AN: Happy Friday! I have a designation exam next week - no more posts until I ace it!

She left him, laying irritated and sullen, on the bunk while she riffled through the small fresher storage for boneknit and tape. Han's ribs weren't broken, but the darkened bruising which had started to bloom across the side of this torso worried her. Muffled talking halted her quest for a moment, and she ducked her head slightly, straining to make out what was being said. Han's hushed murmuring came and went with the static rasping of inter-system comm chatter she had been used to - a lifetime ago.

Leia pressed closer to the door, tape and knitter hanging limpy - forgotten for the moment - at her side.

"...worried... should have... incredible... almost killed... couldn't... very... don't know how... thanks... will... Luke."

Luke?

"No." she breathed out, voice sharp, eyes wide.

"... back home... Station... Lando... over my head... her father... will help... call back tomorrow."

The distinct sound of the termination snapped her out of eavesdropping.

"You called my brother?!" She pounded the door access with the side of her fist, hissing at him as she pushed through into the familiar room, voice high and irrational.

"What was I supposed to do!" He shouted back, raising up - wincing as he did - to stand and tower over her.

"Oh, I don't know," Leia hissed sarcasm dripped like venom from her, they were back to this were they, spitting and circling each other. "How about try actually talking to me! Or maybe not having crazy ex-fiancées or how about," she stabbed an accusatory finger into his chest, "clear the room before pushing us both into it!"

Han stepped back suddenly as if she had slapped him, bumping up against the low edge of the bed, eyes flashing quickly with hurt before hardening as they use to do. He ran a hand through his too-long hair, frustrated. "So this is my fault?"

The deflation in his voice mixed with the sight of his bare bruised chest was as if cold water had been doused over her. Dropping her gaze, ashamed, Leia shook her head, tracing the lettering on the injection bottle clutched in her hands, voice tiny in the already small space. "No."

They stood, a standoff of sorts, until her took a tentative step towards him; a peace offering. "Come're." he spoke softly, watching with a tightening heart as her eyes alighted in something close to relief.

Han gathered her to him, feeling the smallness of her against him; knowing the power which lay, leashed and straining under her soul.

"It's not your fault either, you know that right?" He asked close to her hair.

She didn't, and he knew that. After she yelled at him, she would blame herself. Annoyed at letting her guard down, at becoming a vulnerable target. At getting caught. It was the same old song they had danced around for years. She was quick to accuse him - it was easy, and usually fair - but even quicker to turn onto herself. He couldn't bear to watch that again. Especially now. Luke's worried warning still echoing in his heart. He couldn't afford to regret calling Luke, there was too much at stake. Because now, as he inhaled the soft scent oh her hair, he understood. He had seen the true power of the bedlam warring inside Leia's heart. The power and the force she had hidden from everyone - himself included.

Luke was right - there was very little he could do from his present location. But Han knew Leia better than Luke did, and he knew more about coaxing the broken pieces of this remarkable and fragile woman back together. There was room for both, Han determined as he ran a hand down Leia's back. He knew there was.

At that moment, Leia pushed away from him and gestured to to the bunk. "Here, lay down again."

"I'm fine." He argued again, and again she sighed tiredly, rolling her eyes.

"You're not. Lay down."

He grumbled, more for show than anything else, truth be told - his side throbbed in time with his heartbeat and the sensation was starting to make him ill.

Knitting wasn't on Han's top ten list of enjoyable medical treatments, and by the third injection he had started fidgeting.

"Lay still!" Leia abolished him, pressing as gently as she could above the darkened bruising.

"I can't! Damn it, that hurts!" He barked, annoyed.

"It hurts here?" She asked, furring her brow and laying a hand on the skin above the place she was working on.

"Yes! It all hurts."

"You're being impossible. You have to lay still! If you don't lay still, the knit doesn't take. You know this!"

"Let me up."

"No. Two more," she held up the small vials for added show. "And you're done."

"You may have missed this in Rebel Princess School, but women are supposed to be compassionate." He forced through clenched teeth.

"You've known the wrong kinds of women. Lay still."

Han grimaced. It was hard to argue with her when she was right.

"So? Where to now?" She asked quietly, her breath soft and warm on his side as she concentrated on healing him.

"Well. We can't go back to Nar Shaddaa - not for a while at least." Leia raised an eyebrow at that and reached for the next injection, lining it up between his ribs before continuing.

"No. I guess not."

"We need to jump around a bit. I sent a message to Lando. Void Station's close. We'll meet his contact there tomorrow morning. In and out - real quick." He winced then winked at her; leering with great effort.

"Charming." She muttered, not able to stop the small smile which tugged at the corner of her mount, withdrawing the tip of the needle. He had always been one to lighten the mood through untimely innuendos.

"Last one" she whispered, more to herself than to her uncooperative patient. "Void station - sorry," she pressed the last knitter injection into his side, hating that he winced in pain from it every time she did so. "I didn't think that was still operating."

Han waited until she withdrew the needle before exhaling deeply - earning him an 'I-told-you-not-to-move' glare from Leia - "Not officially, it's not. But we can land there."

"Overnight?"

"No. We'll land and meet him straight away. We need to attract as little attention as possible for now."

"True." Leia straighten and gathered the discarded medical supplied to her. "So we're here for tonight?" Han nodded.

"Good. Stay there - don't move."

Han grimaced, He hated being hurt around Leia.

"So we'll be jumping all night?" asked from the hallway as she returned from the hold carrying new supplies.

"Nah, I don't want to stress the 'drive. We'll make a few more jumps then sleep in the gap overnight."

Leia nodded, sitting carefully beside his feet, hand resting lightly on his socked ankle. "I'm sorry. For what I said, I didn't mean it. It's not your fault. That was unfair."

"Thanks."

"What did Luke say?" She asked, voice dropping several levels to a whisper.

"He wants us on Yavin. He... felt... something."