Rex had been in a quick meeting with his General and Commander. They had requested his presence to keep him updated on their upcoming missions. He had been pulled away from the festivities for just under an hour.

He was saying his goodbyes when Cody burst into the room, his own General wandering in casually behind him. Kenobi had sensed his Commander's unease and wanted to see what was going on.

Cody strode up to where Captain Rex was standing, "afternoon General Skywalker, Commander Tano. May I have a word with Captain Rex?"

"Afternoon Commander, what's got you in such a rush?" Anakin asked.

"Respectfully sir, I think that we would all rather this matter to be handled internally. We like to take care of our own issues, no need for you all to be concerned," Commander Cody explained. Rex raised his brow, what issue had happened in the short time he had been gone.

"Remember that they are our men too, Commander. Please tell us if we can be of any assistance," Obi Wan said gently.

The officers both nodded and strode out of the room. Once clear and in a secluded hallway both brothers removed their helmets, "Cody what is going on? I left right as they were about to start playing games, what could have possibly gone so wrong? Please tell me Echo isn't on fire again."

"Actually not this time. I walked in to were the 501st was playing games and they sure were playing, but it wasn't pin the horns on the Tuan Taun anymore," his voice was starting to rise from a low whisper into a louder tone, "they were throwing around Dagger in the middle of the circle. He was tripping all over himself and couldn't stop. They were all laughing at him and he was yelling, almost screaming at them to stop. After stepped in Dagger bolted, I have no idea where he went. I wanted you to help me find him and help him out or something."

Rex took a deep breath, processing the amount of information that Cody had just spouted at him. The commander was practically vibrating in his armor waiting for the response Rex was to give. Amber eyes swarming with thoughts.

When he finally spoke it was calm, "keep an eye on the rest of the boys, make sure they don't get into any more trouble. I will go find Dagger and make sure he's doing ok. I'm sure he is fine, Dagger is a strong one Cody, don't worry."

Cody gave an agreeable nod, "go do your dad thing, vod."

"My what?" He asked incredulously. What dad thing did he do?

"That thing where you can always find the brother who needs a helping hand at the right time. Kind of scary sometimes how accurate you are," he explained.

Rex let out a scoff telling him to get going. Once Cody was gone Rex let a small smirk appear on his face. He liked to take care of those in his battalion, life was hard and if he could make it just a bit easier by lending a helping hand at the right time then he would, every single time.

He walked through the halls searching for where the wayward brother had gone off to. Dagger wasn't in the barracks or even the mess hall, Rex hadn't expected to find him there but grabbed a snack anyway. Clones loved snacks and maybe Dagger would appreciate it. He continued his walk trying to determine which way it was more likely for Dagger to go. Rex stopped at a door when he heard soft crying from the other side of it.

He looked up and realized it was his office. Rex's heart ached hearing someone, presumably Dagger, crying on the other side of that durasteel door. He knocked softly on the door leaning close and calling Dagger's name.

The crying stopped abruptly as if he was holding his breath. Rex held a sad smile on his face, "come on kid, I know you are in there. I'm not here to make fun of you, I'm just here to talk. Let me in?"

He listened closely and heard sniffling, then the hiss of a helmet being placed back on Dagger's head. Rex nodded, he guessed it was to be expected that his helmet would be put back on. The handle was turned and the door swung inward, Rex saw the newest clone sitting on the floor head hung low.

He wouldn't look up at Rex, even with his helmet on. So Rex sat cross legged in front of him. Placing the snack in front of Dagger easily within reach, but also not encroaching too much into his space. The pair sat in silence for a long time.

Dagger didn't know what to do, still reeling with emotions she tried to keep the remainders of her tears silent. She wondered why her Captain was here but did not trust her voice enough yet to ask the question. Every once in a while she would steal a look up at him. He was always just patiently waiting.

Minutes passed and her breathing deepened. Finally she asked, "what are you doing here Captain?"

He held a gentle smile, "well it is my office rookie."

Her head raised and looked around at the surroundings she had failed to take in up until now. She found that she was in fact in his office. Her cheeks heated up like a young cadet getting caught stealing sweets, she hadn't meant to end up here.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize. I'll leave," she tried to stand and leave the room, but before she could even get all the way up a gentle hand wrapped around her wrist and persuaded her to stay.

"I never asked for you to leave. I was looking for you," he pulled Dagger back down to the ground so that they were facing each other, their knees almost touching.

She sniffed, "why were you looking for me sir?"

He sighed, "would you call me Rex, please? And because Cody told me what happened and he was worried about you."

"I'm fine," Dagger mumbled looking at the floor.

"That wasn't nice of them to do to you. They shouldn't be making fun of someone in their own unit," he said, as much as he knew how to talk to clones. Dagger was different. He couldn't quite tell what to say to help him feel better.

"They were just messing around, they didn't mean any harm," she answered.

Rex turned his head in contemplation, "not meaning to do any harm is not the same thing as not causing harm."

Her hands were fidgeting in her lap nervously and she let out a weak laugh, "did you learn that from a Jedi sir?"

He tapped her on the knee looking into her visor expectantly. "I mean, Rex."

He smiled and nodded, "something like that."

They lapsed back into a small silence, he noticed that as his hand still rested lightly on Dagger's knee. He pulled back his hand and thought he saw the younger clones' shoulders slump slightly. Hmm. Maybe Dagger just needed a hug, sometimes brothers were like that. All they needed to be cheered up was a kind touch.

Life in the GAR was hard and they did not get hugs often. Rex rocked forward so that he was sitting up on his heels he leaned forward and as Dagger looked up. He put his hand on the back of his helmet and rested his forehead against the top of the bucket. His eyes here level with the eyepiece of his helmet, but he still couldn't see through.

Rex stayed like that for a while, holding Dagger close as he felt small tremors run through the clone. He kept his hand and on the smaller clones shoulder and holding his head close, "it's ok Dagger. Tomorrow everything is going to go back to how it was and everyone is going to forget this."

Dagger peered into the eyes of her commanding officer, shocked by the physical comfort he gave her. She enjoyed the warmth of his hand on his shoulder, it felt like it was washing away all of the hurt she was feeling. His brown eyes were filled with kindness and honesty.

He was surprised when Dagger reciprocated the action and placed his hand behind his neck. He smiled at the gesture, it was working. Mission accomplished.

~B~

"Dagger!" Echo shouted, running up to her as she entered the barracks later that night. She looked at him, one arm holding the other trying to make herself appear smaller, maybe then he wouldn't talk to her.

It didn't work, "hey Echo."

"Look we are all really sorry Dagger. We didn't know we were upsetting you. And we weren't thinking. And honestly we were just being a bunch of di'kuts. So we're sorry and we do-"

"Echo," she cut him off and he snapped his mouth closed, "it's ok. I forgive you."

He smiled and extended his hand to her, "well then if you are willing, would you follow me?"

She did not take his hand but she did agree to follow him to wherever he was taking her. She couldn't stay mad at her friend.

After they left, Rex entered the room and saw Cody sitting on his bunk with his elbows on his knees, contemplating. He went and sat next to his brother, "credit for your thoughts?"

"I think I overreacted," Cody answered honestly, "I think I got upset and might have blown this out of proportion. Maybe I should have just let Dagger figure this out on his own."

"Maybe, but what's done now is done, I'm glad you told me about it," Rex responded.

Cody looked over at him and gave him a small nudge, "stop it with those Jedi lines would you. How did it go anyway? He alright?"
Rex smiled, "I told you not to worry didn't I? Dagger is fine, I found him in my office, of all places."

"Better than where you found Jesse that one time."

"Everywhere is better than where I found Jesse, poor kid was a mess. I actually forgot I told you about that," Rex answered.

Laughing, Cody responded, "you tell me everything Rex. Should we go see what Echo came up with and where he took Dagger?"

It ended up that Echo had taken Dagger to a viewing platform, one with a big window to the space outside. The unit set up a bunch of couches in a U all facing the passing stars and covered the area in between with as many blankets as they could find. When Dagger asked what they were doing Echo responded that they were having a star party.

He encouraged Dagger to sit wherever she wanted, then he sat next to her. Slowly the rest of the battalion started shuffling in. Some brought snacks, some brought little games, others brought holomovies. All of them found spots either on the couches or on the blankets. Dagger smiled, they all talked and joked around. She understood that this was their way of apologizing, everyone came and talked to her at some point during the night.

They all stayed up far past their curfew, the officers coming by periodically to make sure everything was going well. Rex and Cody decided to let the men do their own thing and it seemed to be working out. Everyone was bonding and having a good time.

Slowly, one by one, everyone started to drift asleep. Cricket was one of the first to pass out, his brothers snickered at him but let him be. Kix and Jesse who were sitting on one of the side couches watching a holomovie fell asleep with the recording still playing. Echo, Fives, and Dagger, who occupied the middle couch, were some of the last ones awake and stayed up watching the stars. Making stories about the different planets they saw pass.

At the end of one made up tale Dagger looked over and saw Fives passed out head back on the head rest and Echo slumped onto his shoulder. She smiled softly to herself. She heard soft footsteps behind her and peered over the back of the couch to see Rex in his black undersuit approaching.

"You good kid?"

She nodded, "I'm not a kid you know."

He leaned over the edge of the couch, one hand coming to rest on her still helmeted head, "I know. You prove that everyday. But you are still the youngest of the group, so by proxy you are a kid."

She huffed but didn't respond. They watched the stars slowly pass as the minutes did as well. Her eyes were starting to droop when the Captain spoke again.

"The 212th has been called to a separate mission again. So they won't be travelling with the 501st anymore."

"So the Commander won't be with us anymore?"

"No, I'm sure we will see them again soon. General Skywalker and Kenobi like to meet up periodically."

"Oh. I'm going to miss them," she said, her voice uncharacteristically small.

His hand shifted from her helmet to her shoulder, "I know Dagger, it's going to be strange for you because you have only seen us as a joint unit."

"You are staying right?"

"You couldn't get rid of me if you tried," he said with a smile as he looked down at her as she tilted her head back to see him.

"Good."

With that a peaceful sleep finally came to her, she felt the Captain's hand leave her shoulder and heard his boot steps leave the room. Sleep gently welcomed her and she sank into it. There was nothing left to worry about right now, everything could wait till tomorrow. With her brothers around her, she finally felt safe as the star cruiser sailed through the deep of space.