The storm continued to howl around the little shelter. Heavy winds buffeted the walls and the structure creaked. Inside, Han and Aurora lay sleepless, listening tensely in the dark.
"Think it will hold?" Aurora finally asked, breaking the long silence.
"I don't know." Han said truthfully. "It wasn't really designed for these kinds of conditions."
"I'm going to be pretty ticked off if we got this far only to have the damn shelter collapse on us." She stated.
Han chuckled. "Sort of an inglorious end for us."
Aurora laughed lightly.
"What's so funny?" A slurred voice asked.
"Luke?" Han asked, sitting up.
Aurora felt Luke's head move against her chest. "Where are we?"
"You don't want to know." Han replied. "How are you feeling?"
"Like a Hutt landed on me. What happened?"
"You went for a little stroll in a Hoth blizzard." Aurora answered.
She felt Luke still against her. "Aurora? Is that you?"
"Who else did you think you were snuggled up against?"
"Don't know. I was just hoping it wasn't Han." Luke answered weakly.
"That's gratitude for you." Han snorted, relief making him giddy. "Next time I think I'll just stay home."
"Me too." Luke replied wryly. There was silence for a moment and then Luke spoke again. "It would be the two of you. How'd you find me?" (A/N Much of the following dialogue is taken directly from NPR's radio dramatization of the Empire Strikes Back. If you've never listened to it, I highly recommend it.)
"Snoozing in the snow, that's how we found you." Han answered.
"Nice going. You have some sense of timing, Solo. Where are we?"
Aurora spoke from behind him. "An emergency shelter on the north side of the glacier field."
Luke thought about that for a moment. North side of the glacier field meant they were quite a ways from base. "You think this thing's going to hold up?"
There was a long moment of silence, finally broken by Han's blasé voice. "Well, I'm sort of hoping for the best, buddy."
"You sure picked a great time to field test it, huh?" Luke replied, his voice sounding weaker.
"Perfect. How you feeling?" Han asked him in concern.
"Ugh. Terrific. Why don't we go outside and get some calisthenics in before it gets too dark?"
"Sure. We can always play some tag."
Luke bit down on his lip to hold back a cry of pain as suddenly all of his muscles seemed to contract at once into knots of agony. After a moment, they released and he was able to take a shaky breath. Aurora, having felt him suddenly tense against her, then relax, heard his shaky exhale and guessed the cause. But she didn't say a word, simply held onto him and allowed him his pride.
"So, how'd you get out here?" Luke asked after he had regained his breath.
"Taun taun. There wasn't any other way." Han replied. His voice was a little subdued, as though he too had guessed at the pain the other man was in. "She didn't make it though."
"So we're here until the weather breaks?" Luke inquired, working to keep the dismay out of his voice.
"Yeah, that's about it."
Another long moment of silence passed in which they could hear Luke's breathing turn into low pants again as another wave of pain gripped him.
"Luke?" Aurora murmured, shifting her hand to touch his face.
"I can't feel my legs. I'm numb." He voice held a tinge of panic.
"You're going to be okay." Han responded instantly, attempting to sooth the young Commander. "There's not a lot more we can do for you with the medikit. But they'll put you through nerve therapy and they'll float you in a regenerative tank and you'll be good as new."
"Too bad the nearest one is a couple of kilometers away through a blizzard." The hopelessness of their situation was becoming clear to Luke. Not only had he managed to nearly get himself killed, but he managed to drag his two friends into the disaster with him. Some Jedi he was.
"No more talking like that! You're going to make it, you hear?" Han's voice was adamant, not allowing for any despondency. He cleared his throat uncomfortably, as if ashamed of his own feelings. "What happened to your face? You look like you walked into a rotorblade?"
Luke allowed the change of subject, mainly because he didn't want to dwell on their situation or his own helplessness anymore. "Oh, it was a wampa; ice creature. Jumped me on the ridge and killed my taun taun."
"How very rude, as Threepio would say. I hoped you killed it right back." It was a typical Solo comment.
"Well, it seemed like the right thing to do at the time." He took a deep breath, suddenly becoming conscious of something. "What smells so bad in here?" Luke asked. He wasn't prepared for both Han and Aurora to start laughing. His head was bouncing, and he realized that he was lying with his head against Aurora's chest. Against all odds, he suddenly felt very warm.
"You." Han snorted in reply to his question. "You spent a little time inside my taun taun while we were having a house raising party."
Luke made a face that Aurora seemed to see in the dark.
"Don't blame me. That was all Solo's idea."
"Somehow, I never doubted that for a minute." He shifted, trying to find some comfort, and felt Aurora move behind him, sliding her arm under his head so that he could turn a little. He became aware that they were lying pressed very close together and suddenly his discomfort didn't seem to have much to do with being half-frozen. He desperately searched for something to say. "Well, I guess you can cancel all my social engagements for the evening."
"Don't worry. I'm sure the Rogues can still manage to get drunk and play sabacc, even without you there." Aurora soothed mockingly.
Han swore lightly. "Damn."
"What's the matter?" Aurora asked with some alarm.
"I'm missing the game!"
Luke laughed slightly, "Then maybe you should have stayed back at Base." He paused and then spoke softly. "So, what's your excuse this time, huh?"
"Huh? For what?" Han sounded genuinely confused.
"Coming out after me. I guess you can't claim it was the money this time."
There was a long, thoughtful silence before Han spoke again, his voice just as soft. "Well, I'll figure something out, Luke."
"I'll bet you will."
Suddenly, the hut creaked and groaned as a particularly violent gust of wind shook it. Something snapped loudly. Luke couldn't control his involuntary start and the resultant groan as his abused body protested the sudden movement.
"This hut's gonna hold and you're gonna make it." Han told him severely.
"I only wish I could have seen Leia; said goodbye one last time." the young Commander whispered, fighting against the pain he was in.
Aurora tensed at the quick lash of jealousy, but she didn't say anything. Now was hardly the time.
Han reached out in the darkness and rested his hand on the thermal bag over Luke's shoulder. "I've got a better idea, pal, why don't you just settle down and relax, and tomorrow you can say hello to her instead."
Luke shifted slightly, trying to repress a moan at the pain the action caused as he listened to Han wearily trying to reach help.
"Repeat: Hoth Base, this is Solo. Hoth Base, this is Solo." Frustrated and exhausted Han lost what little patience he had left and slammed the comlink down. "What, is everybody, taking a nap back there?"
"Come on, Han, yelling into the comlink isn't going to help." Luke said partly to try to calm the other man down, but mostly because he was tired of listening to Han rant. After hours shut alone in the dark, the already small shelter felt even smaller and tempers were fraying. "Why don't you just try chill-."
"Why don't you just put a plug in it and leave me alone!" Han snapped. "I'm trying to hitch us a ride here."
Trying to avert yet another pointless argument between her two companions, Aurora interrupted. "What's it like outside?"
Reigning in his temper with difficulty, Han managed to reply with a modicum of civility. "The door sensor says it's getting lighter and getting warmer."
"Boy, maybe we should send for room service; get some breakfast." Luke interjected.
"Why don't you just stay still?" Han retorted, anger concealing the worry in his voice. "Those injuries won't get any better with you jumping all over the place." Despite his game attempts at conversation, it was clear that Luke was in severe pain
"Right, I'm going to need my strength when this shelter caves in on us from the weight of all that ice." Luke said sarcastically.
Han glared at him through the gloom of the shelter. "Look, I don't need you to depress me; I can depress myself." Catching the narrowing of Aurora's eyes, he cleared his throat and made another attempt at civility. "At least the doors are still clear." He turned to the comlink and tried again to reach Echo Base. Unfortunately, considering the condition of his temper, it wasn't the most congenial effort. "Solo to Base, are you guys really looking for us or are we just some kind of hobby?"
"You should have been a salesman, Solo." Luke said in disgust, his opinion of Han's efforts clear. Before Han could turn on him though, a wave of agony caught Luke unaware, and he was unable to suppress a gasp of pain. Dimly through the hurt, he felt Aurora's hand clasp his and he clung to it tightly until the stabbing agony released its grip and he was able to draw a breath.
"Are you alright?" Han asked, watching him with anxiety.
Unfortunately, pain and humiliation sharpened his tongue, and his reply to Han's concern wasn't exactly gracious. "Are you kidding? After a fight with a wampa and a stroll through a Hoth blizzard? No, pal, I'm not alright." Luke took a breath, and then another, fighting for control. The waves of pain were coming faster now and he wasn't able to hide the effects anymore. Trying to conceal how wretched he really felt, Luke tried to lighten the mood with an off-hand remark "I think I'll ask the Rebellion for a raise."
It didn't work. Both Han and Aurora were watching him with worried eyes. Aurora didn't say anything, just held onto his hand, but Han's response was typical:
"Shut up and stay still. I can't give you another stim shot. The medikit says you're at the limit right now."
"Oh, that's a nice place for me." Luke replied idly.
Watching his friend suffer, Han felt stupid and useless, so naturally he took it out on his companions. "If you'd just quit jostling my elbow here I could get us a little aid and assistance!" he snapped.
"You know, you always were terrible at rescues." Luke replied, goading the Corellian more.
"Yeah, and you could do it better?"
"Well, couldn't anybody?"
"How'd you like me to stick a gag on you?"
"With or without Chewie?"
"That does it, sonny! You don't think I've got enough things to do than mess around here with you? I don't need your help -!"
"Shut up!" Aurora suddenly snapped, straining her ears to hear over the men's squabble. A slight squawk from the communicator was heard, then static which shortly resolved itself into words.
"This is Rogue Two. This is Rogue Two. Commander Kenobi, do you copy? Captain Solo, do you copy? This is Rogue Two. Do you copy, Commander Skywalker?"
Han let out a restrained whoop and scrambled for the communicator.
"Good morning. Nice of you guys to drop by." He said with typical Solo sarcasm.
They all heard the smile in Zev's voice as he reported back to base. "Echo Base, this is Rogue Two. I found them. Repeat, I found them."
Leia sat in one of the uncomfortable chairs in the medical center. She held herself stiffly, her concentration focused on the tank across from her where Luke floated, immersed in bacta. Next to her, Han and Chewbacca held a low, muffled conversation. Beyond them, the two droids stood in mechanical silence. Leia was left alone with her thoughts. The amount of relief she'd felt when she'd heard Rogue Two's report that he had found them, worried her. She'd always held herself somewhat aloof from normal relationships. She was a Princess of Alderaan, and she had never had any close friends. Especially after joining the Alliance. There wasn't time for relationships. All of her concentration had to be focused on the cause of freedom. But somehow, this small group of beings had come to mean so much to her. Too much. She'd felt gut wrenching fear when she'd learned that Luke had never returned to base, and it had only tripled when she'd been informed Han and Aurora had gone out after him. What would she have done if they'd all been lost? And what was almost worse, she couldn't decide whose loss she would have regretted more: Han's or Luke's. Her feelings for them were all mixed up. The Corellian pilot caused feelings inside of her that she had never experienced. He could make her giddier than she'd ever felt and then within minutes, make her more furious then she'd ever been. And that wasn't even including the physical sensations he stirred up. But if she felt this way about Han, what was it then that she felt for Luke? Because she did feel something for him. He could make her feel comforted, just by being near. When she was having a bad day, she seemed to instinctively seek him out. So what did that say about her? Was she fickle? Shallow?
Leia's dark thoughts were interrupted by the swish of the med center's door opening. Aurora walked in, bringing cold air from the corridor with her. She acknowledged all their greetings with an abstracted air, her eyes focused on the tank across from them.
"Rogue Flight all taken care of?" Han asked.
The redhead nodded. "All present and accounted for. Except for Rogue Leader, of course." Her eyes flicked back to Luke's unconscious form. "I'm in command until he's back on his feet."
"That shouldn't be too long then." Han replied. "Twoonebee says he's recovering fine. As soon as he wakes up, they're going to remove him from the bacta and transfer him to a recovery room."
Leia frowned at the unaccustomed gentleness in Han's voice as he spoke to the other woman. Normally, the two of them traded insults and snide remarks. Now, Han actually sounded concerned. He wasn't being that nice to her. What had happened between the two of them out in the blizzard? She was already feeling somewhat left out and this was only making it worse. She watched with a slight scowl as Aurora crossed the room to the tank where Luke floated. The redhead stared at it for a moment, an odd look on her face, and then slowly raised her hand to rest against the clear side, directly in front of Luke's face. Luke twitched slightly, almost as if in response.
"Aurora," Leia said, more sharply then she intended. "I don't think you should be disturbing him."
"I'm not doing anything." Aurora responded, her voice sounding faraway.
Luke twitched again, and then suddenly opened his eyes, seeming to focus directly on Aurora.
Behind her, Leia sucked in a breath. Before she could say anything, a team of medical droids scurried into the room, surrounding the tank and pushing Aurora back.
"You will need to leave now, please." One of the droids told all of them.
"But, can't we-?" Aurora started to say, her eyes still on the figure in the tank, her distress evident.
The droid appeared to look at her almost with compassion. "Do not worry, Commander Kenobi. All evidence suggests that Commander Skywalker will make a full recovery."
"Come on, sweetheart." Han said, "You heard him, the kid's going to be fine."
Chewie whuffed, wrapping a hairy arm around Aurora and leading her toward the door.
"Chewie's right." Han stated, following behind them, "You need to get some food in you before you end up in the med center too."
Leia hissed out a breath and turned on her heel, walking out the door and heading directly for the privacy of her own quarters. Everyone was so concerned about Aurora. Even the droids seemed to have a soft spot for her. She should be worried too. The other woman was clearly exhausted and the strain of worrying over Luke was taking an obvious toll. But Leia couldn't help but resent the attention the young commander was getting. Wasn't she worried too? Hadn't she been up all night? Just because she hadn't rushed out into a blizzard didn't mean she didn't care about Luke just as much as Aurora did. Fuming, she punched in her code as she reached the door and stepped into the cold darkness. Unable to settle, she left the lights off and began pacing back and forth across the small room. And what was with Han's behavior? Had the two of them bonded or something while they were rescuing Luke? Or – Leia paused in the pacing, a terrible thought crossing her mind. Was it something else? Aurora was a beautiful woman and Han certainly had an eye for beauty. Maybe while trapped together in that tiny shelter something had happened between the two of them. For some reason, this thought made Leia feel even worse than before. With a loud groan she collapsed on her bunk.
"Stop it!" She said aloud, clutching her head. "You're making yourself crazy. You can't even decide who you're jealous over, Luke or Han."