Rory knocked on Akira's door. It was late at night, but he knew Akira would most likely be awake. He sighed, drumming his fingers on his helmet under his arm. If he got caught being out of the barracks this late... The door opened, and he could hear Akira's tea kettle and a hologram's hum from behind the exhausted looking general.

"Can't sleep?" Rory asked.

Akira shrugged, "Nah. Looks like you can't either?"

"I haven't tried. I know it's going to be a night."

"I can relate," Akira sighed and stepped aside, letting Rory in. Akira's apartment had a scent; like black tea and old books, and every time he took a deep breath, feeling more at home than he did anywhere else. He set his helmet on the table, and took off his boots by the counter. He dropped his armor on the floor by the door and collapsed onto Akira's couch in his blacks. Akira poured him a cup of tea, lounging on the opposite couch.

"Something happen today?"

Rory looked over. "Hardcase found me. Said he's looking forward to it being like the good old times on our mission together."

Akira sighed. "He'll learn that nothing is like before. Don't worry about living up to who you were, worry about who you are now and keeping that person alive and fuck the rest of it."

Rory looked over. "Something happen to you today?"

Akira stared at the bookshelf. "I'm just tired. Tired of seeing good people die for nothing."

Rory wrapped his arms around himself. "You ever think of quitting? Since, you could?"

Akira nodded. "I'd be insane if I didn't. Fear keeps me here. Fear of the unknown."

Rory cocked his head, "Aren't jedi supposed to reject fear or something like that?"

Akira smirked, "yeah, you give it a try some time."

Rory stared at the shine of the light off the glass table.

"Do you think of leaving?"

Rory looked up at him. "No."

"Come on, Rory."

He looked away, "I've thought of it. But I'm afraid, too."

"If you ever wanted out… I'm on your side."

Rory stared at him, "Akira-"

"I'd help you leave. I… I can't stand to see something happen to you."

Rory sat up. "I'm the same with you. If you decide to leave… I'll go with you."

Akira smiled, "that's my rebel." He said and walked over to his counter, lifting the bottle of blue liquor he'd gotten as a gift.

"Hmm?"

Rory sat up, a smile on his face. "I could use it."

Akira woke the next morning to his blood pounding in his ears. He groaned. He was on the couch, his neck cramped at a strange angle. The entire bottle of liquor was empty on the floor, and his head was beating in rhythm with the knocking on his door. Rory was unconscious on the couch next to him, probably equally sore and hung over. Akira moaned, and the door opened.

Anakin swept in, crossing his arms at the sight. Rex followed, peering in.

"Really?" Anakin asked, his eyebrow quirked.

Rory flinched awake, moaning and rubbing his neck.

"What is it?" Akira asked, a cramp in his lower back twinging as he forced himself into a sitting position.

"The meeting. You missed it."

"Fuck." Akira groaned.

"You two have a party last night or something?" Anakin asked, holding up the bottle.

Akira could smell his aftershave It was usually quite pleasant but now it made Akira's stomach turn.

"Quite the contrary, Anakin, quite the contrary." Akira laughed darkly.

Rory sat up, looking at Anakin and Rex, his eyes wide.

"General, Captain-"

"It's alright, Rory. This was all my fault." Akira said, standing. He shivered, his shirt on the chair beside the couch. Akira looked to Rex who didn't budge, simply standing at attention. But he could sense his feelings, the force surrounding him, and he seemed displeased.

"We are leaving for Umbara. I suggest you sober up." Anakin suggested and swept from the room, Rex in tow. Akira groaned as the door shut.

"This looks really bad." Rory murmured.

Akira considered this. A Jedi had gotten drunk with his clone subordinate and missed a critical meeting… "Yes, this looks very bad." He agreed.

He and Rory showered and dressed, hurrying to get to the ship. Rory was still pulling his boots on when Akira grabbed his saber and his book, rushing out the door. He made his way to the transports, and finding the Officers' transport, boarded. He was to accompany them to the planet, help the second platoon of the 501st drop supplies, and assist with the battle going on above in his stood next to Rex, his aura that of a dull pain, like an old bruise that wouldn't heal. The transport was airborne, and the men began their banter, Akira seeing his opportunity. He felt like he owed him some sort of explanation… but why? He was an individual, and Rory was his friend.

Akira leaned over, his face beside his ear. "I brought you another book," he said beside Rex's helmet. Rex turned his head to listen, but paused. Akira moved to stand in front of him looking into the visor of his helmet.

"Rex, are you angry with me?"

Rex turned, the helmet nearly touching him. "No, sir. Thank you, sir."

Akira stared at him, "Rex-"

The ship touched down and they disembarked, Rex shouting orders over the din of the engines. Akira shouted his own orders, distracted. Rex was angry, why? Did someone tell him of what he did? His reputation?

Trying to break the separatist blockade distracted him for a time, kept him from worrying about Rory, Anakin, the others. From what he'd seen of it, the planet was a hellscape. It was dark, treacherous, and played tricks on the mens' minds. He worried for Rory; if anyone should be permitted to retire, it was him.

Once they'd gotten the all clear to land in the capitol, he was relieved, but also nervous about what he may land to find. He was instructed by Anakin to land at the airbase and join them in the conference room on the second floor for a debrief. The building was entirely surrounded by clones, shattered glass everywhere. He landed his ship, rushing to the war room. Anakin, Obi Wan, and Mace Windu were seated at the table, with Rex, Fives, Tup, Kix, and Jesse standing at attention against the wall. Akira bowed his head and joined them at the table, listening to the debrief.

Akira couldn't look away from Rex and Fives' faces during the meeting. Krell had tricked the 501st and the 212th to shoot at one another. Rex had made more desperate, risky calls than Akira could believe, choosing to defy orders repeatedly for his men. His face was frozen, hardened from years of training and battle, but Akira could sense his distress. He was dying inside.

Mace brought his concerns with Rex's decision to kill General Krell without a trial, but the other men came to his defense, saying that he had killed many of them in his escape attempt, and planned to join the separatists.

Mace folded, agreeing, and left Anakin and Obi Wan to make decisions regarding their respective troops before leaving.

Anakin waved for his men to join him at the table, and they all took their seats. "I'm glad you're all alright." Anakin said. "I'm sorry that these things had to happen to you, but I'm proud of the decisions you made."

"I'm so sorry, General. About all of it." Fives said.

You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for," Anakin pressed. "I've been told the things he's said to you, and I want you to know that that was General Krell's opinion alone; you're all people, not objects, and we value you. You were forced to make terrible decisions."

"Shooting- shooting them was an accident." Kix murmured.

"We know that. Don't beat yourself up, you were set up to do that." Anakin said.

Kix cried, "I killed four men. Four!"

Akira turned to look at him. "And if they had seen you first you'd be dead instead. Because you were framed, Kix. You were all framed. Those men don't blame you as much as you don't blame them right now for the lives that they took. Everyone is hurting, everyone lost and everyone took lives. But your love and trust for one another stopped the fighting. So many of you were saved, because you trusted Captain Rex, you listened, you worked together to help the wounded and to stop the general from hurting any of you again. With the hand you were dealt, you did remarkably well. On a strange, terrifying planet where death was all around you, you were all pit against one another, afraid for your lives, and you were all able to stop. Not one person was shot once Captain Rex pulled Rigger's helmet off. Fifteen men were saved by Kix's quick thinking and training. You pulled down an internal threat together, and saved nearly a hundred of your brothers. None of you have anything to feel ashamed or guilty about." Akira paused, looking around the circle.

"But for many of you this may bother you for quite some time, so I invite you to come talk to me or General Skywalker with anything, any time of day." He added and looked over at Anakin.

"I can't get their faces out of my mind…" Jesse said quietly.

"Jesse, listen. Those men were doomed, as were you, because you were all betrayed. It was luck of the draw who got shot and who didn't, and we're lucky you weren't because you saved so many after the battle. Bad things happen in war, what matters is your intention. You were intending on defeating the enemy to protect your friends from harm. There was no way for you to know otherwise. I'm very, very proud of your actions." Anakin said.

Kix let a few tears fall, and Jesse put his arm around him. "Go get something to eat, get some water, and try to go to sleep. You need rest."

Akira, Anakin, Cody, and Rex slept in the barracks that night, dispersed throughout the room. They took turns walking the aisles, talking to the men that needed it. Many of the men shared bunks, and Akira was always surprised that more didn't. They were so isolated, all they had was each other, and physical touch wasn't only comforting- its human necessity. He assumed their pride and fears got in the way for some- even though in the 501st a word had never been said. But for others, they didn't care- comfort was comfort.

Kix was asleep in Jesse's bunk when Akira walked by, their arms wrapped around one another. Rory had found another bunk as well, hidden under Tup's blanket.

When he got to Rex pacing in the aisle, Akira nodded toward the door. Rex nodded, and they head outside the silence of the night refreshing.

"Rex, you need to get sleep."

"I can't."

"You must."

"I'm responsible for every. Death!" he cried, his lip quivering. "All of them! I wouldn't disobey an order."

"That's your job, Rex. Its easy to beat yourself up looking back but you know that at the time, you trusted him and his judgement, and being relieved meant losing more lives. I know that you were thinking that. You did everything right."

"Dammit, Akira, so many of them are dead. If I'd seen it sooner, if I'd listened to the men. Even Krell said he was using me. Guess I'm not sharp for a clone."

"Hindsight is 20/20. If you disobeyed him he would have pulled rank on you and it would've been worse. This is no one's fault but his, because you went against every single thing you know to stop him. That's quite a feat. You're far more than a clone… you're incredibly intelligent, and you pulled off some remarkably brave feats the last few days."

Rex was shaking, and Akira put his hand on his back. He was taking shaky breaths, tears falling to his cheeks, where he quickly wiped them away.

Akira offered him an embrace, and to his surprise, Rex took it.

Akira crushed him against his chest, ignoring the discomfort of his armor. He was dirty and smelled like a man who'd spent days fighting for his life, but Akira was happy he was in his arms, and rubbed his back.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't here."

Rex rested his chin on Akira's shoulder.

"I can't do this anymore."

"Do what?"

"Watch men die."

Akira rubbed his back. "I don't think too many people here disagree with you."

Rex took a tearful breath, and Akira released him, looking into his eyes.

"I'll always be here to help. No matter what decisions you make."

Rex's eyes widened with understanding. "Thank you."

Akira sat before the wall of the airbase, inviting Rex to sit beside him. He obliged, sliding down the wall onto his bottom, his head back and rested against it. Akira could see in the bags under his eyes and the worry lines on his forehead that Rex was in pain. He could feel it.

"I'm sorry I was rude to you in the ship." Rex said without opening his eyes.

Akira looked over at him. "Why were you angry with me?"

Rex shook his head, "I was just caught up in my thoughts."

Akira stared at him. "You weren't angry that Rory stayed the night at my apartment?"

Rex looked over at him, his amber eyes unreadable. "Why would I be angry about that?"

Akira flushed, looking away, "no reason."

Rex pursed his lips.

"I can use the force, help you get to sleep."

"No, its alright." Rex said.

"You need sleep, you'll feel better."

"I don't like the force being used on me," Rex admitted. "Ventress did it to me once and it would've gotten Anakin killed if he didn't know better."

"I understand. I'll never use it on you, then." Akira promised.

Rex nodded, and Akira gave him a half smile.

"Thank you, and thank you for the book as well. That was thoughtful of you."

Akira shrugged, "I was thinking of you."

Thanks for reading- please review!