"I think she's waking up."
Sabine slid an eye open, regretting it immediately when light seared her vision. She clenched her eyes shut with a groan.
"Easy," a voice said as a hand touched her shoulder.
It took Sabine's sluggish mind a moment to put a name to the voice. Hera. Where was she… right, the TIEs. They'd finished off the TIEs, then… what had happened?
"I guess you hit your head a little harder than we thought," Hera said, her hand lightly brushing Sabine's forehead.
"What?" came Kanan's slightly offended voice. "Don't look at me like that."
Spectre-3 chirped something about it being Kanan's fault.
"Was not," Kanan said.
Baffled by the conversation, Sabine forced her eyes open. She was on the floor in the gunner post, with Hera, Kanan, and Spectre-3 crowded around her.
"Wha' happened?" Sabine asked groggily.
"I'm not sure," Hera said. "Do you remember hitting the TIEs?"
Sabine nodded.
"Well, I guess it was too much excitement, and you passed out. Managed to land on the chair this time, at least," Hera finished with a slight smile.
"Oh," Sabine said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"We're safe now, so just take it easy," Hera said soothingly.
Sabine grunted, then pushed herself up on her elbows. Looking unsurprised, Hera helped her sit up and lean against the seat. Sabine closed her eyes until the dizziness passed, then opened them.
"You put a lot of trust in a stranger," Sabine said.
Hera smiled. "Well, it worked out, didn't it?"
"Yeah." Sabine chuckled, then sobered. "Listen… about what you asked before… I don't actually know where I'm headed… I don't even know where I am. Navigation was shot in that old shuttle. Do… do you know someplace I could go?"
Hera and Kanan exchanged an odd, knowing look. Sabine scowled, regretting opening up to the pair.
Hera laughed when she saw Sabine's expression. "We'll figure something out. Can you stand?"
"Probably."
Sabine pushed herself slowly to her feet. She swayed unsteadily, but at least everything remained solitary. With Hera's help, Sabine made her way to the ladder and climbed to the top, where Spectre-4 lifted her into the cockpit.
"Thanks," Sabine said wearily.
Spectre-4 gave her a gruff nod and helped her stand upright. Hera and Kanan climbed up, then Spectre-3 flew into the cockpit using a small thruster on his underside.
Spectre-4 nudged her into moving, and Sabine blindly followed his lead. They went down the hall into the larger room, which Sabine saw to be a sort of common room. Spectre-4 led Sabine to a couch, and she gratefully flopped down.
"I'm jus' gonna stay here," Sabine mumbled, feeling her eyes drift shut. "Lemme know if…"
Sabine's thought went unfinished as she drifted off.
Sabine felt more herself when she woke up again. She opened her eyes to find she was alone in the common room. She stretched and considered getting up, but decided to not bother trying.
Spectre-3 rolled into the room, then stopped with a chirp.
"Hey, where is everyone?" Sabine asked.
Spectre-3 chirped that they were coming. Sure enough, the rest of the crew emerged from the cockpit. Hera smiled when she saw Sabine awake.
"How are you feeling?" Hera asked, going to Sabine's side.
"Much better," Sabine said. Sensing the crew hadn't happened to be all in the cockpit at once, she added, "So, now what?"
"Straight to the point," Kanan said with a slight smile.
Sabine shrugged. "I prefer it that way."
"Now," Hera said, sitting beside Sabine, "We make sure you didn't really hurt yourself. You hit your head pretty hard, twice."
For some reason, Kanan looked uncomfortable.
"If you guys think I blame you for wrecking, I don't," Sabine said.
"Well… it kind of was," Hera admitted.
Sabine shrugged again. "My flying was sloppy. I bet you could've landed that shuttle. That was some fancy flying with those TIEs."
"You think so?" Hera said with a pleased smile. "I could teach you a few tricks, if you like."
"Could you?" Sabine perked up, then hesitated. "You know… if I wasn't leaving."
Hera and Kanan exchanged the knowing look again. Sabine raised an eyebrow.
"What?" Sabine asked.
"Well… you don't have somewhere to go, and we happen to have an open spot on the crew," Hera said.
Sabine blinked.
"We could use another gunner," Spectre-4 said. "And that was some… 'fancy' shooting."
Sabine grinned at Spectre-4's mimicry, then glanced at Kanan. Hera had called him "Spectre-1," so Sabine guessed he was the captain of the team, even if Hera had been calling the shots during the fight.
Kanan nodded. "And, it is kind of my fault you hit your head the second time. Let me make it up to you."
Sabine raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"
Kanan lifted a hand, palm up. After a moment, he turned his hand toward Sabine.
Sabine shifted backward, then her attention was caught by her helmet. It was… floating. It crossed from a side door to Sabine, and floated gently in front of her. Cautiously, Sabine reached out and took her helmet, receiving no resistance.
Sabine relaxed at the familiar weight in her hands. At the same time, it occurred to her what Kanan had done.
"You're a Jedi?" Sabine asked. Before Kanan could respond, her eyes widened. "You did throw me into the wall!"
"I didn't throw you," Kanan said defensively while the rest of the crew chuckled. "I only meant to push the blaster out of your hand."
"Uh-huh." Sabine traced her finger along her visor, then grinned at Kanan. "Well, I guess if you're letting me stay, I can forget that."
Kanan shook his head, looking bemused. Sabine decided her initial impression of him being like her instructors wasn't quite right. Kanan didn't mind her attitude; maybe even liked it.
Spectre-3, impressively silent until then- chirped that she could replace "the Lasat." Spectre-4 growled at him.
"Well?" Hera said. "What do you say?"
Sabine nodded slowly. "I think… we can try it."
Everyone seemed to like her and Sabine liked them, but… Sabine was wary of thinking she'd really found a permanent crew.
Hera nodded, accepting Sabine's cautious answer. She held out a hand. "In that case, let's start over with introductions. I'm Hera."
Sabine shook her hand. "I know."
"So you were listening earlier," Kanan said, unsurprised.
"I was, Kanan," Sabine said with a smirk. "But I don't know about three and four."
"This is Chopper," Hera said, touching the astromech.
"Name's Zeb," said Spectre-4.
Sabine grinned. "And I'm S-"
Sabine broke off, reflexively pulling back from the crew. Sabine Wren… except was she even a Wren anymore? And House Vizsla… would Kanan, a Jedi, really allow a Death Watch on his crew? She couldn't call herself SS36, unless she wanted to salute every time someone spoke to her.
A hand on her shoulder jolted her back to the present. Sabine flinched, but it was just Hera, watching her with a kind and worried expression.
"How about we call you Spectre-5 for now?" Hera suggested.
The knot in Sabine's stomach relaxed, letting her breath. She managed a shaky smile, grateful to the crew- her crew.
"Yeah… yeah, Spectre-5 sounds great."
A/N: Kanan mentions at one point how long it took Sabine to open up to any of the crew. My immediate thought was to wonder how long it took for the others to learn her real name? Anyway, silly thoughts.