Title: Aftermath

Author: Figlia Della Musica

Series: Cruelty of the Gods,  10/?

Pairing: Luke/Wedge

Summary: After the attack on Home One, uncomfortable questions arise

Warnings: understood slash, mush

Rating: G

Archive: SWA-L, WAAS, anywhere else sure but just ask me first

Author's comments: I don't know.  I just had to write something

Disclaimer: These gentlemen do not belong to me, unfortunately, and I don't make any money off of this.  I'm just having some fun with them, or actually, in this case, being a bit mean to them.

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November 2001

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Wedge was called into Admiral Ackbar's office three days after the attack on Home One.  After exchanging pleasantries, the admiral got down to business.

"Lieutenant Commander Antilles, I understand that you are very close to Commander Skywalker.  Might I ask if you've happened to observe any behavior in him that is not what you would consider… ordinary?"

Wedge frowned, wondering what the matter was.  "No, sir.  Luke's behavior seems perfectly ordinary to me.  Why?"

"Has he spoken to you at all about his father?"  Admiral Ackbar's head tilted to one side, curiously.

*Uh-oh*  Wedge understood.  "He told me that his father was a Jedi Knight who died a while ago."  He hoped they didn't know for sure, that they were just digging, just suspicious.

"Did you know that his father was, in fact, alive until the Battle of Endor, and may still be alive?"

Gods damn them, they knew.  Wedge decided not to play stupid.  "Yes, I know."

"You are aware of who his father is?"

"Yes."

Ackbar frowned.  "And yet you see no problem?"

"With all due respect, Admiral, I don't see an evil man's son when I look at Luke.  I see a kind person who has risked his life and his soul—repeatedly—for the Alliance."

"That may be what you see, but we see problems.  We see a Star Destroyer jumping into the middle of empty space, right to our location.  We see a soldier who claimed to be a Jedi when no one with a grain of sense would take the title.  We see someone who surrendered to Imperial forces at the battle of Endor, and then returned to us saying it was all at the calling of the Force.  We see a threat."

Wedge's eyes widened.  "Excuse me, Admiral, you don't see.  You didn't see what happened to Luke after the battle of Endor.  He was in medical treatment for a week.  You didn't see him after Bespin.  That's when he found out, you know.  That when he was told he's Vader's son.  You didn't see what that did to him!  And as for your sneaky implication that Vader's still alive, I know he's not.  I went out, saw the ashes and the burned lump of plastic that used to be a helmet.  You don't see anything, Admiral, and I won't tolerate you insulting Luke's honor that way."  When he finished, Wedge realized he was standing up, gripping the end of the desk, and shouting.

"Your defense of Commander Skywalker is most heartfelt.  I do not enjoy leveling such accusations against a trusted member of the Alliance, but we must be cautious.  The child of a Sith Lord is not to be trusted."

Wedge was about to explode with anger and indignation, but a sudden touch on his mind distracted him.

//Wedge?  What's wrong?//

//A lot.  Luke, I'm in Admiral Ackbar's office.  HC knows about your father, they think you tipped off the SD.//

//Damn.  How serious are they?//

//Very, it looks like.//

"Lieutenant Commander?  Are you okay?" Admiral Ackbar was looking at him curiously.

//Is it okay if I tell him about the link?//

//I don't like the idea of you getting pulled down with me if they're really serious, but if you think it'll get them off me, okay.//

"Lieutenant Commander?"

"My apologies, Admiral.  I was talking to Luke."

Ackbar looked shocked.  "Excuse me, did I hear you right?  You were talking—silently—to Commander Skywalker, who is not in the room?"

"That is correct."

"An explanation would be appreciated."

"We have a mental link," Wedge explained.  "I can communicate telepathically with him, and he with me.  There are certain other benefits both of us receive."

"Such as?"

"Such as the certainty he's not an Imperial spy."

"But we have only your word for this."

"Luke is a good man.  The accident of his parentage has not made him evil; if anything, it has made him better.  He's so cautious, so careful to stay Light, he's never even lost his temper.  He's never done anything I can say is even questionable, let alone wrong."

Ackbar pressed his lips together.  "Well, what you say is reassuring.  We are not going to place Commander Skywalker under arrest, but he will be restricted from flying until we have looked further into this matter.  Dismissed."

*****

Luke was waiting in their room when Wedge returned.  He looked tired, and the Corellian could sense dread over the link.

"You okay?" the Jedi asked softly.

Wedge thought for a moment.  "I'm blind angry, but that's all."

He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Luke, the Tatooinian burying his face in his lover's shoulder.

"I'm scared," Luke said.  "So scared.  If they're strongly enough convinced I'm a traitor… They'll take you away from me, Wedge.  I don't care so much about the flying, as long as you're here, but I don't want to lose you."

"Luke, they try to keep me away from you, I'll tear everything apart, I'll break you out, I'll get you away.  They can't keep us apart."

"If you try anything like that, Wedge, they'll kill you.  If you really want to help me, stay quiet.  Stay safe for me.  I'll be happier knowing you're safe, love."

Luke's hand occupied the shoulder his head didn't, and Wedge whispered to him, "Luke, I love you.  I will do everything I can to keep them from taking you away, from anyone or anything."

"I believe you," Luke said softly.