Title: Unknowns

author: Cindy Ryan

notes and summary: see part one

Din's mind went blank for several seconds. He was aware of Cara closing the door and stepping in. It took his brain a few more minutes to start working again. Then the feelings came crashing in. Shame, desolation. He'd failed the Mandalorians. The people who'd rescued him; taken him in. He had vowed to give them his life. Now he couldn't. Din stared at the helmet in his right hand. How had this happened? He was tired by The Child's illness.

"Din."Cara began softly as she sat down next to him.

Din didn't look at her. He carefully set the helmet on the floor. The shock was fading but it was being replaced with sadness and the all enveloping failure. No one had seen his face since he was a child. That was the way.

"I am no one."Din replied dejectedly.

Cara took him by the shoulders and turned him to face her. The sight of her without his helmet took Din's breath away. Her hair was down and mussed from the nightmare. Cara's face was pale and her brown eyes held unshed tears.

"I won't tell anyone."Cara vowed.

Din shook his head.

"That is not the way."The bounty hunter said sadly. "I let someone see my face."


Cara felt awful. She should have waited a moment longer before entering. Still the womp rat was out of the bag and no putting it back. Cara let go of Din's shoulders and placed her hands on either side of his face. He had a slight wisp of a beard starting, and he needed a haircut. Din's dark eyes were intelligent and now intense with emotion.

"You did not let me."Cara insisted. "I intruded and for that I'm sorry. The dream shook me more than I realized. Swear me to secrecy if that makes you feel better. You know my word is good."

"I know; you are an incredible person, Cara."Din said softly. "Beautiful inside and out."


Din sighed inwardly as Cara's eyes widened in surprise. He really was spinning out of control if he was telling Cara Dune she was beautiful. He had to figure out his next move. If there were no more Mandalorians out there he was just a bounty hunter either way; Din could not return to them.

"You are more than the armor, Din."Cara stated quietly. "You are brave, smart and you love that kid."

"Cara..."Din began.

"You can still put that helmet back on and continue as you were."Cara insisted as she brushed hair away from his forehead. "You can do so much good. The galaxy needs people like you."

Din's body was reacting to Cara's closeness. His emotions were all over the place. Din didn't know what his future was but right now it was about this moment. That was all they had. Din reached up and gently removed Cara's hands from his face. He didn't have his gloves on so he intertwined their fingers. Then he leaned in and kissed Cara.


Cara was surprised by the kiss but she fell into it. Din wrapped his arms around her pulling her close. He still had some of the armor on but the embrace wasn't painful; far from it. The kiss intensified and deepened.

"Cara."Din whispered huskily as they came up for air.

In response Cara kissed him once more. After the harshness of the nightmare she didn't want to think. Didn't want to remember. She'd tell him about it later. Now she just wanted to feel.

"Let me stay."Cara replied in a hushed tone. "We need each other. Let's just have this one night."