After fluff comes some serious stuff. Here is a warning to anyone who might get triggered by abuse for this chapter. You can read the first part and maybe skip the wash hut.

As usual I started with the intent to write one thing, and something else completely different developed. I hope you guys find it okay.

Thank you to all who are commenting and sticking with this story. I just passed 200 pages guys!

And no...Disney still hasn't come knocking down my door, so all rights to them.

Chapter 25

The island was a flurry of activity for the next four days as they prepared for the arrival of the first sensitives and Ben and Rey spent almost every waking moment working in between, playing and moving the grey, focusing on their power.

It was tiring and they didn't seem to be making much headway, which was grating on Ben, having him short and grumpy by the end of each day. Rey managed to sooth his mood for the most part, but it was getting harder as the impending arrival of the Falcon drew near, just like it had last time.

By the mid-morning of the fourth day, Rey just told Ben she needed a break and took off to the base of the mountain to just clear her mind. She had been sitting on the edge of a cliff, soaking in the sunshine and listening to the waves for a few hours when the sound of the Falcon's engines roused her from her meditation.

She watched the ship clear the island with a smile and got up, trotting as quick as she could back to the huts a ways below her. She crested the ridge just in time to see Finn exiting down the ramp with Chewie and almost another half dozen or so people ranging in age from young adults to older.

Finn spotted Rey and waved as she jogged the rest of the way, greeting her friend with a hug as the group stood, shifting their feet and looking around wearily.

Chewie howled in greeting and swept Rey up after Finn had barely let go of her, "Hi Chewie!" she said, out of breath while he practically squeezed the rest of it out of her.

Shifting back, she saw the group look past her to the hill, the looks of curiosity turning to fear as some of them actually started to back up.

Looking over her shoulder she saw Ben at the top of the hill, the wind blowing his black waves around is serious features, creating a fearsome look. Sighing she turned and walked up the hill to where he was standing as if he were surveying his troops.

"Ben, these aren't soldiers." She said softly and took his hand, letting the lightness from her meditations soften his edges and smooth his features.

His eyes flicked to her and she realized that it was nerves creating his unease, not a desire to be feared and she smiled lightly and squeezed his hand, leading him down the hill in reluctant tow.

Her smile widened at the group as Finn turned back to address them, "Here we are. This is Rey, and...Ben." He said only a slight hesitation on his introduction.

Rey's posture was open and inviting towards the group as Ben towered intimidatingly behind her, the wind blowing and no one moving or saying a thing.

"No stand around. Come, we show you place to rest." Came a voice that was surprisingly loud and firm from behind Rey and Ben.

Rey smile broadened in humor as Finn and Chewie both flicked a look at Tsaro shuffling forward with a group of caretakers.

"Ah, everyone," Rey started, shifting away from Ben to act as a go between the group and Lanai, "This is Tsaro. She is one of the caretakers here and her group will be helping you get settled and set up today. They also will be assisting with your training." The group murmured amongst themselves with this statement.

Rey wasn't completely comfortable in the role of a leader, but she had known this day would eventually come when Maz had told them what the plan was. She glanced at Ben and let go of his hand to walk towards the group, stopping in front of a pair of girls who looked to be only in their early teens.

They eyed Rey's approach warily, and she took note of how there clothes, however clean, were obviously not theirs as they hung off of their slight frames. She figured Finn and Chewie may have had something to do with that.

"Hello, what's your name?" Rey address the first one. She was a head shorter than Rey with short cropped blond hair that stuck out wildly everywhere. Her face was smudged with dirt, like her companion, but her bright green eyes were sharp as they studied Rey.

"Raan." She said in her high soft tone, edging a little closer to her friend as she did.

Rey nodded her head in a hello, "Raan. How about you?" She turned her attention the other girl, with a gentle nudge of the force, exuding calm and peace as she regarded the frightened girls dark brown eyes.

She was almost Rey's height, and the mirror opposite of her friend. She had the same short cut, dirty locks that were almost black, a darker complexion with a smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks.

"Damia." She said, nearly above a whisper, waves of fear rolling towards Rey, her thoughts frantic as her eyes darted around assessing her escape options.

Rey kept her energy calm, "You are both safe here. I promise." She said quietly to the pair and turned to address Tsaro, "How about you show these girls to a hut. They can share?" She said asked looking between the pair for agreement.

Their eyes widened in surprise and uncertainty until Raan finally nodded and moved hesitantly towards Tsaro, Damia in tow, gripping her friends arm for dear life as they passed Ben with a wary glance.

Once the first two were headed off, it didn't take much coaxing to get the rest to head in the direction of their new homes, promises of a warm meal and fresh water sealing the deal quickly.

Ben was about to turn to follow when a small child darted around Chewie's legs, small hands grabbing his one wrist in a tight grip as the tiny body plastered itself against his leg. Ben, started in surprise and glanced down at the newly acquired cling on that had latched itself to him.

The child looked to be no more than seven years old, his hair stock white in tight curls around his dark colored skin, however it was hard to tell the color with so much dirt caking it. His eyes darted around, obviously terrified of Finn and Chewie. The fear and anxiety rolling of him from the force in incredible crashing waves. His clothes, and hands were just as filthy, and he didn't have any shoes on his feet, while his eyes had dark circles under them. His bottom lip was split, dried blood still on his chin and a nasty bruise forming under the cut.

Ben glanced up at Rey, with a lost and almost terrified expression on his face as he gave his hand a slight tug to remove it from the child's grasp, but not wanting to hurt or scare him further.

"I told you we had a stow away!" Finn said to Chewie and he just huffed a low grumble in response.

Rey approached the slight thing, noticing other cuts and bruises littering his arms and feet as he tried to duck further behind Ben's leg.

I think this one is going to be all you. Rey shot to him, watching him visibly grimace at the thought and give his hand a slight tug again.

Do I look like I am a safe place for a child? He nearly growled back, being pulled slightly around by the boys attempt to hide behind his legs from Chewie and Finn who were trying very hard to keep their amusement at bay.

He is powerful, Ben. And very scared. Rey said gently, flashing her own past through her brain. A child, screaming after her parents, torn away.

Ben narrowed his eyes at her, Fine. He chopped back and took a deep breath to center himself and keep his frustrations from floating through to the child.

He turned and crouched down slowly, feeling the small thing's thoughts of bolting as his eyes wildly searched for a better hiding place.

"I have a place you can hide." Ben said, surprising himself at how soft his voice was. The boys head snapped around an his eyes showed only suspicion.

Ben nodded in support, "I will show you if you tell me your name." He bribed, trying desperately to think of a way to get the child off of him.

The boys gaze settled on Ben, his tongue darting out over his split lip, "Jek." He finally said in a small, raspy voice, sliding one of his hands down from Ben's wrist to cling to his fingers. "Show me now?" He said leaning in and Ben caught a whiff of the child.

He nose crinkled, but he nodded, standing again with a deep frown as Jek continued to hold on to him tightly.

I need you to go ahead to the wash hut and get a bath ready. He smells like Bantha dung! Ben told Rey, sending his utter disgust with his words.

Rey stifled her smile and turned to leave, "Finn, don't go anywhere. I need to talk to you." She said before sprinting up the hill to get a bath ready.

Ben turned to Finn and Chewie stalling to let Rey get prepared, "Where did you find him?" Ben asked, not really caring.

Chewie howled and the child cowered, Finn shot him a look, "We didn't find him, but I told you there was food missing after the second stop." He said in retaliation for Chewie saying it was Finns fault for advertising they were a free ride.

"Honestly, I have no clue where he had been hiding cause Chewie pretty much tore apart the Falcon trying to find what may have been getting into all the food." Finn added and move slightly toward the child, stopping when he nearly tripped up Ben by trying to hide behind his legs.

Finn smirked at the scene, but quickly wiped his grin away at the intimidating scowl Ben shot him, "Chewie, you are free to stay if you want for a bit." He offered, trying to extend some sort of an invitation.

He grumbled and chattered back his, "No thanks, I'll just wait for Finn." And headed back to the ship as Finn and Ben stood in uncomfortable silence for a moment.

Ben sighed again, his head starting to hurt at the day already, "Come on Finn. Rey wanted to talk to you." He said resigned, Jek trotting along beside Ben as his long legs moved him much faster then the child's short ones.

Finn couldn't keep his laughter inside anymore and started chuckling low as he ducked his head to follow up the hill.

"I can hear you." Ben snapped back, his anger peaking and rolling just below the surface. There was something about the child though, that played on his memory and he slowed his pace a little as the round, brown eyes glanced up at him with just a sliver of hope.

He headed straight for the wash hut, Rey signalling that she was ready with the help of Tsaro and the boy paused on the threshold tugging on Ben's hand with terror in his eyes. As Ben turned back he noticed the pebbles around the door shake and begin to lift with the child's fear.

He stopped as an idea struck him, kneeling down to look him in the eye, "Look, I can do that too." He said, trying to keep his tone calm and not let frustration leak in.

Ben focused on the force and reached out his free hand, for the purpose of his demonstration, and slowly lifted a larger rock beside the boys wobbling smaller ones. He spun it in a small circle and had it orbit the smaller stones before putting it back down and looking back at the child.

His brown eyes were wide with wonder, his mouth open in a small 'oh' shape as he regarded Ben. His small head tilted in thought and Ben could feel the contemplation as his brow wrinkled and he let go of Ben's hand, reaching out to the larger stone.

Ben watched in fascination as the rock shook a little before slowly inching up off the ground to hover in an unsteady manner before dropping back to the earth with a dull thud. Pride lit through Jek's eyes and a smile finally broke across his small features revealing two deep dimples in his cheeks, before his damaged lip split again and he winced.

"Come with me Jek," Ben tried again leading him into the hut, a little less scared until he spotted Rey and he shrunk back to the door.

"It's okay, she can do it too." Ben said encouragingly as Rey tossed him a puzzled look.

Levitate the towels to me. Ben shot to her as quick as he could before Jek backed all the way out the door again.

"Look…." Rey said with a smile, and the towels lifted off the small stool effortlessly and sailed across the hut to Ben's hands.

Jek froze in the door, absolutely stunned that there was not just one other, but two people that could make things move the way he could.

He paused in his retreat with a wary look between Ben and Rey before coming back closer to Ben again and spotting the large basin of slightly steaming water.

Ben caught his fear rising up again, "Jek, this is Rey. Her and I are going to clean you up and give you new clothes." He clarified firmly, offering no other option.

"What do I have to do for them?" Jen said in a small voice that surprised both Rey and Ben.

"Uh, nothing. You just need to let us wash you up and they will be yours." Rey said, her heart breaking at the boys cynicism. She moved around the basin, but still keeping her distance as not to scare him, and crouched down.

"Jek, I was about your age when I was left by myself on a planet of all sand. But now, we are going to be your friends. We are going to show you more of this." She said gently, holding the bar of soap up to hover in her hand and spin.

"You will get food, and a bed, and friends. All you need to do is listen and learn." She added with a smile, wishing deep down that someone would have said those words to her at some point when she was young.

Jek's eyes narrowed at her words, mind full of doubt, his body tense, ready to run at a seconds notice. Ben and Rey could feel his untrained mind reaching out to get a sense of the truth in what was being offered and they both gave him the sense of calm and safety they knew he needed.

With a quick nod, he pulled his ragged and dirty shirt over his head, and his threadbare pants off his scrawny hips, leaving just his under shorts on.

Rey wanted to turn away to give him privacy until her eyes caught all the bruises, cuts and scrapes, littered among jagged scars on his front. Her mouth dropped open slightly as she covered it, tears springing to her eyes and she looked up to see Ben's horrified face as he sucked a hissing breath in.

Ben's anger was swift, like molten fire as it rose up inside of him and he stood, stumbling back a bit with his desperate grasp to reign it in.

Jek turned sensing the anger and stumbled back from Ben in a panic giving Rey a view of the boys back. It was littered with multiple welted scars that ranged from old and white with puckered edges, to red, swollen and angry.

Rey couldn't help herself as the tears streamed silently down her face, "Jek," she sobbed out, causing the boy to turn and look at her, a sense of confusion filling his face as he took note of her tears. "We won't hurt you." She said firmly and held out her hand to the boy.

Jek hesitated, his mind having a hard time understanding just what was going on, but he felt Rey's sorrow touch him and it was almost comforting. He reached out his small hand and placed it in hers.

Rey's eyes flicked to Ben's and she didn't even have to think it, he was already nodding to her, almost begging her.

"I'm going to fix these, and I promise, it won't hurt." She said, pushing all the comfort and trust she could to the boy through his small hand.

He just nodded a little and she drew him near, hand hovering over his back, her eyes fluttering closed. The skin on Jek's back slowly started to knit and move together, healing the scars and smoothing it out as his eyes closed, his mouth dropping open with tiny puffing gasps for breaths, but he stood stone still, letting Rey work.

As she finished and slowly opened her eyes, Ben moved back to kneel by the boy, his anger held back and walled away for the time being. He regarded Rey's handiwork with a satisfied nod and then noticed the child's tears, causing him to look frantically at Rey.

She turned Jek carefully towards her, "Jek? Are you alright?" She said barely above a whisper, his eyes remaining shut as the tears flowed.

He made no other sound to indicate he had been crying and Rey started to worry she had done something she shouldn't have when his eyes opened, lashes glittering with hushed tears.

"You made pain go away." He said in a quiet child's voice, filled with awe and gratitude and disbelief. "Why you do for me?" He asked breathlessly with a lingering hiccup of a sob.

Rey's heart shattered at the question and fresh tears fell at his hurt. Her eyes met Ben's who were red with the struggle of holding back his own from anger and outrage for a child's suffering.

He reached out, placing a light hand on Jek's shoulder, drawing his attention, "Because no one ever deserves to be hurt like you were." His voice was low, but tender as he met the brown eyes with a firm truth of his words.

A small shiver shuddered through Jek causing Rey and Ben to both be snapped to the present, and why they were in the hut.

"Come, let's get you cleaned up." She said with a lighter tone and helped the boy into the basin of warm water.

Ben turned on his heal, noting the child was happy in the water as Rey began to carefully wash him, "I will be back." He said gruffly and strode quickly out the door, almost slamming it in his haste.

Finn was sitting on the low wall a few feet away and his head snapped up as Ben exited, "Is every…" he began but Ben cut him off right away.

"Not now Finn." He snapped, his face pure, hot rage and he took off at almost a jog down the path to the outcrop.

His eyes searched desperately for something, anything, before he pulled out his saber that he had clipped to his belt under his tunic, igniting it and slashing furiously at the stone wall of the outcrop. He hacked and slashed at the wall, ending off with a soul ripping yell before he collapsed on his knees, shutting off his saber as the wall hissed and popped, red melting paths of rock dripping here and there.

He was panting with his effort and his hands still shaky, but he felt better having let the molten rage out on the rock face when he felt a presence and he huffed out a frustrated sigh, hanging his head.

"I said not now, Finn." His voice dark, but defeated, as almost a plea to just leave him alone.

Finn had watched the display of raw anger with incredulity and fear until he had slumped to the ground, his whole being giving off a sense of release of something and he had stepped forward till Ben stopped him in his tracks.

"What happened Ben." He pushed in a firm, yet hesitant tone, taking a couple more steps forward as he eyed the saber laying in Ben's lap.

Ben chuckled soundlessly without humor and lifted his head, dragging a hand through it, pulling the sweat covered locks off his forehead.

"That kid. That child, had more scars and bruises than I have seen on some of the most battle worn soldiers. Where in kriffing hells did you pick him up?!" Ben's question ended in almost a roar as he remained seated, staring at the scared wall that was now cool.

Finn took a step back as the words settled over his mind, "Ah, it was, Zyg-something, it didn't catch the name from Chewie. We literally stopped in for something that he said he needed and I asked around about those that could, you know…" he trailed of waving his fingers like Ben and Rey did when using the force.

Ben huffed in disgust, "Zygerria. That explains it." He muttered darkly rising and clipping his saber back on his belt, flipping the edge of his tunic over it.

Finn regarded him carefully and then the state of the stone wall as he strode past, heading back up the hill.

"Rey still wants to talk to you." He said in a short tone, snapping Finn out of his thoughts while looking at the angry gouges across the stone.

"Yeah, right." Finn mumbled and turned, giving the wall one last wary glance before heading back up the hill behind Ben.

Ben felt better after hacking at the wall to get rid of his walled back rage and he could sense that Rey had finished with Jek and was getting him dressed. He could hear Rey's light chatter as he approached the door and knocked lightly.

"All set." Rey's voice said with a brightness to indicate that Jek was warming up to her nicely.

Ben slipped into the wash hut and froze. Jek stood in front of Rey, her hands resting gently on his shoulders, dressed in clean grey pants and a grey tunic that was a little to big for him. His face was clean and clear of his injuries thanks to her healing, his dark skin not seeming so sallow, and his hair was clean and a shocking white grey color.

It hit him all at once as his mind clicked the pieced into place as to why there was something familiar about the young boy. He looked like Voe. His mouth hardened in a thin line and all he could do was give a sharp nod of approval before he opened the door to show Rey and Jek out.

Rey shot him a questioning look as she walked past, the boy now clinging to her hand tightly. She lead Jek to the main area as Tsaro was making her way up the path again.

"Tsaro, this is Jek. Can you find somewhere suitable for him to stay?" Rey asked, concern lacing her voice.

Tsaro grinned at the boy, as they were about the same height then regarded Rey, shooting a look to Ben's stormy face behind her, "If like, u stay with me? I have big bed and hot food for little belly." She said with a matronly tone.

Rey started to object, but Tsaro waved her off as if it were nothing. She looked at Jek as he eyed Tsaro critically, then looked back up to her, "It's okay. She has taken care of me and Ben." She said with an encouraging nod as she lifted her hand, grasped by him in Tsaros direction.

Jek took a hesitant step towards Tsaro before looking back at Ben. He let go of Rey's hand and followed behind Tsaro, his voice barely heard as they walked away, "I listen and get food. They promised." Worry lacing his tone.

"Of course little sprout." Tsaro said waving him forward towards where her hut was located near the back of the compound.

At watched them walk around the corner of some smaller huts before she turned, narrowing her eyes at Ben and she drew close, "What's going on?" She whispered and Finn was lounging against the low wall.

Ben frowned and turned on his heal, heading back towards the hill that lead to the temple, "I need to think." He stated sharply as he stalked away, offering no other explanation.

"Ben?" Rey called after him, then sighed as he continued to walk away. She decided to leave it for the moment and turned to Finn.

"Come on, let's go inside." She said, chilled a little as the wind had picked up and sun had gone behind some clouds.

She lead Finn to her hut, shutting the door behind him, "Tea?" She asked, heading to the fire to stoke it and pour them two glasses without waiting for his answer.

Finn was rooted to the spot by the table his gaze fixed on the beds. The blankets on the larger one rumpled and messy while bags and various items littered the smaller bed, obviously not being used for sleeping.

Rey reached out handing him the cup, finally noticing his stare, so she turned, a confused look on her face till she spotted what he was looking at. Her mouth opened to say something, but then shut again as she didn't seem to know what she should say, when he cut her off.

"No, it's….you don't owe me any explanation." He said ducking his head for a moment as he collected his thoughts and swallowed around a lump of emotion.

Rey felt him grasping desperately to his thoughts, shoving them away with a hurt frustration before his mind cleared and he looked back up as her. The pain was plain in his eyes, but he smiled regardless and took the tea from her.

"I'm assuming that's not what you wanted to talk to me about." He said attempting a joke, but falling flat badly as he moved to sit in her chair.

Rey cleared her throat awkwardly, "Uh, no. I, uh…where was Lando?" She ask the thought just popping into her head.

"He had to go and take care of some things, but we are meeting up with him back at the base." He swirled his cup, still not meeting her gaze.

"Oh, that could present a problem." She mumbled and chewed her lip thoughtfully.

"Problem with what?" Finn asked, his curiosity over powering his awkwardness in realizing Ben and Rey were sleeping together.

"You know we need to train those sensitive in the force, which means, we need you here too." Rey said bluntly.

Finn just blinked at her a moment, "You want me here. To train. With you." He said repeating her words as statements of disbelief.

Rey grinned, "Yes. We need as many who are sensitive as possible, and, that includes you." She said spelling it out again.

His eyebrows shot up in humor, "And what does Mr. Dark-and-Grumpy think of that?" He asked with a chuckle as Rey rolled her eyes at him.

"Finn, really?" She said at his childishness. She got up, and poured herself another tea, glancing at the door for a moment. She reached out through the bond, Ben's dark and shrouded mind, roiling like an angry sea and she backed off, trusting he would let her know when he was ready to talk about what made him so upset.

"Sorry, I know, but I don't need to be sensitive with the force to know the guy doesn't like me." Finn said lifting an eyebrow at her as if challenging her to despite his statement.

"He's getting there." Rey muttered as she sat back down in her chair with a huff. "We need you here too, to help as well as learn." Rey finally said, with only a minimal amount of pleading leaking through her voice.

Finn's mouth screwed up with his thoughts, "Yeah, okay, I guess I always figured that would be the case. But I need to go back with Chewie this time. I will stay when we bring the next group." He said relenting and Rey beamed at him.

Finn glanced back at the window and noticed the sun was getting low, "On that note, I do need to get going. We have to meet up with Lando soon." And he got up giving Rey a big hug.

"Be safe." Rey said breathing in his familiar smell of worn leather and spice.

"Yeah, you too." He said, his eyes flicking to the bed again before he shut his eyes tight and tucked his face in her neck.

Rey reluctantly moved away and Finn smiled, almost sadly, handing her his cup, "We will be in touch soon." He said heading out the door and closing it softly behind him.

Rey let out a long breath and slumped back into Ben's chair, looking at the messy bed over the fire with a shake of her head, "Oh, Ben. What's going on?" She whispered to the empty room.