Chapter 21: Breath Of Life

Kylo was fast, Rey could feel the muscles in his shoulders bunch under her hands. It was less like swimming and more like forcing his way through the water.

Though considering when he walked it was like he was punishing the ground for a past transgression his style of swimming shouldn't surprise her.

He stopped and stood up, she automatically let go of his shoulders but grabbed him again when she realised her toes didn't quite touch the bottom yet.

This seemed to amuse him no end and he chuckled as he pulled her farther up the pool till she could stand unaided.

So Rey kicked him in the back of his knee, eliciting a grunt of surprise; his body started going down and she jammed a foot on the opposite hip, and climbed him like a tree till she had most of her weight on his upper torso then pulled him down and backwards.

She held her breath as they hit the water, grateful she still had her goggles on. Kylo twisted as they went down, so their bodies shifted and she was above him when his back met the floor of the pool.

Kylo grabbed her round the waist from behind her, pinning her arms to her body and stood up out of the water, they both took in a breath then she started struggling, his smug chuckle sounding in her ear.

Rey managed to lift an arm slightly and elbowed him in the ribs and kicked backwards, connecting with his leg but unsure where exactly.

Suddenly he was bending down, catching her thigh in one hand and her shoulder in another then lifted her up and slammed her back down into the water.

She let herself go down, and turned to grab one of his legs, jerking her full weight against it, he flew backwards and joined her in the water again and she latched her legs around his torso and squeezed like she had in their MMA class, he struggled upwards getting his feet beneath him again and stood, trying to grapple her off him before she could successful hook her ankles together.

"What the hell are you two doing?" Came an incredulous voice, and they both froze for a second before Rey let go of Kylo and fell into the water.

She got her feet beneath her and stood, unable to stop herself from giggling when she saw Finn standing a few feet away looking horrified.

Rey shrugged at him, "I was teaching Kylo a lesson in humility." She said grinning.

Kylo snorted, "Oh really? From where I was standing I'm pretty sure I was kicking your arse."

Finn looked between the two of them in disbelief, "You mean, you were play fighting?"

Kylo looked amused as Rey made an indignant sound, "No. We were sparring. In water." She suddenly grinned again, "I just realised we went under a few times and I held my breath - no panicking."

Finn rolled his eyes and put his hands on his hips, "Of course. Of course you would need some sort of violence involved to be able to learn to swim."

Rey opened her mouth to disagree and Kylo nodded his head sagely, "He has a point, Scavenger."

She glared up at him, "You're only agreeing cos you were losing, Shark Boy."

Kylo only grinned down at her, "We can have a rematch anytime you like, Scavenger."

Rey made to move towards him but Finn caught her arm. "Maybe another time. Somewhere dry, where you can breathe and stuff and you aren't endangering anyone else but yourselves. Come on Peanut, we're going in the Sauna."

Rey shot Kylo a glare that turned into a bit of a grin, then allowed Finn to tow her away to the steps.

"What's a Sauna?" She asked curiously.

"It's like a hot room you sit in, but it's really hot and it's a good place to relax in. It'll probably remind you of home. But what the hell was going on though, Peanut? We'd just finished playing chicken and I turn around to see you fighting Kylo Ren! Are you mad?"

Thankfully Finn had his voice down pretty low, Rey flushed a little, suddenly realising that she had just wrestled, with Kylo Ren, whilst wearing practically nothing, whilst in water!

"Shit!" She said, more to herself than to Finn.

Finn nodded and said "Uh huh."

He led her to a small cabin like room at the opposite end of the pool to the changing room entrance. He opened the door and quickly closed it after them, Poe was already in there as was Jess who was draped over a boy called Kalhale. How many boyfriends does Jess have? Rey wondered.

She took a breath then coughed on the dry air. Finn pulled her down to sit with him. "Ah! How are you meant to breathe in here?" She asked between coughs.

Poe laughed, "I thought you'd be right at home, Jakku's a desert right?"

"Well yeah, but it's always like that, my lungs aren't used to changing the type of air so suddenly I guess…" Rey coughed. "And this isn't quite the same as desert air. I can't really explain it."

Rey lasted a few minutes but couldn't seem to catch her breath and started feeling dizzy.

She shook her head at Finn, "I think I'm done," She said quietly, "I'll go hit the showers, but you should stay here," She directed her gaze meaningfully over at Poe, "There is a space next to him, go take it when I leave."

Finn opened his mouth to protest and she gave him a hard look, but spoilt it a bit by coughing. He laughed then nodded, "Okay Peanut, see you later for dinner. Don't think we'll be that long, meet you in the reading room?"

Rey smiled and nodded instead of answering because she had to cough again.

When she hit the air outside the little room she felt even more dizzy and had to pause a moment before walking carefully round the pool towards the changing rooms.

She was aware again of her state of undress so she kept her eyes on the floor to avoid looking at anyone else.

That was a stupid thing to do.

Kylo watched Finn draw Rey away fighting a smile, as they got out and walked to the Sauna he took a moment to appreciate her legs and behind then made his way over to the other Knights who were hanging in the shallows chatting.

"So, did you win chicken?" He asked casually as he joined them.

Javiell gave him surprised look, "Of course we did." He said, slightly indignant Kylo had even needed to ask.

Zainmar smirked at him, "Do you enjoy your… game?"

Ingalan looked very amused, "It looked like you were trying to kill each other."

Kylo shrugged nonchalantly, "I was helping her learn to swim… and how to lose."

Leonmar laughed, "I'm not sure she lost anything."

Kylo grinned, "All the more reason for a rematch I'd say." They laughed.

They started debating whether Jessika Pava had an official boyfriend and if she did who it was - no one seemed to be sure.

Kylo half listened, absently thinking about the - what had Finn called it? His and Rey's play fight, when he saw her come out of the Sauna.

She'd only been in there five or so minutes, she came out coughing and swayed a little bit like she was dizzy, before starting to carefully walk around the pool.

He frowned as he saw Artumat Rowgerm behind her, he was just about to call a warning to her when Artumat shoved her sideways as hard as he could.

Artumat was large, twice her size and she'd already been unsteady on her feet, Kylo watched with alarm as Rey went flying into the air and crashed down into the deep end of the pool, she'd been halfway through a yell when she'd hit the water, she wouldn't have any breath.

"Get him." He snarled at the others then surged forward diving under the water and racing to get to Rey.

Other people had seen and were on their way too, but he got there first. He couldn't see any bubbles, she wasn't moving.

He felt ice slide down his spine, she must have breathed in accidentally. He grabbed her and hauled her with him to the surface, Ingalan was at the edge of the pool and pulled her dead weight up onto the side of the pool, Kylo heaved himself out as they knelt around her.

"Shit Kylo, she isn't breathing," Zainmar said in a panicked voice as Ingalan turned her over and thumped her between the shoulder blades.

"Put her back on her back," He grated out and then started doing chest compressions and breathing into her mouth.

There were people shouting, jostling, running, but he worked with a single mindedness that shut everything but what he was doing out.

It wasn't working, but he didn't know what else to do, he could feel panic start to rise up inside him, almost choking him but he couldn't let it, he had to breathe for her.

Suddenly she made a noise, a coughing gurgle and Ingalan pushed Kylo away and turned her over so she could cough out the water in her lungs.

Kylo just sat there, breathing harshly like he'd just run a marathon, relief pouring through him making him slightly dizzy.

He watched her as she choked and coughed out what looked like half the pool, the breath sawing in her throat with a painful sound.

Suddenly Finn and Poe were pushing others aside, Finn dropping down on his knees to gather her to him, stark fear etched on his face.

He murmured in her ear as she coughed.

"What the fuck happened?" Poe asked Kylo, it was the first time Kylo could ever remember seeing him angry, but he didn't have the wits to answer, he was still spiralling inside.

"Artumat Rowgerm practically body slammed her into the deep end." Ingalan said, even he seemed furious, "Kylo just saved her life."

Poe did several blinks in a row clearly not expecting that answer, then pulled an angry frown, "What the fuck does that shithead have to do with Rey?"

The other Knights looked at each other, clearly Rey hadn't told anyone about her altercation with Hux and his lackeys last night.

"I punched him in the balls last night when he and Hux jumped me on my run." Rey rasped, then coughed again.

Finn helped her sit up looking angry, "Why didn't you tell me Peanut? We almost just lost you! I almost lost you. That's not okay!"

Rey managed a small shrug, "I forgot." She said and coughed again, someone handed her a bottle of water but she shook her head; someone else wrapped a towel about her, Kylo noticed she was shivering.

"Would someone please tell me what is going on here?" Everyone froze, then most people went quickly away as Luke walked up to the group still on the floor.

"I'd like to know why Artumat Rowgerm is sitting in the lobby still in his wet swimming trunks trying to stop a broken nose bleeding."

There was a pause then everyone started talking at once, until Luke silenced them with a look. It wasn't his usually calm face, Kylo noticed with interest.

"Mr. Dameron, would you kindly speak for everyone else please."

Poe shifted his feet and nodded, "I didn't see it actually happen, but Artumat Rowgerm roughly pushed Rey into the pool and she stopped breathing… Kylo gave her CPR. I don't know why Artumat's nose is broken though."

Luke's gaze flickered briefly to Kylo, surprise showing for a second. "I see. Who did see everything?"

The Knights all raised their hands, Kylo noticed Zainmar wiped a little blood of his knuckles onto his black swim shorts.

"Okay, Ingalan, you're generally sensible, what happened?"

"Artumat basically body slammed Rey into the pool, she must have inhaled, we swam to go and help her but when Kylo got her out she wasn't breathing or responding, Kylo did CPR till she choked up the water. I don't think anyone knows how Artumat got a broken nose. Maybe he fell when he ran away." Ingalan said the last flatly, Luke just nodded.

"All right, you lot can go." The Knights started to leave but Kylo stayed where he was, "That means you too Kylo. Go on… and well done."

Ingalan pulled Kylo up by the arm and then he was walking away, but not without one last look back at Rey, still unable to believe she was alive.

"Are you alright?" Ingalan asked when they were a good way away from Luke.

Kylo nodded, "Yeah… But that was close…" He brought his eyes up and looked at Zainmar, who gave him a lopsided smile. "Broken nose huh?"

Zainmar grinned, "Well you said to get him so we did. He deserved it, he would have got more but he ran away like a little bitch."

Kylo nodded, then took a deep breath, "I need a drink, probably three."

Leonmar smiled, "Now that sounds like an excellent idea. I have some Firewhiskey under my bed."

Kylo let out a breath, "Perfect."

Rey was still trying to breathe and process what had happened…. And she very much wanted to know if it had been a spur of the moment decision made by Artumat or if Hux had had a hand in it.

"How are you feeling Rey?" Luke asked her gently, he was kneeling down, looking her over keenly, "Do you know if you banged your head at all?"

Rey shook her head slightly but it made the world spin alarmingly so she rasped, "I don't think so. I think I'll be okay now."

Luke frowned at her, "You should go to the nurse, Poe could you find Jessika and ask her to help Rey get changed, if you think you're okay to Rey?"

Rey nodded and Poe went off.

"I don't think I need the nurse. It's only my throat that hurts, can I just hang out with Finn and if he thinks I need to go to the nurse he can take me?" Rey really didn't want to visit the nurse twice in one week.

Luke frowned but nodded, "Okay if you are sure. Do you have any idea why Artumat Rowgerm would do this? Do you think it was a joke that went wrong?"

Rey was aware of Finn opening his mouth but she beat him to it, "I don't know why he did it, Master Luke," And she wasn't lying, she didn't know, precisely.

Luke gave her a level look but they were distracted by Jess and Poe coming up, Luke stood and Finn helped Rey to her feet, towel still around her shoulders, he must have felt the fine trembling of her limbs but didn't mention it in front of Luke.

"All right then, Jessika please help Rey get changed, Finn you are in charge of her this evening, take her to the nurse if you think she needs to go. I will go and have a chat with Mr. Rowgerm."

Luke glided off and Jess flung her arms around Rey, "Oh my stars, I thought you were dead, Rey!" she almost sobbed.

Rey patted her back awkwardly, looking at Finn in astonishment. "It's okay, Jess, I'm fine."

Finn put his arm around her and gave her a tight look, "Peanut, you weren't breathing… that is pretty close to dead."

Rey frowned back, "But I'm fine now." She said somewhat feebly.

Poe joined in and it became a group hug, "I don't think you get it Rey, you were basically dead… And Kylo Ren saved your life."

Rey froze, then coughed and they broke apart to give her space, "He what?" She said once she got her breath back.

Finn nodded, "He pulled you out of the water and gave you CPR till you were breathing again."

Rey blinked, "Well shit." And Finn nodded again. They had started to walk to the changing rooms when she asked, "What's CPR?"

Finn looked astonished for a moment, then a tiny bit amused, "It's how you resuscitate someone who isn't breathing, sometimes it's called mouth-to-mouth..."

He watched her face in amusement as she worked out what that would entail, then actually grinned as she brought her hands to her mouth in horror and flushed a deep red.

But then he was there, holding her up as she coughed again, muttering apologises.

A/N: It should go without saying but i will anyway, If you do drown and are resuscitated, or a friend drowns, call for an ambulance immediately. Even if you/they feel fine.

This chapter was brought to you by two songs: "Breath Of Life" by Florence + The Machine and

"A Drowning" by How To Destroy Angels.