Last in the "Nightmare" series. :)

– 4 months after Never Alone

"Hera!"

He arched, stretching out a quivering hand, Kanan, her Kanan, too weak to pull himself past the blast doors. Hera screamed into the com.

"Spectre Four, I need you here now!"

No answer. Troopers everywhere. She had to make the choice.

Save the ship, or save Kanan.

She couldn't lose him again.

"Chopper, ready the Ghost for takeoff!" Swiveling her blaster into hand, Hera darted from the cockpit and raced down the hall, jumping the ramp. One bucket shot. Two. Three. She dodged red bolts, sliding to her knees. Four troopers. Five. Chopper was blasting those behind her. Hera whirled to the doors.

"Kanan!"

He strained to one elbow, face white. "Hera…" He choked, dark fluid spilling from his mouth.

No, no, no…! He'd only just recovered from internal bruising. "Spectre Four, get back to the Ghost now!"

Recklessly Hera plowed through the crossfire, her eyes on Kanan; the lethargy in his eyes, the sheen of moisture on his brow, the feebleness in his hands as he crawled for freedom. Hold on, Kanan! We're not losing you again.

The blast doors shifted. Screaming, Hera lunged past the final fire line.

Grey doors slammed in her face.

"Kanan!"

Yelling between her teeth, Hera flung herself at the durasteel barricade. Punching. Kicking. Blasting the cruel steel, ignorant of the bolts ricocheting around her.

"Hera, stop!" Zeb's hands clamped her shoulders, dragging her away.

"Garazeb Orrelios, put me down!"

"It's too late for him!"

"I am not leaving Kanan alone a third time! Let go!"

"Hera." Zeb's eyes were gentle. "Hera."

"Hera!" Her fist struck something solid.

"Force! - Hera!"

Scrabbling frantically, Hera pushed Zeb's arms away. Fur melted into cloth and flapping ears shrank into two normal, large ears fit to pass off as humanoid.

"Hera!" Kanan's voice. Worried blue-green eyes. Bruising cheekbone from a wayward fist.

Kanan?

The blurry form cleared.

"Oh, Karabast!" Gasping a sob, Hera flung herself against him. Strong. Unyielding. Warm.

Safe. Back on the Ghost, where he should be.

No words were needed. Kanan held her, firm hands rubbing her back, even breaths tearing away her nightmares. Solid. Alive.

"Is she okay?" Ezra whispered from the doorway. He gripped the frame tightly, shoulders tense with alarm. Hera wiped her eyes hurriedly and mustered a smile.

"Did I interrupt your holochess?"

"Nah. The Ghost's walls are a little thin." Kanan's eyes were murky. You were terrified.

Hera clasped his hand and shrugged. Only a dream.

His fingers wove around hers and squeezed. I'm here.

"I know," Hera whispered. She smiled for Ezra, and Kanan's hand concealed her tremors. "Aren't you both up late?"

"Zeb was screaming at Chopper for squashing his space waffles or something," Ezra said. "I gave up trying to sleep. Kanan was already awake, so we started practicing our force techniques."

"So help me, Loth-rat," Zeb shouted from down the hall, "If you ever fling me into a wall again I'm going to feed you to a sarlacc!"

Ezra cringed. "I may have focused a little too hard…."

"See about fixing that dent," Kanan ordered. He raised one eyebrow and Ezra glanced between them, slid backwards, and scurried.

"Are you all right?" Kanan asked as soon as the door closed. His grip was soothing, his presence fortifying.

Hera leaned against his chest. "Just hold me."

She closed her eyes, listening to him breathe. Don't ever do that to me again.

Kanan rested his chin on her head, one hand lightly caressing her lekku. Hera didn't need to imagine his thoughts.

No matter what happened to him, Kanan would never leave her alone.

Thank you to EmpressRulerofallthatiswierd, The Reviewer, mpathy, Superherotiger, Force sensitive, Ichichi05, UnfathomableFandoms, heartbreakerninja, and AzulaBlue92 for leaving feedback on the last chapter, and thank you to those who reviewed previous chapters after the acknowledgements. :)