Chapter 2

:Medical Frigate:

Jaina struggled to regain consciousness. It was dark, and her eyes opened painfully as she tried to make them focus too fast. She was bathed in cold sweat, her guess was that the medics had tried to warm her so much she had gotten too warm. In a moment she was able to see dim shapes and shadows. In the darkness she heard someone's soft breathing, and felt a warm hand wrapped around her own. She was in the medical quarters. Taking in a deep breath she sighed, and she felt Zekk's hand close around her own.

"Good morning, beautiful." He whispered tiredly. He could already tell she was awake.

"I made a mess of things again, didn't I?" Jaina whispered.

"It was an ambush. That's how they work."

Reaching over, Jaina ran a hand through Zekk's black hair. While he was simply tired, she was weak. "What happened?"

"You were left in the cooler for too long." Zekk sat up, brushing her stray locks of sweat-soaked cinnamon hair out of her face. "They told me you were dead, but I didn't believe them." A hint of a smile curved at his lips, his darker features still distinguishable in the dim glow of the room.

"I'm too mean to die, Zekk. You know that." Jaina sat up, feeling her head start to swim. "Do me a favor?"

Zekk paused, listening.

"Could you pull me out..." Despite herself, Jaina's voice became small and hesitant. "I'm so hot now it's hard to breathe."

:LATER:

Jaina and Zekk lay quietly in one of the large fluffy couches in the pilot's lounge. Next to them was a large window that looked out on the Jedi Fleet. The lounge was empty because it was right in the middle of a sleep cycle. All the pilots were sleeping exhausted in their bunks. All except Jaina and Zekk.

Jaina had been dressed in a simple sleeveless white robe that fastened loosely around the neck when she was placed into the medical frigate. Now she lay across Zekk's chest, the white fabric of the simple robe billowing across his worn-looking uniform. They lay there in silence, looking out across the stars. It had happened many times before. Commanders mourned the loss of their wing men and the fighters they had led into battle. Both knew what was going through their own minds. Neither wanted to discuss the feeling of failure that they couldn't bring every single of their pilots home. Echoes of the death cries through the Force- and even over the com rang in their memories. It would be in their memories forever, as long as they both lived.

The fire of the pain was only soothed by the night, and staring out into the stars. Zekk ran his fingers up and down Jaina's bare arm, creating a comforting sensation on her skin. She sighed deeply, listening to his heartbeat. "I'm sorry."

Zekk seemed surprised. "For what?"

"I've been acting horribly, and I know I've not been acting like a Jedi." Jaina closed her eyes.

"What's the matter."

"It was just a dream." Jaina answered, looking up at him. "It's nothing."

Zekk paused. "Jedi don't just dream, Jaina. We both know this. What was it?"

"Why do you want to know?" Jaina was surprised when Zekk began to chuckle, and unconsciously she began to smile too. "What?"

"I don't need to know, but I know you want to tell me."

Jaina looked into his green eyes. "What makes you think that?"

"How long have I known you?"

Jaina sighed, leaning down again. "You know me too well."

"That is true." Zekk replied. "So? What about your dream."

"It was my grandfather." Jaina felt it as Zekk's breath caught in his chest.

"Vader?"

"Yes. Only it wasn't really." She took Zekk's hand in her own, lacing her fingers among his. "It was Anakin Skywalker."

"What did he say?"

A cold shiver ran down Jaina's back, and she closed her eyes even tighter. "He warned me about the dark side."

Zekk wrapped he left arm around her shoulders, not really saying anything for a moment, and when he did say something all he could think to say was a quiet "oh."

"But still." Jaina coughed, feeling once again the coldness of space. "You are my best friend, and you...saved my life again...that makes what? Twelve times?"

"Thirteen."

"No, no." Jaina sat up again, a hint of a Solo grin forming on her lips. "That bit on Hapes doesn't count."

"Oh really?" Zekk wrapped his arms around her waist, "It wasn't my fault you wanted to jump into that pit of Veltrons."

"I jumped in to save your skin, mister high and mighty." Jaina tried to tickle him, but he held her too firmly. "Besides, I've saved your life well over twelve times."

Their faces were centimeters apart, "Is that so, Jedi."

"That is so." Jaina leaned in even closer, for the first time a real smile curving her lips.

2b continued.