Han and Leia were escorted to the Medical Centre Family Room, a blissfully unaware Jorj holding their hands and skipping along between them.
Inside the light yet somehow still gloomy looking room sat Jaina, her eyes red-rimmed and her face swollen from crying. Beside her sat a human female, who's warm smile was intended to help maintain a sense of calm.
"Captain, Mrs Solo." Her smile seemed genuine enough. "I'm Ryah, Mrs Fel's appointed counsellor. How much have you been told?"
"Apart from 'follow me', 'this way' and 'in here', not a whole lot!" Han growled.
"I'm so sorry. Law enforcement officials can be somewhat impersonal at times such as these." Ryah complained. "Please. Take a seat."
"Am I in trouble?" Jorj asked.
"Have you done something wrong?" Ryah beamed at the boy.
"I don't think so." He answered, chewing nervously at a finger.
"It's not you bean-sprout." Jaina advised, her voice shaky.
She patted at her lap and held out an arm toward Jorj who, after a quick look at this parents, moved to sit on Jaina's lap. Her arms circled him and she hugged him tightly, burying her head against his, as hot tears again streaked her cheeks.
"You're squishing me!" Jorj squirmed and with a muffled apology, Jaina loosened her hold.
"We were told there'd been an incident?" Leia asked, trying not to look at the droplets of blood on Jaina's neck and cheek.
Ryah placed a comforting hand on Jaina's arm and, indicating Jorj with a look, suggested. "Perhaps I should call for one of my colleagues from the nursery."
"He's not a baby." Jaina stated, kissing Jorj's head. "Besides, he probably won't understand what's happened any more than I do."
"I already called Winter. She's on her way." Leia said, ruffling a hand through Jorj's hair.
"Ma-ma!" Jorj drawled and swivelled across Jaina's lap to face her. "You wanna see Hoo?"
"Who?" Jaina asked, glancing at her parents who shrugged their lack of understanding.
Jorj fished around in his pocket, pulling out a fist and then opening it for Jaina to see.
"Wow!" She said. "That is one shiny stone."
"You wannit?" Jorj asked, big eyes twinkling.
"He your favourite?" Jaina asked.
"I 'spose." Jorj shrugged.
Jaina laughed and hugged him again. "You know what bean-sprout, you keep him." She wrapped her hand around his, closing it over the stone. "You look after him and keep him safe."
"Your Son collects stones?" Ryah asked through her smile.
"He does this week." Han answered. "Next week, who knows."
"He has some developmental difficulties." Leia explained, her eyes roaming her child's face as he admired his stone. "And we couldn't love him more."
A light tapping at the door and Winter was guided into the room.
"Winter, thank you so much." Leia rose and hugged her friend.
"Never a problem Your Highness. You know that." Winter extended her hand toward Jorj. "What say we go get ourselves some ice cream?"
"Yay!" Jorj bounded from Jaina's lap and gripped Winter's hand tightly, looking up at his mother for confirmation. "Can I Mama?"
"Well, just this once." Leia smiled and ran a finger along his jawline tenderly. "But you be good for Aunt Winter, you hear me?"
"I hear you." Jorj nodded and looked at his tightly closed hand. "Mama? Will you look after Hoo for me so I don't lose him?"
Leia accepted the stone and gave Winter another hug before returning to her seat as her friend and son went on their way.
"There was an incident?" Han repeated.
"An emergency medical team was called to the Fel residence where they found Mrs Solo-Fel in a state of some distress and her husband collapsed in their shower stall." Ryah explained, considering her words carefully. "His condition was so extreme, it took the team some considerable time to establish that he was in fact still alive."
Both Han and Leia turned toward Jaina as she buried her head in her hands, struggling to maintain some control.
"Following a difficult evacuation." Ryah continued. "Jagged Fel was transported to this facility where he is currently undergoing surgery on numerous internal organs. In the short term, assuming he survives surgery, he'll be transferred for bacta treatments. However, his long term prognosis is, at present, undetermined."
Han and Leia turned puzzled faces on one another.
"What he do, bang his head when he collapsed?" Han asked, somehow knowing the question was inadequate.
"Whilst the mode of entry remains under investigation, it would seem that while Mrs Solo-Fel was away from the property, someone or something entered their apartment and assaulted Mr Fel. Quite severely." Ryah said.
"That's an understatement!" Jaina declared.
"Jaina. We talked about this." Ryah said. Her smile was starting to grate on Han.
"No! We didn't talk about anything." Jaina glared at Ryah. "You told me to leave it to you to explain what happened. But you can't explain it because none of it makes any sense!"
"Then you tell us Sweetheart." Han prompted. "Take all the time you need."
"Where to start..." Jaina mumbled. "Well...I got home and Jag had scattered petals to the bedroom. He'd joked about the Blessing being the first day of the rest of our lives, so I guess I wasn't surprised at him doing something like that. I..er..I went through to the bedroom and he'd put Champagne by the bed and laid out a..well..laid something on the bed for me."
Jaina blushed unintentionally and tears again threatened to overwhelm her.
"Mom..." She reached out a hand and Leia responded immediately by moving to her side and taking her daughter in her arms.
"Mrs Solo-Fel discovered her husband in the shower stall." Ryah reported. "He had been beaten, quite savagely. He suffered multiple broken bones and extensive internal damage. A full medical report is available, but I should warn you, it makes for unpleasant reading."
"But...why?" Han queried. "Was he in hock to somebody? Gambling debts maybe?"
"He owed nobody." Jaina stated. "He had no enemies and there were no bitter ex girlfriends, jilted lovers or angry husbands! And even if there were, why would any sentient do that to another being?"
"So you're saying what, that this was just a random attack?" Han asked incredulously.
"Your questions are all valid Captain and do, of course, require answers. But for now, the immediate concern is Jagged Fel's recovery." Ryah interjected, turning a sad smile toward Jaina. "The odds are not good. We should prepare ourselves for the worst."
"Never tell me the odds!" Han ground through his teeth, pushed to his feet and thundered from the room.
"My husband..." Leia apologised. "Doesn't handle emotion very well."
"I'll go. See if I can't calm him down." Ryah volunteered and headed out after Han.
"I don't give much for her odds either!" Leia observed, causing Jaina to laugh through her tears.
"Oh Mom!" Jaina hugged her mother tightly. "You should have seen him. He was just this big ball of blood and pulp. When the medics got to him, what she described as a 'difficult evacuation' means they as good as had to scoop him up."
"Can you think of anyone, anyone at all who would want to hurt him?" Leia asked.
"Jagged Fel? Seriously?" Jaina wiped her nose across her sleeve.
"It was just a thought." Leia shrugged.
"I know." Jaina sighed. "Trust me, I've thought about it over and over. I just can't believe anyone could do anything so bad it would earn that kind of treatment."
Jaina picked up a datapad and keyed in Jag's name and medical number, calling up his records. "Here. Take a look." She said, handing the padd to her mother.
Leia read sombrely at first, her expression turning swiftly to shock before she gasped. "Merciful Stars!"
"See what I mean?" Jaina asked. "Nobody would do that for an overdue debt. I mean, even Jabba the Hutt wanted Dad alive, right?"
Leia didn't know what to say, she just kissed her daughter's forehead and held her close, soothing her, until Ryah returned with Han, rolling his eyes at her.
"I managed to coax him back." Ryah said.
"Coax my ass!" Han replied. "I came because I was needed here."
He slipped onto the comfy chair beside Jaina and wrapped an arm around her waist. "How ya doin' Honey?" He asked softly.
"Okay. I guess." She replied, smiling weakly.
"How long's Jag been in surgery?" He asked.
"Half, maybe an hour." Jaina shrugged. "Since we came in I guess."
"Is there any point to still being here?" He directed his question to Ryah.
"Comfort." She smiled. "Solace."
"Yeah, but is there any real point to still being here?" He persisted.
"Han!" Leia chided.
"What I mean is, Jaina can get comfort and solace from us at home. She's not gonna be able to see him in surgery and when they bring him out they'll transfer him straight into a bacta tank. Is there any reason why we can't go home and wait for news there?" He asked.
"Nobody's keeping you here if that's what you mean." Ryah answered, sounding a little miffed.
"Great. Let's get outta here then!" Han said, rising.
Once they were outside the family room, Leia turned on Han. "Has anyone ever told you your bluntness borders on rudeness?"
"Yeah. Someone did. Once." He replied.
"What did you do, shoot him?" She arched an eyebrow at him.
"Nah!" Han grinned. "I married her."
Leia pursed her lips and flushed, knowing she had allowed herself to be bested by him.
"I need to get some clothes." Jaina said, ignoring their jibes. "But I don't want to go back to the apartment alone."
"Why don't you and your Mom go get some stuff while I pick up Jorj and maybe grab some takeout for dinner too?" Han suggested.
Han and Leia exchanged a brief, sad kiss before leaving on their respective tasks.
Jaina and Leia were permitted access to the apartment in order that Jaina could pack a small bag of clothes for her stay with her parents. Investigators kept them both in their sights to ensure that they only took what they came for and Leia's eyes took in the scene. The rose petals scattered in a show of romance now crushed and trodden into the carpet; the bed presumably turned back in preparation for an even more romantic pursuit now pushed aside and in disarray; the 'fresher minus a curtain of steam revealed a picture of bloody carnage.
"Can I take this?" Jaina asked.
She'd picked up the holocube picture of her Wedding to Jag six months earlier, her fingertips tracing his image lovingly.
An investigator puffed out his barrel chest and considered.
"Oh come on!" Leia frowned. "What harm can there be in her taking the only pictorial record she has of her Wedding?"
"I'll have to log it." The investigator said, then smiled softly and lowered his voice. "Any more personal items you want to take, just help yourself."
"Thank you." Leia mouthed at the investigator who winked at her as he turned his back to allow them some privacy.
After Jaina had packed her bag, they left for her parent's apartment. Arriving home before Han and Jorj, Jaina took a shower while Leia brewed a pot of stim tea. When Jaina emerged from the 'fresher she was wrapped in a thick robe, her hair still a little damp.
"How do you feel?" Leia asked, tucking her daughter's hair behind her ears.
"Not so much clean as less dirty." Jaina shrugged. "But still kinda numb."
Leia nodded knowingly and suggested they make themselves comfortable to wait for Han's return.
"What do you think the odds are on your father bringing home nerf for dinner?" Leia asked with an arch of an eyebrow.
"I'd say greater than the odds of Jag making a full recovery. Or any recovery!" Jaina answered sadly.
Leia wanted to admonish her daughter, but she couldn't blame Jaina for her fears. She remembered all too well the times she had wondered if she would see Han again. Alive, dead or in pieces.
"He's strong Jaina." Leia said simply. "Strong and with a whole lot to live for."
"You know he told his Mom we'd make her a Grandmother within a year." Jaina mused, then gasped. "Oh my! His parents! I haven't called his parents!"
"It's okay, it's going to be all right. I promise." Leia soothed, a calming hand gently caressing Jaina's wrist. "I'll call them. I'll explain everything."
"No!" Jaina snapped, her lip trembling. "No. He's my husband. My responsibility. It's up to me to explain everything."
Leia understood, again remembering the times she had tried to shield her children from any bad news regarding their father and knowing if there was bad news to be delivered it had to come from her lips.
"You know the code for a secure channel? You should use that." Leia suggested.
Jaina nodded, slowly, sadly and pushed unsteadily to her feet.
Their previous military and political positions had afforded Han and Leia some protected privileges, access to their own secure communication channel being one.
Leia sipped her tea, her heart aching for her only daughter. As she sat, not for the first time reflecting on the jaded past relationship she and Jaina had shared, Han at last arrived home. Jorj, asleep and lying heavily against his shoulder, Han's other arm carried a brown bag from the market. He scanned the room, his eyes asking the obvious question.
"She's calling the Fels." Leia explained, taking the brown bag and nodding at Jorj. "Winter worn him out again? I don't know where she gets her energy from!"
"He was wide awake and wired when I put him in the 'speeder." Han lifted his son from his shoulder and laid him gently against a cushion on the sofa. "He's sure to wake up soon and start telling us all about Hoo. What's got you smiling so broadly?"
"Oh nothing." Leia grinned and tipped the bag toward Han. "Nerf burgers?"
"I'll have you know they're highly nutritious." He huffed, relieving her of his shopping to go set about preparing their dinner.
"Nothing to do with them being Jaina's favourite then?" Leia mumbled under breath.
"Hey, I got an idea." Han said from the kitchen doorway. "Let's have a picnic. Forget setting the table, let's just hunker down on the floor. The kids'll love it."
He bobbed back into the kitchen missing Leia's smirk.
"I'm sure the 'kids' will." She mumbled then quietly, so as not to disturb Jorj, pushed chairs and sofas back to clear enough space for them to sit and eat comfortably. She had just finished when Jaina emerged from speaking with her in-laws.
"They're going to grab a couple of hours rest before they head back." Jaina answered the unasked question. "They were very understanding really."
"Your Dad's got nerf burgers for dinner." Leia said.
"My favourite, I love nerf burgers." Jaina smiled, weakly.
"And he figured a picnic might be nice." Leia indicated the cleared space.
"I love picnics!" Jaina added.
"And he loves you." Leia slipped her hand into Jaina's. "He's showing you the best way he knows how."
When Jorj woke, Jaina took it on herself to listen to the tales of his week at 'camp' as Han and Leia tended to refer to his school. Hoo, the shiny stone he had acquired during the past week, had been found on an afternoon trip to the beach. Something Jorj hoped 'camp' would repeat soon so that he could search for a brother or sister for Hoo.
Then they had sat on the floor, eaten their nerf burgers, salad and potato chips, talked and listened and supported Jaina the only way they knew how, by being a loving family.
When Jorj asked if he could sleep with Han and Leia that night, it was Jaina who had chided him.
"Jorj Bailey Solo! How old are you?" Her stern voice asked him.
Jorj counted on his fingers, holding four up to her as he answered. "Five."
"Five! Jorj, you're getting too old to be sleeping with your Mama and Papa. You're a big boy now." She said, her voice soft and motherly.
Leia snaked an arm around Han and squeezed, needing to feel his comfort. Han returned her cuddle, prepared to give whatever support he could in whatever way necessary.
When Jorj eventually succumbed to sleepiness, Leia carried him through to his small bedroom with the promise of at least one story before she asked him to close his eyes. He made it through half before his nasally snoring told her he was asleep.
Leia kissed him softly and pulled the comm link from her pocket, once again attempting to call Jacen. This time, finally, he picked up.
"Jacen, at last!" Leia said. "I've been calling and calling, where have you been?"
"I could ask you the same thing!" His voice was muffled by the comm. "Don't you answer your comm or check your messages either?"
Leia rubbed where her temple had started to throb. "It's been kinda hectic."
"Mom, you need to listen." Jacen told her. Then explained why she had been unable to reach him all evening.
In the living quarters, Han and Jaina cleared away the debris left from their meal and sat beside one another on the sofa. Jaina had curled her legs beneath her and rested her cheek against her father's upper arm.
"Thank you." She said, gripping his arm. "Thank you for not telling me everything is going to be all right."
He kissed the top of her head tenderly.
"Did Mom talk to you about Jorj?" She asked.
"She did." He replied, pressing his cheek to her head. "I kinda figured you'd have enough on your mind at the moment though."
"Whatever happens Dad, I want to be there for him. You know, if anything were to happen to you and Mom." She said.
"Let's just get ourselves through tonight first. Okay?" He told her, looking up as Leia returned to the room.
He was about to give her his characteristic lopsided smile, but something in Leia's demeanour told him there was something wrong. Something else wrong.
"I...er...I have to go out for a little while." Leia stammered.
"Out? Out where?" Han looked puzzled.
"I...er..." Leia glanced at Jaina looking so peaceful beside her father and took a deep breath. "I have to go to the Medical Centre."
"Wh..." Jaina started and jumped to her feet.
"It's not Jag." Leia said hastily and holding up her hands for calm. "It's...it's Mara."
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Leia burst through the Medical Centre doors and reported to the admissions desk.
Asking for Luke and Mara Skywalker, she was directed to the third floor, room number three where she found Mara resting comfortably with Luke, Ben and Jacen seated beside her.
Luke placed a finger to his lips and with a reassuring smile to Ben, exited the suite guiding Leia by her elbow.
Leia hugged her brother warmly. "What happened? Is Mara...is she going to be all right?"
"I'm glad Jacen managed to contact you." He said simply.
"I know. I'm sorry." Leia rubbed at her aching temple again.
"Jacen told me Jagged Fel has been injured." Luke commented. "How is he? How's Jaina?"
"It's a long story." She replied, breathing erratically. "It's not looking good for him though."
"I'm so sorry." Luke spoke sympathetically.
"But...Mara?" Leia queried.
"She'd been tired for a few days." Luke sighed and sat, patting the bench beside him for Leia to sit also. She did, concern etched across her face. "It's to be expected with her condition."
The way he spoke sounded to Leia as though he were speaking of some minor ailment, not a debilitating, life-threatening and deliberately infected disease robbing his wife of her future.
"This afternoon, for the first time since she was diagnosed, she suggested she might take a nap." Luke steepled his fingers the way Leia had seen him often do in the past and he shook his head. "I couldn't wake her."
He paused, perhaps collecting his thoughts before he continued. "I thought at first she was in a healing trance, but when I couldn't break through I made the decision to call on medical assistance. She was brought here for examination."
Luke looked away, unable to meet her worried gaze.
"Luke?" She breathed. Her small hand lightly brushed the uncovered flesh of his forearm on it's journey to rest against his hand and he was instantly transported back to a time before they were brother and sister. When he had been so enamoured by her beauty, in awe of her ability to command and utterly breathless in her presence.
"Luke?" Leia prompted. "Please tell me."
Then he did look up at her and, eyes sparkling with tears, he told her.
By the time Leia stumbled back into her apartment, night had already begun to creep toward daylight. She smiled weakly at Han, slumped over a datapad on the sofa, grinning up at her.
"What are you still doing up?" She asked.
"Jorj wet the bed." He stated simply, rising and crossing to her in three long strides.
"Ohh." Leia groaned. "And he was doing so well."
"Tell me about it. I was sleeping with him at the time!" He pulled her into his arms, kissed her forehead and rocked them both from side to side.
"You smell nice." She mumbled, wanting to close her eyes and let his sway guide her to slumbers.
"Cleaned us both up. He's in our bed now with Jaina." He stopped rocking and tilted her chin up to look at him. "Med Centre called. Jag's out of surgery and in a bacta tank. I lied to Jaina and told her they said no visitors. 'Spose that makes me a bad father?"
She shook her head. "Makes you a caring father. She needs some sleep so she can be there for him when he comes round."
"If he comes round, they're no more optimistic now than when he was admitted. I've been reviewing his injuries and I can't say I blame them. And if he does get through this, there'll be more surgeries to come and further bacta treatments and a whole lot of rehabilitation to look forward to." He ran his hand through his hair and, with an arm around her shoulders, led them over to cuddle together on the sofa. "I tell you Ley, there was nothing random about that attack. I don't care what Jaina says to the contrary, that kid musta pissed someone off real bad to earn a beating like that. Even Jabba the Hutt wasn't so brutal. Or that rich."
"So what are you saying?" She queried.
"Oh, I dunno Ley. Maybe he got into a card game he couldn't handle. Or maybe he tried dipping his wick where Daddy didn't like it dipped." He elaborated. "Either way, there is barely a bone or an organ in his body that wasn't broken, battered, stomped on or punctured. And you don't get that for cutting someone up in the skylanes over Coruscant."
"Don't you ever repeat that little theory of yours in front of Jaina, you hear me?" She told him.
"I may be a scoundrel. But I'm not stupid!" His arm tightened around her shoulders. "So, what's the news on Mara?"
"She's in some kind of self-induced Jedi coma. They think." Leia explained, together with how Luke had found her, the tests the medics had performed and the conclusions they had drawn. "Best estimate, its four months."
Han removed his arm from around her, exhaled deeply and leaned forward resting his forearms on his knees to ease the queasiness he was feeling.
"Oh wow! Stars Leia, how do you cope with something like that!" He exclaimed. "I mean, seriously, if someone told me you only had four months to live I...I don't know what I'd do...I don't even know where I'd start!"
He turned to see her smiling at him.
"I suppose four months is better than three." He suggested, puzzled by her apparent joy. "What?"
"Four months is how far Mara is into her pregnancy!" Leia said, covering her mouth to prevent herself screeching with happiness.
"Her what?" Han stared at Leia almost speechless.
"Luke was dumbfounded too! He's not sure if she knew and was keeping it from him after the last time. Or if she was as completely in the dark as he was." She said.
"And they're sure? It's not a false reading or anything. I mean, she's the same age as you." Han's thought processes seemed to skip ahead and his face paled. "You still have your implant, don't you? I mean, it'd be something else if we were to have another kid, but...well...you know, I mean..."
Leia placed a comforting finger over his lips to shush him. "Don't worry, after Jorj I made sure I was well protected. Not that I regret a moment. Just, well, like you said, it's an age thing."
"Yeah. That too!" Han mumbled and slumped back, grinning. "Son of a... that kid's gonna be so damn full of himself again!"
"There's a long way to go." Leia reminded him.
"Yeah. But there's something else to hope for now too." Han pulled Leia back into his arms, cuddling her lovingly. "Let the kid gloat, he deserves a little happiness."
"He's not the only one." Leia noted, feeling a flood of warmth from Han's body. She hadn't realised she was even cold until she felt the heat radiating from him. She pressed herself closer and sighed. "This feels nice."
Han manoeuvred them both until they were laid side by side. "Now it does." He told her.
In less than five minutes, they were both asleep.
When the apartment building buzzer destroyed Han's slumbers he felt like it was a personal attack upon him.
"Oh man! What now?" He mumbled, pulling himself from Leia's side. "Seriously, I only got to sleep five minutes ago!"
Leia yawned and stretched, pushing to a seated position by the time Han had made it to the intercom.
"What?" He barked into the voicecoder.
"Han old buddy? It's Wedge. Wedge Antilles. Let me up?" Wedge asked.
"It's open." Han intoned and snapped off the intercom, marching to the door and palming it open.
"Han." Wedge greeted his old friend with a firm handshake, friendly hug and pat on the back then turned his most endearing smile on Leia and kissed her cheek. "Leia. This old cuss still taking care of you or do you need me to, you know, have a word?"
"We're fine thank you Wedge." Leia blushed.
"You come all the way across town just to check up on us or is there some other reason for you stopping by before breakfast?" Han asked suspiciously and indicating for Wedge to sit.
"Actually, I had hoped to speak with Jaina if she was available." Wedge answered, a little nervously. "She's not at home or the Medical Centre, so under the circumstances I figured she might be here."
"I'll go wake her." Leia said, softly squeezing Han's arm as she passed him.
"Terrible business." Wedge observed. "Is there any news on Jag's condition?"
"He was beaten virtually to a pulp. I don't think he's gonna be playing smashball any time soon!"
"No. No I guess not." Wedge said, sheepishly. "How's, you know, how's Jaina holding up?"
"Just what is it you're doing here Wedge?" Han queried.
"Look Han..." Wedge started, rising. "This wasn't my idea..."
"Uncle Wedge." Jaina smiled as she and Leia entered the living area. "Mom said you wanted to speak to me."
"Hi Honey." Wedge smiled back and embraced Jaina affectionately.
"I don't think your Uncle Wedge is here on a social call." Han drawled.
"I'm afraid your father's right." Wedge apologised. "This isn't a social visit. I'm here about Jag."
"You're taking his promotion." Han guessed, less than helpfully.
"No! No. Stars no!" Wedge assured them all, licking his lips nervously. "But...with the promotion came his own Command. And, regrettably, I can't leave a Squadron without a Commander."
"I understand completely." Jaina agreed, laying a soft hand on Wedge's arm. "You must, of course, make appropriate provision for cover until such time as Jag's well enough to return to duty."
"The thing is..." Wedge continued. "There's no clear indication when it might be that he will be well enough to take up full duties again."
"So what are you saying?" Jaina asked.
Wedge looked from Leia to Han to Jaina.
"I guess...I'm saying that the promotion stands." Wedge concluded, focussing on his feet. "But the Command goes to another."
Jaina stared at Wedge, trying to gauge her response. "Who?" She finally asked.
"Does it really matter?" Leia queried.
"Uncle Wedge." Jaina pressed. "Who's taking my husband's Command?"
Wedge considered before eventually confirming. "Raynar Thul."
Jaina's sigh was full of emotion.
"I'm sorry Jaina." Wedged said apologetically. "I don't know the circumstances and I don't wish to, but I am aware there's no love lost between those two. Unfortunately, Raynar was also the obvious choice."
Jaina levelled her eyes at Wedge Antilles, her expression unreadable. "You know what, you can keep your promotion. Neither Jag nor I need your financial charity."
"Jaina...please..." Wedge started, trying to placate her.
"In fact, I'm asking...no I'm telling you to accept my tender of his resignation on his behalf." She snapped. "With immediate effect!"
"You're upset." Wedge started backing toward the door. "I understand. Really. Now's not the time. We'll talk when Jag's healed."
"Wedge, I'd just go!" Han barked and watched Wedge stumble as he hastily exited the apartment.
Once the door had slid shut, Jaina slumped into a sofa.
"Raynar Thul!" She spat, turning quietly to her mother who had perched beside her. "Why'd it have to be Thul!"
"You don't get on with him either?" Leia asked.
"We had..um..an unfortunate encounter." Jaina rolled her eyes at herself. "I hadn't even thought about him in the longest time. Now this!"
"Did this 'unfortunate encounter' have anything to do with your pregnancy?" Han asked. "You know what, don't answer that. I don't think I want to know. In fact, I'm gonna go see if our little sleeping beauty is still sleeping or counting all his fingers and toes like the last time we thought he was having a lie in!"
Han strode from the room to check on Jorj and Jaina looked sadly at her Mother.
"I don't want to know either." Leia said, shaking her head. "I do want you to have some breakfast though. Then maybe we should see how the Fel's are doing before heading over to the Medical Centre."
Jaina was about to protest when her stomach rumbled loudly. With a coy smile she gratefully accepted the light breakfast Leia prepared and was more than a little relieved when Jacen arrived, offering to spend some time with Jorj.
Jacen wanted to support Jaina and reasoned looking after their brother so that their mother and father could be by her side was probably the best support he could provide for the time being.
They were on the verge of leaving when their message centre demanded attention.
"Incoming for Leia Solo. Marked Personal." Han reported, stiffening as he read. "It's Isolder."
"Maybe it's your invitation to Tenel Ka's Wedding." Jacen suggested sarcastically.
"I'll take it in the Communication Centre." Leia said, moving through to their secure comms room, settling and preparing herself before opening the channel. "Isolder. To what do I owe the honour?"
"I just heard something across the wire." He said, a solemn expression creasing his face. "I wondered if there was anything I could do?"
"Doesn't take long for news to travel." Leia mumbled. "Thank you Isolder, but no. We're dealing with this as a family."
"Terrible news though. After losing Anakin so tragically, to now face the loss of another son." He shook his head sadly. "At least you've still got the moron."
"I'm sorry?" Leia queried.
"Jorj. Obviously." Isolder laughed. "Though I can appreciate your confusion, the same descriptive could so easily be applied to Han."
"I don't understand." Leia leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "What exactly is it you've heard?"
"About the attack." He answered, his eyes searching her for clues. "On Jacen...I heard he was on life support."
"You heard this across the wire?" Leia questioned.
"Well...not me personally." He backtracked. "A member of the Court. It's not true then?"
"I can assure you, there's not a single shred of truth in it." She told him.
"Well." His lips twitched. "That is good news."
"Yes. It is." She stated.
"Leia, I'm sorry if I've upset you." Isolder offered. "I shall deal with my Courtier severely, rest assured."
"I'm sure there was no malice intended. Solo out." Leia closed the channel and stared at the blank screen for what seemed like an eternity until a gentle rapping at the door interrupted her thoughts.
"You decent?" Han's deep, dulcet and unbelievably sexy voice rumbled.
Leia smiled to herself. If she had ever doubted her choice before, she was never more certain now. The door slid aside and Han stepped cautiously into the room.
"Oh. You are decent." He observed.
"Disappointed?" She asked, icily.
"Only for myself. But since you were talking to Isolder, absolutely not." He grinned, one hand pinned to his chest and studied her a moment, then crouched beside her chair. "You okay Honey?"
"You remember that theory you had? The skeleton of an idea about Jag dabbling where Daddy didn't want him dabbling?" She asked.
He nodded, noting the concern on her face.
"How about I put some meat on those bones? I just got a call from Isolder offering his sympathies over the attack on Jacen. You know, the Jacen who's been romantically linked with the daughter Isolder didn't want him romantically linked with. Suppose rich Daddy hired a professional to do his dirty work for him, but somehow the professional got his family-wires crossed and picked on the wrong victim."
"That evil, black-hearted, Son of a..." He trailed the last word off angrily, before asking. "You sure?"
"He said he'd heard about the attack on the wire. Then said he'd been told by someone else who'd heard it on the wire." She told him. "I have no real proof. But I know he was lying. Even across this distance and with my limited Jedi abilities, I could sense his deception."
Han sank to his knees as the truth behind her words sank in. "I'm gonna kill him!" He said dispassionately.
"Han!" Leia chided.
"I mean it Ley." He looked up at her, his face a mix of a thousand emotions. "That man has pushed and pushed and pushed. Well now he's finally crossed the line!"
He shoved to his feet, Leia jumping to hers immediately and catching his arm.
"Don't Han!" She pleaded. "Don't do anything foolish. Please! Aren't things bad enough? I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you too!"
"Time was when you had more faith in me than that." He pointed out.
"I still have faith in you. I still put all my faith in you." She reaffirmed.
They gazed into one another's eyes, each letting the other see into their soul.
"We should go." Han let a thumb graze her cheek. "I'm not the only one around here who needs a little faith right now."
Leia's soft smile warmed and at the same time tugged at his heart.
"I promise not to do anything 'foolish'." He kissed her cheek and offered her his arm. "And I suggest we say nothing about this to Jaina."
xxxxxxxxxxxx
The Fel's were waiting for them when they arrived at the Medical Centre and greeted Jaina with a long and affectionate hug.
"Apparently we're not closely enough related to be allowed to see him!" Syal declared. "Perhaps they'd recognise motherly concern if Jagged was still attached by his umbilical cord!"
"I think my wife was more upset that they failed to recognise her! It had nothing to do with 'motherly concern'." Soontir advised aside.
"I'll go speak to them." Jaina said, gently squeezing Syal's arm. "They may want to prepare us before we're allowed in."
Syal sighed as she watched Jaina locate a friendly Medical Technician. "She's so brave." She said dramatically.
"Gets that from her Mother." Han winked at Leia.
"And so knowledgeable." Syal continued without appearing to hear Han.
"Gets that from me." Han grinned at Leia, who stifled a laugh.
Jaina returned, smiling. "It's as I expected. They want us to wait here and one of the Seniors will come and prepare us. Mom, Dad, could I see you outside just for a minute?"
Han and Leia exchanged a nervous glance before stepping outside with Jaina.
"What is it Honey? Is he...is he worse?" Han asked with concern.
"It's not Jag. It's me. Or rather, it's something Jacen and I were discussing while you were in the communication centre." She explained. "You are the best, you know that don't you. But me staying with you, it's just not fair on Jorj. You only get to see him a couple of days a week and it's disruptive to his routine."
"No! He loves you being around." Leia protested.
"Maybe. And I love being around him, sure enough. But last night was the first time in weeks that he's wet the bed and it was because I was there and I was upset and he knew it. Jacen's offered to let me stay with him until I feel I can return to the apartment and I've decided to accept."
Han and Leia stood in stunned silence until Han asked. "You sure this is what you want?"
"What I want." Jaina answered with a sigh. "Is for Jag and me to go home, start building our lives together and for all this madness to end. But, until it does, I think Jacen and I could make for good room mates. Just so long as he cleans up after himself!"
"Well, you know your Mom and I will stand by you whatever you decide." Han nodded slowly.
"We want what's best." Leia told her daughter softly. "It's all we've ever wanted for you."
"Will you both stop!" Jaina rolled her eyes. "You'll have me crying and I have to be strong for the in-laws."
Shaking her head at them, Jaina led them back to the waiting room in perfect time for a far-too-young - in Han's opinion - Consultant to guide them verbally through Jag's current state of health and the condition in which they would find him. The bacta treatment, they were told, had started to have some small effect but considerably more treatments would need to follow and there would, of course, be more surgeries.
Han was on the receiving end of one of Leia's most glacial glares when he mumbled that they already knew all of that, followed by a sharp jab in the ribs when he mumbled something about the amount of credits some people got paid for stating the obvious. But he came into his own when they were finally allowed into an observation side-room overseeing the tank Jag currently floated in. It was reminiscent of the tank Luke had been in on Hoth, except that the bloated mass that confronted them bore little resemblance to either Luke or any other man. Han, being the man he was, stretched his long arms around the shoulders of the two women he loved with all his heart to provide what comfort he could for them both.
"That...that thing is not my Son!" Syal screamed. "Soontir, get me out of here. Get me away from this place!"
She stormed from the room, a clearly agitated Soontir Fel chasing after her.
"You know what?" Han stated, after swallowing back his initial thoughts. "He looks okay."
Jaina's lip trembled as she looked up in horror at her father.
"I mean, sure, he's got a way to go." He admitted. "But he's holding his own. And look at his eyes, they're looking right back atcha!"
"Weren't you listening?" Jaina spat. "His eyelids don't close. They were too badly damaged. He's just lucky they even managed to save the tissue at all so he won't look like a total freak!"
"You're not really looking Sweetheart." Han softly chided and guided her gently forward. "He's looking at you. He's telling you to hang on in there, because he sure as Hell isn't giving up."
Jaina gazed deeply into the eyes of her husband for a long time before speaking again.
"Yes." She breathed. "Yes, I can see that now."
She smiled as she placed a hand against the transparisteel separating the two rooms and felt a tear slip along her cheek.
"I'm here Jag." She whispered. "I'll always be here for you. Just as you have for me."
"You want some caf or something?" Han asked.
"I'm fine." Jaina answered, turning to her parents. "You know, you don't have to stay. I'll be just fine."
"Of course we'll stay." Leia said. "For as long as you want us to."
Soontir returned, apologising to everyone. "I'm so sorry about that. My wife, she's upset. Doesn't know what she's saying or thinking or feeling right now."
"Soontir, we understand." Jaina said, soothingly.
"I've put her in a hovercab back to our accommodation." He added. "Once she calms down. I'm sure she'll realise how foolish she's been and..."
Jaina laid a gentle hand on Soontir's shoulder. "Soontir. It's fine. We understand." She repeated.
"He's...he's in a bad way. Isn't he?" Soontir asked, moving to the transparisteel to watch his son.
"He's strong." Jaina told him, her arm sliding around Soontir's waist. "By rights, he shouldn't even have survived the attack. He's come through surgery and made it through the first night in a bacta tank."
"That's gonna stay with him a lifetime, trust me!" Han put in, remembering all too well the taste bacta left in the mouth and how long it took to fully clear.
"What can we do?" Soontir asked. "Is there anything we can do?"
"Just be here." Leia answered, stepping to the other side of him and circling his waist with her own arm. "He knows we're close by and he'll draw strength from that."
Han took a couple of steps back to admire the two women he loved with all his heart and smiled to himself. When they entered the room, he had felt it his place and his duty to comfort and protect them. And now it was them, comforting and protecting another.
"Stim tea anybody? Caf maybe?" Han mumbled to nobody in particular. "I'll get us a selection. Back in a minute."
Han had been accused on more than one occasion of not being comfortable with displays of emotion. Han himself would have argued that was not entirely the case, he was merely not very comfortable sharing his emotions with those whom he was not intimately acquainted. Therefore, using refreshments as his excuse to extricate himself from the over-swell of pride he was currently feeling seemed the perfect solution. However, obtaining refreshments was not as easily accomplished. Finding three vending machines with stock depleted to the point of exhaustion, he decided to head over to a take-out opposite the Medical Centre once he had advised Reception about the lack of vending facilities.
It was a busy shift, judging by the weight of numbers being held in the Reception area. Han perched an arm on the Reception desk and let his eyes wander the waiting masses until he saw a familiar face. As recognition dawned, he pushed away from the desk and headed over to her.
"Karoesh?" He asked. "Junia Karoesh, right? I never forget a face."
"Captain Solo" She replied. "Neither do I."
"So what brings you to this fine establishment?" He enquired, sliding into the seat beside her.
"I could ask you the same thing." She observed.
"Yeah. But I asked first." He countered.
Junia sighed in resignation. "Jarik is being examined. Broken arm, possible broken collar bone."
"Boys will be boys I suppose." Han chuckled.
"Apparently so." She commented.
"Thank the Stars for bone-knitters I say!" He added. "Never would have made it through my boys' early years without one in my medpac!"
"Thinking of investing in one myself." She mumbled.
"Why? Has this happened before?" Han pressed.
"Tell me Captain, do you pry into everyone's business or am I just the lucky one?" She queried.
"Ma'am, if I may, it's not that long since you were accusing me of fathering that child. Under the circumstances, I think I have at least a small right to know what's going on with him."
"And, if I may, you denied any and all involvement in his conception. Therefore, where Jarik is concerned, you have no rights whatsoever." She told him.
"So, is he being bullied or abused?" Han asked succinctly.
"If I believed he was in any danger..." She argued, sitting up straight.
"Bullied it is then." Han decided. "You want my advice?"
"I am perfectly capable of looking after one small boy!" She snapped.
"Sure you are. Just not that well if you're letting him get bullied." He said.
"Now just a minute!" She snarled.
"You're right." Han rose, holding his hands up in submission. "None of my business."
He backed away and returned to his perch against the Reception desk where he had opportunity to reflect on his own youth and those who either attempted to or succeeded in bullying him. What he wouldn't have given for someone...anyone...to have intervened. He was about to return to Jag's medical suite when a movement caught his eye. Junia Karoesh was on her feet and moving toward a medical droid escorting a boy of about eight. A boy who bore an uncanny resemblance to Han at that age.
Han watched as Junia accepted a datapad from the droid and a package of medical supplies. Pain inhibitors Han guessed. He could tell from the boy's stance that he was in some discomfort, though clearly he was as robust as Han himself had learned to be under the tender ministrations of Garris Shrike.
What Han wouldn't have given for someone...anyone...to have ended Shrike's reign of terror before it had begun.
"Karoesh!" Han called. "A word."
He saw her annoyed intake of breath before speaking softly to her charge and stalking toward Han.
"Captain Solo!" She began, her voice displaying barely contained annoyance.
"What do I have to do?" He asked, cutting her off and gazing at Jarik. "To get legal guardianship of...of my Son."
"Your...I thought you said..." She started.
"Forget what I said." Han growled. "I'm telling you now. I want my Son."
Junia seemed to consider his words before suggesting they meet. "My office. Normal trading hours."
"Fine. I'll be there in an hour." He said and turned on his heel before she could respond.
Junia just threw her arms in the air and accepted the inevitable while Han slipped quietly back into the suite.
"Where have you been?" Leia hissed.
"I went for drinks." He reminded her.
"Hope you enjoyed them." She countered, checking out his empty hands.
"Yeah. 'Bout that..." He ran a hand through his hair. "Vending machine was out so I went to report it to reception and I ended up bumping into someone I know and, well you know how it is, we got talking and..."
"Han!" Leia held her hands up in submission and shook her head. "It's fine. Nobody's thirsty anyway."
"So...why are we arguing about it?" He asked.
"We're not." She insisted, calming herself. "Han, they're going to take Jag back into surgery."
"Already?" Han stepped up to the transparisteel to observe Jagged Fel. "They think he's fit enough for more surgery so soon?"
"It's his lungs." Jaina explained sadly. "They collapsed after they were punctured by his broken ribs. The medics re-inflated them, but he's struggling to breath by himself in the bacta."
"Hey!" Han pulled Jaina into his arms and hugged her tightly. "It's a small setback, that's all. They'll stabilise him and then, soon as they can, they'll get him back in the tank. You watch."
"Your father's right Jaina." Soontir confirmed. "They did say it was only a temporary blip."
"See?" Han asked, holding Jaina at arms length. "Now I happened to notice a pretty nice tapcaf across the street and since the vending machines in this crummy place are all out of 'vend' I say we head over for a small libation. Who's with me?"
"If you don't mind, I'm going to go back to the hotel. Syal should have calmed down by now and I'd like to update her." Soontir kissed Jaina's cheek tenderly and nodded to Han and Leia as he left.
"You coming Sweetheart?" Han asked his daughter who was watching as the technical crew prepared Jagged Fel for removal from the bacta tank.
"Jaina?" He prompted.
"Dad, would you mind if just Mom and me went?" Jaina asked, turning to look up at her father.
"Of course not." Han smiled lopsidedly and scratched his cheek. "Actually, I kind of have some business to attend to anyway so..."
Leia sighed deeply. "Go!"
"I'll only be an hour." He kissed Leia's forehead lovingly. "Two tops." He kissed her again and grinned. "Three only if I get really, really unlucky!"
Leia's jaw dropped open to speak, too late, he was already gone. Turning to Jaina, Leia smiled softly. "Let's go get that caf, eh?"
"You know. I think I'd rather just go pack my stuff and take it over to Jacen's if that's okay with you." Jaina said. "And maybe stop by Uncle Luke and Aunt Mara?"
She wandered over to the viewing portal. "I'm just stepping out for a little while darling. But I'll be back so don't you go getting any ideas about those lady doctors, you hear me?"
Jaina kissed her fingers and placed them against the transparisteel. "I love you." She whispered.
