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Chapter 23: Nothing Corellian Whiskey Can't Solve

Han took his time meandering back to the hangar, confused about what just happened and desperately wanting to figure it out. He had to get a grip on his feelings for her. In a matter of minutes, his emotions for her had run the gamut from protective to jealous. His love for her was overtaking him, permeating every aspect of his actions. Meanwhile, he knew she wouldn't let go and kept her love for him locked up in her heart like a deep dark secret.

He thought about going to find Chewie, but remembered that Luke just mentioned seeking out Chewie himself. As much as he liked Luke, he really didn't have much interest in being around him right now. Solo needed to get away from this whole mess. In fact, he was in far too deep for his comfort. This is what caring about people got him. It was so much easier before he met Luke and Leia. Maybe, this was a sign that he and Chewie should blast out of here for good. He did have to go pay back Jabba anyway. Maybe it was time to face that music. Then again, he wasn't in a hurry to do that either. There were still plenty of places to hide out from Jabba and squeeze out a decent living until he could take the time to pay the slimy Hutt without dying in the process.

The hell with it all! He didn't need this! He didn't need the Rebellion or the headaches that came with it. And that included the short, brunette, royal headache as well. All he needed was his ship, his co-pilot by his side, and… and… and a drink. Well, Chewie would find his way back to the Falcon after helping out Luke. Meanwhile, Solo could easily check off the other two on his list. He headed for the Millennium Falcon and the storage locker of liquor inside it.

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He picked up the bottle from Antropo and shoved it way into the back of the storage locker. Instead, he chose his old standby, Famous Kray's Corellian whiskey. Then, Han Solo sat down to have himself a stiff drink.

'It's not date,' she had said. 'It's friends catching up over dinner.' The cold burn of the Famous Kray's flamed down his throat. Sure sounded like a date to him. Luke and Leia had always been close. She loved being around Luke and she knew full well about his crush on her. So, if she were strictly considering it just a friendly dinner, why would she call it a date right to Luke's face?

All Solo wanted to do was get drunk. However, the more he drank, the more his mind swirled on Leia. He thought about how he had taken care of her when she had too much to drink on their 'bonding night.' She certainly wasn't going to show up tonight and reciprocate. The only thing Solo had to look forward to was his best friend coming in and finding him passed out, face-down on the holoboard.

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Chewie walked in a few hours later finding the Falcon quiet. Too quiet. He sniffed the air. Suddenly, a familiar sound of a tool clanging onto the deck floated from the cockpit followed by another familiar sound… a Corellian curse.

The Wookiee lumbered down the corridor wondering how drunk he would find Solo. Normally, Solo, who possessed supreme dexterity for a human, only dropped tools when he was drunk. Han was still swearing when the cockpit door opened.

Before deciding which course to take with his friend, Chewie woofed a tentative greeting and waited for a reaction.

"If you're done playin' teacher, grab a microfuser. We gotta get this fixed now. I want us flyin' outta here first thing in the morning."

An innocent inquiry led to Han yelling, "No, we're not goin' on another mission! We're gettin' the hell outta here for good!"

Chewie wondered, what brought this on? Another question along that line had Han storming out of the cockpit.

"Nothin' happened! We're just getting outta here, that's all," Solo only went as far as the main hold where he poured himself another drink and sat down.

Following closely behind, Chewbacca sat across from him at the holoboard after acquiring a glass for himself. Obviously, Solo wanted to talk. He wasn't as inebriated as Chewie had initially thought when he first came onboard. Instead, he seemed more upset and preoccupied than anything else. If he was ranting about leaving, the Wookiee could only surmise it had something to do with the Princess. Chewie drank his whiskey and waited patiently.

Solo studied his half-full glass for a long time and didn't say one word. Eventually, Chewie suggested a round of sabacc, hoping the game would distract Solo from his thoughts maybe long enough for him to say what the problem was this time. He hadn't mentioned leaving in months, so whatever happened must really be getting to him. The chances of him talking easily about it, even with Chewie, were slim. However, if necessary, Chewie could be more stubborn than Solo and Organa put together when it came to dealing with Han.

Chewie broke out the sabacc deck and offered Han the deal, which he accepted. Solo hated it whenever the Wookiee dealt. He made it a point to lose the first round. No sense in aggravating Solo further.

Solo suspected the big furball was purposely throwing that last round. Right now, he was too miserable to care.

Offhandedly, Chewie asked a question while checking his hand.

Sighing, Solo figured he might as well answer him. "Yeah, I talked to her."

A bit surprised at how soon Solo gave in, Chewie encouraged him with a follow-up.

"And I figured out there's a big hush-hush mission to Ord Mantell and Her Most Royal Princess Pain-In-My-Ass is goin'."

The Wookiee wuffed a series of sentences vigorously nodding his head.

"No kidding, partner, but she wants nothin' to do with us goin' along. Actually, scratch that. It's me she has the problem with."

Chewie suggested that he would go with her if Solo wanted, plus she might still change her mind about Solo coming along. As a supposed afterthought, Chewbacca subtly reminded Han that if they left the Rebellion, they wouldn't be able to do the Princess any good no matter what.

Solo swallowed the rest of burning amber as Skywalker came to mind. He would watch over Leia, but he could barely watch out for himself. Blast it all! He knew he was just kidding himself if he thought he was really going to leave now or anytime soon for that matter. Finishing the hand, he stood up.

"I'm gonna get some sleep. We gotta get the navicomputer working tomorrow if we're goin' to Ord Mantell."