I'm back with another one. Enjoy.
Her master doesn't stay long. She heads back to Kamino, on the second day, once it's 100% clear that Grace will be okay. Physically at least.
The second night, she wakes up in a cold sweat, her leg that isn't even there burning in pain.
The third night, she dreams of red lightsabers, and wakes in a cold sweat again.
The third morning, she's sitting in bed, wishing she could just get up and walk, or that there was a window in her room. Something to do so she doesn't have to think about red lightsabers and knowing she can't win.
Someone clears their throat in the doorway.
Grace looks up, and finds Commander Fin standing there, helmet tucked under his arm.
"Good morning sir."
Has he ever said that to her? That might be the most genuine interaction they've ever had.
She swallows, "Good morning commander." He doesn't move from the doorway, so she adds, "You don't have to just stand there," and forces a smile.
He just steps into the room.
"We were wondering how you were doing."
We being the squad, she assumes. Grace doesn't mention that it's been three days since she woke up, they could've checked in anytime before now. Then again, maybe it says something that he came here in person, instead of just comming a healer.
"I'm doing okay."
Fin smiles a little, and she knows it's genuine. "Good. We need the whole squad in one piece."
That's genuine too, and it floors her.
She begins to fiddle with the edge of her sheet. "Thank you."
Someone speaks from outside the door. "We allowed to come in yet?"
"Yeah, yeah," Fin sighs, "you can come in."
And the rest of her squad files through the door. And a smile tugs at the corners of her mouth, and she stops thinking about red lightsabers and knowing she can't win.
Because this feels like a victory, however small. It feels like a victory, as Fin, Van, Click, Patch, Tech and Spark gather around her, and ask her how she's doing.
It feels like a victory as Tech looks over her new, mechanical leg, and proclaims that it'll hold up well, even on missions.
As Patch double checks the work the healers have done, and the report he gives her feels more comforting than anything has since she woke.
She's never felt this at home, and something tells her they haven't either.
Yes, Grace thinks, this is victory.