Chapter 12 – A med bay

Rey started awake, her whole body tensing as she came to. It was a defense mechanism from her years living on Jakku by herself. Always alert.

She blinked, trying to gain her bearings in this foreign environment. She felt a sting in her right arm and glanced down to see a tube of something clear attached to a needle embedded in her skin. There were leads on her chest that blinked with a soft blue light, their beeps coinciding with a machine off to her left. And she could tell that her torso had been wrapped with something meant to stabilize her core.

She was chagrined to admit that she did actually feel better.

"Rey, you're awake."

She glanced up to see Lando sitting in a chair near the door. He rose slowly, leaning on his cane, placing the holopad that he'd been reading on the chair before walking towards her. She was pretty sure this was the first time she'd seen him in what would qualify as casual clothes: no cape, no expensive fabrics. Just simple pants and a long-sleeved shirt.

"Lando." Rey leaned back against her pillows, feeling her heart rate return to normal as her body registered that there wasn't a threat. "How long have I been out?"

"Four days, 8 hours and thirty-one minutes." Lando smirked at her. "Not that anyone has been counting."

Rey returned the grin and then sighed. "Am I gonna live?"

"Oh, the doctor has assured us you'll be just fine. Nothing some rest and relaxation won't take care of. And of course, the bacta patches you've got dotted all over your stomach there."

Placing a hand to her side, Rey felt the bulk and now understood why her entire rib cage was wrapped in bandages.

"I've spoken with General Dameron and your friend, Finn. They are exceedingly concerned about you."

Rey winced. Yeah, she had figured that. "What did you tell them?"

"I let them know that you were safe with Chewie and I onboard the Falcon and that you are currently recovering from your injuries. Your friend, Finn, seemed quite worried, but I managed to convince him that I was telling the truth."

Frowning, Rey wondered what was going on with Finn. He'd been acting strange since Pasana and it seemed odd that he'd doubt a war hero like Lando. But, she supposed that if someone told her one of her friends was safe, but she couldn't actually see it for herself, she'd be skeptical as well.

"Ben!" The exclamation surprised her. She couldn't believe she'd been awake for a few minutes and not even considered what his condition might be. "Ben, how is he? Is he all right? Is he awake?"

"Slow down, little lady," Lando told her. Normally, she'd feel the need to kick any man in the shins who spoke to her in such a condescending tone, but she knew with Lando, it was actually part of his charm. And dang it if it wasn't charming.

"Ben is still in his bacta bath. The doctor wants to give him another 24 hours at least before she removes him and then tries to wake him up."

Rey relaxed at this news. Good, at least he hadn't awoken alone, wondering where she was or worried that she might have abandoned him. The last thing Rey wanted was for Ben to doubt her concern for him.

"What did you tell the others? About Ben?" While Rey had discussed the fact with Chewie and Lando that keeping Ben's survival a secret was probably for the best, at least in the short-term, she couldn't be sure that something hadn't changed in the past five days she'd been asleep.

Lando eyed her carefully for a moment, before turning and pulling another chair close to her side of the bed. He sat with a heavy sigh, placing his cane down near her feet, before he hunched forward, resting his elbows on the side of the bed. "Rey, I wonder if you'd indulge an old man and let me tell you a story?"

She nodded, shifting slightly to get more comfortable.

"A long, long time ago and about half a galaxy away, I met a little pissant named Han Solo. And not only did he have all the swagger of a crime lord, with nothing to back it up, but he had the audacity to realize that I was cheating at Sabaac and then beat me at my own game. And then he took my most favorite ship as his winnings."

Rey had always wondered where Han had obtained the Falcon. She had heard a vague rumor that he'd won it, but she thought maybe he'd won it in a flying competition, certainly not by gambling or swindling the man before her.

"I didn't see Han or Chewie for a while after that. Occasionally, we'd cross paths and give each other a hello, but our relationship wasn't what I would call friendly."

"What changed?" Rey asked. She knew that both men had considered the other a very good and loyal friend, so something must have happened.

"Well, we went through some wars together. Not just the "war," but a few jobs, a few close scrapes, a few questionable interactions with some folks we really shouldn't have messed with." A small smile graced the man's lips, barely visible beneath his mustache. "I'm sure Chewie wouldn't hesitate to tell you some stories of our more idiotic missions, but by the time it was said and done, I knew that I could rely on Han Solo, no matter what. And he felt the same about me.

"I didn't see him again for a while. The galaxy went to hell with the rise of the Empire, forcing a lot of people like Han and I underground. I decided I need a respectable cover, so I won a planet in a card game and set myself up as an administrator. Han and Chewie just kept flying around in that old tin can looking for their next adventure."

"But you helped rescue him? From Jabba's palace, didn't you?"

Lando chuckled. "I can't believe that story made it all the way out to Jakku. Yes, I did. About a year before that whole fiasco, Han, Chewie and Princess Leia found their way to my little slice of the galaxy and needed help. But I betrayed them to Darth Vader. Which is how Han got frozen in carbonite in the first place and Luke lost a hand."

Rey's eyes widened. Somehow, no one had ever told her that Lando was a traitor. "How are you here? How could they ever trust you again?"

Sighing, Lando sat back in his chair, staring off at nothing. "That's a question I've asked myself at least once a day since I found them again. I offered my services to get Han away from Jabba and I honestly don't think Chewie, Leia or Luke cared if I died in the attempt. But we all managed to make it off Tatooine and then, I was a general in the Rebellion's army and flying the Falcon again. Not only did Han trust me to help him fight the Empire, but he also trusted me with his ship.

"That old pirate had no reason to do any of that. He and Leia should have kicked me to the curb after the incident on Cloud City. And they definitely shouldn't have vouched for me to the Rebellion's brass. But they did. They gave me a second, third, fourth, fifth chance. And I can never repay them for that."

Rey felt the weight of that statement. Now, he literally couldn't pay them back as both of his oldest friends were dead and gone. But she could also tell that the type of debt Lando was talking about had very little to do with any type of material goods or money. He owed them a debt that went all the way to his soul.

It was similar to the debt Rey owed Ben for saving her life when they faced Snoke. She could never repay him for that.

"When Ben was born," Lando said softly, drawing her attention. "I almost couldn't believe that Han was a father. Leia had always been pretty nurturing, so it didn't surprise me too much that she was good with the baby. But the only thing I'd ever seen Han dote on was his rickety old ship. I figured there wasn't anything in this galaxy that could supplant the Falcon in his heart."

"But Ben did," Rey interjected quietly, giving him a smile as he turned to face her.

"But Ben did," Lando repeated. "When Han was kicking around after he and Leia had their falling out, once the Resistance was in full swing, we found each other a couple of times. Normally when he needed a safe space to repair the Falcon. Eventually, he told me about Ben, about Kylo Ren. I'd never seen him like that. Not even when he was facing down Darth Vader or Boba Fett did he look as helpless as he did at that moment."

Lando blinked quickly to rid his eyes of the excess moisture that such a memory brought back. "I promised Han that if there was anything I could do to help Ben, to help him and Leia, I would do it. No questions asked, no hesitation.

"Shortly before Hosnia Prime, I had to go into hiding. The First Order had sent some goons after me, probably hoping I still had a connection to Leia and the Resistance. I didn't find out about Han's death until a week or so afterward. And I knew then that it didn't matter what kind of danger I might be in, I had to make good on that promise I made to Han. So, I started reaching out to a few contacts, and that's how Leia and Dameron found me on Pasana."

Rey waited a beat, before she said, "But Lando, surely you know that Ben was the one who killed—"

"I know," Lando told her, his voice soft, but firm. "But I've also known that boy since he was a babe, and I know he can be good. He was as witty as his father and as diplomatic as his mother, even when he was no older than six. There's more to that boy than Kylo Ren, and I think he deserves a chance to prove that. I think that's what Han and Leia would want too."

The lump in Rey's throat was back. She had to swallow a few times before she managed to croak out, "Thank you, Lando." She reached across the edge of the bed and squeezed his hand hard. "Thank you so much. I owe you."

Shaking his head, Lando seemed to shake himself out of his melancholy as well. "Nope, no more owing. We're going to be all square after this. And you and Ben are going to figure out what's next and if I can help you, I will."

Rey felt her eyes well with tears. Never in her life had she known so many people who cared about her well-being. It had started with Finn and then Han. Next had come Chewie and Leia. Even Kylo had cared about her, in his own way. And now, that circle had grown with Rose and Poe and Connix and Lando. Rey wondered how crazy she must be to consider all that had happened over the last year to be a blessing of sorts. Surely, that was just the warped thinking of an orphan child.

"Thank you, Lando. Truly."

He rose, leaning over to give her a kiss on the forehead and that's what caused Rey's tears to fall. Thankfully, the older man ignored them. "Now, you are my guests here. You and Ben are safe here for as long as you need or want. Do you understand?"

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak just yet.

"All right then." Lando reached for his cane, before pushing the chair back to the wall and turning toward the door. "I'll let the doctor know you're awake. I'm sure she'll be able to give you a more accurate update on Ben's condition. You hang in there, all right?"

Rey nodded again, and watched him leave. As soon as the door shut behind him, Rey curled onto her side and let her tears fall. She was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted and even though she'd just spent the better part of a week sleeping, she knew true healing was going to take some time.

*8*8*8**8*8*8*

Ben blinked awake. He inhaled sharply as he took in the odd sight above him. He was in an overly sterile room with too bright lights and a lot of white. And there was the distinct stench of bacta all around him.

As he regained full consciousness the first thing he did was reach for Rey. Their bond was solid once more. With barely a thought he could find her mind, close to his own, but a few rooms away, and he could tell she was sleeping. She was troubled, but in general, she felt at peace. Ben released a quiet sigh of relief.

Now, he started to silently catalog his own injuries. He felt markedly better than he'd felt on Exegol without a doubt. Turning his head slowly to the side, he could see the IV tube that ended in the top of his hand and about a half dozen more machines that were monitoring a variety of his vital signs. While he did feel better, his body still felt heavy, like it wasn't quite his own yet, it was still too bogged down by drugs and sedative to give him real control. And while that should have terrified him, Ben Solo decided, he was just going to admit that he was injured and he needed to heal.

"You awake?"

Ben jerked his head up and turned to his left, seeing Chewie sitting in a chair against the wall. His body barely fit in the space, but he was still there, doing his best to be comfortable and keep vigil at Ben's bedside.

"Chewie? What are you-?"

The Wookiee rose as Ben spoke and suddenly anything he wanted to say seemed inconsequential. He hadn't seen Chewie since Starkiller, and his side still hurt if he bent over too fast.

Chewie was standing over him by now, blocking out most of the light from above. For a panicked second, Ben wondered if he should call for a nurse or a doctor, someone who might stop the Wookiee from trying to kill him for what he'd done to his father. But as soon as he had the thought, he let it go. Whatever punishment Chewie wanted to inflict on Ben for what had happened to Han was well within his right. Ben wouldn't begrudge him his anger or grief.

Leaning forward, Chewie's face loomed closer to Ben's own and he caught sight of Chewie's eyes. Releasing a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, Ben felt a wave of relief as Chewie simply wrapped his large arms around Ben's torso and pulled him into an awkward hug. "I'm glad you're alive, pup."

Ben felt tears prick his eyes. "Really?" he asked, his voice muffled by Chewie's fur. He took a deep whiff, a wave of sense memories washing over him as he remembered that distinct scent from his childhood. From a much simpler time.

Gently, Chewie placed Ben back against his pillows, before kneeling at his bedside. With his height, now he was at least with eye level with Ben. He saw a tear leak down Ben's cheek and with a gentleness that few people could imagine, he wiped the droplet from Ben's skin with the pad of one finger.

"Of course, Benjamin. You were my pup once too, you know?"

Ben laughed a little, even as the action caused his chest to seize and a pain to shoot through him.

"Are you okay?" Chewie asked, glancing to the door, obviously wondering if he should get someone.

"I'm okay, Chewie." Ben's hand flopped about little until he connected with Chewie's and then he gave that giant paw a squeeze. "I'll be okay."

The Wookiee's blue eyes regarded him for a few moments, and then he gave a slight nod. He didn't shy away from contact with Ben, but instead placed his other paw on top of his hand.

Silence filled the room, and the longer it persisted the more agitated Ben became. Finally, he blurted, "I'm sorry, Chewie. I'm so sorry."

More tears fell as his emotions finally surfaced after months of repression. He knew his body couldn't really handle convulsive sobs at the moment, but it appeared that his emotions were no longer playing by any rules.

As his sobs came in huge gulps, he flinched from spikes of pain throughout various parts of his body. Uncomfortable with seeing Ben in such pain, Chewie eventually sat on the side of the bed and pulled Ben up into a seating position, keeping his arms around back. It made it easier for Ben to breathe and Chewie's embrace was far more solid than even his hospital bed.

He heard a door open and mumbled voice and then heard Chewie say something before they were alone once more.

"It was the doctor. I asked her to come back in a few moments," the Wookiee explained.

Ben nodded, doing his best to get his breathing under control. He was dragging in ragged breaths as his emotions settled. Feeling exhausted, he laid his head against Chewie's shoulder and let out a heavy sigh.

"Why are you even here right now?" he asked softly, simultaneously afraid and desperate to hear the answer.

"Rey called us, Lando and I. When you were on Exegol. We came and got you, brought you here so you could get well."

Ben wasn't sure if Chewie was being purposely obtuse or if he just being literal. Wookiee thinking was known to err on the side of the literal, so it was hard to tell.

"Chewie. You know that's not what I mean," Ben admonished softly.

This time, Chewie sighed, Ben's entire head rising and falling with the motion. Gently, Chewie extricated himself from Ben, taking a moment to rearrange his pillows so that when he placed Ben down again, he was at more of incline. Ben had to admit it was much more comfortable.

"I know what you mean, pup." The Wookiee studied him carefully for a moment, resuming his position kneeling beside the bed, so that he and Ben could see more easily eye-to-eye. "Your dad and I, we were together for a long time. He saved me."

This was a story Ben knew well. When Chewie used to babysit, he had begged the Wookiee to recount the tale. He especially loved the way the Wookiee described his father covered in mud, so all that was visible was his face. And the way Chewie would laugh when he would tell Ben he even threatened to eat his father. He'd also speak in a hushed tone when he spoke of how shocked he'd been when Han had spoken to him in – very bad – Shyriiwook. As he'd grown older, Ben was fairly certain his father's penchant for languages was what had really saved him that day.

"And I promised him, and then I promised the princess, and then I promised you, that I would protect you with my life," Chewie continued softly. "That hasn't changed."

Ben rolled his eyes, for the first time feeling a little more like himself. "Chewie, I killed him."

"Pup, do you remember when you were little and I would babysit?"

Ben nodded.

"And do you remember when you would wake up from those terrifying dreams?" Ben swallowed and nodded again.

"You begged me to help you. Begged me to make the nasty, mean man go away, and I couldn't." With a harrumph that ruffled the hair around Ben's face, Chewie took a moment and then said, "I couldn't protect you and I couldn't make your father understand."

Ben felt his eyes watering again. "Chewie, it wasn't your fault."

The big Wookiee shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. But I promised to protect you and I couldn't. And even after you got lost, I still wanted to protect you. Because all your father wanted was for you to come home. And that's what I wanted too."

Ben felt the weight of Chewie's grief and his regret. It threatened to push all the air out of his lungs. Taking a deep breath, he said, "I don't deserve your protection. Or your forgiveness."

Chewie actually graced him with a smile then. While a Wookiee smile might send most people running in fright, it was an expression as familiar to Ben as frowning. "You have both."

Shaking his head slightly, Ben felt more tears fall, but he let them come. Chewie did as well, simply taking a hold of Ben's hand and keeping it within his own. They sat that way, not talking, simply being, for untold moments. Once his tears had finally run dry, Chewie gave Ben's hair a good ruffle, scattering it every which way. That was a relic of his childhood as well.

"Besides, I have taken the girl under my protection as well," Chewie finally told him, as he rose and headed for the door. "Where she goes, I go. And I have a feeling the two of you will be traveling the same path for quite some time."

Ben felt his cheeks' grow warm with the implication, but he didn't bother denying it. Chewie had proven far more insightful than Ben had ever given him credit for.

"How is Rey?" Ben finally asked.

Chewie paused and said, "Better now. The doctor treated her injuries, got her on some medicine and nutrients, like you. She's been awake on and off for the past few days."

Ben's heart felt lighter at this knowledge. He was beyond grateful to know Rey was all right. He was so relieved to learn that his sacrifice to bring her back hadn't been for nothing.

"Do you want me to send her to you?" Chewie asked.

Shaking his head quickly, Ben's eyes widened as he shouted, "No!" Hearing the panic in his voice he tried to rein in his emotions. "I mean, I'm sure she'll visit when she's ready. When she wants to."

Chewie smiled again, but this time it was a knowing smirk, more reminiscent of his father. Ben blushed, before dropping his eyes to his lap, hoping the Wookiee would just leave it alone.

But of course, he wouldn't.

"Silly pups," he breathed out, almost inaudible before he left the room, and Ben found himself alone with his thoughts for the first time in a while.

*8*8*8**8*8*8*