Chapter #6

Luke and Mara hurried across the foyer of the crowded Anchorhead medcenter dodging pedestrians and medical personnel alike. Luke had faced many crises during his long career, but rarely had he experienced the sheer panic that threatened to consume him.

"Breathe, Luke," insisted Mara.

"I am breathing, I'll just breathe better when we know what this is all about," he said reaching the information desk.

"Excuse me," said Mara to a young man behind the desk. "We are looking for our son, Ben Skywalker. We were told there was an emergency of some kind."

"Skywalker…Skywalker, no Skywalker listed. You sure you got the right…" the med clerk looked up from his datapad. "Oh, Sir… and Ma'am, I'm sorry, let me see what I can find out for you." The young man left his chair and walked across to the emergency room entrance.

"Can you sense anything?" asked Mara.

"I can't calm myself to do so, I keep thinking that something awful has happened," said Luke fighting the swelling panic.

The med clerk returned quickly to their side. "They're in the ER, go through that door and take an immediate right, then swing to the left. You'll see the waiting area and someone will be with you shortly."

"Thanks," said Mara over her shoulder as they sprinted across the foyer.

Through the door… thought Luke… was there an accident? Take an immediate right…. could it be one of the children? Swing left…. Ben couldn't be sick, could he? Look for the waiting area….

"Grandpa!" shouted Caleb, running down the hall and flying into Luke's arms.

"Oh Caleb, are you alright?" whispered Luke hugging his grandson. Kissing his sweet face, Luke held Caleb in his arms lost in the precious moment.

"Luke, over there….it's the kids," said Mara, walking further down the hall and bringing him back to the situation at hand.

Sitting on the waiting room couch were their four other grandchildren. Nirice held Emma on her lap, while Abby lay sleeping in Tiann's arms.

"Is everyone all right? Where are your mom and dad?" asked Luke, still holding Caleb.

Nirice took a breath, barely able to stifle a sob. "They're in the examining room. Something is wrong with Mom. As soon as we landed she got up and just passed out."

"They brought us here to wait," Tiann continued, "and Dad went in with Mom, but no one has come out to tell us anything yet. It's been over 2 hours…"

Luke shifted Caleb over to Mara. "Ok, I'll tell you what we'll do. I'll go in and find out what is happening and then we'll ask your dad if it's okay to take you to our place."

The look of relief on the children's faces was encouraging. Mara sat next to Tiann with Caleb now in her lap. "Go ahead Luke, we'll be fine," she smiled. Luke noticed her taking in the sight of their five precious grandchildren and nodded.

Walking across the hall, Luke opened the door and made his way into the examining room. "Hello? Can someone help me?"

"Master Skywalker," said a man gowned in a white medical uniform, waving. "Over here, sir, I was just informed you had arrived and was getting ready to come get you."

Luke walked over to the older man ready with a million questions when he noticed….Ben.

"Dad?" said his son, getting up from his chair with a bewildered look on his face.

"I'll leave you two alone to discuss the situation," informed the med tech.

"She…she collapsed," said Ben. "We had just arrived and we were getting up from our seats. She seemed fine, I was trying to get Abby out of the seat restraints and Caleb was fighting with Emia about something. The next thing I knew Rachel was on the floor. I don't know if…" Ben's face crumpled as he melted into his father's arms and began to sob.

Ben, oh Ben…choked Luke, holding his son tightly and breathing in his child's grief. It'd been so long since he'd seen his son, too long since he had held him in his arms. He slowly began to rock him back and forth like he used to do with him as a child. Memories filled his senses, memories and loss. Son, I'm so sorry, it's going to be all right. I'll make it right, I promise…thought Luke.

Ben slowly let go and wiped his face. "They're doing a scan now. The kids….they've been waiting out there for hours." Ben gestured toward the door leading toward the hallway.

"Your mom's with them. Is it all right if she takes them back to our hotel suite?" offered Luke.

Ben sighed, "That would be great, they must be exhausted. I'll just go tell her…"

"I just did, son," smiled Luke.

"Oh, right. I forgot about how you two can…" Ben's face was suddenly hard to read.

"Here let's sit down. You look pretty tired yourself." Luke guided Ben to the chair and took one next to his, waiting for his son to compose himself.

"It was an indirect flight so it was longer than we thought it would be," Ben said, raking his hand through his hair. "I could tell she was getting tired, but Rachel has always been so healthy nothing ever seems to faze her. If I'd thought for one minute that she wasn't well enough to make the trip…"

"Have they given you any idea what the problem is?" asked Luke. He kept his hand on Ben's back to strengthen and comfort him, noticing that his son did not seem to mind.

"No, not yet," whispered Ben. "She's always so strong. Even with everything that she's been through in her life, she's the most loving and compassionate person I've ever met." Ben paused and took a breath. "The first time I saw her, I just knew she was exactly what I needed—what I still need. I don't know what I'd do if…."

He's almost in shock… thought Luke, stroking the back of Ben's head. "Let's just wait till the test results are back before we start to imagine the worst, son."

The med tech suddenly re-entered the room. "Ah, Mr. Enjeris. Good news, the test results show your wife is fine, as well as the baby. Her blood pressure was low when she came in, but it's normal now." He paused to look at the datapad. "I think it was just fatigue from the flight that brought this on. I'm surprised her OB tech gave her permission to travel so close to her due date."

Luke was stunned for a moment when he heard his son respond to the different surname. Enjeris? Was he using an alias?

"Will she be able to go to the hotel today?" asked Ben.

"Absolutely. We're getting her ready for release as we speak. Just make sure she gets lots of rest. I'm not her OB tech, but I would suggest you stay on Tatooine until she delivers," he advised. "You can take care of the release forms in the foyer area."

"Thank you," Ben shook the tech's hand. "My wife and I have some decisions to make, then." He looked at his dad. "Not quite the initial meeting I had envisioned, but then when has this family ever done anything in a normal way?"

"Son, I'm just so glad you're here and she's all right." Luke hesitated but couldn't help himself. He had to know. "Did I hear the med tech correctly? You're going by another name now?" Luke asked softly.

Ben lowered his eyes, his face becoming impassive. "I took Rachel's name when we married. It seemed the right idea at the time."

"I see," said Luke, his heart nearly breaking.

"I should go sign the release forms," replied Ben awkwardly, looking around the room, "but I need to wait here for Rachel first."

Luke swallowed hard. "Would you like me to wait here while you go finish up? I can bring Rachel to the foyer after they release her."

Ben seemed reluctant at first, but then nodded, wearily. "I'll meet you both in the foyer then." He walked across the room and out the door.

Luke fell into the chair, feeling completely numb. His son had rejected everything he had ever stood for, even his name. Could Ben possibly abhor his own father so much? How was he going to deal with this? How was he going to tell Mara?

Taking a calming breath, he tried to release the hurt and anger as he prepared for Rachel's arrival. Drawing on the Force, he felt the familiar peace envelope and strengthen him. Finally, he released the emotions that had engulfed him to the point of despair. Looking up, Luke saw his daughter-in-law being pushed in a hover-chair by a female med tech. "Hello," Luke smiled, "you must be Rachel."

"And you must be my father-in-law," she said, here eyes shining. "Can I make an entrance, or what?"

Luke bent down to embrace Rachel and could immediately sense her warmth toward him. "Mara has taken the kids to our apartment and Ben is taking care of the practical matters."

"Well, that's usually my job, so we'll have to pray for a small miracle," said Rachel ruefully. "It's wonderful to finally meet you. I'm looking forward to getting to know you and Mara, at last."

"As are we," smiled Luke. He nodded to the med tech as he took control of the chair.

"I hope the kids are behaving themselves. They can be a handful," she admitted.

"Who better to handle them than a Jedi Master with a formidable reputation?" said Luke. "After all, she was able to handle me."

Luke noticed her looking at him speculatively as she laughed.

He raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"The resemblance is striking," said Rachel, her eyes twinkling. "I can see where Ben gets his good looks."

"Flattery will get you everywhere, my dear," smiled Luke, blushing. "I promised Ben we'd meet him near the exit, so if you're all set?"

Luke guided the chair, taking care not to jostle his son's wife. What a treasure my son has found! Reaching their destination, he stopped the chair and circled around to face Rachel.

"Has Ben been behaving himself?" she asked a hopeful look on her face.

Luke paused a moment unable to quite put into words their earlier conversation. Finally, he smiled ruefully. "I think it's going to take some time for things to work themselves out, Rachel."

"I was afraid of that," she sighed. "He's a good man, Luke. Your son is a loving husband and father. I'm hopeful that this visit will help him come to terms with his past and his reasons for—"

"Rachel!" called Ben, hurrying over to his wife and embracing her. "I was so worried, I didn't know what was happening and they decided that they needed to do some scans, well I thought the worse…"

"Everything is fine, love. I'm fine, the baby's fine, the kids are fine. Your dad says they're with your mom, and I've starving," said Rachel, trying to calm Ben.

"I've taken care of the medical forms, so we are free to leave," said Ben, taking control of the hover-chair.

"Then let's go," suggested Luke. "I know a certain grandma that has been preparing for two weeks and if I know her, she's happily spoiling your children with surprises even as we speak."

And Force, do I have a surprise for her.