AN: Theo, I did indeed just promise another story. :) I'm glad you like the end result of Thrawn and Chiara's little escapade. I try really hard to update every day, or at least ever other!

Chapter 25

It was around mid-afternoon and the medics had just removed the warming and regeneration arch from Thrawn when Aristocra Mitth'osks'anik arrived.

"Commander, it is good to see that you are mending," the Aristocra said, striding over to stand at Thrawn's bedside.

"Aristocra Mitth'osks'anik, welcome," Thrawn greeted him. "I trust your family is also on the path to recovery."

The Aristocra regarded him with glowing eyes. "They are indeed, thanks to you. I cannot thank you enough for what you did. When I heard the news that their ship had gone down, I did not expect to see them again. Yet you risked your lives and accomplished truly formidable feats to save them."

"Those feats were Chiara's doing," Thrawn advised him. "She is the one who flew the ship safely through the storm and located your family without sensors. No one else could have possibly done that."

"Yes," the Aristocra said, turning to Chiara. "Mitth'saml'inas tells me that you also helped to make my children comfortable until their injuries could be properly treated. We are fortunate, indeed, to have you and your abilities among us and you have my undying gratitude, Jedi Master Chiara Matao."

"I do what I can," she answered softly. "You have a lovely family and I'm glad that I was able to help return them to you."

The Aristocra inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement, then turned back to Thrawn. "Once you have recovered, Commander, I would like to honor you two properly by hosting you for dinner with my family."

"We would be honored to accept, Aristocra," Thrawn told him.

"Excellent," the Aristocra replied. "I have matters of state to attend to and must take my leave, but if you have need of anything, I am at your disposal. I thank you again for the service which you have rendered to me and to my family."

"It is an honor to serve the Chiss and to have the opportunity to protect your family," Thrawn replied formally.

Three days after their arrival in Csaplar, Thrawn was released to return home. The skin on his hands and feet where frostbite had set in were still mottled blue, but he had regained sensation and the medics assured him that the mottling would fade with a little more time. His regenerated skin and nerves were still overly sensitive, but the burning sensation that had plagued him for over a day while the the tissues were restored to health had finally faded.

Chiara walked beside him as they slowly threaded their way through the base towards their home. After she had snuck back in the first night, they had given up and simply allowed her to stay with him but he was still looking forward to having some private time with her.

"Commander," a voice called from behind him. Thrawn slowed to a halt and turned to see Admiral Ond'isckanti heading towards them.

"Admiral," Thrawn greeted him stiffly, easing himself between the Admiral and Chiara. He knew it was a futile gesture and would do nothing to shield her from the biting words the Admiral undoubtedly had in store for them, but it still made him feel a bit better.

"It is good to see you on your feet again," the Admiral said. "The Eighth Ruling Family owes you a great debt."

The Admiral had been from the Eighth family prior to being stripped of family rank and privilege when he was promoted to command in the Defense Fleet, Thrawn knew. This was supposed to allow him to serve without prejudice or preference towards any one Family, but clearly Ond'isckanti still remembered his Family. "The credit belongs to Chiara, Admiral. She did all of the work in locating them annd she is solely responsible for us finding the city and not just blundering about blindly in the storm."

Ond'isckanti's face tightened briefly as his gaze shifted over Thrawn's shoulder to Chiara, then came back to Thrawn. "Perhaps I judged your choce of mate too hastily. Foreign though she is, she has provied herself both capable and valuable," he said grudgingly.

"She has, indeed," Thrawn agreed, relaxing ever-so-slightly. He stepped to one side. "Admiral, may I present Jedi Master Chiara Matao. Chiara, this is Admiral Ond'isckanti."

"I am honored to meet one who has dedicated his life to protecting the Chiss," Chiara said, using the formal greeting Thrawn had taught her for senior officers.

The Admiral's surprise at Chiara's passable use of Cheunh, as well as the proper greeting was evident on his face. He quickly schooled his features back to a neutral expression. "It is an honor to serve," he replied a bit stiffly. "I thank you for your service, both here and on Csantri."

"I am grateful to have had the chance to contribute to the Ascendancy, Admiral. I look forward to continuing to do so," Chiara said smoothly. Thrawn was impressed by how easily she could come up with such a superb response.

The Admiral studied her for a moment, then turned back to Thrawn. "How long until you are cleared to return to duty, Commander?"

"Three days, sir."

"Excellent. I believe you will be pleased with the progress of the base at Crustai. Good day to you," he said, giving them a curt nod and continuing on his way.

"Was that the Admiral that gave you so much grief a few weeks ago about bringing me to Csilla?" Chiara asked Thrawn, switching to Basic.

"He is," Thrawn confirmed. "Our adventure seems to already be making a mark on the political climate around here."

"I don't know about you, but I'm okay with not having any more adventures for a while," Chiara told him wryly.

"As am I, though I always learn something new and surprising about you when we have them," he replied as they set off again.

"I'm sure you can learn new things about me without our lives being in danger," she laughed. "what new thing did you learn this time?"

"I learned that you aren't a martyr; you're a very compassionate woman. You cannot see someone suffering or in need and not help them, even if you know there will be a cost to yourself. And you're not just stubborn, you have an deep knowledge of yourself and your abilities, as well as an incredible strength of will. Without you, I'm fairly certain that Mitth'saml'inas and I would have simply resigned ourselves to our fate, rather than attempting to make it back to the city. I certainly wouldn't have continued trying after the htisahtin'casi attack. Your indomitable will and determination is what kept us going."

Chiara absorbed this in silence for a moment as they walked. "I couldn't have done any of that without your trust," she told him, slipping her hand into his. The sensation in his fingers still felt slightly off, he noticed, but not unpleasantly so. "I know you couldn't quite believe that I could pull it off, but you chose to trust me anyway. I know that wasn't an easy thing for you to do."

"Every time you tell me you can do something, you follow through and do it. I have come to the conclusion that I may never fully understand all of your abilities, but I trust that you do," he told her, squeezing her hand gently.

"That is a great gift, Thrawn. I know it isn't easy to do," she said gratefully.

He smiled at her as they walked. "I am looking forward to going to Crustai with you. I look forward to having you at my side as I command and I suspect you will have ample opportunity to show me more of your Jedi skills. We will have many years to get to know each other better there, away from the political pressures of Csilla."

She put her arm around him under the pretense of supporting him as they walked. "I would like that a lot."