Turn of the Tide- Chapter 2

A small hallway, that lead down a deserted corridor reeked with silence one afternoon. At least Jaina thought it was the afternoon. She had gotten sick of carrying around a watch. Since the Rebel Dream just a ship hanging in the infinities of space, it's not like anyone knew what the real time was anyway. Even then, Jaina only got 3 or 4 hours of sleep, at, what she thought, was night. During one of those hours when she thought, it was about mid afternoon, she arrived at a small conference room known to only a few people aboard the Rebel Dream. Taking one last look down the empty hallway, she slipped inside and the lock clicked behind her, plunging her into darkness.

Instantly she felt a hand shoot out and grab her wrist, pulling her towards and unseen figure, silhouetted by the small window in the room, leading out into the infinities of space. She felt her body press up against a warm fight suit and two arms sneak around her waists. She tried hard to fight of her defense reflex but the force had more control than she did at the moment and she felt her assailant fly halfway across the room, propelled by a force assisted shove. She felt around for the lights mechanism and quickly flipped it on, revealing a scene that made her want to bust her gut laughing, but she had enough sense to hold her tongue. Jag Fel lay sprawled out across the middle of the room with a shocked look on his face. Scattered all around him were blank sheets of paper, obviously fallen from the only piece of furniture in the room, a small desk which lay directly in back of Jag. Jaina was almost inclined to let out a giggle but then she remembered why he had been laying on the ground. She put her hands on her waist in a very stern gesture and stared accusingly at Jag.

"What did you want to do? Scare me half to death?" she was quite annoyed at the fact that he had been able to sneak up on her. Her senses towards him must be getting soft.

"Ah come on Jaina," he said sorrowfully rubbing a sore spot on the back of his head. "Who else do you think would have been in here? Besides you told me to meet you here!" That was technically true. Jaina had called Jag and asked him to meet her in their conference room so they could have a few moments alone before the hoard of people came along to wish them luck on their mission.

"But I didn't expect you to be here before me Jag! What would you think if someone randomly grabbed you in a darkened room and tried to kiss you?" She crossed her arms in front of her chest and tapped her foot menacingly towards him.

Jag sat up carefully as he replied. "I hadn't even tried to kiss you yet," he shrugged his shoulders for effect. By her face still raw with anger, he could tell that it had no effect. "I was just warming you up." He topped it off with one of his weak-at-the-knees smiles and Jaina felt the ice around her heart melt. Sith, why does he always have to do that?

Jaina decided to let that subject go, she knew when she was defeated. "Are you packed yet?" she walked a little closer to Jag and was still staring at him as he sat up a little more.

"There's not much to pack is there. I mean the Wraiths have got all our clothing and food stuff," he finally managed to stand up and they were standing about a foot away from each other. Jag knew she was still angry, and he didn't want to push her, but her tentatively took a small step forward. She still owed him a kiss.

Jaina raised one eyebrow at him as he stepped forwards and she put on a sinister smirk as she took one step back. Jag, complying to the challenge took another step forwards as she stepped back. This continued for a whole of 4 steps before Jaina's smile disappeared and she was caught between the wall and a very haughty looking Jag. He reached up and put his hands beside her head on the wall. His triumphant smile made her heart feel giddy and she waggled her eyebrows invitingly. Accepting the offer Jag leaned forward and kissed her, long and deep. His hands came off the wall and down to her back as he pulled her towards him, savoring her sweet smell and taste. Jaina likewise gripped her hands around his neck and basked in the goodness that she was feeling.

Reluctantly they pulled apart, only a little bit, just to rest their foreheads against each other. Jag reached around and grabbed Jaina's hands from his neck and their fingers intertwined before them.

"We'd better go get the ship prepped and say goodbye," Jag said finally. "You're father would kill me if he knew I was keeping you from saying goodbye."

"Aww…my father would have killed you a long time ago anyway," Jaina said smiling as she pulled away. She left one hand still connected and lead him towards the door. "If it wasn't for my mother." She gave him a wink and had to silently nod his head in agreement. Thank the Force for Pirncess Leia. Before Jaina could open the door, jag raised their connected hands and gently kissed the nape of her knuckles. " 'Two weeks' ," he quoted his Uncle Wedge. "Two weeks…alone."

Smirking Jaina released her hand from his. "Two weeks for research dear Colonel," she watched his face droop slightly and gave herself a victory point for deceiving. "And you keep your hands on those data pads or my mother won't be able to keep my father back." She offered him a seductive grin and she waved the door open and sprinted down the hall before he could catch her.

When Jag had finally caught up to Jaina in the hanger bay, she was already saying her goodbyes to friends and family. Staying out of the way he slowly went over to the ship to go inside and do the final diagnostics readout. A tap on his shoulder stopped him and he turned around. Jacen Solo stood behind him, wearing his fathers famous half grin and his arms crossed in front of his chest, like a Jaina Solo clone, only a guy. Jag had never really gotten to know Jacen much. After only having known the man for 2 months, the bond between them was quite slim. Jaina had told Jag all about him, but he still felt left out whenever he saw them embrace, brother to sister. Jag had to admit, that Jaina and Jacen's bond was probably more important to Jaina than Jaina's and his. It didn't really bother him much. He knew how much she loved her brother, and he was glad, for Jaina's sake, that Jacen had come back.

"Jacen," Jag nodded his head towards the younger man, still not quite sure of his intentions.

"Jag," Jacen repeated the gesture and held out his hand towards the Chiss Colonel.

Still a little hesitant, Jag reached out and gave it a firm shake. Out of the corner of his eye her saw Jaina embracing her mother, with her father close by, watching the exchange between Jag and Jacen.

There was silence between the two for a moment. Finally Jag decided that he had had enough. "Is this about Jaina? If it is please state your intentions or let me get on board."

"Actually, I came here to hear you state your intentions, towards my sister," Jag for the first time felt that brother protectiveness radiating off Jacen. Now was really not when he wanted to say this, especially with han Solo throwing him glances every five seconds, but he was certain that Jacen was not going to let Jaina leave until Jag had said what he knew needed to be said.

"What would you like me to say? That I love your sister? That I will do anything to protect her? That I would rather give my life than to see her in pain?" he paused for effect, studying the mans face. "Consider it said."

"That," Jacen paused. Jag could see that his facial expressions weren't giving off any of his thoughts and he braced himself for a beat down by the younger boy. Jacen continued, "That is exactly what I wanted to hear." Jag hadn't even realized that he had been holding his breath but the forced his lungs to exhale and a smile to came to his face. All of a sudden Jacen pulled him into and unmistakable hug. Just before he let go, Jag heard a small voice faintly in his head. But if anything happens to her, you are a dead man…

Jacen broke the hug, gave a wink to Jag as he smiled and walked off, leaving jag standing shocked in his position. Did Jacen Solo just threaten him? Who would have thought the day would come…

"Hey Kid!" Han Solo was waving towards Jag and he felt and involuntary lump form in his throat. He should have been prepared for this from the moment he heard about this mission. But something told him that he could never be prepared for a conversation with Han Solo.

Solo came to a stop right in front of Jag and even though Han was only a inch or two taller than jag, he felt as if a Giant was standing before him. Gulping he forced himself to look into the old smuggler's eyes.

"Ye..yes?" he said weakly, and he mentally hit himself for it. If there was one person in this world not to sound weak in front of, Han Solo was the worst.

"I'm not gonna cover this up with any 'she gets hurt and you die junk'," he paused for a moment and shook his finger down at Jag as if scolding a small child. "But I just want you to know, I've been through a lot of torcher," Jag's eyes went wide at that word and he felt his heart skip a beat. "And believe me…I know what hurts." Jag felt the blood drain from his face as he considered the older man's words. Gulping down the lump in his throat, all he could do was nod. Han smiled as he sensed the discomfort in Jag and clapped his hand on the back of his shoulder. As he walked away he stopped and quickly turned back around. "Oh one more thing," he took one step towards Jag and spoke in a hushed voice. "She gets hurt…and you die." Almost as a reassuring gesture he clapped his hand one more time on Jag's back and then walked off.

Jag was still staring at his retreating form when Jaina came up beside him. Shaking the discomfort out of his eyes he turned towards her.

"Why of all people did I fall for you?" He said in half seriousness. He saw her eyes narrow and dodged a punch that was aimed at his head. She flipped her head at him and walked very stiffly up the ramp to the ship. A half grin was on his face as he followed her. He looked back one more time and saw Wedge wink at him from a distance. Giving everyone a final salute he went into the ship and closed the hatch.

To be continued…