"Brook found himself wandering into the safest spot he knew. The barn was empty, Levet's squad had seemingly ended the woodworking for their new home. Brook paced, his hands slowly stopped shaking.

He needed to do something, something that did not hinge on the differences that separated him from his brothers. Needed something that distracted him from his failures.

He put his hands on the bench, ran his hands over the tools.

He grabbed a block of cidar wood, soft wood that was good for carving. He had made the decorations for the main entrance of Levet's new home for it Brook smiled, found it easier to breathe as he remembered the look on the team's faces as he gave to them as a surprise.

Levet and his squad hadn't said much, but, Brook felt a smile creping onto his face, he liked to think that they had liked it.

He grabbed the wood and started working, loosing himself in the feeling of the wood and the process of the work. Pulling up some rough guidelines for a small box, he lost himself in the work, not even stopping when the smell of dinner wafted over the yard and through the cracks in the barn.

Meanwhile in the large kitchen of Kyrimorut Delta couldn't quite find their appetites either. Boss in particular speared up the meat in the ragout as if they were his personal enemies.

He watched Sev and Scorch to his left, they weren't much interested in dinner either. Sev was practically inhaling his food, but in difference for the last meals they had had together he didn't really seem to taste any of it.

A look to Boss' right told him that Fixer also seemed a bit more lost in thought than usual.

Boss looked at his own plate again, stirring the sauce on it with a bit of meat. If it wasn't for Vau sitting to the right end of the table he would have spoken up, but the pure existence of his sergeant kept him from speaking up.

Boss felt as if he had failed and he just could not admit that.

Instead he kept Fi rattling on, kept the Nulls raising the chaos, like they were so good at causing.

HE could almost feel Vau's gaze burning holes in his skull, but didn't dare to look up to check if it was true and again Boss felt like cursing himself. His Sarge had raised him better than to be this nervy.

But still he only felt himself able to put the fork down when Vau's com beeped and the mando brusquely left the room. Be right back. Vau grumbled as he stomped out of the room, Mird hurrying after him after sending a long, contemplating look to the abandoned meal of his owner.

Boss could hear the heavy footsteps continuing down the corridor, right to the front door, which then slammed shut.

Well, well, Fi joked. No wonder Delta has no manners. They have been taught by the son of a hut! H send a quick smirk over to Delta.

Usually Boss would have risen to the challenge, Kal would have snapped at both of them to keep quiet or take it outside. Now, Boss glanced at Kal and found the older Mando looking straight back at him knowingly, waiting for Boss to come forward. He squashed any thought about how he and his brothers would have turned out if Kal had trained them instead of Walon Vau, their Sarge had made them strong, had built them up to be survivors.

Only now, he really didn't want Brook to have to deal with his Sarge.

"Kal," Boss spoke up, then stopped, licking his, suddenly dry, lips.

"Yes? What is it?"

Boss only managed to maintain eye contact with Kal due to the rigorous training he had received. "Could you talk to Brook later?" He asked, then couldn't go on, could not physically bring himself to admit more. He isn't alright. Boss wanted to say, but couldn't. He wanted to say: And I don't know what to do to correct his behaviour and I am afraid for him although we are no longer on Kamino and no longer have to pass and although I no longer fail when I fail to lead. I am afraid, I am afraid because of his failure and because of mine and because my brother is hurting and I can't do anything about it.

But he couldn't say it and when Kal nodded, said Alright. How about you bring him in the living room, after dinner? Boss knew he didn't have to.
When Vau returned to the table sometime later, Delta seemed to have found their appetites again. He raised an eyebrow, send a look over to Kal, as if to say: Do you have something to do with this? and Kal looked back, almost offended, like Who, me? Vau shook his head, knowing why his clones hadn't come to him, but still feeling strangely disappointed.

After dinner Boss headed over to the barn, where Brook had usually gone hiding if he felt overwhelmed. At least before Levet and his squad had been there, calming the Spaarti down, helping him find a path.

When the door opened with a loud squeak Brook looked up from his work, picking some splinters out of his palms. He felt his hands starting to shake. It was Boss and the older clone had made it sufficiently known he was heavily disappointed in Brook.

Now Boss only pointed over his shoulder. Come. He said. Living room. We have to talk. Brook bit his lip, nodded, folding under the authority of the leader of Delta squad.

The sun had started to set, the shorter days another sign of the end of summer. Still Brook felt nervous as he and Boss entered their home, made their way through the wooden corridor.

As Brook stopped, smelling the cold smoke from the fire the night before he didn't notice Kal until the man had already noticed him.

Older the mando may be, but his senses were as sharp as ever.

Sitting in a chair, one ankle propped up, Kal watched Brook. "What is going on son?" He asked, smiling at Brook.

Fixer, Scorch and Sev had settled somewhere behind Kal, on the edge of Brook's vision. Kal ignored them for now, giving them the choice of weather to stay or not.
Brook shook his head, "Nothing" he said, avoided Kal's keen gaze, trying to see what Boss was doing as he settled down next to his brothers.

"Osik." Kal snorted, shuffled more upright as he kept looking at Brook.

"Son," he began and Brook found himself wishing the older man would not sound so understanding "Why weren't you with us during dinner son?" Kal continued, watching Brook carefully as he waved for the clone to sit down. The times of the GAR were gone, but still Brook found himself following the unspoken command. Brook sat down, once again feeling almost like he was being swallowed by the soft cushions of the couch.

"You should be with you squad." Kal said quietly and Brook's gaze snapped down. Kal sighed and Brook knew that had told Kal everything he needed to know.

"Son, only because the have Sev back doesn't mean you are out of the question." Kal said, skilfully ignoring the uncomfortable shuffle of the squad behind him. HE was fishing in he dark, and it seemed that the older mando knew it.

Only, Kal had enough experience with life to know that directly barging into the main problem was not always the best course of action. Sometimes you had to take a detour.

Brook nodded. "I know." He whispered. "It is..." He bit his lip, shook his head, didn't know how to continue.

Kal leaned forward, watching his every move. "What is it Brook?" HE asked quietly. "You can trust me ad'ika. Tell me."

Brook found it hard to breathe, tears stung in his eyes, no matter how much he tried to blink them away. He shook his head then stilled, held his breath. He could not say, he had been raised to do his job, he had been bred to do it, so why couldn't he?

Kal had decided he could stay, he had Brook feel welcome, had help him carve a little place in the family for himself. How could disappoint him so much?

"I shouldn't feel that way." He finally whispered. "None of the others do."

"Fell what? About what?" Kal inquired. Who would have thought the grizzled fighter could sound so understanding?

"I shot someone." Brook ducked his head, didn't know what he expected.

Kal sighed, laid a warm hand on Brook's shoulder. "Son-" He said quietly. "Son. Everything is all right. Taking a life is within our culture. We are mercenaries, we kill."

Brook raised his head tentatively, somehow encouraged b the understanding tone in Kal's voice. The older man seemed deep in thought, far away.

"I wish our quad was free right now, but the will help you along, help you feel comfortable in your own skin again."

Brook opened his mouth, "But I am only a..."

Kal's gaze became hard. "I don't know what you were about to say, clone, Spaarti, whatever, but you will listen to me now" His hand squeezed Brook's shoulder.

"You are my son Brook, as are you all and," Kal's look grew soft, and sad. "Although it might be my wish that you follow our custom, I understand that you are all individuals, that some of you might not want that."

Brook swallowed, tried to breath past the lump in his throat. "But, I have been bred for this." He tried to argue, not quiet sure why, but Kal only shook his head, giving his shoulder a squeeze.

"Son, for us to go out, we need a home to come back to and in order to have a home we need someone to built it. One day, when your brothers need you, I hope you will pick up your deece again and go to help them."

Brook nodded, he would never abandon his brothers, never, he dared a quick look towards his brothers, only long enough to see Scorch answer his longing eyes, and giving him an encouraging nod.

Kal sighed and continued. "Only, until then you will need to find your footing. Just like a good house needs a solid base, a happy life needs a solid ground to stand on."
He tried to catch Brook's eyes, only satisfied when the young clone answered his gaze.

Kal nodded, then leaned back and looked for Delta. "So," he said, waiting for the team's reaction.

They didn't wait long, indecisiveness was not part of the clone's nature. Boss shrugged his shoulders, but it was Scorch who spoke up first. "Well, alright, you are my vod, so when you go, we'll be right behind you."

Boss sighed, scratched the back of his head. "I will say, I don't get you Brook."Brook flinched, but Boss continued. "Nevertheless, you are my brother, so , like Scorch said."

Boss was and had always been Delta's leader and even now his brothers looked to him for the decisions. Brook felt tears welling up, the afternoon had cut down part of who he was and his brother's acceptance was soothing.

Fixer sighed, "When you won't come on raids with us, you will need another way to earn some credits." He waited, thinking for a moment. Than he snapped his fingers.

"Well, you still have the contact for an apprenticeship, we should go there."

Brook wanted to argue, that he wasn't nearly good enough, that he wasn't sure the offer was still standing, but Kal interrupted him.

"An excellent idea Fixxer." He said. "Brook, you like it, don't you?"

Brook nodded, apart from spending time with his brothers working with wood had brought him the most joy. "I still have a lot to learn though." He argued.

Kal sighed, "well, that is what an apprenticeship is there for, for you to learn and if it turns out you would rather do something else, you have a place to come home to. We will figrue something out than."

Brook sighed, smiled at his brothers, "Thank you." He said, barely blinking back the tears, but this time he wasn't afraid, it was alright. Sev didn't say anything, just walked past Kal and grabbed Brook by the arm, pulled him up and led him to the kitchen.

Scorch fell in step with them, right next to Brooks other side, "First food, "He said," and then you will sleep in our room. Tomorrow we can see about you job."

Brook sighed, wiped away the tears from his eyes, pushed a bit closer to his brothers.

A.N.:

So, the main conflict is resolved, Delta is back together, Brook has time to sort himself out and all that is left is our epilogue.

*Looks at the time* holy cow, what a ride.

It is by far the longest story I have ever written and although it might not have been the most complicated plot the emotions and dynamics behind the scenes were new and a challenge for me.

I would not have even picked up the story after chapter one, which was just a whump one-shot, truly, if it had not been for your reviews, so thank you for your lovely comments, your input, your ideas, because without you Brook'S story would never have made it onto paper.

See you in the epilogue, because there s still a tiny bit left :)