Chapter 8

Just Like Family

Finding a legal way to get bacta was nearly impossible. Judy and Luke had spent the entire day searching, but with talk of increased military campaigns, they had no luck in finding a source. Every drop of bacta would be needed. Luke invited Judy to join him and Leia for dinner. He wasn't sure if their budding relationship would lead anywhere, but he enjoyed being with her and she seemed to share his feelings.

They entered the cafeteria and found Leia already there, sitting with Han, Chewbacca and Don. Judy stopped in her tracks when she noticed Don with them, but Luke took her elbow and steered her to their table.

"Leia!" Luke called. "Are we still meeting for dinner?"

"Of course! Join us. Mon Mothma gave us the evening off. I ran into these flyboys when I was looking for you in here."

The three men nodded to Luke and Judy.

"I hope you don't mind that I invited Judy along," Luke said.

Judy wondered how Don had become one of the boys so quickly. "Actually, Luke, I haven't seen my family all day. I should go have dinner with them while you eat with your friends," Judy suggested.

Don stood and pulled a chair out for Judy. "If it's me you're worried about, I promise to be on my best behavior. Besides, your parents aren't worried about you. They know you're with Luke."

Leia came to Judy's rescue. "Come on, Judy. Let's get some food. By the time we're back they might have finished with their mechanical jargon."

As Leia led Judy through the line, she thought it would be a good time for some relationship repair. They hadn't started off on the right foot, as both seemed to be a bit wary of the other at their first meeting. Leia realized that she had nothing to fear from Judy as far as Han was concerned, or any woman for that matter.

"So, Judy, I see that Luke has been taking good care of you."

"He has."

"Has he shown you his Jedi skills yet?"

"No. Will and Penny are anxious to see what he can do, but every time I mention it, he puts me off."

"He doesn't want it to seem like he's just doing magic tricks. It's an ancient religion and he wants to be sure he presents it in the right context."

"You and he seem to be very close, yet you're close to General Solo also. What's the bond among you?"

"Luke is… Luke is like a brother to me… And Han… well, I guess it's no great secret that Han and I are a couple, but we're still trying to get our relationship on solid ground."

"How long have you known each other?"

"About four years. How about you and the major?"

"Oh, Don is just our pilot. He and I have absolutely nothing in common. He is exasperating. He thought that, just because we were 'of consenting age,' we should have what I'd call a 'casual' relationship."

"Hits on you all the time?"

Judy stared at Leia. "How did you know?"

Leia laughed. "He sounds a lot like Han. Are you sure you're not interested in him?"

"Please, Leia, don't even think it."

Leia smiled to herself. She knew Luke was interested in Judy, but she could sense the simmering undercurrent between Judy and Don. She hated to see someone else make the same mistakes she and Han had made, but then again, it might be best to let nature take its course.

As they returned to the table, the discussion of the mechanical woes of the Jupiter was just wrapping up.

"So, what did we miss?" Leia asked.

"We need some major repair work that probably can't be handled by the New Republic's resources," Don stated.

"Han's a master at modifying systems, I'm sure he can help you out," Leia stated.

"Not this time, sweetheart. They need a shipyard."

["What about Fondor?"] Chewie suggested.

"And Fondor is on the Rimma Trade Route along with Thyferra." Han stated.

Leia nodded. "And Delvardus has control."

"You'd have to get the council to agree to a military strike somewhere along the trade route," Luke mused.

"Well, the council is still trying to decide where our next strike should be. Kuat, Thyferra, Coruscant and the Corellian Sector were all suggested as targets."

"Trying to take Coruscant at this time would be suicide!" Luke exclaimed.

"That's what Ackbar and I told them. He thinks we should invade Kuat because we need the shipyards."

"You know," Don stated, "if it were my decision, I'd go after the warlord who controls the trade route. If you could control that area, you'd have both the shipyards and Thyferra. Kill two birds with one stone."

Judy reprimanded him. "Don, this isn't your fight."

Han and Chewie looked at each other and nodded. ["He is correct, cub. That would give the alliance an advantage in battling for Coruscant."]

"That's right, Chewie," Han replied.

"Care to enlighten us, General?" Leia asked as she squeezed Han's arm.

"Taking the Rimma Trade Route would give us a direct line to Coruscant and the core worlds. That's worth a lot more than Kuat and the entire Corellian sector put together. Kuat is too closely tied to the empire and Corellia is too independent to buckle under either the New Republic or the Empire."

"That would definitely put us in a better position to invade Coruscant," Leia mused. "I'll present that plan to the council tomorrow. I'm sure Riekaan and Ackbar would support it and then we could put Fey'la off for a while longer."

The group fell silent as they pondered that plan.

"Leia, what would I have to do to be allowed to fly in combat?" Don asked.

Judy's heart jumped into her throat. How could he be thinking of fighting? They were strangers in this part of the galaxy. "Don, you're kidding, right?" she asked.

"No, I'm not Judy. This plan would benefit us. I'm a combat pilot. I can contribute."

"But you can't fly the Jupiter into battle."

"They've got to have some fighters available. I can fly anything."

"We've got some b and y-wings, but no x-wings right now. If you run through some simulations, I'm sure they'd find something for you," Luke stated.

"Don, are you sure? What about the Robinsons?" Leia asked.

"If something happens to me, they can recruit another pilot."

"Recruit another pilot!" Judy was incensed. "Before you run off and join anything, we need to discuss it in a family meeting."

Don shifted in his seat and stared at his cup. He knew his next words would hurt her, but they had to be said. "I'm not part of your family, Judy."

A warm flush rose up Judy's face and tears stung her eyes. He was right, but she told herself that he was being downright inconsiderate. "Excuse me." She tossed her napkin down and ran out of the cafeteria.

The group watched her leave. "You should go after her, Don," Leia stated.

"I don't think so," he flatly replied.

"Well, I will. She might run outside, and it's not safe for her out there alone at night," Luke said.

Don cleared his throat. "Thanks."

Han and Leia continued to stare at him.

Don stared right back. "Trust me. She'll go to her family."

After Luke left Don stood and asked Chewie to show him some of the fighters. Chewie nodded and they were off.

As they watched them leave, Han reached out and squeezed Leia's hand. "I never knew what it was like to have family to run back to. It must be nice."

Leia's eyes misted as she answered, "It is. If Judy is anything like me, she will go straight to her father and beg him to talk Don out of flying."

"Are you kidding? You'd be the one showing him the fighters!"

Leia laughed. "You know, Han? I still have family I can count on, and so do you… me, Luke and Chewie."

"Wanna go do some counting?"

Her eyebrows shot up.

"Let's count how many goosebumps I give you in the next three hours."

"Three hours?"

"Longer?"

When Don returned to the Jupiter, he tossed his jacket on his chair and was surprised to find John waiting for him.

"Shouldn't you be with the family?" Don asked as he entered.

"I thought I was," John replied.

"I guess Judy talked with you."

"She was pretty upset," John replied, "and I have to tell you that I was too. You know we think of you as family, Don."

"I appreciate that, professor, but I'm just your pilot. There are at least a dozen guys here who could take my place."

"Take your place? Don, are you thinking of leaving us?"

"Look, the people here are willing to help us. I'm a fighter pilot, John. I have to do my part."

"You didn't answer my question."

"No, Professor, it's not like I want to leave you. I'm just… I have to do something useful."

"I'm not upset that you're flying. I'm upset that you didn't consult with us before you committed."

"I'm sorry, I guess I should have talked with you first, but I know I can be easily replaced if something happens to me, so I didn't think it was a big deal."

"Easily replaced?"

"Don't worry. Nothing's gonna happen to me."

Judy entered and Don was surprised to see her. He thought that she would have decided to stay with her family in the suite after today. She was in her robe, her hair hanging over her shoulders. She took his breath away. "You're the new guy on the block who will probably get the ship no one else wants. How do you know you'll be all right?" Judy asked.

"I chose an old, reliable b-wing. It's the closest thing they have to my bubble fighter back home. It's nowhere near as agile or fast, but it has a lot of firepower, so I can protect myself. He grinned. "And, I get to be the guy with the big guns."

She smirked. "To match your big head?"

Oh, he had had it with her. He glared and, without a word, snatched his jacket and stomped out of the Jupiter.

John turned his chair to face her. "Judy, why do you do that to him?" he asked.

"Because he deserves it. All he wants is the glory."

"Are you sure about that? Because I don't think it has anything to do with glory… and everything to do with you."

"What do you mean by that? He's already impressed me with his piloting abilities."

"Exactly. It's the only thing he's been able to impress you with."

"So?"

"Maybe he wants to give it one last shot before he loses you to Luke."

"Loses me to Luke? Oh, Dad, that's ridiculous."

"Is it? Search your feelings, Judy. You have a lot to sort through." With that comment, he kissed her on the cheek and left.

Judy had no intention to establish a relationship with anyone. After all, they were on their way to Alpha Prime, weren't they?