CHAPTER 10:

Han peeked his head into his cabin but didn't enter. He took in the sight of his friends. Leia was asleep, and her breathing was labored. Luke sat next to her holding her hand. Han inhaled, shoved his hands in his back pockets, and walked into the room.

"Her fever is down," Luke quietly reported again.

The smuggler moved to stand next to her and placed his hand on her forehead. She was still warm, but not as warm as she was before, giving him hope. Her respiration worried him, though. Was this another sign she was getting worse? Would the poison cause permanent damage? He shook those thoughts out of his head. No use in worrying about the unknown. He slid his hand down her face to stroke her cheek. "Time to wake, Your Worship."

Leia's eyes fluttered open. "We're on Ord Mantell?"

"Huh-huh. How you feeling?"

She raised her large brown eyes to his. "Not so good," she whispered.

"We're going to take care of that, Sweetheart. Come on."

"Okay." The princess closed her eyes and settled deeper into the pillow.

"Time to wake up." He nudged her.

"Leia?" Luke's voice mimicked the worry in Han's heart.

"I'm awake," she said but her eyes remained closed.

"Leia." Han's tone was firm and authoritative, and she readily responded by opening her eyes. He pulled her into a seated position.

Han turned to Luke. "Go through your clothes and find Her Worship something decent to wear."

"Huh?"

"She needs something to wear."

"Why can't I wear my own clothes?"

"You need to hide your…woman-ness."

"Why?" Luke asked.

Han bit his lip as he tried to find the right words. "Cos…well, females are considered…ah…"

"What?" Leia arched her right eyebrow.

"Luke, go get the clothes."

Luke left the cabin.

Leia crossed her arms over her chest. "Females are considered what?"

"We're going to Valechia, in the mountains." He scratched the back of his head.

Luke returned carrying his clothes.

"And?" Leia prodded.

"Things are…well, females are considered property and can be traded for commodities."

"What?" Leia and Luke exclaimed.

"I'm not saying that's okay, but that's how things are up there."

Then Luke laughed. "How many cases of Corellian Ale could you get for Leia?"

The look the princess gave Luke could've cut the kid like a vibroblade through grigorean cheese.

"Look, this is the last place I ever wanted to take you. But we don't have much of a choice. The best medical facilities on Ord Mantell are up in Valechia." He gazed into her eyes and ran a finger down the side of her face. "All I want is to find out what you have and get you better."

Han registered the surprise in Leia's eyes. He flashed her his best lop-sided grin. "I promise not to trade you for anything less than five cases of Corellian ale."

Luke doubled over and tried to contain his laughter. Han started to join in on his young friend's amusement until he glanced at Leia. Now she glared at him with the same scary look she had given Luke just moments before.

"Certainly, I'm worth at least fifty cases of that disgusting ale."

Solo's eyes widened before he allowed himself to laugh. He winked at her. "It's a deal." He then sobered and looked at Luke. "It'll be cold up there."

Luke held up a faded green thermal shirt. "This should work."

Han eyed the rest of the clothes. "Let me see those khaki pants." Luke handed him the garment, and he pinched the cloth and rolled it between his fingers. "She can wear thermal bottoms underneath these if you got them."

"I think I do." Luke hurried out of the room.

Han turned back to Leia to find her studying him. "What?"

She tilted her head to the right. "Something's wrong."

"What?"

"I don't know. Why don't you tell me?"

"There's nothing."

"I know you."

I know you. How could she? They've only known each other for a few months, and they spent most of that time arguing. I know you. Han swallowed down the discomfort that thought invoked. If she did truly know him, would she still want to be friends with him…be more…? Han looked away. Of course, she'd never want more than just friendship from him, and sometimes if felt like she didn't even want that. Still, he'd like her to know him in a way he'd never wanted from anyone else.

"No, you don't," he said.

"Your eyes darken when you're worried about something."

Had she been paying attention to him that closely? The muscles in his back clenched. "No, they don't." He stood up.

"Yes, they do."

The tension in Han's back dissipated when Luke entered the cabin.

"I found these." The young Jedi tossed off-white thermal pants.

Han held them up, scrutinized their length, and measured Leia's legs with his eyes. "These'll do if you roll them up. Here." He threw them and the rest of her new outfit at her. "Go change."

She scooted to the edge of the bed and dropped her feet to the ground. "Get out."

Han frowned at the way her legs wobbled when she stood. He attempted to hide his disquiet with a waggle of his brow. "Need help changing?"

The princess rolled her eyes, inciting a smile from him. Luke grabbed Solo's arm and pulled him to the door. Han palmed the door closed after they exited. He shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned against the opposite wall.

Luke stayed inches from the door. "She is getting worse."

Han stared at the back of Luke's head. "Looks that way."

The kid turned around. "Do you really think Rainer can help her?"

"His doctors can. She'll get the best care here."

"I hope you're right."

Solo clenched his teeth together to hold in his irritation. Why was everyone doubting him? "I wouldn't have brought her here if I didn't believe that. You know I wouldn't put Leia in any unnecessary danger if I could avoid it."

Luke nodded. "I'm sorry." He looked up at Han. "I'm just so—"

"Worried about her."

"Yeah."

"I know, kid."

"I should go get ready."

"Uh…" Han straightened. "You're going to stay here."

"Why?"

"I need you to keep an eye on the Falcon," Solo said.

"Chewie can do that. I'm going with you."

"No. The fewer number of us showing our faces here, the better. You're staying."

"But—"

The door swished open to reveal Leia dressed in Luke's clothes, leaning heavily on the doorframe. Han went to her, took her arm, and led her into the middle of the room. He and Luke scrutinized her outfit. Luke's shirt did nothing to hide Leia's feminine curves and his pants hung off her slender hips, forcing her to keep pulling them up.

"She needs a belt."

"She needs more than that." Han helped Leia to the bed, sat her down, and went to his dresser. He retrieved a belt and handed it to her.

Leia stood up and attempted to thread the belt through the loops on her pants. Han chewed on the inside of his cheek as he watched her fingers fumble as she tried to close the clasp. Han walked over to her and placed his hand on hers. She looked up at him. Instead of the usual haughty irritation, apprehension and fear colored her expression. She let go of the belt buckle and let him close it for her. He frowned. Instead of holding her pants up, the belt's weight pulled them lower on her hips.

Han glanced at Luke. "Gimme your belt."

Luke undid his belt and handed it to Han as Han removed his belt from Leia's waist. Standing inches from her, he started to slide Luke's belt into the loops on her pants. She put her hands on his chest, grabbing handfuls of his shirt to keep her balance. The sensation of her so close, her hands against his chest disrupted his own balance. He closed the clasp, took her hands in his, and stepped back. The belt was still loose on the tightest clasp, but it would do.

"Get me another shirt," Han ordered Luke. "Something with less stretch."

Luke left, leaving Han and Leia alone. Han sat her down on the bed. Without his prompting, she lay down.

Solo touched her cheek. "We'll get you better soon."

Her eyes met his. "I know. You always pull through in a bind."

He retracted his hand and took a step back. Those large brown eyes that stared up at him revealed blind faith. She had faith in him; she trusted him despite her words earlier. Did he deserve that trust? Han had managed to get her and Luke out of some precarious situations right in the nick of time over the couple of months they've known each other, but most of that was luck. Her eyes were telling him that she felt she could depend on him. His heart clenched with fear. What if he failed her?

Luke walked in at that moment and tossed Han a front-closure shirt before sitting in the desk chair. Solo went to Leia. She sat up, and he helped her put it on. His hand brushed against her breasts as his fingers worked the closure. To his surprise, she didn't shrink back or say anything. How sick was she?

He stepped back. "That's better," he said as he surveyed how well the shirt hid her curves.

Leia rolled up the sleeves so that her hands and wrists peeked out of the ends.

"What are we going to do about her hair?" Luke asked.

"We can cut it off."

Leia's eyes widened at Han's suggestion, and he and Luke chuckled. Leia then narrowed her eyes, and Han caught his bottom lip between his teeth. Even though she wore a scowl, her beauty couldn't be denied. He began to doubt she could pass for a man. Maybe a boy, but even that was questionable. She was too damn pretty for her own good. He'd have to find something that would also conceal her face, perhaps something that could casts shadows upon her features.

"I must have something." Han walked to his closet. He knelt in front of a square drawer and started rummaging through it.

"How about your coat?"

"Huh?"

Luke went over to the closet and removed Han's brown fur-lined coat from the rack.

"No," Solo snapped, inciting the kid to jump.

"Why not? It'll conceal her hair and her face, and you said it'll be cold."

"I don't know. She just can't," Han said as an image of Leia wearing that coat in his nightmare passed through his mind. He returned to rummaging through the drawer to avoid the prying eyes of his friends.

Luke then carried the coat over to Leia. "Here, put it on."

Han watched as he assisted her into the coat. The smuggler's stomach roiled and a sheen of perspiration broke out on his upper lip.

"Han?" Leia pushed herself off the bed and took wobbly steps towards him. She grabbed his arm with one hand and touched his forehead with the other. "Are you getting sick? You're cold."

"I'm fine," he said, though he felt far from fine.

She eyed him but let go of her inquiry when Luke lifted the hood over her head. "See? It's perfect."

She tipped her head back to see from under the hood. The coat did conceal her femaleness, but that didn't make Han feel any better. He didn't have any good reason why she couldn't wear it though. The last thing he wanted to do was admit to having nightmares and dreaming of her. Worse, he didn't want anyone to know how much his dreams disturbed him. Han zipped the coat up.

"Can I at least wear my own boots?" Leia asked as she swayed her way back to the bed.

"The Scillion boots," Han answered. "They should work with the outfit."

Leia smiled at Han. "So now you're a stylist?"

Luke laughed and Han share a sheepish smile with her. Han then turned to his closet to find himself some warmer clothes. He pulled out a thick gray sweater and a hoodless black coat that wasn't as heavy as the one Leia was wearing. He watched Luke help Leia into her brown boots.

Chewbacca showed up in the doorway and gruffawed.

"Speeders here?" Solo asked, and Chewie nodded. "Good. We should get going."

Chewbacca scooped Leia into his arms and led the way to the ramp. Luke lowered the ramp, and they descended to find a sleek black three-eight-ex speeder with dark tinted windows. Han grinned. "Rainer always does things in style." He opened the passenger door and then looked at Luke. "We'll contact you when we know her condition. Keep your eyes open. I've got enemies around here."

"Where do you not?" Luke muttered. "May the Force be with you."

"Yeah, yeah," Han waved at him. He peeked in at the driver. "Rainer? You're driving us yourself?"

"Figured you wanted to keep a low profile. Get in."

Chewbacca howled his greetings as he and Leia scooted into the back seat.

"That's very kind of you," Leia said.

"Buckle up," Rainer said as he sped out of the docking bay.

"You know, we could've driven ourselves," Han said as he leaned back in his seat and took in the view outside the windows. The grimy city had melted into a rural setting before being overwhelmed by trees.

"My men are expecting me in Valechia," Rainer replied. "So, this is Leia?"

Han glanced back at his friends. Leia lay across the back seat, her head in Chewie's lap. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was uneven. Chewie stroked her hair, careful not to disturb the low bun at the nape of her neck. "Yep," Han said.

Rainer nodded, "Where'd you pick her up?"

"Picked her up in a cantina on Dantooine."

Their host/driver scrutinized Han. "Yeah. She looks like the kind of gal you'd pick up on Dantooine."

Solo met Rainer's eyes. "Well, she is."

"Fine. You don't have to tell me."

They drove in silence the rest of the way. All smugglers kept secrets, but Han kept few from Rainer. The man was honorable and discreet, and normally Han would've shared how he became acquainted with Leia—it was one good story he was dying to share with someone—but he thought best to keep the princess's true identity a secret. Besides, Rainer most likely wouldn't believe Han got himself mixed up with the rebels. Han was not a joiner and not one to go out of his way for strangers.

"The medical facilities are right up there."

Solo glanced up at the pristine glass building that jutted out from the treeless boulders. It seemed as if it were part of the rocks itself. Han couldn't help but be awed. "I hope your medical care is as impressive as your building."

"Even more so. Our diagnostic researcher even more than that. He's…more than a little on the abrasive side, but he knows his stuff."

Han glanced back at Leia. "I hope so."

Rainer led Han through the lobby of the medical research center. It was different than what he had expected; it didn't resemble a hospital in the least and no sick people populated the it. He glanced behind him at Leia who was being helped by Chewbacca. Han would've insisted Chewie carry her, but he didn't want to bring more attention to them than what the giant Wookie already attracted. Leia's arms encircled the Wookie's hairy one as she put one foot in front of the other with great care. Her head was bent, and he imagined that she watched her feet under the hood of the coat as she walked.

Rainer stopped and pulled a uniformed man aside and spoke into his ear. He nodded and headed the opposite direction. He turned to Han. "Dr. Gre'hos will handle her case. I've assigned two of my best droids to the case as well."

"Droids?" Han raised an eyebrow.

Rainer clapped Han on the back. "I know your aversion to droids but trust me. Your crew member is going to get the best care possible."

"I appreciate that."

"This make us even."

Han looked at Chewbacca and the princess. "If your researcher is able to get her better, I'll owe you."

Rainer glanced at Leia as he started walking again. "She means that much to you?" Han didn't say anything. "You're getting soft on me, Solo." Han just shrugged, and Rainer laughed. "I'm getting soft, too. Someday, I want you to meet Selina, my wife."

"Wife?"

"Well, as far as my men know, she's my servant," Rainer said. "But behind closed doors and off this god-forsaken planet, she's my equal." Rainer paused before saying, "Well, more than my equal. She's a bit bossy, but she's something else. Besides, I get tired of being the one who orders everyone around."

They stopped at a glass door that led to a small room. Rainer sealed the door behind them before speaking. "The couch folds out into a bed." He patted the white piece of furniture. Sorry Chewie, the quarters in here are a little cramped for a Wookie." Chewie waved his hand.

Rainer palmed the door next to the couch, and it slid open. "As you see, top of the line equipment."

They entered the room, and Han took in the sterling instruments, centrifuges, test tubes, beakers, and bed. Rainer wasn't exaggerating. There were things in there he had never seen before. His worries began to ease.

"Go ahead and settle her in. Is there anything else you need?"

"No. You've done so much already. Thank you." Han shook his old friend's hand.

"No problem. I'll leave you be now." Rainer exited the room.

Chewie scrutinized the room as Han walked over to Leia. He put his hands on her waist and lifted her onto the bed before unthreading her arms from the coat. Chewie rraarred.

"Yeah, Rainer's doing well for himself." Solo removed Leia's boot before going to the sink and filling a cup of water. He took it to her.

Leia brought the cup to her lips with both hands and downed it. She handed the cup to Han then lay down on the bed.

"Fit for a princess, huh?" Han winked at her.

Chewie grummmellooowed.

Han rolled his eyes. "Always thinking of your stomach." He placed a hand on Leia's head and gazed into her eyes. "You'll be okay without us?"

"You know I can take care of myself."

"Yeah, that's why you always need me to rescue you."

"If I remember right, I had to rescue you on the Death Star."

Solo's eyebrows rose. "I would've thought of something. Eventually."

She broke into a smile. "You keep thinking that."

He placed a kiss on top of her head. "We'll just grab a bite. Want anything?"

"I'm not hungry."

Chewie groulluued. Han glanced at his friend then at Leia. "We'll be back before you know it."

Han slipped his blaster under Leia's pillow before following Chewie through the lounge and out into the hallway. They found the elevator and entered it. They never noticed the pair of eyes that followed their movement.