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            This fic was originally posted on theforce.net, where I go by the screenname of SaberBlade.  If you recognize this, don't worry, it isn't plagiarized; I'm simply reposting it here also.

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            General Disclaimer:  Star Wars belongs to George Lucas and the characters belong to their respective authors.  Anything you don't recognize is mine; please respect my muse.  I don't intend any infringement with this fic; it was created because I have an abiding love for Star Wars and a wish to share my interpretation of it with the world.

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            Details:

            Name: Whole

            Time Frame: Post-NJO

            Pairing: Kyp Durron and Jaina Solo

            Rating: PG to PG-13

            Post: Chapter 2 of ?

            Story Status: Work in Progress

            Notes: There is a prequel, Broken, which can be found both on this site and on theforce.net.  I recommend reading it before this fic, though it isn't technically needed.  This story starts a few hours after Broken ends.

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            As always, reviews are appreciated.

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"You seem to have lost an apprentice, Master Durron," Jacen teased, handing him a glass filled with what Kyp devoutly hoped was something alcoholic.

            "I think Skywalker's lost his mind," he growled, and downed most of the liquor.  "She's more afraid of me than the Vong."

            "Yuuzhan Vong," Jacen corrected.  "And that's no longer politically correct.  We're at peace with them."

            Kyp's smile was brief and feral.  "When have I ever been politically correct?" he asked.

            Jacen was forced to concede the point.  "She lasted a whole dance."

            "All three minutes of it," the Jedi Master agreed drily.  "I honestly think Master Skywalker's lost his mind."

            "Why did Uncle Luke ask you to train her?"

            Kyp fought the urge to scowl.  "Because she's terrified of me."

            Jacen's brow furrowed.  "Care to explain that one?"

            "Keshli's biggest fear is that she'll fall to the Dark Side."

            "There is no Dark Side.  There is only the Force."

            "Mm-hm."  Kyp wasn't fully convinced.  He waved his hand.  "That's part of the problem.  The unifying Force is neither Light nor Dark, so how can she be sure she's staying on the Light Side?  Master Skywalker wanted me to train her to show her that even though I went over to the Dark Side I was redeemed."  He sighed.  "The whole 'moral of the story' thing, I guess.  But she's so terrified that her Jedi Master is a former Sith Lord that she can barely meditate in the same room as me."

            "Then why did Uncle Luke . . ."  Jacen trailed off.  "Well, I suppose she'll get used to it eventually.  That's the point, isn't it?  To have her realize her own fear?"

            "That's the point of it.  And it's hell waiting for her to realize it."  He realized the annoyance had colored his voice, and moved onto a different subject.  "Your sister wasn't half this much trouble when she was my apprentice."

            "Jaina has never been afraid of you," Jacen agreed quietly.  "That's part of why I'm going to ask you for help."

            Kyp glanced out into the crowd of dancers and found Jaina, currently laughing with her mother.  "Help with what?" he asked, trying to keep suspicion out of his voice.

            "Have you tried to link up with her recently?  Have you seen what's happened to her?"

            "Yes," he began cautiously, but Jacen kept talking, overriding whatever else he would have said.

            "She's gotten better the last day or so- I don't know, maybe she finally worked something out- but she's still not quite all there.  Can you sense it?"

            Kyp looked closely at Jacen.  The younger man was serious and concerned for his sister.  It was hard to match up the bearded, decisive man in front of him with the wavering, unsure teen that Jacen had been throughout much of the war.  He shut his eyes, though, and reached out through the Force toward Jaina, forcing himself to look at her presence with detached eyes.

            She was parsecs better than she had been before they had talked.  The void was filled; her presence shone brightly, lively and whole.  But the void was still present; it wasn't completely gone.  It was as though it had been patched and a spiderweb of little cracks were just waiting for something to come and rip the void back open.

            He opened his eyes and looked at Jacen.  "She's better, but she's not quite back to what she was."

            Jacen accepted his concise report without questioning how well Kyp knew his sister.  "I've tried to help her, but nothing I've done has worked."  His brown eyes were direct and somehow unnerving.  "Do you think you can help her get back to what she was?"

            The question set Kyp back; he honestly considered it for a minute.  Jacen couldn't know what he was asking.  At last, "I spoke with her about it just before you landed," Kyp said.  "I promised her I'd help her with it."  That seemed the simplest explanation he could give.

            Jacen gave a sigh of relief.  "Good."

            Kyp must not have been able to keep his surprise off his face, because Jacen caught his eye and chuckled.  "You're a fighter.  That's all she's been for years now.  You understand her like I can't.  She trusts you.  I figure you have a better chance of helping her than anyone else."  Then his laughter disappeared.  "She's been trying to hide it for a long time.  She shouldn't have to deal with it for any longer."

            Kyp was in complete accord with the younger Jedi.  "How long?" he asked, knowing the answer would hurt.  "How long has she been trying to hide it?"

            Jacen hesitated, and his brown gaze sought out his sister, who was making her way slowly in their direction.  "I don't know.  I only noticed right before she and Jag split up- that would be about two years ago."

            "Why'd they break up?"  He fought to keep his voice light and unconcerned.

            Jacen shrugged without looking at him.  "I don't know.  They didn't argue, that's all I know.  They're still friends; you saw that earlier."

            He had, and he had been jealous.  At Jacen's words, a burden he had been living with for nearly six years finally lifted.  "Yeah."  He blinked, and took a deep breath, a little lightheaded.  She wasn't Jag's.  She hadn't been Jag's in years.  She'd been alone and suffering; he'd been alone and suffering . . .  Why the hell had he kept away for so long?

            He knew he was smiling, so he tossed his empty glass back at Jacen.  "Thanks," he said.  "I'll do what I can for Jaina."

            Jacen caught the glass without really looking at it, but finally tore his eyes from his sister and glanced back at Kyp.  "Thank you," he said softly.  "Do whatever you think will help."

            Did he just give me permission to . . .  No, not going to continue that line of thought.  Kyp merely grinned and sketched a salute before turning and moving to intercept Jaina.

            "Goddess," he said, taking her hand and raising it to his lips. 

            "Master Durron," she mocked, using his title as an insult though there was no real heat behind her words.  "What happened to Keshli?"

            "She decided she would rather sleep than mingle with the heroes of the war.  But I did dance with her once, so you owe me a dance."

            "Do I really?"  She paused to consider for a long minute, and then she grinned up at him.  "All right." 

            Kyp led her out onto the dance floor and gathered her close to him.  Her arms wound around his waist, and he was content to simply hold her and sway in time to the slow Chandrillan ballad. 

            "I just had a very interesting conversation with your brother," he told her as the music swelled to a finish. 

            She lifted her head from his chest.  "Oh, really?"  She sounded skeptical, and he laughed.

            "He wants me to help you out."

            "With what?"

            "What do you think?"  He tugged at the end of her hair.  "He's worried about you, Goddess.  You're better, but you're still not quite whole."

            "I feel whole," Jaina said softly.  She reluctantly pulled away from him as they drifted off the dance floor; unable to completely part from her, Kyp draped his arm across her shoulder.  "I feel complete for the first time in ages."

            Her quiet words made him smile; he pulled her closer against his side.  "Better tell Jacen that, then- he's worried about you."  The smile died.  "And he's right, Jaina.  You're not quite perfect yet."

            "I'm a goddess- of course I am."  But her smile didn't reach her eyes; she was lying, stalling, denying the truth.  And she knew she was.  She shut her eyes and rested her head against his shoulder.  "I can't fix everything at once, Kyp.  You can't even fix it all at once.  I need time to sort things out.  Now that I know what made the hole, I can go about filling it in."

            He almost pressed a kiss to her hair before he remembered they were in the middle of a crowded room full of her friends and family.  He wasn't sure if she wanted them to know about this strange relationship they had- he wasn't sure if he wanted them to know yet.  Instead, he sighed and loosened his grip on her.  "I'm here if you want help."

            She pulled away to stand in front of him, and this time her smile danced in her eyes.  "Partners still?"

            Kyp laughed.  "You know, Goddess, someday we're going to have to figure out just what partners means."

            "Oh, I'm sure we'll figure it out eventually."  Jaina's smile spread.  "But until we do, can we assume it means we're friends?"

            Friends. It was a start, and an honest one at that.

            "Friends," he agreed.  "Until we finally figure out what partners means."

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Reviews make my day!  Tell me what you think I did well or horribly.  I appreciate constructive criticism and honest appraisals…

Thanks!

-Keth

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