Fives stared blankly at the wall of the gunship as the shock fully started to sink in.

Dead.

Echo was dead.

Fives still couldn't believe it. Echo couldn't be dead. He couldn't be! Fives was the reckless one that ran into danger without a second thought, not Echo. Echo was the smart one, he planned, he thought things through, he didn't make rash decisions like try to save a ship with a single shield that was barely big enough to cover his body! That was something Fives would do.

He jumped when a hand clasped firmly onto his shoulder. Looking over he saw Rex standing next to him. He didn't say anything, just stood there with his hand on his shoulder. A reminder. He wasn't completely alone. Rex was there.

Taking a deep breath, Fives leaned into Rex's side, letting Rex both support and ground him. This was not the place to break down, not with the Jedi and Tarkin as an audience.

The flight lasted far too long in Fives' opinion. In comparison the med check was blessedly quick with him having just a few bruises.

Fives snorted bitterly. He got away with a few bruises but Echo died. How was that right?

Rex's hand was back, guiding him to the officers quarters. There was a soft tug on his armor. Fives obeyed the silent request (and it was a request, Rex would never order him around in the state he was in) and mechanically stripped his armor, absently noting Rex doing the same.

Fives fumbled with a few pieces of his armor. (When had his hands started shaking so much?). When he was out of his armor, Rex sat him down and handed him the cleaning supplies. Then Rex sat down next to him, shoulders touching, with his own supplies and began to clean his armor.

Fives follow his lead and began to scrub the soot off his chest plate. It was oddly soothing, the repetition. Back and forth, back and forth, no need to think, just back and forth. It was when he reached his helmet that he finally broke.

He stared at his own helmet, trembling in his shaking hands. Dents and scratches littered the once white helmet.

"His helmet," Fives chocked. "I didn't even grab his helmet. It was right there and I- I didn't even try."

Tears were streaming down his face as sobs wrenched their way out of his throat. Fives barely register Rex putting the supplies on the nightstand before he found himself pulled into a bone crushing hug.

Fives buried his face in Rex's neck as he dropped his helmet and cling to his Captain. Tears soaked into Rex's blacks and Fives was clutching him hard enough to leave bruises, but he still didn't say a word, just held him closer.

"That- that idiot!" Fives gasped out. "I tri- tried to stop him, but he didn't stop. Why did- didn't he stop? Why did he do something so rec- reckless?!"

Rex still didn't speak. Instead he started to run his fingers through Fives' hair, humming soothingly as he let his brother let it all out.

"I'm the reckless one! I was supposed to go fir-first! Didn't he know I needed him? That I don't know what to do without him?"

Fives' tears slowed into agonized whimpers.

"He said he would always be by my side, but he's not coming back is he?"

"No vod'ika, he's not," Rex answered quietly, voice filled with his own grief.

"It hurts," Fives choked.

"I know."

Fives pulled back, eyes red and tears staring his face.

"Does it ever stop hurting?" He asked in a small voice, for the first time in years feeling like his actual age.

"No, it doesn't, but it will get easier in time."

His heart broke at both the answer and the sorrow that filled his older brothers eyes.

"How many times have you had to go through this?"

He didn't say whether he meant having to comfort a brother or losing one. The answer was the same either way.

"Too many."

Fives nodded and leaned back into Rex's solid form. Rex for his part went back to running his fingers through his hair and humming in his ear.

Fives had no idea how long they stayed like that. At some point Rex had begun to rock him back and forth.

"Thank you," Fives finally whispered into Rex's ear, voice rough.

"Any time."

...

Hours later Fives woke up slowly wrapped around Rex, still feeling drained but better. Opening his eyes he saw Rex working on a data pad.

"Feeling better?" He asked softly once he saw Fives was awake.

Fives nodded. He didn't move though. It was rare for him to feel so warm and safe. He was going to saver it.

Rex just smiled and went back to petting his hair.

"Stay as long as you'd like, we both have the day off."

Fives nodded again and laid his head back on Rex's chest.

"Tonight," Fives began tentatively, "would you mind coming to the barracks and playing Echo's favorite songs."

"I will."

"Thank you Rex. For everything."

"Always."