A/N: Sorry to be so long in updating. Just a busy life interfering with what I really want to be doing. I'll try to do better.

I'm looking for a beta reader – if anyone is interested, please let me know. And like everyone – I live for reviews. Thanks. Now on with the story.

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The Way It Should Be

Chapter 8

Leia waited only until the door closed before turning to Han. "Han, are you alright?" she asked knowing even as the words left her mouth how silly that question was. With the closing of the cell door, all of Han's remaining strength drained from him. When he opened his eyes again, after watching everything go dark, the last thing he remembered clearly was trying to keep from collapsing as the Princess caressed his arm.

"Wha…?" he managed to choke out, as she hovered anxiously over him. "Never mind, do you want some water?" Leia asked. "Ah sure, Leia," Han swallowed and forced the words out between his bleeding lips. He concentrated then on simply not shuddering too much as he watched her leave his side and disappear into the other cell. He only thought to close his eyes for a second, but the next awareness he had was Leia's voice calling to him, "Han. Han! Can you hear me? Here, drink this." And something cool was pressed against his bruised lips. He gratefully swallowed the liquid offered to him, resisting the urge to cough as he tried to keep his breathing steady. "Thanks," he croaked, wanting to say more, but not able to.

Han knew there was something he wanted to ask the diminutive Alderani kneeling beside him, but just now he couldn't get his thoughts together enough to remember what it was. Urgent concerns pounded at him, and again he tried to ask her something—"Wha..; ya' 'ok? Did..?" his voice trailed off as his memory of what was so important failed him again when another spasm of pain struck him, and he had to clamp down hard to keep from groaning out loud. "Easy Han, it's okay. I'm fine." Leia hurried to reassure him, somehow knowing that his concern was more for her than himself, even though he surely needed care more than she did. "Do you think you could make it into the other cell? The cot would be a lot more comfortable than this floor."

Leia slipped her arm under his head, trying to help him up, even as she wondered if it was worth the effort. Han just heard part of what she said and somehow thought she wanted to enjoy the comfort of the cot; in his confused state it didn't seem unreasonable to him, so he was willing to make the effort to accommodate her. "Guess so," his response was more of a gasp than a word. Heaving himself up off the floor, he was glad it was at Leia's request, rather than to keep Trave and Pix from inflicting more abuse. With her help, he reached his feet after a valiant effort and slowly, one foot at a time, they made their way to the other cell.

Han was grateful when Leia helped him ease down on the cot, unable to stifle a moan at the pain the movement caused his ribs. He knew he would be in serious trouble if one of them punctured a lung and hoped the trouble he was having catching his breath was just from the pain of his injuries and not from something worse. He also knew he was especially susceptible to pneumonia having had it many times in the past and hoped it could be avoided this time. Too tired to even swing his legs up on the cot, he was simply grateful to be able to lay his throbbing head down.

Leia made her way quickly to the refresher unit again, and when she came back her skirt was several inches shorter. She had torn off several strips of cloth so she would have some bandages. Using one she had gotten wet, she began gently wiping at the blood on Solo's face, trying to see how bad the injury beneath was. Solo's head was throbbing, and he had to keep himself from turning away from Leia's ministrations as she pressed harder. "This is a bad gash Han, your eye is already swollen shut." Han refrained from answering; he was finding it difficult just to keep his breathing regulated.

Leia finished cleaning the gash on Han's temple, and decided against trying to bandage it. Though it looked bad, it wasn't bleeding heavily and she had limited resources. Wiping a hand across her brow, she sat back on her heels considering what to do next. Noting that Han's breathing was becoming more and more labored she decided she needed to check his ribs. "Han, do you think you could sit up some? I want to see how bad your ribs are." Han heard her voice as if from a distance but nodded mutely and struggled to do as Leia asked. With a gasp of pain, and with Leia's help, he managed to ease himself up until he was leaning against the wall.

Leia gently pulled Han's shirt out of his waistband and lifted it until his stomach and chest were exposed. She knew he had to be hurting badly when he refrained from any comments about her undressing him. Leia looked in shock at the extent of the damage done by Pix' fists and boots. Han's sides were cut and abraded and dark purple and black bruising indicated broken bones. His left side looked particularly bad, the bones obviously displaced. She saw he was having difficulty breathing and hoped he didn't have a collapsed or punctured lung. "Han," she asked gently, "how hard is it to breathe? Do you feel like you have a punctured lung?" "Uh," Han grunted, "don't think so. Not sure, but probl'y not."

He took a few experimental deep breaths and though his face paled noticeably, and his right hand pressed against his side, Leia couldn't hear any gurgling sounds to indicate a puncture. "He did, ah, a good job, huh?" Han asked, trying to manage a grin for Leia's sake. "That's one way of looking at it, I guess," Leia responded tartly. "I'm going to try and wrap your ribs for you, Han, maybe that will help. I don't know what else to do. Try not to move anymore than you have to."

Leia took the strips of cloth she had torn off and tied several together, then began gently winding them around Han's torso. They didn't go as far as she had hoped and she wanted to save some for a splint and sling for his arm if possible. She began pulling them tight in an effort to both conserve some bandages and to bind his ribs as tightly as possible. Han made no sound, but Leia saw how tightly his right hand clenched the side of the cot and how his lips were pressed together. She wished he didn't feel he had to keep his pain under such tight control around her, but knew he was notorious for not letting anyone know how badly he was hurting any time he was injured. Finishing with the wraps, she tied the bandages under his right arm and gently eased him back until he was leaning against the wall again. Pushing her hair back from her face, she frowned, considering how to best take care of his broken wrist.

Looking around the cell again, she spotted the small pile of debris in the corner and going to it, she searched until she found a few sticks and pieces of wood. Bringing them back, she considered the few pieces of cloth she had left and with a sigh began tearing more strips off the bottom of her rapidly shrinking skirt. Han heard the noise and this time couldn't quite keep a small smirk from forming. "Hey yer worship, ya' better be careful there. Don't want anyone gettin' the wrong idea." He tried to leer at her, but the effect was ruined both because one eye refused to open at all and because his expression looked more like a grimace of pain than the leer it was supposed to be. Leia didn't have the heart to scold him, she just said "shut up, Solo," and let it pass. Han managed a slight chuckle before leaning his head back and responding "shutting up."

Finished with her tearing, Leia placed a hand on Han's knee to get his attention. "Han, I'm going to try and splint your wrist, and then put it in a sling. I'm sorry, but it's going to hurt." "'S okay, Princess," Han murmured. "It already does." Leia gently took the injured limb in both of her soft hands and felt carefully for the broken bone. Trying to ignore Han's grunt of pain and quick intake of breath she pressed, trying to see if she could push the bones into proper alignment. After manipulating his wrist for a few moments and seeing the sweat break out on Han's forehead, she gave up and just placed the pieces of wood she had found on either side of his arm. She was trying to decide how to hold them in place while wrapping his arm, when Han's right hand suddenly pushed hers' aside and held the sticks firmly in place. Slightly amazed at his fortitude, Leia took the strips of cloth and wrapped his arm as tightly as she could. She noticed him gulping and swallowing, but true to form, he didn't make a sound. Finishing, she took the last long piece of cloth and fashioned a sling, gently placing Han's arm in it.

Observing the Captain's closed eyes, shallow breathing and the way he hunched slightly forward, she asked "Do you want to lie down Han? Do you think you'd be more comfortable?" Han just shook his head slightly, not trusting himself to speak, but knowing his breath came easier when he was at least partly upright. Right now he was just trying to get control of the pain before he opened his eyes.

Leia moved about the room, straightening things up and rinsing the bloody cloths out in the refresher. She kept a close eye on Han and when she noticed his body relax and his mouth go slack, she quickly eased him down until he was lying flat. Wishing she had a pillow for him, nevertheless, she was glad he was finally beyond the pain for awhile.

After getting a drink of water and cleaning things up the best she could, she cleaned herself up in the 'fresher unit, made sure she had water handy for when Han would need it, and gently sat down, easing his head onto her lap.