General Carlist Rieekan brushed a few stray locks of hair away from Leia's face. She'd finally dozed off about an hour before and he didn't want to disturb her. He pulled her blanket a little tighter around her as he felt her shiver. He'd tried to talk some sense into her. He'd told her she should go to her room and try to sleep. He'd promised he'd send someone as soon as she could go in and see Captain Solo and Commander Skywalker. But that girl was just like her father and had insisted on keeping her vigil outside the door to the medical center. He couldn't let her sit there all by herself all night, so he decided to join her, like her father would have done.

Carlist Rieekan had been one of Bail Organa's best friends and when he died, Carlist had made it his personal mission to make sure that Leia was cared for. When she'd been a child she would run into his arms every time he went for a meeting with her father. Every time he made sure he had a treat for Leia as well. It was always something small like a bag of her favorite candies or a new hair ribbon. He'd been honored by her affection and as she'd gotten older she'd always been there to greet him with a kiss on the cheek.

When Leia had panicked after finding out about Han running off into the storm, he'd been there to calm her down and take her to a mess hall for something to eat. She'd tried to resist him. But when he'd mentioned that it was what her father would have wanted, she'd complied. But when he'd tried to get her to go to bed, she'd put her foot down and he'd seen the saucy little girl he'd adored when she was a child. But, he'd also seen her father shinning out through her eyes and he knew Leia needed to stay. So he'd decided to stay with her. At first their conversation had been about the Rebellion. Then they'd talked about when Leia was a child. It was easier for her than it had been right after Aldeeran's destruction. Then they'd lapsed into silence.

Carlist would never forget the look of panic on Leia's face when she'd seen Captain Solo wheeled in behind Commander Skywalker on a stretcher. "What if that's the last thing I ever said to him?" she whispered, her words laced with terror. "What if I never get the chance to tell him?" Carlist had wanted to ask what she wanted to tell Captain Solo, but thought it would be for the best not to. She'd repeated those fraises several times and then she'd finally drifted off to sleep about an hour ago. Now she was resting against his shoulder almost peacefully. She'd whimper every now and then, but she'd calm back down almost immediately.

What troubled him was how she'd been almost calm about Commander Skywalker's disappearance, but when she'd found out about Captain Solo going after him, she'd panicked. It wasn't that he disliked Captain Solo. He thought the captain was a rather admirable man. But, he wasn't an official member of the rebellion and he could leave at any time. Carlist wanted to see Leia happy more than just about anyone, but he didn't want to see her heart get broken. He knew Leia was an adult and could make her own decisions. But when he looked at her he couldn't help but think of the little girl who'd run into his arms and climb up onto his lap.

Suddenly the door to the medical center slid open and Han came walking out. He looked shocked when he saw Leia and Carlist sitting there. Carlist Rieekan smiled softly when he saw Han. Leia would be happy that he was all right. "How are you captain?" Carlist asked as Han approached as quietly as he could, so he wouldn't wake Leia up.

"Just fine general," Han replied with a slightly cocky grin. "It takes a little more than cold weather to get rid of me. Has she eaten?"

"I made sure she had both lunch and dinner," Carlist answered. "She wouldn't go to her room and go to sleep though. She's too much like her father to do that. Especially when someone she cares about is in danger. She was very worried about you."

"She was worried about Luke," Han said almost flippantly, but there was a little bit of disbelief in his voice. "She was probably glad that I wasn't around to steal supplies."

Carlist just shook his head and smiled softly. "You want to take my place?" he asked. "Leia will be angry if she doesn't get to see you and I'd hate to wake her up now. This is the first time she's slept in two days." Han nodded and they quickly switched places, careful not to wake Leia up. Han watched General Rieekan walk away. But suddenly he turned around to look at Han and Leia. "Oh, and Captain," he said sternly. "Don't you dare break her heart. Leia's like a daughter to me and I'm one enemy you do not want to make."

Han nodded slightly stunned and then turned his attention back to Leia. She was frowning slightly and was starting to stir. "Shhhhh," Han whispered softly. "Go back to sleep."

Leia started to comply, but then the speaker's voice registered. It wasn't General Rieekan. It was… "Han!" Leia cried happily as she looked up at him. "You're all right!"

"You can't get rid of me that easily princess," he replied smiling down at her. "Luke's going to be just fine."

"That's great," Leia replied, her eyes never leaving his face. "I just can't believe you're here. I was so worried that the last thing I ever said to you was going to be…"

"That you'd just as soon kiss a wookie," Han replied with his cocky smirk "You know I can still arrange that."

"You really make things difficult sometimes," Leia laughed settling her head against his chest. She was so happy that he was there and alive. She wished they would never have to move, especially when he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close, pulling her onto his lap. Part of her realized that anyone could show up at any moment and what those people would think after seeing them like that. The position they were in would be a little hard to explain to Mon Mothma. But part of her didn't care. And for once that was the part of her that was going to win. She realized at that moment she spent too much time doing what was proper, and not enough time listening to her heart.

"I'm glad you didn't leave," Leia said snuggling a little closer to him. "I would have missed you."

"You want to know a secret?" he asked teasingly. But his face grew serious as he leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "I couldn't leave without you."

Leia's eyes widened in shock. He couldn't leave without her? For some reason she suddenly felt uncomfortable. She was letting her head take control again. She tried to fight it, but in the end, her head won. She pulled herself out of Han's arms and stood up, leaving her blanket in Han's lap. "I should go and see how Luke's doing." She said straightening the vest of her snowsuit. "I'll tell them to let you and Chewie in."

"Fine your worship," Han replied snidely. He'd all but poured out his heart to her and she was brushing him off. He got up as well and started to storm away.

"Han!" Leia called, turning to look at his retreating figure. "I wouldn't have let you leave without me," she said softly, almost too softly for Han to hear. But he did hear, and his grin nearly split his face in half.