Class: Republic Trooper

When: Episode II, post Hoth

Even after five minutes in the shuttle, Wynneth still felt cold. Hoth seemed to have seeped into her skin and she idly wondered if she'd ever be warm again. She placed her gloved hands on her thighs and tried to get a sense of Jorgan sitting across from her.

Her XO had been surly ever since they left the Star of Coruscant. She had hoped they might have another shuttle ride like the one from Quesh, where they sat a bit too close to be considered professional and where their hands lingered together a bit too long as he helped her from the shuttle.

But Jorgan had completely closed himself off, his weapon slung across his lap, staring at the shuttle floor. Wynneth wondered if he finally had enough, if he decided that a bit of flirtation with his commanding officer simply wasn't worth the risk.

If he had, Wynneth couldn't shake the feeling that they would miss the chance for something special.

As they approached the orbital station, Jorgan stood up, slinging his weapon onto his back, and waited in front of the shuttle door. His body language all but screamed, 'keep away,' so Wynneth kept her distance.

The walk to the elevator leading to the ship's hangar was filled with silence. Wynneth wouldn't call it an uncomfortable one, but it certainly wasn't the silence she had grown used to, the one where they could clean their armor or work on mods together, with a knowing smile between them now and then.

The elevator doors opened and they stepped inside. The moment the doors closed behind them, Jorgan slammed his palm against the wall yelling, "Blast it!"

Wynneth felt her heart begin to race at the sudden outburst. "Jorgan!" she said, trying not to sound startled.

She watched as Jorgan grimaced and bit his lower lip. "Sorry about that, sir," he said, bringing his wrist up to his chest. Wynneth heard the pain in his voice. "Been holding that in for a while."

The doors opened and they started the walk to the ship. "You want to talk about it?" she asked, ignoring the slight warmth building that he felt comfortable enough with her to let go about something, even when she didn't know what that something was.

He shrugged as they stood at the door to the ship. "Think I need to get my wrist looked at. I should know better," he said, shaking his head. "Stupid."

"You want me to wake Dorne?" Wynneth asked as they stepped inside the ship. It was after midnight, ship's time, so the lights were dimmed and even the droid was quiet for once.

"Nah, let her sleep," Jorgan said, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Think you could take a look?

"Of course," Wynneth said. She had enough confidence in her healing abilities to fix anything wrong with Jorgan's wrist. "Let me change out of this armor first."

Jorgan nodded. "Not a bad idea. I'll do the same," he said, sounding more like his normal gruff self. But then he looked down at the ground. "I'd prefer no one else knowing about this. Mind if I just come over to your quarters to get this looked at?"

Wynneth felt her cheeks redden and hoped Jorgan wouldn't notice. He'd never been in her quarters before. None of the squad had. "Sure," Wynneth said far too quickly. "Let's get changed and then come on over."

"Appreciate it," Jorgan said. With another nod of the head, he turned and headed towards the common bunk room.

Wynneth all but sprinted into her quarters. As she changed into her normal off-duty clothes of a plain skirt and t-shirt, she looked at her quarters with a critical eye. The place looked clean and organized, just as she hoped.

The minutes passed ridiculously slow as Wynneth paced her quarters. Should she sit on the bed? At her workstation? Simply stand in the middle of the room? Protocol would demand that they simply stand with the door open, but she'd be damned if she wasted this opportunity to spend some private time with Jorgan.

Not that she could ever make the first move, not when she was his commanding officer. No, she'd have to be patient and hope that someday, preferably soon, Jorgan said something.

She heard the knock on the door, opening it quickly. Jorgan strode inside, wearing a pair of workout pants and a t-shirt. Wynneth gave herself just a second to enjoy the curve of his shoulders before motioning him over to the bed.

She purposely sat down first, giving Jorgan the choice to sit as far or as close as he wanted to her. He sat down close, so close their hips were almost touching. Grabbing her med scanner, Wynneth started the reading.

With a deep breath, Wynneth reached for his hand, well aware this was the first time they'd ever touched without their armored gloves. She had wondered what a Cathar's hide, well, what Jorgan's hide would feel like for quite a while now.

She hadn't expected velvet.

"So am I going to live?" Jorgan asked, a wry smile on his face.

Wynneth smiled and pushed back a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Scanner says it's just a strain," she said. "I'll give you a kolto jolt and you should probably go easy on it for a day, but then you'll be fine."

"Thanks."

A comfortable silence settled over them as she prepped the kolto. But then Jorgan let out a long sigh. "I shouldn't have let it bother me."

Instead of asking the obvious, Wynneth simply tilted her head towards Jorgan, letting him know she was listening.

"He was a blasted Imp," Jorgan said, his voice quiet. "Why should I give a damn what an Imp thinks about the Cathar?"

Wynneth furrowed her brow, trying to remember what that Imperial captain had called Zareen in the Star of Coruscant. And then she did.

Mangy. Subhuman scum.

"Because you're worried other people think that," Wynneth said, her voice low as she injected his wrist with the kolto jolt. "Believe me, I under-"

Jorgan stood up and shook his head. "Don't finish that thought," he said. The words were harsh but the tone gentle. "You're human. You can't understand."

Her fingers started tracing the cybernetics, the ones that kept the seizures at bay, allowing her to have a normal life, which outlined her right eye. "Not quite human according to some," she said with a shrug. "But you're right, it's completely different."

His body seemed to deflate a bit as he stood in the center of her room, hands on his hips, but body relaxed. "I wonder if I feel that way sometimes. Maybe it's why I feel like I have to fight so hard to prove I belong here."

Wynneth took the risk and stood up, walking next to him. "I told you then that the Cathar would always have a home in the Republic," she said, putting her hand on his upper arm, feeling the body heat radiating from him. Their eyes met then and Wynneth felt her stomach twist into knots and wondered if this affected him at all. "And as long as I'm CO, you'll always have a home with Havoc."

The air around them seemed to change, a tangible change, one she could sense. Neither one of them seemed willing to look away first and somehow, their previous flirtations seemed small in comparison. And Wynneth realized just how deep her feelings went. Scary things, feelings. Especially when it could ruin her career. She shouldn't do this, they shouldn't do this, but all she cared about was how they still were looking at each other, far longer than comrades in arms should.

Jorgan broke the spell first, holding up his wrist. "Thanks again, rookie," he said, taking a step back. "Appreciate the assist."

She smoothed her skirt against her legs. "Anytime," she said as they walked towards the closed door. "Travel day tomorrow."

He nodded. "You want to spar a bit? I'm already bored sparring with Vik."

"Always enjoy kicking my XO's ass," Wynneth said with a laugh. "You're on."

Jorgan walked out the door before turning back towards her. "Captain. Wynneth," he said, raising his chin slightly as if he worried she'd reprimand him for using her given name. "Thank you."

The sincerity in his voice startled her. So she laid herself bare as she answered, "You're welcome, Aric," as honestly as she could.

She saw the smile in his eyes as he nodded and Wynneth watched him walk back to the common bunk before heading back into her own quarters. Feeling the subtle vibration in the deck plating indicating the ship was free of the docking bay, Wynneth decided she couldn't wait to spar tomorrow.