Chapter 12: A Box of Memories

Kanan pulled into the neighborhood that he had looked up. He was so luckily that Ahsoka had given him permission to take a little time out of his patrol to do this.

He pulled up to the house address he looked up before parking in the street in front of it. He got out and knocked on the door.

"Is there a problem officer?" the woman who answered the door asked.

"No ma'am." Kanan reassured. "My name is Kanan Jarrus, is it alright if I come in?"

"Do you have a reason to search my house?" the woman questioned.

"I'll explain." Kanan replied.

The woman gave Kanan a quick glance before letting him through the doorway.

"I expect an explanation." the woman stated as she closed the door.

"How long have you lived in this house?" Kanan asked.

"That's not explaining, but about eight years." the woman said.

"You bought it from the government correct?" Kanan asked.

"Yes." the woman confirmed.

"What do you know about the previous owners?" Kanan asked.

"I think their names were the Bridgers." the woman explained. "I'm pretty sure they died which is why the government was selling it. I don't know the full story, they refused to tell us, but I think they were murdered. Is there a point to all this? Are they reopening the case?"

"No, but I think they should." Kanan responded. "I'm now fostering their son. The child that used to live here until his parents were killed. I was mainly wondering if you had kept any items from them. It's his birthday tomorrow, and I thought giving him something from his past would be a perfect gift."

"Oh my," the woman said. "I'm so sorry. Yeah, we got rid of most of the personal items we found already in the house, but we did keep some in a box in the attic." She started to lead him towards the stairs. "You are welcome to look through it."

"Thank you ma'am." Kanan responded.

"My name is Breha Organa by the way." the woman finally introduced. "I live here with my husband and our daughter. My daughter's birthday is actually in a few days as well. We're so proud of her. She's only a sophomore but she's already student body president at her school."

"How's the school system?" Kanan asked. "I'll probably be sending Ezra in January."

"It's pretty good." Breha responded. "She does have a few problems with some of the teachers, but who doesn't?"

There was a small doorway at the end of the hallway on the second floor. "Well here's the attic." Breha said. "I'll bring that box out for you." Breha entered the attic, leaving Kanan in the hallway.

"So this is the house Ezra was meant to grow up in?" Kanan muttered to himself. There was a picture on the wall of a young girl about Ezra's age. She had long brown hair and looked not too much like Breha, but Kanan assumed it was her daughter. After all, the girl could look like her father, or she could even be adopted.

"Here you go." Breha said, emerging from the attic carrying a box. "Feel free to take anything you want from here."

"Thank you," Kanan responded taking the box.

The box mostly held photo album, a few documents, such as a marriage certificate and Ezra's birth certificate and Social Security Card. There was one framed photo that made Kanan smile, he took it out and showed it to Breha. "That's so sweet."

"I'll take the whole box if you don't mind." Kanan said.

"Of course take it." Breha responded. "It rightly belongs to him anyways."

"Thank you for your time Mrs. Organa." Kanan bid her farewell.

"No problem Officer Jarrus." Breha returned.

As Kanan started to exit the house he saw what must have been the master bedroom.

"We had to get new carpet in here when we moved in." Breha said softly. "It looked like a murder scene."

"It was," Kanan replied sadly.

"They were killed in here?" Breha asked.

"Yeah," Kanan responded.

"They didn't mention that." Breha muttered.

"That sort of thing may turn away some buyers." Kanan mused.

"Well that must have been traumatizing, for a young child to walk in on his parents dead bodies." Breha thoughtfully spoke.

"It's worse than that. He saw them die. He was hiding under the bed." Kanan said. "That poor kid has seen things no one should have to see."

Breha gasped at the news. "The poor dear."

"Even after seeing his parents die, he lived on the streets for nearly eight years. I don't even want to think of some of the horrors he must have seen out there." Kanan explained lightly. He sighed and headed back towards the front door. "I really must be going. I need to back on patrol."

"Keep that boy well cared for." Breha said as she stopped at the door way.

"That's one thing you don't have to worry about." Kanan promised. He put the box in the back of his patrol car and got back to work.

As he went back to his route he wondered what Ezra and Hera did today.

"Well whatever it was, I'm sure the two of them bonded over something." Kanan muttered to himself.