Chapter 33

-trusted-

The surgery had gone well. A scan of Migs's knee had shown torn ligaments and damage to his patella. Thankfully Omera was skilled and Minnedal experienced. He wouldn't be able to walk on it for some time but Omera was optimistic that he would regain full use. She knew he wouldn't be happy to limp the rest of his life.

Looking out the window at the still busy street, Omera sighed. It was starting to get dark. She wasn't worried—not really—but after the last week, not knowing how things were going made her anxious. Had he found the covert? Were they friendly or hostile? Biting her lip, she tugged her thick braid over her shoulder.

"We can head back to the ship soon if you want. He said he would comm if they were going to be late."

She turned to Cara with a tight smile. "No. Not yet. Besides, Migs can't be moved. At least not without help and he said they'd be back before dark. It's not all the way dark yet."

Cara nodded and went back to her seat. Omera guessed she should sit too. She was exhausted and her back ached. Sighing again, she turned away too and sat beside Cara.

"Here, turn around."

"Why?"

Omera glanced up at Cara curiously but laughed when the other woman gestured with her hands and urged her around.

"You've been standing all day and you keep wincing and rubbing your back. What would Din say if I let you sit here, languishing in pain? I happen to be great at this."

Omera laughed again as Cara dug her thumbs into the knots at her lower back. Her laugh turned into a groan when she pressed into an especially tight spot. "Cara… I need you to… show Din how to do this."

Cara laughed too. "We'll see." She was quiet for a few minutes and Omera enjoyed her massage. "Do you think he'll want to stay here for a while or will you head back to Sorgan soon?"

Omera looked back at the door. "I think that depends on what he finds today. We brought enough from home that we don't need to go back soon." She sighed as the tension eased along her shoulders. "He's decided to do this, Cara. To find his people and do what he can to lead them, to help them. I don't know if he will do it exactly the way Bo-Katan seems to think it should be done but…"

Snorting, Cara interjected. "Hey, she had her chance. Din offered it to her enough times. But… I'm glad. He'll be better at it than he thinks." She hummed her agreement and they were both quiet for several minutes, each lost to their thoughts again. Hands falling back to her lap, Cara sat back in her seat and crossed her ankles. Omera settled as comfortably as she could and watched the door.

"I'm going to stay too." Omera whipped her head around and gaped at her in surprise.

"You're not going back to Nevarro? What about marshaling?"

She shrugged. "Eh. You two need me here more. There are going to be all kinds of new people around and you'll need people you can trust. Especially with how that stupid Darksaber works. In the very unlikely event that someone were to challenge him and he was… well. I won't let anything happen to you or the kids, Omera."

"Kriff." A sudden rush of fear for her husband and love for their friend made her eyes sting. She turned and smiled sadly at Cara. "Thank you, Cara. I know he will be glad to have you with us."

Cara smiled back, the serious weight of her declaration in her eyes. Before either of them could say anything else, the door to the clinic finally flew open.

"Momma!" A very excited Winta raced up to her and plopped into the seat beside her, followed by an amused looking Paz and her husband. Once he was inside, Din set his pack down and knelt in front of her. He was smiling tenderly and when he reached for her face, she leaned down to kiss him.

"It went well, I take it?"

He nodded when they pulled back, hand resting on her knee.

"I think so, ya. I'd like to take you to meet them too if you don't mind staying here for a few days."

Omera grinned widely and nodded. "Of course Din." She touched his face and like he always did he turned into her and kissed her palm.

"How is Migs?"

"Good. He won't be able to walk for a while but eventually he should be normal again."

He huffed a laugh and stood. "Well I guess he'll just have to stay with us a little longer."

Without him right in front of her blocking his view, Omera saw a new face. Winta launched into a description of the covert and all the children and Omera half listened as she eyed the young woman standing eagerly beside Paz. She wore beskar'gam like Din's only painted red beneath a weathered poncho that covered most of her armor, making her identity as a Mandalorian less noticeable as she walked through the streets

"And there are so many kids, Momma!"

"That's wonderful sweetheart." Omera looked expectantly between the red clad woman and Din, who had been smiling fondly at Winta as he waited for her to be finished. Catching her questioning look, Din looked back at the newcomer and nodded for her to approach.

She stepped forward and inclined her head to Omera respectfully before grinning widely at her. Cara, still sitting beside her bit back a laugh at Omera's shocked expression.

"Su cuy'gar."

Din looked just as amused as Paz. "This is Asta Skord. Her uncle is the head of the tribe here. Asta, this is my riduur, Omera."

Smiling at her obvious enthusiasm, Omera briefly met Cara's eyes and stood. "Su cuy'gar Asta. It's nice to meet you."

Asta looked ready to launch into a barrage of questions when she noticed Omera's stomach as she leaned into Din. Green eyes widened and so did her excited grin. "Oh! You're pregnant!"

This time Cara didn't hold back her laugh as she stood too. "Well spotted. My name's Cara Dune." Asta took her offered arm and shook it. "The last member of our group is lazing around here somewhere."

Just then Minnedal came back into the room. "Oh, your back. Ah, Asta. It's nice to see you my dear." She smiled at the medic before he turned his attention back to Omera. "You are truly skilled. Given time and some therapy I think he'll make a full recovery. He will probably be asleep for another couple of hours at least and I wouldn't recommend trying to move him for at least a day or so."

Din nodded. "I need to take Omera with me. Would it be ok to leave him here?"

Minnedal frowned slightly. "Well, I need to make a few visits around town tomorrow morning. He should be alright alone…."

"Oh! Mand'alor… I mean…" Omera had to bite her lip to keep back the laugh at the exasperated look on Din's face at the title. "Djarin... I can stay. I help Minnedal when he needs an extra set of hands so if your friend needs anything I'll be here."

Omera couldn't help the amused smile at her eagerness to help and Din's obvious discomfort. He would have to get used to people wanting to please him, she thought.

Minnedal smiled and clapped his hands on his waist. "That will do just fine. Asta is capable and I think I could do with some rest anyway."

With that settled, Din and Paz went back to the ship for some of their things. When they got back, the five of them made their way back through town. It was dark out but unlike how Din described it the first time, the tunnel wasn't empty. Two Mandalorians in full beskar'gam met them just inside the entrance to the tunnel. They inclined their heads respectfully before one of them spoke.

"Skord sent us to make sure you got back alright. Once in a while some of our people that go out come back with curious tails."

Omera watched Din glance over his shoulder but the dark was empty behind them. "Hmm. Well thanks I guess."

Halfway down the tunnel, Winta began to drag. It had been a long day and it was late. Handing his pack to one of the two walking behind them, Din crouched down so he could carry her on his back. By the time they met more guards at what she realized was the entrance to the covert, Omera was exhausted and Winta was sound asleep, her head resting against Din's cloak.

An older man and three others met them when they stepped into a massive cavern. The man stepped forward and greeted them.

"Welcome back, Mand'alor." He turned his hard but not unkind gaze to Omera. "You must be Omera. Su cuy'gar, my name is Braz Skord. Welcome to our home. I am anxious to speak with you at length but the hour is late." Something in his eyes softened when he looked back to Din, sleeping daughter on his back. "We prepared a place for all of you to stay while you are here. Come. In the morning we can talk."

Looking around, he frowned. "Where is my niece?"

Omera chuckled as Din shook his head but let her answer. "Our friend that was injured couldn't be moved so far yet. She volunteered to stay with him should he need anything while Minnedal is away."

Skord smiled and nodded. "Ah. Eager to help she is. Well, let's get your girl to bed. I look forward to getting to know you in the morning."

He left them and a middle aged woman named Vismay led them to their quarters in the same submerged section where he had met Skord. Paz and Migs would stay together in an apartment a few minutes walk from the one she and Din shared. Cara would be staying with Asta.

After tucking Winta into the bed in the smaller room, Din tugged off his helmet and set it aside. Face bare again, Omera stepped up to him and pulled him down for a deep kiss. As tired as she was—after everything they'd been through in the last week to end up here—more than sleep, she needed him. Judging by the way he kissed her back, the way his hands sought her skin, he needed her just as much.

They worked together to get him out of his beskar, their lips never apart longer than absolutely necessary. Flak vest off and flight suit kicked aside, Din ran his hand down her braid to loosen it after she pulled her flowy top over her head. When she couldn't manage them fast enough on her own, he helped her out of her pants. Naked, he swept her into his arms and carried her to their bed.

After, they lay together—her back pressed against his chest and their legs tangled together. Din's hand ran gently back and forth over her stomach as he pressed languid kisses to her shoulder and neck, murmuring to her between kisses.

"I love you, ner ka'ra."

She sighed in contentment, reaching back to run her hand through his hair. "I love you too, Din."

"I'm not sure who we should trust but… I think I like Skord." He leaned over to kiss her lips one more time before nuzzling into her cheek and getting comfortable. "After talking to him, I think we might have conflict with Bo-Katan moving forward." His sigh stirred her hair and tickled her face.

"She would have you go straight to war with no outside help. I know you know this already but I'll say it again. I'm not a fan of her plans nor her outright refusal to at least extend friendship to the New Republic."

Din hummed thoughtfully, rumbling against her back. "That's what Skord wants to talk to you about. He's in favor of 'asking for help.' Who knows if they'll give it but we have no way of knowing how many Empire holdouts there are left. We're still too few and I won't make orphans of my children or anyone else's for no good reason."

Relief filled her at his words. This was something he had to do, that they all did, but that didn't mean Bo-Katan's plan didn't scare her a little with its recklessness.

"I'm glad to hear it love, and I'm glad Skord agrees. Oh. Cara told me today that she's going to stay with us. She wants to be here for us, someone we can trust."

His arms tightened around her. "That's good. I'll sleep easier knowing she's here if something goes wrong." He sighed again. "Someone I trust with my family."

She kissed his other arm beneath her cheek and burrowed deeper into him and the pillow.

"We're going to be ok, Din. I told you, this is where you're supposed to be."

"I know." He kissed her cheek. "Goodnight, ner ka'ra."

"Goodnight, Din."