The dagger flashed in the night. Silver metal shone in the moon of an unknown planet. Red blood dripped down the lethal edges. The handle was held tightly in a black glove.

Dagger looked down at the dagger in her hand. Was that her hand? Who else's hand could it be?

She didn't recognize where she was. Had she been here before? The wind whipped around her. Shouts could be heard along with the clanging of armor. Was there a battle going on? Where her brothers in danger.

A hushed whisper ghosted by her ears. She turned quickly, "Who's there?"

There was no one. Just empty night all around her.

Carry on.

"What do you want?" she yelled.

Kotep Runi. Brave Soul. Kotep Runi.

"Who are you?!"

The dagger is the key. The dagger. THE DAGGER!

Something was running at her. A shadowy figure, chanting like a mad man. Over and over and over. THE DAGGER.

It was so close and yet she still couldn't see what it was. A man? A monster?

THE DAGGER! THE DAGGER!

She could feel the hot breath on her face. Everything in her body was screaming at her to move. Her muscles weren't responding, she couldn't move. It was going to get her!

~B~

"Dagger!"

She gasped awake, eyes assaulted by the white lights of the medbay. Her hands came up to try and protect her face. She grabbed the first thing that her hands came into contact with. That just happened to be Kix's shirt.

The medic, who had been cleaning her face with a damp rag, now he held her by the shoulders, pinning her gently to the bed. She looked up at him with eyes blurry and panicked from the nightmare that still raced through her heart.

Kix's soft eyes looked at her, "Nightmare?"

She nodded, trying to get her breath under control. He rubbed her shoulders, "It's ok kid. We all have them."

She laid her head back on the pillow and Kix brought the rag up to her short hair to wipe out some of the remaining bacta in it. Her brain was still a bit slow and she looked up at her brother, "What do you have nightmares about Kix?"

His hand stilled and he looked at her, "I have nightmares about you, Jesse, Rex, Cody, about all of you. I'm standing still in the middle of a battlefield, one by one you are all shot down. You scream for my help. I'm the only one who can save you, all I have to do is get to you fast enough. I run, fast as I can. I always run to you boys. I'm always seconds too late. I make it to Jesse's side just as the life fades from his eyes. He is so scared, I can see him begging for help. I can't get there fast enough, I'm not good enough to save their life."

He took a trembling breath and looked away for a moment. Then he spoke again, "Nightmares are a part of who we are, but they don't define who we can be. I refuse to believe that I will let anyone die. I will always save you and the rest of our brothers."

"Did I almost die, Kix?"

The medic smiled good-naturedly, "In the time I have known you, Dagger, I have never known you to do anything half way. You did die, but not to worry my medical expertise brought you back to the world of the living."

Dagger let out a breath of air, as if she had been punched in the chest, "What happened?"

"You were in an explosion. Echo pulled you out and the evac team found him holding you in the woods. We brought you to the medbay as fast as we could. You were in surgery for most of the night, there was shrapnel embedded in your abdomen. That was when you flatlined. I- I thought that we had lost you. Then we finally got your pulse back and were able to stabilize you enough to get you into the bacta tank. Just pulled you out a little bit ago. And as you can see you still got some goo on ya so I was cleaning off your hair."

"What happened to Echo? Charlie squad? Are they ok?"

Kix looked down, "Echo is fine, just a mild concussion, but Charlie's squad wasn't so lucky. The blast that nearly killed you took them all out. There was nothing we could have done to save them. They died instantly, I'm sure of it."

Dagger nodded, tears pricking her eyes, "So they didn't suffer at all?"

"No, they wouldn't have even felt it."

There was a lapse of silence. Neither knew quite what to say in the face of losing their brothers. Kix knew that Dagger would need a moment to comprehend that they had just lost eight lives from their squadron. He would wait for her to absorb the information. He just hoped that she wouldn't take it as harshly as Echo or Rex would.

With a sad smile she looked up at the medic, determination shone in her eyes, "Next time, Kix. I promise we will save them next time."

Kix grinned, "I know we will kid. You need to rest, get your strength back. I'll be back later."

He made to leave but she caught his arm before he could pull away, "Wait, I need to ask you something."

Kix turned back to face her again, he gestured for her to continue with what she had to say.

"Does everyone know?" Dagger's voice was small and sad. She had really wanted to be the one to tell them what she was, but just like last time it had been revealed in circumstances that she could not control.

"No, just the medics and Echo," he said, "Your secret is safe with us."

Dagger turned her head away, "Oh."

Kix's eyebrows scrunched up, "What's wrong? Are you in pain?"

"No, it's not that. Even though it does feel like there is a hole in my stomach, whatever meds you gave me seem to be doing wonders. I just wanted to be the one who told him. He probably hates me now for hiding from him. He probably won't ever talk to me again."

"Hey!" Came a small shout from just beyond the curtain that separated the small space from the next cot. Both Kix and Dagger looked over at the sudden sound. Dagger's eyes widened as she saw Echo standing there.

"I resent that you would say that," he said, walking closer with a small smile on his face, "I mean really, how could I hate my best friend?"

Dagger gasped, "Echo, I- I'm sorry for hiding from you. I'm so sorry."

The tears from earlier were back with a vengeance and when being faced with Echo's kind smile they were set loose. A sob wrenched it's way out of her throat and Echo reached forward.

He looped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her into a hug as he sat on the side of her bed. He brushed his hand over the short cropped hair on the back of her head and spoke to her softly.

"Hey, it's ok Dagger. Don't you worry 'bout a thing, I promise I'm not mad at you. I can certainly tell you that I would never hate you. Dagger, you were just doing what you thought was right."

Her fingers dug into the back of his shirt and she pressed her face into the crook of his neck. He could feel her tears run from her cheeks onto his skin. He rubbed small circles along her back to try and comfort her. He could feel her small body tremble.

Kix put a hand on Echo's opposite shoulder and gave him an understanding nod. Then the medic turned and walked out of the small space and into the main area of the medbay.

"Echo," she whispered through her tears, "I'm sorry."

He pulled back slightly and tilted her head back so she looked him in the eyes. He smiled, realizing this was the first time he really got a chance to look at her eyes, "Hey now, there is no need for the waterworks. I said it once before and I'll say it again, I don't care what you look like, I care who you are inside. Just because I know you were hiding doesn't mean you aren't my favorite person any more. I always knew you were hiding, I just didn't know what it was."

"But I'm not your brother anymore. I can't be the person you thought I was."

"You have always been more than just a brother to me Dagger. Just 'cause you've got girl cooties doesn't mean you aren't my brother anyway. It's more of a status or title than a state of being anyway."

She clutched his back just a little tighter, her breathing had evened out again, "Thank you Echo."

He flashed her a bright smile, "Also, good news that Fives doesn't have to freak out because you are a gungan."

She groaned, "Are we really going to bring that up again?"

He chuckled, drawing his hands back into his lap, letting her lay back against the mound of pillows. As she leaned back he could see her pain that the action caused. Her eyes flickered down to his hands, his knuckles were cut and blood was in the process of drying. She looked back up at him sharply, "What happened to your hands?"

His gaze shifted away, "Oh you should see the other guy, he got the worst of it."

Dagger frowned at the Arc trooper and he hunched into himself slightly, "I got angry and punched out one of the mirrors in the barracks locker room."

"Echo!"

"I'm fine!" He insisted, "I'm actually really worried about you. Are you in pain?"

If she were to be honest with herself she felt like she was three seconds away from falling apart at the seams. If she could just make it through this conversation without falling back asleep that would be nice.

She really wanted to talk to Echo, but her head was starting to slow with exhaustion weighing heavy. She was in a bit of pain, but she didn't want to worry him, "No, I'm just tired right now. I'm sure Kix has me on all kinds of pain meds. Did you know I had shrapnel in me?"

She pointed to the bandage on her stomach, "Can you believe that? Right through the abdonomightus."

"Abdomen, and yes I knew. I was the first one to see it," he was trying to keep his thoughts light. He was trying to be strong for Dagger, but it was so hard to not think about what could have happened.

Dagger laid a hand on his forearm, "Thank you for saving me Echo. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."

She yawned and he smiled softly, "Let's not make a habit out of that ok? I need you to stay safe. But for now you need some sleep, I'll be here when you wake up."

She nodded, "You need sleep too Echo, I don't think I'll be running off anytime tonight."

They shared a long look and Echo nodded quietly. Dagger was already half asleep when he stood up from where he was perched on the side of the cot. He sat down heavily in the chair that was next to the cot. His legs really didn't feel like they could hold him for much longer, but he couldn't bring himself to leave just yet.

He finally had a chance to just sit quietly and just watch over Dagger. It was the only thing that he wanted to do right now. Even after everything that had happened today, he still felt the breath get knocked out at the sight he saw.

Dagger, laying on the pristine white sheets, legs not even extending close to the end of the bed. He knew she was short but seeing her in a bed made for full grown clones and not even being able to take up a majority of the space was startling.

Her skin was pale, amplified by the white of the bed sheets. This only made the bruises on her skin more apparent. They were deep purple and speckled with red. Echo didn't even want to imagine how bad they were before she went into the bacta tank. She had cuts all over her face, some were left uncovered while others were held together with butterfly closures.

For the first time all day, Echo heard Coric's voice from behind him, "She is lucky to be alive, certainly wouldn't be if you hadn't been there."

Echo nodded numbly, unable to take his eyes off of her face. Aside from all of the injuries, it was still startling to actually be able to see her face. He had never even seen any skin that was above her neck.

He moved slowly, as if she were going to suddenly wake up again and yell at him for not going to sleep. He brushed a short tuft of hair back to fall in line with the rest of her hair. Echo was honestly more spooked by her being so still. Echo sat there, eyes never once leaving Dagger's face.

In his peripheral vision he saw Kix pull Coric away and quietly ushered him to the otherside of the room to give him some privacy. Echo didn't care what they did at the moment, he was stuck looking at his friend.

It was an odd fascination, her face so still and emotionless. As if the helmet was still on and he couldn't read her emotions through it.

He couldn't get over how pale her skin was, whether it was from blood loss or just too little sun he didn't know. She had a face so similar to the other clones but at the same time so different.

Her jaw was less squared and her nose smaller. Her hair was longer than other clones, only by a fraction. It was as if Fives would grow out the top of his hair and shave down the sides more. Not quite within regs, but Tup got away with long hair every inspection.

He wondered if she ever didn't wear her helmet would it be styled up into short spikes or combed up and back. It was dark brown, like freshly turned dirt on a farm.

What? Why was the first analogy in his head of literal dirt? He shook his head, he wasn't good at analogies anyway. And he certainly didn't know how to deal with a female. Wait. He had to backtrack his thought process.

Dagger wasn't just some female, she was his friend, his brother. He didn't need to act any certain way around her. He could almost see her punching him if he were to try something like that.

Echo wanted her to wake up so he could talk to her again, he didn't like the silence. Dagger always talked with him. Well at least she always listened as he talked to her. She seemed to like listening and only providing input at certain times.

That's all he wanted, he wanted her back, wanted her safe. Just like this. There was less weight on his shoulders now that Kix had told him that she would be ok. She was strong and would pull through.

Kix came by and helped him bandage up his hand. As well as scold him for doing something so stupid.

"I mean honestly Echo, do you enjoy making more work for me? Do you think that all I want to do all day is bandage you boys up?" is what the medic had said before he left to ultimately bandage more people up.

The exhausting day was finally starting to catch up to him as he sat in that chair. A quiet room and being still was not conducive for him to stay awake, especially when he was running on fumes. Despite the uncomfortable chair, he was passed out in under a half hour. Cobalt walked by at some point and rolled his eyes, typical Echo.

The new medic had only known the Arc trooper briefly, but he could already tell that he would do anything for his brothers. Even if it was at the cost of himself. The man needed some actual sleep. He grumbled and kicked the leg of the chair.

Echo startled and looked up at him with blurry eyes. Cobalt nodded towards the door, "Time for you to get some sleep in a real bed."

Echo looked at Dagger's still sleeping form. Before he could say anything Cobalt cut him off, "No, you are not staying here. How is Dagger supposed to get better if you keep her up all night. Scram kid, I got better things to do than keep an eye on you. And bring this back to the barracks with you."

Echo still didn't want to go but he rose to his feet and accepted the item that Cobalt held out for him. It was her dagger. Cobalt nodded thankfully at him, "Get some sleep, come back when you wake up. I'm sure she will be missing you by then."

~B~

Echo made his way to his bunk, the one right above Fives, right next to Dagger's. He had his hand on the ladder but couldn't bring himself to climb. Almost everyone was asleep, soft breathing could be heard from all directions in the dark. He still held Dagger's precious dagger in his hand.

He took the few steps over to her bunk and climbed the ladder. He told himself that he was just going to put the dagger under her pillow and then go back to his bunk.

But a full ten minutes later he was still sitting on her bed, holding her pillow tightly in his hands. His head was nodding as his eyelids refused to stay open in the low light.

He finally gave a sigh and let himself lay down. He knew he should go back to his own bunk, but if he couldn't be close to Dagger this was the next best thing. In a way it gave him comfort to sleep in the bed that she always had.

It made the room feel less empty. He wouldn't be kept up looking at her empty bunk if he was in it. He just wanted his friend back, he wanted her to be safe. Fives was sure to make fun of him in the morning, but for now he would stay where he was.

He pressed his head into the pillow, his eyes fluttered shut. No matter how tired he was, he couldn't fall asleep easily. Not with the ringing in his ears that the explosions and blaster fire had left him.

Echo's breath trembled as his mind reminded him of how much he had lost, reminded him how much he almost lost. Dagger meant everything to him. Even from her first week of training he had trouble protecting her.

That first obstacle course, he had been Dagger's partner and he had just let her fall. Helpless. Now, he had failed to warn her fast enough to protect her from the blast. Helpless. He had told his men to wait in the clearing.

Echo wondered if he had let Flicker go back into the woods to look for berries if the rest of the squad would have followed. Would that have put them far enough away from the blast? Had he killed them by ordering them to stay there?

He felt the pain stab through him. Echo fell asleep with an aching hole where his heart was supposed to be. The only light in the darkness of his soul was the fact that Dagger was alive and safe. She was just a short walk away, Kix, Coric, and Cobalt were all looking after her.

~B~

When she woke up the next time there was a sharp pain in her belly. Dagger blinked her eyes open and stared up at the ceiling mentally going through everything that she knew. Her head was still fuzzy and tired, all she wanted to do was go back to sleep.

She got hurt. She was in the medbay. Echo was here earlier. Echo wasn't here now, but he hadn't seemed mad at her. That was a good sign. She let out a deep sigh and heard a soft chuckle from her left.

Dagger turned her head and saw a medic standing by her bedside holding a tablet looking over something. He had a small crystal tattoo on his right temple with a small number 27 at the base. He looked away from the screen and at her, "Good of you to wake up. How are you feeling?"

She surveyed the rest of the room, "Where is Echo?"

Another short laugh, "Probably sleeping in an actual bed. I kicked him out a few hours ago and told him he couldn't come back until later."

She nodded, "Who are you?"

"The name is Cobalt, I've just been assigned to the 501st. And you've just been seriously injured. How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?"

She just looked at him. Was that an actual question?

"Words usually help with this part, soldier. I'm not a mind reader," he said, raising an eyebrow at her.

She tried to cross her arms over herself, but when her arm brushed her stomach she hissed in pain. Settling her arms at her side she spoke, "It's damn cold in here."

Cobalt rolled his eyes, he was not in the mood to play games with this one, "Are you going to cooperate or do I need to go get your Captain to make you tell me?"

She looked betrayed, "I am in… some pain."

"Thank you, that wasn't so hard was it? Now I can give you some meds to make it feel better."

"Is it going to knock me out again?"

"It's not made for that, but if your body needs the rest it would be best not to fight it. You certainly aren't leaving here for a little while so you might as well sleep."

Her eyelids started to droop but she still managed to waggle her finger at him, "Imma tell Kix you knocked me out."

Cobalt just laughed, "Ok kid, you do that. I'm sure Kix would be thrilled to know you are safe in the med bay and resting. I have heard that you avoid coming here at all costs."

"Not avoid, uhhhh evade is the word. And I'm pretty sure I'm older than you."

"Go back to sleep Dagger. You need it."