THE FINALE. And a big one at that, nearly 6400 words! But a lovely 6400 words! Lots of nice fluff amid some scattered reflection, with a very wholesome ending.

Enjoy!

Also, after this chapter I'm switching gears to Commander, Meet the Cat for two reasons.
A) School has begun once more and I already foresee a heavy course load so I need to be very careful with burnout.
B) I just want to lol

Onto the fluff!

CW: Reflection of past events, minor angst, mild injury description, dream/traumatic event residual anxiety

Were they alright?

Did something happen again?

Should he have followed Crosshair?

What if things only got worse?

At this point, Hunter wasn't really sure how things could degrade any more. They'd all just fought for their lives against someone they deeply cared for. Then again, he never imagined having to duel Shadow with one of their own sabers as they tried to kill him. So… what couldn't go wrong?

Another snap from Shadow or Crosshair? A permanent schism opening between the guide and the sniper, destroying any future hopes of reconciliation? A wrong word from Crosshair sending Shadow back into that nightmare?

The possibilities were, unfortunately, endless.

"Think they're alright?" Wrecker fretted, anxiously fiddling with his knife.

"I would assume so. We have not heard any screaming," Tech said, still staring at his broken arm.

That could be a good or bad thing. On one hand, perhaps things had gone well and the pair had mended their relationship to a functional level. On the other… Shadow may have run so far away or hidden themselves so well that Crosshair was still searching.

He just…

He couldn't take it any longer.

Hunter stood. "I'm going to look for 'em."

Both men looked up at him. "I advise against it," Tech said, brows furrowed. "If they are making progress, any interruption-"

"Tech, the last time they were alone things fell apart and led to this mess!" Hunter said, tugging at his hair. He still blamed himself for that. "What if it happens again?"

Sure, he'd told Crosshair to go find Shadow, but…

Damn it, he was the one who was supposed to keep everyone together!

Tech sighed. "I… I don't know, alright? I've never seen Shadow like…" He seemed at a loss for words. "That."

"It was scary," Wrecker agreed, shivering. "I didn't know Shadow could get that vicious. They're usually so laidback and friendly!"

"I must object, because we saw quite clearly what happened when something Shadow cared about was threatened. I suspect they would have done far worse to James had Trevor not stepped in and had ambush at the mine entrance not started so dismally, they also would have continued to fight the commando droids until none were left. We just have never been the target of that wrath before."

"You done analyzin' Shadow?" Wrecker growled.

"I do not think I will be done for quite some time, but my analysis stands," Tech retorted. "Shadow, like any of us, has a dark side that comes out when things they value are threatened."

"They value us," Wrecker shot back.

"Yes, but they also quite clearly value their life and if they had a nightmare about us trying to end their life, I do not blame them for being angry and feeling betrayed." He sighed and admitted, "I just did not assume their anger could be so… blinding."

Hunter mumbled, "I shouldn't have brought up Shadow staying…"

Had he not done so, Crosshair wouldn't have exploded the way he did. Why didn't he recognize how distraught Crosshair was after the tunnel incident?!

"I still want 'em around!" Wrecker exclaimed. "I promised 'em I would never leave 'em, and I don't like lyin'!"

"I concur," Tech said, gesturing with his intact arm. "The topic would have come up eventually, whether tonight or at the end of the mission."

"I just… kark I should have waited," Hunter groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Waited until Crosshair wasn't so… hurt still."

"Bad timing, I agree," Tech replied, earning himself a glare. "But perhaps it is good this happened tonight."

"Shadow broke your arm," Hunter reminded him. "And could have broken your leg."

"Yes, they did and yes, they could have. But given what they described in their nightmare, I am surprised they did not do more," Tech said.

"Not like you to not hold a grudge," Hunter said, crossing his arms.

Tech paused then shrugged. "And it is not like Shadow to deliberately hurt us. Besides, the way I see it, Shadow was acting in self defense. They thought we were after them to kill them."

"Tech's got a point," Wrecker said, causing Tech to sit taller. "Squeaky would never attack us like that otherwise. Remember how heartbroken they looked when they realized they were awake?"

Of course he remembered. Hunter doubted that image would ever leave his head.

"They'd never try to hurt us unless they thought it wasn't us. I forgive 'em!" Wrecker continued with a firm nod.

While some part of Hunter resented Shadow for losing their cool and endangering his squadmates' lives, a majority of him couldn't hold it against them. He'd use lethal force too if he thought someone was after him to kill him. Even if it was Shadow.

They'd all grown close with Shadow, yes, but there was still the fact Hunter's squadmates were highly skilled and intensely trained superhuman commando soldiers. Even with Shadow's higher power level, it'd be crazy for them not to fear for their life if they thought the squad was after them with the intent to kill.

"I forgive 'em too," Hunter said. "But I'm still worried about them and Cross bein' alone."

"I still believe it was good this happened when it did," Tech said.

"Why is that? Someone could have died in this mess."

"I am well aware," Tech retorted, indicating his arm and leg. "But while I do not agree with the method itself, it was necessary. Crosshair needed that wake up call before he slipped back into his old habits."

Well… that was true. Crosshair had been about to get vindictive again, and even if he had agreed to take Shadow on board, the malice may have driven Shadow away.

"And the wakeup call probably opened his eyes that he would be heartbroken if Shadow didn't come along after the mission," Tech continued, fiddling with his goggles. "Now he knows the affection is returned, there's a greater possibility for him to change and stop driving Shadow away."

"Or freak out that he has a minefield of new emotions to navigate," Hunter grumbled.

Wrecker threw a ball of tightly packed dirt in his direction. "Quit bein' so negative!" he said as Hunter dodged the projectile which splattered against a tree. "I know Cross, he'll make it up to 'em!"

"Given how long they've been gone, and given the fact there's not been any screaming," Tech replied. "I'd say he already has."

"Shadow isn't the type to let something as painful as that just slide by," Hunter muttered.

He loved them, yes, but he could definitely recognize they liked to hold grudges and could be pretty damn vengeful

"No, but they aren't the type to give up on Crosshair either," Tech countered. "He's hurt them before but they bounced back."

"Crosshair hadn't suggested ghosting 'em before."

"At the river incident he did. Perhaps not those exact words, but he did insinuate that he would never need nor care for them. Shadow recovered from that."

No. They hadn't. Those words would lurk in the back of Shadow's mind for a while yet, Hunter knew.

"I'm not sure anything less than the exact words 'I'm sorry' would be enough to repair Shadow's broken heart now," Hunter retorted. "And Cross doesn't know those words."

"I think he'll say it," Wrecker said. "He's hurt as well. Wouldn't stop cryin' when you went after Shadow."

"Didn't see that."

"Well, you were gone! He said he'd do anythin' to make it up to 'em," Wrecker said with a shrug. Yet a smile peeked through. "He'll do it, I know he will."

"While I remain doubtful about those two words specifically," Tech chimed in. "I do think he'll try to apologize. Will they be back to what they were before? I suspect not immediately, but any progress on Crosshair's part will no doubt encourage Shadow. I don't think they'll give up so easily on someone they took a bullet for."

Good point…

Hunter looked down the trail, straining to hear anything. When that failed, he walked over to the trail shelter and climbed on top.

"What are you doing?" Tech asked.

"Can get a wider range with my senses up here."

"You are not a comm," Tech snorted, but Hunter ignored him.

Closing his eyes, casting out his senses and blessing the mist for providing a better medium than air alone, Hunter prayed to whatever force listening for a reading.

There.

At the very edge of his sensory range, he could sense both Shadow and Crosshair. Their readings were pretty close together as well, so maybe-

"It's done."

Hunter nearly fell off the roof at Trevor's voice. Whipping around, a hand on his chest, he glared at the Halfblood. Or god-child.

Whatever the hells this fucker was.

"What do you want?" Hunter snarled.

"They did it," Trevor said.

"You knew what was going to happen. You knew but said nothing!" Hunter accused, ready to launch himself at Trevor.

"Sarge, what's going on?" Wrecker called up.

"Trevor's back."

"I'm gonna kill 'im!" Wrecker snarled, getting to his feet.

"Don't make the mistake of thinking I enjoyed this," Trevor growled, glancing down at Wrecker. "Shadow is my friend too."

"Some friend you are!" Tech hissed from below.

Tail lashing, Trevor snapped, "I can't directly interfere, or believe me I would have!"

"Are we supposed to believe that?" Hunter spat.

Trevor held his gaze before looking down, ears falling flat. "No. I don't blame you for not." He ran a hand through dark hair. "I knew this was goin' to happen from the moment you met Shadow. Yet… it wasn't originally supposed to be this bad. The original version didn't have the explosion from Crosshair, but that was back before the story got this expansive."

"Can you not be like this for five seconds!?"

Trevor looked back at him. "I don't enjoy bein' a harbinger of bad things. You know what it's like knowin' bad things will happen but not being allowed to stop them? Knowing horrible events will torment the people you care about while all you can do is watch?"

No, Hunter did not know what that was like. Didn't want to know what it was like.

But any sympathy he may have felt for Trevor's plight was overshadowed by his concern for his team. Including Shadow themselves.

"We all have a choice," Hunter growled.

Trevor groaned. "I'm trying to give you some hope."

"Pretty lousy at it," Hunter scoffed.

"It's a work in progress," Trevor retorted. "But I meant what I said. Shadow and Crosshair have indeed made up. Still a bit on the rocks, but the wound is bandaged at least."

"You're tellin' me this why?"

"So you can get after them. Try that offer again." Trevor offered a smile, but for once there was no mischief. "Think you'll get a better result this time."

With that, he was gone.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Could have been minutes.

Could have been hours.

I didn't know.

Didn't care either.

Because those minutes or hours were spent curled up with my sniper against a mossy trunk.

After removing his upper armor, Crosshair had wrapped himself around me, retaining a borderline death grip as I laid on my back. The slightest movement from me and he clung on tighter. Currently, he had a leg hooked over mine with his head on my chest and arms curled around my shoulders. Long story short, he looked in no hurry to go anywhere.

I hadn't imagined my first snuggling session with Crosshair would happen like this but…

Well, first snuggle sesh with both of us lucid. The cave didn't count. Officially at least.

My shirt was still damp from Crosshair's tears, but I wasn't about to move him any time soon. Not after what happened last time I moved away. Besides, I didn't want to disturb him. With deep even breaths and no movement in at least ten minutes, I was half certain the sniper had actually fallen asleep on me.

I was so tempted to fully doze off too, but I was far too worried I'd have another nightmare.

And I couldn't risk that.

My ears flicked up at distant footsteps. "Hey, Cross," I said, prodding the sniper as I heard "Shadow!" echo through the trees.

The sniper curled tighter around me, albeit a bit awkwardly since he was taller.

I rested a hand on his back before reaching up and lightly scratching the back of his head just beneath where his fluff started. "Hunt's lookin' for us."

"Let him look," came the muttered reply.

I rested my chin on his head again and waited until Hunter's yell got closer. "He's almost here," I said, shifting under the sniper's weight.

"Don't care if he sees," Crosshair said, snuggling closer.

My ears twitched. "Figured you wouldn't want to let him see you this clingy-"

"Not hidin' my feelin's anymore, Shadow." He sat up and met my gaze. "Never again."

My lip quivered as intense emotion burned the back of my throat, but instead of agonized tears they were happy ones. "Gonna give me a toothache, Twiggy," I snorted, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand.

A soft smile. "If it means I make you happy, then it's worth it."

I ran my fingers through his hair. "Remember, you don't have to be completely lovely dovey. I know that's not you."

Much as I loved affectionate Crosshair, I didn't like people pretending to be like a certain way to please someone else. Least of all Crosshair. It would only lead to more problems down the road.

He caught my hand and nuzzled it. "I'll still tease you, don't worry about that. I just…" His hands trembled. "Want to make it right."

"Gonna be a rough road, for both of us, but like I said, Twiggs." I rested a hand over his. "Meet me halfway."

"I promise." A pause. "Sweetheart."

A purr sprang from my throat and I bumped my forehead against his before sitting up and lightly scratching at his stubble. "Hmm. Kinda handsome in this light, Twiggy."

Really? You're gonna flirt now?

Leave be be, I just went through hell and back again.

A tentative, sly smile tugged the corner of his lips as he reached up and rubbed behind one ear, running his thumb up the back. "Aren't half bad yourself, furball."

I laughed softly, heat rising to my cheeks. "A compliment from Crosshair?" I asked, leaning into his hand.

"Considerin'… what happened…"

My smile faded. "Cross… it happened. It's done." The last word came out a bit sharp and I took a breath to calm myself. "Can't change it now."

He withdrew into himself, avoiding my eyes. "Shouldn't have said those things…"

But you did.

That wound wouldn't heal for a while, I feared. I hated it, but hearing those things out of his mouth when I already was scared of hearing them…

"Don't," I said softly, shaking my head and slipping my arms around him before settling my chin on his shoulder. "Leave it in the past, Crosshair."

He returned the hug. "Karked it up, didn't I?"

"Puttin' it lightly." I sighed. "But you apologized. I know that's not easy for you, yet you did it anyway.." I leaned my head against his. "I don't take it lightly."

"But you're still mad."

"Yes. I am." I pulled back and held his gaze. "But you took responsibility for it. You admitted to your mistake. It wasn't perfection, but I didn't ask for that. I ask for effort and I'd be blinder than a mole rat if I couldn't see that you put everything you had into that apology. For that I forgive you."

Relief flooded his face, barely tempered by the remorse in his eyes. "You forgive me?"

I rested my forehead against his. "Yes. I forgive you."

Fresh tears, borne from pure joy, trickled down his cheeks as he rested a hand on my shoulder and gripped it hard. "Thank you."

"Shadow! Cross!" Hunter exclaimed, coming around a boulder. Seeing us, relief spread across his face. "Did… things go well?"

"Well, the wound is bandaged. Just gotta let it heal," I said.

Hunter looked to Crosshair. "You apologized?"

Crosshair nodded, but didn't move his eyes from me. "Was worth it," he said, smiling slightly.

I bumped my head against his with a soft purr.

"Stars, I'm glad to hear that," Hunter said, kneeling beside us. Entangling a hand in my hair, he smiled. "But I'm glad to hear you're doin' better too."

"Cross definitely helped," I said, curling my tail around the sniper.

Hunter looked at his brother. "Thanks, Cross."

Crosshair dipped his head in acknowledgement.

A soft smile crossed my face before I glanced over Hunter's shoulder. Stifling a laugh, I flicked my ears past him. "We have an audience."

As Crosshair looked past Hunter as well, the sergeant turned around. Stiffening, he jumped to his feet and faced the approaching duo. "I told you two to stay put!"

"Correct," Tech said, sitting atop Wrecker's shoulders as the larger clone came down the trail. "We chose to ignore that order."

"Honestly, what am I even sergeant of?" Hunter huffed, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "No one ever listens to me."

"We listen when you make good calls."

"And when we want to!" Wrecker laughed, then grinned at me. "Squeaky! You're smilin' again!"

"Aye, Wreck, guess I am," I said with a soft laugh.

Crosshair shifted closer and pressed his leg against mine, a gesture I was grateful for.

"It is good to see you in better spirits, Shadow," Tech said, looking down at me from Wrecker's shoulders.

Guilt rippled through me as I stared at his leg and arm. Our battle may have been the shortest yet, somehow, I did the most physical damage to the poor nerd.

"Just wish I could fix your wounds too," I mumbled, rubbing my arm as I looked away.

Crosshair slipped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me to his side. While I resisted at first, still unused to this much physical contact from anyone, I soon melted in his grip and rested my head against his shoulder.

"I will heal, Shadow," Tech assured me. "I believe it is a stable fracture, rather than a compound fracture. I could not see any external damage, aside from bruising, so I should be able to heal quickly with a bacta soak."

"We… don't exactly have any access to a bacta bath," I muttered, tail tip twitching.

"No, but I have a makeshift one at the Marauder," Tech responded cheerfully. "Barring any further complications on the return journey, I can survive until then."

"Makeshift bacta bath?" I echoed uncertainly, glancing up at him.

"He plugs the sink," Hunter explained.

"Ah," I said, then rubbed my arm. "I mean I could… take the injury. I could heal it quicker."

"Take the injury?" Tech asked, tilting his head as he carefully wiggled off Wrecker's shoulders, the demolition expert helping him stand.

I nodded as I stood and walked over. "There's… a spell. In my stories. It's one of the few spells any species can do no matter their magic level."

Crosshair quickly stood and followed me. "But you would then have a broken arm."

"I'd make sure to take the leg and chest as well-"

"Absolutely not," Tech said. "I cannot ask you to do that, Shadow."

"Tech, I caused those wounds." I looked down again, rubbing my arm anxiously. "It's only fair-"

"What's not fair," he interrupted. "Is you always taking on the hurt to keep us safe."

I flinched, Crosshair's words from the Vault echoing in my head.

"Why do you always have to sacrifice yourself when you never let us do the same?!"

Tech's stern gaze softened. "Shadow, I did not mean to upset you," he said as Crosshair rested a hand on my shoulder. "But this is my wound."

"That I gave you."

"You didn't know-"

"Don't make excuses for me."

Why did they do that? Why did they always have to make excuses for me? Why couldn't they just…

Just what? Let me blame myself and spiral down down down into the abysmal depths of self loathing? That wouldn't help anyone.

But, then again, old habits were hard to break…

"I am not. I am merely pointing out the logic in not letting you take this injury on yourself," Tech countered, yet not unkindly.

Want logic, nerd? Challenge accepted.

"Logically," I said, straightening and holding his gaze. "It would be the best option."

His eyes narrowed. "How so?"

I gestured to my tail. "Alphian. We heal faster than humans."

"All clones have faster than average healing rates for wounds as well," Tech shot back. "Especially mutated clones such as ourselves. The Kaminoans saw it as a beneficial precaution given the line of work we would be in for the entirety of our lives."

I tried not to dwell too much on that last sentence. I needed to concentrate on this debate, not get spun up into an angry whirlwind again. "Not this fast. We can fully heal bullet wounds in a day or two provided they are non-lethal."

He paused for a moment. "You have endured more than your fair share of pain tonight."

You got him. Just keep at it.

"You are physically injured the worst. And," I said quickly as he began to argue again. "I have something you don't."

"And what might that be?"

"Lack of pain receptors."

"Not always," Tech pointed out. "You exhibited a standard pain response numerous times on the trail."

You got me there.

But I wasn't about to drop this.

"If you won't let me take them all, at least let me take your arm."

"Shadow-"

"I'm not backin' down from this, Tech," I said with a shake of my head as I lifted my chin. "It is beneficial to everyone."

He snorted. "Hardly beneficial to you to gain a broken arm."

"I just… It'll make me feel better emotionally," I admitted, relenting slightly. "That I at least fixed my mistake somewhat."

He sighed and shook his head. "I will not allow you too-"

"If you let me take the leg wound too, you'd get a blood sample."

He straightened at the mention of blood.

"Knew that'd get ya," I said, grinning softly. "And you wouldn't need needles for it, so I won't be trying to fight you."

As Tech wrestled with himself, Crosshair said, "Shadow, are you sure about this?"

"Never more so. I… want to make it right."

"How will injurin' yourself help that?" Wrecker asked, nose scrunched.

"It will help me mentally."

Crosshair still didn't seem convinced. "Shadow-"

"I'll let you bandage it."

His brows shifted upwards in interest before furrowing once more. "Don'tlike you hurt regardless."

"But you do like bandaging me." I hesitated. "Right?"

An arm hesitantly rested over my shoulders, pulling me closer when I leaned against him. "Of course… sweetheart. But would gladly go without if you stayed healthy."

"I need to do this."

"You don't-" He caught himself, recoiling as if he expected me to yell at him.

I wrapped an arm around his waist. "Easy, Cross, easy. It's a learnin' process."

"Don't want to mess it up so soon after," he mumbled, a tremor in his voice.

"Just take it slow. It's ok to feel frustrated or upset," I assured him gently. "It's natural, and shovin' it all down only makes things worse. Just… watch how you let it manifest."

He just nodded and leaned against me more.

"Alright, Shadow," Tech announced. "I'll allow you to take the arm and leg wounds on one condition and one condition only."

My ears pricked. "Name it."

"You must be ambidextrous."

My face fell, ears flatting as my tail hit the leaf strewn forest floor. "What?! I'm not ambidextrous. No fair!"

Tech shrugged, wincing as he did so. "Then you may not take the arm wound. Especially since it is your right and dominant hand."

"Tech-"

"Besides, James is bringing in a battalion of droids, correct?"

My ears shifted back and a snarl curled my lip. "Hell, forgot about that fucker."

"With that battalion coming, we cannot risk you having a broken dominant arm," Tech pointed out. "You are our most powerful fighter."

"You're a good fighter too."

"Yes. But I do not have lightsabers."

I glanced at my belt where the weapons usually hung, expecting them to be missing since Hunter had them when I stormed off. Yet there they were, back on my belt, still defying continuity. "I don't… really want to touch 'em for a while."

Too many bad memories way too close.

"Then you will fight in that beast form?" Tech asked.

Crosshair's terrified face flashed across my eyes, his scream echoing in my ears soon after.

"I…"

"We can figure that out when we get there," Hunter said, shaking his head as he rested a hand on my shoulder and Wrecker gave me a sympathetic look. "But right now we should get back to the shelter. I smell rain."

"Haven't you guys endured rain before?"

"We have armor." Brown eyes looked me up and down. "You have only your clothes."

"They could do with a bath," I said, looking down at the stained fabric.

"We all could," Tech snorted. "Especially Wrecker."

Wrecker's head snapped to the side. "Hey!"

"Yeah, but I prefer the nice hot shower at Sarah's," Hunter replied to me, ignoring Wrecker. "Besides, we should all get what rest we can before tomorrow."

Rest?

My tail bristled as doubt crept through me like a relentless cancer, eating away at me from the inside out, cell by cell.

What if I closed my eyes and found myself back… there? Back where Wrecker wasn't kind, Hunter wasn't gentle, Tech wasn't friendly, and Crosshair…

I shivered, huddling closer to the real Crosshair as the sniper pulled me in closer and rested a comforting hand on my arm.

Hunter rested a hand on my shoulder. "Shadow, we won't let it happen again." He squeezed. "I promise you."

"But," I stammered, shivers worsening. "If… I-If I have another nightmare and can't… can't tell the difference between… reality and the dream-"

"Then we will help you get through it again." He nodded to Crosshair, who gave me another squeeze before heading to gather his armor. Hunter quickly took his place by my side, an arm around my back before pulling me into a hug. As I returned the embrace, he ran a hand down my back. "But you should at least doze a little. You only slept for a few hours before…"

The nightmare showdown.

I buried my nose into his neck and took a depth breath to calm myself. "I just don't… don't want to risk it-"

"I can ensure you don't slip into REM sleep," Tech offered, back on Wrecker's shoulders. "It will significantly lower the likelihood of a dream. I'll let you sleep in hour-long intervals."

Despite the anxiety that rose at the mere thought of dreaming, rest sounded amazing right now.

Squeezing Hunter once, I took a deep breath and stepped back. "If… if it happens again." I looked up at Tech. "Stun me."

"Stunning you does not work," Tech reminded me, causing both Crosshair and me to flinch.

"Well, keep stunning me until it does," I retorted. "I… I won't survive another fight like that with you four."

"Regardless, I do not think you are in any condition to fight more tonight without substantial rest," Tech pointed out as Crosshair glued himself back to my side.

I shook my head. "Even so…"

"I'll help you, Ice," Hunter promised. "If it gets bad, Wrecker and I will break you out of it."

"Yeah, Squeak. I didn't give up on you before, and I sure as hell won't give up on you any time in the future.

Tail twitching, I looked between the two men. I had no concrete reason to disbelieve them but…

"I will too," Crosshair said, arm across my shoulders once more.

I curled my tail around his leg but nevertheless said, "I still don't want to risk another nightmare."

"We won't stop this time until we wake you up," Hunter assured me. "We didn't… know it was that bad last time so we stopped when you settled down. This time we won't stop until you are free."

"We will also avoid trying to immediately comfort you physically," Tech said, frowning and readjusting his goggles. "I suspect us coming for you directly after the nightmare only exacerbated the residual terror while you were in that halfway concious state."

My tail tip twitched. "That… makes sense. How long was I asleep before… it happened?" I asked as we started back towards the shelter.

"Approximately four hours," Tech supplied.

That wasn't too long. "Any of you sleep during that?"

"I did some," the engineer said.

"A little," Wrecker admitted. "But I didn't want to sleep so I could be there if you woke up."

"Sarge?" I asked, already knowing Crosshair's answer.

"No," Hunter replied. "Same reason as Wrecker."

"So… who's up for watch when we get back?" I asked. "There's still those droids from the fight yesterday."

"I can't feel them close by," Hunter said after closing his eyes for a moment.

"Nevertheless, I'll take first watch," Tech said.

Not like you'd sleep well with a broken arm anyways…

I doubted I'd let that go for a while yet, even if the men forgave me. Tech would carry evidence of that break for the rest of his life, and even after he was long dead his bones would still bear the scars.

Just like Wrecker's armor would bear the marks from my claws…

As would Crosshair's face…

Hunter nudged my arm as he walked on my opposite side from Crosshair. "Ice, you're dwellin' aren't you?"

"My self hatred and personalization issues stretch back many, many years, Sarge," I sighed. "It's… not gonna be easy to shake them."

"Need to try," Crosshair urged. "We don't blame you."

"No need. I can handle that department all on my own," I retorted dryly.

"While I appreciate your humor," the sniper grumbled. "Don't appreciate the context."

"I'm better than I used to be," I pointed out. "I used to be even more of a nightmare in the mental department."

"Long as you're workin' towards improvement."

"I am," I said as a cool breeze blew through the tall trees, ruffling our hair and swirling the mist around us. "There's just… a certain comfort with the familiarity." I kicked a rock. "Even the bad."

"Tell me about it," he muttered.

"Now who's got dark humor?" I teased, a small sly smile tugging my lips as I lightly elbowed the sniper.

Crosshair hesitated before elbowing me back. "Says the one whose name is Shadow."

"Touché."

Reaching the trail shelter as the wind began to pick up, I followed Wrecker and Tech into the lower level. "You ready, Tech?"

"No, I would much prefer you to not take on these injuries," Tech huffed as Wrecker helped him sit against the wall. "I do not need your DNA that badly."

"I prefer actions to words when it comes to apologies, Tech," I said, kneeling by his leg.

He glared at me. "And I prefer you to not be injured."

I shrugged. "Looks like we're at an impasse, Techie. Cause I will be takin' on one of those wounds."

"Stubborn, that's what you are," he groaned as I slowly unwrapped his wound.

"Pot callin' the kettle black," I shot back, wincing as I looked at the gash under the bandages.

Well… the claws were pretty large and pretty damn sharp…

And were evolved to hook into prey's legs and tear through muscle and flesh, severing control and sending prey plummeting to their death from impossibly high mountain cliffs…

"Pot callin' the kettle black?"

I looked away from the wound and back to Tech's face. "It's an idiom. Kinda like 'takes one to know one'," I explained, gesturing vaguely. "Means the accuser does the same thing as what they're accusing someone else of doing."

"But neither pots nor kettles are black?"

Surely the galaxy isn't that advanced. Or… has Tech just not been exposed to a lot? "But soot is. It would accumulate and ta da. Black pots and kettles."

"Are idioms common in your culture? You use them often."

"Like sayin' I was as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rockin' chairs when I was about to tell you about my crush," Hunter added with a teasing grin as he sat beside me, top portion of his armor removed.

"Rednecks do like their sayin's," I agreed with a soft laugh. "Just know that if I ever say 'bless yer heart', that is not a good thing."

"What's that mean, Squeaky?" Wrecker asked from the corner where he was removing his armor as well.

"Backhanded compliment. Means 'boy howdy, are you stupid'."

"Boy howdy?"

"Wow."

"These… redneck linguistics are odd," Tech remarked.

"Were you using those when you said I was like a… mare with a thorn under the saddle?" Crosshair asked as he joined me with a roll of bandages and bacta ready.

"Ornery as a mare with a burr under the saddle, yep. Basically means you got a really sour mood."

Crosshair narrowed his eyes at me but I could see that hint of a smile peeking through.

"Fascinating," Tech snorted. His face turned serious as he looked from his leg wound to me. "Shadow, you do not have to do this."

"Yes, I do," I stressed. "It'll put my mind at ease a little bit at least."

Tech sighed. "I can see there's no changing your mind."

"Nope," I replied. Taking a deep breath, I rested a hand on the wound. "Ready?"

"No," Tech grumbled.

"Shadow, what will happen? You won't drain any of your magic will you?" Hunter asked worriedly.

I shook my head. "No magic drain. The wound will slowly fade from Tech's leg and move to mine."

Hunter exchanged a glance with Crosshair.

The sniper looked back at me. "Shadow… you're sure?"

"Yes." I looked back to Tech. "Want to record this?"

"I'd rather not record you getting hurt," he replied with a frown. "Just tell me the spell later. And I'll get blood another time."

"Thought you wanted it?"

"I do. But I don't want to remember this while I sequence and study the DNA."

"Fair 'nough," I said with a shrug then looked back at the wound. Steadying my breath, I closed my eyes and concentrated on the feeling of blood and torn flesh beneath my fingers. "Magic black as night, and white as snow. Give me back, the one I know. If need be, and if it be the case… please take me, in their place."

Gritting my teeth as blood began to trickle from my leg, I sucked in a sharp breath. Crosshair's hand grasped my shoulder hard, steadying me, but the sniper said nothing. Which was honestly fine with me. Words weren't his thing anyways. Gripping his hand with my free one, I squeezed tightly as the wound finished transferring and sharp stabs of pain rippled through my leg. Panting hard, I let go of Tech's leg and dug my claws into the earth.

"Shadow?" Tech asked, concern thick in his voice as he reached for me as well. "Shadow, are you alright?"

"Peachy," I grunted, fighting the urge to claw at my leg as it itched.

"Hang on," Crosshair whispered, setting to work bacta-ing and bandaging the wound. His hands, oddly gentle as always, expertly wrapped the bandages around the gash and bound them securely before adding another layer for good measure.

"Thanks, Cross," I said, breathing easier as the bacta lost its bite and a cooling sensation flowed over the gash.

"Welcome, sweetheart."

"Now that… that's done," Hunter said, shifting closer and resting a hand on my shoulder. "There's a conversation we need to revisit."

I looked up at him. "What conversation?"

Exchanging a glance with Crosshair, who nodded firmly and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, Hunter smiled at me. "Shadow," he began. "What do you say to stickin' around with us?"

What do I say? What do I say? Of course yes! But… ah, he's probably just asking about the rest of the mission.

"Well, I'll need to get you to Kelusia-"

"I meant, after that. After this mission, and for future missions to come."

No. He meant…

They didn't want me around for the mission. For some end goal to be reached and completed. They wanted me around for…

Me.

It was me they cared about. Not my powers. Not my knowledge.

Me.

My eyes widened and I looked around at the others. Finding only grins, I looked back to Hunter. "Is this… an official offer to join your team?"

Hunter chuckled softly. "You've got spirit. You're an amazing fighter-"

He stopped abruptly as I launched myself at him, flinging my arms around his neck and hugging tightly. The sergeant fell onto his back before wrapping his own arms around me and squeezing. "Take that as a yes!" he laughed.

"Fuck yeah it's a yes!" I laughed, tail waving excitedly in the air as I got off Hunter, completely ignoring the way my leg protested at the strain. "Travel around the galaxy with y'all? Fuck up tinnies? Send them fleeing for their lives? Causing chaos all the while? How could I say no?"

"Aw, yeah! Squeak's joinin' us!" Wrecker cheered, excitedly punching the air.

"A very good addition, I'll say," Tech added, nodding to me.

"An addition we can't do without," Crosshair said, pulling me into a tight hug from behind.

Purring loudly, I hugged his arms tightly and leaned back into him. "Thanks, Twiggy!" I looked around at all of them, happy tears springing to my eyes as my cheeks hurt from smiling. "Seriously… thanks to all of you."

"Of course, Shadow."

"Wouldn't be the same without ya, Squeak!"

"Can't imagine not havin' you by our side, furball."

Hunter raised his hand up, ready to do that frat boy handshake he'd done with Cody. "Well?"

Grinning, I clasped his hand with my own and squeezed.

The sergeant grinned back. "Shadow." He gave me a wink. "Welcome to the team."