Disclaimer: Star Wars belongs to Disney and is the intellectual property of George Lucas; he created the sandbox. I'm making no money off of this and am simply destroying the sandcastles.

SPOILER ALERT! THIS VIGNETTE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR SEASON 7, EPISODE 09 OF TCW. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED, DO NOT READ!

Title: Ever our Commander

Author: Jade_Max

Characters: Captain Rex, Anakin Skywalker, Torrent Company Clones

Genre: Missing Moment Vignette

Era: The Clone Wars

Summary: Season 7, Episode 09

Ever our Commander

"When the rotations are completed, make sure-"

"Rex!"

Rex and Jesse both turned as Anakin Skywalker's excited cry cut into their conversation. "General?" The clones shared a look. "Is something the matter, sir?"

"Something is really right, for once," Anakin quipped, quickly joining them, his smile wide. His excitement was so palpable Rex wondered if he was imagining the fact that the Jedi appeared to be vibrating. If they vibrated; he didn't know enough about the Force despite his years of service to them.

"Sir?"

"We have a visitor coming, Rex."

Based on his level of excitement, Rex could only guess it was Senator Amidala but he wasn't about to voice that guess in front of Jesse. Worst kept secret or not, plausible deniability was still something his General liked to be able to claim., Whomever it was, his General was visibly delighted with their impending arrival. "Who, sir?"

"Ahsoka!"

"The Commander!?" Jesse's excited cry echoed Rex's silent incredulity.

An incredulity that had him staring wide-eyed at his General, sure he had misheard. Ahsoka had walked away over a year ago without looking back; there was no reason for her to be on a GAR warship. "The-" he cleared his throat and tried again, schooling himself into impassivity. "The Commander, sir?"

"She's working with the Mandalorian resistance," Anakin told him with a wide smile, clapping Rex on the shoulder, "and says she needs our help. They're coming to discuss it."

Ahsoka was coming to visit; possibly for a mission. Getting to see her and work with her again; surely he was hearing things. Or dreaming. Dreaming, definitely. "Will... she have time to see the men, sir?"

"Count on it," Anakin assured him cockily. "She's asking for our help, which means we'll be working together again."

Working with Ahsoka again? Was that even possible now that she was no longer a part of the Jedi order? The thought had barely crossed his mind when it was followed with the cocksure self-assurance that it was not only possible, but probable; working with external contractors was nothing new. GAR or not, Ahsoka asking for their help meant the possibility of working side-by-side with an old friend and trusted companion. "When does she land, sir?"

"Oh four hundred hours."

So soon? Rex glanced at his chrono even as he knew without looking at it how long they had. Three hours. That didn't leave them much time. "And the meeting?"

"Should be done by oh four thirty. Have the men are ready, Rex." Anakin was gone a moment later, leaving he and Jesse together.

"The Commander, sir!" Jesse's excitement was as palpable as Anakin's had been, their discussion on shift rotations forgotten in the wake of the momentous news. "Coric is going to lose his mind."

"Let's hope not," Rex returned dryly, his brain already working a mile a minute, "we need every medic we've got."

"Are we going to tell them? Please tell me I can tell them. Our vod are going to-"

"Jesse." Rex help up one hand, curtailing Jesse's enthusiasm. Sometimes it was hard to believe Jesse had survived ARC training. He needed a moment, not yet having processed the fact that Ahsoka was returning; that she was coming home to the Resolute. It was almost as big of a shock as discovering Echo had survived the citadel. They weren't in battle and Rex was going to take the moment he genuinely needed to process the feel of being able to breathe again. A feeling he hadn't been aware of needing until it happened. Ahsoka's return was a relief, he realized; she wasn't coming to rejoin them, at least, Anakin hadn't said as much, but just having her on board would make his world feel a little more right. "Right. We need to tell the men. Gather Torrent Company in barracks Alpha; fifteen mikes."

"Can I tell them why?"

"Once everyone's gathered, Jesse."

"You have something in mind."

It wasn't a question but Rex chose to ignore it. "Dismissed."

The trooper took off with a bit of a whoop, the bounce of excitement in his step something Rex wasn't used to seeing since he'd become an ARC. The war had worn down he and his brothers. It was nice to have some reason to celebrate. And he knew just how. Heading back to the barracks, he opened his footlocker and retrieved a holodisc he'd not touched in some months. Jesse was right; he had an idea, but it wasn't anything new. He'd toyed with it originally as something to do upon Ahsoka's return after her trial; a show of solidarity and respect.

Except she had never returned from her trial.

And now she was coming back.

She might not be their Commander anymore according to the GAR, but Rex knew it didn't matter. Not to him. Not to his men. Not to her men. She'd led them through too much, bled with them, shed tears for their fallen; she was a part of their family, GAR or not, and he could think of no better way to show her that than this. Words wouldn't be enough; nothing he or the men could say or give her would ever be enough to give an indication of her worth to them. A gesture was needed; something meaningful and with impact. Collecting the supplies he would need, he waited at the common table at one end of the room.

Fifteen minutes later, Rex had a room full of brothers, chattering among themselves as they speculated on the reason for the summons. Some sat on the bunks, other stood in groups. Those who had been on Ahsoka's teams the most were all present. Coric. Jesse. Rex was acutely aware of those who were not there and realized that this gesture was as much for them as for her. Fives, for example, would have had a thing or two to say to him about what he was about to propose.

Catching Jesse's eye where he stood a few feet away, Rex nodded.

Jesse let out a piercing whistle, drawing everyone's attention and making Rex wince. Jesse, for all his ARC training, wasn't exactly regulation in some of his approaches. The effect, however, was instant and all eyes turned to where Jesse was, and subsequently to Rex when Jesse turned to look his way.

"Thank you, Jesse," Rex told him dryly.

Jesse snapped off a lazy salute. "Sir."

"We're having a visitor, men," Rex informed them without preamble. "One who needs our help."

"Is it an inspection, sir?"

"A Senator?"

"A Master Jedi?"

"No. This visitor knows us well." Rex smiled faintly seeing the speculation on the faces around him. "Jesse?"

"Better than all of those, vod," Jesse told them with a wide smile. "Commander Tano!"

There was a moment of shocked silence before exclamations of excited surprise and delight exploded around the room. Her name was repeated, echoed with climbing excitement. The cacophony was a testament to just how much her men had missed her; to how much her absence had been felt.

Coric's voice cut through the din, his question silencing everyone. "Will she have time to see us, sir?"

"The General assures me she will." Rex's lips twitched into a faint smile. "I'd like to surprise her."

"With what, sir?"

"The Commander has been honored by this unit before," there were nods about the room as he continued, their full attention on him. Many of the vod who had been a part of that meeting were no longer with them, but the whole unit knew the story. "When she left the Jedi order and the GAR, she left behind a family. This family. Let's show her she's still a part of it."

"How, sir?"

"When does she land?"

Rex held up one hand to forestall more questions. "We don't have much time; the Command is due to meet with Generals Skywalker and Kenobi at oh four hundred hours. General Skywalker assures me she'll have time for us at oh four thirty. Let's surprise her."

"What kind of surprise, sir?"

"One she can't miss." Rex tucked the holodic he'd retrieved into a holo projector on the table. Selecting the right file, he flicked it on. The image sprang to life, one of a clone's helmet with the full facial features of the markings on Ahsoka's face. He let his men examine the holo for long moments, waiting for feedback... but not getting any. So he spoke into the silence, clearing his throat as he tripped on the first word, his voice suspiciously tight. "We're her unit; let's wear her markings proudly."

"She wore our marking; we should wear hers!"

"Is there enough time for the paint to dry, sir?"

"If we start now."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Jesse demanded, his voice cracking. "Let's do this!"

Jesse's declaration was a signal to the men. They immediately went for their bunks and their kits. Helmets were taken out of their lockers and paints passed around, each man glancing towards the holo for reference. Paints in the right colors were found and Rex's attention was quickly diverted to assist his vod. He moved from soldier to soldier offering assistance where it was needed. Slowly, the helmets began to take shape, the men working quickly to ensure that the paint would have time to dry before their meeting time.

The result was rudimentary, but Rex was satisfied. They didn't have much time, but he knew it was the thought, the sentiment behind the gesture that would mean the most.

"Rex?"

He looked up as the General stuck his head into the barracks. "Sir?"

"Where do you want..." Anakin trailed off as he caught sight of the Clones hard at work, several helmets completed and drying on the footlockers and tables. "What-"

Several clones looked up as Anakin entered their barracks but Rex waved them back to work. His General wasn't one to stand on ceremony and, at the moment, they were working against the chrono. "A surprise for the Commander, sir."

"It's..." Anakin visibly swallowed, his gaze on the drying paint job. "You know she's not coming back for good, right? She's not GAR anymore."

"That doesn't matter, sir." Rex looked over the men still hard at work on their painting, his heart swelling with pride. "GAR or not, she'll always be our Commander."

"Just like I'll always be your General?"

"Yes, sir." Rex offered the Jedi a faint smile. "What she's doing now doesn't change everything she's done in the past. She'll always be a part of Torrent Company and the five hundred and first."

"I get it." Anakin smiled, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's... a good surprise Rex. Really good. I can't think of any better way to honor her."

"Did you need something, sir?"

"Oh. Oh, right. Where did you want to meet her?"

"While you're meeting, I'll take the men to the flight deck. We'll wait for you there, sir."

"Good." Anakin's gaze lingered on the finished helmets. "Good. I can't wait to see her face, Rex."

"Me neither, sir." And not just because of their surprise. Rex had missed her. She was more than just a Commander; she was also a dear friend. "Was there anything else, General?"

"One last thing." Anakin extended a slim box he was carrying to Rex. "Can you keep these for me? If she's going to be working with us again, it's only fitting, don't you think?"

"These, sir?"

Anakin flipped up the lid to reveal Ahsoka's lightsabers. Rex smiled, accepting the box as he snapped it back closed. "I won't let them out of my sight, sir."

"Oh, I know you won't," returned Anakin dryly, referencing the fact Rex had held onto them for months before giving them to the General, and more than once before that. "I'll see you at oh four thirty Rex."

Anakin departed as quickly as he'd come... and oh four thirty couldn't come soon enough.

fin