AN: I'm back with another chapter! This story has over 1,000 views now, something I never imagined would happen when I started this story! Thank you to all who have followed, favorited and reviewed! You have made writing this story so easy and fun to do!
Onwards to the story. This chapter is going to throw a bunch of elements together; overprotective Anakin, protective boyfriend Rex, off-world mission, the tight knit community of the 501st, and daring Ahsoka.
Disclaimer: Nope. Don't own.
The mission was suppose to be simple: break up some political insurgents threatening the local government and preventing aid to reach the communities in the process of rebuilding, and then deliver the desperately needed aid. But the 501st was not familiar with the term "simple mission"; in their experience, something always went wrong. Unfortunately this rang true once again for the brothers of the famous battalion and their commanding officers.
Ahsoka took point in sweeping the village rumored to have been the hide-out of the insurgents, a typical task for the lithe padawan. She and her squad stealthily crept from building to building, clearing each room and checking for any signs of the insurgents. They found nothing until they reached the outskirts of the village. Ahsoka reported to Anakin that they had found a possible trail leading into the forest and received permission to scout ahead in preparation for back up. Following orders, the troops followed the trail cautiously to an open field when Ahsoka crouched and held up her hand for a complete halt and complete silence.
"Something isn't right." She whispered
And all haran broke loose. Red laser bolts flew from between the branches of the surrounding tree tops.
"We're pinned down! It was an ambush!" Ahsoka yelled into the comm as training and instincts kicked in and the clone troopers began to fight back. "Retreat! BP6!*"
Ahsoka, blades drawn and held defensively, blocked the bolts from her retreating troops.
The cry of a wounded trooper drew Ahsoka's attention from the fight in front of her and although the trooper was fine, the distraction was enough for a red bolt to escape the young commander's defenses and clip her left shoulder.
"We need to go now! Move!" and with that, Ahsoka followed the last pair of retreating troops back towards the village and reinforcements.
The insurgents were better shots then they let on and another bolt glanced Ahsoka's retreating form and she turned once more the face her pursuers. And it was her downfall.
Not seeing what she was about to step on when she turned and started running and dodging backwards, Ahsoka stepped right on a landmine and tried to throw herself out of the way when she stepped off of it. Unfortunately it did not work and the togrutan teen was caught fully in the blast and flung forward, towards her squad, who had turned when they heard the blast and her cry.
"Commander!" One of them yelled
"Grab her and lets go! I can't help her here!" Kix yelled over the comm.
Jesse came from off the path to gently scoop up the unmoving commander and follow after his brothers. By this time the formation of Battle Plan 6 had completely fallen apart as they all regrouped to protect the commander and their fellow squadmates.
"This is ARC trooper Jesse! We were ambushed and had to retreat. The commander was seriously injured covering our retreat and is non-responsive. Requesting immediate medical assistance!"
"Copy that." Rex's gruff voice was laced with worry.
Once the squad entered the village, the insurgents broke off their attack and vanished back into the forest. The squad however did not stop running until they encountered their reinforcements.
Rex immediately slipped Ahsoka from Jesse's grasp and lowered her down onto the stretcher brought with them. He couldn't control the hitch and draw of breath when he saw his girlfriend lying unmoving and injured on the stretcher and said nothing on the way back to the gunship where Anakin stood waiting. Even when Kix and Coric sympathetically shook their heads and refused him entry into the med bay, Rex said nothing, not even when Anakin called him away for the completion of the mission. Once they returned Rex paced broodingly in front of the medbay doors until the medics allowed him to see Ahsoka in the bacta tank. Here his general joined him in silent vigil until called away and only stopped to place a comforting hand on Rex's paldron and assure him.
"She'll pull through Rex. Stay with her though while I debrief the council."
Soon though Ahsoka was removed from the bacta and moved to a private room and Rex was forced out of the med bay once again.
Fives, Hardcase, and Jesse found their captain nervously pacing his wauters, his armor strewn unceremoniously across the room in a uncharacteristic manner of their well organized, orderly brother.
"Vod, Udesii. You need to get a grip." Fives's comment was met with a growl and harsh glare from his superior.
"What Fives means Rx, is that you need to Udesii…"
Rex snorted and turned on his brothers. "Calm down?! Did you not see her Jesse? She was… she was hurt… and I couldn't do anything! If I could've just gotten reinforcements moving faster, if I had gone instead of her…"
Fives stepped forward and shook his brother by the shoulders, hard.
"Rex! Listen, Ahsoka is going to be just fine, you heard the medics. She just has to take it easy for a little bit." Fives grinned "and we also know that your protective worrying isn't going to go away until you see her so we're here to help."
Rex's eye narrowed at the mischievous grins on the faces of the three brothers in front of him.
"You do know the general had to ban the entire 501st from the med bay because we was afraid of the constant barrage of troopers checking on Ahsoka right?"
"Of course we know. Kix and Coric were complaining about it to the general while we were there." Hardcase scoffed "Doesn't mean we aren't going to help you get in to see your girlfriend though."
"Yeah so hurry up and put your fatigues on. We're sneaking you into the med bay." Jesse crossed his arms smugly
15 minutes later four, identically red clad, troopers were sneaking down the halls towards the med bay. Fives inputted a code Rex wasn't sure he wanted to know where he learned it and the door slid open with a hiss.
"Say hello to the commander for us." Hardcase whispered before the three accomplices disappeared silently.
Rex nodded at empty air before stepping into the dimly lit room where his commander and girlfriend lay wrapped in bandages and under a light blanket. The blonde captain ran a hand along his buzz cut as he signed and sat in the chair pulled up next to the sleeping togrutan. He took her slender hand gently in his and pressed his lips to them and bowed his head. He was so deep in reflection he didn't notice the slight tightening of the slim fingers until a hoarse voice broke the silence
"Rex..?" his head shot up and met a face with bright blue eyes, eyebrows slightly creased, and lips parted as if to say something more.
"Ahsoka." he breathed and her fingers tightened around his hand in response.
"What…?" she started
"Shh, udesii. It's okay. You're safe now." he murmured
"The men…?"
"Are fine, thanks to you. Everyone has been swarming in here to try and see you and make sure you're okay."
Ahsoka opened her mouth to say something more when a bout of coughing overtook her; Rex held a cup of water to her lips and waited as she took a couple of sips.
"You need to rest. The medics say you'll be okay in a few weeks but until then you need to rest." he chided gently
Ahsoka gripped his hand "Stay with me. Please." she whispered
Rex leaned forward and gently kissed her forehead "Of course cyar'ika."
AN: Well and there's that. Not as much overprotect Anakin as I was planning but I hope I made up for it with the fluffiness between Rex and Ahsoka. Agh! I just love these two!
Translations for the last two chapters:
Kuur: Shut up
Vod(e): Brother(s)
Udesii: Calm down or take it easy
Haran: Hell
Cyar'ika: Sweetheart/love
*BP6(totally made this up)= Battle Plan 6= pair off and split up
Hope you all enjoyed it and please review!