Foreword:

New chapter! Sorry it's taken so long. I've been hard at work on Catalyst. Updates are over on A03 and when the act is finished I'll upload it here too. Brief deleted scene here from S2 E19 Shroud of Darkness.

Better Not To Know

"Well, you two seem fine. How's the Phantom?"

Hera bounded over excitedly towards her two precious Jedi. She hadn't seen them in days and it was such a relief to get a message from Kanan telling her they were alright.

She tried to keep a positive attitude and smiled as they came in.

"I don't know, Chopper was flying," Ezra said sullenly.

"Oh boy," Hera said with a shake of her head.

Ezra had been through a lot lately, and this new dark attitude was concerning.

"So, kid, find us a base yet?" Zeb asked brightly.

"No, but we did find two inquisitors," Ezra shot back.

"Oh, that's nothing new," Zeb said, turning his focus back to his bo-rifle.

"She's waiting for you," Hera said as Ezra left the room.

She swung around to face Kanan. It was worrying how he seemed so distant lately. Hera needed to know what was going on. She needed to know how to help.

"Why did you have us meet you out here away from the fleet?"

"It's safer this way," Kanan said softly, turning his gaze away. He didn't want to meet her eyes.

Hera reached out with a gloved hand, brushing Kanan's cheek.

"What happened? Talk to me?" she implored.

Zeb continued to keep his head down in the corner, preening over his bo-rifle.

Kanan looked at her briefly then turned away again.

"This isn't working," Kanan said. "They're everywhere and we can't…"

Kanan stopped abruptly and looked around him, eyes widening.

"What?" Hera asked. "What is it?"

"I… I… give me a second," he said distractedly, hurrying from the common room.

Hera watched as he ran from the room as if he'd seen a ghost.

"Kanan," she echoed weakly.

"He'll come around," Zeb said, putting his rifle back down on the table. "He always does."

Hera turned to face the Lasat. "Thanks Zeb," she muttered.

"Where's Sabine?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

Hera frowned as her attention was pulled away. "In the cockpit," she said after a pause. "She's reprogramming the shield controls."

"Ah," Zeb said. "She has my barrel cleaner."

He stood up and walked towards the front of the ship.

"If you're headed that way, clean the main panel too, will you?" Hera asked after him.

She heard the Lasat groan. "Fine," he said.

Hera fell back into Zeb's big chair. She pulled out a data pad and a slew of messages from Sato popped up.

They were barely gone an hour from the fleet and already work had started to pile up. Hera sighed and began sifting through the transmissions.

Ezra and Ahsoka emerged from the hallway, closely followed by Chopper.

The young Padawan flew up the ladder to the Phantom, barely acknowledging Hera. She stood up in alarm.

"Ahsoka?" Hera said.

The Togruta gave Hera a warm smile. "It's okay, we won't be gone long," she said.

Ahsoka climbed the ladder up to the ship, lifting Chopper up along with her.

Even though Ahsoka claimed to be unaffiliated, Hera always found her to be a lot more like a Jedi than Kanan was. She was always polite and kind but you never could figure out just what she was thinking or feeling.

Kanan came through the door as Ahsoka swung up into the Phantom.

"You're leaving too? Already?" Hera said, dismayed.

"We have to," Kanan said bluntly.

He started to climb the ladder but Hera pulled at his arm.

"Kanan, where are you going? Tell me so I can fly down if things go wrong," Hera said.

Kanan reluctantly stepped off the ladder to face Hera.

"Do you remember what you told me when I first asked about the rebels?" he said placing a hand on her shoulder.

Hera frowned. She remembered.

"But those were just names and places," she protested. "I always told you where I was going and where I'd be."

Kanan looked away from her.

"This mission is decided by the Force," he said vaguely. "You can't help us. It'll only put you and the crew in danger."

"I'm not afraid," Hera said boldly. "We can handle them."

"Hera," Kanan said steadily. "Listen to me."

"The Inquisitors are dangerous and they have powerful allies. You have to trust me when I tell you that it's safer this way."

"I do trust you, Kanan," Hera said with a touch of impatience. "But we are a family and I care about you and Ezra. I want to help."

"And you can by taking care of Zeb and Sabine," Kanan said. "I have to go now."

Hera leapt forward and hugged Kanan fiercely. He put an arm around her and hugged her back but only briefly.

"I love you," Hera whispered in his ear.

"I love you too," he whispered back.

He planted a quick kiss on her forehead and swung up the ladder.

Hera looked up as Kanan closed the hatch behind him. She swept out of the common room towards the cockpit just as the Phantom departed.

"So, where are they going now?" Sabine asked tentatively.

The Phantom flew overhead and Hera sighed.

"Sometimes, it's better not to know," she answered sadly.