Rex went on a minor patrol mission, kix sending him an update every so often on Akira's state. It was to be short, as Anakin promised. Rex was hoping getting out of the med bay and replacing the smell of bacta with fresh air might help him clear his head. Akira did not look well, even in the bacta. One of the blaster burns had gone through to his lung. By the time they made it to the med bay it'd been too late, and they'd removed it. Such surgery required healing and patience, patience Rex didn't have. He wanted Akira conscious. If he was conscious, it at least felt like he was going to be ok.

Anakin tried to distract him with duties that were normally done by the other men, and at times Rex was grateful. Other times he just wanted to be left alone in peace.

Once they'd scouted and gathered enough intel for the 212th, they were on their way back to Coruscant, a three day trip. He'd hidden from Anakin, wishing for a small amount of quiet. He managed to finagle this silence until the day before they were due to arrive back on Coruscant. Anakin had found him in the mess, sitting down across from him with a cup of caff.

"How you feeling?" He asked.

Rex shrugged, "as good as I can, I suppose."

Anakin bobbed his head, "I just got out of a meeting with Kix and the doctor."

Rex looked up, his breath hitching. Had something gone wrong? Why didn't they call him instead?

Anakin out out his hand, "He's fine."

Rex slumped, taking a deep breath.

"He'll never be on the field again. You know that right?"

Rex nodded, "They told me. Said he wouldn't have the same mobility or breathing again."

Anakin pursed his lips. "He's out of the bacta. They're waiting for him to wake up."

Rex half smiled, "That's good."

Anakin didn't smile. "Perhaps."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, he's going to be in pain, upset, half lucid. It won't be pretty."

Rex frowned. Akira had always been strong for him, even when he was falling apart on the inside.

"I can handle it."

Anakin sipped his caff. "Just be sure to take breaks, hmm? I don't need you losing your mind over him."

Rex clenched his fists. He didn't want to ask, but he'd made a show, an incredible show of his relationship with Akira in the Med Bay.

"Can I ask you something?"

Anakin nodded.

"In the med bay, when I found him, we said things that all but confirmed… things." He said quietly, reddening.

Anakin shook his head, "It was just Plo and Cody, right?"

Rex nodded.

"You're fine. The med bay people can't say anything and Plo and Cody wouldn't. I've been covering up any holes in your attendance with errands I've been able to fabricate."

Rex smiled, and finally, Anakin returned it. "You're alright. Remember, I'm well practiced with this."

He squeezed Rex's shoulder, standing. "Get some sleep. I know Akira will."

When Rex arrived on coruscant he head straight for the temples med bay, not bothering to stop and change or shower.

When he got to the front desk, he already knew the medic. "Is he lucid?"

She tilted her head. "More or less. He's been asking about you, though."

She lead him back. The room was fairly dark, the only light that of the hallway and the machines beeping. He had a blanket over him, tubes sticking out of his nose and his arms. If Rex wasn't reassured by the machines, he'd say he was dead. Thin, pale, and barely breathing.

She left him, and he stayed in the doorway, unsure of what it was he expected when he arrived.

"Rex?" He heard the gravelly voice call from the bed. Of course he'd sensed him.

Rex bit back tears, collapsing on his knees before the bed.

"Akira." He whispered, and his hand found Rex's head so gently Rex barely felt it.

"Come here," he murmured, his words slurring a little.

"Akira, I thought I'd lost you." He whispered, standing.

Akira pawed at his shoulders, trying to draw him closer, and Rex moved into his embrace.

"You can never lose me." He whispered, holding him.

Rex took his face in his hands, kissing his forehead. "Next time I'm not listening to you."

Akira smiled, "we'll see."

This close Rex could hear the sounds of the machine helping him breathe, pushing air into his nostril, His blue eyes were muted, stricken with red.

"Akira," he whispered, running his hand over the side of his head.

Akira closed his eyes, leaning into the touch.

Rex made camp on the side of the bed, busying himself on his data pad while Akira slept.

One of the medics came in, a bowl of sludge in hand. Plo was close behind her, taking up a spot in the corner, out of the way. Rex gave him a quick wave.

"Hey there," she greeted and Akira's eyes opened, foggy and confused.

"Want to try some oatmeal?" She asked.

He looked at Rex. "You took a nap, it's time for dinner." He explained.

Akira looked back at her. "Alright."

Rex helped wrangle him up into a sitting position before they lifted the back of the bed. Akira was mainly unable to hold up his body, his head lolling a bit to the side.

Rex helped support him, and she spooned some oatmeal into him. It took him a moment to get his mouth to work, oatmeal falling from his mouth onto his lap, but he swallowed.

"More?"

He nodded, and this time he was able to keep a majority of it in his mouth. Once he'd had a few more spoonfuls she stopped. "Let's see how you do with that for now."

He nodded, his eyes fluttering closed.

"Perhaps I'll come back later." Plo said, and Akira's eyes opened again.

"No, I'm sorry, master." Akira said.

"Don't be sorry. You've been through one hell of an ordeal. I just wanted to see you."

Akira smiled, "thank you. For everything."

Plo bowed his head, "it was my absolute pleasure. I'll be back and I'll leave you to rest. You're in the best possible hands here."

Akira smiled, touching Rex's cheek. "I know."

Akira mainly slept, waking on occasion for a half hour or so before falling back asleep. Rex did what he could, making sure he didn't get tangled, helping him drink water, and adjusting his pillows and blankets. Even through the haze of the drugs he was certainly being pumped full of, Rex could see the pain in his eyes. He didn't complain, but the effort was always present in his features, in the way he took little, gasping breaths.

Rex put two chairs together to make a bed, going over reports on his data pad. It was late, and he was expecting Akira to sleep for quite a while. He'd eaten a little more, and Rex requested they up his medication so he could stay asleep for the night.

Rex must have fallen asleep, because he was spurred awake by a machine beeping wildly. His datapad clattered to the floor, and Rex stood. Akira was pulling the tubes from his arms, trying to get up from the bed. Rex hopped onto the bed on his knees, pulling Akira back by his shoulders.

"Akira no."

Akira pulled away, his hand against the wall before he slid to the floor, his hands hitting the shined tile with a slap. Rex ran over, and Akira pushed him away weakly, turning and vomiting with a horrid retch. His frail body worked hard, spilling the small amount of oatmeal he'd eaten on the floor. His breaths came in horrid, wet gasps, before he'd retch again.

When his body stilled, he was gasping for breath, his tired body wringing his one lung of oxygen.

"Akira-" he said softly and Akira shook his head, pushing him. In one fluid motion he tried to stand, taking two steps before falling into the doorframe, sliding onto the floor. Rex pursed his lips, lifting him into his arms.

Akira was nearly limp, tears in his eyes.

"You need to stay in bed." Rex said, "you could get hurt."

Akira didn't look at him, staring at the ceiling, tears running down his cheeks.

"Akira-" he closed his eyes, his brows furrowed with anger. Rex sat back, decidedly giving him some time.

Akira didn't wake again, and Rex went to the mess for caff, getting away from the med bay for some time. He saw now what Anakin was talking about. Being trapped in that white room, it wore away at his own sanity, nevermind Akira, who could never leave.

When he returned, Akira was still out. He set up his small breakfast on the side table, watching a program on his datapad.

A woman appeared in the doorframe, flowers in her hand.

"Hello," she said gently, setting the flowers down on Akira's small table.

"Hi." Rex said, confused. Then it got him. The female guard "Motie."

She nodded. "Knoxly will be here later." She said. She was pretty, with light hair and blue eyes, skin as creamy as a paintings. No wonder Akira slept with her for years.

"You must be Rex."

He nodded.

"He loves you very much," she smiled. "It warms me to see him finally happy. Thank you."

Rex reddened. Guilt surged forward. Why was he jealous of her? "You've been a great friend to him, he's lucky to have you."

She smiled slightly, "I hope I at least helped him a bit." She touched his arm and his eyes opened.

"Just to warn you, he's a bit out of it, and he threw a bit of a fit this morning, so I don't know what you'll get."

She nodded, "he's dramatic."

Rex half smiled and she touched his arm.

"Motie." He moaned, still half asleep.

"I didn't want to wake you but I'm going away for a few weeks so I wanted to drop by before I left."

He stared at her.

"How are you feeling?" She asked.

"I'm ok." He said, blinking sleep from his eyes.

"I'm sorry about your lung, sweetie."

He looked away. "I can't even get up." He said, his scratchy tone matter of fact.

She squeezed his forearm. "You will, you were in bacta soup for three weeks, dummy."

He frowned, "I can't be on the field anymore, I'm a guard full time again."

"So am I, so is Knoxly. Were not good enough for you anymore? And besides, you hated being on the field. Stop looking for things to be upset about and be grateful you're here. Rex has been sitting here for ages worrying about you, you think he cares? You think anyone cares about you not being on the field? You sucked at it and you hated it, its a blessing in disguise."

Rex watched her in awe. Bitching at him was the way? He never would have guessed.

"You're right. I'm sorry." He said, looking over to Rex guiltily.

"Good. Be grateful and do what they tell you so you can be out of this shithole. Ok?"

He nodded and she hugged him. "Feel better, sweetie."

He smiled and she left. Akira putting his hand over his face.

"I'm sorry, Rex." He murmured.

"It's ok." Rex assured him, running his hand through his hair, "I get it."

Akira shifted, groaning, "I don't know why you stay with me."

Rex cocked his head, "because I love you, stupid."

He half smirked, playfully punching him in the arm, the tube in his nose going foggy with his laughter.