(A/N: I know this chapter was late, but I will be posting again tomorrow and them back on schedule posting once every three days.)

Ugh. Guard duty. Honestly, Dagger had been expecting more fighting when they finally went on a mission. Yet here she was patrolling a fortress with no signs of it's previous captors returning.

It would take time for the carriers to get all of the supplies off the surface to be delivered to where they were needed. They had to guard the fortress from Separatists until then. According to intelligence this base wasn't supposed to report in for another week, so there was little chance of anyone realizing that the Republic had taken the fortress back.

So Dagger walked along the top of the outer wall; scanning the trees for any movement out of the ordinary. Echo patrolled the opposite end of the same wall. They had been up there for hours and Dagger sweat had soaked through her blacks. Soon enough their shift would be over and they could cool off in the shade.

"Oh my god! Dagger get over here," Echo called suddenly.

Her heart raced at the prospect of danger, she was on high alert as she ran over. Only to look out and see no enemy. She was about to ask what he had seen when Echo let out a coo, "look at that cute little guy."

She used her HUD to zoom in on the tiny creature he was pointing at, "that's a bunny Echo."

"Do you think if I caught it Captain would let me keep it?"

"Not on the ship he wouldn't, but maybe he would let you bring it into camp. It doesn't matter though because there is no way you are going to be able to catch that thing," she stated matter of factly.

"How much do you want to bet on that?"

She let out a laugh, "ten credits."

"Oh you are so on," Echo said. He turned on his communicator, "Captain Rex, this is Echo. Requesting permission to go down to the forest by the east wall to inspect possible suspicious activity."

"Nothing is being picked up on the scanners. What do you see?"

Dagger shook her head in amusement, this was never going to work. Echo lifted the communicator again, "uhh, possible dangerous creature from the forest. I think it would be best if I go check it out, Captain. It won't take long."

They heard Captain Rex's amused tone, "are you going to investigate a dangerous looking rabbit?"

"Yes, sir," he replied quickly causing Dagger to smack her helmet, no way he would let Echo go.

"Permission granted, take your partner with you."

"What?" she said almost in shock that he was going to let Echo go down to try and catch the bunny. And that she had to go with him.

If he didn't have his helmet on, she was sure that he would have been smirking triumphantly. They went down the stairs and walked across the pier. She resigned herself to leaning against the post while watching.

Echo stalked quietly closer and closer to the unsuspecting bunny. When he finally pounced he threw his whole body forward with his arms outstretched. Dagger laughed at the dive and was shocked to see him grasping the bunny gently in his gloved hands.

~B~

"Captain, thank you for coming," General Skywalker greeted.

"What do you need sir?" Rex asked.

"Actually, I just wanted to talk to you for a quick second. That thing that you requested. The villagers said they would be happy to make it for us. They said it would be the least they could do after we drove the separatists out."

"Thank you General. I appreciate you doing that for us."

"Of course Rex. Just don't involve me like you did last year. I swear I had bruises for a month after that."

The clone Captain just chuckled and went about his way.

~B~

A dog pile. That is what the night ended up as. The troopers had been having a fire, then no one had wanted to get more wood so they got closer and closer as the flames dwindled. Now, they all lay in a pile.

Heads on stomachs, arms behind legs of another. Personal space was not an issue, mostly just warmth. Dagger lay on her back looking up at the stars. Her head rested on Echo's thigh, he had insisted that the helmet didn't bother him and wasn't uncomfortable. He held the bunny against his chest, the little thing was sound asleep. Fives laid on Dagger's stomach and somehow both Kix and Hardcase were wrapped around her lower legs, heads resting on her thighs.

She had resigned herself to not moving hours ago. When a brother laid on you, they trusted you, so you let them sleep. They had to be tired so she would not be the one to disturb them.

Dagger had been watching the stars for a while, using her HUD to figure out the different constellations or making her own if there was no data. She could hear shuffling around the camp every once in a while. A brother coming or going somewhere.

The officers had assigned themselves watch duty when they found the majority of both battalions all in a huddle in the middle of the courtyard rather than in their tents. Rex had taken the first shift and she had seen him sitting on the outskirts of the pile for a while until he left her peripheral vision.

Her eyes had grown heavy and closed of their own accord, she could have sworn she heard Commander Cody take his place. She was far too tired to be able to tell. She allowed herself to fall into a restless sleep.

~B~

CT 19580, you are a disappointment to the proud Kamino reputation. You are a mistake. You can't even do a training drill correctly. What do you have to say for yourself?

I am sorry, Madam.

Sorry isn't good enough! This is the second time this week that you have made a mistake. Your brothers are already far beyond your training. You are lazy and unable to keep up.

Madam, I'm trying as hard as I can. If you would just let me try again, I'm sure I can do it right this time.

NO! You are unworthy and disobedient. You know what happens when you make mistakes.

Yes, Madam.

Good, then you know what has to happen next.

She bowed her head and closed her eyes, bracing for what was to come.

~B~

She shot up with a gasp, as if she had been stung. Her nightmare quickly faded into the back of her mind, but the feeling of dread that it left was far from gone. She realized that someone had woken her up. She felt the pressure of a hand on her arm and looked up to see Commander Cody leaning over her.

"Commander, what's wrong? Did something happen?" she asked, if the Commander woke her, then something had to have happened.

"Nothing is wrong. You were just having a nightmare," he stood and offered his hand, "come on."

She took the offered hand and let him pull her out of the pile of bodies. There was slight grumbling from those who had been using her as a pillow, but they adjusted to laying on each other easily. It would take more than that to wake them. She followed the Commander even after he let go of her hand.

Unsure of where they were going she stayed quiet. Soon, and for the second time, she found herself in the officer's tent. Rex was asleep on the side of the tent, but Cody gestured for her to sit wherever. He went to the back of the tent and prepared two cups of tea.

He came back and handed her a cup, she was grateful for the warmth in her hands, but knew she couldn't drink it with her helmet. Cody sat next to her on the bedroll and handed her a straw. Oh ok, that solved that problem.

She would have laughed at the solution, but instead turned to the Commander with a questioning gaze. He must have been able to tell from her tilted helmet.

"Don't worry, Rex sleeps like the dead," he explained.

"I know, but sir, why did you bring me here?" she asked.

"You were having a nightmare. I guess I just wanted to help. I can listen if you want to talk about it, or talk about anything else to distract you from it," he explained.

"Thank you sir, I don't know if that is necessary. It was just a nightmare, I don't even remember what about."

"You don't have to go through your nightmares on your own. That's why we are all here."

"Aha. I'm glad you are here Commander, don't know what the unit would do without you," she said honestly.

He felt a stab of guilt at his statement. This was the trooper whom he had doubted his abilities and allegiance. A man who was just as plagued by nightmares as the rest of them. He hadn't believed in Dagger when that is all he had ever done for him.

He took a breath before he spoke, "I never said thank you. For yesterday."

Dagger's helmet tipped to the side as she took a drink of her tea, "what do you mean sir?"

"You saved my life from that droid, I never would have seen it in time."

"I was just doing my job sir. Anyone would have done the same," she answered dutifully.

"That doesn't take away from what you did today. I'm glad to be here kid and that is all because of you," Cody said looking over at the rookie.

Her head dipped at the subtle praise, "thank you Commander, I am glad you are safe."

He raised his cup to hers and lightly tapped them together. They lapsed into comfortable silence, both leaning back against the posts of the tent. Dagger didn't even notice her eyes drift shut or her head slide to the side and rest against the tall shoulder of the Commander. For the second time that night she fell asleep against a brother. This time there were no nightmares.

~B~

Rex woke up in his sleeping bag and stretched his tight muscles. He sure hoped everyone who had decided to sleep outside last night had stayed warm enough.

The Captain shook his head at the unit's antics. They spend most of their time in a ship among the stars and when they were on a planet, they decided to sleep outside and stargaze. Open to the elements, he would never understand.

However he was glad that it was in a clearing in a fortress rather than in the middle of a forest, exposed to wildlife. Except of course for Echo's bunny. He called it a rabbit once and had gotten a ten minute lecture on the difference between bunnies and rabbits. Echo had asked if he could keep the thing and Rex had agreed. Echo would have to set it free when they left but he didn't see the harm of letting him keep it for the night.

He had called the first watch and had checked over all of his troopers. He had smiled when he saw Dagger in the middle of a pile of his brothers. It was comical, the way that everyone had surrounded the littlest one. Excuses of, 'you are the comfiest' were thrown out. Yet he knew the real reason, Rex had overheard Echo talking about how Dagger had gotten cold that first night on the planet.

Brothers looked after their own. He was glad that Dagger was fitting in well with everyone. When he had finally tapped out and switched with Cody everyone had been sleeping peacefully.

So that did not explain why, when he finally opened his eyes, he saw the helmet with a blue stripe over the left eye. He had no clue why Dagger was in the officer tent, he hadn't heard anything last night. Yet here Dagger was with his head against Cody's shoulder.

Both of them were asleep sitting against the poles of the tent. How could that possibly be comfortable. He watched them as he stood.

As soon as he stood up Dagger flinched and he knew the trooper was now awake. He saw the helmet moving slightly side to side, getting a bearing of where he was no doubt.

"So what brings you here, Dagger?" he asked with a playful smirk.

"The Commander," she answered softly.

He narrowed his eyes but nodded, "we are packing up and leaving today. If you could get Fives up I would appreciate it."

She nodded and stood, leaving Cody alone against the pole. He woke up just as she left the tent and he looked up at Rex. His eyes were bleary from sleep but he smiled, "morning vod."

Rex smirked again before drawling, "morning… So Dagger just left. Why was he here?"

"He was having a nightmare, so I brought him here for tea."

"And he took off his helmet for that?" Rex asked, surprised.

"Has the 501st never heard of straws?" the commander responded.