Disclaimer:  Same old one, none of these characters belong to me.  I am making no money off of this.  If you have any questions, or want to see the complete disclaimer and list of characters, see the Prologue

A Complicated Friendship:

The Story of Jag Fel and Jaina Solo

Chapter 8: Realizations

"No!" Jag whispered as he lost all feeling and slumped to the floor as if his insides had liquefied.  'This isn't happening, this is NOT happening!  I never got a chance to straighten things out with her.  This can't be happening to US!'

As soon as he went down, Wedge and Sean were at his side.  He looked as if he was about to lose it emotionally, which is unusual for him.

He was on the verge of breaking down.  They got him out of the hanger and to his assigned room as quickly as possible.  The members of his squadron were wondering, what in the world was happening.  They figured he must be really sick or that something happened to a family member.  They just forgot about it as soon as it happened, figuring if it was important they would be told.

As he got to his room he lost his composure completely, almost in tears as he sank to the floor.  .'Well,' he thought sarcastically as he finally broke down, ' there goes my normal, stoic nature right out the window.' 

"I never even got to apologize," he said pitifully.

"You really care about her, don't you?" Sean asked.

"Yeah, I did, she was one of my best friends, even though we haven't spoken in almost a year."

Suddenly Wedge snapped his head up to look at Jag and asked, "What do you mean 'did'?"

"Yeah, after what you said happened," he tried to say; his voice was showing signs of being choked up.

"You mean just because she got injured you don't care for her anymore?" not sure whether to be angry or amused.

"When you said seriously injured, I just assumed that meant…" then with a sudden realization he exclaimed, "You mean she's ALIVE!"

"Yeah, don't get me wrong the injuries are serious.  Massive burns, eyes got hurt, broken bones, minor head trauma, and some internal bleeding.  But it's nothing critical or that bacta can't take care of."

"I want to see her now!" Jag demanded as he jumped to his feet.  Suddenly he had energy again.

"But Jag," Sean protested, "she's still in the bacta tank and won't be out for a few more hours."

"I don't care, take me to see Sticks now." He said trying to be as calm as possible.

It was then that Sean realized just how much Lieutenant Jaina Solo, an ace pilot and good friend of his since early childhood, meant to his cousin.  'For him to show that much emotion, he cares about her more that he lets on, he just doesn't realize it yet.'  He would definitely question Jag about it, and at least make him understand how much the Jedi/pilot means to him.

"Alright, let's go." Wedge said.

The 'Ralroost' med center:

As Jag entered the room where Jaina was receiving treatment, he gasped.  Wedge was right she was in bad shape.  But she'd pull through, she just had to.  "Come on Sticks, pull through this.  I know we haven't exactly been on the best of terms this past year, but trust me I'll make it up to you," Jag promised her silently.

Upon hearing this, Wedge and Sean decided to give him some time alone.  They knew he would be all right.  Now they hoped that Jag and Jaina would get on the right track together.

"Please be alright Sticks," Jag pleaded to her after the others left, "I can't make it with out my best friend."

As Jaina sat there submerged in the tank she sensed the presence of the others outside.  They seemed to be upset that she was hurt, but happy she was alive, and so was she.  'I wonder who's out there?'  She was pretty sure that Wedge and Sean-Conner were, but other than that she didn't know who else would come see her.  She could tell there were three though.  'The last one seems so upset, almost apologetic about something.'  Deep down she hoped it was Jag, he had been her best friend before their falling out.  'Why would he be here though?  We haven't spoken in a about a year.  He probably hates me and after the things I said to him the last time we spoke, I really can't blame him.'

She still couldn't believe that she basically called him a coward.  He was one of the most courageous men she knew.  She hoped that one day he would be able to forgive her and they could at least be friendly again.  She knew after she'd hurt him so bad that he'd probably never be that close to her again.  It had taken a lot to finally open him up and she just slammed it in his face like it didn't matter.  'Oh Jag, please be able to forgive me someday.  I've been miserable this past year thinking about what happened.'

Then another thought came to her, what if something had happened to him, or did happen to him before she got a chance to talk to him.  'That can't happen.  What if I didn't make it today, he would never know.  I've got to get things straightened out as soon as possible.'

Well there is no use in dwelling on these things now.  I might as well use all the energy that I am to help heal myself, that way I can get better faster and get things straightened out sooner.  And with that she put herself in a healing trance for the remainder of her time in the lonely, empty bacta tank.