BENS POV
Pain just agonising pain, writhing though my body like a burning touch, at points in my body it was pulsing. It reminded me of Snokes so called training which was more like torcher, my limbs feel heavy almost like I'm being suppressed by some kind of great weight. I tried to desperately escape the prison of the subconscious, but the chains that bind me here are too strong. That's when I feel it..see it..breathe it..live it..I can tell this feeling is though the force that courses though my body. Normally when I feel though force, it's a peaceful, warm, kind presence. This feeling however isn't..it screams to me, loud and overwhelming…
DANGER
When I realise this, my fighting instincts that I have mastered kick in, I start struggling wildly and snap the restraints binding me to the subconscious plain. I drag myself forwards and out of the subconscious, the force powering me though.
I snapped my eyes open, breathing heavily. In that single moment pain floods back in and I can't help but let out a groan, the sheets of the bed trapped in my fists as I fight the pain. I slowly look around myself once my vision had stopped swimming, threatening to throw me back unconscious. The first thing I notice is..no sign of Rey. This sends my heart thumping and into overdrive, as quickly as I can I sit up but my energy quickly leaves me and I'm left panting with effort. The pain is so unbearable but I know I have to find Rey. I must protect her. I slowly push of the bed and immediately a sharp burning sensation twists itself up my leg and snakes it's way up my whole body. I grimace and clench my teeth tightly, I put my hand on the wall to support myself and I take a few steps forward; looking down at myself I notice I'm wearing sweats but no shirt. My chest and abdomen have been bandaged tightly thankfully my movement hasn't seemed to of brought any blood forth. The feeling of danger though the force writhes up again and I use the force summon my beautiful Saber to my side as soon as it touches my palm it ignites. I smile weakly loving the feeling of having it back at my side, it's double ended one side of it crackles and glows Jedi blue, beautiful and illuminates the room, the other however is still red..it has never changed to blue I'm not sure what this means but I think it represents how the dark side still lives deep within me. I just know how to control it….
I'm broken from my trancelike state as I feel the force warning growing stronger inside me, I waste no time in getting outside the room, pain ruptures all over my body but years of dealing with pain kicks in and I battle forwards. I run down the corridor to the main body of the ship my eyes desperately searching for Rey, my body is pulsing with the pain it takes me a lot of energy to hold myself up and stay alert but I don't care. I need to find Rey. I look eagerly around the ship until I come to the open ramp at the back. I feel the warmth from the planets three suns hitting my pale skin as I run outside the ship. My bare feet touching the grass which I hope will take me to find Rey. My eyes swivel around looking for my soulmate, I finally reach out with the force looking for any sign of her beautiful silhouette. I feel her force presence around me, her familiar warmth calms me but I'm still confused. Where is she?
"Ben?!" I snap my eyes open, that was her voice. Her voice! I heard it. It definitely came from behind me, I turn around as fast as I can. I let out a breath of anticipation I didn't realise I had been holding, my posture sagging a little. There is she stands, holding some tools, I think I can't really see my vision is going cloudy.
"Ben?! What's going on? Are you alright?" Her sweet voice called, I smiled more relaxed, at least I knew she was here and safe. That doesn't explain however why the force warned me about danger…
"Ben!" I was shaken from my trance once again, Rey was close to me, she had dropped her tools I assumed and was now right in front of me. I dropped my glowing saber to the ground and ingulfed her in a warm embrace. I drank in her sweet honey smelling scent, I sensed her confusion though the force but she nevertheless embraced me back.
"I thought you were in danger.." I mumbled into her neck my arms snaked around her waist, the pain was growing so strong I didn't know how much longer I could remain awake, let alone up right and moving. I felt her pulling away slowly, I kept my hands on her waist being careful of her swollen belly.
"I'm not in danger love, not at all ok? What gave you the impression I was?." She replied and gently started to lead me inside, picking up my lightsaber in the process.
"The force..gave me a feeling there was danger and when I woke , you weren't there I thought something happened to you.." I mumbled weakly and stumbled forward, I felt her arm around me attempting to help me walk as the pain grew worse. I saw her out of the corner out of my eye, I saw her frown and pull me tighter to her, I winced a little as my tight muscles protested further movement.
"The force doesn't lie Rey…you know that." I replied to her silence as she helped lead me to the "living room" Of our ship.
" I know,I'm just confused why you felt the force warning and not me." She said confused her brows knitted together as she helped me lower myself down into the armchair. I bit my lip as I sat down, the pain I was able to push out earlier was coming back with extreme vengeance.
"Maybe because of the baby?" I suggested leaning by head back, my hands in tight fists as I tried to battle the pain once more. I screwed my eyes up an attempted to breathe deeply.
"How are you feeling?" Rey asked gently, I felt her soft hands come to land on my tightly balled fist and gently massage my arm trying to bring me comfort but her presence was always just comfort enough.
"I'm fine don't worry." I replied quickly between deep breathes finally meeting her gaze, Her eyes sparked with concern. She reached her hand up and intwined it in my long black hair, I saw her sigh deeply. I relaxed under her touch.
"You should be resting Ben not worrying about me." She replied and I watched her free hand slowly rub her belly.
"Rey you know I always worry about you." I smiled weakly, the pull to pass out very strong, but I was resisting as hard as I could.
"Have you seen yourself lately Ben? You look awful." She sighed and gently ran her fingers though my locks, I let my now seemingly heavy head come to rest in her palm that she brought down from my hair to the bottom of my chiseled jaw.
"Well never let it be said your not one to give compliments." I said sarcastically, I smirked pleased with my small joke as she smiled but I could still see the concern etched into her features.
"You know what I mean." She replied quietly, I yearned her touch. I craved it like a drug, but pain was threatening to send me into unconscious away from Rey and I fought against it as hard as I could. I judged from her gaze that she was aware that I was struggling to stay conscious.
"Rest Love, rest." Her soft voice whispered, I felt her plush soft lips press against my clammy forehead and that was enough for the pain to take over and pull me into the darkness.
REYS POV
I slowed laid my loves heavy head back on the arm chair, I sighed deeply and just gazed at him before confusion took over again. Why did the force reach out to him with danger and not me..maker I needed answers. Well I need lots of things right now. I need Ben to recover, because if there was danger around I would most likely need his help fighting it. I needed this ruddy ship to get of the ground. I need reliable food and water. I need to take care of our child. I shut those thoughts out and just took a deep breath in, feeling the force flow though me calmingly. The warmth dripped though me and I shivered, relaxed, my eyes closed. But they reopened with a snap when I felt a small little kick in my stomach, I looked to my left wondering if I should wake Ben, but I notice he had jerked from his slumber feeling my energy though the force shift.
"What happened?" Ben asked sleepily but he was awake enough to be leaning forwards towards me, I noticed how his arm was around his ribs and as he leaned forwards.
"That b-baby..kicked." I replied and I couldn't help myself as i beamed my hand rubbing tenderly over my swollen belly. Soon Ben's own hand joined mine and felt over my belly, another small kick.
"Wow.." Ben spoke softly and came closer to my belly, I met his gaze and he was smiling. I couldn't help it so I leaned forwards and kissed him deeply. In that moment sparks erupted though me with passion, it felt like the first time we kissed when he saved my life. He pulled away slowly with a small groan of pain, which I could see he tried to hide, his body clearly not ready for the movement he was doing. I moved my hand slowly to the bandages that bound his chest tightly, I ran my hand down his side absentmindedly not even realising I was doing it.
"It's not that bad Rey, I swear…you know,with the pain." Ben replied watching my movements slowly, his hand joining mine, I gazed my eyes and stared deeply into his.
"I'm s-Sorry." I whispered softly, I could feel my eyes welling up with tears my mind being reminded of the time when he saved my life but nearly died in the process.
"Rey, what the hell have you got to be sorry for." He replied just as gently and rubbed his thumb over my palms.
"It's my fault you like this..if I wasn't in shock I could have protected myself, or protected you." I gushed out as salty tears streamed down my cheeks, god damn hormones. Before I knew what was happening his lips where on mine, But they left as soon as they had landed.
"Rey, never blame yourself, I will always protect you…no matter what and you know that." Ben replied softly, both my hands now in his much larger ones.
"I know I'm just sorry your in pain." I sighed and said I push my forehead against his.
"I've coped with much worse than this." He chuckled and winced, I knew that he was referring to his time with Snoke when he was brutally tortured.
"I'm not going to win this one am I?" I replied softly a smile playing on my lips as did his.
"Not a chance love." He said and slowly got to his feet, I quickly followed one hand resting on his good shoulder the other on his wait just to provide the bigger man some support in case he fell. I watched as he winced but he seemed to hold back a groan and answered my silent question with a nod.
"I found out why we went down." I stated and looped my arm around Ben's waist and slowly started to lead him into where we ate.
"What happened?" He asked wincing with every step he took even with my support.
"Well, the left engine combusted because some sort of laser hit it hard causing it to over heat." I replied and slowly got him to the kitchen counter, he sat in one of the chairs and I could visibly see the pain he was in but he was desperately trying to hide it.
"Are you saying we got shot down?" Ben said slowly like he was processing it, I could see his dark side energy returning slightly his anger controlling his thoughts like it used to.
"Possibly, Ben calm down." I warned noticing his change in posture, he only got like this when he knew I could be in danger. Before I knew it, he was up and heading toward the back of the ship to go see the engine.
"Ben-" I called as I jogged after his swift pace, I managed to grab his wrist before he got very far and pull him to a halt.
"You need to rest and you know it." I said meeting his eyes, I noticed his normal soft hazel eyes where hard and darker than usual.
"Rey, there could be a threat out there, just waiting to get us. I need to at least go see if I can sense something though the force, I don't want you in danger!" He replied raising his voice to emphases his point. I gripped his wrist tighter, and stared him right in his eyes.
"I can defend myself Ben you of all people should know that!" I retorted feeling my controlled anger rise inside of me.
"I just want you to be safe! With the baby I don't want you getting hurt!" He replied back raising his voice to match mine, I growled a little.
"Ben please listen to me, we would feel if something was wrong though the force, I promise I won't leave your side. Just sit down, please." I said calmly, my anger cooling down, my normal calm energy returning.
"Ok..I'm sorry, I-I'm just worried about this, feeling the danger warning though the force and now this." He replied clearly calming down, I slowly pulled him back to the kitchen and sat him down. "I'm sorry." He sighed letting his body slump forward a little, the pain he was obviously feeling earlier had returned.
"It's ok I understand, just don't forget who I am..Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I'm useless." I said softly and started to make some soup.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry." He reply his voice a little muffled and as I turned I saw his head down on the cold metal surface. I sighed stirring some soup into a large pot turning the heat on.
"Ben you feeling ok?" I asked concerned about his lack of movement which was very unusual for Ben. All I got in response was a pained moan, I moved to his side and gently pushed his hair back to feel his forehead, I drew my hand away quickly for it was as burning hot.
"Oh no..Ben?! Can you hear me?" I asked gently and shook his non damaged shoulder, when I got no response I panicked even more.
"Ben come on get up!" I raised my voice and shook him harder, but still no response. I panicked and thought of the only thing I could do, call a doctor. I sprinted as fast as I could to the phone we kept on board and punched in the numbers. It rang slowly, each passing second felt like an age. Then an answer.
"Rey?" The voice on the other end of the line answered, their tone sounded confused was also happy to hear from me.
"Poe. I need your help." I said urgently. See now Poe had ended up settling down with a beautiful doctor, she was very respected in the field and also a lovely, kind person. Poe and I have always kept in touch and met up hundreds of times over the years, he is still one of my closest friends and I knew he wouldn't let me down.
"What's wrong?" He asked sounding very concerned, I could hear here his heavy breathing on the other end of the line.
"I-it's Ben.." I replied struggling to get the words out, I could practically feel his energy go tense on the other end of the line. Poe and Ben had got really close over the two years and I knew he was quite fond of Ben and vise a versa. They kept in contact constantly and I was glad they did.
"What happened." Poe asked concerned and worried, I heard him turn away from the phone and call over his wife Elena.
"We were in a crash..someone shot down our ship and Ben used the force to protect me not himself. He is badly injured, I fixed him up the best I could but now he has a fever and I don't know what to do, Poe I'm worried." I said not realising how shaky I sounded. I heard a small groan from the kitchen and I jogged back with the phone pressed to my ear.
"Where are you both now?" Poe asked as I sat down next to Ben and stroked his hair back from his sweaty face.
"We are on Ithor, just on the outskirts of a forest around now, I can't give you exactly our co-ordinates because our navigation systems are broken." I replied and I slowly tried to rouse Ben again but as I suspected I had no luck.
"We are close by, if we travel at light speed I recon we can get to you today." Poe replied, I breathed a sigh of relief and calmed slightly.
"Thank you, please, please hurry he doesn't look good." I replied, not taking my eyes away from Ben's prone form.
"We will." Poe said then proceeded to hang up his phone. I dropped the phone of the counter and I slowly pulled Ben into me, his head still hung low down over his chest, his breathing was slow and Laboured. I held him against my chest and gently pulled his head back so his heavy head was leaning on my shoulder, I felt his breathing become easier. All I could do now was try to keep him comfortable until Poe and Elena arrived.
Hours had passed and I stood at the back of the ship watching the last of the three suns drop slowly downward. I leaned against the side of the ship worried, where were they? I was slowly biting away my nails with concern. We didn't have anymore time to waste..Ben needed them now, like right now. I had managed to get him to the sofa in the kitchen but no further than especially because he was unconscious. He still hadn't woken, he seemed to only be getting hotter and hotter, every now and then he would let out a painful groan in his sleep that would make my heart snap in two. I absentmindedly rubbed my belly knowing the baby was could feel my stressed out emotions as I stared out to the sky desperately hoping to see poe's ship coming overhead but still nothing. I sighed and was about to turn away when I heard the rumbling of a craft overhead. I ran out side to try to gets its attention knowing it was Poe and Elena, before I knew it was screaming for them to see me, so desperate for them to find us now help was so close, luckily there was enough light for them to see me and make their landing. As soon as their ramp touched down I sprinted toward Poe, he ingulfed me in a tight hug and only then had I realised I was crying again, I clung to him so desperately like he was the only thing to keep me from going crazy. Poe slowly pulled away to look at me directly.
"Take me to him." He said softly but the urgency in his voice was clear. I nodded not really able to respond, Elena emerged from the craft behind him and followed Poe as I led him inside our damaged ship. I pulled Poe by his sleeve like a small child would, into the kitchen where the love of my life lay, pale, sweaty, weakened. Elena rushed forward and all she had to do was look him over once and I saw her eyes go into a focused state, she turned to Poe.
"We need to move him onto our ship, we have better medical facilities there, can you lift him?." She said her voice cool and calm, just like a doctors should be. Poe nodded shaking himself of shock of seeing his best friend in this state, especially Ben who was always so strong who now looked weak. It didn't suit him.
POES POV
I looked down at my best friend, seeing him like this brought some tears froth but I managed to keep them at bay for now at least, I squatted Down and slowly looped my arms underneath him. I lifted him off the couch. He was heavy yes but my adrenaline carried me though, his head lulled back but I managed to nudge my shoulder which made his head lay on my chest instead of hanging back. I started to carry him out of the room, my beautiful wife already ran ahead to prepare some extra gear I assumed . Rey walked at my side and all I could hear were her sobs, I know how much she loved him so I could only imagine what pain she was in. My heart was breaking a little watching Rey fall apart as we neared the ship, watching as Ben writhed in pain even when I was unconscious. I brought him onto the ship and carefully laid him down on a gurney Elena quickly steered towards me. She wheeled him away quickly into the medical area, I choose not to follow knowing I would get in the way. I turned to Rey tears now in my eyes.
"He will be okay." I said softly as she hugged me once more, I held her close to me but I'm not even sure if I believed my own words. She gripped my jacket tightly and I could feel her body shaking with sobs, I slowly lead her away from the medical room and towards where we had a sitting area, I sat her down on the sofa my arm around her as she cried into my jacket.
"I can't lose him." She sobbed out shaking her voice quivering, I pulled her close to me in that moment.
"Rey ,this is Ben we are talking about he will be alright.." I said in an attempt to comfort her but I don't know if it was working she just kept crying. I stroked her hair as she sobbed into my shoulder. I stared out a window we had in the living room and watched the huge 7 moons here on Ithor rise and illuminate the sky, i only then realised I had tears slipping out my eyes and run down my cheeks. I hastily wiped them away and attempted to pull myself together.
"It's ok to cry Poe, I know you love him to." I heard Rey's shaking voice and I only just realised she had been watching me.
"I know I just need to be strong for you right now." I said honestly and met her gaze and she sat up.
"You really love this guy don't you." I said and smiled trying to bring her spirts up, she let a small but sad smile appear on her face as she wiped her tears.
"Yea I do." She replied and sniffed, the sad smile still on her lips.
"I don't know what I would do without him." She added looking out the window, I notice she was absentmindedly twisting her marriage ring. I sighed deeply.
"Same here..I've gotten really close to him over these two years..it feels like he is my brother.." I replied smiling a little but a pang of pain ignited in my heart knowing he was in so much pain and struggling.
"Let's just hope Elena can help him.." she said sadly still gazing out the window.
"She will." I replied but still I was unsure of my words..