TW: This chapter contains the mention of a pregnancy test. As someone who struggled with fertility, I understand how triggering this may be. If you are triggered, this is your warning.

Ben

Even with the Force, my leg couldn't support my weight, and Kuruk and Trugden had to drag my sorry ass onto the Night Buzzard.

They dumped me into a seat on the bridge and Kuruk had us into light speed so quickly, he nearly threw me out of it.

Ap'lek knelt down in front of me, and I leaned back, letting him work.

He cut the fabric of my pants leg to inspect the wound and swore, then grabbed a bacta bandage and quickly wrapped it around my thigh.

"You've ripped it open." He said, disapproval heavy in his voice.

"No shit." I panted, exhaustion and pain blurring the corners of my vision.

"You've completely undone everything that the healer did." He went on. "We need to get you to a surgeon."

"No." I groaned. "I have to get these to Rey."

In the time it took us to reach the Finalizer, I must have lost consciousness, because I was shaken awake when we docked.

We wasted no time going to the medbay, where Ushar was posted to guard Rey.

The doctor paled when he saw me, his thoughts a mix of amazement that I'd actually gotten the antidotes, and concern at the fact that I looked like literal death.

I pushed the vials into his hand, and he immediately turned and went into Rey's room to administer them.

Trudgen steadied me as we walked to Reys door.

The breathing tube was gone, so the fact that she was breathing on her own should have made her look better. But, she looked worse.

She was awake, staring blankly at nothing, her hair damp with sweat, and her skin yellowed.

I moved away from my Knights, ignoring my wound, and fell to my knees at her bedside.

She flinched and muttered something.

"It's the fever." The doctor told me. "She's delirious."

Rey muttered something again, and I pulled myself up to hear her.

A tear rolled down the side of her face and into her hair.

"What is it?" I begged.

"Shh!" She snapped, making me jump back. "Can't you see we're talking?"

My eyebrows pulled together, and I looked up at the doctor in desperation. "Do something!"

"We have." He assured me, switching vials. "We've given her the highest dosage of medication to try to control the fever, but as long as the poison is still in her system, her body will fight it."

"The antidote is in her system now." I argued.

He nodded once. "And it will neutralize the poison's effects. It just takes time."

I looked back at Rey who was muttering again.

"Rey." I called, bringing a shaking hand up to brush her hair away from her face.

She was burning with a fever, as the doctor had said.

"Rey," I tried again, taking her hand in both of mine. "It's me."

"No." She said, firmly. "He won't hurt you."

Hurt her? I shook my head. "No, no one is going to hurt you." I promised.

"Not me." She whispered, her lips barely moving.

She gripped my hand weakly, and I squeezed hers. "I'll find you." She breathed.

My eyes started to sting. "No, Rey, I'm right here. Just stay with me."

"I'll protect you." She said. "We both will."

I felt the color drain from my face. She'd said….both. "What?" I gasped and my eyes snapped up to the doctor.

He showed me his palms. "She's delirious." He repeated.

I looked back at Rey, who was still staring at nothing.

I thought back to the conversation we'd had over breakfast, what seemed like a millennia ago, when she said that she wasn't taking anything to prevent…

And I sure as fuck hadn't taken any precautions.

I swallowed hard and looked at the doctor. "Did you do a pregnancy test?"

"Uh," He grabbed a clipboard that hung on the wall and leafed through the pages. "Yes." He answered with a nod.

"Is she pregnant?" I asked, afraid of the answer.

"No." He said.

I was both relieved and heartbroken by this, though I didn't understand why.

But, if Rey wasn't pregnant, what did she mean when she'd said 'both'?

I looked back at her. "Who are you protecting?" I asked.

"We." She whispered. "Them." She gripped my hand again. "Promise."

I leaned closer. "What, Rey? What do you need?"

"Yes." She smiled slightly. "As soon as I'm well."

"What?" I asked again. "What when you're well?"

Her face crumpled into a look of pain. "I'm tired."

Of course she was tired. When I'd been poisoned, I'd had horrifying fever dreams and delirium. I was likely just confusing her with my questions.

"Ok," I patted her hand. "You just rest."

I leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her burning temple.

Her eyes closed, and soon after, her even breathing told me she was asleep.

oOo

I awoke sometime later, my neck and back stiff and sore from the chair I was currently occupying.

I'd fallen asleep in Rey's room after the wound on my leg was cleaned and stitched and dressed with bacta patches.

It tinged, as if I could feel the muscle and flesh being knitted together.

I tried to shift in the chair, my leg propped up on a heap of pillows, and settled into a more comfortable position.

I put my hand on the mattress next to me, reaching for Rey.

My fingers met cold sheets.

My eyes popped open, and I looked at the rumpled and empty bed next to me, at the disconnected lines and tubes, and the door that had been left open.

And I screamed for my Knights.