A Careful Application of Pressure

Chapter Four: Doors Opened, Doors Closed

The little barqual was cute, he had to admit. IT sat on the counter as he made breakfast, watching him with wide, bright eyes.

"Hungry?" Han asked.

The barqual squeaked and twitched its tail. Cautiously, Han held out a strip of bread. "Not sure what it is you really eat, but I don't suppose this could hurt you." With a sniff, the animal delicately took his offering. It nibbled a corner before deeming the bread safe and stuffing the whole thing in its mouth.

"Like that?" he barqual purred in response. Han scratched behind its ear, and it moved closer. "You're not so scary, after all, huh, buddy?"

Without warning, the barqual snatched the entire loaf and scampered off. "Hey!" Han took off after it. "Come back here, monster."

The thief stopped. "Wait…" Han smiled hopefully. "Monster?" To his delight, the barqual cocked its head to one side. "Bring it here, Monster."

Hesitantly, the little creature dropped the tooth-marked bread at Han's feet.

"What are you doing out here?" Luke stuck his head into the hall.

"Watch this. Sit, Monster." Obediently, the newly-named Monster sat back on its haunches. Han laugh triumphantly. Luke rolled his eyes.

"Could you be a little quieter, please? I'm trying to meditate." He started to shut the door.

Without thinking, Han held it open. "Hold on."

A tremor of impatience made its way through Luke's self-control. "Yes?"

"Um…" Han wasn't sure what to say, really. You'd better thank me for this, Princess, he thought. Here goes. "Leia wants us to spend more time together."

This was just humble enough to catch Luke's attention. "We are together."

"As in talking. I made breakfast, if you want to eat it with me."

For a moment, Luke looked as if he wanted to say no. But he sighed and opened the door all the way. "All right. For Leia."

Han nodded. "For Leia."

For the next three days, Leia spent most of her time digging for gossip.

Jeffersom was an easy target. As a young, charming, and single officer, he was well-known among the female staff of the Senate house. Among the giggles and whispered allegations, she managed to find some useful information. "Poor guy," a cook told her. "I heard his love got herself killed by a gang, I did. Left him with a little girl, too."

"Oh, the little girl." The janitor shook her head sorrowfully. "It wasn't his kid, but he raised her. The story is, after her mother died the girl's father came around. He had her kidnapped, and she's been missing since."

"It's a real shame," the valet said. "He hasn't seen another woman since, and that was nearly eight years ago." She leaned in close. "You know, what I think he needs is a lady. Someone sweet to help him forget."

It was much harder to find dirt on Felda. She hit the secretary's break room one day during lunch. Listening to the amount of chatter in that space, Leia found it incredible that the government could keep any secrets. "Felda Jira-Hava… She's the one with the pretty pink eyes, right? She keeps to herself, mostly. I know she lives alone, and she doesn't get out much." The woman's blue ears perked forward. "Why? Who's interested?"

So this was her task. Bringing together two lonely hearts with long histories of being on their own. It was a challenge, but one she was eager to conquer. All it would take was a little planning and a careful application of pressure.

That afternoon, she caught Felda on her way out the door. "A few friends and I are going out to dinner tomorrow night. Would you like to come?"

"Um, I…"

"Come on. It'll be fun." Leia flashed her winningest smile. "Please?"

"Okay," Felda said reluctantly. "When and where?"

"The Nova, at seven."

"I'll try."

Leia waited until she was well on her way down the hall before reaching for the comm. "Officer Jeffersom? Hello, this is Leia Organa. I was wondering if you were doing anything tomorrow evening."

"Good afternoon, Senator."

Leia walked into the office with her game face firmly in place: a calm, friendly smile that practically oozed emotional stability. "Hello, Adele."

"I see you came back after all."

If she wanted an answer, she'd have to ask a question.

The therapist studied her for a few seconds, then moved on. "I'd like to ask you a few questions about your social life today."

Again, a blank smile.

"Have you gone out since the incident?"

"What incident?"

"Your kidnapping." Adele said with forced patience.

"Yes."

"With friends?"

"Yes."

"With a consort?"

The idea of Han as a consort nearly drove Leia to laughter. "Yes."

"And is everything all right with said consort?"

"Yes."

"What about friends? Are you having any problems with them?"

"No."

Adele remained impressively cool. "Are your friends helping you recover from the incident?"

Leia hesitated. She was reluctant to risk a long answer. But 'yes' or 'no' would acknowledge there was something to recover from. "They helped with medication and transportation while I was still getting over my injuries."

"What about emotionally? Do they show concern for your happiness?"

"I didn't schedule this myself."

With startling irritation, the therapist threw down her data pad. "Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do, Leia. I'll tell you right now, it's not going to solve anything. If your refuse to be helped, you're already a lost cause." She cleared her throat. "That's all for today."

Wordlessly, Leia started to leave.

"And Leia?"

Leia looked back over her shoulder.

"Unless you decide to cooperate, I suggest you save us both some frustration and don't come back."

Leia slammed the door behind her.