Han was the first to respond with Chewie right behind him when the explosion went off. And the sight Han saw caused his heart to skip a beat, or even several as he jumped off the ramp and headed for the broken body of Luke Skywalker. "Chewie get help NOW!" Han shouted, even though the explosion had already caught it's due attention. And among the first responders came Leia and Tallis.

"Luke!" Leia cried in horror rushing to the boy's side in mere seconds. Her hands hovered over him helplessly.

Tallis seemed numbed, standing there in shock as medics rushed onto the scene and began to carefully assess the situation before moving Luke to a stretcher. Once he was secure the medics raced for the medbay, hoping against hope that the Rebel Hero would live.

Leia followed the medics immediately, shouting for others to get out of the way while Han stood and slowly joined Tallis.

"What happened?" Tallis asked softly. Han had gotten used to the kid being quiet and timid, but her voice now was so soft and weak that his heart fought to not feel any sort of sympathy.

"An explosion." He replied gruffly.

Tallis finally looked to him. "Who did it?"

Han shook his head, scowling while foreign emotions muddled his chest. "I don't know."

~~~

Luke was in a near critical condition for several days, nearly a week as the medics fought to preserve his life. Obi-Wan Kenobi also gave what help his could, caring for his apprentice and working towards a hopefully full recovery. And during this time, investigations took place.

The crate was examined once it was identified as the casing for the bomb. It was a motion bomb, bomb squad specialists decided. They believed Luke had bumped into it and that's what set it off. And they found something else. Several surviving pieces showed a partial insignia, one they believed originated from an Outer Rim crime lord syndicate. Identifying which one was hard though, with much of having been blown to ash.

And Leia sat across from suspect number one: Han Solo.

She knew Han would never hurt Luke, he would never even entertain such an atrocity . . . But deep down something kept blaming him. He was going to desert them sooner or later. Perhaps Solo was a psychopath and intended to kill Luke so he would never come back here again. Whatever it was Leia wanted to know the truth.

The bomb was near the Falcon, the bomb was a type often used by pirates and smugglers, and such means to make bombs were found on Solo's ship. When presented with such evidence Han outright refused it.

"Everybody has this sort of stuff! What motive do I have for killin' Luke?" He exclaimed in frustration, though remained otherwise still as he glowered at Leia across the table.

Leia shrugged. "You know Luke has a bounty on his head, and we know you're indebted to Jabba."

"That proves nothing!" Han snapped. "I didn't know until a few moments before the bombing! Do you really think I can assemble a bomb in that sort of time? Not to mention placing it out there before Luke left?"

Leia remained stoic. "There are outlets available to you on the Falcon. You may have even known before the leadership did." She reasoned calmly, watching Han's fury rise.

"You've got no proof to accuse me with! Why don't you take a look at the rest of your pathetic Rebellion before you try to peg something on an innocent man!"

"Han," Leia said gently. "I'm not accusing you of these things. But the circumstantial evidence is too much for me to defend you either.

Han glowered. "I didn't do it. Hell, I'd probably have taken the brunt of that bomb for him if I was there." He said with a shake of his head, no doubt wondering when he became that soft.

Leia however, hid away what fondness she did have for the Captain. Her duty to the Rebellion came first, and Han had always said he was not a Rebel. The only reason she did care was because Solo risked his neck for her on the Death Star and saved Luke shortly after when it was needed the most. And yet he could have just tried to kill Luke too. She did not know Han's mind, she did not know what he truly was capable of. And with that mindset it was easier to interrogate him.

"I'm only doing my job. Look me in the eye and say it." Leia commanded with a firmness.

It was only a moment before Han met her eyes with his own. "I didn't try to kill him, I'd never hurt the kid." He said, his tone even and yet pointed like a sharpened stone.

Leia nodded and stood. Still she had her doubts and uncertainties, but at least she felt better about defending him when Han was first arrested. "I'll speak with the council." She went around the table and headed for the door.

Han snorted. "You do that, Highness. Meanwhile the real crook is already long gone."

"Oh really?" Leia asked with a sudden scowl. "If you're not the bomber chances are he's still around because of your arrest. Chew on that."

Han stood up and turned to face her. "I'm chewing on it. Just like I'm chewing on the fact that you think I am guilty. This is all some formality to make you feel like you're in the right."

That irked Leia as she stood as tall as she could. "I cannot dismiss you as a suspect. I don't like it anymore than you, but saying this sort of stuff will get you a conviction."

Han laughed. "I feel real comfy now, knowing whatever I say will get me tied up in here forever."

"Then I suggest you keep your mouth shut until I can work out whether you're innocent or not." Leia snapped before opening the door, abruptly stepped out and slammed it behind her before Han could say another word. The guard locked it.

Exhausted, Leia went on her way, to yet another meeting between herself and the Rebel Leadership.

~~~

Tallis was miserable. Simply miserable. Luke was on the verge of death almost constantly, Han was a major suspect, and Leia was too busy to speak with. Obi-Wan was as miserable as she was. Luke meant a lot to them both. Not just as the new hope for the Jedi, but also as a friend. A very close and dear friend. And the deed was taking its toll on Obi-Wan in both mental and physical states. Everything was falling apart.

A gentle touch in her shoulder brought Tallis back to reality as a man stood beside her, Nico, with two cups of water.

"I thought you two may need something." He said gently, offering the cups to the Jedi who gratefully accepted.

"A very kind thought, thank you." Obi-Wan spoke with a tired, but gracious smile as he took a sip.

Tallis smiled softly. "Thank you." She echoed, taking her own sip before tilting her head. "What are you doing here Nico?"

Nico shrugged. "One of my buddies said you and Master Kenobi sit here often, I just wanted to do what I can."

The two Jedi smiled once more and nodded their thanks respectfully.

"How's Skywalker holding up?" Nico then asked gently.

Tallis looked at the door leading into the treatment room. "He's getting another immersion in the bacta tank. They said they'll be leaving him in there for much longer now that all the broken bones are found and set." She explained, shuddering slightly. Luke's arms had been broken, a leg twisted oddly, and the other's shin had been fractured. An ankle had been completely broken, his shoulder had been injured severely, and there had been a major concussion though they now believed that part was on the mend. There was internal bleeding, bruising, ribs had been broken and his lungs had been so close to being completely punctured... but one at a time those things were set to get fixed, and bacta worked miracles for nearly all manners of injury. The immersion should work.

Nico nodded gravely. "Our good wishes are with him, I just hope they find who did it." He murmured with a disgusted shake of his head.

Tallis perked up. "You don't think it was Captain Solo?"

The older man shrugged. "Solo sure isn't a saint . . . But I don't believe he's that kind of killer. He's a killer no doubt. But he's not someone who'd kill a defenseless kid." Nico grimaced. "I've seen men like that, too many to count. Solo isn't one of them."

Tallis glanced at Obi-Wan, who also shared this sentiment. Both Jedi believed Solo to be shady but not a twisted maniac. Deep down the man had gold in his heart and it had shown when he came back to save Luke.

Obi-Wan looked to Nico. "Let us hope the leadership shares this train of thought. I would see the right man be caught for what has happened."

The three nodded in agreement together as they anxiously waited for the results of Luke's treatment.