~Here it is: the next chapter! Read and review please! Thanks a bunch! ~
Chapter 24: Desperation
Jaina Solo-Fel lay curled up on the floor. She was shivering. Her mind raced with thoughts of her husband, whom she could feel slowly ebbing away. His life force was leaving him. She was losing him and there was nothing she could do about it. She couldn't lose him, not now. Not when she had just realized that she could feel another life signature within her, one that bore Jag's signature as well.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jacen Solo sprinted trough the dark, dank corridors. His sister's husband was missing and he knew that he probably was not faring very well in these conditions. He tried to retrace the groups' steps, finding it a daunting task in the limited light. He needed to find Jag as soon as he could. Jacen knew that Jag wouldn't survive the night if he didn't.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jag was lying on the freezing duracreet floor when, in a semiconscious state, he felt a foot lodge into his side. The foot was gone quickly, but immediately followed by a thumping sound. Jag wanted to look over and see what was happening, but he didn't have the energy. Then, he heard his name being called. He wanted to respond, but his lips refused to open. All he could do was lie there and hope that this stranger wouldn't kill him. He had to survive this if he was going to see Jaina again.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jacen tripped over something lying in the middle of the corridor.
That wasn't here the first time we came through, he thought. And then the realization hit him. It was Jag lying on the ground.
"Jag?" he said quietly. The figure on the ground did not stir. Jacen reached out with the Force. He could feel the person's Force signature very distinctly, and he knew without a doubt that it was Jag.
"Jag, if you can hear me, I'm going to levitate you. I have to get you back to the group."
Jag said nothing. Resigned, Jacen stretched out with the Force to levitate Jag's body. He was careful with the older man's mass as he made his way back to the group. Jag was suffering from hypothermia and Jacen was doing the best he could to try and warm the man through the Force, but he would need more Jedi to heal Jag completely. He just hoped he could reach them in time.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jaina felt a new sensation from Jag through her Force connection with him. She could feel the slight waves of heat being transferred to his body, with Jacen's Force signature affixed to the waves. Jaina sat upright, slightly relieved that Jacen was with Jag.
Jace? How is he? She sent to him via their twin bond.
Not good, Jaya. You need to get back here.
I am coming back, Jace. Zekk and I have reached an understanding. Jaina could feel Jacen's temper flare at this.
What understanding? If he hurt you Jaya, I swear that he will not live five minutes after he steps off that Sith forsaken ship.
Jace, he hasn't hurt me. He just understands now that I don't love him, that I love Jag. So you had better keep my dear darling husband alive or you won't live five minutes after I get back.
Jacen blinked at his sister's tone. She wasn't joking.
I'll do everything I can. He sent to her, his tone gravely serious.
You better. And with that, his sister pulled her presence from his mind. No sooner than she had done that, he felt Jag's life force strengthening. Jaina was sending her energies to him, helping to sustain him. It was certainly helping Jacen, but he knew that it wasn't going to be enough.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jaina left Jacen's mind and started to focus her energies on Jag. She needed to keep him alive. He had to survive this. Jaina reached out for him. To her complete astonishment, he reached back.
Jag?
I'm here, Jaya.
You better be. You're going to get through this.
I'm going to try.
No, you're going to. You have to. You have to get through this for me, Jag.
Even in his weakened state, Jag could tell that Jaina was hiding something from him.
What aren't you telling me, Jaya?
You just concentrate on getting better. I'll be on Hapes shortly.
Jaina felt Jag's presence brighten slightly at her news of being on-planet shortly. She left him with that news and concentrated on sending her energy to him, helping to sustain him.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Tenel Ka was the first to notice Jacen's approach. She also noticed the body that he had levitated behind him. She feared the worst, but she stretched out and felt the figure's life force. It was dim, but it was still there.
"Dear Jacen, please do not tell me that is Jag."
Jacen nodded solemnly.
"We must get him to a medic."
Jacen only nodded again. Jag was growing stronger, but he was still in need of desperate medical attention.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jaina stretched out with her Force sense again and found Jacen.
How is he, Jace?
She could feel the hesitation in Jacen's reply. He's doing better, but he's not out of the dark yet.
Jacen could feel the grim determination coming from his sister. You had better keep him alive, Jace, otherwise you'll be the one helping me raise the-
Jaina cut herself off. She knew that she had said too much.
Raise what, Jaina?
It's nothing. Never mind, just keep Jag alive.
You're pregnant, aren't you, Jaya?
Jacen was stunned when Jaina opened herself up to him and he could feel the new life-no, lives-inside of Jaina.
Jaya, you're having twins?
I am? she asked
Jacen mentally smacked himself. She knew about one child, but she didn't know about the other. He could feel Jaina drawing back into herself, examining Jacen's claims, and finding them true.
Jaina mentally sighed. I am having twins, Jace. But don't tell Jag, not just yet.
What?! Why the Sith not? Do you know what this could do for him?
Yes, I do. And it could do just the opposite too. Let me tell him, Jace. You just need to keep him alive.
Chapter 24: Desperation
Jaina Solo-Fel lay curled up on the floor. She was shivering. Her mind raced with thoughts of her husband, whom she could feel slowly ebbing away. His life force was leaving him. She was losing him and there was nothing she could do about it. She couldn't lose him, not now. Not when she had just realized that she could feel another life signature within her, one that bore Jag's signature as well.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jacen Solo sprinted trough the dark, dank corridors. His sister's husband was missing and he knew that he probably was not faring very well in these conditions. He tried to retrace the groups' steps, finding it a daunting task in the limited light. He needed to find Jag as soon as he could. Jacen knew that Jag wouldn't survive the night if he didn't.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jag was lying on the freezing duracreet floor when, in a semiconscious state, he felt a foot lodge into his side. The foot was gone quickly, but immediately followed by a thumping sound. Jag wanted to look over and see what was happening, but he didn't have the energy. Then, he heard his name being called. He wanted to respond, but his lips refused to open. All he could do was lie there and hope that this stranger wouldn't kill him. He had to survive this if he was going to see Jaina again.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jacen tripped over something lying in the middle of the corridor.
That wasn't here the first time we came through, he thought. And then the realization hit him. It was Jag lying on the ground.
"Jag?" he said quietly. The figure on the ground did not stir. Jacen reached out with the Force. He could feel the person's Force signature very distinctly, and he knew without a doubt that it was Jag.
"Jag, if you can hear me, I'm going to levitate you. I have to get you back to the group."
Jag said nothing. Resigned, Jacen stretched out with the Force to levitate Jag's body. He was careful with the older man's mass as he made his way back to the group. Jag was suffering from hypothermia and Jacen was doing the best he could to try and warm the man through the Force, but he would need more Jedi to heal Jag completely. He just hoped he could reach them in time.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jaina felt a new sensation from Jag through her Force connection with him. She could feel the slight waves of heat being transferred to his body, with Jacen's Force signature affixed to the waves. Jaina sat upright, slightly relieved that Jacen was with Jag.
Jace? How is he? She sent to him via their twin bond.
Not good, Jaya. You need to get back here.
I am coming back, Jace. Zekk and I have reached an understanding. Jaina could feel Jacen's temper flare at this.
What understanding? If he hurt you Jaya, I swear that he will not live five minutes after he steps off that Sith forsaken ship.
Jace, he hasn't hurt me. He just understands now that I don't love him, that I love Jag. So you had better keep my dear darling husband alive or you won't live five minutes after I get back.
Jacen blinked at his sister's tone. She wasn't joking.
I'll do everything I can. He sent to her, his tone gravely serious.
You better. And with that, his sister pulled her presence from his mind. No sooner than she had done that, he felt Jag's life force strengthening. Jaina was sending her energies to him, helping to sustain him. It was certainly helping Jacen, but he knew that it wasn't going to be enough.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jaina left Jacen's mind and started to focus her energies on Jag. She needed to keep him alive. He had to survive this. Jaina reached out for him. To her complete astonishment, he reached back.
Jag?
I'm here, Jaya.
You better be. You're going to get through this.
I'm going to try.
No, you're going to. You have to. You have to get through this for me, Jag.
Even in his weakened state, Jag could tell that Jaina was hiding something from him.
What aren't you telling me, Jaya?
You just concentrate on getting better. I'll be on Hapes shortly.
Jaina felt Jag's presence brighten slightly at her news of being on-planet shortly. She left him with that news and concentrated on sending her energy to him, helping to sustain him.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Tenel Ka was the first to notice Jacen's approach. She also noticed the body that he had levitated behind him. She feared the worst, but she stretched out and felt the figure's life force. It was dim, but it was still there.
"Dear Jacen, please do not tell me that is Jag."
Jacen nodded solemnly.
"We must get him to a medic."
Jacen only nodded again. Jag was growing stronger, but he was still in need of desperate medical attention.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Jaina stretched out with her Force sense again and found Jacen.
How is he, Jace?
She could feel the hesitation in Jacen's reply. He's doing better, but he's not out of the dark yet.
Jacen could feel the grim determination coming from his sister. You had better keep him alive, Jace, otherwise you'll be the one helping me raise the-
Jaina cut herself off. She knew that she had said too much.
Raise what, Jaina?
It's nothing. Never mind, just keep Jag alive.
You're pregnant, aren't you, Jaya?
Jacen was stunned when Jaina opened herself up to him and he could feel the new life-no, lives-inside of Jaina.
Jaya, you're having twins?
I am? she asked
Jacen mentally smacked himself. She knew about one child, but she didn't know about the other. He could feel Jaina drawing back into herself, examining Jacen's claims, and finding them true.
Jaina mentally sighed. I am having twins, Jace. But don't tell Jag, not just yet.
What?! Why the Sith not? Do you know what this could do for him?
Yes, I do. And it could do just the opposite too. Let me tell him, Jace. You just need to keep him alive.
