Gai Bal Manda

Hello, everyone. This prompt was suggested by Celtic maiden 14. Enjoy.

Hunter and Omega were a good distance away from the rest of the team. They were trying to get back to the ship, but no matter where they turned, they came face to face with Imperials. After half a day of running, they had finally managed to get away from them or so they thought. They saw the ship and could see their brothers waiting. That's when Hunter felt it. A presence right behind them. Hunter turned and saw a trooper. He grabbed Omega, but it was too late.

"Omega!" Echo exclaimed. Hunter shot the trooper and picked Omega up and carried her into the ship. He walked in and saw Crosshair getting the bunk ready. Hunter laid Omega down and saw that her shoulder was bleeding heavily. She was unconscious and it worried Hunter.

"Omega, come on, kid. You need to wake up." Hunter begged. "Please, just wake up for me."

Omega moaned as Hunter put pressure on her wound.

"It went clean through the armor," Hunter said as he looked at the wound. Crosshair removed the chest and shoulder plates so that Hunter could apply pressure. "Omega, I need you to look at me."

"Tired." Omega moaned.

"I know, but I need to see your eyes."

Omega opened her eyes and Hunter smiled softly.

"Good, kid. Just stay with me." Hunter encouraged. He put more pressure on the wound and Omega whimpered and wiggled. "I know. I'm sorry." Hunter looked at Echo and saw Tech in the cockpit. "DO we have anything to help with the pain?"

"We can try a bacta patch. How bad is it?" Echo replied.

"I don't know."

"We'll be at a medical bay in 1 hour," Tech stated. Hunter nodded and looked at Crosshair who was feeling underneath Omega.

"We have a problem. It went clean through." Crosshair warned as he held up Omega's armor. "We need to roll her onto her side."

"Hunter, I'm scared. What's happening?" Omega panicked. She reached for Hunter and he grabbed her hand.

"You were shot. It went through your shoulder. We have to roll you onto your side and see how bad it is." Hunter explained.

"Stay with me."

"I'll be right here, kid. I won't leave you."

Omega nodded and Hunter hushed her and she started to cry. Crosshair rolled Omega onto her side and put a bacta patch on the wound.

"It's barely bleeding." Crosshair sighed. "We can gently roll her back down."

They rolled Omega onto her back and Hunter looked at the wound. He looked at Omega and sighed.

"The bleeding's stopped, but I don't like how pale you're getting," Hunter said. Crosshair placed a bacta patch on the wound and Omega whimpered. Hunter grabbed the towel and wiped the blood off his hands. He ran his fingers through Omega's hair and watched Echo as he treated Omega for possible shock. "we'll be at a medical bay soon. Just stay awake a little longer."

"Tired," Omega mumbled.

"It's been a long day, but you still have to stay awake."

"Ok."

Hunter grabbed Omega's hand and squeezed it. Omega squeezed it back and smiled weakly. Wrecker placed a large hand on Omega's leg and Omega smiled at him.

"I'll have Lula and your trooper waiting," Wrecker promised. Omega smiled again and nodded.

It seemed much longer than an hour before they arrived at the medical bay. When they landed, Hunter picked Omega up and carried her out of the ship. A medical team was waiting for them. Hunter laid Omega on the gurney and Omega grabbed his hands tightly.

"Her wound went clean through. She lost a good amount of blood." Hunter said.

"Stay with me, please. Don't leave me. Please, don't leave me." Omega begged. Hunter looked at the doctor who nodded.

"You may stay with her for a little while."

Hunter held onto Omega's hand and they were taken to have Omega examined. Whenever Hunter was away from Omega, he felt a great amount of fear and he knew she felt the same. She relied on him to keep her safe and he relied on her to give him a purpose. Hunter was eventually sent out to the waiting room where he paced and kept his senses on Omega.

"Hunter, you need to eat." Echo warned.

"I'm fine," Hunter replied.

"Well, you sure convinced me. She's fine, Hunter."

"Echo, she's afraid. I can't... I should be with her."

"Look, if you keep this up, you'll wear a path into the floor. You're worse than the rest of us."

Hunter knew that Echo had more to say so he stopped.

"What do you mean?" Hunter questioned.

"Look, we're her brothers. We all know that, but everywhere we go, people think that she's your daughter. When you're not around, they say she's our brother, but when it comes to you two..." Echo explained.

"But we're just siblings."

"Hunter, you're the first one she turned to. When we met her, you two created the first bond. She mimicked you and she still does. Whenever she's hurt or in trouble, she turns to you."

"That's just because I'm the leader."

"Hunter, it's more than that. When we're injured, you're worried, but you're the one that keeps the rest of us calm and stable. When she's hurt, we have to keep you calm and stable and we still fail. Right now, you're searching her out. You can feel it, but it's not enough. Hunter, your bond with her is more than a sibling bond. It's different. You're the closest thing she has to a father."

"She's just my sister."

"Hunter, think about it."

Echo walked back over to the others and Hunter thought about Echo's words. He heard a doctor walked out and he looked at him. The doctor walked up and looked down at Hunter.

"Your daughter will be fine. Nothing major was hit, but it will be painful for her. You can take her home soon." The doctor explained.

"Can I see her?" Hunter questioned.

"Yes."

Hunter rushed off before the others even knew what was happening.

"He doesn't even know where she is." The doctor stated.

"Yes, he does. He can sense her. The man's a dad." Crosshair sneered.

Hunter arrived at Omega's room and saw her sleeping. Hunter squeezed Omega's hand but she remained asleep. The others arrived and saw Hunter caring for Omega keeping her safe and comfortable.

"You really do behave as though you are her father. Much like CUt and Cham Syndulla behaved with their daughters." Tech pointed out. Hunter sighed and shook his head. Hunter had always dreamed about life outside of war. He thought about settling down, getting married, and having kids. He did want to best for Omega, but anyone would, but Hunter realized that he strived more than the others to keep her safe and happy. The others would fuss over Omega and spoil her, but Hunter always spent time with Omega comforting her and keeping her tied to his side. She seemed to enjoy it.

"SO, what if I am?" HUnter wondered.

"What if you're what?" Tech asked.

"Her father. Everyone thinks I am and she needs a parent. I'm the closest she has. Why not make it official?"

"Well, it would offer some help on our missions and it might strengthen your bond with her."

Omega stored and Hunter rushed to her side. Crosshair and Wrecker rolled their eyes and smiled at the sight. Omega opened her eyes and saw Hunter watching her. She smiled and Hunter squeezed her hand.

"How do you feel?" Hunter wondered.

"Tired." Omega yawned.

"Does it hurt?"

"A little."

"You'll be able to go home soon."

"Gai bal manda," Tech stated.

"What?" Omega wondered.

"It means name and soul."

"I know what it means, but I don't know what it is."

"It's a Mandalorian adoption. All Hunter has to do is recite this phase then say your name and it's legal."

Omega looked up at Hunter in confusion.

"Everyone keeps calling you my daughter and I guess we act like father and daughter. You need a parent. You can't just have brothers. We have the closest bond. Is it ok if I adopt you?" Hunter explained.

"I like it," Omega replied. Tech handed the datapad to Hunter so he could see the phrase.

"Ni kyr'tayl gai sa'ad—Omega." Hunter recited. Omega smiled and tried to hug HUnter, but he stopped her and pointed at her arm. Hunter hugged Omega and she tried to hug him back. "You're my daughter."

"I love you, buir."

"I love you, ad."

"Aw!" Wrecker exclaimed. They heard sobbing and all looked at Wrecker who was sobbing. "I love adoptions." Wrecker looked at Tech and Crosshair and chuckled. "Looks like I'm not the only one who shed a tear."

"No, I just have something in my eye." Tech lied.

"Shut up, Wrecker." Crosshair hissed.

Wrecker looked at Echo who was happy for Hunter and Omega. He saw Wrecker's look and glared at him.

"What? I'm not like the rest of you." Echo stated.

A few hours later, Omega walked to the Marauder with Hunter holding her hand. She smiled up at Hunter and he smiled down at her. Never had Omega imagined that she would find someone to call her buir and Hunter being her buir was the greatest thing to ever happen to her.

THE END