Hi, again thank you for your patience! I might take a break from Star Wars Rebels Fanfic to work on some Reylo (SW7) or Dramione (HP) fiction. Let me know what you think? Any requests for any fanfic?

Thanks for reading and liking! -Chefke

Chapter 6

Kanan felt his entire life force screech to a death dropping stop. He felt himself go cold and what little life was in him drain into near nothingness. No. She wouldn't- She couldn't- but she had. He called out for her but she didn't hear him. He was too far from her to reach her with his body or the Force. He tried both.

'Hera! Hera! NO!' His voice cracked. She had tossed herself off of the bridge. His whole universe had jumped off that bridge. He could see some bright explosive looking engine at the bottom. If she hit it... He felt his breath catch and the force nudge at him. Like it was trying to tell him something without actually telling him. He reached out his arms to try and lift her but she was falling too fast and he was too far. He closed his eyes in concentration and was startled when he felt something hard whip into his palm. He opened them to find a grappling hook in his palm. Hera's grappling hook. It had been with his stuff he had retrieved in a storage locker in one of the first rooms he had raided on the Station.

He didn't even remember moving or when he shot the grapple gun and swung; all he could see and all he knew was one thing. Hera. Using a combination of physics and the Force he was able to slow her descent and hasten his. She slid into his open arms and he held her tight enough that it bit into her arms and she bled. She didn't even flinch. Her eyes were closed as they swung. He swung them both over the railing of a lower level and hoisted her gently over the railing and into his arms comfortably. She was unconscious but breathing. Shallow, but she was breathing. He set off down the hall calling Chopper on his way. He could feel the force literally smiling. Maybe they were the Force's version of an OTP? The Force knows it had saved the two of them enough times. She stirred groaning and shifting in his arms.

'It's me, Kanan. I'm here love. Your safe.' He murmured into her hair as he rushed down the halls trying not to jiggle her too much. Chopper was going to meet them with the ship in a hangar bay on the floor they were on. The two of them had already set enough explosives to blow a small planet up. Chopper was counting down in his ears and it was making him confused with the already confusing layout of the place. They did not have time to get lost.

As he rushed down the halls he cursed himself; Kanan's plan could not have gone worse. His first three attempts at cutting the power without cutting life support had been in vain and he had had to reset the entire system accidentally causing a two second blackout, which obviously didn't go unnoticed. He was such a bumbling idiot that the Patrolmen who probably never patrolled a day in their lives actually started patrolling. He was mid cursing himself for not bringing Chopper when he was spotted by two guards attempting to do their jobs in patrolling. Today was not their day. With little time to react, he aimed his blaster and blew the entire fuse successfully blacking out the whole ship. The confused guards were out cold before they had a chance to wonder what happened to the lights.

Apparently it had been too little time to think as well, because he had knocked out life support and artificial gravity. He had one breather on him but he wasn't sure how long it would last. He plugged himself into a computer terminal in a abandoned room and tried and failed to work on the life support problem. That system was too advanced for him so he radioed Chopper to work on life support. He moved on to work on the artificial gravity. This might be an Empire-run torture facility but there were still people on board who wouldn't make it off with both systems knocked out. He finished and moved out hefting two new barrel edged guns that he found in the room. One was slung across his back with Hera's things he had found and the other was balanced in his hands. It was definitely Mandolorian made. No doubt about it.

He was panicking and being sloppy. He had too much to lose and he was scared shitless. He knocked out two more patrolmen and stopped to clear his mind in another empty room. He blocked out Chopper for a full sixteen seconds and then steeled himself down the corridor. The oxygent levels were dropping and he had one oxygent mask. Hera. He needed to find Hera. He rushed down three more levels stealthier and without any incidents.

He was two corridors away when Chopper announced the return of the Life Support System. He was breathing heavily at this point and he welcomed the fresh air that was flooding the Station. Then it hit him, there were two corrdiors seperating him from Hera. He could feel her. He felt her presence through the force. It was very weak but it was there. He radioed Chop to prepare the Med Bay for her. He responded it was already prepped and ready. He moved.

The Force warned him about the male scaling the metal tubing above him before he dropped. Kanan swept to the left shooting off three explosive rounds as he slid behind a closed Cannister for cover. He heard one of his shots make contact with whomever was under the hood. He didn't see what he hit; but he heard an audible thump. He repositioned his gun, checked his armor, his map, and walked out slowly. His hooded friend was waiting clutching his side.

'You will never make it out of here alive Rebel.' The voice under the hood was unmistakably male with a slight Lower Coruscanti accent to it. Something he was clearly trying to get rid of. Not so easy to hide your roots. He would know. They were circling each other now. He was limping slightly although he doubted his injury would impair his ability to fight much.

'I don't doubt that.' He was calculating the clicks to the next cooridor. If he wasn't incapacitated he would have several clear shots at Kanan. 'But I can't let you have my girl.'

'Ahh... the Twiilek.'He spat. 'Did you pay a high price for her? I hope not not worth her weight in Bantha Fodder.'

He was goading him and he knew that and normally he would be enraged. However, he wasn't going to let his focus slip. Hera. Only Hera. That was all that was on his mind.

'Your path to your ship is cut off and the escape pods have been cut loose. You have no where to go!' His voice was raspy and he coughed every so often. It must have been a good hit. He really liked this humongous barrel gun. He was glad he had two.

Kanan fired twice and the hooded thing backflipped and jumped until he was out of fire range. He made two more hits, his right arm and his left thigh in addition to what was looking like his abdomen. It was enough to send a regular person to a longterm medic facility. This guy just retreated still only limping slightly trying to gather his wits. He retreated behind a grouping of Databanks. For Kanan that was enough time for him to make it to Hera and this guy wouldn't have enough time to call for backup. The getting back part would be worrisome. He would need Chopper to do something about that. Kanan moved forward in attempt to slow him down further but he flipped backwards and started climbing back up the wall.

'Until next time Jedi Boy.' He winked at him and then he was gone. Startled Kanan almost tripped over his own feet. He hadn't used the Force even once! He ignored the panic that was rising in his throat, raised his gun, and went to search for his Hera. She was usually flickering in the force. He could barely feel her anymore. He slid the door open to the circular deck on that floor and he saw her. She was chained in some odd contortionist way to a metal piping unit behind her. She couldn't move even if she didn't look like every bone in her body was broken. Her eyes were black and swollen and her skin was the palest shade of green he had ever seen. Blood was streaming from her lips and her fingernails were... gone. He gently undid her straps and lifted her into his arms. Her smell was intoxicating but she was also barely breathing. He hugged her cold body close to him careful not to cause her anymore pain. Then he heard voices. Patrolmen. Damn it.

'Stay here love.' He whispered. He put her down gently and raced back to shoot whatever the hell was coming at them. He had just dispatched the last of them when he turned to see her fling herself from the side of the platform. It was like the horror of Order 66 again. Watching his loved ones and his entire world die.

Kanan snapped back to the present. They were approaching the hangar bay. She was still breathing but extremely shallow. She would need a bacta tank and an oxygen supplement as soon as they got on board. He radioed Chopper with more instructions. Chopper radioed back that there was something in the hangar bay waiting for him. He doubled back and went down four corridors. He could handle this cloaked guy on his own but he wouldn't risk Hera.

'Kanan. Kanan. Kanan.' Her voice was barely audible. Kanan held her tighter and started off down the hall. He whispered back reassuringly at her.

'Chopper exit strategy. Now.' He got a bunch of furious bleeps in response.

'Of course I have her. We wouldn't leave without her.'

Kanan's head was starting to buzz from the insanity of the plan. He quickly proceeded to the emergency pods. He had Chopper remotely access the Phantom right outside the docking bay so all the troops would look for him there. Meanwhile a cloaked Ghost was connected to the empty escape pods ports. They had anticipated them launching all of the escape pods. It was a solid plan. Chopper had opened the overhead compartment for them to slide into.

Chopper was flying by the side of the ship where the hangar bay was. He could see an intense firefight going on. Chopper had re-wired all the stationary droids there and they were fighting all the patrolmen. He could see the hooded thing getting onto what was clearly a high level Imperial Ship. He paused before he went into the ship and looked past their shields and directly at Kanan; his eyes promising they would meet again. Chopper recalled the Phantom that was shooting up the Hangar Bay. Once it was attached they took off and the Station realized it had been duped. The real fight began as their external Canons concentrated their fire on them. Chopper switched the shields from invisible to defensive.

'Chop! I don't care about fancy flying get us the hell in hyperspace!' He bleeped back furiously.

'What do you mean you need two minutes!? I can't strap Hera into the Medbay until the ship is done being rocked by fire!' There was a low Oh from Chopper.

The next shock sent them careening off course and almost tossed Hera into a wall. He sank to his feet pinning Hera to the floor under him. He didn't know how long he would have and he couldn't risk her falling off the med bay table. He was mid thought when he heard the explosion. He could feel the shock wave in his bones as he held her pinned down to the floor. He held her for a solid two minutes while Chopper executed some of the finest piloting Kanan had ever witnessed. Once they were out of the danger zone; he stood up while Chopper gave a pre-hyperspace warning. He strode over to the Medbay and strapped Hera into the Medbay bed. He strapped her arms and legs into the bed knowing it would freak her out when she woke up. He sighed, he didn't really have a choice. She had some pretty bad wounds that needed not to be jostled any more than they already had been. He resigned himself to traumatizing her a little bit more and started to apply Bacta her more intensive wounds. Belatedly, he remembered she was having trouble breathing and attached a breathing aide to her mouth. He didn't remember how long he stood there but his legs ached and his sleep deprivation finally caught up with him. He remembered slipped to the ground by her bed and thinking the same possessive words over and over again.

She's home. She's back. She's safe.

She's home. She's back. She's safe.

She's home. She's back. She's safe.

.

.

.

Kanan woke an hour later in hyperspace. Hera hand was still in his hand and she was sleeping soundly. He lifted himself and reapplied Bacta to him first and then to Hera. There were more med supplies and a bowl of warm soapy water next the bed. Chopper must have left it before powering down. They had another couple of hours in hyperspace. He had prepared for the worst before they left the planet's surface but she was strong and was healing rapidly. He carefully removed her blood stained Pilot's overalls and shirt. Her Lekku were hanging freely. Gently he rinsed each limb from blood and dirt scrubbing until she was clean. She didn't need any reminders when she woke up. He cleaned and bandaged each wound, listening to her gentle breathing. He was careful not to invade her privacy and kept her covered with a blanket. She was clean and alive. That was good enough for now.

He had finished with her and had managed to bandage his last couple of cuts up and started to wash his hands. He watched as the water spiraled down the drain. It was red. His hands were covered in Hera's blood and the sink filled with it. He felt his stomach churn and his throat close up. He collapsed in the chair next to her bed. She was still sleeping, but he had her, he hadn't been helpless this time. He had saved her. It was bothering him how much she reminded him of Master Bilaba. She was fiercely loyal and would give her life for him. Something he was sure he did not deserve. Watching her sleep; he knew in that moment that he would never touch alcohol again. He would never bet or visit dingy Cantinas. That part of his life was over. He was something of an adult now. He was going to do whatever she asked of him wholeheartedly and never complain. The rebellion was not something he would have seeked out on his own but he found what was important to her was suddenly important to him. Even if he did lose her he would continue her work because it was important to her.

He started to stand when he felt and arm rest on his thigh.

'Please. Don't go.' She whispered. He looked down to see two pale green eyes looking up at him. He bent down and slowly ran a concerned hand down her cheek.

'Are you hungry? thirsty? In pain? What can I get you? What do you need?' She looked at him with an odd expression.

'You're safe Hera. On the Ghost. Which is also safe. And Chopper and Me.' He was babbling and had to forcibly close his mouth to stop himself from talking. He didn't know what to say. What do you say to someone who was willing to kill themselves for you? What do you say to someone who was tortured for days and wouldn't give up anything on you? He didn't deserve this kind of loyalty.

He was watching her with rising concern. Her pupils weren't dilated. That was good. He needed to make sure she was comfortable. She came first. He didn't even know where they were headed or if Fulcrum was notified. He didn't really care. He was never going to leave her side.

'I was so scared.' She was whispering as one heavily bandaged hand outstretched to him. Every digit had been broken, every nail pulled. It flooded him with pain terrifying enough to drown him. He reached his hand into hers and squeezed gently.

'I'm so sorry Hera. It should have been-'

'Kanan. I was so scared I would never see you again.' He was stunned into silence. He wasn't sure of her feelings for him. He knew he annoyed her but he was never sure. He didn't know maybe he was wrong right now. Did she feel the same way he did? It didn't matter. She was alive and that was enough. He felt his heart break into a million little pieces when she scooted over to make room for him on the bed.

He carefully climbed in next to her and laid down. Straightening his hand he intertwined his fingers with hers. They had just hopped out of Hyperspace and the ship jerked a bit. Hera hissed in pain.

'I think I should stick to flying from now on. It's a miracle my ship is one piece.' Wait till she saw the things he broke during his tantrums in her absence. She was going to kill him. He decided not to mention it now.

'I agree. I'll take the every day missions. We need you alive as our contact for the Fulcrum. Ok love?' She sighed.

'Are you grounding me?'

'Not permanently. Just till you're completely better. I don't want to aggravate anything.'

'And you can watch me better on the ship.' She sounded annoyed. Crap. Go for honesty, go for honesty.

'I can't lose you Hera Syndulla. I almost lost it. I didn't recognize myself without you. I need you. Please don't leave again.' She was silent and still for several moments. Then she nuzzled her head in his arm and he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. .

'I'll think about it. Ok?' She whispered.

'Ok.'

'And Kanan...'

'Yeah?'

'We should talk about what happened in the bar.' He groaned he wasn't even sure what happened in the bar. She was furious with him but he hadn't actually been drinking. He had one drink but the rest had no alcohol.

'You were sober weren't you?' She sighed.

'For the most part. I had one alcoholic drink and it was diluted with water.' Her face colored and she looked ashamed. She squeezed her eyes shut and spoke so fast he almost missed it.

'I'm sorry. I know how hard Empire Day is for you and I didn't want you to fall back.' She gulped and opened her eyes. 'I didn't want you to regress to how you were when I first met you.'

He sighed. He was scared of that too but he would never do that on a mission. He hoped.

'Thank you for coming for me, especially after...' He almost laughed. She bothered him about drinking and she thought he wouldn't tear apart the galaxy looking for her?

'Did you doubt I would?'

'No, you're a Jedi. But it's nice to know that there's someone there for me.'

'Wouldn't your father?'

'I doubt it.'

'I would tear apart the galaxy for you Hera. Always and not just because I'm a Jedi.' She sat up slowly wincing several times until she was sitting crossed legged in front of him. He sat up and sat cross legged facing opposite her.

'Kanan.'

'Yes Hera-'

'Be quiet.'

'Okay.' He was smirking but he didn't know why. There were a lot of emotions flickering across her face. Too many to isolate any of them. She whispered so softly Kanan thought he had misheard.

'I am going to kiss you now. Is that okay?' Before she had a chance to lean forward he planted his hands on her face and swooped her into his lap kissing her soundly on the mouth. He knew he should probably be more romantic and take it slow but he was scared she would change her mind. He had been waiting too long for this.

Kissing Hera was something he dreamed about. Nightly. Nothing he dreamed of would have ever compared to this though. He felt his world change from a stark black and white to a vibrant and dazzling technicolor. His hands were searing hot as they slid up her arms pressing her close to him.

'Hera.' She paused for second and then opened her mouth but no words came out. She leaned up wincing as she went and placed both hands on his shoulders. She looked up at Kanan steeling herself to look dead in his eyes.

'I love you Kanan. I love you Kanan Jarrus since the first day we met and you saved me before I knew you were a Jedi.' He froze and moved in closer to her. She lifted her hands up to the side of his face as he caressed her lips with soft kisses that promised more later when her body wasn't ninety percent medication the other ten percent just broken.

'I know.' He whispered into her lips. 'I loved you first.'

Epilogue

A hooded cloak was knelt before a hologram of a dark masked imposing figure. A figure that struck fear into the very souls of all the dared to look at him.

'Report Padawan.'

'My lord, there was a Jedi.'

'A Jedi, Starkiller?'

'Yes. I recognized him from my father's holo pictures on Kashyyk. Caleb Dume padawan to Depa Bilaba. She is deceased but her padawan's body was never recovered in the Temple mas-... death. He was protecting the Twiilek we picked up who was transferring data to the Rebellion. He was extremely protective of her. That may come in use one day.'

'Interesting.' He was silent for a moment. 'What data?'

'What little we have on Maul's whereabouts and the other on Cadets in different Imperial Academies. We know for sure that it had intel on promising students on Mandalore.'

'Well than we had better make sure none of our Cadets get any ideas about being recruited to fight in the Rebellion. See to this personally Starkiller. I will hold you responsible.' He bowed his head.

'Yes, Lord Vadar.'

The Transmission ended.