Summary: Rogue Squadron heads back to Hoth to defend an Intelligence Unit. But they get more than they bargained for.

Disclaimer: Star Wars, Rogue Squadron, and the rest are not mine. I write this
for my own amusement. Jesina is my own, original creation.

A Note: This story is part of my Jesina Dreis series, falling between "A New Path" and "Inner Demons, Outer Evils." They can, more or less, be read alone – as evidenced by the fact that I'm writing them all at the same time. But it'll probably all make sense in the end.

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Chapter 2: A Lot to Deal With

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It was 2200 hours before Hobbie woke up. When he did, Inyri was sitting in a chair across from her bed. She'd spent the last few hours alternating between reading on her datapad and checking on him. His groan as he rolled onto his back told her he was coming around.

She got up and crossed the floor, perching on the edge of the bed. His face was flushed and he was sweating. She brushed his hair back from his forehead. "Hobbie?" she asked, deliberately keeping her voice soft.

He blinked furiously and, after a moment, managed to keep his eyes open. "Inyri?" he mumbled, trying to sit up.

"Shh," she said. "I'm pretty sure you're still a little drunk, Hobbie." She pushed him gently back onto the bed.

He shook his head and moaned. "I feel terrible."

"I bet. You downed almost a whole bottle of Corellian ale in less than an hour. You couldn't even walk back to your room."

He looked around when she mentioned his room. "Where am I?"

"My quarters. I didn't know the code for your room. You weren't in any shape to tell me, and I didn't want to call Wedge or Tycho. I didn't think you'd want them seeing you like that."

"No, not really," he agreed. He hesitated. "I don't want to bother you any more, but would you mind getting me some water?"

"No problem." She stood and walked into the refresher. He heard the water run and she returned with a glass. "Here you go. You want some crackers or anything?"

He shook his head. "I don't think I can keep anything down."

She nodded in agreement. "Probably not." She hesitated. She'd spent the hours when he'd been asleep – unconscious? – reading up on the Battle at Hoth. She'd known a little about the battle before, but hadn't realized just how hard a loss it had been for the Rogues. Still, Hobbie was a seasoned soldier. She understood the difficulty in going back to a place that held bad memories, but she didn't understand why it was affecting him this badly. And she wasn't sure if she should ask.

So she didn't – not directly anyway. "You feel like talking?"

"You mean about why I just got so drunk?"

"That...or anything."

He sighed and looked away from her. "Not now, honestly."

"All right."

He pushed himself fully into a sitting position and swung his legs off the bed, wincing at the wave of dizziness and nausea that hit him. "Inyri, I don't want you to think I'm not grateful for your help, and for not telling Wedge and Tycho. It's just...I've got a lot to deal with, I guess, and drinking wasn't the smartest thing."

"No, it wasn't."

"Inyri, I—" He shook his head and sighed. "I'm sorry. Honestly, I appreciate your help. I just really don't feel up to it tonight." He pushed himself off the bed and onto his feet, swaying as he stood.

She jumped up and caught him before he fell. "Hobbie, you don't have to talk to me. I just thought it might help. You don't need to run away from me."

"I'm not. I just think it'd be better if I went back to my own quarters."

"Want some help?"

Thinking about how he'd almost fallen a minute before, he nodded. "Yeah, actually. That might be a good idea."

Inyri slipped an arm around his waist again and walked with him to the door, pausing to open it before they stepped out into the corridor. They made it the ten meters or so down to his door, and Inyri marveled at how much easier the trip was this time around. Just as he was keying in the access code, Wes came around the corner, and Inyri swore under her breath. She could just imagine the punishment she'd be taking later on tonight and tomorrow – and for the rest of this mission, most likely.

Hobbie didn't seem to notice Wes or hear Inyri's reaction as they made their way into his room. She helped him settle on the bed and filled a bottle of water for him, but didn't stay much longer than that, and they didn't really talk anymore. She bade him good night, reminded him again that she'd be around if he needed to talk, and then left. Janson was waiting outside.

"What was that all about?" he asked teasingly.

"My quarters," she replied tersely, walking right by him and keying in the access code.

"Thanks for the invite," he joked, "but I don't want to mess with my friend's girl." He followed her into the room.

"First off, I'm not his girl. And don't so much as suggest it to anyone." She looked him right in the eye, her face only centimeters from his. "Sit down." He sat.

She put her datapad on the desk and sat back where she had been when Hobbie was in here. "I was walking him back to his room because he's been here for the last four hours or so sleeping off a bottle of Corellian ale."

Wes gaped at her. "Hobbie? Are you serious?"

Inyri scowled. "Yes, I'm serious. I went down to the bar for a quick drink, and he was there. According to the server droid, he'd been there less than an hour, and had already nearly emptied a large bottle. I got him up here after some lieutenant helped me get him halfway upright in the lounge. I was going to bring him to his room, but he was barely conscious and I didn't know his access code. I figured that everyone was better off if I didn't call Wedge or Tycho, and I didn't think that you'd know it either." She looked at him. "Do you know why?"

He was quiet for a long minute. "Yeah. Wedge and I had knock-down drag-out fight over it about three hours ago. I knew he was upset, but I didn't know it was this bad."

"I tried to get him to talk to me, but he wouldn't. He said he had a lot to think about."

"Yeah. Don't take it personally. Hoth is...a sensitive issue for all four of us. Especially him. He'll come around. It just might take a while." He stood up. "I'm going to go talk to Wedge."

"Don't tell him!" Inyri exclaimed. "Hobbie doesn't want him to know."

"I'm not going to tell Wedge that he got drunk. I'm just going to warn him that he's not okay." He walked to the door, but turned back. "Thanks, Inyri."

She watched him leave, wondering what, exactly, was going on. There had to be more to this than just a bad defeat.