Hearts Are Meant To: Chapter 4
Awareness came slowly. First, there was the sensation of numbness encompassing cheek and temple, with the unfamiliar sensation of something firm and covered in some kind of material pressed against both. Second came the throbbing headache, located right behind each eye.
"Morning," a sleepy voice muttered.
Genna jerked fully awake at the sound and sat up quickly, immediately regretting it as a pair of sledgehammers seemed to go into a frenzy in her brain. Squinting her eyes against the pain, she blinked at the large cup of water that appeared to hover right in the center of her vision. It took a moment for the hand holding the cup to coalesce out of the hazy edges of her sight. Following the hand back to its owner, her gaze finally rested upon the tired features of a young man.
"Morning, Luke," she mumbled as she recognized him. "But I'm not saying what kind of morning." She didn't even attempt to smile as she grasped the cup out of his hand and began to take small sips of water. Even her throat felt terrible, but the water felt good going down. Continuing to drink, she rubbed her now tingling cheek with her hand. "Remind me not to fall asleep on your leg again, will you?"
Luke's laugh was deep with sleep. "You have a hangover, and you blame my leg for it?"
Genna shook her head, wincing at the spasms of pain that shot down her stiff neck. "This is no hangover. It's pure, Sithly hell."
Luke grinned and seemed about to make a comment when he suddenly grimaced. She watched amusedly while he began to flex and straighten his leg, drawing a sharp breath each time he did.
"Leg asleep?" she teased.
"Not anymore," Luke groaned. "And I think it's angry about being awakened."
This time it was Genna's turn to grin. "That makes two of us." Her headache prevented her from laughing at Luke's returning glare, and she continued to sip on her water. Suddenly she looked down at her nearly empty cup. "Hey, where did this water come from?"
Luke tried to look innocent. "Magic?"
"No, really?" Genna pressed, not in the mood to play games at all. "Where did you get it? I know you didn't hobble into the 'fresher with me on your lap, not that you could reach the tap if you did."
Luke shrugged his shoulders and yawned. "Zev brought it in."
"What?" Genna's head gave a mighty throb as her voice rose louder than she had intended.
"Zev brought it in," he repeated, as though she hadn't heard. "He should be back in a few minutes."
"Wait," Genna asked, trying to sound patient through the pounding in her head and the still-sick feeling in her stomach. "Zev came in here and saw me passed out on your lap?"
Luke nodded.
"Well, what did you say?" she demanded. This wasn't exactly the way she wanted to start out with the Rogues. Not to mention what it might do to her reputation if rumors started.
Luke furrowed his brows. "What else was I going to say? The truth." Genna glared, waiting for him to continue. "What?" he asked. "I told him what happened, and he came back with some water for you and said he was going to grab someone to help me to the medcenter."
"That's it?" Genna asked dubiously.
Luke appeared to be taken aback. "Yes, that's it. What do you think I was going to tell him?"
Genna's cheeks flushed hotly, and she glanced down as she finished her water, not wanting to answer the question. Now that it came down to it, she felt ashamed for asking. Luke wasn't the type to boast or brag. That much she'd figured out during their long conversation last night. She felt badly for implying that he could be. Risking a glance up at him, she could tell he was hurt by the unspoken suspicion. "Nothing," she muttered.
"Don't worry," Luke bit out sharply, fatigue seeming to give his voice even more of an edge. "You're virtue is safe with me, M'lady."
Genna flinched at his sarcasm. "You know, a girl has a right to be protective of herself."
Luke arched his brows. "This coming from the girl who got herself sick trying to get a date and then passed out in someone else's room?"
Luke's sharp retort hit home, and Genna instinctively tried to toss her water in his face. Unfortunately, there was none left, as Luke's smug and dry face proved.
"Would you like some more?" he offered darkly. "If you're going to drink it, that is?"
His tone stung. More than it should have. She glared at him, forcing as much anger outward as she could, although in truth she wasn't really angry with him at all. She was more upset with herself. If anything, her anger at him was merely a result of his unexpected effect upon her, and his response to the fact that she'd just insulted him. Not for the first time since she'd met him, she noticed her heart pounding in her chest and a strange tingling sensation across her skin. Refusing to back down from her intense stare, she willed her heart to calm down, as much for the sake of her pounding head as for her pride. She was not going to be baited by this man. And she'd be damned if she was going to let him hurt her with sharp words, although she was pretty sure she'd deserved it. She was cranky when she didn't feel well, and a bit too sensitive, she mused. That must be the real reason she had reacted to his question with this cold ache in the center of her stomach.
She wasn't making sense, she realized. In fact, she was being rather irrational. Or was it too rational? Her head hurt too much to think, and it was hard enough to think clearly with his blue-eyed gaze boring into her. What was she doing? Why was she still sitting here? What was she waiting for? A tiny voice began to make suggestions to her tired brain. A touch? A kiss?
"No thanks," she finally bit out in response to both his own question and her irritating thoughts, not taking her eyes off his for fear of it being interpreted as weakness. "I've got to go."
Luke only nodded, and she had the satisfaction of seeing him break away from her gaze first. It was a hollow satisfaction, however, she realized as she stood to leave.
She set the empty cup on the floor and moved to the door. "See you later," she called over her shoulder with forced casualness.
She hadn't expected a response. And she didn't receive one.
Palming open the door, Genna stepped out into the corridor and paused as she heard the door slide closed behind her. Leaning against the wall, she drew a shaky breath. She'd made a mess of things. She really had. And with her commanding officer no less. What had gotten into her? Glumly she stepped away from the wall and proceeded down the hallway. She only hoped things didn't get any worse.
********************
"So let me get this straight, kid," Han laughed incredulously. "This girl spent the whole night in your room?"
Luke nodded groggily. A 2-1B was about to set his ankle, which was, in fact, broken, and he'd been given an injection that was numbing his senses as well as his pain.
"And all you did was talk all night?" Han pressed.
Again, Luke nodded.
"Well, did you at least hit it off?"
Luke scowled. He really didn't want to answer these questions at the moment. He just wanted to sleep. He hadn't gotten much rest the night before, and the painkiller was countering whatever energy was left. "Han, please," he groaned irritably.
"Hey, kid," Han protested, "I'm only looking out for you."
"And how is that?" Luke asked wearily.
Han was saved from answering by the approach of the medical droid. "We're ready to proceed, sir," the soft mechanical voice intoned.
Luke glanced upward at the droid and gave an involuntary shudder. He'd seen enough of medical droids that he wasn't as intimidated by their skull-like faces as he had been as a child. However, he still didn't like having to face them. "Ready when you are," he remarked with forced enthusiasm.
The droid moved into position and placed its mechanical hands upon his leg and foot with surprising gentleness. "Sir, this may hurt a bit in spite of the painkiller."
Luke nodded and braced himself. The droid moved swiftly; so swiftly, in fact, that he was finished with the procedure before Luke had a chance to cry out. "Shavit," he swore between clenched teeth when it was all over. "You were right. It hurt."
"I'm sorry, sir," apologized the droid, sounding very sympathetic for a machine.
"You okay, kid?" Han asked, eyebrows raised in concern.
"Yes," Luke hissed, as the pain slowly began to lessen. Glancing up at Han through eyes slightly glazed with fatigue and pain, he added, "I'm thankful for that shot, though."
Han grinned. "I'll bet you are."
At that moment, the door slid open and a blur rushed into the room, too quickly for Luke's drugged gaze to follow. He waited until the figure had stopped beside the medical cot before focusing in on whoever it was. Then he smiled.
"Hi, Leia," he greeted with forced cheerfulness.
"I thought they were kidding!" she exclaimed hotly, with annoyance clearly etched on her features. "How did you get yourself into this mess?"
"He fell out of bed trying to rescue a damsel in distress," Han mirthfully answered.
"What?" Leia wasn't following. She glanced from Han to Luke and back.
Luke sighed and answered, "I slept in Wedge's bunk because one of the Rogues passed out on my bunk after having too much to drink. When I woke up in the middle of the night, it was dark, and I forgot where I was, and I went to get out of bed and fell out instead."
Leia frowned. "So where does the damsel in distress come into the picture?"
Han cleared his throat before clarifying, "It was Genna Cage who passed out in his room."
Luke rolled his eyes at Leia's disbelieving stare. "She was horribly ill in the middle of the night," he tried to explain. "What was I supposed to do?"
"Get out of bed without breaking your ankle for one thing," Leia teased, her lips curving upward at Luke's predicament.
Luke glared. "Don't start with me, too. I'm going to have enough trouble living this down as it is."
"You're really taking this Hoth thing pretty seriously, huh?" she laughed. "Trying to make your point any way you can?"
Luke merely scowled. "Thanks for reminding me."
Han and Leia exchanged amused glances, much to Luke's irritation. He was too off-balance between the drugs and the pain to handle the two of them teasing him about everything. Couldn't they be even a little sympathetic?
Leia, however, continued. "So may I ask what happened to your damsel?"
Luke stared at her for a moment. There was something odd in her tone that he couldn't quite catch. He tried to place it, but he was a bit too groggy. He did notice the teasing look she gave him, however. He shut his eyes and groaned dramatically. "Can't a guy suffer a broken ankle without the humiliation, please?"
"Things didn't go well, I take it," Leia inferred.
Luke opened his eyes and glanced from Leia to Han, realizing he wasn't going to get out of this, no matter how weary he was. Some pair of friends! He looked down at his lap. "She sort of ran out this morning."
"Why?" asked Han and Leia simultaneously.
Luke was dumbfounded. Why were they suddenly so interested in what had happened between Genna and himself? Why was this suddenly worth knowing? What did they care about what happened between himself and a nearly-total stranger during what had turned out to be a rather catastrophic evening? Why couldn't they just let things be and show some sympathy for his injury? "I don't know! She has issues, okay?" he finally replied.
Leia grinned slightly at his words, and Luke noticed what appeared to be a trace of smug satisfaction in that grin. Confused, he wondered at the meaning behind that expression. An alarm bell went off in Luke's mind, but he dismissed it as utterly ridiculous. Surely Leia, of all people, could not be jealous of Genna Cage!
"Well, kid," Han broke in, "we'd love to stay and chat. But the Princess and me, here, got a mission to accomplish." He confidently threw his arm over Leia's shoulders to emphasize his point.
Luke had the satisfaction of watching Leia toss his arm back at him with a look of disgust.
With a sidelong glare directed at Solo, Leia leaned toward Luke and planted a kiss on his forehead. "I do have to leave, Luke. But take care of yourself, okay?"
Luke's lips twitched as he tried to fight the urge to flash a beaming smile, but he simply nodded and watched her as she left without giving Solo another glance.
Looking slightly miffed but retaining the Solo swagger, Han ignored what had just happened and continued, "Enjoy those bone-knitters. And watch you don't break any more bones helpin' out your 'fellow Rogues,' ya' here?"
"And you watch yourself with her, Han," Luke countered tiredly. "I don't want to have to play mediator between you two again 'cause you managed to upset her so much she won't speak to you."
"Come on," Han remarked with a dismissive wave. "How often has that happened?"
An arched eyebrow and a knowing glance were Luke's only responses.
Han chuckled as he turned to leave. "See ya' when I get back, kid."
Luke nodded and laughed. "Take care, Han." He watched his friend leave, then turned to the approaching 2-IB. "Okay, I think I'm ready for those bone-knitters, now."
Awareness came slowly. First, there was the sensation of numbness encompassing cheek and temple, with the unfamiliar sensation of something firm and covered in some kind of material pressed against both. Second came the throbbing headache, located right behind each eye.
"Morning," a sleepy voice muttered.
Genna jerked fully awake at the sound and sat up quickly, immediately regretting it as a pair of sledgehammers seemed to go into a frenzy in her brain. Squinting her eyes against the pain, she blinked at the large cup of water that appeared to hover right in the center of her vision. It took a moment for the hand holding the cup to coalesce out of the hazy edges of her sight. Following the hand back to its owner, her gaze finally rested upon the tired features of a young man.
"Morning, Luke," she mumbled as she recognized him. "But I'm not saying what kind of morning." She didn't even attempt to smile as she grasped the cup out of his hand and began to take small sips of water. Even her throat felt terrible, but the water felt good going down. Continuing to drink, she rubbed her now tingling cheek with her hand. "Remind me not to fall asleep on your leg again, will you?"
Luke's laugh was deep with sleep. "You have a hangover, and you blame my leg for it?"
Genna shook her head, wincing at the spasms of pain that shot down her stiff neck. "This is no hangover. It's pure, Sithly hell."
Luke grinned and seemed about to make a comment when he suddenly grimaced. She watched amusedly while he began to flex and straighten his leg, drawing a sharp breath each time he did.
"Leg asleep?" she teased.
"Not anymore," Luke groaned. "And I think it's angry about being awakened."
This time it was Genna's turn to grin. "That makes two of us." Her headache prevented her from laughing at Luke's returning glare, and she continued to sip on her water. Suddenly she looked down at her nearly empty cup. "Hey, where did this water come from?"
Luke tried to look innocent. "Magic?"
"No, really?" Genna pressed, not in the mood to play games at all. "Where did you get it? I know you didn't hobble into the 'fresher with me on your lap, not that you could reach the tap if you did."
Luke shrugged his shoulders and yawned. "Zev brought it in."
"What?" Genna's head gave a mighty throb as her voice rose louder than she had intended.
"Zev brought it in," he repeated, as though she hadn't heard. "He should be back in a few minutes."
"Wait," Genna asked, trying to sound patient through the pounding in her head and the still-sick feeling in her stomach. "Zev came in here and saw me passed out on your lap?"
Luke nodded.
"Well, what did you say?" she demanded. This wasn't exactly the way she wanted to start out with the Rogues. Not to mention what it might do to her reputation if rumors started.
Luke furrowed his brows. "What else was I going to say? The truth." Genna glared, waiting for him to continue. "What?" he asked. "I told him what happened, and he came back with some water for you and said he was going to grab someone to help me to the medcenter."
"That's it?" Genna asked dubiously.
Luke appeared to be taken aback. "Yes, that's it. What do you think I was going to tell him?"
Genna's cheeks flushed hotly, and she glanced down as she finished her water, not wanting to answer the question. Now that it came down to it, she felt ashamed for asking. Luke wasn't the type to boast or brag. That much she'd figured out during their long conversation last night. She felt badly for implying that he could be. Risking a glance up at him, she could tell he was hurt by the unspoken suspicion. "Nothing," she muttered.
"Don't worry," Luke bit out sharply, fatigue seeming to give his voice even more of an edge. "You're virtue is safe with me, M'lady."
Genna flinched at his sarcasm. "You know, a girl has a right to be protective of herself."
Luke arched his brows. "This coming from the girl who got herself sick trying to get a date and then passed out in someone else's room?"
Luke's sharp retort hit home, and Genna instinctively tried to toss her water in his face. Unfortunately, there was none left, as Luke's smug and dry face proved.
"Would you like some more?" he offered darkly. "If you're going to drink it, that is?"
His tone stung. More than it should have. She glared at him, forcing as much anger outward as she could, although in truth she wasn't really angry with him at all. She was more upset with herself. If anything, her anger at him was merely a result of his unexpected effect upon her, and his response to the fact that she'd just insulted him. Not for the first time since she'd met him, she noticed her heart pounding in her chest and a strange tingling sensation across her skin. Refusing to back down from her intense stare, she willed her heart to calm down, as much for the sake of her pounding head as for her pride. She was not going to be baited by this man. And she'd be damned if she was going to let him hurt her with sharp words, although she was pretty sure she'd deserved it. She was cranky when she didn't feel well, and a bit too sensitive, she mused. That must be the real reason she had reacted to his question with this cold ache in the center of her stomach.
She wasn't making sense, she realized. In fact, she was being rather irrational. Or was it too rational? Her head hurt too much to think, and it was hard enough to think clearly with his blue-eyed gaze boring into her. What was she doing? Why was she still sitting here? What was she waiting for? A tiny voice began to make suggestions to her tired brain. A touch? A kiss?
"No thanks," she finally bit out in response to both his own question and her irritating thoughts, not taking her eyes off his for fear of it being interpreted as weakness. "I've got to go."
Luke only nodded, and she had the satisfaction of seeing him break away from her gaze first. It was a hollow satisfaction, however, she realized as she stood to leave.
She set the empty cup on the floor and moved to the door. "See you later," she called over her shoulder with forced casualness.
She hadn't expected a response. And she didn't receive one.
Palming open the door, Genna stepped out into the corridor and paused as she heard the door slide closed behind her. Leaning against the wall, she drew a shaky breath. She'd made a mess of things. She really had. And with her commanding officer no less. What had gotten into her? Glumly she stepped away from the wall and proceeded down the hallway. She only hoped things didn't get any worse.
********************
"So let me get this straight, kid," Han laughed incredulously. "This girl spent the whole night in your room?"
Luke nodded groggily. A 2-1B was about to set his ankle, which was, in fact, broken, and he'd been given an injection that was numbing his senses as well as his pain.
"And all you did was talk all night?" Han pressed.
Again, Luke nodded.
"Well, did you at least hit it off?"
Luke scowled. He really didn't want to answer these questions at the moment. He just wanted to sleep. He hadn't gotten much rest the night before, and the painkiller was countering whatever energy was left. "Han, please," he groaned irritably.
"Hey, kid," Han protested, "I'm only looking out for you."
"And how is that?" Luke asked wearily.
Han was saved from answering by the approach of the medical droid. "We're ready to proceed, sir," the soft mechanical voice intoned.
Luke glanced upward at the droid and gave an involuntary shudder. He'd seen enough of medical droids that he wasn't as intimidated by their skull-like faces as he had been as a child. However, he still didn't like having to face them. "Ready when you are," he remarked with forced enthusiasm.
The droid moved into position and placed its mechanical hands upon his leg and foot with surprising gentleness. "Sir, this may hurt a bit in spite of the painkiller."
Luke nodded and braced himself. The droid moved swiftly; so swiftly, in fact, that he was finished with the procedure before Luke had a chance to cry out. "Shavit," he swore between clenched teeth when it was all over. "You were right. It hurt."
"I'm sorry, sir," apologized the droid, sounding very sympathetic for a machine.
"You okay, kid?" Han asked, eyebrows raised in concern.
"Yes," Luke hissed, as the pain slowly began to lessen. Glancing up at Han through eyes slightly glazed with fatigue and pain, he added, "I'm thankful for that shot, though."
Han grinned. "I'll bet you are."
At that moment, the door slid open and a blur rushed into the room, too quickly for Luke's drugged gaze to follow. He waited until the figure had stopped beside the medical cot before focusing in on whoever it was. Then he smiled.
"Hi, Leia," he greeted with forced cheerfulness.
"I thought they were kidding!" she exclaimed hotly, with annoyance clearly etched on her features. "How did you get yourself into this mess?"
"He fell out of bed trying to rescue a damsel in distress," Han mirthfully answered.
"What?" Leia wasn't following. She glanced from Han to Luke and back.
Luke sighed and answered, "I slept in Wedge's bunk because one of the Rogues passed out on my bunk after having too much to drink. When I woke up in the middle of the night, it was dark, and I forgot where I was, and I went to get out of bed and fell out instead."
Leia frowned. "So where does the damsel in distress come into the picture?"
Han cleared his throat before clarifying, "It was Genna Cage who passed out in his room."
Luke rolled his eyes at Leia's disbelieving stare. "She was horribly ill in the middle of the night," he tried to explain. "What was I supposed to do?"
"Get out of bed without breaking your ankle for one thing," Leia teased, her lips curving upward at Luke's predicament.
Luke glared. "Don't start with me, too. I'm going to have enough trouble living this down as it is."
"You're really taking this Hoth thing pretty seriously, huh?" she laughed. "Trying to make your point any way you can?"
Luke merely scowled. "Thanks for reminding me."
Han and Leia exchanged amused glances, much to Luke's irritation. He was too off-balance between the drugs and the pain to handle the two of them teasing him about everything. Couldn't they be even a little sympathetic?
Leia, however, continued. "So may I ask what happened to your damsel?"
Luke stared at her for a moment. There was something odd in her tone that he couldn't quite catch. He tried to place it, but he was a bit too groggy. He did notice the teasing look she gave him, however. He shut his eyes and groaned dramatically. "Can't a guy suffer a broken ankle without the humiliation, please?"
"Things didn't go well, I take it," Leia inferred.
Luke opened his eyes and glanced from Leia to Han, realizing he wasn't going to get out of this, no matter how weary he was. Some pair of friends! He looked down at his lap. "She sort of ran out this morning."
"Why?" asked Han and Leia simultaneously.
Luke was dumbfounded. Why were they suddenly so interested in what had happened between Genna and himself? Why was this suddenly worth knowing? What did they care about what happened between himself and a nearly-total stranger during what had turned out to be a rather catastrophic evening? Why couldn't they just let things be and show some sympathy for his injury? "I don't know! She has issues, okay?" he finally replied.
Leia grinned slightly at his words, and Luke noticed what appeared to be a trace of smug satisfaction in that grin. Confused, he wondered at the meaning behind that expression. An alarm bell went off in Luke's mind, but he dismissed it as utterly ridiculous. Surely Leia, of all people, could not be jealous of Genna Cage!
"Well, kid," Han broke in, "we'd love to stay and chat. But the Princess and me, here, got a mission to accomplish." He confidently threw his arm over Leia's shoulders to emphasize his point.
Luke had the satisfaction of watching Leia toss his arm back at him with a look of disgust.
With a sidelong glare directed at Solo, Leia leaned toward Luke and planted a kiss on his forehead. "I do have to leave, Luke. But take care of yourself, okay?"
Luke's lips twitched as he tried to fight the urge to flash a beaming smile, but he simply nodded and watched her as she left without giving Solo another glance.
Looking slightly miffed but retaining the Solo swagger, Han ignored what had just happened and continued, "Enjoy those bone-knitters. And watch you don't break any more bones helpin' out your 'fellow Rogues,' ya' here?"
"And you watch yourself with her, Han," Luke countered tiredly. "I don't want to have to play mediator between you two again 'cause you managed to upset her so much she won't speak to you."
"Come on," Han remarked with a dismissive wave. "How often has that happened?"
An arched eyebrow and a knowing glance were Luke's only responses.
Han chuckled as he turned to leave. "See ya' when I get back, kid."
Luke nodded and laughed. "Take care, Han." He watched his friend leave, then turned to the approaching 2-IB. "Okay, I think I'm ready for those bone-knitters, now."