A/N – short chapter, I know. But I wanted to get one downloaded. I think the next one will be the last. I hope you enjoy this, and as always, reviews encourage me to write more quickly. Thank you again to all who have written such kind things. Enjoy the story!
Chapter 15
Once again, the scenario that was all too familiar to Leia repeated itself. Chewie picked the unconscious Captain up, Luke took the lead and Jeffries and Wedge guarded them from the rear. Leia took her place beside the Wookie, and exchanged a glance with Jenina, before laying her hand along side of Han's arm as they made their way through a maze of alleys and dark streets.
After a tense 45 minutes, Luke called a halt, by the simple means of raising his hand and stopping. He motioned Wedge up beside him and the two exchanged words briefly, before Wedge slipped away into the now darkening evening. Luke came back, motioning Jeffries to the forefront to keep watch.
"Wedge is going to go check the route. We're only a little ways from the shuttle now. Good thing we decided to get Han there; I'm pretty sure we can't get near the Falcon. I'd be shocked if it wasn't under heavy guard. Leia sighed and shook her head. "Han isn't going to be happy if we have to leave the Falcon behind." Chewie snarled and tossed his head, indicating what he thought of that idea. "We will not be leaving her behind. We may have to return for her, but she will not be left here indefinitely," he said, with a finality that left no question to what his intentions toward their beloved ship were.
Chewie eased Han down again, but kept the still unconscious man sitting up, leaning him back against his massive chest. Han's head lolled back, and he moaned slightly, but did not open his eyes. Leia and Jenina sat down; both were tired from the tense journey. Jenina ran the scanner over Han again but made no comment, shaking her head at Leia's unspoken question as to his condition. It was so quiet, that Leia found herself almost dropping off, and was startled to realize she had leaned her head against Chewbacca's shoulder and let her eyes droop closed. She sat up with a start upon Wedge's return and strained her ears, trying to hear the whispered conversation going on between him, Luke and Jeffries.
"What is his name, really?" out of the blue, Jenina asked Leia a question that seemingly made no sense. "I mean—his whole name? It isn't just 'Jeffries' is it?" Leia understood then, and with a small smile at the tech's obvious interest, replied, "No, it isn't Jeffries. We tend to call people by their last name, or shorten their names – like Wedge – but his name is Malcolm. Malcolm Jeffries. However, if you want to impress him – you won't call him that. He hates the name Malcolm. You can call him Colm if you want to shorten it, but he really prefers Jeffries." "Colm," Jenina repeated. "I like the sound of that. Colm Jeffries. Hmmm . . . names are rather important in the Alliance, aren't they?" Jenina sounded a little wistful, and Leia suddenly understood that while Han had made it perfectly clear to the rest of them that Jenina should be included and protected, she probably had no idea they intended to offer her transport with them.
"Jenina, you know you're going with us, right? We want you to, that is, so if you'd like to leave here, and join the Alliance, we would love to have you. It won't always be safe, but then, as you've already learned, it isn't safe with the Imperials either, and I promise you, we'll treat you better." Leia smiled at the shy tech, suddenly understanding all of Han's concerns regarding her. Jenina looked very young and vulnerable, as she glanced first at the unconscious pilot resting in the giant Wookie's arms, then at Luke and the others, and finally back at Leia. "I'd like that," she said simply. "I'd like that very much." The smile she returned to Leia slowly reached her eyes and she nodded, seemingly reassured.
Luke had approached them during the last exchange and shot a quick smile in the tech's direction, nodding slightly to indicate his agreement. "Wedge doesn't see anyone close by, apparently most of the 'welcoming committee' is stationed by the Falcon. So we're going now. We're going in quiet and fast; everyone stay sharp."
For what everyone hoped was the last time, Chewie picked Han up, and they fell into their formation as naturally as if they'd been doing it all their life. Jenina reflected for a brief moment, that indeed, perhaps this small group of rebels had been doing just such covert operations, if not for their entire lives, at least for a very long time.
Leia held her breath as they followed Wedge through a few more alleys, then they all stopped as they faced a wide open space. Across that space was the very welcome sight of one of Rogue Squadron's shuttles. At Luke's gesture, the little party halted. After another quickly whispered conference, Wedge bent low and ran across the open space, pausing just long enough to enter the coded sequence that would allow him access to the shuttle. After the shuttle door opened, he vaulted inside, and it was only another moment before a small ramp was lowered. Luke motioned for Chewie and the women to go next, as he kept a force watch on the activities around them.
Both Leia and Jenina were winded by the time they had dashed across the tarmac and sprinted up the ramp, keeping close to the Wookie. Chewie immediately barked something at Wedge; who responded with a quick nod of his head in the direction of the medical bay. Chewie took the wounded man into the small bay, and eased his burden down onto the diagnostic couch. They heard first Jeffries, then Luke bound into the shuttle; and the noise of the ramp being lifted was quickly followed by the sound of engines being started. Chewie shook his head, and moaned softly, and Leia had no trouble understanding his regret at temporarily leaving his and Han's beloved Falcon behind. "It can't be helped, Chewie," she said, giving him a quick squeeze on his arm, while at the same time laying her other hand alongside Han's face. She frowned, "He's so hot. His fever is very high. I hope take off goes smoothly." Jenina was confused when Leia, although obviously extremely concerned about the man, turned away from him and started toward the other side of the room.
Jeffries took that moment to stick his head into the med bay, instructing everyone to strap in. Jenina started to shake her head, intending to begin immediate treatment of the Captain. However, she stopped when Chewie effectively barred her way as he strapped Han onto the bed, then gently steered her in the direction of one of the two jump seats in the medical bay. Leia quickly sat down in the other one and helped Jenina strap in. "We have to be strapped in – the g-forces during take off are too much to take if we're not." Leia cast an anxious glance at the Corellian lying so still on the diagnostic table, and then at Chewie. Chewie patted her arm reassuringly before moving off into one of the two gun bays, where he too strapped in.
The next 30 minutes were probably the most harrowing of Jenina's short life. She had never been on any kind of space worthy vessel and had certainly never endured any kind of a take off before, let alone one that was as thrilling as this one turned out to be. Just when she thought she might relax and enjoy the experience, the overhead coms crackled to life.
"Tie fighters, I see 'em," Luke's voice was eerily reminiscent, reminding Leia of other missions they had been part of. "We'll get them; you just get us out of here!" And with that, the shuttle began dodging and twisting, responding to the skills of the pilot and co-pilot. Chewie took the second gun, and soon the booming sounds of warfare could be heard, along with the shuddering and shaking of the small craft as they attempted to get high enough into the atmosphere to go into hyperspace travel. Leia reached over and took Jenina's hand when she noticed it trembling. "It will be ok," she told the now terrified tech. "Believe me; we've all been through much worse."
Sure enough, just as Jenina was beginning to think her short tenure with the Alliance had ended before it had the chance to really begin; the announcement came from the cockpit: "Get ready for light speed; in three, two, and one – here we go." And with a sudden lurch, the ship broke free of the confines of natural space. Leia would remember the stunned expression on the med tech's face for some time; it reminded her just how special space travel was. With that thought, she turned toward Han, knowing how he loved space travel. With a start, she realized he had awakened during the short flight, and though his eyes were closed, she could tell by his clenched teeth, white face and the way his right arm gripped the side of the bed that his pain during the take off maneuvers, had reached epic proportions.
"Now what?" Jenina questioned, looking first toward Leia, then toward her patient. "Now, we help Han," was Leia's response, and together they unstrapped and got to their feet, moving toward the man they both vowed to help.