A few things... One, correction, her name is MrsScruffyNerfherder and I want to get it right. Two, there are 2 more chapters after this one. This one is a bit short, but then again, aren't we mostly a bit short on time right now? So, short is good. I'm telling myself that and sticking to it. Three (as in a few) I again say thank you with copious amounts of gratitude to those readers who regularly tell me they are here with me and to those coming out of their nooks and crannies or just as guests. I promise you, these chapters and any upcoming fics - yes, Lils, it's on the way - would not be here without you - yes, all of you. I can't stress that enough. :D

May the Force Be With You!

xxxmtfbwyxxx

Chapter 22: Second Verse, Same as the First

Han watched the door slide shut on Leia and apparently their relationship. He felt caught between wanting to vomit, hit something and curse his head off. What the hell had just happened?

The last thing he knew was that he had jumped on Fett to distract him from shooting at Leia. Then the next thing knew he was here and, poof, what they had is over? His stomach wrenched again.

It was supposed to have been a romantic night. A celebration of the end of the bet and the more official beginning of them as a couple. The last part had been his hope, but he would've bet every credit he had ever had in his entire life that she was all in on it. Leia was a woman in love and it was obvious even to a guy like him.

He had woken up in the Med Center on Hoth to find her standing worriedly over him - he checked the nearest chrono - in the middle of the night just to act as if nothing meant anything to her? That just didn't add up. He knew he wasn't exaggerating his perceived level of Leia's emotional attachment to him all this time. He had enough sexual encounters and shallow involvements to know when there was nothing there. There was definitely something there with Leia. A deep something. An undeniable something. A love that he didn't want to lose and knew she felt the same. There was no way he was misreading it. Deep in his gut, he knew she loved him.

Dammit!

He just didn't have the strength to get up and chase her right now. Obviously, something big was bothering her. Hopefully, he would be able to ditch out of the Med Center by tomorrow. He had to get to the bottom of it and fast before she shut down on him completely. He knew all about her ability to lock down her emotions. After Alderaan, everyone around her knew her capability in that. If they weren't sure about it before Alderaan, they became very clear the moment they had landed on Yavin IV and she started barking orders about planning for the attack on the Death Star.

Chewie came bursting in the door followed closely by Skywalker. The Wookiee came over to hug him alternating being happy he was alive and irritated that he scared them all like that.

"Easy, Furball. I'm supposed to resting."

"Welcome back, Han! How are you?"

"Gettin' better by the minute, Kid." Chewie remarked that Han did look much better than before. "Yeah, I guess I was a bit banged up on arrival."

"Good thing Leia was able to get you here so fast." Luke became more subdued. "She saved your life."

"No doubt. You two gonna fill me in? I was kinda out of it at the time."

"She didn't tell you?" Whenever he was surprised, Luke still had a way of channeling a bit of the young Tattooine farmboy wonder into his tone.

"No. She didn't stay long."

Chewie growled quizzically as well.

"Hold on, she never told either one of you?"

Luke shook her head. "I know she had a debriefing with Rieekan." Luke could see Han trying to puzzle out why she would be so tight-lipped. "Han, she was dazed when she landed. She had been shot in the shoulder."

"What?!" The monitors next to the bed began to reach alarm status.

Both Chewie and Luke admonished Han to calm down. Han stayed angry for a moment more and Chewie reminded him the droid would come in to inspect the problem if he continued. He took a few breaths and the alarms shut themselves off.

"Dammit. She told me she was wasn't hurt."

"There's more."

Han steeled himself. "Tell me."

"I think she blames herself for what happened."

Solo closed his eyes against that bit of news. Oh, Sweetheart. No. "Why?"

"I don't know. It was just a feeling I had." Luke shrugged and spoke quietly. "I've never seen her look so shaken up. While the medics were preparing to move you to the Med Center, she wouldn't take her eyes off of you. When one of them tried to look at her shoulder, she ordered him back to you."

Chewie interjected to agree that the Princess kept all of her focus on Han until he was out of surgery and the bacta.

"I went in the tank? I must've been worse off than I thought."

The room went quiet.

"Alright, it's late. You two go back to sleep."

"I'm glad to see you're on the mend."

"Thanks, Kid. And if you see the Princess tomorrow…"

"Right. But take it easy on her?"

"Sure, Kid." Chewie ushered Luke out the rest of the way. "Night, Chewie."

Han spent the next few sleepless hours anguished over what Leia must've gone through and berating himself for letting it happen. Obviously, it was much worse than she had let on. Not only that, but what if Luke was right and Leia blamed herself? He had to get to the bottom of this and salvage what he could as soon as possible. He couldn't let her go.

Why does it always have to be this complicated?