Chapter 9

Jaina walked into the main hangar to start working on touching up her X-wing. She tried to block out thoughts of Zekk. He'd only been gone for a few hours and she missed him already. She faced her ship, looking it over, deciding where to start. As she reached down to grab a cloth, she heard footsteps coming into the hangar. She turned quickly around to see Tenel Ka dressed elegantly, holding her bags. Jaina hadn't noticed the ship on the farthest landing pad from where she stood.

"Take care, Tenel Ka." Jaina said. "We'll miss you."

Tenel Ka bowed her head slightly, and walked quietly to the ship waiting for her. She walked aboard, and the hatch closed with a hiss. The ship took off and headed for Hapes.

Jaina turned around and got back to work. She was silent, unlike the other pilots in the hangar who talked amongst themselves. Jaina caught a few of them glancing at her, but she only smiled and continued working.

A few moments later, Jaina felt someone watching her. A tingle ran through her and she turned around quickly. Jagged Fel stood only a few meters away from her, leaning against another X-wing. She gave him a quick grin and turned back to her ship, cleaning it nervously with the cloth.

He stood from his leaning position and walked to her, confidently. She pretended not to acknowledge him, but when his face was but a few feet from hers, she turned and spoke up. "May I help you, Jagged Fel?" She spoke with an annoyed tone in her voice.

"Call me Jag, please." He said, almost begging.

"May I help you, Jag?" She repeated.

"I have a problem with my X-wing and I was wondering if you would be able to help me." He said.

"Oh," Jaina replied, jokingly. "Does Captain Fel not know how to fix a ship?"

"No, it's not that, I just thought that you might know how to do it faster." He tried.

Jaina rolled her eyes, hanging her cloth on one of the blasters on her ship and followed Jag to his X-wing.

"See right there." Jag pointed to a broken switch on the back of the ship.

Jaina walked closer to examine it. "That shouldn't be too hard." She said, rubbing her hands on her pant legs. "I just need a few things, I'll be right back."

Jag smirked, watching her every step. Within a few minutes, Jaina returned with a few tools and a wet rag. She got to work, and Jag watched intently over her shoulder. Jaina tugged on the switch lightly, but her hand slipped and she elbowed Jag in the stomach. "I'm sorry," She said, trying her best to stifle a laugh. She turned back to the ship and grinned.

"It's ok," Jag huffed. Jaina finished working on the switch and wiped it down with the wet rag. She flicked it lightly and turned around to face Jag. "There. It's fixed." She said, her eyes showing irritation. Her hand rested on her hip and her head cocked to the side.

"Thanks." He said, with a slight smirk on his face.

"No problem, now could you please get out of my way." She asked.

"Would you join me later, maybe for a walk? I need to know my way around here." He said slyly, leaning his face closer to hers.

Jaina put her face right up to his. "I'm sorry- You'll have to talk to Luke, I'm not a tour guide."

She pushed away from Jag, walking quickly back to her ship. Jag scowled at her. 'She'll see.' He thought to himself.

"Hey, Jaina!" Luke called from behind her. Jag looked at Luke at the same time Jaina did.

"Yeah, Uncle Luke?" She replied.

"Gimme a hand here." He said.

Jaina hung her cloth back up and walked out of the hangar. Jag watched her until she was out of sight. He turned to face his ship, examining the switch. "Hm.Nice work." He said to himself, and began looking for anything else that needed fixing.

' ' '

"What was that all about?" Luke asked Jaina.

"Oh, Jag was just inviting me on a date." Jaina said sarcastically.

Luke raised his eyebrow. "Really?" He asked, curiously.

"Oh Uncle Luke, you wouldn't think I'd actually spend time alone with him, do you?" Jaina asked.

"Well, he is the new Captain; you might want to get to know him." Luke said.

"I need to know his personality, not his body." Jaina replied.

Luke laughed slightly. "You can spend time with him and still just know his personality."

"I don't want to be around him." Jaina said, hinting anger.

"What are you afraid of.I thought I told you that you shouldn't fear anything." Luke prodded.

"I'm afraid of getting too close to him." Jaina was about to cry.

"Why should you fear that?"

Jaina was silent. She could feel tears filling her eyes. Her heart pounded, and she stared at the floor. "Zekk." Came from an unwilling voice.

"What?" Luke replied.

She sighed. "I.I love Zekk.and I don't want to lose that feeling. I've lost too many things already.and I don't want to let another one slip through my fingers.not if I can help it."

Luke stared at his niece. She was falling apart. Anakin was dead, Jacen was gone, Zekk left, she had no one to turn to who could understand fully. Not even Leia- who had been through most of what she had. No, Leia was her own mother, she'd never fully know. Jaina fell to her knees, tears falling freely from her face. Each tear like a piece of her.one for Jacen.Anakin.Zekk.Han.Leia.Tenel Ka.Luke.but not for herself.she had nothing left to cry for herself. She was already shattered and she didn't know what to do.