Shel's Note:
This story was written by my teen niece, who has begun testing her fanfic muse, so please be constructive in any criticism.
Space Rangers
By Erin
(written November 9 - 10, 2020)
Author's Note:
Space Rangers doesn't exist as far as I know but it might be cool if it did...
Hera entered Kanan's room in the medbay and approached the bed. Although the medics were happy with the progress he'd made in the three days since they'd rescued him from Mustafar, they didn't feel he was ready to be released.
She found him stirring and, taking his hand, she sat down beside him. She stroked his cheek and softly called his name./
He leaned into her hand, nuzzling against it with a contented hum.
"Kanan," she repeated.
He blinked once, twice, and then his gaze settled on her. He smiled. "Hey."
"Hey." She moved back so he could sit up. "I came to see how you're doing."
"I'm ready to get out of here," he declared, meeting her eyes. "I went from a week on a Star Destroyer to three days in this medbay. I want to go home.
"I know," Hera sighed. "And you've been really good about being cooped up here. But you heard the medics: you're still healing."
Kanan's shoulders slumped. "I know."
She cupped his cheek with her hand. "Can you be patient a little longer? For me?"
"All right," he covered her hand with his. "For you."
"Before I leave, I'll ask the head medic if there's anything we can do to speed up your release," Hera promised.
"Thank you." Kanan shifted on the bed. "How're the kids?"
"They're fine," she informed him. "They're also ready for you to come home."
"Ezra took a hit from the Inquisitor's lightsaber," Kanan remembered. "Did he get checked out?"
"As soon as we got you stabilized," she assured him.
"And he's okay?"
Hera nodded. "I can get them all in here if you want to see for yourself."
"I'd like that," he agreed.
She grabbed her comlink. "Hey, Sabine."
The girl picked up immediately: "Hey, Hera. What's with Kanan?"
"He's alright," Hera replied, "but lonely." She smirked at his indignant snort and continued, "How about you all come over and keep him company?"
Sabine excitedly agreed, "We'll be right there."
When Hera put her comm away, Kanan crossed his arms and tried to look offended. But she could see the grin he was trying to hide.
"I can't believe you told Sabine I'm lonely. I can be by myself for a couple of days if necessary, thank you very much."
"But are you denying the fact that you'd like company?" she reached for his hand again.
"I guess not," he allowed.
They sat in comfortable silence until the calm was shattered a little while later when the other Spectres arrived.
"We come bearing presents!" Sabine gleefully announced.
Kanan's eyebrows shot up and he tried to wave it off, "Really, you guys didn't have to—"
"But we wanted to, Kanan," Ezra interjected.
"You ain't gettin' outta this," Zeb warned with a pointed claw.
"Mine first," Sabine stated. She handed Kanan a holodisk. He switched it on and gasped when it lit up with a painted image of Hera.
"There are more," the Mandalorian pointed out.
Kanan flipped through the rest of the individual portraits and stopped when he came to one of all six of them together. "Thank you, Sabine," he murmured, sounding a bit choked up.
"Kinda hard to follow that," Zeb noted, "but here." He tossed Kanan a package of space waffles.
"Thanks, buddy," Kanan told him. "The food they serve here is emworse/em than ration bars."
"I brought entertainment," Ezra held out a holomovie.
"Is that Space Rangers?"
"Yup. We're willing to suffer through it, just this once."
"It's not that bad!" Kanan protested.
"Puts me to sleep every time," Sabine said.
Kanan gave them a wounded look.
Hera squeezed his shoulder, "The plot is fine, luv. But the lead actor speaks in such a monotone that it's hard not to doze off while listening to him."
"It's my favorite holo," Kanan pouted. "No accounting for taste."
He continued to grumble as Ezra and Hera settled down on either side of him. Sabine set up Chopper's holoprojector, then made herself comfortable at the foot of the bed. Zeb sat on the floor, too tall to be seen past otherwise.
The opening scene of the movie began, "The Tatooine wasteland is a lawless, unforgiving territory. The gang, Jabba's Fist, terrorizes all passers-through…"
Halfway through Space Rangers, Hera glanced at Kanan.
His head had been resting on her shoulder the entire time, only now, she saw, his eyes were closed. He let out a soft snore as she reached around him to get Ezra's attention.
"We won't mention this to him," she whispered to the boy.
The teen saw what she meant and had to muffle a snicker with his fist. He reached over to poke Kanan but Hera shook her head, careful not to jar Kanan.
"Let him rest," she instructed.
Ezra nodded and returned his attention to the holo.
"Sweet dreams," she told Kanan.
"Do we have to tell him this isn't a bad vid?" Sabine wondered.
"It could be our secret," Hera chuckled.
"Even though it still put him," Ezra pointed to Zeb, "to sleep."
"What happens in medbay stays in medbay," Hera agreed.
"Shhh," Sabine grumbled, "this is getting good."
"Told you," Kanan muttered in his sleep.
"Of course, luv," Hera quietly said, "and it'll still be here for you when you wake up."
The End