Chapter 57
AN: A bit shorter than the others, but I hope you all enjoy! Please R&R! Thank you everyone!
Luke instantly forgot his irritation at her comments and paused briefly in horror. "Ari!" he cried racing to where she had fallen. He slid onto his knees and carefully turned her over, gathering her into his arms. "Ari!" His heart pounded in panic, though he could still feel her pulse.
Han rushed over to them. "Is she ok? Should I call the medics?" he asked them, getting down beside Luke.
"What? The medics? "Yeah," Luke answered, tensely, his whole face consumed with his concern. "That might be a good idea, Han." Luke pulled Ari close to him as she muttered to herself, and he rubbed a hand across her cheek. "It's okay, Ari..." he mumbled softly, and then turned to Han, who was not having much luck contacting anyone on his comlink.
"Come on, let's just take her there ourselves. By the time they send someone out we could be there and have her getting looked at. Can you carry her?" Han asked.
Luke nodded, "Yeah I can carry her," he answered, eyes not leaving Ari's face, as he got to his feet, her head falling against his shoulder. "Come on, we have to hurry," Luke urged the smuggler, as well as himself.
Han lead the way, at a jogging pace to make sure the halls were clear for them. "Move out of the way, we have an emergency," the smuggler told them, as he kept checking over his shoulder to be sure Luke was still following.
Luke held her tightly to him as he increased his speed just slightly. "Come on Ari," he muttered, "Wake up. Please wake up..."
Ari stirred slightly, and opened her eyes ever so slightly. "Luke?" she tried to ask, but it was almost inaudible, her voice hoarse.
Luke heard her, though for a moment he thought he had just imagined it. "Ari," he whispered, bending his face close to hers, and slowing his pace down slightly. "Don't worry, I'm going take care of you..."
Ari just gave a small murmur and rested her head on his shoulder again, closing her eyes again.
Worry gripped his heart, and he pulled her closer. "Can you get in touch with Leia?" he asked Han. "She should know what is going on."
Han nodded. "What exactly should I tell her?"
"Tell her to meet us in Sickbay," Luke told him. "Tell her that something's wrong with Ari..."
Han nodded. "Go on ahead without me then. I am going to go to the communication center and send a message from there."
Luke nodded. "See you in a few minutes Han..." he told him, and disappeared around an icy wall. A few moments later, he pushed his way into the Sickbay. "Can I get some help here?" he yelled, seeing that it was empty.
"What seems to be the problem, Commander Skywalker?" the medical droid asked in its slow drawl as it slowly rolled towards him.
"She collapsed in the middle of the hallway for no apparent reason," Luke informed the droid brusquely. "Do you have a bed I can put her on?" he asked, impatience in his tone.
"Yes, Commander, let me show you..." the droid answered and lead him down another hallway and into a larger room that had a few cots on it, divided by curtains.
Luke followed the droid, thinking it didn't move quite as quickly as he'd like it to, and quickly chose one of the most private looking cots.
He laid Ari down carefully on one of the beds. "Alright Ari..." he whispered, watching her with concerned eyes. "You're in the sick bay now..." he brushed a few strands out of her face.
She just gave a low whimper, curling onto her side.
"Sir, I will have to ask you to leave so I can examine the patient," the droid told him.
Luke's eyes snapped to the droid in response, as he slid an arm around her shoulder. "I am not leaving her..."
"It is medical procedures. Just please step out of the room."
Luke scowled at the droid, looking down at Ari in concern. "Can't you skip the procedures? I am not going to leave..." he insisted stubbornly. "She needs me."
"I am sorry sir, but I must follow my programming procedures.
"Well, then I command you to override them," Luke told the droid.
"Commander, I am sorry, but you do not have clearance to do so."
"Listen I-" he was caught off as Han spoke up from the doorway.
"Come on kid. The longer you argue, the longer we have to wait to find out what happened," Han entered and put a hand on Luke's shoulder, steering him out of the room.
"But…" Luke started to protest as Han gave him an extra hard push. "She is all yours," he told the droid, allowing the door to slid shut.
"Han!" Luke exclaimed in exasperation.
"Kid, just let the droid do what it has to," Han tried to reassure him, patting Luke's shoulder.
"Do you think she will be alright?" Luke asked, biting his lower lip, looking back at the closed door, wanting to be in there with her.
"She'll be fine," Han remarked. "This is Ari. She took on Bossk. She helped you blast that Death Star. She isn't going to let this keep her down for long."
"I hope you're right…" Luke muttered, looking back at the door. "I really hope you are…"
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Twenty minutes passed, though to Luke, it felt like years.
"What time is it now?" he asked Han for the fortieth time.
"Only about ten seconds from when you last asked, now would you settle down?" Han sighed.
"I can't help it. What if she needs me and I am not there to help?"
"She is going to be fine…" Han assured the younger man.
"What if she isn't though?" Luke asked.
"Then they will make her better," Han answered simply.
"But what if…"
Luckily for Han, Luke was unable to continue as the door slid open and the medical droid appeared. "The patient is now resting, but I am allowed to share the information since she has given me verbal permission to do so."
"What is it?" Luke asked the droid, worried.
"The patient has been exposed to weather that her body is not used to, and is suffering from exposure to the weather on this planet."
"Can I see her? How bad is she?" Luke asked.
"You may shortly, and she will be able to recover if given proper care," the droid answered.
"What kind of care? Can I help at all?" Luke asked.
"Sir, please do not overreact. You may see her now, but not for long."
"What? Why not?"
"We must see if she will be able to consume sustenance."
"Let me help. I know I can get her to have something," Luke was quick to offer.
"Sir…"
"Commander," Luke corrected him, taking on a more military tone. "Princess Leia would also agree with me. Would you really want to upset her?"
"I can say that I would not," the droid answered and moved aside to let Luke in.
As much as Luke wanted to rush to Ari and see how she was, he decided to head to the small galley to find something that she could possibly eat.