Deanna knocked on the metal wall to get Wesley's attention. He was fixing something that kept sparking. "Hey, Scruffy," she said when he did not notice her.
Wesley looked up from his work, "Oh, hey,"
"What's that?"
"The, um, deck two hall lights."
"Really?" He nodded, then went back to his wiring. "Are you okay? I feel like you're...distant somehow." Wesley shrugged. She always could tell when he was trying to hide something. "Is it about Espen?" He shook his head. "Me?" He shook his head again. "Then what?"
Wesley sighed. "He could've gotten himself killed, Bushroot."
"Lance?"
He nodded. "He saved my life."
"A lot of people saved a lot of lives."
"Yeah, but he did it for you."
Deanna sat down on the deck beside her twin. "I don't know about that. Either way, I'm glad I still have you both."
"You're lucky you still have us both."
"That too," she agreed, putting her head on his shoulder.
* * *
Park sat up, and brushed the hair out of his eyes. This proved futile, as it just fell back to where it had been. He grumbled something that was incoherent through the pain drugs, then grinned. He was alive, and that was more important than the pain. The pain that he couldn't feel through the drugs.
"You're up," Lou smiled at him.
Park turned his head to the left, seeing her for the first time. "Am I s'posed to feel like this?"
"Like what?"
He held his arms out like wings, "Like I'm flying."
Lou cast a glance at the sheepish Deanna. "Oops," was all the girl said.
"I'm gonna say no, you're not s'posed to feel like you're flying."
"I didn't know how much to give you. You passed out, what was I supposed to do? Besides," Deanna pointed at Park's goofy doped-up grin, "I'd say you like it."
"It's nice," he conceded lazily. He turned back to Lou. "You saved my life, Mi. You and your crazy magic saved my life."
"Yeah, I - "
Park kissed her on the lips in the midst of her sentence. He pulled back, saying, "Thank you, Mi,"
"Uh...you're welcome," she said, still reeling from his sudden display of affection.
"We won't tell Maul about that one. Wes was right, he's scary."
Lou laughed. "No, he's not! That's just the drugs talking."
"You hope," Park added with a wink. He yawned. "I think I'll go to sleep again." he rolled over on the cot, and was out almost immediately.
Deanna stood over Breckin. He grinned up at her. "Will I live, Doc?"
"I'm pretty sure you'll pull through, yes," she stroked his cheek lovingly. "Does your shoulder hurt?"
"Not really."
"Thank you."
"What for?"
"You saved my brother's life. He told me what happened. He'd never say as much, but he appreciates what you did."
"I was just keeping a promise to a beautiful girl."
Deanna smiled and kissed him.
Raine Taggart wheeled a chair from one of the other stations over to where Lindsey sat in the pilot's seat. Nordat was beside him, watching the stars go by.
"Kane, I have a long complicated story to tell you," Taggart said.
"I know you do. But the thing is, Obi-Wan, I already know it."
The other smiled, nodding. "You knew all along."
"It's the Captain's job to know his crew, Raine. But it doesn't matter; everyone has the right to start over with a new life without being judged for their old one."
Taggart offered Lindsey his hand. "Thank you."
They shook.
Lou and Maul entered the Bridge hand-in-hand. They strode off to the side, not wanting to interrupt.
"What can I do for you two?" Lindsey finally asked.
"I was just curious as to what became of Caylon?" Lou inquired.
"Who?" Nordat asked.
"Raef Caylon. Palpatine sent him after you when you rescued him," she nodded at Taggart.
"We never saw him," Taggart replied.
Lou and Maul exchanged curious glances. "You never saw him?"
Raef Caylon set his course for Tattooine, where he could seek refuge with the notorious Jabba the Hutt. He had had business dealings with the Hutt before, and found his company favourable compared to that of Palpatine.
Oh, the evil Emperor would not be fun to hang around with after his plan had been foiled.
Especially since Caylon had left as opposed to tracking down Palpatine's escaping quarry.
No, life would definitely be safer on Tattooine.
Little did he know that the Emperor had already arranged to have him killed on sight in the hangar.
* * *
Maul stood outside the door to Lou's quarters. He closed his eyes, touching her mind with his own. She acknowledged him, and he entered to room.
Lou was seated behind the desk, facing the door. She smiled at him, sensing that he was content to just stand and stare at her. She got up and went to him. "You came for me," Lou cupped Maul's cheek with her hand.
"What else were you expecting?"
She gazed into his eyes for a long time before answering. "I wasn't expecting anything." she realized, "I knew you would come."
"I don't know how or why, but I love you, Jareena."
She smiled again. "Call me Mi."
They kissed passionately.
THE END
Arrr, thar, she's done. Thanks fer all yer reviews and kind werds and most of all fer puttin' up with my procrastinatin', me Mateys. Arrr, yer prolly wonderin' why I'm talkin' like a pirrrrate. Well, I'll tells ya, me Mateys. Cuz I can, arrr. Ain't no one can argue wi' that. So, tells me what yer all thinkin' 'bout my endin'. Was it evrithin' ya weres hopin' fer? Excellent, excellent. Goodnight.
Special note for Fuzzy Elf: Are ya happy now? Eh? EH? I thought so. =8-)
