex."

He laughed, turning to face her just as the warming dish dinged. "Over caf."

"Yup!"

She seemed cheerful this morning and Rex knew her well enough to know false cheerful when he saw it. Her eyes were shadowed and worried despite the fact she was smiling. There were memories in her eyes that hadn't been there the night before. Choosing to ignore them for now, Rex motioned to the dish. "I guess we've even then."

"I'm your hero?"

He nodded. "There's nothing like a hot meal, instead of a cold one, to break a fast." Turning back to the counter, he tested the pot to find it was almost fully heated and didn't wait for it to fully boil. Hot caf to go with a hot meal. It was more than he'd been expecting to start the day. Pouring the two cups, he carried them back to the bed and offered Ahsoka one.

She accepted it gratefully, blowing on it to cool the steaming brew before taking a sip. Her eyes half closed as she sighed blissfully. "Oh that's good. You make a mean cup of caf, Rexster."

At this point, he was pretty sure just about anything would have tasted good to her. Tasting his own caf, however, had him looking at the cup like he'd never seen it before. The burst of flavor that hit his tongue was unlike anything he'd experienced before. He hadn't thought to look at the brand on the caf packets but what was in his cup wasn't standard issue to the GAR. "It's different."

Ahsoka looked at him and then began to giggle. "You look like you just ate something sour."

"This," he tilted the cup, "is definitely not standard issue caf."

"There are different brands, flavors and mixes, Rex."

"How many?"

"How many?" Ahsoka echoed his query. "I'm not sure. Many more than I'm aware of, probably. Every planet seems to have their own blend and preference and then there are the subsets to each planet which have their preferences," she gave her head a shake, winced, and then took another sip. "I don't think I could count how many even if I knew."

Rex put his mug on the night stand and collected his meal. Whisking the top away, he was greeted with the wafting aromas of his food and his stomach promptly growled its displeasure at being empty for so long.

Ahsoka burst out laughing. "We'd better feed you, Rex," she teased, "or your stomach might be the next big bad we face."

He collected his cutlery and pointed to the other dish. "If I'm eating, you are too."

She didn't put up any kind of protest as she set her caf aside and dug in.

They ate swiftly, and in silence, the only sounds in the room the slight clinks of their utensils on the plateware and the odd hum or grunt of approval from them as they practically inhaled their meals. Keeping one eyes on Ahsoka, Rex was gratified to see that she seemed to have her regular energy back. Despite the memories within them, her eyes were clear this morning and he could see none of the confusion and uncertainty that had been so prominent since he'd pulled her free of the mob.

Finally, their plates practically licked clean, Rex collected them, placed them on the cart, and then resumed his seat to enjoy his caf with her.

Both of her hands were wrapped around her mug as she regarded him silently, the carefree mood they'd been sharing disappearing. Observing her, Rex suspected she remembered everything this morning. Knowing she'd tell him when she was ready, he sipped his caf and then, with a silent inquiry towards the kettle, made them each a second cup.

Thus fortified, they sat in silence for several minutes before Ahsoka finally lowered the mug to her lap, her gaze on the contents. "I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye, Rex."

"It was unexpected."

She made a face. "That's an understatement. When Anakin brought Barriss into the judgment hall, I think a part of me died. I just… I stopped thinking, really thinking, and just reacted."

"You didn't leave the order because of a reaction."

"No," her agreement was soft.

She didn't seem inclined to continue and his gut clenched with something akin to dread. "Did you choose to walk away, or did they make you leave?"

She took another sip of her caf before lifting her gaze to his. "I've thought about it before, but the way I was treated, Rex… The choice was mine. They wanted me to stay, offered me a Knighthood. But after everything, I just couldn't continue being a Jedi."

Which meant, he knew, she could no longer be their Commander. "Did you think about us at all?"

"With every step I took towards the spaceport," Ahsoka made a face. "I was thinking how you'd never forgive me for leaving without a word and I kept asking myself how Barriss could have done that to me."

"What did you decide?"

"She's still my friend," Ahsoka's eyes were clear but pained. "Despite how she framed me, I understand what Barriss was trying to do for all her methods weren't the ones she should have used. I don't think she chose me intentionally, I was just the Jedi who happened to be caught up in it."

"And if she had chosen you deliberately?"

"I was a good fall guy," Ahsoka's smile was wry for all Rex could see she was hurting. "Even when Anakin brought her in, I just couldn't believe it. I mean, Barriss, Rex. She's one of the most gentle, helpful people I know!"

He was inclined to agree. Except that the former Commander Offee had tried to kill Ahsoka and, when that hadn't worked, had nearly gotten Ahsoka executed. Rex wasn't sure he could forgive her that.

Ahsoka sighed and took another sip of her caf. "Think you can forgive me for not coming to see you?"

"Depends on what you're planning on doing now." And if you're planning on leaving me behind.

"I hadn't thought much beyond getting to the spaceport," her admission was sheepish but her smile died almost right away. "I thought that once I was there, I could figure out where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do. I've only ever wanted to be a Jedi and to follow their ideals and their way. I wanted to become more than I was by following a path that allowed me to help others; a path of service."

Not unlike his own, even though the path had been chosen for him. Rex remained silent, knowing she didn't need his input just yet. Sure enough, she continued.

"I suppose I could still have a life of service somewhere, but I really don't know what I'm going to do with myself just yet. I left with no credits and no plan, Rex. I left with nothing but my principles."

"You mentioned Onderon last night."

"It crossed my mind. Lux would probably love to have me there."

Rex didn't trust the spoiled little man as far as he could throw him. Which would have been a considerable distance considering the Senator's lance-like slenderness. "I've an alternative, if you'd rather just disappear to think on it for a while."

"An alternative?" Her curious look made him smile. "How do you know of a place where we can disappear?"

It was gratifying to hear she was including him in her plans. "Do you remember when I got shot by that sniper? On-"

"-Salcucami." Ahsoka finished his sentence, one hand lifting to her chest and touching the exact place of where the scar tissue was over his heart. "I've never forgotten. I almost lost you that day."

"Almost." He agreed but didn't dwell on it. "Kix and the boys left me at a farm to recuperate."

"The deserted farm from your report, right?"

"It wasn't deserted." Watching her, he examined her expression and shook his head. "You knew."

"I knew you were lying," she agreed, "but not why. It's not like you to falsify information. You ready to tell me what really happened?"

"The farm is owned by a Twi'lek woman names Suu." He met her gaze and looked away, towards the viewport, not quite sure how to tell her about Cut.

"Did she nurse you back to health, Rex?" Ahsoka's tease broke into his line of thought. "Make you fall madly in love with her and turn it into your own little love nest with a brood of kids I know nothing about?"

Unknowingly, Ahsoka had just given him the perfect in. "I think her husband might have objected," he returned wryly, watching her reassess the situation at his words and, before she could continue, he did. "And… I'd never come between a vod and his wife."

"Wait, vod?"

"Her husband's a Clone."

"A Clone?!" She sounded intrigued as well as surprised. "And why you didn't tell me about this sooner? I would love to meet them!"

Rex relaxed with her reaction, relieved and gratified to know he was right in telling her now. "It was for their protection. Her husband, Cut, is a deserter."

"A deserter."

"Yes."

Ahsoka seemed to process that for a moment and then frowned. "I never did ask. If you come with me, won't you be seen as a deserter, Rex?"

"The General said not." And even if he was, Rex wasn't about to leave her on her own. He stood, going to collect the small satchel with the identification the General had given him from the corner by the door where he'd left it. Bringing it back, he passed it to her. "Something about providing identification to prevent me from being picked up as a deserter."

Ahsoka placed her caf aside and opened the bag, dumping it upside down and spilling the contents across the bed. A pile of various sizes of credit chits were pushed to the side as Ahsoka collected the two datapads and information rods.

She was just about to slide the first of the rods into one of the datapads when a knock sounded on the door. Ahsoka cocked her head at him, her expression amused, and Rex was strongly reminded of the interruption the night before. Ahsoka, he could see, was thinking about it to. If it was the maid again, Rex suspected he wouldn't get as lucky as having Ahsoka pass out before the other woman said something embarrassing about their supposed forbidden romance.

A second, louder knock sounded as Rex unholstered one of his blasters and approached the portal. There was no help for it. If it was the maid, he'd just have to deal with it and whatever teasing Ahsoka put him through later. He was almost there when the familiar, high pitched and nasally voice of the establishment's proprietor penetrated the door.

"Mister Tano! Are you awake, sir?"

Rex's gaze flew back to Ahsoka's and he saw her clap her hand over her lips, visibly trying to stifle a laugh, her eyes dancing with mirth. The question in her eyes was evident even through her amusement and he shook his head, feeling his ears burning as he turned back to the door. Blaster still in hand, he cracked it.

"Good morning, Mister Tano!" The little rodent-like creature's voice penetrated the room and made Rex wince.

"'Morning."

"How's your lovely wife this morning? Feeling better, I hope?"

Rex turned his head, looking back to Ahsoka, to see that her skin and monstrals had flushed and her eyes were wide. Suppressing a smirk, he raised his voice deliberately and stole on of the little creature's nicknames for Ahsoka from the night before. "Are you feeling better - darling?"

She choked, her hand still over her lips. Ahsoka rose to the challenge though, Rex had expected nothing less, even as her eyes promised retribution. "Much, my love. You do spoil me so."

It was like something out of a bad holodrama that Rex had once watched with her and the men and he couldn't help but chuckle as he turned back to the creature. "She's doing fine."

"Excellent!" The rodent biped rubbed its hands together. "May I see her?"

"I don't-"

"Oh let him in, Rex," her voice was sweet, "you can't keep me in bed and to yourself forever."

Rex felt his ears burning again, this time accompanied by the crawl of heat up his neck. He was going to get her back for this somehow.

"Newlyweds," the proprietor clicked its tongue in understanding, "so overprotective."

Without a word, Rex opened the door and allowed the creature into the room. He closed the door immediately, securing the lock, and turned back to find the creature already at the bedside, his hand taking Ahsoka's and his little rodent lips pulling back as he kissed it.

"You look much better today, Missus Tano."

"It's not the first time Rex has taken care of me," she told it with a smile. "He's quite an adept nursemaid."

"I see, I see." It nodded, as if satisfied. "He was not the one to harm you?"

Rex's immediate urge was to hurt the creature for doubting his answers from the night before, but it was Ahsoka who looked more shocked. She even managed a laugh after a moment. "Never. I got attacked by a mob because they thought I was a Jedi." She winked at him over the creature's shoulder. "He's my… knight - even if he's missing his armor."

Rolling his eyes, Rex moved back to the bedside and nudged the creature out of the way with his knee so he could sit, as he presumed a married man would, on the edge of the bed next to his 'wife'. That had been in the holodrama, right? He only barely managed not to jerk away when Ahsoka slid her hand onto his knee and squeezed.

"And how long have you been married?"

Rex glanced at Ahsoka out of the corner of his eye. He hadn't told the proprietor yesterday, so he wasn't too worried about a conflict. She still, to his amusement, played it safe. "Feels like yesterday." Her fingers squeezed his knee again and this time he felt the dig of her fingers clear through the rest of his body. "Doesn't it, Rex?"

"Yeah," he cleared his throat, trying to get an unexpected hoarseness out of it. "Like yesterday."

"Well, I can see you're doing much better this morning, Missus Tano," the rodent-creature appeared to be satisfied and was practically beaming, its yellow teeth visible as it lifted its lips in a garish smile. "I'm not one to get in between newlyweds when I see that look. If you need anything," it backed away, all the way to the door, and unlocked it before opening it, stepping into the open portal backwards, "just ring."

The door closed and locked and Rex's gaze went back to Ahsoka's. There was a moment where they stared at one another, her hand seeming to burn through the fabric on his knee.

Then she started to giggle; a giggle that turned into a chuckle only to develop into a full blown, contagious laugh. Rex joined her, needing the release, and he could feel the tension between them draining away as they indulged in the ridiculousness of the situation. Her amused expression was worth all of the teasing he knew would be forthcoming.

Ahsoka didn't keep him waiting long.

"Mister Tano, really Rex?"

"He needed a last name."

"And you didn't think to use Fett?"

It hadn't even crossed his mind. His ears burned again as he shook his head.

"Okay... but - married?"

"We don't exactly look related."

"You could have said I was your adopted older sister."

"I had to carry you in unconscious." Rex told her dryly. "Would you have believed siblings?"

"Maybe, depending on how you spun it."

"Not easily with you clinging to me and your head tucked against my neck."

"I guess not, then." She chuckled, still teasing, not at all fazed by his description. "Girlfriend then? Or maybe intended?"

He shot her a look. "He... she..." what was he supposed to call the rodent creature? "It assumed we were married, I just didn't contradict it."

"Any other surprises I should know about?"

Rex made a face. "The girl who brought these last night," he indicated the now empty warming-plates, "thinks you left the Jedi order for me."

"Wow, whatever you told her must have been worth hearing." Her eyes twinkled. "Jedi don't leave the order for just anyone, you know."

"I didn't tell her anything." Ahsoka cocked her head, visibly not believing him, and Rex found he needed to explain. "She recognized you. Add that to knowing about the mob attack because of that thing," he nodded to the door, indicating the proprietor. "She drew her own conclusions."

"Did she think we were married, too?"

He nodded.

"No wonder she thought I left the order for you," Ahsoka dropped her gaze and deliberately took him in again from head to toe, her gaze lingering on his chest and thighs. "I'm one lucky female."

"You're lucky you're not dead."

"You're a good looking guy, Rex," her tone was teasing but he caught a glint in her eyes he didn't recognize, "don't sell yourself short."

"Until you're healed and we establish a course of action, I guess that means I'm your good looking guy."

Ahsoka blinked and then laughed, but her color deepened as she did. "I guess so." She removed her hand from his knee and reached behind her, pulling forward the datapad and datarods that they'd been about to explore before being interrupted.

Rex shifted his position, sitting next to her so he could read the datapad. She glanced at him before scooting over on the bed to give him room. Hip to hip and shoulder to shoulder, they read the information that Anakin had provided. Or rather, Senator Amidala had provided.

"Wow." Ahsoka's eyes widened. "This is… very generous."

The number on the account listing the first datapad was so arbitrary, Rex wasn't quite certain just how much the account was actually for. Clones, as a rule, didn't really need or use credits. "Is five thousand credits a lot?"

"It's not enough to buy a ship or anything, but it's more than enough to pay for lodgings and meals for several months if you're careful."

"If I'm careful?"

"This account is in your name, Rex." She shot him a grin. "Wanna buy me something nice?"

He reached over and plucked the datarod from the pad as he shot her a knowing look. "You have your own credits."

Five thousand credits. What was he going to do with five thousand credits?

"Spoil sport." Ahsoka plugged in the next datarod. This one held her account information and a letter from Senator Amidala - Padmé - along with a statement of ownership for the speeder Rex had used. Ahsoka account held over five times what his did - an implication the Senator expected him to return to the GAR? - and he still wasn't quite sure what she would spend so many credits on.

To his surprise, the third datarod held letters, including a letter of recommendation for him. A quick read through showed it was his proof of not being a deserter.

The Senator had written the letter, not the General, making his departure an 'honorable discharge for time served' and listed him as a traveling companion for a 'person of interest'. He glanced at Ahsoka. "You?"

"Guess so. She's not wrong you know." Ahsoka made a face. "I'm probably the most widely recognizable ex-Jedi out there."

"Are there a lot?"

"No."

They continued to read, but Rex had gotten what he needed. If he was ever accused of being called a deserter, he simply needed to show this document. It labeled him by number, but also contained a legal statement of his nickname as his name.

They thought of everything.

Going through the various documents proved to be an enlightening experience and, when they were done, they remained as they were, Ahsoka leaning against his shoulder, as they tried to process the generosity of the Nabooian Senator.

"I guess that means I'm practically set for life."

She sounded less than thrilled with the idea. "Not what you expected?"

"Not even close." Ahsoka made a face. "I just want to disappear for a while, Rex. To go someplace where the war might have happened, but isn't now, and try to figure out what I'm going to do with myself."

Salcucami jumped immediately to mind in Rex's consciousness again but he didn't voice it. He didn't need to when Ahsoka did it for him a few moments later.

"Tell me more about Cut and Suu, Rex."

So he did. He told her the truth about what had happened the day he'd been shot and the time he'd spent with the couple and their young children. He explained Cut's story with the detail he knew, and how Cut had met and fallen for Suu, adopting her children as his own. Ahsoka's expression was charming as he spoke of Shaeeah and Jek, listening intently and getting swept away as he talked about their dinner and the droid attack that had followed.

"It sounds like you took care of them almost as much as they took care of you."

"Cut might have deserted shortly after the battle on Geonosis," Rex confided to her, "but he's still a soldier. When I first found out he was a deserter, I had every intention of turning him in."

"I can see why you didn't. You came back from Salcucami a changed man in some respects, Rex. I thought it had just been the injury. Looking at it with what I know now, I'd hazard to say you learned a lot from Cut."

"He taught me about family and the importance of having a choice. Cut made his."

"And you made yours when you came back to us."

"Who else was going to watch your back?"

"Jesse?"

His chuckle came out as more of a contemptuous snort.

Ahsoka snickered. "He wasn't up to the task then, I don't think." The smile that blossomed on her face was eager. "I'd like to meet Cut and Suu and their kids. Think you could take me to meet them, Rexster?"

"I had a feeling you'd be curious about them." His tone was dry, but warm, glad he'd known her well enough even then to withhold what information he had. "It's one of the reasons I didn't include them in my report."

"Which means it's the one place no one will come looking for us," Ahsoka's point was logical only to be ruined by her almost impish inquiry. "How about it, Rex, want to run away with me?"

"Wherever you go, Ahsoka," Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, Rex gave her a squeeze. "I will always follow."

Ahsoka's arm snaked around his waist as she returned the half hug. "I think you've got that backwards. In this case anyway."

"I'll introduce you to Cut and Suu," he agreed, enjoying their relaxed posture and having her next to him and fully cognizant of what they were doing instead of unconscious.

"But?"

"I'm only here until you don't need me anymore, Ahsoka."

"You'd leave me?"

"When you ask me to."

She tilted her head at him and her lips curled into a grin. "I hope you packed your bag, Rex, because you're going to be sticking with me for a long, long time."

"And the men?"

"Ana-" the word cracked and she cleared her throat before trying again. "Anakin will look after them." Her voice dropped and she exhaled, the life seeming to drain from her. Sagging into his grip, she was suddenly no longer beside him, but flush against his side, leaning heavily on him. "He had to promise before you agreed to come after me, didn't he?"

She knew him too well.

"Yes."

"There, see? He'll take care of them while you take care of me."

"And when you don't need me anymore?"

"I'll always need you, Rex." Her expression was solemn, the pain her teasing had been masking suddenly visible within the depths of her eyes. "My world is done and over with - gone. Everything I knew, everyone I've ever spent time with, had changed. I don't know where I'm going or who I'm going to be. Having you here with me... you're the only thing in my new world I know I can trust, Rex. The only person I -"

Her words choked off but she didn't have to say anything else. He knew how she felt; he felt the same. Rex tipped his head to hers, touching their foreheads together and offered her the half smile he knew she liked to see. "I look forward to seeing Cut and Suu without the battle, the injury and the entourage."

"You don't think they'll mind me going there do you?" she searched his gaze, looking for something. "If Cut's a deserter, I could be putting them all at risk."

"We're going as friends. Family." He squeezed her again, offering her reassurance, his parting words to Cut all the more poignant now. My family... is elsewhere. "For all the risk, I think they'll enjoy the company. No matter how long we chose to stay."

"And if we chose to stay forever?"

For all her question was phrased seriously, Rex knew her. He knew she'd never be any more content to stay on a farm at the edge of a war zone, while their friends were risking their lives daily, than he was. Once she figured out what to do, Ahsoka would act and the farm would be a distant memory.

Until then, though…

"We'll be among friends."

fin