In the Jedi Temple

Rex loved the days he had shore leave. He loved catching up with the latest news circulating around the barracks, loved going to cantinas with his brothers, and loved pretending to be a normal man for a few hours instead of a genetically modified soldier. But above all, his absolute favorite parts of shore leave was going to the Jedi Temple and seeing his little commander in her element, surrounded by friends.

At the moment, however, he couldn't find her anywhere. He had eaten lunch with his brothers in the cafeteria at the Temple, and then had gone to look for her. She wasn't in a training room, wasn't in the Council room, wasn't with another master, or in the medical center. The only place left to look was her quarters.

As a rule, Rex tried to avoid her quarters. She had to spend most of her time sharing a cramped cabin with her master on the Resolute, and deserved her privacy between missions. But he hadn't seen her since they landed a week ago, and frankly, he was becoming worried.

Her quarters were right beside Skywalker's, as every Master and Padawan quarters were.

She had given him the combo to her door long ago, and he had unintentionally memorized it. However, he had absolutely no pretense of barging in, which was why he stood here now, hand raised hesitantly above the door-comm. He knew he looked desperately out of place, with his black fatigues and utility belt and combat boots. Finally, after much mental debate, his hand came down on the door controls.

He stood there waiting for what felt like ages, until he heard a small voice come through the door. He frowned, since when did Ahsoka use such a small, insecure voice?

He palmed open the now unlocked door, and stepped into the small apartment.

"Little'un? Where are you?"

"Rex?" She stepped around the corner, seeming surprised to see him. He was taken aback by her appearance. Her eyes were bloodshot and droopy and the chevrons on her lekku were much less vibrant than usual.

"Ahsoka? Did you get any sleep last night? Or the night before that?" Rex stepped into the small living area of her apartment. Ahsoka huffed and all but collapsed on the meditation couches in the corner of the room.

"No. Not a bit." She scowled and glared at the floor, like it had personally offended her.

"Why? What's wrong?" Rex asked carefully, taking off his heavy utility belt before kneeling beside her.

"The Council is sending me on my first solo mission. They just sprung it on me as soon as we got back. I mean, even Master didn't know about it. I don't even know all the details." She took a shaky breath and turned her stressed eyes towards him. "I'm scared, Rex. I won't have Skyguy to save me at the last minute, I won't have Master Kenobi helping me make decisions, I won't have any troops for backup or providing cover fire…" she suddenly broke off and buried her head in her hands with a strangled sob.

Rex was startled. He never understood just how much the little commander underestimated herself. He had to fix this.

Slowly he stood up, and walked over to the small sound system in the corner of the meditation room. After fiddling with it for a moment, he finally was able to get it to play a slow, calming beat.

Ahsoka looked up curiously as he strode back over to her and held out a hand to help her up.

"Rexter? What are you doing?"

"I'm comforting you." He smirked and pulled her against him.

"I don't need comforting," She muttered, but rested her head against his chest anyway. Rex carefully enclosed her in his armor-free arms, relishing in the soft feel of her bare back against his palms.

They gently swayed back and forth for a few minutes, before Ahsoka started trembling again.

"What is it Little'un?" Rex murmured quietly into her montrals. She shivered at his voice.

"I...I just re-realized," her voice broke and she stepped back a few inches to look at him. "You won't be there," She whispered, her eyes becoming frantic and worry blossoming all over her face.

Rex smiled softly and pulled her back to him. She wrapped her small arms around his waist and tucked her head into his neck. "I'm so scared Rex."

"You have absolutely no reason to be afraid Ahsoka." Rex knew this was probably a conversation she should be having with her master, but he would give it his best shot.

"You won't really be alone. You know that the Council and the 501st will be only a distress signal away, and you have that weird Force-bond thing with Skywalker. If it would make you feel any better, I will sleep with my helmet on so I could answer a call from you in the middle of the night."

She sighed and sagged against him. Rex started running his hand over her sensitive lekkus and started swaying and turning them again.

"I know I'm over-reacting, but...what if something happens and I lose communication with home?"

"Ahsoka, if anything ever even attempts to take you away from me, I will tear the galaxy apart looking for you, and so will your master and General Kenobi and Torrent company. We need our commander just as much as she needs us." He pulled back and smiled at her. "Besides, you owe me two dances now, and I intend to collect them once this war is over."

Ahsoka looked taken aback for a moment before she collected herself and smiled up at him sheepishly. "And I intend to give them to you freely." Then, with all her usual bouncy quirkiness, she leaned up on her toes and pecked his lips. Now blushing madly, she turned abruptly and left her rooms. Rex stood there stunned for a few moments, before a smile bigger than both Tatooine's suns split his face.

Here you are. Chapter two. So noticed I said something about a promise in the summary? Well, there you go...

Chapter three is almost done, but it's longer than one or two. Have patience, young padawans.